SCOTT COUNTY, Tenn. (WVLT) – The National Park Service will plug 45 abandoned oil and gas wells in the Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area.

All 45 abandoned wells dot the backwoods of the park’s 115,000 thousand acres and some of them dated more than a century. Park officials said they were unable to locate the owner of each well, so they’ve taken them over and will use American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds to plug the wells and reclaim each site.

The reclamation process involves tearing down above ground structures associated with the well, planting the area with native species and stabilizing access roads.

Big South Fork is home to several endangered species including the Oyster Mussel, Duskytail Darter and Cumberland sandwort plant. According to officials, the wells need to be plugged and reclaimed in order to protect the environment and habitat of the park and the project could benefit each of the endangered species.

You can read more about the plan to plug the abandoned oil and gas wells by clicking on the link below.