Public Participation

​​​​​Environmental Quality Board

Public Participation in the Regulatory Process

Public participation is encouraged during the regulatory process. Interested persons can submit written comments on a proposed regulation using our online comment system or by postal mail. For some proposed rulemakings, public hearings are also held where testimony can be provided. See below for more details.

Proposed Regulations

Regulations Currently Open for Comment

To view regulations open for comment, please visit eComment and click the Regulations radio button.

Administration of the Land Recycling Program​

  • This proposed rulemaking will be open for comment from July 13, 2024, through September 11, 2024.​
  • Three public hearings are scheduled for August 19, 27, and September 4, 2024. Please see registration information under the Public Hearings heading below.​​

Public Hearings

For some proposed regulations, public hearings will be held. Public hearings provide individuals with an opportunity to give verbal testimony regarding a proposed regulation. All relevant written and verbal comments that are received at a public hearing will be considered when finalizing a regulation.​

Proposed Rulemaking – Administration of the Land Recycling Program

The EQB will hold two in-person public hearings and one virtual public hearing to accept comments on this proposed rulemaking.

Persons wishing to present testimony at a hearing are requested to contact Casey Damicantonio for the Department and the Board, (717) 783-8727 or RA-EPEQB@pa.gov​, at least 1 week in advance of the hearing to sign up to present testimony. Language interpretation services are available upon request. Persons in need of language interpretation services must contact Casey Damicantonio at least 1 week in advance of the hearing.

Verbal testimony at a hearing is limited to 5 minutes for each witness. Organizations are limited to designating one witness to present testimony on their behalf at one hearing.

Persons in need of accommodations as provided for in the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 should contact the Board at (717) 783-8727 or through the Pennsylvania Hamilton Relay Service at (800) 654-5984 (TDD) or (800) 654-5988 (voice users) to discuss how the Board may accommodate their needs.​​​​

​​​​​ In-Person Hearings

  • August 19, 2024 at 1:00 PM
  • Department of Environmental Protection
    Southwest Regional Office
    Waterfront Conference Rooms A and B
    400 Waterfront Drive
    Pittsburgh, PA 15222
  • August 27, 2024 at 1:00 PM
  • Department of Environmental Protection
    Southeast Regional Office
    Delaware Conference Room
    2 East Main Street
    Norristown, PA 19401
  • For in-person hearings, witnesses are requested to submit three written copies of their verbal testimony to the hearing chairperson at the hearing.

Virtual Hearing – Internet and Telephone Access

  • ​September 4, 2024 at 6:00 PM
  • Microsoft Teams
  • Witnesses attending a virtual hearing may provide testimony by means of telephone or Internet connection.
  • Video demonstrations and screen sharing by witnesses will not be permitted.
  • For the virtual hearing, witnesses are requested to submit a written copy of their verbal testimony by e-mail to RegComments@pa.gov after providing testimony at a hearing.

​​What Happens at the Close of the Comment Period

DEP reviews all comments and drafts a formal comment and response document. The comment and response document then becomes part of the package for the final regulation. The formal comment and response document will be distributed to the EQB and available publicly prior to the EQB meeting when the final rulemaking will be considered.

To view public comments submitted to the EQB, please visit eComment or the Independent Regulatory Review Commission's Regulations Search page. Using the Agency Name search field, select Environmental Quality Board.

Regulatory Agenda

DEP Regulatory Update (PDF)

Regulatory Agend​a - Commonwealth Agencies under the Governor's Jurisdiction