July 31, 2009. (KCC). The Kansas Corporation Commission (KCC) is scheduled to begin plugging a series of abandoned natural gas wells located on the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve this fall.  Total cost for the project is estimated to be $75,000 and will be financed by the Abandoned Oil and Gas Well / Site Remediation Fund.

"Plugging the abandoned wells is an important step in preserving the tallgrass prairie as an integral part of the Kansas landscape," said KCC Chairman Thomas Wright.

The fund was established by the Kansas Legislature in 1996 to address the problem of abandoned oil and gas wells and remediation sites related to oil and gas exploration and production activities. Monies from this fund can be used by the KCC Conservation Division to plug abandoned oil and gas wells and remediate surface and groundwater contamination related to oil and gas activities.

The KCC Conservation Division estimates that there are between 20,000 and 40,000 abandoned wells in the state of Kansas for which there is no responsible party. More than 6,000 wells have been plugged to date. Wells having ongoing or potential for environmental damage or public safety considerations receive the highest priority. Read the full press release here.