On December 2, Gov. Wolf announced executive actions to support communities  impacted by flooding because communities across Pennsylvania increasingly experience flooding caused by intense, short-duration storms due to climate change.

The Environmental Quality Board will begin accepting comments at 10 virtual public hearing sessions starting December 8 on a proposed regulation establishing a Carbon Pollution Reduction Program covering power plants that is consistent with the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI). (formal notice)

On December 3, the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education announced a Solar Project Collaboration by four Pennsylvania institutions—Dickinson College, Lafayette College, Lehigh University and Muhlenberg College—is the 2020 Campus Sustainability Achievement Award recipient for Institutions with under 10,000 Full-Time Equivalent Enrollment.

By Kevin Sliman, Penn State News

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

On August 10, Gov. Wolf nominated Haley Book to fill the vacant position on the Public Utility Commission created by the resignation of Commissioner Andrew Place on April 16.  Read more here.

2020 was marked more by what didn’t happen on environment and energy legislation than what was actually passed by the Senate and House and signed into law by Gov. Wolf.   Here’s a rundown on what happened.

Here are just a few of the NICE environmental and energy bills we hope will be coming back in the new legislative session starting January 1.

This is a NAUGHTY list of bad environmental bills that we wished wouldn’t be back next year, but probably will be, so watch out for them!

During 2020, millions of Pennsylvanians sought refuge from the COVID-19 pandemic in state and local parks, trails and outdoor recreation.  Read more here.

The Water Center at the University of Pennsylvania is inviting comments on a draft Southwestern PA Water network vision, purpose and goals statement from local stakeholders.  The deadline for comments is December 18.

On December 3, thirteen local organizations released a new blueprint designed to protect the Lake Erie Watershed in Pennsylvania from threats like plastics pollution, climate change, invasive species and surface runoff, among others.

The Environmental Quality Board invites comments on proposed changes to the Chapter 105 Waterways Management permit regulations, one of the most basic permits all development must have in the state.  (formal notice)

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the December 5 PA Bulletin it is extending the annual report deadline for concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) under NPDES General Permit PAG-12 to February 15.

On December 3, Laura Legere from the Post-Gazette reported the Department of Environmental Protection is starting the development of new regulations setting environmental and waste disposal standards for conventional oil and gas well drilling after Gov. Wolf’s veto of Senate Bill 790 (Scarnati-R-Jefferson) last week .

DEP’s Oil and Gas Technical Advisory Board is scheduled to hold a virtual meeting on December 16 to hear updates on a variety of topics, including--

DEP’s Cleanup Standards Scientific Advisory Board is scheduled to hold a virtual meeting December 16 on a final regulation setting soil and water cleanup standards for PFOS/PFOA/PFAS contamination and a cleanup level for lead found in soil.

By Jeremy Cox & Timothy B. Wheeler, Chesapeake Bay Journal

By Shannon Gority, Chesapeake Bay Foundation-PA

From March 16 to December 1, 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 Conservation and Natural Resources announced it has canceled ALL in-person events and programs organized by its staff and volunteers in all state parks and forests beginning December 6.

On December 2, the Department of Agriculture recognized the director and staff at the Bureau of Farmland Preservation for continuing their work while overcoming telework obstacles.    

The Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful Adoption Program is available statewide for groups interested in adopting municipal roads, parks, neighborhood blocks, greenways, waterways and trails to reduce litter cleanup costs.

[ In Politics Everything Is Connected To Everything Else ] The focus again last week for Republicans in the Senate and House was the November election and its aftermath.

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 following article first appeared in the November newsletter from the Joint Legislative Air and Water Pollution Control and Conservation Committee.

In late November, officers of the Environmental Council of the States discussed priorities with the incoming President-elect Biden Administration's EPA Advance Review Team.

The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service-PA will host two virtual open houses on Environmental Quality Incentives Program financial assistance for urban agriculture in areas surrounding Pittsburgh and Philadelphia

The Friends of Allegheny Wilderness, The North Country Trail Association, National Wilderness Stewardship Alliance, Appalachian Trail Conservancy, American Hiking Society, and many other national hiking trail organizations are strongly opposing any hostile takeover efforts to ‘shred' the landmark federal Wilderness Act of 1964 by allowing any mountain biking anywhere within any unit of America's National Wilderness Preservation System, now or at any point in the future.

The latest Conserve magazine from the Western PA Conservancy highlights their work to restore watersheds and improve water quality for future generations featuring articles on--

The PA Organization for Watersheds and Rivers is hosting a December 10 webinar on the DEP 2020 Integrated Water Quality Report and mapping applications from Noon to 1:00 p.m.

The December newsletter from the Pike County Conservation District features articles on--

The Partnership for the Delaware Estuary is now accepting registrations for the virtual 2021 Delaware Estuary Science and Environmental Summit on March 1-3.

Did you miss the Dive Deeper Distantly Water Educators Virtual Summit in October?  Don't worry, Penn State Extension now has the Summit available on demand.

By: Virginia Cain, Community Relations Coordinator, Southeast Region & Jillian Gallagher, Air Quality Environmental Group Manager, Southeast Region

The In Case You Missed It In November from the PA Environmental Council is now available featuring articles on--

On December 1, WeConservePA announced the publication of a new 11-page report: Conservation Easements in Court: A Review of Easement Violation and Enforcement Litigation in Pennsylvania.

On December 3, Rep. Mary Jo Daley (D-Montgomery) announced the transfer of the historic Highlands Mansion and surrounding grounds to the Highlands Historical Society as part of Senate Bill 1214 signed into law by Gov. Wolf last week.

The Fall/Winter newsletter of the Crawford County-based Foundation for Sustainable Forests highlights recent forest management activities, initiatives and several upcoming events--

The PA Parks and Forests Foundation is now accepting nominations for their 2021 Annual Awards to recognize outstanding service, programs, and people to remind everyone of the exemplary work happening in our state parks and forests.

On November 30, the new National Association of State Park Foundations announced Marci Mowery, President of the PA Parks and Forests Foundation, will serve as the group's first chair.

The December 4 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 77 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. 

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