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Weekly PA Environment Digest Newsletter
February 25, 2008
(2/22/2008)
PDF Version - PA Environment Digest 2/25/08
* Groups Say Funding Needed to Cleanup PA Waters Going to Chesapeake Bay
The Senate Republican Policy Committee this week held a hearing on the cost of cleaning up Pennsylvania’s waterways to meet federal Clean Water Act nutrient reduction requirements for the Chesapeake Bay and noted their disappointment with Gov. Rendell for not including funding for the initiative in his proposed budget.
* On the Senate/House Agenda
The Senate and House will return to voting session the week of March 10. The Senate and House will hold hearings on Gov. Rendell’s proposed budget in the interim.
* County Conservation Districts Present Budget Concerns to House Appropriations
MaryAnn Warren, Second Vice-President of the Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts testified this week before the House Appropriations Committee concerning funding for the 66 Pennsylvania conservation districts.
* Professional Geologists Urge Restoration of Funding for Digital Mapping
The Pennsylvania Council of Professional Geologists is urging its members and users of the state’s digital mapping program PA MAP to contact their legislators to restore funding for what they said is a vital state program.
* February Edition of Environmental Synopsis Now Online
The February edition of the Environmental Synopsis newsletter published by the Joint Legislative Air and Water Pollution Control and Conservation Committee is now online.
* 60 PA Hunting, Angler Groups Ask for Action on Climate Change – Video Blog
At a special ceremony this week in Harrisburg, Ed Perry, PA Outreach Consultant for the National Wildlife Federation, praised the 60 hunting and angler groups in Pennsylvania that have signed a letter calling on Congress to pass federal legislation to address the issue of global warming.
* Mercer County Company Saves Over $500,000 in Energy Costs
Joy Cone, a Mercer County-based company that makes ice cream cones, recently saved more than $500,000 in energy costs due to recommendations made by Penn State's Pennsylvania Technical Assistance Program and The Energy Management Institute.
* Workshop on Environmental, Safety Issues Facing Contractors, Engineers March 5
The 14th annual Northeast Regional Contractors/Engineers Workshop will be held from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., on March 5, at Keystone College, Route 6, in LaPlume, Lackawanna County.
* Society of Women Environmental Professionals Conference in Harrisburg
The Society of Women Environmental Professionals Capital Chapter’s “Making Environmental Connections” conference is slated for March 6 at Harrisburg Area Community College’s C. Ted Lick Wildwood Conference Center.
* Grants by Greater Philadelphia Society of Women Environmental Professionals
The Greater Philadelphia Chapter of the Society of Women Environmental Professionals is now accepting applications for its 2008 Environmental Grant Program to help fund organizations or programs that creatively address local environmental issues.
* Trash Challenge Forces Participants to Lug Their Weekly Trash
Edna Baehre, Ph.D., president of HACC—Central Pennsylvania’s Community College, Douglas Neidich, CEO of Powers & Associates, and Kimberly Hummel, chair of the Society of Women Environmental Professionals (Capital Chapter) will take part in The Trash Challenge where they get to carry around the trash they generate over a week to dramatize the environmental impact of garbage.
* Lancaster Solid Waste Management Authority Achieves ISO 14001 Certification
The Lancaster County Solid Waste Management Authority’s integrated solid waste management system has earned ISO 14001 certification from the international certification body Lloyd’s Register Quality Assurance Ltd for its environmental management system.
* Youth Bass Anglers Conservation School Invites Students to Apply
Interested young anglers from across the state are invited to register, beginning March 1, for the Bass Anglers Conservation School, Pennsylvania's unique learning experience for young students with a passion for fishing and a thirst for warm-water fishery knowledge.
* Applications Now Being Accepted for Boating Facilities Grant Program
The Fish and Boat Commission is now encouraging county and municipal governments interested in the planning, acquisition, development, expansion, or rehabilitation of public boating facilities to apply for funding through the Boating Facility Grant Program.
* Save the Date: West Branch Susquehanna Restoration Symposium July 18-19
The 2008 West Branch Susquehanna Restoration Symposium will be held on July 18-19 at the Nittany Lion Inn, State College, Pa.
* Pennsylvania Reduces Toxic Chemical Releases by 3.3 Million Pounds
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency this week released the 2006 Toxics Release Inventory which reports Pennsylvania reduced its toxic releases by 3.3 million pounds between 2005 and 2006.
* Goldschmidt Industrial Chemicals Latest EPA Performance Track Member
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced this week that Goldschmidt Industrial Chemical Corp. of McDonald, Pa is one of 42 new members of EPA’s Performance Track Program bringing total membership nationwide to over 500.
* New Brownfield Environmental Covenants Law Now In Effect
The new Uniform Environmental Covenants Act became effective this week that is designed to give residents and businesses greater confidence that protective measures required as part of the state's contaminated sites cleanup program will stay in place, even after properties change hands and over long periods of time.
* Pittsburgh OKs Environmental Charter School at Frick Park
Pittsburgh Public Schools this week approved a new charter application for The Environmental Charter School at Frick Park…An Imagine School.
* Students Can Tackle Real Environmental Problem in New Challenge Competition
As part of its 101st Annual Conference & Exhibition, the Pittsburgh-based Air & Waste Management Association is challenging undergraduate and graduate students to try their hand at solving the types of environmental questions faced by professionals in the industry.
* Help Wanted: PRC Eastern Regional Director
The Pennsylvania Resources Council is seeking a Regional Director for its eastern office located in Ridley Creek State Park in Delaware County.
* Spotlight - Chesapeake Bay Foundation: More Funding Needed to Cleanup PA Waters
Kim Patten, Pennsylvania Deputy Director of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, provided comments to the Senate Republican Policy Committee this week on the funding needs for cleaning up Pennsylvania’s waterways leading to the Chesapeake Bay. Here are her comments--
* Spotlight - Nutrient Credit Trading Valuable Tool to Reduce Water Quality Cleanup Costs
Brian Hill, President & CEO of the Pennsylvania Environmental Council, and Matthew Ehrhart, Senior Vice President for Watersheds & Working Lands, provided the Senate Republican Policy Committee this week with an overview of their work on the nutrient credit trading program in Pennsylvania. Here are their comments—
* Grants & Awards
This section gives you a heads up on upcoming deadlines for grants and financial assistance as well as nominations for awards and other recognition programs. NEW means from last 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 Environmental Quality Board this week approved proposed regulations setting NOx emission standards for cement kilns and glass furnaces, adopted a final rulemaking streamlining air quality permits and accepted a petition to redesignate the Loyalsock Creek, Lycoming County for study. The EQB provided notice of these other actions--
* Technical Guidance & Permits
The Department of Environmental Protection published notice of a change in the formula used to calculate long-term water supply replacement costs related to mining operations.
* Calendar of Upcoming Events
Upcoming conferences, meetings, workshops, plus links to other online calendars. Meetings are in Harrisburg unless otherwise noted. NEW indicates new from last week. 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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