The final six scheduled voting days before the election, and the end of this legislative session, will start October 17, so whatever the House and Senate want to get done will have to happen in the next two weeks. 

Philly.com reported Thursday the Marcellus Shale Coalition filed a legal challenge in Commonwealth Court asking that DEP be blocked from enforcing certain provisions in the  Chapter 78a drilling regulations until it can be determined if DEP has the statutory authority to enact those provisions.  The regulations went into effect on October 8.

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 Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee is scheduled to meet on October 17 to consider House Bill 1737 (Maher-R-Allegheny) further providing for the safe destruction of unwanted or unused prescription and other drugs (House Fiscal Note and summary).

The Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee and Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee have scheduled a joint hearing on October 18 on Pennsylvania’s strategy for meeting Chesapeake Bay Watershed cleanup requirements.

ARRIPA, the Anthracite Region Independent Power Producers Association, Tuesday urged the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee to preserve a recently adopted tax credit measure that is set to increase from $7.5 million to $10 million per year in 2017 and to explore other opportunities for economic support and regulatory relief that would help to keep the plants operating.

Pennsylvania, as well as many other States and Tribes across the Nation, are gearing up to push Congress to reauthorize the reclamation fees associated with the federal Surface Mine Control and Reclamation Act.  The fees are set to expire in 2021.

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the October 15 PA Bulletin inviting comments on proposed amendments to the state’s Emergency Mine Reclamation Plan.

At its 27th annual Members & Friends Celebration on September 30, Brodhead Watershed Association honored Craig Todd for for his exceptional commitment to maintaining a healthy environment for future generations.

Researchers, educators, elected officials, farmers, agribusiness professionals and agricultural and environmental agency representatives gathered for the 2016 Penn State Agricultural Research Tour in late September to learn about current water quality and soil health research relevant to the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

By Patrick McDonnell, Acting Secretary of DEP

By Rona Kobell, Chesapeake Bay Journal

The PA Growing Greener Coalition is now offering an updated edition of the Finding The Green Guide to Watershed, Recreation and Land Conservation Funding available for download.

The PA Environmental Council is inviting watershed groups to share resource information, learn techniques to help build membership, and network with other groups at the Northwest PA Watershed Workshop on October 25 at the Bossard Nature Center at Woodcock Lake in Saegertown, Crawford County from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m.

The Penn State Extension Master Watershed Steward Program in Berks County is seeking volunteers to participate in training the first class in Spring of 2017.

The Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay is offering financial assistance to property owners living in the Yellow Breeches and Conodoguinet watersheds in to install Conservation Landscapes and Rain Gardens on their properties.

By James Wilson, Parks Recreation Specialist, Northampton County Division of Parks and Recreation

The October 11 Watershed Winds newsletter is now available from Penn State Extension featuring stories on--

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service invites the public to attend the PA State Technical Committee meeting on October 18 at the USDA State Office,  359 East Park Drive, Harrisburg starting at 1:00 p.m.

The Susquehanna River Basin Commission holds a hearing on proposed water withdrawal requests on November 3 in Room 8E-B East Wing of the Capitol Building in Harrisburg starting at 2:00.  (formal notice)

Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful would like to remind Pennsylvania residents there is still time to organize an event or volunteer for the 2016 International Coastal Cleanup which runs through October 31.

The PA Resources Council, PA American Water and other organizations will host three Drug Take-Back Day drop-off collection events in Allegheny County on October 22 from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

The October 13 edition of DEP News is now available featuring articles on--

The PA Association of Environmental Professionals will hold its 2017 Annual Conference April 5 to 7 at the Toftrees Golf Resort in State College.

The PA Housing Finance Agency Thursday announced its board approved $6.2 million for 40 housing projects to improve the availability and affordability of housing in 29 counties.

The Department of Environmental Protection and the Meadville Redevelopment Authority Friday announced they have received Energy Star Label Certification for the Victor C. Leap office building at 230 Chestnut Street in Meadville.

The departments of Environmental Protection and Conservation and Natural Resources are hosting Nobel Prize winner Dr. Richard Alley in an upcoming public appearance where he will address the effects of climate change on Pennsylvania.

Central PA Conservancy’s July 2016 Goddard Student Leadership Legacy Institute was a great success this year giving students a range of perspectives and experiences through leadership training and team-building, volunteer service projects, and hands-on learning about the environment and our region's role within the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Friday posted its fourth Fall foliage report showing forest colors are expected to peak in the Southwest, Central and Northeast areas of Pennsylvania over the next week.

Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn Wednesday joined Bureau of Forestry officials and others in formally dedicating the Pinchot State Forest District, renamed in honor of Gifford Pinchot, conservation pioneer and creator of forestry practices that continue to shape and benefit Pennsylvania's state forests to this day.

Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn Thursday joined Bureau of Forestry officials and others in renaming the bureau’s Penn Nursery and Wood Shop the Mira Lloyd Dock Resource Conservation Center in honor of the late woman environmentalist, botanist and civic activist who championed reforestation and anti-pollution measures.

Gov. Tom Wolf Monday joined Sen. Anthony Williams (D-Philadelphia), Rep. Jordan Harris (D-Philadelphia), Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Cindy Dunn (photo), and others to announce a $3 million state grant to aid in the development of a 2.25 mile section of the Schuylkill River Trail in Philadelphia.

Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn Thursday joined Rep. Mike Hanna (D-Centre) in announcing riding and parking improvements to heighten ATV enthusiasts’ enjoyment of the Bloody Skillet ATV Trail near Snow Shoe, Centre County.

Gov. Tom Wolf and Secretary Leslie S. Richards Friday announced  37 highway, bridge, bike and pedestrian projects will receive $40 million in Multimodal Transportation Fund grants from the Department of Transportation.

The public is invited to join DCNR’s Bureau of Forestry, Historical and Museum Commission officials, and local firefighters in the dedication of a State Historical Marker commemorating the Pepperhill Fire of 1938, in which eight young firefighters died.

Get Outdoors PA is offering a free webinar October 17 from 2 p.m.–3 p.m., where you can learn how to develop a successful birding program.

The October 12 Resource newsletter is now available from the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources featuring articles on--

The Natural Lands Trust Friday announced a major milestone in the non-profit land conservation organization’s effort to preserve 1,505 acres in northern Chester County known as Bryn Coed Farms.

Cemeteries can tell stories of people and communities and a Laurel Hill Cemetery Walk at Grey Towers National Historic Site, Milford, Pike County on October 22, will do just that. The 1-hour program begins at 11 a.m.

The Game Commission Thursday announced the opening of a 30-day public comment period during which the public can comment on the proposal to remove the osprey from the state’s list of threatened species list.

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 - October 15, 2016

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