The draft Phase III PA Chesapeake Bay Watershed Implementation Plan showing how Pennsylvania will meet its obligations to clean up water pollution in the 43 counties in the Bay watershed was released for public comment on April 12 with a comment period running until June 7.  (formal notice)

The Sustainable Business Network of Greater Philadelphia recently announced the finalists of the 2019 Excellence in Green Stormwater Infrastructure Awards.  The winners will be recognized at a special celebration on May 23 in Philadelphia.

On April 8, opponents and supporters of House Bill 11 (Mehaffie-R- Lancaster) adding nuclear power plants to the Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards got the chance to put their main talking points on record at the first of 4 hearings by the House Consumer Affairs Committee on the legislation.

If there was one thing presenters agreed on at the April 10 hearing by the Senate Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure Committee, finding a mechanism to put a price on carbon emissions from all energy generation would solve the problem of appropriate pricing of energy produced by nuclear power plants.

The agenda for the April 15 hearing by the House Consumer Affairs Committee on House Bill 11 (Mehaffie-R- Lancaster) adding nuclear power plants to the Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards will include representatives of natural gas, coal and nuclear energy and the Natural Resources Defense Council.

On April 10, Senate and House lawmakers were joined by renewable energy advocates to announce Senate and House legislation to expand the state’s Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards.

On April 8, Senators Camera Bartolotta (R-Washington) and Patrick Stefano (R-Fayette) proposed legislation to end the moratorium on leasing DCNR State Forest land for natural gas drilling and use the proceeds from new natural gas development to fund a Restore Pennsylvania-like environmental infrastructure program.

The House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee is scheduled to meet April 16 on a series of bills making fundamental changes to the way regulations are adopted, permits are reviewed and authorizing the arbitrary waiving of penalties and fines.

On April 11, DEP’s Air Quality Technical Advisory Committee voted to recommend DEP move ahead with a proposed regulation to control volatile organic compound emissions, with a “co-benefit” of reducing methane emissions from existing oil and gas operations.

The Environmental Quality Board published notice in the April 13 PA Bulletin inviting comments on proposed increases in Air Quality Permit Review Fees.  (PA Bulletin, page 1777)

On April 12, the Department of Environmental Protection announced a statewide sampling plan to identify drinking water supplies impacted by per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).

On April 10, Senate Bill 9 (Yaw-R-Lycoming) designating the Eastern Hellbender as the state amphibian and clean water ambassador (sponsor summary) was removed from the Table and placed on the House Calendar for action.

The following bills of interest saw action last week in the House and Senate--

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--

On April 10, Sen. John DiSanto (R-Dauphin) announced plans to introduce legislation to help mitigate the impact of reduced property taxes and payments as a result of power plants closing.

The House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee is scheduled to hold an informational meeting on April 17 to hear about the recycling industry and how it has been impacted by changes in China’s recycling policy.

On April 10, House Democratic lawmakers joined PennEnvironment zero waste pa announced a package of bills aimed at addressing single-use plastics, pervasive issues of litter and the various environmental harms caused by a "throwaway" society.

On April 10, Congressmen Matt Cartwright (D-PA), Hal Rogers (R-KY), Glenn Thompson (R-PA), and Don Beyer (D-VA) introduced bipartisan legislation to revitalize coal country by giving communities the funds they need to clean up abandoned mine lands.

The Allegheny County Conservation District will hold High School Envirothon competition on April 26 at Boyce Park.

On April 8, Pike and Wayne County Conservation Districts announced the winners of the 2019 Pike/Wayne Envirothon-- Canaan Christian Academy, Delaware Valley, Honesdale, Wallenpaupack and Western Wayne High School.  They will go on to compete in the Statewide Envirothon in May.

On April 29 100 students from 10 Westmoreland County high schools are scheduled to gather at Twin Lakes Park in Greensburg to compete in the annual Westmoreland County Envirothon.

The PA Environmental Council has made available the presentations, podcasts and the Shark Tank video from the 2019 Watershed Connections Conference in March.  The presentations include--

The Stroud Water Research Center and DCNR's Bureau of Forestry will host a Stream Ecology and Riparian Forest Buffer Workshop on May 7 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Center, 970 Spencer Road, Avondale, Chester County.

North Pocono CARE is seeking volunteers for a riparian buffer planting on May 4 along Choke Creek in Thornhurst Township, Lackawanna County starting at Noon.

TreePennsylvania is now accepting TreeVitalize grants to help communities increase urban tree cover and to plant urban riparian Buffers.  Letters of intent to apply are due May 1.

On April 12, the Susquehanna River Basin Commission, in partnership with the Pennsylvania Silver Jackets, has developed a tool that helps to show how far and deep the Susquehanna River extends at different flood levels.

The April issue of the award-winning PA Township News by the PA State Association of Township Supervisors includes 2 very informative features--

USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service-PA  is now offering Pennsylvania farmers and forestry producers more options for taking their land management to the next level with the revised Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP).

On April 10, the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service-PA recognized the more than 300 Pennsylvania Earth Team volunteers for their community conservation work in Pennsylvania as part of National Volunteer Week - April 7-13.

The April issue of The Catalyst newsletter is now available from the Butler County-based Slippery Rock Watershed Coalition is now available featuring articles on--

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the April 13 PA Bulletin inviting comments on a draft Tohickon Creek Stream Evaluation Report developed in response to a petition by the Tinicum Conservancy to reevaluate the designation of the creek.

The Susquehanna River Basin Commission recently released its 2018 Annual Report highlighting initiatives and accomplishments, including examples of its partnership efforts to address issues like flooding and improving water quality.

On April 9, the Department of Environmental Protection announced a settlement agreement with the City of Franklin and the City’s General Authority in Venango County for violations of the state Safe Drinking Water Act associated with an overfeed of fluoride in the Franklin water system in February 2018. 

The PA Environmental Council, in partnership with Northeast Eagle Distributors, Budweiser and the City of Pittston and Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful, will conduct an Illegal Dumpsite Cleanup in Luzerne County on April 27 from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

CleanScapes is seeking volunteers for several upcoming cleanup events in Clinton and Lycoming counties--

Earth Day, April 22, is quickly approaching and Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful invites all educators to check out the Litter Free School Zone Program.

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the April 13 PA Bulletin inviting comments on a new General Permit for the Reclamation of Forfeited Noncoal Mines (GP-106).

By Marchella Verdi, Penn State News

On April 8, Safety engineers from the Pipeline Safety Division – part of the independent Bureau of Investigation and Enforcement for the Public Utility Commission – have begun a formal investigation into an incident that occurred the afternoon of April 5, involving an explosion and fire that destroyed a home located 1625 Sycamore St., in Harrisburg.

On April 11, in conjunction with National Safe Digging Month, the Public Utility Commission reminded consumers, businesses and contractors of the importance of identifying underground infrastructure before digging to help ensure safety and highlighted the actions of the Damage Prevention Committee (DPC).

On April 11, the Public Utility Commission invited public comments on a proposed settlement agreement with Vista Energy Marketing LP (Vista Energy) following an investigation into the company’s marketing and sales practices as a licensed electric generation supplier (EGS) in Pennsylvania.

As part of Duquesne Light’s Electric Vehicle Charging Pilot Program, the company is offering rebates to commercial customers installing electric vehicle charging stations in the Pittsburgh Region.

Penn State University will host its annual Energy Days Conference on May 29-30 at the Penn Stater hotel and Conference Center in State College.

The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources published 2 notices of submerged land leases for oil and gas development in the April 13 PA Bulletin--

By Amy Duke, Penn State News

The Delaware Highlands Conservancy is hosting two workshops on land stewardship--

On April 9, Bridgeton Township in Bucks County, in partnership with the Tinicum Conservancy, completed the purchase of a 107-acre tract near the Delaware Canal and within walking distance of the newly established Pennsylvania Highlands Trail.

The South Mountain Partnership Speakers Series will host a “Charcoal Hearths, Collier Huts, and Haul Roads: Traces of the Iron Industry Across South Mountain” presentation on April 16  by Andre Weltman, Chair of the Friends of Pine Grove Furnace State Park.

On April 13, Hawk Mountain Sanctuary in Berks County will host the next program in its Spring Lecture Series with the presentation From Superfund Site To The Lehigh Gap Nature Environmental Education Center from Center Executive Director Dan Kunkle.

The Union County-based Wildlife Leadership Academy is seeking qualified candidates to fill Adult Mentor positions for its wildlife and fisheries summer field schools.

PennFuture is seeking qualified candidates to fill 2 positions-- Legal Program Director (location negotiable) and a Staff Attorney position in Pittsburgh.  Applications are due May 10.  Click Here for all the details.

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 99 pages long.

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