February 4, 2010 (Pennsylvania Dept. of Environmental Protection). Environmental Protection Secretary John Hanger today reported the department last year managed 14 project sites in nine counties that successfully plugged 259 abandoned oil and gas wells.

That work, he said, is important not only to protect the environment, but the public’s safety, as well.

The 259 wells addressed in 2009 are located in the western and north-central regions of the state, and were discovered by department inspectors and local citizens who work collaboratively to locate and map wells in the region. Read the full press release here.