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 31, the National Conservation Foundation announced the Pennsylvania Envirothon Team from Penncrest High School in Delaware County took second place in the International NCF-Envirothon competition in New Brunswick, Canada.

On July 28, the Northeast Pennsylvania Environmental Partners announced the 2023 Environmental Partnership, Thomas P. Shelburne and Emerging Leader Award recipients.

Penn State researchers tested the toxicity and chemical composition of brine water pumped from played-out conventional oil and gas wells and used for dust suppressants and winter road treatments and found they significantly exceeded environmental and health standards for 11 major chemical contaminants, including radioactive radium, just like brine water from conventional oil and gas wells regulated by DEP.

By Siri Lawson, Warren County

In response to a complaint on July 20, 2023, the Department of Environmental Protection has been investigating whether a leak from production wastewater tanks operated by Petro Erie, Inc. at the Lower Reno conventional oil well lease impacted the Village of Reno water supply operated by the Venango Water Company in Sugarcreek Borough, Venango County.

From July 29 to August 4, DEP’s Oil and Gas Compliance Database shows oil and gas inspectors filed 702 inspection entries that resulted in reporting 68 entries of environmental regulation new and outstanding violations-- 67 violations by the conventional oil and gas industry and 1 violation by the unconventional shale natural gas industry.

The following DEP notices were published in the August 5 PA Bulletin related to oil and gas industry facilities.  Many of the notices offer the opportunity for public comments.

The Department of Environmental Protection invites comments on a proposed Section 401 Water Quality Certification related to an Equitrans proposal to drill two new horizontal natural gas storage wells in the Swarts Complex and Hunters Cave Storage Fields in Center, Franklin, Morris and Washington Townships, Greene County.  (PA Bulletin, page 4499)

The Department of Environmental Protection invites comments at a September 19 public meeting and hearing on the expansion of the Marcus Hook Terminal’s ethane chilling capacity in Marcus Hook Borough, Delaware County.  (PA Bulletin, page 4456)

On August 5, the Department of Environmental Protection published the final Chapter 105 Environmental Assessment Alternatives Analysis technical guidance related to projects impacting waterways and wetlands in Pennsylvania [DEP ID: 310-2100-002].  (formal notice)

On July 31, Lycoming County-based Eureka Resources announced it successfully extracted 97% pure lithium carbonate from oil and gas wastewater with up to a 90% recovery rate.

Registration is now open for the 2023 PA Statewide Watershed Conference to be held October 29-30 at the Altoona Grand hotel in Altoona.

The Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed invites you to join them for the 11th Annual Delaware River Watershed Forum being held at The Chase Center on the Riverfront in Wilmington, DE, September 28-29.

Registration is now open for the 2023 Loving The Land Through Working Forests Conference hosted by the Foundation For Sustainable Forests on September 16 at the Blooming Valley Forest near Meadville, Crawford County.

The Buffalo Creek Coalition, Audubon Society of Western PA and other partners will host an in-person and online Stormwater Workshop for Municipal Officials, Staff, Engineers And Environmental Advisory Councils at the Buffalo Creek Nature Park in Carver, Butler County from 9:00 a.m. to Noon.

TreeVitalize Pittsburgh and partner Western PA Conservancy are accepting applications for Spring 2024 tree plantings in the City of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County.  The deadline to apply is October 9.

By Ad Crable, Chesapeake Bay Journal

By Kristen Heberling Hoke, Chesapeake Bay Foundation-PA

The July issue of The Catalyst newsletter from the Butler County-based Slippery Rock Watershed Coalition highlights the upcoming August 5-6 Moraine State Park Regatta, a historical video from Operation Scarlift and the threats posed by spotted lanternflies.

The Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay will host the Pennsylvania Taste of the Chesapeake Bay Celebration on August 31 at the Rivers Edge at Long Level in Wrightsville, York County from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.

On July 26, the University Of Pittsburgh Water Collaboratory and Women For A Healthy Environment released a report on drinking water systems in Allegheny County that found the need for significant improvement in one or more metrics in each system surveyed-- Transparency, Affordability, Water Quality,

The Department of Transportation and Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful are inviting 10th to 12th grade students from around the state to help keep Pennsylvania clean and beautiful through the Young Ambassadors of Pennsylvania Program.

The Pennsylvania Resources Council, in partnership with Allegheny County Health Department, will host a household chemical collection event on August 19 to provide Pennsylvania residents with an opportunity to safely and cost effectively dispose of common chemicals such as cleaners, paints, batteries, motor oil and pesticides. 

The new nonprofit Save The Schuylkill and its partners are seeking volunteers for a Schuylkill River Cleanup on August 26 near Phoenixville in Montgomery County from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

On August 2, Pennsylvania Attorney General Michelle Henry announced she joined a coalition of 14 Attorneys General in urging the Biden administration to adopt a more comprehensive strategy to combat the plastic pollution crisis.

The closure in January 2016 of one of Pittsburgh’s biggest coal-processing plants led to immediate and lasting declines in emissions of fossil fuel–related air pollutants.

This article first appeared on TribLive.com August 2, 2023--

On August 3, three regional nonprofit organizations – RiverWise, the Pennsylvania Solar Center, and New Sun Rising – announced a partnership among the three organizations called “Rural Innovation through Solar Empowerment” (RISE) will receive $100,000 from the U.S. Department of Energy to help Beaver County organizations in Justice40 communities go solar.

The Sustainable Pittsburgh organization has been selected by Jobs for the Future as a Quality Green Jobs Regional Challenge Member to train and prepare individuals for climate-resilient jobs.

By Lori Brennan, The Nature Conservancy-PA

The Energy Efficiency Alliance, Environmental Entrepreneurs, Sustainable Business Network of Philadelphia, and Sustainable Pittsburgh will host an August 16 webinar Shaping Pennsylvania's Clean Energy Workforce Future starting at 2:00 p.m.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is hosting a series of webinars the week of August 7 on Investing in America - Climate Action Funding Fair.

The James and Kimberly White family property has become the first conservation easement finalized in French & Pickering Creeks Conservation Trusts’ new partnership with North Coventry Township in Chester County.  

By Bennett Gould, David & Margaret Yasenchack

Since 2017, the first Sunday in October-- this year October 1-- has been set aside for the public to get out into our beautiful Penn's Woods through the Walk In Penn's Woods initiative.

The August 4 Take Five Fridays With Pam is now available from the PA Parks & Forests Foundation featuring articles on--

The volunteer-led pedestrian advocacy organization Feet First Philly, a project of the Clean Air Council, launched the fourth round of their Public Space Enhancement Mini-Grant Program to fund projects aimed at improving Philadelphia’s pedestrian environment.

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

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

The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources will host a webinar on August 8 on Advancing Climate Resiliency In Pennsylvania starting at 11:00 a.m. to Noon.

On November 8, WeConservePA will host a November 8 webinar on how land trusts, conservation organizations and parks professionals can start offering successful educational programming at their organization from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m.

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 August 5 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.