Gov. Tom Wolf Monday announced that 17 organizations involved in 14 projects from across the Commonwealth will receive the prestigious Governor’s Award for Environmental Excellence.

In recognition of Women’s History Month, PennFuture, in conjunction with the National Wildlife Federation, Wednesday presented its 2016 Celebrating Women in Conservation Award to Sister Pat Lupo of the Benedictine Sisters of Erie for her dedication and achievements in the environmental field.

The Joint House-Senate Legislative Air and Water Pollution Control and Conservation Committee heard testimony Monday saying the collapse of the state’s Electronics Waste Recycling Program resulted from the fact that the amount of material actually collected by local recycling programs is many times more than the amount of waste electronics manufacturers are required to pay for under the 2010 Covered Device Recycling Law.

Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful Monday provided testimony to the Joint House-Senate Legislative Air and Water Pollution Control and Conservation Committee at a public hearing concerning the Covered Device Recycling Act (Act 108 of 2010), urging members to take action to ensure that every resident in the state has access to convenient and affordable trash disposal and recycling.

Gov. Tom Wolf Wednesday announced he would let the Republican FY 2015-16 budget bill-- House Bill 1801 (Irvin-R-Centre) -- become law without his signature.  The bill contains $6.05 billion in supplemental appropriations for the current year.

The PA Environmental Council released this statement Thursday thanking Gov. Wolf for vetoing House Bill 1327 (Peifer-R-Pike), the Fiscal Code bill, and reminded House and Senate lawmakers and the Governor they must provided the necessary funding for our resource protection agencies to address mandatory environmental restoration requirements across the state.

While some are breathing a sigh of relief, the FY 2015-16 budget represents the 13th year in a row funding and staff for environmental programs has been cut, diverted or simply held in place, which really amounts to yet another cut.

Just one day after Gov. Wolf said he would veto House Bill 1327 (Peifer-R-Pike) that includes a provision that would have killed a comprehensive update of DEP drilling regulations covering conventional oil and gas wells, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and Tribune Review reported Thursday conventional well drillers have filed a lawsuit to block the regulations from becoming final.

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 were given final approval by the Senate and House and are now on the Governor's desk for action--

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

Reps. Garth Everett (R-Lycoming), Keith Gillespie (R-York) and Michael Sturla (D-Lancaster), three of Pennsylvania’s members on the Chesapeake Bay Commission, introduced and the House unanimously passed House Resolution 739 designating the week of June 5-11 Chesapeake Bay Awareness Week. 

The Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee reported three bills out of Committee at its meeting Tuesday, including bills authorizing a local recycling fee, further allowing the use of alternative septic systems in sewage planning and establishing a private dam financial assurance program.  The bills were--

The Department of Community and Economic Development Monday told the House Democratic Policy Committee there are a variety of hurdles to the deployment of more natural gas-fueled vehicles in the state and the program created in the Act 13 of 2012 to provide incentives should be kept in place.

Citing the tragedy unfolding in Flint, Michigan, Rep. Angel Cruz (D-Philadelphia) was joined by a bipartisan group of legislators Tuesday calling for support of a legislation package that aims to reduce the risk of lead poisoning in Pennsylvania.

A group of Democratic Senators and state health officials Wednesday announced the introduction of a package of 5 bills to address lead problems in Pennsylvania.

The Senate Game and Fisheries Committee Wednesday unanimously reported out bills authorizing the Game and Fish and Boat Commissions to set the fees they charge rather than having the General Assembly establish the fees by law.

The Legislative Forestry Task Force, an initiative of the Joint Air and Water Pollution Control and Conservation Committee, will meet in State College on April 14 to hear presentations on invasive species and their impact on forest health.

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

Pennsylvania farmers who want to implement best management practices (BMPs) or purchase on-farm conservation equipment are encouraged to apply for remaining 2015-16 Resource Enhancement and Protection (REAP) Program tax credits.  The deadline for applications is April 22 (Earth Day).

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation announces its 12th Annual Watershed Photo Contest is now underway. Photo submissions are being accepted through April 13.

On Monday Capital Region Water announced a proposal to conserve its 8,000 acre DeHart Watershed Property, the source of drinking water for Harrisburg in Dauphin County, by easement in partnership with the Ward Burton Wildlife Foundation, The Nature Conservancy-PA, and Fort Indiantown Gap in Lebanon County.

Chari Towne, the Delaware Riverkeeper Network’s Director of Schuylkill Programs, told the story of the massive restoration project to return the Schuylkill River to a healthy waterway at the recent Schuylkill Watershed Congress. Just a reminder of how far we have come.  Click Here to watch the video.

Chesapeake Bay Foundation-PA issued this statement Thursday by Pennsylvania Executive Director Harry Campbell, as the Fish and Boat Commission prepares to commemorate its 150th anniversary on March 30.

The PA Environmental Council Tuesday provided a video update on its projects and initiatives to protect and restore water resources in Pennsylvania.

The Center for Watershed Protection’s 2016 National Watershed and Stormwater In-Person and Webcast Conference will be on April 12.

The Department of Environmental Protection will hold a meeting of the Stakeholder Work Group on the proposed disinfection requirements rule for public water suppliers on April 15.

The PA Emergency Management Agency Monday reminded citizens to practice flood safety during the start of the Spring weather.

Big Spring Run stream and floodplain restoration efforts in Lancaster County were highlighted in the Winter issue of Franklin & Marshall’s Winter Magazine.

The Department of Environmental Protection, partnering with the municipality of Penn Hills, Tuesday cited Monster and Mom and Bobo’s Car Wash LLC, for illegally storing an estimated 50,000 waste tires.

There is still time to do a little Spring cleaning along roads, streams and in parks all over Pennsylvania by volunteering a few hours to do a cleanup or beautification project as part of the Great American Cleanup of PA.

The York County Solid Waste Authority Monday announced it will re-launch a Residential Electronics Recycling Program in York County beginning in early April, 2016.  The exact start date will be announced soon. 

Gov. Tom Wolf Thursday announced the federal government has granted his request for federal disaster assistance to reimburse state, county and municipal governments and other eligible private nonprofits for costs associated with the response to the winter storm that impacted parts of Pennsylvania January 22-23 in 23 counties.

The Department of Environmental Protection Thursday announced it has authorized an emergency contract to stop serious mine subsidence in Pleasant Hills, Allegheny County.

The Department of Environmental Protection Thursday announced it will host an information session and public hearing March 29 concerning the renewal of an Individual National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit in association with mining activities at the Gibraltar Rock Quarry, located in New Hanover Township in Montgomery County.

Derry Township School District in Dauphin County introduced three new school buses fueled by propane into its fleet for the 2015-16 school year. The Blue Bird Propane Vision buses have already saved the school district money by reducing fuel and maintenance costs.

The Sustainable Energy Fund Thursday announced Jack Uldrich, renowned futurist and best-selling author, as the keynote speaker for Energypath 2016 in State College July 28-29.

The Energy Alliance of Greater Pittsburgh will hold its annual meeting on April 25 at 11 Stanwix Street, Pittsburgh from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m.   PUC Commissioner Robert F. Powelson will be the keynote speaker for this special event.  Click Here for all the details and to register.

Lebanon Valley College and the Green Schools-Blue Waters Program will hold the last of  their three more credit graduate course designed to provide educators in grades 3 to 12 with activities and resources to support STEM Investigations For Sustainable Schools from April 11 to May 6.

The Philadelphia Science Festival is a community-wide celebration of science that takes place annually.  This year it will be held from April 22-30.

Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn Monday announced the department and its partners today are launching PA Conservation Explorer to assist businesses, local governments and citizens with conservation planning, and improve the process for environmental reviews for threatened and endangered species that are required during permitting for construction and other activities.

The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources is now accepting applications from volunteer fire companies for grants to help battle wildfires.  Applications are due May 19.

The Natural Lands Trust is seeking volunteers for a “Mega Tree Planting Party” April 16 at the ChesLen Preserve in Coatesville, Chester County from 9:00 a.m. to Noon.

The PA Horticultural Society has scheduled a series of Spring and Fall Tree Tender classes in the 5-county Philadelphia area to help residents learn tree biology, identification, planning, proper care and working with your community to promote tree planting.  The schedule includes--

The Wildlands Conservancy and its partners will hold a Return On The Environment Workshop April 22 (Earth Day) at DeSales University, University Center, 2755 Station Ave., Center Valley from 8:00 to 11:00 a.m.

The Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission Friday announced it has awarded $7.6 million to eleven local projects in Southeastern Pennsylvania through the Transportation Alternatives Program.

The PA Parks and Forests Foundation, the only non-profit whose mission is Pennsylvania’s state parks and forests, is launching its new website this week. They invite visitors to explore the new design and features.

The Spring edition of Conserve, the quarterly magazine by the Western PA Conservancy, is now available featuring articles on--

At 3:53 a.m., March 28, 1979, the cascading failures of valves, pumps, gauges and reactor operators combined to produce the worst accident in the U.S. commercial nuclear power industry.

The PA/NJ Chapter of The American Chestnut Foundation is seeking a volunteer to serve as Treasurer with knowledge and experience in finance and accounting.

The McKean County Conservation District has an opening for a grant funded Recycling Director to direct the administration and management of the McKean County Recycling Program and the components of the McKean County Municipal Waste Management Plan.   The deadline for applications is April 8.

Audubon Pennsylvania is seeking candidates to fill the position of Vice President and Executive Director.   Click Here for a detailed job description and instructions on how to apply.

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 - March 26, 2016

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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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