Here are 99 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.

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

On May 23, the Choose Clean Water Coalition honored Sen. Gene Yaw (R-Lycoming) and Carin Bisland of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Chesapeake Bay Program as Clean Water Champions.

On May 16, the PA Parks & Forests Foundation recognized the winners of its 2023 Annual Awards.  The honorees included--

On May 19, the U.S. Department of Energy announced the winners of the 10th annual Collegiate Wind Competition, including a team from Penn State who placed third in the overall competition.

The Wildlife For Everyone Foundation has selected five Pennsylvania students as recipients of their 2023 annual scholarship.

On May 24, Rep. Joe Webster (D-Montgomery) introduced House Bill 1239 creating the Veterans Entering the Sustainability Sector Program creating incentives to hire veterans in this growing sector of the economy.

A committee operating under the direction of the Cameron County Chamber of Commerce had the task of sifting through 41 applications for the PA Wilds Remote Working Project.

In December, DEP released its first-ever compliance report on conventional oil and gas operations which found DEP issued notices of violation for abandoning without plugging 2,246 conventional wells between 2017 and 2021-- an average of around 561 wells a year-- give or take.  Read more here.

From May 20 to 26, DEP’s Oil and Gas Compliance Database shows oil and gas inspectors filed 445 inspection entries that resulted in reporting 14 violations of environmental regulations-- 3 violations by the conventional oil and gas industry and 11 violations by the unconventional shale natural gas industry.

On May 23, Democrats on the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee voted to report out House Bill 962 (Vitali-D-Delaware) to restore DEP’s authority to review conventional oil and gas well plugging bonding amounts to help prevent the routine abandonment of 561 conventional oil and gas wells a year.

This editorial first appeared in the Citizens Voice on May 26, 2023--

The following DEP notices were published in the May 27 PA Bulletin related to oil and gas industry facilities.  Many of the notices offer the opportunity for public comments.

The following editorial was published in the Warren Times Observer on May 25, 2023 which publishes in the heart of the conventional oil and gas drilling industry--

The following editorial was published in the Observer-Reporter on May 23, 2023 which publishes in the heart of the conventional oil and gas drilling industry in Washington and Greene counties--

On May 24, the Department of Environmental Protection announced it has entered into a consent order and agreement (COA) with Shell Chemicals Appalachia, LLC , in which Shell formally acknowledged that the company exceeded total emission limitations for air contaminants, agreed to make repairs to reduce future exceedances, and agreed to pay nearly $10 million to DEP and the local community.

On May 25, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced Eastman Chemical Resins Inc. will pay a $2.4 million penalty for environmental violations at the sprawling 56-acre manufacturing facility in West Elizabeth, Pennsylvania, that is now owned and operated by Synthomer Jefferson Hills, LLC.

On May 23, the House Consumer Protection, Technology and Utilities Committee unanimously reported out House Bill 1032 (Fiedler-D-Philadelphia) establishing a Solar Energy For Schools Grant Program. [Read more here]

If you want to understand how the House is different under the control of Democrats, you need look no further than actions by the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee.

On May 22, the Evangelical Environmental Network’s Board of Directors named The Rev. Dr. Jessica Moerman as EEN’s next President and CEO.

On May 26, the Department of Environmental Protection announced funding for 16 environmental restoration projects on abandoned mine lands, totaling $7.8 million dollars from the Federal AML/AMD Grant Program.

The Department of Environmental Protection is accepting applications for Growing Greener Plus, Section 319 Watershed Restoration, Coal Mining Bond Forfeiture, Stormwater Planning Grant until June 23.  (formal notice) 

The Susquehanna River Basin Commission is scheduled to hold a June 15 business meeting on proposed water withdrawal projects, including 12 related to unconventional shale natural gas drilling.  (formal notice)

In April, the Executive Director of the Susquehanna River Basin Commission gave his approval to 36 water use permits for individual shale gas well drilling pads in Bradford, Clearfield, Lycoming, Sullivan, Susquehanna, Tioga and Wyoming counties.  (formal notice)

The Delaware River Basin Commission is scheduled to hold its quarterly business meeting June 7 starting at 1:00 p.m. in the Multi-Purpose Room at Rutgers University Camden, 326 Penn St., Camden, NJ.

On May 25, the PA Resources Council launched a new interactive map of glass recycling bin locations throughout Southwestern Pennsylvania.

The May 26 Take Five Fridays With Pam is now available from the PA Parks and Forests Foundation featuring articles on--

The Susquehanna Greenway Partnership and its partners will host the 2nd Annual Susquehanna Greenway Outdoor Expo on June 3 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Shikellamy State Park Marina in Sunbury, Northumberland County.

On May 23, the House voted 129 to 72 to adopt the bipartisan House Resolution 87 (Dailey-D- Montgomery; Ortitay-R-Allegheny) to help protect Pennsylvania’s critical animal habitats and determine the location of wildlife corridors. 

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

The Responsible Decarbonization Alliance held a May 25 webinar on Climate Change and Penn’s Woods: What Does the Future Hold starting at 7:00 p.m.

On May 24, PA American Water announced the company’s annual Wonderful World of Water Camp, to be held in Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne County and Peckville, Lackawanna County this year. The camps are offered free to children of Pennsylvania American Water customers.

The Spring newsletter from the U.S. Geological Survey Pennsylvania Water Science Center is now available featuring articles on--

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--

On May 25, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced $14,232,308 is going to Pennsylvania from the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to expedite the assessment and cleanup of brownfield sites in Pennsylvania while advancing environmental justice.

On May 25, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation issued a statement in response to the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Sackett v. EPA saying the decision significantly narrows the definition of which wetlands and other waters are protected by the federal Clean Water Act which could damage the decades-long effort to restore the Chesapeake Bay and its waterways.

More than 300 people registered for last week's virtual landmark Federal Community Conference hosted by ReImagine Appalachia.

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 May 27 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.