The PA Association of Conservation Districts this week applauded Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati (R-Jefferson) for his support of conservation districts by dedicating a portion of his proposed impact fee legislation to help fund them.  

Rep. Kate Harper (R-Montgomery) this week announced she will be introducing a new Marcellus Shale natural gas production severance tax she says will answer many of the criticisms other proposals have attracted.

Since 1999, the Growing Greener Program has improved more miles of streams, preserved more farmland and allowed for more job growth than any other environmental program of its kind.  It has proven, without a doubt, that you can protect and repair our environment without preventing economic growth.  

Senate Democratic Leaders announced newly-elected Sen. Judy Schwank (D-Berks) will serve as Democratic Chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee.

Rep. Bob Freeman (D-Northampton) this week announced the introduction of House Bill 1354 to provide grants and tax incentives for residential and commercial historic preservation projects.

Rep. Karen Boback (R-Columbia) this week announced her plan to reintroduce legislation from last session-- House Bill 2630-- to increase the required distance between natural gas wells and waterways and would require well operators to notify landowners within a certain proximity of proposed gas wells.

Jack Ubinger, senior vice president of the Pennsylvania Environmental Council, testified this week before the U.S. Senate Committee on the Environment and Public Works in Washington, D.C. on Marcellus Shale Development in Pennsylvania.

Groups representing residents of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York and Delaware gathered to deliver more than 35,000 public comments to the Delaware River Basin Commission, urging them not to move ahead with gas drilling in the River Basin until such drilling is proven safe. 

The Coldwater Heritage Partnership this week announced over $60,000 in grants have been awarded to local organizations to protect and conserve Pennsylvania’s coldwater stream habitats.

Are you looking for an excellent, hands-on curriculum to teach youth about water? Consider using the Pennsylvania 4-H Program’s Water Project Series.

Clean Creek Products is offering special Earth Day discounts for those who purchase pottery and other products from pigments using manganese reclaimed from systems treating abandoned mine discharges in Western Pennsylvania.

The Rachel Carson Homestead is hosting a Sense of Wonder Plant Sale and Garden Party on April 21 from 2:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the Homestead in Springdale, Allegheny County.

The PA Association of Conservation Districts' Executive Director, Robert Maiden, visited York County on April 13 to see first-hand how the conservation district runs its annual seedling sale. Along with twenty-seven other volunteers, staff and board members, Robert helped bundle 500 trees for the sale. 

The Friends of the Wissahickon and Wissahickon Valley Watershed Association are teaming up once again to clean the Wissahickon Creek from top to bottom on April 30 beginning at 9 a.m. 

The Professional Recyclers of Pennsylvania is now accepting applications for the 2011 Waste Watcher Awards. Applications are due by May 18.

The Department of Environmental Protection and Game Commission will conduct the annual peregrine falcon banding event from 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m. on May 17 in the auditorium of the Rachel Carson State Office Building in Harrisburg.

Visitors to Pine Grove Furnace State Park in Cumberland County are once again able to bunk down in the Ironmaster’s Mansion.

Audubon Pennsylvania is seeking an environmental education summer intern for the John James Audubon Center in Audubon, Pa.  Deadline for applications April 20.  Click Here for more details.

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.