EPA highlights collaborative water quality efforts during Pennsylvania tour

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator Amy Van Blarcom-Lackey toured water quality and infrastructure projects across Pennsylvania, highlighting the role of partnerships in advancing watershed restoration and resilient infrastructure.

The multi-day visit included stops in Lancaster, Dauphin and Centre counties, where EPA officials met with local governments, conservation districts and community partners to review projects focused on stormwater management, stream restoration and agricultural best management practices.

“Our visits underscored a simple truth: collaboration works—and Pennsylvania communities are proving it with cleaner streams, healthier habitats, and resilient infrastructure,” said Van Blarcom-Lackey, a Pennsylvania native, in a press release. “I’m grateful to our Pennsylvania partners, conservation districts, local governments, universities, and community leaders for their continued collaboration. Together, we’re safeguarding the environment for families today and for generations to come.”

Key stops included the Blue Green Connector Project in Lancaster County, which integrates green infrastructure and water quality monitoring, and restoration efforts along Spring Creek in Centre County funded through EPA’s Chesapeake Bay Implementation Grant program. The administrator also observed agricultural BMP training and field demonstrations focused on improving runoff management and reducing pollutant loads.

In Dauphin County, EPA toured advanced wastewater treatment upgrades at Capital Region Water, including an energy recovery system that converts biogas into renewable natural gas.

The visit emphasized the importance of cross-sector collaboration in improving water quality, reducing runoff impacts and supporting long-term watershed resilience across the region.