Event Details

The WVDEP's Office of Oil and Gas (OOG) is holding an in-person public meeting to gather input on what factors should be used to create a ranking system for selecting marginal conventional wells (MCWs) to be plugged. The meeting is part of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Methane Emissions Reduction Program (MERP), a grant funded by the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA)​, enacted by Congress in August 2022.

MCWs are idle or low-producing oil and gas wells that may pose environmental and safety risks, but still belong to a responsible owner. 

The WVDEP is not asking for input on which wells to plug, but rather, on the criteria or parameters that should be used in a formula ​to prioritize which wells need to be addressed first. These wells are still owned by responsible parties, but they may present environmental and safety risks due to their low production or inactivity. The goal is to hear from the public, including community representatives and leaders, well operators, and anyone with concerns about wells near sensitive areas, such as schools or hospitals.