The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission is reminding consumers that it will hold a series of hearings June 6, 7, and 8 in Tioga, Bradford, and Wyoming counties to gather public input in a case involving complaints about telephone and/or internet…
Newly Revised Sunshine/RTK Manual Now Available!
Did you know that PSATS has a valuable tool to help your township better understand and comply with the Sunshine Act and Right-to-Know Law? In addition to easy-to-follow guidance and frequently asked questions, the manual includes updated copies of these…
New 2023 Ethics Manual Helps Township Officials Navigate Personal Responsibilities
Did you know that all township elected officials and many appointed officials and employees must follow the State Ethics Law? Did you know that it is a personal responsibility to follow this law? Take the guesswork out of ethics and…
Commonwealth Court Rules That Fire Companies Can be Subject to RTKL
Last week, the Commonwealth Court ruled that a Lycoming County volunteer fire company is a local agency subject to the Right-to-Know Law. The court affirmed the trial court’s opinion, which found that the fire company’s provision of fire and emergency…
U.S. Supreme Court Limits Clean Water Act
Last week, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Sackett v. EPA that a narrow test applies when determining what constitutes a wetland under the federal Clean Water Act. The new, more stringent test determines that a wetland falls under the…
Grant Awards Will Restore Abandoned Mine Lands, Impaired Streams in Townships
The state Department of Environmental Protection is funding 16 environmental restoration projects on abandoned mine lands, totaling $7.8 million. These projects are being funded through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act’s focus on the reclamation of abandoned mine lands and…
PA State Data Center Launches New Portal
The Pennsylvania State Data Center has launched a new Census 2020 Data Portal. The portal serves as a tool to host data localized to Pennsylvania and provides guidance, overviews, and interactive reports/visualizations to help users make sense of the Census…
Shell to Pay $10 Million for Air Quality Violations
Shell Chemicals Appalachia, LLC has entered into a consent order and agreement with the Shapiro Administration that acknowledges that it exceeded total emission limitations for air contaminants, agreed to make repairs, and will pay $10 million to the state Department…
Rankin Borough Exits Distressed Status
After more than 34 years as a distressed municipality under the Act 47 program, Rankin Borough in Allegheny County has now exited from the program and is no longer considered to be distressed. The decision was made due to Rankin’s ability…
Celebrate National EMS Week!
Township officials are encouraged to celebrate EMS Week from May 21 to May 27. The week-long campaign is an ideal time to celebrate municipal first responders who always prioritize the health and safety of township residents. EMS Week is a…
