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Weekly PA Environment Digest Newsletter
Crisci Associates, Feb. 19, 2018 Issue #712
(2/19/2018)
* DCNR Names Philadelphia's Forbidden Drive As 2018 Trail Of The Year

Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn Wednesday announced Forbidden Drive located in Wissahickon Valley Park Philadelphia, has been named 2018 Trail of the Year.

* Keep PA Beautiful Recognizes Outstanding 2017 Volunteers & Program Achievements

Each year, Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful provides an opportunity to recognize the outstanding efforts of their volunteers and affiliates for their dedication, commitment and exceptional contributions to keeping Pennsylvania beautiful.

* Senate, House Kick Off Budget Hearings, DCNR Up Next Week

The Senate and House Appropriations Committee kick off their agency-by-agency hearings on Gov. Wolf’s FY 2018-19 budget request next week both hearing from the Independent Fiscal Office.  Here’s the schedule for several key agencies--

* IFO Report Confirms There Are No Unused Monies In Environmental Special Fund Balances

The Independent Fiscal Office Thursday issued a report on receipts and disbursements from selected special funds requested by Sen. Scott Wagner (R-York) and Rep. Seth Grove (R-York) and how commitments and encumbrances are reflected in the financial statements for these funds.

* Gerrymandering Issue Now With PA Supreme Court

Raise your hand if you have NOT submitted a Congressional redistricting map to the PA Supreme Court. 

* 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--

* 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--

* Senate, House Nuclear Energy Caucus Supports PJM Electricity Price Setting Changes

The co-chairs of the Senate/House Nuclear Energy Caucus Friday wrote the PJM Interconnection to express their support for a proposal PJM made in a white paper in November changing the way wholesale electricity market prices are set to better reflect the costs of running baseload power plants like coal and nuclear.

* Roundtable By Senators Yudichak, Baker Discusses Lead Exposure & Lead Testing

Senators John Yudichak (D-Luzerne) and Lisa Baker (R-Luzerne), joined by members of the Senate Lead Task Force, Tuesday hosted a roundtable in Wilkes-Barre on lead exposure, lead testing, and lead abatement policies in Pennsylvania.

* House Committee Discusses Bill To Change How Municipalities Operate Their Own Electric Systems

The House Local Government Committee Tuesday held a hearing on House Bill 1405 (Bernstine-R-Beaver) affecting the 35 communities across the state that operate their own municipal electric systems (sponsor summary).

* February Environmental Synopsis Newsletter Now Available From Joint Conservation Committee

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

* Trump Proposes 56% Cut In State Grants To Administer Federal EPA Programs, Eliminates NRCS Farm Conservation Programs, No Money For RECLAIM

President Trump Monday released his FY 2019 federal budget proposal which includes a 34 percent cut in appropriations for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency from the 2017 enacted budget levels.      

* CBF-PA Commends Bipartisan Members Of Congress From PA For Urging $20M In Farm Conservation Funding For PA

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s Pennsylvania Executive Director Harry Campbell Friday issued the following statement commending bipartisan support by federal legislators from the Keystone State calling for federal funding to help farmers reduce water pollution in the Commonwealth.

* Trump Announces $200 Billion Infrastructure Plan, States, Local Govts. Provide Most Of Funding

President Trump Monday announced a $200 billion infrastructure plan that it hopes will generate $1.5 trillion in funding with states, local government and the private sector for improvements to roads, bridges and airports, as well as drinking water and wastewater systems, waterways, water resources, brownfields and Superfund sites, energy, rural infrastructure, public lands, veterans’ hospitals.

* PUC Seeks Comments On Federal Tax Change Impacts On Public Utilities, Ratepayers

In response to the federal Tax Cuts and Jobs Act signed into law by the President, the Public Utility Commission is seeking comments from utilities and interested parties on how reductions in utilities’ federal taxable income may affect ratepayers.

* DEP Posts Update To List Of Technical Guidance Documents It's Working On

The Department of Environmental Protection published an update to its Non-Regulatory Agenda which shows the technical guidance documents the department is working on and a scheduled for their consideration. (formal notice)

* PUC To Host Listening Events On Pittsburgh Water & Sewer Authority Issues Feb. 22, 23

The Public Utility Commission Friday announced two “listening” events in Pittsburgh, to give Commissioners and other key officials an opportunity to hear directly from residents regarding the Pittsburgh Water & Sewer Authority (PWSA).

* Capital Region Water: Draft City Beautiful H2O Program Plan Available For Comment

Capital Region Water in Harrisburg  announced Monday a draft City Beautiful H20 Program Plan outlining a plan to reduce combined sewer system overflows and pollution from stormwater runoff is now available for public comment.

* Chesapeake Bay Journal: Love Will Be In The Air At A Vernal Pool Near You This Spring

By Donna Morelli, Chesapeake Bay Journal

* Penn State: Presence, Persistence Of Estrogens In Vernal Pools An Emerging Concern

By Jeff Mulhollem, Penn State News

* Susquehanna River Basin Commission Updates Tool For Tracking Mine Drainage Restoration Efforts

The Susquehanna River Basin Commission, in partnership with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers - Baltimore District, Wednesday announced it has recently updated its online Mine Drainage Portal.

* Brodhead Watershed Assn Streamwatcher Training March 22 Or 24 In Monroe County

The Brodhead Watershed Association will soon welcome new “water warriors” into its popular volunteer Streamwatch Program with training sessions at the Northampton Community College’s Tannersville campus in Monroe County.

* Susquehanna River Basin Commission Public Water Supply Assistance Workshop April 24 In Harrisburg

The Susquehanna River Basin Commission will host another in its series of Public Water Supply Assistance Program workshops on April 24, this one on Technical and Regulatory Considerations for Public Water Supply Managers and Consultants.

* Lacawac Sanctuary & Field Station Announces Research Fellow Awards

Lacawac Sanctuary and Field Station in Wayne County Monday announced the Robert Estabrook Moeller Memorial Awards were awarded to Dr. Elise Heiss, King’s College in Wilkes-Barre and Rachel Pilla, Miami University of Ohio.

* Environmental Groups Urge DEP To Implement Strong Water Quality Standards In Triennial Review

Environmental groups Tuesday said they are urging the Department of Environmental Protection to strengthen water quality standards as part of its triennial review process to protect Pennsylvania’s water.

* Susquehanna River Basin Commission Meets March 8 To Strengthen Right-To-Know Policy

The Susquehanna River Basin Commission is scheduled to meet on March 8 to consider final changes to its Access to Public Records [Right-To-Know] Policy.  (formal notice)

* Auditor General DePasquale To Audit Delaware, Susquehanna River Basin Commissions

Auditor General Eugene DePasquale Tuesday said he is immediately starting the department’s first-ever audits of the Delaware River Basin Commission and the Susquehanna River Basin Commission

* 2018 Environmental Advisory Council Network Conference April 14 In Chester County

The 2018 Environmental Advisory Council Network Conference will be held on April 14 in Chester County in conjunction with the PA Land Conservation Conference.

* DEP Keystone Energy Education Workshops For Teachers Coming Up

The Department of Environmental Protection is again hosting a series of Keystone Energy Education Workshops for teachers in the next few months.

* DEP: No Environmental Education Grants Due To Budget Restraints

The Department of Environmental Protection this week told the Citizens Advisory Council in its monthly report of activities (page 10) there will be no Environmental Education Mini-Grant Program for 2018 “due to budget restraints.”

* Deadline Extended: President’s Environmental Youth Award Nominations

The deadline for nominations for the 2017 President’s Environmental Youth Award which recognizes outstanding environmental projects by K-12 youth has been extended to March 30.

* Interns Wanted: DCNR Now Accepting Applications For Student Interns

The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources is now accepting applications for intern positions.  A majority of the positions are available in Dauphin County, but positions are available statewide.  Click Here to apply and for all the details.

* Talen Energy, Sierra Club Agreement Requires Brunner Island To Operate On Natural Gas During Summer Ozone Season, End Use Of Coal

On Wednesday Talen Energy and the Sierra Club announced an agreement that will require the Brunner Island Power Plant to operate on natural gas during the summer ozone season-- May 1 to September 30-- starting on January 1, 2023 and cease coal operations after December 28, 2028.

* PUC: Number Of Households Without Heat Declines To 13,522 From Earlier Survey

The Public Utility Commission Wednesday released the results of its annual mid-winter resurvey of households without heat-related electric and natural gas utility service which show the number of household without heat dropped to 13,522 from the earlier 19,295.

* PUC Chairman Brown Brings #UtilityCareers Campaign To Lancaster

Public Utility Commission Chairman Gladys M. Brown Thursday joined with leaders from the Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology, along with utilities from across the state, to highlight the importance and impact of educating the next generation of utility workers.

* Sunoco Satisfies Requirements To Resume Mariner East II Pipeline Construction At Chester County Site

The Department of Environmental Protection Thursday announced Sunoco Pipeline, L.P. has satisfied requirements under the July 24, 2017 Consent Order and Agreement which suspended horizontal directional drilling at Shoen Road Drill 360 (Shoen Road drill) as part of Sunoco’s Mariner East II Project.

* DEP Extends Comment Period On Permits For Shell Ethane Pipeline, Hearings To Be Scheduled

The Department of Environmental Protection published notices in the February 17 PA Bulletin extending the comment period on the Chapter 105 (Encroachment) permits and inviting comment on the Chapter 102 (Erosion and Sedimentation) General Permit Notice of Intent for the proposed Shell Falcon Ethane Pipeline in Allegheny, Beaver and Washington counties.  (PA Bulletin page 1036)

* EDF Report: PA Oil & Gas Methane Emissions Nearly 5 Times Higher Than State Inventory

Methane emissions from Pennsylvania’s oil and gas sites may be 522,400 tons a year rather than the 112,100 tons oil and gas companies report to the Department of Environmental Protection, according to a new analysis released Thursday the Environmental Defense Fund.

* Coalition Hosts Discussion Of Path To Equitable Climate Solutions With Clean Energy, Energy Efficiency Feb. 20 In Philadelphia

PennFuture, in collaboration with Clean Air Council and PennEnvironment, will host clean energy and public health leaders from the Philadelphia-area February 20 to highlight the latest resources, research, training, and progress that citizens can draw upon to move toward a future that relies on clean energy and energy efficiency technologies during an upcoming discussion.

* PennDOT Begins Update Of Statewide Bicycle, Pedestrian Plan, Seeks Public Feedback

The Department of Transportation Tuesday announced it has begun the process of updating the Statewide Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan and is inviting the public to weigh in through an online survey.

* DCNR, Local Officials Highlight Investments In Lackawanna County State Forest Snowmobile Trail

Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn Friday joined Rep. Mike Carroll (D-Lackawanna), Minority Chair of the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, Thornhurst Township officials, and snowmobiling enthusiasts in celebration of the Wolf Administration’s recent investment to support improvement of the Thornhurst Snowmobile Trail in Pinchot State Forest.

* PA's Farmland Preservation Reaches $1 Billion Milestone, 2,043 More Acres Preserved

The Agricultural Land Preservation Board Thursday approved the preservation of 28 farms covering 2,043 acres in 16 counties.

* Brandywine Conservancy Board Approves Purchase Of Brandywine Battlefield Land

Located in the heart of the historic Brandywine Battlefield, a 13-acre tract of land on Birmingham Hill has been approved for purchase by the Brandywine Conservancy & Museum of Art’s Board of Trustees.

* ClearWater Conservancy Finalizes Protection Of 452 Acres Of Nittany Noll Preserve In Centre County

ClearWater Conservancy recently finalized a conservation easement that will protect and preserve 452 acres of mostly forested land known as Nittany Noll Preserve in Pleasant Gap, Centre County.

* Love & Rivalry In The Air As Harrisburg Falcons Begin 18th Courtship Season, Workshop March 29

It’s Valentine’s Day, and the Harrisburg falcons’ 18th courtship season has just begun, with a couple of newcomers and the elder resident pair vying for affections and eyeing the nest site on the 15th-floor ledge at the Rachel Carson State Office Building.

* Agriculture: Deer On Bedford, Lancaster County Farms Positive For Chronic Wasting Disease, Now Quarantined

The Department of Agriculture Monday announced two additional captive deer have tested positive for Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) in Pennsylvania, bringing the total to 46 since the disease was discovered in Pennsylvania in 2012.

* Feb. 20 Water Insights Seminar: Policies To Minimize Damage Caused By Aquatic Invasive Species

The February 20 Water Insights Seminar will feature a presentation by Dr. Kate Zipp, Assistant Professor of Environmental and Resource Economics at Penn State, on Management Policies To Minimize Damage Caused By Aquatic Invasive Species.

* Perkiomen Trout Unlimited Leads Restoration Project On Namesake Creek

By Thomas W. Smith, Perkiomen Valley TU President

* PA Trout Unlimited: College Students To Research Brook Trout On Route 6 Trek

By Charlie Charlesworth, PA Trout Unlimited President

* Winter Newsletter Now Available From PA Council Of Trout Unlimited

The Winter 2018 edition of the PA Council of Trout Unlimited’s newsletter is now available featuring stories on--

* Op-Ed: Straight Talk About The Financial Condition Of The Fish & Boat Commission

By John A. Arway, Executive Director, Fish & Boat Commission

* Help Wanted: Audubon Society Of Western PA, DCNR, PA Council Trout Unlimited

The Audubon Society of Western PA based in Pittsburgh is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Whetzel Land Steward. The Steward will support various functions of the Chapter's conservation initiatives.

* 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

No new regulations were published this week.  Pennsylvania Bulletin - February 17, 2018

* CLICK HERE To View Or Print Entire PA Environment Digest

CLICK HERE to Print The Entire PA Environment Digest.  This Digest is 82 pages long.

* 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:  PaEnviroDigest@gmail.com

* Registration Open - 2018 Keystone Coldwater Conference Feb. 23-24

Register Now! For the 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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