There are 18 new stories in this week’s PA Environment Digest that show environmental and conservation leadership from anglers, farmers, forestland owners, RiverKeepers, parks and forests enthusiasts, colleges and universities, forest professionals and more.

On May 3, Natural Lands announced the permanent protection of a vulnerable section of East Branch Brandywine Creek. The acquisition and immediate transfer of the 12-acre property to East Brandywine Township ensures access to the creek for recreation and protects the scenic view along route 282 in Downingtown, Chester County.

Thomas and Marjorie Seibert have partnered with the French and Pickering Creeks Conservation Trust to permanently preserve 197 acres of woodlands in Charlestown Township, Chester County through a conservation easement.

The Forbes Trail Chapter of Trout Unlimited recently presented Monty Murty of Laughlintown, Westmoreland County the Chapter’s Don Robb Memorial Chapter Service Award for his exemplary service. 

The Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation invites you to celebrate the work of park and forest staff and volunteers across the state who worked to ensure people had safe ways to engage in the outdoors during the COVID-19 pandemic.

By Jake Solyst, Chesapeake Bay Program

On May 4, Gov. Tom Wolf awarded the Governor’s Award of Excellence to two employees of the Department of Environmental Protection-- Jill Whitcomb, director of the Chesapeake Bay Office, and Heidi Kunka, Energy Program specialist, for their successful efforts to improve the Chesapeake Bay Watershed and implement local climate action plans.

In February, the Legislative Audit Advisory Commission reported the Senate and House now have a surplus in their legislative accounts of over $200 million.  It grew by over $30 million in FY 2019-20 alone.

On May 6, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency released its evaluation of a draft plan to compensate for more than 6 million pounds of Chesapeake Bay pollutants no longer being trapped in a reservoir behind the Conowingo Dam located on the Susquehanna River just south of the Pennsylvania - Maryland border.

By Ad Crable, Chesapeake Bay Journal

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice of a June 16 virtual public hearing on proposed amendments to the Chapter 105 (Water Obstruction) and 102 (Erosion and Sedimentation) permits covering Mariner East Pipeline construction in Upper Uwchlan Township, Chester County related to Marsh Creek Lake. (PA Bulletin page 2557)

Two DEP advisory committees are scheduled to meet in the near future on the draft final-form regulations reducing Carbon Pollution from Power Plants consistent with the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative.

Pennsylvania’s average temperature will be 5.9° F higher by midcentury, with significant consequences for the health and safety of Pennsylvanians, especially those living in Environmental Justice communities, and for ecosystems, agriculture and other areas, according to Pennsylvania Climate Impacts Assessment 2021, released May 5 by the Wolf Administration.

The PA Forestry Association recently reported 50 Pennsylvania forest landowners have enrolled over 7,000 acres in the Family Forest Carbon Program designed to pay landowners to implement sustainable forestry practices that sequester carbon.

The Environmental Quality Board is scheduled to hold a virtual meeting on May 19 to consider proposed radiation safety and RACT Air Pollution Reduction regulations.

From March 16, 2020 to May 4, 2021 Department of Environmental Protection employees have been teleworking and using COVID-19 mitigation measures to continue to fulfill its mission.  DEP staff have--

The Luzerne County-based Earth Conservancy is now accepting sign ups for its Environmental Workforce Training Program and is holding a series of information sessions on the program for interested applicants.

Illegally dumped tires may be fueling a fire located inside an abandoned mine opening south of Trevorton in Zerbe Township, Northumberland County. The underground fire is thought to have spread to a coal seam.  Read more here.

On April 27, the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) released a new tool to increase supply chain transparency and help ensure that all solar components are made ethically throughout the solar value chain.

PennFuture is now accepting nominations for regional Women In Conservation Awards from Northeast Pennsylvania.  The deadline is now May 17.

On May 5, the Pike County Tick Borne Diseases Task Force released the results of a first-of-its kind baseline study of tick-borne illness.

By Kelly Jedrzejewski, Penn State News

[ Because In Politics Everything Is Connected To Everything Else ] Republicans that run the Senate and House still have not released a plan yet for how they want to spend the $7.4 billion (or so) in federal stimulus money the state government will receive. Read more here.

The following bills of interest saw action last week in the House and Senate--

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 May 4, the Republican members of the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee approved two letters expressing their opinions on water quality permit fees and statutory authority for adopting regulations to reduce carbon pollution from power plants.

On May 4, Republicans on the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee approved and reported out  House Bill 1144 (Causer-R-Cameron) which would not only roll back environmental protection standards for conventional oil and gas wells, but would also make road dumping of drilling wastewater legal again.

On May 3, the Environmental Defense Fund and the PA Environmental Council wrote to members of the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee urging them to vote against House Bill 1144 (Causer-R-Cameron) setting standards for conventional oil and gas drilling because the bill would result in “dramatic reductions to health and environmental protections that are unwarranted and unsafe.”

On May 4, 78 organizations, institutions, and businesses and more than 3,150 concerned citizens called on state representatives to vote no on a bill that would roll back rules on conventional drillers, many that have been in place for decades.

On May 4, the House approved four bills by mostly party-line votes-- Republicans supporting-- to allow the General Assembly to kill final regulations by doing nothing, provide a shield to law violators and mandating private review of DEP permit applications.

On May 3, the PA Environmental Council and Environmental Defense Fund wrote to all members of the House opposing five House Bills they said would “impede agency function and curtail environmental and public health protections” by changing the way regulations are adopted and how permits are reviewed.

By Sakura Ung, Committee Project Manager

The Senate Local Government and Environmental Resources and Energy Committees are scheduled to hold a hearing May 11 on Senate Bill 275 (Yaw-R-Lycoming) which would prohibit local governments from adopting requirements that new buildings use climate-friendly energy sources.

The Senate Environmental Resources and Energy and Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committees are scheduled to hold a joint hearing May 12 on Senate Bill 284 (Yaw-R-Lycoming) which imposes new bonding requirements on solar electric generation, biomass, coal waste and other renewable energy projects of any type included in the state’s Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards, plus other products and services.

Senators Steve Santarsiero (D-Bucks) and Maria Collett (D-Montgomery) announced they plan to introduce legislation to allow the state Attorney General to more directly investigate and pursue polluters, and others who damage our land, waterways and drinking water.  Read more here.

On May 7, the Department of Human Services reminded Pennsylvanians who need assistance paying utility bills and rent they can apply for help through the federally funded Emergency Rental Assistance Program.

On May 6, the Lower Susquehanna RiverKeeper Association, represented by the Environmental Integrity Project, filed a complaint against the City Of Harrisburg in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania seeking to intervene in a six-year-old federal and state sewage lawsuit against Harrisburg that so far has failed to produce any real progress in halting overflows that average about 800 million gallons a year.

Fifteen webinars from the 2021 Riparian Forest Buffer Summit in March are now available on demand at the Pennsylvania Clean Water Academy website.

The 9th Annual Del-AWARE River Watershed Forum set for virtual and in-person sessions on September 28, 29 and October 1 with the theme-- Building Inclusive Partnerships to Defend, Protect, and Restore a Great Water.

For those who have not discovered it, the Penn State Center for Agricultural and Shale Law Agricultural Law Weekly Review is an extremely valuable source of information on state and federal legal issues affecting agriculture in Pennsylvania.

No Pennsylvania photos won the 2021 Chesapeake Bay Foundation Save The Bay Photo Contest.

The Conodoguinet Creek Watershed Association invites volunteers to help with its first creek cleanup of the season-- May 15 at Willow Mill Park from 9:00 a.m. to Noon in Mechanicsburg, Cumberland County.

On May 6, the Public Utility Commission highlighted the recent “Drinking Water Week” in the Commonwealth as part of an ongoing effort to increase awareness about the importance of safe drinking water.

This summer, local youths ranging from ages five through 13 will have the opportunity to participate in summer day camps, which are focused on connecting children to nature. They will take place at the Lackawanna College Environmental Education Center in Covington Township, Lackawanna County.

Before the visitor season begins in earnest, Gifford Pinchot’s Grey Towers Heritage Association in Pike County will offer a free, virtual seminar on May 11 from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. entitled, “The Growth of Trees: A Journey Through Time.”

The PA Forestry Association, in cooperation with the Ned Smith Center for Nature and Art, is proud to bring you the third video in the Discovering PA’s Forest Heritage Series-- the Civilian Conservation Corps.

On May 3rd and 4th, Independence Conservancy teamed up with Washington County Conservation District, Range Resources, and Washington County Parks to tackle "Trash Mountain" on the Panhandle Trail near Weirton, West Virginia.

The Pennsylvania Resources Council will host a one-day household chemical collection event on May 15, 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.

By Ashley Schalleur - Environmental Protection Compliance Specialist, Southeast DEP Regional Office; Jillian Gallagher - Air Quality Environmental Group Manager SERO, and John Repetz - Community Relations Coordinator, Southcentral Regional Office

On May 6, the Public Utility Commission approved a Tentative Order seeking public comment from interested parties on further modifying and eventually lifting the Commission’s March 16, 2020 Emergency Order prohibiting door-to-door, public event, and in-person sales and marketing activities by jurisdictional competitive energy suppliers.

By Katherine Noll, Northampton Community College

The Penn State Technical Assistance Program is offering a no-cost program for industrial and manufacturing businesses to receive free training using U.S. Department of Energy-developed resources to support your organization as you improve your energy management and performance.

On May 11 SEEDS of Northeastern PA will host The Highlights Foundation in a virtual update on its sustainability initiatives at the Boyds Mill Retreat Center in Wayne County starting at 8:00 p.m.

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

Join the fun of counting all the diverse species at six PA State Parks by downloading the iNaturalist App and participate in the State Parks BioBlitz during May.

The May 7 Take Five Fridays With Pam from the PA Parks and Forests Foundation features articles on--

On May 5, the Delaware Highlands Conservancy announced the 4th annual juried Upper Delaware River Photography Contest.  Entries will be accepted from August 2 to 31.

On May 7, the Allegheny County Conservation District announced Erin Copeland will be serving as the new Assistant Director. 

The PA Sustainable Agriculture Association is seeking qualified candidates to fill a Development Director position and several intern positions.

Are you interested in or already studying civil engineering or environmental science? Are you looking for an experience that will help you stand out in those fields?

The Lebanon County-based Lebanon Valley Conservancy is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Executive Director.

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.

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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 PA Organization for Watersheds & Rivers, PA Outdoor Writers Association, PA Council Trout Unlimited and the Doc Fritchey Chapter Trout Unlimited.