Here are 128 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 May 22, the PA Wilds Center for Entrepreneurship, Inc. announced the recipients of the 2024 Champions of the PA Wilds Awards. The 2024 Champions are –

The PA Parks and Forests Foundation  held its 15th Annual Awards Banquet and celebrated 13 award recipients for their outstanding stewardship of Pennsylvania’s state park and state forest system at Little Buffalo State Park in Perry County on May 14, 2024.

On May 16, Sen. Camera Bartolotta (R-Washington) circulated a cosponsor memo announcing she plans to introduce legislation to eliminate the ability of citizens, local governments and anyone else to appeal permits issued by DEP for natural gas pipelines and related facilities to the Environmental Hearing Board.

On May 20, the Damascus Citizens for Sustainability alerted the public the PA Department of Environmental Protection has designated 84 municipalities in Pennsylvania and one county in New York as “disposal facilities” for wastewater from conventional oil and gas drilling because well owners indiscriminately dump their waste on public roads.

From May 18 to 24, DEP’s Oil and Gas Compliance Database shows oil and gas inspectors filed 334 inspection entries, fewer than usual perhaps due to Memorial Day holiday week.

The following notices were published in the May 25 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 May 25 PA Bulletin announcing it has issued an oil and gas wastewater injection well permit to PA Well Development LLC for the David A. Weaver #1 disposal well in Young Township, Jefferson County.  (PA Bulletin, page 2904)

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the May 25 PA Bulletin inviting comments on the renewal of the waste transfer facility permit for five oil and gas wastewater injection wells owned by Bear Lake Properties, LLC in Columbus Township, Warren County.  (PA Bulletin, page 2853) 

On May 22, the US Environmental Protection Agency published notice it is accepting comments on a draft permit renewal for the oil and gas wastewater injection well operated by Seneca Resources Company, LLC in Highland Township, Elk County.

The Susquehanna River Basin Commission will hold a business meeting June 13 on water use requests, including seven shale gas drilling-related requests in Lycoming, Susquehanna, Tioga and Wyoming counties.  (formal notice) 

From January through April, the Executive Director of the Susquehanna River Basin Commission gave his approval to 100 general water use permits for individual shale gas well drilling pads in Bradford, Cameron, Centre, Clearfield, Elk, Lycoming, McKean, Potter, Sullivan, Susquehanna, Tioga and Wyoming counties.

The elimination of coal-fired power plants and increased use of natural gas in power generation has led to historic emissions and air pollutant reductions equaling $450 billion to $1.04 trillion in public health benefits for Pennsylvanians, according to a Marcellus Shale [Gas] Coalition analysis.

By Justin Nobel, Author of Petroleum-238: Big Oil's Dangerous Secret and the Grassroots Fight to Stop It

On May 22, the Department of Environmental Protection announced the award of $980,256 in Environmental Education Grants to 56 projects that will promote environmental education and stewardship across Pennsylvania.

On May 17, the PA Association of Conservation Districts announced the award of nearly $37,000 in grants to support 21 water pollution prevention projects through the Nonpoint Source Pollution Prevention Educational Mini-Grant Program.

The Planning Committee for the PA Abandoned Mine Reclamation Conference has issued an invitation for presentation proposals.  The deadline for submissions is June 28.

The Lancaster County Master Watershed Stewards will host a June 27 Workshop On Swarr Run Stream Restoration at the Penn State Health Lancaster Medical Center, 2160 State Road in Lancaster from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m.

On June 19, Penn State Extension will hold a webinar on Testing Emerging Contaminant Mixtures In PA Private Wells from 1:00 to 2:30 p.m.

On May 24, the Game Commission and the Department of Environmental Protection held an online banding event for the peregrine falcon nestlings on the Rachel Carson Building in Harrisburg.

Join the PA Resources Council in celebrating national “Learn About Composting Day” by taking part in a free statewide Backyard Composting webinar on Wednesday, May 29, at 6 p.m. 

On May 22, the Pittsburgh 2030 District, a project of the Green Building Alliance, released its 2023 Progress Report, revealing that 2030 District Property Partners reached a 48.0% reduction in carbon emissions in 2023, or 507,000 metric tons of CO2e emissions avoided. 

On May 22, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced its annual Top Cities list, spotlighting the cities with the greatest number of ENERGY STAR certified commercial and multifamily buildings last year.

On May 22, Duquesne Light Company released its 2023 Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Report, which discloses the company’s performance in three core areas of its ESG strategy: climate conscious, powering people and responsible performance.

On May 23, the Department of Transportation announced it will open a new funding opportunity to help repair existing electric vehicle chargers under the Electric Vehicle Charger Reliability and Accessibility Accelerator Grant Program.

The Department of Environmental Protection is now accepting applications for about $5 million in funding for Alternative Fuels Incentive Grants available to school districts, municipalities, nonprofit organizations, and businesses in Pennsylvania that want to transition to cleaner fuel transportation.

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the May 25 PA Bulletin inviting comments on a consent order and agreement covering the Berkley Products Company Plant Site in Akron Borough and West Earl Township, Lancaster County. (PA Bulletin, page 2888)

On May 20, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced more than $16 million in grant awards from the Investing in America funding to expedite the assessment and cleanup of brownfield sites in Pennsylvania while advancing environmental justice.

On May 21, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced the availability of approximately $14 million from the Investing in America Agenda for environmental job training grants under EPA’s Brownfields Job Training Program.

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the May 25 PA Bulletin inviting comments on a Scrubgrass Reclamation Company LP [Stronghold Digital Mining, Inc.] beneficial use of coal ash waste permit for a project to construct a direct air capture of carbon dioxide facility at the Scrubgrass waste coal power plant located in Scrubgrass Township, Venango County.  (PA Bulletin, page 2852)

Join the Renewables Work for PA Coalition, the PA Solar & Storage Industries Association, and the PA Solar Center for the 10th Annual Renewables Summit on June 3-4 at the Penn Harris Hotel in Camp Hill, across the river from Harrisburg.

On May 20, the North Branch Land Trust announced it was awarded an American Water Charitable Foundation 2024 Water and Environment grant, focusing on water quality and quantity, as well as the health of the vital wetland ecosystem at Hanover Crossings Marsh Sanctuary, in Hanover Township, Luzerne County.

On May 23, the ClearWater Conservancy released the 2024 schedule for the eighth season of the organization’s Centred Outdoors program.

On May 23, Chester County Parks and Preservation announced it has awarded the French & Pickering Creeks Conservation Trust $623,765 through their Preservation Partnership Program to assist in the permanent protection of four environmentally significant properties in northern Chester County, including--

Berks Nature permanently protected 131 acres of fields, woodlands, and open space in West Brunswick Township, Schuylkill County.

A 19th-century farm and house that played key roles in the Underground Railroad are now permanently protected with help from a DCNR grant.

On May 21, the Pennypack Ecological Restoration Trust announced it has purchased the 41-acre June Fete Fairgrounds property in an agreement of sale with Jefferson Abington Hospital and Abington Memorial Healthcare Corp in Montgomery County.

The Heritage Conservancy recently completed the preservation of the George – Little Pond Arts Retreat Property in Moore Township, Northampton County.

Nearly 22 acres of forested land in Lower Frederick and Limerick Townships, Montgomery County, are preserved forever thanks to the efforts of longtime conservation advocate Phil Smith.

After several years of coordinating with county, city, and community partners, the Allegheny Land Trust is excited to announce that our St. John’s Green Community Conservation Project in the Brighton Heights neighborhood of Pittsburgh is officially conserved!

The Interfaith Partners for the Chesapeake is seeking qualified candidates for executive director who is responsible for managing the organization, including all financial oversight, implementation of IPC’s programs, securing significant unrestricted funds, and collaboration with the Board of Directors to advance the mission of the organization.

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-- 

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 May 25 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.