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Weekly PA Environment Digest Newsletter
May 31, 2004
(5/28/2004)
PDF Version PA Environment Digest 05/31/04
* This Week's Headlines - Rachel Carson's Birthday
May 27 would have been Rachel Carson’s 97th birthday. Many people don’t know this founder of the modern environmental movement called Pennsylvania her home, specifically Springdale near Pittsburgh.
* Roundtables Show How Businesses Can Cut Environmental Costs
The Department of Environmental Protection is sponsoring a series of roundtables beginning in August on pollution prevention.
* Mini-Grants Offer Additional Support to Local Water Quality Efforts
The Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts Inc. (PACD) is accepting applications, through June 15 for the 2005 Nonpoint Source Pollution Prevention and PA Chesapeake Bay Educational mini-grant programs.
* New Interim Phosphorous Planning Standards Adopted for Farmers
The State Conservation Commission this week adopted interim phosphorous standards as part of Pennsylvania's Nutrient Management Act Program. Revised final regulations are expected to be finalized by early 2005.
* Ozone Action Season Kicks Off; Forecast Air Quality Year-Round
The Philadelphia region's ninth Ozone Action season kicked off today with an event at City Hall hosted by the Air Quality Partnership and the Philadelphia Diesel Difference Initiative.
* Tips On How You Can Conserve Fuel, Cut Costs as Gas Prices Climb
With gasoline prices averaging above $2 a gallon and the summer driving season approaching, the Department of Environmental Protection offered these tips to help motorists conserve fuel and save on gasoline costs while also helping the environment.
* Don’t Top Off Your Tank!
When the gas pump nozzle clicks off automatically, do you add a little more gas to round off your dollar sale? Topping off your gas tank is bad for the environment and your wallet.
* 7 Organizations Receive $750,000 to Reduce Diesel Emissions
On May 24 the Department of Environmental Protection announced $750,000 in grants to reduce school bus idling and help finance the purchase and installation of diesel retrofit technology on trucks and buses to improve air quality.
* Pennsylvania Consumers to Have Wind Energy Choice
PECO is the first Pennsylvania electric distribution utility to offer wind energy as an option on their customers’ electric bills. PECO WINDsm is now available to PECO’s residential and business customers in Philadelphia, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, and York counties.
* DOE, Alliance to Save Energy Team Up to Save Consumers Money
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the Alliance to Save Energy (Alliance) this week announced a year-long Powerful $avings public education and awareness campaign designed to provide consumers with the information and tools necessary to make smart energy choices a part of their daily lives.
* Affected By Flooding? DEP Offers Flood Cleanup Tips
The Department of Environmental Protection advises residents whose homes affected by flood waters that hit portions of southwest Pennsylvania recently to take a number of precautions to assure a safe cleanup.
* Comments Wanted on Draft Hazardous Waste Facilities Plan
The Department of Environmental Protection is currently updating the Pennsylvania Hazardous Waste Facilities Plan. Commercial management of hazardous waste has declined in Pennsylvania since the previous update of the Pennsylvania Hazardous Waste Facilities Plan. The current draft plan found that hazardous waste generators in Pennsylvania shipped about 314,000 tons of hazardous waste in 2001 to commercial facilities both inside and outside of Pennsylvania for management while the previous plan showed 548,000 tons in 1995.
* More Regional Water Resources Meetings Set
The Department of Environmental Protection is continuing its series of Water Resources Regional Committee meetings every other month in each of the six major river basins of PennsylvaniaDelaware, Great Lakes, Lower Susquehanna, Ohio, Potomac and Upper/Middle Susquehanna.
* Communities Receive Stormwater Planning Grants
The Department of Environmental Protection has awarded three stormwater planning and management grants totaling $947,575 to help Bucks, Delaware and Montgomery counties prepare and update plans to enhance regional water quality and encourage smart growth.
* Four Communities Receive Composting Infrastructure Grants
The Department of Environmental Protection has awarded $185,886 in compost infrastructure grants to help four facilities expand their existing composting operations and increase the amount of organic materials that they recycle to reduce waste and save landfill space.
* Charcoal Handling, Safe Disposal of Household Hazardous Waste
With the holiday weekend launching a season of summer cookouts, the Department of Environmental Protection is reminding Pennsylvanians to take care when disposing of charcoal and other outdoor items to avoid hazards such as fires and protect the safety of waste haulers, landfill operators and the public.
* Senior Volunteers Wanted to Protect Homeland Security
The Pennsylvania Senior Environment Corps is sponsoring a series of workshops to help train seniors to be part of a new Home Guard program designed to help protect Pennsylvania’s drinking water supplies.
* Regional Directors in Southwest and Northeast Retire
DEP Southwest Regional Director Chuck Duritsa and Northeast Regional Director Bill McDonnell have announced they will retire next month after each serving more than 30 years with the department.
* See and Hear How Others Are Taking Positive Action
The Environmental Classroom
* Technical Guidance & Permits
The latest on proposed and final technical guidance.List of New Draft Technical Guidance
* Regulations
The latest on proposed and final regulations.Pennsylvania Bulletin – May 28, 2004
* Calendar of Events
Upcoming conferences, meetings and workshops, plus links to other calendars.
* Contributions Invited
Send your stories about positive actions that will inspire others to promote a sustainable Pennsylvania environment to: DHess@crisciassociates.com .

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