Friday, March 1, 2024

DEP Bans Sale Of MTM Trading LLC (Tagital) Electronic Products For Violating PA’s Electronic Waste Recycling Law; E-Waste Recycling Law Broken

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the March 2 PA Bulletin that MTM Trading LLC (Tagital) is prohibited from selling its products in Pennsylvania as a result of its violation of the state electronics waste recycling law.  (
PA Bulletin, page 1136)

Under state law, manufacturers of new covered devices-- such as televisions, laptop and desktop computers, tablets, etc.-- offered for sale in Pennsylvania are required to register with the Department prior to offering those devices for sale under Section 304 of the Covered Device Recycling Act.

Manufacturers must also pay an annual registration fee and submit a recycling plan and annual report.

Section 302 of the CDRA prohibits the sale of covered devices in the Commonwealth by unregistered manufacturers.

Electronics Waste Recycling Program Is Broken

Local governments, community groups and DEP have all concluded the electronic waste recycling program is broken and needs a major overhaul to work effectively.

Several legislative hearings have documented the fact the state’s electronic waste recycling program just isn’t working, and that hasn’t changed since a 2017 Senate hearing.  Read more here.

In December 2021, DEP, in consultation with the agency’s Solid Waste Advisory Committee, released a white paper of what those changes in law should be.  Read more here.

Click Here to read more about how the electronic waste recycling program can be fixed and recommendations on making the curbside recycling program more effective.

For more information on this program, visit DEP’s Electronics Waste Recycling webpage.  Questions about this action can be directed to Jordan Hoover, Bureau of Waste Management by email to: jorhoover@pa.gov or 717-783-8973.

For more information on environmental programs in Pennsylvania, visit DEP’s website, Report Emergencies, Submit Environmental Complaints; Click Here to sign up for DEP’s newsletter; sign up for DEP’s eNotice; visit DEP’s Blog,  Like DEP on Facebook, Follow DEP on Twitter and visit DEP’s YouTube Channel.

[Posted: March 1, 2024]  PA Environment Digest

Bloomberg: Gov. Shapiro Calls On Biden To Keep Pause On Permits For New LNG Gas Export Facilities Short

On March 1,
Bloomberg Government reported Gov. Josh Shapiro said in an interview the Biden Administration's recent pause on permits for new LNG gas export facilities should be limited in time, but stopping north of outright criticizing a Pause that would undermine job creation in the state.

“It’s my hope that that pause is limited and that their focus of whatever analysis they’re going to do is centered around making sure we create jobs in the energy space in Pennsylvania,” said Gov. Shapiro.

Pennsylvania US Senators Bob Casey and John Fetterman have been more pointed in their criticism, saying in a joint statement last month “if this decision puts Pennsylvania energy jobs at risk, we will push the Biden administration to reverse this decision.”

Click Here to read the entire article.

NewsClips - LNG:

-- Reuters: European Union Receives Bids For Nearly 3 Times The Volume Of Gas They Need 

-- PA Independent Oil & Gas Association: An Increase In LNG Gas Exports Is Expected To Increase Seasonal Price Volatility In The Future  

-- Financial Times: Household Energy Costs Factor Into Biden’s Pause On New LNG Natural Gas Export Facilities  [Industrial Energy Consumers: “More Exports Equal More Reliability And Price Risk”]

-- Reuters: Chesapeake Energy Says Gas Market Oversupplied, Plans To Cut Output, Spending 

-- S&P Global: US Gas Producers Tout LNG Growth Outlook Despite Regulatory Uncertainty; [EQT - ‘There’s Really No Impact [from new facility permit pause] through at least the end of 2026’]

-- Reuters: European Union Says Biden’s Pause On Approvals Of New LNG Natural Gas Export Facilities Will Have No Effect On US LNG Supplies To Europe Over Next 2 or 3 Years  [LNG Exports Are Expected To Double By 2030 On Already-Approved Projects] 

-- Post-Gazette - Anya Litvak: A Political Battle Brews Over Natural Gas Exports Over Impacts To Gas Prices, Climate, Demand For Gas

-- Natural Gas Intelligence: 76% Increase In LNG Natural Gas Export Capacity Already Under Construction; US Group Fears Buildout Will Hurt American Businesses Urge ‘US Consumers First’ Policy  [PaEN]

-- Bloomberg TV: Canada’s Energy Minister: Period Of Using Natural Gas As Transition Fuel Should Be Short; Gas Should Not Replace Renewables; Canada Has Adopted Controls On LNG Exports The US Has Not  [PaEN]

-- Bloomberg: European Natural Gas Prices At Pre-Crisis Levels Seen Spurring Asian Demand

-- Reuters: Slumping US Natural Gas Prices Cause Hedge Funds To Despair  

Related Articles - LNG In PA:

-- 150+ Residents Of Chester Opposed To An LNG Natural Gas Export Facility Proposed In Their Community Let Their Feelings Be Known To The House Philadelphia LNG Export Task Force  [PaEN]

-- Philadelphia LNG Export Task Force Issues Report On The Best Ways To Increase Exports Of PA's Natural Gas; Minority Report Rebuts Need For LNG Facility, Outlines Impacts   [PaEN]

-- NRDC: U.S. Dept. Of Transportation Denies Special Permit For Shipping LNG Natural Gas By Rail From A Proposed Bradford County LNG Plant; Shipping By Truck Still Allowed   [PaEN]

-- Marcellus Drilling News: New Fortress Energy Reapplying For Wyalusing LNG Natural Gas Plant Permits In Bradford County

-- Scranton Times Editorial: Local Leaders, DOT Must Stop Plant In Wyalusing, Bradford County From Shipping LNG Natural Gas By Rail Or Truck Or Both To Philadelphia  [PaEN]

-- WHYY: Environmentalists Decry DRBC Permit Extension Approval For LNG Natural Gas Terminal In South Jersey To Export PA Natural Gas   [PaEN]

PA Oil & Gas Industry Public Notice Dashboards:

-- PA Oil & Gas Weekly Compliance Dashboard - Feb. 24 to March 1 - 11 More Abandoned Conventional Wells; Field Of Leaking Wells; Voluntary Plugging; No Cleanup Progress In Reno Spill [PaEN]

-- Latest DEP Inspection Shows No Progress By Petro Erie In Cleaning Up The Conventional Oil Well Wastewater Spill That Contaminated The Village Of Reno’s Water Supply In Venango County 6 Months Ago  [PaEN] 

-- DEP: Clay-Like Material Polluting Marsh Creek Is Not Bentonite From Mariner East Pipeline Construction, But Naturally Occuring; Sunoco Cleanup Operation Finished  [PaEN]

-- PA Oil & Gas Industrial Facilities: Permit Notices/Opportunities To Comment - March 2 [PaEN]

-- 40 Individuals File Appeals, Most Handwritten, Of DEP’s Permit For Catalyst Energy Oil & Gas Wastewater Injection Well In McKean County  [PaEN]

-- EPA Appeals Board Allows Protect PT, Three Rivers Waterkeeper Appeal Of Penneco Oil & Gas Wastewater Injection Well Permit In Allegheny County To Move Forward  [PaEN]

-- Incomplete Application For CNX Midstream Slickville Fracking Wastewater, Natural Gas Pipelines Project In Westmoreland County Withdrawn By DEP  [PaEN] 

-- DEP Posted 64 Pages Of Permit-Related Notices In March 2 PA Bulletin  [PaEN]

Related Articles This Week - Gas:

-- DEP: Oil & Gas Regulatory Program Will Be In The Red By Fall; All Sectors Greenhouse Gas Reduction Program No Go; Update On Permitting Reform  [PaEN]

-- PA Utility Law Project March 15 Webinar On Impacts Of LNG Gas Exports On Energy Costs For Pennsylvania Families; LNG Export Capacity To Double, Even With Permit Pause  [PaEN] 

-- Bloomberg: Gov. Shapiro Calls On Biden To Keep Pause On Permits For New LNG Gas Export Facilities Short  [PaEN] 

-- PA Environmental Groups: New PUC Rules, DEP Guidance Victory For Increased Safety In Pipeline Construction And Operation  [PaEN]

-- Chemstream Chemical Maker Agrees To Disclose Information About Its Proprietary Chemicals Used In Natural Gas Drilling  [PaEN]

-- IFO Reports 2023 PA Natural Gas Production Up 1.0% Over 2022, Thanks To Strong Q4 Production; Fewest New Wells Drilled In Last Decade  [PaEN]

NewsClips:

-- Spotlight PA: Federal Money Supercharged PA’s Plugging Of Dangerous Conventional Oil & Gas Wells, But Critics Want More Oversight

-- Guest Essay: The Conventional Oil And Gas Industry Isn't Taking Responsibility For Their Wells - By Rep. Greg Vitali, Majority Chair, House Environmental Committee  [PaEN]

-- Q/A With House Environmental Committee Majority Chair Greg Vitali

-- Q/A With Senate Environmental Committee Majority Chair Gene Yaw

-- WESA: Republican US Senate Candidate Says Less Red Tape, More Natural Gas Are Key To PA’s Economic Future

-- Q&A With Michael Huwar, Peoples Gas - ‘Regulatory And Legislative Efforts Must Support The Natural Gas Industry’

-- The Allegheny Front - Reid Frazier: Permit Application For CNX Pipeline Project In Westmoreland County Withdrawn, Lacked Wildlife Permits

-- PA Business Report: Chemstream Announces Radical Transparency Fracking Chemical Compliance Initiative

-- TribLive: Murrysville Officials OK Olympus Energy Project For 2 Fracking Water Pipelines, 2 Natural Gas Pipelines In Westmoreland 

-- MCall: Gas Leak Reported In Hellertown, Northampton County Prompting Evacuations  

-- PUC Reminder Of Opportunities To Comment On Proposed 18.7% Peoples Natural Gas Rate Increase 

-- Pittsburgh Business Times: Panel: Washington County State Of The Economy Explores Impacts Of ARCH2 Hydrogen Projects

-- Reuters: European Union Receives Bids For Nearly 3 Times The Volume Of Gas They Need 

-- Bloomberg: Qatar Has Eyes On More Long-Term Deals As It Bets Big On LNG Gas

-- Financial Times: Oil And Gas Industry Profits Triple Under Biden, Even As Industry Decries Him

[Posted: March 1, 2024]  PA Environment Digest

Comments Invited On DEP Consent Agreements On Purchasing Parts Of The Topton Hazardous Site In Berks County

The Department of Environmental Protection published  notice in the March 2 PA Bulletin inviting comments on proposed Hazardous Sites Cleanup Act consent order and agreements related to the Topton Site in the Borough of Topton, Berks County. (
PA Bulletin, page 1122)

DEP signed three consent orders related to the purchase of portions of the Topton Site contaminated with volatile organic compounds and PCE.

Public comments are due in 60 days.

Read the entire PA Bulletin notice for more information, instructions on how to submit commit comments and review the consent order.  (PA Bulletin, page 1122)

For more information on environmental programs in Pennsylvania, visit DEP’s website, Report Emergencies, Submit Environmental Complaints; Click Here to sign up for DEP’s newsletter; sign up for DEP’s eNotice; visit DEP’s Blog,  Like DEP on Facebook, Follow DEP on Twitter and visit DEP’s YouTube Channel.

Related Articles:

-- DEP Invites Comments On Consent Agreement Related To Purchasing A Portion Of Ridge Run PFAS Contamination Site In Bucks County  [PaEN]

-- Comments Invited On DEP Consent Agreements On Purchasing Parts Of The Topton Hazardous Site In Berks County  [PaEN]

-- EPA Announces Funding For New Superfund Cleanup Projects In Jefferson, Luzerne, Montgomery Counties  [PaEN]

[Posted: March 1, 2024]  PA Environment Digest

DEP Invites Comments On Consent Agreement Related To Purchasing A Portion Of Ridge Run PFAS Contamination Site In Bucks County

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the March 2 PA Bulletin inviting comments on a proposed Hazardous Sites Cleanup Act agreement for the
Ridge Run PFAS Site in East and West Rockhill Townships in Bucks County.  (PA Bulletin, page 1121)

DEP signed a consent order and agreement with D.R. Horton, Inc. and Park Hill Estates related to their interest in purchasing certain property within the site.

Public comments are due in 60 days.

Read the entire PA Bulletin notice for more information, instructions on how to submit commit comments and review the consent order.  (PA Bulletin, page 1121)

For more information on environmental programs in Pennsylvania, visit DEP’s website, Report Emergencies, Submit Environmental Complaints; Click Here to sign up for DEP’s newsletter; sign up for DEP’s eNotice; visit DEP’s Blog,  Like DEP on Facebook, Follow DEP on Twitter and visit DEP’s YouTube Channel.
[Posted: March 1, 2024] 
PA Environment Digest

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