There are 17 new stories in this week’s PA Environment Digest about devoting a career to environmental education, volunteers restoring water quality, permanently protecting sensitive lands, working with lawmakers to support mine reclamation projects, cleaning up neighborhoods, companies saving energy using renewable energy, fighting childhood asthma, restoring forests and more.

On May 25, the PA Association of Conservation Districts announced the retirement of Lorelle Steach as executive director of the Pennsylvania Envirothon where she administered the statewide Envirothon competition, which included working with state and national agency partners, county Envirothon coordinators, students, and teachers.

The Conservation Fund recently announced the addition of the 254-acre Beaver Valley property along Brandywine Creek to First State National Historical Park’s Brandywine Valley Unit in a portion of Delaware County

The latest Chesapeake Bay Watershed Implementation Plan newsletter from the Department of Environmental Protection as well as regular updates from county and other partners and recent accomplishments of the Chesapeake Bay Program in Pennsylvania.

The May 28 newsletter from Lancaster Clean Water Partners highlights work being done in Lancaster County to improve water quality and all the exciting events that are part of Lancaster Water Week June 4-12.

Susquehanna River Basin Commission scientist Ellyn Campbell recently shared information about aquatic organisms with seventy fourth-grade students at Silver Spring Elementary School in Cumberland County.

Through a partnership with The GIANT Company and Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful, Tri County Community Action and Keep Philadelphia Beautiful completed three recent community improvement projects with the help of local volunteers and The GIANT Company’s team member engagement program. 

Hawk Mountain Sanctuary in Berks County is celebrating Black Birders Week May 30 to June 5 with a special series of events to highlight Black nature Enthusiasts and to increase the visibility of Black birders, who face unique challenges and dangers when engaging in outdoor activities.

The Northeast Wildlife Administrators Association of the Northeast Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies in April honored the Game Commission for the agency’s forward-thinking in establishing its Wildlife Futures Program.

From March 16, 2020 to May 25, 2021 Department of Environmental Protection employees have been teleworking and using COVID-19 mitigation measures to continue to fulfill its mission.  DEP staff have--

Axios reported on May 25, Republican State Treasurer Stacy Garrity joined a group of 14 other Republican state treasurers threatening to withdraw state funds from banks and financial institutions who do not lend money to coal, oil and natural gas companies as part of decarbonization efforts.

On May 26, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn said Pennsylvania state parks and forests are open for the unofficial start of the summer season, and reminded Pennsylvanians of the guidelines in place so that all visitors have a safe and enjoyable experience.

On May 27, the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources posted overcrowding alerts for 14 state parks and two state forest recreation areas and recommended alternatives.

On May 25, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn noted that state park swimming pools and beaches will be open this holiday weekend to welcome visitors for the outdoor activities that have been so critical to our well-being during the pandemic. 

On May 28, the Department of Agriculture announced crews have begun to spray an insecticide that kills the insects on contact along railways, interstates and other transportation rights-of-way.

By Timothy B. Wheeler, Chesapeake Bay Journal

[ Because In Politics Everything Is Connected To Everything Else ] The Independent Fiscal Office issued its first revenue estimates for FY 2021-22 last week and if it wasn’t clear before it is very clear now-- the Biden Administration’s push to provide state and local governments with money to prop up their budgets has saved Pennsylvania Republicans.

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

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 May 25, House Republicans voted to pass House Bill 1144 (Causer-R-Cameron) that would not only roll back environmental protection standards for conventional oil and gas wells generally, but would also specifically make road dumping of drilling wastewater legal again.

On May 26, 81 organizations, institutions, and businesses and more than 3,342 concerned citizens called on state senators to vote no on a bill--  House Bill 1144 (Causer-R-Cameron)-- that would roll back rules on conventional drillers, many that have been in place for decades.

On May 24, Republicans in the House voted to pass  House Bill 939 (Klunk-R-York) creating a new bureaucracy-- the Independent Office of the Repealer-- to review existing regulations from all state agencies and make recommendations to the General Assembly and Governor for the repeal or revision. 

On May 25 and 26, Republicans in the Senate passed legislation to kill regulations by doing nothing, require private review of permit applications, not tell the public why regulations are being proposed and more.

On May 25, the Senate Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure Committee reported out legislation pushed by privately-owned water/wastewater companies to set up publicly-owned water and wastewater systems for easier takeover by private systems.

On May 25, the Senate Agriculture and Rural Affairs and Local Government Committees held a joint hearing on local government issues related to the development of utility scale energy facilities in Pennsylvania.

On May 25, Attorney General Josh Shapiro and members of the Senate Democratic Caucus announced a package of bills aimed at increasing transparency, oversight and the overall safe management of gas drilling operations in the fracking industry.

On May 28, Sen. Camera Bartolotta (R-Washington) reintroduced legislation-- Senate Bill 717-- which would create a new standard for the review for appeals of DEP permit actions before the Environmental Hearing Board by limiting parties appealing permit decisions-- a company or a citizens group-- to issues raised in and information contained in a record of decision of a permit prepared by DEP.

On May 28, the Biden administration submitted to Congress the President’s Budget for fiscal year 2022, including $312 million for the Office of Surface Mining and Reclamation, which features $165 million to address coal mine reclamation and economic development efforts.

On May 26, the U.S. House Natural Resources Committee reported out two bipartisan bills to prevent the expiration of the federal Abandoned Mine Reclamation Program and expand mine reclamation efforts, according to the Eastern PA Coalition for Abandoned Mine Reclamation.

On May 28, the Biden Administration's proposed BY 2022 budget request advances key EPA priorities, including tackling climate change, advancing environmental justice, protecting public health, improving infrastructure, creating jobs, and supporting and rebuilding the EPA workforce.

On May 28, the National Association of Conservation Districts applauded the additional funding for conservation efforts in President Biden's proposed FY 2022 federal budget.

On May 28, President Biden released a fiscal year 2022 budget request that would boost funding for the federal Chesapeake Bay Program to $90.5 million from its current level of $87.5 million. This $3 million increase, if enacted, would result in full funding for the Program. 

On May 27, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced six states and the District of Columbia will share $7.25 million for actions to improve local rivers and streams in locations most beneficial to the downstream Chesapeake Bay.

The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation is now accepting applications for the Central Appalachia Habitat Stewardship Program.  The deadline to apply is July 15.

On May 26, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced the ten communities that have been selected for virtual roundtable discussions on EPA’s Lead and Copper Rule (LCR) Revisions.

On May 24, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Mid-Atlantic Region’s Asthma Program announced the selection of the first-ever Asthma Community Champion-- Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia’s (CHOP) Community Asthma Prevention Plus Program (CAPP+).

On May 26, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Deputy Secretary Lauren Imgrund, State Forester Ellen Shultzabarger, and officials from Geisinger Health System toured a streamside buffer at Geisinger Woodbine Lane in Danville that demonstrates how property owners can include pollinator habit and recreation opportunities in projects that help reduce water pollution.

Lancaster Clean Water Partners will host a workshop for partners interested in applying for Growing Greener, Section 319 and Clean Water Fund grants on June 1 from 2:00 to 3:30 p.m.  There are both in-person and online options available.

The Chesapeake Bay Landscape Professional Program is offering a one-day, in-person Stormwater BMP Training Workshop on June 29 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 in Lititz, Lancaster County.

The Department of Environmental Protection published a notice in the May 29 PA Bulletin inviting comments on a proposed Total Maximum Daily Load Plan for the Laurel Hill Creek subwatershed in Somerset County.  (PA Bulletin, page 3056).

Do you live in or around the City of Lancaster and have an interest in native plants and supporting pollinators?

Celebrate National Pollinator Week June 21-27, 2021 with the Penn State Master Gardeners of Cumberland County!

The Department of Agriculture announced it is now accepting applications for Agriculture Research Project Grants until June 25.  (formal notice)

The PA Resources Council will host Household Chemical Collection events in Fayette and Washington counties to provide an opportunity for residents to conveniently dispose of materials such as cleaners, paints, stains and varnishes, batteries, motor oil and pesticides. 

Want to learn new skills and protect the environment?  Take one of the PA Resources Council conservation workshops in June on backyard composting and rain barrel installation.

On May 27, Clean Air Council, PennFuture, and the Center for Biological Diversity announced they filed an appeal of the air quality permit the Department of Environmental Protection issued for the Renovo Energy Center, a large gas-fired power plant proposed for the town of Renovo in Clinton County

On May 24, the Independent Fiscal Office reported natural gas production in Pennsylvania continued to increase in the first quarter of 2021-- January to March-- increasing 5.4 percent from the first quarter of 2020.

On May 26, the Public Utility Commission issued a Cybersecurity Advisory to public utilities across Pennsylvania highlighting cybersecurity best practices following a recent cyberattack on the Colonial Pipeline Company – which disrupted fuel supplies along the East Coast.

On May 25, the Public Utility Commission announced the PA One Call Damage Prevention Committee took a total of 102 disciplinary actions, including imposing $34,750 in administrative penalties against 52 underground facility owners, excavators and project owners in its latest enforcement actions at its May meeting.

The Pittsburgh 2030 District recently issued its 2020 Annual Report showing the accomplishments of the more than 550 buildings and 1,200 partners participating in the initiative to reduce energy and water use by 50 percent by 2030.

The Pittsburgh-based Green Building Alliance will host an online Women+ In Green Steadfast and Strong Breakfast Program June 11 from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m.

WeConservePA will host a series of four webinars on Utility Scale Solar - Environmental and Siting Considerations in August.

The Brodhead Watershed Association is planning events for the rest of 2021, including the popular Get Outdoors Poconos series of events, supported by a grant from the William Penn Foundation, kicks off the summer.

On May 27, the Delaware Highlands Conservancy announced the relaunch of a program to benefit the Upper Delaware River region-- Drinks for the Delaware.

By Ryan Reed, Natural Resource Program Specialist, Bureau of Forestry

The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources published notice in the May 29 PA Bulletin of a proposed land exchange with the Erdenheim Farm in Chester and Montgomery counties.

The May 28 Take Five Fridays With Pam is now available from the PA Parks & Forests Foundation featuring articles on--

The Delaware Riverkeeper Network is hosting a women's overnight camping trip at French Creek State Park in Berks and Chester counties on June 5-6th.

The PA Recreation and Park Society is now accepting proposals for educational sessions to be presented at the 2022 Annual Conference & Expo.  The deadline for submissions is August 27.

Audubon Mid-Atlantic invites qualified firms to respond to a Request for Proposals for facilitating and drafting a Conservation Plan for the Kittatinny Ridge Conservation Landscape Region.  Responses are due June 30.

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.

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