The Department of Environmental Protection Monday extended the comment period to 45 days  and scheduled three public hearings on proposed final Chapter 78 (conventional) and Chapter 78A (unconventional) drilling performance standard regulations.

The Center for Sustainable Shale Development Tuesday announced it has certified CONSOL Energy’s Appalachian Basin operations as having successfully completed the Center’s rigorous evaluation and verification process.

DEP’s Citizens Advisory Council will meet on April 21 and hear presentations on DEP’s proposed final version of the Chapter 78 (conventional) and 78A (unconventional) drilling regulations and the National Governor’s Association Assistance Program on EPA’s proposed Section 111(d) Clean Power Rule.

Pennsylvania has 627 days (as of April 13) to put the best management practices on the ground needed to eliminate 10 million pounds of nitrogen and 212 million pounds of sediment from going into our rivers and streams to meet the 2017 Chesapeake Bay cleanup milestones.

Gov. Wolf said Tuesday he did not expect a state budget to be enacted by July 1, saying he’ll be here this summer, fall and winter to get what he wants in the spending plan.

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.

Gov. Tom Wolf's work calendar will be posted each Friday and his public schedule for the day will be posted each morning.   Click Here to view Gov. Wolf’s Weekly Calendar and Public Appearances.

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 House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee is now scheduled to hold a hearing on April 22 on DEP’s handling of the proposed final version of the Chapter 78 (conventional) and 78A (Marcellus Shale) drilling regulations.  (The original date was April 20.)

Auditor General Eugene DePasquale Friday urged environmental regulators, the agricultural community and municipalities to work together on water pollution control strategies if the state is to meet federally mandated Chesapeake Bay pollutant reductions by 2025 and prevent dramatic increases in water and sewer rates.

Harry Campbell, Pennsylvania Executive Director for the Chesapeake Bay Foundation issued this statement Friday following the public release of Auditor General Eugene DePasquale’s 7-page “Special Report on the Importance of Meeting Pennsylvania’s Chesapeake Bay Nutrient Reduction Targets.”

The Anthracite Region Independent Power Producer’s Association is now accepting applications for its 6th Annual Abandoned Mine Land/Abandoned Mine Drainage Remediation Grants Program.

Lower Merion Conservancy in Montgomery County is seeking StreamKeepers citizen science volunteers to collect water quality data in the Cobbs Creek Watershed.

The Department of Environmental Protection Tuesday announced an 11-member regional partnership begins its sixth stream restoration construction season in northcentral Pennsylvania on April 13 with a riparian buffer project in Lycoming County. The project is the first of 17 planned for this year.

On April 11, the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources published notice in the PA Bulletin it has approved the Delaware River Watershed Conservation Plan and is placing the Delaware River Watershed in Delaware County covered in the Plan on the Pennsylvania Rivers Conservation Registry.

The Susquehanna River Basin Commission will hold a hearing April 30 on water withdrawal requests at the Holiday Inn Harrisburg-Hershey, Grande 1 Room, 604 Station Road, Grantville. 7:00 p.m.  (formal notice)

The PA Resources Council is sponsoring a series of Watershed Awareness/Rain Barrel Workshops in eastern and western Pennsylvania.

The PA Environmental Council in cooperation with the Lehigh County Conservation District and the Watershed Coalition of the Lehigh Valley has published a series of seven brochures designed to help landowners protect water quality.  The brochures include-

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

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service will host the Pennsylvania State Technical Committee meeting on April 15.

Auditor General Eugene DePasquale Monday said he is pleased to see the Department of Environmental Protection is implementing audit recommendations that should help protect water quality during Marcellus Shale drilling operations.

Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful is seeking creative, original video of people making their communities clean and beautiful through the Great American Cleanup of PA.

The Department of Environmental Protection Tuesday renewed the operating permit for Keystone Sanitary Landfill in the boroughs of Dunmore and Throop, Lackawanna County, for another ten years. The permit allows the landfill to continue operating as a municipal waste landfill at its existing facility until April 6, 2025.

The Department of Environmental Protection Thursday announced it has again denied a municipal waste landfill application originally submitted in 2006 by PA Waste LLC of Feasterville, Bucks County, for a site in Boggs Township, Clearfield County.

Close The Loop and Chestnut Township, Monroe County, are hosting a Give and Take Day on April 18 from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Ready to start your spring cleaning? As you clear out your basement, closet, and shed you may find a number of materials that just don't belong in the trash can.

Spring has sprung and summer’s just around the corner. Clean up the clutter and do something good for the environment.  Fox Chapel Presbyterian Church is proud to host an electronics waste recycling event on April 11 on their premises at 384 Fox Chapel Road in Pittsburgh.

The April issue of the e-PRC newsletter is now available from the PA Resources Council featuring articles on--

On April 24-26, join the Delaware Highlands Conservancy, the Downtown Hawley Partnership, and Hawley Earth Fest sponsors on April 25 at the Ritz Theater in Hawley, Pike County for “Little Sparrow and the Eagles”—live Americana music and a fascinating Live Birds of Prey presentation from Bill Streeter of the Delaware Valley Raptor Center.

The Abington Friends School in Jenkintown, Montgomery County, will host an Eco Fest on May 2 from 10:00 to noon for ages 3 to 14 at the school located at 575 Washington Lane.

The Clean Air Council, with partners Toyota Hybrids and Philadelphia Insurance Companies, is sponsoring a Run For Clean Air event April 18 starting at 8:30 a.m. on the steps of the Philadelphia Art Museum.

Celebrate Earth Day and reduce your environmental impact this year with the PA Resources Council! PRC staff will be working all over Pennsylvania, educating the public and keeping valuable materials out of our landfills.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency will evaluate a Biennial Radiological Emergency Preparedness Exercise at the Three Mile Island Nuclear Power Plant.  The exercise will occur during the week of April 13 to assess the ability of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to respond to an emergency at the nuclear facility.

The Environmental Quality Board meets on April 21 with these items on the agenda:

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has recognized Verizon with a 2015 Energy Star Partner of the Year – Sustained Excellence Award for its continued leadership in protecting the environment through superior energy efficiency achievements.

The Duquesne University Center for Green Industries and Sustainable Business Growth has selected a Pittsburgh design and energy consulting company as the winner of its third Annual Sustainable Small Business Award.

Break out the paddles, get your campfire tales organized, and join us for an exciting trip through some lovely and scenic sections of the West Branch of the Susquehanna River during our 5-day educational paddling and cycling trip from June 17-21.

The Green Tourism Working Group and the Delaware Highlands Conservancy will host the 2015 Green Tourism Conference April 14-15 in Hawley, Pike County.

Members of the public across the state are invited to take part in the PA Parks and Forests Foundation’s “Day in the Life of a State Forest” on April 11 and 12.

Using recently compiled data as a baseline, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Acting Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn Wednesday announced the department will conduct a survey of timber harvested and processed in Pennsylvania every two to three years to better understand market dynamics important to sustaining forests and the forest products industry.

Communities across Pennsylvania will become a little greener this spring thanks to DCNR's TreeVitalize Program.

The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources is presenting its annual Green Park Award to the Delaware River City Corp. and the City of Philadelphia for their role in developing Lardner’s Point Park, a riverfront improvement project that showcases a rebounding Delaware River to the multitude of visitors drawn to its banks in Philadelphia’s Tacony section.

The PA State Parks and Forests Foundation has a unique program called the PA State Parks and Forests Wish List which allows donations to be used to improve environmental education and recreation programs throughout Pennsylvania’s State Parks and Forests.

The April 8 edition of the Resource newsletter is now available from the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources featuring articles on--

The Manada Conservancy will hold its 15th Annual Native Plant Sale in May 2 at Schaffner Borough Park in Hummelstown, Dauphin County, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

The March newsletter from the Friends of Allegheny Wilderness is now available featuring articles on--

The Department of Environmental Protection and Game Commission Tuesday invited students, teachers, and non-formal educators to tune in for the annual Harrisburg Peregrine falcon banding event during a live webcast on May 21.

Acting DEP Secretary John Quigley Monday announced the appointment of Darrin Bodner as DEP’s Executive Deputy Secretary for Administration and Management. 

The PA Association of Conservation Districts is now accepting applications to fill the position of Executive Director.  Applications are due April 20.  Resumes and inquiries are being accepted electronically at: personnel@pacd.org. Please do not call the PACD office. Click Here for all the details.

The PA Resources Council office in Pittsburgh is looking to fill a number of seasonal positions with candidates that are excited to make meaningful change for Pennsylvania's environment!

This section lists House and Senate Committee meetings, DEP and other public hearings and meetings and other interesting environmental events.

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 are NewsClips from around the state on all environmental topics, including General Environment, Budget, Marcellus Shale, Watershed Protection and much more--

The Environmental Quality Board meets on April 21 with these items on the agenda:

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.