PA Environment Digest Blog: DEP To Hold Information Sessions On New Orphan Conventional Oil & Gas Well Plugging Grant Program Aug. 26, 27 & 30

The Department of Environmental Protection will host a series of three information sessions on the Orphan Conventional Oil & Gas Well Plugging Grant Program to assist qualified well pluggers plug orphan wells.

This grant program was created by state Acts 96 and 136 to provide two types of grants--

-- $40,000 to a Qualified Well Plugger for every eligible well plugged that is an orphan well of a depth of 3,000 feet or less or the actual cost to plug the well, whichever is less.

-- $70,000 to a Qualified Well Plugger for every eligible well plugged that is an orphan well of a depth greater than 3,000 feet or the actual cost to plug the well, whichever is less.

A “Qualified Well Plugger” is a “person who demonstrates access to equipment, materials, resources and services to plug wells in accordance with statutory and regulatory requirements.”

An “Orphan Well” as defined in Section 3203 of the Pennsylvania Oil and Gas Act is “a well abandoned prior to April 18, 1985 that has not been affected or operated by the present owner or operator and from which the present owner, operator or lessee has received no economic benefit other than as a landowner or recipient of a royalty interest from the well.”

Under Act 136, “In order to receive a grant under this subchapter [Orphan Oil & Gas Well Plugging Grant Program], the applicant, or a parent or subsidiary business entity of the applicant, may not be in continuing violation of this chapter [Oil & Gas Act], any other statute administered by the department, a regulation promulgated under this chapter or a statute administered by the department or a plan approval, permit or order of the department, unless the violation is being corrected to the satisfaction of the department.

“This subsection shall not apply to an applicant who has committed a violation until the department has taken a final action on the violation and:

-- “The applicant has not appealed the final action in accordance with the act of July 13, 1988 (P.L.530, No.94), known as the Environmental Hearing Board Act; or

-- “If an appeal has been filed, no supersedeas has been issued.”

Information Sessions

To assist in the rollout of this grant program, DEP will be conducting several upcoming info sessions. There will be two in-person sessions, and one virtual session to accommodate those who prefer to attend remotely.

The sessions will be held--

-- August 26: In-Person. Slippery Rock University, Weisenfluh Dining Hall, 200 Campus Dr,, Slippery Rock, Butler County from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Click Here to register.

-- August 27: In-Person. University of Pittsburgh Titusville Education and Training Center, 504 East Main Street, Titusville, Crawford County from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Click Here to register.

-- August 30: Online. 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Click Here to register.

Visit DEP’s Orphan Oil & Gas Well Plugging Grant Program webpage to learn more about this program. Questions should be directed to: RA-epOilandGas@pa.gov.

For more information on environmental programs in Pennsylvania, visit DEP’s website, Report Emergencies, Submit Environmental Complaints; Click Here to sign up for DEP’s newsletter; sign up for DEP’s eNotice; visit DEP’s Blog, Like DEP on Facebook, Follow DEP on Twitter and visit DEP’s YouTube Channel.