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Weekly PA Environment Digest Newsletter
February 9, 2009
(2/6/2009)
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* Rendell Proposes Another $77 Million Cut In Environmental Spending, Loss Of 240+ Positions
Gov. Rendell this week proposed his 2009-10 budget and as promised there was "universal pain," including an additional $55 million cut in environmental spending and the loss of 240 positions from the departments of Environmental Protection and Conservation and Natural Resources.
* Environmental Groups Say Conservation Programs Suffered Larger Cuts Than Others
Members of the Pennsylvania Alliance for Restoration and Conservation this week called on Gov. Rendell and the General Assembly to invest a portion of the proposed $107 million severance fee on drilling for natural gas in Pennsylvania to environmental protection and improvement through the Environmental Stewardship Fund.

* Conservation Districts Announce End Of Assistance To Watershed Groups, Farmers
The PA Association of Conservation Districts this week announced it was discontinuing its Engineering Assistance Program due to the lack of funding from the Department of Environmental Protection's Growing Greener Watershed Grant Program.

* Chesapeake Bay Foundation Urges States To Use Federal Stimulus For Green Infrastructure
The Chesapeake Bay Foundation last week wrote to the Governors of Pennsylvania, Maryland and Virginia to use the expected federal stimulus funding to finance green infrastructure that reduces nitrogen and phosphorus discharges from wastewater plants, farm operations and stormwater runoff.
* Video Blog - Franklin & Marshall Professors Talk About Legacy Sediments

* On the Senate/House Agenda/Session Schedule/Bills Introduced
The next scheduled voting session day is February 9 for the Senate and House members.
* Senate/House Bills Moving
These environmental bills saw action this week--
* House Consumer Affairs Committee Holds Informational Hearing On Water, Wastewater Issues
The House Consumer Affairs Committee held an informational meeting on the status and future of Pennsylvania's water and wastewater suppliers.

* Competitive Electric Market, Pricing Topic Of House Consumer Affairs Informational Meeting
The House Consumer Affairs Committee this week held an informational meeting on issues related to the generation and distribution of electricity in the Commonwealth.

* Fish And Boat Commission Presents Annual Report To House Game And Fisheries Committee
Dr. Douglas Austen, Executive Director of the Fish and Boat Commission, this week presented his 2008 Annual Report to the House Game and Fisheries Committee highlighting accomplishments and outlining issues, like funding for the Commission.

* Senate Environmental Resources Committee Meets On Variety Of Legislation
The Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee meets on February 10 to consider the following bills--

* Susquehanna Greenway Partnership Topic of February 9 Environmental Issues Forum
The Joint Legislative Air and Water Pollution Control and Conservation Committee will hold its next Environmental Issues Forum on February 9 featuring a discussion of the Susquehanna Greenway Partnership.

* PA Resources Council Announces Lens on Litter Photo Contest Winners
The Pennsylvania Resources Council announced the winners of its annual "Lens on Litter" photo contest. The winning photos, received from all over the state.

* Allegheny County Announces Enviro Star Award Winners, Nominations Due For Next Awards
The Allegheny County Health Department has presented more than a dozen local businesses and institutions with Enviro Star awards for voluntarily adopting pollution prevention practices and announced it is accepting nominations for the 2009 awards.

* States Readying Short-Term Cleanup Milestones For Chesapeake Bay
Chesapeake Bay state officials are fleshing out details about the short-term cleanup milestones they plan to begin setting in May to accelerate pollution control efforts and improve accountability in the Bay restoration effort.

* Susquehanna River Basin Revised Comprehensive Water Resources Plan Now Available
The Susquehanna River Basin Commission’s revised Comprehensive Plan for the Water Resources of the Susquehanna River Basin, as adopted on December 4, is now available.

* PennVEST Waives DEP Permit Requirements For February 16 Application Deadline
The Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority is waiving the requirement to have state and other permits in place for applications submitted to meet the February 16 deadline.

* WREN Announces 2009 Community Watershed Education Grant Applications Due
The Water Resources Education Network is now accepting applications for its 2009 Community Watershed Education Grants of up to $5,000.

* Conservation Districts Accepting Meaningful Watershed Experience Education Grants
The PA Association of Conservation Districts and the Department of Education are now accepting applications from districts and schools for Chesapeake Bay Meaningful Watershed Experience Mini-Grants.

* EPA Report Shows Progress Exceeding Plan in Christina River Basin
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced this week the Christina River Basin Clean Water Partnership in Pennsylvania and Delaware has made significant progress in reducing pollution from storm water runoff to the Christina River basin.

* DEP Invites Public Comments On Proposed TMDL Watershed Plans for Casselman River
The Department of Environmental Protection invited public comments on a proposed Total Maximum Daily Load watershed plan for the Casselman River in Fayette and Somerset counties.

* Friends Of The Wissahickon Host Public Meeting On Trails Initiative February 23
The Friends of the Wissahickon will host a public meeting to discuss work on the Sustainable Trails Initiative set to begin in April, 2009, and continue through the fall. The meeting will take place on February 23, at the New Covenant Campus (7500 Germantown Avenue) from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.

* McKean Environmentally Sensitive Maintenance Of Dirt, Gravel Roads Workshop March 4
The McKean County Conservation District will hold a special workshop on Environmentally Sensitive Maintenance of Dirt and Gravel Roads on March 4 at the Courtyard Restaurant in Smethport, Pa.

* Lititz Run Watershed Alliance Annual Spring Watershed Cleanup March 21
The Lititz Run Watershed Alliance will hold its annual watershed cleanup event on March 21 from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

* Save The Dates: Great American Cleanup of PA April 25 - May 9, Register Now
Time to think about organizing your watershed, roadside, park or community cleanup to be part of the Great American Cleanup of PA, this year running from April 25 to May 9.

* EPA To Recognize Neighborhoods That Make Communities Better for the Aging
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has added a new category for neighborhood and non-governmentalgovernmental organizations as part of its award program for excellence in Building Healthy Communities for Active Aging.

* DEP Appeals Invalidation Of Mercury Emissions Rule By Commonwealth Court
The Department of Environmental Protection will appeal a Commonwealth Court ruling last weekPennsylvania's state-specific regulation limiting mercury emissions from power plants as unlawful, invalid and unenforceable.

* Erie Temple Becomes First Carbon-Neutral Synagogue Based On Student Project
A congregation in Erie, Pa., has become what is thought to be the nation's first carbon-neutral synagogue, an achievement spurred on by an Allegheny College student's senior project.

* PEC Spins Off Center For Climate Strategies
The Center for Climate Strategies and the Pennsylvania Environmental Council this week announced the establishment of the Center for Climate Strategies as an independent nonprofit corporation. “This move reflects the great success that CCS has had working to address the issue of climate change in more than twenty states” said Paul King, Chair and Interim President of PEC.
* Look For The SmartWay Logo When Shopping For A New Vehicle
Driving a vehicle that is fuel efficient produces fewer greenhouse gases and can save you money. Driving a fuel efficient vehicle also reflects well on its owner -- especially these days with growing concerns about climate change.

* New Diesel Vehicle Idling Restrictions Take Effect To Reduce Fuel Consumption, Clean Air
The new Diesel-Powered Motor Vehicle Idling Act signed into law on October 9 went into effect on February 6 which law restricts heavy-duty diesel vehicles from idling more than five minutes per hour.

* Allegheny Health Department Sponsors Appliance Recycling Program
The Allegheny County Health Department has launched a program offering free pickup and recycling of refrigerant-containing appliances which are no longer in use and need to be discarded in the western suburbs of the county.

* PUC Certifies Penn Power Competitive Bidding Process For Electricity Purchases
The Public Utility Commission has certified that the process used to determine default service rates for Pennsylvania Power Co. residential and commercial customers was transparent and non-discriminatory, and reflected market-based prices.

* PUC Report Shows 36 Percent Fewer People Going Without Heat Than In December

* Requirements for Conservation Service Providers Under Act 129 Finalized
The Public Utility Commission this week finalized the minimum experience and qualification requirements and established a registry for conservation service providers under Act 129.

* New, Toll-Free Service To Help Families, Businesses Better Prepare For Emergencies
Pennsylvanians have another tool to help them to be better prepared for emergencies, the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency announced this week.

* Susquehanna Greenway Symposium Set For March 24
The Susquehanna Greenway Partnership will hold the Susquehanna Greenway Symposium- Unveiling the Stories of the Susquehanna on March 24 at the Hill Banquet Facility in Shamokin Dam, Pa.

* Game Commission Launches Third Round Of Deer Management Open Houses
For the third consecutive year, the Game Commission is hitting the road to bring deer management open houses to communities throughout the Commonwealth.

* Game Commission Encourages Participation In Great Backyard Bird Count Feb. 13-16
Game Commission officials are encouraging bird and nature fans throughout the state to join tens of thousands of everyday North American bird watchers for the 12th annual Great Backyard Bird Count February 13-16, ajoint project of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the National Audubon Society

* White-Nose Syndrome Kills Hundreds Of Bats In Lackawanna County, Public Asked To Help
Several hundred little brown bats are dead from White-Nose Syndrome in Lackawanna County, and the Game Commission is looking to residents for help uncovering other sites where this deadly disorder may have surfaced.

* February PA Center For Environmental Education Newsletter Now Available
The February issue of the EE Connections newsletter from the Pennsylvania Center for Environmental Education is now available online. This month's features include:

* Governor Reappoints Members To DEP, DCNR Advisory Councils
Gov. Rendell this week made appointments to the Department of Environmental Protection Citizens Advisory Council and the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Conservation and Natural Resources Advisory Council.

* Spotlight - Update On The 10 Percent Set-Aside Abandoned Mine Reclamation Cleanup Funds
By Bruce Golden, Regional Coordinator, Western Coalition for Abandoned Mine Reclamation
* Opinion - Will Pennsylvania Be Smart Or A Sap On Natural Gas?
by Rep. Camille "Bud" George
* Feature - New Marcellus Shale Education And Training Center Being Formed
For those on the outside looking in at the shale-gas drilling boom blossoming in Pennsylvania, profiting off it can seem daunting: Only selected landowners have been blessed with the gas, the investment prices aren't reliably positive, and the vast majority of the technology and know-how originate in Texas, meaning many of the jobs go to out-of-town workers.

* 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—
* Quick Clips
Here’s a selection of NewsClips on environmental topics from around the state--
* Watershed NewsClips
Read a sampling of NewsClips on watershed topics from around Pennsylvania.
* Regulations
The Governor's Office also published its semi-annual agency-by-agency Regulatory Agenda.
* Technical Guidance & Permits
The Department of Environmental Protection published notice of changes to guidance (details below), notice of availability of General NPDES Permit for Discharges from Small Flow Treatment Facilities and a proposed General Permit for stormwater associated with mining activites. The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources published notice of an oil and gas lease execution related to Marcellus Shale.
* 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
* Stories Invited
Send your stories about environmental issues, programs and positive actions to PA Environment Digest- DHess@CrisciAssociates.com.
* Guide To The PA Environment Digest Family Of Websites
Crisci Associates is pleased to provide our clients and the public with the latest, most comprehensive news on environmental issues, legislation and accomplishments through a family of websites. Sign up now to get the latest news, whether you want it daily, weekly or in video form--
* Supporting Member PA Outdoor Writers Assn./PA Trout Unlimited
PA Environment Digest is a supporting member of the Pennsylvania Outdoor Writers Association, Pennsylvania Trout Unlimited and the Doc Fritchey Chapter Trout Unlimited.

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