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119-s-4239119th Congress

Plug Offshore Wells Act

Sponsored By: Senator Welch, Peter [D-VT]

In Committee

Summary

Annual public reporting on offshore oil and gas decommissioning would require the Department of the Interior to publish yearly data on wells, platforms, pipelines, and related enforcement actions to boost transparency and oversight.

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  • The Department of the Interior would have to deliver a public report to Congress and post it on the Department website starting two years after enactment and then every year. The report must cover six data categories tied to subpart Q of part 250 and related CFR sections.
  • Offshore operators would see their decommissioning activity reflected in the report, including applications submitted and received, missed decommissioning deadlines, and approvals to decommission in place or remove infrastructure.
  • The public and Congress would get annual information on pipeline lengths removed versus decommissioned in place and on Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement enforcement statuses. That includes notices of noncompliance, orders, citations, civil penalties, and disqualifications from future operations.
  • The Act does not authorize new spending and instead creates a standing statutory obligation for the Secretary to gather, compile, and publish the specified metrics.

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Bill Overview

No Economic Impacts Identified for this Bill

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Welch, Peter [D-VT]

VT • D

Cosponsors

  • Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR]

    OR • D

    Sponsored 3/26/2026

  • Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR]

    OR • D

    Sponsored 3/26/2026

  • Sen. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA]

    MA • D

    Sponsored 3/26/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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