Notice: PA Environment Digest Will Not Publish Feb. 2 thru Feb. 10

Here are 104 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 Mac Dawson, Nature Educator, Audubon Community Nature Center

The Department of Environmental Protection is now accepting nominations for the 2025 Governor's Award For Environmental Excellence.  The deadline for submissions is February 28.

On January 24, Gov. Josh Shapiro announced that Pennsylvania is deploying two crews of highly trained wildland firefighters, coordinated by the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, to California to help combat the devastating wildfires near Los Angeles.

PASA Sustainable Agriculture has again honored farmers, community and business leaders who serve as examples for advancing sustainable agriculture through innovation and collaboration with this year's Pasabilities Awards.

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has." — Pennsylvania's Margaret Mead

By Kelly Jedrzejewski, Penn State News

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation is urging citizens to submit comments to the US Fish and Wildlife Service supporting the proposed designation of the Eastern Hellbender-- Pennsylvania's clean water ambassador-- as an endangered species.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has proposed listing the Eastern hellbender as an Endangered species. A group of determined young people in Pennsylvania, the original “Hellbender Defenders,” say the recognition is long overdue.

This editorial first appeared in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette January 17, 2025--

Senate Republicans again are introducing legislation to take away the right of appeals or punish local officials who want to protect their constituents from the environmental and health impacts of oil and gas development.

From January 18 to 24, DEP’s Oil and Gas Compliance Database shows oil and gas inspectors filed 323 inspection entries, plus catch-up entries from previous weeks. 

The state Department of Health and Penn State Project ECHO will host a February 13 webinar from Noon to 1:00 p.m. on Caring for Persons Living and Working in Communities Involved in Oil and Natural Gas Extraction.

The following notices were published in the January 25 PA Bulletin related to oil and gas industry facilities.  Many of the notices offer the opportunity for public comments.

The Environmental Quality Board published notice in the January 25 PA Bulletin inviting comments on proposed “corrections” to regulations setting RACT requirements for major sources of NOx and VOCs related to meeting the ozone pollution standard may affect natural gas-fired power plants.

The Susquehanna River Basin Commission published notice in the January 25 PA Bulletin the Executive Director gave his approval to or renewed 18 general water use permits in December for individual shale gas well drilling pads in Bradford, Cameron, Centre, Clearfield, Lycoming, Susquehanna and Tioga counties.

The Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee is scheduled to meet January 27 on bills to establish an Independent Energy Office and to abrogate Pennsylvania's carbon pollution reduction program covering power plants consistent with RGGI.

On January 22, PJM Interconnection announced a preliminary record for winter demand at around 8:15 a.m. Wednesday, January 22 with instantaneous peak load coming in at approximately 145,000 MW, while exporting nearly 8,000 MW to our neighbors.

On January 24, the PennEnvironment Research and Policy Center and Frontier Group released a new report-- Big Data Centers, Big Problems: The Surging Environmental And Consumer Costs of AI, Cryptocurrency And Big Data.

The Washington & Jefferson College Center for Energy Policy and Management will host a free Feb. 5 webinar on how Form Energy is ramping up production of its innovative iron-air, long-term storage batteries at a new plant built on the site of the former Weirton Steel mill.

On January 20, the U.S. Department of Energy, effective today, is ending the Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) pause and returning to regular order following direction given by President Donald J. Trump to “unleash American Energy Dominance.”

On January 20, the new federal administration issued an executive order declaring a national energy emergency saying "The energy and critical minerals (“energy”) identification, leasing, development, production, transportation, refining, and generation capacity of the United States are all far too inadequate to meet our Nation’s needs."

On January 22, the Shapiro Administration announced the investment of $288.2 million for 39 drinking water, wastewater, and nonpoint source projects across 24 counties through the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority.

On January 16, Sen. Gene Yaw (R-Lycoming) announced his intention to introduce legislation to tax gambling skill games and deposit the revenue in the state Clean Streams Fund to support the Agriculture Conservation Assistance Program.

The Pennsylvania Grazing Lands Coalition is now accepting applications for the organization’s ongoing educational mini-grants program.

During the winter, it's a great time to think about cleaning out our pesticide storages and take inventory. If you have canceled, suspended, or unwanted pesticides, you can schedule disposal through the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture CHEMSWEEP Program.

The Northumberland County-based Shamokin Creek Restoration Alliance is now accepting registrations for the Mine Pools As Beneficial Resource Conference to be held at Bucknell University June 4-5.

The Penn State Extension is partnering with DCNR to host a February 14 Meaningful Watershed Education Workshop at Greenwood Furnace State Park in Huntingdon County from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

On January 22, NOAA announced a Notice of Funding Opportunity that will support high quality projects in the Delaware Bay watershed through a new Delaware Bay Watershed Education and Training (B-WET) program. Applications due April 18.

The Delaware River Basin Commission will hold a virtual hearing February 5 hearing on 26 water withdrawals, discharges and other projects that could have a substantial effect on water resources.  (formal notice)

The Litter Lifters of West Vincent Township in Chester County conducted their 4th annual litter cleanup in honor of Martin Luther King Jr Day on Saturday January 18.

By Kathy Cook, Food & Water Watch Pennsylvania

On January 23, the Department of Health invited first through sixth grade students in Pennsylvania to enter the 2025 Lyme Disease Student Art Contest by creating a short video or poster focusing on the theme: “Protect. Check. Remove.”     Entries are due March 14.

On January 22, the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources opened the latest round of Community Conservation Partnerships Program funding for communities across Pennsylvania to fund parks, recreation, land conservation and riparian buffer projects.  (formal notice)

The DCNR Community Conservation Partnership Programs will be supporting mini-grant programs through 15 groups across the state to support smaller, local recreation and conservation projects in 2025.

The January 24 Take Five Fridays With Pam now available from the PA Parks and Forests Foundation featuring articles on--

In early January of 2025, Berks Nature permanently protected the 607-acre Hawk Mountain Scout Reservation in Schuylkill County.

The Manada Conservancy wrapped up 2024 with the signing of two  conservation easements on eight parcels owned by the Laudenslager Family, marking a grand total of 575 acres that the family has protected with the Conservancy.

In October 2024, Berks Nature established a new conservation easement with Ruth E. Fetterman to protect 102 acres of woodland proximal to the Trout Run reservoir.

By Renee' Carey, Northcentral PA Conservancy

The North Branch Land Trust invites nature enthusiasts, birdwatchers, and families to join in preparation for February’s The Great Backyard Bird Count.

On February 27, WeConservePA will host a What Does It Mean To Love A Forest webinar from Noon to 1:30 p.m. with Ethan Tapper, a forester, bestselling author and content creator from Vermont.

The Fish and Boat Commission is hosting an 8-part 'Mission Mondays' webinar series highlighting its efforts to protect, conserve and enhance Pennsylvania's aquatic resources.

Pittsburgh-based LandForce will start accepting applications for workforce training crew members on January 27.  The deadline to apply is February 27.

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

Applications are now being accepted by the Appalachian Chapter of the Audubon Society for the Tom Johnson Memorial Scholarship To the Mountains to Sea Birding For Teens Camp at Hog Island Audubon Camp in Maine June 29 to July 4.

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 January 25 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.