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A new report 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 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 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 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, 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.
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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.”
