Here are 42 new stories in the PA Environment Digest about individuals, groups, local governments, farmers, businesses, watershed groups and many more working all across Pennsylvania to restore and protect the environment and show others the beauty that surrounds us.

Links to all the articles and NewsClips in this week’s PA Environment Digest by topic in one place--

On November 5, the U.S. House voted to approve the $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill, sending it to President Biden’s desk for his approval.

The Environmental Quality Board is scheduled to meet November 16 to consider a proposed regulation setting a drinking water MCL for PFOA and PFOS  “forever” chemicals and two rulemaking petitions to increase bonding on both conventional and unconventional oil and gas wells.

DEP’s Citizens Advisory Council and Environmental Justice Advisory Board will hold their annual joint meeting on November 16.

The Keystone 10 Million Trees Partnership has awarded its Mira Lloyd Dock Partnership Diversity Awards to Kiasha Huling of Philadelphia and Shauna Yorty of Lancaster. The women were recognized for their conservation work and community building in under-represented portions of their cities.

Amid the rustic setting of a fourth-generation farm turned restaurant and event space, Chester County-based Stroud Water Research Center bestowed the 2021 Stroud Award for Freshwater Excellence to Melissa D. Ho, Ph.D., Senior Vice President of Freshwater and Food at World Wildlife Fund, on Thursday, November 4 at the 19th annual The Water’s Edge gala.

By Western PA Conservancy

Bucknell University in Union County and Susquehanna University in Snyder County recently planted forest buffers alongside streams on their campuses to slow rainwater runoff.

The Penn State Extension Master Watershed Stewards of Berks and Schuylkill counties would like to invite the public to join us at Cacoosing Meadows Park, 3286 State Hill Road, Sinking Spring in Berks County on November 17, from 4:00 to 4:30 p.m. for an unveiling of the newly planted live stake nursery.

By Harry Campbell, Chesapeake Bay Foundation

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the November 6 PA Bulletin of an opportunity to bid on a mine reclamation project in Clearfield County.

On November 2, the Susquehanna River Basin Commission announced they are accepting applications for up to $6 million in Drought Resilience Consumptive Use Mitigation Grants.  The deadline to apply is January 28.

On November 1, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s Board of Trustees announced they have selected Hilary Harp Falk, a proven expert in large-scale ecosystem restoration, leading organizational change and coalition building, to be CBF’s next President & CEO.

On November 4, the Pennsylvania Solar Center presented 18 Lancaster companies, farms, and organizations with the prestigious Lodestar Award, a distinction given to Pennsylvania entities who are leading the way in investing in clean and renewable solar energy.

Three Pennsylvania universities have been recognized in EPA Top 30 College and University List of Green Power Users - Carnegie Mellon (#11), Penn State (#14) and Temple (#27).

By Ronald Fisher, Executive Director, The Energy Co-op

On November 4, PJM Interconnection and its members said they are prepared to meet the forecasted demand for electricity this winter, employing lessons learned from recent extreme weather events while also accounting for recent fuel supply concerns.

This editorial first appeared in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on November 7, 2021--

On November 5, a coalition of environmental organizations appealed a decision by the Allegheny County Health Department to grant a permit for the construction of a new Invenergy Allegheny Energy Center natural gas-fired power plant in Elizabeth Township, Allegheny County.

The Department of Environmental Protection will hold a hearing December 13 [If Needed] on the proposed RACT II Air Quality Plan for the Montour Steam Electric Station in Derry Township, Montour County.  (PA Bulletin page 6996)

By: Michelle Ferguson, Energy Program Specialist, Heidi J. Kunsch, Environmental Group Manager, and Odessa Meredith, Press Assistant

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the November 6 PA Bulletin it is suspending the enforcement of the California Heavy-Duty Diesel Emissions Control Program in Pennsylvania through July 31, 2023.

The Department of Environmental Protection will be accepting applications for Clean Diesel Grants under the Driving PA Forward Program until January 7, 2022.  (formal notice)

On November 1, the Department of Environmental Protection awarded $9.5 million in grants to reduce diesel emissions, improve air quality, and promote clean transportation technologies.

Sustainable Energy Education & Development Support and the Chamber of the Northern Poconos are now accepting nominations for the 2022 Green Business of the Year Award.  The deadline for nominations is November 26.

By Department of Conservation & Natural Resources

The PA Environmental Council’s In Case You Missed It In October features articles on--

Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful wants to remind Pennsylvanians to celebrate America Recycles Day on November 15.

The PA Resources Council Traveling Glass Recycling Bin Program provides a free recycling service that rotates through a variety of locations in western Pennsylvania. 

The PA Resources Council will host a free Recycling and Waste Reduction webinar on November 17 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.

On November 4, Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn announced the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources is taking steps to reduce the use of plastics and the amount of waste generated from food concessions at Pennsylvania state parks.

On November 4, the Allegheny Land Trust announced it has partnered with the Regen Network to sell carbon credits based on its land holdings in Western Pennsylvania.  The sale is believed to be the largest urban forest carbon credit sale in the nation.

By Larry Myers, Forbes Trail Chapter Trout Unlimited

On November 4, Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding announced that since January of 2015, Pennsylvania has enrolled 2.1 million acres in the state’s Clean & Green Program, bringing the total to 11.2 million acres.

On November 1, Natural Lands announced it has partnered with the Sproat Family to permanently protect 42 acres of land in New Garden Township, Chester County.

Lancaster Farmland Trust announced it has added two farms to its growing list of 538 farms and 33,098 acres of farmland preserved.

The Maryland National Guard 175th Wing has issued a draft finding of no significant impact for public comment on a proposal to fly combat training missions with A-10 Warthog aircraft within 100 to 7,999 feet above the ground in six Pennsylvania counties and two New York counties in what is called the Duke Military Operating Area (MOA) training area.

On November 4, the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources issued its sixth Fall Foliage Report that gives a preview of next week’s leaf viewing. 

Tune in to a livestream presentation with the PA Parks and Forests Foundation on November 8 to listen to the three winning songs and honor the original songwriters who won PPFF’s 2021 Environmental Rights Amendment Song Contest.

The November 5 Take Five Fridays With Pam is now available from the PA Parks & Forests Foundation.

The South Mountain Partnership is now accepting nominations for the Spirit of South Mountain Awards to recognize an individual, project, or organization that has made significant contributions to advancing a positive and sustainable future for the South Mountain landscape.

The Department of Agriculture’s Controlled Plant and Noxious Weed Committee is scheduled to hold a virtual special meeting on November 17 to consider two additions to the noxious weed list. (formal notice)

By Sara LaJeunesse, Penn State News

Opportunities to learn more about environmental and energy issues affecting Pennsylvania for students and adults--

The Department of Environmental Protection will host a webinar December 2 from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. called DEP Grants 101 for first-time applicants for DEP grants.

Students are invited to showcase their research, projects, posters and photos at the 2021 Student Symposium on the Environment hosted by the Center for the Environment at Westminster College in Lawrence County and the Butler County-based  Slippery Rock Watershed Coalition.

The PA Interfaith Power & Light will hold its Annual Building Toward A Just Future Conference on November 14 from Noon to 5:00 p.m. in a virtual format.  The focus of the Conference is Climate Justice.

The information you need to follow legislation in the House and Senate- starting with articles and NewsClips from last week--

The House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee is scheduled to meet November 8 on a Senate Concurrent Resolution disapproving of the final regulation limiting carbon emissions from power plants consistent with the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative.

The House Tourism & Recreational Development Committee is scheduled to meet on November 10 to consider House Resolution 74 (Daley-D-Montgomery) directing the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to conduct a study of wildlife conservation corridors.

Articles and NewsClips about federal actions impacting Pennsylvania--

On November 1, USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) State Conservationist Denise Coleman announced that Pennsylvania is currently taking applications for natural disaster recovery efforts in Berks, Bradford, Bucks, Chester, Huntingdon. Luzerne, Lycoming, Monroe, Montgomery, Pike, Snyder, Sullivan, Susquehanna, Tioga and York Counties.

On November 5, Gov. Tom Wolf announced the federal government has granted his request for a one-month extension for individuals in the eight counties eligible for Individual Assistance to apply for federal aid.

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

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

Highlights of the environmental and energy notices in the latest PA Bulletin--

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 proud sponsor of the 2021 Statewide Watershed Conference hosted by the PA Organization of Watersheds and Rivers on November 7-8, with special webinars on November 10-11.

PA Environment Digest is a proud sponsor of the 2022 Joint Meeting of the Keystone Coldwater Conference and PA Chapter of the American Fisheries Society on February 25-26, 2022, at the Ramada Conference Center in State College.

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.