The House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee this week gave Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Michael Krancer the opportunity to correct the record on a number of issues facing the agency and to outline his priorities.

The Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee this week unanimously supported the nomination of Richard Allan for Secretary of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

The Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee this week approved eight bills on a variety of topics including authorizing drilling on other state lands, making sewer laterals eligible for funding, redefining the definition of shoreline along Lake Erie and other issues.

The Senate this week unanimously adopted Senate Resolution 111 congratulating the more than 186,000 volunteers and supporting organizations which contribute to the success of the Great American Cleanup of PA.

The Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee this week approved Senate Bill 367 (D.White-R-Indiana) which would provide new options for the leasing of state-owned real property for mining and other resource extraction operations.

Sen. Jim Brewster (D-Allegheny) this week announced he will introduce legislation to place a 7 percent extraction tax on gas drilling to restore education funds, initiate public works projects that benefit local municipalities and protect Pennsylvania’s environment.

The Renew Growing Greener Coalition issued the following statement from Executive Director Andrew Heath in response to Senate President Pro Tempore Joseph Scarnati's (R-Jefferson) release of his Marcellus Shale Impact Fee last week:

The Susquehanna River Basin Commission published a notice this week in the PA Bulletin requiring all natural gas well development projects targeting the Antes, Burkett, Geneseo, Mandata, Middlesex, Needmore,  Rhinestreet as well as the Marcellus and Utica Shale formations to apply to SRBC for permission to withdraw water.

Members of the Chesapeake Bay Commission met with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson and USDA Sec. Tom Vilsack in D.C this week urges federal agencies to give more support to the six states and D.C. that are subject to the Chesapeake Bay TMDL, a mandatory Clean Water Act pollution reduction plan. 

The National Research Council of the National Academy of Sciences this week released a pilot study that contains science-based conclusions and recommendations to help the Chesapeake Bay Program evaluate its efforts to achieve nutrient reduction goals and clean up the Bay.

The Allegheny Valley Land Trust recently completed a project to convert over 90 miles of rail line into a recreation trail, including the purchase of 269 acres of abandoned mine lands which contains 48 miles of rail-trail.

Clean Creek Products is offering special product discounts of up to 20 percent on selected items during May.  Free shipping is also being offered on purchases of $50 or more.

Over 300 volunteers worked throughout the morning of April 30 pulling trash and debris out of Wissahickon Creek during the Annual Creek Clean Up, organized by the Friends of the Wissahickon and the Wissahickon Valley Watershed Association. 

The Penn State Extension Discovery Watershed Webinar Series will host a program May 26 on the Octoraro Watershed: Outreach and Tech Transfer in a Plain Sect Community in Lancaster County starting at noon.

The National Association of Water Companies, Pennsylvania Chapter this week recognized former Department of Environmental Protection Secretary John R.Hanger with its James McGirr Kelly Award for Excellence.

The Professional Recyclers of Pennsylvania this week published an updated list of upcoming certification courses starting May 11 through June 29.  Click Here to see the schedule and registration information.

The Friends of the Wissahickon are offering a free lecture on Philadelphia Trail Connectivity with Alex Doty, Executive Director of the Bicycle Coalition. 

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice of an opportunity to bid on a mine reclamation projects in Armstrong County and Westmoreland 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.

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