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Weekly PA Environment Digest Newsletter
January 17, 2022 Issue #913
(1/17/2022)
* 34 New Stories - REAL Environmental & Conservation Leadership In PA

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.

* This Week’s Examples Of Going The WRONG WAY On Environmental, Energy Issues

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.

* All Articles & NewsClips In This Week’s Digest By Topic

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

* DEP 2022 Water Quality Report Shows 27,886 Miles Of Streams With Impaired Water Quality In PA (33%) - An Increase From 25,468 In 2020

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)

* Two Bipartisan Bills Just Sitting In Senate Waiting To Address Record Number Of Water Quality Impaired Streams Reported In 2022

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.]

* DEP: Conventional Oil & Gas Drillers Tried 813 Times To Abandon Wells Without Plugging Them; Failed To Report Waste Generated 836 Times Over 2 Years

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.

* PA Professional Geologists: Feb. 16 Webinar: Dust Suppression With Oil & Gas Produced Water Featuring Author Of Penn State Study Finding Increased Cancer Risks With Road Spreading

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.

* DEP Proposes New, Limited General Permit For Processing, Beneficial Use Of Oil & Gas Liquid Wastes; No Chemical Concentration Limits Or Public Review Of Individual Permit Uses Are Included

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)

* DEP Opportunity To Bid On Plugging 7 Orphan Oil & Gas Wells In Warren County

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.

* Brubaker Farms In Lancaster County Receives Pennsylvania Leopold Conservation Award

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.

* Bay Journal: PA Contends Its New Cleanup Plan Will Meet Chesapeake Bay Goals

By Karl Blankenship, Chesapeake Bay Journal

* The Giant Company Donates $1 Million To Harrisburg University To Support New Center For Advanced Agriculture and Sustainability

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.

* Chesapeake Bay Foundation Awarded USDA Grant To Expand Outreach To Underserved Farmers In PA, MD, VA

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.

* Susquehanna River Basin Commission: New Fee Incentives For Use Of Abandoned Mine Impacted Water

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.

* Slippery Rock Watershed Coalition: An Intern's Update - November 2021 Water Quality Summary

By Isaac Busler, Butler Senior High School

* Foundation For Pennsylvania Watersheds Sets Spring, Fall Grant Application Deadlines

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

* Fish & Boat Commission Accepting Applications For Watershed Improvement Grants In Lancaster, York Counties

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.

* Game Commission: Howard Nursery Seedling Orders Being Accepted; Seedlings For Schools Program Opens Jan. 31

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.

* DCNR Accepting Nominations For 2022 Watershed Forestry Leadership Award

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.

* Gov. Wolf Vetoes Resolution That Would Kill Carbon Pollution Reduction Program For Power Plants; General Assembly Failed To Act Within Statutory Deadlines

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.

* DEP Accepting Applications For Host Municipality Inspectors Reimbursements

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)

* EQB Invites Comments On 2 Proposed Regulations: NPDES Water Quality Compliance Schedule; Municipal Waste Rural Transfer Facility Permit-By-Rule

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

* DCNR Blog: 2021 Year In Review From DCNR

By: Cindy Adams Dunn, Secretary

* Jan. 14 Take Five Fridays With Pam Now Available From PA Parks & Forests Foundation

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

* Natural Lands Preserves Land Along White Clay Creek In Chester County

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.

* Land Conservancy Of Adams County, Knouse Foods, Partners Protect Fly-Fishing Access Along Conewago Creek

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

* New Fossil Species Named For Carnegie Museum Of Natural History Paleontologist David S. Berman

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.

* Help Wanted: Washington County Conservation District - 2 Positions

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

* Environment & Energy Educational Opportunities For Students & Adults

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

* DCNR State Parks Offers Environmental Education Activities & Updates For January

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

* NEW! DCNR Now Accepting Applications For Aspiring Archaeologists, Preservationists For PA Cultural Resource Crew Members

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

* Wildlife Leadership Academy Seeking Teachers, Adults To Serve As Mentors For Summer Field Schools

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

* Berks Nature Seeking Volunteers To Be Berks Nature Ambassadors

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

* Penn State Extension Webinar: Jan. 26 Water Cooler Talk: Microplastics And Environmental Health

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.

* U.S.G.S. PA Water Science Center Winter Pennsylvania Waters Newsletter Now Available

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

* News From PA House & Senate

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

* Senate Democratic Policy Committee Jan. 28 Hearing On $300 Million Anthracite Ridge Wind Farm In Schuylkill County

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.

* The Feds

Articles and NewsClips about federal actions impacting Pennsylvania--

* NRCS-PA Offers Expanded Conservation Program Opportunities To Support Climate-Smart Agriculture In 2022

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.

* USDA NRCS Now Accepting Proposals For $225 Million In Regional Conservation Partnership Grants

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.

* EPA: West Penn Power To Pay $610,000 Penalty In Federal-State Settlement Over Coal Ash Landfills Discharge Violations In Allegheny, Washington Counties

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.

* Public Participation Opportunities/Calendar Of Events

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

* Grants & Awards

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

* PA Bulletin

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

* Stories Invited - About 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.

* Registration Open! Keystone Coldwater Conference + PA Chapter Of American Fisheries Society Feb. 25-26

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!

* Supporting Member PA Organization For Watersheds & Rivers; PA Outdoor Writers Assn.; PA Trout Unlimited

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.

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