This section lists House and Senate Committee meetings, DEP and other public hearings and meetings and other interesting environmental events.

NEW means new from last week. [Agenda Not Posted] means not posted within 2 weeks of the advisory committee meeting.  Go to the online Calendar webpage for updates.

February 8-- NEW. House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee holds an informational meeting on  House Bill 1536 (Petri-R-Bucks) imposes a 5.5 percent severance tax, eliminates the Act 13 drilling impact fee and distributes the revenue based on the provisions of Act 13.  Any additional revenue would be deposited in the General Fund (sponsor summary),  House Bill 82 (Harper-R-Montgomery) imposes a 3.5 percent severance tax and leaves in place the existing Act 13 drilling impact fee.  Revenue would fund public school employee pensions (sponsor summary). Room 140 Main Capitol. 11:00 a.m.  Click Here to watch live.

February 8-- NEW. House Appropriations Committee meets to consider House Bill 1436 (Godshall-R-Montgomery) providing for the computation of income tax expense for utility ratemaking purposes, House Bill 1712 (R.Brown-R-Monroe) establishing a Private Dam Financial Assurance Program.  Room 140 Main Capitol. Off the Floor.

February 9-- Gov. Wolf’s Second Budget Address. 11:30.  Click Here to watch live.  [Also Fastnacht Day, a.k.a. Fat Tuesday]

February 10-- NEW. House Local Government Committee meets to consider House Bill 1392 (Dush-R-Indiana) authorities water and sewer authorities to charge a security deposit on new customers (sponsor summary), House Bill 914 (Ross-R-Chester) removing the permit-exempt inspection fee cap in Sewage Facilities Act (sponsor summary), House Bill 1605 (James-R- Butler) establishing the Heritage Areas Program in law (sponsor summary). Room 205 Ryan Building. 10:00.

February 10-- CANCELED. Rescheduled to March 24.  DEP Water Resources Advisory Committee meeting.  Room 105 Rachel Carson Building. 9:30.  DEP Contact: Sean Gimbel, Office of Water Management, 400 Market Street, Harrisburg, PA 17101, 717-783-4693, sgimbel@pa.gov.  (formal notice)

February 10-- [Agenda Not Posted] DEP State Board for Certification of Water and Wastewater System Operators meeting. 10th Floor Conference Room, Rachel Carson Building. 10:00.  DEP Contact: Cheri Sansoni, Bureau of Safe Drinking Water, Operator Certification, 400 Market Street, Harrisburg, PA 17101, 717-772-5158, csansoni@pa.gov.

February 10-- Agenda Posted. Delaware River Basin Commission hearing on water withdrawal requests and other issues (below).  Washington Crossing Historic Park Visitor Center, 1112 River Road, Washington Crossing, PA.  1:30.  (formal notice & agenda)

-- Authorizing the Executive Director to enter into a contract with the lowest qualified bidder for the analysis of periphyton samples from the non-tidal Delaware River;

-- Authorizing the Executive Director to enter into an administrative agreement with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation for the review of water withdrawal and wastewater discharge projects in the New York portion of the Basin; and

-- Adopting the Water Resources Program 2016-2018

-- Click Here for available handouts.

February 10-- NEW. Penn State Extension Lead In Drinking Water Webinars. Noon to 1:00 and 7:00 to 8:00.

February 11-- Agenda Posted. DEP Air Quality Technical Advisory Committee meeting.  Room 105 Rachel Carson Building. 9:15.  DEP Contact: Nancy Herb, Bureau of Air Quality, 400 Market Street, Harrisburg, PA 17101, 717-783-9269, nherb@pa.gov.

-- Draft Final VOC Emissions Limits For Vehicle Assembly Coating Operations

-- Draft Final VOC Emissions For Metal Parts Coating

-- Draft Proposed Industrial Cleaning Solvents Limits

-- DEP Comments On EPA’s Cross-State Air Pollution Rule Update

-- Report On Rulemakings/State Implementation Plan Revisions

-- Proposed Strategy Setting Methane Limits On Oil & Gas Industry

-- Concepts for Proposed General Permit For Well Pads

-- Concepts for Proposed GP-5 Revisions

-- Click Here for available handouts

Febinary 11-- DCNR Community Conservation Partnership Grant Webinar.  10:00 a.m.

February 11-- NEW. Public Utility Commission Hosts PA Sustainable Energy Board meeting.  Hearing Room 4, Keystone Building, Harrisburg. 11:00.

February 12-- NEW. Landscapers, Contractors: Join Philadelphia Water’s Rain Check Team And Get Paid To Install Landscaping Tools And Rain Barrels To Help Management Stormwater.  PA Horticultural Society Board Room, 100 N. 20th Street 5th Floor in Philadelphia.  Click Here for details.

February 13-- NEW. Hawk Mountain Sanctuary Bird Feeder Frenzy. Berks County.

February 16-- CANCELED. Environmental Quality Board meeting. Room 105 Rachel Carson Building. 9:00.  DEP Contact: Laura Edinger, Environmental Quality Board, 400 Market Street, Harrisburg, PA 17101, 717-772-3277, edinger@pa.gov.

February 16-- CANCELED. DEP Citizens Advisory Council.  Room 105 Rachel Carson Building. 10:00.  DEP Contact: Katie Hetherington Cunfer, Citizens Advisory Council, P. O. Box 8459, Harrisburg, PA 17105-8459, 717-705-2693, khethering@pa.gov.

February 16-- NEW. DEP Hearing On Proposed Windfall Oil and Gas injection disposal well in Brady Township, Clearfield County.  Hiller Auditorium, Penn State DuBois, College Place, DuBois.  6:00.  DEP Contact: John Poister, DEP's Southwestern Regional Office, 412-442-4203 or send email to: jpoister@pa.gov.

February 17-- NEW. Agenda Posted. DEP Small Business Compliance Advisory Committee meeting.  12th Floor Conference Room, Rachel Carson Building. 10:00. DEP Contact: Nancy Herb, Bureau of Air Quality, 400 Market Street, Harrisburg, PA 17101, 717-783-9269, nherb@pa.gov.

-- Regular Updates: Small Business Ombudsman, Environmental Management Assistance Program

-- Draft Regulation Repealing Gasoline Volatility Limit In Pittsburgh Region

-- Proposed Total Coliform Regulation Update

-- EPA Clean Power Plan Overview

-- Federal Ozone Standard Update

-- Click Here for available handouts.

February 18-- Updated. DEP Aggregate Advisory Board meeting. Room 105, Rachel Carson Building. 9:00- Regulatory, Legislative and Technical Committee; 10:00- Board meeting.  DEP Contact: Daniel Snowden, Bureau of Mining Programs, 400 Market Street, Harrisburg, PA 17101, 717-787-5103, dsnowden@pa.gov.  (formal notice)

-- Proposals To Increase Permit-Related Fees

-- Click Here for available handouts.

February 19-- Computer Recycling, Asset Management Conference. Greensburg.

February 22-- Senate Appropriations Committee Budget Hearings: 10:00- Governor’s Budget Office; 1:00- Independent Fiscal Office-Economic Outlook & Revenue Overview. Hearing Room 1, North Office Building.

February 23-- NEW. DEP Mining and Reclamation Advisory Board meeting & Regulation, Legislation and Technical Committee meeting.  2nd Floor Training Room, Rachel Carson Building. 9:00- Committee. 10:00- Board. DEP Contact: Daniel Snowden, Bureau of Mining Programs, 400 Market Street, Harrisburg, PA 17101, 717-787-5103, dsnowden@pa.gov.

-- Proposals To Increase Permit-Related Fees

-- Click Here for available handouts.

February 23-- DEP Small Water Systems Technical Assistance Center Board meeting.  Room 105 Rachel Carson Building. 9:00.  DEP Contact: Dawn Hissner, Bureau of Safe Drinking Water, 400 Market Street, Harrisburg, PA 17101, 717-772-2189, dhissner@pa.gov.  (formal notice)

February 24-- Senate Appropriations Committee Budget Hearings: 10:00- Dept. of Conservation & Natural Resources. Hearing Room 1, North Office Building.

February 24-- House Appropriations Committee Budget Hearing: 1:00- Public Utility Commission; 3:00- PUC Consumer Advocate and Small Business Advocate. Room 140 Main Capitol.

February 24-- DEP Cleanup Standards Scientific Advisory Board meeting.  Room 105 Rachel Carson Building. 10:00.  DEP Contact: Mike Maddigan, Bureau of Environmental Cleanup and Brownfields, 400 Market Street, Harrisburg, PA 17101, 717-772-3609, mmaddigan@pa.gov.

February 25-- DEP Agricultural Advisory Board meeting.  DEP Southcentral Regional Office, 909 Elmerton Ave., Harrisburg. 9:00.  DEP Contact: Tom Juengst, Division of Planning and Conservation, 717-772-5646, tjuengst@pa.gov.

February 25-- Senate Appropriations Committee Budget Hearings: 10:00- Dept. of Environmental Protection. Hearing Room 1, North Office Building.

February 25-26-- Stroud Water Research Center, Southern Chester Conservancy Wild & Scenic Film Festival. West Chester.

February 26-27— Registration Open.  2016 Keystone Coldwater Conference. State College.

February 27-- Get Outdoors Poconos: Zimmer Wildlife Sanctuary Hike, Monroe County.

February 29-- House Appropriations Committee Budget Hearing: 2:00- Dept. of Conservation & Natural Resources. Room 140 Main Capitol.

February 29-- Lunch And Learn With Grey Towers Heritage Association. Pike County.

March 1-- Senate Appropriations Committee Budget Hearings: 3:00- Dept. of Agriculture. Hearing Room 1, North Office Building.

March 1-- NEW. House Appropriations Committee Budget Hearing: 9:30- Dept. of Environmental Protection. Room 140 Main Capitol.

March 3-- Public Utility Commission En Banc Hearing On Alternative Utility Ratemaking Methods.  Hearing Room 1, Keystone Building. 9:00.

March 8-- Change. House Appropriations Committee Budget Hearing: 9:30- Dept. of Environmental Protection. Room 140 Main Capitol.

March 8-- DEP Climate Change Advisory Committee meeting. 10th Floor Conference Room, Rachel Carson Building, Harrisburg. 10:00.  DEP Contact: Mark Brojakowski, Bureau of Air Quality, 400 Market Street, Harrisburg, PA 17101, 717-772-3429, mbrojakows@pa.gov.

March 8-- DEP Storage Tank Advisory Committee meeting. DEP Southcentral Regional Office, 909 Elmerton Ave., Harrisburg. 10:00.  DEP Contact: Charles M. Swokel, Bureau of Environmental Cleanup and Brownfields, 400 Market Street, Harrisburg, PA 17101, 717-772-5806 or (800) 428-2657 ((800) 42-TANKS) within the Commonwealth, cswokel@pa.gov.

March 8-- DEP Board of Coal Mine Safety meeting.  DEP Cambria Office, 286 Industrial Park Rd., Ebensburg.  10:00.  DEP Contact: Allison Gaida, Bureau of Mine Safety, Department of Environmental Protection, New Stanton Office, 131 Broadview Road, New Stanton, PA 15672, 724-404-3147, agaida@pa.gov.

March 9-- House Appropriations Committee Budget Hearing: 1:30- Dept. of Agriculture. Room 140 Main Capitol.

March 10-- House Appropriations Committee Budget Hearing: 9:30- Budget Secretary. Room 140 Main Capitol.

March 10-- Location Added. Susquehanna River Basin Commission business meeting. University Center, Rooms 130/131, 1201 Technology Drive, Aberdeen, MD.  Contact Jason Oyler, SRBC General Counsel, 717-238-0423, Ext. 1312, fax 717-238-2436.  (formal notice)

March 10-- Bowman’s Hill Wildflower Preserve Land Ethics Symposium. Delaware Valley University, Doylestown.

March 12-- Registration Open. 2016 Schuylkill River Watershed Congress. Montgomery County Community College Pottstown Campus.

March 13-16-- Registration Open. PA Recreation & Park Society Annual Conference.  Seven Springs, Somerset County.

March 14-16-- PA Association of Environmental Educators Annual Conference. The Inn at Pocono Manor, Pocono Manor, Monroe County.

March 15-- CANCELED. Environmental Quality Board meeting. Room 105 Rachel Carson Building. 9:00.  DEP Contact: Laura Edinger, Environmental Quality Board, 400 Market Street, Harrisburg, PA 17101, 717-772-3277, edinger@pa.gov.

March 15-- NEW. DEP Citizens Advisory Council.  Room 105 Rachel Carson Building. 10:00.  DEP Contact: Katie Hetherington Cunfer, Citizens Advisory Council, P. O. Box 8459, Harrisburg, PA 17105-8459, 717-705-2693, khethering@pa.gov.

March 16-- NEW. House Tourism and Recreational Development and Senate Community, Economic and Recreational Development Committees hold a joint hearing on PA’s tourism budget, Heritage Areas and tourism marketing.  Hearing Room 1, North Office Building. 9:00.

March 16-- State Board for Certification of Sewage Enforcement Officers meeting.  Conference Room 11B, Rachel Carson Building. 10:00.  DEP Contact: Kristen Szwajkowski, Bureau of Point Non-Point Source Management, 400 Market Street, Harrisburg, PA 17101, 717-772-2186, kszwajkows@pa.gov.

March 16-- Agenda Posted. Delaware River Basin Commission meeting on water withdrawal requests and other issues (below).  Washington Crossing Historic Park Visitor Center, 1112 River Road, Washington Crossing, PA.  10:30.  (formal notice & agenda)

-- Authorizing the Executive Director to enter into a contract with the lowest qualified bidder for the analysis of periphyton samples from the non-tidal Delaware River;

-- Authorizing the Executive Director to enter into an administrative agreement with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation for the review of water withdrawal and wastewater discharge projects in the New York portion of the Basin; and

-- Adopting the Water Resources Program 2016-2018.

-- Click Here for available handouts.

March 16-- Project WET Educator Workshop. Pocono Manor.

March 17-- NEW. Appalachian Audubon Society: Go Native presentation by Kim Patten, Wilderness Greenhouse & Native Plant Nursery. Christ Presbyterian Church, 421 Deerfield Road, Camp Hill, Cumberland County. 7:00 p.m.

March 22-- DEP Sewage Advisory Committee meeting.  Room 105  Rachel Carson Building. 10:30.  DEP Contact: John Diehl, Bureau of Point and Non-Point Source Management, 400 Market Street, Harrisburg, PA 17101, 717-783-2941, jdiehl@pa.gov.

March 22-- DEP Laboratory Accreditation Advisory Committee meeting. Room 206, DEP Bureau of Laboratories Building, 2575 Interstate Dr., Harrisburg. 9:00.  DEP Contact: Aaren Alger, Bureau of Laboratories, 2575 Interstate Drive, Harrisburg, PA 17110, 717-346-7200, aaalger@pa.gov.

March 22-- Lunch And Learn With Grey Towers Heritage Association. Pike County.

March 24-- DEP Water Resources Advisory Committee meeting.  Room 105 Rachel Carson Building. 9:30.  DEP Contact: Sean Gimbel, Office of Water Management, 400 Market Street, Harrisburg, PA 17101, 717-783-4693, sgimbel@pa.gov.  (formal notice)

March 25-- NEW. Hawk Mountain Sanctuary Kestrel Webcam Educators Workshop.  Berks County.

March 30-- NEW. DEP Conventional Oil and Gas Advisory Committee meeting. Room 105 Rachel Carson Building. 10:00.  DEP Contact: Kurt Klapkowski, Office of Oil and Gas Management, 400 Market Street, Harrisburg, PA 17101, 717-772-2199, kklapkowsk@pa.gov.

March 31-- NEW. DEP Oil and Gas Technical Advisory Board meeting. Room 105 Rachel Carson Building. 10:00.  DEP Contact: Kurt Klapkowski, Office of Oil and Gas Management, 400 Market Street, Harrisburg, PA 17101, 717-772-2199, kklapkowsk@pa.gov. 

March 30-- Project WET Educator Workshop. Brandywine Red Clay Alliance, West Chester.

March 31-April 1-- Green Building Alliance Green Schools Conference & Expo.  Pittsburgh.

April 7-- DEP Radiation Protection Advisory Committee meeting.  14th Floor Conference Room, Rachel Carson Building. 9:00.  DEP Contact: Joseph Melnic, Bureau of Radiation Protection, 400 Market Street, Harrisburg, PA 17101, 717-783-9730, jmelnic@pa.gov.

April 12-- NEW. DEP State Board for Certification of Water and Wastewater Plant Operators meeting.  10th Floor conference Room, Rachel Carson Building. 10:00.  DEP Contact: Cheri Sansoni, Bureau of Safe Drinking Water, Operator Certification, 400 Market Street, Harrisburg, PA 17101, 717-772-5158, csansoni@pa.gov.

April 13-- DEP Technical Advisory Committee On Diesel-Powered Equipment meeting. DEP New Stanton Office, 131 Broadview Rd., New Stanton. 10:00.  Contact: Allison Gaida, agaida@pa.gov.

April 14-- DEP Air Quality Technical Advisory Committee meeting.  Room 105 Rachel Carson Building. 9:15. Contact: Nancy Herb, nherb@pa.gov.

April 14-15-- West Branch Susquehanna Restoration Symposium.  Toftrees Resort and Conference Center, State College.

April 18-- Lunch And Learn With Grey Towers Heritage Association. Pike County.

April 19-- DEP Mine Families First Response & Communications Advisory Council meeting.  DEP New Stanton Office, 131 Broadview Rd., New Stanton. 10:00.  DEP Contact: Allison Gaida, Bureau of Mine Safety, Department of Environmental Protection, New Stanton Office, 131 Broadview Road, New Stanton, PA 15672, 724-404-3147, agaida@pa.gov.

April 23-- NEW. Grey Towers Heritage Association 8K Run/Walk. Pike County.

April 27-- NEW. Agenda Posted. DEP Small Business Compliance Advisory Committee meeting.  12th Floor Conference Room, Rachel Carson Building. 10:00. DEP Contact: Nancy Herb, Bureau of Air Quality, 400 Market Street, Harrisburg, PA 17101, 717-783-9269, nherb@pa.gov.

May 4-- PA Groundwater Symposium.   Ramada Inn Conference Center, State College.

May 11-13-- PA Association of Environmental Professionals Annual Conference.  State College.

May 13-15-- PA Outdoor Writers Association Spring Conference. Sayre, Bradford County.  Conference details are coming together.  Contact Nick Sisley by email to: nicksisley@hotmail.com with any questions.

June 3-5-- PA Environmental Council Environment Ride.  Philadelphia to Bethlehem back to Philadelphia.

September 22-- DEP Recycling Fund Advisory Committee meeting. Room 105 Rachel Carson Building. 10:00.  DEP Contact: Keith Ashley, Bureau of Waste Management, 400 Market Street, Harrisburg, PA 17101, 717-787-2553, riashley@pa.gov.

September 22-- Penn State Extension Dive Deeper III Water Educator Summit. The Central Hotel & Conference Center, Harrisburg.

October 7-- DEP Low-Level Radioactive Waste Advisory Committee meeting. Room 105 Rachel Carson Building. 10:00.  DEP Contact: Rich Janati, Bureau of Radiation Protection, 400 Market Street, Harrisburg, PA 17101, 717-787-2147, rjanati@pa.gov.

October 26-28-- NEW. Pennsylvania Brownfields Conference. Lancaster Convention Center, Lancaster.

Visit DEP’s Public Participation Center for public participation opportunities.  Click Here to sign up for DEP News a biweekly newsletter from the Department.

Sign Up For DEP’s eNotice: Did you know DEP can send you email notices of permit applications submitted in your community?  Notice of new technical guidance documents and regulations?  All through its eNotice system.  Click Here to sign up.

DEP Regulations In Process

Proposed Regulations Open For Comment - DEP webpage

Submit Comments on Proposals Through DEP’s new Environmental Comment System

Proposed Regulations With Closed Comment Periods - DEP webpage

Recently Finalized Regulations - DEP webpage

DEP Regulatory Update - DEP webpage

DEP Technical Guidance In Process

Draft Technical Guidance Documents - DEP webpage

Technical Guidance Comment Deadlines - DEP webpage

Submit Comments on Proposals Through DEP’s new Environmental Comment System

Recently Closed Comment Periods For Technical Guidance - DEP webpage

Technical Guidance Recently Finalized - DEP webpage

Copies of Final Technical Guidance - DEP webpage

Other DEP Proposals For Public Review

Other Proposals Open For Public Comment - DEP webpage

Submit Comments on Proposals Through DEP’s new Environmental Comment System

Recently Closed Comment Periods For Other Proposals - DEP webpage

Other Proposals Recently Finalized - DEP webpage

DEP Facebook Page     DEP Twitter Feed         DEP YouTube Channel

Click Here for links to DEP’s Advisory Committee webpages.

DEP Calendar of Events        DCNR Calendar of Events

Note: The Environmental Education Workshop Calendar is no longer available from the PA Center for Environmental Education because funding for the Center was eliminated in the FY 2011-12 state budget.  The PCEE website was also shutdown, but some content was moved to the PA Association of Environmental Educators' website.

Senate Committee Schedule                House Committee Schedule

You can watch the Senate Floor Session and House Floor Session live online.

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2/8/2016