The Funding Workgroup of the PA Chesapeake Bay Watershed Implementation Plan Steering Committee estimated an annual funding gap of $244.5 million over at least the next 6 years totaling $1.467 billion to implement practices needed to meet Pennsylvania’s Bay cleanup obligations .

On March 20, the Growing Greener Coalition wrote to members of the Senate, House and to Gov. Wolf urging them to make new investments in restoring the environment and preventing flooding and not to back away from funding commitments they have already made.

On March 22, the Growing Greener Coalition issued a call to action to the public to urge members of the Senate and House and Gov. Wolf to make new investments in restoring the environment and preventing flooding and not to back away from funding commitments they have already made.

The House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee is scheduled to meet on March 26 to consider a bill requiring compensation to landowners for their drilling rights if the Delaware River Basin Commission adopts a ban on fracking and 2 other bills--

The House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee will hold an information meeting March 27 to hear a presentation on “factually debunking some of the modern myths surrounding the “climate change” discussion.”

By Chris Wood, President & CEO Of Trout Unlimited

By Dr. Richard Kaplan

On March 21, the Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens announced the Center for Sustainable Landscapes (CSL) is the first project in the world to be certified at the Platinum level under the Sustainable SITES Initiative (SITES) v2 Rating System.

On March 21, Sustainable Pittsburgh revealed the winners of the 2018-2019 Sustainable Pittsburgh (SP) Challenge during a celebration at PNC Park on the North Shore.

The Westmoreland Conservation District has been selected as one of 18 statewide recipients of the 2019 Governor’s Award for Environmental Excellence in Pennsylvania.

The Penn State Extension Master Watershed Steward Program partnered with the PA Environmental Council to host the Statewide Watershed Conference in February.

The Penn State Master Watershed Stewards in York County presented Ted Evgeniadis, the Lower Susquehanna Riverkeeper, with the 2018 Outstanding Partner Award at their MWS Winter Celebration in February.

Jodi Sulpizio’s love of nature and the environment began as a child, roaming around the surrounding forests, fields, and streams of her grandparent’s farm

Peter Livengood, a 12th grade student from Fayette County, was recently notified he has been awarded the Boy Scouts of America William T. Hornaday Silver Medal for Conservation for completing 4 major conservation projects in and around his community.

By Siri Lawson, Farmington Township, Warren County

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

Here are the Senate and House Calendars for the next voting session day and Committees scheduling action on bills of interest as well as a list of new environmental bills introduced--

On March 18, the House Insurance Committee amended and reported out House Bill 328 (Warren-D- Bucks) establishing a Flood Insurance Premium Assistance Task Force (sponsor summary).

On March 19, the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee amended and reported out House Bill 247 (Oberlander-R-Clarion) to allow cross unit unconventional drilling.

On March 19, PA Parks and Forests Foundation President Marci Mowery reviewed the details of the Foundation’s new report on the more than $1 billion in infrastructure maintenance needs at state parks and forests at a meeting of the House Tourism and Recreational Development Committee.

On March 20, the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee heard from witnesses in support of legislation to allow for the compensation of landowners for drilling rights they are prevented from exercising by the proposed fracking ban being considered by the Delaware River Basin Commission.

On March 19, the Joint Legislative Air and Water Pollution Control and Conservation Committee hosted an informational meeting to provide updates on projects along the PA Route 6 corridor which aim to enhance bicycle tourism across the state.

The House Game and Fisheries Committee is scheduled to meet on March 26 to consider House Bill 808 (Mehaffie-R-Dauphin) authorizing the Fish and Boat Commission to set its own fees for 3 years (sponsor summary).

On March 22, the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership issued a call to the public to contact their House member to support House Bill 808 (Mehaffie-R- Dauphin) authorizing the Fish and Boat Commission to set its own fees.

The Senate Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee is scheduled to meet on April 9 to consider the re-confirmation of Russell Redding as Secretary of Agriculture.

On March 13, conservation district officials from across the nation descended upon the nation’s capital as part of the National Association of Conservation District’s 2019 Spring Fly-In, including Kelly Stagen, PA Association of Conservation Districts Secretary and North East Region Director and Pike County Conservation District board member.

On March 19, the federal Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement announced Pennsylvania will receive $53,846,935 in Abandoned Mine Land Reclamation funding.

On March 22, the Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed announced the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation jointly awarded the first round of 25 Delaware Watershed Conservation Fund grants totaling $4,140,000 in federal funds.

The Susquehanna Heritage Area in Lancaster and York counties received official designation as a National Heritage Area with the passage and signing of the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act this month.

On March 23, the Governor’s Office published an updated agency-by-agency Regulatory Agenda listing regulations agencies are in the process of developing and adopting. (March 23 PA Bulletin, page 1461)

One sure sign that spring is arriving in Pennsylvania is the appearance of people planting trees along streams.

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation-PA invites media representatives to join local students, grades 6 through 12, for a day of watershed exploration with the Susquehanna Watershed Environmental Education Program (SWEEP).

By Jeff Mulhollem, Penn State News

By Karl Blankenship, Chesapeake Bay Journal

The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation is accepting proposals for 2 Delaware River Watershed Restoration Grant Programs.  The deadline for applications is April 11.

The Penn State Environment and Natural Resources Institute will host another in its series of Water Insights Seminars on March 26 on Seeking Opportunities to Reduce the Impact Of Flood Events In Urban Areas.

If you are a pond owner, early spring is a good time to take a walk around your pond and check to see if any maintenance is needed.

The PA Rural Water Association will hold its 2019 Annual Conference March 26-29 at the Penn Stater Hotel and Conference Center in State College.

The Environmental Quality Board published notice in the March 23 PA Bulletin of proposed changes to Class A Stream Redesignations in 19 counties. (PA Bulletin, page 1367)

The PA Environmental Resources Consortium-- PA's Green Colleges-- hold a Conference on Sustainable Development and Higher Education on April 9 in the HUB Center on Penn State's University Park campus.

On March 19, Department of Transportation and Department of Environmental Protection are seeking volunteers for this year's Great American Cleanup of Pennsylvania, a campaign of statewide community cleanup activities that runs through May 31.

The Perkiomen Watershed Conservancy’s 2019 Steam Cleanup is now the largest single day stream clean-up in the state of Pennsylvania!

The PA Resources Council and its partners will hold the Reuse Fest on April 20 at Buhl Park in Pittsburgh from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

The Department of Environmental Protection has scheduled a public hearing on the proposed RACT II Air Quality Plan for the Speciality Tires Plant in Indiana for May 14. (PA Bulletin, page 1420)

The Department of Environmental Protection has scheduled a public hearing on the proposed RACT II Air Quality Plan for the Texas Eastern Compressor Plant in Cambria County for May 14. (PA Bulletin, page 1421)

On March 21, Department of Environmental Protection announced it will hold a public meeting March 27 to present information and answer questions on the applications for permits for natural gas drilling on U.S. Steel Corporation’s Edgar Thomson Plant.

In response to reports of a possible gasoline pipeline leak in Berks County on March 17, a safety investigation is underway involving the Bureau of Investigation & Enforcement (I&E) – the independent investigation and enforcement bureau of the Public Utility Commission.

On March 19, the Capitol in Harrisburg was the scene of dueling press conferences between opponents of the Mariner East Pipelines and those supporting pipeline development.

On March 18, the PJM electrical grid came through the 2018–2019 winter reliably in the face of extreme temperatures and high electricity demand.

On April 3 there will be a Community Solar Legislative Forum at the Arnaud C. Marts Center, Room 214 at Wilkes University, 292 S. Franklin Street in Wilkes-Barre starting at 7:00 p.m.

The Greater Philadelphia Society Of Women Environmental Professionals is now accepting applications for two $3,000 college scholarships for outstanding women studying to pursue environmental careers.  The deadline for applications is May 15.

The Capital Chapter Society of Women Environmental Professionals will hold their Annual Conference on April 25 at Central Penn College, 600 College Hill Road in Summerdale, Cumberland County.

The Energy Co-op’s Energy Program Manager Alexandra Kroger was recently appointed president of the Philadelphia Chapter of Women of Renewable Industries and Sustainable Energy (WRISE).

DCNR’s Conservation and Natural Resources Advisory Council is scheduled to meet on March 27 to discuss the update to the 2014-19 PA Outdoor Recreation Plan.

On March 18, the William Penn Foundation announced the award of $2.6 million Creative Community Grants to support equitable access to great public spaces.

On March 20, the Pike County Commissioners announce publication of Pike Outdoors, a Public Lands Guide for Sportsmen and Outdoor Enthusiasts.

The Lehigh Valley-based Wildlands Conservancy highlighted education programs and activities coming up in April, including--

Fort Indiantown Gap has begun its spring prescribed burn season to reduce the risk of wildfires at Fort Indiantown Gap, Lebanon County.

Recall a time that you were out in nature. Perhaps walking along a wooded trail, or even enjoying an urban greenspace. You probably noticed the animals that inhabit that space; an American robin singing above in the tree canopy; squirrels gathering acorns for the not-so-long winter.

The March 20 Resource newsletter from the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources is now available featuring articles on--

On March 19, the Game Commission reported Pennsylvania hunters posted their highest overall deer harvest in 14 years when they took 374,690 deer during the state’s 2018-19 hunting seasons, which closed in January.

By Steve Harmic, Penn State News

The peregrine falcons nesting on buildings in Pittsburgh, Harrisburg and Allentown are in different stages of nesting and laying eggs this season.

Hawk Mountain Sanctuary in Berks County will launch this upcoming spring migration season by participating in the 2019 Raptorthon on March 30 hosted by Hawk Migration Association of North America (HMANA).

On March 20, the PA Environmental Council named veteran trail developer Brett Hollern as the newest member of its Trails and Recreation team.

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

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 highlights of actions taken by agencies on environmental regulations, technical guidance and permits.

CLICK HERE to View or Print the entire PA Environment Digest. This Digest is 122 pages long.

Send your stories, photos and links to videos about your project, environmental issues or programs for publication in the PA Environment Digest to: PaEnviroDigest@gmail.com.

PA Environment Digest is a proud sponsor of these award and educational programs--

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