Penncrest High School in Delaware County took home first place honors in the 2011 Pennsylvania Envirothon this week at Susquehanna University and Shikellamy State Park.  Rounding out the top 10 teams were:

A coalition of environmental groups announced this week they have filed a motion in federal court to oppose the efforts of major national agricultural organizations to force an end to federal and state programs to reduce pollution and restore the Chesapeake Bay.

The Renew Growing Greener Coalition this week recognized Senate President Pro Tempore Joseph Scarnati (R-Jefferson) for expanding critical environmental, conservation and recreation programs in his proposed Marcellus Shale Impact Fee legislation, but reiterated concerns over the amount of revenue generated, programs still not being funded, and funding the existing programs through the Commonwealth Finance Authority as the current legislation provides.

Grover Norquist, of the Washington, D.C.-based Americans for Tax Reform and the self-described opponent of all tax increases, wrote to several members of the Pennsylvania General Assembly recently charging the proposed Marcellus Shale natural gas impact fee proposed by Sen. Joe Scarnati (R-Jefferson) violates his group's no tax increase pledge.
            Gov. Tom Corbett and 34 of Pennsylvania's 253 state lawmakers have signed Norquist's pledge.

By Sen. Joe Scarnati

The Renew Growing Greener Coalition announced this week nine more organizations and municipalities have joined in supporting the effort to restore state funding for Growing Greener.

Rep. Marguerite Quinn (R-Bucks) announced this week said plans to introduce a Marcellus Shale impact fee bill called SIMPLER-- Shale Impact Mitigation Policy for Local, Environment and Roads.

Senate Bill 995 (Baker-R-Luzerne) designed to speed up the response time of police, fire and ambulance crews to accidents at Marcellus Shale well sites has received the unanimous approval of the Senate Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee this week.

When a company is fined by the state for violating Pennsylvania's Clean Air Act, local municipalities would get a share of that money for environmental projects under Senate Bill 151 (Pileggi-R-Delaware) approved this week unanimously by the Senate.

Rep. Chris Ross (R-Chester), with the support of the PA Solar Energy Industries Association and others, introduced a new legislation-- House Bill 1580 (not yet online)- to fix the crippled solar energy credits market in Pennsylvania.

Imagine a city thriving with life — a place where residents are surrounded by trees and gardens on nearly every street block; a place where local streams are clean and abundant with fish; and where nearby parks provide respite for playing children.

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation this week announced the First, Second and Third place winners of its 2011 Photo Contest.  Since a picture is worth a thousand words, Click Here to view all three winners.

Visitors to Mt. Pisgah State Park with a keen eye for lake scenery may have noticed a subtle change in lakeside topography—two mini-land masses sprouting virtually, and literally, overnight.

As Marcellus Shale gas development increases at a rapid pace and scale across northern Appalachia, sportsmen and women in the region have joined forces and created an alliance to urge state and federal agencies and the energy industry to protect long-held hunting, fishing and trapping traditions.

Once again this year, Westminster College students from Dr. Helen Boylan's Advanced Laboratory class have participated in a collaborative effort with the Slippery Rock watershed Coalition to monitor passive treatment systems in the watershed.

The PA Section-American Water Works Association and the PA Rural Water Association will hold drinking water and wastewater system operator certification training workshops in July.  Click Here for details.

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the PA Bulletin changing and clarifying the solicitation for Alternative Fuels Incentive Grants.  The deadline to apply is still June 17.

For many it was their first face-to-face meeting, but already they had been drawn together in the shared bond of pride—pride in what they do; what they have accomplished; and what they oversee.

It’s that time of year again. In the month of May, the gypsy moth (Limantria dispar) eggs hatch. This hatch timing depends upon the temperatures for late April and early May.

Audubon PA's Bird Town is a working partnership of Audubon and municipalities in Pennsylvania to promote conservation and community-based actions to create a healthy, more sustainable environment for birds and people. 

The Spring issue of Keystone Wildnotes from the Wild Resource Conservation Program features a discussion of the role of citizen science in protecting and learning more about the environment.

May 27 marks 104 years since the birth of legendary environmentalist, conservationist and Pennsylvanian Rachel Carson. In honor of her tireless efforts to preserve the natural word, here are some quotes from The Sense of Wonder, courtesy of Open Road Media, that are particularly inspirational:

Dr. Maurice Goddard, the founder of Pennsylvania's State Park System and the first Secretary of the Department of Environmental Resources will be honored with the dedication of a state historical market at 12:30 on May 30 in Willow Park, 25th and Market Streets, Camp Hill, Pa across the river from Harrisburg.

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

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

The Environmental Quality Board published notice accepting a rulemaking petition for study to redesignate an unnamed tributary to the Schuylkill River.

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.