The House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee is scheduled to meet on June 9 to consider House Bill 2025 (Struzzi-R-Indiana) to take away DEP’s authority to enact any program to reduce carbon pollution emissions.

The House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee is scheduled to meet on June 10 to consider legislation-- House Bill 1808 (Mackenzie-R-Lehigh)-- to exempt a garbage processing plant from DEP’s waste facility regulations.

The Senate Intergovernmental Operations Committee is scheduled to meet on June 10 to consider several bills putting more roadblocks into adopting needed environmental and other regulations and establishing a third party permit review program. 

On June 5, Sen. Gene Yaw (R-Lycoming), Majority Chair of the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, introduced Senate Bill 1147 which would block all proposed and final regulations from publication and prohibit any state agency citizens advisory committee meetings for the duration of a disaster emergency declared by the Governor.

From March 16 to June 2, Department of Environmental Protection employees have been teleworking and using COVID-19 mitigation measures to continue to fulfill its mission.  DEP staff have--

On June 4, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn announced the phased reopening of state parks and forest facilities continues Friday, June 5, in southeast and northeast Pennsylvania in line with Gov. Tom Wolf’s direction to ensure Pennsylvanians have opportunities to safely enjoy outdoor recreation and help maintain positive physical and mental health.

By Cindy Adams Dunn, DCNR Secretary

The Parks and Forests Foundation recently unveiled a new website: Protect Our Parks and Forests.

On June 1, Pennsylvania Envirothon announced the 2020 Pennsylvania Envirothon Week winners who took the Take The Natural Challenge after the regular Envirothon events for high school students were canceled.

The National Fish Habitat Partnership recognized the habitat work at Minsi Lake in Northampton County was on the nations' Top 10 Waters to Watch In 2020.

[ Because Everything Is Connected To Everything Else ] George Floyd protests, COVID-19 and Tuesday’s Primary election all dominated last week’s news in Pennsylvania.

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 June 1, the Department of Revenue reported state revenue in May was $439.7 million, or 17.3 percent, less than anticipated. Fiscal year-to-date General Fund collections total $29.6 billion, which is $2.6 billion, or 8.2 percent, below estimate.

On June 6, the PA Septage Management Association, which represents firms which install and maintain on-lot septic systems, applauded Gov. Wolf's signing of legislation-- Senate Bill 1030 (Yaw-R-Lycoming) that allows continued access to non-traditional/non-conventional, alternate on-lot septic systems by property owners during the sewage facility planning process.

On June 1, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation condemned the water quality permitting rule the Trump administration finalized as “an egregious assault” on states’ ability to protect waters within their borders.

On June 5, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation denounced the Trump administration’s emergency executive order allowing federal agencies to waive the consultation requirements of bedrock environmental laws to speed up the permitting process for major construction projects like pipelines and highways.

By Hannah Clemenson, PA Environmental Council

The following article was first appeared in the LebTown online news June 4 written by Joshua Groh--

The Western Pennsylvania Conservancy and the Dominion Energy Charitable Foundation recently awarded 24 grants, totaling $30,000, to 23 local environmental organizations in 12 counties across Pennsylvania as part of their 2020 Watershed Mini Grant Program.

The Anthracite Region Independent Power Producers Association has again partnered with the Eastern PA Coalition For Abandoned Mine Reclamation and Western PA Coalition for Abandoned Mine Reclamation to award mini grants for local mine reclamation projects.

The Western PA Conservancy is offering free trees to landowners in the Juniata River and West Branch Susquehanna River watersheds.

To help residents keep local lakes clean, the Pike County Conservation District is hosting a free, three-part webinar series titled How Your Backyard Activities Affect Your Lake.  The webinars include--

 The following article appeared in the Spring PA Council of Trout Unlimited newsletter and was written by Rachel Kester, PATU Program Director--

The Penn State Master Watershed Steward Program in Armstrong, Indiana and Westmoreland  counties will be training a new class of volunteers this coming fall.

On June 1, Root Cause, a full service garden and homesteading support organization based in Pittsburgh is now available to be a resource for planning, creating, maintaining, harvesting and preserving a sustainable food future, one community at a time.

The Cumberland County 4-H and Penn State Extension are excited to offer a Virtual Summer Camp Series with “Learn By Doing” activities.

Each year, Rodale Institute in Berks County hosts a full day of demonstrations, Q&A's, and tours on our 333-acre organic farm. But in the midst of a public health crisis, it's our priority to ensure the safety and health of our community—so our annual Field Day has moved 100 percent online.

PASA Sustainable Agriculture will host another in its series of COVID-19 Farmer Forums on June 11, this time on Reopening? Update Your Farm Safety Protocols from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m.

The PA Association of Environmental Educators now has available an updated list of teacher education programs coming up with Act 48 credits.

The PA Infrastructure Investment Authority and DEP are inviting comments on the FY 2020 Intended Use Plans for federal Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Fund Programs.  (formal notice)

On June 2, the PA Resources Council announced a schedule of six Household Chemical Collection Events in Western PA, starting June 27 in Washington County.

Don't let social distance slow down your commitment to the environment!  The PA Resources Council has adapted our adult workshop program to a webinar format.

On June 5, the Pennsylvania Resources Council, the Commonwealth's oldest grassroots non-profit environmental organization, moved its eastern headquarters to Rose Tree Park in Delaware County.

On June 2, the Hershey Company released its 2019 Sustainability Report, highlighting Hershey’s progress to date in key areas of focus, such as sustainable cocoa, responsible sourcing, climate change and human rights.

The 8th Annual PA Firefly Festival based in Tionesta, Forest County will hold a Virtual Stay-At-Home PA Firefly Festival on June 27, in light of COVID-19 restrictions.

The following article on PA/NJ Chapter American Chestnut Foundation intern Sean Patrick Freidhof was written by Jean Najjar for the latest Chapter newsletter--

On June 1, the PA Parks and Forests Foundation welcomed the Friends of Ole Bull State Park in Potter County.

The June 5 Take Five Fridays With Pam is now available from the PA Parks and Forests Foundation featuring articles on--

The PA Great Outdoors Visitors Bureau is pleased to announce their new Sunday Drives Photo Contests running from June through August.  The deadline for entries is August 31.

Hawk Mountain Sanctuary’s latest Moving Mountains newsletter is now available featuring articles on--

The following remembrance is reprinted from the PA Environmental Council website--

Click Here: Week’s Worth Of PA Environment & Energy NewsClips

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 60 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.