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Weekly PA Environment Digest Newsletter
October 19, 2009
(10/19/2009)
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* Environmental Groups, DEP, DCNR See Severe Impacts From Unprecedented Budget Cuts
The full impact of the dramatic cuts and diversions of environmental funding made in the FY 2009-10 budget adopted last week were highlighted this week by a number of groups. The departments of Agriculture, Environmental Protection and Conservation and Natural Resources are also now in the process of evaluating the staff and service reductions the cuts mandate.

* Chesapeake Bay Foundation: Cuts Mean Potential Collapse Of Environmental Oversight In PA

* PEC: Budget Dramatically Shifts Resources Away From Environmental Protection

* PennEnvironment: Budget Deal Ravages Environmental Programs
As the dust settles in Harrisburg after a contentious 101-day budget fight, PennEnvironment called the outcome "disastrous" for conservation programs and the Commonwealth’s environment.

* Farm Bureau Says State Budget Is Mixed Outcome For Agriculture, REAP Cut

* Get Daily Updates On PA Environment Daily Blog, Twitter

* Video Blog- Make A Splash In The Brandywine Watershed!
The Brandywine Valley Association put together this promotional video on all the activities and programs the Association sponsors in the Brandywine Watershed in Chester County, Pa.

* Growing Greener Anniversary Grant Applications Due October 20

The Growing Greener Watershed Restoration Program will be ten years old in December and to help celebrate 10 groups have come together to invite watershed groups to share their success stories on a special Growing Greener website.

* Feature- Trout Unlimited Angles On Natural Gas Impacts
By Sandy Long, The River Reporter
* Online Training- Webinar On Deer Impacts On Forests October 21

* On the Senate/House Agenda/Session Schedule

Here's the latest session schedule, Senate and House Calendars and Committee schedules--

* Pittsburgh Selected North American Host City For World Environment Day 2010
The United Nations Environment Programme has named Pittsburgh the host city for World Environment Day 2010 in North America. The theme is “Biodiversity: Connecting with Nature.”

* DEP Detects Total Dissolved Solids Over Standards In Monongahela River

* Cherry Valley Watershed Story Featured In New WVIA Documentary October 25
The Friends of the Cherry Valley Watershed are proud to announce the premier of "Our Uncommon Valley," a new documentary produced by WVIA public television in Wilkes-Barre on October 25 at the Pocono Community Theater in East Stroudsburg, Pa.

* Rep. Eachus Raises Concerns About New Hazleton Dredge Project

* Chesapeake Energy Recognized By EPA As Natural Gas STAR Partner Of The Year

* DEP: Cabot Oil and Gas Corp. May Resume Hydro Fracking Gas Wells In Susquehanna County
The Department of Environmental Protection this week granted Cabot Oil and Gas Corp. approval to resume hydro fracturing operations on gas wells in Susquehanna County after the company complied with the terms of a September 24 order to cease such work there.

* Implications For Water Resources From Gas Drilling Workshop In Wayne, Pike Oct. 28
On October 28 the Lackawaxen River Conservancy will host “Gas Drilling in Wayne and Pike - Implications for Water Resources” at the Wayne County Chamber of Commerce at 32 Commercial Street at 7:00 p.m. in Honesdale, Pa.

* PA Land Trust Association Now Accepting Nominations For Awards
The PA Land Trust Association is now accepting nominations for two awards- the Conservation Lifetime Leadership and Conservation Government Leadership Awards.

* Pennsylvania Trail Information Offered On Interactive Website
The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources has launched a first-of-its-kind website to help people search, view, map and share information on the thousands of miles of trails in Pennsylvania at www.ExplorePAtrails.com.

* Save Date: 2010 Wildlife Leadership Academy July 6-10
The Pennsylvania Institute for Conservation Education will hold its 2010 Wildlife Leadership Academy for young people ages 14 to 17 July 6-10

* DEP Cleanup Order Allows Former Brookville Gas Station To Become Public Park
The Department of Environmental Protection has executed a consent order and agreement that allows the transfer of property in downtown Brookville from Selker Brothers, Inc. to Historic Brookville, Inc. for the development of a public park.

* PA CleanWays Schedules Illegal Dump Training Courses In November
In conjunction with the Department of Environmental Protection and the PA State Association of Township Supervisors, PA CleanWays has scheduled illegal dump cleanup training courses throughout the month of November at various locations across the state.

* Philadelphia Mayor Nutter Receives Sustainable Leadership Award
The Portland Cement Association this week presented Philadelphia's Mayor Nutter with the prestigious Sustainable Leadership Award, at the BuildGreen 2009 conference.

* EPA: Cap And Trade Program Lowers Smog Levels In Eastern United States
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency released a report this week showing more than 103 million Americans breathe cleaner air thanks to a cap and trade program that reduces smog-forming emission of Nitrogen Oxides.

* Exelon CEO Says Cap-and-Trade Approach To Carbon Emissions Is Best For Economy
In a keynote address this week at the PennFuture Southeast Global Warming Conference in Penn Valley, Pa., Exelon Chairman and CEO John W. Rowe said cap-and-trade is the best approach for addressing global warming while sustaining an economic recovery.

* Gov. Rendell Invites Comments On DEP Climate Action Plan

* Pittsburgh Installs First Of Five Solar Hot Water Panels

* Small Businesses Receive Grants For Sustainable Energy Projects
The Sustainable Energy Fund selected seven Pennsylvania businesses for awards in support of sustainable energy projects.

* Hydropower Represents Incredible Untapped Energy Potential, Could Create Thousands of Jobs

* Governor Again Calls For Adoption Of A Green Building Code
Gov. Rendell this week again called on the General Assembly to adopt a green building code to promote energy conservation and green building practices that will stimulatethe economy and help curb emissions of greenhouse gases.
* Energy Conservation Plans Approved For Allegheny Power, PECO, PPL

* PUC Releases Updated Comparison Of Current Electric Market Prices With Capped Prices
According to estimates released by the Public Utility Commission this week, the current market price for electricity trended upward this quarter by about 2 percent for residential consumers when compared to the June electric price estimates.

* 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, Environmental Hearing Board, Department of Environmental Protection and the Public Utility Commission all published rulemaking notices this week.  Details below--
* Technical Guidance & Permits
The Department of Environmental Protection  published notice of proposed changes to the Erosion and Sediment Control Best Management Manual and a final Waste Derived Liquid Fuels guidance document.  The Department of Public Welfare  published notice of the availability of the 2010 Low-Income Home Energy Assistance State Plan.
* 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 

* Stories Invited

Send your stories about environmental issues, programs and positive actions to PA Environment Digest - DHess@CrisciAssociates.com. 

* PA Environment Digest Family Of Websites

* Supporting Member PA Outdoor Writers Assn./PA Trout Unlimited

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