Here are 55 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.

Below are examples of going the WRONG WAY on environmental and energy issues from last week’s articles and NewsClips--

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

WeConservePA will recognize Karen Martynick and David Shields with Lifetime Conservation Leadership Awards during the PA Land Conservation Conference in April.

The 2022 Student Symposium on the Environment was held on December 1st and was once again hosted by Westminster College at the McKelvey Campus Center in Lawrence County and co-organized with the Slippery Rock Watershed Coalition.

At a February 6 hearing of the House Republican Policy Committee, members and the natural gas industry recommended the need to remove roadblocks to faster permit reviews by DEP they said stand in the way of economic growth and lower natural gas prices.

DCED's PA Grade Crude [Oil] Development Advisory Council is scheduled to hold a hybrid meeting February 16 at the Pennsylvania Western University campus in Clarion.

The February 3 explosions, fire and evaluation caused by the derailment of 50 tank cars carrying vinyl chloride and other hazardous petrochemicals in East Palestine, Ohio near the Pennsylvania border is only the latest example of the public health and safety threats posed by the chemical and natural gas industries infrastructure in Pennsylvania.

From February 4 to 10, DEP’s Oil and Gas Compliance Database shows oil and gas inspectors filed 623 inspection reports that resulted in reporting 65 violations of environmental regulations-- 49 violations by the conventional oil and gas industry and 16 violations by the unconventional shale natural gas industry.

On February 11, Jon Hurdle of Inside Climate News reported the Department of Environmental Protection took nine days to inspect the Energy Transfer Revolution Cryogenic Natural Gas Processing Plant in Washington County after an explosion and fire on Christmas Day.

The following DEP notices were published in the February 11 PA Bulletin related to oil and gas industry facilities.  Many of the notices offer the opportunity for public comments.

On February 9, Marcellus Drilling News reported on a practice among shale gas drillers to reactivate expired gas drilling leases with landowners by back-dating pooling arrangements to claim the leases didn't expire after all.

On February 9, the Public Utility Commission approved a Joint Petition for Full Settlement resulting in a two-year, phased-in increase in total annual gas revenues for Leatherstocking Gas Company LLC (Leatherstocking) – which provides natural gas service to approximately 450 residential and commercial gas customers in Susquehanna and Bradford counties.

The DEP Citizens Advisory Council is scheduled to meet on February 14 to hear updates from the Oil and Gas and Abandoned Mine Reclamation Programs.

The Department of Environmental Protection will begin accepting applications for abandoned mine reclamation and mine drainage treatment project grants on March 6.  The deadline for applications is April 28.  (formal notice)

The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, in partnership with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the federal-state Chesapeake Bay Program partnership, 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.

Berks County-based Rodale Institute is now accepting applications for a micro-grant program specifically targeted to support small-scale farmers who are Black, Indigenous, or People of Color (BIPOC), whether they are organic, transitioning to organic, or an aspiring organic farmer.

On February 6, Acting Attorney General Michelle Henry led a coalition of 17 Attorneys General in urging the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to add perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) to the national list of Chemicals of Special Concern.

On February 6, Pennsylvania American Water announced it wants to get rid of lead water lines – but to do so, will need your help.

The PA Resources Council will launch its 2023 Traveling Glass Recycling Bin Program February 11 at Boyce Park in Allegheny County.

By Leo Kowalski, PA Solar Center

On February 6, the Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens in Pittsburgh provided members of the House Democratic Policy Committee with a hands-on tour and discussion on the process needed and work being done to make this historic landmark a green facility designed with an emphasis on reducing harm – including energy efficient conservatories.

By Penn State News

On April 22, organizations and businesses around Lancaster County will celebrate Earth Day by sharing their expertise and services at the first-ever Lancaster County Climate Summit.

The Land Conservancy of Adams County partnered with Conewago Township supervisors and a local farmer to permanently preserve 48 acres of farmland outside McSherrystown.

The February 10 Take Five Fridays With Pam is now available from the PA Parks & Forests Foundation--

The Western Pennsylvania Conservancy’s Watershed Conservation Program, in cooperation with the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Bureau of Forestry, seeks a highly motivated, driven and well-organized individual to help promote and coordinate riparian forest buffer and lawn conversion implementation efforts in Pennsylvania as a part of the statewide watershed forestry team.

The Audubon Society Of Western PA is seeking qualified candidates for a Community Conservation Coordinator and three other positions.

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

DCNR’s Bureau of State Parks Valentine’s Day edition of its Environmental Education newsletter is now available and includes articles on--

Dauphin County-based Manada Conservancy will host a February 23 in-person program on The Susquehannocks - Land, Identity, Regional History at the Milton & Catherine Hershey Conservatory At Hershey Gardens, 170 Hotel Rd, Hershey starting at 7:00 p.m.

The PA Physicians for Social Responsibility will host a February 22 webinar on Radioactive Contaminants From PA Oil And Gas Operations starting at 6:30 p.m.

The Better Path Coalition and the Pennsylvania Climate Convergence Network will host a February 22 webinar on How Green Is Blue Hydrogen? made from natural gas from Noon to 1:00 p.m.

Keep PA Beautiful will host a March 1 Community Cleanup Training webinar from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. for everyone who wants to live, work and play in a glean and green community.

The York County-based Evangelical Environmental Network will host two in-person Roundtables on the Federal Farm Bill February 13 at 10:00 a.m. in Cambria County and 2:00 p.m. in Centre County.

The PA Trout Women, Diversity and Inclusion Committee is now accepting registrations for the 4th Annual PA Trout Women’s Leadership Retreat to be held May 19-21 at the Godspeed Hostel In Port Matilda, Centre County.

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

On February 6, the Senate Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure and Environmental Resources and Energy Committees announced they will host a February 27 hearing on electric grid reliability and Winter Storm Elliot.

Articles and NewsClips about federal actions impacting Pennsylvania--

On February 10, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced the second wave of approximately $1 billion in funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) to start new cleanup projects at 22 Superfund sites, including the Jackson Ceramix, Inc. and Ryeland Road Arsenic sites in Jefferson and Berks counties and expedite over 100 other ongoing cleanups across the country.

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 February 11 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.