The winners of three Achievement Awards for Conservation, Youth Mentoring and Humanitarianism were announced by the Eastern Sports & Outdoor Show this week. All three winners are from Pennsylvania.

The Village at Springbrook Farms development in Lebanon County is a good example of what is possible when a township that takes a long term view works with a developer willing to innovate.

The Department of Environmental Protection confirmed this week levels of total dissolved solids, or TDS, in the Monongahela River have dropped and remain well below state and federal guidelines. In October, DEP told wastewater plants to no longer accept wastewater from natural gas drilling operations for treatment.

The PA Chapter of The Nature Conservancy is now accepting nominations for a new Investing In Nature Awards Program to recognize the exemplary initiatives by businesses in Pennsylvania which take significant measures to achieve tangible, lasting conservation results.

The State Conservation Commission this week approved revised guidelines and the application for the sale or transfer of the Resource Enhancement and Protection Tax Credits (REAP) for farm conservation projects.

American Farmland Trust has issued nine farm and food policy recommendations to help guide the Obama administration towards implementing a progressive farm, food, energy and environment agenda.

McAuley Ministries, the new grant-making arm of the Pittsburgh Mercy Health System, has given out its first grant... and the recipient is the YMCA of Greater Pittsburgh. The $500,000 grant will help fund the construction of a green rooftop terrace for the new Thelma Lovette YMCA in the Hill District.

Pennsylvania American Water is now accepting entries for its Seventh Annual Protect Our Watersheds Art Contest.The deadline for submissions is February 20.

The PA Lake Management Society will hold its annual conference, this year with the theme of "Looking Beyond the Water's Edge," on February 25-26 in State College.

On March 22-25 in Baltimore a special conference will be convened on Ecosystem Based Management: The Chesapeake And Other Systems.

Lehigh Valley Water Suppliers and their partners will again be sponsoring HydroMania, an educational program for third and fourth grade students at Cedar Crest College in Allentown.

The Pennsylvania Chapter of the American Water Works Association will hold its annual conference in Pittsburgh May 5-7. The Chapter has also released its schedule of training workshops for the coming months.

Lardner's Point Park in Philadelphia is set to receive $500,000 in funding to clean up its industrial shoreline, restore public access and create natural habitat as a result of the Delaware River Athos Oil Spill Mitigation Project.

Pennsylvania’s first Statewide Environmental Justice Conference will be held April 26-28 in Harrisburg. Scholarships are available for Pennsylvania residents and members of grassroots and community organizations in environmental justice areas to promote attendance.

The Green Building Alliance in Pittsburgh this week announced a total of $240,000 in Product Innovation Grants for five Pennsylvania projects that seek to develop and introduce new and enhanced green building products.

he Green Building Alliance in Pittsburgh is now accepting applications for Product Innovation Grants. Applications are due April 3. In addition, GBA will also accept Idea Forms for comment submitted by February 20.

The Green Building Alliance in Pittsburgh will hold the 2009 Green$ense Conference on March 31 in Pittsburgh, this year with the theme, "Beyond Buildings."

The PA Chamber of Business and Industry will host its annual Environmental and Energy Conference and Trade Show in Lancaster on April 7-8.

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff will solicit public comments at two meetings on January 28 regarding its preliminary conclusion that there are no environmental impacts that would preclude a 20-year extension of the operating license for the Three Mile Island 1 nuclear power plant.

As Pennsylvania and the nation seek alternative sources of energy, the Game Commission has released its first annual report on the results of the voluntary agreement between the agency and 20 wind energy companies who have vowed to avoid, minimize and mitigate impacts on wild birds and mammals in the Commonwealth.

Expressing growing optimism, Game Commission Executive Director Carl G. Roe this week announced the agency was taking final steps this week to fully implement its electronic license sale system, commonly referred to as "point-of-sale."

More than 50 scientists and researchers with intimate knowledge of Pennsylvania's flora, fauna, and ecosystems have signed a letter to the state's Congressional delegation endorsing the Citizens' Wilderness Proposal for Pennsylvania¹s Allegheny National Forest.

The Governor's Advisory Council for Hunting, Fishing and Conservation is seeking qualified candidates to fill an upcoming vacancy on the board of the Fish and Boat Commission in District One, which includes Erie, Crawford, Mercer, Lawrence, Venango, Butler, Warren, Forest and Clarion counties.

The ClearWater Conservancyi s seeking individuals to fill three positions related to the Millbrook Marsh Nature Center in State College.

If you are interested in helping wildlife in your own backyard, beginning January 26, the Game Commission will be selling bluebird nesting boxes at its Harrisburg headquarters at 2001 Elmerton Avenue.

By Joe Kosack, Wildlife Conservation Education Specialist, Game Commission