On February 11, the Growing Greener Coalition sent an open letter to the Senate, House and Gov. Wolf  opposing the Governor's proposal to transfer monies from the Environmental Stewardship (Growing Greener) and Keystone Recreation, Park and Conservation funds used to fund local environmental improvement projects to instead pay operating costs for DEP and DCNR.

On February 12, the PA Recreation and Park Society sent out this Action Alert to its members and the public urging them to oppose Gov. Wolf’s diversion of tens of millions of dollars of dedicated recreation project funding to pay agency expenses.

In a special report to Gov. Wolf called Vision 2022, DEP’s Citizens Advisory Council urged the Governor to make rebalancing DEP’s legal mandates and its fiscal resources a priority in his second term.

In his written testimony and in response to questions about the need for more funding to address critical watershed restoration, hazardous substance cleanup, stormwater and flooding issues, DEP Secretary Patrick McDonnell pointed to the need for the proposed $4.5 billion Restore Pennsylvania Bond Initiative as a way of getting those resources in his appearance before the House Appropriations Committee Thursday.

This is the text of the written budget testimony submitted to the House and Senate Appropriations Committees by the Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Patrick McDonnell.

Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn said in written testimony and in comments before the House Appropriations Committee Thursday Gov. Wolf’s $4.5 billion Restore Pennsylvania infrastructure plan is important to meeting the needs for recreation and land conservation project funding across the state.

This is the text of the written budget testimony submitted to the House and Senate Appropriations Committees by Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn.

The Department of Environmental Protection awarded a total of over $28.7 million in 2018 Growing Greener Watershed Restoration Grants funded by the Environmental Stewardship Fund, EPA’s 319 Nonpoint Source Program and federal Surface Mining Reclamation Set-Aside and bond forfeiture funds.

On February 14, Gov.Tom Wolf joined Secretary of Agriculture Russell Redding to unveil the PA Farm Bill, a proposal to provide support for and continued investments in the state’s agriculture industry.

[UPDATED with links to available handouts.] The PA Chesapeake Bay Watershed Implementation Plan Steering Committee is scheduled to meet on February 20 to hear presentations from Adams and Franklin counties on the plans they developed to meet their nutrient pollution reduction targets.

By Thomas H. Bruggink, PhD, Lafayette College

The Department of Environmental Protection has notified the over 60 groups and individuals their petition asking the Environmental Quality Board to establish a greenhouse gas cap-and-trade program to address climate change is complete.

The DEP Climate Change Advisory Committee is scheduled to meet on February 26 to hear the latest from DEP on the 2018 update to Pennsylvania’s Climate Action Plan.

The Department of Environmental Protection published notices in the February 16 PA Bulletin inviting comments on the proposed Section 401 Water Quality Certification of the PennEast Pipeline Project through Luzerne, Carbon, Monroe, Northampton and Bucks Counties.  (pages 777-778)

The PA Independent Oil and Gas Association has asked the PA Supreme Court to reconsider the December 28 decision in favor of the Public Utility Commission in two cases involving the definition of a stripper well for the purposes of the Act 13 unconventional well impact fee..

Cleaning up your neighborhood is one of the best investments you can make and the 15th Annual Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful Great American Cleanup of PA can help get you started.

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 House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee is scheduled to meet February 19 to hold an informational meeting on the Department of Environmental Protection’s budget.

The House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee is scheduled to meet on February 20 to hear a presentation on the Forge the Future plan by the PA Chamber of Business and Industry and PA Manufacturers’ Association.

The House Transportation Committee is scheduled to consider House Bill 374 (Everett-R- Lycoming) establishing the Keystone Tree Fund to support tree planting programs by the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources on February 19.

The Joint Legislative Air and Water Pollution Control and Conservation Committee will hold an informational meeting on steps being taken to promote PA Route 6 for biking and local tourism March 19.

On February 14, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Acting Administrator Andrew Wheeler announced EPA’s Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) Action Plan.

On February 15, the Delaware River Basin Restoration Program received $6 million in federal funding as part of the fiscal year 2019 Interior Appropriations bill approved by Congress and signed by the President, a $1 million increase from last year.

On February 15, Lisa Feldt, Chesapeake Bay Foundation Vice President for Environmental Protection and Restoration, issued the following statement regarding the final budget approved by Congress and signed by the President--

On February 15, the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership urged individual sportsmen and women to urge EPA not to overlook critical fish and waterfowl habitat in a proposed rule rolling back federal Clean Water Act protections for 50 percent of wetlands and 18 percent of stream miles in the United States.

On February 12, the U.S. Senate passed a sweeping package of public lands bills, including a measure to permanently reauthorize the Land and Water Conservation Fund, which expired last September.

The PA Association of Environmental Professionals is now accepting nominations for the 2019 Karl Mason and Walter Lyon Awards.  Nominations are due March 29.

The PA Infrastructure Investment Authority is holding a series of 11 information sessions across the state for municipal officials, conservation districts, private landowners, authority board members and staff, regulators, engineers, and others interesting in learning about how PennVEST funding can help improve water quality in your community.

On February 12, PA American Water announced entries are now being accepted for its 17th Annual Protect Our Watersheds Student Art Contest. The deadline for entries is April 12.

On February 12, PA American Water announced applications are being accepted for its 2019 Stream of Learning Scholarship Program to provide financial assistance to high school seniors who are planning to pursue careers in the water and wastewater industry. 

On February 12, PA American Water Tuesday announced applications are now being accepted for the company's 2019 Environmental Grant Program.  The deadline for applications is March 29.

On February 12, the Brodhead Watershed Association announced it will hold training sessions for volunteers interested in becoming "watershed warriors" in its popular Streamwatchers Program.

The South Mountain Partnership and the Capital Resource Conservation & Development Area Council are hosting a Watershed Groups Working With Municipalities For Greater Impact Workshop on March 16 at the Adams County Conservation District Office, 670 Old Harrisburg Road in Gettysburg from 9:00 a.m. to Noon.

The Rodale Institute is now accepting applications for its Veterans Organic Farming Training Program based on its certified organic farm in Kutztown, Berks County.

On February 14, the Berks County Conservation District announced it will hold a Forested Riparian Buffer Showcase on April 26 starting at Noon at the Berks County 4H Center, 1206 County Welfare Road in Leesport.

The Westmoreland County Conservation District will host public meetings on a draft Integrated Water Resources Plan for the County on February 19 and 20. 

The Philadelphia Green City, Clean Waters Program, PA Horticultural Society, Philadelphia Area Sustainable Business Network are inviting residents to one of 7 upcoming Rain Check Workshops from February 19 to March 29 to learn how they can help reduce stormwater pollution through some simple changes around your home.

The Audubon Society of Western PA will host a February 27 community meeting to discuss priorities, opportunities and challenges in the Buffalo Creek Watershed in Butler and Armstrong counties.

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the February 16 PA Bulletin about an opportunity to bid on a mine reclamation project in Butler County.

The Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education will hold its annual Toad Detour Training Program February 16 in Philadelphia.

By Donna Morelli, Chesapeake Bay Journal

East Stroudsburg University Madelon Powers Art Gallery and Fine And Performing Arts Center will host a panel discussion on water quality issues facing the Monroe County region on February 27 from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. in East Stroudsburg, Monroe County.

The latest issue of Connect With Your Environment in the Erie Times-News is now available.   This edition focuses on aquatic invasive species.

Pennsylvania Sea Grant has “Aquatic Invaders Attack Packs” available to lend to teachers and others involved in educational programs about aquatic invasive species.

The PA Resource Council’s  Litter? Not in Philly! project is expanding to Southwest Philadelphia under the local banner of “Litter? Not in Southwest!”

The PA Resources Council and its partners will host 10 Backyard Composting Workshops in Allegheny County starting March 2 and ending June 13.

participants to be part of the I Am Sustainable Pittsburgh Challenge from February 27 through March 20.

The 10th Annual Sustainability Conference - Smart Cities: Transforming Cities For A New Era will be held March 6 in Pittsburgh at the August Wilson Center, 980 Liberty Avenue in Pittsburgh from 8:00 a.m to 3:00 p.m.

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the February 16 PA Bulletin of the opportunity to comment on proposed nitrogen oxide emission limits included in its Interstate Pollution Transport Reduction Plan.

On February 13, PennEnvironment and Clean Air Council announced in a letter to the company they plan to sue U.S. Steel Corporation over continuing noncompliance with the federal Clean Air Act at the company’s Pittsburgh-area facilities -- Clairton Coke Works, Irvin Steel Mill and Edgar Thomson Plant.

On February 14, the Group Against Smog and Pollution submitted a petition with the signatures of 250 people asking the Allegheny County Health Department to deny installation permits sought by Knoxville, TN-based plastics company Eastman Chemical Resins Inc., which operates a facility in Jefferson Hills.

On February 12, Joe Napsha of Triblive.com reported Protect PT and the Mountain Watershed Association will host a public meeting on February 28 to discuss the recent CNX shale gas well failure in Washington Township, Westmoreland County near the Beaver Run Reservoir.

On February 13, the Department of Environmental Protection released a plan to increase the use of electric vehicles in Pennsylvania that would result in almost $2.8 billion in benefits from lower greenhouse gas emissions, help reduce respiratory disease, increase consumer savings, and create jobs.

Carnegie Mellon University 4th Annual Energy Week will be held March 25-59 to convene energy experts, CEOs and corporate executives, government officials, nonprofits, key influencers, students, and entrepreneurs for a facilitated dialogue on how to advance energy technologies and innovations around the world.

The Pennsylvania Wilds Center For Entrepreneurship will host the 3rd Annual PA Wilds Conservation Shop Buyer's Market from 9:00 to Noon for wholesale buyers and the public from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. on March 2 at the Gemmell Student Complex Multi-Purpose Room at Clarion University.

The inaugural Mid-Atlantic Greenways and Trails Summit will be held April 4-6 in Philadelphia bringing together leaders and advocates of active transportation and greenway and trail development to advance bicycling and walking innovations across the region.

A 144-acre forest in Erie County's Wayne Township has been donated to the Foundation for Sustainable Forests to be conserved in perpetuity as a sustainable working woodland. 

The Heritage Conservancy recently preserved the 114-acre Bonk Farm near the important Quakertown Swamp area in Richland Township, Bucks County.

On February 12, Natural Lands and Pocono Heritage Land Trust announced the preservation of two nearby, but separately owned parcels totaling 340 acres of land near the Brodhead Creek, a stream running through the Pocono Mountains known for its clear, cool water and healthy trout population.

On February 13, the Game Commission announced that despite the cancellation of activities to reduce deer numbers in parts of Bedford and Blair counties, Game Commission deer research continues in the area related to Chronic Wasting Disease.

Trout Unlimited, the Brandywine Conservancy, Wildlife Leadership Academy and the Conservation Voters of PA are all looking for good people to fill positions--

Here are NewsClips from around the state on all environmental topics, including General Environment, Budget, Marcellus Shale, Watershed Protection and much more.

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 highlights of actions taken by agencies on environmental regulations, technical guidance and permits.

CLICK HERE to View or Print the entire PA Environment Digest.  This Digest is 117 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: PaEnviroDigest@gmail.com.

The PA Enviornment Digest is helping to sponsor these 4 upcoming conferences and award programs--

PA Environment Digest is a supporting member of the Pennsylvania Outdoor Writers Association, Pennsylvania Council Trout Unlimited and the Doc Fritchey Chapter Trout Unlimited.