The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Friday announced Devin and Roldan Kramer from Ardmore, Delaware/Montgomery counties will receive the 2016 President’s Environmental Youth Award for grade levels K-5 for their work to save frogs and toads.

In April, Tim Danehy, a mine reclamation innovator from Butler County, was recognized during the Joint Conference of the American Society of Mining and Reclamation, West Virginia Mine Drainage Task Force, and Appalachian Regional Reforestation Initiative with the 2017 Reclamationist of the Year Award.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Friday recognized the Dow Chemical Company in Collegeville, Montgomery County with a Green Chemistry Challenge Award for developing thermal printing paper that eliminates the need for chemicals to create an image.

June is budget crunch time, and just to remind Senate and House members and Gov. Wolf what real people have said about more than a decade of cuts to the Department of Environmental Protection’s state budget, PA Environment Digest is reprinting this story about a letter sent to the General Assembly by DEP’s Citizens Advisory Council--

By Joseph Otis Minott, Clean Air Council

By Donna Morelli, Chesapeake Bay Journal

Delaware, Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia and the District of Columbia Thursday unanimously adopted a resolution calling for continued federal partnership in the Bay cleanup as part of the Chesapeake Executive Council meeting.

The agenda for the June 20 Environmental Quality Board meeting includes three items related to fees charged by the Department of Environmental Protection--

Here are the Senate and House Calendars for the next voting session day and Committees scheduling action on bills of interest as well as a list of new environmental bills introduced--

The following bills of interest saw action last week in the House and Senate--

The Senate Tuesday voted 32 to 17, largely along party-lines, to pass Senate Bill 624 (Scarnati-R- Jefferson) which retroactively changes the protection streams receive under Act 54 from underground coal mining.

Sen. John T. Yudichak (D-Luzerne), Minority Chair of the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, Tuesday announced the Senate unanimously passed Senate Resolution 33 creating a bipartisan task force to investigate the scope of Pennsylvania’s lead exposure problem.

The Senate Tuesday passed legislation-- Senate Bill 589 (Langerholc-R-Bedford)-- to promote the use of cleaner-burning natural gas in larger vehicles by increasing the  maximum allowable weight for motor carrier vehicles that are powered by natural gas from 80,000 pounds to 82,000 pounds.

Rep. Marguerite Quinn (R-Bucks) Tuesday introduced House Bill 1446 that encourages the expansion of clean transportation infrastructure to support electric and natural gas vehicles (sponsor summary).

The Senate Appropriations Committee Monday reported out legislation eliminating the sunset on the recycling fee and legislation requiring the General Assembly to vote to approve regulations.

Representatives of the PA Grade Crude Oil Coalition of conventional oil/gas drillers told the House Consumer Affairs Committee Monday they cannot afford the cost of reporting the locations of their natural gas pipelines to PA One Call to prevent pipeline explosions and deaths.  100,000 miles of their pipelines are not mapped to prevent accidental hits by construction equipment.

The House State Government Committee Tuesday held a hearing in what it called state regulatory abuses, burdens and legislative oversight of the regulatory process seeking suggestions on how the General Assembly can be more directly involved in the regulatory process.

The PA Environmental Council Tuesday wrote to all members of the Senate raising significant concerns about  Senate Bill 561 (Disanto-R-Dauphin) which would require the Senate and House to vote to approve all final regulations promulgated by state agencies; if no vote occurs regulations would die.

The PA Environmental Council Tuesday wrote a letter to members of the House State Government Committee urging them to oppose House Resolution 284 (Moul-R-Adams) urging Congress to repeal the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s MS4 Stormwater Pollution Prevention Program (sponsor summary).

The PA Environmental Council Tuesday wrote to members of the House Tourism and Recreational Development Committee urging the addition of bicycling and trail groups doing mapping or maintenance activities on trails to the list of recreational activities covered in the state’s law protecting landowners from liability for opening their land to recreation.

The Joint Air and Water Pollution Control and Conservation Committee is scheduled to hold a hearing on June 13 to review the Act 101 Municipal Waste Planning, Recycling and Waste Reduction Act Programs.

John Dawes, Executive Director of the Foundation for Pennsylvania Watersheds, testified Wednesday before the U.S. House Natural Resources Committee’s Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources to urge Congress to reauthorize the collection of a federal fee assessed on each ton of coal mined until 2036.

Attorney General Josh Shapiro Friday announced a coalition of Attorneys General and the Department of Environmental Protection intends to take legal action if the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency rolls back important federal vehicle emission rules to limit the carbon pollutants and other gases emitted by hundreds of millions of cars across the country.

President Trump unveiled an Infrastructure Plan Wednesday that is focused entirely on moving good by waterways, roads and bridges, rail and through airports and does not include funding for other types of infrastructure like wastewater, drinking water or green infrastructure.

DEP’s Citizens Advisory Council will hear presentations on the proposed Volkswagen Settlement and changes to the radiological health regulations at its meeting on June 20.

Department of Environmental Protection is inviting citizens to share their views on how the Commonwealth can best achieve elimination of nutrient pollution in Lake Erie by commenting on the Domestic Action Plan which was created to assist in the reduction of phosphorus in Lake Erie.

More than 200 Pennsylvanians representing local governments, the farming community, and other stakeholders gathered Monday to share ideas for a plan to best achieve federally mandated water pollution reductions in the state’s 43 counties in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed and improve the environment and economy for all.

By Corinne Stephens, Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay

The Philadelphia International Airport and the PA Horticultural Society are hosting a design competition to create an “Image Maker” landscape at the Airport.

The June 5 Watershed Winds newsletter is now available from Penn State Extension featuring on--

The Susquehanna River Basin Commission will hold its quarterly business meeting June 16 starting at 9 a.m., at Lake Raystown Resort, Conference Center – River Birch Ballroom, 3101 Chipmunk Crossing, Entriken, Huntingdon County.

Here’s an update from the Slippery Rock Watershed Coalition in Butler County on how 20+ years of mine restoration and acid mine drainage treatment projects have improved the watershed….

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

Food Guy Adventures is partnering with Sustainable Pittsburgh to launch the City’s first sustainability-focused food tour: “A Taste of Sustainability: Cultural District.”

The Department of Environmental Protection Friday announced positive mosquito results for West Nile Virus have been found in Mahoning and Pulaski townships in Lawrence County.

Covanta Tuesday announced a new agreement with the Delaware County Solid Waste Authority for sustainable waste disposal at the Covanta Delaware Valley Energy-from-Waste facility located in Chester, Delaware County.

Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful is now accepting applications for the 2017 Fresh Paint Days Pennsylvania Grant Program.  The deadline for applications is July 17.  Grants will be awarded mid-August.

Westmoreland Cleanways and Recycling will hold a Household Hazardous Waste Collection event on July 15 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Westmoreland CleanWays Recycling Center, 113 Innovative Lane in Latrobe.

The PA Resources Council will host a Hard-To-Recycle Collection Event on June 24, from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. at Quaker Valley High School, 625 Beaver St., in Leetsdale, Allegheny County to enable area residents to conveniently dispose of numerous items not suitable for curbside recycling.

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

Following a 13-month air quality study, the Department of Environmental Protection Thursday announced it has determined that dust levels in an area of the borough of McAdoo, Schuylkill County are not a danger to residents and do not exceed statewide standards for settled particulate matter.

The Department of Environmental Protection is scheduled to hold hearings in July on a proposed State Air Quality Implementation Plan amendments for RACT II controls relating to nitrogen oxide and volatile organic compound emissions for four facilities in DEP’s Southeast Region and one in DEP’s Northcentral Region.  (formal notices, PA Bulletin beginning on page 3279)

PennEast Pipeline Company Thursday announced the award of its eighth round of grant through its Community Investment Program, which now has invested more than $600,000 in local organizations making a difference in their communities.

In an opinion Wednesday, Commonwealth Court affirmed a Butler County Court of Common Pleas decision to deny a challenge by the Delaware RiverKeeper Network, the Clean Air Council and local residents to a local zoning ordinance allowing Marcellus Shale gas drilling.

During an update to the community and elected officials Tuesday in Montrose, Susquehanna County, Cabot Oil & Gas Corporation announced it has paid more than $1 billion in royalties to landowners in Susquehanna and Wyoming Counties and nearly $500 million in signing bonuses since Cabot commenced operations in 2006.

The Public Utility Commission Thursday released the 2017 Summer Readiness Overview reports from the state’s electric distribution companies and the regional transmission organization, PJM Interconnection.

The Department of Environmental Protection Thursday announced it will hold a public hearing July 12 on an Air Quality Plan Approval application for the proposed Robinson Power Company, LLC Beech Hollow Project.

At 3:28 p.m., on Thursday, June 8, Unit 1 at the Susquehanna Nuclear Power Plant in Luzerne County automatically shut down. The cause of the incident is still under investigation.

Philly.com reported Monday Liz Robinson, the Executive Director of the nonprofit Energy Coordinating Agency in Philadelphia, announced she is stepping down from her position after 33 years of leading the organization.

Gov. Tom Wolf Tuesday announced the opening of the third of 29 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) fueling stations planned as part of a Public Private Partnership, this one in Donora, Washington County.

The PA Environmental Council has created a new online resource for government and business leaders, citizens and others who want to learn more about why controlling methane emissions matters.  It’s called CH4nge.com and it was announced by PEC on Monday--

Following President Donald Trump’s announcement last week the United States will withdraw from the Paris Climate Agreement, Attorney General Josh Shapiro Monday joined with 19 Attorneys General in a broad coalition with governors, mayors, business leaders and universities pledging to maintain their commitment to fighting climate change and abiding by the principles of the global agreement.

The Pennsylvania Municipal League will hold the 2017 Sustainable Pennsylvania Conference June 13 at the Hyatt Place in State College from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

The May edition of In Case You Missed It from the PA Environmental Council is now available featuring articles on--

Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn and Department of Transportation Secretary Leslie S. Richards Wednesday joined Schuylkill River Heritage Area members and other river supporters in marking PA Rivers Month and paddling with the group in part of its week-long sojourn.

A newly released short film called Love Your Land highlighting the work of Allegheny Land Trust in Allegheny County serves as a cinematically striking introduction to several of the non-profit organization’s local conservation areas that are open for public exploration.

Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn Friday joined other state officials and Bureau of State Parks representatives in dedicating a newly restored dam and gatehouse at Pymatuning State Park, Crawford County.

This June and July, visitors are invited to come see the only population of rare regal fritillary butterflies in the eastern United States at Fort Indiantown Gap, near Annville, Lebanon County.

“It’s the chance of a lifetime,” said Natural Lands President Molly Morrison, describing her organization’s effort to preserve 1,505 acres in northern Chester County known as Bryn Coed Farms. On June 1st, that chance took two important steps toward becoming a reality.

By Josh Parrish, Director Of The Working Woodlands Program, The Nature Conservancy-PA

The Neighborhood Gardens Trust, Philadelphia’s largest land trust, will host Community Gardens Day on June 17, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. (Rain date: June 18). The citywide celebration spotlights the benefits of the shared growing spaces for Philadelphia neighborhoods and the importance of preserving the gardens.

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 - June 10, 2017

CLICK HERE to Print The Entire PA Environment Digest.  This Digest is 97 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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