+ Diaries Of The Diabolical

Late Friday, the Department of Environmental Protection notified members of the Environmental Quality Board that Part II of the final regulation limiting volatile organic compounds and methane from conventional oil and gas facilities has been added to the agenda of the October 12 Board meeting as a final-omitted rulemaking. Part I of the regulation covering unconventional shale gas facilities was already approved by the EQB and by the Independent Regulatory Review Commission, but is opposed by Republicans in the General Assembly.  Read more here . Conventional oil and gas facilities account for 80 percent of methane emissions from the oil and gas industry in Pennsylvania because they have done little or nothing to control them.   The regulation would affect 4,719 conventional well owners of approximately 27,260 facilities. The unconventional shale gas industry accounts for 20 percent because they have implemented some controls.  Read more here . DEP said both parts of the regul

By Karl Blankenship, Chesapeake Bay Journal With its 2025 deadline a little more than three years away, environmental leaders are publicly acknowledging what’s been increasingly obvious for years — that the Chesapeake Bay region will for the third time miss a self-imposed cleanup deadline. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Chesapeake Bay Foundation recently released separate evaluations of states’ cleanup efforts, and both concluded the region is not on track to reduce the amount of water-fouling nutrients that reach the Bay. The question of what comes next is expected to be taken up by the Chesapeake Executive Council when it meets in Washington, DC, on Oct. 11. The council, which is the senior policy-making body for Bay cleanup efforts, is expected to kick off a yearlong planning process to examine next steps and new timelines for Bay restoration activities. The council includes the EPA administrator; the governors of Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Delaware, West Virgin

A two-bill package has been introduced in the House and Senate to establish new incentives for the use of fossil-fueled vehicles-- rebranded as “low emission transportation fuels”--  and eliminating rebates and grants for hybrid and electric vehicles. One set of bills amends the Alternative Fuels Incentive Act to eliminate incentives for hybrid and electric vehicles and replace them with incentives for “low emission transportation fuels”-- natural gas, renewable natural gas, propane, hydrogen, biomass and other fossil fuels-- Senate Bill 1339 (Yaw-R-Lycoming) and House Bill 2870 (Guzman-D-Berks). The other set of bills adds natural gas, renewable natural gas, propane-- rebranding them as “low emission transportation fuels” to the “biofuel” program under the Biofuel Development And Instate Production Act Program-- Senate Bill 1338 (Yaw-R-Lycoming) and House Bill 2871 (Gleim-R-Cumberland).  The sponsors said they introduced the bills-- “to create a new definition

Conservation professionals of color in the Delaware River Watershed region can join a one-year cohort led by Institute for Conservation Leadership .  The deadline to apply is October 19. Since BIPOC communities in environmental organizations operate in a space with lower representation and higher barriers to advance their careers, this pilot program is intended to create and support a cohort of young professionals in their work.  There will be special emphasis on staff from organizations in the Delaware River Watershed Initiative and other William Penn Foundation Watershed Protection Program grantees.  The cohort will have opportunities for career development, network building, and skills development to enhance and advance their professional pursuits. Click Here to apply and for all the details . (Courtesy WeConservePA .) [Posted: October 8, 2022]  PA Environment Digest

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     -- DEP Adds Final-Omitted Reg. Limiting Methane Emissions From Conventional Oil & Gas Facilities To Oct. 12 EQB Agenda   [PaEN]   -- Bay Journal: With 2025 Chesapeake Bay Cleanup Goal Out Of Reach, Region Plans For What's Next At Oct. 11 Executive Council Meeting - By Karl Blankenship, Chesapeake Bay Journal   [PaEN]   -- October 24-- House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee hearing on “fossil fuels - driving America’s economy and quality of life.”   -- Bills Establishing Incentives For Using Fossil-Fueled Vehicles Introduced In The House, Senate; Eliminates Support For Hybrid, Electric Vehicles   [PaEN]   -- WITF Smart Talk: Zero Emission Trucks Would Make Central PA Healthier; Ast