Abandoned and Orphan Well Program – Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA)
Abandoned and Orphan Well Program – Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) supports Pennsylvania’s well-plugging work and associated remediation to protect the environment and public health and safety.
This grant was recently updated
DEP’s previously pending Formula 1 application is now reported as awarded: $76.4 million received in September 2024, followed by $114.6 million in Phase 2 funding in March 2026. Pennsylvania remains eligible for additional Phase 3 Formula Grant funding.
Funder: Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection
Due Dates: 2030 (Regulatory Improvement funding availability) | Annually by fiscal year (Pennsylvania’s Matching Grant applications)
Funding Amounts: Approximately $400 million potentially available to Pennsylvania over 10 years
Summary: Federal IIJA funding supports plugging abandoned and orphan oil and gas wells across Pennsylvania, including associated remediation.
Key Information: Pennsylvania DEP is the federal grant recipient; contractors participate through DEP procurement, not a general public grant competition.
Description
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), through its Office of Oil and Gas Management, administers Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act funding from the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI). The program targets approximately 27,000 documented abandoned and orphan oil and gas wells across Pennsylvania to maximize environmental protection, economic development, and public health and safety benefits. Work may include contamination remediation and removal of remaining surface equipment associated with wells.
DEP prioritizes wells using risk scores based on well type, condition, and proximity to surface water, buildings, and water supply wells. Nearby wells are grouped into cost-efficient projects. Project development also incorporates Pennsylvania’s environmental justice priorities and the federal Justice40 initiative, emphasizing underserved, low-income communities, communities of color, and other vulnerable populations where priority wells exist.
