Associate professor of environmental engineering Nathaniel Warner was awarded $2.4 million by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to lead a research team studying the health impacts of orphaned and abandoned wells on surrounding communities.

According to DEP Secretary Jessica Shirley, Pennsylvania has over 27,000 known abandoned and orphan natural gas wells that can affect community health and harm the surrounding environment.

After discovering possible issues, the DEP granted $2.4 million to Penn State researchers to collaborate on a study to identify potential impacts from these wells.

The U.S. Department of the Interior’s Orphaned Wells Program Office funded the study under DEP’s Phase 2 Formula Grant.

“This study will enable us to make sure we’re prioritizing plugging wells that will have the greatest positive impact on the environment and health of communities near these wells,” Shirley said in a news release.

Penn State researchers include Kenneth Davis and Jack Vanden Heuvel.

To identify and measure potentially hazardous chemicals, the research team will collect samples from the air, groundwater, and soil around the known wells. The data will help the DEP identify the highest risks to the surrounding environment and residents’ health.

Once identified, efforts will reduce exposure and health risks for residents living near orphaned and abandoned wells. Researchers will develop solutions for the orphaned and abandoned wells to fine-tune DEP’s recent pre-plugging assessment tool.

Associate Professor of Geography at Penn State, Jennifer Baka, will lead public meetings in affected communities, giving residents a chance to share concerns about human health and well locations.

A data portal with the results will be accessible to the public.