Mako Bill to Improve Communication Regarding EPA Violations Passes House

September 30, 2026

HARRISBURG – The House today approved legislation authored by Rep. Zach Mako (R-Lehigh/Northampton) to require timely notification of environmental violations at quarries and landfills.

The bill is the result of a several months-long lag in 2018 in notifying Whitehall Township and its residents that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a notice of non-compliance to a local landfill for high levels of PCBs in material accepted at the facility.

“While I am encouraged that there have been no additional environmental violations at the quarry to my knowledge, I remain committed to advancing this legislation so residents can be confident they will be notified promptly of any incident that could affect their health or safety,” Mako said. “Quarry and landfill operators have a responsibility to be good neighbors to the communities around them, and this bill helps ensure that accountability. I am hopeful the Senate will act on this legislation promptly so delays in notification become a thing of the past.”

House Bill 2229 would require the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection to forward to municipalities within 14 days noncompliance notifications it receives from the EPA for violations of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) and Solid Waste Management Act (SWMA).

The bill now goes to the Senate for its consideration.

The 183rd House District includes Lowhill and North Whitehall townships and Slatington Borough in Lehigh County. It also consists of Allen, East Allen, Lehigh and Moore (part) townships, and Bath, North Catasauqua, Northampton and Walnutport boroughs in Northampton County.

Representative Zachary Mako
183rd Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Tracy Polovick
717.260.6358
tpolovick@pahousegop.com
RepMako.com / Facebook.com/RepMako