Here are 75 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 November 17, the Shapiro Administration issued an invitation for nominations for the 2024 Governor’s Award for Environmental Excellence, the state’s top environmental honor.  The deadline for nominations is January 3.

On November 14, Kristen Rodack, Executive Deputy Secretary at the Department of Health said her agency is using the results of recent studies of health impacts of natural gas development to push “governments and other folks to take action on some of the potential exposures that’s happening from the industry.”

The Department of Environmental Protection has issued at least 472 notices of violation to 90 conventional oil and gas operators and 20 NOVs to 11 shale gas operators for abandoning their wells without plugging them so far in 2023, according to DEP’s Oil & Gas Compliance Reporting Database.

The Department of Environmental Protection has issued a record 5,653 notices of violation to conventional oil and gas operators in 2023, with two months left in the year, according to DEP’s November 3, 2023 Weekly Workload Report.   That’s 25% more than in 2021.

Unconventional shale gas operators were issued a total of 1,103 notices of violation so far in 2023, which means they are on track to exceed the 1,360 violations DEP issued them in 2022, according to DEP’s newly released 2022 Oil and Gas Program Annual Report.

From November 11 to 17, DEP’s Oil and Gas Compliance Database shows oil and gas inspectors filed 774 inspection entries.

The following DEP notices were published in the November 18 PA Bulletin related to oil and gas industry facilities.  Many of the notices offer the opportunity for public comments.

The Department of Environmental Protection is inviting comments on the renewal of a residual waste processing permit for the Danco Industries, Inc. facility in Barkeyville Boro, Venango County.  (PA Bulletin, page 7202)

On November 15, Beaver County residents joined with organizations from across the region to call for accountability and heightened emergency preparedness after dozens of malfunctions and pollution from the Shell Petrochemical Plant during its first year of operation.

On November 15, the Public Utility Commission is alerting consumers that many natural gas and electric utilities are adjusting their energy supply prices on December 1 and reminding households to understand those changes, explore options to manage winter energy bills, and #CallUtilitiesNow to discuss affordability programs.

On November 13, the Public Utility Commission released 2023 Winter Reliability Overview Reports from the state’s major natural gas distribution companies (NGDCs), along with a related Readiness Report from the Energy Association of Pennsylvania.

On November 13, legislation to create a community solar energy program was introduced as House Bill 1842 by Rep. Pete Schweyer (D-Lehigh) and Rob Matzie (D-Beaver), with a breadth of bipartisan cosponsors.

The Department of Environmental Protection invites comments on a Chapter 105 permit application for the proposed Mineral Basin Solar Power, LLC  solar energy and battery storage project on reclaimed abandoned mine land in Goshen Township, Clearfield County.  (PA Bulletin, page 7212)

The Department of Transportation will begin accepting the next round of applications-- Round 1A-- for federal National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Program electric vehicle charging grants on December 11.  The deadline for applications will be January 26.

On November 13, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation announced 25 grants totaling $7.4 million for projects that support wildlife habitat, climate resilience, community conservation partnerships, and equitable access to nature in the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

The State Conservation Commission is accepting proposals to reduce nutrient and sediment loads in high priority counties throughout Pennsylvania as part of EPA's Most Effective Basin Program.  Proposals are due November 20.

On November 16, the Stroud Water Research Center in partnership with Amazon Web Services (AWS) is leading a three-year project to enhance water in communities in northern Virginia.

The Pike County Conservation District announced the availability of a new online DEP Chapter 105-related tool to determine what, if any, approvals from or notification to DEP are needed for bridge and culvert maintenance and repair projects.

The Penn State Extension will host another in a series of Water Cooler Talks December 13 on Implementing Green Stormwater Infrastructure from Noon to 1:00 p.m.

The Department of Environmental Protection published these one year General Permit extension notices in November 18 PA Bulletin--

On November 13, the Department of Environmental Protection announced it collected $62,475 from Westmoreland Sanitary Landfill, LLC to address violations of Pennsylvania’s Solid Waste Management Act and Clean Streams Law.

On November 16, the Department of Environmental Protection  announced that $21,600 of the $39,100 civil penalty arising from the former Cheswick coal-fired power plant demolition project in June will benefit Springdale Borough, Allegheny County.

The Department of Environmental Protection is now accepting comments on two proposed Hazardous Sites Cleanup Act Consent Order and Agreements for the Easton Road PFC and Cross Keys sites in Bucks County involving PFOA/PFOS and other contaminants.  (PA Bulletin, page 7227)  (PA Bulletin, page 7228) 

On November 14, America Recycles Day, a program of Keep America Beautiful, is held on and around November 15 to educate and encourage individuals to be more mindful of what they consume, where and how to properly recycle and to pledge to recycle more and recycle right in their everyday lives. 

On November 15, in conjunction with America Recycles Day, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced 25 selectees nationwide to receive over $33 million in Recycling Education and Outreach Grants, nearly $5 million of which is slated for the Mid-Atlantic region.

Pennsylvania’s waste and recycling industry is teaming up with the Office of the State Fire Commissioner to raise awareness about a growing epidemic of fires caused by the improper disposal of rechargeable batteries in recycling containers and trash bags.

The PA Recycling Markets Center will host the 2024 PA ReMaDE Conference on January 18-19 at the Historic Hotel Bethlehem in Bethlehem, PA.

On November 13, the Department of Environmental Protection announced it approved funding for two Oil City recreation projects from penalties collected for Air Pollution Act violations at the Webco Oil City Plant in Venango County.

The Department of Environmental Protection invites comments on and has scheduled a December 18 hearing on an Air Quality Plan Approval for waste tire fuel at the Panther Creek Power Plant in Nesquehoning Borough, Carbon County.  (PA Bulletin, page 7205)   (PA Bulletin, page 7245)

On November 14, Ramez Ziadeh, P.E., Acting DEP Executive Deputy Secretary, briefed DEP’s Citizens Advisory Council on the Shapiro Administration’s PAyback Program to return application fees if agencies don’t make decisions on permits within specified deadlines.

On November 14, the French & Pickering Creeks Conservation Trust was joined by its supporters and local partners at the Thomas P. Bentley Nature Preserve in Chester County for the ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the unveiling of their new permanent shelter for one of the four Revolutionary War-era cannons excavated at the Preserve in 2022.

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

The November issue of the DCNR State Parks Environmental Education newsletter is back featuring articles on--

Presentation proposals and student posters are now being accepted for the 2024 Keystone Coldwater Conference to be held on February 23-24 at the Ramada Conference Center in State College, PA.  The deadline for submissions is December 15.

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

The Senate and House moved several environmental and energy bills last week, including--

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 November 18 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.