Legislation would fund orphan wells program

Legislation recently introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives would reauthorize the federal orphan wells remediation program under the Energy Policy Act of 2005 at $50 million annually for five years.

The Plugging Orphan Wells and Environmental Restoration (POWER) Act would create a grant program for the environmental restoration and reclamation of orphaned wells. State and tribal governments would be eligible, and the wells can be on government or private land.

Funds can be used for several things, including the reclamation, remediation, and closure of orphaned wells and the well pads and access roads associated with orphaned wells, and restoring native species habitat degraded by an orphaned well.

U.S. Reps. Glenn ‘GT’ Thompson (R-PA) and Guy Reschenthaler (R-PA) introduced the bill.

“Pennsylvania is the birthplace of the modern petroleum industry, and the commonwealth’s oil and gas industry has helped lead America to energy independence,” Thompson said. “We have both an economic and environmental responsibility to ensure abandoned wells are plugged. The POWER Act will ensure these legacy sites are appropriately handled in order to protect the environment while also stimulating jobs in the oil and gas sector. This will be a win-win for Pennsylvania.”

Pennsylvania has the most orphan wells nationwide.