Governor-Elect Tom Wolf Monday named former DEP Secretary Katie McGinty his Chief Of Staff.  Click Here to read the entire story.

Senate and House Republicans will have new leadership when the new legislative session begins in January as a result of caucus elections held Wednesday.  Ironic that in losing seats, the Senate and House Democrats were the ones not to change their top Leadership.

By Davitt Woodwell, President, Pennsylvania Environmental Council

The Independent Fiscal Office reported Thursday Pennsylvania faces a $1.85 billion shortfall in revenue-- $171 million for FY 2014-15 and $1.679 million in FY 2015-16.

The public is invited to vote online for the 2015 Pennsylvania River of the Year, choosing from among five waterways nominated across the state. The public can vote for their favorite state waterway through 5 p.m. December 15.

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 Western Pennsylvania Conservancy and Dominion Foundation are accepting proposals for the 2014-15 Watershed Mini Grant Program, which provides assistance to the region’s grassroots watershed groups.  Applications are due January 9.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service-PA is accepting applications to help producers improve water and air quality, build healthier soil, improve grazing and forest lands, conserve energy, enhance organic operations, and achieve other environmental benefits.

The Susquehanna River Basin Commission will hold its regular business meeting December 5 to consider water withdrawal requests and the status of federal funding for the Susquehanna Flood Forecast and Warning System. (formal notice)

Due to below-normal rainfall over the past several months, Pennsylvania American Water is asking customers in its Nazareth service area in Northampton County to voluntarily reduce water usage in accordance with the company's drought contingency plan.

With polar-like conditions predicted to bring frigid  temperatures to the Commonwealth later this week, Pennsylvania American Water Wednesday advised homeowners to prepare now to prevent frozen and damaged household pipes.

The Partnership for Safe Water 2015 Water System Optimization Conference will be held October 28-30 in Hershey hosted by the Pennsylvania Section American Water Works Association.

The Department of Agriculture Friday joined the Department of Environmental Protection in urging the Environmental Protection Agency and the Army Corps of Engineers to withdraw and revise the proposed Waters of the United States rule, citing the rule's negative impact on rural communities and agribusinesses and on strong state-level management programs.

The Department of Environmental Protection’s Friday announced it has awarded Leeward Construction, Inc., of Honesdale a $498,400 contract to excavate and quench a coal refuse bank fire in the Eynon section of Archbald Borough, Lackawanna County.

The Department of Environmental Protection this week made available a new homeowner’s Guide to Water Supply Replacement and Subsidence Damage Repair under Act 54, the state law regulation longwall coal mining operations.

The November 13 issue of DEP News is now available from the Department of Environmental Protection featuring stories on--

Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful invites all Pennsylvanians to take part in America Recycles Day-- November 15-- a national initiative of Keep America Beautiful, the nation’s leading nonprofit that builds and sustains vibrant communities.

On November 15, many animal shelters across the United States – including the Animal Rescue League Shelter & Wildlife Center in Pittsburgh – will observe America Recycles Day by encouraging individuals to recycle aluminum pet food cans as part of “Cans for Pets,” an expanding initiative that makes it convenient for individuals to aid shelter animals through responsible recycling.

The numbers are in for the September 20 Lake Erie International Coastal Cleanup-- volunteers picked up 5,168 pounds of trash along 41.5 miles of Lake Erie shoreline and waterways within the county.

In March 1996, a catastrophic tire fire engulfed a busy section of I-95 in Philadelphia, damaging the roadway and releasing toxic emissions. The fire drew attention to an environmental issue that had been quietly building in Pennsylvania -- waste tire piles.

Agricultural businesses and pesticide applicators in 18 counties can dispose of unwanted pesticides safely and easily in 2015 through the Department of Agriculture’s ChemSweep Program.

The Centre County Recycling & Refuse Authority, along with the Centre Region Council of Governments and the Borough of State College held an awards luncheon Thursday to honor 60 of our area’s best green businesses, schools and organizations.

To mark the 20th anniversary of Act 2, Pennsylvania’s landmark Land Recycling Program, DEP and the Engineers' Society of Western Pennsylvania are looking for Pennsylvania's best of the best brownfield projects to be recognized at the 2015 Pennsylvania  Brownfields Conference to be held May 13-15, 2015 at the Bayfront Convention Center, Erie.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Thursday announced its call for nominations for the 2015 Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Awards for companies or institutions that have developed a new process or product that helps protect public health and the environment.

The natural gas industry and related trade groups gave approximately $8 million to Pennsylvania state candidates and political committees from January 2007 through October 20, 2014, according to new research by Common Cause Pennsylvania and Conservation Voters of Pennsylvania. 

The Department of Environmental Protection is seeking qualified candidates to join the newly-formed Aggregate Advisory Board created by Act 137 of 2014.  Members of the board will advise DEP on issues related to non-coal surface mining.

The PA Parks and Forests Foundation Monday announced the opening of nominations for its annual awards to recognize exemplary work in state parks and forests by staff and volunteers. Nominations are due December 19.

The PA Tree Farm Program Committee of the PA Forestry Association announced Monday the recipient of the 2014 Outstanding Tree Farmer of the Year:  Beckets Run Woodlands, a 110-acre family owned Stewardship Forest 20 miles south of downtown Pittsburgh in Forward Township, Allegheny County.

On October 30, The Women and Their Woods initiative led by the Delaware Highlands Conservancy, received a Northeast Pennsylvania Environmental Partners Environmental Partnership Award.

DCNR Secretary Ellen Ferretti has announced a partnership with C.F. Martin Guitar Company. of Nazareth, Northampton County, for a demonstration area at Jacobsburg Environmental Education Center to help educate visitors about sustainable practices for forest health.

In ongoing commemoration of the 30th anniversary of the federal Wilderness Act, Friends of the Allegheny Wilderness and the Butler Outdoor Club are planning on backpacking the 13-mile Hickory Creek Wilderness trail in Warren County over the weekend of November 22nd - 23rd.

Fifty-six projects to improve transportation alternatives are in line for $33 million in federal funds, PennDOT Secretary Barry J. Schoch announced Monday.

Ronald Rohall, chairman of the Westmoreland Conservation District Board of Directors, was recently appointed by Gov. Corbett to the State Conservation Commission.

The November 12 edition of the Resource newsletter from the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources featuring articles on--

The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources published notice of an opportunity to bid on projects in several Forest Districts.

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--

No new regulations were published this week.  Pennsylvania Bulletin - November 15, 2014

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.