After being voted down in April, House Republicans revived and passed House Bill 1055 (Klunk-R-York) by a vote of 103 to 98.  The bill would enact an arbitrary requirement for state agencies to repeal 2 regulations for every new regulation a state agency wants to adopt.

On September 25, the Senate Intergovernmental Operations Committee reported out Senate Bill 398 (Gordner-R- Columbia) which would amend the Regulatory Review Act to prohibit agencies from publishing a statement letting the public know why they are proposing new or amended regulations when they are asking the public for comments.

House Republicans ended the week without taking final votes on two bills that would have, on the one hand, devastated Pennsylvania’s environmental permitting programs and, on the other, eliminated the public’s opportunity to review and comment on those permits.

On September 24, the PA Environmental Council and Environmental Defense Fund wrote a letter to all members of the House urging them to oppose House Bill 1107 (O'Neal-R- Washington) and House Bill 1106 (Puskaric-R- Allegheny) that would undermine the integrity of environmental permitting in Pennsylvania.

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the September 28 PA Bulletin inviting comments on a simplified PAG-01 Chapter 105 Stormwater General Permit for projects under 5 acres where the impervious surface totals no more than 20,000 square feet or 12 percent of the site, whichever is less.

On September 24, the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee reported out Senate Bill 790 (Scarnati-R-Jefferson) which sets environmental protection standards for conventional (not Shale gas) oil and gas well drilling and legalizes the road dumping of drilling wastewater from conventional wells.

A 2018 Penn State University research study concluded conventional drilling wastewater spread on roads as a dust suppressant “can harm aquatic life and pose health risks to humans.”

On September 23, a forum during the 74th United Nations General Assembly featured Pittsburgh Mayor William Peduto and leaders from Carnegie Mellon University, Chatham University, the University of Pittsburgh and The Pittsburgh Foundation.

The United Nations Economic Council on Europe has designated Pittsburgh as a United Nations Centre of Excellence on High Performance Building, establishing it as part of an international network of cities committed to implementing best practices in building design and performance.

On September 27, the Department of Environmental Protection announced a second individual has tested positive for West Nile Virus, this time from Chester County.

There is still time to register an event or to volunteer for a Keep PA Beautiful Pick Up Pennsylvania fall cleanup event!

On September 25, the PA Wilds Center for Entrepreneurship, Inc. announced the winners of the 2019 Champions Of The PA Wilds Awards that recognize outstanding individuals, organizations, programs, communities and places that exemplify the great work being done across the region to develop nature tourism and outdoor recreation economy in a way that creates jobs, diversify local economies, inspire stewardship and improves quality of life.

On September 26, the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources issued its first Fall Foliage Report with regional comments on factors influence foliage changes.

The following bills were given final approval by the Senate and House and are now on the Governor's desk for action--

The following bills of interest saw action last week in the House and Senate--

Here are the Senate and House Calendars for the next voting session day and Committees scheduling action on bills of interest as well as a list of new environmental bills introduced--

On September 24, representatives of ReFined Plastics LLC appeared before the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee asking to be exempt from any regulation under the state Solid Waste Management Act for a planned municipal waste processing facility that would remove plastics from 1,600 tons of waste a day and use the balance of the waste for fuel.

Rep. Parke Wentling (R-Mercer) has been named chair of the bipartisan, House-Senate  Joint Legislative Air and Water Pollution Control and Conservation Committee.

On September 24, the U.S. Senate Interior-Environment Appropriations Subcommittee increased funding for the Chesapeake Bay Program next year from $73 million to $76 million. The Trump administration’s 2020 budget, in contrast, called for slashing funds for this critical program by 90 percent.

On September 26, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced the award of nearly $600,000 for three projects to further a joint Chesapeake Bay Watershed Implementation Plan (WIP) to compensate for the loss of pollutant trapping capacity in the Conowingo Dam reservoir.

On September 26, Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Bucks/Montgomery) was joined by Representatives Salud Carbajal (D-California), Francis Rooney (R-Florida), and Scott Peters (D-California) to introduce the MARKET CHOICE Act.

By Ad Crable, Chesapeake Bay Journal

By Amy Wolfe, Trout Unlimited

The Stories From The Steams Series by WHYY and Stroud Water Research Center started in January of 2019 as a thought-provoking and informative series where viewers can see how a team of scientists, educators, and private citizens are working every day to maintain the quality of the water in the Delaware River Watershed.

The Town and Country Garden Club of Lancaster will host a presentation on November 6 on How 10 Million Trees Will Impact Pennsylvania's Environment and Economy starting at 7:00 p.m. at the Bachman Center at Homestead Village, 1800 Village Circle in Lancaster.

Capital Region Water has extended the public comment period on a proposed Harrisburg Stormwater Fee Proposal and Implementation Plan to October 22.

By Jodi Sulpizio, Master Watershed Steward York County Coordinator

The Watershed Congress Organizing Committee is now accepting proposals for presentations for the 2020 Watershed Congress Along The Schuylkill River to be held March 14 at the Pottstown Campus of Montgomery County Community College.  The deadline for submissions is November 1.

The Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed has extended the deadline for student poster presentations for the Delaware River Watershed Forum.  Students have until October 7 to express an interest in participating.

By Bryan Swistock, Penn State Extension

The Paxton Creek Watershed and Education Association is holding its Annual Meeting October 17 starting at 6:00 at the Appalachian Brewing Company, 50 N Cameron Street in Harrisburg.

By Eli DePaulis, Summer Intern

The Department of Environmental Protection invites comments on a proposed Section 401 Water Quality Certification for the Leidy South Natural Gas Pipeline Project running through Clinton, Lycoming, Wyoming, Luzerne, Columbia and Schuylkill County. (Sept. 28 PA Bulletin page 5638)

On September 20, the Independent Fiscal Office released its latest report on natural gas royalties paid to Pennsylvania landowners showing an estimated $1.639 billion in tax year 2018, primarily due to a more than one-third increase in the average spot price over 2017.

On September 25, the Public Utility Commission’s Office of Administrative Law Judge has scheduled a public input hearing on October 9 in Allegheny County to gather comments regarding an electric transmission line application submitted by Duquesne Light Company, along with a related application to exercise the power of eminent domain to acquire a certain portion of land in connection with the project.

On September 23, the Public Utility Commission reminded stakeholders and concerned citizens across the state about the search for individuals to serve on the PUC’s PA1Call Damage Prevention Committee which is a key element of enhanced efforts to safeguard underground utilities.

The Exelon Foundation is now accepting applications for funding from startup business with a focus on climate change, clean energy and the environment.  The deadline for applications is October 25.

By A'ndrea Elyse Messer, Penn State News

By Rob Altenburg, PennFuture Energy Center

By Andy Elder, Penn State News

On September 24, the Department of Environmental Protection announced Henkel US Operations Corp. has agreed to pay a $19,410 civil penalty for 5 unpermitted discharges into a Luzerne County Creek, reporting violations, and failure to comply with monitoring and sampling requirements.

The Keystone Northeast Chapter of the PA Society of Professional Engineers honored John R. Ackerman with the chapter’s Engineer of the Year Award in August.

On September 26, Department of Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding helped to celebrate a three-decade partnership has secured the future of more than 20,000 acres of Cumberland County farmland.

The French & Pickering Creeks Conservation Trust was proud to invite the community to join in an educational evening with Dr. Heather Leach, a Penn State University Extension Spotted Lanternfly expert, who was recently interviewed in the Wall Street Journal.

The Brodhead Watershed Association and Friends of Cherry Valley will co-host October 19 hike in the Cherry Valley National Wildlife Refuge just outside Stroudsburg in Monroe County.

The Friends of Allegheny Wilderness have several trail stewardship opportunities coming up for volunteers in Warren County on October 5-6.

The September 27 Take Five Fridays With Pam is now available from the PA Parks and Forests Foundation featuring articles on--

Harrisburg-based Capital Region Water is seeking qualified candidates to fill the position of Community Relations Manager to play a key role in creating and implementing CRW’s communications strategy. 

The Rodale Institute is seeking qualified individuals to fill several positions at its Kutztown, Berks County location--

Here are NewsClips from around the state on all environmental topics, including General Environment, Budget, Marcellus Shale, Watershed Protection and much more.

This section lists House and Senate Committee meetings, DEP and other public hearings and meetings and other interesting environmental events.

This section gives you a heads up on upcoming deadlines for awards and grants and other recognition programs.  NEW means new from last week.

Here are highlights of actions taken by agencies on environmental regulations, technical guidance and permits.

CLICK HERE to View or Print the 107 page 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 Environment Digest is proud to be a sponsor of the Watershed Coalition of the Lehigh Valley’s 8th Lehigh Valley Watershed Conference on October 15 at Lehigh University, Bethlehem.

PA Environment Digest is a supporting member of the Pennsylvania Outdoor Writers Association, Pennsylvania Council Trout Unlimited and the Doc Fritchey Chapter Trout Unlimited.