Here are 102 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 Pennsylvania Envirothon announced a five-member team from North East High School in Erie County won the 2024 Statewide Envirothon and will represent the Commonwealth at the 34th NCF Envirothon international competition July 28 – August 3 at Hobart and William Smith Colleges in Geneva, New York.

DEP’s latest Chesapeake Bay Program Update highlights the latest progress of many partners in achieving needed pollution reductions in Pennsylvania’s portion of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed, including national recognition of Bay Watershed Implementation Plan efforts.

On May 30, Lt. Gov. Austin Davis and Acting Secretary of the Department of Environmental Protection Jessica Shirley touted the potential economic and environmental benefits of building solar facilities on abandoned mine lands in Pennsylvania at a news conference at a newly operational solar farm in Beaver County.

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the June 1 PA Bulletin inviting proposals for Clean Energy Campus generation and storage projects on 13 state-owned abandoned mine land sites of 50 acres or more totaling 1,850 acres.

On May 29, more than 60 organizations signed a letter calling on the PA Senate to unlock the benefits of clean solar energy by passing House Bill 1842 enabling community solar programs.

The Public Utility Commission published notice in the June 1 PA Bulletin making available the final policy statement establishing guidelines for the use of electricity storage by electric distribution companies (EDC).

On May 30, the National Energy Improvement Fund announced a series of statewide KEEP Home Energy Loan contractor financing training events, hosted in coordination with the Pennsylvania Energy Development Authority (PEDA).

For ten weeks, Siri Lawson has taken photographs of illegal, indiscriminate dumping of conventional oil and gas wastewater on roads surrounding her home in Farmington Township, Warren County and it continues unabated.

On May 15, the Department of Environmental Protection disapproved an Act 2 Land Recycling Final Report on the remediation of soil and groundwater contamination from dozens of chemicals at the American Refining Group, Inc. Refinery in Bradford, McKean County.

On May 30, The Derrick reported, state Public Utility Commission Administrative Law Judge Mark A. Hoyer issued an order May 28 requiring the seven water companies owned by the Blaine Edwin Rhodes Estate, as well as the Estate itself, to hire legal representation to participate in upcoming hearings about how they will be operated in the future.

From May 25 to 31, DEP’s Oil and Gas Compliance Database shows oil and gas inspectors filed 384 inspection entries, and caught up in posting previous inspection reports in May.

The following notices were published in the June 1 PA Bulletin related to oil and gas industry facilities.  Many of the notices offer the opportunity for public comments.

By Mariah Lucas, Penn State News

Westmoreland County-based Protect PT is hosting a series of four virtual workshops on Living Near Shale Gas Facilities starting June 11.

Join with the Evangelical Environmental Network, Moms Clean Air Force, Pipeline Safety Trust, and Healthfirst PA on June 5 for a webinar on the federal Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration's proposed rule to cut methane leaks from natural gas pipelines starting at Noon.

On May 28, Westmoreland County-based Protect PT hosted an online Lunch and Learn Program with Dr. Todd Potts, Indiana University of PA Professor of Economics on Frac-Enomics - Is It Worth It?

On May 28, the Natural Resources Defense Council released a set of recommendations for updating the US Department of Energy's LNG gas export facility impact analysis.  It was described in this NRDC Blog post--

On May 28, the Ohio River Valley Institute delivered a letter to the US Department of Energy on behalf of fifty-four Appalachian organizations and community groups calling for the suspension of the Appalachian Regional Clean Hydrogen Hub (ARCH2), citing an extreme lack of transparency and meaningful community engagement during project negotiations.

On May 28, the Public Utility Commission reminded consumers that most electric distribution companies (EDCs) across the state will be adjusting electric generation prices on June 1 for non-shopping, or default service, customers.

On May 28, the Biden Administration announced a Federal-State Modern Grid Deployment Initiative with commitments from 21 leading states-- including Pennsylvania-- to tackle the electric grid modernization challenge.

On May 30, the state Department of Health announced it will offer free potassium iodide, or KI, tablets on June 12, to Pennsylvanians who are within 10 miles of the state’s four active nuclear power plants as part of routine preventive efforts in case of future emergencies.

On May 29, the US Environmental Protection Agency awarded $55.7 million to 21 school districts to purchase 213 clean school buses under the EPA Clean School Bus Program rebate competition as part of the Investing in America agenda.

On May 29, the Pittsburgh-based Group Against Smog and Pollution issued a report finding the backlog of applications for Air Quality permits under review in the Allegheny County Health Department is getting worse.

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the May 25 PA Bulletin extending the three temporary Air Quality Construction Permits for the Shell Petrochemical Plant in Potter and Center Townships, Beaver County.  (PA Bulletin, page 2895)

On May 30, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator Adam Ortiz joined Erie County Redevelopment Authority President Tina Mengine, Erie Mayor Joe Schember, and Erie County Executive Brenton Davis to celebrate the $5.5 million in grants that have been selected for the area.

The Department of Environmental Protection has added the Jamestown Canyon Virus to its West Nile Virus Mosquito Monitoring Program in 2024.

The latest Watershed Winds newsletter from Penn State Extension highlights a student AgVenture Camp in Lancaster; the Watershed Steward Rain Barrel Guy and Native Plant Kit; Streambank Stabilization and Benthic Macroinvertegrates and much more.

The latest Community Trees newsletter from Penn State Extension highlights partnership helping communities plant large bare root trees, Arbor Day celebrations and Woodland Health Practices Handbook and more

On June 10, Penn State Extension will host a webinar on Watershed-Friendly Native Planting from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m.

The Maryland-based Center for Watershed Protection is hosting a free three-part stream restoration webinar series to be held June 4, 11, and 18.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture will invest up to $50 million in fiscal year 2024 through the Wetland Reserve Enhancement Partnership (WREP) to support conservation partners with local projects that help protect, restore and enhance critical wetlands on agricultural lands and help mitigate climate change as part of the Investing in America agenda.

In June, Pennsylvania Resources Council will host household chemical collection events in Cambria, Fayette and Washington counties to enable area residents to conveniently dispose of materials such as cleaners, paints, batteries, automotive fluids, pesticides and e-cigarettes/vapes. 

The PA Recreation and Park Society is celebrating Park and Recreation Professionals Day July 19 honoring essential industry professionals around the state who make our communities better places to live, work and play.

The 2024 PA Healthy Lands Week will be held the week of September 28 to October 6.  It is an annual, statewide effort to strengthen Pennsylvanians’ connections with our public lands.

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

The Wildlife Leadership Academy still has openings for adult mentors for their hands-on student residential summer field schools.

Celebrate the Summer Solstice with the Penn State Master Gardeners of Cumberland County on Thursday, June 20, 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., outdoors at the Midway Pavilion and Adams Ricci Butterfly Garden at Adams Ricci Park in Enola.

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 June 1 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.