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Weekly PA Environment Digest Newsletter
Crisci Associates, August 11, 2014
(8/11/2014)
* DEP Releases After Action Reports On Fatal Chevron Well Fire

The Department of Environmental Protection has completed its After-Action Review of the fatal well fire that occurred on Chevron’s Lanco gas well pad on February 11.

* DEP Recommends Against EQB Adopting Ashley Funk Carbon Dioxide Emission Limits

In a report to be considered August 19 by the Environmental Quality Board, the Department of Environmental Protection recommended against adoption of the carbon dioxide emission limits proposed in a rulemaking petition by Ashley Funk saying Pennsylvania’s Climate Change Action Plan already projects emissions in 2020 will be lower than those in 2000.

* 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

Here are the Senate and House Calendars and Committee meetings showing bills of interest as well as a list of new environmental bills introduced--

* Lawmakers, Environmental Groups Urge Protection Of Loyalsock Forest From Drilling

Rep. Greg Vitali (D-Delaware), Minority Chair of the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, was joined by environmental organizations and legislators at a news conference Monday to urge Gov. Tom Corbett to protect the Clarence Moore Lands in Loyalsock State Forest from natural gas drilling.

* Sen. Rafferty To Introduce Bill Supporting Installation Of Forested, Streamside Buffers

Relying upon, current science that shows streamside forest buffers protect communities from pollution and reduce flooding, Sen. John Rafferty (R-Montgomery) plans to introduce a new bill-- Senate Bill 1465 (not yet online) to support protection of forest buffers along streams, creeks and rivers in the state.

* No House Session, But Line-Item Veto Makes News

If folks were expecting August to be a quiet month with the Senate and House still on vacation, it hasn’t started off that way.

* DEP, DCNR Break Ground On Mather Coal Refuse Pile Project In Greene County

The departments of Environmental Protection and Conservation and Natural Resources Thursday hosted a groundbreaking ceremony to mark the start of the Mather refuse coal pile reclamation project.

* DEP Celebrates Opening Of Pittsburgh Botanical Garden Atop A Reclaimed Mine

Deputy Secretary for Active and Abandoned Mine Operations John Stefanko along with Bureau Director of Abandoned Mine Reclamation Eric Cavazza participated in the opening of the Pittsburgh Botanical Garden in Oakdale, which sits atop abandoned coal mines.

* PECO Green Region Awards Grants For Environmental Projects, New Apps Due Oct. 3

In celebration of the 10th anniversary of the PECO Green Region Program, PECO has provided 18 municipalities and five nonprofit organizations with $150,000 in grant funding for environmental projects throughout the Greater Philadelphia region.

* DEP Completes Cleanup Of Oil Spill Along Lackawanna River

Staff from DEP's Northeast Regional Underground Storage Tank Program oversaw a major cleanup effort on the Lackawanna River earlier this summer after tens of thousands of gallons of fuel oil spilled into the river from an aboveground storage tank at a nearby building.

* PA Resources Council Wonderful World Of Water Camp A Success!

The PA Resources Council's 9th annual Wonderful World of Water day camp was held the week of July 14 provided a free-of-charge week of fun-filled learning for students across Western PA.

* Senior Environment Corps Seeks Volunteers For Delaware River Education Program

Are you 55 years or older, live in a community along the Delaware River in New Jersey or Pennsylvania, and want to become involved in educating youth in protecting our watershed resources and the natural world?

* Friends Of The Wissahickon Watershed Free Ice Cream Social Aug. 20

The Friends of the Wissahickon invites neighbors and friends to enjoy free ice cream at its 8th annual ice cream social on August 20, from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. outside of its offices at 8708 Germantown Avenue in Chestnut Hill in Philadelphia.

* Summer Issue Of PA Trout From PA Council Of Trout Unlimited Now Available

The Summer issue of PA Trout from the PA Council of Trout Unlimited is now available.  This issue features stories on--

* Sewickly Creek Watershed Assn. Reports On Activities In July Newsletter

The Sewickly Creek Watershed Association in Westmoreland County report on just some of its many activities in the watershed in its July newsletter.  This issue features stories on--

* Slippery Rock Watershed Coalition August Issue Of The Catalyst Available

The August issue of The Catalyst newsletter is now available from the Slippery Rock Watershed Coalition featuring articles on--

* Penn State Extension Aug. 4 Watershed Winds Newsletter Now Available

The August 4 issue of the Watershed Winds newsletter is now available from the Penn State Extension.  Click Here to read this edition.

* DEP Awards Grants to Restore, Protect Coastal Zones, New Apps Due Oct. 22

The Department of Environmental Protection has awarded more than $750,000 in annual coastal zone management grants to organizations dedicated to protecting and preserving Pennsylvania’s coastal zones along Lake Erie and the Delaware Estuary.

* Keep PA Beautiful Receives $1.4 Million Grant For Anti-Litter, Anti-Dumping Initiatives

The Department of Environmental Protection Monday announced it has awarded a $1.4 million grant to Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful to increase community involvement with waste issues through illegal dumping abatement, public education and promotion of long-term stewardship.

* PROP Recognizes Winners Of 2014 PA Waste Watcher Awards

The Professional Recyclers of PA Wednesday announced the 62 winners of the 2014 Waste Watcher Award which recognizes Pennsylvania's most outstanding recycling programs and projects.

* Watch This Year’s Winning Videos In PROP’s 2014 Recycling FilmFest

The Monster Trash took First Place at the 7th Annual Recycling FilmFest which was held this past July, in Washington, PA, at the 24th Annual Conference of the Professional Recyclers of Pennsylvania.

* Allegheny County Household Hazardous Waste Collection Nets 700 Participants

On August 2 volunteers joined the PA Resources Council to collect household chemicals from over 700 participants in Boyce Park in Allegheny County! Families brought paints, cleaners, batteries, auto fluids, and more to be disposed of in a safe and eco-friendly way.

* Electronic, Hard To Recycle Waste Collection Event In Allegheny County Aug. 16

On August 16 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., the PA Resources Council will be holding a Hard to Recycle Collection at the Allegheny County Airport in West Mifflin. PRC will be collecting electronics, tires, polystyrene packaging materials, batteries and more!

* Worm Composting Workshop Set For Aug. 26 In Pittsburgh

The PA Resources Council will be holding a Worm Composting Workshop on August 26 at the CCI Center, 64 S. 14th St., in Pittsburgh's South Side from 6:30 to 8 p.m. 

* PA Resources Council August e-PRC Newsletter Now Available

The August issue of the e-PRC newsletter is now available from the PA Resources Council; this month featuring stories on--

* August 7 DEP News Now Available From DEP

The August 7 issue of DEP News is now available from the Department of Environmental Protection featuring articles on--

* FirstEnergy Offering Science, Engineering Classroom Education Grants For 2014-15

FirstEnergy Corp. is offering education grants for creative classroom projects planned for the 2014-2015 school year within it service territories, including Penn Power, West Penn Power, Met-Ed and Penelec in Pennsylvania.

* PA Assn Of Environmental Educators Call For 2015 Conference Workshop Proposals

The PA Association of Environmental Educators is now accepting workshop proposals for its 2015 Annual Conference to be held March 13-14 at the Raystown Resort at Lake Raystown.

* Lackawanna College Environmental Education Center September Events

Check out the September events hosted by the Lackawanna College Environmental Education Center in Scranton.

* DEP Awards Grant To Penn State For Ground-Level Ozone Research

The Department of Environmental Protection Monday announced it has awarded a $66,081 Air Quality grant to Penn State University in Centre County to fund education and biological effects research related to ground-level ozone.

* IRRC: EPA Objections To Proposed DEP NOx, VOC Regs Make Them Not Viable

The Independent Regulatory Review Commission told the Department of Environmental Protection July 30, the regulations proposed to implement new RACT (Reasonablly Available Control Technology) requirements on sources of nitrogen oxide and volatile organic compound emissions were not “viable” because of objections from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

* PennEnvironment: Solar Electric Capacity In PA Grew By 16 Percent In 2013

PennEnvironment Research & Policy Center Wednesday released Lighting the Way: The Top Ten States that Helped Drive America’s Solar Boom in 2013, highlighting strong solar growth across the nation including a 16 percent increase in Pennsylvania in 2013. 

* FirstEnergy’s PA Utilities File For Rate Increases To Improve Infrastructure

FirstEnergy Corp. subsidiaries Penn Power, West Penn Power, Met-Ed and Penelec Monday filed comprehensive distribution rate plans with the Public Utility Commission.

* New Studies: PA’s Shale Gas: Examining The Boom And Bust Cycle

The shale gas development that has vaulted Pennsylvania’s Marcellus Shale formation to the top of current U.S. natural gas production has raised concerns that local governments might be entering a “boom and bust” cycle, similar to previous resource extraction experiences in Pennsylvania’s history.

* Department Of Health Reports First Human Case Of West Nile Virus In 2014

Pennsylvania’s first probable human case of West Nile Virus infection in 2014 has been detected. A Philadelphia County man was hospitalized due to WNV. He has since recovered.

* The Rise Of The Insects, Global Warming Picks A Winner Roundtable Program Aug. 21

The National Wildlife Federation will host a Rise Of The Insects, Global Warming Picks A Winner roundtable discussion in Harrisburg on August 21 to coincide with the release of a new report: Ticked Off: Climate Change and the Outdoor Experience.

* Creatures Of The Garden Program At Governor’s Residence Aug. 10

The Governor’s Residence gardens in Harrisburg will be open to the public for the “Creatures of the Garden” open house on August 10, as part of the free, “Second Sunday” events scheduled throughout the summer.

* Greenfest Philly Set For September 7

Over 100 eco-friendly vendors will be on-hand for the 2014 Greenfest Philly set for September 7 at Headhouse Square, 2nd and South Streets in Philadelphia.  Click Here for more details. 

* Pennsylvania Wildfire Fighters Answer Call From Out West

It started with the first 22 just about two weeks ago. Bound for Oregon, they said farewell to loved ones, boarded a jetliner and headed for the Northwest where tinderbox conditions have left federal firefighting officials sending out the call for help.

* Movement Of Wood, Wood Products Prohibited In 5 Southeast Counties

Four additional Pennsylvania counties are quarantined effective immediately because of the detection of Thousand Cankers Disease found in trees in Chester County.

* Special Photo Exhibit Celebrates 50th Anniversary Of Federal Wilderness Act In Warren

The Crary Art Gallery and Warren-based Friends of Allegheny Wilderness will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Wilderness Act with an exhibition they organized called, “Wilderness at 50: Photographic Reflections on the Legacy of Tionesta Visionary Howard Zahniser.”

* August Water, Land, Life Newsletter Now Available From Western PA Conservancy

The August issue of Water, Land, Life newsletter is now available from the Western PA Conservancy.  This issue features articles on the twilight tour of Fallingwater, WPC scientists on the PA Natural Heritage Program, TreeVitalize Program and much more. 

* PA Wilds August Artisan Trail Newsletter Now Available

The August issue of the PA Wilds Artisan Trail newsletter is now available.  Click Here to read this issue.

* August 6 Resource Newsletter Now Available From DCNR

The August 6 edition of the Resource newsletter is now available from the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources featuring stories about--

* Congratulations To Bert Schwartz, 20 Years With The PA Resources Council

The PA Resources Council  would like to congratulate Bert Schwartz on his 20 year anniversary with PRC!

* Opportunity To Bid On DEP Mine Reclamation Projects In Allegheny, Clearfield

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice of an opportunity to bid on mine reclamation projects in Armstrong County and  Clearfield County.

* Help Wanted: Chesapeake Bay Foundation-PA Harrisburg Office Manager

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation-PA seeks an Office Manager to be based at their PA State Office located in Harrisburg.  The deadline for applications is August 22.  Click Here for all the details.

* Help Wanted: PA SBDC EMAP Environmental Consultant, University Of PA

The PA Small Business Development Centers Environmental Management Assistance Program (EMAP), located at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, has an immediate job opening for a Senior Environmental Consultant.

* Online Tools You Can Use-- DEP’s eNOTICE Service

The eNOTICE service on DEP’s website can provide you notice of permit applications submitted to DEP in your county, your municipality or for specific programs like Oil and Gas. You can also be notified as regulations and technical guidance make their way through the review and approval process.   Click Here to create a confidential account and select the kinds of things you want to receive an email notice about.

* 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.  NEW means new from last week.

* 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

The Environmental Hearing Board published notice of final regulations making changes to its regulations on practice and procedure. 

* 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.

* CLICK HERE To Print Entire PA Environment Digest

CLICK HERE to Print The Entire PA Environment Digest.

* 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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