HR 6008 — R.I.C.E.’s Whale Act

6008 IntroducedReported in House (IH)](RH)] <DOC> 118thUnion CONGRESSCalendar 1stNo. Session H.

605 118th CONGRESS 2d Session H.

6008 To[Report prohibitNo. the implementation of certain documents until the Assistant Administrator for Fisheries of the National Marine Fisheries Service issues documents relating to the Rice's whale.

118-716] To prohibit the implementation of certain documents until the Assistant Administrator for Fisheries of the National Marine Fisheries Service issues documents relating to the Rice's whale.

Hunt) introduced the following bill October 25, 2023 Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources October 25, 2024 Reported with amendments, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed [Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic] [For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on October 20, 2023] _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To prohibit the implementation of certain documents until the Assistant Administrator for Fisheries of the National Marine Fisheries Service issues documents relating to the Rice's whale.

PROHIBITION ON IMPLEMENTATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTSACTIONS UNTIL ISSUANCE OF DOCUMENTS RELATING TO RICE'S WHALE.

1531 et seq.) and the Marine Mammal Protection Act (16 U.S.C.U.S.C.1371 et seq.).

1371(2) etBOEM seq.).actions.--The Assistant Administrator and the Director may not implement, administer, or enforce the BOEM Actions until the Assistant Administrator issues a revised Biological Opinion as a result of reinitiated consultation with the Director under section 7 of the Endangered Species Act of (16 U.S.C.

(2) Stipulated agreement.--The Assistant Administrator and the Director may not implement, administer, or enforce the Stipulated Agreement or the Notice to Lessees, respectively, until the Assistant Administrator issues a revised Biological Opinion as a result of reinitiated consultation with the Director under section 7 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C.

and (B) that any party directly impacted by the StipulatedBOEM AgreementActions or Notice to Lessees shall-- (i) have routine and continuing opportunities to discuss and submit information to the action agency for consideration during the development of any biological assessment or proposed action;

(d) Leasing Activities.--The Secretary of the Interior may not rely on the Stipulated Agreement or implement the NoticeBOEM toActions Lessees in carrying out offshore oil and gas leasing activities under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (43 U.S.C.

(3) Director.--TheBOEM actions.--The term ``Director''``BOEM meansActions'' means-- (A) the Directorexclusion from leasing in the Gulf of Mexico Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Lease Sale of acreage between the Bureau100 meter and 400 meter isobaths across the northern Gulf of OceanMexico, Energyas Management.identified in the document titled ``Gulf of Mexico Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Lease Sale 261'' (88 Fed.

(4)Reg. Notice to lessees.--The term ``Notice to Lessees'' means the document titled ``Notice to Lessees and Operators of Federal Oil and Gas, and Sulphur Leases in the Gulf of Mexico Outer Continental Shelf;

58300;

published August 25, 2023);

(B) the imposition in the Gulf of Mexico Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Lease Sale 261 of lease stipulations that limit vessel operation pursuant to section IV(4) of such document;

and (C) the Notice to Lessees.

(4) Director.--The term ``Director'' means the Director of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management.

(5) Notice to lessees.--The term ``Notice to Lessees'' means the document titled ``Notice to Lessees and Operators of Federal Oil and Gas, and Sulphur Leases in the Gulf of Mexico Outer Continental Shelf;

(5)(6) State.--The term ``State'' means each of the States of Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas.

(6)Amend Stipulated agreement.--The term ``Stipulated Agreement'' means the documenttitle titledso ``Stipulatedas Agreement to Stayread: Proceedings'' (July 21, 2023;

Docket``A No.bill to prohibit the implementation of certain actions until the Assistant Administrator for Fisheries of the National Marine Fisheries Service issues documents relating to the Rice's whale.''.

8:20-cv-03060-Union DLB)Calendar andNo. entered into by the Sierra Club, Center for Biological Diversity, Friends of the Earth, and Turtle Island Restoration Network and the National Marine Fisheries Service and the Assistant Administrator.

<all>605 118th CONGRESS 2d Session H.

R.

6008 [Report No.

118-716] _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To prohibit the implementation of certain documents until the Assistant Administrator for Fisheries of the National Marine Fisheries Service issues documents relating to the Rice's whale.

_______________________________________________________________________ October 25, 2024 Reported with amendments, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed