Gabby Brown, gabby.brown@sierraclub.org
Washington, DC – Today, the Department of the Interior released draft guidance to states on how to apply for and distribute the initial block of grant funding available this year under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to clean up oil and gas wells for which a solvent owner can no longer be identified. Known as orphaned wells, these wells have been abandoned by the oil and gas industry, releasing toxic chemicals into the air and water, threatening the health of nearby communities, and emitting large amounts of methane, a greenhouse gas more than 80 times as potent as carbon dioxide. In addition to the benefits for climate and public health, cleaning up these wells will also create good-paying union jobs.
In January, Interior announced that 26 states have applied for funding under this program, and states like Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West Virginia have already identified more than $1 billion each in cleanup needs.
In response, Sierra Club Deputy Legislative Director Mahyar Sorour released the following statement:
“These funds will allow states to do the critical work of cleaning up orphaned oil and gas wells that are poisoning communities and destabilizing our climate, and we’re glad to see the administration issuing guidance to ensure that funds are being used responsibly. As states apply for this funding, they must take seriously the need to implement best practices to limit methane pollution from orphaned wells, as well as pursuing bonding reform to make sure the industry can’t continue leaving taxpayers to cover the cost of cleaning up their messes. The remarkable amount of interest from states in this program makes it clear that the scale of our orphan well problem is enormous. For the wellbeing of the communities with these wells, it’s critical that DOI has stepped in to support states. But now the states need to step up and hold the industry accountable.”
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.