On September 17, the PA Farm Bureau announced the three finalists have been selected for the 2020 Pennsylvania Leopold Conservation Award.

On September 18, Sen. Gene Yaw (R-Lycoming), Majority Chair of the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, introduced bipartisan legislation-- Senate Bill 1272-- creating a new program to help pay for on-farm conservation measures, if it’s funded.

On September 15, the Environmental Quality Board voted 13 to 6 to approve the proposed Carbon Pollution Reduction for Power Plants consistent with the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative for public comment and review by the General Assembly and the Independent Regulatory Review Commission.

A new poll released September 17 finds 72 percent of Pennsylvania voters support the state's participation in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), a multi-state, market-based initiative to reduce carbon dioxide pollution from power plants.

This Evangelical Environmental Network open letter to the Pennsylvania Senate is another example of the broad support the proposal to reduce carbon pollution from power plants consistent with the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative has among faith, business, environmental and conservation groups in Pennsylvania.

On September 15, the PA Community Solar Economic Alliance announced Pennsylvania voters overwhelmingly want the General Assembly to pass legislation authorizing local community solar projects, according to a new poll conducted by Susquehanna Polling and Research.

The PA Forestry Association will its 134th Annual Symposium in Virtual Form October 26 - 30 with the theme Exploring Change in Penn's Woods with programs scheduled over five days.

DCNR’s Conservation and Natural Resources Advisory Council is scheduled to hold a virtual meeting on September 23 to hear a presentation on carbon capture and underground storage, among other items. (formal notice)

On September 14, the Department of Environmental Protection issued its 2019 Oil and Gas Annual Report showing conventional oil and gas wells had nearly twice the violations of shale gas-- unconventional-- wells in 2019.

On September 17, the Independent Regulatory Review Commission approved the final Environmental Quality Board regulation increasing DEP’s Air Quality Program fees by a vote of four to one.

From March 16 to September 15, Department of Environmental Protection employees have been teleworking and using COVID-19 mitigation measures to continue to fulfill its mission.  DEP staff have--

On September 15, the Game Commission announced the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies has recognized the Commission for excellence, presenting the agency with two national awards Monday at its virtual meeting.

Bill Ritting is a registered landscape architect who devotes his time to representing people with disabilities while serving on the Pennsylvania Trails Advisory Committee.

With hunting and other outdoors activities increasing at a time when woodlands and brush can become tinder dry in just a few days, the Wolf Administration is urging all residents to guard against increased wildfire dangers in Pennsylvania’s 17 million acres of forestlands.

During a September 15 hearing, the Senate Democratic Policy Committee was told state, regional and local outdoor recreation was ‘through the roof’ across Pennsylvania as a result of the pandemic causing families to “rediscover” parks and outdoor recreation.

On September 15, the Joint House-Senate Conservation Committee heard how 65,000 volunteers have contributed over 584,000 hours in the last eleven years to help maintain Pennsylvania’s state parks and forests for public use.

On September 18, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn joined trail supporters and government officials in three counties in announcing the official designation of the 85-mile Schuylkill to Susquehanna Greenway as a Statewide Major Greenway.

Need funding for a park, trail, or conservation project? The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Bureau of Recreation and Conservation is hosting virtual regional grant workshops in November.

To celebrate the fall season in Pennsylvania, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources experts will be available to serve as regional advisers on fall foliage, offering tips and resources to help residents and visitors experience a colorful autumn in a variety of ways across the Commonwealth.

[ Because In Politics Everything Is Connected To Everything Else ] After all the back and forth about what to do on election law fixes, the PA Supreme Court stepped in last week and gave what many saw as a win for Democrats.

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 17, USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service-PA announced a $2 million investment for an innovative conservation project in Pennsylvania and New York through Regional Conservation Partnership Program Alternative Funding Arrangements.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's NOAA Chesapeake Bay Watershed Education and Training Program (B-WET) has awarded an $85,000 grant to the Chester County-based Stroud Water Research Center to continue its watershed education program.

On September 18, the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service-PA encouraged agricultural producers and landowners to apply for technical and financial assistance to improve and enhance natural resources on their farm and forest land.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture will begin accepting applications for the Rural Energy for America Program Renewable Energy Systems & Energy Efficiency Improvement Guarantees Loans and Grants.

The Department of Environmental Protection is now accepting applications for EPA Section 319 Watershed Restoration Grants.  Applications are due October 23.

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

A 1,000-foot section of Spring Creek in College Township is primed for stream restoration, according to Dave Putnam, wildlife biologist for the US Fish and Wildlife Service office in State College.

The Chesapeake Conservancy is now accepting nominations for the 2020 Champions Of The Chesapeake Bay Awards through September 26.

The Chester County-based Stroud Water Research Center will host a November 10 webinar on Stream and Buffer Ecology from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Penn State Extension will host a 9-part Green Stormwater Infrastructure series of webinars to help participants learn about how research and work across Pennsylvania are providing cost effective approaches to managing stormwater.

By: Janice Vollero, Water Program Specialist, Bureau of Clean Water

On September 17, the Public Utility Commission approved a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, to be published in the Pennsylvania Bulletin, seeking public comment on the implementation of Act 120 of 2018 (Act 120). 

On September 17, the Public Utility Commission approved issuance of an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, seeking comments from interested parties regarding the replacement of an existing PUC policy statement with regulations intended to more comprehensively address water loss in public utility water systems across the Commonwealth.

On September 15, PA American Water recognized the vital role water plays in our everyday lives by launching a campaign focused on water source protection.

On October 31 and November 7 from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. the Lower Susquehanna Riverkeeper Association and partners including the Penn State Master Watershed Stewards of York, Lancaster, Lebanon and Dauphin Counties, Watershed Alliance of York and York County Coalition for Clean Waters will be hosting the 1st Annual Plastic Purge of the Lower Susquehanna.

On September 15, the PA Resources Council announced during the first 100 days of their Traveling Glass Recycling Program they have recycled more than 58 tons of glass in Western Pennsylvania.

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.

DEP’s Low-Level Radioactive Waste Advisory Committee is scheduled to hold a virtual meeting on October 2 and one of the items on the agenda is a status report on the closure of Three Mile Island Nuclear Power Plant Unit 1 and the license transfer of Three Mile Island Unit 2.  (formal notice)

Changing climate has caused and will continue to cause impacts to public health, infrastructure, emergency services, and major economic contributors like agriculture, tourism, and recreation.

On September 17, the Department of Transportation announced the formal opening of service at a new Compressed Natural Gas fueling station at the Monroe County Transit Authority, 134 MCTA Drive in Swiftwater, Monroe County.

The Drive Electric PA Coalition will host a series of five webinars in September and October on the Benefits and Basics of Driving Electric.

The Penn State PA Technical Assistance Program will host a Manufacturing PA Innovation Funding Program webinar on October 2 from Noon to 1:00 p.m.

Retired Executive Director of the Fish and Boat Commission, John Arway, will speak at Allegheny County's North Area Environmental Council's virtual Annual Meeting on October 6  starting at 7:00 p.m.

The Outdoor Discovery Center at Crooked Creek in Armstrong County will hold a Knee High To Nature Series Program for elementary school students from 10:00 a.m. to Noon.

On September 16, PA Land Trust Association Executive Director Andy Loza announced PALTA is changing its name to WeConservePA to better reflect the mission of its member organizations.

The Western Pennsylvania Conservancy recently announced the permanent protection of 561 acres of forestland in Benezette Township, Elk County – a popular destination in the region to see elk roam in their habitat.

The Central PA Conservancy preserves 404 acres of ridge and forest land along Peters Mountain in Middle Paxton Township in Dauphin County.

On September 14, Delaware County-based Brandywine Conservancy announced the release of Hiking through History, a new informative map that highlights our region’s rich history with the American Revolutionary War, overlapping with the area’s many cultural, recreational and natural attractions.

On September 29, the Dauphin County-based Manada Conservancy will host a virtual program on Conservation and Health - A Vital Relationship starting at 7:00 p.m.

In addition to their primary mission of working with local communities to ensure that increased wilderness protection is a priority of the stewardship of the Allegheny National Forest in Warren County, Friends of Allegheny Wilderness over the last two decades has also done stewardship work on the 13-mile Hickory Creek Wilderness trail.

The Northeast PA Chapter of the Audubon Society hosted a Fall Bird Migrant Hike on September 19 in Honesdale, Wayne County.

The September 16 issue of the Resource newsletter is available from the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources featuring articles on--

The September 18 Take Five Fridays With Pam is now available from the PA Parks and Forests Foundation featuring articles on--

On September 18, the Fish and Boat Commission announced it is now accepting applications for its recently expanded Erie Access Improvement Grant Program.  The deadline for applications is December 30.

On September 14, Delaware County-based Natural Lands announced the addition of Rayenne A. Chen to its Board of Trustees.

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 105 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 PA Forestry Association’s 2020 Exploring Change in Penn's Woods Symposium October 26-30.  Click Here to register.

The PA Environment Digest is a proud sponsor of the virtual 2020 PA Abandoned Mine Reclamation Conference to be held on October 28-29.   Click Here to register.

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