** America’s abandoned oil well crisis is worse than we thought
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Monday, October 18, 2021
Environmental Defense Fund ([link removed])

A new analysis by the Environmental Defense Fund ([link removed]) has identified more than 81,000 orphaned oil and gas wells across the country—an increase of more than 50% above previous estimates. Orphaned oil wells—those whose owners have gone bankrupt—are major climate problems, often spewing significant quantities of methane, a greenhouse gas 86 times more potent than carbon dioxide.

According to the analysis, all 50 states contain orphaned wells, and roughly 9 million Americans live within a mile of one, including more than 550,000 children under the age of 5. "I think what you get out of this map is a sense of how big this problem is," said ([link removed]) Adam Peltz, a senior attorney at the Environmental Defense Fund. "It's a coast-to-coast problem. It's a rural and urban problem."

In the West, an analysis by the Carbon Tracker Initiative ([link removed]) found that New Mexico taxpayers could be on the hook for more than $10.6 billion to clean up more than 73,000 abandoned oil and gas wells. Remarkably, only 23% of the state's wells are currently producing, one of the lowest rates of major oil producing states. “That is a substantial risk for the people of New Mexico,” said ([link removed]) Rob Schuwerk, executive director of the Carbon Tracker Initiative. “If companies don’t pony up that money, the wells are going to sit there and contaminate the land, or the state of New Mexico’s taxpayers are going to pay it. These are obligations that sit with the companies that operate those wells.”


** Vice President Harris to visit Lake Mead
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On Monday, Vice President Kamala Harris will visit Lake Mead ([link removed]) to discuss drought in the southwest and the need for climate action. In recent years, the key reservoir has fallen rapidly, leading federal officials to trigger consumption cuts in several Western states.

The visit comes as Congress is debating two major infrastructure bills that could provide significant funding for water infrastructure, renewable energy, and climate resilience. Unfortunately, recent reporting suggests ([link removed]) two key senators, including Arizona's Kyrsten Sinema ([link removed]) , are seeking to reduce or eliminate key climate provisions in the legislation.
Quick hits


** Reports suggest Senator Manchin working to tank major climate provisions in Biden budget bill
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New York Times ([link removed])


** House panel holds hearing on intensifying water crisis in the West
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Nevada Current ([link removed]) | KUNC ([link removed])


** Despite punishing drought, decades of conservation measures are paying off in San Diego
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New York Times ([link removed])


** How social media is impacting our public lands, for better or worse
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Durango Herald ([link removed])


** New analysis maps 81,000 orphaned wells across America, identifying major climate problem
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Washington Post ([link removed])


** New Mexico taxpayers could be on hook for billions to clean up abandoned oil wellls
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Carlsbad Current-Argus ([link removed])


** La Niña weather pattern could prolong drought in the southwest this winter
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Wall Street Journal ([link removed])


** Two men paddled across the Great Salt Lake to document its decline. Here's what they saw.
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Salt Lake Tribune ([link removed])
Quote of the day
Utah’s elected leaders will never sue or bully Congress into relinquishing the nation’s claim to national parks, national recreation areas, national forests and national monuments.”
—Salt Lake Tribune Editorial Board ([link removed])
Picture this


** @Interior ([link removed])
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Saguaros reach their arms to the sky in this starlight silhouette at the @BLMNational ([link removed]) Sonoran Desert National Monument in Arizona. Just south of Phoenix, a captivating desert landscape protects these majestic cacti, which can take 100 years to start growing arms.

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