DEP Collects $497,000 in Penalties from Sunoco for Violations Along Mariner East 2 Pipeline

02/25/2021
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) ordered Sunoco Pipeline L.P. (Sunoco), which operates numerous petroleum and natural gas pipelines in Pennsylvania, to pay $497,000 as a result of a consent order and agreement for violating the Clean Streams Law, the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Code, and the Dam Safety and Encroachments Act. The violations happened in Lebanon County in connection to the Mariner East 2 pipeline project. Sunoco satisfied its payment obligation on Tuesday, February 16, 2021.

DEP Advances Actions to Support Electric Vehicle Use Statewide

02/19/2021
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) today announced its latest actions to help expand electric vehicle use statewide: more than $936,000 in grant funding for projects to install 16 more fast chargers in high-traffic areas, the start of a draft rulemaking to make electric vehicles more readily available to consumers, and the release of a booklet on the benefits and basics of these zero emission vehicles.

ADVISORY – VIRTUAL PUBLIC HEARING – WEDNESDAY – DEP to Host Virtual Public Hearing on Heritage Coal & Natural Resources, LLC Shaw Mines Proposed NPDES Permit

02/12/2021
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) will hold a virtual public hearing on Wednesday, February 17, 2021 from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM to take testimony from interested parties regarding a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) draft permit for the proposed Shaw Mines Refuse site in Summit and Elk Lick townships, Somerset County.

Range Resources Paid $294,000 in Penalties After DEP Received Inaccurate and Conflicting Information Regarding Well Activity Status

02/10/2021
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) executed a consent assessment of civil penalty (CACP) with Range Resources - Appalachia, LLC (Range Resources), an oil and gas operator that owns conventional wells, on Thursday, January 7, 2021, in the amount of $294,000 for violations of the 2012 Oil and Gas Act (Oil and Gas Act) regarding wells ineligible for inactive status listed on its inactive status request to DEP. DEP received Range Resources’ CACP payment on Friday, January 8, 2021.

DEP Lifts Drought Watch for Centre, Clearfield, and Clinton Counties, Announces Hydrologic Conditions Normal Statewide

02/04/2021
After a meeting of the Commonwealth Drought Task Force, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) today returned to normal status the final counties on drought watch: Centre, Clearfield, and Clinton. Hydrologic conditions are now normal statewide.

State and Local Partners Made Record Progress in Second Year of Chesapeake Bay Phase 3 Watershed Implementation Plan

02/03/2021
The Pennsylvania Departments of Environmental Protection (DEP), Agriculture, and Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) announced today that state and local partners made record progress in 2020 on the Phase 3 Watershed Implementation Plan (Phase 3 WIP) to improve the health of Pennsylvania’s share of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed.

DEP Reaches Agreement with Montgomery County Waste to Energy Plant

01/26/2021
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) announced a consent assessment of civil penalty (CACP) with Covanta Plymouth Renewable Energy, LLC (Covanta Plymouth) to address air quality violations that occurred at its Conshohocken facility.<br>The CACP covers violations that occurred on eight separate days between June 2019 and September 2020, as well as Continuous Emission Monitoring Systems violations and late emission fee payments. In addition to corrective actions currently being identified and implemented, Covanta Plymouth has agreed to pay a $218,393 civil penalty.

DEP Provides $1 Million in Support as 26 More Counties in Chesapeake Bay Watershed Begin Developing Plans to Improve Local Water Quality

01/22/2021
State Phase 3 Watershed Implementation Plan reaches a milestone, with all counties signed on

Chapter 102 Electronic Permit System to be Released Monday

01/21/2021
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is finalizing development and testing of an electronic permitting (ePermitting) system for Chapter 102 permit applications for stormwater discharges associated with construction activities.

Wolf Administration Hosts ‘Feeding Pennsylvanians, Reducing Waste’ Discussion on Food Security and its Environmental Impacts

01/15/2021
The Pennsylvania departments of Environmental Protection (DEP) and Agriculture today hosted “Feeding Pennsylvanians, Reducing Waste,” a panel discussion on food security in Pennsylvania and how commonwealth programs, partners, and residents are taking steps to reduce food waste, protect the environment, protect the security of the food supply chain, and protect the charitable food system. The event was held as part of the virtual 2021 Pennsylvania Farm Show.

ADVISORY – VIRTUAL PANEL DISCUSSION – FRIDAY – Wolf Administration to Host ‘Feeding Pennsylvanians, Reducing Waste’ Discussion on Food Security

01/13/2021
The Wolf Administration will host “Feeding Pennsylvanians, Reducing Waste,” a panel discussion on food security in Pennsylvania and how commonwealth programs, partners, and residents are taking steps to reduce food waste to protect the environment and the charitable food system on Friday, January 15 from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM.

DEP Issues Code Orange Air Quality Action Day for Fine Particulate Matter for Thursday, January 14, 2021, in Southeastern and Southcentral Counties

01/13/2021
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has issued a Code Orange Air Quality Action Day for fine particulate matter for Thursday, January 14, 2021, in the southeastern counties of Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, and Philadelphia, and the southcentral counties of Cumberland, Dauphin, Lancaster, Lebanon, and York.

DEP Lifts Drought Watch or Warning for 20 Counties; Three Counties Remain on Watch

01/07/2021
After a meeting of the Commonwealth Drought Task Force, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) today lifted drought watch or warning for 20 counties, returning them to normal status. Three counties remain on drought watch.

Students Encourage Pennsylvanians to Test Their Homes for Radon During National Radon Action Month

For high-res poster images: dep.pa.gov/radon

01/06/2021
Three students who won a poster contest are helping the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and Department of Health encourage Pennsylvanians to test their home for radon in January, National Radon Action Month. Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that enters homes from the ground and is the second leading cause of lung cancer.

Jim Miller Named Regional Director of Southwest Regional Office

01/04/2021
Effective January 2, 2021, James “Jim” Miller became the regional director of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection’s (DEP) Southwest Regional Office. He replaces Ronald Schwartz, PE, BCEE, who recently retired after nearly 35 years of service. Miller, who previously led DEP’s Northwest Regional Office for four and a half years, will manage field operations for Allegheny, Beaver, Cambria, Fayette, Greene, Washington, Westmoreland, and Somerset counties.

DEP to Host Virtual Public Hearing on PennEast Pipeline Permit Applications for Phase 1

12/31/2020
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) will host a virtual public hearing on Wednesday, January 13, 2021, from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM to take testimony from interested parties regarding two permit applications for construction of Phase 1 of the PennEast Pipeline project in northeast Pennsylvania. The permits under review by the department include Chapter 102 for erosion and sediment control and Chapter 105 for water obstruction and encroachment. Both applications are under review by the department’s Regional Permit Coordination Office.

DEP Announces More than $5 Million to Fund Local Water Clean Up Projects in PA’s Northeast Region