The public is invited to again vote online for the 2013 Pennsylvania River of the Year, choosing from among six waterways nominated across the state.  Voting ends January 18.

Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful announced they have awarded Celina Seftas from Keep Huntingdon County Beautiful with their President’s Award at their Annual Volunteer Recognition Dinner held December 11 at the Fred Rogers Center on the St. Vincent College campus. 

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Tuesday honored two Lancaster County communities for protecting sources of drinking water used by more than 20,000 people. EPA Regional Administrator Shawn M. Garvin presented the agency’s 2012 regional Source Water Protection Award to the Warwick Township Municipal Authority and the Borough of Lititz at a ceremony at the Warwick Municipal Office.

The Growing Greener Coalition Thursday pointed to a newly released statewide survey as clear evidence of strong public support for state funding to preserve farmland and open space, provide parks and trails and protect rivers and streams.

Gov. Corbett Thursday launched a new website-- PennWATCH-- designed to provide the public with more information on how taxpayer dollars are spent.

The General Assembly adjourned its two-year session sine die on November 30.  The Senate and House formally reorganizes and starts its new session on January 1.

Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati (R-Jefferson) Wednesday announced Sen. Gene Yaw (R-Bradford) will serve as Majority Chair of the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee.

Sen. John Yudichak (D-Luzerne) Thursday was named Minority Chair of the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee by Senate Democratic Leadership; the only returning Environmental Committee Chair in either the Senate or House.

Speaker Sam Smith (R-Jefferson) Wednesday named Rep. Ron Miller (R-York) Majority Chair and Rep. Greg Vitali (D-Delaware) Minority Chair of the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee.

Sen. Gene Yaw (R-Bradford) and Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi (R-Delaware) announced Friday they will introduce legislation designed to make natural gas available to more Pennsylvanians.

The December issue of the Environmental Synopsis is now available from the Joint Legislative Air and Water Pollution Control and Conservation Committee.

EPA Regional Administrator Shawn M. Garvin joined Mayor Rick Gray and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s Director of Chesapeake Programs Amanda Bassow at a press conference Tuesday in Lancaster to tout locally-led efforts to restore watersheds and engage people in environmental stewardship work.

The Department of Environmental Protection Wednesday announced it officially requested the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency remove Presque Isle Bay from the list of Great Lakes Areas of Concern.

John Arway, Executive Director of the Fish and Boat Commission, Friday invited the public to submit stories to the agency outlining problems with the Susquehanna River. Arway's message said--

The PA Lake Management Society Conference will be held February 20-21 at the Ramada Hotel and Conference Center in State College.

The Department of Environmental Protection is now accepting comments on proposed total maximum daily load plans for the Limestone Run Watershed in Northumberland and Montour counties. (PA Bulletin page 7760) Visit DEP’s TMDL webpage for a copy of the proposed TMDL plans.

Pennsylvania’s farmers and ranchers will soon have the opportunity to make a positive impact on their communities by taking part in the 2012 Census of Agriculture.   For the first time, the survey will ask farmers about the use of additional conservation practices on their farms.

This is your chance to be heard on the value and importance of water resources in Pennsylvania! Researchers from Penn State along with several other partner agencies are conducting an online survey of Pennsylvania residents about the state's water resources.

Do you have an old well on your property that isn’t used anymore? Pennsylvania has one of the largest rural populations of any state in the country, and most rural populations depend on private water systems for drinking water. So it is common to find old, unused wells throughout the state.

The federal Office of Surface Mining and the United States Geological Survey have finished work on a significant enhancement to OSM’s popular mine drainage treatment cost-modeling software, AMDTreat.

The Susquehanna River Basin Commission held its quarterly business meeting on December 14 in Annapolis, Md and took action on these items--

On Monday the Environmental Hearing Board was asked to issue an Order of Supersedeas that would prevent the Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company from proceeding with mobilization and tree clearing, the first steps in construction of its proposed NorthEast Upgrade Project (TGP’s NEUP). 

Brine water that flows back from gas wells in the Marcellus Shale region after hydraulic fracturing is many times more salty than seawater, with high contents of various elements, including radium and barium.

WITF’s StateImpact reported Thursday Gov. Corbett and Mrs. Corbett took a $2,323 vacation in Rhode Island and an in-state trip in 2011 paid for by John Moran, Jr., who heads Moran Industries, a Northumberland County logistics company specializing in trucking, rail and warehouse facilities.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Friday provided an update on its ongoing national study currently underway to better understand any potential impacts of hydraulic fracturing on drinking water resources.

Tailgaters at Philadelphia Eagles home games recycled over 100,000 pounds of recyclable bottles, cans, plastic, and cardboard at Philadelphia Sports Complex parking lots over the past two seasons by taking part in the Recycle-A-Lot Tailgate Recycling Program begun by the PA Resources Council.  

The Public Utility Commission Monday said Pennsylvania was named the top state for the number of electric generation suppliers making offers to residential consumers, according to the Annual Baseline Assessment of Choice in Canada and the United States.

The Public Utility Commission Tuesday released the results of its annual Cold Weather Survey, which showed that about 15,983 households will enter the winter season without heat-related utility service compared to 17,475 this time last year.

The Public Utility Commission Thursday approved an updated Technical Reference Manual, which is used to assess energy savings attributable to energy efficiency and demand response measures for the implementation of the state’s Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards of Act 213 and the energy efficiency and conservation provisions of Act 129 of 2008.

Ashley Funk, an 18-year-old from Mount Pleasant, filed a lawsuit Thursday in the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania against the Department of Environmental Protection on the issue of whether the DEP has a constitutional obligation to protect the atmosphere and other natural resources, even if the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has not acted to regulate carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions.

The finalists have been selected, but now comes the hard part-- voting for winners in each of the categories in the PA Wilds Photo Contest.  Votes must be in by January 11 in the form of “likes” on the PA Wilds Facebook webpage.

DCNR joined the Delaware Highlands Conservancy and Beaver Run Hunting and Fishing Club in celebrating the protection of the club’s 857-acre, natural resource-rich property in southern Pike County.

Helping visitors ring in 2013 with healthy exercise and a glimpse of nature’s winter beauty, the Bureau of State Parks will sponsor free, guided hikes in 18 state parks on New Year’s Day as part of America's State Parks First Day Hikes initiative in all 50 states.

The National League of Cities recently awarded medals to 118 communities across the country including Columbia Borough in Lancaster County, in recognition of their outstanding efforts to adopt sustainable and holistic policies that improve communities' access to healthy affordable food and opportunities for physical activity.

The Fish and Boat Commission Tuesday released a list of waters which comprises its newly established Pennsylvania’s Best Fishing Waters program.

ClearWater Conservancy is pleased to announce its signature winter event, For the Love of Art & Chocolate, will be held February 15 from 7 to 9:30 p.m. at the Penn Stater Conference Center Hotel in State College.

Trout Unlimited is launching a new initiative focused on reconnecting and restoring Eastern brook trout habitat in priority Pennsylvania watersheds. 

The McKeever Environmental Learning Center is hiring interns for its spring 2013 programs. Internships begin March 25.

The Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education is seeking candidates for the position of Nature Preschool Director/Lead Teacher.  Resumes must be submitted by January 15.  Click Here for details.

This section gives you a continuously updated thumbnail sketch of issues to be considered in upcoming advisory committee meetings where the agendas have been released.

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 a copy of its final order on smart meter procurement and installation requirements.

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.