Pa.’s new pipeline task force to meet this week

Marie Cusick Bio Recent Stories As the Harrisburg reporter for StateImpact Pennsylvania, Marie Cusick covers energy and environmental issues for public radio stations statewide. She’s also part of NPR’s energy and environment team, which coordinates coverage between the network and select member station reporters around the country. Her work frequently airs on NPR shows including Morning Edition, All Things Considered, and Weekend Edition. Since 2012, Marie has closely followed the political, social, environmental, and economic effects of Pennsylvania’s natural gas boom. Her work has been recognized at the regional and national levels– honors include a Sigma Delta Chi Award from the Society of Professional Journalists and a national Edward R. Murrow Award from the Radio Television Digital News Association. Previously, Marie was a multimedia reporter for WMHT in Albany, New York and covered technology for the station’s statewide public affairs TV show, New York NOW. In 2018, she became StateImpact’s first FAA-licensed drone pilot.

Marie Cusick / StateImpact Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania’s newly formed pipeline task force will hold its first meeting in Harrisburg Wednesday. Governor Tom Wolf formed the group in order to bring planning and best practices to the pipeline building boom that includes an estimated 4,600 new miles of interstate pipes over the next three years.

The meeting will be chaired by state Department of Environmental Protection Secretary John Quigley.

States have little regulatory authority in this arena, because interstate pipelines are regulated almost exclusively by the federal government. However the task force does include three representatives from the federal government, including one from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)– the agency charged with siting and approving new pipelines.

In a presentation posted online, the DEP lists the group’s objectives:

• Plan, site and route pipelines in ways that avoid or reduce environmental and community impacts

• Amplify and engage in meaningful public participation

• Maximize opportunities for predictable and efficient permitting

• Employ construction methods that reduce environmental and community impact

• Ensure pipeline safety and integrity during operation of the pipeline

The meeting will be held from 1- 4pm tomorrow at the DEP’s Southcentral Regional Office, 909 Elmerton Ave., Harrisburg. It will also be live-streamed online here. The group’s next meeting will be held August 26th. The task force is expected to give a report to the governor early next year.

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