+ Diaries Of The Diabolical

The Commonwealth Financing Authority is now accepting applications for the federal American Rescue Plan funded H20 Program to support water supply, wastewater and stormwater projects.  The deadline for applications is December 21. Eligible applicants include municipalities and municipal authorities for projects that involve the acquisition, construction, improvement, expansion, or rehabilitation of all or part of a water supply, sewage disposal, or storm water system which is owned and maintained by an eligible applicant. An eligible project also includes consolidation or regionalization of two or more water supply systems, sewage disposal systems, or storm water systems which are managed or operated as an integrated system regardless of whether the system is physically connected. Infrastructure that reduces the amount of runoff that needs to be managed by traditional infrastructure is also eligible. Click Here for all the details and to apply . [Posted: October 18, 2022]  PA E

Are You Telling Your Story? Senate returns to session October 17, 18, 19 , 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: Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee meets to consider Senate Bill 1331 (Yaw-R-Lycoming) would deny counties revenue from the Act 13 drilling impact fee if they ban fracking on county-owned lands.  This is in reaction to a ban Allegheny County enacted for its park land earlier this year which makes up less than 1 percent of the land area in the county.  But the big picture is this-- 99% of land remaining in the County could be leased for shale gas drilling, but that’s not enough, apparently.  Read more here .; House Bill 2458 (White-R-Philadelphia) create a taskforce to study the exportation of liquefied natural gas (LNG) to supply the energy needs of allies around the wo

This editorial first appeared in the Republican Herald October 17, 2022 -- Cleaner air, progress against dangerous climate-warming and well-maintained highways all are in the public interest, which means that there is no guarantee that any of them will materialize in Pennsylvania — where polarization and parochial politics are more important. The state government faces a Dec. 16 federal deadline to adopt regulations controlling emissions from gas wells.  Although the rules apply primarily to a class of smog-forming gases known as volatile organic compounds, the regulation also would result in reducing emissions of methane — one of the most potent gases responsible for trapping heat in the atmosphere. Methane is what drilling companies sell as natural gas. Any captured methane would be sold, generating revenue for the companies. Gas escapes from two types of wells in Pennsylvania — “conventional” vertical wells characteristic of the state’s older drilling industry, and new “unconvention

On September 28, the Lebanon Valley Conservancy preserved a 16-acre farm in Union Township, Lebanon County, owned by Albert Minnich. The farm, located next to Swatara State Park and a large campground, has been in Albert's family for 100 years.  The property has a mature wooded area that provides a home for wildlife like deer and owls. Conserving this property allows for a continuation of lands for recreation, open space, wildlife, and scenic views.  Albert's farm is important for conservation as it falls within the Kittatinny Ridge . According to Pennsylvania Audubon , the Kittatinny Ridge-- also known as the Blue Mountain-- winds 185 miles through eastern and central Pennsylvania, to the Maryland line.  The Kittatinny Ridge is a Globally Important Bird Area for many species of songbirds, raptors and migratory birds, as well as a vital part of the migratory path for ruby-throated hummingbirds and monarch butterflies.  It also provides important forest habitat for mammals, re

On October 18, the federal Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement announced the winners of its 2022 Abandoned Mine Land (AML) Reclamation Awards .  The winning projects represent the nation’s highest achievements in abandoned mine land reclamation and demonstrate outstanding results in restoring previously mined lands. This year’s National Award, which recognizes the highest-rated reclamation project, goes to the Pennsylvania Bureau of Abandoned Mine Reclamation for the Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area – Bear Valley project.  This 88-acre project reclaimed six abandoned mine land features and constructed 6,600 feet of extreme rock-crawling and more than 9,000 feet of all-terrain vehicle trails.  A portion of the project was funded by the AML Economic Revitalization program, which provides grants to certain states and Tribes to promote economic and community development in conjunction with AML reclamation.   Click Here to watch a video about the project . “The Abandoned M