---
kind: "section"
citation: "43 U.S.C. § 1346"
title: "43"
title_heading: "Public Lands"
number: "1346"
heading: "Environmental studies"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/43/1346"
units:
  - "Chapter 29 — Submerged Lands"
  - "Subchapter III — Outer Continental Shelf Lands"
---

# §1346. Environmental studies

- (a) **Information for assessment and management of impacts on environment; time for study; impacts on marine biota from pollution or large spills—**
  - (1) The [Secretary](/usc/43/1331.md?p=b) shall conduct a study of any area or region included in any oil and gas [lease](/usc/43/1331.md?p=c) sale or other [lease](/usc/43/1331.md?p=c) in order to establish information needed for assessment and management of environmental impacts on the human, marine, and [coastal environments](/usc/43/1331.md?p=h) of the [outer Continental Shelf](/usc/43/1331.md?p=a) and the coastal areas which may be affected by oil and gas or other mineral [development](/usc/43/1331.md?p=l) in such area or region.
  - (2) Each study required by paragraph (1) of this subsection shall be commenced not later than six months after September 18, 1978, with respect to any area or region where a [lease](/usc/43/1331.md?p=c) sale has been held or announced by publication of a notice of proposed [lease](/usc/43/1331.md?p=c) sale before September 18, 1978, and not later than six months prior to the holding of a [lease](/usc/43/1331.md?p=c) sale with respect to any area or region where no [lease](/usc/43/1331.md?p=c) sale has been held or scheduled before September 18, 1978. In the case of an agreement under [section 1337(k)(2) of this title](/usc/43/1337.md?p=k-2), each study required by paragraph (1) of this subsection shall be commenced not later than 6 months prior to commencing negotiations for such agreement or the entering into the memorandum of agreement as the case may be. The [Secretary](/usc/43/1331.md?p=b) may utilize information collected in any study prior to September 18, 1978.
  - (3) In addition to developing environmental information, any study of an area or region, to the extent practicable, shall be designed to predict impacts on the marine biota which may result from chronic low level pollution or large spills associated with [outer Continental Shelf](/usc/43/1331.md?p=a) [production](/usc/43/1331.md?p=m), from the introduction of drill cuttings and drilling muds in the area, and from the laying of pipe to serve the offshore [production](/usc/43/1331.md?p=m) area, and the impacts of [development](/usc/43/1331.md?p=l) offshore on the affected and coastal areas.
- (b) **Additional studies subsequent to leasing and development of area—** Subsequent to the leasing and developing of any area or region, the [Secretary](/usc/43/1331.md?p=b) shall conduct such additional studies to establish environmental information as he deems necessary and shall monitor the human, marine, and [coastal environments](/usc/43/1331.md?p=h) of such area or region in a manner designed to provide time-series and data trend information which can be used for comparison with any previously collected data for the purpose of identifying any significant changes in the quality and productivity of such environments, for establishing trends in the areas studied and monitored, and for designing experiments to identify the causes of such changes.
- (c) **Procedural regulations for conduct of studies; cooperation with affected States; utilization of information from Federal, State and local governments and agencies—** The [Secretary](/usc/43/1331.md?p=b) shall, by regulation, establish procedures for carrying out his duties under this section, and shall plan and carry out such duties in full cooperation with [affected States](/usc/43/1331.md?p=f). To the extent that other Federal agencies have prepared environmental impact statements, are conducting studies, or are monitoring the affected human, marine, or [coastal environment](/usc/43/1331.md?p=h), the [Secretary](/usc/43/1331.md?p=b) may utilize the information derived therefrom in lieu of directly conducting such activities. The [Secretary](/usc/43/1331.md?p=b) may also utilize information obtained from any [State](/usc/43/1301.md?p=g) or local government, or from any [person](/usc/43/1301.md?p=h), for the purposes of this section. For the purpose of carrying out his responsibilities under this section, the [Secretary](/usc/43/1331.md?p=b) may by agreement utilize, with or without reimbursement, the services, personnel, or facilities of any Federal, [State](/usc/43/1301.md?p=g), or local government agency.
- (d) **Consideration of relevant environmental information in developing regulations, lease conditions and operating orders—** The [Secretary](/usc/43/1331.md?p=b) shall consider available relevant environmental information in making decisions (including those relating to [exploration](/usc/43/1331.md?p=k) plans, drilling permits, and [development](/usc/43/1331.md?p=l) and [production](/usc/43/1331.md?p=m) plans), in developing appropriate regulations and [lease](/usc/43/1331.md?p=c) conditions, and in issuing operating orders.
- (e) **Assessment of cumulative effects of activities on environment; submission to Congress—** As soon as practicable after the end of every 3 fiscal years, the [Secretary](/usc/43/1331.md?p=b) shall submit to the Congress and make available to the general public an assessment of the cumulative effect of activities conducted under this subchapter on the human, marine, and [coastal environments](/usc/43/1331.md?p=h).
- (f) **Utilization of capabilities of Department of Commerce—** In executing his responsibilities under this section, the [Secretary](/usc/43/1331.md?p=b) shall, to the maximum extent practicable, enter into appropriate arrangements to utilize on a reimbursable basis the capabilities of the Department of Commerce. In carrying out such arrangements, the [Secretary](/usc/43/1331.md?p=b) of Commerce is authorized to enter into contracts or grants with any [person](/usc/43/1301.md?p=h), organization, or entity with funds appropriated to the [Secretary](/usc/43/1331.md?p=b) of the Interior pursuant to this subchapter.

## Source credit

(Aug. 7, 1953, ch. 345, § 20, as added Pub. L. 95–372, title II, § 208, Sept. 18, 1978, 92 Stat. 653; amended Pub. L. 103–426, § 1(b), Oct. 31, 1994, 108 Stat. 4371; Pub. L. 104–66, title I, § 1082(b), Dec. 21, 1995, 109 Stat. 722.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

1995—Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 104–66 substituted “every 3 fiscal years” for “each fiscal year”.

1994—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 103–426, § 1(b)(1), inserted “or other lease” after “any oil and gas lease sale” and “or other mineral” after “affected by oil and gas”.

Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 103–426, § 1(b)(2), inserted before last sentence “In the case of an agreement under section 1337(k)(2) of this title, each study required by paragraph (1) of this subsection shall be commenced not later than 6 months prior to commencing negotiations for such agreement or the entering into the memorandum of agreement as the case may be.”

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Termination of Reporting Requirements

For termination, effective May 15, 2000, of provisions of law requiring submittal to Congress of any annual, semiannual, or other regular periodic report listed in House Document No. 103–7 (in which the 15th item on page 111 identifies a reporting provision which, as subsequently amended, is contained in subsec. (e) of this section), see section 3003 of Pub. L. 104–66, as amended, set out as a note under section 1113 of Title 31, Money and Finance.