03.17.22

Chair Grijalva Applauds Interior Department Guidance on Orphaned Wells, Announces Hearing on Legacy Pollution Clean-Up Programs

Washington, D.C. – Chair Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) today issued the following statement on the release of draft guidance from the U.S. Department of the Interior outlining how states should apply for grant funds to plug and reclaim orphaned oil and gas wells. The initial $775 million in grant funding is part of the $4.7 billion that was included in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) for addressing orphaned wells. The draft guidance also lays out best practices for using the funds, including prioritization of disadvantaged communities.

“With tens of thousands of known orphaned oil and gas wells spread across the country, and likely hundreds of thousands yet to be discovered, it’s critical Interior continues working with states to clean up these hazardous sites,” Chair Grijalva said. “Orphaned wells contaminate drinking water and leak noxious methane gas, hurting both nearby communities and the climate at large. We need continued cooperation between Interior, states, and Congress to ensure good use of taxpayers resources and to prevent the oil and gas industry from recklessly orphaning more wells in the future.”

On Thursday, March 31 at 10:00 am Eastern time, the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources will hold a hearing exploring the benefits of BIL investments in legacy pollution clean-up programs, including funds to plug orphaned oil and gas wells and reclaim abandoned coal mine lands. Additional details about the hearing, including witnesses, are forthcoming.

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