The PA Chesapeake Bay Watershed Planning Steering Committee heard a presentation Wednesday about new tools the federal Chesapeake Bay Program has available to help the state target cost-effective pollution reduction measures in the Bay Watershed.

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation, in partnership with Quantified Ventures and with support from The Kresge Foundation and other funders, is inviting municipalities in Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia to participate in a pilot project to implement green infrastructure solutions that reduce urban/suburban runoff that damages local rivers, streams, and the Chesapeake Bay.

The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources will be accepting applications for grants to install riparian forest buffers from October 2 to December 20. (formal notice)

Senate and House leaders and Gov. Wolf continue their now 94-day marathon discussions (as of Monday) on how to fill the $2.2 billion budget hole, but a final agreement last week was elusive.

On Friday, a bipartisan group of 11 Senators wrote to Senators Pat Browne (R-Lehigh) and Vincent Hughes (D-Philadelphia), the Majority and Minority Chairs of the Senate Appropriations Committee, urging them to devote a portion of any natural gas production severance tax to the Environmental Stewardship (Growing Greener) Fund.

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 House voted 126 to 70 to pass House Resolution 497 (McCarter-D-Montgomery) designating October as Biodiversity Awareness Month in Pennsylvania, but not before voting 152 to 44 to reject a motion by Rep. Cris Dush (R-Indiana) to postpone a vote until October 4.

The House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee is scheduled to meet October 3 on a bill to exempt certain farm structures from the Stormwater Management Act and a resolution urging the Delaware River Basin Commission to suspend consideration of a natural gas drilling moratorium.  The legislation includes--

The Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee has scheduled a meeting October 17 to consider legislation that would tax municipalities statewide $500 million over 10 years to install nitrogen reduction measures in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed, about one-third of the state. On the agenda are--

A coalition of 26 conservation organizations representing agriculture, wildlife, sportsmen, conservation and environmental groups have put together a series of consensus recommendations they are advocating for during the upcoming debate in Congress over reauthorization of the federal Farm Bill, including--

On September 8, President Trump signed legislation passed by both houses of Congress that extends the National Flood Insurance Program’s authorization for three months. It previously had been set to expire September 30.

On September 17, Stroud Water Research Center in Chester County hosted more than 250 guests filled the Galleries Reception Atrium at Winterthur and listened as His Serene Highness Prince Albert II of Monaco began his speech:

The Coldwater Heritage Partnership Wednesday announced it is now accepting applications for  the 2018 Coldwater Conservation Grants.  The deadline for applications is December 15.

Leaders from Lemoyne Borough, Lower Paxton Township, Susquehanna Township, and Harrisburg’s Capital Region Water share their perspectives on tackling the stormwater management challenge in a new video from the Department of Environmental Protection.

The Spring Creek Chapter Of Trout Unlimited in Centre County received a $160,700 grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to improve habitat along two sections of Spring Creek and fund a riparian planting in the G. D. Kissinger Meadow on Slab Cabin Run.

The Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority Wednesday announced it is installing green infrastructure (GI) at more than six locations around the city.

A group of 13 Montgomery County municipalities and four wastewater treatment plants in the Wissahickon Watershed have voted on the selection of a Technical Review Committee to support the ongoing work of the Wissahickon Clean Water Partnership.

The Department of Environmental Protection is inviting comments on a proposed Total Maximum Daily Load Plan for Stony Run Watershed in Westmoreland County. (PA Bulletin, page 6123)

The Department of Environmental Protection Friday announced it now has available the final Lake Erie Phosphorus Reduction Action Plan which outlines methods and strategies for the reduction of nutrient pollution in Lake Erie.  (formal notice)

The 7th Annual Lehigh Valley Watershed Conference will be held at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Lehigh and Northampton counties on October 17.

The Schuylkill Action Network  2017 Annual Meeting will be held on November 3 at the Reading Area Community College from 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

The Brodhead Watershed Association in Monroe County is hosting another in its series of Water Wiser Kids events— Frogsicles and Falling Leaves— on October 21 at Ice Lake in Barrett Township in Cresco starting at 10:30 a.m.

PA Envirothon, the statewide group that coordinates the Pennsylvania Envirothon competition for high school students, Friday issued its Fall Update on activities, including--

The Pennsylvania Coal Alliance recently recognized the efforts of several member companies who performed above and beyond federal and state regulations for reclaiming coal mine sites to environmentally sound conditions with productive uses during the 2016 calendar year.

The Department of Environmental Protection Friday formally announced it will no longer accept applications for household hazardous waste education or municipal solid waste planning grants after September 30 because the General Assembly has failed to reauthorize the $2/ton Recycling Fee. (formal notice)

The PA Resources Council will hold its second Future of Recycling Roundtable discussion on October 11 at Construction Junction, 214 N. Lexington Street in Pittsburgh from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.

Pennsylvania’s Act 101 Recycling Program has resulted in developing a Recycling Marketplace in the state responsible for generating over 66,000 jobs directly involved in recycling or using recycled materials to make products that contributed $22.6 billion to Pennsylvania’s economy in 2015, according to a new economic impact study released by the PA Recycling Markets Center.

We all know Penn State fans bleed blue and white, but the Centre County Recycling & Refuse Authority wants you to show them that you think GREEN matters too! 

The PA Resources Councils holds the final 5 household chemical, e-waste, hard-to-recycle and drug take back collection events in Allegheny and Beaver Counties in October.  They will be held—

The Capital Chapter Society for Women Environmental Professionals is hosting its Annual Regulatory Update Seminar on November 2 at the DEP Southcentral Regional Office, 909 Elmerton Avenue in Harrisburg from 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

The Public Utility Commission published formal notice in the September 30 PA Bulletin it is beginning a review of vegetation management practices by electric utilities as a result of an order adopted by the PUC at its August 31 meeting.  (formal notice)

The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy Thursday released its annual State Energy Efficiency Scorecard which found Pennsylvania ranks 19th among the states for the second year in a row for implementing energy efficiency programs, same as last year.

The PJM Interconnection Friday celebrated its 90th anniversary with Congressman Ryan Costello, industry leaders and state and federal regulators, including Commissioner Robert Powelson of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, joining in to observe the historic milestone.

The Department of Environmental Protection is now accepting applications for a special Alternative Fuel Corridor Infrastructure Grant Program to provide up to 50 percent of the costs to install public refueling facilities along highway corridors designed by the Federal Highway Administration. (formal notice)

Penn State Extension will host a free webinar November 16 on Abandoned Oil and Gas Wells in PA: What’s a Reasonable Estimate? from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m.

The PA Technical Assistance Program will hold a Common Energy Tips For Manufacturers and Steps To Implementation Workshop at the Penn State New Kensington, Art Gallery, 3550 Seventh Street Road, Upper Burrell in Westmoreland County from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m.

The nonprofit Energy Coordinating Agency's annual Fall Energy Conference will be held on November 9 at the Temple University Student Faculty Center, 3340 N. Broad Street in Philadelphia from 8:45 a.m. to 4:15 p.m.

DCNR’s Pennsylvania Trails Advisory Committee is now accepting nominations for the 2018 Pennsylvania Trail of the Year.  The deadline for nominations is November 17.

The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources will be accepting applications for grants for acquisition, planning, development, rehabilitation or maintenance of snowmobile or ATV trails from October 2 to December 20. (formal notice)

The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Thursday announced hunters and other outdoors enthusiasts heading into Pennsylvania's state-owned woodlands this autumn will find additional roads open in 18 of the 20 state forest districts.

Those hunting deer within the state’s Disease Management Areas (DMAs) will have the opportunity to have their deer tested – free of charge – for chronic wasting disease (CWD), and at the same time help the Game Commission fight this deadly disease.

Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn Saturday joined birding enthusiasts and supporters of Fort Washington State Park in Montgomery County celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Militia Hill Hawk Watch.

The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Thursday issued its second Fall Foliage Report showing some areas of the Northern Tier may reach 60 percent of peak foliage conditions.

On October 22 the Brodhead Creek Watershed Association will host another in its Get Outdoors Poconos hikes, this time in the Big Woods Natural Area in Monroe County starting at 10:00 a.m. lead by Carol Hillestad.

The Natural Lands conservation organization based in Delaware County is now accepting applications for the 2018 Force of Nature Volunteer Training Program. The deadline for applications is November 1.

Facing escalating costs and declining revenues after 12 years without an increase in the price of a fishing license, the Fish and Boat Commission voted Monday to reduce spending by $2 million in fiscal year 2018-19 if the legislature does not act on legislation-- Senate Bill 30 (Eichelberger- R-Blair) to raise license fees.

The Fish and Boat Commission Saturday announced laboratory tests have confirmed the Koi Herpesvirus (KHV) is responsible for the deaths of thousands of carp in Crawford County’s Pymatuning Reservoir, located in Pymatuning State Park.

Hawk Mountain Sanctuary biologists in Berks County recently published a new paper in collaboration with researchers in Canada and across the United States that suggests global climate change is creating long-term shifts in seasonal migration timing and the amount of time eastern North American raptors spend on their breeding grounds.

The PA Horticultural Society has selected the Blue Ribbon winners and the Gardens of Distinction in the “2017 PHS Gardening and Greening Contest.”

Farmers, gardeners and other Pennsylvanians concerned about the health of pollinators given their critically important role growing and producing food now have the chance to comment on a draft of the state’s proposed Pollinator Protection Plan.

The Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens will host Biophilia: Pittsburgh reflections on the Gaia hypothesis and strengthening the bond between people and the natural world on October 5 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Center for Sustainable Landscapes.

The Wildlands Conservancy in the Lehigh Valley Thursday highlighted education and other events coming up in October, including--

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 - September 30, 2017

CLICK HERE to Print The Entire PA Environment Digest.  This Digest is 70 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.