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Weekly PA Environment Digest Newsletter
June 13, 2005
(6/12/2005)
PDF Version - PA Environment Digest 6/13/05
* Budgets, Bills and Barnyards
The Senate and House returned this week to figure out how to approach getting a budget done by July 4. The only thing they seem to agree on is they all want to be done by July 4.
* On the Senate, House Agenda
Senate and House Calendars and Committee schedules have a variety of bills on their agendas for this week. Here’s a quick rundown--
* Senate Environmental Committee Moves Tank, Energy, Water/Sewer Measures
The Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee this week unanimously reported out—
* Joint Budget-Finance Committee Releases Evaluation of Conservation Districts
The Joint Legislative Budget and Finance Committee this week released its evaluation of county conservation districts saying the state needs to give districts more resources to carry out their existing responsibilities and streamline their interactions with state agencies.
* Senate Hears Comments on Eco-Terrorism Legislation
The Senate Judiciary Committee heard testimony on the damage caused by domestic terrorist groups in the United States and Pennsylvania during a hearing on House Bill 213 (Godshall-R-Montgomery) this week.
* Quick Updates on Legislation Moving
Here’s a quick rundown on environmental bills moving in the House and Senate.
* Electric Group Foresees Adequate Summer Power Supplies, But Issues Caution
The mid-Atlantic region should have adequate, even surplus, power supply for the summer months, the President of a power generation group told the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission this week.
* BP Solar, Sun Edison LLC Launch $60 Million SunE Solar Fund
Sun Edison LLC this week launched "SunE Solar Fund I", a $60 million fund to support the installation of up to 25 solar electric systems in the United States. The systems will be supplied by BP Solar as part of the BP Solar Energy Solutions offer and will be installed at facilities owned or leased by national retailers and state entities.
* PA Recycling Conference “Quality Does Matter!” July 27-29, Training Courses
The Professional Recyclers of Pennsylvania will hold their annual conference in State College July 27-29 with the theme of “Quality Does Matter!”
* Green Building Training Courses Set for June 23, July 13
Take advantage of two green building technical and construction review workshops coming up in Selinsgrove and Pittsburgh.
* It Takes a Village to Grow A Park, Ask the Students of Village Park Elementary
The students of Village Park Elementary School have teamed up with the Bucks County Audubon Society and Waste Management, Inc. to create a very special park area that not only beautifies the school grounds, but serves as an educational tool for students, teachers and the community.
* First Air Quality Action Day Declared in the Lehigh, Susquehanna Valleys
The Lehigh and Susquehanna Valley Air Quality Partnerships and the Department of Environmental Protection this week announced the first air quality action days of the season for ozone.
* Partnership Advocates Commuting Options for Employers
As increasing traffic congestion and record gasoline prices spur greater interest in commuting options, the Susquehanna Regional Transportation Partnership this week launched services that promote alternatives to commuting alone.
* Ozone and You Teacher Workshops Set in Southwest
Teachers are invited to attend a special “Ozone and You” workshop to learn about air pollution and conserving energy on July 26 in Greensburg and August 9 in Pittsburgh. The workshop is a collaboration of the Southwest Pennsylvania Air Quality Partnership, Inc., The Group Against Smog and Pollution, Pennsylvania Resources Council and the Department of Environmental Protection.
* Falcon Watch and Rescue to Get Underway
This week the falcon watch and rescue effort by dozens of volunteers will begin as the peregrine falcons nesting on the Rachel Carson Building in Harrisburg take their first tentative steps toward flight.
* Peterson Introduces Reauthorization of Federal Mine Reclamation Fee
Congressman John Peterson (R-Venango) was joined by a bipartisan coalition of 16 House Members from Pennsylvania, Ohio, Tennessee and Maryland to introduce legislation that would reauthorize the Abandoned Mine Lands (AML) program and speed up the reclamation of thousands of hazardous abandoned coal mines across the country.
* Protect Our Watersheds Art Contest Winners Announced
Pennsylvania American Water announced the winners of its fourth annual Protect Our Watersheds Art Contest for fifth-grade students across Pennsylvania. (See all the winners in the attached PDF file.)
* Historic Codorus Creek Boat Parade Set for August 27
The Codorus Creek Improvement Partnership is reviving 100-year-old tradition-- the Codorus Creek Boat Parade in York County.
* DEP Releases Report Recommending Changes to Waste Definition, Program
The Department of Environmental Protection this week released a draft report aimed at revisiting and improving the non-hazardous waste program in the Commonwealth making general recommendations for clarifying the definition of waste, changing reporting requirements, coproduct and general permit process.
* Center for Environmental Education June Newsletter Available
The June “EE Connections” newsletter of the Pennsylvania Center for Environmental Education is now available online.
* The Nature Conservancy Names William Kunze Pennsylvania State Director
William Kunze has been named the new state director for The Nature Conservancy in Pennsylvania. A Keystone state native, Kunze is “coming home” after six years with the Federal Communications Commission.
* Documenting Stream Channel Erosion – Bigger Problem Than Originally Thought
Sharing information among watershed groups is an important function we provide through the Digest. We invite your feedback on this article to the authors to see if others are identifying the same problems.
* Feature: Tyrone Company Reduces Hazardous Waste, Takes 725+ Trucks Off the Road
Albemarle Corporation, a chemical manufacturer in Tyrone, Blair County is an environment innovator. They won a Governor's Award for Waste Minimization in 1994 for recycling and reusing waste chemicals and were the first company in Pennsylvania to adopt an environmental management system to become ISO 14001 certified in 1996 and were recertified this year. So, what do you do for an encore?
* Award Winning Performances: Catasauqua Wins National Award for Pretreatment Program
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency presented the Borough of Catasauqua in Lehigh County a national award this week for protecting local waterways with its pretreatment program for industrial wastewater.
* Carnegie Science Center Awards for Excellence Presented
The Carnegie Science Center Awards for Excellence each year recognize individuals for their outstanding contributions to science and technology in education, research, entrepreneurship and commerce.
* Friendship Park, Household Hazardous Waste Project Involve Community
The Pennsylvania Environmental Council announced the winners of the Western Pennsylvania Environmental Awards Program which were included in the May 30 Digest. But, the finalists selected in that program also deserve recognition for their good work.
* PA Water Environment Association Recognizes Environmental Excellence
The Pennsylvania Water Environment Association this week recognized individuals, companies and organizations with an outstanding record of environmental excellence at their annual conference in Somerset. Among those recognized were—
* Quick Clips
A sampling of NewsClips on environmental topics around the state.
* Watershed NewsClips
NewsClips on watershed issues around Pennsylvania.
* Regulations
No new regulations published this week. The Environmental Quality Board meets on June 21 to consider regulatory packages on lake and stream redesignations and concentrated animal feeding operations. Here’s more on the agenda—
* Technical Guidance & Permits
No new policies published this week.
* Calendar of Events
Upcoming conferences, meetings, workshops, plus links to other online calendars. Go To: PA Environment Digest Calendar Page
* Stories Invited
Send your stories about environmental issues, programs and positive actions to PA Environment Digest - DHess@crisciassociates.com or go to www.PaEnvironmentDigest.com .

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