Here are 69 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 October 19, national, state, and local partners gathered at a Franklin County park this morning, to celebrate the planting of the 5-millionth tree in an ambitious, collaborative, and challenging effort to plant 10 million of them in Pennsylvania’s portion of the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

On October 18, the federal Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement announced the winners of its 2022 Abandoned Mine Land (AML) Reclamation Awards.

City & State PA this week recognized their list of leaders on the 2022 Pennsylvania Nonprofit Power 100.

The Department of Environmental Protection is now accepting nominations for the 2023 Governor’s Award for Environmental Excellence.  The deadline for nominations is December 21.

By Kristen Koch, Penn State Agriculture & Environment Center

Have you noticed a ping pong ball or rubber duck floating along a stream in one of Allegheny County's parks recently? No need to worry. The items likely are not trash, but part of a three-year stream assessment by Penn State Extension Master Watershed Steward volunteers.

By Conservation Innovation Fund

WeConservePA’s Advocacy Manager Brad Barkdoll attended a site visit to tour an award winning headwaters restoration project by Wissahickon Trails along the Wissahickon Creek.

On October 22, Keep PA Beautiful introduced the inaugural class of 35 Young Ambassadors of Pennsylvania, high school students in grades 10 to 12 who will act as community stewards to inspire, engage and empower other young Pennsylvanias to keep their communities clean and beautiful.

Video Dispatch From The Loyalsock: Water Withdrawal Point Construction October 13, 2022, another muddy sediment plume.

When considering natural gas industry or other water withdrawal requests, the Susquehanna River Basin Commission has no exclusion zones for water withdrawals from any streams in the basin, including Exceptional Value and High Quality streams where water quality is protected by antidegradation rules, according to Andrew Gavin, Deputy Executive Director.

The following DEP and Susquehanna River Basin Commission notices were published in the October 22 PA Bulletin related to oil and gas industry facilities.  Many of the notices offer the opportunity for public comments. 

This editorial was first published on TribLive.com on October 19, 2022--

This editorial was first published in the Republican Herald on October 19, 2022--

By Francisco Tutella, Penn State News

Join Southwestern Pennsylvania Grassroots Town Halls for their next virtual resident-led Air Quality Town Hall on October 24 at 6:00 p.m.

The 10th Annual Shale and Public Health Conference hosted by the PA League of Women Voters and the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health will take place online November 15-16 from Noon to 4:00 p.m. each day.

This editorial first appeared in the Republican Herald October 17, 2022--

On October 19, the PA Infrastructure Investment Authority announced the investment of $236 million in 23 drinking water, wastewater, stormwater and nonpoint pollution reduction projects in 15 counties.

The Commonwealth Financing Authority is now accepting applications for the federal American Rescue Plan funded H20 Program to support water supply, wastewater and stormwater projects.  The deadline for applications is December 21.

On October 17, the Department of Environmental Protection announced after a meeting of the Commonwealth Drought Task Force that drought watch has been lifted for 16 counties and remains for 20 counties. Residents in those counties are asked to continue their voluntary water conservation.

On October 17, the federal Appalachian Regional Commission announced the award of more than $6.9 million in grants to projects in Pennsylvania's coal-impacted communities to support economic development projects.

By Michael Taromina, The Bucknellian

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the October 22 PA Bulletin of Hazardous Sites Cleanup Act Interim Response related to 1,1-dichloroethene (1,1-DCE) contamination at the Keim Street Site in Lower Pottsgrove Twp., Montgomery County.  (PA Bulletin, page 6606)

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the October 22 PA Bulletin that it is allowing the sale of electronic devices from Visual Land Inc., Contixo and Linsay Digital because they are now in compliance with the state’s electronics waste recycling Covered Device Recycling Act. (PA Bulletin, page 6623)

On October 21, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn and Department of Transportation Deputy Secretary for Planning Larry Shifflet joined Armstrong Trails and other officials to celebrate the acquisition of Kiski Junction Bridge and 14 miles of rail corridor in Armstrong County.

On October 20, the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources issued its fourth Weekly Fall Foliage Report showing fall colors all across Pennsylvania.

The October 21 Take Five Fridays With Pam is now available from the PA Parks & Forests Foundation--

Nearly 70 competitors enjoyed the perfect conditions for the October 15 Sinnemahone Trail Run through Elk State Forest in Cameron County.  The day also marked the final leg of the Sinnemahone Triple Crown. 

On September 28, the Lebanon Valley Conservancy preserved a 16-acre farm in Union Township, Lebanon County, owned by Albert Minnich. The farm, located next to Swatara State Park and a large campground, has been in Albert's family for 100 years.

On October 20, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) and National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) announced 12 grants totaling $3.5 million to support wildlife habitat, climate change resilience, community conservation partnerships, and equitable access to nature in the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

By Penn State News

The PA Federation Of Sportsmen & Conservationists, a nonprofit hunting, trapping, fishing and conservation advocacy organization, and the PA Wildlife Federation (PWF), the educational arm of the PFSC, is seeking qualified applicants for a Marketing, Fundraising, Outreach Coordinator.

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

Help on how to apply for DCNR Fall Grant Round and Redevelopment Assistance Capital Funding is available in a series of video programs and other workshops highlighted by WeConservePA.

More than 70 percent of the woodlands in Pennsylvania are owned by private landowners.

On October 25, DCNR’s Think Outside initiative will host a virtual panel discussion on Let’s Talk About Climate Change from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m.

Solar energy’s role in transitioning to a carbon-free electric grid is continuing to grow, potentially accounting for 40% of the United State’s electricity supply by 2035.

Warning!  October 24, 25, 26 are the last voting days of this legislative session for the House and Senate.  Hold onto your butts! (And Your Tax Money!)

On October 19, the Public Utility Commission welcomed the return of Commissioner John F. Coleman Jr. and the arrival of Commissioners Stephen M. DeFrank and Kathryn L. Zerfuss to the PUC.

On October 18, the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee reported out several bills, including legislation to deny counties Act 13 drilling impact fee revenue, if only 99% of the land in their county is available for shale gas drilling.

The House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee is scheduled to meet October 24 to consider legislation on oil and natural gas royalty transparency and regulation of diesel engines in underground coal mines.

The Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee is scheduled to hold a hearing October 27 in Philadelphia “to examine the role of LNG (liquified natural gas) in strengthening American energy security on the world stage.”

Articles and NewsClips about federal actions impacting Pennsylvania--

On October 19, member of Congress Dwight Evans (D-Philadelphia) joined with environmental advocates and the Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed (CDRW) at Bartram’s Garden to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the passage of the federal Clean Water Act.

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 October 22 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