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Bill117th CongressFiled Apr 8, 2021Energy
H.R. 2415

Orphaned Well Cleanup and Jobs Act of 2021

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Under committee review

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What it doesSummary reported to house (Dec 15, 2022)

Orphaned Well Cleanup and Jobs Act of 2021

This bill establishes incentives and requirements to permanently plug orphaned (i.e., abandoned) oil and gas wells and clean up pollution leaking from such wells.

Specifically, the bill directs the Department of the Interior to establish grant programs to plug and clean up orphaned wells located on federal, state, tribal, and private land.

Interior must also issue regulations that require each operator of an idled well on federal land to pay an annual, nonrefundable fee for each well. If the operator fails to pay the fee, then Interior may assess a civil penalty. Revenues generated from such fees must be used for activities related to cleaning up orphaned wells.

Additionally, the bill requires the review of the adequacy of bonds or other financial arrangements for oil and gas development on public land leased from the federal government. Such bonds or financial arrangements are currently required to ensure developers have adequate financial resources to remediate and reclaim public land, water, or other resources after wells are abandoned or oil and gas development ceases.

What just happenedDec 15, 2022

Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 464.

Who’s behind it

Rep. Leger Fernandez, Teresa [D-NM-3](D-NM)Sponsor
34 cosponsors34 D
Read on Congress.gov
34cosponsors1committees11actions17subjects
  1. Dec 15, 2022CalendarsH12410

    Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 464.

  2. Dec 15, 2022CommitteeH12200

    Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 117-645.

    Natural Resources Committee
  3. Dec 15, 2022Committee5000

    Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 117-645.

    Natural Resources Committee
  4. May 26, 2021Committee

    Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 22 - 17.

    Natural Resources Committee
  5. May 26, 2021Committee

    Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

    Natural Resources Committee
  6. May 26, 2021Committee

    Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources Discharged.

    Natural Resources Committee
  7. Apr 15, 2021Committee

    Subcommittee Hearings Held.

    Energy and Mineral Resources Subcommittee
  8. Apr 14, 2021Committee

    Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources.

    Energy and Mineral Resources Subcommittee
  9. Apr 8, 2021IntroReferralH11100

    Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.

    Natural Resources Committee
  10. Apr 8, 2021IntroReferralIntro-H

    Introduced in House

  11. Apr 8, 2021IntroReferral1000

    Introduced in House

Reported to HouseDec 15, 20227

Orphaned Well Cleanup and Jobs Act of 2021

This bill establishes incentives and requirements to permanently plug orphaned (i.e., abandoned) oil and gas wells and clean up pollution leaking from such wells.

Specifically, the bill directs the Department of the Interior to establish grant programs to plug and clean up orphaned wells located on federal, state, tribal, and private land.

Interior must also issue regulations that require each operator of an idled well on federal land to pay an annual, nonrefundable fee for each well. If the operator fails to pay the fee, then Interior may assess a civil penalty. Revenues generated from such fees must be used for activities related to cleaning up orphaned wells.

Additionally, the bill requires the review of the adequacy of bonds or other financial arrangements for oil and gas development on public land leased from the federal government. Such bonds or financial arrangements are currently required to ensure developers have adequate financial resources to remediate and reclaim public land, water, or other resources after wells are abandoned or oil and gas development ceases.

Introduced in HouseApr 8, 2021

Orphaned Well Cleanup and Jobs Act of 2021

This bill establishes incentives and requirements to permanently plug orphaned (i.e., abandoned) oil and gas wells and clean up pollution leaking from such wells.

Specifically, the bill directs the Department of the Interior to establish grant programs to plug and clean up orphaned wells located on federal, state, tribal, and private land.

Interior must also issue regulations that require each operator of an idled well on federal land to pay an annual, nonrefundable fee for each well. If the operator fails to pay the fee, then Interior may assess a civil penalty. Revenues generated from such fees must be used for activities related to cleaning up orphaned wells.

Additionally, the bill requires the review of the adequacy of bonds or other financial arrangements for oil and gas development on public land leased from the federal government. Such bonds or financial arrangements are currently required to ensure developers have adequate financial resources to remediate and reclaim public land, water, or other resources after wells are abandoned or oil and gas development ceases.

Orphaned Well Cleanup and Jobs Act of 2021 — Informed