Orphaned Wells Program News

The Department of the Interior today awarded $126.7 million through President Biden’s Investing in America agenda for Alaska, Arizona, Indiana, New York and Ohio to address legacy pollution.

The Department of the Interior today announced $30.59 million from President Biden’s Investing in America agenda for Arkansas and Louisiana to clean up legacy pollution. Arkansas is receiving a $5.59 million award, which will be used to plug and reclaim approximately 274 orphaned oil and gas well sites.

Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland visited Southern California last week, where she met with federal, state, Tribal and local officials and community members to learn about their vision for conserving the area’s natural and cultural resources and meeting shared clean energy goals through the proposed establishment of Chuckwalla National Monument and expansion of Joshua Tree National Park. 

Today, as part of the Biden-Harris administration’s Infrastructure Week, Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland announced a $35.2 million investment through President Biden’s Investing in America agenda to continue reclaiming and restoring orphaned oil and gas wells in California.

Today, as part of the Biden-Harris administration’s Infrastructure Week, Acting Deputy Secretary of the Interior Laura Daniel-Davis visited New Mexico, where she announced $25 million from President Biden’s Investing in America agenda for the state to clean up legacy pollution.

The Department of the Interior today awarded $54.2 million from President Biden’s Investing in America agenda for North Dakota and West Virginia to clean up legacy pollution.

The Department of the Interior today awarded $36.9 million in the first phase of formula grant funding through President Biden’s Investing in America agenda for Kentucky, Mississippi and Missouri to clean up legacy pollution.

During a legacy pollution roundtable discussion today with state, labor and business leaders in Wayne, Michigan, Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland announced a $5.87 million investment through President Biden’s Investing in America agenda for Michigan to continue work plugging, reclaiming and restoring orphaned oil and gas wells across the state.

The Department of the Interior today released draft guidance to states on how to apply for up to $30 million each in matching grant funding available under President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to create jobs and clean up polluting and unsafe orphaned oil and gas wells across the country.

The Department of the Interior today announced a $50.5 million investment through President Biden’s Investing in America agenda to put people to work plugging, remediating and reclaiming orphaned oil and gas well sites located in national parks, national forests, national wildlife refuges, and on other public lands and waters.