PA Environment Digest Blog: Thursday 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]

House Voting Schedule

September 28, 29, 30

October 5, 6, 7, 19, 20, 21

November 9, 10

-- Committee Schedule

Senate Voting Schedule

September 28, 29, 30

October 5, 6, 7, 19, 20, 21

November 17, 18

-- Committee Schedule

TODAY’s Calendar Of Events

TODAY Noon: Virtual. DEP, PHFA Webinar On New Homeowner Energy Efficiency Loan Program To Reduce Your Energy Costs. Noon.

September 25-- Agenda Posted. DEP Low-Level Radioactive Waste Advisory Committee meeting. Room 105 Rachel Carson. 10:00 a.m. (formal notice)

September 26-- In-Person. Heroes' Walk At Flight 93 National Memorial In Somerset County

September 28-- NEW. House Local Government Committee meets to consider Senate Bill 1287 (Keefer-R-York) requiring proof of adequate water supply before final land development approval. Room 515 Irvis Building. 11:00 a.m. Click Here to watch online.

September 29-- NEW. House Consumer Protection, Technology & Utilities Committee meets to consider House Bill 2584 (Fiedler-D-Philadelphia) requiring a user-friendly public record of utility rate increases; House Bill 2674 (Pielli-D-Chester) prohibiting data centers from obtaining public utility status. Room 523 Irvis Building. 10:00 a.m. Click Here to watch online.

September 29-- NEW. Virtual. DEP Office Of Environmental Justice: Webinar On Hazardous Sites Cleanup Program, Act 2 Land Recycling Program. 4:00 p.m.

September 29-- Virtual. Penn State Extension Backyard Stream Repair Webinars (3 of 5) - Choosing Your Plants For Your Stream. 10:00 to 11:30 p.m.

September 29 to Oct. 2-- In-Person. Swarthmore Fungi Fest.

September 30-- Agenda Added. House Energy Committee meets to consider House Bill 2755 (Pielli-D-Chester) requiring investor-owned utilities to join PJM to eliminate a “windfall” payment utilities receive at ratepayer expense; House Bill 2775 (Donahue-D-Lackawanna) to reduce development of speculative data center proposals, the legislation requires data center applicants seeking local zoning or land-use approval to demonstrate that they have submitted an interconnection application with the applicable electric utility provider and paid all mandatory fees and costs associated with the application; House Bill 2791 (Takac-D-Centre) provide an option for utilities and developers to co-locate electric transmission lines along certain PennDOT rights-of-ways; House Resolution 564 (Freeman-D-Lehigh) directs the Joint State Government commission to investigate how heat from data centers can be captured and repurposed to improve energy efficiency, lower operating costs and reduces waste head emissions. Room 205 Ryan Building. 9:30 a.m. Click Here to watch online.

September 30-- Agenda Posted. DEP Sewage Advisory Committee meeting. Room 105 Rachel Carson. 9:00 a.m.

September 30-- In-Person. Beaver County Marcellus Awareness Community meeting on Sherwin Williams Facility. Rochester Riverfront Park, Rochester. 6:00 p.m.

October 5-- NEW. House Environmental and Natural Resource Protection Committee holds a hearing on road spreading oil and gas wastewater and DEP’s new “mineral brine” conventional well permit. Room 205 Ryan Building. 10:00 a.m. Click Here to watch online. Read background here.

October 14-- In-Person. DEP Public Meeting/Hearing On Major Amendment To Water Quality Permit For Homer City Data Center/Power Plant Complex In Indiana County. Homer Center High School Auditorium, 70 Wildcat Lane, Homer City. 5:00 to 7:30 p.m.

-- DCNR To Update Mineral Extraction Policy On Lands It Owns In Response To Interest In Extracting Minerals, Other Than Oil & Gas; No Public Comment Period Planned [PaEN]

-- US EPA Invites Comments On Reissuance Of Expired EXCO Resources (PA) Oil & Gas Waste Injection Well Permit In Bell Twp., Clearfield County; Virtual Hearing Set For Oct. 27 [If Requested] [PaEN]

-- Inside Climate News - Marie Cusick: In Rural Pennsylvania, Doctors Confront Hidden Health Impacts Of Environmental Pollution, Extreme Weather

-- PUC Commissioner Zerfuss Reappointed To National Federal And State Current Issues Collaborative On Reliability, Infrastructure, Markets & Technology

-- WVIA: President’s Executive Order Does Not Cancel Stormwater Fees For Luzerne County Communities

-- Scranton Times: TV Ad By Republican Congressman Bresnahan Claims On Stormwater Fee Are Murky, Ethically Questionable

-- Observer-Reporter: Marianna Outdoorsmen Assn. Files Lawsuit Against PennDOT, DEP For Violating Clean Streams Law Over Damage To Ten Mile Creek In Washington County

-- Chesapeake Bay Foundation: PA Congressional District Office Staff Visit Lancaster County Farm To Highlight The Importance Of Investing In Farm Conservation Projects

-- DEP Fines A&M Composting $700,000 For Waste, Water Violations Related To Fires At The Facility In Penn Twp., Lancaster County

-- Republican Herald: Nov. 5 DEP Hearing Set On Natural Soil Products Permit; Schuylkill County Zoning Hearing On NSP Facility Nov. 10

-- PA Resources Council/Allegheny CleanWays Eco Scouts Workshop Series Provides Solutions For Real Life As Scouts Of All Ages Work To Save Money, Reduce Waste, Create Healthier, Cleaner Communities [PaEN]