The USFWS and the RRC seek to restore enhance and protect aransas laguna lower RIO and trinity national wildlife refuges and their visitors by properly plugging and abandoning orphaned wells and…

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) awarded a $7,032,802.66 Cooperative Agreement under the National Wildlife Refuge System Enhancements program (CFDA 15.654) to the Texas Railroad Commission. The award aims to restore, enhance, and protect the Aransas, Laguna, Lower Rio, and Trinity National Wildlife Refuges in Texas by properly plugging and abandoning orphaned oil and gas wells and reclaiming well sites. This will protect the refuges' subsurface and surface waters, wetlands, protected species, and other sensitive natural resources. The project will be implemented over a 5-year period from September 2024 to August 2029 through a partnership between the USFWS and the Texas Railroad Commission, the state agency responsible for regulating the oil and gas industry.

The USFWS and the RRC seek to restore enhance and protect aransas laguna lower RIO and trinity national wildlife refuges and their visitors by properly plugging and abandoning orphaned wells and reclaiming well sites that will protect refuge visitors subsurface and surface waters wetlands protected species and sensitive natural resources