Here are 48 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 Put Links To The Best Environment & Energy Articles and NewsClips From Last Week Here By Topic.

There were stark differences between the positions taken by now Governor Josh Shapiro and his opponent during the gubernatorial campaign.

The first commercial oil well was drilled in Pennsylvania in 1859.  The first oil or gas well hydraulically fracked was a conventional well in 1963 in Warren County. 

The 2021 Oil and Gas Program Annual Report issued by DEP in December shows conventional oil and gas operators received a record 610 notices of violation for abandoning wells without plugging them and unconventional shale gas operators received 27 NOVs.

On January 19, DEP released two more bid packages to plug 43 more abandoned conventional natural gas wells in Clarion County at taxpayer expense under the new federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law well plugging program.

From January 14 to 20, DEP’s Compliance Reporting Database shows oil and gas inspectors filed 380 inspection reports that resulted in reporting 26 violations of environmental regulations-- 4 major violations by the conventional oil and gas industry and 12 major violations by the unconventional shale natural gas industry.

The following DEP notices were published in the January 21 PA Bulletin related to oil and gas industry facilities.  Many of the notices offer the opportunity for public comments.

The Susquehanna River Basin Commission is scheduled to hold a hearing February 2 on proposed water withdrawals, including an out-of-basin diversion for the Ironwood natural gas power plant in Lebanon County and six other natural gas drilling water uses.  (formal notice)

The Better Path Coalition will host webinars at Noon and 7:00 p.m. on January 26 to brief legislators and staff as well as the public and press on the Environmental Impacts From The Development of Unconventional Oil and Gas Reserves.

By Mitchell Hescox, Evangelical Environmental Network

The Schuylkill River Restoration Fund is now accepting letters of intent for grants from nonprofit organizations, watershed organizations, conservation districts and county, municipal and local governments to undertake implementation projects that will improve the quality and/or quantity of water in the Schuylkill River and its tributaries.

The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy are hosting the 2023 Watershed Forestry Summit on June 13-15 !

On January 20, the Department of Environmental Protection announced after a meeting of the Commonwealth Drought Task Force that drought watch has been lifted for five counties and hydrologic conditions are normal statewide. 

On January 19, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced it will host a virtual community meeting February 2 for residents of Zelienople, Butler County, to share information about health risks from the chemical, ethylene oxide or EtO.

Are you ready to Fight Dirty? Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful announced registration is now open for the 2023 Pick Up Pennsylvania, a community improvement initiative.

On January 17, the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources opened a new application period for the Community Conservation Partnerships Grant Program.  The deadline for applications is April 5.  (formal notice)

DCNR's Conservation and Natural Resources Advisory Council is scheduled to hold a meeting on January 25 on private forest land stewardship and other issues.

The January 20 Take Five Fridays With Pam is now available from the PA Parks & Forests Foundation--

The Allegheny Land Trust (ALT) conserved another 120.5 acres at the end of December 2022 over eight projects across Allegheny County.

On January 19, the Pinchot Institute Institute for Conservation Board Chair Carol Collier announced the appointment of John Donahue as the new Executive Director and the transition of Will Price to a Senior Fellow position.

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

WeConservePA is hosting a webinar March 28 on Responding To Emerging Threats To Water Quality In The Poconos from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m.

Penn State Extension is now accepting presentation proposals for the 2023 Dive Deeper Summit on water resource education to be held on September 28 in Harrisburg.  The deadline for proposals is March 1.

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

On January 17, following the inauguration of new Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro (D), Sen. Gene Yaw (R-Lycoming), who serves as Majority Chair of the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, issued the following statement--

On January 18, the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee reported out Senate Bill 115 (Stefano-R-Fayette) adopting federal requirements for replacement of oil and oil filters on diesel-powered underground coal mining equipment [Senate Bill 1255 from last session passed unanimously by the Senate].

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 January 21 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.