155 New Stories - REAL Environmental & Conservation Leadership In PA

Here are 155 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!

-- The Nature Conservancy-PA: Celebrating 50 Years Of Conservation In Pennsylvania

-- Scranton Times: Abandoned Mine Reclamation In Scranton Paves Way For Development  [PDF of Article] 

-- Wilkes-Barre Times Leader: Amazon To Build 250,000 Square Foot Distribution Center On Reclaimed Abandoned Mine Land In Hanover Twp., Luzerne County

-- Centre Daily Times: No Injuries From ‘J4’ Cave Rescue In Spring Twp., Centre County; Police Caution Cave Explorers 

-- Williamsport Sun: Susquehanna TU Chapter Meeting Oct. 8 To Feature Discussion Of Trout Unlimited Abandoned Mine Reclamation Efforts

-- Morning Call: Northampton County Farmland Preservation Program Reaches 20,000 Acres

-- Morning Call Guest Essay: Lehigh Valley Farmland Is Infrastructure, Not Nostalgia - By Ron Beitler, Lehigh County Commissioner

-- LandForce CEO Ilyssa Manspeizer Recognized With National AARP Purpose Prize Award  [PaEN] 

-- Bristol Township Environmental Advisory Committee Members Honored With Keep PA Beautiful's Community Pride Award In Bucks County  [PaEN]

-- Penn State Student Caroline Hunter Honed Passion For Environmental Policy As DEP Intern

-- Western PA Conservancy, PA American Water Celebrate 25 Years Of Sponsoring Community Gardens At Downtown Pittsburgh Event 

-- TribLive: Meet Winners Of 2025 Phipps Sustainable Garden Awards From Phipps Conservatory In Pittsburgh

-- Evangelical Environmental Network: Government Shutdown Creates Harm and Uncertainty For Families, Businesses, and Agencies Across the Country  [PaEN]

-- Tribune-Democrat/AP: EPA’s Job Is To Protect America’s Air, Water And Land; Here’s How Federal Shutdown Affects That Effort 

-- AP: National Parks ‘Generally’ Open During Federal Shutdown, But Liberty Bell In Philadelphia Is Closed

-- DEP Names Seth Pelepko, P.G. Deputy Secretary For Oil & Gas Management  [PaEN] 

-- PA Oil & Gas Weekly Compliance Dashboard - Sept. 27 to Oct. 3 - 940,000 Gallon Shale Gas Wastewater Spill; Order Ceasing Production Of 551 Conventional Wells; Is Conventional Well Owner Abandoning 475 Wells In 6 Counties?  [PaEN] 

-- DEP: EQT Production Co. Challenges Records Requests In Ongoing Investigation Of The 2020-21 Release Of 940,000 Gallons Of Shale Gas Wastewater In North Bethlehem Twp., Washington County And Similar Failures At At Least 6 Other EQT Well Pads  [PaEN] 

-- DEP Orders Stonehaven Energy To ‘Immediately Cease And Desist Producing, Extracting, Or Injecting’ Oil, Natural Gas, Wastewater From 551 Conventional Wells In Clarion, Clearfield, Forest, Indiana, Jefferson, McKean, Venango, Warren Counties  [PaEN] 

-- DEP Orders Timberline Energy, Inc. To Submit Production, Waste, Well Integrity Reports For 475 Conventional Oil, Gas Wells In 6 Counties; Recent Inspections Show Many Wells Appear Abandoned  [PaEN] 

-- DEP: Conventional Gas Well Owner Uses Wastewater To Water Freshly Seeded Well Site, Discharging Wastewater Into Ditch, Storm Sewer In Warren County  [PaEN] 

-- DEP: Blackhill Energy LLC 2nd ‘Inadvertent Return’ During Horizontal Drilling Of Brad-Tenn Loop Pipeline In Bradford County  [PaEN] 

-- KYW: Energy Transfer/Sunoco Starts Pipeline Maintenance Work After Jet Fuel Leak Contaminated Water Wells In Bucks County Beginning In 2023 

-- DEP Moves To Dismiss BCD Properties Appeal Challenging A DEP Letter Advising It Does Not Comply With Waste Regulations Allowing The Disposal Of Its Oil And Gas Wastewater By Road Dumping  [PaEN]

-- Inside Climate News - Kyle Bagenstose: Appeal Could Make It Easy For Conventional Oil & Gas Well Owners To Dispose Of Their Wastewater By Road Dumping 

-- PA Capital-Star/Inside Climate News - Kyle Bagenstose: PA Appeal Could Make it Easier For Conventional Oil & Gas Well Owners To Dispose Of Their Wastewater By Dumping It On Roads

-- DEP Opportunity To Bid On Plugging 15 Abandoned Conventional Oil, Gas Wells At Taxpayer Expense In Butler County

-- TribLive Letter: Pollution Coming To Creeks Near You, New Shale Gas Drilling Permits Filed With DEP In Affecting 4 Townships In Allegheny, Butler Counties - By Eric Greisinger, Forest Steward Of Greisinger Family Tree Farm

-- The Center Square: Mental Health Challenged In ‘Fenceline Communities’ Near Polluting Industries

-- The Derrick: Drake Energy Security Forum Returns To Oil City Oct. 13-14 Bringing Officials, Industry Leaders And Experts From Around The Globe  [PDF of Article]   [Drake Forum website]

-- Financial Times: US Rush To Expand LNG Gas Exports Heightens Fears Of Global Natural Gas Glut

-- Beaver Times Guest Essay: Shell Petrochemical Plant Amplifies Misleading Claims About Beaver County Population Growth [And Other Misleading Statements] - By Daniel Rossi-Keen, RiverWise  [PDF of Article]

-- Post-Gazette Editorial: Is There Opportunity For Population Growth In Pittsburgh’s Outlying Counties? [Shell Petrochemical Plant Increases In Jobs, Gross Domestic Product ‘Do Not Yet Appear In The Data’]

-- PUC Seeking Nominations For PA OneCall Damage Prevention Committee 

-- TribLive: Carbon Monoxide, Gas Alarms Triggered Before Fatal Explosion At US Steel Clairton Coke [Coal] Works Facility, Authorities Say 

-- Post-Gazette - Anya Litvak: Federal Investigators Zero In On Cast Iron Valve In US Steel Clairton Coke [Coal] Works Explosion 

-- Breathe Project Response To US Chemical Safety Board’s Report On Fatal Explosion At The US Steel Clairton Coke [Coal] Works

-- DEP To Hold Nov. 14 Hearing On Renewal Of An Air Quality Permit For The Coal, Natural Gas-Fired Brunner Island Power Plant In York County  [PaEN] 

-- DEP Invites Comments On An Air Quality Permit For The Tenaska PA Partners, LLC Natural Gas-Fired Power Plant In Westmoreland County  [PaEN]  

-- DEP Accepting Comments On The Renewal Of An Air Quality Permit For The Wolf Run Energy, LLC Natural Gas Power Plant In Bradford County   [PaEN] 

-- DEP: Comments Now Being Accepted For An Air Quality Permit For The Hunterstown Power, LLC Peaking Electric Generation Facility In Adams County  [PaEN]  

-- DEP Sets 3 Hearings On Air Quality Standards For Plastics Resin Manufacturers Shell Chemical Appalachia, Rohm & Haas Co. Multi Plastics Extrusions  [PaEN]

-- Wilkes-Barre Times-Leader Guest Essay: Don’t Let A.I. Data Centers Stick Us With The Bill - By Frank Lasee, Truth In Energy and Climate 

-- Water At Risk: PJM Grid Operator And Why Electric Bills Keep Climbing In Monroe County - By Carol Hillestad for Brodhead Watershed Association [PaEN]  

-- Union Of Concerned Scientists Reports 16 A.I./Data Center Electric Transmission Projects In PA Imposed $461.8 Million In Costs On Ratepayers In 2024  [PaEN] 

-- Bloomberg: A.I. Data Centers Are Sending Power Bills Soaring, Wholesale Electricity Costs Up As Much As 267%  [PDF of Article] 

-- Utility Dive: Report: Customers In PJM States Paid $4.4 Billion For A.I. Data Center Electric Transmission In 2024; In Pennsylvania $492 Million

-- Utility Dive: A.I. Data Centers ‘Primary Reason’ For High PJM Electricity Capacity Prices, According To Market Monitor [‘Misleading’ To Say Its Tightening Of Supply And Demand] 

-- Bloomberg: A.I.- Driven Demand For Natural Gas Generation Turbines Vastly Outpacing Supply, Threatening World’s Ability To Keep Up With Electricity Demand 

-- PPL Utilities Files For 6.98% Electric Rate Increase Boosting Residential Customer Bills By $160.44 A Year Or $13.37/Month  

-- Morning Call: PPL Electric Requesting Nearly 7% Rate Increase; Here’s What It Could Mean To Your Bill

-- WESA: Dollar Energy Fund Opens For Winter Season With $500 Grants For Heating Aid In Western PA; Peoples Natural Gas Customers Can Also Apply For Assistance

-- The Center Square: State Legislation On A.I. Data Centers Taking Shape  [Warning] 

-- TribLive Guest Essay: Preserve Local Control On Regulating Natural Gas Facilities - By Karen Feridun, Better Path Coalition  

-- Natural Resources Defense Council Blog: Building A.I. Data Centers Without Breaking Electric Ratepayers Or Reliability In PJM

-- PA Environmental Council: Is Pennsylvania Ready For An A.I. Data Center Boom?  Risk Factors And Possible Solutions - By John Walliser, VP for Legal & Government Affairs  

-- Pittsburgh Business Times: PA Lawmaker Rep. Matzie Seeks Study Of Costs Of Leaving PJM Electric Grid Operator  [PDF of Article]  

-- TribLive Guest Essay: Southwestern PA Must Plan Smarter For A.I. Data Centers - By Panini A. Chowdhury, Professional Planner

-- TribLive Letter: Stop The Abuse Of Our Natural Resources - By Katie Forsythe, North Huntingdon [Homer City A.I. Data Centers Power Plant]

-- Beaver Times: Study: Droughts, Demand From A.I. Data Centers, Farming, Post Risks For Great Lakes Region Water Supplies

-- Environmental Advocates Call On DEP To Reject Permit For A 4.5 GW Natural Gas Power Plant At The Homer City A.I. Data Center Complex In Indiana County [PaEN] 

-- DEP Invites Comments On Air Quality Permit For 77 Emergency Power Generators At The Amazon Data Center In Salem Twp., Luzerne County  [PaEN] 

-- Penn State Extension Hosts Nov. 19 Webinar On A.I. Data Centers And Water Resources  [PaEN] 

-- In Case You Missed It: A.I./Data Center Articles - NewClips From Last Week - October 6  [PaEN]  

-- LehighValleyNews.com: Allentown City Council Approves $200,000 Contract To Develop Climate Action Plan

-- BBC: Pope Leo Condemns Climate Change Critics

-- Financial Times: Pope Leo Contradicts US President And Calls For Action On Climate Change

-- DEP Citizens Advisory Council Meets Oct. 14 To Hear Presentations On Environmental, Property Damage Caused By Longwall Coal Mining  [PaEN]

-- Mountain Watershed Assn., LCT Energy Reach Agreement On Stronger Protections For Watershed While EHB Appeal Of Rustic Ridge #1 Coal Mine Expansion In Fayette, Westmoreland Counties Moves Forward  [PaEN] 

-- Erie Times: Oct. 8 Public Meeting On Future Of Abandoned Erie Coke [Coal] Works Property

-- Environmental Defense Fund: President’s Subsidies For Costly Coal Saddle Families With High Electric Bills, More Pollution  [Warning] 

-- NRDC, PennFuture, EDF Challenge Order In Federal Court To Keep Aging Eddystone Power Plant Open Passed Its Closing Date In Delaware County

-- The Allegheny Front: Heinz Award-Winning Environmental Justice Leader Says The EJ Movement Is ‘Not Over’

-- Capital & Main - Audrey Carleton: Is The Sun Setting On PA’s Solar Future As President Rescinds $156 Million In PA Solar Funding Blocking Power Production  

-- AP: From Composting To Solar Panels, NFL Stadiums Are Working To Be More Sustainable [Eagles Solar Energy, Recycling Highlighted]

-- WHYY - Sophia Schmidt: One Hope Community Church Solar Energy Facility In Philadelphia Helps Neighbors Pay Energy Bills; Arrangement Needed Because PA Does Not Authorize Community Solar

-- New York Blower Company In Lawrence County Launches New Rooftop Solar Energy System For Its First Fully Sustainable Manufacturing Facility  [PaEN]

-- Utility Dive: Some State Lawmakers Urge PJM To Take Steps So Clean Energy Projects Can Meet Federal Tax Credit Phase Out Deadlines 

-- TribLive Letter: PA Can Finally Catch Up On Solar Energy By Passing Community Solar Bill - By Jen Bannan, Bloomfield

-- Williamsport Sun: Another Hearing Scrutinizes Muncy-Area Solar Chicken Farm Proposal

-- PennDOT Opens 20th Electric Vehicle Charging Station At Sheetz In Pittsburgh; Next Round Of Grants Open, Deadline January 30

-- Shapiro Administration Announces 2025 PA Farm Show Theme - Growing A Nation

-- PA Capital-Star/Inside Climate News: Chesapeake Bay Program Reaches A Crossroads; PA Remains The Outlier With Decades Of Shortfalls In Curbing Farm Runoff Frustrating Other States 

-- Chesapeake Bay Journal - Karl Blankenship: EPA Names Dan Coogan New Head Of Chesapeake Bay Program Office  

-- NRCS-PA Announces Conservation Funding Opportunities For FY 2026, Deadline To Apply Nov. 1  [PaEN] 

-- USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service-PA: Lancaster County Farmer Transforms Land With Conservation-Focused Farming  [PDF of Article] 

-- Farm & Dairy: Conservation Project On Beaver County Dairy Farm Showcases Power Of Partnerships

-- NRCS-PA Invites Comments On Chester County Mushroom Composting Water Quality Plan; Oct. 15 Webinar  [PaEN] 

-- Maryland Governor Announces $340 Million Agreement With Constellation Energy For Environmental Improvements Associated With Conowingo Dam On Susquehanna River

-- Chesapeake Bay Journal - Karl Blankenship: New Conowingo Dam Agreement Includes $340 Million For Environmental Improvements Over 50 Years

-- Pike/Wayne County Conservation Districts:  Stream Keepers Program Oct. 25 For Students 11-14 

-- Explore Clarion: Clarion Conservation District Holds Oct. 15 Meeting On Assessment Of Canoe Creek Watershed

-- Pike County Conservation District: The Good, The Bad And The Groundwater 

-- Protecting Clean Water Together: Drought Conditions, Water Stress And Evergreens In Monroe County - By Carol Hillestad for Brodhead Watershed Association  [PaEN]

-- Reading Eagle: 2 Warehouses Totaling 1.3 Million Square Feet Proposed In Western Berks

-- Morning Call: PennDOT Moving Forward With Plans To Improve I-80, But Pocono Leaders Disagree On What Needs To Be Done  

-- Northampton, Bucks Authority: US Navy Expanding Public Water Access To Additional Residents Affected By PFAS Contamination In Bucks County 

-- York Dispatch: Red Lion School Upgrades Water Filtration In Response To PFAS ‘Forever Chemicals’

-- City & State PA: PA School Districts Working To Improve Buildings, Environments [Asbestos, Lead In Drinking Water]

-- The Center Square: PA House Passes Bipartisan Landslide Insurance Bill; State To Step In Where Insurance Companies Step Out

-- PA Capital-Star: Flood Disclosure Bill To Help Home Buyers Recognize Risks Passes PA House

-- Tribune-Democrat: Johnstown Flood Museum Reopens After 8-Month Hiatus Following Storm Damage

-- Wall Street Journal: FEMA Is Paralyzed, Disaster-Torn Communities Are Paying The Price [Bad News For Pennsylvania, One Of The Most Flood-Prone States In US]  [PDF of Article]  [Warning] 

-- Inquirer: Bankruptcy Of Re-Match Leaves 11,000 Tons Of Artificial Turf Containing PFAS ‘Forever Chemicals’ Abandoned Across PA

-- Scranton Times: Re-Match Recycling Company’s Bankruptcy Leaves Tons Of Discarded Artificial Turf In Luzerne, Schuylkill Counties 

-- WNEP: Volunteers Cleanup Local Rivers, Creek At Fall River Cleanup In Union County 

-- Beaver Times: PA Resources Council Hosts Oct. 4 Household Chemicals Collection Event

-- Pennsylvania Resources Council Names Sarah Alessio Shea Executive Director  [PaEN]

-- PA Forestry Association: 139th Forest Symposium Nov. 1 In State College On Wildlife Habitats And The Game Commission  [PaEN] 

-- Penn State Extension Community Forestry Institute Webinars, Learn How To Plan, Manage, Advocate For Public Trees To Strengthen Green Infrastructure, Starting Oct. 27; Other Upcoming Extension Programs  [PaEN] 

-- Penn State Extension Hosts Dec. 17 Advice From The Woods - Ask Our Experts! Webinar, Noon to 1:00 p.m. 

-- Landforce Opens ‘The Mill,’ Pittsburgh’s First Responsible Wood Production Facility, Providing Career Pathways

-- Pittsburgh Business Times: Landforce Opens New Wood Production Facility In Pittsburgh’s East End 

-- Chesapeake Bay Journal: Forests, Urban Tree Canopy Still Shrinking In Chesapeake Bay Watershed

-- The Allegheny Front: Pittsburgh Botanic Garden To Use Prescribed Fire In Its Meadow, A First For Allegheny County 

-- Penn State Extension Spotted Lanternfly News: Yard Waste And Lanternflies; Removing Egg Masses; Control Options; Business Training  

-- Inquirer: PA State Parks Saw 30% Bump In Campground Reservations After President Closed Federal Recreation Sites 

-- Tribune-Democrat: Report: Visitors To Cambria County Spent $314 Million In 2024; Somerset Sees $474.5 Million In Spending 

-- DCNR In Case You Missed It: Shapiro Administration Celebrates Trails Month And Connections To Nature, Economic Boost Trails Provide To PA

-- DCNR Grants News: Antrim Twp. Adds Nature Play Area; Lancaster Enola Low Grade Trail Expands; Water Trail Mini-Grants 

-- DCNR: October 2 Fall Foliage Report, Expected Cooldown Should Stimulate Noticeable Color Changes 

-- DCNR Urges Caution To Prevent Wildfires Amid Increased Risk Due To Dry Conditions 

-- DCNR Opens Additional State Forest Roads For Hunting Seasons, Outdoor Recreation Activities 

-- Chesapeake Bay Journal - Karl Blankenship: From Forest To Furnace And Back Again: PA’s Greenwood Furnace State Park In Huntingdon County

-- Western PA Conservancy: Explore The Untold Stories Of PA Parks & Forests In StoryMaps And Videos 

-- DCNR Organizing Walk In Penn’s Woods Events This Weekend And In October To Celebrate Pennsylvania’s Free State Parks And Forests

-- Republican Herald: Walk In Penn’s Woods Events Set For Sunday In Schuylkill

-- WESA - Rachel McDevitt: Three Rivers Heritage Trail Gap Named Priority By State

-- Chesapeake Bay Journal - Jeremy Cox: New Preserve, Nature Center To Offer Urban Respite In City Of Lancaster

-- Post-Gazette - Mary Ann Thomas: Fallingwater’s Plan To Draw Fewer But More Engaged Post-Pandemic Visitors 

-- WESA: RiverLife Seeks Funding To Start Connecting 15 Miles Of Pittsburgh Shores

-- TribLive: 3 Rivers Outdoor Company Wins First-Ever Steel City Marketing Grant 

-- WHYY: Drexel University’s Academy Of Natural Sciences Cuts Museum Hours Over Funding Concerns

-- PennLive: 2 Miles Of Trails Added To Lancaster Conservancy’s High Family Nature Preserve In Lancaster County

-- Inquirer: One Of PA’s Newest Trailheads Is At Sideling Hill Plaza Rest Stop

-- Inquirer - Frank Kummer: Philly Rail Park Could Expand As New Federal Ruling Clears The Way

-- Republican Herald: ‘Anthracite Connector’ To Link Trails Between Pottsville And Jim Thorpe  [PDF of Article] 

-- Citizens Voice: Wilkes-Barre Officials Unveil All-Inclusive Playground

-- Wilkes-Barre Times Leader: Improvements To The Pond At Kirby Park Are Underway

-- Scranton Times: Construction Underway On Lackawanna River Boat Launch In Carbondale

-- Warren Times: Friends Of The Allegheny Wilderness Opposes Kinzua Beach Development

-- Reading Eagle: Swarm Of At Least 1,000 Motorcycles, ATVs Block Old Route 22 In Northern Berks County

-- Tribune-Democrat: Windber Ordinance Would Open Streets To ATV Traffic

-- WNEP: 6-Year-Old Welcomed Home After ATV Crash Recovery In Schuylkill County

-- Erie Times: E-Bikes And Motor Scooters: Where Are They Allowed To Ride In PA?

-- Inquirer Editorial: Vigilance Needed If President’s Attempts To Rewrite History Of Slavery At Independence Mall Persist

-- LehighValleyLive.com: Should Game Commission Pay More Than $400 Per Acre For State Game Lands?

-- Williamsport Sun: How Does Low Water Impact A Fishery?  A Closer Look

-- Williamsport Sun: Reflections In Nature - So What’s The Difference Between Algae And Scum?

Visit the PA Environment Digest website to learn more.

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[Posted: October 5, 2025]   PA Environment Digest