DEP to host environmental justice town halls

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection will host five more town halls across the commonwealth this month to hear from environmental justice communities about efforts to combat climate change. 

Environmental justice communities are disproportionately affected by factors such as poor air quality, old housing and infrastructure, and limited transportation.

More than 4 million Pennsylvanians live in environmental justice communities statewide, according to the department. 

Community feedback from the discussions will be used by the department to develop climate mitigation strategies.

“We’ll draw on this understanding as we develop and implement statewide greenhouse gas emission reduction strategies and fund programs that ensure environmental justice communities are centered in climate change mitigation and adaptation statewide,” acting DEP Secretary Rich Negrin said in a statement.

The upcoming town halls will take place at the following dates and times: 

• April 10, 10:30 a.m. – Scranton (Scranton City Hall)
• April 11, 10:30 a.m. – Reading (Berks Nature Center)
• April 13, 10:30 a.m. – Harrisburg (Camp Curtin YMCA)
• April 14, 10:30 a.m. – Norristown (DEP Southeast Regional Office)
• April 24, 6:00 p.m. – Philadelphia (Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission)

“My staff and I look forward to attending these events in a listening role, and having the opportunity to meet with stakeholders and community leaders from across the Commonwealth,” Special Deputy for Environmental Justice Fernando Treviño said.