Scrapbook Photo 03/25/24 - 93 New Stories - REAL Environmental & Conservation Leadership In PA: http://tinyurl.com/3729bhvv
Weekly PA Environment Digest Newsletter
September 12, 2022 Issue #947
(9/12/2022)
* 68 New Stories - REAL Environmental & Conservation Leadership In PA

Here are 68 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?

* DEP To Host Sept. 13 Virtual Roundtable To Celebrate The 60th Anniversary Of Rachel Carson's Silent Spring Publication

The Department of Environmental Protection to host a virtual roundtable event with environmentalists and people familiar with the late biologist, environmentalist, and writer Rachel Carson’s work to honor her legacy and seminal environmental literary work, “Silent Spring,” on Tuesday, September 13  from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

* PA Parks & Forests Foundation Invites You To Volunteer At Your Local State Park And State Forest Sept. 13 In Honor Of Maurice Goddard's 110th Birthday

September 13, 2022 would have been Maurice K. Goddard’s 110th birthday. To mark that milestone, the PA Parks and Forests Foundation invites you to get outdoors and volunteer in a state park or forest near you to thank Goddard for his significant conservation legacy.

* We Remember Sept. 11, 2001 - DEP Responds To A National Tragedy

We all remember where we were and what we were doing on September 11, 2001, but the employees of the Department of Environmental Protection remember better than most because they played a key role in responding to the Somerset County crash site of Flight 93.

* Conventional Oil & Natural Gas Companies Accelerating Pace Of Abandoning Wells Without Plugging Them Threatening To Put PA’s Taxpayer-Funded Well Plugging Program Even Further Behind

The pace of companies abandoning conventional oil and natural gas wells without plugging them continues to accelerate in 2022 threatening to put Pennsylvania’s taxpayer-funded well plugging program even further behind.

* Exceptional Value Water Quality Designation, State Forest Land, River Honors Were Not Enough To Protect Loyalsock Creek From Natural Gas Drilling & Pipelines In Lycoming County

By Friends Of The 'Sock

* House Environmental Committee To Hold Sept. 20 ‘Wellhead To Stovetop’ Hearing On Natural Gas In PA; Will They Mention $70 Million In Pipeline Penalties Assessed So Far?

On September 7, Rep. Daryl Metcalfe, Majority Chair of the House Environment Resources and Energy Committee, announced a September 20 “Wellhead to Stovetop - Conveying Energy in PA” hearing on natural gas and pipelines in Pennsylvania.

* Natural Gas, Hazardous Liquids Pipelines Are NOT Required To Carry Insurance Or Show They Can Pay For Damages If They Explode, Leak Or Kill Someone

The PA Environment Digest prepared a policy paper in August of 2021 on the issue of requiring natural gas and hazardous liquid pipelines to have insurance or financial assurance in place to cover property damage, bodily harm and environmental cleanup resources if a leak or explosion happens.  Here’s a summary of that paper--

* DEP Public Notices -- Oil & Gas Industry Facilities

The following DEP notices were published in the September 10 PA Bulletin related to oil and gas industry facilities.  Many of the notices offer the opportunity for public comments.

* WHYY: Environmentalists Decry DRBC Permit Extension Approval For LNG Natural Gas Terminal In South Jersey To Export PA Natural Gas

By Zoe Read, WHYY, with Jon Hurdle of NJ Spotlight contributing

* Explainer: So Why Does A Susquehanna County Gas Company Have To Raise Rates 33.2% When Susquehanna County Is The #1 Shale Gas Producer In PA?

On September 19, the Public Utility Commission is holding a hearing on a proposed 33.2 percent rate increase for the Leatherstocking Gas Company that provides natural gas service to 450 residential and commercial gas customers in Susquehanna County.  Read more here.

* Center For Coalfield Justice Hosts Oct. 5 In-Person, Virtual Public Meeting On PA Health Studies Of Natural Gas Development In Southwest PA

The Center for Coalfield Justice will host an in-person and virtual public meeting October 5 in Cannonsburg, Washington County on studies being conducted on the health impacts of natural gas development.

* University Of Pittsburgh School Of Public Health Recruiting Families In Southwest PA For Study Of Childhood Cancer, One Of 3 Studies Of Potential Health Impacts Linked To Shale Natural Gas Development

Several thousand parents across eight Southwestern Pennsylvania counties are being asked to participate in a University of Pittsburgh study examining a possible link between fracking — or other environmental risk factors — and childhood cancer.  

* New Book Edited By Researchers From 3 Pittsburgh Universities Now Available On The Environmental Impacts From The Development Of Unconventional Oil & Gas Reserves

John Stolz, Duquesne University, Daniel Bain, University of Pittsburgh and Michael Griffin, Carnegie Mellon University are co-editors on a new book just published by Cambridge University Press on the Environmental Impacts of Unconventional Oil and Gas Reserves.

* DEP Begins Hazardous Site Investigation Into Contaminants Left At Former Erie Coke (Coal) Plant In Erie

On September 9, the Department of Environmental Protection announced it has begun an environmental investigation at the former Erie Coke Inc. property at 925 E. Bay Drive in the city of Erie under the state Hazardous Sites Cleanup Act.

* EPA Withdraws Proposal To List East 10th Street Site In Marcus Hook, Delaware County On Superfund List; Transferring Site To DEP

On September 9, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced it is withdrawing the proposal to list the East 10th Street Superfund Site in Marcus Hook, Delaware County, Pennsylvania, on the Superfund National Priorities List (NPL).

* Gov. Wolf Announces $90 Million Investment In More Than 330 Projects To Improve Recreation, Conserve Natural Resources; Special Fall DCNR Grant Round Now Open

On September 6, Gov. Tom Wolf announced a​historic investment of $90 million for more than 330 projects across Pennsylvania that will create new recreational opportunities, conserve natural resources, and help revitalize local communities.

* DCNR Celebrates The Delaware Canal State Park Towpath As PA’s 2022 Trail Of The Year

On September 9, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn joined the Friends of Delaware Canal to celebrate the Delaware Canal State Park Towpath as Pennsylvania’s 2022 Trail of the Year.

* Scranton Times Editorial: Pennsylvania’s Forests, Outdoor Spaces Among Our Greatest Assets

This editorial first appeared in the Scranton Times-Tribune September 10, 2022--

* Sept. 9 Take Five Fridays With Pam From PA Parks & Forests Foundation

The September 9 Take Five Fridays With Pam is now available from the PA Parks & Forests Foundation--

* PennDOT Invitation To Submit Applications For Multimodal Transportation Fund Grants

The Department of Transportation issued an invitation to apply for Multimodal Transportation Fund Grants to invest in a variety of multimodal projects, including funding for bicycle and pedestrian improvements.  (formal notice)

* DEP Citizens Advisory Council Meets Sept. 20 To Hear Waste Program Overview, State Water Plan Update And Discuss A Transition Paper For Incoming Governor

The DEP Citizens Advisory Council is scheduled to meet on September 20 to hear an overview of the Waste Management Program, an update on the draft State Water Plan and discuss a transition paper to present to the next Governor.

* Trash Travels - Join Keep PA Beautiful For The Pick Up Pennsylvania Program To Keep Our Waterways Clean

Show us how you fight dirty and participate in the Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful Pick Up Pennsylvania program.

* Graham Packaging Named A Sustainability Leadership Award Winner

On September 7, Lancaster County-based Graham Packaging, an industry leader in the design and manufacturing of innovative and sustainable packaging solutions, announced the company has been named a Sustainability Leadership Award winner by the Business Intelligence Group in its 2022 Sustainability Awards program.

* Bay Journal: States/EPA Agree To New Plan For More Nutrient, Sediment Reductions In Chesapeake Bay Watershed To Make Up For Conowingo Dam

By Karl Blankenship, Chesapeake Bay Journal

* Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education Farmer Grant Program Opens Oct. 1

The Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education will begin accepting grant applications October 1.  The deadline to submit applications is November 15.

* Fish & Boat Commission Now Accepting Applications For Watershed Improvement Grants In 2 Berks, Lebanon County Watersheds

The Fish and Boat Commission is seeking proposals for projects that would be funded through the Tulpehocken and Quittapahilla Watershed Grant Program.  The deadline for applications is October 21.

* National Fish & Wildlife Foundation Funds Project To Restore Bartram’s Mile Fishing Pier On The Schuylkill River To Provide Recreation, Fishing Access

The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation is funding a project to restore Bartram’s Mile Fishing Pier on the Schuylkill River in Philadelphia as part of the national focus on restoring aging infrastructure across the U.S.

* Willistown Conservation Trust Publishes Comprehensive State Of Our Streams Report In Chester, Delaware Counties

By Lauren McGrath & Anna Willig, Willistown Conservation Trust

* Southwestern PA Water Summit To Be Held Oct. 20 & 27 By The Southwestern PA Water Network

The Southwestern PA Water Network invites stakeholders to join them at the Southwestern PA Water Summit in two sessions on October 20 (Virtual) and October 27 (in-person at the Beechwood Farms Nature Reserve in Fox Chapel, Allegheny County).

* Pocono Heritage Land Trust Purchases 127-Acre Property In Monroe County

On September 6, the Pocono Heritage Land Trust announced the purchase of a 127-acre property in Pocono Township that will become Monroe County’s next public nature preserve.

* DEP Announces Larger Rebates For Electric Vehicles; $3.4 Million For Installation Of 54 Fast Vehicle Chargers

On September 8, the Department of Environmental Protection announced it is offering bigger consumer rebates for electric vehicles, with a focus on working-class households, and providing $3.4 million in Pennsylvania Volkswagen settlement funds for installation of 54 DC fast chargers in 16 locations in major traffic corridors.

* Guest Essay: Why Are We Still Using Dirty Energy To Charge My Clean Vehicle? EV Charging 2.0

By Eric Lowitt, Charge-Zero

* PA Solar Center, Keystone Energy Efficiency Alliance Host Sept. 16 Webinar On Provisions Of New Federal Climate, Energy Law On Solar Energy And Energy Efficiency

The Pennsylvania Solar Center and Keystone Energy Efficiency Alliance will host a September 16 webinar on provisions of the new federal Climate, Energy Law on solar energy and energy efficiency from Noon to 1:00 p.m.

* PA Environmental Council In Case You Missed It In August

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

* Help Wanted: Southwestern PA Water Network Strategic Network Coordinator

The Southwestern PA Water Network at the University of Pittsburgh is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Strategic Network Coordinator.

* Environment & Energy Educational Opportunities For Students & Adults

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

* DCNR Hosts Nov. 3 Statewide Grant Workshop For Recreation & Conservation Projects; Special Fall Grant Round

The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources will host a November 3 virtual Grant Workshop for applications for 2023 recreation and conservation projects from 9:00 a.m. to Noon.

* WeConservePA Hosts 2-Part Grant Writing Workshop Nov. 9 & 16

Join WeConservePA in welcoming guest speaker Joanne Walker for a two-part online workshop series on grant finding, grant writing, and grant management for Environmental Advisory Councils on November 9 and 16 from 6:30 to 7:45 p.m.

* 2022 Eastern PA Consulting And Industrial Forester Conference Sept. 28, Cumberland County

Register today for the 2022 Eastern PA Consulting and Industrial Forester Conference to be held September 28 at the Penn Harris Hotel, Camp Hill, across the Susquehanna River from Harrisburg.

* Penn State James C. Finley Center for Private Forests 5th Biennial Forest Landowners Conference March 24-25, State College

The Penn State James C. Finley Center for Private Forests will convene the 5th Biennial Forest Landowners Conference March 24-25 at the Penn Stater Hotel and Conference Center in State College.

* Delaware Highlands Conservancy Hosts Nov. 5 Environmental Sustainability And The Delaware Highlands Conservancy Program With Dr. Michael Cann

Join the Delaware Highlands Conservancy on November 5 from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in The Boiler Room at the Hawley Silk Mill in Hawley, Wayne County for a special fall fundraising brunch and presentation.

* PA Resources Council Hosts Composting, Recycling, Rain Barrel Workshops, Webinars In September For Southwest PA Residents

In September, the Pennsylvania Resources Council will host environmental education webinars to teach Southwestern PA residents principles of backyard composting and options for recycling a wide variety of materials. 

* PA GreenGov Council Hosts Virtual PA Sustainability Summit Oct. 3-7

The PA GreenGov Council will host the first-ever PA Sustainability Summit during Sustainability Week October 3-7 via Zoom.

* PA Interfaith Power & Light, Jewish Earth Alliance Host Sept. 21 Webinar On The Connection Between Climate And Voting

On September 21, the PA Interfaith Power & Light and Jewish Earth Alliance will host a webinar on The Connection Between Climate And Voting starting at 7:00 p.m.

* 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--

* Republicans On Senate Committee OK Letter To IRRC Disapproving A Final Manganese Water Quality Standard Protecting Public Health

On September 7, Republicans on the the Senate Environmental Resources & Energy Committee approved a letter to the Independent Regulatory Review Commission expressing disapproval of a final EQB regulation setting a water quality standard for manganese protective of public health and aquatic life.

* House Republicans Introduce Bill To Prohibit Financial Institutions From Protecting Their Investments From The Risks Of Climate Change, Discriminatory Practices, Poor Business Ethics

On September 7, House Republicans introduced House Bill 2799 (Diamond-R-Lebanon) prohibiting financial institutions from using environmental, social and governance (ESG) scores to help evaluate financial investments (sponsor summary).

* 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 Notices

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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