PennFuture will recognize the 2020 Women In Conservation Honorees at a special virtual event on October 8 from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m..

On August 27, Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful recognized Faith Milazzo of Penn Hills, Allegheny County with the first ever Community Pride Award.

Join Rodale Institute in Berks County to celebrate a virtual Organic Pioneer Month with the 2020 winners of its Organic Pioneer Awards.

The Stroud Water Research Center in Chester County will recognize The Redford Center with its 2020 Award for Freshwater Excellence at its virtual Water’s Edge Gala on September 22.

Sunoco can resume construction of the Mariner East Pipeline in Chester County after the Environmental Hearing Board granted the company a temporary supersedeas.

On August 24, 31 nonprofit organizations from across Pennsylvania sent a letter to the Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Patrick McDonnell demanding the DEP immediately and permanently revoke all Mariner East construction permits and prohibit the issuance of any future permits.

On September 1, the House Consumer Affairs Committee is scheduled to hold a hearing on legislation establishing a community solar program to allow electric consumers to subscribe to solar energy sources in several different ways without having solar panels on their roof.

There are at least 220 community solar projects in 41 counties across Pennsylvania ready to break ground, pending legislative action in Harrisburg on bipartisan community solar legislation-- House Bill 531 sponsored by Rep. Aaron Kaufer (R-Luzerne) and Senate Bill 705 by Sen. Mario Scavello (R-Monroe), according to a new analysis by the PA Community Solar Economic Alliance, a local industry and advocacy group. 

On August 25, the departments of Environmental Protection and Transportation announced they are seeking volunteers for “Pick Up Pennsylvania,” a campaign of small-group or solo litter cleanup events, September 1 - November 30.

On August 18, DEP's Citizens Advisory Council voted to approve a letter to all DEP staff for their "tremendous effort” and “the work you have done during these trying times" as they worked during the COVID-19 global pandemic.

From March 16 to August 25, Department of Environmental Protection employees have been teleworking and using COVID-19 mitigation measures to continue to fulfill its mission.  DEP staff have--

The Department of Environmental Protection posted a notice on its Alerts webpage it has updated its General Information Form (GIF) used to facilitate coordination between different types of permit or authorization applications for the same project.

[ Because In Politics, Everything Is Connected To Everything Else ] The House kicks off the fall voting session on Tuesday with plenty of issues on their plate-- finishing the FY 2020-21 state budget, election law fixes, how to spend $1.3 billion in federal COVID-19 aid money and more.

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 August 24, Sen. Gene Yaw (R-Lycoming), Majority Chair of the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, joined with The Empowerment Alliance (TEA), as well as hundreds of elected officials, including senators, congressmen, governors, and attorneys general, in signing the Declaration of Energy Independence a commitment to an affordable, clean, abundant, and secure approach to U.S. energy production.

On September 15, the Joint Legislative Air and Water Pollution Control and Conservation Committee will hold a hearing on the contributions and challenges of Friends Groups as they work in Pennsylvania’s State Parks and Forests.

On August 27, the Third Circuit Federal Court of Appeals rejected the Environmental Protection Agency’s approval of a weak air pollution rule that would allow coal-fired power plants in Pennsylvania to exceed pollution limits.

On August 27, the U.S. Department of Agriculture published its final rule on determining whether land is considered highly erodible or a wetland, integrating input from the public and making updates in accordance with the 2018 Farm Bill.

On August 27, the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition and farmers and ranchers from across the country delivered a letter to the U.S. House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis, urging Congress to support and invest in farming and rural communities to address the climate crisis.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is now accepting nominations for the 2021 Green Chemistry Challenge Awards Program.  Nominations are due December 4

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice and opportunity to comment on a Texas Eastern Pipeline project in Indiana and Westmoreland counties and a compressor station project in Cambria County.

The Susquehanna River Basin Commission is partnering with the Eastern PA Coalition for Abandoned Mine Reclamation, American Energy Solutions, and the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources to investigate the Mocanaqua Tunnel Mine Pools in Luzerne County for consumptive use make-up water for water users in the river basin.

House Speaker Bryan Cutler (R-Lancaster) had the opportunity to do a virtual visit to the Susquehanna River Basin Commission on August 21 to talk about river basin issues.

The Susquehanna River Basin Commission will hold its next regular business meeting by telephone on September 18 starting at 9:00 a.m.  (formal notice)

On August 24, PA American Water urged its customers in eight counties to voluntarily reduce their water consumption in support of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection’s drought watch declaration for 16 Pennsylvania counties.

The Department of Environmental Protection is now accepting applications for FY 2021 Coastal Zone Grants through October 19.  (formal notice)

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the August 29 PA Bulletin on an opportunity to bid on a mine reclamation project in Clearfield County.

The PA Association of Environmental Professionals will hold a virtual Conference Speakers Series during the month of October with the theme-- 35 Years Of Connecting The Keystone.

The Eastern PA Coalition for Abandoned Reclamation and its partners have scheduled the 7th Annual Centralia Cleanup for October 17 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in Columbia County.

On September 12, the PA Resources Council will host a Reuse Fest in Erie to allow residents to donate items to local nonprofits for reuse.

On August 24, the PA Resources Council announced Justin Stockdale will leave the organization when his family moves to Boulder, Colorado in October.

Tickets now on sale for the October 15 virtual Wild and Scenic Film Festival hosted by the PA Resource Council and presented by the South Yuba River Citizens League.

On August 27, the Department of Environmental Protection announced it has awarded $5,118,502 in Driving PA Forward grants to 13 cleaner fuel transportation projects that will improve air quality in communities around the state.

The Department of Environmental Protection is now accepting applications for Alternative Fuels Incentive Grants to support innovative, advanced fuel and vehicle technology projects resulting in cleaner advanced alternative transportation.  (formal notice)

PennFuture and PennEnvironment will hold a Climate Change And Our Health webinar on September 1 at 5:00 p.m.

Shippensburg University and its Center for Land Use and Sustainability and Dickinson College’s Center for Sustainability Education are among 12 colleges and universities participating in the state Department of Environmental Protection’s Local Climate Action Program (LCAP).

Penn State students are working virtually on the Pennsylvania Solar Center’s Renew PA Works campaign in an effort to educate Pennsylvanians about the benefits of renewable energy, including job creation.

On August 26, the Department of Transportation announced students in grades 9-12 are invited to participate in the fourth annual PennDOT Innovations Challenge, which encourages students to use their problem-solving, creative and strategic-thinking abilities to solve real-world transportation challenges in a competition among their peers.

Bucks County-based Crown Holdings, Inc. has had its greenhouse gas emission reduction targets approved by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) as consistent with reductions required to keep warming to 1.5°C, the most ambitious goal of the Paris Agreement.

On August 26, natural gas producer Range Resources released its 2020 Corporate Sustainability Report which establishes a target of net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2025.

By Jeff Mulhollem, Penn State News

On August 28, the PA Recreation and Parks Society posted a notice on its Facebook page funding for parks, trails and conservation projects is available through counties receiving federal  CARES funding designed to mitigate the impacts of COVID-19.

Join the regional trails community and inspiring speakers at the virtual Eastern PA Greenways and Trails Summit featuring educational sessions every Wednesday and mobile workshops every Friday throughout September.

The South Mountain Partnership will hold a virtual Fall Partnership Meeting on September 18 from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m.

Manada Conservancy has partnered with Kings Gap Environmental Education Center and the Hershey Public Library to provide animal activity pages for kids-- and adults-- to enjoy.

The August 28 Take Five Fridays With Pam is now available from the PA Parks and Forests Foundation featuring articles on--

Hawk Mountain Sanctuary in Berks County will host its annual Autumn Native Plant Sale on September 12 outside of the Visitor Center from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., featuring over 100 species of native trees, grasses, vines, shrubs, and flowering plants.

On August 25, the Fish and Boat Commission awarded $160,000 to support 14 education projects in ten counties, including four statewide efforts. 

By Kelly Jedrzejewski, Penn State News

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

By Ad Crable, Chesapeake Bay Journal

On August 28, the Department of Agriculture announced changes to quarantine requirements for deer farms in Blair, Bedford and Fulton Counties to control Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD). (formal notice)

The Stroud Water Research Center in Chester County is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Watershed Restoration Coordinator.

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 73 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 virtual 2020 PA Abandoned Mine Reclamation Conference to be held on October 28-29.   Stay tuned for details!

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