Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Air Resource Management Program - Other Laws

Other laws, such as the National Environmental Policy Act and the National Forest Management Act, influence how the Forest Service manages and protects national forests and grasslands in relation to air quality and its effects on people and resources.

National Environmental Policy Act

The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) establishes national environmental policy and goals to protect, maintain, and enhance the environment. It also requires all federal agencies to examine the environmental consequences of major proposed actions, and to conduct a decision-making process that incorporates public input. Find out more about this Act and Environmental Planning and Compliance.

National Forest Management Act

The National Forest Management Act requires national forests and grasslands to create land management plans. The law states “National Forests are ecosystems and their management requires an awareness and consideration of the interrelationships among plants, animals, soil, water, air, and other environmental factors within such ecosystems”. Find out more about how the Forest Service implements this Act under Land Management Planning.

Orphaned Well Program

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act was signed into law on November 15, 2021. Part of the funding provided under the law was dedicated to drinking water, wastewater infrastructure, and climate infrastructure. Section 40601 specifically established the Orphaned Well Program, which includes a federal program for addressing orphaned wells on federal land and a grant program for states and tribes to establish or enhance and manage their own orphaned well plugging, remediation, and restoration programs. As defined by the Law, orphaned wells are:

  • Well not used for an authorized purpose

  • For which no liable party can be found

  • The liable party is unable to plug the well and remediate and reclaim the surface

  • Within the National Petroleum Reserve – Alaska

The federal program requires annual reporting to Congress that describes the program established and grants awarded under this section and includes:

  1. An updated inventory of wells located on Federal land, Tribal land, and state and private land that are:

    1. orphaned wells; or

    2. at risk of becoming orphaned wells

  2. An estimate of the quantities of:

    1. methane and other gasses emitted from orphaned wells; and

    2. emissions reduced because of plugging, remediating, and reclaiming orphaned wells.

Funds released and work accomplished so far (as of early 2024):

  • $645M awarded to 25 states and being monitored in initial and formula grants > ~7,000 wells plugged and abandoned on state and private lands.

  • $145M distributed to federal partners for well plugging, remediation and restoration > 172 wells plugged and abandoned on federal lands.

  • $39.4M awarded for Tribal implementation and development grants for orphaned well activities > Tribes are completing the requirements to begin plugging work.