The State Oil and Gas Board told the Joint Interim Committees it will use a federal grant to continue plugging orphaned and abandoned wells across Alabama.

Bennett Bearden, deputy attorney general representing the Oil and Gas Board, said the federal government provided $3,100,000 to support plugging operations and the contract before the committee was a no‑cost time extension. "The federal government has graciously provided $3,100,000 for this contract, and this is just a no cost time extension for it," Bearden said.

Board staff reported field progress: crews have plugged four wells to date and original grant planning identified 28 wells. As field work proceeded, staff identified additional sites and "38 more wells" in North Alabama that are slated for assessment and plugging, the staff member said. Presenters said the funds are intended to protect public health and safety and to secure coequal and correlative rights of oil and gas owners by cleaning and plugging abandoned wells.

Committee members commended the board for taking on the work; committee staff confirmed the extension and thanked personnel for progress updates. No formal votes were recorded on the extension during the meeting.

Next steps: Work to prepare and plug the newly identified sites will continue under the extended schedule; the board expects to proceed as field work and site preparations progress.