Here are 64 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 April 6, the Pennsylvania Environmental Council announced Cindy Adams Dunn, Secretary of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, will receive PEC’s 2022 Lifetime Achievement Award.

DEP’s Oil and Gas Compliance System reports conventional oil and gas drillers were issued 77 notices of violation for attempting to abandon wells without plugging them in the first three months of 2022.

On April 7, the Department of Environmental Protection announced it has approved Sunoco Pipeline LP’s request for a major permit amendment for restoration activities after a spill of drilling fluid near Marsh Creek State Park in Chester County.

In spite of breathlessly urgent statements by Pennsylvania’s natural gas industry and their politicians about the need to ramp-up drilling in the Commonwealth, DEP’s latest Weekly Oil And Gas Workload Report shows 25.6 percent fewer new unconventional shale gas wells were drilled in the first quarter of 2022-- 110 -- than in 2021-- 148 and fewer still than in 2020-- 153.

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the April 9 PA Bulletin of a May 25 public hearing on the initial air quality permit for the Lackawanna Energy Center Natural Gas-Fired Power Plant in Jessup, Lackawanna County. (PA Bulletin, page 2182)

On April 7, the Department of Environmental Protection appealed the April 6 Commonwealth Court order blocking publication of the final regulation establishing a Carbon Pollution Reduction Program covering power plants consistent with the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative to the PA Supreme Court.

By Josh Raulerson, PA Environmental Council

On March 31, Philadelphia-based Comcast announced an agreement to purchase 250 megawatts (MW) of solar electricity from Constellation that will power approximately 12 percent of its U.S. operations and the vast majority of its Mid-Atlantic operations with clean, renewable energy.

The Green Building Alliance, the City of Pittsburgh Department of City Planning, the Energy Innovation Center, and Duquesne Light Company, have secured a grant of technical assistance from the U.S. Department of Energy to assess environmentally compromised vacant lots of public land in the Hill District as potential renewable energy generation locations. 

The Department of Transportation will host an April 27 teleconference on the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Funding Program from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m.  (formal notice)

Allegheny College in Crawford County will host the Fifth World Symposium on Sustainable Development at Universities (WSSD-U-2022), June 16–17, 2022.

Join PA Interfaith Power & Light and the Jewish Earth Alliance for an April 20 webinar on Clean Energy And Energy Independence starting at 7:00 p.m.

Pennsylvania’s Insurance Department joined a bipartisan group of state insurance regulators led by Insurance Commissioners Ricardo Lara of California and David Altmaier of Florida in adopting a new standard for insurance companies to report their climate-related risks, in alignment with the international Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures (TCFD).

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

The DEP Citizens Advisory Council is scheduled to meet on April 19 to hear presentations on the draft changes to DEP’s Environmental Justice Permit Review Policy and on the agency’s Environmental Education Program.

With Earth Day just around the corner on April 22, Pennsylvania American Water announced it would plant a tree for each customer who commits to going paperless during the month of April.

Staff from the Susquehanna River Basin Commission volunteered their time and a whole lot of muscle to further their mission of managing and maintaining the basin in a very hands-on way earlier this month.

The Spring Penn’s Waters newsletter from the Chesapeake Bay Foundation PA Office is now available featuring articles on--

The Department of Agriculture is now accepting applications for research grants covering a wide variety of potential topics, including improving soil health, farm conservation practices, controlling invasive species and protecting pollinators.  (formal notice & grant guidelines)

The Rodale Institute announced Pocono Organics in Blakeslee, Monroe County will become its fifth Regional Resource Center, joining other Centers in Georgia, Iowa, California, and Italy. 

Recognized by both the State House and Senate, April 10-16, 2022 has been declared “Conservation District Week.” During this week, district offices across the state will hold events and meet with legislators in their home county.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) invites the public to attend the Pennsylvania State Technical Committee meeting on April 21, 2022.

The Susquehanna River Basin Commission is now accepting applications for a second round of its Groundwater Level Monitoring Grant Program.  The deadline for applications is June 30.

Wondering how you can help celebrate Earth Day this year?  Since 1984 the Pennsylvania Resources Council has sponsored an annual Lens on Litter Photo Contest, not to glorify litter, but to call attention to the litter problem in communities across the Commonwealth.

Some of Pittsburgh’s largest and most well-known events this spring, summer and fall will share a common theme: zero waste.

Workers with the flexibility to perform their jobs remotely could now do so during a live-and-work visit to a PA Wilds community.

Mother nature cooperated bringing water to the Driftwood Branch of the Sinnemahoning Creek on Thursday days before the Sinnemahone Paddle event in Cameron County  

By Richard Reardon and Rebecca Trigger

On April 8, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn visited Carlisle, Cumberland County, to help plant trees and highlight the many benefits they provide to communities.

It’s that time of the year when many of us are waiting for color to show up on nature’s landscape.

By Brodhead Watershed Association

The April 8 Take Five Fridays With Pam is now available from the PA Parks & Forests Foundation.

On April 4, Natural Lands announced the owners of Crebilly Farm have signed an agreement of sale that opens a path for the permanent protection of the property. The iconic property in Westtown Township, Chester County, has been at risk of development.

On February 22, the ClearWater Conservancy finalized the permanent conservation of Bella Vista Farm, owned by the Dionisio Family in Centre County.

The Delaware Highlands Conservancy is hosting a community Welcome Day and Open House at the Van Scott Nature Reserve, 571 Perkins Pond Rd, Beach Lake, Wayne County on Saturday, May 14 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

The PA Parks and Forests Foundation is seeking qualified candidates to fill a Public Engagement Coordinator position.

Berks County-based Berks Nature is seeking qualified candidates to fill the position of Vice President for Education.

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

DCNR’s Bureau of State Parks is offering special environmental education activities and programs in April for Earth Day.  Here are just a few from their April newsletter--

The PA Council of Trout Unlimited is now accepting applications for funding to support new and existing Trout In The Classroom Programs.  The deadline for applications is May 1.

American eels were once one of the most common fish species in the Susquehanna River Basin. But in the early 20th century, multiple large hydroelectric dams were constructed on the river that block their natural migration.

The Schuylkill Action Network and Schuylkill River Greenways are now accepting registrations for the 2022 Schuylkill River Sojourn which runs from June 17 -24.  Three scholarship programs are also available.

The University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public and International Affairs and the Atlantic Council will host an April 12 webinar on the State Of Abandoned Mine Reclamation - Perspectives From Pennsylvania Stakeholders starting at Noon.

The PA Environmental Council is hosting a three-part webinar series highlighting the importance of Pennsylvania's outdoor recreation industry.

Enjoy the Pennsylvania outdoors this May with Penn State Extension and enjoy seven different workshops in multiple counties on topics like Stream Health, Connect With Nature, Stormwater BMP Walk, Flowering Trees & Shrubs, Know The Woods, Watershed Stewardship and more.

By Brodhead Watershed Association

Penn State Extension will hold another in its virtual Water Cooler Talks April 13 on Per-and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances from Noon to 1:00 p.m.

The PA Environmental Council, and its affiliate, the PA Organization for Watersheds and Rivers (POWR) in partnership with the Laurel Highland Conservation Landscape is hosting the 2022 Wild and Scenic Film Festival, On Tour on April 28.

Join the League of Women Voters-PA for the launch of Reimagine Ursinus-Collegeville on April 20 at the Olin Auditorium at Ursinus College in Collegeville, Montgomery County, from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.

The PA Forestry Association, in cooperation with the Ned Smith Center for Nature and Art, is proud to bring you the fifth video-- History Of Forest Products Industry-- that is part of the Discovering PA’s Forest Heritage series.

Join the Eastern PA Alliance of Climbers for a virtual panel discussion April 11 starting at 7:00 p.m. on how collaboration among climbers, wildlife biologists and land managers can help manage, conserve and protect our bat population.

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

On April 6, the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee reported out a resolution calling for a study of the potential for critical and rare earth minerals in Pennsylvania and a bill redirecting coal mining penalties to help pay operation and maintenance costs for mine drainage treatment.

Articles and NewsClips about federal actions impacting Pennsylvania--

By Candace Vahlsing & Danny Yagan Federal Office of Management and Budget

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-- The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the April 9 PA Bulletin of a May 25 public hearing on the initial air quality permit for the Lackawanna Energy Center Natural Gas-Fired Power Plant in Jessup, Lackawanna County. (PA Bulletin, page 2182)

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.