Gov. Tom Corbett this week announced he intends to nominate George Greig, a farmer and agriculture leader from Linesville, Crawford County, as Secretary of Agriculture.

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

Rep. Phyllis Mundy (D-Luzerne) has reintroduced a package of bills to ensure Pennsylvania's environment, particularly its drinking water supply, is protected from the natural gas drilling industry.

As the Senate begins a new legislative session, Sen. Gene Yaw (R-Lycoming) has introduced a number of bills that address issues relating to the growing Marcellus Shale industry in Pennsylvania, closing loopholes in Megan's Law and further reforming practices in state government.

In the midst of political debate over natural gas development in Philadelphia, Penn State Geosciences Professor Michael Arthur highlights the incongruities in local anti-fracking movements:

The Pennsylvania Lake Management Society will hold its annual Pond and Lake Management Conference on March 2-3 in State College.  The theme of this year's conference is "Shoreline Stabilization, Buffers and Lake BMPs."

Applications are now being accepted for the 2011 PA American Water Environmental Grant Program.  Applications are due March 25.

By Paul Swartz, Susquehanna River Basin Commission

Bowman's Hill Wildflower Preserve is hosting a Land Ethics Symposium on February 17 at the Sheraton Bucks County Hotel in Langhore, Pa in Bucks County.

Trail Ambassadors from the Friends of the Wissahickon are offering two free nature walks in Wissahickon Valley Park in February.   The walks include:

U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) announced he will return to the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry.  Senator Casey has been a member of the Agriculture Committee since he took office in 2007.  

The February EE Connections newsletter is now available from the PA Center for Environmental Education.  Here are just some of topics covered in this month's newsletter--

The Pennsylvania Environmental Council is sponsoring a unique biking event from the Susquehanna to the Schuylkill River-- the Pennsylvania Environment Ride-- June 24-26.

The Board of Game Commissioners this week approved a donation of land in Lehigh County, and two acquisitions of land in Centre and Blair counties.

The Board of Game Commissioners this week gave preliminary approval to hunting and trapping seasons and bag limits for 2011-12, including big and small game seasons and furbearer seasons.

Visitors to Pennsylvania’s Nature Inn at Bald Eagle in Centre County can enjoy an up-close experience with nature, no matter what the weather.

Following President Barack Obama’s visit to Penn State’s Main campus where he discussed his plans energy conservation and investing in clean energy this week, Sen. John Yudichak (D-Luzerne) said he is glad that the president is putting the spotlight on clean energy.

The PA Energy Alliance this week applauded President Obama's support of nuclear power as an energy source that will be necessary to meet his goal of obtaining 80 percent of the country's electricity from clean energy sources by 2035 as outlined in his recent State of the Union Address. 

Delaware Valley College has named Russell Redding, Secretary of Agriculture in the Rendell Administration, as Dean of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences.

Eckert Seamans Cherin & Merlott, LLC announced this week former Department of Environmental Protection Secretary John Hanger will join the firm as a Special Counsel.

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice of an opportunity to bid on a well plugging contract in Venango County.

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

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.

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