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119-hr-5745119th Congress

Marine Fisheries Habitat Protection Act

Sponsored By: Representative Ezell, Mike [R-MS-4]

In Committee

Summary

Convert inactive offshore oil and gas structures into artificial reefs to promote fish habitat. This bill would build a single federal pathway for 'reefing in place', add a State program that can assume liability, and set clear timelines and appeals to make reefing projects more predictable.

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  • Operators and permit applicants would follow a stepwise process with an assessment in 180 days, an eligibility decision within 60 days after the assessment, designation of a Reef Planning Area within 90 days, and possible reefing within three years if wells are plugged, hydrocarbons removed, and marking or other safety steps are done.
  • States could opt into a State Program to take ownership and ongoing liability for approved reefs within one year of planning area designation, with State funding capped at 50 percent of the applicant's documented cost savings unless the applicant agrees to more.
  • Fisheries and coastal communities would see more opportunities to create artificial reefs from eligible inactive structures under an approach designed to promote fish habitat while keeping pipeline abandonment rules unchanged.
  • The bill adds formal appeals windows for agency denials, including a 60-day appeal route under the reefing process and a 150-day appeal period tied to Outer Continental Shelf decisions, and it limits removal orders during defined assessment and approval phases to provide predictability.

*Net effect: would establish a predictable, unified reefing framework that expands artificial reef options while preserving existing decommissioning pathways.*

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

New reef-in-place approval process

If enacted, this bill would create a step-by-step reef-in-place process for inactive offshore structures. You could file a Notice of Intent to Reef at any time. The agency would start an assessment within 180 days and try to finish it in one year. The Director would decide eligibility within 60 days of the assessment and designate a Reef Planning Area within 90 days. You could reef in place within three years of an Eligible Structure finding if wells are permanently plugged, hydrocarbons removed, any required markers installed, there are no other outstanding liabilities, liability is transferred or agreed to be transferred to a State, and the Secretary finds the structure sound. If enacted, you would be able to appeal a Director decision by filing a written appeal within 60 days; the Director would decide the appeal within 60 days and that decision would be final agency action eligible for judicial review. If enacted, an Applicant could withdraw from the reef process at any time by written notice and then remove or decommission the structure under existing law. If enacted, the Interior Secretary would be barred from issuing or enforcing a Removal Order during defined review periods, including the first year after a Notice of Intent, assessment periods (up to 18 months), the pending determination period, up to three years after an Eligible Structure finding, and for 150 days after an appeal is filed, unless the structure poses an immediate danger to navigation or the marine environment.

Pipeline abandonment rules unchanged

If enacted, this bill would not change current federal rules for pipeline abandonment or decommissioning. Pipeline abandonment in place would continue to follow existing regulatory processes. If enacted, a pipeline would not need new permits unless it is specifically designated for conversion to an Artificial Reef.

State takeover of reef liability option

If enacted, a State with a reef program could agree to take responsibility and legal liability for an Approved Structure. A State must enter such an agreement no later than one year after a Reef Planning Area is designated. If enacted, the State would pay the Applicant a one-time amount that may not exceed 50 percent of the Applicant's calculated cost savings, as determined by the Applicant and approved by the State, unless the Applicant agrees to a higher payment. If enacted and the State accepts the structure, the Applicant would have no responsibility or liability for the structure after reefing, and the State would be solely responsible for maintenance and liability.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Ezell, Mike [R-MS-4]

MS • R

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Carter, Troy A. [D-LA-2]

    LA • D

    Sponsored 10/14/2025

  • Rep. Veasey, Marc A. [D-TX-33]

    TX • D

    Sponsored 10/14/2025

  • Rep. Fields, Cleo [D-LA-6]

    LA • D

    Sponsored 10/24/2025

  • Rep. Vindman, Eugene Simon [D-VA-7]

    VA • D

    Sponsored 10/24/2025

  • Rep. Moore, Barry [R-AL-1]

    AL • R

    Sponsored 12/9/2025

  • Rep. Weber, Randy K. Sr. [R-TX-14]

    TX • R

    Sponsored 6/22/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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