Here are 59 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.

While PA Environment Digest’s priority is to highlight positive examples of environmental and energy leadership, 2022 is an election year which demands accountability to voters.

PA Environment Digest Is Putting The Best Links To Environment & Energy Articles and NewsClips Here.   Are You Telling Your Story?

In 2015, Sunoco Pipeline LP started work on the Mariner East Pipelines on the Indiana County property owned by Navy veterans Patrick and Helen Robinson, and their lives have not been the same since. 

On December 14, the Shawley Family of Jackson Township, Cambria County filed a lawsuit in federal court against Sunoco Pipeline, L.P. following over three years of struggles to get access to clean water and a functioning septic system for their home impacted by the construction of the Mariner East Pipeline.

On December 14, the Center for Coalfield Justice provided another round of free bottled drinking water to families impacted by an alleged ‘frack-out’ of an EQT shale gas well near New Freeport in Greene County.  They have been without clean drinking water since June.

The following editorial was published in the Republican Herald on December 19, 2022--

The Concerned Health Professionals of PA are asking health professionals to sign a letter urging the in-coming Shapiro-Davis Administration to protect public health and the environment from the negative impacts of the oil and gas industry.

From December 17 to 23, DEP’s Compliance Reporting Database shows oil and gas inspectors filed 612 inspection reports that included 44 major violations-- 36 by conventional operators and 8 by unconventional shale gas drillers.

The following DEP notices were published in the December 24 PA Bulletin related to oil and gas industry facilities.  Many of the notices offer the opportunity for public comments.

On December 15, the Susquehanna River Basin Commission approved requests to renew three oil and gas development water withdrawal requests and a request from the Three Mile Island Nuclear Power Plant.

Join the League of Women Voters PA, Central Delaware County League of Women Voters, Energy Justice Network, Delaware Riverkeeper Network, Chester NAACP, and Chester Residents Concerned for Quality Living for a January 12 webinar on LNG Natural Gas Export Terminal Safety starting at 7:00 p.m.

On December 24 at about 9:30 a.m., PJM Interconnection Senior Vice President of Operations Mike Bryson posted a video statement on PJM’s Twitter account saying “unprecedented” cold weather in the PJM region is causing demand for electricity to increase and urging customers to conserve electricity.

On December 24, UGI Utilities announced it is requesting customers to voluntarily reduce natural gas utilization through noon on Sunday due to regional natural gas supply constraints caused by extreme weather conditions.

At the invitation of the U.S. Attorney’s Office of Western PA, Hold Erie Coke Accountable is reaching out to the community to inform the public of their right to be informed of and participate in the federal lawsuit and possibly be compensated for hardships related to the indictment of Erie Coke (Coal) Plant.

On December 20, the U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington, D.C., vacated the license issued by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission for the Conowingo Dam just south of the Pennsylvania -  Maryland border on the Susquehanna River.

The York County Conservation District (YCCD) has adopted a new initiative to improve water quality in local streams, reduce flooding of properties located downslope of new construction activities, and provide for faster plan approvals at the local level.

By Amber Stilwell, Master Watershed Steward Coordinator

By Jim Hugar & Wendy Seifert, Master Watershed Stewards, Jodi Sulpizio, Master Watershed Steward Coordinator, York County

By Jodi Sulpizio, Master Watershed Steward Coordinator, York County

By Diane Huskinson, Stroud Water Research Center

On December 23, Appalachian Voices said Congress gave final approval to the federal FY2023 appropriations legislation and secured two major victories for coal-impacted communities.

By Kelly Williams, Watershed Specialist, Clearfield County Conservation District 

On December 23, the National Association of Conservation Districts applauded Congress for passing a FY2023 federal spending agreement that supports voluntary, locally-led conservation efforts across the country by providing strong funding for critical conservation programs and initiatives.

On December 21, the Department of Environmental Protection announced the award of Coastal Zone Grants for the Delaware Estuary and Lake Erie coastal areas.

On December 19, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn announced DCNR will host nearly 60 guided hikes in 34 state parks and three forest districts on New Year’s Day as part of the nationwide “First Day Hike” effort.

The December 23 Take Five Fridays With Pam is now available from the PA Parks & Forests Foundation--

On December 19, the Allegheny Land Trust announced the creation of The Mark A. MacKay Conservation Internship at Churchill Valley Greenway conservation area in Churchill and Penn Hills, Allegheny County.

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

The Cumberland Valley Chapter of Trout Unlimited is holding the 28th annual Rivers Conservation and Fly Fishing Youth Camp June 18-23, 2023.  The deadline for early acceptance is Dec. 31, 2022.

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 December 24 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.