Citizens Advisory Council To Hear Update On DEP’s Safe Drinking Water Program

DEP’s Citizens Advisory Council meets on March 21 to hear an update on the agency’s Safe Drinking Water Program which was the subject of a warning letter from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency saying DEP had insufficient resources to meet minimum federal requirements.

Also on the agenda is a presentation by Matt Royer of Penn State’s Agriculture and Environment Center providing an overview of the Chesapeake Bay - PA In The Balance Conference Report on farmers meeting the Bay cleanup obligations.

Acting Secretary Patrick McDonnell is also scheduled to give the Council an update on agency activities.

A copy of DEP’s Monthly Report to Council is available online.

DEP’s report on the Oil and Gas Program year-to-February 24 shows 1,648 inspections of conventional oil and gas drilling operations found 297 violations and resulted in 38 enforcement actions.  There were 2,563 inspections of unconventional (Marcellus Shale) operations that found 87 violations and resulted in 13 enforcement actions.

The meeting will be held in Room 105 of the Rachel Carson Building in Harrisburg starting at 10:00.  Click Here to register to join the meeting via Webex.

For more information, visit DEP’s Citizens Advisory Council webpage or contact Katie Hetherington Cunfer, Citizens Advisory Council, P. O. Box 8459, Harrisburg, PA 17105-8459, 717-705-2693, khethering@pa.gov.