Scrapbook Photo 03/25/24 - 93 New Stories - REAL Environmental & Conservation Leadership In PA: http://tinyurl.com/3729bhvv
Weekly PA Environment Digest Newsletter
Crisci Associates, Aug. 10, 2015
(8/10/2015)
* EPA Clean Power Climate Plan: What Happens Now In Pennsylvania?

Pennsylvania, specifically, the Department of Environmental Protection, now has the job of putting together a set of actions to meet the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Section 111(d) Clean Power Plan released on Monday.

* Wolf: EPA Clean Power Plan Presents New Opportunities For PA Energy

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Monday released the Clean Power Plan. Pennsylvania will use this as an opportunity to write a plan that could improve public health, address climate change, and improve our economy and power system. Pennsylvania's Department of Environmental Protection will give all stakeholders every opportunity to provide input into drafting a Clean Power Plan that is tailored to fit Pennsylvania's economy.

* PUC To Study Utility Policy Impact Of EPA Clean Power Plan

The Public Utility Commission said Monday it will thoroughly evaluate the impact on both Pennsylvania’s utilities and consumers of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean Power Plan.

* PEC: EPA Clean Power Climate Plan: A Time For Action, Not Angst

By Davitt Woodwell, President & CEO PA Environmental Council

* Reaction To Clean Power Plan Organized By Several PA Environmental Groups

Elected officials, labor organizations, health experts, faith leaders, clean energy businesspeople, and environmental advocates from across the Commonwealth highlighted the benefits of the Environmental Protection Agency's newly-released Clean Power Plan in a telephone press conference Monday hosted by PennFuture, a statewide environmental advocacy organization.

* PA Chamber: EPA’s Clean Power Plan Will Jeopardize State’s Position As Energy Leader

The PA Chamber of Business and Industry Monday expressed concerns with the potential negative impacts the final version of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean Power Plan will have on the state’s economy. 

* Pennsylvania Has Already Cut Carbon Dioxide Emissions By Using Natural Gas

In July 2014, DEP estimated the use of coal to generate electricity in Pennsylvania would have to drop by 75 percent or 10.5 million tons a year to meet the 2030 reductions called for in EPA’s original Clean Power Plan.

* 6 Things Everyone Should Know About Final EPA Clean Power Plan On Climate

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Monday released this fact sheet on six things every American should know about the Clean Power Plan to reduce carbon pollution ahead of the formal announcement today.

* Post-Gazette: Conventional Drillers Oppose Any DEP Drilling Regulation Update

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported Tuesday representatives of conventional oil and gas drillers on DEP’s Conventional Oil and Gas Advisory Committee wrote to DEP’s Deputy Secretary for Oil and Gas Management in July saying they would not support the Chapter 78 update of drilling regulations citing only comments made by other conventional drillers.

* Day 41 Without A State Budget: Groundhog Day Redux

Various combinations of legislative leaders and Gov. Wolf met this week to talk about the budget impasse, but judging from public statements it was all just a rehash of what each side said and heard before.

* PA Environment Digest Google+ Circle, Blogs, Twitter Feeds

PA Environment Digest now has a Google+ Circle called Green Works In PA.  Let us join your Circle.

* Senate/House Agenda/Session Schedule/Gov’s Schedule

Here are the Senate and House Calendars and Committee meetings showing bills of interest--

* DEP Publishes Another Agenda Of Upcoming Technical Guidance In Development

The Department of Environmental Protection published its first Non-Regulatory Agenda of technical guidance in development in the August 8 PA Bulletin (starting on page 4546 ending on page 4557) in compliance with its interim final Policy for Development and Publication of Technical Guidance.

* Apply Now For Urban Stormwater Project Grants In Chesapeake Bay Watershed

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the August 8 PA Bulletin it is now accepting applications for for the construction of urban stormwater Best Management Practices (BMP) to reduce the discharge of nutrients and sediments delivered to local waters and to the Chesapeake Bay. (formal notice)

* Villanova Stormwater Symposium, Municipal Workshop, Award Nominations In October

The Villanova Sustainable Stormwater Initiative and other partners will host its 2015 Stormwater Symposium on October 14-15 with the theme Resilience Through Green Infrastructure.

* August Township News Spotlights MS4 Stormwater, TMDL Water Quality Programs

The August issue of Township News, published by the PA State Association of Township Supervisors, contained two helpful articles for communities required to develop water quality protection strategies for the MS4 Stormwater Permit and TMDL Protection Programs.

* CBF-PA: Susquehanna Odyssey Is Testament To A Struggling River

By Harry Campbell, PA Executive Director, Chesapeake Bay Foundation

* DEP Begins Accepting Applications For Coastal Zone Grants Aug. 17, Workshop Set

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the August 8 PA Bulletin it will start accepting applications for Coastal Zone Management Grants August 17.  The deadline for applications is October 19.  (formal notice)

* Adults, Kids Can Learn About Farm Conservation At Ag Progress Days Aug. 18-20

The 2015 Penn State Ag Progress Days will be held from August 18 to 20 at the Russell E. Larson, Agricultural Research Center, 2710 West Pine Grove Road, Pennsylvania Furnace, PA.

* PRC, PA American Water Wonderful World Of Water Camp A Success

Water themed activities including games, crafts, relays, lessons, hikes, and more dominated the PA Resources Council’s 10th Annual Wonderful World of Water Day Camp which was held the week of July 13 near Pittsburgh.

* Lackawanna River Corridor Assn, PA American Water Host River Bugs Camp

The Scranton Times Tribune reported Wednesday on a day camp hosted by the Lackawanna River Corridor Association and PA American Water to educate children about water quality and how aquatic macroinvertebrates are an indicator of river health.

* Penn State Agriculture & Environment Center Newsletter Now Available

The first issue of a quarterly newsletter published by the Penn State Agriculture and Environment Center is now available featuring articles on—

* August 3 Watershed Winds Newsletter Now Available From Penn State Extension

The August 3 edition of the Watershed Winds newsletter is now available from Penn State Extension featuring articles on--

* August 3 Chesapeake Bay Journal Weekly News Now Available

The August 3 edition of the Weekly News from the Chesapeake Bay Journal is now available featuring articles on--

* Get To Know Critters Of The Swatara Creek Aug. 20 In Hershey

The Manada Conservancy invites you to join Penn State Extension educator Jennifer Fetter for a fun hands-on exploration of the Swatara Creek in a special kids program Get To Know Critters of the Swatara Creek on August 20 at 7:00 p.m. at Camp Catherine in Hershey, Dauphin County.

* Penn State Entomology: The Great Insect Fair For Kids August 18-20 In State College

The 2015 Great Insect Fair organized by the Penn State Department of Entomology will be held as part of  Penn State Ag Progress Days August 18 to 20 at the Russell E. Larson, Agricultural Research Center, 2710 West Pine Grove Road, Pennsylvania Furnace, PA.

* DEP Pipeline Task Force Topic Of Aug. 9 PEC Environmental Focus TV Program

The newly formed DEP Pipeline Infrastructure Task Force will be the topic of discussion on the August edition of “Environmental Focus,” the PA Environmental Council’s monthly half-hour television talk show.

* PA Environmental Council: In Case You Missed It In July

The In Case You Missed It In July newsletter is now available from the PA Environmental Council featuring articles on--

* DEP Staff Share Environmental Info At Wellsboro Senior Expo

Thousands of Senior citizens from across Tioga, Bradford and Potter counties attended a Senior Expo on August 4 at the Wellsboro Area High School.

* Keep PA Beautiful Invites Pennsylvanians To Participate In International Coastal Cleanup

Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful invites Pennsylvania residents to coordinate a cleanup as part of the Ocean Conservancy’s 2015 International Coastal Cleanup held from September 1 through October 31.

* August e-PRC Newsletter Available From PA Resources Council

The August issue of the e-PRC newsletter is now available from the PA Resources Council featuring articles on--

* DEP Fines Waste Management $528,000 For Waste Violations At Bucks County Landfills

The Department of Environmental Protection Monday announced it has assessed a $528,000 penalty against Waste Management, Inc. for three landfills the company owns and operates in Bucks County.

* Sept. 21 Climate Change Forum At Drexel Answers Pope’s Call

In response to Pope Francis’ call for a “new dialogue about how we are shaping the future of our planet,” the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University will hold a special public forum on September 21, featuring a leading advisor to the Vatican on climate change and sustainable development.

* DEP Corrects Error In Reporting Air Emission Inventory, No Huge Jump In Pollution

In June, the Department of Environmental Protection corrected what it said was a technical coding error in compiling its 2013 inventory of air pollution emissions in Pennsylvania.  The result was there was no big leap in air pollution emissions as previously thought and the overall trend in air emissions since 2011 is still down.

* August 6 DEP News Now Available

The August 6 issue of DEP News is now available from the Department of Environmental Protection featuring articles on--

* 3rd Attorney General Electric Supplier Settlement Yields $2.4 Million For Consumers

Attorney General Kathleen G. Kane and Acting Consumer Advocate Tanya J. McCloskey Thursday announced a proposed settlement with a third electric generation supplier accused of deceptively marketing its variable electric rates to Pennsylvania consumers, many of whom filed complaints about spikes in their rates during the winter of 2014.

* It’s Now Easier For Consumers To Find Complaints Against Entities Regulated By PUC

The Public Utility Commission Wednesday launched a series of enhancements to the PUC website in order to make it even easier for consumers to find and review complaints involving utilities.

* PSATS Now Accepting Proposals For 2016 Annual Conference

The PA State Association of Township Supervisors is now accepting workshop proposals for its 2016 Annual Educational Conference and Trade Show, scheduled for April 17-20 at the Hershey Lodge.

* Updated DEP Schedule For Mosquito Spraying Next Week

The Department of Environmental Protection and West Nile Programs across the state announced a series of mosquito spray dates in the coming week.  They include--

* Health Dept. Confirms Rabid Beaver In Lycoming County

A beaver found along Pine Creek, Lycoming County has tested positive for rabies, the  Department of Health confirmed Thursday.

* August Starts Height Of Hurricane Season In Pennsylvania, Prepare Now

August starts the height of hurricane season and the PA Emergency Management Agency, Department of Health and Insurance urge residents to always be prepared for the possibility of severe weather.

* Sheppton Mine Disaster, Rescue Historic Marker To Be Dedicated On Aug. 22

The PA Historical and Museum Commission and the citizens of Sheppton, Schuylkill County will hold a ceremony on August 22 commemorating the 1963 Sheppton mine disaster and rescue with an official state historical marker.

* Dean Druckenmiller Named Acting Executive Director Of Berks Conservation District

The Berks County Conservation District Tuesday announced Dean Druckenmiller has been named acting Executive Director of the District.

* Public Participation Opportunities/Calendar Of Events

This section lists House and Senate Committee meetings, DEP and other public hearings and meetings and other interesting environmental events.

* 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.

* Environmental NewsClips - All Topics

Here are NewsClips from around the state on all environmental topics, including General Environment, Budget, Marcellus Shale, Watershed Protection and much more--

* Regulations, Technical Guidance & Permits

The Environmental Quality Board published notices in the August 8 PA Bulletin proposing changes to two Air Quality Regulations--

* CLICK HERE To Print Entire PA Environment Digest

CLICK HERE to Print The Entire PA Environment Digest.

* 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.   Sponsor: 2016 Keystone Coldwater Conference, State College, Feb. 26-27.

Previous PA Environment Digests