The DEP Environmental Justice Advisory Board will hold a conference call on April 3 to discuss a draft Environmental Justice Public Participation Policy from 2:00 to 4:00.

The draft policy is the result of a listening tour DEP conducted last year at nine locations around the state to solicit feedback on DEP’s policies regarding environmental justice-- the principle that communities and populations should not be disproportionately exposed to adverse environmental impacts.

Key issues included how to define environmental justice areas geographically, what permits would trigger enhanced environmental justice review and what tools would the agency use to more effectively share information with the public.

So-called trigger permits are proposed to include a series of municipal, residual and hazardous waste facilities, certain major NPDES water quality permits, major air quality permits and mining surface and underground coal and large non-coal mining permits.  These permits are listed in the draft policy.

The conference call is available at 717-612-4788 or Toll-free: 855-734-4390 PIN: 442483.

More information on the existing program is available on DEP’s Environmental Justice webpage.

For more information and a copy of handouts, visit DEP’s Environmental Justice Advisory Board or contact  John Brakeall by calling 717-783-9731 or send email to: jbrakeall@pa.gov.

Related Story:

DEP Publishes Comments Gathered In Environmental Justice Listening Tour

[Posted: March 29, 2018]

4/2/2018