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Brubaker, Musto: Senate Infrastructure Bill Should Be Expanded – Video Blog
At a meeting of the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee this week, Sen. Mike Brubaker (R-Lancaster) and Sen. Ray Musto (D-Luzerne) said Senate Bill 2 (Earll-R-Erie), a Senate Republican infrastructure proposal, should be expanded to help fund nutrient reduction by farmers and at wastewater plants and to eliminate combined sewer overflows.
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Phosphate Detergent Ban Expanded to Help Improve Water Quality
Gov. Rendell this week signed legislation sponsored by Sen. Mike Brubaker (R-Lancaster) to expand the ban on phosphate detergents statewide to improve water quality.
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New Federal Farm Bill Promises Aid, But PA Farmers Need $600 M for Cleanup
Congress this week passed a new federal Farm Bill that would provide $440 million in additional farm conservation funding divided between the three states in the Chesapeake Bay region, but Pennsylvania farmers alone will need an estimated $600 million to comply with nutrient reduction requirements, according to the Department of Environmental Protection.
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Rep. Perry, 40 Co-Sponsors, Introduce Chesapeake Bay Nutrient Reduction Plan
Rep. Scott Perry (R-Cumberland) and 40 bipartisan co-sponsors introduced legislation this week to make state government a partner in helping sewer system ratepayers and farmers meet federal and state mandates to reduce nutrients going into Pennsylvania’s streams and rivers.
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Participants Urged to Register for Upcoming Water Infrastructure Meetings
The Governor’s Sustainable Water Infrastructure Task Force is encouraging residents, business owners, farmers and local government officials to pre-register to provide comments at an upcoming series of public meetings to hear about their water infrastructure needs.
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On the Senate/House Agenda/Session Schedule/Bills Introduced
Here’s what’s coming up on the Senate and House agenda for next week, as well as the voting session schedule through June 30.
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On the Governor’s Desk
The Governor signed the following environmental bill into law this week—
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Senate and House Bills Moving
These bills of interested were the subject of action by the Senate and House this week-
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Bill to Improve Deep Mine Safety Approved By House, Returns to Senate
The House this week voted 182 to 13 to approve Senate Bill 949 (Kasunic-D-Somerset) updating the Bituminous Coal Mine Safety Act to, in part, prevent accidents like the one that occurred in the Quecreek Mine in 2002.
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House Committee Approves Landfill Siting, Forestry, River Basin Bills
The House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee this week reported out legislation establishing additional landfill siting criteria, reestablishing the Forestry Task Force and requesting federal funding for river basin commissions.
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Senate Committee Holds Hearing on Energy Efficiency, Demand Side Management
The Senate Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure Committee held a hearing this week on energy efficiency and demand side management programs, how they should be paid for and how to measure their effectiveness.
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Budget and Finance Committee Audit of Fish & Boat Commission Released
The Legislative Budget and Finance Committee this week officially released the results of its performance audit of the Fish and Boat Commission saying the agency was implementing the strategic plan it developed and made recommendations for some changes to law and procedures.
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May Issue of Environmental Synopsis Now Available
The Joint Legislative Air and Water Pollution Control and Conservation Committee May Environmental Synopsis newsletter is now available online.
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RC&D Councils, Terry Rightnour Receive 2008 Karl Mason Award
The PA Association of Environmental Professionals presented the 2008 Karl Mason Award to the PA Association of Resource Conservation and Development Councils and Terry A. Rightnour of Waters Edge Hydrology, Inc. during their annual conference last week.
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PA CleanWays Westmoreland County Cleanup Nets 6.5 Tons of Trash
On May 3 volunteers organized by PA CleanWays and PA CleanWays of Cambria County cleaned up over 6.5 tons of trash along Patterson Road in Barr Township, Cambria County.
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DEP Invites Comments on Upper Wissakickon Creek Management Plan
The Department of Environmental Protection is inviting comments on the proposed management plan for the Upper Wissakickon Creek Watershed in Montgomery County. (PA Bulletin page 2335)
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Learn How to Save Energy at Outdoor Lighting Workshops for Municipal Planners
The Pennsylvania Outdoor Lighting Council and the departments of Environmental Protection and Conservation and Natural Resources are sponsoring two additional workshops on reducing the impacts of outdoor lighting.
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Energy Management Workshop May 22 in Northampton County to Help Businesses
On May 22 the Department of Environmental Protection will sponsor a free workshop in Northampton County to help business owners find ways to reduce energy costs.
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Motor System “Best Practices” Workshop, Energy Reduction Grants Available
Businesses, institutions and municipalities can learn to reduce energy use while improving system reliability by attending the U.S. Department of Energy’s full-day Motor System Management workshop June 11 at Northampton Community College’s Alumni Hall Room 130D in Bethlehem, Lehigh County.
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Lehigh County Plan to Cut Energy Consumption, Reduce Carbon Footprint
Lehigh County this week announced a major plan to reduce energy consumption and improve the county’s carbon footprint by County facilities.
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DEP Reminds Pennsylvanians to Stay Out of Mines, Quarries
The idle equipment, steep cliffs, serene pools of water and mysterious shaft openings of active and abandoned mines can be alluring for adventure seekers, but many times are deadly, according to Department of Environmental Protection.
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Abraham Lincoln to Attend Professional Recyclers of PA Conference in July
The Professional Recyclers of PA will be hosting one of Gettysburg, Pa’s “most recognized” residents in nationally-renowned Lincoln actor and Lincoln historian, James A. Getty during the 18th Annual Recycling and Composting Conference- “Three (almost as) Famous Days” in Gettysburg.
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LCL Industries, Inc. to Recycle Glass Into Water Filtration Media
30,000 tons of recycled glass will be used to make an advanced water filtration media by LCL Industries, Inc., a Schuylkill County business that just announced its operations this week.
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DEP to Hold Compliance Workshop for Scrap Metal, Automotive Recyclers
The Department of Environmental Protection will conduct a free environmental compliance workshop for scrap metal recycling businesses and automotive recyclers on May 20 in Philipsburg, Centre County.
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DCNR to Hold Informational Session on New Nature Inn at Bald Eagle State Park
The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources will hold an open house on May 28 to provide information about the 16-room nature inn to be built at Bald Eagle State Park in Centre County.
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Network of Trails, Walkways Beckon Pennsylvanians During Hiking Week
Hikers have more than a 100 choices to pick their path and pace to get exercise and explore Pennsylvania's bountiful outdoors during the statewide Hiking Week celebration, May 24 to June 1.
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Game Commission Opens Wildlife Media Resource Center, Business Center
The Game Commission opened two new sections on its website this week, a Wildlife Media Resource Center and an online Business Center.
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Citizens Advisory Council to DEP Spring Advisory Newsletter Now Online
The Citizens Advisory Council to the Department of Environmental Protection this week published its Spring 2008 Advisory newsletter outlining Council initiatives.
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DEP Employees Recognized By Governor For Excellence
Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Kathleen A. McGinty this week congratulated William Feher, of Luzerne County, and Richard Beam, of Somerset County, for winning a Governor’s Award for Excellence.
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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—
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Quick Clips
Here’s a selection of NewsClips on environmental topics from around the state
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Watershed NewsClips
Read a sampling of NewsClips on watershed topics from around Pennsylvania.
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Regulations
The Department of Environmental Protection gave notice this week on the emission reduction credit amnesty deadline of May 19, proposed Phase I nontradable mercury allowance allocations and changes to list of companies certified to perform radon-related activities (PA Bulletin page 2331). The Environmental Quality Board published final amendments to Radiological Health regulations.
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Technical Guidance & Permits
No new guidelines were published this week.
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Calendar of 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
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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 .
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Supporting Member PA Outdoor Writers Assn/PA Trout Unlimited
PA Environment Digest is a supporting member of the Pennsylvania Outdoor Writers Association, Pennsylvania Trout Unlimited and the Doc Fritchey Chapter Trout Unlimited.
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04/22/24 - 117 New Stories - REAL Environmental & Conservation Leadership In PA: http://tinyurl.com/9bh4zbtr
