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Weekly PA Environment Digest Newsletter
Crisci Associates, Sept. 9, 2013
(9/9/2013)
CLICK HERE To Print Entire Digest
* House Committees To Hold 2nd Hearing On Endangered Species Bill Sept. 17

The House Game and Fisheries and Environmental Resources and Energy Committees hold a  second hearing September 17 in Indiana, Pa on House Bill 1576 (Pyle-R-Armstrong) which fundamentally changes the way threatened and endangered species are listed and changes the designation process for wild trout streams.

* DEP Citizens Advisory Council, Environmental Justice Board Joint Meeting Sept. 17

On September 17 DEP’s Citizens Advisory Council and the agency’s Environmental Justice Advisory Board hold a joint session to discuss DEP draft Community Environmental Project Policy, ideas on how the Council and Board can collaborate and to hear a presentation from the Office of Health Equity at the Department of Health.

* DEP Awards $12.2 Million Mine Reclamation Contract In Sproul State Forest

The Department of Environmental Protection Monday announced it has awarded a $12,181,873 contract for the Huling Branch abandoned mine reclamation project on Sproul State Forest property in Leidy and Noyes townships, Clinton County.

* Sproul State Forest ATV Trail Closing Amid Mine Reclamation Project

The start of a large-scale, abandoned mine reclamation project in Sproul State Forest will necessitate closing the entire Whiskey Springs ATV Trail, effective at sundown September 8, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources officials announced Thursday.

* 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--

* Celebrating 25 Years Of Recycling, Looking At Changes For The Future

Rep. Ron Miller (R-York), Majority Chair of the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, this week introduced House Resolution 425 celebrating 25 years of recycling in Pennsylvania and urging DEP to review recycling programs and make recommendations for improvements.

* Feature: We Remember - September 11, 2001 - DEP Responds To A National Tragedy

We all remember where we were and what we were doing on September 11, 2001, but the employees of the Department of Environmental Protection remember better than most because they played a key role in the responding to the Somerset County crash site of Flight 93.

* Westmoreland County Conservation District Presents Awards, Dedicates Building

The Westmoreland Conservation District will present two awards for outstanding conservation service and rename its 1880s-era barn building headquarters posthumously in honor of its longtime chairman, J. Roy Houston.

* Op-Ed: Federal Farm Bill Promotes Clean Water, Vibrant Farms

By Harry Campbell, Chesapeake Bay Foundation-PA Executive Director

* Penn State Extension Educators Receive National Recognition

Four members of the Penn State Extension education staff to receive national recognition.

* Conococheague Creek Habitat Improvement Project Benefits Brook Trout

When the 53-acre Birch Run Reservoir in the Michaux State Forest was breached in 2005, it left behind a stream bed of the Conococheague Creek that had been submerged for years. As a result, the stream running the length of the old reservoir was about a foot deep with little in the way of cover and habitat for the colorful native brook trout that thrive there.

* Volunteers Needed For Stream Buffer Tree Plantings In Dauphin, Lancaster Counties

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation-PA is organizing two stream buffer tree planting events on September 21 in Middletown, Dauphin County and on September 28 in East Lampeter Township, Lancaster County.

* iConservePA.org Video: Learn About Installing Rain Barrel Collection Systems

The iConservePA.org environmental education website has just posted a new video about constructing and using rain barrel collection systems around your home.  State Park Manager Jim Tweardy demonstrates how these systems can be made from repurposed materials and used to water his gardens, tops off his kiddie pool and even cleans the occasional dirty foot.  Click Here to watch the video.

* iConservePA.org Offers More Than 100 Ways To Conserve Water

Learn easy, practical ways to use water more wisely through iConservePA.org and its H2O Water Use It Wisely webpage.  You can also learn how to encourage your school system and local government to develop and promote water conservation among children and adults.

* PA Partnership For Safe Water Summit Sept. 25-26 In Grantville

The PA Section of the American Waterworks Association will hold a PA Partnership for Safe Water Summit September 25-26 at the Hollywood Casino in Grantville near Harrisburg.  Click Here for all the details and to register.

* Partnership For Delaware Estuary Latest Newsletter Now Available

The Summer 2013 issue of the Partnership for the Delaware Estuary is now available and features articles about the clean water economy, the connection between clean water and craft beer and commercial fishing in the estuary. Click Here to read your copy.

* PA Resources Council Hosts E-Waste Recycling Saturdays In Southeast

The PA Resources Council, ECOvanta and their partners will host E-Waste Recycling Saturdays in the Southeast on every Saturday in September.  Click Here for the schedule and times.

* Keep PA Beautiful Participates In National Planting Day With Sept. 7

Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful will participate by revitalizing outdoor green spaces at VA Butler Healthcare as part of National Planting Day, an initiative of Keep America Beautiful to encourage the planting of native species of trees, shrubs and plants, nationally on September 7.

* Friends Of Wissahickon Host Rooftop Agriculture Presentation Sept. 24

Rooftop agriculture is taking root in cities across North America. Learn more about this exciting agricultural movement with the Friends of the Wissahickon when they host a lecture by Philadelphia landscape architect Lauren Mandel on September 24 at 6:00 p.m. at Valley Green Inn.

* DEP Applauded For Reducing Natural Gas Production Air Emissions, More Work Needed

The Department of Environmental Protection recently proposed changes to an air quality exemption (Exemption 38) pertaining to oil and gas exploration, development, production facilities and associated equipment.

* Dickinson University, Chatham University Named In Top 25 Greenest Universities

Sierra magazine has ranked Chatham University as the country’s 24th greenest university in its seventh annual ranking of the nation’s “Coolest Schools.”  Chatham is one of only two Pennsylvania institutions to make the top 25.  Dickinson College in Carlisle was ranked number 2.

* Environmental Quality Board To Consider Final Title V Air Quality Emission Fees

The Environmental Quality Board meets on September 17 to consider a final regulation increasing Air Quality Title V emission fees from $57.50 per ton of emissions to $85 per ton.  The change is estimated to initially generate about $5.1 million more in revenue to the Department of Environmental Protection to administer the Title V program.

* Corbett Appeals Federal Decision Not To Provide Help To Storm Victims

Gov. Tom Corbett Friday again requested federal funding that would provide reimbursement to local, county and state agencies for costs associated with the response to and recovery from severe storms in late June and through July.

* Save The Date: 50th Anniversary Of The Pinchot Institute For Conservation Sept. 19-22

Come celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Pinchot Institute for Conservation at Grey Towers in Milford, Monroe County September 19 to 22.  Click Here for a list of activities and to register for this special event.

* Environmental Heritage: Happy 49th Birthday To The Federal Wilderness Act Of 1964

The federal Wilderness Act of 1964 was written by Tionesta, Pennsylvania native Howard Zahniser of The Wilderness Society, and established the legal definition of wilderness in the United States.

* Pennsylvanians Continue Answering Wildfire Calls From Other States

With national attention focused on major wildfires in California and Idaho, Harrisburg-area media recently continued strong coverage of Pennsylvania firefighting crews deployed to—and returning from—out-of-state blazes.

* Start Planning Now To See Pennsylvania’s Fall Foliage At Its Best

Where can you find the longest and most varied fall foliage season in the nation? That would be right here in Penn’s Woods.

* New Exhibits At Wildlife Center In Sinnemahoning State Park

New exhibits designed to enhance the park visitor’s wildlife watching opportunities in the Pennsylvania Wilds region are now in place at the Wildlife Center at Sinnemahoning State Park in Cameron and Potter counties.

* Wildlife For Everyone: Species Of Young Forest Focus Of McKean County Project

About 30,000 wildlife-beneficial trees and shrubs have been planted recently on the 17,500-acre Clermont Tract in southern McKean County to begin the restoration of the site as prime habitat for the American woodcock and other young-forest species.                                                                                 

* Hawk Mountain Hosts Special Programs, Raptors Aplenty In September

Hawk Mountain Sanctuary, Kempton, has reported 466 migrating hawks, eagles and falcons since August 15, and experts at the world-famous Sanctuary expect the number to jump by mid-month. The tally includes 14 raptor species to date, among them bald eagles (68), ospreys (51) and broad-winged hawks (171).

* Feature: Game Commission Film Celebrates Bald Eagle Restoration Success

Often times when we talk about wildlife, we talk about it in a singular sense.  We say the cottontail rabbit, or the white-tailed deer as opposed to using plural nouns that would accurately represent their numbers.

* Opportunity To Bid On Mine Reclamation Projects In Armstrong, Northumberland

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice of an opportunity to bid on a mine reclamation projects in Armstrong and Northumberland counties.

* Help Wanted: ClearWater Conservancy Water Resources Coordinator

Centre County-based ClearWater Conservancy is seeking candidates for the position of Water Resources Coordinator.  Resumes are due October 1.  Click Here for a full job description.

* Your 2 Cents: Issues On Advisory Committee Agendas

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

* 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 Environmental Quality Board meets on September 17 to consider a final Air Quality regulation increasing Title V emission fees.

* 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 links to 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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