From March 16 to July 7, Department of Environmental Protection employees have been teleworking and using COVID-19 mitigation measures to continue to fulfill its mission.  DEP staff have--

-- Conducted 22,285 inspections - 1,402 more than last week;

-- Processed 9,641 permit applications and authorizations - 597 more than last week;

-- Processed 94 percent of Permit Decision Guarantee applications and authorizations; and

-- Responded to 103 environmental emergencies, five more than last week.

DEP has also developed a process for companies to request suspension of regulatory or permit condition requirements to provide life-sustaining activities.

To date, DEP has granted requests to suspend a regulatory or permit condition to 42 entities so they may continue operating during the pandemic, four more than last week.

DEP is prioritizing field inspections that are critical to public health and safety. DEP staff are working remotely, and responding to complaints related to issues critical to public health and safety.

DEP will continue to respond in the field to environmental emergencies that present an immediate threat to public health and safety.

To report environmental emergencies, please call 1-800-541-2050.

Visit DEP’s Alert webpage for more information and updates.

Related Articles:

-- DEP Citizens Advisory Council Holds Virtual Meeting On Three Mile Island Nuclear Power Plant Decommissioning July 21

-- EQB Holds Virtual Meeting July 21 On Final Air Quality Fee Increase, Proposed Revisions To Chapter 105 Permitting Regs

-- Applicants For Oil & Gas ESCGP-3 Permits Must Submit Applications Thru DEP’s ePermitting System Effective Sept. 9

-- Pennsylvania Chesapeake Bay Watershed Implementation Plan Team Virtual Meeting July 20

-- DEP Starts Next Round Of Virtual River Basin Committee Meetings This Week On State Water Plan Update

-- DEP Invites Information For Stream Redesignation Evaluations In The Allegheny River Watershed

-- DEP Invites Comments On Proposed TMDL Plan For Watershed In Adams County

-- DEP Posts Update To Non-Regulatory Agenda Showing Status Of Technical Guidance In Development

-- DEP Posted 54 Pages Of Permit-Related Notices In July 11 PA Bulletin

[Posted: July 8, 2020]

7/13/2020