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Weekly PA Environment Digest Newsletter
December 7, 2009
(12/7/2009)
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* Philadelphia Expands Recycling By Giving Rewards Through RecycleBank
The City of Philadelphia this week announced a new partnership with RecycleBank to reward residents with up to $240 a year for recycling and saving the City millions of dollars in landfill fees.

* Online Video- Take A Tour Of The Lancaster County Energy From Waste Facility
Senators Mike Folmer (R-Lebanon) and Lloyd Smucker (R-Lancaster) recently took a tour of the energy from waste facility built by the Lancaster County Solid Waste Authority.

* Get Daily Updates On PA Environment Daily Blog, Twitter

* December 20 Deadline For Last Growing Greener Anniversary Grants

* On the Senate/House Agenda/Session Schedule

Here's the latest session schedule, Senate and House Calendars and Committee schedules--

* Attorney General Files Criminal Charges Against Natural Gas Pipline Company From Ohio
An Ohio business that operates a natural gas pipeline in northwestern Pennsylvania has been charged with illegally discharging oil and other waste in Mercer County.

* Blueprint To Tackle Environmental, Health Threats Of Marcellus Shale Gas Drilling

* 64 New Marcellus Shale Gas Wells Started In First 2 Weeks Of November
The Department of Environmental Protection this week reported 64 new Marcellus Shale natural gas wells were started in the Commonwealth during the first two weeks of November.

* Marcellus Shale Drilling Issues Forum Set For Temple December 10
There will be an open forum on issues surrounding drilling for natural gas in the Marcellus Shale formation on December 10 starting at 7:00 p.m. at Temple University (Building 18, Room 126) in Philadelphia.

* Feature- Golden Algae Causes Massive 32 Mile Fishkill In Dunkard Creek
The Chesapeake Bay Foundation Bay Daily Blog posted this story about recent contamination in Dunkard Creek killing just about every living thing for 32 miles in Southwestern PA. Click here for an audio version of this story.

* Public Encouraged To Attend December 15 Chesapeake Bay Forum In Harrisburg
As part of a series of public forums throughout December on the recently released draft federal strategy for restoring the Chesapeake Bay, federal agencies will hold a public forum from 7 p.m.-8:30 p.m., December 15 at the Farm Show Complex, 2301 North Cameron St., Harrisburg.

* Nutrient Trading Allows Harrisburg To Reduce Cost Of Meeting Pollution Cleanup Costs
Ratepayers of the Harrisburg Authority’s wastewater treatment plant may save nearly $30 million under the conditions of a new discharge permit issued this week by the Department of Environmental Protection.

* Schuylkill Workshop On December 7 Highlights Progress, Sets New Priorities
The Schuylkill Action Network is holding its annual workshop on December 7 starting at 9:00 a.m. at Reading Area Community College in Reading, Pa.

* Partnership For The Delaware Estuary Seeks Projects To Seed New Project Registry
The Partnership for the Delaware Estuary, a nonprofit National Estuary Program, is seeking projects to seed the new Delaware Estuary Project Registry.

* Recovery Act Funding Helping DEP Cleanup Abandoned Storage Tank Sites
DEP’s Northeast Regional Storage Tank Section is using American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding to conduct site characterizations or cleanups on 22 abandoned sites in the region.

* Susquehanna River Basin Commission 2008 Annual Report Now Available
The Susquehanna River Basin Commission this week released its 2008 Annual Report covering major accomplishments in water supply, water quality, flooding, ecosystems, Chesapeake Bay and other activities.

* PA CleanWays Coordinates 17 Cleanup Events In Delaware Estuary
PA CleanWays has announced a total of 21.57 tons of illegally dumped items, appliances, trash, and litter was removed from local waterways and the Delaware Estuary as part of the 24th International Coastal Cleanup event.

* Meeting Scheduled In Kreutz Creek Watershed, York County December 10

* Pitt’s Graduate School of Public Health to Evaluate Environmental Threats in Southwest PA
The Center for Healthy Environments and Communities at the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health has been contracted by The Heinz Endowments to conduct an analysis of the major threats to the environment and health of people who live and work in southwestern Pennsylvania.

* EPA Recognizes Lancaster County For Smart Growth Achievements
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa P. Jackson this week recognized four diverse communities that are models of how to grow in ways that protect our nation’s air, land, and water; reduce greenhouse gas emissions; provide safe and affordable housing; and strengthen local economies, including Lancaster County.

* Western PA Conservancy Photo Contest Winners Announced
The Western Pennsylvania Conservancy this week announced the winner and runners up in the 2009 photo contest. Dan Pompa's A Fisherman's View was the overall winner.

* President's Environmental Youth Award Nominations Due
Applications for the 2009 President’s Environmental Youth Awards are now being accepted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Mid-Atlantic States in Philadelphia, Pa.

* December PA Center For Environmental Education Newsletter Now Online

* Disney Planet Challenge Seeking Projects To Benefit The Environment
The Disney Planet Challenge is seeking 100 4th, 5th, and 6th Grade projects for funding which benefit the environment.

* McKeever Environmental Center Hosting Winter Tree ID Workshop
The McKeever Environmental Learning Center in Mercer County is hosting a Winter Tree ID workshop on January 22 for environmental educators.

* Delaware Valley Air & Waste Management Assn. Issues College Environmental Challenge
The Delaware Valley Chapter of the Air & Waste Management Association has announced an Environmental Challenge Competition for college students and faculty in the Pennsylvania, Delaware and New Jersey region.

* Trexler Nature Preserve Now Open In Lehigh County
The Trexler Nature Preserve in Lehigh County opened this fall, giving residents and visitors the chance to explore the improved trails, fishing areas and natural landscape.

* Gardens And Greenspace Volunteers Surpass 10,000 In Western PA
The Western Pennsylvania Conservancy’s Community Gardens and Greenspace program drew more than 10,000 volunteers in 2009. This record-setting volunteer turnout follows another record-breaking year, when volunteers surpassed 8,000 in 2008.

* PRC's 2009 Hard-to-Recycle Collections Produce Results In Allegheny County
The Pennsylvania Resources Council partnered with the Allegheny County Health Department, eLoop llc, Global Links, and the Appliance Warehouse, to sponsor five "Hard to Recycle" Collections in 2009.

* Food Retailers Support Plastic Bag Recycling Resolution In Philadelphia

* Pennsylvania Resources Council Offers Holiday Tips

* Keep America Beautiful Survey: Litter Down 61 Percent
Keep America Beautiful has announced the results of the largest litter study ever conducted in the U.S. showing litter has been decreased by 61 percent in the last 40 years, but more education, cleanup programs are needed to keep up this progress.

* Mon Wharf Project Ribbon Cutting In Pittsburgh

* Western PA Conservancy, Partners Preserve 149 Scenic Acres In Lycoming County
A wooded, 149-acre property with a 10-acre lake will be permanently conserved in Lycoming County through the donation of a voluntary conservation easement to the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy.

* Geisinger Health System Critical Care Building Goes Green With LEED Silver
The Critical Care Building at Geisinger Health System’s Wyoming Valley campus has received a LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Silver certification, highlighting the hospital’s commitment to green building and energy-efficient operations.

* DEP Accepting Applications For Small Business Advantage Energy, Pollution Prevention Grants
The Department of Environmental Protection is now accepting applications for the Small Business Advantage Grant Program for pollution prevention and energy efficiency projects.

* Home Energy Audits Can Help Consumers Reduce Winter Heating Bills
As colder weather arrives and as electric rates for many consumers are expected to rise by as much as 30 percent next year, help is available for Pennsylvanians who are trying to stay warm this winter.

* Southwestern PA Forms Energy Alliance Including $10 Million For Energy Start-Ups
The Allegheny Conference on Community Development this week announced the formation of the Energy Alliance of Southwestern Pennsylvania, a strategic partnership for tomorrow’s energy solutions.

* Major Solar Project In Philadelphia Navy Yard To Create 400 Jobs

* DEP Awards Combined Heat/Power Project Grants

* Exelon Power Seeks To Permanently Retire Four Units in Southeastern Pennsylvania
Exelon Power announced this week it has notified PJM Interconnection of its intention to permanently retire Units 1 and 2 at Cromby Generating Station and Units 1 and 2 at Eddystone Generating Station, effective May 31, 2011.

* American Water Sets Goal To Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Save Energy
American Water this week announced it has set a goal to lower its greenhouse gas emissions per volume of water produced by 16 percent by the year 2017.

* Ethics Ruling In DEP, DCNR Case Goes Against Rendell Administration

* Members Wanted: DCNR Recruiting Applicants For Trails Board
The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources is accepting nominations for three new appointments to the Pennsylvania Recreational Trails Advisory Board.

* Help Wanted: OSM/VISTA Volunteer Positions For Susquehanna Greenway Partnership
The Susquehanna Greenway Partnership has received grants to support two full-time VISTA volunteer positions for work along the West Branch Susquehanna River.

* Help Wanted: WPCAMR Regional Coordinator
The Western Coalition for Abandoned Mine Reclamation is seeking a motivated individual for a Regional Coordinator position. Long-time Regional Coordinator Bruce Golden is retiring from the position.

* 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

* Marcellus Shale NewsClips
Here's a selection of NewsClips on topics related to Marcellus Shale natural gas drilling--

* Watershed NewsClips
Read a sampling of NewsClips on watershed topics from around Pennsylvania.

* Regulations, Technical Guidance & Permits
The Environmental Quality Board  meets December 15 to  consider final regulations increasing laboratory accreditation requests, Blue Eye Run and other stream redesignations and proposed regulations making changes to the Land Recycling and Uniform Environmental Covenants programs.
* 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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