Out-going House Speaker Keith McCall (D-Carbon) relented this week and called a one-day voting session on November 15 in the face of a rebellion by rank-and-file Democratic members.

There were no real surprises in the House Republican Leadership elections this week. Rep. Samuel H. Smith (photo) was their choice for Speaker of the House and Rep. Michael C. Turzai was elected Majority Leader for the 2011-2012 legislative session.

Gov.-elect Tom Corbett this week announced Christine Toretti, Jack Barbour and Bill Sasso will serve as co-chairs of his transition team. 

In its official comments this week, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation said the Watershed Implementation Plan submitted by the Department of Environmental Protection to meet federal Clean Water Act mandates to cleanup the Chesapeake Bay "demonstrates an inability to deliver on core programmatic items that are critical to meeting our water quality goals."

As part of his campaign platform, Gov.-elect Tom Corbett laid out a series of commitments on protecting the environment, developing Pennsylvania's energy resources, enhancing agriculture and promoting sportsmen's  issues.

The PA Infrastructure Investment Authority, working closely with the Department of Environmental Protection and representatives of the Chicago Climate Exchange, held its second auction for nutrient credits on November 4 and 5. 

The PA Association of Conservation Districts is accepting applications for the Meaningful Watershed Education Experience Grants Program in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed until November 15. Click here for application information.

“Fish grow on trees,” says David Wise, Pennsylvania Watershed Restoration Manager for Chesapeake Bay Foundation. This month’s “Buffer Zone” leader, Dave, has been a leader in promoting forested buffer restoration through the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. 

As part of his campaign platform, Gov.-elect Tom Corbett laid out a series of commitments on protecting the environment, developing Pennsylvania's energy resources, enhancing agriculture and promoting sportsmen's  issues.

Looking for a holiday gift that will please the most discriminating taste and help the environment? Consider pottery products from Clean Creek.

Once again, the Foundation for PA Watersheds will be working with groups to enhance their organizational capacity building efforts. 

Following the recommendations of the Pennsylvania Drought Task Force, the Department of Environmental Protection announced it has removed about two-thirds of the state from drought watch and warning status.

Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful, formerly PA CleanWays, announced they have awarded Carl Williams with their President’s Award and Jerry Zona with their Legacy Award at their Annual Volunteer Recognition Dinner held October 27 at the Fred Rogers Center on the St. Vincent College campus.

The winner of this year's first statewide GreenSylvania school recycling competition is The Young Scholars of Central PA Charter School in Centre County.

A one-hour documentary on the life of Maurice Goddard will air on WITF-TV in Central PA at Noon on November 28. 

Announced in January 1999 by the Ridge administration, a proposal to re-prioritize the way environmental funds are spent became the “Growing Greener” initiative.

The Cherry Valley National Wildlife Refuge Partnership has received a prestigious U.S. Department of the Interior 2010 Partners in Conservation Award. 

J. Scott Roberts, Deputy Secretary for Mineral Resources Management at the Department of Environmental Protection, announced he was leaving the agency this week effective December 3.

By Gov. Tom Ridge

This section gives you a heads up on upcoming deadlines for awards and grants and other recognition programs. NEW means new from last week.

The Environmental Quality Board meets on November 16 to consider final changes to remining financial guarantees, finalize Air Quality Permit fee increase generating $7.4 million more for the Air Quality Program and proposed rule changes increasing fees for the Drinking Water Program by $8.1 million from $250,000 annually to $8.3 million annually.

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.