Scrapbook Photo 03/25/24 - 93 New Stories - REAL Environmental & Conservation Leadership In PA: http://tinyurl.com/3729bhvv
Weekly PA Environment Digest Newsletter
April 22, 2019 - Earth Day - Issue #773
(4/22/2019)
* Pennsylvania’s Conservation Activism Began Long Before The First Earth Day On April 22, 1970

This week we celebrate the 49th anniversary of the first Earth Day in 1970, but we in Pennsylvania need to remember environmental activism has a long and rich history here that begins way before that.

* Winners Of Governor's Award For Environmental Excellence Celebrated

On April 16, the winners of the  2019 Governor’s Award for Environmental Excellence were celebrated at a special Awards Program in Harrisburg hosted by the PA Environmental Council.

* PennFuture To Honor 8 Winners Of Central PA Women In Conservation Awards April 25

On April 25 PennFuture will honor the 8 winners of the Women in Conservation Awards at a special celebration at the susquehanna Club in New Cumberland, Cumberland County from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m.

* DEP Releases Water Quality Assessment Showing 40% Of PA Streams Polluted By Agriculture, Abandoned Mines, Stormwater Runoff

On April 18, the Department of Environmental Protection released its 2018 Integrated Water Quality Monitoring and Assessment Report, the biennial comprehensive analysis of the water quality status of the more than 86,000 miles of streams and rivers and more than 160,000 acres of lakes in Pennsylvania required by the federal Clean Water Act.

* Bay Journal: Pennsylvania's New Chesapeake Bay Plan Falls Well Short Of Cleanup Goals

By Karl Blankenship, Chesapeake Bay Journal

* Senators Scarnati, Yaw File Court Action To Compel DEP, EQB To Set Manganese Standard

Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati (R-Jefferson) and Sen. Gene Yaw (R-Lycoming), Majority Chair of the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, filed a petition on March 29 asking Commonwealth Court for mandamus relief to compel DEP and the Environmental Quality Board to set a water quality standard for manganese as required by an October 2017 rider to an Administrative Code budget bill.

* Gov. Wolf Announces $69 Million Investment In Water Infrastructure Projects In 14 Counties

On April 17, Gov. Tom Wolf announced the investment of $69 million for 20 drinking water, wastewater, stormwater, and nonpoint source projects across 14 counties through the PA Infrastructure Investment Authority.

* EQB Accepts Cap-And-Trade Petition For Evaluation; State Does Have Authority To Adopt A Greenhouse Gas Reduction Program

On April 16, the Environmental Quality Board voted 14 to 5 to accept a rulemaking petition to create a Cap-And-Trade Program for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in Pennsylvania for evaluation.

* Nuclear Power Plant Owners Again Oppose Financial Needs Test To Receive Aid To Keep Plants Open At House Hearing

Talen Energy last week, and now Exelon told the House Consumer Affairs Committee at an April 15 hearing it would not support a financial needs test if it was added to House Bill 11 (Mehaffie-R- Lancaster) adding nuclear power plants to the Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards.

* House Environmental Committee To Hold April 29 Info Meeting On Nuclear Waste Containment In Light Of TMI Closure

The House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee is scheduled to hold an informational meeting on April 29 on nuclear waste containment in light of the pending closure of the Three Mile Island Nuclear Power Plant.

* House Democratic Policy Committee Holds April 22 Montgomery County Hearing On Future Of Nuclear Energy

The House Democratic Policy Committee is scheduled to hold a hearing on the future of nuclear energy and its impact on the Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards April 22 in Montgomery County. 

* Senate Democratic Policy Committee Holds April 23 Hearing On Methane Emissions, Climate Change In Pittsburgh

The Senate Democratic Policy Committee will hold a hearing April 23 in Pittsburgh on methane emissions and climate change, according to Sen. Lisa Boscola (D-Lehigh), Chair of the Committee..

* DEP Climate Change Advisory Committee Meets April 23 On PA Greenhouse Gas Inventory; Final Climate Action Plan Update Due Any Time

The DEP Climate Change Advisory Committee is scheduled to meet on April 23 to discuss a revised Pennsylvania Greenhouse Gas Inventory and an update on the Climate Impacts Assessment.

* Sunoco/Energy Transfer Partners Gives PUC Notice It Will Restart Mariner East 1 Pipeline Monday

On April 19, the Public Utility Commission's Bureau of Investigation and Enforcement received notice from Sunoco Pipeline LP, a/k/a Energy Transfer Partners, of Sunoco’s intent to restart the Mariner East 1 (ME1) pipeline.

* PUC Investigation Finds No Petroleum Pipeline Leak In Berks County

On April 19, the Public Utility Commission announced an extensive investigation concerning a petroleum pipeline located in Berks County by the Bureau of Investigation & Enforcement (I&E) has concluded that there is no evidence of a pipeline leak.

* Sen. Yaw To Introduce Bill To Ban Sale Of PA Natural Gas To States That Impede Pipeline Development

On April 17, Sen. Gene Yaw (R-Lycoming), Majority Chair of the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, announced in a speech at the UpStreamPA Natural Gas Conference in State College his plans to introduce legislation to ban the sale or transport of Pennsylvania natural gas to states that impede the development of natural gas pipelines.

* House Environmental Committee Reports Out Bill Authorizing The General Assembly To Kill Regulations By Doing Nothing

On April 16, the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee reported out 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.

* House Passes Bill Authorizing Fish & Boat Commission To Set Own Fees, Now Goes To Senate

On April 17, the House voted 151 to 39 to pass House Bill 808 (Mehaffie-R-Dauphin) authorizing the Fish and Boat Commission to set its own fees for 3 years (sponsor summary).

* House Passes Bill Designating Eastern Hellbender PA’s Official State Amphibian, Clean Water Ambassador, Now Goes To Governor!

On April 16,  Senate Bill 9 (Yaw-R-Lycoming) designating the Eastern Hellbender as the state amphibian and clean water ambassador (sponsor summary) was passed by the House without amendment by a vote of 191 to 6.

* Keep PA Beautiful Recommends Comprehensive Strategy For Reducing Litter, Illegal Dumping

On April 17, Shannon Reiter, President of Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful, appeared before a joint meeting of the House Tourism and Recreational Development and Transportation Committees for an informational meeting on anti-litter initiatives and their impact on tourism.

* Celebrate Earth Day By Joining Keep PA Beautiful’s Great American Cleanup Of PA

In celebration of Earth Day, April 22, Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful encourages residents to volunteer for one of the dozens of cleanup events now going on as part of the 2019 Great American Cleanup of PA.

* House Committee Finds Curbside, Electronics Waste Recycling Continues To Struggle; Taking $10 Million From Recycling Fund Won’t Help

On April 17, the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee heard from a number of presenters that curbside recycling faces significant challenges as a result of the change in policies for accepting recycled materials by China and the state’s electronics waste recycling program continues to be broken and should be fixed.

* Senate/House Bills Moving Last Week

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

* Bills On Governor's Desk

The following bills were given final approval by the Senate and House and are now on the Governor's desk for action--

* Senate/House Agenda/Session 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--

* Philadelphia Green City, Clean Waters Green Infrastructure Program Saves $50 Million/Year, Generated $4 Billion In Economic Impact So Far

New research released by the Sustainable Business Network of Greater Philadelphia has found Philadelphia’s Green City, Clean Waters Green Infrastructure Program has produced $4 billion in economic impact in its first 8 years, saved the City $50 million annually in avoided health costs and access to open space and generates an average of 1,160 jobs annually.

* Study Shows 150% Return On Investment For Cleaning Up Little Conemaugh Watershed, Cambria County

The Foundation for Pennsylvania Watersheds recently released a study of the Little Conemaugh Watershed in Cambria County which found a 150 percent return on investment for detoxifying local rivers and denuded landscape.

* PA Sustainable Agriculture: Designing A Rotational Grazing Plan Workshop May 2 In Mifflin County

The PA Association for Sustainable Agriculture is hosting a Designing A Rotational Grazing Plan Workshop at the Hameau Farm, 6364 State Route 655 in Belleville, Mifflin County from 10:00 to 3:00.

* Penn State Launches Water & Agriculture Website On Water Quality, Quantity Issues

Water for Agriculture, a Penn State-led interdisciplinary research project funded by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Institute on Food and Agriculture, has announced the launching of its website.

* Volunteers Plant 1,500 Trees Along White Clay Creek In Chester County

Stroud Water Research Center celebrated National Volunteer Week on a beautiful spring afternoon by planting six acres (approximately 261,360 square feet) adjacent to an intermittent swale and tributary of White Clay Creek at the Brandywine Polo Club in Chester County.

* Help Tree Pittsburgh Plant 1,000 Trees On Arbor Day April 27

Help Tree Pittsburgh and the Quaker Valley Recreation Association plant 1,000 trees on Arbor Day April 27 from 9:00 a.m. to Noon.

* Wildlife For Everyone Foundation Rescues Seedlings For Schools Program, Expands To Pollinator Gardens

The fact that central Pennsylvania received an inordinate amount of rainfall last year can’t be disputed. No one knows this better than the staff at Howard Nursery, an entity of the Game Commission that produces bare-root seedlings for wildlife food and cover on state game lands.

* DCNR, Corrections Collaboration To Teach Inmates Tree Maintenance Recognized Nationally By Fast Company

A program, which provides training in tree maintenance for a select group of inmates at State Correctional Institution Rockview in Centre County, received an honorable mention by Fast Company in its 2019 World Changing Ideas Awards.

* Stroud Water Research Center Hosts Brown Bag Lecture On Spotted Lanternfly April 23 In Chester County

The Stroud Water Research Center will host a Brown Bag Lecture on the Invasive Spotted Lanternfly at the Center, 970 Spencer Road in Avondale, Chester County from Noon to 1:00 p.m.

* Make Plans To Go To Lancaster County’s Water Week Events June 1-8

The Lancaster Conservancy and many partners will hold their annual Lancaster Water Week education and action events from June 1 to 8.

* DEP Invites Submissions Of Water Quality Data For Stream Evaluations In Centre County

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the April 20 PA Bulletin inviting the submission of water quality data for streams evaluations for Slab Cabin Run, Thompson Run and Roaring Run in Centre County.

* Susquehanna River Basin Commission Holds Hearing May 9, Business Meeting June 14

The Susquehanna River Basin Commission is scheduled to hold a public hearing May 9 on water withdrawal requests in Room 8-B East Wing Capitol Building in Harrisburg starting at 2:30.  (formal notice & agenda)

* Vote Now For PA Entry! For Chesapeake Bay Foundation Viewers’ Choice Photo Contest Award

Voting is now underway for the 2019 Viewers’ Choice Award in the Chesapeake Bay Foundation Save The Bay Photo Contest.  The deadline for voting is 5:00 p.m. April 26.  All winners will be announced on May 6.

* Independence Conservancy Holds 4 Waste Tire Collection Events In Allegheny, Beaver Counties

Need to get rid of tires or wheels from your car or truck? The Independence Conservancy will hold affordable community tire cochlections in cooperation with the following municipalities this spring--

* Columbia Gas Employees Celebrate Earth Day With Cleanup In Beaver County

In celebration of Earth Day, Columbia Gas of Pennsylvania partnered with Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful to organize a local Beaver County cleanup and beautification event as part of the 2019 Great American Cleanup of PA.

* DEP Will Soon Begin Black Fly Spraying In 35 Counties

On April 18, the Department of Environmental Protection announced it will begin both aerial and backpack spraying on roughly 1,700 stream miles in 35 counties to control black flies.

* DEP Accepting Alternative Fuel Incentive Vehicle Grants Starting April 26

The Department of Environmental Protection will begin accepting applications for its Alternative Fuels Incentive Vehicle Grants on April 26 and will continue to accept applications through December 13.  (formal notice)

* Updates To DCNR’s EDWIN Database Of PA Oil & Gas Well Information

DCNR’s Pennsylvania Geological Survey manages the Exploration and Development Well Information Network (EDWIN) to provide users access to the state’s 180,000-plus oil and gas wells of record.

* Gov. Wolf Reappoints Gladys Brown Dutrieuille As PUC Chairman

On April 17, Gov. Tom Wolf reappointed Gladys Brown Dutrieuille as Chairman of the Public Utility Commission, effective immediately.

* 31 Farms, 3,134 Acres Added To Farmland Preservation Program

On April 15, the Department of Agriculture announced Agricultural Land Preservation Board at its April meeting safeguarded 3,134 additional acres on 31 farms in 17 counties through the state’s nation-leading farmland preservation program.

* Land Conservancy Of Adams County Protects 80-Acre Farm

Working in partnership with Hamilton Township landowner Don Stabler, the Land Conservancy of Adams County has placed 80.16 acres of farmland under a conservation easement, ensuring the land will remain undeveloped in perpetuity, in accordance with the landowner’s wishes.

* French & Pickering Creeks Conservation Trust Preserves Family Farm In Chester County

In March, French & Pickering Creeks Conservation Trust preserved a 10.4-acre family farm in Charlestown Township, Chester County adding to the 1,100 acres of beautiful open space in the township.

* Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor Accepting Lehigh Valley Greenways Mini Grants Until May 3

Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor is now accepting applications for Lehigh Valley Greenways Mini Grants for projects located in Lehigh or Northampton counties. The deadline for applications is May 3.

* DCNR Good Natured Pennsylvanians: Mark Houser Uses His Passion As A Diver To Clean Up Lakes

Mark Houser is a Solid Waste Specialist for the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) who uses his passion for SCUBA diving to help clean up lakes in state parks.

* April 17 Resource Newsletter Now Available From DCNR

The April 17 Resource newsletter is now available from the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources featuring these stories--

* Gifford Pinchot's Grey Towers In Pike County Announces 2019 Program Schedule

Tours, music, lectures and public signature events are planned for the 2019 season at Grey Towers National Historic Site, Milford, Pike County.

* 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.

* 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.

* 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.

* Regulations, Technical Guidance & Permits

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

* CLICK HERE To View Or Print Entire PA Environment Digest

CLICK HERE to View or Print the entire PA Environment Digest. This Digest is 116 pages long.

* Stories Invited - About PA Environment Digest

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.

* PA Environment Digest Proudly Helps Sponsor These Award, Educational Programs

PA Environment Digest is a proud sponsor of these award and educational programs--

* 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.

Previous PA Environment Digests