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Orphan Well Grant Flexibility Act of 2025
3/12/2025, 12:53 PM
Summary of Bill HR 1217
The bill proposes several measures to achieve this goal. Firstly, it calls for the establishment of a comprehensive system for measuring methane emissions from various sources, such as oil and gas operations, landfills, and agriculture. This data will be crucial for tracking progress in reducing methane emissions and identifying areas where further action is needed.
Additionally, the bill includes provisions for promoting the use of technologies and practices that can help reduce methane emissions. This may include incentives for companies to invest in methane capture and storage technologies, as well as requirements for regular monitoring and reporting of emissions. Overall, the Methane Emissions Reduction Act is aimed at addressing a pressing environmental issue and promoting responsible stewardship of natural resources. By measuring and reducing methane emissions, the bill seeks to mitigate the impacts of climate change and protect the health and well-being of future generations.
Congressional Summary of HR 1217
Orphan Well Grant Flexibility Act of 2025
This bill removes certain requirements, including measuring methane emissions, for grants to states under the State Orphaned Wells Program.
Under the program, the Department of the Interior provides grants to states for the following purposes: (1) plugging, remediating, and reclaiming orphaned wells located on federal land; (2) identifying and characterizing undocumented orphaned wells; (3) measuring and tracking emissions of gases (e.g., methane) or contamination of water associated with orphaned wells; or (4) conducting certain other related activities. Generally, orphaned wells are oil and gas wells without solvent owners or operators responsible for cleaning up leaks from the wells.
In 2024, Interior issued guidance for the grant program that requires states to conduct certain measuring and tracking activities related to the orphaned wells before and after receiving grants. However, the bill specifies that states are not required to provide such information in order to receive a grant. Instead, the bill makes measuring and tracking optional.
The bill also directs Interior to enter into an agreement with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to study the effect of the plugging and remediation activity on economic development, housing trends, and other potential benefits in areas where the plugging and remediation activity reclaimed a high number of well sites.
