In a state flush with oil and gas revenues, state officials and lawmakers butted heads Thursday over why the tank always seems to be running on empty when it comes to funding the capping and cleanup of wells at the end of their lifespans.

Currently, the Oil Conservation Commission is evaluating a proposal to increase the bonding rate for companies that buy marginal wells, in an effort to ensure operators can pay to clean up any mess left behind.

But several legislators on the interim Water and Natural Resources Committee questioned at Thursday’s meeting in Artesia why an increased bonding rate was needed given that the Oil Conservation Division already has an oil and gas reclamation fund — which is paid for through a tax on the industry — to plug abandoned wells and pay for environmental

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