Gov. Tom Corbett Friday announced the Commonwealth Financing Authority approved more than $28.5 million in funding to support mine drainage treatment, watershed restoration, recreation, abandoned well plugging and flood mitigation projects from the Marcellus Legacy Fund.

The Department of Environmental Protection is encouraging environmental stewards to apply for the 2014 Governor’s Environmental Excellence Awards.  The deadline for nominations is January 14.

The House and Senate this week gave final approval to House Bill 1060 (Pyle-R-Armstrong) that would raise $2.3 billion in transportation funding by FY 2017-18-- $1.3 billion for highways and bridges, at least $480 million for mass transit and $144 million for a new Multimodal Transportation Fund.

Acting DEP Secretary Chris Abruzzo Tuesday told DEP’s Citizens Advisory Council the agency was adding another set of meetings and hearings, now totalling seven, during the upcoming comment period on the proposed Chapter 78 drilling regulation to provide more opportunities for public comment.

The Senate has yet to schedule any consideration of the Gov. Corbett’s nominees for the Secretaries of Environmental Protection and Conservation and Natural Resources since their nominations were announced September 20.

State officials from the Fish and Boat Commission and the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources have confirmed Wednesday environmental DNA (eDNA) from the invasive Asian silver carp has been found in two water samples collected from the Ohio River.

On November 19 the Environmental Quality Board voted to accept for study a rulemaking petition submitted by 19-year old Ashley Funk from Mount Pleasant, Pa asking the Board to adopted a state regulation requiring a 6 percent reduction in baseline carbon dioxide emissions in Pennsylvania by 2050.

The PA Environment Digest, the weekly online newsletter of record covering environmental issues in Pennsylvania, reached a major milestone of over 5,000 email subscribers this week, according to David E. Hess, editor of the Digest and former Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.

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

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

The November issue of the Environmental Synopsis newsletter is now available from the Joint Air and Water Pollution Control and Conservation Committee.

Sen. John Blake (D-Lackawanna), Rep. Mike Carroll (D-Luzerne) and Rep. Sid Michaels Kavulich (D-Lackawanna) Thursday announced a $1 million investment by the Commonwealth to begin the cleanup of the Lackawanna River.

The Fish and Boat Commission Friday invited project applications for the Sinnemahoning Creek Watershed Restoration Grant Program.  Applications are due January 25.

Volunteers from Firestone Building Products Company, LLC and members of Sewickley Creek Watershed Association planted trees and shrubs to help stabilize the banks and prevent erosion along Jack’s Run this past weekend. 

Looking for a holiday gift that will please the most discriminating taste and help the environment? Consider pottery products from Clean Creek.

The Armstrong County Conservation District and the Appalachian Coal Country Team will be providing a volunteer workshop to build the capacity of nonprofit organizations in Armstrong County to encourage and better management volunteers on January 25.

The Pennsylvania Farmers Union recently sent a letter to Sen. Elder Vogel (R-Beaver), Majority Chair of the Senate Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee and prime sponsor of Senate Bill 994, saying they were concerned the bill “may divert attention and resources away from helping farms across the state to establish necessary conservation practices.”

The PA Section of the American Water Works Association has put out a call for abstracts for presentations at its August 4-7, 2014 Conference at the Sonesta Hotel in Philadelphia.  Abstracts are due February 4.  Click Here for details.

The Fall issue of Recycler magazine is now available from the Professional Recyclers of Pennsylvania.

Gov. Tom Corbett Friday announced Pennsylvania is expanding its commitment to advance clean, alternative and renewable energy sources with the investment of more than $8.7 million in loans and grants through the Commonwealth Financing Authority.

The Department of Environmental Protection invites fleet managers to a Natural Gas Vehicle Grant workshop from 10 a.m. until noon on December 19, at the Clinton County Conservation District office, 45 Cooperation Lane, Mill Hall, Pa.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has made available $2 million in funding for rebates to help public and private construction equipment owners replace or retrofit older diesel construction engines. The rebates will reduce harmful pollution and improve air quality in local areas.

Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Acting Secretary Ellen Ferretti Tuesday participated in a ceremony dedicating 168 trees on the Bliss Farm in Gettysburg as part of the Journey Through Hallowed Ground Living Legacy Project.

Department of Conservation and Natural Resources officials Thursday announced the department has received the deed for about 825 acres of prime watershed and forestland in Lackawanna County to add to the state forest system.

The November 20 issue of the Currents newsletter from the Fish and Boat Commission features a story on the innovative partnership between The Nature Conservancy and the Commission to develop ecosystem flow studies for the Susquehanna and Ohio river basins.

The Cumberland Valley Chapter of Trout Unlimited has opened the application period for the 2014 Rivers Conservation and Fly Fishing Youth Camp scheduled for June 15-20 at the Allenberry Resort in Boiling Springs.

The Wildlands Conservancy in Allentown will hold a series of education programs and special programs during December.  Click Here to scroll through the calendar for something you might like.

As part of the Deer-Forest Study, a cooperative research project being conducted by the Game Commission and a host of other partners, several deer in Pennsylvania are wearing GPS radio collars that can be controlled via text messages.

Gregory M. Phillips, District Manager/CEO of the Westmoreland County Conservation District, was recently honored by the Northeast Association of Conservation District Employees with its 2013 Regional Employee Award.

The DEP Citizens Advisory Council Tuesday named Michelle Tate the new Executive Director for Council, replacing the retiring Marjorie Hughes.  She will take over the position on January 3.

The Pennsylvania Environmental Council, a leading statewide environmental organization, has named Janet Sweeney to the position of vice president.

The Susquehanna River Basin Commission is seeking candidates to fill the position of Water Resource Manager for its Monitoring and Protection Program.  The deadline for resumes is December 15.  Click Here for 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 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 - November 23, 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.