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Weekly PA Environment Digest Newsletter
Crisci Associates, May 20, 2013
(5/20/2013)
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* Senate, House Fall Behind Last Year In Acting On Budget Bills

By this time last year, the Senate had already passed its version of the state budget (actually on May 9) and the House had already gone through a bruising two and a half hour Appropriations Committee meeting leading to a floor vote on June 4.

* 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--

* Senate/House Bills Moving

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

* House Environmental Committee OKs Anti-Degradation, Stormwater Bills

The House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee Wednesday reported out bills changing the anti-degradation requirements for evaluating onlot septic system permits, a bill authorizing funding for stormwater management and nonpoint source projects and a resolution on a federal forest products issue.

* Learn About i-Tree At June 17 Environmental Issues Forum

The Joint Legislative Air and Water Pollution Control and Conservation Committee’s next Environmental Issues Forum is on June 17 to hear a presentation on the USDA Forest Service’s i-Tree Program.

* Joint Conservation Committee May Environmental Synopsis Newsletter Now Available

The May issue of the Environmental Synopsis newsletter published by the Joint Legislative Air and Water Pollution Control and Conservation Committee is now available.

* SRBC Sets May 23 Hearing On Water Withdrawals, Proposed Fee Changes

The Susquehanna River Basin Commission will conduct a public hearing on May 23 to accept public comments on water withdrawal and consumptive use project applications and proposed amendments to regulatory program fees. 

* DRBC Approves Exelon's Limerick Generating Station Water Withdrawal Docket

At its May 8 meeting, the Delaware River Basin Commission unanimously approved a docket for water withdrawals and discharges from the Exelon Generation Company, LLC Limerick Generating Station, located in Limerick Township, Montgomery County, Pa.

* CBF Expresses Opposition To Bills Removing Protections To HQ/EV Watersheds

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation this week expressed its opposition to House Bill 1325 (Maloney-R-Berks) removing anti-degradation requirements for new onlot septic systems located in High Quality and Exceptional Value watershed.

* LandStudies, Floodplain Managers Host Lancaster Healthy Watershed Tour May 30

LandStudies and the PA Floodplain Managers Association will host a Healthy Watershed Tour on May 30 in Lititz, Lancaster County.

* Chesapeake Bay Foundation Announces Save The Bay Photo Contest Winners

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation Monday announced the winners of the 2013 Save The Bay Photo Contest, one each from Pennsylvania, Maryland and Virginia.

* Spring Bay Bound Newsletter Now Available From Chesapeake Bay Foundation-PA

The Spring issue of Bay Bound, a newsletter from Harry Campbell, PA Executive Director of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation is now available.

* DEP Invites Comments On Little Schuylkill River TMDL Plan

The Department of Environmental Protection invited public comments on proposed revisions to the Little Schuylkill River Total Maximum Daily Load Plan (PA Bulletin page 2783).

* Spring Creek Festival, 5K Coming Up June 1 In Centre County

The ClearWater Conservancy will hold its annual celebration of Spring Creek June 1 at Millbrook Marsh Nature Center in Centre County.

* Chester Water Authority Plant Completes Phase IV Safe Water Treatment Program

Chester Water Authority, located in Delaware County, recently completed the fourth and final phase of the Partnership for Safe Water (PfSW) Treatment Program, a voluntary effort to provide safe drinking water.

* Penn State Extension: Maintaining Private Water Supply Wells

Do you have a private water well, spring or cistern? If you do, you are one of the more than one million households in Pennsylvania that rely on them! And what may surprise you is that more than 20,000 new water wells are drilled each year in this state.

* Downingtown East High School Winner Of Chester County Envirothon

Downingtown East High School A won the 2013 Chester County Envirothon by winning three of the station events and posting the highest total score.

* FedEx Launches Grow A Green School Grant Contest, Apps Due May 24

Do you know a school that makes the eco-friendly honor roll? FedEx is launching the Grow a Greener School Contest to help give teachers, students and parents the resources to create hands-on sustainability projects at their school.

* Keep PA Beautiful Receives Home Depot Grant For Veterans Hospital Greening Projects

Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful was awarded a $75,000 grant from The Home Depot Foundation for its Ohio Valley Region VA Hospital Community Beautification and Greening Project. 

* DEP: Announces New Permit Application Tool, 2nd Update On Review Guarantees

The Department of Environmental Protection and permit applicants continue to improve performance, according to the second of four quarterly reports on revised permitting policies the agency released Wednesday.

* Philadelphia SpokesDogs Needed To Take A Bite Out Of Pollution

Residents of Fitler Square and University City have an extra two weeks, or until May 31, to make their dogs eligible to become Philadelphia’s only spokesanimals — excluding Swoop, the Phillie Phanatic, and Barkevious the turkey, of course. 

* DEP: Missing Nuclear Gauge Lost Between PA, WV Recovered

The Department of Environmental Protection announced Thursday it recovered in Maryland the missing nuclear gauge a Franklin County company lost in West Virginia on May 3. The device has not been tampered with or damaged.

* Corbett Awards 18 Impact Fee Grants For Natural Gas Vehicle Conversion

Gov. Tom Corbett Thursday awarded more than $6.7 million in Act 13 funding to 18 companies and organizations making the switch to natural gas for their heavy-duty fleet vehicles.

* New Round Of Alternative Fuel Vehicle Grants Opening May 25

Gov. Corbett Thursday announced the opening of a new round of Alternative Fuel Incentive Vehicle Grants providing an estimated $10 million to help companies and organizations purchase or convert CNG, LNG or bi-fuel vehicles weighing less than 14,000 pounds, as well as electric, propane or other alternative fuel vehicles of any weight.

* $32,880 In Energy-Efficiency, Pollution-Prevention Grants Awarded

Gov. Tom Corbett announced Monday the Department of Environmental Protection has awarded $32,880 in grants to help four small businesses across Pennsylvania invest in energy-efficiency or pollution-prevention projects.

* Treasurer McCord Accepts National Award For KeystoneHELP Energy Loan Program

State Treasurer Rob McCord expressed appreciation to State and Local Energy Report for recognizing the achievements of Pennsylvania’s Keystone Home Energy Loan Program (Keystone HELP) as the magazine announced the winners of its fifth annual Residential Energy Efficiency Awards Wednesday.

* PJM Has Enough Power To Meet Hot Summer Demand

PJM Interconnection, operator of the nation's largest electric grid,  expects to have sufficient power this summer when air conditioners push power use to as high as 155,553 megawatts.

* State Agencies Announce Bike To Work Week, Community Ride, Expo

Pennsylvania joined states across the nation in recognizing May 2013 as National Bike Month, as well as May 13 to 17 as Bike to Work Week, and May 17 as Bike to Work Day.

* Wildlands Conservancy: Join The Lehigh River Sojourn June 21-24

Join the Wildlands Conservancy and its partners on the 17th annual Lehigh River Sojourn June 21 – 24.

* DCNR's Cindy Dunn Receives Karl Mason Award From PA Environmental Professionals

DCNR Deputy Secretary Cindy Dunn was honored by the PA Association of Environmental Professionals with the Karl Mason Award for her “significant contribution to the betterment of Pennsylvania's environment.”

* Pine Grove Furnace State Park Celebrates 100th Anniversary

Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Richard Allan recently announced a schedule of events in 2013 to mark 100 years since the state took ownership of the lands that are now Pine Grove Furnace State Park in Cumberland County.

* PA Parks & Forests Foundation Kicks Off 5th Great PA Outdoor Challenge

The PA Parks and Forests Foundation Thursday invited Pennsylvanians to join PPFF’s fifth Great Pennsylvania Outdoor Challenge.

* Natural Lands Trust ChesLen Preserve To Be Dedicated June 15

On  June 15—as the constellation Hercules, a bright first quarter moon, and the ever-amazing Saturn grace the night sky—Natural Lands Trust will host an event to commemorate the opening of the new Lenfest Center at ChesLen Preserve.

* Bioblitz Planned At Sinnemahoning State Park May 20-21, Participation Invited

Scientists, naturalists and volunteers from across the state will gather May 20-21 at Sinnemahoning State Park, Cameron County, in an extensive effort to document the park's wide variety of life forms.

* Volunteers Needed To Monitor For Hemlock Wooly Adelgid

The U.S. Forest Service, Pennsylvania DCNR, the New York DEC, The Nature Conservancy, Friends of Allegheny Wilderness, and others are looking for volunteers to help monitor for signs of hemlock wooly adelgid infestations throughout the region this summer.

* DCNR Web Map To Chart Progress Of Gypsy Moth Aerial Spraying

The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources has developed an interactive, web-based map enabling users to track progress of gypsy moth spraying operations across the state.

* 2013 Invasive Plant Conference Set For July 31-August 1 In Philadelphia

The Morris Arboretum of the University of Pennsylvania will host the 2013 Invasive Plant Conference July 31-August 1 in Philadelphia.  Click Here for the conference agenda and registration information.

* Game Commission Alert: Do Not Disturb Young Wildlife

The leaves are green, the flowers are in bloom and, once again, it's that time of year when a new generation of wildlife is making its arrival.

* Elk Biologist Begins Work With Game Commission

The Game Commission has hired a new wildlife biologist to serve as its elk project leader.

* PA Wilds May Newsletter Now Available, Artisan Trail Applications Due June 14

The May issue of the PA Wilds newsletter is now available.  Learn more about outdoor recreation and business opportunities in the northcentral region of Pennsylvania.

* Gov. Corbett Appoints Mendelsohn, Welsh To DEP Citizens Advisory Council

Gov. Tom Corbett Tuesday announced the appointment of Seth A. Mendelsohn and Donald S. Welsh to the Citizens Advisory Council to the Department of Environmental Protection.

* Help Wanted: Energy Efficiency Project Manager

Performance Systems Development, an energy efficiency consulting firm, is seeking candidates to fill the position of Project Manager to plan, track and oversee the delivery and implementation of energy efficiency services.  Positions are available in the Philadelphia area.  Click Here for details.

* Opportunity To Bid On DEP Mine Reclamation Projects In Butler, Westmoreland Counties

The Department of Environmental Protection published a notice of an opportunity to bid on a mine reclamation projects in Butler County and Westmoreland 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 - May 18, 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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