The PA Supreme Court Wednesday issued a decision following up on its 2013 Robinson decision on provisions in the Act 13 drilling law saying--

The PA Independent Oil and Gas Association, representing conventional well operators, Friday delivered a letter to the Joint House Senate Committee on Documents objecting to the publication of DEP’s final Chapter 78a Marcellus Shale drilling regulations, now scheduled for the October 8 PA Bulletin.

Sen. Tom Killion (R-Delaware) and the PA Growing Greener Coalition Wednesday announced the introduction of bipartisan legislation-- Senate Bill 1374-- to create a Growing Greener III Program and provide $315 million in annual investments to protect the state’s water, land and other natural resources.

Harry Campbell, executive director for the Chesapeake Bay Foundation in Pennsylvania, issued this statement Wednesday after Sen. Tom Killion (R-Delaware) introduced Growing Greener III legislation that would provide $315 million a year for environmental conservation, recreation, and preservation projects in the Commonwealth.

Normally, Senate and House members try to do good things before they go before the voters, but this year seems to be an exception with respect to setting environmental policy with some members.

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 House and Senate Veterans Affairs & Emergency Preparedness Committees are scheduled to hold a joint hearing November 16 to review emergency preparedness and response measures for natural gas and petroleum pipeline infrastructure.

The September edition of the Environmental Synopsis newsletter is now available from the Joint Air and Water Pollution Control and Conservation Committee featuring articles on--

The federal Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement Monday recognized state and tribal abandoned mine land programs and mine operators who have innovated and performed notable reclamation of surface coal mines.

Eric Cavazza, DEP's Director of the Bureau of Abandoned Mine Reclamation this week received the Stan Barnard Memorial Award, the highest honor of the National Association of Abandoned Mine Land Programs (NAAMLP).

The Eastern PA Coalition for Abandoned Mine Reclamation based in Ashley, Luzerne County, is again hosting two AmeriCorps members—- Rachel Grube and Abigail Keefe— to work on a variety of issues related to mine reclamation.

The RECLAIM Act, currently before Congress, is an opportunity to create both immediate and permanent jobs in communities facing severe economic hardship due to the loss of coal mining jobs and lagging local economies.

The Coldwater Heritage Partnership Wednesday announced it is now accepting applications for its two Coldwater Conservation Grant Programs to help protect and conserve the health of Pennsylvania’s coldwater ecosystems.  Applications are due December 16.

According to the Chesapeake Bay Foundation-PA, efforts in Pennsylvania to reduce pollution from agriculture received a welcome boost when conservation districts in 28 counties agreed to inspect local farms as prescribed by the Commonwealth’s clean water strategy.

Ad Crable on LancasterOnline.com reported Friday Exelon Generation will provide Lancaster and York conservation districts each with $225,000 annually to help pay for on-farm conservation measures to help cleanup the Chesapeake Bay Watershed.

The PA Association of Sustainable Agriculture will host a farmer-to-farmer education event on Productive Riparian Buffers on October 15 at the Happy Hollow Farm, 2486 Orwig Road in Stewartstown, York County 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

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

In an effort to help protect stream health and aquatic life, the Department of Environmental Protection would like to remind private and public pool owners, as well as pool management companies, how to properly close their swimming pools for the season.

The Fall edition of the Bucknell River Reporter is now available from the Bucknell University Center For Sustainability and the Environment featuring articles on--

With a number of challenges confronting the agriculture industry – ranging from invasive pests and water quality improvement obligations to global macroeconomic forces and access to human and financial capital – the Department of Agriculture announced Monday said it is now accepting research funding proposals for projects that seek to better understand these issues.  (formal notice)

The September 26 edition of the Watershed Winds newsletter is now available from Penn State Extension featuring articles on--

The Department of Environmental Protection will hold a hearing November 2 on the renewal of the NPDES permit for the Scranton Sewer Authority wastewater treatment plant at Cedar Ave. & Breck Street. (formal notice, PA Bulletin, page 6182)

The PA Chapter American Water Works Association, PA Water Environment Association and the PA Municipal Authorities Association are holding a Joint PA Water Utility Asset Management Summit on November 15 at The Penn Stater in State College.

The Susquehanna River Basin Commission has released a proposed rulemaking to amend its regulations, which includes the release of a consumptive water use mitigation policy.

The Pennsylvania Envirothon Monday announced Shell has provided a $50,000 grant to the Envirothon and its educational initiatives, which work to improve student performance, encourage diversity, and benefit our nation’s future competitiveness.

Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful awarded 25 grants of up to $1,000 for community improvement projects in three focus areas of Prevent It, Clean It, or Keep It to tax-exempt groups across Pennsylvania.

The PA Resources Council and its partners will hold the last 2 collection events of the season on October 1— Hard-To-Recycle event in Allegheny County and on October 8— a Household Chemical Collection event in Beaver County.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Wednesday announced an $820,000 brownfields grant to support the assessment and cleanup of abandoned industrial and commercial properties in Philadelphia.

The Department of Environmental Protection Thursday announced the next phase of the Lock Haven Court remediation being done with funding from the state’s Hazardous Sites Cleanup Act fund will begin in October.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Thursday announced it is accepting applications for approximately $7 million in rebates to public school bus fleet owners to help them replace or retrofit older school buses.  Applications are due November 1.

After a review of all major sources of air pollution in Southwestern PA, the Group Against Smog and Pollution (GASP) has determined that approximately 30 percent of the facilities are running with either an expired Title V Operating Permit or having never been issued one at all, according to the most recent information made available to us.

The Department of Environmental Protection is considering or approved 43 applications for natural gas-fired power plants* since January 2014 totaling 17,140 megawatts of electric generation capacity. 

Leaders from the Associated Petroleum Industries of Pennsylvania, the PA Independent Oil & Gas Association and PA Manufacturers Association Wednesday discussed the urgent need to expand the capacity of the Commonwealth’s pipeline system to allow producers to transport more natural gas and natural gas liquids to end-users.

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the October 1 PA Bulletin proposing State Water Quality Certification for the 10.4 mile,36-inch  Rover Pipeline and Compressor Station Project in Washington County.  (PA Bulletin, page 6186)

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the October 1 PA Bulletin proposing conditional State Water Quality Certification for a 12-megawatt hydroelectric facility at the Emsworth Lock and Dam in Allegheny County. (PA Bulletin, page 6183)

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the October 1 PA Bulletin proposing conditional State Water Quality Certification for a 42-megawatt hydroelectric facility at the Montgomery Lock and Dam in Beaver County. (PA Bulletin, page 6184)

The September 29 edition of DEP News is now available from the Department of Environmental Protection featuring stories on--

The Public Utility Commission Tuesday announced it will kick off its statewide annual PA “Be Utility Wise” events in October and November.

FirstEnergy Corp.'s Pennsylvania utilities— Met-Ed, Penelec, Penn Power and West Penn Power— offer a Home Energy Audit Program that can provide incentives and additional savings on energy efficiency home improvements.

A new technology developed by Penn State researchers, called cold sintering process (CSP), opens a window on the ability to combine incompatible materials, such as ceramics and plastics, into new, useful compound materials, and to lower the energy cost of many types of manufacturing.

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

PECO was recognized as one of three project winners of the 2016 Delaware Valley Green Building Council Groundbreaker Award for the company’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification initiatives for its Philadelphia headquarters and multiple service buildings throughout southeastern Pennsylvania.

Hunters and other outdoors enthusiasts heading into Pennsylvania’s state-owned woodlands this autumn will find additional roads open in 18 of the 20 state forest districts, the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources announced today.

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

Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn Friday joined State Parks officials and others in dedicating the French Creek State Park phase of the Big Woods Trail on grounds of the park near the Berks-Chester county line.

Officials with the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and Fish and Boat Commission Friday announced they have lifted the no-fishing restrictions that were placed on two sections of Penns Creek in Bald Eagle State Forest last month.

The September 28 edition of the Resource newsletter is now available from the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources featuring articles on-

he Wildlands Conservancy in the Lehigh Valley Tuesday published its summary of special events coming up in October featuring stories on--

The Save the Loyalsock Coalition will host several educational hikes on October 2 along the Old Loggers Path in the Loyalsock State Forest in Canton, Lycoming County for hikers of all skill levels beginning at 10:00 a.m.

The Brodhead Watershed Association will host a Get Outdoors Poconos hike on October 15 to explore the Shuman Point Natural Area on Lake Wallenpaupack near Hawley in Pike County.

The Carlisle Garden Club received the 2016 Miriam Crawfoot Memorial Conservation Award from the Letort Regional Authority in Cumberland County for designing and creating the Letort Trailhead Garden to reduce erosion near LeTort Spring Run.

The Department of Environmental Protection is currently recruiting to fill multiple vacancies for Air Quality Engineering Trainee in the Meadville and Harrisburg regional offices.

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the October 1 PA Bulletin of an opportunity to bid on a mine reclamation project in Lawrence County.

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 - October 1, 2016

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