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Weekly PA Environment Digest Newsletter
May 23, 2022 Issue #931
(5/23/2022)
* 60 New Stories - REAL Environmental & Conservation Leadership In PA

Here are 60 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.

* This Week’s Examples Of Going The WRONG WAY On Environmental, Energy Issues

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.

* All Articles & NewsClips In This Week’s Digest By Topic

PA Environment Digest Is Putting The Best Links To Environment & Energy Articles and NewsClips Here.   Are You Telling Your Story?

* Guest Essay: Funding Crucial For The Future Of Clean Water In Pennsylvania

By Hilary Falk, Chesapeake Bay Foundation & Allyson Gibson, Lancaster Clean Water Partners

* Federal Office Of Surface Mining Awards PA $26.63 Million For Mine Reclamation Projects Related To Economic Development

On May 17, the federal Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement awarded Pennsylvania $26.63 million for abandoned mine reclamation projects related to improving economic development opportunities in communities.

* Chesapeake Bay Foundation: Living Memorial To Victims Of Violence, Pandemic To Take Root In City Of Harrisburg

Trees to benefit the landscape and remember those lost to the pandemic, violence, and other causes will take root as a living memorial in the City of Harrisburg on Memorial Day weekend.

* Interfaith Partners For The Chesapeake Hosting Upcoming Programs On Funding Projects, Rain Gardens, Interfaith Environmental Stewardship

The Interfaith Partners For The Chesapeake, which works to engage religious congregations in being good caretakers of our shared watershed, is highlighting upcoming events by local partner congregations and education opportunities.

* Evangelical Environmental Network Blog: A Christian’s Guide To Planet Earth

By Betsy Painter, Author & Conservation Biologist

* PA Consortium For Scientific Assistance To Watersheds Provides Free Technical Assistance To Watershed Groups; USGS Provided Training

The Consortium for Scientific Assistance to Watersheds (C-SAW) is a team of specialists who provide free organizational and scientific technical assistance to Pennsylvania-based watershed and conservation organizations in Pennsylvania.

* Stroud Water Research Center: New Way To Trace Algae Origins Could ID Sources Of Water Pollution

New research conducted by Chester County-based Stroud Water Research Center scientists shows how real-time chlorophyll sensors can be used to determine the origins of algae in rivers and streams, and in turn, identify the sources of pollution that algae sometimes signal.

* Villanova Stormwater Partnership Call For Presentation Proposals For Stormwater Symposium Oct. 12-13; Update On Revised DEP Stormwater Manual A Highlight

The Villanova Center for Resilient Water Systems and Villanova Stormwater Partnership are now accepting presentation proposals for the 2022 Stormwater Symposium to be held at Villanova University on October 12-13 in Philadelphia. 

* PASA Sustainable Agriculture Accepting Presentation Proposals For 2023 Annual Conference In January, February

The PASA Sustainable Agriculture conference committee is now accepting presentations proposals for their 2023 Annual Conference to be held January 17-19 (Virtual) and February 8-11 (In-Person) in Lancaster.

* Three Rivers Waterkeeper Seeking Active River Users For New 3 Rivers Watch Program In Pittsburgh

The Three Rivers Waterkeeper is launching a new 3 Rivers Watch Program made up of active volunteer river users to monitor the 125 miles of  rivers around Pittsburgh for pollution.

* Forbes Trail Chapter Trout Unlimited: Ligonier Valley Middle School Students Wrap Up Outdoor Club Activities In Westmoreland

Twenty-three students from Ligonier Valley Middle School’s Outdoor Club in Westmoreland County, plus a few fellow students, completed the final activities for their 2021/2022 Club program. 

* DEP Plans To Present A ‘Narrower Version’ Of Final Oil & Gas Methane Emission Reduction Reg. To EQB At June Meeting

On May 18, the Department of Environmental Protection said it will present a revised final oil and gas methane emission reduction regulation to the EQB in June that it hopes will address objections raised to the regulation that could have resulted in a disapproval of the regulation and delaying final adoption.

* Gov. Wolf Announces Aggressive Push To Secure Clean Hydrogen Hub In PA

On May 16, Gov. Tom Wolf announced Pennsylvania is working with energy, organized labor, and environmental stakeholders to support a path forward for industrial sector decarbonization with an emphasis on the deployment of clean hydrogen and carbon capture, utilization, and storage technologies.

* Duquesne Light Releases Whitepaper On Electrification's Potential To Benefit The Environment, Economy, Local Communities

On May 20, Duquesne Light Company released a new whitepaper-- “Electrification as a Strategy for Decarbonization”--  focused on the benefits of electrification and its role in decarbonizing the Pittsburgh region.

* New Report Finds Solar Energy Installations At PA K-12 Schools Doubled Since 2020; Their Energy Costs Don’t Fluctuate With Energy Markets

The amount of solar energy at K-12 schools in Pennsylvania doubled since 2020, according to a new statewide report on schools' adoption of solar published by Generation180, a clean energy nonprofit.

* Sustainable Pittsburgh Reopens Certification Programs To Support, Recognize Sustainability Progress

On May 19, Sustainable Pittsburgh reopened its acclaimed sustainability recognition programs, propelling a new phase in the organization’s work to build the knowledge, perspective, and ability needed to create a better tomorrow for the region.

* Pittsburgh-Founded Reed Smith Law Firm Unveils Global Environmental Sustainability Plan

On May 18, the Pittsburgh-founded global law firm Reed Smith announced the launch of its Global Environmental Sustainability Plan 2024.

* Guest Essay: When People Have To Choose Health Or Jobs, Everyone Loses - The View From Rachel Carson’s Homestead In Allegheny County

By Kiley Bense

* University Of Houston: Shale Gas Wastewater Could Be Substantial Source Of Lithium

By Karn Dhingra, University of Houston News

* EPA: U.S. Steel To Pay $1.5 Million Penalty, Make Improvements To Settle Air Pollution Violations At Allegheny County Steel Plant

On May 17, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Allegheny County Health Department announced the U.S. Steel Corporation will pay a $1.5 million penalty and make extensive improvements at its steel production facility in Braddock, Pennsylvania, as part of a settlement covering longstanding air pollution violations.

* Dept. Of Human Services Extends Deadline To Apply For Low-Income Home Energy Assistance To June 17

On May 19, Department of Human Services Acting Secretary Meg Snead announced the deadline to apply for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) season has been extended to June 17.

* DEP, DCNR, PennDOT Employees Recognized With Governor’s Award For Excellence For Environmental Projects

On May 20, Gov. Tom Wolf recognized employees from the departments of Conservation and Natural Resources, Environmental Protection and Transportation with the Governor’s Award for Excellence for environment-related projects.

* Keep PA Beautiful/PennDOT: Opening Young Ambassadors Program For High School Students In August

In partnership with PennDOT, Keep PA Beautiful will be opening an application period in August for its new Young Ambassadors Program for high school students from diverse backgrounds.

* DCNR Conservation & Natural Resources Advisory Council Meets May 25 On Camp Site Reservation System, ATV Pilot, Next Gen Council, Other Updates

DCNR's Conservation and Natural Resources Advisory Council is scheduled to meet May 25 to hear updates on a variety of issues, including camping reservation system changes, the ATV Pilot Program, Next Gen Council and more.

* WeConservePA Accepting Nominations For Local Government Conservation, Lifetime Conservation Leadership Awards

WeConservePA is now accepting nominations for the Local Government Conservation Leadership and Lifetime Conservation Leadership Awards.  The deadline for nominations is September 30.

* May 20 Take Five Fridays With Pam From PA Parks & Forests Foundation

The May 20 Take Five Fridays With Pam is now available from the PA Parks & Forests Foundation.

* NFWF Accepting Central Appalachia Habitat Stewardship Grant Applications; June 1 Webinar

The National Fish and Wildlife Federation is now accepting applications for Central Appalachia Habitat Stewardship Program grants.  Proposals are due July 13.

* Hawk Mountain Sanctuary Arts Tour Set For June 4 In Berks County

All roads lead to local artists during the Hawk Mountain Arts Tour on Saturday, June 4 from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

* DCNR Blog: 40 Years Of Doing Something Wild! PA Wild Resource Conservation Fund

By Chris Firestone, Ecological Program Specialist, and Rebecca Bowen, Ecological Services Manager

* Environment & Energy Educational Opportunities For Students & Adults

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

* Learn About Environmental Education Opportunities In DCNR’s State Parks During May

DCNR’s Bureau of State Parks just highlight some Spring and early summer environmental education activities and more in their May newsletter--

* Penn State Extension Water Team Stormwater BMP Walks May 27: Greensburg; June 9: Cumberland County; Get Outside In May! Programs

Penn State Extension Water Team members will host Stormwater BMP Walks on May 27 in Greensburg, Westmoreland County and on June 9 in Carlisle, Cumberland County.

* Help Celebrate Lancaster County Water Week June 3-11

Now in its 6th year, Lancaster Water Week - June 3-11--  celebrates the 1,400 miles of streams and rivers in Lancaster County.

* Northeast Recycling Council Call For Papers For Fall Conference Nov. 2-3

The Northeast Recycling Council is now accepting presentation proposals for its Fall Conference to be held November 2-3 at the Sheraton South Hotel, Rocky Hill, Connecticut.

* News From PA House & Senate

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

* House Environmental Committee To Hold May 23 Information Meeting On Bills Prohibiting Waste Landfills In Certain Areas

The House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee is scheduled to hold an informational meeting May 23 on two bills that would prohibit landfills in certain areas based on population density and occupied dwellings.

* House Environmental Committee Meets May 24 On Bills Attempting To Address Local Flooding, Extending Underground Tank Cleanup Programs

The House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee is scheduled to meet May 24 on a package of eight bills that attempt to deal with local flooding by digging out stream channels and not by taking actions to prevent flooding and restore floodplains.

* House Local Govt. Committee Meets May 25 On Bill To Prohibit Communities From Moving To Clean, Cheaper Energy Sources To Address Climate Change

The House Local Government Committee is scheduled to meet May 25 to consider Senate Bill 275 (Yaw-R- Lycoming) which prohibits counties, local governments and authorities from promoting clean, cheaper energy sources to reduce climate-changing greenhouse gas emissions..

* Senate Democratic Policy Committee Holds June 2 Hearing On Health Impacts Of Shale Gas Infrastructure In Allegheny County

The Senate Democratic Policy Committee is scheduled to hold a June 2 hearing in Allegheny County on the health impacts of shale gas infrastructure.

* The Feds

Articles and NewsClips about federal actions impacting Pennsylvania--

* Public Participation Opportunities/Calendar Of Events

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

* Grants & Awards

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

* PA Bulletin

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

* Stories Invited - About PA Environment Digest

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 Abandoned Mine Reclamation Conference June 22-23

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.

* Supporting Member PA Organization For Watersheds & Rivers; PA Outdoor Writers Assn.; PA Trout Unlimited

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.

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