In Washington, DC, Thursday, Department of Environmental Protection Secretary John Quigley and Department of Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding restated Pennsylvania’s commitment to improving river and stream health throughout the Commonwealth, and ultimately, the health of the Chesapeake Bay.

DEP Secretary John Quigley told the Citizens Advisory Council Tuesday DEP is in the process of developing a plan for rebooting Pennsylvania’s Chesapeake Bay cleanup efforts which it plans to review with stakeholders over the coming months.

By Former Gov. Dick Thornburgh

By Harry Campbell, Chesapeake Bay Foundation-PA Executive Director

At its Tuesday meeting, DEP’s Citizens Advisory Council finalized its comments on DEP’s Act 54 report on the impact of underground coal mining.   Council also heard a presentation on workforce development and succession planning within DEP and made changes to its policy for accepting public comments during its monthly meetings.

The Washington Observer-Reporter and Tribune Review Friday reported DCNR Secretary Cindy Dunn announced the agency would not rebuild the Duke Lake dam in Ryerson Station State Park, Greene County, due to concerns about additional settling of an area above an underground coal mine that damaged the original dam.

Positive noises were coming from the Capitol after meetings between Gov. Wolf and GOP Leaders on the budget this week with phrases like “better understanding,” “ productive talks,” and even a “really rolled up our sleeves” were used to describe the talks.

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 of interest saw action this week in the House and Senate--

Gov. Wolf Thursday named Mary Isenhour as his new chief of staff to replace Katie McGinty who is running for U.S. Senate.  Isenhour was Director of Legislative Affairs for Wolf prior to this position.

The PA Environmental Council Friday announced its Second Annual Environmental Policy Conference, which will be held on October 13 at the Hilton Hotel in Harrisburg.

The PA Association of Conservation Districts, Inc. awarded the operators of three farms with the Clean Water Farm Award during its annual conference on July 8 in Monroeville, Allegheny County.

The PA Council of Trout Unlimited and other organizers of the 2016 Keystone Coldwater Conference in State College on February 26-27 have issued a call for presenters and student posters with the theme of Coldwater Resources: Connecting Conservation, Protection, Restoration and Stewardship.

Pennsylvania Sea Grant is soliciting pre-proposals to fund applied research projects that begin in late February 2016 and end by December 31, 2017. A brief two-page pre-proposal, plus a draft budget and two-page CV, is due by 5:00 PM, EST, August 14.

Join volunteer monitors, government representatives and water quality groups at the 2015 Mid-Atlantic Volunteer Monitoring Conference at Shenandoah University in Winchester, Virginia August 7-8.

The Perkiomen Watershed Conservancy working in Berks, Bucks, Lehigh and Montgomery counties is now accepting nominations for its Annual Environmental Awards until July 31.

The July 20 edition of the Watershed Winds newsletter is now available from Penn State Extension featuring articles on--

The June issue of The Catalyst newsletter is now available from the Slippery Rock Watershed Coalition featuring articles on--

Gov. Tom Wolf Wednesday announced the investment of $98.3 million for twelve wastewater and nonpoint source projects across twelve counties through the PA Infrastructure Investment Authority.

Sen. David G. Argall (R-Schuylkill) and Rep. Neal P. Goodman (D-Schuylkill) announced Friday a $2,620,736 loan through the PA Infrastructure and Investment Authority will assist Keystone Anthracite Co. with efforts to remediate acid mine drainage into the Shenandoah Creek and Mahanoy Creek by way of the Weston Tunnel.

National nonprofit Keep America Beautiful and UPS awarded local Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful affiliates-- Keep Philadelphia Beautiful and Keep Westmoreland County Beautiful-- each with a $5,000 Community Tree and Recovery Tree Planting Grant.

Statistics from this spring’s illegal dumpsite cleanups in Susquehanna and Wayne counties have been tabulated and the numbers are quite impressive!

DEP's Northeast Regional Office decided to step in and clean up six piles of illegally dumped debris on several properties throughout the Poconos. The cleanup took place on July 14.

The Department of Environmental Protection will conduct a public hearing July 28 to receive testimony on Lancaster County Solid Waste Management Authority’s application for a vertical expansion and increase in average and maximum daily volumes of waste accepted for disposal at the Frey Farm Landfill located in Manor Township, Lancaster County.

The Governor’s Office published the semi-annual Regulatory Agenda in the July 25 PA Bulletin (beginning on page 4063) outlining regulatory proposals each of the state agencies will be working on over the next six months to a year. 

The Department of Health will offer free potassium iodide, or KI, tablets August 6 to Pennsylvanians who are within 10 miles of one of the state's five nuclear power plants.

The Department of Environmental Protection Wednesday held the first meeting of the 48-member Pipeline Infrastructure Task Force which was primarily used as an organization and introductory meeting.

Members of the newly formed PA Energy Infrastructure Alliance Wednesday sent a letter offering to be a resource to members of DEP’s Pipeline Infrastructure Task Force which met for the first time Wednesday.

Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn Thursday updated members of the Natural Gas Advisory Committee on the department’s ongoing efforts to monitor natural gas extraction and management on DCNR lands.

Rep. Pam Snyder (D-Fayette) Thursday said an independent analyses by the West Virginia Water Research Institute found vastly reduced radiation levels in contrast to 2014 test results from Ten Mile Creek in Greene County.

By Susan LeGros, Executive Director, Center For Sustainable Shale Development

On July 20, DEP's Northcentral Regional Citizens' Roundtable held its annual group dinner and field trip to the new 829-megawatt Panda Patriot natural gas-fired power plant under construction in Clinton Township, Lycoming County.

The Department of Environmental Protection is now accepting applications for its Small Business Advantage Grants to help fund pollution prevention or energy efficiency projects.  (formal notice) 

Pittsburgh Mayor William Peduto Friday signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the National Energy Technology Laboratory on behalf of the U.S. Department of Energy on joint efforts to design 21st Century energy infrastructure for Pittsburgh.

The Department of Environmental Protection is offering two free energy efficiency training opportunities for facility managers and HVAC technicians at K-12 schools and local governments throughout Pennsylvania's northern tier.

The July 23 edition of DEP News is now available from the Department of Environmental Protection featuring articles on--

Thirty members of Duquesne University’s MBA Sustainability Program will be inspired at their graduation ceremony by globe-trotting environmentalist Paula DiPerna.

The Department of Environmental Protection will hold a public hearing July 30 to hear from residents on the new pollution control measures for the Homer City Power Station in Indiana County.

Outdoor recreation on Pennsylvania’s waterways is the topic of conversation in the second “Environmental Focus,” a half-hour television talk show from the PA Environmental Council.  The program is now available online for viewing.

The Central PA Conservancy reported Friday the students (age 13-15) and staff participating in the Goddard Leadership Legacy Institute enjoyed a wonderful week of good weather and programming at Pine Grove Furnace State Park and beyond.

The Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission Thursday released the first year of data from its permanent bicycle and pedestrian counters that have been placed on 11 trails around Greater Philadelphia.

The Pocono Forest and Waters Conservation Landscape Assistance Program Thursday announced the award of its 2015 mini-grants, according to the PA Environmental Council.  The grants were awarded to:

The departments of Health and Conservation and Natural Resources Wednesday announced the beach at Cowans Gap State Park, Fulton County, has been closed for swimming until further notice. The park remains open for camping and other activities.

The free hiking series Get Outdoors Poconos by the Brodhead Creek Watershed Association continues August 29 in Barrett Township, Monroe County with two hikes.

With Pennsylvania leading the nation in reported cases of Lyme disease, Department of Health Secretary Karen Murphy Friday called for increased awareness about this serious disease and outlined the Department 's efforts to combat tick-borne diseases in Pennsylvania.

The Department of Environmental Protection will be conducting an ultra-low volume (ULV) mosquito control operation to reduce high populations of nuisance mosquitoes on July 27 in Monroe Township, Snyder County.

Campfires and shooting stars, greenway walks, a musikfest and National Honeybee Day are just some of the special programs the Wildlands Conservancy has planned for August in and around Allentown, Bethlehem and Emmaus.  Click Here for all the details.

The Game Commission is seeking public input on its draft Osprey Recovery And Management Plan.  Developed by biologists within the agency’s Wildlife Diversity Division, the osprey recovery and management plan establishes management goals through 2025.

The Berks County Conservation District is seeking qualified applicants for an Erosion and Sedimentation Technician responsible for implementing several state-delegated regulatory programs. those programs include Chapter 92 (NPDES), Chapter 102 (Erosion Control, PCSM (Stormwater) and Chapter 105 (Dam Safety and Waterway Management).

The PA Association of Conservation Districts has immediate office space available for rent located at 25 North Front Street, Harrisburg PA and convenient to city, county and state buildings. 

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 Governor’s Office published the semi-annual Regulatory Agenda in the July 25 PA Bulletin (beginning on page 4063) outlining regulatory proposals each of the state agencies will be working on over the next six months to a year.  This was the first Regulatory Agenda published by the Wolf Administration.

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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.

PA Environment Digest is a supporting member of the Pennsylvania Outdoor Writers Association, Pennsylvania Council Trout Unlimited and the Doc Fritchey Chapter Trout Unlimited.