The Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee is scheduled to meet on December 4 to consider the nominations of Ellen Ferretti as Secretary of Conservation and Natural Resources and Chris Abruzzo as Secretary of Environmental Protection.

The public is invited to vote online for the 2014 Pennsylvania River of the Year now through December 27, choosing from among five waterways nominated across the state: the  Schuylkill in eastern Pennsylvania; Kiskiminetas- Conemaugh rivers in the southwest; Ohio in the west; Brodhead Creek Watershed in the northeast; and West Branch of the Susquehanna in the northcentral section of the state.

Gov. Tom Corbett Monday signed into law House Bill 1060 (Pyle-R-Armstrong), Pennsylvania’s most comprehensive piece of state transportation legislation in decades.

Gov. Corbett signed the highly anticipated House Bill 1060 (Pyle-R-Armstrong) Monday which includes $35 million for the state’s Dirt and Gravel Roads Program, into law, according to the PA Association of Conservation Districts.

10,000 Friends of Pennsylvania issued the following statement on the passage and signing into law of the transportation funding bill this week.--

The PA Growing Greener Coalition Tuesday celebrated the approval of more than $28 million in Marcellus Legacy Fund grants to support recreation and critical land and water protection efforts throughout the state.

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--

Penn State Extension has posted a one hour webinar on November 20 by Educator Jennifer Fetter focusing on several new educational tools that have been developed by Penn State Extension to facilitate youth education on water issues in Pennsylvania.

The November issue of Water Policy News from the PA League of Women Voters Water Resource Education Network is now available.

Andrew McElwaine, President and CEO of the American Farmland Trust, issued the following statement on the status of negotiations in Congress on the federal Farm Bill as Americans sat down to their Thanksgiving dinners--

The PA Resources Council has honored NOVA Chemicals by presenting an “Innovative Recycling” award in recognition of an extremely successful campaign to recycle expandable polystyrene (EPS) – an effort that enabled hundreds of area households to properly recycle EPS free of charge by attending PRC collection events.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Monday recognized 20 Pennsylvania colleges and universities in the Mid-Atlantic Region for joining EPA's Food Recovery Challenge.

The Department of Environmental Protection Tuesday announced it will extend the public comment period for the draft air-quality plan approval for Delta Thermo Energy’s proposed waste-to-energy plant in Allentown until December 16. (formal notice-PA Bulletin page 7043)

Whether braving the crowds on Black Friday or surfing the web for deals on Cyber Monday, the Public Utility Commission Wednesday reminded consumers to add shopping for electricity or natural gas to the list.

Dauphin County Commissioners Tuesday announced they has selected energy products and services provider Constellation to install a solar hot water system at Dauphin County Prison.

The Department of Environmental Protection invites fleet managers in northwest and northcentral Pennsylvania to attend one of four upcoming Natural Gas Vehicle Grant workshops being offered in December.

The Department of Environmental Protection Monday announced it has reached a proposed consent decree with Waste Treatment Corporation that addresses adverse impacts to the Allegheny River caused by the company’s treatment and discharge of drilling operation wastewater.

Judith D. Cassel, an Attorney for the Harrisburg law firm, Hawke McKeon & Sniscak LLP, was a guest speaker at the 2nd Midstream Oil and Gas Law Conference hosted by the Center for American and International Law Institute held in Houston, TX on November 22. 

The DEP Climate Change Advisory Committee is scheduled to meet on December 5 to continue its consideration of industry sector work plans making recommendations on how to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in Pennsylvania.

With a just-fitted identification band on a leg and best wishes of DCNR’s acting secretary on a wing, the briefly detained song sparrow lifted off into the brisk, autumnal breeze, joining birds of a different feather drawn together in the same learning exercise.

The Department of Conservation and Natural Resource Wednesday announced the release of just issued “Pennsylvania Trail Design and Development Issues: Guidelines for Sustainable, Non-motorized Trails.”

If you are a fine artist or craft artisan living in the Pennsylvania Wilds region you are encourage to apply to be part of the PA Wilds Artisan Trail. 

Hunters can help feed the more than 1.5 million Pennsylvanians who are at risk for hunger by donating deer meat through Hunters Sharing the Harvest.

When a new season begins Monday for Pennsylvania deer hunters, new hunting grounds will be available to them through additional state forest roads in 18 of the 20 state forest districts.

Those looking for an alternative to Black Friday shopping this year have a new way to channel the holiday spirit to the Pennsylvania state parks and forests they love.  The PA Parks and Forests Foundation has joined “Giving Tuesday,” a first of its kind effort to transform how people participate in the giving season.

The holidays have a decidedly feathery feel at Hawk Mountain Sanctuary when staff opens doors for its annual Holiday Open House on December 7 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The November issue of Susquehanna Greenway Partnership’s eNewsletter is now available online.  This month’s issue features stories about the West Branch of the Susquehanna in the running for River of the Year, dining out along the river, where is river access needed and much more.

The Outdoor Classroom is located in the South Hills of Pittsburgh is currently seeking Environmental Educators for a variety of positions including 1 full time and 1 part time positions, an 8.5 month position and multiple seasonal and casual positions.  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 - November 30, 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.