Gov. Tom Wolf will present his FY 2017-18 budget proposal to a joint session of the General Assembly on February 7 starting at 11:30.  (Click Here to watch live.)  He said he plans to cut and consolidate his way to a balanced budget with no increase in personal or state sales taxes and maybe dump special funds into General Fund to be redistributed.

The Governor’s Office published its latest Regulatory Agenda in the January 4 PA Bulletin showing which regulations will considered by state agencies over the next year or so, including Agriculture, DCNR, DEP and other agencies. (PA Bulletin, page 740)

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency notified DEP’s Safe Drinking Water Program in December that its lack of resources to enforce minimum federal requirements could be grounds for taking primacy away from Pennsylvania.

The PA Growing Greener Coalition Thursday called on Gov. Tom Wolf and the Legislature to provide more funding to protect Pennsylvania’s water, land and other natural resources, not less.

The Public Utility Commission published notice in the February 4 PA Bulletin that Act 13 drilling impact fees will be the same in 2016 as they were in 2015. 

Pennsylvania collected $2.6 billion in General Fund revenue in January, which was $49.8 million, or 1.8 percent, less than anticipated, Secretary of Revenue Eileen McNulty reported Wednesday.

Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful Thursday announced registration is now open for the 2017 Great American Cleanup of PA which runs from March 1 to May 31.   If you or your group want to organize a cleanup, register now and get some free help.

President Trump Monday issued an Executive Order putting a cap on new regulations issued by federal agencies.  It requires agencies to eliminate 2 old regulations if a new regulation is proposed, unless prohibited by law.

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 Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee has scheduled a public hearing on February 7 to solicit testimony on the impact of pharmaceuticals in Pennsylvania’s waterways.

The Senate Game and Fisheries Committee Wednesday approved and sent to the Senate Floor two bills to authorize the boards of the Fish and Boat and Game Commissions to adopted their own fees.  The bills include--

The Senate Appropriations Committee Tuesday amended and reported out Senate Bill 181 (Mensch-R-Montgomery) establishing a Performance-Based Budget Board and requiring state agencies to justify their budget requests for all existing and proposed programs every year.

Senators John Blake (D-Lackawanna) (photo) and Guy Reschenthaler (R-Allegheny) Tuesday joined a diverse group of stakeholders from the business, labor and environmental communities to unveil their bipartisan legislation that would generate significant economic development, create jobs and enhance Pennsylvania’s clean energy portfolio.

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

The Department of Environmental Protection published its latest Non-Regulatory Agenda on February 2 listing technical guidance the agency will propose and finalize over the next year or so. (formal notice) Among the guidance documents to be considered are--

The Department of Environmental Protection is now accepting comments on proposed permits related to the regulation of methane from oil and gas operations. (formal notice)

In a letter to all members of the Senate Monday, the PA Environmental Council Monday renewed its opposition to Senate Bill 175 (Reschenthaler-R-Allegheny) which does not allow Pennsylvania to set its own methane emission limits from oil and gas development or any other source of methane and instead requires the adoption of any federal standards.

By Kirk Jalbert, PhD, MFA, For Fractracker

By Rona Kobell, Chesapeake Bay Journal

The Department of Environmental Protection Thursday issued a letter to the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority, informing the Authority the Boil Water Advisory can be lifted.

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the February 4 PA Bulletin of proposed changes to the technical guidance clarifying closure requirements for aboveground and underground storage tanks and for Cryptosporidia, E.coli and turbidity laboratory reporting requirements for public water systems.  Comments are due March 6.

The Department of Environmental Protection  published notice in the February 4 PA Bulletin of final technical guidance on wetland condition Level 2, riverine condition level 2 and lacustrine condition level 2 rapid assessments.

The Delaware River Basin Commission will hold a hearing on water withdrawal requests and adoption of the latest DRBC Water Resources Program February 15. (formal notice)

The new Penn State Extension Chesapeake Bay Landscape Professional (CBLP) Certification Program relies on several publications and resources to help landscape professionals learn all they can about sustainable landscaping practices before taking a final exam.

The January 30 edition of the Watershed Winds newsletter is now available from Penn State Extension featuring articles on-

The January edition of Runoff Rundown is now available from the Center for Watershed Protection featuring articles on--

PA American Water Wednesday announced entries are now being accepted for its 15th Annual Protect Our Watersheds Student Art Contest.  The deadline is March 31.

The February 3 edition of DEP News is now available from the Department of Environmental Protection featuring articles on--

On January 26, Acting DEP Secretary Patrick McDonnell joined PennEnviornment and the Academy of Natural Sciences for a discussion with U.S. Senator Bob Casey on how to defend the federal Clean Air Act and climate change in a new era of unprecedented attacks on climate science and clean energy.

Williams Partners L.P. late Friday reported the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has issued a certificate of public convenience and necessity authorizing the Atlantic Sunrise expansion project – an expansion of the existing Transco natural gas pipeline to connect abundant Marcellus gas supplies with markets in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern U.S.

Members of the PA Energy Infrastructure Alliance Monday urged the Department of Environmental Protection to move swiftly and finally approve the permits needed to construct the Mariner East 2 pipeline project.

The U.S. Energy Information Administration Monday reported the electricity industry is planning to increase natural gas-fired generating capacity by 11.2 gigawatts (GW) in 2017 and 25.4 GW in 2018, based on information reported to EIA.

Estes Trucking recently completed the installation of a 688kW rooftop solar array at its warehouse terminal in West Middlesex, Mercer County.

The Department of Military and Veterans Affairs finalized a contract to build a solar panel farm that will provide Fort Indiantown Gap, Lebanon County, with clean renewable solar energy for the next 20 years, reducing the facility’s power demand costs.

The U.S. Department of Energy Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy SunShot Initiative Tuesday announced up to $30 million in new projects to support the integration of solar energy into the nation’s electric grid, while diversifying the nation’s electricity sources and improving the reliability and security of the electric grid.

The Green Building Alliance in Pittsburgh is hosting another of its Inspire Speakers Series on February 9 featuring 8 speakers that will help you fall in love… with sustainability.

The Southeast PA Transportation Authority has reaffirmed its commitment to a sustainable future, with the Board's approval Monday of a second-generation Sustainability Program Plan for Fiscal Years 2017-2020.

The Philadelphia Office of Sustainability is now accepting new applications and renewals for the Sustainable Business Tax Credit, which offers up to a $4,000 credit on the Business Income and Receipts Tax paid by Philadelphia businesses that demonstrate a commitment to sustainability.

The January issue of In Case You Missed It from the PA Environmental Council is now available featuring articles on--

On March 9, the PA Resources Council and Allegheny CleanWays will host an evening of engaging and eye-opening films that address pressing global issues such as climate change, species extinction and environmental justice at the Wild & Scenic Film Festival.

A new LearnNow Video from Penn State Extension discusses 10 of the invasive organisms considered priorities by the Great Lakes Commission and Fish and Boat Commission are described along with some pointers on identifying them.  Click Here to watch the video.

Young Pennsylvanians interested in pursuing environmental careers are invited to apply by April 15 for the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources’ summer residential camp, DCNR Secretary Cynthia Adams Dunn said Tuesday.

Lehigh Valley Greenways Conservation Landscape, Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor is preparing to disburse $75,000 as part of the 2017 Lehigh Valley Greenways Mini-Grant Program. The deadline for applications is March 3.

The PA Parks and Forests Foundation, through the Gateway Community Initiative, created an infographic outlining the economic benefits of connecting people and businesses to the outdoors in Pennsylvania.  Among the economic benefits included are--

The Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor Monday announce the release of the draft Delaware Canal Vision Study 2016 for public review and comment.

The Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor Monday announced it is now accepting entries for the first D&L Shutter Madness Photo Tournament.  Entry deadline is March 3.

The PA Parks & Forests Foundation invites you to watch anti-graffiti videoes made as part of the high school and college student Anti-Graffiti Video Contest.  Voting ends January 30.

The Brodhead Creek Watershed Association will host a Get Outdoors Poconos hike on February 25 at the Mount Wismer look out in Barrett Township, Monroe County.

It's that time of year again when the hearts of young peregrine falcons turn to love and everyone can watch nature's renewal online through webcams on the Peregrine Falcon nest on the 15th Floor of the Rachel Carson Building in Harrisburg.

Pennsylvania’s system of state game lands would grow by more than 50 acres, thanks to two land donations approved Tuesday by the Board of Game Commissioners.

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the February 4 PA Bulletin of an opportunity to bid on a demolition project in Centralia, Columbia County.

The Western PA Conservancy is seeking students to fill a variety of internship positions in Land Stewardship (Venango County), Watershed Conservation (Indiana County) and at Fallingwater (Fayette County).  Click Here for all the details.

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 Governor’s Office published an updated Regulatory Agenda in the February 4 PA Bulletin (page 740) listing regulations expected to be considered by state agencies over the next year or so.

CLICK HERE to Print The Entire PA Environment Digest.

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.