Scrapbook Photo 03/25/24 - 93 New Stories - REAL Environmental & Conservation Leadership In PA: http://tinyurl.com/3729bhvv
Weekly PA Environment Digest Newsletter
May 17, 2021. Issue #881
(5/17/2021)
* 25 New Stories - REAL Environmental & Conservation Leadership In PA

There are 25 new stories in this week’s PA Environment Digest about securing our environmental rights in the state constitution, volunteers planting trees, cleaning up illegal dumps and litter, urging Congress to help coal country workers and communities, setting a new direction in Chesapeake Bay funding, recognizing solar energy pioneers, advocating for land conservation and protection of wildlife corridors.

* DCNR Blog: Celebrating 50 Years Of The People's Right To A Clean Environment

If you are a Pennsylvanian, our state Constitution gives us the right to clean air and water, and to the preservation of our natural resources.

* PA Environmental Defense Foundation: A Review Of Where We Are Today On The 50th Anniversary Of PA's Environmental Rights Amendment

By John E. Childe, Attorney For PEDF

* North Branch Land Trust Executive Director Paul Lumia Retiring; Executive Search Underway

The Board of Directors of Luzerne County-based North Branch Land Trust recently announced the retirement of Executive Director Paul Lumia, after 13 years of service to the organization.

* Heritage Conservancy President Jeffrey L. Marshall To Retire After 40 Years Of Service And Advocacy

On May 13, After four decades with Heritage Conservancy, serving the past ten years as President, Jeffrey L. Marshall is set to retire on July 1st. He will continue to serve the land conservation and historic preservation organization on a part-time basis as a senior advisor.

* Gov. Wolf Joins Chesapeake Bay Watershed Governors, Officials Urging Congress To Support ‘Billion For The Bay Initiative' To Jumpstart Final Restoration Efforts

On May 13, the Governors of each of the states in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed, the Mayor of Washington, D.C. and the Chair of the Chesapeake Bay Commission wrote to the leaders of Congress asking them to support a new Billion For The Bay Initiative to jumpstart the final phase of Bay restoration efforts.

* Bay Journal: Chesapeake Bay Restoration Stumbles In Race To Finish Line; Promised Outcomes Lagging Badly Or In Limbo

By Timothy B. Wheeler, Chesapeake Bay Journal

* Lebanon Valley Conservancy Volunteers Plant 1,000 Trees, Native Plant Gardens, Award College Scholarship

The Lebanon Valley Conservancy helped organize dozens of volunteers in the last month to plant trees, and native plant gardens and much more.

* Student Project Brings Trees And Music To Water Quality Cleanup Efforts In Lancaster County; June 5 ‘The Big Do’ Celebration

The Stone Independent School in Lancaster is making a “Big Do” out of bringing trees and tunes to Lancaster County.

* Chesapeake Bay Foundation: Student Leaders Continue To Carry The Torch In Pennsylvania

By B.J. Small, PA Communications Coordinator, CBF

* Guest Essay: Will Congress Help Coal Country?

By Joseph Pizarchik, Former Director, federal Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement and Former Director, DEP Bureau of Mining and Reclamation

* Wild Excellence Films Wins Waterwalker Film Festival Award For Paddleboarding Film 'A Quiet Excitement' Showcasing SW PA Lakes and Creeks

On May 11, Wild Excellence Films announced their short film-- A Quiet Excitement: A Paddleboarding Journey--  has won the “Social Media/Spreading the Paddling Passion” category in the 2021 Waterwalker Film Festival.

* Keep PA Beautiful Recognizes Tim Arnold, Richland Twp. Supervisor, With Community Pride Award In Bucks County

On May 10, Keep PA Beautiful's Community Pride Award was presented to Richland Township Supervisor Tim Arnold for his work to clean up litter in Bucks County.  Arnold was nominated for the Award by Rep. Craig Staats (R-Bucks).

* PA Solar Center To Recognize Solar Energy Leaders In Beaver, Washington Counties In Special May 20 Virtual Event

The PA Solar Center will hold an online May 20 Lodestar Awards program to recognize solar energy leaders in Beaver and Washington counties, including businesses, municipalities and organizations from 4:30 to 6:00 p.m.

* DEP Releases PA Clean Energy Industry Workforce Development Gap Analysis Showing How Best To Support Continued Job Growth

On May 12, the Department of Environmental Protection released a new clean energy workforce development report showing the tremendous potential for clean energy workforce development opportunities that can bolster Pennsylvania’s economy.

* DEP Completes Over 101,000 Inspections During Pandemic Office Closure; Processed Over 41,000 Permits

From March 16, 2020 to May 11, 2021 Department of Environmental Protection employees have been teleworking and using COVID-19 mitigation measures to continue to fulfill its mission.  DEP staff have--

* DCNR Announces Operational Changes To Address Capacity Issues At Beltzville State Park, Carbon County

On May 12, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources State Parks Director John Hallas announced that a number of operational changes are being made at Beltzville State Park in Carbon County to address safety and resource issues related to overcrowding that occurs on weekends and when the weather is favorable.

* Temple Student Kyle Chin Promotes Inclusion In Recreation

By Natalie Kerr, The Temple News

* Guest Essay: Pennsylvania Conservation Corridors & Ecological Connectivity

By Deborah Woodard, Anthony Bastian and Sally Sims, Pennsylvania Habitat Connectivity

* PA Capitol & COVID Weekly Report: Republican-Wolf Battle Goes To Voters; Public Unmasked; Wages Permanently Higher?

[ Because In Politics Everything Is Connected To Everything Else ] On Tuesday, voters will be put squarely in the middle of the political fight between Senate and House Republicans and the Governor over his extended use of disaster emergency declarations to fight the COVID pandemic.

* Senate/House Bills Moving Last Week

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

* Senate/House Agenda/Session Schedule

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--

* Senate Passes Bill To Control Overuse Of Fertilizer On Turf

On May 11, the full Senate passed Senate Bill 251 (Yaw-R-Lycoming) by a vote of 47 to 1; Sen. Scott Hutchinson (R-Venango) was the lone vote against the bill. The bill now goes to the House for action.

* Local Governments, Others Oppose Senate Bill That Limits Local Choice In Clean Energy Sources, Locks In Status Quo, Negates Local Democracy, With Overly Broad Language To Address A Problem That Doesn’t Exist In PA

On May 11, the Senate Local Government and Environmental Resources and Energy Committees held a hearing on Senate Bill 275 (Yaw-R-Lycoming) which would limit the ability of communities to offer new and clean energy sources and energy efficiency programs by locking in the status quo.

* Senate Committees Hear Bill Requiring State Bonding For Solar, Wind Projects Duplicates Local Ordinances, Landowner Leases; Adds New Bureaucracy; And Has A Broader Scope Than Advertised

On May 12, the  Senate Environmental Resources and Energy and Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committees heard from witnesses solar and wind energy projects already have bonding requirements for restoration and reclamation of sites as a standard part of landowner leases supplemented by county and local land use ordinances covering these facilities.

* U.S. Treasury Releases Interim Final Rule For How States, Local Governments Can Use American Rescue Plan Aid

On May 10, the U.S. Department of the Treasury announced the launch of the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds, established by the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, to provide $350 billion in emergency funding for state, local, territorial, and Tribal governments. 

* Bay Journal Forum: New Wave Of Streamside Forest Plantings Needed Now

By Beth McGee, Chesapeake Bay Foundation

* Landowners Partner With Stroud Center On Stream Restoration Across Red Clay Creek Watershed In Chester County

Something wonderful is happening on the west branch of Red Clay Creek. It is getting its trees back — and perhaps its native brook trout, too.

* Conservation Districts: Need Technical Assistance With Watershed Monitoring? Check Out C-SAW

The Consortium for Scientific Assistance to Watersheds (C-SAW) is a team of specialists who provide free organizational and scientific-technical assistance to Pennsylvania-based watershed and conservation organizations.

* Public Invited To Virtual Cumberland County Water Resources Forum May 19

The Cumberland Conservation Collaborative and other partners will host a virtual Cumberland County Water Resources Forum on May 19 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.

* Educators Workshop: Sustainable Choices, Sustainable Watersheds: Applying The MWEE Framework To Food And Fiber June 14-15

Stroud Water Research Center and Penn State Extension are hosting a Sustainable Choices, Sustainable Watersheds Virtual Educator Workshop June 14 & 15.

* Penn State Extension Water Cooler Talk - A Salty Situation In Our Streams- May 26

On May 26, Penn State Extension will host another in its series of online Water Cooler Talks, this one focused on-- A Salty Situation In Our Streams from Noon to 1:00 p.m.

* DEP Invites Comments On TMDL Water Quality Plan For Carpenters Run Watershed In Lycoming County

The Department of Environmental Protection invites comments on a proposed Total Maximum Daily Load Water Quality Plan for the Carpenters Run Watershed in Lycoming County.  (PA Bulletin, page 2703)

* DEP Awards $3.4 Million+ To Support Cleaner Fuel Transportation Projects To Improve Air Quality, Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions

On May 13, the Department of Environmental Protection announced the award of more than $3.4 million in 2020 Alternative Fuel Incentive Grants (AFIGs) to 20 cleaner fuel transportation projects statewide that will help improve air quality and public health and reduce greenhouse gas emissions to address climate change.

* Penn State College Of Earth & Mineral Sciences Offsets Carbon Emissions One Tree At A Time

By Francisco Tutella, Penn State News

* Duquesne Light Now Accepting Community Impact Grant Applications For Projects/Programs In Allegheny, Beaver Counties

Duquesne Light is now accepting applications for Community Impact Grants of up to $10,000 to support green spaces, energy upgrades, technology and connectivity or safety in Allegheny and Beaver counties.  The deadline for applications is June 1.

* Appalachian Regional Commission Awards $1.5 Million Grant To Indiana County To Diversify Economic Growth In Communities Impacted By Energy Production Shifts

On May 11, Gov. Tom Wolf announced a $1.5 million grant was awarded to Indiana County through the Appalachian Regional Commission’s Partnerships for Opportunity and Workforce and Economic Revitalization (POWER) Initiative.

* Opportunity To Bid On Plugging 6 Abandoned Oil & Gas Wells In Venango County

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the May 15 PA Bulletin of an opportunity to bid on a project to plug six abandoned oil and gas wells in Venango County.

* 390 Volunteers Clear 11,000 Pounds Of Trash. During ClearWater Conservancy's 25th Watershed Cleanup Day In Centre County

The ClearWater Conservancy celebrated Earth Day weekend on April 24 alongside 390 community volunteers at its 25th Annual Watershed Cleanup Day.

* PA Resources Council Names Dr. Darren A. Spielman Executive Director

On May 12, the PA Resources Council announced the appointment of Dr. Darren A. Spielman as Executive Director effective May 17.

* Delaware Highlands Conservancy: Green Lodging Partners Raise Funds For Conservation

On May 12, representatives from Woodloch and Settlers Hospitality properties presented the Delaware Highlands Conservancy with checks for funds collected in 2020 and early 2021 through the Green Lodging Partnership program.

* New Addition At Kings Gap Environmental Ed Center Protects Amphibian Habitat, Provides More Accessible Hiking Opportunities In Cumberland County

On May 10, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn visited Kings Gap Environmental Education Center in Cumberland County to highlight the addition of 68 acres to the park that will provide more accessible hiking opportunities and conserve amphibian habitat threatened by the impacts of climate change.

* DCNR To Invest $8.7 Million To Conserve Structures At Washington Crossing Historic Park In Bucks County

On May 14, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn today announced the start of an $8.7 million project to conserve and improve 17 historic and other structures at Washington Crossing Historic Park in Bucks County.

* Registration Now Open For 2021 Delaware River Sojourn August 7-13; River Cleanup Set For Aug. 6

Interested paddlers are invited to register for the 26th Delaware River Sojourn taking place August 7-13.

* Friends Of Allegheny Wilderness Holds Hickory Creek Wilderness Trail Stewardship Days May 15 & 16, Warren County

Volunteers are needed for the Hickory Creek Wilderness Trail Stewardship Days on May 15 and 16 hosted by the Friends of Allegheny Wilderness in Warren County.

* May 14 Take Five Fridays With Pam, PA Parks & Forests Foundation

The May 14 Take Five Fridays With Pam is now available from the PA Parks & Forests Foundation featuring articles on--

* CBF Pennsylvania Learning Series: What Lives In PA Waterways, May 26 Webinar

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation and partner organizations will host a new Pennsylvania learning Series Webinar-- What Lives In PA Waterways-- on May 26 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.

* Trout Unlimited, Backcountry Hunters & Anglers New R.I.S.E Webinar Series - Introduction To Trout Fishing May 14, 21, 28

Are you or somebody you know interested in trout fishing, but you aren’t sure where to start?

* Entries To The American Chestnut Foundation 2021 Photo Contest Due Sept. 1

The American Chestnut Foundation is now accepting entries for its 2021 Photo Contest. The deadline for submissions is September 1.

* Environment & Energy NewsClips

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

* Public Participation Opportunities/Calendar Of Events

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

* Grants & Awards

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

* Regulations, Technical Guidance & Permits

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

* CLICK HERE To View Or Print Entire PA Environment Digest

CLICK HERE to View or Print the 95 page PA Environment Digest.

* Stories Invited - About 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.

* Supporting Member PA Organization For Watersheds & Rivers; PA Outdoor Writers Assn.; PA Trout Unlimited

PA Environment Digest is a supporting member of the PA Organization for Watersheds & Rivers, PA Outdoor Writers Association, PA Council Trout Unlimited and the Doc Fritchey Chapter Trout Unlimited.

Previous PA Environment Digests