Federal Orphaned Well Program
The Department of the Interior (DOI) is leading the Federal Orphaned Well Program to remediate orphaned wells on Federal Lands, as well as the State program and the Tribal program. This multi-agency effort includes DOI Land Management Agencies, the U.S. Forest Service (USDA), the U.S. Department of Energy, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Interstate Oil & Gas Commission Compact. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s (BIL) historic investments will help revitalize local economies and support jobs, while addressing environmental impacts from legacy developments.
The Law provides $250 million to federal land managers at DOI and the Department of Agriculture to inventory, assess, plug and restore orphaned well sites. Eligible bureaus are the Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement and the US Forest Service.
