Stop Oilfield Waste From Poisoning Our Water

Oil companies are poisoning our water — and Congress is letting them get away with it.

Across Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Illinois, and beyond, oil and gas companies have left behind leaking wells, toxic injection sites, and abandoned infrastructure that threaten drinking water for millions of people. Instead of forcing polluters to clean up the damage, lawmakers are weakening the rules and protecting industry profits.

Congress can stop this — but only if we force them to act. Tell Congress: “Stop oilfield waste from poisoning our water. Close the loopholes. Enforce cleanup. And make polluters pay.”

In Oklahoma, oil industry-backed laws make it harder to hold companies accountable for pollution linked to injection wells. In West Texas and New Mexico, abandoned wells sit for years while toxic waste seeps into groundwater. In Illinois, long-forgotten oil wells are contaminating water near homes and farms. 

Oil companies make billions, then walk away — leaving taxpayers with cleanup bills that can reach hundreds of thousands of dollars per well. When cleanup stalls, pollution spreads. Once groundwater is contaminated, it can be ruined for generations. Meanwhile, the American Petroleum Institute is lobbying to block “polluter pays” laws that would finally make oil companies cover cleanup costs.

It’s past time for lawmakers to close loopholes that exempt oil and gas waste from hazardous waste laws, strengthen cleanup requirements, and make polluters pay for the damage they cause. 

Add your name now — before more drinking water is permanently contaminated.

The petition to Congress reads: “Stop oilfield waste from poisoning our water. Close the loopholes. Enforce cleanup. And make polluters pay.”