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Weekly PA Environment Digest Newsletter
Crisci Associates, May 18, 2015
(5/18/2015)
* PennAg Industries Corrects The Record: They Do Not Support Senate Bill 724

The PennAg Industries Association on Wednesday sent a letter to Sen. David Argall (R-Schuylkill) saying they “do not support [Senate Bill 724] as currently written due to our issues and concerns, contrary to a statement made by Ed Schafer, Bion Environmental Technologies, at a Senate Committee hearing May 6 where he said they did.

* Action You Can Take: Tell Sen. Vogel To Stop Trying To Derail Clean Water Efforts

What action can you take to express your opposition to Senate Bill 724 which the Chesapeake Bay Foundation-PA says could derail clean water efforts in Pennsylvania?

* Analysis: A Battle Brewing On Eliminating Forested Stream Buffers, Again

When House Bill 1565 (Hahn-R-Lehigh) was originally introduced at the request of the PA Builders Association in 2013 it said simply, “The use or installation of riparian buffers and riparian forest buffers shall not be required under this section.”

* Senate Committee Recommends Confirmation Of Cindy Dunn For DCNR

The Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee Wednesday unanimously recommended Cindy Dunn be confirmed as Secretary of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, but only after questions about her role as CEO of PennFuture.

* Confirmation Remarks By Cindy Dunn, Acting DCNR Secretary

Here is the text of the introductory remarks by Acting DCNR Secretary Cindy Dunn at her confirmation hearing before the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee Wednesday--

* Senate, DEP Celebrates 20th Anniversary Of The Land Recycling Program With Video

The Senate Wednesday adopted a resolution recognizing the 20th anniversary of Pennsylvania’s Land Recycling Program to coincide with the PA Brownfields Conference being held in Erie this week.  The resolution was sponsored by Sen. Gene Yaw (R-Lycoming), Majority Chair of the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee. 

* Sen. Brewster, Rep. Davidson Introduce Governor’s Natural Gas Severance Tax Proposal

On Thursday, Sen. James Brewster (D-Allegheny) introduced Gov. Wolf’s natural gas severance tax proposal as Senate Bill 116 (sponsor summary).  Rep. Margo Davidson (D-Delaware) introduced the Governor’s proposal in the House-- House Bill 1142.

* DEP: Pending Permit PNDI Reviews Will Need To Be Re-Run For Bat Impacts

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the May 16 PA Bulletin saying permit reviews may now be impacted by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s listing of the Northern Long-eared Bat as a federally threatened species under the Endangered Species Act.

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

PA Environment Digest now has a Google+ Circle called Green Works In PA.  Let us join your Circle.

* Senate/House Agenda/Session Schedule/Gov’s 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--

* Senate/House Bills Moving

The following bills of interest saw action this week in the House and Senate--

* Senate Confirms Russell Redding As Secretary Of Agriculture

The Senate Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee this week recommended the confirmation of Russell Redding as Secretary of Agriculture and who was confirmed unanimously by the full Senate the same day.

* House Committee Holds Hearing On Water Well Standards Bill

The House Consumer Affairs Committee held a hearing Tuesday on House Bill 48 (Godshall-R-Montgomery) setting drinking water well construction standards (sponsor summary).

* Water Resources Education Network Awards Grants To 4 Water Education Partnerships

The PA League of Women Voters’ Water Resources Education Network Friday announced the award of $19,000 in grants to four community partnerships across the Commonwealth.

* Chesapeake Bay Commission Report Says Livestock Do Not Belong In Streams

The scene of cattle lounging in a stream on a hot summer day may not be so idyllic after all. A new report from the Chesapeake Bay Commission finds that allowing livestock in streams harms both the animal and the water.

* Bill Chain Named Senior Agriculture Program Manager For CBF-PA

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation-PA has named Bill Chain as its Pennsylvania Senior Agriculture Program Manager.

* Acting DEP Secretary Quigley Visits Great Lakes Children’s Water Festival In Erie

On May 14, Acting Secretary Quigley stopped by the 2015 Great Lakes Children’s Water Festival, hosted by the Water Systems Council at Penn State Behrend in Erie.

* Susquehanna River Basin Commission Meets On Proposed Regulatory Fees June 4

The  Susquehanna River Basin Commission is scheduled to hold a meeting on June 4 to consider FY 2016 Regulatory Program Fees and other issues. (formal notice)

* May 11 Watershed Winds Newsletter Now Available From Penn State Extension

The May 11 edition of the Watershed Winds newsletter is now available from Penn State Extension featuring articles on--

* Spring River Alert Information Network Newsletter Now Available

The Spring edition of Rain Matters the River Alert Information Network newsletter is now available featuring articles on--

* PAWWA Hosts Small Water, Wastewater System Asset Management Workshop June 23

The PA Chapter of the American WaterWorks Association will sponsor a free Small Water, Wastewater System Asset Management Workshop on June 23 in State College.  Click Here for all the details.  Go to the PAWWA website for a list of other training opportunities.

* Reminder: Keep PA Beautiful: Enter Great American Cleanup of PA Video Contest

Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful is still accepting 2-minute videos of people making their communities clean and beautiful for the Great American Cleanup of PA Video Contest.  Entries are due May 22.

* Clinton County CleanScapes Future Rail Trail Cleanup Day May 20

Join Clinton County CleanScapes, PPL employees and the County Commissioners in removing litter and tires from Keller Street hillside and PPL access road in Castanea Township on May 20 from 11:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

* DEP Announces $20,750 Settlement Against Casella Waste Management

The Department of Environmental Protection Thursday announced a settlement of $20,750 with Casella Waste Management of Pennsylvania, Inc. (Casella) for multiple violations of the Solid Waste Management Act at the McKean County Landfill in Kane from May to August 2014.

* Meeting On Jeanesville Mine Fire In Carbon County May 20

The Department of Environmental Protection  will hold a public information session to update the public about the Jeanesville Mine Fire, which is located in Banks Township, Carbon County. The session will be held on May 20, at 6 p.m. at the Tresckow Volunteer Fire Company, 26 East Oak St., Tresckow.

* May 21 Meeting On Proposal To Modify Greene County Coal Waste Landfill Permit

The Department of Environmental Protection will be holding a public meeting on May 21 to take questions from residents about a proposal from FirstEnergy Generation LLC  to modify the permit for the Coal Combustion Landfill located at the company’s Hatfield’s Ferry Power Station in Monongahela Township, Greene County.

* May 14 DEP News Now Available

The May 14 edition of the DEP News newsletter is now available from the Department of Environmental Protection featuring stories on--

* CFA Funds $9.8M In New Alternative, Clean Energy Projects

Gov. Wolf Thursday announced the Commonwealth Financing Authority approved funding to support seven new Alternative and Clean Energy projects with the investment of more than $8.12 million in grants and $1.74 million in loans.

* PA Energy Development Authority To Meet May 18

The PA Energy Development Authority is scheduled to meet on May 18 to hear presentations on future funding opportunities, grantee project presentations and a status report on 2014 funding agreements. (formal notice)

* UGI To Build LNG Plant In Wyoming County

UGI Energy Services, LLC Thursday announced plans to build a liquefied natural gas (LNG) production facility in northern Pennsylvania that will utilize Marcellus Shale gas.

* DEP June 1 Hearing On Reclassifying Production Well To Disposal Well In Indiana

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice of a June 1 public meeting and hearing on a proposal to reclassify the PA General Energy Company Marjorie C. Yanity #1025 well from a production well to a disposal well in Grant Township, Indiana County.  (PA Bulletin, page 2426)

* PUC Launches Online Smart Hearing To Expand Public Comment Opportunities

The Public Utility Commission Thursday announced the launch of its online “Smart Hearing” pilot project, in an effort to make it easier for utility customers to comment on proposed rate increase requests.

* PA Green & Healthy Schools Schoolyard Habitats Webinar May 19

The PA Green and Healthy Schools Partnership will host a May 19 webinar by Audubon Pennsylvania on Schoolyard Habitats.

* Family Nature Fest Slated At Lacawac Sanctuary June 13 In Wayne County

Lacawac Sanctuary recently announced plans to once again host Nature Fest at Lacawac’s 550 acre property on June 13 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. 

* Volunteers Needed To Plant Flowers Around Westmoreland Courthouse May 18

Volunteers are getting their gardening tools ready to help plant some 1,500 flowers around the Westmoreland County Courthouse at the annual Courthouse Planting Day May 18.

* Wildlands Conservancy Seeks Volunteers To Restore Habitat May 30 In Monroe County

The Wildlands Conservancy is seeking volunteers to restore Golden-Winged Warbler habitat at the Thomas Darling Preserve in Blakeslee, Monroe County on May 30.

* PA Master Naturalist Program Offers Training In Berks, Bucks, Chester Counties

The PA Master Naturalist Program has scheduled training sessions to help local community leaders promote natural resource conservation education, citizen science and stewardship in Berks, Bucks and Chester counties.

* PEC Accepting Applications For Pocono Forest & Waters Conservation Mini-Grants

The PA Environmental Council is now accepting applications for Pocono Forest and Waters Conservation Landscape Mini-Grants through June 15.

* Northeast PA Trail Symposium A Success In Year Two

Regional trail representatives and organizations alike descended upon the Lackawanna Heritage Valley offices in Scranton May 5 for the second annual Northeast PA Trail Symposium.

* PA Parks & Forests Foundation Looking For 100 Parks & Forest Icons

The PA Parks and Forests Foundation is looking for 100 icons that best represent Pennsylvania’s State Parks and Forest system.

* 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

No new regulations were published this week.   Pennsylvania Bulletin - May 16, 2015

* 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.

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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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