Organic farmer and Associate Professor of Agriculture Jennifer Taylor, children’s health researcher Phillip Landrigan, and Gov. Tom Wolf will be honored with 2019 Organic Pioneer Awards for their perseverance and commitment to growing the organic movement

On August 22, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced it is recognizing federal facilities across the country for conserving resources and saving taxpayers’ money as part of the Federal Green Challenge. 

Hawk Mountain Sanctuary in Berks County will dedicate an official Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission roadside marker on September 14 at 11:00 a.m. in the Visitor Center Gallery.

On August 23, DEP submitted Pennsylvania’s final Chesapeake Bay Watershed Implementation Plan to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for its review of whether it meets the Commonwealth’s obligations to reduce water pollution going to the Bay enough to meet the 2025 goals.

In a statement on August 23, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation called Pennsylvania's final Plan for meeting its 2025 obligations to reduce water pollution going to the Bay "sorely deficient," for being more than 25 percent short of reaching its reduction goal for nitrogen and having an annual funding gap of over $320 million.

On August 21, the House Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee held a hearing on House Bill 1568 sponsored by Rep. Carolyn Comitta (D-Chester) and Rep. Chris Quinn (R-Delaware) establishing a new Pipeline Safety and Communication Board.

On August 20, the Department of Environmental Protection announced it is terminating the delegated permitting and inspection authority of the Beaver County Conservation District for the erosion and sediment control (E&S) program.

On August 21, in a letter to the Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Patrick McDonnell, Beaver County citizen groups and regional environmental groups praised DEP’s actions to suspend the Beaver County Conservation District’s authority to review and issue permits because of severe deficiencies noted in the DEP’s recent audit of the BCCD. 

On August 22, the departments of Transportation and Environmental Protection announced students in grades 9-12 are invited to participate in the 3rd PennDOT Innovations Challenge which encourages students to use their problem-solving, creative and strategic-thinking abilities to solve real-world transportation challenges in a competition among their peers.

On August 19, the Game Commission and the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Veterinary Medicine announced a new PA Wildlife Futures Program partnership to address Chronic Wasting Disease, West Nile Virus, Wnite-Nose Syndrome in wildlife head-on.

On August 20, the Game and Fish and Boat Commissions announced publication of the new Conservation Opportunity Area Tool. This free, innovative and interactive web-based map puts features of the 2015-2025 Pennsylvania Wildlife Action Plan at your fingertips.

On August 19, the Department of Environmental Protection issued a notice of violation to the Borough of Carlisle in Cumberland County saying contractors working on sewer pipe near Letort Spring Run likely resulted in a discharge of heated water mixed with a Styrene-based resin that discharged upstream from the site of the July 31 fish kill.

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 August 22, Rep. Carolyn Comitta (D-Chester) and Rep. Kristine Howard (D-Chester) toured a Mariner East 1 pipeline site in Chester County with Gov. Tom Wolf and Department of Environmental Protection Executive Deputy Secretary Ramez Ziadeh.

On August 22, Gov. Tom Wolf announced the U.S. Small Business Administration approved his request to declare a disaster in Clarion County after intense storms produced damaging flash flooding between July 19 and 20, 2019.

On August 22, Gov. Tom Wolf was joined by Representatives Todd Stephens (R-Montgomery)  and Meghan Schroeder (R-Bucks) to announce $3.8 million in new funding to help address PFAS water contamination treatment in Warminster, Warrington and Warwick townships in Bucks County and Horsham Township in Montgomery County.

On August 19, the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources reminded groups apply applying for 2  grant programs related to stream side buffers and ATV-related projects.

On August 19, the Fish and Boat Commission announced it is now accepting applications for grants to support fisheries, aquatic habitat enhancement, recreational access and water quality in the Tulpehocken Creek and Quittapahilla Creek watersheds in Berks and Lebanon counties.

By Vincent Cotrone, Penn State Extension Urban Forester

Registration is now open for the Villanova University Biennial Stormwater Management Symposium to be held October 16 and 17 at Villanova with the theme is Building Resilience into Stormwater. 

The Department of Environmental Protection is inviting comments on an alternative restoration plan for the Fishing Creek Watershed in Lancaster County (August 24 PA Bulletin page 4908).

By: Tom Decker, Community Relations Coordinator, DEP Northwest Regional Office

Penn State’s Center for Contaminants of Emerging Concern is looking for 60 volunteers in Pennsylvania to be part of a citizen science effort to identify endocrine disrupting compounds of concern in the Susquehanna River Watershed..

The Penn State Master Watershed Stewards in Lehigh and Northampton counties will host two upcoming TapTalks--  September 5 on the History of Water Quality In The Lehigh Valley and on October 3 on The Power Of Water.

Penn State Extension will hold a Dive Even Deeper: Mining and Water Quality Workshop for Educators on September 20 at the Jennings Environmental Education Center in Butler County.

Penn State Extension will hold a Dive Even Deeper: Bog Environments Workshop for Educators September 20 at the Kettle Creek Environmental Education Center in Monroe County

The Lehigh Valley’s Wildlands Conservancy recently highlighted just some of the fun programs they have coming up in September--

Need to get rid of tires or wheels from your car or truck? The Independence Conservancy will hold its next series of community tire collection events from 9:00 a.m. to Noon at these locations in Beaver County--

Local environmental advisory council members and municipal leaders are invited to attend a community-focused workshop and networking on September 14 at The Discovery Center, a unique wildlife sanctuary on a protected reservoir in East Fairmount Park, Philadelphia. 

The PA Association of Environmental Professionals are now accepting presentation proposals for the 2020 Annual Conference to be held in State College May 6-8.  The deadline for proposals is September 30.

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the August 24 PA Bulletin of an October 2 hearing [if needed] on the RACT II Air Quality Plan for the GE Transportation Plant operated by Wabtec US Rail, Inc. in Pine Township, Mercer County (PA Bulletin page 4907).

The Public Utility Commission published notice in the August 24 PA Bulletin of its final Distribution Rates Policy Statement identifying factors the Commission will consider when utilities propose alternative ratemaking mechanisms and rate designs in distribution base rate proceedings that promotes the efficient use of electricity, natural gas or water, the use of distributed energy resources; and reduce disincentives for efficient use and resources to ensure adequate revenue to maintain the safe and reliable operation of fixed utility distribution systems.

On August 22, the PennEnvironment Research and Policy Center released a new study saying Pennsylvania has seen major increases in the amount of electricity it gets from the sun and wind since 2009, but the report shows that the Commonwealth isn't keeping up with many of the states that are more aggressively tapping into clean energy opportunities.

The Penn State Technical Assistance Program will host a September 19 webinar on E3-Economy, Energy and Environment For Food Industries from Noon to 1:00 p.m.

Richard Lewis is the President of the Pennsylvania Forestry Association and a partner in the South Mountain Partnership, among other affiliations.

By Nicole Kindbeiter, Brandywine Conservancy

The Hawk Mountain Sanctuary in Berks County will host its annual Autumn Native Plant Sale on September 14 outside of the Visitor Center from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., featuring over 100 species of native trees, grasses, vines, shrubs, and flowering plants.

As Pennsylvanians grow more aware of the seriousness of the ecological threat posed by the invasive spotted lanternfly, DCNR is taking some steps to help respond.

On August 22, the PA Agricultural Land Preservation Board took action to preserve another 2,760 acres of farmland on 40 farms in 17 counties bringing the total of acres preserved by the program since 1988 to 572,528 in 59 counties.

In 2007, the Manada Conservancy placed a conservation easement on the 41-acre heart of a unique swamp ecosystem on the north side of Peter’s Mountain in Wayne Township, Dauphin County.

Get Outdoors PA Exchanges are jam-packed educational events designed for recreation and conservation professionals, environmental educators, and outdoor advocates. Lunch is provided, and registration is required. Exchanges will be held:

The August 21 edition of the Resource newsletter is now available from the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources featuring articles on--

The August 23 Take Five Fridays With Pam is now available from the PA Parks and Forests Foundation featuring articles on--

History of Art of the Minisink Region: The Pinchot Connection, is the topic of a free lecture on September 7 at 5:30 p.m. at Gifford Pinchot’s Grey Towers National Historic Site in Milford, Pike County.

Experience the beauty and healing that can be found within the natural world at the program, “Seeing the Forest Through the Trees: Finding Deeper Meaning in Nature,” on September 22  from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. at Gifford Pinchot’s Grey Towers National Historic Site, Milford, Pike County.

The U.S. Geological Survey is seeking qualified candidates for hydrologist positions based in their Fairview, York County office near Harrisburg--

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 96 page 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 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.