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.

Thank you for your leadership!

-- PA Assn. Of Conservation Districts Recognizes Conservation Award Winners  [PaEN]

-- PA Organization For Watersheds & Rivers Celebrate Successes Spotlight: Neshaminy Watershed Assn. Is Back And Better Than Ever In Bucks, Montgomery Counties [PaEN]

-- Lancaster Farming: Farmers Gain Conservation, Innovation Funds In PA State Budget 

-- PennVEST Makes $257 Million Investment In 18 Water Infrastructure Projects In 13 Counties  [PaEN]

-- USDA Awards 2 Conservation Innovation Grants For Projects Benefiting Pennsylvania Totaling $7.1 Million  [PaEN]

-- Penn State Ag Progress Days To Feature 400+ Commercial & Educational Exhibits; Field Demos; Forest Management; Stream Buffers Tour In Centre County Aug. 13-15  [PaEN]

-- PASA Sustainable Agriculture, Keystone Ten Million Trees Partnership Giving Away 100,000 Trees  [PaEN]

-- StateImpactPA: PA Waterways Contribute To Chesapeake Bay Earning Its Best Grade In Over 2 Decades In This Year’s Report Card

-- Scranton Times: Chesapeake Bay, Its NE PA Watersheds Of The Susquehanna, Lackawanna Rivers Show Improved Aquatic Health

-- The Daily Item Editorial: Progress Is Certainly Good, But Work Remains In Chesapeake Bay Watershed

-- The Allegheny Front: States Like Pennsylvania Struggling To Access, Spend Federal Funds For Abandoned Mine Cleanup And Redevelopment

--- The Allegheny Front: Chalfant Run In Allegheny County Getting Federal Help To Clean Up Its Abandoned Coal Mine Pollution

-- Post-Gazette: Silica Dust Levels In Coal Mines Were Concealed For Years While Black Lung Cases Surged

-- Centre Daily Times: Plans For 1,000 Acre Ampliform/Project14 Solar Energy Project On Abandoned Mine Lands In Rush Twp., Centre County Move Forward, Questions And Concerns Remain

-- The Center Square - Anthony Hennen: A $40 Billion Critical Mineral Supply Chain Could Start In PA With Abandoned Mine Drainage 

-- Allegheny County Conservation District Releases Updated Development, Stormwater Data; Sept. 24 Workshop On Stormwater Trends  [PaEN]

-- Stormwater Solutions: Hanover, York County Leveraging Community-based Public-Private Partnership To Fund Green Water Infrastructure

-- WHYY: FEMA Announces $2 Million+ To Help Flood-Prone Eastwick In Philadelphia

-- Erie Times: Lake Erie Was At Record Levels In 2019; Where Things Stand Now And a Forecast 

-- Registration Open! Penn State Extension 5-Part Backyard Stream Repair Webinar Series Starting Aug. 27  [PaEN]

-- Penn State Extension Master Watershed Stewards Now Signing Up Volunteers For Training Sessions  [PaEN]

-- What’s The Future Master Watershed Program By Penn State Extension, DCNR?  How Can I Start A Group?  [PaEN]

-- Delaware RiverKeeper July 19 RiverWatch Video Report

-- PA Oil & Gas Weekly Compliance Dashboard - July 13 to 19 - Pipeline Construction Spill; 9 Abandoned Conventional Wells; Failure To Comply With Order  [PaEN]

-- The Derrick: Are Rate Increases In The Future For Rhodes Estate Water Companies In Venango County? [Impacts Continue From Conventional Oil Well Wastewater Contamination Of Water Supply]  [PaEN]

-- TribLive: West Deer Twp. Supervisors Plan Another Hearing On Proposed Shale Gas Drilling Zoning Changes Sept. 18 In Allegheny County 

-- TribLive: North Huntingdon Twp. Rejects Lease For Shale Gas Drilling On Township Land In Westmoreland County

-- Marcellus Drilling News: Refracs Becoming Common Practice For Marcellus/Utica Oil & Gas Operators  [PDF]

-- TribLive Guest Essay: Water Suppliers Must Make Frackers More Accountable - By Tom Pike, Protect PT

-- Bucks County Beacon: US Appeals Court Rules Groups Can Continue Legal Challenge Of Pipelines That Would Pass Thru Bucks County In Environmental Hearing Board

-- Observer-Reporter: Environmental Activist Lois Bower-Bjornson Busier Than Ever Pointing Out Concerns With Shale Gas Development  [PDF of article]

-- WFMJ: Feds Plan To Plug 20 Conventional Oil & Gas Wells Near The Shenango River Lake Reservoir, Recreation Area In Mercer County 

-- Scientific American Guest Essay: New Satellites Alone Won’t Stop Methane Emissions From Oil & Gas Industry

-- Public News Service: Martins Ferry, OH Residents Seeking Answers Over Lack Of Action On Cleaning Up PA Company’s Oil & Gas Waste Facility

-- Post-Gazette - Anya Litvak: Cleanup Of Radioactive Oil & Gas Wastewater Sludge At PA Company’s Martins Ferry, OH Plant To Begin By End Of The Month

-- PUC Investigation Concludes No Evidence 2023 Plum Boro Home Natural Gas Explosion In Allegheny County Caused By Gas Utility Equipment  [PaEN]

-- Post-Gazette - Anya Litvak: Peoples Gas Not At Fault In Plum Home Natural Gas Explosion That Killed 6, PUC Concludes

-- KDKA: Plum Residents Have Some Answers 1 Year After Deadline Natural Gas Explosion That Killed 6

-- TribLive: Peoples Gas Service Lines Not Responsible For Plum Natural Gas Home Explosion, PUC Finds

-- TribLive Editorial: PUC Report On Plum Home Natural Gas Explosion Doesn’t Deliver Final Answer

-- PA US Senators Press Norfolk Southern On Safety And Labor Practices Following Altoona-Area Train Derailment

-- Fayette County Republican Rep. Krupa Will Keep Fighting Carbon Capture, Other Environmental Injustices  [PaEN]

-- Clean Air Task Force: PA Passes Geologic Sequestration Bill In An Important Step For Industrial Decarbonization

-- Better Path Coalition: With Shapiro’s Signature On Geologic Sequestration Bill, PA’s Fate Is Cast As Part Of Climate Problem, Not Solution

-- Environmental Health News: 30 Environmental Advocacy Groups Ask PA Governor To Veto Geologic Sequestration Of Carbon Dioxide Bill 

-- Williamsport Sun Editorial: Geologic Sequestration Bill Step In Right Direction

-- PA Officials, Business Leaders Tout Job Growth, $4.7 Billion In Clean Energy Investments In Pennsylvania  [PaEN]

-- Evangelical Environmental Network Celebrates Passage Of Solar For Schools Legislation In PA

-- RiverReporter.com: Federal Representatives Tour Lukan’s Farm Resort Rural Solar Project In Wayne County

-- Citizens Voice: Overwhelming Crowd Size At Solar Energy Facility Meeting Postpones Lehman Twp. Public Hearing

-- PA Solar Center: $74 Million In Potential Energy Savings Over 25 Years Found In Beaver County If 7 Communities Go Solar  [PaEN]

-- Pittsburgh Business Times: How Duquesne Light Is Preparing For Clean Energy Future - By Duquesne Light

-- StateImpactPA: Franklin County Cuts Deal To OK Transource Power-Line Project To Feed PA Power To Maryland, Virginia, W. Virginia And DC, Will Receive $5 Million Payment 

-- TribLive Guest Essay: Western PA Ready To Lead Hydrogen Energy Revolution - By Conor Lamb & Kate Harper,  Energy Future PA

-- TribLive: ‘Tornado Alley’ Shifts East; What Does It Mean For Western PA?

-- StateImpactPA - Rachel McDevitt: PA Heat Advisories Outpacing The Average Rate This Summer, Climate Change Plays A Role

-- StateImpactPA: Neighborhoods In PA Cities Can Get Up To 13 Degrees Hotter Due To Urban Environment

-- WHYY: Philly Under Heat Health Emergency With Heat Index Values Up To 109 Degrees

-- The Guardian: 14 States Urge Federal Govt. To Declare Wildfire Smoke And Extreme Heat Major Disasters

-- Planet Philadelphia July 19 Radio Show - All Hands On Deck For Climate Solutions, 4:00 p.m.

-- Clean Air Council: PA Supreme Court Grants Intervention To Environmental Groups In Challenge To Carbon Pollution Reduction Program For Power Plants [RGGI]

-- Kleinman Center For Energy Policy: The Crisis Of Confidence In Voluntary Carbon Offsets - by Danny Cullenward

-- Spotlight PA: Pennsylvania Expands Protections Against Frivolous Suits Aimed At Curtailing Free Speech

-- WTAJ: Gov. Shapiro Signs Bill To End ‘Frivolous Lawsuits’ Designed To Stop Lawsuit Restricting Public Participation, Free Speech

-- PennLive/TNS: New State Law Protects PA Citizens From Retaliatory Lawsuits For Speaking Out

-- ErieNewsNow.com: EPA Held Public Meeting Thursday To Discuss East Ave Study Investigating Toxic Pollutants In Residential Areas

-- Protect PT To Host July 30 Community Meeting For Residents Near Westmoreland Landfill, Monessen Coke Works In Monessen, Westmoreland County On Air Monitoring  [PaEN]

-- Inquirer - Frank Kummer: Bartram’s Garden Closes Trail Because Of ‘Potential Chemical Contamination’ Nearby

--WHYY: PA Officials Criticized Over Response To Chemical Spill At Bartram’s Garden In Philadelphia

-- Altoona Mirror: Household Hazardous Waste Collection Set For July 27 In Blair County

-- PittsburghUnionProgress.com: 8 PA Resources Council Collection Events Aim To Keep Household Chemicals, Hard-To-Recycle Items Out Of Landfills

-- Patch.com: Newtown Environmental Advisory Council: Get Ready Now For Newtown Boro’s Single-Use Plastic Bag Ban In Bucks County

-- Ellwood City Ledger - Brian Whipkey: PA Kayaker Collects 100 Tons Of Trash, Including Toilets, From Lakes And Reservoirs

-- DEP To Post Information Soon On New SPEED Permit Review Program Enacted As Part Of State Budget  [PaEN]

-- DEP Received 17,026 Permit Applications Since Nov. 2023: 13,616 Decided; 3,410 Pending; 8 Did Not Meet Decision Deadlines Eligible For PAyback Refund: Zero Asked For Refunds

-- Williamsport Sun Editorial: Cuts In Permit Backlog At DEP Good First Step, But More Needs Done

-- Governor’s Office Published Update Of Regulatory Agenda - Agency By Agency List Of Regulations In Development  [DEP Has Its Own Regulatory Agenda & Technical Guidance Agenda]

-- Post-Gazette: PA’s First Human Case Of West Nile Virus Reported In Allegheny County

-- Scranton Times: West Nile Virus Detected In Lackawanna County, But Not In Humans

-- Post-Gazette: Mosquitoes Test Positive For West Nile Virus In A Slew Of Pittsburgh Neighborhoods

-- York Dispatch: Mosquito Spraying To Take Place In Certain Areas Of York County To Prevent West Nile Virus

-- DEP West Nile Virus, Jamestown Canyon Virus County Status Map

-- LancasterOnline: New Holland Butterfly Garden Groundbreaking Eyed For Fall

-- WHYY: New State Law Could Help Philly Gardeners Own The Land They Steward; Lowers The Bar For Adverse Possession

-- Master Watershed Stewards Of Cumberland, Franklin Counties Host Aug. 26 Watershed Walk - Plant Identification In Letort Spring Garden Preserve, Carlisle, 5:30 to 7:00 p.m.

-- PA Resources Council What’s Up Watershed: Do You Know What An Immature Dragonfly Looks Like?

-- Warren Times Editorial: Change In Planting Policies Good News; Dangers Of Invasive Species Well Known

-- Natural Lands Acts To Preserve 14 Acre Painter Farmstead In Chester County's Hopewell Big Woods  [PaEN]

-- Citizens Voice: Luzerne County Bar Assn. Donates To North Branch Land Trust

-- PA Natural Heritage Program Releases 2023 Annual Report Highlighting New Species Discovered, Growing Impacts Of Invasive Species, State Wildlife Action Plan Update  [PaEN]

-- LancasterOnline - Ad Crable: DCNR Bureau Of Forestry Planning New Forms Of Protection For State Forests, Plants  [PDF of article]

-- Warren Times: Dozens of Volunteers Work To Restore Habitat In US Forest Service, DCNR, National Deer Assn. Project

-- York Daily Record - Brian Whipkey: Chop And Drop Projects Are Happening Across The State In Wild Trout Waters, Here’s Why

-- The Derrick: Fish & Boat Commission Magazine Touts Allegheny Valley Conservancy  [PDF of article] 

-- Foundation For Sustainable Forests Newsletter: Timber Products From Thoughtful Management; Who Lives In Our Woods?; Reflections From The Forest; Upcoming Events

-- Forests For The Chesapeake Bay: Heat Wave!  Sustainable Forest Harvests; Rattlesnakes; Upcoming Events

-- Lt. Gov. Davis, DCNR, Local Officials Celebrate ‘Outdoors For All Day’ At Point State Park In Pittsburgh  [PaEN]

-- WPXI: State Leaders, Families Celebrate ‘Outdoors For All’ Day In Pittsburgh  [Video]

-- DCNR Sets July 31 Public Meeting On Final Conceptual Plans For Susquehanna Riverlands State Park In York County  [PaEN]

-- WITF: What’s New To Come At Pennsylvania State Parks

-- Scranton Times: DCNR Seeking Members For NextGen Council To Advise On Conservation, Recreation

-- July 19 Take Five Fridays With Pam, PA Parks & Forests Foundation  [PaEN]

-- The Derrick: Allegheny Valley Conservancy To Hold Allegheny River Sojourn Aug. 2   [PDF of article] 

-- Inquirer: Five Summer Family-Friendly Hikes Near Philadelphia

-- Tribune-Democrat: Johnstown Native Leah Yingling Tackles 100-Mile Courses As Ultrarunner: ‘Great Way To See The World’

-- DCNR Blog: Playgrounds For All Abilities

-- Chesapeake Bay Journal - Ad Crable: Explore The Watery Delights Of Pennsylvania’s Seven Tubs In Luzerne County

-- WNEP:  D&L Trail Closure For Construction Between Jim Thorpe And Weissport Impacts Businesses In Carbon County

-- Warren Times Editorial: DCNR Grant To Make 3 Downtowns More Bike Friendly A Nice Addition To Encourage Tourism

-- Fish & Boat Commission Awards $203,527 In Grants To Support Fishing & Boating Education Projects  [PaEN]

-- PA Wilds Center Launches New Artisan Collaborative To Develop New Product Lines, Grow In-Region Businesses

-- State Museum Of PA: July 26 Webinar: Pennsylvania Caves - Time Capsules Of The Past Featuring Rose-Anna Behr, PA Geological Survey  [PaEN]

-- The Center Square - Anthony Hennen: State Budget Increases In-Lieu Of Tax Payments To Local Governments, School Districts For Land Owned By DCNR, Game Commission

-- Pittsburgh Business Times: North Fork Lodge, A 6,800 Acre Hunting Property In Elk County Has Been Sold

-- Spotlight PA: No, Taylor Swift Didn’t Buy One Of PA’s Biggest Private Forests In Elk County

-- Legislative Budget & Finance Committee Releases Recommendations On Using Wildlife Corridors To Protect Wildlife, Limit Vehicle Collisions, Reconnect Habitats  [PaEN]

-- Erie Times: NOAA Seeks Advisory Council Members For Proposed Marine Sanctuary In PA Portion Of Lake Erie

-- WNEP: Game Warden Camp, Inspiring The Next Generation Of Game Wardens

-- Republican Herald: Shoot Like A Girl Program Is On Target

-- Warren Times: Audubon Community Nature Center - Nature Changes Despite Its Resiliency

-- Warren Times: Tower Of Turtles Highlights Audubon Community Nature Center Fundraiser 

-- YourErie.com: Asbury Woods Educator Speaks About Week-Long Environmental Education Workshop On Lake Erie

-- Lehigh Valley’s Wildlands Conservancy Highlights August Programs, Upcoming Stream Team Volunteer Opportunities; Explorer Day Camp For Kids

-- Erie Times: River Otter Sightings Increase At Presque Isle State Park As Pair Makes Peninsula Home

-- Autumn Migration Season Kicks Off August 15; Autumn Lecture Series; Weekend Programs At Hawk Mountain Sanctuary  [PaEN]

-- Williamsport Sun: Rider Park Earns Grant Thru 2024 Breeding Bird Blitz

-- Manada Conservancy Hosts Aug. 20 Backyard Birds For Children; Aug.22 Summer Native Plant Sale In Dauphin County  [PaEN]

-- LancasterOnline: A Season Of Fun At Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area

Visit the PA Environment Digest website to learn more.

REAL Leadership:

-- 127 New Stories - REAL Environmental & Conservation Leadership In PA

-- 152 New Stories - REAL Environmental & Conservation Leadership In PA

-- 115 New Stories - REAL Environmental & Conservation Leadership In PA

-- 108 New Stories - REAL Environmental & Conservation Leadership In PA

-- 125 New Stories - REAL Environmental & Conservation Leadership In PA

-- 98 New Stories - REAL Environmental & Conservation Leadership In PA

-- 100 New Stories - REAL Environmental & Conservation Leadership In PA

-- 102 New Stories - REAL Environmental & Conservation Leadership In PA

-- 128 New Stories - REAL Environmental & Conservation Leadership In PA

-- 121 New Stories - REAL Environmental & Conservation Leadership In PA

-- 108 New Stories - REAL Environmental & Conservation Leadership In PA

-- 166 New Stories - REAL Environmental & Conservation Leadership In PA

-- 126 New Stories - REAL Environmental & Conservation Leadership In PA

-- 117 New Stories - REAL Environmental & Conservation Leadership In PA

-- 66 New Stories - REAL Environmental & Conservation Leadership In PA

-- 113 New Stories - REAL Environmental & Conservation Leadership In PA

-- 94 New Stories - REAL Environmental & Conservation Leadership In PA

-- 93 New Stories - REAL Environmental & Conservation Leadership In PA

-- 120 New Stories - REAL Environmental & Conservation Leadership In PA

-- 88 New Stories - REAL Environmental & Conservation Leadership In PA

-- 111 New Stories - REAL Environmental & Conservation Leadership In PA

-- 91 New Stories - REAL Environmental & Conservation Leadership In PA

-- 105 New Stories - REAL Environmental & Conservation Leadership In PA

-- 87 New Stories - REAL Environmental & Conservation Leadership In PA

-- 138 New Stories - REAL Environmental & Conservation Leadership In PA

-- 76 New Stories - REAL Environmental & Conservation Leadership In PA

-- 101 New Stories - REAL Environmental & Conservation Leadership In PA

-- 92 New Stories - REAL Environmental & Conservation Leadership In PA

-- 92 New Stories - REAL Environmental & Conservation Leadership In PA

-- 35 New Stories - REAL Environmental & Conservation Leadership In PA

-- 4,258 Stories In 2023 - Environmental & Conservation Leadership, Significant Events In PA  [PaEN]

-- 3,190 New Stories In 2022 - REAL Environmental & Conservation Leadership [PaEN]

[Posted: July 21, 2024] 

7/22/2024