Senate Approves Yaw, Bartolotta Bill to Unlock Federal Well Funding

HARRISBURG - The state Senate today approved legislation to improve the abandoned and orphaned oil and gas well plugging process in Pennsylvania, according to bill sponsors Sen. Gene Yaw (R-23), chairman of the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, and Sen. Camera Bartolotta (R-46).

Senate Bill 712 addresses longstanding challenges by defining what constitutes a reasonable effort to reach the attainable bottom of a well, eliminating ambiguity that has led to costly delays and inconsistent interpretations. This clarity will help Pennsylvania fully leverage nearly $400 million in federal funding dedicated to addressing legacy oil and gas wells, ensuring these resources are used effectively to plug more wells in less time.

"Clear standards are essential for both environmental progress and industry participation," Yaw said. "This bill eliminates uncertainty for operators and positions Pennsylvania to take advantage of available federal well plugging funds."

"This bill is about putting skilled people to work and getting wells plugged," Bartolotta said. "The reality is Pennsylvania has hundreds of thousands of abandoned wells - some more than 150 years old - and many aren't sitting in remote places, but in backyards, near schools and parks. By focusing on efficiency, we can improve public safety and deliver the results our constituents expect from their government."

Currently, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) requires well pluggers to clean out a well to its total depth before plugging, a process that often becomes complicated because many older wells lack accurate records of their original depth. Contractors frequently face significant back-and-forth with DEP inspectors to determine what the actual depth is and then must attempt to reach that depth before plugging can begin.

If the total depth cannot be achieved, DEP expects a "reasonable effort" to reach what is called the "attainable bottom." What constitutes "reasonable effort" varies widely among inspectors, leading to unpredictable costs, extended timelines and difficulty in planning projects.

"We appreciate Sen. Yaw's and Sen. Bartolotta's leadership on this issue and the Senate's support for providing clarity on the standards necessary to properly plug wells," said Jim Welty, president of the Marcellus Shale Coalition. "Such clarity has been lacking from Pennsylvania regulators for far too long, and it is necessary if the commonwealth is to maximize the federal funding opportunity to plug legacy wells."

"The coal industry locates and plugs a substantial number of wells annually and has not been able to effectively plan plugging operations due to varying interpretations of what constitutes a reasonable effort to reach the attainable bottom of a well," said Rachel Gleason, executive director of the Pennsylvania Coal Alliance. "Sen. Yaw's and Sen. Bartolotta's legislation removes the ambiguity and provides the predictability needed to consistently plan."

The lawmakers noted the legislation is also supported by the Pennsylvania Independent Oil and Gas Association and the Pennsylvania Grade Crude Oil Coalition.

The bill now moves to the House of Representatives for consideration.

For more state-related news and information, constituents can visit Yaw's website at https://www.SenatorGeneYaw.com or Bartolotta's website at https://www.SenatorBartolotta.com.

CONTACTS:
Elizabeth Weitzel (Yaw)
717-787-3280

(Bartolotta)
724-225-4380