Orphaned Well Cleanup and Jobs Act of 2021

Bill: 117-hr-2415
Sponsor: Rep. Leger Fernandez, Teresa [D-NM-3]
Introduced: 2021-04-08 in the House
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Air quality
Civil actions and liability
Climate change and greenhouse gases
Congressional oversight
Employment and training programs
Environmental assessment, monitoring, research
Environmental health
Government information and archives
Indian lands and resources rights
Land use and conservation
Minority health
Oil and gas
Pipelines
State and local government operations
User charges and fees
Water quality
Wildlife conservation and habitat protection

Summary:
action_date: 2021-04-08
text: 

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.

action_date: 2022-12-15
text: 

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.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2022-12-15
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 464.
action_date: 2022-12-15
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 117-645.
action_date: 2022-12-15
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 117-645.
action_date: 2021-05-26
text: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 22 - 17.
action_date: 2021-05-26
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2021-05-26
text: Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources Discharged.
action_date: 2021-04-15
text: Subcommittee Hearings Held.
action_date: 2021-04-14
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources.
action_date: 2021-04-08
text: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
action_date: 2021-04-08
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2021-04-08
text: Introduced in House