Heading into a new year, it’s worth laying out a few facts that might help guide state policymakers into making better decisions about supporting environmental and natural resource programs in Pennsylvania.

The Senate and House will convene to open the 2017-18 Legislative Session on January 3 to swear in new and returning members, adopt Senate and House operating rules, appoint members to standing committees and generally party.

Department of Environmental Protection Acting Secretary Patrick McDonnell Wednesday shared the following suggestions for Pennsylvania residents for a safe and healthy 2017.

The PA Parks and Forests Foundation Tuesday announced the locations of First Day Hikes. The free, guided hikes are held in many state parks and forests across the state on New Year’s Day.

Here are just a few of the things Pennsylvanians drop (or raise) on New Year’s Eve related to the environment, agriculture and wildlife--

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--

Sen. Gene Yaw (R-Lycoming), Majority Chair of the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, Friday outline his priorities for the Committee in the new legislative session.

Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati (R-Jefferson) and Senate Minority Leader Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) Thursday announced the Majority and Minority Chairs for each of the 22 Senate Standing Committees for the 2017-2018 legislative session. Eleven of the chairs are new to their committees.

On December 1 members of the Senate and House began circulating co-sponsor memos to their colleague announcing bills they plan to introduce or re-introduce in the new session. 

The Department of Environmental Protection is now accepting applications for stormwater best management practices to reduce nutrients and sediments to streams and rivers within urbanized areas in 10 counties in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. (formal notice)

Did you know Philadelphia has an international reputation as a city where green design and innovation are thriving?

PA American Water this week offered 10 simple tips for protecting your watershed.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service-PA Tuesday invited the public to attend the PA State Technical Committee meeting on January 19 at the USDA State Office in Harrisburg, PA.

The December issue of The Catalyst newsletter is now available from the Slippery Rock Watershed Coalition in Butler County featuring articles on--

The December issue of The Catalyst newsletter from the Slippery Rock Watershed Coalition had this summary of a recent college student symposium on water quality and other environmental issues--

The Berks County Conservation District Tuesday announced it is now accepting scholarship applications from graduating High School seniors and Berks County College or University students who will be continuing their education with the intent or continuance of majoring in environmental science, forestry, agriculture, engineering or related studies.

The PA House is now accepting applications for a 4-year college scholarship for two graduating high school seniors.  The deadline to apply is March 1.

The Department of Environmental Protection is now accepting applications for its municipal and hazardous waste Host Municipality Inspector Program Grants covering calendar year 2016.  Applications are due March 31.  (formal notice)

The PA Resources Council announced the winners of the 2016 Lens On Litter Photo Contest designed to call the public’s attention to community litter and illegal dumping problems.

This year’s PA Lake Erie International Coastal Cleanup was held on September 17 and resulted in 1,885 volunteers picking up 5,257 pounds of trash along the Lake Erie shoreline and waterways within Erie County.

A review of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows Pennsylvania is now in the top 10 states in terms of the number of workers employed in businesses related to energy efficiency and clean energy, according to a new report released by Environmental Entrepreneurs (E2) and E4TheFuture this week.

DEP’s Climate Change Advisory Committee is scheduled to meet on January 10 to discuss the 2016 Greenhouse Gas Inventory, draft Oil and Gas General Permits Controlling Methane Emissions and the 2018 Update To The PA Climate Change Action Plan.

The Public Utility Commission published a notice in the December 31 PA Bulletin formally announcing a Secretarial Letter seeking stakeholder input on the PUC’s Low-Income Usage Reduction Program to reduce electric and natural gas use in low-income households. 

Republican Governors in Ohio and Michigan this week acted to save and expand energy efficiency and renewable energy programs in their states.

Cabot Oil & Gas Corporation Friday announced the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission issued its final Environmental Impact Statement for Williams Partners' Atlantic Sunrise Pipeline Project, a 199.4 mile pipeline of which 196.9 miles are in Pennsylvania.

Natural gas development boosts local economies and benefits communities across the Commonwealth, a new study from the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago confirms, according to the Marcellus Shale Coalition.

The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources published a notice in the December 31 PA Bulletin announcing it has leased 39.55 acres of streambeds in Greene County To EQT Production Company for $158,200.

The PA Chamber of Business and Industry will hold its annual Environmental Conference and Trade Show on April 12 at the Best Western Premier Eden Resort and Suites in Lancaster.

A regional observance of Mining History Month will take place between January 7-29 at programs in Wilkes-Barre, Scranton, Pittston, Plymouth, Dallas, Peckville, and Ashley. 

The Western Pennsylvania Conservancy Wednesday announced the donation of a conservation easement from a private landowner, Dale Stover, on his 186-acre property in Haines Township, Centre County.

The Brodhead Watershed Association will host a Get Outdoors Poconos hike at the Thomas Darling Preserve atop Pocono Plateau outside Blakeslee, Monroe County on January 28 from 1:00 to 2:30 p.m.

For the third year, the Game Commission is giving the public a bird’s eye view of a bald eagle nest in York County adjacent to Codorus State Park through two high-definition cameras and microphones that will capture all the action.

A newly discovered virus infecting the fungus that causes white-nose syndrome in bats could help scientists and wildlife agencies track the spread of the disease that is decimating bat populations in the United States, a new study suggests.

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice of an opportunity to bid on a mine reclamation project in Fayette County in the December 31 PA Bulletin.

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 - December 31, 2016

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