Look West: Public lands and energy news from the Center for Western Priorities
** Colorado drillers go out of business rather than clean up after themselves
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Wednesday, February 21, 2024
Oil well in Rangely, Colorado, Wikimedia Commons ([link removed])
The environmental think tank Carbon Tracker found that 39 percent of Colorado oil and gas companies haven't completed financial assurance plans to guarantee they'll clean up after themselves—and some drillers are going out of business ([link removed]) before they can complete the process.
Carbon Tracker's report ([link removed]) focuses on the state's new bonding rules, which were required under a voter-approved overhaul of oil and gas regulations in 2019. The report warns that loopholes in Colorado's regulations could leave the state with less money in financial guarantees than it had before the new rules.
The Colorado Sun ([link removed]) highlights two low-volume producers from the report: WME Yates submitted a bonding plan but went out of business before it was approved, leaving 212 wells behind for taxpayers to clean up. Omimex Petroleum had its financial plan approved, but went out of business before it posted any bonds, leaving behind 339 wells.
Large producers are taking advantage of a category in Colorado's rules that lets them declare wells to be "out-of-service," removing them from bonding requirements in exchange for a promise that the wells will be plugged within six years.
Chevron subsidiary Noble Energy categorized 1,700 of its Colorado wells as "out-of-service," letting the company reduce its bonding obligation from $21 million to just $6 million.
** Quick hits
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GAO slams failed oil and gas decommissioning onshore and in Gulf of Mexico
E&E News ([link removed])
'Pointless' Utah bill would take inventory in new attempt to transfer federal land
St. George News ([link removed])
Biden administration announces $500 million for wildfire resilience
The Hill ([link removed]) | E&E News ([link removed])
Editorial: Americans have duty to preserve land, culture for future generations
Las Vegas Sun ([link removed])
Damming the Colorado River wiped out Cataract Canyon—now it's back
Rolling Stone ([link removed])
Sheep may graze under solar panels in Wyoming 'agrivoltaic' project
Inside Climate News ([link removed])
Forest Service rekindles burn practices with local tribes
SG News ([link removed])
You can kayak in Death Valley—for the moment
CNN ([link removed])
** Quote of the day
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” The less charitable way to read this bill is it’s just part of Ken Ivory’s quixotic quest to get rid of national public lands in Utah, which has always been — No. 1, pointless and No. 2, deeply unpopular.”
—Center for Western Priorities Deputy Director Aaron Weiss, St. George News ([link removed])
** Picture This
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@mypubliclands ([link removed])
New Mexico's Organ Mountains - Desert Peaks National Monument is a picturesque landscape of rocky peaks, narrow canyons, and open ranges. A must-see location to add to your travel bucket list!
Established to protect significant prehistoric, geologic, cultural, and biological resources, the monument provides excellent opportunities for photography, hiking, horseback riding, mountain biking, camping, and wildlife viewing.
📸 Justina Thorsen
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