PA Environment Digest

Share this:

DEP Soliciting Proposals For 6 Professional Services Related To Plugging Abandoned Conventional Oil & Gas Wells; Federal Funding At Risk

On February 12, the Department of Environmental Protection posted a solicitation on the PA eMarketplace to procure professional services related to plugging abandoned conventional oil and gas wells. Proposals are due April 14, 2025.

Funds to pay for these services come from the federally-funded well plugging program under the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Act.

These funds are now at risk under executive orders by the President freezing and further evaluating the use of this funding. Read more here.

The professional services solicitation includes--

-- Engineering Services - Surface Permitting and Control – Engineering services associated with project compliance with surface permitting requirements (i.e. wetlands and encroachments per 25 Pa. Code § 105 and potentially those associated with 25 Pa. Code § 102), the preparation and implementation of a site-specific erosion and sedimentation (E&S) control plan(s) to control accelerated erosion and sedimentation, site preparation/construction, site inspections and maintenance of employed Best Management Practice (BMP) and well site restoration.

-- Well Site Investigation and Remediation Services – Site investigation and remediation of historical impacts to soil, groundwater and surface water resulting from historic oil and gas development at the well site(s). Well sites with identified impacts will require site investigation to delineate the extent of the identified contamination and remediation to remove the contaminated materials, which may be limited to interim measures depending on the extent of impact, the media impacted and potential sensitive receptors in the vicinity. The majority of the work is anticipated to initially be related to soil contamination and remediation.

-- Methane Emissions Monitoring and Quantification Services – Methane Emissions Monitoring and Quantification associated with DEP Abandoned and DEP Orphan oil and gas wells prior to and following well plugging operations to document the reductions in emissions of methane and other gases resulting from the plugging and abandonment of the oil or gas well. Each oil or gas well, all associated infrastructure and surrounding soil points in proximity of the well shall be screened by a qualified measurement specialist with appropriate instrumentation to identify any leak (concentration) locations and the subsequent quantification (emissions rate) of methane and other gases emitted from the identified leaks prior to and following plugging and abandonment operations.

-- Well Location Services - The documenting of currently undocumented oil and gas wells through preliminary research of available documents and geospatial data, landowner outreach to obtain right of entry agreements, the development and implementation of an aerial magnetic survey utilizing federally approved Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), the implementation of a ground truthing investigation to confirm and supplement survey data, the assessment and documentation of the well/anomaly site and the completion of necessary research to identify any responsible party associated with the identified oil or gas well(s).

-- Historical and Archaeological Services – As associated with the well plugging and abandonment activities at project well sites, conduct research and any applicable investigation(s) to evaluate historic properties and/or archaeological items of significance identified by the Issuing Office through the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) Section 106 and PA History Code initial consultation process with the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO), Tribes with historic presence in the Commonwealth and other applicable parties. The Offeror will provide the necessary expertise to conduct research (e.g. archival/library) and/or required investigation(s) (e.g. Phase 1 Archaeological) to assess the identified items/properties of archaeological or historical significance within the area(s) of potential effect (APE) defined at the project well site(s) and evaluate the potential effects of well plugging, remediation and restoration activities within the APE(s), The Offeror will provide findings, potential resolutions to identified adverse effects and supporting documentation consistent with the requirements of 36 CFR 800.11 to the Issuing Office for submission to the DOI OWPO for review, resolution of any identified potential adverse effects and final clearance that the Section 106 process has been successfully completed prior to implementing any well plugging undertakings conducted with federal funding. The Offeror may be required to assist with any additional consultation and resolution of adverse effects that may result from the findings.

-- Ecological Services – In accordance with the Endangered Species Act Section 7 consultation requirements for federally protected species and threatened and endangered species under the Wild Resource Conservation Act (32 P.S. §§ 5301-5314), 30 Pa. C.S. (relating to Fish and Boat Code), and 34 Pa. C.S. (relating to Game and Wildlife Code) for state protected species as associated with well plugging and abandonment, site remediation and restoration activities, complete site-specific field survey(s) to evaluate the potential effects of the action(s) on listed and proposed species and designated and proposed critical habitat, previously identified by the Issuing Office through the initial consultation process, and determine whether the species or habitat are likely to be adversely affected by the plugging, remediation and restoration activities. The Offeror will provide to the Issuing Office a biological assessment prepared in accordance with 50 CFR 402 and Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC), Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR), and Pennsylvania Game Commission (PGC) requirements which details the efforts conducted and the resulting determination(s). The Offeror may be required to assist with any formal consultation that may result from the findings.

Click Here for a copy of the solicitation.

Resource Links:

-- Gov. Shapiro Files Lawsuit Challenging President's Unconstitutional Federal Funding Freeze In Order to Protect PA Interests; Mine Reclamation, Conventional Well Plugging, Many Other Funds At Risk [PaEN]

-- PA Oil & Gas Weekly Compliance Dashboard - Dec. 21 to 31 - Record Number Conventional, Shale Gas Abandoned Well Violations In 2024; Gas Storage Area Well Leaks [PaEN]

PA Oil & Gas Industry Public Notice Dashboards:

-- PA Oil & Gas Weekly Compliance Dashboard - Feb. 15 to 21 -- Shale Gas Wells Seismic Investigation; Conventional Well Spill Cost Water Co. Customers $900,000 So Far; Oil & Gas Waste Plant Fails To Report Wastewater [PaEN]

-- PA Oil & Gas Industrial Facilities: Permit Notices, Opportunities To Comment - February 22 [PaEN]

-- Environmental Integrity Project: President Orders Hundreds Of Energy Emergency Reviews Of US Army Corps Of Engineers Project Permits, Including Dozens In PA [PaEN]

-- DEP Posted 97 Pages Of Permit-Related Notices In February 22 PA Bulletin [PaEN]

Related Articles This Week:

-- The Derrick: Aqua PA Spells Out Venango Water Co. Expenses Since Its PUC-Ordered Emergency Role [Conventional Oil Well Wastewater Spill Cost Water Customers $900,000, So Far, In Venango County] [PaEN]

-- The Derrick: GCI Water Solutions Fails To Report How Much Oil & Gas Wastewater It Is Treating Thru Titusville's Wastewater Plant In Crawford County [PaEN]