PA Environment Daily

JULY 19, 2024

Note: DEP has both a Regulatory Agenda and a Non-Regulatory Technical Guidance Agenda.] -- The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the July 20 PA Bulletin announcing the availability of a final “substantive revision” of technical Guidance for [Drinking Water] Filter Plant Performance Evaluations. Bucks County. (

Environmental Protection 110

Environmental Protection Regulations Waste 2024 110

PA Environment Daily

SEPTEMBER 20, 2022

On September 20, Ali Tarquino Morris, Director Of DEP’s Bureau of Waste Management, told the Citizen Advisory Council conventional oil and gas operator plans to dispose of their wastewater by dumping it on dirt and gravel roads as a dust suppressant continue to fail to meet the state’s Residual Waste Regulations. Read more here.

Waste 97

Waste Regulations 2021 Natural Gas 97

PA Environment Daily

AUGUST 5, 2022

In 2016 the Massachusetts Institute of Technology closed its Carbon Capture and Sequestration Technologies program because the 43 projects it was involved with had all been canceled, put on hold or converted to other things.” Keeping pumped carbon in the ground—in other words, achieving net negative emissions—is much harder.

Environmental Protection 93

Environmental Protection Fossil Fuels Carbon Dioxide Technology 93

Enviromental Defense

MAY 7, 2024

trillion litres of toxic industrial waste to accumulate for over five decades, but now wants us to believe a steering committee with no decision-making power can resolve the issue. Environmental protection laws must be enforced in response to incidents like last year’s major spill and leak from Imperial Oil’s Kearl mine.

Regulations 141

Regulations Environmental Protection 2012 Government 141

PA Environment Daily

SEPTEMBER 30, 2021

Sara Innamorato (D-Allegheny) co-chaired a hearing by the Senate Democratic Policy Committee on the environmental and health dangers associated with oil and gas drilling waste in Pennsylvania. We are concerned because radium-226 and radium-228, both present in oil and gas waste, can cause bone and connective tissue cancer.

Waste 98

Waste Radiation Natural Gas 2016 98

Union of Concerned Scientists

OCTOBER 17, 2024

Lead author Adam Gold , a watershed researcher for the Environmental Defense Fund, said the wild uncertainty is because the court arbitrarily created a new standard for federal protection divorced from the science of how wetlands support larger streams, rivers, lakes and the ocean.

Carbon Dioxide 281

Carbon Dioxide Clean Water Act Ocean 2019 281

PA Environment Daily

DECEMBER 29, 2022

Five other violations involved illegal disposal or handling of liquid or solid waste. Failure To Report Waste Disposal Over 56 percent of conventional well operators-- 1,886-- failed to report not only their oil and gas production, but also how much liquid and solid waste they produced and how it was disposed of as required by state law.

Waste 98

Waste 2017 Regulations Environmental Protection 98

Legal Planet

JUNE 14, 2021

When California voters legalized cannabis in 2016, a key argument for legalization was that legalization would benefit the environment. If cannabis growers necessarily operated outside the law, then they had little incentive to comply with environmental regulatory standards.

2016 162

2016 Government Law Regulations 162

PA Environment Daily

APRIL 7, 2023

Highlights of the environmental and energy notices in the April 8 PA Bulletin -- -- The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the April 8 PA Bulletin inviting comments on its intent to issue a Title V Air Quality permit for the Monessen Coke (Coal) Plant in Monessen, Westmoreland County. (

Environmental Protection 104

Environmental Protection 2017 Regulations 2016 104

PA Environment Daily

JULY 26, 2021

In an effort to further protect Pennsylvania’s waterways and drinking water, the Department of Environmental Program announced it will soon require all Pennsylvania landfills – including those that accept unconventional oil and gas waste – to conduct quarterly testing of leachate for radiological contaminants.

Waste 76

Waste Radiation 2016 Natural Resources 76

PA Environment Daily

DECEMBER 12, 2022

On December 12, the Better Path Coalition delivered signatures from 65 organizations , institutions, and businesses, and more than 2,700 individuals on a letter and petition calling on Governor-Elect Shapiro to ban road spreading of conventional drilling waste. Pennfield has obtained a Co-Product status instead of Waste with our brine.

Waste 98

Waste 2016 2018 Environmental Protection 98

PA Environment Daily

APRIL 14, 2023

What we manufacture helps reduce waste, offsets the need to extract virgin resources and helps manufacturers achieve carbon reduction goals.” The company has operated a small-scale demonstration plant since 2016 in San Antonio, TX. None of the materials will contain PFAS, they said.

Waste 98

Waste Recycling Air Pollution Biodegradable 98

PA Environment Daily

JULY 29, 2022

Wolf directed the Department of Environmental Protection to conduct an evaluation of how it regulates conventional oil and gas wells to prevent new abandoned wells, tighten review of permit transfers, review compliance with environmental safeguards and make recommendations for changes and actions, including criminal sanctions.

Regulations 104

Regulations Waste Environmental Protection Law 104

PA Environment Daily

AUGUST 19, 2021

Klapkowski said DEP would be looking to adopt regulations like those proposed in 2016 covering the road dumping of conventional drilling wastewater in Chapter 78, Section 78.70. and we got sued over the program we had in place in time,” said Klapkowski. Read more here.

Regulations 123

Regulations 2016 2017 2019 123

PA Environment Daily

AUGUST 30, 2022

DEP reported in its Right To Know response just 76 conventional companies were assessed penalties for their violations over the last six years by the agency totalling $2,524,973-- between 2016 and 2021. Read more here.

Waste 98

Waste 2016 Regulations 2021 98

PA Environment Daily

FEBRUARY 20, 2024

The Department of Environmental Protection has advised 18 municipalities where road dumping of oil and gas wastewater has occurred the practice is illegal and considered waste disposal. DEP labels a total of 84 townships as “waste facilities” where road dumping of the wastewater has occurred. Read more here.

Waste 113

Waste Radiation Regulations 2016 113

PA Environment Daily

NOVEMBER 30, 2022

The IRRC had earlier expressed concern there were not separate final regulations for unconventional and conventional oil and gas facilities as required by a 2016 state law (Act 52). Environmental Protection Agency deadline to finalize the regulation, so DEP had to move to the emergency rulemaking procedure. Read more here.

Regulations 96

Regulations Natural Gas 2016 Waste 96

PA Environment Daily

OCTOBER 5, 2022

Hunters, hikers, fall foliage visitors and anyone going out to enjoy Penn’s Woods this fall are urged by former Department Of Environmental Protection Secretary David Hess to report the illegal road dumping of conventional oil and gas wastewater on roads. Read more here. Read more here.

Waste 98

Waste 2021 2016 2018 98

PA Environment Daily

JANUARY 26, 2023

Carson Consulting conducted a mixed-methods study examining five years of data from 2016 – 2020 and conducted interviews with representatives of law enforcement and judicial officers to gain on-the-ground insight. Carson Consulting is a global consulting company specializing in litter, illegal dumping, and waste management issues.

Law 118

Law 2023 2016 Waste 118

PA Environment Daily

DECEMBER 1, 2022

On December 1, Kurt Klapkowski, Acting DEP Deputy Secretary for Oil and Gas Management, said the schedule for considering updates to environmental protection standards for conventional oil and gas drillers will be up to the incoming Shapiro-Davis Administration. Read more here. Read more here. Read more here.

Regulations 52

Regulations Waste Environmental Protection Natural Gas 52

PA Environment Daily

MARCH 8, 2025

DEP Orders Energy Transfer/Sunoco Pipeline To Provide Clean Water On March 6, the Department of Environmental Protection issued an order to Energy Transfer/Sunoco to provide water to residents in Upper Makefield Township, Bucks County affected by a leak in Energy Transfers 14-inch jet fuel/petroleum products pipeline. .

2025 102

2025 Natural Gas 2023 2024 102

PA Environment Daily

JUNE 25, 2024

On June 25, the Department of Environmental Protection announced it received $28.6 With this federal funding, we will be able to continue this vital work that protects public health and safety, and put reclaimed land to good use with eligible economic development initiatives.” million for abandoned mine reclamation projects.

2016 104

2016 2024 Environmental Protection Waste 104

PA Environment Daily

SEPTEMBER 2, 2021

Environmental and citizens groups are gathering support for a letter to the Department of Environmental Protection, Gov. DEP must halt any plans to develop regulations that would allow road spreading of drilling waste. Instead, the DEP must ban road spreading of drilling waste under any circumstances.”

Waste 96

Waste Environmental Protection Regulations 2016 96

Circle of Blue

DECEMBER 15, 2021

But as the manufacturing plants shuttered and residents moved out, water deliveries have dwindled to about a tenth of that — much of it wasted water that’s lost in leaky pipes before it ever reaches residents’ homes. Environmental Protection Agency flagged a host of new, alarming deficiencies.

Regulations 260

Regulations 2018 2012 2016 260

PA Environment Daily

DECEMBER 6, 2022

“One of your first acts when you take office must be a ban on road spreading of ALL drilling waste.” Pennfield has obtained a Co-Product status instead of Waste with our brine. Additionally, that same company routinely lists the same amount of waste spread for each of its entries in a county. Click Here to sign petition.

Natural Gas 98

Natural Gas Waste 2018 2021 98

PA Environment Daily

DECEMBER 13, 2021

Hess, Former Secretary Department of Environmental Protection The information submitted to DEP’s Bureau of Waste Management from eight conventional oil and gas companies to justify allowing them to dispose of millions of gallons of wastewater by spreading it on dirt roads fails to meet the requirements of DEP’s 25 Pa Code Chapter 287.8

Waste 76

Waste Regulations 2020 2010 76

PA Environment Daily

FEBRUARY 16, 2023

DEP issued 605 NOVs against unconventional shale gas operators and 149 to conventional oil and gas drillers for defective casing or cementing from 2016 through 2022, according to DEP’s Oil and Gas Compliance Database. Written By David Hess, former Secretary, PA Department of Environmental Protection. Butler Twp. Chapman Twp. -

2016 104

2016 2017 2018 2020 104

PA Environment Daily

MAY 10, 2023

Wolf’s PFAS Action Team Report noted there is a concern wastewater plant sewage sludge also contains PFAS and policies are needed to properly manage this waste. Similar concerns would be present in oil and gas waste treatment facilities. Since 2016, 811,070 cubic feet have been sent to low-level disposal facilities.

Radiation 104

Radiation Waste 2019 2012 104

PA Environment Daily

SEPTEMBER 9, 2021

What the DEP staff did not address or mention was another office in DEP-- DEP’s Bureau of Waste Management-- allows the road dumping of conventional oil and gas drilling wastewater as a dust suppressant under its co-product regulations and this practice continues. There is a ban on road spreading of fracking waste. Read more here.

Waste 98

Waste Regulations 2016 Radiation 98

PA Environment Daily

OCTOBER 5, 2022

The Department of Environmental Protection issued notices of violation to conventional oil and gas companies for abandoning 55 wells without plugging them during September alone, according to DEP’s Oil and Gas Program Compliance Database. Read more here. Read more here. LLC for one unconventional shale gas well in Westmoreland County.

Waste 98

Waste 2016 Natural Gas 2022 98

Circle of Blue

MAY 16, 2023

Ohio residents, fearing their drinking water will be contaminated by increasing amounts of fracking waste, are standing up to oil companies and injection-well owners. million homes over the next decade in Ontario, also changes environmental protections and regulations required for development plans.

2023 130

2023 Law Natural Resources Clean Water Act 130

PA Environment Daily

JUNE 17, 2022

Environmental Protection Agency has a collection of rules for emissions from oil and gas drilling sites that states must adopt, or else they will lose billions of possible dollars in federal highway funds. Playing tough with the feds wastes time and money. Photo: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.)

Regulations 86

Regulations Environmental Protection 2016 2022 86

PA Environment Daily

APRIL 19, 2023

On April 19, the PA Supreme Court issued a ruling overturning a Commonwealth Court decision that blocked the ability of the Department of Environmental Protection to protect public resources and playgrounds from the adverse impacts of unconventional shale gas well operations.

Natural Gas 98

Natural Gas Regulations 2016 2020 98

PA Environment Daily

OCTOBER 13, 2023

On October 13, the Department of Environmental Protection announced it has reached a Settlement Agreement with DC Ambler Properties, LLC., The Ambler site in Montgomery County was formerly used as a disposal site for asbestos product manufacturing waste from the early 1930s until 1974.

2014 79

2014 2005 2012 2023 79

PA Environment Daily

FEBRUARY 23, 2022

From 2016 through 2022, DEP issued NOVs for abandoning wells without plugging them to not just to a few companies, but to 256 separate conventional oil and gas companies. Conventional oil and gas operators racked up 4,386 violations of environmental regulations in calendar year 2021 alone. Read more here. Read more here.

2018 98

2018 2016 Environmental Protection Regulations 98

PA Environment Daily

APRIL 17, 2024

Written Testimony -- Karen Feridun , Better Path Coalition, who has done important research into waste reporting and related issues on conventional road dumping. Written Testimony The Department of Environmental Protection provided written testimony only. It’s Waste First, let’s be clear-- we are talking about a waste.

Waste 96

Waste 2017 Regulations 2023 96

PA Environment Daily

MAY 25, 2023

That intentionally is a broad mandate, so it makes sense that Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) regulations protecting the environment also must be broad.

Regulations 98

Regulations 2016 2018 2019 98