President Trump released his proposed budget blueprint Thursday which confirmed earlier reports of substantial cuts to EPA grants given to states to administer federal programs, eliminating the Chesapeake Bay and Great Lakes Restoration Programs and discretionary abandoned mine reclamation funding.

StateImpact’s Marie Cusick reported Thursday Acting DEP Secretary Patrick McDonnell sent a letter to EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt saying the cuts to funding proposed by the Trump administration will have an “immediate and devastating effect” in Pennsylvania.

Sen. John T. Yudichak (D-Luzerne), Minority Chair of the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, Friday issued the following statement in response to President Trump’s proposed cuts to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency--

Chesapeake Bay Foundation President William C. Baker issued the following statement concerning President Trump’s proposed budget, which eliminates funding for the Chesapeake Bay Program.

The White House’s dramatic cuts proposed Thursday to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, if enacted, affect grants that support an average of 27 percent of state environmental agency budgets (EABs), according to the Environmental Council of the States.

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--

Senators Ryan Aument (R-Lancaster) and John Yudichak (D-Luzerne) along with Representatives Becky Corbin (R-Chester) and Rob Matzie (D-Allegheny) Thursday announced the formation of a bipartisan, bicameral caucus of General Assembly to focus on nuclear energy issues. 

By Caitlyn Johnstone, Alliance For The Chesapeake Bay & Jim Edward, Chair, EPA Chesapeake Bay Program’s Diversity Workgroup

The March 13 edition of the Forests for the Chesapeake Bay Program is now available featuring articles on--

Potter County takes the protection of their public drinking water very seriously. They were the first county in Pennsylvania to have approved source water protection plans for all of the public water supplies in the county.

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

The latest edition of the UpStream newsletter is now available from the Stroud Water Research Center in Chester County featuring articles on--

The PA Association for Sustainable Agriculture is now accepting presentation proposals for its 2018 conference to be held in State College February 7 to 10.  The deadline for proposals is June 30.

The Public Utility Commission Thursday highlighted the importance of safe drinking water, along with the role of water efficiency and conservation efforts, in conjunction with National Fix a Leak Week, which runs from March 20-26.

The U.S. Small Business Administration Friday reminded small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small aquaculture businesses and most private nonprofit organizations in Pennsylvania of the deadline to submit disaster loan applications for economic injury caused by the flash flooding on June 17, 2016.

Locals will kick off the three-month Schuylkill Scrub by cleaning up Norristown’s Stony Creek in Montgomery County on March 25, from 8 a.m. to noon. Volunteers are needed.

The Pittsburgh-based Group Against Smog and Pollution will hold a Summer Air Quality Camp for students age 10 to 13 on June 26-30 at the Environmental Charter School in Regent Square Pittsburgh.

The Clean Air Council will hold its annual Run For Clean Air Earth Day Celebration on April 9 in Philadelphia.

The PA Technical Assistance Program (PennTAP) and the Department of Environmental Protection have rescheduled the Facility Operations Workshop on Energy Efficiency for March 27 at the Penn Stater Hotel & Conference Center in State College.

The Department of Environmental Protection announced Saturday it has revised the Alternative Fuel Vehicle Rebates available for battery and plug-in electric vehicles.  (formal notice)

Acting Secretary Patrick McDonnell will be a featured speaker on the New Challenges and Opportunities: What’s Happening In Energy Policy At The Federal and State Levels panel at the Globalcon Energy, Power & Facility Management Strategies and Technologies Conference in Philadelphia.

A recent U.S. Department of Energy report shows a significant increase in energy jobs in Pennsylvania spurred by Act 129, the state’s energy efficiency policy. According to the DOE report, Pennsylvania is home to 62,431 people employed in energy efficiency.

PennEast Pipeline Company Wednesday announced its first class of PennEast Powering STEM Grant recipients, who will receive nearly $130,000 to advance the study of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) in their local communities and within the footprint of the proposed PennEast Pipeline.

Wednesday 183 organizations representing hundreds of thousands of members and the four states whose waters flow to the Delaware River submitted a letter to the Delaware River Basin Commission voting members – the Governors of Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey and Delaware and the federal representative, the Army Corps of Engineers - calling for a permanent ban on fracking in the Watershed.

Gov. Tom Wolf Monday announced applications are being accepted for federal grants to help Pennsylvania’s rural communities better guard against the threat of fires in forested, undeveloped, and unprotected areas.  Applications are due May 18.

The Manada Conservancy will hold its 17th Annual Spring Native Plant Sale on April 29 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Boro Park, Poplar Avenue and Water Street in Hummelstown, Dauphin County.

The Game Commission reported Monday Pennsylvania’s buck harvest increased 9 percent, and the overall deer harvest was up 6 percent, in the 2016-17 seasons, which closed in January.

Wildlife watchers this week had a ringside seat to the determination of nature during Tuesday’s Winter Storm Stella.

The William Penn Foundation has provided financial support to hire 23 young people for a 12-week summer Delaware River Watershed Fellowship at environmental centers in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware.

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the March 19 PA Bulletin of an invitation to bid on a 24 acre mine reclamation project in Clearfield County.  A pre-proposal meeting is scheduled for March 30.  Only proposals from those in attendance will be considered for this contract.  (PA Bulletin, page 1695)

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 DEP Board of coal Mine Safety published notice in the March 18 PA Bulletin of proposed regulation changes relating to sensitive ground fault protection for public comment.

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.