119th Congress · introduced in the House · Feb 11, 2025
Orphan Well Grant Flexibility Act of 2025
Official title from Congress.gov
Latest action (Feb 11, 2025): Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
View on Congress.govPolicy area: Environmental Protection
Congressional Research Service summary, version: Introduced in House (Feb 11, 2025)
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.
Includes amendment, cloture, and procedural votes. Each is labeled with its exact question; only a passage question is a vote to pass the bill.
No recorded roll calls on this bill in coverage.
Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Actions from Congress.gov, newest first.
LD-2 reports whose issue descriptions explicitly cite this bill (bill type and number validated against Congress.gov records). A citation does not establish the client's position or any contact with a member.
Loading lobbying reportsCoverage: reports for 2025 onward, posted Jan 1, 2025 through Oct 24, 2026.
4 citations.
NATURE CONSERVANCY · lobbying firm or registrant: THE NATURE CONSERVANCY
2025 Q2 report (Apr 1, 2025 – Jun 30, 2025) · posted Jul 22, 2025 · issue area: Natural Resources
$2,270,000
Spent on own lobbying
…5) Ocmulgee Mounds National Park and Preserve Establishment Act (H.R.2345/S.1131) One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R.1) Orphan Well Grant Flexibility Act of 2025 (H.R.1217) Proven Forest Management Act of 2025 (H.R.179) Public Lands in Public Hands Act (H.R.718) Reauthorization of the U.S. Development Finance Corporation Regional…
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
CITIZENS FOR RESPONSIBLE ENERGY SOLUTIONS, INC. · lobbying firm or registrant: CITIZENS FOR RESPONSIBLE ENERGY SOLUTIONS, INC.
2025 Q2 report (Apr 1, 2025 – Jun 30, 2025) · posted Jul 21, 2025 · issue area: Energy/Nuclear
$430,000
Spent on own lobbying
H.R.1217 - Orphan Well Grant Flexibility Act H.R.2122 - IMPACT Act 2.0 H.R.1994 - Public Lands Renewable Energy Act H.R.1534 - IMPACT Act H.R. 1 - One Big Beautiful Bil…
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
HERITAGE ACTION FOR AMERICA · lobbying firm or registrant: HERITAGE ACTION FOR AMERICA
2025 Q1 report (Jan 1, 2025 – Mar 31, 2025) · posted Apr 22, 2025 · issue area: Energy/Nuclear
$100,000
Spent on own lobbying
HR 26 "Protecting American Energy Production Act," all provisions. HR1217 "Orphan Well Grant Flexibility Act," all provisions. HR640 "Chemical Tax Repeal Act," all provisions. SJ Res 4 "A joint resolution providing for congressional…
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
CITIZENS FOR RESPONSIBLE ENERGY SOLUTIONS, INC. · lobbying firm or registrant: CITIZENS FOR RESPONSIBLE ENERGY SOLUTIONS, INC.
2025 Q1 report (Jan 1, 2025 – Mar 31, 2025) · posted Apr 21, 2025 · issue area: Energy/Nuclear
$290,000
Spent on own lobbying
H.R.1217 - Orphan Well Grant Flexibility Act H.R.2122 - IMPACT Act 2.0 H.R.1994 - Public Lands Renewable Energy Act H.R.1534 - IMPACT Act
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing