$127 Million Allocated to Clean Up Orphaned Wells in Five States

The Biden-Harris Administration, through the Department of the Interior, has announced the allocation of $126.7 million to tackle legacy pollution in Alaska, Arizona, Indiana, New York, and Ohio. This funding is part of President Biden's Investing in America agenda and aims to address the environmental and safety hazards posed by orphaned oil and gas wells. These wells, which release toxic pollutants and methane, will be plugged to protect public health, reduce climate change impacts, and create good-paying union jobs. The initiative supports the U.S. Methane Emissions Reduction Action Plan and contributes to broader environmental justice goals.

The funding will enable the five states to plug nearly 600 orphaned wells and inventory additional undocumented wells for future plugging. These efforts seek to not only mitigate environmental hazards but also spur economic growth and community revitalization. Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland emphasized the significance of this historic investment in addressing environmental injustices and protecting millions of Americans living near these hazardous sites. The initiative is aligned with the President’s Justice40 Initiative, which aims to deliver 40 percent of the benefits of federal investments to disadvantaged communities.

This funding is part of a larger $660 million in formula grants from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which includes a total investment of $4.7 billion to address legacy pollution across the United States. Since August 2022, the Department has awarded $565 million in initial grant funding, and as of March 2024, over 340 wells have been plugged in the five states receiving the latest funding. Nationwide, over 7,700 wells have been plugged, reducing significant carbon dioxide equivalent emissions and supporting thousands of jobs. States are also eligible for additional performance grants to further enhance their efforts in tackling orphaned wells.