Orphaned Well Cleanup and Jobs Act of 2021
- Last Action
- 12/15/2022
Actions
- 2022-12-15Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 464.
- 2022-12-15Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 117-645.
- 2022-12-15Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 117-645.
- 2021-05-26Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 22 - 17.
- 2021-05-26Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
- 2021-05-26Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources Discharged.
- 2021-04-15Subcommittee Hearings Held.
- 2021-04-14Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources.
- 2021-04-08Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
- 2021-04-08Introduced in House
- 2021-04-08Introduced in House
CRS Summary
As of 2022-12-15 (07)
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.
Cosponsors (20)
- Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ)
- Alan Lowenthal (D-CA)
- Kathy Castor (D-FL)
- MIKE DOYLE (D-PA)
- Matt Cartwright (D-PA)
- DIANA DEGETTE (D-CO)
- Steve Cohen (D-TN)
- Nanette Barragan (D-CA)
- NYDIA VELAZQUEZ (D-NY)
- ELEANOR NORTON (D-DC)
- Rashida Tlaib (D-MI)
- Adriano Espaillat (D-NY)
- Darren Soto (D-FL)
- Jared Huffman (D-CA)
- EARL BLUMENAUER (D-OR)
- GRACE NAPOLITANO (D-CA)
- Peter Welch (D-VT)
- Mike Levin (D-CA)
- Deborah Ross (D-NC)
- Jesus Garcia (D-IL)
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
Sourced from Congress.gov (public domain).
This is legal information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always verify current law with official sources and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice on your specific situation.