Saturday, February 1, 2025

February 3 - Weekly PA Environment Digest Now Available


“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]


Click Here To View Or Print The Entire February 3 PA Environment Digest


101 New Stories - REAL Environmental & Conservation Leadership In PA


Stories You May Have Missed Last Week: PA Environment & Energy Articles & NewsClips By Topic


DCNR Invites Public Comments To Help Shape A Bold Vision For Outdoor Recreation In PA; 5 Webinars Start Feb. 3


DCNR: Path Of The Flood Trail In Cambria County Named 2025 Pennsylvania Trail Of The Year


Range Resources And MarkWest Liberty Midstream File Legal Challenges To The 2,500 Foot Shale Gas Facility Setback Ordinance Adopted By Cecil Township, Washington County


PUC: Calendar Year 2024 Act 13 Drilling Impact Fees To Remain Same As 2023; Dramatic Decline In Financial Support From Shale Gas Industry Continues


PA Republican Senator To Introduce Bill Suspending State Taxes On Natural Gas Producers; Cut DEP Permit Fees; End Drilling Moratorium On DCNR Lands; Exempt Coal-Fired Power Plants From EPA Regulations


Conventional Oil & Gas Industry Compliance With 2022 DEP Methane Reduction Regulation Put On Hold Pending Outcome Of Litigation


DEP Releases 2 Contracts For Bidding In Next Round Of Conventional Oil & Gas Well Plugging: 12 Wells In Kinzua State Park, McKean County, 18 Wells In Warren County


Rep. Vitali Introduces Bill To Restore DEP Authority To Increase Conventional Oil & Gas Well Plugging Bonds To Prevent Hundreds Of New Well Abandonments A Year


PA Oil & Gas Industrial Facilities: Permit Notices, Opportunities To Comment - February 1


White House: President Launches Initiative To Eliminate 10 Regulations For Every New Regulation Issued; Cost Of New Regulations Must Be ‘Significantly’ Less Than Zero


Gov. Shapiro Proposes ‘Lightning’ Energy Plan To Increase & Diversify Energy Generation; Reduce Climate Changing Pollution; Lower Energy Costs; Create Jobs


Gov. Shapiro Reaches Agreement With PJM To Prevent Unnecessary Price Hikes And Save Consumers Over $21 Billion On Utility Bills


Republicans On PA Senate Environmental Committee Report Out Bills To Eliminate Carbon Pollution Reduction Program Covering Power Plants, Establish Independent Energy Office


DEP Invites Comments At March 5 Hearing On Title V RACT 3 Air Quality Permit For Hazleton Generation Natural Gas Power Plant In Luzerne County


House Energy Committee To Hold Feb. 4 Hearing On Bill Establishing $156 Million Federally-Funded Solar For All Program


10 Government Entities In Centre County Approve Solar Energy Purchase Agreement To Save Local Taxpayers $4.4 Million Over 15 Years


Pennsylvania Solar Center Now Accepting Nominations For 2025 Lodestar Awards


DEP Invites Comments At Feb. 19 Hearing On A Proposed Title V RACT 3 Air Quality Permit For The Cleveland-Cliffs Steel Butler Works In Butler County


DEP Announces Winners Of Student Radon Poster Contest, Encourages Pennsylvanians To Test For Radon


Commonwealth Financing Authority Announces $16 Million In Act 13 Funding For Watershed Restoration, Flood Mitigation, Recreation; Small Water & Sewer Application Period Opening


DEP Chesapeake Bay Healthy Waters Newsletter Highlights Nearly 16,700 BMPs In 2024; Grant Opportunities; County Clean Water Projects


Appalachian Region Independent Power Producers Assn. Now Accepting Mine Reclamation Grant Applications


Environmental Quality Board Invites Comments On 96 Stream Water Quality Redesignations In 29 Counties; Virtual Hearing March 13


DEP Invites Comments At March 3 Hearing On An Individual NPDES Stormwater Permit For Route 115 Associates Warehouse Project In Tunkhannock Twp., Monroe County


Rodale Institute Accepting Applications For The Good Farmer Award


Sponsorship Opportunities Available For Penn State ACAP Ag Conservation Conference April 1-3 In Harrisburg


Penn State Extension To Hold Feb. 21 In-Person Volunteer Live Staking Workshop In Cumberland County


Save The Date! May 13-15 DCNR Watershed Forestry Summit


Penn State Extension Water Cooler Talk Feb. 26 Quality Of PA Roadside Springs Webinar


Interfaith Partners For The Chesapeake Bay Hosts 3-Part Online Faithfull Green Leaders Training Starting March 11


PA Organization For Watersheds & Rivers Now Accepting Applications For 2025 Sojourn Grants


PA Parks & Forests Foundation Announces Winners Of 2024 Photo Contest


Jan. 31 Take Five Fridays With Pam, PA Parks & Forests Foundation


Apply Now! PA Master Naturalist Volunteer Spring Training Offered In Adams, Allegheny, Beaver, Berks, Dauphin, Indiana, Montour, Philadelphia, Somerset Counties


Help Wanted: PA Master Naturalist - Communications/Development Coordinator


Bristol Twp. Environmental Advisory Committee Bird Town Spotlight: The American Bittern


Environment & Energy Educational Opportunities For Students & Adults


News From PA House & Senate


The Feds - New Administration


Public Participation Opportunities/Calendar Of Events


Grants & Awards


PA Bulletin Public Notices - February 1


Stories Invited - About PA Environment Digest


Supporting Member PA Outdoor Writers Assn.; PA Trout Unlimited; PA Organization For Watersheds & Rivers


-- David Hess

Former Secretary, PA Department of Environmental Protection


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Questions? Email: PaEnviroDigest@gmail.com

[Posted: February 3, 2025]  PA Environment Digest

Saturday PA Environment & Energy NewsClips - 2.1.25

Notice:
See You February 10

“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

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

February 3, 4, 5

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

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 


February 3-- House Republican Policy Committee hearing on stopping new energy taxes. Room 418 Main Capitol.  9:30 a.m.


February 3-- NEW. House Game & Fisheries Committee informational meeting on Game Commission deer hunting season changes.  Room 523 Irvis Office. 9:00 a.m.   Click Here to watch online.


February 4-- House Energy Committee hearing on House Bill 362 (Fiedler-D- Philadelphia) authorizing the PA Energy Development Authority to establish a $156 million federally-funded Solar For All Program (sponsor summary) now prohibited by Fiscal Code bill passed last year with the state budget [Read more here.].  Room B31 Main Capitol. 10:00 a.m.  Click Here to watch online.


February 5-- House Local Government Committee meets to consider House Bill 388 (Cerrato-D-Montgomery) authorizing municipalities to replace water and sewer laterals serving residences.  Room 205 Ryan Building. 10:00 a.m. Click Here to watch online.


February 4-- Governor’s Budget Address


-- 101 New Stories - REAL Environmental & Conservation Leadership In PA  [PaEN]


-- Stories You May Have Missed Last Week:  PA Environment & Energy Articles & NewsClips By Topic  [PaEN] 


-- Environment & Energy Educational Opportunities For Students & Adults  [PaEN] 


-- Top 10 Stories: Harrisburg/PA Politics Reported By Local News Media Last Week  [PaEN] 


-- PA Oil & Gas Industrial Facilities: Permit Notices, Opportunities To Comment - February 1  [PaEN] 


-- DEP Posted 89 Pages Of Permit-Related Notices In February 1 PA Bulletin  [PaEN] 


-- DCNR Invites Public Comments To Help Shape A Bold Vision For Outdoor Recreation In PA; 5 Webinars Start Feb. 3  [PaEN] 


-- Gov. Shapiro: What Industry Leaders, Lawmakers, Consumer Advocates Are Saying About The Governor’s Commonsense Energy Plan 


-- TribLive Guest Essay: Help Is Out There For Those Struggling With Heating Costs - By Destenie Nock, People Energy Analytics, Carnegie Mellon


-- Utility Dive: PA Cryptocurrency Miner Stronghold-Scrubgrass Reclamation To Pay $1.4 Million To Settle Charges It Violated PJM Market Rules 


-- DEP Invites Comments At March 5 Hearing On Title V RACT 3 Air Quality Permit For Hazleton Generation Natural Gas Power Plant In Luzerne County  [PaEN] 


-- DEP Invites Comments At Feb. 19 Hearing On A Proposed Title V RACT 3 Air Quality Permit For The Cleveland-Cliffs Steel Butler Works In Butler County  [PaEN]


-- DEP Invites Comments At March 3 Hearing On An Individual NPDES Stormwater Permit For Route 115 Associates Warehouse Project In Tunkhannock Twp., Monroe County  [PaEN]


-- TribLive: Failing Private Wastewater Treatment Systems Prompt $10.8 Million Donegal Twp Sewage Project In Westmoreland


-- Spotlight PA - Marley Parish: Customers Of Distressed Privately-Owned Rural Water Company Can’t Wait For PUC Investigation To Play Out, Lawyers For Distressed Privately-Owned Rural Water Company Say 


-- The Allegheny Front: Inaugural Pennsylvania Chestnut Festival Promotes History And Conservation Efforts 


-- Manada Conservancy 25th Annual Native Plant Sale Now Open!


-- PA Organization For Watersheds & Rivers Now Accepting Applications For 2025 Sojourn Grants  [PaEN]


-- Jan. 31 Take Five Fridays With Pam, PA Parks & Forests Foundation  [PaEN] 


-- York Daily Record: Lebanon DA Charged Both Snowmobilers With Animal Cruelty In Running Down Fox 


-- Game Commission Detects New Area Of Chronic Wasting Disease In Deer In Luzerne County


-- The Center Square: Migrating Snow Geese Drive Avian Flu Outbreak In Pennsylvania 


Train Derailments


-- Beaver Times: Two Years Ago: Remember Norfolk Southern Train Derailment 


-- TribLive Editorial: Railway Safety Is Worth Congressional Action  


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

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


-- AAA Gasoline Prices: National- $3.11  Ohio- $2.89  PA- $3.35


-- Baker Hughes: PA Natural Gas Drilling Rigs Still 15 - Same For 7 Weeks


New Federal Administration


-- White House: President Launches Initiative To Eliminate 10 Regulations For Every New Regulation Issued; Cost Of New Regulations Must Be ‘Significantly’ Less Than Zero  [PaEN]


PA Politics - Everything Is Connected

-- AP: Gov. Shapiro’s Budget Is Expected To Seek More For Schools, Transit, Emphasize Frugality 

-- PA Dept. Of State Reports Record-High Voter Turnout In November General Election

-- AP: PA Elections Chief Touts Progress In Reducing Mail Ballot Rejection Rate

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[Posted: February 1, 2025]  PA Environment Digest

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