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Weekly PA Environment Digest Newsletter
Crisci Associates, March 31, 2014
(3/31/2014)
* Sen. Yudichak Natural Gas Severance Tax Proposal Funds Education, Environment

Sen. John Yudichak (D-Luzerne), Minority Chair of the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, Thursday joined local leaders in education, environmental protection and business at the Northeastern Pennsylvania Industrial Resource Center to unveil details of a plan to enact fair and reasonable severance tax proposal on the Marcellus shale industry.

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* 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--

* House Democratic Policy Committee Examines Sewage Line Maintenance Issues

The House Democratic Policy Committee held a public hearing Monday to listen to local officials and experts about sewage line maintenance issues at the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority, according to Policy Chairman Mike Sturla (D-Lancaster).

* Rep. Godshall: Electric Utilities Reveal Strategies To Reduce Storm-Related Power Outages

Rep. Robert Godshall (R-Montgomery), Majority Chair of the House Consumer Affairs Committee, held a committee meeting Thursday to hear testimony from electric companies on their response to recent storm-related power outages and what they are doing to minimize outages in the future.

* Rep. Daley Seeks Two-Week Reprieve On Gas, Electric Shutoffs

Rep. Peter J. Daley II (D-Washington), Minority Chair of the House Consumer Affairs Committee, Thursday urged gas and electric utilities and the Public Utility Commission to grant a two-week reprieve on service shutoffs that can begin April 1, regardless of income.

* Senate Committee To Consider Stormwater BMP, Local Recreation Fee Bills

The Senate Local Government Committee is scheduled to consider Senate Bill 1255 (Erickson-R-Delaware) authorizing municipal authorities to establish programs that allow property owners to reduce their stormwater rates and changes by implementing best management practices on April 1.

* Senate Committee April 1 Hearing On Variable Electric Rates

The Senate Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure Committee will hold a hearing April 1 starting at 9:30 a.m. on variable electric rates in Room 8E-B East Wing Capitol Building.

* New Milestone Report: PA Continues To Reduce Pollution To Chesapeake Bay Watershed

The Department of Environmental Protection Monday announced efforts to reduce pollution in Pennsylvania’s Chesapeake Bay Watershed continue to yield progress based on the Chesapeake Bay Program annual Chesapeake Bay Watershed Model progress run results for 2013.

* CBF Supports Proposed EPA/Corps Rule Protecting Wetlands, Headwater Streams

Chesapeake Bay Foundation Vice President Kim Coble issued this statement Monday following the release of a proposed new U.S. Environmental Protection Agency/Army Corps of Engineers rule designed to protect isolated wetlands and headwater streams. The rule clarifies which water bodies are entitled to federal protection under the Clean Water Act.

* PACD Awards Water Pollution Prevention Mini-Grants To Conservation Districts

The PA Association of Conservation Districts Friday announced the award of more than $46,000 for 26 projects in 25 counties that promote water pollution prevention strategies through the Non-Point Source Pollution Prevention Educational Mini-Grant Program.

* Andrew Heath Receives PA Recreation & Park Society Presidental Citation

Pennsylvania Growing Greener Coalition Executive Director Andrew Heath recently received the presidential citation from PA Recreation & Park Society board president William Wert for his leadership in advocating for the Commonwealth’s parks, trails and open spaces.

* DEP Awards Grant To Build Replacement Drinking Water System In Lancaster

The Department of Environmental Protection Wednesday announced the award of a $350,000 grant to Leacock Township, Lancaster County, to assist with the construction of a new public water system.

* Schuylkill Scrubbers To Spruce Up Pennsylvania’s River Of The Year In April-May

Volunteers are needed to join the estimated 1,500 people who will participate in the two-month Schuylkill Scrub by picking up litter during nearly 100 cleanup events near the Schuylkill River, Pennsylvania’s River of Year, in April and May.

* Celebrate Earth Day On April 26 With ClearWater Conservancy’s Watershed Cleanup

ClearWater Conservancy in Centre County will host its annual Watershed Cleanup Day April 26 from 8 a.m. to Noon  at sites throughout Central Pennsylvania and is seeking community members to pitch in that day.

* Clinton County CleanScapes Cleanup Events Begin In April

Clinton County CleanScapes will sponsor a series of community cleanup events in 2014 starting April 5 with the West Branch Susquehanna River greenway cleanup in Renovo, Clinton County.  Other events already scheduled include--

* Chestnut Hill Twp., Close The Loop Company Host Free Give/Take Day April 26

As part of Chestnut Hill Township’s Earth Day Activities, Close the Loop Company will be coordinating a Give and Take Day on April 26 at the Chestnut Hill Township Park in Monroe County on Route 715 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. GIVE, 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. TAKE.

* School Plastic Bag Recycling Challenge A Huge Success In Centre County

Sixteen State College Area Elementary Schools are currently competing in an eight week Plastic Bag Recycling Challenge which has so far recycled over 150,000 plastic bags collected from the schools-- over 2,000 pounds of plastic bags and film.  And there is no sign of slowing down. 

* Senior Environment Corps Seeking Volunteers In Clearfield County

Are you 55 years or older, live in Clearfield County and want to become involved in protecting our resources and educating the public on the natural world? If so, the Clearfield County Senior Environment Corps wants you.

* Northeast PA Audubon Accepting Applications For Summer Camp Scholarships

The Northeast Pennsylvania Audubon Society is now accepting scholarship applications for two different summer camp experiences -- a Family Camp Scholarship for an eligible adult and child to spend a week on an island in Maine, and three full environmental camp scholarships for 11-13 and 14-17 year olds.

* PEC Pennsylvania Environment Ride Set For May 16-18

Join the PA Environmental Council for the annual Pennsylvania Environment Ride May 16-18  from Elizabethtown on the Susquehanna River to Philadelphia on the Delaware River.

* Hearing Dates May 7-8 On Hilcorp Gas Well Spacing Units Application

The Department of Environmental Protection Friday announced the hearing sessions on an Application for Gas Well Spacing Units, or spacing order, received from Hilcorp Energy Co., have been scheduled for May 7-8.

* Oil & Gas Environmental Compliance Conference May 13-14 In Pittsburgh

The Air and Waste Management Association will hold the Oil and Gas Environmental Compliance Conference in Pittsburgh on May 13-14.

* PA Environmental Council Supports Federal Efforts To Regulate Methane Emissions

Paul King, President & CEO of the PA Environmental Council Friday issued the following statement on a new federal strategy to more comprehensively regulate methane emissions to combat climate change--

* Natural Gas Vehicle Workshop In Dauphin County April 29

The Department of Environmental Protection, along with the Eastern Pennsylvania Alliance for Clean Transportation, invites government, private and public fleet managers, municipalities, universities and interested parties to a natural gas vehicle, infrastructure and incentive workshop from 8:30 a.m. until 2 p.m. on April 29, in the Commonwealth Room of the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex, 2300 North Cameron St., Harrisburg.  

* Alternative Fuels Incentive Grant Workshop In Bradford County May 2

The Department of Environmental Protection invites fleet managers, school districts, municipalities, nonprofit entities, and for-profit businesses to an Alternative Fuels Incentive Grant workshop from 10:30 a.m. until noon on May 2 at the Northern Tier Regional Planning and Development Commission office, 312 Main St., Towanda.

* DEP To Hold Alternative Fuels Incentive Grant Workshops In Northwest PA

The Department of Environmental Protection invites fleet managers, school districts, municipalities, nonprofit entities, and for-profit businesses to one of three Alternative Fuels Incentive Grant workshops in Northwest Pennsylvania.

* Philadelphia City Council Commits To Goal Of 20,000 Solar Roofs

Philadelphia City Council last week unanimously passed an ambitious resolution in support of increasing solar power generation within the city of Philadelphia. The resolution sets a goal of 20,000 solar roofs by 2025, and outlines policies that can be used to reach that target.

* Clean Energy Wins Policy Roadmap Puts Renewables, Conservation Out Front

The PennFuture Energy Center Wednesday announced the release of the Clean Energy Wins Policy Roadmap to provide nonpartisan education to gubernatorial candidates, policymakers and the general public about the economic, job creation and environmental benefits of clean energy while identifying practical policies that can grow Pennsylvania's clean energy economy.

* Governor Extends Home Heating Assistance Program For Low-Income Families

Gov. Tom Corbett announced Tuesday Pennsylvanians struggling to pay home heating bills will have extra time, through April 18, to apply for financial help through the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).

* PUC: Electric, Natural Gas Service Can Be Terminated April 1 By Suppliers

The Public Utility Commission Thursday reminded consumers who are behind on their electric and natural gas bills that their service may be terminated as of April 1, regardless of income.

* PennTAP Offers OSHA Training To Prevent Workplace Chemical Injuries

Any organization that handles, uses or stores hazardous chemicals  – from nail salons and funeral homes to contractors and manufacturers – must comply with the latest version of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) Hazard Communication Standard or the company risks employee injury and/or OSHA citation.

* Loving The Land Through Working Forests Conference May 16-17 Meadville

The Foundation for Sustainable Forests will hold its Loving The Land Through Working Forests Conference May 16-17 at Allegheny College in Meadville.

* PA Botany Symposium: A Consulting Botanist’s Toolkit April 18 Philadelphia

The Morris Arboretum in Philadelphia will host A Consulting Botanist’s Toolkit Workshop developed by the PA Botany Symposium Planning Committee on April 18 starting at 8:30 a.m.

* Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful Welcomes New Board Members

Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful Friday announced the addition of two new members to their Board of Directors-- John McGoran, Manager of Municipal Services with Republic Services and Mary Webber, Founder and Principal of Webber Associates.

* Carol Collier Joins Academy Of Natural Sciences As Senior Watershed Policy Advisor

The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University in Philadelphia Tuesday announced Carol R. Collier, an experienced leader in regional watershed management and planning, has joined the Academy as its Senior Advisor for Watershed Management and Policy.

* Feature- Remembering The Accident At Three Mile Island, 3:53 a.m., March 28, 1979

At 3:53 a.m., March 28, 1979, the cascading failures of valves, pumps, gauges and reactor operators combined to produce the worst accident in the U.S. commercial nuclear power industry.

* Opportunity To Bid On DEP Mine Reclamation Project In Greene County

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice of the opportunity to bid on a mine reclamation project in Greene County.

* 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 - March 29, 2014

* 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.

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