Bill Overview
Title: Abandoned Well Remediation Research and Development Act
Description: This bill requires the Department of Energy to establish a research, development, and demonstration program with respect to (1) data collection on the location of abandoned oil or gas wells; (2) the plugging, remediation, reclamation, and repurposing of the wells; and (3) strategies to mitigate potential environmental impacts of documented and undocumented abandoned wells.
Sponsors: Sen. Lujan, Ben Ray [D-NM]
Target Audience
Population: Communities living near abandoned oil and gas wells
Estimated Size: 5000000
- Abandoned oil and gas wells can leak harmful pollutants into the air and groundwater, impacting the health of those living nearby.
- Communities in regions historically involved in oil and gas extraction tend to have higher concentrations of abandoned wells.
- Research will likely focus on areas with extensive well-drilling history, such as Texas, Oklahoma, and Alaska in the US and Alberta in Canada.
- The effectiveness of abandoned well remediation can have global impacts on climate change and pollution control, affecting everyone indirectly.
- Environmental organizations and regulators will closely monitor the outcomes of this research for more effective policy-making.
Reasoning
- The direct impact of the "Abandoned Well Remediation Research and Development Act" is on communities near abandoned oil and gas wells, primarily in states like Texas, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Louisiana, and other historically extractive areas. Therefore, the simulated interviews will target individuals from these areas and relevant occupations.
- Given the budget constraints and the wide distribution of abandoned wells, immediate high-impact is unlikely for every affected individual, but overall environmental improvement can lead to medium-term wellbeing benefits hence medium to low direct impact on individuals and larger indirect benefits over time.
- The policy aims to reduce environmental hazards such as soil contamination and gas emissions, which in the long term, promote healthier living conditions, reflected in improving Cantril Wellbeing scores over time for those near these sites.
- Not all individuals in these areas will recognize the policy's impact initially, leading to varied perceptions across interviews, emphasizing potential or non-obvious benefits.
- We include individuals from different demographics to simulate diverse perspectives, including those unrelated and thus not impacted, to understand the commonness and saturation of this issue across different populations.
Simulated Interviews
Environmental Scientist (Houston, Texas)
Age: 52 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I believe the policy is a critical step in protecting our local environment.
- There's been a significant concern over the pollution from these wells.
- It's reassuring to see government intervention, but proper implementation is key.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 10 | 4 |
Oil Rig Operator (Tulsa, Oklahoma)
Age: 35 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm optimistic about the policy, anything that improves our health and environment is a plus.
- Communities like ours need more attention on these forgotten sites.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 5 |
Software Engineer (Los Angeles, California)
Age: 43 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I don't see a direct impact on my life.
- It's interesting but not something I worry about daily.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Teacher (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania)
Age: 29 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm hopeful this policy can reduce some of the risks associated with abandoned wells around here.
- It could mean a safer environment for future generations.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 5 |
Retired (Baton Rouge, Louisiana)
Age: 62 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- We've seen what these wells can do, and it's high time something serious is done.
- I'm cautiously optimistic, hoping for real change.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 5 |
Environmental Lawyer (Anchorage, Alaska)
Age: 44 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This is a necessary policy for future legal and environmental standards.
- I'm interested to see how efficiently this is executed in scattered communities.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 6 |
Student (Fairbanks, Alaska)
Age: 19 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think it's a good move but it doesn't really impact me.
- Hopefully, it'll improve conditions for some communities.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Nurse (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma)
Age: 46 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- If implemented properly, this policy could significantly improve public health.
- We've needed a dedicated effort like this for a long time.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 5 |
Farmer (Rural Pennsylvania)
Age: 57 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy could really help save my land from further damage.
- I've been anxious about losing crop quality due to contamination.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 3 |
Entrepreneur (Dallas, Texas)
Age: 38 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I see the environmental benefit but question the economic impact and practicality.
- My day-to-day won't change much.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $21000000 (Low: $18000000, High: $25000000)
Year 2: $21000000 (Low: $18000000, High: $25000000)
Year 3: $21000000 (Low: $18000000, High: $25000000)
Year 5: $21000000 (Low: $18000000, High: $25000000)
Year 10: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 100: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Key Considerations
- The coordination between the DOE and state agencies is critical to ensure data accuracy and remediation efficiency.
- The ability to leverage existing research frameworks and partnerships with universities and technology developers will significantly impact program success.