Gov.-elect Tom Corbett this week announced he intends to nominate Michael Krancer, 53, of Bryn Mawr, Montgomery County, as Secretary of Environmental Protection.

Gov.-elect Corbett has named Patrick Henderson, 36, of Harrisburg, as Energy Executive, the senior adviser to the Governor charged with coordinating the overall state energy policy, utilizing expertise within the relevant agencies of state government.

When Tom Corbett takes the oath of office Tuesday and becomes the 46th Governor of Pennsylvania, he inherits a state government that is $4.5 billion in debt, has $472 million in transportation funding shortfalls, owes the federal government $3 billion in unemployment compensation loans, faces more billions in unfunded pension obligations, dealing with a last-minute $400 million spending spree by Gov. Rendell, the end of adultBasic health insurance coverage for over 40,000 people and has dysfunctional state agencies.

The job of picking House and Senate Committee Chairs was completed this week with the Senate Democrats naming their Chairs. More than half of their positions are being held by members new to the job.

Sen. John Yudichak (D-Luzerne) was named Minority Chair of the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee this week.

Sen. Lisa Boscola (D-Lehigh) was appointed as the new Minority Chair of the Senate Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee this week, succeeding the late Sen. Michael O'Pake (D-Berks).

Sen. Gene Yaw (R-Bradford) told the Sayre Morning Times this week he plans to introduce legislation to allow counties, school districts and other local governments to tax natural gas royalty interests as property for producing wells.

Sen. Mike Brubaker (R-Lancaster) was elected this week to serve as the Chairman of the Chesapeake Bay Commission for 2011.

Rep. Garth Everett (R-Lycoming) announced this week he has been appointed as a member of the Chesapeake Bay Commission. 

The people have spoken: the Delaware River is Pennsylvania's River of the Year for 2011.

The Pittsburgh World Environment Day Partnership released the Pittsburgh region's first economic analysis of the water industry sector: Pittsburgh’s H2Opportunity: An Assessment of Southwestern Pennsylvania’s Water Sector.

The American Water Works Association-PA Section is hosting part of a series of nationwide training sessions on Backflow Prevention Device Inspector Training throughout 2011.  Click here for more information and the complete schedule.

The Pennsylvania Resources Council announced this week PennDOT has approved a Litterbug Speciality License Plate and it is now available for order.

The Game Commission is again offering K-12 schools the opportunity to participate in the Seedlings for Schools Program.

Anna Lappe, author, activist, and co-founder of the Small Planet Institute will hold a free lecture on  January 26 at 5:00 p.m. in the Eddy Theatre on the Chatham University's Shadyside Campus.

Weston Solutions, Inc. this week announced former Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Kathleen McGinty has joined the company as its new Senior Vice President and Managing Director for Strategic Growth.

The latest Report on State Performance offers an in-depth look at the steps state government agencies are taking to better serve Pennsylvanians in the face of increasingly limited resources, Gov. Rendell said this week.

This op-ed was excerpted from a message Secretary John Hanger sent to all DEP employees and members of the General Assembly in the last few days before the end of the Rendell Administration.

This section gives you a heads up on upcoming deadlines for awards and grants and other recognition programs. NEW means new from last week.

The Susquehanna River Basin Commission published notice of actions from its December 16 meeting.

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