The House returned to voting session Friday and the Senate on Saturday to do the hard part of state budgeting-- paying for the $31.996 billion General Fund budget the passed on June 30 and overcoming a $2.2 billion budget without raising broad-based taxes.

The PA Environmental Defense Foundation filed motions on Wednesday and Thursday asking Commonwealth Court to declare the 2017-18 General Fund budget bill-- House Bill 218 (Saylor-R-York)-- unconstitutional because it transfers over $61 million from the Oil and Gas Lease Fund to finance the general operations of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (page 366).

By John E. Childe, Attorney For PA Environmental Defense Foundation

By John Dernbach, Distinguished Professor Of Law, Widener University

By Richard Martin, Coordinator, Pennsylvania Forest Coalition

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 were given final approval by the Senate and House and are now on the Governor's desk for action--

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

A federal appeals court Monday struck down the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s 90-day suspension of methane emission standards on oil and gas wells saying the agency had a right to reconsider the 2016 regulation, but could not delay the effective date while it rewrites the rule.

The 2017 PA Abandoned Mine Reclamation Conference in June was another success in the heart of the Wyoming Valley and the Northern Anthracite coal fields Wilkes-Barre.

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

In LandStudies’ white paper, Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4s), Municipalities, and Parks,” park professionals see firsthand the impacts flooding can have on parks and surrounding areas.

In LandStudies’ and CS Davidson’s trendsetting publication, Economic Ecology: Floodplain Restoration, twelve Pennsylvania case studies demonstrate the economic rewards of tackling environmental issues on a regional scale, specifically through floodplain restoration.

Michael LaSala from LandStudies will be the primary presenter at the July 12 MS4 Stormwater Management Program Workshop in Allentown from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

The July edition of the LandStudies newsletter on green infrastructure is now available featuring stories on--

Volunteers, including from Penn State’s Greening the Lower Susquehanna Project, gathered June 10th on a family farm just outside of New Holland in Lancaster County along the banks of Mill Creek to work hard for a good cause.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Friday announced a $91,000 environmental education grant has been awarded to Alvernia University in Reading, Berks County to help educate elementary school teachers and students about environmental protection and water-related issues.

The July 3 edition of the Watershed Winds newsletter from the Penn State Extension featuring articles on--

Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful is accepting applications for their 2017 Fresh Paint Days Pennsylvania Grants through July 17. 

The PA Resources Council will host a Healthy Body & Healthy Home Workshop on July 13 in Castle Shannon, Allegheny County to encourage individuals to combat exposure to everyday chemicals and carcinogens in the environment and select and/or produce safer alternative products.

By Jeff Mulhollem, Penn State News

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the July 8 PA Bulletin that final technical guidance is now available on closure requirements for aboveground and underground storage tanks.

More than 20 years after the first national conference was held in Pittsburgh in 1996, professionals and civic leaders from across the country will return for the 2017 National Brownfields Training Conference.

Just before the July 4 holiday weekend, Sunoco Pipeline mailed a flyer to some Chester and Delaware county residents purporting to help them “separate fact from fiction” concerning the Sunoco Mariner East 2 Pipelines, according to the Middletown Coalition for Community Safety, Delaware County.

The Eastern PA Coalition for Abandoned Mine Reclamation, Foundation for Pennsylvania Watersheds and the Wuppertal Institute for Climate, Environment and Energy will present a special program July 20 on The German Energy Transition Away From Coal: Perspectives for Pennsylvania in Wilkes-Barre.

The Public Utility Commission published notice in the July 8 PA Bulletin formally opening the public comment period on issues related to third party electric vehicle charging.  Comments will be accepted through August 21.

The Delaware Valley Green Building Council and its partners are hosting the Climate Change And High Performance Affordable House Conference August 3-4 at the Temple University Science Education and Research Center in Philadelphia.

Join the Green Building Alliance as they paddle along the Allegheny River, enjoying the natural beauty the waterway has to offer and a unique look at Pittsburgh’s green buildings on July 11 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. 

The PA Technical Assistance Program hosts a webinar on Energy Management Systems for Small to Mid-Sized Companies on July 20 from Noon to 1:00 p.m.

The Department of Environmental Protection has revamped its Saving Energy webpage adding a wealth of updated information about energy resources and conservation.

The Muddy Run Pumped Storage Electric Generation Project is a hydroelectric project on the eastern shore of the Susquehanna River in Lancaster County.

The July 6 edition of News and Views is now available from the Department of Environmental Protection featuring stories on--

Founded by Calvin Ernst in 1964, Ernst Conservation Seeds based in Meadville, Crawford County is the largest native seed producer and supplier in the eastern United States.

The July issue of PA Township News contains a comprehensive 11-page special article on local efforts to preserve farmland and the payoffs for townships.

Wolf Administration officials Wednesday joined local and business officials at Presque Isle State Park to unveil plans to improve traffic flow, facilities and mobility within the park, as well as enhanced connections to and along the Erie Bayfront.

The PA Parks and Forests Foundation is holding a happy hour at Café Fresco, 215 North Second Street in Harrisburg on July 13 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Admission is by donation.

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.

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