Sen. Ted Erickson (R-Delaware) and Caren Glotfelty, a career environmental leader in academia, government and philanthropy, were honored by the PA Environmental Council this summer with awards for lifetime achievement.

Registration is now open for the Pennsylvania Environmental Council’s Environmental  Policy Conference on September 17 in Harrisburg featuring dialog on key environmental issues in the Commonwealth.

StateImpact reported Friday the Public Utility Commission has appealed a July ruling by Commonwealth Court which enjoined the PUC from reviewing local ordinances that regulate drilling activities.

StateImpact reported Friday the ownership of natural gas rights under the Loyalhanna State Forest in Lycoming County may be in doubt as heirs to a 19th Century lumber baron stepped forward to claim they own the rights, not the Anadarko and Southwestern Energy drilling companies.

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 Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee is scheduled to hold a second hearing on EPA’s Section 111(d) greenhouse gas emission limits on August 21 at Wilkes University in Wilkes-Barre starting at 10:00.

The Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay is working with Franklin County and DCNR as part of the Trees for Tomorrow Program, a county-wide effort to plant 150,000 new trees in the Franklin County, and are partnering on two Buffer in a Box and Backyard Trees Workshops on September 6 and 10.

The DEP Coastal Resources Management Program is now accepting applications for 2015 grants from non-profit organizations, schools and universities, local government organizations, authorities and state agencies.  (formal notice)

The Summer edition of the Forum newsletter from the PA Environmental Council is now available featuring articles on--

The International Coastal Cleanup is September 1st through October 31st and is the largest volunteer effort aimed at improving the health of the ocean, bringing out hundreds of thousands of volunteers from around the world to remove millions of pounds of plastics and debris from beaches, lakes and waterways. 

The Summer issue of PA Recycler Magazine is now available from the Professional Recyclers of PA featuring stories on--

Gov. Tom Corbett Thursday announced a public private partnership involving several state agencies will transform an abandoned mine and waste disposal site into a world class center for international trade including office space, research and development capacity and a 400 room hotel with convention space.

The White House Council on Environmental Quality, in conjunction with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Tuesday announced the winners of the annual Presidential Innovation Award for Environmental Educators and President’s Environmental Youth Award, recognizing outstanding student leaders in environmental stewardship and K-12 teachers employing innovative approaches to environmental education in their schools.

Gov. Tom Corbett and officials from across the Commonwealth joined Panda Power Funds Tuesday to break ground on the company’s 829-megawatt combined-cycle “Patriot” generating station located in Lycoming County.

The Department of Environmental Protection Monday announced it has fined Southwestern Energy Production Co. of Houston, Texas, $128,031 for drilling five Marcellus shale natural gas wells in Herrick and Stevens townships, Bradford County, after drilling permits had expired.

The PA Energy Development Authority published notice it has finalized the 2014 Energy Development Plan which received no comments during the public comment period in May.  DEP will post the final plan on the PEDA webpage in the new future.

The PA Energy Development Authority published notice it will review all applications submitted in the grant round ending August 15 by August 29 and give applicants a limited amount of time to correct or submit missing information. (formal notice)

The Philadelphia Housing Authority Tuesday formally broke ground for the construction of the Oakdale Street Apartments in the 2800 block of West Oakdale Street.

The Public Utility Commission Thursday cautioned consumers of a phone scam involving their energy bills and reminded consumers of utility shut-off procedures.

Natural Lands Trust invites you to kick up your heels at its first trail race—the ChesLen Chase for Open Space—on October 25, at the land conservation organization’s ChesLen Preserve in Unionville, Chester County.

The annual Fall hawk and raptor count begins at Hawk Mountain Sanctuary on August 15 and continues through December 15 in Kempton, Berks County.

There's been a lot of talk lately about the possibility a permit soon might be required to use state game lands.  And at meeting next month, the Game Commission formally will consider adopting such a permit, which would not be required for anyone who holds a valid hunting or furtaker's license.

The Fish and Boat Commission Monday urged anglers at a popular Erie County fishing spot to help prevent the spread of the aquatic invasive species (AIS) commonly known as round goby.

Visitors to Philadelphia’s Penn’s Landing last weekend witnessed first-hand the excitement surrounding major league bass fishing when hometown favorite Mike Iaconelli fished the Delaware River into a first-place finish in the Bassmaster Elite tournament.

This month’s SEEDS newsletter from iConservePA.org features a video compilation of Smokey Bear PSAs to celebrate Smokey’s 70th birthday.  Click Here to watch the video.

Not surprisingly, when surveyed, people say they want to help their state parks and forests, but don’t know how. We all know investing a little sweat equity will reap the rewards that come with it: fresh air, gorgeous scenery, toned muscles, and a do-good dose of satisfaction.

The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources published notice of an opportunity to bid  on projects in Bucks, Erie and Lehigh counties.

Steve Tambini was sworn in Thursday as the Delaware River Basin Commission's new executive director at a brief ceremony held on the banks of the Delaware River at Washington Crossing State Park in Titusville, N.J.

On Monday, Gov. Corbett reappointed John Walliser, Vice President for Legal and Governmental Affairs with the PA Environmental Council and Donald Welsh, former EPA Region III Administrator to the DEP Citizens Advisory Council.

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation-PA is seeking candidate for an Outreach and Advocacy Manager to be based in Harrisburg.  Applications are due August 25.  Click Here for all the details on this position and other positions open in the Harrisburg office.

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 Public Utility Commission published notice extending the comment period on proposed regulations implementing the Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards to September 3.  The regulations were originally published in the July 5 PA Bulletin.

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.