Energy and Mineral Resources Subcommittee, Natural Resources Committee
Introduced
In Committee
On Floor
Passed Chamber
Enacted
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.
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Timeline
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources.
Subcommittee Hearings Held.
Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources Discharged.
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 22 - 17.
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 464.
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 117-645.
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources.
Subcommittee Hearings Held.
Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources Discharged.
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 22 - 17.
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 464.
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 117-645.
Energy
Air qualityCivil actions and liabilityClimate change and greenhouse gasesCongressional oversightEmployment and training programsEnvironmental assessment, monitoring, researchEnvironmental healthGovernment information and archivesIndian lands and resources rightsLand use and conservationMinority healthOil and gasPipelinesState and local government operationsUser charges and feesWater qualityWildlife conservation and habitat protection
Orphaned Well Cleanup and Jobs Act of 2021
USA117th CongressHR-2415| House
| Updated: 12/15/2022
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.
Energy and Mineral Resources Subcommittee, Natural Resources Committee
Energy
Introduced
In Committee
On Floor
Passed Chamber
Enacted
Air qualityCivil actions and liabilityClimate change and greenhouse gasesCongressional oversightEmployment and training programsEnvironmental assessment, monitoring, researchEnvironmental healthGovernment information and archivesIndian lands and resources rightsLand use and conservationMinority healthOil and gasPipelinesState and local government operationsUser charges and feesWater qualityWildlife conservation and habitat protection