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Weekly PA Environment Digest Newsletter
Crisci Associates, August 19, 2013
(8/19/2013)
CLICK HERE To Print Entire Digest
* Proposed Drilling Regulations Will Be On Aug. 27 EQB Meeting Agenda

The proposed Chapter 78 drilling regulations implementing the environmental protection provisions of Act 13 Marcellus Shale drilling law have been posted and will be considered at the August 27 Environmental Quality Board meeting.  It will be the only item on the agenda.

* CBF Supports Proposed Nutrient Trading Program Changes By DEP

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation-PA  supports the discussed enhancements to the Commonwealth’s nutrient trading regulations, presented Wednesday by the Department of Environmental Protection to the Water Resources Advisory Committee.

* PA Abandoned Mine Reclamation Conference A Success, Watershed Heroes Recognized

By Robert Hughes, Eastern PA Coalition For Abandoned Mine Reclamation

* 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--

* House Hearing On Bill To Change Endangered Species Listing Process Aug. 26

The House Game & Fisheries and Environmental Resources & Energy Committees hold a joint hearing on House Bill 1576 (Pyle-R-Armstrong) fundamentally changing the procedure for listing state threatened and endangered species on August 26.

* Game Commission Gas Leasing Topic Of Joint House Info Session Aug. 27

The House Game & Fisheries and Environmental Resources and Energy Committees will hold a joint information meeting on August 27 to hear a presentation by the Game Commission on its oil and gas lease program.

* August Environmental Synopsis Now Available From Joint Conservation Committee

The August issue of the Environmental Synopsis newsletter from the Joint Legislative Air and Water Pollution Control and Conservation Committee is now available.

* DEP Meeting Permit Decision Guarantee Program Deadlines 96% Of The Time

The Department of Environmental Protection Friday released the third of fourth quarterly reports on its revised permitting policies. The report shows that since July 2012, DEP cleared 66 percent of all permit applications that were backlogged.

* CBF Calls On Congress To Pass Farm Bill At Ag Progress Days

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation-PA this week called on Congress to quickly pass a federal Farm Bill that supports Pennsylvania farmers by providing assistance to preserve soil and keep excess nutrients out of local waterways.

* Alliance For Chesapeake Bay Launches Stormwater For Homeowners, Businesses Website

The Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay is pleased to launch an online resource dedicated to helping homeowners and businesses take charge of stormwater runoff.

* Penn State: Cyanobacteria? Or What's That Scum In Your Pond?

Have you ever experienced strange colors or smells in your pond or seen them in a lake? Have you ever wondered what might have caused them? Cyanobacteria, often called blue-green algae, are bacteria that are found naturally in lakes, ponds, and slow-moving streams.

* Keep PA Beautiful Awards 2013 Fresh Paint Days Pennsylvania Grants

Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful is pleased to announce the award of 8 grants under the 2013 Fresh Paint Days Pennsylvania Program

* Philadelphia, Westmoreland County Receive Think Green Grants

Keep America Beautiful and Waste Management awarded Keep Philadelphia Beautiful and Keep Westmoreland County Beautiful grants of $10,000 each under the Think Green Grant, two of 10 grants awarded to KAB affiliates across the country.

* Friends Of Allegheny Wilderness Set Allegheny River Cleanup For September 10

The Friends of the Allegheny Wilderness are sponsoring and is looking for volunteers for their annual Allegheny River Cleanup on September 10 starting at 8:30 a.m. at the Wildwood Inn, Tidioute, Warren County.

* Partnership For The Delaware Estuary Sponsors 5 Cleanups In Philadelphia

The Partnership for the Delaware Estuary will sponsor and is looking for volunteers for five cleanups in Philadelphia between August 26 and August 30.  Click Here for details.

* First Annual Goddard Student Leadership Legacy Institute A Success

This summer, the Central Pennsylvania Conservancy successfully hosted the first annual Goddard Student Leadership Legacy Institute at the Ironmaster's Mansion in Pine Grove Furnace State Park.

* Cambria County Forming Senior Environment Corps

Are you 55 years or older, live in Cambria County and want to become involved in protecting our resources and educating the public on the natural world?  If so, the new Cambria County Senior Environment Corps wants you.

* Corbett: Disaster Assistance OK'd For Storm Victims In Lawrence County

Gov. Tom Corbett Thursday announced that the U.S. Small Business Administration approved his request to declare Lawrence 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.

* University Of Pittsburgh Shale Gas Roundtable Releases Final Report

Following two years of study and dialogue, the Shale Gas Roundtable has released a report promoting increasing research, modernizing state laws and regulations, and building relationships across sectors to support environmental protection, quality of life, and economic development goals for the region.

* Corbett Awards Additional First Round Natural Gas Vehicle Grants

Gov. Tom Corbett Monday announced two additional projects will receive funding from the initial round of Act 13 Natural Gas Vehicle grants, first awarded in May.

* PUC Finalizes Changes To Natural Gas Supplier Licensing

The Public Utility Commission Thursday finalized changes to regulations regarding natural gas supplier licensing requirements (Docket No. L-2011-2266832).

* Casey Bill Promotes Natural Gas, Ensures PA Residents Get Shale Jobs

U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) unveiled legislation Wednesday aimed at helping Pennsylvania residents gain the skills they need to compete for natural gas jobs.

* PA Environmental Council Annual Meeting Set For September 11

The PA Environmental Council will hold its annual meeting on September 11 at the Harrisburg Hilton from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

* Penn State Debuts Online Renewable Energy, Sustainability Systems Degree

Pennsylvania State University, which is ranked first among universities engaged in alternative energy research by Elsevier Publishing, is bringing together faculty from multiple academic units to help train renewable energy leaders and will launch an online master’s degree in renewable energy and sustainability systems starting this fall.

* PA Economic Development Assn. Sets Fall Webinar, Workshop Presentations, Conference

The PA Economic Development Association has scheduled two important Fall webinars and workshops and will hold its annual conference in Pittsburgh on October 21-23.

* Department of Health Reports First West Nile Virus Human Cases of 2013

Pennsylvania’s first probable human cases of West Nile Virus infection in 2013 have been detected. A Montgomery County man was hospitalized due to WNV. A York County man has also tested positive for the infection, but was not hospitalized.

* PARK(ing) Day Pop-Up Parks Return To Philadelphia September 20

On September 20, the international event known as PARK(ing) Day will be celebrated in Philadelphia for the sixth consecutive year with Pop-Up Parks.

* DCNR Awards Funding For Rural Firefighters

More than $505,000 in grants were recently awarded to help Pennsylvania’s rural communities guard against the threat of fires in forests and other undeveloped areas, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources announced Thursday.

* Celebrate The Golden Anniversary Of Pine Grove Furnace State Park In Sept./October

In 1895, Pine Grove Furnace ended a 130 year legacy of iron production, but in 1913, 17,000 acres were purchased by the Commonwealth for a new legacy as Michaux State Forest and Pine Grove Furnace State Park, Cumberland County.

* Game Commission May Delist Bald Eagle As Threatened Species

With its numbers in Pennsylvania continuing to soar ever higher, the bald eagle soon could be removed from the state’s list of threatened species.

* Opportunity To Bid On DEP Mine Reclamation Projects In Jefferson, Washington Counties

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice of the opportunity to bid on a mine reclamation projects in Jefferson County and Washington County.

* Help Wanted: Lancaster County Environmental Education Program Manager

The Lancaster County Department of Parks and Recreation is seeking candidates for a program manager position to supervise environmental education programs.  Click Here for all the details and to apply.

* 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

No new regulations were published this week.   Pennsylvania Bulletin - August 17, 2013

* 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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