Greetings!

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.

• Climate initiatives,
• Penalties (inspections, compliance, and enforcement),
• Grantmaking (community development and investments).

Invitation to Participate

Let Your Voice Be Heard.

Environmental Justice Advisory Board (EJAB)