Over 115 people attended the Lancaster Clean Water Partners meeting Wednesday as they released a draft Strategy For Restoring Our Local Water Quality to cleanup up 11 million pounds of pollution going into streams all over Lancaster County.

Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Patrick McDonnell Wednesday took a tour of 2 Wyoming County farms to illustrate how agriculture and conservation can work hand-in-hand to prevent pollution from flowing into the Susquehanna River.

By: B.J. Small, Chesapeake Bay Foundation-PA

Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn and the PA Urban and Community Forestry Council, Monday announced the approval of $100,000 in funding through the TreeVitalize Program to support 25 tree planting, community forestry, and urban riparian buffer projects statewide.

By: David M. Sanko, Executive Director, PA State Association of Township Supervisors

The October issue of PA Township News highlights the impact China’s ban on certain recycled materials has had on local recycling programs.

Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn Friday joined Bureau of State Parks officials in dedicating an electric car charging station at Prince Gallitzin State Park.

Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn Wednesday joined officials from the Department of General Services and Bureau of State Parks in highlighting major energy efficient upgrades at Ohiopyle State Park’s visitor center.

Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn Wednesday recognized Boy Scout Peter Livengood with a Conservation Award for projects he organized in and around Ohiopyle State Park in Fayette County.

On September 27, local nonprofits, municipalities and other officials celebrated the 25th Anniversary of the Keystone Fund and its support of local recreation, land conservation, university and other projects in Clinton County.

The Stroud Water Research Center in Chester County will recognize American Rivers and its CEO Bob Irvin with the Freshwater Excellence Award at its Water's Edge gala on November 29 at the Winterthur Museum, Garden and Library in Winterthur, Delaware.

The Senate Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee Tuesday heard from a series of presenters covering issues related to invasive and native species.

The Department of Agriculture published notice of a Rabies General Quarantine Order under the state Domestic Animal Act covering domestic animals in the October 6 PA Bulletin.

Above-average temperatures last week slowed the foliage transition throughout the Commonwealth, according to the latest Fall Foliage Report from the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources

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

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--

Senators John Rafferty (R-Montgomery), Andy Dinniman (D-Chester) and Tom Killion (R-Delaware) recently announced plans to introduce bipartisan legislation requiring the Department of Environmental Protection to develop clear pipeline siting guidelines and permit conditions to reduce the dangers associated with new natural gas-related pipeline construction.

Rep. James Santora (R-Delaware) Wednesday introduced bipartisan legislation-- House Bill 2681-- to authorized community solar electric generating systems.

POSTPONED-The House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee is scheduled to hold a meeting October 9 to consider Senate Bill 138 (Yaw-R-Lycoming) providing oil and gas royalty interest landowners access to records of drilling companies to verify proper payment of royalties (sponsor summary).

On October 4, GIANT Food Stores and Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful held a volunteer tree planting event at Kings Gap Environmental Center in Cumberland County as part of  GIANT's program to help customers reduce their carbon footprint.

Keep America Beautiful and Anheuser-Busch Wednesday announced the award of 10 grants totaling $95,000 as part of its Watershed Grants Program.  The grants were awarded to--

On October 16 from Noon to 1:00 p.m., Penn State Extension will host a webinar on the Role Community Forest Managers Can Play In MS4 Stormwater Pollution Reduction.

The York County Master Watershed Stewards will host a Rain Barrel Workshop on October 18 at the Penn State Extension Office, 112 Pleasant Acres Road in York from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m.

A Pike County Conservation District $500 Environmental Education Grant recently supported an invasive species sampling project conducted by students in the Wallenpaupack High School Environmental Club.

By: Megan Lehman, DEP Northcentral Regional Office

The Delaware RiverKeeper Thursday announced the videos of presentations and panel discussions from the 2018 Schuylkill River Watershed Congress are now available.  They  include--

The PA Association for Sustainable Agriculture and Penn State University will host the 2018 Northeast Cover Crops Council Conference on November 15-16 at the Ramada Hotel and Conference Center in State College.

The PA Association for Sustainable Agriculture will host two Alternative Land Access - Taking Over An Established Farm Business Workshops in October--

The first Penn State Water Insights Seminar of the series will be held on October 9 on the topic of using sensors to map cover crop biomass nitrogen content, soil texture and soil organic matter.

The Appalachian Regional Reforestation Initiative 2018 Mined Land Reforestation Conference took place August 8-9 at Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the October 6 PA Bulletin Trout Unlimited has requested Good Samaritan Program status for a passive abandoned mine drainage treatment project in Knox Township, Clearfield County. (PA Bulletin page 6457)

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

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the October 6 PA Bulletin a final, updated general permit covering Oil and Gas Development Erosion and Sedimentation Control (ESCGP-3) is now available for use.

The Professional Recyclers of PA will be offering Recycling Professional Certification Courses in October.  The courses will include--

With the history of a highly successful statewide brownfields program, Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Patrick McDonnell Tuesday encouraged attendees at the 2018 Pennsylvania Brownfields Conference to continue to work with state government to look for innovative ways to remediate industrial land.

Almono LLC has issued a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for the first phase of development at Hazelwood Green brownfield redevelopment project in Pittsburgh.  Proposals are due November 19.

The PennEnvironment Research & Policy Center is releasing a new guide to help Pennsylvanians conserve energy and reduce wasted energy in their homes and businesses.

The Public Utility Commission Thursday announced personnel from its Gas Safety Division are being deployed to Massachusetts to provide ongoing assistance in the aftermath of the September 13 natural gas line explosions in the state’s Merrimack Valley.

Williams Pipeline Company Thursday reported the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has approved the Company’s request to place its Atlantic Sunrise Pipeline into full service. The Company plans to place the project into full service on October 6, 2018.

CEOs for Sustainability, a program of Sustainable Pittsburgh, will host a Partnering With Suppliers For A Competitive Edge Speaker Series event on October 24 at the Energy Innovation Center, 1435 Bedford Avenue in Pittsburgh from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m.

Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn Thursday announced grant investments totaling more than $600,000 for two projects that link natural resources to community revitalization and improve well-being for residents.

Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn Thursday visited Brentwood, Allegheny County, to announce the Wolf Administration’s investment in a newly refreshed community swimming pool.

Gov. Tom Wolf Tuesday announced 42 highway, bridge, transit, ports and waterways, and bike and pedestrian projects will be in line for $49 million in funding through the Multimodal Transportation Fund.

The leaves are beginning to change color. There’s a cool, crispness in the air. Fall is here! And it’s the perfect time to get outdoors and enjoy Pennsylvania’s wondrous natural places.

The PA Parks and Forests Foundation Monday announced the release of “Pennsylvania Parks and Forests - 125 Years of Preservation and Investment” online story map in celebration of the 125th anniversary of state parks and forests in the Commonwealth.

The October 3 issue of the Resource newsletter is now available from the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources features stories on--

The Brandywine Conservancy has partnered with the PA Equine Council, along with Natural Lands and Willistown Conservation Trust, to offer two Trail Stewardship Workshops in Chester County during October.

The Brodhead Watershed Association will host 2 hikes in October, one part of the Get Outdoors Poconos series and the second a Water Wiser Kids event.

Scranton and Wilkes-Barre personal injury law firm Scartelli Olszewski, P.C. will be a title race sponsor for Lacawac Sanctuary’s 5th Annual Lake to Lake 8K Trail Run and Family/Dog Woods Walk to be held on October 14 at the Sanctuary in Wayne County.

The Manada Conservancy in Dauphin County is now offering a Gardening for Nature Landscape Design Service to help property owners choose the right native plants to not only enjoy through the seasons, but to support wildlife and pollinators.

Insurance Commissioner Jessica Altman and Acting State Police Commissioner Lt. Colonel Robert Evanchick Thursday reminded drivers this is the time of year drivers are most likely to be involved in a deer-related crash, noting total crashes, as well as those involving injuries and those resulting in fatalities, rose in 2017.

The PA Outdoor Writers Association’s Board of Directors Monday announced the appointment of Paula Piatt as the organization’s new executive director.

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation-PA is seeking qualified candidates to fill 2 Program Educator positions for the PA Student Leadership Field Education Program.

The Delaware County Planning Department is seeking qualified candidates for an Open Space and Trail Manager position.  Click Here for all the details.

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 99 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.