PA Environment Digest Blog: Sunday PA Environment & Energy Articles

“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]

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has." -- Pennsylvania's Margaret Mead, World Renowned Cultural Anthropologist

Senate Voting Schedule

October 20, 21, 22, 27, 28, 29

November 17, 18, 19

December 8, 9, 10

-- Committee Schedule

House Voting Schedule

October 27, 28, 29

November 17, 18, 19

December 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, 17

-- Committee Schedule

TODAY’s Calendar Of Events

WARNING: This Is Budget Season, Watch Out For Anything!

October 20-- NEW. Senate Environmental Resources & Energy Committee meets to consider Senate Bill 1068 (Yaw-R-Lycoming + Senate Republican Caucus) to “abrogate” the carbon pollution reduction program reducing emissions from power plants (RGGI). [Note: Legislation like this-- Senate Bill 186-- passed the Senate February 4 by a party-line vote-- Republicans supporting-- but went nowhere in the House. RGGI was adopted as a regulation by DEP in April 2022 and has never been implemented due to still pending court challenges.] Senate Rules Room. Off the Floor. [No video coverage.]

October 20-- NEW. Senate Intergovernmental Operations Committee meets to consider Senate Bill 6 (Phillips-Hill-R-York) establishing deadlines and review procedures across all state agency permits, permit renewals and transfers, requiring the establishment of a permit tracking system and a third-party review of permits program in all agencies for all permits. [Note: DEP has already done this. The bill is a monumental make-more-work initiative masquerading as a solution to permitting issues. Watch for amendments.] Senate Rules Room. Off the Floor. [No video coverage.]

October 21-- Agenda Posted. DEP Climate Change Advisory Committee meeting. 9:00 a.m. [Agenda- Climate Change and Extreme Weather]

October 22-- House Energy Committee holds hearing on regulation of A.I. data centers by the Public Utility Commission. Room G-50 Irvis Building. 11:00 a.m. Click Here to watch live.

October 22-- Agenda Posted. DEP Cleanup Standards Scientific Advisory Board meeting. 9:30 a.m. [Agenda-- PFAS Team Update, Chromium rulemaking]

October 23-- Agenda Posted. DEP Mining and Reclamation Advisory Board meeting. 10:00 a.m.

October 23-- Virtual. Dept. of Agriculture Controlled Plant & Noxious Week Committee meeting to consider adding 6 plants to Noxious Weed List. 1:00 p.m. (formal notice & agenda)

-- 164 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]

-- In Case You Missed It: A.I./Data Center Articles - NewClips From Last Week - October 20 [PaEN]

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

-- PA Oil & Gas Weekly Compliance Dashboard - Oct. 4 to 17: Shale Gas Driller Fails To Restore Impoundment, Well Pad For 2,463 Days; Pipeline Permits Withdrawn For Noncompliance; Massive Pad Project Has Multiple E &S Violations [PaEN]

-- Post-Gazette - Mary Ann Thomas: Duquesne Light Pauses Plan For Cutting 300+ Trees Along Irwin Run Trail To Service One Home Near North Park In Allegheny County

A.I. /Data Centers

-- TribLive: A Guide To Upcoming Springdale A.I. Data Center Hearings In Allegheny County