Here are 74 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.Below are examples of going the WRONG WAY on environmental and energy issues from last week’s articles and NewsClips--

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

The 20th Anniversary of the Quecreek Mine Rescue was celebrated last week at the Somerset County Mine Rescue Site organized by the Quecreek Mine Rescue Foundation.

For the second time in his administration, Gov. Wolf and Senate and House Republicans let a bill become law that fails to hold conventional oil and gas drillers accountable for protecting the environment from over 100,500 active wells and continues to put the burden of plugging the wells the industry routinely abandons on state taxpayers.

On July 19, Joe Adams, Acting Executive Deputy Secretary For Programs, told the DEP Citizens Advisory Council “certainly there are concerns” about how the new law blocking increases in conventional oil and gas well bonding will impact the funding Pennsylvania is in line to receive under the new federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to plug abandoned conventional oil and gas wells.

On July 21, the Independent Regulatory Review Commission voted unanimously 5 to 0 to approve Part I of final Environmental Quality Board regulations reducing volatile organic compounds and methane emissions from unconventional (shale gas) wells and facilities.

On July 12, Olympus Energy earned the highest possible environmental performance asset-level certifications relying on Project Canary's rigorous, independent environmental assessment process, the company announced.

By Sharon Pillar, Pennsylvania Solar Center

A July 12 story on Bloomberg described how a summer road trip in an electric car was fueled by the Sheetz convenience store that has aggressively moved into the charging market.  Click Here to read the article.

On July 19, Joe Adams, Acting DEP Executive Deputy Secretary For Programs, told the DEP Citizens Advisory Council the agency is entering into agreements with 15 engineering firms to design mine land reclamation and mine drainage treatment projects to be funded by the new federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

By Andy McAllister, WPCAMR Regional Coordinator and Co-Chair PA AML Campaign

On July 19, the Department of Environmental Protection announced it has submitted the final state Phase 3 Chesapeake Bay Watershed Implementation Plan to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

By Bill Chain, Interim Director, Chesapeake Bay Foundation-PA

The Chesapeake Bay Trust, in partnership with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection announce that $1,058,720 in funding has been awarded to 13 projects across Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia as part of the Chesapeake Bay Green Streets, Green Jobs, Green Towns Grant Program.

On July 20, the PA Infrastructure Investment Authority announced the award of $269 million in funding to 11 drinking water, wastewater, stormwater, and nonpoint source water pollution control projects in 10 counties.

On July 20, the Department of Environmental Protection announced it will hold a public hearing Thursday, August 4, 2022, regarding M&G Realty, Inc.’s application for a DEP individual National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit to construct a convenience store in Antis Township, Blair County.

On July 20, the Centre County Recycling and Refuse Authority announced over 1,500 pounds of organics and recyclable material were collected during the four day Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts in State College. 

Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful, with funding from the Department of Environmental Protection’s Coastal Resources Management, is seeking volunteers for their new Waterway Steward Program.

On July 22, Department of Environmental Protection  published a draft air quality plan approval [65-00767C] to allow the construction and initial temporary operation of a leachate evaporation system at Westmoreland Sanitary Landfill, located in Rostraver Township, Westmoreland County. (July 23 PA Bulletin page 4166)

The DCNR Conservation and Natural Resources Advisory Council is scheduled to meet July 27 where DCNR staff will present updates on the agency’s new ’22-23 budget; unveil a new e-bike policy for state park and forest riding; and provide details on revenue generation, challenges and opportunities of state park concessionaires--from small food stands and equipment rentals to swimming pools and ski resorts. 

On July 23, the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources announced the August 1 opening of a new round of ATV/Snowmobile Project Grants.  The deadline for applications is September 30.  (formal notice)

The July 22 Take Five Fridays With Pam is now available from the PA Parks & Forests Foundation.

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

The July Environmental Education newsletter from DCNR’s Bureau of State Parks highlights--

By Penn State News

The PA State Association of Township Supervisors is seeking presentation proposals for 2022 PSATS Regional Stormwater Conference workshops.

The Villanova Urban Stormwater Partnership is pleased to announce that the biennial Pennsylvania Stormwater Management Symposium will be held October 12 and 13 on the campus of Villanova University in Philadelphia.

Join WeConservePA and guest speakers from the Pennsylvania Environmental Council and the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Bureau of Forestry, Rural and Community Forestry section for a two-part presentation on the why’s and how-to’s of lawn conversion and green infrastructure.

The U.S. Geological Survey PA Water Science Center Summer newsletter is now available featuring articles on--

By Penn State News

Join the Penn State Master Gardeners of Cumberland County for a free in-person garden talk titled “Planting a Butterfly Friendly Garden” on August 4 from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. outside at the Pollinator Garden on the Two Mile House property in Carlisle, PA.

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

On July 19, Sen. Gene Yaw (R-Lycoming), Majority Chair of the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, circulated a memo to all Senators asking them to co-sponsor legislation to ban counties that ban fracking under county-owned land from receiving their share of funding from the Act 13 drilling impact fees and related grants.

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 July 23 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 supporting member of the PA Organization for Watersheds & Rivers, PA Outdoor Writers Association, PA Council Trout Unlimited and the Doc Fritchey Chapter Trout Unlimited.