Here are 120 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 Friends of Allegheny Wilderness celebrated the 60th anniversary of the Federal Wilderness Act that established the National Wilderness Preservation System with this remembrance of Howard Zahniser, the Forest County native instrumental in pushing for its enactment--

On August 14, Attorney General Michelle Henry announced Greylock Production, LLC, a natural gas energy production and delivery company, has pleaded no contest to multiple environmental violations stemming from the operation of several wells over a period of five years.

On August 14, 2024, the Department of Environmental Protection issued notices of violation to 16 owners of 5,374 conventional oil and gas wells for failing to submit annual production, waste generation/disposal and well integrity reports over multiple years, according to DEP’s Oil and Gas Compliance Database.

From August 10 to 16, DEP’s Oil and Gas Compliance Database shows oil and gas inspectors filed 646  inspection entries and caught up with posting last week’s inspection reports..

On August 14, the Department of the Interior announced the availability of $775 million for 21 states to clean up legacy pollution through President Biden’s Investing in America agenda.

The Department of Environmental Protection will host a series of three information sessions on the Orphan Conventional Oil & Gas Well Plugging Grant Program to assist qualified well pluggers plug orphan wells.

The following notices were published in the August 17 PA Bulletin related to oil and gas industry facilities.  Many of the notices offer the opportunity for public comments.

On August 14, CNX Resources issued a press release announcing the preliminary results of air emissions monitoring at 14 sites it said "indicate that CNX natural gas development poses no public health risk."

Penn State University and Shell USA Inc. have announced the launch of a collaboration that will support efforts across the University’s mission of research, education and community impact.

On August 16, the US Department of Energy held a virtual briefing with representatives of the Appalachian Regional Hydrogen Hub Project to preview future engagement opportunities but failed to address concerns and questions raised by attendees, according to the Ohio River Valley Institute.

On August 12, the Department of Environmental Protection announced it will introduce two new programs to hire more staff and expand permitting capacity at the agency, thanks to investments in the 2024-25 bipartisan budget signed into law by Governor Shapiro.

The Department of Environmental Protection invites comments on a proposed Federal Consent Decree with Arxada, LLC concerning a $1.3 million cost recovery action related to the cleanup of the Pool Doctor/Beaver Alkali Products Site in Rochester Borough, Beaver County.  (PA Bulletin, page 5306)

The Department of Environmental Protection will hold an informal public conference, hearing September 3 on a request by RES Coal LLC to change the land use on the Surveyor Run #1 Operation and Shaw #2 Operation coal mining sites in Goshen Township, Clearfield County.  (PA Bulletin, page 5305)

On August 12, CDFI Capital Good Fund announced a new partnership with Philadelphia Green Capital Corp and Solarize Philly to expand solar leasing options for 60 low and middle income families through the launch of the Pennsylvania BRIGHT solar lease pilot.

Solar United Neighbors has launched the Cumberland-Dauphin Solar Co-op, a group buying program for residential solar in Cumberland and Dauphin Counties.

Climate Power’s latest clean energy boom report shows that in just two years the clean energy boom is especially strong in Pennsylvania, where now over $1 billion has been invested across 14 clean energy projects that have been announced or moved forward in six sectors – solar, wind, batteries, electric vehicles, electrical grid distribution and transmission, and other clean technologies.

On August 15, the Department of Transportation announced $7.1 million in investments for Round 1B of federal National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) funding.

On August 16, USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service State Conservationist Denise Coleman is conducting a rapid survey to determine if the impacts of flooding from the August 9, 2024 rainfall events have caused a watershed impairment and has left property owners at risk.

On August 14, the US Environmental Protection Agency released the its evaluation of the Chesapeake Bay jurisdictions’ 2022-23 milestones, noting that although most of the Bay states are behind, they are catching up to meet the 2025 water quality restoration goals and 2023 saw new significant successes at the state level that will improve the restoration trajectory.

On August 15, the Susquehanna River Basin Commission and the Maryland Department of the Environment announced funding of more than $11 million to seven projects that will help mitigate water quality impacts of the Conowingo Reservoir on the Chesapeake Bay under the Conowingo Watershed Implementation Plan Program.

On August 13, the Environmental Hearing Board issued an adjudication assessing a $65,766.68 penalty against Randy J. Spencer of Venango County for failing to comply with a DEP Administrative Order related to violations of the Dam Safety and Encroachments Act.

Sign up for the Franklin County Stream Team Online Information Session on September 10 from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. and learn how you can monitor streams in your community.

Penn State Master Watershed Steward Jodi Sulpizio and Master Watershed Steward Coordinator Beth Yount will be featured presenters during a September 4 webinar on Watershed Friendly Lawn Care To Protect Drinking Water from Noon to 1:00 p.m.

On August 15, the Public Utility Commission made public a report that provides an additional reference for the Commission in Section 1329 of the Public Utility Code (Section 1329) proceedings.

On August 13, The GIANT Company in partnership with Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful, announced the 32 recipients of its 2024 Healing the Planet Grant Program. A total of $108,243 in funding was awarded in support of tree planting projects across Pennsylvania.

On August 13, the Perkiomen Watershed Conservancy announced TD Bank has awarded a TD Tree Days grant to enhance the tree canopy in the community of Jeffersonville, Montgomery County.

Registration is still open for Chesapeake Bay Landscape Professionals Level 1 training classes--  the baseline credential in design, installation, and maintenance of sustainable landscapes, emphasizing properly maintaining stormwater best management practices.

The Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay will host its annual fundraiser The Taste - Celebrate The Chesapeake at three locations in the Bay Watershed.

On August 12, the Department of Agriculture announced it has invested more than $9.9 million to purchase development rights for 2,654 acres on 30 farms in 14 counties, protecting them from future residential or commercial development under the Farmland Preservation Program.

In partnership with Natural Lands, PECO is once again offering funding through its PECO Green Region Open Space Program, providing competitive grants of up to $10,000 to incorporated Philadelphia nonprofit organizations and suburban municipalities within PECO’s service territory to support open space and natural area projects.

The August 16 Take Five Fridays With Pam from the PA Parks and Forests Foundation features articles on--

On August 13, the PA Parks and Forests Foundation named Kathryn Giblin the Foundation’s first Volunteer Coordinator.

On August 12, the Pike County Planning and Mapping Office announced it is updating the Open Space, Greenways, and Recreation Plan and needs your feedback on recreation opportunities in Pike County!

On August 15, the North Branch Land Trust announced its third Annual NEPA Barn Banquet, a dinner event celebrating Pennsylvania’s vibrant agricultural heritage and the Land Trust’s dedication to conserving agricultural lands.

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

On August 17, the Department of Environmental Protection announced it is now accepting applications for Environmental Education Grants.  The deadline to apply is November 15. (formal notice)

Join the Heritage Conservancy, the Bucks County Intermediate Unit, and the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources on August 20 for an educator workshop on becoming a  Meaningful Watershed Educational Experiences (MWEE) Ambassador by completing the online MWEE 101 course and this in-person workshop.

The PA Interfaith Power and Light and Jewish Earth Alliance will host an August 21 webinar on how to apply for the new Solar For Schools Grant Program from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m.

Join the Penn State Master Gardeners of Cumberland County for the annual Pollinator Festival on Saturday, August 24, 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. outdoors at the Adams Ricci Butterfly Garden near the Midway Pavilion at Adams Ricci Park located at 100 E. Penn Drive, Enola, PA 17025.

Join the Interfaith Partners for the Chesapeake Bay for the first fall learning lab webinar on Watching Out For Winter Road Salt on September 5 starting at 7:00 p.m.

Join Penn State Extension Master Watershed Stewards on September 11 for a webinar on Rain Barrel Discovery - Explore and Learn from 10:00 a.m. to Noon.

The Penn State Extension will hold a September 12 webinar on Living On A Few Acres - Permaculture & Risk Management from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.

The York County Master Watershed Stewards will host a September 26 Tap Talk on Preserving York County Landscapes and Waterways at the Collusion Tap Works, 105 S. Howard Street in York from 6:00 to 8:00 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 17 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.