VESTAL WBNG — The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation will use drones to locate thousands of abandoned and gas wells throughout the region. Some of the wells are from the 1800s.
The NYSDEC has been trying these wells for eighteen years. However, most of the work up to now has been done on foot using handheld instruments.
Officials now expect to be in a position to cover the same amount of land in one day using drones. This is a significant improvement on the previous weeks when it took several weeks to walk the same distance.
Basil Seggos, NYSDEC Commissioner, believes it is vital to find these wells due the potential danger they present to the environment as well as the public.
Seggos said that these wells are often found in fields or in the woods and can pose a threat to people or the environment.
The state fight against climate change includes plugging these wells. Many states still emit greenhouse gases.
We are interested to reduce methane emissions in New York. [from these wells]Seggos stated that they are a powerful greenhouse gases, and 12 News agreed.
Seggos stated that the goal is to plug abandoned wells throughout the region in partnership and with the federal government.
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