Gov. Tom Wolf Wednesday nominated Acting Secretary of Environmental Protection Patrick McDonnell to serve permanently in that role, pending approval by the Pennsylvania Senate.

The PA Growing Greener Coalition Monday unveiled its blueprint for $315 million in new investments in a Growing Greener III Program to provide annual funding for clean water, parks and trails, green open spaces, and locally grown food.

Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn Friday announced the point and observation area on the Susquehanna River at Shikellamy State Park in Northumberland County will be now be called “Kury Point” to honor former Sen. Franklin Kury who authored the section of Pennsylvania’s Constitution popularly known as the Environmental Rights Amendment.

The PA Environmental Council and other groups this week put a spotlight on House attempts to rollback protections now in DEP’s drilling regulations, kill regulations with a single vote from a single committee in the House or Senate and possible attempts to reduce protection for endangered species.

The Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee has scheduled a meeting for September 27 to vote on Senate Resolution 385 (Brooks-R-Crawford) directing the Joint State Government Commission to identify environmental laws and regulations more stringent than federal law as a first step to rolling back environmental protection in Pennsylvania (sponsor summary).

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--

Harry Campbell, PA Director of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Monday provided an update on CBF-PA’s efforts to have the lower Susquehanna River designated as impaired for aquatic life by the Department of Environmental Protection.  His update said--

By Harry Campbell, PA Office Director, Chesapeake Bay Foundation

The Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay and its partners will host the 2016 Chesapeake Bay Watershed Forum September 30 to October 2 at the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service National Conservation Training Center in Shepherdstown, WV.

Pennsylvania watershed and conservation organizations may be eligible for free technical assistance to effectively assess, monitor, and restore their local water resources.

The Slippery Rock Watershed Coalition September Catalyst newsletter included this feature on generating electricity from mine drainage treatment systems--

Come one, come all! Come to the Annual Student Symposium on the Environment December 1 at Westminster College in New Wilmington, Lawrence County.  Applications for student presentations are now being accepted.

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

The Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay, Capital Region Council of Governments, and Environmental Finance Center will offer a Strategies for Financing Your Stormwater Project Workshop on October 12 at the Lemoyne Borough Office Building, 510 Herman Ave., Lemoyne, Cumberland County, starting at 10:00 a.m.

The Brodhead Watershed Association Friday announced Papillon & Moyer Paving & Excavating has donated $3,000 to Brodhead Members & Friends Celebration, to be held September 30 at Northampton Community College, Tannersville, Monroe County.

The Department of Environmental Protection Tuesday invited nonprofits, local governments, schools and universities, and other organizations to apply for 2017 Coastal Zone Grants to be used for projects that benefit Pennsylvania’s coastal resources in the Lake Erie and Delaware Estuary watersheds.

The Susquehanna River Basin Commission Wednesday announced a day-long workshop on Water Resource Management Considerations for Public Water Supply Managers to be held on November 9 at the Commission’s Conference Center located at 4423 N. Front St., Harrisburg from 8:15 a.m to 3:00 p.m.

The Delaware River Basin Commission is seeking individuals to fill vacancies on its Toxics, Water Management and Water Quality advisory committees.  Click Here for the details and to submit your name for consideration.

The PA Association For Sustainable Agriculture is now accepting nominations for its 2017 PASAbilities Award Series.  The deadline for nominations is October 24.

Gov. Tom Wolf Tuesday announced the U.S. Small Business Administration approved his request to declare Fayette County a disaster area after severe storms and flooding caused significant damage to homes and businesses on August 28.

Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful is pleased to announce Elena Prenovitz of Erie has been selected by Keep America Beautiful as one of 10 high school students from across the country to serve for another year on its national Youth Advisory Council (YAC).

The Department of Environmental Protection Wednesday announced it will hold a public information meeting on October 5 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. to discuss all environmental approvals required for a natural gas power plant proposed by Renovo Energy Center LLC in Renovo Borough.

As part of ongoing electric safety efforts, the Public Utility Commission Thursday urged contractors and homeowners across the state to use extra caution while working around power lines in order to avoid possible accidents, injuries and deaths.

The PA Chamber of Business & Industry will hold its Fall Energy and Environmental Compliance Conference October 6 in Canonsburg, Washington County from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Hilton Garden Inn/Southpointe, 1000 Corporate Drive.

The Public Utility Commission this week issued its 2015 Annual Report on implementation of the Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards Act which found 67 percent of the sources certified to generate the credits needed to meet the AEPS standard come from outside Pennsylvania.

The Hershey Company Tuesday announced it has been named again to the prestigious Dow Jones Sustainability World and North America Indices.

The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Thursday posted its first Fall foliage report showing expected dates when the best forest colors can be found.

Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Cindy Adam Dunn Friday extended an invitation to state park visitors to join her in a day of volunteer service to improve state parks by taking part in National Public Lands Day events across Pennsylvania on September. 24.

The PA Parks and Forests Foundation Tuesday announced it has received funding from Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful’s 25 in 25 Grant Program for the removal of graffiti from unique geological features in our state parks and forests.

The Susquehanna Greenway Partnership Thursday announced the complete list of winners of the 5th annual Susquehanna Greenway Photo Contest, Treasured Towns and Landscapes of the Susquehanna.

Pipeline integrity testing by UGI Utilities will temporarily close sections of the D&H Trail and O&H Rail-Trail in Lackawanna and Susquehanna counties from September 26 to 30.

The Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor and the Wildlands Conservancy were recently awarded $750,000 from the William Penn Foundation to establish the Lehigh Valley Trail & Greenway Network to establish a robust regional trail coalition between the Lehigh Gap and Easton, Pa.

Natural Lands Trust, PECO and KaBOOM! are seeking about 100 volunteers to help build a playground in Coatesville, Chester County on October 7 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the West End/Patton Park, 300 Block, Charles Street.

More than $604,000 in grants are being awarded to help Pennsylvania’s rural communities guard against the threat of fires in forests and other undeveloped areas, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn announced Monday.

A guided walk through Gifford Pinchot’s Grey Towers landscape and a walking program through the Laurel Hill cemetery are planned for October at Grey Towers National Historic Site, 122 Old Owego Turnpike, Milford, Pike County.

A panel discussion focusing on nature and the environment and how it influences the creativity of writing is scheduled for October 2, at 11 a.m., at Gifford Pinchot’s Grey Towers National Historic Site, Milford, Pike County, as part of the Milford Readers and Writers Festival.

Tammy Colt was recently elected to the board of the Westmoreland Land Trust, a nonprofit, all-volunteer organization that has preserved some 235 acres of land of special value in Westmoreland County since its founding in late 2007.

The Fish and Boat Commission is encouraging anglers to vote online for their favorite fishing license button for 2017.  The deadline for voting is October 7.

The Brandywine Conservancy and Museum of Art in Chester County is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Grants Manager for Conservancy Programs.  Applications are due October 31.

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 Environmental Quality Board published final regulations on the Total Coliform Rule for Public Water Systems in the September 24 PA Bulletin (page 6005).

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.