126 New Stories - REAL Environmental & Conservation Leadership In PA

Here are 126 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!

-- PA Environmental Educators Want You To Share Your Moment Of Joy And Wonder About The Environment!  Who Couldn’t Use A Little More Joy!  [PaEN]

-- Keep PA Beautiful Celebrating 35 Years Of Supporting Community Improvement Across Pennsylvania  [PaEN]

-- DCNR Resource News: Outdoor Recreation Means Business, Jobs; Delaware River Of The Year; 40 Answered The Call To Battle Wildfires In California  [PaEN]

-- WGAL: Sara Mueller Has A Passion For Outdoors, Educating Next Generation At Wildlife Leadership Academy 

-- PA Envirothon: Volunteers Need For Envirothon Judges, State Envirothon Testing Day 

-- Keystone 10 Million Trees Partnership, 320 Partners, Thousands Of Volunteers To Plant Nearly 200,000 Trees In PA This Year; Over 8.2 Million Planted Since 2018  [PaEN]

-- Guest Essay: Life Depends On Protecting The Natural World, Federal Rollbacks Are Threatening Our Future - By Michael Kensinger, Juniata Valley Audubon Society  [PaEN]

-- TribLive: Flight 93 Memorial Supporters In Somerset County Step Up Fundraising As Potential Job Cuts Loom  

-- Gov. Shapiro Signs Executive Order To Fill Critical Public Service Vacancies In PA By Recruiting Talented, Experienced Federal Employees, Streamlining Hiring Process

-- TribLive: Employees Cut By Feds Could Get PA, Allegheny County Jobs

-- PA Capital-Star: Shapiro Signs Executive Order Aimed At Attracting Federal Employees

-- Shale Gas & Public Health Conference: Dr. Pouné Saberi, MD Speaks On How Healthcare Providers Can Better Serve Individuals Exposed To Health Threats From Shale Gas Development  [PaEN]

-- Shale Gas & Public Health Conference: Alison Steele, Environmental Health Project - The Science Is In, Shale Gas Development Harming Public Health - Arming People To Prevent, Reduce Harm  [PaEN] 

-- Shale Gas & Public Health Conference: Lois Bower-Bjornson - What It’s Like Living In Frackland - Residents Talk About Dealing With The Health, Environmental Impacts Of Shale Gas  [PaEN] 

-- Shale Gas & Public Health Conference: Bob Donnan - 15 Years Of Shale Gas Development Through Aerial Photos - Hiding In Plain Sight  [PaEN] 

-- Shale Gas & Public Health Conference: Gillian Graber, Protect PT -- We Need To Work Together, Pool Our Knowledge To Push Back Against This Industry That's Harming Our Communities [PaEN] 

-- The Derrick: State Attorney General Launches Criminal Investigation Into Conventional Oil Well Wastewater Spill That Contaminated Venango Water Company Spring  [PaEN] 

-- The Derrick: Attorney General Launches Probe Of Reno Spill [PDF of Article]

-- DEP:  Diversified Production LLC Abandons Shale Gas Powered Cryptocurrency Facility In Elk County; 9 More Violations For Abandoned Shale Gas Wells This Week  [PaEN] 

-- DEP Orders Energy Transfer/Sunoco To Install Water Treatment Systems In Over 200 Homes Impacted By Petroleum Products Pipeline Leak In Bucks County  [PaEN] 

-- Inquirer - Frank Kummer: Energy Transfer/Sunoco Ordered To Supply Homes With Bottled Water, Filtration Systems In Wake Of Pipeline Spill 

-- Courier Times: PA DEP Says Energy Transfer/Sunoco Petroleum Products Pipeline Leak In Bucks County Violated State Law

-- Courier Times: Bucks County Residents Demand Answers On Energy Transfer/Sunoco Pipeline Inspection Report For 2023 Flash Flood 

-- PA Oil & Gas Weekly Compliance Dashboard - March 1 to 7:  Cryptocurrency Facility, 9 More Shale Gas Wells Abandoned; Attorney General Investigates Conventional Wastewater Spill; Pipeline Ordered To Provide Clean Water  [PaEN] 

-- TribLive: Plum Boro, Allegheny County Residents Raise Objections To 2nd Proposed Oil & Gas Wastewater Injection Well 

-- The Center Square: Chester, Delaware County Leads The Fight For Environmental Justice [LNG Gas Export Facility]  

-- NextPittsburgh: FracTracker Alliance Mapping Oil & Gas Impacts In Pennsylvania And Beyond 

-- Post-Gazette: PA, OH Lawmakers Push For Study Of Long-Term Health Impacts Of Norfolk Southern Train Derailment 

-- Evangelical Environmental Network: Proposed Bipartisan Abandoned Well Remediation Act Reintroduced In Congress To Identify, Plug Abandoned Oil & Gas Wells  [PaEN] 

-- Oil & Gas Advisory Board To Hear DEP Update On Water, Wastewater Shale Gas Well Development Pipelines; Methane Migration; Guidance On Dewatering Impoundments March 20  [PaEN] 

-- River Reporter: Local Congressmen, EPA Reopen  Fracking Conversation In Delaware River Basin In NE PA  [Warning]

-- Ohio River Valley Institute: 27 Appalachian Groups Call On DOE To Assess Full Impact Of Appalachian Hydrogen Hub Proposal, Suspend ARCH2 Funding 

-- TribLive: Petrochemical Plant In Beaver County Could Be Sold As Shell Looks To Offload Chemical Assets  [Warning]

-- Pittsburgh Business Times: Shell Considers Selling US, European Petrochemical Plants, Including Beaver County Facility  [Warning]

-- PUC House Budget Hearing: We Aren’t Going To Build Our Way Out Of Electric Generation Shortfalls On PJM Grid; We Need To Diversify Our Generation Sources  [PaEN] 

-- PA Capital-Star/Inside Climate News - Jon Hurdle: Data Centers Drive Higher Forecasts For Electric Demand In PA, Sparking Climate Worries

-- AP - Marc Levy: In A Reversal, Plans For US Natural Gas Power Grow, Complicating Progress On Climate [PA Natural Gas]

-- AP - Marc Levy: Facing Competition From Big Tech, States Dangle Incentives, Loosen Laws To Attract Power Plants  [PA Highlighted] 

-- Guest Essay: Significant Electricity Load Growth Can Be Accommodated Without A Stampede To New Natural Gas Generation Just By Increasing Efficiency At Existing Power Plants - By John Quigley, Senior Fellow, Kleinman Center For Energy Policy  [PaEN]  

-- Post-Gazette Guest Essay: As Energy Demand Rises, America Needs Fossil Fuel Plants And Solar Power -  By Tim Gallagher, ReliabilityFirst 

-- Inside Climate News: Utility, Grid, Energy Systems Experts Tell US House Committee Renewable Energy Needed To Keep Up With Energy Demand, Reduce Costs

-- Guest Essay: State Budget Season Offers Hope For An Energy Future Made In PA - By Kate Harper and Conor Lamb, Co-Chairs of Energy Future PA  [PaEN] 

-- Beaver Times Guest Essay: President’s ‘Common Sense’ Approach Should Include Clean Energy - By Bruce Cooper, Slippery Rock Chapter Of Citizens’ Climate Lobby 

-- PennLive Guest Essay: Pennsylvania Showing The Nation How To Power A.I. With Nuclear Energy - By Carol Browner, Fmr EPA Administrator

-- Post-Gazette - Anya Litvak: Canadian Bitfarms Cryptocurrency Mining Co. Wants Pennsylvania’s Power, So It’s Buying 2 Stronghold Waste Coal-fired Power Plants In Carbon, Venango Counties 

-- Post-Gazette: How Cryptocurrency Is Mined And Why Canadian Bitcoin Mining Co. Wants To Do It In Pennsylvania

-- Scranton Times: Developer Proposes Massive Data Center Campus In Lackawanna County 

-- Stronghold Digital Mining, DEP, Environmental Groups Settle Appeal, Require Removal Of Unpermitted Scrubgrass Power Plant's Coal Ash Pile 14 Months Faster In Venango County  [PaEN] 

-- House Energy Committee Meets March 17 To Consider Legislation Freeing $156.1 Million In Solar For All Funding From Self-Imposed Freeze  [PaEN] 

-- The Allegheny Front/WPSU: Solar Power Supporters In PA Say Outlook Is Positive, Even As Policies Could Change Under President 

 -- City Of Reading Begins Energy Efficiency, Solar Energy Project To Save $13.3 Million Over 20 Years; Help Achieve City’s 100% Renewable Energy Goal  [PaEN]

-- Frozen Hoping For A Thaw: Eastern PA Coalition For Abandoned Mine Reclamation Project To Repurpose Fmr Coal Waste Plant Site Into Solar Energy, Mine Water Pool Energy Storage, Cooling Facility In Schuylkill County [PaEN] 

-- Inquirer Guest Essay: Federal Funding For Cleaning Up Abandoned Mines In PA Must Be Protected - By Eric Dixon, Ohio River Valley Institute 

-- March 26 Lunch & Learn Meeting On Project To Demonstrate Scale Rare Earth, Critical Minerals Recovery In Clearfield County  [PaEN] 

-- Pittsburgh Business Times: $396 Million RISE PA Program Aims To Transform Industrial Sector, Curb Carbon Emissions  

-- DEP: Check Your Eligibility Now!  Penn Energy Savers Rebates Are Coming Soon To Help Eligible Households Upgrade To Energy Efficient Appliances, Do Building Retrofits  [PaEN] 

-- Pittsburgh Business Times: Eos Energy Battery Storage Company Touts American-Made Tech Amd Federal Funding Uncertainty 

-- Pittsburgh Business Times: Western PA’s Energy And Tech Leadership Fuels Economic Growth, Panel Says

-- Republican Herald: DOGE May Close Frackville Mine Safety Office

-- The Allegheny Front - Reid Frazier: US Steel Agrees To $1.5 Million Settlement With Residents Living Near Edgar Thomson Steel Plant Over Air Pollution Complaint 

-- WHYY: Montgomery County Residents Protest DOGE Cuts In Aftermath Of SPS Industrial Fire, Environmental Oversight Is Crucial: “Who’s Going To Be Keeping An Eye Out For Us?’

-- Western PA Conservancy: Landowners, Apply Now For Statewide Riparian Tree Plantings  [PaEN] 

-- Volunteers Needed! OSM Appalachian Regional Reforestation Initiative Releases Spring Tree Planting Schedule   [PaEN] 

-- PA iMapInvasives Program: Replace Your Invasive, Non-Native Plants, Shrubs With Native Plants At 5 Upcoming Give-Away Events Starting May 3  [PaEN] 

-- Western PA Conservancy: Apply Now To Treevitalize Pittsburgh For Support In Planting Trees In Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, April 1 Deadline

-- Lancaster Farming Guest Essay: Conservation Is A Good Investment - By Julia Krall, Chesapeake Bay Foundation

-- Organic Farmers Assn.: The Organic Voice - How Organic Farming, Healthcare Can Work Together

-- Lancaster Farming: Farmers Feel Loss Of Climate Project Funding After Freezes 

-- WITF/StateImpactPA - Rachel McDevitt: Farmers Lose Climate Assistance As President Freezes, Cuts Funding 

-- PennLive: DOGE Cutting Harrisburg-Area USDA Farm, Rural Development, USGS Water Research Center, Other Offices After Pushing Employees Out 

-- PASA Sustainable Agriculture Starting Employee Furlough Due To Continuing Federal Funding Freeze  [PaEN] 

-- Chesapeake Bay Journal: Advocates Urge Congress To Keep Funding Chesapeake Bay Cleanup 

- LancasterOnline Editorial: Lancaster County Farmers Face A Triple Whammy Of Threats: Tariffs, Bird Flu And Federal Funding Cuts  

-- TribLive: 2.3 Million Birds Killed In PA This Year As Bird Flu Spreads In Commercial, Backyard Flocks; Game Commission Reports More Bird Flu 

-- Game Commission Lifts Bird Flu Access Restrictions To Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area In Lancaster County 

-- Western PA Conservancy: Apply Now For Community Gardens Support, Deadline March 15

-- Middle Susquehanna RiverKeeper: Keys To Keeping Volunteers Include Knowing Your Audience And What Excites Them - By John Zaktansky  

-- Pike Conservation District: How Water Moves The Land And How You Can Control It - By Nick Kremp, Head Resource Conservationist

-- River Reporter: Luzerne County Reps Push For End To ‘Rain Tax’ [Stormwater Management/Chesapeake Bay Program From EPA]  [Warning]

-- Inside Climate News - Jon Hurdle: Delaware River Basin Commission Renews Concern That Sea-Level Rise Will Flood Drinking Water Intakes In Philadelphia, Southern NJ  

-- Inquirer - Frank Kummer: Aqua PA Sues Company Alleging It Contaminated Drinking Water Source With ‘Significant’ Levels Of PFAS ‘Forever Chemicals’  

-- WHYY: Aqua PA Sues Chemical Company Alleging PFAS ‘Forever Chemical’ Contamination In West Chester

-- TribLive: Murrysville Mobile Home Park Residents Left Without Consistent Water Since January

-- Penn State Extension Hosts April 1 Private Water Supply Education & Water Testing Webinar; A Free Water Test Included  [PaEN]

-- Registration Open!  Water Utilities: US Water Alliance One Water Summit In Pittsburgh July 8-11; SPC Forming Delegation  [PaEN] 

-- Pike Conservation District News: March 31 Results Of Microplastics Study; April 5 Rain Barrel Workshop; Much More 

-- The Allegheny Front/The Ohio NewsRoom: Scientists Want To Monitor Microplastics In The Great Lakes, Here’s Why It Matters

-- Post-Gazette Guest Essay: If A Catastrophic Flood Hits Pittsburgh, FEMA Won’t Help Enough - Kelly McKinney, NYU Langone Health

-- WHYY: Philadelphians Push City Council For More Illegal Dumping Prevention

-- Inquirer Guest Essay: How To End Illegal Dumping In Philadelphia 

-- Warren Times: New Attempt At Plastic Grocery Bag Ban Coming In Legislature

-- KYW: Tire Fire In Philadelphia Sends Black Smoke Into The Sky

-- Erie Times: Testing Reveals Toxic, Cancer-Causing Contaminants At Erie’s Abandoned EMI Property; What’s Next?

-- PA/NJ Chapter The American Chestnut Foundation Spring Growers Meeting March 29, Annville, Lebanon County

-- Courier Times: Cicadas Set To Hit PA This Year: When And Where Brood XIV Is Emerging 

-- PA Firefly Festival Hosts Firefly Naturalist Guide Training June 21 At Kellettville Firefly Farm In Forest County  [PaEN]

-- PA iMapInvasives Program Releases Results Of Citizen Science Invasive Species Scavenger Hunts In 2023, 2024  [PaEN]

-- WESA: DCNR Foresters Turn To Landowners In Fight Against Oak-Killing Spongy Moth 

-- TribLive: Giant Goldfish At Presque Isle State Park Serves As Reminder For Invasive Species Week 

-- Erie Times: Erie Removing Trees Of Heaven To Fight Spotted Lanternflies

-- Delaware Highlands Conservancy Highlights Upcoming Events: Invasive Species; Land Conservation; Adapting To Change

-- LancasterOnline - Rachel McDevitt: More Opportunities For Exploring The Outdoors, Local History Opening Up Soon 

-- Wilkes-Barre Times: North Branch Land Trust To Host Open House Events

-- Centre Daily Times: Rockview State Prison Has 5,700 Acres; What Could Happen To The Land If It Closes?

-- Delaware Highlands Conservancy: Foods Of The Delaware Highlands Dinner, June 8, Wayne County

-- Inquirer - Frank Kummer: President Freezes $12 Million Meant To Help Philly Plant Thousands Of Trees

-- WHYY: Philadelphians Push City To Do More To Plant, Protect Trees; $12 Million Federal Grant Frozen

-- AP: President Directs Federal Agencies To Find Ways To Bypass Endangered Species Protections To Increase Logging In National Forests  [Allegheny National Forest]

-- WITF/StateImpactPA - Rachel McDevitt: 3 New PA State Parks To Help The State’s Tourism Industry 

-- Susquehanna Greenway Partnership: First Signs of Spring on the Susquehanna Greenway - By Darian Jones  [PaEN]

-- South Mountain Partnership Now Accepting Applications For Mini-Grants [PaEN]

-- DCNR Grants News: Paddling Itineraries On The Susquehanna; Oil Region Diversity Stories; WalkWorks Grants; DCNR Grant Tips 

-- PA Environmental Council Accepting Applications For Artist-In-Residency Program Focused On Susquehanna River Water Trails; March 11 Online Q/A  [PaEN]

-- March 7 Take Five  Fridays With Pam, PA Parks & Forests Foundation  [PaEN]

-- PA Wilds Accepting Nominations For PA Wilds Champions Until April 7; Awards Celebration July 24 

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

-- The Nature Conservancy-PA News: Stream Restoration Aids PA Farmers; Bog Restoration Workdays; Underground Bat Survey 

-- MCall: Bethlehem Will Spend Millions To Improve, Expand Its Parks Over Next Decade  

-- TribLive: New Hempfield Municipal Complex Will Connect To Five Star Trail In Westmoreland

-- Discover Northeast PA: Exploring ‘Spine’ Trails With PA Environmental Council 

-- WHYY: Spring Garden Bicycle Lanes Still On Track To Connect Delaware To Schuylkill River Trails, For Now  [Federal Funding Issue]

-- Warren Times: Warren County Beauty Captured In Photo At Philadelphia Flower Show

-- Beaver Times - Brian Whipkey: Bill Reintroduced To Allow More Sunday Hunting In PA

-- Game Commission Applauds Legislation To Repeal Sunday Hunting Ban

-- Beaver Times - Brian Whipkey: Anglers Can Find Wild Trout In More Than 3,200 Miles of PA Streams, Here’s Where 

-- Centre Daily Times: DOGE To End 2 Leases In State College Area, Including US Fish & Wildlife Office; What We Know

Visit the PA Environment Digest website to learn more.

REAL Leadership:

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[Posted: March 9, 2025]   PA Environment Digest