The Capitol Building blanketed with a March snowfall. Print your own copy from the file attached to this webpage.

If you can’t find a workshop, conference, training session or free seminar to go to in this issue of the Digest, you aren’t trying very hard!

The early Spring shower of energy management seminars, greening residential development breakfasts, environmental law conferences and forums provides something for everyone.

You can also follow the progress of the Growing Greener Project to turn McIlvaine Run in Chester County into a brown trout fishery for the first time in this Digest.

Discussions continue between the Administration and legislative leaders on a Growing Greener II bond issue, which came up in the Senate Appropriations hearings on DEP’s budget this week. Concerns were again expressed about the $153 million in new fees/taxes proposed to support Gov. Rendell’s initiative.

Session Schedule

The Senate and House return to voting session on March 14.

The House will be in session March 14, 15, 16, 29, 30

The Senate March 14, 15, 16, 21, 22

Contents – On the Hill

· Senate Committee Sets Hearing on Environmental Hearing Board Nominee

· Joint Conservation Committee Forum Features Energy Institute

Other News

· Bruce Mansfield Power Plant to Upgrade Pollution Controls, Reuse Facilities

· DEP Publishes Revised NOx Allocations for 2008-2012, Set Asides for 2005

· New Rule Announced to Reduce Interstate Air Pollution

· Regional Electric Clearinghouse PJM Issues Report on Market Competition

· Less Than 30 Days Remain to Sign Up for Great PA Cleanup!

· Forest Lands Beautification Program Yields 'Fab Five' Former Dump Sites

· Local Governments Looking to Mentor Other Communities in Chesapeake Bay

· Want to Give Out $8 Million? EPA Seeks Partner Watershed Grants Program

· New Round of Wildlife Grants Offered by Fish & Boat Commission

· Bill Achor Becomes Chairperson of Businesses for the Bay

· Tank Committee Recommends Working to Avoid Fee Increases

· Three Companies Add Facilities to Environmental Performance Track in PA

· Small Business Green Technology Grants Awarded, Next Round Due May 25

· DOE Now Offering Energy Savings Assessment, Technology Grants

· Two PA Companies Recognized for Energy Efficiency, Greenhouse Gas Reductions

· EPA to Develop Guidance on Diesel Idling, Upper Darby Addresses Issue

· Special One Day Program on the Rewards of Energy Management, AAI Rule

· PA Bar Association Environmental Law Forum Set for April 6 & 7

· PA Chamber Spring Environmental Conference April 19 & 20

· Greening Residential Developments Breakfast Program March 23

· Symposium Set on Susquehanna Riverfront Communities for June 8-10

· Environmental Education Newsletter Available in Expanded Format

· 2004 Youth Hunter Essay Contest Winners Honored

· Help Wanted: Pennsylvania Game Commission Recruits 27th WCO Class

· DEP Seeks Engineering Services for Small Drinking Water Systems Program

Watershed Feature

· Trout Egg Planting Completes McIlvaine Run Restoration By Shelby E. Chunko, Project Manager, LandStudies, Inc.

Opinion

· DEP Land Recycling Changes Will Spawn Litigation, Not Help Preserve Farmland By Terry R. Bossert, Post & Schell

Calendar of Events – Check out all the new items!

Attachment: Capitol Bulding Blanketed with a March Snowfall - PDF

3/11/2005