A coalition of local community, energy and labor leaders gathered last week to launch a new multi-county initiative that will lead efforts to plug abandoned and orphaned wells across the region. According to Washington/Greene Central Labor Council (WGCLC) President Donna Patrina, over 300,000 uncapped wells from the oil and natural gas extraction industry remain across the commonwealth, primarily in western Pennsylvania. At the current rate, it will take between 50 and 80 years to address the remaining uncapped wells, according to Patrina. Patrina said the group will eventually host a town hall event to educate the public about the ongoing hazards of uncapped wells and the solutions put forward by the steering committee. Shapiro’s leadership, Pennsylvania is making historic progress plugging orphaned and abandoned wells that threaten public health, communities, and the environment.