DEP Solicits Bids On 2 Contracts To Plug 25 Abandoned Conventional Wells In Erie County At Taxpayer Expense; 1 Conventional Well In Clearfield County Expected To Cost $200,000+ To Plug

The Erie County contract is for plugging 25 abandoned conventional wells in Millcreek, Fairview, Girard and Harborcreek Townships that is expected to cost taxpayers between $1 million and $5 million.

Mandatory pre-bid conference Nov. 5 & 6.  Click Here for bid document.

The Clearfield County contract is for plugging one (1) conventional gas well in Huston Township that is expected to cost taxpayers between $200,000 and $299,000.

Mandatory pre-bid conference on November 12.  Click Here for bid document.

The Clearfield County well is located in Moshannon State Forest and was drilled in December 1959 to a depth of about 7,000 feet, more than twice the depth of most conventional wells.

DEP inspected the well on August 14, 2025 and it was found to be leaking gas. DEP inspection report.

DEP has one other open conventional well plugging bid solicitation–

— 44 abandoned wells in Highland Twp., Elk County, due November 6

Closed conventional well plugging bid solicitations in 2025 include–

— 15 abandoned wells in Lancaster, Forward & Connoguenessing Townships, Butler County

— 7 abandoned wells in Smith, North Strabane, North Franklin, and Canton Townships, Washington County

— 15 abandoned wells in East Keating Township, Clinton County

— 19 abandoned wells in Heath, Eldred, and Barnett Townships, Jefferson County and Millcreek Township, Clarion County

— 18 abandoned wells in Mead Township, Warren County

— 12 abandoned wells in Hamlin Township, McKean County

Taxpayers funding for these plugging projects comes primarily from the federal well plugging program.

Visit DEP’s Conventional Well Plugging Program webpage for more information.

(Photo: Clearfield County conventional well.)

Related Articles This Week:

— Attorney General Sunday: Criminal Charges Filed Against Seneca Resources For 72 Counts Of Illegal Dumping Of Shale Gas Waste In Cameron, Clearfield, Elk, Jefferson, Lycoming, McKean, Potter, Tioga Counties  [PaEN]

— 500 Feet Isn’t Enough: Environmental Groups Urge Environmental Quality Board To Accept Rulemaking Petition For Study Increasing Setbacks From Shale Gas Wells  [PaEN] 

— DEP: Coterra Energy Suffers Shale Gas Well Control Incident While Fracking Resulting In Spraying Production Fluids Over Well Pad, Releasing Natural Gas  [PaEN]

— DEP Air Quality Advisory Committee Meets Nov. 6 To Hear Presentations On VOC Emissions Reporting From Conventional Oil & Gas/Shale Gas Wells And Air Pollution From A.I. Data Centers  [PaEN] 

— Inside Climate News: Gov. Shapiro Joins 3 Other Governors In A Proposal To Give Priority To A.I. Data Centers That Bring Their Own Electric Generation To The Grid  [PaEN]  

— Gov. Shapiro, Oklahoma Gov. Stitt Lead Bipartisan National Governors Assn. Group Recommending Energy Facility Permitting Reform To Address Nation’s Energy Crisis [PaEN]  

NewsClips:

— KDKA: PUC Chair DeFrank: Concerns About Rising Electric Bills From A.I. Data Centers Are Legitimate; Development Of Centers Must Be ‘Well Planned, Well Thought’ Out

— PennLive Guest Essay: PA Needs Every Tool, Every MW To Meet Growing Energy Demand – By Andrew Tubbs, Energy Utility Association Of PA

— LancasterOnline Editorial: PA Residents Shouldn’t Pay The Price For A.I. Data Center-Spiked Electricity Rates  [PDF of Article]

— PennLive Guest Essay: The Energy Utility Association Of PA Proposes To Place Risk Of Increasing Electric Generation On Ratepayers – By Nora Brownell, Former PA PUC Commissioner

— WHYY: Republican Lawmakers From PA, NJ, VA, MD Weigh Solutions To Rising Electricity Bills Driven By A.I. Data Centers – Faster Permitting, Ending Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative In PA [That Was Never Implemented]

[Posted: October 31, 2025]  PA Environment Digest