Dear Neighbor,
The House was in session at the start of this week to continue our efforts to advance a state budget, which is now 18 days past the June 30 deadline.
On Monday, we sent an amended version of the general appropriations bill over to the Senate, cutting $1 billion from Governor Shapiro’s budget proposal while preserving funds for priorities like schools, human services, and food purchase programs that help farmers and local communities.
The House has stayed in session since the end of June to continue negotiations and do the work necessary to pass a budget. The Senate came back into session briefly this week, gutted the House budget bill in Appropriations Committee, and recessed without proposing their own serious budget proposal or considering the amended bill on the floor.
Our schools, disability community, health facilities, public transit systems (and the commuters and employers who rely on them!), emergency services, and more constituencies across the commonwealth are depending on the General Assembly to get this done. The House has shown our willingness to work, negotiate, and compromise, and we will be here and ready to finish the job when the Senate returns to session.
?? Public Comment Opportunity: Support DEP’s proposal to reduce harmful methane pollution from Pennsylvania's oil and gas industry
Methane is a harmful air and climate pollutant released during fracking and oil and gas drilling, transportation, and storage. Reducing this pollution is critical for protecting Pennsylvania's health and climate.
In March 2024, the U.S. EPA established new protections to limit methane pollution from oil and gas operations. It’s now up to the states to develop plans to implement those protections. The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has recently announced its plan to comply with the new federal methane requirements, and they are asking for public input on their proposal.
The DEP’s proposal is strong, but it could be even stronger. And we need to make sure the DEP also has a plan for how to protect Pennsylvanians from this harmful pollution if the federal rule gets rolled back.
Here’s how you can help:
What: Submit public comment expressing support for DEP’s efforts to limit methane pollution, and ask them to implement the strongest possible protections for our commonwealth.
When: The public comment period is open until Wednesday, July 30. Don’t miss this opportunity to make your voice heard. Take action today! It only takes a few minutes.
How: Submit your comment online through the DEP’s eComment system before 11:59 PM on July 30.
Be sure to click on the “Submit comments” link next to the document titled, “Proposed State Plan for 40 CFR Part 60, Subpart OOOOc.” (See screenshot below.)
Your comments don’t have to be long! Feel free to borrow from the sample language below or submit your own.
Sample public comment:
As a constituent concerned with climate change, air pollution, and protecting our state's economy, I am writing in support of the DEP's proposal to adopt resilient methane protections based on the 2024 U.S. EPA methane rule.
A durable methane proposal will protect our communities and our air quality, create good-paying local jobs, and help ensure that Pennsylvania's energy sector remains competitive as consumers demand cleaner sources of energy.
Given the ongoing attempts to weaken or eliminate environmental protections in Washington DC, it is critical that Pennsylvania adopt the DEP's proposed commonsense protections and take steps through a formal state rulemaking process to ensure that these protections are durable regardless of what happens at the federal level.
At the same time, I hope that DEP will consider strengthening its plan further by:
- Reducing pollution from all oil and gas sources, including smaller and marginal wells, and requiring more frequent monitoring of these sites;
- Creating protective standards against harmful gas flaring;
- Increasing engagement with the communities and residents living near fracking and oil and gas drilling;
- Requiring faster timelines for repairing methane leaks once they're detected;
- Bringing these new protections into effect faster than the proposed timeline so we can reduce harmful pollution as quickly as possible.
I thank the DEP for its efforts and encourage you to push for the strongest possible methane safeguards to protect our health, tackle climate change, and build a safer and stronger commonwealth.