PA Environment Digest Blog: Casey, Fetterman Announce $5.5 Million In Federal Funding To Plug Abandoned Conventional Oil/Gas Wells In The Allegheny National Forest

On June 12, U.S. Senators Bob Casey (D-PA) and John Fetterman (D-PA) announced $5,527,000 from the U.S. Department of the Interior to plug 48 abandoned conventional oil and gas wells in the Allegheny National Forest.

The Allegheny National Forest is in Forest, Elk, McKean and Warren counties.

This funding, bolstered by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, will spur economic growth by creating good-paying, union jobs and protecting the beauty and natural resources of the Allegheny National Forest for Pennsylvanians and tourists for generations to come.

“For too long, methane emissions from orphan wells have polluted Pennsylvania’s air and water and endangered one of our greatest natural resources, the Allegheny National Forest,” Senator Casey said. “Thanks to the infrastructure law, Pennsylvania can not only clean up these environmental hazards but stimulate the region’s economy by creating good-paying jobs.”

“Everyone deserves clean air and clean water, and the funding from this program will help us get there,” Senator Fetterman said. “The Allegheny National Forest is a Pennsylvania treasure, and I am proud that this investment, in large part from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill, will help keep it that way.”

The Orphaned Wells Program, established by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to address legacy pollution, including methane emissions and water contamination, is part of a larger strategy to ensure clean air and water for future generations of Americans and address employment challenges in energy communities nationwide.

Visit DEP’s Federal Abandoned Conventional Oil/Gas Well Plugging Program webpage for more information.

[Note: The Allegheny National Forest does not own the oil and gas mineral rights in the Forest.]

(Photo: Google Earth photo of conventional oil/gas well pads in Allegheny National Forest.)

-- Conventional Oil/Gas Industry Bothered By DEP Records Showing They Receive NOVs For Abandoning An Average Of 561 Oil/Gas Wells A Year [PaEN]

-- House Hearing: Let’s Work Together To Make Conventional Oil & Gas Industry Practices Cleaner, Respect Property Rights, Protect Taxpayers And Prevent New Abandoned Wells [PaEN]

-- EDF: Pennsylvania Has 55,000 Oil/Gas Wells At High Risk Of Being Abandoned; 51,000 Wells At Risk Of Being Transferred To Low Solvency Owners; Current Conventional Well Owners Abandon 561 Wells A Year, On Average [PaEN]

-- Democrats On House Environmental Committee Report Out Bill To Help Prevent The Routine Abandonment Of 561 Conventional Oil/Gas Wells A Year [PaEN]

-- Inside Climate News - Stacey Burling: $400 Million In Federal Abandoned Conventional Oil/Gas Well Plugging Funds In PA, But It’s Not Enough; Hazards Include EQT Frack-Out In Greene County; More Wells Being Abandoned All The Time [PaEN]

-- Inside Climate News: Abandoned Conventional Oil/Natural Gas Wells Emit Carcinogens, Other Harmful Pollutants In PA, Study Shows [PaEN]

-- DEP Moves To Enforce Order To Plug 4 Abandoned Conventional Gas Wells Leaking Methane In Allegheny County Owned By Michael Harju & Economy Natural Gas, Inc. [PaEN]

-- Pennsylvania Oil & Gas Weekly Compliance Dashboard - May 27 to June 2 -- Conventional Operators Fail To Start Plugging, Fail To Cleanup Spills; More NOVs For Abandoning Wells [PaEN]

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