There are 20 new stories in this week’s PA Environment Digest about securing our environmental rights, volunteers planting trees, cleaning up litter, charting a new course on climate change, advocating for Chesapeake Bay funding, recognizing solar energy pioneers, redeveloping brownfield sites, promoting land stewardship and protection of wildlife and pollinators.

StateImpact Pennsylvania, WITF and the Pennsylvania Parks & Forests Foundation invite you to view a  panel discussion on the 50th Anniversary of the state’s Environmental Rights Amendment on demand.

The latest newsletter from Hawk Mountain Sanctuary in Berks County celebrates Women in Conservation by highlighting several of their recent blog posts about influential women connected to the ongoing work at the Sanctuary--

By Ad Crable, Chesapeake Bay Journal

By Michael J. Klimkos

WeConservePA sent a letter to all Senate and House members and to Gov. Tom Wolf on May 20 urging them to dedicate federal American Rescue Plan funding to support projects to improve water quality and green infrastructure.

On May 20, Carnegie Mellon University and the Richard King Mellon Foundation announced that the two long-time partners will together make a transformational investment in science and technology leadership at the university; in a more vibrant future for the Hazelwood neighborhood; and in Pittsburgh's ongoing economic renaissance.

On May 20, the Pennsylvania Solar Center presented a number of regional companies and organizations with the prestigious Lodestar Award, a distinction given to Pennsylvania entities who are leading the way in investing in clean and renewable solar energy.

Last week, four DEP advisory committees expressed their support for the final version of DEP’s regulation reducing carbon pollution from power plants consistent with the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative.

Delta Institute is working with communities to create the Guiding Principles for Economic Diversification in Pennsylvania to help DEP guide investment opportunities from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative Program covering power plants to provide communities with increased and diversified opportunities.

Pennsylvania Envirothon will hold a virtual awards ceremony on May 27 to announce the winning high school team in the statewide competition live online starting at 11:00 a.m.

From March 16, 2020 to May 18, 2021 Department of Environmental Protection employees have been teleworking and using COVID-19 mitigation measures to continue to fulfill its mission.  DEP staff have--

On May 20, the Independent Regulatory Review Commission voted to approve the Environmental Quality Board’s final Chapter 91 and 92 Water Quality Permit fee increases which were made necessary by cuts in funding by the General Assembly.

The DCNR Conservation and Natural Resources Advisory Council will hold a virtual meeting May 26 on forest resource conservation planning, the 50th anniversary of the Environmental Rights Amendment and other issues.  (formal notice)

On May 19, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn visited White Clay Creek Preserve in Chester County to celebrate its forest heritage and induct it into the Old-Growth Forest Network.

On May 20, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn announced the Wild Resource Conservation Program is accepting applications for grants to protect the state’s native biodiversity.

On May 21, a specialist from the Department of Agriculture demonstrated how homeowners can use a circle trap to eliminate large numbers of destructive Spotted Lanternflies without harming beneficial pollinators or small animals.

[ Because In Politics Everything Is Connected To Everything Else ] Both constitutional amendments giving the Republican-control Senate and House the ultimate authority to determine what happens during an emergency were passed by voters in the Primary Tuesday.

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--

Witnesses late Friday reported heavy road dumping of oil and gas well wastewater is occurring in southern Warren County and around Oil City in Venango County on back roads off of Route 27.

The Senate Appropriations Committee is scheduled to meet on May 24 to consider bills to kill regulations by doing nothing, mandate private review of permit applications and end public participation during emergencies.

The Senate Agriculture and Rural Affairs and Local Government Committees are scheduled to hold a hearing May 25 on utility scale solar development in the Commonwealth and related local government ordinances.

On May 14, the interstate Chesapeake Bay Commission sent a formal proposal to the U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to create a $737 million, 10-year Clean Water and Climate Resiliency Program in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed to help reach the Bay Program's 2025 cleanup milestones.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will hold three virtual listening sessions to take public input on the Agency’s upcoming regulations for the Oil and Natural Gas Industry on June 15, 16 and 17.

By Dr. Tyler A. Groh, Penn State Extension

By Danielle Rhea, Penn State Extension

By Greg Wilson, Donegal Trout Unlimited Conservation Co-Chair

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the May 22 PA Bulletin of an opportunity to bid on an abandoned mine reclamation project in Indiana County.   (formal notice)

On May 18, PA American Water announced 12 watershed-related projects in its service territories will receive financial support through the company’s 2021 Environmental Grant Program.

On May 20, the Public Utility Commission voted to suspend and investigate rate changes proposed by the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority for water, wastewater and stormwater services.

The Susquehanna River Basin Commission will hold a virtual business meeting on June 17 starting at 9:00 a.m. (formal notice)

The Watershed Congress Organizing Committee is now accepting proposals for presentations for the virtual 2021 Watershed Congress to be held September 20-24.  The deadline for proposals is June 15.

Pennsylvania Master Naturalist is offering a limited-time tuition discount of $75 for Fall 2021 training courses in Armstrong, Chester, Lehigh, and Montgomery ​Counties will be available on May 22 and May 23.

Penn State Extension is now accepting registrations for the 2021 Dive Deeper Environmental Education Summit set for September 23-24 hybrid in-person/virtual meeting.

Berks County-based Hawk Mountain Sanctuary is now accepting registrations for youth nature camps that begin June 21 and will run weekly until August 13 for a total of eight weeks of environmental excitement!

The Department of Environmental Protection is now accepting applications for Section 902 Recycling Implementation Grants under Act 101. The deadline to apply is September 24. (formal notice)

The PA Resources Council will hold free glass recycling services in Allegheny County during June as part of the Traveling Glass Recycling Bin Program.

On May 19, Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful reported Keep America Beautiful announced the summary of its 2020 study on litter in America which found roadway litter was down 54 percent since 2009.

On May 18, the Department of Environmental Protection announced it will host a virtual public hearing on June 2, from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m., to take testimony from interested parties regarding a permit modification application by Hercules Cement Quarry, Inc. to expand its operations in Stockertown, Northampton County.

On May 20, U.S. Middle District Judge Matthew W. Brann approved the Department of Environment Protection, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Department of Justice Consent Decree with Chesapeake Appalachia, LLC to resolve Chesapeake’s violations of the federal Clean Water Act and the Pennsylvania Clean Streams Law and Dam Safety and Encroachments Act associated with the failure to identify and protect wetlands at 76 oil and gas well sites in Pennsylvania. Read more here.

On May 20, PJM Interconnection forecast adequate supply to meet summer electricity needs for the 65 million customers it serves in what is expected to be a relatively hot summer.

The PA Outdoor Writers Association is now accepting registrations for the 2021 Conference to be held July 29 to August 1 at the Park Inn By Radisson in West Middlesex, Mercer County.

Thanks to a generous, anonymous donor to the PA Parks and Forests Foundation, children who visit Blue Knob State Park in Bedford County now have a wonderful new playground to enjoy.

Advocating that all remaining qualifying portions of the Allegheny National Forest in Warren County be permanently protected from all forms of development as wilderness areas under the Wilderness Act of 1964 is the primary mission of the nonprofit Friends of Allegheny Wilderness (FAW).

The May 21 Take Five Fridays With Pam is now available from the PA Parks and Forests Foundation featuring articles on--

On May 19, the Brodhead Watershed Association announced the appointment of Dr. Alex Jackson as the new executive director to lead its educational mission to protect and improve water quality.

The Armstrong County Conservation District is seeking qualified candidates for the position of District Manager/Executive position.

The PA Sea Grant Program is now accepting applications for a Susquehanna River Basin and Lake Erie Watershed outreach professionals.

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 74 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.

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