Here are 104 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 December 11, former employees of the Eureka Resources oil and gas wastewater treatment company based in Williamsport wrote a letter to  Lycoming County District Attorney Ryan Gardner requesting him to undertake a “criminal misconduct” investigation of alleged workplace and environmental violations by the company.

The PA League of Women Voters and the University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health have made videos of the panel discussions, presentations and Q/A sessions from the 2023 Shale Gas and Public Health Conference held on November 14.

From December 9 to 15, DEP’s Oil and Gas Compliance Database shows oil and gas inspectors filed 149 inspection entries.

On December 15, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy announced conditional commitments to 14 states to receive a total of $350 million in formula grant funding to help measure and reduce methane emissions from active, conventional oil and gas wells.

On December 13, the Independent Fiscal Office estimated 2023 Act 13 shale gas drilling fee revenues will drop by $104.8 million to $174 million from last year's record $278.9 million due primarily from the reduction in the price of natural gas.

On December 18, HEI Energy will host a webinar on new research on Community Exposures To Oil and Gas Development and Groundwater Contamination from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m.

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

On December 11, DEP told the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee the Shapiro Administration supports expansion of the Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards to increase renewable energy generation, authorization of a community solar program and expanding energy storage in the Commonwealth.

The PJM Interconnection has implemented its winter readiness steps for 2023–2024 and, along with its member utilities, is prepared to serve the forecasted demand for electricity this winter under expected conditions.

On December 12, the Department of Environmental Protection and the Public Utility Commission announced the Commonwealth’s Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards (AEPS) program has surpassed one gigawatt (GW) or 1,000 megawatts (MW) of solar energy.

On December 13, the House passed House Bill 1476 sponsored by Rep. Greg Vitali (D-Delaware), Majority Chair of the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee,  requiring registration of cryptocurrency mining operations and an impact study of their operations by the Department of Environmental Protection and the Public Utility Commission.

On December 14, Carbon County residents joined Clean Air Council and PennFuture for a virtual press conference urging the Department of Environmental Protection to reject Stronghold Digital Mining, Inc. request to burn tires to fuel its cryptocurrency mining operation at the Panther Creek Power Plant.

On January 22, WeConserve PA will host a webinar on Why Municipalities Should Consider A Utility-Scale Solar Energy Facility Ordinance from 7:00 to 8:15 p.m.

On December 15, CNX Resources announced it has ended coordination with the Adams Fork "clean ammonia" project in Mingo County, West Virginia and is evaluating several viable alternative sites in southern West Virginia for clean hydrogen projects.

On December 13, the Public Utility Commission announced it will hold a two-day stakeholders meeting February 7-8 on the Act 129 2023 Statewide Evaluator Energy Efficiency Baseline Studies and 2026 draft Technical Reference Manual Update.

On December 13, the General Assembly gave final approval to and sent to the Governor Fiscal Code, Administrative Code, Tax Code and Education Code bills completing action on the 2023-24 state budget.

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice of 2024 meetings of its advisory committees, boards and commissions and a contact persons for each group in the December 16 PA Bulletin.  (formal notice)

On December 14, the Department of Environmental Protection announced it has issued a Notice of Violation (NOV) to Keystone Sanitary Landfill in Lackawanna County for failure to control odors at its facility in the boroughs of Dunmore and Throop.

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the December 16 PA Bulletin prohibiting the sale of electronic devices by Wiltronic Corp (IVIEW) as a result of violations of the Covered Device Recycling Act-- Pennsylvania’s electronics waste recycling law.   (PA Bulletin, page 7804)

On December 13, Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful announced the Delaware County Office of Sustainability has completed the process of becoming the newest affiliate of Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful (KPB)—Keep Delco Beautiful!

On December 14, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced a proposed rule to establish federal water quality standards (WQS) for certain zones of the Delaware River under the jurisdictions of Delaware, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.

On December 11, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, in partnership with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the federal-state Chesapeake Bay Program partnership, announced it is soliciting proposals through the Chesapeake Bay Stewardship Fund to restore water quality and habitats of the Chesapeake Bay and its tributary rivers and streams.

On December 15, the PA Council of Trout Unlimited and Coldwater Heritage Partnership announced they are now accepting registrations for the 2024 Keystone Coldwater Conference in State College on February 23-24.

Snyder County-based Susquehanna University is looking to the animal kingdom for innovative solutions to stream management — beaver dams.

On December 15, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced Martha Shimkin will lead the Chesapeake Bay Program Office in the Mid-Atlantic Region.

The Fall newsletter of the PA Council of Trout Unlimited highlights local Chapter and statewide initiatives of the Council, including the development of the Muddy Paws Environmental Center in Spring Mills, Centre County.

On December 14, the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources announced it will host nearly 60 guided hikes in 43 state parks and two forest districts on New Year’s Day, as part of the nationwide “First Day Hike” efforts.

The December 15 Take Five Fridays With Pam is now available from the PA Parks and Forests Foundation featuring articles on--

By Annie Maloney, Foundation for Sustainable Forests

The Fall Update from the PA Natural Heritage Program features articles on these and other topics--

On December 12, the Pennsylvania Environmental Council announced that Thomas Gilbert will serve as the organization’s next President beginning in January.

Regional conservation nonprofit North Branch Land Trust welcomes Stephen Maakestad as the newest Chair of the organization’s Board of Directors.

On December 10, the PA/NJ Chapter of the American Chestnut Foundation announced the passing of Dr. Bob Leffel, who with his wife Ann, helped found the Pennsylvania Chapter in 1994.  Ann passed away in 2020.

The Huntingdon County Conservation District is looking for candidates to fill a full-time position as the District Manager.

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

The Wildlife Leadership Academy is now accepting nominations for the Student Conservation Ambassadors Program for students ages 14 to 17.

The Penn State Extension will host a webinar December 21 on shale gas trends for landowners and those considering land leasing from Noon to 1:00 p.m.

The PA GreenGov Council and the Penn State Sustainability will host a four-part sustainability webinar series on a variety of topics starting January 12.

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

On December 12, the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee reported out legislation to establish an Independent Energy Information Office by a party-line vote, Republicans supporting.

The Senate and House Appropriations Committee have released their 2024 agency budget hearing schedules that will follow the Governor’s budget address on February 6.

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 December 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.