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Weekly PA Environment Digest Newsletter
Crisci Associates, July 9, 2018 Issue #732
(7/9/2018)
* Federal Court Overturns Dismissal Of Wayne County Landowner Challenge To DRBC’s Shale Gas Drilling Moratorium

The U.S. Third Circuit Court of Appeals Tuesday overturned the dismissal of a Wayne County landowners’ challenge to the shale gas drilling ban adopted by the Delaware River Basin Commission in 2010 and remanded the case back to U.S. District Court for additional hearings.

* DEP Invites Comments On Draft Plan To Increase PA’s Solar Electric Generation To 10% Of Consumption By 2030

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the July 7 PA Bulletin inviting comments on a draft Plan to increase solar electric generation to 10 percent of Pennsylvania’s electric consumption by 2030.

* Op-Ed: Raystown Lake Threatened By Incompatible, Unsustainable Development, Army Corps Is Collecting Public Comments

By Kathy Gates, The Coalition To Protect Hawn’s Bridge Peninsula

* PA Chesapeake Bay Watershed Planning Steering Committee Meets July 10

The PA Chesapeake Bay Watershed Planning Steering Committee is scheduled to meet on July 10 to continue the development of Pennsylvania’s Phase III Watershed Implementation Plan.

* DEP Hosts July 10 Webinar On County-Level Planning To Develop Chesapeake Bay Water Quality Improvement Plans

The Department of Environmental Protection Thursday announced it will host a live webinar on July 10 from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. to discuss county-level participation in developing Phase 3 of Pennsylvania’s Watershed Implementation Plan to improve stream and river health to benefit local communities in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed.

* Foundation For Pennsylvania Watersheds Grant Letters Of Intent Due August 20

The Foundation for Pennsylvania Watersheds is now accepting letters of intent in its next round of grants.  The deadline for submitting a letter is August 20.

* NFWF Central Appalachia Habitat Stewardship Program Accepting Grant Applications Thru July 12

The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Central Appalachia Habitat Stewardship Program is now accepting grant applications for projects to restore and sustain healthy forests, wetlands, rivers and streams that provide habitat for diverse native bird and freshwater fish populations.

* How Good Is The Water Quality In Streams In Your Community? Take A Look, Then Act

If you’ve ever wondered how good the water quality is in streams in your community, the Department of Environmental Protection has a tool that lets you to find out.

* DEP, Health Take Additional Steps To Fight Lyme Disease, Zika And West Nile Viruses

The Wolf Administration Friday announced funding to protect Pennsylvanians from Lyme disease, Zika Virus, and West Nile Virus was increased as part of the recently signed budget.

* Senate/House Agenda/Session Schedule/Gov's Schedule

Here are the Senate and House Calendars for the next voting session day and Committees scheduling action on bills of interest as well as a list of new environmental bills introduced--

* DEP Citizens Advisory Council To Focus On Active, Abandoned Mine Reclamation At July 17 Meeting

DEP’s Citizens Advisory Council is scheduled to meet on July 17 to hear a presentation by DEP Deputy Secretary John Stefanko on the agency’s programs to regulate active mining operations and reclaim abandoned mines.

* DEP Posts July Update To List Of Technical Guidance Documents It’s Working On

The Department of Environmental Protection published the July update to the Non-Regulatory Agenda listing the technical guidance documents DEP will be developing or finalizing over the coming year in the July 7 PA Bulletin.

* PA Assn. Of Environmental Professionals, DEP Freshwater Mussels Workshop July 26 In Pittsburgh

The PA Association of Environmental Professionals and DEP will host a Freshwater Mussels In The Ohio and Allegheny River Watersheds Workshop on July 26 at the DEP Regional Office, 400 Waterfront Drive in Pittsburgh from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m.

* City Of York Accepting Entries To Street 2 Creek Stormwater Drain Art Contest

The City of York is now accepting entries to the Street 2 Creek Stormwater Drain Art Contest until July 20.

* Partnership For Delaware Estuary Hosts 3 Environmental Ed Workshops July 16, 17, 18

Teachers, get ready for a robust science experience. On July 16, 17 and 18, the Partnership for the Delaware Estuary will hold a set of workshops that highlight the wonders of nature and their place in the classroom.

* August 9 DEP Hearing On Coal Mine Refuse Disposal Facility Water Quality Permit, Greene County

The Department of Environmental Protection will hold a hearing August 9 on the NPDES Water Quality Permit for the Cumberland Mine Coal Refuse Disposal Facility with outfalls in Monongahela and Whiteley townships, Greene County.  (July 7 PA Bulletin 4015)

* Opportunities To Bid On DEP Mine Reclamation, Oil & Gas Well Plugging Projects

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the July 7 PA Bulletin of the opportunity to bid on a mine reclamation project in Clearfield County and oil and gas well plugging projects in Allegheny County and Potter County.

* Bookshelf: Grassroots To Global: Broader Impacts Of Civic Ecology

Dr. Marianne E. Krasny is the editor of a new book-- Grassroots To Global: Broader Impacts Of Civic Ecology-- that weaves chapters by 27 different contributors into a story about participation approaches of local environmental stewardship groups and organizations from around the world.

* June Newsletter From Kettle Creek Watershed Assn. Now Available

The June issue of the Kettle Creek Watershed Association in Clinton, Potter and Tioga counties is now available featuring stories on--

* July 11 DEP Hearing On Interim Response At Ridge Run PFAS, PFOS, PFOA Well Contamination Site, Bucks County

The Department of Environmental Protection will hold a hearing July 11 on the interim cleanup steps it has taken to deal with 12 private wells contaminated with poly-fluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS), above the Health Advisory Limit combined concentration for Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) at the Ridge Run site in East and West Rockhill townships in Bucks County.. (PA Bulletin page 3365)

* EPA To Hold July 25 Community Meeting On PFAS In Horsham, Montgomery County

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will hold a community engagement meeting July 25 on PFAS [Polyfluoroalkyl Substances] at the Hatboro-Horsham High School, 899 Horsham Road in Horsham, Montgomery County.

* DEP Reported West Nile Virus Found In 10 More Counties Bringing Total To 33

The Department of Environmental Protection Friday reported on its West Nile Virus website mosquitoes testing positive for the virus have been found in 10 more counties --  Allegheny, Beaver, Centre, Chester, Erie, Juniata, Northampton, Philadelphia, Westmoreland and Wyoming counties.

* Mosquito, Tick Talk Hosted By Westmoreland Conservation District July 18

Learn proven ways to protect yourself from these insects and the infections they can carry--  including West Nile virus and Lyme disease-- at a free seminar presented by the Westmoreland County Conservation District on July 18 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.

* PennFuture To Allegheny County: Drilling Revenue Must Benefit Citizens Under Environmental Rights Amendment

PennFuture Monday released a letter sent to the Allegheny County Airport Authority demanding that it immediately take action to ensure that any future revenue collected from oil and gas development on County property be used to further the interests of citizens protected by the Environmental Rights Amendment in the Pennsylvania Constitution.

* DEP Issues Water Quality Certification For Equitrans Natural Gas Pipelines Under I-79 In Allegheny County

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the July 7 PA Bulletin approving the Section 401 Water Quality Certification for an Equitrans natural gas pipeline project under I-79 in South Fayette Township Allegheny County.  (PA Bulletin page 4014)

* Sign Up As A Stop On Oct. 6 Pittsburgh Solar Tour

Have a solar installation you’d like to show off?  PennFuture is now signing up interested property owners to be a stop on the 2018 Pittsburgh Solar Tour set for October 6 from Noon to 4:00 p.m.

* DCNR Unveils New Features For State’s Prowl The Sproul Hiking Program July 27-29 In Clinton County

The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Thursday invited hikers and other visitors to again sample the rugged beauty of the Sproul State Forest in Clinton County when the three-day "Prowl the Sproul" series of hikes steps off on July 27. 

* Penn State Extension Tree Tenders Training, Aug. 30 Tom Ridge Environmental Center Erie

Tree Tenders training will be held by Penn State Extension on August 30 at the Tom Ridge Environmental Center in Erie from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

* Lacawac Sanctuary & Biological Field Station Highlights July Programs

The Lacawac Sanctuary and Biological Field Station in Wayne County highlights July programs and events featuring--

* Allegheny Land Trust & Point Park U. Host Pollinator Festival July 28 In Pittsburgh

The Allegheny Land Trust and Point Park University will host a Pollinator Festival July 28 at ALT’s Audubon Greenway Conservation Area, Magee Road Sewickley Hills, Pittsburgh from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

* Help Wanted: Huntingdon Conservation District Watershed Specialist

The Huntingdon County Conservation District is seeking candidates to fill a full-time Watershed Specialist position.  The deadline for applications is July 20.   Click Here for all the details.

* Help Wanted: Western PA Conservancy 2 AmeriCorps Service Positions

The Western PA Conservancy is seeking 2 Pennsylvania Mountain Service Corps AmeriCorps members to serve the Watershed Conservation Program for one year from August 22, 2018 to August 9, 2019 based in Indiana, PA.  The deadline for applications is July 20.

* 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.

* 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.

* Regulations, Technical Guidance & Permits

Here are highlights of actions taken by agencies on environmental regulations, technical guidance and permits.

* CLICK HERE To View Or Print Entire PA Environment Digest

CLICK HERE to View or Print the entire PA Environment Digest.  This Digest is 47 pages long.

* 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: PaEnviroDigest@gmail.com.

* About PA Environment Digest

PA Environment Digest is edited by David E. Hess, former Secretary Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.  He can be contacted by sending email to: PaEnviroDigest@gmail.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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