Gov. Corbett Wednesday signed into law House Bill 1565 (Hahn-R-Northampton) that environmental groups say weakens DEP requirements for stream buffers in Special Protection Watersheds.  It is now Act 162.

On Wednesday, Gov. Corbett signed into law House Bill 2354 (Snyder-D-Fayette) which authorizes a one-House of the General Assembly to veto any greenhouse gas emission reduction plan required by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.  It is now Act 175.

With the adjournment of the House this week until November 12, the General Assembly left lots of important issues on the table-- liquor reform, pension reform, prevailing wage reform-- each representing multiple billions of dollars worth of decisions to state government and next year’s budget.

Kurt Klapkowski, Director of DEP’s Bureau of Oil and Gas Planning and Program Management, told the DEP Citizens Advisory Council Tuesday the agency will be extending the public comment period for proposed changes to the Oil and Gas Program Enforcement Policy until November 18.  (formal notice)

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

The House Republican Policy Committee held a hearing Wednesday at Bucks County Community College Upper Campus in Perkasie to learn about the potential benefits of using Pennsylvania’s natural gas.

The October issue of the Environmental Synopsis newsletter is now available from the Joint Legislative Air and Water Pollution Control and Conservation Committee featuring articles on--

Gov. Tom Corbett Wednesday announced the Commonwealth Financing Authority approved $16.4 million in funding to support 106 projects through seven Act 13 Marcellus Legacy Fund programs designed to support conservation projects and environmental protection measures throughout Pennsylvania.

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation-PA Wednesday applauded the Schuylkill County Commissioners for adopting a Clean Water Counts resolution, calling on state officials to make clean water a top priority for the Keystone State. 

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation-PA announced Wednesday funding is now available to farmers and creekside landowners interested in improving property value, farm profitability, and local water quality in the West Branch Antietam Creek Watershed.

The Growing Greener Coalition now has available a guide to finding funding for your conservation, restoration or recreation project called Finding The Green.

The Brodhead Watershed Association will this year give its annual Stream Saver Award to the Monroe County Conservation District technical staff— Orianna Richards, John Motz, Victor Motts, Patricia Attardo and Drew Wagner.

The Fall issue of the Chesapeake Bay Bound newsletter is now available from the Chesapeake Bay Foundation-PA featuring articles on--

Gov. Tom Corbett Wednesday announced the investment of $65.6 million in 19 non-point source, drinking water and wastewater projects across 16 counties through the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority.

The Department of Environmental Protection Friday announced they fined the Wilkinsburg Penn Joint Water Authority in Allegheny County $114,000 for failing to maintain adequate disinfection of water the Authority delivered to its customers in November 2013.

The October 23 Watershed Winds newsletter is now available from Penn State Extension featuring articles on--

The Department of Environmental Protection Tuesday announced it has fined Regency Marcellus Gas Gathering LLC of San Antonio, Texas, $306,570 for multiple violations of the Clean Streams Law, Dam Safety and Encroachment Act and state regulations during the construction of two natural gas pipelines in 2012 and 2013.

Following its annual meeting this week, the Marcellus Shale Coalition released a new year-in-review video titled Shale: Unifying America.

Gov. Corbett Tuesday announced a total of $3.6 million in funding to help redevelop brownfield sites in Chester, Lancaster and Mifflin counties supporting the development of 2,600 jobs.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Thursday invited communities to apply for technical assistance to implement smart growth development approaches.  Applications are due November 20.

The Department of Environmental Protection will host a public meeting and hearing on December 10, regarding the proposed Elcon Recycling Services liquid hazardous waste treatment facility for a site in the Keystone Industrial Port Complex in Falls Township, Bucks County.

Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful Thursday urged Pennsylvanians to become involved in America Recycles Day on November 15 to celebrate the contributions recycling makes to protecting our environment and to help raise awareness about the value of reducing, reusing and recycling – every day – throughout the year.

The PA Association of Environmental Educators Thursday announced nominations for the 2014-15 Green Ribbon Schools are now being accepted by the Department of Education through December 8.

As the Public Utility Commission  marks the 12th year of its “Prepare Now” initiative, Friday it reminded electric and natural gas utilities to take extra steps to help consumers – especially those on limited and fixed incomes, to “Prepare Now” for winter heating costs.

Washington Gas Energy Services, Inc., Sterling Planet and the Pennsylvania Environmental Council celebrated their partnership at the first Pennsylvania tree planting event held Saturday at the Abington Friends School in Jenkintown, Montgomery County.

Gov. Tom Corbett Thursday announced nearly $12.5 million in PA Energy Development Authority grants to 28 local governments, schools and  businesses for alternative and clean energy projects, along with projects deploying technologies such as solar energy, hydropower, biomass and energy efficiency.

Gov. Tom Corbett Wednesday announced Pennsylvania continues to expand its commitment to advance clean, alternative and renewable energy sources with the investment of more than $17.5 million in grants and more than $1.5 million in loans through the Commonwealth Financing Authority.

The Public Utility Commission Thursday launched the process to implement a potential Phase III for the state’s Act 129 energy efficiency and conservation (EE&C) programs.

The PA Wilds Trails Summit will be held November 12-13 at the Genetti Hotel and Convention Center in Williamsport.

The October issue of the Pennsylvania Wilds E-Update is now available featuring articles on--

The Wildlands Conservancy will hold its annual Green Gala Dinner and Auction on November 21 at the DeSales University Center in Center Valley, in Lehigh County.

Enjoy November in the Wissahickon, when Friends of the Wissahickon Trail Ambassadors are offering free hikes in Wissahickon Valley Park in Philadelphia.

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice of an opportunity to bid on a abandoned oil and gas well plugging project in McKean 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.  It also gives you a heads-up on House and Senate Committee meetings, conferences and other interesting events.  Meetings are in Harrisburg unless otherwise noted.

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 Tuesday approved two regulations for public comment-- Proposed Control of VOC Emissions From Metal Parts, Surface Coatings, Boats and Proposed Security Rule for Radioactive Material.

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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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