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.
Corrections to Additional RACT Requirements for Major Sources of NOx and VOCs for the 2015 Ozone NAAQS (RACT 3)
- This proposed rulemaking will be open for comment from February 1, 2025, through March 18, 2025.
- Three public hearings are scheduled for February 25 and 26, 2025. Please see the registration information under the Public Hearings heading below.
Water Quality Standards: Class A Stream Redesignations
- This proposed rulemaking will be open for comment from January 25, 2025, through March 28, 2025.
- A public hearing is scheduled for March 13, 2025. Please see the 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 – Corrections to Additional RACT Requirements for Major Sources of NOx and VOCs for the 2015 Ozone NAAQS (RACT 3)
The EQB will hold three in-person public hearings 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
- February 25, 2025, at 1 p.m.
Southwest Regional Office
Waterfront Conference Room A
500 Waterfront Drive
Pittsburgh, PA 15222
- February 26, 2025, at 1 p.m.
Rachel Carson State Office Building
Room 105
400 Market Street
Harrisburg, PA 17101
- February 26, 2025, at 1 p.m.
Southeast Regional Office
Delaware River 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.
Proposed Rulemaking – Water Quality Standards: Class A Stream Redesignations
The EQB will hold a 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.
Virtual Hearing – Internet and Telephone Access
- March 13, 2024 at 2 p.m.
Microsoft Teams
Click here to Join the meeting now
Meeting ID: 269 624 628 888
Passcode: WR3pd7XX
Dial in by phone
+1 267-332-8737,,472924566# United States, Philadelphia
Phone conference ID: 445 835 750#
- Witnesses attending a virtual hearing may provide testimony by means of Internet connection or telephone.
- Video demonstrations and screen sharing by witnesses will not be permitted.
- Witnesses are requested to submit a written copy of their verbal testimony by e-mail to RegComments@pa.gov before or 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 Agenda - Commonwealth Agencies under the Governor's Jurisdiction