Here are 127 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--

On July 18, the PA Association of Conservation Districts annual conference was held in State College and several conservationists were recognized during the awards luncheon.

From July 13 to 19, DEP’s Oil and Gas Compliance Database shows oil and gas inspectors filed 546 inspection entries and caught up with posting inspection reports from the previous week.

On July 16, the Public Utility Commission  Safety Division, part of the Commission’s independent Bureau of Investigation and Enforcement (I&E), has concluded its investigation into the August 2023 incident in Plum Borough, Allegheny County.

On July 19, 2024, The Derrick published an update on events surrounding the Public Utility Commission’s proceeding on whether to order another water company to take over one or more of seven small water and wastewater companies when a spring serving as a source of water for the Venango Water Company and the Village of Reno was contaminated by a conventional oil well wastewater spill on July 19, 2023.

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the July 20 PA Bulletin of an August 21 hearing on an Air Quality permit for an Equitrans LP compressor station located in Union Township, Washington County.   (PA Bulletin, page 4162)

The following notices were published in the July 20 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 July 20 PA Bulletin announcing an August 1 hearing on water withdrawal requests, including for the proposed Amazon Data Center in Luzerne County, seven shale gas development and a UGI power plant.  Read more here.

On July 16, Republican  Rep. Charity Grimm Krupa (R-Fayette) issued the following statement after House passage of Senate Bill 831 (Yaw-R-Lycoming), which would establish a carbon capture industry in Pennsylvania based on geologic sequestration of carbon dioxide--

Local nonprofit Protect PT invites area residents close to the Westmoreland Landfill, located in Rostraver, and the Monessen Coke Works, near-by in Monessen to attend a July 30 educational session at the Monessen Public Library, 329 Donner Avenue in Monessen, Westmoreland County starting at 5:30 p.m.

On July 19, the Department of Environmental Protection posted this notice on its Permit Modernization webpage about the new SPEED (Streamlining Permits for Economic Expansion and Development) established in the new state budget--

On July 17, the PA Infrastructure Investment Authority announced the investment of $257.5 million for 18 drinking water, wastewater, and non-point source projects across 13 counties through the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority.

On July 18, US Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture is investing $90 million in 53 Conservation Innovation Grants projects, which support the development of new tools, approaches, practices and technologies to further natural resource conservation on private lands.

PASA Sustainable Agriculture is partnering with Keystone Ten Million Trees Partnership to give away a diverse selection of over 100,000 trees, including Elderberry, Persimmon, Hazelnut, Oak, and more.

Farmers and others involved in production agriculture looking to explore the latest agricultural goods, services, equipment and technology can find everything they need at Penn State’s 2024 Ag Progress Days.

In partnership with the National Technical Training Program, the Western PA Coalition for Abandoned Mine Reclamation and the Eastern PA Coalition for Abandoned Mine Reclamation will host a Passive Acid Mine Drainage Treatment Course at the Ramada Inn and Conference Center in State College on September 17-19.

Penn State Extension is now accepting registrations for its five-part Backyard Stream Repair webinar series that starts on August 27.

On July 15, the Allegheny County Conservation District released comprehensive data on county development patterns spanning 2020 to 2023, accompanied by mapped locations of stormwater infrastructure.

By Tali MacArthur, POWR Program Manager for Watershed Outreach

If learning more about water and natural resource conservation in order to serve your local communities through volunteering and outreach excites you, then you will make an excellent candidate for the Penn State Extension Master Watershed Steward Program!

The Future Master Watershed Steward Program is a collaborative effort between Penn State Extension and the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources - Bureau of State Parks.

On July 17, the nonprofit Pennsylvania Solar Center announced that its PA SolarCorps Program discovered more than $74 million in potential energy savings over 25 years in Beaver County Justice40 communities if they were to go solar.

On July 18 and 19, RE+ Mid-Atlantic took place at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia, bringing together hundreds of clean energy industry leaders to enhance innovation and business opportunities in the region.

On August 20, Penn State Extension will host an online Solar Law Symposium from Noon to 4:30 p.m. to explore insights on grid-scale solar, photovoltaic advancements, and rural impact research.

On July 18, Natural Lands announced the permanent preservation of the Painter farmstead in Warwick Township, Chester County. The 14-acre property is now protected by a conservation easement that will ensure its meadows and woodlands will remain forever.

On July 20, Lt. Governor Austin Davis visited Point State Park in Pittsburgh to highlight opportunities for all Pennsylvanians to get outdoors and experience the Commonwealth.

On July 17, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources State Parks Director John Hallas announced a public information meeting to unveil the final conceptual ecological restoration and site improvement considerations for Susquehanna Riverlands State Park.

The July 19 Take Five Fridays With Pam is now available from the PA Parks and Forests Foundation featuring articles on--

On July 18, the Fish and Boat Commission $203,527 in grant funding to support 19 education projects in 17 counties that foster interest in fishing and boating in Pennsylvania through the R3 (recruitment, retention, and reactivation) Education Grant Program. 

On July 15, the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership and PennEnvironment highlighted the recommendations in a new Legislative Budget and Finance Committee report on using wildlife corridors to protect wildlife, limit vehicle collisions and reconnect habitats.

Visitors are invited to Hawk Mountain Sanctuary in Berks County to view the annual Autumn Migration Hawkwatch, which takes place daily from August 15 through December 15.

The PA Natural Heritage Program released its 2023 annual report highlighting new species discovery, the growing and widespread impacts of invasive species and the coming deadline for updating the State Wildlife Action Plan.

Dauphin County-based Manada Conservancy will host two free events that are open to the public

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

On July 26, the State Museum of Pennsylvania will host a webinar on Pennsylvania Caves - Time Capsules Of The Past starting at 12:15 p.m.

Westmoreland County-based Protect PT will host an August 1 in-person training session on using its Mobile Reporting App to file a variety of observations relating to oil and gas development, including noise, air pollution, dust, traffic incidents, water pollution, health impacts.

The following bills were given final approval by the Senate and House and are now on the Governor’s desk for action--

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 July 20 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.