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Weekly PA Environment Digest Newsletter
Crisci Associates, Aug. 28, 2017 Issue #687
(8/28/2017)
* Local Govt. Associations All Oppose Manganese Rider On Budget Admin Code Bills

All of Pennsylvania’s local government associations Monday sent a letter to all members of the House and Senate expressing their opposition to a provision in the Senate-passed Administrative Code bill-- House Bill 118 (Kaufer-R-Luzerne) -- and in House-amended Senate Bill 446 (McGarrigle-R-Delaware) that would remove the requirement to treat manganese discharges from coal mining and other sites and force water users to remove the chemical.

* What DEP Said Before About 3rd Party Permit Reviews, Speeding Up Permitting

With the discussion of proposals in the Senate-passed budget bills on how to speed up DEP permit reviews now front and center, it is worth a look-back to see what DEP has told the Senate and House this year about speeding up permit reviews.

* Environmental Funds At More Risk As House Republicans Fill Out New Budget Proposal

As House Majority Leader David Reed (R-Indiana) said last week-- it’s no secret House Republicans do not like the Senate-passed revenue package, in particular all the proposed taxes and the proposal to borrow up to $1.3 billion securitized by tobacco settlement monies.

* EDF: Impact Of Trump’s Proposed EPA Budget Cuts On Pennsylvania Communities, Health

State of Risk: Pennsylvania, a new report from the Environmental Defense Fund released Wednesday, catalogues far-reaching and grave threats to air, water and land, and to the people and economy of Pennsylvania if President Trump’s proposed 30 percent cut to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency budget is enacted this fall.

* Senate/House Agenda/Session Schedule/Gov’s Schedule/Bills Introduced

Here are the Senate and House Calendars for the next voting session day and Committees scheduling action on bills of interest as well as a list of new environmental bills introduced--

* Sen. Martin’s Bill Could Impose The Public Costs Of Any Protest On The Protesters

Sen. Scott Martin (R-Lancaster) has introduced Senate Bill 754 that could impose any public costs for dealing with any “public assembly, meeting or gathering” entirely on the individuals doing the protesting if they are convicted of a felony or misdemeanor in connection with that demonstration.

* August Environmental Synopsis Now Available From Joint Conservation Committee

The August edition of the Environmental Synopsis is now available from the Joint Legislative Air and Water Pollution Control and Conservation Committee featuring articles on--

* DEP Implements Plan To Improve Drinking Water Inspections, Asks For Public Comments On Fee Package

The Department of Environmental Protection Thursday announced plans to expedite the filling of vacancies and the training of new staff to bolster program resources for the Safe Drinking Water Program.

* DEP Rescinds Guidance Exempting Certain Public Water Supply Wells From Meeting Construction Standards

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the August 26 PA Bulletin it has rescinded technical guidance on the Review and Approval of an Existing Water Sources at a Public Water System that provided certain exemptions from meeting water well construction standards for public water supplies. (DEP ID: 383-2200-108).

* Chesapeake Bay Foundation: Better Than Predicted Water Quality In The Bay

Dr. Beth McGee, Chesapeake Bay Foundation Director of Science and Agricultural Policy, issued this statement Tuesday following release of results from the Early August Hypoxia Report which found areas with low dissolved oxygen to be "much better than average" during the early August cruise in Maryland waters.

* CBF Calls For Restoration Of EPA Funding To Chesapeake Bay Journal

Chesapeake Bay Foundation President William C. Baker Wednesday reacted to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s decision to eliminate funding for the Chesapeake Bay Journal, an information service on Bay issues.

* CBF-PA Invites Municipalities To Webinars On Pay-For-Success Model Of Using Private Capital To Fund Stormwater Solutions

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation-PA and Quantified Ventures are seeking four municipalities in Pennsylvania, Maryland and Virginia that would like to work together on stormwater management problems using the Pay-For-Success private capital Environmental Impact Bonds tool.

* Op-Ed: New York City Decision On Delaware Water Releases Could Be Catastrophic For Aquatic Life

By David Kinney, Trout Unlimited Mid-Atlantic Policy Director

* 7th Annual Lehigh Valley Watershed Conference Oct. 17 In Bethlehem

The 7th Annual Lehigh Valley Watershed Conference will be held at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Lehigh and Northampton counties on October 17.

* Hundreds To Hit The Delaware Estuary For Pennsylvania Coast Day Sept. 9

The Partnership for the Delaware Estuary will entertain hundreds of families at Pennsylvania Coast Day on September 9, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., at Walnut Plaza on Penn’s Landing in Philadelphia.

* Fish Advisories Updated: Anglers Warned Not To Eat Fish From Shenango River In Lawrence, Mercer Counties

The departments of Agriculture, Environmental Protection, and Health Monday along with the Fish and Boat Commission announced a “DO NOT EAT” advisory for all fish species caught in the Shenango River in Mercer and Lawrence Counties due to extremely high levels of polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB).

* EQB Approves Redesignation Of Mill Creek, Schuylkill Watershed To Exceptional Value

On August 15 the  Environmental Quality Board approved redesignation of Mill Creek in the Schuylkill River Watershed as an Exceptional Value stream. The redesignation request was originally submitted to the Board in 2011.

* Stroud Water Research Center Seeking Activity Patch Designs For Boy, Girl Scouts And Youth Programs

The Stroud Water Research Center’s Education Department is now accepting proposed designs for an activity patch to be given to Boy and Girl Scouts and to others participating in the Center’s youth education programs.  The deadline for entries is September 30.

* Learn What The Return On Investment Will Be In Protecting, Restoring Dauphin County’s Environment At Sept. 13 Program

The Manada Conservancy is hosting a program on September 13 to unveil a new study outlining the economic return on investment of protecting and restoring the environment in Dauphin County.

* SBA Approves Aid For Flash Flooding Losses In Clearfield, Washington, 8 Other Counties

Gov. Tom Wolf Thursday announced the U.S. Small Business Administration approved his request to declare disasters in Washington and Clearfield counties after two separate flash flooding events earlier this summer.

* SRBC, Corps Change Location Of Aug. 30 Workshop On F.J. Sayers Lake Study In Centre County

The Susquehanna River Basin Commission and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers are holding a public Workshop On A Study To Explore Improving The Aquatic Environment at the F.J. Sayers Dam and Reservoir on August 30 in Howard, Centre County.

* Keep PA Beautiful Encourages PA Schools To Participate In Keep America Beautiful’s Recycle-Bowl

Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful is encouraging Pennsylvania schools to get their students involved in Keep America Beautiful’s Recycle-Bowl, the national competition designed to invigorate students in grades K-12 to participate in recycling.

* Independence Conservancy To Hold 4 Community Tire Collection Events In Beaver County

The Independence Conservancy will hold a series of four Community Tire Collection events in Beaver County in September and October.

* Chester County Court Dismisses SLAPP Suit Against Groups Filed By Developer

The Chester County Court of Common Pleas Tuesday dismissed the lawsuit filed by Developer Brian O’Neill, along with his corporate counterparts O’Neill Developers and Constitution Drive Partners, seeking to silence opposition to redevelopment of a brownfield site located in Chester County.

* DEP Sets Hearing On Erie Coal Coking Plant Revised RACT II Air Quality Permit Oct. 11 In Meadville

The Department of Environmental Protection has scheduled a hearing on October 11 on the revised RACT II Air Quality Operating Permit for the Erie Coal Coking Plant in Erie. (formal notice, PA Bulletin page 5105)

* DEP Sets Hearing On Ellwood Quality Steels Revised RACT II Air Quality Permit Oct. 11 In Meadville

The Department of Environmental Protection has scheduled a hearing on October 11 on the revised RACT II Air Quality Operating Permit for the Ellwood Quality Steels Plant in New Castle, Lawrence County. (formal notice, PA Bulletin page 5107)

* PA Chamber Regional Fall Environmental Conference Series Oct. 5, 12, 26

The PA Chamber of Business and Industry will hold a Fall series of regional Environmental Conferences in western, central and eastern Pennsylvania in October.

* State Agencies Test Responses To Large-Scale Power Outage Event In EARTH EX 2017

Leadership and staff from the Public Utility Commission, PA Emergency Management Agency and Governor’s Office of Homeland Security Wednesday joined with government agencies, utilities, emergency responders and other stakeholders around the world in a first-ever transnational exercise to test responses to a large-scale power outage event.

* PJM To Host 2nd Forum On Electric Grid Security, Resilience Sept. 19 In Baltimore

PJM Interconnection, the operator of the nation's largest electric grid, including in Pennsylvania, is hosting its second Grid 20/20: Focus on Security and Resilience on September 19 in Baltimore.

* PennTAP: How To Move Your Company Toward Sustainability Webinar Nov. 16

The Penn State PA Technical Assistance Program will host a How To Move Your Company Toward Sustainability webinar on November 16 from Noon to 1:00 p.m.

* EPA Announces Grant For Freshwater Mussel Research To DEP, Other States

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Tuesday announced a new project to develop innovative methods to improve our understanding of the distribution of freshwater mussels through a grant awarded to the Department of Environmental Protection and other states.

* Western PA Conservancy Earns National Land Trust Accreditation Renewal

The Western PA Conservancy Wednesday announced it received its renewed land trust accreditation from the Land Trust Accreditation Commission, an independent program of the Land Trust Alliance, the Conservancy announced today.

* Bike The Brandywine Ride On Sept. 30 In Chester, Delaware Counties

Explore the scenery, glimpse the history, and discover the lure of the Brandywine Creek on the second annual Bike the Brandywine in Chester and Delaware counties on September 30.

* New Pilot Program Supplies Free Sunscreen To Visitors At 2 State Parks

This summer, the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and Department of Health kicked off a new pilot program that provides visitors with free sunscreen at two state parks.  DCNR is supplying free sunscreen for visitors at--

* Richard Bail Family To Donate 17-Acre Forest To Foundation For Sustainable Forests, Allegheny College Aug. 30

On August 30 the Foundation for Sustainable Forests and Allegheny College will accept the donation of the 17-acre Bail Family Forest in Conneautville, Spring Township, Crawford County from the Richard N. Bail Sr. Family in a special event.

* Penn State Woods In Your Backyard Workshop Oct. 7 Lehigh County

Do you have woods on your property? Penn State University research estimates that nearly half a million Pennsylvanians own a small patch of woodlands -- one to 10 acres. These patches add up to about a million or so acres, or about 10 percent, of our state’s privately held woodlands.

* Involved With Trails? Register For Hands-On Training Event Sept. 8-9 In Downingtown

The PA Land Trust Association partnered with trail professionals and Penn Trails to offer a two-day training event for those engaged in trail management, maintenance, and construction.

* August 23 DCNR Resource Newsletter Now Available

The August 23 edition of the Resource newsletter is now available from the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources featuring articles on --

* Wildlands Conservancy Highlights September Education Programs

The Wildlands Conservancy Thursday highlighted the education and other programs being offered in September, including--

* Milford Walking Tour Sept. 9 Features Pinchot Family History In Pike County

A walking tour of Milford in Pike County, that illustrates the many contributions to the community made by the prominent Pinchot family since the 1800s is planned for September 9, beginning at 10 am.

* Fmr Corbett Admin Official Anthony Pugliese Named FERC Chair Chief Of Staff

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Chairman Neil Chatterjee Monday announced Anthony Pugliese has been named Chief of Staff at the Commission.

* Help Wanted: Centre County Conservation District Watershed Specialist

The Centre County Conservation District is seeking qualified applicants for a Watershed Specialist position.  While there is no application deadline, applicants are encouraged to submit their applications as soon as possible since interviews will be scheduled in mid-September.  Click Here for all the details.

* Public Participation Opportunities/Calendar Of Events

This section lists House and Senate Committee meetings, DEP and other public hearings and meetings and other interesting environmental events.

* 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.

* Environmental NewsClips - All Topics

Here are NewsClips from around the state on all environmental topics, including General Environment, Budget, Marcellus Shale, Watershed Protection and much more.

* Regulations, Technical Guidance & Permits

The Environmental Quality Board published notice in the August 26 of proposed changes to Chapter 109 Drinking Water Program regulations, including proposed permit review and administration fee increases.  (PA Bulletin page 4986)

* CLICK HERE To View Or Print Entire PA Environment Digest

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* 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.

* 2018 Keystone Coldwater Conference Feb. 23-24 – Sponsorships Available

2018 Keystone Coldwater Conference February 23-24 in State College.  Join PA Environment Digest in sponsoring this worthwhile Conference.

* 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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