Scrapbook Photo 03/25/24 - 93 New Stories - REAL Environmental & Conservation Leadership In PA: http://tinyurl.com/3729bhvv
Weekly PA Environment Digest Newsletter
May 16, 2022 Issue #930
(5/16/2022)
* 65 New Stories - REAL Environmental & Conservation Leadership In PA

Here are 65 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.   Is Your Story Being Told?

* Allegheny National Forest: Commercial Alternatives For Dust Suppression Makes The Practice Of Road Dumping Conventional Drilling Wastewater ‘Unnecessary’ On Roads

The Allegheny National Forest says “commercial dust suppressants now available render the practice of spreading oil and gas wastewater on roads unnecessary” within the National Forest in Elk, Forest, McKean and Warren counties, according to Christopher Lesser, a spokesperson for the U.S. Forest Service.

* Friends Of Allegheny Wilderness Issue Alert To Members About Possible Road Dumping Of Conventional Oil & Gas Wastewater In Allegheny National Forest

On May 10, the Friends of Allegheny Wilderness issued an alert to its members on Facebook to be on the lookout for possible road dumping of conventional oil and gas wastewater in the Allegheny National Forest in Elk, Forest, McKean and Warren counties.

* Guest Essay: PA's Low-Producing Conventional Oil & Gas Wells Are Leaking Too Much Methane, The Industry Needs To Take Care Of Its Own Trash

By Rev. Mitch Hescox, Evangelical Environmental Network 

* Sen. Casey, DEP Highlight Importance Of Federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Funding To Address Abandoned Mine Reclamation In Visit To Northumberland County

On May 13, U.S. Senate Bob Casey and John Stefanko, DEP Deputy Secretary for Active and Abandoned Mine Operations toured the Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area in Shamokin, Northumberland County to highlight how abandoned mine reclamation projects can benefit local economies and communities.

* DCNR Blog: Whiskey Springs ATV Trail, Clinton County To Close 4 Days A Week To Allow Work On 3 Abandoned Mine Reclamation Projects

The Whiskey Springs ATV Trail in the Clinton County part of Sproul State Forest, will operate this summer under modified conditions to allow for safe and efficient acid mine remediation work in the Huling Branch, Five Mile Hollow, and Two Mile Run Road vicinity.

* Susquehanna River Basin Commission Awards Design Contract For Tioga River Abandoned Mine Drainage Treatment Project

On May 12, the Susquehanna River Basin Commission awarded a nearly $1.5 million contract to Kleinfelder Inc. for the design of a mine discharge treatment plant to improve the quality of the Tioga River from Blossburg to Mansfield in Tioga County.

* EPA Announces 2022 State Water Revolving Fund Grants Funded By Bipartisan Infrastructure Law; PA Share Is $240.1 Million

On May 13, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced $1.9 billion in grant funding to the Drinking Water and Clean Water State Revolving Funds to accelerate progress on water infrastructure projects.

* May 18 Webinar: Learn More About Funding The Growing Greener Program For The Next Generation

Five environmental organizations are hosting a May 18 webinar on Funding The Growing Greener Program for the Next Generation from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m.

* DEP Sets June 28 Hearing On Response To PFOA/PFOS Contamination Around University Park Airport, Centre County

On June 28, the Department of Environmental Protection will hold a public hearing for the residents of Benner Township, Centre County on its response to PFOA/PFOS contamination around the University Park Airport under the state Hazardous Sites Cleanup Act.

* EPA Announces Brownfields Cleanup, Assessment Funding; 8 Grants In PA Totaling $7.3 Million

On May 12, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency awarded $254.5 million in Brownfields grants to 265 communities, including eight grants in Pennsylvania totaling $7.3 million.

* Poconos Residents Support More Action To Protect ‘Exceptional Value’ Streams, New Poll Finds

Poconos residents value state protections for “Exceptional Value” streams and want elected officials to take further steps to protect these waterways from large-scale commercial development, a poll released today by the Our Pocono Waters campaign finds.

* North Penn Water Authority, Perkiomen Watershed Conservancy Hold May 20 Groundbreaking, May 21 Planting Day For Rain Garden Project In Skippack Twp., Montgomery County

The North Penn Water Authority and the Perkiomen Watershed Conservancy are partnering on a project to protect the Perkiomen Creek Watershed and beautify the community with a rain garden.

* Westmoreland Pollinator Partners Host Pollinator Palooza Garden Tours Starting May 21; Bring Your ‘Passports’ & Cameras, Get A Free Native Plant

The Westmoreland Pollinator Partners, an association of public pollinator-friendly gardens across Westmoreland County, are inviting residents to visit this season, and bring your “passports” and cameras along. 

* DEP Highlights Impact Of Coastal Zone Grants At Erie Bird Observatory

On May 13, Department of Environmental Protection Northwest Regional Director Erin Wells and colleagues visited Fry’s Landing on Presque Isle State Park to get a firsthand look at how the Erie Bird Observatory utilizes a 2022 DEP Coastal Zone Grant, issued earlier this year.

* DEP Invites Comments On Proposed Changes To NPDES General Permit PAG-06 - Combined Sewer System Overflow Discharges

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the May 14 PA Bulletin inviting comments on proposed changes to the NPDES General permit for Wet Weather Overflow Discharges from Combined Sewer Systems (PAG-06).

* Local Organization Selected To Host Southwest PA Water Network

On May 13, the Water Center at the University of Pennsylvania announced the Pittsburgh Collaboratory for Water Research, Education, and Outreach has been selected to host the Southwestern Pennsylvania Water Network, a coalition of individuals involved with water-related activities across 10 counties in the southwestern portion of the state.

* DEP Invites Comments On Proposed Regional OTC Nitrogen Oxide Standards For Waste Combustors

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the May 14 PA Bulletin inviting comments on nitrogen oxide emission reduction measures from municipal waste combustors proposed by the Northeast Ozone Transport Commission.

* DEP Reschedules Environmental Quality Board Meetings June Thru October

The Department of Environmental Protection announced the meetings of the Environmental Quality Board from June through October will be one week earlier than originally scheduled.

* DEP Announces Local Climate Action Training Provided To 121 More Municipalities; Apply Now For Training

On May 11, Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Patrick McDonnell announced 12 participants, representing 121 municipalities, have completed the 2021–2022 DEP Local Climate Action Program, conducting inventories of local greenhouse gas emissions and developing plans to reduce emissions and mitigate climate change risk in their communities.

* Muhlenberg College Survey: Emission Reduction Remains Public’s Preferred Approach To Dealing With Climate Change; If We Don’t Act Now It Will Cost More Later

By Barry G. Rabe, Brookings Institution & Christopher Borick, Director Muhlenberg College Institute Of Public Opinion

* Guest Essay: Climate Change Demands Southwestern PA Transition To A New Low-Carbon Energy Reality

By Hilary Mercer, Shell Polymers/Pennsylvania Chemicals Project & Kevin Walker, President/CEO Duquesne Light

* PA Awards $2 Million In Clean Energy Workforce Development Grants

On May 13, Department of Labor & Industry Secretary Jennifer Berrier announced four Clean Energy Workforce Development grants for projects that will identify individual employer and collective industry workforce needs, while also developing solutions to those needs.

* Existing Technologies Can Help World Meet Agricultural Methane Targets By 2030

By Jeff Mulhollem, Penn State News

* Upcycling Plastic Waste Into Graphite Could Facilitate Transition To Electric Vehicles, Clean Energy

By Jennifer Matthews, Penn State News

* PUC Alerts Electric Customers Prices To Compare Going Up June 1 Between 16.1% And 44.6% Due To Rise In Natural Gas Prices

On May 9, the Public Utility Commission alerted consumers that most utilities will be adjusting their prices for electric generation on June 1 – cautioning that many non-shopping (default service) customers will see sharp increases in energy costs as summer approaches, ranging between 6% and 45% depending on their electric utility.

* PJM Interconnection Prepared To Meet Summer Electricity Demand

On May 11, PJM Interconnection released its summer forecast for electricity demand and says it has enough supply to meet summer electricity needs for the 65 million people it serves in 13 states and the District of Columbia.

* PJM Interconnection Releases ‘Grid Of The Future’ Road Map To Handle Coming Renewables, Storage Wave

On May 10, the PJM Interconnection released a report outlining a vision for the grid of the future informed by examining how key industry trends and drivers could impact PJM and PJM’s transmission planning process.

* DCNR, Corrections Forestry Camp Program Prepares Reentrants For Tree Maintenance Careers In Centre County

On May 11, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Deputy Secretaries John Norbeck and Michael Walsh visited the State Correctional Institution at Rockview in Centre County to tour the institution's woodshop and meet the group of 13 men who have been a part of a 5-week intensive arboriculture vocational training program at the facility’s Forestry Camp.

* A Daughter Partners With Pocono Heritage Land Trust To Remember Her Parents Through The 400 Acre Kurmes Paradise Creek Nature Preserve In Monroe County

By Carol Hillestad, Pocono Heritage Land Trust

* Wildlife For Everyone: Contractor Selected For Soaring Eagle Wetland Educational Trail Accessibility Improvements, Centre County

The Wildlife for Everyone Foundation announced John Claar Excavating, Inc, Woodward, will be the contractor of the accessibility improvements at Soaring Eagle Wetland, located at 6543 South Eagle Valley Road, Julian, Centre County.

* Future Of Deer Management Clouded By Coming Steep Decline In Hunter Numbers

By Jeff Mulhollem, Penn State News

* DCNR Awards $320,866 In Wild Resources Conservation Grants; Deadline For Next Grant Round July 8

On May 13, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn announced that $320,866 in Wild Resource Conservation Program grants have been awarded to nine projects aimed at protecting Pennsylvania’s native biodiversity.

* May 13 Take Five Fridays With Pam From PA Parks & Forests Foundation

The May 13 Take Five Fridays With Pam is now available from the PA Parks & Forests Foundation.

* Help Wanted: Western PA Conservancy/DCNR - 4 Regional Watershed Forestry Specialists

The Western Pennsylvania Conservancy’s watershed conservation program, in cooperation with the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Bureau of Forestry, seeks four Regional Watershed Forestry Specialists for limited-term, contract positions.

* Environment & Energy Educational Opportunities For Students & Adults

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

* Over 700 Students Participate In York County In-Person Envirothon Competition; Statewide Competition May 25

The York County Envirothon returned to an in-person competition at Rudy Park for the first time since 2019!

* Game Commission, DEP, DCNR Held Live Rachel Carson Building Peregrine Falcon Banding Event

On May 12, the Game Commission, DEP and DCNR held a live Peregrine Falcon Banding event at the Rachel Carson Building in Harrisburg.

* PA Trout Unlimited Has STREAM Girls/STREAM Keeper Program Materials Available

Every person is a citizen of her watershed, and Trout Unlimited has partnered with Girl Scouts USA to show what that means to us.

* PA Resources Council Awarded Foundation For Delaware County Grant For Stream Stewards Student Education Program

The PA Resources Council was awarded a $20,000 Foundation for Delaware County grant to maintain the Stream Stewards student education program developed with the Eastern Delaware County Stormwater Collaborative and local school districts.

* FEMA Region 3, Silver Jackets Host Hurricane Agnes50 Virtual Seminar Series Starting May 18

The Federal Emergency Management Agency Region 3 and Silver Jackets partners are presenting a series of virtual seminars to commemorate the 50t Anniversary of Hurricane Agnes. What happened? What have we learned? Where do we go from here? Join us!

* PAEE Professional Development Programs On Tracking Life Cycles In A Warming World, Chronolog Citizen Science Project, Conservation Science Curriculum

Join PA Association of Environmental Educators for these upcoming professional development opportunities.

* Clean Air Council Hosts May 18 Webinar On Oil & Gas Threat Map By Earthworks

The Clean Air Council is hosting a May 18 webinar starting at 2:00 p.m. on the Oil & Gas Threat Map released by Earthworks showing 1,482,810 Pennsylvanians including 290,123 children, reside near or attend schools or daycares within a half mile threat radius of active oil and gas operations.

* PA Solar Center May 20 Webinar: Utility Scale Projects In PJM Queue; U.S. Trade Investigation; New Poll Results

The Pennsylvania Solar Center will host a May 20 Watts & Learn webinar from Noon to 1:15 p.m. on solar projects stuck in the PJM Interconnection evaluation queue, the U.S. Commerce Department trade investigation of foreign solar energy components and new Pennsylvania solar energy poll results.

* Hawk Mountain Sanctuary Road To Recovery Concert Fundraiser May 28 For Chainsaw Carver Todd Gladfelter From Schuylkill County

Spend the day outdoors enjoying a mix of music on Saturday, May 28, when Hawk Mountain Sanctuary and community friends host Road to Recovery, a Concert Fundraiser to benefit chainsaw carver Todd Gladfelter from Schuylkill County.

* 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

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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