Environment & Energy Educational Opportunities For Students & Adults

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

Awards/Recognition

-- PennFuture 25th Anniversary Celebrations Honor 7 Pennsylvanians For Fighting Climate Change, Industrial Pollution  [PaEN] 

-- Post-Gazette - Mary Ann Thomas: Environmental Activist Parry Ameno, Who Tirelessly Fought For Her Apollo Community In Westmoreland County, Has Died At 72 

-- Master Watershed Steward Volunteer Carol Armstrong Makes Waves In Chester, Delaware Counties  [PaEN] 

-- Middle Susquehanna RiverKeeper Blog: ‘We Are At Exciting Precipice Of Really Significant, Positive Change’ After Tioga River Gets $68 Million For Abandoned Mine Drainage Treatment 

-- TribLive: ‘Liability’ To ‘Tremendous Asset’: How Johnstown’s Stonycreek River Has Gone From Toxic Mine Drainage To Recreational Hub 

-- Shapiro Administration Announces Student Winners Of Lyme Disease Art Competition To Educate Public On Avoiding Tickborne Diseases  [PaEN]

-- WHYY: Croydon Woods Has Earned Awards For Environmental Stewardship In Bucks County; It’s A Toxic Superfund Site 

Grants/Bids

-- LancasterOnline: Lancaster County Farmers Eligible For Free Organic Transition Program

-- Agriculture, L&I Award $350,000 Grant To Rodale Institute To Support First-In-PA Apprenticeship In Organic Agriculture  [PaEN]

-- Reading Eagle: Rodale Institute To Begin Unique Organic Agriculture Training Program In Berks

-- PA Solar Center Issues RFP For Solar Energy At East Penn School District In Lehigh County  [PaEN] 

Help Wanted

-- Help Wanted: USDA Program Technician Position In Schuylkill County  [PaEN]

-- Chesapeake Bay Foundation Seeking Service Providers To Develop Farm Nutrient Plans In Halfmoon Creek, Pequea Creek Watersheds  [PaEN] 

Upcoming Events

-- Reminder: Penn State Extension May 15 Webinar: Green Infrastructure Planning For Healthier, Resilient Communities; Land Use Series Available On Demand  [PaEN]

-- Reminder: PA Solar Center May 17 Webinar: Update On Federal Solar Energy Tax Credits [PaEN] 

-- Solar United Neighbors To Host Centre County Solar Tour May 18  [PaEN]

-- The Derrick: PUC To Hold May 21 Prehearing On Future Of Venango Water Company; Water Source Contaminated By Conventional Oil Well Wastewater Spill  [PaEN]

-- Reminder: DEP To Host Meeting/Hearing May 21 On Covanta Waste-To-Energy Facility Air Quality Permit In Montgomery County

-- Better Path PA Hosts May 23 Virtual Brown Bag Briefing On Geologic Carbon Sequestration & Risks Of Failure. Noon

-- Penn State Extension May 30 Webinar On Landowner Role In Conventional Orphaned, Abandoned Oil And Gas Wells  [PaEN]

-- Hawk Mountain Sanctuary Upcoming Events: Native Plant Sale May 18-19; Secret World Of Bats; Hawk Mountain Arts Tour June 1; Much More!

-- Coalition For Delaware River Watershed June 5 Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Justice Day Of Learning In Hamilton Twp., NJ

-- Audubon Society Of Western PA, Buffalo Creek Coalition: June 6 Hybrid Workshop On Abandoned Mine Drainage Management & Treatment In Western PA  [PaEN]

-- Penn State Extension June 5 Webinar: PFAS 'Forever Chemicals' In Our Environment [PaEN]

-- LancasterOnline: Here’s What’s Happening In Lancaster County During Water Week Starting June 7

-- MCall Guest Essay: National Youth Bike Summit June 14-16 Will Show Off Best Of Lehigh Valley Youth 

Programs/Information

-- Schuylkill Center For Environmental Education Names Erin Mooney Executive Director  [PaEN] 

-- Warren Times: Warren County Students Work With Local Conservation Agencies

-- The Derrick: 6th Grade Sandycreek Students Release Rainbow Trout At Two Mile Run 

-- TribLive: New Kensington-Arnold 5th Graders Spend Morning Fishing At Valley High School In Westmoreland County

-- Tribune-Democrat: Blacklick Valley Students Take Education Outdoors 

-- WNEP: Bucknell University’s Move-Out Sustainability Helps Area Organizations

-- Erie Times: Wave Energy Converter To Be Tested On Lake Erie This Summer 

-- DCNR Blog: Working To Connect Pennsylvanians To Michaux State Forest’s Deep, Important Conservation History 

-- Reading Eagle: Time Spent Outdoors Is Once Craving Well Worth The Indulgence

-- Republican Herald - Tyler Frantz: Learn The Basics And Stay Safe On The Water While Kayaking

-- Penn State Extension Ag Conservation Currents: Still Time To Register For June Conservation Con; Education Opportunities; Streambank Stabilization; Much More 

-- The American Chestnut Foundation PA/NJ Chapter: Volunteer Opportunities; Outreach Events; PA Pollination Workshop June 14; Much More! 

-- PA Resources Council What’s Up Watershed: How To Plant A Nature-Friendly Landscape In 3 Easy Steps? 

-- Partnership For Delaware Estuary Gardening For Clean Water For Habitat Owners, Caretakers 

-- Williamsport Sun: Episcopalian Churches Care For Creation With Homes For Pollinators

-- Observer-Reporter: Local Beekeepers Prepared To Remove Swarming Bees

-- Observer-Reporter: Pesticide Education Program Returns To Washington County Classrooms 

Public Participation

-- PA Oil & Gas Industrial Facilities: Permit Notices, Opportunities To Comment - May 18 [PaEN] 

-- DEP Posted 72 Pages Of Permit-Related Notices In May 18 PA Bulletin  [PaEN] 

-- Reminder: DEP To Host Meeting/Hearing May 21 On Covanta Waste-To-Energy Facility Air Quality Permit In Montgomery County

-- DEP Invites Comments On Proposed Redesignation Of Beaver Area For Sulfur Dioxide Attainment; Hearing Set June 18  [PaEN]

-- DEP Sets June 18 Hearing On Air Quality Permit For Flexsys America Monongahela Plant In Washington County  [PaEN]   

-- DEP Invites Comments On RACT Modification To Title V Air Quality Permit For Seward Coal Waste Power Plant In Indiana County  [PaEN] 

-- DEP To Hold June 20 Hearing On Stormwater Permit For A 92+ Acre Commercial Development In Tunkhannock Twp., Monroe County  [PaEN]

-- DEP Accepting Comments On Intent To Deny Stormwater Permit For Commercial Development In Benner Twp., Centre County  [PaEN]

-- Group Against Smog & Pollution: Weigh In On How US Steel Air Quality Settlement Money Should Be Spent - Here’s How, And Why 

-- Post-Gazette: Clairton Residents Weigh In On How US Steel Settlement Money Should Be Spent

-- DEP Invites Submission Of Water Quality Data To Be Part Of Stream Redesignation Evaluations In Berks, Bucks, Centre, Forest, Greene,  Huntingdon, Lancaster, Westmoreland Counties  [PaEN]  

Background On Issues

-- PA Oil & Gas Weekly Compliance Dashboard - May 11 to 17; Lots Of Spills Week; 3 More Abandoned Shale Well NOVs; Well Shut In To Prevent Frack-Out  [PaEN]

-- DEP Imposed $2.2 Million In Penalties Against Shale Gas Drilling, Pipeline Companies In 2023 For Violations Dating Back To 2018  [PaEN]

-- The Energy Age Blog: Shale Gas Violations Run Rampant In Pennsylvania, $2.2 Million In Penalties Assessed

-- Rep. Vitali To Introduce Bill Banning The Disposal Of Conventional Oil & Gas Wastewater By Dumping It On Public Roads; Rep. Causer To Introduce Bill Legalizing It  [PaEN]

-- Illegal Wastewater Dumping Continues, Even On Mothers Day, Conventional Oil & Gas Well Owners’ Campaign Of Intimidation Of Senate Witness; Now Dumping Before It Rains, On Paved Roads [PaEN] 

-- Warren Times: Oil & Gas Wastewater Spreading Battle Back On In General Assembly

-- National Energy Technology Lab, University Of Pittsburgh Say Oil & Gas Wastewater Can Be Major Source Of Lithium For Rechargeable Battery Production  [PaEN]

-- Environmental Hearing Board Clears Away More Attempts By Olympus Energy To Block Shale Gas Permit Appeal By Protect PT In Westmoreland County; Olympus Fails To Provide Info On PFAS ‘Forever Chemical’ Use  [PaEN]

-- Erie Times: PFAS ‘Forever Chemicals’ Coming Into Great Lakes Through Air, Rainfall, New Study Shows

-- KDKA: West Deer Twp. Residents Fighting Back Against Proposed Olympus Energy Shale Gas Well Installations In Allegheny County 

-- WPXI: West Deer Twp. Neighbors Fight To Keep Olympus Energy Shale Gas Wells Far From Homes In Allegheny County  

-- Marcellus Drilling News: Martins Ferry, WV Not Getting Answers On PA Company’s Abandoned Oil & Gas Wastewater Facility Cleanup From Ohio DNR 

-- The Energy Age Blog: EQT Corp. New Act 14 Notices Of New Wells From Sarah Shale Gas Well Pad In Union Twp., Washington County Headed To Library, South Park In Allegheny County

-- The Energy Age Blog: Path Of May 11 Tornado In Washington County Ended Between The McIntosh Natural Gas Compressor Station, EQT Sarah Shale Gas Well Pad

-- TribLive: Does It Seem Like More Tornadoes Are Striking Western PA?  They Are 

-- DEP: $5 Million In Grants Recommended To Support Mitigation Projects In Beaver County Related To Shell Petrochemical Plant Environmental Violations + Shell Paid Total Penalties Of $7,606,027.75  [PaEN]

-- Post-Gazette - Anya Litvak: Environmental Mitigation Fund, Set Up Thru Shell Petrochemical Plant Air Penalties Ready To Dole Out Money 

-- Beaver County Times: Projects Selected For Shell Petrochemical Plant Environmental Mitigation Funding

-- Post-Gazette/Inside Climate News: Water Quality Advocates Concerned About Increased Pollution, Strong Odors From Outfalls From Shell Petrochemical Plant In Beaver County 

-- Post-Gazette - Anya Litvak: Consol Energy Aims To Be A Leading Force In Slowing The Shift To Renewable Energy

-- Observer-Reporter: Consol Energy Enlow Fork Mine Tour Offers Rare Glimpse Into ‘Underground City’

-- PennLive - Charles Thompson: Could Three Mile Island Unit 1 Nuclear Plant Be Restarted?  The Owner Didn’t Say No

-- DEP Awards $5.67 Million In Federal Funding To Support Local Abandoned Mine Reclamation, Mine Water Treatment, Subsidence Control Projects; Next Grant Applications Due June 3, Sept. 23  [PaEN]

-- Courier Express: Two Elk County Abandoned Mine Projects Awarded Funding

-- Tribune-Democrat: Bedford County Projects Land Abandoned Mine Restoration Grants

-- TribLive: Export Historical Society Moves Ahead With Plans To Stabilize Old Mine Entrance In Westmoreland

-- StateImpactPA - Rachel McDevitt: Heaviest PA Storms Drop 60% More Rain Than They Used To, Report Says 

-- Politico: Shapiro’s Pennsylvania Energy/Climate Play Aims For Balance Of Power On Climate Issues  

-- Kleinman Center For Energy Policy: Policymakers Can Bolster Support For Sustained Climate Action By Integrating National Security And Human Rights Into Energy Justice Frameworks - By Benjamin Schmitt 

-- Observer-Reporter Guest Essay: Carbon Capture And Storage Can Enhance Pennsylvania’s Proven Energy Resources [Natural Gas] - By Sen. Camera Bartolotta (R-Washington) 

-- WITF The Spark: Harry Campbell, Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Provides Update On Meeting Chesapeake Bay Milestones  [Audio] 

-- Evangelical Environmental Network: Over 90,000 Pro-Life Christians Support Keeping Our Promise To Farmers On Climate-Smart Agriculture 

-- PennFuture, CVPA Support US Senate’s Federal Farm Bill Framework Putting Climate Resilience Front And Center In American Agriculture

-- Post-Gazette: PA Cong. Thompson Pushes Ahead With Federal Farm Bill Amid Divide With Dems On SNAP

-- LancasterOnline: Lancaster County’s Planting Zones Changed Due To Climate Change; What Does It Mean For Your Garden 

-- Centre Daily Times: Centre County Communities Making Strides With Solar Energy

-- Republican Herald: Butler Twp. Denies Developer’s Request For Solar Energy Facility

-- Scranton Times: Lackawanna Judge Orders Taylor Zoning Hearing Board To Approve Solar Energy Facility Near Ransom Road

-- PA Capital-Star: Can’t Install Your Own Solar Panels?  Some Areas Let You Join A Community Project; PA Legislature Considering Community Solar Bill

-- Erie Times: Solar Panels Installed In Presque Isle’s Beach Parking Lot 

-- Penn State Extension Energy Essentials: Solar Panel Glare An Issue?  Estimating Emissions From Shale Gas Wells; PA Landowners Guide To Solar; Much More!

-- Utility Dive: NERC: 25 GW Of New Solar To Boost Summer Grid Reliability, But Extreme Heat Poses Widespread Risks 

-- USDA: Kittatinny Ridge Among 5 Sentinel Landscapes Selected To Address Climate Change Impacts And Strengthen Military Readiness  [PaEN] 

-- Shapiro Administration Secures Sentinel Landscape Designation For Kittatinny Ridge To Further Conservation Efforts And Military Readiness

-- DCNR Celebrates Induction Of Forrest H. Dutlinger Natural Area In Clinton County Into The Old-Growth Forest Network  [PaEN] 

-- DCNR Celebrates 35-Year Lease Agreement With Bowman’s Hill Wildflower Preserve In Bucks County

-- DCNR Grants News: Partners Close Trail Gap; Do Something Wild! PA Recreation Survey Open; New Recreation Equity Specialist Named

-- American Lung Assn: Critical Steps Communities Can Take Now To Reduce Extreme Heat, Poor Air Quality This Summer

-- TribLive: Canadian Wildfires Pose Threat Of Smoke To Western PA Once Again

-- PennLive: Meteorologist: Parts Of PA Could Get Canadian Wildfire Smoke If Conditions Are Right

-- Inside Climate News: Canadian Wildfire Smoke Triggering Outdoor Air Quality Alert Across Midwest; It Could Pollute The Indoors Too

-- MCall: Will Canadian Wildfires Cause Same Hazardous Air Quality In Lehigh Valley This Year?

-- Erie Times: Canadian Wildfire Season Has Started, Will Erie’s Air Quality Be Impacted By Smoke? 

-- Penn State: Improved Wildfire Smoke Model Identifies Areas For Public Health Intervention 

-- Dept. Of Health Launches New Tickborne Diseases Dashboard

-- WFMZ: Dept. Of Health Launches New Online Dashboard To Prevent Tickborne Diseases 

-- Philly Voice: Where Is Lyme Disease Most Prevalent In PA?  New Online Tool Tracks Tick-Borne Illnesses

-- TribLive: Online Dashboard Helps Track Tickborne Illnesses

-- Governor’s Invasive Species Council Celebrates 3rd Annual PA Native Species Day At Big Elk Creek State Park, Chester County  [PaEN]

-- Warren Times: Preventing Invasive Weed From Taking Root In Allegheny National Forest

-- The Allegheny Front: New Film Takes On Aquatic Invasives In Pennsylvania’s Natural Areas

-- WESA/WVIA: Feeling Bugged?  Must Mean Summer Is On Its Way In Pennsylvania

-- WNEP:  Mother’s Day Butterfly Release Held In Schuylkill County

-- WITF/WPSU: Penn State Researchers Help Shine Light On Firefly Populations In The Eastern US 

-- Inquirer: Seems Like Canada Geese Are Everywhere, But Their Population Is Declining

-- LevittownNow.com: Falls Twp., Bucks County Wants To Be An Audubon Bird Town Community

-- Williamsport Sun - Bill Bower: Reflections In Nature - Crows Don’t Have That Many Enemies

Visit the  DEP Calendar of Events;  PA Parks & Forests Foundation’s Events webpage and DCNR’s Calendar of Events for activities happening near you.

Visit DEP’s Teaching Green webpage to learn about more environmental education resources.

Visit the PA Environment Digest Calendar Of Events for more opportunities.

[Posted: May 19, 2024]  PA Environment Digest