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Weekly PA Environment Digest Newsletter
Updated - July 5, 2010
(7/5/2010)
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* Updated: New Budget Erases 16 Years Of General Fund Support For Environmental Programs

More than 16 years of General Fund support for environmental protection, State Park and State Forest programs was erased by the new $28 billion General Fund budget agreed to by the Senate, House and Gov. Rendell this week.

* Fiscal Code Bill Allows Environmental, Other Permit Extensions Under Original Conditions


* $1.3 Billion Diverted, Cut From Environmental Programs Over Last 8 Years

The budget just adopted for FY 2010-11 means a total of $1.3 billion has been diverted or cut from environmental programs to help balance the state budget or to fund programs that could not get funding on their own over the last eight years. Here's the rundown-

* DEP Increasing Permit Fees By $24.7 Million To Offset Dramatic Budget Cuts


* New Chesapeake Bay Allocations Makes It Tougher For PA To Meet Discharge Limits

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency this week announced draft allocations for nitrogen and phosphorus that will make it 8 percent more difficult for Pennsylvania's farmers, wastewater plants, municipalities and builders to comply with Chesapeake Bay pollution discharges requirements.

* Did You Know You Can Search Nearly 6 Years Of Digests On Any Topic?

Did you know you can search nearly 6 years of back issues of the PA Environment Digest on dozens of topics, by county and on any key word you choose. Just click on the search page.

* Updated: Senate/House Agenda/Session 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--

* Updated: Bills On The Governor's Desk

The following bills are on the Governor's desk for his action--

* Updated: Senate/House Bills Moving

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

* House Environmental Committee OKs Bill To Save Heating Oil Customers $86 Million


* Senate Committee Reviews Emergency Response Actions At Marcellus Shale Gas Wells

Sen. Lisa Baker (R-Luzerne), Majority Chair of the Senate Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness, said the June 3 Clearfield County natural gas well blowout and other incidents have resulted in concerns about safely development Marcellus Shale natural gas wells.

* PEC Accepting Nominations For 40 Under 40 Environmental Award


* Pitt Center Launches Online Tracking Tool To Assess Impact of Marcellus Shale Drilling


* Cattle In Tioga County Quarantined After Contact With Natural Gas Drilling Wastewater


* Over 54 Percent Of PA Cropland Uses No-Till Conservation Practices


* DEP Invites Comments On Coastal Resources Assessment, Strategy


* Charges Filed Against Owner, Manager Berks County Water Testing Facility


* Clinton County CleanScapes Sponsors West Branch Susquehanna Cleanup July 17


* July Issue Of Environmental Connections Newsletter Now Available From PCEE

The July Environmental Connections newsletter is now available from the PA Center for Environmental Education.  Here are the headlines of topics in the newsletter--

* Greensylvania School Recycling Competition Goes Statewide, Register Now

The Professional Recyclers of Pennsylvania GreenSylvania program is aimed at Pennsylvania's public, private, charter, homeschool, etc. K-12 schools.  Greensylvania was modeled from the national RecycleMania competition for colleges and universities. 

* Gamesa USA, Bucks County Community College Launch Green Jobs Academy


* Scranton State Office Building Earns Prestigious Energy Efficiency Award


* Cherry Springs State Park Hosts Night Sky Tour July 17

Visit Cherry Springs State Park in Potter County for a Tour of the Night Sky on July 17 at 9:30 p.m. – 10:30 p.m.  Discover the constellations in the sky and learn how to find them in your own backyard. Bring binoculars and a blanket or lawn chair if you like.

* South Mountain Speakers Series To Explore Region's Past, Future During July 10 Hike


* DCNR Forests, Parks To Open 930,000-Plus Acres To Deer Hunting


* Farm Bureau Asks Game Commission To Reconsider Deer Management Policy Changes


* Emerald Ash Borer Found In Three New Counties


* Opinion- Protecting Chesapeake Bay Is A Priority That Requires Federal, Local Funds

By Matthew Ehrhart, Pennsylvania Executive Director, Chesapeake Bay Foundation

* 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.

* Quick Clips


* Marcellus Shale NewsClips


* Watershed NewsClips


* Regulations, Technical Guidance & Permits

The Environmental Quality Board meets on July 13 to consider consider final regulations on wood-fired boiler emissions, Chapter 96 nutrient credit trading requirements, Chapter 92 NPDES permit fees and proposed regulations setting sulfur limits in heating oil, and a package of stream redesignations.

* Calendar Of Events

Upcoming legislative meetings, conferences, workshops, plus links to other online calendars. Meetings are in Harrisburg unless otherwise noted.  NEW means new from last week.  Go to the online Calendar webpage.

* Stories Invited

Send your stories, photos and 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 AssociationPennsylvania Council Trout Unlimited and the Doc Fritchey Chapter Trout Unlimited.

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