DEP’s Citizens Advisory Council is scheduled to meet January 10 to hear a presentation on the Stream Redesignation Process and discuss the Council’s transition paper for the incoming Shapiro Administration.

The Council will also hear a report on agency activities by Acting Secretary Ramez Ziadeh.

DEP’s monthly written report to the Council is available, including mention of DEP’s new Clean Energy Workforce Development reports issued in December.

Josh Lookenbill, Bureau of Clean Water, will give the presentation on the Stream Redesignation Process.

Of particular interest to the public is how High Quality and Exceptional Value streams are designated and then protected against degradation from activities like oil and gas development.  [See articles below.]

For more information on the process, visit DEP’s Stream Redesignations webpage.

Click Here for the complete agenda.

Public Comment

Individuals interested in providing public comments during the meeting must sign up prior to the start of the meeting by contacting Keith Salador at ksalador@pa.gov or (717) 787-8171.

The meeting will be held in Room 105 Rachel Carson Building starting at 12:30 p.m. Click Here for options to join the meeting remotely.

For more information and available handouts, visit DEP’s Citizens Advisory Council webpage.  Questions should be directed to Keith Salador at ksalador@pa.gov or (717) 787-8171.

(Photos: Ongoing pollution incidents at the PA General Energy water withdrawal, fresh water and natural gas pipeline construction site on the Exceptional Value Loyalsock Creek in DCNR’s  Loyalsock State Forest in Lycoming County.)

Related Articles - Loyalsock Creek - EV:

-- NO SPECIAL PROTECTION: The Exceptional Value Loyalsock Creek In Lycoming County Is Dammed And Damned - Video Dispatch From The Loyalsock - By Barb Jarmoska, Keep It Wild PA [PaEN]

-- DEP: PA General Energy Cited For More Water Pollution Violations, Blocking The Whole Width Of Loyalsock Creek At Gas Pipeline/Water Withdrawal Construction Site In Lycoming County [PaEN]

-- Bay Journal: Hellbender Habitat Slammed By Pollution From Shale Gas Development In PA's Loyalsock Creek - By Ad Crable, Chesapeake Bay Journal  [PaEN]

-- Citizen Complaints Result In DEP Issuing PA General Energy More Violations At Loyalsock Creek Gas Pipeline/Water Withdrawal Construction Site In Lycoming County  [PaEN]

-- DEP, Fish & Boat Commission Investigate Multiple, Continuing Water Pollution Discharges From PGE Natural Gas Pipeline Construction Site On Loyalsock Creek, Lycoming County  [PaEN]

-- Susquehanna River Basin Commission Has No Exclusion Zones For Water Withdrawals From Any Streams, Including EV Or HQ Streams Subject To Water Quality Antidegradation Rules  [PaEN]

DEP Public Notice Dashboards:

-- Pennsylvania Oil & Gas Weekly Compliance Dashboard - Dec. 31 to Jan. 6  [PaEN]

-- PA Oil & Gas Industrial Facilities: Permit Notices/Opportunities To Comment - Jan. 7  [PaEN]

-- DEP Posts 60 Pages Of Permit-Related Notices In Jan. 7 PA Bulletin  [PaEN]

Oil & Gas Industry Compliance Reports:

-- PA Oil & Gas Industry Has Record Year: Cost, Criminal Convictions Up; $3.1 Million In Penalties Collected; Record Number Of Violations Issued; Major Compliance Issues Uncovered; Evidence Of Health Impacts Mounts

-- DEP Report Finds: Conventional Oil & Gas Drillers Routinely Abandon Wells; Fail To Report How Millions Of Gallons Of Waste Is Disposed; And Non-Compliance Is An ‘Acceptable Norm’

Related Articles This Week:

-- Guest Essay: Counties, PEMA Need To Include A Complete Vulnerability Assessment Of All Natural Gas Facilities In State, County Hazard Mitigation Emergency Plans - By Cat (Cathy) Lodge, Washington County Resident  [PaEN]

-- DEP Releases Bid Solicitations To Plug 46 Conventional Natural Gas Wells In Armstrong, Washington Counties At Taxpayer Expense [PaEN]

[Posted: January 7, 2023]

1/9/2023