Greetings!

The Office of Environmental Justice (OEJ) team would like to share with you some time sensitive information on upcoming DEP Environmental Justice related updates and public comment opportunities coming to your region.
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After years of preparation and collaboration, an updated Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Environmental Justice Policy has been adopted as interim final. This version of the policy will be available for official public comment from September 16, 2023 until November 30, 2023.
The interim final policy moves beyond the public participation in the permitting process – it looks at ways DEP can further environmental justice goals in compliance, enforcement, grantmaking, and other aspects of DEP’s work. The policy includes changes that DEP developed and revised with stakeholder-input, now assembled in an interim final format containing nine sections:
  1. Introduction section, which includes history and background.
  2. Definitions section describes key terms used in the policy to help clarify the document for the public, DEP staff, and the regulated community.
  3. Environmental Justice Criteria describes where the policy applies. This will be done through the PennEnviroScreen tool, described in detail in the Pennsylvania Environmental Justice Mapping and Screening Tool (PennEnviroScreen) Methodology Documentation 2023.
  4. Proactive Community Engagement section describes how DEP can center on community voices by reaching communities before an environmental crisis or project application comes before the agency for review.
  5. Enhanced Public Participation Process details this process in terms of which projects are covered and how it is applied in the permitting process.
  6. Inspections, Compliance, and Enforcement guidance help the policy move beyond public participation in the permitting process and consider how DEP can be prioritized within regulatory limits after permits are approved.
  7. Community Development and Investments look to ways to financially assist communities facing environmental justice issues.
  8. Climate Initiatives spells out ways that EJ can be included in the climate action plan and other climate efforts.
  9. Policy Updates, the final section, specifies that the policy should be reviewed for updates regularly to ensure that the policy continues to address community concerns.
At the request of stakeholders, the interim final extends beyond the current policy’s scope of public participation and meetings during the review of permit applications. This policy integrates environmental justice into more of the Department’s functions including:
  • Climate initiatives,
  • Penalties (inspections, compliance, and enforcement),
  • Grantmaking (community development and investments).
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Invitation to Participate

Let Your Voice Be Heard.

DEP will host at least nine public comment meetings starting in October to receive verbal public comment. Written public comments are also welcomed via the Department's online eComment tool or emails at ecomment@pa.gov. You can read the updated policy, view the public comment meeting dates, and learn how to submit comment at the EJ Policy Revision webpage. All pa.gov website pages can be translated into a variety of languages using the “Translate” button at the top right of the website.
Visit the policy revision webpage today, review the policy, and learn how you can participate in this round of public comments. The schedule for these hearings is as follows:
Virtual Meeting
Wednesday, October 11, 2023
5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
This meeting is virtual only – visit http://www.dep.pa.gov/EJPolicyRevision for registration details.
Ranshaw, PA (Shamokin Area)
Thursday, October 12, 2023
6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Brady Fire Company (Banquet Hall)
700 Maple Street, Ranshaw, PA 17866
Scranton, PA
Monday, October 16, 2023
6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
University of Scranton, Loyola Science Center
100 Linden Street, Room 133, Scranton, PA 18510
Erie, PA
Wednesday, October 18, 2023
6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Erie Center for Arts & Technology, Ada Lawrence Community Room
650 East Avenue, Erie, PA 16503
Pittsburgh, PA
Wednesday, October 18, 2023
6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
North Side Institution GOGIC, Banquet Hall
302 West North Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15212
Harrisburg, PA
Thursday, October 19, 2023
6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
YMCA Camp Curtin
2135 North Sixth Street, Harrisburg, PA 17110
Chester, PA
Saturday, October 21, 2023
Time: 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
ACCESS Community Center
701 Booth Street, Chester, PA 19013
Virtual Meeting
Wednesday, October 25, 2023
5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Virtual – Visit http://www.dep.pa.gov/EJPolicyRevision for registration details.
Philadelphia, PA
Thursday, October 26, 2023
6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Drexel University | Anthony J. Drexel Picture Gallery, Main Building, Third Floor
3141 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104
You can also use the forms below to register for any of these public comment hearings:

Environmental Justice Advisory Board (EJAB)

Mark your calendars and join the conversation: OEJ invites you to the upcoming virtual EJAB meeting on November 14, 2023 at 9:00 AM-12:00 PM. Check this link for the meeting details. EJAB meets quarterly and all meetings are open to the public. A public comment period is also available; if you would like to provide public comments during an EJAB meeting, please contact RA-EPOEJ@pa.gov or 717-772-5633.
If you are interested in joining EJAB, or any of DEP’s advisory committees, boards, councils, and commissions, please submit your interest on our DEP Advisory Committees, Boards, and Commissions website or contact us for further questions.
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Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, 400 Market Street Harrisburg, PA 17101 
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