Monday PA Environment & Energy NewsClips - 3.27.23

Are You Telling Your Story?

House holds Regular Session April 24, 25, 26

-- Committee Schedule

-- Updated: House Budget Hearing Schedule - March 27, 28, 29, 30, April 11, 12, 13, 14

Senate holds Regular Session April 24, 25, 26

-- Committee Schedule

-- Updated Senate Budget Hearing Schedule - March 27, 28, 29, 30, April 11, 12, 13

TODAY’s Calendar Of Events 

TUESDAY 1:00: Senate Budget Hearing - Agriculture. Click Here to watch live.

TUESDAY 10:00: House Game & Fisheries Committee hearing to receive Game Commission’s Annual Report.  Room 523 Irvis Building.  Click Here to watch live.

TUESDAY 1:00: House Game & Fisheries Committee hearing to receive Fish & Boat Commission’s Annual Report.  Room 523 Irvis Building.  Click Here to watch live.

-- March 27 PA Environment Digest Now Available  [PaEN]

-- DEP Provides Update On 8,100 Gallon Spill From Bucks County Chemical Plant Affecting The Delaware River  [PsEN] 

-- WHYY: Delaware River Spill: Philadelphia Water Safe To Drink Through Monday Evening, Officials Announce

-- Inquirer: Philly Residents Now Advised Water Is Safe Through Monday Night Following Bucks County Spill 

-- Shell Petrochemical Plant Beaver County: Bad And Dangerous Start; Shell Shut Down Part Of Plant For Repairs, Beings Full Natural Gas, Flammable Gases Flaring Operations For Unknown Period

-- AP: All 7 Victims Of Reading Chocolate Factory Explosion Found

-- UnionProgress.com: Litter League Games A Real Pick-Me-Up For Volunteers, Neighborhoods In Pittsburgh  

-- Warren Times: 2023 Marks Centennial Of Allegheny National Forest 

-- York Daily Record: See Hanover Trolley Trail Expansion Photos In York County

-- Scranton Times Editorial: Playgrounds More Than Recreation

-- TribLive: Linn Run Trout Study Results To Be Unveiled In Westmoreland County

-- TribLive: First Pittsburgh Hays Bald Eagle Egg Hatched Sunday Afternoon 

-- Beaver Times: Beaver County Master Gardeners: 6-Part Series -vAn Introduction To Environmental Field Studies - Native, Common, Invasive Species

Ohio/PA Train Derailment

-- Post-Gazette: EPA Waited Weeks After Train Derailment To Test For Dioxins, Residents, Advocates Demand More Transparency

PA Politics - Everything Is Connected

-- Scranton Times: House Speaker McClinton Promises Change For The Better In Harrisburg

-- Scranton Times Editorial: Just Disclose Settlement Agreements Against Governments

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[Posted: March 27, 2023]  PA Environment Digest

March 27 PA Environment Digest Now Available

The March 27  PA Environment Digest is now available.

Click Here To View Or Print The Entire March 27 PA Environment Digest

62 New Stories - REAL Environmental & Conservation Leadership In PA

This Week’s Examples Of Going The WRONG WAY On Environmental, Energy Issues

Weekly List Of PA Environment & Energy Articles & NewsClips By Topic

DEP Offers 10 Point Plan To Improve Permit Reviews; Climate/Energy Work Group Co-Chairs Announced; Work Group Formed To Prevent New Oil & Gas Well Abandonments

House Budget Hearing: Acting DEP Secretary Outlines His Views On Environmental Justice, Announces Fernando Treviño As Special Deputy For Environmental Justice

DEP Acting Secretary Wants To Encourage A Culture Of Being User-Friendly At DEP And Used The Train Derailment Response As An Example

DEP Acting Secretary Negrin: All Climate Change Is Local - We Are Guardians Of Our Neighborhoods, We Are To Act In Service To Our Neighbors

DEP Projects Over $1.5 Million Deficit In Account Funding Oil & Gas Regulation Program In FY 2023-24

DEP Budget Testimony: Increasing Permitting Efficiency, Cleaning Up Legacy Pollution, Investing In Communities, Holding Companies Accountable

Former DEP Secretaries Invited To Share Their Experiences Protecting Pennsylvania's Environment With Acting Secretary Negrin

Senate Republicans Again Suggest DCNR Allow More Natural Gas Drilling To Fund Park/Forest Operations; New Hellbender License Plate Coming In June

DCNR Budget Testimony: Supporting PA’s Outdoor Recreation Industry, Conserving Natural Resources

Agriculture Budget Testimony: Budget Proposal Supports Agriculture Economy; Land & Water Stewardship; Organic Farming; Helps Deal With Threats To Food System

Pennsylvania Oil & Gas Weekly Compliance Dashboard - March 18 to 24; Continuing Violations At Equitrans Gas Storage Area; 6 More New Well Abandonments

PA Oil & Gas Industrial Facilities: Permit Notices/Opportunities To Comment - March 25

Guest Essay: Shell Petrochemical Plant Off To A Bad- And Dangerous- Start In Beaver County

Shapiro Administration Announces Long-Term Presence In Beaver County To Assist Residents Affected By Norfolk Southern Train Derailment

PA Senate Hearing: Norfolk Southern CEO: Ignition Of Rail Cars Following Ohio Trainwreck Was A 'Success'

Feature- Remembering March 28, 1979 At The Three Mile Island Nuclear Power Plant - The Accident No One Thought Would Happen -- Like With Natural Gas Infrastructure Today

DEP: Norfolk Southern Gives Notice On Starting Next Phase Of Cleanup At Site Of 2022 Trail Derailment In Harmar Twp., Allegheny County

Allegheny County Conservation District, Grow Pittsburgh Offering Gardeners Free Soil Lead Screening April 19-22

DEP Sets May 10 Hearing On Perdue AgriBusiness Plant NOx/VOC RACT 3 Air Quality Plan In Lancaster County

PUC Strongly Encourages Customers To Explore Electric Shopping Options To Help Reduce Size Of Utility Bills

Philadelphia Energy Authority: $40 Million C-PACE Energy Efficiency Closes For Multifamily Project

DEP Releases 2022 Progress Report On Improving Water Quality In PA’s Portion Of The Chesapeake Bay Watershed

Greening The Grey: Engineering Natural Solutions For Stormwater Management

'Manureshed' Management In Susquehanna River Basin Can Make Big Difference To Chesapeake Bay Cleanup

Coalition To Save Old Crow Wetland: Rutter's Development Threatens Old Crow Mitigation Wetland In Huntingdon County

Rodale Institute Names Jeff Tkach, CEO, Succeeding Jeff Moyer

PA Resources Council Partnering With Large-Scale Events In Western PA To Reduce Event Waste Thru Zero Waste Program

The Nature Conservancy Receives $4.25 Million In Combined Investments For Appalachians Conservation, Including Along Kittatinny Ridge

Environment & Energy Educational Opportunities For Students & Adults

Stroud Water Research Center: How Philly Teachers Are Bringing Meaningful STEM Experiences To Students Through Environmental And Outdoor Clubs

Registration Open For May 9 Online Pennsylvania Groundwater Symposium; Optional In-Person Tour May 3

Penn State Extension Webinar: March 29 Water Cooler Talk - Agroforestry’s Impact On Water Quality

WeConservePA Highlights Education Programs Coming Up Through June

Celebrate Pennsylvania Native Species Day May 18

Complete Your Bracket! Penn State Center For Pollinator Research Wants You To Vote In March Madness Bee Of The Year Contest

Registration Open! Perkiomen Watershed Conservancy's Summer Student Science Academy In Montgomery County

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[Posted: March 20, 2023]  PA Environment Digest

DEP Provides Update On 8,100 Gallon Spill From A Bucks County Chemical Plant Affecting The Delaware River

At 4:00 p.m. on March 26, the Department of Environmental Protection provided an update on a chemical spill affecting the Delaware River from a Bucks County chemical plant.

Incident

On Friday, March 24, 2023, at approximately 11:30 PM the Department of Environmental Protection’s emergency response team responded to a release of approximately 8,100 gallons of acrylic latex polymer that was released by a chemical processing plant and an unknown amount has entered the Delaware River. 

The incident occurred at Trinseo Altuglas Facility in Bristol, Bucks County. Downstream and nearby systems were alerted because of the tidal flow of the Delaware.

Response

The DEP is working closely with utility companies; Aqua Pennsylvania, Lower Bucks Joint Municipal Authority, Philadelphia Water Department, and New Jersey American, city officials, and other government agencies to ensure that the safety of drinking water is not compromised. 

Ongoing water sampling is being conducted at various locations. Contaminants have not been detected at drinking water intakes at this time. 

There have not been any signs of fish or wildlife impacts. 

The Philadelphia Water Department, out of an abundance of caution, notified the public in the customer service area that they may wish not to drink or cook with tap water. 

“Since the first hours after the incident, the Department of Environmental Protection has been at the facility where the spill originated and will be staying until there is no longer a threat to those impacted in Bucks and Philadelphia counties,” said DEP Acting Secretary Rich Negrin. “We are working closely with our partners to monitor the spread of the contaminants and we will hold the responsible party accountable.” 

Officials from each agency: DEP, EPA, US Coast Guard, and the PA Fish and Boat Commission are working to determine if there are any risks to the public or wildlife. 

Please check with your local water supplier to determine if you should take any precautions. 

DEP and other agencies will continue to monitor the situation and provide the latest updates as more information becomes available.  

As of early morning March 26, 2023, no additional product was leaving the facility and entering the Delaware River. 

DEP staff will remain on-site to investigate the cause and impacts of the spill. 

NewsClips:

-- WHYY: Delaware River Spill: Philadelphia Water Safe To Drink Through Monday Evening, Officials Announce

-- Inquirer: Philly Residents Now Advised Water Is Safe Through Monday Night Following Bucks County Spill

-- Inquirer: 8,000+ Gallons Of Hazardous Material Spills Into Bucks County Creek Near Delaware River 

[Posted: March 26, 2023]  PA Environment Digest

Sunday PA Environment & Energy NewsClips - 3.26.23

Are You Telling Your Story?

House holds Regular Session April 24, 25, 26

-- Committee Schedule

-- Updated: House Budget Hearing Schedule - March 27, 28, 29, 30, April 11, 12, 13, 14

Senate holds Regular Session April 24, 25, 26

-- Committee Schedule

-- Updated Senate Budget Hearing Schedule - March 27, 28, 29, 30, April 11, 12, 13

TODAY’s Calendar Of Events 

TUESDAY 1:00: Senate Budget Hearing - Agriculture. Click Here to watch live.

TUESDAY 10:00: House Game & Fisheries Committee hearing to receive Game Commission’s Annual Report.  Room 523 Irvis Building.  Click Here to watch live.

TUESDAY 1:00: House Game & Fisheries Committee hearing to receive Fish & Boat Commission’s Annual Report.  Room 523 Irvis Building.  Click Here to watch live.

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

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

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

-- Pittsburgh Business Times: Shell Temporarily Shuts Down Part Of Beaver County Petrochemical Plant For Repairs Fully Activating Natural Gas, Flammable Gases Flaring System Again For An Unspecified Period Of Time 

-- AP: Deadly Chocolate Factory Explosion Kills 3, 5 Missing In Reading; Employees Reported Smelling Natural Gas, Investigation By Officials, UGI Ongoing 

-- Scranton Times Editorial: Solar Energy Fastest-Growing Energy Source In U.S., Let Sun Shine In NE PA’s Backyard 

-- Inquirer: 8,000+ Gallons Of Hazardous Material Spills Into Bucks County Creek Near Delaware River

-- Scranton Times: Mild Winter May Foretell Things To Come In Northeast PA  

-- Republican Herald - Pat McKinney: Time To Map Out Recreational Plans For Spring And Summer

-- Warren Times: Audubon Was Wrong, Birds Do Have A Sense Of Smell

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[Posted: March 26, 2023]  PA Environment Digest