110 New Stories - REAL Environmental & Conservation Leadership In PA

Here are 110 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!

-- ​​Westmoreland County Volunteer Mark Nobile Recognized With Keep PA Beautiful Community Pride Award  [PaEN] 

-- StateCollege.com: Centre Conservation District Presents Farm Conservation Awards

-- TribLive: Oldest Tree In Allegheny County Stands A Little Mightier After Eagle Scout Project 

-- 8 PA Master Naturalists Complete Training As Climate Stewards In New Pilot Program  [PaEN] 

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

-- Wilkes-Barre Times-Leader: Pennsylvanians Invited To Support Military Service Members Through Trees For Troops

-- Dept. Of Agriculture Invites Pennsylvanians To Support Military Service Members By Donating Christmas Trees Through Trees For Troops

-- Registration Open!  PA League Of Women Voters, Duquesne University Host Shale Gas & Public Health Conference Feb. 19 In Pittsburgh, Online  [PaEN] 

-- DEP: CNX Gas Suffers Shale Gas Well Casing Failure While Zipper Fracking 3 Wells In West Finley Twp., Washington County; CNX Waited Over 10 Hours To Notify DEP  [PaEN] 

-- DEP Issued 13 Conventional Oil & Gas Well Owners Violations Covering Up To 988 Wells For Failing To Submit Annual Production, Waste Generation/Disposal Or Well Integrity Reports; A Step To Well Abandonment  [PaEN] 

-- TribLive: Penneco Oil Co. Report Finds No Evidence Penneco Liable For Plum Natural Gas Explosion In Allegheny County 

-- PA Trout Unlimited, Keystone Trails Assn., Responsible Drilling Alliance Request DEP To Hold Hearing On Permit For PA General Energy 3.9 Mile Shale Gas Access Road/Staging Area In Loyalsock State Forest, Lycoming County  [PaEN] 

-- READ CAREFULLY!  PA Oil & Gas Industrial Facilities: Permit Notices, Opportunities To Comment - December 6  [PaEN] 

-- DEP Invites Comments On Revised Oil & Gas Erosion & Sedimentation, Stormwater Management Technical Guidance  [PaEN] 

-- Susquehanna River Basin Commission Approved 76 Shale Gas Well Pad Water Use General Permits In September & October; 398 In 2025  [PaEN]

-- EPA's Delay Of Oil & Gas Industry Methane Emissions Reductions Harms Pennsylvanians; Reactions From PA, Related Groups  [PaEN]  [Warning]

-- DEP Extends Driving PA Forward Freight Innovations Diesel Replacement Grant Deadline To Dec. 19

-- WHYY - Susan Phillips: How President’s Rollbacks To Vehicle Mileage Rules Could Impact Philly Air Quality  [Warning]

-- TribLive/AP: President’s EPA Proposal Would Weaken Vehicle Mileage Rules That Limit Air Pollution [Warning]

-- Morning Call/AP: Railroads Will Be Allowed To Reduce Inspections, Rely More On Technology To Spot Track Problems  [Warning]

-- On The Eve Of New PJM Capacity Auction: Gov. Shapiro, 5 Other Governors Say PJM's Efforts To Deal With A.I. Data Center Demands Have Failed; Urge 'Decisive Action' To Avoid 'Extraordinarily’ High Prices  [PaEN] 

-- Reuters: President’s Push For More A.I. Data Centers Faces Backlash From His Own Voters [PA Highlighted]  

-- PennLive Letter: The Hidden Price Of A.I. - Your Electric Bill - By Tom McCarey, Berwyn, PA

-- NYTimes: The Political Shocks Of A.I. Data Centers, Electric Bills: ‘The New Price Of Eggs’ [PDF of Article]

-- LancasterOnline Editorial: Gaslighting On Economy Won’t Warm Lancaster County Residents This Holiday Season And Winter [President’s Tariffs, Surging Electricity, Natural Gas Prices] [PDF of Article] 

-- Scranton Times - Chris Kelly: A Distress Call From Archbald Boro On A.I. Data Centers In Lackawanna County [PDF of Article]

-- PennLive: Poll: Nearly Half Of Central PA Residents Said Construction Of A.I. Data Centers Will Have Negative Impact On Region’s Economy, A Third Said A.I. Poses A ‘Significant Threat’ To Humanity

-- TribLive Guest Essay: Rural PA’s A.I. Data Center Mirage - Appalachian Communities In PA Know The Feeling Of Being Promised The World And Being Left With The Bill - By Panini A. Chowdhury, Professional Infrastructure Planner 

-- DEP Accepting Comments On Air Quality Permit For Hill Top Energy Center Natural Gas Power Plant In Greene County To Feed A.I. Data Centers  [PaEN]

-- DEP Invites Comments On Air Permit To Uprate 3 Natural Gas Turbines At Hummel Station Power Plant In Snyder County To Feed A.I. Data Centers  [PaEN] 

-- Utility Dive Guest Essay: PJM Must Stop Buying Power Capacity For New A.I. Data Centers, They Need To Bring Their Own Capacity - By Tom Rutigliano and Claire Lang-Ree, Natural Resources Defense Council

-- PA Capital-Star: Watchdog For PJM Electric Grid Wants A Pause On A.I. Data Centers

-- Utility Dive: New Lt. Governor In Virginia Says Virginia A.I. Data Centers Must Pay ‘Fair Share’ By Supplying Their Own Energy

-- In Case You Missed It: A.I./Data Center Articles - NewClips From Last Week - December 8  [PaEN]

-- PUC Approves Reduced Columbia Gas Rate Hike Of 6.05%, And A Per Month Residential Customer Charge Increase Of 33%  [PaEN] 

-- Independent Fiscal Office: Quarterly PA Natural Gas Production Up 5.1% From Last Year; Natural Gas Price Up 51.4%  [PaEN] 

-- Financial Times: Surging Natural Gas Prices Worsens Affordability Crisis For Americans   [PDF of Article] 

-- The Guardian: Cooking With Natural Gas Gets More Expensive As Americans Face Rising Prices Into 2026: 4% For Residential Users, 21% For Industrial, 37% For Power Generators 

-- PUC Adds Dec. 18 Hearing In Wilkes-Barre On Proposed PPL 7% Rate Increase; Other Hearings Start Dec. 8  [PaEN]

-- WESA - Rachel McDevitt: Pittsburgh, Western PA Electric Rates Increasing Dec. 1; Here’s What To Do If You Can’t Pay

-- Dept. Of Human Services Announces Opening Of Low-Income Heating Assistance Program After Federal Shutdown

-- WHYY: PA Households Can Apply For Heating Bill Assistance After Federal Shutdown Delay

-- PennLive: Focus Of Environmental Policy Making Shifts To Lawmakers After PA Exits RGGI Carbon Pollution Reduction Program [That Was Never Implemented]

-- Pennsylvania Solar Center, Philadelphia Energy Authority Host Dec. 12 Webinar On How Nonprofits, Schools, Faith Groups, Municipalities Can Use Federal Incentives To Go Solar  [PaEN] 

-- St. Mary’s Water Authority, Rentricity, Inc. Partner On In-Conduit Hydropower Project In Elk County

-- PA Capital-Star: PA’s Home Repair, Energy Efficiency Program Left Out Of State Budget Despite High Demand

-- Chesapeake Bay Watershed Executive Council Approves Revised Restoration Agreement; Gov. Shapiro Elected Chair [PaEN] 

-- PennLive: For First Time In 20 Years, A PA Governor Leads The Chesapeake Bay Executive Council

-- WITF: Gov. Shapiro To Lead Multi-State Chesapeake Bay Group, Amid Waterway’s Health Dip

-- Inside Climate News: After Missing 2025 Goals, Chesapeake Bay Leaders Agree On Longer Timeline, Tribal Role In Cleanup

-- Chesapeake Bay Journal: Chesapeake Bay Leaders Approve Cleanup Plan They Call ‘Achievable’ 

-- PA Capital-Star: Chesapeake Bay Council Elects Shapiro To Oversee New Water Pollution Reduction Agreement

-- The Center Square: Gov. Shapiro Assumes Leadership Of Chesapeake Bay Executive Council

-- Tribune-Democrat: Shapiro Named Chair Of Chesapeake Bay Group

-- PA Capital-Star: Chesapeake Bay Executive Council Poised To Study Inclusion Of Recognized Native American Tribes

-- Chesapeake Bay Journal - Karl Blankenship: Understanding Chesapeake Bay Water Clarity Isn’t Clear Cut

-- DEP Awards $168,000 In Lake Erie Coastal Zone Grants, $580,000 In Delaware Estuary Coastal Zone Grants To Protect And Restore Coastal Resources  [PaEN]

-- DCED Awards $6.2 Million Community Development Block Grants To 5 Water/Wastewater Projects In 5 Counties

-- City & State PA: Private Acquisition Of Municipal Water/Wastewater Systems Is Under New Spotlight As America Water - Essential Utilities Water Company Giants Plan To Merge 

-- KYW: Chester County Residents Call West Bradford Twp. Water Bill Increase From $70 to $344 A Month Unreasonable

-- The Allegheny Front: How Drinking Water Treated For High Lead Levels Could Be Impacting Local Streams

-- Natural Resources Conservation Service-PA: Emergency Watershed Protection Program Helps Northern PA Residents After Tropical Storm Debby  [PaEN] 

-- TribLive: Greensburg Signs Most Easements For Northmont Flood Control Project In Westmoreland

-- Altoona Mirror: New State Budget Awards $1.9 Million To Concurrent Technologies Corp To Extract Rare Earth Minerals From Coal Ash [Penn State Pilot Plant Processes 10,000 Gallons Of Mine Drainage A Day For Rare Earth Minerals]  [PDF of Article] 

-- Penn State Dec. 8 EarthTalk: PA State Geologist Gale Blackmer Sees 'Promising Opportunities' For Critical Minerals Production  [PaEN] 

-- The Citizens Voice: Eastern PA Coalition For Abandoned Mine Reclamation Receives Grant To Protect, Restore Local Watersheds  [PDF of Article] 

-- TribLive: 1 Year After Sinkhole Death, Unity Residents Live In Fear Of Abandoned Coal Mine Subsidence In Westmoreland County

-- TribLive: Kenneth Pollard Speaks Of Initial Shock, Lasting Regret Over Wife’s Death In Abandoned Coal Mine Sinkhole Fall In Westmoreland County

-- PA Organization For Watersheds & Rivers To Host Dec. 17 Webinar Showcasing Collaborative Community Watershed Organization Capacity Building Successes  [PaEN]

-- Water At Risk: Why Brodhead Watershed Association Exists In Monroe County And Deserves Your Support -  By Carol Hillestad for Brodhead Watershed Association  [PaEN]

-- DEP Signs Agreement To Resolve Water Pollution Violations At US Steel Irvin Plant In Allegheny County Following Citizen Complaints; $135,000 Penalty Assessed  [PaEN]  

-- TribLive: US Steel Irvin Plant Fined For Leaking Oil Into Monongahela River

-- Post-Gazette: DEP Fines US Steel Irvin Plant For Releasing Oil Into Monongahela River

-- PennLive Guest Essay: Congress Must Reauthorize Clean Water Revolving Fund That’s Saved Harrisburg Region $136 Million - By Charlotte Katzenmoyer, Capital Region Water

-- Centre Daily Times: Centre County Regenerative Farm Benefits Land, Consumers; Here’s How 

-- The Center Square: President’s USDA Beat PA Court Challenge To Cutting Funding For PA Farmers, Now What?

-- The Mercury: DEP To Hold Dec. 10 Public Meeting On Boyertown Landfill Hazardous Site In Montgomery County  [Click Here for DEP webpage.]

-- E&ENews: Clean Up Of Palmerton Superfund Site In Carbon County May Have Left Behind PFAS ‘Forever Chemicals’ From Contaminated Municipal Sewage Sludge Used As Fertilizer [PDF of Article]

-- Farmers, Pesticide Applicators, Pesticide Businesses Can Sign Up To Schedule Disposal Of Unwanted Pesticides In 19 Counties Through The CHEMSWEEP Program [PaEN]

-- Centre County Recycling & Refuse Authority Awards Recycling Mini-Grants  [PaEN] 

-- WHYY - Sophia Schmidt: Community Trash Disposal Sites Coming To Southwest Philadelphia

-- Protecting Clean Water Together: Your Small Choices Matter - By Carol Hillestad for Brodhead Watershed Association, Monroe County  [PaEN]

-- Post-Gazette Editorial: How Pittsburgh Can Jump On The Highway Removal Bandwagon

-- Registration Open!  PA Environmental Educators Annual Conference March 8-10 In Gettysburg  [PaEN]

-- Applications Now Being Accepted For Rivers Conservation Fly Fishing Youth Camp June 21-26, Messiah University, Cumberland County  [PaEN]

-- Wildlife Leadership Academy Now Accepting Nominations For 2026 Residential Field School Experiences For Students 14 to 17  [PaEN] 

-- DCNR Launches New PA Community Tree Assistance Program To Help Maintain A Healthy Tree Canopy; Interested Communities, Tree-Care Professionals Should Apply  [PaEN]

-- PA Firefly Festival Set For June 26-27 In Forest County, Ticket Raffle For Tours, Programs Opens Jan. 1; Festival Exhibits & Entertainment Will Now Be Open To Public  [PaEN]

-- DCNR Invests In Bauer Preserve To Improve Outdoor Recreation, Water Quality In Northampton County  [PaEN] 

-- DCNR Invites Public Comments On Update Of Master Plan For Presque Isle State Park, Erie Bluffs State Park, Tom Ridge Environmental Center In Erie  [PaEN] 

-- DCNR, PA Wilds Center Sign 35-Year Lease To Operate Conservation Gift Shops In Kinzua Bridge State Park, Leonard Harrison State Park

-- Altoona Mirror: New Blair County Trail, Park & Recreation Authority Sets Up Office, Bylaws

-- Inquirer: Penn’s Landing 12-Acre Cap/Park Over I-95 In Philadelphia 30% Complete, Cost Doubled To $500 Million

-- Warren Times: North Country Trail Association Recaps 2025 Projects [PDF of Article]

-- Altoona Mirror: Ghost Town Trail-A-Thon Fundraiser Generates $62,000

-- Republican Herald: 175-Acre Lake Wynonah Drawn Down For Seepage, Dam Issues

-- TribLive/AP: National Park Service Drops Free Admission On Martin Luther King Day, Juneteenth, Adds President’s Birthday  [Warning]

-- Governor’s Advisory Council For Hunting, Fishing & Conservation Seeks Candidates For Game Commission Board 

-- LancasterOnline: How To Participate In Audubon Christmas Bird Count In Lancaster County Dec. 14 to Jan. 5

-- The Derrick: Seneca Rocks Audubon Society Clarion Area Christmas Bird Count Set For Dec. 20  

-- Post-Gazette - Bob Frye: Ruffed Grouse Need A Mix Of Young And Old Forests, This Grant Will Help

-- Chesapeake Bay Journal - Karl Blankenship: Eels Made A Comeback In The Susquehanna River, But Most Die As They Migrate South To Spawn

-- Williamsport Sun: Effort Underway To Save, Restore, Reopen Muskrat Blind As Educational Venue At Montour Preserve

-- WNEP: New Turtle Clinic To Offer Specialized Care At Pocono Wildlife In Monroe County

-- WHYY: What To Do If You Find Injured, Sick Or Orphaned Wildlife In Philadelphia

Visit the PA Environment Digest website to learn more.

REAL Leadership:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

-- 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: December 7, 2025]   PA Environment Digest