Keep PA Beautiful and Keep America Beautiful are again teaming up with Nestle Waters North America to announce the launch of the second annual Recycle-Bowl youth recycling competition. 

The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources’ newly launched mobile website makes it easier for users of smartphones and tablet devices to connect with Pennsylvania’s natural world while on-the-go.

Here are the Senate and House Calendars and Committee meetings showing bills of interest as well as a list of new environmental bills introduced--

Rep. Camille George (D-Clearfield), Minority Chair of the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, Tuesday said his attempt to work with the Department of Environmental Protection on deep injection well policy has been stifled by the department’s top administrator.

The Department of Environmental Protection will hold a public availability session in Erie to solicit comments on the Stage 3 Remedial Action Plan and delisting of Presque Isle Bay as a Great Lakes Area of Concern.

The Susquehanna River Basin Commission will conduct a public hearing on August 23 to accept public comments on water withdrawal and consumptive use project applications. 

The Department of Environmental Protection published a notice inviting comments on proposed Total Maximum Daily Load Plans for Deerlick Run Watershed in Columbia County and Turtle Creek Watershed in Union County (PA Bulletin page 5292).

The PA Environmental Council is happy to announce registration is now open for our conference “Stormwater- Green Solutions beyond Gray Pipes: A Conference on Policy, Financing and Technology” on September 18 and 19 in Harrisburg.

Join experts from the Department of Environmental Protection and Penn State Extension's Master Well Owner Network on September 19 for an informative webinar about keeping your on-lot septic and private water systems problem-free. Learn how to avoid malfunction, prevent contamination, conserve water and reduce waste flow.

Are you a hunter, angler, hiker, or other outdoors-person living in South-central or Southeast Pennsylvania?  Do you have something to say to Marcellus shale gas drilling companies about their operations in the state?

The Department of Environmental Protection will hold a public meeting and hearing on Tuesday, August 28, to discuss Williams Energy’s proposed Air Quality plan approval to construct the Central compressor station in Bridgewater and Brooklyn townships, Susquehanna County.

The PA Housing Finance Agency has issued a Request for Proposals for projects to improve the availability and affordability of housing in the Marcellus Shale region of the state.  The deadline for responses is November 2.

The Department of Environmental Protection announced Tuesday it fined EXCO Resources (PA) LLC of Warrendale, Allegheny County, $47,500 for operating unpermitted residual waste transfer stations in Lycoming and Sullivan counties in 2011 and earlier this year, which violated the state’s Solid Waste Management Act.

The Pennsylvania Environmental Council will host Pennsylvania's Energy Future 2.0: Getting From Here To There on September 5-6 in Pittsburgh to explore issues related to developing the Commonwealth's energy resources.

Lt. Gov. Jim Cawley Thursday toured the Bloomsburg Fairgrounds in Columbia County to review repairs made after the extensive damage caused by Tropical Storm Lee last September.

The Friends of the Wissahickon is seeing improvement in the amount of litter at Devil's Pool this summer. FOW has been working with the Student Conservation Association in its continuing effort to keep the area  clean and educate park visitors on safe and appropriate use of the park.

FirstEnergy Corp. is offering education grants of up to $500 for creative classroom projects planned for the 2012-2013 school year.  The deadline for applications is September 17.

The majority of electric and natural gas customers were satisfied with the way customer service representatives handled their calls in 2011, according to an annual report released Wednesday by the Public Utility Commission.

The Department of Health is again providing free potassium iodide, or KI, tablets starting on  August 9 to help Pennsylvanians be prepared for public health emergencies involving nuclear facilities.

Free home radon test kits are available to residents of nine counties in northeast and north-central Pennsylvania, thanks to a $75,000 grant from the Department of Environmental Protection to the American Lung Association.

The State Transportation Commission Thursday approved an update to Pennsylvania's 12-Year Transportation Program which anticipates $41.6 billion being available over the next 12 years for improvements to roads, bridges, transit systems, airports and railroads.

More than $540,000 in grants will be awarded to help Pennsylvania’s rural communities guard against the threat of fires in forests and other undeveloped areas, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Richard J. Allan announced Monday.

A regional conference on sustainable tourism development will be held November 8-9 in the Pennsylvania Wilds, and organizers are encouraging communities in the region to send teams to the two-day event to help advance local projects in their areas.

The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and local partners are sponsoring several bus tours will take place in various Pennsylvania communities to highlight the importance of sustainable land management and habitat protection.

Visit Hawk Mountain Sanctuary on “Bald Eagle Migration Day” August 25 and see a live Bald Eagle up close and personal during a noon-time presentation by Carbon County Environmental Center.

By Joe Kosack, Wildlife Conservation Education Specialist, Game Commission

The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources published a notice inviting bids on projects on Centre and Sullivan counties.

The Chester County Conservation District is seeking applicants for an Agricultural Resource conservationist position.  Applications will be accepted through August 24.  Click Here for more information.

The Department of Environmental Protection issued an advisory this week saying it will be moving its Internet servers the weekend of August 18-19.  Some service disruption should be anticipated.

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's a selection of NewClips on environmental topics from around the state--

Here are NewsClips on topics related to Marcellus Shale natural gas drilling---

Here are NewsClips on watershed topics from around the state--

The Public Utility Commission formally published final Default Service Regulations (PA Bulletin page 5185).

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.

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.

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