Here are 105 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.

PA Environment Digest Puts Links To The Best Environment & Energy Articles and NewsClips From Last Week Here By Topic--

On Friday, February 2, Sen. Gene Yaw (R-Lycoming), Majority Chair of the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, introduced Senate Bill 1058 to abrogate the final regulation reducing carbon pollution from power plants [RGGI].

DEP’s Climate Change Advisory Committee is schedule to meet February 20 to hear presentations on the 2024 Climate Impacts Assessment, PA Greenhouse Gas Inventory and an update on the PA Climate Action Plan.

On February 22, the Ohio River Valley Institute will host a webinar to announce a new Roadmap for Industrial Decarbonization in Pennsylvania starting at 3:00 p.m.

On February 16, the Department of Environmental Protection said an analysis of a year of sampling by DEP and its independent contractor found no evidence of water or soil contamination related to the Norfolk Southern train derailment in Ohio in Pennsylvania’s private water wells, surface water, and soil.

On February 12, environmental groups announced the US Environmental Protection Agency formally objected to an air quality permit for the US Steel Edgar Thomson Plant issued by the Allegheny County Health Department in August 2023 saying it was not in compliance with the Clean Air Act.

So far, the Shell Petrochemical Plant in Beaver County is scheduled to receive a total of $130.9 million in tax subsidies from the PA Resource Manufacturing Tax Credit, according to the Governor’s FY 2024-25 Budget proposal. [page D-6]

From February 10 to 16, DEP’s Oil and Gas Compliance Database shows oil and gas inspectors filed 702 inspection entries.

The following notices were published in the February 17 PA Bulletin related to oil and gas industry facilities.  Many of the notices offer the opportunity for public comments.

On January 29, 2024, the Department of Environmental Protection notified PennEnergy Resources, LLC it had approved their request for a 1.5 million gallon per day water withdrawal and a permit to construct a water intake and temporary aboveground water pipeline from the Big Sewickley Creek in Economy Borough, Beaver County.

On February 14, 2024, Marcellus Drilling News reported National Fuel Gas Company, parent to Seneca Resources drilling and NFG Midstream pipeline companies, is suing a former employee and several vendors for buying and installing counterfeit parts at several compressor stations.”

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the February 17 PA Bulletin inviting comments on a major amendment to the Chapter 102 permit for the Mariner East II Natural Gas Liquids Pipeline in West Goshen Township, Chester County.  (PA Bulletin, page 850)

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the February 17 PA Bulletin inviting comments on a proposed change to an existing Title V Air Quality Permit for the Eastern Gas Transmission & Storage, Inc. Punxsutawney Compressor Station in Perry Township, Jefferson County.  (PA Bulletin, page 795)

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the February 17 PA Bulletin inviting comments on a Chapter 105 permit covering a MarkWest Liberty Midstream & Resources, LLC project to expose natural gas pipelines to prevent damage from longwall coal mining.  (PA Bulletin, page 811)

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the February 17 PA Bulletin inviting comments on a proposed Air Quality State Implementation Plan amendment incorporating RACT III requirements for the PEI Power Corp natural gas-fired power plant located in Archbald Borough, Lackawanna County.  (PA Bulletin, page 851)

The Susquehanna River Basin Commission is scheduled to hold a March 14 business meeting to consider a variety to issues, including eight shale gas development requests, a general permit for cooperative fish nurseries.  (formal notice)

The Public Utility Commission published notice in the February 17 PA Bulletin seeking public comments concerning events that resulted in the over-pressurization of the Peoples Natural Gas distribution system serving the community of Robinson, Indiana County, that caused a wide range of damage to utility and customer equipment.

The Public Utility Commission published notice in the February 17 PA Bulletin seeking public comments on a petition by the Williams Companies, Inc. to declare that two planned 11 MW solar energy facilities not directly connected to a distribution system qualify to generate Solar Alternative Energy Credits under the Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards.

On February 12, Natural Gas Intelligence issued a special report saying US LNG natural gas export facility capacity will increase by 76% once facilities now under construction not affected by the Biden Administration’s new LNG facility permit freeze are completed.

On February 14, 2024, Jonathan Wilkinson, Canada Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, shared comments with Bloomberg TV on use of natural gas as a transition fuel and the Biden Administration's pause on new permits for LNG natural gas export facilities.

On February 13, the Ohio River Basin Alliance and the National Wildlife Federation released a new report-- Community Priorities for Ohio River Basin Restoration and Protection -- identifying community-driven restoration priorities to address pollution, clean water concerns in 14-state Ohio River Watershed.

The Villanova Urban Stormwater Partnership (VUSP) is pleased to announce that the biennial Pennsylvania Stormwater Management Symposium will be held Oct. 16 and 17 on the campus of Villanova University.

On February 15, the U.S. Department of Energy announced over $17 million funding for three projects that will support the design and construction of facilities that produce rare earth elements and other critical minerals and materials from coal-based resources.

The Department of Environmental Protection invites comments on the proposed Core5 Warner Road Warehouse Project in Pocono Township, Monroe County at a March 4 public hearing.

The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service is now accepting applications for Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production Grants.  The deadline to apply is April 9.

On February 15, Pennsylvania American Water announced it is now accepting applications for the American Water Charitable Foundation 2024 Water and Environment Grant Program for projects within its service territory.  The deadline for applications is March 15.

The Public Utility Commission published notice in the February 17 PA Bulletin inviting public comments on proposed, enhanced public notification and application review procedures for the acquisition of municipal or authority-owned water and wastewater systems.

On February 12, the Commonwealth Financing Authority announced it will begin accepting applications for the Public School Facility Improvement Grant Program for heating, air conditioning upgrades and other improvements March 1.

On February 14, Coalition for Community Solar Access thanked the House Consumer Protection, Technology & Utilities Committee for hosting an informational hearing about community solar legislation.

Small-scale solar in Pennsylvania produced 2.3 times more energy in 2022 than it did 5 years prior according to Rooftop Solar on the Rise, a new report released by PennEnvironment Research & Policy Center on February 13.

By Katie Bohn, Penn State News

The Pennsylvania Solar Center will host a February 23 webinar on Solar Energy for Municipalities and Water Authorities starting at Noon.

The Southwest PA Municipal Project Hub is a new regional initiative supporting local government and nonprofit leaders across Southwestern PA to access historic federal funds.

On February 14, 2024, over one hundred businesses, religious organizations, community leaders, public health, elected officials, and environmental advocates from across Pennsylvania signed a letter addressed to Governor Shapiro expressing their concern that his Ten-Year Strategic Plan for Economic Development in Pennsylvania, titled “Pennsylvania Gets It Done,” fails to prioritize sustainable industries and instead doubles down on fossil fuels.  

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the February 17 PA Bulletin inviting comments on a proposed Air Quality Plan Approval for the Encina Fort Union LLC chemical plastics recycling facility proposed to be located in Point Township, Northumberland County. (PA Bulletin, page 794)

The Department of Environmental Protection is inviting applications for Section 902 Act 101 Local Recycling Program Implementation Grants.  The deadline to apply is May 10.  (formal notice)

On February 15, the Department of Agriculture invested $5.8 million to protect 1,519 acres on 22 farms in 11 counties from future development ensuring that Pennsylvania farmers will have prime farmland to feed our families and economy in the future.

 WeConservePA is now accepting applications from land trusts for grants for resource management planning for forest land in conservation easements in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed.  The deadline to apply is May 31.

On February 14, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn announced that $444,364 has been awarded to 12 projects aimed at protecting Pennsylvania’s native biodiversity through the Wild Resource Conservation Program.

On February 16, the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources announced it will hold a February 29 public information meeting to unveil the initial conceptual ecological restoration and site improvement considerations for Susquehanna Riverlands State Park in York County.

The February 16 Take Five Fridays With Pam is now available from the PA Parks and Forests Foundation featuring articles on--

Penn State University is seeking nominations and candidates for the next dean of the College of Agricultural Sciences that works to fulfill Penn State’s land-grant mission through its integration of teaching, research and extension.

Opportunities to learn more about environmental and energy issues affecting Pennsylvania for students and adults--

The February issue of DCNR State Parks Environmental Education newsletter features experiences like--

Wangda Zuo, Rahman Azari and Jiazhen Ling will give the talk, “The Economic Impacts of Carbon Emission Trading Scheme on Building Retrofits,” at 4 p.m. on February 19, in 112 Walker Building on the Penn State University Park campus.

The latest Penn State Extension Energy Essentials newsletter includes articles on unraveling the hydrogen rainbow; renewable energy options on the farm, carbon markets and climate-smart forestry and much more!

Penn State Extension will host a March 14 webinar on Oil and Gas Wastewater Management and Project PARETO from Noon to 1:00 p.m.

The information you need to follow legislation in the House and Senate- starting with articles and NewsClips from last week--

Articles and NewsClips about federal actions impacting Pennsylvania--

Click Here for a list of public participation opportunities and a calendar of events.

Click Here for grants, awards, recognition programs and contest deadlines.

Highlights of the environmental and energy notices in the February 17 PA Bulletin--

Send your stories, photos and links to videos about your project, environmental issues or programs for publication in the PA Environment Digest to: PaEnviroDigest@gmail.com.

PA Environment Digest is a supporting member of the PA Organization for Watersheds & Rivers, PA Outdoor Writers Association, PA Council Trout Unlimited and the Doc Fritchey Chapter Trout Unlimited.