On April 15, DEP Secretary Patrick McDonnell wrote to a coalition of environmental groups from across the state saying in spite of the COVID-19 pandemic, DEP will continue its work to enforce all environmental laws saying-- “we cannot allow one public health crisis [to] lead to another.”

On April 14, Rep. Daryl Metcalfe (R-Butler), Majority Chair of the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, sent a letter to DEP Secretary Patrick McDonnell demanding DEP stand down on environmental regulations during the COVID-19 shutdown.

On April 17, Rep. Garth Everett (R-Lycoming) introduced House Bill 2416 which would stop any proposed or final environmental or other state agency regulation from being finalized until at least 90 days after the March 6 COVID-19 emergency declaration by the Governor is terminated.

DCNR’s Bureau of Recreation and Conservation released a Frequently Asked Questions document that answers common questions about how the coronavirus pandemic affects the currently open grant round and existing grant projects.

The Joint Legislative Air and Water Pollution Control and Conservation Committee published this article on the benefits of nature during the coronavirus quarantine in their latest newsletter--

In response to the unprecedented financial strains on local governments, authorities and individual borrowers, the PA Infrastructure Investment Authority has available up to a temporary three month payment deferral for funding recipients.

Gov. Wolf last week estimated the Commonwealth faces a budget deficit of between $4.5 billion and $5 billion it will have to make up to cope with drastically reduced state revenues.  He made the estimate as he and other state Governors requested more aid from the federal government.

On April 17, Gov. Tom Wolf announced a broad Plan for Pennsylvania that will provide citizens and businesses relief, allow for a safe and expedient reopening, and lay a road to recovery from the challenges and hardships created by the 2019 novel coronavirus.

On April 18, the Department of Labor and Industry announced it is now accepting Pandemic Unemployment Assistance applications for self-employed, independent contractors, gig workers, and others not eligible for regular unemployment compensation (UC) within the next few days.

On April 15, the Delaware Highlands Conservancy is pleased to announce the Delaware River has received national recognition as River of the Year by American Rivers.

The Schuylkill Action Network recently announced the winners of its 2020 Schuylkill Student Street Art Contest from Berks, Chester, Montgomery and Schuylkill counties.

On April 15, American Rivers named the Lower Youghiogheny River in Southwest Pennsylvania as one of the top 10 list of endangered rivers in the United States.

On April 30, DEP’s Climate Change Advisory Committee will hear a presentation on the public health impacts of climate change as well as an update on the Act 129 Energy Efficiency Program.

Cooperating counties and the Department of Environmental Protection began monitoring and surveillance activities this week for mosquitoes and ticks that carry West Nile Virus, Lyme and other diseases affecting people, according to Matt Helwig from DEPs Vector Management Program.

Penn State Extension has established a new vector-borne disease team that focuses on diseases transmitted by ticks and mosquitos.

On April 15, Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful announced it will hold its annual Pick Up Pennsylvania cleanup and community beautification program September 1 to November 30.  Registration will tentatively open on August 1 for groups organizing cleanups.

The PA Resources Council is now accepting entries to the 2020 Lens On Litter Photo Contest to bring awareness to the problem of litter blight across Pennsylvania.  The deadline for entries is October 31.

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation has launched a new online environmental learning series designed to be a resource for teachers, parents, and students during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dauphin County-based Manada Conservancy will host a Creating Wildlife Habitat Using Native Plants Webinar on April 23 at 7:00 p.m.

The Hawk Mountain Sanctuary has added new programs to its series of virtual environmental education programs  Previous programs are also now available on demand on the Sanctuary’s YouTube Channel.

To celebrate the 100th anniversary of the State Game Lands System, the Game Commission is sponsoring a season-based  State Game Lands Photo Contest. The deadline for entries for the Spring contest is June 30

By Ryan Davis, Alliance For The Chesapeake Bay

CBF and the Keystone 10 Million Trees Partnership are offering to ship five tree seedlings to your home for planting to help celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day.

WITF and its partners will hold a virtual Earth Day screening of the documentary Penn's Woods: Cradle of Conservation on April 22 at 7:00 p.m. with a Q&A session following.

The South Mountain Partnership, Penn State Mont Alto School Of Forestry and other partners will host an April 20 webinar celebrating Earth Day’s 50th anniversary with a special screening of the WITF documentary Generations Yet To Come: Environmental Rights In Pennsylvania from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m.

The PA Horticultural Society and the Philadelphia Free Library are hosting a special Earth Day 50 webinar on April 20 on How Grassroots Activism  Became Part Of Our National Consciousness from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Green Amendments For The Generations is hosting a special online preview of the PBS Program Here's The Story: The Green Amendment on April 22 with special events from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.

Celebrating Earth Month this year might seem next to impossible since we are all staying indoors as much as we can. Fortunately, there are plenty of ways we can connect with each other and the world around us without leaving the safety of our homes.

At DCNR, we like to say Earth Day is every day.

The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources’ Teddi Stark, 32, Harrisburg, was recently featured as part of the next generation that is carrying on Pennsylvania’s rich conservation legacy.

In recognition of the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, the Department of Community and Economic Development recently highlighted five fresh young citizens playing significant roles in resource management, wilderness preservation, and environmental protection in Pennsylvania.  Here are their stories--

Senate and House Republicans will shortly put their suggestions for reopening businesses now shutdown by the COVID-19 virus on the Governor’s desk in the form of Senate Bill 327 (Argall-R-Schuylkill).

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

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--

On April 17, the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service-PA announced the award of more than $13 million in Regional Conservation Partnership Grants for three projects in Pennsylvania.

On April 16, Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania announced it has been awarded a $1.17 million award from the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service 2019 Regional Conservation Partnership Program.

On April 14, the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Services-PA announced a new deadline for Conservation Stewardship Program applications to be considered for funding in Pennsylvania is June 1.

The Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed, Choose Clean Water Coalition, PennFuture and other partners held a webinar on April 17 celebrating PA Clean Water Week.

April 2nd was a pleasant, warm and sunny spring day for the 10 staff, family and Slippery Rock Watershed Coalition Volunteers who worked to plant hundreds of trees and shrubs along Slippery Rock Creek in Butler County.

The PA Resources Council will host a Recycling and Waste Reduction webinar on April 22-- Earth Day-- starting at 2:00 p.m.

Visit The Bugfeed Blog on the PA Resources Council website to learn how you can recycle during your COVID-19 stay at home, how to celebrate Earth Day 50 PA and much more.  Here are examples of some recent blog posts--

On April 14, the Department of Environmental Protection executed a Consent Assessment of Civil Penalty with Range Resources-Appalachia, LLC (Range Resources) in the amount of $198,920 for violations of state regulations and the Air Pollution Control Act.

The Department of Environmental Protection is inviting public comments on proposed Section 401 Water Quality Certification for a National Fuel Gas pipeline project crossing Cameron, Clearfield, Clinton, Elk, McKean and Potter counties.  (April 18 PA Bulletin page 2134)

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the April 18 PA Bulletin of proposed changes and renewal of the Residual Waste General Permit WMGR123 related to the processing, transfer and beneficial use of oil and gas liquid waste to develop or hydraulically fracture an oil and gas well.  (formal notice)

The PA Land Trust Association has reimagined the 2020 Environmental Advisory Council Network Conference on May 2-3 as a virtual conference.

On April 16, Andrew Place announced he is resigning his position as a Commissioner on the Public Utility Commission after serving for five years.

On April 13, with another wave of spring storms moving toward and across the Commonwealth, the Public Utility Commission reminded households of the steps they can take to prepare for, and recover safely from, storm-related power outages.

The American Forest Foundation and The Nature Conservancy will host an April 30 Introduction To The Family Forest Carbon Program webinar starting at 1:00 p.m.

On April 16, PPL Corporation released its 2019 Sustainability Report, which highlights how the company is advancing its sustainability commitments related to energy and the environment, social responsibility, and governance and management.  

On April 14, a new Model Laws for Deep Decarbonization in the United States website was launched to help accelerate a sustainable U.S. transition to net zero greenhouse gas emissions.

On April 17, the French Creek Valley Conservancy announced it recently received a 100-acre donation of land in Washington Township, Erie County from Ed and Sally Scarlett of Edinboro through a life estate.

While large-group hikes have become a temporary casualty of the coronavirus, Brodhead Watershed Association offers an armchair adventure to Cresco Heights in Monroe County.

The April 15 Resource newsletter is now available from the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources featuring articles on--

The April 17 Take Five Fridays With Pam from the PA Parks and Forests Foundation featuring articles on--

On April 15, the PA Parks and Forests Foundation welcomed new Board members Eric Williams and Eric Madden.

Click Here: Week’s Worth Of PA Environment & Energy NewsClips - Support Local Journalism

Click Here for a list of public participation opportunities and a calendar of events.

Click Here for grants, awards, recognition programs and contest deadlines.

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

CLICK HERE to View or Print the 82 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.

The PA Environment Digest is a proud sponsor of the 2020 PA Abandoned Mine Reclamation Conference will now be held on October 28-29 in State College.

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