By William Baker, Chesapeake Bay Foundation

On October 10, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency  announced nearly $12.7 million in grants to support the restoration and conservation of the Chesapeake Bay watershed in six U.S. states and the District of Columbia.

The Schuylkill River Greenways National Heritage Area recently awarded $326,000 in grants from the Schuylkill River Restoration Fund to help restore and protect water quality in the Schuylkill River.

On October 9, Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Patrick McDonnell joined City of Williamsport officials and municipal partners to view flood-impacted sites along Grafius Run.

On October 11, Department of Environmental Protection announced it has issued a Consent Order and Agreement with CNX Gas Company, LLC for well plugging violations at 141 coalbed methane and gas wells and 5 unconventional gas wells in Allegheny, Greene, Washington and Westmoreland counties

On October 10, the Allegheny Institute for Public Policy in Pittsburgh published this policy brief on Gov. Wolf's executive order directing DEP to join the interstate Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative.

On October 10, the National Audubon Society released a new report-- Survival by Degrees: 389 Bird Species on the Brink-- which found two-thirds of America's birds are threatened with extinction from climate change and may lose more than half their current range-- the geographic area where they live.

On October 11, the Game Commission announced a series of 7 events to inform the public about Chronic Wasting Disease, which poses a serious threat to the state’s deer and elk.

On October 8, Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful announced 92,342 volunteers participated in the 2019 Great American Cleanup of PA and cleaned up over 7 million pounds of trash and recyclables, 19,082 tires and planted 8,580 flowers, bulbs and other plants

The Save Pennsylvania's Forests Coalition will host a Safeguarding Penn's Woods: A Forum on Pennsylvania's Forests on October 31 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Olewine Nature Center in Wildwood Park, 100 Wildwood Way in Harrisburg.

On October 10, the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources issued its third Fall Foliage Report with regional comments on factors influencing foliage changes.

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 October 8, Sen. John Blake (D-Lackawanna) and Rep. Kyle Mullins (D-Lackawanna) announced plans to introduce legislation setting minimum standards for host community agreements between new power plants and their surrounding communities and school districts as well as a minimum host community fee.

On October 7, Sen. Mike Regan (R-Cumberland) introduced Senate Bill 887 establishing penalties for a new category of trespass violation for “critical infrastructure” that automatically makes trespass a felony punishable by up to 1 year in jail and a fine of not less than $5,000 for a first offense.  (sponsor summary)

On October 7, Rep. Jason Ortitay (R-Allegheny) circulated a co-sponsor memo asking colleagues to sponsor legislation requiring the General Assembly to reallocate funding from the Keystone Recreation, Park & Conservation Fund every year, rather than use the allocation in law currently.

The House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee is scheduled to hold a hearing October 28 on the broad topic of “Pennsylvania CO2 and climate.”

On October 11, Rep. Tom Mehaffie (R-Dauphin), prime sponsor of House Bill 11 that would imposed a $500 million a year cost on electric ratepayers to subsidize the state’s nuclear power plants, released a statement regarding Gov. Tom Wolf’s October 3 executive order to reduce carbon dioxide emissions in Pennsylvania through participation in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative--

On October 9, Fair Districts PA announced a new statewide poll shows 67 percent of Pennsylvania voters support an independent commission to draw legislative district lines. This includes majorities of Democrats (66 percent), independents (78 percent) and Republicans (63 percent).

On October 10, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced a proposed rule that significantly improves the actions that water systems must take to reduce lead in the nation’s drinking water.

On October 8, the Department of Agriculture announced farmers in Beaver, Crawford, Erie, Lawrence, and Mercer counties are eligible to receive disaster relief assistance from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

On October 8, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced it has settled alleged federal Clean Air Act violations by American Refining Group, Inc. at ARG’s petroleum refinery in Bradford, McKean County.

Trout Unlimited continues to offer technical assistance program to aid watershed organizations, conservation districts, townships, TU chapters, and others in Pennsylvania’s portion of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed.

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the October 12 PA Bulletin inviting comments on a new General Permit (WMGM064) to authorize the processing and beneficial use (by shell planting, reef construction and living shoreline stabilization/enhancement) of post-consumer oyster shells for natural habitat restoration projects in the Delaware Estuary or other shoreline and subtidal areas.

The Audubon Society of Western PA is seeking volunteers for tree plantings along Little Buffalo Creek at 154 Monroe Road in Sarver, Butler County on October 19 and November 2.

South Middleton Township will hold a tree planting on October 26 at the Southview Park baseball field at 235 Pine Road, Mt. Holly Springs in Cumberland County starting at 10:00 a.m.

On October 21, the Pike County Conservation District will unveil a stormwater bioswale designed to not only filter and absorb runoff, but to educate the public on this best management practice.

The Department of Environmental Protection is conducting a review of the existing Water Quality Standards in 8 segments of the Dunkard Creek Watershed in Greene County.  (formal notice)

The urban green space of York’s historic Penn Park experienced some improvements thanks to the teamwork of representatives from Keep York Beautiful, GIANT Food Stores, GreenPrint, York City School District STEAM Academy and York City Parks and Recreation.

On October 9, the Brandywine Conservancy announced it has been awarded a $200,000 grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation for restoration work in the Red Clay Creek and White Clay Creek Watersheds in Chester County and into Delaware.

By Ryan Davis, Forests For The Chesapeake Bay

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the October 12 PA Bulletin of an opportunity to bid on a mine reclamation project in Allegheny County.

The Susquehanna River Basin Commission is scheduled to hold a hearing on October 31 to take comments on proposed changes to its consumptive use mitigation regulations, but it will now also take comments on proposed changes to FY 2020 program fees and water use project requests.  (formal notice)

Harrisburg University's Analyzing and Monitoring the Effect of Precipitation on Susquehanna River Basin using a Dashboard and Machine Learning Approaches: A Pilot Study has been accepted for display at the prestigious AI World Conference & Expo at the Seaport World Trade Center in Boston Oct. 23-25

The next Pennsylvania Lake Erie Environmental Forum will be held on October 29 starting at 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. at the Tom Ridge Environmental Center in Erie.

The Department of Environmental Protection will begin accepting applications for 2020 Environmental Education Grants on October 31.  The deadline for applications is December 31.

The Fall Teaching Green newsletter is now available from the Department of Environmental Protection featuring articles on--

The PA Resources Council invites student and adult amateur photographers throughout the state to enter the 35th annual Gene Capaldi Lens on Litter Photo Contest designed to highlight the impact of litter on the environment and scenic qualities of the Commonwealth.

The Department of Community and Economic Development is now accepting nominations for the 2020 Governor’s Local Government Excellence Awards through December 13.

The Department of Environmental Protection will hold a hearing [if needed] on November 20 to take comments on the proposed RACT II Air Quality Plan for the Boyertown Foundry facility in Boyertown, Berks County.  (Oct. 12 PA Bulletin page 5983)

On October 8, the Appalachian Regional Commission announced a $44.4 million investment package to expand and diversify the economy in Appalachia’s coal-impacted communities through the POWER (Partnerships for Opportunity and Workforce and Economic Revitalization) Initiative.

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the October 12 PA Bulletin inviting comments on the proposed Section 410 Water Quality Certification for the Equitrans Tri-State Corridor Pipeline to traverse Jefferson, Cross Creek, Smith and Robinson townships in Washington County (Oct. 12 PA Bulletin page 6025)

By Dr. Richard Kaplan

On October 9, the Department of Environmental Protection announced it has suspended well permits issued to Xtreme Energy Co. for the company’s failure to pay its Act 13 drilling impact fees to the  Public Utility Commission for the 2014, 2015, and 2016 calendar years.

On May 9, 2019, nearly two dozen people descended on the Pine Creek Watershed in parts of Clinton, Lycoming, Potter and Tioga counties for the purpose of cataloging the impacts of the unconventional oil and gas industry and related infrastructure on the landscape.

On October 22, PennFuture will host an evening of dinner, drinks and discussion with former Indianapolis Mayor and retired Marine Greg Ballard, who will speak about his new book-- "Less Oil or More Caskets - The National Security Argument for Moving Away from Oil" -- that urges America to move away from a reliance on oil.

The public is invited to experience electric and hybrid vehicle technology at the Drive Electric PA Coalition’s Ride & Drive event with the PA GreenGov Council on October 23, at 10:00 a.m. on Commonwealth Avenue (in front of the Capitol Fountain) in Harrisburg.

The Public Utility Commission published notice in the October 12 PA Bulletin inviting comments on proposed changes to the test it uses to evaluate the costs and benefits of electric utility Act 129 Energy Efficiency and Conservation Plans.

On October 7, the Department of Environmental Protection announced it has postponed the October 21 public hearing regarding the Broad Mountain Wind Project in Carbon County due to ongoing construction at Weatherly Area Elementary/Middle School, the original location.

Chester County Ready For 100 and its partners will host the Chester County Clean Energy Tour on October 19 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. to give the public the opportunity to see working solar energy installations in the county in a variety of settings.

The SEEDS (Sustainable Energy Education and Development Support) will host a How To Store The Sun For Your Home Or Business Workshop on October 22 at the Park Street Complex in Honesdale, Wayne County from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.

On October 9, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn joined DCNR staff and local officials in dedicating a solar energy installation at Buchanan State Forest District headquarters near McConnellsburg, Fulton County.  

The Department of Environmental Protection invited counties who received West Virus Grants in 2019 to apply for the 2020 grant round. Applications will be accepted beginning October 15 and the deadline for applying is November 15.  (formal notice)

Dr. Robert Ollar, consulting microbiologist and member of the Pike County Tick Borne Diseases Task Force, will present “Neurologists Take Heed Lyme Neuroborreliosis Mimicry is Afoot” at the 4th annual Lyme Disease in the Era of Precision Medicine Conference on October 19 in New York City.

On October 10, the PA Agricultural Land Preservation Board approved permanently preserving another 27 farms covering 2,115 acres in 15 counties.

The Department of Agriculture’s Controlled Plant and Noxious Weed Committee is scheduled to meet on October 24 to consider the addition of 8 plants to the noxious weed list.  (formal notice)

The Independence Conservancy hosted a Walk in Penn’s Woods at Beaver County’s newest park, Rocky Bend Nature Preserve in Potter Township.

The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources published notice in the October 12 PA Bulletin of annual increases in houseboat mooring at Presque Isle State Park in Erie starting in 2020. (formal notice)

Vote Now! in National Geographic's Vote Your Main Street Project to recognize Pennsylvania's only entry-- Chester County Historical Society.  Voting closes October 29.

On October 7, Delaware River Basin Commission announced Kristen Bowman Kavanagh, P.E. has joined the DRBC as its new Deputy Executive Director.

The Friends of the Riverfront in Pittsburgh is seeking qualified candidates to fill the position of Executive Director.

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 107 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 Watershed Coalition of the Lehigh Valley’s 8th Lehigh Valley Watershed Conference on October 15 at Lehigh University, Bethlehem.

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