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Weekly PA Environment Digest Newsletter
May 16, 2005
(5/13/2005)
PDF Version - PA Environment Digest 5/16/05
* Growing Greener Ballot Question a Test
Gov. Rendell faces a test next week at the polls. No, he won’t be running, but his $625 million Growing Greener ballot question will.
* On the Senate, House Agenda
What’s on the agenda? The May 17 election with the $625 million Growing Greener question on the ballot and two special elections to fill Senate seats in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia.
* Bill Action in the Senate and House
The budget, environmental education, hazardous sites cleanup, landfill permitting, hiking, stormwater planning, tire recycling and downtown redevelopment were all issues taken up in the Senate and House this week.
* Joint Conservation Committee Explores Greenhouse Gas Action Plans
The Environmental Issues Forum sponsored by the Joint Legislative Air and Water Pollution Control and Conservation Committee this week heard from Thomas Peterson, a senior research associate at Penn State University on what states are doing to develop greenhouse gas action plans.
* House OKs Resolution on Historic Designation for Captain John Smith Water Trail
The House adopted House Resolution 296 (Fairchild-R-Snyder) this week that asks the U.S. Secretary of the Interior to study the feasibility of designating the Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Water Trail as a national historic trail.
* Special Section: Growing Greener Ballot Question on May 17
On election day, May 17, voters will be asked to vote on the Growing Greener question on the ballot. To promote discussion of this issue, PA Environment Digest is setting aside this special area to highlight comments on the issue by a variety of groups and NewsClips.
* Vote YES Campaign for Growing Greener Ballot Question Gains Momentum
Citing support from all over Pennsylvania, the co-chairs of the Vote YES for Growing Greener Committee said this week the campaign to win voter approval for programs to cleanup our rivers and streams and preserve working farms is gaining momentum with just a few more days to go before the May 17 election.
* Game Commission Urges Voter Support for Growing Greener Ballot Initiative
Game Commission Executive Director Vern Ross this week urged all hunters and trappers registered to vote to remember to vote "YES" on the Growing Greener II bond issue that will appear on the May 17th primary ballot.
* Hunters, Anglers Support Growing Greener
More than a dozen hunting and fishing organizations from around Pennsylvania are urging a Yes vote on the Growing Greener ballot question May 17. They released this letter--
* Boating Groups Show Support for Growing Greener
The five volunteer members of the Fish and Boat Commission’s Boating Advisory Board have released a joint letter expressing their support for Growing Greener and asking other boaters to join them in voting to adopt the bond referendum appearing on the May 17 primary election ballot.
* PEC, House, Senate Members, Groups Urge Support of Growing Greener
At rallies in Delaware County and Philadelphia this week, the Pennsylvania Environmental Council, Natural Lands Trust and the Friends of the Wissahickon joined a bipartisan group of House and Senate members and a former Secretary of the Department of Environmental Resources to urge support of the Growing Greener ballot question.
* 10,000 Friends of PA, State Officials, Labor Leaders Call for Yes Vote
One of the developers of Pittsburgh’s largest residential developments since World War II joined with state and local officials, labor leaders, environmental groups and conservation organizations Friday to encourage residents to support a $625 million “Growing Greener” question on the May 17 primary election ballot.
* Animated Game Educates Citizens About Growing Greener Question
A new 20-second Internet game, designed to educate Pennsylvania citizens about the importance of the Growing Greener II bond referendum, has been developed by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) to encourage voters to go to the polls on May 17. The game has been emailed to thousands of citizens and is available on the CBF website.
* Grants for Innovative Water, Wastewater Technology Projects Available
The Department of Environmental Protection announced this week applications are now being accepted from communities, municipalities, municipal authorities and public school districts to finance improvements to their existing sewage facilities and drinking water systems using innovative or new water and wastewater technology.
* Allegheny County Mini-Environmental Grants Available
The Allegheny County Health Department is accepting applications for its 12th annual Tony Stagno Environmental Health Mini-Grant Awards Program.
* Riverlife Task Force Receives NiSource Grant for South Shore Riverfront Park
The Riverlife Task Force received a $100,000 grant from the NiSource Charitable Foundation to advance the design and development of the South Shore Riverfront Park, a large green space that will be part of Three Rivers Park, a grand urban-scale riverfront park that extends nearly 10 miles around the central business district on the Monongahela, Allegheny and Ohio rivers in Pittsburgh.
* Eleven PA Projects Get EPA Brownfield Grants
Communities in 44 states, including 11 in Pennsylvania, will share more than $75 million in U.S. Environmental Protection Agency brownfields grants to help revitalize former industrial and commercial sites, transforming them from problem properties into community assets. The Pennsylvania grants include:
* TreeVitalize Partners Plant Trees at 24 Schools in Philadelphia
The Philadelphia Eagles joined students and state, city and School District of Philadelphia officials planting trees this week to plant 309 trees at 24 schools in the city as part of TreeVitalize, a public-private partnership to restore tree cover to the five-county Philadelphia region.
* Diverse Gathering Looks at U.S. Oil Policy In Montgomery County
More than 100 people attended a discussion of U.S. oil policy in Montgomery County that featured Congressmen Jim Gerlach and Mike Fitzpatrick and Dr. Gal Luft of Set America Free.
* Designing Low-Energy Buildings Workshops Set in PA
The Sustainable Buildings Industry Council is sponsoring a series of three, two-day workshops entitled, Designing Low-Energy Buildings with Energy-10 in Pennsylvania in May and June.
* Green Building Alliance Sponsors Penn State Green Building, Green Roofs Tour
On June 2 the Green Building Association of Central Pennsylvania is sponsoring a tour to the new School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture at Penn State University and to hear a presentation about green roof research by Dr. David Beattie.
* PRC Offers Hard to Recycle Collection Event at Construction Junction
On May 21 Construction Junction in Pittsburgh will host a special event for collecting hard to recycle items—large appliances, tires, latex paint and electronics.
* Robeson Township Votes to Keep Highway Closed to Protect Rural Character
The Hay Creek Watershed Association announced this week that the Robeson Township Supervisors in Berks County took action to protect the rural community character of the area and the environmental integrity of the Hay Creek Watershed by passing a resolution to keep a portion of State Highway Route 82 closed to traffic.
* Department of Agriculture Sponsors Conservation Training Seminar
The State Conservation Commission’s 2005 Agricultural Conservation Technical Training (ACTT) Boot Camp was held this week at Fort Indiantown Gap.
* Landmark Clean Air Interstate Rule Took Effect This Week
The federal Clean Air Interstate Rule took effect this week that will result in the largest pollution reductions and health benefits of any air rule in more than a decade.
* Learn How to Preserve Plants from Penn State Expert
Dave Mortensen, professor of weed ecology, demonstrates how to preserve and record the biodiversity of Pennsylvania plants, fields, and pastures in this online feature from Research Penn State.
* Quick Clips
NewsClips on environmental topics from around the state.
* Watershed NewsClips
A sampling of NewsClips on watershed topics
* Regulations
The Independent Regulatory Review Commission this week took action on revised final regulations on explosives storage and the Fish and Boat Commission published changes to wild trout streams.
* Technical Guidance & Permits
The Department of Environmental Protection published notices this week relating to the Act 339 Sewage Operating Grant Program, reclamation bond rates for coal mining operations and on individuals certified to perform radon tests.
* Calendar of Events
Upcoming conferences, meetings, workshops, plus links to other online calendars. Go To: PA Environment Digest Calendar Page
* Stories Invited
Send your stories about environmental issues, programs and positive actions to PA Environment Digest - DHess@crisciassociates.com or go to www.PaEnvironmentDigest.com .

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