Here are 26 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 September 13, 2021, the PA Parks and Forests Foundation invites you to celebrate the legacy of Maurice K. Goddard on what would be his 109th birthday.

On September 9, PennFuture recognized the accomplishments of 11 exceptional women conservationists in Northeastern Pennsylvania, the Poconos and Lehigh Valley during the Seventh Annual Celebrating Women in Conservation Awards event.

On September 9, the Green Building Alliance held its Emerald Evening to honor people and sustainability projects that have transformed communities across the region demonstrating the boldness of leadership and ingenuity of spirit.

By Christian Alexandersen, Down And Dirty In The Mud, Mud, Mud

On September 9, the Sand County Foundation announced the three finalists for the Pennsylvania Leopold Farm Conservation Award.

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

On September 9, staff from DEP’s Oil and Gas Management Program told the Oil and Gas Technical Advisory Board they plan to continue the process of determining if it is appropriate to develop a regulation covering the road dumping of conventional oil and gas drilling wastewater, noting there is currently a ban on giving permission for road dumping under the Oil and Gas Program.

By Ad Crable, Chesapeake Bay Journal

By Emmy Nicklin, CBF Director of Digital Communications

By John Zaktansky, Middle Susquehanna Riverkeeper

By John Zaktansky, Middle Susquehanna Riverkeeper

Two Allegheny students and an alumnus of the College have been working this summer in little-known streams in the area helping the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission (PFBC) monitor water quality and document the presence of valuable trout and other aquatic life.

By Mary Beth Mueller, PA Resources Council

By Jeff Skelding, Executive Director of the Friends Of the Upper Delaware River

By Flora Cardoni, PennEnvironment & Michael Mann, Penn State University

On September 9, National Fuel Gas Company announced the release of its 2020 Corporate Responsibility Report, providing a comprehensive review of environmental, social, and governance performance metrics.

On September 10, Gov. Tom Wolf announced President Biden approved his request to declare a major disaster in Pennsylvania following heavy rainfall, severe flash flooding, and tornadoes from Tropical Depression Ida that impacted Pennsylvania on August 31, 2021, through September 5, 2021.

On September 8, Gov. Tom Wolf requested President Joe Biden declare a major disaster in Pennsylvania following heavy rainfall, severe flash flooding, and tornadoes from Tropical Depression Ida that impacted Pennsylvania on August 31, 2021, through September 5, 2021.

Following the strong storms, tornadoes, and historic flooding in the Commonwealth, Insurance Commissioner Jessica Altman provided information to home and business owners to help them file insurance claims for damages, and tips to avoid repair scams.

On September 10, Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency Director Randy Padfield announced he Wolf Administration, in coordination with Philadelphia Office of Emergency Management, will be opening a Multi-Agency Resource Center (MARC) to assist individuals, families, and businesses affected by recent storm damage access state and local resources.

By Carol Hillestad, Brodhead Watershed Association

The Schuylkill River Greenways, Schuylkill Action Network, Exelon Generation, Delaware River Basin Commission, Philadelphia Water Department, Aqua Pennsylvania, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Environmental Protection will hold an event and tour on September 17 in Philadelphia to announce the recipients of this year’s Schuylkill River Restoration Fund grants.

On September 8, the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority announced it has filed a proposed settlement with the Public Utility Commission regarding its 2022 and 2023 water, wastewater conveyance, and stormwater rate proposal.

Although DCNR has assisted annually with suppression crews to help combat wildland fires in the western part of the country, for the first time the Bureau of Forestry provided an Incident Management Team to manage a wildfire in another state.

The Department of Environmental Protection has scheduled a hearing on October 13 [if needed] on the RACT II Air Quality Plan for the Keystone Station coal-fired power plant in Armstrong County. (PA Bulletin page 5847)  (PA Bulletin page 5877)

On September 7, the Department of Health announced it will offer free potassium iodide, or KI, tablets on Thursday, September 16, to Pennsylvanians who are within 10 miles of the state’s four active nuclear power plants.

To prevent litter from ending up in our waterways, Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful urges Pennsylvania residents to participate in the Fall Pick Up Pennsylvania, in support of the Ocean Conservancy’s International Coastal Cleanup.

The PA Resources Council will hold pop-up  electronics waste collection events at two locations in Allegheny County during October.

The PA Environmental Council's In Case You Missed It In August features articles on--

The September 10 Take Five Fridays With Pam is now available from the PA Parks & Forests Foundation.

The Nature Conservancy’s September newsletter provides an update on Pennsylvania Nature News, featuring--

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

The 2021 virtual Ohio River Basin Conference will be held October 6 to 8.  Registrations are now being accepted.

The Penn State Agriculture and Environment Center will host the Lancaster-Lebanon Watershed Forum and Science Symposium on Nov. 19 and 20.

On September 28, Penn State Extension will hold another in its Water Cooler Talk Series - Stormwater Bioretention Basin Functions from Noon until 1:00 p.m.

The Capital Resource Conservation and Development Area Council will host an Equine Pasture Management Field Day on September 25 from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Quodomine Veterinary Services, 70 Schoolhouse Road, Bloomsburg in Columbia County.

The PA Association of Environmental Educators have issued a call for presentation proposals for their 2022 Virtual Conference to be held March 21-22.  In-person regional events are also being planned for March 23.

Penn State student Capricia Williams said she learned something this past semester that she could not find in a book, or a classroom.

WeConserve PA has issued a call for workshop proposals and is now accepting nominations for its Local Government Conservation Leadership Award related to its 2022 PA Land Conservation Conference to be held March 16-18 in Gettysburg.

WeConservePA will host a virtual roundtable on Adaptive Forest Management Under Conservation Easements on October 13 from Noon to 1:00 p.m.

The Manada Conservancy will host a Health of Our Trees Program on September 30 from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the South Hanover Township Municipal Building, Patriot Way, Hummelstown, Dauphin County.

The PA/NJ Chapter of The American Chestnut Foundation will hold a virtual Fall Member Meeting November 6 from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m.  An in-person meeting has been postponed.

Lehigh Valley-based Wildlands Conservancy highlights these special Fall In Love With Nature events coming up this fall--

By Tom Joudrey, Penn State News

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

The Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee is scheduled to meet September 14 on a concurrent resolution to kill final power plant carbon pollution reduction regulations.

The House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee is scheduled to hold a hearing on September 27 on “biosolids management permit revisions.”

Articles and NewsClips about federal actions impacting Pennsylvania--

On September 7, Gov. Tom Wolf called on U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to implement a $737 million Chesapeake Bay Resilient Farms Initiative to support Pennsylvania farmers in their fight against the impacts of climate change.

On September 7, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation issued a statement from Pennsylvania Executive Director Shannon Gority, commending Gov. Tom Wolf for urging U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to implement the $737 million Chesapeake Bay Resilient Farms Initiative (CRFI).  [Read more here]

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.