Environmental Justice Policy Overview
The final Environmental Justice Policy contains these major sections--
-- Environmental Justice Criteria: describes where the policy applies. This will be done through the PennEnviroScreen tool described in more context on our website’s PennEnviroScreen Page.
-- Proactive Community Engagement: describes ways to increase proactive outreach and engagement across Pennsylvania and build long-lasting relationships with communities outside of individual projects.
-- Enhanced Public Participation Process: describes the process provided for reviews associated with public participation Trigger or Opt-In Projects, including outreach activities and other support for EJ communities that is in addition to minimum requirements.
-- Inspections, Compliance, and Enforcement: Describes how DEP can prioritize EJ within regulatory limits after permits are approved.
-- Community Development and Investments [Grants]: seeks to prioritize DEP resources and facilitate financial assistance to communities facing environmental justice issues.
-- Climate Initiatives: clarifies ways that EJ can be integrated in the climate action plan and other climate change related efforts.
-- Policy Updates: specifies the review and revision cycles for the policy to ensure data reliability and applicability.
Revised Trigger Projects
The final policy has the same permit types triggering enhanced public participation, but eliminated the projects related to Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations and now lists them as Opt-In projects.
No application types were added.
Opt-In Projects Changes
The final policy includes these same list of opt-in permit types, including unconventional oil and gas development, but adds--
-- Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations; and
-- Projects in census block groups recognized as EJ Areas in PennEnviroScreen’s immediately preceded update which may no longer meet the 80th percentile score that have one of the above-listed permits.
The general “Other projects as identified by the community” is retained.
Data Centers
There is no specific reference to permits related to A.I. data centers, but they could be included in the final policy through the opt-in project provisions.
Click Here for a copy of the Final Policy.
Click Here for the PennEnviroScreen Tool.
Click Here for Comment/Response Documents.
Click Here for a copy of the Interim Final EJ Policy published in 2023.
Visit DEP’s Environmental Justice Policy and Office of Environmental Justice webpages for more information. Questions should be directed to Fernando Trevino, DEP Special Deputy Secretary for Environmental Justice at (717) 783-7753 or send email to: RA-EPOEJ@pa.gov.
For more information on environmental programs in Pennsylvania, visit DEP’s website. Submit Environmental Complaints; Click Here to sign up for DEP’s newsletter; sign up for DEP’s eNotice; Like DEP on Facebook, Follow DEP on Twitter and visit DEP’s YouTube Channel.
Resource Links:
-- Senate Confirms Jessica Shirley To Lead The Department Of Environmental Protection; Committee Questions On Environmental Justice, RESET Energy Board [PaEN]
-- DEP Budget Testimony: DEP Moving At The Speed Of Business; Lightning Energy Plan; Most Inspections; Commitment To Environmental Justice [PaEN]
-- Marcellus Drilling News: Senate Republican Leaders Urge DEP To Withdraw Environmental Justice Policy Saying They Lack Statutory Authority, And Out-of-State Groups Not Actual Residents Express EJ Concerns [PaEN]
[Posted: January 2, 2026] PA Environment Digest
No comments :
Post a Comment