Here’s a round-up of environmental items that passed in the last month as lawmakers negotiated the state budget.
The state awarded more than $23 million in contracts to plug wells in 2023.
Shapiro celebrated the 100th well plugged this year at a state park in Washington County on Wednesday.
Pennsylvania has upwards of 200,000 estimated orphan and abandoned wells.
‘Historic’ infrastructure bill funds $4.7 billion in cleanups, though Pennsylvania companies are still abandoning wells.
Gov. Tom Wolf ordered the review, but it will be up to new Gov. Josh Shapiro’s administration to take any action.
By
Rachel McDevitt 
Gov. Wolf said the law eliminates the state’s authority to impose stricter requirements than what’s needed under Pa. law, even if more stringent requirements are mandatory parts of the federal program.
There are an estimated 15,000 abandoned wells on federal land — and states have indicated that they would need more than $8 billion to clean up 130,000 other orphaned wells.
Old wells leak the potent greenhouse gas methane and toxins that can cause health issues for people who live nearby.
