Orphaned Wells Cleanup and Jobs Act Aims to Create Jobs and Clean Up Abandoned Oil and Gas Wells Across the US

Strategic Insights -

The Orphaned Wells Cleanup and Jobs Act, introduced by Congresswoman Teresa Leger Fernandez, aims to clean up over 56,000 known "orphaned" oil and gas wells across the country, which are leaking methane, contaminating groundwater, and posing a safety risk to communities. The bill would invest $8 billion to help stimulate rural economies and create jobs cleaning up these sites on federal, state, private, and Tribal lands. The bill also strengthens regulatory safeguards on public lands to prevent future orphaned wells and requires operators to pay an annual fee for idled wells on public lands.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Orphaned Wells Cleanup and Jobs Act aims to clean up over 56,000 known "orphaned" oil and gas wells across the country, which are leaking methane, contaminating groundwater, and posing a safety risk to communities.
  • The bill would invest $8 billion to help stimulate rural economies and create jobs cleaning up these sites on federal, state, private, and Tribal lands.
  • The bill strengthens regulatory safeguards on public lands to prevent future orphaned wells and requires operators to pay an annual fee for idled wells on public lands.
  • The bill allocates $50 million for related research and development to identify, characterize, and mitigate undocumented orphaned wells.
  • The bill has been endorsed by numerous organizations, including ProgressNow New Mexico, New Mexico Environmental Law Center, and National Wildlife Federation.
  • The House Committee on Natural Resources Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources will hold a hearing on the Orphaned Wells Cleanup and Jobs Act on Thursday, April 15th.
  • Testifying at the hearing will be Don Schreiber, a rancher from Rio Arriba County, NM, Lori Wrotenbery, Executive Director at the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission, and Ted Boettner, Senior Researcher at the Ohio River Valley Institute.

Statistics:

  • Over 56,000 known "orphaned" oil and gas wells across the country pose a safety risk to communities.
  • The Orphaned Wells Cleanup and Jobs Act would invest $8 billion to help stimulate rural economies and create jobs cleaning up these sites on federal, state, private, and Tribal lands.
  • $7.25 billion in grant funding would be allocated for orphaned well cleanup on state and private lands.
  • $400 million would be allocated for cleanup on public lands.
  • $300 million would be allocated for cleanup on Tribal lands.
  • $50 million would be allocated for related research and development to identify, characterize, and mitigate undocumented orphaned wells.

Sources:

  • Congresswoman Teresa Leger Fernandez's office
  • House Committee on Natural Resources Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources
  • ProgressNow New Mexico
  • New Mexico Environmental Law Center
  • National Wildlife Federation
  • The Wilderness Society
  • National Wildlife Federation
  • Natural Resources Defense Council