Longtime commissioner Dallen Julf outlines priorities on orphan wells, oversight as he seeks reappointment to Oil and Gas Commission
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Summary
Dallen Julf, a long-time industry and banking professional, told the Natural Resources Committee he prioritizes oversight, groundwater protection and plugging orphan wells; he said federal funding and internal staff work have advanced plugging efforts and that current drilling activity in western Nebraska is limited.
Dallen Julf, a member of the Nebraska Oil and Gas Commission since 2019, told the Natural Resources Committee he would continue to prioritize oversight of wells, groundwater protection and the commission’s orphan-well plugging program if reappointed.
In remote testimony, Julf described a career in oil-and-gas finance and local industry and recounted that the commission received a federal $25 million grant under the Biden administration to plug orphan wells. "We were granted, 25,000,000 to plug orphan wells," Julf said. He added the commission has worked with operators to identify orphaned wells and that a recent federal audit provided positive verbal feedback, although a final written determination remained pending at the time of the hearing.
Senators asked about current drilling activity; Julf said there is very little activity in western Nebraska and that most drilling has been concentrated in south-central parts of the state near McCook and along the Kansas border. He said oil production in much of Nebraska is in decline but described the commission’s staff and director as effective in overseeing grants and plugging work.
The committee recorded no public proponents or opponents and had no online comments during Julf’s hearing; the committee closed the public session and proceeded toward an executive session.
