DEP Hosts March 28 Webinar On Draft Environmental Justice Policy Changes

The Department of Environmental Protection will host a March 28 webinar on proposed changes to its Environmental Justice Policy from 11:00 a.m. to Noon.

The draft Environmental Justice Policy outlines enhanced public participation requirements in Environmental Justice Areas covering certain permit applications under review by DEP.

The kinds of permits covered by this policy include--

-- Major source of air pollution,

-- Resource recovery facility or incinerator,

-- Sludge processing facility, combustor, or incinerator,

-- Sewage treatment plant with a capacity of more than 50 million gallons per day,

-- Transfer station or other solid waste facility, or recycling facility intending to receive at least 100 tons of recyclable material per day,

-- Scrap metal facility,

-- Landfill, including, but not limited to, a landfill that accepts ash,

construction or demolition debris or solid waste; or

--  Medical waste incinerator.

Permits for oil and gas drilling, pipelines, compressor stations or other facilities related to oil and gas development are not routinely covered by this policy.

DEP can include other permits under “Opt-In Permit” provisions based on identified community concerns, present or anticipated environmental impacts, and anticipated cumulative impacts to the extent that they can be reasonably quantified consistent with the applicable law.

For more information, visit DEP’s Environmental Justice Policy Revision webpage.

[Posted: March 26, 2022]  PA Environment Digest