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Weekly PA Environment Digest Newsletter
October 22, 2018 Issue #747
(10/22/2018)
* Bills On Recreation Liability, Lead Service Lines, Leaf Waste, Ag Advisory Board, 1-Stop Permit Center On Governor’s Desk

Late Wednesday night the Senate and House held what we thought was their last scheduled regular voting day on bills in the 2017-18 legislative session moving the last 5 environmental bills to Gov. Wolf’s desk for his action.

* DEP: 61 Watershed Restoration, Stormwater Projects Totaling $12.6 Million Funded By Mariner East 2 Pipeline Penalty

The Department of Environmental Protection Tuesday announced it has selected 61 projects to receive grants from the historic $12.6 million penalty assessed to Sunoco for violations related to the Mariner East 2 pipeline project. The selected projects improve water quality, restore watersheds, and improve stormwater management.

* Delaware, Chester Citizens Group Releases Final Risk Assessment Report On Mariner East Pipelines

The Del Chesco United for Pipeline Safety citizens group Friday released the Final Quantitative Risk Assessment Of Sunoco’s Mariner East Pipeline Project in Chester and Delaware counties.

* PennVEST Awards $93M For Drinking Water, Wastewater, Nonpoint Source Projects, Including Nearly $50M For Lead Service Line Replacement In Pittsburgh

The PA Infrastructure Investment Authority Wednesday announced the award of $93 million for for 15 drinking water, wastewater, and nonpoint source projects across 12 counties.

* DEP Awards Coastal Management Grants To 15 Projects Along Lake Erie, Tidal Delaware River

The Department of Environmental Protection Friday announced the award of nearly $550,000 to support 15 projects by municipalities, schools, and community organizations that help protect and restore water quality, shoreline stability, trails, and other community and natural resources in the coastal areas along Lake Erie and the tidal Delaware River in Pennsylvania.

* DEP Now Accepting Nominations For 2019 Governor's Awards For Environmental Excellence

The Department of Environmental Protection Wednesday announced it is now accepting nominations for the 2019 Governor’s Awards for Environmental Excellence to showcase the best of the best among Pennsylvania’s environmental stewards.

* Bay Journal: Part 1 - Chesapeake Bay Cleanup May Lose Race To 2025 Goal, But Presses On

By Karl Blankenship, Chesapeake Bay Journal

* Bay Journal: Part 2 - New Nutrient Reduction Goals Reflect Updated Science, Data, Computer Modeling

By Karl Blankenship, Chesapeake Bay Journal

* Bay Journal: Part 3 - Success Of Chesapeake Bay Restoration Tied To Pennsylvania, Which Lags Far Behind

By Karl Blankenship, Chesapeake Bay Journal

* Bay Journal: Part 4 - In Another Decade Or Two, We'll See A Different Chesapeake Bay

By Karl Blankenship, Chesapeake Bay Journal

* Gov. Wolf's PFAS Action Team Outlines Public Outreach Plans, Nov. 30 Meeting

Gov. Tom Wolf’s PFAS Action Team held an organizational meeting Thursday and announced it has opened a comment period to take public input regarding per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and is inviting proposals for expert presentations to the Action Team at a public meeting to be held on November 30.

* DCED OKs $1.7 Million In Funding To Help Cleanup 11 Former Industrial Sites In 6 Counties

The Department of Community and Economic Development Thursday announced the award of  $1.7 million in grants and loans from the Industrial Sites Reuse Program for 11 projects to clean up former industrial sites in Allegheny, Berks, Blair, Cumberland, Erie, and Montgomery counties to prepare them for occupation by businesses and residential properties.

* Nominations Now Being Accepted For 2019 River Of The Year

The PA Organization For Watersheds and Rivers and the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources are now accepting nominations from nonprofit organizations across the state for the 2019 Pennsylvania River of the Year.  The deadline for nominations is November 9.

* Nominations Now Being Accepted For 2019 PA Trail Of The Year

DCNR’s PA Trails Advisory Committee is now accepting nominations for the 2019 PA Trail Of The Year.  The deadline for nominations is November 16.

* Op-Ed: Americans Support Parks And Prefer Candidates Who Do Too

By: Tim Herd, PA Recreation and Park Society

* LancasterOnline.com: Now 5 Deaths Statewide From West Nile Virus

Heather Stauffer, LancasterOnline.com, Tuesday reported the Department of Health has confirmed 5 deaths from West Nile Virus so far this season-- 2 in Lancaster and one each in Lebanon, Philadelphia and Westmoreland counties.

* Fish & Boat Commission Names Tim Schaeffer Executive Director

During a special meeting Thursday, the Fish and Boat Commission Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to appoint Tim Schaeffer to the role of Executive Director. Schaeffer will assume his duties beginning November 13.

* Week 4: DCNR Fall Foliage Report: Best Color Reported In 3 Areas Of The State

The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Thursday Fall Foliage Report found the drastic cooldown last week failed to deliver anticipated, major foliage changes throughout Pennsylvania.

* 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/ 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 Committee Approves Bill Requiring Universal Lead Testing For Children

The Senate Health and Human Services Committee Tuesday reported out Senate Bill 1270 (Yudichak-D-Luzerne), (Baker-R-Luzerne) requiring universal lead testing for children (sponsor summary).

* EPA, Federal Agencies Lay Out Agenda For Future Regulatory Changes

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and other federal departments Wednesday released their parts of the semiannual Unified Agenda of Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions and a Fall Regulatory Plan.  The plans are a roadmap of sorts of the kinds of changes they want to make.

* Applications Now Being Accepted For Federal Pre-Disaster Mitigation And Flood Mitigation Assistance From Municipalities, Counties

The PA Emergency Management Agency this week announced applications are now being accepted for a new Federal Emergency Management Agency program to provide FY 2018 Pre-Disaster Natural Hazard Mitigation and Flood Mitigation Assistance to municipalities.

* Gov. Wolf: Federal Flood Disaster Aid Now Available To Lancaster, York, Neighboring Counties

Gov. Tom Wolf Friday announced the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) approved his request to declare a disaster in Lancaster and York Counties after significant flood damage to homes and businesses was sustained due to severe storms on August 31.

* Gov. Wolf Criticizes FEMA Denial Of Western PA Disaster Declaration Request Appeal

Gov. Tom Wolf Monday issued the following statement in response to the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s denial of the July 2018 appeal for a major disaster declaration for damages from western Pennsylvania’s February through April severe weather that included flooding and landslides:

* DEP To Host Informational Meeting Nov. 7 On Swoyersville Culm Bank Removal Project In Luzerne County

The Department of Environmental Protection Friday announced it will host an informational meeting on November 7 regarding Phase 1 of the Swoyersville Culm Bank Removal Project in Luzerne County.

* York Master Watershed Stewards Plant Rain Gardens, Hold Youth Fishing & Conservation Day

The Master Watershed Stewards of York County recently completed 2 rain gardens to help control stormwater pollution and hold a youth fishing and conservation day in York City.

* Feature: CBF-PA's Rain Garden Maintenance Specialist Brings Environmental Justice To A Harrisburg Neighborhood

By: B.J. Small, Chesapeake Bay Foundation-PA

* Dr. Bern Sweeney: Oct. 25 Ecological Aspects Of Streams And Streamside Forest Buffers Webinar

The Delaware RiverKeeper Network and the Stroud Water Research Center are hosting an October 25 Webinar on Ecological Aspects Of Streams And Streamside Forest Buffers featuring Dr. Bernard W. Sweeney, Distinguished Research Scientist and former Executive Director of the Stroud Water Research Center.

* POWR, PEC To Hold Regional Watershed Workshops In Butler, Lackawanna Counties

The PA Organization for Watersheds and Rivers and the PA Environmental Council will hold 2 more in their series of regional watershed workshops on November 7 in Scranton, Lackawanna County and November 14 in Cranberry, Butler County.

* Penn State Extension Develops Stormwater Education For Mount Holly Springs’ Festival Day In Cumberland County

Visitors to the Mount Holly Springs' Holly Festival Day Celebration on September 15 in Cumberland County had an opportunity to learn about how stormwater can impact their local waterways.

* Schuylkill Action Network Celebrates 15 Years Of Action Nov. 9 In Reading

The Schuylkill Action Network will hold its annual meeting on November 9 at the Albright College Campus Center, 1442 Bern Street in Reading, Berks County.  This year SAN is celebrating its 15th year of action to restore the Schuylkill River.

* Deadline Extended: Call For Abstracts For Nov. 29 Academy Of Natural Sciences Delaware Watershed Research Conference; Registration Open

The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University  has extended the deadline for accepting abstracts for presentations for the second annual Delaware Watershed Research Conference to October 31.

* Penn State Water Insights Seminars: Oct. 23: Dynamic Management Of Nutrient Pollution In Aquatic Environments; Oct. 26: Are We Drinking Our Medicines?

The Penn State Environment and Natural Resources Institute will host 2 presentations in its Water Insights Seminar Series next week--

* Penn State Master Well Owner Network Trained 780 Volunteers, Reached Over 52,500 Well Owners

Nearly three million rural Pennsylvania residents rely on a private well, spring or cistern for their drinking water.

* Advanced Watershed Educator Workshops For Non-Formal Educators Coming Up

A series of Advanced Watershed Educator Workshops for Non-Formal Educators will be held at three locations in the next six months as part of the NOAA Meaningful Watershed Educational Experiences series.

* Project Wet 2.0 & Healthy Water, Healthy People Facilitator Workshop Nov. 3 In State College

The Allegheny Land Trust and its partners will hold a Project Wet 2.0 & Healthy Water, Healthy People Facilitator Workshop on November 3 at Millbrook Marsh Nature Center in State College from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

* PA Horticultural Society Hosts Green City Teachers Basic Training 5-Session Course Starting Oct. 23

The PA Horticultural Society will host a 5-session training course beginning October 23 for individuals interested in becoming Green City Teachers.

* PA Master Naturalist Program Expands In Western PA; Training To Be Offered In 2019

The Allegheny Land Trust Wednesday announced it is hosting the Pennsylvania Master Naturalist Program for the first time in Washington County and for a second round in Allegheny County in 2019.

* Wildlands Conservancy Highlights Educational Programs, Activities In November

The Lehigh Valley-based Wildlands Conservancy Friday highlighted education programs and activities coming up in November include--

* Keep Philadelphia Beautiful Receives $5,000 Grant From UPS Foundation For Fruit Tree Planting

The UPS Foundation and Keep America Beautiful Thursday announced the award of a $5,000 grant to Keep Philadelphia Beautiful as part of their Community Tree and Recovery Tree Planting Program.

* Reminder: PRC Hosts 3 Drug Take-Back Day Collection Events Oct. 27 In Allegheny County

The PA Resources Council, PA American Water and other partners will hold 3 Drug Take-Back Day collection events for unwanted medications on October 27 in Allegheny County as part of National Drug Take-Back Day.

* Trout Unlimited’s New Tool For Pipeline Siting Considerations In The Delaware River Basin

Trout Unlimited, in consultation with a focus group representing industry, state and federal government agencies, and conservation groups, has developed an interactive web-based map to help identify overlapping areas of ecological concern in the Delaware River Basin and surrounding states.

* Penn State: Agricultural Production And Shale Gas Development Webinar Nov. 15

Penn State Extension will host a webinar on November 15 on Agricultural Production and Shale Gas Development from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m.

* EPA: Philadelphia Sunoco Service Station Pays $22,080 For Underground Storage Tank Violations

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Wednesday announced the owner and operator of the F-Street Sunoco service station, 3951 Roosevelt Boulevard in Philadelphia have agreed to pay a $22,080 penalty to settle alleged violations of underground storage tank regulations.

* DEP: Nov. 7 Hearing On Permits, Approvals For Slate Belt Heat Recovery Center Biosolids Processing Facility, Northampton County

The Department of Environmental Protection is scheduled to hold a November 7 hearing on the Air Quality, Stormwater and other approvals needed for the Slate Belt Heat Recovery Center LLC biosolids processing facility at the Grand Central Landfill in Plainfield Township, Northampton County. (Oct. 20 PA Bulletin, page 6671)

* Nov. 28 DEP Hearing [If Needed] On Karns City Refining RACT II Air Quality Plan, Butler County

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the October 20 PA Bulletin of  a November 28 hearing on a proposed RACT II Air Quality Plan for the Karns City Refining facility in Karns City, Butler County (page 6715).

* DEP: Nov. 28 Hearing [If Needed] On Lord Corp RACT II Air Quality Plan, Crawford County

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the October 20 PA Bulletin of  a November 28 hearing on a proposed RACT II Air Quality Plan for the Lord Corporation facility in Saegertown, Crawford County (page 6716).

* KEEA 8th Annual PA Energy Efficiency Conference Oct. 25-26 In Harrisburg

The Keystone Energy Efficiency Alliance will holds its 8th Annual PA Energy Efficiency Conference on October 25-26 at the Harrisburg Hilton.

* Seed Grant Funding Available For Energy, Environmental Research At Penn State

Penn State's Institutes of Energy and the Environment announced the availability of seed grant funds focused on energy and the environment. Deadline to apply is November 7.

* Next DEP Climate Change Advisory Committee Meeting Set For Dec. 4

The next meeting of  DEP’s Climate Change Advisory Committee is scheduled for December 4.  The October 23 meeting is canceled.  (formal notice)

* DCNR Blog: Can We Do Even More On Energy Efficiency, Renewables? The Answer Is… We Can And Are!

The millions of acres of Pennsylvania’s state parks and forests include a lot of buildings such as visitor centers, cabins, and bathrooms. In fact, the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources oversees more than 4,500 buildings and 100 wastewater treatment facilities.

* Western PA Conservancy Now Accepting Applications For Canoe, Kayak Access Projects In Western PA

The Western Pennsylvania Conservancy Tuesday announced it is seeking grant applicants for its Canoe Access Development Fund, which supports projects that will improve canoe and kayak access to the region’s waterways.  The deadline for applications is November 16.

* Reminder: South Mountain Partnership Trails Workshop: Building Strong Community Connections Nov. 20 In Shippensburg

The South Mountain Partnership, Capital Resource Conservation & Development Area Council and other partners invite you to attend the South Mountain Partnership Trail Workshop: Building Strong Community Connections on November 20 from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Shippensburg University in Cumberland County.

* DCNR Keystone Fund, Federal Land & Water Conservation Grants Support Local Recreation, Parks Projects In 9 Counties

The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources this week announced grants from the Keystone Fund to support local recreation projects in Butler, Clearfield, Cumberland, Dauphin, Lackawanna, Lehigh, Lycoming,  Susquehanna and York counties.

* New Good For PA Recreation Podcast First Episode - Good For Learning

The Good For You, Good For All initiative by the PA Recreation & Parks Society and DCNR have started a new Good for PA Podcast series about the benefits of local parks and recreation throughout the Commonwealth.

* DCNR, Partners, Sponsors, Volunteers Build New Playground In Cranberry Twp, Butler County

The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources joined volunteers from Cranberry Township in Butler County and local sponsors to build a new community playground at North Boundary Park earlier in October.

* Oct. 17 Resource Newsletter Now Available From DCNR

The October 17 issue of the Resource newsletter is now available from the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources featuring stories on--

* Western PA Conservancy Protects 193 Acres In South Branch French Creek Conservation Area, Erie County

The Western PA Conservancy Tuesday announced a new 193-acre South Branch French Creek Conservation Area is now open to the public in Union Township, Erie County.

* Golden Opportunity To See A Golden Eagle, North America's Largest Bird Of Prey, Nov. 3 At Hawk Mountain

On November 3, Hawk Mountain Sanctuary visitors will have a guaranteed opportunity to see North America's largest predatory bird, the golden eagle, up close. The one-day-only eagle programs will be presented by Carbon County Environmental Education Center at Noon and 2:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary's Outdoor Amphitheater in Berks County.

* Delaware Highlands Conservancy Eagle Day, Nov. 17; Eagle Watch Volunteer Training Dec. 1; Eagle Watch Bus Tours

Hundreds of bald eagles migrate through the Upper Delaware River every year as lakes and rivers freeze over up north.

* Westmoreland Land Trust Adds New Members To Board Of Directors

William Danchuk and William Mihalco have been appointed to the board of directors of the Westmoreland Land Trust and Kodie Rearick has joined the land-conservation organization as an AmeriCorps Service Member.

* Help Wanted: Berks Conservation District Insect Control & Outreach Assistant, Jobs In Other Districts

The Berks County Conservation District is seeking individuals to fill the position of Insect Control and Outreach Assistant to work in mosquito-borne disease and spotted lanternfly control, environmental education and outreach and on forested riparian buffer surveys.

* 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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