U.S. Rep. Glenn “GT” Thompson (R-PA) on Jan. 18 sponsored a bipartisan bill that aims to give states maximum flexibility when plugging orphaned and abandoned oil and gas wells.
“Pennsylvania’s oil and gas sites ushered in the modern petroleum industry, which helped lead the United States to become a global power and energy producer,” Rep. Thompson said. “Now, we must ensure these sites are properly and safely restored.”
The Orphan Well Grant Flexibility Act of 2024, H.R. 7053, which is cosponsored by U.S. Rep. Chris Deluzio (D-PA), would require the U.S. Secretary of the Interior and the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to carry out a study on the effect of the plugging and remediation activity conducted under section 349 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 on economic development and housing trends, as well as potential benefits (such as improvements in water quality) in areas where the plugging and remediation activity conducted reclaimed a high number of sites, according to the text of the bill.
“The Orphan Well Grant Flexibility Act will cut red tape, accelerate environmental rehabilitation, and provide an economic benefit throughout oil and gas producing regions,” said Rep. Thompson.
These abandoned 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, according to the lawmakers.
“Abandoned, non-operating oil and gas wells are dangerous to the public, the environment, and people’s livelihoods,” Rep. Deluzio said. “I’m glad to work with fellow Pennsylvanian Rep. Thompson on the Orphan Well Grant Flexibility Act to help get these federal funds to plug more abandoned wells faster.”
H.R. 7053 is supported by the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission, the Independent Petroleum Association of America, ConservAmerica, the Wildlife Management Institute, Heritage Action, and the Bipartisan Policy Center Action.