Here are 94 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 September 13, the Department of Environmental Protection hosted a virtual roundtable with environmentalists honoring the late scientist, ecologist, editor, writer, and Pennsylvania native Rachel Carson for her seminal environmental literary work, “Silent Spring.”

On September 16, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit issued a decision affirming that Pennsylvania state legislators and municipalities lacked standing to challenge the Delaware River Basin Commission’s regulation banning fracking within the Basin.

The Department of Environmental Protection Oil & Gas Program and Fish and Boat Commission are investigating the failure of erosion controls to protect water quality at the Pennsylvania General Energy (PGE) Loyalsock/Shawnee natural gas pipeline and a surface water withdrawal construction site on the Loyalsock Creek in Lycoming County, according to Friends of the ‘Sock.

Surveys of Loyalsock Creek in Lycoming County over the last two summers by Dr. Peter Petokas, from Lycoming College Clean Water Institute, found habitats of the rare Eastern Hellbender salamander are being significantly impacted by sediment plumes from natural gas pipeline crossing and shale gas drilling-related water withdrawal construction projects.

The following DEP notices were published in the September 17 PA Bulletin related to oil and gas industry facilities.  Many of the notices offer the opportunity for public comments.

The PA League of Women Voters and the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health will hold their 10th Annual Shale Gas and Public Health Conference November 15-16.

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. 

By Justin Nobel

The PA Association of Environmental Educators is hosting another in its professional development webinars October 18 on Setback Distances From Schools And Residential Neighborhoods - How Close Is Too Close? From 6:00 to 7:00 p.m.

About 66% of U.S. residences burn methane gas (also known as natural gas), wood, propane, heating oil or other fuel for heating, drying clothes and cooking food.

On September 15, the Independent Regulatory Review Commission voted 4 to 1 to disapprove the final Environmental Quality Board regulation setting a water quality standard for manganese DEP said would protect public health and aquatic life.

On September 13, the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) announced today after a meeting of the Commonwealth Drought Task Force that, despite recent rainfall, 36 counties remain on drought watch, with continued voluntary water conservation requested.

The Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency will start accepting applications for FEMA Building Resilient Infrastructure and Flood Mitigation Assistance Grants on September 30. 

On September 14, the Westmoreland Conservation District announced the Lash family farm of West Newton and Ramsey Excavating LLC of Ligonier have  been selected as the winners of the 2022 Westmoreland Conservation District awards.

By Rachel Felver, Director Of Communications,  Chesapeake Bay Program

The Department of Transportation is inviting comments on four proposed Pollution Reduction Plans required for its 2021-2026 NPDES individual MS4 Stormwater Permit.   The four plans cover the Chesapeake Bay, Delaware River, Ohio River and Lake Erie Watershed watersheds. (formal notice)

The Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay has organized the first-ever 24-hour Volunteer Tree Planting Relay in Pennsylvania, Maryland and Washington, D.C. on October 28-29.

On September 13, the Chester Water Authority in Delaware County sent a letter to DEP's Environmental Justice Advisory Board to hold statewide public hearings about water affordability and provide a list of law and water experts, environmental groups and environmental justice organizations that are available to testify.

On September 12, former DEP Secretary Patrick McDonnell was appointed President & CEO of PennFuture, a statewide advocacy organization dedicated to protecting public health, restoring and protecting natural resources, and moving Pennsylvania toward a clean energy future.

On September 14, Gov. Tom Wolf announced Pennsylvania was awarded $25.4 million to invest in clean transportation through the state's plan for electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure deployment under the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

The West Penn Power Sustainable Energy Fund and Six&Kane will host two days of programs and tours on October 7-8 of a 120+ year old commercial building in Kane, McKean being retrofitted to Passive House energy efficiency standards.

The Department of Environmental Protection is again accepting applications for Agriculture Energy Efficiency Rebates.  The deadline for applications is March 31, 2023.  (formal notice)

The Department of Environmental Protection issued a public notice on September 17 banning the sale of electronic devices made by Linsay Digital, Azulle Tech, Gigabyte Technology and Evervue USA, Inc. because they are not complying with the state’s electronics recycling law. (PA Bulletin, page 6009).  Read more here.

Join PennEnvironment Research & Policy Center, the Pennsylvania Resources Council and other waste experts for a September 21 webinar on their plan to reduce waste, improve recycling efforts and bring Pennsylvania’s antiquated recycling laws into the 21st Century.

The Independence Conservancy will host three Waste Tire Collection Events in Beaver County from 9:00 a.m. to Noon on these dates--

On October 1, the Pennsylvania Resources Council will host its final hard-to-recycle collection event of the season, providing area residents with one final opportunity to conveniently dispose of numerous items not suitable for curbside recycling.

Throughout October, the Pennsylvania Resources Council will collect electronics for recycling on designated weekdays in Allegheny County. 

In October, Pennsylvania Resources Council will host its final household chemical collection event of the season, providing area residents with one more opportunity to safely and cost effectively dispose of common chemicals such as cleaners, paints, stains and varnishes, batteries, electronic cigarettes, motor oil and pesticides. 

The Pennsylvania Resources Council is moving its annual fundraising dinner online and embracing its mission to prevent waste and conserve Pennsylvania’s environmental resources.

On September 14, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn and Pennsylvania Director of Outdoor Recreation Nathan Reigner joined Wolf administration officials and a new Recreation Engagement Coalition to kick off discussions on growing Pennsylvania’s outdoor recreation sector.

On September 13, the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources announced the award of $762,414 in grants to help Pennsylvania’s rural communities increase protection from wildfires at the Halifax Fire Department in Dauphin County.

On September 13, the Susquehanna Greenway Partnership announced the release of the newly updated Susquehanna River Water Trail – West Branch Map & Guide. This long-awaited resource comes 18 years after its initial release in 2004.

Pennsylvanians of all ages are invited to get out and explore a piece of our state’s 12 million acres of forestland during the 6th annual Walk in Penn’s Woods on Sunday, October 2.

Pennsylvania’s state parks and forests are free public resources that allow children and youth to “be outside exploring, being active, and engaging in physical activity in a safe and structured manner,” says Colby Wesner, DO, a pediatric hospitalist, “the more active you are, the lower your BMI (Body Mass Index), the lower the risk for cardiovascular disease. So, it’s very beneficial to engage kids in outdoor recreation at a very young age.”

The Festival Of Wood is returning to Gifford Pinchot’s Grey Towers Historic Site in Pike County September 24 & 25.  The Festival is being held in connection with National Public Lands Day.

On September 13, Penguin Court, a private preserve of Brandywine Conservancy, and the Westmoreland Pollinator Partners, an ad-hoc committee of over twenty groups promoting and protecting pollinators in the county, were pleased to receive 243 entries from 99 adults and 40 submissions from 19 youth for their second annual Pennsylvania Pollinator Photo Challenge!

If you enjoy getting out in the wilderness, taking pictures, learning about the environment, and getting just a little bit messy, then you might be the citizen scientist North Branch Land Trust is looking for!

The September 16 Take Five Fridays With Pam is now available from the PA Parks & Forests Foundation--

On September 12, Dauphin County-based Manada Conservancy announced Will Dingman is serving as their new Executive Director.

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

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 hold an informational meeting September 19 on carbon capture technology and related legislation.

The Senate Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure Committee is scheduled to meet September 20 on House Bill 1161 (Mizgorski-R-Allegheny) authorizing the establishment of solar energy subscriber programs.

Articles and NewsClips about federal actions impacting Pennsylvania--

On September 14, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture is investing up to $2.8 billion in 70 selected projects under the first pool of the Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities funding opportunity, including 19 projects that applicants indicate will benefit the state of Pennsylvania.

On September 15, The Conservation Innovation Fund, Ecosystem Services Market Consortium, and the Maryland & Virginia Milk Producer’s Cooperative Association were awarded $25 million by the U.S. Department of Agriculture through the Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities funding pool.

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 September 17 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.