Public Utility Commission Chairman Gladys Brown notified Gov. Tom Wolf in a letter Tuesday the Commission intends to appeal a March Commonwealth Court decision that it believes “significantly jeopardized the current and future fees generated by Act 13 drilling impact fees.

DEP’s Citizens Advisory Council meeting on April 18 will feature a Legislative Forum on priority issues of the House and Senate Environmental Committees with members or representatives of the four committee Chairs.

Legislation introduced Thursday would fundamentally change the standard used to judge whether an underground mining plan approved by DEP can be challenged on the issue of whether it prevents temporary or permanent damage to surface streams.

The Senate Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure Committee is scheduled to meet on April 18 to consider Senate Bill 242 (Baker-R-Luzerne) which adds natural gas gathering lines to the PA One Call utility construction safety program so they can be identified and mapped for emergency services (sponsor summary).

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

By Congressman Glenn Thompson (R-PA)

The ClearWater Conservancy announced Monday it has met the second fundraising deadline of $1.75 million by March 31 for the Slab Cabin Run Initiative, a proactive source water protection effort to permanently conserve 300 acres of agricultural land in College and Harris Townships owned by the Meyer and Everhart families of State College.

The April 11 Watershed Winds newsletter is now available from Penn State Extension featuring articles on--

The Stroud Water Research Center in Chester County Friday previewed a series of educational events coming up in late April and May, including--

The PA Section American Water Works Association is putting out a call for entries to its 2017 Best of PA Taste Test, a statewide competition to crown the best tasting public water supplies in Pennsylvania.

When you turn on the tap for a fresh glass of Philadelphia water, do you think about all the scientists and engineers who make this daily convenience possible?

The Central PA Conservancy Tuesday announced its annual youth conservation leadership camp, the Goddard Leadership Legacy Institute, an innovative, residential conservation leadership program from July 10-15 for ages 13-15. 

The Keystone Energy Efficiency Alliance Energy Education Fund has announced the winners of this year’s Moving to the Head of the Class Awards.  The annual awards program celebrates schools that have realized significant energy savings through energy efficiency and conservation measures.

To mark the 47th anniversary of Earth Day, a Give & Take will be part of the free Monroe County Earth Day event at the Monroe Campus of Northampton Community College Route 715 in Tannersville on April 22.

Brodhead Watershed Association will join the Monroe County Earth Day celebration on April 22 offering family-friendly activities to educate kids and parents alike about issues that affect the watershed and things families can do to make a difference.

In conjunction with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration 13th National Drug Take-Back Day, the PA Resources Council and its partners will provide several local venues to safely dispose of unwanted medication on April 29.

Recyclebank, the incentives and education platform focused on waste, Thursday announced 44 schools from Recyclebank's partnering communities successfully raised a total of $90,670as part of the annual Recyclebank Green Schools Program.

Volunteers trained by the PA Horticultural Society in Philadelphia and other partners will plant 831 trees in the city and surrounding counties as part of Earth Month, including plantings dedicated to a longtime community activist who was slain earlier this year.

The Philadelphia Environmental Film Festival is proud to announce the full film line-up of the inaugural Philadelphia Environmental Film Festival, launching Earth Day weekend, April 21 – April 23, at the historic Prince Theater, 1412 Chestnut St., Philadelphia.

Gov. Tom Wolf announced Monday the PA Emergency Management Agency has requested a formal federal Joint Preliminary Damage Assessment in search of federal aid for costs related to last month’s severe snowstorm in Northeastern PA.

The PA Emergency Management Agency Friday announced the statewide winner in the student weather safety poster contest held earlier this year was submitted by Maximilian Marcieski, a 5th-grader from West Hempfield Elementary School in Westmoreland County.

The Department of Environmental Protection Monday announced it has reached settlement on a penalty of $400,000 against Monroe Energy, LLC, which owns and operates a refinery in Trainer Borough, Delaware County, for air quality violations at its facility.

The Department of Environmental Protection Tuesday announced EM Energy Pipeline Pennsylvania, LLC has agreed to a $185,000 civil penalty for oil and gas violations of the Clean Streams Law, Dam Safety and Encroachment Act, and the Oil and Gas Act in Allegheny and Butler counties.

In the first three months of 2017, the number of new unconventional (Marcellus Shale) wells drilled in Pennsylvania has increased by 61 percent-- 104 to 169-- over the same period in 2016, according to reports submitted to DEP’s Citizens Advisory Council in April 2017 and April of 2016.

The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources published two notices in the April 15 PA Bulletin that it has executed new and revised agreements to lease publicly-owned submerged lands in and around the Monongahela River with EQT Production Company for over $2.5 million.

New research released Tuesday offers an inside look at the methane leak detection and repair (LDAR) industry - a growing field of service providers that utilize technology to identify and repair leaking equipment at industrial oil and gas facilities.

The Hartford Courant reported Friday Pennsylvania joined eight other states in calling on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to reduce emissions from coal-fired power plants in nine midwest and southern states.

The U.S. Energy Information Administration reported Monday U.S. energy-related carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in 2016 totaled 5,170 million metric tons (MMmt), 1.7 percent below their 2015 levels, after dropping 2.7 percent between 2014 and 2015.

A diverse coalition of Pennsylvania citizens’ groups, power generators and energy, business and manufacturing associations Tuesday launched Citizens Against Nuclear Bailouts in opposition to any legislative effort to require consumers to pay higher energy rates to bail out an uncompetitive nuclear energy industry.

Exelon Generation’s Chief Nuclear Officer, Bryan Hanson addressed the 19th annual Electric Power Conference this week in Chicago, highlighting nuclear’s vital role in America’s clean energy future.

PJM Interconnection is hosting its Grid 20/20: Focus on Resilience (Fuel Mix Diversity & Security) on April 19 in Philadelphia. 

With the approach of Pennsylvania's traditional statewide trout season opener on April 15, and weather conditions that keep firefighters busy responding to wildfires across much of the state, the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources is urging anglers, property owners and others to take steps to prevent forest and brush fires.

The PA Horticultural Society announced Thursday it will offer the PHS Tree Tenders training series this spring in Montgomery County, Philadelphia, and Chester County.

The PA Organization for Watersheds and Rivers Thursday announced the recipients of the 2017 Pennsylvania River Sojourn Grants.

Gov. Tom Wolf Wednesday announced the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources is equipping state park and state forest rangers, managers and assistant managers with life-saving naloxone to minimize opioid overdose fatalities, especially in rural settings such as state parks and state forests where police and first responders may not be readily available.

When weather conditions permit, the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources will be conducting prescribed fires on selected state forests and state parks across Pennsylvania, State Forester Dan Devlin announced today.

The PA Recreation and Parks Society and the PA Parks and Forests Foundation are encouraging local park and recreation managers to use a crowdfunding tool called Fund Your Park.

The ambitious Delaware Canal Vision Study is complete.  With a broad scope, extensive public outreach and innovative findings, it’s the first study of its kind for the National Historic Landmark located in Bucks and Northampton counties. 

The Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor will hold the third annual D&L Spring Dinner & Silent Auction on April 27, from 6 to 10 p.m. at the Northampton Country Club, 5049 William Penn Highway, Easton.

The Western PA Nature Center Roundtable will host the Pennsylvania's Wildlife Resource Symposium, a day-long learning event on the latest research in wildlife and conservation, on May 20 from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Frick Environmental Center, 2005 Beechwood Blvd. in Pittsburgh.

The Fish and Boat Commission has partnered with Bass Pro Shops in Harrisburg to sponsor a giveaway that includes a Penn State themed fishing kayak, camping equipment, and a rod/reel combo, all to be awarded to three lucky winners who enter either online or in person at one of two events.

The PA Parks & Forests Foundation is seeking a qualified individual to fill the position of bookkeeper in in Camp Hill, Cumberland County office.  The deadline for applications is April 26.  Click Here for all the details.

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the April 15 PA Bulletin of an opportunity to bid on a mine drainage abatement project in Clinton County.

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 - April 15, 2017

CLICK HERE to Print The Entire PA Environment Digest.  The April 17 PA Environment Digest is 63 pages long.

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.