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Weekly PA Environment Digest Newsletter
April 11, 2011
(4/11/2011)
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* CBF, Groups Ask Federal Government To Assess Impacts Of Marcellus Shale Drilling

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation and other organizations this week called on the federal government to conduct a comprehensive scientific analysis of  the cumulative impacts of natural gas drilling in the Marcellus Shale formation in the six Bay states, New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, West Virginia, and Virginia.

* Governor Asked By Groups To Rescind DEP Marcellus Violations Policy

Forty-two faith, conservation and environmental organizations and businesses this week sent Gov. Corbett a letter asking him to order Acting Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Michael Krancer to rescind a pilot policy that requires the Secretary to approve enforcement and other actions dealing with Marcellus Shale natural gas well development.
            "Preventing DEP inspectors from issuing notices of violations of environmental laws unnecessarily delays resolution of problems and conditions that pose threats to natural resources, worker safety and public health," said Jan Jarrett, President and CEO of PennFuture. "We need DEP to let on-the-ground inspectors do their jobs."
            The DEP issued the new policy in March in a memo from Executive Deputy Secretary for Programs John Hines. The email applies only to Marcellus shale gas drilling and requires any actions or notices of violation to get approval from a series of DEP officials and finally the secretary before any action can be taken. 

* DEP Tells EPA: PA Was Already Testing Water For Drilling Wastewater Contaminants


* Marcellus Shale Commission Work Groups To Meet April 11-14


* Poll: 87% Support Dedicating A Portion Of Natural Gas Severance Tax For Conservation

A poll of Pennsylvania voters found 87 percent support dedicating a portion of a Marcellus Shale natural gas severance tax to conservation programs to protect land, water and wildlife and 55 percent prefer revenues from drilling on State Forest land be dedicated to conservation.

* Allentown Joins 51 Counties, Cities, Towns Calling For Renewal Of Growing Greener

The Renew Growing Greener Coalition this week applauded the City of Allentown for supporting a resolution calling for the renewal of Growing Greener, the state’s primary source of funding to help local communities preserve open space and farmland, protect water quality, provide parks and recreation, and clean up abandoned mines.

* Take Advantage Of These Other PA Environment Digest Services


* Senate/House Agenda/Session Schedule/Bills Introduced


* Senate/House Bills Moving


* House, Senate Approve Natural Gas Pipeline Safety Bills


* Senate Passes Bills On Reporting From Keystone, Hazardous Sites Funds, Air Plan Comments

The Senate this week approved three bills sponsored by Sen. Mary Jo White (R-Venango), Majority Chair of the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, designed to shed light on funding for parks and recreation projects and state Air Quality Implementation Plans, and dedicate funds to hazardous sites cleanup.

* Senate, House Urban Affairs Committees Hold Joint Hearing On Land Banks


* Marcellus Works Proposal Introduced In House To Promote Use Of Natural Gas


* Take Recyclebank's Green Your Home Challenge For Earth Month

Recyclebank, the Pennsylvania company that rewards people for taking everyday green actions with discounts and deals from more than 3,000 local and national businesses, this week announced it has partnered with consumer insights agency ROI Research and Google Inc. to measure how gaming techniques can impact individuals' behaviors when applied to environmental causes.

* DEP Issues Corrected Well Drilling Permits To Lake Erie Partners


* DEP Orders Catalyst Energy To Stop Operations At 36 Non-Marcellus Wells


* DEP Orders McKean Resident To Plug 3 Abandoned Wells Near Site Of Explosion


* Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Sponsors Energy Forum April 11


* Delaware River Designated As National Great Water

The Delaware River has been designated a “Great Water,” joining 18 other waterways nationwide selected for that honor by a national coalition formed to protect waterways of high economic, social and environmental importance.

* Spotlight- Penn State Extension: Doing Stream Restoration? Consider Biosecurity

Many watershed associations will be doing stream clean-ups and buffer plantings. Here are a few things to consider when planning these activities.

* Bethlehem, TNC Agreement Protects 22,000 Acres Of Watershed Lands


* Four Penn State Water Quality Projects Honored By U.S.D.A.


* Landscape Rehabilitation And Sustainability Subject Of New Book


* 8 Water Systems Join Partnership For Safe Water Program


* Sign Up Now For 2011 Clarion River Sojourn June 11-12

On June 11-12, the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy will host a trip along the Clarion River for the annual River Sojourn.

* DEP Sets Meetings For Laurel Hill/Back Creek Critical Area, Ohio Regional Committees


* Wildlands Conservancy Educator's Open House April 14


* Wildlife Leadership Academy Application Deadline Extended To April 15

The Wildlife Leadership Academy has extended their application deadline for youth and adult mentors to April 15. 

* Alternative Energy Workshops For Educators In June, July


* Earth Day: Fort Indiantown Gap Celebrates Earth Day With Education Programs April 29

The Pennsylvania National Guard will celebrate Earth and Arbor Day with educational displays and children's activities from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on April 29, at Fort Indiantown Gap, Lebanon County.

* Earth Day: Friends Of Wissahickon Volunteer Work Days April 9, 16, 23, 30

Now that spring is here, the Friends of the Wissahickon are organizing Volunteer Work Days in Wissahickon Valley Park on Saturdays beginning in April at Houston Meadow, where they are building a sustainable re-route of the trail there.

* Earth Day: Jennings EE Center Seeks Volunteers For Invasive Species Control April 23


* Earth Day: Bedford County Earth Day Celebration Set For April 16

The Bedford County Outdoor Education Program announced Shawnee State Park will be the location for this year's Earth Day Celebration on April 16 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

* Earth Day: Volunteers Needed At 4 Cleanup Events On April 16 In Lehigh Valley

The Wildlands Conservancy needs volunteers to help work in four cleanup events on April 16 in and around Allentown starting at 9:00 a.m.

* Earth Day: Wissahickon Watershed Evans-Mumbower Mill Open House April 17

Bring your family and friends to join the Wissahickon Valley Watershed Association at the Evans-Mumbower Mill on April 17 from 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. 

* Earth Day: Learn, Act, Celebrate Earth Day With PPL


* Earth Day: DEP Encourages Public To Join Great American Cleanup of PA

The Department of Environmental Protection is encouraging all Pennsylvanians to join in a statewide effort to clean up communities and the environment.

* Earth Day: Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful Kicks-off National Great American Cleanup

Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful was proud to sponsor the Great American Cleanup National Kickoff in Philadelphia, PA along with Keep America Beautiful, Keep Philadelphia Beautiful, and the City of Philadelphia.  

* Earth Day: PRC, Highmark Sponsor April 30 Drug Take Back Day In Pittsburgh


* Natural Biodiversity Allegheny Mountain Green Fest May 14 in Johnstown


* Chester County Seeking Green Business Award Nominees


* EPA Selects 2 PA Locations For Sustainable Community Planning Help


* DEP Congratulates Award-Winning Lancaster Brownfields Revitalization Project

Acting Secretary of the Department of Environmental Protection Michael Krancer this week congratulated the Lancaster Northwest Gateway Project, one of only ten recipients nationwide of the 2010 Phoenix Awards.

* Philadelphia Zoo To Be Powered By Green Energy


* Carlisle Solar Project Presented With A 2011 PV Projects Of Distinction Awards

The Carlisle Area School District's one megawatt photovoltaic system was one of three solar projects in the Northeast/Mid-Atlantic region to receive the first annual Projects of Distinction Awards presented by the Solar Energy Industries Association and the Solar Electric Power Association at the PV America show. 

* Commonwealth Financing Authority: $6.5 Million In Alternative, Clean Energy Funding


* FirstEnergy Solutions Extends Electric Discounts To Penn Power, Duquesne Light Customers


* New Study Outlines Natural Gas Transportation Roadmap


* DEP Accepting Applications For Alternative Fuels Incentive Grants


* Game Commission Releases Second Wind Energy Report


* DCNR TreeVitalize Presentation April 17 On Restoring Trees In Cities


* Western PA Conservancy Celebrates 75 Years Of Fallingwater

The Western PA Conservancy is celebrating the 75th anniversary of Frank Lloyd Wright's Fallingwater home with a special edition of their Conserve Magazine.

* Live Bluebird Nestbox Camera Returns To Game Commission Website

As bluebirds are building nests throughout the Commonwealth, the Game Commission has launched this year's live video feed from a bluebird nestbox on the grounds of its Harrisburg Headquarters.

* Springtime Alert: Do Not Disturb Young Wildlife


* Game Commission Offers Tips On How To Avoid Attracting Bears

As spring has sprung, many Pennsylvanians soon will be spending more time outdoors and seeing more wildlife – and signs of wildlife – in their yards and other places they frequent. Game Commission officials remind residents that among the wildlife that will become more visible are Pennsylvania’s roughly 18,000 black bears, all of which will be looking for food.

* April 16 Marks Opening Day Of Trout Season Statewide

Anglers from across the state have been helping the Fish and Boat Commission stock more than one million adult trout in preparation for the traditional opening day on April 16.   

* PEC Named Only Top-Rated Green Non-Profit Based In PA


* Jack Ubinger Receives PA Bar Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award

John W. Ubinger, Jr., a senior vice president with the Pennsylvania Environmental Council, was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Pennsylvania Bar Association for enhancing and furthering the practice of environmental law.

* Opportunity To Bid On DEP Projects In Lackawanna, Washington Counties

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice of the opportunity to bid on a mine reclamation project in Lackawanna County and an abandoned well plugging project in Washington County.

* Help Wanted: Environmental Technician, Resource Conservationist


* Grants & Awards


* Quick Clips


* Marcellus Shale NewsClips


* Watershed NewsClips


* Regulations, Technical Guidance & Permits

No new regulations were published this week. Pennsylvania Bulletin - April 9, 2011

* Calendar Of Events

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.

* Stories Invited


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

PA Environment Digest is a supporting member of the Pennsylvania Outdoor Writers AssociationPennsylvania Council Trout Unlimited and the Doc Fritchey Chapter Trout Unlimited.

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