PA Environment Digest

-- TribLive: Pittsburgh Leaders, Residents Seek Answers After Poor-Rated Bridge Collapses: ‘It Is Outrageous’ [The federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Will Provide Needed Resources To Address These Issues, But Also Mine Reclamation, Plugging Oil & Gas Wells Left Behind By Conventional Drillers, All But 1 Republican Voted Against It In PA]

-- AP: Federal Investigators Vow To Put Collapsed Pittsburgh Bridge Under A ‘Microscope’

-- TribLive: 1 In 8 Bridges In PA Rated In ‘Poor’ Conditions: ‘It’s A Resource Problem’

-- TribLive Editorial: Pittsburgh Bridge Collapse Shows Infrastructure Failings

-- PG Editorial: Bridge Collapse Won’t Be Last Infrastructure Failure

-- PG Editorial: Repairing Western PA’s Other Regional Superhighway: The Rivers

-- PG: Cong. Lamb Bill To Research Conventional Oil And Gas Wells Abandoned By Drilling Companies Advances Out Of Committee

-- PG Guest Essay: Environmental Justice And Opportunity In Pennsylvania - A Thriving, Resilient, Clean Energy Future - By Elena Weissmann, Vote Solar & Annie Regan, ReImagine Appalachia - PennFuture

-- PG: Bridge Collapses Along Forbes Avenue In Pittsburgh Near Frick Park [Strong Smell Of Natural Gas In The Area, Public Asked To Stay Away]

Budget

-- Witnesses Unanimously Support Allocating American Rescue Plan Funding For On-Farm Conservation Projects At House Committee Meeting; Rep. Metcalfe Calls It ‘Welfare’ [PaEN]

-- Lancaster Farming: PA Ag Groups Seek $250 Million For Clean Streams

-- DCNR Secretary Outlines 2022 Priorities To Conservation & Natural Resources Advisory Council, Including Need For $1.4 Billion In Infrastructure Improvements [PaEN]

-- WITF: Republican Budget Chiefs Want PA’s Plethora Of Pandemic-Era Cash Used ‘Judiciously’

-- Senator Yaw: PA State Government Refuses To Pay Millions In Municipal Stormwater Fees

-- StateImpactPA - Rachel McDevitt: IFO Forecasts Rise In Act 13 Drilling Impact Fee Revenue After Natural Gas Prices Rose In 2021

-- StateImpactPA - Rachel McDevitt: Legislation Pits 2 Climate Efforts - Solar Energy Credits And Plugging Oil & Gas Wells Abandoned By Conventional Well Drillers- Against Each Other

-- ErieT Guest Essay: PA Shortchanges Environmental Protection, Tell Lawmakers To Fully Fund It Now - Rep. Greg Vitali (D)

-- TribLive Guest Essay: PA Budget Should Fully Fund Environmental Protection & Cleanup - Rep. Greg Vitali (D)

CFA

-- Commonwealth Financing Authority OKs $3.2 Million For 3 Natural Gas Pipeline Extension Projects [PaEN]

-- Observer-Reporter: State Helps Fund 2 Natural Gas Pipeline Projects In Washington County

-- PG - John Hayes: Off-Road ATV Park To Be Built In Gassport, Allegheny County

Chesapeake Bay

-- PA Chesapeake Bay Implementation Plan State Team Virtual Meeting Feb. 3. 9:00 a.m. to Noon.

-- Witnesses Unanimously Support Allocating American Rescue Plan Funding For On-Farm Conservation Projects At House Committee Meeting; Rep. Metcalfe Calls It ‘Welfare’ [PaEN]

-- Lancaster Farming: PA Ag Groups Seek $250 Million For Clean Streams

-- CFA Begins Accepting Applications For Act 13 Watershed Restoration, Mine Reclamation, Sewage, Flood Mitigation, Recreation Grants Feb. 1 [PaEN]

-- Chesapeake Bay Journal: EPA Declares 'No Confidence' In Cleanup Plan For Conowingo Dam Due To Lack Of Funding, Gives States 60 Days To Respond [PaEN]

-- Chesapeake Bay Foundation Commends EPA For Strong Stance In Meeting Chesapeake Bay 2025 Cleanup Goals [PaEN]

-- Chesapeake Bay Foundation Blog: Pennsylvania’s Steep Road To Clean Water - By B.J. Small, CBF-PA

-- WITF Smart Talk: Is EPA Committed To Restoring Chesapeake Bay?

-- Lancaster Farming: Lancaster County’s Brubaker Farms Receives Leopold Conservation Award

-- PA State Government Has Refused To Pay Stormwater Management Fees To Local Authorities Designed To Meet Chesapeake Bay Cleanup Obligations [PaEN]

-- Save The Date! DCNR, Western PA Conservancy Virtual Watershed Forestry Summit March 2-3; Watch For More Information

-- PA Conservation Districts Assn. Highlights Of Conservation District Activities In 2021 Now Available [PaEN]

-- DEP Announces $245,000 Growing Greener Grant For Kinney Run Watershed Improvements, Columbia County [PaEN]

-- Lancaster Farming: How To Participate In 2022 Penn State Farm Conservation Practices Survey

-- Penn State Extension: Spring Creek Bleak Mid-Winter Blues In Dauphin County [PaEN]

-- Penn State Master Watershed Steward Program - A Look Back On 2021’s Accomplishments [PaEN]

-- Master Watershed Steward Program Receives Healing The Planet Grant From The GIANT Company [PaEN]

-- Bay Journal - Karl Blankenship: Can Beavers Help Build A Better Chesapeake Bay?

Latest From The Chesapeake Bay Journal

Click Here to subscribe to the free Chesapeake Bay Journal

Citizen Action

-- In Memoriam: Gregory Wilson Donegal Trout Unlimited, Lancaster County

-- PA Conservation Districts Assn. Highlights Of Conservation District Activities In 2021 Now Available [PaEN]

-- DCNR Bans Use Of Oil & Gas Wastewater On Its Over 6,500 Miles Of Dirt, Gravel Roads [PaEN]

-- Save The Date! DCNR, Western PA Conservancy Virtual Watershed Forestry Summit March 2-3; Watch For More Information

-- Registration Now Open! Keep PA Beautiful's Pick Up Pennsylvania Initiative; In 2021 60,505 Volunteers Cleaned Up 2.2 Million Pounds Of Trash [PaEN]

-- StateImpactPA - Reid Frazier: In Federal Court, Plaintiffs Say U.S. Steel Clairton Coke (Coal) Works Fire, Pollution Control Outage Was A ‘Complete Failure’

-- Lancaster Farming: How To Participate In 2022 Penn State Farm Conservation Practices Survey

-- Sign Up Now For Penn State Master Watershed Steward Training Around The State [PaEN]

-- Still Time To Sign Up! PA Master Naturalist Spring Training Courses In Allegheny, Chester, Dauphin, Montour, Philadelphia, Washington Counties [PaEN]

-- BRC13: Brodhead Watershed Assn: Bog Turtles In The Poconos Need Your Help

-- LancasterOnline - Sean Sauro: Local Plants, Streams Suffer From Salt Applied To Roads, Lots, Sidewalks During Winter Storms

-- Penn State Master Watershed Steward Program - A Look Back On 2021’s Accomplishments [PaEN]

-- Master Watershed Steward Program Receives Healing The Planet Grant From The GIANT Company [PaEN]

-- PA Society Of Ornithology Invites Conservation Organizations To Apply For Funding Raised By 2022 Breeding Bird Blitz For Conservation [PaEN]

-- National Environmental Education Foundation Accepting Applications For Shovel-Ready Pollinator Habitat Projects [PaEN]

-- Zeigafuse Family Partners With Heritage Conservancy To Permanently Preserve Land In Their Family For Four Generations, Northampton County [PaEN]

-- 41.9-Acre Buehner Farm In Bucks County Permanently Preserved By Heritage Conservancy, Partners [PaEN]

-- Allegheny Land Trust Receives DCNR Grant To Help Permanently Protect Garfield Neighborhood Green Space In Allegheny County [PaEN]

-- Allegheny Land Trust Receives DCNR Grant To Protect Green Space In The Glade Run Lake Watershed, Butler County [PaEN]

-- Green Building Alliance: Pittsburgh Housing Authority Joins Pittsburgh 2030 District To Reduce Energy, Water Use

-- PG - Anya Litvak: Smart Electric Meters Make Consumers Smarter, Electric Vehicle Drivers Make A Difference By Timing When They Power Up

-- PG - Laura Legere: Equity Issues Central To Getting Household Electrification Right ‘For Everybody’

Climate

-- Federal Office Of Surface Mine Reclamation Awards PA $25 Million For Mine Reclamation With Environmental, Economic, Recreation, Solar Energy Benefits [PaEN]

-- Advocating For Solar Energy Projects On Abandoned Mine Lands - By Kathy Cook, PA League of Women Voters, Environmental Policy Director [PaEN]

-- YorkDR: 5 Provocative Fears Dover Solar Project Foes Shared At Hearing With Expert Responses

-- NextPittsburgh: PennEnvironment Knows The Perfect Place For Solar Panels - Walmart Rooftops

-- Senate Democratic Policy Committee Hearing On $300 Million Anthracite Ridge Wind Farm Project In Schuylkill County - Video/Written Testimony

-- Sierra Club - PA: Patton Township, Centre County Commits To 100% Clean, Renewable Energy

-- Green Building Alliance: Pittsburgh Housing Authority Joins Pittsburgh 2030 District To Reduce Energy, Water Use

-- Republicans Move Bills Out Of Senate Committee To Redefine Water Pollution, Sell Off State Clean Energy Credits [PaEN]

-- StateImpactPA - Rachel McDevitt: Legislation Pits 2 Climate Efforts - Solar Energy Credits And Plugging Oil & Gas Wells Abandoned By Conventional Well Drillers- Against Each Other

-- AP: At The Request Of The Natural Gas Industry, House Republicans Pass Bill To Stop Communities From Adopting All-Electric Building Codes

-- NPR/WESA: Natural Gas Stoves Leak Climate-Warming Methane Even When They’re Off

-- AP: Study: Natural Gas Stoves Worse For Climate Than Previously Thought

-- PG - Anya Litvak: Smart Electric Meters Make Consumers Smarter, Electric Vehicle Drivers Make A Difference By Timing When They Power Up

-- PG - Laura Legere: Equity Issues Central To Getting Household Electrification Right ‘For Everybody’

-- PG: Cong. Lamb Bill To Research Conventional Oil And Gas Wells Abandoned By Drilling Companies Advances Out Of Committee

-- Penn State EarthTalks: Jan. 31 - Tom Richard Discusses Path To A Carbon-Negative Bioeconomy. 4:00 p.m.

-- Penn State Gets Grant To Teach Private Forest Owners At Adapt To Climate Change

-- PennLive - Marcus Schneck: U.S. Forest Service Launches Climate Hubs, Including One In PA

-- Penn State Researchers Believe Ash Trees May Be More Resilient To Warming Climate Than Previously Thought

-- StateImpactPA: Join Reporter Rachel McDevitt In Her Texting Club About Climate Change

-- PG Guest Essay: Environmental Justice And Opportunity In Pennsylvania - A Thriving, Resilient, Clean Energy Future - By Elena Weissmann, Vote Solar & Annie Regan, ReImagine Appalachia - PennFuture

-- CourierT Guest Essay: It’s Time To Put A Price On Carbon - Citizens Climate Lobby

-- WHYY: ‘Badlands’ To Green Homes: New Building Rises From Fmr Philly Drug Hotspot

-- City & State: Going From Gasoline To Electric Vehicles, Can PA Switch Gears In A Few Years?

-- StateImpactPA - Rachel McDevitt: DEP Gives $2.7 Million To Cleaner Transportation Projects, Including Ones Powered By Fossil Fuels

-- USGS, NOAA: Drought Prediction & Water Availability National Listening Sessions Begin Feb. 9

-- USA Today: Climate Change Made Rain Estimates Outdated, Now They Put US At Risk For More Flooding

-- USA Today: Insurance And Aid Aren’t Covering The Cost Of Disasters In America, Is It Time To Relocate?

-- WPost: Biden Revives ‘Clean Energy’ Program With $1 Billion Loan Guarantee For ‘Clean’ Hydrogen Project

Coal Mining

-- Federal Office Of Surface Mine Reclamation Awards PA $25 Million For Mine Reclamation With Environmental, Economic, Recreation, Solar Energy Benefits [PaEN]

-- ScrantonT: Federal Infrastructure Funds Will Remediate Mine-Scarred Land

-- WBTimes: Federal Funds Touted For Abandoned Mine Lands Clean Up

-- Advocating For Solar Energy Projects On Abandoned Mine Lands - By Kathy Cook, PA League of Women Voters, Environmental Policy Director [PaEN]

-- WBTimes Editorial: $3.8 Billion For PA Mine Reclamation A Big Win

-- PG Guest Essay: Making Pennsylvania Critical Minerals Proving Ground - Ned Rauch-Mannino, U.S. Dept. of Commerce

-- DEP To Conduct Hazardous Waste Site Investigation At Erie Coke (Coal) Plant Site In Erie [PaEN]

-- GASP: Lauds DEP Decision To Conduct Hazardous Waste Site Investigation At Erie Coke (Coal) Plant In Erie

-- ABCNews: Bitcoin Operation Ignites Debate Around The Waste From Coal Mining In PA

Compliance Action

-- Republicans Move Bills Out Of Senate Committee To Redefine Water Pollution, Sell Off State Clean Energy Credits [PaEN]

-- StateImpactPA - Reid Frazier: In Federal Court, Plaintiffs Say U.S. Steel Clairton Coke (Coal) Works Fire, Pollution Control Outage Was A ‘Complete Failure’

-- PUC: PA One Call Damage Prevention Committee Meets Virtually Feb. 8

-- DEP Conducted 947 Inspections: Processed 93% Of Permit Decision Guarantee Permit Applications On Time; Responded To 8 Environmental Emergencies Last Week

Conservation Districts

-- PA Conservation Districts Assn. Highlights Of Conservation District Activities In 2021 Now Available [PaEN]

-- Witnesses Unanimously Support Allocating American Rescue Plan Funding For On-Farm Conservation Projects At House Committee Meeting; Rep. Metcalfe Calls It ‘Welfare’ [PaEN]

-- Lancaster Farming: PA Ag Groups Seek $250 Million For Clean Streams

-- PG - John Hayes: DEP Releases Biennial Waterways Report - 33% Of State’s Waterways Water Quality Impaired

-- York Conservation District Hosts March 4 Manure Management Plan Workshop; DEP Conducting Farm Compliance Inspections [PaEN]

-- Help Wanted: Berks Conservation District Looking To Fill Multiple Positions [PaEN]

DCNR

-- DCNR Bans Use Of Oil & Gas Wastewater On Its Over 6,500 Miles Of Dirt, Gravel Roads [PaEN]

-- DCNR Secretary Outlines 2022 Priorities To Conservation & Natural Resources Advisory Council, Including Need For $1.4 Billion In Infrastructure Improvements [PaEN]

-- PA Cap-Star: DCNR Outlines 2022 Priorities, Banks On Future Of Outdoor Recreation In PA

-- Public News Service: PA Groups Concerned About Maryland National Guard Combat Training Flights Over PA Wilds

-- Inquirer - Frank Kummer: Pennsylvania Hires First Director Of Outdoor Recreation To Bring More Visitors To Parks, Forests, And More

-- DCNR Blog: Meet Pennsylvania’s First Director Of Outdoor Recreation Nathan Reigner

-- Save The Date! DCNR, Western PA Conservancy Virtual Watershed Forestry Summit March 2-3; Watch For More Information

-- Jan. 28 Take Five Fridays With Pam Now Available From PA Parks & Forests Foundation [PaEN]

-- French Creek Named 2022 Pennsylvania River Of The Year [PaEN]

-- PennLive - Marcus Schneck: French Creek Voted PA River Of The Year

-- TribLive - Mary Ann Thomas: French Creek Wins PA River Of The Year; 2nd Place Monongahela Will Still Party On

-- PG - John Hayes: Biologically Diverse French Creek Lauded As PA River Of The Year

-- ErieT: French Creek Voted PA River Of The Year, But Public Acclaim

-- PennLive - Marcus Schneck: French Creek Voted PA River Of The Year

-- ErieT - Brian Whipkey: PA’s 121 State Parks Have Facility Improvements, More Job Opportunities Planned

-- Penn State: How Has The COVID Pandemic Affected Outdoor Recreation In America?

-- PA State Park Volunteers Compile Cavity Bird Nesting Report: 8,964 Birds Fledged At 2,600 Boxes In 58 State Parks

-- PG - John Hayes: Off-Road ATV Park To Be Built In Gassport, Allegheny County

-- PA Parks & Forests Foundation Accepting Entries To 2022 Photo Contest - Clean Water & Forested Ecosystems [PaEN]

-- TribLive: Westmoreland Residents Capture Photo Awards In PA Parks & Forests Foundation Contest

DEP

-- PA Chesapeake Bay Implementation Plan State Team Virtual Meeting Feb. 3. 9:00 a.m. to Noon.

-- PG - John Hayes: DEP Releases Biennial Waterways Report - 33% Of State’s Waterways Water Quality Impaired

-- MCall: DEP 2022 Water Quality Report: Fish Caught In This Lehigh Valley Waterway Aren’t Safe To Eat

-- DEP Announces More Than $1.7 Million In Growing Greener Grants To Fund Local Water Clean Up Projects In Northwest PA [PaEN]

-- DEP Awards Borough Of Jim Thorpe $200,000 Growing Greener Grant For Stream Restoration Work In Carbon County [PaEN]

-- PA Resources Council, Partners Receive Growing Greener Grant For Delaware County Stormwater Management Project [PaEN]

-- DEP Announces $245,000 Growing Greener Grant For Kinney Run Watershed Improvements, Columbia County [PaEN]

-- York Conservation District Hosts March 4 Manure Management Plan Workshop; DEP Conducting Farm Compliance Inspections [PaEN]

-- StateImpactPA - Rachel McDevitt: DEP Gives $2.7 Million To Cleaner Transportation Projects, Including Ones Powered By Fossil Fuels

-- DEP To Conduct Hazardous Waste Site Investigation At Erie Coke (Coal) Plant Site In Erie [PaEN]

-- GASP: Lauds DEP Decision To Conduct Hazardous Waste Site Investigation At Erie Coke (Coal) Plant In Erie

-- Good Samaritan Proposal Would Plug An Oil & Gas Well Abandoned By A Conventional Driller In Westmoreland County [PaEN]

-- DEP Blog: 9 Tips For Having A Radon Reduction System Installed In Your Home

-- DEP Recognizes Winners Of 2021 Radon Student Poster Contest [PaEN]

-- DEP Teaching Green Environmental Education Newsletter Now Available

-- DEP Conducted 947 Inspections: Processed 93% Of Permit Decision Guarantee Permit Applications On Time; Responded To 8 Environmental Emergencies Last Week

-- DEP Posted 52 Pages Of Permit-Related Notices In Jan. 29 PA Bulletin [PaEN]

Delaware River

-- DEP Awards Borough Of Jim Thorpe $200,000 Growing Greener Grant For Stream Restoration Work In Carbon County [PaEN]

-- PA Resources Council, Partners Receive Growing Greener Grant For Delaware County Stormwater Management Project [PaEN]

-- Guest Essay: The Empty Rhetoric Of Delaware River Watershed Fracking Ban - Sen. Gene Yaw (R-Lycoming) [Information on conventional drilling wastewater is inaccurate, according to the industry’s own waste reports. Yaw supports efforts to make road spreading of conventional wastewater legal.]

-- MCall: DEP 2022 Water Quality Report: Fish Caught In This Lehigh Valley Waterway Aren’t Safe To Eat

-- Delaware RiverKeeper Jan. 28 RiverWatch Video Report

DRBC

-- Delaware RiverKeeper Jan. 28 RiverWatch Video Report

Drinking Water

-- Pittsburgh Water & Sewer Authority: Most Recent Testing Shows Lead Levels Below Federal Standard For 3rd Consecutive Round Of Testing

-- WESA: Pittsburgh Water Authority Says Lead Levels In Compliance With National Standards

-- MCall: In Emmaus, ‘Forever Chemicals’ (PFOA) In Water Linked To Firefighting Foam Force Borough Into Major Expense, Possible Legal Action

-- MCall: Cancer-Causing Chemical In NJ Drinking Water Traced To Lehigh County Authority Waste Treatment Plant

-- YorkD: Indian Rock Dam, Saving York County From 80 Years Of Floods, Gets An Upgrade

Drought

-- USGS, NOAA: Drought Prediction & Water Availability National Listening Sessions Begin Feb. 9