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Weekly PA Environment Digest Newsletter
Crisci Associates, July 13, 2015
(7/13/2015)
* Historic Win For Clean Water In Chesapeake Bay Watershed, Now Get It Done

A federal Third Circuit Court of Appeals opinion released Monday upholds a lower court decision that affirmed the legality of the multi-state Chesapeake Bay cleanup effort.

* Wolf Appoints Members To PA Pipeline Infrastructure Task Force, Work Groups

Gov. Tom Wolf Tuesday announced the appointment of 48 individuals to participate on the Pennsylvania Pipeline Infrastructure Taskforce, which will be chaired by Department of Environmental Protection Secretary John Quigley, and 101 other individuals were appointed to 12 work groups.

* DEP: Conventional Wells Had 3 Times The Violations Of Unconventional Wells In 2014

The Department of Environmental Protection Thursday issued its 2014 Oil and Gas Annual Report which reported conventional oil and gas wells had three times the violations of unconventional wells and nearly three times the number of enforcement actions during 2014.

* Analysis: Wolf Vetoes Pension Bill, Republicans Express Dismay, Budget Jabs Continue

As threatened, Gov. Tom Wolf Thursday vetoed the Republican pension reform bill-- Senate Bill 1 (Corman-R-Centre).  The Republican reaction?  They were “dismayed.”

* 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[Updated]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- 

* Bills On Governor's Desk

The following bills were given final approval by the Senate and House and are now on the Governor's desk for action--

* Senate Committee Meets July 13 On Anthracite, Forestry Task Force Resolutions

The Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee is scheduled to meet on July 13  to consider resolutions relating to anthracite coal and creating a Forestry Task Force.  The bills include--

* DEP Lifts Drought Watch For All Counties In Pennsylvania

The Department of Environmental Protection Friday lifted the drought watch declaration for all counties throughout Pennsylvania, based on recommendations from the Pennsylvania Drought Task Force.

* SRBC Aug. 6 Hearing On Changes To Water Resources Plan For Susquehanna Basin

The Susquehanna River Basin Commission is scheduled to hold a public hearing August 6 on proposed changes to the Comprehensive Plan for the Water Resources of the Susquehanna River Basin and on individual water withdrawal projects.  (formal notice + agenda)

* NRCS Announces New Funding Available In Certain Counties In PA

Denise Coleman, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service State Conservationist, Tuesday announced Pennsylvania agricultural producers and non-industrial private forest landowners in targeted areas can now apply for conservation assistance through five new approved Regional Conservation Partnership Program projects.

* DEP Interns Learn About Water Management, Public Service

Approximately 40 interns from DEP’s Office of Water Management met with Water Management Deputy Secretary Kelly Heffner and other staff on July 7 to discuss how DEP protects Pennsylvania’s water resources as well as the rewards of working in public service.

* CBF-PA: Teachers Get Their Feet Wet At Envirothon Workshop

Fourteen Envirothon teachers from Pennsylvania and Virginia went paddling, turned over rocks, and studied forestry and soils during a two-day workshop this week, co-sponsored by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation and Lancaster County Conservation District.

* 2015 Rivers Conservation Camp Concludes With Another Successful Run

The 21st annual PA Rivers Conservation and Fly Fishing Youth Camp was held June 21 - 26 at the Allenberry Resort in Boiling Springs.  Thirty-two students, ages 14 to 17, from Pennsylvania, Maryland and New York participated in the week –long resident experience.

* Schools Asked To Complete Environmental Literacy Indicator Tool Survey

The Department of Education is asking each school district and charter school in Pennsylvania to complete the Environmental Literacy Indicator Tool Survey by the end of August.

* July Declared Lakes Awareness/Appreciation Month By Gov. Wolf

The PA Lakes Management Society this week announced Gov. Tom Wolf has declared July Lakes Awareness/Appreciation Month to urge the public to take time to appreciate your local lake, pond or reservoir and the benefits they provided.

* July 6 Watershed Winds Newsletter Available From Penn State Extension

The July 6 edition of Watershed Winds newsletter is now available from Penn State Extension featuring articles on--

* Seats Still Available For Water, Wastewater Operator Certification Testing This Fall

The PA Section of the American Water Works Association announced this week seats are still available for operator certification testing in Bedford on September 29 and in Johnstown on November 3.  Click Here for all the details.

* PA Resources Council Partners In Pittsburgh To Reduce Waste At 3 Big Events

The PA Resources Council partnered with a variety of local organizations at three high profile events in the Pittsburgh Region to reduce waste or reusing unwanted products.

* Keep PA Beautiful: REI Grant Funds Community Projects In Bedford County

Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful has received a grant from Recreation Equipment Incorporated in the amount of $4,000 for community improvement projects in Bedford County.

* Deadline Extended For PRC Anti-Litter Video Contest In Western PA

The PA Resources Council has extended the deadline for its Anti-Litter Video Contest for the Pittsburgh Region until September 30.  Click Here for all the details.

* July e-PRC Newsletter Now Available From PA Resources Council

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

* CFA Clean Energy Investment Of $500K In Clearfield County

Gov. Wolf Wednesday announced the Commonwealth Financing Authority approved funding to support a new Alternative and Clean Energy project with an investment of $500,000 in Clearfield County.

* PUC Updates Act 129 Manual Used To Assess Energy Savings

The Public Utility Commission Wednesday approved updates to the Technical Reference Manual, aimed at making the TRM a more effective and professional tool for validating energy savings and providing support for Act 129 of 2008 goals. 

* PA Environmental Council: June Issue Of In Case You Missed It

The June edition of In Case You Missed It is now available from the PA Environmental Council featuring articles on--

* PA ACLU Warns Butler County Developer Over SLAPP Suit Against Drilling Opponents

The ACLU of Pennsylvania has sent a letter to a Butler County developer and its co-plaintiffs demanding that they drop their lawsuit against five Middlesex Township residents and two nonprofit organizations, the Delaware Riverkeeper Network and Clean Air Council, who oppose a local pro-drilling/fracking zoning ordinance. 

* Federal Court: DEP Improperly Withheld Documents From Court In May 2015

On Tuesday the Third Circuit Court of Appeals issued an order finding that the  Department of Environmental Protection improperly withheld a series of comment letters and expert reports from the “record” submitted to the court for review. 

* DEP Secretary Quigley Marks 20th Anniversary Of DEP

The Department of Environmental Protection celebrated its 20th anniversary on July 1, when Act 18 of 1995 split the then-Department of Environmental Resources into the Department of Environmental Protection and the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.   Click Here to watch DEP Secretary John Quigley's message to employees.

* July 9 DEP News Now Available

The July 9 edition of DEP News is now available from the Department of Environmental Protection featuring articles on--

* PEC TV: Outdoor Recreation Headlines Environmental Focus Program On PCN July 12

Outdoor recreation on Pennsylvania’s waterways will be the topic of conversation this Sunday, July 12 on the next edition of “Environmental Focus,” a half-hour television talk show from the PA Environmental Council.

* Western PA Tree Farm Receives 2015 Regional American Tree Farm System Award

The American Tree Farm System Monday announced the four Regional Outstanding Tree Farmers of the Year from among more than 82,000 certified Tree Farmers: John and Ann Boutwell and Peggy Boutwell Autrey of Plattville, Alabama; Duke and Naomi Hoiland of Poleridge, Montana; Raul Chiesa and Janet Sredy of Elizabeth, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania; and Merlin and Georgie Becker of Manawa, Wisconsin.

* PA Community Forestry Conference Aug. 6-7 In Erie

The 2015 PA Community Forestry Conference will be held in Erie on August 6-7 organized and sponsored by the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, U.S. Forest Service, TreeVitalize, PA Community Forests and Penn State University.

* Hawk Mountain Recovers 2004 Telemetry Unit From Turkey Vulture

A turkey vulture trapped and tagged with a satellite telemetry unit in 2004 by Hawk Mountain Sanctuary in Berks County was recently re-sighted more than a decade later and with its transmitter still working.

* Digital Photo Art Exhibit By Jerry Hassinger Aug. 9, Ned Smith Center For Nature & Art

There will be a digital photo art exhibit by Jerry Hassinger and a special reception on August 9 from 2:00 to 5:00 at the Ned Smith Center for Nature and Art in Millersburg, Dauphin County.  Proceeds from the exhibit will be donated to the Center’s education program.

* Bayer CropScience, Ernst Conservation Seeds Partner To Create Pollinator Habitat

As part of its ongoing commitment to honey bee health, Bayer CropScience has partnered with Ernst Conservation Seeds in Crawford County to provide bulk seed to individuals and organizations that have pledged to become Feed a Bee partners and dedicate land to the establishment of pollinator habitat.

* Larry Schweiger Named New PennFuture President And CEO

PennFuture Monday announced the appointment of Larry J. Schweiger as president and CEO of the statewide environmental advocacy organization after a four-month national search.

* 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 - July 11, 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.

* 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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