The Department of Environmental Protection is now accepting applications for the next round of Growing Greener Plus Grants for watershed restoration, mine reclamation set aside and EPA Section 319 water quality restoration projects.  The deadline for applications is January 13.  (formal notice)

The Department of Environmental Protection has declared a drought warning in Carbon, Lehigh, Monroe, and Northampton counties and increased the number of counties on drought watch status to 30, following a meeting Wednesday of the Commonwealth Drought Task Force. 

Gov. Tom Wolf Wednesday signed into law legislation— House Bill 1737 (Maher-R- Allegheny)— to make it easier and safer to destroy unused and unwanted prescription and over-the-counter drugs.

This election has some unique races, like those involving two indicted House members and a convicted felon running for re-election in the House, but we will be watching the results in 33 key districts across the state on election night, including three open Senate seats, nine open House seats and two open Congressional seats.

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--

Pennsylvania collected $2.2 billion in General Fund revenue in October, which was $36.1 million, or 1.6 percent, more than anticipated, according to the Department of Revenue Tuesday. Fiscal year-to-date General Fund collections total $8.8 billion, which is $182.4 million, or 2 percent, below estimate.  Click Here for more details.

Local, state, and federal partners and supporters gathered Friday at Eckley Miners’ Village in Carbon County as Department of Environmental Protection Acting Secretary Patrick McDonnell announced $2 million in funding for the cleanup of a 62-acre abandoned coal mine property.

By Harry Campbell, PA Executive Director, Chesapeake Bay Foundation

The Chesapeake Bay Commission meets November 10-11 to hear a special presentation on the what will be expected from agriculture in the next round of state watershed implementation plans and an assessment on meeting clean water goals by 2025.

Penn State Extension will host a webinar on November 15 on Establishing Riparian Buffers In Urban Areas from Noon to 1:00 p.m. as part of the monthly webinar series.

The October edition of the UpStream newsletter from the Stroud Water Research Center is now available featuring stories on--

The Partnership for the Delaware Estuary is now accepting registrations for its 2017 Estuary Science and Environmental Summit to be held January 22-25, 2017 in Cape May, New Jersey through July 29.

The Philadelphia Water Department is hosting three more hearings on a proposal to establish a discounted stormwater fee for community gardens.  The hearings will be held--

The PA Section of the American Water Works Association is encouraging drinking water utilities join the national Partnership For Safe Water, a partnership of six national drinking water organizations to improve the quality of water delivered to customers through optimizing water system operations.

The Department of Health is holding a tetanus vaccination clinic in flood-affected areas of Lycoming County on November 5 at the Plunketts Creek Township Building, 179 Dunwoody Rd., Williamsport, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful affiliates Keep Huntingdon County Beautiful, Keep Juniata County Beautiful, PA CleanWays of Mifflin County and Keep Perry County Beautiful collected 5,287 tires during their 11th Annual Tire War competition this year.

Zero Waste Pennsylvania’s 2016 event season is wrapping up and has been more successful than ever! ZWPA’s events range from large, fully-staffed festivals to smaller private parties. In fact, ZWPA’s current combined diversion rate for all audited events in 2016 was 82 percent!

The Centre County Recycling & Refuse Authority has removed the recycling container from the Boggs Township/Yarnell location.   

The November newsletter from the PA Resources Council is now available featuring articles on--

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency late Thursday notified the Governors of 13 states and the District of Colombia it has issued a waiver from federal Clean Air Act provisions requiring the use of reformulated gasoline (RFG) in portions of these areas, including Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, and Philadelphia counties in Pennsylvania as a result of the Colonial Pipeline failure in Alabama.

Gov. Tom Wolf Tuesday announced the Commonwealth Financing Authority has opened the new Pipeline Investment Program (PIPE) for applications, offering up to $24 million funding to make Pennsylvania’s natural gas available to its residents, manufacturers, and pad-ready sites, hastening the development of low-cost energy and creating new jobs.

Gov. Tom Wolf Wednesday announced a statewide planning project, led by the Department of Environmental Protection, to put Pennsylvania in a better position to produce more solar energy and increase solar-generated in-state electricity sales to at least 10 percent by 2030.

SolarCity Corp. is expanding its Western Pennsylvania presence with a new 18,000 square foot operations center. State and local officials toured the facility and celebrated new solar jobs and clean energy options in the region.

PA Farm Bureau Wednesday said it is claiming victory after a battle with the Public Utility Commission over the scope of net metering as part of the Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards Act of 2014. 

The PA Environmental Council Friday announced online registration is now open for the Achieving Deep Carbon Reductions: Paths for Pennsylvania’s Electricity Future Conference to be held March 15-16 at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh.

The Clean Power PA Coalition Monday submitted comments to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency featuring strong  statewide support of the agency’s proposed Clean Energy Incentive Program. 

The Kleinman Center for Energy Policy will host a lecture by Senior Fellow John Quigley November 7 on the Business Case for Sustainable Hydraulic Fracturing in Philadelphia.

Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney Wednesday released Greenworks: A Vision for a Sustainable Philadelphia, the City of Philadelphia’s new comprehensive sustainability plan.

The City of Pittsburgh and The Heinz Endowments held their second p4 Conference: People, Planet, Place and Performance in October featuring a range of national and international experts as well as discussion sessions on forging a new model of urban growth and development that is innovative, inclusive and sustainable.

The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Thursday posted its seventh Fall foliage report showing forest colors will be peaking in Southeast Pennsylvania.  Leaves are past their peak in all other areas.

Gov. Tom Wolf Monday joined Rep. Mike O'Brien (D-Philadelphia) and Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney for a ground-breaking ceremony to announce a $3.5 million state grant for the first phase of the transformation of the former elevated Reading Railroad Viaduct into a public amenity and park.

Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn Thursday joined Western PA Conservancy representatives, Bureau of State Parks officials and others in formally dedicating a major addition to Laurel Hill State Park in Somerset County.

On November 20, Brodhead Watershed Association hike leader Carol Hillestad will introduce participants to an easy, 1-mile trail, and then another trail leading to waterfalls in the Paradise-Price Preserve in Monroe County from 1 to 2:30 p.m.

Penn State Extension and the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources will host a free Southwest PA Shade Tree Commissions Workshop at 214 Donohoe Road, Suite E of the Donohoe Center in Greensburg from 10:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

DCNR, Penn State Extension Urban Foresters and PA Horticultural Society will host online Tree Tenders training for volunteers interested in learning more about how to plant and care for trees in their neighborhoods.

The PA Horticultural Society hosted the PHS Awards Celebration on November 2 in the Town Hall of the PHS headquarters to honor a leader in the effort to protect and support community gardens and other accomplished proponents of urban greening and horticulture. 

Botanists from all over Pennsylvania have joined together to host the 3rd Biennial PA Botany Symposium November 18-19 at the Penn State Hotel Conference Center in State College.

The Fall edition of Conservation Connections newsletter from the Lehigh Valley’s Wildlands Conservancy is now available featuring articles on--

On November 12, Hawk Mountain Sanctuary visitors will have a guaranteed opportunity to see North America's largest predatory bird, the golden eagle, up close.

Audubon PA Northwest recently received a $3,000 grant from the FirstEnergy Foundation to construct osprey nesting boxes for use throughout northwest Pennsylvania and into Ohio.

Insurance Commissioner Teresa Miller Thursday reminded drivers that their insurance company cannot add a surcharge to their auto premium for a crash involving a deer.

The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Monday announced the appointments of two new district foresters to oversee operations of state forest districts in central and western Pennsylvania, and named a new manager at its recently renamed nursery and wood shop in Centre County, according to State Forester Daniel Devlin.

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 - November 5, 2016

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.

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