Friday, January 31, 2025

Jan. 31 Take Five Fridays With Pam, PA Parks & Forests Foundation

The
January 31 Take Five Fridays With Pam is now available from the PA Parks and Forests Foundation featuring articles on--

-- DCNR Invites Public Comments On New Statewide Outdoor Recreation Plan

-- Photo Contest Winners Announced!

-- Enter 2025 Photo Contest!

-- Foundation RFP On Assessment Of Workforce Trends For PA Outdoor Corps Program

-- Masthead photo is also a Jigsaw Puzzle

Click Here to read the entire Take Five.

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

Visit Explore PA Trails and Get Outdoors PA for recreation areas near you.

For more information on programs, initiatives, special events and how you can get involved, visit the PA Parks & Forests Foundation website.  Click Here to sign up for regular updates from the Foundation,  Like them on Facebook or Follow them on Twitter or tune in to their YouTube ChannelClick Here to become a member of the Foundation.

The Foundation mobilizes 65,000 volunteers annually to steward YOUR state parks and forests.

(Photo by Jeff London, Cook Forest State Park, Clarion, Forest, Jefferson Counties.)

Related Articles This Week:

-- DCNR Invites Public Comments To Help Shape A Bold Vision For Outdoor Recreation In PA; 5 Webinars Start Feb. 3  [PaEN]  

-- DCNR: Path Of The Flood Trail In Cambria County Named 2025 Pennsylvania Trail Of The Year  [PaEN] 

-- PA Organization For Watersheds & Rivers Now Accepting Applications For 2025 Sojourn Grants  [PaEN]

-- Jan. 31 Take Five Fridays With Pam, PA Parks & Forests Foundation  

[PaEN]  

-- PA Parks & Forests Foundation Announces Winners Of 2024 Photo Contest [PaEN]

-- Commonwealth Financing Authority Announces $16 Million In Act 13 Funding For Watershed Restoration, Flood Mitigation, Recreation; Small Water & Sewer Application Period Opening  [PaEN] 

-- Save The Date! May 13-15 DCNR Watershed Forestry Summit  [PaEN]

-- Apply Now!  PA Master Naturalist Volunteer Spring Training Offered In Adams, Allegheny, Beaver, Berks, Dauphin, Indiana, Montour, Philadelphia, Somerset Counties  [PaEN] 

-- Help Wanted: PA Master Naturalist - Communications/Development Coordinator  [PaEN]

NewsClips:

-- Tribune-Democrat: Path Of The Flood Trail Earns State’s Trail Of The Year Award

-- Altoona Mirror: Path Of The Flood Trail Gets State Honor In Cambria County

-- Beaver Times: Beaver County Receives State Grants For Parks, Green Spaces

-- Altoona Mirror: Bedford Fulton Recreation Authority Received Grant For Trail Project Along Abandoned Turnpike

-- PennLive: Lebanon County Man Charged With Animal Cruelty After Trying To Run Over A Fox With A Snowmobile; Unclear With 17-Year Also Involved Was Charged 

-- Inquirer: Charges Expected For Lebanon County Snowmobilers Who Ran Over Fox

-- City & State PA: PA Tourism Marketing Efforts Get Long-Overdue Upgrade

-- Erie Times: Ice Dunes At Presque Isle Are Beautiful, But Dangerous 

-- Republican Herald: Scout Reservation Land In Schuylkill County Now Permanently Protected

-- PA Capital-Star: PA House Committee Unanimously Backs Bike Lane Legislation

[Posted: January 31, 2025]  PA Environment Digest

DCNR Invites Public Comments To Help Shape A Bold Vision For Outdoor Recreation In PA; 5 Webinars Start Feb. 3

On January 31, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn announced a series of webinars and an open opportunity for people to share their thoughts on ways to improve and expand opportunities for outdoor recreation in Pennsylvania.

The public will be able to comment on a draft of the 2025-2029 Pennsylvania Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP) from February 3 through March 3. 

An online public input form is available on DCNR’s website, and webinars on the five priority areas for the 2025-2029 SCORP will be conducted during this period.

“This plan is critical for the future of outdoor recreation in Pennsylvania, and I encourage those interested to share perspectives to help us design more people-focused initiatives for the future,” Secretary Dunn said. “Outdoor recreation delivers huge benefits for all of us – from driving local economies, to helping us lead healthy, active lifestyles. We all need outdoor recreation in our lives, and this plan makes recommendations on how we can make it accessible to everyone.”

Webinar Dates

Priority areas in the five-year plan and their related webinar dates will be held from Noon to 12:30 p.m.--

-- February 3: Promoting Community and Economic Development – Click Here to Register

-- February 5: Advancing Health and Wellness – Click Here to Register

-- February 10: Supporting Equity and Inclusion – Click Here to Register

-- February 12: Addressing Infrastructure and Maintenance – Click Here to Register

-- February 18: Progressing on Sustainability and Climate Change – Click Here to Register

Background

There were multiple surveys that informed the draft plan, including a Penn State Lion Poll from a web-panel survey of more than 1,000 adult Pennsylvanians, a public survey, and a recreation providers survey

One of the key findings — out of more than 8,000 responses — revealed Pennsylvanians' strong connection between outdoor recreation and mental well-being.

Every five years, states must develop a comprehensive outdoor recreation plan to guide policies, programs, and investments while remaining eligible for federal funding.

SCORP enables Pennsylvania to remain eligible for federal grants from the Land and Water Conservation Fund, which has provided more than $216 million since 1965 to fund projects including: parks and historic sites; forest, river, and wildlife habitat conservation; and access to recreation, hunting, and fishing. 

The 2020-24 SCORP Plan – Recreation for All – focused on 20 recommendations and 70 action steps for meeting the outdoor recreation needs of all Pennsylvanians.

Pennsylvania’s outdoor recreation industry contributes $19 billion to the Commonwealth’s economy, represents 2 percent of its GDP, and supports more than 68,000 jobs that provide $9 billion in wages and salaries.

Visit DCNR’s PA Outdoor Recreation Plan webpage to learn more about Pennsylvania’s Outdoor Recreation Plan.

Click Here for DCNR’s announcement.

Visit Explore PA Trails and Get Outdoors PA for recreation areas near you.

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

  For more information on state parks and forests and recreation in Pennsylvania, visit DCNR’s website.

Related Articles This Week:

-- DCNR Invites Public Comments To Help Shape A Bold Vision For Outdoor Recreation In PA; 5 Webinars Start Feb. 3  [PaEN]  

-- DCNR: Path Of The Flood Trail In Cambria County Named 2025 Pennsylvania Trail Of The Year  [PaEN] 

-- PA Organization For Watersheds & Rivers Now Accepting Applications For 2025 Sojourn Grants  [PaEN]

-- Jan. 31 Take Five Fridays With Pam, PA Parks & Forests Foundation  

[PaEN]  

-- PA Parks & Forests Foundation Announces Winners Of 2024 Photo Contest [PaEN]

-- Commonwealth Financing Authority Announces $16 Million In Act 13 Funding For Watershed Restoration, Flood Mitigation, Recreation; Small Water & Sewer Application Period Opening  [PaEN] 

-- Save The Date! May 13-15 DCNR Watershed Forestry Summit  [PaEN]

-- Apply Now!  PA Master Naturalist Volunteer Spring Training Offered In Adams, Allegheny, Beaver, Berks, Dauphin, Indiana, Montour, Philadelphia, Somerset Counties  [PaEN] 

-- Help Wanted: PA Master Naturalist - Communications/Development Coordinator  [PaEN]

NewsClips:

-- Tribune-Democrat: Path Of The Flood Trail Earns State’s Trail Of The Year Award

-- Altoona Mirror: Path Of The Flood Trail Gets State Honor In Cambria County

-- Beaver Times: Beaver County Receives State Grants For Parks, Green Spaces

-- Altoona Mirror: Bedford Fulton Recreation Authority Received Grant For Trail Project Along Abandoned Turnpike

-- PennLive: Lebanon County Man Charged With Animal Cruelty After Trying To Run Over A Fox With A Snowmobile; Unclear With 17-Year Also Involved Was Charged 

-- Inquirer: Charges Expected For Lebanon County Snowmobilers Who Ran Over Fox

-- City & State PA: PA Tourism Marketing Efforts Get Long-Overdue Upgrade

-- Erie Times: Ice Dunes At Presque Isle Are Beautiful, But Dangerous 

-- Republican Herald: Scout Reservation Land In Schuylkill County Now Permanently Protected

-- PA Capital-Star: PA House Committee Unanimously Backs Bike Lane Legislation

[Posted: January 31, 2025]  PA Environment Digest

PA Oil & Gas Industrial Facilities: Permit Notices, Opportunities To Comment - February 1

The following notices were published in the
February 1 PA Bulletin related to oil and gas industry facilities.  Many of the notices offer the opportunity for public comments.

-- Snyder Brothers Inc. - 7 Miles Of -- 1- 18-Inch Water Pipeline, 1-20-Inch Gas Pipeline, 1-20-Inch Gas Pipeline: DEP issued a Chapter 105 permit for 3 water and gas pipelines in one right-of-way impacting Glade Run and multiple Exceptional Value wetlands located in East Franklin and North Buffalo Townships, Armstrong County.  Received July 16, Issued Jan. 17.   (PA Bulletin, page 1161


-- DEP published notice in the February 1 PA Bulletin it will hold a March 5 hearing on a proposed Title V RACT 3 Air Quality Permit for the Hazleton Generation natural gas power plant in Hazle Township, Luzerne County.  (PA Bulletin, page 1110Read more here.


Land Recycling/Brownfield Cleanups

-- CNX Gas Company, LLC - Hunt Club Shale Gas Well Pad: DEP received a Final Report on remediation of soil contaminated with chloride, aluminum, barium, boron, iron, lithium, manganese, selenium, strontium, vanadium, zinc, SPLP chloride to meet the Statewide Health Standard at the pad located in Richhill Twp., Greene County.  (PA Bulletin, page 1154)

-- Sunoco Inc. - Philadelphia Refinery Sitewide: DEP received a Remedial Investigation Report on remediation of soil and groundwater contaminated with lead, inorganics and fuel oil to meet the Site-Specific Standard for the facility located at 3144 Passyunk Avenue in Philadelphia.  (PA Bulletin, page 1153)

-- Bellwether District Holdings LLC - Right-of-Way-3 6.22.2023 Release Area: DEP approved a Final Report on remediation of soil contaminated with lead, PAHs and other organics to meet the Statewide Health Standard at a site located at 3144 West Passyunk Avenue in Philadelphia.  (PA Bulletin, page 1155)


2025 Act 2 Oil & Gas Facility Pollution Cleanups

So far in 2025, DEP received or acted on 6 Act 2 Land Recycling notices related to oil and gas facility site cleanups


Air Quality Permits - Comments

-- DEP published notice in the February 1 PA Bulletin it will hold a March 5 hearing on a proposed Title V RACT 3 Air Quality Permit for the Hazleton Generation natural gas power plant in Hazle Township, Luzerne County.  (PA Bulletin, page 1110Read more here.

-- EQM Gathering OPCO, LLC - Blue Moon Compressor Station: DEP invites comments on a State Only Air Quality Permit covering multiple sources of air pollution at the facility located in West Pike Run Twp., Washington County.  (PA Bulletin, page 1116

-- Aria Energy East LLC - Landfill Gas Flare DEP invites comments on a proposed change to an Air Quality Plan Approval to establish a new throughput limit on a flare at a facility located in Lower Saucon Twp., Northampton County.   (PA Bulletin, page 1117


Air Quality Permits - Issued

-- National Fuel Gas Supply Corporation - Tamarack Compressor Station: DEP issued a GP-5 Air Quality General Permit renewal covering multiple sources of air pollution at the facility located in Leidy Twp., Clinton County. Received Dec. 23, Issued Jan. 15.   (PA Bulletin, page 1156

-- EQM Gathering OPCO, LLC - Cole Farm Compressor Station: DEP issued a GP-5 Air Quality General Permit covering multiple sources of air pollution at the facility located in Wayne Twp., Greene County.  Received Dec. 6, Issued Jan. 17. (PA Bulletin, page 1156

-- Perennial CMM PA, LLC - Cumberland Mine Flare: DEP issued a GP-21 Air Quality General Permit covering an enclosed mine flare located in Wayne Twp., Greene County.  Received Dec. 6, Issued Jan. 17.  (PA Bulletin, page 1156

-- Laurel Mountain Midstream Operating, LLC - Brown Compressor Station: DEP issued a GP-5 Air Quality General Permit covering multiple sources of air pollution at the facility located in Greene Twp., Greene County. Received Nov. 25, Issued Jan. 10.  (PA Bulletin, page 1156

-- EQM Gathering OPCO, LLC - Unknown Compressor Station: DEP issued a GP-5 Air Quality General Permit renewal covering multiple sources of air pollution at the facility located in Richhill Twp., Greene County.  Received Nov. 21, Issued Dec. 20.  (PA Bulletin, page 1156

-- NextEra Renewable Fuels, LLC - Western Berks Landfill Gas Facility:  DEP extended the Air Quality Plan Approval for the facility located in Cumru Twp., Berks County.  Received Jan. 10, Issued Jan. 17.  (PA Bulletin, page 1157

-- Mechanicsburg Terminals DE, LLC - Bulk Petroleum Terminal: DEP issued a State Only Air Quality Permit for the facility located in Silver Spring Twp., Cumberland County.  Received Sept. 9, Issued Jan. 10.   (PA Bulletin, page 1157


Chapter 105 Encroachment Permits - Comments

-- Chesapeake Appalachia LLC - 2- 16-Inch Water Pipelines: DEP invites comments on a Chapter 105 permit for the construction of two pipelines impacting Sugar Creek and Wallace Run located in Burlington Twp., Bradford County.  (PA Bulletin, page 1121


Chapter 105 Permits - Issued

-- Highland Field Services, LLC - 16-Inch Freshwater Pipeline: DEP issued a Chapter 105 permit for the pipeline project impacting Norris Brook (Exceptional Value) and Exceptional Value wetlands located in Delmar and Middlebury Townships, Tioga County. Received Oct. 25, Issued Jan. 21.  (PA Bulletin, page 1160

-- Snyder Brothers Inc. - 7 Miles Of -- 1- 18-Inch Water Pipeline, 1-20-Inch Gas Pipeline, 1-20-Inch Gas Pipeline: DEP issued a Chapter 105 permit for 3 water and gas pipelines in one right-of-way impacting Glade Run and multiple Exceptional Value wetlands located in East Franklin and North Buffalo Townships, Armstrong County.  Received July 16, Issued Jan. 17.   (PA Bulletin, page 1161


Erosion & Sedimentation Permits - Issued

-- Snyder Brothers, Inc. - Unknown Project: DEP issued a Chapter 102 permit for a project impacting Garretts Run located in Manor Twp., Armstrong County.  Received Oct. 15, Issued Jan. 13.   (PA Bulletin, page 1165

-- Range Resources Appalachia LLC - SJ Exploration Well Site: DEP issued a Chapter 102 permit for a well pad impacting Raccoon Creek located in Independence Twp.,  Beaver County.  Received Dec. 19, Issued Jan. 14.    (PA Bulletin, page 1165


Individual NPDES Stormwater Permit

-- Columbia Gas Of PA - Robbins Station 16,600 Foot Pipeline Project: DEP invites comments on Individual NPDES Stormwater Permit, along with incidental mining and waste removal approves,  for a project impacting Long Run in North Huntingdon Twp., Westmoreland County.  (PA Bulletin, page 1104)


Oil & Gas Well Drilling Permits [1.24.25]*

-- Last Week - Permits: DEP issued ZERO conventional and ZERO unconventional

-- Year To Date - Permits: DEP issued 3 conventional and 38 unconventional

-- Year To Date - Wells Drilled: 2 conventional and 26 unconventional

*Weekly Workload Report - 1.24.25

*DEP’s Weekly Oil & Gas Program Workload Report - Most Recent


DEP Issued These New Oil & Gas Permits *

*Click Here to find oil and gas well permits recently issued near you


Sign Up! DEP eNotice: The Only Way You’ll Know When Applications Come In To DEP

Did you know DEP can send you email notices when permit applications are submitted to DEP in your community?  

This is the only way you can get notified of when oil and gas-related permits are submitted to DEP.   

You’ll also get notice of new technical guidance documents and regulations.

Click Here to sign up for DEP’s eNOTICE today!


Act 14 Notices To Municipalities

Many communities and citizens are not aware that a state law passed in 1984 gives them the first chance to comment on Department of Environmental Protection permit applications even before they are submitted to the agency.   Read more here.


PA Oil & Gas Industry Public Notice Dashboards:

-- PA Oil & Gas Industrial Facilities: Permit Notices, Opportunities To Comment - February 1  [PaEN]

-- DEP Posted 89 Pages Of Permit-Related Notices In February 1 PA Bulletin  [PaEN] 

Related Articles This Week- Energy:

-- PUC: Calendar Year 2024 Act 13 Drilling Impact Fees To Remain Same As 2023; Dramatic Decline In Financial Support From Shale Gas Industry Continues [PaEN]

-- Range Resources And MarkWest Liberty Midstream File Legal Challenges To The 2,500 Foot Shale Gas Facility Setback Ordinance Adopted By Cecil Township, Washington County  [PaEN] 

-- Conventional Oil & Gas Industry Compliance With 2022 DEP Methane Reduction Regulation Put On Hold Pending Outcome Of Litigation  [PaEN] 

-- DEP Releases 2 Contracts For Bidding In Next Round Of Conventional Oil & Gas Well Plugging: 12 Wells In Kinzua State Park, McKean County, 18 Wells In Warren County [PaEN] 

-- Rep. Vitali Introduces Bill To Restore DEP Authority To Increase Conventional Oil & Gas Well Plugging Bonds To Prevent Hundreds Of New Well Abandonments A Year  [PaEN]

-- PA Republican Senator To Introduce Bill Suspending State Taxes On Natural Gas Producers; Cut DEP Permit Fees; End Drilling Moratorium On DCNR Lands; Exempt Coal-Fired Power Plants From EPA Regulations  [PaEN]

-- Gov. Shapiro Proposes ‘Lightning’ Energy Plan To Increase & Diversify Energy Generation; Reduce Climate Changing Pollution; Lower Energy Costs; Create Jobs  [PaEN]

-- House Energy Committee To Hold Feb. 4 Hearing On Bill Establishing  $156 Million Federally-Funded Solar For All Program [PaEN]

-- 10 Government Entities In Centre County Approve Solar Energy Purchase Agreement To Save Local Taxpayers $4.4 Million Over 15 Years [PaEN] 

-- Pennsylvania Solar Center Now Accepting Nominations For 2025 Lodestar Awards  [PaEN]

-- Gov. Shapiro Reaches Agreement With PJM To Prevent Unnecessary Price Hikes And Save Consumers Over $21 Billion On Utility Bills  [PaEN]

-- PA Senate Republican Leader: ‘Every Consumer Of Electricity In This Commonwealth Is Going To Pay More;’ ‘What You’re Going To Face Is Going To Be Really Unpleasant’  [PaEN]

-- Republicans On PA Senate Environmental Committee Report Out Bills To Eliminate Carbon Pollution Reduction Program Covering Power Plants, Establish Independent Energy Office  [PaEN]

-- Inquirer: President Wants US To Be ‘Leading’ Producer Of Non-Fuel Minerals; Here’s How PA Could Help; Rare Earth Elements Could Be More Important Than Expansion Of Fracking  [PDF of Article]

NewsClips:

-- The Energy Age Blog: Range Resources & MarkWest Liberty Midstream File Legal Challenges Against 2,500 Foot Shale Gas Setback Ordinance In Cecil Twp., Washington County 

-- The Energy Age Blog: EQT Should Plug These Abandoned Conventional Wells In Peters Twp., Washington County Before Fracking From Mingo Well Pad

-- PennLive Guest Essay: Natural Gas Industry Operations [Wastewater Pipelines] Are Strongly Regulated In PA - By Marcellus Shale Gas Coalition  [Shale Gas Wastewater Pipelines are NOT regulated by the PUC for construction, operations and safety. Read more here. ]

-- Inquirer: President Wants US To Be ‘Leading’ Producer Of Non-Fuel Minerals; Here’s How PA Could Help; Rare Earth Elements Could Be More Important Than Expansion Of Fracking  [PDF of Article]

-- NYT: Oil, Gas Companies Embrace New President, But Not ‘Drill, Baby, Drill’  [No Plans To Increase Production Unless Prices Rise Significantly]

-- US EIA: Electric Power Sector Has Driven Rising PA Natural Gas Consumption Since 2013

-- UGI Gas Division Filed A Request With PUC To Increase Residential Gas Rates By 10.8%

-- Scranton Times: UGI Seeking To Raise Natural Gas Rates 10.8% For Residential Customers

-- Utility Dive: Calpine To Sell 2 PA Gas Power Plants To Avoid Market Power Concerns From Constellation Merger

-- Reuters: Diversified Energy To Buy Permian Basin Oil & Gas Producer Maverick In $1.3 Billion Deal [Diversified Specializes In Buying Old Wells]

-- Bloomberg: US Natural Gas Producers Likely To Gain Asian Market Share [China Buying 50% More US LNG, Cap Price At $10 - Currently $3.89]  

-- Bloomberg: Europe’s Gas Traders Now Fear Summer More Than Winter

-- Reuters: Venture Global Given FERC OK To Start Up Another Louisiana LNG Gas Export Plant

-- Reuters: US EIA Sees 7% Higher US Wholesale Power Prices In 2025; Residential Increase Of 2%

-- Wall Street Journal: New Federal Administration Memo Orders Agencies To Broadly Pause All Federal Grants, Loans, Financial Assistance Programs Pending Review  [PDF of Article

-- AP: Federal Judge Temporarily Blocks New Administration’s Freeze On Federal Grants And Loans  

-- AP: President Rescinds Memo Freezing  Federal Money After Widespread Confusion; Executive Orders Requiring Funding Review Still In ‘Full Force’ 

-- E&ENews/Politico: EPA Freezes Federal Solar For All Program Funding Until Further Notice  [PA Due To Receive $156 Million]

-- Financial Times: President Wiped Out Dozens Of Biden’s Climate Initiatives In First-Week Blitz 

-- Inquirer: Escalating Demand And Diminished Supply Has Spiked PUC Concern About The Future Ability Of State’s Electric Grid 

-- Post-Gazette Guest Essay: Transformational Investments In Renewables, Energy Efficiency Are Designed To Lower Energy Costs For Pennsylvania Consumers - By Molly Parzen, Conservation Voters Of PA

[Posted: January 31, 2025]  PA Environment Digest

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