PA Environment News lets you keep up-to-date on Pennsylvania environmental and energy news the way you want it-- As It Happens, Daily or Weekly--

On July 17, the PA Environmental Defense Foundation filed a petition for declaratory relief with Commonwealth Court asking the Court to block transfers from DCNR’s Oil and Gas Lease Fund to pay for DCNR operating expenses in the FY 2019-20 budget.

The agenda for the July 24 DCNR Conservation and Natural Resources Advisory Council includes presentations on the proposed Penn’s Parks For All Strategic Draft Plan and the plan for making up lands lost to drilling in State Forests.

Growing Greener Coalition: “In April, lawmakers declared the eastern hellbender—a species sensitive to pollution—the official state amphibian. In June, they cut $16 million for projects to clean up Pennsylvania's waterways.”

By Dr. Richard Kaplan

Many, many people in Pennsylvania agree with the central point of this editorial that appeared in the July 15 Baltimore Sun--  Pennsylvania politicians aren’t pulling their weight when it comes to cleaning up our rivers and streams--

The Department of Environmental Protection will be accepting applications for EPA Section 319 Watershed Restoration and Planning Grants until August 9.  (formal notice)

On July 17, the PA Infrastructure Investment Authority approved the investment of $136 million for 17 drinking water, wastewater, storm water, and non-point source projects across 17 counties.

In May, the Pennsylvania Grade Crude (Oil) Development Advisory Council, created by the Senate and House to "advise" the state against adopting "unreasonable" regulations on the conventional oil and gas industry, released its annual report setting out its major goals for 2019, including "reinstatement of the practice of road spreading of brine [waste water from wells] on dirt and gravel roads."

It’s a safe bet we can all agree on the following. That when:

With weather forecasts calling for high heat and humidity and an increased risk for potentially severe thunderstorms, the Public Utility Commission Wednesday offered residents tips on conserving energy and staying cool, and what steps they can consider taking in the event of a power outage. 

The PJM has forecast a peak electricity use demand of 142,639 MW across its entire 13 state system for July 21 at 4:00 p.m.  The forecast peak for July 22 is 131,833 MW peak. 

On July 19, the Department of Environmental Protection reported mosquitoes in Penn Township, Snyder County tested positive for West Nile Virus this season bringing the total number of counties with positive results to 7 for this season.

The Pollinator Partnership, in conjunction with the Conservation Division at Fort Indiantown Gap National Guard Training Center, will be holding a workshop July 24 to involve volunteers interested in contributing to the protection of monarch butterflies and bees.

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 July 15, Attorney General Josh Shapiro and Lehigh Valley community leaders gathered for a press conference in Allentown to oppose the proposed rollback of America’s clean car standards by U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Andrew Wheeler and U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Deputy Administrator Heidi King.

The USDA’s Rural Energy for America Program is still accepting for more than $400 million in loan guarantees to help rural small businesses and farmers reduce their energy costs.

The draft language for DEP’s new PAG-01 erosion control and sedimentation General Permit for projects under 5 acres in size is now available and will be discussed at the July 25 DEP Water Resources Advisory Committee.

There is a new online source for environmental news in the Allegheny River Watershed in Northwestern PA-- The AlleghenyVoice.com.

By Diane M. Huskinson, Stroud Water Research Center

On July 16, the Department of Environmental Protection Northcentral Regional Director Marcus Kohl hosted a public open house where multiple agencies shared information about working in streams impacted by flooding and erosion.  

The Wildlife for Everyone Foundation will initiate the first enhancement to its proposed Wildlife Center, slated for construction in the Tom Ridge Wetlands along old Route 220 South in Huston Township, Centre County.

The Central PA Conservancy and Chesapeake Bay Foundation-PA have developed a formal partnership to host CBF's Student Action & Restoration Program's inaugural season.

By David Bressler, Sarah Ferrell, and Tara Muenz

The July 20 Wormleysburg Borough River Day in Cumberland County was a great success, in spite of the heat.

By Timothy B. Wheeler, Chesapeake Bay Journal

By Wildlands Conservancy

The PA Horticultural Society and the Philadelphia Water Department just completed the largest residential rain garden ever created in the city-- a project at the forefront in addressing a major environmental challenge faced by cities across the U.S.

The Tookany/Tacony-Frankford Watershed Partnership will host a Streamside Spruce-Up at Abington Jr. High School, 2056 Susquehanna Road,  Abington, Montgomery County July 27 from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

The Delaware River Basin Commission published a Request for Qualifications and Statement of Interest for consulting services to evaluate additional storage options for meeting water demands and managing flows in the Delaware River Basin during periods of low flow or drought.  Proposals are due September 13.

Registration is now open for the 7th Annual Delaware River Watershed Forum to be held October 16-17 at the Renaissance Allentown Hotel.

On July 19, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced the award of 21 Small Business Environmental Technology Grants, including one to AAPlasma, LLC in Philadelphia.

Litter and trash along Pennsylvania’s roadways is not only unsightly, it can also be dangerous. Since 1990, Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful has offered adoption programs for local residents, organizations, civic groups, and businesses to be part of the solution.

Over 3,500 pounds of organics and recyclable material were collected during the Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts, The People’s Choice Festival & Heritage Days, according to the Centre County Recycling and Refuse Authority. 

The Greater Lebanon Refuse Authority offers At Your Door Household Hazardous Waste Collection by appointment for Lebanon County residents.

The Engineers’ Society of Western PA and DEP are now accepting presentation proposals for the 2020 PA Brownfield Conference to be held March 9-11 in State College.  Proposals are due September 27.

The Department of Environmental Protection will hold a public hearing on the Hazardous Sites Cleanup Act cleanup plan for the Pool Doctor-Beaver Alkali Products Site in Rochester, Beaver County September 4. (July 20 PA Bulletin, page 3803)

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the July 20 PA Bulletin of an August 17  hearing, if needed, on the RACT II Air Quality Plan for Alumax Mill Products in Lancaster County. (PA Bulletin page 3784)

On July 17, A total of 88 disciplinary actions, including $44,150 in administrative penalties, have been taken against 53 underground facility owners, excavators and project owners in the latest enforcement actions by the Public Utility Commission’s Damage Prevention Committee. 

On July 16, the Commonwealth Financing Authority announced approval of 3 Pipeline Investment Program (PIPE) grants to extend natural gas service to households and businesses in Butler, Crawford and Northampton counties.

On July 16, Gov. Tom Wolf joined Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding and representatives from the Department of Agriculture, Penn State University, and USDA at a Harrisburg site populated with Spotted Lanternflies to view the treatment being conducted across the Commonwealth.

New resources are available to landscape professionals and landowners to identify and control the invasive tree-of-heaven and the spotted lanternfly.

The Department of Agriculture and the Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences will hold a live conversation on Facebook July 30 called Bad Bug Live starting at 6:00 p.m. to answer your questions about the spotted lanternfly.

By Clarion University News

On July 16, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn joined Bureau of Forestry and other state officials in dedicating a 486-acre addition to Delaware State Forest in Pike County.

The Central PA Conservancy recently announced the Appalachian Trail Museum will assume responsibility for operating the Ironmaster's Mansion in Adams County as of January 1, 2020, following the end of CPC's 10-year lease with DCNR.

Friends of Allegheny Wilderness volunteers are now in our 19th season of doing trail work in the Allegheny National Forest! The next Trail Stewardship weekend will be July 26, 27 and 28 in the Hickory Creek Wilderness in Warren County.

The American Chestnut Foundation is now accepting proposals for funding to support American Chestnut research.  Proposals are due August 16.

The American Chestnut Foundation is now accepting entries for the 2019 Chestnut Photo Contest.  Entries are due September 2.

The PA Land Trust Association has published new and updated guides so far this year on 2 dozen topics of interest to land trusts and landowners.  The guides and much more can be found on PALTA’s Conservation Tools website.

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 week 97 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.

PA Environment Digest is proud to be a sponsor of the 2019 PA Abandoned Mine Reclamation and National Abandoned Mine Lands Program Conference to be held in Pittsburgh on September 8-11.

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