Here are 97 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--

On July 11, DEP Secretary Richard Negrin said “We don’t represent Chevron, we don’t represent Shell and I’ve made that absolutely clear-- we’re holding those leaders accountable.”

On July 10, the Department of Environmental Protection announced the members of a steering committee who will be tasked with developing a protocol to allocate $5 million in funding for community projects in Beaver County from the settlement of Shell Petrochemical Plant air quality violations.

From July 8 to 14, DEP’s Oil and Gas Compliance Database shows oil and gas inspectors filed 672  inspection entries that resulted in reporting 52 violations (new and continuing) of environmental regulations-- 43 violation entries by the conventional oil and gas industry and 9 violations by the unconventional shale natural gas industry.

On July 15, the Department of Environmental Protection published a formal notice that it had disapproved a Risk Assessment submitted by the American Refinery Group saying it did not prove the cleanup of chemicals polluting soil and groundwater at ARG’s Bradford petroleum refinery in McKean County met a safe cleanup standard.  (July 15 PA Bulletin, page 3759)

The following DEP notices were published in the July 15 PA Bulletin related to oil and gas industry facilities.  Many of the notices offer the opportunity for public comments.

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the July 15 PA Bulletin inviting comments on a CNX Midstream Operating Company, LLC Chapter 105 permit application to expose three pipelines to prevent damage from longwall coal mining in Morris Township, Greene County.  (PA Bulletin, page 3742)

On July 11, the Environmental Quality Board voted to accept the Department’s report on a rulemaking petition submitted by the Sierra Club and other groups in September of 2021 that the EQB no longer has the authority to adjust well bonding amounts for 10 years under Act 96 passed and signed into law by Gov. Wolf on July 19, 2022.

On July 10, the US Department of the Interior announced Pennsylvania is eligible to apply for $76,406,474 in Phase I federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Act formula grants to plug abandoned conventional oil and gas wells.

On July 11, DEP gave a presentation to the Citizens Advisory Council on the draft final Chapter 105 Environmental Assessment Alternatives Analysis technical guidance.

On July 10, MethaneSAT, a subsidiary of the Environmental Defense Fund, announced it has successfully tested methane detection technology to be used to measure and track methane emissions from oil and gas operators and other sectors across North America.

On July 13, Marcellus Drilling News raised the issue of whether taxpayers are due royalties and bonus payments by unconventional [and conventional] oil and gas operators for oil and gas they develop under roads, streets, bridges and other land owned by taxpayers, if the mineral rights are included.

By: Stephanie Berardi, MES, Regional Communications Manager, DEP Southeast Regional Office

DEP Secretary Richard Negrin introduced Bevin Ann Buchheister, Esq. as the new Acting Deputy Secretary for Water Programs at the July 11 Environmental Quality Board meeting.

The Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay presents the Watershed Champion and Fran Flanigan awards as special recognition for leadership and dedication to cleaner rivers and streams of the Chesapeake Bay.

By Noah Evans, Penn State News

The Watershed Alliance of York is now accepting applications for grants to support the planting of riparian forest buffers in York County.  The deadline for applications is September 30.

On July 14, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation filed an amicus brief asking the Pennsylvania Supreme Court to reverse a Commonwealth Court decision that the Borough of West Chester’s stormwater fee is a  tax as applied to West Chester University of Pennsylvania property within the borough.

On July 13, Gov. Josh Shapiro and PEMA Director Randy Padfield, in coordination with the Berks County Department of Emergency Services, announced that the Shapiro Administration opened a Multi-Agency Resource Center (MARC) to provide individuals, families, and businesses affected by recent storm damage with in-person access to state and local resources.

The Summer edition of The Guardian newsletter from the Susquehanna River Basin Commission includes these articles--

The PJM Interconnection has issued a Hot Weather Alert for its Mid-Atlantic and Southern regions for July 12 and 13 in advance of expected 90-degree temperatures.

On July 12, Sen. Doug Mastriano (R-Adams) announced the introduction of Senate Bill 798 to provide $5 million in state tax credits to develop solar energy facilities on brownfields, abandoned mine sites, capped landfills, warehouse and parking facility roofs.

From freezer upgrades in labs to geothermal heating and cooling at Johnstown, the winner will move the University of Pittsburgh toward its carbon neutrality goal.

On July 12, the US Department of Energy selected Pennsylvania State University as one of nine organizations to help industrial facilities and other large energy users increase the adoption of onsite decarbonization strategies.

On July 11, PennFuture announced the release of a Model Logistics Use Zoning Ordinance and Guidebook to assist municipalities in updating zoning ordinances originally drafted long before this pattern of development was even a remote possibility.

On July 13, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn announced the department is seeking applicants for its NextGen Advisory Council.

The July 14 Take Five Fridays With Pam is now available from the PA Parks and Forests Foundation featuring articles on--

Thanks to a $225,000 grant from the Richard King Mellon Foundation, Carnegie Museum of Natural History in Pittsburgh will lead a collaborative education and outreach campaign to inspire local organizations and the public to act against the spread of invasive plant species across Pennsylvania and Central Appalachia.

By Kevin Sliman, Penn State News

By David Hess, Secretary of the Department of Environmental Protection at the Time of the Rescue

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

The July edition of DCNR’s State Parks Environmental Education newsletter is now available featuring articles on--

Join the Pennsylvania Interfaith Power & Light and the Jewish Earth Alliance on July 19 at 7:00 p.m. for an online informational session about the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s proposed carbon pollution rules for fossil fuel burning power plants.

Planting native trees and shrubs is a powerful way to turn your landscape into a wildlife wonderland while also improving local stream health and water quality. But choosing the best species for your specific landscape conditions can be a challenge.

The Oilfield Water Connection will host the 2nd Annual Marcellus Shale Water Business Update Conference at the Westin Hotel In Pittsburgh August 9.

The third annual Penn State Solar Law Symposium will be held virtually on August 23, from noon to 4:30 p.m., for attorneys and energy professionals.

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--

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 July 15 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.