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Weekly PA Environment Digest Newsletter
April 6, 2009
(4/3/2009)
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* Campaign For Clean Water: DEP Rollback On Marcellus Shale Drilling Illegal, Irresponsible
Members of the Pennsylvania Campaign for Clean Water said recent actions of the Department of Environmental Protection to stripped County Conservation Districts of their duties to review erosion, sediment, and stormwater control plans for natural gas well drilling sites in the Marcellus Shale formationwere "illegal" and "irresponsible."

* Agriculture Budget Critical To Restoring Water Quality - Video Blog
The Senate Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee heard how critical restoring Department of Agriculture funding is to cleaning up Pennsylvania's watersheds and the Chesapeake Bay at a hearing on the agency'sbudget this week.

* Groups Briefed On Requirements For Green Project Reserve Stimulus Funding - Video Blog
Paul Marchetti, PA Infrastructure Investment Authority, and Department of Environmental Protection staff this week briefed environmental, local government, engineering and other groups on the application requirements for the Green Project Reserve portion of the federal stimulus funding Pennsylvania is to receive.

* Local Governments Urged To Take Advantage Of Stimulus Funds To Conserve Energy

* Video Blog - Stormwater PA Releases New Case Study, Blog On Stormwater Management Solutions
The StormwaterPA website this week unveiled a new blog designed to share information about innovative ways to help reduce and manage stormwater.

* Video Blog - Energy Star Online Video Tips On How To Save Energy Around The Home
You can watch a series of seven online videos from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Energy Star @ Home Program offering energy saving tips for every room of the house.

* On the Senate/House Agenda/Session Schedule/Bills Introduced
The Senate and House are now on Easter break and return to voting session on April 20.
* Senate/House Bills Moving
The following legislation was considered this week--

* Environmental Committee Reports John Hanger Nomination To Full Senate
The Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee this week unanimously reported the Governor's nomination of John Hanger to be Secretary of Environmental Protection to the full Senate for consideration.

* House Committee Hears Comments On Marcellus Shale Drilling, Moves Recycling Fee Bill
The House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee held a mini-hearing on Marcellus Shale drilling and reported three bills out of Committee, including an extension of the $2/ton Recycling Fee, a bill to encourage bioenergy crops on reclaimed mine lands and limits on certain State Park fees.

* Budget And Finance Committee Issues Report On Game Commission
The Legislative Budget and Finance Committee this week issued a report evaluating whether the Game Commission is in compliance with its strategic plan.

* House Subcommittee Examines Severance Tax On Marcellus Shale Natural Gas
The state House Appropriations Subcommittee on Fiscal Policy heard testimony Friday on imposing a severance tax on natural gas that is extracted in the Marcellus shale formation, according to the subcommittee's chairman, Rep. Greg Vitali (D-Delaware).

* Senate Passes Bill To Ensure State Regulations Are Based On Reliable Data
Legislation sponsored by Sen. Ted Erickson (R-Delaware) to help ensure that state regulations are based on reliable data and sound science was unanimously approved by the state Senate this week.

* Senate Republican Policy Committee Holds Hearing On Marcellus Shale Drilling April 9
The Senate Republican Policy Committee will hold a hearing April 9 on Marcellus Shale drilling at the PA College of Technology in Williamsport.

* Robert Hughes Of EPCAMR Recognized With Susquehanna River Basin Honors
The Susquehanna River Basin Commission recently presented the Commission’s sixth William W. Jeanes, Sr. Award for Environmental Excellence to Robert E. Hughes for his commitment and dedication to abandoned mine reclamation and abandoned mine drainage remediation.

* PA Farmers Recognized For Improving Water Quality Destined For Chesapeake Bay
The Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts announced this week that Fountain Farm in Boiling Springs, Cumberland County, Saxe Farms in Dushore, Sullivan County, and Mountain Top Enterprise in Harrison Valley, Potter County, have been named recipients of the 2009 Pennsylvania Chesapeake Bay Clean Water Farm Awards.

* Northeast Environmental Partners Seek Award Nominations
The Northeast Environmental Partners are seeking nominations for the Nineteenth Annual Environmental Partnership Awards and the Fifteenth Annual Thomas P. Shelburne Environmental Leadership Award.

* Susquehanna River Basin Assesses Shortfalls In Rain, Recommends Water Conservation
The Susquehanna River Basin Commission this week convened its interagency Drought Coordination Committee to assess growing impacts to water resources in the Susquehanna basin dususquehane to ongoing precipitation shortfalls.

* Nominations Sought For Wildlands Conservancy’s Friend Of The Lehigh River Awards
Nominations are currently being sought for Wildlands Conservancy’s Friend of the Lehigh River Awards given annually by the organization in acknowledgment of individuals, groups, organizations, businesses, institutions, or governmental bodies who deserve to be recognized for their commitment to preserving, protecting, restoring, and enhancing the Lehigh River and its watershed.

* Chesapeake Bay Small Watershed Grant Applications Due May 1
The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation is now accepting applications for the Chesapeake Bay Small Watershed Grant Program through May 1.

* Tree Planting At The Lands at Hillside Farms, Luzerne County April 9
The Pennsylvania Environmental Council in partnership with the Lands at Hillside Farms will be conducting a streamside tree seedling planting at the Lands at Hillside Farm in Trucksville on April 9 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

* Connecting Communities To Creek Conference Features Managing In Hard Times Workshop
The PA Land Trust Association  Connecting Communities To Creeks Conference has added a new half-day workshop to the scheduled agenda entitled, "Managing In Hard Times: The Economic Downturn and Your Nonprofit."
* Susquehanna River Basin Adopts 2009 Water Resources Program
The Susquehanna River Basin this week announced the availability of its 2009 Water Resources Program that lists projects and facilities to be undertaken by SRBC and other governmental and non-governmental interests to meet the water resource needs of the Susquehanna basin.

* PA Resources Council Holds Rain Barrel/Watershed Awareness Workshops In April, May
The PA Resources Council is sponsoring a series of seven rain barrel and watershed awareness workshops in and around Pittsburgh. The workshops will be held--
* Reminder: American Water Works Association Conference May 5-7
The PA Chapter of the American Water Works Association will hold its annual conference in Pittsburgh May 5-7. Download the conference brochure.

* Academy Of Natural Sciences Features Real Science, Film Exclusive For Earth Day
Find out how clean your local stream is. See the notorious snakehead fish from South Philly. Learn how scientists test crabs for toxic chemicals. Climb aboard a real fish-shocking boat. It's all happening at The Academy of Natural Sciences April 18, for Earth Day.

* Great American Cleanup Of PA Registrations 21 Percent Ahead Of Last Year
PA CleanWays reports groups registering their stream and roadside cleanup events for the Great American Cleanup of PA are 21 percent ahead of last year, and that's not counting events being held by PennDOT's Adopt-A-Highway groups.

* Come Celebrate Earth Day With Watershed Alliance Of York In Glen Rock
The public is invited to come join the Watershed Alliance of York and local citizen volunteers celebrating Earth Day in the Borough of Glen Rock and have the opportunity to help cleanup trash and floating debris along the Codorus Creek and learn what you can do to help protect our Earth. Fun for the whole family!

* COALS Cleanup Completed in Hughestown Borough, Luzerne County
The Cleanup Our American Lands and Streams Program recently completed a successful cleanup in Hughestown Borough, Luzerne County.

* April PA Center For Environmental Education Newsletter Now Available
The April issue of the EE Connections newsletter from the Pennsylvania Center for Environmental Education is now available online. This month's features include:

* GBA Report: Western Pennsylvania Well-Positioned For Green Economic Growth
A comprehensive report issued by the Green Building Alliance in Pittsburgh demonstrates that Western Pennsylvania is still well-positioned for green economic growth and opportunity, but also identifies unmet needs in the region and provides recommendations for future growth.

* More 1-Day Workshops Set To Help Contractors Maximize Energy Work For Homeowners

* Learn To Assemble A Solar Photovoltaic Panel At May 2, May 3 Workshops
The Maine Solar Energy Association and DadSolar.com are sponsoring two one-day workshops on May 2, 3 in Pottstown to teach participants how to assemble a photovoltaic module for producing electricity.

* Air Products' Hydrogen Fueling Technology Powering Forklifts At New Cumberland Depot
Air Products has installed its hydrogen fueling station technology at the Defense Distribution Depot in New Cumberland, Pa. which is now powering an overall fleet of 40 hydrogen fuel cell powered forklifts being used in daily warehouse operations.

* Prices Drop In Fifth Round Of PPL Power Purchases For 2010
The Public Utility Commission this week approved the results of the PPL Electric's fifth round of electricity purchases for residential and small-business customers who do not choose their own supplier. Average prices for residential supply purchases were 19 percent lower than the average price achieved in the first four rounds.

* Pre-Payment Plan Now Available For Met-Ed, Penelec Customers, Earn 7.5% Interest
Metropolitan Edison and Pennsylvania Electric customers now have an opportunity to lower the amount they pay on future electric bills under a program recently approved by the Public Utility Commission.

* Carnegie Mellon Software Engineering Institute And IBM Launch Smart Grid Framework
IBM and a group of leading utilities -- the Global Intelligent Utility Network Coalition-- this week announced that they handed over stewardship of their Smart Grid Maturity Model to the Carnegie Mellon Software Engineering Institute.

* Mansfield Survey Finds Drop In Global Warming Believers In PA
The number of people believing global warming is a problem dropped 5 percent in the last year, according to the 2009 Mansfield University Survey released this week.

* Hardwood Task Force Finds Abundant Low-Use, Poor Quality Wood for Energy Production

* Summit To Focus On Expanding Laurel Highlands Economy Using Natural, Cultural Resources
Community leaders from throughout the Laurel Highlands will meet for a summit later this month to discuss ways to expand the region's economy by capitalizing on its natural and cultural resources.

* 2009 Pennsylvania Greenways and Trails Summit Call For Presentations
Organizers of the 2009 Pennsylvania Greenways and Trails Summitset for September 27-29 issued a call this week for proposals to fill approximately 20 breakout sessions during the event.

* Heritage Health Foundation In Pittsburgh Receives EPA Funding For Environmental Work
Heritage Health Foundation, Inc, a non-profit in Braddock, Pa., is one of 40 organizations across the country to receives federal funding for community-based environmental work.

* EPA Conference To Raise Awareness of PCB Disclosure and Disposal On May 7
Does your company own and operate electronic equipment that contain polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), including transformers? Are you in compliance with PCB environmental regulations? Are you looking for ways to reduce PCBs?

* DEP Bid Opportunity For Mine Water Treatment Plant, Schuylkill County
The Department of Environmental Protection published notice of a bid opportunity for a project involving Rauch Creek mine water treatment plan, Schuylkill County.
* Spotlight - Businesses and Individuals Can Benefit from Conservation Tax Credit
By: Lamonte Garber, Chesapeake Bay Foundation

* Envronmental Heritage - PHMC Launches Year-Long Campaign Reflecting On Energy History, Effects on State
One hundred and fifty years after Edwin Drake drilled the first successful oil well in Titusville, Venango County, the Commonwealth is reflecting on its important role in fueling the nation as part of a year-long public education campaign by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission.

* Feature - Chesapeake Bay Foundation Educators Prepare For Another Watershed Education Season

* 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 published proposed regulations on limiting emissions from adhesives, sealants, primers and solvents. The State Board for Certification of Sewage Enforcement Officers published notice of the 2009 exam schedule for SEOs. The Department of Environmental Protection provided notification of Nutrient Credit Trading, credit generation(PA Bulletin page 1590) and formal notice of the State Water Plan adoption(PA Bulletin page 1591)
* Technical Guidance & Permits
The Department of Environmental Protection published a notice xtending the current general permits for the beneficial use of sewage sludge by land applications and a notice proposing revisions o the general permit for stormwater discharges from municipal separate storm sewer systems. The Public Utility Commission published its order stablishing electric interconnection application fees and interconnection standards under the Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards Act.
* 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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