I 
118TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 9472 
To enhance national security and energy independence through comprehensive 
offshore energy resource assessment and mapping, to establish a frame-
work for the regular review and standardization of offshore resource 
exploration methodologies, to streamline the permitting process for off-
shore geological and geophysical surveys, and to provide for related 
purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
SEPTEMBER 6, 2024 
Mr. HUNT (for himself and Mr. NEHLS) introduced the following bill; which 
was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to 
the Committees on Energy and Commerce, Armed Services, and the Judi-
ciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each 
case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of 
the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To enhance national security and energy independence 
through comprehensive offshore energy resource assess-
ment and mapping, to establish a framework for the 
regular review and standardization of offshore resource 
exploration methodologies, to streamline the permitting 
process for offshore geological and geophysical surveys, 
and to provide for related purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
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SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Comprehensive Off-
shore Resource Enhancement Act of 2024’’ or the ‘‘CORE 
Act’’. 
SEC. 2. SECURITY ASSESSMENT OF OFFSHORE ENERGY RE-
SOURCE RESERVES. 
(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) SECRETARIES.—The term ‘‘Secretaries’’ 
means the Secretary of Energy, the Secretary of the 
Interior, and the Secretary of Defense. 
(2) UNDISCOVERED
RESOURCE.—The term 
‘‘undiscovered resource’’ means an oil and gas re-
source postulated, on the basis of geologic knowledge 
or theory, to exist outside of known fields or accu-
mulations. 
(b) RESOURCE SECURITY ASSESSMENT COLLABORA-
TION PROGRAM.—To enhance United States national se-
curity and energy independence, the Secretaries shall es-
tablish a joint program (referred to in this section as the 
‘‘program’’) for offshore geophysical and geological re-
source mapping and analysis of domestic resources critical 
to national security. 
(c) PURPOSE.—The purpose of the program is to en-
sure adequate intelligence on the supply and security of 
offshore energy resources of reliance to the domestic popu-
lation and allied nations, including natural gas, petroleum 
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(including crude oil and petroleum products), and critical 
minerals. 
(d) AUTHORITY TO ENTER INTO AGREEMENTS.—In 
carrying out the program, the Secretaries may enter into 
1 or more agreements directly with a third party under 
such terms and conditions as the Secretaries determine 
appropriate. 
(e) REPORTS.—Not later than 1 year after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Secretaries shall submit a 
one-time report to the Committee on Energy and Natural 
Resources and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the 
Senate and the Committee on Energy and Commerce, the 
Committee on Natural Resources, and the Committee on 
Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives that in-
cludes the following: 
(1) An assessment of the approximate quantity 
of undiscovered resources in each offshore regional 
planning area as defined by the 2024–2029 National 
Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Pro-
posed Final Program of September 29, 2023. In car-
rying out such assessment, the Secretaries shall— 
(A) prioritize the acquisition and use of 
advanced geophysical and geotechnical data and 
methods; 
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(B) acquire and apply new and emerging 
modeling and analytic technologies, including 
data analysis tools, quantum computing, mod-
eling, and geographic information systems, to 
approximate the quantity and establish a peer- 
reviewed range of undiscovered resources in 
each regional planning area with a discussion of 
the upper and lower bound of the estimates 
with that discussion to include recommenda-
tions as to how to reduce the range of uncer-
tainty; and 
(C) utilize any existing maritime vessels or 
deployed capability, including any geoseismic, 
sonar, or related mapping technologies. 
(2) An assessment of how the unavailability for 
leasing of any lands that are withdrawn under sec-
tion 12 of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act 
(43 U.S.C. 1341) or part of the National Marine 
Sanctuary System established by section 301(c) of 
the National Marine Sanctuaries Act (16 U.S.C. 
1431(c)) affects— 
(A) the exploration, development, and pro-
duction of oil and gas; 
(B) national security, including the Na-
tion’s ability to supply the Armed Forces, its al-
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lies, and trade partners with petroleum prod-
ucts and related fuels; 
(C) domestic jobs and employment; 
(D) the amount of revenue States and 
coastal political subdivisions receive pursuant to 
section 105 of the Gulf of Mexico Energy Secu-
rity Act of 2006 (43 U.S.C. 1331 note); and 
(E) the ability of the Secretary of Energy 
to acquire and exchange petroleum products for 
storage in the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. 
(3) An assessment of undiscovered subsea re-
sources, materials, and anomalies that could be uti-
lized by commercial or in national security oper-
ations, including stone, sand, gravel, marine min-
erals, or offshore critical minerals. 
(f) STANDARDIZATION OF EXISTING REPORTS.—Sec-
tion 357 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 
15912) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)(1), by striking ‘‘of Mexico 
and Canada’’; 
(2) by redesignating subsection (b) as sub-
section (c); 
(3) by inserting after subsection (a) the fol-
lowing: 
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‘‘(b) INCLUSIONS.—The inventory and analysis con-
ducted under subsection (a) shall include the following: 
‘‘(1) An assessment of the approximate quan-
tity of undiscovered resources in each regional plan-
ning area as defined by the 2024–2029 National 
Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Pro-
posed Final Program of September 29, 2023, which 
shall include the following: 
‘‘(A) A detailed analysis of how the future 
production of these undiscovered resources 
could influence the United States capacity to 
competitively produce, market, and export hy-
drocarbons on a global scale. This assessment 
should consider key market variables such as 
global supply and demand dynamics, projected 
price points, geopolitical factors, and the role of 
United States production in maintaining global 
energy security. 
‘‘(B) An economic analysis of how the de-
velopment and production of these undiscovered 
resources would affect domestic employment 
across the supply chain. This should include di-
rect, indirect, and induced job impacts, empha-
sizing the potential for job creation in explo-
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ration, production, refining, logistics, and asso-
ciated industries. 
‘‘(C) To the fullest extent practicable, a 
comparative analysis of offshore oil and gas ex-
ploration and development practices for each 
major offshore producing country shall be con-
ducted within 10 years of the passage of the 
CORE Act and once every 10 years thereafter. 
This analysis shall provide the following: 
‘‘(i) Data on the number of offshore 
acres offered for lease, including the fre-
quency of lease auctions, sales, or lease 
issuances. This should encompass lease 
structures, fiscal terms, and competitive 
positioning relative to United States leas-
ing practices. 
‘‘(ii) Detailed reporting on the volume 
of oil produced, measured in barrels on an 
annual basis, including historical trends, 
production forecasts, and the influence of 
technological advancements on production 
efficiency and recovery rates. 
‘‘(iii) Detailed reporting on the vol-
ume of gas produced, measured in cubic 
feet, accounting for regional market de-
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mands, export capabilities, and contribu-
tions to energy diversification strategies. 
‘‘(iv) An assessment of both undis-
covered and discovered offshore oil and gas 
resources, including probabilistic estimates 
of resource volumes that consider geologi-
cal, technological, and market factors im-
pacting exploration success and resource 
recoverability. 
‘‘(2) An identification and assessment of how 
the unavailability for leasing of any lands that are 
withdrawn under section 12 of the Outer Conti-
nental Shelf Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1341) or part of 
the National Marine Sanctuary System established 
by section 301(c) of the National Marine Sanc-
tuaries Act (16 U.S.C. 1431(c)) affects— 
‘‘(A) the exploration, development, and 
production of oil and gas; 
‘‘(B) national security, including the Na-
tion’s ability to supply the Armed Forces, its al-
lies, and trade partners with petroleum prod-
ucts and related fuels; 
‘‘(C) domestic jobs and employment; 
‘‘(D) the amount of revenue States and 
coastal political subdivisions receive pursuant to 
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section 105 of the Gulf of Mexico Energy Secu-
rity Act of 2006 (43 U.S.C. 1331 note); and 
‘‘(E) the ability of the Secretary of Energy 
to acquire and exchange petroleum products for 
storage in the Strategic Petroleum Reserve.’’; 
(3) in subsection (c), as so redesignated— 
(A) by striking ‘‘The Secretary shall sub-
mit’’ and inserting ‘‘Not later than 365 days 
after the date of enactment of the CORE Act, 
the Secretary shall submit’’; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘, within 6 months of the 
date of enactment of the section’’; and 
(4) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(d) UPDATING ASSESSMENT METHODOLOGY.— 
‘‘(1) ASSESSMENT.—The Secretary of the Inte-
rior shall periodically conduct an assessment of the 
costs, benefits, and accuracy of the models utilized 
by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management to con-
duct resource assessments. In carrying out such as-
sessment, the Secretary of the Interior shall jointly 
consult with Society of Petroleum Engineers’ Re-
sources and Reserves Committee, the National Pe-
troleum Council, and also the United States Associa-
tion for Energy Economics, with respect to recom-
mending new methodologies, if deficiencies these 
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groups identified exist in current practices or if po-
tential benefits could be realized from employing new 
methods of analysis. The initial assessment shall be 
conducted not later than 1 year after the date of en-
actment of the CORE Act, and subsequent assess-
ments not later than every 10 years thereafter. The 
National Petroleum Council shall lead joint consulta-
tions with the Secretary of the Interior. 
‘‘(2) REPORT.—Following each assessment con-
ducted under paragraph (1), the Secretary of the In-
terior shall update the assessment methodologies 
used in the comprehensive inventory of U.S. Outer 
Continental Shelf Oil and Natural Gas Resources. 
The Secretary shall also prepare a report, based on 
the timelines in paragraph (1), which shall include 
the following: 
‘‘(A) A clear, detailed explanation of any 
updates made to the assessment methodologies 
based on the joint consultations with the Soci-
ety of Petroleum Engineers’ Resources and Re-
serves Committee, the National Petroleum 
Council, and the United States Association for 
Energy Economics. 
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‘‘(B) An evaluation describing how the up-
dates improve the accuracy, cost-effectiveness, 
and reliability of the resource assessments. 
‘‘(C) If any recommended updates are not 
incorporated, the report must provide a detailed 
explanation of why these updates were not 
adopted, including any technical, legal, or prac-
tical constraints that prevented their implemen-
tation.’’. 
SEC. 3. OFFSHORE GEOLOGICAL AND GEOPHYSICAL SUR-
VEY LICENSING. 
(a) INCIDENTAL
TAKE
REGULATIONS.—Notwith-
standing any other provision of law, the National Marine 
Fisheries Service and the National Oceanic and Atmos-
pheric Administration shall maintain incidental take regu-
lations under the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 
(16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.) governing the issuance of Letters 
of Authorization for Outer Continental Shelf geophysical 
and geological surveys. These regulations shall not expire, 
nor require renewal every 5 years, but be maintained and 
updated as necessary through the requirements of sub-
chapter II of chapter 5 and chapter 7 of title 5, United 
States Code (commonly known as the ‘‘Administrative 
Procedure Act’’). The regulations governing Outer Conti-
nental Shelf geophysical and geological surveys referenced 
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in this subsection (section 217 of title 50, Code of Federal 
Regulations), issued by the National Marine Fisheries 
Service effective on May 24, 2024, shall not expire on 
April 19, 2026. 
(b) GEOLOGICAL
AND GEOPHYSICAL SURVEY LI-
CENSING.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of the Inte-
rior shall authorize geological and geophysical sur-
veys related to oil and gas activities on the Gulf of 
Mexico Outer Continental Shelf within 30 days of 
receipt of a completed application and shall, as ap-
plicable to survey type, comply with the mitigation 
and monitoring measures in subsections (a), (b), (c), 
(d), (f), and (g) of section 217.184 of title 50, Code 
of Federal Regulations (as in effect on January 1, 
2022), and section 217.185 of title 50, Code of Fed-
eral Regulations (as in effect on January 1, 2022). 
In issuing permits for these surveys, the Secretary 
shall not require an applicant to obtain a letter of 
authorization. Any permit authorizing a geological or 
geophysical survey shall be extended for a period of 
no more than 12 months within 30 days of receipt 
of a written request from the permittee. 
(2) COMPLIANCE WITH OTHER ACTS.—Geologi-
cal and geophysical surveys authorized pursuant to 
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this subsection are deemed to be in full compliance 
with the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 
(16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.) and the Endangered Spe-
cies Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), and im-
plementing regulations. 
(c) JUDICIAL REVIEW AND ENFORCEMENT.— 
(1) DEFINITIONS.—In this subsection: 
(A) 
AGENCY
DOCUMENT.—The 
term 
‘‘agency document’’ means, with respect to a 
geophysical or geoseismic survey project, a 
record of decision, categorical exclusion, envi-
ronmental document, or programmatic environ-
mental document. 
(B) NEPA TERMS.—The terms ‘‘categor-
ical exclusion’’, ‘‘environmental document’’, and 
‘‘programmatic environmental document’’ have 
the meanings given such terms, respectively, in 
section 111 of the National Environmental Pol-
icy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4336e). 
(2) IN GENERAL.—A court shall not enjoin an 
offshore oil and gas geophysical or geoseismic survey 
project if the court determines that the plaintiff is 
unable to demonstrate that the claim of the plaintiff 
is likely to succeed on the merits. 
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(3) CONSIDERATIONS IN INJUNCTIVE RELIEF.— 
While considering any request for an injunction that 
applies to any agency action as part of an offshore 
oil and gas geophysical or geoseismic survey project, 
the court reviewing the agency action shall only con-
sider deficiencies by an agency pursuant to law. The 
court may remand the geophysical or geoseismic sur-
vey project to the applicable agency with instruction 
to correct (including specific directions) the errors or 
deficiencies within 30 days. An activity under the 
geophysical or geoseismic survey project may be car-
ried out so long as such activity does not affect the 
errors or deficiencies described in this paragraph. 
(4) REVIEW.—Unless the court finds that the 
applicable agency entirely failed to publish a re-
quired environmental assessment or environmental 
impact statement, on remand— 
(A) the court shall not require such agency 
to prepare a new environmental assessment or 
environmental impact statement; and 
(B) such agency may use another format, 
including a memorandum or errata sheet, to 
document any new analysis required. 
(5) LIMITATIONS ON CLAIMS.—Notwithstanding 
any other provision of law, a claim arising under 
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Federal law seeking judicial review of a geophysical 
or geoseismic survey project shall be barred unless— 
(A) with respect to an agency document 
noticed in the Federal Register, such claim is 
filed not later than 120 days after the date of 
publication of a notice in the Federal Register 
of agency intent to carry out the geophysical or 
geoseismic survey project, unless a shorter pe-
riod is specified in such Federal law; 
(B) in the case of an agency document not 
described in paragraph (3), such claim is filed 
not later than 120 days after the date that is 
the earlier of— 
(i) the date on which such agency doc-
ument is published; and 
(ii) the date on which such agency 
document is noticed; and 
(C) in the case of an authorization or ac-
tion for which there was a public comment pe-
riod, such claim— 
(i) is filed by a party that— 
(I) participated in the adminis-
trative proceedings regarding such 
geophysical 
or 
geoseismic 
survey 
project; and 
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(II) submitted a comment during 
such public comment period and such 
comment was sufficiently detailed to 
put the applicable agency on notice of 
the issue upon which the party seeks 
judicial review; and 
(ii) is related to such comment. 
(6) DISTRICT COURT REVIEW.—A district court 
shall have no more than 30 days from the date a pe-
tition is filed to issue a decision under this section. 
(7) APPEALS
COURT
REVIEW.—An appeals 
court shall have no more than 30 days to issue a de-
cision on an appeal of a district court’s ruling under 
this section. 
(d) REPORTING AND ACCOUNTABILITY.—The Sec-
retary concerned shall publish online public reports 
monthly detailing the number of permit applications re-
ceived, the average processing time of such applications, 
and instances of noncompliance beginning 1 calendar year 
after the date of the enactment of this Act. 
Æ 
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