In the absence of a House vote Wednesday on the House Republican Tax Code bill, and after the House rejected an opportunity to debate a natural gas severance tax 115 to 83, Gov. Wolf took unilateral action to fill the biggest part of the state’s $2.2 billion budget deficit by proposing to float a $1.25 billion bond using revenue generated by the Liquor Control Board.

The PA Resources Council will present its 2017 Environmental Leadership awards to four organizations that have demonstrated their commitment to stewardship at its annual Awards Celebration on November 9th, at the Villanova Hotel and Conference Center in Philadelphia.

The PA Organization for Watersheds and Rivers and the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources are now accepting nominations for the 2018 River of the Year from nonprofit organizations.  The deadline for nominations is November 6.

Here are the Senate and House Calendars for the next voting session day and Committees scheduling action on 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--

The following bills of interest saw action last week in the House and Senate--

The House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee Tuesday reported out legislation exempting high tunnel greenhouse structures from the Stormwater Management Act and approved, by a largely party-line vote Republicans supporting, a resolution against a proposed Delaware River Watershed drilling ban.

The House Consumer Affairs Committee Wednesday amended and reported out to the full House Senate Bill 242 (Baker-R-Luzerne) adding unconventional and larger conventional natural gas gathering lines to the PA One Call utility safety program.

At its October 17 meeting, the DEP Citizens Advisory Council will hear a presentation on the water quality impacts of the Conowingo Dam on the Susquehanna River now that its reservoir is no longer effective at stopping sediment from flowing into the Chesapeake Bay.

The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Tuesday announced $1 million in PennVEST-funded grants are being made available to assist landowners with planting trees along streams in Pennsylvania to improve water quality.  Grants are also available for snowmobile/ATV trails.

By Philadelphia Water Department Green City, Clean Waters Program

The Manada Conservancy is hosting a program on October 24 to unveil a new study estimating there is a $939.2 million annual economic return on investment in protecting and restoring the environment in Dauphin County.

The October edition of the green infrastructure newsletter is now available from LandStudies in Lancaster County featuring articles on--

By Donna Morelli, Chesapeake Bay Journal

The Pennsylvania Resources Council Monday sent a letter to all members of the Senate and House and to Gov. Tom Wolf urging them to take action to keep Pennsylvania’s $22.6 billion marketplace thriving as they compete work of the state’s budget.

Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful Thursday reported a 79 percent reduction of cigarette butts in targeted areas within State Parks participating in the 2017 Cigarette Litter Prevention Program.

Recyclebank, the incentive-based community recycling program, is now accepting applications for its Green Schools Program to provide funding for local green projects in schools in areas served by Recyclebank.

PA CleanWays of Cumberland County, in partnership with the Cumberland County Planning Department, will host a tire collection for County residents on October 21 in Carlisle.

The October newsletter is now available from the PA Resources Council featuring articles on--

The Environmental Quality Board will consider proposed permit review fee increases for the Noncoal (mineral) Mining Program and updates to the Storage Tank regulations required by recent federal changes at its October 17 meeting.

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice of the proposed RACT II Plan to reduce nitrogen and volatile organic compound emissions from the GE Transportation facility in Erie for comment (PA Bulletin, page 6277).

The work performed by the Public Utility Commission’s Pipeline Safety Division recently earned high marks in annual monitoring of state pipeline safety programs by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration.

The Sustainable Community Development Network of Pittsburgh will hold a special Reaffirming Environmental Rights For Pennsylvania Citizens Forum on October 11 about the recent PA Supreme Court ruling on the Environmental Rights Amendment in Pennsylvania’s Constitution.

The Pittsburgh Section of the American Society of Civil Engineers will hold its 9th Annual Sustainability Conference on November 16 at the August Wilson Center, 980 Liberty Avenue in Pittsburgh from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

The PA Environmental Council published its In Case You Missed It In September summary of actions and activities featuring stories on--

The Lacawac Sanctuary will hold a 5K-8K  Trail Run and Dog Walk on October 15 at the Sanctuary in Wayne County sponsored by Scartelli Olszeweki, P.C. and other partners.

The Morris Arboretum School of Arboriculture is hosting a Tree Canopy Conference: Green Infrastructure In The Urbanized Environment at Haverford College in Delaware County on October 13.

Harrisburg Bike Share Thursday launched its new program, sponsored by Highmark Blue Shield, that will provide all Harrisburg residents and visitors with a convenient, affordable and healthy way to get around town.

The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and the PA Recreation and Park Society are partnering to host a series of 6 regional workshops across the state in November for groups interested in applying for grants to support recreation and land conservation projects.

Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn Thursday joined Wrightsville Borough [York County] officials in touring a renovation project under way at the borough’s riverfront park, an effort hailed as a keystone in the borough’s revitalization and safe, expanded access to the Susquehanna River.

The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Thursday issued its third Fall Foliage Report show Northern Tier forest districts are at peak color in stands of red maple, cherry, and birch.

White-water boating enthusiasts once again will converge on Bucks County’s Tohickon Creek November 4 and 5, when the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources releases water from Lake Nockamixon into Tohickon Creek.

The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources is now accepting letters of interest for three PA Trails Advisory Committee appointments representing certain trail user groups: ATV Riding, Snowmobiling, and Walking.

The October 4 edition of the Resource newsletter is now available from the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources featuring articles on--

John Arway, Executive Director of the Fish and Boat Commission, wrote to members of the Senate and House Friday to share information about the fiscal health of his agency. 

Hawk Mountain Sanctuary in Berks County received a generous PPL Foundation grant to support its daily operations-- from global training and research to welcoming school groups.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt Wednesday announced the appointment of Cosmo Servidio of Pennsylvania to become regional administrator for Region 3 based in Philadelphia. 

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 Hearing Board published notice of final regulations changing its practice and procedure in the October 7 PA Bulletin.

CLICK HERE to Print The Entire PA Environment Digest. This Digest is 58 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.

2018 Keystone Coldwater Conference February 23-24 in State College.  Join PA Environment Digest in sponsoring this worthwhile Conference.

PA Environment Digest is a supporting member of the Pennsylvania Outdoor Writers Association, Pennsylvania Council Trout Unlimited and the Doc Fritchey Chapter Trout Unlimited.