Matthew Ehrhart, Executive Director of Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s Pennsylvania office, released this statement after completing a preliminary review of the Department of Environmental Protection’s draft Watershed Implementation Plan designed to reduce nutrients and sediment in Pennsylvania streams going to the Chesapeake Bay.

Key Democratic House members, sportsmens and environmental groups, county conservation districts and other organizations urged the General Assembly to follow through with their commitment to adopt a Marcellus Shale natural gas production severance tax by October 1 at a news conference on Monday.

The PA Association of Conservation Districts recently encouraged state legislators to vote in favor of a severance tax in PA to help all conservation districts across the state maintain their environmental protection programs. 

Trout Unlimited and its Pennsylvania Council urge Pennsylvania's General Assembly to pass a severance tax on gas drilling that would provide funding to help protect the state's natural resources from the environmental impacts of gas drilling. 

A proposed severance tax on the natural gas industry could help to continue Pennsylvania's investments in important conservation and recreation projects well into the future, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary John Quigley said this week while addressing citizens and local officials committed to protecting the state's natural resources.

A severance tax on natural gas extraction in Pennsylvania would add to the operating costs of gas drilling companies, but the resulting increase in state revenue would yield positive results for the state's economy and population, according to a new report by two researchers at Penn State.

Faced with only three weeks of voting session until the Senate adjourns for the year, House Democrats attempted to get organized this week by having a lively caucus to discuss adoption of a Marcellus Shale natural gas production severance tax and a transportation funding proposal.

The Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee meets September 22 to consider bills authorizing urban stormwater project funding and an electronics recycling program. The bills include--

The Department of Environmental Protection this week issued a drought warning for 24 Pennsylvania counties and a drought watch for the remaining 43 counties as precipitation deficits continued to build statewide according to Environmental Protection Secretary John Hanger.

Gov. Rendell said he was "appalled" to learn this week a contractor for his Office of Homeland Security had identified some opponents of Marcellus Shale drilling as possible domestic terrorists and distributed that information to Marcellus Shale gas drilling companies.

On September 27 the Senate Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee will hold a public hearing to dig more deeply into the controversial no-bid contract state government had with The Institute of Terrorism Research and Response.

The State Conservation Commission has approved the review of eligible applications for the Resource Enhancement and Protection (REAP) farm conservation tax credits and approved all $4.5 million in credits available for FY 2010-11 fiscal year.

The Paxton Creek Watershed and Education Association and its partners are sponsoring a Stormwater Infiltration-Retrofit Workshop and Field Visit on September 25 at the Giant Superstore Community Center, 2300 Linglestown Road in Susquehanna Township near Harrisburg between 8:30 am-noon.  

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation, in cooperation with the International League of Conservation Photographers, is now hosting "The Chesapeake Bay... Something To R.A.V.E. About" as an online and in-person exhibit of photographs.

The September 21 Penn State Agriculture and Environment Center Riparian Buffer and Stream Ecology Workshop in Elizabethtown is postponed due to a death in the family of the primary presenter.  The workshop will be rescheduled for another time.

At an event that brought together the American Lung Association, heating oil dealers from Southeastern Pennsylvania, environmental groups, biodiesel producers and other stakeholders, Sen. Ted Erickson (R-Delaware) this week outlined his pro-environment, pro-jobs and pro-consumer proposal that would dramatically reduce sulfur content in home heating oil in Pennsylvania and require the oil to contain a biodiesel blend.         

Attorney General Tom Corbett has joined the Drug Enforcement Administration and other local law enforcement officials from across the state in support of the nationwide prescription drug take-back day efforts.

The PA Association of Environmental Educators, Department of Environmental Protection and other partners are sponsoring No Student Left Inside Workshops on October 16 and again on October 18 in Pittsburgh.

The Lackawanna Heritage Valley, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Pennsylvania Environmental Council and other partners will host the Northeastern PA Trails Forum Workshop on December 2 in Scranton.

Officials from the departments of Conservation and Natural Resources and Environmental Protection joined other conservation leaders this week in the dedication of a formal marker honoring the late Dr. Maurice K. Goddard at the Rachel Carson State Office in Harrisburg.

Looking to take advantage of a new-fangled technology, DCNR offered a few of its State Parks to the Department of Community and Economic Development for the first-ever fall foliage webcams to bring the beauty of Pennsylvania’s autumnal colors into homes all over the world. 

The Environmental Quality Board published a final regulation changes relating to the administration of the Water and Wastewater Systems Operators' Certification Program and a correction to the final Chapter 102 Erosion and Sedimentation and Stormwater Management regulation.

Upcoming legislative meetings, conferences, workshops, plus links to other online calendars. Meetings are in Harrisburg unless otherwise noted.  NEW means new from last week.  Go to the online Calendar webpage.

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