The term “Indian Tribe” has the meaning given the term in section 5304 of title 25.
The term “operator”, with respect to an oil or gas operation, means any entity, including a lessee or operating rights owner, that has provided to a relevant authority a written statement that the entity is responsible for the oil or gas operation, or any portion of the operation.
Not later than 60 days after November 15, 2021, the Secretary shall establish a program to plug, remediate, and reclaim orphaned wells located on Federal land.
Subject to the availability of appropriations, the Secretary shall distribute funds to a State under this paragraph by not later than the date that is 30 days after the date on which the State submits to the Secretary the certification required under clause (i)(II) or (ii)(III) of subparagraph (A), as applicable.
A State that receives funds under this paragraph shall reimburse the Secretary in an amount equal to the amount of the funds that remain unobligated on the date that is 1 year after the date of receipt of the funds.
Not later than 15 months after the date on which a State receives funds under this paragraph, the State shall submit to the Secretary a report that describes the means by which the State used the funds in accordance with the certification submitted by the State under subparagraph (A).
The Secretary shall establish a formula for the distribution to each State described in clause (ii) of funds under this paragraph.
A State referred to in clause (i) is a State that, by not later than 45 days after November 15, 2021, submits to the Secretary a notice of the intent of the State to submit an application under subparagraph (B), including a description of the factors described in clause (iii) with respect to the State.
Not later than 75 days after November 15, 2021, the Secretary shall publish on a public website the amount that each State is eligible to receive under the formula under this subparagraph.
A State that receives funds under this paragraph shall reimburse the Secretary in an amount equal to the amount of the funds that remain unobligated on the date that is 5 years after the date of receipt of the funds.
The Secretary may issue to a State under this subparagraph not more than 1 grant for each criterion described in subclause (I) or (II) of clause (i).
A State that receives a grant under this subparagraph shall reimburse the Secretary in an amount equal to the amount of the grant in any case in which, during the 10-year period beginning on the date of receipt of the grant, the State enacts a law or regulation that, if in effect on the date of submission of the application under subparagraph (B), would have prevented the State from being eligible to receive the grant under clause (i).
The Secretary may issue to a State under this subparagraph not more than 1 grant for each fiscal year.
The Secretary may provide to a State under this subparagraph a total amount equal to not more than $30,000,000 during the period of fiscal years 2022 through 2031.
Except as provided in clause (ii), an Indian Tribe shall not use more than 10 percent of the funds received under this subsection during a fiscal year for administrative costs under subparagraph (A)(vi).
Subject to the availability of appropriations, the Secretary shall distribute funds to an Indian Tribe under this subsection by not later than the date that is 60 days after the date on which the Indian Tribe submits to the Secretary a completed application under paragraph (4).
An Indian Tribe that receives funds under this subsection shall reimburse the Secretary in an amount equal to the amount of the funds that remain unobligated on the date that is 5 years after the date of receipt of the funds, except for cases in which the Secretary has granted the Indian Tribe an extended deadline for completion of the eligible activities after consultation.
In lieu of a grant under this subsection, an Indian Tribe may submit to the Secretary a request for the Secretary to administer and carry out plugging, remediation, and reclamation activities relating to an orphaned well on behalf of the Indian Tribe.
Subject to the availability of appropriations under subsection (h)(1)(E), on submission of a request under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall administer or carry out plugging, remediation, and reclamation activities for an orphaned well on Tribal land.
The Secretary of Energy, in cooperation with the Secretary and the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission, shall provide technical assistance to the Federal land management agencies and oil and gas producing States and Indian Tribes to support practical and economical remedies for environmental problems caused by orphaned wells on Federal land, Tribal land, and State and private land, including the sharing of best practices in the management of oil and gas well inventories to ensure the availability of funds to plug, remediate, and restore oil and gas well sites on cessation of operation.