Trending...
- Dynamic Dachshund Dog Goes Global: Remember Point Launches a New Bilingual Children's Book
- From the Racetrack to the Boardroom: Aston Martin and Aramco Formula One Partnership Accelerates Circle8 Group: (N A S D A Q: CIRC)
- DARPA Selects NRx Pharmaceuticals Defense Subsidiary for Contract Negotiations on FDA-Authorized SPARC-TMS Clinical Trial Advancing Mental Health Care
Governor Tom Wolf today admonished the House Republicans' actions to disapprove Pennsylvania's effort to update its volatile organic compound (VOC) regulation for conventional oil and gas wells — as required under the federal Clean Air Act — causing a delay in the process that will put Pennsylvania at risk of losing nearly a billion dollars in critical federal transportation funding.
"It's simply a disgrace that House Republicans are jeopardizing road and bridge repairs by holding up the administration's efforts to make federally required updates," Gov. Wolf said. "They hastily held a committee meeting this week without advance notice or transparency for the sole purpose of thwarting this regulation, which will jeopardize nearly a billion dollars in federal funding."
On Monday, the House Environmental Resources & Energy Committee chaired by state Representative Daryl Metcalfe convened an unannounced meeting to send a disapproval letter to the Independent Regulatory Review Commission (IRRC) regarding the conventional oil and gas VOC rulemaking. Under Pennsylvania's Regulatory Review Act, this triggers a 14-day waiting period following the meeting of the Independent Regulatory Review Committee where the regulation is considered, currently scheduled for November 17. Because the 14-day waiting period will expire after November 30, when the General Assembly has adjourned, the regulation that the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has moved forward cannot be finalized before the sanction trigger date of December 16.
More on The PennZone
"As a result of the House Republicans' actions, state and local governments across the commonwealth will lose the authorization to spend hundreds of millions of dollars of federal transportation funding on affected projects," Gov. Wolf said. "Because these regulations are required under the Clean Air Act, failure to submit them in final form to U.S. EPA by December 16, 2022, will result in EPA imposing non-discretionary sanctions, and the federal government would thus withhold nearly $1 billion of transportation funding – funding that cannot be recuperated. Sanctions can threaten a variety of projects, including highway expansion, new roadway construction, and many highway/bridge restoration and maintenance projects. This could result in some roads and bridges being closed or weight limited, longer commutes, longer ambulance response times, more wear and tear on Pennsylvanians' cars, and Pennsylvanians' federal gasoline tax dollars going to other states.
"This regulation is not controversial. It is a federally mandated, technology-based standard. There is no good reason to block the rulemaking but there are extreme consequences for doing so. We have been sounding the alarm for months about the real consequences of these actions and yet they insisted on disapproving the state's VOC rule.
More on The PennZone
"My administration is reviewing all options to prevent the sanctions from being implemented."
Gov. Wolf has served for two terms as a leader consistently at work for the people of Pennsylvania. Learn more about how his Priorities for Pennsylvania have fueled the commonwealth's comeback, leaving Pennsylvania in a much better place than when he arrived.
SHARE Email Facebook Twitter
"It's simply a disgrace that House Republicans are jeopardizing road and bridge repairs by holding up the administration's efforts to make federally required updates," Gov. Wolf said. "They hastily held a committee meeting this week without advance notice or transparency for the sole purpose of thwarting this regulation, which will jeopardize nearly a billion dollars in federal funding."
On Monday, the House Environmental Resources & Energy Committee chaired by state Representative Daryl Metcalfe convened an unannounced meeting to send a disapproval letter to the Independent Regulatory Review Commission (IRRC) regarding the conventional oil and gas VOC rulemaking. Under Pennsylvania's Regulatory Review Act, this triggers a 14-day waiting period following the meeting of the Independent Regulatory Review Committee where the regulation is considered, currently scheduled for November 17. Because the 14-day waiting period will expire after November 30, when the General Assembly has adjourned, the regulation that the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has moved forward cannot be finalized before the sanction trigger date of December 16.
More on The PennZone
- 'Reflections: Enlightening Insights Into the Divine Mystery' — The Latest Book by Philosopher Steven Colborne
- Scott G. Hoy of Hoy Law Earns 11th Consecutive Super Lawyers Selection
- Brother Marcus Unlocks the Vault
- L2 Aviation Selected for U.S. Air Force KC-46 CASPER Multiple Award Contract
- Leeds Billboard Campaign Drives 188% Traffic Uplift as AI Enquiries Rise 266% for Loud! OOH
"As a result of the House Republicans' actions, state and local governments across the commonwealth will lose the authorization to spend hundreds of millions of dollars of federal transportation funding on affected projects," Gov. Wolf said. "Because these regulations are required under the Clean Air Act, failure to submit them in final form to U.S. EPA by December 16, 2022, will result in EPA imposing non-discretionary sanctions, and the federal government would thus withhold nearly $1 billion of transportation funding – funding that cannot be recuperated. Sanctions can threaten a variety of projects, including highway expansion, new roadway construction, and many highway/bridge restoration and maintenance projects. This could result in some roads and bridges being closed or weight limited, longer commutes, longer ambulance response times, more wear and tear on Pennsylvanians' cars, and Pennsylvanians' federal gasoline tax dollars going to other states.
"This regulation is not controversial. It is a federally mandated, technology-based standard. There is no good reason to block the rulemaking but there are extreme consequences for doing so. We have been sounding the alarm for months about the real consequences of these actions and yet they insisted on disapproving the state's VOC rule.
More on The PennZone
- Sister Files Lawsuit Against Georgia Funeral Home for Alleged Mishandling of Brother's Remains
- KeysCaribbean Resorts Offer Savings On Summer Vacations Now Through Aug. 31
- Crossroads4Hope Announces The Lipschutz Women's Fund
- AI, Drones, Defense & Explosive Growth: Why ZenaTech Is Emerging as One of the Most Compelling Technology Growth Stories (N A S D A Q: ZENA)
- 91 Per Cent of Enterprises Will Increase AI Spending. Most Can't See the Cost — or the Risk!
"My administration is reviewing all options to prevent the sanctions from being implemented."
Gov. Wolf has served for two terms as a leader consistently at work for the people of Pennsylvania. Learn more about how his Priorities for Pennsylvania have fueled the commonwealth's comeback, leaving Pennsylvania in a much better place than when he arrived.
SHARE Email Facebook Twitter
0 Comments
Latest on The PennZone
- U.N. Committee Reiterates Forced Psychiatric Detention a Human Rights Violation; CCHR Calls on the U.S. to Implement Protections
- Valgar LLC Launches The Briefing Room: Education Leaders
- New Novel WINCE Takes Unflinching Aim at American Gun Culture and Masculinity
- New Research Puts the Cost of Enterprise Decision Delay at $630 Billion a Year Across the Global 2000
- Easwe D10, C20, and C30: Lightweight Folding Electric Wheelchairs Built for Easier Travel
- Cover Story about Matthew Cossolotto – Author of Harness Your PromisePower -- Published in July 2026 Enterprise World Magazine
- Philadelphia Community Invited to Unite for Praise-A-Thon Summer Concert Benefiting Cobbs Creek
- Lineus Medical Signs Partnership Agreement with DIMA MedTech to Support Expansion into Italy
- New Research: Deterministic Decompilation of Hermes Bytecode Back to Readable JavaScript
- The J. Wes Project Celebrates 11 Years of Love, Music & Inspiration
- Lionheart Holdings and KEO Energy Sign Letter of Intent for Proposed Business Combination
- MoMojo Records announces new album from Jad Tariq
- Marcus Christ Announces Singles: "The Hammer Goes Click" and "You Hate Me, I Hate You"
- Fatal FOMO May be Your Last Roll of the Dice
- Martin A. Sumichrast Joins Hawkeye Systems, Inc. as Chairman of the Board
- Allstream Energy Partners Returns as a Media Partner for the 2026 API Inspection & Mechanical Integrity Summit in San Antonio
- Community Partnership Brings Live Theater to 150+ Young People
- Best Rainbow Baby Charities That Support Bereaved Parents After Pregnancy Loss: A Complete Guide
- PokerStars & Ladbrokes veteran buys into Finnish news media Rahapelisanomat
- Former Judge Chris Oldner Honored as Best Lawyer by "D Magazine" for 6th Straight Year