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Weekly PA Environment Digest Newsletter
Crisci Associates, August 5, 2013
(8/5/2013)
CLICK HERE To Print Entire Digest
* Draft Of New, Multi-State Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement Available For Comment

The Chesapeake Bay Program has developed a draft Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement, which outlines new goals and outcomes that will guide partners in the protection, restoration and stewardship of the Chesapeake Bay and which is open for public input until August 15.

* Participate In 5 Minute Pennsylvanians And Their Water Survey

Water is worth it! From the water we drink, to the crops we irrigate, and to the lakes we swim in --  Pennsylvania's water supply is vital and worth protecting.

* Senate/House Agenda/Session Schedule

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

* Senate Transportation Committee Hearing Urges House Action On Funding Plan

The Senate Transportation Committee Wednesday held a hearing on transportation funding issues, including the failure of the House to act on Senate Bill 1 (Rafferty-R-Montgomery) prior to the summer break.  The Senate passed the bill by a vote of 45 to 5 on June 5.

* Opinion: Climate Change And The Chesapeake Bay Watershed

By Nick DePasquale, U.S. EPA Chesapeake Bay Program

* Capital RC&D Hosts CREP Landowner, Maintenance Contractor Buffer Walk Aug. 13

A buffer walk for landowners and landscape contractors intended to help both understand issues involved in working in environmentally sensitive streamside buffer areas and help landowners identify appropriate contractors will be held on August 13 in Waynesboro, Pa.

* WPC Streambank Restoration Outing Set For Sept. 22 In Crawford County

Wear sturdy shoes, track down your work gloves and join the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy for a member workday and outing from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on September 22, at a WPC-conserved property along the French Creek in Crawford County.

* Disaster Assistance Approved For Victims Of Severe Storms In Allegheny, Other Counties

Gov. Tom Corbett Tuesday announced the U.S. Small Business Administration approved his request to declare Allegheny County a disaster area after several weeks of severe storms and flooding caused significant damage to homes and businesses between June 26 and July 21.

* Feature: Economic Impacts, Regulation Of Shale Gas Production In PA

On July 26 Patrick Henderson, the Governor’s Energy Executive, presented these comments to the Congressional Natural Gas Caucus on natural gas production in Pennsylvania.

* DEP Update On Long-Term Marcellus Air Sampling, Releases Technical Document

The Department of Environmental Protection Thursday announced its long-term air monitoring study in southwestern Pennsylvania will continue through the end of the year. The agency also released a technical support document that provides additional information about the study’s scope and process.

* Widener Conference On Sustainability & Marcellus Shale Development Sept. 27

Widener University Law School in Harrisburg will host the first-of-its-kind Conference on Sustainability and Marcellus Shale Development on September 27.

* Nature Abounds Seeks Private Water Supply Testing Grant In Clearfield County

Nature Abounds has applied for $250,000 from the Department of Community and Economic Development to fund baseline water quality data for approximately 100 private water supplies in the Highland Street Extension area in Brady and Sandy Townships in Clearfield County.

* Natural Gas Vehicle Conversion Workshop Set For Luzerne County Aug. 13

The Department of Environmental Protection, along with its partners at Greater Philadelphia Clean Cities, will hold a free workshop on August 13 in Luzerne County for private and municipal fleet owners and operators, trucking companies, school districts, and alternative fuel station developers.

* SBDC Environmental Management Assistance Program July Newsletter

The July issue of the PA Small Business Development Center’s Environmental Management Assistance Program is now available.

* EPA Awards Small Business Sustainable Technology Grants, New Apps Due

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Thursday announced the awarding of more than $2 million in contracts to seven small businesses to develop sustainable technologies that will help protect human health and the environment.

* CONSOL Energy Reports Partial Structural Failure At Bailey Preparation Plant

CONSOL Energy Inc. Thursday reported there was a partial structural failure on its above-ground clean coal conveyor belt at the Bailey Preparation Plant in Southwestern Pennsylvania. No one was injured and the system operations were immediately halted.

* Nominations Due For Heenan PA Recycling Markets Development Award

The Pennsylvania Recycling Markets Center, Inc., is pleased to announce the 2013 William M. Heenan, Jr., Pennsylvania Recycling Markets Development Award application period is open.  Nominations are due September 25.

* Lowe’s Foundation Awards $20,000 To Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful

Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful and the Lowe’s Charitable and Educational Foundation Wednesday announced a major gift in support of Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful mission to engage individuals in building and sustaining vibrant communities.

* PRC Hard To Recycle, Household Chemical Collection Events Set In Pittsburgh

The PA Resources Council and its partners will hold two special collection events in Allegheny County: a Hard To Recycle collection event on August 17 in the Strip District in Pittsburgh and on September 21 a Household Chemical Collection at the South Park Wave Pool parking lot in Pittsburgh.

* ECOvanta, PRC Schedule E-Waste Collection Events In Southeast PA

The PA Resources Council, Philadelphia-based ECOvanta and other partners have released a schedule of Fall electronic waste collection events in Philadelphia and Southeast Pennsylvania for September and October.  They include:

* Crooked Creek Environmental Center Hosts Growing Up Wild Teacher Workshop Aug. 8

The Crooked Creek Environmental Center in Ford City, Armstrong County, is hosting a teacher workshop  entitled Growing Up Wild, Exploring Nature With Young Children on August 8 starting at 9:00 a.m.

* Governor Recognizes Agencies With Innovation Awards, Including DCNR/DPW

Gov. Corbett presented awards to four state agencies for their efforts to save money, increase productivity and improve service.  The first Innovation of the Year awards were presented on Wednesday at the Innovation Expo in Harrisburg.

* DEP Detects Small-Scale Harmful Algae Bloom In Presque Isle Bay

The Department of Environmental Protection has confirmed that a Harmful Algae Bloom (HAB) has occurred in some backwater areas of Presque Isle Bay, along the shoreline bordering the City of Erie.

* Upcoming Educational Retreat For Women Forest Landowners Sept. 26-29

Women across the mid-Atlantic region who own, care for, or are interested in learning more about forestland are invited to apply to attend the third annual Women and Their Woods (WaTW) Educational Retreat from September 26-29 at Camp Susque in Trout Run, Lycoming County.

* WPC Seeks Volunteers For Bennett Branch Forest Work August 24

The Western Pennsylvania Conservancy stewardship staff will work in Bennett Branch Forest in Force, Pa., to maintain the site and install tree shelters at the 30-acre American chestnut and mixed hardwood reforestation area.

* Friends Of Wissahickon Hold Several Trail Ambassador Hikes In August

Don't let the summer pass by without joining the Friends of the Wissahickon on one of their free hikes in Wissahickon Valley Park, Montgomery County. All hikes are led by FOW Trail Ambassadors.  Click Here for a complete schedule of these and other FOW activities.

* Ginseng Harvesters Reminded Of Shortened Season In PA Woodlands

The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources’ Bureau of Forestry is advising Pennsylvanians involved in the harvest of American ginseng root that the season has been shortened and now will begin September 1.

* Opportunity To Bid On DCNR Project In Lycoming County

The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources published notice of an opportunity to bid on a project in Lycoming County.

* Caren Glotfelty, Long-Time PA Environmental Leader, Leaving Heinz Endowments

On Thursday Caren Glotfelty, Director of Environmental Programs for the Heinz Endowments, announced she was leaving the foundation on August 7 after serving 13 years in the position.

* Your 2 Cents: Issues On Advisory Committee Agendas

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

* Grants & Awards

This section gives you a heads up on upcoming deadlines for awards and grants and other recognition programs.  NEW means new from last week.

* Budget/Quick Clips

Here's a selection of NewClips on environmental topics from around the state--

* Marcellus Shale NewsClips

Here are NewsClips on topics related to Marcellus Shale natural gas drilling---

* Flooding/Watershed NewsClips

Here are NewsClips on watershed topics from around the state--

* Regulations, Technical Guidance & Permits

The Department of Agriculture published notice of proposed regulations making changes to the Clean and Green Preferential Assessment of Farmland and Forest Land for public comment.

* Calendar Of Events

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.

* Stories Invited

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

* Supporting Member PA Outdoor Writers Assn./PA Trout Unlimited

PA Environment Digest is a supporting member of the Pennsylvania Outdoor Writers Association, Pennsylvania Council Trout Unlimited and the Doc Fritchey Chapter Trout Unlimited.

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