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Weekly PA Environment Digest Newsletter
Crisci Associates, June 6, 2016 Issue #623
(6/6/2016)
* House Could Vote At Any Time To Kill Entire Drilling Reg Package Thru June 13

The House has through June 13 to vote on House Concurrent Regulatory Review Resolution #1 to kill DEP’s final conventional Chapter 78 and unconventional (Marcellus Shale) Chapter 78a drilling regulations (assuming it does not add any additional session days, voting or non-voting).

* John Linkes Recognized With National River Hero Award By River Network

John Linkes, a resident of Leechburg, Armstrong County, accepted a River Hero Award from the River Network on May 23 at the River Rally Conference in Mobile, Alabama.

* With Budget D-Day Approaching, Senate/House Reconvene For June Marathon

Perhaps it’s nothing, but we hope having the Senate and House return to voting session on World War II’s most famous D-Day, June 6, does not portend a second global conflict over the state budget.

* 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--

* Sen. Richard Alloway Predicts A Greener Future For GOP

By Rona Kobell, Chesapeake Bay Journal

* Op-Ed: You Can Be Pro-Environment And Pro-Job Creation

By Sen. John Yudichak (D-Luzerne)

* Rep. Sturla To Announce Water Use Fee Bill June 6 To Support Water Programs

Rep. Mike Sturla (D-Lancaster), who represents Pennsylvania on the Chesapeake Bay Commission, will hold a press conference on June 6 at 10:30 a.m. on the Capitol steps in Harrisburg to announce House Bill 2114 (not yet online) that could generate $245 million annually from a water resource use fee on major water withdrawals in Pennsylvania.

* May Environmental Synopsis Newsletter Available From Joint Conservation Committee

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

* PEMA: Severe Weather Possible Across PA This Weekend

The PA Emergency Management Agency is urging the public to pay close attention to local weather forecasts in anticipation of severe weather that is possible across Pennsylvania over the weekend. The most significant storms could hit southern and eastern Pennsylvania on Sunday afternoon and evening.

* CBF-PA Applauds Montour County For Joining Clean Water Counts Campaign

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation-PA Wednesday applauded Montour County commissioners, for adopting a Clean Water Counts resolution, calling on state officials to make clean water a top priority for the Commonwealth.

* Delaware Highlands Conservancy New Hulk Video-- Clean Water Starts With You

The Delaware Highlands Conservancy is pleased to announce the launch of a new video for our region, “Clean Water Starts With You” which is designed to call attention to the Clear Choices Clean Water: My Delaware River campaign.

* DEP Offers Qualifying Drinking Water Systems Free Professional Engineering Assistance

Small and medium-sized public community and nonprofit non-community water systems may qualify for free engineering assistance for drinking water systems under DEP’s Professional Engineering Services Program.

* Hampden Twp. Watershed Festival June 14 In Cumberland County; Have A Swale Time

On June 14 the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay will host the Hampden Township Watershed Festival, a FREE, family-friendly event celebrating the Yellow Breeches and Conodoguinet creeks in Cumberland County.

* ATV Trail In Clinton County Reopened After Mine Reclamation Project Completed

Representatives of the departments of Conservation and Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Thursday joined local officials and ATV riding enthusiasts in officially reopening a popular, public ATV trail threading through Sproul State Forest near Westport, Clinton County.

* Slippery Rock University Receives EPA Environmental Education Grant

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Tuesday announced the completion of grant awards under the 2015 Environmental Education Grants Program.

* 30,000+ Students Participate In PA Trout In The Classroom Program

The Fish and Boat Commission Wednesday reported 30,000+ students in 283 classrooms across Pennsylvania participated in the PA Trout In The Classroom Program.  A joint project of the Commission and the PA Council of Trout Unlimited.

* DEP Awards Over $17 Million In Act 101 Recycling Program Implementation Grants

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the June 4 PA Bulletin listing 120 communities receiving recycling program implementation grants under Act 101 totalling just over $17 million.

* River Sweep Seeking Volunteers For June 18 Cleanup In Western PA

Volunteers are needed for the 26th Annual River Sweep June 18, from 8 a.m. to noon to help clean up stream and riverbanks in Allegheny, Armstrong, Butler,  Fayette, Washington and Westmoreland Counties.

* Keep PA Beautiful Now Accepting Applications For Fresh Paint Days PA Grants

Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful Wednesday announced they are now accepting applications for 2016 Fresh Paint Days Pennsylvania Grants.  Applications are due July 31.

* DEP Extends Comment Period For Permits Related To Atlantic Sunrise Pipeline

The Department of Environmental Protection Wednesday announced it has extended the comment period on water obstruction and encroachment permits related to the proposed Atlantic Sunrise natural gas pipeline.

* PennFuture Challenges Township Zoning Ordinance Allowing Drilling Everywhere

PennFuture Thursday announced it has filed a legal challenge to the zoning ordinance in Mount Pleasant Township, Washington County arguing it is constitutionally invalid because it allows natural gas drilling across all zoned districts.

* Exelon Retires 2 Illinois Nuclear Plants Early, Is Three Mile Island Next?

Exelon Corporation Thursday announced it will move forward to shut down the Clinton and Quad Cities nuclear plants, given the lack of progress on Illinois energy legislation.

* Weis Markets Surpasses 2020 Goal Of Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Weis Markets recently announced it has surpassed its goal of reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 20 percent by the year 2020.

* Infrastructure Modernization At Tobyhanna Army Depot To Reduce Energy Use 20%

The U.S. Army Thursday announced a $29 million modernization project at Tobyhanna Army Depot in Monroe County that are expected to lower the army depot's annual energy consumption by more than 20 percent and water consumption by more than 8 percent.

* IRRC Submits Disapproval Order To PUC On Final Net-Metering Regulations

The Independent Regulatory Review Commission Thursday submitted its formal disapproval order on the Public Utility Commission’s net metering regulations the IRRC unanimously disapproved on May 19 saying they are not consistent with statutory authority.

* PUC Hosts Black Sky Tabletop Exercise To Prepare For Large-Scale Power Outage Event

The Public Utility Commission and the Office of the Governor Friday hosted a “Black Sky” tabletop exercise, bringing together key stakeholders in government, utilities and nonprofit organizations to discuss state-level response to large-scale, hazardous events.

* Penn State: Politics, Not Ignorance May Pollute Support For Pro-Science Solutions

Mentioning politics in a message about an environmental issue may turn people -- even people informed about the issue -- away from supporting a pro-science solution, according to a team of researchers.

* West Nile Virus-Carrying Mosquito Sample Detected In Centre, Franklin Counties

The Departments of Environmental Protection and Health Friday reported the confirmation of the first 2016 detections of West Nile Virus from a Turkey Vulture found in Orrstown Borough, Franklin County, on May 17 and a Red-tailed Hawk found in Worth Township, Centre County, on May 2.

* DCNR, Others Salute Central PA’s Standing Stone Trail As 2016 PA Trail Of The Year

Linking two state parks and threading through forestlands in three counties, Standing Stone Trail in central Pennsylvania today was honored by Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and other state officials for attaining the statewide honor of 2016 Trail of the Year.

* DCNR’s Dunn Works From Within To Connect Pennsylvanians To The Outdoors

By Tom Horton, Chesapeake Bay Journal

* Schuylkill River Town Program Continues To Connect Communities To The River

After an eventful spring season, the PA Environmental Council’s Schuylkill River Town Program is gearing up for another summer of getting people onto both the river and the Schuylkill River Trail!

* Brodhead Watershed: June 25 Blakeslee Natural Area Hike; June 26 Learn To Fly-Fish

The Brodhead Watershed Association is sponsoring a free Get Outdoors Poconos hike June 25 Blakeslee Natural Area in Monroe County and a June 26 Learn To Fly-Fish the Brodhead Creek events.

* Western PA Conservancy Protects 329 Acres In Laurel Highlands, Somerset County

The Western Pennsylvania Conservancy Tuesday  announced the permanent protection of hundreds of forested acres in the Laurel Highlands along two miles of the Great Allegheny Passage.

* June 15 Webinar On Role Of Prescribed Burns Hosted By Game Commission

On June 15 starting at noon, the Game Commission will host a webinar on the Role of Prescribed  Burns In Managing State Game Lands.

* Game Commission Seeking Volunteers For Appalachian Bat Count

Game Commission biologists are seeking assistance from residents this summer in the Appalachian Bat Count, a statewide monitoring effort to collect bat maternity colony data.

* Pamela Witmer Joins UGI Energy Services’ Leadership Team

UGI Energy Services, LLC Wednesday announced former PUC Commissioner Pamela A. Witmer has been named vice president of government affairs for the company.

* Help Wanted: PA Resources Council Environmental Analyst-PA Recycling Hotline

The PA Resources Council is seeking candidates to fill an Environmental Analyst position in Pittsburgh whose major responsibility will be to staff the Pennsylvania Recycling Hotline.   Click Here for all the details and instructions on how to apply for the position.

* Opportunity To Bid On DEP Mine Reclamation Projects In Tioga, Westmoreland Counties

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the June 4 PA Bulletin of an opportunity to bid on an abandoned mine reclamation projects in Tioga County and Westmoreland County.

* 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 - June 4, 2016

* 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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