Reminder: DEP To Host Feb. 3 Virtual Hearing On Water Quality Permits For PA General Energy Shale Gas Access Road, Staging Area Project In Loyalsock State Forest, Lycoming County

The Department of Environmental Protection will host a virtual public hearing on Tuesday, February 3, 2026, beginning at 4:00 PM to accept public comments as part of its permit review for the Saluda Access Road and Staging Area Project proposed by Pennsylvania General Energy Co., LLC (PGE) in Cascade and Gamble Townships, Lycoming County.

DEP’s Oil and Gas Program is currently reviewing PGE’s permit applications, including an Erosion and Sediment Control General Permit-4 (ESCGP-4) and a Joint Application for PA Chapter 105 Water Obstruction and Encroachment Permit and USACOE Section 404 Permit (JPA).   

The proposed project would include the construction of a 3.9-mile-long permanent access road to facilitate access to existing and future well pads and a staging area to store equipment and materials for the construction of future well pads.  

The staging area would later be used as a well pad.  

The project would include the construction of 20 permanent stream crossings, 19 temporary stream crossings, 8 permanent wetland crossings, and 10 temporary wetland crossings.  The proposed limit of disturbance is approximately 40 acres.

Individuals who wish to offer oral testimony during the virtual public hearing must contact Megan Lehman at meglehman@pa.gov or 570-327-3659 no later than noon on Monday, February 2, 2026, to register.  

Testimony is limited to 3 minutes per witness and will be recorded by a stenographer.  Video demonstrations and screen sharing by witnesses is not permitted.  Time may not be shared or relinquished to others.

Individuals simply wishing to attend the virtual public hearing but not testify do not need to register in advance.  

Access information for the virtual public hearing will be available through the Public Participation tab on DEP’s website at www.dep.pa.gov (select “Public Participation” and “Calendar of Events”) or by contacting Megan Lehman.

Written comments concerning the pipeline project will also be accepted until 4:00 PM on Tuesday, February 10, 2026, and should be sent via email to RA-EPEASTERNOGPRG@pa.gov  or via mail to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, Eastern Oil and Gas District Office, 208 West Third Street Suite 101, Williamsport, PA 17701.  

All comments, whether delivered orally during the virtual hearing or submitted in writing, will carry equal weight and consideration with DEP. 

Permit application materials are available for public review on the DEP Northcentral Regional Office Community Information webpage at the bottom of the page.

Click Here for DEP’s announcement.

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.

(Photos: Documented shale gas development impacts in Tioga State Forest by Pine Creek Headwaters Protection Group-- top- Tioga State Forest well pads; bottom-- Baldwin Run Road 24/7 shale gas highway; Recently cleared pipeline right-of-way between Baldwin Run and Norris Brook.)

Resource Links:

-- DEP To Hold Feb. 3 Virtual Hearing On Chapter 105 Permit For PA General Energy 3.9 Mile Shale Gas Well Pad Development Access Road, Staging Area In Loyalsock State Forest, Lycoming County  [PaEN]

-- PA Trout Unlimited, Keystone Trails Assn., Responsible Drilling Alliance Request DEP To Hold Hearing On Permit For PA General Energy 3.9 Mile Shale Gas Access Road/Staging Area In Loyalsock State Forest, Lycoming County  [PaEN] 

-- DEP Invites Comments On A PA General Energy Chapter 105 Permit For 3.9 Mile Shale Gas Well Pad Development Access Road, Staging Area In Loyalsock State Forest, Lycoming County  [PaEN] 

PA Oil & Gas Industry Public Notice Dashboards:

-- PA Oil & Gas Industrial Facilities: Permit Notices, Opportunities To Comment - January 24 [PaEN]

     -- Reminder: DEP To Host Feb. 3 Virtual Hearing On Water Quality Permits For PA General Energy Shale Gas Access Road, Staging Area Project In Loyalsock State Forest, Lycoming County  [PaEN] 

     -- DEP Approves Air Quality Permit For Installation Of 53 Emergency Power Generators At The Amazon Data Center In Salem Twp., Luzerne County  [PaEN] 

-- DEP Posted 61 Pages Of Permit-Related Notices In January 24 PA Bulletin  [PaEN]  

     -- DEP Invites Comments On Individual Stormwater Permit For The 150 Mile Mid-Atlantic Interstate Transmission, LLC Piney-Seward, Erie South Piney Transmission Line Project Thru 8 Counties  [PaEN] 

Related Articles This Week:

-- Shale Gas & Public Health Conference -- Our Work, Our Health: Building A Future Beyond Sacrifice To Be Held Feb. 19 In Pittsburgh, Online  [PaEN]  

-- PJM Interconnect Issues Cold Weather Alert For Western Region Jan. 23 Expanding To Entire PJM Area Jan. 24-27; Regional Grid Could Exceed Winter Demand Record on Jan. 27 & 30  [PaEN] 

-- PUC Urges Consumers To Prepare Ahead Of Winter Storm Fern And Prolonged Extreme Cold  [PaEN]

-- Aboveground Water Pipelines Feeding Shale Gas Drilling Operations Beginning To Freeze Due To Cold Temperatures; Range Resources Incident Reported In Washington County; Notify DEP Of Pipeline Problems  [PaEN]

-- House Energy Committee Meeting To Consider Bill Giving PUC More Authority To Regulate A.I. Data Centers Moved To Feb. 2  [PaEN]  

-- Gov. Shapiro: Major Utilities, Power Producers, Tech Companies, Experts Endorse Federal/Northeast PJM Governors’ Plan To Meet Surging A.I. Data Center Energy Demands - Will PJM Listen?  [PaEN] 

-- PA House Committees Hearing: Witnesses Agree - A.I. Data Centers - Real And Purely Speculative - Are Driving Up The Cost Of Electricity; Without Effective Action Energy Increases Will Not End   [PaEN] 

-- Concerned Residents Of Western PA To Host Feb. 1 Community Gathering On Proposed Homer City Power Plant And A.I. Data Center In Indiana County  [PaEN]   

-- York Dispatch Guest Essay: Republicans Add To The Pain Of Soaring Energy Costs - By Katherine Pichardo, Latino Victory and David Kieve, Environmental Defense Fund Action  [PaEN] 

-- Concerned Residents Of Western PA To Host Feb. 1 Community Gathering On Proposed Homer City Power Plant And A.I. Data Center In Indiana County  [PaEN]   

-- PUC Announces Increase In Act 13 Shale Gas Drilling Impact Fee For Calendar 2025  [PaEN] 

NewsClips - Energy:

-- WNEP: PJM Interconnection: Winter Storm Will Cause Historic Power Grid Strain That Has Never Been Experienced Before

-- Reuters: US Electric Grid Shows Escalating Stress Amid Cold Blast; PJM Reports Price Spikes To Nearly $3,000 Per MW 

-- Reuters: US Energy Sector Braces For Winter Storm As Crude, Natural Gas Output Fall

-- The Center Square: Winter Weather To Disrupt US Natural Gas Production, Increase Prices 

-- Bloomberg: Cold Blast Threatens To Cut US Natural Gas Output By Most Since 2021 Over Next 14 Days, Energy Aspects Says

-- Reuters: US Power Grid Faces Stress Test Amid Arctic Chill, A.I. Data Center Demand; PJM Expected To Set Demand Records

-- Tribune-Democrat: Electric Grid Concerns Aired By PA Lawmakers As Frigid Weather Settles In

-- WHYY: As Electricity Rates Soar, PECO Adds $2.5 Million In Aid For Low-Income Customers 

-- Reuters: US Energy Sector Braces For Winter Storm As Crude, Natural Gas Output Fall

-- Bloomberg: Natural Gas Prices Soar 75% In 3 Days As Arctic Cold Grips The US

-- Bloomberg: US DOE Calls On A.I. Data Centers To Prepare Backup Power Ahead Of Winter Storm

-- Utility Dive: US DOE Orders Diesel Generators To Be Ready As Electric Sector Prepares For Winter Storm Fern; Consumer Advocate Warns The Plan Is Unworkable 

-- WITF: PA Consumer Advocates Urge House Committees To Tax A.I. Data Centers, Offset Home Energy Spikes At Hearing

-- Post-Gazette: PA House Members Hear Warnings On A.I. Data Centers, Rising Electric Costs At Hearing

-- WHYY - Susan Phillips: NJ Governor Issues State Of Emergency On Energy Costs; Orders State Regulators To Boost Renewables, Battery Storage In Light Of Rising Electricity Prices

-- Spotlight PA: Utility And A.I. Interests Spending Millions Lobbying Congress, President To Support Data Center Boom

-- Utility Dive: PJM Considering $1.7 Billion Transmission Line Project Across PA Based On Year-Old A.I. Data Center Demand Forecasts Is A ‘Poster Child’ For Overbuilding, According To PA Consumer Advocate

-- Utility Dive: FERC Commissioners See Progress In PJM A.I. Data Center, Power Supply Plan 

-- Financial Times: EQT, Expand Energy Natural Gas Producers Are Methane Super Emitters, Environmental Groups’ Data Shows  [PDF of Article]

-- Inside Climate News: Clean Energy Advocates Criticise ‘Glaring’ Omission In White House/Northeast Governor’s Plan To Fuel A.I. Data Centers In PJM Region

-- PA Capital-Star Guest Essay: Beyond NIMBY vs. Progress: How Pennsylvania Can Secure A ‘Durable Yes’ For A.I. Data Centers [Honestly Address Issues Of Concern] - By Desmond Daley, Pittsburgh Resident

-- Reuters: US Refineries Brace For Disruptions As Arctic Blast Hits

-- Reuters: US Energy Secretary Calls For Doubling Global Oil Output In Davos

-- AP: President’s Administration Scraps Multimillion-Dollar Solar Energy Projects In Puerto Rico As Grid Crumbles

-- The Guardian: Why President Is Worried A.I. Data Centers Might Cost His Party An Election

[Posted: January 24, 2026]  PA Environment Digest