The National Park Service announced the Big Thicket National Preserve in Kountze, Texas, will receive more than a half-a-million dollars to combat the legacy pollution from a pair of orphaned wells. According to a July 21 release, this is all made possible through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
“We are excited to expand the work being done at Big Thicket to address legacy pollution and improve the environment, water quality and economic revitalization in southeast Texas,” Superintendent Wayne Prokopetz said in the release.
The $550,000 from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will supplement the preserve’s existing budget to remediate orphaned wells. These exist because the area was a popular one for oil and gas drilling and production before 1974, according to the release.This is the second time the Preserve has received funding for their efforts.
In 2022, the preserve received funding to close seven other orphaned wells within the preserve’s boundaries. This year, this isn’t the only funding that Big Thicket will receive from the federal government, the release reported. To assist in restoring the longleaf pine savannah ecosystem, Big Thicket is receiving $200,000 from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Ecosystem Restoration Fund, as well.
According to a June 8 release, the DOI announced an investment of $63.8 million through President Joe Biden’s Investing in America plan to plug and remediate orphaned wells and gas sites in national parks, forests, wildlife refugees, public lands and waters. This is due to methane pollution being a safety hazard and a major contributor to climate change. Methane is 25 times more potent an carbon dioxide when it comes to trapping heat in the atmosphere.
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law includes $16 billion to address legacy pollution nationwide, the July release reported..
“Decades of drilling have left behind thousands of non-producing wells that now threaten the health and wellbeing of our communities, our lands and our waters," Interior Secretary Deb Haaland said in the June release. "Through President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, we are investing in the nation’s future by addressing legacy pollution on public lands. This funding will put Americans to work in good-paying jobs, while also fueling collaboration across a broad coalition of stakeholders and engaging communities to work toward sustainable stewardship of the nation’s treasured lands and waters."
The Big Thicket National Preserve amounts to about 113,114 acres out of the Big Thicket’s 3.5 million acres in total. It was established in October 1974 and is home to three endangered species, as well as 1,320 plant species. For people who visit the preserve, there are a variety of opportunities for outdoor recreation. This includes back country camping, hiking miles of trails and paddling the water. Other opportunities include fishing, hunting when in season, bird watching and horseback riding.
