The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Thursday released a fact sheet on Gov. Corbett’s proposal to lease additional state lands for natural gas development so long as the new leases do not involve additional surface disturbance.  The Governor said additional leasing could raise $75 million.

Attempts by sponsors to have a House vote this week on House Bill 1576 (Pyle-R-Armstrong), which would remove significant protections for threatened and endangered species during environmental permit reviews, suffered a setback this week as a nearly united coalition of sportsmen and environmental groups worked to oppose the bill.

Former Department of Environmental Resources Secretary Arthur A. Davis (91) passed away at his home on March 9 surrounded by his wife and other family members.

PA Environment Digest now has a Google+ Circle called Green Works In PA.  Just go to your Google+ page and search for DHess@CrisciAssociates.com, the email for the Digest Editor David Hess,  and let us join your Circle.

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--

The Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee Tuesday reported out a three bill package on the issue of calculating oil and gas well royalties and other legislation. The bills include--

The House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee is scheduled to meet on March 17 to consider legislation to address recent issues with calculating royalties from oil and gas well-- House Bill 1684 (Everett-R-Lycoming) relating to minimum oil and gas well royalties- sponsor summary.

Sen. Gene Yaw (R-Lycoming), Majority Chair of the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, Thursday announced the Office of Attorney General has responded to his letter requesting an official inquiry into the post-production cost deduction practices of Chesapeake Energy. 

Trout Unlimited and the West Branch Susquehanna Restoration Coalition will host the 7th West Branch Susquehanna Restoration Symposium on April 10-11 at the Toftrees Golf Resort and Conference Center, State College.

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation Monday announced it is now accepting submissions for its annual Save The Bay Photo Contest from both amateurs and professionals.  The deadline is April 11.

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation-PA sent an action alert to its members in Lancaster County alerting them Lancaster County government has signed on to a legal brief supporting an appeal filed by 21 states outside the Chesapeake Bay Watershed to overturn Chesapeake Bay cleanup standards. 

American Farmland Trust has partnered with the Electric Power Research Institute and other collaborators in a pilot program to help farmers in the Ohio River Basin participate in the first-ever interstate water quality credit trading program to fund on-farm installation of conservation practices.

Sewickley Creek Watershed Association was very pleased to present Community Environmental Service Awards at its annual fundraiser banquet held March 8 at Giannilli’s II Restaurant in Greensburg. 

The Westmoreland County Conservation District will offer a Manure Management Workshop twice, first on March 27 and again on April 10 at the J. Roy Houston Conservation Center, 218 Donohoe Road, Greensburg, from 5:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Penn State Extension and the Department of Environmental Protection will host an Ensuring Water Quality In Your Watershed Workshop on March 27 at the Farm, Home and Youth Foundation of Montgomery County at 1015 Bridge Road in Collegeville starting at 8:45 a.m.

Pennsylvania American Water’s Philipsburg Water Treatment Plant, which serves approximately 7,700 customers in Clearfield and Centre counties, has received the elite Phase IV “Presidents Award” recognition from the Partnership for Safe Water.

The Department of Environmental Protection Monday announced it has reached an agreement with Bucks County Water and Sewer Authority that will systematically address current and future sewage capacity, foster growth and protect the environment.

The Cameron County Conservation District collaborated with Penn State Extension Water Resources Educator, Jim Clark, to secure a seventy-nine hundred dollar grant from the Headwaters Research, Conservation, and Development Council.

The Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency Monday announced it has entered into a memorandum of understanding with CSX Transportation, a company that will allow PEMA to share operational information regarding the movement of hazardous materials in Pennsylvania.

The Department of Environmental Protection has submitted a proposal for an additional hearing to provide more opportunity for public input on an Application for Gas Well Spacing Units, or spacing order, received from Hilcorp Energy Company for gas well spacing units in Lawrence and Mercer counties.

Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia should take a common approach to taxing gas and oil drilling in the Marcellus and Utica Shale, leaders of research and policy organizations from each state said Monday.

The Department of Environmental Protection invites municipal, township and borough leaders, county and city planners, redevelopment authorities, community leaders, and economic and industrial development agencies to a seminar, What All Local Governments Need to Know about Brownfields, on April 10 in Williamsport, Lycoming County.

Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful Friday announced their longtime affiliate PA CleanWays of Blair County has affiliated with Keep America Beautiful to become Keep Blair County Beautiful.

The Department of Environmental Protection Friday announced it has levied more than $1.2 million in fines against Seneca Landfill Inc. and Vogel Disposal Services Inc., both subsidiaries of Vogel Holding Inc.

The Pennsylvania Treasury, in partnership with Blue Hill Partners, Tuesday announced the launch of a $6.6 million energy efficiency project to upgrade five buildings at Drexel University in Philadelphia.

PPG Industries Pittsburgh, and glass fabricator J.E. Berkowitz, LP, Pedricktown, N.J., announced that they have shipped about 50 percent of an order they received in 2013 to supply more than 400,000 square feet of fabricated vision glass panels for the Tower at PNC Plaza in Pittsburgh.

EMS Consulting is hosting a Energy Performance Improvements You Can Take To The Bank Seminar at the MANTEC Training Room, 600 N. Hartley St., Suite 100 in York from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on April 15.

The impacts of the recent, unprecedented Polar Vortex have highlighted the potential for improvements so that customers are better protected from extraordinarily high energy bills during short term market events.

Pennsylvania Gas & Electric, a U.S. Gas & Electric company and supplier of natural gas and electricity to commercial and residential consumers in the State of Pennsylvania, announced Monday the organization is providing its customers with an array of options to address increases in their electricity rates as a result of the recent dramatic spike in wholesale energy prices, including the opportunity to switch to plans that will provide more price stability and rebates on a case-by-case basis for customers facing particular financial hardship.

By: Rep. Pete Daley, Minority Chair House Consumer Affairs Committee

Widener University Law and its Environmental Law Center will host a Distinguished Speaker Series with public events on both of its campuses. The schedule of events is--

With the approach of spring and increased risk of forest and brush fires across the state, federal grants are now available to help Pennsylvania's rural communities better guard against the threat of fires in forested, undeveloped and unprotected areas.  Applications are due May 22.

Natural Lands Trust, in partnership with the Chester County Association of Township Officials, honored East Bradford Township, Chester County, Monday with the first annual Growing Greener Communities Award.

The fifth season of an innovative lecture series will begin March 27 at Penn State Mont Alto with a talk on the history, diversity and current management of the forest resource in the South Mountain region.

Gov. Tom Corbett has proclaimed March 16-22 as Wildfire Prevention Week in Pennsylvania, noting drying March winds and warming temperatures quickly can combine to increase fire dangers across Pennsylvania’s forests and brush lands.

After a highly successful first run last year, the Fish and Boat Commission’s popular Mentored Youth Fishing Days program returns this spring to kick off the 2014 fishing season.

The Game Commission Tuesday reported hunters reported harvesting 3 percent more deer in the state’s 2013-14 deer hunting seasons-- an estimated 352,920 deer compared to the previous seasons’ harvest of 343,110.

The Manada Conservancy will present a special program March 26 on Monarch Butterfly Decline: Conservation Methods for Species At Risk at the Hershey Public Library, 701 Cocoa Ave., Hershey starting at 7:00 p.m.

The PA Outdoor Writers Association will hold their spring conference May 15-18 in Shippensburg at several venues including Shippensburg University.  Click Here to read an article on the conference in the POWA newsletter.  Click Here for a registration form.

The Pennsylvania Environmental Council, the leading statewide environmental organization, Friday named Davitt B. Woodwell to the position of president and chief executive officer, succeeding Paul M. King, who is retiring.

The Delaware River Basin Commission Monday announced that Steven J. Tambini has accepted the position of Executive Director, effective August 1, 2014.

The Berks County Conservation District is seeking candidates for two education outreach student intern positions.

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--

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice of proposed 2014 ozone season nitrogen oxide emission limits for non-electric generating units for public comment.

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.