PaSEC X-Team volunteers Jack McGinley and Leon Oberdick

This month marks the 10th anniversary of the Pennsylvania Senior Environment Corps and the House and Senate are both celebrating with the resolutions commemorating May as “Pennsylvania Senior Environment Corps” month.

The resolutions were introduced in the House by Rep. Bud George (D-Clearfield) – House Resolution 260 – and in the Senate by Sen. John Pippy (R-Allegheny) – Senate Resolution 112.

The PA Senior Environment Corps was the first statewide program of its kind in the United States to give seniors a meaningful opportunity to help monitor and protect water quality and to share their concern for and knowledge of the environment with others, especially younger generations.

There are now over 2,900 seniors doing water sampling, mentoring high school students for Envirothon competitions, helping to locate abandoned oil and gas wells, educating the public on how to protect local drinking water supplies and on the proper disposal of household hazardous waste, clearing invasive species from watersheds, photo-documenting the results and progress of abandoned mine reclamation projects and educating the public on West Nile Virus and homeowners on the dangers of radon in 52 counties.

The program has been a model for other states and countries. The program and local chapters have won numerous awards, including being recognized by the United Nations Environment Programme which added the PaSEC to its Global 500 Honour Roll, joining the work of individuals like Jacques Cousteau and Jane Goodall.

For more information, visit the PA Senior Environment Corps webpage and read the text of the Senate and House resolutions below.

The Environmental Alliance for Senior Involvement administers the PA Senior Environment Corps Program statewide with local partners like RSVP.

The Senate also adopted two other water related resolutions this week: Senate Resolution 110 (Musto-D-Luzerne) designating May as “Watershed Awareness Week: and Senate Resolution 106 (MJ.White-R-Venango) designating May 6 – 12 as “Drinking Water Week” in Pennsylvania.

Video Blog Feature: The PA Senior Environment Corps in Action!

A Resolution

Celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Pennsylvania Senior Environment Corps and designating May 2007 as “Pennsylvania Senior Environment Corps Month.”

WHEREAS, the Pennsylvania Senior Environment Corps was founded in May 1997 as the first statewide program of its kind in the United States to give seniors a meaningful opportunity to help monitor and protect water quality and to share their concern for and knowledge of the environment with others, especially younger generations; and

WHEREAS, the Pennsylvania Senior Environment Corps has grown from just under 200 volunteers in 1997 to now over 2,900 members throughout the Commonwealth; and

WHEREAS, volunteers with the Pennsylvania Senior Environment Corps have taken the initiative to go through special training and have been provided the equipment to monitor water quality in 52 counties; and

WHEREAS, members of the Pennsylvania Senior Environment Corps now monitor water quality at 628 sites throughout the Commonwealth and have generated over 469,000 pieces of water quality data over the last ten years using a quality assurance plan officially accepted by both the Department of Environmental Protection and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; and

WHEREAS, the Pennsylvania Senior Environment Corps created the first Internet-based water quality testing result database allowing citizen monitoring groups to post water sample results and retrieve them for analysis; and

WHEREAS, Pennsylvania Senior Environment Corps members contribute over 37,400 volunteer hours annually to do water sampling and to educate the public and youth about water quality and other issues contributing the equivalent of over $8 million worth of volunteer time during its 10-year history; and

WHEREAS, volunteers with the Pennsylvania Senior Environment Corps have expanded their activities to include mentoring high school students for Envirothon competitions, locating and marking over 600 abandoned oil and gas wells, educating the public on how to protect local drinking water supplies and on the proper disposal of household hazardous waste, clearing invasive species from watersheds, photo-documenting the results and progress of abandoned mine reclamation projects and educating the public on West Nile Virus and homeowners on the dangers of radon; and

WHEREAS, the Pennsylvania Senior Environment Corps Program was recognized by the United Nations Environment Programme on its Global 500 Honour Roll for the program’s contribution to protecting the environment, joining the work of individuals like Jacques Cousteau and Jane Goodall; and

WHEREAS, the Pennsylvania Senior Environment Corps was recognized by the President’s Council on Sustainable Development and Renew America as an outstanding example of community participation; and

WHEREAS, members of local chapters of the Pennsylvania Senior Environment Corps have received numerous honors and recognition from county governments, watershed groups and other organizations; therefore be it

RESOLVED, that the Senate of Representatives congratulates members of the Pennsylvania Senior Environment Corps for their volunteer efforts to protect and monitor water quality in the Commonwealth’s rivers and streams; and be it further

RESOLVED, that members of the Pennsylvania Senior Environment Corps be honored for their initiative to educate the public and young people about the environment and protecting our water, air and land from harm; and be it further

RESOLVED, that May 2007 be designated as “Pennsylvania Senior Environment Corps Month” in recognition for the valuable service volunteers with the Pennsylvania Senior Environment Corps perform for the citizens and the environment of the Commonwealth.

Session Schedule

The Senate and House return to voting session May 7.

PA Environment Digest Video Blog

· The PA Senior Environment Corps in Action

On the Hill

· On the Senate/House Agenda/ Bills Introduced

· Other Senate/House Bills Moving

· Senate Committee Moves Storage Tank, Nuclear Power Plant Fee Bills

· Ethics Panel Rules Against Rendell Nominees, Senate Sets Vote

· Senate Committee Moves Storage Tank, Nuclear Power Plant Fee Bills

· Game Commission to Launch Education Campaign on Deer Management

· House Committee to Consider Climate Change, Energy Office, Electronics Recycling

Other News

· PA Senior Environment Corp Volunteer, Others Named Leadership Fellows

· West Branch Susquehanna Sympoisum Attracts Over 140

· Valley Creek Trustee Council Announces Grant Opportunity

· DEP to Hold Public Meeting on AMD Treatment Plant in Cambria County

· Stream Buffer Planted at Arbor Day Celebration in Bellfonte

· PUC Commemorates National Drinking Water Week, “Be Water Wise”.

· Overbrook Environmental Education Center Opens in West Philadelphia

· Philadelphia Sustainability Awards Winners Announced

· New EPA Website Makes It Easier To Be Good Environmental Stewards

· EPA Says 2006 Results Show Downward Trend of Air Pollution Continues

· DEP to Again Monitor, Issue Advisories for Unhealthy Ozone Days

· Recycling in Pennsylvania Up Slightly to Just Over 4.8 Million Tons

· 2nd Annual Greater Pittsburgh Recycled Crafts Competition

· Household Hazardous Waste Collection Event Nets 115,063 Pounds of Material

· First Falcon Egg Hatches in Harrisburg!

· Grants Available From DCNR for Protecting Non-Game Species

· Moraine State Park to Host Wild Resource Festival May 12

· Take a Hike! Over 100 Hikes Scheduled Across Pennsylvania May 26-June 3

· Two Pennsylvania Teams to Compete in 2007 Solar Decathlon

· Rep. Swanger to Hold Biofuels Seminar May 18 in Lebanon

· May 11 Workshop in Norristown on Energy Harvest, PEDA Grant Writing

Spotlight

· Penn State Program: Climate Change, Climate Justice

Go To: PA Environment Digest Calendar Page

5/4/2007