A 203-page review of DEP’s  Oil and Gas Regulatory Program released by the State Review of Oil and Natural Gas Environmental Regulations (STRONGER) this week found Pennsylvania’s program is “well-managed, professional and meeting its program objectives.”

The Pennsylvania Environmental Council takes issue with comments attributed to Katherine Klaber, outgoing president of the Marcellus Shale Coalition, who was quoted as saying, "The pendulum has swung to regulation for the sake of regulation” at this week’s Marcellus Shale Insight Conference in Philadelphia. (Source: EnergyWire, September 26, 2013 article by Mike Soragham.)

The Northeast Environmental Partners this week announced the winners of their 2013 awards who will be honored at a special awards dinner October 24 at the Woodlands Inn and Resort in Wilkes-Barre. 

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 following bills of interest saw action this week in the House and Senate--

Sen. Gene Yaw (R-Lycoming) and Sen. Tim Solobay (D-Washington) Tuesday joined Senators from across the Commonwealth in the formation of a Senate ‘Coal Caucus,’ a bipartisan committee emphasizing the continued importance of coal and coal-driven technologies in the Commonwealth.

Sen. Gene Yaw (R-Lycoming) Friday announced he will introduce legislation aimed at expanding the rights of landowners who are currently leased with gas companies for the exploration of natural gas.

The House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee is scheduled to meet October 2 to consider legislation urging DEP to review its recycling program and make recommendations for improvements and establish a state program to evaluate green technologies.  The bills include--

The Department of Environmental Protection’s Bureau of Abandoned Mine Reclamation has received the National Excellence in Reclamation Award for its work on the Newtown South II-2 reclamation project in Schuylkill County.

The Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority and the Department of Environmental Protection Tuesday announced they will host an auction on November 6, for the sale and purchase of nutrient credits in the Susquehanna and Potomac watersheds.

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice of a proposed new stream assessment and impaired waters listing methodology for public comment in the September 28 PA Bulletin.  The deadline for comments is November 20.

The Wildlands Conservancy will host an update on the Jordan Creek stream restoration project on October 9 at the Jordan Creek Park, adjacent to 1201 N. 6th St. in Allentown starting at 5:00.

The latest issue of StormwaterPA.com’s newsletter Your Blueprint For Success is now available.  This month’s issue features articles on-- More water education materials on EcoExpress.org; The Green Apple Day Of Service Project; and Information on the latest stormwater management conferences, workshops.

The Department of Environmental Protection is assisting Indian Creek Valley Water Authority by partially funding a project that will extend a public waterline to 10 residents who live along Mt. Tabor and Hawkins Hollow roads in Springfield Township.

The Pennsylvania Office of Open Records has granted in part a Right to Know Law appeal by PennFuture concerning Anadarko Petroleum Corporation's plans to develop natural gas in the Loyalsock State Forest's "Clarence Moore lands."

Directional drilling and hydraulic fracturing are not new. But their current use in extracting natural gas and oil in areas like the Marcellus Shale in Pennsylvania has been called a "game changer" by the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation-PA and The Civic Club of Harrisburg proudly present an evening with Pulitzer Prize winner and author Tom Hylton.

Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful Thursday congratulated their local affiliates of Keep Huntingdon County Beautiful, Keep Juniata County Beautiful, PA CleanWays of Mifflin County, and Keep Perry County Beautiful on a successful eighth annual Tire War, a friendly competition to compete for the most tires collected at their perspective special collections.

Collier Township officials, through a recent equipment grant award from Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful, installed surveillance equipment at active illegal dumping sites, many of them along remote stretches of rural roads in Allegheny County.

The Department of Environmental Protection will hold a public meeting and hearing on October 8, to outline its plan to finish remediation at the former Reading Industrial Scrapyard in Muhlenberg Township, Berks County.

Gov. Tom Corbett Wednesday announced the U.S. Small Business Administration approved his request to declare Armstrong County a disaster area after severe storms and flooding caused significant damage to homes and businesses from August 28 through September 3.

The Public Utility Commission Thursday issued for comments a proposed policy statement on service outage response recovery and public notification guidelines and establishing a Critical Infrastructure Interdependency Working Group.

Gov. Corbett Tuesday urged Pennsylvania students, ages nine to 14, to enter the National Radon Poster Contest designed to help raise awareness about the dangers of radon. The deadline to enter is November 1.

The Department of Environmental Protection Wednesday announced it has signed a consent order and agreement with Microbac Laboratories of Pittsburgh, which requires the lab to pay a civil penalty of $60,000 and to conduct an independent review of its laboratory in Baltimore, Maryland.

The Department of Environmental Protection will hold a public meeting and hearing on October 30, to discuss a proposed Air Quality plan approval for Penn State University’s conversion of its West Campus Steam Plant from coal-fired boilers to natural gas.

The Department of Environmental Protection Friday announced it has issued an Air Quality Plan Approval for the En-Tire Logistics of Milton PA LLC co-generation facility in White Deer Township, Union County.

Over a hundred concerned citizens plotted out sea level rise on the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art September 21, with each step symbolizing a centimeter in sea level rise since 1900.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency presented its 13th annual Green Power Leadership Awards to 21 Green Power Partners and three suppliers for their achievements in advancing the nation’s renewable electricity market.

Sunbury-based Weis Markets Wednesday announced it has been selected as the chain category winner in Supermarket News’ 2013 Sustainability Excellence Awards.

On October 29 the Laurel Highlands Conservation Coalition will host the Laurel Highlands Conservation Conference from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. October 29 at Laurelville Mennonite Church Center near Mount Pleasant in Westmoreland County.

Issues of affordable and accessible healthy eating and building connections to the natural world in southcentral Pennsylvania will be the topic of the “Go Local for Health” Conference to be held October 2 at the Rhodes Grove Camp and Conference Center in Chambersburg, Franklin County.

The Board of Game Commissioners is considering a proposal to remove the bald eagle from the state's list of threatened species, and there's an opportunity for the public to weigh in on the matter.

Draft wildlife management plans for Plans for managing river otter and bobcat populations in Pennsylvania have been released by the Game Commission for public review.

Pennsylvanians are being asked to nominate their favorite trail for the 2014 Trail of the Year, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Acting Secretary Ellen Ferretti announced Tuesday.  Nominations are due December 1.

The Game Commission has entered into an agreement with the U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service for upgrades to public access at a site along the Susquehanna River in New Buffalo, Dauphin County.

Volunteers will have the opportunity to improve state parks by taking part in National Public Lands Day events across Pennsylvania on September 28, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Acting Secretary Ellen Ferretti announced Wednesday.

Learn how to keep cherished lands in the family, protect your lands and waters forever, and receive financial and estate planning benefits from doing so. Attend “Financial Benefits of Land Conservation,” October 16 from 7-9 p.m. at the Pike County Conservation District in Blooming Grove, PA.

Dr. Ruth Patrick passed away this week at the age of 105.  She leaves behind a living legacy of students and stronger, innovative institutions, among them The Academy of Natural Sciences at Drexel University and The Patrick Center for Environmental Research.

Marjorie Hughes has announced her retirement as Executive Director of the DEP Citizens Advisory Council effective in January 2014.

Crawford County is seeking candidates to fill the position of Conservation District Manager.  Applications are due no later than October 15.  Click Here for the position announcement.  Click Here for a job description.

The Westmoreland County Conservation District is seeking candidates for a part-time Education Program Coordinator position to plan and facilitate established education programs.  Please send a cover letter with resume by October 11 to wcd@wcdpa.com.  Click Here for a job description.

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice of an opportunity to bid on a mine reclamation project in Clearfield County.

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 NewsClips 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 - September 28, 2013

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.