EnviroPolitics Blog

Curious scramble for a look, and hike, up Pa.’s last private mountain

Backpackers on Pennsylvania’s Miller Mountain enjoy the view from a gas pipeline swath.Ad Crable

By Ad Crable, Bay Journal

Miller Mountain, the last privately owned, freestanding mountain in Pennsylvania, will not be a ski resort or junkyard. Nor will it carry a bypass around the Susquehanna River town of Tunkhannock, which it has long watched over.

In late December, Pinchot State Forest took ownership of the 2,500 acres of mostly forested land and opened them for hiking, camping, photographic vistas, mountain biking, hunting, wildlife management and other passive recreational uses that are the mission of the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. As with other state forests, sustainable timber harvesting will also be allowed.

Part of the vast Appalachian Mountains, Miller Mountain is the highest peak in the area, at 2,216 feet. Just west of the Pocono Plateau, it serves as the eastern gateway to the state’s Endless Mountains and can be seen from almost anywhere in the region.

A backpacker takes a photo from a vista on Pennsylvania’s Miller Mountain. The spot was once to be a launching spot for a ski slope. Ad Crable photo

The mountain stands out because it is not attached to any ridge. “I feel its biggest attraction is it’s a landscape level acquisition. It’s not half a mountain. It’s like a sugar bowl sitting on its own,” said Nicholas Lylo, district forester of Pinchot State Forest.

And, added Timothy Latz, assistant district forester, it’s “one-stop shopping” for a wide variety of habitats.

Read full story here

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EnviroPolitics Weekend Legislative Report for February 12, 2024

Editor’s Note: We are experiencing technical difficulties that delayed the publication of this report and altered its normal format.

New Jersey Legislative Report for February 12, 2024

Bill: A3577
Sponsors: Collazos-Gill (D27)
Summary: Provides CBT credit for the development of anaerobic digestion facilities that process food waste.
History: 02/08/2024 — Introduced and referred to Assembly Environment, Natural Resources and Solid Waste Committee.

Bill: A3633
Sponsors: Murphy (D7)
Summary: Establishes School Plastics Upcycling Grant Program in DEP to provide proportional awards to eligible schools based on pro rata share of plastics collected, by each school, for upcycling purposes; appropriates $5 million.
History: 02/08/2024 — Proposed for introduction.

Bill: A3645
Sponsors: Calabrese (D36)
Summary: Establishes low-carbon transportation fuel standard program in DEP.
History: 02/08/2024 — Proposed for introduction.

Bill: A3697
Sponsors: Spearman (D5); Park (D37)
Summary: Appropriates $500,000 from constitutionally dedicated CBT revenues and “2009 Farmland Preservation Fund” to State Agriculture Development Committee for municipal planning incentive grants for farmland preservation purposes.
History: 02/08/2024 — Proposed for introduction.

Bill: A3698
Sponsors: Reynolds-Jackson (D15); Freiman (D16)
Summary: Appropriates $1.723 million from constitutionally dedicated CBT revenues and “2009 Farmland Preservation Fund” to State Agriculture Development Committee for grants to certain nonprofit organizations for farmland preservation purposes.
History: 02/08/2024 — Proposed for introduction.

Bill: ACR114
Sponsors: Murphy (D7)
Summary: Urges DEP and EDA to establish plastics recycling marketplace.
History: 02/08/2024 — Proposed for introduction.

Bill: S209
Sponsors: Smith (D17); Pou (D35) +1
Summary: Provides CBT tax credit for retrofit of existing warehouses with solar-ready zone once solar panels are installed.
History: 01/09/2024 — Introduced and referred to Senate Environment and Energy Committee.
02/05/2024 — Reported out of committee, 2nd reading in Senate. Referred to Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee.

Bill: S212
Sponsors: Smith (D17); Greenstein (D14)
Summary: Directs BPU to update interconnection standards for Class I renewable energy sources and develop fixed fee structure for interconnection costs.
History: 01/09/2024 — Introduced and referred to Senate Economic Growth Committee.
01/29/2024 — Transferred to Senate Environment and Energy Committee.
02/05/2024 — Reported out of committee, 2nd reading in Senate. Referred to Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee.

Bill: S225
Sponsors: Smith (D17); Greenstein (D14) +1
Summary: Establishes incentive program for installation of energy storage systems.
History: 01/09/2024 — Introduced and referred to Senate Environment and Energy Committee.
02/05/2024 — Reported out of committee, 2nd reading in Senate. Referred to Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee.

Bill: S1392 Sca (1R)
Sponsors: Singleton (D7); McKeon (D27) +9
Summary: Establishes Office of Clean Energy Equity in BPU; directs the establishment of certain clean energy, energy efficiency, and energy storage programs for overburdened communities; makes change to community solar program.
History: 01/09/2024 — Introduced and referred to Senate Environment and Energy Committee.
02/05/2024 — Reported out of committee with committee amendments, 2nd reading in Senate. Referred to Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee.

Bill: S2557
Sponsors: Steinhardt (R23)
Summary: Establishes requirements for the sale and planting of running bamboo; requires recordkeeping of certain violations and consideration thereof as grounds for license or registration review.
History: 02/08/2024 — Introduced and referred to Senate Environment and Energy Committee.

Bill: S2592
Sponsors: Bucco (R25)
Summary: Creates alternate voting members on county agriculture development boards.
History: 02/08/2024 — Introduced and referred to Senate Economic Growth Committee.

Bill: S2593
Sponsors: Bucco (R25)
Summary: Authorizes use of certain constitutionally dedicated CBT revenues for grants for prevention and remediation of harmful algal blooms.
History: 02/08/2024 — Introduced and referred to Senate Environment and Energy Committee.

Bill: S2594
Sponsors: Bucco (R25)
Summary: Appropriates $28,670,924 in 2003 and 1992 bond act monies for loans for dam restoration and repair projects and inland waters projects.
History: 02/08/2024 — Introduced and referred to Senate Environment and Energy Committee.

Bill: S2595
Sponsors: Bucco (R25)
Summary: Establishes bee-friendly habitat pilot program in the Department of Agriculture; appropriates $1 million.
History: 02/08/2024 — Introduced and referred to Senate Environment and Energy Committee.

Bill: S2654
Sponsors: Greenstein (D14)
Summary: Directs BPU to conduct a study to determine whether microgrid and distributed energy resource deployment will reduce the length of power outages.
History: 02/08/2024 — Proposed for introduction.

Bill: S2690
Sponsors: Cruz-Perez (D5)
Summary: Requires State entities to recycle certain materials and provide recycling bins in State buildings.
History: 02/08/2024 — Proposed for introduction.

Pennsylvania General Assembly

SB 1054 (Yaw) RGGI Regulation Abrogation
Referred to ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES AND ENERGY, Feb. 2, 2024
Reported as committed from ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES AND ENERGY, Feb. 5, 2024
First consideration, Feb. 5, 2024
Second consideration, Feb. 6, 2024

EnviroPolitics Weekend Legislative Report for February 12, 2024 Read More »

NJ Senate Democrats get a new deputy executive director

Rosa Farias

ByROI-NJ Staff

Senate President Nick Scutari on Thursday announced the appointment of Rosa Farias as deputy executive director of the Senate Majority Office; she is the first Latina to assume this role.

Farias steps into this position following the retirement of former Deputy Executive Director Kevin Duhon in January.

In her previous capacity, Farias served as a senior policy adviser to Senate leadership within the Senate Majority Office, where she collaborated closely with leadership to develop impactful policy platforms that directly benefited New Jersey residents.

Farias brings considerable experience spanning well over 15 years in state and local government to her new position, having also held roles as director of urban policy and research analyst within the Senate.

Read the full news release here

NJ Senate Democrats get a new deputy executive director Read More »

Jessica D. Hunt Named Partner at Manko, Gold

Jessica D. Hunt

Jessica Hunt has been promoted to partner at the environmental, energy, and land use law firm of Manko, Gold, Katcher & Fox, LLP (MGKF), located in suburban Philadelphia.

“Jessica has been an outstanding addition to the firm since joining us three years ago, MGKF’s Managing Partner Carol F. McCabe explained. “She has a deep knowledge of environmental regulatory programs, and her good judgment and legal skills make her a go-to resource for our clients.”

At MGKF, Hunt concentrates her practice on environmental regulatory compliance and permitting matters, with a particular focus on the areas of air and solid waste.

Prior to joining MGKF, Jessica was an assistant counsel for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Environmental Protection where she counseled the Department’s Air Quality and Solid Waste programs since 2014. In that role, she negotiated settlement agreements with regulated entities in a broad spectrum of areas, counseled clients on interpreting the Department’s regulations, assisted clients in reviewing permit applications, and served as lead counsel for the Department in numerous litigation matters before the Environmental Hearing Board and the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania.

Jessica received her B.A. in Political Science from the University of Delaware. She is a cum laude graduate of Drexel University Thomas R. Kline School of Law. During law school, Jessica was a law clerk for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, a law clerk for the Philadelphia Water Department, and a legal intern for Aqua America. She also served as the president of the Environmental Law Society.

Jessica D. Hunt Named Partner at Manko, Gold Read More »

Rare Earth’s discovery in Wyoming could be a world leader

By Pat Maio, Cowboy State Daily

There’s a modern-day gold rush happening in the attempt to dig green-energy rare earth minerals out of the ground. Some believe Wyoming could be America’s answer to China’s lock on the market.

And one of a handful of Wyoming companies in the rush may have hit the mother lode.

American Rare Earths Inc. has its sights on thousands of acres of land near Wheatland, Wyoming. The company disclosed in a technical report on Wednesday that it found 64% more rare earth minerals than it had originally envisioned in a March 2023 assessment of the land.

What are rare earth elements, and why are they important?
Why are rare earth elements so strategically important?
Global superpowers courting Greenland for its rare earth potential
Rare Earth Minerals Might Be Found in More Places

The newly disclosed figure of 2.34 billion metric tons of rare earth minerals found southwest of Wheatland by American Rare Earths Inc. could dwarf in size the 1.2 million metric ton estimates in northeastern Wyoming that one of its competitors claimed was one of the biggest discoveries in the world.

A metric ton equals about 2,200 pounds while a ton is 2,000 pounds.

“This exceeded our wildest dreams, and we only drilled on about 25% of the property,” said Donald Swartz, CEO of American Rare Earths.

The company is the U.S.-based unit of an Australian-founded exploration company working in Wyoming.

Read the full story here

Rare Earth’s discovery in Wyoming could be a world leader Read More »

Bill would lock fossil-fuel investments out of NJ pension investments

By JOHN REITMEYER, BUDGET/FINANCE WRITER , NJ Spotlight

With a new legislative session underway in Trenton, climate activists are renewing their push to ban New Jersey public worker pension funds from being used to back investments in the fossil-fuel industry.

A measure that would force those managing public-worker pension funds in New Jersey to shed any stakes in the 200 largest publicly traded fossil-fuel companies won strong support from climate activists and other environmentalists Monday during a Senate Environment and Energy Committee hearing.

No formal votes on the legislation were taken during the hearing, but divestment advocates called for increased urgency, echoing concerns that have been raised during recent meetings of the New Jersey State Investment Council, a group that sets policy for the more than $90 billion pension fund.

Feeling the effects of climate change

As proof, the advocates cited ways climate change has begun to impact life in New Jersey on a routine basis, including dangerous flooding from heavy storms and alarming wildfire-induced air-quality alerts.

“It’s a feedback loop, and we’re in it, and there’s a real urgency right now,” said Tina Weishaus, who serves as co-chair of the DivestNJ Coalition.

They also reminded lawmakers that New Jersey has filed a lawsuit in recent years against the fossil fuel industry seeking compensation for damages being caused by climate change.

“What kind of retirement can we expect to provide for our public employees when we are investing in the very companies that are destroying the health of our people, our communities, our economy, our natural resources, and our futures?” Weishaus asked during the hearing.