Governor Awards $960,834 For Plugging And Restoration Of Abandoned Oil And Gas Wells

SPRINGFIELD - Governor George H. Ryan today released $960,834 in Illinois FIRST funding to plug 148 abandoned oil and gas wells in Clinton and Lawrence counties and to clean up and restore a waste crude oil site in Saline County.

"Projects like these help solve a major environmental and safety concern in the oil fields of downstate Illinois," Ryan said. "Farm land and groundwater can be polluted unless abandoned wells are plugged and oil pits are restored properly."

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources administers the Plugging and Restoration program. There are more than 5,000 abandoned, or so-called "orphaned," wells in the state.

The agency also administers a grant program through which landowners are reimbursed for plugging abandoned oil and gas wells on their property.

For more information on the Plugging and Restoration and landowner grant programs, contact Duane Pulliam, IDNR Office of Mines and Minerals, 524 South Second St., Springfield, IL 62701-1787, phone 217/782-7756.

FY 2000 OIL AND GAS WELL PLUGGING AND RESTORATION CONTRACTS

• Chris Brown (Saline County), $162,834. Contractor will clean up and restore waste crude oil pit near Eldorado.

• Bangert Casing Pulling Corp. (Clinton County), $125,000. Contractor will plug nine abandoned wells near Bartelso and 15 abandoned wells near Richview.

• Cross Oil and Well Service, Inc. (Lawrence County), $125,000. Contractor will plug 24 abandoned wells near Lawrenceville.

• Bangert Casing Pulling Corp. (Crawford County), $275,000. Contractor will plug 75 abandoned wells near Oblong.

• Bangert Casing Pulling Corp. (Crawford County), $273,000. Contractor will plug 75 oil wells near Bellair.