Davids Announces $25 Million to Clean Up 243 Abandoned Oil Wells in the Kansas Third District

Today, Representative Sharice Davids announced the Kansas Corporation Commission (KCC) has been awarded an initial grant of $25 million to help plug 67 abandoned oil wells in Johnson County and 176 in Miami County. This historic investment is part of the $58.6 million in bipartisan infrastructure law funding that will create good-paying, union jobs, introduce new economic opportunity, and reduce dangerous methane leaks at the 5,400 abandoned wells in Kansas. Davids helped lead these investments to passage through her role as Vice Chair of the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee.

"The bipartisan infrastructure law's impact on our state has proved momentous, and that is once again demonstrated by today's announcement to plug and remediate 243 wells in Kansas' Third District," said Davids. "These projects will ensure Kansans remain safe and healthy, while also bringing new economic opportunities and creating good-paying jobs for our community. As these wells are located across Kansas, the benefits of this funding will quite literally touch all four corners of our state."

A map showing the locations of the abandoned oil well projects and number of wells in each.

"These federal grants provide Kansas with a one-time opportunity to help address the issue of abandoned wells in Kansas while helping the economy by providing good paying jobs for several years," said Ryan A. Hoffman, Kansas Corporation Commission Conservation Division Director.

"These federal grant funds will provide important assistance in plugging abandoned wells in Kansas," said Dwight D. Keen, Kansas Corporation Commission Chair. "However, to adequately protect Kansas fresh water resources, it will also be necessary to continue funding the plugging of abandoned wells with state well plugging fund resources provided by oil and gas industry fee assessments,"

Some 81,000 abandoned drilling sites across the country are at risk of emitting dangerous methane gas and leaking toxic pollution into nearby communities. Approximately 9 million Americans live within a mile of these hazardous sites, exposing families to critical environmental and public health threats. In Kansas, wells are prioritized for action if they pose a threat to public water supply or safety, and 14 sites are currently rated as high priority.

The KCC plans to use the initial $25 million grant to pay for eight projects across the state that will plug more than 2300 abandoned wells over the next two to three years. A map showing the locations of the projects and number of wells in each can be viewed here. In total, the bipartisan infrastructure law includes $4.7 billion in new federal funding to help communities plug orphaned wells.

Davids previously announced the bipartisan infrastructure law is bringing $225 million to repair Kansas bridges, more than $13 million for airports in the Third District and $79 million for water infrastructure across Kansas in fiscal year 2022. The law has been called the most fiscally responsible infrastructure bill in at least a decade by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.