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Weekly PA Environment Digest Newsletter
Crisci Associates, Dec. 1, 2014
(12/1/2014)
* General Assembly Ends Legislative Session With Few Positive Environmental Bills

The General Assembly formally adjourned the 2013-14 legislative session November 12 and ended a legislative year with few positive environmental bills signed into law.  All bills not reaching the Governor’s desk start over on January 6 when the new General Assembly convenes. The environmental bills signed into law in 2014 included-- 

* What Can We Expect For The Environment Next Legislative Session?

With the increase in the Republican majorities in both the Senate and House, in particular more conservative members, we can expect to see the reintroduction and consideration of several environmental bills from last session, including the bills to eliminate certain protections for endangered species, create an unaffordable scheme to fund unsustainable nutrient reduction technology, legislation to rollback the Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards and a bill to focus more attention on developing the state’s oil industry.

* Gov.-Elect Wolf Names Budget Task Force Members, Inaugural Committee Chairs

Gov-elect Tom Wolf unveiled the members of his Budget Deficit and Fiscal Stabilization Task Force Tuesday.  The group is assigned to deal with the state’s budget deficit and will be Chaired by Mary Soderberg. Josh Shapiro will serve as Vice-Chair.  Click Here for a full membership list.

* Senate GOP Leaders Announce Changes In Leadership Staff, No Decision On Session

Changes to Senate Republican Leadership senior staff will take place with the beginning of the 2015-16 legislative session, according to Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati (R-Jefferson), Sen. Jake Corman (R-Centre), Sen. Pat Browne (R-Lehigh) and Sen. John Gordner (R-Columbia).

* 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

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

* Sen. Yaw Appointed To Chesapeake Bay Commission

Sen. Gene Yaw (R-Lycoming), Majority Chair of the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, has been appointed by Senate President Pro Tempore Joseph Scarnati to serve as a member of the tri-state Chesapeake Bay Commission.

* November Environmental Synopsis Now Available From Joint Conservation Committee

The November edition of Environmental Synopsis is now available from the Joint Legislative Air and Water Pollution and Conservation Committee featuring articles on--

* DEP Holds Dec. 17 Webinar On Implementing New Buffer Legislation

The Department of Environmental Protection Tuesday announced it will hold a webinar at 11 a.m. on December 17 to discuss the implementation of Act 162.

* DEP Celebrates 10th Anniversary Of Potomac River Partnership

On November 20, Acting DEP Secretary Dana Aunkst joined federal, state and local officials in Gettysburg, Adams County, at the annual meeting and 10th anniversary of the Potomac Partnership, a unique public-private partnership formed to safeguard drinking water sources for more than five million people in the Potomac River Basin.

* Apply Now For WREN Watershed Education Opportunity Grants

The PA League of Women Voters Water Resources Education Network is now accepting applications for its Watershed Education Opportunity Grants of from $100 to $300.  The deadline for applications is December 30.  Click Here for all the details.

* Successful Stormwater Management Training Held In Harrisburg

Staff from DEP’s Southcentral Regional Office Waterways and Wetlands Program conducted a successful stormwater management training on November 13 in Harrisburg, Dauphin County as part of an on-going outreach initiative among the regulated community.

* National Coastal Ocean Science Center Helps PA Prepare For Lake Erie Blooms

When Gov. Tom Corbett learned of the large toxic cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) bloom that disrupted the drinking water supply for hundreds of thousands of Ohio’s citizens, he expressed confidence his state was proactively planning to mitigate any potential human health impacts from toxic cyanobacteria blooms.

* Williamsport Drinking Water Treatment Plant Earns Presidents Award

The City of Williamsport recently received the “Presidents Award” from the Partnership for Safe Water, an alliance to improve the quality of water delivered to consumers. The “Presidents Award” recognizes achieving stringent individual filter performance goals for turbidity.

* SRBC Meets Dec. 5 To Consider Drilling Water Withdrawal Rule Changes

The Susquehanna River Basin Commission is conducting its next business meeting December 5  at 9:00 a.m., Miller Senate Office Building, President’s Conference Room East, 11 Bladen Street, Annapolis, Maryland 21401. The meeting is open to the public.

* November Water Policy News From Water Resources Education Network

The November edition of Water Policy News is now available from the PA League of Women Voters Water Resources Education Network featuring articles on--

* DEP Sets Dec. 3 Sewage Advisory Committee Workgroup Meeting

The Department of Environmental Protection has scheduled a meeting of the Sewage Advisory Committee Workgroup for December 3 starting at 9:00 in the 12th Floor Conference Room, Rachel Carson Building in Harrisburg.  (formal notice)

* Call For Presentations For Pennsylvania Brownfields Conference In Erie

The Department of Environmental Protection and the Engineers’ Society of Western Pennsylvania Monday announced a call for presentations for the next Pennsylvania Brownfields Conference to be held May 13-15, 2015, at the Erie Bayfront Convention Center in Erie.

* DEP Makes Request To Implement Federal Medical Waste Incinerators Plan

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice of its request for delegation of authority to implement the federal hospital, medical and infectious waste incinerators plan and notice of a January 6 public hearing in the November 29 PA Bulletin.  Click Here for a copy of the request.

* PennDOT Invites Private Industry To Submit Qualifications For CNG Fueling Stations

The state’s Public-Private Transportation Partnership Office is inviting the private sector to submit their qualifications to compete for the opportunity to develop clean-burning compressed natural gas (CNG) fueling stations at public transit agencies around the state that would also be available for use by the public.

* PUC: Electric, Natural Gas Utilities To Help Consumers Prepare Now This Winter

As the Public Utility Commission marks the 12th year of its “Prepare Now” initiative, today it issued responses from several electric and natural gas companies that replied to the Commission’s October 24 letter urging utilities to reach out and educate consumers this winter.

* DEP Extends Comment Period For Northampton County Compressor Station Air Permit

The Department of Environmental Protection Tuesday announced it has extended the public comment period for the air quality plan approval on the proposed Easton Compressor Station in Northampton County by two weeks. DEP will accept written comments until 4 p.m. on December 8.

* DEP Submits Comments On EPA’s Proposed Greenhouse Gas Regulation

On Wednesday the Department of Environmental Protection submitted its formal comments on EPA’s proposed Section 111(d) clean power greenhouse gas emission reduction regulations saying while it recognizes the authority for EPA to reduce carbon emissions, EPA’s proposed regulation does not do it it a lawful way and “inappropriately directs national energy policy.”

* 4 PA Counties Would Violate New Ozone Standard Proposed By EPA

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Wednesday proposed to reduce the ozone pollution standard to within a range of 65 to 70 parts per billion (ppb) to better protect Americans’ health and the environment, while taking comment on a level as low as 60 ppb.

* Nov. 26 DEP News Now Available

The November 26 edition of DEP News is now available from the Department of Environmental Protection featuring articles on--

* DCNR State Forest Districts Opening Additional Roads To Hunters

When a new season opens Monday for Pennsylvania deer hunters, new hunting grounds will be available to them as well if they take advantage of additional state forest road access in 18 of the 20 state forest districts.

* New Fossil Discovered By DCNR's Geologic Survey Staff

Pennsylvania has a new genus and species of fossil discovered by DCNR Bureau of Topographic and Geologic Survey. Before this discovery, the oldest known fossil of this infra order-- Stenopodidea, known as barber pole shrimp-- was thought to be 99 million years old.

* Nov. 26 DCNR Resource Newsletter Now Available

The November 26 issue of the Resource newsletter is now available from the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources featuring articles on--

* Now You Can Comment On PA Environment Digest Daily Blog Postings

You now have the opportunity to offer your constructive comments on each posting on the PA Environment Digest Daily Blog.  This up-to-the-minute source of information on environmental issues affecting Pennsylvania is now more interactive than ever.  You can also sign up to receive a daily email of postings made that day on the Blog or add the Blog to your RSS feed.  For more information, visit the PA Environment Digest Daily Blog.

* Public Participation Opportunities/Calendar Of Events

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.  It also gives you a heads-up on House and Senate Committee meetings, conferences and other interesting events.  Meetings are in Harrisburg unless otherwise noted.

* 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.

* General Environmental/Budget 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---

* Watershed/Flooding NewsClips

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

* Regulations, Technical Guidance & Permits

No new regulations published this week.  Pennsylvania Bulletin - November 29, 2014

* CLICK HERE To Print Entire PA Environment Digest

CLICK HERE to Print The Entire PA Environment Digest.

* 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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