DEP said-- “PGE failed to properly address the mitigation of all stream impacts, provide plans showing that the access road is properly graded in relation to the stream relocation and adjacent stormwater control measures, and provide clarification and detail concerning potential bridge design effects on the Proposed Project’s limits.”
The proposed road would facilitate access to an existing shale gas well pad and future well pads on State Forest land in addition to a proposed staging area for the storage of equipment and materials for shale gas development.
The project proposed 20 permanent stream crossings, 19 temporary stream crossings, floodway crossings, eight permanent wetland crossings and ten temporary wetland crossings.
The project would have impacted Wallis Run Watershed, which has an Exceptional Value Migratory Fish designation.
DEP said the company was given repeated opportunities to correct deficiencies in the applications starting on Nov. 20, 2025 and again in a pre-denial letter on Feb. 9, 2026, but PGE’s responses “failed to adequately address all the deficiencies noted in the letters.”
DEP had four in-person meetings with PGE on the deficiencies where DEP gave PGE the opportunity to voluntarily withdraw the application so the deficiencies could be fixed, but PGE declined.
Among the deficiencies cited by DEP were--
-- Failure to provide detail in plans for multiple bridge crossings that range in size from 50 to 100 feet;
-- Failure to provide mitigation for wetlands impacts;
-- Failed to maintain flow of a proposed stream relocation within the proposed stream channel.
Click Here for a copy of DEP Engineering Record of Decision.
Click Here for a copy of DEP Biologist Record of Decision.
This decision may be appealed to the Environmental Hearing Board.
Comment/Response Document
Among the comments raised by residents, environmental and sportsmens’ groups included in DEP’s Comment/Response Document, were--
-- The project violates the Environmental Rights Amendment by not conserving Loyalsock State Forest land. DEP responded--
“DEP thoroughly reviewed the Application for compliance with applicable constitutional, statutory and regulatory requirements, coordinated with other Article I, Section 27 trustees such as the PAFBC [Fish & Boat Commission], USFWS [US Fish & Wildlife Service], PGC, [Game Commission] and the DCNR, and considered the public input received for the Proposed Project.
“Based upon this thorough process, as well as the Proposed Project’s specific terms and conditions of the permits, the DEP concluded that the Proposed Project will not result in unreasonable degradation of public natural resources consistent with Article I, Section 27 of the Pennsylvania Constitution.
“The Applications reflect avoidance and minimization of impacts, provide reasonable protection for public health and safety and the environment, and adequately mitigate the impacts to the public natural resources.
“Ultimately, the DEP determined that PGE’s Applications failed to satisfy all criteria for issuing the required permits, including the condition in 25 Pa. Code § 105.21 (relating to Criteria for permit issuance and denial), so that the Applications are denied.”
-- Concerns about loss of DCNR State Forest resources and degradation of Exceptional Value Waters. DEP said--
“The alternatives analysis section of application materials outlines the Proposed Project’s limitations relating to local zoning, geologic restrictions, and lease holding limitations that have restricted the Proposed Project to this PA State Forest tract.”
“The Joint Permit Application was also reviewed in coordination with the PAFBC [Fish & Boat Commission] Fisheries Biologists to address concerns specifically related to the PAFBC’s coverage of Commonwealth aquatic resources.
“The PAFBC recommended special conditions to restrict construction timeframes to outside of spawning, egg deposition, incubation, and fry emergence life stages of the wild trout population.”
-- Will pre-project baseline water quality and aquatic life monitoring be done in the Exceptional Value streams and springs impacted by the project? DEP responded--
“The Department does not routinely collect targeted baseline biological or physicochemical data as part of project review or permit issuance.”
PGE’s Erosion and Sedimentation Control Plan and Permit identifies the measures it would take during the after the project, including additional measures for special protection watersheds.
“However, some engineering design concerns were identified and are discussed in the engineering record of decision detailing that the application does not provide appropriate measures to mitigate for accelerated erosion and stormwater runoff from earth disturbance activities.”
-- Consideration of PGE compliance record during the permit review. DEP said--
“The compliance history of PGE was considered in the review of the applications. Based on this review, PGE is not in violation of a final administrative action by the Department that would preclude the issuance of the permits.
“Its operations are either in compliance, or they are making satisfactory efforts to achieve compliance at their sites. After review with the Compliance Section, it has been determined that PGE has not shown a pattern of noncompliance.”
-- DEP should consider the cumulative impacts of PGE shale gas development. DEP said-
“The DEP evaluates cumulative impacts during its review of an applicant’s Joint Permit Application in accordance with Pennsylvania regulations, including Title 25 Pa. Code Chapters 93, 102, and 105.
“Based on that review, the DEP has determined that PGE has not satisfactorily demonstrated compliance with all the regulatory requirements in Chapter 102 and Chapter 105.”
-- Concerns about noise and traffic. DEP said--
“While noise is not regulated through Department regulations, any local ordinances would be reviewed as part of zoning.
“PGE must also comply with all federal, state, and local statutes, regulations, and ordinances. This would include complying with local noise ordinances, local land use ordinances, and zoning laws.”
Dan Hagan, Director of Government Affairs for the Marcellus Shale Gas Coalition, was the only commenter out of the 171 commenters listed in DEP’s Comment/Response Document to offer general support the project.
He said--
“This application is an example of natural gas development and environmental stewardship coexisting. These two things are not and do not have to be mutually exclusive.
“We can safely develop natural gas in Pennsylvania while protecting the environment.
“The opportunities natural gas has brought working families, communities, and the state cannot be understated.
“For all the reasons stated, we encourage the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection to approve PGE’s joint permit application.”
For more information on DEP’s actions related to this application, visit the DEP Northcentral Regional Office Community Information webpage and look for the PGE Saluda Access Road and Staging Area Project.
Resource Links:
PA Oil & Gas Industry/ Public Notice Dashboards:
-- PA Oil & Gas Weekly Compliance Dashboard - May 9 to 15: 229 Abandoned Conventional Well Violations This Year; Denied Shale Gas Pipeline Permit; Failed To Cleanup Conventional Spills At 3 Sites For 688 Days [PaEN]
-- DEP Denies Water Encroachment Permit For PA General Energy Co. 3.9 Mile Permanent Access Road, Staging Area In Loyalsock State Forest, Lycoming County [PaEN]
-- DEP Issues 12 Violations To Delta Inland Oil Res LLC For Abandoning, Not Plugging Conventional Oil & Gas Wells In Warren County; 229 Abandonment Violations Issued In 2026, So Far [PaEN]
-- DEP: Penneco Environmental Replacing Tubing, Other Equipment At Oil & Gas Wastewater Injection Well In Plum Boro, Allegheny County Due To Leak, Corrosion [PaEN]
-- PA Oil & Gas Industrial Facilities: Permit Notices, Opportunities To Comment - May 16 [PaEN]
-- DEP Issues Chapter 105 Permit For Coterra Energy, Inc. 4.9 Mile, 20-Inch Shale Gas Fresh Water Pipeline In Auburn Twp., Susquehanna County [PaEN]
-- DEP Invites Comments On Expand Operating 4 Mile, 16-Inch Shale Gas Fresh Water Pipeline In Auburn Twp., Susquehanna County [PaEN]
-- DEP Posted 73 Pages Of Permit-Related Notices In May 16 PA Bulletin [PaEN]
-- DEP To Hold June 23 Hearing On Stormwater Permit For Mora Solar LLC 60 MW, 390-Acre Solar Energy Facility In Kidder Twp., Carbon County [PaEN]
-- DEP Accepting Comments On Tentative Denial Of A Stormwater Permit For Stoneybrook Solar, LLC 20 MW Solar Energy Facility In Orange Twp., Columbia County [PaEN]
-- DEP Invites Comments On Stormwater Permit For PPL Utilities Chanceford 500kV Transmission Line Rebuild In York County Related To Restart Of Three Mile Island Nuclear Data Center Power Plant [PaEN]
Related Articles This Week:
-- DEP Considering Permits For 17 A.I. Data Center Projects, Aware Of 34 Other Proposals; Data Centers In Fast Track Permitting Program Need Same Permits, Meet Same Standards As Everyone Else [PaEN]
-- In Case You Missed It: A.I./Data Center Articles - NewClips From Last Week - May 18 [PaEN]
-- PUC Releases Final Order Establishing First-of-Its-Kind Voluntary Large Load (Data Center) Model Tariff Framework [PaEN]
-- PUC Commissioners Tell PA US Senators Federal Permitting Reform Should Maintain State Oversight of Transmission Line Siting Projects [PaEN]
-- PJM Interconnection Issues Hot Weather Alert For May 18 For Entire Footprint, May 19 For Mid-Atlantic, Southern Regions [PaEN]
-- Guest Essay: Lessons From A Children's Story: If You Give The Oil & Gas Industry A Wellpad, It Will Lead To An Escalating Chain Of More Polluting Gas Infrastructure - By Melissa Ostroff, EarthWorks [PaEN]
-- Environmental Groups Request DEP Do A Science-Based Assessment Of Health, Environmental Risks From Landfill Leachate Contaminated By Radioactive Oil & Gas Drilling Wastes [PaEN]
-- Better Path Coalition Briefing: May 18 Webinar On Data Center Noise - Understanding Community Impacts [PaEN]
-- Clean Air Board Of Central PA To Host May 21 Community Forum On A.I. Data Centers - What Citizens Should Ask Of Data Centers In Carlisle, Cumberland County And Online [PaEN]
-- PA US Sen. Fetterman Introduces Legislation To Promote Development Of LNG Natural Gas Export Facilities; LNG Facilities Proposed In PA Communities Already Burdened By Pollution [PaEN]
-- UGI Energy Services, Prime Data Centers Announce $100 Million Partnership To Develop New Natural Gas Infrastructure For A Power Plant To Feed A.I. Data Center Development, Likely In Cameron, Potter Or Tioga Counties [PaEN]
-- Allegheny National Forest: Visitors Alerted To Conventional Abandoned Oil & Gas Well Plugging Operations Impacting Trail Use In Forest County [PaEN]
-- ‘Emergency’ Upset Natural Gas/Chemical Flares At Shell Petrochemical Plant In Beaver County Burned Overnight From At Least 8:52 p.m. May 10 to 3:30 a.m. May 11 - Breathecam
-- ‘Emergency’ Upset Natural Gas/Chemical Flares At The MarkWest Harmon Creek/Energy Transfer Revolutions Cryogenic Natural Gas Processing Plants Burned All Night Again In Washington County - Live Breathe Project Cameras [May 12]
-- PennTAP Now Accepting Applications For RISE PA Small, Mid-Sized Industry Decarbonization Grants Thru Aug. 17 [PaEN]
-- DEP Now Accepting Applications For RISE PA Medium To Large Industry Decarbonization Grants Thru July 15 [PaEN]
NewsClips:
-- The Center Square: Citizens A.I. Data Center Town Hall Speakers Criticize Industry, Shapiro, Secrecy [Vast Extent Of Intense Opposition To PA Data Center Boom Bulldozing Communities Evident In Town Hall]
-- Inside Climate News - Jon Hurdle: Outpouring Of Frustration Over PA’s Rapid A.I. Data Center Growth At Citizens Online Town Hall Meeting
-- Morning Call: What Can Be Done About A.I. Data Centers In Lehigh Valley? Residents Get Some Answers At PA League Of Women Voters Town Hall
-- American-Dream.com Guest Essay: Radioactivity Leaching Out Of Pennsylvania Landfills From Shale Gas Drilling Wastes - By Dr. John F. Stolz, Duquesne University
-- PennLive - John Beauge: DEP Pulls Plug On Permit For PA General Energy Shale Gas Well Access Road, Staging Area In Loyalsock State Forest, Lycoming County
-- Pipeline & Gas Journal: UGI To Build Natural Gas Infrastructure To Support Large-Scale A.I. Hyperscale Data Center Campus Development In Northern Tier PA [Cameron, Potter, Tioga Counties]
-- Environmental Defense Fund Blog: Pennsylvania PUC Moves To Protect Utility Customers From A.I. Data Center Costs With Model Tariff
-- WHYY - Susan Phillips: Philadelphia Gas Commission Rejects PGW’s Expanded Port Richmond LNG Gas Plant Until Further Study
-- AP: As Electric Bills Rise, Some States Are Focusing On The Growing Profits Of Utilities [PA Featured]
-- TribLive Guest Essay: How To Save Billions On Energy Bills - Set PJM Price Cap At $175/MWday Not Present $325 - By Kevin Walker, President, Duquesne Light Co
-- Wilkes-Barre Times-Leader: UGI Natural Gas Supply Cost For Default Customers Not Changing June 1; Will Be An Increase Dec. 1
-- Wall Street Journal: The Oil Shock Is Causing A $45 Billion Rupture In The Economy Slamming Consumers While Boosting Investors
-- Financial Times: President’s Iran War Is Ripping Across The US Economy At A Cost Of Hundreds Of Billions Of Dollars In Lost Output, Soaring Fuel Prices, Rising Borrowing Costs, Supply Chain Disruptions [PDF of Article]
-- WHYY - Sophia Schmidt: PECO Signs Agreements With A.I. Data Centers Requiring Them To Pay For Their Own Grid Upgrades
-- Utility Dive: PJM Grid Operator May Be ‘Too Big To Function:’ FERC Chairman Swett
[Posted: May 11, 2026] PA Environment Digest
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