At its Tuesday meeting, DEP’s Citizens Advisory Council began the discussion of its draft comments on DEP’s Act 54 report on the impact of underground coal mining with the intent of finalizing its comments at its July 21 meeting. Among the draft recommendations are--

DEP Secretary John Quigley reported to the DEP’s Citizens Advisory Council Tuesday he expects the 34 members of the Pipeline Infrastructure Task Force to be announced by mid-July saying so far the agency has receive 150 applications for membership.

The DEP’s Citizens Advisory Council elected Bill Fink as Chair and Don Welsh as vice-Chair at its meeting on Tuesday.

Lancaster Online reporter Ad Crable Monday reported DEP Secretary John Quigley’s reaction to a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency report Thursday saying Pennsylvania’s efforts to meet its Chesapeake Bay commitments are “substantially off track”--

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation-PA’s Clean Water Counts Campaign has gained significant momentum with Philadelphia County joining 14 other counties in adopting the clean water resolution, and more than 75 organizations, groups and businesses signing clean water statements of support.

The Department of Environmental Protection Tuesday announced it has notified Range Resources-Appalachia, LLC, of Fort Worth, TX that it intends to assess an $8.9 million civil penalty against the company, and has directed Range Resources to prevent methane and other substances from escaping from a leaking gas well and polluting groundwater and a stream in Lycoming County.

PA Environment Digest now has a Google+ Circle called Green Works In PA.  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--

Sen. John Yudichak (D-Luzerne) Wednesday praised House passage of Senate Bill 699 which will allow for the transfer of Moon Lake Park from Luzerne County to the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

The Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee is scheduled to meet on June 22 to consider Senate Bill 875 (Bartolotta-R-Fayette) encouraging the reuse of treated mine water for fracking gas wells (sponsor summary).

The  House Consumer Affairs Committee is scheduled to meet on June 24 to consider bills setting standards for the construction of private water wells and provide additional review of regulations by the General Assembly.  The bills include--

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the June 20 PA Bulletin it has developed a draft Nonpoint Source Management Plan-2014 Update for public comment designed to reduce nonpoint source pollution-- stormwater and agricultural runoff-- and meet pollution reduction milestones.

The Department of Environmental Protection Wednesday expanded its drought watch declaration from 27 to 37 counties across Pennsylvania.

Denise Coleman, State Conservationist for the Pennsylvania USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service is reminding partners to submit applications for the second round of funding for the new Regional Conservation Partnership Program.

In an effort to restore wild trout population on a three mile stretch of Halfmoon Creek at Centre Stables, significant stream restoration, spearheaded by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, remains ongoing thanks to the Wildlife For Everyone Endowment Foundation.

The June newsletter is now available from the Stroud Water Research Center featuring articles on-

The Department of Environmental Protection Friday issued the following update on the cleanup efforts and environmental impacts of last week’s fire at Miller Chemical, a fertilizer plant in Adams County.

Attorney General Kathleen G. Kane Thursday announced her office has filed criminal charges against the former Steelton Water Treatment Plant superintendent, who is accused of failing to properly monitor filters at the plant and submitting false records.

The PA Housing Finance Agency Monday issued a Request for Proposals for projects to improve the availability and affordability of housing in the Marcellus Shale region of the state.  The funding to address housing needs comes from Marcellus Shale impact fees.

The PA Land Trust Association Tuesday began circulating this statement of support for Gov. Wolf’s proposed severance tax on natural gas production—

The winning entry of the annual Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful Great American Cleanup of Pennsylvania video contest, sponsored by the PA Waste Industry Association and the Department of Environmental Protection, was submitted by Tri County Community Action for the Great Harrisburg Cleanup. They received a $200 cash prize.

Three Allegheny County men have received written citations for illegally dumping trash. Charles Gilbert Scott (65) of Braddock, Michael Paul Leese (33) of Pittsburgh and Terrell Montgomery (46) of Pittsburgh were found guilty of littering on three separate occasions by the Honorable Jeffrey A. Manning, according to Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful.

The Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission will hold its annual Ohio River Sweep on June 20 where volunteers cleanup riverbanks to collect tons of trash and debris along the Ohio River and all of its tributaries, including in Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania Coal Alliance CEO, John Pippy addressed legislators Tuesday on the effects of the Environmental Protection Agency's Clean Power Plan on Pennsylvania's jobs, electric rates and economy at a House and Senate Coal Caucus hearing.

The Department of Environmental Protection will host a public hearing to take testimony from residents regarding an application filed by Moxie Freedom Energy, LLC of Virginia for an air quality plan approval to construct and operate a 1050-megawatt natural gas-fired power plant in Salem Township, Luzerne County.

The Public Utility Commission Thursday released the 2014 Pennsylvania Gas Outlook Report, which provides insight into trends in the natural gas market, both nationwide and within Pennsylvania.

FirstEnergy Corp. is offering education grants for creative classroom projects involving science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) planned for the 2015-2016 school year in its service territories.  Applications are due September 18.

The Partnership for the Delaware Estuary will hold a series of 4 teacher workshops from August 1 to 7 at various locations around the estuary.  Here’s the workshop schedule--

The Pennsylvania Firefly Festival will be held on June 27 from noon to midnight in Forest County, at the Black Caddis Ranch B&B, in Kellettville, 15 miles east of Tionesta on  Route 666.

The Pennsylvania Vector Control Association is observing the week of June 21 – June 27 along with the American Mosquito Control Association as “National Mosquito Control Awareness Week.”

During the June meeting of the PA Agricultural Land Preservation Board, an additional 20 farms in 15 counties were added to the state’s nation-leading farmland preservation program – totaling 1,718 acres of additional farmland.

The Summer edition of the Penn’s Stewards newsletter is now available from the PA Parks and Forests Foundation featuring articles on--

The June 17 edition of the Resource newsletter is now available from the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources featuring articles on--

The Summer issue of Notes From The Forest newsletter is now available from the Lacawac Sanctuary Foundation in Northeast Pennsylvania, featuring articles on--

The Fish and Boat Commission Monday officially transferred management of its Somerset Lake property to Somerset County, formally creating the Somerset Lake Nature Park.

The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources will hold a hearing August 12 on applications submitted for FY 2015-16 Wild Resource Conservation Program grant funding.  The hearing will be held in the 6th Floor Conference Room, Rachel Carson Building, Harrisburg starting at 10:00 a.m.  (formal notice)

The Department of Environmental Protection is seeking candidates for Director of its Bureau of Waterways Engineering and Wetlands.  The deadline for applying is June 24.  The job posting is only open to current Commonwealth employees.  Click Here for the Job Posting.

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

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 are NewsClips from around the state on all environmental topics, including General Environment, Budget, Marcellus Shale, Watershed Protection and much more--

No new regulations were published this week.  Pennsylvania Bulletin - June 20, 2015

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