Here are 98 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 September 12, the Sand County Foundation announced the selection of three finalists for the 2024 Pennsylvania Leopold Farm Conservation Award.

By Kelly Jedrzejewski, Penn State News

On September 4, Cecil Township, Washington County supervisors voted 3 to 2 to direct their solicitor to prepare an ordinance establishing a 2,500 foot setback from shale gas well pads for protected structures and a 5,000 foot setback from schools and hospitals.

On September 10, WESA reporter Lane Moore reported Pittsburgh-based oil and gas company EQT Corporation is facing accusations from Greene County residents in a class-action lawsuit filed this summer.

Southwestern Pennsylvania community and health organizations will hold a virtual press conference September 17 at 2:00 p.m. on more than one year after the release of the Pitt shale gas development health impact studies and the failure to fulfill essential promises to residents.

On September 11, 2024, DEP did an inspection of the NITMH023 shale gas wastewater pipeline in Gilmore Township, Greene County in response to a notification by EQM Gathering OPCO LLC of a spill from the pipeline at the Trust Well Site owned by EQT Production Company.

On September 11, 2024, DEP reported sample results show a subsurface release of approximately 1,000 gallons of drilling wastewater from the conventional Phelps 4861 gas injection well at the Hebron Gas Storage Field in Hebron Township, Potter County owned by Tennessee Gas Pipeline Co LLC impacted two nearby water supplies that DEP is aware of.

On September 9, 2024, the Department of Environmental Protection issued a notice of violation to Apex Energy (PA) LLC for failing to submit a list of fracking chemicals used to frack 37 shale gas wells in Salem and Hempfield Townships, Westmoreland County between March 20, 2018 and February 17, 2024.

From September 7 to 13, DEP’s Oil and Gas Compliance Database shows oil and gas inspectors filed 787 inspection entries, and caught up on posting reports from previous weeks.

On September 9, 2024, the Department of Environmental Protection  declared 21 conventional wells owned by Schreiner Oil & Gas Inc. In Erie and McKean counties abandoned and not plugged and issued violations, according to DEP’s Oil & Gas Compliance Database.

On September 12, the Senate Republican Policy Committee held a hearing in Pittsburgh on ways to simplify and make more effective Pennsylvania’s expanded abandoned and orphan conventional oil and gas well plugging programs.

On September 12, the Environmental Defense Fund, in partnership with Moms Clean Air Force, the Department of Environmental Protection, the US Department of Energy, and McGill University, announced it has launched an ambitious project to identify and facilitate remediation of orphan and abandoned oil and gas wells across Western Pennsylvania.

The following notices were published in the September 14 PA Bulletin related to oil and gas industry facilities.  Many of the notices offer the opportunity for public comments.

The House Consumer Protection, Technology & Utilities Committee is scheduled to hold a hearing on House Bill 2189 (Matzie-D-Beaver) reauthorizing the PA One Call underground utility notification program for seven years  (sponsor summary)

On September 14, the Susquehanna River Basin Commission Hydrologic Conditions Monitor shows low stream flows in some areas have triggered water withdrawal restrictions to water users, including 7 shale gas development water withdrawals.

On September 12, the Susquehanna River Basin Commission approved water withdrawal requests-- including eight for shale gas development for a total of 23 in 2024.

On September 10, the Ohio River Valley Institute reported the $55 million Tenaska Tri-State Carbon Sequestration Hub Project is expected to permanently employ a total of four people, according to an economic impact study commissioned and funded by the company and prepared by West Virginia University’s Bureau of Business and Economic Research.

On September 10, Vote Solar, Solar United Neighbors and 60+ community organizations and partners wrote a letter to members of the Pennsylvania Senate urging them to take action on bipartisan community solar legislation when they return to fall voting session September 16.

On September 10, US. Department of Energy announced the selection of six projects totaling $11.6 million funded by the federal Inflation Reduction Act in the second round of a program that will improve planning, siting, and permitting processes for large-scale renewable energy facilities.

Join the Ohio River Valley Institute and the Black Appalachian Coalition on September 19 for a Lunch & learn webinar on You and Your Environment - Environmental Justice and Building A Clean Energy Economy starting at Noon.

On September 10, the Environmental Quality Board approved a package of 96 stream redesignations for public comment and voted against a motion to decouple heavy-truck emissions standards from standards adopted by California through a rulemaking in two years.

The Department of Environmental Protection is inviting comments on the draft Pennsylvania Great Lakes Water Management Program 5-Year Report issued as part of the Great Lakes- St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Compact.  (formal notice)

Join the Master Watershed Stewards, in partnership with the Swatara Watershed Association, for a scenic bike tour along the Swatara Rail Trail October 19 starting at the Bear Hole Trail in Pine Grove, Schuylkill County from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

On September 17, the US Army Corps of Engineers, the Delaware River Basin Commission, and New York City Department of Environmental Protection will participate in a signing ceremony for a cost-sharing agreement for an amendment to a feasibility study involving the Francis E. Walter Dam Reservoir in Carbon County.

Throughout October, Pennsylvania Resources Council will collect electronics for recycling on designated weekdays in Allegheny County. 

Need to get rid of tires or wheels from your car or light truck? The Independence Conservancy will hold affordable community tire collections in cooperation with the

The DCNR Conservation and Natural Resources Advisory Council is scheduled to meet on September 25 to hear presentations on DCNR's sustainability and green infrastructure initiatives and on the economic benefits of restoration work.

The September 13 Take Five Fridays With Pam is now available from the PA Parks & Forests Foundation featuring articles on--

The Countryside Conservancy recently announced its latest property acquisition, the 420-acre “Peck Preserve” in Lenox Township, Susquehanna County.

On September 13, the North Branch Land Trust announced it has finalized the conservation of the late Robert L. Carson’s fields and forests with the help of the Carson Estate. 

The latest Wild Heritage News from the PA Natural Heritage Program highlights Pennsylvania’s invasive species management initiatives, aquatic mushrooms, evening grosbeaks and more. 

The latest newsletter from the Pennsylvania Firefly Festival recaps the 2024 Firefly Festival Week, brings you stories from the bioluminescent world and testing water with luciferase, the key component of bioluminescence.

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

On September 10, the York County-based Horn Farm Agricultural Education Center announced it is launching two training programs focused on ecological stewardship--  new, 3-day Ecological Restoration Certificate Program starts this winter on Saturday, December 14 and the 4th annual Ecological Gardener Training program which begins on February 9 and runs for 16 weeks. 

The Manada Conservancy will host two events highlighting Pennsylvania's forests in Dauphin County.

The Penn State Extension will host another in its Water Cooler Talk Webinar Series on October 17 - Adenosine Triphosphate In Algal Bloom Tracking from Noon to 1:00 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 September 14 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.