Hundreds of wells to be addressed in parks, forests, and wildlife refuges.
Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Land Management has announced that the agency will invest in 277 orphaned oil and gas wells under the funding allotted by the infrastructure bill that was passed last fall. The wells, located in national parks, national forests, national wildlife refuges, and other public lands, will be plugged, remediated, or reclaimed “as part of a multi-agency effort to reduce environmental and health impacts from orphaned wells nationwide,” the bureau stated.
“Orphaned wells are a legacy that we must address, as they can release methane, pollute groundwater, and pose a hazard to people and wildlife alike,” said Director Tracy Stone-Manning. “Millions of Americans live within a mile of an orphaned well, and many more may be recreating on federal lands near one. We are pleased to do our part to help fix the problem.”
As the Lord Leads, Pray with Us…
- For Director Stone-Manning to seek God’s discernment as she heads the Bureau of Land Management.
- For bureau officials as they address orphaned wells on public lands.
- For the president and his administration as they implement plans to steward the environment.
Sources: Bureau of Land Management
