Invites public comment on President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s historic investment January 30, 2023 WASHINGTON — The Department of the Interior today released draft guidance to states on how to apply for $500 million in formula grant funding available under President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to create jobs cleaning up polluted and unsafe orphaned oil and gas wells across the country. The Bipartisan […]
Invites public comment on President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s historic investment
January 30, 2023
WASHINGTON — The Department of the Interior today released draft guidance to states on how to apply for $500 million in formula grant funding available under President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to create jobs cleaning up polluted and unsafe orphaned oil and gas wells across the country. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provides $2 billion for state formula grants, part of a total $4.7 billion to address orphaned wells across the country. An initial $560 million in grant funding was allocated to states in August 2022.
“The Department of the Interior is moving quickly to implement this historic investment in tackling legacy pollution, provided through President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. These investments are good for our climate, for the health of our communities, and for American workers,” said Secretary Deb Haaland. “As we prepare to issue another round of grants to help states accomplish this vital work, we are eager to hear from diverse voices on this draft guidance.”
Orphaned oil and gas wells pollute backyards, recreation areas, and community spaces across the country. Methane leaking from many of these unplugged wells is a serious safety hazard and is a significant cause of climate change, being more than 25 times as potent as carbon dioxide at trapping heat in the atmosphere. The historic investments to clean up these hazardous sites will create good-paying union jobs, catalyze economic growth and revitalization, and reduce harmful methane leaks.
The draft released today invites public comment on instructions to states on how to apply for formula orphaned well grants, as well as guidance on how applicants can ensure that activities funded under the program are putting people to work, protecting the environment, investing in disadvantaged communities consistent with the President’s Justice 40 Initiative, and safeguarding taxpayer money in a transparent and responsible manner.
Grant funding may be used to measure and track methane emissions; to plug, remediate and reclaim orphaned oil and gas wells; and to remediate soil and restore native species habitat that has been degraded due to the presence of orphaned wells. States may apply for grants up to their eligible amount.
State
Initial Grant Eligibility
Phase One Formula Eligibility
Total Phase One Eligibility
Estimated Total Formula Funding + Initial Grant Eligibility*
Alabama
$25,000,000
$436,000
$25,436,000
$26,681,000
Alaska
$25,000,000
$7,341,000
$32,341,000
$53,336,000
Arizona
$25,000,000
$1,262,000
$26,262,000
$29,872,000
Arkansas
$25,000,000
$1,448,000
$26,448,000
$30,590,000
California
$25,000,000
$36,495,000
$61,495,000
$165,871,000
Colorado
$25,000,000
$14,006,000
$39,006,000
$79,065,000
Illinois
$25,000,000
$9,553,000
$34,553,000
$61,875,000
Indiana
$25,000,000
$3,647,000
$28,647,000
$39,077,000
Kansas
$25,000,000
$8,722,000
$33,722,000
$58,667,000
Kentucky
$25,000,000
$20,461,000
$45,461,000
$103,981,000
Louisiana
$25,000,000
$22,396,000
$47,396,000
$111,450,000
Michigan
$25,000,000
$1,522,000
$26,522,000
$30,873,000
Mississippi
$25,000,000
$1,770,000
$26,770,000
$31,830,000
Missouri
$25,000,000
$6,975,000
$31,975,000
$51,925,000
Montana
$25,000,000
$1,331,000
$26,331,000
$30,139,000
Nebraska
$25,000,000
$1,075,000
$26,075,000
$29,151,000
New Mexico
$25,000,000
$18,720,000
$43,720,000
$97,260,000
New York
$25,000,000
$11,573,000
$36,573,000
$69,672,000
North Dakota
$25,000,000
$14,318,000
$39,318,000
$80,266,000
Ohio
$25,000,000
$59,852,000
$84,852,000
$256,028,000
Oklahoma
$25,000,000
$53,168,000
$78,168,000
$230,227,000
Pennsylvania
$25,000,000
$79,178,000
$104,178,000
$330,626,000
Texas
$25,000,000
$82,563,000
$107,563,000
$343,695,000
Utah
$25,000,000
$1,355,000
$26,355,000
$30,229,000
West Virginia
$25,000,000
$30,293,000
$55,293,000
$141,932,000
Wyoming
$25,000,000
$10,539,000
$35,539,000
$65,681,000
TOTAL:
$650,000,000
$500,000,000
$1,150,000,000
$2,580,000,000
* The projected amount of total funding that states may be eligible to receive through the life of the Formula Grant program, in addition to the Initial Grant. Values will change as additional data becomes available.
Comments on the draft guidance can be emailed to orphanedwells@ios.doi.gov by 11:59 PM PT on February 24, 2023, and will help inform any changes moving forward. The Department will host public webinars so stakeholders can comment on the guidance and provide feedback. More information on these public webinars will be forthcoming.
In addition to providing historic funding to states, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law allocated $250 million to clean up well sites in national parks, national forests, wildlife refuges and other public lands, $33 million of which was allocated last year. Guidance, informed by Tribal consultations and listening sessions, has also been shared with Tribes on how to apply for the first $50 million in funding to address orphaned wells on Tribal lands.
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