The Public Utility Commission Thursday voted 3 to 2 to partially lift its shutdown of construction of the Mariner East 2 and 2x Pipelines in 8 areas in West Whiteland Township, Chester County, but the shutdown remains in effect at 4 other locations in the Township until Sunoco receives permits for those locations from DEP.

StateImpact’s Marie Cusick Monday reported the departments of Environmental Protection,  Conservation and Natural Resources and Community and Economic Development submitted comments to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission on July 25 (the last day for comments) making recommendations to improve that agency’s pipeline review process. (Docket No. PL18-1-000)

The Governor’s Office published the semi-annual Regulatory Agenda listing regulations in development by state agencies in the August 4 PA Bulletin. (PA Bulletin, page 4729)

By John Childe, PA Environmental Defense Foundation

Pennsylvania and Wyoming recently unveiled a new Our Work’s Not Done website to help educate lawmakers and the public about the abandoned reclamation challenge across the United States and the urgent need to reauthorize the federal Abandoned Mine Reclamation fee.

By Len Lichvar, Somerset Conservation District

The August issue of Township News from the PA State Association of Township Supervisors features an article on Saving The Forests Using Comprehensive Plans to Protect Woodlands And The Benefits They Provide.

A record-high number of “reportable outage events” impacted electric utility customers across Pennsylvania during 2017, according to the latest Electric Service Reliability Report, released Tuesday by the Public Utility Commission.

The Municipal Waste Planning, Recycling and Waste Reduction Act (Act 101) was signed into law 30 years ago on July 28, 1988.

Pennsylvania’s Hazardous Sites Cleanup Act was signed into law 30 years ago on October 18, 1988 as a companion to the federal Superfund enacted in 1980 on the heels of finding 21,000 tons of toxic industrial waste in the Love Canal neighborhood near Niagara Falls.

Fish and Boat Commission Executive Director John Arway Tuesday announced he will be retiring on November 2 after 38 years of service to the Commission.

The Coldwater Heritage Partnership will begin accepting applications for its 2019 grant round on September 1.  Projected program funding is approximately $70,000. The deadline for applications is December 15.

The departments of Agriculture and Health Tuesday announced tests by the National Veterinary Services Laboratory in Ames, Iowa have confirmed the presence of Asian, or longhorn tick, Haemaphysalis longicornis, in Pennsylvania.

Receding floodwaters and heavy rains across Pennsylvania are creating a perfect storm of conditions, that have contributed to the highest level of West Nile Virus activity in the mosquito population since the disease was first introduced in 2000.

The Department of Environmental Protection Friday announced its West Nile Virus Program will conduct a mosquito control operation to reduce high populations of mosquitoes on Monday, August 6 in Ligonier Borough and portions of Ligonier Township, Westmoreland County.  (Click Here for more.)

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--

Triblive.com’s Patrick Varine Monday reported the U.S. Department of Agriculture invited rural communities across the United States to apply for grants and loans to upgrade and rebuild rural water infrastructure.

By John Walliser, PA Environmental Council

If you care about public lands, outdoor recreation, community parks, protecting natural lands, clean water, and preserving heritage areas, you need to know about the importance of the Land and Water Conservation Fund.

Attorney General Josh Shapiro Thursday announced Pennsylvania was joining a coalition of 19 states and the District of Columbia announcing an intention to challenge EPA’s proposed rollback of the clean vehicle standards for new cars and trucks.

By Jeff Mulhollem, Penn State News

Pike County Conservation District received $1,000 to develop an educational brochure that will include a step-by-step guide to help homeowners better understand the process of completing the most common General Permits: GP #2 for Small Docks and GP #3 for Streambank Stabilization.

The 2018 Pennsylvania Stormwater Conference will be held October 18 in Butler County and November 16 in Montgomery County.   The Conference is being hosted by the PA State Association of Township Supervisors.

The PA Resources Council will hold a Watershed Awareness, Rain Barrel Workshop on September 27 from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. at the Phipps Garden Center in Mellon Park, Allegheny County.

The PA Horticultural Society, Penn State Extension and Tree Pittsburgh will hold Tree Tender classes between now and the end of the year.  Here’s a rundown.

The Delaware River Basin Commission is scheduled to hold a hearing on water withdrawal requests on August 15 and its regular business meeting on September 15.  (formal notice)

The Susquehanna River Basin Commission Monday published its latest online newsletter featuring articles on--

By  Colleen Connolly, DEP Northeast Regional Office

Penn State Extension will offer a Biochar and Torrefied Biomass Short Course on October 24-25 at the Penn State University Agricultural Engineering Building, Shortlidge Road, University Park.

The PA Resources Council Wednesday released its Fall schedule of Recycling Awareness, Backyard Composting and Vermicomposting Workshops and Hard-To-Recycle Collection Events in Allegheny County.

The PA Technical Assistance Program hosts a What Will The Definition Of Solid Waste Rule Exclusion Mean For Your Business? Webinar on August 16 from Noon to 1:00.

Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful invites residents, civic organizations and businesses to coordinate a cleanup or join an existing cleanup, as part of the 2018 International Coastal Cleanup.   KPB is proud to coordinate this effort in Pennsylvania.

With the new school year approaching, 11 schools in seven counties are protecting students’ safety by improving management of laboratory chemicals in the 2017-2018 Schools Chemical Cleanout Campaign led by the Department of Environmental Protection.

Northampton County-based Crayola offers a free Crayola marker recycling program-- Crayola ColorCycle-- to schools across North America to help kids understand the importance of their role in protecting the environment.

The Public Utility Commission Monday announced it has scheduled 4 additional public input hearings to gather public input regarding electric transmission line applications and other related filings submitted by Transource Pennsylvania LLC to be held on September 18 and 20 in Franklin and York counties.

The Pocono Raceway in Monroe County recently shared their green initiative successes and future goals.

UGI Utilities, Inc. conducted a ribbon-cutting ceremony Monday to mark the opening of its Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) fueling station at the Company’s office located on City Line Avenue in Bethlehem.

By Carlos Garcia, Energy Fellow, PA Environmental Council

The PA Environmental Council In Case You Missed It In July Thursday featured articles on--

The looming threat posed by the invasive spotted lanternfly will take center stage in the College of Agricultural Sciences Exhibits Building and Theatre during Penn State's Ag Progress Days, August 14-16 at the Russell E. Larson Agricultural Research Center, Pennsylvania Furnace, Huntingdon County (near State College).

The PPL Foundation is now accepting applications for PPL Empowering Educators Grants to provide funding power for teachers to bring their ideas to life and spark students’ interest in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).

Project Learning Tree is now accepting applications for Environmental Education Grants to support local programs through September 30.

The Brodhead Watershed Association will host another it its series of Water Wiser Kids Programs August 17, this time an Insect Safari at the ForEvergreen Nature Preserve in Analomink, Monroe County from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m.

The benefits of creating pollinator-friendly landscapes is a focus of the Yard and Garden Area this year at Ag Progress Days, August 14-16 at the Russell E. Larson Agricultural Research Center, Pennsylvania Furnace, Huntingdon County (near State College).

The Cumberland County Master Gardeners will host a Gardening With Nature: Butterfly Gardening Workshop on August 21 at the Cleve J. Fredricksen Library, 100 N. 19th Street in Camp Hill, Cumberland County from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m.

The Wildlands Conservancy Monday highlighted education programs and activities coming up in August.  Among the programs are--

The Harrisburg [Area] Bicycle Club and American Cancer Society Tuesday announced they have partnered for the annual Three Creek Century ride on September 16 to raise money for the American Cancer Society.

The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Thursday announced the award of $488,000 in snowmobile and ATV trails grants for 5 projects.

In addition to their primary mission of working with local communities to ensure increased wilderness protection is a priority of the stewardship of the Allegheny National Forest in Warren County, Friends of Allegheny Wilderness over the last 17 years has also been faithfully stewarding the 13-mile Hickory Creek Wilderness hiking trail.

We’re now in the midst of summer and many campers and hikers strolling through Penn’s Woods can enjoy a treat along the way.

The organizers of the PA Recreation and Park Society 2019 Conference will be accepting conference presentations proposals until August 15.

In June, Hawk Mountain Sanctuary staff and trainees successfully trapped and tagged two adult male broad-winged hawks, the first males to ever be equipped with satellite transmitters.

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation-PA Tuesday named Laurel Spagnolo Director of Major Giving in Pennsylvania.

The Hancock, NY-based Friends of the Upper Delaware is seeking qualified candidates for a Watershed Program Policy Director.

Trout Unlimited is seeking qualified candidates to fill the position of Eastern Conservation Grant Accountant, under the direction of the Northeast Habitat Program Director, will serve as a primary liaison between Eastern Conservation program staff and the national accounting staff located in Arlington, Virginia.

Here are NewsClips from around the state on all environmental topics, including General Environment, Budget, Marcellus Shale, Watershed Protection and much more.

This section lists House and Senate Committee meetings, DEP and other public hearings and meetings and other interesting environmental events.

This section gives you a heads up on upcoming deadlines for awards and grants and other recognition programs.  NEW means new from last week.

Here are highlights of actions taken by agencies on environmental regulations, technical guidance and permits.

CLICK HERE to View or Print the entire PA Environment Digest.  This Digest is 89 pages long.

PA Environment Digest is edited by David E. Hess, former Secretary Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.  He can be contacted by sending email to: PaEnviroDigest@gmail.com.

PA Environment Digest is a supporting member of the Pennsylvania Outdoor Writers Association, Pennsylvania Council Trout Unlimited and the Doc Fritchey Chapter Trout Unlimited.