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Orphaned Well Cleanup and Jobs Act of 2021

Introduced: June 11, 2021 Introduced by: Leger Fernandez, Teresa Democratic · New Mexico See on congress.gov
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This bill died when the 117th Congress ended
It never became law before the 117th Congress (2021–2022) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 9 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Dec 15, 2022
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 117-645.
Dec 15, 2022
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 464.
May 26, 2021
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 22 - 17.
May 26, 2021
Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources Discharged.
May 26, 2021
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Apr 15, 2021
Subcommittee Hearings Held.
Apr 14, 2021
Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources.
Apr 8, 2021
Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
Apr 8, 2021
Introduced in House
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

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.

What's happening now December 15, 2022

Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 464.

 Bill text 2 versions

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
 Cosponsors 34
All 34 Democratic 21
Levin, Andy
· Jun 8, 2022
 D
Carter, Troy A.
Louisiana · Feb 1, 2022
 D
Stansbury, Melanie A.
New Mexico · Nov 1, 2021
 D
Carson, André
Indiana · Sep 21, 2021
 D
Carbajal, Salud O.
California · Aug 17, 2021
McNerney, Jerry
· Aug 17, 2021
 D
Dean, Madeleine
Pennsylvania · Jul 21, 2021
Newman, Marie
· Jul 21, 2021
 D
Scott, Robert C. "Bobby"
Virginia · Jul 21, 2021
Jones, Mondaire
· Jun 29, 2021
Yarmuth, John
· Jun 29, 2021
 D
Pocan, Mark
Wisconsin · Jun 11, 2021
Porter, Katie
· Jun 11, 2021
Sires, Albio
· Jun 11, 2021
Blumenauer, Earl
· May 28, 2021
 D
Espaillat, Adriano
New York · May 28, 2021
 D
García, Jesús G. "Chuy"
Illinois · May 28, 2021
 D
Huffman, Jared
California · May 28, 2021
 D
Levin, Mike
California · May 28, 2021
Napolitano, Grace
· May 28, 2021
 D
Ross, Deborah K.
North Carolina · May 28, 2021
 D
Soto, Darren
Florida · May 28, 2021
 D
Welch, Peter
Vermont · May 28, 2021
 D
Barragán, Nanette Diaz
California · May 21, 2021
Cartwright, Matt
· May 21, 2021
 D
Cohen, Steve
Tennessee · May 21, 2021
 D
DeGette, Diana
Colorado · May 21, 2021
 D
Norton, Eleanor Holmes
District of Columbia · May 21, 2021
 D
Tlaib, Rashida
Michigan · May 21, 2021
 D
Velázquez, Nydia M.
New York · May 21, 2021
 D
Castor, Kathy
Florida · Apr 8, 2021
DOYLE, MIKE
· Apr 8, 2021
 D
Grijalva, Raúl M.
Arizona · Apr 8, 2021
Lowenthal, Alan
· Apr 8, 2021
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 2415: Orphaned Well Cleanup and Jobs Act of 2021. 117th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/117-HR-2415/
MLA
"H.R. 2415: Orphaned Well Cleanup and Jobs Act of 2021." 117th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/117-HR-2415/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 2415, 117th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/117-HR-2415/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 2415: Orphaned Well Cleanup and Jobs Act of 2021](https://openamerica.io/bill/117-HR-2415/)
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