166 New Stories - REAL Environmental & Conservation Leadership In PA

Here are 166 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!

-- Pennsylvania Celebrates Conservation District Week April 28 to May 4  [PaEN]

-- Warren Times - Josh Cotton: Students Participate In Annual Warren Conservation District Envirothon Competition  

-- Lock Haven Express: Centre County Celebrates Envirothon Winners, Conservation District Week

-- Republican Herald: Team From Blue Mountain School District Takes Top Prize In 49th Schuylkill Conservation District Envirothon

-- LancasterOnline: Elizabethtown H.S. Envirothon Team Get Hands-On Science Lessons In Canoes

-- The Bradford Era: McKean County Conservation District Works To Improve Water Quality

-- Lancaster Farming: Conservation Partnership Restores Clean Water To Turtle Creek

-- Pike Conservation District: Pike County Ponds!

-- Republican Herald: West Nile Virus Monitoring Starts In Schuylkill County 

-- Shapiro Administration Commends 3 PA Schools For Environmental Efforts As Green Ribbon Schools

-- National Energy Technology Laboratory: Winners In Western PA, West Virginia Science Bowl Competed In National Science Bowl 

-- Wildlife For Everyone Foundation Announces 5 Recipients Of 2024 Student Scholarships  [PaEN] 

-- Williamsport Sun: Eagle On The Mend Through Ashkar Students’ Efforts

-- Hatch: The Life Of Conservationist Bill Kodrich - Environmental Stewardship And A Good Piece Of Pie [Iron Furnace TU Chapter In Clarion]

-- May 10-12 Hawk Mountain Sanctuary Celebrates 90 Years; Global Raptor Conservation  Symposium May 11  [PaEN]

-- PA Solar Center Honors 5 Western PA Organizations Who Have Gone Solar  [PaEN]

-- PA Resources Council Glass Recycling Program Honored With Governor's Award For Environmental Excellence  [PaEN]

-- US Steel Battery-Powered Locomotives Receives Governor’s Award For Environmental Excellence

-- Maryland National Guard Abandons Proposal To Do Very Low-Level Aircraft Combat Training Over The Pennsylvania Wilds  [PaEN] 

-- WNEP: Bucknell University’s Small Business Development Center Receives National Honor

-- DEP Launches Pilot Program In 10 Counties To Speed Up Processing Chapter 102 Erosion & Sedimentation Permits Starting May 1 [PaEN] 

-- Pittsburgh Business Times: DEP Pilot Seeks To Quicken Pace Of Stormwater Discharge Permit Process

-- DEP Posts New Permit Modernization Webpage To Track Progress In ‘Getting Stuff Done’ Without Sacrificing Environmental, Public Health Protection 

-- White House Finalizes Reforms To Modernize Environmental Review, Accelerate Clean Energy Future

-- Senate Republicans Pass Bill Authorizing An Authority To Take Over Permitting Large-Scale Energy Projects; Eliminating Public Comment; Waiving Any Regulation; Providing Immunity From Prosecution; Barbers Reviewing Permits?  [PaEN]

-- PennLive: PA Senate Republicans Pass Bill Allowing Large-Scale Energy Projects To Bypass State Agencies

-- Bill Reported Out Of Senate Committee Would Allow Pipelines Like Mariner East To Apply For Waivers Of Any PUC Regulation, Law Or Policy  [PaEN] 

-- PA Capital-Star: PA Senate Committee Advances Bill To Allow Utility Companies To Request A Waiver For Any Law Or Regulation Enforced By The PUC [Senate Bill 1174] 

-- Capital & Main: US Oil/Gas Production Is Booming; So Are The Industry’s Donations To Its Republican Allies [PA Will See A ‘Flood Of Money From The Industry’]

-- Conventional Oil & Gas Industry Says It’s A ‘Terrific Lie’ To Say It Is Responsible For Abandoning Thousands Of Wells; Industry To Change Definition So They Can Avoid Responsibility  [PaEN] 

-- Shapiro Marks Plugging 200th Abandoned Conventional Oil & Gas Well: These Companies Will Do Anything To Avoid Paying For Plugging; It’s Not Okay Some In The Legislature Are Shielding Them; Text Well Locations  [PaEN - 3.12.24]

-- EDF: US House Passes Bill To Locate Abandoned/Orphaned Conventional Oil & Gas Wells, Improve Well Plugging Technology [PaEN] 

-- TribLive: Bill To Improve Plugging Abandoned Gas Wells Passes US House

-- PA Oil & Gas Weekly Compliance Dashboard - April 27 to May 3 - Hunting Abandoned Quaker State Wells; Conventional Well Dumpster Fire; Multiple Water Withdrawal Violations  [PaEN]

-- Beaver County Radio: Study: PA Ranks High For Health Impacts Of Oil & Gas Flaring Emissions 

-- Inside Climate News: Shell Petrochemical Plant In Beaver County Promised Prosperity, But To Some Residents It’s Become A ‘Shockingly Bad’ Neighbor  

-- The Allegheny Front: New Book Takes On Radiation Dangers In Oil & Gas Industry  [PaEN]  

-- ABC27: Environmental Advocacy Groups Rally At Capitol For Action On Gas, Oil Industry

-- Sen. Muth, Environmental Advocates Join Author Justin Nobel At Capitol To Discuss Oil/Gas Industry Hazardous Waste

-- Center For Coalfield Justice, Partners Host May 4 Book Signing In Washington County With Justin Nobel, Author of Petroleum 238: Big Oil's Dangerous Secret  [PaEN] 

-- Better Path Coalition: On Demand: Brown Bag Briefing By Justin Nobel On His New Book Petroleum 238: Big Oil’s Dangerous Secret And the Grassroots Fight To Stop It

-- Post-Gazette - Anya Litvak: Ohio AG Wants PA’s Austin Master Services CEO Jailed For Failing To Cleanup Oil & Gas Waste Plant In Martins Ferry 

-- The Allegheny Front: Ohio AG Wants PA Company Held In Contempt For Failing To Cleanup Radioactive Oil & Gas Waste 

-- DEP’s Latest Oil & Gas Workload Report (April 26) Shows ZERO Shale Gas Wells Drilled In That Week  [Will Have An Impact On Act 13 Fee Revenue]

-- Williamsport Editorial: LNG Gas Permit Ban Is Simply Unreasonable  [The Pause-- Not Ban--  Is On NEW Export Projects, LNG Export Capacity Will Double During Pause; PA Shale Gas Coalition Wants To Export PA Gas To China, Our Competitor]  

-- WHYY - Susan Phillips: Green Hydrogen: A Climate Change Solution Or Fossil Fuel Bait And Switch? 

-- TribLive: Donations Exceed $875,000 For Those Affected By Plum Boro Natural Gas House Explosion

-- TribLive Editorial: Plum Boro Neighborhood Where Natural Gas Home Explosion Occurred Emerges As Village Of Importance

-- Scientific American: Gas Stove Pollution Lingers In Homes For Hours Even Outside The Kitchen

-- Fortune: Gas Stove Pollution Harms Poor And Minority Americans The Most, Due In Part To Different Home Sizes, Study Says

-- The Guardian: Gas Stoves Increase Nitrogen Dioxide Exposure Above Health Standards Disproportionately Affecting People Of Color and Low-Income People

-- PJM Interconnection Anticipates Adequate Electric Generation Resources To Meet Summer Demand Under 'Anticipated Conditions'  [PaEN]

-- Utility Dive Guest Essay: FERC, NERC Review Of Winter Storm Gas Infrastructure Failures Lacks Transparency, Provided Insufficient Scrutiny On Impacts - By Union Of Concerned Scientists

-- Reuters: US Oil, Gas Production Rebounds In Feb. After Extensive Winter Storm Disruptions

-- PJM Interconnection, Penn State ISO-NE Awarded $815,959 US DOE Grant To Improve Wholesale Electricity Market Design

-- Bloomberg: Texas Utility Makes Case Pipeline Prices Unfairly Drove Up Gas Prices In 2021 Storm 

-- Bloomberg: Federal Trade Commission Alleges Shale Producer Scott Sheffield [Pioneer]  Tried To Collude With OPEC To Prop Up Crude Oil Prices By Coordinating Production Levels 

-- Financial Times: Federal Trade Commission OPEC Collusion Claim Against US Shale Oil Producer Sets Off Tremor In Oil Patch

-- ABC27: Changes Proposed To PA’s Susquehanna Nuclear Power Plant Emergency Alert System; Public Meeting May 9 

-- Post-Gazette Guest Essay: Do The Owners Of The Three Mile Island Nuclear Power Plant Have Enough Money To Decommission The Facility? - By Council To Modernize Governance 

-- Sustainable Pittsburgh Convened Revitalized Sustainability Practitioners Network

-- EarthJustice: Federal Appeals Court Upholds EPA’s Plan For Cleaner Air In PA, Denying A Challenge From Keystone And Conemaugh Coal-Fired Power Plants

-- TribLive Guest Essay: New EPA Protections Will Save Lives, Slash Climate Pollution From Coal-Fired Power Plants - By Moms Air Force 

-- The Daily Item Letter: EPA’s New Power Plant Rules Provide Critical Pollution Reduction - By Ben Hoskins  [Responds To Republicans Sen. Yaw, Con. Meuser]

-- LancasterOnline: Amid Air Pollution Concerns, Consumers Consider Electric Lawn Care

-- WESA: Starting Today, PA Schools Can Apply For Up To $10 Million For Environmental Repairs

-- Pittsburgh Business Times: Earth Day Spotlight On Green Redevelopment In Pittsburgh

-- LancasterOnline: Sierra Club - Lancaster Announces 2024 Green Project Grant Recipients

-- Clean Energy Funding Guide Now Available For Renters, Homeowners, Landlords, Nonprofits, Local Governments, Workforce Development  [PaEN]

-- Chesapeake Bay Journal - Ad Crable: Pennsylvania Gets $156 Million To Boost Solar Projects In Low Income, Polluted Communities

-- Inquirer - Frank Kummer: Philadelphia Begins Powering City Hall, Airport With Solar Energy Facility 100 Miles Away

-- WHYY: Adams Solar Energy Facility Powers A Quarter Of Philly’s City Buildings

-- PA Interfaith Power & Light, Jewish Earth Alliance Host May 29 Webinar On Understanding Gov. Shapiro's New Energy/Climate Plans  [PaEN] 

-- StateImpactPA - Rachel McDevitt: York Pilot Program Prepares Students For Green Energy Jobs 

-- PUC Offers 5 Simple Tips To Consumers On Dealing With Door-To-Door Energy Sales People  

-- Post-Gazette - Anya Litvak: Pennsylvania’s Pitch To Europe: ‘We’re Open For Energy Business’ 

-- Planet Philadelphia: May 3 - Efforts To Reduce Greenhouse Gases Globally, Nationally

-- Post-Gazette Editorial: ‘Bathtub’ Funding Will Make Pittsburgh Safer, More Climate Resilient

-- WHYY: Federal Money Will Help Prepare 2 Philly Bridges For Climate-Driven Floods

-- Stroud Water Research Center Celebrates Outdoor Classroom Day - Helping Young Minds Discover The Natural World As Scientists Do  [PaEN]

-- Asbury Woods Environmental Center Hosts Trout In The Classroom Release May 11 In Erie  [PaEN]

-- TribLive: Ligonier Valley Students Test Waters Of Fly Fishing In Trout Unlimited Program  

-- Republican Herald: Mentors Instruct First-Time Hunters Who Learn To ‘Shoot Like A Girl’ 

-- Chesapeake Bay Foundation: Federal Farm Bills Released By US House, Senate Could Benefit Chesapeake Bay Watershed  [PaEN]

-- Post-Gazette: PA Cong. Thompson Proposes Bill To Fund Farm Conservation, Nutrition Programs 

-- Chesapeake Bay Model Estimates Decline In Nutrient, Sediment Pollution; PA, 4 Other Jurisdictions Did Not Meet 2023 Reduction Targets For Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Sediment  [PaEN] 

-- The Center Square: Great Lakes Restoration Act Reported From US Senate Committee

-- PA American Water Charitable Foundation Awards $267,000 In Water And Environment Grants To 15 Nonprofit Groups  [PaEN] 

-- Coalition For Delaware River Watershed Receives American Water Foundation Grant To Educate Utility Customers On Where Their Water Comes From  [PaEN] 

-- Beaver County Times: Upgrades In Beaver, Lawrence Will Improve Drinking Water Quality

-- EPA Announces Over $152 Million For PA Lead Drinking Water Pipe Replacement

-- Post-Gazette: PA To Get $152 Million More In Federal Funding To Remove Lead Service Water Lines

-- PA American Water Launches Interactive Online Map To Identify, Replace Lead Service Lines

-- Renewable Energy Magazine: University Joint Authority Celebrates Groundbreaking Biosolids Project 

-- Altoona Mirror: Local Agencies Ramp Up Security After State, National Cyberattacks On Water Supplies

-- EPA Highlights New National Security Memorandum On Critical Water Infrastructure

-- WHYY: Tyson Foods Chicken Plant In Lancaster County Pollutes Waterways With Nitrogen, Phosphorus

-- Chesapeake Bay Journal: Environmental Groups Send EPA Notice Of Potential Lawsuit On Wastewater Plant Discharge Violations, Including In Bay Watershed

-- Susquehanna River Basin Commission Awards $8 Million To Support 27 Consumptive Water Use Mitigation Projects  [PaEN] 

-- The Allegheny Front: River Group Gets $1.2 Million Grant To Remove Dams In Ohio And Susquehanna River Watersheds, Improve Fish Habitat 

-- Delaware River Basin Commission, PEMA, Other Partners  Make Available Flood Loss Reduction Assistance Resources For Local Officials  [PaEN]

-- Inquirer Guest Essay: Drenching Rains Come More Frequently Now

-- Post-Gazette Guest Essay: Flooded Basements Are More Dangerous Than They Seem - By Pitt Professors, Black Environmental Collective

-- Chesapeake Bay Foundation Applauds House Passage Of Bill To Prohibit Sale, Use Of Toxic Pavement Sealants

-- EPA Issues Consent Order To MAX Environmental Technologies To Ensure Compliance With Hazardous Waste Rules At Westmoreland County Facility  [PaEN] 

-- TribLive: EPA To MAX Environmental Yukon Landfill Operator: Fix Violations Or Face $73,000 A Day Fine

-- The Allegheny Front: EPA Consent Order Requires MAX Environmental Hazardous Waste Landfill In Westmoreland County To Submit To An Audit; Residents Say It’s Not Enough 

-- WHYY: Federal Rail Agency Conducted Limited Investigation Of Whitemarsh Train Derailment Finds Sinkhole Caused The Accident

-- Keep PA Beautiful 2024 Summit For Community Stewardship In Scranton Oct. 16-17  [PaEN]

-- Centre County Recycling & Refuse Authority Reports Nearly 48,000 Pounds Of Household Hazardous Waste Collected  [PaEN]

-- PA Resources Council Encourages Participation In 40th Anniversary Of Litter Photo Contest - The Earth Is Not Your Garbage Can  [PaEN]

-- Erie Times: TODAY: City Of Erie Residents Can Dispose Of Tires, Electronics During Recycling Event Saturday

-- TribLive Guest Essay: Pick Of The Litter In The Suburbs 

-- PittsburghUnionProgress.com: Pittsburgh Begins Landslide Mitigation Work On Mount Washington

-- DCNR Launches 'Remake Learning Days' At State Parks To Support Global Learning Festival  [PaEN]

-- Reading Eagle: Nolde Environmental Education Center Announces Winners Of Student Art Contest

-- DCNR Blog: Investing In Pennsylvania’s State Parks And Forests Provides Foundation For PA’s $17 Billion Outdoor Economy  

-- The Center Square - Anthony Hennen: Pennsylvania Wants To Lead A National Rural Revival

-- Citizens Voice: PennDOT Awards $1 Million To Connect, Extend Trails In Luzerne County

-- Republican Herald: Schuylkill River Greenways Receives $1.5 Million Grant For Trail Building In Schuylkill County

-- Republican Herald: Expansion, Upgrades To Tamaqua River Walk Awarded Funding

-- DCNR Grants Newsletter: Expanding Recreation Access In Small Communities; Public Survey On PA Recreation Now Open; Act 13 Greenways, Trails, Recreation Grants Open 

-- Erie Times: New Piers, Extra Slips Part Of Marina Project At Presque Isle, When Will It Be Finished?

-- Williamsport Sun: Permit Applications Being Accepted For Northcentral Regional ATV Trail

-- TribLive: Spots Limited For 10th Annual Sojourn On Loyalhanna Creek May 18

-- Citizens Voice: Nice Day For A Hike At Newly Reopened Seven Tubs Recreation Area 

-- Wilkes-Barre Times: New, Improved Seven Tubs Recreation Area Back To Being A Hotspot

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

-- Republican Herald: Sensory Room Makes Hazleton Area Recreation Program More Inclusive 

-- Republican Herald: Dustin’s Adventureland Creates First All-Inclusive Playground In Schuylkill County

-- Scranton Times: Scranton Plans Another Series Of Upgrades At Several Parks

-- TribLive: Hempfield To Open Bids For Weather Wood Park In Westmoreland

-- York Daily Record: York County Park Planned In Fairview Twp., Grants To Pay For It

-- Williamsport Sun Editorial: Susquehanna RiverWalk’s Growth Deserves Gratitude

-- WPXI: It’s Tick Season: Here’s What You Need To Know To Protect Yourself & Your Pets 

-- A Portion Of Clear Creek Forest McKeever Tract In Mercer County With 150 Year Old Trees Added To  Old-Growth Forest Network [PaEN] 

-- Allegheny County Conservation District: 5th Generation Morning Glory Farm Gets Permanent Agricultural Land Protection  [PaEN] 

-- Hollow Oak Land Trust Hosts May 22 Land Steward Kick-Off Meeting On Caring For Land In Conservation Easements In Allegheny County  [PaEN] 

-- Delaware Highlands Conservancy: Protecting Your Land: Top 5 Frequently Asked Questions 

-- Wilkes-Barre Times: North Branch Land Trust Holds Annual Dinner, Auction

-- Tribune-Democrat: Officials, Advocates Team Up, Fight PA Turnpike Plan To Cut ‘Permanent Scar’ Through Allegheny Mountain 

-- WESA: Riverview Park Is Pittsburgh’s Latest Accredited Tree Haven

-- WNEP: Kindness Tree Dedicated At Marywood University

-- Warren Times: Arbor Day Celebration Held At DeFrees Park: Planting The Future

-- Perkiomen Watershed Conservancy Holds PA Native Plant Sale May 11-12 In Montgomery County  [PaEN]  

-- Warren Times: US Forest Service Reminds Gardeners To Think Native Plants

-- WHYY: Invasive Callery Pear Trees Can No Longer Be Planted In PA

-- The American Chestnut Foundation Now Accepting Entries In 2024 Photo Contest, Sept. 1 Deadline

-- Penn State Extension, PA Sea Grant Host June 7 Webinar On Aquatic Invasive Species  [PaEN] 

-- The Nature Conservancy-PA: Return Of Bog Events; Explore TNC Preserves; Federal Funding Benefits Philly Trees; Much More! 

-- Upcoming Events At The Van Scott Nature Preserve In Beach Lake, Wayne County 

-- WNEP: Some People Have Allergic Reactions To Spongy Moths; Here’s What You Need To Know

-- Williamsport Sun: Lycoming Commissioners, Health Experts Warn Public About Spongy Moths; Some People Experience Allergic Reactions

-- DCNR To Begin Spraying Forests In Spongy Moth Suppression Effort

-- WNEP: Spotted Lanternflies Hatching Out  

-- Centre Daily Times: Spotted Lanternflies Pose Major Threat To Vineyards; Wineries On Alert

-- Courier Times: Here’s Where Spongy Moths Will Be A Problem In Pennsylvania

-- Game Commission Executive Director Bryan Burhans Resigns; Stephen Smith Named As Replacement

-- The Center Square - Anthony Hennen: Game Commission Headed Toward A Reckoning

-- TribLive Editorial: For A Change, Lawmakers Put Ethics At The Fore; Now They Should Look In The Mirror [Game Commission]

-- The Energy Age Blog: In 2016 Game Commission Employee Fined $75,000 By Ethics Commission For Having A Side Business Helping Landowners Negotiate Gas Leases While Negotiating Game Commission Gas Leases

-- Erie Times - Brian Whipkey: 6 Anglers Lose Fishing Rights In PA For 5 Years; Unusual Species Of Fish Being Stocked

-- The Allegheny Front/WVIA: Trip To The Fish Hatchery That Helps Boost PA’s Walleye Population 

-- Williamsport Sun: Baby Bird Season: Please Don’t Kidnap The Baby Birds

-- Williamsport Sun - Bill Bower: Reflections In Nature: Some Mammals Have Tough Time Raising Young

-- PennLive: It’s Snake Season In Pennsylvania, Here Are 3 Venomous Species To Be Aware Of 

Visit the PA Environment Digest website to learn more.

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[Posted: May 5, 2024]   PA Environment Digest