Briefing: DEP To Release Draft Chesapeake Bay Watershed Implementation Plan Dec. 15: Sen. Mike Brubaker (R-Lancaster), Chair of the interstate Chesapeake Bay Commission, hosted a briefing Tuesday for House and Senate members on the status of Pennsylvania's efforts to comply with the Chesapeake Bay Watershed cleanup mandate.

At the briefing, John Hines, Executive Deputy Secretary for Programs for the Department of Environmental Protection, announced DEP will be taking the next step in the cleanup process by releasing a draft Chesapeake Bay Watershed Implementation Plan for public comment on December 15.

Video of the briefing is available online featuring these speakers:

-- Sen. Mike Brubaker (R-Lancaster), Chair of the Chesapeake Bay Commission, provided introductory and closing remarks.

-- Jeff Corbin, Special Advisor to the Administrator, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, provided an overview of the Chesapeake Bay mandate.

-- John Hines, Executive Deputy Secretary for Programs, DEP, provided an outline of Pennsylvania's efforts to comply with the mandate.

-- Andy Zemba, Director of DEP's Interstate Waters Office, provided details on Pennsylvania's response.

-- Matthew Ehrhart, Director, Pennsylvania Office of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, commented on both state and federal efforts to cleanup the Bay.

American Recycles Day-A Bag's Life. Lt. Gov. Jim Cawley joined Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful, partnering organizations and students from The Nativity School of Harrisburg to launch the "A Bag's Life" on America Recycles Day, November 15. Speaking at the event (in order) were: Shannon Reiter, Keep PA Beautiful; Lt. Gov. Cawley, David McCorkle, PA Food Merchants Assn.; Robert Bylone, PA Recycling Markets Center. Click Here for more information.

PEC, CBF Urge Changes, Action On Marcellus Shale Bills. The PA Environmental Council and the Chesapeake Bay Foundation held a press conference today urging the General Assembly to enact tougher environmental protections and a reasonable drilling impact fee in proposed legislation aimed at regulating development of the state’s Marcellus Shale natural gas reserves. Click Here for more details.

Video of Flooding In And Around Harrisburg:

City of Harrisburg - taken before noon on Friday

Hummelstown Area - taken Thursday.

What's A Vernal Pool? The PA Natural Heritage Program staff at the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy explain the significant of their work while conducting a species sammpling in a vernal pool.