Here are 147 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--

From August 3 to 9, DEP’s Oil and Gas Compliance Database shows oil and gas inspectors filed 749 inspection entries, and caught up with posting the previous week’s inspection reports..

By Jake Bolster, The Grist

Residents of Dimock, Susquehanna County and eight major environmental and advocacy organizations will hold a Stand With Dimock Day on August 16 to call attention to the fact that water supplies contaminated by shale gas development in 2009 have still not been permanently replaced.

The Center For Coalfield Justice hosts an in-person August 20 program featuring local reporter David Templeton discussing his investigations into rare childhood cancers in Southwest PA that lead to the recent University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health studies.

On August 9, the Environmental Health Project announced it contributed a chapter on Shale Gas Extraction in Pennsylvania to a new book by pioneering research investigator Michael Hendryx-- Sustainable Development and Rural Public Health: From Fossil Fuels to Greener Futures.

The FracTracker Alliance and the Halt The Harm Network are now accepting nominations for the 2024 Community Sentinel Award for Environmental Stewardship that honors environmental activism and advocacy.  Nominations are due October 6.

The following DEP notices were published in the August 10 PA Bulletin related to oil and gas industry facilities.  Many of the notices offer the opportunity for public comments.

On August 7, the U.S. Department of the Treasury  released new data from the IRS and new analysis by the Office of Economic Policy showing that more than 160,000 Pennsylvanian families benefited from more than $267 million in tax credits to lower the costs of clean energy and energy efficiency upgrades to their homes during 2023.

On August 8, Pittsburgh Public Schools, in collaboration with the Wilkinsburg School District, The Efficiency Network, and Green Building Alliance, announced they have been  awarded a Phase I, $300,000 Renew America’s Schools Prize from the US Department of Energy.

By Terry Fitzpatrick, Energy [Utilities] Association Of PA

Last week, Clean Air Council and partners released the groundbreaking findings of the ASSESS (Assessing Strengths, Stressors and Environmental Justice in SoutheaStern Pennsylvania) Community Environmental Health Study.

On August 8, the state Department of Health announced it will offer free potassium iodide, or KI, tablets on August 22 to Pennsylvanians who live or work within 10 miles of the state’s four active nuclear power plants, as part of routine preventive efforts in case of future emergencies.

The PA Association of Environmental Professionals will host an August 28 webinar on PFAS 'Forever Chemicals' Environmental Behavior, Transport, Remedies starting at Noon.

On August 5, Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding invited Pennsylvania farmers to apply for $13 million in Resource Enhancement and Protection Farm Conservation Tax Credits available to support their efforts to improve soil health and water quality now through September 1.

On August 5, the Susquehanna River Basin Commission announced it is now accepting applications for its Stream & Watershed Enhancement Grant Program to support local organizations dedicated to the health and wellness of our local waterways. 

By Andy McAllister, Regional Coordinator, WPCAMR

The Foundation for Pennsylvania Watersheds is now accepting applications for its fall grant round.  The deadline for letters of interest is September 6

On August 8, Amy Wolfe, Northeast Coldwater Habitat Program Director, announced the lease of a new short film by Brian Cooper called Angling For Hope - A Vision For PA's Beech Creek.

By Jay Scholfield, Summer Intern 

On September 5, the Schuylkill Action Network will hold its annual Schuylkill River Restoration Fund Bus Tour starting from The Discovery Center, 3401 Reservoir Drive in Philadelphia from 9:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

The PA Organization for Watersheds and Rivers is excited to host staff of the Nurture Nature Center as they share new research and learning resources for community engagement and climate resilience planning during an August 21 webinar starting at 6:00 p.m.

On September 5, Penn State Extension will host a webinar on Watershed Friendly Native Planting from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m.

Penn State students, Carnegie Mellon students, Penn State faculty and staff from the Franco Harris Pittsburgh Center at Penn State, are collaborating to use existing fiber optic cables to predict dangerous geohazards like flooding, landslides and sinkholes, in Pittsburgh.

On August 5, Volpatt Construction, a general contractor and construction management firm serving the Western PA Tri-State area, announced that since January of 2024 and with the help of local partners, the company has diverted more than 275 tons of waste from landfills.

WeConservePA released the 2023 Conserved Land Census which shows 187,626 acres of land have been conserved in Pennsylvania between 2014 to 2023-- an average of 51 acres a day.

Registration is now open for community and organization events to be held during Pennsylvania Healthy Lands Week from September 28 through October 6.

On August 7, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources State Forester Seth Cassell  announced the agency will hold an August 23 informational meeting for prospective vendors for the Catawissa Motorized Recreation Area being developed in Luzerne and Schuylkill counties..

The August 9 Take Five Fridays With Pam is now available from the PA Parks and Forests Foundation featuring articles on--

WeConservePA is now accepting presentation proposals for the 2025 PA Land Conservation Conference to be held April 2-4 in State College.  The deadline for submissions is October October 24.

The South Mountain Partnership will hold the 14th Annual Power Of The Partnership Celebration on September 27 in Waynesboro, Franklin County from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

On August 3, children and teens at Hoberman Park in the City of Lock Haven, Clinton County celebrated the debut of a new kid-designed playground. The months-long collaboration culminated last week as volunteers installed the new playspace which will spark joy and foster a sense of belonging for kids in Lock Haven.

The US Department of Transportation is now accepting applications for the Wildlife Crossings Pilot Grant Program.  The deadline is September 4.

The US Fish and Wildlife Service is proposing to list the eastern Regal Fritillary butterfly as an endangered species and list the western regal fritillary butterfly as a threatened species under the federal Endangered Species Act.

On August 8, Temple University Press announced it would be releasing a new book-- Cradle Of Conservation - An Environmental History Of Pennsylvania by Allen Dieterich-Ward on September 20.

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

On August 16, the State Museum of Pennsylvania will host a webinar on How The Pennsylvania Geological Survey Uses Satellite Data starting at 12:15 p.m.

The American Chestnut Foundation will host an August 16 webinar on Adaptive Silviculture for Climate Change: Exploring Options for Sustaining Eastern Forests from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

The Penn State Extension will host a September 10 webinar on Proper Native Tree Planting For Long-Term Success from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m.

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 August 10 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.