Environment & Outdoors
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Hazard vs. Economy: Delaware River LNG Terminal Back in Play
Exporting Pennsylvania’s fracked gas could mean a new $7 billion liquified gas facility along the Delaware River, affecting Chester and Eddystone, writes Nina Sablan for Inside Climate News. Chester already feels the effects of industrial sites along the river. Air pollution is blamed for high rates of deadly illnesses in Chester and surrounding communities. Researchers…
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PECO Green Region Grant Fuels Accessible Family Fun in Lower Makefield
Lower Makefield Township in Bucks County, a two-time winner of PECO Green Region grants, used its most recent award to improve accessibility at Five Mile Woods Preserve, including the installation of more than 700 linear feet of accessible boardwalk and new ADA-compliant parking. These upgrades addressed long-standing barriers for individuals with mobility challenges, many of…
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How PECO Green Region Grants Help Sustain Wissahickon Valley Park
For two decades, the PECO Green Region Open Space program, powered in partnership with Natural Lands, has helped transform the region’s parks, trails, and public green spaces. That impact is seen vividly through organizations like Friends of the Wissahickon, the nonprofit steward of Philadelphia’s treasured Wissahickon Valley Park. Since 2007, Friends of the Wissahickon has received multiple PECO Green…
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No, There Are No Alligators Living in the Schuylkill, Despite TikTok Claims
Claims on TikTok about alligators living in the Schuylkill are not true, writes Michelle Myers for The Philadelphia Inquirer. On a video showing a man waist-deep in the river, a commenter claimed to have conducted “deep research into the Schuylkill,” finding references to human waste, dead bodies and alligators. Viewers largely ignored the first two…
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Chemical in Use at Trainer Refinery, Elsewhere Triggers EPA Lawsuit
The Clean Air Council, Communities for a Better Environment, and the Natural Resources Defense Council are suing the EPA to ban or more strictly regulate the use of hydrogen fluoride in refineries, including at the Trainer oil refinery, writes Sophia Schmidt for WHYY. Hydrogen fluoride is used in about 40 refineries across the country, including…
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Peak Spotted Lanternfly Season Hits Philadelphia Area: Time to Step Up Your Stomping Game
Spotted lanternfly season has returned to the Philadelphia region, making it the perfect time to step up your stomping game and stay alert for spotted lanternfly egg masses to destroy, write Mike D’Onofrio and Chrissy Suttles for AXIOS. The Asia-native, polka-dotted bugs were first spotted in Pennsylvania in 2014 in Berks County and have since…
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Native Bats Are Helping Curb the Spotted Lanternfly Population
Researchers have found that some native bat species are preying on spotted lanternflies, the invasive insects that arrived in Pennsylvania in 2014 and have since caused millions of dollars in damage to trees and crops, writes Jim Melwert for KYW Newsradio. Erin McHale, a PhD candidate at Rutgers, analyzed uncontaminated bat guano from bats that…
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Get Your Stomping Shoes On: Spotted Lanternfly Season Is Here
Spotted lanternfly season is here once again, and while the last few seasons have seen fewer of them, it remains important to stay vigilant and continue stomping them out, writes Susan Phillips for WHYY. When it first arrived in Pennsylvania from Asia in 2014, scientists were worried that the invasive pest would not have any…
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Philadelphia-Based Coast Guard Unit, Various Partners Working to Safeguard Delaware River
The Coast Guard unit based in Philadelphia is working with multiple partners to keep the Delaware River safe and secure, particularly to support the flow of commerce, writes Susanna Granieri for the Delaware Currents. That is no small task, given that the river hosts the largest freshwater port in the world — a vital hub…
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Closing of Local Landfill to Cause Falls Township to Face Budget Gap of $22 Million
Falls Township will need to make significant changes in the coming years to fix its finances as the local landfill, its largest revenue stream, closes, writes Jo Ciavaglia for the Bucks County Courier Times. To compensate for the $18 million the township receives annually from the decades-old landfill, it might have to implement higher property…
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Celebrating World Green Roof Day: A Look at PECO’s Iconic Green Roof in Center City
Atop PECO’s headquarters in Center City lies an unexpected oasis that’s helping to shape a greener future for our region. Spanning more than 45,000 square feet, the PECO Green Roof is one of the largest of its kind on an existing building in Pennsylvania — and it’s doing more than just beautifying the skyline. It’s…
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Delaware River Salt Intrusion Jeopardizes Regional Water Supply
The Delaware River Basin provides drinking water for around 14.2 million people, but that is now at risk due to the rising threat of saltwater intrusion in the Delaware River, writes for the Delaware Currents. Currently, the location of the salt front is normal for this time of year, but the issue comes from the…
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Results of Brandywine Flood Study Propose New Flood Damage Solutions
The Brandywine Conservancy has released the new Brandywine Flood Study to address flooding risks across Chester County, writes Rich Schwartzman for Chadds Ford Live. The Brandywine Conservancy began the study in 2023 along with the Chester County Water Resource Authority and the University of Delaware Water Resource Center. The study commenced nearly two years after…
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Hatboro Joins 17 Other Montco Towns with State Bird Town Designation
Hatboro is the latest Montgomery County town to receive the Bird Town Pennsylvania designation, joining 17 other communities in the county and 77 across the state, writes Dino Ciliberti for the Patch. Bird Town Pennsylvania partners with local municipalities and like-minded organizations to promote a healthier, more sustainable environment for birds, wildlife, and people through…
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Spotted Lanternfly Season Returns, Watch for Egg Masses to Destroy
Spring has arrived, bringing spotted lanternfly season, which will once again threatens plant and fruit gardens, along with trees and farms across the state, writes Damon C. Williams for the Bucks County Courier Times. Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture has issued another spotted lanternfly quarantine alert for several counties, including Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, and Philadelphia.…
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Lansdale Receives Huge Grant to Stabilize Neshaminy Creek
Lansdale is set to enhance the Neshaminy Creek streambank, thanks to a $32,400 state grant, writes Justin Heinze for the Patch. The Commonwealth Financing Authority’s Greenways, Trails, & Recreation Program awarded the grant to stabilize the streambank. The aim is to control runoff and introduce native vegetation to create a riparian buffer. These improvements will…
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Rain Won’t Be Enough to Temper Pennsylvania’s Salt Lines
As Pennsylvania’s salt lines move, the Philadelphia Water Department assures residents that saltwater in the drinking water is unlikely, reports Anthony R. Wood for the Philadelphia Inquirer. However, a dry spell over the past three months has pushed the Delaware River’s salt line—the border where freshwater meets saltwater—farther north than usual. As of Monday, the…
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Waste Management’s New $40M Philadelphia Plant Boosts Recycling Efficiency for City, Surrounding Region
Waste Management’s new 57,860-square-foot Philadelphia Recycling Facility will be able to handle all of the city’s and part of surrounding suburban counties’ recycling needs, writes Frank Kummer for The Philadelphia Inquirer. The modern plant relies on optical sorters that are powered by artificial intelligence. These help separate waste into appropriate categories. Both the automation addition…
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