The Department of Environmental Protection’s 2020 Small Business Advantage Grant is now accepting applications. This grant provides Pennsylvania small businesses the opportunity to acquire energy efficient or pollution prevention technologies with a 50% reimbursement matching grant for equipment or materials. Pennsylvania businesses with fewer than 100 full-time equivalent read more
27
July
28
November
DEP Awards $1.6 Million in Grants for AMD Treatment
On November 28, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection awarded $1.6 million to support seven projects in Western Pennsylvania to treat acid mine drainage (AMD). The grants come from the state Surface Mining Conservation and Reclamation Act Fund and the state AML Set Aside Fund supported by the federal Abandoned Mine Land Program. For more information on mine read more
16
July
DEP Invites Comments on Revised Environmental Justice Policy
The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the July 14 Pennsylvania Bulletin inviting public comments on a revised Environmental Justice Public Participation Policy technical guidance (DEP ID: 012-0501-002). Historically, minority and low-income Pennsylvanians have not had equitable opportunities to participate in decisions that may adversely impact their read more
3
April
PA Supreme Court Rules DEP Penalty Not Supported by Clean Streams Law
On March 28 the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, in a 5 to 2 decision, ruled the $4.5 million fine imposed by DEP against EQT drilling for leaks in 2012 from a 6 million drilling wastewater impoundment in Tioga County were excessive, in part, and not supported by language in the 1937 state Clean Streams Law. The key issue was whether, as EQT contended, only the first day of an read more
13
November
From Brownfield to Public Park
The Wolf Administration joined state and local officials from Carlisle Borough and Cumberland County on November 8 to kick off the shovel-ready phase of a private-public collaborative project to transform a 48-acre industrial brownfield into a residential/retail/office complex and public park. The complex will include a hotel, restaurant, retail, residential, and office read more
18
October
DEP to Cover Cost of 800 Agricultural Plans for Clean Water
The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) will reimburse farmers in Pennsylvania’s part of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed for the cost of preparing hundreds of agricultural plans for clean water. “We know it can be a challenge, especially for small operations, to afford fees for technical help on plans for pollutant reduction in local streams and rivers,” said DEP read more
11
May
Lee Ann Murray to Lead DEP Citizens Advisory Council
In May, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) announced that Lee Ann Murray has accepted the position of executive director of the Citizens Advisory Council. Murray has served as assistant director and Pennsylvania staff attorney at the Chesapeake Bay Foundation since 2010, helping to direct and coordinate program, communications, and lobbying efforts. read more
22
September
Governor Wolf Nominates Patrick McDonnell as DEP Secretary
On September 21, Governor Tom Wolf nominated Acting Secretary of Environmental Protection Patrick McDonnell to serve permanently in that role, pending approval by the Pennsylvania Senate. "In his acting capacity and throughout his career, Patrick has been a dedicated steward of the environment and a leader in advancing Pennsylvania's energy development in a responsible way," read more
