Sometime after June 12 the PA Supreme Court will schedule a hearing on one of the most important environmental cases in recent decades-- will EQT drilling be successful in overturning the way the Department of Environmental Protection has calculated penalties for nearly 40 years.

Advocates for Pennsylvania’s Growing Greener Program Tuesday rallied on the steps of the state Capitol to call for increased funding to protect water, preserve open space and family farms, and ensure current and future generations continue to have access to community parks, trails and other recreational opportunities.

David McGuigan, EPA Region III Associate Director Of Water Protection, told PA’s Chesapeake Bay Watershed Implementation Planning Steering Committee Monday EPA expects the state to identify what he called the “significant new financial resources” needed to implement the Phase III Watershed Plans to meet Chesapeake Bay cleanup requirements.

DEP is now accepting registrations for the June 5 Chesapeake Bay Phase III Watershed Implementation Plan Kickoff and Listening Session to be held at the Radisson Hotel in Camp Hill, across the river from Harrisburg, from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Acting DEP Secretary Patrick McDonnell Tuesday was unanimously reported from the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee with a favorable recommendation for confirmation as Secretary of the Department of Environmental Protection.

Here is the opening statement Acting DEP Secretary Patrick McDonnell made before the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee Tuesday at the hearing on his confirmation--

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-- 

President Trump late Monday announced his intention to nominate the PUC’s Robert Powelson and Neil Chatterjee, an energy advisor to U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) to fill vacancies  on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

The Senate Rules Committee Monday voted to approve and report out Senate Bill 561 (Disanto-R-Dauphin) which requires an up or down vote by the General Assembly on every final regulation approved by the Independent Regulatory Review Commission if that regulation has a fiscal impact of $1 million or more.

Appearing before the House Agriculture and Rural Affairs committee, Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding Wednesday outlined challenges and opportunities facing Pennsylvania’s food and fiber industries, but cautioned making progress on those issues could be jeopardized if the House-passed budget bill becomes law.

The House Local Government Committee Wednesday reported out a package of bills introduced by Rep. Garth Everett (R-Lycoming) to allow towns, boroughs, first class townships and third class cities to adopt stormwater management fees to pay for improvements needed to reduce water pollution.

On Tuesday the House and Senate unanimously passed resolutions recognizing the 50th anniversary of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation and commending the foundation for five decades of outstanding public service to the Chesapeake Bay and the surrounding region.

The PA Land Trust Association Saturday honored Union County with the 2017 Government Conservation Leadership Award for demonstrated leadership in the conservation of our special landscapes and critical natural resources and Tom Kerr, former President of the Wildlands Conservancy, with the Lifetime Conservation Leadership Award.

The National Association of Water Companies, PA Chapter Tuesday recognized Patti Kay Wisniewski, Drinking Water Security Coordinator in Region III of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, with its James McGirr Kelly Award for Excellence.

The PA Association of Environmental Professionals recently honored Nature Abound’s statewide Pennsylvania Senior Environment Corps with the Walter Lyon Award.

WikiWatershed, an online toolkit featuring a watershed-modeling web app developed by Stroud Water Research Center in Chester County and partners, has new features to help individuals learn about and protect their watersheds.

The Schuylkill Action Network Tuesday presented a Protecting Our Water Award to fifth and sixth grade students at The Miquon School in Montgomery County for their work protecting the river and drinking water in the Schuylkill River Valley.

By Natalie Stewart, Green Building Alliance

The 2017 PA Abandoned Mine Reclamation Conference is now accepting registrations.  This year the Conference will be held June 21-22 at the Best Western Plus Genetti Hotel and Conference Center in Wilkes-Barre.

The U.S. Natural Resources Conservation Service-PA Office is hosting a meeting and workshop on the PA Chesapeake Bay Conservation Innovation Grant Program on May 18 at the NRCS State Office, 359 East Park Drive in Harrisburg from 10:00 a.m. to Noon.

Lee McDonnell from DEP’s Bureau of Clean Water told the Water Resources Advisory Committee Wednesday his office is developing a new Chapter 102 Erosion and Sedimentation General Permit for small, low impact projects of five acres or less that could cover a significant number of projects DEP now requires full permits for.

Aqua America, the American Water Works Association and the water community are celebrating Drinking Water Week, May 7-13, by recognizing the vital role water plays in daily lives and the ways in which consumers can take personal responsibility in caring for their tap water and water infrastructure at home and in the community.

A new U.S. Geological Survey study released Thursday has discovered high levels of radon in wells across certain areas of Pennsylvania.

The Department of Environmental Protection is hosting a free hands-on training session for drinking water and wastewater utilities on EPA’s Creating Resilient Water Utilities (CRWU) and Climate Resilience Evaluation and Awareness Tool (CREAT) initiatives on June 29 from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at DEP’s Southcentral Regional Office, 909 Elmerton Ave. in Harrisburg.

By Thomas Ham, Tulpehocken Creek Chapter of TU

Sen. Gene Yaw (R-Lycoming), Majority Chair of the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee and a member of the interstate Chesapeake Bay Commission, would like to introduce colleagues at the Capitol to his slippery, spongelike friends and students who care about them.

The May 8 edition of the Watershed Winds newsletter is now available from Penn State Extension featuring these articles--

Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful Thursday reminded community groups and volunteers there is still time to be part of the Great American Cleanup of PA to clean up roadside litter, illegal dumps and to beautify your neighborhood.

Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful Tuesday announced they have received a $20,000 grant from Keep America Beautiful to continue their work with the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources to reduce cigarette litter in state parks.

The PA Association of Environmental Professionals is hosting a Workshop on PFAS 101, Fate, Transport and Remediation on May 24  at AECOM, 625 West Ridge Pike, Suite E-100, Conshohocken, Montgomery County from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

The Delaware Riverkeeper Network Wednesday, joined by directly impacted landowners, filed a lawsuit in the Chester County Court of Common Pleas against Sunoco’s Mariner East 2 Pipeline claiming it has not complied with local zoning.

The Middletown Coalition For Community Safety reported Friday on a May 3 spill of drilling slurry that occurred while Sunoco Logistics was drilling horizontally under Chester Creek in Brookhaven Borough, Delaware County as part of construction work associated with the Mariner East 2 Pipeline.

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the May 13 PA Bulletin (page 2829) proposing to approve a Section 401 Water Quality Certification for the H-125 Upgrade Pipeline Project in Allegheny and Washington counties.

On Tuesday in Pittsburgh during the 6th Annual Shale Gas Innovation Contest the following three companies each walked away with a winner’s check for $20,000:

With the results of a new study and development of an interactive mapping tool, the Department of Environmental Protection Tuesday said it has taken a major step toward identifying environmental impacts and addressing potential public safety concerns related to abandoned wells drilled over the past 150 years of oil and gas development in the state.

It seemingly started on the roofs of homes and businesses. In the 1980s, you may have noticed flat panels that looked like unwatchable new-age TV screens. They didn’t exactly catch on.

The PJM Interconnection Monday said it has enough power to meet anticipated peak demand and keep the region's 65 million consumers cool this summer. That's good news, because meteorologists anticipate above-average temperatures this season.

The U.S. Energy Information Administration Friday reported that its 2017 Annual Energy Outlook assumes that about 25 percent of the nuclear capacity now operating that does not have announced retirement plans will be removed from service by 2050.

The PA Biomass Energy Association is hosting a Biomass Energy and Forestry Management Workshop May 17 at the Kane Experimental Forest in Wilcox, Elk County.

Indiana County-based S&T Bank Tuesday pledged to donate a portion of the seedlings to be planted during Plant a Tree at Flight 93, for the second consecutive year. The two-day volunteer event will take place at the Flight 93 National Memorial in Somerset County on May 19 and 20.

The Foundation for Sustainable Forests, a land trust based in Crawford County, will be hosting its annual conference “Loving the Land Through Working Forests,” an in-the-field outreach event, on May 20.  

In an educational event attended by students and streamed live, officials from the Department of Environmental Protection and Game Commission Wednesday banded the three young peregrine falcons nesting on the 15th floor of the Rachel Carson State Office Building.

Hawk Mountain Sanctuary in Berks County will host its annual Spring Native Plant Sale, displaying a wide variety of Pennsylvanian plants and flowers, on May 20 and 21.  It will take place in the Visitor Center parking lot from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The Spring PA Trout newsletter is now available from the PA Council of Trout Unlimited featuring articles on--

Patrick Patterson will become Southeast Regional Director of the Department of Environmental Protection effective May 15.

The Butler County Conservation District is hiring a full-time District Manager.  Requires a college degree and minimum of 2 years supervisory experience. Competitive salary and benefits offered.  Applications are due May 23.  Send email to: bccdjobs@gmail.com for a full job description. 

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 notice in the May 13 PA Bulletin of proposed Radiological Health, X-Ray Machine and Radon regulations changes for public comment.  The deadline for comments is June 26.  (PA Bulletin page 2722)

CLICK HERE to Print The Entire PA Environment Digest.  This Digest is 78 pages long.

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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