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Weekly PA Environment Digest Newsletter
October 8, 2007
(10/5/2007)
PDF Version - PA Environmental Digest 10/8/07
* Premier of “Hope for Polluted Waters” Attracts 250 at Bucknell
More than 250 enthusiastic movie-goers lined up outside the College Theatre in Lewisburg, just off the Bucknell campus, to see “Hope for Polluted Waters,” an inspiring documentary on the efforts of watershed groups to cleanup abandoned mine discharges in Pennsylvania.
* Video Blog - Prompted by the Quecreek Mine Rescue, Mine Families First Act Signed Into Law
Gov. Rendell, former Gov. Mark Schweiker, Joseph Sbaffoni, DEP Director of Deep Mine Safety, and Rep. Bob Bastian (R-Somerset) participated in a formal bill signing ceremony this week for the Mine Families First Act.
* On the Senate/House Agenda/Bills Introduced
The House published its voting Calendar for October 15—
* Senate/House Bills Moving/Governor’s Desk
Gov. Rendell this week signed House Bill 483 (Bastian-R-Somerset) establishing the Mine Families First Act prompted by the 2002 Quecreek Mine Rescue in Somerset county into law as Act 57.
* Senate Special Session Committee on Energy, Website Tracks Energy Bills
The Senate this week appointed a 15-member Committee on Energy Policies for the Special Session on Energy to make recommendation to the full Senate on energy-related legislation.
* DEP Supports Ban on Electronic Waste Going to Landfills
The Department of Environmental Protection this week said it would support a ban on electronics waste—TVs, computers and monitors—going to landfills as part of an effort to promote recycling this growing segment of waste.
* Schuylkill Conservation District Recognized for Audenreid Mine Water Project
The Schuylkill County Conservation District was recognized for winning the Governor’s Award for Environmental Excellence for its innovative approach to treating acid mine drainage through the Audenreid Mine Tunnel in Schuylkill County.
* Coldwater Heritage Partnership Accepting Grant Applications
The Coldwater Heritage Partnership announced the opening of the Coldwater Conservation Grants Program to protect and conserve the health of Pennsylvania’s coldwater ecosystems.
* PA Trout Unlimited Awards 13 Trout in the Classroom Grants
The Pennsylvania Council of Trout Unlimited this week announced the award of 13 grants to local Trout Unlimited Chapters and their partner schools around the state to support Trout in the Classroom projects.
* Game Commission Board Approves Tioga County Mine Reclamation Project
The Game Commissioners this week approved a deep-mine daylighting and acid mine drainage abatement project and lease requested by the Department of Environmental Protection on a 30.8-acre parcel of State Game Land 268 in Morris Township, Tioga County.
* DEP Invites Public Comments on TMDLs in Butler, Clarion, Venango Counties
The Department of Environmental Protection is inviting comments on Total Maximum Daily Load Plans for two creeks in Butler, Clarion and Venango counties—
* Volunteers Needed to Help Plant Trees Along Plymouth Creek
The Montgomery County Conservation District is seeking volunteers to help plant trees and shrubs – a riparian buffer – along Plymouth Creek in Montgomery County between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. October 12 and 13. Partial day help is welcome.
* 2007 PA River Sojourn Season a Great Success
The 2007 PA River Sojourn season has come to an end, marking the conclusion of the 7th year where POWR has successfully managed this extremely valuable program with 12 events that hosted approximately 1,400 participants.
* DEP Expands Drought Watch to 53 Counties
The lack of significant rain over most of the Commonwealth during September and this month has prompted the Department of Environmental Protection to expand its drought watch declaration to 53 counties.
* Interstate Agreement Improves Flood Protection, Public Water Supply
New York, New Jersey, Delaware and Pennsylvania have come to an apparent agreement that modifies New York City’s reservoir operations under a new Flexible Flow Management Plan.
* Applications Available for 2008 Environmental Education Grants
The Department of Environmental Protection said this week said applications are now available for the 2008 Environmental Education Grants Program.
* October EE Connections Newsletter Now Online, Enviro Question of the Week Starts
The October issue of the EE Connections newsletter from the Pennsylvania Center for Environmental Education is now available online and the Center starts its popular “Question of the Week” for students and teachers.
* Entires Invited to National Student Radon Poster Contest
Department of Environmental Protection this week encouraged Pennsylvania students, ages nine to 14, to enter a National Radon Poster Contest designed to help raise awareness of radon.
* Philadelphia Group Wins EPA Environmental Justice Grant
The Northern Liberties Neighborhood Association was among the 20 community-based groups nationwide to share in $1 million in Environmental Justice Grants from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency this week.
* More Than 1,100 Acres Aquired by Game Commission
The Game Commission this week approved the acquisition of more than 1,100 acres in Clearfield, Cambria and Somerset counties.
* PUC Disappointed With Federal Ruling on Transmission Corridors
The Public Utility Commission this week expressed disappointment in the decision by the U.S. Department of Energy to finalize its National Interest Electric Transmission Corridor for the Mid-Atlantic region and include 52 out of the state’s 67 counties.
* Penn State, Chevron Launch Energy Alliance to Study Coal Technology
Penn State's expanded initiative in energy sciences and engineering is launching a major research alliance with one of the world's leading integrated energy companies, Chevron Energy Technology Company, to research coal conversion technologies.
* Grants Available for Installation of Energy Efficient Traffic Signals
The Appalachian Regional Commission is accepting proposals from governmental entities at the state, local and regional levels, located within the ARC Region, for replacing incandescent traffic signal lights with energy-efficient LEDs (light emitting diodes) in Appalachian distressed and at-risk counties.
* New Deer Management Brochures Available on Game Commission Website
The Game Commission has developed eight new brochures to help Pennsylvanians learn more about why and how the agency manages deer, and the factors, variables and intangibles that influence this evolving management process.
* Motorists Urged to Watch for Deer When Driving This Fall
Game Commission Executive Director Carl G. Roe warned motorists to slow down after sundown and before sunrise to reduce their risk of having a close encounter with a white-tailed deer.
* Pennsylvania Soil Surveys Now Available on NRCS Website
Soil Information for the entire Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is now available through the Web Soil Survey, thanks to cooperative efforts lead by USDA- Natural Resources Conservation Service and included Penn State University, Department of Environmental Protection and many local governments.
* Speaker O’Brien Hosts Pennsylvania Geospatial Policy Symposium
“Pennsylvania is at the leading edge of geospatial technology,” Speaker of the House Dennis M. O’Brien said when he welcomed more than 80 national experts, business leaders, geospatial practitioners, and county and municipal officials to the first Pennsylvania Geospatial Policy Symposium at the Capitol this week.
* Black Bear Film Festival’s Free ENVIROFEST at Grey Towers Historic Site
The eighth annual Black Bear Film Festival will be held from October 11 to 14 will host a smorgasbord of environmentally-focused films and talks in three venues on the grounds of the Grey Towers Historic Site in Milford, Pa.
* Help Wanted: Forest Entomologist, Green Building Intern, Watershed ED
The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources is seeking a forest entomologist, the Green Building Alliance in Pittsburgh is seeking a graduate student intern and the Nine Mile Run Watershed Association is seeking an executive director. Details below.
* Spotlight - End of Summer Does Not Mean End of Drought
By Paul Swartz, Susquehanna River Basin Commission
* Opinion - Keep the Heat on and the Venom Out
by Rep. Camille "Bud" George
* 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 a final-proposed rulemaking omitted regulation changing the Alternative Fuels Incentive Fund Program and published notice of public hearings on proposed changes to volatile organic compound air quality limits for certain consumer products (PA Bulletin page 5379)..
* Technical Guidance & Permits
No new guidance documents were published this week.
* 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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