+ Diaries Of The Diabolical

Video Dispatch From The Loyalsock : Water Withdrawal Point Construction October 13, 2022, another muddy sediment plume.   By Barb Jarmoska, Keep It Wild PA     ​The Loyalsock Creek, Pennsylvania’s River of the Year in 2018, is a beautiful mountain stream that travels through Lycoming County on its way to the West Branch of the Susquehanna River.  Designated an “Exceptional Value” waterway by the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), the Loyalsock provides solace, joy, adventure and a connection to the natural world to thousands of anglers, kayakers, inner-tubers, swimmers, bird watchers, photographers and sightseers.  Older generations regale with stories of summers spent at Best Beach, while water-loving folks of all ages extol the virtues of World’s End, the Haystacks, Hidden Valley and all the beloved places along the ‘Sock.  Water that dances and glimmers and sustains the lives of fish, amphibians, birds and wildlife is freely offered to all.  Those who know this creek inti

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     TUESDAY 11:30:  Senate Consumer Protection & Professional Licensure Committee hearing to consider PUC nominees Katie Zerfuss, John F. Coleman, Jr. (Incumbent) and Stephen DeFrank.  Room 461.  Click Here to watch live . TUESDAY 12:30:   Agenda Posted . DEP Citizens Advisory Council meeting.  Room 105 Rachel Carson Building. 12:30 p.m. See webpage for remote options to join the meeting.  Contact: Keith Salador, Executive Director, ksalador@pa.gov .   Read more here on the agenda . TUESDAY 6:00:  PA Association of Environmental Educators Professional Development Webinar: Setback Distances For Unconventional Shale Gas Well Pads - How Close Is Too Close?   6:00 to 7:00 p.m.   -- October 17 PA Enviro

The Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee is scheduled to meet October 18 on a variety of bills, including legislation to deny counties Act 13 drilling impact fee revenue if only 99% of the land in their county is available for shale gas drilling. The bills include-- -- Denying Drilling Impact Fees When 99% Of Land Available For Leasing: 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 . -- Philadelphia LNG Study Tasks Force:   House Bill 2458 (White-R-Philadelphia) create a taskforce to study the exportation of liquefied natural gas (LNG) to supply the energy need