The Environmental Quality Board Tuesday voted 17 to 3 to turn down the request in a rulemaking petition by Ashley Funk to adopt carbon dioxide emission reduction limits.  The vote means the Board agrees with DEP’s review of the petition saying Pennsylvania’s Climate Change Action Plan already projects emissions in 2020 will be lower than those in 2000.

Secretary of Health Michael Wolf Monday announced enhancements to the department’s internal processes for responding to environmental health concerns and complaints specifically related to Marcellus Shale 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--

Rep. Greg Vitali (D-Delaware), Minority Chair of the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, said Wednesday it is time for the legislature to enact his legislation that would require the Department of Health to do more to protect the public from Marcellus Shale drilling hazards.

The Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, chaired by Sen. Gene Yaw (R-Lycoming) and Sen. John Yudichak (D-Luzerne) held a second Committee hearing Thursday to discuss the federal Environmental Protection Agency’s plan to cut carbon pollution from coal-fired power plants.

Over 400 health professionals in Pennsylvania Tuesday called for significant reform at the Department of Health over recent allegations that staff were instructed not to respond to residents calling with health complaints concerning fracking.

The Department of Environmental Protection Tuesday announced it has fined Cabot Oil & Gas Corp. of Pittsburgh $76,546 for a January well control incident at the company’s Huston well pad in Brooklyn Township, Susquehanna County.

The Public Utility Commission Thursday directed its Office of Competitive Market Oversight to move forward with the next phase of its investigation into the state’s retail natural gas market.

The Pennsylvania Coal Alliance recognized 8 Pennsylvania coal companies with 14 different awards for their exemplary efforts in the field. 7 current sites were awarded the Keystone Mine Safety Award and 7 former sites were recognized with the Surface Coal Mine Reclamation Award at PCA’s annual Seven Springs Banquet on August 20.

The Department of Environmental Protection Wednesday announced it has awarded a $1,454,000 contract to Earthmovers Unlimited of Kylertown for an abandoned mine reclamation project on the Pittsburgh International Airport property in Findlay Township. Work on the site is expected to begin in September and take one year to complete.

Staff from DEP’s Northcentral Regional Office participated in the Northcentral Pennsylvania Conservancy’s annual Stream Restoration Field Days on August 6-8.

Escape to the coast at Pennsylvania Coast Day hosted by the Partnership For The Delaware Estuary September 6, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., at Walnut Plaza on Penn's Landing in Philadelphia.

Did you know that Pennsylvania is home to more than one million private water wells and springs, but is one of only two states that lack statewide regulations to protect private drinking water supplies?  (Alaska is the other state)

The August edition of Water Policy News is now available from the PA League of Women Voters Water Resources Network featuring stories on--

The PA Association of Floodplain Managers will hold their annual conference in Philadelphia September 30 to October 2.

The State Electronics Challenge is a free program open to local, regional, tribal, and state governments, including public and  private K-12 schools, colleges and universities, and non-profit organizations.

The August 21 edition of DEP News is now available from the Department of Environmental Protection featuring stories on--

The Public Utility Commission Thursday approved a $1.3 million settlement related to an alleged violation of Act 129 electric consumption reduction requirement by West Penn Power Company.

The Department of Environmental Protection has issued a water quality certification as part of a federal relicensing process for the continued operation and maintenance of York Haven Power Company’s 19.62 megawatt hydroelectric project in York Haven, York County.  (PA Bulletin page 5627)

Climate change is creating favorable conditions for many bothersome pests, increasing their numbers and expanding their ranges, according to a new report from the National Wildlife Federation.

Agriculture Secretary George Greig Thursday announced the protection of 26 Pennsylvania farms totaling 2,363 acres, putting the Commonwealth on track to safeguard its half-millionth acre of farmland from development by the end of 2014.

The departments of Environmental Protection and Conservation and Natural Resources will hold a public meeting and public hearing to discuss plans to clean up lead contamination at the Philipsburg Rod and Gun Club’s trap shooting range located within Black Moshannon State Park in Rush Township, Centre County.

Gov. Tom Corbett joined state and local officials, and local tourism and conservation partners to kayak the Upper Susquehanna River in Bradford County and the Schuylkill River as part of a two-day tour to promote Pennsylvania’s tourism industry Saturday and Sunday

As summer winds down, paddlers planning kayaking and canoeing trips are reminded that a launch permit or boat registration is required to use access areas owned by the Fish and Boat Commission and at state park and state forest access areas operated by the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

The Conemaugh Valley Conservancy's Kiski-Conemaugh Stream Team is holding a Thirty-One Basket Bingo Party on October 26 at the Elks Lodge, 60 East Campbell Street in Blairsville, Indiana County

The Delaware Highlands Conservancy will host a free Community Picnic and Tree ID Walk September 6 from 12 p.m. -4 p.m. in Sullivan County, NY.

Department of Conservation and Natural Resources officials Wednesday reminded hikers, bikers and other users of Pine Creek Trail in Lycoming County that a section of the trail will be closed in early September to facilitate required pipeline maintenance.

Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Ellen Ferretti Thursday joined local legislators and partners for a groundbreaking ceremony for a new park office/visitor center at Kinzua Bridge State Park, McKean County, in the Pennsylvania Wilds.

The August 20 edition of the Resource newsletter is now available from the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources featuring articles on--

Agriculture Secretary George Greig Tuesday encouraged Pennsylvanians to protect the Commonwealth tree population by spotting, collecting and submitting suspected Asian longhorned beetles to experts.

Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful this week welcomed two new members to their Board of Directors, Sean McMenamin and Rod Fye.

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 - August 23, 2014

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.

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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.

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