SACRAMENTO — In a strong move to hold oil companies responsible for the economic and public health dangers of oil wells left idle and unplugged, Governor Gavin Newsom has signed AB 1167, the “Orphan Well Prevention Act,” into law. This bill, authored by Assemblymember Wendy Carrillo, will ensure that the state receives a bond covering the full cost of site cleanup when an idle or marginally producing oil well is sold.
An increasing number of wells at the end of their life are being “orphaned,” meaning they have been left without a responsible owner or available funds to properly plug them. These unplugged wells can leak hazardous air pollutants and methane, sometimes at explosive levels. Dozens of idle wells have recently been found leaking in Bakersfield, Kern County, and Los…
Read the full article originally published at cleantechnica.com.