Here are 164 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 March 20, Lt. Gov. Austin Davis and Department of Environmental Protection Acting Secretary Jessica Shirley celebrated the grand opening of the Blacklick Creek Mine Drainage Treatment Facility during an open house event.

The Department of Environmental Protection is now accepting applications for the first round of federally-funded local Abandoned Mine Reclamation and Drainage Treatment Grants.  The deadline to apply is April 25. (formal notice)

On March 21, the latest Abandoned Mine Post from the Western PA Coalition for Abandoned Mine Reclamation included an announcement of two funding programs by the Foundation for PA Watershed for groups with projects caught in the federal funding freeze.

On March 21, the International Day of Forests, a day dedicated to recognizing the essential role forests play in sustaining life on Earth, the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources is launching a new plan to ensure the state’s forests remain healthy, accessible, and resilient for future generations.

On March 20, PASA Sustainable Agriculture announced it has signed on to a lawsuit filed yesterday by the Southern Environmental Law Center and Public Rights Project.

On March 18, a bipartisan group of 51 former US Environmental Protection Agency officials sent a letter to Congress highlighting the risks associated with deep cuts to the agency.

On March 21, the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources reminded Pennsylvanians and visitors that state parks and forests remain open and ready to welcome campers, hikers, and outdoor enthusiasts.

The Environmental Health Project will hold an April 1 webinar on What The Shapiro Administration Can Do To Better Protect Public Health From the Impacts Of Shale Gas Development from Noon to 1:00 p.m.

The Environmental Health Project is seeking communities to participate in the Environmental HealthWatch Program that helps communities better understand the local health impacts of shale gas development.

This testimony was presented by Sarah Martik, Executive Director of the Center for Coalfield Justice based in Washington County, 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.

The presentation videos from the 2025 Shale Gas and Public Health Conference hosted by the Physicians for Social Responsibility PA, the League of Women Voters of PA, and the Department of Environmental and Energy Engineering at Duquesne University are now available online.

The article first appeared in The Derrick on March 17, 2025--

On March 7, Olympus Energy/Hyperion Midstream LLC notified DEP it found an abandoned coal mine subsidence void under the construction site for its Guardian Natural Gas Compressor Station off Wilderness Road in Trafford, Penn Township, Westmoreland County, according to DEP Oil and Gas Program inspection reports.

On March 19, the Department of Environmental Protection was notified of an explosion and fire at a conventional gas well in Manor Borough, Westmoreland County.

Over the last two weeks, the Department of Environmental Protection issued Bialy Gas Production LLC 36 violations for abandoning conventional oil and gas wells they own, bringing the total of violations for conventional well abandonment to 96 for this year covering 36 different well owners.

On March 19, the Department of Environmental Protection issued notices of violation to Range Resources Appalachia LLC and LPR Energy, LLC for failing to submit required monthly reports of natural gas production, waste generation and disposal for shale gas wells in 12 counties.

From March 15 to 21, DEP’s Oil and Gas Compliance Database shows oil and gas inspectors filed 855 inspection entries, plus late posted inspection reports from previous weeks. 

The following notices were published in the March 22 PA Bulletin related to oil and gas industry facilities.  Many of the notices offer the opportunity for public comments.

The Department of Environmental Protection will host an April 1 webinar to provide an opportunity for the public to learn more about the Department’s approach to implementing a federal program to reduce methane and other pollution from existing oil and gas operations-- both conventional oil and gas and shale gas wells and infrastructure.

The Department of Environmental Protection has scheduled an April 30 hearing on the RACT 3 Air Quality Permit for the Tennessee Gas Pipeline Compressor Station 307 in Howe Township, Forest County.  (PA Bulletin, page 2390)

On March 13, the Susquehanna River Basin Commission  approved a new general permit for into-basin diversions of water, water withdrawal requests, including six shale gas development water withdrawals in Bradford, Lycoming, Susquehanna and Tioga counties. 

The Susquehanna River Basin Commission published notice in the March 22 PA Bulletin the Executive Director gave his approval to or renewed 34 general water use permits in January for individual shale gas well drilling pads in Bradford, Centre, Clinton, Elk, Lycoming, Sullivan, Susquehanna, Tioga and Wyoming counties.

Join Penn State Extension and Renewell Energy for an April 2 webinar on Gravity Energy Storage - Giving Inactive Oil Wells A New Life starting at Noon.

By Matthew Carroll, Penn State News

On March 17, the House Energy Committee reported out House Bill 362 (Fiedler-D- Philadelphia) making changes to the powers and duties of the PA Energy Development Authority to allow for disbursement of federal Solar for All Program funding.

On March 20, the Our Solar PA Coalition held a press conference in Harrisburg to advocate for the passage of community solar energy legislation.

By Sharon Pillar, Pennsylvania Solar Center

On Thursday, March 27, nonprofit the PA Solar Center will host a free in-person meeting for Westmoreland County businesses and tax-exempt organizations to learn how they can save money on their electricity bill by going solar.

The Philadelphia Solar Energy Association reports Sycamore International, a successful local electronics recycling company, has expanded its operation into solar reuse and recycling.

City & State PA will host an April 22 [Earth Day] Energy Summit - The Future Of Energy In Pennsylvania at the Harrisburg Hilton from 8:30 a.m. to Noon.

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the March 22 PA Bulletin inviting comments on an Individual NPDES Stormwater Permit covering the “mass grading” of a 513.13 acre site for the construction of 15 data center buildings in Pittston Township, Luzerne County.  (PA Bulletin, page 2321)

The Washington and Jefferson College Center for Energy Policy and Management will host an April 9 webinar on Energy, Economy And A.I. - Data Centers And Pennsylvania's Future from 11:00 a.m. to Noon.

On March 18, the  House Environmental & Natural Resource Protection Committee considered these seven bills--

Youth of all ages are invited to attend the March 29  Pittsburgh Youth For Climate Action Summit to be held at the MuseumLab at 6 Allegheny Square East in Pittsburgh from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

 Community Advocates for Clean Energy will host an April 1 webinar starting at 7:00 p.m. to introduce students, parents and teachers to the Southeastern Pennsylvania Green Schools Campaign.

On March 18, Attorney General Dave Sunday announced his nomination of Darryl Lawrence to serve as Pennsylvania’s Consumer Advocate.

The latest Health Waters newsletter update on the Chesapeake Bay Program highlights accomplishments by many partners during 2024, including the installation of over 2,100 more best management practices than in 2023.

On March 19, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, in partnership with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the federal-state Chesapeake Bay Program partnership, announced it is soliciting proposals through the Chesapeake Bay Stewardship Fund to protect and restore water quality and habitats of the Chesapeake Bay and its tributary rivers and streams.

On March 20, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, in partnership with the U.S Fish & Wildlife Service, will soon be soliciting proposals through the Delaware Watershed Conservation Fund to conserve, restore, and connect people with fish and wildlife habitat in the Delaware River watershed.

On March 18, the Perkiomen Watershed Conservancy announced it is gearing up once again to host their annual Perkiomen Stream Clean-up on Saturday, April 12th from 9:00 a.m. to Noon with a corporate volunteer day on Friday, April 11th.

Pennsylvania Sea Grant and partners will be marking storm drains in the Upper Chichester watershed in Delaware County on April 16 from 4:30 to 6:00 p.m.

By Natalie Marioni, Master Watershed Stewards Coordinator, Cumberland, Franklin Counties

On March 19, the House Local Government Committee reported out House Bill 620 (Isaacson-D- Philadelphia) that would increase the state recycling fee from $2 to $5 per ton to support local recycling, fund local hard-to-recycle collection events and local waste disposal planning programs

On March 19, the Pennsylvania Resources Council announced it will launch its 2025 household chemical collection campaign on April 12 by hosting a drive-thru event in Butler County to provide residents of Pennsylvania with an opportunity to safely dispose of household cleaners, automotive fluids, paints, pesticides and other products containing potentially hazardous components.

The DCNR Conservation and Natural Resources Advisory Council is scheduled to meet on March 26 to hear updates on the Chesapeake Bay Program and the state budget.

On March 19, Natural Lands announced the preservation of two wooded properties that were transferred to state agencies. They provide critical habitat for migratory songbirds and other wildlife.

The Lancaster Conservancy and its partners are excited to announce that we are accepting applications through July 1 for the 2025 Susquehanna Riverlands Conservation Landscape Mini-Grant Program.

On March 19, the PennEnvironment Research & Policy Center released its newest report, Wildlife Corridors: How Reconnecting Habitat Is Protecting Pennsylvania’s Native Species, on the successes so far with wildlife corridors.

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

The March issue of DCNR’s State Parks Environmental Education newsletter is blooming with lots of Spring teaching ideas--

The Pennsylvania Association of Environmental Professionals is pleased to announce that the 13th Annual PAEP Environmental Science Scholarship application period is now open!

The KRUNK Movement, a youth-driven creative arts program under Center of Life based in Hazelwood, Allegheny County, is making waves on an international stage through the universal power of music.

On March 17, Let’s Go 1-2-3 and Let’s Go Outdoors announced, with generous support from the William Penn Foundation, they will offer free outdoor activities through our “Let’s Go Neighborhoods” mobile program.

The Physicians For Social Responsibility PA and the Climate Action Campaign will host a March 24 webinar on the Impacts Of Climate Change On Women's Health starting at Noon.

The Delaware River Greenway Partnership is hosting another in its Heritage Lecture webinar series on April 24 - Protecting The Jewels Of The Night - How You Can Support Fireflies-- starting at 7:30 p.m.

Youth aged 8 to 12 are invited to join Penn State Extension to Soak up Science and Be a Stream Doctor at Penn State’s Southeast Agricultural Research Farm in Millheim, Centre County from July 29 to August 1 where they will learn how they can be Stream Doctors.

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

The Senate Environmental Resources & Energy Committee is scheduled to meet March 24 on stream ‘cleaning,’ solar decommissioning and Lake Erie groin fee legislation.

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 March 22 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.

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