Millions of Americans across the country live within just one mile from an abandoned coal mine or an orphaned oil and gas well. These legacy pollution sites are environmental hazards and jeopardize public health and safety by contaminating groundwater, emitting noxious gases like methane, littering the landscape with rusted and dangerous equipment, creating flooding and sinkhole risks, and harming wildlife. President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law delivers the largest investment in tackling legacy pollution in American history.  

The Department’s Orphaned Wells Program Office is proud to share the Annual Report to Congress, as required by Section 40601(f) of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. This report highlights accomplishments made by the program through Fiscal Year 2024.

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law directed the Secretary of the Interior to establish programs to inventory and properly close orphaned wells. The Law provides $4.7 billion for orphaned well site plugging, remediation and restoration activities on federal, Tribal, state and private lands. This historic investment will reduce methane and other greenhouse gas emissions from orphaned wells, help clean up water contamination, restore native habitat, create good-paying union jobs and benefit disproportionately impacted communities.  The Department prioritizes a coordinated and unified whole of government approach to environmental justice issues and supports the Administration's Justice40 Initiative, a whole-of government approach to advancing environmental justice.

Program implementation is guided by the Department’s Orphaned Wells Program Office, created by Secretary Deb Haaland through Secretary’s Order 3409. 

The mission of the office is to fulfill the orphaned wells requirements of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Secretary's Order 3409 by facilitating the effective, accountable, and efficient implementation of the state, tribal, and federal assistance programs to reduce methane emissions, prevent groundwater and surface water contamination, eliminate health and safety hazards, create good paying jobs and benefit historically disadvantaged communities.

The OWPO’s newly released Strategic Plan, Fiscal Years 2025-2030 communicates how we can serve the orphaned wells community and ensure success in transforming a legacy of environmental pollution into a legacy of environmental stewardship. 

Resources

FY2023 Orphaned Wells Congressional Report

FY22 ECRP Congressional Report

Indian Energy Service Center - Indian Affairs

Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission

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