Here are 146 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 Gathers Links To The Best Environment & Energy Articles and NewsClips From Last Week Here By Topic--

Speakers from several public health, community advocacy and environmental groups will participate in a September 19 webinar -- A Year Later: Have Leaders Addressed Health Concerns From Natural Gas Development Raised In University Of Pittsburgh Public Health Studies?  from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m.

The DEP Oil and Gas Technical Advisory Board is scheduled to meet on September 5 on a variety of topics, including strategies to prevent well abandonment, injection well primacy, tracking water contamination and other topics.

On August 26, the Shapiro Administration and the United Mine Workers of America announced a new registered apprenticeship program to train workers to plug conventional oil and gas wells, helping to protect the environment and public health while providing workers with in-demand skills and family-sustaining wages.

On August 15, 2024, the aboveground Yonker Well & Tank Pad to Carns Well & Tank Pad waterline pipeline owned by Range Resources Appalachia, LLC in Mount Pleasant Township, Washington County suffered a blowout that launched a “pig” sent through the pipeline into the air.

On August 24, 2024, DEP’s Oil and Gas and Emergency Response staff were dispatched to the Banco 21-1A conventional producing gas well in Allegheny Township, Westmoreland County owned by Patriot Exploration Corp in response to an emergency call.

From August 24 to 30, DEP’s Oil and Gas Compliance Database shows oil and gas inspectors filed 728 inspection entries, and caught up with posting inspection reports from previous weeks.

The following notices were published in the August 31 PA Bulletin related to oil and gas industry facilities.  Many of the notices offer the opportunity for public comments.

On August 29, the Appalachian Regional Commission announced the 30 community foundations, serving communities in 10 Appalachian states, selected to participate in READY Community Foundations.

On August 27, the Shapiro Administration announced the Department of Environmental Protection will continue to sample private drinking water wells in Pennsylvania within a one-mile radius of the derailment site over the next ten years after the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency confirms Norfolk Southern’s active remediation is complete.

The Environmental Quality Board is scheduled to meet on September 10 on proposed stream redesignations and a laboratory fee review report.

The DEP Citizens Advisory Council is scheduled to meet on September 10 to hear a presentation on hydrogen and food processing residuals.

On August 29,  Dynamic Energy, a leader in distributed clean energy solutions, announced it has completed a 907 kW commercial rooftop solar project with Cooper-Booth Wholesale Co., a full-service distributor for convenience store merchandise in the Mid-Atlantic.

On August 27, Pittsburgh Works Together, an economic development alliance of business and organized labor locals, released a new report-- The PJM Grid In Peril: What Will Keep The Lights On?

On August 28, Sen. Gene Yaw (R-Lycoming), Majority Chair of the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, announced he would be introducing legislation to establish a Pennsylvania Baseload Energy Development Fund.

On August 27, Ready for 100% Montgomery County announced nearly one-third of the communities in Montgomery County committed to a gradual transition to 100 percent clean, renewable energy in its electricity usage by 2035 and in all sectors (heat, transportation) by 2050.

On August 27, PennEnvironment released a report saying a typical household in Pennsylvania stands to save an average of $128 annually on utility bills over the next two decades, thanks to newly updated national appliance efficiency standards

Registration is now open for the Pittsburgh Regional Carbon Capture Conference, set for October 22 on the Washington & Jefferson College campus in Washington, PA.

On August 29, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced more than $17 million in funding through the Delaware Watershed Conservation Fund, in partnership with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, for 45 conservation projects in the Delaware River watershed.

The Department of Environmental Protection released its 2023 Healthy Waters Healthy Communities Annual Report celebrating the nutrient pollution reduction accomplishments in the Pennsylvania portion of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed, according to DEP’s Healthy Waters Partnership, Progress newsletter.

On August 27, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation announced the award of 30 grants totaling $8.9 million to support wildlife habitat, climate resilience, community conservation partnerships and equitable access to nature in the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

On August 27, the Conservation Innovation Fund, a conservation and sustainability impact finance fund, and Pennsylvania’s Kennett Township announced the Township achieved a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) permit.

On August 29, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation announced the Foxwynd Foundation of Chester County awarded a $75,000 grant to the Keystone 10 Million Trees Partnership.

On August 27, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced Khesha Reed as the permanent Deputy Director for EPA’s Chesapeake Bay Program Office, located in Annapolis, Maryland, where she has been the Acting Deputy Director since April 2024.

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the August 31 PA Bulletin announcing the availability of a revised NPDES General Permit for Discharges of Stormwater Associated with Construction Activities (PAG-02).

A recent Penn State Institute of State and Regional Affairs report examined the perceptions of flood insurance among real estate professionals, lenders, and insurers, and how these factors influence client decisions.

On August 28, the departments of Drug and Alcohol Programs and Conservation and Natural Resources announced the agencies' Recovery in Nature initiative, which will run throughout the month of September in conjunction with National Recovery Month.

The August 30 Take Five Fridays With Pam is now available from the PA Parks and Forests Foundation featuring articles on--

Join the Central PA Conservancy for a September 9 webinar starting at 6:00 p.m. on how you can become a volunteer conservation easement monitor.

On August 27, Hourglass announced it will host a September 10 Trailblazers Forum on Outdoor Recreation In Lancaster County at the Ware Center, 42 N. Prince Street in Lancaster from 5:00 to 7:30 p.m.

On August 27, the Susquehanna Greenway Partnership announced the opening of the 2024 Susquehanna Greenway Mini-Grant Program.  The deadline to apply is October 25.

By Adrienne Berard, Penn State News

By Jeff Mulhollem, Penn State News

On September 1, Rosalie Haizlette will launch her new book-- Tiny Worlds Of The Appalachian Mountains, An Artist's Journey-- which chronicles her journey from Alabama to Newfoundland documenting the tiny animals, plants and fungi she encountered hiking the Appalachian Mountains..

On August 28, the North Branch Land Trust announced the appointment of Emma Thompson as its Conservation and Stewardship Director.

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

DCNR State Parks Environmental Education - What Happened To August! - newsletter features articles on--

Join the PA Organization for Watersheds and Rivers for a September 11 webinar from Noon to 1:00 p.m. on Pennsylvania's 2022 Fertilizer Law designed to protect local streams.

The Beaver County Marcellus Awareness Community will host an in-person and online event September 12 on Connecting Communities In The Fight Against Industrial Pollution.

The Allegheny County Conservation District, Tree Pittsburgh, Sustainable Pittsburgh, Green Building Alliance and Allegheny Land Trust are hosting five workshops for municipalities and citizens to promote sustainability, secure funding for climate-resilient, vibrant communities and enhance resident health.

The Master Watershed Stewards of York County will host an in-person workshop September 26 on Stormwater Management and the Street 2 Creek Storm Drain Art Contest entries starting at the York County History Center, 121 N. Pershing Avenue in York from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m.

The 2024 Eastern PA Consulting and Industrial Forester Conference is set for September 26 at the Dauphin County Conservation District Offices, 1451 Peters Mountain Road in Dauphin from 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

The PA Association of Environmental Educators is highlighting two multi-part professional development courses being offered this fall-- Universal Design For Learning In Environmental Education and Introduction to Community Engagement Guidelines For Excellence.

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 31 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.