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Weekly PA Environment Digest Newsletter
June 11, 2012
(6/11/2012)
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* Growing Greener Coalition Praises House Action To Restore Keystone Fund

The Renew Growing Greener Coalition, the largest coalition of conservation, recreation and preservation organizations in the Commonwealth, Wednesday praised House members for their unanimous vote on a budget amendment that restores funding for a key recreation and conservation program.

* Senate, House Send Part Of State Budget To Governor, Still Working On General Fund

The Senate and House sent the Governor seven budget bills this week funding some, but not all, independent agencies.  The House considered over two dozen amendments to the main General Fund budget bill and then reported it back to the Appropriations Committee until an overall budget agreement is reached.

* Senate/House Agenda/Session Schedule/Bills Introduced

Here are the Senate and House Calendars and Committee meetings showing bills of interest as well as a list of new environmental bills introduced--

* Senate/House Bills Moving

The following bills of interest saw action this week in the House and Senate--

* House Passes Bill Creating Funding For Local Open Space Maintenance

The House Wednesday approved legislation sponsored by Rep. Mauree Gingrich (R-Lebanon) that would allow a portion of local option taxes to be set aside for the maintenance of open spaces.

* House Environmental Committee OKs Storage Tank Cleanup, Pittsburgh Gasoline Bills

The House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee Wednesday reported out legislation to extend the Storage Tank Cleanup Program and make changes to the Pittsburgh Region low-RVP gasoline requirements.  The bills include:

* DEP Secretary Defends Decision Not To List Susquehanna, Juniata Rivers As Impaired

Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Michael Krancer this week responded to a May 15 letter from 22 former DEP employees urging the agency to list the Susquehanna and Juniata rivers as impaired waters.

* DEP Announces Natural Gas Vehicle Grants, Resource Website

The Department of Environmental Protection announced Monday the launch of a Natural Gas Vehicle website and plan to help municipal and commercial fleet owners make informed decisions about converting their fleets to compressed natural gas and liquefied natural gas, in advance of a related grant program.

* Natural Gas Industry Wants Philadelphia Region To Ask Questions About Gas Drilling

The Marcellus Shale Coalition Wednesday, at a gathering of leaders from the five counties of southeastern Pennsylvania, launched www.AskAboutShale.org, an online forum designed to better understand the questions residents of greater Philadelphia have about natural gas development in Pennsylvania.

* PUC Finalizes Clarification Of Act 127 Pipeline Regulation Implementation Order

The Public Utility Commission Thursday clarified its Implementation Order as a continued step in implementing the Gas and Hazardous Liquids Pipelines Act (Act 127).

* Electric Utilities, Grid Managers Highlight Reliability Issues For Summer Months

The Energy Association of Pennsylvania, PJM Interconnection, PPL Electric Utilities Corp., West Penn Power, Metropolitan-Edison Co. and PECO Thursday  advised the Public Utility Commission they are expecting normal demands for electricity during the summer months while maintaining enough power for emergencies.

* Lowe’s Charitable Foundation, Keep PA Beautiful Award Grants

Keep America Beautiful, Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful, and the Lowe’s Charitable and Educational Foundation Friday announced a major gift of support to the Hill District Consensus Group for Clean Green Hill in the City of Pittsburgh and the Intermunicipal Relations Committee in Blair County to engage individuals in local community improvement and environmental projects.

* Hard To Recycle Collection Event June 23 At The Mall At Robinson

The PA Resources Council and its partners will hold a Hard To Recycle Collection Event at the Mall At Robinson in Pittsburgh on June 23 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m.  Click Here for details.

* Call For Presentations: 2012 PA Brownfields Conference October 29-31

Plans are underway for the 2012 PA Brownfields Conference! The event will focus on the technical, and economic aspects of brownfields reclamation and development and the opportunities for community redevelopment.

* DEP Invites Comments, Sets Public Hearing On Meeting 2008 Lead Standard

The Department of Environmental Protection published a notice June 9 inviting public comment and of public hearings on potential revisions for Pennsylvania’s State Air Quality Implementation Plan covering infrastructure requirements to meet the 2008 federal lead pollution standard.

* Harrisburg Regional Chamber Hosts Meeting With Southcentral DEP Staff June 26

The Harrisburg Regional Chamber and CREDC will host a special meeting on brownfields, waterways and wetlands and sewage planning with DEP Southcentral Regional Office staff on June 26 at the Harrisburg Area Community College Wildwood Conference Center starting at 8:30 a.m.  The event is open to the public.  Click Here for details.

* PA Water Works Assn. Hosting The Great Lakes Summit October 16-18

The PA Section of the American Water Works Association is hosting the Great Lakes Summit in Erie on October 16 to 18

* DEP Invites Comments On Proposed TMDL For Northumberland County Stream

The Department of Environmental Protection published a notice June 9 inviting public comments on a proposal Total Maximum Daily Load Plan for Schwaben Creek Watershed in Northumberland County (PA Bulletin page 3340)

* Friends Of The Wisshickon Sponsor Summer Hikes

Trail Ambassadors from the Friends of the Wissahickon in Montgomery County will lead a series of hikes this summer to connect the public with the watershed and the Wissahickon Valley Park.  Click Here for details of these events.

* Heritage Conservancy Connects Kids To Nature In the Bristol Marsh

Heritage Conservancy, an accredited not-for-profit conservation organization that specializes in preserving our natural and historic heritage, held its second annual "Future Stewards of the Bristol Marsh" educational field trip program on May 22nd to 25th at the Bristol Marsh Preserve, where nearly 200 students from Bristol Borough Middle School and Neil Armstrong Middle School in Bucks County were in attendance.

* Deadline Extended: Become A Pennsylvania Master Naturalist

A Pennsylvania Master Naturalist is an individual with a passion for the natural world who participates in an intensive training program and uses his or her knowledge by giving back to the community through volunteer service.

* DCNR Forests, Parks Participate In Deer Management Assistance Program

State forestlands and state parks again will participate in a program that offers white-tailed deer hunters expanded hunting opportunities across Pennsylvania, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Richard Allan announced Thursday.

* iConservePA.org Video Briefing On Tree Pests

The iConservePA.org website is hosting an online video on tree pests. Let DCNR's David Schmit take you on a tour of some of Pennsylvania forests' nastiest invasive pests...and learn how to avoid spreading more of them around the state.  Click Here to watch the video.

* Opinion- This Wednesday, Protect Little Fish That Are A Big Deal

By Michael R. Helfrich, Lower Susquehanna Riverkeeper, Stewards of the Lower Susquehanna, Inc. (SOLS)

* Grants & Awards

This section gives you a heads up on upcoming deadlines for awards and grants and other recognition programs.  NEW means new from last week.

* Budget/Quick Clips

Here's a selection of NewClips on environmental topics from around the state--

* Marcellus Shale NewsClips

Here are NewsClips on topics related to Marcellus Shale natural gas drilling---

* Flooding/Watershed NewsClips

Here are NewsClips on watershed topics from around the state--

* Regulations, Technical Guidance & Permits

The Department of Environmental Protection published a notice inviting public comment and of public hearings on potential revisions for Pennsylvania’s State Air Quality Implementation Plan covering infrastructure requirements to meet the 2008 federal ozone pollution standards.

* 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

Send your stories, photos and videos about your project, environmental issues or programs for publication in the PA Environment Digest to:  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 Council Trout Unlimited and the Doc Fritchey Chapter Trout Unlimited.

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