State Orphaned Wells Program

Grants Program Overview

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act appropriated funding to the Department of the Interior for three types of state grant programs:
•    Initial Grants (42 U.S.C. § 15907(c)(3))
•    Formula Grants (42 U.S.C. § 15907(c)(4))
•    Performance Grants (42 U.S.C. § 15907(c)(5))

These grant programs, administered by the Orphaned Wells Program Office, provide approximately $4.2 billion in financial resources to eligible states.  States have broad discretion in how they use awarded funds. Regardless of the type of grant that a state receives, it may use funding, consistent with its priorities, for the purposes stated in 42 U.S.C. § 15907(c)(2), which include: to plug, remediate, and reclaim orphaned wells located on state and private land; to identify and characterize undocumented orphaned wells on state and private land; and to remediate land adjacent to orphaned wells and decommission or remove associated pipelines, facilities and infrastructure.    
 

Technical Assistance Opportunities

For technical assistance, including questions concerning grant application workplans and technical requirements, and for all activities associated with plugging, remediation, and reclamation of orphaned wells and well sites, contact the Orphaned Wells Program Office’s State Program Division at orphanedwells@ios.doi.gov

 For grants administration (financial) assistance, including downloading application materials, questions about grant requirements, and requests for approval of pre-award costs, contact the Interior Business Center at aqd-fa.states@ibc.doi.gov.

Archived Content

Pre-Award Resources

Funding Announcements - Grant Solutions

• Apply for a Directed Announcement: How-To
• All recipient training is available through the Grant Solutions Training Site.

• If further assistance is required, the Grants Solutions Help Desk is available to assist with all Grant Solutions products and services.

  Hours of Operation: Monday - Friday 7 a.m. - 8 p.m. ET (closed on federal holidays) Phone: 1 - 866 - 577 - 0771 Email: help@grantsolutions.gov

Post-Award Resources

• Data Reporting Template
• DOI Standard Terms & Conditions
• Davis-Bacon Act: Requires payment of local prevailing wages to construction workers performing work on federally funder construction projects for contracts in excess of $2,000. Learn more.
• Build America Buy America Act: Requires that all of the iron, steel, manufactured products, and construction materials used in infrastructure projects are produced in the United States. Learn more.
• SAM.gov: System for Award Management (SAM) is an official site of the U.S. Government where you can register to do business with the U.S. Government, update/check status of your entity registration, search publicly available award data, search for assistance listings, wage determinations, contract opportunities/reports, etc. Learn more.
• Code of Federal Regulations (CFR 200): Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards.
  1. Subrecipient and Contractor Determinations eCFR :: 2 CFR 200.331 -- Subrecipient and contractor determinations.
  2. Requirements for Pass-through entities eCFR :: 2 CFR 200.332 -- Requirements for pass-through entities.
  3. Remedies for noncompliance eCFR :: 2 CFR 200.339 -- Remedies for noncompliance.
  4. Mandatory Disclosures eCFR :: 2 CFR 200.113 -- Mandatory disclosures. 

More Resources

• SHPO Listening Session - January 7th, 2025
• Tribe/THPO Listening Session - January 7th, 2025