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Weekly PA Environment Digest Newsletter
October 4, 2010
(10/4/2010)
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* 3 Days Left: House Passes Marcellus Severance Tax Vehicle, Senate Up Next

Thanks to Reps Kate Harper (R-Montgomery) and Mario Scavello (R-Monroe), House Democrats passed an amended version of Senate Bill 1155 (Eichelberger-R-Blair) that would enact a Marcellus Shale natural gas production severance tax by a vote of 104 to 94.

* Wagner Says Pennsylvania Faces $5 Billion Budget Gap In Fiscal Year 2011-12

Auditor General Jack Wagner said this week the next governor and General Assembly will be confronted with one of the greatest fiscal crises in state history – a potential $5 billion budget gap created by a $2.5 billion loss in federal stimulus funds, $3 billion in unemployment payments to the federal government, and an increase of at least $800 million for rising pension costs.

* September State Revenue Collections $69.8 Million Over Estimate, $75.8 Million For Fiscal Year

Pennsylvania collected $2.3 billion in General Fund revenue in September, which was $69.8 million, or 3.1 percent, more than anticipated, Secretary of Revenue C. Daniel Hassell reported Friday. Fiscal year-to-date General Fund collections total $5.8 billion, which is $75.8 million, or 1.3 percent, above estimate.

* Check Out The Listings In The Professional Services Directory


* Senate/House Agenda/Session Schedule/Bills Introduced


* Senate/House Bills Moving


* Marcellus Shale Protesters Terror List Subject Of Senate Hearing, Homeland Director Resigns

The Senate Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee this week held a hearing on a contractor for the state Office of Homeland Security adding Marcellus Shale protesters to a terrorist watch list.

* Reports On REAP, Clean And Green Issued By Budget & Finance Committee

The Joint Legislative Budget and Finance Committee this week released evaluation reports on the Resource Enhancement and Protection (REAP) farm conservation tax credit program and the Clean and Green farmland preferential assessment program.

* Senate Hearing Focuses On Housing Shortage In Marcellus Shale Drilling Areas

The Senate Urban Affairs and Housing Committee held a public hearing this week to seek further input on the impact the emerging natural gas industry is having on housing in Northcentral Pennsylvania.

* Over 700 Participate in 2010 Port Of Pittsburgh-Ohio River Watershed Celebration

The 9th Annual Port of Pittsburgh-Ohio River Watershed Celebration was held on September 15 with over 700 people participating in this unique event which consisted of two cruises: the “Imagination Cruise” on the Empress for students, parents and educators, and the “Networker Cruise” on the Majestic for adults (18 and over).  

* Warwick Township Honored As CBF 2010 Conservationist Of The Year

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation this week presented representatives from Warwick Township, Lancaster County, with the Conservationist of the Year Award at an invitation only event. 

* EPA Releases More Detailed List Of PA Chesapeake Bay Cleanup Plan Deficiencies

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency this week released a more detailed review of what it called  "serious deficiencies" in Pennsylvania's plan to reduce nutrient and sediment pollution going to the Chesapeake Bay.  

* Coldwater Heritage Partnership Now Accepting Grant Applications

The Coldwater Heritage Partnership this week announced the opening of the Coldwater Conservation Grants Program to protect and conserve the health of Pennsylvania’s coldwater ecosystems.

* DEP: Dimock Residents Will Be Provided Permanent Replacement Water Supply

 

* 60 Of 133 Drilling Water Withdrawal Points Were Under Drought Restrictions In Susquehanna

Before the rains this week, the Susquehanna River Basin Commission had prohibited Marcellus Shale drilling water withdrawals from 60 of 133 approved water withdrawal points due to drought conditions in the watershed.

* Marcellus Shale Coalition Unveils Drilling Industry Community Principles


* GE To Help Natural Gas Producers Treat Shale Gas Frac Water At The Well Site


* SRBC: Real-Time Water Quality Data Available For Little Mehoopany Creek


* Susquehanna River Symposium Set For October 22-23 At Bucknell


* DEP Invites Information From Public As Part Of Water Quality Review


* 90 Percent Cut In Upper Delaware River Flow Endangers Brown Trout Spawning


* Philadelphia Water Department Searching For Spokesdogs To Improve Water Quality


* L.R. Kimball Highlights Stormwater Planning, Implementing Funding Needs


* Environmental Education Grant Applications Now Being Accepted By DEP


* New Issue Of Environmental Ed Connections Available From PCEE


* 44 Schools Compete In GreenSylvania Recycling Contest Starting October 1

A total of 44 schools in 14 counties will compete to see which school can recycle the most paper (per capita) during the month of October in this first year of the statewide GreenSylvania recycling contest.

* Department Of Education Launches Pathways To Green Schools Initiative


* Save The Date: PROP Statewide Recycling Conference July 26-28, 2011


* American Planning Assn. Workshop On Urban Forestry Oct. 6

The PA Chapter of American Planning Association is pleased to host the Planning the Urban Forest hands-on training workshop on October 6 in Lancaster for professional planners on integrating best practices in urban forest protection and development into the planning process. 

* Rebuilding The Urban Forest Workshop, Morris Arboretum October 13


* DCNR Presents Trail Challenge Award To 3 Individuals Hiking 780 Miles


* Three September 11th Sites To Be Connected By Trails

 

* Labor & Industry Accepting PA Conservation Corps Grant Applications


* Students in 26 PA K-12 Schools Earned Energy Star Recognition


* PA Resources Council, SW PA Air Quality Partners Open School Poster Challenge

Elementary, Middle and High School in Southwest PA have until November 1 to register for the "Let's Clear the Air" poster challenge sponsored by the Pennsylvania Resources Council and the Southwester PA Air Quality Partnership.

* DEP Now Accepting Applications For Small Business Pollution Prevention, Energy Grants


* Weis Markets Wins 3 EPA Environmental Achievement Awards

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s GreenChill Partnership recently presented Weis Markets with three 2010 Environmental Achievement Awards.  

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

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice of an opportunity to bid on a mine reclamation project in Clarion County.

* Environmental Heritage- DCNR At 15: Diversity Diary By Bob Hill

An early feature in the new DCNR newsletter was the Diversity Diary—a column written by the Bureau of Forestry’s Bob Hill. When resource was still distributed in its paper format, the Diversity Diary was on the back page, but appeared opposite the mailing address on the outside when folded—often, it was the first thing readers saw when they pulled it out of their mailboxes. Scholarly topics ranged from increasing non-native threats to wondering whether the Great Pumpkin from Peanuts was actually a squash.

* 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

Here's a selection of NewClips on environmental topics from around the state--

* Marcellus Shale NewsClips

Here are NewsClips on topics related to Marcellus Shale natural gas drilling---

* Watershed NewsClips


* Regulations, Technical Guidance & Permits

The Environmental Quality Board published a final regulation setting outdoor wood-fired boiler requirements. The Department of Environmental Protection published several notices related to the Nutrient Credit Trading Program:  notice of actions, notice of proposed trades and a notice registering credits.

* Calendar Of Events


* Stories Invited


* 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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