Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “American Offshore Worker Fairness Act”.
American Offshore Worker Fairness Act
A BILL
To improve manning and crewing requirements for certain outer Continental Shelf vessels, vehicles, and structures, and for other purposes.
Sec. 2 Manning and crewing requirements for certain outer continental shelf vessels, vehicles, and structures
Authorization of limited exemptions from manning and crew requirement— Section 30(c) of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1356(c)) is amended—
in paragraph (1)(C), by striking “; and” and inserting a period;
beginning in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking “(c) The regulations issued under subsection (a)(3) of this section” and all that follows through “to any vessel” in paragraph (1) and inserting the following:
“(c) Exemptions
“(1) In general—The regulations issued under subsection (a)(3) shall not apply to any vessel”
in paragraph (2)—
by striking “(2) to any vessel” and inserting the following:
“(2) Exemption for certain foreign-owned vessels, rigs, platforms, and other vehicles or structures
“(A) In general—Subject to the requirements of this paragraph, the regulations issued under subsection (a)(3) shall not apply to any vessel”
in subparagraph (A) (as so designated), by striking “the exploration, development, or production of oil and gas” and inserting “exploring for, developing, or producing resources, including nonmineral energy resources,”; and
by adding at the end the following:
“(B) Condition
“(i) In general—Subject to clauses (ii) and (iii), an exemption under subparagraph (A) shall be subject to the condition that each individual who is manning or crewing the vessel, rig, platform, or other vehicle or structure is—
“(I) a citizen of the United States;
“(II) an alien lawfully admitted to the United States for permanent residence; or
“(III) a citizen of the nation under the laws of which the vessel, rig, platform, or other vehicle or structure is documented.
“(ii) Timeline for application
“(I) In general—Subject to subclause (II), beginning on the effective date of the American Offshore Workers Fairness Act, the condition described in clause (i) shall apply to all activities pursuant to this Act on the outer Continental Shelf.
“(II) Export cable lay, inter-array cable lay, umbilical cable lay, and pipe lay activities—Beginning on the date that is 3 years after the effective date of the American Offshore Workers Fairness Act, the condition described in clause (i) shall apply, except as provided in section 30A, to vessels paying out—
“(aa) export cables;
“(bb) inter-array cables;
“(cc) umbilical cables; or
“(dd) pipes.
“(iii) Permanent exemption for certain vessels performing heavy offshore lifts and offshore wind component parts—Beginning on the effective date of the American Offshore Workers Fairness Act, the condition described in clause (i) shall not apply to—
“(I) a vessel that—
“(aa) performs an offshore lift in excess of 1,000 metric tons; and
“(bb) has a crane with a height capability of 180 meters; or
“(II) an offshore wind component part (including an offshore wind transition piece, nacelle, or blade) that—
“(aa) is part of the installation of an offshore wind turbine; and
“(bb) is less than 1,000 metric tons.
“(iv) Definitions—In this subparagraph:
“(I) Offshore lift
“(aa) In general—The term offshore lift means an individual lift, or a sequence of lifts, conducted by a crane on a vessel with slewing and luffing capabilities for an activity described in item (bb) from the time that the lifting activity begins, when unlading from a vessel or removing the topside or subsea component, until the time that the lifting activity is terminated.
“(bb) Activities—The activities described in this item are unlading, installation, or removal involving platform jackets, monopiles, a gravity-based or other subsea foundation, wind energy transition piece, wind energy towers, wind turbine nacelles, wind energy blades, or wind turbine rotors and hubs.
“(II) Paying out
“(aa) In general—The term paying out, with respect to pipe or cable, means the specific act of paying out pipe, export cable, inter-array cable, or umbilical cable.
“(bb) Exclusions—The term paying out does not include repair or other activities incidental to the paying out of pipe, export cable, inter-array cable, or umbilical cable, such as—
“(AA) site clearance;
“(BB) trenching;
“(CC) dredging;
“(DD) mattress installation;
“(EE) cable tie-ins;
“(FF) installation of pipeline end terminations or pipeline end manifolds;
“(GG) the setting or moving of any anchors associated with the cable or pipe;
“(HH) offshore cable or pipe burial; and
“(II) other activities that are not the actual paying of the pipe or cable.
“(C) Requirements—An exemption under subparagraph (A)—
“(i) shall provide that the number of individuals manning or crewing the vessel, rig, platform, or other vehicle or structure who are individuals described in subclause (II) or (III) of subparagraph (B)(i) may not exceed 2.5 times the number of individuals required to man or crew the vessel, rig, platform, or other vehicle or structure under the laws of the nation in which the vessel, rig, platform, or other vehicle or structure is documented; and
“(ii) subject to subparagraph (D), shall be effective for not more than 1 year.
“(D) Application
“(i) In general—The owner or operator of a vessel, rig, platform, or other vehicle or structure described in subparagraph (A) may submit to the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating an application for an exemption or a renewal or extension of an exemption under that subparagraph.
“(ii) Contents—An application under clause (i) shall include a sworn statement by the applicant of all information required by the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating for the issuance of the exemption or renewal or extension.
“(E) Revocations
“(i) In general—The Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating may revoke an exemption for a vessel, rig, platform, or other vehicle or structure under subparagraph (A) if the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating determines that information provided in the application for the exemption or renewal or extension of such an exemption—
“(I) was false or incomplete; or
“(II) is no longer true or complete.
“(ii) Manning or crewing violation—The Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating shall immediately revoke an exemption for a vessel, rig, platform, or other vehicle or structure under subparagraph (A) if the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating determines that, during the effective period of the exemption, the vessel, rig, platform, or other vehicle or structure was manned or crewed in a manner that—
“(I) was not authorized by the exemption; or
“(II) does not otherwise comply with this paragraph.
“(iii) Notice—The Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating shall provide notice of a determination and revocation under clause (i) or (ii) to the owner, operator, agent, or master of the vessel, rig, platform, or other vehicle or structure.
“(F) Review of compliance
“(i) In general—The Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating shall periodically, but not less frequently than annually, inspect each vessel, rig, platform, or other vehicle or structure for which an exemption under subparagraph (A) has been granted to verify the compliance of the vessel, rig, platform, or other vehicle or structure with this paragraph.
“(ii) Requirement—During each inspection of a vessel, rig, platform, or other vehicle or structure under clause (i), the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating shall require all individuals who are manning or crewing the vessel, rig, platform, or other vehicle or structure to hold a valid Transportation Worker Identification Credential.
“(G) Civil penalties—The Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating may impose on the owner or operator of a vessel, rig, platform, or other vehicle or structure for which an exemption under subparagraph (A) has been granted a civil penalty of $10,000 per day for each day the vessel, rig, platform, or other vehicle or structure—
“(i) is manned or crewed in violation of this paragraph; or
“(ii) operates under the exemption, if the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating determines that—
“(I) the exemption was not validly obtained; or
“(II) information provided in the application for the exemption was false or incomplete.
“(H) Notification to Secretary of State—The Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating shall notify the Secretary of State of each exemption issued under this subsection, including information on the effective period of the exemption.”
Exemption from all documentation, registry, and manning requirements— Section 30 of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1356) is amended by adding at the end the following:
“(d) Exemptions from documentation, registry, and manning requirements of this section—The regulations issued under subsection (a) shall not apply—
“(1) to a rig, or mobile offshore drilling unit, while performing offshore drilling operations; and
“(2) to a floating production storage and offloading unit.”
Regulations— Not later than 1 year after the effective date of this Act, the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating shall promulgate regulations that specify the application requirements for an exemption under subsection (c)(2)(A) of section 30 of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1356).
Existing exemptions—
In general— Each exemption granted to a vessel before the effective date of this Act under section 30(c)(2) of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1356(c)(2)) (as in effect on the day before such date) shall remain in effect until the applicable date described in section 30(c)(2) of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (43 U.S.C.1356(c)(2)) (as amended by this Act) based on the vessel's activity.
Termination— On the day after the last day of the period described in paragraph (1), each exemption described in that paragraph shall terminate, except to the extent the exemption is continued for certain vessels under section 30A of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act.
Notification— Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating shall notify all persons that hold an exemption described in paragraph (1) that the exemption will terminate in accordance with paragraph (2).
Annual report—
In general— Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating shall submit to Congress a report that describes the number of exemptions granted under subsection (c)(2)(A) of section 30 of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1356) during the preceding year.
Requirements— Each report under paragraph (1) shall list for each vessel, rig, platform, or other vehicle or structure granted an exemption during the preceding year—
the name and International Maritime Organization number of the vessel, rig, platform, or other vehicle or structure;
the nation in which the vessel, rig, platform, or other vehicle or structure is documented;
the nationality of the 1 or more owners of the vessel, rig, platform, or other vehicle or structure; and
any changes to the information described in subparagraphs (A) through (C) applicable to the vessel, rig, platform, or other vehicle or structure if the vessel, rig, platform, or other vehicle or structure has received a prior exemption under subsection (c)(2)(A) of section 30 of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1356) or section 30(c)(2) of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1356(c)(2)) (as in effect on the day before the effective date of this Act).
Pipe, inter-Array cable, umbilical cable, or export cable lay vessels—
In general— The Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1301 et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 30 (43 U.S.C. 1356) the following:
“30A. Pipe, inter-array cable, umbilical cable, or export cable lay projects
“(a) Initial determination
“(1) In general—Not prior to 180 days before the date on which subclause (II) of section 30(c)(2)(B)(ii) takes effect, the Secretary shall determine for each category of vessel described in paragraph (2) whether there exists a coastwise-endorsed vessel.
“(2) Categories—The categories of vessels described in this paragraph are the following:
“(A) Pipe lay vessels.
“(B) Inter-array cable lay vessels.
“(C) Umbilical cable lay vessels.
“(D) Export cable lay vessels.
“(b) Application—In the case the Secretary determines under subsection (a) that a coastwise-endorsed vessel does not exist for a category of vessels described in subsection (a)(2), a vessel in such category shall, beginning on the date on which the Secretary makes such determination, be exempt from the condition under section 30(c)(2)(B) with respect to an applicable project.
“(c) Requests for determinations of coastwise-Endorsed vessels
“(1) New determinations—After the date on which the determination is made under subsection (a), the owner or operator of a vessel in the applicable category may seek a new determination from the Secretary that a coastwise-endorsed vessel for such category exists.
“(2) Application to non-coastwise-endorsed vessels—If the Secretary makes a determination under paragraph (1) that a coastwise-endorsed vessel for the applicable category exists, then the owner or operator of a vessel in such category that is not coastwise-endorsed shall seek a determination under paragraph (3) of the availability of a coastwise-endorsed vessel in such category for an applicable project before engaging in any such applicable project that has not commenced or resumed prior to such determination under paragraph (1) that a coastwise-endorsed vessel for the applicable category exists.
“(3) Determination of availability
“(A) In general—As soon as practicable in accordance with this paragraph, the Secretary shall determine whether a coastwise-endorsed vessel in the applicable category is available for the project that is the subject of a request under paragraph (2). The Secretary shall determine that a coastwise-endorsed vessel in the applicable category is not available for such project if—
“(i) the owner or operator of the non-coastwise endorsed vessel making the request under paragraph (2) submits to the Secretary an application for the use of such vessel for such project that includes all relevant information and requirements for such project, including engineering details and timing requirements;
“(ii) not later than 30 days after receiving such an application, the Secretary provides a copy of the application to the owner of each coastwise-endorsed vessel in the applicable category that is listed in the inventory under section 12138(b) of title 46, United States Code, and promptly publishes in the Federal Register a notice—
“(I) describing the applicable project;
“(II) advising that all relevant information reasonably needed to assess the transportation and installation requirements for the pipe, inter-array cables, umbilical cables, or export cables, as applicable, used in the applicable project will be made available to an interested person upon request; and
“(III) requesting that information on the availability for such applicable project of coastwise-endorsed vessels in the applicable category be submitted within the 30-day period beginning on the date of such publication; and
“(iii)
“(I) within such 30-day period, no information is submitted to the Secretary from owners or operators of coastwise-endorsed vessels in the applicable category to meet the requirements of the applicable project described in the application submitted under clause (i); or
“(II) the owner or operator of a coastwise-endorsed vessel in the applicable category submits information to the Secretary asserting that the owner or operator has a suitable coastwise-endorsed vessel in the applicable category to meet the requirements of the applicable project described in such application, but the Secretary determines, in consultation with the Commandant of the Coast Guard, within 90 days after the notice is first published, that such vessel is not suitable or reasonably available for the transportation required for such applicable project and no other such vessel for which such information has been so submitted is so suitable and reasonably available for such transportation.
“(B) Guidance—For the purpose of providing guidance on making determinations regarding suitability or availability under this paragraph, the Secretary, to the maximum extent practicable, shall contract with the American Bureau of Shipping or another classification society recognized by the Secretary as meeting acceptable standards to provide such guidance.
“(4) Impact of determination
“(A) Coastwise-endorsed vessel availability—After the date on which a determination is made under paragraph (3) that a coastwise-endorsed vessel in the applicable category is available for an applicable project, the owner or operator of a vessel in the applicable category that is not coastwise-endorsed—
“(i) shall engage only in applicable project for which the vessel began or resumed prior to the date of the determination under paragraph (1) that a coastwise-endorsed vessel in the applicable category exists and pursuant to the exemption under subsection (b); and
“(ii) may not engage or resume in any further applicable projects until the vessel is in compliance with the condition under section 30(c)(2)(B) of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1356(c)(2)(B)).
“(B) No coastwise-endorsed vessel availability—After the date on which a determination is made under paragraph (3) that a coastwise-endorsed vessel in the applicable category is not available for an applicable project, the owner or operator of the vessel in the applicable category that is not coastwise-endorsed shall be permitted to engage in the applicable project as authorized under subsection (b) without regard to whether such project has commenced or resumed prior to the date of the determination under paragraph (1) that a coastwise-endorsed vessel in the applicable category exists.
“(5) Time periods—The Secretary shall not extend any period under paragraph (3)(A) beyond the period as required under such paragraph.
“(6) Deemed approval—If the Secretary has failed to take an action required of the Secretary under paragraph (3)(A) within the period required for such action under such paragraph with respect to an application submitted under clause (i) of such paragraph, the owner or operator who submitted such application shall be deemed permitted under paragraph (4)(B) to engage in the applicable project that is the subject of such application.
“(d) Coordination—The Secretary shall coordinate with the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating in order to apply an exemption determined under this section to the condition under section 30(c)(2)(B) with respect to an applicable project.
“(e) Definitions—In this section:
“(1) Applicable category—The term applicable category, with respect to a vessel for which a determination is made under subsection (a), means the category of such vessel as described in paragraph (2) of such subsection.
“(2) Applicable project—The term applicable project—
“(A) with respect to a pipe lay vessel, means a project paying out pipe;
“(B) with respect to an inter-array cable lay vessel, means a project paying out inter-array cables;
“(C) with respect to an umbilical cable lay vessel, means a project paying out umbilical cables; and
“(D) with respect to an export cable lay vessel, means a project paying out export cables.
“(3) Coastwise-endorsed—The term coastwise-endorsed, with respect to a vessel, means that the vessel has been issued a certificate of documentation with a coastwise endorsement under chapter 121 of title 46, United States Code.
“(4) Inter-array cable vessel—The term inter-array cable lay vessel means a vessel paying out inter-array cables to which section 30(c)(2)(B)(ii)(II) applies, including paying out a submarine inter-array cable described in section 12138(b) of title 46, United States Code.
“(5) Export cable lay vessel—The term export cable lay vessel means a vessel paying out export cables to which section 30(c)(2)(B)(ii)(II) applies, including paying out a submarine export cable described in section 12138(b) of title 46, United States Code.
“(6) Pipe lay vessel—The term pipe lay vessel means a vessel paying out pipe to which section 30(c)(2)(B)(ii)(II) applies, including paying out a submarine pipe described in such section 12138(b).
“(7) Umbilical cable lay vessel—The term umbilical cable lay vessel means a vessel paying out umbilical cables to which section 30(c)(2)(B)(ii)(II) applies, including paying out a submarine umbilical cable described in such section 12138(b).
“(8) Secretary—The term Secretary means the Secretary of Transportation.”
Inventory— Section 12138(b) of title 46, United States Code, is amended—
in the heading, by striking “Vessels for cable laying, maintenance, and repair” and inserting “Vessels for paying out pipe, inter-array cables, umbilical cables, or export cables, maintenance, and repair”; and
by amending paragraph (1) to read as follows:
“(1) In general—The Secretary of Transportation shall develop, maintain, and periodically update an inventory of vessels that—
“(A) are documented under this chapter;
“(B) are at least 200 feet in length; and
“(C) have the capability to pay out, maintain, or repair a submarine export cable, inter-array cable, umbilical cable, or pipe without regard to whether a particular vessel is classed as a cable or pipe lay ship or cable or pipe lay vessel.”
by amending paragraph (2)(B) to read as follows:
“(B) the abilities and limitations of the vessel with respect to paying out, maintaining, and repairing a submarine export, inter-array, or umbilical cable or submarine pipeline; and”
by adding at the end the following:
“(4) Categories—For purposes of subsection (c)(3)(A)(ii) of section 30A of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall note the category of each vessel included in the inventory under this subsection in accordance with the categories described in subsection (a)(2) of such section 30A.”
Savings provisions—
In general— Nothing in this section or the amendments made by this section shall authorize a pipe lay vessel, inter-array cable lay vessel, umbilical cable lay vessel, or export cable lay vessel that is not coastwise-endorsed to engage in the transportation of merchandise in coastwise trade.
Definitions— In this subsection:
Coastwise-endorsed— The term coastwise-endorsed has the meaning given the term in section 30A(e) of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, as added by subsection (f)(1).
Export cable lay vessel; inter-array cable lay vessel; pipe lay vessel; and umbilical cable lay vessel— The terms export cable lay vessel, inter-array cable lay vessel, pipe lay vessel, and umbilical cable lay vessel have the meanings given such terms in section 30A(e) of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, as added by subsection (f)(1).
Rule of construction— Nothing in this section or an amendment made by this section shall be construed as adopting any agency interpretations of any provisions of, or terms within, chapter 551 of title 46, United States Code.
Sec. 3 Enforcement
Prohibition on Jones Act penalty mitigation— Section 55102(c) of title 46, United States Code, is amended—
by striking “Merchandise” and inserting the following:
“(1) In general—Merchandise”
by adding at the end the following:
“(2) No mitigation—The Secretary shall not mitigate or lower any such penalty amount.”
Publication of penalties— Section 55102 of title 46, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
“(d) Publication of penalties
“(1) In general—Upon final agency action regarding a violation of this section, with respect to a vessel that does not have a coastwise endorsement under chapter 121 of this title or is not otherwise authorized to engage in the coastwise trade, the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating shall publish a notification in the Customs Bulletin and Decisions within 7 days of such agency action.
“(2) Contents—The notification under paragraph (1) shall include, at a minimum—
“(A) the name of the vessel involved in the violation;
“(B) the name of the owner of the vessel involved;
“(C) the amount of the fine or value of merchandise seized as a result of the violation of subsection (b); and
“(D) a summary of the misconduct and justification for imposing a penalty.
“(e) Regulations—By not later than 90 days after the effective date of the American Offshore Worker Fairness Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall prescribe regulations implementing subsection (d), which may include amending regulations relating to penalties issued by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, particularly with respect to the information to be contained in the notification under such subsection.”
Notification—
Advance notification required— Prior to engaging in any activity or operations on the outer Continental Shelf (as defined in section 2 of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1331)), the operator of a foreign vessel used in such activity or operations shall file with the Secretary of Homeland Security a notification describing all activities and operations to be performed on the outer Continental Shelf and, if applicable, an identification of applicable ruling letters issued by the Secretary that have approved the use of a foreign vessel in an identical activity or operation.
Publication of notices—
Publication— The Secretary shall publish a notification under paragraph (1) in the Customs Bulletin and Decisions within 14 days of receipt of such notification.
Confidential information— The Secretary shall redact any information exempt from disclosure under section 552 of title 5, United States Code, in a notification published under subparagraph (A).
Exceptions— This subsection shall not apply to—
any vessel that—
is performing an offshore lift, as defined in section 30(c)(2)(B)(iv)(I) of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1356 (c)(2)(B)(iv)(I)); and
has a crane height capability of 180 meters; and
any rig or unit described in section 30(d) of such Act (43 U.S.C. 1356(d)).
Sec. 4 Authorization of appropriations for Maritime Centers of Excellence; grant limitation
Amendment to NDAA 2023— Section 3501(a)(4)(B) of the James. M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 (Public Law 117–263) is amended—
by striking “$30,000,000” and inserting “$80,000,000”; and
by inserting “, except that a covered training entity may not receive more than $10,000,000 under such section for a fiscal year” after “United States Code”.
Fiscal years 2024–2028— There are authorized to be appropriated $80,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2024 through 2028 for the Maritime Centers of Excellence, including to make grants authorized under section 51706 of title 46, United States Code.
Grant limitation— Section 51706(b) of title 46, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
“(5) Limitation—A covered training entity may not receive more than $10,000,000 under this section for a fiscal year.”
Sec. 5 Interpretive ruling process
In general— Chapter 551 of title 46, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
“55124. Interpretive ruling process
“(a) Definitions—In this section:
“(1) Coastwise qualified vessel—The term coastwise qualified vessel has the meaning given the term in section 55108 of this title.
“(2) Interested party—The term interested party means—
“(A) the owner or operator of a vessel engaged in coastwise trade;
“(B) a manufacturer of coastwise qualified vessels;
“(C) a certified labor organization, recognized labor organization, or group of workers or mariners which is representative of an industry engaged or employed in—
“(i) the coastwise trade; or
“(ii) coastwise qualified vessel construction;
“(D) a trade or business association, a majority of whose members are—
“(i) owners or operators of vessels engaged in coastwise trade; or
“(ii) manufacturers of coastwise qualified vessels; or
“(E) an association, a majority of whose members are composed of persons described in subparagraphs (A) through (D).
“(3) Secretary—The term Secretary means the Secretary of the Department in which the Coast Guard is operating.
“(b) Interpretive rulings process—Upon written request by an interested party, the Secretary shall furnish, by not later than 60 days after such request, an interpretive ruling regarding a non-coastwise qualified vessel's activities and compliance with United States laws in the internal waters of the United States, the territorial sea, and the waters of the outer Continental Shelf, including the vessel's compliance with sections 50503 and 55101 through 55121 of this title.
“(c) Petition
“(1) In general—After the Secretary furnishes an interpretive ruling requested under subsection (b) or any other interpretive ruling regarding the interpretation, application, or enforcement of the coastwise laws, an interested party that believes the ruling is incorrect may file a petition with the Secretary setting forth—
“(A) the interested party's understanding of the factual scenario;
“(B) the outcome of the decision that the interested party believes to be proper in the provided factual scenario; and
“(C) the reasons for the belief of the interested party.
“(2) Publication—The Secretary shall publish online—
“(A) the name of an interested party filing a petition under paragraph (1); and
“(B) the ruling that such party believes is incorrect.
“(d) Determination on petition
“(1) Correction of interpretive ruling—If, after receipt and consideration of a petition filed under subsection (c) by an interested party, the Secretary determines that the conclusion reached in the contested interpretive ruling is not correct, the Secretary shall, by not later than 60 days after such receipt, determine the proper outcome and notify the interested party of the Secretary's determination.
“(2) Contest by petitioner
“(A) Determination—If after receipt and consideration of a petition filed under subsection (c) by an interested party, the Secretary determines that the contested interpretive ruling under subsection (b) is correct, the Secretary shall, by not later than 30 days after such receipt, notify the interested party.
“(B) Appeal—An interested party that receives a notice under subparagraph (A) may file an appeal to contest the ruling by not later than 30 days after the date of the notification. Upon receipt of an appeal from the interested party, the Secretary shall make a determination of the interpretive ruling as presented in the original ruling under subsection (b) by not later than 7 days after the receipt of the appeal.
“(3) Publication—Not later than 3 days after making a determination under paragraph (1) or (2), the Secretary shall publish online such determination.
“(e) Review of interpretive ruling—Not later than 90 days after the Secretary makes a determination regarding an interpretive ruling under subsection (d)(2)(B), any interested party may commence an action in any district court of the United States, subject to the venue requirements of section 1391 of title 28, by filing concurrently a summons and complaint, each with the content and in the form, manner, and style prescribed by the rules of such court, contesting any legal conclusions of the Secretary.
“(f) Regulations implementing required procedures—By not later than 90 days after the effective date of this section, the Secretary shall prescribe regulations to implement the procedures required under this section.”
Conforming amendment— The table of sections for chapter 551 of title 46, United States Code, is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 55123 the following:
Sec. 6 Regulations regarding affirmation of authority for non-oil and gas operations on the outer Continental Shelf
Not later than 90 days after the effective date of this Act, the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating shall promulgate regulations to implement the amendment made by section 9503 of the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (Public Law 116–283; 134 Stat. 4822) to section 4(a)(1) of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1333(a)(1)) with respect to laws administered by such Secretary.
Sec. 7 Rules of construction
Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act— Nothing in this Act or the amendments made by this Act may be construed to nullify or supersede any other provision of law relating to the outer Continental Shelf (as such term is defined in section 2 of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1331)), except as expressly provided in this Act or an amendment made by this Act.
Ruling letters— Nothing in this Act or the amendments made by this Act may be construed as congressional validation of a ruling letter, interpretative guidance, or doctrine issued, or other action taken, by the Secretary of Homeland Security.
Sec. 8 Authorization of appropriations
There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating and the Secretary of Transportation such sums as may be necessary to carry out this Act and the amendments made by this Act.
Sec. 9 Effective date
This Act, and the amendments made by this Act, shall take effect on the day that is 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act.