These wells illustrate the urgent need to increase minimum bond amounts that accurately reflect the true costs of well plugging and clean-up.
Look West: Public lands and energy news from the Center for Western Priorities
** Orphaned and abandoned oil and gas wells threaten cultural resources in the Southwest
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Thursday, March 7, 2024
Fajada Butte in Chaco Culture National Historic Park, U.S. Geological Survey ([link removed])
A new report ([link removed]) from Archaeology Southwest explores the impacts of orphaned and abandoned oil and gas wells and other infrastructure on sacred and cultural sites across the Southwest. In New Mexico, more than 2,000 abandoned wells have been identified, and 200 of those abandoned wells are within ten miles of Chaco Culture National Historic Park and Aztec Ruins National Monument. In Utah, hundreds of abandoned wells are scattered across a landscape that includes Bears Ears and Canyons of the Ancients national monuments, Arches and Canyonlands national parks, and a sacred landscape referred to as the Lands Between.
Abandoned wells—which are no longer producing oil or gas but haven't been properly cleaned up and plugged—can leak methane and toxic chemicals into the surrounding air and water, polluting the landscape and threatening the health of residents ([link removed]) of nearby communities. The sheer number of abandoned wells across the country makes them difficult and expensive to track and address. And in the case of orphaned wells—which have no identifiable owner because the company went bankrupt or otherwise vanished—there is no one to hold responsible, leaving taxpayers stuck with the clean-up costs.
These wells illustrate the urgent need to increase minimum bond amounts that accurately reflect the true costs of plugging and cleaning up oil and gas wells and other infrastructure. The Bureau of Land Management's proposed oil and gas rule ([link removed]) contains updates to minimum bond amounts for oil and gas drilling on public lands. The agency must publish the final rule by the end of April to avoid the risk of the rule being overturned ([link removed]) through the Congressional Review Act process.
Judge denies Gianforte's effort to avoid conservation funding veto override
In Montana, Lewis and Clark County District Court Judge Mike Menahan has rejected Governor Greg Gianforte's efforts to avoid giving the state legislature an opportunity to override his veto of Senate Bill 442 from the 2023 legislative session, which would direct recreational marijuana tax revenues to a number of conservation programs, among other purposes. "Over the last year, millions of dollars could have been spent benefitting Montana’s infrastructure, veterans, agriculture industry, wildlife, and outdoor enthusiasts," said Noah Marion ([link removed]) , political and state policy director at Wild Montana. Gianforte and Montana Secretary of State Christi Jacobsen now have fourteen days to initiate a veto-override process, appeal the ruling, or do both concurrently.
** Quick hits
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Judge orders veto override opportunity for Montana conservation funding
Daily Montanan ([link removed]) | Montana Free Press ([link removed])
Uranium transport plan proceeds despite local opposition
Arizona Republic ([link removed])
Rare earth mining in Wyoming: High hopes or hype?
WyoFile ([link removed])
The mastermind behind oil in the Uinta basin
Radiowest ([link removed])
Colorado to restrict Suncor refinery's discharge of "forever chemicals," other toxic pollutants
Colorado Sun ([link removed]) | Denver Post ([link removed])
SEC approves weakened climate disclosure rule
Associated Press ([link removed]) | New York Times ([link removed]) | NPR ([link removed]) | E&E News ([link removed])
New Colorado River agreement stops short of giving Tribes a seat at the table
Salt Lake Tribune ([link removed]) | Colorado Sun ([link removed])
Glen Canyon Dam has created a world of mud
Writers on the Range ([link removed])
** Quote of the day
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” If you go to a meeting about uranium in the Navajo Nation, people will be crying because the land is still contaminated, their family is either sick or has already died, and there still is no money and no cleanup.”
—Leona Morgan, Haul No!, Arizona Republic ([link removed])
** Picture This
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@nevadapubliclands ([link removed])
We are the Bureau of Land Management, Nevada! We manage 48 million acres of public lands, from the dramatic peaks of Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area to the ruggedly remote Black Rock Desert and almost everything in between.
Explore a ghost town, coast down a sand dune, catch a glimpse of a bighorn sheep, hike a historic trail, find a gemstone... You can do all that on BLM Nevada lands.
Want to know more about the special places we manage and the work we do? We are officially kicking off a #NVPublicLands ([link removed]) tour. All year long we will be exploring each of the unique districts throughout the state and sharing them with you.
📸: Kellie Dobrescu
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