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​​​​​Methane Emission Reduction Program (MERP)

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection is excited to announce that the Methane Emissions Reduction Program (MERP) grant application will officially open on Wednesday, October 16th at 9:00 am EST and close on Monday, December 16th at 11:59 pm EST. The application will be located here. You will need to register for a Keystone Login for the application. Go to the Pennsylvania Keystone Login Portal to register if you do not have a Keystone Login. You can register for a Keystone Login in advance to ensure you can login at the grant opening.

In response to the federal Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) which provides new authorities under Section 136 of the Clean Air Act to reduce methane emissions from the petroleum and natural gas sector, DEP has created a Methane Emissions Reduction Program (MERP) Grant that provides funding to an applicant to plug an eligible Marginal Conventional Well (MCW).​


A Marginal Conventional Well (MCW) is defined as a conventional oil and/or gas well that produces less than 15 barrels of oil equivalent (BOE, i.e. 15bbl/day oil or 90,000 cubic feet (90 mcf) of gas/day or combination thereof).

The MERP grant provides up to:

  • $420,000 for any single applicant within each application period.
  • $20,000 for each eligible well plugged that is a marginal conventional well of a depth of 3,000 feet or less or the actual cost of the qualified well plugger to plug the well, whichever is less.
  • $35,000 for each eligible well plugged that is a marginal conventional well of a depth greater than 3,000 feet or the actual cost of the qualified well plugger to plug the well, whichever is less.
  • An eligible applicant who plugs all eligible wells approved to plug as part of the application submitted to the Department, may plug additional eligible wells with prior Department approval up to the maximum grant approved as part of the application.

Applicants:

Operator of wells - An Operator, as defined in Act 359, Oil and Gas Conservation Law, owning oil and gas wells that have not been previously plugged in accordance with the requirements of section 3220 (58 Pa.C.S. §3220, relating to plugging requirements) prior to Department approval of an applicant’s application.

Qualified Well Plugger - A person shall be determined as a qualified well plugger if the person demonstrates access to the equipment, materials, resources,​ and services to plug wells in accordance with section 3220 (58 Pa.C.S. §3220, relating to plugging requirements).

Third Party - An applicant shall be determined as a third-party if they are neither a Qualified Well Plugger or Operator and serve only as a Project Manager for more than 1 Qualified Well Plugger.

When applying, please note that there are two separate categories under MERP depending on the amount of wells the operator owns. Please apply to the appropriate grant category that is applicable to the operator:​​​

MERP Small Operator Assistance

An Operator of 10 or less wells, a Qualified Well Plugger, or a Third Party may apply.

MERP Small Operator Assistance Grant program guidelines (PDF)

MERP General Assistance

An Operator of 11 or more wells, a Qualified Well Plugger, or a Third Party may apply.

MERP General Assistance Grant program guidelines (PDF)

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For any inquiries or questions about MERP, please feel free to reach out via email at RA-epOilandGas@pa.gov

Important notice to Pennsylvania oil and gas well operators regarding the Methane Emissions Reduction Program


More Information coming soon…