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Weekly PA Environment Digest Newsletter
September 3, 2007
(8/31/2007)
PDF Version - PA Environment Digest 9/3/07
* Game Commission Invites Residents to 7 Open Houses on Deer Management
In an effort to explain the state's Deer Management Program and meet interested residents closer to home, the Game Commission is hitting the road in coming weeks to hold seven open houses across the state.
* On the Senate/House Agenda
The House has scheduled the following Committee meetings and hearings for the coming week and the House Calendar was published for September 10—
* House Committee Hears Support for Geospatial Coordinating Council
The House Intergovernmental Affairs Committee this week heard testimony supporting the need for legislation to create a Pennsylvania Geospatial Coordinating Council to more efficiently and effectively develop and share GIS information among different levels of government and private industry.
* House Republicans Hear Energy Experts at Montgomery County Hearing
The House Republican Energy Task Force this week held a hearing co-chaired by Rep. Bob Mensch (R-Montgomery) at Montgomery County Community College on energy policy ahead of the special Energy Session set to start September 17.
* DEP Schedules Two More Public Meetings on Use of Abandoned Mine Funding
The Department of Environmental Protection, in cooperation with the DEP Citizen’s Advisory Council, has scheduled two additional public town hall meetings to gather public input regarding how to best utilize increased federal abandoned mine reclamation funding.
* Wildlands Conservancy Seeks Nominations for 2007 Ark Awards
The Wildland Conservancy is seeking nominations for its annual Ark Award to recognize outstanding businesses working in the Lehigh River Valley that have combined exceptional business practices with resourceful approaches, techniques and knowledge resulting in significant protection of the environment, particularly land and water resources.
* PA Lake Management Society Annual Conference October 10-11
The Pennsylvania Lake Management Society will hold its annual conference in State College on October 10-11.
* Photographers! Enter the 2007 PA Lake Management Society Photo Contest
Photographers are invited to submit your photos of ponds and lakes in Pennsylvania to the 2007 Photo Contest sponsored by the PA Lake Management Society.
* Southwestern Pennsylvania Tillage Conference Set for January 23
The benefits and practical considerations of reducing the amount of plowing done to a field before planting will be featured at Southwestern PA Tillage Conference on January 23 at Giannilli’s II, Route 30 in Greensburg.
* Three Tree-Planting Training Workshops Offered in Southeast PA
Take part in the "growing" TreeVitalize movement, a program designed by Pennsylvania's Department of Conservation and Natural Resources to increase Southeast Pennsylvania's tree cover and the benefits that trees offer by attending Tree Tenders Training Workshops.
* Exelon Announces Construction of Largest Solar Electric Facility in Eastern U.S.
Exelon Generation Company this week announced the construction of a 3 megawatt solar electric generating facility in Falls Township, Bucks County. The $20 million project will be the nation's fourth largest solar photovoltaic generation project, trailing only facilities in California and Arizona.
* PUC Requests Comments on Changes to Low-Income Energy Assistance Programs
The Public Utility Commission this week asked for public comments on a proposed rulemaking and policy statement revisions that address Customer Assistance Programs under which low-income customers receive financial assistance in paying utility bills.
* Carnegie Mellon University, Zipcar Partner to Bring Car Sharing to Campus
Carnegie Mellon University and Zipcar this week announced a joint partnership to provide Zipcars on campus to university faculty, staff, and students as an environmentally friendly alternative to the costs and hassles of keeping a car on campus.
* Workshops to Help Congregations Learn Ways to Save Energy in October
The Care for Creation Commission of the Episcopal Diocese of Central Pennsylvania, in collaboration with the Interfaith Coalition for the Environment, Religion and Society Center, and St. Stephen's Episcopal Cathedral, will hold workshops designed to help congregations conserve energy and reduce the monthly bills for their facilities.
* PennFuture Launches Contest to Help Fight Global Warming
Citizens for Pennsylvania’s Future launched a year-long statewide “Win Clean Wind Energy for a Year” contest this month to help educate, motivate and assist Pennsylvania residents to fight global warming.
* Lackawanna College Environmental Institute Hosts Climate Change Seminar
Lackawanna College’s Environmental Institute will host a seminar on global warming on September 25, at 7 p.m. in the college’s Student Union, located at 500 Jefferson Avenue in Scranton.
* Federal Renewable Fuels Mandate Begins Sept. 1, Refiners Ahead of Targets
The federal Renewable Fuels Standard Program, which promotes the use of fuels largely produced from American-grown crops, begins on September 1, but gasoline refiners are already ahead of the goals established in the program.
* DEP Accepting Recycling Markets Infrastructure Grant Applications
The Department of Environmental Protection announced it is now accepting applications for 2007 Recycling Markets Infrastructure Development Grants.
* PA CleanWays, DEP Survey Identifies Illegal Dump Sites in 15 Counties
The Department of Environmental Protection, in partnership with the non-profit environmental group PA CleanWays, used roadside surveys to recently identify more than 1,700 illegal dumpsites containing an estimated 8,100 tons of trash in 15 counties.
* Lake Erie Cleanup Effort Seeks Volunteers to Collect Trash September 15
The Department of Environmental Protection, community leaders and organizations are inviting residents of northwest Pennsylvania to help clean up trash along the Lake Erie shoreline and watershed during the International Coastal Cleanup on September 15.
* Hikers Recognized With Trail Challenge Award By DCNR
With a total of 780 miles and 18 state forest hiking trails behind them, two Pennsylvania residents have earned recognition from a statewide hiking organization and the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources’ Bureau of Forestry.
* Help Wanted: Energy Projects Coordinator, Wharton School
The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania is seeking a motivated Energy Projects Coordinator to provide environmental consulting assistance to small businesses through the statewide Small Business Development Center Environmental Management Assistance Program.
* Spotlight - Little Lehigh Creek Visual Stream Assessment to be Unveiled September 12
An exhaustive mouth-to-headwaters visual assessment of the Little Lehigh Creek will be unveiled at a public meeting on September 12 at the Wildlands Conservancy Pool Wildlife Sanctuary in Emmaus.
* Spotlight - Time to Think About Trips to Take Advantage of PA’s Fall Foliage
The kids are back in school, there’s a chill in the morning air and some leaves are starting to change. Time to think about PA Fall Foliage trips!
* Feature - Ethanol Production: Hurdles on the Road to Energy Independence
Report Calls for Action to Reduce Pollution from Increased Corn Production
* Feature - Keystone Wild! Notes Offers Unique View of PA’s Wildlife Resources
Keystone Wild! Notes is the official publication of the Pennsylvania Wild Resource Conservation Program and is published twice a year.
* 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 Environmental Quality Board published two proposed rulemakings for comments this week, one dealing with anthracite and bituminous coal mine safety and another a general update of safe drinking water requirements. The State Conservation Commission published for comment proposed facility odor control requirements and draft odor management guidance.
* Technical Guidance & Permits
The Department of Environmental Protection published an interim final policy on combined sewer overflows and a final policy on NPDES permits for farm operations.
* 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 .
* Supporting Member PA Outdoor Writers Association
PA Environment Digest is a supporting member of the Pennsylvania Outdoor Writers Association.

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