If you were expecting an upbeat report on state budget talks, you will be disappointed with the news this week.  On the other hand, if you wanted to read about a new batch of smutty emails released by Pennsylvania’s indicted Attorney General, you would be in luck!

By a vote of 113 to 84, largely among party lines, the House Tuesday passed House Bill 965 (Godshall-R-Montgomery) that would make it much easier for the General Assembly to block regulations and statements of policy by executive agencies.

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--

The House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee Thursday postponed its scheduled informational meeting on DEP’s proposed, final Chapter 78 & 78A drilling regulations on October 26 due to an illness in Rep. John Maher’s family.  Rep. Maher (R-Allegheny) serves as Majority Chair of the Committee.

The Department of Environmental Protection has the proposed revised, final text for the Chapter 78 (Conventional)  and 78A (Unconventional) drilling regulations due to be considered by its drilling advisory committees next week.

The Department of Environmental Protection Monday announced it will webcast the October 28 Pipeline Infrastructure Task Force which starts at 1:00. Click Here to join the webcast during the meeting.

The Susquehanna River Basin Commission will receive public comment at a hearing on October 29 on project applications for one diversion of water and several water withdrawal and consumptive water use applications as well as proposed rules to simplify and clarify the process for transferring approvals and to add sections dealing with general permits and modifications to approvals.

The Delaware River Basin Commission holds a hearing on proposed water withdrawal and discharges requests on November 10 and a regular business meeting on December 9. (formal notice & agenda)

Gov. Tom Wolf Wednesday announced the investment of $51.7 million for ten drinking water, wastewater and nonpoint source projects across eight counties through the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority.

Lititz-based LandStudies Monday announced Michael LaSala, Director of Operations, has become the first Certified MS4 Specialist (CMS4S) in the state of Pennsylvania.

The Watershed Alliance of Southeast Pennsylvania was launched in 2013 to bring together municipalities and other stakeholders facing stormwater management and watershed stewardship challenges. 

Trout Unlimited CEO and President Chris Wood testified before the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee’s Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee Wednesday on the issue of enacting good Samaritan provisions in federal law as a tool to cleanup abandoned mines throughout the United States.

On October 13 the PA Environmental Council and the Villanova Urban Stormwater Partnership hosted a workshop on municipal stormwater management in connection with Villanova’s Biennial Stormwater Symposium.

Louis A. Kaplan, Ph.D., principal investigator of the Biogeochemistry Group at the Stroud Water Research Center in Chester County is taking a leave of absence to begin a one-year appointment as a visiting scientist, or “rotator,” at the National Science Foundation. 

The numbers are in for the Lake Erie International Coastal Cleanup. Beginning September 19, and ending on October 2, volunteers picked up 6,853 pounds of trash along the 67.5 miles of Lake Erie shoreline and waterways within Erie County.

Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful was invited to participate in the 2015-2016 Minor Judiciary Education Board’s continuing education program where they will be training the state’s judicial officers of the minor judiciary about the social, environmental and economic impacts of illegal dumping. 

The Mid-Atlantic Compost Infrastructure Group meets on October 27 at the Terra Gro/Oregon Dairy Organics Facility at 2800 Oregon Pike in Lititz, Lancaster County starting at 10:00 a.m.

The PA Recycling Markets Center, Inc. recently awarded Kettle Creek Corporation of Ottsville, Bucks County with the 2015 William M. Heenan, Jr. Recycling Markets Development Award for its commitment to recycling and innovation.

The Department of Environmental Protection will hold a public information session November 5 to update residents on the Jeanesville Mine Fire in Luzerne County.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Wednesday announced 12 private entities have agreed to settle on actions that will lead to increased environmental protection at the Metro Container Superfund Site in Trainer, Delaware County.

Central Pennsylvania-based Worley & Obetz Thursday announced the transition of their bioheating oil to Ultra-Bioheat®, an ultra-low sulfur heating oil (ULSHO) blended with biodiesel.

The Public Utility Commission Thursday approved the long-term infrastructure improvement plan (LTIIP) and distribution system improvement charge (DSIC) for PECO Energy Company, which will allow for enhanced system resiliency and reliability.

The Public Utility Commission Thursday released a Stratified Management and Operations Audit Report of Philadelphia Gas Works that contains numerous recommendations which could generate an estimated $8.3 to $9.4 million in annual savings, along with a one-time savings of approximately $1.1 million as a result of effective implementation of its recommendations.

The Patriot-News last week did a special series of more than a dozen articles on Marcellus Shale natural gas development in Pennsylvania called, “The Shale Bargain.”

The next in the series of 14 listening sessions  DEP is holding on the federal Clean Power Plan to reduce carbon emissions from power plants will be held October 28 in Schuylkill County, October 29 in Erie, October 30 in Clarion and Clearfield counties and final one is on November 4 in Lycoming County.

In order to prevent significant and imminent harm to scores of states’ economies and millions of consumers nationwide, the National Mining Association Friday asked a federal court to stay the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean Power Plan until legal challenges to the rule are resolved.

The latest Environmental Focus TV program produced by the PA Environmental Council featuring DEP Secretary John Quigley talking about climate change issues is now available online.

Due to the budget impasse, DEP will webcast the November 3 Climate Change Advisory Committee starting at 10:00 a.m. (formal notice)

Nature Abounds is partnering with the Carnegie Mellon University’s Learning Media Design Center on a $1.7 million grant proposal to develop and study cyberlearning tools that support deep looking and learning in citizen science.

On October 20, Woodloch Pines Resort in Wayne County presented the Delaware Highlands Conservancy with a check for $15,000 for donations collected through participation in the Green Lodging Partnership program in 2015.

The National Physical Activity Society—a nonprofit organization promoting public health approaches and collaboration to create active communities—has recognized Columbia, Lancaster County, in their “Stories from Small Towns” report.

The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and its Trails Advisory Committee are now accepting nominations for the 2016 Trail of the Year.  The deadline for nominations is November 6.

The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources is accepting nominations for six open positions on the 2016 PA Trails Advisory Committee, DCNR Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn announced.  Nominations are due by November 6.

The Trail Town Program will hold two workshops in November on trip planning and marketing and running a sustainable business for local governments, businesses and others interested in promoting their local trails.

Sen. Richard Alloway II (R-Adams) Thursday thanked the more than 200 volunteers who helped plant 1,147 new trees in local communities in recent days.

The American Tree Farm System Tuesday awarded the National Outstanding Tree Farmer of the Year award, sponsored in part by Plum Creek, to Raul Chiesa and Janet Sredy of Elizabeth, Allegheny County.

The Keystone College Environmental Education Institute will host a workshop on November 7 on Protecting and Restoring Forests and Waterways Impacted By Hemlock Trees.

For a limited time, the Chambersburg Borough Shade Tree Commission in Franklin County is offering free trees to residents in certain neighborhoods in Chambersburg.

Join Tree Pittsburgh for its first ever Pittsburgh Ginkgo Fest to celebrate the oldest species of tree in the world and the beautiful fall colors of Highland Park on November 7 starting at 1:00.

The American chestnut was once one of the most important trees in much of the Appalachian forest. It grew in mixed hardwood stands, averaging up to 25 percent of the total forest. In 1911, chestnut comprised over 50 percent of the forest in several midstate counties.

The October 21 edition of the Resource newsletter is now available from the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources featuring articles on--

The Fish and Boat Commission Tuesday announced it will host a public meeting on November 18, in Austin, Potter County to discuss future regulatory changes for the upper Kettle Creek Watershed in Potter and Tioga counties.

The Wild & Scenic Film Festival – the nation’s premier environmental and adventure film festival – will make a stop in Pittsburgh on October 29, as part of its nationwide tour to showcase environmental films that inspire action and will benefit two local nonprofit organizations: the  PA Resources Council and Allegheny CleanWays.

Join Manada Conservancy in Dauphin County in celebration of the Horse-Shoe Trail Conservancy’s 80th birthday with a fall hike.  Enjoy beautiful views of  fall foliage and the Manada Creek throughout this 5 mile hike.  

DEP Secretary John Quigley Monday announced the appointment of Carl E. Jones, Jr. as Director of DEP’s Office of Environmental Justice.

The Department of Environmental Protection announced Tuesday Katie Hetherington Cunfer will serve as temporary Executive Director of the agency’s Citizens Advisory Council.  She is presently Director of DEP’s Office of External Affairs.

Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission is seeking candidates for a full time Water Resource Planner to develop, implement, and administer community & economic development related programs, with an emphasis on water resource planning and stormwater management. 

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 Fish and Boat Commission published notice in the October 24 PA Bulletin of additions to the Class A Wild Trout Waters and changes to the classifications of Wild Trout Streams.

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PA Environment Digest is a supporting member of the Pennsylvania Outdoor Writers Association, Pennsylvania Council Trout Unlimited and the Doc Fritchey Chapter Trout Unlimited.  Sponsor: 2016 Keystone Coldwater Conference, State College, Feb. 26-27.