Bills now pending in the House and Senate would fundamentally change the way threatened and endangered species are protected in Pennsylvania putting at risk 73 existing state-designated threatened or endangered species because they would all have to be re-evaluated and put through the new adoption process outlined in the bill using new listing criteria.

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation-PA this week announced it will convene a stakeholders meeting this fall when the General Assembly returns to discuss the implications of Senate Bill 994 (Vogel-R-Beaver) and cost-effective ways to meet the Chesapeake Bay cleanup milestones. 

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

The Loyalsock Coalition, a group dedicated to protecting Loyalsock State Forest, Thursday  delivered more than 12,000 petitions to Gov. Tom Corbett that urge the state to hold public hearings and to conduct a public comment period on gas drilling plans in the forest.

Sen. Ted Erickson (R-Delaware) announced Friday he will not be seeking re-election next year and will retire after serving 13 years in the Senate.. 

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation Tuesday filed to intervene in the administrative proceedings of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission for the re-licensing of the hydropower facility at Conowingo Dam owned by Exelon Corporation.

The Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay and its partners will host the 8th annual Chesapeake Bay Watershed Forum on September 27-28 at the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Conservation Training Center in Shepherdstown, WV.

The Fish and Boat Commission Friday announced grants are available to address water quality, aquatic habitat enhancement, and recreational access in the Tulpehocken Creek and Quittapahilla Creek watersheds in Berks and Lebanon counties.

Water use by the Marcellus Shale gas industry in Pennsylvania and West Virginia will be the subject of a web-based seminar offered by Penn State Extension on August 28 starting at noon.

Penn State Extension’s Water Resources Extension webinar series will feature five presentations in September, October and November--

Penn State Extension and the Master Well Owner Network are pleased to announce a variety of educational efforts and resources in recognition of the National Ground Water Association’s Protect Your Groundwater Day on September 10.

The Schuylkill County Conservancy and its partners will host a workshop on September 7 on planting American Chestnut trees on mine lands at the Tremont Borough Community Center, 139 Clay St., Tremont starting at 8:00 a.m.

Pennsylvania Coast Day will mark the beginning of the WHYY Connections Festival on September 7, from noon to 5 p.m., outside the Independence Seaport Museum at Penn’s Landing in Philadelphia.

Want to learn how to beautify your backyard, save water and prevent pollution in local streams, the Susquehanna River and the Chesapeake Bay?  If so, sign up for the free Green Your Blues Stormwater Workshop to be held from 9 a.m. to noon on September 7, at the Maple Grove Community Building, 1420 Columbia Ave., Lancaster.

The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and its partners are sponsoring a workshop September 7 in the Borough of Etna, Allegheny County, on rain garden design and management for landscape professionals starting at 9:00 a.m.

The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and its partners are hosting a workshop on corporate site design and landscape management, part of the Green Design $aves Green series,  on October 30 at Lutron electronics, 7200 Suter Road, Coopersburg, Lehigh County, starting at 9:00.

The Professional Recyclers of Pennsylvania recently announced the winners of the 2013 Waste Watcher Awards.  The winners are--

As a result of an equipment grant award from Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful, Collier Township, Allegheny County, was able to identify and cite three individuals for illegal dumping in Collier Township. 

Agents from the Attorney General's Environmental Crimes Section Thursday filed criminal charges against two York County men accused of illegally transporting and storing hazardous waste in Newberry Township and York Haven, York County.

The PA Resources Council will hold its annual awards dinner on November 14 at the Radisson at Valley Forge starting at 5:30 with a reception and dinner at 7:15.

Just in time for the new school year, the nation’s private lands conservation agency is releasing new online education resources.

The Public Utility Commission Friday reminded consumers shopping for electricity to be aware of expiring electric supplier contracts and the associated terms and conditions.

PPL Electric Utilities will issue an updated price to compare charge on September 1 based on the latest costs to supply service to customers who do not choose an alternative supplier in the competitive power market.

The PA Biomass Energy Association will be hold a series of education tours on biomass energy starting with a tour September 17 of Harman manufacturing in Halifax, Dauphin County, and Energex American, Inc. in Mifflintown, Mifflin County.

The participation rate for the 2013-2014 Pittsburgh Green Workplace Challenge has doubled since the competition’s pilot debut last year. 

Pennsylvania's Agricultural Land Preservation Board Thursday safeguarded 3,246 additional acres on 45 farms in 19 counties through the state's nationally renowned farmland preservation program.

The Friends of the Wissahickon has concluded year five of working with the Student Conservation Association in Wissahickon Valley Park during the summer months. SCA crew members help maintain trails, remove invasive plants, and remove litter and graffiti throughout the park, particularly at Devil's Pool.

Visit Hawk Mountain Sanctuary August 24 and see a live bald eagle up close during a free 2 p.m. presentation by the Carbon County Environmental Center. This free eagle show is part of the Sanctuary's annual Bald Eagle Migration Day and will be held in the outdoor amphitheater, or indoors in event of rain.

The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources published notice of an opportunity to bid on two projects in Luzerne County.

The Pittsburgh-based Outdoor Classroom is seeking candidate to fill seasonal education staff positions for September and October.   Click Here for all the details.

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 notice of proposed changes to medical and chemotherapeutic waste regulations for public comment (PA Bulletin page 4859)

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.