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Video Blog Feature - Over 950 Attend Ohio River Watershed Celebration, Watershed Groups, Individuals Honored
This year'sOhio River Watershed Celebrationexceeded all expectations by attracting over 950 people that sailed down the Ohio from Pittsburgh on two Gateway Clipper tour boats.
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Infrastructure Group Launches Vote YES! For Clean Water Referendum - Video Blog
The PA Infrastructure Group this week released its Fall Infrastructure Agenda for Pennsylvania, highlightedby the kick-off of a major public campaign--Vote YES For Clean Water-- to support passage of the Water andSewer Bond referendum on this coming November's election ballot.
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Bill Introduced to Expand REAP Farm Conservation Tax Credit To $35 Million
Rep. Jerry Stern (R-Blair) this week announced the introduction ofHouse Bill 2801to expandthe already highly successfulResource Enhancement and Protection (REAP)farm conservation tax credit program from $10 to $35 million.
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Video Blog Feature - Environmental Issues Forum Hears Update On Emerging Water Pollutants
TheJoint Legislative Air and Water Pollution Control and Conservation Committeeheld an Environmental Issues Forum this week featuring a presentation on emerging water pollutants like pharmaceuticals.
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On the Senate/House Agenda/Session Schedule/Bills Introduced
The Senate and House committee schedules and floor calenders are listed here--
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Senate/House Bills Moving
The following bills of interest saw action in the Senate or House this week--
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House Committee OKs Transmission Line, Waste Tire, Reclamation Other Bills
The House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee reported out legislation adopting an electric transmission line compact, establishing a Coal Methane Review Board, funding waste tire removal, brownfields redevelopment, encouraging reclamation of mine sites with biomass and a resolution to review the Growing Greener II bond program.
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Senate Committee Approves Water Bond Fix, Mercury Thermostat Ban Bills
The Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee this week reported out legislation banning the sale of thermostats with mercury, making a fix to boilerplate language in the $400 million water bond referendum legislation and a resolution on federal natural gas shipment rules.
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House Tourism Committee Releases Report on Developing Lodging Facilities In State Parks
The House Tourism and Recreational Development Committee this week released a reportpursuant toHouse Resolution 164(Haluska-D-Cambria) dealing with the developing of lodges in Pennsylvania's State Parks.
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DCNR Carbon Sequestration Plan Topic Of Senate Informational Meeting
The Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee held an informational meeting this week on theCarbon Management Plandeveloped by the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.
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House Environmental Committee To Hold Hearing On Marcellus Shale Natural Gas Drilling
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Historic Great Lakes Protection Compact Approved By Congress
ThePennsylvania Environmental Councilthis week praised members of Congress for passing a joint resolution consenting to the Great Lakes - St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Compact. Already approved by all eight Great Lakes states, including Pennsylvania, the resolution now goes to President George W. Bush, who has committed to sign it.
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Chesapeake Bay States May Delay Clean Up To 2020, But Double the Rate of Clean Up
Representatives of the Chesapeake Bay states and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency tentatively agreed this week to more than double the rate of Bay cleanup over the next decade, while proposing to push the 2010 deadline back to 2020.
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Chesapeake Bay Foundation Releases Clean Water Agenda For Next President
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SRBC Sets Hearing On Proposals To Streamline Review Of Gas Well Drilling Permits
The Susquehanna River Basin Commission announced it is conducting public hearings on October 21 and 22 onproposed regulatory revisionsthat will further protect the basin’s water resources and streamline the review of consumptive water uses by Marcellus Shale natural gas drilling operations.
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3 Rivers Wet Weather Sewer Conference Set For October 1-2
More than 300 municipal engineers, managers and public works directors will gather in Pittsburgh on October 1-2 for the tenth annual3 Rivers Wet Weather Sewer Conferenceat the Four Points by Sheraton Pittsburgh North in Cranberry Township.
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DEP Invites Public Comments On Total Maximum Daily Load Plans In 11 Watersheds
The Department of Environmental Protection is inviting public comments on Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Plans in 11 watersheds. They include:
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Erie Coastal Cleanup Removes Nearly 4 Tons of Trash
Nearly 500 trash bags were filled during this year's Pennsylvania-Lake Erie International Coastal Cleanup, the result of 865 volunteers picking up trash and litter in the Lake Erie Watershed.
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Tickets Available for 10th Annual Delaware Estuary Fundraiser On October 2
Friends and supporters of the Delaware Estuary will gather on October 2 when, on the banks of the Delaware River, thePartnership for the Delaware Estuarywill host its 10th annualExperience the Estuary Celebrationfrom 5 to 9 p.m. This fundraiser will once again take place inside the century-old power plant that is now the Wharf at Rivertown in Chester, Pennsylvania.
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Friends of the Wissahickon Sponsors Free Rain Barrel Workshop October 16
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Center for Watershed Protection Releases Street Sweeping/Stormdrain Cleanout Study
The Center for Watershed Protectionhas released a new study on reliable pollution prevention techniques using street sweeping and storm drain cleanout programs.
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Applications For 2009 Environmental Education Grants Due To DEP In December
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PA Conservation Corps Grants Available To Local Governments For Conservation, Recreation
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EPA Seeks Grant Proposals to Help Improve Environmental Quality of Life for Active Aging
As part of its Aging Initiative, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is seeking grant proposals that train older adults to be environmental leaders and demonstrate how greenways and sustainable streets can improve the quality of life and environmental quality for the active aging.
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DCNR Presents Trail Challenge Award To Hikers, Recognizes Trail Work Around The State
Their quest to traverse all 18 major state forest trailsand complete a 780-mile trek has earned two Pennsylvania residents recognition from a statewide hiking organization and the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources' Bureau of Forestry.
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$1 Million Awarded For Pittsburgh Region Parks, Trees, Trails By DCNR
The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources this week announced $1 million in grants to enhance parks, plant trees and improve trails in the Pittsburgh region.
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Western Pennsylvania Conservancy Adds Scenic Property To Ohiopyle State Park
TheWestern Pennsylvania Conservancyfinalized a land purchase on September 15 that will add nearly 200 acres in the Laurel Highlands toOhiopyle State Park, one of Pennsylvania’s most treasured natural areas.
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2009 Pennsylvania State Parks Calendar Now On Sale
The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources this week announced is again offering a full size 16-month calendar featuring photographs from Pennsylvania's State Parks for 2009.
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Ridley Creek State Park Sponsors Fall Environmental Education Events
Ridley Creek State Parkin Delaware County has a wide variety of environmental education programs scheduled for this fall that will appeal to children and adults.
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Volunteers Pitching In At State Parks To Mark National Public Lands Day
If the weather cooperates, volunteers will don work gloves and boots and wield shovels and rakes this Saturday at state parks across Pennsylvania in observance ofNational Public Lands DaySeptember 27.
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PA Chamber of Business and Industry Outlines Climate Change Action Plan Principles
ThePA Chamber of Business and Industrythis week issued a series of principles it says DEP's newClimate Change Advisory Boardshould follow in developing a climate change action plan for Pennsylvania to address the issue and continue economic progress in the state. The statement follows:
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PA Power Generators: FERC Decision Concludes Wholesale Electric Prices Are Competitive
ThePA Electric Power Generation Associationsaid this week a decision by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission dismissing a complaint by the “RPM Buyers’ Group” will enhance the reliability of the grid and provides further evidence that wholesale markets are providing competitive prices.
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Prepayment Option For Met-Ed, PA Electric Customers To Smooth Electric Price Increases
Metropolitan Edison and Pennsylvania Electric customers would have anopportunity to pre-pay a portion of their future electric bills -- and earn7.5 percent interest -- under a Voluntary Pre-payment Plan (VPP) proposedby the companies.
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PUC Finalizes Rules On Compliance With Alternative Energy Portfolio
The Public Utility Commission this week finalized regulations that govern compliance with the Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards Act by electric distribution companies and electric generation suppliers.
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Recovering Energy and Profits From Biomass and Waste Conference In Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh Steel City Biofuelsand other partners are sponsoring theEnergy from Biomass and Waste Exposition and Conferencein Pittsburgh October 14-16.
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EPA Selects Environmental Achievement Award Winners, Four Awardees from Pennsylvania
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s mid-Atlantic region this week announced 10 winners of its firstEnvironmental Achievement Awards, including four in Pennsylvania - a Philadelphia car-sharing program, a Bucks County township, a Lehigh Valley land recycling initiative and a Huntingdon Valley company.
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EPA Awards Penn State Grant For Integrated Pest Management Education
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 3 awarded a $14,500 Pesticide Misuse Initiative grant to Pennsylvania State University for a project titled Developing and Delivering Integrated Pest Management Messages for Residential and Public Areas.
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2008 Report on the Environment: Highlights of National Trends Release By EPA
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency this week released the "2008 Report on the Environment: Highlights of National Trends," which provides the American people with an important resource for better understanding trends in our nation's health and environment.
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Gov. Rendell Appoints Members to the Board of Coal Mine Safety
Gov. Rendell this week appointed the six members of the Board of Coal Mine Safety created under Pennsylvania’s new Bituminous Mine Safety Law.
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Elk Country Visitor Center Will Be Premier Interpretive Facility for Wildlife Watching
The first shovels of ground were overturned in north-central Pennsylvania this week for the construction of the largest elk watching and conservation education center in the eastern United States.
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Erie Insurance Releases Annual Deer-Vehicle Collision Losses, Recommendations
Erie Insurance this weeksaid deer-vehicle collisions cause more than 200 deaths and tens of thousands of injuries, while rackingup $1.1 billion in property damages in its service territories. Based upon Erie Insurance's decade ofdeer-vehicle collision data, it estimates about one in every 100drivers is likely to have a collision with a deer.
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Game Commission: How To Avoid Conflicts With Bears, Deer-Vehicle Collisions
The Game Commission recently issued some timely advice for drivers and homeowners on how to avoid deer-vehicle collisions and conflicts with bears. Pennsylvania leads the nationin deer-vehicle collisions.
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Game Commission Launches Test of Pilot Point-of-Sale Electronic License System
Expressing cautious optimism, Pennsylvania Game Commission Executive Director Carl G. Roe today announced that a pilot electronic license sale system, commonly referred to as “point-of-sale,” was launched at 15 sites on September 22.
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Audubon to Hold Garden Planting at Moraine State Park October 4
Audubon Pennsylvania, the state office of the National Audubon Society, andBartramian Audubon Society(a local Audubon Society chapter) will be hosting a public planting of an educational demonstrationgarden at theMoraine State Parkoffice on October 4.
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Harvest Market Fair Set For John James Audubon Center October 4
TheJohn James Audubon Center at Mill Grove, Audubon, Pa, will host its annual Harvest Market Fair on October 4 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
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Mine Reclamation Bid Opportunity In Luzerne County
The Department of Environmental Protectionpublished noticeof a bid opportunity for an abandoned mine reclamation project in Pittston Township, Luzerne County.
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Spotlight - DEP Works To Shape Priorities For Spending Federal Abandoned Reclamation Funds
Abandoned Mine Posts, Western Coalition For Abandoned Mine Reclamation
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Spotlight - Nearly 100 Properties Join PA Audubon's Bird Habitat Recognition Program Since July
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Feature - Seeds Of Interest Already Sown, This iConserve Elementary School Effort Begins To Bear Fruit
By Suzann Rensel,Clear Creek State Park Environmental Education Specialist
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Grants & Awards
This section gives you a heads up on upcoming deadlines for grants and financial assistance as well as nominations for awards and other recognition programs.NEW means from last week—
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Quick Clips
Here’s a selection of NewsClips on environmental topics from around the state
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Watershed NewsClips
Read a sampling of NewsClips on watershed topics from around Pennsylvania.
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Regulations
No new regulations were published this week. Pennsylvania Bulletin - September 27, 2008
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Technical Guidance & Permits
The Department of Environmental Protectionpublishedproposed guidance on meeting mercury reduction requirements and the final guidance and applications for the 2008 Environmental Education Grant Program. Details below--
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Calendar of Events
Upcoming conferences, meetings, workshops, plus links to other online calendars. Meetings are in Harrisburg unless otherwise noted. NEW indicates new from last week. Go To: PA Environment Digest Calendar Page
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Stories Invited
Send your stories about environmental issues, programs and positive actions toPA EnvironmentDigest-DHess@CrisciAssociates.com or go towww.PaEnvironmentDigest.com.
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Supporting Member PA Outdoor Writers Association/PA Trout Unlimited
PA Environment Digestis a supporting member of thePennsylvania Outdoor Writers Association, Pennsylvania Trout Unlimitedand theDoc Fritchey Chapter Trout Unlimited
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04/15/24 - 66 New Stories - REAL Environmental & Conservation Leadership In PA: http://tinyurl.com/msuwtctm
