An analysis of selected 2011 milestones established by the Chesapeake Bay states to accelerate the pace of reducing pollution to local rivers, streams, and the Chesapeake Bay found progress in each of the states.

At Monday’s annual Chesapeake Bay Executive Council meeting, Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Mike Krancer reported on Pennsylvania’s continuing efforts to improve the condition of the bay.

Registration is now open for the annual Ohio River Watershed Celebration on September 27 on the three rivers of Pittsburgh.

Did you know you can search 8 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--

Act numbers are now available for following bills signed into law by the Governor--

The Governor’s Budget Office Wednesday formally certified a revenue estimate of $28.59 billion for FY 2012-13, which is about $49 million higher than the Independent Fiscal Office estimate of $28.10 billion made in mid-June.

House Bill 608 which encourages private investment in bioenergy resources while also assisting to reclaim mine lands has been signed into law by the Governor, said Rep. Michele Brooks (R-Crawford).

Convening in Scranton, the PA Association of Conservation Districts, Inc. and the State Conservation Commission hosted their 65th Joint Annual Conference.

Three farms within the Chesapeake Bay Watershed received the Clean Water Farm Award for their efforts to protect the Chesapeake Bay during the PA Association of Conservation Districts’, Inc. annual conference and awards ceremony July 10.

By Rona Kobel, Chesapeake Bay Journal

The Lancaster County Clean Water Consortium will hold three educational seminars about clean water this fall for local officials in Lancaster County. The seminars will connect the dots between protecting our communities' drinking water, cleaning up our local streams and saving the Chesapeake Bay.

By Rona Kobell, Chesapeake Bay Journal

On July 17 at 2 p.m., a Pennsylvania historical marker will be unveiled honoring former Fish and Boat Commission Executive Director Ralph W. Abele (1921-1990) in a dedication ceremony at PFBC headquarters at 1601 Elmerton Avenue, Harrisburg.

The Friends of the Wissahickon in Montgomery County are offering a fall training session for their popular Trail Ambassador program. The application deadline is August 31.  

Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful would like to congratulate Ashley Funk, age 18, from Mount Pleasant Area High School in Westmoreland County, who was chosen as the 2012 Sue Wiseman Scholarship recipient.

Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Richard Allan Friday announced a conference to highlight the accomplishments of conservation, recreation and economic development at the landscape level and to advance best practices to other areas of the state will be held in Harrisburg in October.

PPL Electric Utilities' "smart grid" pilot project, which uses 21st-century technology to strengthen the electric delivery system and make it more reliable and responsive, is fully installed and beginning to return benefits for about 60,000 customers in Dauphin and Cumberland counties around Harrisburg.

As part of the run-up to the September 5-6 PA Energy Infrastructure Conference in Pittsburgh, the Pennsylvania Environmental Council has prepared a Conference White Paper to provide general background information and to stimulate a dialogue in advance of the Conference.

Public and policy interest in renewable energy has grown nationwide in recent years. According to the results of recent research sponsored by the Center for Rural Pennsylvania, a majority of Pennsylvanians said they would like more of their electricity to come from renewable sources and would be willing to pay more to achieve higher renewable energy production.

The natural gas industry and related trade groups have now given nearly $8 million to Pennsylvania state candidates and political committees since 2000, according to new research by Common Cause Pennsylvania and Conservation Voters of Pennsylvania.

In line with its Guiding Principles “to attract and retain a talented and engaged local workforce,” the Marcellus Shale Coalition Thursday released the second in a series of Recommended Practices aimed at bolstering the region’s supply chain.

The Department of Environmental Protection will host a public meeting and hearing on August 14, to answer questions and receive comments about Williams-Transco’s proposal to replace a section of natural gas pipeline in East Brandywine and East Caln townships, Chester County.

Pennsylvania bituminous coal companies, workers and their families, and industry suppliers and manufacturers gathered Monday in Pittsburgh to announce the formation of the Pennsylvania Coal Alliance. 

The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources published a notice soliciting bids for four projects at Ohiopyle State Park in Fayette County.

The Western PA Conservancy is seeking candidates to fill the position of Lauren Highlands Project Director to manage a large, complex conservation project in the Laurel Highlands portion of the Central Appalachians ecosystem, including Ligonier Valley, through permanent land conservation.

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 Environmental Quality Board meets July 17 to consider final rulemaking increasing coal mining permit fees and to consider a response to the Independent Regulatory Review Commission disapproval of a final rulemaking increasing noncoal mining fees.

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.