Gov. Tom Wolf Thursday signed an executive order reinstating a moratorium on new leases for oil and gas development in state parks and forests. He signed the order with members of the General Assembly in attendance at in Benjamin Rush State Park in Philadelphia.

Department of Environmental Protection Acting Secretary John Quigley today invited Pennsylvania individuals and organizations to apply for the 2015 Governor’s Award for Environmental Excellence. The deadline for applications is March 2.

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

The House Appropriations Committee Thursday announced the schedule of hearings on the FY 2015-16 state budget.--

The House Democratic Caucus Monday issued this policy statement on climate change and setting a goal of carbon neutrality—

Two bills protecting natural gas leaseholders across the state were unanimously approved Wednesday by the full Senate, according to Sen. Gene Yaw (R-Lycoming), Majority Chair of the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee.

Senators Gene Yaw (R-Lycoming) and John Wozniak (D-Cambria) Wednesday were nominated by their colleagues to co-chair the Senate Coal Caucus, a bipartisan, legislative committee emphasizing the continued importance of coal and coal-driven technologies in the state.

The Joint Legislative Air and Water Pollution Control and Conservation Committee will host an Environmental Issues Forum on February 2 featuring a presentation by the MKB Company, the State College-based producer of an organic compost-filled erosion control system.

The January Environmental Synopsis newsletter is now available from the Joint Legislative Air and Water Pollution Control and Conservation Committee featuring articles on--

The PA League of Women Voters will honor former Senator Franklin L. Kury (D-Northumberland) and author of the Environmental Rights Amendment to Pennsylvania’s Constitution at a reception on April 7 at the Colonial Ridge Country Club, 4901 Linglestown Road, Harrisburg.

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation-PA applauds the Jefferson County Commissioners for adopting a Clean Water Counts! resolution calling on state officials to make clean water a top priority for the Keystone State. 

Pennsylvania has 697 days to put the best management practices on the ground needed to eliminate 10 million pounds of nitrogen and 212 million pounds of sediment from going into our rivers and streams to meet the 2017 Chesapeake Bay cleanup milestones.

The PA Chapter of The Nature Conservancy has been awarded a Growing Greener grant from the Department of Environmental Protection to restore water quality and fish habitat in a half-mile segment of Tom's Run.

The League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania Citizen Education Fund through its Water Resources Education Network is pleased to announce the opening of the 2015 Source Water Protection Collaborative Grants.  Applications are due March 20.

Dominion Resources is now accepting applications for $1.2 million in new Environmental Stewardship Grants within its service territory.  The deadline for applications is March 2.

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice inviting comments on a proposed Total Maximum Daily Load Plan for Crooked Creek Watershed in Armstrong and Indiana counties.  (PA Bulletin page 607)

The January issue of Water Policy News is now available from the PA League of Women Voters Water Resources Education Network featuring stories on--

The Department of Environmental Protection announced Tuesday it will hold a public meeting and hearing on February 10, to outline its plan to clean up lead-contaminated battery casings and soil at residential properties on Noll Lane in Ruscombmanor Township, Berks County.

The Department of Environmental Protection Wednesday announced it will host a public meeting regarding Keystone Sanitary Landfill’s permit application to expand its facility located in Dunmore and Throop Boroughs in Lackawanna County.

The Department of Environmental Protection Friday clarified the purpose of a February 25 public meeting and hearing to discuss an NPDES permit application and site-specific approval submitted by Clean Earth Inc. for the proposed Wellsboro Johnston Airport project in Tioga County.

Gov. Tom Wolf Monday signed a disaster emergency proclamation to enable state and local authorities to respond to any unmet needs as quickly as possible as a snowstorm drops snow across much of the state. Higher amounts are expected along the eastern edge of the state.

The Public Utility Commission Monday provided tips for those residents who may lose electrical power in the current snow storms--

Exelon Generation’s nuclear power plants in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions ran at full capacity during the recent winter storm that dropped more than two feet of snow in some parts of New England, the company said Friday.

Penn State University will host an adult education class on Marcellus Shale natural gas development in Lancaster on February 3 at the Farm and Home Center, 1383 Arcadia Road in Lancaster starting at 6:00 p.m.

The 2015 Great Lakes Children’s Water Festival organized by the national Water Systems Council will be held at Penn State Erie and Behrend College on May 14.

The PA Resources Council Thursday launched a recycling initiative in Pittsburgh aimed at significantly increasing recycling rates in apartment buildings through a variety of hands-on tactics to include expanded tenant education and more convenient recycling procedures.

Solarize Allegheny, a community-supported solar campaign, will officially launch with a kick off celebration in the Point Breeze neighborhood of Pittsburgh on February 8 from 7:00-9:00 p.m. at Pino’s Restaurant, 6738 Reynolds Street, Pittsburgh.

The Delaware Highlands Conservancy annually offers the Delaware Highlands Conservancy/Yeaman Scholarship in the amount of $1,000 to eligible high school seniors.

The ClearWater Conservancy is now accepting applications for its Connection Program to fund trips to Millbrook Marsh Nature Center for students in schools throughout Centre County to provide watershed education in an outdoor setting. The deadline for application is February 20.

The Wildlife Leadership Academy in Lewisburg, Union County, is now accepting applications for their 2015 summer field schools from youth ages 14-17 and adults. Adults serve as mentors and participate alongside the students. School teachers are encouraged to apply as mentors.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, in partnership with the White House Council on Environmental Quality, are now accepting nominations for the 2014-2015 Presidential Innovation Award for Environmental Educators.  Nominations are due March 13.

The PECO/Natural Lands Trust Green Region Grant Program to support projects in Southeastern Pennsylvania to preserve, protect and improve open space will be accepting applications for grants until March 27.

The January 28 Resource newsletter from the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources is now available featuring articles on--

The next round of TreeVitalize tree inventory and planting grants are due to the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources on July 30.  Click Here for all the details.

The Board of Game Commissioners Wednesday approved land acquisitions totaling nearly 1,990 acres.

Individuals from all over Pennsylvania participated in the PA Parks and Forests Foundation’s  Parks & Forests Through the Seasons Photo Contest in the spring and summer of 2014. The winning photographs will be put on display in the State Capitol Building Harrisburg, in the East Wing Rotunda, from February 2 through 28.

The PA Parks and Forests Foundation announced Friday entries for the 2015 State Parks and Forests Through The Season photo contest will be due September 12.  Click Here for photo submission rules, categories and all the details.

The February issue of the Water, Land, Life newsletter from the Western PA Conservancy is now available featuring stories on--

The Susquehanna Greenways Partnership will hold its annual West Branch Susquehanna River Paddle & Pedal Sojourn on June 17-21 starting at the Jersey Shore and ending in Muncy  in Lycoming County.  Click Here to sign up to receive notification when registration opens.

The Central PA Conservancy and the Susquehanna Appalachian Trail Club will hold its annual IronMaster’s Challenge run on April 26 in Cumberland County.  Click Here to register and for more details.

Do you enjoy hiking, but worry about getting lost? If so, visit Hawk Mountain Sanctuary, Kempton, Berks County for a Map and Compass Orienteering Workshop beginning at 10 a.m. on February 7 at the Hawk Mountain Sanctuary Visitor Center.

The Wildlands Conservancy updated its February activities calendar for events in the Lehigh Valley.  Click Here to learn more about programs for students and adults.

The DEP Citizens Advisory Council adopted a resolution honoring former member Janet Keim who served for eight years on the Council.  Here is the text of the resolution—

The PA Parks and Forests Foundation Monday announced the appointment of Gus Frederick and Mary Soderberg to its Board of Directors.

The Department of Environmental Protection published notices on the opportunity to bid on abandoned mine reclamation project in Butler County, a second reclamation project in Butler County and an underground mine fire project in Lackawanna County.

Nature Abounds, a national nonprofit environmental organization, is seeking a contractor to build a website for the Pennsylvania Senior Environment Corps including a water monitoring database. Project bids are now being accepted through the close of business on February 13.

Nature Abounds, a national nonprofit environmental organization based in DuBois, PA is seeking candidates for a part-time Volunteer Program Coordinator at their headquarters in DuBois, PA.  Click Here for all the 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.  It also gives you a heads-up on House and Senate Committee meetings, conferences and other interesting events.  Meetings are in Harrisburg unless otherwise noted.

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 February 17 Environmental Quality Board meeting has been canceled.

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.