Deluzio, Thompson Introduce Orphan Well Grant Flexibility Act

WASHINGTON, DC — U.S. Congressmembers Chris Deluzio (PA-17) and Glenn “GT” Thompson (PA-15) today introduced the Orphan Well Grant Flexibility Act designed to empower states to maximize their operational flexibility when plugging orphaned oil wells. These wells, either unplugged or improperly plugged, can pose serious environmental threats to surrounding communities such as water contamination, methane emission, and can introduce other harmful pollutants to the local ecosystem. 
 
This legislation removes unnecessary burdens on state agencies for specific testing procedures, which will maximize federal dollars and lead to more wells getting plugged. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, there are 27,230 documented abandoned and orphaned oil and gas wells across the Commonwealth. 
 
“The Orphan Well Grant Flexibility Act is a common-sense, bipartisan way to streamline the clean up of abandoned oil and gas wells that endanger our communities and threaten our air and water. We should be putting federal dollars to work to plug abandoned oil and gas wells faster,” said Congressman Deluzio. “Western Pennsylvania has one of the highest concentrations of abandoned wells in the country—including at least 25 in Beaver County and 219 in Allegheny County. The 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law directed $4.7 billion to plug these wells across the country. This bill will help us pick up the pace in addressing this threat to public safety, our health, and peoples’ livelihoods.”  

“Pennsylvania's oil and gas sites ushered in the modern petroleum industry, which helped establish the United States and the Commonwealth as global energy leaders," said Congressman Thompson. "Now, it's essential to ensure these sites are safely and properly restored. The Orphan Well Grant Flexibility Act will cut red tape, speed up environmental restoration, and ultimately protect communities throughout oil and gas-producing regions." 
 
This bill is also supported by:

• Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission (IOGCC)
• Heritage Foundation Action
• Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions (CRES)
• ConservAmerica
• The Nature Conservancy (TNC)
• Independent Petroleum Association of America (IPAA)
• Wildlife Management Institute

Click HERE to read the full text of the bill.

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