The Northeast PA Environmental Partners Thursday  recognized the winners of their 2018 Environmental Leadership Awards, the Emerging Environmental Leader Award and the Thomas P. Shelburne Award at a special dinner in Wilkes-Barre

By: Andrew Johnson, William Penn Foundation

A new documentary by WITF-TV-- Generations Yet To Come: Environmental Rights In Pennsylvania-- traces the history of a Pennsylvania constitutional amendment that guarantees citizens the right to clean air and pure water.

Gov. Tom Wolf Wednesday signed into law bills limiting landowner liability for recreation, lead service line replacement, leaf waste composting exemption, expanding the responsibilities of DEP Agricultural Advisory Board and a one-stop business permitting center.  The bills include--

UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Climate Action and former New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg joined Pittsburgh Mayor William Peduto in West End Overlook Park Sunday to announce Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Boston, and Washington D.C. as the next round of winning cities for the Bloomberg American Cities Climate Challenge.

By John A. Arway, Executive Director, Fish & Boat Commission

On the strength of a commitment by all four Chairs of the House and Senate Game and Fisheries Committees, the Fish and Boat Commission Board of Commissioners Tuesday [July 10, 2018] deferred its decision from last fall to reduce spending by $2 million beginning in July 2018.

Secretary of Administration Sharon Minnich Wednesday announced the centralized grants management program, including DEP grants, is a winner of a 2018 Outstanding Achievement in the Field of Information Technology Award presented by the National Association of State Chief Information Officers.

The Department of Environmental Protection Friday announced the award of over $37.2 million in recycling implementation grants to 195 community recycling programs across the state.

DEP’s Solid Waste Advisory and Recycling Fund Advisory Committees will hold a joint meeting November 5 to review a final set of draft recommendations for changing and strengthening the Act 101 Municipal Waste Planning, Recycling and Waste Reduction Act.

The PA Parks and Forests Foundation is now accepting nominations for its 2019  awards program to recognize a state park, forest, or volunteer that exemplifies the best of the best.  Nominations are due December 17.

Hawk Mountain Sanctuary’s Director of Long-term Monitoring Dr. Laurie Goodrich was nominated and selected as the recipient of the Jerry Ligouri Conservation and Education Award at the 2018 Hawk Migration Association of North America Conference.

The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Thursday Fall Foliage Report found Fall colors continue to progress throughout the state, with vibrant color in the southern Pocono area extending toward the middle portion of the Commonwealth along the Appalachian Mountains.

The following bills were given final approval by the Senate and House and are now on the Governor's desk for action-- 

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 Joint State Government Commission Wednesday released a report on Pennsylvania’s Vehicle Emissions Testing Program that concluded removing individual or groups of counties from the testing requirement was not authorized under the federal Clean Air Act.

A video of the October 15 Joint House-Senate Legislative Air and Water Pollution Control and Conservation Committee Environmental Issues Forum on biogas and bioenergy from organic waste is now available.

Attorney General Josh Shapiro, with a coalition of 20 other Attorneys General and four major cities, Friday filed formal comments demanding the Trump Administration's U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration withdraw their proposal to roll back the country’s existing Clean Car Standards.

On Wednesday, the $6 billion America’s Water Infrastructure Act was signed into law.  The bill provides federal funding for inland waterways, locks, dams, flood protection, ecosystem restoration, drinking water systems, promotes hydropower, funds for wastewater projects and other water infrastructure sending it to the President for his action.

Gov. Tom Wolf Wednesday announced the U.S. Small Business Administration approved his request to declare a disaster in Schuylkill County after significant flood damage to homes and businesses was sustained due to severe storms July 21-27, 2018.

On October 18 the Schuylkill River Restoration Fund awarded $378,671 in grants to watershed improvement projects throughout the Schuylkill River Watershed.

The Blacklick Creek Watershed Association this year contacted Stream Restoration Inc. to see if funding for maintenance was available from the Passive Treatment Operation & Maintenance Technical Assistance Program for 5 passive mine drainage treatment systems in the Yellow Creek Project in Indiana County.

The Brodhead Watershed Association recently distributed more than 200 trees and seedlings within Monroe County as part of the PPL Community Roots Program. PPL Electric Utilities sponsored the free program to help create “a cleaner, greener future.”

The Center for Watershed Protection has put out a call for abstracts for its 2019 National Watershed and Stormwater Conference to be held April 29 to May 2 in Charleston, South Carolina and online. Proposals are due November 19.

The Department of Community and Economic Development Friday announced the award of 5 Community Development Block Grants totaling over $3 million to fund water and wastewater system and other community improvements. The water infrastructure funding includes--

Aqua America Inc., a regulated water and wastewater utility, Tuesday announced it will acquire Peoples Gas in an all-cash transaction that reflects an enterprise value of $4.275 billion, which includes the assumption of approximately $1.3 billion of debt.

The Susquehanna River Basin Commission will receive public comment at a hearing on November 1 on applications for one diversion of water and several water withdrawal and consumptive use projects as well as Commission-initiated project approval modifications.

By: Jennifer Matthews, Penn State News

The Department of Environmental Protection is now accepting applications for recycling implementation grants under Section 902 of Act 101, the Municipal Waste Planning, Recycling and Waste Reduction Act.  The deadline for applications is March 22.  (formal notice)

America Recycles Day, a Keep America Beautiful initiative, takes place annually on and around November 15 to recognize the benefits of recycling while providing an educational platform that helps raise awareness about the value of reducing, reusing and recycling – every day – throughout the year.

By: Marchella Verdi, Penn State News

Gov. Tom Wolf and his administration's Opioid Command Center, the Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs and State Police, encourage all Pennsylvanians to take part in the Drug Enforcement Administration’s 16th National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on October 27.

Clinton County CleanScapes and its partners will hold a Stewards Run Creek Cleanup on November 3 from 9:30 to 1:00 p.m. in Piatt Township, Lycoming County.

The Professional Recyclers of Pennsylvania are now accepting submissions for presentations at their 2019 Recycling & Organics Conference to be held July 24-26 in Harrisburg.

The Department of Environmental Protection will hold a public hearing November 28 to receive testimony from citizens on the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permit No. PA0027481, DEP proposes to issue to FirstEnergy Generation, LLC for discharges from the Bruce Mansfield Power Plant and associated Little Blue Run Impoundment in Beaver County.  (Oct. 27 PA Bulletin page 6927)

In response to a concern expressed by the Independent Regulatory Review Commission last week, the Department of Environmental Protection withdrew the final regulation adopting an increase in noncoal mining permit fees to return it to the Environmental Quality Board to add clarifying language.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Thursday announced it is working with local partners to raise awareness of EPA’s lead-based paint rules in Philadelphia neighborhoods.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Tuesday announced Global Home Improvements, Inc. (GHI) of Feasterville, Bucks County will pay a $28,000 penalty to resolve alleged violations of the lead-based paint Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP) Rule.

The Department of Environmental Protection will hold a public hearing, if requested, on the RACT II Air Quality Plan for the Tennessee Gas Pipeline compressor station in Jefferson Township, Mercer County. (Oct. 27 PA Bulletin pages 6889 and 6925.)

The Department of Transportation Friday announced the opening of its 13th compressed natural gas (CNG) fueling station at the Central Pennsylvania Transportation Authority in Gettysburg.

The Inlandsis Fund, established in Québec, and Vessels Coal Gas Inc., a Colorado-based firm, Tuesday announced they have entered into a long-term agreement to dramatically reduce the emissions of methane from the Cambria 33 mine.

The National Wildlife Federation Monday launched a new interactive story map showing where hurricanes, algal outbreaks, wildfires, droughts, and floods have hit in recent years across the United States, detailing how they’ve harmed local economies and wildlife.

By Will Dunn, Penn State News

The federal Appalachian Regional Commission has awarded a $50,000 grant to Eckley Miners’ Village in Luzerne County for the development of a strategic plan.

The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn Tuesday joined Bureau of State Parks officials in breaking ground for a new visitor center at Hickory Run State Park, near White Haven, Carbon County.

The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Thursday announced grant funding for two trail projects in Montgomery County: creating a 1-mile section of the Cross County Trail in Whitemarsh Township and a 3/4-mile segment of the Tookany Creek Trail in Cheltenham Township.

The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources this week announced grants from the Keystone Fund to support local recreation projects in Delaware and Indiana counties.

Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn Thursday joined conservancy, Bureau of Forestry officials and local legislators in a dedication ceremony celebrating the addition more than 1,500 acres to Pinchot State Forest in Luzerne County.

The PA Land Trust Association is now accepting proposals for workshops at the 2019 PA Land Conservation Conference set for May 16-18 at Skytop Lodge in Monroe County.  Proposals are due November 9.

The Countryside Conservancy Tuesday will open its newest property acquisition to the public, the 82-acre Gardner Spencer Preserve in Benton Township, Lackawanna County, with a “rugged ribbon cutting.”

The Game Commission Monday announced it is accepting public comment on preliminarily approved action to list as state endangered species three cave bats decimated by white nose syndrome, as well as change the status of three wild birds.

Whether you’re looking for a place to hunt, need a license or want an easy way to report your deer or turkey harvest, the Game Commission’s new mobile-device app is a one-stop shop that’s loaded with information hunters and trappers need most.

The Sustainable Pittsburgh Board of Directors Tuesday named Joylette Portlock, Ph.D. as the organization’s new Executive Director following a national search.

The Susquehanna River Basin Commission is seeking qualified candidates to fill the position of Policy and Legislative Director.  The deadline to apply is November 25.

PennFuture is seeking qualified candidates to fill the position of Clean Water Advocacy Campaign Manager based in Philadelphia.

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 87 pages long.

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