The Department of the Interior 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. This funding aims to address legacy pollution, reduce methane leaks, and tackle environmental hazards affecting Tribal communities. This initiative builds on previous grants totaling $12 million last month and $40 million allocated last year.
"Ensuring that Tribal leaders have the opportunity to invest federal resources as needed is key to honoring Tribal sovereignty. Our administration is committed to reducing legacy pollution on Tribal lands, improving public health, and creating economic opportunities," said Secretary Deb Haaland. "Through the President’s Investing in America agenda, we are making millions of dollars available for Tribes to strengthen capacity and realize their vision for vibrant, healthy and sustainable communities."
The funding may be used for plugging, remediating or reclaiming orphaned wells on Tribal lands, restoring soil and habitat degraded by these wells, decommissioning associated infrastructure, identifying additional undocumented wells on Tribal land, and establishing well-plugging capacity where not already present.
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law allocates a total of $4.7 billion to address orphaned wells nationwide, including $150 million specifically for Tribal communities. Today’s announcement brings the total investment in cleaning up orphaned wells on Tribal lands to over $68 million. Additional phase two Tribal grants will be awarded and announced progressively. Tribes may also request direct assistance from the Department via “In Lieu of Grant” funding for plugging, remediation, and reclamation activities.
Orphaned oil and gas wells pose risks such as contaminating groundwater, seeping toxic chemicals into drinking water sources, emitting dangerous pollutants, and harming wildlife. Methane leaks from these unplugged wells are a significant safety hazard and a potent contributor to climate change.
Today’s awards fund two categories of activities: Implementation Grants support plugging, remediation, and reclamation activities at orphaned well sites on Tribal lands; Program Development Grants support capacity-building activities that help Tribes prepare for future plugging efforts.
This initiative supports the President’s Justice40 Initiative aimed at delivering 40 percent of certain federal investments' overall benefits to historically disadvantaged communities burdened by underinvestment and pollution.
**Tribal Phase 2 Projects**
*Chickasaw Nation - $499,993 Implementation Grant*
Building on assessment activities completed under a Phase 1 award, this project will evaluate ten additional well sites, compile data, develop plugging standards for tracking methane emissions and contamination levels while training staff in comprehensive site management.
*Chippewa Cree Tribe of the Rocky Boy Reservation - $2,006,533 Implementation Grant*
This project will complete plugging and remediation of 17 orphaned well sites identified with Phase 1 grant funding. Activities include removing residual contaminants and replanting native vegetation.
*Comanche Nation - $1,000,000 Program Development Grant*
This project will establish a program addressing environmental challenges posed by approximately 250 potentially orphaned wells. Funds will support training in skilled jobs like methane monitoring needed for future implementation phases.
*Jicarilla Apache Nation - $3,162,500 Implementation Grant*
This project will prioritize identified orphaned wells by inspecting locations to estimate current contamination levels while remediating up to 19 sites.
*Osage Nation - $10,059,548 Implementation Grant*
This project will expand the Tribe’s remediation program with funds supporting staff trained under Phase 1 funding to implement prioritized remediation at up to 91 sites.
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