Since June of 2004, the PA Environment Digest has printed nearly 1,000 stories about thousands of individuals, businesses, farmers, schools, local governments, students of all ages, nonprofit groups and organizations just like you honored for doing great things to protect and restore Pennsylvania’s environment in every corner of the Commonwealth.

Gov. Tom Wolf Tuesday announced he line-item vetoed $6.864 billion of the $30.263 billion House Republican budget in House Bill 1460 (Adolph-R-Delaware) -- allowing six months of school district, other state and all federal funding to be available.

Harry Campbell, PA Executive Director for the Chesapeake Bay Foundation issued this statement Wednesday following Gov. Tom Wolf’s line-item veto of parts of the state budget for 2015-16, specifically relating to funding the Department of Environmental Protection.

Even with the recent increases in state funding, General Fund support for the departments of Environmental Protection and Conservation and Natural Resources still remains below where it was more than two decades ago.

Here’s the current status of the budget-related bills that have been in-play in the Senate and House since July 1.  Note: Future action on the budget may include other legislative vehicles for one or more of these issues --

The State Treasurer’s Office has received payment requests from the governor’s Office of the Budget for approximately 16,400 delayed payments totaling nearly $3.3 billion to school districts, counties and human service organizations and expects the funds to be delivered by the middle of next week.

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--

Commonwealth Court Tuesday ruled the Department of Environmental Protection does have to file responses to a challenge from the PA Independent Oil and Gas Association challenging DEP right to review conventional oil and gas drilling permits for their impacts on rare and endangered species, parks, drinking water supplies and other public resources.

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported Wednesday EQT drilling won a procedural ruling from the PA Supreme Court saying the company did not have to exhaust its administrative remedies before challenging a $4.5 million penalty levied by DEP in 2014 in court.

By Rep. Greg Vitali (D-Delaware), Minority Chair of the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee

The Commonwealth Court Wednesday issued a ruling upholding the ability of a Governor to line-item veto provisions in a Fiscal Code bill-- House Bill 278-- vetoed by Gov. Corbett in 2014. 

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the January 2, 2016 PA Bulletin natural gas and coal bed methane emissions must be reported for calendar year 2015 by March 1.

The 2014-15 Annual Report of the Lacawac Sanctuary and Field Station in Lake Ariel, Wayne County is now available.

Everyone is welcome to join the Berks County Conservation District at our annual Tree Seedling Sale on April 22 from 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Berks County Agricultural Center, 1238 County Welfare Road Leesport, PA 19533.  (Look for signs on County Welfare Road.)

The December 29 issue of the Chesapeake Bay Journal is now available featuring stories on--

The 100th PA Farm Show will be held in Harrisburg from January 9 to 16 again featuring nearly 6,000 animals, 10,000 competitive exhibits and 300 commercial exhibits.

Carol Collier, from the Academy of Natural Sciences at Drexel University, had a front row seat at the Paris Climate Conference at the beginning of December.  She captured her experience in a series of blog posts this week for the Academy--

On December 4, Bucks County Earth Guardian Kaia Elinich officially joined six other Pennsylvania youths as petitioners in a lawsuit to force DEP to develop carbon dioxide and other limits to combat climate change filed by the Our Children’s Trust on their behalf.

2015 was a busy and productive year at the GreenTreks Network and its EcoExpress and StormwaterPA related educational initiatives.

King’s College and the Anthracite Heritage Foundation are helping to coordinate the regional observance of Mining History Month in January with programs in Wilkes-Barre, Scranton, Pittston, Port Griffith, Plymouth, Nanticoke, Ashley, Hazleton and Wilkes-Barre Township. 

The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources has scheduled two webinars to help applicants apply for Community Conservation Partnership Grants--

The Brodhead Creek Watershed Association will host an easy winter 3.3 mile hike on January 23 starting at the trailhead at the West End Regional Park, 578 Evergreen Hollow Road, Brodheadsville, Monroe County at 10:00 a.m.

By Tim Herd, Executive Director, PA Recreation and Park Society

The Natural Lands Trust Tuesday announced on December 17 it completed the transaction granting a conservation easement on the St. Martin’s golf course property acquired by The Philadelphia Cricket Club.

When Tom Hoy (second from left) retired from a career with the FBI and returned to his hometown of State College in Centre County in 2006, he had plans to build a retirement retreat on a little piece of land on Tussey Mountain handed down to him by his parents.

Straight Talk, By John A. Arway, Executive Director, Fish & Boat Commission

The PA Outdoor Writers Association will hold its spring conference in Sayre, Bradford County, May 13-15.  Conference details are coming together.  Contact Nick Sisley by email to: nicksisley@hotmail.com with any questions.

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the January 2, 2016 PA Bulletin (page 66) it is accepting proposals from licensed mine operators for the completion of a mine reclamation project in Union Township, Jefferson County.  Proposals are due January 8.

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 Susquehanna River Basin Commission published notice in the January 2, 2016 PA Bulletin of final regulations on the review and approval of water withdrawal projects and a second notice of actions taken at its December meeting.

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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.  Sponsor: 2016 Keystone Coldwater Conference, State College, Feb. 26-27.