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Weekly PA Environment Digest Newsletter
Crisci Associates, July 2, 2018 Issue #731
(7/2/2018)
* Reminder: DEP Growing Greener Plus Watershed Restoration Grant Applications Due July 13

The Department of Environmental Protection will accept applications for its Growing Greener Plus Grant Program until July 13.  (formal notice)

* DCNR Multifunctional Riparian Forest Buffer Grants Webinar July 3, Grant Round Opens Aug. 1

DCNR will hold a webinar on July 3 on Multifunctional Riparian Forest Buffer Grants from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. 

* PA Lake Management Society Offers Mini-Grants To Reduce Nutrient Loading, Address Invasive Species

The PA Lake Management Society, with funding from the Department of Environmental Protection, is now accepting applications for mini-grants to address lake-related issues of critically eroded shorelines, excess nutrient loading, and/or aquatic invasive species that degrade the quality of lakes in the Commonwealth.

* Grants Available To Improve Sinnemahoning Watershed In Cameron, Elk, McKean, Potter Counties

The Fish and Boat Commission Thursday announced it is now accepting applications for the Sinnemahoning Creek Watershed Restoration Grant Program.   The deadline for applications is September 29.

* Patriot News: Tapped Out, How PA's Drinking Water Program Is Hurting You; Lack Of Resources Is Putting Drinking Water In PA At Risk

By Wallace McKelvey, Patriot News, WMckelvey@pennlive.com

* Op-Ed: The Story Behind Stopping Conventional Oil & Gas Brine Spreading On Dirt Roads

By Siri Lawson, Farmington Township, Warren County

* Videos From Montgomery, Cumberland, Dauphin Counties Voted Favorites In Great American Cleanup Of PA Video Contest

The videos getting the most votes in the Great American Cleanup of PA Video Contest as tabulated on the Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful Facebook page were--

* IFO Projects Increase In Drilling Impact Fee Revenue In 2018 Under Current Conditions

The Independent Fiscal Office Thursday reported revenue from the Act 13 drilling impact fee could increase another $14.5 million to $224 million in 2018, if natural gas prices and the number of wells remain about the same.

* UPDATED: Monday, July 2 Declared Code Orange Air Quality Action Day In Central, Eastern PA

The Department of Environmental Protection and its regional air quality partnerships have forecast a Code Orange Air Quality Action Day for ozone in Central and Eastern Pennsylvania for Monday, July 2.  Those areas include--

* DEP: West Nile Virus Found In 11 More Counties This Week Bringing Total To 23

The Department of Environmental Protection Friday reported on its West Nile Virus website mosquitoes testing positive for the virus have been found in 11 more counties this week-- Bedford, Columbia, Cumberland, Delaware, Fayette, Lackawanna, Lancaster,  Lawrence, Luzerne, Northumberland and Union.

* DCNR, Partners Celebrate Loyalsock Creek’s River Of The Year Honor, PA Rivers Month

On June 22, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn joined state and local officials, and Middle Susquehanna Riverkeeper Association members in celebrating the designation of Loyalsock Creek as Pennsylvania’s 2018 River of the Year in Williamsport, Lycoming County.

* Senate/House Bills Moving Last Week

The following bills of interest saw action last week in the House and Senate--

* 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

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--

* Gov. Wolf Signs House Bill To Limit Eminent Domain Use On Land Protected By Conservation Easements

Gov. Tom Wolf Sunday signed House Bill 2468 limiting the use of eminent domain by government agencies on land with conservation easements for parks and open space purposes.

* Alternative Utility Ratemaking Bill To Encourage Conservation, Infrastructure Investment Signed By Governor

Gov. Tom Wolf late Thursday signed into law House Bill 1782 (Delozier-R- Cumberland) authorizing alternative ratemaking by the Public Utility Commission for utilities it regulates, including electric, natural gas, water and wastewater services.

* Scavello Bill Cracking Down On Littering, Illegal Dumping Becomes Law

Gov. Tom Wolf late Thursday signed into law Senate Bill 431 sponsored by Sen. Mario Scavello (R-Monroe) to reduce littering across Pennsylvania by requiring offenders to pick up trash and authorizing the creation of local litter enforcement corridors.

* Senate Republican Policy Committee Holds July 9 Hearing On Clean Fill, Abandoned Quarries In Northampton County

The Senate Republican Policy Committee is scheduled to hold a hearing on July 9 on the issue of clean fill and regulated fill and abandoned quarries in Pen Argyl, Northampton County.

* June Environmental Synopsis Now Available From Joint Conservation Committee

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

* Federal Office Of Surface Mining Provides Nearly $500,000 In Grants To Restore Watersheds In PA

The Department of the Interior’s Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement Wednesday announced it has awarded approximately $1 million in cooperative agreements to nonprofit watershed restoration groups in Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia.

* Brodhead Watershed Assn., Partners Hold Pocket Park Ribbon Cutting In Stroudsburg

The Brodhead Watershed Association and local partners held a ribbon cutting for a pocket park in Stroudsburg, Monroe County Friday to improve green infrastructure in the community.

* Pittsburgh Water Authority Replaced Over 1,341 Lead Water Service Lines By June 30

The Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority Thursday said it will report to the Department of Environmental Protection it has surpassed its requirement to replace 1,341 lead service lines by June 30.

* PennVEST, DEP Invite Comments On Proposed Clean Water, Drinking Water Intended Use Plans, Project Lists, July 12 Meeting

The PA Infrastructure Investment Authority and the Department of Environmental Protection are inviting public comments on the Federal Fiscal Year FY 2018 Intended Use Plans for the Clean Water and Drinking Water Revolving Funds. (formal notice)

* West Branch Susquehanna Restoration Coalition Meets July 10 In Centre County

The West Branch Susquehanna Restoration Coalition will hold its quarterly meeting and picnic on July 10 at Bald Eagle State Park, Pavilion #5 in Centre County starting at 5:30.

* Susquehanna River Basin Commission OKs Fee Changes, Adopts Budget, PA Elected Vice Chair

At its June 15 meeting, the Susquehanna River Basin Commission approved changes to its FY 2019 fee schedule and adopted its FY 2020 budget.  It also took action on these items--

* Save The Date: 2018 Delaware River Watershed Forum Sept. 25-26 Cape May, NJ

The Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed will hold its 2018 Annual Delaware River Watershed Forum on September 25-26 in Cape May, NJ.

* Delaware River Basin Commission Now Accepting Entries To Summer Photo Contest

The Delaware River Basin Commission Wednesday announced it is now accepting entries for its Summer Photo Contest, highlighting amateur and professional photography that conveys the beauty, diversity, function, and significance of the water resources of the Delaware River Basin.

* Stroud Water Research Center UpStream News Now Available

The Chester County-based Stroud Water Research Center UpStream News is now available featuring articles on--

* Food & Water Watch Issues List Of 48 New, Planned Natural Gas-Fired Power Plants In PA

On June 20, the national Food & Water Watch issued a special report with a comprehensive list of 48 new, planned or under construction natural gas-fired power plants in Pennsylvania as of December 2017.

* PUC Offers Energy Savings, Cooling Tips As Summer Hot Weather Alert Is Issued

The Public Utility Commission Friday urged residents across the Commonwealth to consider ways to conserve energy and stay cool as temperatures across the Mid-Atlantic Region are expected to remain in the 90s through the weekend.

* DEP Blog: Ways To Save Energy, Money This Summer

By Neil Shader, DEP Press Secretary

* Penn State Extension: Intro To Electric Markets & Procurement Strategies Webinar July 26

Penn State Extension will host an Introduction to Electric Markets and Procurement Strategies Webinar on July 26 from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m.

* PUC Hosts First-Ever Exercise On A Large-Scale Natural Gas Distribution Emergency

The Public Utility Commission Tuesday announced it recently gathered emergency response agencies, utilities and human service organizations for PA Operation Blue Flame 2018 – a first-ever statewide exercise intended to test the state’s potential responses to and recovery from a large-scale disruption of natural gas service.

* First Electric Bus To Pass New Federal Standard Protocol Does It In Altoona

Nova Bus Tuesday announced that it passed the U.S. Federal Transit Administration’s new model bus test with flying colors and with a score of 80 percent. 

* Opportunity To Bid On DEP Underground Tank Cleanup At Capital Bus Company In Dauphin County

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the June 30 PA Bulletin of an opportunity to bid on an underground storage tank removal project in Harrisburg, Dauphin County at the Capital Bus Company.

* DCNR, State Officials Visit PA Outdoor Corps Jobs Sites In Schuylkill, Lackawanna Counties

Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn and other state officials visited two projects underway by the Pennsylvania Outdoor Corps at Locust Lake State Park, Schuylkill County, and Clarks Summit Borough, Lackawanna County.

* Upper Delaware BioBlitz June 29-30 In Starlight, Wayne County

The Upper Delaware BioBlitz on June 29-30 is a biannual event where 9 teams of scientists and amateur naturalists from all over the region meet to collect, identify, and catalog every living species visible to the naked eye.

* Carly Naundorff, Ali Brand Winners Of Delaware Highlands Conservancy Scholarships

The Delaware Highlands Conservancy Wednesday announced it has awarded its annual Delaware Highlands Conservancy/Yeaman Scholarship for $1,000 to Carly Naundorff, a 2018 graduate from the Delaware Valley School District in Pike County, and the Vanessa Van Gorder Memorial Scholarship for $1,000 to Ali Brand, a 2018 graduate of Wallenpaupack Area High School, drawing students from Pike and Wayne counties.

* DCNR Blog: Guided Whitewater Rafting At State Parks A Scenic, Stimulating Adventure!

Have you ever wanted to try whitewater rafting but didn’t know where to start?

* Brodhead Watershed Assn. Get Outdoors Poconos Minisink Park Hike July 21 In Monroe County

The Brodhead Watershed Association will host another in its series of Get Outdoors Poconos hikes on July 21 at Minisink Park in Monroe County.

* DCNR ATV/Snowmobile Grants Webinar July 3

DCNR will host a webinar on July 3 on ATV/ Snowmobile Grants Webinar from 11:00 to Noon.  The webinar is designed for those interested in applying for grant funding for ATV and snowmobile trail grants.

* June 27 Resource Newsletter Now Available From DCNR

The June 27 edition of the Resource newsletter is now available from the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources featuring articles on--

* PEC: Newsletter From Laurel Highlands Conservation Landscape Now Available

The latest edition of the Laurel Highlands Conservation Landscape newsletter is now available from the PA Environmental Council and its partners featuring stories about--

* Wildlands Conservancy Highlights July Educational, Fun! Programs

The Lehigh Valley-based Wildlands Conservancy Wednesday highlighted educational and fun! programs coming up in July, including, among others--

* Gifford Pinchot's Grey Towers Offers Mansion Tours, Lecture, Landscape Painting In July, Festival Of Wood Aug. 4-5

Gifford Pinchot’s Grey Towers National Historic Site in Milford, Pike County will offer mansion tours, a free lecture and landscape painting in July.

* Join Western PA Audubon's Backyard Habitat Certification Program

Your backyard is your sanctuary and the Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania can help you to make it a beneficial location for birds, insects, butterflies, and animals.

* Feature: PA Natural Heritage Program: Restoring Habitat For The Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake

Earlier this year, during the coldest months of this long winter, a small crew of Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program zoologists spent time improving habitat for the eastern massasauga rattlesnake (Sistrurus catenatus catenatus).

* Governor’s Advisory Council Seeks To Fill Openings On Fish & Boat Commission Board

The Governor’s Advisory Council for Hunting, Fishing and Conservation is seeking qualified candidates to fill an upcoming vacancy on the board of the Fish and Boat Commission from the First District, which includes Butler, Clarion, Crawford, Erie, Forest, Lawrence, Mercer, Venango, and Warren counties.

* Two New Members Bring Game Commission Board Up To Full Strength

Two vacancies on the Board of Game Commissioners were filled recently by Scott H. Foradora, of DuBois, and Dennis R. Fredericks, of Amity, to bring the board to its full complement of eight.

* 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.

* 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.

* Regulations, Technical Guidance & Permits

Here are highlights of actions taken by agencies on environmental regulations, technical guidance and permits.

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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: PaEnviroDigest@gmail.com.

* About PA Environment Digest

PA Environment Digest is edited by David E. Hess, former Secretary Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.  He can be contacted by sending email to: PaEnviroDigest@gmail.com.

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