CLEVELAND, OH - The North Shore AFL-CIO Federation of Labor welcomed Interior Secretary Deb Haaland to Cleveland on Friday for a roundtable discussion with area labor leaders at the Laborers Local 310 Union Hall. Secretary Haaland traveled to Ohio to announce $4.7 million in funding for abandoned mine land reclamation and $256 million to clean up abandoned oil and gas wells. The money comes from President Biden's bipartisan infrastructure law, which is expected to bring $9.7 billion in infrastructure improvements to Ohio. According to Secretary Haaland, the project will make "critical investments to help clean up legacy pollution as part of our all-of-government approach to revitalize these communities as they address the lingering impacts of extractive industries."
White House Infrastructure Implementation Coordinator Mitch Landrieu, U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown, U.S. Representative Shontel Brown, and Ohio AFL-CIO President Tim Burga attended the round table along with representatives from the Ohio State Building and Construction Trades Council, AFGE, Laborers Local 310 and 860, Ohio State Association of Plumbers and Pipefitters, Pipefitters Local 120, Cleveland Teachers Union Local 279, and Blue-Green Alliance.
According to the Environmental Defense Fund, Ohio has 891 documented orphan oil and gas wells, but the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) says there are likely many more. At 69, Cuyahoga County currently has the second-highest number of identified orphan wells in the state. That could mean a lot of work for union members. "Funding for these projects will enable and benefit all Ohio communities while providing good, family-sustaining union jobs," said Ohio AFL-CIO President Tim Burga.
There are 44 contractors currently pre-qualified to orphan well capping in Ohio. Twenty-seven contractors are based in Ohio, while only three are in Northeast Ohio. Union leaders hope that additional contractors will be approved by ODNR, saying their members can do the work once adequately trained.
Orphan wells emit methane, which according to the Energy News Network, are "84 times more potent as a greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide over a 20-year time span." Oil and gas wells are known to contaminate soil and groundwater too. If not properly contained, the wells pose a health and fire risk. According to Secretary Haaland, money from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will become available in May.
Secretary Haaland is the second cabinet official to visit Cleveland in recent months. Labor Secretary Marty Walsh visited in October and met with union leaders at the 310 Hall. Representatives from the North Shore AFL-CIO attended President Biden's visit last month in Lorain as he announced funding for the Great Lakes Initiative. Executive Secretary Dan O'Malley attended President Biden's visit to the Tri-C Metro Campus last May. Also last summer, White House Director of Labor Engagement Erika Dinkel-Smith addressed the delegate body during a monthly meeting.
Executive Secretary O'Malley with Deb Haaland and Mitch Landrieu