158 New Stories - REAL Environmental & Conservation Leadership In PA

Here are 158 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!

-- LancasterOnline: Lancaster Conservancy’s Fritz Schroeder Turns Love Of Outdoors Into Mission To Protect County Land [PDF of Article]

-- Discover NE PA: Eastern PA Coalition For Abandoned Mine Reclamation Encourages Volunteerism

-- Stroud Water Research Center News: Celebrating Partnerships For Healthy Waters; Stream Sleuths; World Water Day March 21 [PaEN] 

-- The Allegheny Front: Responsibility And Fear Motivate Young Climate Activist In Pittsburgh

-- PA Assn. Of Environmental Educators: Professional Development Workshops - Teaching Environmental Issues; Climate Change & Agriculture; Collaborative Approach To Water Stewardship  [PaEN] 

-- Tribune-Democrat: Friends Of Flight 93 Planning Summer Symposium To Educate Teachers On 9/11 Story

-- Post-Gazette: Post-Gazette Investigation Of Coal Mining And Black Lung Disease Enforcement Failures Receives National Recognition

-- PennLive Guest Essay: Protecting Our Wild Lands Protects Our Future - By Brook Lenker, Keystone Trails Association 

-- Inquirer - Frank Kummer: Bucks County-Based Burpee Has Proven To Be ‘Recession Resistant’ After 150 Years In Business

-- TribLive: Peregrine Falcons To Be Protected During Tarentum Bridge Construction Project In Allegheny County 

-- WHYY - Susan Phillips: 250 Years Ago Our Founding Fathers Took On One Of The Nation’s First Invasive Species -- The Hessian Fly

-- DCNR House Budget Hearing: House Republicans Propose More Shale Drilling In State Forest Land, Under State Parks; Gas Drilling Has Caused The Loss Of 30,000 Acres Of Core State Forest Land So Far  [PaEN]   [Warning]

-- DEP Investigating Seismic Event Near Penneco Environmental Oil & Gas Wastewater Injection Well In Plum Boro, Allegheny County  [PaEN] 

-- The Allegheny Front: Ohio - Water Districts, Municipalities Join Call For Oil & Gas Wastewater Injection Well Moratorium

-- PA Oil & Gas Weekly Compliance Dashboard - Feb. 28 to March 6 - Abandoned Conventional Wells Hit 100; Investigating Seismic Event Near Wastewater Injection Well;  Well Transfer Violations  [PaEN]

-- WESA/The Allegheny Front - Reid Frazier: MarkWest Spills Over 1 Million Gallons Of Drilling Fluid Into Abandoned Coal Mine During Pipeline Construction In Washington County 

-- Environmental Quality Board Meets March 10 On Final Stream Redesignations Package; Report Due On DEP Review Of The Petition To Increase Setbacks From Shale Gas Wells, 4 Other Petitions  [PaEN]

-- PA Shale Gas & Public Health Conference: Dr. Gary Allison - 75% Of Shale Gas Chemical Disclosure Listings Hide What’s In 200 Million Pounds Of Materials Used In PA Fracking; A Colorado Law Would Fix That  [PaEN]  

-- TribLive: West Deer Twp. Residents Appeal To Commonwealth Court In Fight Over EQT Leto Shale Gas Well Pad Drilling In Allegheny County

-- Protect PT To Hold Workshops In Plum Boro March 12, Monessen March 19 On How To Protect Your Community From Environmental Threats Caused By Shale Gas Development  [PaEN] 

-- Post-Gazette - Anya Litvak: Shell Petrochemical Plant Air Emissions Face Scrutiny In Beaver County 

-- Warren Times: Natural Gas Leak Led To Warren High School Evacuation, 15 Students, 1 Adult Taken To Warren Hospital

-- Bradford Era: No Injuries In Overnight Fire At American Refining Group Refinery In Bradford, McKean County 

-- PA Oil & Gas Industrial Facilities: Permit Notices, Opportunities To Comment - March 7 [PaEN]

-- DEP Invites Comments On Air Quality Permit For MarkWest Harmon Creek Natural Gas Processing Plant In Washington County  [PaEN]

-- DEP Accepting Comments On Chapter 105 Permit For 8 Mile, 24-Inch EQT ARO LLC Water Pipeline To Support Shale Gas Development In State Forest Land In Lycoming County  [PaEN]

-- DEP Invites Comments On Chapter 105 Permit For A Double 16-Inch Expand Operating LLC Water Pipelines To Support Shale Gas Development In Standing Stone Twp., Bradford County  [PaEN] 

-- DEP Accepting Comments On Chapter 105 Permit For Double 16-Inch Expand Operating LLC Water Pipelines To Support Shale Gas Development In Forkston, North Branch & Windham Twps., Wyoming County  [PaEN]

-- Senate PUC Budget Hearing: PUC Chair Says PJM Market Auction Not Designed For Data Center Demands; PA Needs To Diversify Fuels Used To Generate Electricity; Bring Your Own Power Critical [PaEN] 

-- TribLive Guest Essay: Why Are Pennsylvanians Paying Higher Electric Bills - Data Center Demand, PJM, Natural Gas Price Spikes - By Trish Reilly, Centrist Democrats Of America 

-- Wilkes-Barre Times-Leader Guest Essay: Power Prices Are Rising, But The Fix Is Sitting In A Queue -- Renewable Energy + Storage - By Ken Silverstein, InsideSources.com 

-- AP: President Says Deal On A.I. Data Centers Will Lower Electricity Prices As Tech Companies Vow To Cover Power Costs 

-- Financial Times: President Tells A.I. Companies They Need ‘PR Help’ Over Data Center Backlash [PDF of Article]

-- House Committee Reports Out Bills To Require Data Centers To Disclose Energy, Water Use, Direct DCED To Develop Model Data Center Ordinance  [PaEN]  

-- Tribune-Democrat: PA House Committee Sees Partisan Split On Proposals To Regulate, Monitor A.I. Data Centers

-- City & State PA: PA House Committee Advances Bills Addressing Growing Concerns With A.I. Data Centers, Republicans Opposed

-- New Comprehensive Report Lays Out Case For 3-Year A.I. Data Center Moratorium To Be Introduced In Pennsylvania  [PaEN] 

-- Beaver Times Guest Essay: A.I. Data Centers Will Harm Health, Limit Jobs In Beaver County - By Elan Justice Pavlinich, Environmental Health Project

-- ABC27: County Emergency Management Officials Tour Three Mile Island Nuclear Power Plant As Restart Plans Progress To Provide Power To Microsoft A.I. Data Centers

-- In Case You Missed It: A.I./Data Center Articles - NewClips From Last Week - March 9  [PaEN] 

-- Sen. Yaw Urges FERC To Allow PJM To Keep Charging Pennsylvania Ratepayers Record High Capacity Auction Prices For Power, But Charge Other States Even More [PaEN] [Warning]

-- Utility Dive: PJM Proposes Fast-Track New Generation Interconnection Plan; Extension Of Capacity Auction Price Ceiling, Collar

-- AP - Marc Levy: A.I. Data Centers Spurring Big Expansion Of High-Voltage Power Lines; Landowners And Locals Are Fighting Back [PA Featured] 

-- The Derrick: PA US Senator McCormick Cosponsors Bill To Adopt Permitting Reforms For Electric Transmission Lines To Meet Growing Energy Demands [PDF of Article] 

-- PA Capital-Star Guest Essay: Can Electric Grid Meet A.I. Data Center Energy Demands Without Increasing Risks For Everyone Who Depends On It? - By Shixiang Zhu, Carnegie Mellon University

-- Penn State Extension Hosts April 7 Webinar On Data Centers - State And Local Regulation  [PaEN] 

-- City & State PA Hosts April 16 The Pennsylvania Energy Summit In Harrisburg, 8:00 to Noon 

-- Utility Dive: Electric Utilities Are Spending Billions To Serve The Data Center Boom; A Market Correction Could Leave Them Vulnerable To Stranded Investments

-- Utility Dive: PJM Market Monitor Opposes Maryland Power Plant Sale To A.I. Data Center Company Removing It As A Generation Resource From The PJM Grid; Would Go Against The President’s ‘Bring Your Own Power’ Policy

-- Morning Call/AP: Iran Strikes Amazon Data Centers In Middle East Highlighting Industry’s Vulnerability To Physical Disasters 

-- PUC Issues Cybersecurity Advisory To Electric, Natural Gas Other Utilities Amid Growing Global Tensions  [PaEN] 

-- Utility Dive: US Warns Energy Companies To Increase Security In Response To Potential Threats From Iran; Utilities Lack Tools To Guard Grid From Drone Attacks 

-- Fortune: Billionaire Owner Of PA’s United Refining Company Calls Iran War Price Hikes Temporary: ‘Suffer For One Month’ 

-- The Derrick: War In Iran To Cause Massive Disruption In Oil Industry, According To Oil City Native & Middle East Expert Andrew Tabler [PDF of Article]

-- Reuters: President’s Iran War Threatens Prolonged Hit To Global Energy Markets - Supply Disruptions, Refinery Shutdowns, Damaged Facilities, Export Constraints, Spiking Prices

-- Bloomberg: Oil Market Chaos Set To Deepen As More Gulf Giants Cut Output Because Of President’s Iran War

-- Rep. Joe Ciresi (D-Montgomery), Rep. Jim Haddock (D-Lackawanna) Call For Attorney General To Investigate Gasoline Price Spike

-- WFMZ: ‘Enough Is Enough:’ PA Lawmakers Call For Price Gouging Probe As Gasoline Prices Jump Overnight 

-- March 7: Average PA Gasoline Price Increased 43 Cents/Gallon Since Feb. 27 

-- March 7: AAA Average Gasoline Prices: National- $3.41 Ohio- $3.39  PA- $3.54

-- Feb. 27: Average AAA Gasoline Prices: National- $2.98  Ohio- $2.79  PA- $3.11

-- Inside Climate News - Kiley Bense: How Will President’s War On Iran Affect Your Utility Bills? 

-- AP: Oil And Gas Prices Rapidly Rise As President’s War On Iran Shows No Signs Of Letting Up

-- War Profits: Windfall Profits Tax On The Oil & Gas Industry?  Household Rebates To Offset Spiking Energy Costs

-- Financial Times: Coal Prices Jump As Utilities Seek Alternative To Spiking Natural Gas Prices Due US President’s War With Iran

-- TribLive/AP: Energy Prices Surge As Tanker Disruptions And Facility Shutdowns Rattle Global Supply 

-- Reuters: There Is Little LNG Producers Can Do To Immediately Replace Lost Qatari Cargoes

-- Financial Times: Qatar Warns War Will Force Gulf To Stop Energy Exports ‘Within Days’ And Bring Down The Economies Of The World

-- Guest Essay: Pennsylvania Needs To Act Now To Prevent A New $700 Million Increase In Electric Costs For Ratepayers - By Steve DeFrank, Chairman, Public Utility Commission  [PaEN]

-- PA Solar Center, Capital Good Fund Partner On Pennsylvania BRIGHT To Deliver Nearly 70 Solar Energy Projects Worth Up To $40 Million  [PaEN]

-- Energy Efficiency Alliance: March 12 Webinar - How Virtual Power Plants Strengthen Our Grid, Protect Ratepayers  [PaEN]  

-- Penn State Extension Hosts April 13 Webinar On Geothermal Energy Opportunities  [PaEN]

-- National Law Review Guest Essay: How Pennsylvania Can Use Abandoned Mines For Data Center Development - By John F. Lushis, Jr.

-- National Law Review Guest Essay: Geothermal Energy: Another Source Of Renewable Energy For Heating & Cooling - By John F. Lushis, Jr.

-- Pittsburgh Penguins Reduce Carbon Footprint By Buying Carbon Credits Supporting 272 Acres Of Green Space In Allegheny County  [PaEN] 

-- Inquirer: Chester County Has More Than 9,000 Electric Vehicles, Now It Wants To Build More Charging Stations 

-- DEP Citizens Advisory Council Meets March 10 To Hear Presentation On Final DEP Environmental Justice Policy  [PaEN]

-- TribLive: Fetterman, Deluzio Part Of Bipartisan Push To Strengthen Rail Safety Requirements 

-- EPA Takes Action After Subcontractor Altered Measurements In Sampling For Groundwater Contamination Resulting From Norfolk Southern Train Derailment  [PaEN]  

-- The Center Square: US Supreme Court Rejects Lawsuit Challenging Norfolk Southern Train Derailment Settlement 

-- WNEP: Crews Contain Fuel Leak After Train Derailment In Scranton

-- PennLive: Norfolk Southern Train Derails Near PA’s Historic Horseshoe Curve In Blair County

-- TribLive: Study Ties Up To 12.5% Of Pittsburgh Area Adult Deaths To Particulate Air Pollution

-- Guest Essay: Roadmap To Renew Pennsylvania's Waters - DEP's Integrated Water Quality Report Is A Guide To Fixing Sources Of Water Pollution - By Harry Campbell, Chesapeake Bay Foundation  [PaEN]

-- Chesapeake Bay Program Blog: 2024-25 Bay Barometer - Record-Setting Restorations, Major Gains And Remaining Challenges

-- Wilkes-Barre Times-Leader: Chesapeake Bay Program Provides Progress Update Under 2014 Watershed Agreement

-- Chesapeake Bay Journal - Karl Blankenship: A Better Chesapeake Bay Demands A Realistic Look At Farm Pollution

-- Western PA Conservancy Now Accepting Applications For BHE GT&S Watershed Mini Grants [PaEN]

-- DEP Chesapeake Bay News Highlights Conservation District Accomplishments, Funding Opportunities, Year End Progress  Reports  [PaEN] 

-- Stroud Water Research Center News: Celebrating Partnerships For Healthy Waters; Stream Sleuths; World Water Day March 21 [PaEN] 

-- The Derrick: Volunteers From Ruffed Grouse Society Undertake Wilderness Renewal Project At Tionesta Lake

-- Post-Gazette - Guest Essay: Pioneering Urban Farming In Pittsburgh’s Leaded Soil - By Kenedy Sanchez, PhD Student, Carnegie Mellon University

-- Middle Susquehanna RiverKeeper Blog: 300+ Visit Montour Preserve For Annual Environmental Education Expo With Hands-On Environmental Activities, Ice Fishing & More In Montour County

-- Middle Susquehanna RiverKeeper Blog: 400 Attend STEAM Education Event At West Branch School District To Learn About River Topics & More In Clearfield County

-- Penn State Extension Holds March 18 In-Person Workshop In Northampton County On How To Design, Install, Maintain Micro-Forests  [PaEN]

-- Volunteers Needed For March 28 Alliance For The Chesapeake Bay TreeLay Back-To-Back Tree Planting Events In Pennsylvania, MD and VA  [PaEN] 

-- Forests For The Chesapeake Bay News: March 28 TreeLay; Eager Beavers; Hackberry; News Around The Bay Watershed

-- Budget-Friendly Stream Repair Focus Of Penn State Extension Workshop Webinar March 23; Live Stake Branches Available  [PaEN] 

-- Penn State Extension Master Gardeners Host April 20 Webinar On Gardening For Wildlife - People Benefit When Nature Thrives  [PaEN]

-- Interns Wanted: Delaware River Basin Commission Seeking Summer Interns 

-- Help Wanted: Chesapeake Bay Foundation PA Communications And Media Relations Manager  [PaEN]

-- Inquirer: Gov. Shapiro Joins Other States Challenging President’s Latest Global Tariffs To Protect PA Farmers, Small Businesses, Families

-- TribLive/Bloomberg: American Farmers See President’s New Tariffs As Yet Another Round Of Instability  

-- Williamsport Sun Editorial: Farms’ Struggles Are All Of Our Struggles

-- TribLive/AP: Federal Judge Rules Companies Are Entitled To Refunds Of President’s Tariffs Overturned By US Supreme Court

-- DEP Issued 5 Orders To Federal And Local Entities To Prevent The Use Of 3 Warehouses In Berks And Schuylkill Counties As Federal Immigrant Detention Centers Without Complying With State, Federal Environmental Laws  [PaEN] 

-- Republican Herald: PA DEP To DHS - No Warehouse Immigrant Detention Centers Until Environmental Regulations Are Met

-- Tribune-Democrat: DEP Issues Orders Against Homeland Security Over Planned PA Warehouse Immigrant Detention Centers

-- Morning Call: DEP Orders DHS To Comply With Environmental Rules Before Opening Warehouse Immigrant Detention Centers In Berks, Schuylkill Counties

-- PA Capital-Star: DEP: Proposed ICE Warehouse Immigrant Detention Centers ‘Will Overwhelm’ Existing Water, Wastewater Infrastructure In Berks, Schuylkill Counties

-- Reading Eagle: President’s ICE Gives Some Details About Proposed Warehouse Detention Center In Berks, But Most Questions Remain Unanswered 

-- PA Emergency Management Agency To Hold 6 Flood Recovery Workshops Across The State Starting April 16  [PaEN]  

-- PennFuture: DEP Denies Stormwater Permit For Route 115 Associates Warehouse In Tunkhannock Twp., Monroe County 

-- The Derrick: DEP Signs Consent Order With Knox Boro To Correct Violations At The Borough’s Sewage Treatment Plant

-- Altoona Mirror Letter: DEP To Blame For Old Crow Wetlands Degradation In Huntingdon County Resulting From Improperly Issued Permit To Rutters - By Stan Kotala  [PDF of Article]

-- WNEP: Vehicles Damaged In Supermarket Parking Lot During Blasting At Dickson City Quarry In Lackawanna County [DEP Regulates Quarry Blasting] 

-- Chesapeake Bay Foundation: York County Junkyard Fire, Oil Spill Casts Spotlight On Need for Enforcement  [PaEN]

-- LancasterOnline: Cleanup Ongoing After Pollutants From York County Junkyard Fire Found In Susquehanna River

-- York Daily Record: 10,000 Gallons Of Oil Spilled During J&K Junkyard Fire, Officials Say

-- Inquirer: ‘Milky White’ Substance Was Leaking Into Chester County Creek, And A Business Could Face Fines 

-- TribLive: ALCOSAN Power Outage Sends Untreated Wastewater Into Ohio River; Public Advisory To Stay Out Of Water For 48 Hours In Pittsburgh

-- Chesapeake Bay Journal: Environmental Advocates Seek Wider Cleanup After Potomac River 

-- TribLive: Pittsburgh Water Authority Reports Lowest-Ever Lead Levels In City Water Supply  

-- Pittsburgh Water Authority Releases 2025 Year In Review

-- TribLive: Keep PA Beautiful Partnership Provides Resources For Community Cleanups Ahead Of America’s 250th Birthday

-- Shapiro Administration Keeps Pennsylvania Beautiful During Historic Tourism Season

-- TribLive: Pittsburghers Asked To Pick Up Litter Ahead Of NFL Draft  

-- WHYY - Sophia Schmidt: Owner Of Chester Trash Incinerator Spent $45,000 Lobbying In Philadelphia As City Council Considers Waste Incineration Ban

-- Observer-Reporter: EPA To Remove Toxic Waste Barrels Illegally Dumped In Abandoned Bologna Coal Company’s Washington County Strip Mine [PDF of Article] 

-- PA Firefly Festival Announces Naturalist Guide Training To Meet Surging Eco-Tourism Demand In PA Wilds  [PaEN] 

-- PA Master Naturalist Now Accepting Applications For Fall Training Courses  [PaEN]

-- DCNR Hosts March 26 Webinar On PA Invasive Replace-ive Program To Replace Invasive Species With Native Trees And Shrubs In Landscape Plantings  [PaEN]  

-- Penn State Extension Hosts June 5 Webinar - PA Invasive Species - Japanese Stiltgrass, 1:00 to 2:15 pm.

-- Delaware Highlands Conservancy: April 18 In-Person Meadows 101 - Learn, Plant, Grow Workshop,  Beach Lake, Wayne County 

-- Tribune-Democrat: Bottle Works, Brandywine Conservancy’s Penguin Court Farm Will Host March 14 Nature, Conservation Expo In Johnstown

-- DCNR House Budget Testimony: Pennsylvania Is Ready To Welcome The World For The 250th Birthday Of The United States  [PaEN]

-- PA Parks & Forests Foundation: Penn’s Stewards News - 250 Years Of Independence, 133 Years Of State Parks & Forests - Freedom To Explore PA’s Outdoors  [PaEN]

-- March 6 Take Five Fridays With Pam, PA Parks & Forests Foundation Now Available 

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

-- Help Wanted: North Branch Land Trust Executive Director [PaEN] 

-- DCNR Names Haley Redmond New Manager Of Little Pine State Park Complex

-- DCNR Plans March 21-22 Whitewater Release Into Tohickon Creek In Bucks County

-- TribLive: Delmont Committee Seeks Input To Help Develop Westmoreland Heritage Trail Connection 

-- Tribune-Democrat: Hikers Kick Off 250-Mile Trail Challenge At Prince Gallitzin For US 250th Anniversary

-- Williamsport Sun: Deep Green Journey Offers Nature Experiences For Visually Impaired

-- TheDerrick.com: New Sensory-Friendly Playground Unveiled At Riverfront Park In Franklin, Venango County  [PDF of Article]

-- Erie Times: Maple Syrup Festivals Bring Sweet Release From Winter’s Clutches; Where To Go 

-- Erie Times: Lake Erie Ice Coverage Drops To 70%; Will New Ice Form In March?

-- PennEnvironment: New Working Group Charged With Developing Wildlife Corridor Blueprint For Pennsylvania 

-- Tribune-Democrat: Fish & Boat Commission: Somerset Lake Dam Leaking Again, Just Months After Concrete Patches Were Completed  [PDF of Article]

-- Post-Gazette: How A New State Law Is Tackling Abandoned, Dilapidated Boats On Pittsburgh’s Rivers

-- Delaware River Basin Commission And Partners To Conduct In-Person Angler Surveys About The Number, Kind Of Fish They’re Catching At Several Locations In The Watershed  [PaEN] 

-- Game Commission Monitoring Avian Influenza In Wild Birds

-- LancasterOnline: Middle Creek Wildlife Area Asks Public To Report Sick Or Deceased Wild Birds As Avian Flu Spreads 

-- York Daily Record: Hanover Online Bald Eagle Nest Welcomes First Egg Of Season

-- TribLive: Harmer Bald Eagles Believed To Have New Egg  

-- Williamsport Sun: Good Samaritan Wildlife Center Mixes Action With Education

-- LancasterOnline: Here’s What Lancaster Birders Spotted During Christmas Bird Count, From Crows To A Painted Bunting

-- Hawk Mountain Sanctuary Highlights Upcoming Experiences, Events In March

Visit the PA Environment Digest website to learn more.

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[Posted: March 8, 2026]   PA Environment Digest