Here are 134 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--

The five-member Envirothon team from North East High School in Erie County placed eighth in the NCF International Envirothon Competition at Hobart and William Smith Colleges in Geneva, New York last week.

On July 29, 2024, DEP declared 110 conventional wells owned by D & B Gas Prod LLC in Indiana County as abandoned and not plugged and issued violations for each one, according to DEP’s Oil & Gas Compliance Database.

From July 27 to August 2, DEP’s Oil and Gas Compliance Database shows oil and gas inspectors filed 518 inspection entries and caught up posting inspection reports from the previous week.

On July 26, U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) announced he cosponsored the proposed bipartisan Abandoned Well Remediation Research and Development Act (AWRRDA) to advance methods for detecting and remediating abandoned conventional oil and gas wells, which put Pennsylvania’s environment and communities at risk.

On July 15, Eureka Resources submitted a request to the Department of Environmental Protection to terminate the water quality permit for a proposed oil and gas wastewater treatment facility in Dimock, Susquehanna County due to changed “commercial factors.”

On August 1, the Public Utility Commission moved to accelerate the process for identifying, removing, and replacing older plastic piping and components in Pennsylvania’s natural gas distribution systems.

The following notices were published in the August 3 PA Bulletin related to oil and gas industry facilities.  Many of the notices offer the opportunity for public comments.

On August 2, Attorney General Michelle Henry and Gov. Josh Shapiro, in a letter to federal authorities, highlighted issues that Norfolk Southern still must address as a result of the train derailment last year in East Palestine, Ohio.

On July 29, the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee held its second hearing on House Bill 2277 (Otten-D-Chester), the PA Reliable Energy Sustainability Standard (PRESS) is the Governor’s Energy Plan that would diversify energy generation, improve grid reliability, lower consumer costs by avoiding energy price spikes and create energy-related jobs.

On July 26, U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced USDA is partnering with farmers and small businesses to expand access to clean energy and lower energy bills through the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) and the Rural Energy for America Technical Assistance Grant Program.

On July 31, the US Department of Energy awarded the Appalachian Hydrogen Hub—also known as the Appalachian Regional Clean Hydrogen Hub (ARCH2), led by Battelle—with $30 million for the first tranche of funding (out of the total project federal cost share of up to $925 million) to begin Phase 1 activities.

On July 29, Appalachian Voices urged Congress to oppose proposed federal energy facility permitting legislation which reduces the opportunities for communities that would be directly affected by these projects and other stakeholders to challenge energy projects.

On July 30, the PJM Interconnection reported its latest electricity auction produced a wholesale price of $269.92/MW-day for much of the PJM footprint for delivery in 2025-26-- 933% more than the  $28.92/MW-day cost for delivery in the 2024/2025 auction.

On July 30, the PJM Interconnection announced the results of its 2025/26 capacity auction, which revealed that costs will be roughly seven times greater than in 2024/25.   [Read more here.]

On August 1, PennFuture released this statement related to the latest PJM Interconnection electricity auction that resulted in a dramatic increase in electricity prices in the PJM footprint for delivery in 2025-26.  Read more here.

By John Quigley, Senior Fellow, Kleinman Center

Pittsburgh-based Group Against Smog and Pollution posted the Allegheny County Health Department notice on a new Allegheny County climate resiliency local project grant application solicitation--

This Philadelphia Solar Week, join the PA Solar Center, Philadelphia Solar Energy Association, Philadelphia Energy Authority and the Philadelphia Green Capital Corp for an August 14 webinar on the new PA Solar For Schools Program starting at 9:00 a.m..

On July 30, the Department of Environmental Protection announced the award of more than $15 million in grants to electric distribution companies to improve electric grid reliability and resilience through 2024 Pennsylvania Grid Resilience Grant funding.

On July 30, the Department of Environmental Protection awarded $2.3 million to 25 recipients for 27 projects to improve air quality across the state through cleaner fuel transportation infrastructure through the Alternative Fuels Incentive Grant (AFIG) Program.

The PA Environmental Council’s In Case You Missed It In July features articles on--

On August 2, the Department of Environmental Protection announced it will hold an August 26  hearing to take testimony from the public on a mining permit application and draft National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit for the proposed new Maggie Lynn underground limestone mine in Deemston Borough, Washington County.

On July 30, the PA Infrastructure Investment Authority announced the purchase of up to $7.1 million in verified nutrient and sediment reductions in Lancaster County through competitive bidding under the Clean Water Procurement Program.

To help agriculture professionals who are beginning their journey in agricultural conservation, the Center for Agricultural Conservation Assistance Training administered by Penn State Extension is launching a new monthly webinar series-- Conservation Cornerstone-- that will take place in August, September and October.

The Penn State Extension Master Gardeners of Cumberland County will host a September 19 in-person Gardening With Nature - Stormwater-Friendly Lawn Care Workshop in Cumberland County at the Cleve J. Fredricksen Library, 100 N. 19th Street in Camp Hill from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m.

Revitalization of fly fishing is beginning in Hughesville, Lycoming County under the guidance of David Weigle and a partnership with RiverStewards.

The Penn State Extension will host an August 28 webinar on Iron, Manganese, Hydrogen Sulfide In Private Water Supply Systems from Noon to 1:00 p.m.

By Teresa Avery, Penn State Extension Master Watershed Steward Volunteer

The TreeVitalize Pittsburgh Program is now accepting applications for Spring 2025 tree planting grants.  The deadline to begin the application process is October 1.

The Partnership for the Delaware Estuary is seeking abstracts for the 2025 Delaware Estuary Science & Environmental Summit to be held February 11-12 in Wilmington, Delaware.

The Pennsylvania Resources Council’s  Traveling Glass Recycling Bin Program provides a free recycling service that rotates through a variety of locations in Pennsylvania. 

In August, the Pennsylvania Resources Council will partner with Allegheny County Health Department to host a household chemical collection event to provide Pennsylvania residents with an opportunity to safely and cost effectively dispose of common chemicals such as cleaners, paints, batteries, automotive fluids, electronic cigarettes/vapes and pesticides.

On July 30, Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful announced it will partner with the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission to implement the Cigarette Litter Prevention Program at up to 17 service plazas and interchange access buildings across the state with a $20,000 grant received from Keep America Beautiful. 

For five years, Penn State students have engaged Pittsburgh communities by spending their summer working on urban sustainability and engagement through City Semester Pittsburgh.

On August 1, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn and Department of Labor & Industry Secretary Nancy A. Walker visited with crew members of the Pennsylvania Outdoor Corps at Codorus State Park in York County.

The August 2 Take Five Fridays With Pam is now available from the PA Parks and Forests Foundation featuring articles on--

The PA Environmental Council is now accepting registrations for the Western PA Trails and Greenways Summit to be held September 4-5 at PennWest University in Clarion.

The Pennsylvania Recreation and Park Society Conference Committee is now accepting proposals for educational sessions to be presented at the 2025 Annual Conference & Expo.  The deadline for proposals is August 30.

On August 1, Feet First Philly, a pedestrian advocacy project of the Clean Air Council, in partnership with Philadelphia’s Department of Public Health Division of Chronic Disease and Injury Prevention launched the fifth round of their Public Space Enhancement Mini-Grant Program that funds projects aimed at improving Philadelphia’s pedestrian environment and public spaces.

The Western Pennsylvania Conservancy recently announced the permanent protection of 122 acres in the French Creek watershed in Cambridge Springs Township, Crawford County.

On August 11, the North Branch Land Trust will host “Friends in the Forest” at George and Lillian Picton Wildlife Sanctuary South in Foster Township, Luzerne County from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

The Brodhead Watershed Association will host a guided walk on August 17 at the Tannersville Cranberry Bog Preserve in Monroe County starting at 10:00 a.m.

The Department of Environmental Protection has named Schuylkill County native Nathan Houtz, P.G. the Acting Deputy Secretary for Active And Abandoned Mine Operations.

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

The Penn State Extension will host a full-day Managing Invasive Plants Workshop in State College on August 23 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at The Arboretum at Penn State.

The Penn State Extension will host a September 6 webinar on Classic Biological Control of Pennsylvania Invasive Species from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m.

The Penn State Extension will host a September 24 webinar on Community Forestry - TreeKeeper - A Tool For Tree Canopy Management from Noon to 1:30 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 August 3 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 Organization for Watersheds & Rivers, PA Outdoor Writers Association, PA Council Trout Unlimited and the Doc Fritchey Chapter Trout Unlimited.