Sunday, November 1, 2026

DEP To Review Proposed Comprehensive Changes To Chapter 105 Encroachments Permitting Regulations At Nov. 4 Water Resources Advisory Committee Meeting

The DEP
Water Resources Advisory Committee is scheduled to meet on November 4 to review proposed comprehensive changes to Chapter 105 Encroachments and Waterways permitting requirements.

Domenic Rocco, Director of the Bureau of Waterways Engineering and Wetlands, will present an overview of the proposed Chapter 105 changes.

Major revisions are proposed to waiving Chapter 105 permit requirements for a whole series of activities in Section 105.12, subject to certain restrictions in certain locations.

Among the proposed waivers are-

-- A variety of farm conservation practices

-- Recreation, trails, private recreational docks and similar structures

-- Placement, maintenance and removal of temporary mats and pads protecting wetlands

-- Removal of debris projecting into a stream after a storm event

-- Encroachments related to plugging orphan or abandoned wells under contract or grant agreements

-- Certain dam removals

Click Here for a copy of DEP presentation. [52 slides]

Click Here for copy of Draft Chapter 105 regulation changes. [55 ages]

Public Comments

Individuals who wish to provide comments regarding agenda topics are requested to register at least 24 hours in advance of the meeting by contacting Robert Haines, DEP Water Resources Advisory Committee Liaison, at 717-787-7565 or robhaines@pa.gov. 

Join The Meeting

The meeting will be held in Room 105 of the Rachel Carson Building starting at 9:30 a.m.  Click Here for instructions on how to join the meeting online or by telephone.

For available handouts and more information, visit the DEP Water Resources Advisory Committee webpage.  Questions should be directed to: Robert Haines at 717-787-7565 or robhaines@pa.gov.

Related Articles This Week:

-- PennVEST Announces Purchase Of 10.1 Million Pounds Of Sediment Reductions, 34,757 Pounds Of Nitrogen, 5,236 Pounds Of Phosphorus Reductions For $5.6 Million  [PaEN] 

-- Susquehanna River Basin Commission, MD Dept. Of Environment Award $12 Million+ To Support 5 Projects To Reduce Sediment, Nutrient Pollution Under Conowingo Pay-For-Success Program  [PaEN]

-- USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service-PA Awards $9.5 Million To Alliance For The Chesapeake Bay To Help Farmers Install Conservation Practices  [PaEN] 

-- NRCS-PA Announces Additional Practices Are Eligible For PA Farmers Participating In The Regenerative Pilot Program In 2027  [PaEN]

-- Capital RC&D Receives National Fish & Wildlife Foundation Chesapeake Bay Small Watershed Grant To Improve Farm Grazing Practices  [PaEN] 

-- Penn State College Of Agricultural Sciences Launches Regenerative Agriculture Center  [PaEN]  

-- PA Organization For Watersheds & Rivers Hosts Nov. 12 In-Person Southeast Regional Watersheds Workshop In Montgomery County  [PaEN]

-- Penn State Extension Hosts Dec. 17 ACAP Webinar On Building Better Agricultural Erosion Control Plans Using PAOneStop Tools  [PaEN] 

-- Protecting Clean Water Together: Looks Okay, Smells Okay, But Is It Okay? -  By Carol Hillestad for Brodhead Watershed Association  [PaEN] 

-- Manada Conservancy, Swatara Watershed Assn. To Hold Nov. 8 Team Up To Clean Up The Raceway In Middletown Borough, Dauphin County  [PaEN] 

-- PA Master Naturalists Begin Accepting Applications For Spring Training Courses Nov. 2  [PaEN]

-- Brodhead Watershed Association: Keeping The Delaware River Wild - By Carol Hillestad for Brodhead Watershed Association  [PaEN] 

NewsClips:

-- Tribune-Democrat: Stonycreek-Conemaugh River Improvement Project Celebrates 35th Anniversary In Cambria, Somerset Counties   [PDF of Article]

-- Millersville University Blog: MU Students Teach McCaskey HS Students Watershed Science Along Conestoga River In Lancaster County  

-- WHYY - Zoe Read: Hundreds Of Rain Gardens, ‘Green’ Projects Later, What Is Philadelphia’s Next Plan To Stop Raw Sewage From Spilling Into Local Waterways?

-- Middle Susquehanna RiverKeeper Blog: Nature Book Fair Set For Dec. 12 At Montour Preserve Features Local Bookstores, Holiday Sweater Competition In Montour County 

-- Middle Susquehanna RiverKeeper Blog: New Educational Card Games Ideal For Classes Or Students Help Illustrate How Aquatic Ecosystems Work And Issues Hellbenders Face

-- Middle Susquehanna RiverKeeper Blog: Nearly 600 Fish, 22 Species Captured As Part Of Fish Rescue And Data College Project Hear Susquehanna River Dam Near Sunbury 

-- Middle Susquehanna RiverKeeper Blog: Local Data From National Study Shows Impacts Of Heat Waves On Various Common Bird Species And Highlights Benefits Of Project 

-- Middle Susquehanna RiverKeeper Blog: Participants Learn About Freshwater Mussels, Impacts Of Excess Salt On Our Waters During Floating Classroom Session

-- Warren Times: Conewango Creek Watershed Assn. Sets Nov. 12 Fall Dinner Meeting

-- WHYY: Gov. Shapiro Signs Law Requiring Home Sellers, Landlords To Disclose More About A Home’s Flood Risk

[Posted: November 1, 2026]  PA Environment Digest

Sunday PA Environment & Energy Articles - NewsClips: 11.1.26

“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

November 9, 10

-- Committee Schedule


Senate Voting Schedule

November 17, 18

-- Committee Schedule


TODAY’s Calendar Of Events 


November 3-- In-Person. Penn State Extension Volunteer Riparian Buffer Plantings. Elizabethtown, Lancaster County. 9:00 a.m.


November 4-- Agenda Posted. DEP Water Resources Advisory Committee meeting. Room 105 Rachel Carson Building. 9:30 a.m. [Draft Revisions To Chapter 105 on the agenda.]. Read more here.


November 4-- In-Person. DEP Sets Hearing [If Requested] On Reissuance Of Title V Air Quality Permit For The NLMK Pennsylvania, LLC Farrel Steel Plant In Mercer County


November 5-- CANCELED. DEP Air Quality Technical Advisory Committee meeting. Room 105 Rachel Carson Building. 9:15 a.m.


November 5-- Virtual. DCNR Grant Applicant Workshop Webinar.


November 6-- In-Person. PA Environmental Council: Laurel Highlands Conservation Landscape Gathering In Somerset County


November 7-- In-Person. PA Forestry Association Annual Forest Symposium In State College  


November 10-- Joint DEP Citizens Advisory Council + DEP Environmental Justice Advisory Board meeting. Room 105 Rachel Carson Building. 12:30 a.m. 


November 10-- In-Person. DEP meeting/hearing on renewal of NPDES Water Quality Mining Activities for the LCT Energy Rustic Ridge #1 underground coal mine in Donegal Township, Westmoreland County and Saltlick Township, Fayette County.  St. Raymond of the Mountains Parish, 170 School House Lane, Donegal. 6:00 p.m.


November 10-- Virtual. Environmental Health Project, Food & Water Watch, Partners Host Webinar On Shale Gas Fracking, Data Centers And Your Health. 7:00 p.m.



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


-- Stories You May Have Missed Last Week:  PA Environment & Energy Articles & NewsClips By Topic - November 2  [PaEN]


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


-- In Case You Missed It: A.I./Data Center Articles - NewClips From Last Week - November 2 [PaEN] 


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


-- TheDerrick.com: Journalist John Barlett, James Myers, Izaak Walton League, To Be Inducted Into Venango County Conservation Hall Of Fame  [PaEN] 


-- DEP To Review Proposed Comprehensive Changes To Chapter 105 Encroachments Permitting Regulations At Nov. 4 Water Resources Advisory Committee Meeting  [PaEN] 


-- WTAE: Underground Fire Of Unknown Origin Breaks Out In Hempfield Twp. In Westmoreland County; DEP Is Overseeing The Fire


-- WNEP: Train Rides Canceled After Part Of Road Falls Onto Tracks Near Jim Thorpe


-- WNEP: Lackawanna County Collect Household Hazardous Waste In Moosic


A.I. /Data Centers


-- Post-Gazette - Anya Litvak: Many PA Communities Are Wary Of A.I. Data Centers Representing Billionaires And Trillionaires That Are Going To Take More Money From People


Today’s Oil & Gas Violations/Inspections


-- Pennsylvania Weekly Oil & Gas Compliance Snapshot - October 24 to 30  [PaEN] 


-- DEP Issued 53 Violations To Conventional Oil & Gas Well Owners For Abandoning, Not Plugging Wells In October; Violations Top 409 So Far In 2026  [PaEN]


-- Inside Climate News - Rebecca McCarthy: PA Opens A New Loophole For Conventional Oil & Gas Wastewater Disposal   


-- Susquehanna River Basin Commission Reports Low-Flow Stream Conditions Trigger Stop To 11 Shale Gas Water Withdrawals, 7 More Put On Watch Status  [PaEN]   


International/National Impacts On PA Natural Gas

[Energy Independence Means Renewables]


-- November 1: PA Average AAA Gasoline Price Down 1 Penny Since Last Sunday $4.43/Gallon - $1.32/Gallon Higher Than On Feb. 27 [Lawrence, Warren Counties $4.68 Highest Average Price]

-- November 1: Average AAA Gasoline Prices: National- $4.17  Ohio- $4.14  PA- $4.43

-- Feb. 27: Average AAA Gasoline Prices: National- $2.98  Ohio- $2.79  PA- $3.11


-- Financial Times: Major Oil Companies Resist Pressure To Invest In New Refineries As Fuel Prices Keep Rising 


Click Here for latest PA Environmental News

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Diversity - Equity - Inclusion

[Posted: November 1, 2026]  PA Environment Digest

Stories You May Have Missed Last Week: PA Environment & Energy Articles & NewsClips By Topic - November 2

PA Environment Digest
Puts Links To The Best Environment & Energy Articles and NewsClips From Last Week Here By Topic-- 

-- 11.2.26 - PA Environment Digest - All Articles & NewsClips From This Issue By Topic


Other Handy Groups Of Articles & NewsClips From This Week--


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


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


-- In Case You Missed It: A.I./Data Center Articles - NewClips From Last Week - November 2 [PaEN] 


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


Are You Telling Your Story?  Send articles, comments to: PaEnviroDigest@gmail.com. 


CLICK HERE to View or Print the November 2 PA Environment Digest.


Photos:

-- Inside Climate News - Kyle Bagenstose: PA Legislature Is Losing Its Climate Champion, Rep. Greg Vitali Has Been An Unflinching Advocate For The Environment For 34 Years

-- Trout Unlimited Recognizes Russ Collins, Doc Fritchey Chapter, With National Distinguished Service In Conservation Award  [PaEN] 

-- TheDerrick.com: Journalist John Barlett, James Myers, Izaak Walton League, To Be Inducted Into Venango County Conservation Hall Of Fame  [PaEN] 

[Posted: November 1, 2026]  PA Environment Digest

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