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Weekly PA Environment Digest Newsletter
November 30, 2009
(11/30/2009)
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* Civil Service Bumping Puts Final DEP Staff Furloughs At 96
The final number of staff furloughed at the Department of Environmental Protection was reduced to 96 from the initial 138 due to Civil Service rules allowing employees to "bump" into other funded positions throughout the agency.

* Northeast Environmental Partnership Awards Presented For 2009
The Northeast Environmental Partnership and the Pennsylvania Environmental Council recently presented their 19th annual Environmental Partnership Awards at a dinner in Wilkes-Barre.

* Get Daily Updates On PA Environment Daily Blog, Twitter

* Growing Greener Anniversary - Blackleggs Creek Watershed, Montgomery County Conservation District Win Grants
The Blackleggs Creek Watershed Association and the Montgomery County Conservation District won the latest $250 Growing Green Anniversary Grants for posting stories on the GrowingGreener.com website.

* December 20 Deadline For Last Growing Greener Anniversary Grants
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.

* On the Senate/House Agenda/Session Schedule/Bills Introduced

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

* Senate Committee Sets Hearing On DCNR State Forest Drilling, Budget Cuts
The Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee has scheduled a meeting for December 15 at 11:30 to hear from Acting DCNR Secretary John Quigley on the impact of budget cuts on the agency and for a status report on leasing State Forest Land for natural gas drilling.

* House Republicans Name New Committee Chairs At Urban, Intergovernmental Affairs

Two new House Republican committee chairs were named this week to replace Rep. John Perzel who stepped down as Minority Chair of the House Urban Affairs Committee as a result of his indictment.

* November Environmental Synopsis Features Chesapeake Bay TMDL

The Joint Legislative Air and Water Pollution Control and Conservation Committee this week published the November issue of its online Environmental Synopsis newsletter featuring a discussion of the pending TMDL water pollution control plan in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed.

* Keystone Coldwater Conference Set For February 19-20 In State College
The 2010 Keystone Coldwater Conference will be held on February 19-20 in State College. This year the theme is, "Responsible Energy Development: Protecting Our Coldwater Resources."

* Penn State Marcellus Shale Webinar Series Continues On December 17
An ongoing series of monthly, web-based seminars addressing issues surrounding Pennsylvania's Marcellus Shale natural gas boom will continue through the winter.

* PA's Environment Perfect For Post-Apocalyptic Movie - The Road

* PEC Seeking Proposals For Wetland Restoration Project Along Delaware River

* Moon Township Source Water Protection Meeting To Be Held December 2
The Moon Township Municipal Authority will host a Source Water Protection public meeting at 6:30 p.m., December 2.

* Fish Passage Work To Resume At Holtwood Dam
A new shad-friendly expansion at Holtwood Dam on the Susquehanna River, which had been placed on hold, is back on track thanks to the economic stimulus bill passed by Congress earlier this year.

* Friends Of Wissahickon Trail Ambassadors Lead Walks In The Wissahickon

* $1.2 Million In Grants Will Protect, Preserve Pennsylvania’s Coastal Zones

* Volunteers Help Clean Up Two Illegal Dump Sites In Bedford County
Thirty-three dedicated volunteers helped eliminate two illegal dumpsites in Broad Top Township, Bedford County, this fall during two separate volunteer efforts, according to PA CleanWays.

* Penn Eco-Reps Seek To Educate, Change Residents’ Eco-Behavior At Three College Houses
A contingent of University of Pennsylvania students who live in three residence halls and one fraternity house has volunteered to become Eco-Reps, peer-to-peer educators in a program designed to spread awareness among students of sustainability and of Penn’s Climate Action Plan commitments.

* Erie To Pittsburgh Trail Website, Facebook Page Launched
The Pennsylvania Environmental Council and the Erie to Pittsburgh Trail Alliance, a network of organizations supporting the development of the 270-mile trail, just launched a new website and Facebook page.

* Dominion Provides $5,000 Grant For Wildlife Education and Research Center
The Wildlife for Everyone Endowment Foundation has received a $5,000 grant from Dominion for construction of a Wildlife Education and Research Center. The grant was made possible through the Dominion Foundation, the company's philanthropic arm.

* $800 Million Investment In Environmental Improvements At Brunner Island Power Plant
PPL has placed the second of two scrubbers at the Brunner Island power plant in York County, Pa., in service, completing a three-year, $800 million environmental improvement project.

* Get In Holiday Spirit, Save Energy With LED Holiday Lights From PPL

* Montgomery County Community College Offers Sustainable Building Advisor Program
In keeping with the growing demand for green building technology and practices, Montgomery County Community College is offering a nine-month Sustainable Building Advisor Program starting January 2010.

* Philadelphia Housing Authority Opens Warnock Village Green Development

* Consortium Of Universities To Provide Services To National Energy Lab

* Montgomery County Community College Faculty Earn Third Place In National Energy Contest

* Online Video- PA Newsmakers: Electric Service Competition, Marcellus Shale Development
Electric competition, which begins January 1 in the PPL service territory, will transform the electric industry in ways similar to how it transformed the wireless communication industry, according to the Retail Energy Supply Association.

* PPL’s Susquehanna Nuclear Power Plant Granted License Renewal For Another 20 Years

* Over 23,000 Messages Of Support For PA Climate Change Action Plan

* Opportunity To Bid On DEP Projects In Fayette, Luzerne Counties
The Department of Environmental Protection published notices of bid opportunities for a mine subsidence, fire control project in Fayette County and a mine reclamation project in Luzerne County.
* Spotlight- Major Trout Unlimited Fish Habitat Project Complete On Spring Creek, Centre County
By Mark Nale
* Opinion- A Marcellus Shale Call To Action
By George Kutskel, President, Allegheny Mountain Chapter Trout Unlimited
* Feature- A Closer Look At How Marcellus Gas Drilling Affects Our Trout Waters And Our Lives
By Dr. Pete Ryan, President, God's Country Chapter Trout Unlimited
* Feature- Marcellus Shale Natural Gas Drilling: Pipe Dreams In Pennsylvania?
By Rona Kobell, Chesapeake Bay Journal
* Feature- Pennsylvania Towns Often Powerless Against Natural Gas Companies
By Rona Kobell, Chesapeake Bay Journal
* Feature- Natural Gas Drilling - Hard To See PA's Forests Through Their Fragments
By Rona Kobell, Chesapeake Bay Journal
* 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--

* Marcellus Shale NewsClips
Here's a selection of NewsClips on topics related to Marcellus Shale natural gas drilling--

* Watershed NewsClips
Read a sampling of NewsClips on watershed topics from around Pennsylvania.

* Regulations, Technical Guidance & Permits
The Game Commission  published notice of final regulations covering special permits for agricultural deer control permits.
* 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. 

* 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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