Here are 53 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?

On July 8, the Senate and House, in a bipartisan vote, approved the final FY 2022-23 state budget which includes nearly $700 million in funding to support on-farm conservation, water and sewer projects, mine reclamation and state park, forest and recreational infrastructure projects.

Five Pennsylvania environmental groups will host a July 13 webinar briefing on the FY 2022-23 state budget and what it means for our environment from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m.

On July 6, the House passed and sent to the Governor  Senate Bill 251 (Yaw-R-Lycoming, Comitta-D-Chester) which sets standards for the application of fertilizer to turf, provides for the certification of professional fertilizer applicators and for labeling and an education program.

On July 7, Senate and House Republicans, at the request of conventional oil and gas industry, passed House Bill 2644 (Causer-R-Cameron) 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.

By John Walliser, PA Environmental Council

DEP’s Oil and Gas Compliance System reports conventional oil and gas drillers were issued 82 notices of violation and unconventional shale gas drillers 21 NOVs for abandoning oil and gas wells without plugging them for a total of 103 in the second quarter of this year-- 20 percent more than in the first quarter.

The PA Environmental Council and Environmental Defense Fund and 12 other environmental energy and health groups are urging members of the General Assembly to vote against House Bill 2644 because the legislation "unjustifiably limits financial assurance requirements for the conventional oil and gas industry, shifting considerable cost to the citizens of Pennsylvania. It may also impede Pennsylvania’s eligibility for federal well plugging investments."

The Evangelical Environmental Network wrote to Senate President Pro Temporary Jake Corman (R-Centre), all members of the Senate and Gov. Wolf on July 1 urging them to “do the moral thing” and oppose the bailout and subsidies for the conventional oil and gas drilling industry included in House Bill 2644.

On July 6, at the request of the natural gas industry, the Senate and House passed and sent to the Governor Senate Bill 275 (Yaw-R- Lycoming) which prohibits counties, local governments and authorities from promoting clean, cheaper energy sources to reduce climate-changing greenhouse gas emissions.

On July 8, Commonwealth Court granted a preliminary injunction to opponents of  Pennsylvania’s RGGI Carbon Pollution Reduction Program covering power plants pausing the program.

The DEP Citizens Advisory Council is scheduled to meet July 19 to hear presentations on carbon capture, sequestration and storage by DEP’s Oil and Gas Program and an overview of proposed changes in the final draft Chapter 105 regulatory revisions.

The Department of Environmental Protection invites public comment on proposed changes to the Air Quality Permit for the Brunner Island Power Plant and will hold a hearing on the permit changes August 14.  (PA Bulletin, page 3867)

The Department of Environmental Protection will host an Informal Public Conference on July 20 on major changes to the Rosebud Mining Company underground mining area and subsidence control plan for the Brush Valley Mine in Center Township, Indiana County.  (PA Bulletin, page 3910)

The Department of Environmental Protection will host an Informal Public Conference on July 20 on major changes to the Rosebud Mining Company underground mining area and subsidence control plan for the Barrett Mine in Buffington Township, Indiana County.  (PA Bulletin, page 3910)

On July 7, Department of Environmental Protection Waste, Air, Radiation and Remediation Deputy Secretary Krishnan Ramamurthy and the Professional Recyclers of Pennsylvania Executive Director Jennifer Summers highlighted the student winners of PROP’s 2022 Earth Week Poster and Video Contest.

The PA Environmental Council’s In Case You Missed It In June is now available featuring articles on--

The Department Of Agriculture Controlled Plant & Noxious Weed Committee is scheduled to meet July 21 to consider adding three more plants to the noxious weed list.  (formal notice)

On July 7, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn today visited Maurice K. Goddard State Park in Mercer County to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the park and to honor Goddard’s legacy as one of the nation’s leading conservationists.

On July 8, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn visited Ryerson Station State Park in Greene County to dedicate a new pool complex and solar arrays that shade the pool parking area.

On July 6, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn, Department of Labor and Industry Secretary Jennifer Berrier, Office of Administration Secretary Michael Newsome and Harrisburg Mayor Wanda Williams visited with crew members of the Pennsylvania Outdoor Corps Youth Crew during its first week of work at Reservoir Park in Harrisburg.

The July 8 Take Five Fridays With Pam is now available from the PA Parks & Forests Foundation.

The Friends of South Mountain Partnership and the Appalachian Trail Conservancy has new Flex-Grant funding available to support initiatives within their community that further the goals of the Partnership and advance the capacity of partners throughout the region.

Work to convert the long abandoned Northern Electric Trolley corridor in northeast Pennsylvania into a recreational trail is receiving a boost.

The North American Land Trust announced it has opened Brinton Run Preserve in Delaware County, an historic tract of the Battle of Brandywine where American and British forces fought on September 11, 1777 in the largest single day engagement of the American Revolution involving 30,000 soldiers.

The 2nd Annual Breeding Bird Blitz for Conservation, hosted by the Pennsylvania Society for Ornithology  featured 20 teams searching for birds and raising funds for conservation between June 17th and 20th.

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

By Alexandra McLaughlin, Penn State News

By Susan Boser, Extension Educator

By Danielle Rhea, Extension Educator & Jen Weld, PAOneStop

The Southwestern PA Commission Water Resources Center hosts four upcoming webinars on stormwater and flood insurance topics.

In July, the Pennsylvania Resources Council will conduct environmental education webinars to teach southwestern Pennsylvania residents methods for protecting watersheds including using rain barrels and options for recycling a wide variety of materials. 

Pennsylvanians appreciate outdoor recreation like never before for the health, wellbeing, environmental, and economic benefits it delivers.

The PA Interfaith Power & Light and the Jewish Earth Alliance will host a July 20 webinar on How the FY 2023 Federal Budget Needs To Address Climate Solutions starting at 7:00 p.m.

By Brodhead Creek Watershed Association, Monroe County

By Brodhead Creek Watershed Association, Monroe County

The Partnership for the Delaware Estuary based in Wilmington, Delaware, is seeking to fill an Outreach Intern position to work with the Schuylkill Action Network.  The deadline to apply is July 22.

The PA Envirothon is seeking qualified candidates to fill the position of Executive Director for this highly regarded, nationally-known environmental competition program.

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

The House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee is scheduled to meet July 11 on a letter to the Independent Regulatory Review Commission announcing their intent to review (and oppose) the final EQB regulation reducing VOC/Methane emissions from oil and gas facilities.

Articles and NewsClips about federal actions impacting Pennsylvania--

The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service-PA  invites the public to attend the Pennsylvania State Technical Committee meeting on July 19.

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 supporting member of the PA Organization for Watersheds & Rivers, PA Outdoor Writers Association, PA Council Trout Unlimited and the Doc Fritchey Chapter Trout Unlimited.