PA Environment Digest Blog: 104 New Stories

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— The Allegheny Front: Pine Creek Rail Trail Named PA’s Trail Of The Year

— Post-Gazette Editorial: Rename The Highland Park Bridge For The Seneca Nation Whose Destruction Made Modern Pittsburgh Possible

— PA Shale Gas & Public Health Conference: Supervisor Cindy Fisher – How Cecil Township Adopted 2,500 Foot Setbacks From Shale Gas Well Pads With Extensive Public Involvement Facing Threats And Intimidation  [PaEN]

— Sen. Santarsiero Introduces Bill To Define Obligations Of Pipeline Owners, Anyone Discharging Hazardous Substances To Clean Up Spills, Releases  [PaEN] 

— Penn State Mining Engineering Professor Barbara Arnold Elected To National Academy Of Engineering

— Senate DEP Budget Hearing: Kudos To DEP For Improving Permit Review Times; A.I. Data Centers; Due Process For ICE Warehouse Detention Centers; How Energy Storage Can Add Capacity To The Grid; Chesapeake Bay Cleanup  [PaEN]

— DEP Budget Testimony: Our Mission Is To Protect Our Air, Land And Water, It Takes Capacity And Resources, And This Budget Proposal Supports That Mission [PaEN] 

— PA Capital-Star: State Senators Grill PA DEP Head On Efforts To Speed New Power Plant Permitting; Energy Affordability Key Concern Of Secretary

— PA Shale Gas & Public Health Conference: Dr. Lauren Minsky – People’s Cancer Incidence Screening Tool Reports Cancer Rates In Washington County Up To 16 Times Higher Than PA Averages  [PaEN] 

— Ohio Senate Committee Hearing I: Penn State Professor Testifies In Support Of A Ban On The Disposal Of Conventional Oil & Gas Wastewater By Road Dumping  [PaEN] 

— Ohio Senate Committee Hearing II: Studies By Ohio State Agencies Document Environmental, Health Hazards Of Disposing Of Oil & Gas Wastewater By Road Dumping [PaEN]

— Ohio Senate Committee Hearing III: Ohio Farmers Union Supports Ban On Disposal Of Oil & Gas Wastewater By Road Dumping To Protect Soil, Livestock, Farm Products From Contamination  [PaEN] 

— DEP: S R Star O&G LLC Violates Order To Plug 11 Abandoned Conventional Oil & Gas Wells In Butler County  [PaEN] 

— DEP Accepting Bids On Plugging 11 Abandoned Conventional Oil & Gas Wells In Howe Twp., Forest County

— The Derrick: Aqua Pennsylvania Boil Water Advisory Now Lifted For Venango Water Company Customers In Reno, Venango County [Water System Impacted By 2023 Conventional Oil Well Wastewater Spill]  [PaEN] 

— PUC Damage Prevention Committee Issues $163,550 In Penalties To 120 Companies For Violation PA1Call Law

— Independent Fiscal Office Reports 2025 PA Natural Gas Production Up 5.1% Over 2024; Average Natural Gas Prices Up 70.9% From 2024  [PaEN] 

— TribLive – Jack Troy: 71% Natural Gas Price Increase In PA Could Mean Higher Utility Bills 

— Reuters: Hundreds Of Crude Oil, LNG Gas Ships Drop Anchor In Middle East Due To US/Israeli Strikes On Iran Showing Supply Line Vulnerabilities [Again] 

— Bloomberg: Iran Strikes Threaten Worst Natural Gas Market Disruption Since Russian Invasion Of Ukraine 

— The Economist: War In Iran Could Cause The Biggest Oil Price Shock In Years  [PDF of Article]

— PennLive Guest Essay: Steelton Natural Gas Pipe Factory To Benefit Entire Commonwealth – By Jim Snell, Steamfitters Local Union 420

— Erie Times: Natural Gas Pipeline Company Wood Group USA Removes $18.9 Million In Liens On Erie County Property Owners In Dispute

— TribLive Guest Essay: 10 Years Of US LNG Gas Exports – Why Pennsylvania Matters More Than Ever – By Jim Welty, Marcellus Shale Gas Coalition  [To Keep Prices High] 

— The Guardian: North Dakota Judge Orders Greenpeace To Pay Energy Transfer/Sunoco $345 Million Over 2016 Protests Against Dakota Access Oil Pipeline; Group Says Case Is Far From Over  [Warning]

— DEP Publishes Corrected Notice Of Shell Petrochemical Plant Air Quality Plan Approval March 19 Meeting, April 7 Hearing In Beaver County  [PaEN]

— DEP Sets March 31 Hearing On Air Quality Permit For The BASF Corp Monaca Plant In Beaver County  [PaEN] 

— House Energy Committee Meets March 2 On A.I. Data Center Disclosure, Model Ordinance Bills; Sets Hearings On Net Metering; Virtual Power Plants; Geothermal Energy; Transmission Line Tech [PaEN]  

— Quinnipiac University Poll: 68% Of Pennsylvanians Oppose Building An A.I. Data Center In Their Community

— Scranton Times – Chris Kelly Opinion: It’s The Same Old Story For This Area– People Come In Promising Things And People Are Desperate Enough To Believe Them And It Becomes A Race To The Bottom; PA Is Designed To Be Exploited And Harrisburg Does Nothing  [A.I. Data Centers]  [PDF of Article]

— Scranton Times: NE PA Lawmakers Target A.I. Data Centers, Back Moratoriums [PDF of Article] 

— PennLive Guest Essay: An A.I. Data Center Isn’t Just Another Factory – It Is A City That Never Sleeps Drawing Power 24/7 Impacting Grid Operations, Imposing Costs– By Rod Williamson, Industrial Energy Consumers Of PA

— DEP Invites Comments On Chapter 105 Permit For CDE Acquisitions, LLC 412 Acre, 6 Building, 5 Million Square Foot A.I. Data Center Campus In South Whitehall Twp., Lehigh County  [PaEN] 

— TribLive: Springdale Says Benefit Agreement Discussions With A.I. Data Center Developer To Begin Soon 

— Observer-Reporter: Smithfield Town Hall Details NextEra 107.5 Mile Mid-Atlantic Resiliency Link Transmission Line Proposal In Fayette, Greene Counties   [PDF of Article]

— PJM Interconnection: PJM Stakeholders Begin Work On Board’s Plan To Reliably Integrate A.I. Data Centers, Large Loads Into Grid

— Wall Street Journal: A New Threat To Power Grids – Data Centers Dropping Off The Grid To Backup Power All At Once  [Dozens Of Centers Did That In Virginia Twice Forcing PJM To Take Emergency Action] [PDF of Articles]

— Utility Dive Guest Essay: Governors Are Promising Lower Power Bills, Here’s The Only Credible Path To Deliver – By Jigar Shah and Arnab Pal

— E&E News/Politico: Why The Cost For Powering A.I. Data Centers Will Keep Rising, Despite President’s Pledge

— In Case You Missed It: A.I./Data Center Articles – NewClips From Last Week – March 2  [PaEN] 

— Canary Media: Pittsburgh Region Form Energy To Power Google A.I. Data Center In Minnesota  [Why Don’t We Do This In PA?]

— Pittsburgh Business Times: Form Energy To Supply Batteries For World’s Largest Energy Storage Project

— Centre Daily Times: 162 MW, 908-Acre Solar Energy Facility Proposed On Abandoned Mine Land In Centre County

— Kleinman Center For Energy Policy: Heat Stress And Urban Resilience: Alternative Cooling Strategies To Combat Extreme Heat In The Urban Environment 

— Bloomberg: Renewable Energy Defies President’s Attacks, Reaching New Record In US

— PA Capital-Star: US Supreme Court Takes Up Climate Case Testing Local Lawsuits Against Oil Companies

— PA Capital-Star: Legislation Seeks To Reform Right-To-Know Requests In Pennsylvania During The Age Of A.I.

— Evangelical Environmental Network: Rollbacks On Mercury, Toxic Emissions Limits From Power Plants Threatens The Health And Lives Of Our Children [PaEN]  

— Inquirer Editorial: President’s Gutting Of Environmental Standards Endangers Americans’ Health And Finances

— WTAE: ‘A Race Against Time:’  Remembering Michele Wright’s Coverage Of 2002 Quecreek Mine Rescue In Somerset County

— TribLive: 2nd Lawsuit Filed By Family Of Westmoreland County Man Killed In US Steel/Nippon Clairton Coke [Coal] Works Explosion

— Post-Gazatte – Anya Litvak: US Steel/Nippon Gets Green Light From Allegheny County For Slag Recycling Project That Puts Emission Limits Where They Didn’t Exist Before

— The Center Square: Development Of New Railroad Safety Rules Gets Nod From PUC Using Lessons Learned From Norfolk Southern Train Derailment 

— Spotlight PA: Shapiro Vows To Block ICE Warehouse Detention Centers, Warns Of Devastating Impact On Local Communities 

— Tribune-Democrat: Shapiro Vows To ‘Use Every Tool’ To Thwart Planned ICE Warehouse Detention Centers In PA

— PennLive: State Officials Warn Federal ICE Detention Centers In Warehouses Could Overwhelm Sewer, Other Critical Services  

— Republican Herald: After Aqua Pennsylvania Water Emergency Ends, Shenandoah Officials Working To Prevent Further Problems

— TribLive: Most Pittsburgh Water Authority Customers Facing Rising Tide Of Higher Bills

— Morning Call: After All The Snow, Why Is The Lehigh Valley Still In A Drought?

— US Army Corps Pittsburgh District, Southwestern PA Commission Launch Chartiers Creek Flood Risk Study In Allegheny, Washington Counties  [PaEN]

— TribLive: Hempfield Seeks More Information On Easements For Northmont Flood Control Project In Westmoreland

— Bloomberg: How President’s FEMA Secretly Dismantled Program To Prepare Americans For Disasters  [Warning]

— Penn State Extension Hosts March 18 Webinar On Applying For PA Ag Innovation Grants  [PaEN] 

— Penn State Extension Hosts In-Person Stream Health Investigation Educator Workshops March 18 In Butler County, March 31 In Cumberland County [PaEN]

— Penn State Extension Hosts 5-Part Advanced Stream Repair Webinar Series Starting March 27   [PaEN]   

— Penn State Researchers Find Some Pesticides Can Slip Through Forested Stream Buffers, Other Natural Protections Into Streams [PaEN]  

— Lancaster Clean Water Partners Spring Partners Meeting April 14 Saint Joseph’s University

— Wellsboro Gazette: Tioga County Planning Commission Approves Plan For Morris Run/Tioga River Acid Mine Drainage Treatment Plant

— DEP Inviting Bids On Sandy Creek No. 1 Abandoned Mine Reclamation Project, Covington Twp., Clearfield County

— DEP Responding To Runoff Into Codorus Creek From J&K Salvage Fire In Spring Garden Twp., York County Feb. 25

— York Daily Record: What To Do If You Find Waterfowl Covered In Oil Along Codorus Creek After Huge J&K Junkyard Fire

— Altoona Mirror: DEP Looks To Cleanup PDB Contaminated Soil At Altoona Water Authority Westerly Sewer Treatment Plant As Part Of Monsanto $100 Million PCB Settlement  [PDF of Article]

— Williamsport Sun Editorial: Following Michigan’s Example In Reducing PFAS ‘Forever Chemical’ Exposure  [PDF of Article]

— Chesapeake Bay Journal: How To Reduce PFAS ‘Forever Chemicals’ In Your Drinking Water

— WITF: Gov. Shapiro, Pennsylvania Ag Officials Look To Curb Harshest Bird Flu Outbreak In Decades; 7.48 Million Birds Affected

— WESA: Gov. Shapiro Says PA Is ‘Epicenter’ Of Nationwide Bird Flu Outbreak

— Post-Gazette – Mary Ann Thomas: Deer Are Decimating Western PA Crops, Costing Millions; Washington County Farmers Are Fighting Back

— PennLive: President’s Tariffs Cost PA Residents $4 Billion Last Year, Report  [Warning] 

— PA Capital-Star: PA Small Businesses Cheer US Supreme Court Tariff Decision, But Still Face Uncertainty; Tariffs Cost Pennsylvanians $4 Billion

— Republican Herald Guest Essay: Tariffs Fostered The Anthracite Coal Industry, Now They Must Protect It – By William Rich, Reading Anthracite Company

— Wilkes-Barre Times-Leader Editorial: US Supreme Court’s Tariff Ruling Welcome, But It Doesn’t Undo The Damage Tariffs Did, Doesn’t Prevent Worse To Come 

— TribLive Editorial: US Supreme Court Tariff Ruling Spotlights Local Government Limbo

— DEP Now Accepting Applications For Section 902 Recycling Implementation Grants, Deadline May 22

— The Center Square: Proposed Elk County Trash Train To Landfill Worries Taxpayers

— WESA – Rachel McDevitt: Hazelwood Residents Urge Pittsburgh City Council To Create Buffer Between Homes, Waste Transfer/Recycling Center

— WESA – Rachel McDevitt: Pittsburgh City Council OKs Larger Buffer Between Homes, Waste Transfer/Recycling Facilities

— Triblive: Pittsburgh City Council Bans Waste Transfer Stations Within 500 Feet Of Homes, Schools, Parks

— Educators Invited To Southwest PA Environmental Literacy Coalition Online Meeting March 2 On Western PA Outdoor Learning & Environmental Education Summit Set For June 11  [PaEN]

— York Daily Record: From Petroglyphs To Paintings, The Susquehanna River’s Story Endures In Vast Art Collection

— Delaware Highlands Conservancy Partners With Landowners To Protect 165 Acres Of Forests, Meadows And Wetlands In Wayne County, PA  [PaEN] 

— WITF Podcast: Central PA Conservancy Land Swap Preserves Historic Scott Farm, Appalachian Trail Lands In Cumberland County 

— WHYY: Winter Blues Got You Down? Plant Native Blooms In Time For Spring With Philly’s Favorite Squid Scientist

— DCNR: Governor’s Advisory Council For Hunting, Fishing & Conservation Virtual Meeting March 2, 1:00 p.m.

— DCNR Invests $905,846 In Volunteer Fire Companies To Help Protect Rural Communities From Wildfires; PA Now Entering Peak Wildfire Season  [PaEN] 

— DCNR Grants News: New Funding Opportunities; New Publication-Financing Municipal Parks & Recreation In PA 

— DCNR State Parks Environmental Ed News: Begin The Transition From Hibernation To Spring Fever  [PaEN] 

— Feb. 27 Take Five Fridays With Pam, PA Parks & Forests Foundation Now Available

— WeConservePA: 2027 PA Greenways & Trails Summit To Be Held In Tioga County 

— Wilkes-Barre Times-Leader: Plans For New Park On Former Harry E. Colliery Coal Breaker Site Advance In Swoyersville

— Inquirer – Frank Kummer: Philly’s Trails Will Get Dedicated Work Crew For First Time

— Erie Times: Corry Junction Greenway Trail Project Back On Track In Corry 

— State Agencies Issue Do Not Eat Advisory For Fish From Briar Creek (Columbia County) And Middle Spring Creek (Cumberland, Franklin Counties)  [PaEN]

— LancasterOnline: Snow Geese Descent On Middle Creek Wildlife Area During Peak Migration

— York Daily Record: Becoming An Expert Bird-Watcher Could Benefit Your Brain, Study Finds

— TribLive: Bald Eagles Near US Steel/Nippon Plant Welcome First Egg Of Season

— AP: Shrinking North American Bird Population Is Getting Worse Faster; Experts Blame Intensive Agriculture, Climate Warming

— The Allegheny Front: Monarch Butterflies, Hellbender Salamanders Await Federal Endangered Species Protection

Visit the PA Environment Digest website to learn more.

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[Posted: March 1, 2026]   PA Environment Digest