Abandoned wells

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

February 9, 2023 | 9:28 PM

Interior Secretary Deb Haaland visits Pittsburgh-area home to tout Biden abandoned well money

‘Historic’ infrastructure bill funds $4.7 billion in cleanups, though Pennsylvania companies are still abandoning wells.

By Reid Frazier/StateImpact Pennsylvania

January 24, 2023 | 1:14 PM

Pa. drillers abandoned thousands of natural gas wells in 5 years, ignored state law, report says

Gov. Tom Wolf ordered the review, but it will be up to new Gov. Josh Shapiro’s administration to take any action.

By Rachel McDevitt/StateImpact Pennsylvania

August 25, 2022 | 4:30 PM

Pa. and other 23 states get $560M for high-priority cleanup of wells

The Interior Department is giving 24 states a total of $560 million to start cleaning high-priority oil and gas wells abandoned on state and private land.

By Janet McConnaughey/The Associated Press

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