The Department of Environmental Protection will start accepting applications for its Growing Greener Plus Grant Program on May 14.  The deadline for applications is July 13.  (formal notice)

The Department of Environmental Protection Tuesday announced approval of $55.6 million in federal funding to support at least 150 abandoned coal mine reclamation projects that will create new jobs, reduce health and safety risks, and improve the environment and outdoor recreation opportunities throughout Pennsylvania.

Thursday the Wolf Administration announced a new Driving PA Forward Grant/Rebate Program to replace older, polluting diesel engines with new technologies DEP estimates will cut nitrogen oxide emissions by up to 27,700 tons.  (formal notice)

Gov. Tom Wolf and PennDOT Secretary Leslie S. Richards Tuesday announced the approval of funding for 82 projects to improve transportation alternatives and enhance mobility and public accessibility across the Commonwealth.

On May 4, the PA Environmental Defense Foundation filed a motion with Commonwealth Court asking that $383 million in bonus and lease payments from natural gas drilling on state forest land be protected and spent only in accordance with the public trustee requirements of the PA Supreme Court’s June 20 decision.

The PA Parks and Forests Foundation Wednesday recognized its 2018 Award winners at a special dinner and reception at the Susquehanna Club in New Cumberland, near Harrisburg.  The winners include--

On Wednesday, the PA Parks and Forests Foundation recognized Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn with the Cliff Jones Keystone Legacy Award.

On April 30, Commonwealth Court issued an opinion in Clean Air Council v. Sunoco (Mariner East 2 Pipeline) agreeing to hear arguments on whether the Environmental Rights Amendment and its public trustee obligation as outlined by the PA Supreme Court in PA Environmental Defense Foundation v. Commonwealth applies to the pipeline project's eminent domain actions and requires Sunoco to consider the environmental impacts of the project.

The Delaware Riverkeeper Network Wednesday announced it has filed a Petition for a Writ of Mandamus against the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission in the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals seeking a court order that FERC issue a final response to the organization’s requests for rehearing on the PennEast Pipeline. 

A coalition of environmental groups led by PennFuture is launching the Green in ’18 campaign, a grassroots movement that aims to spur the gubernatorial candidates to prioritize environmental issues, while simultaneously supporting the first-ever Pennsylvania Common Conservation Agenda, developed by a coalition of 25 unified environmental groups across the state.

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--

Legislators from both parties are circulating co-sponsor memos urging their colleagues to sponsor legislation creating the Keystone Tree Fund checkoff.

The Tookany/Tacony-Frankford Watershed Partnership in Philadelphia and Montgomery counties will host the 7th Annual Watershed Milestones Ceremony on May 23 to honor this year’s award winners.

The Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology’s Water & Environmental Program received a grant from the Department of Environmental Protection to design and create a rain garden demonstration project.

PA American Water Monday announced the winners of its 16th Annual “Protect Our Watersheds” Art Contest, with a sixth-grade student from Pittsburgh scoring top honors.

The Wayne Highlands School District team called Spudsters from Honesdale High School are the overall winners of the 2018 Pike/Wayne Envirothon. Second place went to Enviro Freaks of Wallenpaupack Area School District.

James Meyers dipped his hand into the water of Elk Creek. With a roll of his wrist, fly line streamed from the reel in Garrett Winger's hand.

What’s an essential ingredient in brewing beer? Hops, yes. But so is clean water.

The Manada Conservancy, Keep PA Beautiful, the Greening the Lower Susquehanna and other partners will hold a Clean Up Mother Earth collection event on May 12 from 9:00 a.m.

Manheim Central High School students and their agriculture education instructor explored the health of their local stream in Lancaster County

After a successful inaugural campaign, Lancaster Water Week presented by the Lancaster County Conservancy is back for year two.

The Penn State Agriculture and Environment Center is partnering with Mount Joy Borough in Lancaster county to offer Stream Stewardship Workshop June 13 at the Milanof-Schock Library and June 20 at Little Chiques Park in Mount Joy.

The 9th Annual Choose Clean Water Conference will be held May 22-23 at the Marriott on Lancaster’s Penn Square.

Dominion Energy’s Environmental Education and Stewardship Grants Program awarded $22,500 to four projects in Pennsylvania as part of a $1 million initiative announced Thursday.

The Anthracite Region Independent Power Producers’ Association is again partnering with the Eastern and Western PA Coalitions for Abandoned Mine Reclamation to offer grants totaling $5,000 for local watershed reclamation projects.

In recognition of Earth Day, GIANT Food Stores donated 24 benches made from recycled plastic bags to Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful's Litter Free School Zone Program as part of GIANT’S ongoing Bags to Benches initiative.

The Department of Environmental Protection Friday announced the award of three grants to convert old paper maps of underground coal mines into electronic formats for use by the public, DEP and state and local governments.

The Northwest Regional Roundtable for DEP's Northwest Regional Office will meet on May 15 to discuss procedures for filing an environmental complaint and after-hours emergency response protocols.

The Chester Environmental Partnership in Delaware County announced Friday it has recognized five individuals with its 2018 CEP Annual Award.  They include--

Department of Environmental Protection will host a Keystone Energy Education Program (KEEP) workshop on May 17 at King’s Gap Environmental Education Center In Cumberland County for middle school teachers, administrators, and building managers to teach and track energy efficiency in school buildings and homes.

Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn joined Bureau of State Park officials Tuesday in the dedication of a solar panel at Fort Washington State Park in Montgomery County.

With a hotter-than-normal summer forecast, the PJM Interconnection Monday reported it has the resources available to meet the electricity demand and keep power flowing to the 65 million people it serves.

The U.S. Energy Information Administration Monday reported it expects 32 gigawatts of new electric generating capacity to come online in the U.S. in 2018-- 21 gigawatts of natural gas-fired generation (5.2 GW in Pennsylvania alone), 5 gigawatts of wind and 4 gigawatts of solar.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency marked Asthma Awareness Month by honoring leading asthma programs from across the country for their efforts to improve the lives of people with asthma in underserved communities.

By Joe Minott, Clean Air Council

By Donna Morelli, Chesapeake Bay Journal

Join the Delaware Highlands Conservancy and Lacawac Sanctuary for a free walk and workshop, “Money Grows On Trees,” on June 2 from 10:00 a.m. to Noon at the Lacawac Sanctuary in Lake Ariel, Wayne County.

Sen. John Yudichak (D-Luzerne) Tuesday kicked off his Senator Takes a Hike initiative to hike the entire 165-mile length of the Delaware & Lehigh Trail from Bucks to Luzerne County.

Department of Community and Economic Development Executive Deputy Secretary Scott Dunkelberger, Department of Conservation of Natural Resources Deputy Secretary for Conservation and Technical Services Lauren S. Imgrund, and Department of Transportation project manager April Hannon Thursday joined the Lackawanna Heritage Valley and local leaders for the ribbon cutting ceremony of the Carbondale Riverwalk, a new 1.5-mile trail that closes a critical gap in the 70-mile Lackawanna River Heritage Trail  system.

The Game Commission and the Department of Environmental Protection will webcast the banding of the Peregrine Falcon nestlings on the 15th Floor of the Rachel Carson Building in Harrisburg on May 14 starting at 11:00 a.m.

Gov. Tom Wolf Wednesday has honored Department of Environmental Protection Southwest regional counsel Mike Heilman with a Governor’s Award for Excellence for his efforts to protect clean air in Pennsylvania.

Gov. Tom Wolf Wednesday presented a Governor’s Award for Excellence to DCNR Ranger Jared Pierce from Nockamixon State Park who defused a dangerous situation threatening himself, lifeguards, and others in Bucks County.

On May 2 Robert F. Jondreau, Executive Director of the PA Resources Council, passed away suddenly.  He was 72. 

The Berks County Conservation District is seeking qualified candidates for a full-time Urban Resource Conservationist.  The deadline for applications is May 25.

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 - May 12, 2018

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Registration is now open for the 20th Anniversary PA Abandoned Mine Reclamation Conference to be held June 20-21 at the Ramada Inn & Conference Center in State College.  Join PA Environment Digest as a sponsor of this terrific Conference.