The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Friday released a midpoint assessment of efforts by Delaware, Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, the District of Columbia and federal partners to reduce nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment pollution to the Chesapeake Bay and its watershed.

The Department of Environmental Protection Wednesday announced it has issued administrative orders requiring three oil and gas companies-- Alliance Petroleum Corporation, XTO Energy Inc., and CNX Gas Company LLC-- to plug 1,058 abandoned conventional oil and gas wells across Pennsylvania.

The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Wednesday released its second report monitoring the environmental impacts of gas drilling on the 138,866 acres of State Forest land leased specifically for shale gas development.

Three environmental groups announced Friday they have reached a settlement agreement around the Mariner East 2 Pipelines with the Department of Environmental Protection.

The Department of Environmental Protection has available a new resource for understanding the permit and notification requirements affecting those working in or adjacent to streams impacted by flooding called Guidelines For Maintaining Streams In Your Community.

Pennsylvania’s first probable human case of West Nile Virus infection in 2018 has been detected in an Allegheny County resident. Samples are being sent to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for confirmatory testing.

The Department of Environmental Protection Friday announced it will conduct aerial treatments to control large populations of mosquito larvae on Monday, July 30 in parts of Cumberland, Dauphin and Lebanon counties affected by recent flooding.

The Department of Environmental Protection’s West Nile Virus Program website Friday listed positive surveillance sampling results in 8 more counties this week-- Elk, Fulton, Greene, Huntingdon, Indiana, Snyder, Somerset and Washington bringing the total to 48 counties with positive results.

The Public Utility Commission Friday encouraged homeowners and businesses impacted by recent flooding across the state to consider the following utility-related safety tips as they begin clean-up and recovery--

Gov. Tom Wolf Tuesday announced the U.S. Small Business Administration approved his request to declare a disaster in Allegheny and Westmoreland counties after significant flood damage to homes and businesses following severe storms in late June.

Gov. Tom Wolf late Wednesday announced the U.S. Small Business Administration approved his request to declare a disaster in Blair County after significant flood damage to homes and businesses after a severe storm on July 2, 2018.

With the recent heavy rainfall this week, green infrastructure is proving to have an obvious impact on flood reduction.

The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and the PA Infrastructure Investment Authority will be accepting grant applications starting August 1 through September 28 to help landowners install multifunctional riparian forest stream buffers.

The Department of Agriculture will begin accepting applications for the Resource Enhancement and Protection (REAP) farm conservation tax credit program on August 6. 

The U.S.D.A. Natural Resources Conservation Service-PA, in partnership with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation-PA, through USDA’s Regional Conservation Partnerships Program, has announced a second application cut-off date for fiscal year 2018 funding-- August 10.

On July 17 the Business Intelligence Group announced it has awarded Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens in Pittsburgh a Sustainability Leadership Award in the 2018 Sustainability Awards Program.

The Lacawac Sanctuary in Wayne County will honor 2 individuals and a company who have given tirelessly to Lacawac and its growth at the 3rd Annual Farm To Plate Dinner on August 11 at the Watres Lodge at the Lacawac Sanctuary, 94 Sanctuary Road in Lake Ariel, Wayne County.

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the July 28 PA Bulletin it has finalized the Policy For The Development And Publication Of Technical Guidance (DEP ID: 012-0900-001).

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 July Environmental Synopsis newsletter is now available from the Joint Legislative Air and Water Pollution Control and Conservation Committee featuring stories about--

Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Patrick McDonnell, Attorney General Josh Shapiro and leaders from the health and environmental communities Wednesday expressed their opposition to the Trump administration’s plan to weaken federal vehicle efficiency standards.

The PA Association of State Floodplain Managers will hold their Annual Conference September 18-19 at the Central Hotel & Conference Center in Harrisburg.

The Department of Environmental Protection Monday announced it has $1 million of grant funding available to Pennsylvania farmers and small business for pollution prevention, energy efficiency and natural resource protection projects through the Small Business Advantage grants.

The PA Association of Conservation Districts Thursday awarded nearly $43,000 for 26 pollution reduction projects in 26 counties.

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation-PA, Trout Unlimited-PA and Heroes On The Water-Central PA Chapter are partnering on a Veterans On The River Kayak Fishing Event August 25 at Shank's Mare Outfitters in Wrightsville, York County from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m.

The Department of Environmental Protection and its partners will hold a Weathering The Storm Workshop for Teachers on August 2 from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m at the Beaver County Conservation District Office, 156 Cowpath Rd in Aliquippa, Beaver County.

Janet Thomas is passionate about gardening and loves the rush of watching plants grow and bloom. A former manager of a community garden in upstate New York, Janet moved to Pittsburgh’s Hill District in 2015.

In Pennsylvania, many local jurisdictions are grappling with the complexities of stormwater and watershed restoration practices as they develop and implement Pollution Reduction Plans as part of their EPA National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) stormwater permit requirements. 

The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and the PA Association for Sustainable Agriculture are now accepting recipes for a Streams. Trees. Food. Cookbook to celebrate the diversity of native foods that can be found growing in multi-use riparian stream buffers.

Trout Unlimited and the U.S. Forest Service are hosting a Stream Simulation Design Approach for Providing Aquatic Organism Passage At Road-Stream Crossings Training Workshop on October 22-26 at the Toftrees Resort and Conference Center in State College.

Construction started recently on the $1.1 million private-public Milk Run abandoned mine drainage treatment project in North Fayette Township, Allegheny County.

The PA Sea Grant Program Friday announced it has received an $800,000 grant from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will support a two-year effort to control and prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species across Pennsylvania, with an emphasis on the Lake Erie Basin.

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the July 28 PA Bulletin of the opportunity to plug gas wells in Clearfield County.

The Academy of Natural Sciences Of Drexel University will host an Exploring Urban Ecology With The Academy on August 22 at The Academy of Natural Sciences, 1900 Benjamin Franklin Parkway in Philadelphia from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.

On July 12, Keep Norristown Beautiful in Montgomery County became the 14th Keep America Beautiful affiliate in Pennsylvania. The certification of this new affiliate marked the culmination of a public- private-civic partnership process that began in late 2017.

On Thursday, Clinton County CleanScapes Executive Director Elisabeth Lynch McCoy provided an update on CleanScapes recent activities in their July newsletter, including the 120th cleanup completed by the group since 2010.  Here’s her report--

The French Creek Valley Conservancy will hold its annual French Creek Cleanup on September 8 with a volunteer picnic at the Cochranton County Fair Grounds, 125 Pearl Street in Cochranton, Crawford County.

House Speaker Mike Turzai (R-Allegheny) will be teaming up with the Town of McCandless Police Department to host a free Prescription Drug Take Back Day on August 8 at the McKnight Elementary School/North Allegheny Intermediate parking lots at 500 Cumberland Road in Pittsburgh from 4:00 to 6:00  p.m.

The PA Resources Council Thursday released a copy of its 2017 Annual Report which highlights the Council’s accomplishments in litter prevention, household hazardous waste and hard-to-recycle collection events, zero waste services, watershed protection, education and much more.

Register now for the Northeast Recycling Council Fall Conference October 30-31 at the Sheraton Hartford South Hotel in Rocky Hill, Connecticut

The Department of Environmental Protection Thursday announced it has determined the Phase II Part B portion of Elcon Recycling Services, LLC’s commercial hazardous waste treatment and storage facility application in Falls Township, Bucks County to be administratively complete.

The DEP Air Quality Technical Advisory Committee is scheduled to meet on August 2 to discuss changes to Chapters 121 and 127 that would regulate volatile organic compounds and ammonia as precursors to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in Allegheny, Delaware and Lebanon counties.

Sustainable Pittsburgh will host a Workshop on Engaging Employees and Community For Lasting Change on August 16 at the Energy Innovation Center, Room 115, 1435 Bedford Avenue in Pittsburgh from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m.

The Public Utility Commission Friday reported consumers across the state have begun receiving savings on their utility bills – triggered by changes in federal tax rates – now valued at more than $400 million per year.

Bechtel Monday announced it has completed the Hummel Station Power Plant in Shamokin Dam, Snyder County for Panda Power Funds.

The PA Wilds Center for Entrepreneurship, Inc. Monday announced it has received a $32,800 grant from West Penn Power Sustainable Energy Fund to develop, produce, and distribute educational videos that showcase the deployment of sustainable energy technologies and their impact in the Pennsylvania Wilds region.

The Quaker Valley Council of Governments in Western PA is now conducting a statewide Municipal Solar Initiative Survey to estimate the interest and potential for aggregate solar purchasing.

According to a new report released Thursday by the PennEnvironment Research & Policy Center,  Pennsylvania has seen major increases in the amount of electricity it gets from the sun and wind since 2008, but the report shows that there’s still a long way to go for the state to become a national leader.

The Department of Health Monday announced it will offer free potassium iodide, or KI, tablets on August 9, to Pennsylvanians who live or work within 10 miles of the state’s five nuclear power plants.

The South Mountain Partnership Wednesday announced the completion of a strategic action plan that it will use from 2018 to 2021 to advance its efforts and help grow the partnership.

In celebration of the 50th anniversary of the National Trails and National Wild & Scenic Rivers systems in 2018, the National Park Foundation Friday announced 20 grants that will enhance the country's national trails and wild and scenic rivers and provide increased public access.

Do you enjoy swimming, paddling, fishing, or just simply soaking in the beauty of Pennsylvania’s lakes during the summer?

The Summer newsletter of the Foundation For Sustainable Forests is now available featuring two personal stories about how forest landowners are planting and sustaining their future--

The Lacawac Sanctuary Environmental Education Center in Wayne County was recently awarded a $10,000 grant from the Northeastern Pennsylvania Health Care Foundation for its Nature Connection Summer Camps: Summer experiences for Persons with Special Needs in Lackawanna, Luzerne and Wyoming Counties.

The July 25 issue of the Resource newsletter is now available from the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources featuring articles on--

The Hawk Mountain Sanctuary in Berks County invites visitors to watch and monitor the annual passage of raptor migrants as they move south during the Autumn Hawk Watch, held daily August 15 through December 15, at the Sanctuary’s famous North Lookout.

The Berks County Conservation District is seeking qualified candidates for an Urban Resource Conservationist position.  The deadline for applications is August 10.

The Chester County-based Brandywine Red Clay Alliance is seeking qualified candidates for a Watershed Conservation Director position. The deadline for applications is August 24.  Click Here for all the details and how to apply.

Sustainable Pittsburgh is seeking qualified candidates for an Executive Director position to help the organization implement a vision for Southwestern PA with a strong economy in which all people can live to their full potential, are engaged, and prosper within the means of a clean and healthy environment through sustainable development.

Here are NewsClips from around the state on all environmental topics, including General Environment, Budget, Marcellus Shale, Watershed Protection and much more.

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 highlights of actions taken by agencies on environmental regulations, technical guidance and permits.

CLICK HERE to View or Print the entire PA Environment Digest.  This Digest is 95 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 edited by David E. Hess, former Secretary Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.  He can be contacted by sending email 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.