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

Awards/Recognition

-- PA State Conservation Commission Wins Natural Resource Education Champion Award  [PaEN]

-- Dept. Of Education Now Accepting Applications for Pennsylvania’s Green Ribbon Schools  [PaEN]

-- The Daily Item Guest Essay: Potential Cuts To Federal Funding For Abandoned Mine Cleanup - By Sophia Evans, Dickinson College Student  [PDF of article]

-- Observer-Reporter Guest Essay: How To Move Forward - Western PA Through The Lens Of Sustainable Development - By Rowan Curry, Dickson College Student  [PDF of Article]

-- LancasterOnline Guest Essay: Our Politics As Christians Should Better Reflect The Teachings Of Jesus - By Alana Stoltzfus, Franklin & Marshall College Student

-- DEP Chesapeake Bay Update Highlights Funding Opportunities, County Water Restoration Projects  [PaEN]

-- Ohio River Valley Institute - 2024 Year In Review

-- Lancaster Clean Water Partners Newsletter: Looking Back On 2024 And Looking Forward

-- WHYY - Zoe Read: 50 Years Of Federal Safe Drinking Water Act - From Reducing Waterborne Diseases to Battlling Toxic PFAS ‘Forever Chemicals’  [40 Years Of PA Safe Drinking Water Act - PA Used To Lead The Nation In Waterborne Disease Outbreaks]

Grants

-- PUBLIC NOTICE: Proposed Oil & Gas Well Plugging Settlement With Diversified Energy, EQT May Affect Pennsylvania Surface Landowner Rights; Apply To Have A Well Plugged  [PaEN]

-- Eastern Brook Trout Joint Venture Now Accepting Proposals For Brook Trout Conservation Projects  [PaEN] 

-- WITF/StateImpactPA - Rachel McDevitt: Schools Can Apply For State Grants To Install Solar Energy, Save Money

-- EPA, DOE Award $850 Million To Support Oil & Gas Sector Methane Pollution Reduction, Including $10 Million Grant To Penn State  [PaEN]

Help Wanted

-- Seasonal Help Wanted: Fish & Boat Commission Fisheries Biologist Aide  [PaEN]

-- Mentors Wanted: Wildlife Leadership Academy Seeks Adult Mentors For Summer Field Schools  [PaEN]

-- Chesapeake Bay Journal - Karl Blankenship: Martha Shimkin Stepping Down As EPA Chesapeake Bay Program Director

-- Scranton Times: Lackawanna County Seeks Volunteers For New Park Ambassadors Program

-- Sustainable Pittsburgh: Report On Clean Energy Workforce - Needs And Opportunities For Southwestern PA  [PaEN]

Upcoming Events

-- DCNR Encourages Pennsylvanians To Trek Into 2025 During New Year's Day First Day Hikes Across The Commonwealth  [PaEN]

-- Republican Herald: It’s Time For Annual Christmas Bird Count

-- ​​Anthracite Mining Heritage Month Celebrated In January; Schedule Of Events Now Available  [PaEN]

-- Penn State Extension Jan. 16 Webinar On Forest Carbon Markets And Payment Programs Expert Panel  [PaEN]

-- PA Organization For Watersheds & Rivers Hosts Jan. 16 Webinar On Winter Salting and Local Waterway Impacts: Opportunities To Work For Change  [PaEN]

-- North Branch Land Trust: Jan. 18 Tree ID Hike In Forest Echo Bird Sanctuary, Luzerne County

-- Jan. 22 Webinar: How Invasive Plants Drive An Insect Invasion, Penn State Extension  [PaEN]

-- Penn State Extension Conservation Cornerstone: Jan. 28 Webinar On Climate-Smart Ag Project (CARAT)   [PaEN] 

-- Save The Date: Feb. 27 - Shale Gas And Public Health Conference, Duquesne University  [PaEN] 

-- Choose Clean Coalition Now Accepting Presentation Proposals For 2025 Conference On Chesapeake Bay Water Quality Issues, May 19-21 In Virginia  [PaEN]

-- Presentation Proposals Invited: 2025 Penn State Extension Dive Deeper Summit For Water Educators  [PaEN]

-- PA Parks & Forests Foundation: Bob Ross Happy Little 5K (Virtual) Run Registration Kicks Off To Support Tree Plantings

-- Tribune-Democrat: Mountain Laurel Chapter Of Trout Unlimited Hosts Free Fly-Tying Classes

-- Larkspur Design To Offer Yearlong Permaculture Design Certification Course In Pittsburgh  [PaEN]

Programs/Information

-- Ag Conservation Professionals! Get Your Passport To 2025 PA Farm Show, Enhance Your Conservation Skills Starting Jan. 4  [PaEN]

-- Conservation Pros: Join In Ag Literacy Week By Volunteering To Read ‘The Soil In Jackie’s Garden’ March 17-21  [PaEN]

-- Now On Demand: Penn State Extension Webinar On PFAS 'Forever Chemicals' In Land-Applied Biosolids - Research Update  [PaEN]

-- Interfaith Partners For The Chesapeake Bay: Reflection On A Remarkable 2024

-- Middle Susquehanna RiverKeeper Blog: Young Mom Writes Children’s Book Inspired By Adventures With Daughter Along The River  [Donation From Sales Helps RiverKeeper]

-- DCNR Encourages Pennsylvanians To Trek Into 2025 During New Year's Day First Day Hikes Across The Commonwealth  [PaEN]

-- Warren Times - Audubon Community Nature Center: The Importance Of Getting Outside

-- LancasterOnline: Your Guide To Outdoor Safety During Hunting Seasons In PA Woods

-- PA Natural Heritage Program Newsletter Highlights Monitoring The Upper Middle Allegheny River; Weasel Survey; Monitoring Vernal Pools; Invasive Jumping Worms; Mussel Restoration  [PaEN]

-- CBS21: Future Of Student Farming Program Uncertain After Harrisburg City Schools Terminates Contract

-- Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful, PA Turnpike Commission Celebrate Success In Reducing Cigarette Litter At 17 Service Plazas  [PaEN]

-- WPXI: PA Turnpike Says New Program Successfully Reduced Cigarette Litter At Service Plazas

Public Participation

-- DEP To Review Shell Petrochemical Plant Title V Air Quality Permit Under Environmental Justice Policy Enhanced Public Participation Process  [PaEN]

-- PA Oil & Gas Industrial Facilities: Permit Notices, Opportunities To Comment - December 21 [PaEN]

-- DEP Posted 63 Pages Of Permit-Related Notices In December 21 PA Bulletin  [PaEN]

-- DEP Invites Comments On Proposed Designation Of Areas Not Meeting Health-Based Standards For Particulate Matter (PM2.5);  3 Hearings Scheduled  [PaEN]

-- DEP Invites Comments On Proposed Hazardous Sites Cleanup Act Interim Response At Tub Mill Farm, Clearview Farm Waste Site, Somerset County  [PaEN]

-- DEP Invites Comments On Proposed Hazardous Sites Cleanup Consent Order For Precision National Plating Site, Lackawanna County  [PaEN]

-- US Fish And Wildlife & Service Seeks Public Comment On Proposed Listing Of Eastern Hellbender As Endangered; PA’s Clean Water Ambassador  [PaEN]

-- Chesapeake Bay Journal: Endangered Species Status Proposed For Eastern Hellbenders

-- WITF/StateImpactPA - Rachel McDevitt: Endangered Status Proposed For Eastern Hellbender

-- Williamsport Sun: Fish & Wildlife Service Seeks Public Comment On Proposed Listing Of Hellbender As Endangered

-- TribLive: Additional Hearing Required For Proposed Oil & Gas Wastewater Injection Well In Plum Borough, Allegheny County That Doesn’t Meet Setbacks

Background On Issues

-- PA Oil & Gas Weekly Compliance Dashboard - Dec. 14 to 20 -- Shale Gas Wells Abandoned For 42 Months; Failure To Cleanup Conventional Well Spill For 19 Months; Gas Pipeline Land Slump  [PaEN]

-- What The Shale Gas Industry Is Leaving Behind:  DEP: Diversified Production LLC Failed To Plug 2 Abandoned Shale Gas Wells For 42 Months + At Least 9 Other Shale Gas Wells Abandoned  [PaEN]

-- DEP: Apollo Resources, LLC Failed To Comply With Order To Cleanup Conventional Oil Well Wastewater Spill 19 Months After It Was Discovered In Fayette County  [PaEN]

-- WHYY: Top Climate Stories Of 2024 - Fracking In PA Hasn’t Gone As Well As Some Might Think

-- EarthWorks Blog: Common Sense Needed In The Commonwealth - How To Protect Pennsylvanians From The Environmental, Health Impacts Of The Oil & Gas Industry - By Melissa Ostroff & Charlie Palladino, EarthWorks  [PaEN]

-- PUC Urges Natural Gas Customers To Explore Ways To Reduce Heating Costs; All But One Major Gas Utility Has Increased Cost Of Gas In PA  [PaEN]

-- PUC Chairman Stephen M. DeFrank Appointed Chair Of National Assn. Of Regulatory Utility Commissioners Committee On Natural Gas  [PaEN]

-- US DOE Releases LNG Gas Export Study: Facilities Already Approved Will Meet Global Demand For Decades; Unfettered Exports Would Increase Domestic Natural Gas Prices; Electricity Prices; Costs To Manufacturers  [PaEN] 

-- Post-Gazette - Anya Litvak, et al: Expanding Natural Gas Exports Will Increase Prices, Pollution, Report Says

-- Marcellus Shale Gas Coalition Calls For Immediate Lift Of LNG Export Facility Permit Review Ban  [EQT, PA Shale Gas Says We Have A ‘Duty’ To Sell More Gas To China Our Economic, Military Competitor]

-- Marcellus Drilling News: Energy & Business Groups Respond To US DOE LNG Gas Export Study  [PDF of Article]

-- Forbes Guest Essay: Pennsylvanians Struggle To Strike Balance On Fracking Regulations - By Daniel Markind, Attorney

-- North American Electric Reliability Corp: AI Poses Threat To North American Electricity Grid  [PaEN]

-- The Derrick - Makayla Keating: Aqua PA Cites Existing Problems At Rhodes Utilities Water Companies  [PDF of Article]  [Water Companies Related To Venango County Conventional Well Spill Incident]  

-- WHYY- Sophia Schmidt: PECO Moves Transformer Flooded During Hurricane Ida To Prepare For More Extreme Weather

-- DEP Awards $19.6 Million To Support 8 Local Abandoned Mine Land Reclamation Projects In 6 Counties  [PaEN]

-- Scranton Times: Nearly $7 Million In Federal Funds Awarded To Reclaim Mine Land In Dickson City, Blakely

-- WNEP: Massive Mine Subsidence Swallows Schuylkill County Family’s Backyard Swimming Pool

 -- Republican Herald: Sinkhole Breaks Water Main In Mahanoy Twp., Schuylkill County; Possible Abandoned Mine Subsidence

-- WNEP: DEP Crews Working To Fill Mine Subsidence Sinkhole In Schuylkill County That Swallowed Swimming Pool

-- Republican Herald: Sinkhole In Mahanoy Twp., Schuylkill County Linked To Abandoned Mines

-- PA State Conservation Commission Wins Natural Resource Education Champion Award  [PaEN]

-- Ag Conservation Professionals! Get Your Passport To 2025 PA Farm Show, Enhance Your Conservation Skills Starting Jan. 4  [PaEN]

-- Conservation Pros: Join In Ag Literacy Week By Volunteering To Read ‘The Soil In Jackie’s Garden’ March 17-21  [PaEN]

-- Columbia Gas Offers Safety And Energy-Saving Tips For Cold Weather

-- Reuters: California Sets Clear Path To Potentially Closing Aliso Canyon Gas Storage Facility To Improve Energy Reliability, Affordability [Site Of Massive Gas Leak In 2015]

-- PA Solar Center Accepting Applications For G.E.T. Solar Schools Technical Assistance Program To Help Apply For Solar For Schools, Other Funding  [PaEN]

-- Post-Gazette Editorial: Lowering Barriers To Residential Solar Is Good For Pittsburgh

-- Coalition For Community Solar Access Applauds New Effort To Open Community Solar Market In Pennsylvania  [PaEN] 

-- TribLive: Proposed Unity Twp. Solar Farm Nixed By 3-2 Zoning Board Vote In Westmoreland County

-- KDKA: Attempt To Cut Down On Energy Bills Turns Into Financial Nightmare For Beaver Falls Man

-- DEP Shared Energy Manager Program Accepting Applications For Energy Assessment, Renewable Energy, Energy Conservation Work With Local Governments, School Districts  [PaEN]

-- DCED Invests $4.6 Million In Williamsport Company Making Hydrogen Storage Containers

-- Bloomberg: Green Hydrogen Goes From Hyped To Humbled On Eye-Popping Costs

-- The Allegheny Front - Reid Frazier: In Sweden, Broad Consensus On Climate Action Spurs an Energy Transition In Manufacturing

-- Inquirer: How Taxpayers Raised $20 Million To Beat Developers And Turn Crebilly Farm Into A Park In Chester County

-- Federal Ohio River Protection Act Legislation Would Address Pressing Water Quality, Conservation Needs In Ohio River Watershed  [PaEN]

-- E&E News/Politico: Congressional Lawmakers Push For Federal Focus On Ohio River Watershed Water Quality Woes

-- Delaware RiverKeeper Dec. 20 RiverWatch Video Report

-- Post-Gazette: PA Farmers Turning To No-Till Farming Focusing On Bottom Line, Human Health 

-- Chesapeake Bay Journal - Ad Crable: Pennsylvania To Get Nearly $1 Billion In Federal Funds For Climate-Smart Ag Practices

-- Penn State Extension Conservation Cornerstone: Jan. 28 Webinar On Climate-Smart Ag Project (CARAT)   [PaEN] 

-- NextPittsburgh: Is Pittsburgh’s Air Quality Really That Bad?

-- Inquirer: How Bad Is Air Quality In Underground SEPTA Transit Stations?

-- Chesapeake Bay Journal - Ad Crable: Environmental Group Files Lawsuit To Ban ATVs In PA State Forests

-- LehighValleyLive.com: Lawsuit Seeks To Once Again Ban ATVs From PA State Forests

-- TribLive: Vandalism Does $50,000 Damage To Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy Vehicles In Frick Park

-- Middle Susquehanna RiverKeeper Blog: 600+ Fish, 6 Eels, Nearly 200 Bass Discovered In Small Pools Left In Fish Passage Near Sunbury Dam During Rescue, Study

-- Tribune-Democrat: ‘Resiliency’ Project To Replace Struggling Flight 93 Memorial Tree Grove Moving Forward, US Park Service Says

-- AP: American Chestnuts Are Part Of Yuletide Lore; But In The US They’ve Nearly Been Wiped Out

-- Nuts For Natives Blog: Heartwood Nursery In York County Propagating Native Holly, Other Plants Since 1987

-- Warren Times: USDA Releases More Hungry Beetles In Allegheny National Forest To Combat Hemlock Woolly Adelgid

Visit the  DEP Calendar of Events;  PA Parks & Forests Foundation’s Events webpage and DCNR’s Calendar of Events for activities happening near you.

Visit DEP’s Teaching Green webpage to learn about more environmental education resources.

Visit the PA Environment Digest Calendar Of Events for more opportunities.

[Posted: December 22, 2024]

12/23/2024