112 New Stories - REAL Environmental & Conservation Leadership In PA

Here are 112 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 people have a right to clean air, pure water, and to the preservation of the natural, scenic, historic and esthetic values of the environment. Pennsylvania's public natural resources are the common property of all the people, including generations yet to come. As trustee of these resources, the Commonwealth shall conserve and maintain them for the benefit of all the people.”

-- Article I, Section 27 Pennsylvania Constitution  [It’s Not A Suggestion]

-- In Memoriam: Franklin L. Kury, Author Of The Environmental Rights Amendment To The Pennsylvania Constitution  [PaEN]  

-- PA Environmental Council Podcast: Generations Yet To Come - A Discussion With Franklin Kury 

-- Larry Schweiger: Remembering Senator Franklin Kury - An Environmental Hero 

-- DCNR: Celebrating The Legacy Of Franklin Kury: A Champion For Environmental Rights For All Pennsylvanians  [PDF of Article]

-- Inside Climate News - Marie Cusick: Remembering Franklin Kury, The ‘Visionary’ Author Of Pennsylvania’s Environmental Rights Constitutional Amendment 

-- Formal Obituary For Franklin L. Kury, Author Of Pennsylvania’s Environmental Rights Amendment  

-- "You can bury the workmen but the work will go on; And you can silence the voices but you can't stop the song" - Unspoken

-- DEP Intern Experiences: Isaac Edman, University Of Pittsburgh Law School, Working With DEP Office Of Chief Counsel In Southwest PA 

-- DEP Intern Experiences: Adriana Bernard, Penn West Edinburgh University, Working with DEP Waterways and Wetlands Office 

-- DCNR State Parks Environmental Education News Back To School Edition!  [PaEN]

-- LancasterOnline: Inside The Conestoga-Susquehannock Tribe’s Fight For PA State Recognition And To Tell Their Own Story [PDF of Article] 

-- DCNR Honors Park Rangers, Civilian Who Helped Save Mountain Biker’s Life At Swatara State Park, Lebanon, Schuylkill Counties [Video + Photos]

-- WVIA: Sisters Faith & Grace Bennett Earn Girl Scout Gold Awards For Developing Peaceful Community Space In Nature At Hillside Park In South Abington Twp., Lackawanna County

-- Stories You May Have Missed Last Week:  PA Environment & Energy Articles & NewsClips By Topic - August 24 & 31 [PaEN]

-- Environment & Energy Educational Opportunities For Students & Adults  [PaEN]

-- Conventional Oil & Gas Industry: DEP Decision To Approve Unrestricted Use Of Contaminated Water From Oil & Gas ‘Mineral Brine’ Wells Clears The Way For Uncontrolled, Free Disposal Of Contaminated Water At Public Expense And Risk  [PaEN]   [Warning] 

-- DEP Finalizes Spill/Release Notification Guidance Under Clean Streams Law  [PaEN]  

-- Guest Essay: Abandoned Oil & Gas Wells Pose Hidden Threats To A.I. Data Center Development - A Proposed Site In Washington County Is Just One Example - By Marci Michalski, Burgettstown, Washington County  [PaEN]   [Warning] 

-- Environmental Defense Fund Awarded Foxwynd Foundation Grant To Help Locate Conventional Oil & Gas Wells Abandoned By Their Owners In Settlers Cabin Park, Allegheny County  [PaEN] 

-- DEP To Restart Comment Period On MarkWest Project To Daylight 4 Natural Gas Pipelines To Prevent Damage From Coal Mining Due To Incorrect County In Public Notice, It’s In Washington County  [PaEN] 

-- Middle Susquehanna RiverKeeper: DEP Considering ‘Alternative Enforcement Measures’ To Assure Cleanup Of Eureka Resources Oil & Gas Wastewater Treatment Plants In Lycoming, Bradford Counties  [PaEN] 

-- DEP - Day 62: Contaminated Water Releases, Polluted Soil At Multiple Locations At Equitrans Water SVC [EQT] Richter Shale Gas Water Impoundment; Little Cleanup Happening In Greene County [PaEN] 

-- DEP - Day 41: Remediation, Collection Of Contaminated Water Continues At Loan Asset Issuer Shale Gas Water Pipeline Release Site In Washington County  [PaEN] 

-- DEP: Routine Inspection Finds ‘Significant’ Release Of Contaminated Water From Conventional Oil & Gas Wells Pollutes Hillside In Warren County  [PaEN]

-- DEP: Diversified Production LLC Contaminated Water Pipeline Release Pollutes Farm Field In Indiana County  [PaEN]  

--  DEP: Iron Cumberland LLC Conventional Well Plugging Results On Subsurface Release Of Cement Into Hargus Creek In Greene County  [PaEN] 

-- DEP: K Petroleum Inc. Shale Gas Well Site Had Contaminated Water Flowing Down The Side Of A Storage Tank In Washington County  [PaEN] 

-- DEP: Well Tests Confirm Expand Operating LLC Had New Casing/Cementing Failures In 4 Shale Gas Wells, Continuing Failures In 4 Others In Susquehanna And Wyoming Counties  [PaEN] 

--  DEP: Equitrans Water SVC [EQT] Reports 2 Landslides Along Shale Gas Water Pipeline Route In Union Twp., Washington County  [PaEN] 

 

-- DEP Citizens Advisory Council Extends Deadline For Comments To Sept. 8 On Act 54 Report On Damage To Structures, Streams Caused By Underground Coal Mining  [PaEN]

-- Governor’s Office To Brief DEP Citizens Advisory Council On Governor’s Data Center Executive Order Sept. 1  [PaEN] 

-- Gov. Shapiro Signs Executive Order Requiring A.I. Data Center Developers To Sign Consent Order Binding Them To Comply With GRID Principals, Including Clean Energy; DEP Will Not Review Permits Until Communities Give Their Approval  [PaEN] 

-- TheDerrick.com: Gov. Shapiro Invites Public To Provide Information To State On A.I. Data Center Development In Their Communities Thru New Webpage  [PaEN] 

-- PennLive: Franklin & Marshall College Poll Finds 79% Of PA Voters Oppose An A.I. Data Center In Their Communities

-- Inquirer: New Poll Of PA Likely Voters Finds 62% Oppose A.I. Data Center Construction 

-- New York Times: EPA Moves To Curb Public Input On Air Permits For Data Centers, Other Projects  [Warning] 

-- York County Economic Development Agency Official Calls PA Chamber Of Business & Industry Initiative Urging Opponents Of A.I. Data Centers To Take No Technology Pledge ‘Petty And Embarrassing’  [PaEN] 

-- Pittsburgh Business Times: Part Of TECfusions Data Center Campus In Westmoreland County Goes Live

-- TribLive: Springdale Council Members Report Incidents Of Harassment, Threats Over ICE Agreement, Data Center Development In Allegheny County 

-- Scranton Times: PPL Utilities Joint Venture Buys 7,200 Acres Of Land For Massive Natural Gas Data Center Power Plants In Lackawanna County  [PDF of Article]  

-- PUC Urges Federal Energy Regulatory Commission To Modernize Evaluation of Regional Electricity Transmission Projects  [PaEN] 

-- DEP Receives Final Act 2 Land Recycling Remediation Report From Archbald Data & Energy Center, LLC For Site In Lackawanna County [PaEN] 

-- The Center Square: Gov. Shapiro Backs Legislation Banning Flock License Plate Reading Cameras

-- USA Today Column: Two Weeks. No Power. Gary, Indiana Failed Black Citizens; Utility Accused Of Diverting Resources To Data Centers 

-- In Case You Missed It: A.I./Data Center Articles - NewClips From Last Week - August 24 & 31  [PaEN] 

-- WESA - Rachel McDevitt: PA Lawmakers Should Look To Renewable Energy, Not Fossil Fuels For Energy Affordability, Says New Policy Playbook

-- Natural Resources Defense Council: How The President’s Policies Are Hiking Electric Bills, Destroying Investments

-- Utility Dive: NRDC: President’s Energy Policies Could Cost US 540 GW Of New Renewable Energy Generation At A Time When Supply Chain Delays, Cost Increases Add Uncertainty To Whether Natural Gas Power Plants Will Be Built   

-- DEP/DCED: Steelton-Highspire School District To Save $3.6 Million Over 20 Years Using Solar Energy In Dauphin County  [PaEN] 

-- Mon Valley Initiative To Save Big On Energy Costs With New Rooftop Solar Energy System In Washington County  [PaEN]  

-- PA Solar Center, Partners Can Help Businesses, Schools, Municipalities, Nonprofits Look At How Solar Energy Can Stabilize, Even Reduce Your Energy Costs  [PaEN] 

-- Penn State Center for Energy Law & Policy Now Has Available An Online Database Of Local Solar Ordinances From 300 Local Governments In 57 Counties  [PaEN]

-- TribLive: Bill On Hold In PA Senate Could Be Key To Expanding Solar Power In PA, Saving Money On Energy Costs 

-- Inside Climate News - Jon Hurdle: Pennsylvania Lags Far Behind On Solar Energy, Here’s How It Could Catch Up 

-- DEP Invites Comments On Chapter 105 Permit For A 250 MW Solar Energy Facility In Clearfield County  [PaEN] 

-- PennTAP Helps Kitron Technologies In Somerset County Reduce Energy Costs, Access Multiple Penn State Services To Help Small Manufacturers

-- York County Community Foundation Awards Grant To Launch York County's First Sustainability Coordinator  [PaEN]

-- DEP To Host Sept. 16 Town Hall Meeting On Findings From The PA PFAS 'Forever Chemicals' Multi-Site Health Study In Bucks, Montgomery Counties And What They Mean For Local Families  [PaEN]

-- PA American Water Provides Additional $6.13 Credit On Water Bills From PFAS ‘Forever Chemical’ Lawsuit Settlement With Manufacturers

-- PA American Water White Paper Highlights Community Benefits Of Water And Wastewater System Partnerships

-- PUC Audits Identify Millions In Savings For PA Utilities And Consumers In 2025-26 

-- DEP Highlights Cleanup Of Former Steel Plant At Hazelwood Green To Turn Dirt Into Jobs Thru Land Recycling, Hazardous Sites Cleanup Program In Allegheny County

-- Three Rivers Waterkeeper Notifies Harwick Operating Co. That It Intents To Sue The Company Over Clean Water Act Violations At Its Coal Ash Landfill In Allegheny County  [PaEN]

-- Altoona Mirror Letter: Old Crow Wetland Remains In Peril From Convenience Store Stormwater In Huntingdon County - By Stan Kotala, Altoona

-- EPA: Vice President Vance, EPA Request Independent EPA Inspector General Investigation Into Decisions Made In Norfolk Southern Train Derailment Response By EPA, State Of Ohio, Norfolk Southern 

-- PEMA: Shapiro Administration Secures SBA Low-Interest Loans, Activates State Disaster Grants For Those Impacted By July 28 Flooding In Clearfield, Blair, Cambria, Cameron, Centre, Clinton, Elk, Indiana, Jefferson Counties 

-- PEMA: Multi-Agency Resource Center Opens Today [Aug. 26] In Lancaster For Residents, Businesses Affected by Aug. 20 Storms/Tornadoes In Lancaster/York Counties

-- LancasterOnline: State Agencies To Open Resource Center In Columbia Wednesday [Aug. 26] To Help Those In Lancaster/York Counties Impacted By Last Week’s Tornadoes  

-- WTAE: Massive PA American Water Main Break Causes Damage In Baldwin Borough, Allegheny County

-- Registration Now Open For 2026 PA Abandoned Mine Reclamation Conference Oct. 20-22 In Grantville, Dauphin County  [PaEN] 

-- PA Congresswoman Summer Lee, Westmoreland County Leaders Celebrate $1.075 Million Federal Grant To Cleanup Abandoned Mine Drainage In Turtle Creek Watershed  [PaEN]

-- The Citizens’ Voice: Small But Mighty: Eastern PA Coalition For Abandoned Mine Reclamation Celebrates 30 Years Of Revitalizing Region’s Coal Land   [PDF of Article]

-- TribLive: Westmoreland County Mine Drainage Cleanup Project Gets $1 Million In Federal Funding 

-- WPSU: Paintings With Pigments Made From Abandoned Mine Drainage Sludge Benefit Restoration Of Red Moshannon Creek In Clearfield, Centre Counties

-- Inside Climate News - Kyle Bagenstose: While Renewables Languish, Pennsylvania Pays Millions To Coal Waste-Fired Power Plants [To Cleanup Coal Waste Piles Leftover From Mining]

-- WESA/The Allegheny Front: DEP To Study Whether 11,000 Acres In Westmoreland County Is ‘Unsuitable’ For Coal Mining

-- Observer-Reporter: Coal Miner Sues For Wrongful Termination Claiming Coal Company Retaliated After Worker Raised Safety Concerns 

-- Post-Gazette - Anya Litvak: Two Coal Miners Sue Core Natural Resources After They Say They Were Punished For Voicing Safety Concerns In PA Underground Coal Mine

-- Lancaster Clean Water Partners Host Watershed Leadership Training For Lancaster's Next Clean Water Leaders  [PaEN] 

-- Lancaster Farming: DEP Seeks To Fill Vacancies On Agricultural Advisory Board

-- PA Capital-Star: Report Finds Bacteria From Fecal Matter Affecting PA Rivers, Streams

-- The Citizens’ Voice: Swarms Of Mayflies In Wilkes-Barre A Good Sign For The Susquehanna River

-- Call For Presentations: Delaware Estuary Science & Environmental Summit, Feb. 23-24 [PaEN]  

-- Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful’s Pick Up Pennsylvania Supports The International Coastal Cleanup To Keep Litter From Reaching Our Waterways; Free Supplies Available  [PaEN]

-- TribLive: PA Resources Council Hard-To-Recycle Collection Event Draws Several Hundred To Boyce Park In Plum Boro, Allegheny County

-- Warren Times: Rep. Joe Ciresi Says Community Service Needed For Litter Violators

-- Centre Daily Times: End Summer On A Green Note With Tire Collection, Paper Shredding, Other Events In Centre County

-- WHYY - Zoe Read: Researchers Find Microplastics In Insects From Schuylkill River Watershed 

-- Dept. Of Agriculture Invests $9.1 Million To Preserve 2,565 Acres Of Farmland On 34 Farms In 16 Counties  [PaEN] 

-- WeConservePA Land Conservation Census: Land Trusts Are Conserving 51 Acres A Day, 18,698 Acres A Year  [PaEN]  

-- WeConservePA: 6 PA Land Trusts Preserve 693 Acres Of Forest, Watershed, Farm Land In Adams, Centre, Erie, Lebanon, Westmoreland Counties  [PaEN] 

-- WeConservePA: Call For Presentations For 2027 PA Land Conservation Conference April 14-16; Nominations For Lifetime Conservation Leadership Award [PaEN] 

-- Republican Herald: Engineer Preparing Plan To Drain Lake Wynonah In Schuylkill County To Comply With DEP Dam Safety Order

-- Republican Herald: Lake Wynonah Residents Files Appeal Of DEP Directive To Drain The Lake

-- WHYY: Free Live Plant Library Brings ‘A Little Whimsy’ To Northeast Philadelphia

-- Delaware Highlands Conservancy Names Trey Talley New Executive Director  [PaEN] 

-- LancasterOnline: Inside The Conestoga-Susquehannock Tribe’s Fight For PA State Recognition And To Tell Their Own Story [PDF of Article] 

-- The Conestoga-Susquehannock Tribe Website

-- DCNR Makes Multi-Million Dollar Investment To Improve Campground At Cook Forest State Park In Clarion, Forest, Jefferson Counties

-- DCNR Dedicates New $7.5 Million Visitor Center At Marsh Creek State Park, Advancing Sustainable Infrastructure In Chester County  [Video + Photos] 

-- DCNR Grants News: Anthracite Adventure Area Underpass Improves Safety; New Fishing & Boating Access Strategy; Spring Grove YMCA Center; Dates To Remember

-- Post-Gazette - Mary Ann Thomas: 90% Of PA State Park Cabins Are Booked For Labor Day Weekend, But Here Are Tricks To Landing A Reservation

-- Pittsburgh Media Partnership: Heading Into The Woods This Fall?  Pennsylvania’s Tick Risks Are Changing 

-- WESA: Pittsburgh’s Mosquito Season Is Stretching On Longer, Allowing For More Disease Transmission

-- PA Environmental Council Now Accepting Applications From 10 Counties For Trail Organization Capacity Building Mini Grants  [PaEN] 

-- Inquirer - Frank Kummer: New Trail Connector Lets Bikers Ride 70 Miles From Philly To Reading

-- WITF: A New Guidebook Can Help You Find The Right Trail In Central PA

-- PennLive: Lancaster Conservancy Opens Hiking Trail At Safe Harbor Nature Preserve In Conestoga

-- WESA: Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy Launches Youth Art Contest For Allegheny County Students

-- The Citizens’ Voice: Wilkes-Barre Mayor Touts Past, Current, Future Improvements To City Parks 

-- US Forest Service Proposal To Rescind ‘Roadless Rule’ Could Open Allegheny National Forest Wilderness To Logging, Extractive Industries  [PaEN] 

-- Erie Times - Brian Whipkey: Game, Fish & Boat Commissions Say 858 Wildlife Species In PA Need Help, Your Input Needed Now

-- Wilkies-Barre Times Leader: Casting Off Barriers: Women Learn Fly Fishing At Hickory Run State Park 

-- WESA: Audubon Society Of Western PA Lands $240,000 Mellon Foundation Grant To Expand Community Conservation Education Efforts

-- Republican Herald: Schuylkill County Conservancy Receives Grant For Participation In 2026 PA Breeding Bird Blitz For Conservation

-- Republican Herald: The Last Wolves Of Pennsylvania - Lititz Wolf Sanctuary Cares For Wolves Unable To Live In The Wild

-- TribLive: Reports Of Bats Triple In Allegheny County As Late Summer Swarming Season Begins

-- Reading Eagle: Rare Wood Stork Drops Into Berks County Setting Off A Birding Rush In Richmond Township

-- State College To Host Northeastern Transportation & Wildlife Conference Sept. 27-30  [PaEN] 

Visit the PA Environment Digest website to learn more.

REAL Leadership:

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[Posted: August 30, 2026]   PA Environment Digest