PA Department of Environmental Protection – Southwest Regional Office – Pittsburgh, PA

PA DEP Southwest Regional Office: Protecting Our Environment

The Southwest Regional Office of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is the primary state agency responsible for protecting the air, land, and water resources of the Pittsburgh region. Located on Washington’s Landing (Herrs Island), this office serves Allegheny, Beaver, Cambria, Fayette, Greene, Somerset, Washington, and Westmoreland counties. The DEP’s mission is to prevent pollution, rehabilitate industrial sites, and ensure the health and safety of the Commonwealth’s citizens through rigorous enforcement of environmental laws and regulations.

Key Programs and Services

The Southwest Regional Office administers a wide array of environmental programs:

• Environmental Cleanup and Brownfields: Overseeing the remediation of contaminated sites to facilitate their safe reuse and redevelopment.
• Air Quality: Monitoring air pollution levels, issuing permits to industrial facilities, and enforcing emission standards to ensure clean air.
• Safe Drinking Water: Regulating public water systems to guarantee that residents have access to safe and potable water.
• Oil and Gas Management: Inspecting well sites and regulating the extraction of oil and natural gas to minimize environmental impact.
• Waste Management: Managing the permitting and inspection of landfills, recycling facilities, and hazardous waste storage.

Emergency Response

The DEP maintains a 24-hour emergency response team to address environmental crises such as oil spills, chemical releases, and other pollution incidents. While the administrative offices operate during standard business hours, the emergency hotline (412-442-4000) is available around the clock for reporting immediate environmental threats.

Location and Accessibility

The office is housed at 400 Waterfront Drive on Washington’s Landing, a reclaimed island in the Allegheny River that serves as a model for brownfield redevelopment. The facility is accessible to the public for file reviews and permit inquiries, though appointments are strongly recommended for viewing specific records. Visitors must sign in at the front desk and provide identification.