Scrapbook Photo 03/25/24 - 93 New Stories - REAL Environmental & Conservation Leadership In PA: http://tinyurl.com/3729bhvv
Weekly PA Environment Digest Newsletter
August 15, 2022 Issue #943
(8/15/2022)
* 82 New Stories - REAL Environmental & Conservation Leadership In PA

Here are 82 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.   Are You Telling Your Story?

* PA Grade Crude [Oil] Development Advisory Council Meets Aug. 18 On Road Dumping Drilling Wastewater; Methane Regs, Conventional Regs, Well Plugging, More

DCED’s PA Grade Crude [Oil] Development Advisory Council is scheduled to meet in State College on August 18 to discuss issues related to conventional oil and gas drilling.

* Environmental Health Project: Setback Distances And The Regulations We Need To Protect Public Health From Oil & Gas Facilities

The following first appeared in the Environmental Health Project Blog on January 15, 2021--

* Ohio River Valley Institute: 6% Population Loss, 3.3% Job Loss In PA's 'Natural Gas' Counties Show Misplaced Faith In Economic Benefits Of Oil & Gas

By Sean O'Leary, Ohio River Valley Institute

* PUC: 4 Major Electric Utilities Have Double Digit Electric Price Increases Coming Sept. 1 Caused By Spike In Natural Gas, Energy Costs, Hot Weather

On August 10, the Public Utility Commission warned customers of five major electric utilities will increase their electricity prices, 4 of the 5 will increase from 11.4 percent to 19 percent.

* PA Solar Center Aug. 19 Webinar: A Brighter Future - Solar Energy For PA Schools; Save Millions, Avoid Energy Cost Spikes

The PA Solar Center and Generation180 will host an August 19 webinar on A Brighter Future - Solar Energy for PA Schools from Noon to 1:15 p.m.

* Congress Gives Final Approval To Climate, Energy, Healthcare Bill Sending It To President Biden

On August 12, the U.S. House passed compromise legislation that would make the largest federal investment-- $375 billion-- in climate change fighting strategies, including investments in renewable energy production, tax rebates for consumers for energy efficiency and electric vehicles and more.

* Guest Essay: Investments In Clean Pennsylvania Air, Land And Water Will Pay Off For Decades

By Cindy Adams Dunn, Secretary of DCNR & Ramez Ziadeh, Acting Secretary of DEP

* USDA Awards Regional Conservation Partnership Program Grants To 2 Projects In PA Totaling $17.8 Million

On August 12, the U.S. Department of Agriculture  announced it is awarding $197 million for 41 locally led conservation projects through the Regional Conservation Partnership Program.

* Chesapeake Bay Program Blog: Alliance For The Chesapeake Bay Develops Corporate Partnerships To Tackle Agricultural Pollution Along Susquehanna River

By Caroline Grass, Communications Intern, Alliance For The Chesapeake Bay

* PA American Water Helps Plant Nearly 2,000 Trees In Recognition Of Customers’ Switch To Paperless Billing

On August 9, following a highly successful month-long paperless billing customer enrollment campaign, Pennsylvania American Water announced the donation $19,470 to the Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s Keystone 10 Million Trees Partnership.

* Feature: Lenape Nation Travelers Journey Hundreds Of Miles Seeking PA Recognition, To Renew A Years-Old Treaty With Lenape Sipu (Delaware River) Communities

The following articles on the Lenape Nation’s 2022 Rising Nation River Journey on the Lenape Sipu (Delaware River) explain the purpose of the Journey and the Lenape Nation’s effort to seek formal recognition of the Lenape Nation through legislation passed by the Pennsylvania General Assembly.

* Our Pocono Waters To Release Report On Economic Benefits Of PA's Special Protection Streams In The Poconos Aug. 16

The Our Pocono Waters initiative will release a report on the economic benefits of Pennsylvania's Special Protection Streams in the Poconos on August 16 in East Stroudsburg, Monroe County.

* Penn State Calls For Taking Next Step To Demonstrate Technology For Recovery Of Rare Earth & Critical Minerals From Mine Drainage, Coal Refuse - Build A Processing Facility

On August 9, Dr. Sarma Pisupati, Director of Penn State’s Center for Critical Minerals, told the House Republican Policy Committee Pennsylvania needs to take the next step in demonstrating the technology to recover rare earth and critical minerals from abandoned mine drainage and coal refuse-- building a processing facility to show potential investors the technology works at a larger scale.

* U.S. DOE Invites Comments On Implementing A Rare Earth & Critical Materials Research, Development, Demonstration & Commercialization Program

On August 9, the U.S. Department of Energy issued a Request for Information on the development and implementation of a $675 million Critical Materials Research, Development, Demonstration, and Commercialization Program.

* EQB Approves Final Reg. Setting Manganese Toxics Water Quality Standard, RACT For Major Sources Of Nitrogen Oxides

On August 9, the Environmental Quality Board voted 16 to 3 to approve a final regulation setting a science-based manganese standard of 0.3mg/L as a Water Quality Criteria for Toxic Substances to protect public health and environment and make the point of compliance for the standard at the point of discharge into a river or stream.

* DEP Sets Virtual Hearings On Consol Harvey Mine, Enlow Fork Underground Coal Mine Expansions In Greene County

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the August 13 PA Bulletin of hearings to be held on changes to the underground mining acreage and subsidence control plans for two Consol Mines In Greene County.  (PA Bulletin, page 5006)

* House Hearing: Development Of Hydrogen Hub In Western PA Offers Benefits, Obstacles

On August 10, leaders representing industry, labor and environmental organizations testified before the House Democratic Policy Committee to explain the benefits and obstacles of developing a hydrogen hub in the state and why this region is an ideal location for its development.

* PA Environmental Professionals Now Accepting Nominations For Karl Mason & Walter Lyon Awards

The PA Association of Environmental Professionals is now accepting nominations for the 2022 Karl Mason and Walter Lyon Awards until September 12.

* Keep PA Beautiful To Work With PennDOT To Reduce Cigarette Litter At State Welcome Centers

On August 11, Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful announced it is partnering with the Department of Transportation to implement the Cigarette Litter Prevention Program at 14 state welcome centers.

* PA Resources Council Erie ReuseFest Set For Sept. 10, Donate Used Items To Local Nonprofit Groups

Clean out the garage…the basement…the overflowing closets throughout the house because a regional large-scale collection of materials to be REUSED by local nonprofits will return to Erie on Saturday, September 10.

* PA Parks & Forests Foundation Blog: What Is The Economic Value Of Protected Open Space In Pennsylvania?

By Jason Lenker, Intern, PA Parks & Forests Foundation 

* Rockenbeck And Umberger Families Partner With ClearWater Conservancy To Preserve 8.78 Acre Property In Centre County

On August 1, ClearWater Conservancy finalized the purchase of an 8.78-acre property located along Houserville Road in State College, Centre County in the direct center of the Spring Creek Watershed.

* DCNR Acquires 5,600-Acre Property in Schuylkill, Luzerne Counties For Motorized Recreation Area

On August 12, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn announced the acquisition of a 5,600-acre parcel of land that will be developed into a motorized recreation area in the Weiser State Forest in Schuylkill and Luzerne counties.

* PA Groups Urge Individuals & Organizations To Participate In, Host Volunteer Events To Celebrate First-Ever Healthy Lands Week Sept. 24 to Oct. 2

A partnership of Pennsylvania organizations-- including the PA Parks and Forests Foundation, the PA Recreation and Park Society, Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful and WeConservePA-- is calling on groups and individuals to join in hosting volunteer events and programs as part of the first Healthy Lands Week from Sept. 24 to Oct. 2, 2002.

* Temple University Invites Families Living Near Their Philadelphia, Harrisburg, Ambler Campuses To Join HOOT - Healing Ourselves Outdoors Together

Temple University is launching a new program to help families living near their campuses in Philadelphia, Harrisburg and Ambler to connect with nature and the fun of the outdoors to take advantage of nature’s healing benefits through HOOT - Healing Ourselves Outdoors Together.

* Northwest Commission Seeking Public Input On NW PA Greenways/Recreation Plan Update; Aug. 18 Virtual Meeting

The Northwest Commission is now in the process of updating the 2009 Northwest PA Greenways Plan covering Clarion, Crawford, Erie, Forest, Lawrence, Mercer, Venango, and Warren counties.

* DCNR Blog: Digging Into History In State Parks & Forests - PA Outdoor Corps Cultural Resources Crew

By: Angie Jaillet-Wentling, M.A., RPA, DCNR Cultural Resources Program Coordinator 

* August 12 Take Five Fridays With Pam From PA Parks & Forests Foundation

The August 12 Take Five Fridays With Pam is now available from the PA Parks & Forests Foundation.

* Fish & Boat Commission Receives Grants For Habitat Projects At Raystown, Somerset Lakes

On August 5, the Fish and Boat Commission announced two lake habitat enhancement projects have been awarded funding through the National Fish Habitat Partnership--

* Game Commission Celebrates Another Successful Piping Plover Nesting Season In Erie

On August 12, the Game Commission reported 2022 was another year of “firsts” for federally and state endangered piping plovers at Presque Isle State Park in Erie County.

* Environment & Energy Educational Opportunities For Students & Adults

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

* PA Organization For Watersheds & Rivers Hosts Aug. 31 Virtual Local Government Engagement Conversation Café

The PA Organization for Watersheds and Rivers is hosting a virtual Local Government Engagement Conversation Café on August 31, a peer learning opportunity on meeting the challenges of local government engagement.

* Call For Abstracts For The PFAS Specialty Conference Nov. 10 In Cumberland County

The organizing committee of the November 10 PFAS Specialty Conference issued a call for abstracts on behalf of the PA Water Environment, PA Section American Water Works and PA Municipalities Associations.

* American Chestnut Foundation 2022 American Chestnut Symposium Accepting Student Poster, Talk Proposals; Hunting Chestnut Trees!

The American Chestnut Foundation will be accepting student poster and talk proposals related to the 2022 American Chestnut Symposium until August 19.

* Fish & Boat Commission Awards Grants To Support Fishing & Boating Education Programs

On August 8, the Fish and Boat Commission awarded $201,837 in grant funding through the R3 Education Grant Program to support 13 fishing and boating education projects in nine counties. 

* Penn State City Semester Students Become Architects Of Sustainability With Pittsburgh Businesses

By Penn State News

* PA Interfaith Power & Light, Jewish Earth Alliance Host Aug. 17 Program On Dangers Of Particulate Air Pollution

On August 17, PA Interfaith Power & Light and Jewish Earth Alliance will host an online program on the dangers of particulate air pollution.

* Pittsburgh To Host National Ambient Air Monitoring Conference Aug. 22-25

The 2022 National Ambient Air Monitoring Conference, sponsored by EPA in conjunction with the Association of Air Pollution Control Agencies and the National Association of Clean Air Agencies will be held in Pittsburgh August 22-25.

* 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--

* The Feds

Articles and NewsClips about federal actions impacting Pennsylvania--

* 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.

* 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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