Thompson, Deluzio Introduce Orphan Well Grant Flexibility Act

WASHINGTON, DC — U.S. Representatives Glenn “GT” Thompson (PA-15) and Chris Deluzio (PA-17) today introduced the Orphan Well Grant Flexibility Act, designed to empower states to maximize their operational flexibility when plugging abandoned oil wells. These wells, either unplugged or improperly plugged, can pose concerns such as water contamination, methane emission, or the introduction of harmful pollutants to the local area.

The bill will remove burdens on state agencies regarding certain testing procedures, which will maximize the use of federal funds and lead to more wells being plugged. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, there are 27,230 documented, abandoned, and orphaned oil and gas wells across the Commonwealth.

"Pennsylvania is the birthplace of the petroleum industry, which helped establish the United States and the Commonwealth as global energy leaders," said Rep. Thompson. "Now, it's essential to ensure these legacy sites are safely and properly restored. The Orphan Well Grant Flexibility Act will cut red tape, speed up environmental restoration, and protect communities throughout oil and gas-producing regions."
 

“The Orphan Well Grant Flexibility Act is a common-sense, bipartisan way to streamline the cleanup of abandoned oil and gas wells that endanger our communities and threaten our air and water. We should be putting federal dollars to work to plug abandoned oil and gas wells faster,” said Rep. Deluzio. “Western Pennsylvania has one of the highest concentrations of abandoned wells in the country—including at least 25 in Beaver County and 219 in Allegheny County. The 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law directed $4.7 billion to plug these wells across the country. This bill will help us pick up the pace in addressing this threat to public safety, our health, and peoples’ livelihoods.”

 
"The Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission is pleased to see Congressman Thompson and Congressman Deluzio take the lead in the House on this important legislation. The Orphan Well Grant Flexibility Act focuses on the goal of addressing orphan wells by eliminating barriers to well plugging efforts and allowing each state to optimize its resources and efficiencies more cost effectively. We urge Congress to pass this bill," said Lori Wrotenbery, Executive Director of the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission.

"Orphaned wells pose an environmental challenge and we applaud the leadership of Rep. Thompson to address this issue. Despite strong bipartisan support in Congress, the Biden Administration imposed unnecessary bureaucratic hurdles that slow down state efforts to cap these wells. This bipartisan legislation restores clarity and efficiency to the process, ensuring that resources are spent on plugging wells—not on excessive red tape. By accelerating cleanup efforts, this bill helps protect communities, strengthen public health and reinforce America’s continued leadership in responsible energy development," said Heather Reams, President of Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions.

This bill is also supported by:

• Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission (IOGCC)
• Heritage Foundation Action
• Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions (CRES)
• ConservAmerica
• The Nature Conservancy (TNC)
• Independent Petroleum Association of America (IPAA)
• Wildlife Management Institute

Click HERE to read the full text of the bill.