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Weekly PA Environment Digest Newsletter
November 21, 2022 Issue #957
(11/21/2022)
* 72 New Stories - REAL Environmental & Conservation Leadership In PA

Here are 72 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.

* This Week’s Examples Of Going The WRONG WAY On Environmental, Energy Issues

While PA Environment Digest’s priority is to highlight positive examples of environmental and energy leadership, 2022 is an election year which demands accountability to voters.

* All Articles & NewsClips In This Week’s Digest By Topic

PA Environment Digest Is Putting The Best Links To Environment & Energy Articles and NewsClips Here.   Are You Telling Your Story?

* UPDATED: After 14 Days, Efforts To Stop A Natural Gas Leak At A Cambria County Underground Gas Storage Area Have Apparently Been Successful

UPDATED: On November 20 at 4:48 p.m., the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported Equitrans Sunday stopped a natural gas leak at the Rager Mountain Gas Storage Area in Jackson Township, Cambria County that had been going on for 14 days.

* Center For Coalfield Justice Holds First Water Distribution Day Nov. 19 To Help Provide Families Drinking Water In Greene County Following Alleged ‘Frack-Out’ At Natural Gas Well Site In June

The Center for Coalfield Justice will distribute over 3,000 cases of water on November 19 at the New Freeport Fire Company in Greene County to help families who haven’t had clean drinking water since June following an alleged ‘frack-out’ at an EQT shale gas drill pad.

* Washington County Family Lawsuit Alleges Shale Gas Company Violated The Terms Of Their Lease By Endangering Their Health, Contaminating Their Water Supply And Not Protecting Their Land

On October 28, the owner of a Washington County farm-- Bryan Latkanich and his three children Ryan, Hunter and Colton-- filed a lawsuit against Chevron and EQT shale gas companies alleging they violated the terms of their drilling lease by endangering their health, contaminating their water supply and not protecting their land.

* DEP Assesses $200,000 In Penalties For Drilling Wastewater Spills By CNX In Greene County

On November 17, the Department of Environmental Protection announced CNX Gas Company LLC has paid two civil penalty assessments totaling $200,000 for violations at well sites in Richhill Township, Greene County. 

* Beaver County Residents, Allies Launch New Shell Ethane Plant Accountability Campaign With Nov. 21 Webinar

The Beaver County Marcellus Awareness Community and Earthworks will host a November 21 online kickoff to launch a new BCMAC/Eyes On Shell Accountability Project starting at 7:00 p.m.

* DEP Invites Comments On Proposed Cryptocurrency Data Mining Operation On Shale Gas Well Pad In Elk County

The Department of Environmental Protection invites comments on an Air Quality permit for a proposed cryptocurrency data mining operation on the Diversified Production LLC Longhorn Shale Gas Well Pad C in Jay Township, Elk County. (PA Bulletin, page 7164)   Read more here.

* DEP Invites Comments On Texas Eastern Pipeline Replacement Projects Affecting Cambria, Fayette, Huntingdon, Indiana, Lebanon Counties

The Department of Environmental Protection invites comments on its proposal to issue a Section 401 Water Quality Certification and associated Chapter 102 and Chapter 105 permits for the Texas Eastern Transmission LP A2MII, Armagh and Entriken Pipeline Replacement Projects impacting Cambria, Fayette, Huntingdon, Indiana and  Lebanon counties.  (Nov. 19 PA Bulletin, page 7200)

* Pennsylvania Oil & Gas Weekly Compliance Dashboard - Nov. 12 To 18

To give the public a better understanding of the compliance record of oil and gas industrial facilities in Pennsylvania, PA Environment Digest developed this feature summarizing the more serious violations DEP reports through its Compliance Reporting Database on a weekly basis -- Saturday through Friday.

* PA Oil & Gas Industrial Facilities: Permit Notices/Opportunities To Comment

The following DEP notices were published in the November 19 PA Bulletin related to oil and gas industry facilities.  Many of the notices offer the opportunity for public comments.

* Shale Gas & Public Health Conference: We've Got Enough Compelling Evidence To Enact Health Protective Policies For Families Now

By Edward C. Ketyer, M.D., President, Physicians for Social Responsibility Pennsylvania

* Shale Gas & Public Health Conference: When It Started, It Was Kind Of Nice, But What Happened Afterwards Really Kind Of Devastated Our Community

By Rev. Wesley Silva, former Council President Marianna Borough, Washington County

* Shale Gas & Public Health Conference: Living Near Oil & Gas Facilities Means Higher Health Risks, The Closer You Live, The Higher The Risk

By Nicole Deziel PhD MHS, Associate Professor of Epidemiology at the Yale School of Public Health

* Shale Gas & Public Health Conference: Economically, Socially Deprived Areas In PA Have A Much Greater Chance Of Having Oil & Gas Waste Disposed In Their Communities

By Joan Casey, PhD, Assistant Professor of Environmental Health Sciences, Columbia Mailman School of Public Health

* IRRC Approves Final VOC/Methane Emission Limits On Conventional Oil & Gas Wells - Federal Highway Funds Still At Risk; And First State MCL For PFOS/PFOA

On November 17, the Independent Regulatory Review Commission approved a final-omitted rulemaking setting VOC/methane emission limits on conventional oil and gas wells by a vote of 4 to 1 and unanimously approved the state’s first MCL covering PFOS/PFOA.

* Young Evangelicals For Climate Action Celebrates Stronger Proposed EPA Oil & Gas Methane Standard

On November 16, the York County-based Young Evangelicals For Climate Action released this statement from YECA National Organizer and Spokesperson Tori Goebel commenting on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's proposed methane emissions limits on oil and gas facilities--

* Environmental Health Project Calls Proposed EPA Oil & Gas Methane Emissions Rule Good First Step

The Environmental Health Project Executive Director Alison L. Steele, released this statement on the oil and gas methane emissions reduction rule proposed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency--

* U.S. Dept. Of Justice Indicts Erie Coke (Coal) And Corporate Officer For Violating Federal Clean Air Act Over 4 Years

On November 17, Erie Coke Corporation, along with a corporate officer, were indicted by a federal grand jury in Erie on among other charges, Violation of the Clean Air Act, United States Attorney Cindy K. Chung announced today.

* EPA To Host Dec. 1 Virtual Community Meeting For Allentown Residents On Health Risks From Ethylene Oxide

On November 18, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced it will host a December 1 virtual community meeting for residents of Allentown to share information about health risks from the chemical, ethylene oxide or EtO.

* DEP To Hold Virtual Public Conference Dec. 7 On Expansion Of Tunnel Ridge, LLC Underground Coal Mine In Washington County

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the November 19 PA Bulletin of a December 7 virtual public conference starting at 6:00 p.m. on two proposed modifications to the Tunnel Ridge, LLC underground coal mining acreage in Donegal, West and East Finely Townships, Washington County.  (PA Bulletin, page 7204)

* PUC Alerts Consumers Utility Natural Gas Costs Will Be Going Up By As Much As 128%, Electric Costs Will Be Going Up By As Much As 34%; Both Driven By Cost Of Natural Gas On World Markets

On November 15, the Public Utility Commission alerted natural gas and electric utility customers that natural gas costs will be going up by as much as 128 percent and electric costs by as much as 34 percent on or about December 1.

* DEP Provides Notice Of Using Coal Ash As Fill For Solar Energy Facility At Scrubgrass Generating Company, Venango County

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the November 19 PA Bulletin it has received a request from Scrubgrass Generating Company to place coal ash on the site as structural fill to provide support for the installation of solar energy panels in Scrubgrass Township, Venango County.  (PA Bulletin, page 7205)

* DCNR Discusses Carbon Capture, Utilization, Storage Efforts, Announces $6 Million Investment In New Carbon Capture Research Facility

On November 15, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn outlined plans for a forthcoming $6 million carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) research and storage facility to house the department’s collection of subsurface core samples and drill cuttings from all over Pennsylvania.

* PA Environmental Council, Environmental Defense Fund Express Concerns About Legislation Requiring DEP To Apply For Injection Well Primary For Carbon Dioxide Storage

On November 14, the PA Environmental Council and Environmental Defense Fund expressed concerns about Senate Bill 1361 (Yaw-R-Lycoming) that would direct DEP to apply to EPA for primacy in regulating Class VI injection wells related to carbon dioxide storage using only EPA injection well standards within 90 days of passing the bill.

* Celebrating The Seneca Nation’s Efforts To Strengthen The Next Generation Of Freshwater Stewards

By Tara Muenz, Stroud Water Research Center

* 10th Annual Delaware River Watershed Forum Unites Conservation Organizations, Advocates In Philadelphia

The Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed, staffed by New Jersey Audubon and executed in partnership with National Wildlife Federation, held its 10th Annual Delaware River Watershed Forum in Philadelphia on November 3-4.

* Susquehanna River Basin Commission Meets Dec. 15 On Water Withdrawal Requests, Including 3 Oil & Gas, Three Mile Island Withdrawal Renewals

The Susquehanna River Basin Commission is scheduled to hold its next business meeting on December 15 to consider water withdrawal requests.  (formal notice)

* Lower Susquehanna Source Water Protection Partnership Meets Dec. 9

The Lower Susquehanna Source Water Protection Partnership is scheduled to meet on December 9  in-person and virtual formats.

* PA Resources Council Collects 383,175 Pounds Of Household Chemicals In 20th Season

The Pennsylvania Resources Council recently concluded its 20th season of hosting household chemical collections in Western Pennsylvania which enabled 3,900 households to properly dispose of 383,175 pounds of household chemicals, including pesticides, household cleaners, pool chemicals, aerosol cans and other products.

* Keep PA Beautiful Marks America Recycles Day Nov. 15 With Cigarette Litter Recycling, Composting Program

On November 14, Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful reminded Pennsylvanians America Recycles Day, a program of Keep America Beautiful, is held on and around November 15 to educate and encourage individuals to be more mindful of what they consume, where and how to properly recycle and to pledge to recycle more and recycle right in their everyday lives. 

* Master Watershed Stewards Help Purge Plastics On The Lower Susquehanna River

By Jodi Sulpizio, Master Watershed Steward, York County

* Judicial Update: The Law Of ‘Constitutional Standing’ Taking Shape in Pennsylvania

By Paul Bruder, Jr., Mette, Evans & Woodside

* Nov. 18 Take Five Fridays With Pam From PA Parks & Forests Foundation

The November 18 Take Five Fridays With Pam is now available from the PA Parks & Forests Foundation--

* Environment & Energy Educational Opportunities For Students & Adults

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

* Penn State Extension Hosts Nov. 29 Webinar On The Roadside Guide To Clean Water - Recognizing Efforts To Keep Your Community’s Water Clean

On November 29, Penn State Extension will host a webinar The Roadside Guide To Clean Water -  Recognizing Efforts To Keep Your Community’s Water Clean from Noon to 1:00 p.m.

* Native Meadow Will Benefit Environment In New Caln Township Meadow Park In Chester County

By Meagan Hopkins-Doerr, Master Watershed Steward Coordinator, Chester & Delaware Counties

* Penn State Extension Report On Private Water Supply Education & Water Testing In 2022

By Danielle Rhea, Penn State Extension Educator

* Pittsburgh's Group Against Smog & Pollution Hosts Dec. 14 Webinar: Making The Connection - What The Donora Smog Disaster Can Teach Us 74 Years Later

The Pittsburgh-based Group Against Smog and Pollution will host a December 14 webinar on Making the Connection - What the Donora Smog Disaster Can Teach Use 74 Years Later starting at 6:30 p.m.

* Penn State Hosting Dec. 10 Educators Workshop On Pennsylvania KidWind Challenge In State College

The Pennsylvania KidWind Challenge is an annual event that takes place on March 29, 2023 and is co-hosted by the Penn State Center for Science and the Schools in the College of Education and the Department of Aerospace Engineering.

* News From PA House & Senate

Both the Senate and House have adjourned for the year, barring an emergency.  All committees and legislation will dissolve when this two-year legislative session ends on November 30.

* The Feds

Articles and NewsClips about federal actions impacting Pennsylvania--

* Public Participation Opportunities/Calendar Of Events

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

* Grants & Awards

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

* PA Bulletin Public Notices - Regulations

This section highlights actions related to regulations and PA Bulletin notices.

* Stories Invited - About PA Environment Digest

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.

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

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.

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