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Weekly PA Environment Digest Newsletter
August 24, 2009
(8/24/2009)
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* Frustration: No Conference Committee, No Veto Override, No Budget

Gov. Rendell this week stood before yet more groups at press conferences (even Bill Cosby was there) who said they would have to close their operations because the Governor zeroed out their appropriations (even where he agreed with Republicans) in an attempt to get leverage on Senate Republicans to raise taxes to get them more funding.

* DEP Will End Comprehensive West Nile Virus Spraying Due To Zeroed Budget
The Department of Environmental Protection announced it will end comprehensive mosquito spraying operations to suppress the West Nile encephalitis, a sometimes fatal disease, on September 1 due to Gov. Rendell's action zeroing out $3.6 million of the appropriation as part of the selective veto of the Senate Bill 850 bridge budget.

* Call To Action - Action Needed Now To Save Watershed Specialists

* Get Daily Updates On PA Environment Daily Blog, Twitter

* A Decade Of Growing Greener - Kiski-Conemaugh Stream Team
The following Growing Greener Watershed Program success story was submitted by Melissa Reckner, Director of the Kiski-Conemaugh Stream Team, outlining the how the program has made a real difference in their watersheds. The Stream Team is in the running for a $250 Growing Greener Anniversary grant.
* Submissions For Growing Greener Anniversary Grants Due September 20

* Online Video - Giant Eagle Recognized For Recycling Over 42,555 Tons Of Paper, Cardboard In 2008
Giant Eagle, Inc. based in Pittsburgh was recently recognized with a Business Leadership Recycling Award from the American Forest and Paper Association.

* On the Senate/House Agenda/Session Schedule

NOTE: Due to the unpredictable nature of the Senate and House Committee schedule, meetings will be scheduled and cancelled quickly. The Calendars and Committee schedules this week are only a snapshot in time. 

* Senate/House Bills Moving

The following bills of interest saw movement this week-- 

* Joint Conservation Committee August Environmental Synopsis Newsletter Now Available

The Joint Legislative Air and Water Pollution Control and Conservation Committee now has available the August issue of its Environmental Synopsis newsletter.

* EPA Launches Chesapeake Bay TMDL Watershed Cleanup Plan Website
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s mid-Atlantic region this week announced the launch of a website dedicated to the Chesapeake Bay Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) – a major initiative to protect and restore the Chesapeake Bay and local waters as mandated by the federal Clean Water Act.

* Biomass, Reclaimed Mined Land Field Day October 6 In Schuylkill County
On October 6 the Pennsylvania Environmental Council, in partnership with the Pennsylvania State University Department of Crop & Soil Science, will hold a field day tour of a project demonstrating the beneficial use of poultry manure and biomass energy crops to help reclaim and abandoned strip mine near Pine Grove, Schuylkill County.

* DEP To Hold Public Meetings/Hearings On Two Natural Gas Drilling Permit Applications
The Department of Environmental Protection is holding a public meeting and hearing in October for each of two permit applications for proposed facilities in Wyoming County for the discharge of treated wastewater associated with natural gas drilling activities.

* DEP Reschedules Terraqua Drilling Water Treatment Permit Hearing For September 30
The Department of Environmental Protection will conduct a public hearing at 7 p.m. on September 30, to accept testimony on an industrial waste discharge permit application submitted by TerrAqua Resource Management LLC to treat and discharge 400,000 gallons per day of gas well drilling wastewater to the West Branch of the Susquehanna River in Williamsport.

* Central Susquehanna Oil & Gas Expo Set For September 19
A special Central Susquehanna Oil and Gas Expo will be held on September 19 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Lycoming County Fairgrounds.

* $6.1 Million In Stimulus Funds Will Clean Up Underground Tanks
Pennsylvania has received the maximum grant amount available to the state for leaking underground storage tank cleanup under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act-- $6.1 million in federal funding to clean up 71 tank sites in 40 counties.

* Onorato Announces $4.4 Million in Stimulus Funds for Sewer Repair Projects

* Water Resources Education Network Grant Applications Due September 30
The Water Resources Education Network is now accepting applications for Opportunity Grants of from $100 to $300 per project for watershed education activities.

* DEP Invites Applications For Coastal Zone Protection Grants
The Department of Environmental Protection is now accepting applications for Coastal Zone Protection Grants through October 23. (formal notice)

* Materials Posted From June Water Resources Education Conference
The Water Resources Education Network has just posted the materials and presentations from their June Water Resources Education Conference.

* Green Building Council Forming In Northeast PA
The Green Building Association of Central Pennsylvania is working with the Pocono Northeast RC&D Council and B.F. Environmental Consultants Inc to start a branch of the organization in Northeast PA.

* EPA Guidebook To Encourage Smarter Community Design And Healthier Living For Seniors
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has released a new guidebook to help older adults access information about the importance of environmentally friendly community design and how to become involved in decisions about what is termed as “smart growth.”

* DEP Awards $357,000 In Annual Environmental Education Grants
Pennsylvania's students, teachers and community groups will be able to take field trips, study alternative energy, restore ponds and wetlands, and use worms to create compost with the help of 60 environmental education grants by the Commonwealth to schools, colleges, county conservation districts and local non-profit organizations.

* DEP, Partners To Offer Environmental Education Grant Writing Workshops
The Department of Environmental Protection and its partners — the Department of Education, Wildwood Park, Lake Erie-Allegheny Earth Force and the Winnie Palmer Nature Reserve at St. Vincent College — will offer three workshops, “Successful Environmental Education Grant Writing Strategies,” to be held on the following dates and locations across the state:

* PA Institute For Conservation Education Sets Fall Environmental Ed Seminars
The PA Institute for Conservation Education has scheduled a series of field seminars for this fall to provide professional development opportunities for teachers needing Act 48 continuing education credits.

* PA Land Conservation Conference Seeking Workshop Proposals
The PA Land Conservation Conference is seeking workshop proposals for its April 8-10, 2010 conference in Malvern, Pa.

* Workshops On Enhancing Waste Services, Improving Quality Of Life Set
The Professional Recyclers of Pennsylvania, with support from and in cooperation with the U.S.D.A., is offering free workshops providing rural municipalities with a better understanding of their solid waste management responsibilities and how they might address them.

* PROP Offers Recycling Management Certification Courses
The Professional Recyclers of PA have scheduled a series of recycling management certification courses in September and October.

* PA Resources Council Environmental Ed, Recycling, Watershed Activities Highlighted
The Pennsylvania Resources Council posted its 2008 Annual Report which highlights the environmental education, recycling, beautification and anti-litter activities of the group.

* Save The Date: PA Resources Council 70th Anniversary Dinner Celebration Nov. 12
The PA Resources Council will hold a 70th Anniversary Celebration dinner on November 12 at the Radisson Hotel Valley Forge in King of Prussia.

* Onorato Announces Green Lighting Project At Pittsburgh International Airport
Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato this week announced the Allegheny County Airport Authority has been awarded an $800,000 grant by the Pennsylvania Energy Development Authority to install LED lighting at Pittsburgh International Airport parking lots.

* Aztec Solar Power Creates Solar Education Opportunity For Philadelphia Area Children

* PUC Special Hearing To Help Consumers Prepare Now For Winter Heatiing Costs
The Public Utility Commission announced it will hold a special en banc hearing on September 17 to receive comments in an effort to help customers prepare now for the winter heating season.

* Most Electric, Natural Gas Customers Satisfied With Utility Customer Service In 2008
The majority of electric and natural gas customers were satisfied with the way customer service representatives handled their calls in 2008, according to an annual report released this week by the Public Utility Commission.

* GreenFest Philadelphia Set For September 13
GreenFest, Philadelphia's largest one-day festival devoted to learning about green, sustainable lifestyles, will be held on September 13 from 11:00 a.m. to 6 p.m. at 2nd and South Streets. This year's theme is sustainable food.

* Centre County Grange Fair Goes Green August 26-September 3
It will not be difficult to find a place to recycle your plastic bottles, metal cans and paper walking through the Grange Fair in Centre Hall, Pa. The Grange Fair and the Centre County Solid Waste Authority have made recycling available everywhere at the fair this year.

* Asian Longhorned Beetle Seeks To Invade PA, Public Urged To Help Keep It Out

* Opportunity To Bid On DEP Projects In Allegheny And Erie Counties
The Department of Environmental Protection published notice of an opportunity to bid on plugging abandoned gas wells in Erie County and a stray gas mitigation in Allegheny County.

* Feature - Summer Interns Get Valuable Experience In Stream Restoration
Two summer interns with Stream Restoration, Inc. and BioMost, Inc. relate their experiences in watershed restoration in the August issue of The Catalyst published by the Slippery Rock Watershed Coalition reprinted below.

* 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 Department of Environmental Protection  published formal notice extending the comment period on changes to the Water and Wastewater Operator Certification Program.  The Game Commission published season and bag limits  for hunting and trapping.
* Technical Guidance & Permits
No new policies were published this week.
* 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. 

* 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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