Pennsylvania DEP Expanding Air Monitoring Network Near Natural Gas Development
On April 27, 2016, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) announced that it has initiated an “unprecedented expansion” of the Commonwealth’s particulate matter air monitoring network to include additional monitors in areas near natural gas development. The expansion project will include 10 additional DEP monitoring stations and has a target completion date of fall 2017.
DEP plans to implement the expansion project in three stages, with one monitoring station added to each of 10 counties. DEP completed Phase 1 earlier this year with the addition of air monitoring stations in Towanda Township, Bradford County, and Holbrook Township, Greene County. The Department expects to complete Phase 2 by the end of 2016 by adding monitoring stations in Fayette, Indiana, Lycoming, Susquehanna, and Wyoming Counties. Phase 3 has a target completion date of fall 2017 and will include air monitoring stations in Clarion, Jefferson, and McKean Counties.