Udall seeks Salazar probe into abandoned Gulf wells

A Democratic senator wants Interior Secretary Ken Salazar to investigate whether abandoned offshore oil and gas wells in the Gulf of Mexico pose any dangers.

Sen. Mark Udall (D-Colo.) is asking his former Colorado Senate Democratic colleague to look into an AP report Wednesday that more than 27,000 abandoned oil and gas wells in the Gulf have not been checked for leaks.

“This report is of great concern to me, as I’m sure it is to you,” Udall wrote Salazar. He said the wells may “pose additional environmental and economic stresses in the already damaged Gulf ecosystem.”

Udall wants Salazar to look into the matter once the Gulf spill has been stopped and emergency environmental remediation has taken place. Udall is seeking answers regarding which abandoned wells are in federal waters and whether they pose an environmental threat. He is also seeking clarity on any obligations the Interior Department has to inspect or ensure proper closure of the wells after production has stopped and whether any differences lie between onshore and offshore requirements for abandoned or orphaned wells.

Salazar also needs to indicate whether Congress may need to address the issue, Udall said.