‘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
Illinois quick hits: Convicted felon suspected of shooting two officers; Chicago Mayor orders up to $900,000 for additional peacekeepers; Belleville man faces attempted murder charge
Lincoln-Way D210 Approves $483,000 Agreement with Illinois Bone and Joint Institute, Adds Seventh Athletic Trainer
Manhattan Fire Board Reviews Financials, Navigates ‘No Tax on Overtime’ Law
Pitching Duo Dominates as Lincoln-Way West Baseball Edges Oak Forest 4-2
Will County Passes Comprehensive Adult Entertainment Ordinance
Manhattan Village Board Unanimously Adopts $32.7 Million Budget for Fiscal Year 2027
Correspondents’ dinner attacker detained with multiple weapons
BREAKING: Trump, cabinet OK after shots fired at White House Correspondents dinner
U.S. House Republicans face jam-packed week ahead
Trump again scraps peace talks with Iran
U.S. Supreme Court to hear TPS for Haiti, Syria Wednesday
Manhattan Fire District Details Kankakee Tornado Response, Station and Apparatus Progress
Local Programs Shine as Lincoln-Way Central, Crete-Monee, and Lincoln-Way West Capture Titles at Marszalek Invitational
