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Weekly PA Environment Digest Newsletter
Crisci Associates, Oct. 12, 2015 Issue #589
(10/12/2015)
* DEP Secretary: Pennsylvania Will Miss 2017 Chesapeake Bay Cleanup Commitments

DEP Secretary John Quigley told the York Daily Record editorial board Monday Pennsylvania will miss its 2017 commitments to cleaning up the Chesapeake Bay.

* House Budget Vote: When Is A Loss Not A Loss?

Normally when someone loses in the House by 29 votes, they call it a loss, but that wasn’t the case with Gov. Wolf and House Democrats this week.

* PA Environmental Council President Issues Statement On State Budget Impasse

Davitt Woodwell, President of the PA Environmental Council, issued the following statement Tuesday on Pennsylvania’s budget impasse--

* EQB, CAC, Other Meetings Canceled At DEP Due To Budget Impasse, Others Still On

The Department of Environmental Protection has told several boards and advisory committees to the agency they had to cancel their meetings in October due to the budget impasse.

* DCNR Needs YOUR Comments On Draft State Forest Management Plan

Outdoors enthusiasts, environmentalists and other state forest visitors are reminded there are just 9 more public meetings being held by DCNR’s Bureau of Forestry to hear your comments on the Draft 2015 State Forest Resource Management Plan that will chart the course of Pennsylvania’s state forests for future generations.

* 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/ 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--

* Bills On Governor's Desk

The following bills were given final approval by the Senate and House and are now on the Governor's desk for action-- 

* Bill To Encourage Reuse Of Mine Water In Drilling Operations Signed Into Law

Gov. Tom Wolf Thursday signed into law Senate Bill 875 (Bartolotta-R- Fayette) that encourages the reuse of abandoned mine water for drilling operations.  The bill is now Act 47.

* Joint Conservation Committee To Hold Environmental Issues Forum, Hearing

The Joint Legislative Air and Water Pollution Control and Conservation Committee will hold an Environmental Issues Forum on October 19 and a hearing on natural gas-fueled vehicles on October 19.

* New Video: Eastern Coalition For Abandoned Mine Reclamation, How You Can Help

The Eastern Coalition for Abandoned Mine Reclamation has produced a new video outlining how it works with a variety of partners to cleanup abandoned mine drainage in 16 counties in Eastern Pennsylvania.

* Philadelphia Vacant Lot Project Adds Beauty, Helps Manage Stormwater

The Philadelphia Water Department broke ground Tuesday on its first official vacant lot site designed both to add beauty to the surrounding neighborhood and help the City manage stormwater under its Green City, Clean Waters Program.  Here are excerpts from an article the Water Department wrote about the project.

* New Living Wall By Philadelphia Water Department Dedicated

Philadelphia residents and tourists in the city’s historic Independence Hall area can now soak in a truly stunning piece of green infrastructure-- a living wall.

* Delaware River Watershed Land Use Workshops Coming Up, Expertise Needed

The Delaware River Basin Land Use Dynamics Project based at Shippensburg University will hold a series of workshops throughout the watershed to help develop a land cover mapping, modeling and monitoring system for the river basin.

* Juniata River Basin Partnership Grant Will Reduce Pollution, CBF-PA

Chesapeake Bay Foundation Pennsylvania Assistant Executive Director Lee Ann Murray, issued this statement Tuesday following the announcement of a $265,000 grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, that will be used to enhance pollution reduction efforts in the Juniata River Basin.

* CBF-PA: Appreciating Fall Foliage After The Color Is Gone

By Harry Campbell, PA Office Director, Chesapeake Bay Foundation

* NRCS PA Technical Committee Meeting Oct. 22 In Lebanon

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service will host the Pennsylvania State Technical Committee meeting on October 22 in Lebanon, Pennsylvania.

* Susquehanna River Basin Commission Oct. 29 Hearing On Water Withdrawal Requests

The Susquehanna River Basin Commission will hold a hearing on October 29 on water withdrawal requests tentatively scheduled for action at the Commission’s December 4 meeting. (formal notice & agenda)

* PA American Water: Imagine A Day Without Water Photo Contest

Pennsylvania American Water Tuesday announced a social media-based photograph contest, which challenges customers to share how a day without water might impact their daily routines.

* Capital Region Water Cleanup Set For Oct. 20 In Harrisburg, Read New Update

Capital Region Water is organizing another community cleanup event on October 20 at 15th and Herr Streets in Harrisburg starting at 5:30.  Volunteer for just 30 minutes to cleanup the area and help protect the Susquehanna River.  Click Here for details.

* Covanta Starts Operation Of Metals Recycling Processing Facility In Bucks County

Covanta Thursday announced the startup of a new metal recycling processing operation in Fairless Hills, Bucks County. The new facility cleans and sorts metal materials recovered from a number of Covanta's energy-from-waste facilities in the Northeast.

* Recycling Markets Center Plans E-Waste Summit, Recycling Congress, More In Nov.

The PA Recycling Markets Center will hold an Electronics Waste Summit, the PA Recycling Industries Congress and a webinar on sustainable materials management, all in November.  They will be held--

* October e-PRC Newsletter Now Available From PA Resources Council

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

* October Connecting Professional Recyclers Newsletter Now Available From PROP

The October edition of the Connecting Professional Recyclers newsletter is now available from the Professional Recyclers of PA featuring articles on--

* EPA Recognizes Philadelphia YMCA For Turning Havertown Superfund Site Into YMCA

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator Shawn M. Garvin Friday presented the Philadelphia Freedom Valley YMCA and its Vice President of Facilities, Michael Troupe, with a 2015 Excellence in Site Reuse Award. 

* DEP Fines Microbac Laboratory, Inc. $125,00 In Lehigh County, 3rd Major Lab Action

The Department of Environmental Protection Thursday announced it fined Microbac Laboratories, Inc. for violations found at its Center Valley laboratory for a total of $125,000.

* C.O.G.E.N.T: 5 More Small Electric Generating Facilities In Bradford, Tioga Counties

C.O.G.E.N.T. (Connection for Oil, Gas & Environment) reported last Sunday IMGmidstream has applied for DEP permits for four more small electric facilities bringing the total in Bradford County to 7 plants and Niles Valley Energy LLC has proposed another plant in Charleston Township, Tioga County bringing the total there to three. 

* C.O.G.E.N.T: Study: Unconventional Gas Well Drilling Associated With Premature Births

C.O.G.E.N.T. (Connection for Oil, Gas & Environment) reported Friday on this new study by Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health using Geisinger Health System data in Pennsylvania to draw some conclusions about the impact of unconventional natural gas wells on community health.  Here’s the John Hopkins release on the study--

* Southwest PA Clear The Air Student Poster Challenge Open For Entries

Students southwest Pennsylvania schools have the opportunity to show how they'd make a difference in the area's air quality by participating in the 6th Annual Let's Clear the Air Poster Challenge sponsored by the Southwest Pennsylvania Air Quality Partnership, Inc. (SPAQP), and the PA Resources Council.

* Weis Markets Installs LED Lighting In Lewisburg Store

Weis Markets’ Lewisburg store in Union County recently replaced its fluorescent lights with LED lighting, which will reduce the store’s lighting energy usage by an estimated 66 percent. The new lighting is now in use in all areas of the store and its parking lot.

* PEC Releases Business Case Assessment For Low-Impact Hydropower

The PA Environmental Council this week released a new report on the business case for hydropower called, Low-Impact Hydropower in Pennsylvania Financial Feasibility Assessment, as part of PEC’s Low-Impact Hydropower Project.

* DEP Secretary Talks About Clean Power Plan, More, With York Daily Record

DEP Secretary John Quigley talked with the York Daily Record editorial board for nearly an hour on Monday in connection with the York listening session, one of 14 listening sessions the agency is holding around the state on EPA’s Clean Power Climate Plan.

* DEP Completes 8 Of 14 Listening Sessions On EPA Clean Power Climate Plan

The Department of Environmental Protection has completed the eighth of the 14 listening sessions on the federal Clean Power Plan to reduce carbon emissions from power plants in York on Monday.

* PA Clean Power Climate Plan Comments: Bernard McGurl, Northeast PA

Listening sessions held by the Department of Environmental Protection around the state are gathering comments on EPA’s Clean Power Climate Plan to help Pennsylvania develop a plan for meeting those requirements.  

* PA Clean Power Climate Plan Comments: Greater Philadelphia Chamber Of Commerce

Listening sessions held by the Department of Environmental Protection around the state are gathering comments on EPA’s Clean Power Climate Plan to help Pennsylvania develop a plan for meeting those requirements. 

* PA Clean Power Climate Plan Comments: Nonprofit Energy Coordinating Agency

Listening sessions held by the Department of Environmental Protection around the state are gathering comments on EPA’s Clean Power Climate Plan to help Pennsylvania develop a plan for meeting those requirements. 

* PA Clean Power Climate Plan Comments: United Mine Workers Union

Listening sessions held by the Department of Environmental Protection around the state are gathering comments on EPA’s Clean Power Climate Plan to help Pennsylvania develop a plan for meeting those requirements. 

* PA Clean Power Climate Plan Comments: Robert B. McKinstry, Jr., Esq

Listening sessions held by the Department of Environmental Protection around the state are gathering comments on EPA’s Clean Power Climate Plan to help Pennsylvania develop a plan for meeting those requirements.

* PA Clean Power Climate Plan Comments: Michael Hanlon, Americans For Prosperity

Listening sessions held by the Department of Environmental Protection around the state are gathering comments on EPA’s Clean Power Climate Plan to help Pennsylvania develop a plan for meeting those requirements.

* Op-Ed: PA Should Implement Carbon Trading Program

By Robert B. McKinstry Jr., Ballard Spahr and Joseph Otis Minott, Clean Air Council

* Climate Change And National Security Oct. 14 Temple University

The PA Environmental Council is a sponsor of the October 14 Climate Change and National Security: People Not Polar Bears event to be held at Temple University’s Beasley School of Law, Klein K2B, 1719 N. Broad Street in Philadelphia from noon to 3:00 p.m.

* EPA Environmental Justice Grants Fund Pesticide, Climate Projects In PA

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Thursday announced nearly $1.2 million in competitive Environmental Justice Grants selected for award to 40 nonprofit and tribal organizations working to address environmental justice issues nationwide.

* EIA: Winter Heating Costs Expected To Be Lower This Season

Most U.S. households can expect lower heating expenditures this winter (October through March) compared with the past two winters, according to the U.S. Energy Information Agency’s Winter Fuels Outlook.

* Nearly $8.1 Million In Act 13 Drilling Fee Housing Assistance Awarded

Gov. Tom Wolf Thursday announced the PA Housing Finance Agency has approved nearly $8.1 million for 44 housing projects to improve the availability and affordability of housing in 28 counties.

* September: In Case You Missed It, Now Available From PA Environmental Council

The September issue of In Case You Missed It is now available from the PA Environmental Council featuring articles on--

* Apply Now For A Youth Garden Grant From The National Garden Assn.

The National Garden Association is offering Youth Garden Grants to schools, nonprofits and youth programs to fund youth gardening initiatives.  The deadline for applications is December 1. 

* PA Sustainable Forestry Initiative Takes Youth Logger Training To New Heights

Gone are the days when children followed their fathers to work in the woods. These informal apprenticeships are a thing of the past because of today’s safety considerations. So the PA Sustainable Forestry Initiative Implementation Committee decided if they can’t bring youth to the forest, they would bring the forest to youth.

* Andy Ernst Of Ernst Seeds Honored For His Contributions To The Native Seed Industry

Andy Ernst, vice president of Ernst Conservation Seeds in Crawford County was honored for his many contributions to the native seed industry by the Atlantic Seed Association during its 63rd Annual Convention banquet in Gettysburg on October 5.

* PA Preserves Additional 2,687 Acres Of Farmland, Total Now 514,022 Acres

Pennsylvania’s Agricultural Land Preservation Board Friday took action to protect 2,687 additional acres on 29 farms in 15 counties through the state’s nation-leading farmland preservation program.

* Spotted Lanternfly Now In Montgomery County, Additional Berks County Township

A Montgomery County township, along with another Berks County township, has now been quarantined as local, state and community partners continue efforts to stop the spread of the Spotted Lanternfly, according to the Department of Agriculture Wednesday.

* Erie Times: Ridge Environmental Center Honors Harry Leslie

The Erie Times Tuesday reported the Friends of Tom Ridge Environmental Center will honor Harry Leslie, retired Presque Isle State Park operations manager, with this year’s John C. Oliver Environmental Leadership Award.

* 2015 Greenways, Trails Summit A Big Success

A chance to share new ideas, progress reports, and challenges facing the world of trails throughout the Commonwealth, the PA Recreation and Park Society brings together trail builders, planners, advocates, and managers for the Greenways and Trails Summit every other year.

* The Nature Conservancy-PA, Partners Receive Funding For Kittatinny Ridge Work

The Nature Conservancy-PA and six land trust organizations are celebrating the transition into fall by announcing a joint effort to increase protection of this region’s most vital, and well-known landscape: the Kittatinny Ridge.

* Read Oct.-Nov. Issue Of Nature Pennsylvania From The Nature Conservancy-PA

The October-November issue of Nature Pennsylvania is now available from The Nature Conservancy-PA featuring articles on--

* North Branch Canal Trail Opens Near Danville

With the snip of over-sized scissors on a dark blue ribbon sparked loud cheers that perfectly captured the excitement surrounding opening the first 0.4 miles of the North Branch Canal Trail. Already a decade in the works, the trail will eventually cover 12 miles, linking Danville and Bloomsburg together.

* Another Pier Park Graces Philadelphia’s Delaware River

DCNR officials joined Delaware River Waterfront Corporation representatives and Philadelphia Mayor Michael A. Nutter recently to open Pier 68, the third permanent pier park to open on the Delaware River Waterfront in four years.

* Hunters Can Help Protect Poultry Industry Against Avian Influenza

While Pennsylvania has not yet been impacted by the high path avian influenza (HPAI), state officials continue emphasizing the need for vigilance against the deadly poultry disease.

* Game Commission Plans Prescribed Burns In 18 State Game Lands

Up to 3,300 acres of Pennsylvania’s state game lands could be treated with prescribed fire this fall, but hunters shouldn’t worry about the cost-effective method of managing wildlife habitat hurting their chances of success.

* Spend Columbus Day Weekend At Hawk Mountain Sanctuary

No school? No work? No problem! Head to Hawk Mountain Sanctuary, Berks County, for the Columbus Day holiday and enjoy weekend programs through Monday (including live raptor presentations) along with moving migrants, fine weather, and fantastic views of changing fall scenery.

* Oct. 7 Resource Newsletter Now Available From DCNR

The October 7 edition of the Resource newsletter is now available from the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources featuring articles on--

* Lacawac Sanctuary October Notes Now Available

The October issue of the Notes newsletter from the Lacawac Sanctuary Foundation in Wayne County is now available featuring articles on--

* Friends Of Allegheny Wilderness September Newsletter Now Available

The September issue of the Friends of Allegheny Wilderness newsletter is now available featuring articles on--

* Opportunity To Bid On DEP Mine Reclamation Projects In Blair, Fayette Counties

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the October 10 PA Bulletin of an opportunity to bid on a mine reclamation project in Blair County and another mine reclamation project in Fayette County.

* DEP Names Stefanko Executive Deputy For Programs, Morrison To Mine Operations

DEP Secretary John Quigley Monday announced John Stefanko has been named Executive Deputy Secretary for Programs and Richard Morrison was named Deputy Secretary for Active and Abandoned Mine Operations.

* Trimmer Joins PA Parks, Forests Foundation As Outreach, Public Relations Coordinator

The PA Parks and Forests Foundation Tuesday announced the hiring of Amanda Trimmer as Outreach and PR Coordinator.  Amanda will be responsible for building public awareness, engaging volunteers and creating an environment of support for PPFF programs.

* Help Wanted: PA Trout Unlimited Coldwater Resource Specialist

The PA Council of Trout Unlimited is seeking qualified candidates to fill the position of Coldwater Resources Specialist to oversee the Coldwater Heritage Partnership Program and other statewide programs and initiatives.  Resumes are due October 30.  Click Here for all the details.

* Help Wanted: Trail Outreach Coordinator, Delaware & Lehigh Heritage Corridor

The Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor is seek qualified candidates to fill the position of Trail and Outreach Coordinator.  The deadline for applications is November 3.

* 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

No new regulations were published this week. Pennsylvania Bulletin - October 10, 2015

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

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