PA Environment Digest

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Public Participation Opportunities/Calendar Of Events

This section lists House and Senate Committee meetings, DEP and other public hearings and meetings and other interesting environmental events.

NEW means new from last week. [Agenda Not Posted] means not posted within 2 weeks of the advisory committee meeting. Go to the online Calendar webpage for updates.

Note: This is still budget season. House and Senate committees can add and cancel meetings with little notice.

October 21-- NEW. Eastern PA Coalition for Abandoned Mine Reclamation. 4th Annual Centralia Clean Up. Centralia, Columbia County. 9:00.

October 23-- CANCELED. House Consumer Affairs Committee holds a hearing on House Bill 1782 (Delozier-R-Cumberland) providing for alternative ratemaking for natural gas and electric distribution companies (sponsor summary). Room B-31 Main Capitol. 11:00.

October 23-- NEW. Senate Rules Committee meets to consider Senate Bill 242 (Baker-R- Luzerne) adding unconventional and larger conventional natural gas gathering lines to the PA One Call utility safety program (House Fiscal Note and summary). Rules Room. Off the Floor.

October 23-- NEW. Senate Game and Fisheries Committee meets to consider Senate Bill 935 (Scarnati-R-Jefferson) which would limit the term of the Executive Director of the Fish and Boat Commission to eight years. Rules Room. Off the Floor. Click Here for more.

October 23-- NEW. Senate Labor and Industry Committee meets to consider House Bill 1469 (Heffley-R-Carbon) further providing for the use of third-party agencies to enforce Uniform Construction Code requirements (House Fiscal Note and summary). Rules Room. Off the Floor.

October 24-- NEW. Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee holds a hearing on Senate Bill 800 (Alloway-R-Franklin) creating a new Waste Electronic Equipment Recovery Act to replace the 2010 Covered Device Recycling Act. Room 8E-A East Wing Capitol Building. 10:00. Click Here for more. Hearings are typically webcast through the Committee’s webpage.

October 24-- NEW. Senate Community, Economic and Recreational Development Committee meets to consider Senate Bill 234 (Blake-D-Lackawanna) would authorize local governments to create energy improvement districts to help fund energy efficiency, renewable energy and water conservation projects by commercial and industrial buildings to reduce their operating costs (sponsor summary). Rules Room. Off the Floor. Click Here for more.

October 24-- NEW. Senate Consumer Affairs & Professional Licensure Committee meets to consider Senate Resolution 227 (Aument-R-Lancaster) urging the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to quickly implement policies to ensure baseload electricity generation (like coal and nuclear) are compensated for all the positive attributes they provide to the electric system (sponsor summary). Room 461. Noon. Click Here for more.

October 24-- Senate Aging and Youth and Health and Human Services Committees hold a joint hearing on Lyme Disease Task Force Report. Room 156. 9:30.

October 24-- Agenda Posted. DEP Climate Change Advisory Committee meeting. Room 105 Rachel Carson Building. 10:00. DEP Contact: Mark Brojakowski, 717-772-3429 or send email to: mbrojakows@pa.gov. (formal notice)

-- Volkswagen Air Settlement Overview

-- 2018 PA Climate Change Action Plan Update Discussion

October 24-- NEW. PA Biomass Energy Association/Philadelphia Water Department. Biogas, Food Waste Recycling, CHP & Wastewater Treatment In Philadelphia Workshop. Northeast Water Pollution Control Plant with Biogas Co-gen Facility, 3899 Richmond Street, Philadelphia. 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

October 25-- NEW. Agenda Posted. DEP Water Resources Advisory Committee meeting. Room 105 Rachel Carson Building. 9:30. DEP Contact: Diane Wilson, 717-787-3730 or diawilson@pa.gov. Click Here for more.

-- Chapter 102 Erosion & Sediment Permit Improvement Recommendations

-- Chapter 92 & 92 NPDES Water Quality Permit Fee Increase Proposal

-- Click Here for available handouts

October 25-- Agenda Posted. DEP Small Business Compliance Advisory Committee meeting. 12th Floor Conference Room, Rachel Carson Building. 10:00. DEP Contact: Nancy Herb, nherb@pa.gov, 717-783-9269.

October 25-- CEOs For Sustainability First Speakers Series Event. Energy Innovation Center, 1435 Bedford Avenue, Pittsburgh. 7:30 to 9:30 a.m.

October 25-- Alliance For The Chesapeake Bay. Stormwater Program Communication Workshop. Londonderry Township Building, 783 S. Geyers Church Road in Middletown, Dauphin County. 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

October 26-- Agenda Posted. DEP Agricultural Advisory Board meeting. DEP Southcentral Regional Office, 909 Elmerton Ave., Harrisburg. 9:00. DEP Contact: Jay Braund, jbraund@pa.gov, 717-772-5636. (formal notice)

-- Presentation: Improving The Chapt. 102 E&S NPDES Permit Program

-- Presentation: Water Quality Permit Fee Package

-- Update on DEP Ag Inspection Initiative

October 26-- [Agenda Not Posted] DEP Small Water Systems Technical Assistance Center Board meeting. Room 105 Rachel Carson Building. 9:00. DEP Contact: Dawn Hissner, 717-772-2189 or dhissner@pa.gov. (formal notice)

October 26-- Northeast PA Environmental Partners Awards Dinner. Woodlands Inn and Resort in Wilkes-Barre.

October 26-- PA Chamber of Business & Industry Valley Forge Fall Environmental Conference. Crowne Plaza Valley Forge, King of Prussia.

October 26-- CANCELED. DCNR Public Meeting On Bloody Skillet & Whiskey Springs ATV Trails In Centre, Clinton Counties. Durrwachter Alumni Conference Center, Lock Haven University, Lock Haven. 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. NOTE: Rescheduled for December 12, 19 same place same time.

October 27-- Penn State Chesapeake Stormwater Summit - Overcoming Barriers To Green Infrastructure Solutions. Penn State - Harrisburg Campus. 9:00 to 4:00.

October 28-- NEW. Clinton County CleanScapes. Rail Trail Hillside Community Cleanup Day. Lock Haven, Clinton County. 9:30 to 1:00.

October 28-- PA Resources Council/PA American Water. Drug Take Back Event. Green Tree Borough Building, 10 W. Manilla Ave., Green Tree, Allegheny County. 10:00 to 2:00.

October 28-- PA Resources Council/PA American Water.. Drug Take Back Event. Medical Rescue Team South, 315 Cypress Way, Mt. Lebanon, Allegheny County. 10:00 to 2:00.

October 28-- PA Resources Council/PA American Water. Drug Take Back Event. The Mall at Robinson, Sears parking lot, 100 Robinson Centre Dr., Robinson, Allegheny County. 10:00 to 2:00

October 28-- PA Environmental Council. Potter County Cleanup Event. Hector Township along Loucks Mill Rd., Potter County. 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

October 28-- PA Environmental Council. Potter County Cleanup Event. Bingham Township along Rowley Rd., Potter County. 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.

October 30-- NEW. Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee holds a hearing on lead exposure and mitigation. John P. Cosgrove Center, Pittston Memorial Library, 47 Broad Street, Pittstown, Luzerne County. 11:00. Click Here for more.

November 1-- Agenda Posted. Oil and Gas Technical Advisory Board meeting. Room 105 Rachel Carson Building. 10:00. Click Here to join the meeting online through WebEx. DEP Contact: Todd Wallace 717-783-9438 or send email to: twallace@pa.gov. (formal notice)

-- Presentation: Class IID Injections Wells And How They Are Regulated

-- Discussion: Area of Review Technical Guidance

-- Discussion: Guidelines for Chain Pillar Development & Longwall Mining Adjacent to Unconventional Wells

-- Discussion: Water Supply Replacement Technical Guidance

-- Update on Technical Guidance Development

November 1-- DCNR, PA Recreation & Park Society Grant Application Workshop. Camp Hill, Cumberland County, Giant Food Store Community Room. 9:00 a.m. to Noon.

November 1-- NEW. Dept. of Labor & Industry Uniform Construction Code Review and Advisory Council meeting. L&I Building, 651 Boas Street, Room E-100, 1st Floor, Harrisburg. 10:00. Contact: Cindy Holtry at 717-783-4560. (formal notice)

November 2-- DEP Hearing On Hill Top Energy Center Natural Gas-Fired Power Plant Air Quality Plan Approval. Carmichaels Area Senior High School Auditorium at 215 N Vine Street, Carmichaels. Q/A -6:00, Hearing- 7:00.

November 2-- NEW. DEP Hearing On Proposed Birdsboro Power LLC Natural Gas Power Plant. Boone Area Library, 129 N. Mill Street, Birdsboro, Berks County. 6:30. (formal notices Oct. 21 PA Bulletin, page 6562)

November 2-- Susquehanna River Basin Commission holds a hearing on water withdrawal projects. Room 8E-B East Wing of the Capitol Building in Harrisburg. Questions should be directed to Jason Oyler, General Counsel, 717-238-0423, Ext. 1312, fax 717-238-2436. 2:30 to 5:00. Click Here for more. (formal notice with project list)

November 2-- NEW. Susquehanna River Basin Commission Proposed Access To Records [Right-To-Know] Policy. Room 8E-B East Wing of the Capitol Building in Harrisburg, 2:30 to 5:00. Click Here for more. (formal notice)

November 2-- NEW. PA Recreation and Park Society/DCNR. Get Outdoors PA Regional Summit. Wildlands Conservancy, 3701 Orchid Place, Emmaus, Lehigh County. 8:30 to 2:30.

November 2-- Capital Chapter Society For Women Environmental Professionals. Annual Regulatory Update. DEP Southcentral Regional Office, 909 Elmerton Avenue, Harrisburg. 8:00 to 3:30.

November 3-- Schuylkill Action Network Annual Meeting. Reading Area Community College. 9:30 to 3:00.

November 3-- Creative Makers Of The Pennsylvania Wilds - A Traveling Art Show. Winkler Gallery of Fine Art, 36 N. Brady St., DuBois, Clearfield County. 6:00 to 9:00 p.m.

November 4-- NEW. Philadelphia Parks & Recreation. Love Your Park Fall Service Day. Philadelphia.

November 6-- Green Roofs For Healthy Cities/University of Pittsburgh. Green Roof & Wall Symposium In Pittsburgh. University of Pittsburgh, 4200 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh. 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

November 8-- CANCELED. DEP Climate Change Advisory Committee meeting. Rescheduled for December 4. DEP Contact: Mark Brojakowski, 717-772-3429 or send email to: mbrojakows@pa.gov. (formal notice)

November 8-- DEP Hearing On GE Transportation-Erie RACT II Air Quality Plan (if requested). DEP Northwest Regional Office, 230 Chestnut Street, Meadville. 10:00.

November 8-- DCNR, PA Recreation & Park Society Grant Application Workshop. Nanticoke, Luzerne County, Luzerne County Community College Educational Conference Center. 9:00 a.m. to Noon.

November 8-- Academy of Natural Sciences Of Drexel University Delaware Watershed Research Conference. Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia.

November 9-- CANCELED. DCNR Public Meeting On Bloody Skillet & Whiskey Springs ATV Trails In Centre, Clinton Counties. Durrwachter Alumni Conference Center, Lock Haven University, Lock Haven. 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. NOTE: Rescheduled for December 12, 19 same place same time.

November 9-- Sponsorships Available. PA Resources Council Annual Awards Celebration. Villanova University Hotel and Conference Center, Philadelphia.

November 9-- Energy Coordinating Agency Fall Energy Conference. Temple University Student Faculty Center, 3340 N. Broad Street, Philadelphia. 8:45 to 4:15.

November 10-11-- Bucknell University 12th Annual Susquehanna River Symposium. Bucknell University Campus, Lewisburg, Union County.

November 11-- Westmoreland Cleanways & Recycling. Household Hazardous Waste Collection Event. Westmoreland Cleanways Recycling Center, 113 Innovative Lane in Latrobe. 9:00 to 1:00.

November 12-- NEW. Trout Unlimited Allegheny National Forest Trout Spawning Sites Survey. Sheffield, Warren County.

November 13-- Environmental Issues Forum, Joint Conservation Committee featuring a presentation on pumped storage hydroelectric facilities. Room 8E-A East Wing. Noon. Click Here for more.

November 13-- NEW. PA Recreation and Park Society/DCNR. Get Outdoors PA Regional Summit. Montour Preserve/Environmental Education Center, 700 Preserve Road, Danville, Montour County. 8:30 to 2:30.

November 13-14-- Northeast Recycling Council 30th Anniversary Fall Conference. Amherst, Massachusetts.

November 14-- Environmental Quality Board meeting. Room 105 Rachel Carson Building. 9:00. DEP Contact: Laura Edinger, Environmental Quality Board, 400 Market Street, Harrisburg, PA 17101, 717-772-3277, ledinger@pa.gov.

November 14-- DEP Citizens Advisory Council meeting. Room 105 Rachel Carson Building. 10:00. DEP Contact: Lee Ann Murray, Citizens Advisory Council, P. O. Box 8459, Harrisburg, PA 17105-8459, 717-787-8171, LeeMurray@pa.gov.

November 14-- DEP Environmental Justice Advisory Board meeting. 16th Floor Conference Room, Rachel Carson Building. 8:30. DEP Contact: Carl Jones, caejone@pa.gov or 484-250-5818 or Glenda Davidson 717-783-4759 or gldavidson@pa.gov.

November 14-- DCNR, PA Recreation & Park Society Grant Application Workshop. Clarion, Clarion County, Trinity Point Church of God. 9:00 a.m. to Noon.

November 15-- DCNR, PA Recreation & Park Society Grant Application Workshop. Allison Park, Allegheny County, Hampton Township Community Center. 9:00 a.m. to Noon.

November 16-- CANCELED. Oil and Gas Technical Advisory Board meeting. Room 105 Rachel Carson Building. 10:00. DEP Contact: Todd Wallace 717-783-9438 or send email to: twallace@pa.gov. (formal notice)

November 16-- DEP Small Water Systems Technical Assistance Center Board meeting. Room 105 Rachel Carson Building. 9:00. DEP Contact: Dawn Hissner, 717-772-2189 or dhissner@pa.gov. (formal notice)

November 16-- PA Grade Crude Development Advisory Council meeting. Location TBD. 1:00.

November 16-- DCNR, PA Recreation & Park Society Grant Application Workshop. Blue Bell, Montgomery County, Montgomery County Community College, Central Campus. 9:00 a.m. to Noon.

November 16-- PennTAP: How To Move Your Company Toward Sustainability Webinar. Noon to 1:00 p.m.

November 16-- Penn State Extension. Abandoned Oil & Gas Wells, What’s A Reasonable Estimate? Webinar. 1:00 to 2:00.

November 16-- 9th Annual Sustainability Conference: Engineering A Sustainable Economy. August Wilson Center, 980 Liberty Avenue in Pittsburgh. 8:00 a.m. to 3:00.

November 18-- CANCELED. Westmoreland Cleanways & Recycling. Household Hazardous Waste Collection Event. Westmoreland Cleanways Recycling Center, 113 Innovative Lane in Latrobe. 9:00 to 1:00.

November 18-- NEW. Audubon Society Of Western PA. Zeloyle Sanctuary Reforestation Project. Sarver, Butler County. 9:00 to Noon.

November 20-- NEW. DEP Hearing On RACT II Air Quality Plan For Foam Fabricators Columbia County (if requested). DEP Northcentral Regional Office, 208 West Third Street, Suite 101 in Williamsport. 10:00.

November 21-- DCNR, PA Recreation & Park Society Grant Application Workshop. State College, Centre County, Penn Stater Hotel and Conference Center, Deans Hall 1. 9:00 a.m. to Noon.

December 4-- DEP Climate Change Advisory Committee meeting. Room 105 Rachel Carson Building. 10:00. DEP Contact: Mark Brojakowski, 717-772-3429 or send email to: mbrojakows@pa.gov. (formal notice)

December 5-- DEP Storage Tank Advisory Committee meeting. Room 105 Rachel Carson Building. 10:00. DEP Contact: Dawn Heimbach, 717-772-5599 or send email to: dheimbach@pa.gov. (formal notice)

December 5-- DEP Board Of Coal Mine Safety meeting. DEP Cambria Office 286 Industrial Park Road, Ebensburg. 10:00. DEP Contact: Allison Gaida, agaida@pa.gov, 724-404-3147.

December 5-7-- National Brownfields Conference - Sustainable Communities Start Here. LEED-certified David L. Lawrence Convention Center, Pittsburgh.

December 6-- NEW. DEP Hearing On Chapter 16 Water Quality Toxics Management Strategy Changes. DEP Northeast Regional Office, 2 Public Square, Wilkes-Barre. 1:00.

December 6-- NEW. Environmental Quality Board Hearing On Chapter 93 Water Quality Standards Changes Under Triennial Review. DEP Northeast Regional Office, 2 Public Square, Wilkes-Barre. 2:00.

December 7--10,000 Friends Of Pennsylvania Commonwealth Awards Program. The Bond, 134 E. King Street, York.

December 7-- Westminster College Student Symposium On The Environment. Witherspoon Rooms and Mueller Theater on the Westminster campus, Lawrence County.

December 8-- NEW. DEP Hearing On Chapter 16 Water Quality Toxics Management Strategy Changes. DEP Southcentral Regional Office, 909 Elmerton Avenue, Harrisburg. 1:00.

December 8-- NEW. Environmental Quality Board Hearing On Chapter 93 Water Quality Standards Changes Under Triennial Review. DEP Southcentral Regional Office, 909 Elmerton Avenue, Harrisburg. 2:00.

December 12-- Environmental Quality Board meeting. Room 105 Rachel Carson Building. 9:00. DEP Contact: Laura Edinger, Environmental Quality Board, 400 Market Street, Harrisburg, PA 17101, 717-772-3277, ledinger@pa.gov.

December 12-- NEW. DCNR Public Meeting On Bloody Skillet & Whiskey Springs ATV Trails In Centre, Clinton Counties. Durrwachter Alumni Conference Center, Lock Haven University, Lock Haven. 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.

December 13-- DEP Cleanup Standards Scientific Advisory Board. Room 105 Rachel Carson Building. 9:00. DEP Contact: Michael Maddigan, mmaddigan@pa.gov, 717-772-3609.

December 13-- DCNR, PA Recreation & Park Society Grant Application Webinar. 10:00 to 11:30.

December 14-- DEP Air Quality Technical Advisory Committee meeting. Room 105 Rachel Carson Building. 9:15. DEP Contact: Kirit Dalal, kdalal@pa.gov or 717-772-3436.

December 14- DEP State Board For Certification Of Water and Wastewater Systems Operators meeting. 10th Floor Conference Room, Rachel Carson Building. 10:00. DEP Contact: Cheri Sansoni, csansoni@pa.gov, 717-772-5158.

December 14-- NEW. DEP Hearing On Chapter 16 Water Quality Toxics Management Strategy Changes. DEP Southwest Regional Office, 400 Waterfront Drive, Pittsburgh. 1:00.

December 14-- NEW. Environmental Quality Board Hearing On Chapter 93 Water Quality Standards Changes Under Triennial Review. DEP Southwest Regional Office, 400 Waterfront Drive, Pittsburgh. 2:00.

December 19-- NEW. DCNR Public Meeting On Bloody Skillet & Whiskey Springs ATV Trails In Centre, Clinton Counties. Durrwachter Alumni Conference Center, Lock Haven University, Lock Haven. 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.

January 11-- DCNR, PA Recreation & Park Society Grant Application Webinar. 10:00 to 11:30.

February 7-10-- PA Association For Sustainable Agriculture Annual Conference. State College.

February 23-24-- Keystone Coldwater Conference. State College. (Note: PA Environment Digest is a Conference sponsor.)

March 12-13-- PA Association of Environmental Educators. 2018 Annual Conference. State College, Centre County.

April 17-19-- National Forum On Low-Zero Energy Buildings. Wyndam Grand Hotel, Pittsburgh.

May 2-4-- PA Association Of Environmental Professional. Annual Conference. State College.

Visit DEP’s Public Participation Center for public participation opportunities. Click Here to sign up for DEP News a biweekly newsletter from the Department.

Sign Up For DEP’s eNotice: Did you know DEP can send you email notices of permit applications submitted in your community? Notice of new technical guidance documents and regulations? All through its eNotice system. Click Here to sign up.

Check the PA Environmental Council Bill Tracker for the status and updates on pending state legislation and regulations that affect environmental and conservation efforts in Pennsylvania.

DEP Regulations In Process

Proposed Regulations Open For Comment - DEP webpage

Submit Comments on Proposals Through DEP’s eComment System

Proposed Regulations With Closed Comment Periods - DEP webpage

Recently Finalized Regulations - DEP webpage

DEP Regulatory Update - DEP webpage

August 2017 DEP Regulatory Agenda - PA Bulletin, Page 4922

DEP Technical Guidance In Process

Draft Technical Guidance Documents - DEP webpage

Technical Guidance Comment Deadlines - DEP webpage

Submit Comments on Proposals Through DEP’s eComment System

Recently Closed Comment Periods For Technical Guidance - DEP webpage