The Department of Environmental Protection announced Monday it has approved the permit applications from Sunoco Pipeline LP for the Mariner East 2 Pipeline Project. DEP considered 17 Chp. 105 (Water Obstruction and Encroachment) permits and 3 Chp. 102 (Erosion and Sediment Control) permits for the project.

The Environmental Hearing Board Friday denied a request for a supercedeas by environmental advocacy groups appealing DEP’s issuance of permits for Sunoco’s Mariner East 2 natural gas liquids pipeline.

PennEast Pipeline Company announced Monday it has received notice from the Department of Environmental Protection the Company’s request for Water Quality Certification, as required by section 401 of the Federal Clean Water Act, has been granted, marking receipt of a significant state permit.

Seismic events that occurred in western Lawrence County on April 25, 2016, were likely correlated to natural gas hydraulic fracturing by Hilcorp Energy Company, according to a report issued by the Department of Environmental Protection Friday.

Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati (R-Jefferson), Senate Majority Leader Jake Corman (R-Centre) and Sen. Gene Yaw, Majority Chair of the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, submitted a letter to DEP dated February 6 raising significant concerns with the proposed methane emission limits on oil and gas operations.

The Senate and House begin agency-by-agency hearings on Gov. Wolf’s $32.3 billion FY 2017-18 budget request Tuesday.  The hearings run through March 9.

Here are the Senate and House Calendars and Committee meetings showing bills of interest as well as a list of new environmental bills introduced-- 

Matthew Hough, Executive Director of the Game Commission, told the House Game and Fisheries Committee Tuesday up to 40 percent of the Wildlife Conservation Officer Districts in the state will be vacant by 2019 due to the lack of funding to support the Commission.

John Arway, Executive Director of the Fish and Boat Commission, told the House Game and Fisheries Committee Wednesday rising pension and health care costs, without any revenue relief, will force the Commission to drastically cut programs by FY 2018-19.

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

The DEP Citizens Advisory Council is scheduled to hold an online-only meeting February 21 from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. to hear an update on agency activities from DEP Acting Secretary Patrick McDonnell.

Following a meeting of the Commonwealth Drought Task Force Tuesday, the Department of Environmental Protection announced two counties remain in drought warning status, six improve from warning to watch status, and 11 improve from watch to normal status.

The Susquehanna River Basin Commission is scheduled to hold its next business meeting on March 9 in Scranton. (formal notice & agenda)

The Coldwater Heritage Partnership Thursday announced over $72,000 in grants have been awarded to local organizations to protect and conserve Pennsylvania’s coldwater streams.

On February 2 our local celebrity groundhog reminded us that there are just six more weeks left to winter. Warm weather may feel like it’s a long time away, but now is the time to start planning the earliest of this year’s planting and stream restoration activities.

The Slippery Rock Watershed Coalition in Butler County is currently looking for several new volunteers to help with the Coalition’s Adopt-a-Passive-Treatment-System Program and basic watershed monitoring using data loggers.

The French, Hay, and Pickering Creeks of northern Chester County and southern Berks County are vital tributaries to the Schuylkill River. Join the effort to study them and keep them beautiful as a Schuylkill Water Steward volunteer! 

The Partnership for the Delaware Estuary and the Philadelphia Water Department are now accepting entries to the 2017 Green City, Clean Waters Student Art Contest.  The deadline for entries is March 17.

The Partnership for the Delaware Estuary and the Philadelphia Water Department are now accepting entries to the Schuylkill Street Art Contest.  The deadline for entries is March 31.

The Delaware Riverkeeper Network is recruiting interested volunteer naturalists who can help identify, map and document natural and unique features and habitats along the proposed PennEast gas pipeline route

The Green Valleys Watershed Association will host a Stormwater Best Management Practices Evaluation and Management Workshop for up to 50 participants at their headquarters at the Welkinweir Arboretum, Pottstown, Chester County on February 23, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. 

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation-PA Wednesday announced Emily Thorpe has been named as its Student Leadership Coordinator in Pennsylvania.

Experts unveiled the world’s first city-owned hatchery for freshwater mussels on February 16. This attraction is part of a new exhibit at the Fairmount Water Works in Philadelphia, which is free to visit.

The February 16 edition of the Forests for the (Chesapeake) Bay newsletter is now available featuring stories about--

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

The February 13 Watershed Winds newsletter is now available from Penn State Extension featuring articles on--

Auditor General Eugene DePasquale Thursday announced he directed his staff to begin a performance audit of the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority to shed light on what led to the recent series of water problems for city residents and businesses because of a possible breakdown in the governance of the authority.

Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful, its local affiliates and partners held community improvement events in 2016 resulting in engaging over 171,000 volunteers to pick up and properly dispose of over 5.5 million pounds of trash, 1.6 million pounds of electronics waste and over 42,000 tires.

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the February 18 PA Bulletin of its approval of the Section 401 Water Quality Certification for the Maxwell Locks and Dam 13-megawatt hydroelectric project on the Monongahela River in Washington and Fayette counties (page 1054).

A novel air quality model will help air quality forecasters predict surface ozone levels up to 48-hours in advance and with fewer resources, according to a team of Penn State meteorologists.

The Winter Update is now available from PA Envirothon featuring articles on--

Pennsylvania strengthened its nation-leading farmland preservation program Thursday by safeguarding 2,369 more acres on 26 farms across the state.

The Manada Conservancy will host a special State of the Swatara Greenway on March 9 at The Perking Point, 257 Hershey Road, Hummelstown, Dauphin County starting at 7:00 p.m.

For the 17th consecutive year, Harrisburg peregrine falcons continue to use the 15th-floor ledge of the Rachel Carson State Office Building as a nest site that provides shelter, ready food sources and the doting attention of admirers around the world.

The Nature Conservancy has awarded Nature Works Everywhere Grants to 4 schools in Pennsylvania. 

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 Public Utility Commission published notice in the February 18 PA Bulletin of proposed regulations setting standards and billing practices for residential public utility service for public comment (page 965) 

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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.

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