Here are 106 new stories in the PA Environment Digest about individuals, groups, local governments, farmers, businesses, watershed groups and many more working all across Pennsylvania to restore and protect the environment and show others the beauty that surrounds us.

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

DEP’s Citizens Advisory Council is scheduled to meet June 13 to hear remarks by DEP Acting Secretary Richard Negrin on his vision for DEP and his initiatives for changing the agency.

The Department of Environmental Protection gave notice in the June 3 PA Bulletin it is taking action to enforce an order against Michael Harju and Economy Natural Gas, Inc. for their failure to plug four conventional natural gas wells leaking methane in Scott Township, Allegheny County.  (June 3, 2023 PA Bulletin, page 3031)

From May 27 to June 2, DEP’s Oil and Gas Compliance Database shows oil and gas inspectors filed 529 inspection entries that resulted in reporting 107 new and continuing violations of environmental regulations-- 83 violations by the conventional oil and gas industry and 23  violations by the unconventional shale natural gas industry.

The following DEP notices were published in the June 3 PA Bulletin related to oil and gas industry facilities.  Many of the notices offer the opportunity for public comments.

The Susquehanna River Basin Commission’s Hydrologic Conditions Monitor shows as of June 4 low stream flows have triggered water withdrawal restrictions on 49 water withdrawals, including 45 unconventional shale gas drilling-related and four other large water users in Northcentral Pennsylvania.

On May 31, the Independent Fiscal Office released its first quarter 2023 report on unconventional shale gas production in Pennsylvania showing quarterly production is down 118 billion cubic feet since the fourth quarter peak in 2021.

The House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee is scheduled to hold a June 5 hearing on legislation-- House Bill 652 (Bullock-D- Philadelphia)  requiring environmental impact reports on certain electric generation, waste management, sewage treatment  and other facilities that are a major source of air pollution proposed in already burdened communities.

The House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee is scheduled to meet June 6 to consider legislation requiring environmental impact reports for facilities in already burdened communities, prohibiting use of state tax credits for cryptocurrency operations and requiring the production of clean hydrogen.

On June 2, Attorney General Michelle Henry announced the Office of Attorney General has taken action against DuPont and two other chemical companies for the continued manufacturing and distribution of products containing PFAS “forever chemicals,” which have been proven to be harmful to the environment and animals and increase risk of human disease.

On June 1, the Department of Environmental Protection awarded over $1 million in Environmental Education Grants to 73 projects that will engage youth and adults in improving water quality and climate change resiliency in their communities.

The May Catalyst newsletter from the Butler County-based Slippery Rock Watershed Coalition features articles on upcoming Foltz One Room School open house events at the Jennings Environmental Center and an overview of a presentation on acid mine drainage treatment at Slippery Rock University.

The Wildlands Conservancy is seeking volunteers for our Stream Team on Fridays from June through September as they maintain vegetative areas along streams (riparian buffers) and help ensure the survival of young, native trees in the forest buffer.

By Harry Campbell, Chesapeake Bay Foundation

The regional electric grid operator PJM Interconnection issued a Hot Weather Alert for June 2 for its entire footprint in anticipation of 90-degree temperatures.

Join the Electrification Coalition for the Pennsylvania Medium- and Heavy-Duty Electric Vehicle Boot Camp on June 20 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Harrisburg University of Science And Technology Auditorium.

On May 30, the Department of Environmental Protection announced an easterly wind is forecasted to transport smoke from a large wildfire in southern Nova Scotia that will likely contribute to daily average concentrations of fine particulate matter in the Code Orange range on Wednesday, May 31 in these areas of Pennsylvania--

In June, Pennsylvania Resources Council and its partners will host household chemical collection events in Fayette and Washington counties to enable area residents to conveniently dispose of materials such as cleaners, paints, stains and varnishes, batteries, motor oil and pesticides.

On the heels of a busy spring season – which featured seven events that diverted tons of material from landfills – Pennsylvania Resources Council “Green Team” members are ready to lessen waste at numerous large-scale events this summer.

This summer, individuals and their families will experience the Pennsylvania Wilds region during the second year of an initiative designed to show off rural communities as ideal places to live and work.

On May 26, U.S. Senators Bob Casey (D-PA) and John Fetterman (D-PA) sent a letter to the Maryland Air National Guard and the Air National Guard Readiness Center to request a full Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) regarding the Air Force and National Guard Bureau’s proposal to lower the altitude floor at which pilots can fly in the Duke Military Operating Area (MOA) to as low as 100 feet Above Ground Level (AGL).

During the months of June and July, the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs wildlife staff will provide free guided tours of the only population of the rare regal fritillary butterfly in the eastern United States at Fort Indiantown Gap, near Annville, Lebanon County.

The June 2 Take Five Fridays With Pam is now available from the PA Parks and Forests Foundation featuring articles on--

The PA Environmental Council’s In Case You Missed It In May is now available featuring articles on--

The Spring/Summer edition of Forest Focus from DCNR’s Bureau of Forestry is now available featuring articles on--

The Fairmount Park Conservancy recently announced it has received a $10 million grant from the William Penn Foundation to support the implementation of the $250 million plan to dramatically transform FDR Park in Philadelphia.

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

By Alexandra McLaughlin, Penn State News

The PA Organization for Watersheds and Rivers invites you to attend the upcoming webinar and conversation café -- The Upper Merced River Watershed Council- A Story of Nonprofit Resilience on Wednesday, June 14 at 6:00 p.m.

On June 1, PA American Water announced the winners of its 21st Annual Protect Our Watersheds Student Art Contest, with a sixth-grade student from Cumberland County scoring top honors.

By: Rachael Marques, Pike County Watershed Specialist

The PA Association of Environmental Educators is hosting a June 29 professional development webinar on Implementing Environmental Justice In Environmental Education from Noon to 1:30 p.m.

The Responsible Decarbonization Alliance webinar on Climate Change and Penn’s Woods: What Does the Future Hold is now available on demand.

Join representatives from Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful and the Department of Community and Economic Development for a free webinar on June 13 to learn how Pennsylvania’s new anti-littering campaign-- PA Fights Dirty: Every Litter Bit Matters-- can be used in your community to change behaviors and keep your community clean.

By Carol Hillestad for the Brodhead Watershed Association, Monroe County

The Philadelphia Solar Energy Association, partners will host a June 8 webinar on Solar Successes and Lessons Learned From PA School Case Studies from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m.

By Carol Hillestad for the Brodhead Watershed Association, Monroe County

The information you need to follow legislation in the House and Senate- starting with articles and NewsClips from last week--

Articles and NewsClips about federal actions impacting Pennsylvania--

On June 1, the Department of the Interior announced nearly $725 million from the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is available to 22 states and the Navajo Nation to create good-paying jobs and catalyze economic opportunity by reclaiming abandoned coal mine lands.

Click Here for a list of public participation opportunities and a calendar of events.

Click Here for grants, awards, recognition programs and contest deadlines.

Highlights of the environmental and energy notices in the June 3 PA Bulletin--

Send your stories, photos and links to videos about your project, environmental issues or programs for publication in the PA Environment Digest to: PaEnviroDigest@gmail.com.

PA Environment Digest is a supporting member of the PA Organization for Watersheds & Rivers, PA Outdoor Writers Association, PA Council Trout Unlimited and the Doc Fritchey Chapter Trout Unlimited.