Here are 111 new stories in the PA Environment Digest about individuals, groups, local governments, farmers, businesses, watershed groups and many more working all across Pennsylvania to restore and protect the environment and show others the beauty that surrounds us.

PA Environment Digest Puts Links To The Best Environment & Energy Articles and NewsClips From Last Week Here By Topic--

By James M. Seif, Former Administrative Assistant to Gov. Dick Thornburgh

On March 25, the departments of Transportation and Environmental Protection and Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful invited the public to be part of the 2025 Pick up Pennsylvania litter cleanup initiative by organizing or volunteering for local cleanup events in their communities.

The compliance history of Big Shale Gas and the related petrochemical industry in Pennsylvania is highlighted by criminal convictions and record penalties and restitution for environmental and safety violations imposed by state agencies.

On March 20, the Department of Environmental Protection provided an update to the agency’s Oil and Gas Technical Advisory Board on water supply/stray gas complaints.

One way to better understand the impact the oil and gas industry has on the daily lives of Pennsylvanians is to read Oil and Gas Program inspection reports to see the kinds of violations DEP uncovers every day, week in and week out, as they inspect oil and gas wells and gas infrastructure across the state.

The Department of Environmental Protection to recommend the Environmental Quality Board accept a rulemaking petition for study proposing increases in setbacks from shale gas wells to better protect the public at the April 8 Board meeting.

On March 20, the Department of Environmental Protection told the Oil and Gas Technical Advisory Board the US Department of the Interior has "withdrawn" the Orphan Oil and Gas Well Regulatory Improvement Act Grant Program designed to help states strengthen their programs, in particular to prevent future oil and gas well abandonments.

On March 28, the Department of Environmental Protection released a request for bids on a contract to plug 19 conventional oil and gas wells their owners abandoned in Clarion and Jefferson counties.

On March 25, the Department of Environmental Protection was called to the scene of a conventional well explosion in East Huntingdon Township, Westmoreland County.

From March 22 to 28, DEP’s Oil and Gas Compliance Database shows oil and gas inspectors filed 815 inspection entries. 

The Department of Environmental Protection will hold a hearing May 7 on the proposed Title V RACT 3 Air Quality Permit for the Tennessee Gas Pipeline compressor Station 219 located in Jefferson Township, Mercer County.  (PA Bulletin, page 2572)

The Department of Environmental Protection invites comments on a proposed MarkWest Liberty Midstream & Resources, LLC 4.5 mile, 20-inch natural gas pipeline running through North Fayette Township, Allegheny County and Robinson Township, Washington County and impacting the Montour Trail.  (PA Bulletin, page 2535)

The Department of Environmental Protection invites comments on a Section 401 Water Quality Certification for the proposed Rover Pipeline Rover-Bulger compressor station and Harmon Creek Meter Station expansion in Smith Township, Washington County.  (PA Bulletin, page 2565)

The following notices were published in the March 29 PA Bulletin related to oil and gas industry facilities.  Many of the notices offer the opportunity for public comments.

The Susquehanna River Basin Commission published notice in the March 29 PA Bulletin the Executive Director gave his approval to or renewed 50 general water use permits in February for individual shale gas well drilling pads in Bradford, Centre, Clearfield, Clinton, Lycoming, Potter, Susquehanna and Tioga counties.

On March 27, the Susquehanna River Basin Commission online Hydrologic Conditions Monitor shows low stream flows triggered restrictions on 19 shale gas water withdrawal points in Bradford, Potter, Susquehanna, Tioga and Wyoming counties

The latest DEP Environmental Justice newsletter highlights accomplishments from last year and provides a heads-up on new initiatives for this year.

On March 24, the US Environmental Protection Agency posted information on how industries regulated under a variety of federal Clean Air Act programs could obtain Presidential Exemptions from those requirements.

On March 27, the Public Utility Commission voted 5-0 to approve a motion by Chairman Stephen M. DeFrank to convene a public hearing exploring the growing impact of large-scale electric customers — including data centers and other high-energy users — on the state’s electric grid.

The Department of Environmental Protection invited comments on an Air Quality Plan Approval for a Kratos Mining, LLC cryptocurrency facility powered by natural gas engines in West Keating Township, Clinton County.  (PA Bulletin, page 2519)

On March 21, the PJM Interconnection regional electric grid operator that includes Pennsylvania announced its Reliability Resource Initiative has attracted 94 applications totaling 26.6 GigaWatts of nameplate capacity.

The Department of Environmental Protection invites comments on a major waste permit modification allowing the expansion of the Brunner Island Power Plant Waste Disposal Area 8 Class II Residual Waste Landfill in East Manchester Twp., York County. (PA Bulletin, page 2518)

The Department of Environmental Protection is offering free industrial energy audits to the first 20 facilities that apply to the PA Industrial Energy Assessment Program.

The Pennsylvania Technical Assistance Program (PennTAP) at Penn State University secured and will manage $51.4 million in federal funding through the Reducing Industrial Sector Emissions in Pennsylvania (RISE PA) initiative, a statewide grant program aimed at supporting small to mid-size manufacturers across the state.

Moms Clean Air Force, DEP, Ohio River Valley Institute and PennFuture will host an April 18 webinar on the RISE PA Industrial Decarbonization Program - Decreasing Industrial Pollution For Pennsylvania Families from 1:00 to 1:30 p.m.

On March 25, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture will release previously obligated funding under the Rural Energy For America Program (REAP), Empowering Rural America (New ERA) and Powering Affordable Clean Energy (PACE) programs.

Local officials and residents joined Burkholder’s Country Market’s owner Russ Burkholder and the nonprofit environmental group PennEnvironment for an informative tour of the market’s innovative solar project.

The Department of Environmental Protection invites comments on the proposed delisting of the Currie Landfill Site in Millcreek Township, Erie County from the state Priority List Of Hazardous Sites.  (PA Bulletin, page 2571)

On March 25, the Department of Environmental Protection launched  a no-cost Voluntary School and Child Care Lead Testing & Reduction Grant Program facilities across the Commonwealth to eliminate lead in drinking water and reduce childhood lead exposure.

The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, in partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service  and the federal-state Chesapeake Bay Program partnership, is now soliciting proposals through the Chesapeake Watershed Investments for Landscape Defense (WILD) Grants Program.

The Department of Agriculture published notice in the March 29 PA Bulletin it is accepting applications from Philadelphia County for Agriculture Conservation Assistance Grants. The deadline to apply is May 2.

By Julia Krall, Chesapeake Bay Foundation-PA

The Penn State Extension Master Watershed Steward Program and The Nurture Nature Center recently announced your home, no matter how large or small, can be Watershed-Friendly, certified under the Watershed-Friendly Certification Program.

By Jennifer Latzgo, Little Lehigh Master Watershed Steward

On March 27, Natural Lands and the Borough of Chester Heights, Delaware County, announced the Borough purchased 40.2 acres of open space on Valleybrook and Smithbridge Roads.

The March 28 Take Five Fridays With Pam is now available from the PA Parks and Forests Foundation featuring articles on--

WeConservePA is now accepting presentation proposals for the PA Greenways and Trails Summit to be held September 21-23 in Harrisburg.  Deadline for submissions April 15.

Opportunities to learn more about environmental and energy issues affecting Pennsylvania for students and adults--

The March 24 webinar hosted by Physicians For Social Responsibility PA and the Climate Action Campaign discussing the impact of climate change on women's health, especially in Pennsylvania, is now available on demand.

On May 20, the PA Recycling Markets Center will host a Recycled Metals Commodities Markets Update with a focus on the implications of the recent tariff activity and logistics issues starting at 1:00 p.m.

The information you need to follow legislation in the House and Senate- starting with articles and NewsClips from last week--

Articles and NewsClips about federal actions impacting Pennsylvania--

Click Here for a list of public participation opportunities and a calendar of events.

Click Here for grants, awards, recognition programs and contest deadlines.

Highlights of the environmental and energy notices in the March 29 PA Bulletin--

Send your stories, photos and links to videos about your project, environmental issues or programs for publication in the PA Environment Digest to: PaEnviroDigest@gmail.com.

PA Environment Digest is a supporting member of the PA Outdoor Writers Association, PA PA Council Trout Unlimited, Organization for Watersheds & Rivers and the Doc Fritchey Chapter Trout Unlimited.