PennFuture joined Clean Air Council, Mountain Watershed Association, and Fair Shake Environmental Legal Services in filing an amicus brief in Commonwealth Court to support Rockhill Township's position that the Environmental Hearing Board (Board) erred as a matter of law in misconstruing precedent of the Third Circuit Court of Appeals in concluding the Board lacked jurisdiction over the appeal. This error has broad and likely unintended implications in federalizing control over state regulatory decisions and the de novo review framework for appeal of Departmental decisions.
PennFuture joined environmental nonprofits in filing an amicus brief in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit raising concerns with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's use of "tolling orders" that nominally grant rehearings "for the limimited purpose of further consideration." These tolling orders effectively lock requesters out of court.
Earthjustice filed a complaint on behalf of Citizens for Pennsylvania’s Future, Gasp, Louisiana Bucket Brigade, and Sierra Club, sued the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for improperly regulating coke ovens – producers of known carcinogens – thus failing to protect communities throughout the country. Over a decade ago, EPA found that carcinogenic emissions from coke ovens destroy air quality and cause devastating health complications, yet plaintiffs in the case argue the agency failed to act to protect nearby communities from this threat.
Introduced: Rep. Jonathan Fritz (R)
House Resolution urging the Delaware River Basin Commission to suspend consideration of a moratorium on natural gas drilling in the Delaware River Basin.
More Information:
PennFuture Letter of Opposition (October 2017)
Introduced: Sen. Gene Yaw (R)
Surgical change to Pennsylvania’s Sewage Facilities Act (Act 537) to allow for on-lot alternative sewage systems in municipal sewage planning. Currently, Act 537 is interpreted as not allowing alternative systems in site planning, but can be installed once the site is established.
Agency: DEP
Development of Pennsylvania's Phase III Watershed Implementation Plan (WIPIII) to describe pollution reduction programs and goals in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed counties through 2025.
More Information:
Pennsylvania Bulletin Notice
Public Comment Page
Choose Clean Water Coalition Public Comments (July 2017)
Agency: DEP
Proposed Pennsylvania mitigation strategy for investing the state share ($118 million) of the Volkswagon (VW) Settlement. VW was found to illegally exceeding air pollution limits on its diesel automobiles. As a result, VW settled the case by, in part, providing a multi-billion payment to states whose air quality was adversly impacted. Pennsylvania's draft mitigation plan aims to invest its share in reducing NOx from the transportation sector.
More Information:
Pennsylvania Bulletin Notice
Draft Mitigation Plan
Public Comment Page
PennFuture Public Comments (July 2017)
The COVID-19 pandemic has left its impact on all of us and continues to raise uncertainty at every corner, including in our clean water advocacy.
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We know the dangers of fracking operations, but what many might not realize is that the fracking industry is allowed to dispose of its wastes in landfills across Pennsylvania.
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Whether it’s the COVID-19 public health crisis, structural racism, economic downturn, or gun violence, one action can offer real solutions to them all: investing in green space.
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On Sept. 27, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review published an Op Ed on behalf of five environmental organizations calling for cleaner air in western Pennsylvania.
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On Sept. 27, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette published a Letter to the Editor from PennFuture's Emily Persico about the upcoming Shale Insight Conference.
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On Sept. 24, Gov. Tom Wolf vetoed House Bill 2025, which would have blocked him from implementing a carbon reduction program in Pennsylvania.
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