The voters have spoken.  Tom Corbett is the Republican candidate for Governor and Tom Wolf is the Democratic candidate.  The environment, specifically Marcellus Shale development, will be key issues in the November election. 

Gov. Tom Corbett Friday issued Executive Order 2014-3 outlining the ground rules for leasing additional DCNR State Forest and State Park lands for Marcellus Shale natural gas drilling, but only if it would not result in additional long-term surface disturbance.

The PA Chapter of The Natural Conservancy released a study in December 2011 on natural gas pipelines in Bradford County and Pennsylvania which projected Marcellus Shale development will result in from 10,000 to 25,000 miles of new natural gas gathering lines in the Commonwealth by 2030.

Conventional oil and gas development in northern Pennsylvania altered bird communities, and the current massive build-out of shale-gas infrastructure may accelerate these changes, according to researchers in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences.

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 PA Office of Open Records on Thursday granted Rep. Greg Vitali's (D-Delaware) appeal seeking details about Gov. Tom Corbett’s plan to raise $75 million through the additional leasing of mineral rights in state parks and forests for natural gas drilling.

DEP’s Citizens Advisory Council Wednesday recommended DEP undertake a major review of the Act 537 Onlot Septic System Program with the goal of including more onlot septic system technology options and integrating sewage planning with other water-related planning programs. 

The Citizens’ Advisory Council to the Department of Environmental Protection Wednesday released its annual report detailing activities and accomplishments from 2013 which will be distributed to the General Assembly and the Governor.

The Department of Environmental Protection Wednesday released the 2013 Susquehanna River Sampling Report detailing the latest results from the aggressive sampling effort across the Susquehanna River and many of its tributaries.

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation-PA is sponsoring two stream buffer plantings in June in Dauphin and Lancaster counties, according to Kate Austin, PA Grassroots Field Organizer.  The plantings will be held--

The Penn State Extension Greening the Lower Susquehanna Project and the Agriculture and Environment Center is hosting a Woods in Your Backyard Workshop in Shank Park, Bullfrong Valley Road, in Derry Township, Hershey, Dauphin County from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m.

The May issue of the Kettle Creek Watershed Association Enhance, preserve, Monitor and Protect newsletter is now available.  Learn about the habitat improvement and sediment reduction projects in Cross Fork Creek, the completed passive mine drainage treatment systems on Robbins Hollow and how Bucktail High School students released trout and planted tree in the Cross Creek Watershed.  Click Here to read your copy.

The Partnership for the Delaware Estuary has issued a call for abstracts for its January 25-28, 2015 Science and Environmental Summit to be held in Cape May, New Jersey.  Abstracts are due August 1.

The Department of Environmental Protection Thursday announced it has awarded a $944,819 contract for the Salem Church abandoned mine reclamation project in Boggs and Bradford townships, Clearfield County.

The Department of Environmental Protection Wednesday announced a coal refuse pile fire that has been burning for more than four months on parts of a seven-acre tract of land above abandoned mines in Fell Township, Lackawanna County, has been extinguished. Minichi Inc. of Pittston was contracted by DEP to extinguish the blaze.

Robert Semulka from Washington County plead guilty and was fined $2101.50 for illegally dumping trash at two locations in Canton Township. A third incident of dumping by Semulka, also in Canton Township, is awaiting an outcome.

The Yellow Breeches Watershed Association in Adams, Cumberland  and York counties is planning an on-the-water paddle cleanup for July 19.  An informational flyer and registration information will be posted on the YBWA Facebook page in the near future.  For more information, contact Deborah Goetz by sending email to: deborah.p.goetz@gmail.com.

The Professional Recyclers of Pennsylvania are accepting applications for its annual Waste Watcher Awards Program until May 30.  Click Here for details.

Don’t trash that campaign sign!  Bring it to the Centre County Recycling & Refuse Authority and have it recycled.

During a ceremony that included over 100 attendees from throughout the region, the Lancaster County Solid Waste Management Authority Thursday held a dedication and grand opening of its $4.8 million compressed natural gas (CNG) project.

PA Growing Greener Coalition Executive Director Andrew Heath passed along 10 rules for being an effective environmental advocate gleaned from remarks made by Kevin Abbey, ClearWater Conservancy; Oliver Bass, Natural Lands Trust; and Sean Robertson, Land Trust Alliance, during a panel discussion at the PA Land Trust Association annual conference recently. 

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The Department of Environmental Protection Monday announced the Environmental Quality Board has extended the registration deadline for three public hearings across the state on the department’s Reasonably Available Control Technology (RACT) proposal to ensure ample opportunity for public participation.

Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens in Pittsburgh announced Wednesday it has been awarded Net Zero Energy Building Certification under the Living Building Challenge, a program of the International Living Future Institute, for the Center for Sustainable Landscapes, one of the greenest buildings on Earth.

The Public Utility Commission Thursday applauded the state’s Independent Regulatory Review Commission for its approval of PUC regulations that provide consumers with the flexibility they need to move quickly away from electric generation rate increases and have all of the information they need to make an informed decision.

The results of PJM Interconnection's recent auction to procure power supplies three years into the future continues an overall trend toward more gas-fired generation and increasing diversity of resources.

The Public Utility Commission Monday released its report providing detailed information about and action items related to electric distribution company (EDC) responses the ice storm that brought significant snow, ice and winds to Pennsylvania in February 2014.

The Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency has completed an After Action Review (AAR) of county, state and utility company response to a series of severe storms in February that brought snow and ice to south central and south eastern Pennsylvania, leaving thousands without power for days at a time.

The Public Utility Commission is alerting consumers who receive their electric generation supply from PPL that the price is now estimated to increase on June 1.

The Public Utility Commission Thursday approved two applications that will supply natural gas to previously unserved portions of Susquehanna and Wayne counties.

The Wild Resource Conservation Program is now accepting applications for grants to protect the state’s native biodiversity through June 30.

Of the 200 runners who participated in the Friends of the Wissahickon's Forbidden 10K race on May 18 in Mongtomery and Philadelphia counties.  The winner was 25-year-old Michael Deasey, of Wynnewood, Pa. with a winning time of 35 minutes, 10 seconds.

Hikers can pick their pace and path through Pennsylvania’s bountiful outdoors when Hiking Week 2014 begins on May 24, offering participants a variety of organized hikes across the state.

The cool, wet weather of spring 2013 has emerged as a strong ally of state woodland managers as they prepare to combat remnants of a statewide gypsy moth population that had been posed for a heavy outbreak across much of the state, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources officials said Thursday.

Department of Environmental Protection Secretary E. Christopher Abruzzo Monday announced John Guth, Environmental Program Manager for Air Quality, has been named regional director of the agency’s Northwest Regional Office in Meadville.

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice of an opportunity to bid on a flood protection project in Jefferson County

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--

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice of proposed 2018 annual and ozone season CAIR NOx allowance allocations for comment  (PA Bulletin, page 3177) and notice of air pollution control measures under consideration by the Northeast Ozone Transport Commission relating to aftermarket sales of catalytic convertors for light-duty vehicles.

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.

CLICK HERE to Print The Entire PA Environment Digest.

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.