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.

While PA Environment Digest’s priority is to highlight positive examples of environmental and energy leadership, 2022 is an election year which demands accountability to voters.

PA Environment Digest Is Putting The Best Links To Environment & Energy Articles and NewsClips Here.   Is Your Story Being Told?

On January 15, the Department of Environmental Protection released the draft 2022 Integrated Water Quality Monitoring Report for public comment showing one-third of Pennsylvania’s streams-- 27,886 miles-- have impaired water quality.  (formal notice)

Just sitting in the Senate Appropriations Committee waiting for action are two bipartisan bills that would offer significant help in dealing with the record 27,886 miles of streams with impaired water quality reported by the Department of Environmental Protection on January 15.  [Read more here.]

On January 5, the Department of Environmental Protection reported their inspections found 4,386 violations of environmental regulations at conventional oil and gas operations during 2021-- nearly two and a half times the violations reported just two years ago in 2019 and 337 more than in 2020.

The PA Council of Professional Geologists is hosting a February 16 webinar presentation by Penn State Professor Dr. Nathaniel Warner on Dust Suppression With Appalachian Basin Oil & Gas Produced Water - Efficacy And Water Quality from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m.

The Department of Environmental Protection is inviting public comments on a new proposed General Permit covering facilities that process and beneficially reuse oil and gas liquid wastes for no more than 180 consecutive days [WMGR163].  (formal notice)

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice of an opportunity to bid on plugging seven orphan oil and gas wells in Warren County in the January 15 PA Bulletin.

On January 14, the Sand County Foundation, American Farmland Trust, The Heinz Endowments, Pennsylvania Farm Bureau and the Department of Agriculture announced Brubaker Farms is the 2021 recipient of the Pennsylvania Leopold Conservation Award.

By Karl Blankenship, Chesapeake Bay Journal

On January 10,  The GIANT Company announced a $1 million donation to Harrisburg University of Science and Technology in support of its new Center for Advanced Agriculture and Sustainability, which will be focused on sustainability and localized sourcing through high-tech food and agriculture.

On January 11, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation announced it has been awarded a federal grant to help underserved farmers in the region learn about and implement agricultural conservation practices that are good for water quality, climate resiliency, soil health, and farmers’ bottom lines.

The Susquehanna River Basin Commission adopted a new policy in December to provide fee incentives for the withdrawal and consumptive use of abandoned mine drainage impacted water and treated wastewater.

By Isaac Busler, Butler Senior High School

The Foundation for Pennsylvania Watersheds has established its spring and fall grant application deadlines-- February 14 for Spring and August 12 for Fall.

On January 10, the Fish and Boat Commission announced grant funding opportunities are available to address habitat improvement and sediment reduction projects in York and Lancaster counties.

On January 13, It’s not too early for landowners to begin making plans to improve wildlife habitat this spring and into the future by planting tree and shrub species offered by the Game Commission’s Howard Nursery.

The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources is now accepting nominations for the 2022 Watershed Forestry Leadership Award.  The deadline for submissions is January 31.

On January 10, Gov. Tom Wolf vetoed and disapproved Senate Concurrent Regulatory Review Resolution 1, which would have disabled the Commonwealth’s opportunity to enter the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) and effectively achieve climate goals and reduce carbon emissions.

The Department of Environmental Protection is now accepting applications for Host Municipality Inspector cost reimbursements for municipal and hazardous waste sites.  Applications are due March 31. (formal notice)

The Environmental Quality Board is inviting public comments on two proposed regulations--

By: Cindy Adams Dunn, Secretary

The January 14 Take Five Fridays With Pam is now available from the PA Parks & Forests Foundation.

On January 13, Natural Lands announced the successful preservation of an eight-acre property in New Garden Township. The property, which the Township purchased outright, is located along the White Clay Creek and is key to a planned trail corridor leading to DCNR’s  White Clay Creek Preserve.

In late summer of 2019, the Manager of Environmental Affairs at Knouse Foods Cooperative, Charles Bennett, convened a group of conservationists for a meeting.

On January 11, an international team of researchers announced a new fossil species of an early mammal relative named for paleontologist Dr. David S Berman, who served as curator of Vertebrate Paleontology at Carnegie Museum of Natural History for 44 years.

The Washington County Conservation District is seeking qualified candidates to fill two position--

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

The latest Environmental Education newsletter from the DCNR Bureau of State Parks includes suggested activities, professional development workshops and updates for the New Year!

The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources is now accepting applications to join the PA Cultural Resources Crew, part of the PA Outdoor Corps Program. 

The Wildlife Leadership Academy is seeking referrals of teachers and other interested adults for adult mentors wildlife/fisheries focused summer field schools. 

Berks Nature is recruiting a dedicated group of volunteers to be trained as Berks Nature Ambassadors.  Applications are due March 1.

On January 26, Penn State Extension will host another of its Water Cooler Talks on Microplastics And Environmental Health from Noon to 1:00 p.m.

The Winter Pennsylvania Waters newsletter is now available from the U.S.G.S. PA Water Science Center featuring articles on--

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

On January 28, Senate Democratic Policy Chair Katie Muth (D-Chester) will join Senator John Kane (D-Chester) to host a virtual public hearing on the proposed Anthracite Ridge Wind Farm Project in Schuylkill County.

Articles and NewsClips about federal actions impacting Pennsylvania--

On January 11, The U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service  announced several new and expanded opportunities for climate-smart agriculture in 2022.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced up to $225 million in available funding for conservation partners through the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP).   The deadline for applications is April 13.

On January 12, West Penn Power of Greensburg will pay a $610,000 penalty under a settlement to resolve water discharge violations at two coal ash impoundment landfills in southwestern Pennsylvania, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Environmental Protection announced.

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 2022 Joint Meeting of the Keystone Coldwater Conference and PA Chapter of the American Fisheries Society on February 25-26, 2022, at the Ramada Conference Center in State College.  Registration Open!

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.