Orphan Wells Mitigation Enterprise

About

The Orphan Wells Mitigation Fee Enterprise Fund is the State of Colorado’s enterprise that oversees an industry-funded orphan well program with the highest level of environmental protections. The Enterprise uses fees from the oil and gas industry to plug and abandon orphan wells and reclaim orphan well sites. The Enterprise was established by SB22-198. The Commission adopted rules implementing SB22-198 in the June 2022 Orphan Wells Mitigation Enterprise Fee Rulemaking. Those rules are effective July 30, 2022.

The Commission established an Annual Mitigation Fee paid by industry that is expected to generate initially $10M annually, and is responsive to address orphan wells in the state of Colorado and is effective August 1, 2022. The fee will be revisited annually, allowing the funding to increase or decrease depending on the needs and anticipated scale of future orphan well work. The Enterprise Fund is in addition to the $10 - 15 million Colorado expects to spend annually for the next eight years from the Federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. In total, the federal funds and the orphan well enterprise funds will likely total $100 - $115 million over the next five years, which is unprecedented and will be totally paid for by industry and the federal government.

Announcements

• Press Release: Orphan Wells Mitigation Enterprise adopts new fee to fund marginal well plugging (November 22, 2024)
• Press Release: The First Orphan Wells Mitigation Enterprise Board is Confirmed by the Senate (February 9, 2023)
• Press Release: Orphan Wells Mitigation Enterprise Board Hosts First Hearing (December 14, 2022)
• Press Release: Colorado Oil & Gas Conservation Commission Votes Unanimously to Adopt Orphan Wells Mitigation Fee Enterprise Rules (6/30/2022)
• Press Release: Governor Polis Announces Appointments to Orphan Wells Mitigation Enterprise Board (August 25, 2022)

Board Members

Cassie Archuleta

Cassie Archuleta has over 20 years of experience in air quality management. She currently serves as the Lead Air Quality Specialist for the City of Fort Collins, where she manages air quality programs and grants, including an EPA-funded community air toxics monitoring study in partnership with Larimer County and Colorado State University. She also serves as the Local Government Designee to the Colorado Energy and Carbon Management Commission, representing the City of Fort Collins in interactions with local oil and gas operators and the ECMC.

Previously, Cassie was the Air Quality Program Manager for the City of Fort Collins. In that role, she led the development of the city's Air Quality Plan, prepared materials for City Council meetings, and served as the staff liaison for the Air Quality Advisory Board. She also managed environmental compliance programs related to fugitive dust emissions and outdoor residential burning.

She earned a Master of Science in Atmospheric Science from Colorado State University and a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics with a minor in Chemistry from Adams State University. Cassie is also involved in her community as a volunteer neighborhood mediator and has served on the Larimer County Environmental and Science Advisory Board and as a Healthy Homes volunteer.

Kimberly Mendoza-Cooke

Ms. Mendoza-Cooke is the Director of Onshore Policy and Advocacy for Oxy USA Inc. (OXY). Kim leads federal, state and local affairs, including policy and external engagement for Oxy and is a member of Oxy’s Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging Advisory Board. Kim has over 20 years of policy, regulatory and land development experience with a focus on energy and residential development issues. Kim is also an OXY advocate that works to maintain social license to operate by establishing and fostering relationships with regulators, government officials, community leaders and key stakeholders.

Kim earned a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from the University of Nevada Las Vegas and received a Master of Business Administration from Regis University. She serves on the Colorado Environmental Justice Task Force, served on the Board of Directors for Girls Inc of Metro Denver for six years and continues to proudly serve on Girls Inc’s Advocacy Advisory Committee. Kim is a proud Jeffco resident enjoying the beauty of the Colorado foothills with her husband Thomas, 11-year-old son and fur family Ellie and Diego.

Julie Murphy

In her role as the ECMC Director, Julie Murphy leverages her knowledge of complex issues facing natural resource management from the policy, technical, and legal perspectives, and works with Colorado’s diverse oil and gas stakeholders to find common sense, consensus solutions.

Following the passing of SB 19-181, Murphy has led the division’s transition that includes successfully completing Mission Change, Flowline, Wellbore Integrity, and Financial Assurance rulemakings; leading Staff from a historically volunteer-led commission to a professional commission structure; and, increasing and aligning resources and Staff to address the increase in the volume and complexity of workload from the newly implemented rules.

Murphy’s vision for the ECMC is for a division that demonstrates integrity, transparency, provides the highest levels of service to all stakeholders, and while administering oil and gas rules that are protective of public health, safety, welfare, wildlife and the environment.

Prior to her current appointment on July 1, 2020, Murphy served at different roles at ECMC including Chief of Staff and Senior Policy Advisory, Director, and the Hearings and Regulatory Affairs Manager. She was an Assistant Attorney General representing the Commission and the Department of Natural Resources’ Division of Reclamation Mining and Safety. In the private sector, Julie spent 5 years representing clients in land use, natural resources, private property, and environmental disputes.

Murphy earned a B.S. in Wildlife Biology, Kansas State University; a Master of Earth and Environmental Resources Management and J.D. from the University of South Carolina; and a Masters of Studies in Environmental Law from the Vermont Law School. As a Denver native, she can be found exploring the wilderness with Ben and their sons Walter and Arthur on foot, in a raft, or on skis when not working.

Jeff Robbins, Chair

Jeff Robbins was appointed by Governor Polis to serve as the first Chair of the Energy and Carbon Management Commission’s (ECMC) new Professional Commission, July 1, 2020. Robbins was appointed as “member with professional experience demonstrating an ability to contribute to the commission’s body of expertise that will aid the commission in making sound, balanced decisions” for a term expiring July 1, 2024.

In this role, Robbins will help to lead the newly formed Professional Commission’s efforts in support of the implementation of the landmark legislation, SB 19-181, that changed the ECMC’s mission from “fostering” oil and gas development to “regulating” in a manner that is protective of public health, safety, welfare, wildlife and the environment. Robbins joined the ECMC in January 2019 as interim Director and then as official Director in March 2019, leading the division’s efforts in SB 19-181 rulemaking, all day-to-day operations and implementation of SB 19-181.

Prior to being the ECMC Director, he served as counselor and advisor to Gov. Jared Polis on oil and gas issues for six years. Robbins also served on the 2014 Colorado Task Force Regarding State and Local Regulation of Oil and Gas Operations. He had a private law practice in Colorado since 1996, and was a partner in the law firm of Goldman, Robbins, Nicholson & Mack, P.C., based in Durango. He has substantial experience in governmental law. Early in his career, he served as County Attorney for La Plata County for 12 years and Archuleta County for 3 years. His practice focused on assisting multiple front range communities, including Adams County, the City of Aurora, the City of Dacono, Boulder County, the City of Lafayette, and the City of Timnath, as legal counsel on oil and gas matters helping these communities address land use and surface issues arising out of oil and gas operations. He practiced extensively before the ECMC in the representation of these clients. Robbins has a B.A. in English from Washington and Lee University and earned a J.D. from the University of Georgia School of Law.

Christopher Simmons

Christopher Simmons is Senior Manager for Public Lands Policy with the National Audubon Society. He focuses primarily on mitigating climate change and wildlife impacts of energy development on federal public lands and integrating Tribal co-stewardship and co-management into federal land use planning.  Prior to working for National Audubon Society, Christopher worked in upstream oil and gas environment, health, safety, regulatory (EHSR) and policy, additionally he served as the inaugural Adams County Oil and Gas Liaison. Christopher has developed expertise in land reclamation and remediation through the lens of local government, operator, and now environmental nonprofit.

Christopher is an alumnus of AmeriCorps, CU Boulder, and the University of Denver. He currently serves on the National Audubon Society Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging staff council, and the EJays (Environmental Justice) Working Group to ground the organization’s conservation work in equity of access.

As a third generation Coloradan he values our ease of access to nature and advocates for the remediation and restoration of the environment so future generations of Coloradoans can enjoy its enduring beauty.