On July 13, Shannon Gority, executive director for the Chesapeake Bay Foundation in Pennsylvania, said that an increase in the number of miles of impaired waters listed in the Department of Environmental Protection’s Draft 2020 Integrated Water Quality Report sends a clear message that not enough is being done to clean and protect Commonwealth rivers and streams.

On July 15, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn announced “Buffer My Stream,” a program to encourage 10,000 landowners with streams on their property to improve water quality and lessen erosion by planting native trees and shrubs along the water’s edge.

Sen. Gene Yaw (R-Lycoming), Majority Chair of the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, last week announced plans to introduce legislation funding on-farm conservation measures through a program administered by the State Conservation Commission.

From March 16 to July 14, Department of Environmental Protection employees have been teleworking and using COVID-19 mitigation measures to continue to fulfill its mission.  DEP staff have--

On July 14, a bipartisan group of governors representing 15 states from across the nation and the District of Columbia spoke in unison committing to zero-out [greenhouse gas emissions] from medium- and heavy-duty trucks and buses by 2050.

On July 17, the Public Utility Commission announced experts from its Safety Division of the Bureau of Investigation and Enforcement are investigating reports of several sinkholes near Sunoco pipelines in West Whiteland Township in Chester County.

DCNR’s Conservation and Natural Resources Advisory Council is scheduled to hold a virtual meeting on July 22 to discuss DCNR’s infrastructure needs and priorities and the Protect Our Parks and Forests campaign.

On July 16, the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources reported a 20-person wildfire crew from the Bureau of Forestry left this morning from Clearfield County to help fight wildfires in Colorado and Wyoming.

On July 17, we celebrated the normally unsung services of some 8,000 Pennsylvania park and recreation professionals, along with thousands of other volunteers who contribute to our wellbeing by serving on Boards, Committees, Commissions, Friends, Neighborhoods, Trails and other groups, by visiting a park to celebrate Pennsylvania Park and Recreation Professionals Day.

On July 17, former governors Schweiker, Ridge and Rendell voiced their support for how Gov. Tom Wolf and his administration have responded to the COVID-19 pandemic, including endorsing statewide mitigation efforts and mask-wearing.

On July 24, 2002 coal miners broke through into an abandoned, water-filled mine flooding the Quecreek Mine with over 150 million gallons of water.  Nine miners scrambled to safety, but nine were trapped in a pocket of air in the dark, cold, water filled mine.

[ Because Everything Is Connected To Everything Else In Politics ] Senate and House Republicans finished the week with the legislative equivalent of a hat trick-- passing two constitutional amendments and a third bill limiting the governor’s authority during an emergency or reacting to decisions related to the pandemic that didn’t go their way.

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 Senate and House last week gave final approval to legislation-- House Bill 732 (Kaufer-R- Luzerne) creating a new tax credit to encourage the use of natural gas in manufacturing-- sending it to the Gov. Wolf, who said he will sign the bill over the objections of many environmental groups.

On July 15, the Senate Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure Committee reported out House Bill 2293 (Quinn-R-Delaware) that requires pipeline companies to make emergency response plans available to the Public Utility Commission, the PA Emergency Management Agency and county emergency management director where the pipeline is located.

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 July 15, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reallocated $3.84 million to support priority actions in Pennsylvania to reduce agricultural-related pollutants impacting local waters and the Chesapeake Bay.

On July 13, the Delaware Riverkeeper Network filed a complaint in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, challenging the Trump administration’s rollbacks to Section 401 of the Clean Water Act announced on June 1, 2020.

The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service-PA Office invites the public to participate in the Pennsylvania State Technical Committee virtual meeting on July 22.

On July 16, Attorney General Josh Shapiro announced the Office of Attorney General has entered into an agreement with the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority to settle allegations over lead water pipes in the City of Pittsburgh.

The PA Organization for Watersheds and Rivers will host virtual workshops where watershed group leaders can share resources, partnership, and program information and reconnect with your network in your region of Pennsylvania.

Join Dave Arscott, president of Stroud Water Research Center, and Bob Irvin, president of American Rivers, as they introduce the 2020 River of the Year-- the Delaware River-- in a four-part webinar series starting July 21 starting at 1:00 p.m.

The Stroud Water Research Center is hosting a three-part webinar series on Working With Farmers To Protect Your Investment.

On July 17, the PA Council of Trout Unlimited announced it has joined an ambitious statewide effort to plant 10 million trees throughout Pennsylvania by the end of 2025.

The Tookany/Tacony-Frankford Watershed Partnership in Montgomery and Philadelphia counties is now sharing a series of five online, interactive Virtual Tours that will explore Tacony Creek Park and other natural areas within the TTF Watershed.

By: Tom Decker, DEP Community Relations Coordinator, Northwest Regional Office

The PA Association of Environmental Professionals hosts Lake Erie Algal Bloom Factor webinar on August 4 from Noon to 1:00 p.m.

The July 17 newsletter from the Stroud Water Research Center is now available featuring articles on--

The USGS Pennsylvania Water Science Center has started a new Pennsylvania Waters newsletter to keep the public informed on the latest USGS water resources information for the Commonwealth.

On July 17, the Susquehanna River Basin Commission announced it will hold a virtual hearing August 13 on a new proposed General Permit to approve the withdrawal of groundwater for groundwater remediation projects and the consumptive use of that same water under.

On July 23, the PA Association for Sustainable Agriculture will host a webinar on new COVID-19 relief funding available for Pennsylvania's fresh food industry.  The webinar is from Noon to 1:00 p.m.

The latest Teaching Green environmental education newsletter is now available from the Department of Environmental Protection featuring articles on education success stories, the 2020 Falcon Watch at the Rachel Carson Building in Harrisburg and much more.

PPL Utilities recently awarded $2,000 Future Environmental Leaders Scholarships to seven deserving high school seniors from around our service territory.

The PA Resources Council will host a one-day household chemical collection event on August 1, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Concurrent Technologies Corporation in Johnstown to provide Pennsylvania residents with an opportunity to safely and cost effectively dispose of a wide variety of materials.

The PA Resources Council’s Recycled Paper CO-OP-- launched in spring 2020 to enable local businesses and nonprofits to purchase recycled paper at a significant savings--  has expanded to also offer individual shoppers an opportunity to purchase smaller quantities at a 30 percent savings.

On July 14, the Commonwealth Financing Authority awarded two Pipeline Investment Program grants for just over $1 million to expand the use of natural gas in Monroe and Snyder counties.

Northampton Community College was recently awarded a grant from the USDA Rural Energy For American Program to provide no-cost technical assistance to agricultural producers and rural small businesses to identify and access renewable energy alternatives.

On July 14, Gov. Tom Wolf announced the Commonwealth Financing Authority awarded $10,939,428  million to support 11 clean energy projects in eight counties.

On July 15, the Exelon Foundation and Exelon Corporation have selected 10 startups to receive a combined $1 million in direct funding to develop new technologies to mitigate and build resiliency to the impacts of climate change in the inaugural year of the company’s $20 million Climate Change Investment Initiative (2c2iSM).

On July 16, Gov. Tom Wolf announced 27 highway, bridge, transit, and bike and pedestrian projects in 23 counties were selected for $30.2 million in funding through the Multimodal Transportation Fund.

Genesee & Wyoming, York Railway Company and York County Rail Trail Authority announced they have finalized the terms for purchase of  8.5 miles of dormant rail line (part of the original Hanover Trolley line) east and west of Spring Grove. 

The first city-wide health impact assessment of the estimated effects of a tree canopy initiative on premature mortality in Philadelphia suggests that increased tree canopy could prevent between 271 and 400 premature deaths per year.

Penn State Extension and Audubon Pennsylvania have collaborated on an Improving Forest-Bird Habitat Through Forestry Webinar series available during July.

Kerry Brace of Pittsburgh, recently donated 21 acres along Kennedy Hill Road in Union Township, Crawford County to the French Creek Valley Conservancy.

On July 16, Natural Lands recognized the contribution of GreenWeaver Landscapes who sent a team of professionals to Natural Lands' headquarters in Media, Delaware County to remove invasive plants and clean up the extensive gardens on the property.

Friends of Allegheny Wilderness will host a Hickory Creek Wilderness Trail Stewardship Weekend July 31 to August 2 in Warren County.

The July 17 Take Five Fridays With Pam is now available from the PA Parks and Forests Foundation featuring articles on--

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 72 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.