Here are 66 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.  Are You Telling Your Story?

By Karl Blankenship, Chesapeake Bay Journal

DCNR’s Conservation and Natural Resources Advisory Council recently sent a letter to the General Assembly encouraging the allocation of a portion of the remaining American Rescue Plan Act funding for Growing Greener III. 

On June 14, PennFuture announced it will honor 11 women from Southeastern Pennsylvania at this year's  Celebrating Women In Conservation Awards.

On June 16, House Republican Leadership advised members the House will be taking final action on legislation blocking any increase in conventional oil and gas well plugging bonds, exempting pre-1985 wells (which is most of them) from any bonding leaving taxpayers liable for $5.1 billion in cleanup costs.

On June 14, the Environmental Quality Board voted 15 to 3, with one abstention, to adopt Part I of a revised final regulation reducing volatile organic compounds and methane emissions from just unconventional (shale gas) wells and facilities. 

This editorial first appeared in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on June 17, 2022-- 

On June 14, House Bill 1467 was introduced to establish an Oil and Natural Gas Facility Health Impacts Assessment Program in the Department of Health.

A Penn State research team is currently researching Energy Development, Groundwater Quality and Public Health in Beaver, Washington, and Greene Counties, and you can participate in the first focus group for this study, to be held at Penn State Beaver on June 23, 6:30-8:00 p.m.

On June 17, the Public Utility Commission posted detailed information about the distribution of 2021 Act 13 Drilling Impact Fee revenue from unconventional shale natural gas producers – totaling $234,437,575 – on the PUC’s Act 13 website.

On June 15, the Department of Environmental Protection will host a public hearing to provide a brief informational presentation regarding the ongoing Benner Township PFAS investigation in Centre County around the University Park Airport and to hear oral comments on DEP’s proposed prompt interim response action.

On June 15, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency released four drinking water health advisories for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in the latest action under President Biden’s action plan to deliver clean water and Administrator Regan’s PFAS Strategic Roadmap.

DEP’s Citizens Advisory Council is scheduled to meet June 21 to hear an update on Oil and Gas Technical Advisory Board activities and discuss its DEP Legacy Issues Report and a new transition paper for the next Governor.

On June 11, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn joined the French Creek Valley Conservancy and the PA Organization for Waterways and Rivers to celebrate French Creek as the 2022 River of the Year.

The PA Farm Bureau, The Heinz Foundation and the Sand County Foundation are now accepting nominations for the 2022 Pennsylvania Leopold Conservation Award.  The deadline for nominations is August 1.

The Ecosystem Services Market Consortium (ESMC) and the Conservation Innovation Fund (CIF) have announced the launch of an inaugural project to streamline the creation and sale of environmental credits from dairy and beef producers across the Mid-Atlantic.

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the June 18 PA Bulletin inviting comments on a proposed Advance Restoration Plan for Trout Run Watershed in Erie County.  (PA Bulletin, page 3519)

The American Water Charitable Foundation is now accepting applications for Water And The Environment Grants.  The deadline to apply is June 30.

On June 15, representatives of the Department of Environmental Protection visited the Old Lycoming Township Recycling Center in Lycoming County to view physical improvements made in part using DEP recycling grant funds, including electronic gates, lighting, and surveillance cameras, and discussed how these improvements have successfully addressed an illegal dumping issue.

By Jan Goodwin, Award-Winning Journalist & Author, Friend Of SEEDS

On June 13, the U.S. Department of Energy announced its partnership with Carnegie Mellon University to launch and host the 2022 Global Clean Energy Action Forum in Pittsburgh September 21–23.

On June 15, the Department of Transportation launched a survey for the public to share feedback on the goals, infrastructure-prioritization, and program-administration components of the Draft Pennsylvania State Plan for access to National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program funds.

On June 15, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced it is accepting applications from school districts for Clean School Bus Rebates as part of a $500 million funding effort under the Biden Administration’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL).

On June 17, 2022, the Department of Agriculture announced the suspension of the 2 percent biodiesel content mandate on diesel fuel sold for on-road use imposed under section 3(a)(1) of the Biofuel Development and In-State Production Incentive Act (73 P.S. § 1650.3(a)(1)) for out-of-state fuel sold in the Commonwealth.

On June 17, leaders from seven state agencies highlighted the importance of protecting native species, which are critical to protecting our natural resources, at a stream restoration site at Fish and Boat Commission headquarters.

On June 15, WeConservePA released the biennial Pennsylvania land trust census report. Highlights from the report found that between 2012 and 2021, land trusts in Pennsylvania--

On June 16, the Department of Agriculture announced Pennsylvania protected 2,264 acres on 32 farms in 18 counties from future development, investing nearly $8.2 million in state, county and local dollars to ensure that prime farmland is not lost to development.

The USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service in Pennsylvania now has $1.5 million in funding available through the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP) to help state and local agencies and land trusts protect agricultural lands and wetlands within the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

Back from a pandemic hiatus, the Brandywine Conservancy’s Bike the Brandywine event will officially return for its fifth year on Saturday, September 17, 2022.

In a letter to Forest Supervisor Jamie Davidson, the nonprofit wilderness advocacy organization Friends of Allegheny Wilderness is asking the U.S. Forest Service to cancel a prescribed burn project in the proposed Tracy Ridge Wilderness Area in the Allegheny National Forest, out of concern for the imperiled northern long-eared bat (Myotis septentrionalis).

The French & Pickering Creeks Conservation Trust unearthed four massive Revolutionary War cannons cast at the historic Warwick Furnace.

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

By Jeremy Cox, Chesapeake Bay Journal

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.

The Chester County-based Brandywine Conservancy is seeking qualified individuals to fill the position of Easement Steward.  

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

Organizers have begun preparations for Penn State's 2022 Ag Progress Days exposition, which will be held Aug. 9-11 in Centre County.

Understanding how far you’ve traveled requires stopping to look back to where you started.

The Appalachian Chapter Audubon Society is now accepting applications for a full scholarship to the Hog Island Audubon Summer Camp in Maine.  The deadline to apply is June 27.

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 June 20 on House Bill 1780 (Armanini-R-Clearfield) extending the sunset dates for underground storage tank cleanup program from June 30, 2022 to December 31, 2027.

The House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee is scheduled to meet June 22 to consider House Bill 2367 (Mako-R-Northampton) which would prohibit the construction of wind turbines that negatively affect military installations (sponsor summary).

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.

The PA Abandoned Mine Reclamation Conference will be held in-person and virtually June 22-23 at the Ramada Inn and Conference Center in State College.  This year's theme-- New Opportunities On The Horizon!  Registration Open!    Read more here.

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.