On September 11, the Department of Environmental Protection issued an order requiring Sunoco Pipeline, L.P. (Sunoco) to reroute a 1.01 mile section of the Mariner East II Pipeline and further assess, investigate, and restore resources impacted by pipeline installation activities in Upper Uwchlan Township, Chester County.

In the last three years 22 major, bipartisan bills have been introduced to address significant natural gas and hazardous liquids pipeline safety issues in Pennsylvania and none have made it to the Governor’s desk.

On September 10, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation and its partners announced they will file a complaint suing the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for abdicating its responsibilities under the federal Clean Water Act.

The latest newsletter from DEP’s Chesapeake Bay Office provides an update on implementation of Pennsylvania’s Phase III Bay Watershed Implementation plan featuring articles on--

By Karl Blankenship, Chesapeake Bay Journal

By Karl Blankenship, Chesapeake Bay Journal

On September 9, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation announced 37 grant awards totaling more than $8.1 million to support recreation, water quality, water management, and habitat conservation throughout the Delaware River watershed.

On September 10, after a meeting of the Commonwealth Drought Task Force, the Department of Environmental Protection moved Potter County to drought warning status and added three counties — Elk, Lycoming, and Tioga — to drought watch.

Instead of you coming to the annual PA Abandoned Mine Reclamation Conference, this October the Conference is coming to you!

On September 9, the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee held a hearing on proposed Environmental Quality Board regulation adopting a manganese water quality toxic substances standard that is protective of public health (July 25 PA Bulletin).

On September 9, Senate Republicans cut off any opportunity for debate and any amendments and then, with some Democrats, passed House Bill 2025 (Struzzi-R-Indiana) taking away DEP’s authority to adopt a carbon pollution reduction program for power plants compatible with the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative by a vote of 33 to 17.  [Not a veto-proof majority, like in the House.]

In a September 9 letter to the Senate, the PA Environmental Council and Environmental Defense Fund urged the General Assembly to break their silence and pass legislation to effectively address the issue of climate change like many other states have done in a bipartisan way.

On September 10, Sen. Gene Yaw (R-Lycoming), Majority Chair of the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, announced he would be introducing legislation to impose new bonding requirements on solar electric generation and other renewable energy facilities.

On September 8, the Republicans on the Senate Appropriations Committee reported out legislation that would allow the Senate and House to kill any final regulation by doing nothing and shield violators from penalties.

From March 16 to September 8, Department of Environmental Protection employees have been teleworking and using COVID-19 mitigation measures to continue to fulfill its mission.  DEP staff have--

Forbes Trail Chapter of Trout Unlimited recently presented Denny Hess of North Huntingdon the Chapter’s Russ Mowery Memorial Silver Trout Award for his distinguished service.  Denny serves as the chapter’s Vice President. 

On September 8, the PA and DE Chapter of the Nature Conservancy announced it is preparing a 1,058 acre expansion of the Cove Mountain Preserve in Perry County, which will create a 14-mile stretch of protected land along the Kittatinny Ridge. 

By Natalie DiDomenico, U.S. Fish & Wildlife

By Penn State News

On September 10, following months of hyper-focus on the availability of food, Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding was joined by Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences Dean Richard Roush and Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Executive Director for Field Operations Carlos Martinez at Cherry Hill Orchards, where they urged Pennsylvanians to act now against the Spotted Lanternfly for the sake of food security.

Senate and House Republicans fired two more shots-- bills-- at the Governor in the continuing tussle over who gets to decide major issues.  Those shots will land on Gov. Wolf’s desk this week.

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--

On September 10, the U.S. Department of Agriculture  announced it is seeking public- and private-sector input on the most innovative technologies and practices that can be readily deployed across U.S. agriculture as part of its Agriculture Innovation Agenda.

In the next three to four years, clean water will once again flow from Blossburg to Mansfield, along the Tioga River in Tioga County, thanks in part to a $2 million grant from the Department of Environmental Protection to the Susquehanna River Basin Commission (SRBC).

DEP’s Office of Environmental Justice put the spotlight on another Champion of Community Involvement in their latest newsletter by profiling Bobby Hughes, Executive Director of the Eastern PA Coalition for Abandoned Mine Reclamation--

The Butler County-based Slippery Rock Watershed Coalition announced it has received a grant from the Colcom Foundation which will allow the Coalition to refurbish and purchase new conductivity data loggers.

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

The Maryland-based Center for Watershed Protection, a national leader in stormwater management and watershed planning, has announced a new program director in Pennsylvania to get clean water projects in the ground based in Lancaster County.

Joanne Tosti-Vasey, a local government leader in Centre County, lives in the borough of Bellefonte (population 6,200) and has served on its council since 2016.

By Chesapeake Bay Program

By: Virginia Cain, Community Relations Coordinator, DEP Southeast Regional Office

The 2020 Delaware River Festival will combine the best of virtual and small in-person water experiences to celebrate the Delaware River September 16 to October 4 in the Philadelphia- Camden area.

Monroe County-based Brodhead Watershed Association is bringing the outdoors online for its annual auction fundraiser, to be held virtually Sept. 16-26, 2020.

The Fall Pennsylvania Waters newsletter is now available from the USGS Pennsylvania Water Science Center featuring articles on--

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the September 12 PA Bulletin inviting comments on proposed changes to the Great Lakes - St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Compact and Sustainable Water Resources Agreement.

The Penn State Extension Dive Deeper Distantly: Water Educator Virtual Summit on October 1 is for anyone who teaches youth about water.

The Department of Environmental Protection is now accepting applications for the 2021 Environmental Education Grants Program.  The deadline for applications is December 11.  (notice)

Prudential Financial and the National Association of Secondary School Principals are calling on Pennsylvania youth volunteers to apply for scholarships and national recognition through The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards.

The PA-Anthracite Section of Society of Mining Engineers/AIME is now accepting applications for the 2019-2020 John Kaminski Memorial Scholarships for mining-related engineering or science majors for Pennsylvania and New Jersey.  Applications are due October 15.

Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful is offering supplemental learning tools for in-class, virtual or homeschoolers through their Open Your Eyes to Litter series of five books. The books provide hands-on learning and are appropriate for grades K through six.

The bipartisan group of Northeast and Mid-Atlantic jurisdictions that make up the Transportation & Climate Initiative announced they will host two public webinars on September 16 and 29 to share updates and invite public input.

The PA Conservative Energy Forum will host two hall meetings September 24 and 29 featuring former Secretary of the Navy Dr. John Lehman and pollster Glen Bolger from Public Opinion Strategies on the importance of clean and renewable energy in Pennsylvania.

On September 9, the Department of Environmental Protection announced $608,216 in FAST Act Corridor Infrastructure Grants funding for projects that will add five electric vehicle (EV) fast-charging locations in Allegheny, Butler and Luzerne counties helping to expand drivers’ route options for these zero emission vehicles.

The latest Environmental Justice newsletter from the Department of Environmental Protection includes a statement by DEP Secretary Patrick McDonnell on addressing racial justice and inclusion at DEP--

By Penn State News

By DCNR Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn

On September 8, the Department of Transportation announced applications will be accepted to fund new transportation improvement projects under the Multimodal Transportation Fund through November 6, 2020.

On September 10, the Allegheny Land Trust announced it has assumed ownership of the historic Walker-Ewing Log House and surrounding grounds in Collier Township, Allegheny County.

The Western PA Conservancy is offering weekly livestream webinars providing online visitors with a "Closer Look" at Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater in Fayette County during September and October.

The September 11 Take Five Fridays With Pam is now available from the PA Parks and Forests Foundation featuring articles on--

By: Virginia Cain, DEP Community Relations Coordinator and Rob Fogel, DEP Local Government Liaison; Meghan Rogalus, Watershed Specialist, Bucks County Conservation District

The Northumberland County Conservation District is seeking qualified candidates to fill the position of Erosion and Sedimentation Technician II.

The River Network based in Boulder, Colorado is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Director of Finance.

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 106 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.   Registration is now open!

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