In the near future, I will be introducing legislation to amend Title 58 (Oil & Gas) to restore the authority of the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and the Environmental Quality Board (EQB) to adjust bonding amounts for conventional oil and gas wells.  The General Assembly removed this authority the session before last.

There are about 350,000 orphaned and abandoned oil and gas wells in Pennsylvania.  These wells can leak methane (a powerful greenhouse gas) and contaminate ground and surface water. One reason for the abandonment of wells has been the low bonding amounts drillers are required to post. The DEP and EQB should have the authority to adjust bond amounts to more accurately reflect the actual costs of plugging.
 
This was formerly HB 962 of 2023
 
Please join me in cosponsoring this important legislation.

Statutes/Laws affected:
Printer's No. 0320: 58-3225(a)(1), 58-2)