DEP Secretary Chris Abruzzo this week kicked off Widener University Environmental Law Center’s Distinguished Speaker Series with a presentation on the environmental priorities and accomplishments of the Corbett administration.

Secretary Abruzzo, a ’92 alumnus of Widener University’s Law School in Harrisburg, talked to students and staff about placing more emphasis transparency and increasing opportunities for public participation. 

He pointed to the unprecedented nine public hearings held across the state recently to gather public comment on the proposed Chapter 78 regulations that regulate the management of surface activities on oil and gas well sites.

“We want and need public input on these important regulations and on any other matters of importance to citizens,” Abruzzo said.  “The best public policy is forged through meaningful participation of all stakeholders.”

Abruzzo went on to outline other initiatives such as improving and streamlining DEP’s permitting operations, as well as program-by-program highlights and readiness of DEP’s emergency response teams.

For a list of other events in this series, visit the Widener University Environmental Law Center’s Distinguished Speaker Series story from last week’s PA Environment Digest.

NewsClip: DEP Chief Says He’s Tried To Change Tone At Agency

(Reprinted from the March 20 DEP News.)

3/24/2014