Wednesday PA Environment & Energy NewsClips 11.10.21

Senate returns to session Nov. 10, Dec. 13, 14, 15

     -- Committee Schedule

House returns to session Nov. 10, 15, 16, 17, Dec. 13, 14, 15

     -- Committee Schedule

TODAY’s Calendar Of Events

TODAY 9:00: Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee meets to consider Senate Bill 301 (Yaw-R-Lycoming) eliminating appointment of DEP’s Air Quality Technical Advisory Committee members by the Governor and changing it to appointments made by the House, Senate and the Governor.  [Note: The bill was originally introduced last session because Sen. Yaw was unhappy the Committee did not outright oppose DEP’s proposed regulation to reduce carbon pollution from power plants consistent with the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative.  In May of this year, the Committee voted to approve the final regulation for consideration by the Environmental Quality Board.];  Senate Bill 776 (Laughlin-R-Erie) to amend Act 537 to allow garage floor drains to be discharged to an on-lot sewage system; and House Bill 598 (Oberlander-R-Clarion) would limit actions to create prescriptive easements to public entities like state agencies and local governments, not private entities.  Room 461 Main Capitol. 9:00 a.m.  Click Here to watch the meeting live online.   Click Here for more on the agenda.

TODAY Off The Floor: House Tourism & Recreational Development Committee meets to consider House Resolution 74 (Daley-D-Montgomery) directing the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to conduct a study of wildlife conservation corridors.  Room G-50 Irvis Building.  Click Here to watch online.  Click Here for background.  Note: Will probably recommend it be sent to the House Transportation Committee.

TODAY: DCNR Webinar - Community Conservation Partnership Grant Workshop - Central Counties.

-- Republicans Continue Push To Invalidate More Executive Branch Actions Through  Constitutional Amendments [PaEN]

-- Spotlight PA: Republican House Speaker Wants To Greatly Expand Lawmakers’ Power Over Governor, Executive Branch

-- Coalition Of Business, Citizen, Environmental Groups Support Increasing PA's Solar Energy Goals  [PaEN]

-- Tribune-Democrat: St. Francis College Watershed Center Receives Funding For Study, Cleanup Of Mine Water Polluted Stream 

-- DEP Acted On 774 Permits - 79% Within Permit Decision Guarantee Deadlines; Conducted 1,386 Inspections; Responded To 2 Environmental Emergencies Last Week  [PaEN]

-- WESA: Democratic PA U.S. Senate Candidate Arkoosh Calls For End To Fracking In PA

-- PG: Residents Urge Allegheny County Council To Revisit, Pass Fracking Ban

-- WPIX: Abarta Oil & Gas Filed For Bankruptcy Protection In Federal Court

-- DelcoTimes: Delaware County Hires Zero Waste Consultant To Craft 10-Year Solid Waste Plan

-- KYW: Philly Firefighters Battling Massive Junkyard Fire At Delaware Valley Recycling Center

-- CitizensV: Luzerne County Council Approves Revision That Expands Flood Authority’s Scope

-- North Branch Land Trust Names Ellen Ferretti Executive Director  [PaEN]

-- WBTimes: North Branch Land Trust Names Ellen Ferretti Executive Director

-- ReadingE: 2 Berks County Farms Preserved Thru Farmland Preservation Program

-- TribLive - Mary Ann Thomas: Spotted Lanternfly Numbers Skyrocket In Allegheny, Westmoreland Counties

-- TribLive - Mary Ann Thomas: Tips For Getting Rid Of Spotted Lanternflies

-- Allegheny Land Trust Partners With Grow Pittsburgh To Protect Enright Community Garden  [PaEN]

-- Feature: Trails & Ales On The Susquehanna Greenway - By Alana Jajko, Susquehanna Greenway Partnership  [PaEN]

-- WNEP: Anthracite Bicycle Coalition Plans More Development To Make Scranton More ‘Cycling Friendly’

-- ScrantonT: Scranton Nonprofit Prepared To Lease, Maintain Robinson Park

-- ScrantonT: A Blur Of Autumn Colors On The Delaware & Lehigh Trail

-- PennLive: Marine Who Lost Both Legs Finds New Life Through God, Triathlons & Hunting

-- Delaware Highlands Conservancy Announces Eagle Watch Volunteer Training, December 4 & 11 At Van Scott Nature Reserve, Wayne County  [PaEN]

-- ScrantonT: Kingfishers Put On Colorful Show Along Most PA Waterways

-- PennLive - Marcus Schneck: If You’re Battling Squirrels At Your Bird Feeders, You Should Know These Facts

Hurricane Ida

-- Gov. Wolf Reminds Hurricane Ida Survivors To Apply For Federal Aid At Disaster Recovery Centers, Online Or By Phone

American Rescue Plan Funding 

-- WBTimes: Wilkes-Barre Releases $5.6 Million In American Rescue Plan Funding

Bipartisan Federal Infrastructure Bill

-- Gov. Wolf Highlights Some Of The Anticipated Funding Thru New Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill  [Fails To Mention Historic Investment To Clean Up PA’s #1 Water Pollution Problem - Abandoned Coal Mines Or Millions For Oil & Gas Well Plugging  Read more here.]

-- Inquirer: How The Philadelphia Region Will Benefit From Biden’s Infrastructure Bill

-- MCall - Ford Turner: PA Anticipates Getting About $13 Billion For Highway, Bridge Projects Over 5 Years From Federal Infrastructure Package

-- PG: PennDOT’s Decision To Continue Pursuing Bridge Tolls Despite Federal Road Money Rankles Legislators

National/International

-- WHYY: Delaware’s Ambitious Goal To Plant 1 Tree For Every Resident

-- U.S. EIA Short Term Energy Outlook Sees Continued High Energy Costs Into 2022, Decreases Later; Growth Of Renewables; Carbon Dioxide Still Short Of 2019 Levels  [PaEN]

-- PG/NYT: Wintering Heating Bills Loom As Next Inflation Threat

-- AP: UN Climate Talks Draft Agreement Expresses ‘Alarm And Concern’

-- The Guardian: COP26 Draft Agreement Calls For Tougher Emissions Pledges By Next Year

-- Financial Times: Countries Battle Over New Climate Targets In Final Days Of COP26

-- The Guardian: World On Course For Disastrous 2.4C Heating, Says Key COP26 Report

-- Reuters: Global Carmakers Now Target $515 Billion For EVs, Batteries

PA Politics

-- Spotlight PA: Republican House Speaker Wants To Greatly Expand Lawmakers’ Power Over Governor, Executive Branch

-- City & State: Republicans Unveil New Constitutional Amendments To Curb Executive Power

-- AG Shapiro Files Brief In Case Opposing Senate Republican Subpoena of Personal Voter Information

-- PA Cap-Star: House Republicans Renew Push To Require Post-Election Reviews

-- WITF: House Republican Measure Banning Private Grants To Fund Elections Clears Key Committee [Even though House-Senate do not provide state funding to counties to run elections]

-- ScrantonT Editorial: State Doesn’t Need An Extra Election Office

-- WHYY: Montgomery County Republicans Allege ‘Lack Of Trust’ In Election Results, But Say There’s No Evidence Of Fraud

-- MCall: Week After Election, Northampton County Still Counting Votes, Watched By Losing Candidate

-- YorkDR: York County’s Final Election Results Taking Time As 21,000 Write-Ins Cast

-- LancasterOnline: Lancaster County Counting ‘Unprecedented’ 52,300 Write-Ins

-- TribLive: Custody Trial For Republican U.S. Senate Candidate Sean Parnell, Estranged Wife  Concludes

-- Spotlight PA: Baldwin School Student Savannah Rhodes Makes Voting District Map Out Of Halloween Candy

-- LancasterOnline/The Caucus: Wolf Releases 17 Applications For Commonwealth Court Vacancy Filled In 2019, Ending 2-Year Open Records Case

-- PA Cap-Star: Legislators At Work?  1 In 5 Laws Enacted In PA So Far This Year Renamed A Bridge Or Road

-- YorkDR: Anti-Vaccine Mandate Advocates Protest At PA State Capitol

-- TribLive: Students, Staff Of Greensburg School District Move To Remote Learning After Spike In COVID Cases

-- Inquirer: Taxpayers May Never Know Results Of PA School Employees Pension Fund Investigation

-- AP: Senate Republicans Back Bill To Allow Guns To Be Carried Without Permits

-- MCall - Ford Turner: Senate Republicans Pass Bill To Allow Concealed Or Open Carrying Of Guns Without A Permit

-- PA Cap-Star: Senate Republicans OK Gun Bill Preempting Local Gun Ordinances, Expanding Concealed Carry

-- PG: PennDOT’s Decision To Continue Pursuing Bridge Tolls Despite Federal Road Money Rankles Legislators

-- MCall - Ford Turner: PA Anticipates Getting About $13 Billion For Highway, Bridge Projects Over 5 Years From Federal Infrastructure Package

-- Inquirer Guest Essay: Philly Voters Overwhelmingly Want To Legalize Marijuana, Harrisburg Should Listen

-- CitizensV: Drug Company Settlement Money Coming Soon, AG Shapiro Says

-- AP: State’s Homecare Program Has Big Problems, Advocates Say

-- Inquirer: Foreclosure Starts To Tick Up In PA, NJ, Nationwide

-- WESA: Pittsburgh Police Officer Accused Of Signing Up For Far-Right Group With Work Email

-- TribLive: Armstrong School District Vows To Punish Student Who Attacked Transgender Teen

-- MCall: Western PA Hockey Goalie Receives Big Show Of Support After Vulgar Chants Directed At Her

-- WPSU: State College Borough Council Appoints Members Of Police Oversight Board

-- TribLive Editorial: Would Pittsburgh’s Traffic Stop Proposal Change Anything?

-- PG Editorial: Helping Pittsburgh Be A Place Of Belonging

-- ReadingE: 2 Men Arrested In Berks On Charges Of Smuggling Undocumented Immigrants

-- Reuters: 9 Governors [Including Wolf] Press U.S. Lawmakers To Pass Semiconductor Funding Bill

-- USA Today: 423 Million COVID Vaccine Dozens Administered, 3,100 Injury Claims Filed, $0 Paid Out

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[Posted: November 10, 2021]  PA Environment Digest