The US Department of the Interior has opened grant applications for tribes to clean up abandoned oil and gas wells. There are several thousand of these wells on tribal lands. When not sealed or plugged, they can contaminate groundwater and harm wildlife. “The orphan oil and gas well program has many purposes,” said Winne Stachelberg of the Home Office. “Tribes now have access to these dollars, and funding will be available under President Biden’s bipartisan Infrastructure Act.” A total of $50 million in grants are available to tribes. Over the next five years, $150 million will be made available to tribes. Tribes can now apply for grants to fund the plugging, remediation or rehabilitation of orphan wells. “The application window will remain open for a few months, but we’re all very willing to work with tribes to make sure their grant applications are as strong as possible,” Stachelberg said. This money can also be used to restore soil and nature. habitats, as well as to remove any associated infrastructure. The Home Office said capping these wells would address longstanding environmental injustices left by extractive industries. There is no way of knowing how long some of these wells have been abandoned. “There are thousands and thousands of orphan oil and gas wells on tribal lands,” Stachelberg said. “It’s also important to also note that this is the result of a 60-day nation-to-nation consultation process that provides guidance to tribes on how to apply for orphan oil and gas wells.” Grant applications are due January 20, and all tribes that have oil wells on their land are eligible.
The US Department of the Interior has opened grant applications for tribes to clean up abandoned oil and gas wells.
There are several thousand of these wells on tribal lands. When not sealed or plugged, they can contaminate groundwater and harm wildlife.
“The orphan oil and gas well program has many purposes,” said Winne Stachelberg of the Home Office. “Tribes now have access to these dollars, and funding will be available under President Biden’s bipartisan Infrastructure Act.”
A total of $50 million in grants are available to tribes. Over the next five years, $150 million will be made available to tribes.
Tribes can now apply for grants to fund the plugging, remediation or rehabilitation of orphan wells.
“The application window will remain open for a few months, but we’re all ready to work with tribes to make sure their grant applications are as strong as possible,” Stachelberg said.
This money can also be used to restore soils and natural habitats, as well as remove any associated infrastructure.
The Home Office said capping these wells would address longstanding environmental injustices left by extractive industries.
There is no way of knowing how long some of these wells have been abandoned.
“There are thousands and thousands of orphan oil and gas wells on tribal lands,” Stachelberg said. “It’s also important to also note that this is the result of a 60-day nation-to-nation consultation process that provides guidance to tribes on how to apply for orphan oil and gas wells.”
Grant applications are due January 20, and all tribes that have oil wells on their land are eligible.
