Here are 126 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 Puts Links To The Best Environment & Energy Articles and NewsClips From Last Week Here By Topic--

On October 10, DEP Citizens Advisory Council Vice Chair Timothy Weston requested DEP to report back to the Council on a University of Pittsburgh study that found at least 800,000 tons of waste generated by conventional and unconventional oil and gas industry was unaccounted for in the amount of waste received by landfills in Pennsylvania, Ohio and New York in 2019.

On September 29, DEP told the Low-Level Waste Advisory Committee shale gas operations in Pennsylvania sent 138,336 cubic feet of radioactive TENORM waste to the Waste Control Specialists low-level radioactive waste facility in Texas for disposal.

On October 12, DCED’s PA Grade Crude Development Advisory Council, representing the conventional oil and gas industry, met on a wide range of issues, including promoting the idea of how to make road dumping its wastewater legal.

On October 13, The Derrick reported the Franklin General Authority is considering a request for a permanent water connection to the Village of Reno water supply system to provide 36,000 gallons of water a day to replace the water lost as a result of a conventional oil well wastewater spill.

From October 7 to 13 DEP’s Oil and Gas Compliance Database shows oil and gas inspectors filed 449 inspection entries.

The Department of Environmental Protection has scheduled a November 14 hearing on a proposed RACT III Air Quality Permit for the Energy Transfer Marcus Hook Terminal in Delaware County.

The following DEP notices were published in the October 14 PA Bulletin related to oil and gas industry facilities.  Many of the notices offer the opportunity for public comments.

On October 13, the PJM Interconnection formally submitted proposed electric market reforms designed to support reliability of the electric grid now and in the future amid increasingly extreme weather and a changing generation fleet.

The Better Path Coalition will host an October 18 webinar launching the 9th Compendium of Scientific, Medical, Media Findings Demonstrating Risk, Harms of Natural Gas Development and Infrastructure at Noon and 7:00 p.m.

On August 24, PennFuture, the Sierra Club, Clean Air Council, Protect Penn-Trafford, and Earthworks announced they have filed a joint lawsuit in Commonwealth Court against the General Assembly and Gov. Shapiro, challenging the constitutionality of a law that prevents the Commonwealth from protecting communities, public health and the environment from the harm caused by abandoned conventional oil and gas wells.

On October 13, the US Department of Energy awarded two hydrogen hub projects that include Pennsylvania-- a natural gas-based Appalachian Hub in Western PA, West Virginia and Ohio and a Mid-Atlantic Hub in eastern PA, Delaware and New Jersey based on the use of renewable and nuclear energy to make the hydrogen.

In a social media announcement on October 12, the Department of Environmental Protection said it is extending the public comment period on its Interim Final Environmental Justice Permit Review Polity to November 30 and will be scheduling additional public hearings.

On October 12, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced it selected Pennsylvania State University Hershey Medical Center to receive a $1,199,108 pollution prevention grant.

On October 5, the federal Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement announced the award of $150,000 of a Watershed Cooperative Agreement Program grant to the Western Pennsylvania Coalition for Abandoned Mine Reclamation.

Appalachian Voices, Reimagine Appalachia, National Wildlife Federation and Appalachian Citizens' Law Center are hosting an October 24 webinar on Reforesting Mine Lands - How The Forestry Reclamation Approach Works For Coal Communities from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m.

The Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay is now accepting registrations for 10 selected virtual sessions of the 18th Chesapeake Watershed Forum to be held November 3-5.  [In-person registration is sold out.]

Groups and individuals are cleaning up their favorite shared public spaces through Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful’s Pick Up Pennsylvania program, supporting the Ocean Conservancy’s International Coastal Cleanup.

On October 13, the Department of Environmental Protection announced it has reached a Settlement Agreement with DC Ambler Properties, LLC., who owns the Ambler Asbestos Piles Superfund Site, to pay $500,000 in stipulated penalties to resolve its liability for outstanding violations of a 2014 Consent Order and Agreement (COA).

On October 12, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Regional Administrator Adam Ortiz visited the Beechview-Seldom Seen Greenway in Pittsburgh to witness firsthand the work of Landforce, a land stewardship and workforce development organization.

On October 4, the Keystone Energy Efficiency Alliance celebrated National Energy Efficiency Day by announcing ELEDLights as their 2023 Energy Efficiency Champion.

The Pennsylvania Solar Center will host an October 20 webinar on Solar Guidebook For PA Landowners - Leasing Property For Large-Scale Solar Development from Noon to 1:15 p.m.

The Department of Environmental Protection is now accepting applications for $16 million in PA Grid Resilience funding provided by the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Act.  The deadline for concept paper submissions is November 1.  (formal notice) 

Sustainable Pittsburgh is now accepting applications from businesses, organizations, and municipalities located in Armstrong, Butler, Fayette, Greene, Indiana, Lawrence, or Washington Counties that are working to earn designation/certification with a Sustainable Pittsburgh Recognition Program.

The Pennsylvania GreenGov Council recently launched the PA Climate Change Mitigation and Resilience Network to promote climate problem solving and human-centered solutions for Pennsylvania.

On October 12, EEN Action and partner Evangelical Environmental Network delivered over 51,000 comments from evangelical Christians to Gov. Shapiro's Administration in support of Pennsylvania reaffirming its commitment to the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative.

On October 6, the Lancaster Theological Seminary, Interfaith Power and Light and other groups kicked off a new webinar series on Religion and the Environment.

PA Interfaith Power & Light and their partners will host the second in its Religion and Environment webinar series on November 1 with the program - A Jewish Approach To Activism & Accompaniment Thru The Climate Crisis-- from Noon to 1:00 p.m.

El siguiente artículo fue publicado en Impacto el 13 de octubre de 2023--   [The following article was published in Impacto on October 13, 2023--]

On October 10, the federal Appalachian Regional Commission awarded two new grants totaling over $14.5 million to boost green energy manufacturing and workforce development through its Appalachian Regional Initiative for Stronger Economies (ARISE) funding opportunity.

On October 12, the Department of Agriculture announced it preserved 1,336 acres on 18 farms in 13 counties, forever protecting them from residential or commercial development.

The PA Organization for Watersheds and Rivers is again partnering with DCNR to accept nominations for the 2024 River of the Year recognition.  Nominations are due November 10.

On October 12, the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources issued its third Weekly Fall Foliage Report showing ‘Best Color’ will cover most of the northern half of Pennsylvania the week of October 12 to 18.

If you’re out for a fall hike and discover an illegal dump site or graffiti defacing the beauty of Pennsylvania, Keep PA Beautiful encourages you to report it through their webpage.

On October 11, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn announced the department has opened up a public survey for input on plans at Susquehanna Riverlands State Park in York County.

DCNR’s Pennsylvania Outdoor Corps is seeking projects for its 2024 season. Municipalities and non-profits can host PAOC crews on a cost-share basis to complete work on public lands.

Applications are now being accepted for the PECO Green Region Open Space Grant Program administered by Natural Lands.  Applications are due November 10.

The PA State Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation recently met in State College to review Hunting Heritage Super Fund project proposals for 2024 funding awards.

The Governor's Invasive Species Council's latest quarterly newsletter features updates on Council initiatives to address invasive nonnative plants, insects, pathogens, and animals that are spreading on land and in waters in Pennsylvania to reduce increasing economic and environmental impacts.

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

Educators in Greene and Washington counties issued an invitation to educators, local professionals and environmental science enthusiasts to join the newly forming Southwest PA Environmental Literacy Coalition.

Join Penn State Extension Master Watershed Stewards for an exciting and informative bike tour of the breathtaking watersheds of the Northwest Lancaster County River Trail as part of the Water Ways On Wheels Bike Tour October 28 from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

The Drexel University Environmental Collaboratory will host a student-focused Fireside Chat with DEP Secretary Richard Negrin on October 26 on the Drexel University campus in Philadelphia.

The Department of Environmental Protection invites students ages 9 to 14 to enter the 2024 Student Radon Poster Contest.  The deadline for submissions is November 1.

Dauphin County-based Manada Conservancy will host an in-person program November 2 On A Path Forward - Local Climate Action at the Hershey Gardens Conservatory, 170 Hotel Road, Hershey starting at 7:00 p.m.

PA Interfaith Power & Light and Jewish Earth Alliance will host an October 18 webinar on Democracy, Voting and Climate Solutions starting at 7:00 p.m.

The PA Association of Environmental Educators is hosting a multipart Universal Design For Learning in Environmental Education course from October 30 to December 22.

Help birds and wildlife find food during winter! Youth ages 5-14 are invited to join the Penn State Master Gardeners of Cumberland County for the Wildlife Tree Ornaments Workshop for Youth on November 18.

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

The House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee is scheduled to meet on October 16 to consider legislation imposing a temporary moratorium on air permits for cryptocurrency mining operations.

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 October 14 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.