Contact: Mollie Michel, mmichel@momscleanairforce.org, 718-536-6336
Washington, DC – Today, Senators Ben Ray Luján (D-NM) and Kevin Cramer (R-ND) introduced the Revive Economic Growth and Reclaim Orphaned Wells (REGROW) Act of 2021 to plug and remediate leaking orphaned oil and gas wells across the nation. There are more than 56,000 documented orphaned wells on federal, state, and tribal land that pose a significant threat to our health and climate. These orphaned wells, which have no known responsible party, must be cleaned up to protect our children’s future.
In response to today’s announcement, Moms Clean Air Force issued the following statement:
“Today’s introduction of the REGROW Act of 2021 by Senators Lujan (NM) and Cramer (ND) is an important step to address methane and other harmful pollutants leaking from the 56,000 documented orphaned oil and gas wells across our nation,” said Patrice Tomcik, Moms Clean Air Force National Field Manager and Oil and Gas Specialist, who lives in Southwest Pennsylvania with oil and gas wells in her community. “For far too long, children who live, learn, or play near oil and gas wells have been disproportionately impacted by the oil and gas industry’s pollution, which puts their health and safety at risk while contributing to climate change. Moms Clean Air Force is eager to work on reforms and policies that will protect communities and our climate from the oil and gas industry’s legacy pollution.”