Energy community revitalizaton program: bipartisan infrastructure law (BIL) SEC. 40601(D) orphaned well tribal program award purpose: funding through the program may be utilized to plug, remediate…

This Project Grant award, provided by the U.S. Department of the Interior's Departmental Offices Interior Business Center under the Energy Community Revitalization Program (CFDA 15.018), will fund the Caddo Tribe of Oklahoma to plug, remediate, and reclaim up to 20 orphaned oil and gas wells on tribal land. The $2,708,345 grant will also support soil and habitat remediation, decommissioning of associated infrastructure, and the development of a tribal orphaned well program. Key expected outcomes include reducing methane emissions, enhancing public health and safety, and restoring environmental resources impacted by legacy energy development on tribal lands. The grant funding period runs from October 1, 2024 to September 30, 2029.

Activities

This grant funds the caddo tribe of oklahoma to perform the following activities: plug, remediate, or reclaim an orphaned well on tribal land remediate soil and restore habitat that has been due to the presence of an orphaned well or associated pipelines, facilities, or infrastructure on tribal land remediate tribal land adjacent to orphaned wells and decommission or remove associated pipelines, facilities, and infrastructure provide an accounting of the cost of plugging, remediation, and reclamation for each orphaned well site on tribal land identify and characterize undocumented orphaned wells on tribal land and develop or administer a tribal program to carry out any activities described in this section. Activities funded by this grant must comply with the uniform guidance for grants and agreements (2 CFR 200), build america buy america, davis-bacon act, and BIL, and include all costs necessary to conduct and manage the approved project, such as equipment and contracted services. Expected deliverables or outcomes: plug, remediate, or reclaim up to 20 orphaned wells on tribal land. Create or retain up to 4 jobs through this grant.decrease the amount of methane emissions from orphaned wells. Enhance the protection of public health, safety, and property from adverse effects of oil drilling practices from orphaned wells on tribal lands. Locate, assess, characterize and or inventory undocumented orphaned wells on tribal lands. Restore land and water resources, the environment, and property from oil drilling activities, facilities, and associated pipelines from orphaned wells on tribal lands. Develop or administer a tribal orphaned wells program.

Intended beneficiaries

The general public benefits directly and indirectly from the proposed project that addresses long overdue infrastructure and environmental improvements to strengthen our resilience to the changing climate and to mitigate the effects of legacy pollution. This investment on tribal lands across the country will grow the economy sustainably and equitably for decades to come. Information and data collected by this project will be made available as applicable. The general public will benefit by removing hazardous legacy facilities, including in disproportionately impacted communities where work will be prioritized. Subrecipient activities (if known or specified at time of award): N a