The Oil and Gas Industry Responsibility Petition would require the oil and gas industry to reclaim land damaged by drilling and to provide financial assurance bonds to protect taxpayers and landowners from restoration costs.

The Natural Resources Defense Council, WORC and four of its member groups (Dakota Resource Council, Northern Plains Resource Council, Powder River Basin Resource Council, and Western Colorado Congress), and the New Mexico Wildlife Federation have submitted a rulemaking petition with the U.S. Bureau of Land Management on May 31, 2006.

Petition to Secretary of Interior Dirk Kempthorne and Bureau of Land Management Director Kathleen Clarke
WORC fact sheet - The Need for Stronger Federal Oil and Gas Bonding Requirements

Endorse the Petition
San Miguel County Commission endorses Petition

The San Miguel Board of County Commissioners became the first governmental body to support WORC’s Oil and Gas Industry Responsibility Petition on November 22.

Dave Schneck, San Miguel County’s environmental health director, told the Telluride Daily Planet that he brought the petition before the commissioners.

“It’s [WORC is] a good group,” he said. “How can anybody possibly object to what they’re asking for? It’s perfectly reasonable.”

• Endorsement form
• List of endorsements
• Resolution of support

Supporting Declarations

Donald Nelson - farmer/rancher, Keene, North Dakota; WORC Chair, Dakota Resource Council
Nancy Sorenson - farmer/rancher, Arvada, Wyoming, Powder River Basin Resource Council
Scott Crockett - rancher, Campbell County, Wyoming
Robert Elderkin - retired BLM range manager, Silt, Colorado
James Kuipers - mining engineer, Butte, Montana

News Teleconference

WORC News Release
Statements

• Donald Nelson - WORC Chair, Dakota Resource Council
• David Newman - attorney, Natural Resources Defense Council
• Robert Elderkin - retired BLM range manager, Silt, Colorado, Western Colorado Congress
• Eric Barlow - veterinarian and rancher, Gillette, Wyoming, Powder River Basin Resource Council

Resources

• Filling the Gaps - reveals a potential multi-billion dollar taxpayer liability for clean-up of oil and gas sites throughout the West.
• Law & Order in the Oil and Gas Fields - focuses on safeguarding our air, water, land, and quality of life by strengthening oil and gas inspection and enforcement programs.
• Government Accountability Office Report - confirms findings of WORC's Law & Order report.