10/28/2020
Three additional counties remain on drought warning
10/23/2020
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) continues its efforts to maintain environmental protections and even increased permitting efficiency throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, announcing today that staff have taken final action on nearly 20,000 permit applications since March. DEP used innovative cloud-based tools and Governor Tom Wolf’s ongoing e-Permitting initiative to improve efficiency while protecting the environment.
10/20/2020
Grant funding for energy efficiency and pollution prevention projects for small business owners and farmers is still available from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) through the Small Business Advantage Grant program.
10/14/2020
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) announced that it has executed a consent order and agreement (COA) with Westmoreland Sanitary Landfill, LLC, a residual/municipal waste landfill located in Rostraver Township, Westmoreland County. The agreement includes a $59,000 civil penalty for violations of the landfill’s permit, Solid Waste Management Act and state regulations.
10/14/2020
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) today announced the winners of the 2020 Governor’s Awards for Environmental Excellence. More than 60 applicants from across the commonwealth nominated projects on energy efficiency, emissions reduction, watershed restoration and protection, environmental education opportunities, and smart growth planning and design.
10/07/2020
$3 million still available for further project grant applications
10/07/2020
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has executed a consent order and agreement (COA) with Columbia Gas Transmission, LLC in settlement of violations that occurred during construction of its Leach Xpress gas pipeline in Richhill Township, Greene County. The agreement requires Columbia Gas Transmission to pay a civil penalty of $156,000 to the department and $1,126 in cost recovery to the Greene County Conservation District (GCCD).
09/30/2020
After a meeting of the Commonwealth Drought Task Force, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) today moved Clinton and McKean counties to drought warning and added 13 counties to drought watch.
09/29/2020
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) recently finalized the last of three settlements and assessed civil penalties against EQM Gathering OPCO, LLC (EQM) totaling $427,650 for slips, stabilization, and erosion and sedimentation violations at pipeline sites in Greene, Washington and Westmoreland counties.
09/23/2020
The Pennsylvania Departments of Environmental Protection (DEP) and Transportation (PennDOT) and other partners in the Drive Electric PA Coalition will hold a free public informational webinar on the benefits and basics of driving electric vehicles on September 30 at 11:00 AM, and again on October 1 at 6:00 PM, as part of National Drive Electric Week.
09/22/2020
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has announced that it has collected a civil penalty of $736,294.11 from Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Company, LLC (Transco) for violations associated with the construction of the Atlantic Sunrise Pipeline in Columbia, Lancaster, Lebanon, Luzerne, Lycoming, Northumberland, Schuylkill, Susquehanna, and Wyoming counties. The penalty was part of a Consent Assessment of Civil Penalty (CACP) entered into between DEP and Transco. DEP will collect $680,000 of the civil penalty, and the remaining penalty, $56,294.11, will be distributed among the county conservation districts that inspected the Atlantic Sunrise Pipeline during its construction to reimburse the costs they incurred during their inspections.
09/22/2020
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) announced today that it has completed its review of requests submitted by Sunoco Pipeline, LP (SPLP) to amend to the Chapter 102 (Erosion and Sediment Control) and Chapter 105 (Water Obstructions and Encroachments) permits for portions of the Mariner East 2 pipeline located in Delaware and Chester Counties.
09/17/2020
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has $400,000 in grant funding available for youth and adult environmental education projects in 2021-22 and will hold a free webinar on October 14 on how to apply. Environmental Education Grants are available to schools, colleges, nonprofit community and environmental organizations, county conservation districts, and businesses.
09/15/2020
The Pennsylvania Environmental Quality Board (EQB) has voted to promulgate a regulation to limit carbon pollution from power plants. The proposed regulation will be reviewed by the Office of the Attorney General and a public comment and participation period will be announced at a later date. The vote in the EQB was 13 to 6.
09/14/2020
Natural gas production in Pennsylvania increased while new well drilling decreased in 2019, according to the 2019 Oil and Gas Annual Report released today by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). The report also notes improved permit review efficiency. DEP is also exploring new partnerships to address orphan wells, identifying better restoration practices, and developing better ways to manage stormwater on well sites.
09/11/2020
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (“DEP”) today ordered Sunoco Pipeline, L.P. (Sunoco) to reroute its planned pipeline route, and further assess, investigate, and restore resources impacted by Mariner East II pipeline installation activities in Upper Uwchlan Township, Chester County. The horizontal directional drilling (HDD) site which caused the impacts includes the installation of two pipes, a 16-inch and 20-inch line, and is referred to as HDD 290.
09/10/2020
After a meeting of the Commonwealth Drought Task Force, the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) today moved Potter County to drought warning status and added three counties — Elk, Lycoming, and Tioga — to drought watch. There are now 18 counties on drought watch: Armstrong, Blair, Butler, Cambria, Cameron, Centre, Clearfield, Clinton, Elk, Fayette, Huntingdon, Indiana, Juniata, Lycoming, McKean, Mifflin, Perry, and Tioga.
09/09/2020
The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) today announced $523,216 in FAST Act Corridor Infrastructure Grants funding for projects that will add five electric vehicle (EV) fast-charging locations in western Pennsylvania, helping to expand drivers’ route options for these zero emission vehicles.
09/09/2020
The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) today announced an $85,000 FAST Act Corridor Infrastructure Grant for a project that will place two electric vehicle (EV) fast chargers for public use at a location in Luzerne County, helping to expand drivers’ route options for these zero emission vehicles.
09/02/2020
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has announced funding for environmental restoration projects focused on economic development or community revitalization at abandoned mine land (AML) locations across Pennsylvania.
08/31/2020
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) announced today that the Pennsylvania Energy Development Authority (PEDA) recently opened a $2 million grant opportunity to support clean energy projects in Pennsylvania, which were interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
08/27/2020
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) announced today it has awarded $5,118,502 in Driving PA Forward grants to 13 cleaner fuel transportation projects that will improve air quality in communities around the state. The funding comes from the Commonwealth’s share of the national settlement with Volkswagen Group of America for cheating on U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) emissions tests.
08/25/2020
Pennsylvanians encouraged to register small-group events
08/21/2020
After a meeting of the Commonwealth Drought Task Force, the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) today declared a drought watch for 16 counties: Armstrong, Blair, Butler, Cambria, Cameron, Centre, Clearfield, Clinton, Fayette, Huntingdon, Indiana, Juniata, McKean, Mifflin, Perry, and Potter.
08/20/2020
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has concluded its investigation into the January 2019 Shaw 1GHSU (Shaw 1G) Utica gas well control and communication incident and executed a consent order and agreement (COA) with CNX Gas Company LLC (CNX) addressing violations and well construction. CNX has agreed to a $175,000 civil penalty.
08/20/2020
Penalty resolves violations in eight counties
08/17/2020
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) launched the second year of its Local Climate Action Program (LCAP) this week with 21 participants representing 139 municipalities statewide. From now through June 2021, participants will learn how to measure local greenhouse gas emissions, assess local climate-related vulnerabilities, and develop plans to reduce emissions and manage climate change impacts in their communities.
08/13/2020
Ramping up its agricultural compliance outreach, the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) launched two programs in July that provide $3.7 million and technical assistance to help farmers develop and carry out plans of best management practices (BMPs) that can benefit their operations while improving the health of streams and rivers in Pennsylvania’s share of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed.
08/11/2020
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) announced a consent assessment of civil penalty with Advanced Disposal Services Chestnut Valley Landfill, LLC., a municipal waste landfill located in German Township, Fayette County, to address violations of its permit and state law. This agreement requires the landfill to pay a $25,000 civil penalty.
08/03/2020
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) will hold an informational presentation this Thursday on how Pennsylvania can reduce climate pollution by participating in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) via webinar.