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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]

"Many Fighting Climate Change Worry They Are Losing the Information War" [26]

"Shifting politics, intensive lobbying and surging disinformation online have undermined international efforts to respond to the threat."

Climate Change [5]
Disasters [27]
Economy & Business [6]
Energy & Fuel [7]
Environmental Health [8]
Environmental Politics [28]
Journalism & Media [11]
Pollution [15]
Science [29]
Public [25]
National (U.S.) [19]
International [30]
Source: NYTimes [31], 12/01/2025
  • Read more about "Many Fighting Climate Change Worry They Are Losing the Information War" [26]

What’s Lost With Federal Funding Cuts At USGS Climate Science Centers [32]

"When the Trump administration began freezing federal funding for climate and ecosystem research, one of the programs hit hard was ours: the U.S. Geological Survey’s Climate Adaptation Science Centers." "The centers have been helping to track invasive species, protect water supplies and make agriculture more sustainable in the face of increasing drought conditions. They’re improving wildfire forecasting, protecting shorelines and saving Alaska salmon, among many other projects."

Agriculture [3]
Climate Change [5]
Environmental Health [8]
Environmental Politics [28]
Fish & Fisheries [33]
People & Population [34]
Science [29]
Water & Oceans [17]
Public [25]
National (U.S.) [19]
Source: The Conversation [35], 12/01/2025
  • Read more about What’s Lost With Federal Funding Cuts At USGS Climate Science Centers [32]

"Zillow Removes Climate Risk Scores From Home Listings" [36]

"The scores aimed to predict a property’s risk from a fires, floods and storms, but some in the real estate industry as well as homeowners have called them inaccurate."

Climate Change [5]
Consumer [37]
Disasters [27]
Economy & Business [6]
Environmental Politics [28]
Environmental Studies [38]
Infrastructure [39]
People & Population [34]
Science [29]
Water & Oceans [17]
Public [25]
National (U.S.) [19]
Source: NYTimes [40], 12/01/2025
  • Read more about "Zillow Removes Climate Risk Scores From Home Listings" [36]

"Beekeepers, Farmers and the Fight to Save a Century-Old Research Hub" [41]

UPDATE: As of Dec. 1, NPR reports funding for USDA's Beltsville, Md., research center has been resored. No link available. 

"Industry groups and scientists have urged the Trump administration to reconsider its plan to close a renowned Agriculture Department center in Maryland and disperse its work around the country."

Agriculture [3]
Biodiversity [42]
Chemicals [43]
Climate Change [5]
Consumer [37]
Environmental Health [8]
Environmental Politics [28]
Food [44]
Government [9]
Science [29]
Public [25]
National (U.S.) [19]
Mid-Atlantic (DC DE MD PA VA WV) [22]
Source: NYTimes [45], 12/01/2025
  • Read more about "Beekeepers, Farmers and the Fight to Save a Century-Old Research Hub" [41]

Electric Rates Jump After Trump Rejects Disaster Aid For Michigan Utilities [46]

"A recent decision by President Donald Trump to deny disaster aid to two electric utilities in rural northern Michigan could cost residents tens of millions of dollars."

Climate Change [5]
Disasters [27]
Economy & Business [6]
Energy & Fuel [7]
Environmental Justice [47]
Environmental Politics [28]
Infrastructure [39]
People & Population [34]
Public [25]
National (U.S.) [19]
Great Lakes (IL IN MI MN OH WI) [20]
Source: E&E News [48], 12/01/2025
  • Read more about Electric Rates Jump After Trump Rejects Disaster Aid For Michigan Utilities [46]

Rolling Sand Dunes Creeping Up On Last Remaining Oases On Edge Of Sahara [49]

"In western Chad, villagers are desperately trying to hold back the sand as the climate crisis wreaks havoc on one of the hottest countries in the world"

Agriculture [3]
Climate Change [5]
Disasters [27]
Environmental Health [8]
Natural Resources [13]
People & Population [34]
Water & Oceans [17]
Public [25]
Africa [50]
Middle East [51]
Source: Guardian [52], 11/26/2025
  • Read more about Rolling Sand Dunes Creeping Up On Last Remaining Oases On Edge Of Sahara [49]

"‘Climate Smart’ Beef? After A Lawsuit, Tyson Agrees To Drop The Label." [53]

"Advocates say a recent settlement is a win in the fight to hold industrial ag giants accountable."

Biodiversity [42]
Climate Change [5]
Consumer [37]
Environmental Health [8]
Food [44]
Journalism & Media [11]
Laws & Regulations [12]
Public [25]
National (U.S.) [19]
Source: Grist [54], 11/26/2025
  • Read more about "‘Climate Smart’ Beef? After A Lawsuit, Tyson Agrees To Drop The Label." [53]

"Interior Skips NEPA Analysis For Offshore Drilling Expansion" [55]

"The Interior Department will skip the standard environmental analysis for its five-year offshore drilling plan, a break from the agency’s decadeslong practice."

Climate Change [5]
Energy & Fuel [7]
Environmental Health [8]
Environmental Politics [28]
Environmental Studies [38]
Laws & Regulations [12]
Pollution [15]
Water & Oceans [17]
Public [25]
National (U.S.) [19]
Source: E&E News [56], 11/26/2025
  • Read more about "Interior Skips NEPA Analysis For Offshore Drilling Expansion" [55]
December 3, 2025

Visualizing Science: Turning Complex Climate Research Into Compelling Visual Narratives [57]

Journalists looking to deepen their climate reporting and rethinking how to visualize climate will find new approaches and inspiration for making the invisible visible and connecting scientific discovery to the communities they serve in this webinar co-hosted by Metcalf Institute and Solutions Journalism Network. 3 p.m. ET.

Other Events [58]
Visibility: 
Public [25]
Topics on the Beat: 
Climate Change [5]
Journalism & Media [11]
Science [29]
Region: 
National (U.S.) [19]
International [30]

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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/many-fighting-climate-change-worry-they-are-losing-information-war [27] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/disaster [28] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/environmental-politics [29] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/science [30] https://www.sej.org/category/region/international [31] https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/30/climate/climate-change-disinformation.html?unlocked_article_code=1.5E8.WOwV.LKPM8OaYiJiO&smid=url-share [32] https://www.sej.org/headlines/what-s-lost-federal-funding-cuts-usgs-climate-science-centers [33] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/fisheries [34] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/people-population [35] https://theconversation.com/from-invasive-species-tracking-to-water-security-whats-lost-with-federal-funding-cuts-at-us-climate-adaptation-science-centers-269908 [36] https://www.sej.org/headlines/zillow-removes-climate-risk-scores-home-listings [37] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/consumer [38] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/environmentalists [39] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/infrastructure [40] https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/30/climate/zillow-climate-risk-scores-homes.html?unlocked_article_code=1.5E8.s3H5.uLkVhQhtPbLa&smid=url-share [41] https://www.sej.org/headlines/beekeepers-farmers-and-fight-save-century-old-research-hub [42] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/biodiversity-1 [43] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/chemicals/toxics [44] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/food [45] https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/27/us/politics/beekeepers-farmers-research-hub-barc.html?unlocked_article_code=1.5E8.6P8N.1Bht3_TRZJVb&smid=url-share [46] https://www.sej.org/headlines/electric-rates-jump-after-trump-rejects-disaster-aid-michigan-utilities [47] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/environmental-justice [48] https://www.eenews.net/articles/electricity-prices-jump-after-trump-rejects-disaster-aid-for-michigan-utilities/ [49] https://www.sej.org/headlines/rolling-sand-dunes-creeping-last-remaining-oases-edge-sahara [50] https://www.sej.org/category/region/international/africa [51] https://www.sej.org/category/region/international/middle-east [52] https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2025/nov/24/chad-desert-oases-wadi-water-gold-climate-crisis [53] https://www.sej.org/headlines/climate-smart-beef-after-lawsuit-tyson-agrees-drop-label [54] https://grist.org/food-and-agriculture/climate-smart-beef-after-a-lawsuit-tyson-agrees-to-drop-the-label/ [55] https://www.sej.org/headlines/interior-skips-nepa-analysis-offshore-drilling-expansion [56] https://www.eenews.net/articles/interior-skips-nepa-analysis-for-offshore-drilling-expansion/ [57] https://www.sej.org/calendar/visualizing-science-turning-complex-climate-research-compelling-visual-narratives [58] https://www.sej.org/category/event-type/other-events [59] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/climate-change?page=25 [60] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/climate-change?page=22 [61] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/climate-change?page=23 [62] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/climate-change?page=24 [63] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/climate-change?page=27 [64] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/climate-change?page=28 [65] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/climate-change?page=29 [66] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/climate-change?page=30 [67] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/climate-change?page=1501