Questions related to the impact of the historic cuts to DEP’s budget, deficiencies in the Safe Drinking Water Program and meeting Pennsylvania’s Chesapeake Bay cleanup obligations dominated the Senate hearing on DEP’s budget Thursday.

There are now over 3,688.3 miles of Class 1 natural gas pipelines not regulated for safety by either the federal or state government, but Sen. Lisa Baker (R-Luzerne) wants to change that.

The Environmental Hearing Board denied a request for a supercedeas by environmental advocacy groups appealing DEP’s issuance of 20 permits for Sunoco’s Mariner East 2 natural gas liquids pipeline on March 3.

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

Multiple news outlets are reporting President Trump will name Pennsylvania PUC Commissioner Robert Powelson to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, which oversees the siting and approval of interstate oil and gas pipelines.

Rep. David Zimmerman (R-Lancaster) Wednesday introduced House Bill 776 that would no longer require thousands of church-owned facilities-- churches, schools, camps and businesses-- with their own water supplies from being required to meet state Safe Drinking Water Act requirements.

Senators Ryan Aument (R-Lancaster) and John Yudichak (D-Luzerne) along with Representatives Becky Corbin (R-Chester) and Rob Matzie (D-Allegheny) will hold a news conference March 14 regarding the formation of a bipartisan, bicameral caucus focusing on Pennsylvania’s nuclear energy resources.

DEP’s Citizens Advisory Council meets on March 21 to hear an update on the agency’s Safe Drinking Water Program which was the subject of a warning letter from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency saying DEP had insufficient resources to meet minimum federal requirements.

PennFuture and the National Wildlife Federation will celebrate the careers and accomplishments of five Pennsylvania women who work in conservation with Women in Conservation Awards.

Edie Stevens of Paradise Township, who has spent most of her 78 years in environmental activism, would be the first to say that her work isn’t over yet. That won’t stop PennFuture from giving her the Women in Conservation Lifetime Achievement Award on April 7 at Keystone College, LaPlume, Lackawanna County.

In an effort to restore land and water quality and increase economic development, the Department of Environmental Protection’s Bureau of Abandoned Mine Reclamation Wednesday announced it is seeking construction bids for a centralized plant to treat acid mine drainage (AMD) in Cambria County.

By: Stephanie Smith, Web Content Manager, EPA Chesapeake Bay Program

The U.S.D.A.  Natural Resources Conservation Service-PA Office will hold a workshop March 17 on the Regional Conservation Partnership Program Grant Program.

The March issue of PA Township News contains an 11-page special article on what is expected of municipalities in meeting MS4 stormwater pollution reduction requirements.

To mark National Groundwater Awareness Week, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn Wednesday announced some improvements to the PA Groundwater Information System (PaGWIS) private water well database.

The Susquehanna River Basin Commission Thursday approved 13 water withdrawal requests, adopted its FY 2018 budget and set a 5-year docket term for water withdrawals related to unconventional natural gas drilling operations.

The departments of Transportation and the Department of Environmental Protection are seeking volunteers for this year’s Great American Cleanup of Pennsylvania that begins March 1 and runs through May 31.

On March 1, Keep Erie County Beautiful became the 12th Keep America Beautiful affiliate in Pennsylvania. The certification of this new affiliate marked the culmination of a public-private-civic partnership process that began in May 2016.

The March newsletter from the PA Resources Council is now available featuring articles on--

Growing sustainable energy crops without increasing greenhouse gas emissions, may be possible on seasonally wet, environmentally sensitive landscapes, according to researchers who conducted a study on Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) land.

Gov. Wolf Friday announced the Department of Environmental Protection has launched an electronic mining permit application for surface coal mines that will make the permit review process faster for DEP and operators and provide more transparency to the public.

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the March 11 PA Bulletin that it has issued erosion and sedimentation and encroachment permits for the Tennessee Gas Orion Pipeline Project in Lackawaxen Township, Pike County and Berlin and Palymra townships Wayne County.  (PA Bulletin page 1571 and 1575).

The Department of Environmental Protection will hold a public meeting and hearing on a proposed Air Quality Plan Approval for an emergency generator at the Transco natural gas pipeline compressor station located in Mifflin Township, Lycoming County on April 19. (formal notice PA Bulletin page 1536)

The Independent Fiscal Office reported natural gas production increased by 10.8 percent from unconventional gas wells in 2016.

The Department of Environmental Protection Tuesday announced it has awarded more than $1.9 million to schools and businesses for projects using alternative fuels and infrastructure.

The Environmental Quality Board meets on March 21 to consider a proposed regulation to control volatile organic compound emissions from industrial cleaning solvents, aerospace manufacturing and additional RACT requirements for major sources of VOCs and nitrogen oxide.

The Society of Women Environmental Professionals - Capital Chapter will hold its annual conference on April 13 at the Central Penn College’s Conference Center in Summerdale, Cumberland County, near Harrisburg.

Youth interested in pursuing environmental careers are invited to apply by April 28 for the Lacawac Sanctuary Conservation Leadership Academy.

The March 8 edition of the Resource newsletter is now available from the Department of conservation and Natural Resources featuring articles on--

Penn State Extension published a schedule of upcoming webinars and workshops related to trees and forestry.  Among the events on the schedule are--

The March newsletter from the PA Chapter-The American Chestnut Foundation is now available. 

Celebrate our unique Upper Delaware River region with the Delaware Highlands Conservancy at the 10th annual Foods of the Delaware Highlands Gala on May 6 at 5:30 p.m.

Eggs have begun to arrive for the pair of peregrine falcons nesting on the 15th floor of the Rachel Carson Building in Harrisburg.  So far two eggs have made an appearance, but there will probably be more.

The Game Commission published notice in the March 11 PA Bulletin of a final regulation removing the osprey from the Commonwealth’s list of threatened and endangered birds.  Visit the Game Commission’s Osprey webpage for more background on the osprey’s recovery in Pennsylvania.

Hawk Mountain Sanctuary in Berks County invites visitors to look for returning raptors and other migrants during its annual Spring Hawk Watch, held daily April 1 through May 15 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Sanctuary’s famous North Lookout.

This winter's unseasonably warm weather has parents and kids eagerly awaiting the start of the 2017 fishing season, which kicks off March 25 with the first of two Mentored Youth Trout Days. The second one is set for April 8.

The Allegheny Land Trust in Allegheny County is seeking candidates to fill John Hamm paid internship opportunities and other intern positions with the Trust.  Click Here for all the details for this and other internship openings the Trust has available.  Click Here for the Trust’s latest newsletter.

The Brandywine Conservancy in Delaware County is seeking candidates to fill a paid Land Stewardship Intern position to assist the easement management team with monitoring, administering, and enforcing the 478 conservation easements held by the Brandywine Conservancy, as well as related projects. 

The ClearWater Conservancy in Centre County is seek qualified candidates for a Conservation Projects Coordinator position which develops, manages and advances conservation projects in ClearWater’s land and water resources programs in collaboration with ClearWater’s Habitat Stewardship Biologist and Land Conservation Manager.

The City of Harrisburg is accepting applications for the position of Sustainability Coordinator in the Department of Public Works, Bureau of Neighborhood Services.

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 - March 11, 2017

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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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