On January 1, Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati (R-Jefferson) used his remarks opening the new 2019-20 legislative session to warn of significant challenges ahead for this year’s state budget.

On January 2, the House Speaker named Daryl Metcalfe (R-Butler) as the new Republican Chair of the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee.

On January 3, Rep. Keith Gillespie (R-York), the returning Republican Chair of the House Game and Fisheries Committee, said he's ready to "take another swing" at moving legislation to allow the Game and Fish and Boat Commissions to set their own fees.

On January 3, Rep. Kathy Rapp (R-Warren), the Republican Chair of the House Health Committee, said she would be making legislation requiring health insurers to cover treatment plans for Lyme Disease or related tick-borne illnesses a priority-- House Bill 174 from last session.

On January 2, Senators Tom Killion (R-Delaware) and Andy Dinniman (D-Chester) announced they will introduce a comprehensive legislative package aimed at reforming Pennsylvania’s pipeline regulatory process to improve safety at schools and in local neighborhoods and communities.

The Commonwealth Financing Authority will begin accepting applications for grants funded by Act 13 drilling impact fees for watershed restoration, abandoned mine drainage abatement, baseline water quality data, orphaned or abandoned well plugging, sewage facilities, flood mitigation programs and recreation on February 1. 

The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources will begin accepting applications January 22 for local land conservation, recreation, riparian buffer project grants under the Community Conservation Partnership Grant Program. 

On December 31, the Fish and Boat Commission announced recent surveys by Commission biologists concluded the Susquehanna River is home to a healthy, abundant population of smallmouth bass and channel catfish.

The Commonwealth Financing Authority is now accepting applications for its High Performance Building and Renewable Energy Grant Programs throughout 2019. 

StateImpact Pennsylvania will host a public forum on The Future Of Energy: Can We Get To Zero Carbon? on January 29 at the Energy Innovation Center, 1435 Bedford Avenue in Pittsburgh from 6:15 to 8:30.

On January 3, Gov. Tom Wolf, Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding, members of the American Dairy Association Northeast and Land O'Lakes unveiled the 2019 PA Farm Show butter sculpture-- "Find Your Power - Choose PA Dairy."

House and Senate Co-Sponsorship Memos

On January 2, the Department of Revenue reported Pennsylvania collected $2.9 billion in General Fund revenue in December, which was $70.1 million, or 2.5 percent, more than anticipated.

The January newsletter from the Joint Legislative Air and Water Pollution Control and Conservation Committee is now available featuring articles on--

On January 3 and 4, the Department of Environmental Protection announced the award of 6 Growing Greener Grants to install a riparian buffers and stabilize a stream bank in Beaver County, reduce sediment and nutrient pollution in Bradford County and reduce stormwater runoff pollution in Dauphin County.

The Monroe and Pike Conservation Districts will host a 2019 NPDES The Big Picture Workshop on February 5 and 6 at Keystone Hall and Gallery, Room 202, Northampton Community College - Monroe Campus, 2411 Rte. 715 in Tannersville.

The Department of Environmental Protection is inviting public comments on a new proposed Soil Erosion and Sedimentation Control Manual for Agricultural Operations in the January 5 PA Bulletin.

Registration is now open for the DCNR and Western PA Conservancy Riparian Forest Buffer Summit on February 20-21 at the Best Western Premier Conference Center, 800 East Park Drive in Harrisburg.

The Stroud Water Research Center and Farm Credit in Chester County will host a January 17 showing of Lay Of The Land: Healthy Soil, Healthy Water documentary about local Pennsylvania farmers sharing their experiences of how best management practices improve their bottom line and improve water quality.

The Hilltop Urban Farm, a 23-acre urban farm nonprofit in the City of Pittsburgh, is accepting applications from experienced urban farmers to farm 5.75 rehabilitated urban acres under its 2019 Pilot Farmer Incubation Program.

On January 3, the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority announced its Community Lead Response Program replaced 2,048 water service lines made of lead in 2018, surpassing DEP’s replacement goal by 565 lines

The Department of Environmental Protection is now accepting applications for reimbursements under the Municipal Waste and Hazardous Waste Facility Host Municipality Inspector Programs for the 2018 calendar year.  The deadline for applications is March 31.  (Jan. 5 PA Bulletin, page 73)

As 2018 comes to a close, the PA Resources Council would like to thank all of its supporters, patrons and partners for contributing to their work of protecting Pennsylvania's natural resources.

The In Case You Missed It In December newsletter is now available from the PA Environmental Council featuring stories on--

On January 2, the departments of Environmental Protection and Health encouraged Pennsylvanians to start off the new year by conducting a simple test of their homes for radon, a naturally occurring radioactive gas that is the second leading cause of lung cancer.

On January 3, the Public Utility Commission announced the PA One Call Damage Prevention Committee this month filed disciplinary action against 42 facility owners, excavators and project owners during its second meeting in Harrisburg.

On January 4, Adelphia Gateway, LLC announced the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission staff issued its Environmental Assessment for the Adelphia Gateway Pipeline Project recommending the FERC Certificate Order for the Project contain a finding of no significant environmental impact.

The Cumberland Valley Chapter of Trout Unlimited is now accepting applications for the 25th Anniversary Rivers Conservation and Fly-Fishing Youth Camp to be held June 16-21 for boys and girls between 14 and 17. 

On January 3, the PA Historical and Museum Commission announced it is now accepting applications from nonprofit organizations and local governments for the Keystone Historic Preservation Grant Program.  The deadline for applications is March 1.

On January 3, the Department of Health and the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health selected 11 communities to receive grants to assist with the development of active transportation plans and policies promoting walking and biking.

The organizers of the 2019 PA Greenways and Trails Summit to be held September 22-24 at the Conference Center at Shippensburg University have issued a call for presentation proposals.

On January 7, the Game Commission's Howard Nursery will start accepting online orders for tree and shrub seedlings from landowners to help improve game habitat.

Penn State Extension, in partnership with DCNR's Bureau of Forestry, Division of Forest Health will hold the 38th Annual Forest Health, Inspect and Disease Briefing on March 19 at the Penn Stater Hotel and Conference Center in State College from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

The Penn State Center For Private Forests and other partners will host the 4th Biennial Forest Landowners Conference March 22-23 with the theme of Working Woods For Today And Tomorrow at the Penn Stater Hotel and Conference Center in State College.

Forest stewardship in the Upper Delaware River Region can help to mitigate the effects of a changing climate and save landowners time and money, according to a report issued by the Pinchot Institute for Conservation.

A new report released by The Nature Conservancy in November examines the country’s potential to implement natural solutions-- such as growing taller trees, improving soil health, protecting grasslands and restoring coastal wetlands-- to increase carbon storage and reduce greenhouse gas pollution.

The Western Pennsylvania Conservancy recently protected a total of 490 acres in 4  different transactions in Allegheny, Cameron, Fayette, Mercer and Somerset counties.

The PA Municipal Authorities Association recently named Jennie Shade Director of Government Relations who is responsible for the Association’s statewide government relations services.

Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful is seeking qualified candidates to fill a full-time Development and Marketing Manager based in Greensburg, Westmoreland County to work in partnership with the Executive Director and Director of Programs to oversee the organization’s overall development and marketing strategies.  The deadline for applications is January 27.  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 69 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 proud to be a sponsor of the 2019 PA Abandoned Mine Reclamation and National Abandoned Mine Lands Program Conference to be held in Pittsburgh on September 8-11.

PA Environment Digest is a supporting member of the Pennsylvania Outdoor Writers Association, Pennsylvania Council Trout Unlimited and the Doc Fritchey Chapter Trout Unlimited.