State Representative Jim Struzzi has introduced a bill concerning gas and oil well plugging and businesses in Pennsylvania.
Struzzi announced that House Bill 2528 would “change the current practice of not allowing Pennsylvania companies to participate in a key aspect of environmental stewardship” by allowing those companies to bid for well remediation projects and be given the same treatment as companies from outside of Pennsylvania. Right now, Struzzi says that the out-of-state companies are given preferential treatment from the state Department of Environmental protection when it comes to these contracts. He added that the bill was inspired by recent conversations with a local company over the issue. The company said while they can handle that type of job, they are effectively prevented from bidding on it.
The DEP has estimated that 26,000 orphaned oil and gas wells currently need remediated along with many more undocumented wells, and Struzzi says that with the number being that high, the DEP is allowing $400 million in federal funding to leave the state and be handled by competitors from neighboring states.
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