Here are 64 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 29, the Environmental Hearing Board accepted a settlement agreement between the Department of Environmental Protection and EQT Production Company involving appeals of DEP actions related to a June 19, 2022 frack-out and the Lumber and Spleen Splitter shale gas well pads in Springhill Township, Greene County.

DEP’s  Oil and Gas Technical Advisory Board is scheduled to meet on December 5 with a very full agenda. 

From November 25 to December 1, DEP’s Oil and Gas Compliance Database shows oil and gas inspectors filed 669 inspection entries.

The following DEP notices were published in the December 2 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 December 2 PA Bulletin inviting comments on a proposed CNX Midstream project to expose two 10-inch natural gas pipelines and one 12-inch fresh water pipeline in Morris Township, Washington County to prevent damage from underground longwall coal mining.  [PA Bulletin, page 7418]

On December 2, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced a final rule that will sharply reduce methane and other harmful air pollutants from the oil and natural gas industry, including from hundreds of thousands of existing sources nationwide, promote the use of cutting-edge methane detection technologies, and deliver significant economic and public health benefits.

On November 29, the Public Utility Commission again alerted 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 29, Sen. Gene Yaw (R-Lycoming) announced he is the recipient of the 2023 Shale Gas Advocate Award from the Marcellus Shale Coalition.

On November 28, more than nine months after the Norfolk Southern train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio on February 3rd, the Shapiro Administration said it is continuing to conduct precautionary tests of the soil and water in Beaver and Lawrence counties and ensure Pennsylvanians have the resources needed to recover and rebuild.

The Department of Environmental Protection, Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission, Lehigh Valley Planning Commission and Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission will host a series of five public outreach sessions inviting comments on Priority Climate Action Plan initiatives.

On November 29, PennFuture, Clean Air Council, Sierra Club, and Environmental Defense Fund filed an appeal of the Commonwealth Court’s November 1, 2023 ruling that blocked Pennsylvania’s participation in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), a multistate carbon emissions reduction program.

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the December 2 PA Bulletin announcing a January 16 hearing on a proposed RACT 3 Title V Air Quality Permit for the East Penn Manufacturing Company Plant in Richmond Township, Berks County.   [PA Bulletin, page 7409]

On December 1, the Department of Environmental Protection announced it has awarded $19.3 million in 2024 Countywide Action Plan (CAP) Implementation Grants to county teams across Pennsylvania’s share of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed.

On December 1, the Department of Environmental Protection announced, after a meeting of the Commonwealth Drought Task Force, that Clinton County was added to York County in drought warning, Westmoreland County was added to drought watch and 13 other counties remain in drought watch. 

On November 27, the National Association of Conservation Districts and the Soil Health Institute published a new report that shows the environmental and economic benefits of soil health management systems in the Delaware River Watershed.

Penn State Extension’s Warren, Erie, and Crawford County Master Watershed Stewards are inviting service groups and others interested in improving the health of Pennsylvania’s waterways to request an in-person or virtual information session to learn about the Master Watershed Steward Program, which educates and empowers volunteers to carry out watershed projects and education in their communities.

On November 27, the PA Resources Council announced the winners of the 2023 Gene Capaldi Lens On Litter Photo Contest from the enthusiastic submissions from all across Pennsylvania.

The Penn State Technical Assistance Program is now offering businesses two funding opportunities to support business energy and engineering projects.

On November 29, the Tookany/ Tacony-Frankford Watershed Partnership announces that maps for Tacony Creek Park, Philadelphia’s 300-acre watershed park that was created in 1915 to protect Tacony Creek, are now available in seven languages: English, Spanish, Vietnamese, Mandarin, Haitian Creole, Arabic, and Khmer.

On November 29, The Nature Conservancy in Pennsylvania and Delaware announced it has purchased 78 acres located in Monroe County, Pennsylvania, and transferred the parcel to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for addition to the Cherry Valley National Wildlife Refuge.

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

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 November 29, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced it has awarded Pennsylvania $386,932,000 to support clean water efforts and to better deliver safe drinking water across the state.

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 December 2 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.