Here are 88 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--

Steven J. Schiffman, Esq., will receive the WeConservePA 2024 Lifetime Conservation Leadership Award at the Pennsylvania Land Conservation Conference at the Thursday night dinner on April 4.

On March 8, the PA Parks and Forests Foundation announced the winners of its 2024 awards.  The winners will be honored at an Awards Banquet on May 14 at Little Buffalo State Park in Newport, Perry County.

This profile of Bernie McGurl of the Lackawanna River Conservation Association first appeared on the WVIA website March 3, 2024--

By Sigrid Sharif

Information provided by the Department of Environmental Protection in response to a Right To Know request shows DEP took enforcement action against 14 conventional oil and gas well operators that resulted in collecting $422,365 in penalties and bond forfeitures in 2023.

On March 5, 2024, the Department of Environmental Protection issued violations to 101 conventional oil and gas wells operated by Medina Res Dev Co. LLC in Crawford and Erie counties for being abandoned and not plugged, according to DEP’s Oil and Gas Compliance Database.

More articles this week on the uncontrolled impacts of the shale gas industry on people and their communities--

From March 2 to 8, DEP’s Oil and Gas Compliance Database shows oil and gas inspectors filed 1,243 inspection entries.

On March 7, 2024, US Environmental Protection Agency Region III Underground Injection Well Program issued formal notice by email with instructions on appealing the Penneco Environmental Solutions, LLC oil and gas wastewater injection well in Plum Borough, Allegheny County.

The following DEP notices were published in the March 9 PA Bulletin related to oil and gas industry facilities.  Many of the notices offer the opportunity for public comments. 

DEP’s Oil and Gas Technical Advisory Board is scheduled to meet March 19 on a variety of topics including--

On February 28, Ohio US Senator Sherrod Brown and Oregon US Senator Jeff Merkley introduced the Protecting American Households from Rising Energy Costs Act, legislation that would ban the export of crude oil or liquefied natural gas (LNG) to our biggest adversaries: China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea.

On February 28, Ohio US Senator Sherrod Brown and Oregon US Senator Jeff Merkley introduced the Protecting American Households from Rising Energy Costs Act, legislation that would ban the export of crude oil or liquefied natural gas (LNG) to our biggest adversaries: China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea.  Read more here.

By Steve Anderson, US Army Brigadier General - Retired

On March 7, the Shapiro Administration announced efforts to enhance and improve permitting are showing early success as the Department of Environmental Protection improves online permitting, online payment, and delivers on-time permit decisions.

DEP Interim Acting Secretary Jessica Shirley introduced the latest DEP Newsletter to “highlight our collective wins, amplify our mission to protect the environmental rights of Pennsylvanians, showcase the critical work done by our peers, and ensure everyone is informed of upcoming events.”

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the March 9 PA Bulletin announcing individuals may file an appeal of the consent order and agreement it signed on November 9, 2023 with Scrubgrass Reclamation Company, LP for the removal of waste coal ash that has accumulated at the Scrubgrass Waste Coal Power Plant In Scrubgrass Township, Venango County.  (PA Bulletin, page 1262)

On March 6, the Department of Environmental Protection announced after a meeting of the Commonwealth Drought Task Force that drought watch/warning will be lifted for the last remaining 8 counties.

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the March 9 PA Bulletin inviting comments on the draft NPDES General Permit for Discharges of Stormwater Associated with Construction Activities (PAG-02). 

The Audubon Society of Western PA, Western PA Conservancy and Allegheny County Conservation District will host a March 28 Streambank Stabilization Workshop at the Buffalo Creek Nature Park in Saver and online from 9:00 a.m. to Noon.

DEP’s latest Chesapeake Bay newsletter highlights conservation district highlights from 2023, updates on grants awarded and coming up, county clean water plan accomplishments and much more.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency invites eligible applicants in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, Delaware, and Washington D.C. to apply for a Regional Source Reduction Assistance Grant by April 15, 2024.

On March 4, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation invited photographers in Pennsylvania to submit their top photographs from throughout Pennsylvania’s portion of the Chesapeake Bay watershed for the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF)’s annual Save the Bay Photo Contest.

On March 6, Delaware River Basin Commission Executive Director Steve Tambini announced at the Commission's Quarterly Business Meeting he will retire effective December 1. Tambini has served in the role since 2014.

On March 4, the Public Utility Commission wrote to members of Pennsylvania's Congressional Delegation urging them to take necessary and swift action to ensure the remaining Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) funds for 2023-24 become available to help low-income families in the state.

POWER Interfaith, Vote Solar, Clean Air Council, Sierra Club, Physicians for Social Responsibility Pennsylvania, and PennEnvironment-- collectively, the Energy Justice Advocates--  filed a petition to intervene at the Public Utility Commission to challenge PECO’s “business-as-usual” electricity supply plan, which falls far short of meeting the urgent renewable energy and environmental justice needs of residents and communities.

On March 5, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced it will add the area surrounding the former Exide Technologies Laureldale facility in Berks County to the Superfund National Priorities List (NPL) on March 7.

The Pennsylvania Resources Council will host a FREE Backyard Composting Workshop on Saturday, March 23, in Upland Park in Delaware County.

The managers of the Susquehanna River Water Trails  are pleased to announce the release of a logo and branding suite to promote and help users navigate this unique network for on-water recreation.

The PA Firefly Festival in Forest County is now accepting applications for a lottery for tickets to 2024 PA Firefly Festival on June 28 and 29 and for the Flow & Know Campouts on June 22 and 25.  The deadline for ticket lottery entries is March 30.

On March 6, Elizabeth Crisfield of Harris Township, a conservation scientist for more than 20 years, has been selected as the new Executive Director of the Centre County-based ClearWater Conservancy beginning May 1, 2024.

Celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Delaware Highlands Conservancy with an elegant evening of glamour and generosity at the Foods of the Delaware Highlands dinner on Saturday, May 4, 2024 at Silver Birches in Hawley, Wayne County, PA.

The Susquehanna River Basin Commission is seeking qualified individuals to fill an Assistant Legal Counsel, Grants and Special Projects Coordinator, Hydrologist and Summer Intern positions.

Pittsburgh-based Landforce is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Director of Wood Reuse.

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

The PA Association of Environmental Professionals will host an April 24 webinar on Protecting PA’s Aquatic Ecosystems from Thermal Discharges In An Era of Climate Change starting at Noon.

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 March 9 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.