Deb Haaland Secretary at U.S. Department of Interior | Official website
The Department of the Interior announced $30.59 million from President Biden’s Investing in America agenda to clean up legacy pollution in Arkansas and Louisiana. Arkansas will receive a $5.59 million award to plug and reclaim approximately 274 orphaned oil and gas well sites, while Louisiana will use its $25 million award for approximately 540 similar sites. These investments aim to create union jobs, stimulate economic growth, protect public health, and advance environmental justice.
These awards are part of $660 million in formula grant funding from President Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, released on a rolling basis. The two states will also detect and measure methane emissions from orphaned wells, screen for groundwater and surface water impacts, and prioritize cleaning up wells near disadvantaged communities. This effort supports the President’s Justice40 Initiative, which aims to deliver 40 percent of federal investment benefits to marginalized communities.
“Toxic orphaned oil and gas wells have plagued American communities for generations. President Biden’s Investing in America agenda is empowering states and Tribes across the country to address this long-standing environmental injustice by making a historic investment to plug these wells, which will create jobs and revitalize local economies,” said Secretary Deb Haaland. “With this historic funding, Arkansas and Louisiana will continue the progress already made plugging wells and begin to turn the tide on these environmental hazards that are harming our lands, waters, and air.”
Orphaned oil and gas wells pose significant health risks by contaminating surface and groundwater, releasing toxic air pollutants, and leaking methane—a potent greenhouse gas contributing to climate change. Plugging these wells aligns with broader Biden-Harris administration efforts under the U.S. Methane Emissions Reduction Action Plan.
Through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the Department is delivering the largest investment in tackling legacy pollution in American history, including $4.7 billion to plug orphaned wells. Since August 2022, $565 million has been awarded in initial grants to 25 states, including $5 million to Arkansas and $25 million to Louisiana for plugging orphaned wells. According to a recently released StoryMap by the Department, over 7,700 orphaned wells have been plugged nationwide since the law's enactment.
To date, Arkansas has plugged 57 wells with initial grant funding while Louisiana has plugged more than 540 wells. Both states have also remediated surfaces at these sites using this funding. The new announcement of over $30 million will help maintain this momentum.
In addition to initial grants totaling $775 million and multiple phases of formula grants amounting to $2 billion, states can also apply for performance grants worth $1.5 billion under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
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