Awards/Recognition
-- Wilkes-Barre Times-Leader Guest Essay: Volunteers Vital To Nation And Nonprofits - By Robert Hughes, Eastern PA Coalition For Abandoned Mine Reclamation
-- DCNR: Pine Creek Rail Trail Selected As Pennsylvania’s 2026 Trail Of The Year [PaEN]
-- Erie Times - Brian Whipkey: Here’s Why Pine Creek Rail Trail Is PA’s 2026 Trail Of The Year
-- The Allegheny Front: What’s Special About Conestoga River, PA’s 2026 River Of The Year
-- Master Watershed Steward Stephen Hinds Helps Restore Riverbanks In Delaware County [PaEN]
-- Chesapeake Bay Program: Pay-For-Success Projects Reduce Nutrient, Sediment Pollution As Part Of the Conowingo Dam Watershed Implementation Plan In York County [PaEN]
-- PA Trout Unlimited: Volunteers From 6 Local TU Chapters Ship Trout Eggs To 430 Teachers In 60 PA Counties Connecting With 57,000 Students Thru Trout In The Classroom Program [PaEN]
-- LancasterOnline: Lancaster’s Philip Witmer Becomes One Of Few To Complete 8,000 Mile Border-To-Border Triple Crown Hiking Challenge In Calendar Year
-- Pennsylvania Audubon Council: 100th Community Joins Bird Town Pennsylvania Program [PaEN]
-- TribLive: McCandless, Allegheny County, Named 96th Bird Town In Pennsylvania
-- Chester County Press: Octoraro Watershed Assn. Photo Contest Seeks Entries [Chester, Lancaster Counties]
Grants
-- Columbia Gas Of PA Now Accepting Applications For 2026 Environmental Action Grants [PaEN]
-- Foundation For PA Watersheds Now Accepting Applications For New Round Of Grants; Feb. 18 Webinar [PaEN]
-- Coldwater Heritage Partnership Now Accepting Applications For Coldwater Conservation Grants; Energy Transfer/Sunoco Pipeline Penalty Funding [PaEN]
-- National Fish & Wildlife Foundation, EPA Award $44.2 Million In Chesapeake Bay Innovative Nutrient/Sediment Reduction, Small Watershed Grants; Over $19 Million In PA [PaEN]
-- DCNR Grants News: 340+ Grant Projects Completed In 2025; ATV/Snowmobile Grants Open; Trail Education Grants; PRPS Conference; PA Land Conference
-- PA Organization For Watersheds & Rivers Now Accepting Applications For Grants To Support Local River Sojourns [PaEN]
-- PA Invasive Replace-ive Program To Encourage Replacing Invasive Species With Native Plants To Continue, Expand In 2026 [PaEN]
-- PA Interfaith Power & Light Launches Roots, Branches & Hands Initiative To Plant 55,000 Native Trees And Shrubs [PaEN]
-- PennDOT Announces $100 Million In Federal Funding Available For Public Electric Vehicle Chargers In PA
-- Post-Gazette: PennDOT Begins $100 Million Federally-Funded Plan To Add Electric Vehicle Charging Stations In Neighborhoods Statewide
Help Wanted
-- Help Wanted: Chesapeake Bay Foundation PA Streams & Schoolyards Manager, Field Educator [PaEN]
Upcoming Events
-- Planet Philadelphia Radio Program Feb. 20: What’s Needed To Solve Climate Change? With Dr. Mark Z. Jacobson, 4:00 p.m.
-- POWER Interfaith Hosts Feb. 22 In-Person People's Hearing On Community Based, Affordable, Clean Electricity Congregation Rodeph Shalom, Philadelphia
-- USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service-PA To Hold 10 Local Working Group Meetings From Feb. 23 to April 3 [PaEN]
-- Penn State Extension Feb. 24 Webinar - Growing With Master Gardeners Program, Noon
-- The Derrick: Venango County To Host Electronics Waste Recycling Event Feb. 28
-- Registration Open For 5-Part Ag Water Webinar Series Starting March 2; Penn State Extension Watershed News [PaEN]
-- Lycoming College Environmental Justice Symposium Hosts Series Of Lectures March 4, March 17, April 11 On Environmental Impacts, Justice Issues
-- Green Building Alliance: Masano Auto Park Adaptive Reuse And Sustainability Innovations Tour March 4, Reading, Berks County. Noon to 2:00 p.m.
-- Philadelphia Solar Energy Assn: March 5 Webinar - Energy Affordability - How Plug-In Solar Energy Can Help [PaEN]
-- The Derrick: Seneca Rocks Audubon Society Hosts March 11 ‘Leave No Trace’ Program In Clarion
-- 12th Annual Pennsylvania Renewables Summit Set For March 16-17 In Harrisburg Area [PaEN]
-- Penn State Extension Hosts March 18 In-Person Seeds To Saplings Saving Streams Workshop In York County [PaEN]
-- North Branch Land Trust Annual Dinner March 25 In Wilkes-Barre [Click Here For Tickets]
-- Wilkes-Barre Times-Leader: North Branch Land Trust To Host Dinner/Auction March 25
-- Penn State Extension Hosts April 7 Webinar On Grazing Sheep At Solar Energy Facilities [PaEN]
-- Lehigh Valley’s Wildlands Conservancy Highlights March Experiences, Educational Programs
-- Penn State Extension Hosts Mid-Atlantic Agroforestry Conference June 4-5 In Huntingdon County [PaEN]
Public Participation
-- The Citizens’ Voice: Luzerne County Planning Office Hosting March 5 Public Forum On Draft Zoning Ordinance Amendment On A.I. Data Centers [PDF of Article]
-- PA Oil & Gas Industrial Facilities: Permit Notices, Opportunities To Comment - February 14 [PaEN]
-- DEP To Hold March 19 Meeting, April 7 Hearing On Shell Petrochemical Plant Air Quality Plan Approval For Ground Flares, Wastewater Treatment Plant, As-Built Air Pollution Equipment In Beaver County [PaEN]
-- PA Oil & Gas Industrial Facilities: Permit Notices, Opportunities To Comment - February 21 [PaEN]
-- DEP Posted 76 Pages Of Permit-Related Notices In February 14 PA Bulletin [PaEN]
-- DEP Posted 63 Pages Of Permit-Related Notices In February 21 PA Bulletin [PaEN]
-- Warren Times: Public Input Sought For Northwest PA Outdoor Recreation Study
Programs/Information
-- DEP: 16 More Counties Now In Drought Warning; 11 More Counties In Drought Watch [PaEN]
-- PUC Chairman DeFrank Leads National Effort To Support Federal Funding For The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program
-- PUC Commissioner Zerfuss Leads National Effort To Recognize Renewable Natural Gas As A Strategic Energy Resources
-- Post-Gazette: DEP Report Finds Southwestern PA Streams Among 37% In State That Are Water Quality Impaired
-- Chesapeake Bay Journal: Overshadowed By PFAS ‘Forever Chemicals;’ PCBs Remain A Toxic Threat To Chesapeake Bay Watershed Waters
-- Carol Parenzan, Environmental Engineer, Author, Launches The Water Healer™, Debuts 'From the Rivers to the Bay,' a New Chesapeake Bay Watershed Education Series [PaEN]
-- Warren Times: DEP Progresses In Plugging 18 Conventional Oil Wells Abandoned By Their Owners At Chapman Dam State Park [PDF of Article]
-- Inquirer - Frank Kummer: Philadelphia Launches Real-Time Public Air Quality Monitoring Network [Limited Pollutants]
-- WHYY - Sophia Schmidt: New Network Of 76 Air Monitors In Philadelphia Provide Detailed Look At Air Quality [Limited Pollutants]
-- Manada Conservancy Announces New Kittatinny Landowner Stories Video Series On Land Conservation [PaEN]
-- Penn State Extension Ag Conservation News: Multifunction Riparian Buffers; Grazing Management; Online Learning
-- Forests For The Chesapeake Bay News: Hobbyist’s Guide To Maple Sugaring; Upcoming Events
-- Post-Gazette: New Initiative Aims To Keep Pittsburgh’s Riverfronts Clean And Accessible
-- The Allegheny Front: A New RiverLife Initiative Will Maintain Pittsburgh’s Riverfront Trails And Parks
-- Post-Gazette: Decades After Betrayal, Displacement, Seneca Nation Seeks A Voice In The Future Of Kinzua Dam
-- Tribune-Democrat: National Park Service Interpretation Brings Johnstown’s Canal History To Life
-- Inquirer: President’s Administration Appeals Federal Court Ruling Ordering Restoration Of Slavery Exhibits In Philadelphia
-- Inquirer: History, Conservation Groups Suing President’s Administration Over Censorship At National Parks
-- Republican Herald: Bald Eagles Set A Record At Hawk Mountain Sanctuary
-- York Daily Record: Bald Eagle Found In York County Dies From Apparent Lead Poisoning, Raven Ridge Wildlife Center
-- York Daily Record: Bobcat Rescued From Car Grille In Adams County, Donations Needed For Rehab, Raven Ridge Wildlife Center
-- Republican Herald: Red Creek Wildlife Center Helping Animals Struggling To Survive Winter
-- Williamsport Sun: Reflections In Nature - Different Animals Have Ways Of Dealing With Brutal Cold
-- Farm & Dairy: PA To Conduct First-Ever Statewide Firefly Inventory
A.I./Data Centers
-- In Case You Missed It: A.I./Data Center Articles - NewClips From Last 2 Weeks - February 16 & 23 [PaEN]
-- Post-Gazette Editorial: PA Doesn’t Need To ‘Bend Over Backward’ To Lure A.I. Data Centers With Giveaways; Strict Standards Needed To Protect Communities, The Environment To Outlast Boom; ‘Unless A.I. Kills Us All’ [PaEN]
-- Gov. Shapiro Secures 2 Year Extension Of PJM Price Cap, Collar On Electricity Capacity Auctions [PaEN]
-- Spotlight PA: PA Tax Credit For Data Centers Will Cost Taxpayers $2 Billion A Year By Mid-2031
-- Ohio River Valley Institute: A.I. Data Centers Employ An Average Of 27 On-Site Workers - About The Same As An Average Olive Garden Restaurant
-- Post-Gazette - Anya Litvak: Winter Storm Brings Cash For Natural Gas Drillers; But Natural Gas Prices Reach Historic Highs For Consumers
-- Bloomberg: EQT Natural Gas Driller Expects $1 Billion Windfall On Winter Storm-Driven Gas Price Rally
-- US EIA Increases Natural Gas Price Projection For 2026 By 40% Due To Large Withdrawals From Gas Storage [PaEN]
-- PUC To Investigate Proposed 8.7% Rate Increase Requested By UGI Gas Division
Background On Issues
-- PA Oil & Gas Weekly Compliance Dashboard - Feb. 7 to 20 - Conventional Well Owners Abandoning More Than 1 Well A Day; No Approval For Disposal Of Shale Drill Cuttings [PaEN]
-- The Derrick: Aqua Pennsylvania Reports ‘Settlement In Principle’ To Purchase Venango Water Company [Fallout From Public Water Supply Contamination By Conventional Oil Wastewater Spill Continues] [PaEN]
-- Guest Comments: How Is PA General Energy Allowed To Destroy Natural Forest Values To Which I Am Entitled To Enjoy With Its Shale Gas Well Pad And Access Road Project In Loyalsock State Forest, Lycoming County? - By Cynthia Bower, Resident [PaEN]
-- Guest Comments: PA General Energy Shale Gas Road, Well Pads Project Would Close Access To State Forest Land, Threaten Already Threatened Forest Bird Species In Loyalsock State Forest, Lycoming County -- By Bruce Buckle, President, Lycoming Audubon Society [PaEN]
-- Williamsport Sun: Public Testifies Against PA General Energy Project Industrializing Loyalsock State Forest They Cherish; Natural Gas Industry Highlights Jobs, Economic Development [PDF of Article]
-- DEP Issues Water Quality Permits For Major Longwall Coal Mining Damage Prevention Project Covering 4 Texas Eastern Natural Gas Pipelines In Greene County [PaEN]
-- Marcellus Drilling News: Capital & Main Resolves Legal Challenge From CNX Resources Over Its Reporting With Editor’s Note Explaining What It Did Not Say Or Write About In An Article [PaEN]
-- Capital & Main - Audrey Carleton: Pennsylvania Spent Big On A ‘Petrochemical Renaissance,’ It Never Arrived
-- Beaver Times: Shell Petrochemical Plant Struggles, Seeks Buyer Amid Job, Profit Concerns
-- The Allegheny Front: Study: Air Pollution In Pittsburgh Region Responsible For 3,500 Deaths In 2019
-- EPA: Finalizes Repeal Of Costly Mercury, Air Toxics Restrictions On Power Generation, Continues To Reverse Democrats’ War On ‘Beautiful Clean Coal’
-- The Allegheny Front: President’s EPA Rolls Back Mercury, Air Toxics Rules For Coal-Fired Power Plants
-- Environmental Defense Fund: EPA Dismantles Protections For Mercury, Air Toxic Emissions From Power Plants
-- Clean Air Council, Earthjustice, EDF, NRDC, Partners Sue EPA For Illegal Repeal Of Climate Protections [PaEN]
-- The Allegheny Front: What The End Of The Climate ‘Endangerment Finding’ Means For Pennsylvania
-- WESA - Rachel McDevitt: President’s Tariffs, ICE, Climate Change Raising Prices For Pittsburgh-Area Farms, Restaurants
-- House Environmental Committee Told Water Quality Restoration Efforts Need To Be Better Targeted; Important ‘Emerging Contaminants’ Need To Be Addressed; Cuts In Federal Funding Slowing Progress [PaEN]
-- Post-Gazette: DEP Report Finds Southwestern PA Streams Among 37% In State That Are Water Quality Impaired
-- Three Rivers WaterKeeper Announces Intent To Sue US Steel, Irvin Works Plant For Oil Discharges Into The Monongahela River [PaEN]
-- The Allegheny Front/WESA: Three Rivers WaterKeeper Says ‘Alarming’ Levels Of PFAS ‘Forever Chemicals’ From Pittsburgh Airport Are Being Discharged Into Montour Run Watershed
-- Bipartisan Ohio River Restoration Act Introduced In US Senate By Fetterman, Young [PaEN]
-- Chesapeake Bay Journal: Permanent Fix For Huge Sewage Spill Into Potomac River Still Months Away
-- PennLive: Girardville, Schuylkill County Struggles To Conquer The Curse Of Coal As It Literally Crumbles Away [Part I]
-- PennLive: Girardville, Schuylkill County Coal Town A ‘Blank Slate’ For Spanish Speaking Newcomers From Mexico, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Can They Spur A Rebirth? [Part II]
-- Spotlight PA: Gov. Shapiro Warns President’s ICE Wastewater, Water And Other State Approvals For Proposed Detention Centers May Not Qualify For Needed Permits
-- Spotlight PA: President’s ICE Memo Reveals Timeline, Scale Of Warehouse Plans To House Detainees In Berks, Schuylkill Counties
-- AP: President’s ICE Quietly Buying Warehouses For Detention Centers And Leaving Local Officials Out Of The Loop [Includes PA Cases]
-- Financial Times: Why Rivers In Northern Alaska, Siberia Are Turning Orange Like Abandoned Mine Drainage [Spoiler: Global Warming] [PDF of Article]
Visit the DEP Calendar of Events; PA Parks & Forests Foundation’s Events webpage and DCNR’s Calendar of Events for activities happening near you.
Visit DEP’s Teaching Green webpage to learn about more environmental education resources.
Visit the PA Environment Digest Calendar Of Events for more opportunities.
[Posted: February 22, 2026] PA Environment Digest
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