Oil and gas: abandoned wells.
While the bill primarily makes nonsubstantive changes to existing regulations, its emphasis on collaboration with various agencies suggests a potential enhancement to statewide approaches concerning abandoned well management. By establishing clear strategies for both extraction and future prevention of gas accumulations, AB 3091 could lead to improved oversight and potentially mitigate environmental risks associated with unused or unsealed wells.
AB 3091, introduced by Assembly Member Boerner, proposes amendments to Section 3241 of the Public Resources Code concerning the management of abandoned oil and gas wells. The bill mandates that the State Oil and Gas Supervisor must work with relevant state and local agencies to create a strategy for extracting accumulations of methane and other hazardous gases from these wells, particularly in areas identified as high-risk by the supervisor. The goal is to safeguard public health and safety from the dangers posed by these gases.
Although the bill does not introduce any new enforcement capabilities or obligations, debates may arise regarding the effectiveness of existing frameworks to address abandoned wells. Stakeholders may express differing opinions on whether the current measures adequately protect public health or whether additional legislation is needed to enhance safety and environmental protections further. Moreover, discussions might center on the clarity and efficiency of the proposed strategies and their implementation at both state and local levels.