Rigs to Reefs Habitat Protection Act
Key claim: Oil companies would be barred from removing unused Gulf of Mexico platforms that have become important fish habitat until Interior studies them, and could leave those platforms in place as artificial reefs instead of tearing them out.
Abstract
(S96 · 113th Congress) Rigs to Reefs Habitat Protection Act - Directs the Secretary of the Interior to assess each offshore oil and gas platform in the Gulf of Mexico that is no longer useful for operations, and has become critical for a marine fisheries habitat, to: (1) determine whether there are coral populations or other protected species in the platform’s vicinity, and (2) identify any species in the vicinity that have recreational or commercial value. Prohibits the removal of any such platforms until the Secretary has completed each assessment. Requires suspension of the decommissioning of a platform if a substantial reef ecosystem is in the vicinity until the Secretary determines that decommissioning would not harm the ecosystem. Exempts from certain platform removal deadlines any lessees who: (1) commit to entering a particular platform in the artificial reef program under the National Fishing Enhancement Act of 1984, and (2) initiate discussions with applicable states regarding potential artificial reef sites. Allows a lessee to provide for reefing in place under the artificial reef program. Permits states with a state rig-to-reef program to enter agreements with any appropriate entities to assume liability in federal water for a structure covered by the state program. Establishes a Reef Maintenance Fund. Requires the owner of a rig enrolled in the artificial reef program to: (1) maintain a rig anode system; and (2) pay into the Fund 50% of the estimated platform removal costs for which the owner would have been responsible if it had not participated in the program. Latest action (2013-01-23): Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
Why this matters
Federal decommissioning rules currently require operators to remove idle offshore platforms, but many of those structures have functioned as de facto reefs for decades and support commercial and recreational fisheries. This bill would shift the default toward retention pending Interior review, trading full site clearance for habitat continuity while raising questions about long-term liability, corrosion, and navigation risk.