The Department of Environmental Protection Tuesday issued a drought watch declaration for four more Pennsylvania counties – Chester, Cumberland, Delaware and Philadelphia – due to low stream flows, declining groundwater levels and lack of precipitation. 

Pennsylvania’s conservation districts Thursday voiced their concerns about DEP’s Chesapeake Bay “reboot strategy” during the Chesapeake Bay Program’s Citizens’ Advisory Committee to the Chesapeake Executive Council meeting in Lancaster.

Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn Thursday announced the 2016 State Forest Resource Management Plan that will chart the course of Pennsylvania’s future state forests has been finalized and is now available.

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 PA Environmental Council, Delaware Valley Green Building Council and the Pittsburgh Green Building Alliance Tuesday sent a letter to all members of the House expressing their concern that House Bill 568 (Evankovich-R-Allegheny) does not do enough to ensure Pennsylvania has up-to-date state Uniform Construction Code, including the most recent provisions relating to energy efficiency.

At a hearing Wednesday in Chester County, lawmakers on the Senate Democratic Policy Committee were told more restrictions are needed on electronic billboards to prevent traffic safety problems, impacts on property values and natural landscapes.

The September 20 meeting of DEP’s Citizens Advisory Council will feature presentations on the draft 2016 Integrated Water Quality Report, the Penn State Chesapeake Bay Watershed Farmer Survey and an overview of the 2015 Climate Change Action Plan Update.

On September 14 the Westmoreland County Conservation District will present two awards for outstanding conservation service – the Conservation Farmer of the Year Award to the Stahl family of Smithton and the J. Roy Houston Conservation Partnership Award to Larry Larese.

The Department of Agriculture published notice in the September 10 PA Bulletin announcing it will begin accepting applications for up to $3,000 in farm succession or transition planning under the Agricultural Land Conservation Assistance Grant Program on October 1.

Department of Environmental Protection Acting Secretary Patrick McDonnell led a special event Wednesday to acknowledge the continuing work to extinguish the underground mine fire at Powderly Creek in Carbondale, Lackawanna County, and to reclaim the abandoned mine land for future development.

The Anthracite Region Independent Power Producers Association this week announced the award of $5,000 in grants to watershed groups working to reclaim and improve the environment.

On Wednesday the Schuylkill River Restoration Fund awarded $278,832 in grants for 8 projects designed to help control stormwater runoff, abandoned mine drainage, agricultural pollution and land preservation.  The grants include:

The Delaware River Basin Commission Wednesday released its 2016 Water Quality Assessment Report showing water quality is meeting designated water uses at most locations in each assessment zone of the river.

The Penn State Delaware County Master Watershed Stewards training program is accepting applications for the class of 2017 until November 1.

The Susquehanna River Basin Commission Thursday met for its quarterly business meeting and among other actions, voted to propose a change to regulations setting application requirements and standards for the review of water withdrawal projects.

The Stroud Water Research Center is seeking volunteers for a tree planting on October 14 in Coatesville, Chester County from 9:00 a.m. to Noon.

Stream Restoration, Inc. and its partners have announced 5 free training workshops will be offered in October and November to those interested in learning how to use Datashed, the free online tool for cataloging the results of stream restoration projects.

The September Upstream newsletter from the Stroud Water Research Center in Chester County is now available featuring articles on--

Sen. John Yudichak (D-Luzerne), Minority Chair of the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee,  Friday joined other state lawmakers, local officials and Wyoming Valley residents to mark the 5th anniversary of the 2011 flood recovery efforts that began in the aftermath of the devastation wrought by Tropical Storm Lee on communities from West Pittston to Shickshinny.

Gov. Tom Wolf and the Department of Environmental Protection Thursday  announced completion of a new $2.179 million water line for residents in the Villages of Stockton #6 and #8 in Hazle Township, Luzerne County.

Pennsylvanians with property damage covered by DEP’s Mine Subsidence Insurance Program will have their claims paid without delay, thanks to a new directive signed recently by the heads of the departments of Environmental Protection and Insurance, and the Pennsylvania State Treasury. 

Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful affiliates Keep Huntingdon County Beautiful, Keep Juniata County Beautiful, PA CleanWays of Mifflin County, and Keep Perry County Beautiful hosted a month-long cleanup initiative along the Juniata River in August.

20th Clinton County CleanScapes West Branch Susquehanna River Cleanup will take place on September 10 beginning at 9:45 a.m. in Pine Creek Township, Clinton County.

The September newsletter is now available from the PA Resources Council featuring stories on--

The National Recycling Coalition recently honored Covanta's Margretta (Meg) Morris, Vice President of Materials Management and Community Affairs and a member of the PA Recycling Markets Center, with the 2016 Lifetime Achievement Award for her efforts and leadership in recycling.

The Environmental Quality Board meets September 20 to consider new standards for ammonia and an aquatic life criterion for chloride as part of a package of proposed water quality standards changes considered every three years.

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the September 10 PA Bulletin of a request for Section 401 Water Quality Certification by Williams Field Services Company for 164 pipeline segments in Susquehanna County (PA Bulletin, page 5833).

The Department of Health late Thursday announced Pennsylvania has reported its first case of Zika virus infection by sexual transmission.

Many of Pennsylvania’s 14 public community colleges are reaching out to students whose for-profit colleges recently closed their doors.  Since late August, three for-profit colleges with 13 campuses in the state– Cambria-Rowe Business College, DuBois Business College, and ITT Technical Institute, have closed.

The Department of Environmental Protection Thursday awarded more than $1.6 million to Pennsylvania schools and businesses for projects using alternative fuels and infrastructure.

The Department of Environmental Protection will continue to accept applications for its Alternative Fuels Incentive Grant (AFIG) Program until December 30.

PennDOT Deputy Secretary for Multimodal Transportation, Toby Fauver Wednesday joined Cambria County Transit Authority Executive Director Rose Lucey-Noll, Board Chairman Ed Cernic, Jr. and state and local officials to break ground for a new Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) fueling station in Johnstown.

The Northeast Environmental Partners invite you to attend the 26th Annual Evening for Northeast Pennsylvania’s Environment on October 20 at the Woodlands Inn and Resort, Wilkes-Barre, PA.

GreenFest Philly, the largest environmental festival in the Philadelphia area, will be held on September 11 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. in historic Headhouse Square, Philadelphia.

The PA Association of Environmental Professionals have issued a call for presentations for its 2017 Annual Conference to be held at Toftrees Resort in State College April 5 to 7.

The August edition of In Case You Missed It from the PA Environmental Council is now available featuring stories on--

State officials will be reminding citizens throughout September to prepare for emergencies as part of National Preparedness Month, a nationwide month-long effort to encourage households, businesses and communities to prepare and plan for emergencies.

We all remember where we were and what we were doing on September 11, 2001, but the employees of the Department of Environmental Protection remember better than most because they played a key role in the responding to the Somerset County crash site of Flight 93.

We will all remember where we were and what we were doing on September 11, 2001, but Betsy Mallison, Community Relations Coordinator from DEP’s Southwest Regional Office in Pittsburgh, will remember it more vividly than most.

The DCNR Conservation and Natural Resources Advisory Council meets on September 21 to hear presentations on the PA Wilds nature and heritage tourism industry and on protecting working forests. (formal notice)

The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Tuesday announced it is accepting nominations for three open positions on the 2017 Pennsylvania Trails Advisory Committee, DCNR Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn.

The Carbon County Commissioners and the Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor Wednesday held a groundbreaking for the Carbon County Trail Connectivity Project on the Lehighton Spur of the D&L Trail behind Red Castle Brewery in Lehighton, PA.

A fun, fee-free day on September 24 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Grey Towers National Historic Site, Milford, Pike County, will feature an Open House of the historic mansion, music, a magic show, a special exhibit, and self-guided trail walks. An ice cream social will be held from 2-4 p.m.

Join the Delaware Highlands Conservancy for a workshop on October 8 from 10 a.m. to Noon and decorate a "Woodland House" for your autumn holiday decor using only natural materials gathered from our area.

The entries are in and the winners of the 2016 Susquehanna Greenway Partnership’s Treasured Towns & Landscapes Of The Susquehanna Greenway Photo Contest have been announced.

Sweet Arrow Lake Park in Schuylkill County near Pine Grove will host a Fall Bird Walk on September 17 conducted by the Schuylkill County Conservation District.

Department of Agriculture officials Saturday announced the Spotted Lanternfly quarantine has been expanded to additional municipalities in Berks, Lehigh and Montgomery counties (formal notice)

Starting September 22, the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources will post weekly Fall foliage reports on its website.

The five finalists among August submissions to the Big-Buck Trail Cam Contest are on display at the Game Commission’s Facebook page, and anyone wishing to vote for their favorite must do so before the votes are tallied on September 12.

The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources will hold a hearing on October 11 to accept comments on applications for grants submitted to the Wild Resource Conservation Program.  (formal notice)

By: Edie Dondero, Associate Director, Land Stewardship, Brandywine Conservancy

The Brandywine Conservancy will host another in its Stewardship Series of Education Programs September 29 on Bat Conservation - Why It Matters And What You Can Do starting a 6:30 p.m. at the Brandywine River Museum of Art, Route 1, Chadds Ford, Chester County.

Post & Schell, P.C. Wednesday announced Terry R. Bossert has rejoined the Firm as a Principal in its Environmental, Energy & Utilities, and Marcellus Shale Practice Groups, resident in its Harrisburg and Pittsburgh, PA offices.

Kenneth R. Reisinger, DEP Deputy for Waste, Air, Radiation and Remediation, Tuesday announced he will be retiring October 1 after more than 37 years of public service

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 - September 10, 2016

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