The Department of Environmental Protection spent time in Millcreek on Wednesday plugging a gas well. 


After an abandoned gas well had been leaking, the DEP investigated and decided the well needed to be plugged. Scott Dudzic, the Environmental Program Manager with the DEP explained, "The methane could migrate to other structures or to enclosed structures and cause an explosive atmosphere, so to eliminate that public and safety risk of an explosive matter, the department made the determination that this well needed to be plugged sooner rather than later."


Plugging abandoned wells is a high priority for State Senator Dan Laughlin, who was present during Wednesday's plugging. According to Laughlin, "In Pennsylvania, we have hundreds of thousands of abandoned  wells and many of them are leaking methane which is a very powerful greenhouse gas. I think it is one of the issues that the state needs to address faster. We have picked up the tempo on plugging these wells, but even if we plug a couple hundred a year, it's going to take us a century to get these done."


This wasn't the only well that needs plugged, there's one on Erie's east side that they plan to tackle next. As Dudzic explained, there's a thorough process that happens before a well is plugged for the safety and health of people and the environment. According to Dudzic, "Upon our evaluation, we made the determination that it is was well that was undocumented with that well being there so with that process and with this same process with that well and this well, we were able to secure funds to plug that well because it was also leaking methane gas and it posed a threat to nearby residents."

 

If someone believes they have a leaking gas well, they can call the DEP at 814-332-6860.