Restore Damaged Land

For much of its history, Pennsylvania’s reserves of coal, oil, and gas have powered the nation, and its factories have churned out products used worldwide. But the resource-extraction and manufacturing industries have also taken a serious toll on the land, inflicting damage that lingers decades later. Environmental Stewardship Fund investments rehabilitate natural areas scarred by abandoned mines and wells, and help communities transform neglected industrial sites into functional, valuable spaces.

Highlights:

6,500+ acres of abandoned mine lands (AML) reclaimed
1,000+ abandoned oil and gas wells plugged
270+ acres of brownfields restored

Challenges

Abandoned Mine Lands

Two centuries of mining have resulted in more than 200,000 acres of abandoned mine lands (AML) scarring Pennsylvania’s forests, mountains, and waterways. Abandoned and never properly cleaned up, these former mining sites pose serious threats to people and the environment. They can contaminate waterways—harming humans and wildlife—and cause injury when aging infrastructure collapses. AML sites are also eyesores that detract from the scenic beauty neighboring communities.

Abandoned and Orphan Wells

Since the discovery of oil (and, later, natural gas) in Pennsylvania, hundreds of thousands of oil and gas wells have been drilled across the state, and DEP estimates that as many as 560,000 have been left unplugged. Unplugged wells can pollute the land and water (including drinking-water wells) and also provide pathways for methane gas to seep to the surface. In addition to being 30 times more potent than carbon dioxide as a greenhouse gas, methane can cause dangerous geysers and explosions, especially when active drilling occurs nearby.

Brownfields

Abandoned industrial properties, known as brownfields, occupy hundreds of thousands of acres across Pennsylvania, especially in historically-neglected waterfront areas. These remnants of 19^th and 20^th century production now lie idle and pose environmental risks like groundwater and soil contamination. They also hamper economic development in communities struggling to reinvent themselves in a post-industrial world. Crumbling, neglected buildings are eyesores that take up valuable land while providing no economic or recreational benefits to communities.

Accomplishments

Reclaim Abandoned Mine Lands

The Environmental Stewardship Fund has funded hundreds of AML projects, restoring over 6,500 acres of land damaged by mining. Reclaiming these mining sites eliminates sources of dangerous pollution, restores wildlife habitat, removes eyesores, and makes the areas safe for outdoor recreation.

Plug Oil and Gas Wells

Environmental Stewardship Fund investments have helped DEP plug over 1,000 abandoned oil and gas wells across the state. Plugging wells puts an immediate stop to the toxic pollution flowing into nearby land and waterways and restores the scenic beauty of natural areas, while also preventing potential future disasters caused by leaking gas.

Restore Brownfields to Productive Use

Using Environmental Stewardship Fund funding, Pennsylvania communities have restored over 270 acres of brownfields to productive use. Land that was once scarred by crumbling buildings, broken glass, and toxic waste—providing no economic or recreational value—is now home to parks, residential areas, and local businesses that anchor communities. Also, the repurposing of already-developed areas has saved open space and farmland that would have otherwise been developed.