RIGED Act: Gulf Drilling Permits Could Stay Active Indefinitely, Relying on 2020-21 Wildlife Assessments

The proposed 'Regulatory Integrity for Gulf Energy Development Act of 2025,' or RIGED Act for short, is looking to change how offshore oil and gas permits work in the Gulf of Mexico. In a nutshell, Section 3 of the bill says if a federal permit for drilling or production expires, its existing terms and conditions just keep rolling over for both current and any future permit holders until a brand-new permit is officially approved and finalized. The main idea is to prevent any operational stops and starts for energy companies waiting on paperwork.

Keeping the Lights On, But Under Which Rules?

This bill directly tweaks two major laws: the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, which governs offshore leasing, and the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, which handles water discharge permits. The big change? If a company's permit—say, for discharging treated water from a platform—expires, Section 3 of the RIGED Act allows the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Administrator to just keep the old permit's rules in play. While the bill states these continued permits must align with federal laws and standards, the core mechanism is extending the old permit terms. This could mean that an operation continues under environmental or safety protocols that might be years old, potentially missing out on updates that would come with a freshly reviewed permit. Think of it like your car registration expiring, but you get to keep driving with last year's sticker and rules until the DMV processes your new one, whenever that might be.

Frozen in Time? Environmental Reviews on Repeat

Another key piece of the RIGED Act, also in Section 3, deals with how offshore energy projects comply with protections for endangered species and marine mammals. It specifies that sticking to a National Marine Fisheries Service Biological Opinion from March 13, 2020 (amended April 24, 2021) counts as full compliance with the Endangered Species Act and the Marine Mammal Protection Act. This continues until a new biological opinion is approved. Biological Opinions are critical environmental reviews assessing potential harm to wildlife. The concern here is that the Gulf's ecosystem is dynamic, and new scientific information about species like the Rice's whale or sea turtles emerges regularly. Relying on a 2020/2021 assessment could mean decisions are made without the latest data, potentially for an extended period, especially since that specific 2020 Biological Opinion has faced legal challenges and was even vacated by a court (though that vacatur is set for late 2024).

The Bottom Line: Certainty for Whom, and at What Cost?

So, who wins and who might worry? For offshore energy developers, the RIGED Act could offer welcome regulatory certainty and prevent costly operational shutdowns while waiting for permit renewals. No more limbo. However, for those concerned about the Gulf's environment—from coastal communities to conservation groups—this bill raises questions. Allowing operations to continue indefinitely under potentially outdated permits or environmental assessments could mean a slower adoption of the latest safety and environmental protection measures. While Section 3 does mention that the Secretary of the Interior can set up working groups with other agencies to coordinate, the primary thrust is maintaining the status quo of existing permits. Ultimately, it’s a balancing act: operational continuity for industry versus potentially lagging environmental oversight for one of the nation's most critical marine ecosystems.