Here are 108 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 June 25, the House voted 107 to 95 to pass House Bill 2338 (Fiedler-D-Philadelphia) to update the duties and powers of the Pennsylvania Energy Development Authority to enable the body to apply for and leverage billions of federal clean energy dollars now available through the Inflation Reduction Act.

On June 24, members of the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee were told at a hearing on House Bill 2277 (Otten-D-Chester), the Governor’s Energy Plan would diversify energy generation, improve grid reliability, lower consumer costs by avoiding energy price spikes, generate energy-related employment; or would upend competitive energy markets that work and be a “death wish” for our economy.

On June 25, Sen. Camera Bartolotta (R-Washington) told a Natural Gas and Oil Day event at the Capitol in Harrisburg Pennsylvania should be producing four times the natural gas we are now and exporting it around the world-- “We just need to get government the Hell out of the way!!”

On June 26, the Independent Fiscal Office issued a report on the latest projections of revenue from the Act 13 Shale Gas Drilling Impact Fee showing another drop in calendar 2024 revenue to from $165 million to $170 million-- a nearly $114 million decrease from 2022.

From June 22 to 28, DEP’s Oil and Gas Compliance Database shows oil and gas inspectors filed 493 inspection entries, and caught up with posting inspection reports from the week before.

On June 28, the Department of Environmental Protection posted a solicitation for bids on BidExpress.com to plug up to 20 conventional, abandoned and permitted oil and gas wastewater injection wells in Highland Township, Elk County on Allegheny National Forest land.

The following notices were published in the June 29 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 June 29 PA Bulletin inviting comments on a revised Oil and Gas Erosion and Sediment Control General Permit (ESCGP-4).

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the June 29 PA Bulletin inviting comments on a Air Quality Plan Approval and an amended Title V Air Quality Permit for the United Refining Company facility in the City of Warren, Warren County.  (PA Bulletin, page 3675)

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the June 29 PA Bulletin announcing it intends to issue a renewal of the American Refining Group Title V Air Quality Permit for the facility located in Bradford, McKean County.  (PA Bulletin, page 3676)

The Shell Petrochemical Plant in Beaver County submitted a Title V Air Quality Operating Permit Application to the Department of Environmental Protection for review on June 19, 2024, according to DEP, and it is now being reviewed for administrative completeness.

The Susquehanna River Basin Commission published notice in the June 29 PA Bulletin of actions taken during its June meeting, including the approval of seven more shale gas development water withdrawals in Lycoming, Susquehanna, Tioga and Wyoming counties.

The Susquehanna River Basin Commission published notice in the June 29 PA Bulletin the Executive Director gave his approval to 33 general water use permits for individual shale gas well drilling pads in Bradford, Clearfield, Lycoming, Sullivan, Susquehanna and Tioga counties.

On June 25, the House Consumer Protection, Technology & Utilities Committee unanimously amended and reported out Senate Bill 831 (Yaw-R-Lycoming) establishing a framework for geologic sequestration of carbon dioxide.

The Penn State PA Technical Assistance Program will hold a July 18 webinar on Funding and Incentives to Finance Energy Efficiency Improvements in Your Facility from 11:00 a.m. to Noon.

On June 25, the Department of Environmental Protection announced it received $28.6 million in federal funding for the 2024 Abandoned Mine Land Economic Revitalization (AMLER) Program, which will put abandoned mine lands across the Commonwealth to good use by funding economic and community development projects on reclaimed sites.

On June 26, the US Department of Energy's Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management announced $1.4 million in federal funding for 14 local organizations and universities representing communities across the country that will each create a roadmap toward repurposing their existing energy assets.

On June 25, the US Environmental Protection Agency and National Fish and Wildlife Foundation announced the award of $22.4 million to support 13 Innovative Nutrient and Sediment Reduction Projects in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed.

On June 25, the Foundation for Pennsylvania Watersheds announced more than $650,000 in grant awards to advance the protection and restoration of Pennsylvania’s waterways.

By Julia Krall, Executive Director, Chesapeake Bay Foundation in Pennsylvania

The Capital Resource Conservation and Development Area Council will hold a July 30 pasture walk on grazing practices and a new temporary fencing program at the Voight Family Farms in Fredericksburg, Lebanon County from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.

The Allegheny County Conservation District, Findlay Township and Montour Run Watershed Association celebrated the completion of the Findlay Township Activity Center Rain Gardens at a ribbon-cutting ceremony on June 25, 2024.

On June 25, the Department of Environmental Protection announced it has taken action against Pennsylvania American Water for a sediment release into Roaring Brook, Lackawanna County in February.

On June 25, PennFuture, Tobyhanna Creek/Tunkhannock Creek Watershed Association, and Tobyhanna Conservation Association announced they filed a Petition to Intervene in two developers’ challenge to Coolbaugh Township’s amendment to its stormwater management ordinance.

On June 27, Pennsylvania Sea Grant announced three educators from Pennsylvania will join the Sea Grant Center for Great Lakes Literacy (CGLL) and Great Lakes scientists for a once-in-a-lifetime, week-long opportunity to live aboard the EPA’s research vessel Lake Guardian to assist scientists and bring Great Lakes education back to their classrooms!

The Ohio River Basin Alliance Summit will be held at the University of Pittsburgh from October 30 to November 1.

On June 25, the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee amended and reported out House Bill 589 (Kinkead-D-Allegheny, Gaydos-R-Allegheny) to establish a new landslide damage insurance program for homeowners.

On June 25, U.S. Senators John Fetterman (D-PA) and Bob Casey (D-PA) along with Representative Chris Deluzio (D-PA-17) announced a nearly $25 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation to support the Borough of Sharpsburg’s “Reconnecting the Allegheny Riverfront to Economic Opportunity Project.”

On June 24, U.S. Senators Bob Casey (D-PA) and John Fetterman (D-PA) announced $15 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation to support the Codorus Greenway Project along Codorus Creek in York.

On June 25, the House gave final, unanimous approval to House Bill 797 (B.Miller-R-Lancaster) requiring the state Department of Transportation to plant native vegetation along state highways.

On June 26, PA Interfaith Power & Light, in partnership with the Keystone 10 Million Trees Partnership and Chesapeake Bay Foundation, has launched an expanded tree planting initiative called PA Plants Native! with the goal of planting an additional 100,000 trees across Pennsylvania in the next 18 months.

The Penn State Extension Master Watershed Stewards will host a July 15 webinar providing an overview and Q/A on the Fall Native Tree and Shrub Sale species starting at 1:00 p.m.

On June 26, PennLive.com reported Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs wildlife staff during July will provide free guided tours of the only population of the rare regal fritillary butterfly in the eastern United States at Fort Indiantown Gap in Lebanon County.

On June 27, Pennsylvania Sea Grant announced the release of a new online, interactive training video designed to help individuals identify aquatic invasive species (AIS) and report the sightings to natural resources managers in real time through the PA AIS Field Guide app.

Rep. Chris Pielli (D-Chester) announced he will be introducing legislation to protect native insects and pollinators, like the monarch butterfly, and promote the growth of new habitats.

By Rev. Philip Westra, Evangelical Environmental Network

DCNR’s PA Trails Advisory Committee recently released its 2023 Annual Trails Report showing the state is getting closer to meeting its goal of having a trail within 10 minutes of every Pennnsylvanian.

The June 28 Take Five Fridays With Pam is now available from the PA Parks & Forests Foundation featuring articles on--

By B.J. Small, Chesapeake Bay Foundation-PA

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

The Center for Coalfield Justice will hold an in-person public meeting on July 17 on how to protect your families' health living near shale gas facilities. 

The following bill was given final approval by the House and Senate and is now on the Governor’s Desk for action--

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 29 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.