"VICTORIA — More than 1,100 applications deluged a B.C. program creating a funding plan to restore dormant and inactive oil and gas wells within hours of the program’s launch.
Energy Minister Bruce Ralston says Monday’s requests equal up to $152 million in reclamation work and if completed would potentially support up to 1,200 jobs and reclaim over 2,400 inactive wells.
The federal government announced in April that B.C. would receive $120 million to clean up inactive oil and gas sites, most of them in the northeastern corner of the province.
Much of the funding will be set aside for the reclamation program and successful applicants will receive up to $100,000, or 50 per cent of the costs, whichever is less, to clean up their dormant site."