A coalition of environmental, conservation, and sporting groups; municipal officials and state legislators this week launched a campaign in support of a severance tax on natural gas drilling saying a new poll shows 87 percent of the public supports a severance tax if it benefits the environment.

The following legislation was considered this week--

The Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee reported out bills related to brownfield liability, flood control projects, coal bed methane disputes and transferring $174 million from the Oil and Gas Fund to the General Fund as proposed by Gov. Rendell.

The House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee reported out bills setting incentives and requirements for green buildings and establishing a State Energy Office. They include:

Rep. John Pallone (D-Westmoreland) announced this week the House adopted House Resolution 146 to recognize 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. March 28 as Earth Hour 2009 in Pennsylvania.

House Speaker Keith McCall (D-Carbon) and Majority Leader Todd Eachus (D-Luzerne) this week announced the introduction of legislation that would protect customers of some of the state's biggest electricity generating companies from massive rate hikes when rate caps expire.

House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee meets Tuesday to consider bills regulating prescribed burning, the purchase of property to mitigate flood hazards and to establish an energy efficient home assistance program. The bills include:

The Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts this week honored House Speaker Keith McCall (D-Carbon) and Sen. Rob Wonderling (R-Montgomery) with the 2009 PACD Legislator Recognition Award.

The Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts held a Capitol Day in Harrisburg this week focusing on key legislative issues important to conservation districts across the Commonwealth.

The PA Association of Conservation Districts this week published the 2008-2009 annual report on its watershed Engineering Technical Assistance Program that was continued this year due to a grant from the Department of Environmental Protection's Growing Greener Program.

Congressman Tim Holden (D-Schuylkill) and the Susquehanna River Basin Commission this week announced the restoration of SRBC’s federal funding through the FY-09 Omnibus spending bill that was passed by Congress and signed by President Obama last week.

Delaware River Basin Commission Executive Director Carol R. Collier has announced that the U.S. Congress approved legislation providing $715,000 to fulfill the federal obligation to support the commission’s current expense budget for the first time since 1996.

The Water Resources Education Network and other partners will hold a workshop on April 22 at the Borough of Charlerol in Allegheny County on Protecting Public Drinking Water:Source Water Protection Solutions.

The Department of Environmental Protection has scheduled meetings for each of its six Water Resources Regional Technical Subcommittees in April--

The Department of Environmental Protection took action this week to consolidate the review of Chapter 102 and 105 erosion and sedimentation and stormwater permits for Marcellus Shale gas drilling permits under DEP's Regional Oil and Gas Program staff, rather than have county conservation districts do those reviews.

Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato will host a regional strategy session entitled “Growing a Greener Economy” on March 27, from 8:30 to 11:00 a.m. at the Senator John Heinz History Center.

The Public Utility Commission this week informed interested parties that a list is available of electric utility contacts to allow interested parties to be engaged in the utility's development of energy efficiency and conservation plans under Act 129.

The Department of Environmental Protection this week encouraged contractors installing solar photovoltaic and solar thermal (hot water) equipment to register with the department to be eligible to do work under the Commonwealth's new $100 million grant program to promote solar energy.

Pennsylvania homeowners who are going "green" may be eligible for an insurance discount now that the Insurance Department has approved the first energy-efficient discount of its kind, according to Insurance Commissioner Joel Ario.

Spring is in the air and you know what that means-- cleanup events are happening all around the state. See just a few of the cleanups scheduled below or go to the Great American Cleanup of PA website for more in your area or register your cleanup event now!

Nominations for the 2009 Waste Watcher Awards to recognize municipalities, counties, businesses, schools, non-profit groups or individuals who have made a significant contribution to recycling, composting and waste reduction and reuse are now being accepted.

The Professional Recyclers of Pennsylvania are sponsoring a series of professional certification classes across the state on composting, recycling and related topics.

The Professional Recyclers of Pennsylvania will sponsor an Organics Mortality Composting Roundtable April 21, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Adams County Ag & Natural Resources Center, 670 Old Harrisburg Road, Gettysburg, Pa.

The Pennsylvania Resources Council will sponsor a series of backyard and worm composting classes

On March 28 eLoop and Construction Junction in Pittsburgh will hold an electronics recycling event at 155 Plum Industrial Court, Pittsburgh to recycleold TV’s and computer equipment.

The Pennsylvania State Envirothon will be held on May 19 at Bald Eagle State Park in Centre County bringing together thousands of high school students from all across the state to demonstrate their environmental knowledge.

10,000 Friends of Pennsylvania is seeking innovative smart development and design projects and the visionaries who are leading the way on smart growth from around the state to be considered for the 2009 Commonwealth Awards.

The Department of Community and Economic Development this week announced $1.6 million in grants to 43 communities in 25 countiesto help breathe new life into downtowns, convert brownfields into shovel-ready land and improve the quality of life for residents.

Pennsylvania business and industry have reduced their on-site and off-site disposal and release of waste and certain chemicals by nearly 71 million pounds from 2006 to 2007, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Toxic Release Inventory.

State Forester Daniel Devlin this week applauded an independent environmental review team's decision to again certify state forestlands as well managed, noting the decision affirms the state's efforts to conserve these resources and ensure their long-term health and sustainability.

The Game Commission this week reported that hunters harvested an estimated 335,850 deer in the state’s 2008-09 seasons. That’s up four percent from the previous seasons’ harvest of 323,070.

Live, 24-hour webcasts of three Peregrine falcons nests in Harrisburg and Pittsburgh resumed this week.

Russ Schleiden, President of the Board of the Wildlife For Everyone Endowment Foundation, announced the Foundation is joining with Woodcock Limited of Pennsylvania to support ongoing efforts to restore habitat for American woodcock, golden-winged warblers, white-throated sparrows and other species that depend on shrubs and young forests.

Natural Biodiversity, Kiski-Conemaugh Stream Team, Johnstown Area Heritage Association, and many other committed partners are pleased to announce April as Outdoor Heritage Month in Pennsylvania’s Allegheny Mountains!

The PA Association of Environmental Professionals will sponsor a Pittsburgh Networking Session on April 3 at the Phipps Conservancy in Pittsburgh.

Acting Department of Environmental Protection Secretary John Hanger announced this week Cathy Myers has been named Special Assistant to the Secretary for Pennsylvania's Recovery. Myers had been Deputy Secretary for Water Management.

The Pennsylvania Farm Bureau is looking for an experienced professional with expertise on environmental laws and issues related to agriculture to fill the position of Natural Resources Director.

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice of bid opportunities for several projects this week:

While news about the housing market can be found in just about every newspaper, or seen or heard on the radio and television news, you don't hear much about the concerns in the wildlife housing market.

The Department of Environmental Protection published draft guidance on the land treatment of wastewater, environmental laboratory accreditation proficiency test study requirements and notice of the final general permit for beneficial use of gypsum wallboard.