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Orphaned Well Cleanup and Jobs Act of 2021

USA117th CongressHR-2415| House 
| Updated: 12/15/2022
Teresa Leger Fernandez

Teresa Leger Fernandez

Democratic Representative

New Mexico

Cosponsors (34)
Jared Huffman (Democratic)Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (Democratic)Raúl M. Grijalva (Democratic)Mark Pocan (Democratic)Darren Soto (Democratic)John A. Yarmuth (Democratic)Mondaire Jones (Democratic)Troy A. Carter (Democratic)Andy Levin (Democratic)Michael F. Doyle (Democratic)Madeleine Dean (Democratic)Melanie A. Stansbury (Democratic)Steve Cohen (Democratic)Adriano Espaillat (Democratic)Alan S. Lowenthal (Democratic)André Carson (Democratic)Matt Cartwright (Democratic)Kathy Castor (Democratic)Eleanor Holmes Norton (Democratic)Salud O. Carbajal (Democratic)Diana DeGette (Democratic)Nydia M. Velázquez (Democratic)Jerry McNerney (Democratic)Marie Newman (Democratic)Peter Welch (Democratic)Albio Sires (Democratic)Earl Blumenauer (Democratic)Deborah K. Ross (Democratic)Nanette Diaz Barragán (Democratic)Jesús G. "Chuy" García (Democratic)Rashida Tlaib (Democratic)Grace F. Napolitano (Democratic)Katie Porter (Democratic)Mike Levin (Democratic)

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.

Bill Text Versions

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Timeline
Apr 8, 2021
Introduced in House
Apr 8, 2021
Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
Apr 14, 2021
Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources.
Apr 15, 2021
Subcommittee Hearings Held.
May 26, 2021
Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources Discharged.
May 26, 2021
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
May 26, 2021
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 22 - 17.
Dec 15, 2022
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 464.
Dec 15, 2022
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 117-645.
  • April 8, 2021
    Introduced in House


  • April 8, 2021
    Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.


  • April 14, 2021
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources.


  • April 15, 2021
    Subcommittee Hearings Held.


  • May 26, 2021
    Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources Discharged.


  • May 26, 2021
    Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.


  • May 26, 2021
    Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 22 - 17.


  • December 15, 2022
    Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 464.


  • December 15, 2022
    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.

Bill Text Versions

View Text
2 versions available

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline
Apr 8, 2021
Introduced in House
Apr 8, 2021
Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
Apr 14, 2021
Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources.
Apr 15, 2021
Subcommittee Hearings Held.
May 26, 2021
Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources Discharged.
May 26, 2021
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
May 26, 2021
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 22 - 17.
Dec 15, 2022
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 464.
Dec 15, 2022
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 117-645.
  • April 8, 2021
    Introduced in House


  • April 8, 2021
    Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.


  • April 14, 2021
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources.


  • April 15, 2021
    Subcommittee Hearings Held.


  • May 26, 2021
    Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources Discharged.


  • May 26, 2021
    Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.


  • May 26, 2021
    Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 22 - 17.


  • December 15, 2022
    Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 464.


  • December 15, 2022
    Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 117-645.
Teresa Leger Fernandez

Teresa Leger Fernandez

Democratic Representative

New Mexico

Cosponsors (34)
Jared Huffman (Democratic)Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (Democratic)Raúl M. Grijalva (Democratic)Mark Pocan (Democratic)Darren Soto (Democratic)John A. Yarmuth (Democratic)Mondaire Jones (Democratic)Troy A. Carter (Democratic)Andy Levin (Democratic)Michael F. Doyle (Democratic)Madeleine Dean (Democratic)Melanie A. Stansbury (Democratic)Steve Cohen (Democratic)Adriano Espaillat (Democratic)Alan S. Lowenthal (Democratic)André Carson (Democratic)Matt Cartwright (Democratic)Kathy Castor (Democratic)Eleanor Holmes Norton (Democratic)Salud O. Carbajal (Democratic)Diana DeGette (Democratic)Nydia M. Velázquez (Democratic)Jerry McNerney (Democratic)Marie Newman (Democratic)Peter Welch (Democratic)Albio Sires (Democratic)Earl Blumenauer (Democratic)Deborah K. Ross (Democratic)Nanette Diaz Barragán (Democratic)Jesús G. "Chuy" García (Democratic)Rashida Tlaib (Democratic)Grace F. Napolitano (Democratic)Katie Porter (Democratic)Mike Levin (Democratic)

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