Here are 141 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--

WeConservePA will honor Cynthia Carrow with the 2025 Lifetime Conservation Leadership Award at its PA Land Conservation Conference in State College on April 2-5.

By Kelly Jedrzejewski, Penn State News

The following first appeared in the latest UpStream newsletter from the Stroud Water Research Center--

To fulfill their responsibilities as Keep PA Beautiful Young Ambassadors, students are required to host an educational event in their community or school.

On March 10, Mom Clean Air Force, local partners and community members announced they will be testifying against MarkWest Energy's application for a third expansion to its cryogenic facilities at the Harmon Creek Gas Processing Plant Smith Township, Washington County.

This testimony was presented by Rachel Meyer, Moms Clean Air Force and Western Pennsylvania resident, at a March 11 hearing by the DEP Office of Environmental Justice on an Air Quality Permit for the expansion of the MarkWest Energy's Harmon Creek Natural Gas Processing Plant in Smith Township, Washington County.

This testimony was presented by Lois Bower-Bjornson, Clean Air Council and Washington County resident at a March 11 hearing by the Department of Environmental Protection on an Air Quality Permit for the expansion of the MarkWest Energy's Harmon Creek Natural Gas Processing Plant in Smith Township, Washington County.

On March 12, Pennsylvania American Water announced it has completed drilling on two test wells as potential drinking water sources as part of its efforts to develop a public groundwater supply for a new drinking water system to serve residents in Dimock, Susquehanna County.

On March 14, the Bucks County Courier Times reported the Pennsylvania Attorney General has opened an investigation into potential environmental crimes related to the Energy Transfer/Sunoco pipeline that leaked petroleum into household wells in Upper Makefield Township, Bucks County.

From March 8 to 14, DEP’s Oil and Gas Compliance Database shows oil and gas inspectors filed 1,001 inspection entries, plus late postings from previous weeks. 

On February 27, the Physicians for Social Responsibility PA, the League of Women Voters of PA, and the Department of Environmental and Energy Engineering at Duquesne University hosted a Shale Gas and Public Health Conference in Pittsburgh and online.

On March 12, Gov. Josh Shapiro and Department of Environmental Protection officials joined Penn Mechanical Group and local leaders in Washington County to plug the 300th orphaned or abandoned well under the Shapiro Administration.

This editorial first appeared in the Republican Herald (Schuylkill County), Citizens Voice (Luzerne County) and Scranton Times (Lackawanna County) on March 11, 2025--

The Department of Environmental Protection published multiple notices in the March 15 PA Bulletin inviting comments on water quality permits and a Section 401 Certification for the National Fuel Gas Tioga Pathway Natural Gas Pipeline Project in McKean, Potter and Tioga Counties.  (PA Bulletin, pages 2200 - 2203)

The following notices were published in the March 15 PA Bulletin related to oil and gas industry facilities.  Many of the notices offer the opportunity for public comments.

On March 12, the US Environmental Protection Agency announced sweeping plans to reconsider more than 31 major environmental regulations and programs, including pulling back regulations reducing methane emissions and regulating production wastewater from oil and gas operations.

On March 12, the US Environmental Protection Agency announced sweeping plans to reconsider more than 31 major environmental regulations, programs and findings.  This is the text of that announcement and links to EPA press releases on individual actions.

On March 13, the Clean Air Council released this statement on an announcement by Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin that EPA will “reconsider” dozens of environmental protections.

On March 13, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation released this statement on what EPA called “the biggest deregulatory action in U.S. history,” EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin yesterday unveiled its intent to unleash an unprecedented assault on dozens of science-based standards that safeguard the environment, protect public health, and ensure the federal government does its part to restore the Chesapeake Bay.

On March 13, the York County-based national Evangelical Environmental Network issued this statement on the US Environmental Protection Agency announcement of its intent to overturn and undo decades of bipartisan consensus on critical pollution safeguards that have resulted in cleaner air and water and significant health improvements.

On March 12, the Environmental Council of the States joined eight other state associations in sending a letter to U.S. House and Senate leadership on the importance of federal funding to state environmental agencies to implement federal programs.

On March 11, Gov. Josh Shapiro visited Voith Hydro North America in York County to announce that key components of the “Lightning Plan” – a comprehensive, all-of-the-above energy plan to secure Pennsylvania’s energy future – will be introduced in the General Assembly in the coming weeks.

By John Walliser, PA Environmental Council & Kevin Sunday, McNees Wallace & Nurick

On March 14, a tour of Steelton-Highspire School District facilities and Tröegs Independent Brewing in Dauphin County shows the benefits of going solar and electric school buses.

On March 14, the Public Utility Commission issued an emergency order authorizing Veolia Water Pennsylvania Inc. to manage and operate Wonderview Water Inc. and Wonderview Sanitary Facilities (Wonderview Water and Wastewater) and appointing Veolia as a receiver for the water and wastewater systems.

On March 13, the Public Utility Commission took action to ensure the provision of safe and reliable water service for approximately 1,000 customers served by Rock Spring Water Company, appointing Pennsylvania American Water Company as receiver while directing efforts toward a long-term solution.

On March 13, the Public Utility Commission approved a settlement that will allow for the sale of the East Dunkard Water Authority system to Pennsylvania-American Water Company, marking the final step in a long-running effort to ensure safe, reliable water service for residents and businesses in Greene County.

The PA Council of Trout Unlimited and Trout Unlimited have sent this letter to members of the US Senate and House describing the importance of several federal funding programs to local economies and toward improving habitat and water quality across Pennsylvania.

On March 11, the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition lamented the termination of previously announced funding for the Local Food for Schools and Child Care Cooperative Agreement and Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement program.

On March 11, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation released the results of a new poll that found most (55%) think restoring the Chesapeake Bay has become more of a priority over the last 10 years.

The Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay will hold TreeLay tree planting events back-to-back at six different locations in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed on April 5.

Join Penn State Extension and the Penn State Agriculture and Environment Center’s Greening the Lower Susquehanna Program for an April 5 in-person Riparian Buffer Maintenance Workshop that provides a hands-on opportunity to support the health of our waterways.

On March 13, the ClearWater Conservancy announced individuals, families, and groups are invited to register for the 29th annual Watershed Cleanup Day and help at more than 50 cleanup sites around Centre County.

To help agriculture professionals who are beginning their journey in agricultural conservation, the Center for Agricultural Conservation Assistance Training, administered by Penn State Extension, is holding a webinar-- Conservation Cornerstone: Effective Engagement Techniques-- from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. April 29.

On March 14, a coalition of conservation, recreation, and environmental organizations filed a petition for review in the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit as they pursue further legal action in the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s (FERC) decision to grant a preliminary permit for a pumped storage facility at Cuffs Run in York County, PA.

The March 14 Take Five Fridays With Pam is now available from the PA Parks and Forests Foundation featuring articles on--

On March 8, the Lebanon Valley Conservancy announced it has preserved two farms along

The North Branch Land Trust invites naturalist enthusiasts to join for an Amphibian Migration Watch, on Saturday, March 29th from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m., at the Bureau of Forestry’s Pinchot State Forest: Manny Gordon Pavilion off of Bear Lake Road, in Thornhurst Township, Lackawanna County (coordinates: 41.206789-75.610825).

This interview is being made available by the Bristol Township Environmental Advisory Committee in Bucks County.

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

 Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful announced the latest update to the Open Your Eyes To Litter, a collection of five educational activity books-- Open Your Eyes to Litter In A Watershed-- is now available in English and Spanish, along with its comprehensive teacher's guide.

 PA Interfaith Power & Light hosted a March 13 webinar on the PA Bright solar leasing program for homeowners from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m.

The information you need to follow legislation in the House and Senate- starting with articles and NewsClips from last week--

The House Environmental & Natural Resource Protection Committee is scheduled to meet March 18 to consider six pieces of legislation--

Articles and NewsClips about federal actions impacting Pennsylvania--

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is making significant progress in addressing contamination at the Jackson Ceramix Superfund site in Falls Creek Borough in Jefferson County.

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 March 15 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.