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House environmental committee examines increasing setback distances for unconventional gas well drilling

(Nov 17, 2025)

Vitali has introduced legislation (H.B. 1946) that would establish greater drilling setback distances from any building, drinking water source or natural body of water, and even greater distances from any school, hospital or long-term care facility. Vitali’s legislation would increase setbacks to 2,500 feet from buildings and 5,000 feet from schools, hospitals, and long-term care facilities along with a setback of 2,500 feet from any drinking water source including water wells, surface water intakes, and reservoirs, and 750 feet from any natural body of water. Read more

 

November 17, 2025 Public Hearing

(Nov 15, 2025)

Committee materials for November 17, 2025 Public Hearing Read more

 

Don’t Trade away Climate Regulations

(Nov 07, 2025)

Canceling regulations to enter Pennsylvania in the Regional Green House Gas Initiative, also known as RGGI, is now under consideration in Commonwealth budget negotiations. Participation in RGGI is the most important thing Pennsylvania can do right now to combat climate change. Governor Josh Shipiro and Pennsylvania House Democratic leaders should refuse to support any legislation which cancels Pennsylvania’s participation in RGGI. Read more

 

Supplemental materials for November 5, 2025 Public Hearing in Chester, PA

(Nov 06, 2025)

Supplemental committee materials for November 5, 2025 Public Hearing in Chester, PA Read more

 

November 4, 2025 Public Hearing

(Nov 06, 2025)

Committee materials for November 4, 2025 Public Hearing in Chester, PA Read more

 

PA House Environmental Committee examines impacts of potential LNG export terminal

(Nov 05, 2025)

CHESTER, Nov. 5 – The state House Environmental & Natural Resource Protection Committee held a public hearing today at Chester City Hall on the potential health, environmental and ratepayer impacts of a Liquified Natural Gas export terminal proposed for southeastern Pennsylvania. According to the committee chair, state Rep. Greg Vitali, the already environmentally overburdened Delaware County municipalities of Chester, Eddystone and Marcus Hook have been speculated as possible locations for Penn America Energy to build an LNG export terminal designed to accommodate large LNG carrier ships. The communities offer easy access to the Delaware River but are already designated as Environmental Justice areas due to the air, land and water pollution burden of existing industry. LNG facilities are known to increase poor air quality due to emissions, and the potential for gas leaks creates a rare but present danger to surrounding communities from asphyxiation or explosion. Read more

 

Legislation introduced to increase setbacks for unconventional oil and gas wells

(Oct 14, 2025)

HARRISBURG, Oct. 14 – PA state Rep. Greg Vitali, D-Delaware, has introduced legislation (H.B. 1946) that would increase the current setback distances for unconventional oil and gas wells in Pennsylvania.“Current setback distances allow for drilling way too close to homes, schools, hospitals, drinking water supplies and other things, putting public health and the environment at risk,” said Vitali, who serves as majority chairman of the state House Environmental & Natural Resource Protection Committee. Read more

 

PA House environmental committee examines costs and environmental impacts of burning waste coal in PA

(Aug 11, 2025)

“Pennsylvania is among the top states with abandoned mine lands, which can pose serious health and environmental threats,” Vitali said. “Our ability to burn waste coal in a cogeneration facility has not been an overly effective method of reducing waste coal piles and generates energy with slightly higher toxic emissions than coal itself. It’s also no longer cost efficient as energy prices rise. Read more

 

August 2025 Newsletter

(Aug 01, 2025)

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PA House environmental committee examines problem of abandonment of gas & oil wells

(Jun 12, 2025)

The state House Environmental & Natural Resource Protection Committee held a public hearing today at the state Capitol on the issue of plugging and abandonment of conventional oil and natural gas wells. According to the state Department of Environmental Protection, owners and operators are legally responsible for plugging wells when oil and gas production is no longer economically viable, but for various reasons that has not always happened. Wells that are improperly abandoned may pose environmental and public health and safety threats. Read more

 

Pennsylvania is Failing to Properly Regulate its Oil and Gas Industry

(May 30, 2025)

Pennsylvania is the nation's second-largest natural gas producer, yet the Commonwealth does not provide sufficient resources to its Department of Environmental Protection to properly regulate this industry. Read more

 

House Environmental Committee hears need for developing updated renewable energy standards

(May 19, 2025)

The state House Environmental & Natural Resource Protection Committee held a public hearing today at the state Capitol on legislation (H.B. 501) that would create the Pennsylvania Reliable Energy Sustainability Standard. Read more

 

An Open Letter to the Lawyers and Law Firms the Trump Administration Seeks to Silence

(Apr 02, 2025)

We, the undersigned lawyer-legislators of the Pennsylvania state House of Representatives, are appalled though tragically not surprised by President Trump's latest attack on the rule of law. As outlined in the Presidential Memorandum of March 22, 2025, SUBJECT: Preventing Abuses of the Legal System and the Federal Court, the President instructed the Attorney General and Secretary of Homeland Security to weaponize the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, the Rules of Professional Conduct, and any other regulations governing attorney conduct and discipline to silence the zealous advocacy of lawyers and law firms across the nation. We will not allow the Trump Administration’s attempt with this memorandum to chill legal representation that inconveniences its efforts to undermine the Constitution, gut essential programs, attack vulnerable groups and individuals, and otherwise subvert the rule of law to go unchallenged. Read more

 

Pa. budget should fully fund environmental protection

(Mar 31, 2025)

Gov. Josh Shapiro’s Feb. 4 budget proposal did not go far enough to address the need to fund programs in oil and gas, water, air, and hazardous sites cleanup. Read more

 

Pa. budget should fully fund environmental protection

(Mar 19, 2025)

While the workload of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has increased dramatically over the past two decades, its staff has shrunk significantly to the point where the department can no longer adequately enforce Pennsylvania’s environmental laws and regulations. Read more

 

March 2025 Newsletter

(Mar 14, 2025)

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House Environmental Committee hears need for responsible development in Environmental Justice areas

(Mar 04, 2025)

The state House Environmental & Natural Resource Protection Committee today held a public hearing at Widener University on legislation (H.B. 109) that would regulate the issuance of permits by the PA Department of Environmental Protection in environmental justice areas, according to committee Chairman Rep. Greg Vitali, D-Delaware, who hosted the hearing and is the prime sponsor, along with Reps. Chris Rabb and Malcolm Kenyatta, both D-Phila.,of the legislation. Read more

 

November 2024 Newsletter

(Nov 26, 2024)

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Grant Memo: Agricultural, Environmental, Public Safety, Redevelopment and Additional Grant Opportunities

(Sep 04, 2024)

NEWLY LISTED PROGRAMS Department of Community and Economic Development: Local Share Account Statewide Who May Apply: Counties, municipalities, municipal authorities, economic development agencies, redevelopment authorities, land banks, or councils of government. Non-profits may partner with an eligible applicant to apply on their behalf. Use: Projects in the public interest. Projects that improve the quality of life of citizens in the community. Eligible projects must be owned and maintained by an eligible applicant or a nonprofit organization. See program guidelines for specific eligible uses of funds. Funds: The PA Race Horse Development and Gaming Act provides for the distribution of gaming revenues through the Commonwealth Financing Authority to support projects in the public interest. Grant requests must be at a minimum $25,000 and no more than $1,000,000. Application Deadline: November 30, 2024 More information: DCED Website Department of Education: Hunger-Free Campus Grants Who May Apply: Institutes of Higher Education. Use: Funding may be used to ensure students have access to healthy, nutritious food. Funds: Institutions with 3,000 or fewer students are eligible for $20,000 awards. Institutions with 3,001 to 7,000 students are eligible for $40,000 awards. Institutions with greater than 7,000 students are eligible for $60,000 awards. Application Deadline: September 23, 2024 More information: PDE website PROGRAMS OPEN FOR Read more

 

July 2024 Newsletter

(Jul 22, 2024)

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House environmental committee examines increasing setback distances for unconventional gas well drilling
Nov 17, 2025

November 17, 2025 Public Hearing
Nov 15, 2025

Don’t Trade away Climate Regulations
Nov 07, 2025

Supplemental materials for November 5, 2025 Public Hearing in Chester, PA
Nov 06, 2025

November 4, 2025 Public Hearing
Nov 06, 2025

PA House Environmental Committee examines impacts of potential LNG export terminal
Nov 05, 2025

Legislation introduced to increase setbacks for unconventional oil and gas wells
Oct 14, 2025

PA House environmental committee examines costs and environmental impacts of burning waste coal in PA
Aug 11, 2025

August 2025 Newsletter
Aug 01, 2025

PA House environmental committee examines problem of abandonment of gas & oil wells
Jun 12, 2025

Pennsylvania is Failing to Properly Regulate its Oil and Gas Industry
May 30, 2025

House Environmental Committee hears need for developing updated renewable energy standards
May 19, 2025

An Open Letter to the Lawyers and Law Firms the Trump Administration Seeks to Silence
Apr 02, 2025

Pa. budget should fully fund environmental protection
Mar 31, 2025

Pa. budget should fully fund environmental protection
Mar 19, 2025

March 2025 Newsletter
Mar 14, 2025

House Environmental Committee hears need for responsible development in Environmental Justice areas
Mar 04, 2025

November 2024 Newsletter
Nov 26, 2024

Grant Memo: Agricultural, Environmental, Public Safety, Redevelopment and Additional Grant Opportunities
Sep 04, 2024

July 2024 Newsletter
Jul 22, 2024