Here are 121 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 Puts Links To The Best Environment & Energy Articles and NewsClips From Last Week Here By Topic--

On September 15, the Pennsylvania Environmental Council celebrated its 200th podcast episode by recognizing another big milestone: issue #1,000 of the PA Environment Digest published by former PA Department of Environmental Protection Secretary David Hess.

On September 16, the Department of Environmental Protection published the Interim Final Environmental Justice Policy in the PA Bulletin that will now guide DEP’s permit application reviews and outreach efforts in environmental justice areas throughout the Commonwealth.  (formal notice)

On September 7, Petro Erie, Inc. filed an amendment to its Environmental Hearing Board appeal of DEP’s order to clean up a release of conventional oil well wastewater saying ‘appellant lacks the financial ability to comply with the Order.”

DEP reports spills and releases from the oil and gas industry have created over 575 brownfield sites being cleaned up under the Act 2 Land Recycling Program, as of September 12, 2023.

From September 9 to 15, DEP’s Oil and Gas Compliance Database shows oil and gas inspectors filed 554 inspection report entries.

On September 13, the Pittsburgh-based Environmental Health Project issued a review of the University of Pittsburgh studies released on August 15 showing links between natural gas development and Lymphoma cancer, worsening asthma conditions and lower birth weights.

The following DEP notices were published in the September 16 PA Bulletin related to oil and gas industry facilities.  Many of the notices offer the opportunity for public comments.

The Department of Environmental Protection invites comments on a request for Section 401 Water Quality Certification from Texas Eastern Transmission, LP for a project to construct a 20-inch natural gas pipeline under the Schuylkill River via horizontal directional drilling in Spring City Borough, Chester County and Upper Providence Township, Montgomery County.  (Sept. 16 PA Bulletin, page 5852)

On September 13, The Derrick reported the Oil Region National Heritage Area will host the second Oil Heritage Energy Security Conference on October 12-13 at the PennWest Clarion Venango Campus in Oil City, Venango County.

On September 12, the Public Utility Commission announced it is urging consumers across the Commonwealth to jumpstart #SaveInPA opportunities for the fall and winter heating seasons by shopping now for their natural gas supply – which could result in a savings on the energy portion of their monthly natural gas bills.

On September 12, the Shapiro Administration announced it has secured $100 million through a consent agreement with the Monsanto Company, Solutia INC., and Pharmacia LLC to resolve claims related to their production of products containing polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), which damaged waterways and other natural resources across Pennsylvania.

On September 14, the Growing Greener Coalition sent an open letter to members of the House opposing a Senate-passed amendment to House Bill 1300 that would transfer $150 million from the Pennsylvania Game Fund to the Clean Streams Fund saying the Senate proposal would threaten federal wildlife funding to the state.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is now accepting nominations for the 2024 Green Chemistry Challenge Awards from companies or institutions that have developed a new green chemistry process or product that helps protect human health and the environment.

The Westmoreland Conservation District has selected John D. Kitz as the Conservation Farmer of the Year for 2023 and recognized Dr. Robert (Bob) Hedin of Hedin Environmental with the J. Roy Houston Partnership Award at an awards ceremony at the District’s office on September 13.

The Interfaith Partners for the Chesapeake has now helped more than 170 congregations form their own Green Team in an effort to expand Creation Care across the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

On September 14, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced the availability of $65 million through two funding opportunities for new tools, approaches, practices and technologies to further natural resource conservation on private lands through the Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) program.

The Bucknell University Center for Sustainability and the Environment has issued a call for presentation proposals for the 18th River Symposium to be held November 3-4 on the Bucknell University campus in Lewisburg, Union County.

USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service State Conservationist Denise Coleman is conducting a rapid survey in Luzerne, Lackawanna and Wyoming Counties to determine if the impacts of flooding from the September 9, 2023 storm event has caused a watershed impairment and has left property owners at risk.

On September 12, the Pennsylvania Coal Alliance announced the winners of its annual mine safety and reclamation awards.

On September 30 and October 1-2, people from across Pennsylvania will be converging in Harrisburg to change the conversation on climate change at the PA Climate Convergence. 

In October, Pennsylvania Resources Council will host its final hard-to-recycle collection event of 2023 to enable area residents to responsibly recycle a wide variety of items not accepted in curbside collection such as e-waste, tires and small Freon appliances.

On September 14, Dickinson College announced, for the second year in a row, it has earned the top position among baccalaureate institutions in the prestigious Sustainable Campus Index, a publication of the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE).

By Patrick McShea, Educator, Carnegie Museum of Natural History

The Pennsylvania Solar Center will host another in its series of Watts & Learn webinars September 22 on Solar + Storage + Micrograms = Energy Freedom starting at 1:15 p.m.

During a walk on her property in April 2019, Helen Beichel, a landowner of a conserved property in Sullivan County, New York, discovered that a logger had crossed her well-marked property boundary, illegally cut down and removed 120 sawtimber-grade trees, and destroyed a memorial site dedicated to the original property owner and donor of the conservation easement, Tom Raleigh.

The Friends of Allegheny Wilderness are encouraging residents of the City of Warren and visitors to George Washington Park to join the effort to permanently preserve the park from development.

On September 12, the French & Pickering Creeks Conservation Trust announced the launch of their new volunteer program-- the French & Pickering Conservation Corps.

The PA Environmental Council is seeking qualified candidates for the position of President and CEO of the organization.

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation is seeking qualified candidates for three Pennsylvania positions--

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

On September 14, the  U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced that up to $3.6 million in funding for locally-focused environmental education grants is now available under the 2023 Environmental Education (EE) Local Grant Program. 

The Mountain Watershed Association will launch a new season of Water Guardians– a free after-school club for local children in grades K-8 designed to introduce kids to their local environment and deepen their love for and understanding of the natural world.

By Kelly Jedrzejewski, Penn State News

The Center for Coalfield Justice is partnering with the Donora Historical Society and Smog Museum to host an October 11 webinar to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Donora smog, an event that led to the creation of the state Air Pollution Control Act and the federal Clean Air Act.

Registration is now open for the 2023 Pennsylvania Botany Symposium to be held October 20-21 at the Penn Stater Hotel and Conference Center in State College.

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 September 16 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.