Government Links – Pennsylvania
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection has a mission to protect Pennsylvania’s air, land, and water from pollution and to provide for the health and safety of its citizens through a cleaner environment.
When it comes to environmental regulations, states may adopt environmental regulations that are at least, if not more, stringent as federal regulations. In additional to enforcing and monitoring state laws, state agencies, such as the PA DEP, are typically responsible for the enforcement and monitoring of U.S. EPA (federal) regulations. Relevant programs hosted by the PA DEP include state recycling regulations (Act 101), Wastewater Management (Act 537), Stormwater Management (Act 167), and Air Pollution Control Act.
In addition to the PA DEP, many other state departments provide services and implement programs which are relevant to environmental issues, climate change, and sustainability. For example, the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture oversees invasive species, the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources oversees state parks, and the PA Emergency Management Agency is responsible for responding to state declared disasters. Additional information regarding each department, please see the relevant links below.
PA Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP)
Department website: https://www.dep.pa.gov/Pages/default.aspx
Environmental Justice Office:
https://www.dep.pa.gov/PublicParticipation/OfficeofEnvironmentalJustice/pages/default.aspx
Environmental Interactive Map: https://gis.dep.pa.gov/PennEnviroScreen/
PA Public Utilities Commission (PAPUC)
Consumer Hotline: 1-800-692-7380
Commission website: https://www.puc.pa.gov/
Pipeline Safety: https://www.puc.pa.gov/pipeline-safety/
Water/Wastewater: https://www.puc.pa.gov/water-wastewater/
Homeowners and contractors must call 8-1-1 before starting any digging or excavation
project.
PA Department of Health
Department website: https://www.health.pa.gov/Pages/default.aspx
Division of Environmental Health:
https://www.health.pa.gov/topics/envirohealth/Pages/Environmental%20Health.aspx
PA Emergency Management Agency (PEMA)
Agency website: https://www.pema.pa.gov/Pages/Default.aspx
Pennsylvania Flood Plan Maps: https://www.pema.pa.gov/Floodplain-Management/Pages/PA-Flood-Maps.aspx
Floodplain Management and Flood Insurance: https://www.pema.pa.gov/Floodplain-Management/Pages/default.aspx
Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR)
Agency Website: https://www.dcnr.pa.gov/Pages/default.aspx
DCNR Climate Adaptation and Mitigation Plan: https://elibrary.dcnr.pa.gov/GetDocument?docId=1743769&DocName=Climate_Change_Adaptation_Plan_Final_Aug2018.pdf/
Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT)
Agency Website: https://www.penndot.pa.gov/Pages/default.aspx
District 6 Website: https://www.penndot.pa.gov/RegionalOffices/district-6/Pages/default.aspx
PennDOT Delaware County Maintenance Office Phone: 610- 566-0972
Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture
Agency Website: https://www.agriculture.pa.gov/Pages/default.aspx
Invasive Species Council: https://www.agriculture.pa.gov/Plants_Land_Water/PlantIndustry/GISC/Pages/default.aspx
Finding Your State Representatives: https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/home/findyourlegislator/