The Department of Environmental Protection Wednesday released the final version of its Chapter 78 (conventional) and Chapter 78A (unconventional-- Marcellus Shale) oil and gas drilling regulations it has submitted to the Environmental Quality Board for consideration on February 3.

The voting members of DEP’s Conventional Oil and Gas Advisory Committee Monday finalized its comments on the final Chapter 78 drilling regulations and submitted them to the Environmental Quality Board for its consideration.

On Wednesday the five voting members of DEP’s Oil and Gas Technical Advisory Board on unconventional (Marcellus Shale) drilling submitted extensive comments to the Environmental Quality Board on DEP’s final Chapter 78A drilling regulations.

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

Nominations for the 2016 Western Pennsylvania Environmental Awards are now being accepted.   The deadline for nominations is February 12.

Visitors to the 100th Pennsylvania Farm Show can learn how to live green, plant green, build green and save green at DEP's new interactive exhibit, titled, "Go Green, PA." 

A sculpture made from more than 1,000 pounds of butter and showcasing the diversity of Pennsylvania agriculture exhibited throughout the 100th Pennsylvania Farm Show was unveiled Thursday at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex and Expo Center in Harrisburg.

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 holiday season’s Peace on Earth, Goodwill Toward Men (and Women), didn’t seem to have much impact on the Senate, House or the Governor.

If you're a farm operator in the Chesapeake Bay watershed, you soon will have a chance to highlight what steps you and your fellow farmers have taken to protect and enhance water quality in the region.

The 2016 Keystone Coldwater Conference will be held February 26-27 at the Ramada Inn Conference Center in State College, Centre County. The theme for the upcoming conference is Coldwater Resources: Connecting Conservation, Protection, Restoration, and Stewardship.

Register now for the 2016 Schuylkill River Watershed Congress to be held March 12 at the Montgomery County Community College Pottstown Campus.

Among the many dreams Bob and Maggie Cahalan have for their southern York County farm, protecting the water that runs through it is one of their most important.

The Eastern Coalition For Abandoned Mine Reclamation’s Reclaim Crew is a locally-based group of volunteers that assists EPCAMR with reclamation efforts.

The Schuylkill Action Network is encourages students in grades 6 to 12 to enter its Street Art Contest to show how we can help make the environment cleaner.  The deadline for entries is February 29.

The Freshwater Research Initiative at Susquehanna University is now soliciting proposals for 2016 for collaborative aquatic research projects through a grant received from the R.K. Mellon Foundation. The deadline for proposals is March 1. 

Stroud Water Research Center, Penn State University and the University of Delaware are now accepting applications from undergraduates and K-12 teachers interested in Earth Sciences under the Critical Zone Science Program.  The deadline for applications is February 15.

The PA Council of Trout Unlimited’s Trout in the Classroom Program is an interdisciplinary program that teaches students about coldwater conservation while raising brook trout from eggs to fingerlings in the classroom aquarium.

On average, Pennsylvania receives over 40 inches of precipitation each year, but in some areas, all it takes is one-tenth of an inch to cause polluted stormwater to overflow into municipal sewer systems.

Four PA American Water drinking water treatment plants in Bangor, Brownell, Crystal Lake and Nesbitt each received the “Presidents Award” from the Partnership for Safe Water, a voluntary effort to provide safe drinking water to consumers. 

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service will host the Pennsylvania State Technical Committee meeting on January 21 at the USDA State Office in Harrisburg, PA.

The January 4 edition of the Watershed Winds newsletter is now available from Penn State Extension featuring articles on--

The January 4 edition of the Chesapeake Bay Journal is now available featuring stories on--

The Susquehanna River Basin Commission recently adopted final regulations that simplify and revise the rules for transfer of approvals, create a category for minor modifications, and establish a procedure for the Commission to issue general permits.

The Department of Environmental Protection Tuesday assessed two civil penalties totaling $745,000 against Kinder Morgan Liquids Terminals, Inc. for multiple violations at two facilities in Philadelphia.

The Township News, published by the PA State Association of Township Supervisors did a cover story in their January issue by Jill M. Ercolino on how townships have used the Act 13 drilling fees to benefit their communities.

C.O.G.E.N.T., the Connection for Oil, Gas and Environment In The Northern Tier, summarized its actions on major regulatory and other issues in 2015 in a recent blog post.  Among other actions, C.O.G.E.N.T.--

The Department of Environmental Protection will hold a public hearing on an Air Quality Plan Approval Application for the proposed Tenaska Pennsylvania Partners, LLC power plant in South Huntingdon Township, Westmoreland County.

The Department of Environmental Protection will host a public meeting to answer questions regarding Chrin Landfill’s permit application to expand its existing facility in Williams Township, Northampton County.

In 2015, the PA Resources Council’s Zero Waste PA team assisted nearly 40 different events with sustainable waste management solutions. In total, ZWPA served more than 700,000 individuals through 40 various events in 2015.

Nearly 14,000 volunteers from 44 counties across Pennsylvania canvassed their communities to remove over 1 million pounds of trash and debris from Pennsylvania’s waterways and coastal regions during the 2015 International Coastal Cleanup.

The January edition of PRC News is now available from the PA Resources Council featuring articles on--

The December issue of In Case You Missed It from the PA Environmental Council features articles on--

The Department of Environmental Protection Tuesday urged all Pennsylvanians to test their homes for radon, a deadly radioactive gas that’s the leading cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers in the United States.

The January 7 edition of DEP News is now available from the Department of Environmental Protection featuring stories on--

The Green Building Alliance’s Green & Healthy Schools Academy is seeking promotion partners to help spread the word about the upcoming Green Schools Conference & Expo to be held in Pittsburgh on March 31 and April 1.

The PA Small Business Development Centers’ Environmental Management Assistance Program, a statewide environmental assistance program for businesses, has hired a new consultant to serve business owners in Southwestern Pennsylvania.

As part of its ongoing “Prepare Now” Campaign, the Public Utility Commission Wednesday released its annual report on Universal Service Programs, along with responses from electric and natural gas utility companies to the PUC’s call for enhanced efforts to help consumers cope with winter heating costs.

The Public Utility Commission Friday said it will hold a March 2016 hearing in Harrisburg to gather information from experts regarding alternative ratemaking methodologies.

Solarize Allegheny is now accepting proposals from communities, municipalities, school districts in Allegheny County and Pittsburgh neighborhoods to participate in Phase 3 of its community-based campaign to double the number of solar photovoltaic installations in the County.

BNY Mellon is seeking a part-time business and environmental sustainability contractor for 2016 based in Pittsburgh.  Proposals are due January 15.

As we move deeper into the winter months, stay warm while saving money by using PECO Smart Ideas!

The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Thursday convened the first meeting of the 30-member Green Ribbon Task Force on Forest Products, Conservation and Jobs at the Governor’s Residence in Harrisburg.

The December edition of the FAWN newsletter is now available from the Friends of Allegheny Wilderness featuring articles on--

The application period for the second round of Get Outdoors PA Mini-Grants Program is now open for Get Outdoors PA Community Partners.  Applications are due March 4.

The PA Recreation and Park Society is accepting nominations for its annual recognition and awards program through January 15.

Registration is now open for the PA Recreation and Park Society annual Conference March 13-16 in Seven Springs, Somerset County.

Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Bureau of State Parks Director John Hallas Wednesday announced the department will hold a public open house on January 20 at Denton Hill State Park to discuss a feasibility study about the future uses of the park in Potter County.

The January 6 Resource newsletter from the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources reviews the agency’s accomplishments in 2015. 

On December 16 the Natural Lands Trust placed a conservation easement on 38 acres of Awbury Arboretum, located in Philadelphia’s Germantown neighborhood. Under an easement, property remains in private ownership, but is protected from future development in perpetuity.

Heritage Conservancy and The Dow Chemical Company are collaborating to preserve Croydon Woods, located between Bristol and Croydon, Pennsylvania.

Those of us who rely on public tracts for hunting and other recreation generally cherish that land we use.

While it might be winter, landowners can begin making plans to help wildlife this spring – and beyond – by planting tree and shrub seedlings offered by the Game Commission’s Howard Nursery.

Newly elected Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney named Debra McCarty as the new Commissioner of the Philadelphia Water Department. McCarty, the first woman to hold the title of Commissioner, was serving as Deputy Commissioner and Director of Operations.

The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources recently announced John S. Hallas has been appointed Director of the Bureau of State Parks to replace the retiring David L. Kemmerer.  The appointment was effective December 28.

Andy Zemba, a long-time employee of the Department of Environmental Protection, passed away on Sunday. 

The Western Pennsylvania Conservancy, in conjunction with the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Bureau of Recreation & Conservation, is seeking a skilled professional with expertise in GIS.

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 - January 9, 2016.

CLICK HERE to Print The Entire PA Environment Digest.

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.