Here are 30 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.

While PA Environment Digest’s priority is to highlight positive examples of environmental and energy leadership, 2022 is an election year which demands accountability to voters.

PA Environment Digest Is Putting The Best Links To Environment & Energy Articles and NewsClips Here.   Is Your Story Being Told?

DEP Deputy Secretary for Oil and Gas Management Scott Perry said DEP intends to move a draft regulation to the Environmental Quality Board for proposed rulemaking which sets general standards for conventional oil and gas drilling and related issues this year.  However, it does not address the unregulated road spreading of conventional drilling wastewater.

The Better Path Coalition is asking the public to sign a petition to DEP Secretary Patrick McDonnell to keep ALL oil and gas drilling wastewater off our roads.

The Better Path Coalition will host a January 12 webinar on Road Spreading Drilling Wastewater, Why Hasn't It Stopped? Starting at 7:00 p.m.

At the December 16 meeting of the PA Grade Crude [Oil] Development Advisory Council the conventional oil and gas drilling industry pressed DEP to reduce environmental protections from drilling and regulate their industry the same as solar or wind energy facilities.  They also pushed to continue the road spreading of their drilling wastewater without environmental protection standards.

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

The Better Path Coalition reported on January 6 two local residents Christine “PK” DiGiulio, Analytical Chemist from Downingtown, Upper Uwchlan Township, and Connor Young, Registered Nurse from Lionville, Uwchlan Township, locked their bodies and halted construction on the Energy Transfer Partners/Sunoco Mariner East Pipelines.

On January 5, the Department of Environmental Protection announced how the state will fully meet its nutrient and sediment pollution reduction goals in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed by 2025.

On January 5, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said it will fully evaluate Pennsylvania’s amended plan to help restore the Chesapeake Bay.

With less than four years to go to meet the 2025 implementation deadline of the Chesapeake Clean Water Blueprint, a new Chesapeake Bay Foundation assessment of the collective progress by the  three primary Bay states found that without significant acceleration the Blueprint will be yet another failed effort to restore this national treasure.

The DEP Water Resources Advisory Committee is scheduled to meet on January 20 to hear a presentation on DEP’s draft 2022 Integrated Water Quality Report which identifies water quality impaired rivers and streams throughout the Commonwealth.

The Water Center at the University of Pennsylvania is now accepting proposals for organizations interested in hosting the Southwestern PA Water Network.  Proposals are due February 1.

The DEP Citizens Advisory Council is scheduled to meet on January 18 to hear presentations on food waste to renewable energy and radon awareness.

The Environmental Quality Board is inviting comments on a proposed regulation change delisting sludge filter cake as a hazardous waste that is derived from liquid wastes managed by MAX Environmental Technologies at their Bulger waste facility in Washington County and the Yukon waste facility in Westmoreland County.  (PA Bulletin, page 235)

Keep PA Beautiful recently recognized five volunteers selected by local affiliates across the state with the 2021 Volunteer of the Year Award and Ellen Keefe, retiring executive director of Westmoreland Cleanways and Recycling, with the Legacy Award.

The PA Environmental Council’s In Case You Missed It In December is now available featuring articles on--

The Pittsburgh-based Landforce job readiness and land stewardship program is now accepting applications for 2022 crew members in Pittsburgh and the surrounding neighborhoods.  The deadline for applications is February 13.

The January 7 Take Five Fridays With Pam is now available from the PA Parks & Forests Foundation.

On January 5, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation announced more than $1.7 million in grants to restore forest and freshwater habitat in central Appalachia, including projects in Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia.

This article originally appeared in the PA Council of Trout Unlimited Fall newsletter--

The Department of Agriculture's Controlled Plant and Noxious Weed Committee is scheduled to hold a virtual meeting January 20 at 1:00.  (formal notice)

On January 6, the PA Forestry Association announced the December 27 passing of Maurice “Duke” Hobaugh, 92, retired William Penn District Forester and winner of the 1992 Joseph Rothrock Award from the Association.

The Fish and Boat Commission's Anadromous Fish Restoration Unit is seeking qualified individuals to fill several seasonal Fisheries Biologist Aide positions from April through early July.

The Fayette County-based Mountain Watershed Association is seeking qualified individuals to fill two positions--

The Board of Directors of Fair Shake Environmental Legal Services, a regional nonprofit organization incubating the growth of environmental legal services for modest means clients, has begun a candidate search for a new Executive Director.

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

On January 6, Secretary of Agriculture Russell Redding unveiled the 2022 Pennsylvania Farm Show butter sculpture. Carved from a half-ton of butter, it highlights this year’s theme of Harvesting More.

Register today for the first Pennsylvania Lake Erie Environmental Forum (PALEEF) of 2022 – January 25 at 1:00 p.m. Eastern.

The Susquehanna River Basin Commission has scheduled a series of three webinars to assist public water system operators and managers on the Commissions groundwater withdrawal requirements.

The Delaware Highlands Conservancy is now accepting applications from eligible high school seniors for the Vanessa Van Gorder Memorial Scholarship.  The deadline for applications is March 25.

The Pennsylvania-based Environmental Health Project will host a virtual Shale Gas and Public Health: Translating Science Into Policy Public Health Summit on February 22 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

PA Interfaith Power & Light and the PA Jewish Earth Alliance will host a January 19 virtual program on Building Climate Resilience In Our Own Communities from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m.

Keep PA Beautiful will be accepting nominations for the Litter Hawk Youth Awards Program for students in grades K to 6th through January 31.

Building on the success of its Organic Consulting Service launched in 2019, the Kutztown-based Rodale Institute has launched the Rodale Institute Certified Advisor program, a new accreditation that builds a network of local, trusted agricultural service providers backed by Rodale Institute’s expertise.  

Want to stay on top of the latest news, research and upcoming events on forest and wildlife issues from the Penn State Extension Forestry and Wildlife Team?  Sign up now for the quarterly Woods and Wildlife News and Notes newsletter.

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

On January 4, Sen. Sharif Street (D-Philadelphia) introduced Senate Bill 979 which amends the Alternative Energy Portfolio Standard Act to establish a new Clean Energy Standard and encourage investment in carbon capture technology to achieve net-zero carbon emissions from power plants.

On January 4, Rep. Daryl Metcalfe (R-Butler), Republican Chair of the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, publicly announced he will not seek reelection in this press release-

Articles and NewsClips about federal actions impacting Pennsylvania--

On January 6, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced the award of $3,599,571 in funding for nine small businesses to further develop and commercialize technologies to protect the environment and public health through the Small Business Innovation Research Program.

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 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.  Registration Open!

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.