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Weekly PA Environment Digest Newsletter
Crisci Associates, April 1, 2013
(4/1/2013)
CLICK HERE To Print Entire Digest
* DEP Citizens Advisory Council Asks Public For Ideas On Improving Public Participation

The Citizens Advisory Council to the Department of Environmental Protection is asking the public for ideas on how to improve public participation in developing environmental regulations and policies, according to John Walliser, Council Chair.

* Long-Time SRBC Executive Director Paul Swartz Retiring This Fall

Susquehanna River Basin Commission Chairman Dr. Robert Summers Thursday announced that Executive Director Paul Swartz is retiring this November.

* 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--

* Senators Yaw, Pileggi Unveil Natural Gas Service Legislation

Sen. Gene Yaw (R-Bradford), Majority Chair of the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, and Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi (R-Delaware) Tuesday unveiled legislation designed to make natural gas service available to more Pennsylvanians.

* Freeman Bill Would Expand Use Of Municipal Recreation Fees

Rep. Robert Freeman (D-Northampton) has introduced House Bill 1052 to give municipalities greater flexibility to target recreation fees to benefit all of the residents of the community.

* Chesapeake Bay Foundation-PA Responds To EPA’s National Waterway Survey

Harry Campbell, Pennsylvania Executive Director for the Chesapeake Bay Foundation issued this statement following the release of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s comprehensive survey of the overall health of America’s waterways.

* PennVEST, DEP Announce Results Of Forward Nutrient Credit Trading Auction

The PA Infrastructure Investment Authority and the Department of Environmental Protection, along with financial information services company Markit, held on March 20 the first “forward” auction in 2013 for the sale and purchase of nutrient credits in Pennsylvania’s Chesapeake Bay watershed.

* April PA Watersheds Conference Fees Reduced, Registration Deadline Extended

The April 5-6 Pennsylvania Watersheds Advocate, Communicate, Transform Conference registration fees have been reduced and the deadline to  sign up has been extended through Monday, April 1. 

* Montgomery Stormwater Management With Green Infrastructure Workshop April 11

Penn State Extension is sponsoring a Stormwater Management With Green Infrastructure Workshop on April 11 at the Montgomery County Farm & Home Center, Collegeville starting at 8:45 a.m.

* CBF-PA: Volunteers Needed For Stream Buffer Planting In Franklin County April 13

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation, the Antietam Watershed Association and Washington Township invite you to get your hands dirty by helping us plant 800 seedlings at Antietam Meadows, a community park located in Waynesboro, Pa on April 13 starting at 9:00 a.m.

* Alliance For Chesapeake Bay Seeks Volunteers For Waterways Cleanup Projects

The Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay and its partners are seeking volunteers for a series of eight waterways cleanup projects in and around Harrisburg.  

* PennDOT Invites Volunteers To Join In Statewide Spring Cleaning

PennDOT is seeking volunteers for this year’s Great American Cleanup of Pennsylvania effort that runs through May 31.

* Chester County Volunteers Cleanup Red Clay Watershed

The Chester County Conservation District and the Red Clay Valley Association coordinated a Spring cleanup all Red Clay stream on March 23 which resulted in collecting 21 bags of aluminum cans and 120 bags of trash collected by a dozen volunteers.

* Groups Rallying Volunteers For Scrub Of Schuylkill River Watershed

Last year, participants in the Schuylkill Scrub organized over 2,000 volunteers at more than 90 sites across the Schuylkill Valley — a six-fold increase over 2011.  This spring, leaders at the Schuylkill Action Network hope to increase participation even more.

* PA American Unveils $24 Million Upgrade To Chester County Plant, CNG Vehicles

Pennsylvania American Water officials Thursday welcomed state and municipal government officials and business leaders to the Rock Run Water Treatment Plant in Chester County to mark the completion of major plant improvements.

* DEP Awards Grant To Lancaster Waste Authority For CNG Vehicles

The Department of Environmental Protection has awarded $174,048 to the Lancaster County Solid Waste Management Authority to offset some of the costs to replace its fleet of 14 heavy-duty, diesel-powered trucks with 14 new trucks that will be powered by compressed natural gas (CNG).

* Southwest PA Air Quality Partnership Offers Lawn Equipment Exchange

The Southwest Pennsylvania Air Quality Partnership, Inc.’s Clean Mower Exchange rebate program begins Monday, April 1 and Southwest Pennsylvania residents can exchange gasoline-powered lawn equipment for a rebate toward the purchase of electric or battery-powered equipment at 15 participating True Value stores in Allegheny, Beaver, Butler, Greene, and Westmoreland Counties.

* New EnergyWorks Programs Help Businesses, Residents In Southeast Reduce Costs

Homeowners in Southeastern Pennsylvania now have more incentive for increasing their home's energy efficiency and lowering their utility bills.

* PPL Continues, Expands Energy Efficiency Programs

Under its E-Power brand, PPL Electric Utilities will offer a portfolio of 13 energy efficiency and conservation programs over the next three years as part of an ongoing effort to help its customers reduce their electric usage.

* FirstEnergy May 8 Webinar On Energy Efficiency

FirstEnergy will sponsor a webinar on May 8 on Get Green For Going Green: Energy Efficiency Tax Incentives, both starting at Noon.

* Washington & Jefferson College Sponsors Summit On U.S. Energy Security April 4

On April 4 the Washington & Jefferson College Center for Energy Policy and Management in Washington, Pa will hold its 2013 Energy Summit with the theme, “U.S. Energy Security: How Do We Get There?”

* DEP Awards 26 Counties Nearly $2.2 Million In West Nile Virus Grants

The Department of Environmental Protection Wednesday announced it is awarding nearly $2.2 million in West Nile Virus Control program grants to 26 counties, which are slated to begin surveillance activities in early April.

* Loving The Land Through Working Forests Conference Set For May 17-18

The Foundation for Sustainable Forests and the Forest Guild are hosting the Loving the Land Through Working Forests Conference on May 17-18 at Allegheny College in Meadville, Pa.

* PA Wilds Spring Briefing Conference May 2

The PA Wilds Planning Team invites you to attend the 6th Annual Pennsylvania Wilds Spring Briefing on May 2 at the  Red Fern Conference & Banquet Center, 421 Old Kersey Road, Kersey, Pa.

* Tree Tender Training Offered In April And May

Become part of the “growing” TreeVitalize initiative, an effort led by Department of Conservation and Natural Resources to increase tree cover and the many benefits that trees offer us in Pennsylvania’s communities by taking part in the Tree Tender experience.

* Merger A Major Success For Eagles, Economy In Upper Delaware

By Sandy Long

* Harrisburg Peregrine Falcon Lays 4 Eggs, Watch Their Progress Online

The female Peregrine falcon on the Rachel Carson Building have laid four eggs, which is their typical clutch of eggs during the breeding season.  Click Here to watch live video online.

* DCNR Invites Military Families To Visit State Parks And Forests in April

Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Richard Allan Thursday invited military families with children to take advantage of free activities in state parks and forests during April, “The Month of the Military Child.’’

* Western PA Conservancy eConserve Newsletter Now Available

The Western PA Conservancy Spring eConserve newsletter is now available online

* Winners Announced In Fishing's Fun In PA Sweepstakes

The Fish and Boat Commission’s “Fishing’s Fun Sweepstakes” continues to be a great way for everyone to have a chance at winning fishing trips with expert anglers across the state and fish for all types of fish species.

* Feature- Remembering The Accident At Three Mile Island, 3:53 a.m., March 28, 1979

At 3:53 a.m., March 28, 1979, the cascading failures of valves, pumps, gauges and reactor operators combined to produce the worst accident in the U.S. commercial nuclear power industry.

* Help Wanted: Susquehanna River Basin Commission Seeks Executive Director

The Susquehanna River Basin Commission, an interstate water resources management agency, seeks an Executive Director.

* Help Wanted: Grey Towers National Historic Site Internships

The Grey Towers National Historic Site, Milford, PA, ancestral home of conservationist and Pennsylvania Gov. Gifford Pinchot, has from 1 to 5 student intern positions to serve 12-week internships from May-October.

* Help Wanted: Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education Seeks Educators

The Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education, a leading environmental education provider for the Philadelphia region, seeks a passionate and energetic naturalist/educator to engage school children in meaningful and innovative learning experiences in nature.  Click Here for details on available positions.

* 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 - March 30, 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 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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