California Construction News staff writer
The federal government has announced more than $35 million to continue reclaiming and restoring orphaned oil and gas wells in California, including many in Los Angeles.
New funding will be used to plug and remediate 206 high-risk orphaned oil and gas wells that threaten communities and decommission 47 attendant production facilities with approximately 70,000 feet of associated pipelines. Secretary Haaland also announced new matching grant guidance for states to access $30 million each in additional funding for orphaned well clean up.
Orphaned oil and gas wells are polluting backyards, recreation areas, and community spaces across the country. Many of these wells pose serious health and safety threats by contaminating surface and groundwater, releasing toxic air pollutants, and leaking methane – a “super pollutant” that is a significant cause of climate change and many times more potent than carbon dioxide at trapping heat in the atmosphere.
Plugging orphaned wells supports broader Biden-Harris administration efforts under the U.S. Methane Emissions Reduction Action Plan. With this new funding, the state of California plans to plug and remediate more than 200 sites and decommission more than 40 facilities.
“President Biden’s Investing in America agenda is creating jobs and revitalizing local economies while cleaning up harmful legacy pollution sites throughout the country,” said Secretary Deb Haaland. “I’ve seen firsthand, including right here in Los Angeles, the urgent need to address these hazardous sites, many of which are actively leaking oil and releasing methane gas.
“With this historic funding, states like California are making significant progress in plugging wells and protecting communities. These investments are good for our climate, for the health of our communities and for American workers.”
The award is part of an overall $660 million in phase one formula grant funding being released on a rolling basis. As part of the award, California will detect and measure methane emissions from orphaned oil and gas wells, screen for groundwater and surface water impacts, and prioritize cleaning up wells near overburdened and disadvantaged communities.
