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Weekly PA Environment Digest Newsletter
Crisci Associates, Jan. 27, 2014
(1/27/2014)
CLICK HERE To Print Entire Digest
* Chesapeake Bay Foundation Calls For Action On Urban/Suburban Stormwater

With the challenge of reducing urban and suburban stormwater at the forefront of discussions at all levels of government, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation Monday released a new report: Polluted Runoff: How Investing in Runoff Pollution Control Systems Improves the Region’s Ecology, Economy, and Health.

* Corbett Announces 118 Grants To Protect, Improve Watersheds In 40 Counties

Gov. Tom Corbett Wednesday announced the Department of Environmental Protection will invest more than $20.65 million in watershed protection projects to improve watersheds, reduce stormwater runoff and acid mine drainage and support educational programs, among other environmental efforts.

* DEP: 2 More Hearings On Chapter 78 Drilling Regulations, Comment Period Extended

The Department of Environmental Protection has scheduled two more public hearings on proposed changes to Chapter 78 drilling regulations and extended the comment period to March 14.

* PEC Urges DEP To Move Ahead With Drilling Reg Changes, Include More Protection

The Pennsylvania Environmental Council Wednesday urged the Department of Environmental Protection to move ahead with proposed changes to Chapter 78 drilling regulations and strengthen them, rather than delay them further because of the recent PA Supreme Court decision invalidating portions of the Act 13 drilling law.

* EQB Approves Drilling Permit Fee Increase To Pay For Regulatory Program

The Environmental Quality Board Tuesday approved a final regulation increasing oil and gas well permits fees that will raise an additional $4.9 million annually to make up for a 22 percent decline in the number of permits processed by DEP.

* Center For Sustainable Shale Development Certification Program Opens

The Center for Sustainable Shale Development, a collaborative between environmental organizations and energy companies to encourage prudent and responsible development of shale gas resources in the Appalachian region, Tuesday announced its independent third-party certification and verification program is now accepting applicants.

* Corbett Unveils All Of The Above Pennsylvania Energy Plan, Recommendations

Gov. Tom Corbett Tuesday unveiled a State Energy Plan he says adopts an “All of the Above” energy policy that reflects Pennsylvania’s diverse energy portfolio of coal, natural gas, oil, hydropower, wind, solar and other renewables.

* 2012-13 State Performance Report Shows Increase In Environmental Compliance

The 2012-13 Report On State Performance released by the Governor’s Budget Office shows 80.03 percent of facilities regulated by DEP are in full compliance with environmental requirements, an increase of 2.32 percent over the 2011-12 report.

* Add Us To Your Google+ Circle

PA Environment Digest now has a Google+ Circle called Green Works In PA.  Just go to your Google+ page and search for DHess@CrisciAssociates.com, the email for the Digest Editor David Hess,  and let us join your Circle.

* Senate/House Agenda/Session Schedule/Bills Introduced

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 Committee Hearing Jan. 29 On Bill Prohibiting Stream Buffer Mandates

The House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee is scheduled to hold a hearing January 29 on House Bill 1565 (Hahn-R-Northampton) prohibiting DEP from mandating the use of stream buffers to control erosion and sedimentation in High Quality and Exceptional Value Watersheds under Chapter 102 of DEP’s regulations.

* Senate Committees Set Jan. 28 Hearing On Changes To Federal Flood Insurance Cost

The Senate Banking & Insurance and Environmental Resources and Energy Committees will hold a joint hearing on changes to the federal flood insurance program on January 28 in Harrisburg.  The hearing was requested by Sen. Gene Yaw (R-Lycoming), Majority Chair of the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee.

* January Environmental Synopsis Available From Joint Conservation Committee

The January edition of the Environmental Synopsis is now available from the Joint Legislative Air and Water Pollution Control and Conservation Committee.

* DEP Citizens Advisory Council Hears Update On Act 13 Drilling Law Decision

At the DEP Citizens Advisory Council meeting Tuesday, DEP Secretary Chris Abruzzo announced the department would be holding two more public hearings on the proposed changes to the Chapter 78 drilling regulations in response to requests for more comment opportunities.

* January 23 DEP News Now Available

The January 23 DEP News online newsletter is now available.  Click Here to sign up to receive your own copy.

* EPA Awards $5M To Universities To Study Green Infrastructure In Philadelphia

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Tuesday announced nearly $5 million dollars in grants to five universities to evaluate innovative green infrastructure practices in urban areas, using Philadelphia, as the pilot area.

* Corbett Announces $60.1 Million In Water Infrastructure Investments

Gov. Tom Corbett Tuesday announced the investment of $60.1 million in 13 non-point source, drinking water and wastewater projects across 12 counties through the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority.

* West Branch Susquehanna Restoration Symposium Presentations, Posters Invited

Trout Unlimited and the West Branch Susquehanna Restoration Coalition will host the 7th West Branch Susquehanna Restoration Symposium on April 10-11 at the Toftrees Golf Resort and Conference Center, State College.

* Call For Abstracts: 2014 Abandoned Mine Reclamation Conference

With a theme of "Collaboration Is Essential," the 2014 Pennsylvania Abandoned Mine Reclamation Conference will team up with ARIPPA, combining efforts and audiences, to co-host a dual conference on Abandoned Mine Reclamation and Independent Power Production.

* StormwaterPA Video: Rethinking Stormwater Basins, Putting Nature To Work

Runoff became an issue, so basins were created as a standard "stormwater management" tool. Much like giant bathtubs, basins were designed to fill up in heavy storms and keep water at bay. That was then.

* Penn State Extension: Youth Water Educator’s Summit Sept. 25, Call For Presentations

Youth water education continues to be an important part of protecting and restoring America’s valuable water resources. Penn State Extension is proud to host the second ever Dive Deeper Summit for youth water educators in the Mid-Atlantic Region.

* Regional Keystone Energy Education Program Workshop In Latrobe Feb. 24

The Department of Environmental Protection invites middle school teachers, administrators and building managers to a February 24 training workshop in Latrobe, Westmoreland County on the Keystone Energy Education Program (KEEP) to teach and track energy efficiency in school buildings and homes.

* DCNR Invites Students To Apply For Summer Environmental Careers Camp

Young Pennsylvanians interested in pursuing environmental careers are invited to apply by April 15 for the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources’ summer residential camp, DCNR Secretary Ellen Ferretti said Friday.

* Keep PA Beautiful Offers Surveillance Support Program To Municipalities, Partners

In 2013, Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful introduced the Illegal Dump Surveillance Support Pilot Program designed to provide surveillance cameras to municipalities or nonprofit organizations in western Pennsylvania to help capture evidence at active, illegal dumpsites.

* Washington Gas Offers Carbon Offset Product In PECO Territory With PEC

Washington Gas Energy Services, Inc. Thursday announced the launch of WGES PA Carbon Offsets, a unique product that is designed to reduce the carbon impact of WGES’ natural gas customers in Pennsylvania.

* PUC: Pennsylvania 2nd In Electric Competition In U.S.

The Public Utility Commission Wednesday announced Pennsylvania ranks as the No. 2 U.S. state, behind only Texas, for its competitive electricity market and the number of consumers switched to suppliers, according to the Annual Baseline Assessment of Choice in Canada and the United States.

* PUC, Widener Law School Partner On Legal Help For Low-Income Utility Consumers

The Public Utility Commission Friday joined Widener University School of Law, the PA  Bar Association Pro Bono Program and low-income advocates in publicizing a program to help low-income consumers receive legal help in navigating the complaint process before the PUC.

* PA Organization For Watersheds & Rivers Accepting Apps For River Sojourn Grants

The PA Organization for Watersheds and Rivers is now accepting applications for 2014 PA River Sojourn Grants.  Applications are due February 28.

* PA Parks & Forests Foundation Receives Community Conservation Grant From DCNR

The PA Parks and Forests Foundation will continue to make state parks and forests more accessible, build volunteer chapters across the state and provide technical assistance to friends groups, state parks and forests thanks to a new grant from Department of Conservation and Natural Resources announced Wednesday.

* Game, Fish Commissions Join In Land Conservation Agreement In Armstrong County

The Game and Fish and Boat Commissions Wednesday announced completion of a land-transfer agreement with Hanson Aggregates BMC Inc. that secures the long-term preservation of Cogley Island, a 10-acre property in the Allegheny River in Armstrong County.

* AFT Survey: State Farmland Protection Funding 39% Below 2008 Levels, PA 2nd

The annual American Farmland Trust survey of state farm and ranch land protection programs shows a 19 percent increase in funding from 2011 to 2012, but funding levels are still 39 percent below where they were in 2008, according to Andrew McElwaine, President and CEO of AFT.

* January 22 Issue Of DCNR’s Resource Newsletter Now Available

The January 22 issue of DCNR’s Resource online newsletter is now available.  Sign up to receive your own copy by clicking here and going to the bottom of the page.

* Rosebud Mining Donates Mining Artifacts To Quecreek Mine Rescue Foundation

The Quecreek Mine Rescue Foundation Tuesday announced it has accepted a donation of coal mining artifacts from Rosebud Mining Company formerly housed in the Windber Coal Heritage Center, according to William Arnold, Executive Director of the Foundation.

* Dennis Whitaker Appointed Chief Counsel At DEP

Dennis A. Whitaker has been appointed Chief Counsel to the Department of Environmental Protection.

* PA’s Gene Koontz Elected President Of American Water Works Association

At their meeting in Austin, Texas, the American Water Works Association Board of Directors today elected Gene Koontz of Lemoyne, Pennsylvania as the association’s next president-elect and chose five new vice presidents and two directors-at-large.

* Interns Wanted: Lower Susquehanna Internship Program

The Lower Susquehanna Internship Program is now accepting summer internship applications related to the Conewago Creek Initiative in Dauphin, Lebanon and Lancaster counties.  Click Here and fill out the application and then email to Rebecca Nissley at: rjn5062@psu.edu.

* Interns Wanted: Gifford Pinchot Grey Towers Historic Site

The Grey Towers National Historic Site in Milford, Pike County, home of conservationist and PA Gov. Gifford Pinchot has from 1 to 5 student intern positions to serve 12-week internships from May to October.  Click Here for details.

* 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 NewsClips

Here's a selection of NewsClips 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 - January 25, 2014

* 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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