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Orphans and Zombies — Reporting on Abandoned Oil and Gas Wells Across the Country [1]

For more than a century, oil and gas companies have been drilling — and abandoning — wells across the country, leaving hundreds of thousands to potentially leak pollutants into the air, water and soil. Climate and environment reporter Martha Pskowski looks at how funding and regulatory issues are impacting efforts to identify and plug these wells, and offers resources for drilling into their story.

SEJ Publication Types: 
Features [2]
Topics on the Beat: 
Agriculture [3]
Air [4]
Climate Change [5]
Economy & Business [6]
Energy & Fuel [7]
Environmental Health [8]
Government [9]
Health [10]
Journalism & Media [11]
Laws & Regulations [12]
Natural Resources [13]
Policy [14]
Pollution [15]
Technology [16]
Water & Oceans [17]
Wildlife [18]
Region: 
National (U.S.) [19]
Great Lakes (IL IN MI MN OH WI) [20]
Great Plains (IA KS ND NE MO SD) [21]
Mid-Atlantic (DC DE MD PA VA WV) [22]
Mountain West (CO ID MT NV UT WY) [23]
Southwest (AZ NM OK TX) [24]
Visibility: 
Public [25]
  • Read more about Orphans and Zombies — Reporting on Abandoned Oil and Gas Wells Across the Country [1]

"U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Reverses Recovery Plan For Gray Wolves" [26]

"The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will not issue a nationwide recovery plan for gray wolves, it announced this week. The plan was slated to be launched in December of this year."

Biodiversity [27]
Environmental Politics [28]
Laws & Regulations [12]
Wildlife [18]
Public [25]
National (U.S.) [19]
Mountain West (CO ID MT NV UT WY) [23]
Source: National Parks Traveler [29], 11/07/2025
  • Read more about "U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Reverses Recovery Plan For Gray Wolves" [26]

Montana’s Blackfeet Nation Turns To An Old Friend For Food Sovereignty: Bison [30]

"Local non-profits and schools are helping students explore traditional practices paired with modern science to make food sovereignty a reality"

Biodiversity [27]
Consumer [31]
Environmental Justice [32]
Food [33]
People & Population [34]
Wildlife [18]
Public [25]
National (U.S.) [19]
Mountain West (CO ID MT NV UT WY) [23]
Source: Guardian [35], 10/24/2025
  • Read more about Montana’s Blackfeet Nation Turns To An Old Friend For Food Sovereignty: Bison [30]

"‘Test Case’ For NEPA: Fast-Tracked Mine Reviews Fuel Outcry" [36]

"BLM is narrowing reviews for proposed mining projects in states like Nevada and Utah. Critics say the agency is on shaky legal ground."

Environmental Politics [28]
Laws & Regulations [12]
Natural Resources [13]
Pollution [15]
Public [25]
National (U.S.) [19]
Mountain West (CO ID MT NV UT WY) [23]
Source: E&E News [37], 10/24/2025
  • Read more about "‘Test Case’ For NEPA: Fast-Tracked Mine Reviews Fuel Outcry" [36]

Trump BLM Cancels Major Solar Project In Latest Hit To Renewable Energy [38]

"The Trump administration has killed a huge proposed solar power project in Nevada that would have been one of the largest in the world, indicating that the White House plans to attack not only wind power but all renewable energy."

Climate Change [5]
Economy & Business [6]
Energy & Fuel [7]
Environmental Politics [28]
Infrastructure [39]
Laws & Regulations [12]
Technology [16]
Public [25]
Mountain West (CO ID MT NV UT WY) [23]
Source: Guardian [40], 10/14/2025
  • Read more about Trump BLM Cancels Major Solar Project In Latest Hit To Renewable Energy [38]

"The Resistance Rangers Want Your Help in Protecting National Parks" [41]

"On March 1, under a clear sky, hundreds of people flocked to Colorado’s Rocky Mountain National Park—not to picnic but to protest. Two weeks earlier, the National Park Service had fired roughly 1,000 employees."

Activism [42]
Biodiversity [27]
Environmental Politics [28]
Environmental Studies [43]
Government [9]
Natural Resources [13]
People & Population [34]
Public [25]
National (U.S.) [19]
Mountain West (CO ID MT NV UT WY) [23]
Source: Sierra [44], 10/03/2025
  • Read more about "The Resistance Rangers Want Your Help in Protecting National Parks" [41]

"What Do Fens Do? Make Peat, Store Water And Help Combat Climate Change" [45]

"Meet the researchers restoring these unique wetlands high in Colorado’s San Juan Mountains."

Biodiversity [27]
Climate Change [5]
Environmental Studies [43]
Natural Resources [13]
Science [46]
Water & Oceans [17]
Public [25]
National (U.S.) [19]
Mountain West (CO ID MT NV UT WY) [23]
Source: High Country News [47], 09/30/2025
  • Read more about "What Do Fens Do? Make Peat, Store Water And Help Combat Climate Change" [45]

Bureau of Land Management to Sell Off Federal Coal Reserve Leases in Wyoming [48]

"The Trump administration has offered coal reserves in Wyoming in its latest move to reinvigorate the country’s coal industry. One environmental lawyer says it’s “ludicrous” to be selling leases for the most expensive and dirtiest form of energy."

Climate Change [5]
Energy & Fuel [7]
Environmental Health [8]
Environmental Politics [28]
Laws & Regulations [12]
Natural Resources [13]
Pollution [15]
Technology [16]
Public [25]
National (U.S.) [19]
Mountain West (CO ID MT NV UT WY) [23]
Source: Inside Climate News [49], 09/29/2025
  • Read more about Bureau of Land Management to Sell Off Federal Coal Reserve Leases in Wyoming [48]

Trump Administration Icing Out NSIDC Data [50]

An important federal database that tracks Arctic ice and snowmelt — which help address concerns like sea level rise and fresh water resources — is facing funding cuts and reductions in services. The latest Reporter’s Toolbox looks at the kind of high-quality information the National Snow and Ice Data Center can provide environmental reporters, including for local stories. That is, while it lasts.

SEJ Publication Types: 
Reporters Toolbox [51]
Topics on the Beat: 
Climate Change [5]
Environmental Health [8]
Environmental Studies [43]
Journalism & Media [11]
Natural Resources [13]
Science [46]
Water & Oceans [17]
Region: 
National (U.S.) [19]
California [52]
Mountain West (CO ID MT NV UT WY) [23]
International [53]
Antarctica & Arctic [54]
Visibility: 
Public [25]
  • Read more about Trump Administration Icing Out NSIDC Data [50]

Colorado To Join Suit Alleging Oil Trains' Endangered Species Violations [55]

"Colorado, along with 15 other states, is poised to sue the federal government for ignoring endangered species regulations in a wide range of infrastructure projects on public lands. One of those projects, a controversial proposal to expand an oil shipping facility in Utah, would significantly increase hazardous rail shipments through Colorado."

Biodiversity [27]
Energy & Fuel [7]
Environmental Politics [28]
Environmental Studies [43]
Laws & Regulations [12]
Wildlife [18]
Public [25]
National (U.S.) [19]
Mountain West (CO ID MT NV UT WY) [23]
Source: States Newsroom [56], 09/22/2025
  • Read more about Colorado To Join Suit Alleging Oil Trains' Endangered Species Violations [55]

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Source URL:https://www.sej.org/category/region/national/mountain-west

Links
[1] https://www.sej.org/publications/features/orphans-and-zombies-reporting-abandoned-oil-and-gas-wells-across-country [2] https://www.sej.org/category/sej-publication-types/features [3] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/agriculture [4] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/air [5] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/climate-change [6] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/business [7] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/energy [8] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/environmental-health [9] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/government [10] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/health [11] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/journalism/media [12] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/laws [13] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/land [14] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/policy [15] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/pollution [16] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/technology [17] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/water [18] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/wildlife [19] https://www.sej.org/category/region/national [20] https://www.sej.org/category/region/national/great-lakes [21] https://www.sej.org/category/region/national/great-plains [22] https://www.sej.org/category/region/national/mid-atlantic [23] https://www.sej.org/category/region/national/mountain-west [24] https://www.sej.org/category/region/national/southwest [25] https://www.sej.org/taxonomy/term/81 [26] https://www.sej.org/headlines/us-fish-and-wildlife-service-reverses-recovery-plan-gray-wolves [27] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/biodiversity-1 [28] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/environmental-politics [29] https://www.nationalparkstraveler.org/2025/11/us-fish-and-wildlife-service-reverses-recovery-plan-gray-wolves [30] https://www.sej.org/headlines/montana-s-blackfeet-nation-turns-old-friend-food-sovereignty-bison [31] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/consumer [32] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/environmental-justice [33] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/food [34] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/people-population [35] https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2025/oct/23/blackfeet-nation-bison-food-sovereignty-montana [36] https://www.sej.org/headlines/test-case-nepa-fast-tracked-mine-reviews-fuel-outcry [37] https://www.eenews.net/articles/test-case-for-nepa-fast-tracked-mine-reviews-fuel-outcry/ [38] https://www.sej.org/headlines/trump-blm-cancels-major-solar-project-latest-hit-renewable-energy [39] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/infrastructure [40] https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/oct/10/trump-officials-drop-major-solar-power-project-in-another-renewable-energy-attack [41] https://www.sej.org/headlines/resistance-rangers-want-your-help-protecting-national-parks [42] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/activism [43] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/environmentalists [44] https://www.sierraclub.org/sierra/2025-3-fall/notes-here-there/resistance-rangers-want-your-help-protecting-national-parks [45] https://www.sej.org/headlines/what-do-fens-do-make-peat-store-water-and-help-combat-climate-change [46] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/science [47] https://www.hcn.org/issues/57-10/what-do-fens-do-make-peat-store-water-and-help-combat-climate-change/ [48] https://www.sej.org/headlines/bureau-land-management-sell-federal-coal-reserve-leases-wyoming [49] https://insideclimatenews.org/news/25092025/trump-administration-offers-federal-coal-reserve-leases-wyoming/ [50] https://www.sej.org/publications/reporters-toolbox/trump-administration-icing-out-nsidc-data [51] https://www.sej.org/category/sej-publication-types/reporter%E2%80%99s-toolbox [52] https://www.sej.org/category/region/national/california [53] https://www.sej.org/category/region/international [54] https://www.sej.org/category/region/international/antarctica-arctic [55] https://www.sej.org/headlines/colorado-join-suit-alleging-oil-trains-endangered-species-violations [56] https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/colorado-poised-join-lawsuit-over-alleged-endangered-species-violations-linked-oil-trains [57] https://www.sej.org/category/region/national/mountain-west?page=1 [58] https://www.sej.org/category/region/national/mountain-west?page=2 [59] https://www.sej.org/category/region/national/mountain-west?page=3 [60] https://www.sej.org/category/region/national/mountain-west?page=4 [61] https://www.sej.org/category/region/national/mountain-west?page=5 [62] https://www.sej.org/category/region/national/mountain-west?page=6 [63] https://www.sej.org/category/region/national/mountain-west?page=7 [64] https://www.sej.org/category/region/national/mountain-west?page=8 [65] https://www.sej.org/category/region/national/mountain-west?page=93