Wednesday PA Environment & Energy NewsClips 3.16.22

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House returns to session March 21, 22, 23

     -- Committee Schedule

Senate returns to session [Budget Hearings] March 28, 29, 30

     -- Committee Schedule

TODAY’s Calendar Of Events

TODAY: DEP Declares Air Quality Action Day On Wednesday, March 16 For Particulate Matter In Allegheny County 

TODAY 10:00: DEP, Wyoming Conservation District Urge Pennsylvanians To Protect Themselves From Ticks. Iroquois Trail Head, Tunkhannock.

TODAY 11:00: DEP Awards $1 Million Grant To Rail Management Services To Replace Diesel Engines At Chambersburg, Franklin County Railyard.

THURSDAY 2:30: Senate Appropriations Committee budget wrap-up with Governor’s Budget Secretary. 2:30 p.m.  Click Here to watch live.

-- Senate Resolution Offers Hope Lawmakers May Finally Be Taking The Economic And Environmental Benefits Of Developing A Rare Earth Minerals Industry Seriously In PA [PaEN]

-- Environmental Quality Board Approves Final Rule Reducing VOC/Methane Emissions From Oil & Gas Operations; Conventional Drillers Oppose  [PaEN]

-- PennLive: Drilling Crew Praised For Reducing Damage To Natural Gas Drilling Well Pad From Fire In Lycoming County, Fire Chief

-- Williamsport Sun: Firefighters Faced Unique Challenges With Fire At Natural Gas Drilling Rig In Lycoming County 

-- Mahoning Matters: Report: Oil & Gas Waste Treated At New Castle Facility Discharges Significant Amounts Of Radioactive Radium In Effluent

-- WHYY: PA DEP Is Revising Its Environmental Justice Policy, Here’s What’s Changing

-- White House To Nominate PA Native David Applegate As Director of the U.S. Geological Survey  [PaEN]

-- EPA Announces Most Energy-Efficient Manufacturing Plants Of 2022; Two In PA  [PaEN]

-- Inquirer: Gasoline Prices Driving Up Demand For Electric Vehicles, But They’re Hard To Get 

-- PA Cap-Star: Will High Gasoline Prices Get PA Drivers Out Of Their Cars And On The Bus?

-- Inquirer: Climate Prof. Michael Mann To Join University Of Pennsylvania Center For Science, Sustainability And The Media, Leaving Penn State

-- Centre Daily Times Guest Essay: No Time To Waste To Fund Climate Solutions - PennEnvironment

-- TribLive Guest Essay: Clean Energy Transition Would Break Russia’s Geopolitical Hold - Citizens’ Climate Lobby

-- Dickinson College Hosts March 24 Discussion On The Business Of Food Waste: Climate Mitigation Thru Organics Recycling  [PaEN]

-- PA Resources Council Launches 2022 Household Chemical Collect Events April 16 In Allegheny County  [PaEN]

-- WHYY: Enforcement Of Philadelphia’s Plastic Bag Ban Set To Begin April 1

-- TribLive: Springdale Business Big Hit With Furniture Made Out Of Used Wine, Whiskey Barrels

-- Schuylkill Action Network Hosts March 25 Online Showcase Of Watershed Improvement Projects In The Schuylkill Highlands  [PaEN]

-- Coalition For The Delaware River Watershed: March 16 Webinar How Faith Groups Can Install And Finance Green Infrastructure. 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. 

-- WHYY/Billy Penn: Winter Road Salt A Threat To Philly’s Waterways, Wildlife, Plants; Officials Searching For Alternatives

-- Inquirer - Frank Kummer: Septic Truck Releases At Least 500 Gallons Of Raw Sewage In Chester County Borough

-- WBTimes: PA American Water Lifts Boil Water Advisory In Kingston Twp

-- PG Guest Essay: PA Senate Bill Would Protect PA From Legionnaires Outbreaks In Drinking Water

-- TribLive Editorial: Glass Plant Pullout Leaves Locals Drowning In Water Bills

-- ScrantonT: Luzerne Flood Authority Levee Fee Reduced, Levee System Receives Highest Rating

-- DEP Took Action On 497 Permits, 96% Within Permit Decision Guarantee Deadlines;  Conducts 946 Inspections; Responded To 4 Environmental Emergencies Last Week

 

-- PA Sustainable Agriculture, Chatham University: New Study Shows Direct-To-Consumer Markets Demonstrated Resilience, Growth During Pandemic  [PaEN]

-- Berks Nature To Open New Rooftop Addition, Event Venue - The Rookery - At The Nature Place In Reading  [PaEN]

-- DCNR Conservation & Natural Resources Advisory Council Meets March 23 On Forest Management In State Parks, DCNR’s Budget Proposal  [PaEN]

-- DCNR Celebrates Induction Of Sweet Root Natural Area In Bedford County Into National Old-Growth Forest Network  [PaEN]

-- DCNR Announces $500,000 Grant For FDR Park In Philadelphia; Apply Now For DCNR Grants 

-- WESA: New DCNR Rules Force Pittsburgh’s Arts Festival To Relocate From Point State Park To The Cultural District

-- TribLive: DCNR Adopts New Rules For Using Pittsburgh’s Point State Park For Large Events

-- Save Pennsylvania's Forests Hosts March 23 Get To Know Your Forests Webinar On Tioga State Forest, Noon

-- Penn State: From Museum To Laptop: Visual Leaf Library A New Tool For Identifying Plants

-- TribLive - Mary Ann Thomas: Murrysville PixCams Brings Live Footage Of Wildlife And More Into Homes 

-- ErieT: Volunteers At 58 State Parks Build, Maintain Bird Boxes For A Variety Of Species - Video

-- Inquirer Guest Essay: To Relieve Stress And Stay Grounded, Take A Cue From Amphibians

-- PennLive - Marcus Schneck: Why Are Some Worried ‘Technological Creep’ Is Destroying Our Fishing?

-- Republican Herald - Pat Mckinney: Outdoors Enthusiasts Say ‘It’s About Time’ With Arrival Of Daylight Savings Time

True Energy Independence Means Renewables

[Our Dependence On Oil/Natural Gas Is Being Used As A Weapon Against Us - Again]

-- TribLive Guest Essay: Clean Energy Transition Would Break Russia’s Geopolitical Hold - Citizens’ Climate Lobby

-- Centre Daily Times Guest Essay: No Time To Waste To Fund Climate Solutions - PennEnvironment

-- PG/CQ-RollCall: Drill, Baby, Drill? Not So Fast, Say Crash-Wary Energy Investors

-- Reuters: EU Leaders Back Urgently Refilling Natural Gas Stores For Next Winter In Draft Summit Statement For Next Week; Commission To Publish Detailed Plan In May

-- The Economist: Today’s Oil Shock Pales In Comparison With Those Of Yesteryear

American Rescue Plan Funding

 

-- $11 Billion In Federal American Rescue Plan Funding To PA State Government, Local Governments Has Yet To Be Invested.  What’s Your Community Doing?

 

Bipartisan Federal Infrastructure Law

 

-- Wolf Administration Previews 2022 Pittsburgh Region Construction Season And Impact Of Federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Funding

 

-- TribLive: PennDOT To Spend $317 Million On Bipartisan Infrastructure Funded Projects In Pittsburgh Region

PA Politics - Everything Is Connected

-- PA Cap-Star: Early Guide To PA’s Governor’s, U.S. Senate Primary Election

-- AP: Stampede To File Nomination Petitions For Governor, U.S. Senate, Lt. Gov. Before Deadline

-- Inquirer: Bill McSwain ‘Put Himself Front And Center’ As U.S. Attorney In Philly, Now He Wants To Be PA Governor

-- AP: Republican Ex-Hedge Fund CEO Running For U.S. Senate Aims To Be Hometown Boy

-- PG: Sean Parnell Stumps For Republican U.S. Candidate Dave McCormick At Rally In Pittsburgh

-- CourierT: Republican Rep. Farry To Run For Tomlinson’s Senate Seat

-- Independent Fiscal Office Finds House Republican Proposals To ‘Reform’ Corporate Tax Laws Will Cost The State From $30 to $200 Million A Year 

-- Wolf Administration Highlights Equal Pay Day, Calls For Pay Equity For Pennsylvanians

-- Spotlight PA: Joins 4 State Newsrooms In Fighting Alleged First Amendment Violations In Reviewing York County Court Records

-- WITF: Mixed Drinks To-Go Could Be Back On The Menu At PA Bars, Restaurants

-- ScrantonT: Support Growing For Proposed State, Federal Gasoline Tax Relief [Won’t work as long as there is no limit on what oil companies can charge you]

-- PA Cap-Star: Senate, House Republican Education Committee Members Urge Rejection Of Wolf Administration Private Charter School Accountability Regulations

-- City & State PA: Wolf’s Private Charter School Regulations Face Opposition From Republican Lawmakers

-- MCall - Ford Turner: PA Teacher Certifications Drop 66%, Official Says Supply Of New Educators At ‘Breaking Point’

-- TribLive: Debate Continues On Racism, Critical Race Theory In Westmoreland School District

-- MCall: Sign In School Classroom- ‘You Belong. You Matter. We Are All Southern Lehigh’-- Sparked Complaints About Inappropriate Commentary

-- Inquirer: Merger Of 6 State-Owned Universities Gets OK By Accrediting Body

-- TribLive: BotsIQ Brings Manufacturing, Teamwork To Westmoreland Community College

-- ErieT: Erie Community College Board Hires Familiar Lobbyist

-- WHYY: How Do We Get To The Pandemic’s ‘Next Normal’?

-- TribLive: With Driver Shortages Because Of Vaccine Mandate, Pittsburgh Transit Offers Free Rides

-- PG: Pittsburgh Man’s Killing In Venango County Ruled Justified By County DA

-- AP: Playground Gunfire During Fight Kills 1, Hurts 3 On Playground, No Arrests

-- PennLive: Amid Recent Homicides, Harrisburg Residents Meet Again To Talk About Curbing Gun Violence

-- WHYY: PA Faces ‘Historic Shortage Of Police;’ AG Shapiro, Philly Police Commissioner Call On Harrisburg For Help

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[Posted: March 16, 2022]  PA Environment Digest