Here are 47 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?

On March 23, officials from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and representatives from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, and the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay were in the field meeting with dairy farmers in Pennsylvania and key corporate partners to discuss collaborative efforts that support local dairy farmers by promoting healthy farms, clean water, and other environmental benefits.

The State Conservation Commission announced it has expanded the Conservation Excellence Grant Program to seven counties and awarded over $5 million for the installation of farm best management practices.

The National Fish & Wildlife Foundation Chesapeake Bay Stewardship Program has funded a project by the PA 4R Alliance to provide farmers in the Bay Watershed with cost share funding for split applications of nitrogen.  The deadline for applications is April 4.

Penn State's College of Agriculture will host another in its series of College Connections webinars April 20 on Follow The Carbon: Re-Envisioning The Bioeconomy from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m.

Nominations are now being accepted for the 2022 Women In Conservation Awards Program to recognize excellence in conservation and to forge a stronger network of women who are deeply committed to working to protect Pennsylvania’s environment.

On March 18, PennFuture, Clean Air Council, the Sierra Club, Bradford County Real Estate Partners-- developers of a liquified natural gas plant-- and the Department of Environmental Protection agreed a new air quality permit would be needed for continued development of the LNG facility in a settlement of an appeal before the Environmental Hearing Board. 

On March 23, Rep. Seth Grove (R-York) introduced House Bill 2444 that contains a natural gas industry wish list of measures they want to expand natural gas drilling, subsidize pipeline expansion using DCNR Oil and Gas Fund revenue, automatically approve of well permits and preempting local government regulation of all facilities regulated by DEP.

Rep. Jonathan Fritz (R-Wayne) has introduced two new bills continuing his years-long effort to end the Delaware River Basin Commission moratorium on shale gas fracking that has been in place in one form or another since 2010.

On March 25, the United States and the European Commission came to an agreement on how to address Europe’s need for natural gas through the next two winters by diversifying liquefied natural gas supplies “in alignment with climate objectives” to end Europe’s dependence on Russian fossil fuels. Read more here.

The Washington & Jefferson College Center for Energy Policy and Management will host a free March 30 webinar on the push to reduce methane emissions in the natural gas industry as part of its Energy Lecture Series.

The Pennsylvania Solar Center will host its inaugural Solar Soiree on April 28 in the Covestro Brightspace At The Energy Innovation Center In Pittsburgh from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Here are some key takeaways from the U.S. Energy Information Agency’s 2022 Annual Energy Outlook--

Forty-three years ago on March 28, 1979, Pennsylvanians woke up to a much different world -- the accident at the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant in Dauphin County.

On March 26, the Governor’s Office published an updated agency-by-agency agenda of regulations in development and an estimated schedule for future actions.  (PA Bulletin, page 1930)

The Department of Environmental Protection will host a March 28 webinar on proposed changes to its Environmental Justice Policy from 11:00 a.m. to Noon.

While littering and illegal dumping are often discussed as social or environmental problems, rarely do we think about their economic impact.

The Westmoreland Conservation District and Westmoreland Cleanways and Recycling will hold a Scrap Tire Collection Event on April 9 at the Westmoreland Cleanways Recycling Center, 355 Pleasant Unity Mutual Road in Greensburg from 8:30 a.m. to Noon.

The PA Resources Council will offer Traveling Glass Recycling Bin collection locations in Allegheny and Mercer counties in April to provide residents with a higher quality glass recycling option than typical curbside programs, ensuring that glass deposited into the bin meets the highest standards and can be fully recycled.

On March 22, Attorney General Josh Shapiro announced the Office of Attorney General’s Environmental Crimes Section has charged James Muir, the former owner of M&S Sanitation Sewage Disposal and Pike County Environmental, for unlawful conduct that repeatedly violated the Solid Waste Management Act.

The Department of Agriculture published notice in the March 26 PA Bulletin it is expanding spotted lanternfly quarantine area requirements to 11 more counties-- Adams, Armstrong, Bedford, Centre, Fulton, Indiana, Lycoming, Mercer, Snyder, Union, and Washington.  (formal notice)

On March 22, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn visited Keystone State Park in Westmoreland County to call attention to the park’s infrastructure needs and how the use of federal pandemic recovery funds could address outdated facilities and public safety preparedness across the state.

On March 22, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn urged Pennsylvanians to be mindful of woodland fire danger as seasonal wildfire risk increases.

On March 25, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn encouraged anglers to consider using state park campsites for overnight fishing trips as trout season approaches.

Two of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resource’s newer employees are here to make an impact across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in maybe the greenest way possible -- helping people understand the importance of trees in our lives and our world.

The March 25 Take Five Fridays With Pam is now available from the PA Parks & Forests Foundation.

The Keystone Trails Association, a statewide organization providing, protecting, preserving, and promoting hiking trails and hiking opportunities in Pennsylvania is holding their annual Spring Hiking Weekend in Carlisle, Cumberland County from April 30 to May 1, 2022.

Get outdoors and get moving, PA! Knowing the benefits of spending time outside, the PA Parks and Forests Foundation encourages everyone to #GetMovingPA!

The Western PA Conservancy is now accepting applications for Canoe Access Development Grants for Western Pennsylvania.  Deadline for applications May 3.

On March 23, the Lancaster Conservancy announced it is in the process of acquiring almost 1,100 acres in Hellam Township, York County, where the Codorus Creek flows into the Susquehanna River.

The French & Pickering Creeks Conservation Trust partnered with property owner Robert Berry to forever preserve 71.6 acres in Charlestown Township, northern Chester County, through a conservation easement.

The Western Pennsylvania Conservancy celebrates its 90th year of protecting land, water and wildlife in Western Pennsylvania this year with a special March 31 webinar with Tom Saunders, President & CEO starting at Noon.

WeConservePA just completed a new report on the value of land trusts and land conservation in Pennsylvania which highlights 10 recent projects.

WeConservePA is hosting an April 27 webinar on Updating the Conservation Status of Rare & Endangered Plants in Pennsylvania from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m.

On March 21, the Fish and Boat Commission announced it is offering a grant program for financial assistance to Lake Erie fisheries participants negatively affected by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.  Apply between April 4 - May 4

The Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay is seeking qualified candidates for two positions--

The Pennsylvania Sea Grant Program is seeking qualified candidates for these positions--

The Audubon Society of Western PA is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Native Plant Horticultural Apprentice.

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

On March 24, Department of Environmental Protection Southeast Regional Director Pat Patterson visited the Riverbend Environmental Education Center in Gladwyne, Montgomery County to showcase its Aquaponics program, recently enhanced with the help of a $20,000 DEP Environmental Education Grant.

In celebration of World Water Day, families, community members, and a group from Mighty Writers—El Futuro gathered together at Stroud Water Research Center in Chester County on March 24 to learn about the world’s most precious natural resource — clean fresh water — and how to protect it.

Pasa Sustainable Agriculture will host a March 29 virtual New Soil Health Tools, Insights and Opportunities for Experienced Farmers Program from 10:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

The Pennsylvania No-Till Alliance invites farmers to participate in a cover crop research project and attend Summer Field Days Workshops in July and to take advantage of new farming guides.

Pasa Sustainable Agriculture and its partners have launched a new Dairy Grazing Project designed to improve dairy herds, soil health and water quality in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed.

By Robert Meinen, Penn State Extension

By Penn State News

By Drew O’Neil, Department of Health

Pennsylvania American Water is revamping its talent development program to include summer internships and Stream of Learning Scholarships focused on careers in the water and wastewater business.

The Department of Environmental Protection, Pennsylvania Sea Grant and their partners will hold a PA Lake Erie Virtual Environmental Forum April 19 on PFAS chemical contamination and potentially other issues from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.

By Jodi Sulpizio, Master Watershed Steward Coordinator, York County

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s annual watershed photo contest is underway. Photo submissions are being accepted now, through April 1.

Residents and decision-makers in Erie and throughout the Great Lakes region are encouraged to register for Mapping Bluff Erosion Potential on the PA Coast of Lake Erie, part of Pennsylvania Sea Grant’s webinar series focused on erosion along PA’s Lake Erie shoreline.

The Delaware County Office of Sustainability is hosting the First Delaware County Sustainability Conference on April 21 on the waterfront at Subaru Park, 1 Stadium Drive in Chester from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Sustainable Pittsburgh and CEOs for Sustainability will host an April 27 webinar on Tapping Opportunities In The Circular Economy from 1:00 to 2:30 p.m.

The Hawk Mountain Sanctuary in Berks County invites visitors to the Mountain for spring migration watch, Raptorthon, and exciting weekend programs.

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

The agenda for the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee  meeting scheduled for March 28 has been expanded to include a laundry list of things the natural gas industry has wanted for years.

The House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee is scheduled to hold an infomercial on March 28 entitled - “Oil & Gas Byproducts - Could We Live Without Them?”

The Senate Environmental Resources and Energy and Community, Economic and Recreation Development Committees are scheduled to hold a joint hearing March 29 on the economic impacts of the federal regulation establishing a Carbon Pollution Reduction Program covering power plants consistent with the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative.

Articles and NewsClips about federal actions impacting Pennsylvania--

On March 21, Gov. Tom Wolf announced Pennsylvania will receive $5 million, through the Swift Current Initiative under the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, to support Pennsylvania in mitigation against future damage from natural disasters.

As a result of the recently passed federal appropriations bill, the Fish and Wildlife Service has secured inaugural, dedicated funding for the recently authorized Chesapeake Watershed Investments for Landscape Defense (WILD) grants 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.

The PA Abandoned Mine Reclamation Conference will be held in-person and virtually June 22-23 at the Ramada Inn and Conference Center in State College.  This year's theme-- New Opportunities On The Horizon!  Registration Open!    Read more here.

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.