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The Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s Pennsylvania Executive Director, Harry Campbell, issued the following statement Wednesday in response to proposed budget cuts to vital tax credit programs that benefit Pennsylvania farmers and clean water efforts throughout the Commonwealth.

The PA Growing Greener Coalition, the largest coalition of conservation, recreation and preservation organizations in the Commonwealth, Friday made its case for why environmental funding must be contained in any severance tax package passed by the legislature.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reported Thursday Pennsylvania exceeded its 2013 Chesapeake Bay cleanup milestone for phosphorus by 242,000 pounds, but fell short in meeting the nitrogen goal by 2 million pounds and sediment reduction milestone by nearly 116 million pounds.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Tuesday announced it has sent orders to 85 municipalities in northcentral and northeast Pennsylvania requiring improvements to their programs for managing stormwater.

The Pennsylvania Environmental Council Friday asked Sen. Joe Scarnati (R-Jefferson) and Rep. Martin Causer (R-Cameron) to respond to several significant concerns about Senate Bill 1378 and House Bill 2350 that would regulate conventional oil and gas wells differently than unconventional (Marcellus Shale) wells.

The Senate and House Environmental Committees this week reported out Senate Bill 1378 (Scarnati-R-Jefferson) and House Bill 2350 (Causer-R-Cameron) that their sponsors initially said were to make a logical separation of administrative, construction and environmental protection requirements between conventional and unconventional (Marcellus Shale) oil and gas wells.

PA Environment Digest now has a Google+ Circle called Green Works In PA.  Just go to your Google+ page and search for DHess@CrisciAssociates.com, the email for the Digest Editor David Hess,  and let us join your Circle.

Here are the Senate and House Calendars and Committee meetings showing bills of interest as well as a list of new environmental bills introduced--

The following bills were given final approval by the Senate and House and are now on the Governor's desk for action--

The following bills of interest saw action this week in the House and Senate--

The Senate and House Environmental Resources and Energy Committees Wednesday reported out legislation that would remove conventional oil and gas wells from regulation under the 2012 Act 13 drilling law and make DEP develop separate regulations for conventional and unconventional (Marcellus Shale) wells.

The House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee Wednesday reported out House Bill 2354 (Snyder-D-Fayette) which requires Senate and House approval of any plan DEP submits to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from existing power plants.

The Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee Wednesday reported out two additional bills creating a new PA Grade Crude Development Advisory Council within DEP and a second bill making a correction in the law allowing other state agencies to allow drilling on their land.  The bills were--

The House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee Wednesday reported out two bills related to leasing oil and gas rights.  They were-

The Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee Friday held the first of two public hearings to discuss the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s plan to cut carbon pollution from nationwide power plants by 30 percent in 2030, compared to 2005 levels. 

The House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee is scheduled to meet on July 2, but the agenda has not been announced.  There is speculation House Bill 1565 (Hahn-R-Northampton) which would eliminate the requirement for forested stream buffers to control erosion and sedimentation in special protection watersheds- sponsor summary-- will be on the agenda.

The Fish and Boat Commission Thursday announced it will present the Ralph W. Abele Conservation Heritage Award to former Senator Franklin Kury to recognize his lasting conservation impact as the author and champion of Article I, Section 27 of the Pennsylvania Constitution, also known as the Environmental Rights Amendment.

The Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed this week announced the formation four work groups to continue the work of the Delaware River Watershed Forum held last October in Philadelphia to focus on restoration and protection issues.

Ensuring that community efforts to protect and improve the local environment are publicly acknowledged, the Perkiomen Watershed Conservancy in Montgomery County is looking for a few good people, projects and organizations to recognize with an Environmental Award. 

The June issue of The Catalyst newsletter is now available from the Slippery Rock Watershed Coalition in Beaver, Butler, Lawrence, Mercer, Venango counties and features stories on the July 19 “Celebrate The Bloom” program at the Jennings Environmental Education Center, Clean Creek Products now available at Jennings, spotlighting volunteer Alice McLaughlin and the August 2-3 Lake Arthur Regatta.  

The 20th PA Rivers Conservation and Fly Fishing Youth Camp held at Allenberry Resort in Boiling Springs, Pennsylvania was a success! Each year the camp teaches 32 students the importance of coldwater conservation and the science behind it as well as fly fishing and fly tying. 

The PA Resources Council is looking for volunteers to help with the June 28 ReUseFest in Mt. Lebanon, near Pittsburgh and a household hazardous waste collection event on July 12 at California University in California, PA.

Keep York Beautiful recently participated in a progressive art project designed to engage people in being thoughtful about the trash and litter in their environment and its impact. 

The Department of Environmental Protection is moving to halt the potential uncontrolled release of untreated water and sludge from the former Tunnelton Liquids Company (TLC) site in Tunnelton, Indiana County.

Two webinars and a YouTube video of the June 26 meeting of the DEP Oil and Gas Technical Advisory Board will be available on DEP's website for on-demand viewing.

DEP Secretary E. Christopher Abruzzo was on hand on June 18 for the unveiling of Philadelphia Gas Works' new fleet of natural gas powered sedans.

The Department of Environmental Protection invites non-profit corporations, schools, colleges and universities, and local governments, public corporations, for-profit businesses and authorities to attend one of three PA Energy Development Authority funding workshops in northcentral Pennsylvania.

The Department of Environmental Protection has extended the deadline for applications for the Pennsylvania Clean Diesel Grant Program until July 11. (formal notice)

The City of Lancaster received the Sustainable Pennsylvania Community Certification under the PA Municipal League’s new statewide program.  

The PA Emergency Management Agency is now accepting applications for Fire Company and Volunteer Ambulance Services Grants through October 23. (formal notice) Click Here for more information.

The Department of Environmental Protection Monday announced it has partnered with a professor of health physics from Bloomsburg University to develop refresher training materials for operators of X-ray equipment who conduct low-risk procedures such as general radiography and dental X-rays.

The June 26 issue of DEP News is now available from the Department of Environmental Protection featuring stories about the new Chesapeake Bay Agreement, the Commonwealth suing major oil companies for MTBE damages, upcoming PA Energy Development Authority workshops and more.  Click Here to sign up for your own copy or to read back issues.

The PA Horticultural Society is offering a full schedule of Tree Tender training sessions this Fall in the Southeast to teach residents of the 5-county Philadelphia area how to plant and care for trees in their communities.   Click Here for the full schedule of training sessions and registration information.

From Bluegrass Concerts and Biathlons to Star Parties, Festivals and even a Pioneer Frolic, the volunteer groups with PA Parks and Forest Foundation are hosting on a wide variety of free events at Pennsylvania’s state parks and forests this summer.

The June 25 issue of the Resource newsletter is now available from the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.  Click Here to read a copy and to sign up to receive your own (at the bottom of the webpage).

Maybe you regularly cross paths with a wood turtle or two while heading back to that favorite brook trout stream tucked away in the hardwoods.

Public Utility Commission Chairman Robert F. Powelson Wednesday was sworn in as President of the Mid-Atlantic Conference of Regulatory Utilities Commissioners.

Covanta Thursday announced John G. Waffenschmidt, Vice President of Environmental Science and Community Affairs, has been reappointed to the DEP Environmental Justice Advisory Board.

Regina Poeske, a resident of Doylestown, Montgomery County, and the Wetlands Ecologist for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, received the Edward T. “Red” Heinen Wetlands Award, EPA’s most prestigious national award recognizing superior work to protect wetlands.

This section gives you a continuously updated thumbnail sketch of issues to be considered in upcoming advisory committee meetings where the agendas have been released

This section gives you a heads up on upcoming deadlines for awards and grants and other recognition programs.  NEW means new from last week.

Here's a selection of NewsClips on environmental topics from around the state--

Here are NewsClips on topics related to Marcellus Shale natural gas drilling---

Here are NewsClips on watershed topics from around the state--

The DEP Board of Coal Mine Safety published notice of final regulations setting requirements for high-voltage continuous mining machines.

Upcoming legislative meetings, conferences, workshops, plus links to other online calendars.  Meetings are in Harrisburg unless otherwise noted.  NEW means new from last week.  Go to the online Calendar webpage.

CLICK HERE to Print The Entire 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:  DHess@CrisciAssociates.com.

PA Environment Digest is a supporting member of the Pennsylvania Outdoor Writers Association, Pennsylvania Council Trout Unlimited and the Doc Fritchey Chapter Trout Unlimited.