40 JANUARY 2024 WorldWide Drilling Resource® Funding for Tribal Nations to Address Legacy Pollution Adapted from Information by U.S. Department of the Interior The U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) announced nearly $40 million in a first phase of funding to help Tribal communities plug and remediate orphaned gas and oil wells across the states. This investment is a critical step in supporting Tribal land rights and economic opportunities to address legacy pollution, reduce harmful methane leaks, and tackle environmental hazards which threaten these communities. “Indigenous communities have long been disproportionately burdened by environmental pollution,” said DOI Secretary Deb Haaland. “. . . The department is committed to improving safety and health conditions for Indian Country, honoring Tribal sovereignty, and supporting sustainable development and good-paying jobs. We are doing this by working with Tribes every step of the way, because we know Tribal leaders know best how to care for their people.” This first phase of funding will provide more than $34 million in Implementation Grants to Tribal Nations to support plugging, remediation, and reclamation activities for orphaned wells on Tribal lands. Other funded activities under this type of grant include preplugging assessments and remediation of soil and restoration of habitat degraded by orphaned wells or associated pipelines, facilities, and infrastructure on Tribal lands. In addition, more than $4.9 million of funding will be awarded for Program Development Grants which support capacity-building activities and help Tribal recipients prepare for future plugging, remediation, and reclamation activities. This type of grant funding will assist Tribes in locating, inventorying, and assessing orphaned wells and in amplifying Tribal capacity and expertise through job creation, training, and administrative support. This funding is in addition to $560 million in orphaned well grant funding provided to states in 2022, and nearly $100 million going toward addressing orphaned wells on public lands and waters. ENV
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