The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources told the Senate Appropriations Committee Wednesday about 1,600 acres of DCNR’s 2.2 million acres of State Forest land are now disturbed by Marcellus Shale natural gas drilling pads and pipelines.

The Senate and House Appropriations Committee hearings on Gov. Wolf’s proposed budget for the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources are now complete.  Here are five things we learned as a result of those hearings--

Four environmental conservation and education programs from throughout Western Pennsylvania will share $20,000 from Dominion and the PA Environmental Council for innovation and effectiveness in making a positive impact on the Western Pennsylvania environment.

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the April 4 PA Bulletin of a proposed final Chapter 78 (conventional) and Chapter 78A (unconventional) drilling performance standard regulations for a 30 day public comment period with no additional public hearings.

Representatives of the conventional (non-Marcellus Shale) oil and gas industry in Pennsylvania are trying to perpetuate the myth that conventional drilling is “benign” and doesn’t affect the environment.

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.

Gov. Tom Wolf's work calendar will be posted each Friday and his public schedule for the day will be posted each morning.   Click Here to view Gov. Wolf’s Weekly Calendar and Public Appearances.

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--

The House Monday passed House Resolution 139 (Rapp-R-Forest) honoring petroleum industry pioneer Col. Edwin L. Drake on the 195th anniversary of his birth.

The House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee is scheduled to hold a hearing on April 20 on DEP’s handling of the proposed final version of the Chapter 78 (conventional) and 78A (Marcellus Shale) drilling regulations.  [Note: The date of this hearing may be changing.]

The House Consumer Affairs Committee Tuesday held an informational meeting to learn about electric and natural gas industry priorities for the coming year.

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

The Department of Environmental Protection Monday announced it will provide an 18-month extension of the consent orders and agreements under which Allegheny County Sanitary Authority customer municipalities have been operating. The agreements expired March 30.

On April 11 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. the Penn State Agricultural and Environment Center will host a free community workshop on The Homeowner’s Guide to Stormwater. This Guide will help you create your own stormwater management plan and select simple stormwater solutions to be implemented on your property.

Pittsburgh-based Paddle Without Pollution’s 2015 Spring Fundraising Campaign kicked off Wednesday on Indiegogo.com, the largest global fundraising site. The non-profit organization’s goal is to raise $8000 in 60 days to support this year’s watershed stewardship campaign.

Natural Resources Conservation Service Pennsylvania State Conservationist Denise Coleman Thursday announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture is making available $2.8 million in financial and technical assistance through the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP).

The March 30 issue of the Watershed Winds newsletter is now available from Penn State Extension, featuring articles on--

The April edition of Chesapeake Currents is now available from the EPA Chesapeake Bay Program featuring articles on--

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the April 4 PA Bulletin it has approved a regional Source Water Protection Plan for the Lower Monongahela River proposed by the River Alert Information Network and the Lower Monongahela Regional Partnership  (PA Bulletin, page 1687).

The PA Chapter of the American Water Works Association is promoting participation in a series of four upcoming webinars geared to the operators of small water systems.  The webinars include:

“Cans for Pets” – an initiative encouraging individuals to aid shelter animals through responsible recycling – has reached the milestone of collecting 300,000 aluminum pet food cans in thanks to the support of pet lovers across the United States. 

Staff from The Department of Environmental Protection's  Northeast Regional Office got a jumpstart on Earth Day when representatives from 6 of NERO’s 7 programs turned out at 9 a.m. on March 28 to pick up litter between the Wilkes-Barre/Alden exit and the Ashley/Sugar Notch exit of State Route 29 as part of the 2015 Great American Cleanup of PA.

The Connection for Oil, Gas & Environment In The Northern Tier posted this commentary on its blog Wednesday about drilling industry reaction to proposed final changes to DEP’s Chapter 78A (Shale) drilling regulations—

In an effort to increase efficiency and consistency, the Department of Environmental Protection now collects natural gas production data from operators of unconventional (Shale) natural gas wells on a monthly basis.

To provide information to the public, answer questions and take formal testimony on Shell Chemical Appalachia LLC’s Air Quality Plan Approval request for its proposed ethane plant in Beaver County, the Department of Environmental Protection will hold a question-and-answer session followed by a public hearing on May 5.

Penn State Extension will host a free webinar on April 16 starting at 1:00 p.m. on recent pipeline developments related to Marcellus Shale natural gas development.

The Department of Environmental Protection has scheduled the inaugural meeting of the  Aggregate Advisory Board for May 13. (formal notice)

The Department of Environmental Protection will host a public hearing at 5:00 p.m. on April 14 to outline a plan to remove hazardous substances and cap a portion of the Kuhn’s Landfill (site) located in Darlington Township, Beaver County.

The Department of Environmental Protection held a public hearing on March 31 to accept comments on an air quality plan approval application from Perdue Grain and Oil Seed LLC for the installation of a grain elevator and a soybean oil extraction facility in Conoy Township, Lancaster County.

The March issue of In Case You Missed It from the PA Environmental Council is now available.  Here’s a sampling of PEC’s activities in March--

The Department of Environmental Protection will host a public meeting followed by a public hearing regarding PPL Electric Utilities, Inc.’s application for a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Permit (NPDES) and a Water Obstruction and Encroachment Permit for construction of the proposed West Pocono-North Pocono 230kV Transmission Line.

The Public Utility Commission published notice in the April 4 PA Bulletin it has postponed the April 4 Cybersecurity Tabletop Exercise.

Gov. Tom Wolf Tuesday announced Pennsylvanians struggling to pay home heating bills will now have until May 1 to apply for financial help through the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).

The April 2 edition of DEP News is now available from the Department of Environmental Protection featuring articles on--

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Tuesday announced 34 fellowships for undergraduate students in 25 states and Puerto Rico to pursue environmental science and related fields of study at universities and colleges across the nation, helping to inspire the next generation of environmental scientists and engineers.

The Water Systems Council will hold its 2015 Great Lakes Children’s Water Festival on May 14 on the campus of Penn State Behrend in Erie, and is recruiting local volunteers to serve as presenters, classroom guides, classroom assistants, registration volunteers, Mess Hall workers, and logistics coordinators.

Anglers, hikers and other outdoors enthusiasts are reminded repair work soon will be starting in the area of the now-barricaded Poe Paddy Tunnel along Penns Creek in a wide-ranging rehabilitation project on the Mifflin-Centre county line that will require the temporary closing of a section of the Mid-State Trail on April 6, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Acting Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn announced Friday.

Paddle Without Pollution in Pittsburgh Monday announced its “Presque Isle Water Trail” film is available on demand.   The film documents the work of PWP, state agencies, and other organizations as they planned the Presque Isle Water Trail in Erie, over the last two years.

After 57 years, the Wissahickon Valley Watershed Association in Montgomery and Philadelphia counties is shifting from its stewardship role to actively managing its nearly 1,300 acres of protected open space as suburban wilderness.

The Brodhead Watershed Association is hosting a walk to a ridgetop vernal pool adjacent to Paradise Township’s recently purchased Swiftwater Forest Preserve in Monroe County on April 18.

Pennsylvania Farm Bureau Thursday said it was disappointed and concerned with a decision by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to list the Northern Long-Eared Bat as threatened under the Endangered Species Act, because it could place limitations on farm families across the state. 

This section lists House and Senate Committee meetings, DEP and other public hearings and meetings and other interesting environmental events.

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 are NewsClips from around the state on all environmental topics, including General Environment, Budget, Marcellus Shale, Watershed Protection and much more--

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice of a proposed final Chapter 78 (conventional) and Chapter 78A (unconventional) drilling performance standard regulations for a 30 day public comment period with no additional public hearings.

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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.

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