This week, a stream polluted by an old coal mine at a former golf club is getting cleaned up thanks to a land trust and a new pot of federal money. Plus, we have news about why it’s hard for states to access other federal mine reclamation money. We also talk with an author of a new report that says chemical recycling of plastics isn’t all it’s cracked up to be for the economy or the planet. We head to a festival celebrating a very special population of fireflies in Pennsylvania that flash in a pattern.
We have news about Pa.’s budget, heat islands in Pa. cities, and a new dark sky park in the works.
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Green groups, oil and gas industries praise new policies in Pa.’s state budget - Environmental advocates say the new $47.6 billion state budget takes some positive steps, while speeding up permitting and support for hydrogen pleased fossil fuel groups.
Former landfill near Emporium could become a new stargazing destination in Pennsylvania - The plan for a new dark sky park in Pennsylvania should be finished around the start of next year. It's in Cameron County in the PA Wilds.
At PA Firefly Festival in Forest County, visitors and researchers experience synchronous fireflies - At a farm in Kellettville, Forest County, fireflies flash like a wave at a stadium. Synchronous fireflies can only be seen at a handful of places in the world.
A new report says the promises of the plastic recycling industry don’t pan out for communities - The Ohio River Valley Institute’s report concludes chemical, or advanced recycling won’t solve the plastic pollution problem or create sustainable jobs.
Report: States like Pennsylvania struggle to access funds for mine cleanup and redevelopment - Of the $1 billion originally set aside, only about a third has been spent so far. States face a long line to get their projects approved.
Neighborhoods in Pa. cities can get up to 13 degrees hotter due to urban environment - The heat is absorbed and released by buildings, roads and pavement. It's worse in neighborhoods with low incomes and higher populations of people of color.
This western Pa. stream is getting federal help to clean up its coal mine pollution - New funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law means big bucks for Pennsylvania waterways polluted by abandoned mines.
