Environmental Defense Fund Awarded Foxwynd Foundation Grant To Help Locate Conventional Oil & Gas Wells Abandoned By Their Owners In Settlers Cabin Park, Allegheny County

The Environmental Defense Fund has received a $20,000 grant from the Foxwynd Foundation to support efforts to identify undocumented abandoned and orphan conventional oil and gas wells in Allegheny County's Settlers Cabin Park, helping protect public health, reduce methane pollution, and pave the way for future well-plugging efforts.

The grant will help fund specialized drone-based magnetometer surveys that can detect the buried steel casings of historic oil and gas wells, even when no visible evidence remains. 

The resulting data will be shared with the Department of Environmental Protection to verify well locations and prioritize them for plugging through existing state and federal programs.

Settlers Cabin Park, one of Allegheny County's most heavily visited parks, encompasses more than 1,000 acres and welcomes approximately 300,000 visitors each year. 

Historical records suggest the park may contain dozens of undocumented abandoned wells that could leak methane, contaminate groundwater, and expose nearby communities to harmful air pollutants such as benzene.

"This project represents an important investment in protecting both people and the environment," said Adam Peltz, Director and Senior Attorney for Energy Transition at Environmental Defense Fund. 

"Finding undocumented abandoned and orphan wells is the critical first step toward eliminating dangerous methane leaks, protecting nearby communities, and unlocking the public funding needed to permanently plug these wells. We are grateful to the Foxwynd Foundation for helping advance innovative solutions that improve public health while addressing climate pollution."

The project has three primary goals--

-- Identify likely undocumented oil and gas wells throughout Settlers Cabin Park using advanced aerial surveys.

-- Equip community leaders, elected officials, and state agencies with the information needed to address potential environmental and public health risks.

-- Increase public awareness of abandoned wells and provide the technical data needed for 

Pennsylvania to document and ultimately plug these wells.

Survey findings will be provided to DEP, where confirmed well locations can be added to Pennsylvania's orphan well inventory. 

Inclusion in the state's database is an essential step toward securing federal funding for well-plugging projects that reduce methane emissions, improve air quality, protect groundwater, and create family-sustaining jobs.

"The Foxwynd Foundation is proud to support innovative projects that protect communities while advancing environmental sustainability,” said Gloria Galvez, Grant & Partnership Manager, Foxwynd Foundation.

“By helping identify undocumented orphan wells, this project will provide valuable information that supports cleaner air, healthier communities, and long-term environmental stewardship."

EDF has pioneered new approaches for locating undocumented orphan wells across Pennsylvania using drone-mounted magnetometers, aerial detection, and advanced mapping technologies. 

Surveys supported by EDF have already identified more than 1,000 potential orphan wells across the Commonwealth, helping state officials target cleanup efforts more efficiently.

By expanding this work to Settlers Cabin Park, the project will provide local officials and community members with critical information while supporting Pennsylvania's broader efforts to reduce methane emissions, protect drinking water, and safeguard public spaces for future generations. 

The Foxwynd Foundation DAF funded the Foxwynd Foundation’s donation to Environmental Defense Fund.

Questions should be directed to Adam Peltz, Director and Senior Attorney for Energy Transition at the Environmental Defense Fund.

[Posted: August 24, 2026]  PA Environment Digest