119 New Stories - REAL Environmental & Conservation Leadership In PA

Here are 119 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!

-- Butler Eagle: Slippery Rock Watershed Coalition Has Taken On Abandoned Mine Pollution In Creek For More Than 30 Years 

-- Lancaster-Based LandStudies Keva Flats Floodplain Restoration Project Wins 2026 Excellence Award In Chester County Citizens Planning Award Competition

-- Northampton, Bucks County Municipal Authority Secures $11 Million Navy Funding To Extend Public Water Access To Address PFAS 'Forever Chemical' Contamination; Earns Statewide Recognition  [PaEN] 

-- Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful Celebrates Successful Annual Conference Focused on Connecting Nature, Community, Equity; Sen. Schwank Recognizes Reading Sustainability Manager  [PaEN] 

-- Dickinson College Hosts Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson Oct. 27 For Fireside Chat On Actionable Climate Solutions As Part Of Rose - Walters Prize For Global Environmental Activism College Residency  [PaEN]

-- TribLive: Winnie Palmer Nature Reserve At Saint Vincent College Marks 2 Decades Of Conservation In Westmoreland County 

-- Lehigh Valley’s Wildlands Conservancy: Celebrating The New Brenner-Penfield Emmaus Preserve 

-- WVIA: Catawissa, Columbia County Farmers Bring Sustainable Skincare, Fashion To Beverly Hills During Emmys Week

-- Stories You May Have Missed Last Week:  PA Environment & Energy Articles & NewsClips By Topic - October 26  [PaEN] 

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

-- Senate Committee Reports Out Resolution Authorizing Study Of The Economic Importance Of Conventional Oil & Gas Industry; Forgetting The Billions In Costs The Industry Dumps On Taxpayers  [PaEN]  [Warning]

-- DEP Celebrates Plugging 500th Abandoned Conventional Oil & Gas Well; DEP Continues To Issue Violations By The Hundreds To Conventional Well Owners For Abandoning Wells  [PaEN] 

-- Observer-Reporter: Jerome Bettis, DEP Secretary Visit Washington County To Celebrate 500th Abandoned Conventional Well Plugging

-- Well Done Foundation Completes Plugging 15 Orphan Conventional Oil & Gas Wells In PA, Delivering $2.25 Million In Value To Taxpayers [PaEN] 

-- The Allegheny Front: Allderdice High School Students In Pittsburgh Partner With Well Done Foundation To Plug Abandoned Conventional Oil & Gas Well In Armstrong County; Some Say Industry Should Cleanup Its Own Mess 

-- Erie Times-News Guest Essay: Oil And Gas Brine Does Not Belong On Erie County Roads - By David E. Hess, former Secretary of DEP  [PDF of article]

-- TribLive Guest Essay: Oil, Gas Well Brine Contains Hazardous Pollutants, So Why Are We Still Dumping It On Our Roads? -  By David E. Hess, former Secretary of DEP  [PDF of Article]

-- Warren Times Observer Guest Essay: We’re Still Dumping Pollutants On Our Roads [Conventional Oil & Gas Contaminated Water - Brine] - By David E. Hess, former Secretary of DEP [PDF of Article]

-- PA Weekly Oil & Gas Compliance Snapshot - October 17 to 23  [PaEN]  

-- DEP: Routine Inspections Find 16 Anderson Energy SVC LLC Conventional Wells Abandoned, Not Plugged In Forest County  [PaEN] 

-- DEP: Follow-Up Inspections Of 4 Michael Harju Conventional Wells Found They Continue To Be Abandoned, Not Plugged Going Back To 2020 In Westmoreland County  [PaEN] 

-- DEP: Equitrans LP [EQT] Conventional Well Plugging Results In Multiple Spills, Inadvertent Returns, Failure To Comply With Permits In Greene County  [PaEN] 

-- DEP: EQT Production Site Prep For Well Plugging Leads To Significant Well Pad, Access Road Erosion Violations In Fayette County  [PaEN] 

-- DEP: Bialy Gas Production Intent To Plug Abandoned Conventional Well Leads To Discovery Of Severely Corroded Contaminated Water Tanks With Holes, Leaking Fluids In Beaver County  [PaEN] 

-- DEP - Day 119: Contaminated Water Discharges Continue, Failure To Comply With Cleanup Order At Equitrans Water SVC [EQT] Richter Impoundment In Greene County  [PaEN]

-- DEP: Routine Inspections Find 3 Keystone Crude LLC Abandoned, Unplugged Conventional Gas Wells In Allegheny County  [PaEN] 

-- DEP: Contaminated Water Tank Failed Causing Release At Diversified Production LLC Conventional Oil & Gas Well Site In Warren County  [PaEN] 

-- DEP: Contaminated Water Release Discovered At Deer Run Oil & Gas LLC Conventional Oil & Gas Well Site In Crawford County  [PaEN]

-- DEP - Day 645: First Amer Energy Inc. Failed To Comply With Order To Restore 3 Conventional Oil & Gas Well Sites In Warren County  [PaEN]

-- DEP Investigating Oct. 4  Seismic Event In Westmoreland County To Determine If There Is A Relationship To Local Shale Gas Operations  [PaEN] 

-- Physicians For Social Responsibility PA, Protect PT Issue New Citizens Guide On Tracking Contaminated Radioactive Water, Waste From Oil & Gas Development  [PaEN] 

-- Environmental Health Project, Food & Water Watch, Partners Host Nov. 10 Webinar On Shale Gas Fracking, Data Centers And Your Health  [PaEN] 

-- TribLive: Salem Twp., Westmoreland County Officials To Shale Gas Well Opponents: No Local Authority Over Drilling Without Local Zoning 

-- PUC PaOneCall Damage Prevention Committee Announces $151,550 In Penalties Against 96 Companies For Violating Underground Utility Notification Regulations

-- PUC Accepting Nominations For PaOneCall Damage Prevention Committee

-- PA Oil & Gas Industrial Facilities: Permit Notices, Opportunities To Comment - October 24 [PaEN] 

-- DEP Posted 53 Pages Of Permit-Related Notices In October 24 PA Bulletin  [PaEN]

-- Spotlight PA: Lawmakers Send Shapiro Bill To Close Meeting Notice Loophole In Sunshine Law

-- PUC Launches Working Group To Review Electric, Natural Gas, Water & Wastewater Utility Ratemaking, Address Affordability, Transparency And Changing Economic Conditions  [PaEN]

-- Joint State Government Commission Issues Update On Report Looking At The Costs, Benefits And Risks Of Pennsylvania Participating In The PJM Interconnection; Hearings To Be Held  [PaEN]

-- PUC Chairman Steve DeFrank Elected President Of The Organization Of PJM States

-- DEP Announces $14.4 Million Investment Of Federal Funds to Strengthen PA’s Electric Grid, Improve Electric Grid Reliability

-- PA House Sends Clean Energy, PA EDGE Tax Credits, New Fee For Electric Ratepayer Rebates Legislation Back To Senate For Action; Does NOT Repeal Data Center Tax Exemption  [PaEN] 

-- ABC27: Bills That Could Ease High Electric Rates Trapped In PA Senate Legislative Limbo

-- Spotlight PA: PA Legislature Set To Wrap Up Its Session, Many Bipartisan Bills Left Stranded [Data Centers, Allowing Sexual Abuse Survivors To Sue, Rewriting Illegal 2nd Degree Murder Law, No Gift Ban]

-- City & State PA Guest Essay: A.I. Data Centers Can Power Up Employment In PA - If Done Right [Supports HB 1834 Giving Authority To PUC To Regulate Data Centers] - By Robert S. Blair, Union Energy PA

-- Sen. Yaw To Introduce A.I. Data Center Impact Fee Modeled On Act 13 Shale Gas Impact Fee To Help Address Local Impacts  [PaEN]  [Heads-Up]

-- In Case You Missed It: A.I./Data Center Articles - NewClips From Last Week - October 26  [PaEN] 

-- Pittsburgh Business Journal: Washington & Jefferson College Survey Finds 64% Of Adults In PA Want More Regulation Of Data Centers; 59% See No Or Little Benefit Of Data Centers; 47.5% Oppose Data Centers 

-- AP: Facing Pushback On A.I. Data Centers, Tech Giants Are Promising Hosts More Money, Fewer Secrets [PA Included]

-- Inside Climate News: With A Trifecta, PA Democrats Would Pass Energy Reforms And Rein In A.I. Data Centers; But Gov. Josh Shapiro May Be ‘The Limiting Factor’ 

-- WHYY - Susan Phillips: How A.I. Data Center Battles In Philadelphia Suburbs Could Impact Party Control Of The PA General Assembly

-- Inside Climate News: A.I.Data Centers Are ‘Front And Center’ In PA’s Competitive Congressional Elections

-- PA Capital-Star: Voter Backlash Against A.I. Data Centers Consumes Midterm Elections

-- Scranton Times Chris Kelly Opinion: ‘Yellow Wave’ [Data Center Opposition] Points Way To Midterm Election Wrath

-- Post-Gazette - Anya Litvak: Electric Bills In The Pittsburgh Region Will Rise Again This Winter

-- KDKA: Electric Rates To Rise This Winter In PA As Power Demand Outpaces Supply Due To A.I. Data Center Demand, Experts Say

-- Tribune-Democrat: Governor Wants In On Rate Case Against PPL To Change Utility’s Approach To A.I. Data Center Service

-- PUC Approves 3.94% Increase In National Fuel Gas Rates; One-Time $30 Credit For Low Income Customers; Enhanced Energy Efficiency Pilot; Extended Temporary Weather Normalization Charge

-- Williamsport Sun: Lycoming County Area Continues To Feel Sting Of Rising Fuel Costs

-- Williamsport Sun: High Fuel Prices Prompted Rate Increase At Lycoming County Landfill

-- PA Petroleum Distributors Assn.: Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Extends Hours Of Driver Service Waivers Until Dec. 16 Due To ‘Current Global Supply Chain Disruptions’

-- USDA Announces $8 Billion Harvest Fuel Relief Program To Help Pay For Increased Fuel Costs  [Warning]

-- National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition: Harvest Fuel Relief Program Offers Little Hope For A Brighter Future For Farmers

-- Erie Times-News: PA Republican Con. Mike Kelly Says End To War With Iran Will Reduce Fuel, Grocery Prices 

-- Grist: President Vowed To Stop An ‘Energy Emergency,’ Then He Created A Real One  

-- Financial Times: US Executives Quit Alaska LNG Natural Gas Project Favored By President’s Administration, Family Over Claims Of Secret Russian Control  [Warning]

-- DEP Joins Competitive Power Ventures, Local Officials To Open 114 MW Wind Energy Facility On Reclaimed Strip Mine In Cambria, Clearfield Counties 

-- TribLive: New Kensington Animal Rescue To Have Solar Panels Installed To Curb Costly Energy Bills; The Public Can ‘Adopt’ 1 With Donation In Westmoreland County 

-- Penn State Extension Hosts In-Person Workshops On Navigating Utility-Scale Solar Energy Siting, Zoning And Community Impact In Forest, Lehigh, McKean, Northampton, Warren Counties  [PaEN] 

-- DEP Clean Energy Opportunity Spotlight: Oct. 29 Webinar On Worker Training Opportunities Thru Penn Heat Pump Pathways Program

-- Regenall Climate Summit Set For Nov. 14 In Lancaster County  [PaEN] 

-- TribLive: US Steel Advances Hot Strip Steel Mill Project Despite Pollution Concerns Of Residents, Environmental Groups  [Warning]

-- TribLive: Mon Valley Gets Morning Bad Air Alert From Allegheny County Health Dept. [DEP too] 

-- Inside Climate News: After A Decade Of Efforts To Regulate Methane From Oil & Gas Industry, The President’s Administration Promises New Rules, Has Rolled Back Or Blocked Previous Attempts  [Warning] 

-- New York Times: How The President Gave The Worst Polluters A Free Pass [Warning]

-- Observer-Reporter: City Of Washington To Begin Stream Cleanup To Prevent Flooding In Coming Weeks

-- Inquirer: A Dam Is Removed, But The Brandywine Creek’s Battle Against Flooding May Never End 

-- Wilkes-Barre Times Leader: Flood Wall Exercise Planned In Brookside Wilkes-Barre Thursday

-- WNEP: First Responders Conduct Flood Levee Drill In Wilkes-Barre 

-- Politico: Federal Emergency Management Agency Tells States To Handle Disasters On Their Own Without Federal Help  [Warning]

-- Penn State Extension Offers Master Watershed Steward Training Thru County Programs  [PaEN] 

-- Call For Presentations: Keystone Coldwater Conference Feb. 26-27 - Defending & Restoring Coldwater Habitat In A Changing Pennsylvania Landscape  [PaEN] 

-- Registration Open! Delaware Estuary Science & Environmental Summit Feb. 23-24 At University Of Delaware; Presentation Proposals Due Oct. 30  [PaEN]  

-- Penn State Extension Hosts 2 In-Person Volunteer Riparian Buffer Plantings In Lancaster County Nov. 3, 14  [PaEN] 

-- Penn State Extension Hosts Nov. 21 In-Person Backyard Stream Repair Day In York County  [PaEN]  

-- Penn State Oct. 26 EarthTalks Features American Rivers’ Adam Schellhammer On Centering Rivers For Healthier Communities, Watersheds, 4:00 p.m.

-- Penn State Extension Watershed Winds: Perfect Time To Plant Trees; Storm Drains Raise Water Pollution Awareness; Online Learning Opportunities 

-- The News-Item: Mount Carmel Twp. Seeks Further Action On Locust Gap Coal Mine Fire In Northumberland County

-- WTAE: Residents In Beaver County Mobile Home Park Water System Problems Have Continued For Months 

-- Warren Times: Tidioute Still Seeking Answers On Water Treatment Issues, Warren County Authority Explores Funding

-- PennVEST Invests $190.3 Million Across 19 Counties To Support Local Drinking Water, Clean Water And Water Infrastructure Projects  [PaEN]

-- WESA - Rachel McDevitt: Recent Rain Tested ALCOSAN’s Clean Water Upgrades To Prevent Sewage Overflows In Pittsburgh Region 

-- TribLive: ALCOSAN Breaks Ground On $1 Billion Ohio River Tunnel To Prevent Discharges Of Untreated Sewage Overflows During Storms 

-- Altoona Mirror: PA House Committee Holds Hearing In Cambria County On Proposed Changes To DEP Biosolids Permits To Prevent PFAS ‘Forever Chemical’ Contamination

-- Tribune-Democrat: Chemicals Posing Health Risks Banned From IV Bags (DEHP), Firefighting Foam (PFAS) With Exceptions  

-- The Allegheny Front: PA Restricts Use Of PFAS ‘Forever Chemicals’ In Firefighting Foam, Protective Equipment [With Some Exceptions]

-- WNEP: Monroe County Tackles Styrofoam Waste With New Recycling Machine

-- DEP To Host Nov. 19 Update Meeting On Bishop Tube Hazardous Site Cleanup In East Whiteland Twp., Chester County  [PaEN] 

-- WHYY: How Will EPA Excavate 68,000 Cubic Yards Of Toxic Material From Contaminated Franklin Slag Pile Site In Philly Port Richmond Area? 

-- Manada Conservancy Partners With Doyle Family To Protect 127 Acres Within The Kittatinny Ridge In Dauphin County; Nov. 12 Program On Regenerative Agriculture  [PaEN]

-- Lancaster Conservancy Adding Over 20 Acres To Climbers Run Nature Center  [PaEN]

-- WHYY: 50 Large-Scale Outdoor Sculptures By Steve Tobin Installed At Tyler Arboretum In Delaware County 

-- Register Now! PA Forestry Association Annual Forest Symposium Nov. 7 In State College  [PaEN] 

-- Sponsors/Exhibitors: Penn State Extension Forest Landowners Conference March 4-6 In State College  [PaEN] 

-- Penn State Extension To Host 9-Part Woods In Your Backyard - Why Are They Important Webinar Series  [PaEN] 

-- Altoona Mirror: Wild Ones Group Restoring Natural Species To Floodplain, Creating Community Food Forest For Insects/Wildlife With Help Of Giant Company/Keep PA Beautiful Grant

-- Tribune-Democrat: Vision Together, Western PA Conservancy Brings Tree Planting Initiative To Local Schools, Communities

-- Philly Tree Coalition Announces Second Round Of Funding For Microburst Storm Responsive Grant; Applicant Webinar Oct. 23  [PaEN] 

-- WHYY - Zoe Read: Mt. Cuba Center Touts The Benefits Of Native Goldenrods; They Don’t Trigger Allergies, Insects Love Them 

-- DCNR Fall Foliage Report Oct. 22-28: Now Is The Time To Enjoy Fall Foliage Across Pennsylvania  [PaEN]

-- DCNR Grants News: $81 Million In C2P2 Grants Announced; Register For Nov. 5 Grants Webinar; Strawberry Hills Soccer Complex 

-- Oct. 23 Take Five Fridays With Pam, PA Parks & Forests Foundation

-- DCNR To Hold Oct. 28 Meeting On Presque Isle State Park Complex Master Plan

-- Erie Times-News: Feedback Sought For Planning The Future Of Presque Isle, Erie Bluffs, Tom Ridge Environmental Center

-- Post-Gazette: Deadly Landslide On Great Allegheny Passage Trail Raises Safety, Economic Concerns In Fayette County

-- Post-Gazette: Near Future Uncertain For Ohiopyle State Park Section Of Allegheny Passage Trail After Fatal Landslide In Fayette County

-- Huntingdon Daily News: There’s A Cycle To Bicycle Trail Development

-- PA Environmental Council: Oct. 22 Webinar On Outdoor Recreation As A Pathway To Economic Vitality 

-- DCNR Names Ty Moon Assistance Manager At Bald Eagle State Park In Centre County

-- Morning Call: Continued Work On Jordan Creek Greenway Trail In South Whitehall Is Approved In Lehigh County

-- Game Commission Urges Drivers To Stay Alert As Deer Activity Peaks 

-- WITF: Fall Bird Migration In Pennsylvania: Where To Watch Birds And How To Protect Them

-- Republican Herald: From Roadside Rescue To Release: A Barred Owl’s Return To The Wild From Red Creek Wildlife Center

-- TribLive: New Western PA Audubon Society Marketing Director Shifts Role From Feeding Hungry To Quenching Thirst For Nature

Visit the PA Environment Digest website to learn more.

REAL Leadership:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

-- 6,365 Stories In 2025 - 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: October 25, 2026]   PA Environment Digest