Monday PA Environment & Energy NewsClips 10.24.22

Are You Telling Your Story?

Warning! Last Voting Days This Session!  Hold Onto Your Butts! (And Tax Money!)

Senate returns to session October 24, 25, 26, November 15 [Adjourn for year]

     -- Committee Schedule

House returns to session October 24, 25, 26, November 14, 15, 16 [Adjourn for year]

     -- Committee Schedule

TODAY’s Calendar Of Events 

 

TODAY 9:30: House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee hearing on “fossil fuels - driving America’s economy and quality of life.”  Room G-50 Irvis Building. 9:30 a.m.  Click Here to watch live.

TODAY Call Of Chair: House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee meets to consider Senate Bill 806 (Yaw-R-Lycoming) further providing for disclosures on statements to oil and gas royalty interest owners and Senate Bill 1255 (Pittman-R-Indiana) revising the regulation to require oil and oil filters in diesel-powered equipment in underground coal mines. Room 60 East Wing. Call of the Chair. Click Here to watch live.

TODAY thru WEDNESDAY-- Dickinson College Host International Climate Symposium.  Dickinson College Campus, Cumberland County.  Live streams available.

 

-- October 24 PA Environment Digest Now Available  [PaEN]

 

-- Post-Gazette: Allegheny County Health Dept. Extends Air Pollution Warning For Mon Valley Through Monday Morning

 

-- DEP/SRBC Permit Notices -- Oil & Gas Industrial Facilities  [PaEN]

 

-- Erie Times: Fetterman, Dr. Oz Have At Least One Thing In Common To Critics: They’ve Waffled On Fracking

 

-- Williamsport Sun Editorial: We Need More Drilling, More Pipelines, More Refineries As Families Struggle With Higher Heating Bills

 

-- Environmental Health News: A Guide To Environmental Health In Southwestern PA

 

-- Warren Times: Residents With Private Water Wells Encouraged To Attend Penn State Extension Program, Have Water Tested

 

-- Westmoreland Land Trust, WeConservePA Host Site Visit To Ongoing Conservation Of Schwarz Farm  [PaEN]

 

-- Chesapeake Bay Journal - Karl Blankenship: Civilian Conservation Corps: Tough Times Led To Lasting Legacies At Chesapeake Bay Region’s Parks

 

6th Oil/Natural Gas Spike: True Energy Independence Means Renewables

[There Is No Limit To What Oil/Natural Gas Industry Can Make You Pay]

-- Williamsport Sun Editorial: We Need More Drilling, More Pipelines, More Refineries As Families Struggle With Higher Heating Bills

-- Bloomberg: European Natural Gas Prices Slump On Mild Weather, Ample Supplies

 

-- Reuters: Oil Prices Drop As China Demand Data Disappoints

 

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?

 

Other States/National/International

-- The Guardian: Only 5% Of Plastic Waste Generated In U.S. Recycled, Report Says

PA Politics - Everything Is Connected

-- WESA: Increase State Funding For Schools Or Cut It In Half?  How The Next PA Governor Could Shape Education

-- PA Capital-Star: Fmr Republican Strategist Says PA Governor’s Race ‘Critical To Protecting Our Democracy’

-- The Guardian: Is PA Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Mastriano Backed By Ex-President Election Denier Too Extreme To Win? 

-- PennLive: In Red PA, Voting Has Become A Choice Of ‘Good vs. Evil’: Election 2022

-- PA Capital-Star: What State Legislative Races The Capital-Star Is Watching

-- WHYY: How Are PA’s Biggest Campaigns Reaching Latino Voters?

-- Erie Times: Fetterman, Dr. Oz Have At Least One Thing In Common To Critics: They’ve Waffled On Fracking

-- WSJ: Immigration Becomes Key Issue In Cartwright-Bognet Congressional Race

-- MCall: All Lehigh County Ballot Drop Box Locations Available Starting Today

-- Citizens Voice: Democratic Voter Registration In Luzerne County Spiked After Abortion Ruling

-- York Dispatch Editorial: Republican Candidates Didn’t Show Up At NAACP Political Forum

-- PA Capital-Star Guest Essay: If PA Republicans Were Serious About Crime In Philly, They’d Actually Fight It

-- Post-Gazette: Report: More PA Teachers Hired Under Emergency Permits Than Received Formal Certifications

-- Courier Times: 1,900+ Ukrainian Refugees Look To Settle In Bucks County

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[Posted: October 24, 2022]  PA Environment Digest

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US Geological Survey Pennsylvania Waters Fall 2022

Diariesofthediabolical.blogspot.com - The USGS Pennsylvania Water Science Center Fall 2022 Pennsylvania Waters newsletter featuring these articles--

-- Drought Watch Remains For 20 Counties In PA, Lifted For 16 -- USGS Pennsylvania Groundwater Watch [Adams, Chester, Montgomery, Philadelphia, Pike Counties] -- USGS Works With Partners In 15 Cities To Improve Urban Waterways [Philadelphia] -- Long-Term Impacts Of Impervious Surface Change, Roadway Deicing Agent Application On Chloride Concentrations In SE PA Suburban Watersheds -- Flights Above Mid-Atlantic States Map Geology -- Hydrogeologic Study Valmont TCE Superfunding Site, Luzerne County -- Groundwater Quality In Selected Stream Valley Aquifers, Eastern U.S. -- USGS Education Tool Better Illustrates Role Humans Play In Water Availability Visit the Pennsylvania Waters Newsletter webpage for past issues and to sign up for your own copy. For more information on USGS water research in Pennsylvania, visit the USGS Pennsylvania Water Science Center webpage.

5 Counties in the region were included in the drought watch issued by Pa.

Readingeagle.com - The state Department of Environmental Protection has declared a drought watch for 36 counties — including Berks, Delaware, Lehigh, Montgomery and Schuylkill — as officials ask for voluntary water conservation in those counties.

“A few counties have experienced very dry conditions over the summer, and a number of others have inched into increasingly dry conditions in recent weeks,” DEP Acting Secretary Ramez Ziadeh said in a release Wednesday. “We’re asking Pennsylvanians in all of these counties to use water wisely and follow simple water conservation tips to ease the demand for water.” The Middle Atlantic River Forecast Center, a division of the National Weather Service, shows significant departures from normal for the named counties for the past 60 days and for the past 90 days.

Montgomery County has the lowest rainfall total over the past 90 days at about 60% of normal, with the other counties not doing much better.

The rainfall totals are from the measurements taken at airfields in the counties and other local sites, massaged by a hydrologist. Nearby Chester and Lancaster counties are near normal and not a part of the alert, showing the hit-and-miss nature of thunderstorms. A squall line crossed the region Tuesday, providing a drink for some areas. The AccuWeather forecast offers no relief, showing sunny and dry conditions across the region for a week. In addition to the five counties in the region, the following counties are on drought watch: Bucks, Bradford, Cameron, Carbon, Centre, Clearfield, Clinton, Columbia, Dauphin, Juniata, Lackawanna, Lebanon, Luzerne, Lycoming, McKean, Mifflin, Monroe, Montour, Northampton, Northumberland, Perry, Philadelphia, Pike, Potter, Snyder, Sullivan, Susquehanna, Tioga, Union, Wayne, and Wyoming. Officials said that residents in the 36 counties are asked to reduce their individual water use by 5% to 10%, or a reduction of three to six gallons of water per day. The department said it is notifying water suppliers in these counties that they need to monitor their supplies and update their drought contingency plans as necessary. The DEP noted that water suppliers or municipalities may ask residents for more stringent conservation actions depending on their local conditions. Conserving at home The department offered the following tips to conserve household water usage: • Run water only when necessary. Don’t let the faucet run while brushing your teeth or shaving. Shorten the time you let the water run to warm up before showering. • Run the dishwasher and washing machine less often and with full loads. • Water your garden in the cooler evening or morning hours, and direct the water to the ground at the base of the plant, so you don’t waste water through evaporation. • Water your lawn only if necessary. Apply no more than 1 inch of water per week (use an empty can determine how long it takes to water 1 inch). Avoid watering on windy and hot days. This pattern will encourage healthier, deeper grassroots. Overwatering is wasteful, encourages fungal growth and disease, and results in shallow, compacted root systems more susceptible to drought. • When mowing your lawn, set the blades to 2-3 inches high. Longer grass shades the soil, improving moisture retention. It also grows thicker and develops a deeper root system to better survive drought. • Check for and repair household leaks. For example, a leaking toilet can waste up to 200 gallons of water daily. • Sweep your sidewalk, deck or driveway instead of hosing it off. • Replace older appliances with high-efficiency, front-loading models that use about 30% less water and 40% to 50% less energy. • Install low-flow plumbing fixtures and aerators on faucets. • Set up a rain barrel to be ready to repurpose rain when it does fall.

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Senate Committee Meets Oct. 25 On Bills Rebranding Fossil Fuels As ‘Low Emission,’ Eliminating Incentives For EVs; EHB Nominee Sarah Clark; Info Meeting On SB 1225

The Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee is scheduled to meet October 25 on legislation to rebrand fossil fuels as “low emission” vehicle fuels and end state incentives for hybrid and electric vehicles.

The Committee will also consider the Governor’s nomination of Sarah Clark to the Environmental Hearing Board.

The bills include--

-- Rebranding Fossil Fuels:  Senate Bill 1338 (Yaw-R-Lycoming) and Senate Bill 1339 (Yaw-R-Lycoming) which try to rebrand fossil fuels like natural gas, propane into “low emission transportation fuels” and eliminate rebates and incentives for hybrid and electric vehicles.  Read more here.

-- Well Plugging Bill, Again: House Bill 2528 (Struzzi-R-Indiana) that would mandate DEP award conventional oil and gas well plugging contracts to Pennsylvania contractors-- with no regard for cost to taxpayers-- is on the Committee agenda again even though it was reported out of Committee October 18.  Read more here. It will be amended to again deal with conventional oil and gas well bonding from House Bill 2644 that fails to hold drillers accountable for well plugging.  Read more here.

Info Meeting

Immediately after the Committee business meeting, an information meeting will be held on Senate Bill 1125 (Pittman-R-Indiana) creating a Legionnaires’ Disease Drinking Water Risk Management Program.

Click Here for information meeting agenda.

The Committee meeting will be held in Room 8E-B East Wing starting at 10:00 a.m.  Click Here to watch live.

Sen. Gene Yaw (R-Lycoming) serves as Majority Chair of the Senate Environmental Committee and can be contacted by calling 717-787-3280 or sending email to: gyaw@pasen.gov.   Sen. Carolyn Comitta (D-Chester) serves as Minority Chair and can be contacted by calling 717-787-5709 or sending email to: senatorcomitta@pasenate.com.

[Posted: October 24, 2022]  PA Environment Digest

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DEP Urges Residents To Recycle Household Goods, Clothing Which Make Up 10% Of Municipal Waste Stream; Launches Circular Merchant Platform App

On October 24, the Department of Environmental Protection and guests reminded Pennsylvania subjectsthat recycling unwanted, gently used items commonly found in households, such as furniture and clothing, is an effective strategy to curb pollution. 

The site of the announcement was in the Midtown neighbourhood of Harrisburg at NEON Vintage & Thrifts, located inside the Urban Snob building at 1006 N. Third Street, Harrisburg, Pa. 17102." "Pennsylvanians have an opportunity around them to curb pollution, and they can start by looking in their closets and around their homes"" said Acting DEP Secretary Ramez Ziadeh.

DEP estimates that approximately 10% of the municipal waste stream, or approximately 500,000 tons, comprises textiles, furniture, and other household goods.

Circular Merchant Platform" "The potential for recovering much of this waste for recycling/reuse is great"" said DEP Manager of the Division of Waste Minimization and Planning Lawrence Holley.

A resource for Pennsylvanians looking for direction and insight on how to properly recycle their household items is the Circular Merchant web platform and mobile application developed by the Pennsylvania Recycling Markets Center. 

Circular Merchant is an online exchange platform where interested citizens, businesses, or public officials can post recycled items and materials for others who may be interested in acquiring these items. 

Circular Merchant is equipped with smart device capabilities such that photos can be immediately uploaded; built-in mapping is available to locate the desired pick-up or send locations, and emails are automatically sent to notify interested parties of postings. 

The mobile application is available in mobile app stores. With the intent of finding real-time solutions for recycled materials and items, the Pennsylvania Recycling Markets Center, with funding from DEP, launched the Circular Merchant platform." "We can now benefit from using Circular Merchant, especially when our economy favours the reuse and recycling of goods and materials," said PRMC President and CEO Robert Bylone, Jr.

Shopping AtSecondhandd Retailers

Launches Circular Merchant Platform App

DEP urges Pennsylvanians to be mindful of ways they can reduce, reuse, and recycle household goods and clothing. One consideration could be shopping at secondhand retailers. Secondhand retailers sell previously used items.

In Harrisburg, secondhand retailers NEON Vintage & Thrifts, Stash Vintage, and The Midtown Dandy offer the following advice to Pennsylvanians who want to supportsecondhandd retailing." favouriterite part about being a secondhand curator is showing people how much can be found at the thrift store"" said Alana Cornish, owner of NEON Vintage & Thrifts." "The thrift store, for some, can be overwhelming and intimidating to shop with aisles upon aisles of merchandise. Still, suppose you go in with a plan. In that case, it can cut down on much of the anxiety"" ""A good starting place when buyingsecondhandd clothing is, to begin with, the basics—having basics in your wardrobe maximizes flexibility when putting together an outfit. Plus, essential items such as jeans, blue or black trousers, and white button-down shirts may be of better quality depending on the date and era of the garment.

Typically, the older the date, i.e .," vintages is better quality than big box stores selling fast fashion. A good motto to remember is:''ifit'ss from the past, it will last," which cuts down on clothing going to landfills,"" Cornish said." "When purchasing secondhand items, concentrate on which type of retailer might be best equipped to help support you"" said Anela Bence, owner of Stash Vintage." "If you're looking for something vintage (25 years or older), or from a specific decade with a distinct style, visit a local vintage shop or collaborative. You will save a lot of time going straight to a vendor who specializes in vintage.

If you're looking for newer or modern pieces and have the time to do so, check local thrift stores or consignment shops. Apps, an online marketplace specializing in secondhand items, or popular sites like eBay are the way to go when looking for something very specific or items made by a particular designer. They can also be great for online window shopping"" "Secondhand/vintage shopping is a very environmentally-conscious way to make an impact with your dollars.

First, it keeps discarded clothing out of landfills"" said Andrew Kintz, owner of The Midtown Dandy." "By shopping secondhand, you keep these clothing items in the cycle""" "Mending/repairing is another way to keep your clothing around longer. Adding a patch or mending a torn seam or hole adds a battle scar" to your piece, carrying memories along with it. One thing to keep in mind regarding donation - if you donate damaged or stained clothing, the charities will likely just dispose of it. If you can mend/repair clothing, it has a better chance of lasting longer.

Tailors/seamstresses are a very inexpensive way to keep your clothing looking great and lasting longer and can also be used to keep your clothing longer if you grow out of them"" Kintz said." "Vintage clothing by and large is usually constructed better and tends to last longer. A piece that has been around since, say, the 1970s has obviously stood the test of time and will last for years to come, where as a modern, fast-fashion piece may last a couple wears before it begins to fall apart, resulting in its quick disposal"" Kintz said.

The Midtown Dandy and Stash Vintage are located at 11 S. Third Street, Harrisburg, Pa., 17101.

Neon Vintage & Thrifts is located inside the Urban Snob building. Urban Snob, a fashion boutique, is owned by fashion maven Dimitra Diggs.

VisitDEP'ss Recycling In Pennsylvania webpage to learn more about waste reduction, recycling and reuse.

For more information on environmental programs in Pennsylvania, visiter its website. Click Here to sign up Forde's its newsletter, sign up for DEP Connects events, sign upfor Forde's eNotice, visitDEP'ss its Blog,  Like DEP on Facebook, Follow DEP on Twitter and visiter's YouTube Channel.

[Posted: October 24, 2022]  PA Environment Digest

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