Posted by Kevin Slagle on April 05, 2000 at 17:07:10:
Just to clear up a few misconceptions, SB 241 has no language in it that would prohibit or limit in any way diving on a decommissioned oil platform. There currently is language in the bill that would designate the platforms as marine refuge sites, which would prohibit sports fishing. This portion of the bill may or may not make it through the Assembly. The sportfishing industry is supportive of the bill even with that restriction in place.
Also, the bill does not mandate that any rig be decommissioned as a reef. It only sets up a process that would allow that to happen on a case-by-case basis. SB 241 also creates a Marine Endowment that would be funded by a substantial portion (up to 65 percent) of the savings an oil company would receive by only partially removing the rig.