Sunday, August 30, 2026

August 24+31 - Weekly PA Environment Digest Now Available

“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]


Click Here To View Or Print The Entire August 24+31 PA Environment Digest



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


112 New Stories - REAL Environmental & Conservation Leadership In PA


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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’


PUC Urges Federal Energy Regulatory Commission To Modernize Evaluation of Regional Electricity Transmission Projects


DEP Invites Comments On Stormwater Permit For PPL Electric Harwood To Harleigh Substation Transmission Line Project In Luzerne County


DEP Invites Comments On Stormwater Permit For PPL Utilities New Breinigsville -Tek Park 138-69 kV Transmission Line Project In Lehigh County To Serve A Data Center Project


DEP Invites Comments On Chapter 105 Permit For PECO Energy Double 230 kV Transmission Line Crossing Of Schuylkill River In Montgomery County To Serve Data Center Projects


PJM Interconnection Announces New 5-Year Strategy Outline Focusing On Grid Reliability, More Transparency On Energy Costs


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


DEP Invites Comments On Air Permit For Montour CT Natural Gas Power Plant Expansion In Montour County To Feed Data Centers


Washington & Jefferson College Hosts New Horizons - Infrastructure, Energy And Data In The Coming Decade Conference Oct. 20


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


DEP Invites Comments On Chapter 105 Permit For Expand Operating LLC Double, 16-Inch Shale Gas Water Pipelines In Fox Twp., Sullivan County


PA Oil & Gas Industrial Facilities: Permit Notices, Opportunities To Comment - August 22


DEP Invites Comments On Chapter 105 Permit For Repsol Oil & Gas USA 16-Inch Shale Gas Water Pipeline In Tioga County


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


DEP Invites Comments On Chapter 102 Permit For Unknown CNX Gas Company Project In Salem Twp., Westmoreland County


PA Oil & Gas Industrial Facilities: Permit Notices, Opportunities To Comment - August 29


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


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


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


DEP: Diversified Production LLC Contaminated Water Pipeline Release Pollutes Farm Field In Indiana County


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


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


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


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


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


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


Susquehanna River Basin Commission Approved 35 Shale Gas Well Pad Water Use General Permits In July; 223 In 2026


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


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


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


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


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


York County Community Foundation Awards Grant To Launch York County's First Sustainability Coordinator


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


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


DEP Finalizes Spill/Release Notification Guidance Under Clean Streams Law


Lancaster Clean Water Partners Host Watershed Leadership Training For Lancaster's Next Clean Water Leaders


DEP Invites Comments On Total Maximum Daily Load Plan For Baken Creek Watershed, Perry County


DEP Now Accepting Applications For Lake Erie, Delaware Estuary Coastal Zone Grants Thru Oct. 19


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


DEP Sets Sept. 15 Hearing On Blythe Recycling & Demolition [BRADS] Landfill Permit Modification Related To Leachate Hauling At Its Facility In Schuylkill County


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


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


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


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


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


Delaware Highlands Conservancy Names Trey Talley New Executive Director


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


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


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


Environment & Energy Educational Opportunities For Students & Adults


DCNR State Parks Environmental Education News Back To School Edition!


News From PA House & Senate


The Feds - New Administration


Public Participation Opportunities/Calendar Of Events


Grants & Awards


PA Bulletin Public Notices - August 22


PA Bulletin Public Notices - August 29


Stories Invited - About PA Environment Digest


Supporting Member PA Outdoor Writers Assn.; PA Trout Unlimited; PA Organization For Watersheds & Rivers


Diversity - Equity - Inclusion (DEI)


-- David Hess

Former Secretary, PA Department of Environmental Protection


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Questions? Email: PaEnviroDigest@gmail.com

[Posted: August 31, 2026]  PA Environment Digest

Sunday PA Environment & Energy Articles - NewsClips: 8.30.26

“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]


House Voting Schedule

September 9, 28, 29, 30

October 5, 6, 7, 19, 20, 21

November 9, 10

-- Committee Schedule


Senate Voting Schedule

​​September 28, 29, 30

October 5, 6, 7, 19, 20, 21

November 17, 18

-- Committee Schedule


TODAY’s Calendar Of Events 


September 1-- Agenda Posted. DEP Citizens Advisory Council meeting. Room 105 Rachel Carson. 12:30 p.m.   Contact: Ian Irvin, Executive Director, by sending email to: iirvin@pa.gov or call 717-579-0329. [Governor’s Office Data Center Briefing]  Read more here on the agenda.


September 1-- House Consumer Protection, Technology and Utilities Committee informational meeting on cyber security and regulated utilities. Room 515 Irvis Building. 9:30 a.m.   Click Here to watch online.


September 2-- Agenda Posted. DEP Storage Tank Advisory Committee meeting. Room 105 Rachel Carson. 10:00 a.m.


September 2-- Delaware River Basin Commission in-person business meeting. Washington Crossing Historic Park Visitor Center, 1112 River Road, Washington Crossing, PA starting at 11:00 a.m. (formal notice) Read more here.


September 2-- In-Person. Delaware River Basin Commission Our Founding Waters Celebration Community River Festival, Washington Crossing Historic Park Visitor Center, Bucks County, 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.


September 2-- Virtual. Penn State Extension Hosts Webinar On Proper Native Tree Planting For Long-Term Success, Noon to 1:30 p.m.


September 8-- CANCELED. Environmental Quality Board meeting. Next scheduled meeting is October 13.  Contact: Laura Griffin, Regulatory Coordinator, laurgriffi@pa.gov,  (717) 772-3277.  (formal notice)


September 9-- Agenda Posted. DEP Water Resources Advisory Committee meeting. Room 105 Rachel Carson. 9:30 a.m.


September 9-10-- In-Person. PUC: 2026 Pipeline, Electric & Cybersecurity Safety Conference In State College


September 16-- Agenda Posted. DEP Oil & Gas Technical Advisory Board meeting. 10:00 a.m. Contact: Todd M. Wallace twallace@pa.gov(formal notice)  


September 16-- Agenda Posted. Susquehanna River Basin Commission regular business meeting. Holiday Inn Express Bloomsburg, 14 Mitchell Drive, Bloomsburg. 9:00 a.m.  (formal notice)



-- 112 New Stories - REAL Environmental & Conservation Leadership In PA  [PaEN]


-- 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]


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


-- Top 10 Stories: Harrisburg/PA Politics Reported By Local News Media Last Week  [PaEN]


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


-- 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]


-- 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


-- 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]


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


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


-- DCNR Calendar Of Events - Search For Educational, Recreational Activities In State Parks Near You


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


 A.I. /Data Centers


-- 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


-- Republican Herald: Amazon Replies To Kline Twp., Schuylkill County About A.I. Data Center Concerns In 28-page Letter [Available For Public Review In Hard Copy At Township Office] 


-- Scranton Times Chris Kelly Opinion: The ‘Nerd Reich’ And Its Collaborators Are Determined To Crater Our Valley To Build The A.I. Bomb - Pay Attention Or Pay The Consequences 


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


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


-- PennLive Guest Essay: The Question Is No Longer Whether Students Will Use A.I. But What Kind Of Artificial Intelligence We Want Students To Use - By Dr. Zilong Pan, Lehigh University’s College Of Education


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


Train Derailments


-- 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 


International/National Impacts On PA Natural Gas

[Energy Independence Means Renewables]


-- August 30: PA Average AAA Gasoline Price Same As Yesterday To $4.21/Gallon [Up 6 Cents This Week]  - $1.10/Gallon Higher Than On Feb. 27 [Warren County Average Price Again Highest at $4.39]

-- August 30: Average AAA Gasoline Prices: National- $4.07  Ohio- $3.86  PA- $4.21

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


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[Posted: August 30, 2026]  PA Environment Digest