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.

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.

Walter N. Heine, 88, passed away on February 14, 2023.  He played a key role in modernizing Pennsylvania’s regulation of mining operations, adoption of the federal Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act and served as the first Director of the federal Office of Surface Mining.

As of February 17, the Department of Environmental Protection reported 4,425 owners of 61,655 conventional oil and gas wells-- 57.5 percent of all conventional wells-- failed to submit their annual production and waste generation and disposal reports.

From February 18 through 24, DEP’s Oil and Gas Compliance Database shows oil and gas inspectors filed 309 inspection reports that resulted in reporting 26 violations of environmental regulations-- 13 violations by the conventional oil and gas industry and 13 violations by the unconventional shale natural gas industry.

The following DEP notices were published in the February 25 PA Bulletin related to oil and gas industry facilities.  Many of the notices offer the opportunity for public comments.

This editorial first appeared in the Scranton Times on February 24, 2023--

By Ralph Kisberg, Responsible Drilling Alliance, Lycoming County

On February 22, the PA Supreme Court handed down a major decision in two suits where the public sought reimbursement for legal costs in environmental cases: the Clean Air Council, the Delaware Riverkeeper Network, and Mountain Watershed Association v. DEP and Sunoco Pipeline and Gerhart v. DEP and Sunoco Pipeline cases.

The DEP Air Quality Technical Advisory Committee is scheduled to meet March 9 to hear a presentation of results from a research study on detecting and measuring  methane emissions sources and rates from aircraft overflights in Pennsylvania.

Here are highlights of actions by the Shapiro Administration and the General Assembly related to the Ohio/PA train derailment from the week of February 20.

On February 25, the state Department of Transportation announced it will begin accepting applications for the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Grants on March 27.  The deadline to apply is May 5.

On February 25, the Department of Environmental Protection published notices in the PA Bulletin extending the application period for two energy-related funding programs--

By Ad Crable, Chesapeake Bay Journal

The DCNR Watershed Forestry Team is excited to announce that we are seeking nominations for our 2023 Watershed Forestry Leadership Award!  The deadline for nominations is March 31.

The Ninth Lehigh Valley Watershed Conference will be held from 7:45 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.on Tuesday, March 14 at Lehigh University’s STEPS Building, 1 West Packer Avenue, Bethlehem.

The latest Watershed Winds newsletter from Penn State Extension features articles on--

Join the PA Organization for Watersheds and Rivers (POWR) and your watershed colleagues for one or both sessions of a two-part conversation about the benefits, challenges, and opportunities for creating green parking lots in your community

The Conservation Foundation of Lancaster County and Lancaster Clean Water Partners have formed a limited liability company (LLC) and named Allyson Gibson as the Executive Director.

The latest UpStream newsletter from the Stroud Water Research Center features articles on--

By Harry Campbell, PA Science Policy and Advocacy Director

On February 24, Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding announced six counties-- Butler, Clearfield, Clinton, Fayette, Lawrence, and Somerset-- have been added to Pennsylvania's spotted lanternfly quarantine zone ahead of the 2023 spring hatch.

On February 24, the Department of Agriculture announced Pennsylvania protected 3,047 acres on 32 farms in 21 counties from future residential or commercial development.

On February 21, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service announced a new project that will focus on improving the health and resiliency of both public and private forest resources across the Allegheny Plateau.

On February 23, DCNR announced the application window is now open for grants to help Pennsylvania’s rural communities increase protection from wildfires funded by the U.S. Forest Service.  The deadline for applications is May 11.

The Brandywine Conservancy is pleased to announce the launch of the Brandywine Creek Greenway’s Mini Grant Program for 2023-2024. The grant funding round will open on March 20, with applications due by May 30, 2023.

The February 24 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-- 

The Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee is scheduled to meet February 27 on legislation setting decommissioning standards for solar energy facilities, a resolution calling for the restart of the Keystone XL Pipeline, and addressing one of thousands of uses of PFAS “forever chemicals.”

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 25 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.