H. R. 6—116
(8) ensure through appropriate peer review that the science 
conducted by participating agencies and organizations is of 
the highest technical quality. 
(c) MEMBERSHIP.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—To ensure comprehensive collection of 
scientific data, in carrying out the Initiative, the Secretary 
shall consult and coordinate with Federal, State, and local 
agencies that have responsibilities for land and resource 
management across the North Slope. 
(2) COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS.—The Secretary shall enter 
into cooperative agreements with the State of Alaska, the North 
Slope Borough, the Arctic Slope Regional Corporation, and other 
Federal agencies as appropriate to coordinate efforts, share 
resources, and fund projects under this section. 
(d) SCIENCE TECHNICAL ADVISORY PANEL.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Initiative shall include a panel to 
provide advice on proposed inventory, monitoring, and research 
functions. 
(2) MEMBERSHIP.—The panel described in paragraph (1) 
shall consist of a representative group of not more than 15 
scientists and technical experts from diverse professions and 
interests, including the oil and gas industry, subsistence users, 
Native Alaskan entities, conservation organizations, wildlife 
management organizations, and academia, as determined by 
the Secretary. 
(e) REPORTS.—Not later than 3 years after the date of enact-
ment of this section and each year thereafter, the Secretary shall 
publish a report that describes the studies and findings of the 
Initiative. 
(f) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There are authorized 
to be appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out this 
section. 
SEC. 349. ORPHANED, ABANDONED, OR IDLED WELLS ON FEDERAL 
LAND. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary, in cooperation with the Sec-
retary of Agriculture, shall establish a program not later than 
1 year after the date of enactment of this Act to remediate, reclaim, 
and close orphaned, abandoned, or idled oil and gas wells located 
on land administered by the land management agencies within 
the Department of the Interior and the Department of Agriculture. 
(b) ACTIVITIES.—The program under subsection (a) shall— 
(1) include a means of ranking orphaned, abandoned, or 
idled wells sites for priority in remediation, reclamation, and 
closure, based on public health and safety, potential environ-
mental harm, and other land use priorities; 
(2) provide for identification and recovery of the costs of 
remediation, reclamation, and closure from persons or other 
entities currently providing a bond or other financial assurance 
required under State or Federal law for an oil or gas well 
that is orphaned, abandoned, or idled; and 
(3) provide for recovery from the persons or entities identi-
fied under paragraph (2), or their sureties or guarantors, of 
the costs of remediation, reclamation, and closure of such wells. 
(c) COOPERATION
AND CONSULTATIONS.—In carrying out the 
program under subsection (a), the Secretary shall—
H. R. 6—117
(1) work cooperatively with the Secretary of Agriculture 
and the States within which Federal land is located; and 
(2) consult with the Secretary of Energy and the Interstate 
Oil and Gas Compact Commission. 
(d) PLAN.—Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Secretary, in cooperation with the Secretary of 
Agriculture, shall submit to Congress a plan for carrying out the 
program under subsection (a). 
(e) IDLED WELL.—For the purposes of this section, a well is 
idled if— 
(1) the well has been nonoperational for at least 7 years; 
and 
(2) there is no anticipated beneficial use for the well. 
(f) FEDERAL REIMBURSEMENT FOR ORPHANED WELL RECLAMA-
TION PILOT PROGRAM.— 
(1) REIMBURSEMENT FOR REMEDIATING, RECLAIMING, AND 
CLOSING WELLS ON LAND SUBJECT TO A NEW LEASE.—The Sec-
retary shall carry out a pilot program under which, in issuing 
a new oil and gas lease on federally owned land on which 
1 or more orphaned wells are located, the Secretary— 
(A) may require, other than as a condition of the lease, 
that the lessee remediate, reclaim, and close in accordance 
with standards established by the Secretary, all orphaned 
wells on the land leased; and 
(B) shall develop a program to reimburse a lessee, 
through a royalty credit against the Federal share of royal-
ties owed or other means, for the reasonable actual costs 
of remediating, reclaiming, and closing the orphaned wells 
pursuant to that requirement. 
(2) REIMBURSEMENT FOR RECLAIMING ORPHANED WELLS ON 
OTHER LAND.—In carrying out this subsection, the Secretary— 
(A) may authorize any lessee under an oil and gas 
lease on federally owned land to reclaim in accordance 
with the Secretary’s standards— 
(i) an orphaned well on unleased federally owned 
land; or 
(ii) an orphaned well located on an existing lease 
on federally owned land for the reclamation of which 
the lessee is not legally responsible; and 
(B) shall develop a program to provide reimbursement 
of 100 percent of the reasonable actual costs of remediating, 
reclaiming, and closing the orphaned well, through credits 
against the Federal share of royalties or other means. 
(3) REGULATIONS.—The Secretary may issue such regula-
tions as are appropriate to carry out this subsection. 
(g) TECHNICAL
ASSISTANCE
PROGRAM
FOR
NON-FEDERAL 
LAND.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Energy shall establish 
a program to provide technical and financial assistance to oil 
and gas producing States to facilitate State efforts over a 10-
year period to ensure a practical and economical remedy for 
environmental problems caused by orphaned or abandoned oil 
and gas exploration or production well sites on State or private 
land. 
(2) ASSISTANCE.—The Secretary of Energy shall work with 
the States, through the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact 
Commission, to assist the States in quantifying and mitigating