Many people complain that orphan oil wells are a danger to our communities, but I think they look beautiful and remind us of how this country started. Here, I will make my case as to why orphan oil wells should not be plugged unless they are an immediate danger to our livelihood. 

Environmentalists can highlight the dangers of orphan oil wells all they want. The fact remains that there is simply not enough money to plug hundreds of abandoned oil wells all over the state. According to the Department of Natural Resources, plugging one well can cost up to $110,000. 

In addition, there are estimated to be about 19,000 scattered wells throughout Ohio. Whose pocket do you think that will come out of? That money should go back to us, the hardworking taxpayer. Another alternative could be to invest it in other things like highway maintenance and the education system. People say that there are health problems linked to these wells, but nothing has been proven. We should wait until oil wells are proven to be health hazardous and pollution prone to plug them. 

We, as a community, will have to pay for matters that aren’t even an immediate danger to us. When the abandoned well is located near facilities where there is still hydrocarbon production in process, the hazards are low because there are people who usually monitor the wellhead pressures, and generally the conditions are under control. 

Not to mention that there is a huge need for contractors and workers to plug these wells. 

However, there is a shortage in Ohio, and the State Department is still looking for qualified contractors with the proper training. Companies will have to find, hire and train new employees, which we all know costs too much. We also have to consider that some of these oil wells being plugged aren’t being plugged correctly. This increases the price and restarts the whole process. 

As an Ohioan, I say we focus on other, more pressing matters other than old wells that have nothing to do with us. This is a chance for us to come together as a community and solve the real problems in our state. Therefore, the state should wait until Orphan wells become a danger instead of wasting taxpayers' money on an issue that might not happen.