Abandoned wells

March 21, 2025 | 12:30 PM

Federal money to plug Pa.’s dangerous wells is unfrozen, but Trump admin uncertainty plagues contractors

Pennsylvania has supercharged the number of abandoned wells it plugs thanks to federal money, but the future of that work is unclear as lawsuits play out.

By Kate Huangpu and Katie Meyer of Spotlight PA

July 31, 2024 | 5:31 PM

Pa. legislators passed a lot of new laws with the budget. Here’s what’s happening with environmental policy.

Here’s a round-up of environmental items that passed in the last month as lawmakers negotiated the state budget.

By Rachel McDevitt/StateImpact Pennsylvania

April 30, 2024 | 10:17 AM

U.S. House set to vote on Pa. Rep. Summer Lee’s measure to address abandoned gas and oil wells

By Chris Potter/WESA

February 26, 2024 | 10:15 AM

Federal money has supercharged Pa.’s plugging of dangerous wells, but critics want more oversight

There are thousands of abandoned wells in Pennsylvania that leak a powerful greenhouse gas. Environmentalists say the state needs to do more to target the worst ones.

By Kate Huangpu/Spotlight PA

February 23, 2024 | 3:34 PM

Pa. gains new abandoned gas wells as it sets records capping old ones

The state awarded more than $23 million in contracts to plug wells in 2023.

By Rachel McDevitt/StateImpact Pennsylvania

Updated: October 19, 2023 | 11:12 am

100 plugged and 300,000+ to go; Abandoned well cleanup effort jumps with federal money

Shapiro celebrated the 100th well plugged this year at a state park in Washington County on Wednesday.

By Rachel McDevitt/StateImpact Pennsylvania

June 6, 2023 | 12:07 PM

Abandoned oil and gas wells in Pennsylvania emit carcinogens and other harmful pollutants, groundbreaking study shows

The release of cancer-causing benzene and other toxic gases from sites in Pennsylvania raises concerns about millions of other abandoned wells across the U.S.

By Liza Gross/

May 30, 2023 | 11:01 AM

Pa. advocates say more scrutiny needed over well-plugging money

Pennsylvania has upwards of 200,000 estimated orphan and abandoned wells.

By Rachel McDevitt/StateImpact Pennsylvania

Updated: May 24, 2023 | 9:24 am

Pa. limited a board’s power to regulate abandoned oil and gas wells. Democrats want to restore it.

The state House panel passed a bill Tuesday that would restore the Environmental Quality Board’s ability to raise bond prices on conventional well drillers.

By Kate Huangpu/Spotlight PA

May 11, 2023 | 5:00 AM

Federal money won’t be enough to solve Pa.’s abandoned oil and gas well problem, advocates say

By Kate Huangpu/Spotlight PA

tag | Abandoned wells