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Ed Wytovich received one of two 2017 Mayfly awards at the PA Abandoned Mine Reclamation Conference in June to recognize his lifetime contributions to developing local and start partnerships for the reclamation of abandoned mine lands, treatment of mine drainage and watershed restoration.

By David Hess, Secretary of the Department of Environmental Protection at the Time of the Rescue

This Story Will Be Updated As Weekend Events Warrant: Get the very latest news at the PA Environment Digest Blog and Twitter Feed:

The PA Environmental Council Friday sent a letter to all members of the Senate and House encouraging members to oppose any budget revenue plan that involves diverting monies from the Keystone and Environmental Stewardship (Growing Greener) Funds and the state’s agricultural land preservation program.

The Independent Fiscal Office Thursday released its updated Act 13 drilling impact fee report and projections for next year which concluded revenues could increase from $8.7 million to $49 million depending on the price of natural gas and how many new gas wells are “spud” or put into production.

Gov. Tom Wolf’s Office Friday announced he will allow Senate Bill 624 (Scarnati-R- Jefferson) retroactively rolling back protections for streams from deep coal mining to become law without his signature. 

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--

Senate Bill 589 introduced by Sen. Wayne Langerholc (R-Bedford) to promote the use of cleaner-burning natural gas in larger vehicles was signed into law Thursday as Act 31 of 2017.

A letter signed by 48 environmental secretaries and commissioners representing 29 states and Democrat, Republican and Independent governors sent a letter to Congress expressing their “profound concern” about proposed FY 2018 cuts to EPA and state grant funding.

The Trump Administration Thursday released its first revised Unified Regulatory and Deregulatory Agenda listing regulations that will move forward and those that will be put on a “long-term” track as part of President Trump’s deregulation initiative under Executive Orders 13771 and 13777.

Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Patrick McDonnell Tuesday commended more than 30 communities for working together to reduce pollution through the creation of the Regional Stormwater Management Program by the Wyoming Valley Sanitary Authority at an event with state and local leaders in Luzerne County.

The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and the William Penn Foundation awarded $2.28 million in funding for Delaware River Restoration Fund projects on July 13, six of the projects are in, or partially in, the Pennsylvania portion of the watershed--

Keeping drinking water safe the old-fashioned way — by not polluting it in the first place — is cheaper, easier and more natural than trying to fix it after it’s been contaminated.

With increased interest in planting green and many PA No Till Alliance members sharing their experiences with this practice, the Alliance has developed a Planting Green Guide to be released at their annual Field Day on July 27.

A hay competition, natural resources displays, wildlife exhibits, and crop management education are just a few of the many activities that will take place in and around the J.D. Harrington Crops, Soils and Conservation Building during Penn State's Ag Progress Days, August 15-17.

Gov. Tom Wolf Wednesday announced the investment of $75 million for 23 drinking water, wastewater, stormwater and nonpoint source projects across 20 counties through the PA Infrastructure Investment Authority.

Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful welcomes all Pennsylvania boating facilities, boating groups, sailors, fishermen and water enthusiasts to protect our aquatic ecosystems by holding a Marina or boating facility cleanup during the International Coastal Cleanup September 1 to October 31. 

The Philadelphia Eagles Friday announced they will team up with environmental partner, Waste Masters Solutions, on the installation of a food waste digester and data analytics platform at Lincoln Financial Field.

The PA Resources Council will hold its annual Awards Celebration and Dinner on November 9 at the Villanova University Hotel and Conference Center.

The PA Sustainable Community Certification offers a free, online platform for municipalities to gauge progress in sustainable community development. Seventy-one municipalities across Pennsylvania have earned Sustainable Certification and dozens more are in the process.

The Department of Environmental Protection Tuesday announced positive mosquito results for West Nile Virus have been found in Blair Township, Blair County; South Whitehall Township, Lehigh County; Hanover Township, Northampton County.

The Westmoreland County Conservation District will host a workshop on July 26 on preventing mosquito-borne diseases in Greensburg.

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the July 22 PA Bulletin of proposed significant revisions to the NPDES General Permit covering point source discharges from the application of pesticides (PAG-15). 

The Pittsburgh-based Group Against Smog and Pollution Tuesday announced it had provided notice that it intends to file a citizen suit under the federal Clean Air Act and Pennsylvania Air Pollution Control Act against Armstrong Cement & Supply, Inc., for violations of the Title V Operating Permit for its cement manufacturing facility located in Cabot, Butler County.

Department of Environmental Protection Thursday announced it will hold its second public conference on July 26 to gather feedback on two separate permit applications from Consol Pennsylvania Coal Company, LLC. to revise the Bailey Mine & Prep Plant (Permit No. 30841316). This is the second

Department of Environmental Protection Thursday announced it will open a comment period on July 22 and has scheduled an August 14 hearing in Lancaster to gather feedback on an Air Quality Plan Approval for construction activities related to the proposed Atlantic Sunrise Pipeline Project.

The Department of Environmental Protection Friday released details of oversight activities for the Sunoco Mariner East 2 Pipeline Project (ME2).

The Clean Air Council, Mountain Watershed Association, Inc., and the Delaware Riverkeeper Network Wednesday joined elected officials and impacted residents in calling for Sunoco Pipeline L.P. to put a halt to drilling operations associated with the construction of the Mariner East 2 natural gas liquids pipelines.

On July 17, Middletown Township in Delaware County reported to residents that there has been another bentonite spill at Sunoco’s Mariner East 2 Pipeline construction site behind Tunbridge apartments and reportedly reached Chester Creek, according to the Middletown Coalition for Community Safety.

The six plaintiffs who filed a complaint against Sunoco Pipeline for violation of Middletown Township’s pipeline setback requirements have now filed an appeal to Commonwealth Court.

By Jennifer Matthews, Penn State News

By Jeff Mulhollem, Penn State News

The Department of Environmental Protection is now accepting applications for up to $1 million in funding for its Small Business Advantage Grant Program to help fund energy efficiency and pollution prevention projects. (formal notice)

DeSales University in Center Valley, Lehigh County will host the Energypath 2017 For Our Future: Carbon Reduction Conference on July 27

Vivint Solar, Inc., a leading full-service residential solar provider, Wednesday announced it has expanded its residential solar energy systems into Pittsburgh. Vivint initially expanded into the state through the Philadelphia area in August 2015.

A concentrating photovoltaic system with embedded microtracking can produce over 50 percent more energy per day than standard silicon solar cells in a head-to-head competition, according to a team of Penn State University engineers who field tested a prototype unit over two sunny days last fall.

The Northern Illinois Federal District Court Friday dismissed legal challenges to a Zero Emission Credit Program adopted in Illinois to help keep that state’s zero carbon emitting nuclear power plants operating.

The Susquehanna Greenways Partnership Friday announced the winners of its 2017 Photo Contest.  You can also vote on who the People’s Choice winner will be by going to the Partnership’s Facebook page and voting by July 28.

Brandywine Health Foundation, working in partnership with Natural Lands and the City of Coatesville, Chester County has been selected as a recipient of a $150,000 Building Better Communities grant from the American Water Charitable Foundation and the National Recreation and Park Association.

The Fish and Boat Commission Monday announced it will host a wild trout summit open to the public at its Centre County Regional Office, 595 East Rolling Ridge Drive in Bellefonte, on August 26 beginning at 9:30 a.m.

The Fish and Boat Commission Wednesday announced  Luzerne County’s Mountain Springs Lake will be closed to public use beginning August 1 as the agency begins the process to permanently remove the dam.

Pennsylvania Sea Grant College Program, one of 33 National Sea Grant College Programs, is proud to welcome new staff, and announce leadership transitions.

The Governor’s Advisory Council for Hunting, Fishing and Conservation is seeking a qualified candidate to represent District 2 on the Game Commission’s board of directors. District 2 includes the counties of Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Fayette, Greene, Indiana, Washington, and Westmoreland.

Lancaster Clean Water Partners, a program of the Conservation Foundation of Lancaster County, is seeking qualified candidates to fill the position of Lancaster Clean Water Partners Director.

Department of Environmental Protection has an opening for qualified candidates for a Blasting and Explosives Inspector in the Pottsville District Mining Office.

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the July 22 PA Bulletin of the opportunity to bid on mine reclamation projects in Clarion and Jefferson counties.

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 - July 22, 2017

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