Orphaned Wells Program News

The Department of the Interior today released draft guidance on how states can apply for up to $40 million each in Regulatory Improvement Grant funding available under President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to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 $16.73 million investment through President Biden’s Investing in America agenda to assist five Tribal Nations in cleaning up orphaned oil and gas wells on their homelands.

The Department of the Interior today announced $76.4 million from President Biden’s Investing in America agenda for Pennsylvania to clean up orphaned oil and gas wells.

The Department of the Interior announced a more than $12 million investment through President Biden’s Investing in America agenda to help four Tribal Nations clean up orphaned oil and gas wells on their homelands.

The Department of the Interior today announced the availability of $775 million for 21 states to clean up legacy pollution through President Biden’s Investing in America agenda.

The Department of the Interior today announced $52 million from President Biden’s Investing in America agenda for Colorado, Illinois, and West Virginia to clean up orphaned oil and gas wells.

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.