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Weekly PA Environment Digest Newsletter
Crisci Associates Jan. 14, 2013
(1/14/2013)
CLICK HERE To Print Entire Digest
* Feature: Mine Reclamation Groups Seek Allies In Natural Gas Industry

By Susan Phillips, StateImpact Pennsylvania

* Senate Republicans Name Committee Members

Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati (R-Jefferson) Thursday announced the Republican members for each of the 22 Senate Standing Committees for the 2013-2014 legislative session.

* Senate Announces Budget Hearing Schedule

The Senate Appropriations Committee Friday announced the budget hearing schedule for the FY 2013-14 proposed budget.  The first hearing starts February 19, after the Governor’s budget address on February 5.  The hearings will be held--

* 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--

* House Democrats Push Investment In Transportation

House Democratic leaders Wednesday introduced legislation to help Pennsylvania establish a long-term, comprehensive and sustainable plan for funding the maintenance and improvement of the Commonwealth’s crumbling roads, bridges and transit systems.

* Feb. 11 Environmental Issues Forum Presentation On Drilling Pad Liner Recycling

The Joint Legislative Air and Water Pollution Control and Conservation Committee’s first Environmental Issues Forum of 2013 will be held February 11 at 12:00 noon in Room G-50, K. Leroy Irvis Building.

* Nominations Now Being Accepted For 2013 Western PA Environmental Awards

Dominion and the PA Environmental Council are now accepting applications for the 2013 Western PA Environmental Awards recognizing excellence in advancing the environmental quality of Western Pennsylvania.  Nominations are due February 15.

* Registration Now Open For Schuylkill Watershed Congress On March 9

The Delaware Riverkeeper announced Wednesday registrations are now being accepted for the 2013 Schuylkill Watershed Congress to be held on March 9 at the Pottstown Campus of Montgomery County Community College.

* Passive Mine Water Treatment System At Jennings Gets Much-Needed Makeover

Rewind the clocks to the year 1997.  The average price of gasoline was $1.36.  Interleague play began in major league baseball.   Titanic was the top growing movie.  And the vertical flow pond, a component in the mine drainage passive treatment system at the Jennings Environmental Education Center in Butler County was first installed-- nearly 15 years ago!

* Colcom Foundation Funds Sondes To Monitor Slippery Rock Watershed

The Slippery Rock Watershed Coalition, in cooperation with Stream Restoration Inc., is excited to announce that funding has been received for the purchase of water quality sondes for the Slippery Rock Creek Watershed in Butler County through a Colcom Foundation grant.

* Applications Being Accepted For Next Master Well Owner Course

Pennsylvania is home to over one million private water wells and springs but it is one of the few states that do not provide statewide regulations to protect these rural drinking water supplies.

* StormwaterPA: Water Education Resources For Teachers

StormwaterPA's video case studies are powerful, educational tools. Recently, we have begun efforts on strengthening the educational impact of our videos by incorporating them into EcoExpress.org, which is our organization GreenTrek Network's environmental education program.

* PA American Water Accepting Stream Of Learning Scholarship Applications

Pennsylvania American Water Thursday announced applications are being accepted for its 2013 Stream of Learning Scholarship Program to provide college scholarship assistance to students who are planning to pursue careers in the water and wastewater industry.

* Latest Edition Of Chesapeake Bay Journal Now Available

The January/February issue of the Chesapeake Bay Journal is now available highlighting the latest news about the cleanup of the Chesapeake Bay and in depth articles on issues affecting the watershed.  Click Here to read the Journal.

* Scientists To Discuss Health Of Delaware River, Bay In Wake Of Record Storms Jan. 27-30

Hundreds of environmental educators, managers, and scientists will converge on Cape May’s Grand Hotel for the Delaware Estuary Science & Environmental Summit on January 27-30. 

* DEP Releases Final White Paper On Using Mine Water For Drilling

The Department of Environmental Protection announced Wednesday it has finalized the process it will use for encouraging and reviewing proposals to use mine-influenced water, such as acid mine drainage, in oil and gas operations. The process is outlined in a white paper the agency released.

* Entries For Shale Gas Technology Innovation Contest Invited For $75,000 In Prizes

Are you a researcher, entrepreneur, or innovator working in the shale gas space in Pennsylvania?

* Agriculture, Energy Industries Meet To Discuss Natural Gas Development In PA

Thursday the Keystone Energy Forum, in partnership with PennAg Industries Association & the Professional Dairy Managers of Pennsylvania held its second “Agricultural Forum” focusing on natural gas development and its interaction with Pennsylvania's agricultural community.

* Marcellus Shale Coalition Participates In PA Farm Show

This week the Marcellus Shale Coalition and dozens of natural gas industry employees participated in the 97th annual Pennsylvania Farm Show.

* 2012 International Coastal Cleanup Removes Over 714,000 Pounds Of Trash

Nearly 8,000 volunteers from 48 counties across Pennsylvania canvassed their communities to remove over 714,000 pounds of trash and debris from Pennsylvania’s waterways and coastal regions during the 2012 International Coastal Cleanup event.

* PROP Offers Full Schedule Of Recycling, Composting Certification Classes

The Professional Recyclers of PA are again offering a full schedule of recycling and composting certification classes in the new year.  Click Here for the course schedule.

* Recycling Takes Center Stage In Capitol January 22

More than two dozen Pennsylvania companies that contribute to the state’s growing recycling economy will set up exhibits and displays in the East Wing Rotunda of the Capitol on January 22 for the 2013 Pennsylvania Recycling Industries Congress.

* DEP Sponsors Webinar Jan. 16 To Highlight Radon Action Month

As part of National Radon Action Month, the Department of Environmental Protection will present an episode on the subject as part of its quarterly webinar series, DEP at Home, on January 16 from 7 to 8 p.m.

* DEP Climate Change Advisory Committee Continues Review Of Work Plans

On Tuesday, DEP’s Climate Change Advisory Committee continued its review of the more than 30 work plans making recommendations for legislative, regulatory and program changes to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in Pennsylvania.

* PUC Proposes Changes To Act 129 Conservation Service Provider Registration

The Public Utility Commission Thursday issued for comment proposed revisions to the conservation service provider registration process and application as a way to expedite the process and reduce administrative burdens.

* PPL Plan For Long-Term Infrastructure Improvements OKd By PUC

The Public Utility Commission Thursday approved the petition of PPL Electric Utilities Corp. to begin implementation of its long-term infrastructure improvement plan.

* Response To Hurricane Sandy Topic Of PUC Forum

The Public Utility Commission Thursday heard from the state’s electric utilities whose distribution systems were affected by Hurricane Sandy as part of a Special Electric Reliability Forum.

* PPL Awards Classrooms And Young Minds Education Program Grants

PPL Corporation is helping redefine the classroom experience for hundreds of local students, who are taking to the outdoors and participating in fossil digs, creating sun root roofs, investigating wetlands and creating a living wall to grow plants.

* FirstEnergy Webinar On Use Of Lighting Controls January 16

On January 16 FirstEnergy will hold another in its series of energy conservation webinars, this one on How to Evaluate Use of Lighting Controls starting at noon.

* Penn State Land Use & Decision Making Webinars January-May

Penn State Extension’s Land Use & Decision Making Education Team will present a series of webinars to help planners, elected officials, and concerned citizens come together to make better land use decisions.

* DCNR Secretary Recaps 2012 Accomplishments

Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Richard Allan summarized important accomplishments of his agency in a special issue of the Resource newsletter on Wednesday--

* Revised Schedule Of Workshops For DCNR Community Conservation Partnership Grants

The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources is now accepting applications for the 2013 round of Community Conservation Partnership Grants.  The deadline for applications is April 10.  (formal notice)

* State Park Fees Due To Increase In 2013

The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources published a notice on changes to State Park fees for 2013 in the January 12 PA Bulletin.

* Western PA Conservancy Completes Land Protection Projects

The Western PA Conservancy recently completed two projects in Eric and Lawrence counties– one involves a land acquisition near an already-protected forest, and the other the acquisition of a donated conservation easement near a popular state park.

* Online Video: TreeVitalize Pittsburgh Plants 15,000th Tree

In November, Western PA Conservancy’s TreeVitalize Pittsburgh announced they had reached a major milestone–planting 15,000 trees in the Pittsburgh area since 2008.  The partnership is three-fourths of the way toward its goal of planting 20,000 trees by the end of 2013.  Click Here to watch a video on the TreeVitalize Pittsburgh Program.

* Green In Your Backyard Woods Feb. 9 Workshop In Lancaster

Penn State Extension along with the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay and DCNR Bureau of Forestry are sponsoring the Green in Your Backyard Woods workshop to be held in Lancaster on February 9.

* Seventh Episode Of Western PA Conservancy Field Notes Available

The Field Notes Podcast Episode 7 is now available from the Western PA Conservancy.  The episode Charles Bier discusses the presence of “glacier erratic boulders” in Pennsylvania, ancient continental ice sheets, and how they’re related.

* Feb. 13 Wild & Scenic Film Festival In Camp Hill

The Wild & Scenic Film Festival is returning to central PA for the third year on February 13th, 2013 at the Grace Milliman Pollock Performing Arts Center in Camp Hill across the river from Harrisburg.

* Get Wild About Winter Jan. 19 At Hawk Mountain Sanctuary

Head outdoors for a dose of fresh air on January 19 when Hawk Mountain Sanctuary hosts Wild About Winter, a family-oriented winter event from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Hawk Mountain Visitor Center.

* ClearWater Conservancy Receives 2 Grants From Dominion Foundation

The ClearWater Conservancy received two grants recently from the Dominion Foundation Watershed Mini Grants Program.

* Winner Of Fishing's Fun Sweepstakes Lifelong Angler, Register Now For More Prizes

When David Klein of Freedom, Pa., received notification that he had just won the Fish and Boat Commission’s sweepstakes award for a guided Lake Erie steelhead trip for two people, he was amazed.

* Hog Island Student, Educator Scholarships Offered By Appalachian Audubon Society

Appalachian Audubon Society, a Central Pennsylvania chapter of National Audubon, is offering scholarships for a teen and educator to attend Audubon Hog Island Maine nature/ornithology camps in June and July 2013.

* Appalachian Trail Museum Looking For Hall Of Fame Inductees

The Appalachian Trail Museum Society based in Gardners, York County, is now accepting nominations for inductees into the Appalachian Trail Hall of Fame, according to Marcus Schneck's PennLive Blog.

* Help Wanted: PEC Western PA River Town Outreach Coordinator

The Student Conservation Association is hiring a recent graduate for a one-year fellowship, based out of Brownsville, Pa, to work on the PA Environmental Council's Mon River Town ProgramClick Here for more details and to apply.

* Help Wanted: Nature Conservancy Watershed Restoration Manager

The PA Chapter of The Nature Conservancy is seeking candidates for a Watershed Restoration Manager position.  Click Here for the details.

* Help Wanted: Alliance For Chesapeake Bay Project Coordinator

The Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay is taking applications for a Project Coordinator position with a diverse background and understanding of water quality and land use issues facing Pennsylvania’s rivers and streams and their relationship to restoration of the Chesapeake Bay.  Click Here for details.

* DEP Opportunity To Bid On Well Plugging Project In Allegheny County

The Department of Environmental Protection published a notice of an opportunity to bid on a well plugging project in Allegheny County.

* 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

No new regulations were published this week. Pennsylvania Bulletin - January 12, 2013

* 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 Invitied

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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