Here are 134 new stories in the PA Environment Digest about individuals, groups, local governments, farmers, businesses, watershed groups and many more working all across Pennsylvania to restore and protect the environment and show others the beauty that surrounds us.

Thank you for your leadership!

-- Erie’s North East High School Team Places 8th In International NCF Envirothon Competition, Out Of 50 Teams!  [PaEN]

-- DCNR, Labor & Industry Secretaries Visit PA Outdoor Corps Crews At Codorus State Park In York County  [PaEN]

-- Stroud Water Research Center Summer Interns Spend A Day On The Water

-- RiverStewards: Hughesville H.S. Students Learn Fly Fishing, Connecting With Nature At A Deeper Level In Lycoming County  [PaEN]

-- LancasterOnline: Lancaster County Teachers Take To The Water With Millersville University

-- York Daily Record - Brian Whipkey: Warden Youth Camp Creates Awareness Of What Game Commission Wardens Do To Protect Wildlife

-- Penn State Extension: High School Students Learn About Tree Care - Online Arborist Short Course Series

-- Penn State City Semester Pittsburgh Students Learn Urban Sustainability, Community Engagement  [PaEN]

-- The Allegheny Front: Pittsburgh Environmental Activist Maren Cooke’s ‘Sustainability Salons’ Foster Community

-- In Memoriam: Stroud Water Research Center’s Katherine “Kay” Dalton Dixon

-- Inquirer: While America Dithers Over Climate Change, Swarthmore College Shows How We Can Live Without Fossil Fuels

-- StateImpactPA - Rachel McDevitt: PA Legislators Passed A Lot Of New Laws With The Budget, Here’s What’s Happening With Environmental Policy

-- DEP Issues Violations To D & B Gas Prod LLC For Abandoning, Not Plugging 110 Conventional Gas, Coalbed Methane Wells In Indiana County; Total Abandonment NOVs 697 In 2024  [PaEN] 

-- PA Oil & Gas Weekly Compliance Dashboard - July 27 to August 2 - 120 More Abandoned Conventional Wells; 3rd Pipeline Construction Spill; 1,260 Gallon Conventional Oil Spill  [PaEN] 

-- PA US Sen. Casey Cosponsors Bill To Find, Clean Up Abandoned Oil & Gas Wells, Improve Detection, Plugging Tech  [PaEN]

-- Eureka Resources Request To Terminate Its Water Quality Permit For A Proposed Oil & Gas Wastewater Treatment Facility In Dimock, Susquehanna County Approved By DEP  [PaEN]

-- PUC Seeks To Accelerate Removal, Replacement Of Older Plastic Pipe In Natural Gas Distribution Systems  [PaEN]

-- AP: PUC Files Complaints Against Peoples Gas In Fatal 2021 Natural Gas Explosion In Tyrone, Blair County

-- WESA/WPSU: PUC Ask People’s Gas To Pay $800,000 After Deadly 2021 Natural Gas Explosion In Tyrone

-- Altoona Mirror: Peoples’ Gas Secrecy Questioned In 2021 Natural Gas Explosion In Tyrone

-- The Energy Age Blog: Delaware County Employees Retirement System, Other Plaintiffs Secure $40 Million Recovery In Cabot Oil & Gas [Now Coterra Energy] Securities Fraud Lawsuit

-- The Intelligencer - Wheeling: $25,000 Bond Keeps PA Oil & Gas Waste Company CEO Out Of Jail For Now Related To Martins Ferry, OH Waste Facility

-- Marcellus Drilling News/Times West Virginian: Who’s To Blame For Dirty Natural Gas That Ruined West Virginia University’s Boilers?

-- Environmental Defense Fund: New Data Show US Oil & Gas Methane Emissions Over 4 Times Higher Than EPA Estimates; 8 Times Greater Than Industry Target

-- Reuters: Federal Appeals Court Throws Out FERC Approval Of PA/NJ Transcontinental Regional Energy Access Expansion Pipeline Project Saying The Agency Did Not Properly Address Objections

-- AG Henry/Gov. Shapiro: Federal Settlement Over Norfolk Southern Train Derailment Does Not Help Enough Pennsylvanians Impacted By The Incident  [PaEN]

-- PittsburghUnionProgress.com: Sen. Casey, Cong. Summer Lee Call For More Oversight Of Rail Bridge Inspections

-- Post-Gazette: US Senate Republicans Block Bipartisan Bill Helping 500,000 PA Children, Tax Break For Victims Of Norfolk Southern Train Derailment

-- Altoona Mirror Editorial: Fears Surface As Report Eyes Railroad Safety

-- Centre Daily Times: Train Derailment In Philipsburg Leads To Road Closures

-- The Energy Age Blog: Acrylonitrile: From Fracking To Train Wrecks 

-- PA Emergency Management Agency Publishes Update To State Disaster Recovery Assistance Program

-- Office Of State Fire Commissioner Now Accepting Applications For Fire Company & Emergency Medical Services Grants, Deadline Oct. 20

-- Pittsburgh Business Times: Solar Developer Aspen Power Completes PA Projects 

-- PA Solar Center, Philadelphia Solar Energy Assn., Partners Host Aug. 14 Webinar To Get Eligible Schools Ready To Apply For The New PA Solar For Schools Grants  [PaEN]

-- The Center Square - Anthony Hennen: Federal Rules Frustrate, Delay State’s Clean Energy Manufacturing

-- USDA Announces $163 Million In Rural Energy For America Funding, Including 4 Projects in Pennsylvania  [PaEN]

-- The Center Square - Anthony Hennen: USDA Sends $1.45 Million To PA For Energy Clean Projects

-- Chesapeake Bay Foundation: PA Supreme Court Should Reverse Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative ‘Tax’ Decision

-- Spotlight PA: Legal Bills For Legislative Republicans, Shapiro Administration Top $4.2 Million In Fight Over RGGI Carbon Pollution Reduction Program

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

-- Warren Times Editorial: It Would Be Irresponsible Not To Decarbonize Industry, But Going Too Fast Has Pitfalls [ RISE PA Grant]

-- Warren Times Editorial: Carbon Capture Bill A Smart Step

-- WHYY: Climate Activists Want A Seat At The Table On Philadelphia Gas Works Budget; City Has A Proposal To Prevent That

-- Allegheny County Health Dept. Accepting Applications For $5 Million In Local Climate Resiliency And Adaptation Project Grants [PaEN]

-- WESA: Allegheny County Offers $5 Million In Clean Air Fund Grants For Air Quality Improvement Projects

-- US Dept. Of Energy Awards Western PA/WV/OH ARCH2 Hydrogen Hub $30 Million  [PaEN]

-- The Center Square - Anthony Hennen: ARCH2 Hydrogen Hub Gets $30 Million; Critics Call It A ‘Boondoggle’

-- The Allegheny Front - Reid Frazier: DOE, Appalachia Hydrogen HUB Reach Agreement On Initial $30 Million

-- WHYY: Hydrogen-Related Businesses Pay To Network On MACH2 Hub, Environmental Justice Advocates Say Doors Should Be Open To Public

-- PJM Electricity Auction Price 9 Times Higher Than Previous Auction-- $269.92/MW-Day For 2025/26 Delivery Compared To $28.92/MW-Day In 2024-25; Extreme Weather Risk Big Factor    [PaEN]

-- Natural Resources Defense Council: The Cost Of Slow-Walking Clean Energy Can Be Seen In Latest PJM Electricity Prices  [PaEN]

-- PennFuture: Dramatic PJM Electricity Price Increases Due To Forced Outages Of Gas Power Plants; Huge Backlog Of New Generation Projects; Demand Growth Driven By Data Centers, Cryptocurrency Mining  [PaEN]

-- Kleinman Center For Energy Policy: The High Price Of Failing To Transition To Clean Energy In PJM Footprint; Next PJM Auction Is In December - By John Quigley, Senior Fellow, Kleinman Center  [PaEN]

-- House Committee Held 2nd Hearing On Governor’s Energy Plan To Diversify Energy Generation, Improve Grid Reliability, Lower Consumer Energy Costs  [PaEN]

-- Utility Dive: PJM Electric Capacity Prices Hit Record Highs, Sending Build Signal To Generators-- $14.7 Billion Up From $2.2 Billion In Last Auction

-- Utility Dive: PJM Capacity Auction To Lead To Double-Digit Rate Hikes For Exelon Utilities: CFO  [PECO]

-- Utility Dive: FirstEnergy Seeks Alternatives To PJM Capacity Market’s Dramatically Higher Prices To Bolster Power Supply

-- Meadville Tribune: National Fuel Natural Gas Rates Rising More Than 11% Aug. 1

-- Pittsburgh Business Times: Natural Gas Drilling Falls Sharply In Marcellus Shale As Prices Stay Stagnant And Drillers Cut Production

-- DEP Awards $15+ Million In PA Electric Grid Resilience Grants To Prevent, Shorten Power Outages In Rural Electric Systems; Fall Grant Round Planned  [PaEN]

-- The Center Square - Anthony Hennen: DEP Sends Out $15 Million To Lower Rural Power Outage Risk

-- US Dept. Of Energy Accepting Applications For Grants To Expand Innovative Weatherization Assistance Programs

-- DEP Awards $2.3 Million To Schools, Businesses, Local Governments Switching To Zero- Or Low-Emission Vehicles; Now Accepting Applications  [PaEN]

-- The Center Square - Anthony Hennen: DEP Sends Out $2.3 Million For Alternative Fuel Vehicles, Chargers

-- WHYY: So Many Electric Vehicles In Philly, But So Few Chargers

-- Appalachian Voices Urges Congress To Reject Proposed Changes To Federal Energy Permitting That Reduces Opportunities For Communities To Challenge Projects; US Senate Committee Considers Bill July 31  [PaEN]

-- Earthworks Blog: Proposed Federal Energy Permitting Reform Act - Bill Prioritizing Polluters Over Communities

-- The Guardian: US Energy Permitting ‘Reform’ Bill A ‘Wishlist For The Fossil Industry,’ Say Environmental Groups

-- US Senate Committee Clears Manchin-Barrasso Bill To Change Federal Energy Facility Permitting Process

-- E&E News: What’s Next For US Senate Energy Facility Permitting Bill? 

-- MCall: DEP: Spray Drying Facility Responsible For Smell In Bethlehem

-- AP: Wildfire Smoke May Be Worse For Your Brain Than Other Air Pollution, Study Says

-- DEP Permit Modernization: Since 11/2023 DEP Received 17,867 Permit Applications - 10 Missed Review Deadlines And Eligible For PAyback Fee Return, No One Requested Fee Back

-- Warren Times Editorial: Cutting DEP Permit Backlog Only The First Step

-- DEP Names Nathan Houtz Acting Deputy Secretary For Active & Abandoned Mine Operations; Sharon Hill Named Acting Director Bureau of Mining Programs  [PaEN]

-- PennVEST Announces Purchase Of Up To $7.1 Million In Nutrient, Sediment Reductions From Farm Conservation Practices In Lancaster County  [PaEN] 

-- DEP Healthy Waters Update On Chesapeake Bay Watershed Cleanup - June/July

-- Penn State Center For Agricultural Conservation Assistance Training Hosts 3-Part Conservation Cornerstone Webinar Series For Ag Professionals Starting Aug. 27  [PaEN]

-- LancasterOnline: Caernarvon Twp. Farmers Model Watershed Restoration At Hammertown Run

-- TribLive: Westmoreland County Loan Boosts Long-Planned Brush Creek Mine Drainage Remediation Project

-- Stroud Water Research Center: Small Actions At Home Can Make A Big Difference In Watershed Health - By Teresa Avery, Penn State Extension Master Watershed Steward Volunteer  [PaEN]

-- Penn State Extension Sept. 19 In-Person Gardening With Nature - Stormwater-Friendly Lawn Care Workshop In Cumberland County  [PaEN]

-- Williamsport Sun: Chesapeake Bay Water Quality Report Card Should Spark Us

-- Observer-Reporter: Davistown Residents Frustrated By Prolonged East Dunkard/PA American Water Outage

-- Observer-Reporter: Water Service Restored To Davistown On East Dunkard/PA American Water System In Greene County

-- Spotlight PA: Talks To Take Over Small, Private Centre County Water Company Plagued By Leaks Fell Through, What Happened?

-- Penn State Extension Aug. 28 Webinar - Iron, Manganese, Hydrogen Sulfide In Private Water Supply Systems  [PaEN]

-- The Allegheny Front: Pittsburgh Environmental Activist Maren Cooke’s ‘Sustainability Salons’ Foster Community

-- Observer-Reporter: Southwest PA Farmers Grappling With Heat, Dry Weather

-- Tribune-Democrat: Lingering Drought Adding To Cost Concerns For Area Farmers

-- Call For Presentations! Partnership For Delaware Estuary To Hold Delaware Estuary Science & Environmental Summit Feb. 11-12  [PaEN]

-- Pike County Conservation District: Harmful Algal Blooms - What Are They And What Can We Do?

-- PA Resources Council: Traveling Glass Recycling Bins Will Be In Allegheny, Delaware, Lawrence, Mercer County Communities During August  [PaEN]

-- PA Resources Council/Allegheny County Health To Host Aug. 17 Household Chemical Collection Event In Allegheny County  [PaEN]

-- Keep PA Beautiful, PA Turnpike Commission Partner On Cigarette Litter Prevention At Up To 17 Service Plazas  [PaEN]

-- TribLive: Friends Of The Riverfront Seeks Volunteers To Clean The Tarentum Waterfront By Kayak Aug. 29 In Allegheny County

-- PennLive: You Won’t Believe What Clean Up Crews Found In This PA Creek

-- Inquirer - Frank Kummer: Excessive Levels Of Chromium, A Toxin, Were Found Along Now-Closed Part Of Bartram’s Mile Trail, Tests Show

-- Feet First Philly Launches Fifth Year Of The Public Space Enhancement Mini-Grant Program  [PaEN]

-- Western PA Conservancy Adds 122 Acres To State Game Lands In French Creek Watershed, Crawford County  [PaEN]

-- TribLive: Allegheny Land Trust Seeks Public’s Help To Buy, Preserve 280 Acres In Indiana Township,  Allegheny County

-- TribLive: Birds, Blooms Prosper At Westmoreland Land Trust Unity Nature Preserve; Master Site Plan In The Wings

-- LancasterOnline - Ad Crable: Lancaster Conservancy’s Nature Preserves Getting Special Trails To Attract Those With Families, Mobility Issues

-- TreeVitalize Pittsburgh Now Accepting Applications For Street, Park, Trail Tree Planting Grants In Pittsburgh + Allegheny County; Resources Also Available Outside The County  [PaEN]

-- Penn State Extension Hosts Sept. 24 Webinar On Community Forestry - TreeKeeper - A Tool For Tree Canopy Management  [PaEN]

-- TribLive: Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy Forges Forest Of The Future In Face Of Climate Change

-- Penn State Extension: Shade Tree Commission Spotlight - Lewisburg Borough

-- WHYY: In PA, Spotted Lanternflies’ Knack For Hitchhiking Proving Crucial To Their Staying Power

-- Penn State Extension Guide Provides Advice On Managing Spotted Lanternfly

-- Aug. 23 In-Person Managing Invasive Plants Full-Day Penn State Extension Workshop In State College  [PaEN]

-- Penn State Extension Hosts Sept. 6 Webinar On Classic Biological Control Of PA Invasive Species  [PaEN]

-- PA Wilds Center: 2024 PA Wilds Champion Award Winners Receive Recognition At July 25 Dinner

-- Registration Open! Western PA Trails & Greenways Summit Sept. 4-5 In Clarion [PaEN]

-- Call For Presentations! PA Recreation & Park Society Accepting Proposals For The 2025 Conference & Expo March 16-19 In Hershey  [PaEN]

-- August 2 Take Five Fridays With Pam, PA Parks & Forests Foundation  [PaEN]

-- TribLive - Patrick Varine: Find A ‘Cooler Weather’ Road Trip In Western PA

-- Williamsport Sun: Volunteers Help Immensely Throughout 867-Acre Rider Park

-- North Branch Land Trust Hosts Hiking Tour Of The George & Lillian Picton Wildlife Sanctuary South Aug. 11 In Luzerne County  [PaEN]

-- Brodhead Watershed Assn. Hosts Guided Walk Thru The Tannersville Cranberry Bog Preserve Aug. 17 In Monroe County  [PaEN]

-- Altoona Mirror: Blair County Commissioners Favor Trail Authority

-- York Daily Record: New Bridge, Updated Trail Access Offers Fresh Hiking Experience Around Lake Williams

-- Erie Times: Presque Isle Trail Extension Will Be Shorter Than First Planned

-- Observer-Reporter: Ohiopyle State Park Offers Glimpse Into Park’s Resort Era Past With Newly Themed Escape Room

-- Chesapeake Bay Journal - Ad Crable: Legislative Report Recommends A Network Of Wildlife Corridors In Pennsylvania

-- The Allegheny Front - Kara Holsopple: New Legislative Report Recommends Ways To Keep PA Wildlife And Drivers Safe

-- Lancaster Farming: Report Calls For More Conservation Corridors To Aid Animals And Motorists

-- Allegheny County Health Dept. Started Annual Raccoon Rabies Vaccination Initiative Aug. 1

-- Delaware RiverKeeper Network Sends EPA Notice Of Intent To Sue For Delayed Release Of Final Water Quality Standards For Protecting Aquatic Life In Delaware Estuary

-- The Allegheny Front: Project Aims To Stop Spread Of Invasive Carp To The Great Lakes

-- Altoona Mirror: Cambria County Wildlife Photographer Takes Time To Find Perfect Shot

-- Williamsport Sun - Bill Bower: Reflections In Nature - Plenty Of Birds Can Reach Fast Speeds

-- Inquirer Guest Essay: Hello, August, So Long Bats

-- The Daily Item - Larry Hendricks: Urban Wildlife And Other Visitors

Visit the PA Environment Digest website to learn more.

REAL Leadership:

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

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

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[Posted: August 4, 2024] 

8/5/2024