At best the new FY 2014-15 state budget is still a work in progress.  Although the Senate and House passed a General Fund budget on June 30, Gov. Corbett has still not signed it.  In addition, work on the follow-along Fiscal Code bill implementing the budget (and more), still isn’t done.  The Senate is returning July 8 to consider what to do with the bill.

Work on the Fiscal Code bill-- House Bill 278 (Baker-R-Tioga)-- that follows to implement provisions in the General Fund budget still is not done and it contains a provision that fundamentally changes the way conventional oil and gas operations are regulated in Pennsylvania.

The Pennsylvania Environmental Council this week expressed its strong opposition to language included in the Fiscal Code bill-- House Bill 278 (Baker-R-Tioga)-- that fundamentally changes the way conventional oil and gas operations are regulated in Pennsylvania.

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--

Pennsylvania Friday moved closer to joining 48 other states which have in place drinking water well construction standards, when the House passed House Bill 343, said Rep. Ron Miller (R-York), Majority Chair of the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, and prime sponsor of the bill.

The June issue of the Environmental Synopsis newsletter from the Joint Legislative Air and Water Pollution Control and Conservation Committee is now available and features an article about the 1889 Johnstown Flood.

On July 15 the Environmental Quality Board is scheduled to consider proposed land reclamation guarantee and final medical waste regulations and hear a science update on chloride and sulfate toxicity testing in surface waters.

The agenda for the July 15 DEP Citizens Advisory Council meeting will feature presentations on DCNR’s new endangered species permit review tool and Gov. Corbett’s Executive Order authorizing non-impact drilling on State Park and Forest Land.

The Department of Environmental Protection Wednesday announced it has successfully completed a $5,614,964 abandoned mine reclamation project in Houtzdale Borough, Clearfield County, which stabilized the ground beneath 154 homes to protect them from the threat of mine subsidence.

The Department of Environmental Protection Monday announced it has awarded a $789,995 contract for the Beauty Camp Far West abandoned mine reclamation project in Burnside and Snow Shoe townships, Centre County, and a $105,583 contract for the Owens Cemetery project in Clearfield Borough, Clearfield County.

You work on them, Play on them, Drink from them. But have you recently taken the time to really appreciate your local lake, pond, or reservoir?

The 3rd annual Convergence at the Confluence Conference will be held in Pittsburgh August 11 at Duquesne University’s Power Center in downtown Pittsburgh.

A special double issue of the PA League of Women Voters Water Resources Education Network Water Policy News is now available and features a story about how Biglerville is tackling threats to clean water in Adams County.  Click Here to read a copy.

On June 28 the PA Resources Council held it's 3rd annual ReuseFest Collection Event in Mt. Lebanon, just outside the City of Pittsburgh.

St. Hubert's Catholic High School for Girls was selected by the Professional Recyclers of Pennsylvania to receive their Waste Watchers Award in recognition of the school's recycling efforts during 2013.

The July issue of the e-PRC newsletter is now available from the PA Resources Council featuring PRC’s annual Water Camp, a schedule of PECO Smart Ideas events for reducing energy use, PRC’s Newtown Square Farmers’ Market and the ReUseFest in Pittsburgh.  Click Here to read your copy.

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 western Pennsylvania.

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the July 5 PA Bulletin that rebates are still available under the Alternative Fuel Vehicles Rebate Program.  The rebates available include--

As the heat and humidity settles in over Pennsylvania, the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission Monday reminded consumers to conserve energy with #WaysToStayCool.

PPL Electric Utilities said Monday it has asked the Public Utility Commission to approve the replacement of its electric meters with new meters that will improve service to customers.

As part of Exelon’s commitment to keeping the public informed of its performance in the areas of economic, environmental and social sustainability, the company Tuesday announced it has released its 2013 corporate sustainability report.

The Department of Environmental Protection and police in Pittsburgh and Mount Lebanon Tuesday said they are searching for a missing portable gauge containing sealed sources of radioactive material.

The PA Environmental Council Wednesday wrote to U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey urging him to discontinue efforts to eliminate the federal Transportation Alternatives Program which helps fund trail development projects in Pennsylvania and other states.  The text of the letter follows--

Paddle Without Pollution said its members participated in the Anything That Floats Race at the Three Rivers Regatta in Pittsburgh on July 4th.

The July issue of the Western PA Conservancy’s Water, Land Life newsletter is now available and features a story on a new interactive web-based tool on all WPC projects, partners creating community gardens and much more.  Click Here to read your copy.

The summer edition of Penn’s Stewards, the PA Parks and Forests Foundation newsletter is now available and features an article on how to plan your next family reunion in a State Park.  Click Here to read this issue.

The spring of 2014 was another busy season for The American Chestnut Foundation as we continued our partnership with the Appalachian Regional Reforestation Initiative and Green Forests Work.

The Delaware Highlands Conservancy’s Green Lodging Partnership has grown to include 12 local lodgings in New York and Pennsylvania that have asked their guests to join them in the long-term protection of our quality of life.

The DCNR Wild Resource Conservation Program will hold a hearing on funding applications on August 5 in the 6th Floor Conference Room, Rachel Carson Building, Harrisburg starting at 10:00.  (formal notice)

At its midway point, there’s already reason to believe 2014 just might go down as the “Year of the Pennsylvania Bald Eagle.”

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--

No new regulations were published this week.  Pennsylvania Bulletin - July 5, 2014

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.