HB5414

New Oil and Gas Well Plugging Assurance Act

Introduced·2/10/26
Intr Text

New Oil and Gas Well Plugging Assurance Act requires new wells to post a bond or escrow funds for future plugging.

The New Oil and Gas Well Plugging Assurance Act mandates that new oil and gas wells in West Virginia either post a full-cost plugging bond or establish an escrow account to cover future plugging costs. This ensures that wells that cease production and lack a responsible operator can still be plugged to prevent environmental damage and property devaluation. The escrow account must be held in a federally insured bank and earn interest, with funds managed by an escrow agent.

Included in complete analysis

  • Overview
  • Core Provisions
  • Implementation
  • Impact
  • Legal Framework
  • Critical Issues

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Where it stands

Current
Energy and Public Works Committee
Next
Committee decision

Sponsors

DD
2
3
RRR
Democratic CaucusRepublican Caucus

History

Feb 10

House

Filed for introduction

Feb 10

House

To Energy and Public Works then Finance

Feb 10

House

Introduced in House