DEP’s Citizens Advisory Council is scheduled to meet on September 12 to discuss the agency’s new Interim Final Environmental Justice Policy, DEP’s Customer Service Initiatives, and hear a presentation on the risks associated with carbon capture and sequestration.

Click Here for the complete agenda.

Environmental Justice Policy

Justin Dula, Director of DEP’s Office of Environmental Justice will provide an overview of the new Interim Final Environmental Justice Policy.

On August 29, the Shapiro Administration announced it will adopt an updated Environmental Justice (EJ) Policy, which expands environmental safeguards throughout the Commonwealth, a milestone in updating a 20-year-old policy the Department of Environmental Protection has used to guide protections for communities most vulnerable to environmental challenges.  Read more here.

Environmental justice areas make up 20 percent of the entire Commonwealth.

DEP will be implementing an interim Final Environmental Justice Policy on September 16, 2023 when it is expected to be formally published in the PA Bulletin.  Publication will start a public comment period expected to end on October 29.

Click Here for more details of the policy from PA Environment Digest.

Customer Service Initiatives

Rosetta Carrington-Lue, DEP’s Chief Customer Service Office, will provide an update on DEP’s Customer Service Initiatives as a follow up to a presentation to Council in June.

Some of the main elements of the Initiative which views permit applicants, the public and other stakeholders as “customers” are--

-- Create a Uniform Standard of Excellence & Expectation for All Stakeholder Interactions

-- Identify Key KPI’s [Key Performance Indicators] Related to Customer/User Experience & Track with Center of Excellence

-- Provide Professional Customer Service Training for ALL Employees Who Interact with Stakeholders (Coaching On-Going)

-- Establish Customer Service Survey Tool with 3rd Party Independent Review that Provides Customer Satisfaction Score.

--  Enforce New Customer Service Cultural Values Around Customer Experience with Existing Human Resources & Reviews

-- Launch Strategic Communication & Marketing Campaign to Raise Awareness of Civil Service and User Experience Related Offerings for Stakeholders

Click Here for DEP’s New Customer Service Strategy

Carbon Capture

Scott Quillinan, Director of Research, University of Wyoming School of Energy Resources, will give a presentation to Council on the risks associated with carbon capture and sequestration.

This presentation is a followup to one in May by Kristen Carter, Assistant State Geologist from DCNR to the Council.  Read more here.

Monthly Report

DEP’s Monthly Report to the Council is now available on the Council’s webpage.

Public Comment Period

Individuals interested in providing public comments during the public comment period of the meeting must sign up prior to the start of the meeting by contacting Max Schultz at maxschultz@pa.gov. 

Join The Meeting

The meeting will be held in Room 105 Rachel Carson Building starting at 12:30 p.m.  Visit the Council’s webpage for options on joining the meeting remotely via Microsoft Teams and by telephone

For more information and available handouts and presentations, visit the DEP Citizens Advisory Council webpage.   Questions should be directed to Max Schultz at maxschultz@pa.gov or Glenda Davidson at gldavidson@pa.gov or 717-783-4759.

Related Articles - Agenda:

-- New DEP Interim Final Environmental Justice Policy, Definition Of Environmental Justice Areas Effective Sept. 16; Public Comments Accepted Thru Oct. 29  [PaEN]

-- Scranton Times Editorial: Give Teeth To DEP Environmental Justice Policy [PaEN]

-- 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]

-- Delco Times: Chester Bankruptcy Receiver Warns Of Projects That Could Handcuff City Finances And Negatively Impact Residents’ Health On Heels Of  Hearing On Proposed LNG Natural Gas Export Project In The City  [PDF of article]

-- DEP Oil & Gas Advisory Board Meets Sept. 5 On Proposed Permit Fee Changes; Well Plugging Financial Assurances To Prevent Abandonments; Environmental Justice Policy;  Injection Well Primacy  [PaEN]

-- DCNR Conservation & Natural Resources Advisory Council Hosts 2-Part Online Discussion Of Storing Carbon Below Ground-- Sept. 21; And Above Ground-- Oct. 17  [PaEN]

-- DCNR Discusses Carbon Capture, Utilization, Storage Efforts, Announces $6 Million Investment In New Carbon Capture Research Facility  [PaEN]

[Posted: August 31, 2023]

9/4/2023