On July 19, the PA Infrastructure Investment Authority announced the investment of $116.6 million for 22 drinking water, wastewater, nonpoint source projects and an oil and gas wastewater treatment facility in 19 counties.

"Every Pennsylvanian has a Constitutional right to clean air and pure water, but far too many communities here in Pennsylvania suffer from old and outdated lead pipes that endanger the health of our children and families," said Governor Josh Shapiro. "My Administration is committed to safeguarding this right by making critical investments that will deliver clean drinking to families across the Commonwealth, especially in communities that have been left behind for too long. This is an important step forward in protecting Pennsylvania's water infrastructure and delivering a clean water supply to every resident and business who calls Pennsylvania home."

The funding for these projects originates from a combination of state funds approved by voters, Growing Greener, Marcellus Legacy funds, the Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act, federal grants to PennVEST from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and recycled loan repayments from previous PennVEST funding awards. Funds for these projects are disbursed after expenses for work are paid and receipts are submitted to PennVEST for review.

"Clean water is the lifeblood of our communities. It is essential for our residents' health, our businesses' growth, and the overall prosperity of Pennsylvanians" said PennVEST Chairman Dr. Brian Regli. "We must continue to invest in modern and resilient clean water infrastructure to safeguard our future. Under the direction of Governor Shapiro, we continually seek ways to prioritize the maintenance and improvement of our water infrastructure to enhance the quality of life for all Pennsylvanians."

Project Highlights

-- $14.5 million in grants and loans to Pittsburgh Water & Sewer Authority to replace lead service lines

-- $6.1 million loan to Epiphany Environmental, LLC to acquire an existing metals separation pre-treatment facility in Clarion County and upgrade it to a water treatment system capable of treating up to 60,000 gallons of oil and gas wastewater per day.  The project upgrades will reduce the reliance on well disposal or treated discharges to waters of the Commonwealth.

-- $916,284 grant to the Chester County Conservation District to install manure storage tank and other farm conservation measures in Honey Brook Township.

Click Here for a list of projects funded.

Visit the PA Infrastructure Investment Authority webpage to learn more about available funding.

PA Oil & Gas Industry Public Notice Dashboards

-- PA Oil & Gas Industrial Facilities: Permit Notices/Opportunities To Comment - July 22  [PaEN]

-- Susquehanna River Basin Commission Aug. 10 Hearing On Proposed Water Withdrawals, Including 8 Related To Shale Gas Drilling Operations, 1 In Exceptional Value Loyalsock Creek  [PaEN]

-- DEP Published 67 Pages Of Permit-Related Notices In July 22 PA Bulletin  [PaEN]

NewsClips:

-- Marcellus Drilling News: 800,000 Tons Of Drilling, Frack Waste Unaccounted For In NY-PA-OH

-- The Allegheny Front: Pitt Study Finds Radioactive Materials In Waterways Near Wastewater Treatment Plants Associated With Fracking Waste

-- Environmental Health Project: Living Close To Shale Gas Industrial Development, A Mental Health & Wellness Toolkit

-- Beaver County Times: Panel Sets Criteria For $5 Million Shell Petrochemical Plan Penalty Fund In Beaver County

-- TribLive: Beaver County Communities To Receive $5 Million From Shell Petrochemical Plant Penalty Settlement

-- KDKA: $5 Million From Shell Petrochemical Plant Penalty To Fund Environmental, Health Or Quality Of Life Projects

-- Marcellus Drilling News: Aborted Epiphany Oil & Gas Wastewater Treatment Plant Resurrected With PennVEST Loan

-- The Intercept: Energy Company Plotted LNG Natural Gas Plant In Chester, Delaware County

-- GridPhilly.com: A Global Climate Debate Heats Up  As A Liquefied Natural Gas Terminal Looks For A Home In Chester, Delaware County

-- Scranton Times: Appeals Court Nixes $6.25 Million Settlement Of Chesapeake Energy Lawsuits Over Landowner Royalties

-- Utility Dive: PJM Interconnection Report: Natural Gas-Fired Electric Generation Accounted For 70% Of Unplanned Outages In Winter Storm Elliott

-- StateImpactPA - Rachel McDevitt: PA House Resolution Brings Natural Gas Severance Tax Idea Back Around, Raising An Old Debate

-- AP: Two Natural Gas Leaks Identified In Deadly West Reading Chocolate Factory Explosion Where 7 Died

-- Utility Dive Guest Essay: Why Oil And Gas Should Take A Closer Look At Geothermal - By Environmental Defense Fund

-- Post-Gazette Guest Essay: Pennsylvania’s Trojan Horse - Hydrogen Power - By Vote Solar

Related Articles:

-- Marcellus Drilling News/The Allegheny Front: University Of Pittsburgh Study Finds At Least 800,000 Tons Of Oil & Gas Waste Sent To Landfills Unaccounted For In One Year; Oil & Gas Waste Adds To Radiation Accumulation In Stream Sediments  [PaEN]

-- Steering Committee Releases Protocol To Allocate $5 Million Penalty Fund Related To The Shell Petrochemical Plant In Beaver County  [PaEN]

-- PJM Interconnection Reports Higher Percentage Of Natural Gas-Fired Electric Generation Outages Than Originally Thought During Winter Storm Elliott - 70%  [PaEN]

-- PennVEST Invests $116.9 Million In 22 Drinking Water, Wastewater, Nonpoint Source Projects; And An Oil & Gas Wastewater Treatment Facility  [PaEN]

-- Governor’s Regulatory Agenda: DEP To Propose Annual Permit Fee For Unconventional Shale Gas Operations; Updated Waste, Other Regulations Covering Conventional Oil & Gas Drilling Coming  [PaEN]

[Posted: July 19, 2023]

7/24/2023