Wyoming doesn’t want the federal government’s $35 million offer to plug orphan oil and gas wells.
The Biden administration’s Interior Department this week offered the availability of $775 million to 21 states to clean up legacy pollution.
Orphan wells are abandoned wells for which no owner can be determined. That number is fractional on public lands. It’s a different story on private lands, where there are substantially more.
The government’s offer to help clean up orphan wells in Wyoming was the sixth largest dollar amount made available to the 21 energy-producing states.
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Other cleanup offers larger than Wyoming’s include $52.8 million to California; up to $102.6 million for Oklahoma; $86.6 million to Ohio; up to $152.8 to Pennsylvania; and $119.5 million to Texas.
Oklahoma and Texas could receive less money based on ongoing negotiations for previous grant funds offered.
Tom Kropatsch, oil and gas supervisor for the Wyoming Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (WOGCC) in Casper, told Cowboy State Daily in an email that his agency isn’t interested in the offer.
“We do not intend to apply for this second phase of the formula grant,” said Kropatsch, who did not immediately offer an explanation why his organization is turning down the money.
The commission has tracked the orphan well program with electronic records since the early 1990s, when it saw a peak of 7,250 orphan wells on its list. Of those, the commission has plugged 6,250.
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Manna From Heaven
The orphan well cleanup money was made available to states through the 3-year-old Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, a catchall piece of federal legislation designed to help build everything from wind turbines and solar farms to cleaning up environmental messes and plugging leaky wells.
The orphan well program was designed in two phases.
Since August 2022, the federal government has awarded $565 million in initial grants to 25 states and another $444 million in a first phase of the cleanup program to 18 states.
Details of the second phase of the cleanup program were released this week, which begins the next phase to apply for an estimated $775 million in formula grant funds. The 21 states have until Dec. 13 to apply.
Kropatsch previously told Cowboy State Daily that the orphan well issue is well under control in Wyoming.
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In April, Kropatsch said that the 538 orphan private and state wells that are not under contract for plugging will likely be put out for bid with plugging to begin in late 2024 and continue into 2025.
At that time, the state’s Oil and Gas Conservation Commission had 1,010 private and state wells on its orphan list, with 472 of those wells under contract to be plugged, all of which will likely be plugged in 2024.
The U.S. Bureau of Land Management believes that orphan wells are big issue.
Some critics like the Petroleum Association of Wyoming disagree.
The Wyoming trade group worries that a new BLM rule could force oil and gas developers to leave Wyoming — or worse, America.
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BLM issued the new rule April 11 that could make it difficult for some oil and gas companies to bid on energy leases on public lands.
The energy industry’s biggest beef with the rule is that the BLM may force developers to pay higher bonding amounts to drill on public land. The higher bond amount is meant to deter some developers from walking away from the drilling site and leaving a mess behind without any financial incentive to clean up.
Pat Maio can be reached at pat@cowboystatedaily.com.
Porcupine Falls, a hiking trail located south of the Montana-Wyoming state line, is a hidden gem for those who have visited.
The 0.7 mile hike leads directly into a swimming hole that is surrounded by cliffs with a large waterfall pouring in.
The beautiful area is unknown to many.
“If you drove by it on the mountain or the road, you’d never know it was there,” said frequent visitor Jeremy Stewart of Sheridan.
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Stewart and his family visit often.
“We try to come here once or twice a year for the last 10 years I’d say probably,” Stewart said.
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Others, like Gillette residents Trisha and Francisco Garibay, were pleasantly surprised to find this trail so close to home.
“It was a good hike,” Francisco said. “A little steep and a good workout.”
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“It’s amazing,” Trisha said. “I’m like how did we ever miss this place? It’s crazy that it’s right in our back door.”
The hike itself isn’t too challenging. There’s even been manmade steps built to help hikers find the falls.
“It’s accessible,” Trisha said. “You’ve got little kids and you’ve got elderly people walking. Our four-year-old is with us and he basically did the whole thing.”
Those steps and extra people bring excitement for Stewart, who said he wants to share the views with as many people as possible.
“It’s phenomenal all the people that get to see it,” Stewart said. “Ten years ago, everyone was like, ‘I don’t know what you’re talking about.’”
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And the beautiful scenery speaks for itself.
“It’s like you’re walking into a paradise,” Trisha said. “It’s so beautiful. There were people fishing and swimming. It was great.”
Even though the hike is becoming more popular, most aren’t as courageous as the Stewart family when it comes to jumping into the freezing water. Jeremy said that’s his favorite part.
“It’s usually hot coming down, so it feels great to jump in the cold water,” Stewart said with a smile after jumping in. “It was chilly. I mean, I’ll do it again, but it was chilly.”
Utah and Wyoming teamed up to sue the BLM for skipping a step in the process before they imposed a new rule that significantly impacts land management and restricts your use of millions of acres of federal land.
The BLM Rule restricts access in the interest of conservation but Utah and Wyoming are fighting back saying the new rule was put into place illegally. The States say the BLM Rule doesn’t comply with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), which requires the study of the environmental effects of new rules on federal land.
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The Utah Attorney General’s Office is on top of this lawsuit saying the BLM exceeded its authority—limiting access to $245 million acres nationwide of federal public land, including $22.8 million acres here in Utah.
In this episode, we’re speaking with Jason Deforest, an assistant attorney general in our office, who is overseeing this lawsuit.
Fitter and Faster Swim Camps is the proud sponsor of SwimSwam’s College Recruiting Channel and all commitment news. For many, swimming in college is a lifelong dream that is pursued with dedication and determination. Fitter and Faster is proud to honor these athletes and those who supported them on their journey.
Katherine Beauchene from Pleasant Valley, Connecticut, has committed to swim and study at the University of Wyoming beginning next fall. She will be the second member of her family to swim in the NCAA, as her older brother Alex Beauchene is a rising senior on the Providence College men’s team.
“I am excited to announce my verbal commitment to the University of Wyoming. Thank you to Coach Dave and Coach Kristin for giving me this opportunity. I can’t wait to swim in the pool with the tumbleweeds. Thank you to Coach Mario for coaching me since I was 5, and helping me become who I am today. Thank you to Coach Jason and Mary for an amazing high school career. Mom and Dad, it’s only a 3.5-hour flight to the pool. I’m so thrilled to be a cowgirl and contribute to helping Wyoming get a Mountain West Championship. Go pokes!!”
Beauchene swam and ran cross-country at Northwestern Regional High School in Winsted, CT. Because cross-country and girls’ swimming are both fall sports, she swam with the boys’ team in the spring. She placed 3rd in the 500 free (4:58.01) at the 2024 CIAC Boys Class S Championship, helping Northwest Regional finish 5th in the team standings. She was a three-time cross country all-state athlete, five-time scholar athlete, and cross-country league champion during her prep career, and she was a member of the National Honors Society.
Beauchene told SwimSwam, “Outside of swimming I like to go fishing, hangout with my friends, go the beach, go hiking, and camping,” which makes us think Wyoming is the perfect match for her.
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In club swimming, where she trains and competes with Farmington Valley YMCA Tsunami, Beauchene was a top-8 finisher in the 1000 free (5th, 10:17.44) and 1650 free (5th, 17:12.96) at the 2024 YMCA Short Course National Championships. This summer, she earned lifetime bests in the LCM 200 back and 200 breast at the Connecticut LSC Long Course Senior State Championships. Last summer, she notched PBs in the 800/1500 free, 50 back, and 400 IM at the 2023 YMCA Long Course National Championships.
Best SCY times:
100 back – 56.75
200 back – 2:03.54
1650 free – 17:10.03
1000 free – 10:16.02
500 free – 4:58.01
200 free – 1:52.35
400 IM – 4:25.07
200 IM – 2:07.46
Beauchene will suit up for the Cowgirls with Avery True, Macey Hansen, and Taylor Cureton next fall.
If you have a commitment to report, please send an email with a photo (landscape, or horizontal, looks best) and a quote to [email protected].
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