The Senate Monday voted unanimously to confirm Patrick McDonnell as the 8th Secretary of the Department of Environmental Protection since its formation in 1995.  He has served as Acting DEP Secretary since May 20, 2016.

The PA Growing Greener Coalition Wednesday applauded the introduction of legislation-- Senate Bill 705-- that establishes an updated framework for renewed and increased investment in the state’s Growing Greener program.

Rep. Mike Sturla (D-Lancaster), who is one of  5 legislators who represent Pennsylvania on the interstate Chesapeake Bay Commission, Wednesday reintroduced legislation-- House Bill 20-- that would enact a water resource use fee on 5.6 billion gallons of daily water withdrawals in Pennsylvania that has the potential to generate $250 million annually, based on current usage rates.

House Speaker Mike Turzai (R-Allegheny) Monday told members of the Pennsylvania Press Club his Republican Caucus has introduced 10 or more bills aimed at reforming the way the Department of Environmental Protection reviews permits and regulates industry.

Gov. Tom Wolf Monday presented Governor’s Awards for Excellence to 10 state Bureau of Forestry wildfire fighters for their role in combatting a forest blaze last spring that spread for 15 days, threatening lives and property on the Pike-Monroe county line.

Four environmental programs from Western Pennsylvania were honored by Dominion and the PA Environmental Council for their innovation and effectiveness in making a positive impact on the environment at a special Western PA Environmental Awards program in Pittsburgh Wednesday.

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--

Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Patrick McDonnell Thursday released a letter he sent to Pennsylvania’s congressional delegation warning that the Trump administration’s proposed cuts to environmental protection and clean energy programs will threaten Pennsylvania residents and businesses.

The Trump Administration Tuesday released the details of its fiscal year 2018 budget for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, which proposes to zero out funding for the Chesapeake Bay Program, the Great Lakes, and other EPA Geographic Programs.

By Madeline Urbish, Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed

The National Law Journal Tuesday reported U.S. District Judge Randolph Moss denied a Trump Administration request to freeze action on the lawsuit challenging President Trump’s Executive Order requiring agencies to eliminate two regulations for every new one they propose.

With a series of “aye” votes at the PA Infrastructure Investment Authority April meeting, federal clean water infrastructure investments in Pennsylvania crossed a key threshold-- $8 billion in investment over nearly three decades.

The U.S. House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources held a hearing Wednesday on a draft Community Reclamation Partnerships Act (LaHood-R-IL), or good samaritan law, designed to encourage reclamation of abandoned mines.

The Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee Monday approved controversial legislation to retroactively change the protection streams receive under Act 54 from underground coal mining-- Senate Bill 624 (Scarnati-R-Jefferson)-- in a party-line vote with Republicans all supporting the bill.

The Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee Monday unanimously approved legislation--Senate Bill 649 (Yudichak-D-Luzerne)-- which extends expiring environmental cleanup programs and fills a funding gap in DEP’s Underground Storage Tank Program.

The Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee and Republican Policy Committee Wednesday held a joint hearing on the Pennsylvania’s natural gas industry and natural gas-fired electric power generation.

House Bill 603 (Metzgar-R-Bedford) to encourage clean energy truck transportation passed in the House Wednesday by a unanimous vote.

The Joint Air and Water Pollution Control and Conservation Committee was told Monday pollinator populations are declining in Pennsylvania just when the demand for pollinated fruits and vegetables is going up.

The Joint Legislative Air and Water Pollution Control and Conservation Committee Tuesday released another in it series of Green Papers, this one on Glass Recycling in Pennsylvania.

House Speaker Mike Turzai (R-Allegheny) and Rep. Harry Readshaw (D-Allegheny) announced Thursday they will be introducing legislation to place the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority under the oversight of the Public Utility Commission.

The Department of Environmental Protection is now accepting comments on a draft PA Lake Erie Phosphorus Reduction Domestic Action Plan created to assist in the elimination of nutrient pollution in Lake Erie.  (formal notice)

The Wilkes-Barre Times Leader Sunday published an editorial entitled, “Municipalities Not To Blame For These Fines,” addressing the recent fines the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency imposed on Wilkes-Barre and Kingston for not meeting EPA’s MS4 Stormwater Water Pollution Prevention Program requirements.  The text of the editorial follows—

This Op-Ed entitled, Powering A 21st Century Industrial Revolution, by Nicole Faraguna, founding member of the Susquehanna Valley Progressives, appeared Sunday in the Sunbury Daily Item newspaper in Northumberland County. 

The Chesapeake Stormwater Network will host a workshop on Effective Small MS4 Stormwater Programs Workshop on June 14-15 in Middletown, Dauphin County.

As our landscapes grow and develop, the health of our streams and rivers have been impaired. What we do on the land, or what we cover it with, affects the quantity (volume and velocity) and quality (pollutant levels) of the rainfall that enters our waterways; what many call stormwater.

Over the years, due to blight and lack of funding, Larimer’s population dropped to just 1,800 people. But the community never stopped organizing.

What is nature worth? Does it have a hidden value beyond the beauty and welfare of a community? What are we willing to pay to maintain or enhance our quality of life, health, cost of living and economy that nature provides?

On April 9th, Butler County's Slippery Rock Watershed Coalition participants Tim Danehy, Buck Neely, and Cliff Denholm were invited to provide a workshop at the annual American Society of Mining and Reclamation Conference.

Slippery Rock Watershed Coalition participant Cliff Denholm of Stream Restoration Incorporated always enjoys working with college students.

The May edition of The Catalyst newsletter is now available from the Slippery Rock Watershed Coalition in Butler County featuring stories on--

The Pennsylvania Center for Dairy Excellence and Center for Beef Excellence are jointly offering $1,000 grants for dairy and beef farms to meet baseline agriculture conservation compliance.

By Diane Huskinson, Stroud Water Research Center

By Tara Muenz and Matt Gisondi, Stroud Water Research Center

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

The May 22 Watershed Winds newsletter is now available from Penn State Extension featuring articles on--

PA American Water Monday filed a request with the Public Utility Commission seeking permission to replace customer-owned lead service lines when removing company-owned lead service lines – and to bear the full cost of replacement. Pennsylvania American Water’s proposal allots $6 million annually to replace the company’s and customers’ lead service lines.

The PA Section of the American Water Works Association and its partners will hold a Workshop on Rates and Finance for Small Water Systems on September 13 in New Castle, Lawrence County.

The PA Section of the American Water Works Association and its partners will hold a Workshop on Improving Drinking Water Quality for Small Water Systems on October 5 in Wescosville, Lehigh County.

The Susquehanna River Basin Commission business meeting on June 16 to consider the proposed FY 2018-19 budget and fee scheduled. (formal notice and agenda)

In recognition of Earth Day, GIANT and MARTIN’s Food Stores donated 25 benches made from recycled plastic bags to schools in 15 counties participating in Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful's Litter Free School Zone Program.

The Department of Environmental Protection is scheduled to hold a hearing July 5 on a proposed State Air Quality Implementation Plan amendments for RACT II controls for Wood-Mode, Inc. in Middlecreek Township, Snyder County relating to nitrogen oxide and volatile organic compound emissions. (formal notice, PA Bulletin beginning on page 3040)

The Department of Environmental Protection Thursday announced it will open a comment period on May 27 and hold four public hearings for feedback on the earth disturbance (Chapter 102) and waterway and wetland encroachment (Chp.105) permit applications submitted by Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Company, LLC for the proposed Atlantic Sunrise Pipeline Project.  (formal notices begin on PA Bulletin page 3007 and for Chapter 105 page 3041)

Gov. Tom Wolf Thursday announced seven new project approvals through the Commonwealth Financing Authority, totaling more than $20.7 million in funding to support business growth in Pennsylvania that will lead to the creation and retention of more than 1,145 jobs.

Exelon Corporation Wednesday announced its Three Mile Island [Dauphin County, PA]  and Quad Cities [Illinois) nuclear plants did not clear in the latest PJM capacity auction, highlighting the challenge nuclear energy continues to face without compensation for its ability to produce electricity without harmful carbon and air pollution and to contribute to grid resilience.

The Finding Pennsylvania’s Solar Future stakeholder initiative will holds its second meeting on June 8 at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh.

The Department of Environmental Protection is now accepting applications for Alternative Fuels Incentive Grants.  The are two rounds of grant deadlines-- July 14 and December 15.  (formal notice)

The Indiana Gazette recently reported the Indiana County commissioners gave their blessing to a new Sustainable Economic Development Task Force focused on developing regional initiatives in the areas of clean energy, sustainable agriculture, eco-tourism, energy efficiency and the emerging field of using green chemistry to transform manufacturing.

The Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor and the Lehigh Valley Audubon Society are partnering on a series of Wednesday morning children’s nature programs at the Freemansburg Canal Education Center in Freemansburg, Northampton County this summer.

The Wildlands Conservancy in Lehigh County Thursday highlighted its schedule of educational and other programs in June, including--

The nearly century-old effort to employ selective breeding to rescue the American chestnut, which has been rendered functionally extinct by an introduced disease-- Chestnut blight, eventually will succeed, but it will take longer than many people expect.

Millersville University and Bowman’s Hill Wildflower Preserve will host the Native Plants In The Landscape Conference in Lancaster June 7 to 10.

Calling all gardeners to the Brodhead Watershed Association’s annual Native Plant Sale, where beautiful and environmentally responsible flowers and shrubs will be sold.

New and experienced hikers can again pick their pace and path through Pennsylvania's bountiful outdoors in more than 50 hikes planned across the state during Hiking Week 2017.

Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn Thursday joined Indian Creek Valley ATV Club officials and members in a celebration of the club’s acquisition of almost 88 acres that expands ATV riding opportunities in Fayette County.

The PA Parks and Forests Foundation released a new video about the value of volunteerism in Pennsylvania’s State Parks and Forests to the individuals volunteering and the invaluable contribution they make to improving and maintaining recreational opportunity across the state.

By Jennifer Miller, College of Health & Human Development, Penn State University

Clean water, healthy lands and scenic views contribute to the high quality of life enjoyed by residents and visitors to the Delaware Highlands region along the Upper Delaware River.

Hawk Mountain Sanctuary in Berks County presented long-time volunteer and former board member Jack Holcomb with the prestigious Hawk Mountain Warden Award on May 12 at the Sanctuary's Benefit for the Birds gala held at Bear Creek Mountain Resort. This award is recognized as the organization's highest honor.

A Game Commission-Department of Conservation and Natural Resources partnership is creating about 1,000 more acres of new habitat annually for two troubled game birds and other wildlife species that rely on young forests.

A variety of arts programs are offered in June at Grey Towers National Historic Site in Milford, Pike County, as a way to honor the contributions made by the philanthropic Pinchot family to arts and conservation.

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 Environmental Quality Board published formal notice in the May 27 PA Bulletin of its acceptance of a Delaware RiverKeeper rulemaking petition to reclassify a portion of the Delaware River.

CLICK HERE to Print The Entire PA Environment Digest.  This Digest is 94 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.

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