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Mar 14, 2025

Pennsylvania Plugs 300th Orphaned or Abandoned Well - PennWatch

Governor Josh Shapiro and Department of Environmental Protection officials joined Penn Mechanical Group and local leaders in Washington County to plug the 300th orphaned or abandoned well. The 300th

Governor Josh Shapiro and Department of Environmental Protection officials joined Penn Mechanical Group and local leaders in Washington County to plug the 300th orphaned or abandoned well.

The 300th well was plugged in North Franklin Township, Washington County under an emergency contract with Penn Mechanical Group, a family-owned and operated company located in Indiana, PA. The well – which is leaking methane – sits between two reservoirs on the site of the township’s future Waterside Park, an 89-acre park to connect residents to greenspaces, outdoor recreation, environmental education, and serve as a community hub.

“By plugging orphaned and abandoned wells, we’re tackling a significant source of greenhouse gas emissions and creating thousands of good-paying jobs in the process. This is a smart, commonsense way to protect public health and create jobs – and I’m going to continue to work with DEP to put state and federal funding to good use by plugging these wells that create problems across rural Pennsylvania,” said Governor Josh Shapiro.

“These wells dot the Western Pennsylvania landscape, posing hazards for residents and the environment and hampering all manner of development, including what will become a local and regional recreational amenity here in North Franklin Township,” said DEP Acting Secretary Jessica Shirley. “By maximizing every funding source available to DEP through state funding and federal programs like the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, we can ensure that Pennsylvania’s inventory of orphaned and abandoned wells continues to shrink, while creating jobs and protecting the environment in the process.”

In September 2024, DEP received an additional $76.4 million from DOI under a Phase 1 Formula Grant award to continue well plugging efforts. DEP has applied for another $114 million under a Phase 2 Formula Grant and is eligible to receive $114 million more through a Phase 3 Formula Grant.

Funding from IIJA has also allowed Pennsylvania to create the first of its kind in the nation Orphan Well Plugging Grant Program (OWPGP), which provides a potential funding mechanism for any person, for-profit or non-profit business, local government, or institution with access to a qualified well plugger to apply for a reimbursement grant to plug and remediate orphan wells.

DEP has identified over 27,000 orphan and abandoned wells and is prioritizing those posing the highest risks. New plugging contracts will focus on these high-priority wells, along with nearby wells, to maximize efficiency and preempt environmental threats.