Here are 50 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.

The Department of Environmental Protection issued at least 754 notices of violation to oil and gas operators for defective oil and gas well casing and cementing, the fundamental protection needed to maintain well integrity, to prevent explosions, groundwater, natural gas migration and air contamination from 2016 through 2022, according to DEP’s Oil and Gas Compliance Database.

From February 11 to 17, DEP’s Oil and Gas Compliance Database shows oil and gas inspectors filed 513 inspection reports that resulted in reporting 48 violations of environmental regulations-- 28 violations by the conventional oil and gas industry and 20 violations by the unconventional shale natural gas industry.

The following DEP notices were published in the February 18 PA Bulletin related to oil and gas industry facilities.  Many of the notices offer the opportunity for public comments.

On February 3, DEP issued Chapter 102 and 105 permits for the Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Company, LLC Regional Energy Access Expansion Natural Gas Pipeline Project.  (PA Bulletin, page 1009)

In January, the Executive Director of the Susquehanna River Basin Commission gave his approval to 38 water use permits for individual shale gas well drilling pads in Bradford, Clearfield, Lycoming, Potter, Sullivan, Susquehanna, Tioga and Wyoming counties.  (formal notice)

The Better Path Coalition will host a February 21 webinar on abandoned oil and gas wells and DEP's federally-funded well plugging program starting at 7:00 p.m.

On February 10, the PA Environmental Defense Foundation filed a motion with Commonwealth Court continuing its efforts to prevent the unconstitutional spending of DCNR Oil and Gas Fund monies for nonconservation purposes.

On February 14, following a meeting with Beaver County Commissioners, local elected officials, and emergency management leaders, Governor Shapiro sent a letter to Norfolk Southern Corporation CEO Alan Shaw, expressing serious concerns regarding the company’s management of the February 3 train derailment.

On February 16, the Shapiro Administration announced the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection will be conducting independent water sampling to closely monitor water contamination risks related to the East Palestine train derailment that took place on February 3, 2023.

On February 17, Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding released the following statement on animal health concerns following the East Palestine train derailment:

On February 17, Sen. Doug Mastriano (R-Adams), Majority Chair of the Senate Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee, announced the Committee will hold a hearing February 23 at the Community College of Beaver County to hear testimony on the impacts to local residents and the emergency response to the Norfolk Southern train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio.

On February 17, the Clean Air Council and the Environmental Integrity Project sent a letter to the Department of Environmental Protection urging the state to temporarily halt operations at a Shell plastics chemical plant in Beaver County that has repeatedly violated air pollution limits and recently released plumes of black smoke for several hours.

The Center for Coalfield Justice will host a February 28 webinar on Protecting Your Health and Property From Damage Caused by Coal Mining starting at 6:00 p.m.

On February 14, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced $75,086,000 from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will go to Pennsylvania to address emerging contaminants, like Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in drinking water.

On February 16, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is hosting a virtual listening session on EPA’s PFAS Strategic Roadmap for residents living in EPA’s Mid-Atlantic Region on Thursday, March 2 from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.

On February 14, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Environmental Protection announced Capital Region Water will make substantial upgrades to the sewer and stormwater systems that serves the Harrisburg area under a proposed modified consent decree.

The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, in partnership with the U.S. Environmental Agency and the federal-state Chesapeake Bay Program partnership, is soliciting proposals to accelerate implementation of cost-effective agricultural best management practices as part of the Pennsylvania Most Effective Basins Grants Program.

By John Zaktansky, Middle Susquehanna RiverKeeper

The PA Association of Conservation Districts recently awarded over $65,000 in grants to support 37 water pollution reduction projects by county conservation districts.

On February 15, the National Association of Conservation Districts recognized winners of its national service awards at the association’s 77th Annual Meeting in New Orleans.

DEP’s Climate Change Advisory Committee is scheduled to meet on February 21 to discuss a proposed scope of work for the 2024 Climate Impacts Assessment and state Climate Action Plan as required by Act 70 of 2008.

On February 13, the York County-based Evangelical Environmental Network submitted 103,436 comments from individual pro-life Christians calling on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to strengthen supplemental rulemaking for Existing and New Source Standards for Reducing Methane and Toxins from the Oil/Gas Section (Docket # ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2021-0317).

The Penn State PA Technical Assistance Program puts pollution prevention, transition to clean energy and other issues in the spotlight in upcoming education programs--

The Perkiomen Watershed Conservancy is set to host its annual watershed-wide Stream Clean-up on Saturday, April 15th.

The Gene Capaldi Lens on Litter Photo Contest, a program of the Pennsylvania Resources Council, is an annual statewide photography contest rewarding amateur photographers who snap unusual or eye-catching images of litter across the Commonwealth.

On February 16, Acting Attorney General Michelle Henry announced that the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General has entered into a settlement agreement with Lancaster County-based Eagle Disposal of PA, Inc., for alleged violations of Pennsylvania’s Unfair Trade Practice and Consumer Protection Law.

After a prestigious 27-year career with the Environmental Hearing Board, Chief Judge and Chairman, Thomas W. Renwand retired on February 3, 2023. 

On February 13, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Acting Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn announced that $290,734 in Wild Resource Conservation Program grants have been awarded to eight projects aimed at protecting Pennsylvania’s native biodiversity.

The Spring Penn's Stewards newsletter is now available from the PA Parks and Forests Foundation featuring articles on--

The February 17 Take Five Fridays With Pam is now available from the PA Parks & Forests Foundation--

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

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 February 18 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.