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In response to Governor Corbett’s announcement that Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Secretary Michael Krancer will step down April 15, PennEnvironment’s David Masur released the following statement: “Now more than ever, PennEnvironment recognizes the importance of a DEP Secretary who will hold the long-term protection clean air, our thousands of miles of rivers and waterways, precious open spaces , and public health above all else. “The commonwealth needs a DEP chief who will fight for the protection of our environment—now and for future generations. Pennsylvania’s next DEP Secretary must be one who: · Supports updating Pennsylvania’s regulations to protect our air, waterways, health and land from dangerous gas drilling activities; · Supports efforts to significantly increase the proportion of clean, homegrown renewable energy sources like wind and solar power and prioritize boosting energy efficiency and conservation programs; ...

Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Michael Krancer is stepping down, and will return to private law practice next month. Michael Krancer has been DEP secretary since January of 2011, and helped oversee Governor Tom Corbett’s Marcellus Shale advisory commission. E. Christopher Abruzzo, deputy chief of staff for Corbett, will serve as acting secretary. He will hold both positions until Corbett names Krancer’s successor. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

New Facility in Tioga County a First for Pennsylvania ANTRIM -- Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Mike Krancer today opened a valve allowing treated acid mine water from the Antrim treatment plant in Tioga County to power a turbine and begin generating electricity to run the facility. “This micro-hydro plant is the first of its kind in Pennsylvania to use acid mine water to generate renewable energy while creating no air or water pollution,” Krancer said. “It helps to solve an existing water pollution problem by using a treated waste product from past mining activities to generate energy.” The Babb Creek Watershed Association (BCWA) identified electric power production from the treatment plant discharge as one way to reduce the plant’s operating costs and generate an additional revenue stream for the Antrim Treatment Trust, which was established by the Antrim Mining Company before it went out of business. Over the years, poor market returns in 2008; unanticipated costs;...

HARRISBURG -- The Department of Environmental Protection will host online information sessions on implementing Act 13, which Governor Tom Corbett signed into law in February to further protect the environment and place more stringent regulations on the natural gas drilling industry. “Act 13 reaffirms our strong commitment to safe, responsible, environmentally sensitive and transparent natural gas development here in Pennsylvania,” DEP Secretary Mike Krancer said. “Our intent with these sessions is to explain the law and answer whatever questions people may have.” Act 13’s environmental provisions for unconventional gas operations, which take effect April 16, include increased setbacks from buildings and waterways; limited development in floodplains; and increased time and distance provisions in which gas drillers are presumed liable for water contamination until evidence proves otherwise, among other things. Operators must also register their hydraulic fracturing fluid ingredients with...

HARRISBURG -- The Department of Environmental Protection is working to more consistently enforce natural gas drilling regulations in various regions of the state, DEP Secretary Mike Krancer said today. “From my first days on the job, I’ve repeatedly heard that DEP’s enforcement of our oil and gas oversight was often inconsistent from region to region,” Krancer said. “One of Governor Corbett’s promises was to see that DEP’s programs are administered fairly and uniformly, and that’s what we’re striving to achieve.” Krancer established a team of DEP staff members from Harrisburg and the regional offices that regulate oil and gas activity—Southwest, Northwest and North-central—to study the number and types of violations reported, how violations were recorded and reported, and enforcement actions. The team worked to identify any inconsistencies and developed plans to enhance consistency. “Our field staff does great work, but the review confirmed that there were inconsistencies among our reg...

McKean County is now under a drought watch instead of a drought warning. On August 5, the DEP issued watches for 40 counties. Those were lifted today. McKean, Elk and Potter counties have been under a drought warning, but are now under a drought watch. DEP Secretary Mike Krancer says conditions have started to improve in this area, but rainfall deficits still exist.