A new state audit has revealed that Ohio’s orphan well program has been falling short, according to Farm and Dairy.

Ohio has failed year after year to reach the spending requirements required by state law, which is to use 30% of annual collections from the state’s oil and gas severance tax to plug wells. A report released by the state auditor on Aug. 9 showed the Ohio Department of Natural Resource’s Orphan Well Program would have to double its staff to hit the 30% mark.

Furthermore, the program also lacks data on many of the abandoned wells believed to be in the state. There are an estimated 36,000 to 66,000 orphan wells. However, the ODNR only has 970 wells in its official orphan well inventory and many of those may lack accurate location and environmental data.

Learn more: Farm and Dairy > Audit finds Ohio orphan well program falls short