Oct. 28, 2022
HARRISBURG – Promoting the Pennsylvania workforce and making headway on a decades-old environmental problem in the commonwealth is the basis of legislation authored by state Rep. Jim Struzzi (R-Indiana) that is a governor’s signature away from becoming law.
“For far too long, we have basically ignored our orphaned oil and gas wells, which now number somewhere in excess of 200,000, and simply relied on the Department of Environmental Protection, which reduced the list by only 20 over the last two years,” said Struzzi. “Aggravating the situation is local companies who could be addressing the problem being ignored in favor of out-of-state entities, which is a slap in the face to the Pennsylvania worker.”
Struzzi’s
House Bill 2528, which passed the House unanimously and the Senate overwhelmingly this week, would allow any Pennsylvania company to bid for a contract awarded by DEP for plugging oil and gas wells, regardless of the size of the business.
“I need to thank my Senate colleagues, who amended the bill to address certain House members’ concerns, which is reflected in this week’s unanimous vote,” Struzzi said. “Pennsylvania well-plugging companies deserve a fair shake when it comes to the more than $400 million headed our way from the federal government and targeted at resolving the problem. This is a pro-jobs, pro-small business and pro-Pennsylvania bill that needs to find its way into law. Gov. Tom Wolf can make that happen.”
Questions about this or any legislative issue should be directed to Struzzi’s Indiana office at 724-465-0220.
Watch my comments below.