151 New Stories - REAL Environmental & Conservation Leadership In PA

Here are 151 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 Memoriam: Former Sen. Mary Jo White, Republican Chair Of The Senate Environmental Resources & Energy Committee  [PaEN] 

-- PennLive: Fmr State Senator Mary Jo White, Chair Of Environmental Committee, Dies 

-- Bradford Era: Former PA Senate, Chair Of Environmental Resources And Energy Committee Dies

-- PA Parks & Forests Foundation Announces 2025 Award Winners; Award Celebration Set For May 13 At Little Buffalo State Park In Perry County  [PaEN]  

-- Warren Times: Mother-Daughter Duo Honored With Allegheny National Forest Chapter Of North Country Trail Assn. Award 

-- Altoona Mirror: Volunteers Work To Preserve 200-Year-Old Witness Tree In Blair County  

-- US Postal Service: New Forever Stamp Series Captures Beauty Of Appalachian Trail 

-- Republican Herald: Rausch Creek In Schuylkill County Featured On US Postal Service Stamp Issued For 100th Anniversary Of The Appalachian Trail Conservancy

-- Senate DEP Budget Hearing Focuses On Permit Reviews; Governor’s Lightning Energy Plan; Bringing On More Baseload Power Generation; Firing ‘Intractable’ DEP Employees  [PaEN] 

-- DEP House Budget Hearing: Democrat Rep. Vitali Raises Concerns About Whether DEP Has The Resources To Fulfill Its Mission When Workloads Have Increased Dramatically  [PaEN]

-- House DEP Budget Hearing: Republican Rep. Kail Says It Is ‘Outrageous’ DEP Has A Process Where Citizens Can Petition Their Government For Changes To Regulations  [PaEN]

-- DEP Budget Testimony: DEP Moving At The Speed Of Business; Lightning Energy Plan; Most Inspections; Commitment To Environmental Justice  [PaEN] 

-- Post-Gazette - Ford Turner: Concerns About Conventional Oil & Gas Well Plugging In PA Aired At Budget Hearing

-- DCNR House Budget Hearing Testimony: Making Strategic Investments To Grow Pennsylvania’s $19 Billion Outdoor Recreation Industry  [PaEN] 

-- Gov. Shapiro Announced  Federal Funds Identified In State Lawsuit Are No Longer Frozen - Mine Reclamation, Conventional Well Plugging, Water Infrastructure  [PaEN] 

-- AP: Gov. Shapiro Says Billions In Federal Funding Now Unfrozen

-- PA Capital-Star: Uncertainty Remains For Programs In PA Impacted By Federal Funding Freeze, Despite Reversal

-- Inside Climate News - Jon Hurdle: $2.1 Billion In Federal Funding Restored In PA After State’s Lawsuit, But Other Funding For State-Administered Programs May Be At Risk  

-- Chesapeake Bay Foundation: President's Proposed 65% Cut In EPA Budget, Coming Mass Layoffs Spell Disaster For Chesapeake Bay [PaEN]  

-- Chesapeake Bay Journal: Some Federal Funding For States Freed, But Large Amounts Of Federal Funding For Others Still Stalled  

-- The Center Square: Congressional Lawmakers Relaunch Chesapeake Bay Task Force To Bolster Cleanup Efforts

-- PASA Sustainable Agriculture: Taking Action On Federal Funding Freeze 

-- The Allegheny Front: Pennsylvania Farm Group Faces Layoffs Amid Federal Funding Freeze 

-- LancasterOnline: PA Ag Secretary ‘Nervous’ Over Federal Funds For Food Access, Animal Health, Environmental Conservation

-- The Allegheny Front - Kara Holsoppple: Conservationists Raise Alarm Over Federal Employee Firings

-- Warren Times: Allegheny National Forest Cuts Raise Concerns Over Wildfire Fighting, Forest Management  

-- Warren Times Letter: Job Reductions At Allegheny National Forest Will Take Toll On Warren County 

-- PennLive: Fmr DCNR, National Heritage Area Director Brenda Barrett Protests Cuts To National Parks: They Are ‘Endangering Our Crown Jewels’

-- PennLive Guest Essay: If You Care About National Parks, Forests, Tell Congress To Stop President’s Cuts Now - By Douglas Austen, Fmr Fish & Boat Commission Executive Director 

-- Warren Times Editorial: Not A Big Fan Of Celebrating President’s Cuts: People Receiving Pink Slips In Our Region Work Each Day To Earn A Paycheck To Support Their Families, It’s Just Adding To The Unemployment Rolls

-- Delaware Currents: Federal Judge Dismisses Wayne County Land & Mineral Group Lawsuit Against Delaware River Basin Commission Over Fracking Ban [PaEN] 

-- Marcellus Drilling News: Federal Judge Tosses Landowner Lawsuit Against Delaware River Basin Commission For Fracking Ban  [PDF of Article]

-- PA Oil & Gas Weekly Compliance Dashboard - Feb. 22 to 28 - 11 More Abandoned Shale Gas Wells; 12,600 Gallon Wastewater Spill; Failure To Comply With Shale Well Plugging Order  [PaEN] 

-- What The Shale Gas Industry Is Leaving Behind: Coterra Energy Spills 12,600 Gallons Of Wastewater From Shale Gas Well Pad In Bridgewater Twp., Susquehanna County  [PaEN]  

-- What The Shale Gas Industry Is Leaving Behind: DEP Issues Violations For Abandoning 11 More Shale Gas Wells; Shale Gas Well Owner Fails To Comply With Plugging Order [PaEN] 

-- Protect PT Hosts In-Person March 9 Living Near Shale Gas Workshop In Westmoreland County  [PaEN] 

-- WHYY: Bucks County Residents Call For Shutdown Of Energy Transfer/Sunoco Pipeline [After 16 Month Leak Contaminated Wells]: ‘Our Lives Have Been Upended’  

-- Inquirer - Frank Kummer: Bucks County Residents Fear Energy Transfer/Sunoco Pipeline Leak Could Be More Widespread Than Company Acknowledges; Class Action Lawsuit Expected To Be Filed 

-- Courier Times: Energy Transfer/Sunoco Disputes Findings, Recommended Fixes Of Federal Pipeline Regulator In Jet Fuel Pipeline Leak Investigation In Bucks County 

-- ABC27: Sen. Muth Looks To Keep Radium, Other Oil & Gas Waste Out Of Drinking Water

-- E&E News/Politico: Wind And Solar Surpassed Coal In Electric Generation; Natural Gas Now Leading Source Of Carbon Pollution In Power Industry 

-- WHYY: Ruptured Gas Line Prompts Evacuations Near Philly’s Central High School 

-- Independent Fiscal Office Reports 2024 PA Natural Gas Production Down 1.8%, PA Natural Gas Price Up 19.1% In Last Year  [PaEN] 

-- Marcellus Drilling News: Natural Gas Price Up 150% From 1 Year Ago, Not Coming Down Soon  [PDF of Article] 

-- Pittsburgh Business Times: Natural Gas Production In PA Falls To Lowest Level Since 2020; Producers Respond To Lower Prices  

-- UGI Natural Gas Costs Will Increase 7% On March 1 

-- MCall: UGI Gas Customers To See 7% Increase In Natural Gas Costs Starting March 1

-- PUC Holds March 18, March 19 Hearings On Proposed Pike County Light & Power Company Rate Hikes-- Natural Gas (44.4%), Electric (11.6%) 

-- Forbes: How LNG Gas Exports Will Define US Energy Policy Under New President; US Gas Market May Become More Vulnerable To Price Volatility In Global Gas Market Straining States That Rely On Natural Gas For Power Generation 

-- Grist: Exporting Natural Gas Raises Your Power Bills; The President Is Doing It Anyway

-- DEP Issues Air Quality Permit For Nova Energy LLC Cryptocurrency Data Center In Venango County  [PaEN] 

-- Utility Dive: FirstEnergy’s 5-Year Data Center Pipeline Doubles To 3 GW, Shares Fall Nearly 10.5% On Lowered Earnings Outlook 

-- Wall Street Journal: The A.I. Data Center Boom Is A Job-Creation Bust

-- 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]  

-- The Center Square: Gov. Shapiro Floats Leaving PJM Electric Grid Operator As Power Demand Spike Looms

-- AP: President’s Tariffs On Mexico, Canada To Start March 4 [Will Impact United Refining In Warren That Uses Canadian Oil ] 

-- TribLive: DEP Hearing Set For March 20 On Westmoreland Landfill Water Quality Permit To Dump Treated Leachate Into Monongahela River 

-- Inside Climate News - Kiley Bense: Pollution From Max Environmental Landfill Has Caused Problems For Decades; Fracking Waste Made It Worse In Westmoreland County  [Part I]

-- Inside Climate News - Kiley Bense: EPA Investigation Confirmed Residents Worst Fears About Max Environmental Landfill; What Happens Next Is Uncertain In Westmoreland County  [Part II]

-- Post-Gazette: With High Levels In PA And Links To Cancer, Experts Say Radon Gas Awareness Is Key; Radon Levels Are Higher  In Communities With Shale Gas Drilling 

-- Evangelical Environmental Network: Congress Repeals Cost-Effective Oil & Gas Methane Pollution Reduction Program Safeguarding Children's Health  [PaEN]

-- MCall Guest Essay: PA Will Benefit From Tighter Methane Emissions Standards For Oil & Gas Industry - By John Walliser, PA Environmental Council

- Beaver County Marcellus Awareness Community Launches Eyes On Air Webpage To Provide Real-Time Air Quality For Beaver County  [PaEN] 

-- Penn State, Project InnerSpace Report: Leverage Oil & Gas Workers To Generate Enough Geothermal Energy To Meet 100% Of Pennsylvania's Electricity, Heating, Medium Industrial Process Needs  [PaEN] 

-- Post-Gazette - Anya Litvak: A Geothermal Push In Pennsylvania Enlists Oil & Gas Industry: ‘Hot Everywhere Underground’  

-- Marcellus Drilling News: PA Study Promotes Geothermal With Aim To Kill Off Shale Energy  [PDF of Article] 

-- Washington & Jefferson College Contributes To Penn State, Project Innerspace Geothermal In PA Report

-- Post-Gazette Editorial: Could Geothermal Be The Next Pennsylvania Energy Boom?  [An Energy Source Not Subject To Volatile Markets And Dictators, True Energy Independence]

-- Sen. Culver Commends Progress Extinguishing Wilburton Coal Bank Fire In Columbia County  [PaEN] 

-- Tribune-Democrat: Waste Coal-Fired Seward Power Plant Faces Regulatory Challenge

-- TribLive: Last Pieces Of Cheswick Coal-Fired Power Plant To Meet Wrecking Ball In Allegheny County

-- AP: Hiker Rescues Dog From Abandoned Coal Pit After Frigid Weeklong Search In Schuylkill County 

-- The Energy Age Blog: Reflections & Updates On US Railroad Safety

-- Inquirer Guest Essay: The Norfolk Southern Train Disaster Could Happen In Philadelphia Next - Stop Projects Like The Gibbstown LNG Gas Export Terminal - By David Masur, PennEnvironment & Kimberly Ong, Natural Resources Defense Council

-- Penn State Extension Ag Conservation Currents: Nominations Open For ACAP Ag Conservation Conference Awards; Ag Water Webinar Series; Winter Manure Spreading  

-- Penn State Extension Hosts March 19 Webinar On Green Infrastructure's Many Functions  [PaEN] 

-- Penn State Extension, PA Sea Grant, Partners Host April 28, April 29 In-Person Educator Workshops On Watershed Literacy & Tree Plantings In Lancaster County [PaEN]

-- Perkiomen Watershed Conservancy, Partners Host Stormwater Symposium March 14 At Ursinus College, Montgomery County  [PaEN] 

-- Williamsport Sun: Lycoming County Continues Zoning Fee Waivers For Homes Damaged By Tropical Storm Debby

-- Help Wanted: Trout Unlimited Upper Delaware River Watershed Project Manager

-- Centre Daily Times: What Is Agroforestry?  Local Farm Makes The Most Of Its Location Near Rothrock State Forest

-- Lancaster Clean Water Partners: Focus On Rain Gardens; March 4 Stormwater Listening Session; Learning Series Opportunities; Upcoming Events; Internship Opportunity 

-- TribLive: Plum Creek Watershed Project Aims To Address Flooding, Pollution Concerns In Allegheny County 

-- Master Watershed Stewards Take Part In Winter Salt Stream Snapshot [PaEN] 

-- Rain Barrel Kits Now Available At Select Master Watershed Steward Program Offices [PaEN] 

-- Registration Open! Pennsylvania Groundwater Symposium May 6-7 In Harrisburg [PaEN] 

-- Penn State Extension: Private Well Owners Needed For Dept. Of Health Focus Group 

-- The Slate: Shippensburg Residents Discuss PFAS ‘Forever Chemicals’ Water Contamination Concerns 

-- DEP Now Accepting Industrial Decarbonization Grant Applications For $396 Million In Federal Funds Under RISE PA To Create Jobs, Cut Energy Costs For Medium, Large Industries [PaEN] 

-- Beaver Times: Climate Change Could Cost PA Billions; Lawmaker Says; It’s Time To Get Ready

-- PA Solar Center, Partners Host PA Renewables Summit & Lobby Day In Harrisburg March 24-25  [PaEN] 

-- WITF: Federally-Funded Solar For All Program Needs General Assembly Approval To Get Started

-- DEP Citizens Advisory Council To Hear Presentations From PA Solar Center, DCED On Housing Action Plan March 11  [PaEN] 

-- Altoona Mirror: Antis Twp. Solar Energy Facility Proposal Raises Some Concerns Among Planners

-- Delaware River Basin Commission Climate Resilience Plan Public Input Sessions Scheduled Thru June  [PaEN] 

-- Chesapeake Bay Journal: Archaea Energy Explores Underground Carbon Storage In Lackawanna County

-- PennDOT Announces The Opening Of 3 Federally-Funded Electric Vehicle Charging Stations In Cumberland, Franklin, Susquehanna Counties

-- Tribune-Democrat: Governments Look To Adapt As Electric Vehicles Slowly Change Local Landscape

-- Independent Fiscal Office: Profile Of Electric Vehicles, Charging Stations In PA

-- DEP Releases Test Results From SPS Technologies Industrial Fire In Montgomery County: No threat To Air Quality Or Drinking Water   [PaEN]

-- WHYY - Sophia Schmidt: DEP Testing Finds Cyanide In Tookany Creek After SPS Technologies Fire In Montgomery County

-- Inquirer: Inside Mostly Volunteer Firefighters’ Grueling Effort To Battle SPS Technologies Industrial Fire In Montgomery County 

-- KYW: Class-Action Lawsuit Filed Against SPS Technologies Following Massive Fire In Montgomery County

-- DEP Bans Sale Of  Impecca Electronics Products For Violating PA’s Electronic Waste Recycling Law; E-Waste Recycling Law Broken  [PaEN] 

-- Registration Now Open For Keep PA Beautiful 2025 Pick Up Pennsylvania! Organize Your Litter Pickup, Beautification Events Now  [PaEN] 

-- Keep PA Beautiful News: 2024 Annual Report; Registration Open For Pick Up Pennsylvania!  Enter Lens On Litter Contest; Keep Coatesville Beautiful! Volunteer Awards! 

-- City Of Philadelphia Announces Schedule Of Household Hazardous Waste Collection Events Starting April 5

-- Erie Times: Erie County Holds Household Hazardous Waste, Electronics Waste Collection Events Starting March 15

-- Centre Daily Times: Recycling: Mark Your Calendar For These Upcoming Earth-Friendly Events In Centre County

-- DCNR State Parks Environmental Educator Newsletter Highlights Winter Teaching Ideas; Educator Workshops; Black History Month Guides  [PaEN] 

-- DCNR Upgrades Nolde Forest Environmental Center To Enhance Student, Visitor Experience In Berks County  [PaEN] 

-- Reading Eagle: Nolde Forest Environmental Center Celebrates Investment In Outdoor Learning

-- Lehigh Valley Wildlands Conservancy: Sign Up For 2025 Student Summer Camp; Stream Team Volunteer Training; Kickstart Your Conservation Career

-- Hawk Mountain Sanctuary Highlights Educational Events In March 

-- Lebanon Valley Conservancy Partners With Brett & Janice Balmer To Preserve 34 Acres Of Forest Habitat In Lebanon County  [PaEN]

-- LancasterOnline - Rachel McDevitt: Lancaster County’s Protected Natural Space, Parks Increased Only Slightly In Past Decade

-- North Branch Land Trust To Host 6 Open House Events To Give Landowners, Public An Opportunity To Learn About Land Conservation In Northeast  [PaEN] 

-- North Branch Land Trust Dinner Committee Announces April 30 Annual Dinner & Auction Honoring The Tambur Family Foundation In Luzerne County  [PaEN] 

-- Warren Times: Republican Rep. Steele Wants To Make It Easier For Game Commission To Purchase Land

-- DCNR Encourages Forest Landowners To Plan Now For Spring Spongy Moth Treatment; Populations Have Reached Outbreak Levels  [PaEN] 

-- Scranton Times: Spongy Moths Expected To Be Moderate Across NE Region

-- Warren Times: Rep. Stender Introduces Package Of Bills To Prevent Wildfires

-- Legislation Introduced To Promote Biodiversity Through Native Insect Conservation - By Nate Reagle, Certified Pollinator Steward  [PaEN] 

-- Penn State Extension Master Gardeners Of Cumberland County To Host 6-Part Gardening With Nature Workshop Series Starting March 13 

-- PA Parks & Forests Foundation Penn’s Stewards News Highlights Past & Future Of Pennsylvania Trails Movement; First Day Hikes; Friends Group Projects; More  [PaEN]

-- Williamsport Sun: Being Present With Nature In New Ways To Support Mental Health, Decrease Stress

-- WeConservePA: Call For Presentations - PA Greenways & Trails Summit Sept. 21-23  [PaEN]

-- KDKA: Fallingwater Undergoing $7 Million Repair Project To Fix Leaks Inside Historic House

-- Warren Times: Registration Open For Allegheny 100 Hiking Challenge

-- Tribune-Democrat: Somerset County Aims To Draw Crowds With Regional ATV Trail

-- Citizens Voice: Susquehanna Warrior Trail Extension Proposed

-- York Dispatch: York City, North York At Odds Over Property Maintenance Along York County Rail Trail

-- WPXI: 18-Year-Old Man, Not Wearing Helmet, Dead After Dirt Bike Crashes Over Embankment In Westmoreland County

-- WHYY: More Bicycle Lanes Could Come To Philly Connecting To Schuylkill River Trail And Temple

-- Inquirer - Frank Kummer: Franklin Square In Philly Getting $7.8 Million Upgrade With New Playground, Zip Line, Restrooms, Bike Lanes

-- National Park Service To Hold Public Meetings For Start Of White-Tailed Deer Management Planning For Select National Parks In Western PA

-- WESA/WVIA: Officials Take Precautions In PA As Bird Flu Spreads To Humans In Other States 

-- WITF/StateImpact PA - Rachel McDevitt: Migratory Birds Mainly Responsible For Bird Flu Outbreak, Experts Tell PA Lawmakers  

-- Post-Gazette - Mary Ann Thomas: Bird Flu Devastates Cranberry’s Seggond Chance Farm, A Sanctuary For Misfit Birds 

-- TribLive: Bird Flu Affecting More Than 600 Birds At Butler County Farm

-- Post-Gazette - Mary Ann Thomas: First Pittsburgh Cases Of Avian Flu In Years Detected In American Crows 

-- MCall: Sick Bald Eagle That Died After Rescue In Bethlehem Tested Positive For Bird Flu 

-- Republican Herald - Doyle Dietz: After 5 Years, Saturday Deer Opener Proving To Be The Right Choice

-- Citizens Voice: Game Commission: Chronic Wasting Disease In Deer Here To Stay In NE PA

-- LancasterOnline: Raven Ridge Wildlife Center Rehabilitating Beaver Wounded By Birdshot In Marietta

-- Centre Daily Times: Volunteers Drawn To PA Saw-Whet Owl Banding Stations Appreciate Small, Cute Raptor 

-- Williamsport Sun: Make Sure To Watch For Short-Eared Owls This Winter

-- Williamsport Sun - Bill Bower: Reflections In Nature: Spiders And Webs, A Closer Look

Visit the PA Environment Digest website to learn more.

REAL Leadership:

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[Posted: March 2, 2025]   PA Environment Digest