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Weekly PA Environment Digest Newsletter
July 8, 2019 Issue #784
(7/8/2019)
* Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater Home In Fayette County Added To World Heritage Sites List By UNESCO

On July 7, the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization announced the addition of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater home in Mill Run, Fayette County was added to the World Heritage Sites List.

* CBF: State Needs To Step Up Support For Those Working Hard To Cleanup PA's Rivers And Streams

By Harry Campbell, PA Executive Director, Chesapeake Bay Foundation

* Gov. Wolf Signs Bills Providing $6 Million In Farm Conservation Aid Missing Target By $171 Million Or So This Year

On July 1, Gov. Tom Wolf signed legislation into law providing $6 million in aid to farmers required to install conservation practices over the next year. The aid includes--

* PA, NY, NJ Shortchange Delaware River Basin Commission Budget $1.1 Million

On July 2, the Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed announced the states of Pennsylvania, New York and New Jersey have fallen over $1.1 million short in their funding obligations to the Delaware River Basin Commission in their FY 2020 budgets.

* DEP Denies Erie Coke (Coal) Operating Permit; Files For Injunction To Close Plant Following Numerous Violations

On July 1, the Department of Environmental Protection announced it has denied Erie Coke’s application to renew its Title V operating permit and has filed a complaint for injunctive relief in Erie County Court seeking to shut down the coke production facility following years of numerous repetitive environmental violations.

* DEP Reports Mosquitos In Beaver, Delaware Counties First To Test Positive For West Nile Virus

On July 2, the Department of Environmental Protection reported mosquitoes in Beaver and Delaware counties were the first to test positive for West Nile Virus this season.

* State Court Finds Butler County Township Zoning Ordinance Allowing Drilling Does Not Violate Environmental Rights Amendment

On July 2, Commonwealth Court issued a memorandum opinion holding the decision of Butler County Common Pleas Court to deny an appeal of a zoning permit allowing gas drilling a residential-agricultural zoning district pursuant to the Middlesex Township zoning ordinance does not violate the Environmental Rights Amendment to the state constitution.

* DEP Posts Technical Guidance [Non-Regulatory] Agenda For Next 6 Months

The Department of Environmental Protection posted an updated Technical Guidance [Non-Regulatory] Agenda in the July 6 PA Bulletin showing guidance in development and expected to be proposed and finalized in the next 6 months.

* STREAM Girls Of Southeastern PA STEM Program For Girl Scouts Needs Volunteers

Are you passionate about teaching fly-fishing or fly-tying? Do you care deeply about sharing your love of coldwater fisheries with the next generation of fisherwomen and watershed stewards?

* Celebrate The Only Prairie Bloom In PA At Jennings Environmental Center July 27 In Butler County

Mark your calendars and spread the word to family and friends about the annual Celebrate the Bloom event July 27 at the Jennings Environmental Education Center, 2951 Prospect Road in Slippery Rock, Butler County from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

* Phipps Conservatory Hosts Wild & Neat: Successful Stormwater Management Planting Workshops Sept. 24 - Sept. 25

The Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens in Pittsburgh will host two Wild and Neat: The Solution To Successful Stormwater Management Workshops September 24 and September 25.  Participants can register for one or both days.

* 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--

* Senate/House Agenda/Session Schedule

Here are the Senate and House Calendars for the next voting session day and Committees scheduling action on bills of interest as well as a list of new environmental bills introduced--

* NRCS-PA Pennsylvania State Technical Committee Meeting July 16

The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service-PA invites the public to attend the Pennsylvania State Technical Committee meeting on July 16 at the USDA State Office in Harrisburg.

* Planting Green Cover-Crop Strategy May Help Farmers Deal With Wet Springs In A Changing Climate

By Jeff Mulhollem, Penn State News

* Pike Conservation District Highlights GIS, Environmental Ed Grants, On-Lot Septic System Workshop

The Pike County Conservation District's recent newsletter highlighted several important activities--

* EQB Regulation Lowering Sulfur Content Of Heating Oil To 15 PPM Published For Comment

In the July 6 PA Bulletin, the Environmental Quality Board published a proposed regulation for public comment lowering the allowable sulfur content of No. 2 heating oil and lighter commercial fuel oil from 500 ppm to 15 ppm.

* Penn State Extension July 18 Webinar On Managing Wastewater From Shale Gas Drilling Operations

Penn State Extension will host a July 18 webinar starting at 1:00 on Sustainable Treatment Technologies for Wastewater From Shale Gas Development.

* Opportunity To Bid On DEP Mine Reclamation Project In Elk County

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the July 6 PA Bulletin of the opportunity to bid on a mine reclamation project in Elk County.

* Register Now! PROP 29th Annual Recycling & Organics Conference July 24-26 In Harrisburg

The Professional Recyclers of PA will hold their 29th Annual Recycling and Organics Conference July 24-26 at the Best Western Premier, 800 East Park Drive in Harrisburg.

* PA Resources Council Offers Recycling, Composting, Rain Barrel Workshops In Allegheny County

The PA Resources Council is offering the public a series of workshops on Recycling, Composting and installing your own rain barrel in Allegheny County this summer and fall.

* Celebrate Pittsburgh's Sustainable Restaurant Community During July, Be Part Of Graze Pittsburgh

Imagine an evening filled with delicious food, refreshing drinks, good music, and great company-- surrounded by 13 rustic acres of urban farmland. Sound too good to be true?

* Weis Markets Continues To Reduce Its Environmental Impact, Marks 10th Anniversary Of Sustainability Program

Weis Markets has continued to decrease its carbon emissions by more than 20 percent compared to 2008, and its sustainability program has helped reduce the company’s overall environmental impact in the communities it serves.

* PEC Blog: Leaving My Mark, Citizens Planning Institute Philadelphia

By Kadafi El-Kardah, PA Environmental Council

* PSU Facilities Engineering Institute Warns About Unethical Power Marketing Practices

By Danica Laub, Penn State News

* Penn State, The Nature Conservancy-PA, Lightsource BP Present July 17 Webinar On Solar Power Purchase Agreements

On July 17 from 3:00 to 4:00 p.m., Drs. Meghan Hoskins and Peter Buckland from Penn State’s Sustainability Institute in collaboration with Elizabeth Johnson, The Nature Conservancy-PA and Emilie Wangerman, Lightsource BP will participate in a webinar describing the rationale for and process of including criteria for institutional benefits, community benefits, and ecosystem services in a Request for Proposals (RFP) for a solar power purchase agreement (PPA).

* BlueGreen Alliance: Labor, Environmental Leaders Release Solidarity for Climate Action Platform

On June 24, leaders from the Pittsburgh-based BlueGreen Alliance announced the release of their platform to create good-paying jobs and fight income inequality by addressing the climate crisis at the headquarters of the United Steelworkers.

* DCNR Announces Expansion Of Free Sunscreen Program At State Park Beaches, Pools

On July 1, Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn and Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine announced expansion of a program offering visitors free sunscreen at state park beaches and swimming pools throughout Pennsylvania.

* Brandywine Conservancy Highlights Chester County's 30 Years Of Open Space Preservation

The latest issue of Environmental Currents from the Brandywine Conservancy highlights Chester County's 30 years of open space preservation efforts and other conservation programs and much more--

* Allegheny Land Trust Working To Protect 148-Acre Churchill Valley Greenway

The Allegheny Land Trust is working to acquire and permanently conserve the 148-acre Churchill Valley Greenway which sits on the former Churchill Valley Country Club spanning Beulah Road in the municipalities of Churchill and Penn Hills in Allegheny County.

* Northcentral PA Conservancy Acquires Avis Canoe Launch On Pine Creek In Clinton County

On July 2, the Northcentral PA Conservancy announced the acquisition of the Avis Canoe Launch on Pine Creek in Clinton County at the Route 150 bridge.  The intent is to transfer the property to DCNR's Bureau of Forestry so it can be managed as part of the Tiadaghton State Forest.

* The Conservation Fund Helps Add 143 Acres Of Forest Land To Ricketts Glen State Park, Luzerne County

On July 1, The Conservation Fund and the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources announced the protection of 143 acres of forestland in northeast Pennsylvania.

* PA Horticultural Society Hosts Woody Plants For The Mid-Atlantic Conference July 19 At Swarthmore College

The PA Horticultural Society and other partners will host the Woody Plants for the Mid-Atlantic Conference and How To Use Them In Landscapes on July 19 at Swarthmore College in Delaware County from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

* Penn State Extension Hosts Intensive 5-Day Workshop Series On Managing Mixed Oak Forests Sept. 30 to Oct. 4

Penn State Extension is hosting a 5-day series of workshops designed to give participants a comprehensive knowledge about forest ecology and management of mixed oak forests.

* Emerging Forest Crop Wild Ramp Plants Subject Of Study By Penn State Biology Professor

By Kristen Doerschner, Penn State News

* Northeast PA Audubon Society Awards College Scholarship

The Wayne Independent reported the Northeast Pennsylvania Audubon Society presented a $4,000 scholarship to a graduating senior who plans to pursue a career in an environmental field.

* Piping Plovers Win And Lose At Love On Presque Isle In Erie

Federally endangered piping plovers are nesting for the third consecutive year on Presque Isle State Park’s Gull Point in Erie. But the birds have added some daytime drama to their Pennsylvania presence.

* Help Wanted: Chesapeake Bay Foundation-PA Watershed Education Assistant Manager

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation-PA is seeking qualified applicants to fill the position of Susquehanna Watershed Environmental Education Program Assistant Manager/ Educator.

* Help Wanted: Country View Family Farms Environmental Management Specialist

Country View Family Farms is seeking qualified candidates to fill an Environmental Management Specialist position based in Hatfield, Montgomery County.  This position is responsible for the environmental regulatory aspects for all CFG facilities, including sustainable farming practices.  Click Here for all the details.

* 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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