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Weekly PA Environment Digest Newsletter
Crisci Associates, April 13, 2015
(4/13/2015)
* DEP Adds 15 Days, 3 Public Hearings To Solicit Comments On Chapter 78 Drilling Regs

The Department of Environmental Protection Monday extended the comment period to 45 days  and scheduled three public hearings on proposed final Chapter 78 (conventional) and Chapter 78A (unconventional) drilling performance standard regulations.

* Consol Meets All Center For Sustainable Shale Development Performance Standards

The Center for Sustainable Shale Development Tuesday announced it has certified CONSOL Energy’s Appalachian Basin operations as having successfully completed the Center’s rigorous evaluation and verification process.

* Citizens Advisory Council To Hear Presentations On Drilling Regs, Clean Power Plan

DEP’s Citizens Advisory Council will meet on April 21 and hear presentations on DEP’s proposed final version of the Chapter 78 (conventional) and 78A (unconventional) drilling regulations and the National Governor’s Association Assistance Program on EPA’s proposed Section 111(d) Clean Power Rule.

* Prepare For EPA Action If PA Does Not Meet 2017 Stream Cleanup Milestones

Pennsylvania has 627 days (as of April 13) to put the best management practices on the ground needed to eliminate 10 million pounds of nitrogen and 212 million pounds of sediment from going into our rivers and streams to meet the 2017 Chesapeake Bay cleanup milestones.

* Wolf: I’ll Be Here This Summer, Fall And Winter To Get A State Budget

Gov. Wolf said Tuesday he did not expect a state budget to be enacted by July 1, saying he’ll be here this summer, fall and winter to get what he wants in the spending plan.

* PA Environment Digest Google+ Circle, Blogs, Twitter Feeds

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.

* Governor's Schedule

Gov. Tom Wolf's work calendar will be posted each Friday and his public schedule for the day will be posted each morning.   Click Here to view Gov. Wolf’s Weekly Calendar and Public Appearances.

* 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-- 

* Updated: House Committee Hearing On DEP’s Handling Of Drilling Regulations Now April 22

The House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee is now scheduled to hold a hearing on April 22 on DEP’s handling of the proposed final version of the Chapter 78 (conventional) and 78A (Marcellus Shale) drilling regulations.  (The original date was April 20.)

* Auditor General Report On Meeting Chesapeake Bay Milestones, There’s No Silver Bullet

Auditor General Eugene DePasquale Friday urged environmental regulators, the agricultural community and municipalities to work together on water pollution control strategies if the state is to meet federally mandated Chesapeake Bay pollutant reductions by 2025 and prevent dramatic increases in water and sewer rates.

* CBF-PA Response To AG Report: Manure Technology Does Not Solve Pollution Problems

Harry Campbell, Pennsylvania Executive Director for the Chesapeake Bay Foundation issued this statement Friday following the public release of Auditor General Eugene DePasquale’s 7-page “Special Report on the Importance of Meeting Pennsylvania’s Chesapeake Bay Nutrient Reduction Targets.”

* ARIPPA Abandoned Mine Reclamation Grant Applications Due July 10

The Anthracite Region Independent Power Producer’s Association is now accepting applications for its 6th Annual Abandoned Mine Land/Abandoned Mine Drainage Remediation Grants Program.

* Lower Merion Conservancy Seeking Volunteer StreamKeeper Citizen Scientists

Lower Merion Conservancy in Montgomery County is seeking StreamKeepers citizen science volunteers to collect water quality data in the Cobbs Creek Watershed.

* DEP Northcentral Partners Prepare For 6th Stream Restoration Construction Season

The Department of Environmental Protection Tuesday announced an 11-member regional partnership begins its sixth stream restoration construction season in northcentral Pennsylvania on April 13 with a riparian buffer project in Lycoming County. The project is the first of 17 planned for this year.

* DCNR OKs Delaware River Conservation Plan, Adds Segment To Rivers Registry

On April 11, the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources published notice in the PA Bulletin it has approved the Delaware River Watershed Conservation Plan and is placing the Delaware River Watershed in Delaware County covered in the Plan on the Pennsylvania Rivers Conservation Registry.

* Susquehanna River Basin Commission Hearing On Water Withdrawal Requests April 30

The Susquehanna River Basin Commission will hold a hearing April 30 on water withdrawal requests at the Holiday Inn Harrisburg-Hershey, Grande 1 Room, 604 Station Road, Grantville. 7:00 p.m.  (formal notice)

* PA Resources Council Watershed/Rain Barrel Workshop Schedule Set

The PA Resources Council is sponsoring a series of Watershed Awareness/Rain Barrel Workshops in eastern and western Pennsylvania.

* PA Environmental Council Offers Landowners 7 Brochures To Improve Water Quality

The PA Environmental Council in cooperation with the Lehigh County Conservation District and the Watershed Coalition of the Lehigh Valley has published a series of seven brochures designed to help landowners protect water quality.  The brochures include-

* Chesapeake Bay Foundation-PA Spring Bay Bound Newsletter Now Available

The Spring issue of Bay Bound is now available from the Chesapeake Bay Foundation-PA featuring articles on--

* NRCS Pennsylvania State Technical Committee Meeting April 15

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service will host the Pennsylvania State Technical Committee meeting on April 15.

* Auditor General Commends DEP For Implementing Shale Audit Recommendations

Auditor General Eugene DePasquale Monday said he is pleased to see the Department of Environmental Protection is implementing audit recommendations that should help protect water quality during Marcellus Shale drilling operations.

* Keep PA Beautiful: Still Time Left To Enter Great American Cleanup of PA Video Contest

Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful is seeking creative, original video of people making their communities clean and beautiful through the Great American Cleanup of PA.

* DEP Renews Keystone Landfill Operating Permit, Separate Expansion Still Under Review

The Department of Environmental Protection Tuesday renewed the operating permit for Keystone Sanitary Landfill in the boroughs of Dunmore and Throop, Lackawanna County, for another ten years. The permit allows the landfill to continue operating as a municipal waste landfill at its existing facility until April 6, 2025.

* DEP Denies PA Waste’s Municipal Waste Landfill Application In Clearfield County

The Department of Environmental Protection Thursday announced it has again denied a municipal waste landfill application originally submitted in 2006 by PA Waste LLC of Feasterville, Bucks County, for a site in Boggs Township, Clearfield County.

* Close The Loop Hosts Give & Take Day April 18 In Monroe County

Close The Loop and Chestnut Township, Monroe County, are hosting a Give and Take Day on April 18 from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

* SW PA Special Collection Events By PA Resources Council Helps With Spring Cleaning

Ready to start your spring cleaning? As you clear out your basement, closet, and shed you may find a number of materials that just don't belong in the trash can.

* Fox Chapel Presbyterian Church Hosts Electronics Recycling Event In Pittsburgh April 11

Spring has sprung and summer’s just around the corner. Clean up the clutter and do something good for the environment.  Fox Chapel Presbyterian Church is proud to host an electronics waste recycling event on April 11 on their premises at 384 Fox Chapel Road in Pittsburgh.

* PA Resources Council April e-PRC Newsletter Now Available

The April issue of the e-PRC newsletter is now available from the PA Resources Council featuring articles on--

* Delaware Highlands Conservancy Hawley Earth Fest April 24-26 In Pike County

On April 24-26, join the Delaware Highlands Conservancy, the Downtown Hawley Partnership, and Hawley Earth Fest sponsors on April 25 at the Ritz Theater in Hawley, Pike County for “Little Sparrow and the Eagles”—live Americana music and a fascinating Live Birds of Prey presentation from Bill Streeter of the Delaware Valley Raptor Center.

* Abington Friends School Eco Fest May 2 In Montgomery County

The Abington Friends School in Jenkintown, Montgomery County, will host an Eco Fest on May 2 from 10:00 to noon for ages 3 to 14 at the school located at 575 Washington Lane.

* Earth Day Run For Clean Air April 18 In Philadelphia

The Clean Air Council, with partners Toyota Hybrids and Philadelphia Insurance Companies, is sponsoring a Run For Clean Air event April 18 starting at 8:30 a.m. on the steps of the Philadelphia Art Museum.

* Pittsburgh, Temple University Host Special Earth Day Events On April 22, 24, 25

Celebrate Earth Day and reduce your environmental impact this year with the PA Resources Council! PRC staff will be working all over Pennsylvania, educating the public and keeping valuable materials out of our landfills.

* Three Mile Island Emergency Preparedness Exercise Set For Week Of April 13

The Federal Emergency Management Agency will evaluate a Biennial Radiological Emergency Preparedness Exercise at the Three Mile Island Nuclear Power Plant.  The exercise will occur during the week of April 13 to assess the ability of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to respond to an emergency at the nuclear facility.

* Environmental Quality Board Considers Air, Drinking Water, Other Items April 21

The Environmental Quality Board meets on April 21 with these items on the agenda:

* EPA Recognizes Verizon With Energy Star Partner Of Year, Sustained Excellence Award

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has recognized Verizon with a 2015 Energy Star Partner of the Year – Sustained Excellence Award for its continued leadership in protecting the environment through superior energy efficiency achievements.

* Small Businesses To Be Recognized By Duquesne’s Center For Green Industries April 22

The Duquesne University Center for Green Industries and Sustainable Business Growth has selected a Pittsburgh design and energy consulting company as the winner of its third Annual Sustainable Small Business Award.

* Susquehanna Greenway West Branch Paddle & Pedal Sojourn June 17-21

Break out the paddles, get your campfire tales organized, and join us for an exciting trip through some lovely and scenic sections of the West Branch of the Susquehanna River during our 5-day educational paddling and cycling trip from June 17-21.

* 2015 Green Tourism Conference April 14-15 In Pike County

The Green Tourism Working Group and the Delaware Highlands Conservancy will host the 2015 Green Tourism Conference April 14-15 in Hawley, Pike County.

* Join PA Parks & Forests Foundation Day In The Life Of A State Forest April 11-12

Members of the public across the state are invited to take part in the PA Parks and Forests Foundation’s “Day in the Life of a State Forest” on April 11 and 12.

* DCNR To Do More Frequent Surveys To Identify Sustainable Trends In Timber Industry

Using recently compiled data as a baseline, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Acting Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn Wednesday announced the department will conduct a survey of timber harvested and processed in Pennsylvania every two to three years to better understand market dynamics important to sustaining forests and the forest products industry.

* TreeVitalize Program Aiding Community Tree Planting Efforts

Communities across Pennsylvania will become a little greener this spring thanks to DCNR's TreeVitalize Program.

* DCNR Honoring Lardner’s Point Park In Philadelphia With Green Park Award

The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources is presenting its annual Green Park Award to the Delaware River City Corp. and the City of Philadelphia for their role in developing Lardner’s Point Park, a riverfront improvement project that showcases a rebounding Delaware River to the multitude of visitors drawn to its banks in Philadelphia’s Tacony section.

* You Could Make A Wish Come True For State Parks, Forest Programs

The PA State Parks and Forests Foundation has a unique program called the PA State Parks and Forests Wish List which allows donations to be used to improve environmental education and recreation programs throughout Pennsylvania’s State Parks and Forests.

* April 8 DCNR Resource Newsletter Now Available

The April 8 edition of the Resource newsletter is now available from the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources featuring articles on--

* Manada Conservancy 15th Annual Native Plant Sale May 2 In Dauphin County

The Manada Conservancy will hold its 15th Annual Native Plant Sale in May 2 at Schaffner Borough Park in Hummelstown, Dauphin County, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

* March Newsletter From Friends Of Allegheny Wilderness Now Available

The March newsletter from the Friends of Allegheny Wilderness is now available featuring articles on--

* Webcast Of Harrisburg Peregrine Falcon Banding May 21, Teachers, Students Invited

The Department of Environmental Protection and Game Commission Tuesday invited students, teachers, and non-formal educators to tune in for the annual Harrisburg Peregrine falcon banding event during a live webcast on May 21.

* DEP Announces Darrin Bodner, Executive Deputy For Administration & Management

Acting DEP Secretary John Quigley Monday announced the appointment of Darrin Bodner as DEP’s Executive Deputy Secretary for Administration and Management. 

* Help Wanted: PA Conservation Districts Seeking New Executive Director

The PA Association of Conservation Districts is now accepting applications to fill the position of Executive Director.  Applications are due April 20.  Resumes and inquiries are being accepted electronically at: personnel@pacd.org. Please do not call the PACD office. Click Here for all the details.

* Help Wanted: PA Resources Council Seasonal Positions In Western PA

The PA Resources Council office in Pittsburgh is looking to fill a number of seasonal positions with candidates that are excited to make meaningful change for Pennsylvania's environment!

* Public Participation Opportunities/Calendar Of Events

This section lists House and Senate Committee meetings, DEP and other public hearings and meetings and other interesting environmental events.

* 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.

* Environmental NewsClips - All Topics

Here are NewsClips from around the state on all environmental topics, including General Environment, Budget, Marcellus Shale, Watershed Protection and much more--

* Regulations, Technical Guidance & Permits

The Environmental Quality Board meets on April 21 with these items on the agenda:

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* 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.

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