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Weekly PA Environment Digest Newsletter
January 21, 2019 Issue #760
(1/21/2019)
* Gov. Wolf Nominates Patrick McDonnell For DEP, Cindy Adams Dunn For DCNR, Russell Redding For Agriculture

On January 16, Gov. Tom Wolf formally nominated Patrick McDonnell for DEP Secretary, Cindy Adams Dunn for DCNR Secretary and Russell Redding for Agriculture Secretary in his second term.

* Lancaster, York Counties Present Strategies To Reduce Local Water Pollution To Help Meet PA Chesapeake Bay Cleanup Commitments; Wolf Presents Budget Request Feb. 5

On January 16, the PA Chesapeake Bay Watershed Planning Steering Committee heard updates from two of the counties involved in the County Clean Water Planning Pilot Project and their strategies for reducing local water pollution.

* Register Now! Statewide Watershed Connections Conference Feb. 24-25 In State College

The PA Environmental Council, PA Organization For Watersheds and Rivers and other partners are now accepting registrations for the statewide Watershed Connections - Leveraging Our Power For Watershed Health- Conference on February 24-25 in State College.

* Clarion River Named 2019 Pennsylvania River Of The Year

A Wild and Scenic River that draws legions of anglers, paddlers and other outdoors enthusiasts throughout the seasons, the Clarion River in northwestern Pennsylvania has been voted the state’s 2019 River of the Year

* DCNR Conservation & Natural Resources Advisory Council To Hear About State Parks, Forests Infrastructure Needs Report Jan. 23

The DCNR Conservation and Natural Resources Advisory Council is scheduled to meet on January 23 and on the agenda is a State Parks and Forests infrastructure needs report by Marci Mowery from the PA Parks and Forests Foundation.

* 2 Pennsylvanians Receive International Emerging Trail Leaders Recognition By American Trails

American Trails has named 2 Pennsylvanians-- Alyssa Wentz from DCNR and Mark Rooney from Downtown Inc. In York-- international Emerging Trail Leaders.

* Post-Gazette: PUC Rejects Emergency Shutdown Request For Mariner East Pipelines; Full Case Will Move Forward

On January 17, Laura Legere reported in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette the Public Utility Commission voted unanimously to uphold an administrative law judge’s decision not to grant a request for an emergency shutdown order for the Mariner East Pipelines made by Chester and Delaware County residents.

* Post-Gazette: DEP Says Energy Transfer LP Not Complying With Order To Stabilize Beaver County Pipeline Explosion Site

On January 18, Anya Litvak of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported Energy Transfer LP, the owner of the company that built and operates the new Revolution natural gas pipeline that exploded in Beaver County in September, is not complying with an order to stabilize the site of the explosion.

* Registration Now Open For Keep PA Beautiful's 15th Annual Great American Cleanup Of PA; Video Contest

On January 17, Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful announced registration for the 2019 Great American Cleanup of PA is now open.

* Better Path Coalition Hosts Environmental Rights Amendment Events Jan. 27, 28 In Harrisburg

The Better Path Coalition will host a program on Pennsylvania’s Environmental Rights Amendment January 27 at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Cathedral, 221 N. Front Street in Harrisburg starting at 2:30.

* PA Conservation Heritage: New Penn's Woods Cradle Of Conservation Documentary Now Online

The PA Conservation Heritage Project's newest documentary-- Penn's Woods: Cradle Of Conservation-- premiered on WITF-TV on January 17.  Now the documentary is available online.

* PUC Urges Residents To Prepare Now As Winter Storm Harper Approaches; Offers Safety Tips; Gov. Wolf Declares Emergency

On January 18, Public Utility Commission offered tips to residents as Winter Storm Harper approaches the Commonwealth as part of its ongoing Prepare Now utility awareness campaign.

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

This section includes a lot of the nitty-gritty legislative stuff you need to keep track of environmental legislation and legislative schedules.

* Sen. Richard Alloway Announces Retirement From The Senate, Active On Chesapeake Bay Issues

On January 18, Sen. Richard Alloway (R-Adams) announced he would be retiring from the Senate effective February 28 after serving for 10 years.

* Rep. Mehaffie Named One Of 4 Co-Chairs Of PA Nuclear Energy Caucus

On January 18, Rep. Tom Mehaffie (R-Dauphin) announced he has been invited to serve as co-chair of Pennsylvania’s Nuclear Energy Caucus.

* Senate Democratic Members On Environmental Committee Remain The Same

On January 16, Senate Democrats named their members to each standing committee.  There were no changes in their members on the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee.

* PA Environmental Council Adding New Bills, Regulations To Tracking Webpage

The PA Environmental Council has begun entering environmental and energy bills in the PEC Bill Tracker for the new legislative session to make it easy for the public to identify and track important legislative proposals.

* DEP Awards 7 Growing Greener Grants Totaling $224,717 For Stream Restoration Projects In Allegheny, Cambria, Northampton, Tioga, Union Counties This Week

On January 14 and 16, the Department of Environmental Protection announced the award of 7 Growing Greener grants totaling $224,717 for stream restoration projects in Allegheny, Cambria, Northampton, Tioga and Union counties.

* Southwest PA Commission Water Resource Center Winning Public Support For Water Infrastructure Projects Workshops Feb. 20, 21

The Southwest Pennsylvania Commission Water Resource Center is hosting 2 workshops on Winning Public Support For Water Infrastructure Projects February 20 and 21 in Allegheny and Westmoreland counties.

* PA Sea Grant Program Accepting Research Proposals For Lake Erie, Susquehanna, Delaware Watersheds

The Penn State Pennsylvania Sea Grant Program has issued a 2020-21 Request For Proposals for research projects in the Lake Erie, Delaware and Susquehanna watershed that address priority areas.  Proposals are due March 11.

* Registration Now Open For 2019 Watershed Congress Along The Schuylkill March 9

The Delaware RiverKeeper Network and its partners are now accepting registrations for the 2019 Watershed Congress Along the Schuylkill to be held March 9 at the Pottstown campus of the Montgomery County Community College.

* PA Lake Management Society Now Accepting Entries For 2019 Photo Contest

The PA Lake Management Society is now accepting entries for its 2019 Photo Context that showcase the amazing attributes of lakes in Pennsylvania.  The deadline for entries is March 6.

* Pittsburgh Water Authority’s Latest Drinking Water Samples Show Lead Levels Above EPA Standard

On January 18, the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority announced the results of its latest round of drinking water samples in December show 15 percent are above the 15 parts per billion EPA lead action level.

* Susquehanna River Basin Commission Hearing Feb. 7 On Proposed Water Withdrawal Requests

The Susquehanna River Basin Commission is scheduled to hold a hearing February 7 on proposed water withdrawal actions tentatively on the March business meeting agenda of the Commission. formal notice and agenda)

* DEP Receives 2 Proposed Good Samaritan Gas Well Plugging Project Requests

The Department of Environmental Protection has received 2 proposed Good Samaritan abandoned oil gas well plugging project requests for wells in Warren and Westmorland County.  (Jan. 19 PA Bulletin page 338)

* Alliance For Chesapeake Bay Hosts Wild & Scenic Film Festival In Lancaster Jan. 24

Join the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay for the 16th Annual Wild & Scenic Film Festival on January 24 at the Spring House Brewing Company, 209 Hazel Street in Lancaster from 6:00 to 9:00.

* Deadline Extended: Wildlife Leadership Academy Seeks Motivated Students To Become Youth Conservation Ambassadors

The Wildlife Leadership Academy in Union County has opened its exclusive Youth Conservation Ambassador nomination process to the public and is currently seeking referrals of motivated students ages 14 to 17 to become Certified Conservation Ambassadors.

* Berks Nature Summer 2019 Eco-Camp Registration Now Open For Students Pre-school To 8th Grade

Berks Nature is now accepting registrations for summer 2019 Eco-Camp with sessions for pre-school, grades K to 4 and 5 to 8 grade students.

* Interns Wanted: Wildlife Leadership Academy Seeks Summer Program Interns

The Union County-based Wildlife Leadership Academy is seeking applicants for full-time summer program Intern positions to support the Academy Director and Coordinators at the wildlife/fisheries summer field schools to ensure that a high-quality experience is provided to all Academy participants, instructors, and volunteers.

* Interns Wanted: Lacawac Sanctuary Biological Field Station Research, Education Experience

The Lacawac Sanctuary Biological Field Station in Wayne County is now accepting applications for its 9-week Undergraduate Research and Education Experience running June 3 to August 2.

* AeroAggregates Doubles Production Capacity Of Foamed Glass Aggregate Made From Recycled Glass

On January 15, AeroAggregates in Delaware County announced it has completed installation and is now operating its second kiln, doubling production capacity to meet growing U.S. demand. 

* PUC Report Finds Low-Income Households Participating In Assistance Programs Have Double The Energy Cost Burden Than Those Without Assistance

On January 17, the Public Utility Commission issued a report on the results of a study regarding home energy-- electric and natural gas-- burdens for low-income Pennsylvanians and opened a public comment period for interested parties.

* 1,485-Megawatt Natural Gas-Fired Power Plant Goes Online In Lackawanna County

On January 15, Invenergy announced the Lackawanna Energy Center natural gas-fired power plant in Jessup, Lackawanna County has begun commercial operations.

* DEP Invites Comments On Federal Coastal Zone Consistency Determination For The Adelphia Pipeline Gateway Project In Delaware County

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the January 19 PA Bulletin inviting comments on the proposed federal Coastal Zone Management Act consistency determination for the Adelphia Pipeline Gateway Project in Delaware County.

* DEP Re-Publishes Notice Of Final Water Quality Certification For National Fuel Gas Line N To Monaca Pipeline, Beaver, Washington Counties

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the January 19 PA Bulletin (page 336) re-publishing the notice of final Section 401 Water Quality Certification for Line N to the Monaca Natural Gas Pipeline in Beaver and Washington counties.

* Pittsburgh Green Building Alliance Inspired Speakers Series Presents Inspirational Stories Of A Vibrant, Just Region Jan. 31

The Pittsburgh-based Green Building Alliance will present another special event in its Inspired Speakers Series on January 31 with the theme A Vibrant and Just Region.

* Updated Schedule: Harrisburg University Distinguished Speaker Series On Climate Disruption, Sustainable Development

Harrisburg University of Science and Technology recently announced it will host a series of six public lectures in 2019-- from January through May-- featuring thought leaders who will speak on a variety of topics related to climate disruption and sustainable development.

* DCNR To Acquire 987-Acre Parcel To Expand White Clay Creek Preserve In Chester County

The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources published notice in the January 19 PA Bulletin it intends to purchase the 987-acre Strawbridge Property to expand its White Clay Creek Preserve in Elk, Franklin and New London townships in Chester County.

* PA Organization For Watersheds & Rivers Now Accepting Applications For Sojourn Grants

On January 15, the PA Organization for Watersheds and Rivers announced it is now accepting applications for 2019 Pennsylvania River Sojourn Grants cycle. The deadline for applications is February 26.

* Brandywine Conservancy To Hold Public Meetings On Chester County Greenway Water Trail Project On Feb. 5, 12

On January 15, the Brandywine Conservancy and the Chester County Planning Commission announced they will hold public meetings on February 5 and 12 on a feasibility study for the Brandywine Water Trail as part of the Brandywine Creek Greenway Initiative.

* Manada Conservancy Pre-Sale Now Open For May 4 Native Plant Sale In Dauphin County

The Manada Conservancy has opened pre-sale orders for the May 4 Native Plant Sale to be held at the Hummelstown Boro Park, Poplar Avenue and Water Street in Hummelstown, Dauphin County.

* Skelly & Loy Hosts 2-Day Bog Turtle Consultation Training April 10-11 In York County

Skelly and Loy will offer a 2-day training course on project consultation for the federally-threatened bog turtle on April 10-11 in Shrewsbury, York County.

* Game Commission Reminds Public Of Dangers In Attempting To Care For Wildlife

In response to the incident that took place at Gifford Pinchot State Park in York County, the Game Commission on January 18 reminded the public that wildlife cannot be taken from the wild.

* Help Wanted: Berks Conservation District Urban Resource Conservationist

The Berks County Conservation District is now accepting applications for an Urban Resource Conservationist position to review NPDES water quality permits, Chapter 102 erosion and sedimentation control plans and Chapter 105 permits.

* 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.

* 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.

* Regulations, Technical Guidance & Permits

Here are highlights of actions taken by agencies on environmental regulations, technical guidance and permits.

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Send your stories, photos and links to videos about your project, environmental issues or programs for publication in the PA Environment Digest to: PaEnviroDigest@gmail.com.

* Sponsor: 2019 PA/National Abandoned Mine Reclamation Conference

PA Environment Digest is proud to be a sponsor of the 2019 PA Abandoned Mine Reclamation and National Abandoned Mine Lands Program Conference to be held in Pittsburgh on September 8-11.

* 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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