Here are 54 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?

By Gregory Lenahan, Deputy Digital Director

On March 30, U.S. Senators Bob Casey (D-PA) and Mike Braun (R-IN) introduced the Safeguarding Treatment for the Restoration of Ecosystems from Abandoned Mines (STREAM) Act (S. 3957) with U.S. Representatives Matt Cartwright (D-PA-8) and David McKinley (R-WV-1).

On March 31, Gov. Tom Wolf announced a $3.8 million investment, funded by the federal American Rescue Plan Act, to create and retain more than 100 jobs, grow manufacturing, and support small diverse businesses in Bedford and Huntingdon counties.

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation welcomes the funding increases in President Biden’s fiscal year 2023 budget for two programs essential to restoring the Bay and its tributaries, EPA’s Chesapeake Bay Program and technical assistance for farmers enrolled in U.S. Department of Agriculture conservation programs.

This story originally appeared on StateCollege.com March 31, 2022 and was written by the Centre County Gazette--

By Jeff Woleslagle, President of PA Outdoor Writers Association

The latest Catalyst newsletter from the Butler County-based Slippery Rock Watershed Coalition has an invitation to landowners with stream bank erosion problems to contact the Coalition.

The Keystone 10 Million Tree Partnership is offering landowners in Lancaster County free trees to plant along streams and creeks and the volunteers to plant them.

The Watershed Alliance of Adams County will hold its annual meeting as an in-person event at the Adams County Agricultural and Natural Resources Center, 670 Old Harrisburg Rd., Gettysburg on Wednesday, April 13, from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m.

By Ad Crable, Chesapeake Bay Journal

On March 31, the Courthouse News Service reported lawyers for the PA Senate Republican Caucus and Senators Gene Yaw (R-Lycoming) and Lisa Baker (R-Luzerne) argued before a Federal Appeals Court they should have standing to sue the Delaware River Basin Commission over its moratorium on fracking.

On March 28, the Republican Chair of the House Environmental Committee Rep. Daryl Metcalfe (R-Butler) said opponents of natural gas infrastructure projects “just need to be ignored and politically ran over.”

Sen. John Yudichak (I-Luzerne), who Senate Republicans appointed as Majority Chair of the Senate Community, Economic and Recreational Development Committee, called opponents of natural gas infrastructure projects “radical environmentalists” and arguments by supporters of the RGGI carbon pollution reduction regulations covering power plants “hysteria.”

The U.S. government took steps last week to release 180 million barrels of oil from reserves over the next six months in an attempt to reduce the price of oil on foreign energy markets. Read more here.

By Winnie Branton, PRC Board Chair

The Pennsylvania Resources Council, in partnership with the Beaver County Department of Sustainability and Waste Management, will host a household chemical collection event to provide Pennsylvania residents with an opportunity to safely and cost effectively dispose of common chemicals such as cleaners, paints, stains and varnishes, batteries, electronic cigarettes, motor oil and pesticides. 

Generation180 and FedEx have launched a new collaboration that will enable more U.S. schools to obtain solar power and benefit from cost savings, educational opportunities, and climate protection.

The Pennsylvania Solar Center hosts an April 8 webinar on How Solar Energy Creates Grid Resiliency and Incorporates Cybersecurity from Noon to 1:15 p.m.

On March 30, U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) announced that as a result of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, Pennsylvania is set to receive $186 million to help low-income families save on energy bills through the Weatherization Assistance Program.

The April 1 Take Five Fridays With Pam is now available from the PA Parks & Forests Foundation.

The Pennsylvania Environmental Council is now accepting applications for 2022 Pocono Forests and Waters Conservation Landscape Mini Grants. The deadline for applications is May 2.

The South Mountain Partnership will start accepting applications for their Mini Grant Program April 4.  The deadline for applications is May 27.

A new $32 million urban green space has reconnected Pittsburgh’s historic Hill District with the city’s downtown business and cultural center, providing residents of the Hill direct access to the city’s economic and cultural resources and amenities for the first time in more than 60 years.

The Sinnemahone Paddle organizers say a request by kayak enthusiasts is enlarging the classes for the race Saturday, April 9.  For the first time tandem kayaks will paddle the Driftwood Branch of the Sinnemahoning Creek. 

Love the outdoors? Can't wait for paddling season? The Susquehanna Greenway Partnership is excited to announce the Paddling Film Festival World Tour-- an opportunity to watch award-winning kayak, canoe, and rafting films from across the globe!

The McKean County Conservation District is seeking qualified candidates to fill a Conservation Technician position.

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

The Pennsylvania State Museum and the Department of Environmental Protection will host an April 8 webinar on the peregrine falcons nesting on the Rachel Carson Building in Harrisburg starting at 12:15 p.m.

The Western PA Conservancy is hosting a webinar on April 22 - Earth Day-- on Meaningful Mussels - Nature's Aquatic Ecosystem Workhorses starting at Noon.

The Discovery Center in Philadelphia will host several in-person educational programs open to the public--

In April, the Pennsylvania Resources Council will host environmental education webinars to teach residents principles of backyard composting, options for recycling a wide variety of materials, and methods for protecting watersheds including using rain barrels

The reduced vegetation in winter and early spring is not ideal for grazing but is great for planning changes to pasture layout.

It’s Soil Month at the Pike County Conservation District and their latest newsletter features lots of information on soil health--

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

On March 30, the House voted 126 to 72 to pass House Bill 637 (Struzzi-R-Indiana) designed to block the final DEP regulation establishing a Carbon Pollution Reduction Program covering power plants that’s consistent with the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative.

On March 28, Republicans on the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee voted to report out bills containing a laundry list of things the natural gas industry has wanted for years and to kill the final regulations reducing carbon pollution from Pennsylvania’s power plants.

On March 29, the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy and Community, Economic and Recreation Development Committees heard very familiar and often repeated pro/con comments on the economic and environmental impacts of the final Environmental Quality Board regulation establishing a Carbon Pollution Reduction Program covering power plants consistent with the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative.

On March 30, House Republicans considered House Bill 604 (Fritz-R-Susquehanna) adding more bureaucracy to the DEP permit review process, declaring in law the applicant for an environmental permit is always right and ignoring environmental justice concerns.

The bipartisan House Resolution 74 (Daley-D-Montgomery, Kaufer-R-Luzerne) to study wildlife conservation corridors in Pennsylvania was reported out of the House Transportation Committee March 29 and is now on the House Calendar for action.

Articles and NewsClips about federal actions impacting Pennsylvania--

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.