Scrapbook Photo 03/25/24 - 93 New Stories - REAL Environmental & Conservation Leadership In PA: http://tinyurl.com/3729bhvv
Weekly PA Environment Digest Newsletter
Crisci Associates, June 20, 2016 Issue #625
(6/20/2016)
* EPA Will Develop Its Own Chesapeake Bay Nutrient, Sediment Reduction Goals For PA

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency notified Pennsylvania Friday it will be developing Pennsylvania-specific goals for reducing nutrients and sediment in the Pennsylvania portion of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed to help the Commonwealth get back on track to meeting its 2025 TMDL cleanup commitments.

* Bills Killing Conventional Drilling Regs, On Clean Power Plan Review Go To Governor

The House and Senate Wednesday gave final approval to legislation making DEP start the process over for updating conventional oil and gas drilling regulations and setting further requirements for legislative review of any plan DEP develops to implement EPA’s Clean Power Climate Plan.  The bills now go to the Governor for his action.

* Gov. Wolf Applauds Approval Of Final Unconventional Drilling Regulations

Gov. Tom Wolf Wednesday applauded the legislature’s approval of Senate Bill 279 (Hutchinson-R-Venango) and the unconventional Chapter 78a Environmental Protection Performance Standards at Oil and Gas Well Sites.

* PEC TV: Abandoned Mines/Wells Topic Of June 19 Environmental Focus On PCN

The environmental legacies of Pennsylvania’s industrial past and the challenge of remediation and restoration will be the topic of discussion in the June 19 installment of “Environmental Focus,” the PA Environmental Council’s monthly environmental affairs television program on the Pennsylvania Cable Network.

* Paddlers Celebrate Rivers Month, Honor Susquehanna North Branch River Of The Year

Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn will join hundreds of Susquehanna River supporters Saturday as they paddle more than 45 miles in a salute to PA Rivers Month and the designation of the North Branch Susquehanna River as 2016 River of the Year.

* 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/House Bills Moving

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

* Senate Environmental Committee Reports Out Heritage Areas, Potomac River Bills

The Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee Tuesday reported out legislation establishing DCNR’s Heritage Areas Program in law and a bill on appointing alternates to the Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin.  The bills include--

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

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

* NRCS/PA: $286M Provided To Help Landowners Improve PA Chesapeake Bay Watershed

As a conservation agency, the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service in PA takes pride in helping improve our environment.

* Philadelphia Issues Green Stormwater Infrastructure Innovation Challenge

The Philadelphia Water Department Monday announced the Philadelphia Green Stormwater Infrastructure Innovation Challenge to gets the public’s help to find creative ways to reduce the cost of the City’s Green City, Clean Waters Program.  Proposals are due July 14.

* Reminder: Call For Presentations For PA Utility Management Summit Nov. 14-15

There is still time to submit presentation proposals for the 2016 Joint PA-American Water & Wastewater Association, PA Water Environment Association and PA Municipal Authorities Association Pennsylvania Utility Management Summit November 14-15 in State College.

* Headwaters Trust Opens Summer Jobs Program For At Risk Adults In Elk County

Headwaters Charitable Trust and the North Central Workforce Investment Board Tuesday announced the launch of Summer Works, a life skills training program that kicks off June 27 in Elk County. 

* DEP Assesses $42,666 Penalty For Fuel Oil Leak Into Lackawanna River

The Department of Environmental Protection Tuesday announced it has entered into a consent assessment of a civil penalty in the amount of $42,666.77 with CL&W, Inc. of Dunmore, Lackawanna County, for violations associated with a fuel oil release into the Lackawanna River in July of 2014.

* Susquehanna River Basin Commission Adopts 2017 Regulatory Program Fee Schedule

The Susquehanna River Basin Commission Thursday took action on a variety of issues, including adopting the FY 2017 Regulatory Program Fee schedule.  SRBC also--

* DEP: Saturday Air Quality Action Day For Philadelphia

The Department of Environmental Protection and the Air Quality Partnerships for the Delaware Valley have forecast an Air Quality Action Day for Saturday, June 18 in Philadelphia. Visit Here for all the details.

* PA Resources Council ReuseFest 2016 Presented By UPMC In Pittsburgh June 18

The PA Resources Council annual ReuseFest 2016 presented by UPMC is a drop-off event for used household goods and other items destined for reuse by Pittsburgh-area nonprofit organizations. 

* KPB Thanks 1,000s Of Volunteers Participating In 2016 Great American Cleanup Of PA

Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful Wednesday thanked the thousands of volunteers from all 67 counties in Pennsylvania participating in the 2016 Great American Cleanup of PA.

* DEP Assesses $42,500 Penalty Against CWM Cleveland Environmental Lab

The Department of Environmental Protection Wednesday announced it has fined CWM Environmental, Inc. $42,500 for violations at their Cleveland, OH lab. These violations were of the Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Act.

* PUC Distributes $187.7 Million In Act 13 Drilling Impact Fees From 2015

The Public Utility Commission Wednesday posted detailed information about this year’s distribution of Impact Fees on natural gas producers, totaling $187,711,700, on the PUC’s interactive Act 13 website.

* PA Housing Authority Accepting Proposals To Improve Housing In Marcellus Shale Areas

The PA Housing Finance Agency Monday issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for projects to improve the availability and affordability of housing in the Marcellus Shale region of the state. The deadline for proposal submission is 2 p.m. on August 12.

* June 21 DEP Hearing On Cambria County Natural Gas Power Plant Air Permit

The Department of Environmental Protection Monday announced it will hold a public hearing on an Air Quality Plan Approval Application for the proposed CPV Fairview Energy Center in Jackson Township, Cambria County.

* PEMA: Fire Company/Emergency Services Grant Applications Due October 21

The PA Emergency Management Agency is now accepting applications for Fire Company and Volunteer Ambulance Services Grants.  The deadline for applications is October 21.  (formal notice)  Instructions and guidelines for the program will be available no later than September 7.

* Municipal Leaders Gathered In State College For 1st PML Sustainable PA Conference

Municipal leaders and sustainability professionals from across the Commonwealth, gathered in State College Tuesday for the PA Municipal League’s first Sustainable Pennsylvania: Developing Strategies for Vibrant Communities Conference.

* PA Assn For Sustainable Agriculture Accepting Workshop Proposals For 2017 Conference

The PA Association for Sustainable Agriculture is now accepting workshop proposals for its Conference in February 1-4, 2017 in State College.  Proposals are due July 1.

* Penn State Student Sustainability Advisory Council Presents Recommendations

The Penn State Student Sustainability Advisory Council recently presented 15 recommendations aimed at advancing sustainability initiatives around the University to members of Penn State’s administration. 

* PA’s Climate Majority Rallies At Capitol For Action On Climate Change, Clean Energy

Hundreds of individuals from across Pennsylvania convened at the State Capitol Tuesday to advocate for action on climate change and the increased deployment of energy efficiency, wind and solar power. 

* PUC Commissioners Welcome David Sweet To PUC

The Public Utility Commission Wednesday welcomed David Sweet, who hails from Washington County and now resides in Philadelphia, to the Commission and thanked the Senate for its support of his nomination.

* DCNR Ups Reward For Information On The Cause Of 8,000 Acre Pocono Wildfire

The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Bureau of Forestry Thursday announced it has increased the reward for information to $15,000 in its ongoing investigation of arson earlier this spring that scorched more than 8,000 acres of woodlands on the Monroe-Pike county line.

* Monroe Planning Commission Launches New Website, Contest To Promote Public Parks

The Monroe County Planning Commission has launched a new website to make it easier to find the 125 public parks and open space in the county.  To generate even more interest, the Commission is also accepting entries to a Blue-Rock Photo Contest.

* Joyce E. Epps Retiring As Director Of DEP’s Bureau Of Air Quality

Joyce E. Epps, Director of DEP’s Bureau of Air Quality, will be retiring at the end of June after 27 years of service to the Commonwealth.

* Aqua America Appoints Christopher Crockett Chief Environmental Officer

Aqua America, Inc. Wednesday announced Christopher S. Crockett has joined the company as its chief environmental officer. Crockett was previously deputy commissioner for planning and environmental services at the Philadelphia Water Department, where he has worked since 1995.

* Opportunity To Bid On DEP Hazardous Site Cleanup Project, Lancaster County

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice of an opportunity to bid on a Hazardous Site Cleanup Project in Lancaster County in the June 18 PA Bulletin.

* 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 18, 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.

Previous PA Environment Digests