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04/29/24 - 126 New Stories - REAL Environmental & Conservation Leadership In PA: http://tinyurl.com/2r9fkz4k

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Federal Office Of Surface Mining Awards PA $21.4 Million In Abandoned Mine Reclamation, Economic Revitalization Grant

On April 16, the federal Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement announced today more than $124.8 million in fiscal year 2024 abandoned mine land (AML) reclamation fee-based grants available to states and Tribes for AML reclamation efforts that continue to protect the health and safety of Americans and restore the environment.

Pennsylvania will receive $21,482,485 for abandoned mine reclamation.

“OSMRE is proud to announce the availability of the 2024 AML fee-based grants,” said OSMRE Principal Deputy Director Sharon Buccino. “These grants will ensure our state and Tribal partners have the resources needed to continue their decades of successful reclamation work on our nation’s abandoned mine land sites.”

OSMRE highlighted a Cambria County project that turned 600,00 cubic yards of abandoned coal mine refuse covering 27 acres in the South Fork Borough into a sprawling recreational area (photo).

Click Here for the complete announcement.

Visit DEP’s Abandoned Mine Reclamation webpage for more on this program.

PA Grants Available

April 22: Next Round Of Growing Greener Plus Grants Open

May 31: Commonwealth Financing Authority Act 13 Reclamation, Watershed Grants

June 3: Next Round Of Applications Due For Local Abandoned Mine Reclamation Grants

For more information on environmental programs in Pennsylvania, visit DEP’s website, Report Emergencies, Submit Environmental Complaints; Click Here to sign up for DEP’s newsletter; sign up for DEP’s eNotice; visit DEP’s Blog, Like DEP on Facebook, Follow DEP on Twitter and visit DEP’s YouTube Channel.

Related Articles - Watersheds:

-- DEP: Next Round Of Growing Greener Plus Grants Will Open April 22 [PaEN]

-- CFA Accepting Applications For Act 13 Watershed Restoration, Mine Reclamation, Sewage, Flood Mitigation, Recreation Grants [PaEN]

-- NRCS-PA Conducting Rapid Survey Of Western PA Counties To Determine Impacts Of Flooding So Far In April [PaEN]

-- NRCS-PA Is Now Accepting Applications For Regional Conservation Partnership Grants [PaEN]

-- Federal Office Of Surface Mining Awards PA $21.4 Million In Abandoned Mine Reclamation, Economic Revitalization Grant [PaEN]

-- Senate Hearing: The Case For An Immediate, Total Ban On Road Dumping Conventional Oil & Gas Wastewater [PaEN]

-- Susquehanna River Basin Commission Holds May 2 Hearing On Water Use Requests, Including 7 Shale Gas Drilling Uses In Lycoming, Susquehanna, Tioga, Wyoming Counties [PaEN]

-- DEP Invites Comments On Draft Stream Evaluation Reports In Chester, Fulton, Greene, Lancaster, Lycoming, Sullivan Counties; Including Loyalsock Creek [PaEN]

-- Delaware River Basin Commission Holds Hearing May 8, Business Meeting June 5 [PaEN]

-- Penn State Extension To Host Agricultural Conservation Conference June 4-6 In State College [PaEN]

-- Lancaster Clean Water Partners Latest Podcast Features A Conversation With EPA Regional Administrator Adam Ortiz [PaEN]

-- Registration Open! Pennsylvania Groundwater Symposium, May 23 In Harrisburg [PaEN]

-- Natural Areas Assn. Hosts 2-Part Webinar Series - Embracing The Power Of Nature For Watershed Recovery [PaEN]

-- Penn State Extension: Can You Tell If A Stream Is Healthy? Meet The Stream Doctors With Science U [PaEN]

-- Original Student 'Hellbender Defenders' Celebrate 5-Year Anniversary Of PA's Official State Amphibian And Clean Water Ambassador [PaEN]

NewsClips:

-- Chesapeake Bay Journal: EPA Provides $206 Million In Cleanup Grants For Chesapeake Bay Region

-- Forests For The Chesapeake Bay Update: Habichats Wetland Walk; Upcoming Events; Know Your Flowers

-- Chester County Press: Kennett Twp. Renews Partnership With Watershed Restoration Group To Reduce Pollution In Brandywine-Christiana Watershed

-- Tribune-Democrat: PA Master Naturalist Program To Launch In Cambria County

-- TribLive: Volunteers From West Penn Power Green Team Handing Out Free Dogwood Saplings In Jeannette April 19

-- WNEP: Volunteers Plant Trees, Clean Up Nesbitt Park In Wilkes-Barre

-- Citizens Voice: Earth Day At Nesbitt Park: Students Learn About Local Environment In Luzerne County

-- TribLive: Volunteers From West Penn Power Green Team Handing Out Free Dogwood Saplings In Jeannette April 19

-- Audubon Society Of Western Pennsylvania & Bird Town PA Partner To Create Sustainable Environment for Birds, Wildlife, People [PaEN]

-- Little Juniata River Assn.: More Than 100 Volunteers Clean Up 30 Miles Of River Banks In Huntingdon, Blair Counties [PaEN]

-- Inquirer - Frank Kummer: For 100 Years, Friends Of The Wissahickon Has Been Protecting The Park From Everything From Cars To Climate Change

-- PHL 17: ‘Wandering: Observations Of Our Watershed” Is A New Art Exhibition From Fairmount Water Works

-- Delaware RiverKeeper April 19 RiverWatch Report

[Posted: April 17, 2024]

NRCS-PA Is Now Accepting Applications For Regional Conservation Partnership Grants

On April 16, Robert Bonnie, U.S. Department of Agriculture Under Secretary for Farm Production and Conservation announced the availability of an historic $1.5 billion in fiscal year 2024 to invest in partner-driven conservation and climate solutions through the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP), as part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda.

USDA is accepting project proposals now through July 2, 2024, that will help farmers and forest landowners adopt and expand conservation strategies to enhance natural resources while tackling the climate crisis.

“These projects in turn can save farmers money, create new revenue streams, and increase productivity,” said Bonnie.

To date, Pennsylvania Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has awarded over $76 million to conservation partners through RCPP, leveraging over $107 million in partnership contributions.

This $183 million has been utilized to install and implement conservation practices on Pennsylvania’s farms and forests.

However, the demand is great among Pennsylvania’s forestry and agricultural producers; and the need to improve water quality and wildlife habitat is imperative.

Pennsylvania has over 28,000 miles of impaired streams, and over 660 species designated in greatest conservation need.

"The $1.5 Billion in RCPP highlighted by Under Secretary Bonnie will go a long way to continue to improve water quality, restore wildlife habitat, and sequester carbon," said Denise Coleman, Pennsylvania NRCS State Conservationist.

Under Secretary Bonnie encouraged Pennsylvania’s state and local agencies and nongovernmental organizations to apply for this historic, once in a generation opportunity.

Visit the Regional Conservation Partnership Program webpage for more information.