Gov. Tom Corbett this week announced 13 environmental projects from across the state will be awarded the 2011 Environmental Excellence Award.

Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati (R-Jefferson) this week unveiled a Marcellus Shale impact fee proposal he said will generate $121.6 million in FY 2011-12, more, he said, than the proposal many Senate Republicans were willing to support during last year's discussions.

Rep. Kate Harper (R-Montgomery) this week introduced House Bill 1406 to impose a severance tax on natural gas extraction in Pennsylvania to fund environmental programs, the local communities impacted by the drilling and education in the Commonwealth.

House Bill 833, introduced by Rep. Camille George (D-Clearfield), Minority Chair of the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, would impose a Marcellus Shale natural gas production severance tax to help fund Growing Greener, support for communities affected by drilling and fund transportation and other infrastructure.

The Senate this week unanimously confirmed Michael Krancer, 53 of Bryn Mawr, Montgomery County, to be the fifth Secretary of the Department of Environmental Protection since 1995.

Senate Bill 265 (MJ White-R-Venango), establishing adequate and safe spacing between natural gas well clusters and workable coal seams, was passed unchanged by the House this week and now goes to the Governor for his action.

The full Governor's Marcellus Shale Advisory Commission met this week to hear progress reports from its individual work groups and several presentations on the environmental impact of drilling on Pennsylvania's State Forests, water resources and habitats.

The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources this week released new guidelines covering the management of oil and gas operations on State Forest Lands as part of a presentation before the Governor's Marcellus Shale Advisory Commission.

This year the Wildlands Conservancy, in cooperation with the City of Allentown, will complete a large-scale ecological restoration project on the nearly 1.5 miles of Trout Creek that flows through the City's Trout Creek Park.

ClearWater Conservancy has been awarded a $350,000 state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources grant for the purchase and permanent conservation of 152 acres of land in the Galbraith Gap area of Harris Township, Centre County. 

The PA Sustainable Lands Partnership Lehigh Valley is sponsoring a Sustainable Landscapes Bus Tour on June 15.

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.