Gov. Tom Wolf Monday announced the Commonwealth Financing Authority approved $14 million in funding to support 94 projects through six Act 13 Marcellus Legacy Fund programs designed to support conservation projects and environmental protection measures throughout Pennsylvania.

The Senate and House Wednesday unanimously took final action on legislation— House Bill 1737 (Maher-R- Allegheny)— to make it easier and safer to destroy unused and unwanted prescription and over-the-counter drugs, sending it to Gov. Wolf for his action.

Gov. Tom Wolf Friday vetoed Senate Bill 562 (Gordner-R- Columbia) saying the bill has the potential to “grind the regulatory review process to a halt” and decreases transparency in state government.  His veto message says in part--

The Senate and House Thursday finished voting on bills for this session (at least as of now), putting 55 bills on the Governor’s desk for his action.  Seven of those bills were related to environmental issues of one sort or another, some good, some bad and some missed opportunities.

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--

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

EnergyWire Thursday reported Senators Joe Scarnati (R-Jefferson), Lisa Baker (R-Luzerne) and Gene Yaw (R-Lycoming) filed a brief with U.S. District Court asking to join the landowners’ lawsuit challenging the moratorium on oil and gas drilling imposed by the Delaware River Basin Commission in 2010.

Delaware River Basin Commission Executive Director Steve Tambini Wednesday announced storage levels in two reservoirs in the Schuylkill and Lehigh river valleys of Pennsylvania are quickly approaching levels that would require the Commission to issue a lower basin drought warning unless the region receives much-needed rainfall.

The Philadelphia Water Department Rain Check Program is hosting a series of workshops for residents interested in participating in its program to help residents manage stormwater at their homes.  The workshops will be held--

The October Update On Delaware River Basin Science is now available from the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University featuring articles on--

Gov. Tom Wolf, Acting Secretary of Environmental Protection Patrick McDonnell and Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency Director Richard D. Flinn Jr. Sunday toured flood damage in Northcentral Pennsylvania and gave an update on the state’s response. 

The Department of Environmental Protection Thursday provided this update on the gasoline spill into Loyalsock Creek in Lycoming County. The spill was caused when an 8-inch pipeline was ruptured by a bridge and other flood debris that had been washed out by floodwaters—

The Susquehanna River Basin Commission will receive public comment at a hearing on November 3. The subjects covered by the hearing include project applications for two diversions of water and several applications for water withdrawal and consumptive water use projects.

The Department of Environmental Protection Monday announced phase 2 of a coal mine cleanup project that will enhance 66 acres of the Pittsburgh Botanic Garden.

It isn't news to our community that Pennsylvania's historical unregulated coal mining practices left a legacy of environmental and socioeconomic liabilities for future generations to contend with.

Looking for a holiday gift that will please the most discriminating taste and help the environment? Consider pottery products from Clean Creek.

By Rona Kobell, Chesapeake Bay Journal

The Chesapeake Conservancy recently partnered with the York County Stormwater Consortium to create a  customized, web-based tool to streamline and standardize the data, calculations, and formatting of stormwater project reports that are submitted by the 44 participating municipalities, including the County, each year.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Thursday announced a package of tools to help communities plan long-term strategies for managing stormwater pollution.

The October 24 edition of the Watershed Winds newsletter is now available from Penn State Extension featuring articles on--

New drinking water testing for lead and copper by more than 2,859 public water supply systems found 11 exceeded both the lead and copper action levels, 79 exceeded only the lead action level, and 42 exceeded only the copper action level.

Aqua Pennsylvania is reminding customers that its Helping Hand assistance program is available to low-income families who find it difficult to pay their water bills.

On October 14, representatives from Sheetz and Wawa worked alongside Keep York Beautiful and Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful to reach their goal of restoring, enhancing and strengthening the Hope Street Garden and Learning Lab in York, PA.

The PA Resources Council will hold 3 Backyard Composting and 2 Verimcomposting Workshops in Allegheny Council in November and December.

Department of Environmental Protection Acting Secretary Patrick McDonnell addressed more than 250 civic leaders at the 11th annual Pennsylvania Brownfields Conference on Thursday.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is now accepting applications for its 2017 Brownfield Assessment and Cleanup Grants.  Applications are due December 20.

The Department of Environmental Protection Friday announced it has finalized a $472,317 civil penalty with JKLM Energy LLC of Sewickley, Allegheny County, for groundwater contamination caused by the use of an unapproved surfactant during the drilling of a natural gas well.

Commonwealth Court issued an opinion Friday saying Washington County landowner Loren Kiskadden did not meet the burden of proving Range Resources’ Yeager Marcellus Shale drill site operations contaminated his water well from 2009 to 2011.

The October 28 edition of DEP News is now available featuring stories on--

The PA Association of Environmental Educators is now accepting presentation and workshop proposals for its 2017 Conference to be held at the McKeever Environmental Learning Center, Sandy Lake, Mercer County, March 13-14.  Proposals are due November 31.

The PA Association of Environmental Educators are now accepting nominations for the 2017 Environmental Educators Awards to be presented at the PAEE Conference in March.  The deadline for nominations is December 31.

Panda Power Funds Thursday commissioned the nation’s first power plant designed to take advantage of abundant U.S. natural gas reserves discovered in the Marcellus Shale--  the 829 megawatt Panda “Liberty” generating station in Bradford County.

As part of its 14th year of “Prepare Now” education efforts, the Public Utility Commission Thursday urged utilities to help Pennsylvania consumers prepared for handling the costs associated with upcoming winter energy bills.

Gov. Wolf Thursday announced the Department of Human Services has received approximately $185.5 million in federal funding for the 2016-17 Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) season.

Department of Community and Economic Development Secretary Dennis Davin and representatives from ACTION-Housing, Inc. Friday toured in-progress weatherization work to highlight the importance of the Weatherization Assistance Program in recognition of the 40th anniversary of the U.S. Department of Energy's National Weatherization Day on October 30.

The Fall newsletter is now available from the Energy Coordinating Agency in Philadelphia, a nonprofit dedicated to helping people conserve energy, featuring articles on--

The Commonwealth Financing Authority Monday approved $245,835 for a high performance building project in Montgomery County.

The Public Utility Commission Thursday voted to implement modified regulations related to the Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards Act of 2004, following more than two years of public input, regulatory review and discussion.

The West Penn Power Sustainable Energy Fund will host a Funding Workshop For Clean Energy Project on November 10 at the West Overton Village and Museum, 109 W. Overton Road, Scottdale, Westmoreland County, from 10:30 to 12:30.  Click Here for available details and to register.

The DEP Climate Change Advisory Committee meets on November 1 to hear presentations on the biggest drivers and strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and a revised schedule for completing the 2018 update of Pennsylvania’s Climate Action Plan.

Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney and the Office of Sustainability will release the City’s sustainability plan, Greenworks: A Vision for A Sustainable Philadelphia, on November 2.

In partnership with the PA Recreation and Park Society, the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources will be offering its annual, free, in-person Community Conservation Partnership Grant Workshops at 6 locations across the state in November.

Gov. Tom Wolf Tuesday applauded the work of DCNR’s Green Ribbon Task Force, a panel of forestry experts from private, public and academic sectors, that has been meeting regularly since January to analyze current limitations to forest conservation and job growth, and to develop an action plan to address both objectives.

The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Thursday posted its sixth Fall foliage report showing forest colors will be peaking all over Pennsylvania in the next week.

The PA Parks & Forests Foundation is now accepting nominations for its Parks & Forests Awards through December 16.  The categories include--

The Fall edition of the Penn’s Stewards newsletter from the PA Parks & Forests Foundation is now available featuring stories on--

Grey Towers National Historic Site in Milford, Pike County, will offer a fee-free Open House for veterans, active military personnel and their families on November 11, from 11 a.m. -2 p.m.

Nature Abounds Friday announced it recently acquired Natural Biodiversity, a regional program focused on habitats and landscaping in the Kiski-Conemaugh watershed. The program was previously managed by the Conemaugh Valley Conservancy. 

It took 32 years to build both the Great Pyramid of Giza and the Washington Monument. And it took 32 years for Penn State Distinguished Professor of Ichthyology Jay Stauffer to publish his landmark book, "The Fishes of Pennsylvania."

Grab your camera and get to the Mountain, because  November 20 marks the final day for local photographers to submit entries for the Hawk Mountain Digital Photo Contest.

The Delaware Highlands Conservancy will host an Eagle Watch Volunteer Training Day on December 3, from 9:00 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Lackawaxen, Pike County.

Today we learned of the passing of Dennis Guise, former Deputy Executive Director and Chief Counsel of the Fish and Boat Commission and Chief Counsel of the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs.  He passed away on Monday.

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 Environmental Quality Board  published notice in the October 29 PA Bulletin of a correction to its Chapter 78a Marcellus Shale Drilling regulations related to the definition of “well development pipelines.”

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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.

PA Environment Digest is a supporting member of the Pennsylvania Outdoor Writers Association, Pennsylvania Council Trout Unlimited and the Doc Fritchey Chapter Trout Unlimited.