‘Pro-taxpayer’ law requires operators to clean up abandoned Illinois oil wells
(The Center Square) – A state lawmaker says recently-signed legislation will ensure that Illinois taxpayers don’t foot the bill for cleaning up abandoned oil wells.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed Senate Bill 2463 earlier this month. The bill sponsor, state Sen. Erica Harriss, R-Glen Carbon, said the measure addresses a costly problem.
“So the law would ensure that oil well operators, not taxpayers, are financially responsible for closing and remediating sites once the drilling operations have ceased,” Harriss explained.
According to the Environmental Defense Fund, more than 150,000 oil, gas, and injection wells have been drilled in Illinois since 1853. EDF mapped locations for the state’s 4,050 “orphan” oil wells, most of which are in Southern Illinois.
The EDF website states that oil and gas wells, after they are done producing, must be properly closed to prevent air and water pollution, protect the health of the surrounding communities and restore the property values of the landowner.
When the abandoned wells have no solvent owner of record, cleanup liability falls on the state or on funding from federal grants. The average cost to close one well is estimated to be around $20,000, with remediation costing tens of thousands more.
SB 2463 provides for a third-party-backed bond instead of cash deposits for future oil rigs, sparing the Illinois Department of Natural Resources from cleanup costs.
“This bill is about accountability, that taxpayers shouldn’t be footing that bills when operators walk away from obligations,” Harris told The Center Square.
Harriss said she worked with the Illinois DNR and the oil and gas industry on the legislation.
“They were most certainly included in the conversation and this is not anti-oil and gas at all. This is pro-taxpayer,” Harriss said.
Senate Bill 2463 passed both chambers of the General Assembly with no opposition last spring.
The new law takes effect Jan. 1, 2026.
Showers And Thunderstorms
Latest News Stories
Will County Shapes 2026 Federal Agenda, Prioritizing Health, Housing, and Workforce Funding
WATCH: Trump: Pritzker should beg for help with public safety in Chicago
L.A. congresswoman insists on health insurance tax credits
Newsom threatens university funding over Trump’s education deal
Former Los Angeles schools chief runs against city’s mayor
Illinois quick hits: WARN report layoffs total 1,689; Powerball winners in Rochelle and Colona
No ethics reform in sight as ex-speaker’s scheduled prison term begins
Trump losing ground on economy, poll finds
Major tech company to cut H-1B visas amid Trump pressure, fee
US, India to hold new round of trade talks, with focus on energy
Johnson: Republicans ‘have plans’ to ‘fix’ Obamacare
Illinois House Speaker: ‘Mr. Trump, tear down this fence!’
