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PUC Orders Shutdown Of Mariner East 1 Pipeline After Sinkholes Expose Bare Pipeline In Chester County
The Public Utility Commission late Wednesday issued an Emergency Order regarding Sunoco Pipeline L.P., also known as Energy Transfer Partners, to suspend operations of the Mariner East 1 Pipeline and require additional testing and analysis on that line, in response to safety concerns regarding the integrity of that pipeline.
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Sinkholes In Chester County Blamed On Mariner East 2 Pipeline, Exposed Portion Of Operating Mariner East 1 Pipeline
Sen. Andy Dinniman (D-Chester) Monday said officials and inspectors from the federal Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration visited Lisa Drive in West Whiteland Township, Chester County where three sinkholes have opened up on a residential block apparently due to construction of Sunoco’s Mariner East II Pipeline.
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DEP Sets 3 Public Hearings On Proposed Shell Ethane Pipeline In Allegheny, Beaver, Washington Counties
The Department of Environmental Protection will hold three public hearings on the proposed Shell Ethane Pipeline in Allegheny, Beaver and Washington counties.
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DEP Invites Comments On Proposed Water Quality Certification For Natural Gas Pipelines Under I-79 In Allegheny County
The Department of Environmental Protection is inviting comments on the proposed Section 401 Water Quality Certification for an Equitrans natural gas pipeline project under I-79 in South Fayette Township Allegheny County. (March 10 PA Bulletin page 1474)
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2018 Appalachian Trail Hall Of Fame Inductees Announced
The eighth class of Appalachian Trail Hall of Fame honorees recognized by the Appalachian Trail Museum Society will be inducted on May 4 during the annual Appalachian Trail Hall of Fame Banquet at the Allenberry Resort in Boiling Springs, Cumberland County.
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Vote Now! Pittsburgh Landforce Restores Land, Builds Skills, Gets People Off Public Assistance
You can make a real difference in people’s lives and the environment. Vote Now! for Pittsburgh-based non-profit Landforce that helps organizations restore and maintain land and green assets by providing professionally skilled people who can assist in those projects.
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PA Chesapeake Bay Watershed Planning Committee Meets March 16 To Hear Draft Pollution Reduction Targets, Ways To Achieve Reductions
The PA Chesapeake Bay Watershed Planning Steering Committee is scheduled to meet March 16 to continue its effort to develop Pennsylvania’s Phase 3 Watershed Plan for meeting Chesapeake Bay cleanup obligations.
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Senate/House Agenda/Session Schedule/Gov’s Schedule/ Bills Introduced
Here are the Senate and House Calendars for the next voting session day and Committees scheduling action on bills of interest as well as a list of new environmental bills introduced--
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House Committee To Consider Bills March 13 Taking Permit Reviews Away From DEP, Waive Penalties, Create Office of The Repealer
The House State Government Committee is scheduled to meet on March 13 to consider bills taking permit reviews from DEP and other state agencies, creating an Office of the Repealer and authorizing the repeal any regulation by a House/Senate resolution.
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PA Clean Transportation Infrastructure Bill To Be Considered By House Committee March 12
The House Transportation Committee is scheduled to meet on March 12 to consider House Bill 1446 (Quinn-R-Bucks) encouraging infrastructure for electric and natural gas fueled vehicles (sponsor summary).
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House Committee To Consider Microgrids Proposal March 12
The House Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee is scheduled to meet on March 12 to consider House Bill 1412 (Barrar-R-Delaware) proposing a regulatory framework to encourage energy storage and microgrids to improve electric grid resiliency during disaster emergencies and other circumstances (sponsor summary).
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Op-Ed: Tap Federal AML Fund For Coal Country Land, Water Restoration, There Is No Excuse
By Robert Hughes, Eastern PA Coalition For Abandoned Mine Reclamation
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Gov. Wolf Requests Federal Disaster Declaration For Flood, Mudslide Damage In Fayette County
Gov. Tom Wolf Thursday announced he has requested the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) declare disasters in Fayette County and Uniontown for those businesses and homes that suffered significant wind, flood, and in some cases, mudslide damage from a tornado and storms that impacted the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania between February 15 and 17, 2018.
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Trout Unlimited: Measuring Success In The West Branch Susquehanna Watershed
By Shawn Rummel, Trout Unlimited’s PA Coldwater Habitat Restoration Program
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DEP: Jeansville Mine Fire On Track To Be Fully Extinguished In Carbon County
The Department of Environmental Protection Thursday announced the Jeansville Mine Fire in Banks Township, Carbon County, is close to being fully extinguished.
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Philadelphia Cobbs Creek Watershed Stewardship Program Now Accepting Applications
The Philadelphia Water Department and Land Health Institute are now accepting applications for the Cobbs Creek Watershed Stewardship Program from high school students interested in the environment and to support them as they become the change-makers, ecologists, scientists, urban planners, and leaders of tomorrow.
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Partnership For The Delaware Estuary 2017 Annual Report Now Available
The 2017 Annual Report from the Partnership for the Delaware Estuary is now available featuring articles on--
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Lehigh Valley Watershed Issues Listening Session To Convene March 12 In Bethlehem
PennFuture will host a listening session in the Lehigh Valley on March 12, gathering regional watershed groups, volunteers, and organizations to discuss the critical environmental and water quality issues in line with each organization’s mission.
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Schuylkill River Recreation Summit March 16 In Valley Forge, Montgomery County
The Schuylkill Action Network will be hosting the Schuylkill River Recreation Summit on March 16 to get feedback on recreation in the River.
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Chesapeake Bay Foundation Save The Bay Photo Contest Entries Due April 6
The Chesapeake Bay Foundation will be accepting entries for the 2018 Save The Bay Photo Contest from March 12 to April 6.
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DEP Blog: Sharing A Love For Engineering At Kinzua Bridge State Park Student Program
By: Melanie Williams, Community Relations Coordinator, Northwest Regional Office
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NRCS-PA Offers Renewal Options For Expiring Farm Conservation Stewardship Contracts
Agricultural producers wanting to enhance current conservation efforts are encouraged to renew their NRCS-PA Conservation Stewardship Program contract.
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DEP Invites Comments On Guidance To Implement Act 26 On Alternative Onlot Septic Systems
The Department of Environmental Protection invites comments on two proposed technical guidance documents to implement Act 26 related to considering alternative onlot septic systems in Act 537 sewage planning. (formal notice)
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DEP, Local Officials Tour Upgraded Water Treatment Plan In Dauphin County
Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Patrick McDonnell Friday commended Steelton officials in Dauphin County for recently completed upgrades and improvements at the borough Water Authority’s filtration plant. The changes are helping meet safe drinking water standards.
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Pittsburgh Student Alexander Grattan Wins High School Category Of One Earth Film Festival
Alexander Grattan, a student at Keystone Oaks High School in Pittsburgh, won the High School category of the One Earth Film Festival in Chicago with his film, “Lead In Water,” about lead contaminated water in Pittsburgh.
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PRC: 2018 Schedule Of Drug Take-Back, Hard-To-Recycle, Household Chemical, Reuse Fest Events In Western PA
The PA Resources Council Tuesday released its 2018 schedule of Drug Take-Back, Hard-To- Recycle, Household Chemicals and Reuse Fest Events In Allegheny and other counties in Western Pennsylvania.
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DEP, Local Officials Celebrate Arrival Of Pollution-Reducing CNG Buses At River Valley Transit In Lycoming County
The Department of Environmental Protection and local officials Tuesday celebrated the arrival of ten buses fueled by compressed natural gas (CNG) at River Valley Transit, which purchased the buses in part using funding from DEP’s Alternative Fuels Incentive Grant Program.
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PA Chapter Of The Assn Of Royalty Owners Meets March 21-23 In State College
The Association for Royalty Owners Pennsylvania Chapter will be holding their annual conference March 21-23 at the Ramada Conference Center in State College.
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Finding PA's Solar Future Stakeholder Group Offers Comments On Draft Plan
DEP's Finding PA's Solar Future Stakeholder Group Thursday offered comments on a draft plan they help developed over the past year to increase in-state solar-generated electricity to 10 percent by 2030.
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DEP Sets April 9 Hearing On Amending PA’s Air Quality Plan To Eliminate The Low-RVP Gasoline Requirement In The Pittsburgh Region
The Department of Environmental Protection is scheduled to hold a hearing April 9 on a proposed amendment to the state’s Air Quality Plan to eliminate the low-RVP summer gasoline requirement in the Pittsburgh Region. (formal notice)
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Clean Air Council Gives EPA Notice Of Intent To Sue For Failure To Hold Allegheny County Accountable For Air Permit Program Deficiencies
The Clean Air Council Monday sent U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt a notice of the Council’s intent to sue the EPA for its unreasonable delay in responding to a petition by the Council on deficiencies in the Allegheny County Health Department’s Title V operating permit program.
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Clean Air: Managing Contaminants In Indoor Spaces, Mitigating Impacts Of Air Pollution Workshop In Pittsburgh March 15
The Sustainable Pittsburgh Challenge team will hold a Clean Air: Managing Contaminants In Indoor Spaces, Mitigating Impacts Of Air Pollution Workshop on March 15.
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DEP Notifies Homeowners In Targeted High Radon Areas In 5 Counties, Offers Free Tests
Homeowners in eight townships in central Pennsylvania will receive letters in March from the Department of Environmental Protection and American Lung Association-PA, notifying them of high radon levels in their vicinity and providing a coupon for a free radon test.
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EPA Acts To Reduce Manganese Emissions From S.H. Bell Plant On PA-Ohio Border
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Justice Wednesday announced a final consent decree with S.H. Bell Co. requiring the business to monitor and take measures to reduce manganese emissions from its 92-acre raw products storage and material handling facility that spans the Pennsylvania-Ohio border in Ohioville, Beaver County, PA and East Liverpool, Ohio.
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DEP Imposes $600,000 Penalty On Eurofins QC Lab For Water Testing Violations
The Department of Environmental Protection Monday announced it will collect a $600,000 penalty from Eurofins, QC, for violations related to falsified and mishandled discharge water tests and results at their lab in Southampton, Bucks County.
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Sustainable Pittsburgh: Building (Or Rebuilding) Communities And Including Every Generation Webinar March 14
Sustainable Pittsburgh will host a webinar on March 14 on Building (Or Rebuilding) Communities And Including Every Generation from 1:00 to 2:15 p.m.
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DCNR Announces Award Of $425,700 In ATV Trail, Facility Grants
The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Thursday announced grants totaling $425,700 to three recipients in Pennsylvania for all-terrain vehicle (ATV) trails, equipment and related facilities.
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DCNR Plans White-Water Release Into Tohickon Creek For Boating Event In Bucks County
White-water boating enthusiasts once again will converge on Bucks County’s Tohickon Creek March 17-18, when the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources releases water from Lake Nockamixon in Nockamixon State Park into Tohickon Creek.
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Reminder: Deadline For DCNR Community Conservation Partnership Grants April 11
Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn Monday reminded local governments and recreation and conservation organizations that grant applications now are being accepted through DCNR’s Community Conservation Partnerships Program.
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Good Natured Blog: DCNR To Release Climate Mitigation, Adaptation Plan This Spring
By: Greg Czarnecki, Climate Change & Research Coordinator, DCNR
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March 7 DCNR Resource Newsletter Now Available
The March 7 edition of the Resource newsletter is now available from the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources featuring articles on--
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Central PA Conservancy Acquires Watercress Farm At Letort Spring Run Headwaters In Cumberland County
The Central Pennsylvania Conservancy Friday announced it has purchased the historic watercress farm at the bend on South Spring Garden Street just before its intersection with Bonnybrook Road in South Middleton Township, Cumberland County.
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PennFuture Opposes General Assembly's Attempt To Oust Fish & Boat Commission Executive Director
PennFuture said Thursday it strongly opposes the General Assembly’s attempt to remove Fish and Boat Commission Executive Director John Arway over the agency’s efforts to cut costs after elected officials failed to pass a reasonable process in how fishing-license fees are set, disregarding that the commission operates without any financial support from the general fund.
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Brodhead Chapter Trout Unlimited To Honor John Arway With Lifetime Achievement Award March 23 In Monroe County
The Brodhead Chapter of Trout Unlimited will honor John Arway, Executive Director of the Fish and Boat Commission, with a Lifetime Achievement Award at its Annual Banquet on March 23 at Ridgecrest at the Stroudsmoor Country Inn in Stroudsburg, Monroe County.
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Delaware Highlands Conservancy: Vote For Your Favorite Bald Eagle Photo
Voting is now open for the People’s Choice Award in the Delaware Highlands Conservancy Photo Contest. Vote for your favorite before March 15.
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Abnormal Shell Shapes In Northern Map Turtles Of The Juniata River
By Roy D. Nagle, Director Of Environmental Health & Safety, Juniata College
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Opportunity To Bid On DEP Abandoned Mine Projects in Carbon/Luzerne, Cambria Counties
The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the March 10 PA Bulletin of an opportunity to bid on abandoned mine reclamation projects in Carbon and Luzerne counties and Cambria County.
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Namsoo S. Suk, Ph.D. To Lead DRBC Science And Water Quality Management
The Delaware River Basin Commission Tuesday announced Namsoo S. Suk, Ph.D. has been named as Director of Science and Water Quality Management.
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Help Wanted: Lacawac Sanctuary Summer Camp Counselors
The Lacawac Sanctuary Environmental Education Center in Wayne County is seeking qualified candidates to fill multiple summer camp counselor positions for this year. The deadline for applications is March 15. Click Here for all the details.
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Help Wanted: PA Conservation District Assn Program Manager, Leadership Development Program Coordinator
The PA Association Of Conservation Districts is seeking qualified candidates to fill two positions: Program Manager and Leadership Development Program Coordinator.
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Public Participation Opportunities/Calendar Of Events
This section lists House and Senate Committee meetings, DEP and other public hearings and meetings and other interesting environmental events.
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Grants & Awards
This section gives you a heads up on upcoming deadlines for awards and grants and other recognition programs. NEW means new from last week.
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Environmental NewsClips - All Topics
Here are NewsClips from around the state on all environmental topics, including General Environment, Budget, Marcellus Shale, Watershed Protection and much more.
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Regulations, Technical Guidance & Permits
The Environmental Quality Board published notice in the March 10 PA Bulletin of a correction to proposed amendments to Storage Tank and Spill Prevention Program regulations.
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CLICK HERE To View Or Print Entire PA Environment Digest
CLICK HERE to Print The Entire PA Environment Digest. This Digest is 78 pages long.
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Stories Invited
Send your stories, photos and links to videos about your project, environmental issues or programs for publication in the PA Environment Digest to: PaEnviroDigest@gmail.com.
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Supporting Member PA Outdoor Writers Assn./PA Trout Unlimited
PA Environment Digest is a supporting member of the Pennsylvania Outdoor Writers Association, Pennsylvania Council Trout Unlimited and the Doc Fritchey Chapter Trout Unlimited.
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