The Department of the Interior has announced a $109.6 million investment as part of President Biden's Investing in America agenda. This funding aims to address orphaned oil and gas wells on federal lands, including national parks, forests, wildlife refuges, and other public areas. The initiative involves five federal agencies from the Departments of the Interior and Agriculture focusing on 484 high-priority wells that pose risks to health, safety, climate, and wildlife.

This year's funding is part of a broader $4.7 billion investment under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law aimed at addressing orphaned wells nationwide. The goal is to create union jobs, stimulate economic growth, improve public health and safety, and reduce methane emissions—a significant contributor to climate change.

"Toxic orphaned wells pose a significant threat to American communities and our environment," said Secretary Deb Haaland. "I’ve seen firsthand how orphaned oil and gas wells left behind by extractive industries lead to hazardous pollution, water contamination, and safety hazards. This crucial funding reflects President Biden’s vision for a cleaner, safer and more equitable future. It’s a win-win-win – reducing harmful methane emissions, restoring our treasured landscapes, and creating good-paying jobs."

The current allocation is part of a total $250 million designated through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for cleaning up well sites on federal lands. Additionally, there is $4.3 billion allocated for state and private lands cleanup efforts and $150 million for Tribal lands cleanup.

Today's investment will fund projects across 13 states as well as the Gulf of Mexico Outer Continental Shelf. These projects include plugging operations, reclamation activities, methane measurement initiatives, and infrastructure removal at various locations such as national parks and offshore oilfields.

A breakdown of funded projects by agency shows:

- Bureau of Land Management: 39 wells

- Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement: 20 wells

- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: 288 wells

- National Park Service: 24 wells

- U.S. Forest Service: 113 wells

In totality across all bureaus combined project funding amounts to addressing 484 orphaned wells.