On July 1, 1997, Gov. Tom Ridge signed an executive order creating the 21st Century Environment Commission.  Its job was to help Pennsylvania set environmental priorities and explore new methods of achieving its environmental goals in the next century.

On December 17, the Environmental Quality Board is scheduled to consider proposed regulations to control methane emissions from existing oil and gas operations and setting a new numeric human health criterion for manganese.

On December 3, Natural Gas Supply Association announced its support for carbon pricing as a critical pathway to aggressively reducing carbon emissions.

On December 3, the Chester County District Attorney’s Office announced the filing of criminal charges against employees of Energy Transfer/Sunoco Pipeline and contracted security firms for bribery, conspiracy, and related offenses regarding the Mariner East Pipeline.

On December 5, Gov. Tom Wolf released an initial report and recommendations from the Action Team on PFAS chemical contamination created a result of his 2018 Executive Order.  Also released were the results from the first round of water system sampling for PFAS.

By Mandy Nix, Watershed Education Specialist

DEP’s Air Quality Technical Advisory Committee is scheduled to meet December 12 to review the final permit fee increase package and the results from 2018-19 air monitoring.

During 2020, the PA Environmental Council will celebrate their 50th anniversary.  As part of the celebration, the Council’s website will feature guest posts, commentaries, and recollections from a half-century of history-- not just PEC’s, but the larger story of Pennsylvania’s changing environment and the people who’ve worked, over the years, to protect and restore it.

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--

By Brenda Barrett

The 2019 Lehigh Valley Watershed Conference held on October 15 was an amazing success, with over 175 attendees from agencies, engineering firms, municipalities, private farms and businesses, and watershed associations - an increase of over 25 from 2017.

Protecting the natural resources without thwarting the progress of economic growth and development is a persistent question in the world of conservation and resource management. One of the ways that can be done is through the concept of Conservation design.

On December 3, the Allegheny County Conservation District announced $203,888 in grant awards for dirt and gravel road improvement projects in four municipalities to reduce stormwater impacts and erosion.

Seats are still available for the December 10-11 Chesapeake Bay Landscape Professional certification in Lancaster. CBLP is a voluntary, regional credential for professionals who design, install, and maintain sustainable landscapes in the Bay watershed

By Donna Wagner, Water Pollution Biologist, DEP

The November issue of The Catalyst newsletter is now available from the Butler County-based Slippery Rock Watershed Coalition featuring articles on--

Looking for holiday gift ideas that will please the most discriminating taste and help the environment? Consider pottery from Clean Creek Products.

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice it has extended the term of the basic General NPDES Permit covering Stormwater Associated With Construction Activities - PAG-02 for another 5 years. (Dec. 7 PA Bulletin)

On December 5, the Public Utility Commission announced its Act 120 Work Group On Lead Water Line and Damaged Wastewater Line Replacement will meet on December 19 starting at 1:00 p.m.

The Commonwealth Financing Authority is accepting applications for funding from the H2O Water and Sewer Program and the PA Small Water and Sewer System Program.  The deadline for applications is December 13.

Since launching the glass recycling pop-up collection events in Allegheny County in March, the PA Resources Council and its partners have collected nearly 170 tons of glass from about 9,000 participants.

Whether intentionally put there or blown from trash cans, dumpsters, shopping carts or cars, every community has pockets of unsightly trash.

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice it is renewing Base General Permit WMGR096 through June 2021 to allow time for the agency to review the many and extensive comments it received on the permit during a public comment period in October.  (Dec. 7 PA Bulletin)

The PA Resources Council, in collaboration with the Southwest PA Air Quality Partnership, is now accepting school registrations for the Let's Clear The Air Poster Challenge in Western Pennsylvania.  The deadline for registration is January 1.

Looking for student internship opportunities in 2020?  The departments of Environmental Protection and Conservation and Natural Resources will have a variety of internship opportunities available next year.

The Sustainability Institute at Penn State will host its semiannual Campus and Community Sustainability Expo and Awards Ceremony from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. on December 11, at the Days Inn in State College.

The Garden Club of America is now accepting applications for the Sara Shallenberger Brown Garden Club Of America National Parks Conservation Scholarship.  The deadline for applications is February 2.

The Wildlife Leadership Academy in Lewisburg, Union County is seeking referrals of motivated students ages 14 to 17 to become Certified Conservation Ambassadors by attending one of five residential summer camps. 

On December 2, the Department of Environmental Protection issued an administrative order to Patriot Shield Pennsylvania, LLC, a hemp drying facility in Jeannette, Westmoreland County, to cease operation.

The Department of Environmental Protection published notices inviting public comments and scheduling public hearings [if needed] for Ozone Air Pollution Maintenance Plan State Air Pollution Implementation Plan revisions for Scranton/ Wilkes-Barre, State College and Tioga County.

The Department of Environmental Protection has scheduled hearings on RACT II Air Quality Plans for facilities in Lancaster McKean and Westmoreland Counties.

On December 6, the Public Utility Commission announced the PA One Call Damage Prevention Committee imposed $83,975 in penalties against 67 underground utility owners, excavators and project owners for violating the PA One Call requirements.

On December 2, the Department of Community and Economic Development Secretary Dennis Davin visited the Greater Washington County Food Bank to announce it has been approved for a $104,500 Neighborhood Assistance Program grant to enhance its energy saving efforts.

On December 2, the U.S. Energy Information Administration reported a historic November cold snap sent temperatures below freezing in 75 percent of the Lower 48 states.

On December 3, the Independent Fiscal Office issued its third quarter Pennsylvania natural gas production report which shows a 9.1 percent increase from the third quarter of last year to 1,714.7 billion cubic feet, the lowest such growth rate in 2 years.  Calendar year production is up 12.7 percent compared to the same period in 2018.

The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources published notice it has signed an amended lease with Chevron Appalachia, LLC covering 235.6 additional acres of submerged lands for oil and gas development under streambeds in Luzerne and Nicholson townships in Fayette County and Cumberland and Monongahela townships, Greene County. (Dec. 7 PA Bulletin)

On December 4, Department of Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding and Maj. Gen. Anthony Carrelli, Pennsylvania’s adjutant general and head of the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, helped kick off the 2019 Trees for Troops weekend with an event in York County, encouraging Pennsylvanians to donate Christmas trees to active-duty military and their families.

The PA Recreation and Park Society is now accepting nominations for its 2020 Achievement Awards recognizing agencies, boards, commissions and individuals for park and recreation programs and initiatives.  The deadline for nominations is January 17.

The Appalachian Trail Museum located at Pine Grove Furnace State Park in Cumberland County is now accepting nominations for the Appalachian Trail Hall of Fame Class of 2020. The deadline for nominations is January 31.

On December 3, the Delaware Highlands Conservancy announced 3,683 acres of forestland have now been permanently protected in Pike County.

In 2020, the PA Land Trust Association and PennTrails will host two workshops about building trails in wet areas and are looking for sites for the workshops.

The PA Land Trust Association has a new Guide To Solar Energy Development and Land Conservation available.

The December 6 Take Five Fridays With Pam is now available from the PA Parks and Forests Foundation featuring articles on--

The American Fisheries Society-PA Chapter Spring Technical Meeting will be held February 6-7 at Juniata College in Huntingdon County.  The theme of the meeting is Aquatic Resource Restoration.

Just in time for the holiday season, the Fish and Boat Commission is excited to announce 2020 fishing licenses, permits and gift vouchers are now on sale!

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation-PA is seeking qualified individuals to fill the Pennsylvania Grassroots Specialist position which plays a core role in developing an engaged and informed network of community residents, businesses, and organizations along with CBF’s members and volunteers who are positioned to advocate for CBF priorities at the local, county, state, and federal levels.

The Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay is seeking qualified candidates to fill the position of PA Agricultural Program Manager.  The deadline for applications is December 16.

The Middle Susquehanna RiverKeeper Association, Inc. is seeking qualified individuals to fill the position of Middle Susquehanna River Keeper/Executive Director. Applications due December 15.

The Earth and Environmental Systems Institute at Penn State University, in partnership with the Mid-Atlantic RISA program and the Center for Coastal Resources Management at the Virginia Institute for Marine Sciences, invites applications for a full-time Coastal Climate Extension Specialist for the Chesapeake Bay region.

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 98 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.

The PA Environment Digest is a proud sponsor of the 2020 Keystone Coldwater Conference February 28-29 in State College.  Click Here if you are interested in being a sponsor too.  Registration opening soon.

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