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Weekly PA Environment Digest Newsletter
June 22, 2009
(6/19/2009)
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* Governor Orders Cabinet To Cut Environmental Budget By Another $16 Million

* A Decade of Growing Greener - Brandywine Valley Association's Red Stream Blue Model For Stream Restoration
The following article was submitted by Kathy Bergmann of Brandywine Valley Association outlining another success story resulting from Pennsylvania's historic investment in the Growing Greener Watershed Program. The Association is now eligible for a $250 grant from the Growing Greener website.
* Submissions For Growing Greener Anniversary Grants Due July 20

* On the Senate/House Agenda/Session Schedule/Bills Introduced
The House and Senate return to voting session on June 22.
* Senate/House Bills Moving
The following bills of interest saw movement this week--
* House Environmental Committee Reports Out Carbon Sequestration, Alternative Energy Bill
The House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee amended and reported out legislation creating a carbon sequestration network in Pennsylvania and expanded the Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards. The Committee also took action on an electronics recycling bill.
* Brownfields, Flood Control, State Parks Bills OKd By Senate Environmental Committee
The Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee this week reported out legislation related to brownfields redevelopment, authorizing non-structural flood control alternatives and bills to help keep State Parks open during the budget crisis. The bills include:
* Chair Of House Finance Committee Issues Special Update On Natural Gas Severance Tax
Rep. David Levdansky (D-Allegheny), Majority Chair of the House Finance Committee, this week issued a special update on the proposed natural gas severance tax designed to capture some of the billions of dollars of value to be produced by drillers tapping into the Marcellus Shale formation in Pennsylvania.
* House Environmental Committee To Consider Natural Gas Severance Tax Bill
The House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee will meet on June 23 to consider  House Bill 1489 (George-D-Clearfield) establishing a natural gas severance tax.
* Foundation for Pennsylvania Watersheds Awards $135,000 In Grants
The Foundation for Pennsylvania Watersheds announced the awarding of nearly $135,000 for 10 grants to help restore 19.5 miles of Abandoned Mine Drainage impacted streams, assist in underground mine pool monitoring and safeguard private water supplies from sewage impacts.

* Statewide Abandoned Mine Reclamation Conference Set For July 13-16 In Johnstown

* New Handbook Will Help Make Golf Courses Greener
Golf course superintendents can now take advantage of a new Water Resources Best Management Practices Handbook to help make their courses truly green.

* Crooked Creek Watershed Association Grow An Extra Rom Fund Raising Initiative
The Crooked Creek Watershed Association this summer has an innovative fund raising initiative underway called Grow An Extra Row.

* Annual Western PA River Sweep Cleanup Scheduled For Ohio Basin June 20
Volunteers are still needed for the19th Annual PA River Sweep, the largest organized volunteer river cleanup effort in the country, this June 20 from 8 a.m. to noon in Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Washington and Westmoreland counties.

* Spawning Stress Believed Cause Behind Reported Susquehanna River Fish Kills

* Go Wild At Wildlands Conservancy Summer Camps
With the school year coming to an end are you looking for something creative, fun and educational for your kids to do? Let them GO WILD at Wildlands Conservancy Summer Camps.

* Pennsylvania's First Private Wild Plant Sanctuary Designated

* TV, Electronics, Medical Supplies Recycling Event Set For June 20 At Heinz Field Pittsburgh
The Pennsylvania Resources Council, eLoop LLC and Global Links will sponsor an electronics, medical supplies and battery recycling event on June 20 at Heinz Field's East Parking Lot in Pittsburgh starting at 9:00 a.m.

* PROP Organics Roundtable Set For July 14 In Beaver County
The Professional Recyclers of PA will host an Organics Roundtable on July 14 at the Bradys Run Park Lodge in Fallston, Beaver County.

* Pennsylvania Statewide Recycling Conference Set For July 28-31 In Scranton
The Professional Recyclers of Pennsylvania will hold their 19th Annual PROP Recycling Conference in Scranton from July 28–31 at the Scranton Hotel & Convention Center.

* PA CleanWays Holds Illegal Dump Cleanups In Dauphin County
PA CleanWays, with funding provided by The Greater Harrisburg Foundation, a component regional foundation of the Foundation for Enhancing Communities, organized two illegal dumpsite cleanups on April 25 and 27 in Upper Paxton Township, Dauphin County.

* Chamber: Draft Climate Change Impact Report Fails To Meet Intent Of The Law
The PA Chamber of Business and Industry expressed concerns this week that diverse viewpoints are not represented in an essential report required by Act 70, the 2008 law that authorized Pennsylvania to proceed with the development of a climate change action plan for the Commonwealth.

* $10 Million in First EPA Grants Available To Develop Climate Change Showcase Communities
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is now accepting applications for up to $10 million in first of its kind, “Climate Showcase Communities” grants to local and tribal governments to establish and implement climate change initiatives that will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

* New Report Spotlights Potential Wildlife, Wind Energy Conflict Areas
The Center for Rural Pennsylvania this week released two new reports looking at potential conflicts between wildlife, land use and commercial wind energy farms.

* PUC Adopts Test To Evaluate Energy Efficiency, Conservation Plans Of Electric Utilities

* Smart Meter Technology Procurement Standards Adopted By PUC

* PUC Approves Settlement For PPL Competitive Electric Procurement Implementation Plan

* DCED Seeks Comments On RFP For Weatherization Plan
The Department of Community and Economic Development is now accepting comments on a draft request for proposal it will issue to the Commonwealth’s 42 weatherization agencies to solicit participation in the state’s expanded weatherization program under the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

* Save The Dates: PA Chamber 2009 Environmental Compliance Conferences In October
Mark your calendars for the 2009 Environmental Compliance Issues Conferences sponsored by the PA Chamber of Business and Industry in October.

* Game Commission Retains Restriction On Taking Feral Swine In Bedford County
Game Commission Executive Director Carl G. Roe this week announced that he was retaining protection on feral swine in Bedford County in an effort to facilitate trapping by individuals permitted by the agency and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

* PA Wildlife For Everyone Provides Update On Habitat Improvement, Other Projects
The PA Wildlife for Everyone Foundation recently provided an update on the many projects it has going to improvement wildlife habitat. Here's just a sampling.

* DEP Publishes Bid Opportunity For Mine Reclamation Project In Clarion County
The Department of Environmental Protection this week published notice of an opportunity to bid on a project to reclaim abandoned mines in Clarion County.


* Feature - Bellefonte Couple Honored For Extending Helping Hand To Our Feathered Friends

* 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

* Technical Guidance & Permits

* 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.
* PA Environment Digest Family Of Websites

* Supporting Member PA Outdoor Writers Assn./PA Trout Unlimited

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