The Regulatory Integrity for Gulf Energy Development Act of 2025 (RIGED Act of 2025) would require federal agencies to guarantee continuity of certain offshore energy permits and related environmental authorities while new permits or opinions are being issued. Specifically, it would (1) extend expired offshore oil and gas permits on the Outer Continental Shelf so that their terms stay in effect for current and similarly situated new permittees until a new permit is finalized, (2) require the Environmental Protection Agency’s (via the Army Corps/other permit-issuing agencies) water discharge permits to continue applying the terms of an expired permit to existing and prospective permittees until a new one is issued, and (3) deem ongoing compliance with a prior biological opinion under ESA and MMPA until a new biological opinion is approved. The bill also creates interagency working groups to coordinate this continuity, and requires timely notification to Congress and the President about these working groups. In short, the bill aims to prevent regulatory or permit gaps that could delay offshore energy development by maintaining existing permit terms and environmental compliance obligations during the transition to new permits or opinions, while mandating interagency coordination and transparency.
Key Points
- 1Continuity of federal permits for offshore oil and gas leasing (OCS Lands Act, Section 8): If a permit has expired, the Secretary must keep all terms and conditions in effect for the current and similarly situated permittees until a new permit is issued, coordinating with other federal agencies as needed. A joint agency working group may be established to manage this process, with Congress and the President notified within 15 days of its creation, including its members, scope, and estimated duration.
- 2Continuity of federal permits for oil and gas production (Clean Water Act, Section 402(a)): If a new discharges permit covering multiple permittees is being issued and is reasonably similar to an expired permit, the Administrator must continue applying the terms of the expired permit to both existing and prospective permittees until the new permit is issued.
- 3Continuity of federal biological opinions (ESA/MMPA): For the Gulf of Mexico offshore program, compliance with the prior Biological Opinion remains deemed compliant with Endangered Species Act and Marine Mammal Protection Act requirements until a new biological opinion is approved.
- 4Interagency coordination and governance: The bill enables and directs the Secretary to form joint agency working groups with representatives from relevant Federal agencies to ensure interagency collaboration, streamline permit continuity, and maintain regulatory compliance.
- 5Transparency and notification: Establishment of working groups must be reported to Congress and the President within 15 days, including names/titles of members, scope and objectives, and estimated duration.