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Weekly PA Environment Digest Newsletter
Oct. 15, 2012
(10/15/2012)
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* Sister Pat Lupo, Dr. Ed Masteller, Eugene Comoss Receive Leadership Awards

The Friends of The Tom Ridge Environmental Center are pleased to present the 2012 John C. Oliver Environmental Leadership Award to Sister Pat Lupo, Dr. Ed Masteller, with a special recognition award for Eugene Comoss.

* Ohio River Watershed Celebration Recognizes Environmental Leaders

The annual Ohio River Watershed Celebration on September 27 was another great success as over 700 watershed enthusiasts and 300 students took advantage of a cruise in two Gateway Clipper boats on Pittsburgh’s three rivers to network and learn more about restoring and protecting their watersheds.

* Senate/House Agenda/Session 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 (Watch out, with only 4 voting days left this session anything can happen!)--

* 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--

* Legislative Hearing Sought Into State Parks Director's Resignation (Updated)

Rep. Camille George (D-Clearfield), Minority Chair of the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, Tuesday called for a hearing into the resignation of John Norbeck as director of the Bureau of State Parks within the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

* Aqua PA's Mill Water Treatment Plant Receives National Award

Aqua Pennsylvania, Inc.’s Ingram’s Mill Water Treatment Plant in West Chester, Chester County, has been notified that it has met and will soon receive the “Phase III Directors Award of Recognition” from the Partnership for Safe Water.

* Philadelphia Receives $3 Million For Green Solutions To Stormwater

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is providing up to $3 million in research grants for projects that will study the benefits of green techniques in controlling stormwater pollution in Philadelphia.

* DEP Submits Marsh And Rock Creek Critical Water Area Resource Plan For Comments

On October 13 the Department of Environmental Protection published a notice in the PA Bulletin saying it will be submitting the Marsh and Rock Creek Critical Water Area Resource Plan to the Adams County Planning commission and local governments for comment.

* Feature: RAIN: An Early Warning System For Safe Drinking Water

PA Boroughs Association Magazine

* DEP Approves 936 Megawatt Natural Gas-Fired Power Plant In Bradford County

The Department of Environmental Protection Wednesday issued an air quality plan approval to Moxie Liberty LLC of Vienna, Va., for construction of a power plant in Pennsylvania to run on natural gas, including gas from the Marcellus Shale.

* Lt. Gov. Cawley Says Natural Gas Creating Jobs In Centre County

Lt. Gov. Jim Cawley Thursday toured a limestone processing plant owned by Graymont Inc. in Pleasant Gap, Centre County, to get a first-hand look at how Marcellus Shale is helping the company grow and create jobs.

* Penn State Extension Offers Aquatic Pesticide Course For Credits

Penn State Extension is offering an Aquatic Pesticide Course for pond applicators that is approved for three Category 9 recertification credits from the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture.  Click Here for details.

* Homeowners Whole House Energy Auditing Workshop October 18

The Lackawanna College Environmental Institute will host a Whole House energy Auditing Workshop on October 18 at 6:30 p.m. at the Institute, 10 Moffat Dr., Covington Township, PA.

* EPA Cleans Up North Penn Area Superfund Site

The U.S. Environmental Agency Tuesday announced the completion of construction activities for the cleanup of the North Penn 2 Superfund Site in Hatfield, Montgomery County.

* PUC Marks 10th Year Of Prepare Now For Winter Campaign

As the Public Utility Commission marks the 10th year of its “Prepare Now” initiative, Wednesday it reminded electric and natural gas utilities to take extra steps to help consumers – especially those on limited and fixed incomes, to “Prepare Now” for winter heating costs.

* Drexel, PUC To Host Energy/Utility College Job Forum November 2

With an abundance of energy jobs available and more expected to be added through the next decade, the Public Utility Commission will partner with Drexel University to host an Energy Utility Forum on November 2 for Philadelphia-area college students.

* PPL: Lycoming County Landfill Gas Project Unveiled

PPL Renewable Energy and the Lycoming County Commissioners unveiled a new landfill gas-to-energy facility Friday at the Lycoming County Resource Management Services landfill in Montgomery, Pa.

* PUC Announces New Customer-Friendly Website

The Public Utility Commission recently launched its new website featuring new tools, including video for consumers and PAGasSwitch.com. The new website is more customer friendly, geared to the Commission’s target audiences, while making the Commission more transparent.

* DEP Encourages Students To Enter National Radon Poster Contest

The Department of Environmental Protection Thursday urged Pennsylvania students, ages nine to 14, to enter a national poster contest designed to help raise awareness about the dangers of radon.

* PA Ranks 3rd In West Nile Virus Human Cases, 1 Death In 2012

The PA West Nile Virus Program Thursday announced the final mosquito and avian positivity counts for 2012 and national ranking. Updates to the human/equine case counts are included. The latest human case (25th) is a death from Philadelphia County.

* Chatham University To Receive National Landmark Designation At Rachel Carson Event

As the signature event of the 50th anniversary celebration of alumna Rachel Carson’s “Silent Spring,” the Rachel Carson Institute at Chatham University will host the 2012 Rachel Carson Legacy Conference on October 26 in the Eddy Theater on the Shadyside Campus.

* DCNR's Interactive Map Expanded To Include State Forests

Looking to get lost, and still know exactly where you are?  Or where you’re headed, as you strike out into Pennsylvania’s rich wealth of state forestlands?

* Pennsylvania Preserves More Than 2,100 Acres of Farmland

Pennsylvania’s Agricultural Land Preservation Board Friday safeguarded 2,138 additional acres on 22 farms against development through the state’s nationally renowned farmland preservation program.

* Presque Isle State Park Combating Invasive Species

This month DCNR’s Bureau of State Parks is taking steps to address 170 acres of land at Presque Isle State Park in Erie County that is inundated with the invasive plant species Narrow-leaf Cattail and Phragmite.

* DCNR, PRPS Accepting Nominations For Green Park Award

The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and the PA Recreation and Park Society are now accepting nominations for the 2013 Green Park Award.  The deadline for nominations is December 28.

* Special Seven Sisters Star Gazing At Cherry Springs State Park October 13

On October 13 from 8 to 9:30 p.m. Join the staff and volunteers at Cherry Springs State Park in Potter County as they explore spectacular star clusters and galaxies using binoculars.

* Fish & Boat Commission Photo Contest Deadline Extended

Picture yourself as the winner of the Fish and Boat Commission’s annual photography contest. There’s still time since the PFBC has extended its deadline for entries to January 31.

* Your 2 Cents: Issues On Advisory Committee Agendas

This section gives you a continuously updated thumbnail sketch of issues to be considered in upcoming advisory committee meetings where the agendas have been released

* 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.

* Budget/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---

* Flooding/Watershed NewsClips

Here are NewsClips on watershed topics from around the state--

* Regulations, Technical Guidance & Permits

The Environmental Quality Board published final regulations increasing noncoal mining permit fees.

* 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 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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