The Department of Environmental Protection is now accepting applications for Growing Greener watershed protection and restoration and surface mining reclamation grants.  The deadline for application is October 26.  (formal notice)

The Coldwater Heritage Partnership Wednesday announced the opening of the 2013 Coldwater Conservation Grants Program. The program provides two grant opportunities, which help to protect and conserve the health of Pennsylvania’s coldwater ecosystems.  Applications are due December 14.

The Public Utility Commission Thursday reported Marcellus Shale drilling companies have paid $201.7  million of the $205.7 million they owe in drilling impact fees to the Commonwealth for wells drilling through 2011.  Fees were due September 1.

Pennsylvania collected about $200 million in local impact fees on Marcellus Shale wells drilled through 2011, about half of what the Commonwealth could have collected had a more robust natural gas drilling tax been in effect, according to the PA Budget and Policy Center.

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

Rep. Joseph Petrarca (D-Westmoreland) has introduced a resolution-- House Resolution 801-- which would request Congress to re-examine statewide enhanced automotive emissions testing because of the technological advancements in the auto industry.

The September edition of the Environmental Synopsis newsletter is now available from the Joint Legislative Air and Water Pollution and Conservation Committee.

The Delaware Riverkeeper Network is pleased to announce the Call for Presenters for the 2013 Watershed Congress along the Schuylkill. 

Reducing water consumption can benefit Pennsylvania residents in many ways. Water conserving appliances can also save your family money.

Want to learn more about how to protect your drinking water?  Read the latest issue of the League of Women Voters Water Resources Network newsletter.  To sign up and to learn much more, visi the WREN website.

The Department of Environmental Protection encourages the public to protect public health and the environment by celebrating “Protect Your Groundwater Day” on Tuesday, September 11.

Living Machine Systems, L3C, Tuesday announced Living Machine technology is actively treating and recycling all wastewater at Western Wayne County School District’s new Evergreen Elementary School in Wayne County. It is the largest on-site wastewater reuse system permitted in the state of Pennsylvania.

The Department of Environmental Protection published a notice September 15 extending the comment period on the proposed de-listing of Presque Isle as an Area of Concern (PA Bulletin page 5934).  The new deadline is October 1.  Click Here for more information on the issue.

The Department of Environmental Protection published a notice September 15 extending the comment period on the proposed NPDES General Permit for Stormwater from Construction Activities (PA Bulletin 5939).  The new deadline is October 2.  A copy of the draft permit is available online.

The PA Section of the American Water Resources Association will hold its annual Water Quality in Pennsylvania Conference on October 11 at Harrisburg Area Community College in Harrisburg starting at 8:00 a.m.

The Delaware River Basin Commission was served with a formal petition Wednesday asserting  the regulatory body has an obligation to exercise its jurisdiction over the proliferation of pipelines being constructed and proposed within the boundaries of the Delaware River watershed. 

Hagerman Run is a high-quality, wild brook trout stream cascading through a ravine between Narrow Mountain and Sugarcamp Mountain in the Loyalsock State Forest in Lycoming County.

Penn State Extension will hold its annual Marcellus Summit on October 10-12 at the Penn State Conference Center State College.

The Kiski-Conemaugh Stream Team and Paint Creek Regional Watershed Association, in cooperation with Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful, PennDOT, and the International Coastal Cleanup, are coordinating a fall litter cleanup along Little Paint Creek on September 22 near Windber, Somerset County.

Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful was awarded an $80,000 grant from The Home Depot Foundation for its Ohio Valley Region VA Hospital Community Beautification and Greening Project. 

The PA Association of Environmental Educators will hold its 2013 Annual Conference on March 15-16 at the Bushkill Inn and Conference Center in Bushkill, PA.

The Friends of the Wissahickon’s popular lecture series, Valley Talks, sponsored by Valley Green Bank, brings environmental leaders and the public together to discuss timely and important topics.

Issues of affordable and accessible healthy eating and recreational opportunities in southcentral Pennsylvania will be the topic of the “Go Local for Health Summit” to be held September 18 at the Gettysburg Hotel.

Join other environmental educators at a day-long workshop introducing participants to wetland ecology at the Robbins Park Environmental Education Center in Ambler, Pa on October 20 starting at 9:00 a.m.

Allegheny College in Meadville and the Foundation for Sustainable Forests have signed a groundbreaking agreement that will preserve and protect fragile ecosystems in Pennsylvania and southern New York while providing opportunities for landowners to support both nonprofit organizations.

The Friends of the Allegheny Wilderness are seeking volunteers for a wilderness trail clearing project in Hickory Creek Wilderness September 28-30 as part of the National Public Lands Day celebration.

Natural Lands Trust Tuesday announced the second class of its “Force of Nature” volunteer training program, designed to educate and train participants to serve as volunteer project leaders and ambassadors.

This fall there is a collection of three updated visitor-friendly guides from the Cumberland Valley in the South Mountain Region featuring many of our state parks and forests.

What do more than one million licensed anglers in Pennsylvania do before their first cast of the season? They pick up a copy of the Fish and Boat Commission’s Summary of Fishing Laws and Regulations.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Friday announced $650,000 in funding to Northampton County, Pa. This is the fourth EPA brownfields grant awarded to the County to clean up contaminated properties for potential redevelopment.

The Department of Environmental Protection will hold a Natural Gas Vehicle seminar on September 21, at the Community College of Allegheny County, to help municipal and commercial fleet owners make informed decisions about converting their fleets to compressed natural gas and liquefied natural gas.

The Department of Environmental Protection will participate in a public open house on  September 18, to inform the community about Amfire Mining Company’s proposed underground mine in South Mahoning and West Mahoning townships, Indiana County.

Innovation has found its place – and once again, it’s in Philadelphia. The University City Science Center is expanding its successful Quorum program to The Navy Yard in Philadelphia in partnership with the Energy Efficient Buildings Hub.

A $25,000 grant from the Dominion Foundation will provide support establishing Chatham University’s weather and microclimate monitoring station at Eden Hall Campus, the futurehome of the School of Sustainability and the Environment.

Hawk Mountain Sanctuary, Kempton, Berks County, will hold a full-day Monarch Migration Celebration on September 15, including a rare opportunity to tag your own monarch and take part in a butterfly release.

Pennsylvania wildlife and nature artists will migrate to Hawk Mountain Sanctuary for the Annual Hawk Mountain Art Show and Sale held in the Sanctuary Visitor Center on September 22 and 23 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. This event is free and open to the public.

Hawk Mountain Sanctuary will host “Snowy Owls of the Canadian Arctic,” a free, 5 p.m. lecture and slideshow on September 29 by Dr. Jean-Francois Therrien, the Senior Research Biologist at the Sanctuary.

The National Park Foundation's Flight 93 National Memorial Campaign announced Monday $5 million in private funding is still needed to complete the Flight 93 National Memorial in Shanksville, PA.

Widener Law Dean Linda L. Ammons Tuesday congratulated Distinguished Professor John C. Dernbach on his election to the prestigious American College of Environmental Lawyers.

The Pike County County Conservation District is seeking candidates to fill its Executive Director position.  Applications are due October 8.

The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources published a notice soliciting bidders for several projects in Lycoming County.

The Department of Environmental Protection published notices soliciting for abandoned mine reclamation projects in Cambria County, Clearfield County and Luzerne County.

This section gives you a continuously updated thumbnail sketch of issues to be considered in upcoming advisory committee meetings where the agendas have been released

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--

No new regulations were published this week. Pennsylvania Bulletin - September 15, 2012

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 links to 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.