Since June of 2004, the PA Environment Digest has printed over 1,669 stories about thousands of businesses, farmers, schools, local governments, students of all ages, nonprofit groups, organizations and individuals just like you recognized for doing great things to protect and restore Pennsylvania’s environment in every corner of the Commonwealth.

On December 19, the Department of Environmental Protection released the 2013-2018 Act 54 Assessment Report, the fifth in a series of reports required by Act 54 of 1994 documenting the impacts of underground coal mining on surface structures, water supplies, streams, land damage, groundwater and wetlands.

On December 5th, the annual Student Symposium on the Environment was once again held at Westminster College in Lawrence County marking the 12th straight year the college has hosted the event.

By Harry Campbell, Executive Director, Chesapeake Bay Foundation-PA

By B.J. Small, Chesapeake Bay Foundation-PA

Lysle Sherwin -- a former executive director of the Loyalhanna Watershed Association and retired faculty from Penn State University, where he served as the director of the Center for Watershed Stewardship graduate studies program -- now spends his time continuing the mission of watershed and habitat conservation, but this time, as a volunteer.

This is the latest installment of Loving the Land from the Foundation for Sustainable Forests--

The Pittsburgh-based Landforce job readiness and land stewardship program combines work readiness training and support with land stewardship projects that provide green infrastructure maintenance, habitat restoration, trail construction and more.

Hawk Mountain Sanctuary in Berks County completed its Autumn 2019 count on December 15, and along with the close of the decade, they celebrated contributing to 85 years of raptor migration count data.

The PA Resources Council urges Pennsylvanian’s to make a New Year’s resolution to care for the environment-- especially since an average American produces 4.4 pounds of waste each day! 

To promote a healthy start to the new year, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources officials will be joining hikers throughout the state as DCNR again sponsors free, guided hikes in 39 state parks on New Year’s Day as part of America's State Parks First Day Hikes initiative.

The 104th Pennsylvania Farm Show in Harrisburg will run from January 4 to 11 at the Farm Show Complex.  The theme this year is Imagine the Opportunities!

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 December 26, interagency PA GreenGov Council is inviting the public to learn about efforts to boost green and sustainable practices in state government during a meeting at 1:00 p.m., January 31 at the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency, 310 Elmerton Avenue in Harrisburg.

The WaterNow Alliance will hold its 5th Annual Summit in Philadelphia on April 15-16 at The Inn at Penn, 3600 Sansom Street.  The theme is Tap Into Resilience.

The South Mountain Partnership network will hold a Watershed Workshop: Municipalities and Watershed Groups Working Together for Greater Impact on January 9 at the Stern Great Room of Dickinson College in Carlisle from 2:00 to 6:00 p.m.

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

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the December 28 PA Bulletin of the opportunity to bid on a mine reclamation project in Centre County.

DEP’s State Board for the Certification of Sewage Enforcement Officers published its 2020 examination schedule and deadlines for applications in the December 28 PA Bulletin.

The Department of Environmental Protection will hold a hearing January 29 on a proposed PAG-12- NPDES Water Quality General Permit for the Matter Family Farms' duck finishing facility in Greenwood Township, Perry County. (Dec. 28 PA Bulletin, page 7618).

On February 13, the Penn State Master Food Preservers will present an Introduction To Home Food Preservation Workshop at the Cumberland County Service Center, 310 Allen Road in Carlisle from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m.

On December 26, the Department of Environmental Protection announced it has entered into a  consent order and agreement (COA) with Patriot Shield Pennsylvania, LLC (Patriot Shield), a hemp drying, processing, and storage facility in Jeannette, Westmoreland County, addressing air quality violations.

The U.S.D.A. Rural Energy For America Program is now accepting applications for grants and loans to help rural municipalities, businesses and agricultural producers fund renewable energy systems, energy efficiency improvements, energy audits and site assessments.

Small woodland owners are encouraged to participate in Penn State Extension's The Woods in Your Backyard Webinar Series which will be held every Wednesday from January 29 to March 25 from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m.

The Clarion Forest Landowner Conference will be held on February 22 at the Clarion University Grunenwald Science and Technology Center, 80 Greenville Avenue in Clarion from 8:00 a.m. to 3:45 p.m.

The 24th Annual Northwestern PA Forest Landowner’s Conference will be held on February 29 at the Edinboro University Student Center, 405 Scotland Road in Edinboro, Erie County from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Penn State Extension, in partnership with the DCNR Bureau of Forestry, Division of Forest Health, will be holding the Annual Forest Health, Insect, and Disease Briefing on March 17 in State College to review the status of Pennsylvania’s forest insect and disease problems and provide important forest health updates and information.

The Foundation for Sustainable Forests will hold its Loving The Land Through Working Forests Conference on May 16 at Thompsons’ Wood in Centerville Crawford County.

With the official arrival of winter, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn is reminding outdoors enthusiasts Pennsylvania’s state forest and park systems again are rolling out the welcome mat for winter visitors intent on enjoying cold-weather, outdoor fun.

By Brenda Barrett, Living Landscape Observer

Pennsylvania Master Naturalist is now accepting applications for 2020 spring training sessions set for Allegheny, Chester, Delaware, Montour and Washington counties.  The deadline for applications is February 1.

The December 23 Resource newsletter is now available from the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources featuring articles on--

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

Pennsylvania’s state bird, the ruffed grouse, has suffered dramatic population losses due to the statewide scarcity of young forests and large-scale West Nile virus die-offs.

The Northcentral PA Conservancy is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Land Stewardship Specialist who ensures all the conservation easements held by the Conservancy are monitored for compliance.

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.

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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. 

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