The PA Growing Greener Coalition Wednesday applauded the Commonwealth Finance Authority’s recent approval of nearly $17 million in environmental grants and called for renewed investment in the state’s Growing Greener program.

Updated: Gov. Wolf: General Fund Budget Bill To Become Law With Or Without A Revenue Package

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--

Gov. Wolf Friday signed into law legislation extending the one-pound Reid Vapor Pressure waiver which expired on May 1, 2016.

Rep. Joseph Petrarca (D-Westmoreland) Wednesday announced the introduction of legislation-- House Bill 2248-- to abolish the 10 cent per gallon gasoline tax increase set to go into effect in January and those scheduled in the future. 

The Governor’s Office published its twice a year update to the agency-by-agency Regulatory Agenda in the July 9 PA Bulletin, starting on page 3702.

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation-PA Wednesday announced Lawrence County has joined the growing list of Pennsylvania counties that have adopted a Clean Water Counts resolution, calling on state officials to make clean water a top priority for the Commonwealth.

The presentations given at the 2016 PA Abandoned Mine Reclamation Conference the end of June are now available, including an overview of Pennsylvania’s new $30 million pilot program to combine abandoned mine reclamation and economic development opportunities, including a proposed project listing, given by Acting DEP Secretary Patrick McDonnell.

The Department of Environmental Protection will hold a webinar on July 14 on its new, federally funded $30 million abandoned mine reclamation program which combines mine reclamation with economic revitalization opportunities.

Two afternoon tours on August 2 and 4 will travel to Westmoreland County farms to see conservation practices that have been installed under one of the many programs available to area farmers-- the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP).

The Brodhead Creek Watershed Association is seeking volunteers for its StreamWatcher Program monitoring Pike County streams.

PA American Water and the Lackawanna River Conservation Association are hosting a Wonderful World of Water Student Camp August 103 in Lackawanna County for students ages 7 to 11.

The PA Resources Council and the Eastern Delaware County Stormwater Collaborative is seeking volunteers to begin a project this Fall to build 36 new rain gardens.

Have you been considering planting trees on your property? Do you want to reduce mowing needs, protect a stream, create wildlife habitat or help reduce flooding? Apply for free trees today!

The Partnership for the Delaware Estuary is accepting abstracts for its 2017 Estuary Science and Environmental Summit to be held January 22-25, 2017 in Cape May, New Jersey through July 29.

A group of Pennsylvania teachers became students when the lessons turned to what schools can do to reduce polluted runoff and improve the Commonwealth’s water quality.

Staff from the DEP Northeast Regional Office created an “interactive” table at RiverFest 2016 in Wilkes-Barre in June to educate the public about river health.

DEP Northeast Regional Office Water Quality Specialist Supervisor Michelle Nesbitt recently spoke to a group of elementary students about the work of DEP and protecting the environment.

The July 5 edition of the Watershed Winds newsletter is now available from Penn State Extension featuring articles on--

The June edition of The Catalyst newsletter from the Slippery Rock Watershed Coalition in Butler County is now available featuring articles on--

The July Update from Capitol Region Water in Dauphin County is now available featuring articles on—

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service invites the public to attend the Pennsylvania State Technical Committee meeting on July 21 at the USDA State Office in Harrisburg.

The July 19 meetings of the Environmental Quality Board (formal notice) and DEP’s Citizens Advisory Council (formal notice) are canceled.

Interesting fact: The Department of Environmental Protection publishes 30 to 50 pages of notices in the PA Bulletin every week alerting the public to proposed or final permit actions it is taking.  The July 9 PA Bulletin has 34 pages, for example.

Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful is now accepting applications for its 25 in 25 Community Improvement Mini-Grants to support projects to prevent and cleanup litter and illegal dumping and to keep areas clean

Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful and the Westmoreland County Land Bank, recently presented Sewickley Township and The Geyer Performing Arts Center in Scottdale with seed grants to fight blight in their communities.

The PA Horticultural Society and the Philadelphia Department of Commerce Wednesday announced the winners of two “Neighborhood Placemaker Grants” for projects that will enhance public spaces and improve the beauty and environmental sustainability of their communities.

Keep an eye out for a new public art installation, RECYCLE RIGHT, as it travels around Pittsburgh's Northside neighborhoods and appears in public spaces, vacant lots and community event sites this summer.

On July 19, Capitol Region Water will host a Tuesday Cleanup event in the 1600 Block of North 4th Street in Harrisburg from 5:30 to 6:00 p.m.

The PA Resources Council will hold its annual Awards Celebration at the Villanova University Conference Center in Philadelphia on November 10.

The July newsletter from the PA Resources Council is now available featuring article on--

This year the recycling world lost a great leader, former Recycling Partnership Executive Director Steve Thompson.

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the July 9 PA Bulletin scheduling five public hearings on the proposed Sunoco Mariner East II natural gas pipeline (PA Bulletin, page 3698). 

The Public Utility Commission Wednesday urged residents across the state to consider ways to conserve energy and stay cool as a temperatures across the Mid-Atlantic Region are expected to rise into the 90’s later this week.

By Lindsay Baxter, Energy & Climate Program Manager, PA Environmental Council

DEP’s Climate Change Advisory Committee is scheduled to meet on July 12 to discuss how it will go about the 2018 update to Pennsylvania’s Climate Change Action Plan.  The Committee also expects to see DEP’s final version of the 2015 Plan Update.

The Susquehanna Valley Climate Action Network will host a presentation by the the National Wildlife Federation’s Ed Perry on how Pennsylvania fish and wildlife will be affected by changes in climate and what we can do about it.

The Duquesne University School Of Green Industries and Environmental Entrepreneurs (E2) are hosting the Pennsylvania Clean Jobs Forum on July 20 at the Duquesne University Power Center Ballroom, 1015 Forbes Ave., in Pittsburgh from 10:30 to 5 p.m.

Exelon Wednesday announced it has released its 2015 Sustainability Report as part of the company’s commitment to transparency on sustainability strategy and performance.

The Eastern PA Alliance for Clean Transportation is hosting a July 13 workshop on electric vehicles at the PECO Office, 2301 Market Street in Philadelphia from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

The Department of Environmental Protection, in partnership with the PA Coal Alliance, Thursday launched a new safety campaign that urges coal miners not to take shortcuts that could lead to dangerous consequences while on the job.

Three Pennsylvania mining and geology students were recently awarded 2016-2017 John Kaminski Memorial Scholarships by the Penn-Anthracite Section of the Society for Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration. 

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

The June edition of In Case You Missed It is now available from the PA Environmental Council featuring stories on--

Get Outdoors PA recently announced the award of 9 Community Partner Mini-Grants totaling $17,030 were awarded in its second round of the grant program.

Nearly 60 family members, friends and others who admired and loved Dr. Colson E. “Doc” Blakeslee gathered with the Western PA Conservancy in Elk County on June 27 to remember and honor his commitment to conservation.

The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Wednesday announced the designation of a new Wild Plant Sanctuary in Forward Township, Allegheny County.

Whether it’s streamlining day-to-day functions, taking the lead in emergency situations, producing publications and signage which better connect the public with nature, assisting with criminal investigations, or launching online tools for DCNR’s many partners to use in planning, DCNR employees once again excelled over the past year by going above and beyond.

The July 6 edition of the Resource newsletter is now available from the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources featuring articles on--

Air pollutants interact with and break down plant-emitted scent molecules, which insect pollinators use to locate needed food, according to a team of researchers led by Penn State.

The Chester Environmental Partnership Thursday announced it recently honored Covanta's John G. Waffenschmidt, Vice President of Environmental Science and Community Affairs, for his efforts and leadership in environmental justice.

The Eastern PA Coalition For Abandoned Mine Reclamation is seeking candidates to fill 2 federal Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement AmeriCorps positions to be based in Ashley, Luzerne County.

Nature Abounds, a national environmental nonprofit based in DuBois, Clearfield County, is seeking a contractor to film, edit, and create videos for the Senior Environment Corps Program.

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 its twice a year update to the agency-by-agency Regulatory Agenda in the July 9 PA Bulletin, starting on page 3702.

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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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