KANSAS (KSNT) - The Kansas Corporation Commission (KCC) State Plugging Program, a program to save abandoned oil and gas wells across the state from environmental disaster, is waiting for $33.6 million to be approved by the federal government. At the federal level, former President Joe Biden signe d a bill on Nov. 15, 2021, creating an orphaned well plugging, remediation and reclamation program with the Department of Interior. Kansas was made eligible to receive $58.6 million to address abandoned wells, $25 million was received for initial grants. The KCC reported that it had applied for the Phase 1 portion of the funding, another $25 million, but the Department of Interior took no action due to a disagreement over the word "may." What are the pink mystery rocks scattered across northeast Kansas? On Dec. 13, 2024, the KCC applied for $33.6 million in formula grants to cover the remainder of the project, deemed Phase 2. Those funds haven't been approved yet. In Oklahoma, the state was expecting $102 million but those funds were halted after an executive order titled "Unleashing American Energy" was signed by President Donald Trump. KCC Director Linda Berry told 27 News the Conservation Division of the KCC has not had any issues with federal funding. She said the initial $25 million has been spent and now the KCC is in the process of using the sale of salvageable materials to plug additional abandoned wells. According to the 2025 Abandoned Oil Well and Gas Status report, 218 additional wells were added to the list to be plugged using funds raised from selling salvage materials. Photo from the 2025 Kansas Corporation Commission State Plugging Program report shows crews working an abandoned well site. "When we get confirmation that the money has been awarded, we will put the specific projects out for bid and award the funding in a manner that will maximize the number of wells we can plug," Berry said. Since the creation of the state well-plugging fund, 11,315 abandoned wells have been plugged. As of March 2025, 4,566 wells still need to be plugged in Kansas. In the 2025 report, the KCC said it's actively monitoring two other federal grants that could increase the amount of federal dollars available. Park officials target invasive trees spreading in Topeka Oil and gas drilling started in the late 1800s and spread east to west through Kansas. Development of drilling regulations didn’t begin until the late 1930s with comprehensive regulation not established until the 1970s, according to a KCC report. Since 1995, around 11,000 natural gas and oil wells drilled over the last century-and-a-half have been plugged off in Kansas. Many oil wells were never properly plugged off, leaving potential environmental consequences up to a century later, according to the KCC. Many wells weren’t documented and have been buried or overgrown, making them hard to find. Wells that pose a threat to public safety run the risk of active gas flows, danger of ignition or large or open holes. Last year there were 67 groundwater, surface water and well problem remediation sites, 14 of which were considered moderate to high in urgency. The KCC also found in its annual report that seven public water supplies needed remediation. The KCC noted that some sites impact multiple resources. Map: which Kansas counties have the most excessive drinkers? Field data from four Conservation Division Districts puts the average cost to plug a well at $9,904. At this price, the remaining 4,566 abandoned wells in Kansas would cost roughly $45.2 million. Price discrepancies between districts are typically due to well depth with deeper wells requiring more effort to plug, according to the KCC. The KCC says there are still more abandoned wells needing plugging than federal funds can provide. "The KCC will continue to plug as many abandoned wells as possible each year using money in the Abandoned Oil and Gas Well fund mentioned above concurrently to the Federal plugging projects," the KCC wrote in its annual report from 2024. For more Kansas news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here. ...read more read less