Here are 62 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.

On March 22, DEP presented a 10 point plan for improving DEP permit reviews to the Senate Appropriations Committee as part of Acting Secretary Richard Negrin’s presentation on DEP’s FY 2023-24 budget request.

On March 23, Acting DEP Secretary Richard Negrin outlined his views on environmental justice and announced he has named Fernando Treviño to the new position of Special Deputy Secretary for Environmental Justice.

In his appearances before the Senate and House Appropriations Committee last week, DEP Acting Secretary Richard Negrin talked about the need to encourage a culture of being “user-friendly” in DEP.

On February 15, Acting DEP Secretary Richard Negrin had an "all hands" meeting that was made available electronically to all DEP staff across the state.  It was his first opportunity to lay out his vision of the agency and to underscore the important mission DEP has to protect public health and the environment.

In response to questions from Sen. Elder Vogel (R-Beaver) at the March 22 Senate Appropriations Committee hearing on DEP’s budget request, the Department of Environmental Protection said it is projecting a $1,581,000 deficit in funding for the Oil and Gas Regulation Program.

Department of Environmental Protection Acting Secretary Richard Negrin prepared this written testimony to submit to the Senate and House Appropriations Committees outlining Gov. Shapiro’s FY 2023-24 budget request--

On March 24, Acting DEP Secretary Richard Negrin invited former Department of Environmental Protection Secretaries to an informal lunch "so I could learn from their shared experiences working to protect Pennsylvania's environment."

On March 21, the Senate Appropriations Committee hearing on DCNR’s proposed FY 2023-24 budget request again resulted in a discussion of  increasing drilling in or under State Forest and Park land and other typical issues covered year in and year out.

The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Acting Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn prepared this written testimony to submit to the Senate and House Appropriations Committees outlining Gov. Shapiro’s FY 2023-24 budget request--

Department of Agriculture Acting Secretary Russell Redding prepared this written testimony to submit to the Senate and House Appropriations Committees outlining Gov. Shapiro’s FY 2023-24 budget request--

From March 18 to 24 , DEP’s Oil and Gas Compliance Database shows oil and gas inspectors filed 582 inspection entries that resulted in reporting 66 violations of environmental regulations-- 42 violations by the conventional oil and gas industry and 24 violations by the unconventional shale natural gas industry.

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

By Joseph Minott, Clean Air Council

On March 20, the Shapiro Administration announced plans to maintain a long-term, physical presence in Darlington Township, Beaver County to continue assisting residents impacted by the Norfolk Southern train derailment that occurred on February 3 in East Palestine, Ohio.

The Senate Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee, chaired by Sen. Doug Mastriano (R-Adams and Sen. Katie Muth (D-Chester)), heard testimony March 20 from Norfolk Southern CEO Alan Shaw, who described as a “success” the intentional ignition of dangerous chemicals in five railroad cars following the company’s trainwreck on Feb. 3 in East Palestine, Ohio, just west of the Pennsylvania border.

Forty-four years ago on March 28, 1979, Pennsylvanians woke up to a much different world -- the accident at the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant in Dauphin County.

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the March 25 PA Bulletin it received formal notice Norfolk Southern Railroad is starting the next phase of cleanup in areas impacted by the May 26, 2022 train derailment in Harmar Township, Allegheny County.  (PA Bulletin, page 1721)

The Allegheny County Conservation District is hosting its bi-annual free soil lead screening in partnership with Grow Pittsburgh from April 19 to 22. Soil samples will be accepted at five locations.

The Department of Environmental Protection will hold a May 10 hearing on a proposed RACT 3 Air Quality Plan related to nitrogen oxide and volatile organic compound emissions at the Perdue AgriBusiness LLC plant in Conoy Township, Lancaster County.  (PA Bulletin, page 1722)

On March 20, the Public Utility Commission strongly encourages residents across Pennsylvania to #SaveInPA – exploring electric power shopping options which could result in substantial savings on the energy portion of their monthly electric bills, especially during high-usage times.

On March 23, the Philadelphia Energy Authority, Nuveen Green Capital and Southern Land Company closed on $40 million for a 329-unit multifamily property in the Callowhill neighborhood of Philadelphia at 5th and Spring Garden Streets.

The latest update from DEP on the Chesapeake Bay Plan implementation includes the 2022 Progress Report summary that highlights actions taken over the last two years to meet Bay cleanup milestones.

By Tim Schley, Penn State News

By Jeff Mulhollem, Penn State News

By Claire Holzner, Coalition To Save Old Crow Wetland

On March 23, Berks County-based Rodale Institute announced Jeff Tkach has been selected by the board of directors to lead the global nonprofit as its next CEO, effective April 21, 2023.

Again this year, many of Western Pennsylvania’s largest festivals, foot races and fundraisers will share a common theme – waste reduction – as the PA Resources Council aims to reduce event waste through its Zero Waste Program.

On March 9, The Nature Conservancy announced a new combined investment of $4.25 million awarded by the Richard King Mellon Foundation that will catalyze tangible, durable conservation outcomes for people and nature throughout Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and the broader Central Appalachians landscape.

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

The latest issue of UpStream News from the Stroud Water Research Center features articles on--

By Andy Yencha, Penn State Extension Educator

Penn State Extension will hold another in its series of online Water Cooler Talks March 29 on Agroforestry’s Impact On Water Quality from Noon to 1:00 p.m.

The good folks at WeConservePA this week highlighted just a few of their education programs coming up between now and June.  Here’s the calendar--

The Pennsylvania Governor's Invasive Species Council celebrates the second annual Pennsylvania Native Species Day on Thursday, May 18. Mark your calendars and plan to join in!

The Penn State Center for Pollinator Research has a 'March Madness' style championship now going on to highlight the amazing diversity of bees, featuring 32 species that can be found in eastern North America.

The Perkiomen Watershed Conservancy is set to host their annual Summer Science Academy single day and week long camps throughout the summer in Schwenksville, Montgomery County.

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 March 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.