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Weekly PA Environment Digest Newsletter
September 6, 2004
(9/3/2004)
PDF Version PA Environment Digest 09/06/04
* Pennsylvania’s Environmental Leaders – Do You Know Them?
In September we celebrate the birthdays of several more people who made outstanding contributions to protecting and restoring the Pennsylvania’s environment. Do you know them? September 14 - Maurice K. Goddard (1912-1995); 26th - John Chapman (1774-1845); 29th - J. Horace McFarland (1859-1948); and 29th - Leonard A. Green (1929-2000).
* Senate, House Name 17 Members to Green Ribbon Commission
Senate and House Leadership this week named 17 members to the Green Ribbon Commission that is charged with developing an environmental funding proposal for consideration by the General Assembly and the Rendell Administration.
* Senate Committee Learns About Timber Theft, Delays in Prosecutions
The Senate Environmental Resources Committee held a public hearing on timber theft on August 25 in Franklin, Pennsylvania. Senator Mary Jo White and Senator Raphael Musto, the majority and minority chairman of the committee chaired the hearing.
* Nominees Invited for Governor’s Environmental Excellence Award
The Department of Environmental Protection is seeking nominees for the 2004 Governor's Award for Environmental Excellence. The award will honor Pennsylvania business, individuals, municipalities, agribusiness and non-profit organizations that show a commitment to develop and build environmental stewardship and economic development in Pennsylvania.
* PA’s PROP Honored as Outstanding Recycling Organization in U.S.
The Professional Recyclers of Pennsylvania (PROP), headquartered in Bellwood, Blair County, received the inaugural Outstanding Recycling Organization of the Year award from the National Recycling Coalition (NRC) August 30th. The award was presented during NRC’s annual recycling congress in San Francisco, California.
* Luzerne County Fills Critical Need for Local Recycling Education Funds
Luzerne County Commissioners announced the creation of a new Recycling Education Grant Program, according to Ed Latinski, Luzerne County Recycling Coordinator.
* Keep PA Beautiful Seeking Partners for Anti-Litter, Beautification Efforts
Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful, a statewide coalition of state agencies, local governments, industry groups and nonprofits formed in the last year to educate the public about litter and rural dumping prevention, community beautification and sound waste-management practices in the Commonwealth, is seeking sponsors in the business community to support their statewide activities.
* Annual Environmental Education Conference Set for Nov. 12-14
The Pennsylvania Alliance for Environmental Education (PAEE) will hold their 26th Annual Conference, November 12 - 14 at the Genetti's in Wilkes-Barre. This year’s theme is, "Digging Deeper Into Environment & Ecology Standards.”
* New Aids Help Businesses, Government Improve Environmental Performance
The Department of Environmental Protection announced the availability of two new publications to help local governments and small businesses save energy and money by improving their environmental performance.
* Green Buildings
Green School Saves Energy Costs
* NOx Air Pollution Reduced 70% Since 1990, 30% Since 2002 in Northeast
Under the Nitrogen Oxide (NOx) Budget Trading Program in the Northeastern U.S., total ozone season NOx emissions from power plants and other large combustion sources were 30 percent below 2002 levels in eight northeastern states and the District of Columbia.
* BP, 13 Other Case Studies in Reducing Climate Change Emissions in New Report
A new report presents 14 case studies of world leading companies, countries and states taking steps to recognize and take action to reduce emissions that lead to climate change.
* Natural Mineral Found to Lock Up Carbon Dioxide
A common mineral can remove carbon dioxide from combustion gases, but in its natural state, it is glacially slow. Now, a team of Penn State researchers is changing serpentine so that it sequesters the carbon dioxide from fossil fuel burning in hours, not eons.
* CONSOL Energy, FirstEnergy to Evaluate Advanced Coal Technologies
CONSOL Energy Inc. and FirstEnergy Corp. have formed a joint task force to evaluate advanced clean coal technologies, including Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle (IGCC), combustion of waste coal, and other technologies that can potentially meet future baseload power generation needs while reducing the overall environmental impact of generating electricity from coal.
* Rivers Feeding Chesapeake Bay Show Decline in Nutrients, Shad Returning
Information collected by the U.S. Geological Survey and the Susquehanna Basin Commission show nitrogen, phosphorus and sediment concentrations at non-tidal river input sites of the Chesapeake Bay's major rivers, and throughout the non-tidal portion of the Susquehanna River in Pennsylvania, have declined significantly.
* EPA, Clean Water Foundation Set World Water Monitoring Day in October
To ensure that global citizens have clean water for domestic, agricultural, commercial and recreational uses, EPA and America's Clean Water Foundation are inviting people around the world to monitor the water quality of their rivers, lakes, streams, wetlands and coastal waters on October 18 – World Water Monitoring Day.
* Public Meetings Set on Saxman, Monastery Runs TMDLs in Westmoreland
The Department of Environmental Protection is holding a public meeting on October 7, at 7 p.m. at the Unity Township Municipal Building, Westmoreland County to discuss and accept comments on two proposed TMDLs. One stream segment in the Saxman Run Watershed has been identified as impaired due to metals and suspended solids from acid mine drainage (AMD). Two stream segments in Monastery Run Watershed have also been identified as being impaired as a result of metals and suspended solid from AMD.
* Middle Creek, Pymatuning Host Wildlife Shows in September
The Pennsylvania Game Commission's Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area will host its 18th Annual Middle Creek Wildfowl Show on September 18-19. The event will be held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day.
* Elk Scenic Drive Highway Signs Direct Motorists to Viewing Areas
Installation of a series of directional and informational highway signs has begun in three counties to better direct and educate the more than 75,000 visitors converging each year on Pennsylvania's Elk Country to view Pennsylvania's majestic elk herd and other wildlife, state officials announced this week.
* Leaf Webcams are Back for Another Season!
The Pennsylvania Tourism Office announced this week the return of the www.fallinpa.com website, an interactive fall foliage guide allowing visitors to view live fall foliage scenes throughout the state by region. Part of the site includes leaf webcams that show still pictures of foliage in several parts of the state.
* Community Design, Personal Health are Linked, Find Out How
In a community where people are more likely to drive than to walk, residents are generally less physically active. And the less active residents of such spread-out or sprawling communities are, the more they weigh and the worse their health.
* DEP: Chief Counsel, Needs Reclamation Director
Personnel: DEP Names New Chief Counsel, DEP Seeks Chief Reclamation Engineer
* Taking Positive Action - PENNTAP Saving Businesses Money

* Taking Positive Action - Livestock Nutrient Education Days
Livestock Nutrient & Environmental Education Days for Farmers
* Watershed NewsClips
NewsClips on watershed issues from around the state-
* Regulations
The latest on proposed and final regulations-
* Technical Guidance & Permits
DEP published this draft technical guidance for comment this week—
* Calendar of Events
Upcoming conferences, workshops and meetings, plus links to other calendars-
* Helpful Links
Links to helpful environmental information on the web-
* Contributions Invited
Send your stories about environmental issues, programs and positive actions to PA Environment Digest - DHess@crisciassociates.com .

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