The Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee this week gave unanimous approval to Michael Krancer, Gov. Tom Corbett's choice for Secretary of the Department of Environmental Protection.

Budget Secretary Charles Zogby told a Pennsylvania Press Club luncheon this week, "All the one-time means, all the gimmicks have been utilized. We've kicked the can down the road long enough.  The day of reckoning has arrived."

Gov. Tom Corbett submits his first budget to the General Assembly Tuesday in the most challenging economic conditions Pennsylvania has faced since the Great Depression.

In response to proposed cuts in federal funding for environmental programs and the Chesapeake Bay cleanup, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation Friday urged members of the Pennsylvania General Assembly and friends of clean water in the Commonwealth to contact members of the Congressional Delegation to oppose these cuts before March 9.  They released this request for action--

Did you know you can search nearly 7 years of back issues of the PA Environment Digest on dozens of topics, by county and on any key word you choose. Just click on the search page.

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 following bills of interest saw action this week in the House and Senate--

Senate Bill 265 (MJ White-R-Venango), amending the Coal and Gas Resource Coordination Act to further provide for drilling through coal reserves was reported from the Senate Appropriations Committee and passed by the Senate.

The House Consumer Affairs Committee this week held an informational meeting about the water and wastewater industries.

Fish and Boat Commission Executive Director John Arway formally presented the agency’s 2010 Annual Report to the House Game and Fisheries Committee this week.  In his remarks, Mr. Arway noted the PFBC’s commitment to its five-year strategic plan, highlighted accomplishments from the past year, and continued to emphasize the need for alternative funding to implement the agency’s mission.

Eighty House members this week urged Gov. Tom Corbett not to lease any more State Forest land above the Marcellus Shale for natural gas drilling because "all of the remaining unleased acreage is environmentally sensitive and drilling will have irreversible and harmful consequences."

Rep. Jesse White (D-Washington) is hosting a public meeting March 15 with local municipal officials to solicit feedback on his plan to create a Marcellus Municipal Co-op program to better deal with natural gas issues within the region.

On March 9 the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee is set to consider legislation to encourage the use of bioenergy crops to reclaim abandoned mine lands and to urge the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to cease overview of NPDES permits in the state.  The bills include:

The Joint Legislative Air and Water Pollution Control and Conservation Committee March 7 Environmental Issues Forum will feature a presentation by David Sheridan and Mark Lambdin of the Green Building Association of Central Pennsylvania.

Sen. Gene Yaw (R-Bradford) has introduced a measure to further strengthen regulations pertaining to the natural gas industry and ensure that additional safety measures are implemented to protect Pennsylvania's water resources.

Rep. Camille "Bud" George (D-Clearfield) this week announced he will be introducing legislation aimed at ensuring Pennsylvania's drinking water remains free of radioactive material.

The Western Pennsylvania Conservancy and Dominion recently awarded over $30,000 to watershed groups in 26 counties in western Pennsylvania and 1 county in West Virginia as part of their Watershed Mini Grants Program.

Acid mine drainage from abandoned coal mines impaired the aquatic life designated use in the Johnson Run watershed. As a result, the Department of Environmental Protection placed the main branch of Johnson Run and more than 17 miles of contributing tributaries on the state's 2004 Clean Water Act section 303(d) list of impaired waters because of low pH and elevated manganese levels.

The 13th Annual PA Abandoned Mine Reclamation Conference dates are set for August 4-6 at the Best Western Genetti Inn & Suites in Hazleton. This year's theme is "Working Together for Innovation and Success."

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s mid-Atlantic region announced this week American Rivers has been selected to oversee $1.8 million in environmental grants for projects benefiting communities and rivers in specific parts of Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia that comprise the Potomac Highlands.  

The Student Conservation Association and PA American Water, in partnership with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s WaterSense Program, have launched the Save Water Today public service campaign. 

It’s the middle of winter and temperatures seem to keep dropping, but now is the perfect time to start thinking spring! What better way to survive the rest of this winter than by thinking warm spring thoughts – flowers blooming, butterflies fluttering, and gardens thriving. Time to plan your rain garden.

The Westmoreland County Conservation District will hold a workshop on March 29 on best practices for effective farm lane and driveway care and repair at the District Office in Greensburg.

The Friends of the Wissahickon are partnering with local businesses and organizations to raise funds for the preservation of Wissahickon Valley Park in Montgomery County and generate interest in environmental issues.

The Delaware River Basin Commission this week announced the period for submitting written comments on the proposed natural gas development rulemaking will be extended an additional 30 days through the close of business (5 p.m.) April 15. The comment period was to have ended March 16.

Saying groundwater withdrawals for drilling Marcellus Shale gas wells "have the potential to impact our water resources negatively," all three Tioga County Commissioners wrote to the Susquehanna River Basin Commission in January opposing any new use of groundwater to support drilling.

Mansfield University will host the PA Water Environment Association Marcellus Shale Conference on March 8-9 in Mansfield, Pa.

The Sportsmen Alliance for Marcellus Conservation is sponsoring a Marcellus Shale Summit on June 4 at the University of Pittsburgh campus in Johnstown.

In response to recent developments on Marcellus Shale natural gas issues, Paul M. King, President of the Pennsylvania Environmental Council, issued this statement--

PennDOT is encouraging Pennsylvanians to help beautify the state through the Great American Cleanup of PA, which runs through May 31, acting PennDOT Secretary Barry J. Schoch, P.E., said.

Recyclebank, a green lifestyle community that rewards people for taking everyday green actions, this week announced it has taken the top spot on the Wall Street Journal's prestigious ranking of the Top 10 Clean-Tech Companies.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is accepting grant applications for $1.9 million in funding for environmental education projects and programs. 

The March EE Connections newsletter is now available from the PA Center for Environmental Education.  Here are just some of topics covered in this month's newsletter--

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is accepting applications for current seventh-grade students in the Philadelphia metropolitan area to participate in a unique six-week summer Student Environmental Development Program.

Join the Game Commission, Department of Environmental Protection and ZooAmerica for a free WILD in The City: Peregrine Falcons Workshop from 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. on April 12 at the Rachel Carson State Office Building in Harrisburg, PA.  

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is co-sponsoring an Earth Day Poster Contest for students in kindergarten through grade 12 in EPA’s mid-Atlantic region, which includes Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia and the District of Columbia.

Every week the PA Center for Environmental Education offers a Question of the Week for students in grades K-12 on a variety of environmental topics.

The PA Association of Environmental Educators and the Department of Environmental Protection is sponsoring a No Student Left Inside Workshop for educators on April 2 at the Schneebeli Earth Science Center in Montgomery, Lycoming County.

The Department of Health this week launched a new website for the Pennsylvania Environmental Public Health Tracking Network, or PA EPHTN, allowing the public to track health challenges and environmental-related diseases such as asthma.

Honeywell this week announced it is helping the Montgomery County Correctional Facility in Eagleville, Pa., upgrade its infrastructure, and save almost $2.5 million in estimated utility and operating costs. 

Billed as the largest voluntary event ever witnessed, Earth Hour will be observed on Saturday, March 26 at 8:30 p.m. (local time) with millions of people around the world turning off their lights in celebration of the one thing we all have in common – our planet. 

The final tally is in, and because of tremendous support from its citizens, Pennsylvania finished in second place in the Odwalla Plant a Tree campaign that ended in December. 

The Western Pennsylvania Conservancy has permanently protected another high-priority property in the Ligonier Valley--  36 acres in Cook Township, Westmoreland County which includes several small wetlands and 1,900 feet of stream frontage along Loyalhanna Creek in the Ligonier Valley.

As development continues to take over wildlife habitats, the Game Commission’s Howard Nursery has a way for wildlife enthusiasts to help support wildlife housing needs without having to apply for a second mortgage. The agency’s Howard Nursery is selling a variety of wildlife nesting structures for several species of birds – from bluebirds to flickers, from ducks to owls – as well as housing boxes for bats and squirrels.

When the weather starts warming, the wind starts blowing, and the vegetation’s still brown, it’s spring wildfire season in Pennsylvania. 

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice of the opportunity to bid on a mine reclamation projects in Clearfield County and Fayette County.

David J. Raphael, an attorney with the law firm of Saul Ewing specializing in administrative, civil and criminal environmental matters and commercial litigation, has been named Chief Counsel at DEP.

The Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens in Pittsburgh is seeking an individual to fill a 12 month, paid Science Education Intern position working 15 to 20 hours per week starting in April/May.

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's a selection of NewClips on environmental topics from around the state--

Here are NewsClips on topics related to Marcellus Shale natural gas drilling---

Here are NewsClips on watershed topics from around the state--

The Department of Environmental protection published notice of bond calculations on noncoal mining operations and notice of bond rate calculations for coal mine land reclamation.  The Fish and Boat Commission published notice of final additions to list of Class A Wild Trout Waters, notice of adjustments to the list of Wild Trout Streams, notice of proposed special regulations related to Bass in the Susquehanna and Juniata rivers and notice of 2011 changes in classification of Wild Trout Streams

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.

Send your stories, photos and videos about your project, environmental issues or programs for publication in the PA Environment Digest to:  DHess@CrisciAssociates.com.

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