On June 24, two environmental projects and a community leader from the Western Pennsylvania area will share $15,000 from Dominion Energy and the PA Environmental Council for outstanding contributions to the environment.

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the June 27 PA Bulletin inviting comments on the draft 2020 Integrated Water Quality Monitoring and Assessment Report.

The Department of Environmental Protection has announced a schedule of virtual meetings for the Statewide Water Resources and Regional Water Resources Advisory Committees in 2020.  (formal notice)

On June 25, Attorney General Josh Shapiro announced the findings and recommendations of Pennsylvania’s 43rd Statewide Investigating Grand Jury report on the unconventional oil and gas industry.

There have been many reactions to and comments on the Attorney General Josh Shapiro’s announcement of the Grand Jury Report on regulatory failures during the natural gas fracking boom.

On June 23, DEP told a virtual hearing by the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee a six week extension of the deadline to submit a proposed Carbon Pollution Reduction Program covering power plants to the EQB will not affect the expected January 2022 implementation date for the program.

Late on June 22, Gov. Tom Wolf announced he is providing DEP a six-week extension to develop a Carbon Pollution Emission Reduction Program covering power plants to allow Pennsylvania to participate in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative.

On June 25, State Treasurer Joe Torsella called on major U.S. supermarkets to reduce their carbon footprint, by transitioning away from harmful refrigerant chemicals such as hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs).

By Chad Forcey, PA Conservative Energy Forum 

DEP’s Climate Change Advisory Committee is scheduled to hold a virtual meeting on June 30 to hear presentations on the latest draft PA Greenhouse Gas Inventory and the Local Government Climate Action Plan.

On June 22, the Department of Environmental Protection announced a new online permit application tool that will help permit applicants submit their permit applications electronically.

From March 16 to June 23, Department of Environmental Protection employees have been teleworking and using COVID-19 mitigation measures to continue to fulfill its mission.  DEP staff have--

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

If you are renewing your driver’s license or vehicle registration online, please consider making a voluntary $3 contribution to the Keystone Tree Fund.

On June 22, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn joined the Lackawanna River Conservation Association and other local officials in marking June Rivers Month and honoring the Lackawanna River as Pennsylvania’s 2020 River of the Year.

By David Kubarek, Penn State News

National Pollinator Week was celebrated from June 22 to 28 and many groups took advantage of the opportunity to educate folks about the importance of pollinators to our food supply, biodiversity, the soil, for wildlife and much more.

Twenty-five years ago this July, a new agency was born -- the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

The following editorial column was submitted to daily newspapers around the state and printed in the June 9, 1995 DEP Update newsletter. It expresses the views of four former DER Secretaries on the proposed splitting of the Department of Environmental Resources into DEP and DCNR.

John C. Oliver was appointed the first secretary of the newly created Department of Conservation and Natural Resources in 1995. His passion for the natural world has fueled a lifelong career of land and water conservation.

Curators at Penn State University Libraries' Eberly Family Special Collections Library have created  a new online exhibition, “Earth Archives: Stories of Human Impact,” which explores the intersection of the environment, human activity, and the documentary record.

[ Because In Politics Everything Is Connected To Everything Else ] While other states are starting to roll back their efforts to reopen their economics, Gov. Wolf announced the last county in Pennsylvania would move from Yellow to Green on July 3.

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

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

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--

The Legislative Budget and Finance Committee is scheduled to meet on June 30 to release a report on the environmental impact of regulating single-use plastics, reusable plastics, auxiliary containers, wrappings and polystyrene containers.

The House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee is scheduled to hold a hearing July 21 on DEP’s proposed Carbon Pollution Reduction Program for Power Plants compatible with the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative.

On June 26, the Department of Environmental Protection announced the award of $434,168 in Environmental Education Grants to 55 projects across the state.

On June 23, the Delaware Highlands Conservancy announced the award of its annual Delaware Highlands Conservancy/Yeaman Scholarship for $1,000 to Mia VanWie, a 2020 graduate from Delaware Valley High School, Pike County and the Vanessa Van Gorder Memorial Scholarship for $1,000 to Kara Campbell, a 2020 graduate of Wallenpaupack Area High School, Wayne County.

For a limited time, the Wildlife Leadership Academy is accepting applications for their first two virtual field school experiences for PA Brookies, focusing on brook trout, and PA Gobblers, focusing on turkey, and PA Ursids, focusing on bear.

We are thankful to the partners of the Slippery Rock Creek Watershed Coalition who helped make necessary repairs at the McIntire Passive Treatment System in Butler County during Pennsylvania’s state lockdown due to COVID-19.

By Ad Crable, Chesapeake Bay Journal

On June 26, the Lancaster-based Water Science Institute announced an article it sponsored “Legacy Sediment Erosion Hotspots: A cost-effective approach for targeting water quality improvements” has been selected as an Editor’s Choice “article of excellence” awardee by the Journal of Soil and Water Conservation, the official publication of the Soil and Water Conservation Society.

The Chesapeake Bay Landscape Professional (CBLP) certification program announces a newly-revised Level 1 training for summer 2020. This highly interactive three-day course will combine online learning with a field day.

On June 22, PA American Water announced 11 watershed-related projects in its service territory across the Commonwealth will receive financial support through the company’s 2020 Environmental Grant Program.

By Vincent Cotrone, Extension Urban Forester

The Lancaster Clean Water Fund, funded through several partner organizations and charitable foundations, serves as a catalyst for increased collaboration to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of current and future clean water projects.

By Sarah K. Zenophon, Research Technologist, Kristen Koch, Penn State Agriculture & Environment Center, Jennifer R. Fetter, Extension Water Resources Educator

By Jodi Sulpizio, York County Master Watershed Steward Coordinator & Julie Vastine, Director ALLARM

By Bryan Swistock, Extension Water Resources Coordinator and Dr. Heather Preisendanz, Associate Professor, Penn State, Katie Hayden, PhD Candidate Penn State

By Danielle Rhea, Extension Educator

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the June 27 PA Bulletin (page 3169) inviting comments on Total Maximum Daily Load Watershed Plans for two watersheds in Berks, Chester and Lancaster counties--

Whether intentionally put there or blown from trash cans, dumpsters, shopping carts or cars, it is safe to say that most communities have experienced an increase of visible litter lining their streets, parking lots, trails and waterways during the past few months under stay at home orders.

On June 24, Westmoreland CleanWays and Recycling announced it will temporarily suspend accepting electronics waste for recycling at its Recycling Center at 355 Pleasant Unity Mutual Road in Greensburg.  (formal advisory)

On June 26, Pike County Commissioners and the  Dingman Township Board of Supervisors announced they will be hosting an Electronics Waste Recycling Event on September 12 from 8:30 to 1:00 p.m. at Dingman Township Park, 679 Log Tavern Road near Milford.

On June 24, Public Utility Commission announced PUC Chair Gladys Brown Dutrieuille has been elected as part of a strong and diverse 2020-2021 leadership team for the Mid-Atlantic Conference of Regulatory Utilities Commissioners (MACRUC).

The University of Pittsburgh is continuing to drive progress toward achieving carbon neutrality through a new solar power purchase agreement that will supply approximately 13 percent of the Pittsburgh campus’ annual electricity usage.

On June 25, the Penn State Technical Assistance Program announced the release of a free online energy toolkit filled with resources to help you start estimating potential savings in your facility or home.

On June 25, the Independent Fiscal Office released an updated report on Act 13 drilling impact fee revenues based on two scenarios-- no change in the current fee will result in only a slight decrease in revenue, but if natural gas prices remain low and the fee changes, a $53.4 million loss is expected.

On June 23, the WalkWorks Program, a collaboration between the Department of Health and the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health, announced it is continuing to grow, adding three new partners and locations bringing the total number of WalkWorks routes to 100.

The PA Organization for Watersheds and Rivers recently announced the recipients of the 2020 Pennsylvania River Sojourn Grants.

While the annual Celebrate The Bloom Festival has been canceled, the blazing star and other native prairie plants at the Jennings Environmental Center in Butler County will still reach their peak of beauty at the end of July into early August!

The Hawk Mountain Sanctuary, Delaware Highlands Conservancy, Wildlands Conservancy and The Nature Conservancy-PA continue to offer a variety of virtual wildlife and conservation educational experiences for all ages to enjoy.

As the highest bidder at a recent public auction, the Northcentral Pennsylvania Conservancy conserved 112 acres adjacent to the Loyalsock State Forest. The property includes steep, forested hillsides, a trout stream, and a rocky cliff along Loyalsock Creek in Lycoming County.

The Western Pennsylvania Conservancy recently announced the permanent protection of 50 acres within the Loyalhanna Creek Watershed, along the scenic and historic Route 30 corridor in Ligonier Township, Westmoreland County.

The Pennsylvania Plant Conservation Network (PPCN) hopes to advise conservationists in the state about how to best engage in conservation horticulture.

The June 24 Resource newsletter is now available from the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources featuring articles on--

The June 26 Take Five Fridays With Pam is now available from the PA Parks and Forests Foundation featuring these articles--

On June 25, the Game Commission announced it has expanded the three Disease Management Areas where special rules apply to hunters and the public meant to slow the speed of Chronic Wasting disease in deer and elk.

The Governor’s Advisory Council for Hunting, Fishing and Conservation is seeking qualified candidates to fill positions on the Game Commission and Fish and Boat Commission boards.

Click Here: Week’s Worth Of PA Environment & Energy NewsClips

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.

CLICK HERE to View or Print the 130 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 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.