There was unanimous agreement Tuesday at a joint hearing by the Senate Environmental and Agriculture Committees that more resources are needed to meet Pennsylvania’s water pollution cleanup commitment to the Chesapeake Bay and throughout the state and that there are no magic bullets to meet those obligations.

Harry Campbell, executive director for the Chesapeake Bay Foundation-PA issued this statement after his testimony before a joint hearing of the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy, and Agriculture and Rural Affairs committees Tuesday--.

The PA Recycling Markets Center, Inc. Thursday announced the Northern Lancaster County Authority of Denver, PA has received the 2016 William M. Heenan, Jr. Recycling Markets Development Award for its commitment to creation of new markets for recycled color-mixed glass.

The Senate Tuesday voted 27 to 21, and without any debate, to approve Senate Resolution 385 (Brooks-R- Crawford) directing the Joint State Government Commission to identify environmental laws and regulations more stringent than federal law. The Commission has 18 months to do the listing.

By Sen. Wayne D. Fontana (D-Allegheny)

By David Spigelmyer, President, Marcellus Shale Coalition

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--

The Joint Legislative Budget and Finance Committee Wednesday issued a report estimating the costs of implementing a Lyme and tick-borne disease surveillance, education, prevention and treatment program in Pennsylvania (Act 2014-83).

Republican House member Kristin Hill from York County introduced House Bill 2408 Tuesday that would create yet another reviewer of all state agency regulations and statutes and make recommendations for their repeal if they “defy common sense.”

The October 24 Environmental Issues Forum hosted by the Joint Legislative Air and Water Pollution Control and Conservation Committee will feature an update on Pennsylvania’s Wildlife Action Plan by the Fish and Boat and Game Commissions.

To reclaim a poorly revegetated former mine site, the Department of Environmental Protection Knox District Mining Office Thursday announced it has awarded a Government Financed Construction Contract to P. and N. Coal Company, Inc., of. Punxsutawney, Jefferson County.

With help from local students, the Brodhead Watershed Association recently coordinated the planting of several new rain gardens in East Stroudsburg in Monroe County.

The Delaware Valley Green Building Council and the Philadelphia Sustainable Business Network will host a 4-part Green Stormwater Infrastructure webinar series starting October 27.  The webinars will be held--

The PA Council of Trout Unlimited and the Middle Susquehanna Riverkeeper will hold a training session for volunteers interested in monitoring water quality in areas impacted by natural gas pipeline development on November 19 in Danville, Montour County.

The PA Council of Trout Unlimited will hold a macroinvertebrate sampling training program for volunteers in the PATU Coldwater Conservation Corps on November 12 at Ohiopyle State Park, 124 Main Street, Ohiopyle, Fayette County.

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation is now accepting applications for its Spring 2017 education programs for teachers and students.  The deadline for applications is December 2.

The Fall edition of the BayBound newsletter from the Chesapeake Bay Foundation-PA is now available featuring articles on--

Gov. Tom Wolf Wednesday announced the investment of $75.6 million for nine drinking water and wastewater projects across eight counties through the PA Infrastructure Investment Authority.

The Department of Environmental Protection Thursday announced it will host a public hearing regarding the renewal of a National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit application for the Scranton Sewer Authority on November 2 from 6 to 9 p.m. in the Council Chambers of Scranton City Hall, at 340 N Washington Avenue.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Tuesday announced PennDOT will pay a $26,066 penalty for underground storage tank violations in Brownsville, Fayette County, and Franklin, Venango County where facilities stored diesel fuel.

Gov. Tom Wolf and PA Emergency Management Agency Director Richard D. Flinn Jr. reassured residents of Central PA that the Commonwealth would ensure counties and municipalities have the resources they need.

Gov. Tom Wolf Friday announced that on October 22, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Pennsylvanians can prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs as part of National Prescription Drug Take Back Day.

Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful is encouraging all Pennsylvanians to get involved on America Recycles Day, November 15.

Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful invites local residents, organizations, civic groups, and businesses to join programs to adopt local areas, such as municipal roads, communities, parks, neighborhood blocks, greenways, waterways and trails to keep them litter free.

The Clean Air Council, on behalf of itself and PennEnvironment, Citizens for Pennsylvania’s Future, and Clean Water Action, has petitioned the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to find a deficiency in the Allegheny County Health Department’s administration of the Title V air permitting program.

The City of Philadelphia published notice in the October 22 PA Bulletin of a proposed revision to the State Air Quality Implementation Plan adopting a 15 ppm sulfur standard for commercial fuel oil in Philadelphia. 

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Tuesday announced it is now accepting nominations for the 2017 Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Awards for companies or institutions that have developed a new process or product helping to protect public health and the environment.

The Department of Human Services will begin accepting applications for Low-Income Home Energy Assistance starting November 1.

By Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney and Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto

Attorney General Bruce R. Beemer and Acting Consumer Advocate Tanya J. McCloskey Monday issued a reminder that the deadline is approaching for eligible consumers to cash restitution checks related to three settlements reached with electric generation suppliers.

The PA Parks and Forests Foundation invites all students in grades 6, 7 and 8 in Pennsylvania to participate in the anti-graffiti Stewardship Middle School Poster Contest.  The deadline for entries is January 16.

The PA Parks and Forests Foundation invites all students in grades 6, 7 and 8 in Pennsylvania to participate in the anti-graffiti Stewardship Video Contest for high school and college students.  The deadline for entries is January 16.

The Pennsylvania Conservation Heritage Project launched its new website and invites visitors to explore the new design and features.

The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources is now accepting nominations for the 2017 Trail of the Year.  The deadline for nominations is November 11.

The Western PA Conservancy is now accepting applications for Western PA Canoe Access Development Grants.  The deadline for applications is November 14.

The Westmoreland Land Trust and the Loyalhanna Watershed Association will host a special Reimagining Our Westmoreland event on November 2 in Ligonier.

The Wildlands Conservancy will hold its 35th Annual Green Gala on November 18 at the Desales University Center in Center Valley, Lehigh County.  Other Fall programs include--

The Manada Conservancy and East Hanover Township Parks & Recreation will present an introduction to GeoCaching Program November 5 at the East Hanover Township Community Park, 88848 Jonestown Road, Grantville from 10:00 a.m. to Noon.

PennDOT Monday announced it is now accepting applications for funding transportation improvement projects under the Multimodal Transportation Fund.  The deadline for applications is December 16.

The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Thursday posted its fifth Fall foliage report showing forest colors are expected to peak all over Pennsylvania in the next week, except for in the Southeast.

The Allegheny National Forest and The Nature Conservancy-PA will hold a free hemlock woolly adelgid workshop to train volunteers on how to identify and report hemlock woolly adelgid infestations November 1 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Allegheny National Forest Supervisor's Office at 4 Farm Colony Drive in Warren, according to The Bradford Era.

Gov. Tom Wolf Thursday announced he had chosen twenty individuals to serve on his Advisory Council for Hunting, Fishing and Conservation. The Governor appointed former House member Dan Surra to serve as Council Chair.

The October issue of the Currents newsletter from the Fish & Boat Commission is now available featuring stories on--

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the October 22 PA Bulletin of an opportunity to bid on a mine reclamation project in Cambria County.

The Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor is seeking qualified candidates for a full-time Trail and Stewardship Manager position based in Easton, Northampton County.  The person filling this position will work throughout Bucks, Carbon, Lehigh, Luzerne and Northampton counties. The deadline for applications is October 28.  Click Here for the full job description.  Click Here 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.

The City of Philadelphia published notice in the October 22 PA Bulletin of a proposed revision to the State Air Quality Implementation Plan proposing a 15 ppm sulfur standard for commercial fuel oil.  Comments are due November 22.   DEP has a statewide standard of 500 ppm of sulfur.

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