Tuesday PA Environment & Energy NewsClips - 12.24.24

“The people have a right to clean air, pure water, and to the preservation of the natural, scenic, historic and esthetic values of the environment. Pennsylvania's public natural resources are the common property of all the people, including generations yet to come. As trustee of these resources, the Commonwealth shall conserve and maintain them for the benefit of all the people.”

-- Article I, Section 27 Pennsylvania Constitution  [It’s Not A Suggestion]

House Voting Schedule

January 7, 27, 28, 29

February 3, 4, 5

March 17, 18, 19, 24, 25, 26

April 7, 8, 9, 22, 23, 24

May 5, 6, 7, 12, 13, 24

June 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, 16, 17, 18, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 30

-- Committee Schedule

Senate Voting Schedule

January 7, 27, 28, 29

Budget Hearings February 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 27, March 4, 5, 6

February 3, 4, 5

March 24, 25, 26, 31

April 1, 2

May 5, 6, 7, 12, 13

June 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

-- Committee Schedule

TODAY’s Calendar Of Events 

January 4-11-- Pennsylvania Farm Show. Harrisburg.

February 26-- House Appropriations Committee Budget Hearing: 1:00- Department of Agriculture.  House Floor.

February 27-- House Appropriations Committee Budget Hearing: 10:00- Department of Environmental Protection, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.  House Floor.

March 3-- House Appropriations Committee Budget Hearing: 1:00- Public Utility Commission.  House Floor.

-- “World-Class Standards” Of Shale Gas Production In PA 

-- DeSmog - Justin Nobel: PA Needs To Set Construction, Operating Standards For Hundreds Of Miles Of Unregulated Fracking Wastewater Pipelines 

-- Physicians For Social Responsibility- PA: Jan. 22 Webinar On How To Talk To Your Doctor About Environmental Threats To Your Health  [PaEN] 

-- DCNR State Parks Environmental Ed Newsletter: Embrace The New Year, Winter Activities  [PaEN] 

-- Penn State Extension Hosts Jan. 29 Webinar On Ice Melter Impacts And Reduction Strategy  [PaEN] 

-- Chesapeake Bay Landscape Professionals: Level 1 Certification Training Registration Now Open  [PaEN]

-- NextPittsburgh: Appalachian Regional Commission ARISE Grants Could Help Appalachia Be More Green

-- ReImagine Appalachia: 2024 - A Year In Review

-- WTAE: Massive Water Main Break Leaves Gaping Hole In Beaver County Road

-- PittsburghUnionProgress.com: Arconic Foundation, Commonplace Coffee, Donors Step Up To Help Cover Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy Vehicle Fleet’s Vandalism Costs 

-- Williamsport Sun - Bill Bower: Winterberry Holly Has Been A Staple Of Christmas

-- Penn State Master Gardeners/BackwoodsMama: How To Decorate An Outdoor Tree With Treats For Wildlife

-- Ernst Conservation Seeds Joins The Monarch Joint Venture Partner Network 

The Feds - New Administration

-- Spotlight PA: How Republican Administration Could Make PA’s Clean Energy Projects Less Environmentally Friendly

Train Derailments

-- PittsburghUnionProgress: From Brain Fog To Nosebleeds: There’s A Name For What’s Happening To People Affected By Norfolk Southern Train Derailment - Toxicant-Induced Loss Of Tolerance [PA Impacts]

-- Post-Gazette: Cong. Deluzio, Sen. Markey Pressing Next Congress For Rail Upgrades, Safety Improvements  [Congress, PA Legislature Did Nothing In Response To Norfolk Southern Train Derailment]

6th Oil/Natural Gas Spike: True Energy Independence Means Renewables

[There Is No Limit To What Oil/Natural Gas Industry Can Make You Pay]

-- Marcellus Drilling News: NYMEX Natural Gas Price Up 14% Last Week To $3.75; Heading For $4.30? [Cold Weather, LNG Demand Push Prices Higher]  [PDF of Article]

-- FXEmpire: 2025 Natural Gas Forecast: LNG Exports, Domestic Demand Push Upward Price Potential 

Other States/National/International

-- NPR: 2024 Will Be Hottest Year On Record, Even Hotter Than Expected

PA Politics - Everything Is Connected

-- PA Capital-Star: Top PA Senate Stories Of 2024

-- The Center Square: The State Of PA Economic And Social Programs In 2024

-- TribLive: US Steel, Nippon, Mon Valley Mayors Urge Biden To Approver Deal

-- Post-Gazette: Doctors Are Returning To Venango County

-- TribLive: Pittsburgh Transit Authority Discloses Ransomware Attack

-- Triblive: Overwhelming Demand For Rental Assistance Exhausts Westmoreland County Funds

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[Posted: December 24, 2024]  PA Environment Digest

'World-Class Standards" Of Shale Gas Production In PA

Top-- Gas flare in Nigeria; Shell Petrochemical Plant gas flare;  Bottom-- Shale Gas Well Pad Gas Flare 500 feet from someone’s bedroom; Shale gas well pad gas flare near PA school. 

[Posted: December 24, 2024]

DCNR State Parks Environmental Ed Newsletter: Embrace The New Year, Winter Activities

The DCNR Bureau of State Parks released its latest environmental education newsletter full of ways to embrace the new year and activities for students and families this winter.

-- Start The Year With First Day Hikes!

-- State Parks Winter Conditions Report

-- Upcoming Educator Workshops

-- Funding Opportunities

Click Here to read their entire newsletter.  Click Here to sign up for your own copy.

Visit DCNR’s Conservation Education Opportunities webpage for more on programs and opportunities for people of all ages in all regions.

Visit Explore PA Trails and Get Outdoors PA for recreation areas near you.

Visit the PA Parks & Forests Foundation’s Events webpage and DCNR’s Calendar of Events for activities happening near you.

  For more information on state parks and forests and recreation in Pennsylvania, visit DCNR’s website, Click Here for upcoming events.

[Posted: December 24, 2024]  PA Environment Digest

Physicians For Social Responsibility- PA: Jan. 22 Webinar On How To Talk To Your Doctor About Environmental Threats To Your Health

 Physicians for Social Responsibility- PA will host a January 22 webinar on How To Talk To Your Doctor About Environmental Threats To Your Health from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m.

Join physicians and patients as presenters discuss the ways the environment can impact your health, the barriers to environmental medicine and offer solutions for providers and patients to increase communication and improve outcomes for those experiencing health impacts.

Speakers include--

-- Laura Dagley, RN, Medical & Environmental Health Writer, PSR PA

-- Hilary Flint, Unity Council For [Norfolk Southern] Train Derailment

-- Dr. Ned Ketyer, President PSR PA

-- Dr. Poune Saberi, Occupational Medicine, University of Pennsylvania

-- Diana Steck, Westmoreland County resident

Click Here to register and for more information.

PSR-PA has been very active on health and environmental issues related to shale gas development in Pennsylvania.  Read more here.

Visit the Physicians for Social Responsibility- PA website to learn more about their programs, initiatives, other upcoming events and how you can get involved.

NewsClips This Week:

-- DeSmog - Justin Nobel: PA Needs To Set Construction, Operating Standards For Hundreds Of Miles Of Unregulated Fracking Wastewater Pipelines 

-- Post-Gazette - Anya Litvak: Shale Gas Industry Consent Agreements Set Groundwork For Future Methane Regulations

-- The Allegheny Front/WPSU: Worried About Gas Stoves? An Induction Cooking Class Explores An Alternative

-- PittsburghUnionProgress: From Brain Fog To Nosebleeds: There’s A Name For What’s Happening To People Affected By Norfolk Southern Train Derailment - Toxicant-Induced Loss Of Tolerance [PA Impacts]

[Posted: December 23, 2024]  PA Environment Digest

Penn State Extension Hosts Jan. 29 Webinar On Ice Melter Impacts And Reduction Strategy

The Penn State Extension will host another in its Water Cooler Talk series of webinars January 29 on Ice Melter Impacts and Reduction Strategy from Noon to 1:00 p.m.

The widespread use of road salt and other ice melters during winter has become a cornerstone of maintaining safety on roadways and sidewalks, but it comes at a cost. 

While these substances effectively lower the freezing point of water, they are corrosive to infrastructure and pose significant environmental risks. 

Winter salts can accumulate in the soil and runoff into watersheds, impacting ecosystems, human health, and water quality. 

This presentation will explore the detrimental effects of ice melters and provide practical strategies to reduce their use without compromising public safety, offering a balanced approach to winter weather management.

The presenters include--

-- Tyler Groh, Assistant Research Professor, Watershed Management Extension Specialist

Penn State Extension

-- Jason Swope, Coordinator Chesapeake Bay Landscape Professional Program

Who is this for?

-- Individuals interested in water resources

-- Professionals working in the water field

-- People with a general interest in water

What will you learn?

-- Learn about current work in the water resource field

-- Discuss the impacts of ice melters on human health and the environment

-- Exchange ideas with professionals across Pennsylvania

Click Here to register and for more information.

Visit the Penn State Extension website to learn more about many other educational opportunities.

Upcoming Event:

-- PA Organization For Watersheds & Rivers Hosts Jan. 16 Webinar On Winter Salting and Local Waterway Impacts: Opportunities To Work For Change  [PaEN]

Resource Link:

-- Pike Conservation District: Sliding Into Winter! One 12 Ounce Mug Of Salt Is All You Need To Prevent Ice From Forming On A 20 Foot Driveway  [PaEN]

[Posted: December 23, 2024]  PA Environment Digest

Chesapeake Bay Landscape Professionals: Level 1 Certification Training Registration Now Open

The Chesapeake Bay Landscape Professionals are now accepting registrations for Level 1 certification training sessions beginning February 11.

CBLP promotes sustainable landscape practices in the Chesapeake Bay Region.

Level 1 is the baseline credential that covers design, installation, and management of sustainable landscapes and green infrastructure. 

Each class, led by regional experts, incorporates classroom work with a field-based practicum and BMP inspection/verification training. CBLP emphasizes critical thinking, interactive learning, and collaborative practice.

Click Here for more information on the training sessions and to register.

Visit the Chesapeake Bay Landscape Professionals website to learn more about this program and to find certified landscape professionals.

[Posted: December 23, 2024]  PA Environment Digest