Rep. Cuellar Announces Over $343 Million in Federal Funding for Orphan Well Plugging and Site Remediation in Texas
Written by Post Public Information Representative, May 29, 2023, 0 Comments
Courtesy Jose Sanz,
The funding has plugged 5 wells in Webb County, and 2 more wells are scheduled to be plugged
Washington, DC – U.S. Congressman Henry Cuellar (TX-28) announced $343,695,000 in federal funding for orphan well plugging and site remediation in Texas. The federal funds will be used to plug 7 orphan wells in Webb County, bringing good-paying jobs and helping clean up the local environment. So far, 5 wells have been plugged, and 2 more wells are scheduled to be plugged in the future. The funds were provided by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) and administered by the Texas Railroad Commission.
“I helped pass the IIJA in 2021 to bring federal dollars home for reinvestment in our communities. We’re seeing that today. The funding provided to plug orphaned oil wells in Webb County will help clean up our environment and create good-paying jobs for South Texans,” said Congressman Cuellar. “Orphaned oil wells can leak harmful pollutants into the air, soil, and waterways. By plugging 7 wells, we are taking real action to protect Webb County and its residents. I will continue to foster job growth in our local economy and protect the Webb County environment.”
“This federal funding is an incredible opportunity to create high-quality jobs by plugging orphan wells in Texas’ Congressional District 28 and across the state,” said Leonard Aguilar, Secretary-Treasurer of the Texas AFL-CIO. “As recent research shows, we can create over 5,000 jobs in Texas by capping orphan wells. These jobs can provide individuals and their families with financial security, raise industry standards and improve air quality for our communities.”
The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) provided $4.7 billion for orphaned well site plugging on federal, state, private, and Tribal lands. Texas received $25 million in initial funds in August 2022 and anticipates receiving $82,563,000 in the first allocation of formula grant funds in 2023. Texas is estimated to receive approximately $218,695,000 in multiple rounds of formula grant funds for a total amount of $343,695,000 in federal funding. Funds are awarded to the Texas Railroad Commission for its existing State managed Plugging Program and will create an estimated 5,000 jobs in Texas.
For more information on orphaned well plugging in TX-28, including a full list of wells that have been plugged or are scheduled to be plugged using IIJA funds, click here.
