Briefings
What changed in environmental, land-use and permitting rules for development in New Jersey, New York, Connecticut and Pennsylvania: what happened, who is affected and the next date that matters.
- MediumPennsylvania
Pennsylvania requires proof of a water supplier before towns give final approval to development plans
From December 7, subdivision and land development plans served by public or community water need documented supply arrangements before final approval, though proof of adequate capacity is not required.
- MediumPennsylvania
Pennsylvania board to consider stricter protection for 16 stream basins on October 13
On October 13, 2026 the Environmental Quality Board is to consider a proposal to redesignate 16 stream basins covering 138.47 miles, most as Exceptional Value. New or expanded discharges would face antidegradation review and individual permits. A proposal only; comment dates are not yet set.
- HighPennsylvania
Federal: Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and central Pennsylvania counties may face stricter air permits under soot standard
EPA has signaled which areas may be found to violate the 2024 fine-particle standard, including four South Jersey counties. Comments close November 5; final designations are due by February 6, 2027.
- HighPennsylvania
Pennsylvania proposes cutting power to data centers first when the regional grid runs short
State utility regulators propose that utilities curtail large computing loads lacking their own new capacity before other customers in grid emergencies; comments are due 30 days after Bulletin publication.
- MediumDauphin County, PA
Federal: Regulators find no significant impact from restarting Pennsylvania's Three Mile Island reactor
Federal nuclear and energy agencies issued a final environmental finding for the Crane Clean Energy Center restart, and the nuclear regulator upheld denial of a hearing; license decisions remain pending.
- MediumPennsylvania
Federal rule limits challenges to construction air permits through operating-permit reviews, effective October 26
A final federal rule says preconstruction air permits issued with public comment and court review define a plant's requirements in its operating permit, narrowing grounds for federal objections and citizen petitions.
- LowLuzerne County, PA
Federal: Transco seeks approval for Luzerne County gas pipeline loop; party deadline October 13
Transco asked federal regulators on September 4 to approve a $54.7 million, 3.38-mile pipeline loop and compressor work in northeastern Pennsylvania; scoping comments are due November 2.
- MediumChester County, PA
Pennsylvania: East Whiteland ends data center pause, limits new centers to industrial district by conditional use
A Chester County township closed a six-month zoning pause by adopting data center rules on September 24, 2026; the posted final draft sets 1,250-foot buffers, night noise caps and closed-loop cooling.
- MediumAllegheny County, PA
Pennsylvania: Pittsburgh bill would allow two accessory units per lot and drop parking minimums
Pittsburgh City Council held a hearing September 23 on a pending zoning bill that would also offer extra height for affordable units; no vote has been taken.
- MediumPennsylvania
Pennsylvania regulators examine who pays for data center grid costs; panel applications due October 14
The Public Utility Commission will hold a November 17 technical conference on allocating costs caused by data centers and other large loads, with written comments due November 13 and December 18.
- MediumPennsylvania
Federal rule drops carbon capture mandate for new gas plants and repeals limits on existing units
EPA's September 17 rule, effective November 16, removes carbon capture requirements for new baseload gas turbines and existing coal and gas units, while a broader repeal proposal takes comments until November 2.
- MediumChester County, PA
Pennsylvania court tells zoning board to test whether a smaller plan avoids a steep-slope variance
The Commonwealth Court set aside a ruling against Toll's 64-home Chester County plan but ordered the zoning board to decide whether its hardship came from the land or from the plan's density.
- MediumAllegheny County, PA
Pennsylvania approves pilot letting downtown Pittsburgh office-to-housing conversions keep commercial electrical service
A Duquesne Light pilot, in effect since August 27, lets publicly funded conversions with affordable units meter apartments behind existing 277/480-volt commercial service instead of rebuilding it.
- MediumPhiladelphia County, PA
Pennsylvania court reopens whether Philadelphia's Council can appeal zoning approvals for affordable housing
The Commonwealth Court will rehear, the week of October 13, its ruling that a councilmember lacked standing to challenge variances for a Strawberry Mansion senior housing building.
- MediumPennsylvania
Pennsylvania: DEP drafts revised small-site construction stormwater permit with new municipal certification route
A draft revision of PAG-01, which DEP reports was published August 22, 2026 with comments closed September 21, would align it with PAG-02 and add a municipal certification route with no impervious-area limits. DEP estimates issuance in January 2027 and effect March 1, 2027.
- HighPennsylvania
Pennsylvania approves revised soil cleanup standards for lead and other contaminants; rule awaits publication
The rule sets a 5 micrograms-per-deciliter default blood-lead target and changes how carcinogenic PAHs are calculated; it takes effect on Bulletin publication, which DEP's October 1 update does not yet show.
- HighPennsylvania
Pennsylvania requires local approvals before state permit review of large data centers
For new applications by data centers above 25 megawatts, a binding consent order allows rolling state review; data centers are removed from fast-track and the sales tax exemption is tied to the conditions.
- MediumFranklin County, PA
Pennsylvania: Franklin County transmission line draws over 100 protests; prehearing conference October 29
Transource's May 21, 2026 application to site a 28.8-mile 230 kV line and new Rice substation faces Public Utility Commission review. A new notice sets October 15 for protests and petitions to intervene and October 29 for an in-person prehearing conference in Harrisburg.
- MediumPennsylvania
Federal: Advisory council advances rewrite of historic review rules for projects needing federal permits or funds
On July 24, 2026 the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation voted to send a proposed overhaul of the Section 106 rules to White House review. No notice has been published, and the current rules remain in effect.
- MediumPennsylvania
Pennsylvania plans methane rules for new and existing oil and gas wells; no draft rule yet
On July 24, 2026 the Department of Environmental Protection announced methane rules for oil and gas operations covering leak detection and routine venting and flaring; no draft exists. Draft rules are reported to go to the Environmental Quality Board in 2027. The federal state-plan submission deadline is January 22, 2027.
- MediumPennsylvania
Pennsylvania act reported to require decommissioning security for leased-land solar and displace local rules
Act 44 of 2026, signed July 20, 2026, is reported to require financial assurance and removal within 18 months for commercial solar over 2 megawatts on leased land, and to displace municipal decommissioning provisions, with most provisions taking effect in January 2027. The statute text could not be read.
- MediumPennsylvania
Pennsylvania requires larger data centers to report energy and water use by July 2027
A budget-season amendment to the Fiscal Code makes data centers above 10 megawatts file annual energy and water reports with environmental regulators, with reported penalties of $10,000 a day.
- MediumPennsylvania
Pennsylvania adds high-quality protection to Class A wild trout streams, tightening permits for new discharges
A final rule effective July 11, 2026 redesignates Class A wild trout streams as High Quality waters. New earth disturbance and new or expanded discharges to them face antidegradation review and individual permits. The Board's preamble states EPA approval is required under the Clean Water Act. A further proposal covering eight streams is on the October 13, 2026 board agenda.
- MediumPhiladelphia County, PA
Pennsylvania: Philadelphia exempts small homes from stormwater rules and widens its maximum release-rate zones
Since July 1, 2026, one- and two-family projects disturbing under one acre are exempt from Philadelphia's post-construction stormwater rules, release-rate zones are larger, and sites of 5,000 square feet or more need approved erosion plans. Guidance Manual 3.4 took effect the same day.
- HighPennsylvania
Pennsylvania regulators adopt model tariff guidance covering collateral and five-year terms for loads over 50 megawatts
The Public Utility Commission adopted a model tariff for large electric customers on April 30, 2026. It is guidance for each utility's own filing, not a rule, but it points to collateral, a five-year minimum term, 48 months' notice of exit and public interconnection queues.