"Flaring" is a term used to describe the burning of natural gas from a well that has not yet been linked to a pipeline. When a well is "flared,"a huge flame lights up the sky, reaching higher than tree tops, accompanied by a noise similar to a 757 jet engine. The sight and sound of a flaring well are quite intimidating, but the practice is not a risk to public health according to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, or DEP.