Interior Department Streamlines Oil Well Cleanup Grants to Boost State Control and Cut Red Tape

Interior Department Streamlines Oil Well Cleanup Grants to Boost State Control and Cut Red Tape

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Department of the Interior has announced significant updates to its orphaned oil and gas well cleanup programs, aiming to accelerate state-led efforts by reducing bureaucratic hurdles and expanding local discretion. The revised guidance affects two major federal grant initiatives: the $780 million Orphaned Wells State Matching Grant Program and the $1.93 billion Orphaned Wells State Formula Grant Program. These update…

Evaluation of Federal Requirements for Plugging Orphaned Oil and Gas Wells: A Missouri Case Study - FracTracker Alliance

Missouri is home to an estimated 5,000 orphaned or abandoned oil and gas wells. The problem is even more staggering nationwide, with over one million such wells scattered across the country. In an effort to address the crisis, the federal government has committed $1.6 billion to help states plug these wells and mitigate the environmental and health risks they pose. The post Evaluation of Federal Requirements for Plugging Orphaned Oil and Gas Wel…