DEP Secretary Patrick McDonnell and DCNR Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn will be answering questions about Gov. Wolf’s FY 2020-21 budget requests for their agencies on February 24 in hearings before the House Appropriations Committee, at 10:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. respectively.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has featured Blacks Creek mine drainage treatment projects in Venango County as one of their Nonpoint Source Success Stories.

Franklin Kury is a former member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from 1966 to 1972 representing Montour and Northumberland Counties, and a former member of the Pennsylvania State Senate serving from 1973 to 1980 representing Columbia, Juniata, Montour, Northumberland, Snyder, and Union counties.

The PA Land Trust Association will honor Molly K. Morrison of Chester County, former president of Natural Lands, with its Lifetime Conservation Leadership Award at the 2020 PA Land Conservation Conference awards dinner in Gettysburg on April 2.

On February 18, Game Commission biologist Mary Jo Casalena has been recognized with the national Henry S. Mosby Conservation Award by the National Wild Turkey Federation.

On February 21, the Department of Transportation announced the first district winner of the 2020 Student Innovation Litter Challenge-- team members LaceyJo Hunter and Destiny Krome from Northwest PA Collegiate Academy in PennDOT District 1 in Erie County.

A recent statewide study on litter found an estimated 502 million pieces of litter along Pennsylvania’s roadways polluting our environment and affecting our quality of life.

The Department of Agriculture’s Pesticide Advisory Board is scheduled to meet on March 3 and on the agenda is a discussion of legislation proposing a ban on the pesticide chlorpyrifos known to cause harm to human health, in particular children, as well as to wildlife.

The Earth Day 50 PA website is collecting memories of the first Earth Day in 1970 and this is one of those stories...

The Earth Day 50 PA website is collecting memories of the first Earth Day in 1970 and this is one of those stories...

Earth Day turns 50 this year, with a national theme of climate action. Once a month this year the Good Natured blog is featuring a solution in recognition of the need to act to address this environmental challenge facing people, wildlife, and the planet.

 Because In Politics, Everything Is Connected To Everything Else ] February 18 was the deadline to submit petitions to be on the Primary Election ballot April 28 and all the major Democratic candidates for President made the deadline.  Guess they aren’t taking Pennsylvania for granted after all.

Fair Districts PA, a project of the League of Women Voters of PA, is pushing reforms to the way Pennsylvania draws legislative voting districts by urging residents to support their “Not Red, Not Blue, Just Fair” campaign.

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

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--

On February 18, Sen. Sharif Street (D-Philadelphia) announced he will be introducing a package of bills to, among other things, amend the state's Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards to create a new Clean Energy Standard that includes carbon capture as a major element.

On February 20, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced it is accepting public comments on a proposed determination to regulate perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) in drinking water.

On February 18, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced the award of $464,200 to the Fish and Boat Commission to hire eight employees to assist with stream improvement projects in Pennsylvania’s portion of the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

On February 19, a student team from Elizabethtown College in Lancaster County was awarded a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency P3 Student Design Competition Program grant to create a paper test to detect lead in drinking water.

The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation will host a webinar March 11 from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. for anyone interested in applying for grants through the Chesapeake Bay Stewardship Fund and the Delaware River Watershed Program.

The Southwestern PA Commission Water Resource Center is scheduled to hold a series of workshops on smart green corridors, a refresher on MS4 Stormwater requirements and comprehensive stormwater and flooding management in March.

The Westmoreland Conservation District and Brandywine Conservancy will host an After the Storms: How to Repair and Maintain Gravel Driveways and Unpaved Lanes March 24. at Penguin Court, 104 California Avenue, Laughlintown from 1:00 to 3;00 p.m.

The Wissahickon Valley Watershed Association will host a February 26 meeting on a stream restoration project along the PECO right-of-way in Upper Gwynedd Township in Montgomery County that will begin in March.

The Slippery Rock Campground in Butler County received a stream bank upgrade to prevent excessive amounts of sediment from entering the stream and protecting about ten trailers. Construction was completed in October and November of last year.

CleanScapes will celebrate 20 years of service to Clinton and Lycoming counties on March 28 with the Bald Eagle Valley Trail Fest - 5K Walk/Run - Carrot Cake/Cupcake Baking Competition at the Castanea Fire Company, 111 McElhattan Avenue in Castanea, Clinton County.

Looking to make a positive difference in the health of our local environment?  Sign-up for the Perkiomen Watershed Conservancy’s annual Stream Clean-up and help us remove trash, tires and other debris from regional waterways. 

By Carol Armstrong, Master Watershed Steward Chester/Delaware Counties

By Jodi Sulpizio, Master Watershed Steward Coordinator York County

Buffers are an easy way to help improve water quality in our local rivers and streams.

By Danielle Rhea, Penn State Extension Educator

By Andy Yencha, Extension Educator, Renewable Natural Resources

The February issue of the Catalyst newsletter is now available from the Butler County-based Slippery Rock Watershed Coalition featuring articles on--

The Susquehanna River Basin Commission will hold a business meeting on March 13 at the SRBC Headquarters, 4423 N. Front Street in Harrisburg starting at 9:00 a.m.  (formal notice)

The PA Anthracite Section of the Society for Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration will meet March 12 at Carmelo's Roman Delight, 1240 Centre Turnpike, Orwigsburg, Schuylkill County starting at 5:00 p.m.

On February 21, the PA Emergency Management Agency announced the launch of Keystone Mesonet, an internet-based one-stop shop for weather and environmental data.

On February 18, Department of Environmental Protection announced it has negotiated a consent order and agreement with Westmoreland Sanitary Landfill, a residual/municipal waste landfill located in Rostraver Township, Westmoreland County, to address violations of its permit and the Solid Waste Management Act.

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the February 22 PA Bulletin it has approved Chapter 105 Water Obstruction and Encroachment Permits for the Mariner East II Pipeline in Blair and Perry counties (PA Bulletin page 1165).

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the February 22 PA Bulletin inviting comments on the Chapter 102 Erosion and Sedimentation Control permit applications for the Adelphia Gateway Natural Gas Pipeline Project route through Bucks, Chester, Delaware and Montgomery counties (PA Bulletin page 1171)

The U.S. Geological Survey released study results of 40 chemical parameters and benthic and microbial life study of oil and gas operations in 25 small watersheds in State Forest lands over a two year period.

G.E.T. (Galvanizing Energy Transition) is now accepting applications from nonprofits and businesses to help transition them to solar energy.  The pre-screening deadline is March 16.  The deadline for applications is March 31.

Crawford County-based Ernst Conservation Seeds, the largest producer of native grass and wildflower seeds in the eastern United States, has partnered with Ernst Pollinator Service, a leader in pollinator establishment in all types of habitats, and the American Solar Grazing Association, a nonprofit trade organization devoted to promoting the grazing of sheep on solar installations, to develop the new Fuzz & Buzz™ Seed Mix.

The Public Utility Commission will join community organizations and local energy utilities in sponsoring a “Be Utility Wise” consumer education forum March 12 in Delaware County.

Pennsylvania Power Company has again partnered with the Erie Bird Observatory to install two 55-foot wooden poles with nesting platforms in Mercer and Crawford counties.

Wayne County-based Sustainable Energy & Education Development Support (SEEDS) Olga Trushina as its new Executive Director.

By Francisco Tutella, Penn State News

On February 20, the Agricultural Land Preservation Board safeguarded 2,848 additional acres on 39 farms in 19 counties through the state’s nation-leading farmland preservation program.

Schuylkill River Greenways will host the 2020 World Tour of the Paddling Film Festival on March 26 at The Colonial Theatre, 227 Bridge Street in Phoenixville, Chester County from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.

On February 18, the PA Great Outdoors Visitors Bureau announced their new Photo Contests for 2020-2021 for photos taken in Jefferson, Elk, Clarion, Forest, or Cameron counties.

On February 22 the Jennings Environmental Education Center, 2951 Prospect Road in Slippery Rock, Butler County held its annual "Cherry Pie Hike" and "Washington's Trail Hike.”

The Lehigh Valley-based Wildlands Conservancy highlights the activities and programs it has scheduled for March, including--

Private woodland owners are encouraged to attend the Dauphin County Woodland Owners Association’s tenth annual Woodland Owner’s Conference on March 14 at the Dauphin County Agricultural & Natural Resources Center, 1451 Peters Mountain Road in Dauphin from 8:30 a.m. to 3:15 p.m.

Help build a future where Pennsylvania’s native plants are thriving, abundant, and cared for by a vibrant and inclusive community of conservation advocates!

The 2020 Pennsylvania Rare Plant Forum will take place March 28 at the Penn State Beaver Campus, General Classroom Building Room 115A in Monaca, Beaver County from 9:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

The February 19 issue of the Resource newsletter is now available from the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources featuring articles on--

The February 21 Take Five Fridays With Pam is now available from the PA Parks and Forests Foundation featuring articles on--

Representatives of waterfowl organizations, interested hunters and the public are invited to attend a briefing on March 6 on the status of Atlantic Flyway waterfowl populations and proposed federal frameworks for the 2020-21 waterfowl hunting seasons.

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 114 page PA Environment Digest.

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 Environment Digest is a proud sponsor of the 2020 Riparian Forest Buffer Summit March 11 & 12 in Altoona.  Registration is now open.  Click Here for more.

The PA Environment Digest is a proud sponsor of the 2020 Riparian Forest Buffer Summit March 11 & 12 in Altoona.  Registration is now open.  Click Here for more.

The PA Environment Digest is a proud sponsor of the 2020 PA Abandoned Mine Reclamation Conference June 24-25 in State College.  Click Here for more - Call For Presentations.

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