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Weekly PA Environment Digest Newsletter
March 21, 2011
(3/21/2011)
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* Computer Upgrade May Disrupt March 28 PA Environment Digest Delivery


* Budget: DEP Set To Do Over 40 Percent More Marcellus Shale Inspections This Year

Acting Department of Environmental Secretary Michael Krancer told the House Appropriations Committee his agency is set to do over 7,200 inspections of Marcellus Shale natural gas wells this year, a 44 percent increase over last year.  

* Budget: DCNR Has Not Been Asked To Identify New State Forest Lands For Gas Leasing

Cindy Dunn, Acting Secretary of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, told the House Appropriations Committee DCNR has not been asked to identify new State Forest lands to lease for Marcellus Shale natural gas drilling.

* Budget: WPCAMR: Federal, State Abandoned Mine Reclamation Funding Roundup


* Budget: Cuts To Penn State Would Eliminate 440 Positions In Cooperative Extension

At a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing this week on the 50 percent cut in some higher education line items proposed by Gov. Corbett, the Committee heard testimony on how the cuts to Penn State University would result in significant cutbacks in agricultural research and the Cooperative Extension, which has been particularly valuable in educating the public on issues related to Marcellus Shale natural gas development

* Poll: 62 Percent Of Voters Support Adoption Of Marcellus Shale Severance Tax


* First Meeting Of Governor's Marcellus Shale Advisory Commission March 25


* Senate/House Agenda/Session Schedule/Bills Introduced


* Budget: Revenue Secretary Defends Lack Of Marcellus Shale Severance Tax

* Budget: PUC Questioned On Competitive Markets, Pipeline Safety, AEPS

Public Utility Commission Chair Robert Powelson was joined by fellow Commissioners John Coleman, Tyrone Christy, Wayne Gardner and James Cawley before the House and Senate Appropriations Committees this week to answer questions on their FY 2011-12 budget request.

* Budget: Copies Of Agency Budget Testimony Available


* AG Charges SW Business With Dumping Millions Of Gallons Of Drilling, Other Wastewater

Agents from the Attorney General's Environmental Crimes Section this week filed criminal charges against a Greene County business owner and his company, who are accused of illegally dumping millions of gallons of waste water across southwestern Pennsylvania - including production water from gas drilling operations, sludge from sewage treatment plants and grease water from restaurants that cannot enter normal sewage systems.

* USDA Study Finds 80% Of Chesapeake Bay Farms Have High, Moderate Conservation Needs


* PA Farm Bureau: EPA Chesapeake Bay TMDL Regulations Threaten Agriculture

America’s farmers are being challenged by an onslaught of regulations and other requirements being issued by the Environmental Protection Agency, according to PA Farm Bureau President Carl Shaffer, who testified this week on behalf of the American Farm Bureau Federation before a U.S. House Agriculture subcommittee.

* Spotlight- Penn State: Conewago Creek May Hold Key For Cleaning Up Chesapeake Bay

As Pennsylvania streams go, Conewago Creek in Dauphin, Lebanon and Lancaster counties is really nothing special. But remember the name, because it could hold the key to cleaning up the Chesapeake Bay.

* EPA, WV Fine Consol $5.5 Million For Dunkard Creek Water Violations


* Elk County Forming Senior Environment Corps


* DEP Invites Comments On Franklin, Lancaster Watershed TMDLs


* Wissahickon Watershed Spring Walk March 27

Bring a friend and join the Wissahickon Valley Watershed Association for a spring walk in the Upper Wissahickon on March 27 at 1:00 p.m.

* Chesapeake Bay Foundation Seeking Entries To 2011 Save The Bay Photo Contest


* Join Friends Of Wissahickon At Valley Green Inn For Feastahickon March 30


* Endocrine Disruptors And The Susquehanna River Presentation March 29


* PA American Water Produces New Video Offering Water-Saving Tips


* PA-AWWA Sponsors Residential Sprinkler, Valve Workshops June 9 In Lansdale


* Farmers Market BMP Workshop In Cumberland County March 29


* Corbett Tours Lycoming County Gas Well Service Company


* Northeast Marcellus Shale Gas Symposium May 17-18


* Still Time To Register Your Great American Cleanup PA Event, Free Waste Disposal

There is still time to register your cleanup event and get free waste disposal by going to the Great American Cleanup PA website.

* Watershed Alliance Of York Sponsors Cleanup On March 26


* Volunteers Needed For ClearWater Conservancy Watershed Cleanup Day April 23


* Centre County Offers Schools Free Recycling Presentations


* PROP Names JoAnna Humprhreys New Education Manager


* Winter Issue Of Beautiful Newsletter Now Available From Keep PA Beautiful

The Winter issue of Beautiful, a newsletter from Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful features on the Great  American Cleanup Pennsylvania and the annual volunteer recognition dinner by KPB.

* PepsiCo Develops First 100 Percent Plant-Based PET Bottle

Building upon its heritage as an innovator and leader in environmental sustainability, PepsiCo this week announced it has developed the world's first PET plastic bottle made entirely from plant-based, fully renewable resources, enabling the company to manufacture a beverage container with a significantly reduced carbon footprint.

* Philadelphia Ranks 14th In Number Of Green Buildings


* Swarthmore Among Top Five In EPA's Green Power Community Challenge At Mid-Point


* EPA Recognizes Saint-Gobain With Energy Star Sustained Excellence Award


* Sunoco Wins EPA Energy Star Sustained Excellence Award


* Free Energy Assessments From PPL To Help Nonprofits, Churches


* Met-Ed, Penelec, Penn Power Launch Home Energy Makeover Contest


* PennPower Completes Purchase Of Renewable Energy Credits


* DPW Extends Deadline For Applying For LIHEAP Energy Assistance


* PA Electric Power Generation Assn. Electricity Markets Initiative Conference April 12

The PA Electric Power Generation Association and its partners are sponsoring an Electricity Markets Initiative Conference on April 12 at the Public Utility Commission offices in Hearing Room 1, Keystone Building, Harrisburg.

* Southeast Air Quality Partnership To Host Lawn Mower Trade-In Event May 7


* PEMA: Japan’s Nuclear Plant Crisis Poses No Present Risk to Pennsylvania Residents


* Feature- Remembering The Accident At Three Mile Island, 3:53 a.m., March 28, 1979

At 3:53 a.m., March 28, 1979, the cascading failures of valves, pumps, gauges and reactor operators combined to produce the worst accident in the U.S. commercial nuclear power industry.

* Yellow Creek State Park Reduces its Carbon Footprint By 20 Percent


* DCNR Offers Federally Funded Grants To Help Volunteer Firefighters


* State Grants Available For Business Signs In PA Wilds


* Peregrine Falcons In Harrisburg, Pittsburgh In A Family Way

This week the peregrine falcons in Harrisburg and Pittsburgh began laying their eggs marking the beginning of nesting season.

* DCNR Trails Effort Aids Cavity-Nesting Species


* Opportunity To Bid On DEP Mine Subsidence Project

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice of an opportunity to bid on a mine subsidence project in Clearfield County.

* Kathleen Paul Steps Down As Head Of PA Center For Environmental Education

Kathleen Paul this week announced she is stepping down as Director of the PA Center for Environmental Education after five years of service.

* Help Wanted: Earth Force Pittsburgh Seeks Program Manager


* Grants & Awards

This section gives you a heads up on upcoming deadlines for awards and grants and other recognition programs. NEW means new from last week.

* Quick Clips

 

* Marcellus Shale NewsClips

 

* Watershed NewsClips


* Regulations, Technical Guidance & Permits


* Calendar Of Events

Upcoming legislative meetings, conferences, workshops, plus links to other online calendars. Meetings are in Harrisburg unless otherwise noted.  NEW means new from last week.  Go to the online Calendar webpage.

* Stories Invited


* Stories Invited-Supporting Member PA Outdoor Writers/PA Trout Unlimited

PA Environment Digest is a supporting member of the Pennsylvania Outdoor Writers AssociationPennsylvania Council Trout Unlimited and the Doc Fritchey Chapter Trout Unlimited.

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