Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection Acting Secretary Patrick McDonnell is hosting nine roundtables across the state beginning next week to hear residents’ perspectives on environmental justice. That announcement comes just days after major federal agency budget cuts plus climate and energy policy changes announced by the Trump administration — plus continuing protests over natural gas fracking and pipeline construction.

The first two listening sessions will be next Wednesday and Thursday, April 12 and 13, in Waynesburg and Pittsburgh. See dates for all sessions below.

“The Office of Environmental Justice fulfills a critical role within DEP — ensuring that all Pennsylvanians, especially those who have historically been disenfranchised, are fully involved in the decisions that affect their environment,” says McDonnell. “Environmental justice embodies the principles that communities should not be disproportionally exposed to adverse environmental impacts. With these listening sessions, I want to hear how we can improve on our responsibility.”

DEP has three goals: minimizing adverse environmental impacts, empowering communities and fostering economic opportunities, adds Carl Jones, director of DEP’s Office of Environmental Justice. “We want to hear from Pennsylvanians about how we can meet those goals.”

Earfuls likely
A number of environmental groups already have expressed outrage over potential impacts of proposed federal budget cuts to the Chesapeake Bay cleanup and Clean Power Plan changes.

The federal Office of Management and Budget proposal calls for reducing federal Chesapeake Bay Program funding from about $73 million annually to $5 million in the next fiscal year. EPA’s Chesapeake Bay Program coordinates science, research and modeling to implement the Clean Water Blueprint, plus grants to state and local governments and others to help reduce pollution.

As proposed, that would substantially impact Pennsylvania, already struggling to come up with state monies for on-farm grant projects. Reduction of the federal investment in the blueprint “would reverse restoration successes,” charges Chesapeake Bay Foundation President William Baker. “EPA’s role in the cleanup … is nothing less than fundamental. It’s not just important; it’s critical.”

PennFuture President Larry Schweiger calls the Clean Power Plan rollback an “attack on our environment. We cannot, and will not, let Trump and the pollution lobby get away with this retreat. Without strong federal and state climate and energy policies, Pennsylvania’s economy and environment will continue falling behind other states and countries. Families will continue to suffer as solutions are ignored.”

Not all agree, though. Maggie Molina, senior policy director of the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, argues the rollback won’t halt or reverse the progress states have made in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Those are the kind of viewpoints and volatility likely to dominate the listening sessions.

Listening sessions schedule

• April 12, Green County, 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.
Margaret Bell Miller Middle School
126 East Lincoln St., Waynesburg, Pa.

• April 13, Allegheny County, 4 to 6 p.m.
Hill House Association
1835 Centre Ave., Pittsburgh, Pa.

• April 20, Lycoming County, 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.
Genetti Hotel & Suites
200 West 4th St., Williamsport, Pa.

• April 27, Erie County, 5 to 7 p.m.
Tom Ridge Environmental Center
301 Peninsula Drive, Room 112, Erie, Pa.

• May 2, Dauphin County, 4 to 6 p.m.
DEP Southcentral Regional Office Conference Room
909 Elmerton Ave., Harrisburg, Pa.

• May 11, Lehigh County, 5 to 7 p.m.
Allentown Public Library, Community Room
1210 Hamilton St., Allentown, Pa.

• May 15, Lancaster County, 5 to 7 p.m.
HACC Lancaster Campus, East Building, Room 203
1641 Old Philadelphia Pike, Lancaster, Pa.

• May 23, Delaware County, 5 to 7 p.m.
Location to be announced

• May 25, Philadelphia County, 4 to 6 p.m.
Location to be announced

Check this DEP website for location updates.