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

It gives you an in-depth view of environment and energy issues being reported by media across Pennsylvania.

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[Posted: February 5, 2023]  PA Environment Digest

Senate/House ----------------------------------------------------------------------

Gov. Shapiro

-- Inside Climate News - Jon Hurdle: In Pennsylvania, New Governor Fuels Hopes For Tougher Rules On Energy, Environment

-- Courier Times: Why Josh Shapiro’s DEP Nominee May Be Grilled By PA Senate

-- Gov. Shapiro Issues Order Directing Agencies To Set Deadlines For Permit Reviews, Requires Money-Back Guarantee If Deadlines Not Met; A Similar Program Started At DEP In 1995 [PaEN] 

-- Pittsburgh Business Times: Business Groups Optimistic About Shapiro’s Efforts To Cut Red Tape

-- Inquirer: How Josh Shapiro Is Starting His Administration With A Pro-Business Focus, And A ‘Money-Back’ Guarantee

-- PennLive - Jan Murphy: Gov. Shapiro Orders 2,300 State Employees To End Hybrid Remote/In-Office Working And Return To The Office

-- TribLive/PennLive: Shapiro Administration Orders 2,300 State Employees To Return To The Office

-- TribLive Editorial: Let’s Not Forget What Working At Home Taught Us

Budget

-- Senate Appropriations Committee Sets Agency Budget Hearing Schedule  [PaEN]

-- The Center Square - Anthony Hennen: PA State Revenue Estimate Revised Upward $1.5 Billion For FY 2022-23

-- Courier Times: New Financial Report Could Complicate PA’s Budget And Tax Scenario, Here’s How

-- The Center Square - Anthony Hennen: PA State Treasurer Warns - Fiscal Cliff Ahead [FY 2025-26]

-- Dept. Of Revenue Reports January State Tax Collections Were 5.5%, $205.6 Million Less Than Anticipated, Fiscal Year-To-Date Up $297.5 Million

-- Independent Fiscal Office: January State Revenue 0.9%, $32.8 Million Above IFO Estimates, Up $1.19 Billion For Fiscal Year

Environment/Energy Issues

-- Protecting Clean Water Together: Where Does Your Water Come From? - By Carol Hillestad for Brodhead Watershed Association, Monroe County [PA Has No Water Well Construction Standards]

-- WESA/Lehigh Valley News: Sen. Casey Visits Lehigh Valley Crayola Factory, Highlights Use Of Renewable Energy

-- Feb. 6 PA House Republican Policy Committee Hearing On Rising Price Of Energy In PA.  Room 140 Main Capitol.  10:00 a.m.  [Don’t Forget To Talk About Natural Gas Price Spikes Caused By Volatile Foreign Markets That Control PA Prices]

-- PA Capital-Star: Resolution To Study Wildlife Conservation Corridors To Be Reintroduced In House

-- WHYY/PlanPhilly: Groups Challenge Philly’s Next Mayor - End Illegal Dumping By 2028

-- WHYY: Advocacy Coalition Challenges Philly Mayoral Candidates To Commit To Zero Waste Platform

-- Post-Gazette Editorial: Addressing The Complicated Volunteer Firefighting Crisis

Top 10 Headlines From Harrisburg Last Week -----------------------------------

Because In Politics Everything Is Connected To Everything Else--

-- Top 10 Stories: Harrisburg/PA Politics Reported By Local News Media Last Week  [PaEN]

Articles & NewsClips By Topic -------------------------------------------------------

-- 46 New Stories - REAL Environmental & Conservation Leadership In PA  [PaEN]

-- Environment & Energy Educational Opportunities For Students And Adults [PaEN]

-- This Week’s Examples Of Going The WRONG WAY On Environmental, Energy Issues  [PaEN]

Check Calendars For Events Near You!

-- Check The Calendars For Events Near You: PA Parks & Forests Foundation’s Events webpage and DCNR’s Calendar of Events.

Air

-- EDF: Conventional Gas Wells In Allegheny National Forest Leaked Over 6 Billion Cubic Feet Of Natural Gas In 2019; Conventional Operators Seek To Block Methane Limits  [PaEN]

-- Erie Times Guest Essay: Methane Pollution, Pennsylvania’s Clean Air Unfinished Business - By Environmental Defense Fund, PA Environmental Council

-- AP: Difficulty Measuring Methane/Natural Gas Emissions Slows Plan To Slash Pollution [PA Example Looking For Leaking Wells]

-- Observer-Reporter Guest Essay: Building On Our Energy Foundation - By Jeff Kotula, Washington County Chamber of Commerce  [Here’s the “big picture” they didn’t talk about] 

-- Courier Express: St. Marys City Council Adopts Ordinance To Regulate Bitcoin Mining, Solar Energy Facilities

-- Environmental Groups File Notice Of Intent To Sue Shell Chemical For Air Pollution Violations At Its Petrochemical Plant In Beaver County  [PaEN]

-- TribLive: Activists: Shell Petrochemical Plant Not Living Up To ‘Good Neighbor’ Promises

-- Inside Climate News - Jon Hurdle: PA Advocates Issue Intent To Sue Shell Petrochemical Plant For Air Emissions Violations In Beaver County

-- The Allegheny Front - Reid Frazier: Groups File Notice Of Intent To Sue Shell For Air Violations At Beaver Ethane Cracker Plant

-- Pittsburgh Business Times: Shell Plant’s Neighbors, Environmental Advocates Set Up Low-Cost Monitors To Test Nearby Air

-- Pittsburgh Business Times: Shell Petrochemical Plant Watchdog Marks Progress In Its First Year As Organized Group

-- Climate Power: Shell Announces $40 Billion Profit; State Of Pennsylvania Provides Company $1.65 Billion Tax Break

-- Financial Times: Shell Is Having A Use-Of-Cash Flow Crisis

-- Erie Times: Erie Had Questions About Cosmed And Ethylene Oxide, Find Answers From EPA, DEP, More

-- The Center Square - Anthony Hennen: Cancer Risk From Ethylene Oxide In Butler County Lowered After EPA Warning

-- Bob Donnan’s Blog: Air Quality Around Pittsburgh Isn’t Great This Morning [PM2.5]

-- Public Source: When An Air Inversion Rolls In, Do Efforts To Curb Industrial Pollution Work In Allegheny County?  Just Starting To Review Its Effectiveness

-- The Guardian: These Homes Replaced Their Natural Gas Stoves And Saw A Huge Drop In Indoor Pollution

-- EPA Opens Comment Period For Indoor airPLUS Program Update To Improve Indoor Air Quality In Homes

Alternative Fuels

-- Postponed: PennDOT National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Grant Applications  [PaEN]

-- Pittsburgh Business Times: Form Energy’s Newest Battery Contract Will Be Built At New Weirton Plant In WV

Awards & Recognition

-- Master Watershed Steward Program Statewide Accomplishments In 2022  [PaEN]

-- PASA Sustainable Agriculture Announces 2023 Pasabilities Awards Recipients  [PaEN]

-- DCNR: Mount Jewett To Kinzua Bridge Trail, McKean County Selected As PA’s 2023 Trail Of The Year  [PaEN]

-- PennLive: Former Rail Line Named PA Trail Of The Year

-- MCall: Lehigh Valley H.S. Student Headed To U.S. Capitol To Demo His Award-Winning Recycling App, RecycleBot

-- The Center Square - Anthony Hennen: Pittsburgh, Philadelphia Among Country’s Most Walkable Cities

Bid Opportunity

-- DEP Posts Bid Opportunity For Mine Reclamation Project In Clearfield County

-- Pittsburgh Business Times: Well Plugging Company Owned By Diversified Energy, Largest Owner Of Conventional Oil & Gas Wells In PA, Opens WV Office To Take Advantage Of Taxpayer Well Plugging Funding

Biodiversity/Invasive Species

-- Penn State: Spotted Lanternfly Experts Share What Research Has Uncovered About The Pest

-- Dept. Of Agriculture Controlled Plant & Noxious Weed Committee Adds 7 Plants To List

-- PA Capital-Star: Resolution To Study Wildlife Conservation Corridors To Be Reintroduced In House

-- Nature At Risk: Are We Driving Out the Northern Leopard Frog? - By Carol Hillestad for Brodhead Watershed Association, Monroe County

-- Manada Conservancy Hosts Native Plant Sale Now Thru May 6 In Dauphin County

Federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law

-- Inquirer: Biden Unveils $500 Million For Philadelphia Lead Pipe Replacement

-- Pittsburgh Business Times: Well Plugging Company Owned By Diversified Energy, Largest Owner Of Conventional Oil & Gas Wells In PA, Opens WV Office To Take Advantage Of Taxpayer Well Plugging Funding

-- Penn State’s Center For Critical Minerals To Receive $2.1 Million Grant To Build Pilot Plant To Recover Rare Earth Elements, Other Critical Minerals From Acid Mine Drainage  [PaEN]

Budget

-- Senate Appropriations Committee Sets Agency Budget Hearing Schedule  [PaEN]

-- Inside Climate News - Jon Hurdle: In Pennsylvania, New Governor Fuels Hopes For Tougher Rules On Energy, Environment

-- Delaware  County Times Guest Essay: Delaware County Lawmaker Urges Gov. Shapiro To Expend DEP Funding, Add Staff - By Rep. Greg Vitali (D-Delaware)

-- The Center Square - Anthony Hennen: PA State Revenue Estimate Revised Upward $1.5 Billion For FY 2022-23

-- Courier Times: New Financial Report Could Complicate PA’s Budget And Tax Scenario, Here’s How

-- Dept. Of Revenue Reports January State Tax Collections Were 5.5%, $205.6 Million Less Than Anticipated, Fiscal Year-To-Date Up $297.5 Million

-- Independent Fiscal Office: January State Revenue 0.9%, $32.8 Million Above IFO Estimates, Up $1.19 Billion For Fiscal Year

Chesapeake Bay

-- Master Watershed Steward Program Statewide Accomplishments In 2022  [PaEN]

-- Save The Date: Choose Clean Water Conference May 23-24 In Harrisburg  [PaEN]

-- Lancaster Clean Water Partners Update: Starting 2023 At A Pace For Success; Watershed Leadership Academy Begins; Much More!

-- Bay Journal Forum: For A Resilient Chesapeake Bay, We Need An Even More Resilient Effort - By Kate Fritz, Alliance For The Chesapeake Bay

-- Bay Journal Forum: Rewilding Wetlands - The Clear Path To Clearer Water - By Joseph Sweeney, Water Science Institute & Drew Altland, Ecotone, LLC

-- DEP Invites Comments On Stream Redesignation Reports On Slab Cabin Run, Centre County And Lycoming Creek, Lycoming County  [PaEN]

-- Tulpehocken Creek Watershed Association Reviews Accomplishments, Seeks New Members In Berks County  [PaEN]

-- Citizens Voice: Wyoming Valley Authority Calls Public Meeting On Stormwater Fee

--  Scranton Times: Tu B’Shevat, A Jewish Holiday With An Environmental Twist, Begins Sunday - The New Year Of The Trees

-- Attorney General Files Criminal Charges Against Dallas Area Authority, Luzerne County For Dumping Millions Of Gallons Of Untreated Wastewater Into Toby Creek  [PaEN]

-- Wilkes-Barre Times: Attorney General Files Charges Against Dallas Area Authority In Luzerne County For Dumping Millions Of Gallons Of Untreated Wastewater Into Toby Creek Via Secretly Installed Pipes

-- Citizens Voice: Dallas Area Authority Faces Criminal Charges Over Illegal Sewage Dumping Through Secretly Constructed Pipes

Latest From The Chesapeake Bay Journal

Click Here to subscribe to the free Chesapeake Bay Journal

Citizen Action

-- Master Watershed Steward Program Statewide Accomplishments In 2022  [PaEN]

-- PASA Sustainable Agriculture Announces 2023 Pasabilities Awards Recipients  [PaEN]

-- Pennsylvania Lake Erie Environmental Forum Feb. 21 - Education & Volunteerism In Pennsylvania  [PaEN]

-- Register Now For 2023 Watershed Congress - March 25 In-Person, March 27-31 Online  [PaEN]

-- Save The Date: Choose Clean Water Conference May 23-24 In Harrisburg  [PaEN]

-- DEP Invites Comments On Stream Redesignation Reports On Slab Cabin Run, Centre County And Lycoming Creek, Lycoming County  [PaEN]

-- Fish & Boat Commission Takes No Separate Enforcement Action In The Valley Brook Country Club Pesticide Runoff Case That Killed 122,586 Fish In Chartiers Creek, Washington County  [PaEN]

-- Tulpehocken Creek Watershed Association Reviews Accomplishments, Seeks New Members In Berks County  [PaEN]

--  Scranton Times: Tu B’Shevat, A Jewish Holiday With An Environmental Twist, Begins Sunday - The New Year Of The Trees

-- LiveRoof: Philadelphia Navy Yard Redevelopment Includes Gigantic Green Roof!

-- EDF: Conventional Gas Wells In Allegheny National Forest Leaked Over 6 Billion Cubic Feet Of Natural Gas In 2019; Conventional Operators Seek To Block Methane Limits  [PaEN]

-- Erie Times Guest Essay: Methane Pollution, Pennsylvania’s Clean Air Unfinished Business - By Environmental Defense Fund, PA Environmental Council

-- Warren Times/The Center Square: Report: Coal Falls, Natural Gas Climbs In Pennsylvania [But There Are Tradeoffs - Oil & Gas Culture Of Non-Compliance]

-- Pennsylvania Oil & Gas Weekly Compliance Dashboard - Jan. 28 to Feb. 3  [PaEN]

-- PA Oil & Gas Industrial Facilities: Permit Notices/Opportunities To Comment - Feb. 4  [PaEN]

-- University Of Pittsburgh Hosts Feb. 6 Webinar: Reaping What We Spill, Leak And Spew  [PaEN]

-- Better Path Coalition: Brown Bag Briefing On Impacts Of Unconventional Shale Gas Development By John Stolz, Duquesne University - Now Available On Demand

-- University Of Pittsburgh Hosts Feb. 6 Webinar: Reaping What We Spill, Leak And Spew  [PaEN]

-- Environmental Groups File Notice Of Intent To Sue Shell Chemical For Air Pollution Violations At Its Petrochemical Plant In Beaver County  [PaEN]

-- TribLive: Activists: Shell Petrochemical Plant Not Living Up To ‘Good Neighbor’ Promises

-- Inside Climate News - Jon Hurdle: PA Advocates Issue Intent To Sue Shell Petrochemical Plant For Air Emissions Violations In Beaver County

-- The Allegheny Front - Reid Frazier: Groups File Notice Of Intent To Sue Shell For Air Violations At Beaver Ethane Cracker Plant

-- Pittsburgh Business Times: Shell Plant’s Neighbors, Environmental Advocates Set Up Low-Cost Monitors To Test Nearby Air

-- Pittsburgh Business Times: Shell Petrochemical Plant Watchdog Marks Progress In Its First Year As Organized Group

-- Climate Power: Shell Announces $40 Billion Profit; State Of Pennsylvania Provides Company $1.65 Billion Tax Break

-- Financial Times: Shell Is Having A Use-Of-Cash Flow Crisis

-- City & State PA: Westmoreland County Residents Trying To Stop Proposal By MAX Environmental Technology For Treated Hazardous Waste Landfill

-- Scranton Times Editorial: Oases Amid Development, Lackawanna River Conservation Assn. Preserves Land

-- WHYY: Philly Council Passes Erosion Control Exemption For Cobbs Creek Golf Course Project Despite Community Concerns

-- PA Environmental Council In Case You Missed It In January Now Available [PaEN]

-- Western PA Conservancy Water - Land - Life Newsletter: Summer Internships; Invasive Species Challenge; Upcoming Webinars; Protecting Land; More!

Climate

-- EDF: Conventional Gas Wells In Allegheny National Forest Leaked Over 6 Billion Cubic Feet Of Natural Gas In 2019; Conventional Operators Seek To Block Methane Limits  [PaEN]

-- Erie Times Guest Essay: Methane Pollution, Pennsylvania’s Clean Air Unfinished Business - By Environmental Defense Fund, PA Environmental Council

-- AP: Difficulty Measuring Methane/Natural Gas Emissions Slows Plan To Slash Pollution [PA Example Looking For Leaking Wells]

-- Inside Climate News - Jon Hurdle: In Pennsylvania, New Governor Fuels Hopes For Tougher Rules On Energy, Environment

-- Observer-Reporter Guest Essay: Building On Our Energy Foundation - By Jeff Kotula, Washington County Chamber of Commerce  [Here’s the “big picture” they didn’t talk about] 

-- Postponed: PennDOT National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Grant Applications  [PaEN]

-- Courier Express: St. Marys City Council Adopts Ordinance To Regulate Bitcoin Mining, Solar Energy Facilities

-- WCCSradio: Indiana Borough G.E.T. Solar Program Extended; Feb. 17 Webinar Set

-- WESA/Lehigh Valley News: Sen. Casey Visits Lehigh Valley Crayola Factory, Highlights Use Of Renewable Energy

-- PA Capital-Star: How Did Renewables Fare During Winter Storm Elliott In December?  [Fossil Fuel Failures, Natural Gas Shortages, Wind & Solar Performed As Forecasts Projected]

-- PennFuture Blog: Lessons From December Deep Freeze - Don’t Put All Our Energy Generation Eggs In One Basket - By Rob Altenburg

-- The Economist: Preventing Clean Energy Infrastructure From Being Built Is No Way To Save The Planet

-- Reuters: Hydrogen As A Backup For Renewables Remains A Distant Proposition

-- Bloomberg: Shell Selling ‘Carbon Neutral’ Natural Gas Again Using Offsets

Coal Mining

-- The Guardian: More Expensive To Keep 99% Of Coal-Fired Power Plants Running Than To Build Entirely New Solar, Wind Energy Facilities Nearby

Compliance Action

-- Inside Climate News - Jon Hurdle: In Pennsylvania, New Governor Fuels Hopes For Tougher Rules On Energy, Environment

-- Warren Times/The Center Square: Report: Coal Falls, Natural Gas Climbs In Pennsylvania [But There Are Tradeoffs - Oil & Gas Culture Of Non-Compliance]

-- Pennsylvania Oil & Gas Weekly Compliance Dashboard - Jan. 28 to Feb. 3  [PaEN]

-- PA Oil & Gas Industrial Facilities: Permit Notices/Opportunities To Comment - Feb. 4  [PaEN]

-- Public Source: When An Air Inversion Rolls In, Do Efforts To Curb Industrial Pollution Work In Allegheny County?  Just Starting To Review Its Effectiveness

-- Attorney General Files Criminal Charges Against Dallas Area Authority, Luzerne County For Dumping Millions Of Gallons Of Untreated Wastewater Into Toby Creek  [PaEN]

-- Wilkes-Barre Times: Attorney General Files Charges Against Dallas Area Authority In Luzerne County For Dumping Millions Of Gallons Of Untreated Wastewater Into Toby Creek Via Secretly Installed Pipes

-- Citizens Voice: Dallas Area Authority Faces Criminal Charges Over Illegal Sewage Dumping Through Secretly Constructed Pipes

-- Fish & Boat Commission Takes No Separate Enforcement Action In The Valley Brook Country Club Pesticide Runoff Case That Killed 122,586 Fish In Chartiers Creek, Washington County  [PaEN]

-- Altoona Mirror: DEP Stops Altoona Water Authority Dumping Silt From Reservoir On State Game Lands Until Authority Documents It Won’t Harm Township’s Water Wells

-- DEP Took Action On 690 Permits, 93%  Within Permit Decision Guarantee Deadlines; Conducted 1,491 Inspections; Responded To 4 Environmental Emergencies Last Week

Conservation Districts

-- Pike Conservation District: Link Between Forests & Healthy Watersheds; Environmental Ed Grant Application Period Open  [PaEN]

Court Action

-- Environmental Groups File Notice Of Intent To Sue Shell Chemical For Air Pollution Violations At Its Petrochemical Plant In Beaver County  [PaEN]

-- TribLive: Activists: Shell Petrochemical Plant Not Living Up To ‘Good Neighbor’ Promises

-- Inside Climate News - Jon Hurdle: PA Advocates Issue Intent To Sue Shell Petrochemical Plant For Air Emissions Violations In Beaver County

-- The Allegheny Front - Reid Frazier: Groups File Notice Of Intent To Sue Shell For Air Violations At Beaver Ethane Cracker Plant

-- Pittsburgh Business Times: Shell Plant’s Neighbors, Environmental Advocates Set Up Low-Cost Monitors To Test Nearby Air

-- Pittsburgh Business Times: Shell Petrochemical Plant Watchdog Marks Progress In Its First Year As Organized Group

-- Climate Power: Shell Announces $40 Billion Profit; State Of Pennsylvania Provides Company $1.65 Billion Tax Break

-- Financial Times: Shell Is Having A Use-Of-Cash Flow Crisis

DCNR

-- DCNR: Mount Jewett To Kinzua Bridge Trail, McKean County Selected As PA’s 2023 Trail Of The Year  [PaEN]

-- PennLive: Former Rail Line Named PA Trail Of The Year

-- Inquirer: Hiking To Heal - United Methodist Pastor, Nature Guide Spent 16 Days In Hospital After Hiking Accident

-- Scranton Times: Wyoming County Now Has A State Park After State Purchased Howland Preserve For Nearly $2.6 Million

-- The Burg: DCNR Buys 2  Susquehanna River Islands To Conserve, Keep Public

-- LancasterOnline - Ad Crable: 36 State Parks Offer Cabin Getaways This Winter

-- DCNR Hosts Feb. 14 Webinar On Strategies To Advance Park Equity In Rural Areas  [PaEN]

-- DCNR Now Accepting Applications For Snowmobile, ATV Project Grants, Deadline March 31

-- PA Organization For Watersheds & Rivers Accepting Applications For River Sojourn Grants  [PaEN]

-- POWR: Ohio Basin Access For Canoes, Kayaks Mini Grants Program Now Accepting Applications  [PaEN]

-- TribLive: DCNR Grant Could Help Create Large, Uninterrupted Recreation Space In Monroeville, Allegheny County

-- Scranton Times Editorial: Wilderness Has Value

-- Save Pennsylvania's Forests: Feb. 8 Webinar - Protect Our Forests From ATVs + Panel Discussion. Noon.

-- U.S. Forest Service Accepting Applications For Wood Innovations Project, Community Wood Energy Facility Grants, Deadline March 23

DEP

-- Inside Climate News - Jon Hurdle: In Pennsylvania, New Governor Fuels Hopes For Tougher Rules On Energy, Environment

-- Courier Times: Why Josh Shapiro’s DEP Nominee May Be Grilled By PA Senate

-- Delaware  County Times Guest Essay: Delaware County Lawmaker Urges Gov. Shapiro To Expend DEP Funding, Add Staff - By Rep. Greg Vitali (D-Delaware)

-- Warren Times/The Center Square: Report: Coal Falls, Natural Gas Climbs In Pennsylvania [But There Are Tradeoffs - Oil & Gas Culture Of Non-Compliance]

-- Pennsylvania Oil & Gas Weekly Compliance Dashboard - Jan. 28 to Feb. 3  [PaEN]

-- PA Oil & Gas Industrial Facilities: Permit Notices/Opportunities To Comment - Feb. 4  [PaEN]

-- EDF: Conventional Gas Wells In Allegheny National Forest Leaked Over 6 Billion Cubic Feet Of Natural Gas In 2019; Conventional Operators Seek To Block Methane Limits  [PaEN]

-- Erie Times Guest Essay: Methane Pollution, Pennsylvania’s Clean Air Unfinished Business - By Environmental Defense Fund, PA Environmental Council

-- AP: Difficulty Measuring Methane/Natural Gas Emissions Slows Plan To Slash Pollution [PA Example Looking For Leaking Wells]

-- Pittsburgh Business Times: Well Plugging Company Owned By Diversified Energy, Largest Owner Of Conventional Oil & Gas Wells In PA, Opens WV Office To Take Advantage Of Taxpayer Well Plugging Funding

-- Observer-Reporter Guest Essay: Building On Our Energy Foundation - By Jeff Kotula, Washington County Chamber of Commerce  [Here’s the “big picture” they didn’t talk about] 

-- City & State PA: Westmoreland County Residents Trying To Stop Proposal By MAX Environmental Technology For Treated Hazardous Waste Landfill

-- DEP/PROP: Study Shows Growth in K-12 Students' Recycling Knowledge; 1988 Recycling Law Updates Needed  [PaEN]

-- DEP Now Accepting Applications For Reimbursements Under Local Host Municipality Waste Facility Inspectors Program For Calendar Year 2022, Deadline April 30

-- Attorney General Files Criminal Charges Against Dallas Area Authority, Luzerne County For Dumping Millions Of Gallons Of Untreated Wastewater Into Toby Creek  [PaEN]

-- Wilkes-Barre Times: Attorney General Files Charges Against Dallas Area Authority In Luzerne County For Dumping Millions Of Gallons Of Untreated Wastewater Into Toby Creek Via Secretly Installed Pipes

-- Citizens Voice: Dallas Area Authority Faces Criminal Charges Over Illegal Sewage Dumping Through Secretly Constructed Pipes

-- Fish & Boat Commission Takes No Separate Enforcement Action In The Valley Brook Country Club Pesticide Runoff Case That Killed 122,586 Fish In Chartiers Creek, Washington County  [PaEN]

-- Altoona Mirror: DEP Stops Altoona Water Authority Dumping Silt From Reservoir On State Game Lands Until Authority Documents It Won’t Harm Township’s Water Wells

-- DEP Invites Comments On Stream Redesignation Reports On Slab Cabin Run, Centre County And Lycoming Creek, Lycoming County  [PaEN]

-- Gov. Shapiro Issues Order Directing Agencies To Set Deadlines For Permit Reviews, Requires Money-Back Guarantee If Deadlines Not Met; A Similar Program Started At DEP In 1995 [PaEN] 

-- Pittsburgh Business Times: Business Groups Optimistic About Shapiro’s Efforts To Cut Red Tape

-- PennLive - Jan Murphy: Gov. Shapiro Orders 2,300 State Employees To End Hybrid Remote/In-Office Working And Return To The Office

-- TribLive/PennLive: Shapiro Administration Orders 2,300 State Employees To Return To The Office

-- TribLive Editorial: Let’s Not Forget What Working At Home Taught Us

-- DEP Posts Bid Opportunity For Mine Reclamation Project In Clearfield County

-- DEP Took Action On 690 Permits, 93%  Within Permit Decision Guarantee Deadlines; Conducted 1,491 Inspections; Responded To 4 Environmental Emergencies Last Week

-- DEP Posts 66 Pages Of Permit-Related Notices In Feb. 4 PA Bulletin  [PaEN]

Delaware River

-- Register Now For 2023 Watershed Congress - March 25 In-Person, March 27-31 Online  [PaEN]

-- Pike Conservation District: Link Between Forests & Healthy Watersheds; Environmental Ed Grant Application Period Open  [PaEN]

-- LiveRoof: Philadelphia Navy Yard Redevelopment Includes Gigantic Green Roof!

-- National Fish & Wildlife Foundation Now Accepting Proposals For Delaware Watershed Conservation Fund Grants  [PaEN]

-- Delaware RiverKeeper Feb. 3 RiverWatch Video Report

Drinking Water

-- Altoona Mirror: DEP Stops Altoona Water Authority Dumping Silt From Reservoir On State Game Lands Until Authority Documents It Won’t Harm Township’s Water Wells

-- UnionProgress.com: McKeesport PFAS Water Contamination Levels Lower Than 2021, Pitt Study Finds

-- WHYY: City Of Chester Receiver Asks Bankruptcy Court To Put Brakes On $276.5 Million Sale Of Delaware County Regional Water Authority

-- Register Now: PA Chapter American Water Works Assn. Conference May 9-11

-- The Center Square: PA Picked By EPA For Federal Lead Pipe Replacement Program

-- Inquirer: Biden Unveils $500 Million For Philadelphia Lead Pipe Replacement

-- TribLive: Westmoreland Water Authority Lifts Water Warning As Cleansing Byproduct Levels Fall Below Limits

-- Protecting Clean Water Together: Where Does Your Water Come From? - By Carol Hillestad for Brodhead Watershed Association, Monroe County [PA Has No Water Well Construction Standards]

-- Penn State Extension: Climate Risk And Private Water Wells  [PaEN]

-- AP: Reliance Laboratories In WV Admits To Lying About Public Water Testing

-- EPA Announces Financial Capability Guidance To Support Communities, Ensure Clean, Affordable Water

Economic Development

-- Gov. Shapiro Issues Order Directing Agencies To Set Deadlines For Permit Reviews, Requires Money-Back Guarantee If Deadlines Not Met; A Similar Program Started At DEP In 1995 [PaEN] 

-- DEP Took Action On 690 Permits, 93%  Within Permit Decision Guarantee Deadlines; Conducted 1,491 Inspections; Responded To 4 Environmental Emergencies Last Week

-- Observer-Reporter Guest Essay: Building On Our Energy Foundation - By Jeff Kotula, Washington County Chamber of Commerce  [Here’s the “big picture” they didn’t talk about] 

-- Penn State’s Center For Critical Minerals To Receive $2.1 Million Grant To Build Pilot Plant To Recover Rare Earth Elements, Other Critical Minerals From Acid Mine Drainage  [PaEN]

-- WESA/Lehigh Valley News: Sen. Casey Visits Lehigh Valley Crayola Factory, Highlights Use Of Renewable Energy

-- Scranton Times Editorial: Wilderness Has Value

-- TribLive: Kayak Pittsburgh To Open Kayak Rentals In Sharpsburg For A 2nd Season

-- Pittsburgh-based Landforce: Apply To Become A Landforce Crew Member Today!  Deadline Feb. 27

-- Pittsburgh Business Times: Form Energy’s Newest Battery Contract Will Be Built At New Weirton Plant In WV

-- U.S. Forest Service Accepting Applications For Wood Innovations Project, Community Wood Energy Facility Grants, Deadline March 23

-- Utility Dive: First Solar In Ohio Brings U.S. Investment To $4 Billion After Selling Out Of Solar Panels Thru 2025

Education

-- Master Watershed Steward Program Statewide Accomplishments In 2022  [PaEN]

-- PASA Sustainable Agriculture Announces 2023 Pasabilities Awards Recipients  [PaEN]

-- Register Now For 2023 Watershed Congress - March 25 In-Person, March 27-31 Online  [PaEN]

-- Save The Date: Choose Clean Water Conference May 23-24 In Harrisburg  [PaEN]

-- Penn State’s Center For Critical Minerals To Receive $2.1 Million Grant To Build Pilot Plant To Recover Rare Earth Elements, Other Critical Minerals From Acid Mine Drainage  [PaEN]

-- Pennsylvania Lake Erie Environmental Forum Feb. 21 - Education & Volunteerism In Pennsylvania  [PaEN]

--  Scranton Times: Tu B’Shevat, A Jewish Holiday With An Environmental Twist, Begins Sunday - The New Year Of The Trees

-- Register Now: PA Chapter American Water Works Assn. Conference May 9-11

-- Help Wanted: Fish & Boat Commission Seasonal Fisheries Biologist Aides

-- Inside Climate News - Jon Hurdle: In Pennsylvania, New Governor Fuels Hopes For Tougher Rules On Energy, Environment

-- Warren Times/The Center Square: Report: Coal Falls, Natural Gas Climbs In Pennsylvania [But There Are Tradeoffs - Oil & Gas Culture Of Non-Compliance]

-- Pennsylvania Oil & Gas Weekly Compliance Dashboard - Jan. 28 to Feb. 3  [PaEN]

-- PA Oil & Gas Industrial Facilities: Permit Notices/Opportunities To Comment - Feb. 4  [PaEN]

-- University Of Pittsburgh Hosts Feb. 6 Webinar: Reaping What We Spill, Leak And Spew  [PaEN]

-- EDF: Conventional Gas Wells In Allegheny National Forest Leaked Over 6 Billion Cubic Feet Of Natural Gas In 2019; Conventional Operators Seek To Block Methane Limits  [PaEN]

-- Erie Times Guest Essay: Methane Pollution, Pennsylvania’s Clean Air Unfinished Business - By Environmental Defense Fund, PA Environmental Council

-- AP: Difficulty Measuring Methane/Natural Gas Emissions Slows Plan To Slash Pollution [PA Example Looking For Leaking Wells]

-- PJM Interconnection Electric Grid Operator Issues Cold Weather Alert, Conservative Operations For Feb. 3–4  [PaEN]

-- Observer-Reporter Guest Essay: Building On Our Energy Foundation - By Jeff Kotula, Washington County Chamber of Commerce  [Here’s the “big picture” they didn’t talk about] 

-- PA Capital-Star: How Did Renewables Fare During Winter Storm Elliott In December?  [Fossil Fuel Failures, Natural Gas Shortages, Wind & Solar Performed As Forecasts Projected]

-- PennFuture Blog: Lessons From December Deep Freeze - Don’t Put All Our Energy Generation Eggs In One Basket - By Rob Altenburg

-- PA Solar Center Webinar: Feb. 17 - Apply For USDA Rural Energy For America Program, G.E.T. Solar Programs To Reduce Your Energy Costs  [PaEN]

-- WESA/Lehigh Valley News: Sen. Casey Visits Lehigh Valley Crayola Factory, Highlights Use Of Renewable Energy

-- PennLive Guest Essay: Higher Education Has A Critical Role To Play In Tackling The Energy Crisis - By Lee Kump, Penn State College Of Earth & Mineral Sciences

-- Better Path Coalition: Brown Bag Briefing On Impacts Of Unconventional Shale Gas Development By John Stolz, Duquesne University - Now Available On Demand

-- University Of Pittsburgh Hosts Feb. 6 Webinar: Reaping What We Spill, Leak And Spew  [PaEN]

-- MCall: Lehigh Valley H.S. Student Headed To U.S. Capitol To Demo His Award-Winning Recycling App, RecycleBot

-- DEP/PROP: Study Shows Growth in K-12 Students' Recycling Knowledge; 1988 Recycling Law Updates Needed  [PaEN]

-- Williamsport Sun: Lycoming College Receives $10,000 Grant To Support Environmental Education

-- Attorney General Files Criminal Charges Against Dallas Area Authority, Luzerne County For Dumping Millions Of Gallons Of Untreated Wastewater Into Toby Creek  [PaEN]

-- Wilkes-Barre Times: Attorney General Files Charges Against Dallas Area Authority In Luzerne County For Dumping Millions Of Gallons Of Untreated Wastewater Into Toby Creek Via Secretly Installed Pipes

-- Citizens Voice: Dallas Area Authority Faces Criminal Charges Over Illegal Sewage Dumping Through Secretly Constructed Pipes

-- Lancaster Clean Water Partners Update: Starting 2023 At A Pace For Success; Watershed Leadership Academy Begins; Much More!

-- Bay Journal Forum: For A Resilient Chesapeake Bay, We Need An Even More Resilient Effort - By Kate Fritz, Alliance For The Chesapeake Bay

-- Pike Conservation District: Link Between Forests & Healthy Watersheds; Environmental Ed Grant Application Period Open  [PaEN]

-- Bay Journal Forum: Rewilding Wetlands - The Clear Path To Clearer Water - By Joseph Sweeney, Water Science Institute & Drew Altland, Ecotone, LLC

-- Protecting Clean Water Together: Where Does Your Water Come From? - By Carol Hillestad for Brodhead Watershed Association, Monroe County [PA Has No Water Well Construction Standards]

-- Penn State Extension: Climate Risk And Private Water Wells  [PaEN]

-- Penn State Extension Watershed Winds Newsletter: Upcoming Educational Opportunities, Water Education Summit, PA PFAS Drinking Water Rule; Watershed Stewards; Much More!

-- Delaware RiverKeeper Feb. 3 RiverWatch Video Report

-- Pocono Heritage Land Trust: A Cautionary Tale In Land Conservation - Why A Handshake Is No Longer Enough - By Carol Hillestad  [PaEN]

-- PA Capital-Star: Resolution To Study Wildlife Conservation Corridors To Be Reintroduced In House

-- Scranton Times Editorial: Wilderness Has Value

-- Save Pennsylvania's Forests: Feb. 8 Webinar - Protect Our Forests From ATVs + Panel Discussion. Noon.

-- Penn State Extension Land Use Webinar Series Continues: Feb. 15 - Using Community Schoolyards To Increase Park Access

-- Penn State Extension: Forest Landowners Conference Slated For State College March 24-25

-- Penn State Extension To Offer 6-Part Webinar Series In March On Homesteading - Living On A Few Acres

-- Penn State Extension Feb. 25 Webinar: Fall In Love With Your Garden Again With Nationally Recognized Gardening Experts, 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

-- Pittsburgh-based Landforce: Apply To Become A Landforce Crew Member Today!  Deadline Feb. 27

-- TribLive: Penn State Extension Master Gardeners Get Early, Informative Start To Season At Monroeville Seed Swap

-- Penn State Extension: Home Garden News, Online Learning Opportunities, Master Gardener Calendar

-- Penn State: Spotted Lanternfly Experts Share What Research Has Uncovered About The Pest

-- Penn State: Deer Browsing Just One Of Many Factors Shaping North American Forests 

-- Philly Voice: Reintroducing Cougars To PA Would Better Control Its Deer Population, Some Scientists Say

-- WITF: Centre Wildlife Care Urges Hunters To Use Non-Lead Ammo After Another Bald Eagle Dies From Lead Poisoning

-- TribLive: Groundhog Day In Punxsutawney: What To Know Before You Go

-- Reading Eagle: Broad-Winged Hawks, Bald Eagles Big Winners At Hawk Mountain During Fall Migration

-- Hawk Mountain Sanctuary: Register Now For Youth Summer Nature Camps

-- Warren Times: Test Your Skills At Audubon Community Nature Center’s February Winter Treasure Hunt

-- Altoona Mirror: Old Crow Wetland Focus Of Art Exhibit At Huntingdon County Arts Center

-- Western PA Conservancy Water - Land - Life Newsletter: Summer Internships; Invasive Species Challenge; Upcoming Webinars; Protecting Land; More!

-- Hawk Mountain Sanctuary: Upcoming Events In February - Winter Ecology Course, Owl Prowl, Farmland Raptors, Sensory Safari, More!

-- Williamsport Sun - Bill Bower: Reflections In Nature: As Spring Slowly Approaches, Buds Start Appearing

-- Nature At Risk: Are We Driving Out the Northern Leopard Frog? - By Carol Hillestad for Brodhead Watershed Association, Monroe County

Emergency Response

-- Observer-Reporter: Suspicious Device Found Inside Gated Eastern Gas Transmission & Storage Natural Gas Facility In Fallowfield Twp., Washington County

-- MCall: Car Hits Natural Gas Meter In Easton, Forcing Evacuations

-- Altoona Mirror: Blair County Emergency Planning Committee Sending Letters To Local Companies Not Complying With  Requirement To Report Hazardous Chemicals

-- Post-Gazette: Train Derailment Near PA Border Causes Massive Fire, Evacuations In Ohio [Vinyl Chloride Used In Making PVC Plastics Involved]

-- Post-Gazette Editorial: Addressing The Complicated Volunteer Firefighting Crisis

6th Oil/Natural Gas Price Spike: True Energy Independence Means Renewables

[There Is No Limit To What Oil/Natural Gas Industry Can Make You Pay]

-- PJM Interconnection Electric Grid Operator Issues Cold Weather Alert, Conservative Operations For Feb. 3–4  [PaEN]

-- DEP Blog: Winterize Your Home To Save On Utility Bills

-- National Fuel Gas Reduces Cost For Natural Gas It Supplies To Customers [Due To Easing Of Price Spike Caused By Russia’s War Against Ukraine, LNG Exports]

-- Marcellus Drilling News: 5 Reasons Why The Price Of Natural Gas May Be Ready To Bounce Higher 

-- Inquirer: Hefty Heating Bills Leave Some Philadelphians Aghast [Global Energy Markets For Natural Gas Driving Up Costs]

-- TribLive: Sticker Shock: High Natural Gas, Electric Bills From December Have More Seeking Help With Heating Bills

-- PUC Launches Comprehensive Investigation Into Billing Issues Impacting PPL Electric Customers

-- StateImpactPA - Rachel McDevitt: PUC Investigating Incorrect PPL Electric Bills

-- MCall - Paul Muschick: Burned By PPL Billing Problem?  Let State Regulators Know About It

-- Reuters: U.S. Natural Gas Prices Slip 2% To 25-Month Low On Milder Feb Weather Forecast

-- Reuters: Freeport To Restart 1 Of 3 Liquefaction Lines At Texas LNG Natural Gas Export Plant This Week

-- Reuters: Fire-Idled Texas LNG Natural Gas Plant Seeks U.S. Approval To Start One Unit

National/International

-- Bloomberg: Europe’s Fossil Fuel Use Set To Plummet In 2023 As Renewables Grow, Report Says; Expensive Natural Gas Use Falling The Fastest

-- Bloomberg: EU Must Extend Natural Gas Demand Cuts Before Next Winter

-- Financial Times: EU Agrees On Price Caps For Russian Oil Products

-- Reuters: EU Launches Global LNG Reference Price As Natural Gas Price Cap Looms

-- Reuters: U.S. LNG Natural Gas Exports Fall 5% As Shipments To Europe Slip

-- Bloomberg: Europe’s Growing Dependence On Costly LNG Natural Gas Isn’t Inevitable Says New Report From BP [Energy Efficiency, Growth Of Wind, Solar, Increasing Electrification Could Reduce Gas Demand By 50% In 2030]

-- Bloomberg: European Natural Gas Price Falls Again With Focus On Demand, LNG Shipments

-- Bloomberg: Germany Falling Short Of Natural Gas Saving Goal, Regulatory Warns

-- Financial Times: BP Cuts Long-Term Forecast For Oil And Natural Gas Demand

-- Reuters: Top 25 Oil/Natural Gas Companies Post Profit Of Over $70 Billion For Quarter Ending Sept. 30, 186.3% Higher Than A Year Earlier

-- Bloomberg: Shell CEO Sees Opportunities In A World ‘Desperately In Need’ Of Gas, Volatile Markets

-- Bloomberg: Shell Posts Record 2022 Profit As Natural Gas Unit Thrives; Big Oil Had A Blowout 2022 Performance On High Energy Prices

-- AP: Shell Profit Doubles To Record As War Drives Up Energy Costs

-- AP: Texas Power Woes Linger As Arctic Air Heads For Northeast U.S.

-- AP: Frustrated Texans Endure Winter Storm With No Power, Heat [Again]

-- Bloomberg: Texas Oil & Natural Gas Producers Told To Prepare For Treacherous Winter Storms This Week

-- Scranton Times Editorial: Hypocrisy Flows Like Oil

Energy

-- PJM Interconnection Electric Grid Operator Issues Cold Weather Alert, Conservative Operations For Feb. 3–4  [PaEN]

-- Warren Times/The Center Square: Report: Coal Falls, Natural Gas Climbs In Pennsylvania [But There Are Tradeoffs - Oil & Gas Culture Of Non-Compliance]

-- EDF: Conventional Gas Wells In Allegheny National Forest Leaked Over 6 Billion Cubic Feet Of Natural Gas In 2019; Conventional Operators Seek To Block Methane Limits  [PaEN]

-- Observer-Reporter Guest Essay: Building On Our Energy Foundation - By Jeff Kotula, Washington County Chamber of Commerce  [Here’s the “big picture” they didn’t talk about] 

-- PA Capital-Star: How Did Renewables Fare During Winter Storm Elliott In December?  [Fossil Fuel Failures, Natural Gas Shortages, Wind & Solar Performed As Forecasts Projected]

-- PennFuture Blog: Lessons From December Deep Freeze - Don’t Put All Our Energy Generation Eggs In One Basket - By Rob Altenburg

-- Courier Express: St. Marys City Council Adopts Ordinance To Regulate Bitcoin Mining, Solar Energy Facilities

-- WCCSradio: Indiana Borough G.E.T. Solar Program Extended; Feb. 17 Webinar Set

-- WESA/Lehigh Valley News: Sen. Casey Visits Lehigh Valley Crayola Factory, Highlights Use Of Renewable Energy

-- PennTAP: Apply Now For USDA Rural Energy For America Renewable Energy, Efficiency Improvement Loans, Grants  [PaEN]

-- PA Solar Center Webinar: Feb. 17 - Apply For USDA Rural Energy For America Program, G.E.T. Solar Programs To Reduce Your Energy Costs  [PaEN]

-- Apply For West Penn Power Sustainable Energy Fund Funding Opportunities  [PaEN]

-- LehighValleyLive Guest Essay: Why Easton Would Miss Great Opportunity If It Passes On Lehigh Canal Hydropower Plan - By Lamont McClure, Northampton County Executive

-- PennLive Guest Essay: Higher Education Has A Critical Role To Play In Tackling The Energy Crisis - By Lee Kump, Penn State College Of Earth & Mineral Sciences

-- Pittsburgh Business Times: Form Energy’s Newest Battery Contract Will Be Built At New Weirton Plant In WV

-- PUC Launches Comprehensive Investigation Into Billing Issues Impacting PPL Electric Customers

-- StateImpactPA - Rachel McDevitt: PUC Investigating Incorrect PPL Electric Bills

-- PennLive: PUC Launches Investigation Into PPL’s Unusually High Electric Bills

-- StateImpactPA - Rachel McDevitt: PUC Investigating Incorrect PPL Electric Bills

-- Wilkes-Barre Times: Some PPL Customers Receiving Unexpectedly High Estimated Bills

-- MCall: PPL Said It Fixed Billing Issue, Will Waive Late Fees, Take Other Steps To Make Amends With Customers

-- MCall - Paul Muschick: Burned By PPL Billing Problem?  Let State Regulators Know About It

-- Inquirer: Hefty Heating Bills Leave Some Philadelphians Aghast [Global Energy Markets For Natural Gas Driving Up Costs]

-- TribLive: Sticker Shock: High Natural Gas, Electric Bills From December Have More Seeking Help With Heating Bills

-- National Fuel Gas Reduces Cost For Natural Gas It Supplies To Customers [Due To Easing Of Price Spike Caused By Russia’s War Against Ukraine, LNG Exports]

-- Marcellus Drilling News: 5 Reasons Why The Price Of Natural Gas May Be Ready To Bounce Higher 

-- Reuters: U.S. Natural Gas Prices Slip 2% To 25-Month Low On Milder Feb Weather Forecast

-- Observer-Reporter: Suspicious Device Found Inside Gated Eastern Gas Transmission & Storage Natural Gas Facility In Fallowfield Twp., Washington County

-- PennLive Guest Essay: Opportunities On The Horizon For PA’s Natural Gas - By Fmr Republican State Sen. Earl Baker

-- Pittsburgh Business Times: CNX Resources Strategy: Buying Back Stock In A Big Way

-- TribLive: Gasoline Prices Heading Back Toward $4 After 5 Weeks Of Increases

-- The Guardian: U.S. Utilities Shut Off Power To Millions Amid Record Corporate Profits, Report

-- The Guardian: More Expensive To Keep 99% Of Coal-Fired Power Plants Running Than To Build Entirely New Solar, Wind Energy Facilities Nearby

-- The Guardian: These Homes Replaced Their Natural Gas Stoves And Saw A Huge Drop In Indoor Pollution

-- Reuters: Hydrogen As A Backup For Renewables Remains A Distant Proposition

-- Utility Dive: First Solar In Ohio Brings U.S. Investment To $4 Billion After Selling Out Of Solar Panels Thru 2025

-- The Economist: Preventing Clean Energy Infrastructure From Being Built Is No Way To Save The Planet

Energy Conservation

-- DEP Blog: Winterize Your Home To Save On Utility Bills

-- PennTAP: Apply Now For USDA Rural Energy For America Renewable Energy, Efficiency Improvement Loans, Grants  [PaEN]

-- PA Solar Center Webinar: Feb. 17 - Apply For USDA Rural Energy For America Program, G.E.T. Solar Programs To Reduce Your Energy Costs  [PaEN]

-- Apply For West Penn Power Sustainable Energy Fund Funding Opportunities  [PaEN]

-- Bloomberg: DOE Proposes Energy Consumption Standards For Natural Gas, Electric Cook Tops, Ovens

Environmental Health

-- Warren Times/The Center Square: Report: Coal Falls, Natural Gas Climbs In Pennsylvania [But There Are Tradeoffs - Oil & Gas Culture Of Non-Compliance]

-- Pennsylvania Oil & Gas Weekly Compliance Dashboard - Jan. 28 to Feb. 3  [PaEN]

-- PA Oil & Gas Industrial Facilities: Permit Notices/Opportunities To Comment - Feb. 4  [PaEN]

-- EDF: Conventional Gas Wells In Allegheny National Forest Leaked Over 6 Billion Cubic Feet Of Natural Gas In 2019; Conventional Operators Seek To Block Methane Limits  [PaEN]

-- Erie Times Guest Essay: Methane Pollution, Pennsylvania’s Clean Air Unfinished Business - By Environmental Defense Fund, PA Environmental Council

-- AP: Difficulty Measuring Methane/Natural Gas Emissions Slows Plan To Slash Pollution [PA Example Looking For Leaking Wells]

-- Observer-Reporter Guest Essay: Building On Our Energy Foundation - By Jeff Kotula, Washington County Chamber of Commerce  [Here’s the “big picture” they didn’t talk about] 

-- Better Path Coalition: Brown Bag Briefing On Impacts Of Unconventional Shale Gas Development By John Stolz, Duquesne University - Now Available On Demand

-- University Of Pittsburgh Hosts Feb. 6 Webinar: Reaping What We Spill, Leak And Spew  [PaEN]

-- Environmental Groups File Notice Of Intent To Sue Shell Chemical For Air Pollution Violations At Its Petrochemical Plant In Beaver County  [PaEN]

-- TribLive: Activists: Shell Petrochemical Plant Not Living Up To ‘Good Neighbor’ Promises

-- Inside Climate News - Jon Hurdle: PA Advocates Issue Intent To Sue Shell Petrochemical Plant For Air Emissions Violations In Beaver County

-- The Allegheny Front - Reid Frazier: Groups File Notice Of Intent To Sue Shell For Air Violations At Beaver Ethane Cracker Plant

-- Pittsburgh Business Times: Shell Plant’s Neighbors, Environmental Advocates Set Up Low-Cost Monitors To Test Nearby Air

-- Pittsburgh Business Times: Shell Petrochemical Plant Watchdog Marks Progress In Its First Year As Organized Group

-- Climate Power: Shell Announces $40 Billion Profit; State Of Pennsylvania Provides Company $1.65 Billion Tax Break

-- Financial Times: Shell Is Having A Use-Of-Cash Flow Crisis

-- Public Source: When An Air Inversion Rolls In, Do Efforts To Curb Industrial Pollution Work In Allegheny County?  Just Starting To Review Its Effectiveness

-- The Center Square: PA Picked By EPA For Federal Lead Pipe Replacement Program

-- Inquirer: Biden Unveils $500 Million For Philadelphia Lead Pipe Replacement

-- WITF: Centre Wildlife Care Urges Hunters To Use Non-Lead Ammo After Another Bald Eagle Dies From Lead Poisoning

-- Erie Times: Erie Had Questions About Cosmed And Ethylene Oxide, Find Answers From EPA, DEP, More

-- The Center Square - Anthony Hennen: Cancer Risk From Ethylene Oxide In Butler County Lowered After EPA Warning

-- TribLive: Westmoreland Water Authority Lifts Water Warning As Cleansing Byproduct Levels Fall Below Limits

-- WESA/The Allegheny Front: Test Your Home (Or School) For Radon To Reduce Lung Cancer Risk

-- Altoona Mirror: Blair County Emergency Planning Committee Sending Letters To Local Companies Not Complying With  Requirement To Report Hazardous Chemicals

-- Fish & Boat Commission Takes No Separate Enforcement Action In The Valley Brook Country Club Pesticide Runoff Case That Killed 122,586 Fish In Chartiers Creek, Washington County  [PaEN]

-- The Guardian: These Homes Replaced Their Natural Gas Stoves And Saw A Huge Drop In Indoor Pollution

EPA

-- The Center Square: PA Picked By EPA For Federal Lead Pipe Replacement Program

-- Inquirer: Biden Unveils $500 Million For Philadelphia Lead Pipe Replacement

-- Erie Times: Erie Had Questions About Cosmed And Ethylene Oxide, Find Answers From EPA, DEP, More

-- The Center Square - Anthony Hennen: Cancer Risk From Ethylene Oxide In Butler County Lowered After EPA Warning

-- Bloomberg: DOE Proposes Energy Consumption Standards For Natural Gas, Electric Cook Tops, Ovens

-- EPA Opens Comment Period For Indoor airPLUS Program Update To Improve Indoor Air Quality In Homes

-- EPA Announces Financial Capability Guidance To Support Communities, Ensure Clean, Affordable Water

Farming

-- PASA Sustainable Agriculture Announces 2023 Pasabilities Awards Recipients  [PaEN]

-- PennTAP: Apply Now For USDA Rural Energy For America Renewable Energy, Efficiency Improvement Loans, Grants  [PaEN]

-- PA Solar Center Webinar: Feb. 17 - Apply For USDA Rural Energy For America Program, G.E.T. Solar Programs To Reduce Your Energy Costs  [PaEN]

-- Pocono Heritage Land Trust: A Cautionary Tale In Land Conservation - Why A Handshake Is No Longer Enough - By Carol Hillestad  [PaEN]

-- Republican Herald: Schuylkill Commissioners Award $255,000 To Preserve County Farmland

-- Dept. Of Agriculture Controlled Plant & Noxious Weed Committee Adds 7 Plants To List

-- TribLive: Penn State Extension Master Gardeners Get Early, Informative Start To Season At Monroeville Seed Swap

-- Penn State Extension: Home Garden News, Online Learning Opportunities, Master Gardener Calendar

-- Penn State: Spotted Lanternfly Experts Share What Research Has Uncovered About The Pest

-- Penn State Extension: Forest Landowners Conference Slated For State College March 24-25

-- Penn State Extension To Offer 6-Part Webinar Series In March On Homesteading - Living On A Few Acres

-- Penn State Extension Feb. 25 Webinar: Fall In Love With Your Garden Again With Nationally Recognized Gardening Experts, 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Fish & Boat Commission

-- Fish & Boat Commission Takes No Separate Enforcement Action In The Valley Brook Country Club Pesticide Runoff Case That Killed 122,586 Fish In Chartiers Creek, Washington County  [PaEN]

-- York Daily Record - Brian Whipkey: 4 Million Trout Will Be Released Into PA Waterways

-- DEP Invites Comments On Stream Redesignation Reports On Slab Cabin Run, Centre County And Lycoming Creek, Lycoming County  [PaEN]

-- Help Wanted: Fish & Boat Commission Seasonal Fisheries Biologist Aides

Forests

-- Master Watershed Steward Program Statewide Accomplishments In 2022  [PaEN]

-- The Nature Conservancy Permanently Preserves 1,071 Acres In Pike County To Create A 43-Mile Corridor Of Protected State Game Lands  [PaEN]

-- Game Commission, Ducks Unlimited Partner To Improve 1,600 Acres Of Wetland Habitats On 61 State Game Lands  [PaEN]

-- Bay Journal Forum: For A Resilient Chesapeake Bay, We Need An Even More Resilient Effort - By Kate Fritz, Alliance For The Chesapeake Bay

-- Pike Conservation District: Link Between Forests & Healthy Watersheds; Environmental Ed Grant Application Period Open  [PaEN]

--  Scranton Times: Tu B’Shevat, A Jewish Holiday With An Environmental Twist, Begins Sunday - The New Year Of The Trees

-- Penn State: Spotted Lanternfly Experts Share What Research Has Uncovered About The Pest

-- Penn State: Deer Browsing Just One Of Many Factors Shaping North American Forests 

-- Penn State Extension: Forest Landowners Conference Slated For State College March 24-25

-- Penn State Extension To Offer 6-Part Webinar Series In March On Homesteading - Living On A Few Acres

-- Save Pennsylvania's Forests: Feb. 8 Webinar - Protect Our Forests From ATVs + Panel Discussion. Noon.

-- Pittsburgh-based Landforce: Apply To Become A Landforce Crew Member Today!  Deadline Feb. 27

-- U.S. Forest Service Accepting Applications For Wood Innovations Project, Community Wood Energy Facility Grants, Deadline March 23

Game Commission

-- Game Commission: Highlights From Jan. 28 Board Of Commissioners Meeting

-- The Nature Conservancy Permanently Preserves 1,071 Acres In Pike County To Create A 43-Mile Corridor Of Protected State Game Lands  [PaEN]

-- Game Commission, Ducks Unlimited Partner To Improve 1,600 Acres Of Wetland Habitats On 61 State Game Lands  [PaEN]

-- Penn State: Deer Browsing Just One Of Many Factors Shaping North American Forests

-- Philly Voice: Reintroducing Cougars To PA Would Better Control Its Deer Population, Some Scientists Say

-- WITF: Centre Wildlife Care Urges Hunters To Use Non-Lead Ammo After Another Bald Eagle Dies From Lead Poisoning

-- Reading Eagle: Broad-Winged Hawks, Bald Eagles Big Winners At Hawk Mountain During Fall Migration

Grants/Funding

-- DCNR Now Accepting Applications For Snowmobile, ATV Project Grants, Deadline March 31

-- PA Organization For Watersheds & Rivers Accepting Applications For River Sojourn Grants  [PaEN]

-- POWR: Ohio Basin Access For Canoes, Kayaks Mini Grants Program Now Accepting Applications  [PaEN]

-- National Fish & Wildlife Foundation Now Accepting Proposals For Delaware Watershed Conservation Fund Grants  [PaEN]

-- TribLive: DCNR Grant Could Help Create Large, Uninterrupted Recreation Space In Monroeville, Allegheny County

-- DEP Now Accepting Applications For Reimbursements Under Local Host Municipality Waste Facility Inspectors Program For Calendar Year 2022, Deadline April 30

-- Williamsport Sun: Lycoming College Receives $10,000 Grant To Support Environmental Education

-- Penn State’s Center For Critical Minerals To Receive $2.1 Million Grant To Build Pilot Plant To Recover Rare Earth Elements, Other Critical Minerals From Acid Mine Drainage  [PaEN]

-- Postponed: PennDOT National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Grant Applications  [PaEN]

-- PennTAP: Apply Now For USDA Rural Energy For America Renewable Energy, Efficiency Improvement Loans, Grants  [PaEN]

-- Apply For West Penn Power Sustainable Energy Fund Funding Opportunities  [PaEN]

Green Infrastructure

-- Master Watershed Steward Program Statewide Accomplishments In 2022  [PaEN]

-- PASA Sustainable Agriculture Announces 2023 Pasabilities Awards Recipients  [PaEN]

-- Register Now For 2023 Watershed Congress - March 25 In-Person, March 27-31 Online  [PaEN]

-- Save The Date: Choose Clean Water Conference May 23-24 In Harrisburg  [PaEN]

-- LiveRoof: Philadelphia Navy Yard Redevelopment Includes Gigantic Green Roof!

-- Tulpehocken Creek Watershed Association Reviews Accomplishments, Seeks New Members In Berks County  [PaEN]

--  Scranton Times: Tu B’Shevat, A Jewish Holiday With An Environmental Twist, Begins Sunday - The New Year Of The Trees

-- DCNR: Mount Jewett To Kinzua Bridge Trail, McKean County Selected As PA’s 2023 Trail Of The Year  [PaEN]

-- PennLive: Former Rail Line Named PA Trail Of The Year

-- Inquirer: Hiking To Heal - United Methodist Pastor, Nature Guide Spent 16 Days In Hospital After Hiking Accident

-- DCNR Hosts Feb. 14 Webinar On Strategies To Advance Park Equity In Rural Areas  [PaEN]

-- Scranton Times: Wyoming County Now Has A State Park After State Purchased Howland Preserve For Nearly $2.6 Million

-- DCNR Now Accepting Applications For Snowmobile, ATV Project Grants, Deadline March 31

-- PA Organization For Watersheds & Rivers Accepting Applications For River Sojourn Grants  [PaEN]

-- POWR: Ohio Basin Access For Canoes, Kayaks Mini Grants Program Now Accepting Applications  [PaEN]

-- The Nature Conservancy Permanently Preserves 1,071 Acres In Pike County To Create A 43-Mile Corridor Of Protected State Game Lands  [PaEN]

-- Game Commission, Ducks Unlimited Partner To Improve 1,600 Acres Of Wetland Habitats On 61 State Game Lands  [PaEN]

-- TribLive: DCNR Grant Could Help Create Large, Uninterrupted Recreation Space In Monroeville, Allegheny County

-- National Fish & Wildlife Foundation Now Accepting Proposals For Delaware Watershed Conservation Fund Grants  [PaEN]

-- Bay Journal Forum: For A Resilient Chesapeake Bay, We Need An Even More Resilient Effort - By Kate Fritz, Alliance For The Chesapeake Bay

-- Pike Conservation District: Link Between Forests & Healthy Watersheds; Environmental Ed Grant Application Period Open  [PaEN]

-- U.S. Forest Service Accepting Applications For Wood Innovations Project, Community Wood Energy Facility Grants, Deadline March 23

-- Lancaster Clean Water Partners Update: Starting 2023 At A Pace For Success; Watershed Leadership Academy Begins; Much More!

-- Bay Journal Forum: Rewilding Wetlands - The Clear Path To Clearer Water - By Joseph Sweeney, Water Science Institute & Drew Altland, Ecotone, LLC

-- Pocono Heritage Land Trust: A Cautionary Tale In Land Conservation - Why A Handshake Is No Longer Enough - By Carol Hillestad  [PaEN]

-- Republican Herald: Schuylkill Commissioners Award $255,000 To Preserve County Farmland

-- Scranton Times Editorial: Wilderness Has Value

-- Scranton Times Editorial: Oases Amid Development, Lackawanna River Conservation Assn. Preserves Land

-- Penn State: Deer Browsing Just One Of Many Factors Shaping North American Forests 

-- Penn State Extension: Forest Landowners Conference Slated For State College March 24-25

-- Penn State Extension To Offer 6-Part Webinar Series In March On Homesteading - Living On A Few Acres

-- Manada Conservancy Hosts Native Plant Sale Now Thru May 6 In Dauphin County

-- Western PA Conservancy Water - Land - Life Newsletter: Summer Internships; Invasive Species Challenge; Upcoming Webinars; Protecting Land; More!

-- Pittsburgh-based Landforce: Apply To Become A Landforce Crew Member Today!  Deadline Feb. 27

-- Natural Lands Names Gary M. Gimbert, Vice President Of Stewardship

Hazardous Substances

-- Warren Times/The Center Square: Report: Coal Falls, Natural Gas Climbs In Pennsylvania [But There Are Tradeoffs - Oil & Gas Culture Of Non-Compliance]

-- Pennsylvania Oil & Gas Weekly Compliance Dashboard - Jan. 28 to Feb. 3  [PaEN]

-- PA Oil & Gas Industrial Facilities: Permit Notices/Opportunities To Comment - Feb. 4  [PaEN]

-- EDF: Conventional Gas Wells In Allegheny National Forest Leaked Over 6 Billion Cubic Feet Of Natural Gas In 2019; Conventional Operators Seek To Block Methane Limits  [PaEN]

-- Erie Times Guest Essay: Methane Pollution, Pennsylvania’s Clean Air Unfinished Business - By Environmental Defense Fund, PA Environmental Council

-- AP: Difficulty Measuring Methane/Natural Gas Emissions Slows Plan To Slash Pollution [PA Example Looking For Leaking Wells]

-- Observer-Reporter Guest Essay: Building On Our Energy Foundation - By Jeff Kotula, Washington County Chamber of Commerce  [Here’s the “big picture” they didn’t talk about] 

-- Better Path Coalition: Brown Bag Briefing On Impacts Of Unconventional Shale Gas Development By John Stolz, Duquesne University - Now Available On Demand

-- University Of Pittsburgh Hosts Feb. 6 Webinar: Reaping What We Spill, Leak And Spew  [PaEN]

-- Pittsburgh Business Times: Shell Petrochemical Plant Watchdog Marks Progress In Its First Year As Organized Group

-- The Guardian: These Homes Replaced Their Natural Gas Stoves And Saw A Huge Drop In Indoor Pollution

-- City & State PA: Westmoreland County Residents Trying To Stop Proposal By MAX Environmental Technology For Treated Hazardous Waste Landfill

-- The Center Square: PA Picked By EPA For Federal Lead Pipe Replacement Program

-- Inquirer: Biden Unveils $500 Million For Philadelphia Lead Pipe Replacement

-- WITF: Centre Wildlife Care Urges Hunters To Use Non-Lead Ammo After Another Bald Eagle Dies From Lead Poisoning

-- Erie Times: Erie Had Questions About Cosmed And Ethylene Oxide, Find Answers From EPA, DEP, More

-- The Center Square - Anthony Hennen: Cancer Risk From Ethylene Oxide In Butler County Lowered After EPA Warning

-- Altoona Mirror: Blair County Emergency Planning Committee Sending Letters To Local Companies Not Complying With  Requirement To Report Hazardous Chemicals

-- Fish & Boat Commission Takes No Separate Enforcement Action In The Valley Brook Country Club Pesticide Runoff Case That Killed 122,586 Fish In Chartiers Creek, Washington County  [PaEN]

Laboratories

-- AP: Reliance Laboratories In WV Admits To Lying About Public Water Testing

Land Conservation

-- Master Watershed Steward Program Statewide Accomplishments In 2022  [PaEN]

-- The Nature Conservancy Permanently Preserves 1,071 Acres In Pike County To Create A 43-Mile Corridor Of Protected State Game Lands  [PaEN]

-- Game Commission, Ducks Unlimited Partner To Improve 1,600 Acres Of Wetland Habitats On 61 State Game Lands  [PaEN]

-- TribLive: DCNR Grant Could Help Create Large, Uninterrupted Recreation Space In Monroeville, Allegheny County

-- The Burg: DCNR Buys 2  Susquehanna River Islands To Conserve, Keep Public

-- Pocono Heritage Land Trust: A Cautionary Tale In Land Conservation - Why A Handshake Is No Longer Enough - By Carol Hillestad  [PaEN]

-- Scranton Times: Wyoming County Now Has A State Park After State Purchased Howland Preserve For Nearly $2.6 Million

-- Bay Journal Forum: For A Resilient Chesapeake Bay, We Need An Even More Resilient Effort - By Kate Fritz, Alliance For The Chesapeake Bay

-- Pike Conservation District: Link Between Forests & Healthy Watersheds; Environmental Ed Grant Application Period Open  [PaEN]

-- Republican Herald: Schuylkill Commissioners Award $255,000 To Preserve County Farmland

-- Pittsburgh-based Landforce: Apply To Become A Landforce Crew Member Today!  Deadline Feb. 27

-- Penn State Extension: Forest Landowners Conference Slated For State College March 24-25

-- Penn State Extension To Offer 6-Part Webinar Series In March On Homesteading - Living On A Few Acres

-- National Fish & Wildlife Foundation Now Accepting Proposals For Delaware Watershed Conservation Fund Grants  [PaEN]

-- WHYY: Philly Council Passes Erosion Control Exemption For Cobbs Creek Golf Course Project Despite Community Concerns

-- U.S. Forest Service Accepting Applications For Wood Innovations Project, Community Wood Energy Facility Grants, Deadline March 23

-- Scranton Times Editorial: Wilderness Has Value

-- Scranton Times Editorial: Oases Amid Development, Lackawanna River Conservation Assn. Preserves Land

-- Western PA Conservancy Water - Land - Life Newsletter: Summer Internships; Invasive Species Challenge; Upcoming Webinars; Protecting Land; More!

-- Manada Conservancy Hosts Native Plant Sale Now Thru May 6 In Dauphin County

-- Natural Lands Names Gary M. Gimbert, Vice President Of Stewardship

Land Use Planning

-- Courier Express: St. Marys City Council Adopts Ordinance To Regulate Bitcoin Mining, Solar Energy Facilities

Lake Erie

-- Pennsylvania Lake Erie Environmental Forum Feb. 21 - Education & Volunteerism In Pennsylvania  [PaEN]

-- Erie Times: Lake Erie Water Levels Continue Falling From Record Highs, What’s Ahead?

Litter/Illegal Dumping

-- WHYY/PlanPhilly: Groups Challenge Philly’s Next Mayor - End Illegal Dumping By 2028

Mine Reclamation

-- Penn State’s Center For Critical Minerals To Receive $2.1 Million Grant To Build Pilot Plant To Recover Rare Earth Elements, Other Critical Minerals From Acid Mine Drainage  [PaEN]

-- DEP Posts Bid Opportunity For Mine Reclamation Project In Clearfield County

Oil & Gas

-- Inside Climate News - Jon Hurdle: In Pennsylvania, New Governor Fuels Hopes For Tougher Rules On Energy, Environment

-- PJM Interconnection Electric Grid Operator Issues Cold Weather Alert, Conservative Operations For Feb. 3–4  [PaEN]

-- Warren Times/The Center Square: Report: Coal Falls, Natural Gas Climbs In Pennsylvania [But There Are Tradeoffs - Oil & Gas Culture Of Non-Compliance]

-- EDF: Conventional Gas Wells In Allegheny National Forest Leaked Over 6 Billion Cubic Feet Of Natural Gas In 2019; Conventional Operators Seek To Block Methane Limits  [PaEN]

-- Erie Times Guest Essay: Methane Pollution, Pennsylvania’s Clean Air Unfinished Business - By Environmental Defense Fund, PA Environmental Council

-- AP: Difficulty Measuring Methane/Natural Gas Emissions Slows Plan To Slash Pollution [PA Example Looking For Leaking Wells]

-- Pittsburgh Business Times: Well Plugging Company Owned By Diversified Energy, Largest Owner Of Conventional Oil & Gas Wells In PA, Opens WV Office To Take Advantage Of Taxpayer Well Plugging Funding

-- Observer-Reporter Guest Essay: Building On Our Energy Foundation - By Jeff Kotula, Washington County Chamber of Commerce  [Here’s the “big picture” they didn’t talk about] 

-- Better Path Coalition: Brown Bag Briefing On Impacts Of Unconventional Shale Gas Development By John Stolz, Duquesne University - Now Available On Demand

-- University Of Pittsburgh Hosts Feb. 6 Webinar: Reaping What We Spill, Leak And Spew  [PaEN]

-- Pennsylvania Oil & Gas Weekly Compliance Dashboard - Jan. 28 to Feb. 3  [PaEN]

-- PA Oil & Gas Industrial Facilities: Permit Notices/Opportunities To Comment - Feb. 4  [PaEN]

-- Environmental Groups File Notice Of Intent To Sue Shell Chemical For Air Pollution Violations At Its Petrochemical Plant In Beaver County  [PaEN]

-- TribLive: Activists: Shell Petrochemical Plant Not Living Up To ‘Good Neighbor’ Promises

-- Inside Climate News - Jon Hurdle: PA Advocates Issue Intent To Sue Shell Petrochemical Plant For Air Emissions Violations In Beaver County

-- The Allegheny Front - Reid Frazier: Groups File Notice Of Intent To Sue Shell For Air Violations At Beaver Ethane Cracker Plant

-- Pittsburgh Business Times: Shell Plant’s Neighbors, Environmental Advocates Set Up Low-Cost Monitors To Test Nearby Air

-- Pittsburgh Business Times: Shell Petrochemical Plant Watchdog Marks Progress In Its First Year As Organized Group

-- Climate Power: Shell Announces $40 Billion Profit; State Of Pennsylvania Provides Company $1.65 Billion Tax Break

-- Financial Times: Shell Is Having A Use-Of-Cash Flow Crisis

-- Courier Express: St. Marys City Council Adopts Ordinance To Regulate Bitcoin Mining, Solar Energy Facilities

-- PennLive Guest Essay: Opportunities On The Horizon For PA’s Natural Gas - By Fmr Republican State Sen. Earl Baker

-- National Fuel Gas Reduces Cost For Natural Gas It Supplies To Customers [Due To Easing Of Price Spike Caused By Russia’s War Against Ukraine, LNG Exports]

-- Marcellus Drilling News: 5 Reasons Why The Price Of Natural Gas May Be Ready To Bounce Higher 

-- Inquirer: Hefty Heating Bills Leave Some Philadelphians Aghast [Global Energy Markets For Natural Gas Driving Up Costs]

-- TribLive: Sticker Shock: High Natural Gas, Electric Bills From December Have More Seeking Help With Heating Bills

-- Observer-Reporter: Suspicious Device Found Inside Gated Eastern Gas Transmission & Storage Natural Gas Facility In Fallowfield Twp., Washington County

-- Pittsburgh Business Times: CNX Resources Strategy: Buying Back Stock In A Big Way

-- TribLive: Gasoline Prices Heading Back Toward $4 After 5 Weeks Of Increases

-- The Guardian: These Homes Replaced Their Natural Gas Stoves And Saw A Huge Drop In Indoor Pollution

-- Reuters: U.S. Natural Gas Prices Slip 2% To 25-Month Low On Milder Feb Weather Forecast

-- Bloomberg: Europe’s Fossil Fuel Use Set To Plummet In 2023 As Renewables Grow, Report Says; Expensive Natural Gas Use Falling The Fastest

-- Bloomberg: Europe’s Growing Dependence On Costly LNG Natural Gas Isn’t Inevitable Says New Report From BP [Energy Efficiency, Growth Of Wind, Solar, Increasing Electrification Could Reduce Gas Demand By 50% In 2030]

-- Reuters: Fire-Idled Texas LNG Natural Gas Plant Seeks U.S. Approval To Start One Unit

-- Reuters: Top 25 Oil/Natural Gas Companies Post Profit Of Over $70 Billion For Quarter Ending Sept. 30, 186.3% Higher Than A Year Earlier

-- Bloomberg: Shell CEO Sees Opportunities In A World ‘Desperately In Need’ Of Gas, Volatile Markets

-- Bloomberg: Shell Posts Record 2022 Profit As Natural Gas Unit Thrives; Big Oil Had A Blowout 2022 Performance On High Energy Prices

-- AP: Shell Profit Doubles To Record As War Drives Up Energy Costs

-- Bloomberg: Shell Selling ‘Carbon Neutral’ Natural Gas Again Using Offsets

-- Financial Times: BP Cuts Long-Term Forecast For Oil And Natural Gas Demand

-- Scranton Times Editorial: Hypocrisy Flows Like Oil

-- AP: Texas Power Woes Linger As Arctic Air Heads For Northeast U.S.

-- AP: Frustrated Texans Endure Winter Storm With No Power, Heat [Again]

-- Bloomberg: Texas Oil & Natural Gas Producers Told To Prepare For Treacherous Winter Storms This Week

-- Reuters: Hydrogen As A Backup For Renewables Remains A Distant Proposition

Permitting

-- Gov. Shapiro Issues Order Directing Agencies To Set Deadlines For Permit Reviews, Requires Money-Back Guarantee If Deadlines Not Met; A Similar Program Started At DEP In 1995 [PaEN] 

-- Pittsburgh Business Times: Business Groups Optimistic About Shapiro’s Efforts To Cut Red Tape

-- DEP Took Action On 690 Permits, 93%  Within Permit Decision Guarantee Deadlines; Conducted 1,491 Inspections; Responded To 4 Environmental Emergencies Last Week

-- DEP Invites Comments On Stream Redesignation Reports On Slab Cabin Run, Centre County And Lycoming Creek, Lycoming County  [PaEN]

-- City & State PA: Westmoreland County Residents Trying To Stop Proposal By MAX Environmental Technology For Treated Hazardous Waste Landfill

-- The Economist: Preventing Clean Energy Infrastructure From Being Built Is No Way To Save The Planet

Public Participation

-- Pennsylvania Oil & Gas Weekly Compliance Dashboard - Jan. 28 to Feb. 3  [PaEN]

-- PA Oil & Gas Industrial Facilities: Permit Notices/Opportunities To Comment - Feb. 4  [PaEN]

-- DEP Posts 66 Pages Of Permit-Related Notices In Feb. 4 PA Bulletin  [PaEN]

-- DEP Invites Comments On Stream Redesignation Reports On Slab Cabin Run, Centre County And Lycoming Creek, Lycoming County  [PaEN]

-- City & State PA: Westmoreland County Residents Trying To Stop Proposal By MAX Environmental Technology For Treated Hazardous Waste Landfill

-- Gov. Shapiro Issues Order Directing Agencies To Set Deadlines For Permit Reviews, Requires Money-Back Guarantee If Deadlines Not Met; A Similar Program Started At DEP In 1995 [PaEN] 

-- DCNR Hosts Feb. 14 Webinar On Strategies To Advance Park Equity In Rural Areas  [PaEN]

-- Bloomberg: DOE Proposes Energy Consumption Standards For Natural Gas, Electric Cook Tops, Ovens

-- EPA Opens Comment Period For Indoor airPLUS Program Update To Improve Indoor Air Quality In Homes

-- DEP Took Action On 690 Permits, 93%  Within Permit Decision Guarantee Deadlines; Conducted 1,491 Inspections; Responded To 4 Environmental Emergencies Last Week

PUC

-- PJM Interconnection Electric Grid Operator Issues Cold Weather Alert, Conservative Operations For Feb. 3–4  [PaEN]

-- PA Capital-Star: How Did Renewables Fare During Winter Storm Elliott In December?  [Fossil Fuel Failures, Natural Gas Shortages, Wind & Solar Performed As Forecasts Projected]

-- PennFuture Blog: Lessons From December Deep Freeze - Don’t Put All Our Energy Generation Eggs In One Basket - By Rob Altenburg

-- Marcellus Drilling News: 5 Reasons Why The Price Of Natural Gas May Be Ready To Bounce Higher 

-- PUC Launches Comprehensive Investigation Into Billing Issues Impacting PPL Electric Customers

-- StateImpactPA - Rachel McDevitt: PUC Investigating Incorrect PPL Electric Bills

-- PennLive: PUC Launches Investigation Into PPL’s Unusually High Electric Bills

-- StateImpactPA - Rachel McDevitt: PUC Investigating Incorrect PPL Electric Bills

-- MCall: PPL Said It Fixed Billing Issue, Will Waive Late Fees, Take Other Steps To Make Amends With Customers

-- Wilkes-Barre Times: Some PPL Customers Receiving Unexpectedly High Estimated Bills

-- MCall - Paul Muschick: Burned By PPL Billing Problem?  Let State Regulators Know About It

-- Inquirer: Hefty Heating Bills Leave Some Philadelphians Aghast [Global Energy Markets For Natural Gas Driving Up Costs]

-- TribLive: Sticker Shock: High Natural Gas, Electric Bills From December Have More Seeking Help With Heating Bills

-- National Fuel Gas Reduces Cost For Natural Gas It Supplies To Customers [Due To Easing Of Price Spike Caused By Russia’s War Against Ukraine, LNG Exports]

-- The Guardian: U.S. Utilities Shut Off Power To Millions Amid Record Corporate Profits, Report

Radiation Protection

-- WESA/The Allegheny Front: Test Your Home (Or School) For Radon To Reduce Lung Cancer Risk

Radon

-- WESA/The Allegheny Front: Test Your Home (Or School) For Radon To Reduce Lung Cancer Risk

Recreation

-- DCNR: Mount Jewett To Kinzua Bridge Trail, McKean County Selected As PA’s 2023 Trail Of The Year  [PaEN]

-- PennLive: Former Rail Line Named PA Trail Of The Year

-- LancasterOnline - Ad Crable: 36 State Parks Offer Cabin Getaways This Winter

-- Wilkes-Barre Times: Black Diamond Trail Kicks Off 30 Mile Hiking, Biking, Walking, Snowshoeing Challenge

-- Inquirer: Hiking To Heal - United Methodist Pastor, Nature Guide Spent 16 Days In Hospital After Hiking Accident

-- Scranton Times: Wyoming County Now Has A State Park After State Purchased Howland Preserve For Nearly $2.6 Million

-- The Burg: DCNR Buys 2  Susquehanna River Islands To Conserve, Keep Public

-- DCNR Now Accepting Applications For Snowmobile, ATV Project Grants, Deadline March 31

-- PA Organization For Watersheds & Rivers Accepting Applications For River Sojourn Grants  [PaEN]

-- POWR: Ohio Basin Access For Canoes, Kayaks Mini Grants Program Now Accepting Applications  [PaEN]

-- NextPittsburgh: Warren Is Home To Stunning Views Near The Allegheny National Forest

-- TribLive: DCNR Grant Could Help Create Large, Uninterrupted Recreation Space In Monroeville, Allegheny County

-- DCNR Hosts Feb. 14 Webinar On Strategies To Advance Park Equity In Rural Areas  [PaEN]

-- Save Pennsylvania's Forests: Feb. 8 Webinar - Protect Our Forests From ATVs + Panel Discussion. Noon.

-- TribLive: Kayak Pittsburgh To Open Kayak Rentals In Sharpsburg For A 2nd Season

-- Warren Times: Snow Kayak Test Run Results In Wild Ride

-- PA Environmental Council In Case You Missed It In January Now Available [PaEN]

-- Pittsburgh-based Landforce: Apply To Become A Landforce Crew Member Today!  Deadline Feb. 27

-- The Center Square - Anthony Hennen: Pittsburgh, Philadelphia Among Country’s Most Walkable Cities

-- Post-Gazette Editorial: Closing A Gap In The GAP [Great Allegheny Passage Trail]

-- Scranton Times: Residents Provide Input On Vision For Nay Aug Park

-- WHYY: Philly Parks & Recs Offering Bonuses Up To $1,000 In Lifeguard Recruitment Effort

-- Penn State Extension Land Use Webinar Series Continues: Feb. 15 - Using Community Schoolyards To Increase Park Access

-- Williamsport Sun Editorial: Emphasis On City Parks Well-Placed

-- Scranton Times Editorial: Wilderness Has Value

Recycling/Waste

-- DEP/PROP: Study Shows Growth in K-12 Students' Recycling Knowledge; 1988 Recycling Law Updates Needed  [PaEN]

-- MCall: Lehigh Valley H.S. Student Headed To U.S. Capitol To Demo His Award-Winning Recycling App, RecycleBot

-- DEP Now Accepting Applications For Reimbursements Under Local Host Municipality Waste Facility Inspectors Program For Calendar Year 2022, Deadline April 30

-- WHYY/PlanPhilly: Groups Challenge Philly’s Next Mayor - End Illegal Dumping By 2028

-- WHYY: Advocacy Coalition Challenges Philly Mayoral Candidates To Commit To Zero Waste Platform

-- Scranton Times Editorial: Keystone Landfill Odor Smelling Salts Needed For DEP

-- Waste-To-Energy Assn. Advocates For Benefits Of Sustainable Materials Management [Covanta, Lancaster Waste Authority]

-- City & State PA: Westmoreland County Residents Trying To Stop Proposal By MAX Environmental Technology For Treated Hazardous Waste Landfill

-- Altoona Mirror: DEP Stops Altoona Water Authority Dumping Silt From Reservoir On State Game Lands Until Authority Documents It Won’t Harm Township’s Water Wells

Regulations

-- City & State PA: Westmoreland County Residents Trying To Stop Proposal By MAX Environmental Technology For Treated Hazardous Waste Landfill 

Renewable Energy

-- PA Capital-Star: How Did Renewables Fare During Winter Storm Elliott In December?  [Fossil Fuel Failures, Natural Gas Shortages, Wind & Solar Performed As Forecasts Projected]

-- PennFuture Blog: Lessons From December Deep Freeze - Don’t Put All Our Energy Generation Eggs In One Basket - By Rob Altenburg

-- Courier Express: St. Marys City Council Adopts Ordinance To Regulate Bitcoin Mining, Solar Energy Facilities

-- WCCSradio: Indiana Borough G.E.T. Solar Program Extended; Feb. 17 Webinar Set

-- WESA/Lehigh Valley News: Sen. Casey Visits Lehigh Valley Crayola Factory, Highlights Use Of Renewable Energy

-- Pittsburgh Business Times: Form Energy’s Newest Battery Contract Will Be Built At New Weirton Plant In WV

-- PennTAP: Apply Now For USDA Rural Energy For America Renewable Energy, Efficiency Improvement Loans, Grants  [PaEN]

-- PA Solar Center Webinar: Feb. 17 - Apply For USDA Rural Energy For America Program, G.E.T. Solar Programs To Reduce Your Energy Costs  [PaEN]

-- Apply For West Penn Power Sustainable Energy Fund Funding Opportunities  [PaEN]

-- The Guardian: More Expensive To Keep 99% Of Coal-Fired Power Plants Running Than To Build Entirely New Solar, Wind Energy Facilities Nearby

-- Utility Dive: First Solar In Ohio Brings U.S. Investment To $4 Billion After Selling Out Of Solar Panels Thru 2025

-- The Economist: Preventing Clean Energy Infrastructure From Being Built Is No Way To Save The Planet

-- Reuters: Hydrogen As A Backup For Renewables Remains A Distant Proposition

Stormwater

-- Post-Gazette: ALCOSAN Eyes North Side Properties For Regional Stormwater Tunnel System

-- LiveRoof: Philadelphia Navy Yard Redevelopment Includes Gigantic Green Roof!

-- Citizens Voice: Wyoming Valley Authority Calls Public Meeting On Stormwater Fee

Water Quality

-- DEP Invites Comments On Stream Redesignation Reports On Slab Cabin Run, Centre County And Lycoming Creek, Lycoming County  [PaEN]

-- Fish & Boat Commission Takes No Separate Enforcement Action In The Valley Brook Country Club Pesticide Runoff Case That Killed 122,586 Fish In Chartiers Creek, Washington County  [PaEN]

Wastewater Facilities

-- Attorney General Files Criminal Charges Against Dallas Area Authority, Luzerne County For Dumping Millions Of Gallons Of Untreated Wastewater Into Toby Creek  [PaEN]

-- Wilkes-Barre Times: Attorney General Files Charges Against Dallas Area Authority In Luzerne County For Dumping Millions Of Gallons Of Untreated Wastewater Into Toby Creek Via Secretly Installed Pipes

-- Citizens Voice: Dallas Area Authority Faces Criminal Charges Over Illegal Sewage Dumping Through Secretly Constructed Pipes

-- WHYY: City Of Chester Receiver Asks Bankruptcy Court To Put Brakes On $276.5 Million Sale Of Delaware County Regional Water Authority

-- UnionProgress.com: McKeesport PFAS Water Contamination Levels Lower Than 2021, Pitt Study Finds

-- Register Now: PA Chapter American Water Works Assn. Conference May 9-11 

Watershed Protection

-- Master Watershed Steward Program Statewide Accomplishments In 2022  [PaEN]

-- PASA Sustainable Agriculture Announces 2023 Pasabilities Awards Recipients  [PaEN]

-- Pennsylvania Lake Erie Environmental Forum Feb. 21 - Education & Volunteerism In Pennsylvania  [PaEN]

-- Penn State’s Center For Critical Minerals To Receive $2.1 Million Grant To Build Pilot Plant To Recover Rare Earth Elements, Other Critical Minerals From Acid Mine Drainage  [PaEN]

-- Attorney General Files Criminal Charges Against Dallas Area Authority, Luzerne County For Dumping Millions Of Gallons Of Untreated Wastewater Into Toby Creek  [PaEN]

-- Wilkes-Barre Times: Attorney General Files Charges Against Dallas Area Authority In Luzerne County For Dumping Millions Of Gallons Of Untreated Wastewater Into Toby Creek Via Secretly Installed Pipes

-- Citizens Voice: Dallas Area Authority Faces Criminal Charges Over Illegal Sewage Dumping Through Secretly Constructed Pipes

-- Register Now For 2023 Watershed Congress - March 25 In-Person, March 27-31 Online  [PaEN]

-- Save The Date: Choose Clean Water Conference May 23-24 In Harrisburg  [PaEN]

-- LiveRoof: Philadelphia Navy Yard Redevelopment Includes Gigantic Green Roof!

-- Tulpehocken Creek Watershed Association Reviews Accomplishments, Seeks New Members In Berks County  [PaEN]

--  Scranton Times: Tu B’Shevat, A Jewish Holiday With An Environmental Twist, Begins Sunday - The New Year Of The Trees

-- DEP Invites Comments On Stream Redesignation Reports On Slab Cabin Run, Centre County And Lycoming Creek, Lycoming County  [PaEN]

-- Citizens Voice: Wyoming Valley Authority Calls Public Meeting On Stormwater Fee

-- Lancaster Clean Water Partners Update: Starting 2023 At A Pace For Success; Watershed Leadership Academy Begins; Much More!

-- Bay Journal Forum: For A Resilient Chesapeake Bay, We Need An Even More Resilient Effort - By Kate Fritz, Alliance For The Chesapeake Bay

-- Penn State Extension Watershed Winds Newsletter: Upcoming Educational Opportunities, Water Education Summit, PA PFAS Drinking Water Rule; Watershed Stewards; Much More!

-- Pike Conservation District: Link Between Forests & Healthy Watersheds; Environmental Ed Grant Application Period Open  [PaEN]

-- Bay Journal Forum: Rewilding Wetlands - The Clear Path To Clearer Water - By Joseph Sweeney, Water Science Institute & Drew Altland, Ecotone, LLC

-- Protecting Clean Water Together: Where Does Your Water Come From? - By Carol Hillestad for Brodhead Watershed Association, Monroe County [PA Has No Water Well Construction Standards]

-- Penn State Extension: Climate Risk And Private Water Wells  [PaEN]

-- Post-Gazette: ALCOSAN Eyes North Side Properties For Regional Stormwater Tunnel System

-- Fish & Boat Commission Takes No Separate Enforcement Action In The Valley Brook Country Club Pesticide Runoff Case That Killed 122,586 Fish In Chartiers Creek, Washington County  [PaEN]

-- Delaware RiverKeeper Feb. 3 RiverWatch Video Report

-- National Fish & Wildlife Foundation Now Accepting Proposals For Delaware Watershed Conservation Fund Grants  [PaEN]

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Wildlife

-- Fish & Boat Commission Takes No Separate Enforcement Action In The Valley Brook Country Club Pesticide Runoff Case That Killed 122,586 Fish In Chartiers Creek, Washington County  [PaEN]

-- Game Commission: Highlights From Jan. 28 Board Of Commissioners Meeting

-- The Nature Conservancy Permanently Preserves 1,071 Acres In Pike County To Create A 43-Mile Corridor Of Protected State Game Lands  [PaEN]

-- Game Commission, Ducks Unlimited Partner To Improve 1,600 Acres Of Wetland Habitats On 61 State Game Lands  [PaEN]

-- Penn State: Deer Browsing Just One Of Many Factors Shaping North American Forests 

-- Philly Voice: Reintroducing Cougars To PA Would Better Control Its Deer Population, Some Scientists Say

-- WITF: Centre Wildlife Care Urges Hunters To Use Non-Lead Ammo After Another Bald Eagle Dies From Lead Poisoning

-- Reading Eagle: Broad-Winged Hawks, Bald Eagles Big Winners At Hawk Mountain During Fall Migration

-- Hawk Mountain Sanctuary: Register Now For Youth Summer Nature Camps

-- TribLive: Groundhog Day In Punxsutawney: What To Know Before You Go

-- York Daily Record - Brian Whipkey: 4 Million Trout Will Be Released Into PA Waterways

-- Bay Journal Forum: Rewilding Wetlands - The Clear Path To Clearer Water - By Joseph Sweeney, Water Science Institute & Drew Altland, Ecotone, LLC

-- National Fish & Wildlife Foundation Now Accepting Proposals For Delaware Watershed Conservation Fund Grants  [PaEN]

-- Republican Herald: Owl’s Birthday Celebrated At Red Creek Wildlife Center Fundraiser

-- PA Capital-Star: Resolution To Study Wildlife Conservation Corridors To Be Reintroduced In House

-- Nature At Risk: Are We Driving Out the Northern Leopard Frog? - By Carol Hillestad for Brodhead Watershed Association, Monroe County

-- Hawk Mountain Sanctuary: Upcoming Events In February - Winter Ecology Course, Owl Prowl, Farmland Raptors, Sensory Safari, More!

-- Help Wanted: Fish & Boat Commission Seasonal Fisheries Biologist Aides

Opportunities

-- Help Wanted: Fish & Boat Commission Seasonal Fisheries Biologist Aides

-- Natural Lands Names Gary M. Gimbert, Vice President Of Stewardship

CLICK HERE to View or Print the February 6 PA Environment Digest.

[Posted: February 5, 2023]

2/6/2023