Abandoned Wells Must Be Plugged

Floor Speech

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Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, last week, I introduced H.R. 8332, the Plugging Orphan Wells and Environmental Restoration Act, or the POWER Act. This bill would authorize the Federal orphan well remediation program under the Energy Policy of 2005 for 5 years at $50 million per year.

The POWER Act would also establish a grant program for environmental restoration and reclamation of orphaned wells on State as well as private and Tribal lands, authorized at $400 million per year for 5 years.

It is estimated that Pennsylvania has more orphaned wells than any other State. Pennsylvania is the birthplace of the modern petroleum industry, and the Commonwealth's oil and gas industry has helped lead America to energy independence.

We have both an economic and environmental responsibility to ensure abandoned wells are plugged, and the POWER Act would ensure these legacy sites are appropriately handled to protect the environment, while also stimulating jobs in the oil and gas sector. This will be a win-win for America and a win-win, certainly, for Pennsylvania.

I thank Guy Reschenthaler, my colleague from Pennsylvania, for joining me on this legislation, and I urge my colleagues to support oil and gas well remediation through the POWER Act.

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