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Weekly PA Environment Digest Newsletter
Crisci Associates, Aug. 29, 2016 Issue #635
(8/29/2016)
* DEP To Review Compliance Of Selected Farms In Chesapeake Bay Watershed

Continuing efforts to reduce annual loading of nitrogen, phosphorous and sediment entering the Chesapeake Bay, the Department of Environmental Protection has notified a selection of farmers in the Bay Watershed that officials will be visiting farms soon to verify and review the operation’s manure management and agricultural erosion and sediment control plans.

* $4 Million Awarded For Water Quality Research In The Delaware Watershed

On August 16 the Delaware Watershed Initiative at the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University awarded 10 research grants totaling $4 million.

* PEC Renews Support For Study Of Water Use Fee To Fund Restoration Programs

The PA Environmental Council Friday sent a letter of support to the General Assembly for House Resolution 908 (Everett-R-Lycoming), which would direct the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to conduct an exploratory study on industrial and commercial water withdrawal fees.

* PA Farmland Preservation Program Reaches New Milestone: Preserves 5,000th Farm

With the addition of 26 new farms, Pennsylvania’s Farmland Preservation Program reached a new milestone Wednesday, surpassing the 5,000-farm mark.

* Now Online: DEP’s McDonnell Outlines Priorities On PEC TV Program

The environmental priorities facing Pennsylvania and state regulators are the subject of discussion in August’s edition of “Environmental Focus,” the PA Environmental Council’s monthly environmental affairs television program.

* Independent Fiscal Office: Increases FY 2016-17 Revenue Estimate By $900 Million

The Independent Fiscal Office Wednesday increased its FY 2016-17 revenue estimate by about $900 million to take into account the budget revenue package passed in June to increase state revenues.

* Senate Returns Tuesday To Confirm Beemer As AG, Castor Delays Porn Email Report

The Senate Thursday announced it is returning to session Tuesday to confirm Bruce Beemer as Attorney General, replacing Acting Attorney General Bruce Castor.  The Senate held a brief non-voting session day August 23 to accept Beemer’s nomination from Gov. Wolf.

* 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

Here are the Senate and House Calendars and Committee meetings showing bills of interest as well as a list of new environmental bills introduced--

* House GOP Policy Committee Held Hearing On Conventional Drilling Industry

The House Republican Policy Committee held a hearing August 23 to discuss the differences between conventional natural gas wells and unconventional shale gas wells in anticipation of the state’s new forthcoming Chapter 78 regulations.

* House Democratic Policy Committee To Hold Biosolids Hearing Aug. 29 In Centre County

The House Democratic Policy Committee is scheduled to hold a hearing on biosolids and the land application of sewage sludge on August 29 at the Quality Inn, 971 N. Eagle Valley Road in Milesburg, Centre County, starting at 2:00 p.m.

* Delaware River Basin Work Earns Shippensburg University Professor $486K Grant

A Shippensburg University professor-- Dr. Claire Jantz-- received one of 10 grants announced Wednesday by the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University for projects aimed at protecting and restoring water quality in the Delaware River Watershed.

* 12 Local Governments Sign On To Work Collaboratively To Improve Wissahickon

Twelve suburban municipalities, plus the Philadelphia Water Department, in the Wissahickon Watershed in Montgomery and Philadelphia counties have adopted an Intergovernmental Agreement ordinance to officially move forward with the Wissahickon Clean Water Partnership.

* Delaware Estuary Partnership Celebrates 20 Years Of Cleaner Water Oct. 6

The Delaware Estuary Partnership will celebrate 20 years of cleaner water, estuary science and education programs on October 6 at Auletto Caterers in Deptford, New Jersey from 5:00 to 8:30 p.m.

* Chesapeake Bay Stewardship Fund Awards $9.9 Million For 13 Projects In PA

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Thursday announced the award recipients of nearly $11 million in Chesapeake Bay Stewardship Fund Grants for restoration, conservation and environmental outreach in Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Washington, D.C. and West Virginia.

* DCNR, Nonprofits, Universities Win NFWF Grant For Precision Farm Conservation

The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Susquehanna University, Bloomsburg University, Chesapeake Conservancy and the Chesapeake Bay Foundation-PA Thursday received a National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Chesapeake Bay Stewardship Fund grant for $562,236 to implement a precision farm conservation program in Centre and Clinton counties.

* Alliance For Chesapeake Bay Receives Grant To Restore Octoraro Reservoir In Lancaster

The Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay was awarded a grant of $800,000 as a part of the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s Chesapeake Bay Stewardship Fund.

* CBF-PA: Testing Finds Bacteria At Up To 10 Times Limits In Cumberland, Dauphin

Testing for polluted runoff at swimming, fishing, and boating locations in southcentral Pennsylvania found levels of bacteria in the water that in some cases were more than 10 times over health standards set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, especially after heavy rains, according to the Chesapeake Bay Foundation-PA Wednesday.

* York County Senior Environment Corps Volunteers Needed, Monitoring Workshop Set

Are you 55 years or older, live in York County and want to become involved in protecting our resources and educating the public on the natural world? If so, the Pennsylvania Senior Environment Corps wants you.

* Stormwater Help Available For Yellow Breeches Landowners, Learn More Aug. 28

The Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay’s Runoff Busters team is looking for homeowners or  renters in the Yellow Breeches Watershed in Adams, Cumberland and York counties who want to help protect the Bay by welcoming our team and landscape professional into their yards.

* Stroud Hosts Webinars On Leaf Pack Environmental Education Program

The Stroud Water Research Center is hosting a series of 4 webinars on its innovative Leaf Pack Experiment Stream Ecology Kit in September.  The webinars are scheduled for--

* Next Pennsylvania Lake Erie Forum Set For September 19 In Erie

The Pennsylvania Sea Grant Program and the Department of Environmental Protection will hold the next meeting of the Pennsylvania Lake Erie Forum on September 19 at the Erie County Conservation District, 1927 Wager Road in Erie from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m.

* Millcreek Twp, Erie County Offers New Video On Aquatic Invasive Species

Millcreek Township in Erie County and WQLN-TV have produced a new video on aquatic invasive species and what citizens can do to recognize these species and prevent their spread.

* PA Coal Alliance Recognizes Exemplary Mine Reclamation Projects

The PA Coal Alliance Monday announced it recently recognized the efforts of several member companies who performed above and beyond the federal and state regulations for reclaiming coal mining sites to environmentally sound conditions with productive uses.

* Sen. Casey Demands Answers To Water Contamination From Dept. Of Defense

U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) Monday sat down with local elected officials and several municipal administrators to discuss ways to help the communities in Bucks and Montgomery Counties who have been affected by the perfluorinated compound (PFC) contamination in their drinking water.

* Secretary Of Health Asks Pennsylvanians To Donate To Louisiana Flood Victims

Secretary of Health Dr. Karen Murphy Wednesday expressed her sympathies for those affected by the historic flooding in Louisiana and asked Pennsylvanians to consider donating to help the victims of that state’s worst natural disaster in recent years.

* Friends Of Allegheny Wilderness Allegheny River Cleanup Sept. 10-17

The Friends of Allegheny Wilderness will hold the 2016 Allegheny River Cleanup September 10 to 17.  This marks the eighth consecutive year for the cleanup.

* Keep PA Beautiful Invites Pennsylvanians To Participate In International Coastal Cleanup

Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful invites Pennsylvania residents to coordinate a cleanup as part of the 2016 International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) from September 1 through October 31.

* State Electronics Challenge Sustainability & Your Office Equipment Webinar Sept. 13

The State Electronics Challenge will hold a webinar September 13 on Sustainability and Your Office Equipment from 3:00 to 4:00 p.m.

* Land Recycling Program Cleanup Standards Updated By DEP

The Environmental Quality Board published final regulations in the August 27 PA Bulletin updating the cleanup standards under DEP’s Land Recycling Program. 

* DEP Updates Closure Requirements For Underground, Aboveground Storage Tanks

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the August 27 PA Bulletin of final technical guidance on Closure Requirements for Underground Storage Tank Systems and Aboveground Storage Tank Systems.

* DEP To Close Application Period For Alternative Fuel Incentive Grants Sept. 9

The Department of Environmental Protection will now closed the application period for its Alternative Fuels Incentive Grant (AFIG) Program on September 9.

* Philadelphia Roundtable Targeted Vehicle Emissions, Next Steps

Nearly a hundred Philadelphia policymakers, public health practitioners, environmentalists, and citizens attended a public roundtable discussion Tuesday evening, which focused on Philadelphia’s transportation and public health policy.

* Proposed Water Quality Certification Of PennEast Pipeline Project Out For Public Review

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the August 27 PA Bulletin (page 5611) that it intends to issue a state Section 401 Water Quality Certification for the PennEast Pipeline Project running through Bucks, Carbon, Luzerne and Northampton counties.

* DEP Fines Pipeline Companies $174K For Changing Plans Without Approval

The Department of Environmental Protection Monday announced it has fined CNX Gas Company LLC and CONE Midstream Partners LP for not constructing pipelines as approved in their permits with the agency for pipelines in Greene, Washington, Indiana and Jefferson counties.

* UGI Starts Construction On Sunbury Pipeline To Serve New Natural Gas Power Plant

UGI Energy Services LLC, the midstream and energy marketing subsidiary of UGI Corporation, Wednesday celebrated the start of construction of its Sunbury Pipeline with a groundbreaking ceremony near the 1,124 MW Panda Hummel Station Power Plant it will serve.

* Tenaska Breaks Ground For 925 MW Natural Gas Power Plant In Westmoreland County

Tenaska Pennsylvania Partners, LLC Wednesday celebrated the start of construction for the Tenaska Westmoreland Generating Station, a 925-megawatt (MW) natural gas-fueled power plant near Smithton in Westmoreland County.

* Energy Efficiency, Economic Benefits Highlighted In 2015 PA Climate Change Plan Update

Gov. Tom Wolf Monday accepted the Department of Environmental Protection 2015 Climate Change Action Plan Update that details how increasing energy efficiency in all sectors and at all levels will play a key role in reducing Pennsylvania’s greenhouse gas emissions by target year 2030.

* Reminder: Register For Sustainable Pittsburgh’s Green Workplace Challenge By Aug. 31

The deadline to register for Sustainable Pittsburgh’s 2016 Green Workplace Challenge is August 31.  The Challenge enables businesses to receive recognition for their sustainable actions and achievements,

* Gov. Wolf Launches OpenDataPA Website, Limited Environmental Data

Gov. Wolf  Monday launched OpenDataPA to enhance access to valuable information by creating a central repository to share the Commonwealth’s data with the general public. Citizens, researchers, media, and developers can now browse through the first-released datasets.

* Western PA Conservancy: Fresh, New Outdoor Learning Lesson Plans

The Western PA Conservancy is pleased to provide a series of environmental lesson plans to aid educators in connecting young people to the natural world.

* PPL To Accept Applications For Teacher Science, Technology, Engineering, Math Grants

PPL’s Empowering Educators Grant Program will begin accepting applications for grants on September 1 at its three partner broadcast stations-- PBS39, WITF and WVIA.  The deadline for applications is October 31.

* Dominion Awards Energy, Environment Education Grants, 1 In PA To Indiana U.

The Dominion Foundation Wednesday awarded $1 million for 96 grants through its Energy and Environment Education Grants in the 11 states in its service territory.

* Health, DEP Conduct Exercise To Bolster PA’s Zika Preparedness, Response Planning

The departments of Health and Environmental Protection Monday participated in a tabletop exercise aimed at bolstering the Commonwealth's ability to respond to a potential situation involving local transmission of the Zika Virus in Pennsylvania.

* West Nile Virus Mosquito Spraying Set For York County Aug. 29, Bucks County Aug. 31

The York County West Nile Program will be conducting an ultra-low volume (ULV) mosquito control operation to reduce high populations of mosquitoes capable of transmitting West Nile Virus on August 29  in parts of Springettsbury Township.

* Dept. Of Health Tips On Preventing Lyme Disease

Secretary of Health Dr. Karen Murphy Monday reminded Pennsylvanians of the importance of taking proper precautions to protect themselves and their loved ones against Lyme disease and other tick-related illnesses.

* PA Wilds Center Receives Only Appalachian Regional Commission Grant In PA

The PA Wilds Center has received a three-year, $500,000 grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission through the POWER Initiative to assist with nature tourism cluster development in the Pennsylvania Wilds.

* University Of Scranton Extreme Physiology Class Connects Students To Outdoors

Hiking along the Frost Hollow Trail in Lackawanna State Park, Lackawanna County, PA Environmental Council Vice President Janet Sweeney and her husband Terry found themselves discussing ways to attract the region’s college students to the enriching outdoor opportunities available in Northeastern Pennsylvania.

* DCNR Marks Opening Of Patrick J. Solano Environmental Ed Center In Luzerne County

Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn Friday joined other state officials in celebrating the official opening of the Patrick J. Solano Environmental Education Center at Frances Slocum State Park, Luzerne County.

* Wildlands Conservancy Highlights September Education Programs, Activities

The Wildlands Conservancy in the Lehigh Valley will host a variety of educational programs and activities in September for people of all ages.

* Friends Of Wissahickon: New Children’s Book Available On Wissahickon Valley Park

Cedars House, Valley Green Inn and even the Tedyuscung statue are characters in the story of “Good Night Wissahickon Valley Park,” a new children’s book created by Friends of the Wissahickon to be published in September.

* Gifford Pinchot’s Grey Towers Hosts Milford Walking Tours Sept. 10, Oct. 1

A new history walking tour that will have participants munching their way through Milford, Pike County, is being offered from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. on September 10 and October 1, by the Grey Towers Heritage Association.

* Capital RC&D: Marketing Plan Key To Successful Farm Business Webinar Sept. 12

The Capital Resource Conservation and Development Council will host a webinar September 12 on Marketing and Branding For Small Farm Businesses from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m.

* Opportunity To Bid On DEP Mine Reclamation Project In Cambria County

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the August 27 PA Bulletin of the opportunity to bid on a mine reclamation project in Cambria County.

* Help Wanted: PA Assn For Sustainable Agriculture Executive Director

The PA Association for Sustainable Agriculture is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Executive Director.  Applications are due September 15.  Click Here for all the details.

* 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 published final regulations in the August 27 PA Bulletin updating the cleanup standards under DEP’s Land Recycling Program. 

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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.

* 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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