The Senate amended and passed a series of bills in the supposedly agreed-to budget package Wednesday night and Thursday, one of which would kill the conventional drilling regulations and force DEP to start the process over, reduce Growing Greener watershed restoration and related funding by $15 million next fiscal year and expands the time the General Assembly has to review any plan DEP develops to meet EPA’s Clean Power Climate Rule under Act 175 of 2014.

The Senate Republicans again added a provision to the Fiscal Code bill-- House Bill 1327 (Peifer-R-Pike) -- to invalidate the regulations DEP proposed to ensure conventional oil and gas wells protect the environment and make DEP start the regulatory process over.

The Senate Republicans added a provision to the Fiscal Code bill-- House Bill 1327 (Peifer-R-Pike) passed by the Senate-- expanding the General Assembly’s review of any plan DEP develops to comply with EPA’s Clean Power Climate Rule.

A Fiscal Code bill-- House Bill 1327 (Peifer-R-Pike)-- approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee Wednesday night would gut environmental regulations, subvert the public input process for clean air standards, and give handouts to the oil and gas industry.

PennLive.com reported late Thursday Gov. Wolf opposes loading up the Fiscal Code to gut oil and gas regulations or slow implementation of the EPA Clean Power Climate Plan, according to his spokesperson Jeff Sheridan.

By Davitt Woodwell, President & CEO, PA Environmental Council

The Department of Environmental Protection invites Pennsylvania businesses, farms, government agencies, educational institutions, non-profit organizations and individuals to apply for the 2016 Governor’s Award for Environmental Excellence.

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 Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee Tuesday held a hearing on issues and changes needed in the 1966 Sewage Facilities Act.  (Click Here to watch a video of the hearing.)

The Department of Environmental Protection and its regional air quality partnerships forecast a Code Orange air quality action day for particle pollution on Saturday, December 12 and Sunday, December 13, for Berks, Cumberland, Dauphin, Lancaster, Lebanon, Lehigh, Northampton, and York counties, and for Saturday, December 12 for Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, and Philadelphia counties.

Chesapeake Bay Foundation President William C. Baker issued this statement Thursday concerning a brief filed by 22 state attorneys general asking the Supreme Court to overturn the Chesapeake Clean Water Blueprint.

The Department of Environmental Protection and Fish and Boat Commission will be holding a webinar on December 14 starting at 1:00 p.m. to discuss the findings of a multi-year study investigating the causes of population decline among smallmouth bass in the Susquehanna River.

The Berks County Conservation District was recently awarded $2,500 to work with landowners to prevent pollution in our local streams, lakes, and rivers.

Looking for a new way to engage community members in streamside restoration efforts? The Penn State Agriculture and Environment Center and Penn State Extension have worked to develop a citizen science monitoring protocol that can easily and quickly show volunteers the good that comes from installing best management practices.

Residents and visitors to the Upper Delaware River region have a new online educational resource-- Clear Choices, Clean Water: My Delaware River--  to learn more about water conservation and to pledge to take action to protect our lakes, rivers, and streams from pollution.

The EnviroDIY-- Do-It-Yourself Environmental Science and Monitoring website is a collaboration of the Stroud Water Research Center and the Christina River Basin Critical Zone Observatory.

Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn Thursday announced improvements are being made to its Watershed Education Program intended to give children in grades 6-12 a knowledge base on water-related issues in the hope they will become future community leaders.

The Susquehanna River Basin Commission meet December 4 and among its actions, SRBC:

The 2014 Annual Report from the Delaware River Basin Commission is now available highlighting accomplishments from last year.  Click Here for a copy of the report.

The December 7 Watershed Winds newsletter is now available from Penn State Extension featuring articles on--

Michaux State Forest in Adams, Cumberland and Franklin counties, has recently increased efforts to catch and identify illegal dumpers and hold them accountable.

Despite years of progress in recycling and reducing municipal waste, there are still more than 6,500 illegal dumpsites in Pennsylvania, the topic of November’s “Environmental Focus” from the Pennsylvania Environmental Council.  The program is now available online.

Pennsylvania has seen a 22 percent increase in collection of recyclables in five years - from 4.8 million tons to 5.85 million tons, according to a study by PA Waste Industries Association.

The December issue of Connecting Professional Recyclers newsletter is now available from the Professional Recyclers of Pennsylvania featuring articles on--

The York County Solid Waste and Refuse Authority, owner of the York County Resource Recovery Center, and Covanta York Renewable Energy Systems, LLC, operator of the RRC, Thursday announced the extension of their long-term operation and maintenance contract until 2035 for the Waste-to-Energy facility located in Manchester Township, PA.

The Partners for Places Program is now accepting applications for its 2016 grant round.  The Program creates opportunities for cities and counties in the United States and Canada to improve communities by building partnerships between local government sustainability offices and place-based foundations.

The December 10 edition of the DEP News is now available from the Department of Environmental Protection featuring articles on--

The Office of indicted Attorney General Kathleen G. Kane Wednesday announced it has filed a lawsuit against Chesapeake Energy Corp., the country's second-largest producer of natural gas, and its affiliates amid allegations the companies underpaid landowners' royalties associated with fracking.

The Public Utility Commission Thursday released 2015 Winter Reliability Overview reports from the state’s major natural gas distribution companies along with a related Readiness Reports from the regional electric transmission organization, PJM Interconnection, and the Energy Association of Pennsylvania.

On January 12 DEP’s Climate Change Advisory Committee will meet for the second time on a draft update to Pennsylvania Climate Action Plan mandated by Act 70 of 2008.

The Department of Environmental Protection last Saturday announced rebates are still available to help individuals with purchasing an alternative fuel vehicle under the Alternative Fuel Vehicle Rebate Program.  (formal notice)

On December 10, DEP’s Air Quality Technical Advisory Committee recommended DEP take the proposed regulation repealing the low-RVP (Reid Vapor Pressure) gasoline requirement in the seven county Pittsburgh Region to the Environmental Quality Board for adoption.

The PA Environmental Council Monday wrote a letter to all members of the House Labor and Industry Committee expressing its concerns with House Bill 635 (Evankovich-R-Allegheny)  which would make changes to the way the PA Construction Code is changed, including its provisions related to energy conservation standards.  The text of the letter follows—

The November edition of the PA Environmental Council’s In Case You Missed It is now available featuring activities, policy discussions and events PEC was involved in during the past month--

The Ben Franklin Shale Gas Innovation and Commercialization Center announced that this year’s Fifth Annual Shale Gas Innovation Contest will award a total of $80,000 in cash prizes.

High-quality farmland in 18 Pennsylvania counties will remain in agricultural production thanks to the state’s Agricultural Land Preservation Board. During Thursday’s meeting, the board took action to safeguard 2,652 additional acres on 33 farms through the state’s nation-leading farmland preservation program.

The Fish and Boat Commission Tuesday announced an invitation for project applications to the State and Tribal Wildlife Grants Program.  Applications are due January 29.

DEP Secretary John Quigley Thursday announced Richard Morrison, Deputy Secretary for Active and Abandoned Mine Operations will retire from state service December 24.

The Department of Environmental Protection recently announced numerous vacancies throughout the Commonwealth.   Opportunities include:   

The Delaware River Basin Commission is seeking candidates to fill a Water Resource Engineer position.  Submissions must be made by January 15.  Click Here for all the details.

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 published this week. Pennsylvania Bulletin - December 12, 2015

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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.

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