Here are 76 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 January 22, Senators Steven Santarsiero (D-Bucks) and Carolyn Comitta (D-Chester), Minority Chair of the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, introduced Senate Bill 581 to increase setback safety zones from natural gas drilling sites and other infrastructure based on the latest science.

The Public Utility Commission published notice in the January 27 PA Bulletin the Calendar Year 2023 Act 13 per well drilling impact fees will drop by 25% for unconventional shale gas wells.

On January 26, the Department of Environmental Protection announced it is implementing new policies that will require unconventional shale gas operators to publicly disclose chemicals they use in drilling and hydraulic fracturing earlier in the well development process through changes to their site-specific Preparedness, Prevention and Contingency (PPC) Plans.

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the January 27 PA Bulletin it is extending the deadline for conventional and unconventional natural gas facility operators to submit their first methane pollution emissions report to June 1, 2024.

Since August 8, 2023, Roulette Oil and Gas LLC has failed to resolve abandoned well violations involving the Guardian B shale gas well pad in Hebron Township, Potter County, even after DEP met with the operator-- Jim Reynolds-- twice on the site, according to DEP inspection reports.

On January 23, 2024, DEP did a follow-up inspection at the Coretsky shale gas well pad in Prospect Borough, Butler County operated by XTO Energy, Inc. [ExxonMobil] and found plugging operations had begun on the first of four abandoned shale gas wells at that pad.

This is yet another example of why there should be protections in place for both conventional oil and gas well operators and taxpayers to make sure situations like this are properly cleaned up and the well plugged. 

From January 20 to 26, DEP’s Oil and Gas Compliance Database shows oil and gas inspectors filed 550 inspection entries.

On January 25, Marcellus Drilling News reported the Department of Environmental Protection issued a permit to Catalyst Energy, Inc. for an oil and gas wastewater injection well in Cyclone, Keating Township, McKean County.

On January 8, 2024, the Environmental Hearing Board issued an adjudication denying the 2021 appeal of a DEP permit for the Tri-County Landfill in Mercer County brought by Liberty Township and the Citizens Environmental Association of Slippery Rock Area.  [Docket 2021007]

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

On January 24, Gov. Josh Shapiro announced the investment of $194.3 million for 28 drinking water, wastewater, stormwater, and nonpoint source projects across 20 counties through the PA Infrastructure Investment Authority.

On January 26, the Department of Environmental Protection announced, after a meeting of the Commonwealth Drought Task Force, that Clinton and Franklin counties will remain in Drought Warning.

The latest Penn State Extension Ag Conservation Currents newsletter features the latest information on farm conservation.

On January 25, Chester County Commissioners Josh Maxwell, Marian Moskowitz, and Eric Roe approved the Chester County Water Resources Authority’s Watersheds 2045, a plan that addresses the county’s water resource issues, such as stormwater and flooding, pollution mitigation and prevention, recreational access, and sustainable water supplies.

On January 23, the Susquehanna River Basin Commission announced it has been awarded $68,255,481 through the Department of Environmental Protection’s federally-funded Abandoned Mine Lands and Acid Mine Drainage Grant Program to construct a mine drainage treatment plant in the Tioga River Watershed.

By Ad Crable, Chesapeake Bay Journal

By Alexandra McLaughlin, Penn State News

On January 26, Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding  announced $2.232 million in funding for research proposals on issues critical to sustaining and growing Pennsylvania's $132.5 billion agriculture industry.

On January 22, the Mountain Watershed Association submitted a petition to DEP to declare almost 11,000 acres unsuitable for coal mining in Donegal Township, Westmoreland County.

The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, in partnership with the US Fish and Wildlife Service, is now soliciting proposals through the Delaware Watershed Conservation Fund (DWCF) to conserve, restore, and connect people with fish and wildlife habitat in the Delaware River watershed.

On January 24, the Department of Environmental Protection announced the award of $573,000 to support 10 projects to protect the Delaware Estuary Coastal Zone and $268,000 for five projects to protect the Lake Erie Coastal Zone.

The Delaware River Basin Commission is scheduled to hold a virtual February 7 hearing on water withdrawal requests, other proposals and a virtual business meeting to consider those requests and other issues on March 6.

On January 22 & 24, U.S. Department of Agriculture State Director for Rural Development Bob Morgan announced USDA is investing more than $5.8 million in renewable energy projects to lower energy bills, generate new income, create jobs, and strengthen competition for Pennsylvania farmers and agricultural producers.

On January 23, PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll, U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm, U.S. Senator Bob Casey, U.S. Representative Matt Cartwright and other federal officials announced the an electric vehicle charging station in Luzerne County is the first completed with Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding in Pennsylvania.

On January 22, the PJM Interconnection announced it will begin performing System Impact Studies on 308 projects representing 46,000 MW of new, mostly renewable electric generation under Transition Cycle 1 of its new project review process.

On January 26, PennEnvironment and Clean Air Council announced they will file in U.S. District Court on Monday a proposed consent decree in settlement of their federal Clean Air Act lawsuit against United States Steel Corporation. 

On January 25, 2024, the Environmental Hearing Board denied a motion by the Lackawanna Energy Center natural gas-fired power plant to dismiss the portion of the Borough of Jessup’s appeal of a DEP Air Quality Permit saying the permit is inconsistent with the local Conditional Use Decision and Host Municipality Agreement.  [Docket: 2023-068]

The Department of Environmental Protection will hold a hearing February 28, if requested, on the RACT II Air Quality Permit and State Implementation Plan revision for the Keystone Station coal-fired power plant in Plumcreek Township, Armstrong County owned by Keystone-Conemaugh Projects, LLC.  [PA Bulletin, page 417] and PA Bulletin, page 469].

The Department of Environmental Protection will hold a hearing, if requested, February 28 on the RACT II Air Quality Permit and State Implementation Plan revision for the Conemaugh Station coal-fired power plant in West Wheatfield Township, Indiana County owned by Keystone-Conemaugh Projects, LLC.  [PA Bulletin, page 418] and PA Bulletin, page 470].

The Department of Environmental Protection will hold a hearing February 28, if requested, on the RACT II Air Quality Permit and State Implementation Plan revision for the Homer City Generation Station in Center Township, Indiana County.   [PA Bulletin, page 419] and PA Bulletin, page 471].

On January 24, the National Association of Counties announced seven communities spanning 11 counties will be the recipients of individualized planning assistance and peer learning support through the Building Resilient Economies in Coal Communities (BRECC) Action Challenge.

The Engineers' Society of Western PA and DEP are again partnering to host the 2024 PA Brownfields Conference March 25-27 at the Penn Stater Hotel and Conference Center in State College.

The PA Association of Environmental Professionals will host a February 15 webinar on Evaluating Ecological Risk Under PA's Land Recycling Program from Noon starting at Noon

On January 23, Local and international humanitarian aid organization Global Links presented UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh with its Outstanding Hospital Partner Award, recognizing the hospital’s 34-year commitment to rescuing surplus supplies and equipment and redirecting them to serve communities in need.

On January 22, the PA Resource Council announced it has released a Request for Proposals  seeking a vendor to develop a business plan for a center for hard-to-recycle materials (CHaRM) to serve the City of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County.

The PA Recreation & Park Society is now accepting registrations for its 2024 Conference and Expo March 12-15 at the Seven Springs Mountain Resort in Seven Springs.

On January 22, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn announced new grant funding totaling $793,800 to support three all-terrain vehicle (ATV)-related projects.

By Carol Hillestad For Pocono Heritage Land Trust

On January 25, the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources began urging forest managers and woodlot owners who are seeking to treat for spongy moth (lymantria dispar dispar) caterpillars this spring to begin planning treatment operations now.

The Penn State Extension and DCNR will host the annual Forest Health, Insect and Disease Briefing on March 12 at the Penn Stater Hotel and Conference Center in State College from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Penn State Extension will host a February 20 webinar on DCNR Community Conservation Partnership Grants and community forestry projects from Noon to 1:00 p.m.

The Friends of Allegheny Wilderness are encouraging the public to submit comments opposing National Park Service and US Forest Service proposed policies allowing permanent, fixed anchor bolts and pitons to deface wilderness climbing rock faces.

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

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 January 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.