Legal wrangling over the flashpoint Mariner East 2 piepline’s permitting was finally resolved Friday, as the Department of Environmental Protection announced it had reached a settlement with suing environmental groups.

The Philadelphia-based Clean Air Council, as well as two other state environmental groups, had originally sued the commonwealth’s main environmental regulatory agency in February 2017, claiming that DEP had issued permits off of incomplete applications.

The Pittsburgh Water and Sewage Authority Board announced Friday they’d gained state approval to introduce a chemical into their water treatment process that would help to lower lead levels. 

Meanwhile, Rep. Alex Charlton's (R-Delaware), HB 2075, to amend state law and let PUC-regulated utilities use their dollars on full lead line replacements, has a hearing next week.

The state Department of Environmental Protection recommended a fine against the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority from two broken pipes that spilled chlorinated water into the Allegheny River last year. 

The violation came up on the PWSA’s February board meeting agenda Friday morning. After the meeting, Interim Executive Director Robert Weimar refused to divulge any details besides that the authority planned an appeal. 

On Friday afternoon, Governor Tom Wolf and the Department of Environmental Protection held a press conference where they shared the findings from the administration's comprehensive review of the permitting processes throughout the department. 

The main goals are to reduce permit backlogs, modernize permitting activities through an electronic permitting initiative, and use technology to improve both oversight and efficiency.