Harrisburg (June 28) -- The House Saturday passed the Senate/House Republican budget in House Bill 1192 (Adolph-R-Delaware) by a vote of 112 to 77 which now goes to the Senate Sunday. It is a $30.1 billion no tax increase state budget, just over $1 billion more than last year.

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation-PA, Pennsylvania Chapter of The Nature Conservancy, and Pennsylvania Environmental Council Thursday issued the following statement concerning state budget deliberations now going on in Harrisburg--

The Independent Fiscal Office Wednesday released an update report on Act 13 drilling fee revenues estimates the drilling impact fee will result decline from $208.6  million to $189.6 million in revenue from a total of $223.5 million in 2014.

The PA Independent Oil and Gas Association announced Monday it filed a petition with the PA Supreme Court last week asking the Court to eliminate DEP’s enforcement of setbacks from streams, wetlands and other natural features as well as protection of public resources like parks, game land or wildlife area, protect endangered species, historic sites and wellhead protection areas.

PA Environment Digest now has a Google+ Circle called Green Works In PA.  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 following bills of interest saw action this week in the House and Senate--

The Senate passed Senate Bill 875 (Bartolotta-R-Fayette) Thursday to help reduce the use of fresh water in oil and gas drilling operations by promoting the use of treated mine water, according to the bill’s sponsor, Sen. Camera Bartolotta.

In another effort to protect owners of natural gas royalty leases, Reps. Garth Everett (R-Lycoming), Sandra Major (R-Susquehanna), Matt Baker (R-Tioga), Tina Pickett (R-Susquehanna) and Karen Boback (R-Luzerne) Tuesday said legislation-- House Bill 1391-- is being reintroduced to guard natural gas royalty owners from unjustified post-production cost deductions.

On June 17 the PA Environmental Council hosted the 2015 Environmental Partnership Dinner, celebrating PEC’s work to protect and restore Pennsylvania’s natural and built environment and to enhance and preserve natural resources.

As reported by NorthcentralPA.com earlier in June, The County of Lycoming paid a total of $51,363.70 to local farmers whose nitrogen and phosphorus credits were sold in 2014 through the Lycoming County Nutrient Trading Program.

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation-PA Wednesday named Clair Ryan as its Pennsylvania Watershed Restoration Program Manager.

The Chesapeake Bay Trust is now accepting applications for its K-12 Environmental Education Grant Program.  Applications are due August 7.

The PA Association of County Conservation Districts Executive Board announced Monday Brenda J. Shambaugh as PACD’s new Executive Director.

Natural Resources Conservation Service PA State Conservationist Denise Coleman Monday announced the availability of $17.5 million in financial and technical assistance nationwide to help eligible conservation partners voluntarily protect, restore and enhance critical wetlands on private and tribal agricultural lands.

The June issue of Water Policy News now available from the PA League of Women Voters Water Resources Education Network featuring articles on--

PA Environmental Council welcomes Harry Campbell, PA Executive Director, Chesapeake Bay Foundation-PA, as the first author in its guest blog series.

Department of Environmental Protection officials joined members of the Tioga County Conservation District, Blossburg Municipal Authority and the Tioga County Concerned Citizens Committee at a groundbreaking ceremony Monday for a passive treatment system that will restore five miles of the Tioga River.

Air Quality staff from DEP's Northeast Regional Office recently spent the night monitoring air quality around the Jeansville Mine Fire in Carbon County.

Staff from DEP's Northeast Regional Office recently took part in RiverFest 2015 held along the banks of the Susquehanna River in Wilkes-Barre.

The Brodhead Watershed Association will host two events in the near future: the Devil’s Hole Wet Foot Walk 1 to 5:00 p.m. on July 19 and the The River Ramble, this year featuring the Upper Brodhead, will be held 1 to 4 p.m. August 9.

The June 22 edition of the Watershed Winds newsletter is now available from Penn State Extension featuring articles on--

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice of availability of its first Technical Guidance Agenda outlining the changes to technical guidance and other policies within the agency in development in the June 27 PA Bulletin.  

The June 25 edition of DEP News is now available from the Department of Environmental Protection featuring articles on--

In recognition of Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful’s 25 year anniversary, the organization awarded 25 grants in 25 days to local affiliates and other tax-exempt groups across the state. The grants provided up to $1,000 for community improvement projects in their three focus areas of Prevent It, Clean It, or Keep It.

The Department of Environmental Protection said Friday spraying operations to control  mosquitoes have been scheduled for Centre and Cumberland counties for June 29, Crawford County for June 30 and for Schuylkill County on July 1.

The Delaware Highlands Conservancy has awarded its annual “Delaware Highlands Conservancy, Yeaman Scholarship” in the amount of $1,000 to Alex Hess, a 2015 graduate of Deposit Central School, and the “Vanessa Van Gorder Memorial Scholarship” in the amount of $1,000 to Claire Harvey, a 2015 graduate of Honesdale High School.

While most people focused on what Pope Francis had to say last week on climate issues in his encyclical letter on the environment,  “Praise Be To You: On Care For Our Common Home” also dealt with the issues of clean water, biodiversity and environmental education.  Here are a few examples quoted from the text-

Fulfilling its commitment to keep the public informed of its sustainability strategy and performance, Exelon has released its latest sustainability report. The report describes Exelon’s approach to providing reliable, clean, affordable and innovative energy products in an evolving energy landscape.

10,000 Friends of Pennsylvania are now accepting nominations for the 2015 Commonwealth Awards to honor and celebrate great development projects and the people who make them happen utilizing best practices creating great walkable, sustainable, equitable, healthy communities.

Enjoy summer in the Wissahickon, when Friends of the Wissahickon Trail Ambassadors are offering free hikes in Wissahickon Valley Park and free talks at the Cedars House, located at 200 Northwestern Avenue in Philadelphia.  Click Here for a calendar of events.

The June issue of Friends of Allegheny Wilderness newsletter is now available featuring articles on--

Peter Houstle, CEO of Mariner Management, an association management firm, will serve as interim Executive Director for the Professional Recyclers of PA.

DEP Executive Deputy Secretary Denise Brinley is no longer with the Department of Environmental Protection.  Brinley has taken a position in the Department of Community and Economic Development as Special Assistant to the Secretary for Strategic Industry Initiatives.

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--

No new regulations were published this week.  Pennsylvania Bulletin - June 27, 2015

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