Senate Republicans followed Gov. Rendell's lead this week by making significant, additional cuts to environmental funding, doubling the already deep $77 million cut the Governor proposed in the 2009-10 state budget by adding another $77.4 million in cuts.

The Growing Greener Watershed Restoration Program will be ten years old in December and to help celebrate 10 groups have come together to invite watershed groups to share their success stories on a special www.GrowingGreener.com website.

On May 11 from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. and May 13 from noon to 1:00 p.m., the PA Land Trust Association is hosting an online webinar on the impacts of natural gas drilling and information on the proposed natural gas severance tax.

Local governments' roles in the regulation and implementation of gas drilling in Pennsylvania are a growing concern for residents and lawmakers alike, according to an expert in the Penn State Dickinson School of Law.

Andy Gavin, Chief of the Restoration Section at the Susquehanna River Basin Commission, talks about the installation of a rain garden project at the State Police Headquarters Building in Harrisburg.

On May 27 the Department of Environmental Protection and the Game Commission will host its annual Peregrine Falcon banding event in the Rachel Carson State Office Building's auditorium in Harrisburg from 12:30 - 2:00 p.m.

These bills of interest saw action in the Senate or House this week--

The Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee reported out bills on a variety of topics this week including: oil and gas well production reports, authorizing the Heritage Area Program in law, additional reporting from the Hazardous Sites Cleanup Fund, prescribed burning, additional protection for the Appalachian Trail and requiring a comment period on the proposed climate change plan.

The House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee this week reported out legislation creating a program to dispose of home-generated medical sharps and a bill authorizing county waste management fees. The bills include:

The Fish and Boat Commission this week provided the Senate Game and Fisheries Committee with an update on its activities and a copy of its 2008 annual report.

The National Association of Water Companies, Pennsylvania Chapter this week recognized Rep.Camille “Bud” George (D-Clearfield) with its James McGirr Kelly Award for Excellence.

The Department of Environmental Protection has extended the public comment period for proposed revisions to the General NPDES Permit for Stormwater Discharges from Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (PAG-13). Comments will now be accepted until July 6.

Congratulations to the championship team, Downingtown East High School, and all the participating teams!

The Pennsylvania Farm Bureau praised a state Supreme Court ruling that enables the state Attorney General to challenge local ordinances which illegally restrict agriculture, regardless of when they were adopted.

USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service officials in Pennsylvania this week announced a special 3-week sign-up period for a new Environmental Quality Incentives Program Organic Initiative.

Cambria County 4-H team members Ben Bard, Robert Veneskey, Annie Cekada and Mark Mastrine took first place in the 2009 Grasslands Evaluation Contest held at Penn State University on May 5. Earning a $500 college scholarship each, the team’s cumulative score was 878 points out of a possible 1200.

In April, the Pennsylvania Habitat Alliance met for the first time since December 2007 with the primary goal to address the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources gas lease issue, which was elevated when Gov. Rendell and a majority of the Senate moved to strip $170 million in gas lease funding from the agency and distribute it across the state.

The Carnegie Science Centerthis week announced the winners of the 2009 Carnegie Science Awards at Carnegie Music Hall. The environmental award was given to Rebecca Flora, formerly with the Pittsburgh Green Building Allianceand now the U.S. Green Building Council. (Photo: Flora)

The PA Parks and Forests Foundation will sponsor a Native Plants Sale at Meadowood Nursery in Hummelstown/South Hanover Township near Hershey on May 17 from 10:00 a.m until 3:00 p.m..

The Western Pennsylvania Conservancy is holding Conservation Easement Workshops for legal, appraisal, financial and real estate professionals, as well as anyone who is interested in an in-depth look at land protection options, including conservation easements.

Hang-glide pilots who catch the wind at Hyner View State Park will have a safe place to land, thanks to an agreement between The Nature Conservancy and the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

Department of Conservation and Natural Resources staff, along with Penn State University researchers, will host three public input sessions to provide comment and recommendations for the 2009 Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan.

Urging Pennsylvanians to embrace healthy lifestyles while enjoying the outdoors, organizers of Hiking Week 2009 are offering participants a chance to pick their path and pace in at least 100 hikes when the statewide event begins May 23.

The Alleghenies announces the grand opening of the Allegrippis Trail System on May 9. Working in partnership with the Army Corps of Engineers and the International Mountain Bicycling Association's Trail Solutions, the Friends of Raystown Lake and other trail contracting firms have built more than 30 miles of single track at Raystown Lake.

Entrepreneurs, builders, elected officials and individuals who practice and promote “Smart Growth” policies will be recognized at an awards ceremony at the state capital June 9 at the Whitaker Center in Harrisburg.

Medlar Field at Lubrano Park in State College is the first professional -- and college -- baseball stadium to earn Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification by the United States Green Building Council for the green techniques used in its construction and operations.

Ten communities in Pennsylvania will share an estimated $4 million to help assess, clean up and revitalize former industrial and commercial sites, turning them from problem properties into productive community use.

Folks from over 700 households took advantage of Centre County’s Household Hazardous Waste Collection Program this past weekend at the Centre County Solid Waste Authority.

On May 16, Pittsburgh area residents can dispose of a wide variety of materials at the first of four 2009 “hard to recycle” collection events sponsored by the Pennsylvania Resources Council and its campaign partners.

The Department of Environmental Protection this week awarded 53 Small Business Energy Efficiency Grants to companies in 29 counties totaling nearly $500,000.

The Department of Agriculture has scheduled three hearings during the week of May 18 to assess the capabilities of Pennsylvania’s motor fuels storage and distribution system to provide sufficient infrastructure for distribution of B2 blends of biodiesel statewide. (formal notice)

Enrollment begins in May for PECO’s Early Phase-In program, a new payment option to help customers prepare for the beginning of market-based rates on January 1, 2011.

Gov. Rendell this week announced the recipients of the third annual Governor's Awards for Excellence and praised all state employees for their dedication to service during national Public Employee Recognition Week.

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice of a bid opportunity for plugging 39 abandoned wells in McKean County.

Here’s a selection of NewsClips on environmental topics from around the state--

Read a sampling of NewsClips on watershed topics from around Pennsylvania.

The Environmental Quality Board published notice of final revisions to Safe Drinking Water Public Notification regulations. The Fish and Boat Commission published a notice finalizing the list of changes to the classifications of Wild Trout Streams.

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice extending the comment period and public hearings on revisions to the General NPDES Permit For Stormwater Discharges to a Municipal Sewer System.