WHEREAS the Ministry of Energy and Resources does not directly advise any municipality or landowner when wells are deemed “orphan” wells.

WHEREAS municipalities and landowners who have “orphaned wells” with outstanding taxes owing have nowhere to go to collect or recover these taxes or other financial losses.

WHEREAS the Saskatchewan Assessment Management Agency (SAMA) is not provided with a list of the orphaned wells.

BE IT RESOLVED that SARM lobby the Provincial Government to have Saskatchewan Energy and Resources notify landowners, municipalities and the Saskatchewan Assessment Management Agency (SAMA) when wells are placed into orphan well status.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that due to the provincial government’s decision to orphan the well, the use of the current contingency fund, which pays for the clean-up of orphan wells, be also used to cover a landowner’s financial losses and loss of tax revenue by a municipality.