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Weekly PA Environment Digest Newsletter
Crisci Associates, Dec. 2, 2013
(12/2/2013)
CLICK HERE To Print Entire Digest
* Senate Committee To Consider Nominations Of Ferretti At DCNR, Abruzzo At DEP Dec. 4

The Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee is scheduled to meet on December 4 to consider the nominations of Ellen Ferretti as Secretary of Conservation and Natural Resources and Chris Abruzzo as Secretary of Environmental Protection.

* Vote Now For Pennsylvania’s 2014 River Of The Year

The public is invited to vote online for the 2014 Pennsylvania River of the Year now through December 27, choosing from among five waterways nominated across the state: the  Schuylkill in eastern Pennsylvania; Kiskiminetas- Conemaugh rivers in the southwest; Ohio in the west; Brodhead Creek Watershed in the northeast; and West Branch of the Susquehanna in the northcentral section of the state.

* Governor Signs Comprehensive Transportation Funding Bill

Gov. Tom Corbett Monday signed into law House Bill 1060 (Pyle-R-Armstrong), Pennsylvania’s most comprehensive piece of state transportation legislation in decades.

* Conservation Districts Laud New Transportation Funding For Dirt And Gravel Roads

Gov. Corbett signed the highly anticipated House Bill 1060 (Pyle-R-Armstrong) Monday which includes $35 million for the state’s Dirt and Gravel Roads Program, into law, according to the PA Association of Conservation Districts.

* 10,000 Friends Of PA Salutes New Transportation Funding Bill

10,000 Friends of Pennsylvania issued the following statement on the passage and signing into law of the transportation funding bill this week.--

* Growing Greener Coalition Celebrates Marcellus Legacy Fund Grants

The PA Growing Greener Coalition Tuesday celebrated the approval of more than $28 million in Marcellus Legacy Fund grants to support recreation and critical land and water protection efforts throughout the state.

* Add Us To Your Google+ Circle

PA Environment Digest now has a Google+ Circle called Green Works In PA.  Just go to your Google+ page and search for DHess@CrisciAssociates.com, the email for the Digest Editor David Hess,  and let us join your Circle.

* 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--

* Bills On Governor's Desk

The following bills were given final approval by the Senate and House and are now on the Governor's desk for action--

* Penn State Extension Webinar On New Tools For Teaching Youth About Water Available

Penn State Extension has posted a one hour webinar on November 20 by Educator Jennifer Fetter focusing on several new educational tools that have been developed by Penn State Extension to facilitate youth education on water issues in Pennsylvania.

* Water Resources Education Network November Newsletter Now Available

The November issue of Water Policy News from the PA League of Women Voters Water Resource Education Network is now available.

* American Farmland Trust: As You Give Thanks, Tell Congress To Protect Farmland

Andrew McElwaine, President and CEO of the American Farmland Trust, issued the following statement on the status of negotiations in Congress on the federal Farm Bill as Americans sat down to their Thanksgiving dinners--

* PA Resources Council Honors NOVA Chemicals With Innovative Recycling Award

The PA Resources Council has honored NOVA Chemicals by presenting an “Innovative Recycling” award in recognition of an extremely successful campaign to recycle expandable polystyrene (EPS) – an effort that enabled hundreds of area households to properly recycle EPS free of charge by attending PRC collection events.

* EPA Recognizes 20 PA Colleges For Food Donation, Waste Diversion Efforts

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Monday recognized 20 Pennsylvania colleges and universities in the Mid-Atlantic Region for joining EPA's Food Recovery Challenge.

* DEP Extends Comment Period On Delta Thermo Air Quality Permit In Allentown

The Department of Environmental Protection Tuesday announced it will extend the public comment period for the draft air-quality plan approval for Delta Thermo Energy’s proposed waste-to-energy plant in Allentown until December 16. (formal notice-PA Bulletin page 7043)

* PUC Urges Consumers To Add Shopping For Electricity, Natural Gas To Holiday List

Whether braving the crowds on Black Friday or surfing the web for deals on Cyber Monday, the Public Utility Commission Wednesday reminded consumers to add shopping for electricity or natural gas to the list.

* Dauphin County Installs Solar Hot Water System From Constellation

Dauphin County Commissioners Tuesday announced they has selected energy products and services provider Constellation to install a solar hot water system at Dauphin County Prison.

* Natural Gas Vehicle Grant Workshops Set In Butler, Clinton, Erie, Jefferson Counties

The Department of Environmental Protection invites fleet managers in northwest and northcentral Pennsylvania to attend one of four upcoming Natural Gas Vehicle Grant workshops being offered in December.

* DEP Announces Proposed Consent Decree With Drilling Wastewater Treatment Company

The Department of Environmental Protection Monday announced it has reached a proposed consent decree with Waste Treatment Corporation that addresses adverse impacts to the Allegheny River caused by the company’s treatment and discharge of drilling operation wastewater.

* Judith Cassel Addresses National Midstream Oil And Gas Law Conference

Judith D. Cassel, an Attorney for the Harrisburg law firm, Hawke McKeon & Sniscak LLP, was a guest speaker at the 2nd Midstream Oil and Gas Law Conference hosted by the Center for American and International Law Institute held in Houston, TX on November 22. 

* DEP Climate Change Advisory Committee Meets Dec. 5

The DEP Climate Change Advisory Committee is scheduled to meet on December 5 to continue its consideration of industry sector work plans making recommendations on how to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in Pennsylvania.

* Ceremony Marks Official Opening Of Jacobsburg Environmental Education Center

With a just-fitted identification band on a leg and best wishes of DCNR’s acting secretary on a wing, the briefly detained song sparrow lifted off into the brisk, autumnal breeze, joining birds of a different feather drawn together in the same learning exercise.

* DCNR Issues New Guidelines To Help With Trail Planning, Building

The Department of Conservation and Natural Resource Wednesday announced the release of just issued “Pennsylvania Trail Design and Development Issues: Guidelines for Sustainable, Non-motorized Trails.”

* Join The Pennsylvania Wilds Artisan Trail

If you are a fine artist or craft artisan living in the Pennsylvania Wilds region you are encourage to apply to be part of the PA Wilds Artisan Trail

* PA Hunters Encouraged To Donate Venison To Help Feed Hungry

Hunters can help feed the more than 1.5 million Pennsylvanians who are at risk for hunger by donating deer meat through Hunters Sharing the Harvest.

* State Forest Districts Opening Additional Roads To Deer Hunters

When a new season begins Monday for Pennsylvania deer hunters, new hunting grounds will be available to them through additional state forest roads in 18 of the 20 state forest districts.

* PA Parks And Forests Foundation Joins The National Giving Tuesday Movement

Those looking for an alternative to Black Friday shopping this year have a new way to channel the holiday spirit to the Pennsylvania state parks and forests they love.  The PA Parks and Forests Foundation has joined “Giving Tuesday,” a first of its kind effort to transform how people participate in the giving season.

* Kick-Off The Holidays At Hawk Mountain Dec. 7

The holidays have a decidedly feathery feel at Hawk Mountain Sanctuary when staff opens doors for its annual Holiday Open House on December 7 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

* Susquehanna Greenway November e-Newsletter Now Available

The November issue of Susquehanna Greenway Partnership’s eNewsletter is now available online.  This month’s issue features stories about the West Branch of the Susquehanna in the running for River of the Year, dining out along the river, where is river access needed and much more.

* Help Wanted: Pittsburgh Outdoor Classroom Seeking Educators

The Outdoor Classroom is located in the South Hills of Pittsburgh is currently seeking Environmental Educators for a variety of positions including 1 full time and 1 part time positions, an 8.5 month position and multiple seasonal and casual positions.  Click Here for details.

* 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 NewsClips

Here's a selection of NewsClips 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

No new regulations were published this week.   Pennsylvania Bulletin - November 30, 2013

* 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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