Here are 115 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.

PA Environment Digest Puts Links To The Best Environment & Energy Articles and NewsClips From Last Week Here By Topic--

On October 26, ABC27 News reported DEP Secretary Richard Negrin resigned his position and is on medical leave until December 8.

By Carol Hillestad, Pocono Heritage Land Trust

The House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee is scheduled to hold a hearing October 30 on House Bill 170 (Otten-D-Chester) increasing setback safety zones from shale natural gas drilling sites and infrastructure from 500 to 2,500 feet or more, based on the latest science.

The PA League of Women Voters and the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health is now accepting registrations for the 11th Annual Shale Gas & Public Health Conference to be held in-person and online November 14 in Pittsburgh.

On October 18, Gov. Shapiro and DEP announced the state was plugging the 100th abandoned conventional oil and gas well this year under an emergency contract at Hillman State Park in Hanover Township, Washington County.   Read more here.

The following DEP notices were published in the October 28 PA Bulletin related to oil and gas industry facilities.  Many of the notices offer the opportunity for public comments.

The Department of Environmental Protection invites comments on the draft 2024 Integrated Water Quality Monitoring Report for public comment showing just over one-third (34%) of Pennsylvania’s streams-- 28,820 miles-- have impaired water quality.  (formal notice)

On Saturday, October 28, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection will open for public comment its Draft 2024 Integrated Water Quality Monitoring Report that identifies 28,820 miles of waterways in the Commonwealth that have been damaged by pollution.

By Jeremy Cox, Chesapeake Bay Journal

The Tookany/Tacony-Frankford Watershed Partnership celebrated watershed heroes for the twelfth year at its Annual Watershed Milestones Ceremony on the evening of October 18.

The Department of Environmental Protection set a new deadline to apply for the third and final round of applications this year for abandoned mine reclamation and mine drainage treatment local project grants.

The latest newsletter from Lancaster Clean Water Partners shares wetland restoration and stream side forest buffer and pollinator garden success stories as part of their local initiative to have Clean And Clear Local Water by 2040.

The Lebanon County Conservation District organized a highly informative and engaging Swatara Creek Water Quality Field Day on October 17.

By Jeff Mulhollem, Penn State News

In conjunction with numerous local and statewide partners committed to assisting with environmental education, the Middle Susquehanna Riverkeeper Association has formed an Environmental Education Partnership it is calling a “Vernal School” as a way to support the Montour Area Recreation Commission’s work at the Montour Preserve in Montour County.

The Buffalo Creek Coalition and Audubon Society of Western PA will host a One Day Hybrid Summit December 7 focused on local challenges and shared solutions for improving communities, water quality, and habitat in Butler and Armstrong counties from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m..

The latest edition of the Watershed Winds newsletter from Penn State Extension offers articles on a variety of water-related topics.

The Department of Environmental Protection will hold an informal public conference November 21 on a Rosebud Mining Company application to revise a Subsidence Control Plan for Mine 78 No. 3 Mine in Paint Township and Windber Borough, Somerset County and Adams and Richland Townships, Cambria County adding 1,041 acres.  (PA Bulletin page 6779)

On October 17, the Department of Environmental Protection responded to citizen reports of a petroleum odor and oil sheen on the Conodoguinet Creek in Silver Spring Township, Cumberland County.

The Delaware River Basin Commission will hold a hearing on November 8 on water withdrawal requests and other projects and its next regular business meeting on December 6.  Both meetings will be held via Zoom.  (formal notice)

The Delaware River Basin Commission has scheduled a November 13 hearing on proposed changes to the Commission’s Rules of Practice and Procedure.  (formal notice)

The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation has scheduled a series of Proposal Labs to help coach prospective grant applicants on submitting grant applications to the Foundation and its partners in the Delaware Watershed.

The Department of Environmental Protection has scheduled three more hearings on its Interim Final Environmental Justice Permit Review Policy before the November 30 end of the public comment period.

On October 24, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced $5,328,827 in grants to fund eight projects across Pennsylvania that advance environmental justice as part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda.

On October 25, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Regional Administrator Adam Ortiz visited the KenCrest North Daycare Center in North Philadelphia in honor of Children’s Health Month.

The House Consumer Protection, Technology & Utilities Committee is scheduled to hold an October 30 public hearing on House Bill 1607 (Borowski-D-Delaware), a comprehensive rewrite of the state electronics waste recycling law (sponsor summary).

On October 23, Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful announced it is updating its popular Open Your Eyes to Litter series of five educational activity books created over 20 years ago.

On October 26, the Pennsylvania Bipartisan Climate Initiative launched as a nonprofit organization with an event at The College of Physicians of Philadelphia with a  mission to implement the full power of the Environmental Rights Amendment through a coordinated public education effort aimed at mitigating greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to climate change.

The Department of Transportation will host an electric vehicle infrastructure funding networking and information event on November 13 in Harrisburg to help interested parties prepare for the upcoming federal NEVI Round 1A funding opportunity.

On October 25, the Natural Resources Defense Council released a new report that found adoption of the Advanced Clean Trucks standard for medium and heavy duty trucks in Pennsylvania can avoid 140 premature deaths and create 3,524 new jobs.

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the October 28 PA Bulletin announcing it is accepting applications for the Mosquitoborne Disease Control County Grants from counites that were awarded grants in 2023.  Applications will be accepted from October 30 to November 27.

On October 19, the Pennypack Ecological Restoration Trust opened a new education and research field station in Montgomery County to be known as the BLBB Charitable Field Station.

The Heritage Conservancy has completed the preservation of a 55.6 acre property in Richland Township in Upper Bucks County that is a vital part of Quakertown Swamp habitat.

On October 23, Gov. Josh Shapiro presented the Governor’s Awards for Excellence to 54 Commonwealth employees from eight state agencies and thanked all state employees for their dedication to public service.

Seth Cassell was recently appointed the Pennsylvania State Forester and Director of the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Bureau of Forestry.

On October 23, the Cameron County Chamber of Commerce announced a new record set in the Sinnemahone 50k Ultra Trail Run on Saturday, October 22. 

Applications are now being accepted for Regional Trail Workshop Grants by WeConserve PA.  The deadline for applications is January 25.

By Natalie Miller, Intern, Susquehanna Greenway Partnership

The October 27 Take Five Fridays With Pam from the PA Parks and Forests Foundation features articles on--

On October 26, the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources issued its fifth Weekly Fall Foliage Report shows while the peak has passed, spectacular colors can still be seen the week of October 26 to November 1.

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

The PA Chapter of American Fisheries Society will host an online career development and higher education Q&A session on November 9 starting at 7:00 p.m.

The Penn State Technical Assistance Program will host a November 2 meeting of the Southwestern PA Energy Efficiency Roundtable.  Presentations will focus on the benefits of HVAC equipment upgrades and related funding opportunities.

The Better Path Coalition will host another in their series of Virtual Brown Bag Briefings November 2 on Fracking And PFAS 'Forever Chemicals' In Pennsylvania from Noon to 1:00 p.m.

The US Geological Survey Pennsylvania Water Science Center Fall newsletter features articles on--

On November 11, Penn State Extension will host a hybrid workshop on Creating A Garden That Welcomes Wildlife from 9:30 to 11:00 a.m. at the Olewine Nature Center, Wildwood Park in Dauphin County.

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

On October 24, the Senate Appropriations Committee reported out two ‘stream cleaning’ bills--

On October 24, the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee reported out legislation regulating garage drain water disposal and crematory operating temperatures. 

Articles and NewsClips about federal actions impacting Pennsylvania--

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 28 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.