Last week, the PA Chamber welcomed its members for an exclusive audience with lawmakers, legal, and regulatory experts for a June DEP Quarterly meeting that featured updates on environmental policy, the status of a key judicial ruling, permitting reform, and Pennsylvania’s economic future.
Acting DEP Secretary Jessica Shirley opened the meeting with a reaffirmation of DEP’s mission—emphasizing the agency’s commitment to partnering with stakeholders, including the business community, to achieve shared environmental and economic goals. Secretary Shirley provided an encouraging update on the SPEED program, which is designed to streamline the permitting process and accelerate project approvals. She noted that a formal launch announcement is expected soon, signaling a major step forward in regulatory efficiency.
Nick Vivian, Director of DEP’s Bureau of Clean Water, provided an overview of a proposed rulemaking aimed at addressing unauthorized spills across the Commonwealth. His presentation highlighted that the purpose of the proposed rulemaking was to provide clear, enforceable standards to protect Pennsylvania’s waterways while ensuring regulatory clarity for businesses.
State Representative Josh Kail, R-Beaver, co-chair of the newly formed bipartisan, bicameral Competitiveness Caucus, shared insights into the state budget process and the vision and early activity of the caucus. With strong support from the PA Chamber, the Competitiveness Caucus is focused on reforming state policy to make the Commonwealth more attractive to private sector investment and job creation, and ensuring access to reliable, affordable energy. Rep. Kail emphasized the importance of collaboration between government and industry to drive sustainable growth.
Rounding out the meeting, a panel of legal experts, including PA Chamber Environmental Policy Council Chair Andy Bockis (Partner and Environmental Practice Co-Chair, Saul Ewing), Brigid Landy Khuri (Of Counsel, McNees Wallace & Nurick LLC), and Tad Macfarlan (Partner, K&L Gates), provided an analysis of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court’s recent oral arguments regarding the state’s potential entry into the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI). The panel observed that the Justices focused much of their questioning on the DEP and environmental groups.
Key discussion points included:
- Whether participation in RGGI constitutes a tax, a fee, or is instead some kind of a “third option.”
- The broader implications of a ruling affirming DEP’s authority to implement RGGI, which could set precedent for other agency-run programs.
- The likelihood that a decision will not be issued before the November election, with a final ruling potentially not until mid-2026.
The PA Chamber extends its sincere thanks to our sponsors for making this important event possible: Exclusive Presenting Sponsor, GZA GeoEnvironmental; and Gold Sponsors: Bentley Systems and Eckert Seamans.
As always, the DEP Quarterly meeting served as a valuable forum for dialogue, transparency, and collaboration—reinforcing the Chamber’s commitment to fostering a regulatory environment that supports both environmental stewardship and economic vitality.