Environmental Groups Sue New Mexico Over Unplugged Oil and Gas Wells

Lawsuit Claims State Failed to Enforce Cleanup Requirements

Lawsuit Targets State Oversight

SANTA FE, N.M. — Several environmental groups have filed a lawsuit accusing New Mexico officials of failing to enforce laws that require oil and gas companies to plug inactive wells that can pollute air and water.

The lawsuit was filed Monday in New Mexico District Court by the Center for Biological Diversity, San Juan Citizens Alliance, and To Nizhoni Ani. The groups say thousands of wells across the state remain inactive and unplugged, posing risks to nearby communities.

According to the complaint, wells that are not properly sealed can release methane and other pollutants and may suffer mechanical failures that threaten public health and safety. The groups argue the state has not taken adequate steps to ensure oil and gas operators clean up wells once production ends.

Allegations of Weak Enforcement

The lawsuit says New Mexico has benefited financially from oil and gas development but has failed to enforce requirements designed to address environmental impacts after wells stop producing.

Under the New Mexico Oil and Gas Act, the state is required to collect funds from companies to cover the cleanup of abandoned wells. The plaintiffs say the state instead has allowed operators to neglect remediation without facing penalties.

Mike Eisenfeld, energy climate program director at San Juan Citizens Alliance, said the lack of enforcement has created ongoing problems for communities near old oil and gas infrastructure.

“We've experienced the runaround with the lack of oversight for oil and gas facilities that are no longer producing,” Eisenfeld said. “It's unfair that they leave these old, decrepit wells behind in our communities without any consequences and/or fiscal responsibility.”

Thousands of Wells Involved

The lawsuit identifies about 3,300 inactive wells in New Mexico that were abandoned by 340 oil and gas operators. The groups warn that the number could rise significantly in the future.

Plaintiffs say tens of thousands of additional wells are expected to become inactive in the coming years as production slows or companies shift operations. Without proper enforcement of cleanup rules, the lawsuit argues, the environmental and public safety risks could grow.

Unplugged wells can leak methane, a potent greenhouse gas, along with other harmful pollutants. The complaint also says such wells may deteriorate over time, increasing the likelihood of failures that could affect nearby residents and ecosystems.

Call for State Action

The plaintiffs are asking the court to require the state to enforce existing laws that mandate cleanup of abandoned wells and ensure oil and gas companies pay for remediation.

Zach Pavlik, an attorney with the Center for Biological Diversity’s Climate Law Institute, said the case focuses on holding companies accountable for the environmental impacts of their operations.

“We all grew up learning that if you make a mess, you clean it up,” Pavlik said. “This shouldn't be controversial. The state needs to enforce the law.”

The lawsuit seeks to compel state officials to follow the requirements outlined in the Oil and Gas Act and address the growing number of inactive wells.