On January 24, the Renew Growing Greener Coalition hosted a series of events to lobby for the renewal of the Growing Greener Program.  

The Senate Republican Policy Committee this week held a hearing on the opportunities and challenges of developing Pennsylvania's Marcellus Shale natural gas reserves hearing from 16 witnesses about the local impacts of drilling operations.

Pittsburgh has another winning effort to celebrate this month: football fans diverted nearly 8 tons of recyclables from landfills by gathering aluminum, glass, plastic and cardboard containers at recent Steelers tailgate parties, according to the Pennsylvania Resources Council.

Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful announced this week registration is now open for the 2011 Great American Cleanup of PA through a new and expanded website. 

Here are the Senate and House Calendars and Committee meetings showing bills of interest as well as a list of new environmental bills introduced--

The Senate and House Appropriations Committees announced their schedule of budget hearings this week. The schedule is available in the Calendar of Events.

The Joint Legislative Air & Water Pollution Control and Conservation Committee heard a presentation this week from Marci Mowery, PA Parks and Forests Foundation, on the Goddard Legacy Project celebrating the accomplishments of Maurice K. Goddard.

The January issue of the Environmental Synopsis, by the Joint Legislative Air & Water Pollution Control and Conservation Committee, features an article on the economic impact of Pennsylvania's State Park system.

Sen. Tim Solobay (D-Washington) this week urged local communities and public interest groups to apply for technical assistance grants to examine pipeline safety issues.

The Slippery Rock Creek Watershed Coalition has partnered with Stream Restoration Inc. (a non-profit group) to complete the Slippery Rock Creek Watershed Conservation Plan which will be the subject of public meetings in February.

After years of planning and many months of construction, the Abandoned Mine Drainage Treatment System at Allegheny Land Trust Wingfield Pines Conservation Area was officially dedicated on June 3, 2010. 

The 14th Annual Northwest Pennsylvania Grazing Conference will be held on March 15 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Tri-County Church located just off of I-80 in DuBois.  

The Penn’s Corner Resource Conservation and Development Council in cooperation with the PA Grazing Lands & Forage Conservation Coalition are seeking teams for the 2011 Grassland Evaluation Competition, an outreach program for youth.

A conservation easement finalized this week will ensure that Buck Run’s brook trout population will be protected, thanks to the combined conservation efforts of ClearWater Conservancy and local property owner Margaret Burgwin in Centre County.

The Friends of the Wissahickon Trail Ambassador Program has become so popular, that FOW is offering a new spring training session this year. The application deadline is February 25.  

Center Rock, Inc. founder and president Brandon Fisher and his wife Julie, sales director, were among the 26 Americans who attended President Obama's 2011 State of the Union address this week as guests of First Lady Michelle Obama.

By Paul M. King, Pennsylvania Environmental Council

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

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.