The PA Resources Council Tuesday announced the winners of the 2018 Environmental Leadership Awards-- Wawa, Philadelphia Media Network, LLC, Eldredge, Inc. and the Falk School of Sustainability & Environment, Chatham University.

The Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay will recognize four environmental leaders at its annual Taste Of The Chesapeake Awards dinner on  September 13 in Annapolis.

Pennsylvania residents Monday learned how conservation and farming can work hand-in-hand to improve soil and water quality, wildlife habitat, and farm animal health during a tour of a Lycoming County farm held by the Department of Environmental Protection.

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation Friday filed a motion to intervene in a federal lawsuit that may determine whether Exelon Corporation, the owner of the Conowingo Dam, must contribute to clean up pollution problems related to the dam.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service  and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Tuesday announced the launch of the Delaware Watershed Conservation Fund, a competitive grant and technical assistance program of $4.3 million that will provide new support for the protection, restoration and conservation of fish and wildlife habitats in the Delaware River Watershed.

The Department of Environmental Protection will be accepting applications for the next round of Coastal Zone Grants from August 13 to October 15. (formal notice)

The Environmental Quality Board is scheduled to meet on August 21 and high on its agenda is providing stable and sustainable funding to support Pennsylvania’s water quality protection programs.

Pennsylvania’s original Growing Greener Program was signed into law as Act 68 in December, 1999 and next year it will celebrate its 20th anniversary.

John Dawes, executive director of the Foundation for Pennsylvania Watersheds Monday said  he is heartened by Congress’ support for funding for a federal program that supports cleanup project in coal communities.

The Department of Environmental Protection Monday announced it has assessed a $148,000 penalty against Sunoco Pipeline LP for violations of the Clean Streams Law and Dam Safety and Encroachment Act that occurred during the construction of the Mariner East 2 pipeline in Berks, Chester, and Lebanon counties.

On August 3, the PA Supreme Court ordered Commonwealth Court to rehear a challenge to a  zoning permit allowing shale gas drilling in Middlesex Township, Butler County specifically on the grounds of whether it is consistent with that Court’s Environmental Rights Amendment decision in 2017.

The year-long series of special events to recognize Loyalsock Creek as the 2018 Pennsylvania River of the Year heads to the Endless Mountains at Worlds End State Park in Sullivan County on August 25 for the day-long Worlds End Day! celebration.

The public is invited to attend a free ceremony on August 15 where the annual Greenways Awards will be presented by the Council on Greenways and Trails in Clarion, Crawford and Venango counties.

Smoke from the wildfires burning in California and other Western states is beginning to show up in the upper atmosphere over Pennsylvania and other areas of the East Coast, but it’s too soon to tell whether it will have an impact on our air quality.

The Department of Environmental Protection West Nile Virus website reported Friday positive sampling results in 4 new counties, including-- Armstrong, Butler, Crawford and Venango.  This brings the total to 56 out of 67 counties.

The Department of Agriculture, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and Penn State Extension Monday provided an update on their work to control the spread of the Spotted Lanternfly-- an invasive insect that has the potential to seriously impact the tree-fruit, grape, and timber industries, which are collectively worth nearly $18 billion to the state's economy.

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 U.S. Department of Agriculture Monday released a comprehensive, three-year action plan that outlines its priorities and goals for using current and future Farm Bill conservation programs to help agricultural producers improve the water quality and overall health of the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

By Donna Morelli, Chesapeake Bay Journal 

Trout Unlimited is pleased to announce a new technical assistance program which aids watershed organizations, conservation districts, townships, TU chapters, and others in Pennsylvania’s portion of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed.

The Forests For The [Chesapeake] Bay Program is now accepting nominations for the 2018 Chesapeake Forest Champions Awards.  The deadline for entries is August 31.

By Rebecca Lessner

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the August 11 PA Bulletin of an opportunity to bid on a mine reclamation project in Washington County.

Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful invites all educators to check out their Litter Free School Zone Program for the coming school year.

Emerging Erie 2030 District will host an August 16 Energy Efficiency Workshop at the Nash Library, Gannon University, 619 Sassafras Street in Erie from 3:00 to 4:30 p.m.

Gov. Tom Wolf Friday announced new funding to the Riverside School District in Lackawanna County for significant energy efficiency and facility upgrades to several buildings within the district.

Penn State Extension is hosting a Webinar on August 23 on the Form, Function and Impact of Marcellus Shale Landowner Coalitions from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m.

Gov. Tom Wolf Thursday announced new funding to construct a coal cleaning plant accessible by a new rail line in Shade Township, Somerset County.

“Climate Change and Conservation: Is It Getting Hot in Here?” will be presented on August 25 at 5:30 p.m., at Gifford Pinchot’s Grey Towers National Historic Site, Milford, Pike County, by Dr. Anthony A. Serine, Associate Professor of Biology at Misericordia University.

The state Agricultural Land Preservation Board Friday preserved 2,303 acres on 30 farms in 16 counties for agricultural production.

By Amy Duke, Penn State News

The South Mountain Partnership will hold the second in its 2018 Speakers Series on August 16 on Save The Bounty Of Our Counties: Preserving Produce With The Gleaning Project Of South Central PA.

The August 8 issue of the Resource newsletter is now available from the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources featuring articles on--

The 18-acre Soldiers Field in Mount Gretna, Lebanon County was the annual encampment and training ground for the Pennsylvania National Guard between 1885 and 1935, before the Guard moved to Fort Indiantown Gap.

By Matteo Moretti

By David Kinney, TU Eastern Policy Director

The 2018 Pennsylvania One Health Forum is the inaugural meeting for veterinarians; public health physicians; ecologists; biologists; environmental professionals; and professionals with an interest in the well-being of humans, animals, plants and the environment.

The National Parks Conservation Association is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Pennsylvania and Delaware Program Manager.

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 79 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.