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Weekly PA Environment Digest Newsletter
April 24, 2023 - Issue #979
(4/24/2023)
* 105 New Stories - REAL Environmental & Conservation Leadership In PA

Here are 105 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.

* This Week’s Examples Of Going The WRONG WAY On Environmental, Energy Issues

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

* Weekly List Of PA Environment & Energy Articles & NewsClips By Topic

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

* 3 Pennsylvania Schools Achieve Green Ribbon Schools Recognition From U.S. Dept. of Education

Three Pennsylvania schools were recognized for their environmental sustainability initiatives by the U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools Program.

* DEP EE Newsletter: Winners Of 2022 PA Meaningful Watershed Educational Experience Awards Announced; Other Environmental Ed News

The latest Environmental Education newsletter from DEP announced the winners of the PA Association of Environmental Educators recently recognized two organizations with Pennsylvania Meaningful Watershed Educational Experience (MWEE) Awards.

* Bucks County Master Watershed Steward Jim Walter Inspires Environmental Action

By Alexandra McLaughlin, Penn State News

* Clean Water For A Healthy & Thriving Economy: Community Partners Join Together To Restore Lancaster's Green Spaces

By Elvira Felix, Lancaster Clean Water Partners & Lydia Martin, Donegal Chapter Trout Unlimited

* New State Health Plan Identifies Health Issues Related To Natural Resource Extraction, Climate Change In Top 5 Threats To Health Outcomes; No Update On University Of Pittsburgh Oil & Gas Health Impacts Study

On April 4, the Department of Health published the Pennsylvania State Health Improvement Plan (SHIP) that outlines goals, objectives, and strategies to improve the health of all Pennsylvanians over the next five years.

* Independent Regulatory Review Commission Approves Final Emergency Regs Setting VOC/Methane Emission Limits On Conventional Oil/Gas Operations

On April 20, the Independent Regulatory Review Commission voted 3 to 2 to approve the final EQB emergency regulations setting emission limits on conventional oil and gas operations and the regulation now becomes effective.  Read more here.

* PA Supreme Court Upholds DEP’s Authority To Protect Public Resources, Playgrounds From Adverse Impacts Of Shale Gas Well Operations; Do Not Mistake This Win For Adequate Protection

On April 19, the PA Supreme Court issued a ruling overturning a Commonwealth Court decision that blocked the ability of the Department of Environmental Protection to protect public resources and playgrounds from the adverse impacts of unconventional shale gas well operations.

* Bay Journal: Shale Gas Drilling, Development Yields Both Fears, Funding For Pennsylvania Public Lands

By Ad Crable, Chesapeake Bay Journal

* Concerned Residents, Advocates Call On DEP For The Opportunity To Comment On Proposed Roulette Oil & Gas Waste Injection Well In Potter County

By Laurie Barr, Save Our Streams PA

* House Environmental Committee Sets April 24 Hearing On Plugging Abandoned Conventional Oil & Gas Wells; New Bill Restores Authority To Increase Conventional Well Bonding

The House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee is scheduled to hold a hearing April 24 on Pennsylvania's newly expanded abandoned conventional oil and gas well plugging program and on updating conventional oil and gas well bonding requirements.

* Pennsylvania Oil & Gas Weekly Compliance Dashboard - April 15 to 21; 10 Abandoned Well NOVs; New Crude Oil Leak; Defective Casing/Cementing

From April 15 to 21, DEP’s Oil and Gas Compliance Database shows oil and gas inspectors filed 465 inspection entries that resulted in reporting 50 violations of environmental regulations-- 46 violations by the conventional oil and gas industry and 4 violations by the unconventional shale natural gas industry.

* Citizen Complaint Results In Discovery Of An Unreported Crude Oil Spill Affecting Over 2,400 Feet Of Stream At A Cameron Energy Conventional Well Site In Forest County

A citizen complaint to DEP's 800-541-2050 Emergency Telephone Number resulted in an April 14 inspection of the Haight 6P  conventional oil well site owned by Cameron Energy that found an unreported leaking crude oil gathering pipeline affecting over 2,400 feet of streams in Howe Township Forest County.

* PA Oil & Gas Industrial Facilities: Permit Notices/Opportunities To Comment - April 22

The following DEP notices were published in the April 22 PA Bulletin related to oil and gas industry facilities.  Many of the notices offer the opportunity for public comments.

* Scranton Times Editorial: Local Leaders, DOT Must Stop Plant In Wyalusing, Bradford County From Shipping LNG Natural Gas By Rail Or Truck Or Both To Philadelphia

This editorial first appeared in the Scranton Times on April 23, 2023--

* Susquehanna River Basin Commission May 4 Hearing On Water Withdrawal Projects, Including 12 Related To Shale Natural Gas Drilling

The Susquehanna River Basin Commission is scheduled to hold a May 4 hearing on proposed water withdrawal projects, including 12 related to shale natural gas drilling.  (formal notice)

* Susquehanna River Basin Commission Approved 39 Water Use Permits For Shale Gas Well Drilling Pads In Bradford, Clinton, Lycoming, Potter, Susquehanna, Tioga and Wyoming Counties

In March, the Executive Director of the Susquehanna River Basin Commission gave his approval to 39 water use permits for individual shale gas well drilling pads in Bradford, Clinton, Lycoming, Potter, Susquehanna, Tioga and Wyoming counties.  (formal notice)

* Middle Susquehanna RiverKeeper Blog: Significantly Lower Water Flow May Have Long-Ranging Ripple Effect For Aquatic Resources, Recreational Use

By John Zaktansky, Middle Susquehanna RiverKeeper

* Intense, Bright White Light From The Shell Plastics Plant Turns Night Into Day For Many Neighbors Of The Beaver County Plant

“There's been no night here for over seven years.  Some nights I put a pillow over my head so the room is dark enough.  Some nights you could read a newspaper in my living room. There's so much light scatter.

* CBF: Proposed Settlement Of Lawsuit Against EPA For Failing To Hold Pennsylvania Accountable For Meeting Chesapeake Bay Water Pollution Reduction Goals Focuses On Actions In 7 PA Counties

On April 20, a proposed settlement was announced in the 2020 lawsuit against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for its failure to require Pennsylvania to develop and implement a plan to meet its commitments to reduce pollution under the Chesapeake Clean Water Blueprint.

* Ohio River Basin Alliance Responds To Listing Of Ohio River As America's 2nd Most Endangered River In The Nation; Lehigh River On The List Too

On April 18, the nonprofit American Rivers named the Ohio River to American Rivers Most Endangered Rivers list as the second most endangered river in the country.

* Allegheny County Conservation District Now Accepting Applications For Agricultural Conservation Assistance Grants; Your County Is Too

The Allegheny County Conservation District announced $830,000 in grants available to farms to prevent pollution in Allegheny County over the next three years.  

* Landscape Architecture Students Help Pittsburgh Communities Reimagine What's Possible Using Green Infrastructure

By Christie Black, Penn State News

* Penn State Extension: Take Survey On Herbicide Drift Damage And Herbicide Application Issues

The Penn State Extension is asking for responses to a Herbicide Drift Survey that seeks to collect data on awareness of herbicide drift damage and herbicide-application issues.

* House Environmental Committee Meets April 25 On Bipartisan Bills To Provide School Solar Energy Grants, Local Notice Of Toxics Violations

The House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee is scheduled to meet April 25 on Democratic and Republican environmental bills--

* Solar Energy Facility Decommissioning Bills On House Consumer Protection Committee Agenda For April 25

The House Consumer Protection, Technology & Utilities Committee is scheduled to hold a meeting April 25 to consider legislation to set standards for utility-scale solar energy facility decommissioning. 

* 23 Pennsylvania, National Climate Groups Call On EPA To Cut Pollution In Power Sector

On April 18, a coalition of 23 clean energy, environmental justice, and climate action organizations working in Pennsylvania sent a letter to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency calling on the agency to accelerate efforts to cut pollution in the nation’s electricity sector and establish robust carbon pollution standards for new and existing power plants.

* Brandywine Conservancy Launches New Climate Resiliency Initiative To Help Local Municipalities, Landowners Address Climate Change

On April 19, the Brandywine Conservancy is excited to launch a new Climate Resiliency Initiative to help local municipalities and landowners proactively address climate change in their communities.

* Communities Celebrate Earth Day By Joining Keep PA Beautiful’s Pick Up Pennsylvania; 216 Cleanup Events Scheduled For Earth Day Weekend

In celebration of Earth Day, Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful, whose vision is a clean and beautiful Pennsylvania, encourages residents to join the 2023 Pick Up Pennsylvania initiative.

* Independence Conservancy Hosts 4 Waste Tire Collection Events In Beaver County

The Independence Conservancy will host four waste tire collection events in Beaver County to provide an affordable way for vehicle owners to get rid of tires or wheels from cars and light trucks and other vehicles.

* DCNR Receives Two Successful Independent Audits For State Forest Management

On April 21, the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources announced DCNR’s state forest system, totaling more than 2.2 million acres, has received two successful independent audit reports deeming it soundly managed as sustainable woodlands.

* Natural Lands Adds 373 Acres To Bear Creek Preserve In Luzerne County

On April 19, the Natural Lands announced the addition of 373 acres to its Bear Creek Preserve in Luzerne County bringing the preserve size to 3,938. The land will be available to visitors—free of charge, year-round—and will never be developed.

* April 21 Take Five Fridays With Pam From PA Parks & Forests Foundation

The April 21 Take Five Fridays With Pam is now available from the PA Parks and Forests Foundation featuring articles on--

* Environment & Energy Educational Opportunities For Students & Adults

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

* DCNR State Parks Environmental Education Update - Earth Week Edition

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

* Brodhead Watershed Assn. StreamWatch Volunteer Training May 20 In Monroe County

The pure creeks and streams of the Brodhead watershed in Monroe County define our lives. You can’t go half a mile in our area without seeing a creek or hearing water. It’s so much a part of everyday life, we take it for granted.

* TreeVitalize Conference To Focus On Urban Trees, Community Resilience May 31-June 1 In Philadelphia

The Penn State Extension will host a TreeVitalize Conference, Trees and Community: Rooted in Resilience and Equity May 31 and June 1, 2023 at the Discovery Center in Fairmount Park, Philadelphia.

* Allegheny County Conifer Symposium June 14 To Explore Future Of Conifers In A Changing Climate In Western PA

Climate change is impacting trees and forests around the globe. In southwest Pennsylvania, experience and evidence from arborists, ecologists, and landscape practitioners suggest that conifers may be particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change.

* PA Master Naturalists Now Accepting Applications For Fall Volunteer Training

The PA Master Naturalist Program is now accepting applications for fall volunteer training. The deadline to apply is May 29.

* Washington & Jefferson College Hosts Free Green Building & Design Summer Institute For High School Students June 12-23

The Washington County-based Washington & Jefferson College Center for Energy Policy and Management will host a free Green Building and Design Summer Institute for interested high school students to be held in June with funding from the Claude Worthington Benedum and FirstEnergy foundations.

* News From PA House & Senate

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

* The Feds

Articles and NewsClips about federal actions impacting Pennsylvania--

* Public Participation Opportunities/Calendar Of Events

Click Here for a list of public participation opportunities and a calendar of events.

* Grants & Awards

Click Here for grants, awards, recognition programs and contest deadlines.

* PA Bulletin Public Notices

Highlights of the environmental and energy notices in the April 22 PA Bulletin--

* Stories Invited - About PA Environment Digest

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.

* Supporting Member PA Organization For Watersheds & Rivers; PA Outdoor Writers Assn.; PA Trout Unlimited

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.

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