The land surrounding nearly half of Colorado's 47,000 inactive oil and gas wells bear the scars of energy extraction, The Denver Post reported Sunday. Colorado requires oil and gas companies to completely restore all sites to reduce erosion, loosen compacted soil, prevent dust storms and control invasions of noxious weeds.
According to the Denver Post, Colorado does not set a timetable for getting the job done and 72 percent of unrestored sites have been in the repair process for more than five years.
