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Contact: Christopher Derman, 423-569-9778
Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area (NRRA) received over $1 million for the orphaned well reclamation project, funded through the Inflation Reduction Act and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. This project is part of a nationwide effort to restore natural habitats and address climate change impacts. In fiscal year 2023, President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act will provide $52 million to the National Park Service to fund projects throughout the country related to ecosystem resilience, restoration, and environmental planning needs.
The project will plug and reclaim six orphaned well sites throughout the park in Tennessee and Kentucky. The project funded by the Inflation Reduction Act will mitigate abandoned mine drainage and close open mine portals at Big South Fork NRRA.
Methane pollution from many of these unplugged wells is a serious safety hazard and is a significant driver of climate change, with methane being more than 25 times as potent as carbon dioxide at trapping heat in the atmosphere.
“Plugging the wells removes abandoned aboveground oil or gas production equipment, improves visitor safety and protects park groundwater and other park resources,” said Big South Fork NRRA Superintendent Niki Stephanie Nicholas. “The restoration of these sites through these investments will stabilize access roads and production sites and promote ecosystem health by planting native plant species.”
The projects announced today infuse much-needed funding to put people to work addressing critical ecosystem needs to restore healthy and resilient park lands while benefiting communities surrounding parks. Through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act, the National Park Service is working to address the impacts of the climate crisis, including intensifying drought, wildfires, flooding and legacy pollution in national parks and other public lands. Resources are making significant strategic investments to repair critical facilities and infrastructure and enhance conservation through ecosystem restoration and recreation opportunities.
Additional information regarding this legislation is available online: Biden-Harris Administration Announces $64 Million to Address Legacy Pollution on Federal Lands and Waters, Create Good-Paying Jobs Through Investing in America Agenda | U.S. Department of the Interior (doi.gov).
The full lists of fiscal year 2023 projects are available online: IRA Restoration and Resilience projects and BIL Ecosystem Resilience projects.
For more information, please contact Big South Fork NRRA at 423-569-9778
Last updated: August 8, 2023