PennFuture This week wrote to members of the Senate expressing their “significant concerns” with Senate Bill 994 (Vogel-R-Beaver) saying the bill would “manipulate and skew the nutrient credit trading market on behalf of one technology being advanced by one company.

For more than a decade-- 12 years to be exact-- the docks of the Gateway Clipper Fleet have been filled during the Ohio River Watershed Celebration with people enthusiastic about the exciting improvements to aquatic habitat and water quality throughout the Ohio River Watershed.

The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and the PA Organization for Watersheds and Rivers are now accepting nominations for the 2014 River Of The Year.  Nominations are due November 14.

Monday’s Environmental Issues Forum hosted by the Joint Legislative Air and Water Pollution Control and Conservation Committee featured a presentation on 17th Century trompe technology which promises to make today’s passive mine drainage treatment systems smaller, more effective and less costly.

PA Environment Digest now has a Google+ Circle called Green Works In PA.  Just go to your Google+ page and search for DHess@CrisciAssociates.com, the email for the Digest Editor David Hess, and let us join your Circle.

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 following bills were given final approval by the Senate and House and are now on the Governor's desk for action--

The following bills of interest saw action this week in the House and Senate--

House Bill 1672 (Miller-R-York), authorizing state agencies to test energy saving technologies was passed by the House Monday, according to Rep. Ron Miller (R-York), Majority Chair of the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee and prime sponsor of the bill.

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

The Susquehanna River Basin Commission Thursday announced the availability of two new data “portals” on its website to provide more data and information on water resources in the basin.

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation-PA is working with Amish and Plain Sect farmers in Lancaster and Chester counties to encourage them to install best management practices on their farms.  Read about these initiatives in two new CBF-PA fact sheets--

The Stroud Water Research Center will host two workshops on Forest Riparian Buffer/Stream Ecology 101 on November 5 and 7 from 9:30 to 3:00 at 970 Spencer Road, Avondale, Pa.

Pennsylvania American Water Monday announced the launch of the “Community Investment Challenge,” a contest that will let voters on the company’s Facebook page determine grant awards to support environmental projects and community improvement programs.   The deadline for applications is November 4.

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation is offering a variety of field and residential student education programs now and into 2014.  Click Here to find out more.  The deadline for applying is November 14.

Harry Campbell, Pennsylvania Executive of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, sent out an update Friday on actions and activities his office is taking to help in the effort to cleanup Pennsylvania’s rivers and streams.  Here’s his update--

The October 21 issue of the now weekly Chesapeake Bay Journal is available featuring articles on keeping pharmaceuticals out of water, striped bass reproduction and much more.

After the failure of Congress to pass a new Farm Bill before it expired on September 30 and a turbulent fall on Capitol Hill, the federal Farm Bill is finally taking the stage.

How much is the water of the Upper Delaware River worth?  It’s priceless, according to conservationists, business owners, flyfishers and government officials who participated in the fourth annual Water Water Everywhere conference, held last week near Hancock, NY.

WITF’s StateImpact Pennsylvania and WHYY Philadelphia are holding an interactive discussion of the Delaware River Watershed on November 14 at the WHYY offices in Philadelphia, 150 N. 6th Street, starting at 7:00.

Gov. Tom Corbett Wednesday announced the investment of $53 million in 17 non-point source, drinking water and wastewater projects across 15 counties through the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority.

Students and teachers at Donegal Elementary, Level Green Elementary, Moon Area High School and Keystone Oaks Middle School have accepted the Alcoa Aluminum Can Recycling Challenge and will compete to see who can recycle the most aluminum cans during the 2013-2014 school year.

The Pennsylvania Recycling Markets Center Friday announced a partnership with Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful and the Pennsylvania Waste Industries Association to launch the Recycling Works!” Exhibit at The State Museum of Pennsylvania, located in Harrisburg.

The Reading Eagle reported on a Commonwealth Court ruling Wednesday which said the City of Reading may no longer charge a recycling fee of $82.33 a year to support its city-run recycling program.

Covanta Energy is celebrating the milestone attainment of its Prescription for Safety (Rx4Safety) program's successful destruction of one million pounds of unwanted prescription medication by honoring partners and advocates from across the country with its A Million Thanks Award.

The Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs Thursday reminded Pennsylvanians to turn in their expired, unused or unwanted prescriptions at collections sites statewide as part of National Drug Take Back Day events this week.

The Pennsylvania State Police will accept unwanted, expired and unused prescription drugs on October 26, as part of National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day. The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked.

Join Pittsburgh's classiest guys and girls for this season's trashiest event-- The 12th Annual Garbage Bag Gala-- November 1 at the Pittsburgh Fairmont, 510 Market Street starting at 6:00.

The Department of Environmental Protection published a notice in the PA Bulletin on October 26 inviting comments on proposed changes to the agency’s technical guidance on Consideration of Community Environmental Projects in lieu of civil penalties.  Comments are due November 25.

On November 7 GreenTreks Network and lululemon athletica Walnut Street are hosting a party with a purpose at the Fairmount Water Works Interpretive Center in Philadelphia to showcase local non-profits who are up to big, game-changing things. 

Capitolwire.com reported Thursday a federal judge dismissed a northeast Pennsylvania doctor's lawsuit against the Department of Environmental Protection over the Marcellus Shale law (Act 13), which allows physicians access to trade-secret hydraulic fracturing formulas.

Presentations and video of panel discussions at the September 27 Conference on Sustainability and Marcellus Shale Development at the Widener University Law School are now available online.

Aqua America, Inc. has been selected to receive an Energy Solutions Center Partnership Award for Innovative Energy Solutions at the organization’s Technology and Market Assessment Forum held in Philadelphia Thursday.

Natural Lands Trust Wednesday announced it will offer an exclusive birding workshop series, Your Big Year, to its members, beginning in November.

Get updated on the status of select Pennsylvania flora and fauna at the November 9 Pennsylvania Wild Resources Symposium at Beechwood Farms Nature Reserve, 614 Dorseyville Rd., Fox Chapel, Allegheny County.

The October issue of the Fish and Boat Commission’s Currents newsletter is now available featuring articles on: habitat structures in Erie’s Presque Isle Bay, Oil City Life Saving Award, Fly Fishing Programs, Trout in the Classroom Season Begins, second section of Big Spring Creek restored and much more.

Audubon Pennsylvania will showcase its Cliff Jones Field Station and Waggoner's Gap Hawkwatch, atop Blue Mountain, northwest of Carlisle on the Cumberland-Perry county line, in its annual Cliff Jones Field Station Hawk & Hike Day 11 a.m.-2 p.m. October 27. Binoculars and guides will be available throughout the day.

Here’s a Halloween treat for everyone. Learn the truth about bats by watching the Season of the Bat video produced by the Wild Resource Conservation Fund and Penn State University.

The Marcellus Shale Coalition Tuesday announced David Spigelmyer has been named as the organization's president. Mr. Spigelmyer, with a 30-year career in the energy industry, will assume the position immediately.

Acting Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Ellen Ferretti Friday announced the appointment of Brian L. Grove as DCNR’s Deputy Secretary for Administration effective October 28. 

Cindy Adams Dunn last week left the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources to pursue other career opportunities.

Longtime conservation leader and Pennsylvania native Larry Schweiger, announced Wednesday he will retire as President and CEO of National Wildlife Federation in early May 2014.

Trout Unlimited is seeking candidates for a Water Quality Monitoring Coordinator position working in Pennsylvania, New York and West Virginia.  Deadline for applications: November 18.  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 NewsClips 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--

No new regulations were published this week.  Pennsylvania Bulletin - October 26, 2013

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.