DCNR Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn Thursday told the House Appropriations Committee her agency will release its next report documenting the environmental impacts of drilling on state forest land by early summer.

Below is the budget testimony submitted by DCNR Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn to the House and Senate Appropriations Committees--

House and Senate budget hearings continue next week with these agencies on the schedule--

The PA Resources Council Thursday presented its third annual Zero Waste Events and Business Awards to 18 environmental leaders in recognition of their commitment to adopting sustainable environmental practices and diverting waste through recycling, composting and reuse.

By Donna Morelli, Chesapeake Bay Journal

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 Department of Environmental Protection Friday released a resource for understanding what landowners can do to work in or adjacent to streams impacted by flooding.

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the February 24 PA Bulletin announced revised instructions and form are available for Chapter 105 Water Obstruction and Encroachment General Permit Registrations for General Permits.

The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Delaware River Restoration Fund is now soliciting proposes to restore the water quality and habitats of the Delaware Watershed. Proposals are due April 12.

USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service-PA is now accepting applications for up to $225,000 in funding through the Conservation Innovation Grants to promote the development and adoption of innovative approaches for agricultural production in Pennsylvania.

By Will Parson, Chesapeake Bay Program Blog

The Slippery Rock Watershed Coalition in Butler County is seeking volunteers to collect watershed water quality data.

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

By David Kubarek, Penn State News

The Department of Environmental Protection published notices in the February 24 PA Bulletin announcing the opportunity to bid on projects plugging two abandoned oil and gas wells in Butler and Jefferson counties and an abandoned mine reclamation project in Butler County.

The Stroud Water Research Center and the Wildlands Conservancy will host a Citizen Science Volunteer Training Workshop on April 28 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. in Emmaus, Lehigh County.

The Department of Environmental Protection will host two Weathering The Storm Stormwater Education Workshops in Erie and Latrobe during June.  The workshops will be held--

The Department of Environmental Thursday released the first edition of its quarterly Teaching Green newsletter to help educators, students and parents discover workshops, online tools, curriculum materials, grants and other resources they may find help in teaching environment topics.

The Lehigh Valley-based Wildlands Conservancy Wednesday highlighted educational programs and activities in March, including--

The Chester County-based Stroud Water Research Center, which advances knowledge and stewardship of fresh water, is seeking funding for the new Bernard W. Sweeney, Ph.D., Executive Director's Fund to further community-empowerment programs regionally and around the world.

Join the PA Horticultural Society and The William Penn Foundation for the first-ever Philadelphia Water Summit on March 7 from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at the PA Convention Center, 12th and Arch Street in Philadelphia.

In celebration of National Drinking Water Week, Penn State Extension and the Department of Environmental Protection along with numerous other sponsors invite you to attend the 2018 Pennsylvania Groundwater Symposium May 8 at the Ramada Inn Conference Center in State College, Centre County.

The PA Section of the American Water Works Association is now accepting registrations for its 70th Annual Conference to be held May 8 to 10 at the Kalahari Resort and Convention Center at Pocono Manor, Monroe County.

The February 27 Water Insights Seminar will feature a presentation by Mike Nassry, an Ecological Engineer at Penn State’s Department of Geography, on Climate Change Impacts on Wetland Hydrology.

Jennifer Szweda Jordan and Unabridged Press will again host the Standup Sisters: Green Habits program on March 8 at St. Thomas More Church, 126 Fort Couch Road in Bethel Park, near Pittsburgh, from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.

The Environmental Quality Board published notice in the February 24 PA Bulletin of the opportunity to comment on proposed changes to regulations in Chapter 245 dealing with the Storage Tank and Spill Prevention Program. (PA Bulletin page 1101)

Jim Warner, CEO for the Lancaster County Solid Waste Management Authority, announced this week his plan to retire from the organization by end of year.

Butler County will hold Household Hazardous Waste and Electronics Waste Collection events on March 18 and April 22 (Earth Day) at 129 Ash Stop Road in Evans City, Butler County.

Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful Thursday announced BioHiTech has pledged support for the 2018 Great American Cleanup of PA, a statewide community improvement initiative that runs from March 1 through May 31.

The DEP Solid Waste Advisory Committee and Recycling Fund Advisory Committee are scheduled to hold a joint meeting on March 8 to discuss proposed changes to DEP’s Management of fill policy.

The Department of Environmental Protection will hold a meeting and hearing March 26 on the proposed response to TCE contamination of water supply wells in the Rose Valley Lake area of Gamble Township in Lycoming County. (PA Bulletin page 1219)

Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Patrick McDonnell Thursday officially closed the 2017 Small Business Advantage Grant, after approving nearly $1 million in funding to help reduce costs, energy consumption, and waste for 155 small businesses statewide.

The PA Recreation and Park Society will hold is 2018 Annual Conference March 27-30 at the Kalahari Resorts & Convention Centers in Pocono Manor, Monroe County.

Tucked in among farm fields and wooded areas in the Nippenose Valley in rural Lycoming County is a former red brick elementary school that is a great model of how to provide opportunities for seniors and young people to interact and stay healthy, and pull off a public-private partnership.

The Brodhead Watershed Association will host another in its series of Get Outdoors Poconos hikes on March 17 on the Ridge Nature Trail in the Cherry Valley National Wildlife Refuge in Monroe County.

Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn Wednesday announced newly renovated and replaced fire towers will be added to the Commonwealth’s wildfire fighting arsenal to support the Bureau of Forestry and volunteer fire company efforts answering forest fire calls across the state.

The Dauphin County Woodland Owners Association will host a Backyard Forestry Seminar March 17 at the Dauphin County Agricultural & Natural Resources Center located at 1451 Peters Mountain Road, Dauphin from 8:30 to

From 1933 to 1942, hundreds of thousands of unemployed men worked as part of the Civilian Conservation Corps in 151 camps throughout Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania's parks and forests offer a myriad of opportunities for engaging in outdoor recreation, quiet contemplation, and learning. Research shows that time spent outdoors improves human health.

The February 21 Resource newsletter is now available from the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources featuring articles on--

The Manada Conservancy in Dauphin County is now accepting entries to its Short Story Writing Contest.  The deadline for entries is May 15.

Auditor General Eugene DePasquale Tuesday announced the start of a performance audit of the Game Commission.

The Game Commission is asking the public for any information they have on bald eagle harassment by a drone at Goddard State Park in Mercer County. Please report tips on this incident to the NW Region Office: 814-432-3187 or to 1-888-PGC-8001.

The PA Association of Conservation Districts is seeking qualified candidates to fill a Conservation Engineer position in the Southwest Region based in Somerset providing engineering assistance to the Growing Greener Program and the Natural Resource Conservation Service.

The Lehigh Valley-based Wildlands Conservancy is seeking qualified candidates to fill seasonal naturalist positions to assist with environmental education programs.

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation-PA is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Director of Major Giving in Pennsylvania. The deadline to apply is March 2.  Click Here for all the details.

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 February 24 PA Bulletin of the opportunity to comment on proposed changes to regulations in Chapter 245 dealing with the Storage Tank and Spill Prevention Program. (PA Bulletin page 1101)  Click Here for more.

CLICK HERE to Print The Entire PA Environment Digest.  This Digest is 70 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:  PaEnviroDigest@gmail.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.