This section gives you a continuously updated thumbnail sketch of issues to be considered in upcoming advisory committee meetings where the agendas have been released.  It also gives you a heads-up on House and Senate Committee meetings, conferences and other interesting events.  Meetings are in Harrisburg unless otherwise noted.  NEW means new from last week.  Go to the online Calendar webpage for updates.

October 6-- NEW. Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee meets to consider House Bill 1565 (Hahn-R-Northampton) eliminating the nearly 4 year old requirement for stream buffers in High Quality and Exceptional Value streams; House Bill 2354 (Snyder-D-Fayette) which authorizes one House of the General Assembly to veto any greenhouse gas emission reduction plan required by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; House Bill 402 (Pickett-R-Bradford) further providing for the recording of oil and gas leases; House Bill 2278 (Pickett-R-Bradford) requiring semi-annual reporting of oil and gas production; Senate Bill 1061 (Rafferty-R-Montgomery) requiring state buildings to meet green building standards- sponsor summary; Senate Bill 1481 (Erickson-R-Delaware) prohibiting DEP from prohibiting the vehicular transportation of leachate to an offsite facility for treatment.  Rules Room.  Off the Floor.

October 6-- NEW. Senate Appropriations Committee meets to consider Senate Bill 1310 (Hutchinson-R- Venango) creating the PA Grade Crude Development Advisory Council within DEP.  Rules Committee Room.  Off the Floor.

October 6-- Environmental Issues Forum, Joint Conservation Committee. Keep PA Beautiful will present its recommendations for significantly reducing illegal dumping in Pennsylvania. Room 8E-A East Wing.  Noon. (Note time.)

October 6-- NEW. Senate Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee meets to consider Senate Bill 720 (Baker-R-Luzerne) establishing the Public Disaster Assistance Grant Program-- sponsor summary. Room B-31 Main Capitol. Off the Floor.

October 7-- Agenda Released. Public Utility Commission Combined Heat and Power En Banc Hearing. William Pitt Union Building, University of Pittsburgh from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m.

October 7-- NEW. DCNR public meeting on PA Outdoor Recreation Plan hosted by the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society at its headquarters, 100 North 20th Street, first floor town hall, Philadelphia. 5 to 7:30 p.m. Register by calling 215-988-1698.

October 8-- NEW. House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee meeting.  Agenda To Be Announced. Room G-50, Irvis Building.  9:00.

October 8-- CANCELED. DEP Technical Advisory Committee on Diesel-Powered Equipment for deep mining. Fayette County Health Center, Uniontown. 10:00.  (formal notice)

October 8-- NEW. DCNR public meeting on PA Outdoor Recreation Plan hosted by Dauphin County Parks and Recreation at the Centennial Barn at Fort Hunter Park, 5300 North Front Street, Harrisburg. 5 to 7:30 p.m.  Register by sending an email to: mbaratucci@dauphinc.org.

October 9-- Agenda Released. DEP Air Quality Technical Advisory Committee meeting.  Room 105 Rachel Carson Building. 9:15.

-- Update On EPA’s 111(d) Greenhouse Gas Reduction Plan

-- EPA’s Proposed PM2.5 Air Quality Standard

-- Summary of Comments On DEP’s Proposed RACT II Rule, Final Regulation Concepts

-- Ambient Air Quality Update

-- Draft General Permit-5 Revisions Covering Natural Gas Compression, Processing Facilities

-- Alternative Leak Detection Equipment Approved By DEP

-- Update On Monitoring Requirements For Mercury at Cement Facilities

-- Update On PM2.5 redesignation requests

-- Regulatory and State Implementation Plan Updates

<> Click Here for available handouts

October 9-- NEW. DCNR public meeting on PA Outdoor Recreation Plan hosted by hosted by the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy at Schenley Park Skating Ring, Overlook Drive, Pittsburgh. 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.  Register by sending email to Heather Sage at: hsage@pittsburghparks.org.

October 15-- DEP Cleanup Standards Scientific Advisory Board. 14th Floor Conference Room, Rachel Carson Building. 9:00.

October 15-- DEP Agricultural Advisory Board meeting.  DEP Southcentral Regional Office, 909 Elmerton Ave., Harrisburg. 10:00.

October 15-- Agenda Released. DEP Technical Advisory Committee on Diesel-Powered Equipment for deep mining. DEP Office, 131 Broadview Rd, New Stanton. 10:00.  (formal notice)

-- Review of Chapter 4-TAC Interpretation Policy Manual

-- Review of specific equipment changes

<> Click Here for available handouts.

October 16-- DEP Radiation Protection Advisory Committee meeting.  Room 105 Rachel Carson Building. 9:00.

October 16-- Agenda Released. DEP State Board for Certification of Water and Wastewater Systems Operators meeting  10th Floor Conference Room, Rachel Carson Building. 10:00.

October 17-- PA Section of the American Water Resources Association Annual Conference. Susquehanna River Basin Commission Offices, 4423 N. Front St., Harrisburg 9:00.

October 21-- Agenda Released. Environmental Quality Board meeting.  Room 105 Rachel Carson Building.  9:00.

-- Proposed Control of VOC Emissions From Metal Parts, Surface Coatings, Boats

-- Proposed Security Rule for Radioactive Material

-- Rulemaking Petition: Ban On Water Fluoridation and Bottled Water Fluoride Labeling

-- 3-Year Fee Report for Chapter 102 Erosion and Sedimentation Control Program

<> Click Here for available handouts

October 21-- DEP Citizens Advisory Council meeting.  Room 105 Rachel Carson Building. 10:00.

October 22-- Location Change. DEP Small Business Compliance Advisory Committee meeting. Emerging Technology Applications Center, Northampton Community College, 511 East Third St., Bethlehem. 10:00.  (formal notice)

October 23-- NEW. House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee holds a hearing on House Resolution 426 (Miller-R-York) directing the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to conduct a study of the sewage sludge land application program-- sponsor summary.  Room G-50 Irvis Building. 11:00.

October 23-- DEP Mining and Reclamation Advisory Board meeting.  Room 105 Rachel Carson Building. 10:00.

October 27-- Senate Game and Fisheries Committee holds a public hearing on Lyme disease, Geisinger Medication Take Back Program, Great Lakes Fishery microbead ban, round goby impact on PA waterways.  Tom Ridge Environmental Center, 301 Peninsula Dr., Erie.  9:00.

October 27-- CANCELED. DEP hearing on Hilcorp Energy gas pooling requests in Lawrence, Mercer counties. Albert P. Gettings Government Center Annex of the Lawrence County Government Center, Assembly Room, 349 Countyline St., New Castle. 10:00.

October 28-- DEP Climate Change Advisory Committee meeting.  12th Floor Conference Room, Rachel Carson Building. 10:00.

October 28-- CANCELED. DEP hearing on Hilcorp Energy gas pooling requests in Lawrence, Mercer counties. Albert P. Gettings Government Center Annex of the Lawrence County Government Center, Assembly Room, 349 Countyline St., New Castle. 9:00.

November 5-- DEP Environmental Justice Advisory Board meeting.  Delaware Room, 16th Floor, Rachel Carson Building. 8:30.

November 5-- DEP Sewage Advisory Committee meeting. Room 105 Rachel Carson Building. 10:30.

November 5-- NEW. DEP hearing on proposed redesignation request for the Johnstown area as meeting the federal PM 2.5 standard. DEP Ebensburg District Mining Office, 286 Industrial Park Rd., Ebensburg. 11:00.  (formal notice)

November 12-- DEP Water Resources Advisory Committee meeting. Room 105 Rachel Carson Building. 9:30.

November 18-- Environmental Quality Board meeting.  Room 105 Rachel Carson Building.  9:00.

November 18-- DEP Citizens Advisory Council meeting.  Room 105 Rachel Carson Building. 10:00.

December 2-- DEP Storage Tank Advisory Committee meeting.  Room 105 Rachel Carson Building. 10:00.

December 9-- DEP Climate Change Advisory Committee meeting.  12th Floor Conference Room, Rachel Carson Building. 10:00.

December 9-- DEP Board Of Coal Mine Safety meeting.  DEP Cambria Office, 286 Industrial Park Road, Ebensburg. 10:00.

December 10-- Agenda Released. DEP State Board for Certification of Water and Wastewater Systems Operators meeting  10th Floor Conference Room, Rachel Carson Building. 10:00.

December 11-- DEP Air Quality Technical Advisory Committee meeting.  Room 105 Rachel Carson Building. 9:15.

December 17-- DEP Agricultural Advisory Board meeting.  DEP Southcentral Regional Office, 909 Elmerton Ave., Harrisburg. 10:00.

December 18-- DEP Small Water Systems Technical Assistance Center Board meeting.  Room 105 Rachel Carson Building. 10:00.

December 22-- DEP State Board for Certification of Sewage Enforcement Operators meeting.  11th Floor Conference Room B, Rachel Carson Building. 10:00.

May 6-8-- PA Association of Environmental Professionals  Annual Conference. Toftrees Resort, State College. 

May 13-15-- NEW.  DEP and Engineers' Society of Western Pennsylvania 2015 Pennsylvania Brownfields Conference. Erie Bayfront Convention Center, Erie.

Visit DEP’s new Public Participation Center for information on how you can Be Informed! and Get Involved! in DEP regulation and guidance development process.

DEP Regulations In Process

Proposed Regulations Open For Comment - DEP webpage

Proposed Regulations With Closed Comment Periods - DEP webpage

Recently Finalized Regulations - DEP webpage

DEP Regulatory Update - DEP webpage

DEP Technical Guidance In Process

Draft Technical Guidance Documents - DEP webpage

Technical Guidance Comment Deadlines - DEP webpage

Recently Closed Comment Periods For Technical Guidance - DEP webpage

Technical Guidance Recently Finalized - DEP webpage

Copies of Final Technical Guidance - DEP webpage

Other DEP Proposals For Public Review

Other Proposals Open For Public Comment - DEP webpage

Recently Closed Comment Periods For Other Proposals - DEP webpage

Other Proposals Recently Finalized - DEP webpage

Click Here for links to DEP’s Advisory Committee webpages.

DEP Calendar of Events

Note: The Environmental Education Workshop Calendar is no longer available from the PA Center for Environmental Education because funding for the Center was eliminated in the FY 2011-12 state budget.  The PCEE website was also shutdown, but some content was moved to the PA Association of Environmental Educators' website.

Senate Committee Schedule                House Committee Schedule

You can watch the Senate Floor Session and House Floor Session live online.

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10/6/2014