The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency this week said Pennsylvania's plan to reduce nutrient and sediment pollution going to the Chesapeake Bay has "serious deficiencies" and failed to demonstrate an ability to actually fully deliver necessary and promised pollution reductions.

With Senate Republicans sticking to their decision of no voting days after the November election and House Democrats imploding again this week and failing to vote on a Marcellus Shale natural gas production tax or a transportation funding package, the clock continues to count down to the end of this legislative session.

Matthew Ehrhart, Pennsylvania Executive Director for the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, released this statement on the struggle to pass Pennsylvania’s Marcellus Shale natural gas production severance tax.

The Pennsylvania Environmental Council called on members of the House and Senate and Governor Rendell to follow through on their commitment to enact a Marcellus Shale natural gas production severance tax to support environmental and conservation programs that have run out of money or been cut severely over the last two years.

In releasing its triennial performance audit of the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission this week, the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee recommended that the General Assembly “consider providing additional resources to the PFBC so it can continue to make efforts to protect water resources from potential degradation by Marcellus Shale drilling efforts.”

Saying it is necessary for to preserve the environment and to ensure sustainable future budgets, labor leaders joined today with leaders from the Southeastern Pennsylvania Budget Coalition and the Better Choices for Pennsylvania Coalition to call for passage of an equitable severance tax by the October 1st deadline.

The Governor's Office of Administration this week announced the furlough of 50 employees and abolished 500 vacant positions in order to meet FY 2010-11 spending levels.

Joel Bolstein, an environmental attorney with Fox Rothschild, provided this analysis of the impact of state employee furloughs made by the Rendell Administration this week at the Environmental Hearing Board which hears appeals of actions by the Department of Environmental Protection--

Republican gubernatorial candidate Tom Corbett this week announced his plan to protect Pennsylvania's environment. Corbett has worked aggressively throughout his career to protect the environment and his plan as governor is a continuation of his commitment.

Sen. Ray Musto (D-Luzerne), long-time Democratic Chair of the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, this week announced he will retire from the Senate at the end of his current term.

House Republican Policy Committee Chairman Stan Saylor (R-York) and members of the House Republican Caucus this week unveiled a package of legislation called "Marcellus Works" to create incentives for the use of the clean natural gas which is plentiful under Pennsylvania's large Marcellus Shale formation.

The Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee amended and reported out bills authorizing urban stormwater project funding and an electronics recycling program. The bills include--

The September issue of Environmental Synopsis is now available from the Joint Legislative Air and Water Pollution Control and Conservation Committee.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency this week released a draft Chesapeake Bay Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL), a mandatory plan designed to restore the Chesapeake Bay and its streams, creeks and rivers.

Chesapeake Bay Foundation President Will Baker and Pennsylvania Executive Director for CBF Matt Ehrhart issued the following statements following the release of a draft Chesapeake Bay TMDL by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency:

Agriculture Secretary Russell C. Redding this week reminded Pennsylvania producers to plant cover crops this fall to keep beneficial nutrients in the soil and reduce nitrogen runoff into local waterways, including the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

With the holiday gift-giving season coming up, the Game Commission is pleased to announce that its popular 2011 wildlife calendar now is available. 

The Quecreek Mine Rescue Foundation, in partnership with the Community Foundation for the Alleghenies, and Somerset Trust Company, are now accepting donations to help the families of the 33 miners trapped since August 5 in an underground coal mine in Chile.

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice of an opportunity to bid on a mine reclamation project in Butler County.

Dr. James R. Grace, Deputy Secretary of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources has been selected as the new Maurice K. Goddard Chair in Forestry and Environmental Resource Conservation. He began his three-year term on August 23, 2010.

Pennsylvania Resources Council this week announced the appointment of  Robert Jondreau to the position of Executive Director.  

Upcoming legislative meetings, conferences, workshops, plus links to other online calendars. Meetings are in Harrisburg unless otherwise noted.  NEW means new from last week.  Go to the online Calendar webpage.

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