Predecessor liability

Section 17 of the Mineral Leasing Act (30 U.S.C. 226) is amended by adding at the end the following: (r) Predecessor liability (1) In general Not later than 60 days after the date of enactment of the Stop Orphaned Wells Act, the Secretary shall promulgate regulations addressing lessee and sublessee responsibility and liability for performing all obligations relating to plugging a well drilled, and removing a facility installed, pursuant to— (A) a lease issued under this Act; and (B) other applicable law. (2) Requirements In carrying out paragraph (1), the Secretary shall require that— (A) the lessee or sublessee, as applicable, shall remain responsible for performing all obligations under the lease until the date that the Secretary approves an assignment of record title interest or transfer of operating rights; and (B) after the Secretary approves the assignment or transfer under subparagraph (A), the assignor or transferor will continue to be responsible for lease obligations that accrued before the approval date, whether or not those obligations were identified at the time of the transfer, including— (i) paying compensatory royalties for drainage; (ii) responsibility for plugging drilled wells; and (iii) removing facilities installed or used before the effective date of the assignment or transfer..