Here are 92 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 April 12, DEP, DCNR and many guests dedicated the Law Library Conference Room in the Rachel Carson Building in Harrisburg to Franklin Kury, the legislative author of Pennsylvania's Environmental Rights Amendment to the Constitution.

Recognized by both the Pennsylvania State House and Senate, April 23-29, 2023 has been declared “Conservation District Week.” During this week, district offices across the state held events and met with legislators in their home county.

By B.J. Small, Chesapeake Bay Foundation

On April 26, Dickinson College announced Tara Houska, a citizen of Couchiching First Nation and a devoted environmental and Indigenous rights advocate, will be presented with The Sam Rose ’58 and Julie Walters Prize for Global Environmental Activism at Dickinson College.

The following testimony by David Hess, former Secretary of the Department of Environmental Protection, was delivered at the April 24 House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee hearing on abandoned conventional oil and gas wells.

On April 24, the Environmental Defense Fund announced the results of a new study that found 55,000 oil and gas wells owned by operators in Pennsylvania are at high risk of becoming abandoned leaving state taxpayers holding the bag for $3.7 billion in well plugging and cleanup costs.

By Laurie Barr, Save Our Streams PA

The House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee is scheduled to meet May 2 on House Bill 962 (Vitali-D-Delaware), legislation that would restore DEP’s authority to review conventional oil and gas well plugging bonding amounts every two years.

This editorial first appeared in the Republican Herald on April 30, 2023--

The Delaware River Basin Commission has clarified regulations it adopted in December to regulate wastewater to make clear they ban the road spreading and disposal of fracking wastewater from conventional as well as unconventional shale gas drilling operations.

On April 27, the Department of Environmental Protection announced it has tentatively scheduled an online "public conference" May 18 on the proposed Roulette Oil & Gas waste injection well in Clara Township, Potter County from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.

From April 22 to 28, DEP’s Oil and Gas Compliance Database shows oil and gas inspectors filed 729 inspection entries that resulted in reporting 48 violations of environmental regulations-- 32 violations by the conventional oil and gas industry and 16 violations by the unconventional shale natural gas industry.

On April 24, DEP inspectors, responding to a citizen complaint, found two conventional wells continuing to vent natural gas in Hanover Township, Washington County.

Last week DEP inspectors again found continuing violations of spills and releases creating  new brownfield sites as well as defective well casing and cementing at three shale gas well pads in two counties.

The following DEP notices were published in the April 29 PA Bulletin related to oil and gas industry facilities.  Many of the notices offer the opportunity for public comments.

On April 25, the Natural Resources Defense Council said a Federal Register notice from the U.S. Department of Transportation announced the agency has denied Energy Transfer Partners a special permit to transport liquefied natural gas (LNG) by rail from Wyalusing, PA to Gibbstown, NJ across the river from Philadelphia.

On April 25, the Eyes On Shell citizens initiative  reported fenceline air pollution monitoring data at Shell's Petrochemical Plant in Beaver County reported benzene levels of over 185 µg/m3 and 89 µg/m3 they said was above the 29 µg/m3 minimum risk level established by the federal Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry.

The Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee will hold its second hearing May 1 on electric grid reliability and the failure of natural gas and other generation to provide power when called on by PJM during Winter Storm Elliot in December.

The House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee is scheduled to hold a hearing May 1 on cryptocurrency and climate change.

Join the Renewables Work for PA Coalition, PA Solar & Storage Industries Association and the PA Solar Center for the 9th Annual Renewables Summit on May 22-23 at the Penn Harris Hotel in Camp Hill, Cumberland County across the river from Harrisburg.

By Carol Hillestad for Brodhead Watershed Association, Monroe County

On April 25, the Keystone Research Center, together with United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America (UE), and U.S. Senator Bob Casey's office, released the findings of a new research report on the job-creation potential of green locomotive production in Erie Pennsylvania.

On April 24, the Department of Environmental Protection released a new interactive mapping tool that shows final sample results from soil and water testing conducted by DEP in the wake of the East Palestine train derailment on February 3, 2023.

On April 25, the Department of Environmental Protection announced it will host a public meeting and hearing to answer questions and take testimony from residents regarding revisions to two active mining permits and the transfer of a third permit for work located in three Schuylkill County townships. 

The 2023 planting seasons will be the most ambitious yet for the Keystone 10 Million Trees Partnership, to directly fund and plant over 300,000 new trees for Pennsylvania this spring and add another 200,000 in the fall.

The Pennsylvania Council of Trout Unlimited is pleased to announce eleven grants totaling $120,000 have been awarded to conservation organizations across Pennsylvania through the Coldwater Heritage Partnership’s Coldwater Conservation Grant Program.

Residents of the Juniata River Watershed are invited to provide input and suggestions via public meetings and a community survey to help inform the Juniata Watershed Management Plan, a project of the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy with multiple partners.

On April 25, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation announced Julia Krall was named the new Executive Director in Pennsylvania. She succeeds CBF Staff Attorney Trisha Salvia, who had been serving as Interim Director.

On April 27, the Susquehanna River Basin Commission announced more than $6 million in grant funding for 23 projects that will improve the sustainability of streamflows and groundwater during times of drought.

The Delaware River Basin Commission is scheduled to hold a hearing May 10 on water withdrawal requests and a business meeting June 7.  (formal notice)

On April 26, the Delaware River Basin Commission released a review of future water storage options for the Delaware River Basin, Evaluation of Additional Storage in the Delaware River Basin.

Throughout May, the Pennsylvania Resources Council will collect electronics for recycling on designated weekdays in Allegheny County. 

In May, Pennsylvania Resources Council will host two household chemical collection events in western Pennsylvania to enable area residents to conveniently dispose of materials such as cleaners, paints, stains and varnishes, batteries, motor oil and pesticides. 

The Pennsylvania Resources Council Traveling Glass Recycling Bin Program provides a free recycling service that rotates through a variety of locations in western Pennsylvania. 

The Centre County Recycling and Refuse Authority collected over 73,000 pounds of household hazardous waste and enough fluorescent light tubes to span 4.5 miles at a special collection event on April 28-29.

By Cindy Adams Dunn, Acting Secretary of DCNR, and John Norbeck Deputy Secretary for Parks & Forestry

On April 28 Arbor Day, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Acting Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn and State Forester Ellen Shultzabarger planted trees in Mechanicsburg, Cumberland County, to highlight the many benefits trees provide to communities.

The April 28 Take Five Fridays With Pam is now available from the PA Parks and Forests Foundation featuring articles on--

The Armstrong Conservation District Board of Directors will be accepting applications for the full-time position of Resource Conservationist until May 31, 2023 or until the position is filled.

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

By Peter Wulfhorst, AICP

The Greater Erie City Nature Challenge is back for its second year.  This 4-day bioblitz takes place around the world from April 28 through May 1, 2023 and Asbury Woods in Erie is pleased to lead the way for the Greater Erie area. 

By Carol Hillestad for Brodhead Watershed Association, Monroe County

On June 13 Penn State Extension will host another in its series of Pennsylvania Forest Seminars on Wildlife Adaptations - How Wildlife Endures Extreme Weather, Limited Resources, Predators To Stay Alive at Noon and 7:00 p.m.

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

On April 27, Sen. Gene Yaw (R-Lycoming), Majority Chair of the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, announced plans to introduce legislation to take the word “Protection” out of the name Department of Environmental Protection.

On April 25, the House Consumer Protection, Technology & Utilities Committee reported out two bills setting standards for utility-scale solar energy facility decommissioning with a recommendation to re-refer them to the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee. 

On April 25, the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee reported out two bills--

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 April 29 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.