146 New Stories - REAL Environmental & Conservation Leadership In PA

Here are 146 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!

-- Remember The Words Of The Declaration Of Independence As We Work For A Better, Safer, Healthier, Cleaner Environment To Secure Our Unalienable Rights To Life, Liberty And The Pursuit Of Happiness  [PaEN] 

-- Celebrating 30 Years of Environmental Progress As The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection  [PaEN]

-- 18 DEP Staff Members Honored With Governor's Awards For Excellence For Responses To Mine Subsidence And Dam Sediment Release [PaEN]

-- Celebrating 30 Years Of Excellence As The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources  [PaEN] 

-- Off Duty DCNR Park Manager Earns Governor’s Award For Excellence After Providing Lifesaving Aid To Swimmer  [PaEN]

-- DCNR Resource News: 30 Years Of Excellence; DCNR Employees Honored By Governor; Delaware River Of The Year; Naturalistic Fish Passage At Sunbury; Much More! 

-- US. Environmental Protection Agency Declaration Of Dissent Signed By Over 1,240 Employees  [PaEN] 

-- TribLive: State’s Outdoor Recreation Plan Sets Template For Millions Of Dollars In Upgrades At Parks 

-- TribLive: Great Allegheny Passage Trail Ranked Among Best Sunset Spots In US 

-- The Holcad: Westminster College Students Partner With Slippery Rock Watershed Coalition On Passive Mine Drainage Treatment Project [PaEN] 

-- York Dispatch: Love Of Bugs, Even Mayflies, Distinguishes Aspiring 10-Year-Old Junior Ranger Autumn Miller From Red Lion

-- Warren Times Editorial: Pennsylvania Needs A New Plan For Abandoned Conventional Oil & Gas Wells; Increasing Bond Amounts Only Part Of Solution  [PaEN] 

-- Penn State Extension Adds McKean County Workshop To Promote $100/Well Bounty To Find Previously Unknown Conventional Oil & Gas Wells Abandoned By Their Owners; Workshops Set In Clarion, Crawford, Mercer Counties  [PaEN]

-- DEP: Active Wastewater Spill Remediation Efforts Have Continued For 30+ Days At The Seneca Resources Vandergrift Shale Gas Well Pad In Charleston Twp., Tioga County [PaEN]

-- PA Oil & Gas Weekly Compliance Dashboard - June 28 to July 4 - 30+ Days Of Cleanup Continues At Shale Gas Pad;  Failure To Comply With Plugging Order For 67 Months;  Failure To Install E&S Controls For 68 Months  [PaEN] 

-- Environmental Integrity Project: DEP Made Changes To Permit For MarkWest Harmon Creek Natural Gas Processing Plant In Washington County To Reduce Air Emissions, Improve Accountability  [PaEN]

-- Environmental Hearing Board Denies Request To End Appeal Of Catalyst Energy, Inc. Oil & Gas Wastewater Injection Well Permit In McKean County  [PaEN] 

-- The Allegheny Front - Reid Frazier: Commonwealth Court Rules Elizabeth Twp., In Allegheny County Violated Its Own Zoning Ordinance To Allow Shale Gas Well Pad, Pipeline To Be Built In A Residential Area 

-- CNX Resources Challenges Environmental Hearing Board Authority To Add Conditions To Permits For Shale Gas Wells At The Drakulic Well Pad In Penn Twp., Westmoreland County  [PaEN]  [Warning]

-- TribLive: Residents Ask Upper Burrell Twp. To Adopt More Stringent Rules For Oil & Gas Wastewater Injection Wells In Westmoreland County

-- Observer-Reporter: EQT Shale Gas Driller Sues Morgan Twp., Greene County In Federal Court Over Limits On Heavy Equipment Hauling On Local Roads To Prevent Damage  [PDF of Article]  [Warning] 

-- WHYY: PUC Judge Denies Philadelphia Gas Works Request For Internal Emails, Texts, Memos From Climate Groups Participating In Its Rate Case, It Would Violate The First Amendment 

-- Environmental Health Project To Launch Compounds Of Concern Online Tool During July 16 Webinar  [PaEN] 

-- WNEP: Lithium On Oil & Gas Wastewater Gives Legislators Hope For Another ‘Boom’ In Susquehanna County’s Economy

-- Guest Essay: The Real Story Behind The Act 13 Shale Gas Drilling Impact Fee - It's Not Funding, It's Cleanup Money - By Mary Jo Simmen-Gray, Hempfield, Westmoreland County Resident  [PaEN]

-- EPA To Open Public Comment Docket, Host Listening Sessions On Clean Water Act Section 401 Certification Implementation  [Warning]

-- PUC Approves $750,000 Penalty Against UGI Utilities For 2020 Natural Gas Main Eruption In Monroe County Killing 1 Person  [PaEN] 

-- MCall - Anthony Salamone: UGI Fined For Christmas Day 2020 Natural Gas Leak That Killed 1 Person

-- PUC Seeks $395,000 Penalty Against UGI Utilities For 2022 Natural Gas House Explosion In Suburban Harrisburg; $50,000 Penalty Against Contractor  [PaEN] 

-- PennLive: PUC Files Complaints Against UGI, Plumber For 2022 Dauphin County House Explosion

-- KYW: Deadly Explosion In Philadelphia’s Nicetown Neighborhood Could Be Natural Gas-Fueled, Source Says 

-- Wilkes-Barre Times-Leader: Natural Gas Leak Results In Power Being Cut To Much Of Downtown Wilkes-Barre, Turning Off Street Lights Throughout The City

-- Wilkes-Barre Times-Leader: Power Restored To Downtown Wilkes-Barre After Natural Gas Leak, Additional Repairs Continue To Gas Pipeline

-- Mountain Watershed Association Files EHB Appeal Of DEP's Approval Of The 1,452 Acre Expansion of the Rustic Ridge #1 Coal Mine In Fayette, Westmoreland Counties  [PaEN] 

-- TribLive: Mountain Watershed Assn. Challenges Rustic Ridge Coal Mine Expansion In Westmoreland, Fayette Counties

-- Guest Essay: Remembering Ryerson Station State Park's Duke Lake, Lost To Damage Caused By Underground Coal Mining In Greene County 20 Years Ago - By Sarah Sweeney, Center for Coalfield Justice  [PaEN] 

-- Post-Gazette: Federal Mine Safety Office To Close In August After Years Of Investigating Deaths, Injuries Of Miners 

-- Inside Climate News: Federal Budget Megabill Gives Tax Breaks To Companies Exporting Metallurgical Coal That Supports Foreign Steel Making  [Warning]

-- Republican Herald: PA Anthracite Council Asks President To Impose Tariffs To Preserve Coal Industry  [Supports Foreign Steel Making]  [PDF of Article] 

-- EPA Announces It Will Revise Power Plant Wastewater Standards To Support Electric Reliability And Unleash American Energy [Again]  [Warning]

-- US Dept Of Energy Announces Updated NEPA Procedures To End Permitting Paralysis, Unleash American Energy [Warning]

-- Michigan Advance: Michigan Joins 14 Other States In Challenging President’s Energy Emergency Executive Order [Not Pennsylvania]

-- PA Interfaith Power & Light Launches New Faith & Fossil Fuels Initiative; Invites Congregations, Individuals To Share Your Lived Experiences With Pollution  [PaEN]

-- PennLive: Gov. Shapiro Says Federal Budget Bill ‘Betrays The Very People’ The President Vowed To Help 

-- The Center Square: Gov. Shapiro Says President’s Voters Getting ‘Screwed Over’ [Video]

-- PA Groups Say Federal Megabill Will Increase Pollution, Raise The Cost Of Living, Reduce Energy Choice  [PaEN] 

-- WESA: Green Advocates: Federal Budget Bill Will Raise Electricity Costs, Cut Tax Credits For Solar, Wind Power

-- Environmental Defense Fund: President Signs Bill That Will Raise Energy Costs, Increase Pollution

-- Natural Resources Defense Council: President Signs Energy Tax Megabill Into Law

-- Inside Climate News: Republican Megabill Set To Slash Through US Climate, Justice Drive

-- AP: What’s In The Latest Version Of President Big Budget Bill That Passed US Senate

-- MCall Guest Essay: Federal Home Heating Assistance Saves Energy, Money And Lives -  By Michael Austin, Weatherization Director, Community Action Lehigh Valley

-- Politico.com: 200 Pennsylvanians Find Common Ground On Climate Change, Immigration, Voter ID In Just A Few Days

-- Help Wanted: Ursinus College Conservation Stewardship Coordinator  [PaEN]

-- PJM Interconnection Grid Operator Issues Hot Weather Alert For July 6 In Its Western Region, July 7 In Its Mid-Atlantic & Southern Regions, Including Areas In PA  [PaEN] 

-- Pittsburgh Business Times: How Electric Grid Power Capacity Needs Of Larger Industrial Customers Could Threaten Industrial Growth In Pittsburgh Region  [PDF of Article] 

-- Spotlight PA: Costs Of Amazon’s $20 Billion Promise To Build Data Centers In PA Unknown: Impact On Electricity Supply, Power Costs To Consumers, Tax Revenue Forfeit 

-- PennLive Guest Essay: PA’s Three Mile Island Nuclear Power Plant Revival Is Powering America’s Future - By Sen. Greg Rothman (R-Cumberland)

-- TribLive Guest Essay: Summer’s Triple Threat - Energy Bills Rising, Grids Straining, Help Shrinking - By Destenie Nock, Peoples Energy Analytics  

-- Tribune-Democrat: 114 MW Wind Farm Under Construction At Rock Run ATV Park In Cambria County [PDF of Article]

-- Pittsburgh Business Times: Eos Energy Receives $22.7 Million In US DOE Loan For Energy Storage Production Expansion In Turtle Creek  [PDF of Article] 

-- Solar Business Owners: PA Will Lose $156 Million If PA Senate, House Fail To Unlock Solar For All Funding  [PaEN]   [Warning] 

-- The Derrick: PennDOT Opens 2 Electric Vehicle Charging Stations In The Area

-- DEP Launches New Streamlining Permits For Economic Expansion & Development (SPEED) Permit Review Program  [Release + Video] 

-- The Allegheny Front - Julia Fraser: PA’s SPEED Program Lets Developers Skip Line For Some Environmental Permit Reviews

-- Chesapeake Bay Program Seeks Public Comments On Revised Watershed Agreement; 5 Webinars Set Starting July 2  [PaEN] 

-- Chesapeake Bay Journal - Jeremy Cox: A New Chesapeake Bay Agreement - What’s In, What’s Out?

-- PennLive: Harrisburg’s Water Utility Offers $1.4 Billion Plan To Cut Sewage Overflows Into Susquehanna River 

-- MorningAgClips.com: Chesapeake Bay Foundation Releases Updated Resource Guide For Pennsylvania’s Beginning Farmers   

-- Williamsport Sun: Wyoming Valley Sanitation Authority Completes Streambank Restoration Project On Mill Creek

-- WGAL: Street 2 Creek Sidewalk Murals In York Aim To Bring Awareness To Stormwater Pollution 

-- MyChesco.com: A Legacy On The Water: One Family’s 4-Generation Bond With The Octoraro Reservoir And Why they’re Fighting To Save It

-- DEP Education: Stream Continuity Best Practice Designs For Culvert, Bridge Crossings 

-- Call For Posters: Alliance For The Chesapeake Bay 2025 Chesapeake Watershed Forum Nov. 7-9  [PaEN] 

-- Allegheny Conservation District: Building Vibrant Communities, Solutions To Natural Resource Challenges Like Flooding, Degraded Water Quality, Habitat Loss, More 

-- PublicSource.org: Allegheny County Loses Millions In Green Infrastructure Grants As Feds Cut Funding, Ease Regulations

-- PA State Grange, Farmers Stress How Federal Food Stamp Cuts Will Hurt PA Farms, Families [Release + Video]

-- DEP Ends Drought Watch Across The State, All Counties Have Returned To Normal Status; 17 Water Suppliers Still Have Restrictions  [PaEN]  

-- TheCoolDown.com: Residents Of Chambersburg, Hanover Celebrate Critical Water Supply Rebounds After Recent Crisis

-- ExploreClarion.com: DEP Now Issues Boil Water Advisory To Customers Of Rimersburg Borough, East Brady Water Systems In Clarion County After Identifying Mystery Chemical In Water As Sodium Bisulfite, Mislabeled Chemical Mistakenly Introduced Into The System  [Click Here for advisory, explanation]

-- ExploreClarion.com: Boil Water Advisory Lifted For East Brady, Rimersburg Water Service Area 

-- Beaver Times: PA Senate Considers Banning Fluoride In Drinking Water Statewide: What To Know

-- MyChesco.com: A Legacy On The Water: One Family’s 4-Generation Bond With The Octoraro Reservoir And Why they’re Fighting To Save It

-- LancasterOnline: Lancaster City To Start 2 Phases Of New Water Pipeline From Susquehanna River That Will Cost Up To $50 Million

-- The Allegheny Front: National Water Utility Conference Coming To Pittsburgh July 8-11 

-- PFAS ‘Forever Chemicals,’ On-Lot Septic System Reg Changes Focus Of DEP Citizens Advisory Council Meeting July 8  [PaEN]

-- PA Capital-Star: PA House Passes Bill To Ban Sale, Use Of Firefighting Foam With PFAS ‘Forever Chemicals’

-- DEP Sewage Advisory Committee Meets On Proposed On-Lot Septic System Regulations  July 11, 17, 23, Aug. 7, 21, Sept. 15, 16

-- Chesapeake Bay Journal - Jeremy Cox: Susquehanna River Basin In PA Falling Short On Climate Change Flooding Prep, Penn State Study Says

-- LancasterOnline: Emergency Crews Respond To  Flurry Of Calls As Thunderstorms Move Through Region Tuesday

-- LancasterOnline: Overnight Flooding Impacts Thousands In Lancaster County

-- Reading Eagle: 5,000 In Berks Remain Without Power After Powerful Thunderstorm, Flooding

-- WNEP: Severe Storm Leaves Trail Of Damage In Susquehanna County

-- Attorney General Sunday Warns Consumers Of Potential Scams Following Storms, Flooding 

-- Tribune-Democrat: Somerset County Fund, Pirates Baseball Support Flood Relief Efforts

-- Pike Conservation District: How Geology Shapes Our Streams 

-- PA Conservation Heritage Project Profile: Jeri Jones - Geology, Dirt Track Racing, Star Gazing And The Zoom Rock Room - By Wayne W. Kober  [PaEN]

-- Erie Times: US Attorney Moves To End Prosecution Of Erie Coke [Coal] Plant Chief, Further Curtailing Case Involving Felony Charges Brought By A Grand Jury For Illegal Air Pollution 

-- WHYY: Philly Schools Delayed Asbestos Inspections And ‘Knowingly’ Failed To Make Repairs: US Dept. Of Justice Agreement

-- TribLive Letter: Air Pollution And Dementia - By Dr. Marti Haykin 

-- Bucks County Beacon - Naomi Weiss: ‘Regulatory Sandbox’ Bill Proposed By PA Republican Senator Would Allow Businesses To Sidestep State Environmental Regulations  [Warning]

-- Williamsport Sun Editorial: Work On Rail Safety Must Continue After Norfolk Southern Train Derailment

-- Call For Presentations: Pennsylvania Brownfields Conference March 23-25, 2026 [PaEN] 

-- PennLive: Financial Reasons Suggested As Cause For Scrapping Plastics Recycling Plant In Northumberland County, Not Permitting Issues 

-- WHYY: William Penn Foundation Puts Up $5 Million To Spark Innovation Around Legal Dumping

-- Scranton Times: Improved Scranton Recycling Collection Begins Next Week

-- PA Resources Council To Hold Aug. 1, Aug. 23 Hard-To-Recycle Collection Events In Allegheny County  [PaEN] 

-- PennDOT Begins Accepting Applications For $80 Million In Grants To Improve Pedestrian, Cyclist Safety, Including Trail Projects, Deadline Oct. 31 

-- South Mountain Partnership: Shippensburg University Public Feedback Survey On Michaux State Forest Trail Systems In Adams, Franklin Counties  [PaEN] 

-- Altoona Mirror: Sept. 11 National Memorial Trail Project Receives Grant From Appalachian Regional Commission

-- TribLive: Flight 93 Memorial Organization Seeks Up To $500,000 For 25th Observance 

-- Warren Times: New Boat Launch Opens On Allegheny River Thanks To Warren Conservation District, Western PA Conservancy

-- Post-Gazette: First Waves Teaches Youth Water Sports And ‘How We’re All Connected By These Waterways’

-- Williamsport Sun: Nature Adventures Can Support Kids Health

-- Warren Times: Warren County Seeks To Transfer Closed Grunderville Landfill From Allegheny National Forest To Discuss Recreational Uses Along The Allegheny River 

-- Courier Times: These Bucks County Dams Beckon Visitors, But They’re Deadly; What Can Be Done?

-- WNEP: Crews Called To Water Rescue At DCNR Seven Tubs Recreation Area In Luzerne County

-- WNEP: Boy, 17, Drowns At Seven Tubs Recreation Area In Luzerne County

-- PennLive: 9 People Rescued From Swatara Creek Near Dauphin County Dam

-- Tribune-Democrat: Unsafe Section Of Great Allegheny Passage Trail In Somerset County To Remain Closed As Rocks, Trees ‘Fall Nonstop’

-- Republican Herald: Harmful Algae Bloom Advisory At Blue Marsh Lake National Recreation Area 

-- PA Wilds Center: New Products Celebrating The Landscapes Of The PA Wilds Developed As Part Of Inaugural PA Wilds Collaborative Series Launch July 24 

-- Foundation For Sustainable Forests: Loving The Land - Landowners Blaine & Terry Aikin Tell Their Story About Gentle Bear Run, Venango County  [PaEN] 

-- Western PA Conservancy Adds 203 Acres To State Game Lands In Mercer County  [PaEN]

-- Jennings Environmental Ed Center: The Prairie Is Beginning To Bloom In Butler County   

-- Penn State Extension To Host Forest And Deer Herd Management Webinar Series July 22  [PaEN]

-- The Center Square: Bill To Lift Sunday Hunting Ban On Way To Governor

-- Lancaster Farming: Chronic Wasting Disease Continues To Spread In PA Deer 

-- KDKA: Game Commission Rescues Young Black Bear Stuck In Fiberglass Container 

-- Post-Gazette: Penn State DuBois, Mont Alto Wildlife And Forestry Programs Will Live On After Campus Closures

-- Republican Herald: Small But Mighty, Kestrels Are Worth Saving [Hawk Mountain Sanctuary] 

-- Post-Gazette - Mary Ann Thomas: Crop Of 23 Peregrine Falcons And Juvenile Bald Eagles Have Flown The Coop In Pittsburgh Region, But Are Begging Their Parents For Food 

-- PittsburghUnionProgress.com: Fledgling Bald Eagle Tempts Fate As He Practices Flying And Landing Before Leaving The Irvin Works Nest   

-- Post-Gazette - Mary Ann Thomas: How Flinging Crickets In The Air Helped Save Purple Martins In Western PA 

-- Hawk Mountain Sanctuary Highlights July Education, Outdoor Experience, Special Events 

-- Health/DCNR/DEP Highlight Lyme Disease, Tick Bite Prevention Best Practices  [Release +Video + Photos] 

-- TribLive/AP: How To Protect Yourself From Ticks Year-Round

-- Penn Today: Informing Pennsylvania Public Health And Safety On Deer Ticks, Tick-Borne Diseases

-- Warren Times: Penn State Watershed Stewards Offer Watershed-Friendly Native Plant Kits 

-- Interfaith Partners For The Chesapeake Bay: Sept. 4 Webinar - Rewild Your Yard: How Meadows Support Pollinators And Clean Water  [PaEN] 

-- TribLive: Carnegie Museum Of Natural History Annual Butterfly Count Will Take Place July 12 In Monroeville, Allegheny County 

-- TribLive: Carnegie Museum Of Natural History Annual Butterfly Count Will Take Place July 12 In Monroeville, Allegheny County 

-- Warren Times - Audubon Community Nature Center: Fireflies Are Sure To Light Up The Night 

-- LancasterOnline - Erin Negley: Learn How To Garden For Dragonflies, 70 Other Things For Plant Fans In July  

-- Inquirer - Frank Kummer: Stinging Asian Needle Ants March Into Philly; Can Result In Life-Threatening Anaphylaxis In Humans 

Visit the PA Environment Digest website to learn more.

REAL Leadership:

-- 146 New Stories - REAL Environmental & Conservation Leadership In PA

-- 153 New Stories - REAL Environmental & Conservation Leadership In PA

-- 204 New Stories - REAL Environmental & Conservation Leadership In PA

-- 153 New Stories - REAL Environmental & Conservation Leadership In PA

-- 149 New Stories - REAL Environmental & Conservation Leadership In PA 

-- 139 New Stories - REAL Environmental & Conservation Leadership In PA

-- 134 New Stories - REAL Environmental & Conservation Leadership In PA 

-- 121 New Stories - REAL Environmental & Conservation Leadership In PA 

-- 189 New Stories - REAL Environmental & Conservation Leadership In PA

-- 171 New Stories - REAL Environmental & Conservation Leadership In PA

-- 136 New Stories - REAL Environmental & Conservation Leadership In PA 

-- 111 New Stories - REAL Environmental & Conservation Leadership In PA

-- 164 New Stories - REAL Environmental & Conservation Leadership In PA

-- 141 New Stories - REAL Environmental & Conservation Leadership In PA

-- 126 New Stories - REAL Environmental & Conservation Leadership In PA

-- 151 New Stories - REAL Environmental & Conservation Leadership In PA 

-- 104 New Stories - REAL Environmental & Conservation Leadership In PA

-- 139 New Stories - REAL Environmental & Conservation Leadership In PA

-- 101 New Stories - REAL Environmental & Conservation Leadership In PA

-- 104 New Stories - REAL Environmental & Conservation Leadership In PA

-- 128 New Stories - REAL Environmental & Conservation Leadership In PA 

-- 104 New Stories - REAL Environmental & Conservation Leadership In PA

-- 5,895 Stories In 2024 - Environmental & Conservation Leadership In PA

-- 4,258 Stories In 2023 - Environmental & Conservation Leadership PA 

-- 3,190 Stories In 2022 - Environmental & Conservation Leadership In PA

[Posted: July 6, 2025]   PA Environment Digest