Abandoned Mineral Lands and Orphaned Oil and Gas Wells—Legal Instruments

The NPS Geologic Resources Division developed this article as part of a series to summarize laws, regulations, and policies that specifically apply to NPS minerals and geologic resources. The table below does not include laws of general application (e.g., Endangered Species Act, Clean Water Act, Wilderness Act, National Environmental Policy Act, or National Historic Preservation Act). Also, the table does include the NPS Organic Act when it serves as the main authority for protection of a particular resource or when other, more specific laws are not available. Information is current as of December 2023. Contact the NPS Geologic Resources Division for detailed guidance.

Abandoned Mineral Lands and Orphaned Oil and Gas Wells

Resource-specific Laws

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Inflation Reduction Act, and NPS Line Item Construction program:

all provide funding for the reclamation of abandoned mineral lands and the plugging of orphaned oil and gas wells.

Resource-specific Regulations

2006 Management Policies

Related Links

• NPS—Geology—Permits

Energy & Mineral Development

Geologic Resources Inventory