The Environmental Quality Board meeting to consider the final Chapter 78 (conventional) and 78A (Marcellus) drilling regulations will now be February 3 so it does not conflict with the Governor’s budget address on February 2.  The EQB will not have a January meeting.

DEP’s Pipeline Infrastructure Task Force met for 3 hours Wednesday to start its review of 184 recommendations in the draft Task Force report released by DEP on November 9. 

The Department of Environmental Protection is asking for stakeholders of the Growing Greener Program to complete a survey.  Data will be used in the possible development of a Growing Greener III Program.

Senate and House Republicans were busy this week moving budget, pension reform, liquor privatization, Fiscal Code and other bills that may be used once the details of a budget agreement are worked out.

PA Environment Digest now has a Google+ Circle called Green Works In PA.  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--

At a House and Senate Coal Caucus hearing Tuesday, PA Coal Alliance CEO, John Pippy cautioned legislators on early compliance with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s most recent high impact regulation, the Clean Power Plan.

The House Local Government Committee Wednesday amended and reported out three bills authorizing local government to assess stormwater management fees.  The bills include--

The House Local Government Committee Wednesday reported out House Bill 1533 (Rader-R- Monroe) which would amend the Municipal Waste Planning, Recycling and Waste Reduction Act (Act 101) to exempt certain rural local governments from having mandatory leaf collection programs.

The PA Sustainable Forestry Initiative provided an overview of its education and training programs to the Legislative Air and Water Pollution Control and Conservation Committee on Monday.

Restoration efforts by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation-PA to plant forested and streamside buffers in Pennsylvania have earned it accolades from two conservation groups.

The November 17 summary of articles from the Chesapeake Bay Journal Blog is now available featuring articles on--

The November 20 issue of the newsletter from Penn State’s Agriculture and Environment Center is now available featuring stories on--

A 30-day public comment period that falls during the holiday season and the lack of public hearings are among the concerns raised by 50 organizations fighting pipeline and infrastructure projects in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic in a November 13 letter to DEP Secretary John Quigley

Some of the first research using the Geisinger Health System data to explore the health impacts of shale gas development was presented at the Shale and Public Health Conference on November 18 at the University of Pittsburgh University Club, 123 University Place in Pittsburgh from 8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.

The Save the Loyalsock Coalition Friday commended DCNR’s Conservation and Natural Resources Advisory Council for its work and its recent recommendation to Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn advising strong protections for the Clarence Moore lands of the Loyalsock State Forest in Lycoming County.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Thursday announced a settlement for alleged environmental violations by the owner and operator of five natural gas processing plants in McKean and Warren Counties, Pa. and one in Putnam County, W.Va.  

The Department of Environmental Protection has scheduled a meeting and hearing on a proposed NPDES wastewater discharge permit for the 1,500 MW natural gas power plant in Jessup, Lackawanna County. (Nov. 21 PA Bulletin, page 6752)

Through a partnership initiated in 2011, Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful and the Washington County Court System Furlough Into Service Program celebrated their 100th illegal dump cleanup in Washington County this fall.

The Professional Recyclers of Pennsylvania Monday issued a call for presentation proposals for its 2016 Recycling and Organics Conference to be held in July.

Agricultural businesses and pesticide applicators in 17 counties can dispose of unwanted pesticides safely and easily in 2016 through the Department of Agriculture’s CHEMSWEEP program.

Lindsay Baxter, the PA Environmental Council’s Program Manager for Energy and Climate, recently outlines PEC’s work in helping to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and combat climate change.

In a presentation to the Citizens Advisory Council Tuesday, DEP said the new 70 ppm federal ozone pollution standard will cause violations at 8 air monitors in 6 counties: Allegheny, Armstrong, Bucks, Lebanon, Montgomery and Philadelphia counties, based on 2015 monitoring data.

The Department of Environmental Protection said Tuesday it has determined, through a two-year long air monitoring program, that dust from the Blaschak Coal Mine operations in the boroughs of Lattimer and Pardeesville, Luzerne County is not a danger to residents in the immediate area and the company will not be subjected to additional environmental controls.

The Department of Environmental Protection Tuesday announced it has assessed a civil penalty against PQ Corporation in the amount of $1.7M for air quality violations in the City of Chester, Delaware County.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Thursday announced it is now accepting applications through January 29, for its second annual Safer Choice Partner of the Year Awards.

The Department of Environmental Protection has scheduled a Laboratory Accreditation Advisory Committee meeting for December 2 at the DEP Bureau of Laboratories Building, 2575 Interstate Dr. in Harrisburg starting at 9:00.

The Public Utility Commission Thursday approved a settlement that reduces a distribution rate increase request filed by PPL Electric Utilities Corporation (PPL) on March 31, 2015.

Public Utility Commission Commissioner Pamela A. Witmer Thursday recognized National Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience Month, emphasizing the PUC’s role in helping to protect the state’s physical and digital infrastructure.

The mini-documentaries of Ralph Abele, Mira Lloyd Dock and Gifford Pinchot by WITF-TV and the Pennsylvania Conservation Heritage Project are now available for viewing online.  Here are the links--

The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society and a wide variety of partners are planting more than 1,000 trees in the Greater Philadelphia region this month.

It began early this summer far to our north, in the sprawling forests of spruce, cedar and tamarack. For Pennsylvania-based firefighters it would be the first call of many in the hell that was the 2015 wildfire season.

The November 18 edition of the Resource newsletter is now available from the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources featuring stories on--

Department of Agriculture officials Wednesday announced the spotted lanternfly quarantine has been expanded after small populations of the pest were detected in Amity and Douglass Townships, both in Berks County.

At the end of September, one of the most important conservation programs in the history of our country was allowed to expire because Congress failed to act. The Land and Water Conservation Fund is the program that has helped us protect our most precious places for conservation and recreation.

The Partnership for a Disability Friendly Community Wednesday recognized Hawk Mountain Sanctuary in Berks County for helping to create an inclusive, accessible, and welcoming community with the opening of its new Accessible Trail.

Everyone loves the beauty, mystery and charm of owls, but science continues to unlock the secrets of their biology and ecology.

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the November 21 PA Bulletin of an opportunity to bid on a mine reclamation project in Lawrence County.

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--

No new regulations were published this week.   Pennsylvania Bulletin - November 21, 2015

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