Bill > AB1866

This bill would revise and recast the provisions related to idle wells in California. The key provisions include: - Increasing the fees for idle wells, and imposing fees for wells that have been idle for less than 3 years. The fees range from $1,000 to $60,000 per well depending on the duration of idleness. - Requiring operators to file a plan with the state oil and gas supervisor to provide for the management and elimination of all idle wells, instead of just long-term idle wells. The plan must consider certain factors when prioritizing wells for plugging and abandonment. - Increasing the minimum percentages of idle wells that operators are required to eliminate each year, ranging from 5% to 20% depending on the total number of idle wells under the operator's control. - Exempting certain inaccessible wells or wells subject to a court-approved settlement agreement from the bill's requirements. - Expanding the annual report on idle and long-term idle wells to include a list of wells approved as inaccessible. - Providing that no reimbursement is required for any state-mandated local program costs, as the bill creates new crimes or infractions.

Agriculture and Natural Resources, Budget and Finance, Justice

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240AB1866