ARKANSAS, USA — On Thursday, the U.S. Department of the Interior announced that Arkansas will be receiving money from President Joe Biden's "Investing in America" agenda to help the Natural State clean up legacy pollution.
Arkansas will be given a $5.59 million award, that will be used to reclaim and plug about 274 orphaned oil and gas well sites across the state.
The money given to address these more than 200 hazardous sites in the state will help catalyze economic growth and revitalization, create good-paying union jobs, and help protect the public and the environment from dangerous and harmful methane leaks. It will also allow the opportunity to advance environmental justice.
“Toxic orphaned oil and gas wells have plagued American communities for generations. President Biden’s Investing in America agenda is empowering states and Tribes 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 historic funding, Arkansas and Louisiana 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.”
With initial grant funding, Arkansas has been able to plug about 57 wells so far, and with this new funding, the state will be able to continue the momentum that was first started back in 2022.