Commonwealth Court Thursday dismissed the remaining challenges to the Act 13 drilling law remanded for reconsideration by the PA Supreme Court, but did enjoin the Public Utility Commission from reviewing local ordinances regulating drilling consistent with the higher Court’s ruling in December.

Commonwealth attorneys Friday announced they have negotiated a settlement in the case of PEDF v. Commonwealth, ensuring the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources receives essential funding while preserving the opportunity to present the Commonwealth’s case in court.

DEP Secretary Chris Abruzzo told the DEP Citizens Advisory Council Tuesday the provision in the Fiscal Code bill passed by the General Assembly as part of the budget requiring DEP to have separate environmental requirements for conventional oil and gas wells will delay finalizing the Act 13 Chapter 78 drilling regulations for several months.

DEP Secretary Chris Abruzzo told the DEP Citizens Advisory Council Tuesday he was very grateful for the $11.5 million increase in DEP’s FY 2014-15 budget this year and said he would continue to advocate for an increase in DEP’s budget because of the critical work done by the agency.

DCNR’s Natural Gas Advisory Committee will meet on July 30 to hear an update on the proposed non-surface disturbance natural gas leasing of State Park and State Forest land for additional drilling.

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--

On Tuesday the Environmental Quality Board adopted final regulations comprehensively updating the medical and chemotherapeutic waste regulations, proposed regulations establishing the Land Reclamation Finance Guarantee and Bioenergy Crop Bonding Programs and heard a scientific update on chloride and sulfate toxicity testing in surface waters.

The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Wednesday announced $2.4 million in grants as part of the first round of $7 million in funding to improve waters that contribute to the overall health of the Delaware River.

The Department of Environmental Protection Monday announced it has awarded a $1.66 million grant to the Clean Streams Foundation, Inc. to maintain acid mine drainage (AMD) treatment facilities in Butler, Cambria, Clarion and Venango counties.

The Fish and Boat Commission Tuesday announced $500,000 in grants to develop and implement projects that benefit fishing, boating, and aquatic resources in and around Sinnemahoning Creek in Cameron, Elk, Potter and McKean counties.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Thursday awarded $2.1 million to 37 organizations in 17 states and Puerto Rico to help protect and restore urban waters, improve water quality, and support community revitalization and other local priorities.

Communities across Pennsylvania will benefit from a $11.4 million investment in technical and financial assistance to rehabilitate dams that provide critical infrastructure and protect public health and safety under the NRCS Watershed Rehabilitation Program.

Dog lovers have until National Mutt Day on July 31 to vote for Philly Water’s Best Friend.  The dogs with the most votes will compete in two pageants next fall.

The Susquehanna River Basin Commission will hold a public hearing on requests for consumptive water use on August 7 in Harrisburg. (formal notice)

The Governor’s Office Saturday published its semi-annual Regulatory Agenda showing the status of existing and proposed regulatory changes listed by agency (PA Bulletin, Page 4641).  DCNR begins on page 4643, the Environmental Hearing Board on page 4646 and DEP begins on page 4646.

The Winnie Palmer Nature Reserve in Westmoreland County will host a Project WET teacher training workshop on August 1.  Click Here for all the details.

The Department of Environmental Protection Friday announced hearing officer Michael Bangs has rescheduled the public hearing sessions on an Application for Gas Well Spacing Units, or spacing order, (commonly called pooling) received from Hilcorp Energy Co., for September 16 and 17.

Several environmental groups Tuesday called for a full investigation into actions by the state Department of Health around natural gas drilling complaints.

The PA Office of Open Records Wednesday directed the Department of Environmental Protection to release background documents and data records the agency has as part of its comprehensive study of radioactivity in natural gas production and distribution.

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported Tuesday on a report by the U.S. Energy Information Administration saying natural gas storage inventories are still below the five-year average. 

Several articles this week again put the spotlight on crude oil trains delivering product to Pennsylvania, including a “blast zone” map published by the environmental group PennFuture.

StateImpact PA reported Tuesday on a presentation by energy expert and oil historian Daniel Yergin who said without the recent domestic boom in oil production, the United States would face another oil crisis.

Keep PA Beautiful affiliates, Keep Huntingdon County Beautiful, Keep Juniata County Beautiful, PA CleanWays of Mifflin County, and Keep Perry County Beautiful will be hosting a four-county wide month-long cleanup initiative along the Juniata River.

The Departments of General Services and Transportation are seeking buyers interested in purchasing and preserving the historic Pond Eddy Bridge in Pike County.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Monday announced 21 small businesses in 15 states are receiving funding from the EPA to develop and commercialize innovative, sustainable technologies to address current environmental issues.

Women across the mid-Atlantic region who own, care for, or are interested in learning more about forestland are invited to apply to attend the fourth annual Women and Their Woods Educational Retreat from September 25-28 at Camp Susque in Trout Run, Lycoming County.

The June issue of FAWN, the official newsletter of the Friends of Allegheny Wilderness, is now available.  Click Here to read a copy.

The Fish and Boat Commission Monday announced it will host a second Mentored Youth Fishing Day on Labor Day, September 1, on 17 Panfish Enhancement lakes.

The Ned Smith Center for Nature & Art in Millersburg, Dauphin County, will hold a grand opening for the DeSoto Amphitheater on July 25 starting at 6:00 p.m. and its annual Festival on July 26.

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 Environmental Quality Board published notice of proposed regulations setting emission standards from fiberglass boat manufacturing materials and related public hearings.

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.

CLICK HERE to Print The Entire PA Environment Digest.

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.