118 New Stories - REAL Environmental & Conservation Leadership In PA

Here are 118 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!

-- Senate Adopted Senate Resolution 391 (23 Bipartisan Co-sponsors): Honoring The Life And Work Of Former State Senator Franklin Kury-- author of the Environmental Rights Amendment to Pennsylvania’s Constitution. Read more here.

-- In Memoriam: Marv Woodall, Heritage Conservancy’s Chairman Emeritus 

-- FracTracker Alliance Announces 2026 Community Sentinel Award Winners - Zulene Mayfield, Qiyam Ansari, Karen Feridun Were Honored From PA  [PaEN] 

-- Pennsylvania Coal Alliance Announces 2026 Mine Safety And Reclamation Award Winners

-- Penn State Master Watershed Steward Stefanie Green Helps Conserve Natural Resources In Northampton County  [PaEN]

-- Inquirer: A ‘Firstival’ To Honor The Delaware Valley’s Indigenous Lenape People

-- WVIA: Centuries-Old Trees, Unique Ecosystems: Tuscarora State Park In Schuylkill County Now Part Of Old Growth Forest Network

-- TheDerrick.com: The Effort To Preserve Cook Forest Began 100 Years Ago In Clarion, Forest, Jefferson Counties 

-- LaSalle University: Kadafi El-Kardah Used His Education To Grow A Career In Environmentalism - Learning In Philadelphia’s ‘Living Laboratory’ 

-- Erie County's Anthony Sorci Recognized With Keep PA Beautiful Community Pride Award By Rep. Patrick Harkins, Rep. Robert Merski  [PaEN]

-- 500 Feet Isn't Enough!  Families, Environmental And Health Groups Call On Shapiro Administration To Increase Minimum Setbacks From Shale Gas Wells To Protect Pennsylvanians  [PaEN]

-- PA Capital-Star/Inside Climate News - Marie Cusick: In Harrisburg, Advocates Rally For Tougher Rules On Shale Gas Fracking

-- House Hearing I: DEP Allows The Use Of Contaminated Water From New 'Mineral Brine' Conventional Wells On Roads, While Prohibiting Contaminated Water With The Same Harmful Pollutants On Roads From Other Conventional Oil & Gas Wells  [PaEN]. [Warning]

-- House Hearing II: Road Dumping Contaminated Water From Conventional Oil & Gas Wells Creates An Aerosol Mist Carrying Pollution Through The Air And Into My Lungs - By Siri Lawson, Warren County Resident  [PaEN]

-- House Hearing III: Protect PT: For Too Long The Oil & Gas Industry Has Used Our Southwest PA Communities As Dumping Grounds For Their Waste - Road Dumping Contaminated Water From Conventional Oil & Gas Wells Must Be Banned  [PaEN]

-- House Hearing IV:  We Should Not Be Trying To Find New Ways To Dump More Contaminated Water From Conventional Oil & Gas Wells On Our Roads, It’s Obviously Not A Solution; We Need Safe Disposal Options - Here’s One  [PaEN]

-- Marcellus Drilling News: Ex-PA DEP Chief Wants Shale To Recycle PA Conventional Brine For Free  [PDF of Article]

-- Pennsylvania Oil & Gas Weekly Compliance Snapshot- October 3 to 9 [PaEN]

-- DEP - Day 51: Multiple Contaminated Water Seeps Continuing From INR OPR LLC Cooper Shale Gas Well Pad In Indiana County After 336,000 Gallon Fracking Fluid Spill  [PaEN]

-- DEP - Day 357: S.R. Star O&G LLC Still Fails To Comply With An Order To Plug At Least Some Of The 11 Abandoned Conventional Oil & Gas Wells It Owns In Butler County  [PaEN]

-- DEP: Conventional Well Fracking By Cline Oil Inc. Causes Uncontrolled Release Of Crude Oil From 2nd Abandoned Conventional Well In The City Of Bradford, McKean County  [PaEN] 

-- DEP: Flash Fire At Expand Operating LLC Shale Gas Well Pad Compressor Station On State Game Lands Causes Minor Damage In Great Bend Twp., Susquehanna County  [PaEN]  

-- DEP: Large Release Of Contaminated Water Soaks Ground At DJR Well Services Conventional Oil & Gas Well Site In Mercer County  [PaEN] 

-- DEP: Routine Inspection Of Appalachia Midstream SVC Shale Gas Water Pipeline Construction Site Found Fertilizer Mixture Sprayed Directly Into A Stream In Lycoming County  [PaEN] 

--  Spotlight PA: Barbara Laxon: A Retiree’s Quest To Help Track Down PA’s Abandoned Conventional Oil & Gas Wells 

-- TribLive: Allegheny County Board Of Health Votes To Review Air Pollution Permit Exemptions For Shale Gas Operations

-- TheDerrick.com: Drake Energy Forum Returns Oct. 19-20 In Oil City, Titusville; Leaders To Discuss Rising Demand, Shifting Economic Geography

-- Politics PA: Poll Shows Dead Heat Between Incumbent Republican State Sen. Bartolotta And Independent Jodi Borello In Washington County 

-- Spotlight PA - Stephen Caruso: Independent Candidate Jodi Borello Closes In On Republican State Senate Incumbent Camera Bartolotta As Dark Money Spending Surges

-- Reading Eagle: Ongoing US War With Iran Has Heating Oil Prices Near Record Highs

-- US EIA Winter Residential Heating Cost Outlook Based On Forecast Temperatures In Northeast: Natural Gas 14% Lower; Propane 15% Lower; Electricity 3% Lower; Heating Oil 21% Higher

-- Bloomberg: How A.I. Data Centers Are Pushing Up US Power Costs

-- Washington Post: A.I. Data Center Boom Is Pushing Prices Higher, According To Fed Officials 

-- Kleinman Center For Energy Policy Podcast: Paying More For Less - The Rising Cost Of Home Natural Gas From Utilities

-- Asset Leadership Network: Root Cause Of Energy Unaffordability In PA - Kabuki Theater In Public Utility Ratemaking - And Bad Decision Making - By Richard C. Culbertson, Senior Fellow

-- Hundreds Of Protesters Tell Governor Shapiro, Legislators, “We Won’t Back Down;” Call For Data Center Moratorium  [PaEN] 

-- Erie Times/USAToday: Capitol Rally Pushes Pennsylvania A.I. Data Center Moratorium; Protesters Compare Data Centers To Unfulfilled Promises Of Jobs, Eco-Friendly Of Shale Gas Fracking Industry

-- The Center Square: Disgust, Frustration, Concern Over A.I. Data Centers Unleashed In State Capitol

-- PA Capital-Star: A Call For Gov. Shapiro And State Lawmakers To Pass An A.I. Data Center Moratorium In PA

-- Altoona Mirror: Protesters Demand Legislative Action On A.I. Data Center Moratorium

-- The Citizens’ Voice: The Bipartisan Politics Of A.I. Data Center Opposition

-- In Case You Missed It: A.I./Data Center Articles - NewClips From Last Week - October 12  [PaEN]  

-- PUC Chairman Calls For Preemption Of Local Decisions On Needed Electric Generation Facilities; A Firm Bring Your Own Power Before Data Centers Connect To The Grid; PUC Study Identifies 21 Potential Generation Sites [PaEN]  [Warning] 

-- The Citizens’ Voice: Newport Twp. Supervisors Release Documents Outlining Plan For $35 Billion Data Center, 3 Natural Gas Power Plants Only After Right-To-Know Request By The Citizens’ Voice In Luzerne County  [Warning] 

-- PennLive: Swatara Township Commissioners Approve $120 Million Community Benefits Agreement With Developer Of 2 Proposed A.I. Data Centers In The Township At The Same Meeting The Agreement Was Unveiled To The Public For The First Time In Dauphin County  [Warning]

-- Scranton Times Chris Kelly Opinion: Local Newspapers Are Critical To Keeping The Public Informed As Money-Hungry A.I. Data Center Developers Invade Their Communities

-- Beaver County Community Organizing Summit On A.I. Data Centers Set For Oct. 17 In Monaca  [PaEN]

-- PA Capital-Star: PA’s Environmental Rights Amendment Is Focus Of Muncy Township Challenge To Planning Code ‘Deemed Approved’ Provision In Lycoming County

-- PennLive/LehighValleyLive: Play This A.I. Data Center Simulator To Step Into The Role Of Decision-Maker

-- Cumberland County Water Forum To Be Held October 21 At Dickinson College In Carlisle  [PaEN]  

-- Utility Dive: PJM To File Revised Backstop Plan With FERC By Oct. 29 To Procure 6.8 GW Of Needed Generation; In Rare Filing, DOE Presses PJM To Better Protect Ratepayers  [Warning]

-- PJM Selects 860 MW Battery Storage Project, 455 MW Natural Gas Plant In Pennsylvania For Expedited Interconnection [PaEN] 

-- DEP Soliciting Energy Generation, Storage Projects For 2027 Round Of PJM Expedited Interconnection  Program Reviews  [PaEN] 

-- Scranton Times: Energy Independent Solar/Battery, Affordable Apartments Planned In South Scranton

-- PA Solar Center: North Side Christian Health Center Solar Energy/Battery Project Helps Ensure Uninterrupted Access To Healthcare In Pittsburgh

-- Altoona Mirror Guest Essay: A Century Of Energy In Pennsylvania, Now Cambria Heights School District Is Powering The Future With Solar Energy - By Rep. Elizabeth Fiedler

-- The Center Square: PA Legislation Would Allow Communities To Price Shop For Electricity For Their Residents

-- PA Technical Assistance Program, Catalyst Connection To Hold Oct. 28 Webinar On No-Cost Energy Efficiency Resources To Boost Manufacturing Competitiveness  [PaEN] 

-- Evangelical Environmental Network Action Celebrates PA House Passage Of Battery Storage Legislation With Bipartisan Support  [PaEN]  

-- Tribune-Democrat: PA House Advances Bill Requiring Battery Storage For Electric Utilities To Increase Grid Reliability [Republicans Oppose]

-- Inquirer: Constellation Energy’s Limerick (PA), Salem (NJ) Nuclear Power Plants In Deal To Be Uprated To Sell Data Center Electricity To Google  [Taking More Power Off Grid]

-- DEP New Tools To Help Pennsylvanians Figure Out Which Permits They Need And Where To Find Funding To Support Their Projects; Small Business Advantage Grants Now Available  [PaEN]  

-- The Allegheny Front: As Black Lung Disease Surges In Appalachia Coal Miners, President’s Administration Halts Enforcement Of New Dust Rules

-- TribLive: Power Surge: PA Coal Miners Eye Rising Demand Amid Environmental Battles

-- WTAE: Man Pinned After Rock Collapse At Underground Quarry In Westmoreland County 

-- PennLive/LehighValleyLive: Northampton County DA Issues Warning Urging People Not To Jump Into A Water-Filled Quarry 

-- ABCNews: Abandoned Mines Causing Sinkholes, Other Incidents Across The Country [PA Included] 

-- Tribune-Democrat: DEP Awards $347,832 Grant To Clearfield Creek Watershed Assn. For Mine Drainage Treatment Project In Cambria County

-- DEP Received A Waste Permit Renewal From Shawville Power LLC For Its Coal Combustion Residuals Facility In Clearfield County  [PaEN] 

-- DEP Healthy Waters News: County Projects Get Measurable Environmental Results; Abandoned Mine Reclamation; Grant Opportunities  [PaEN]  

-- DCNR Grants At Work: Supporting Water, Wildlife And Communities In The Cheaspeake Bay Watershed [Next Grant Round Opens Jan. 11] 

-- PA Environmental Council, Aqua Accepting Applications For Protect Your Drinking Water In Southeast PA Starting Oct. 21  [PaEN] 

-- PA Interfaith Power & Light, PA Environmental Council Host Oct. 21 Webinar On Green Stormwater Infrastructure  [PaEN] 

-- Kittatinny Ridge: Berks County Conservation District Forestry Management Outreach Program - By David Osgood, Watershed Specialist, Berks County Conservation District

-- Chesapeake Bay Journal: Decades Later, A Big Gap Persists For Key Chesapeake Bay Pollution Reduction Goals

-- 250+ Attend Delaware River Watershed Forum Bringing Together Partners To Shape The Future Of the Delaware Watershed  [PaEN]

-- Delaware River Basin Commission Invites Comments, Holds Nov. 4 Virtual Hearing On Proposed Regulation Requiring Water Supply Systems To Report Water Use By Their Larger Customers  [PaEN] 

-- KDKA: $4.5 Billion Project To Build Stormwater/Sewage Overflow Tunnels Under Pittsburgh Finally Underway

-- The Center Square: 4 Of Top 10 Most Expensive Water Companies Are In PA, Study Finds

-- DEP Drought Status Update: Only 5 Counties In Drought Watch: Berks, Cumberland, Franklin, Fulton, Lehigh 

-- Stroud Water Research Center Comments On DEP Biosolids Permits: High Rate Of PFAS Contamination Already Found On Most Farm Fields Treated With Biosolids, Tighter Controls Needed 

-- Tribune-Democrat: PFAS ‘Forever Chemical’ Banned From Firefighting Foam, With Exceptions, In Sen. Yaw’s Legislation

-- Fish & Boat Commission: ‘Do Not Eat’ Fish Advisory Issued For Wissahickon Creek In Montgomery County/Philadelphia; Nov. 5 Public Meeting Set

-- Inquirer - Frank Kummer: PFAS ‘Forever Chemical’ Contaminated Fish Prompts ‘Do Not Eat’ Advisory For Wissahickon, Cancellation Of Trout Stocking; Nov. 5 Fish & Boat Commission Public Meeting

-- Warren Times: Volunteers Remove 1,000 Pounds Of Trash From Conewango And Clarion Rivers

-- TheDerrick.com: Venango County To Hold Electronics, Household Hazardous Waste Collection Event Oct. 31 In Franklin

-- York Daily Record: York County Falls Short Of Disaster Threshold As School Faces $10 Million In Repairs

-- ChestnutHillLocal.com: Montgomery County Towns Press Forward On Environmental Plans

-- Inquirer: Repairing A King Of Prussia Sinkhole Has Taken 2 Years; It’s A 500 Million Year Old Problem

-- Reminder: DEP Now Accepting Environmental Education Grants Until Nov. 13

-- Dept. Of Agriculture Invests $5.8 Million To Ensure 1,228 Acres Of Farmland On 22 Farms In 14 Counties Stays Farms Forever  [PaEN]

--  WPSU: PA Ag Secretary Says Former Rockview Prison Land Should Remain In Agriculture In Centre County 

-- Land Conservancy of Adams County Partners With Jeff and Betsy Yinglling To Preserve 101 Acre Farm  [PaEN]

-- Heritage Conservancy Partners With Leah and Doug Beck To Preserve 30 Acre Property In Bucks County  [PaEN] 

-- Help Wanted: The Nature Conservancy PA-DE Deputy Director, Strategy & Operations Based In Conschohocken 

-- Pike County Launches Invasive Species Replacement Program For Landowners  [PaEN] 

-- Penn State Extension - Spotted Lanternfly News: Handling Yard Waste In Quarantined Areas; Permit Training For Businesses; Tree Of Heaven Control Strategies

-- Post-Gazette - Mary Ann Thomas: As Longhorned Tick Populations Soar In Allegheny County, ‘Larval Bombs’ Surprise Residents 

-- Gov. Shapiro, DCNR Announce Investment Of $81 Million In 306 Local Projects In 60 Counties To Improve Recreation, Conserve Natural Resources; Next Grant Round Opens Jan. 11  [PaEN]  

-- DCNR Marks 1 Billion Board Feet Milestone Of Sustainably Harvested Timber From State Forests Since 2004 At PA Lumber Museum In Potter County  [Video + Photos]

-- DCNR Fall Foliage Report Oct. 8-14: Best Colors Are In Northern Tier Counties, Northern Poconos And Laurel Highlands  [PaEN] 

-- DCNR Mobilized 230+ Pennsylvanians To Help Fight Wildfires In 14 States

-- TheDerrick.com: The Effort To Preserve Cook Forest Began 100 Years Ago In Clarion, Forest, Jefferson Counties 

-- DCNR Grants News: Pine Creek Rail Trail PA Trail Of The Year; Wildlife Leadership Academy 20 Years Young; Boating Facility Grants Now Open; Trail Committee Seeking Members 

-- Fish & Boat Commission Now Accepting Boating Facility Grant Applications Until Dec. 1

-- PA Environmental Council In Case You Missed It: Apply Now For Water Trail Mini-Grants; Statewide Waterway Access Grants; Protect Your Drinking Water Grants; Building Trail Organization Capacity Grants  [PaEN]

-- Health Department, DCNR Award $300,000 To Support 4 Local Projects To Improve Walking, Biking Networks To Boost Physical Activity

-- WNEP: Officials Caution Visitors To Lackawanna State Park After Young Girl Gets Stuck In Mud In Drained Lake Bed

-- TribLive: Paddling Through Cancer And Into A New Sisterhood

-- NextPittsburgh: Pittsburgh Set To Extend Three Rivers Heritage Trail Through New Partnership

-- Centre Daily Times: Penn’s Cave Listed For Sale; PA Still Weighing Whether To Acquire It, Shapiro Says 

-- PA Wilds Center: Annual PA Wilds Makers Market Set For Nov. 7 To Kick Off Holiday Shopping Online To Support Local Artisans

-- WHYY: Light Pollution, Wildfire Smoke Threaten View Of The Stars In Philly Suburbs

-- Republican Herald: DEP, Lake Wynonah Sign Pact To Fully Drain Lake Ahead Of Dam Repairs In Schuylkill County

-- Williamsport Sun: Rose Valley Lake Being Drained For Work On Dam In Gamble Twp., Lycoming County

-- Brandywine Conservancy Removes Breached Hoffman's Mill Dam From Brandywine Creek In Chester County  [PaEN] 

-- Chesapeake Bay Journal: Chesapeake Bay Logperch Fish Recovering In Pennsylvania, Feds Say

Visit the PA Environment Digest website to learn more.

REAL Leadership:

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[Posted: October 11, 2026]   PA Environment Digest