Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is a state agency responsible for protecting Pennsylvania’s air, water, land, and natural resources. It creates and enforces laws to prevent pollution, oversee waste management, regulate industries, and ensure environmental safety. The DEP also manages natural resources, such as forests and waterways, and responds to environmental emergencies. Its goal is to maintain a healthy environment for residents, ecosystems, and future generations through regulation, monitoring, and conservation efforts.