Here are 29 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 20, the Senate and House come back into voting session with only a few handfuls of voting days left until the end of 2021.

By Jamar Thrasher, DEP Press Secretary

The Pennsylvania Chapter of the American Planning Association is proud to announce the 2021 Great Places in PA.

By Ad Crable, Chesapeake Bay Journal

By B.J. Small, Chesapeake Bay Foundation-PA

Stroud Water Research Center educators made a splash (well, virtually anyway) this summer with the Migrant Education Summer Camp at the Technical College High School Pennock’s Bridge Campus in Chester County, Pennsylvania.

Since 2004, Pennsylvania’s Conservation Landscape Program has been using place-based partnerships to drive strategic investments and actions around sustainability, conservation, community revitalization, and recreation projects.

Standing amid more than 50,000 solar panels, representatives from the Borough of Chambersburg in Franklin County, Safari Energy, LLC and Sun Tribe Development were joined by elected officials to 'flip the switch' and inaugurate a new 15-megawatt solar array.

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

On September 14, environmental groups submitted rulemaking petitions to the Environmental Quality Board asking the Board to adopt regulation changes requiring full-cost bonding to cover the costs of plugging conventional and unconventional (shale) oil and gas wells.

On September 17, Gov. Tom Wolf reminded individuals who suffered property damage or loss as a direct result of the remnants of Ida to register with the Federal Emergency Management Agency and apply for disaster assistance.  Read more here.

Gov. Tom Wolf has issued a proclamation recognizing September 20-24, 2021 as Clean Energy Week in the state in conjunction with the fifth annual National Clean Energy Week (NCEW).

By Tina Doose, Braddock Borough Council Woman

By Karen Ellas, Climate Reality Project, Susquehanna Valley PA Chapter

On September 14, the Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Patrick McDonnell dedicated the recently constructed public water system in Leacock Township, Lancaster County to township officials.

In October, the Pennsylvania Resources Council will host its final hard-to-recycle collection event of the season, providing area residents with one final opportunity to conveniently dispose of numerous items not suitable for curbside recycling.

Independence Conservancy will host four Waste Tire Collection Events In Beaver County from 9:00 a.m. to Noon on these dates--

Pennsylvania businesses are invited to participate in the Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful Road and Area Adoption Program. The program is available statewide for municipal roads, parks, neighborhood blocks, greenways, waterways and trails.

The Department of Environmental Protection will begin accepting applications for the Agriculture Energy Efficiency Rebate Program on September 20.  The deadline for applications is March 31.  (formal notice)

On September 14, the Clean Air Council appealed an effort by Pennsylvania to resurrect a defunct air pollution control permit that would allow construction of a large gas-fired power plant proposed for Robinson Township.

The Environmental Quality Board is scheduled to meet in-person and virtually on September 21 to consider air quality, hazardous waste and other agenda items.

To highlight some of the world’s most beautiful, diverse fall foliage, the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources is making its experts available to serve as regional advisers, offering tips and resources to help residents and visitors experience a colorful autumn in a variety of ways across the Commonwealth.

The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources reported State Park visitation so far in 2021 has not quite kept pace with the records broken in 2020 during the beginning of the COVID pandemic, but it's still 3.9 million ahead of 2019 and well above average.

DCNR's Conservation and Natural Resources Advisory Council is scheduled to hold a virtual meeting September 22 from 10:00 a.m. to Noon.

The September 17 Take Five Fridays With Pam is now available from the PA Parks & Forests Foundation.

The Berks County Conservation District is looking for qualified applicants to fill the Urban Resource Conservationist position, this is a full-time, permanent position with benefits.

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

WeConservePA will host a webinar on Understanding Funding Opportunities Through The American Rescue Plan on September 28 from 9:00 to 11:15 a.m.

WeConservePA will host a webinar on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Justice Training for executive directors, board chairs and DEIJ Change Agents October 14 from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m.

Carbon storage and what it means for Pennsylvania’s forested landowners will be the theme of the Exploring Forest Carbon: Management, Markets and Policy panel discussion, open to the public, to be held online at noon, Tuesday, October 12.

The Partnership for the Delaware Estuary will host the 2021 Experience the Estuary - Celebrating 25 Years event on October 7 from 5:00 to 8:30 p.m. at Vie by Cescaphe in Philadelphia.

The Stroud Water Research Center in Chester County will host a series of events this fall of interest to a wide variety of audiences.

Vote Now! For the People's Choice Photo Contest Winner on the Delaware Highlands Conservancy Facebook page.  The deadline for voting is September 24.

The South Mountain Partnership will host two Walk & Talk Speakers Programs in September and October.

The PRPS Park Maintenance Institute will be hosting regional conservation focused workshops during October.

By Odessa Meredith, DEP Press Assistant

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

On September 14, the Republicans on the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee voted to report out a concurrent resolution to kill final power plant carbon pollution reduction regulations.

The Senate Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee is scheduled to hold another hearing on utility scale solar energy facilities and agricultural land.

September 20-26, 2021, is Climate Week in Pennsylvania, and the bicameral, bipartisan Pennsylvania Legislative Climate Caucus is pleased to share this list of events, legislative actions, and resources around the need for climate action in Pennsylvania and throughout the United States.

Articles and NewsClips about federal actions impacting Pennsylvania--

The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, in partnership with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the federal-state Chesapeake Bay Program partnership, is soliciting proposals to restore water quality and habitats of the Chesapeake Bay and its tributary rivers and streams.

Gov. Tom Wolf sent a letter to the Pennsylvania Congressional Delegation sharing his priorities for Pennsylvania as the US Congress considers major aspects of President Joe Biden’s American Families Plan. 

On September 16, the Appalachian Regional Commission announced the award of nearly $46.4 million for 57 projects across 184 counties to support economic diversification in the Region’s coal-impacted communities. 

On September 14, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced it has deleted the Butler Mine Tunnel in Pittston Township, Luzerne County from the Superfund National Priorities List (NPL).

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.