Congress·In Committee·H.R. 1217

Congress would let states skip methane measuring and still qualify for orphaned well plugging grants

Orphan Well Grant Flexibility Act of 2025

about 1 year ago·View on Congress.gov

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Stalled

No legislative action in over 90 days.

Legislative Progress

House

Senate

President

Law

Key Points

States could keep qualifying for federal orphaned well plugging grants even if they do not measure methane at wells before plugging them.
States would be allowed (but not required) to use grant money to collect methane monitoring data before or after plugging, and to use those data to make estimates.
The Interior Department would be told to work with the National Academies to study how well-plugging projects affect local communities, like jobs, housing, and possible water quality benefits.
The study must include input from at least one state in each U.S. region and consult with Housing and Urban Development and other groups for data and expertise.
The study would use existing Interior Department funds, and a report would go to Congress after the last grant under the program is awarded.

EnergyEnvironmentHousing

Milestones

2 milestones2 actions

Feb 11, 2025House

Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.

Feb 11, 2025

Introduced in House

What Happens Next

Projected impacts based on AI analysis

Within 180 days after the bill becomes law

Interior Department begins the process to hire the National Academies to study community impacts of orphaned-well plugging

The study can shape future decisions about where cleanup money goes and what benefits (jobs, housing changes, water quality) are worth tracking, but it does not directly change anyone’s benefits right away.

As soon as the updated rules take effect after enactment

States can apply for orphaned-well grants without having to measure methane first

Some states may move faster to get federal money and start plugging wells sooner, especially where methane-monitoring capacity is limited.

During the study period after the agreement is signed

National Academies gathers key input from at least one state in each U.S. region and consults HUD and other agencies

Communities and state officials may be asked for information about local jobs, housing, and environmental changes tied to plugging projects; results could influence future program improvements.

No later than 18 months after the last grant is awarded under the orphaned-well grant program

National Academies submits the final report to Congress after the last orphaned-well grant is awarded under the program

The report may lead to future changes in grant rules, tracking requirements, or how benefits like water quality and redevelopment are measured, but the timing depends on when the last grant is awarded.