MINUTES OF MEETING OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL, JUSTICE ADVISORY BOARD NOVEMBER 14, 2023  MEMBERS PRESENT in person: Adam Cutler, Chairman Dr. Arthur Frank Rashida Lovely Jerome Shabazz  MEMBERS PRESENT via phone: Dr. Jennifer Baka Dr. Heather Bedi Anthony David Lisa DePaoli Rafiyqa Muhammad Joylette Portlock Tom Torres  Dr. Horace Strand, Vice Chair/Alice Wright  MEMBERS NOT PRESENT Gary Horton Hazem Hijazi Bobby Hughes  DEP STAFF PRESENT IN-PERSON: Fernando Trevino, Office of Environmental Justice Justin Dula, Office of Environmental Justice Andrea Fields, Office of Environmental Justice Ariana Genna, Office of Environmental Justice Dong Yoon Kim, Office of Environmental Justice Jennifer McLuckie, Office of Environmental Justice Winnie Okello, Office of Environmental Justice Lindsay Byron, Energy Programs Office Anwar Curtis, Secretary's Office Sarah Pinter, Energy Programs Office Colleen Unroe, Policy Office Lena Smith, Policy Office DEP STAFF PRESENT VIA PHONE: Autumn Anderson, Office of the Budget Amelia Benson, Office of Environmental Justice Abbey Cadden, Office of the Budget Jordi Comas, Office of Environmental Justice lan Irvin, Citizens Advisory Council Kurt Klapkowski, Office of Oil & Gas Management Louie Krak, Office of the Budget Amani Reid, Office of Environmental Justice Maximillian Shultz, Policy Office    NON-MEMBERS PRESENT VIA PHONE: Brent Hoover P.E., NFG LamontJ Jones Ruthann Jones Avery Lentini, DRBC Mike Pries Chris Reynolds Madison Stromswold Freda Tepfer Nick Troutman Kara Kendall CALL TO ORDER:  Linda Lohner, Science Teacher, Wallenpaupack Area High School  Anna Tartline, Latino Hispanic American Community Center Denise, York County Solid Waste Authority  Chairman Adam Cutler called the meeting to order at 9:00 A.M.  APPROVAL OF MINUTES:  Chairman Cutler solicited additions or corrections to the Minutes of the August 15, 2023 meeting. Hearing none, Chairman Cutler requested a motion to approve the Minutes.  Dr. Arthur Frank made a motion to approve the Minutes of the August 15, 2023 meeting. Jerome Shabazz seconded the motion. With no abstentions, all were in favor,  and the motion was unanimously approved.  FUNDING UPDATE:  Autumn Anderson, Deputy Director, Office of the Budget  Autumn discussed the Commonwealth Workforce Transformation Program (CWTP), a new Executive Order, signed by Governor Shapiro, to create opportunity. Over the next 5 years, up to $400 million ini funding will be allocated, creating upt to 10,000 new jobs. Q&A centered around getting this information out and ensuring folks are hired from the communities. Suggestions were made to have conversations now, with partners or  organizations, that are interested ini the CWTP program. Abbey Cadden, Infrastructure Coordinator, Office of the Budget  Abbey provided an update on the Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling Program. DEP's Bureau of Waste Management received $500,000 to improve a post-consumer materials management program, tracking data on food waste and food recovery. DEP is currently waiting for an update on the application submittal for $250 million for The Solar for All Program, a program to expand low-income houses with residential solar.  2    PENNVEST, the state's water and wastewater infrastructure authority, has received funding to offer low-cost loans and grants to communities looking to upgrade drinking water, storm water, Q&A centered around the type of relationship PENNVEST has with communities looking to do upgrades. PENNVEST has coordinators for each region who will work with you and help you  and many other upgrades.  through the process.  PENNVEST Main Page: https//www.pennvestpa.gov/about-us/Pages/default.aspXx PENNVEST Funding Programs: nttps//www.pennvennvestpagov/normation/Funding: PENNVEST Contacts by Region: ttps/www.pennvestpasoV/senviess/Pares/Regional-  Programs/Pages/default.aspx Assistance-New.5PX  Louie Krak, Infrastructure Coordinator, Office of the Budget  DEP is eligible for a grant opportunity through EPA's $48 million grant for implementing Underground Injection Control Class 6 Programs. DEP would have primacy for implementing and enforcing Underground Injection Control Class 6 Wells. DEP will create a grant program to DEP received a $3 million planning grant, to do in-depth climate action planning. This was received from EPA's grant program, Climate Pollution Reduction Grants. DEP is in the process of preparing a priority climate action plan, focused on reducing emissions from the industrial sector, which is one of the largest emitting sectors in Pennsylvania. There has been stakeholder outreach around priority climate action plan and there are public meetings forthcoming.  establish this program.  ORPHANED & ABANDONED WELLS:  Kurt Klapkowski, Deputy Secretary, Office of Oil & Gas Management  This presentation focused on Abandoned and Marginal Well Plugging. Under the Infrastructure Act, the General Assembly put together the Orphan Well Plugging Grant Program, run by the Department of Interior (DOI) to address orphan wells and well sites on Federal, tribal, state and private lands. Pennsylvania has identified over 27,000 abandoned and orphaned wells, with The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IJA) has the potential to provide $400 million to Pennsylvania. Funds would be used to plug abandoned and orphan wells through three programs: Initial Grant, Formula Grant and Performance Grant, through September 2030. Under the Inflation Reduction Act, a new: section was created in the Clean Air Act, which created the Methane Emissions Reduction Program (MERP). $350 million in Grants to States were provided to cut methane emissions from the Oil and Gas Sector. DEP qualifies for $44  DEP plugging 3,439, since 1989.  million ini funding and has submitted its application.  3    Q&A centered around the timeframe to cap wells and the effects of climate change. DEP is  working closely to identify high emitters. CLIMATE CHANGE UPDATES:  Sarah Pinter, Energy Programs Specialist, Energy Programs Office (EPO)  Sarah provided an update on the Climate Action for EJ Communities (CAEJC) Program. EPO held public engagement meetings to discuss climate concerns. EPO also worked with a contractor, Preservation Design Partnerships (PDP), and the OEJ staff. In these meetings EPO provided an overview of climate impacts and the purpose of the program. EPO's Climate Strategy Opinion The information received at each meeting and through the survey, PDP, synthesized the feedback into a report that highlights priority actions. Central themes included equity benchmarking, transportation strategies, increasing the access and safety, reducing vehicle reliance and improving accessibility of communities, renewable energy upgrades, and sufficient funding for a sustainable implementation. The full report, Pennsylvania Climate Action: Strategies for Environmental Justice Communities can be found here. Q&A centered around the continuity and how to ensure this is applied across the board and  survey to provide feedback PAI DEP Review CAPE ECommunities (arcgis.com)  handling issues that arise and moving forward. Lindsay Byron, Group Manager, EPO  EPO is building on the work from the Climate Action Plan and reaching out to communities. Second round of outreach with the Climate Pollution Reduction Grants (CPRG) with funding from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Climate Pollution Reduction Grant Program. DEP is administering the CPRG Program funded by the U.S. Environmenta Protection Agency (EPA) which provides grants tol local governments to implement projects that reduce  greenhouse gas emissions and other air pollutants.  2024 MEETING PLANNING:  Chairman Cutler discussed 2024 EJAB meeting dates and solicited for any changes. With no  opposition, these dates will be scheduled for the 2024 EJAB meetings. Justin Dula, Director, Office of Environmental. Justice (OEI)  OEJ UPDATES:  The OEJ welcomed a new team member, Ariana Genna, Southcentral Regional Coordinator  located in the Southcentral office. Interim EJ Policy & EJ Mapping  EJF Policy and PennEnviroscreen have been adopted as Interim-Final on September 16. The Public Comment Period was extended until November 30, based on requests from industry and non-profit groups, and additional public comment meetings were added. Presentations have also been made to many advisory boards. OEJ staff will start to work on the comment response  document.  4    Q&A centered around the feedback received and permitting timelines. Fernando Treviho, Special Deputy Secretary, Office of Environmental. Justice  Fernando provided an update on the Shell Environmental Mitigation Community Fund. A new advisory board is being formed, that will take the lead on the Mitigation Community Fund, to receive, review and vote on applications. The Shell Steering Committee suggested an extended community engagement, beyond the application period. Information on the Shell facility and DEP is bringing in a consultant to develop al language access policy. This will fill the gaps of language access within DEP, with the Policy Office taking thel lead. OEJ is working towards a better plan for language access. This will help in conducting Enhanced Public Participation in an  the mitigation fund are available at SAdEPAPVANe  effective way and be able to communicate with communities better. Q&A centered around compliance and if plans would be shared.  PUBLIC COMMENT: None  SUBCOMMITEE UPDATES:  Fernando provided a brief update on the Public Defenders for Environmental Justice Communities memo. OEJ is following up with the Governor's Office and is waiting for an  update.  Chairman Cutler discussed the Commonwealth Court (CC) decision on Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) Regulations. The CC ruled the DEP did not have authority to issue regulations entering the RGGI programing and providing for how the proceeds would be used. The DEP and Q&A centered around how the board members could get the message out about RGGI. Discussion arose around the role of the Board in advocacy on legislation.  the Governor's Office can appeal this decision.  Wrap Up and Next Steps: Discuss RGGI ADJOURNMENT:  Discuss changing the traveling meeting date to May  Chairman Cutler requested a motion to adjourn the meeting.  Adam Cutler made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Arthur Frank  seconded the motion, and all were ini favor.  5    The November 14, 2023 EJAB meeting adjourned at 11:39 AM.  6