Department of Environmental Protection Secretary John Hanger told the Senate Appropriations Committee this week his agency's ability to make timely permit decisions is getting more difficult because of the budget cuts made this fiscal year and expected for next year.

A poll released this week by Quinnipiac University shows those surveyed support a Marcellus Shale natural gas production tax, the only tax changes proposed by Gov. Rendell in the FY 2010-11 budget they supported.

The companies and organizations listed in the PA Environment Digest  Professional Services Directory help support this free service.

Here are the Senate and House Calendars and Committee meetings showing bills of interest as well as a list of new environmental bills introduced--

The Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee is scheduled to meet on March 9 to consider bills covering oil and gas well drilling, mineral leasing by the state, how mining permit fees are adopted and the disposition of air quality penalties.  The bills include--

By Sandy Long, River Reporter

The Susquehanna River Basin Commission this week announced real-time data from six initial remote water quality monitoring stations are now available on SRBC’s website.  A user-friendly map, graphs and charts are key features for viewing and understanding the data. 

The Department of Environmental Protection this week said Pennsylvania’s mine reclamation programs made "dramatic progress" by reclaiming 750 acres of abandoned mines in 2009.

The Eastern Coalition For Abandoned Mine Reclamation received a grant from Dominion Energy to help support its Acid Mine Drainage Environmental Education Programs to reach students in Tioga and Lycoming Counties who live in watersheds impacted by AMD. 

ClearWater Conservancy is offering an opportunity to witness and explore a distinctive and temporary habitat when it hosts its Adventures in Conservation event at the Scotia Barrens on March 18 from 8:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.  

Mount Pleasant residents of Ramsay Terrace and nearby streets should act quickly if they want to sign up for a free program that will create an attractive, landscaped garden in their yard as a way to help relieve flooding in local neighborhoods.

More than 130 individuals attended the first decentralized PA Wastewater Conference and Trade Show recently held at the Lancaster County Convention Center & Lancaster Marriott.

The March issue of the EE Connections newsletter from the PA Center for Environmental Education is now available online. This month's newsletter highlights these stories:

Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Acting Secretary John H. Quigley is inviting young men and women across the state to apply for its summer residential camp for high-school students interested in pursuing environmental careers.

This year we celebrate the 40th Anniversary of Earth Day on April 22, the nationwide teach-in that kick-started many of the major environmental programs we have today. In this section each week the PA Environment Digest will highlight upcoming Earth Day events.  Submit your events for this page to:  DHess@CrisciAssociates.com.

PA CleanWays and Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful encourage groups to register now for the 2010 Great American Cleanup of PA.

The Perkiomen Watershed Conservancy in Montgomery County will hold its annual stream cleanup on April 17.  Click here to register for the event.

Game Commission Northeast Region Director Steve Schweitzer announced the deer open house postponed on February 27, because of bad weather, has been rescheduled for March 28.

Each year the Game Commission’s Middle Creek and Pymatuning Wildlife Management Areas host hundreds of thousands of migrating geese, swans and ducks.

The Bethlehem Authority was recently approved to receive a $20,000 grant from the Pocono Forest and Waters Conservation Landscape Initiative through its Conservation Assistance Program—a funding program administered by the Pennsylvania Environmental Council, in conjunction with DCNR’s Growing Greener Environmental Stewardship Fund.

Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl this week introduced legislation to City Council which proposes that procurement specialists not only look toward pricing and performance criteria, but also environmental impact, when making purchasing decisions.

A 30-year veteran of the Fish and Boat Commission has been chosen as the agency’s next executive director. During a special public meeting today, the Board of Commissioners selected John Arway to lead the Commission, one of the oldest and most effective conservation agencies in the nation.

By Rep. Camille George

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 on topics related to Marcellus Shale natural gas drilling---

Upcoming legislative meetings, conferences, workshops, plus links to other online calendars. Meetings are in Harrisburg unless otherwise noted.  NEW means new from last week.  Go to the online Calendar webpage.

Send your stories, photos and 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.