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Weekly PA Environment Digest Newsletter
Crisci Associates, Sept. 22, 2014
(9/22/2014)
* DEP Citizens Advisory Council Recognizes Pat Lupo, OSB Of Erie

Tuesday the Citizens Advisory Council to the Department of Environmental Protection recognized Pat Lupo, OSB from Erie, for her 26 years of dedicated service on Council.  Pat has served on Council since her initial appointment by Gov. Robert P. Casey in 1988.

* DEP Fines Range Resources $4.15 Million For Violating Environmental Regulations

The Department of Environmental Protection Thursday announced it has signed a wide-ranging consent order and agreement with Range Resources for violations at six of its Washington County impoundments.

* Center For Sustainable Shale Development Certifies Chevron Under New Standards

The Center for Sustainable Shale Development Thursday announced it has certified Chevron Appalachia (Chevron) as the first company to successfully complete the Center's rigorous evaluation and verification process.

* House Moves Bill To Roll Back Stream Buffer Protection, Final Vote Monday

This week the House moved House Bill 1565 (Hahn-R-Northampton) eliminating the nearly 4 year old requirement for stream buffers in High Quality and Exceptional Value streams which is positioned for a final vote next week.

* CBF-PA: House Moves Anti-Buffer Bill In Major Clean Water SetBack

Harry Campbell, Pennsylvania Director for the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Monday issued a statement in response to the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee’s passage of House Bill 1565 (Hahn-R-Northampton).

* PEC, WPC, PA Nature Conservancy Oppose House Bill Eliminating Stream Buffers

The Pennsylvania Environmental Council, Western PA Conservancy and the Pennsylvania Chapter of The Nature Conservancy joined the Chesapeake Bay Foundation-PA, this week in opposing House Bill 1565 (Hahn-R-Northampton) that would eliminate the nearly 4 year old requirement for stream buffers in High Quality and Exceptional Value streams.

* CBF-PA Urges Public To Contact House Members To Oppose HB 1565 Buffer Bill

Harry Campbell, Pennsylvania Office Director of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, sent out a message Thursday asking the public to oppose House Bill 1565 (Hahn-R-Northampton) eliminating the nearly 4 year old requirement for stream buffers in High Quality and Exceptional Value streams--

* York, Westmoreland Counties Pass Clean Water Counts! Resolutions

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation-PA this week applauded York and Westmoreland County Commissioners for adopting a Clean Water Counts resolution, calling on state officials to make clean water a top priority for the Keystone State.

* Keep PA Beautiful Announces 2014 Great American Cleanup Of PA Results

Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful Thursday announced 136,507 volunteers collected 317,994 bags, or 6,359,872 pounds of trash, cleaned 13,603 miles of roads, railroad tracks, trails, waterways, and shorelines, and 9,113 acres of park and/or wetlands during the 2014 Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful Great American Cleanup of PA.

* Add Us To Your Google+ Circle

PA Environment Digest now has a Google+ Circle called Green Works In PA.  Just go to your Google+ page and search for DHess@CrisciAssociates.com, the email for the Digest Editor David Hess,  and let us join your Circle.

* Senate/House Agenda/Session Schedule/Bills Introduced (Updated)

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 Hears Comments On EPA Clean Power Climate Plan

The House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee Tuesday held a hearing on EPA’s proposed Clean Power PlanClick Here to watch a video of the hearing.

* House Resolution Requires Study Of Wind, Natural Gas, Energy Impacts In PA

House Resolution 925 (Rapp-R-Forest) directing the Joint State Government Commission to study the impact of wind turbines, as compared to coal, natural gas, oil and nuclear power, in Pennsylvania, in particular on migratory birds and of forest removal was adopted by the House 181 to 11 Wednesday.

* Senate Passes Bill To Encourage Private Development At Mass Transit Stations

The Senate Tuesday unanimously passed Senate Bill 1210 (Pileggi-R-Delaware) to encourage private development at mass transit stations.  A summary and Senate Fiscal Note are available.

* Senate Passes Bill Giving Municipalities More Flexibility To Maintain Local Parks

The Senate Tuesday passed House Bill 1052 (Freeman-D-Lehigh) giving municipalities greater flexibility in targeting recreation fees to benefit all residents of their communities is one step closer to becoming law.

* House Committees Hear From Fish & Boat Commission On Oil Franchise Tax Funding

The House Game and Fisheries and Transportation Committees Tuesday hear from Fish and Boat Commission Executive Director John Arway on the Commission’s plans for using the additional funds it received under Act 89 of last year amending the Oil Company Franchise Tax.

* Sen. Yaw TV Report: Exploring Impact Of Natural Gas In Susquehanna County

This month's district TV program with Sen. Gene Yaw (R-Lycoming), Majority Chair of the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, focuses on the growth experienced in and around Susquehanna County as the result of natural gas development.

* Joint Conservation Committee Environmental Issues Forum Sept. 22

The Joint Legislative Air and Water Pollution Control and Conservation Committee will hold its first Environmental Issues Forum of the fall legislative session on September 22 at 11 a.m. in Senate Hearing Room 8E-A of the Capitol East Wing.

* August Environmental Synopsis Newsletter Available From Joint Conservation Committee

The August edition of the Environmental Synopsis newsletter is now available from the Joint Legislative Air and Water Pollution Control and Conservation Committee featuring articles on--

* Tioga County Mine Drainage Project Gets OK To Generate Electricity

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission issued a power generation license September 3 for the Antrim Treatment Trust in Tioga County to operate the 40 kW micro-hydropower plant in the Babb Creek/Pine Creek Watershed as net producer of power.

* Coldwater Heritage Partnership 2015 Grant Program Now Open

The Coldwater Heritage Partnership announces the opening of the 2015 Coldwater Conservation

* Volunteers Needed For Tree Planting In Chester-Ridley-Crum Watershed Sept. 27

Volunteers are needed to assist with a tree planting at Lewis H. Fisher Memorial Park in Aston, Pa on September 27 from 9 a.m. to Noon.

* Lake Erie Cleanup Seeks Volunteers For International Coastal Cleanup Sept. 20

The Department of Environmental Protection invites the public to improve the Lake Erie watershed on September 20 by participating in the 12th annual Pennsylvania/Lake Erie International Coastal Cleanup.

* Penn State Extension: Sept. 18 Watershed Winds Newsletter

The September 18 edition of Watershed Winds newsletter from Penn State Extension is now available featuring stories on--

* DEP Citizens Advisory Council Receives Update On Oil And Gas Program

Scott Perry, DEP Deputy Secretary For Oil and Gas Management, gave DEP’s Citizens Advisory Council an update on the Oil and Gas Regulatory Program.

* Environmental Groups Appeal General Permit On Using Drill Cuttings In Pavement

Delaware Riverkeeper Network, Stewards of the Lower Susquehanna, and Earthworks filed an appeal on September 15 with the Environmental Hearing Board of a Residual Waste General Permit issued to Range Resources Appalachia and LAFARGE North America authorizing research and development activities to support the beneficial use of drill cuttings for pavement at gas well sites. 

* DEP To Webcast Sept. 25 Meeting Of Oil And Gas Technical Advisory Board Meeting

The Department of Environmental Protection Wednesday announced the Oil and Gas Technical Advisory Board’s meeting on September 25 to discuss proposed changes to the Chapter 78 Oil and Gas regulations will be available online via webinar.

* Corbett Releases Funding To Convert Glatfelter Paper Mill To Natural Gas

Gov. Tom Corbett Wednesday announced the award of a $5-million Economic Growth Initiative Grant and $3-million Alternative and Clean Energy Grant to Glatfelter to support the conversion of the company’s Spring Grove, York County paper mill to use natural gas to fuel its boilers.

* Penn State: Marcellus Boom May Have Led To Too Many Hotel Rooms

Drilling in Pennsylvania's Marcellus Shale region led to a rapid increase in both the number of hotels and hotel industry jobs, but Penn State researchers report that the faltering occupancy rate may signal that there are now too many hotel rooms.

* PA Environmental Council Policy Conference To Air On PCN Sept. 20

The PA Environmental Council Policy Conference will air on PCN  September 20 at 2:00 p.m.

* Sept. 18 DEP News Now Available From The Department Of Environmental Protection

The September 18 issue of DEP News is now available from the Department of Environmental Protection featuring articles on--

* GreenSchools Teacher Development Workshop Oct. 17 At Grey Towers

Grey Towers National Historic Site in Milford, Pike County will host a Project Learning Tree GreenSchools Teacher Education Workshop on October 17.

* iConservePA.org September Seeds Newsletter Now Available

The September issue of the Seeds Take Conservation Personally newsletter from iConservePA.org  is now available featuring articles on--

* Air Products Again Recognized On Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes

Allentown-based Air Products has again achieved a leadership position among the top 10 percent of companies in its industry as a component of the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index 2014/2015, a gold standard benchmark for corporate sustainability performance.

* PA Mercury Regulations Subject Of Visit By South Korean Envoy

Staff from DEP's Bureau of Waste Management recently met with Dr. Yongseok Hong, assistant professor of Environmental Engineering from Daegu University, Jillyang, South Korea, to discuss Pennsylvania’s regulations related to mercury. 

* Rivers Of The Chesapeake A Priority For USDA Collaborative Landscapes Program

DEP Secretary E. Christopher Abruzzo, along with officials from Maryland, Virginia and the Chesapeake Bay Commission, sent a letter this week to U.S. Department of Agriculture Under Secretary Robert Bonnie, thanking him for his role in supporting the “Rivers of the Chesapeake” as a top priority project for the Land Water Conservation Fund's FY 2016 Collaborative Landscapes program.

* DCNR Accepting Nominations For Trail Of The Year, Advisory Committee Members

The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources is asking for nominations for the 2015 Trail of the Year and is accepting applications for eight members for three-year terms on the PA Trails Advisory Committee, DCNR Secretary Ellen Ferretti announced Monday.

* Eastern PA Greenways & Trails Summit Sept. 30-Oct. 1

The Eastern PA Greenways & Trails Summit will be held September 30 to October 1 at DeSales University in Center Valley, Pa.  Click Here for the complete agenda.  Click Here to register.

* Sept. 17 Resource Newsletter Now Available From DCNR

The September 17 Resource newsletter is now available from the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources featuring stories about--

* Morewood Named Director Of DEP’s Environmental Justice Advocate Office

DEP Secretary E. Christopher Abruzzo this week announced the appointment of Kimberly A. Morewood, as Director of the DEP’s Environmental Justice Advocate Office. Morewood previously served as DEP's Environmental Advocate in Western Pennsylvania.

* Public Participation Opportunities/Calendar Of Events (Updated)

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.  It also gives you a heads-up on House and Senate Committee meetings, conferences and other interesting events.  Meetings are in Harrisburg unless otherwise noted.  NEW means new from last week.  Go to the online Calendar webpage for updates.

* 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.

* Regulations, Technical Guidance & Permits

No new regulations published this week.   Pennsylvania Bulletin - September 20, 2014

* General Environmental/Budget NewsClips

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

* Marcellus Shale NewsClips

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

* Watershed/Flooding NewsClips

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

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