In July when the new federal Surface Transportation Bill (HR 4348) was signed into law it included an amendment sponsored by U.S. Senator Max Baucus (D-Montana) which will reduce federal Abandoned Mine Reclamation Funding to Pennsylvania by $200 million over the next 10 years.

By Mike Krancer, Secretary, Department of Environmental Protection

It’s that time of year again to register for the Ohio River Watershed Celebration to be held on the Three Rivers in Pittsburgh on September 27.

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

Local conservation organizations and government officials gathered Thursday evening to honor Rep. Bill Adolph (R-Delaware), Majority Chair of the House Appropriations Committee, for his long-standing support of open space, parks, and trails.

Rep. Camille George (D-Clearfield) Friday said that a recent letter sent to Gov. Corbett from the Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors further shows the need for stronger regulations regarding deep injection wells used to dispose Marcellus shale gas drilling wastewater.

A flash flood that washes out only a small portion of a township can be just as devastating to a family or a community as a hurricane that rips through half the state, yet today's disaster assistance programs fail to recognize that fact.

The August issue of the Environmental Synposis newsletter is now available from the Joint Legislative Air and Water Pollution Control and Conservation Committee.

Online registration is now open for Keep America Beautiful's America Recycles Day (November 15), the one day to educate and motivate people about the importance of recycling to our economy and for our environmental well-being.

The PA Recycling Markets Center, Inc. is pleased to announce a new award to be given annually, recognizing stellar recycling achievement and business growth impact in Pennsylvania Recycling Markets Development.

Through funding from Chevron and the generosity of their employees volunteering with Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful and their Allegheny and Fayette affiliates, significant work was done to improve local communities at recent projects.

Pennsylvania Coast Day, now part of the WHYY Connections Festival, will take place on September 8, from noon to 5 p.m., at Penn’s Landing in Philadelphia.

The Department of Environmental Protection has awarded more than $900,000 in annual coastal zone management grants to organizations dedicated to protecting and preserving Pennsylvania's coastal zones along Lake Erie and the Delaware Estuary.

The Department of Environmental Protection invited comments on a proposed Total Maximum Daily Load Plan for Laurel Hill Creek Watershed in Somerset County and Slate Lick Run Watershed in Cambria County (PA Bulletin page 5591).

The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service is accepting applications for Fiscal Year 2013 financial assistance to help implement conservation practices that improve natural resources on farms, forestland, and wetland areas throughout Pennsylvania.

Grab a sandwich and let’s talk manure!  Join us for the first of two Whine, Cheese and Mud: Horse Owners’ Socials, on August 30, from 6:00 to 8:30 pm, at Rendezvous Run Farm, 806 Alexander Spring Road in Carlisle.

Scholarships are available for Pennsylvania residents who would like to attend the 2012 Chesapeake Watershed Forum in Shepherdstown, WV – September 28-30.

The Pennsylvania Agricultural Land Preservation Board Thursday protected an additional 2,358 acres on 27 farms from development through the state’s nationally recognized farmland preservation program.

“Experience a Town At Risk” floodplain management seminar will be held on September 25 at 10:00 a.m. at the York Township Building, Dallastown, York County.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Tuesday announced a $600,000 Brownfields Coalition Assessment Grant to the Turtle Creek Valley Council of Governments to identify and assess potentially contaminated sites in southeast Allegheny County for cleanup and redevelopment.

Gov. Tom Corbett Tuesday joined manufacturing leaders to announce the findings and recommendations of his Manufacturing Advisory Council during a visit to Westport Axle in the Lehigh Valley.

PPL’s Susquehanna power plant has offered a weeklong program for teachers about nuclear energy for three decades, earning accolades from legislators and industry organizations.

The 2013 annual conference of the PA Environmental Professionals Association will be held May 8 to 10 at the Toftrees Resort in State College.

Gov. Tom Corbett Thursday began a two-day kayak tour on the Upper Delaware River through Wayne, Pike and Monroe counties to promote Pennsylvania's natural resources and learn about this critical waterway.

Are you interested in learning how to manage your land in a more healthy and environmentally- friendly way?  Come along on a bus tour highlighting six sites throughout Montgomery County that showcase a variety of sustainable management techniques on October 24.

Snakes and bats will be the topic of the next lecture in the South Mountain Speakers Series on August 26, at Kings Gap Environmental Education Center near Carlisle.

The DCNR TreeVitalize Program and its partners are again sponsoring a series of Tree Tender Workshops, this time in Allegheny, Berks, Bucks, Chester and Philadelphia counties.

Join Nature Abounds on October 10 at the John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge in Philadelphia for the Forest Symposium. 

PA Audubon is hosting a Backyard Stewardship Workshop on September 29 starting at 9:30 a.m.  at the Schuylkill Township Building in Phoenixville, Chester County.

Pennsylvania’s peregrine falcons had another successful nesting season in 2012, according to Dr. F. Arthur McMorris, Game Commission peregrine falcon program coordinator.

In 1993, the Clinton County Natural Heritage Inventory, completed by the Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program noted an area of pitch pine-scrub oak barrens on the rolling terrain of the High Allegheny Plateau about 13 miles west-northwest of Lock Haven.

In a joint statement by the Allegheny Land Trust and the Mount Washington Community Development Corporation, both organizations announce the hiring of Christopher Beichner as Executive Director of ALT.

The Department of Environmental Protection published notices on the opportunity to bid on abandoned mine reclamation projects in Lackawanna County, Luzerne County and Northumberland 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.

Here's a selection of NewClips on environmental topics from around the state--

Here are NewsClips on topics related to Marcellus Shale natural gas drilling---

Here are NewsClips on watershed topics from around the state--

No new regulations were published this week.  Pennsylvania Bulletin - August 25, 2012

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 links to 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.