The Friends of The Tom Ridge Environmental Center are pleased to present the 2012 John C. Oliver Environmental Leadership Award to Sister Pat Lupo, Dr. Ed Masteller, with a special recognition award for Eugene Comoss.

The annual Ohio River Watershed Celebration on September 27 was another great success as over 700 watershed enthusiasts and 300 students took advantage of a cruise in two Gateway Clipper boats on Pittsburgh’s three rivers to network and learn more about restoring and protecting their watersheds.

Here are the Senate and House Calendars and Committee meetings showing bills of interest as well as a list of new environmental bills introduced (Watch out, with only 4 voting days left this session anything can happen!)--

The following bills were given final approval by the Senate and House and are now on the Governor's desk for action--

Rep. Camille George (D-Clearfield), Minority Chair of the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, Tuesday called for a hearing into the resignation of John Norbeck as director of the Bureau of State Parks within the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

Aqua Pennsylvania, Inc.’s Ingram’s Mill Water Treatment Plant in West Chester, Chester County, has been notified that it has met and will soon receive the “Phase III Directors Award of Recognition” from the Partnership for Safe Water.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is providing up to $3 million in research grants for projects that will study the benefits of green techniques in controlling stormwater pollution in Philadelphia.

On October 13 the Department of Environmental Protection published a notice in the PA Bulletin saying it will be submitting the Marsh and Rock Creek Critical Water Area Resource Plan to the Adams County Planning commission and local governments for comment.

PA Boroughs Association Magazine

The Department of Environmental Protection Wednesday issued an air quality plan approval to Moxie Liberty LLC of Vienna, Va., for construction of a power plant in Pennsylvania to run on natural gas, including gas from the Marcellus Shale.

Lt. Gov. Jim Cawley Thursday toured a limestone processing plant owned by Graymont Inc. in Pleasant Gap, Centre County, to get a first-hand look at how Marcellus Shale is helping the company grow and create jobs.

Penn State Extension is offering an Aquatic Pesticide Course for pond applicators that is approved for three Category 9 recertification credits from the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture.  Click Here for details.

The Lackawanna College Environmental Institute will host a Whole House energy Auditing Workshop on October 18 at 6:30 p.m. at the Institute, 10 Moffat Dr., Covington Township, PA.

The U.S. Environmental Agency Tuesday announced the completion of construction activities for the cleanup of the North Penn 2 Superfund Site in Hatfield, Montgomery County.

As the Public Utility Commission marks the 10th year of its “Prepare Now” initiative, Wednesday it reminded electric and natural gas utilities to take extra steps to help consumers – especially those on limited and fixed incomes, to “Prepare Now” for winter heating costs.

With an abundance of energy jobs available and more expected to be added through the next decade, the Public Utility Commission will partner with Drexel University to host an Energy Utility Forum on November 2 for Philadelphia-area college students.

PPL Renewable Energy and the Lycoming County Commissioners unveiled a new landfill gas-to-energy facility Friday at the Lycoming County Resource Management Services landfill in Montgomery, Pa.

The Public Utility Commission recently launched its new website featuring new tools, including video for consumers and PAGasSwitch.com. The new website is more customer friendly, geared to the Commission’s target audiences, while making the Commission more transparent.

The Department of Environmental Protection Thursday urged Pennsylvania students, ages nine to 14, to enter a national poster contest designed to help raise awareness about the dangers of radon.

The PA West Nile Virus Program Thursday announced the final mosquito and avian positivity counts for 2012 and national ranking. Updates to the human/equine case counts are included. The latest human case (25th) is a death from Philadelphia County.

As the signature event of the 50th anniversary celebration of alumna Rachel Carson’s “Silent Spring,” the Rachel Carson Institute at Chatham University will host the 2012 Rachel Carson Legacy Conference on October 26 in the Eddy Theater on the Shadyside Campus.

Looking to get lost, and still know exactly where you are?  Or where you’re headed, as you strike out into Pennsylvania’s rich wealth of state forestlands?

Pennsylvania’s Agricultural Land Preservation Board Friday safeguarded 2,138 additional acres on 22 farms against development through the state’s nationally renowned farmland preservation program.

This month DCNR’s Bureau of State Parks is taking steps to address 170 acres of land at Presque Isle State Park in Erie County that is inundated with the invasive plant species Narrow-leaf Cattail and Phragmite.

The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and the PA Recreation and Park Society are now accepting nominations for the 2013 Green Park Award.  The deadline for nominations is December 28.

On October 13 from 8 to 9:30 p.m. Join the staff and volunteers at Cherry Springs State Park in Potter County as they explore spectacular star clusters and galaxies using binoculars.

Picture yourself as the winner of the Fish and Boat Commission’s annual photography contest. There’s still time since the PFBC has extended its deadline for entries to January 31.

This section gives you a continuously updated thumbnail sketch of issues to be considered in upcoming advisory committee meetings where the agendas have been released

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--

The Environmental Quality Board published final regulations increasing noncoal mining permit fees.

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.