The State of New Mexico just received another $5.5 million from the Department of Interior to help plug abandoned wells.
The funding, announced through the Biden administration’s Interior Department also awarded $9 million to the state of California before Donald Trump was sworn into office.
“These investments to address hazardous sites will create good-paying union jobs, catalyze economic growth and revitalization, help protect public health and the environment from harmful methane leaks, and advance environmental justice,” stated the announcement.
New Mexico will use its $5.5 million award to plug up to 10 orphaned wells on state-owned or privately owned lands and remove and dispose of associated surface infrastructure. New Mexico will also perform site characterization and remediation at an estimated two well sites and perform surface restoration at up to 50 plugged well sites.
California will use its $9 million award to plug 44 high-priority orphaned wells on state and private lands.
“Toxic orphaned oil and gas wells have plagued American communities for generations. President Biden’s Investing in America agenda has empowered states across the country to address this long-standing environmental injustice by making a historic investment to plug these wells, which will create jobs and revitalize local economies,” said Secretary Deb Haaland. “With this funding, California and New Mexico will continue the progress already made plugging wells and begin to turn the tide on these environmental hazards that are harming our lands, waters and air.”