Imperial, PA – Today, the Shapiro Administration marked the plugging of the 400th orphaned and abandoned well under Governor Josh Shapiro’s leadership — a major milestone in the Commonwealth’s historic effort to protect public health, create jobs, and restore communities impacted by legacy oil and gas development.
In the last three years, the Shapiro Administration has plugged more orphaned and abandoned wells than Pennsylvania plugged in the previous eleven years combined, demonstrating Governor Shapiro’s commitment to putting state and federal funding to work cleaning up environmental hazards across the Commonwealth.
Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Secretary Jessica Shirley, joined well plugging operator M&A Resources and its owner and CEO, former Pittsburgh Steelers running back and Pro Football Hall of Famer Jerome Bettis, alongside local leaders, environmental advocates, and high school students from Allegheny County to mark the milestone.
The 400th well was plugged in North Fayette Township under an emergency contract with Washington County-based M&A Resources. The well was actively leaking methane in a residential neighborhood less than a mile from West Allegheny Middle School and West Allegheny High School.
“Under Governor Shapiro’s leadership, Pennsylvania is making historic progress plugging orphaned and abandoned wells that threaten public health, communities, and the environment,” said Secretary Shirley. “By maximizing every available state and federal funding source, DEP is shrinking Pennsylvania’s inventory of orphaned and abandoned wells, creating jobs, reducing methane emissions, and helping communities reclaim land that has been impacted for generations.”
“Western Pennsylvania has a long and proud energy history. Addressing legacy wells takes commitment, resources, and experienced people on the ground doing the work. That’s why collaborations like this matter,” said Bettis. “When government and industry work together, we create jobs, support local communities, and tackle challenges that benefit everyone, and we’re proud to be part of that effort.”
The Shapiro Administration has made plugging orphaned and abandoned wells a priority because these wells can leak methane, threaten groundwater, create safety hazards, and limit opportunities for economic development and community revitalization. Plugging wells helps reduce emissions, protect public health, create family-sustaining jobs, and prepare land for future use.
Governor Shapiro has directed DEP to leverage all available federal funding opportunity to accelerate well plugging efforts across Pennsylvania. The Governor marked the 100th, 200th, and 300th well plugging milestones under his Administration.
In October 2022, DEP’s well plugging work was supercharged by a $25 million Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) Initial Grant award from the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI).
In September 2024, DEP received an additional $76.4 million from DOI through a Phase 1 Formula Grant award to continue plugging orphaned and abandoned wells. In March 2026, DEP received $114.6 million through a Phase 2 Formula Grant and remains eligible for additional funding through a Phase 3 Formula Grant.
In February 2025, Governor Shapiro filed a lawsuit challenging the Trump Administration’s unlawful freeze of federal funding. Thanks to the Governor’s lawsuit and continued engagement with the Trump Administration, more than $2.1 billion in federal funding is available to help plug abandoned wells leaking toxic chemicals, prevent sinkholes, and ensure Pennsylvanians have clean drinking water.
DEP has identified more than 27,000 orphaned and abandoned wells statewide and continues prioritizing those posing the greatest risks to public health, safety, and the environment. New plugging contracts will focus on these high-priority wells, along with nearby wells, to maximize efficiency and preempt environmental threats.
Pennsylvania's long history of energy development dates to 1859, when the first commercial oil well was drilled in Titusville. More information about the orphan and abandoned well plugging program is available on DEP’s website: Rewriting Pennsylvania’s Legacy. If you know of the location of an undocumented abandoned or orphan well, you can report it to DEP on DEP’s website as well: Abandoned and Orphan Wells
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