Here are 90 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--

By Wayne W. Kober

On November 25 at a Washington County Courthouse hearing, Shell Falcon Pipeline LP pleads no contest to three of 13 criminal charges for violating the state Clean Streams when it constructed a natural gas liquids pipeline in Allegheny, Beaver and Washington counties serving the Shell Petrochemical Plant in Beaver County, according to the Beaver County Marcellus Awareness Community.

On November 21, the Department of Environmental Protection announced it has determined, in response to a rulemaking petition, the state Environmental Quality Board has the statutory authority to adopt a regulation setting more protective setbacks from shale gas wells for homes, schools and streams in its initial petition review.

On November 14, the Department of Environmental Protection discovered evidence of a continuous wastewater release at the Parsons and Warrant 566 conventional oil well sites in Eldred Township, McKean County owned by Charles T. Wandover, Sr. and produced by Charles A. Wandover, Jr., according to DEP.

CNX Gas Company reported to DEP it did not stop pumping shale gas wastewater through a pipeline for 24+ hours after an excavator punctured an “unmarked” wastewater pipeline at the Coarse Coal Refuse Disposal Area 7 in Morris Township, Greene County.

From November 23 to 29, DEP’s Oil and Gas Compliance Database shows oil and gas inspectors filed 361 inspection entries. 

The following notices were published in the November 30 PA Bulletin related to oil and gas industry facilities.  Many of the notices offer the opportunity for public comments.

On November 25, Public Citizen released a new report saying Pennsylvania’s households, businesses, and owners of electric power plants could pay up to $16 billion more because of higher natural gas prices between 2035 to 2050 if the new Republican Administration approves new gas export facility permits put on hold by the Biden Administration.

On November 25, the Public Utility Commission reminded consumers electricity supply prices for all PUC regulated electric utilities will adjust on December 1. Those prices will vary from an 8.4% decrease to a 31.2% increase.

As a follow-up to a November 25 Technical Conference held by the Public Utility Commission, the Commission is inviting comments from all stakeholders on the adequacy of electricity supplies in Pennsylvania.  The deadline is January 9.  [Docket No. M-2024-3051988]

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the November 30 PA Bulletin inviting comments on a draft Community Water System Design Standards - Part II Public Water Supply Manual Technical Guidance [DEP ID: 394-2125-004].

By Marel King, PA Director, Chesapeake Bay Commission; Julia Krall, PA Executive Director, Chesapeake Bay Foundation; Kristin Reilly, Choose Clean Water Coalition; and Chris Hoffman, Pennsylvania Farm Bureau

By Mariah Lucas, Penn State News

The Capital Resource, Conservation and Development Area Council will host a Pasture Walk on December 11 on the Titus and Linda Martin Farm in Spring Run, Franklin County from 9:00 a.m. to Noon.

By Penn State News

By Kristen Heberlig, CBF Resiliency Program Manager in PA

By Carol Hillestad for Brodhead Watershed Association

By Carol Hillestad for Brodhead Watershed Association

For holiday shoppers wanting to make shopping decisions that are also good for the planet, the PennEnvironment Research & Policy Center is releasing a holiday shopping guide: Fixed for the Holidays shopping guide.

By Seth Cassell, PA State Forester & Thomas Cook, State Fire Commissioner

On November 25, Natural Lands and ClearWater Conservancy announced the preservation of the 667-acre Ridge Farm in Jackson and Miller Townships, Huntingdon County.

On November 25, the PA Parks and Forests Foundation announced the formation of the new Friends of Promised Land State Park Group dedicated to supporting and enhancing Promised Land State Park in Pike County.

The November 29 Take Five Fridays With Pam is now available from the PA Parks and Forests Foundation featuring--

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the November 30 PA Bulletin inviting comments on a Federal Consistency Determination under the Coastal Zone Management Act for the FDR Park Nature Phase Environmental Restoration Project in the City of Philadelphia.

On November 25, Eckley Miners' Village in Carbon County announced it has received a $15,000 American Eagle Outfitters Foundation grant to support the PA Historical and Museum Commission project to make the Village a sustainable, innovative heritage destination through the adaptive reuse of several historic homes.

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

The Penn State Extension will host a PA Forest Seminar webinar December 10 at Noon and 7:00 p.m. providing landowners with an invasive species toolkit.

The Penn State Extension will host a December 12 webinar to demonstrate a web-based tool that helps forest landowners evaluate carbon payments, analyze harvest strategies and make informed decisions for sustainable forestry starting at 3:00 p.m.

The Penn State Extension will host a January 14 webinar at Noon and 7:00 p.m. on Brook Trout In Our Native Waters.

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 November 30 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 Outdoor Writers Association, PA PA Council Trout Unlimited, Organization for Watersheds & Rivers and the Doc Fritchey Chapter Trout Unlimited.