Sen. Jake Corman (R-Centre) Majority Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee told a press conference today the state faces a $1 billion budget deficit by the end of June. Confirming his estimate, the Department of Revenue reported March revenues resulted in a deficit of $712 million so far this fiscal year.

The 18-member Conservation and Natural Resources Advisory Council to the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources wrote to Gov. Rendell asking him to support a Marcellus Shale natural gas production tax to fund environmental programs, State Forest and State Parks improvements, not to be used just to balance the state budget.

Did you know you can search nearly 6 years of back issues of the PA Environment Digest on dozens of topics, by county and on any key word you choose. Just click on the search page.

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 House Democratic Policy Committee held a public hearing this week  at the Ebensburg Borough Municipal Building to evaluate economic development and jobs within the Marcellus Shale industry, according to committee Chairman Mike Sturla (D-Lancaster).

The House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee will hold a public hearing on April 7 in Shavertown to explore the environmental risks associated with Marcellus Shale gas drilling in the Commonwealth.

The Department of Environmental Protection announced this week a 168-acre, $1.7 million abandoned mine reclamation project to restore the Cranberry West mine site near the intersection of I-81 and Route 924 began.

The Ground Water Protection Council and other partners will hold a Water and Energy In Changing Climates Symposium in Pittsburgh on September 26-19.

Eleven river sojourns are planned around the state from May through August. These multi-day educational paddling trips offer an unparalleled experience on Pennsylvania’s premier waterways. 

The April issue of the EE Connections newsletter from the PA Center for Environmental Education is now available online. This month's newsletter highlights these stories:

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice of an opportunity to bid on an abandoned mine reclamation project in Fayette County and a well plugging project in McKean County.

This section gives you a heads up on upcoming deadlines for awards and grants and other recognition programs. NEW means new from last week.

Department of Environmental Protection published notice of opportunity to comment on the 2010 draft Integrated Water Quality Monitoring and Assessment Report and a Board of Coal Mine Safety notice accepting a rulemaking petition for study.  The Environmental Quality Board published proposed regulations covering stream redesignations.  The Public Utility Commission published proposed regulations relating to reporting energy conservation by electric utilities.

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.

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