Eleven major hunting and fishing groups in Pennsylvania have written to lawmakers opposing efforts to freeze state funding for county conservation districts, local farm conservation and environmental restoration projects.

On April 25, Lancaster Clean Water Partners wrote a letter to members of the General Assembly from Lancaster County opposing efforts to freeze state funding for county conservation districts, local farm conservation and environmental restoration projects.

Normally, Conservation District Week-- May 3 to 9-- is a time to recognize the many accomplishments of county conservation districts, but this year’s celebration is a little different.

The PA State Grange has written lawmakers urging them to oppose efforts to freeze conservation district, local farm conservation and environmental restoration project funding saying it is these investments that have helped make agriculture Pennsylvania’s number one industry.

The PA Parks & Forests Foundations wrote to lawmakers this week urging them to oppose efforts to freeze funding for local recreation and conservation projects that is needed to address imminent threats to public health and can help the state’s economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

On April 28, the PA Municipal Authorities Association and 19 member local waste authorities wrote to lawmakers urging them to oppose a freeze on funding from the Recycling Fund for the duration of the COVID-19 emergency.

On May 1, the Department of Revenue reported Pennsylvania collected $2.2 billion in General Fund revenue in April, which was $2.2 billion, or 49.7 percent, less than anticipated.

On May 1,  Gov. Tom Wolf announced the reopening of 24 counties in the northwest and northcentral regions of the state, moving them from red to yellow beginning at 12:01 a.m., Friday, May 8.

On April 27, Gov. Tom Wolf announced a limited reopening of recreational activities for Pennsylvanians to have opportunities to safely enjoy outdoor recreation as a way to maintain positive physical and mental health

On May 2, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn announced a phased reopening of state park and forest facilities in keeping with Gov. Wolf’s direction to ensure that Pennsylvanians have opportunities to safely enjoy outdoor recreation as a way to maintain positive physical and mental health.

Since the COVID-19 outbreak, Pennsylvania state parks and forests have seen an increase in visitation as people seek outdoor recreation for physical and mental health benefits; and to experience and enjoy the natural scenic beauty of these treasures.

On April 28, the PA Parks and Forests Foundation said over 960 cloth masks have been distributed to staff at 39 state parks and forest districts, so far, to help protect staff and the public during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Penn State Extension will hold a Ticks and Tickborne Diseases In Pennsylvania Webinar on May 5 from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m.

Since stay at home orders were issued on April 1 due to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful has received 73 reports identifying illegal dumpsites in 35 different counties across the state.

The most recent round of the Small Business Administration’s Paycheck Protection Program loans and forgivable loans for small businesses includes funding earmarked for distribution by community development investment institutions (such as Reinvestment Fund) and smaller lenders, so the Reinvestment Fund will be taking PPP applications from its borrowers and from its allies, including clean energy companies and organizations starting on Monday, April 27, 2020.

On April 27, the PA Wilds Center for Entrepreneurship announced it is launching a Facebook Live video series for locally-owned small businesses to share how they are pivoting to survive the coronavirus crisis, and the nonprofit is paying them for the content.

From March 16 to April 28, Department of Environmental Protection employees have been teleworking and using COVID-19 mitigation measures to continue to fulfill its mission.  DEP staff have--

On April 28, the Wolf Administration announced it is making changes to DEP's $4 million Food Infrastructure Grant Program to help ensure food banks are adequately supplied to meet the needs of Pennsylvania residents. 

On April 29, the Department of Environmental Protection is encouraging all Pennsylvanians to only flush toilet paper and human waste, not disinfecting wipes or other non-flushable items that should be disposed of in the trash.

On April 29, Pennsylvania American Water said in light of the Commonwealth’s announced plans for phased reopening, the company encourages building owners and operators to adopt a proactive approach that includes flushing stagnant water from facility pipes.

Gov.  Wolf-- The very act of planting a tree, vegetable seeds or native plants is an expression of confidence in the future and an act of hope.

The Penn State Extension Master Gardener Program is taking a fresh look at gardening during the current pandemic with a series of weekly Victory Garden Reinvented! webinars on Tuesday Noon to 1:00 p.m. through June 16.

On April 29, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced Lea Wang, a sophomore at Council Rock High School South in Holland, Bucks County, is the 2019 winner of a President’s Environmental Youth Award (PEYA) for EPA’s Mid-Atlantic Region.

On April 30, the PA Environmental Resource Consortium recently named its 2020 Campus Sustainability Champions to recognize students, faculty, administrators, and staff of Pennsylvania colleges and universities who have made meaningful contributions benefiting social, economic and/or environmental sustainability on their campus, in their community, or in society at large.

On January 8, 2019, Gov. Wolf issued an Executive Order setting a statewide goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 26 percent by 2025 and 80 percent by 2050 from 2005 levels.  These are the same reduction levels in the 2015 U.N. Paris Climate Agreement.

On April 26, the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh announced that MuseumLab®  has been awarded LEED® Gold status for implementing practical and measurable strategies and solutions in areas including sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality.

A new poll from Climate Nexus, the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication, and the George Mason University Center for Climate Change Communication found 72 percent of Pennsylvania voters want government to prioritize clean energy when considering economic stimulus, rather than bailing out the fossil fuel industry.

By Christopher Kocher, Wildlands Conservancy

By Ron Evans, President, PA Environmental Defense Foundation

By Larry J. Schweiger, Former President & CEO, National Wildlife Federation

Gov. Wolf took the first tentative steps toward a general lifting of some shutdown restrictions in 24 counties last week amid a flurry of legislation passed by Republicans to open specific businesses and a subpoena for DCED business waiver records.

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 April 28, the Senate passed Senate Bill 1030 (Yaw-R-Lycoming) which would amend the Sewage Facilities Act to change the process for considering alternative on-lot sewage disposal systems in local sewage facilities plans (Senate Fiscal Note & Summary).

On April 28, the Senate Appropriations Committee reported out legislation-- Senate Bill 763 (Bartolotta-R- Washington)-- that would eliminate the mandated public report every five years on subsidence damage caused by underground coal mining in Pennsylvania.

On April 28, the Senate Appropriations Committee reported out Senate Bill 915 (Yaw-R- Lycoming) which sets standards for the application of fertilizer to turf, provides for the certification of professional fertilizer applicators and for labeling and an education program (sponsor summary).

On May 5, the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee is scheduled to meet on legislation to give the General Assembly authority to reallocate monies from the Keystone Recreation, Park and Conservation Fund between agencies.

On April 29, the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service-PA announced the deadline to apply for $15 million in Conservation Innovation Grants has been extended to June 29.  The deadline had been June 15.

On April 30, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced the winners of the third annual “National Federal Facility Excellence in Site Reuse” awards, including a project at the Valley Forge National Historical Park in Chester and Montgomery counties..

On April 30, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is making $1 million in grant funding available to states to help local environmental justice communities address COVID-19 concerns faced by low-income and minority communities.  The deadline for applications are due June 30.

The Department of Agriculture published notice in the May 2 PA Bulletin outlining the process for accepting applications for the Farm Conservation Excellence Grant Program providing up to $2.5 million in funding for farms in Lancaster and York counties. 

On April 30, the PA Infrastructure Investment Authority announced it has scheduled four virtual public meetings on how PennVEST funding can help improve water quality in your community.

The Chesapeake Stormwater Network and Friends are hosting a Watershed Hacks: Sustainable Lawns & Family Gardening webinar May 8 from 11:00 a.m. to Noon.

The Alliance for Aquatic Resource Monitoring at Dickinson College is hosting two webinars-- May 7 - Water Quality and Policy and May 21- Clean Up Efforts and Role of Monitoring

The PA Organization for Watersheds & Rivers will host a May 13 webinar on Attracting Media Coverage for Your Activities and Initiatives from Noon to 1:00 p.m.

On April 30, the Public Utility Commission voted 4-0 to issue an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANOPR) – exploring a series of interrelated issues impacting water and wastewater utilities across the state and seeking public comment on those matters.

The Susquehanna River Basin Commission will hold a virtual public hearing on water allocation permit applications May 14 at 2:30 p.m.  (formal notice)

The Delaware River Basin Commission will hold a telephonic public hearing on May 13 and a regular business meeting on June 10.  (formal notice)

The Delaware River Basin Commission is seeking members for its Water Management Advisory Committee from the following stakeholder groups: academia, recreation and watershed organization.

On April 30, the Department of Environmental Protection announced today it has moved on to the second phase of its review of Keystone Sanitary Landfill’s permit application for expansion at its facility in the boroughs of Dunmore and Throop in Lackawanna County.

By Amy Duke, Penn State News

On April 30, the Delaware Highlands Conservancy announced its third annual juried photo contest for the Upper Delaware River region, open to adult and youth professional and amateur photographers. Photos will be accepted online August 3 to 31.

The PA Land Trust Association has added a series of six webinars on the Model Grant Of Conservation Easement by Pat Pregmon of the Pregmon law offices.

With May on the horizon, the time to plant in Pennsylvania is fast approaching.

By Sara LaJeunesse, Penn State News

Bill Wasser has had a long career at DCNR, fueled by a passion for environmental education.

The Western PA Conservancy is inviting high school students of all skill levels who are interested in art, architecture and design to learn about Fallingwater and Frank Lloyd Wright’s design philosophy during Fallingwater Institute’s Virtual Summer Camps in July.

The April 29 issue of the Resource newsletter is now available from the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources featuring articles on--

The May 1 Take Five Fridays With Pam is now available from the PA Parks and Forests Foundation featuring articles on--

The Fish and Boat Commission Facebook page will be hosting a series of video learning program on How To Draw A Fish by the Commission's Fishing Skills Instructor Tiffany London, a.k.a. Farm Girl Graphics.

On April 27, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service awarded a $1.35 million grant to enable Carnegie Museum of Natural History’s Powdermill Avian Research Center, in collaboration with several state wildlife agencies and wildlife-centered nonprofit organizations, to dramatically expand a new migration tracking system across the northeastern United States.

American Rivers is seeking qualified candidates to fill the position of Director of the Clean Water Supply Program in the Mid-Atlantic Region with an emphasis in Pennsylvania.

PennFuture is seeking qualified candidates to fill the position of Policy Analyst on the petrochemical industry.

Click Here: Week’s Worth Of PA Environment & Energy NewsClips - Support Local Journalism

Click Here for a list of public participation opportunities and a calendar of events.

Click Here for grants, awards, recognition programs and contest deadlines.

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.

The PA Environment Digest is a proud sponsor of the 2020 PA Abandoned Mine Reclamation Conference will now be held on October 28-29 in State College.

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