July 25, 2018
Gov. John Hickenlooper signed an executive order on July 18
intended to address safety issues at over 500 orphaned wells and
fracking sites. The move follows a review Hickenlooper ordered after a
house explosion caused by gas leaking from an orphaned fracking well
killed Joey Irwin and Mark Martinez and severely injured Erin Martinez
in Firestone in 2017.
"That tragedy was a catalyst that compels us to improve the safety
of Colorado's oil and gas industry," Hickenlooper said in a press
release announcing the order.
The executive order aims to reduce the number of "high- and medium-priority orphaned wells and orphaned sites to zero"; enlist the oil and gas industry in plugging, remediating and reclaiming the sites; and create "a system of financial assurance that prevents future orphaned wells and orphaned sites by providing sufficient funding for plugging, remediation and reclamation activities."
Read more:
https://www.csindy.com/coloradosprings/hickenlooper-orders-remediation-of-orphaned-oil-and-gas-wells/Content?oid=13995939
