The first eight articles in this week’s PA Environment Digest  profile the conservation and environmental leadership demonstrated by an angler and outdoorsman, a community college, a major city, owners of a family farm, a church, trail group, a nonprofit  conservation district organization and a local government.

The Fish and Boat Commission is pleased to announce Commissioner Charles Charlesworth has been named "2021 Conservationist of the Year" by the editors of Fly Fisherman magazine.

On January 11, the Brandywine Conservancy & Museum of Art and the Oxford Area Foundation announced they have partnered with the Thouron Family to protect 577 acres of the Glenroy Farm situated along the Octoraro Creek in Chester County.

Mountainhome United Methodist Church has partnered with the Brodhead Watershed Association to install two green infrastructure projects at the church in Monroe County

On January 12, the Community College of Allegheny County announced it received the green light to move forward with an extensive new solar installation that will produce more than a half a megawatt, or 540 kilowatts, of electricity annually – or enough energy to power almost 90 homes.

On January 14, the Reclaiming Appalachia Coalition issued its third annual report highlighting innovative projects that will clean up abandoned coal mine lands and brownfields in six states and give them new life as solar energy sites, recycling centers, eco-tourism assets and other economic ventures.

On January 15, Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney announced the City’s commitment to achieving carbon neutrality by 2050.

On January 12, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn announced the Delaware & Hudson Rail-Trail in Lackawanna, Susquehanna and Wayne counties has been named Pennsylvania’s 2021 Trail of the Year.

The Brodhead Watershed Association announced the new Discovery Nature-Play Park in Paradise Valley in Monroe County is now open to provide new opportunities for outside recreation.

By Timothy B. Wheeler, Jeremy Cox & Ad Crable, Chesapeake Bay Journal

On January 11, the PA Senate Republican Caucus filed a lawsuit in the federal Eastern District Court of Pennsylvania alleging the Delaware River Basin Commission's moratorium on shale gas drilling is a taking of private property without compensation and exceeds the authority given the Commission in its compact.

On January 15, Sen. Carolyn Comitta (D-Chester) was named Democratic Chair of the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, a leadership position that brings new opportunities to continue and expand her long-standing record of service as an environmental champion.

From March 16 to January 12, Department of Environmental Protection employees have been teleworking and using COVID-19 mitigation measures to continue to fulfill its mission.  DEP staff have--

On January 14, the Citizens Coal Council issued a report-- Undermining Trust: The Collapse Of Environmental Protection In Pennsylvania-- that details what they believe are the Department of Environmental Protection’s failures to enforce longwall coal mining operations in Pennsylvania.

The Environmental Quality Board published notice in the January 16 PA Bulletin of final regulations increasing Air Quality Program permit fees.  The new fees become effective January 16.

Pennsylvania’s state parks and forestlands draw more than people. They draw jobs. Lots of jobs.

WeConservePA is now accepting registrations for the WeConservePA Virtual Conference to be held from March 24-25.

[ Because In Politics Everything Is Connected To Everything Else ]  The House Republicans last week began to move key items on their legislative agenda out of committee, including six proposed amendments to the state constitution, while the Senate was still appointing committee chairs.

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 January 12, Republicans and one Democrat on the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee voted to approve a letter to the Independent Regulatory Review Commission expressing its disapproval of proposed regulations reducing carbon pollution from power plants compatible with the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative.

On January 12, House Republican Leader Kerry Benninghoff (R-Mifflin) made it clear in a press conference eliminating state regulations on businesses would be a key part of the House Republican agenda in the new session.

On January 12, House Republicans introduced House Bill 139 (Rothman-R-Cumberland) that requires all state agencies to establish a program to require the review of permit applications by private contractors for applications that have been “delayed,” eliminating agency review of permit applications on behalf of the public and adding more state bureaucracy and cost on taxpayers.

On January 11, the House named members of standing committees for the new 2021-22 legislative session.  Follow these links for the names of environment and energy related House committee members--

On January 15, Senate Republicans and Democrats completed naming Majority and Minority standing committee Chairs for the 2021-22 legislative session.

On January 15, the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service-PA announced it is now accepting proposals for its Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) Program. Proposals are due by March 15.

On January 13, the Natural Resources Conservation Service-PA released the final rule for its Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP). The rule updates USDA’s partner-driven program as directed by the 2018 Farm Bill and integrates feedback from agricultural producers and others.

Bedford County is inviting landowners, the public and other local stakeholders to be part of the next steps in implementing the county’s Clean Water Action Plan.

Registration is now open for the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Chesapeake Bay Stewardship Fund virtual All-Bay Agriculture Network Forum in six sessions from February 3 to March 3.

Penn State Extension hosts a January 27 Water Cooler Talk: Installing and Maintaining Forest Buffers webinar from Noon to 1:00 p.m.

By John Zaktansky, Middle Susquehanna RiverKeeper

By John Zaktansky, Middle Susquehanna RiverKeeper

The Department of Environmental Protection has scheduled a February 17 virtual hearing on a proposed new coal refuse disposal facility in Summit and Elk Lick Townships, Somerset County from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.  (PA Bulletin page 390)

The Monroe County-based Brodhead Watershed Association is now accepting entries for a new Water In Winter Photo Contest.  Deadline for entries is March 15.

The Susquehanna River Basin Commission is hosting a three-part webinar series on Groundwater Project Renewals as part of its Public Water Supply Assistance Program starting January 28.

The latest Teaching Green newsletter from the Department of Environmental Protection features the Benscreek Canoe Club and its partner First Waves who provide underserved youth from the Greater Johnstown Area with three outdoor educational experiences, helping them to connect human actions with a clean environment. 

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation and the Meaningful Watershed Educational Experiences Program in Pennsylvania will host a series of three virtual workshops to help certified teachers use the MWEE framework to create meaningful local outdoor learning experiences-- virtual and in-person-- for their students.

On January 15, the departments of Environmental Protection and Agriculture hosted a “Feeding Pennsylvanians, Reducing Waste” panel discussion on reducing food waste to protect the environment, the security of the food supply chain, and help the charitable food system.

While littering and illegal dumping are often discussed as social or environmental problems, rarely do we think about their economic impact-- but the cost of litter is very real.

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the January 16 PA Bulletin announcing the availability of the final technical guidance on the Management of Fill (DEP ID: 258-2182-773).

Penn State Extension is partnering with the Department of Environmental Protection to host an 8-part series of Farm Energy Day Webinars and are offering a new farm utility bill analysis service.

The Department of Environmental Protection published notices in the January 16 PA Bulletin renewing General Permits for the processing and/or reuse of oil and gas well drilling waste at 27 facilities in 11 counties under General Permit WMGR123. (starting on PA Bulletin page 378)

On January 12, the Conservative Energy Network-- a coalition of 21 state-based conservative clean energy organizations, including the PA Conservative Energy Forum in Pennsylvania-- released results of a national survey that examines likely voters’ attitudes towards clean energy following the 2020 U.S. election.

The Public Utility Commission published notice in the January 16 PA Bulletin extending the comment deadline on policy changes needed to increase the reliability and resiliency of electric distribution systems from weather-related threats, including thunderstorms, floods, hurricanes, derechos and ice storms until February 18.

By Sara LaJeunesse, Penn State News

On January 13, the PA Parks and Forests Foundation hosted a free virtual program on DCNR's PA Conservation Corps Program.

The January 15 Take Five Fridays With Pam is now available from the PA Parks and Forests Foundation featuring articles on--

The Penn State PA Technical Assistance Program is seeking qualified candidates for an Industrial Relations Coordinator to be trained on PennTAP energy services and assist with audits at small to mid-sized manufacturers.  Click Here for all the details.

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 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.

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