The Essential - PA Environment Digest 7.5.21

Editor’s Note: Due to my recovery from heart surgery, I’m posting a limited number of environment and energy Blog Posts and NewsClips in a weekly collection called The Essential - PA Environment Digest. Here’s a collection from the past week. Keep up the great work! -- David Hess

General Assembly

Senate returns to session September 20, 21, 22

     -- Committee Schedule

House returns to session September 27, 28, 29

     -- Committee Schedule

Tools:

Grants & Awards

Environment & Energy Calendar Of Events

Note: EQB will hold a virtual meeting July 13 (not July 20) on final regulation creating a carbon pollution reduction program covering power plants. Read more here.

Senate/House

AP: Judge Tosses Lawsuit Seeking End To Delaware Watershed Fracking Ban

SpotlightPA: PA Lawmakers Are On Summer Break, Here Are 5 Issues They’ll Face This Fall

Farewell To Joint Legislative Air and Water Pollution Control and Conservation Committee After 53 Years

Air

The Center Square: SW PA Family Urges Governor To Broaden Pending Rule Limiting Methane From Oil & Gas Operations

Anya Litvak: EQT Drilling Launches Carbon Storage Pilot Projects As Part Of Net-Zero Emission Pledge

Don Hopey: Study Links More Asthma Cases To 2018 Clairton Coke (Coal) Works Fire

PA Cap-Star: Pittsburgh To Get E-Scooter Pilot Program Thanks To Provision Included In State Budget

Alternative Fuels

DEP: Celebrates 1,000 Electric Vehicle Chargers Installed Statewide With Driving Forward PA

StateImpactPA: DEP Pushes To Expand Electric Vehicle Instructure, But Challenges Lie Ahead

Awards & Recognition

PG: Woodland Hills School District Wins National Award For Green Initiatives

Biodiversity/Invasive Species

Courthouse News: Piecemeal Salamander Program Spurs Conservation Challenge [Eastern Hellbender]

Marcus Schneck: Penn State’s New Pollinator, Bird Garden Features 143,000 Plants, 2 Dead Trees

CentreDT: The Arboretum At Penn State Opens 3-Acres Pollinator And Bird Garden Years In The Works

CentreDT: A Look Around New Pollinator And Bird Garden At The Arboretum At Penn State

Penn State: Loss Of Biodiversity In Streams Threatens Vital Biological Process

Penn State: New Model Predicts Spotted Lanternfly Egg Hatching

Budget

Growing Greener Coalition: Missed Budget Opportunity, But Your Voice Can Still Be Heard On Using American Rescue Plan Dollars To Build, Rebuild Green Infrastructure [PaEN]

Chesapeake Bay Foundation: PA Budget Missed The Opportunity To Make Greater Investments In Clean Water [PaEN]

PennFuture, Conservation Voters Of PA, Sierra Club Of PA: State Budget Again Underfunds Investment In Environmental Infrastructure [PaEN]

CourierT: PA Budget Earmarks $1.6 Million For PFAS Cancer Study

PA Cap-Star: Pittsburgh To Get E-Scooter Pilot Program Thanks To Provision Included In State Budget

PUC: Details $146 Million Distribution Of Natural Gas Drilling Impact Fees

Chesapeake Bay

NFWF: Pennsylvania Most Effective Basins Grants 2021 Request For Proposals In Chesapeake Bay Watershed - July 30 Deadline

Latest From The Chesapeake Bay Journal

Citizen Action

Lancaster Farming: Master Watershed Stewards Clean York County Waterways

PA Parks & Forests Penn’s Stewards Summer 2021 Newsletter

PA Parks & Forests: July 2 Take Five Fridays With Pam

WHYY: Ticks Suck. Here’s A Guide To Identifying Them And Avoiding Bites

Climate

Rachel McDevitt: Will RGGI Affect Your Electric Bill? It Could, But The State Could Also Mitigate Those Impacts

Anya Litvak: EQT Drilling Launches Carbon Storage Pilot Projects As Part Of Net-Zero Emission Pledge

Frank Kummer: Philly’s Summer Temps Have Risen 3 Degrees Since 1970, Nights Have Gotten Even Warmer

Compliance Action

DEP: 771 Permit Actions - 92% On Time Reviews;, 1,245 Inspections; Responded To 6 Emergencies

DCNR

DCNR: Warns Of Possible Crowding This July 4 Holiday Weekend

DCNR: Staff Recognized For Keeping State Parks Accessible, Safe For Visitors During Pandemic

WBTimes: DCNR Staff Recognized For Keeping State Parks Open, Safe During Pandemic

DCNR-PHMC: Unveil historical Marker Honoring Civilian Conservation Corps At Laurel Hill State Park

DCNR Joins Northcentral PA Conservancy To Dedicate Canoe Launch At Pine Creek

DCNR: Set To Open ATV Regional Trail Connector Pilot Area July 16 In North Central PA

DCNR Blog: Consider A River Sojourn During Rivers Month

Citizens Voice: DCNR Buys Diocese Land To Expand Frances Slocum State Park

PA Parks & Forests Penn’s Stewards Summer 2021 Newsletter

PA Parks & Forests: July 2 Take Five Fridays With Pam

DEP

DEP: 771 Permit Actions - 92% On Time Reviews;, 1,245 Inspections; Responded To 6 Emergencies

Delaware River

AP: Judge Tosses Lawsuit Seeking End To Delaware Watershed Fracking Ban

Delaware River Basin Commission 2020 Annual Report Posted

DRBC

AP: Judge Tosses Lawsuit Seeking End To Delaware Watershed Fracking Ban

Delaware River Basin Commission 2020 Annual Report Posted

Drinking Water

CourierT: PA Budget Earmarks $1.6 Million For PFAS Cancer Study

WHYY: What’s In The Water? For Many In Philadelphia’s Suburbs, Not Fluoride. Why?

Education

DEP: River Runner Tool Highlights How Raindrops Travel

Brodhead Watershed Assn: What Tiny Animals Can Tell Use About Our Watershed

Penn State Extension: July 21 COVID Impacts On PA’s MS4 Stormwater Communities

MCall: 10-Year-Old Lehigh Valley Girl Starts Door-To-Door Business To Help Planet

Environmental Health

CourierT: PA Budget Earmarks $1.6 Million For PFAS Cancer Study

WHYY: Lead Paint Poisons Thousands Of PA Children Each Year, Advocates Say Now Is The Time To Act

Forests 

WHYY: Ticks Suck. Here’s A Guide To Identifying Them And Avoiding Bites

PA Parks & Forests Penn’s Stewards Summer 2021 Newsletter

PA Parks & Forests: July 2 Take Five Fridays With Pam

PA/NJ Chapter The American Chestnut Foundation Latest Newsletter 

Grants/Funding

NFWF: Pennsylvania Most Effective Basins Grants 2021 Request For Proposals In Chesapeake Bay Watershed - July 30 Deadline

Green Infrastructure

Pittsburgh Landfore: Opens 2nd Application Period For Land Conservation Job Training Classes

Hazardous Substances

CourierT: PA Budget Earmarks $1.6 Million For PFAS Cancer Study

 

Land Conservation

NFWF: Pennsylvania Most Effective Basins Grants 2021 Request For Proposals In Chesapeake Bay Watershed - July 30 Deadline

Western PA Conservancy Newsletter: 152 Acres Protected In Potter County; Books Connecting Children With Nature; Fallingwater Webinars; Volunteer Opportunities 

Central PA Conservancy: Secures 58 Acres On Blue Mountain/Kittatinny Ridge In Dauphin County Connecting State, Local Public Lands

PG: Allegheny Land Trust Closes $3 Million Deal To Acquire Fmr Churchill Valley Country Club

Littering/Illegal Dumping

PG: Library, Media Agency Help Aliquippa Youth Find Their Voices Thru Anti-Littering PSA

Susan Phillips: PA Efforts To Hal Plastic Bag Bans Receded As Philadelphia Begins To Enact Its Own Law

Spotlight PA: Philadelphia, Pittsburgh Move Ahead With Plastic Bag Bans As PA’s Preemption Nears Its End

Mine Reclamation

Slippery Rock Watershed Coalition June Newsletter: 2020 PA Statewide Mine Reclamation Conference Oct. 27-28; Moraine State Park Regatta Aug. 6-8; Black Creek EPA 319 Presentation

Mine Subsidence Insurance

DEP: Mine Subsidence Insurance Premium Reducing, Coverage Limits Increase To $1 Million

Oil & Gas

AP: Judge Tosses Lawsuit Seeking End To Delaware Watershed Fracking Ban

DEP: Releases 2020 Oil And Gas Management Program Annual Report

StateImpactPA: DEP Report: PA Extracted More Natural Gas Than Ever During Pandemic

Anya Litvak: EQT Drilling Launches Carbon Storage Pilot Projects As Part Of Net-Zero Emission Pledge

PUC: Details $146 Million Distribution Of Natural Gas Drilling Impact Fees

Pipelines

Susan Phillips: U.S. Supreme Court Rules PennEast Pipeline May Use Eminent Domain To Take NJ State Land

Permitting

DEP: 771 Permit Actions - 92% On Time Reviews;, 1,245 Inspections; Responded To 6 Emergencies

PUC

PUC: Details $146 Million Distribution Of Natural Gas Drilling Impact Fees

Recreation

DCNR Blog: Consider A River Sojourn During Rivers Month

PA Parks & Forests Penn’s Stewards Summer 2021 Newsletter

PA Parks & Forests: July 2 Take Five Fridays With Pam

WHYY: Ticks Suck. Here’s A Guide To Identifying Them And Avoiding Bites

Paul Muschick: Bake Oven Knob - Nature Or Graffiti?  That’s A No-Brainer

ErieT: Trash A Growing Problem At Presque Isle State Park Where Visitors Leave Litter Behind

Recycling/Waste

Susan Phillips: PA Efforts To Hal Plastic Bag Bans Receded As Philadelphia Begins To Enact Its Own Law

Spotlight PA: Philadelphia, Pittsburgh Move Ahead With Plastic Bag Bans As PA’s Preemption Nears Its End

Renewable Energy

Andrew Maykuth: Philadelphia Firm CES Helps Make Wind, Solar Power Work: It’s The FedEx Of The Energy Business

Stormwater

WESA: New Stormwater Regulations Likely To Go Before Pittsburgh Council This Summer

Susquehanna River Basin Commission

Lower Susquehanna RiverKeeper, Others Take Legal Action Against PA Food Company For Clean Water Violations

Rachel McDevitt: Environmental Groups Pressure Central PA Food Company To Cleanup Wastewater

SRBC Summer Guardian Newsletter

Sustainability

PG: Monmade Helps Pittsburgh-Area Makers Think Green With New Sustainability Initiative

Watershed Protection

NFWF: Pennsylvania Most Effective Basins Grants 2021 Request For Proposals In Chesapeake Bay Watershed - July 30 Deadline

Lancaster Farming: Master Watershed Stewards Clean York County Waterways

DEP: River Runner Tool Highlights How Raindrops Travel

Marcus Schneck: Risk-Taking Crayfish May Result From Antidepressants We Dump Into Our Waters

Marcus Schneck: Millions Of Mayflies Have Begun Swarming Along Susquehanna River

Latest From The Chesapeake Bay Journal

Brodhead Watershed Assn: What Tiny Animals Can Tell Use About Our Watershed

Penn State: Loss Of Biodiversity In Streams Threatens Vital Biological Process

Latest From The Chesapeake Bay Journal

Wildlife

NFWF: Pennsylvania Most Effective Basins Grants 2021 Request For Proposals In Chesapeake Bay Watershed - July 30 Deadline

Game Commission: Mysterious Songbird Deaths Being Investigated; Report Cases, Cease Feeding Birds [PaEN]

Marcus Schneck: Empty Your Bird Feeders And Baths; Mysterious Disease Found Across The State

Mary Ann Thomas: Mysterious Bird Illness Prompts Game Commission, Audubon To Recommend Taking Down Bird Feeders

Marcus Schneck: Risk-Taking Crayfish May Result From Antidepressants We Dump Into Our Waters

Bay Journal/Ad Crable: Chronic Wasting Disease Takes Hold In Chesapeake Bay States’ Deer

Marcus Schneck: Millions Of Mayflies Have Begun Swarming Along Susquehanna River

West Nile/Zika Virus

WHYY: Ticks Suck. Here’s A Guide To Identifying Them And Avoiding Bites

Help Wanted:

Help Wanted: ClearWater Conservancy: Riparian Restoration & Outreach Coordinators

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[Posted: July 5, 2021]  PA Environment Digest

Monday PA Environment & Energy NewsClips 7.5.21

Editor’s Note: Due to my recovery from heart surgery, I’m posting a limited number of environment and energy articles each day-- David Hess

Senate returns to session September 20, 21, 22

     -- Committee Schedule

House returns to session September 27, 28, 29

     -- Committee Schedule

TODAY’s Calendar Of Events

 

CourierT: PA Budget Earmarks $1.6 Million For PFAS Cancer Study

WESA: Pittsburgh Water Authority Says It’s Replaced Half Of Lead Service Lines, On Track For 2026 Goal

WESA: NOAA Forecasts Mild Algal Blooms In Lake Erie For 2nd Consecutive Year

Sean Sauro: Burning Garbage Fuels Electricity Generation At 30-Year-Old Lancaster County Waste Facility

PA Cap-Star: Will Delaware Water Gap Recreation Area Become National Park?  Supporters Of Proposal Say It’s Possible And Long Overdue

PennLive: 24-Year-Old Drowns At Codorus State Park In York County

WESA/Allegheny Front: Experimental Treatment Shows Promise In Treating Bats With White-Nose Syndrome

TribLive: Game Commission Seeking Help To Find Turkey Poacher In Allegheny County

PA Politics

SpotlightPA: PA Lawmakers Are On Summer Break, Here Are 5 Issues They’ll Face This Fall

National/International

TribLive/AP: Cuba Evacuates 180,000 As Tropical Storm Elsa Approaches

TribLive/AP: Governor: Heat Death Toll At Least 95 In Oregon Alone

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[Posted: July 5, 2021]  PA Environment Digest

Growing Greener Coalition: Missed Budget Opportunity, But Your Voice Can Still Be Heard On Using American Rescue Plan Dollars To Build, Rebuild Green Infrastructure

The Growing Greener Coalition issued this statement on the state budget adopted last week--

The General Assembly passed a budget that maintained the status quo regarding state investments in Growing Greener-type projects. 

Legislators spent a little more than $1 billion of the state’s $7.3 billion in American Rescue Plan dollars, none of it on natural infrastructure; also, no action was taken on Senate Bill 525 ($500 million for a “Growing Greener III”) prior to legislators leaving Harrisburg for the summer.

It is unfortunate that legislators did not seize the opportunity to direct ARP funds into addressing PA’s tremendous stream and wetland restoration, park, trail, land conservation, and other natural infrastructure needs, but there is still opportunity. 

When legislators return to Harrisburg in late September, the Growing Greener Coalition will advocate for the passage of Senate Bill 525 and use of ARP funds for natural infrastructure.

In the meantime, you can help build an important foundation for advocacy success: Invite your legislators and aides to visit state-funded stream restoration, park, preserve, trail, and other natural infrastructure projects that are benefiting their constituents and discuss with them the great new projects organizations (or local governments) could achieve with a boost in state investments. If they cannot make it to a site visit, at least visit them in their district offices.

Click Here for tips on Hosting Legislators are your project sites.

For more information, visit the Growing Greener Coalition website.

Related Articles:

-- Chesapeake Bay Foundation: PA Budget Missed The Opportunity To Make Greater Investments In Clean Water

-- PennFuture, Conservation Voters Of PA, Sierra Club Of PA: State Budget Again Underfunds Investment In Environmental Infrastructure

[Posted: July 4, 2021]

PennFuture, Conservation Voters Of PA, Sierra Club Of PA: State Budget Again Underfunds Investment In Environmental Infrastructure

PennFuture, Conservation Voters Of PA, Sierra Club Of PA issued this statement about the final state budget adopted lasted week--

With this FY 22 budget, the Commonwealth had a rare opportunity to invest in our future, but the best our elected officials could muster is a status quo budget that intentionally prevented billions of dollars in federal stimulus funds from being used to improve the lives of Pennsylvanians.

Counties across Pennsylvania are negatively impacted by crumbling infrastructure, polluted water, and a lack of job opportunities in diverse and growing clean energy industries. 

Pennsylvanians shouldn’t allow our elected officials to revert back to an economy that unquestionably favored some at the expense of so many families who were left behind. We can do better than that.

We expect our state lawmakers to have bold vision and courage - characteristics nowhere to be found in the state budget announced today. Pennsylvania’s General Assembly underfunds our environmental infrastructure and pollution liabilities by billions of dollars each year. 

Despite having the funds necessary to invest in clean water, maintain our parks and forests, fully fund our environmental watchdog agencies, address environmental injustices, and transition workers to good-paying clean energy jobs, state lawmakers are punting on these issues and, in the process, refusing to invest in the future of every single Pennsylvanian.

This can has been kicked down the road for so many years that it’s run out of asphalt. We call on our elected leaders to take seriously the opportunity to leverage federal investments and ensure that the remainder of funds are appropriated as soon as possible so the Commonwealth can build towards a strong future.

Related Articles: 

-- Growing Greener Coalition: Missed Budget Opportunity, But Your Voice Can Still Be Heard On Using American Rescue Plan Dollars To Build, Rebuild Green Infrastructure

-- Chesapeake Bay Foundation: PA Budget Missed The Opportunity To Make Greater Investments In Clean Water

[Posted: July 4, 2021]

Chesapeake Bay Foundation: PA Budget Missed The Opportunity To Make Greater Investments In Clean Water

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation issued the following statement from Pennsylvania Executive Director Shannon Gority, after Gov.Tom Wolf signed the $40.8 billion General Fund budget proposal for fiscal year 2021-22.

Ms. Gority said:

“This budget is a missed opportunity. A portion of the federal American Rescue Plan money should be used to restore and protect Pennsylvania’s rivers and streams, improve the productivity of farms, and reduce nuisance flooding in our communities. 

“Roughly 25,800 miles of Pennsylvania’s waters are harmed by pollution and the Commonwealth continues to lag significantly behind in meeting its clean water commitments.

“It is long past time for elected leaders to show the will and leadership it takes to restore and protect our waters. Our health, wellbeing, and quality of life depend on it.

“The Chesapeake Bay Foundation looks forward to working with the Governor and legislators on the prospect of investing a portion of the remaining American Rescue Plan funding toward a legacy of clean water for future generations.”

For more on Chesapeake Bay-related issues in Pennsylvania, visit the Chesapeake Bay Foundation-PA webpage.  Click Here to sign up for Pennsylvania updates (bottom of left column).  Click Here to support their work.

Also visit the Keystone 10 Million Trees Partnership to learn how you can help clean water grow on trees.

CBF has over 275,000 members in Bay Watershed.

Related Articles:

-- Growing Greener Coalition: Missed Budget Opportunity, But Your Voice Can Still Be Heard On Using American Rescue Plan Dollars To Build, Rebuild Green Infrastructure

-- PennFuture, Conservation Voters Of PA, Sierra Club Of PA: State Budget Again Underfunds Investment In Environmental Infrastructure

[Posted: July 4, 2021

Game Commission: Mysterious Songbird Deaths Being Investigated; Report Cases, Cease Feeding Birds

Wildlife health experts from the Wildlife Futures Program at the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Veterinary Medicine and officials from the Game Commission are investigating more than 70 general public reports of songbirds that are sick or dying due to an emerging health condition that is presently unknown.

As of July 1, 2021, reports from the public chronicle both adult and young birds exhibiting signs of the condition. The most common clinical symptoms include discharge and/or crusting around the eyes, eye lesions, and/or neurologic signs such as falling over or head tremors.

Affected birds are being tested for several toxins, parasites, bacterial diseases, and viral infections. To date, test results have been inconclusive.

Twelve species have been reported: Blue Jay, European Starling, Common Grackle, American Robin, Northern Cardinal, House Finch, House Sparrow, Eastern Bluebird, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Carolina Chickadee, and Carolina Wren.

Where

In Pennsylvania, the reports have been received from 27 counties, including:

Philadelphia, and Bucks, Montgomery, Chester counties: 15 reports.

Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Lancaster, Lebanon, Perry, Schuylkill, York counties: 19 reports

Numerous reports have also been received across the United States including the Mid-Atlantic region, extending into the Southeast and eastern upper Midwest. Affected birds were first reported in and around Washington, D.C.

Report Cases

The public is encouraged to report any sightings of birds that have died and/or birds that have been seen with swollen and crusty eyes, as well as neurological signs such as stumbling and head tremors. 

Click Here to Report the incidents online.

Experts are also encouraging the public to follow these FIVE precautionary measures until more is known:

-- Cease feeding birds and providing water in bird baths until this wildlife mortality event has concluded to prevent potential spread between birds and to other wildlife.

-- Clean feeders and bird baths with a 10% bleach solution.

-- Avoid handling dead or injured wild birds. Wear disposable gloves if it's necessary to handle a bird.

-- Keep pets away from sick or dead birds as a standard precaution.

-- To dispose of dead birds, place them in a sealable plastic bag and discard with household trash. This will prevent disease transmission to other birds and wildlife.

Updates

Wildlife Futures Program; the Pennsylvania Animal Diagnostic Laboratory System (PADLS); the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine; the Pennsylvania Game Commission.

This is an emerging wildlife health event. Penn Vet will provide additional, timely information as it becomes available on their News Room page. 

NewsClips:

Marcus Schneck: Empty Your Bird Feeders And Baths; Mysterious Disease Found Across The State

Philly Voice: Mysterious Disease Killing Songbirds In Philly, Suburbs Being Investigated By Game Commission

YDR:  Songbirds Are Dropping Death In PA Surrounding States, Nobody Seems To Know Why

[Posted: July 3, 2021]