The federal Land and Water Conservation Fund was established in 1964 to safeguard natural areas, preserve water resources and cultural heritage, and provide recreation opportunities to all Americans. Congress failed to pass legislation to reauthorize the fund before the September 30 deadline, but it's not too late to save it. Learn why LWCF matters and what you can do.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 16, 2018 CONTACTS: Terry Brady (DCNR) 717-772-9101 Janet Sweeney (POWR) 570-718-6507 Clarion River Named PA 2019 River of the Year in Public Voting Harrisburg, PA - A Wild and Scenic River that draws legions of anglers, paddlers and other outdoo...
Pennsylvania will slash 80% of net greenhouse gas emissions statewide by 2050 under targets announced January 8 by Governor Tom Wolf. State agencies will lead the way, working strategically through the governor's new GreenGov Council to improve energy efficiency across government operations. Mea...
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 15, 2018 CONTACT: Janet Sweeney or Angela Vitkoski, POWR PHONE: 570-718-6507 POWR announces 2019 Pennsylvania Sojourn Grants Now Available The Pennsylvania Organization for Watersheds and Rivers (POWR) has announced the opening of the 2019 Penn...
Despite what you may have heard, environmental causes resonate with Pennsylvanians from all walks of life, throughout the state, and across the political spectrum. Recent polling from the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership shows Pennsylvania hunters and anglers in particular are passionate ...
New leak detection technology will help natural gas utility Peoples Gas cut methane emissions from its Pittsburgh distribution system in half this year. The announcement marks a new phase in Peoples' ongoing partnership with Environmental Defense Fund and Google Earth Outreach. ...
Former state Senator Edwin "Ted" Erickson passed away earlier this week, leaving behind a tremendous environmental legacy. His professional career reflected strong dedication to the residents of Delaware County and the Commonwealth. In addition to his tenure with the General Assembly, Ted Erickson...
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 4, 2018 CONTACT: Sally Tarhi, Pennsylvania Environmental Council EMAIL: WPEA@pecpa.org Nominations Sought for Western Pennsylvania Environmental Awards Pittsburgh—If you have an exciting environmental project to improve your commun...
Congress has missed its last opportunity in 2018 to reauthorize the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), a landmark conservation and recreation program that has funded projects throughout Pennsylvania and across the nation since it began in 1965. Despite strong bipartisan support, including fro...
Vermont Law School is home to the nation's top-ranked environmental law program. Its graduates are also among the best prepared for the real world, thanks to the Semester in Practice program. Davitt Woodwell chats with Vermont Law's Johanna Thibault and fall 2018 PEC legal intern Ethan Story. ...
With new urgency around the unfolding climate crisis, policy discussions at the state level are intensifying. PEC's policy team has an update and analysis on recent and forthcoming proposals to tackle Pennsylvania's carbon emissions. Links: IPCC Special Report on Global Warming, October 20...
As voting begins for 2019 Pennsylvania River of the Year, a chat with Middle Susquehanna Riverkeeper's Carol Parenzan about last year's winner, Loyalsock Creek. Then: plenty of groups and government agencies are working independently to restore Pennsylvania's forest lands. Could they make a bigge...
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 27, 2018 CONTACTS: Janet Sweeney, POWR, 570-718-6507 Terry Brady, DCNR, 717-772-9101 Voting to Begin for Pennsylvania’s 2019 River of the Year Harrisburg, PA – The public is invited to again vote online for the 2019 Pennsylvania River of ...
At PEC we believe in “conservation through cooperation”: an ethic of connection, engagement, and close collaboration with partners. By convening a diverse group of stakeholders to focus on a problem we achieve not only a better understanding of the challenges we face, but also a broader rang...
In working to clean up one of Pennsylvania's most impaired urban watersheds, the members of the Wissahickon Clean Water Partnership face a daunting challenge. But the coalition also has a major advantage: a shared recognition that working together is the only way forward. As the initiative pivots to...
The site of Barbara Bradford’s home near Canawacta Creek in Lanesboro, Susquehanna County, is as historic as it is picturesque. Built in the 1830s, the stone cottage stands amid the remnants of a small commercial district – complete with blacksmith and livery stable – that once occupied th...
An important part of PEC's mission is working with community and watershed groups to strengthen connections to their riverfronts, identify and implement strategies to enhance water quality, and protect and restore waterways. Often this means helping to forge regional trail networks -- aligning r...
Philadelphia and Pittsburgh are both on Bloomberg Philanthropies’ list of 20 American cities being recognized for leading the way on climate action, each receiving up to $2.5 million to accelerate existing sustainability work. We talk with the director of Philly’s Office of Sustainability, Chris...
Cambria County's business, government, and nonprofit sectors are teaming up with citizens to reinvent the historically flood-ravaged city of Johnstown. We explore Johnstown's evolution through the work of the Vision 2025 initiative and the Laurel Highlands Conservation Landscape. ...
The morning of October 12 was cold and windy in Cumberland, Maryland, where the Great Allegheny Passage begins. Despite the weather, the ten PEC staffers and friends milling about at the Mile Zero marker were smiling as they awaited the signal that would launch their 149-mile journey north to Pittsb...
On October 2, 35 people attended a community outreach session regarding the Liberty Bell Trail, proposed to span ten miles between Telford and Quakertown. As a new PEC Trails Program Coordinator facilitating my first public trail feasibility meeting, I wasn't sure what to expect. But over the co...
The Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) expired on September 30th, despite widespread bipartisan support in both the House and Senate. That means one of the most successful conservation and recreation programs in our nation’s history now sits idle, unable to build on the more than 1,500 projec...
Pennsylvania has an opportunity to substantially lower emissions of methane from our natural gas industry, the nation's second-largest, simply by requiring better monitoring and quicker response to leaks on well pads. Finding and fixing these leaks will mean significantly reducing the volume of a po...
The Pennsylvania Environmental Council (PEC) protects and restores the natural and built environments through innovation, collaboration, education, and advocacy. PEC believes in the value of partnerships with the private sector, government, communities, and individuals to improve the quality of life for all Pennsylvanians.