On July 22, 2013, the Pennsylvania Department of
Environmental Protection announced that it would extend the public comment
period on the new draft Public Participation Policy. The draft Policy would
supplement existing Public Participation guidelines in the approval process for
permits across the state, including natural gas drilling permits. The DEP is
seeking to provide a framework within the existing regulatory and statutory
permit application requirements for members of the public to comment and the DEP
to responds to the comments on pending permit applications.
The new guidelines provide the public the option to: 1)
comment on pending applications, electronically or by letter; 2) scheduling and
hosting formal public hearings; 3) public information meetings where required
by regulation or statute, and at the discretion of the DEP; and 4) informal
conferences between specific parties to an issue.
For more information on the draft policy guidelines, visit
the DEP’s website,
and for the guidelines’ full text click
this link.
Written by: Garrett Lent, Research Assistant
Agricultural Law Resource and Reference Center
July 2013
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