119 STAT. 710
Deadline.
VerDate 14-DEC-2004
08:19 Oct 26, 2006
PUBLIC LAW 109–58—AUG. 8, 2005
(1) work cooperatively with the Secretary of Agriculture and the States within which Federal land is located; and (2) consult with the Secretary of Energy and the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission. (d) PLAN.—Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary, in cooperation with the Secretary of Agriculture, shall submit to Congress a plan for carrying out the program under subsection (a). (e) IDLED WELL.—For the purposes of this section, a well is idled if— (1) the well has been nonoperational for at least 7 years; and (2) there is no anticipated beneficial use for the well. (f) FEDERAL REIMBURSEMENT FOR ORPHANED WELL RECLAMATION PILOT PROGRAM.— (1) REIMBURSEMENT FOR REMEDIATING, RECLAIMING, AND CLOSING WELLS ON LAND SUBJECT TO A NEW LEASE.—The Secretary shall carry out a pilot program under which, in issuing a new oil and gas lease on federally owned land on which 1 or more orphaned wells are located, the Secretary— (A) may require, other than as a condition of the lease, that the lessee remediate, reclaim, and close in accordance with standards established by the Secretary, all orphaned wells on the land leased; and (B) shall develop a program to reimburse a lessee, through a royalty credit against the Federal share of royalties owed or other means, for the reasonable actual costs of remediating, reclaiming, and closing the orphaned wells pursuant to that requirement. (2) REIMBURSEMENT FOR RECLAIMING ORPHANED WELLS ON OTHER LAND.—In carrying out this subsection, the Secretary— (A) may authorize any lessee under an oil and gas lease on federally owned land to reclaim in accordance with the Secretary’s standards— (i) an orphaned well on unleased federally owned land; or (ii) an orphaned well located on an existing lease on federally owned land for the reclamation of which the lessee is not legally responsible; and (B) shall develop a program to provide reimbursement of 100 percent of the reasonable actual costs of remediating, reclaiming, and closing the orphaned well, through credits against the Federal share of royalties or other means. (3) REGULATIONS.—The Secretary may issue such regulations as are appropriate to carry out this subsection. (g) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FOR NON-FEDERAL LAND.— (1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Energy shall establish a program to provide technical and financial assistance to oil and gas producing States to facilitate State efforts over a 10year period to ensure a practical and economical remedy for environmental problems caused by orphaned or abandoned oil and gas exploration or production well sites on State or private land. (2) ASSISTANCE.—The Secretary of Energy shall work with the States, through the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission, to assist the States in quantifying and mitigating
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