Here are 34 new stories in the PA Environment Digest about individuals, groups, local governments, farmers, businesses, watershed groups and many more working all across Pennsylvania to restore and protect the environment and show others the beauty that surrounds us.

On August 16, the federal Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement announced the winners of its 2021 Abandoned Mine Land Reclamation Awards.

The York County Conservation District held its annual Conservation Awards Picnic on August 12, at Rocky Ridge County Park to present their 2021 Conservation Awards.

On August 19, Gov. Tom. Wolf announced Pennsylvania’s nation-leading farmland preservation program has reached more than 600,000 acres of farmland preserved, leaving it forever safeguarded from future residential, commercial, or industrial development.

On August 16, the PA Association of Environmental Professionals announced the winners of the 2021 Environmental Science Scholarships.  Each winner receives $1,000.

Links to all the articles and NewsClips in this week’s PA Environment Digest by topic in one place--

A new study by Penn State researchers to be published in the journal Science of The Total Environment found oil and gas drilling wastewater is far less effective than commercial products at suppressing dust, is easily washed off roadways into nearby streams and fields and contains pollutants that can negatively affect human health, agriculture and aquatic life.

On August 19, Kurt Klapkowski, Director of DEP’s Bureau Of Oil and Gas Planning and Program Management, told the PA Grade Crude [Oil] Development Advisory Council DEP is looking to develop the data to defend the development of a program to allow the road dumping of drilling wastewater across the state under new conventional drilling regulations.

On August 16, the Department of Environmental Protection announced it has assessed an $85,666 penalty from Sunoco Pipeline LP (Sunoco) for violations related to the construction of the Mariner East 2 pipeline in four Pennsylvania counties: Blair, Cumberland, Juniata, and Lebanon.

The Delaware RiverKeeper Network webinar Radioactivity In Fracking - Too Hot To Handle with scientist and author Justin Nobel is now available for on demand viewing.

FracTracker Alliance thanks the Marcellus Shale Coalition (MSC) for amplifying the reach of “Water at Risk,” our recent digital atlas exploring the impacts the oil and gas development in the Lycoming Creek watershed.

The Public Utility Commission published notice in the August 21 PA Bulletin inviting comments on proposed changes to state pipeline safety regulations covering the operation and maintenance of customer-owned service lines for natural gas or other gas by pipelines.

DEP’s Climate Change Advisory Committee is scheduled to meet August 24 to review the latest Greenhouse Gas Emission Inventory for Pennsylvania and hear an overview of DEP’s Energy Office Clean Energy Program Plan.

On August 20, the Department of Environmental Protection announced $1 million in 2021 Small Business Advantage Grant funding is available to small businesses and farmers who want to improve their operations through energy efficiency, pollution prevention, and natural resource protection.

By Tom Batroney, PE

By Matt Swayne, Penn State News

On August 19, The GIANT Company and Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful announced the award of grants to 42 recipients of its Healing the Planet Grants.

On August 20, the PA Resources Council released its September schedule of Traveling Glass Recycling Bin locations in Allegheny and Mercer counties.

On August 18, the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources announced  it had awarded $602,306 in grants to help Pennsylvania’s rural communities increase protection from wildfires.

The August 20 Take Five Fridays With Pam is now available from the PA Parks and Forests Foundation.

The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources invites public comments on proposed grant priorities for the 2021 Wild Resource Conservation Program.  The deadline for comments is September 20.  (formal notice)

By Jeff Mulhollem, Penn State News

Important headline articles from this week’s PA Environment Digest--

The PA Forestry Association’s August newsletter is full of great information on how to improve the management and diversity of forests.  Here’s just a sampling.

The Schuylkill Action Network will hold its annual Schuylkill River Restoration Fund Project Showcase and grant announcement on September 17 at the Northwestern Stables, 120 W. Northwestern Ave., Philadelphia from 10:00 a.m. to Noon.

Penn State Extension will host a five-part Backyard Stream Repair Webinar series to be held September 7, 9, 14, 16 and 21 from 2:00 to 3:15 p.m.

Join the PA Organization for Watersheds and Rivers as they host staff from Water Rangers for an educational and informative webinar on September 8 starting at 6:00 p.m.

Registration is now open for the South Mountain Partnership Fall meeting to be held September 17 from 9:00 a.m. to Noon at the Furnace Stack Pavilion, Pine Grove Furnace State Park, Gardners, Adams County

By Cindy Adams Dunn, Secretary of DCNR

For the past six years, DCNR has worked with the state Department of Labor and Industry and the Student Conservation Association to provide hands-on training opportunities that lead to family sustaining wages for hundreds of young people in the state through the Pennsylvania Outdoor Corps.

On August 25, the Save Pennsylvania’s Forests Coalition will host a webinar starting at Noon featuring the FracTracker Alliance and their efforts to document the footprint of natural gas drilling in three iconic Pennsylvania Watersheds, Pine Creek, Loyalsock Creek, and Lycoming Creek.

On August 19, the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources will host an August 25 webinar on the ATV Regional Trail Connector Pilot Project starting at Noon.

Opportunities to learn more about environmental and energy issues affecting Pennsylvania for students and adults-- 

The information you need to follow legislation in the House and Senate- starting with articles and NewsClips from last week--

On August 18, to the surprise of no one, Republicans on the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee voted to send a letter to the Independent Regulatory Review Commission disapproving of the final Carbon Pollution Reduction regulation covering power plants [RGGI].

On August 17, the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee held a hearing on the “environmental and economic benefits of pipelines” which failed to even acknowledge the over $55 million in penalties imposed by DEP and the Public Utility Commission for the failure of natural gas and hazardous liquids pipelines over the last five years.

The House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee has scheduled a meeting for September 2 to consider a concurrent resolution to kill the final regulations establishing a Carbon Pollution Reduction Program covering power plants consistent with the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative.

Articles and NewsClips about federal actions impacting Pennsylvania--

Click Here for a list of public participation opportunities and a calendar of events.

Click Here for grants, awards, recognition programs and contest deadlines.

Highlights of the environmental and energy notices in the latest PA Bulletin--

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 proud sponsor of the 2021 Virtual PA Abandoned Mine Reclamation Conference to be held October 27-28.  Click Here to register.

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.