|
Final State Budget Restores Some Environmental Funding Cuts, Not Big Ones
About 2:00 a.m. Sunday, the General Assembly passed and Gov. Rendell signed the new 2006-07 state budget. The final version restored some of the environmental funding cuts Gov. Rendell proposed to county consideration districts, Chesapeake Bay Education, Nutrient Management Programs, agricultural research and other smaller programs, but $82 million was still diverted to other programs and to help balance the General Fund.
|
|
|
On the Senate, House Agenda
See you in September! The Senate and House return to session September 25 and will celebrate the July 4 holiday this week, so they don’t have anything much planned for the week ahead.
|
|
|
Bills On the Governor’s Desk
Bills containing the state budget, an increase in in-lieu of tax payments, changes to the storage tanks cleanup insurance program, conservation district funding, oil and gas leases, non-native fish possession and sale and others reached the Governor’s desk this week. Other bills moved this week as well. Here’s the rundown….
|
|
|
Senate/House Bills Moving/Introduced
Other bills moved this week as well and new bills were introduced. Here’s the rundown….
|
|
|
House Committee Approves Mine Families First Legislation
The House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee this week reported out House Bill 2619 (Bastian-R-Somerset) that establishes the Mine Families First Program to care for the families of miners involved in mine accidents.
|
|
|
Flooding Causes Disaster Emergency in 46 Counties, Drought Watch Lifted
Heavy rains in the central and eastern parts of Pennsylvania this week caused severe, localized flooding and nine deaths prompting Gov. Rendell to declare a state disaster emergency in 46 counties and to ask for federal disaster relief in 34 counties.
|
|
|
Weather Doesn’t Dampen Spirit of Team Susquehanna
Despite heavy rains and potential flooding, soggy socks and blistered hands – Expedition Susquehanna continues on their 30-day journey from New York to the Chesapeake Bay via the Susquehanna River.
|
|
|
Groups Urged to Join Letter of Support for Federal Mine Reclamation Funding
The PA AML Campaign, a coalition of more than 30 environmental, conservation and sportsmens’ groups, are inviting other groups to join them in working to support legislation sponsored by U.S. Senator Santorum to restore federal mine reclamation funding.
|
|
|
Join the 2006 Great Secchi Dip-In, Check Your Lake’s Water Quality
The 2006 Great Secchi Dip-In is now underway all across the United States and you can be part of this annual event that encourages people to check water quality in lakes and ponds.
|
|
|
DEP Certifies First Proposals for Generating, Trading Nutrient Credits
The Department of Environmental Protection this week certified two proposals that could generate nutrient reduction credits for sale to developers and dischargers with nutrient reduction obligations.
|
|
|
¡No Llene De Más Su Tanque De Gasolina!
Region 3 of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has posted a Spanish language webpage covering air quality protection issues and tips on how to individuals can reduce air pollution.
|
|
|
EPA Region Posts Assessment of Land Use, Reuse at Cleanup Sites
Region 3 of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has posted a special Hazardous Waste Cleanup Sites Land Use & Reuse Assessment Report on its website.
|
|
|
Small Business Pollution Prevention Grant Applications Due December 15
The Department of Environmental Protection is now accepting applications for pollution prevention and energy efficiency grants under the Small Business Advantage Program.
|
|
|
July 7 Energy Savings Workshop Supports Saving Energy Now
Lehigh University's Industrial Assessment Center will present a no-cost "Energy Savings Workshop" for industrial, commercial and institutional businesses on July 7.
|
|
|
July 20 Rachel Carson Forum to Examine Sustainable Energy Options
The July 20 Rachel Carson Forum will examine a host of challenges and opportunities in moving toward sustainable energy in Pennsylvania with a particular emphasis on ethanol issues and the use of biorefineries.
|
|
|
Attorney General Moves to Strike Down Illegal Restrictions on Farming
Attorney General Tom Corbett this week announced the filing of four lawsuits challenging four municipal ordinances in Berks, Chester and Columbia counties that he said illegally restrict farming operations.
|
|
|
‘Ag Ventures’ Summer Camp Helps Students Reconnect with Life on the Farm
This week, students are learning how food travels from the farm to the table during a three-day agriculture summer camp sponsored by the Department of Agriculture and the Pennsylvania State University Cooperative Extension Program.
|
|
|
Guided Tours of Regal Fritillary Butterfly Habitat Slated at Fort Indiantown Gap
The public will have the opportunity to see the only colony of the Regal Fritillary butterfly habitat in the Eastern U.S. during free, guided tours July 6, 10, 12, 11 and 13 at Fort Indiantown Gap.
|
|
|
21st Annual Wildlife Art Show Set For August 4-6
The Game Commission's Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area Visitor Center will feature hundreds of original paintings and fine art prints from the best-known wildlife artists in the state during its annual Wildlife Art Show from August 4-6.
|
|
|
Help Wanted: Watershed Manager
Western Pennsylvania Conservancy has an opening for a Watershed Manager to manage WPC’s freshwater conservation activities for the Juniata and Potomac tributaries watershed.
|
|
|
See & Hear - How Communities Deal with Stormwater Woes
Heavy rain and flooding are timely topics this week as many parts of Pennsylvania are recovering from just that. While extraordinary rains can overwhelm any stormwater management system, there are ways to reduce their severity.
|
|
|
Feature - Bald Eagle Nests Top 100 For First Time in More Than a Century
The bald eagle, as symbolic of American freedom as the Fourth of July and Old Glory itself, is nesting in more than 100 locations across the Commonwealth for the first time in more than a century, the Game Commission announced this week.
|
|
|
Quick Clips
Here’s a selection of NewsClips on environmental topics from around the state.
|
|
|
Watershed NewsClips
Read a sampling of NewsClips on watershed topics from around Pennsylvania.
|
|
|
Regulations
The Governor’s Office published its twice-a-year Regulatory Agenda of regulations pending and anticipated to be adopted in the future. The Department of Environmental Protection extended the comment period for New Source Review regulations and the Department of Agriculture published final CHEMSWEEP Pesticide Disposal Program rules.
|
|
|
Technical Guidance & Permits
The State Conservation Commission published its annual policy dispersing funding under the Dirt and Gravel Roads Program.
|
|
|
Calendar of Events
Upcoming conferences, meetings, workshops, plus links to other online calendars. Meetings are in Harrisburg unless otherwise noted. 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 .
|
04/15/24 - 66 New Stories - REAL Environmental & Conservation Leadership In PA: http://tinyurl.com/msuwtctm
