department-of-environmental-protection

A heron is perched on a piling at sunrise on the Chesapeake Bay in Chesapeake Beach.

U.S. Supreme Court rejects Biden wetlands regulation; what that means for the Chesapeake Bay

BY: - May 26, 2023

Wetlands unique to the Chesapeake Bay's watershed will lose protection from being dredged and filled without a permit.

Clean water advocates call on General Assembly to support pollution reduction efforts, legislation

BY: - May 3, 2023

The activists for the environmental organizations, including PennFuture and the Chesapeake Bay Commission, also urged lawmakers to codify the Office of Environmental Justice in funding programs, to ensure that underrepresented communities have a voice at the state level. 

DEP to host environmental justice town halls

BY: - April 6, 2023

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

Permitting reform, carbon compact take center stage at DEP’s budget hearing

BY: - March 22, 2023

Lawmakers from both parties asked Negrín about the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, a multi-state carbon credit program; permitting reform, and regulatory enforcement at Wednesday’s hearing, hoping to better understand the department’s spending priorities for the new fiscal year, which is set to begin on July 1.

Pa. awards more than $12M in Chesapeake Bay cleanup grants to counties

BY: - December 14, 2022

On Wednesday, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) announced that it had awarded $12.2 million in 2023 Countywide Action Plan (CAP) Implementation Grants to 34 counties to reduce sediment and nutrient pollution in local waterways that flow into the Chesapeake Bay. 

Pennsylvania Capitol Building. May 24, 2022. Harrisburg, Pa. (Photo by Amanda Berg, for the Capital-Star).

Pa. environmental groups see hope, progress on the horizon in Harrisburg

BY: - November 25, 2022

In addition to carbon capture, Szybist said pieces of environmental justice legislation, which have previously stalled in the General Assembly, could be reintroduced in a Democratic-controlled House with support from Democratic Gov.-elect Josh Shapiro.

A heron is perched on a piling at sunrise on the Chesapeake Bay in Chesapeake Beach.

EPA: Pa. plan to reduce Chesapeake Bay pollution ‘doesn’t meet the partnership targets’

BY: - November 22, 2022

In a statement issued on Monday, the EPA said that Pennsylvania was still falling short of its target goals despite increased funding for pollution-reduction projects in the most recent state budget. 

Pa. appeals court hears oral arguments in fight over RGGI

BY: - November 16, 2022

Petitioners in the cases, which included lawmakers and representatives from energy and labor groups, made their arguments to five of the court’s seven judges, in the hope that the court will find the state’s entrance into RGGI “unconstitutional,” and that the Wolf administration’s Department of Environmental Protection is “unauthorized” to oversee such an effort. 

‘Tired of talking’: Advocates call on Legislature to address environmental justice issues

BY: - October 5, 2022

From transportation infrastructure to historic redlining and illegal dumping, experts and advocates told state lawmakers that they were “tired of talking” and instead wanted action to address environmental justice issues that disproportionately affect communities of color. 

DEP drought map

DEP issues drought watch for 36 Pennsylvania counties

BY: - August 31, 2022

The drought watch for three-dozen Pennsylvania counties comes as 39.3 percent of the U.S. is currently under drought conditions, according to federal data. Other states, such as Mississippi and Kentucky have experienced extreme flooding conditions over the last month. 

DEP to host public hearing on strengthening Pa.’s power grids | Monday Morning Coffee

BY: - August 29, 2022

“To develop a grid-strengthening support program that’s customized to meet Pennsylvania’s specific challenges and opportunities, we need to hear from a diverse range of Pennsylvanians, including residents, community leaders and advocates, local government leaders, small business owners, health care and emergency personnel, and educators,” DEP Acting Secretary Ramez Ziadeh said.