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Opportunities to learn more about environmental and energy issues affecting Pennsylvania for students and adults--
Awards/Recognition
-- Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful Announces Litter Hawk Youth Award Program Winners [PaEN]
-- Keep PA Beautiful Now Accepting Applications For Young Ambassadors Program From Students In Grades 10-12 [PaEN]
-- MCall: Lehigh Valley High School Student Studied Radon In Schools, Some Districts Taking Action
-- Chester County Resident David Shirey Honored With Keep PA Beautiful’s Community Pride Award By Rep. Lawrence [PaEN]
-- WNEP: Game Commission Honors PA Outdoor Life’s Don Jacobs
-- Game Commission: Highlights From April 12 Commissioners Meeting + Award Winners
-- PA Conservation Heritage Project Profile: Vernon Ross - Combat Photographer, Grocer, Advocate For Hunting And Fishing - By Wayne W. Kober [PaEN]
-- Erie Times - Brian Whipkey: At First Graders’ Behest, PA May Soon Have An Official State Reptile
-- Rep. Stambaugh: Eastern Box Turtle On Path To Becoming PA’s Official State Reptile
-- Vote Now! For Chesapeake Bay Foundation Photo Contest Viewers’ Choice Award - Look For Photos From Pennsylvania! [PaEN]
Grants
-- Coldwater Heritage Partnership Now Accepting Applications For Coldwater Conservation Grants; Energy Transfer/Sunoco Mariner East/Revolution Pipelines Penalty Settlement Grants [PaEN]
Help Wanted
-- Apply Now! PA Master Naturalist Volunteer Fall Training In Allegheny, Butler, Cambria, Center/Huntingdon, Chester, Delaware, Lancaster, Montgomery, Westmoreland Counties [PaEN]
-- Help Wanted: Allegheny County Sustainability Specialist [PaEN]
Upcoming Events
-- Central PA Conservancy: April 11-12 Celebrate Letort Spring Preserve Weekend In Cumberland County
-- TribLive: Seton Hill, Westmoreland Land Trust Host April 13 Outdoor Family Event
-- Foundation For Sustainable Forests Hosts April 15 ‘Tap Talk’ Presentation By Brian Donahue, Author Of Slow Wood - Greener Building From Local Forests [PaEN]
-- PUC To Host Meeting Of The PA Sustainable Energy Board On April 17 [PaEN]
-- Center For Coalfield Justice, MIT Researchers Host April 17 Public Meeting In Washington County On An Upcoming Seismic Study In Southwestern PA [PaEN]
-- Beaver County Marcellus Awareness Community, Penn State Beaver April 17 In-Person Beaver County - Our Future, Our Environment, Penn State Beaver, 5:30 -8:30 p.m.
-- PA Solar Center, Philadelphia Energy Authority To Hold April 22 Webinar On How Businesses, Municipalities, Schools Can Save Money Going Solar In Southeast PA [PaEN]
-- Schuylkill Center For Environmental Education To Celebrate Earth Day With April 26 Naturepalooza 2025 In Philadelphia [PaEN]
-- Penn State Extension: May 3 In-Person Workshop On Benefits Of Installing Rain Barrels In Lancaster County, 10:00 a.m. [Participants Will Take Home Rain Barrel]
-- TribLive: Western Pennsylvanians Prepare To Capture April Showers In Rain Barrels
-- Brodhead Watershed Assn. Hosts May 6 Gardening For Wildlife - How People Benefit When Nature Thrives Workshop In Monroe County [PaEN]
-- WHYY: New Book By Doug Tallamy Urges Everyone To Put Native Plants In Their Yards
-- Penn State Extension: May 8 In-Person Workshop On Gardening With Nature - Creating A Pollinator Paradise In Cumberland County, 7:00 p.m.
-- Physicians For Social Responsibility PA Hosts May 8 In-Person Oil & Gas Industry Waste Worker Safety Workshop, Webinar In Scranton [PaEN]
-- Willistown Conservation Trust Hosts May 15 Exploring Otter Populations, Conservation And Their Vital Role In Nature, Rushton Conservation Center, Delaware County, 6:00 p.m.
-- Penn State Institute Of Energy And The Environment To Hold Climate Solutions Symposium May 19-20 In State College
-- Hawk Mountain Sanctuary Spring In-Person Native Plant Sale May 17 & 18 In Berks County
-- Pennsylvania Society For Ornithology: Team Registration Now Open For 5th Annual Breeding Bird Blitz For Conservation June 6-16 [PaEN]
-- KDKA: Watch Live: US Steel Bald Eagle Nest Cam
Public Participation
-- PA Oil & Gas Industrial Facilities: Permit Notices, Opportunities To Comment - April 12 [PaEN]
-- DEP Invites Comments On Chapter 105 Permit For EQT ARO LLC 3 Mile Natural Gas Gathering Pipeline In Cascade Twp., Lycoming County [PaEN]
-- DEP Posted 73 Pages Of Permit-Related Notices In April 12 PA Bulletin [PaEN]
-- Reminder: DEP April 17 Climate Action Plan Community Climate Conversations Webinar. 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. Read more here.
-- DEP Sets May 12 Hearing On Response At The Brookhaven Manufactured Home Community PCE Hazardous Site Cleanup In York County [PaEN]
Programs/Information
-- Etna Center For Community Renovation Project To Showcase Sustainability, Green Building Principles In Allegheny County [PaEN]
-- PUC Approves Aqua Pennsylvania’s Lead Service Line Replacement Plan
-- DEP Reduces Permit Backlog From 2,400 To 300 Permits (88%); Already Reviewed More Than 9,000 Permits This Year [PaEN]
-- Pittsburgh Business Times: Shapiro Administration’s Modernization Efforts Lead To Major Reduction In DEP Permit Delays
-- DEP Updates PA Drought Conditions: Berks County Remains In Drought Warning; Drought Watch Lifted In 6 Counties; 27 Counties Remain In Drought Watch [PaEN]
-- Conowingo Dam Steering Committee Releases Update On Conowingo Reservoir Nutrient Reduction Efforts [PaEN]
-- The Derrick: How A Rainy Day, Finicky Fish Launched A PA Dedicated To Unpaved Roads [Dirt & Gravel Road Program] [PDF of Article]
-- In Case You Missed It: What Conservationists, Outdoor Recreation Leaders, and Tourism Organizations are Saying about DCNR’s Surge in Campsite Reservations After Federal Staff Cuts
-- Post-Gazette Guest Essay: Protect Public Lands To Protect Local Businesses And Communities - By Silas Chamberlin, DCNR Conservation & Natural Resources Advisory Council & York County Economic Alliance [Federal Recreation Cuts]
-- MCall Guest Essay: Preserving Our Parks Invests In Nature And The Nation - By Kiera Shellhammer, Citizens Climate Lobby
-- The Allegheny Front - Kara Holsopple: A Trip Down The Youghiogheny River Through Photos
-- DEP Beings Black Fly Suppression Program On 1,800 Miles Of Rivers And Streams
-- Penn State College Of Ag Sciences Course Helps Students Plan, Design Conservation Structures On Farms
-- Penn State Extension Energy Essentials: Heat Pump Basics; Tax Implications Of Grid-Scale Solar Facilities; What Does Forest Carbon Sequestration Mean; Reusing Oil & Gas Wells To Store Energy
-- PUC Marks April As Safe Digging Month - PA OneCall
-- Penn State Extension Spotted Lanternfly News: Inspections Resume April 1; Natural Predators; Management Guide; What To Look For
-- York Daily Record: Photo Gallery: Bald Eagles Fish In The Susquehanna River At The Conowingo Dam
-- Hawk Mountain Sanctuary Spring Migration Hawk Watch Update
-- Chesapeake Bay Journal: Spring Has Sprung! Cue The Vernal Pools And Amphibians
EPA Deregulation For Industry
-- President Issues Executive Orders Requiring 1 Year Sunset Dates On Existing Regulations Affecting Energy; Identifying Regulations Limiting Competition [PaEN]
-- President Signs Executive Orders Directing US Attorney General To Take Action Against States Impeding Domestic Energy Production; Rescinds Policies Transition Away From Coal; Lifts Toxics Standards For Coal Power Plants [PaEN]
-- AP-Marc Levy: President’s New Energy Order Puts State’s Climate Law In The Crosshairs Of The US Dept. Of Justice [PA Included]
-- Reuters: President Issues Order To Block State Climate, Clean Energy Policies
-- PA Capital-Star: President Attack On State Climate Laws Likely Doomed, But Attempts To Yank Funds May Be Next
-- E&ENews/Politico: President Declares War On State Climate, Clean Energy Laws
-- TribLive: Federal Mine Safety, Research Offices In PA Targeted For Closure As President Touts Coal
-- Center for Coalfield Justice: Federal Mine Safety Silica Rule ‘Temporarily’ Paused, Further Gutting Protections For Coal Miners
-- Wilkes-Barre Times: Republican Con. Meuser Applauds President’s Order To Reinvigorate ‘Clean’ Coal
-- WESA/WVIA: Advocates, Environmentalists Split As President Signs Orders To Bolster Coal Industry
-- Pittsburgh Business Times: Coal Industry Hopes President’s Executive Orders Will Revitalize Sector Amid Challenges
-- Utility Dive: President Aims To Boost Coal, In Part By Ordering Power Plants To Stay Open
-- Inside Climate News: President’s Executive Orders Aim To Keep Coal Power Plants Alive, Despite Climate, Economic Costs
-- AP: President Signs Executive Orders To Boost Coal, A Reliable But Polluting Energy Source
-- Reuters: President Signs Executive Orders To Boost US Coal As Power Demand Rises
-- Forbes: President Signs Executive Orders Aimed At Resurrecting Coal
-- E&ENews/Politico: President Inks Orders To Resurrect US Coal
-- The Hill: Despite The President’s Embrace Of The Fossil Fuels, Some Moves Rankle Industry
Background On Issues
-- Late Night Road Dumping: Conventional Oil & Gas Wastewater Continues To Be Dumped On Dirt, Gravel, Paved Roads; DEP Expected To Provide Update At April 24 Meeting [PaEN]
-- DEP: Energy Transfer/Sunoco Pipeline Leak Investigation In Bucks County Expands To Delaware, Montgomery Counties; DEP, Dept. Of Health Briefing On State Response To Leak Now Available On Demand [PaEN]
-- PA Oil & Gas Weekly Compliance Dashboard - April 5 to 11 - Late Night Conventional Wastewater Road Dumping Failure To Comply With Cleanup Order; Pipeline Leak Investigation Expands To 2 Other Counties; More Abandoned Wells [PaEN]
-- Environmental Quality Board Tables Vote On Accepting Petition For Study To Increase Setbacks From Shale Gas Wells Until Last Minute Comments Can Be Reviewed [PaEN]
-- Pittsburgh Business Times: Environmental Quality Board Tables Petition To Increase Natural Gas Well Setbacks In Pennsylvania
-- Conventional/Shale Oil & Gas Industry Association Acknowledges 1.4 Million People ‘Are Impacted By General Oil & Gas Operations’ In Pennsylvania [PaEN]
-- PUC: NTSB Releases Report, Recommendations From Investigation Of West Reading Chocolate Plant Natural Gas Explosion [PaEN]
-- Reading Eagle: NTSB Final Report On Fatal West Reading Chocolate Factory Natural Gas Explosion Issued
-- Inquirer: NTSB Issues Final Report On Natural Gas Explosion At West Reading Chocolate Factory that Killed 7 Workers
-- House Environmental Committee Reports Out Bill To Require DEP To Consider Cumulative Impacts Of Certain New Sources Of Pollution On Already Impacted Communities [PaEN]
-- The Center Square: Environmental Justice Bill Moves Forward From PA House Committee
-- Tribune-Democrat: Storm-Driven Mine Drainage Blowout Pollutes Bens Creek Trout Stream In Conemaugh Twp., Somerset County [PDF of Article]
-- PA House Bill Introduced Authorizing Community Solar Energy Programs [PaEN]
-- Erie Times: Federal Lawsuit Claims East Fairfield Twp., Crawford County Violated Solar Energy Developer’s Civil Rights, Municipal Extortion, Bribery Totaling $150 Million
-- PennLive Guest Essay: Repealing Federal Inflation Reduction Act Climate, Clean Energy Programs Would Hurt Pennsylvania, Fuel Inflation - By Greg Alvarez, Energy Innovation
-- PUC Approves Expansion Of Duquesne Light ‘Time Of Use’ Rate
-- Wilkes-Barre Times: Rep. Pugh Introduces Bill To Study PFAS ‘Forever Chemicals’ Effects
-- The Allegheny Front: Plans For Erie Plastics Chemical Recycling Plant Scrapped, Company Blames President’s Tariffs, Federal Cutbacks
-- PA Capital-Star/Inside Climate News - Kiley Bense: From Louisiana To Pennsylvania, Tracing Plastics Pollution Back To Its Source
-- TribLive: Pittsburgh Council Member Warns Skeptics Trash Dumping Emergency Is Not Rubbish
-- WESA: Trash Talk Leads To Discussion At Pittsburgh City Council On Illegal Dumping, Litter
-- Post-Gazette Editorial: There’s Too Much Trash In Pittsburgh, Time To Redd Up
-- Republican Herald - Doyle Dietz: Game Commission Executive Director Looks Back At Productive Year For Agency
-- Spotlight PA: Campaign Cash Flowed To Key Lawmakers As Hunters Launches Offensive To Save Live Pigeon Shoots
-- Republican Herald - T.C. Mazar: Game Commission Wrangling Invasive Shrubs On State Game Lands
-- Republican Herald - Tyler Frantz: What Lies Beneath The Logjam, Including Debris And Vegetation, Benefits Trout Streams
-- NextPittsburgh: Unraveling Bird Mysteries At The Avian Research Center At Powdermill Nature Reserve In Westmoreland County
-- Williamsport Sun - Bill Bower: Reflections In Nature - Birds Recognize Their Own Species By Colors
-- Scranton Times - Tom Venesky: Monarch Butterfly Endangered Species Plan May Not Fly With Farmers [PDF of Article]
-- LehighValleyLive.com: Will These Fascinating Red-Eyed Bugs Invade Your PA Neighborhood This Spring? [Brood X Cicadas]
Visit the DEP Calendar of Events; PA Parks & Forests Foundation’s Events webpage and DCNR’s Calendar of Events for activities happening near you.
Visit DEP’s Teaching Green webpage to learn about more environmental education resources.
Visit the PA Environment Digest Calendar Of Events for more opportunities.
[Posted: April 13, 2025]
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