Scrapbook Photo 11/04/24 - 108 New Stories - REAL Environmental & Conservation Leadership In PA: http://tinyurl.com/mtb6anth
Weekly PA Environment Digest Newsletter
June 17, 2024 - Issue #1,039
(6/17/2024)
* 98 New Stories - REAL Environmental & Conservation Leadership In PA

Here are 98 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.

* Weekly List Of PA Environment & Energy Articles & NewsClips By Topic

PA Environment Digest Puts Links To The Best Environment & Energy Articles and NewsClips From Last Week Here By Topic--

* House Committee Reports Out Bills To Ban Road Dumping Conventional Oil & Gas Wastewater; Prohibit Use Of PFAS 'Forever Chemicals’ In Consumer Products

On June 11, the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee reported out legislation that would ban the road dumping of conventional oil and gas wastewater and prohibit the use of PFAS ‘forever chemicals’ in consumer products.

* House Hearing: Shapiro Administration Supports Bill Banning Road Dumping Oil & Gas Wastewater, Prohibiting Its Use As Coproduct Under Residual Waste Regulations

On June 10, the Department of Environmental Protection told the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee the Shapiro Administration supports legislation banning the practice of road dumping oil and gas wastewater and prohibiting its consideration as a coproduct under Residual Waste Regulations.

* House Hearing: Penn State Expert Says ‘Pennsylvania Should Ban Road Spreading Of Oil & Gas Wastewater;’ Contaminants Exceed Health, Environmental Standards

On June 10, Dr. William Burgos, a Penn State Professor of Environmental Engineering, appeared before the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee to outline the finding of extensive research by Penn State on the environmental and health risks of road dumping.

* House Hearing: Penn State Center For Dirt & Gravel Road Studies Says Road Spreading Oil & Gas Wastewater Is Not An Effective Dust Suppressant, Does Not Meet Environmental Testing Standards

On June 10, Eric Chase, Assistant Teaching Professor and Assistant Director of the Penn State Center for Dirt and Gravel Road Studies said road spreading oil and gas wastewater is “not effective at suppressing dust and pose potential environmental harm and due to high levels of chloride and radium would not pass the testing requirements to be eligible for Program funds.”

* House Hearing: A First-Hand Account Of How Repeated, Unlimited Road Dumping Of Oil & Gas Drilling Wastewater Is Tearing Apart Dirt Roads And Creating Multiple Environmental Hazards

Siri Lawson from Farmington Township, Warren County submitted this written statement to the June 10 House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee for its hearing on House Bill 2384 (Vitali-D-Delaware) and road spreading oil and gas wastewater.

* House Hearing: Protect PT - Road Dumping Oil & Gas Wastewater ‘Is Disproportionately Responsible For Negative Impacts On Human Health,’ Especially From Radioactive Radium

On June 10, Tom Pike, an Environmental Policy Advocate with Westmoreland County-base Protect PT, told a House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee hearing on House Bill 2384 (Vitali-D-Delaware) that  road spreading of oil and gas wastewater “is disproportionately responsible for negative impacts on human health.”

* House Hearing: On Road Dumping Oil & Gas Wastewater - ‘We Studied This For Nearly 30 Years And The Conclusions Are The Same - The Wastewater Contains Harmful Contaminants’

On June 10, former DEP Secretary David Hess told a House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee he supports legislation banning what he called the “indiscriminate” and “unnecessary” disposal of oil and gas wastewater by road dumping.

* House Hearing: PA State Assn. Of Township Supervisors Opposes Ban On Road Dumping Conventional Oil & Gas Wastewater Saying It’s Only Affordable Option For Dust Suppression [Plain Water Works Just As Well]

On June 10, a representative of the PA State Association of Township Supervisors said the Association continues to support a resolution passed by its members in 2019 favoring the use of conventional oil and gas wastewater as a dust suppressant on dirt roads saying it is effective and affordable.

* House Hearing: Conventional Oil & Gas Industry Trade Groups Oppose Bill Banning The Road Dumping Their Wastewater Saying It’s ‘Effective And Safe’

On June 10, three conventional oil and gas industry trade groups submitted a written statement to the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee for a hearing on House Bill 2384 and road dumping oil and gas wastewater saying they oppose a ban on the disposal practice.

* PA Environmental Council Supports Bill To Ban Road Dumping Oil & Gas Wastewater

On June 10, the PA Environmental Council sent a letter to the members of the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee supporting House Bill 2384 (Vitali-D-Delaware) that bans road dumping of oil and gas wastewater.

* PA Oil & Gas Weekly Compliance Dashboard - June 8 to 14 - Abandoned Conventional Well Violations Now Top 512, Equaling All Of 2023

From June 8 to 14, DEP’s Oil and Gas Compliance Database shows oil and gas inspectors filed 659 inspection entries, and caught up with posting inspection reports from last week..

* DEP: Conventional Oil & Gas Well Owners Must Be In Compliance With PA Environmental Laws & Regulations To Be Eligible For New Federally-Funded Well Plugging Grants

Conventional oil and gas well owners who intend to apply for federally-funded grants to plug wells to reduce methane emissions must first be in compliance with Pennsylvania's environmental laws and regulations, according to the Department of Environmental Protection.

* PA Oil & Gas Industrial Facilities: Permit Notices, Opportunities To Comment - June 15

The following notices were published in the June 15 PA Bulletin related to oil and gas industry facilities.  Many of the notices offer the opportunity for public comments.

* House Committee Approves Bill Giving PA Energy Development Authority Ability To Use Federal Climate, Clean Energy Funding

On June 11, the House Consumer Protection, Technology and Utilities Committee unanimously reported out House Bill 2338 (Fiedler (D-Philadelphia) updating the duties and powers of the PA Energy Development Authority to use billions of federal climate and clean energy dollars to incentivize investments in Pennsylvania.

* PA Energy Development Authority Launches $1.8 Million Financing Program To Help Local Governments Make Energy Efficiency Upgrades

On June 11, the Pennsylvania Energy Development Authority announced the launch of a new financing program designed to help local governments identify and develop energy efficiency and energy system upgrades for municipally-owned buildings.

* Penn State Students Learn Best Practices During High-Performance Building Summer Camp In Pittsburgh

Students from South West College, Northern Ireland, are joining Penn State students in Pittsburgh to learn best practices in energy-efficient design during the High-Performance Building Summer Camp June 3-21.

* DEP To Hold July 15 & 16 Hearings On Phasing Out Stage II Gasoline Vapor Recovery Systems

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the June 15 PA Bulletin announcing July 15 and 16 in-person hearings on proposed State Air Quality Implementation Plan changes on the decommissioning of Stage II gasoline vapor recovery systems at gasoline service stations.

* DEP Establishes A Customer Experience Management Advisory Council To Put Customer Service Front And Center For Agency Leadership

On June 12, the Department of Environmental Protection announced it is establishing a Customer Experience Management Advisory Council (CXMAC) to advise DEP’s Acting Secretary and Chief Customer Experience Officer on strategies and improvements to enhance service delivery to the public.

* Chesapeake Bay Program Reports Highest Number Of Forest Buffers Planted Across Watershed Since 2016

On June 12, the Chesapeake Bay Program reported that in 2023, partners working across the Chesapeake Bay watershed restored 640.5 miles of forest buffers, the highest number of new forest buffers restored since 2016.

* PA Horticultural Society, Aqua Pennsylvania Award Over $210,000 In Tree Planting Grants To Local Environmental Groups

On June 10, the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society in collaboration with Aqua Pennsylvania, and local conservation districts, are joining forces to announce the 2024 grant recipients of their vital tree planting grant program, “Trees for Watersheds.”

* Master Watershed Steward Marcus Ferreira - The Man Behind Philadelphia's Green Future

By Alexandra McLaughlin, Penn State News

* Chesapeake Bay Conservation Landscaping Council Offers Buffer Basics, Marvelous Meadows & Level 1 Landscape Professional Certification Training In PA

The Chesapeake Bay Conservation Landscaping Council is offering a variety of landscaping professional training, certification workshops online and in-person in Pennsylvania--

* Delaware Highlands Conservancy Now Accepting Applications For Women And Their Woods Educational Retreat Sept. 15-18

On June 10, the Delaware Highlands Conservancy announced woman across the mid-Atlantic region who own, care for, or are interested in learning more about forestland are invited to apply now to attend the Women and Their Woods Educational Retreat from September 15-18 at the Highlights Foundation Workshop Facility in Milanville, Wayne County.

* Delaware River Basin Commission To Develop Its First Climate Resilience Plan; Adopts Amendments To Practice, Procedures Rules

On June 13, the Delaware River Basin Commission announced that at its June 5 quarterly public business meeting it approved a resolution directing staff to develop a Climate Resilience Plan that includes elements related to planning, consultation, outreach, education and rulemaking concerning climate change.

* DEP Invites Comments On Proposed 41 Acre Expansion Of Pioneer Crossing Landfill In Berks County

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the June 15 PA Bulletin inviting comments on a major expansion of the Pioneer Crossing Landfill in Exeter Township, Berks County.  (PA Bulletin, page 3451)

* DEP Invites Comments On Waste Permit Renewal For Kelly Run Landfill In Allegheny County

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the June 15 PA Bulletin inviting comments on the waste permit renewal for the Kelly Run Landfill in Forward Township, Allegheny County.   (PA Bulletin, page 3452)

* DEP Invites Comments On Air Quality Plan Approval For IRG Erie Plastic Recycling Facility

The Department of Environmental Protection received an application for an Air Quality Plan Approval for the proposed IRG Erie, Inc. plastics recycling facility in the City of Erie, Erie County.  (PA Bulletin, page 3453)

* Centre County Recycling & Refuse Authority Paper Threading Events Collects 13,126 Pounds Of Paper

On June 1, 182 cars stopped by the Centre County Recycling and Refuse Authority on June 1 to take advantage of a paper shredding event that was sponsored by Rep. Kerry Benninghoff’s office.

* PA Recycling Markets Center Hosts July 11 Battery Recycling Markets Development Summit

The PA Recycling Markets Center will hold a Battery Recycling Markets Development Summit on July 11 at CO Hatch Waterfront, 149 West Bridge Street in Homestead, Allegheny County from 9:00 a.m. to 3:15 p.m.

* June 27 VideoCast On Insights Into Circularity - Keeping Plastics And Other Resources In Use For As Long As Possible - PA Recycling Markets Center

The PA Recycling Markets Center will host a June 27 videocast offering Insights into Circularity starting at 1:00 p.m.

* State Farmland Preservation Program Invests $9.8 Million To Protect 2,629 Acres On 28 Farms In 19 Counties From Future Development

On June 13, the Department of Agriculture announced Pennsylvania will purchase development rights for 2,629 acres on 28 farms in 19 counties, protecting them from future residential or commercial development.

* Natural Lands Preserves 95 Acres Of Forest, Waterways, Historical Farm In Chester County

On June 10, Natural Lands announced the preservation of a 95-acre forested landscape in East Nantmeal Township, Chester County.

* DCNR Forests For All Strategic Plan Online Town Hall Meeting Available On Demand; Take Survey To Provide Feedback

The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Forests For All Strategic Plan online town hall meeting presenting the draft Forests for All Strategic Plan for State Forests is now available on demand.

* Environment & Energy Educational Opportunities For Students & Adults

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

* DCNR State Parks Environmental Education: Take A Deep Breath And Dive Into Summer!

The June edition of the DCNR State Parks Environmental Education newsletter urges everyone to dive into summer and enjoy Great Outdoors Month and National Indigenous People’s History Month in June!

* Registration Open! PA Assn. Of Environmental Professionals Annual Conference Sept. 11-13 In State College

The PA Association of Environmental Professionals is now accepting registration for its Annual Conference to be held September 11-13 at the Penn Stater Hotel & Conference Center in State College.

* Juniata College Raystown Field Station: Leave No Trace Level 1 Instructor Course June 29-30

Juniata College is now accepting registrations for the Leave No Trace Level 1 Instructor Course at Juniata College’s Raystown Field Station, located on Raystown Lake at 14322 Field Station Lane, Entriken in Huntington County on June 29-30.

* 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-- 

* 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 Public Notices

Highlights of the environmental and energy notices in the June 15 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

* 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.

Previous PA Environment Digests