StateImpact Archives

Gov. Wolf’s Budget Proposes Boosting Staff for Environmental Protection

Susan Phillips·February 4, 2020

DEP and DCNR would get 25 new staff each. It’s the first time proposed spending from the general fund for environmental protection has risen above $165.6 million in 25 years.

Politics

$fracking well$

In Pennsylvania, Poll Finds Registered Voters Split on Whether to Ban Fracking

Reid Frazier·February 3, 2020

In the poll, support for a ban was strong in cities and suburbs and weak in rural southwestern Pennsylvania.

Energy

Wolf’s Support for Petrochemicals Raises Climate Worries as Pennsylvania Tries to Cut Carbon Emissions

Reid Frazier·February 3, 2020

Wolf wants to reduce carbon emissions by more than a quarter by 2025 and 80 percent by 2050, but the ethane cracker in Beaver County will make that harder to achieve.

Climate Change Economy Energy Politics The Coming Chemical Boom

Sunoco fined $2 million for Mariner East spills in Raystown Lake

Reid Frazier·January 17, 2020

In 2017, Sunoco spilled more than 200,000 gallons of drilling mud into the lake while building the Mariner East pipeline beneath it. Sunoco didn’t immediately report the spills, which coated 8-acres of the lakebed.

Follow the Pipeline Pollution Water

Trump Wants to Roll Back Environmental Reviews of Major Projects Like Pipelines

Susan Phillips·January 17, 2020

This rollback would eliminate the need for environmental impact studies for not just pipelines but other infrastructure projects like highways.

Follow the Pipeline Politics

Wolf Says Despite GOP Compromise, Drilling Bill Poses Too Much Environmental Risk

Katie Meyer·January 13, 2020

Republicans are pushing for looser regulations on conventional oil and gas drillers, who generally run small operations and work with relatively shallow wells.

Energy Pollution

$fracking well$

DEP Orders Range Resources to Clean Up its Act on Well That Had Garnered a Then-Record $8.9 Million Fine

Susan Phillips·January 13, 2020

The department says the company continuously failed to correct issues caused by faulty well construction nine years ago.

Energy Pollution

Clairton Plaintiffs to Decide on U.S. Steel Settlement

Reid Frazier·January 10, 2020

A meeting was held to explain to residents their options to take the settlement money, or opt out and keep their rights to a future claim against U.S. Steel.

Health Pollution

Study: Replacing Coal Plants with Natural Gas Cut Pollution, Saved Lives

Reid Frazier·January 9, 2020

The study found an estimated 26,000 lives were saved by replacing coal with natural gas, but health impacts from fracking weren't considered in the study.

Energy Health

Residents with PFAS-Contaminated Well Water in Limbo as DEP Investigates

WHYY·January 3, 2020

Jessica Cutaiar never liked the taste of her well water. Now she knows it is contaminated with PFAS, a chemical used in fire retardant foam.

Health Pollution Water

Username
Password
Prove your humanity 1 + 8 =
	Remember Me Lost your password?

Full Episodes

Episode for June 6, 2025

Episode for May 30, 2025

Episode for May 23, 2025

Trump on Earth

Solar savings for Clairton, other Pa. schools at risk from proposed federal cuts

Pa. solar installers say GOP’s U.S. House tax bill is a ‘disaster’ for business

Allegheny National Forest will increase logging by millions of board feet this year

StateImpact