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:

Petition to Secretary of Interior Dirk Kempthorne and Bureau of Land Management Director Kathleen Clarke (pdf 240k)

WORC fact sheet (pdf-17k) - The Need for Stronger Federal Oil and Gas Bonding Requirements

Endorse the Petition:

San Miguel County Commission endorses Oil and Gas Industry
Responsibility Petition.

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:

Press 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

Other 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.