Here are 138 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--

The Foundation for Pennsylvania Watersheds, in partnership with the Community Foundation for the Alleghenies is pleased to announce the R. John Dawes Clean Water Fund, celebrating the significant contributions John Dawes has made to building a strong, thriving, and effective organization to protect Pennsylvania’s waterways.

Each year, PASA Sustainable Agriculture honors farmer, community, and business leaders who serve as examples for advancing sustainable agriculture through innovation and collaboration.

On January 29, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn and Janet Sweeney of the PA Organization for Waterways and Rivers (POWR) on Monday announced that the Allegheny River in western Pennsylvania has been selected by a public vote as the state’s 2024 River of the Year.

On January 31, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn announced the Trails at Jakes Rocks in the Allegheny National Forest, Warren County has been named Pennsylvania’s 2024 Trail of the Year.

The Friends of the Wissahickon was founded in 1924 when a small group of local citizens came together to restore Wissahickon Valley Park in Philadelphia after a winter storm destroyed over 200 trees.

On January 26, 2024, the Department of Environmental Protection issued a notice of violation to Equitrans Midstream for abandoning and not plugging 19 conventional gas wells at the Swarts Natural Gas Storage Field in Greene County.

On January 29, Protect PT announced Commonwealth Court issued an opinion vacating the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County’s order affirming the decision of the Plum Zoning Hearing Board [Allegheny County] and remanding the Penneco Environmental Solutions, LLC Sadat 4a oil and gas wastewater injection well approval back to the Plum Borough Zoning Hearing Board.

On February 3, 2024, Makaya Keating of The Derrick reported "more than six months have passed since a Petro Erie wastewater spill contaminated Bellows Spring, which serves as the source of water for more than 200 homes and businesses in Reno that are customers of Venango Water Co.

On February 1, the Public Utility Commission voted to seek public comment on a proposed settlement concerning events that resulted in the over-pressurization of the Peoples Natural Gas distribution system serving the community of Robinson, Indiana County, that caused a wide range of damage to utility and customer equipment.

On January 25, 2024, DEP did a routine inspection of the Fatur shale gas well pad operated by Apex Energy (PA) LLC in Salem Township, Westmoreland County and found multiple sites of contamination of an unknown pink fluid with elevated conductivity readings at the pad.

The following DEP notices were published in the February 3 PA Bulletin related to oil and gas industry facilities.  Many of the notices offer the opportunity for public comments.

The Environmental Quality Board is scheduled to meet on February 13 to consider revised Land Recycling Program cleanup standards and a rulemaking petition for Fletcher Run in Greene County submitted by the CONSOL coal company.

The DEP Citizens Advisory Council is scheduled to meet February 13 to discuss final DEP guidance on limiting environmental impacts of natural gas and other pipeline construction and hear presentations on pipelines needed for carbon sequestration and hydrogen and electrification.

On January 30, the PA Solar Center announced that two projects supported by its Get Solar Initiative recently moved forward in Centre and Lawrence Counties.

On January 25, the PJM Interconnection issued a preliminary review of system operations during  Winter Storm Gerri Jan. 13–18 revealed strong generator and transmission performance, accurate load forecasting, and successful coordination with other regions.

Are you ready to Fight Dirty? Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful has announced that registration is open for the 2024 Pick Up Pennsylvania, an annual community improvement program.

Keep PA Beautiful is now accepting applications for America250PA Community Cleanup Mini-Grants.  The deadline to apply is February 29.

On February 2, Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding announced the  State Conservation Commission approved the allocation of $3.0 million to be granted to four organizations under the framework of the Conservation Excellence Grant Program.

The PA Council of Trout Unlimited and Coldwater Heritage Partnership are accepting registrations for the 2024 Keystone Coldwater Conference in State College on February 23-24.

By Alexandra McLaughlin, Penn State News

On January 31, the Susquehanna River Basin Commission announced the award of more than $150,000 in grant funds to organizations that are dedicated to the health and quality of our local watersheds.

The National Fish & Wildlife Foundation, in partnership with U.S. EPA and the federal-state Chesapeake Bay Program partnership, is soliciting proposals through the Chesapeake Bay Stewardship Fund Small Watershed Grants (SWG) Program to restore water quality and habitats of the Chesapeake Bay and its tributary rivers and streams.

The latest DEP Chesapeake Bay Update newsletter features articles on a request for engineering services, upcoming PennVEST funding outreach sessions, progress reports on implementing county clean water plans and much more.

On November 27, 2023, the Department of Environmental Protection signed a consent assessment with M&G Realty, Inc. and Curry Excavating, Inc. that included a $73,153 penalty for water quality violations and failure to implement erosion and sedimentation controls at the 20-acre construction site for a Rutter's Store in Antis Township, Blair County.

On January 31, 2024, the Department of Environmental Protection issued an individual NPDES Stormwater Permit to M&G Realty, Inc. for the construction of Rutter’s Store #93 in Smithfield Township, Huntingdon County.

On January 29, the Allegheny County Conservation District released comprehensive data on county development patterns, accompanied by mapped locations of existing stormwater infrastructure.

Penn State Extension will hold another of its Water Cooler Talks February 28 on Green Stormwater Infrastructure from Noon to 1:00 p.m.

The Penn State Extension will host a March 4 webinar on Monitoring Soil Moisture: A Climate Smart Ag Practice from Noon to 1:00 p.m.

Penn State Extension will host a March 11 webinar on Streambank Stabilization and Stream Crossings on Farms from Noon to 1:00 p.m.

The January Catalyst newsletter from Butler County-based Slippery Rock Watershed Coalition included this article on Westminster College Student Symposium On The Environment in Lawrence County.

By Harry Campbell, Chesapeake Bay Foundation

On February 1, the Public Utility Commission advanced several proposals geared toward increasing public awareness and establishing greater procedural consistency when evaluating the acquisition and valuation of municipal or authority-owned water and wastewater systems under Section 1329 of the Public Utility Code.

On January 29, the Department of Health and other agencies invited all first through sixth grade students in Pennsylvania to enter the 2024 Lyme Art Contest by creating a short video or poster focusing on the theme: “Protect. Check. Remove.”

On February 1, the PA Organization for Watersheds and Rivers announced the opening of the 2024 Pennsylvania River Sojourns Grant cycle. The deadline to apply is March 29.

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

Join the Butler County Chapter of the North Country Trail Association for their 20th Annual Washington Cherry Pie Hike on February 25 from 9:00 to 2:00 p.m. at Jennings Environmental Education Center near Slippery Rock, Butler County.

The ClearWater Conservancy recently finalized an agreement to permanently conserve a 9.85-acre property in the Spruce Creek Watershed.

The Willistown Conservation Trust accepted its first-ever donation of a conservation easement on a property located in Radnor Township, Delaware County. 

On February 1, The Nature Conservancy announced a $250,000 grant from the Richard King Mellon Foundation for efforts to restore river health and connectivity across the Appalachians, a landscape stretching from Alabama to Maine and continuing into Canada.

The Environmental Health Project is offering a full-time, 12-week Environmental Health Fellowship during the summer of 2024 based at our headquarters in Pittsburgh.

The Partnership for the Delaware Estuary is seeking qualified candidates to fill an Engagement Assistant Coordinator position.

Berks Nature is seeking qualified candidates for a Community Garden Coordinator for the 2024 Growing Season. This is a part-time, seasonal position.

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

The PA Society of Professional Engineers will host a February 22 webinar--  DEP Update On MS4 Stormwater Program and NPDES Water Quality Permitting-- from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m.

Educators in Southwest PA counties are invited to the next online meeting of the Southwest PA Environmental Literacy Coalition on February 12 from 4:00 to 4:30 p.m.

The Asbury Woods Environmental Center in Erie hosted an unveiling of their 2024 Trout In The Classroom Project from 11:00 to Noon for the trout-related activities, crafts, and giveaways.

Dauphin County-based Manada Conservancy is hosting a February 22 Woodland Vernal Ponds Program at the Hershey Gardens Conservatory starting at 7:00 p.m.

By Carol Hillestad for the Brodhead Watershed Association

By Carol Hillestad for the Brodhead Watershed Association

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 February 3 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.