Cleanup of orphaned oil wells could cost California $500 million, new report says

California is staring at a massive bill to clean up the deserted oil and gas wells left behind by businesses that have gone defunct as the industry has diminished, according to a report released Thursday by a state research agency.

The California Council on Science and Technology estimated that the state already is liable for more than $500 million in cleanup costs for more than 5,500 orphaned wells up and down the state.

Learn more at the Los Angeles Times.