138 New Stories - REAL Environmental & Conservation Leadership In PA

Here are 138 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.

Thank you for your leadership!

-- In Celebration Of The Many Contributions Of John Dawes To Protecting And Restoring PA’s Environment, Foundations Create The R. John Dawes Clean Water Fund  [PaEN]

-- Tribune-Democrat: Community Foundation For The Alleghenies Starts R. John Dawes Clean Water Fund

-- PASA Sustainable Agriculture Honors 2024 Pasabilities Award Recipients  [PaEN]

-- Friends Of The Wissahickon Celebrate 100 Years Of Stewardship With Special Events In 2024  [PaEN] 

-- Coal Region Canary: ‘Porcupine Pat’ McKinney Retiring As Environmental Education Coordinator For Schuylkill County Conservation District

-- Slippery Rock Watershed Coalition: 16th Annual Student Symposium On The Environment Draws Over 130  [PaEN] 

-- Clean Air Council Recognizes Amtrak With Environmental Award For Using Clean, Renewable Energy At 30th Street Station In Philadelphia 

-- PA Business Report: Duquesne Light Names Winner Of Underground Electrical Network Innovation Challenge

-- DCNR, POWR: Allegheny River Named PA's 2024 River Of The Year  [PaEN]

-- TribLive: Allegheny River Voted PA’s 2024 River Of The Year

-- Warren Times: Allegheny River Selected As PA’s 2024 River Of The Year

-- Trails At Jakes Rocks, In The Allegheny National Forest, Warren County Selected As Pennsylvania’s 2024 Trail Of The Year  [PaEN] 

-- Trails At Jakes Rocks, In The Allegheny National Forest, Warren County Selected As Pennsylvania’s 2024 Trail Of The Year  [PaEN] 

-- Warren Times: Trails At Jakes Rocks Named State’s 2024 Trail Of The Year

-- Outdoor News: PA Wildlife Biologist Gary Alt Honored With Lifetime Achievement Award After Years Of Tackling Tough Topics

-- NorthcentralPA.com: Longtime PA Conservationist Gary Alt Honored With Lifetime Achievement Award

-- DEP Issues Equitrans Midstream Violation For Not Plugging 19 Abandoned Conventional Wells At The Swarts Natural Gas Storage Field In Greene County; Conflicts With Coal Mining  [PaEN] 

-- Protect PT: Commonwealth Court Vacates Penneco Oil & Gas Wastewater Injection Well Permit, Remanding It To Plum Boro For Additional Fact Finding In Allegheny County  [PaEN]

-- The Derrick - Makayla Keating: Aqua Pennsylvania Continues To Operate Venango Water System Serving The Village Of Reno After A Conventional Well Wastewater Release Contaminated Its Water Supply Last July  [PDF of article]

-- What’s That Pink Stuff Spilled At Apex Energy Shale Gas Well Pad In Salem Twp., Westmoreland County?  [PaEN]

-- DEP Citizens Advisory Council Meets Feb. 13 To Discuss Guidance Limiting Impacts Of Pipeline Construction; Pipelines Needed For Carbon Sequestration, Hydrogen; Electrification  [PaEN] 

-- DelcoTimes.com: Chester Mayor Says LNG Natural Gas Export Plant ‘Dead In The Water’ 

-- Inquirer: Biden’s Pause On New LNG Natural Gas Export Facility Approvals May Have ‘Saved Chester,’ The City’s New Mayor Says

-- WHYY: Chester LNG Natural Gas Export Project Promises Return, Despite Biden’s Pause And Other Hurdles 

-- The Hill: European Union Lawmakers To Biden: We Don’t Need More US Natural Gas  

-- The Energy Age Blog: Liquefied Natural Gas Or LNG: EU Lawmakers To Biden - We Don’t Need More US Natural Gas

-- Reuters: US LNG Natural Gas Exports Fall In January On Arctic Freeze, Plant Outages

-- Inquirer: Casey, Fetterman Split With Bide Over LNG Natural Gas Export Facility Pause

-- Pittsburgh Business Times: Casey, Fetterman Say They’re Concerned About Biden’s LNG Natural Gas Export Facility Pause

-- E&E News Energy: FERC Continues To Review LNG Natural Gas Export Facility Permit Despie Biden’s Pause

-- Financial Times: Household Energy Costs Factor Into Biden’s Pause On New LNG Natural Gas Export Facilities  [Industrial Energy Consumers: “More Exports Equal More Reliability And Price Risk”]

-- The Energy Age Blog: Reality - ‘Proprietary’ Fracking Chemicals Remain Secrets, But What About The Bigger Picture?

-- The Energy Age: Energy Politics In PA - CNX CEO Critical Of Dr. Ketyer’s Comments On ‘Radical Transparency’

-- Energy News Network: Why A Natural Gas Storage Climate ‘Disaster’ Could Happen Again [Equitrans Rager Mountain Storage Area Leak In Cambria County In 2022 Used As Example]

-- PUC To Seek Comment On $250,000 Penalty Settlement With Peoples Gas On Natural Gas Over-Pressurization Incident In Indiana County That Damaged Hundreds Of Appliances, Caused Distribution Pipeline Leaks  [PaEN]  

-- DelcoTimes Guest Essay: Stronger Emission Standards Needed For Fossil Fuel Industry - By Sen. Amanda Cappelletti (D-Delaware)

-- US EIA To Survey Cryptocurrency Miners To Report Energy Use Data

-- The Center Square - Anthony Hennen: Shifting The Power Grid From Coal, Natural Gas To Wind And Solar Isn’t As Easy As Flipping A Switch  [PA Senate Committee Hearing]

-- PJM Preliminary Performance Review Found 16,119 MW Of Forced Power Plant Outages During Winter Storm Gerri Affecting The Western Region Of PJM  [PaEN] 

-- Utility Dive: FERC Approves PJM Capacity Accreditation, Including Measuring Natural Gas-Fired Power Plant Contributions, Modeling Reforms Aimed At Boosting Reliability

-- PA Capital-Star: Clean Power Advocates Eye PJM Grid Operator’s Planning Reforms Warily

-- TribLive: Multi-Million Dollar Power Line Project Needed To Make Up For Closure Of Springdale Power Plant

-- TribLive: Plans For New Westmoreland Power Line Spark Property Owner Concerns Over Potential Impacts

-- Wilkes-Barre Times: Student Powers Up Wright Center’s Energy-Savings Efforts

-- Inside Climate News: Old Fight Over Air Quality From Clairton Coke [Coal] Plant Drags On Outside Pittsburgh

-- Group Against Smog & Pollution: US Steel Appeals $2.2 Million Fine For Clairton Coke [Coal] Works Air Pollution Violations

-- TribLive: ‘This Is What Money Smells Like;’  $2.2 Million Fine Is Latest Entry In Clairton Coke ‘Coal’ Plant’s Air Pollution History

-- WESA: Environmental Groups, Residents Hail ‘Historic’ Settlement In Air Pollution Case Against Clairton Coke [Coal] Works In Allegheny County

-- Inside Climate News: Old Fight Over Air Quality From Clairton Coke [Coal] Plant Drags On Outside Pittsburgh

-- Post-Gazette: Residents Eager For Change As Landmark US Steel Air Pollution Settlement Brings Environmental Solutions To Mon Valley

-- AP: US Steel Agrees To Spend Millions To Settle Lawsuit Over Air Pollution Violations  In Allegheny County

-- Pittsburgh Business Times: Steelworkers Say Nippon Steel Isn’t Giving Them Enough Information

-- Erie Times: Erie Coke [Coal] Corp Blasts Their Federal Indictment On Air Pollution Crimes 

-- Post-Gazette - Anya Litvak: Rocky First Year For Shell Petrochemical Plant Commercial Operations In Beaver County 

-- Beaver County Times Guest Essay: Shapiro Shows How Unfortunate Circumstances Can Still Produce Noble Results - By Daniel Rossi-Keen  [$10 Million Shell Petrochemical Plant Penalty]

-- Pittsburgh Business Times: Shell Petrochemical Plant’s Costs Much Higher Than Previously Disclosed,-- $14 Billion; Won’t Be Fully Up And Running Until 2025, 2026 

-- Environmental Health News: Faulty Economic Studies Misled PA Lawmakers To Give Shell Petrochemical Plant Billions In Taxpayer Subsidies

-- Ohio River Valley Institute: PA’s Bad Bet: Why The Shell Petrochemical Plant Didn’t Save Appalachia With Plastics

--  PA Capital-Star: Faulty Economic Studies Misled PA Lawmakers On Billions In Subsidies For Shell Petrochemical Plant

-- Rep. Matzie Calls On State Senate To Pass Bipartisan House Rail Safety Bill

-- Gov. Shapiro: One Year After Norfolk Southern Train Derailment, State Agencies Focused On Supporting Local Communities, First Responders

-- Beaver County Times: PA Residents Seek Aid From Darlington Twp. A Year After Norfolks Southern Train Derailment

-- The Allegheny Front: A Year Later, A PA Resident Impacted By Norfolk Southern Train Derailment Pushes For Answers

-- PA Solar Center: 2 Get Solar Projects Move Forward In Lawrence, Centre Counties;  Get Solar Webinar Feb. 29; FirstEnergy Companies Double Solar Rebates  [PaEN]

-- The Energy Age Blog: Electric Vehicle & Home Solar Energy Use January 2024

-- Planet Philadelphia Radio Show: Feb. 2 - Measures To Improve Our Climate & Lives, 4:00 p.m. 

-- New Report: Implementing 30% By 2030 Renewable Energy Policy Would Generate $13 Billion For PA

-- PPL, Partners Selected For $72 Million US DOE Grant To Fund Carbon Dioxide Capture Project In Kentucky

-- FirstLight Announces Second Year of Competitive Grant Program To Support Local Organizations Advancing Climate Action and Community Impact Projects

-- WHYY: City Council Members Want Answers On Philly’s Carbon Neutrality Progress

-- Citizens Voice: Heating, Utility Assistance Program Still Taking Applications For Moderate-Income Luzerne County Residents

-- DCED: Gov. Shapiro Launches First Statewide Economic Development Strategy In Nearly 2 Decades

-- Marcellus Drilling News: Shapiro Pays Hollow Lip Service To Natural Gas In New Economic Strategy [PDF of article]

-- Pittsburgh Business Times: Energy Plays Priority Role In Shapiro’s Economic Development Plan

-- Pittsburgh Business Times: Hazelwood Green Mill 19 Fitting Scene For Unveiling Shapiro’s Economic Plan

-- WITF/WVIA: Plan In Place To Grow Pennsylvania’s Outdoor Recreation Economy

-- Warren Times: Pursue Your Happiness: State Wants To Bet Big On Outdoor Recreation

-- Pennsylvania Wilds, Southeast Ohio Receive Appalachian Regional Commission Grant To Study Rural Tourism Economies 

-- Inquirer: What Can Slow The Population Loss In Rural PA?  ‘More People Are Dying Than Having Babies’  Local Officials Have Ideas

-- Environmental Quality Board Meets Feb. 13 On Land Recycling Program Cleanup Standards For More PFAS Chemicals, Revised Standard For Lead, Rulemaking Petition For Fletcher Run, Greene County By CONSOL Coal  [PaEN] 

-- Keep PA Beautiful Wants You To Fight Dirty!  Register Now For The Pick Up Pennsylvania Community Improvement Program  [PaEN] 

-- Keep PA Beautiful Now Accepting Applications For America250PA Community Cleanup Mini-Grants  [PaEN] 

-- TribLive: Yukon-Area Residents Critical Of Lawsuit Settlement With Max Environmental Technologies In Westmoreland  

-- State Conservation Commission Awards $3 Million In Conservation Excellence Grants To 4 Organizations  [PaEN]

-- Susquehanna River Basin Commission Awards $150,000+ Grants To Support 34 Local Watershed Projects  [PaEN]  ​

-- National Fish & Wildlife Foundation Now Accepting Proposals For Chesapeake Bay Small Watershed Grants Program  [PaEN] 

-- DEP Chesapeake Bay Update Newsletter: Request For Engineering Services; PennVEST Funding Outreach Sessions; Much More!  [PaEN] 

-- Penn State Center For Ag Conservation Assistance Hires Engineering Firm To Help Develop Certification Program For Conservation Professionals; Spring Conference; Seeking New Faculty  [PaEN]  

-- WNEP: Pioneer Tunnel Coal Mine, Steam Train Museum In Schuylkill County To Begin Mine Reclamation

-- WNEP: Nanticoke Creek Watershed Project Receives Boost To Restore Old Coal Mine Property

-- LancasterOnline: Plan For Chiques Roller Mill Dam Removal Addresses Sediment Concerns Downstream

-- Allegheny County Conservation District Unveils Insights Into County Development And Stormwater Infrastructure  [PaEN]

-- Still Time To Register! Keystone Coldwater Conference Feb. 23-24 In State College  [PaEN] 

-- Penn State Extension Hosts Feb. 28 Webinar On Green Stormwater Infrastructure [PaEN] 

-- March 4 Penn State Extension Webinar On Monitoring Soil Moisture: A Climate Smart Ag Practice  [PaEN] 

-- March 11 Streambank Stabilization And Stream Crossings On Farms Webinar  [PaEN]

-- PA Society Of Professional Engineers Host Feb. 22 Virtual DEP Update On MS4 Stormwater Program, NPDES Water Quality Permitting  [PaEN]  

-- Manada Conservancy Hosts Feb. 22 Woodland Vernal Ponds Program At Hershey Gardens Conservatory  [PaEN]

-- Chesapeake Bay Foundation: When It Rains It Pours - With Road Salt It Creates A Bad Brew  [PaEN] 

-- Protecting Clean Water Together: Explore The Brodhead Watershed In Monroe County - By Carol Hillestad for the Brodhead Watershed Association  [PaEN]

-- DEP Assesses $73,153 Penalty On 2 Contractors Building A Rutter's Store In Blair County For Water Quality Violations; Exactly The Kind Of Violations A Citizen Group Was Afraid Of   [PaEN]

-- Altoona Mirror: Rutter’s Store Contractors Fined $73,000 For Water Quality Violations Discovered Last Year In Blair County

-- PUC Seeks To Enhance Public Notification and Application Review Procedures For Acquisitions Of Municipal Or Authority-Owned Water & Wastewater Systems [PaEN]

-- Wilkes-Barre Times: Shapiro: Low-Interest Loans Available For Sept. 2023 NE PA Flood Survivors 

-- WNEP: SBA Help On The Way For September Flood Victims In NE PA

-- Post-Gazette Editorial: State Landslide Insurance Would Protect Region’s Hillside Homeowners

-- WeConservePA: Whitemarsh Twp. And Community Conserve 51 Acres Connected To Other Public Lands In Montgomery County 

-- ClearWater Conservancy Conserves Colerain Center Property In Huntingdon County  [PaEN]

-- Willistown Conservation Trust Acquires 5.6 Acre Watson Easement In Delaware County  [PaEN] 

-- Inquirer - Frank Kummer: Upper Pottsgrove Breaks Ground For Municipal Complex On Land Advocates Say Is Supposed To Be Preserved

-- Registration Open For French & Pickering Creeks Conservation Trust Iron Tour Cycling For Open Space June 9 In Chester County

-- PA Organization For Watersheds & Rivers Now Accepting Applications For PA Sojourn Grants  [PaEN] 

-- PA Environmental Council In Case You Missed It In January Now Available  [PaEN] 

-- Water At Risk: The History And Mystery Of Lawns, Try A Lower Maintenance, Natural Landscaping Instead - By Carol Hillestad for the Brodhead Watershed Association  [PaEN] 

-- StateImpactPA - Rachel McDevitt: Climate Change Could Contribute To Honey Declines, Study Says 

-- Dept. Of Health, Other Agencies Invite Students To Enter Tick, Lyme Disease Art, Video Contest  [PaEN]

-- Asbury Woods Environmental Center Invites Public To Feb. 3 Trout In Classroom Unveiling In Erie  [PaEN]

-- LancasterOnline: Lancaster City Schools Expand Outdoor Learning, Transform Schoolyard Habitats

-- Educators Invited To Next Online Meeting Of Southwest Regional Environmental Literacy Coalition Feb. 12  [PaEN]

-- LancasterOnline - Ad Crable: No Longer Feared, Controlled Burns Return To Fields And Forests In Lancaster County, State 

-- KDKA: Start Now To Stop The Spread Of Spotted Lanternflies

-- TribLive: Gardening And Growing Food A Form Of Liberation For The Black Community

-- Pike Conservation District: Our Pest Control Pals In Nature

-- Warren Times: Allegheny National Forest Proposes New Trail Segments At Morrison, Powerhouse Site

-- The Gazette: Wandering The Pennsylvania Wilds

-- Pike Conservation District: Seasonal Tales Of Regional Trails

-- ExploringByBike.com: Good News, Another Gap On The D&L Trail Disappears

-- Butler County North Country Trail Assn. Chapter Host 20th Washington Cherry Pike Hike Feb. 25 [PaEN]

-- Williamsport Sun: Loyalsock Grad Clinton Fought Enjoys Passion Of Paragliding

-- York Dispatch: DEP Issues Violation Notices To Brunner Island Power Plant For Discharge Of Warmer Than Normal Cooling Water Related To Susquehanna River Fish Kill

-- York Daily Record: DEP Cites Brunner Island Power Plant For Oil Discharge And A Fish Kill

-- LancasterOnline: Snow Geese Are Landing At Middle Creek Wildlife Area

-- Beaver County Times - Brian Whipkey: Coastlines Along Lake Erie Are Great For Bird Watchers, Here’s Why

-- Post-Gazette - Mary Ann Thomas: Christmas Bird Count Shows All-Time Highs For Ravens, Bald Eagles, Redwing Blackbirds 

-- Warren Times - Audubon Nature Center: Intricacies In The Natural World

-- AP: Punxsutawney Phil Predicts An Early Spring

-- WITF/AP: Feb. 2 Groundhog Day’s Biggest Star Is Phil, But The Holiday’s Deep Roots Extend Well Beyond Punxsutawney 

Visit the PA Environment Digest website to learn more.

Going The RIGHT WAY:

-- 138 New Stories - REAL Environmental & Conservation Leadership In PA

-- 76 New Stories - REAL Environmental & Conservation Leadership In PA 

-- 101 New Stories - REAL Environmental & Conservation Leadership In PA

-- 92 New Stories - REAL Environmental & Conservation Leadership In PA

-- 92 New Stories - REAL Environmental & Conservation Leadership In PA

-- 35 New Stories - REAL Environmental & Conservation Leadership In PA

-- 4,258 Stories In 2023 - Environmental & Conservation Leadership, Significant Events In PA  [PaEN]

-- 3,190 New Stories In 2022 - REAL Environmental & Conservation Leadership [PaEN] 

[Posted: February 4, 2024]   PA Environment Digest