On November 5, the PA Environmental Defense Foundation filed a lawsuit in Commonwealth Court asking the Court to direct the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources to manage State Forests consistent with its trustee responsibilities under the state constitution's Environmental Rights Amendment to protect them from drilling impacts.

Chesapeake Bay Foundation student leaders went to Williamsport recently to celebrate the salamander that is Pennsylvania’s new official state amphibian and to salute the state senator whose support was key to making it happen.

On November 7, Gov. Tom Wolf signed into law House Bill 374 (Everett-R-Lycoming) to establish the Keystone Tree Fund (Act 78).  The bill allows driver and vehicle license owners to add $3.00 to those fees to support DCNR riparian buffer and tree planting programs starting in July 2020.

On November 7, the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources announced the investment of $2.2 million in 27 rivers conservation and riparian forest buffer projects.

By Rob Shane, Trout Unlimited Mid-Atlantic Organizer

By John Jimenez, Crew Member, Hazleton 6-Week Pennsylvania Outdoor Corps Crew

The Pike County's Tick Borne Diseases Task Force received an Environmental Partnership Award from the Northeast Environmental Partners on October 24 during a dinner held at the Woodlands Inn and Resort, in Wilkes-Barre.

Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful invites you to take part in America Recycles Day-- November 15-- and take the pledge to increase your recycling efforts.

On November 7, the Public Utility Commission launched its annual Prepare Now energy education program and is urging electric and natural gas utilities to identify and assist consumers who may struggle with cold-weather energy bills.

On October 30, Gov. Tom Wolf issued a formal proclamation recognizing October 30, 2019 as Mine Rescue Day.

Margaret Dunn, who many know accepted the challenge of addressing abandoned mine land restoration and worked for decades on the issue, last week lost both her husband and mother to illness just a day apart.

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

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--

The November newsletter is now available from the Joint House-Senate Air and Water Pollution Control and Conservation Committee featuring these articles--

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is now accepting applications for 2020 Environmental Education Grants.  The deadline for applications is January 6.

The Environmental Quality Board is scheduled to meet on November 19 to consider four agenda items--

On November 19, DEP’s Citizens Advisory Council and Environmental Justice Advisory Board hold what has become an annual joint meeting to review issues related to environmental justice in the Commonwealth from 10:00 a.m. to noon.

By: Megan Lehman, Community Relations Coordinator, DEP Northcentral Regional Office

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice of an opportunity to bid on a mine reclamation project in Elk County in the November 9 PA Bulletin.

The PECO Green Region Open Space Grant Program is now accepting applications for a Bonus Round of Grants for tree planting projects in the PECO service territory.  Applications are due November 30.

The Berks County Conservation District hosted a riparian buffer tree planting event on November 9 to plant trees on property owned by the County of Berks by the 4-H Community Center, 1206 County Welfare Road in Leesport.

On November 6, Transource Energy, in partnership with the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay and DCNR, planted 308 trees to install a multi-functional riparian buffer along the West Branch Conococheague Creek, a Class A wild trout stream in Franklin County.

On October 29, 38 students from Conneaut Area Senior High School under the direction of teachers Eugene Bocan and Mike Vorisek headed out to pick up litter along the Pennsylvania shoreline of Pymatuning Reservoir in Crawford County.  

The Central PA Conservancy and PA Natural Heritage Program are seeking volunteers to remove trash and invasive plants at the Cave Hill Park and Nature Preserve on November 22 in Cumberland County.

The Capital Area Greenbelt Association is seeking volunteers for trail maintenance mulching and installing protective plant structures in a recently restored area along the Paxtang Parkway at the Penbrook Community Park access trail on November 23 and 24 in Dauphin County.

Pennsylvania’s Lake Erie coastal communities will benefit from $38,000 in funding to address extreme weather and climate change.

The PA Organization for Watersheds and Rivers is hosting a webinar November 21 on Stream Redesignation Evaluations and Water Quality Designations from Noon to 1:00.

Andrew Warner has joined the Penn State Institutes of Energy and the Environment as the director of a new University-wide initiative designed to elevate Penn State’s prominence as a center of excellence in water.

The Fall issue of The Guardian newsletter is now available from the Susquehanna River Basin Commission featuring articles on--

The Department of Environmental Protection is now accepting applications for Food Recovery Infrastructure Grants.  The deadline for applications is April 24.  (formal notice)

On November 8, the Centre County Recycling & Refuse Authority announced changes to the list of acceptable items for recycling under the Electronics Recycling Program. If your electronic item is not found on the list below, the Authority cannot accept it for recycling at our facility and it can be put in your regular trash.

The Department of Environmental Protection has scheduled a hearing for December 18 to take comments on its interim response on its interim response to the Allen Road TCE Hazardous Waste Site  in South Middleton Township, Cumberland County (Nov. 9 PA Bulletin page 6765)

The Department of Environmental Protection published notices in the November 9 PA Bulletin inviting public comments on proposed State Air Quality Implementation Plan Revisions involving Ozone Reduction Maintenance Plans for Erie, Franklin and Greene Counties.

The PA Municipal League and the Department of Environmental Protection will host another in its series of webinars on the Role Of Energy Efficiency In Community Resilience on November 22 covering the Building Energy Code from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m.

On November 7, the PJM Interconnection and its members announced they are prepared to meet the forecasted winter electricity demand across 13 states and the District of Columbia.

The PA Environmental Council’s In Case You Missed It In October is now available featuring these articles--

PennFuture and the Climate Reality Project will host an education forum on November 20 in Harrisburg for central Pennsylvanians who want to learn about steps they can take to reduce climate impacts on their communities.

Shippensburg University's Center for Land Use and Sustainability will host a Climate Change Impacts On Forestry and Wildlife Program on November 13 featuring a presentation by Benjamin Jones, the new President and CEO of the Ruffed Grouse Society & American Woodcock Society.

On November 4, the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy announced the permanent protection of 390 acres in Erie County that have been added to the Conservancy’s West Branch French Creek Conservation Area, expanding the natural area to nearly 1,000 acres.

On November 6, the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy announced the protection of 265 acres of forests and steep mountain ridgeline in Haines Township, Centre County.

The Natural Lands’ Force of Nature volunteer program is now accepting applications for its Class of 2020.  The deadline for applications is November 15.

The ConservationTools.org website by the PA Land Trust Association has added new resources to help local land trusts deal with liability issues.

The November 8 Take Five Fridays With Pam is now available from the PA Parks & Forests Foundation featuring articles on--

On November 4, the Fish and Boat Commission announced it is now accepting applications for Boating Facility Program Grants.  The deadline for applications is December 31.

Thanks to a $25,000 major grant from the PPL Foundation, Hawk Mountain Sanctuary in Berks County is sharing outdoor education programming with more than 600 pre-school-aged children.

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 78 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.

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