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Weekly PA Environment Digest Newsletter
June 25, 2012
(6/25/2012)
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* Republicans Agree On A General Funding Spend Number, Now The Hard Part

Senate and House Republicans and Gov. Corbett Wednesday announced an agreement on a General Fund spend number-- $27.656 billion, taking the first major step toward resolving their differences over largest portion of the state budget.

* Senate/House Agenda/Session Schedule/Bills Introduced

Here are the Senate and House Calendars and Committee meetings showing bills of interest as well as a list of new environmental bills introduced--

* Governor's Desk

The following bills were given final approval by the Senate and House and now go to the Governor for his action--

* Senate/House Bills Moving

The following bills of interest saw action this week in the House and Senate--

* Senate Committee OKs Bill Expanding Vehicle Emission Inspection Exemptions

Senate Bill 1532 (Vogel-R-Beaver) which Sen. Vogel explained would exempt light passenger vehicles ten years old or newer and alternative fuel vehicles from the vehicle emissions inspection program was reported out of the Senate Transportation Committee Tuesday and is now on the Senate Calendar for action.

* PA Biomass Energy Assn Presents Before Joint Conservation Committee

The PA Biomass Energy Association on Monday told the state’s Joint Legislative Air and Water Pollution Control and Conservation Committee that sustainable biomass has an important role to play in an “all of the above” energy policy for Pennsylvania’s future.

* Rep. White Bill To Create Non-Taxpayer Funded Ethane Cracker Incentives

Rep. Jesse White (D-Washington) announced the introduction of House Bill 2493 to attract the global gas company Royal Dutch Shell to Pennsylvania, but without the use of any taxpayer dollars.

* June Environmental Synopsis Available From Joint Conservation Committee

The June issue of the Environmental Synopsis newsletter is now available from the Joint Air and Water Pollution Control and Conservation Committee.

* Ralph W. Abele Historical Marker To Be Unveiled July 17

Ralph W. Abele, the late Executive Director of the PA Fish and Boat Commission, will be honored with a State Historic Marker from the PA Historical and Museum Commission on July 17 at 2:00 p.m. at the Commission headquarters building at 1601 Elmerton Ave. in Harrisburg.

* Wildlands Conservancy Recognizes 2012 Friends Of The Lehigh River

The recipients of Wildlands Conservancys 2012 Friend of the Lehigh River Awards are: Mario Spangoletti, member of the Whitehall Township Environmental Advisory Council; Tom Shive, retired Central Catholic High School teacher and champion for the school’s EnviroMentor program; and the Hokendauqua Chapter #535 of Trout Unlimited.

* PennVEST, DEP Announce Results Of Nutrient Credit Trading Auction

The PA Infrastructure Investment Authority and the Department of Environmental Protection, along with financial information services company Markit, Monday reported the results of the second “forward” auction of 2012 for nutrient credits in Pennsylvania’s Chesapeake Bay watershed.

* Penn State Extension Offers Water Resource Fact Sheets

The Penn State Extension Water Resources Team has recently released two new water related fact sheets. The fact sheets are quick reference guides to help Private Water Supply Owners understand water supply problems and common water testing parameters in Pennsylvania.

* CREP Landowner Workshop Set For July 12 In Dauphin County

The Capital Resource Conservation & Development Area Council and the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay will hold a field day July 12 in Lykens, Dauphin County focused on practical information to help landowners manage riparian forest buffers.

* DEP Invites Comments On Panther Creek TMDL In Carbon, Schuylkill Counties

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice of an opportunity to comment on a proposed Total Maximum Daily Load plan for Panther Creek in Carbon and Schuylkill counties. (PA Bulletin page 3690)

* Source Water Protection Workshop On June 26 In Lawrence County

The Water Resources Education Network and its partners will hold a Source Water Protection Workshop on June 26 starting at 6:00 p.m. at the Bessemer Fire Hall, Bessemer, Pa.

* DEP Citizens Advisory Council Comments On DEP Longwall Mining Impact Report

On June 6, the Citizens Advisory Council to DEP issued comments on the 2003-2008 5-year report on the effects of subsidence resulting from longwall coal mining on surface structures and water resources required by Act 54 of 1994.

* Register Now: PA Abandoned Mine Reclamation Conference August 2-4

The Eastern and Western Pennsylvania Coalitions for Abandoned Mine Reclamation invite you to register now for the 14th Annual PA Abandoned Mine Reclamation Conference, August 2-4 at the Ramada Inn and Conference Center, State College, PA.

* SRBC Extends Public Comment Period On Low Flow Protection Policy

The Susquehanna River Basin Commission published a notice June 23 extending the comment period on its proposed low flow protection policy to July 16.

* DEP Publishes Advance Final Rule Setting Ultra Low Sulfur Fuel Oil Standards

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice of an advanced final rule for comment setting standards for ultra low sulfur fuel oil.

* Mayor Provides Greenworks Philadelphia Progress Report

Mayor Michael A. Nutter and the Mayor’s Office of Sustainability released the Greenworks Philadelphia Update and 2012 Progress Report, marking the midway point in the plan’s goal for Philadelphia to be the greenest city in America by 2015.

* EPA Welcomes Philadelphia As Green Power Community Partner

EPA Regional Administrator Shawn M. Garvin Wednesday welcomed the City of Philadelphia as a new member of EPA’s national Green Power Communities initiative, showing that a major metropolitan area can reduce its carbon pollution, improve public health, and help expand the nation’s renewable energy supply.

* PROP Extends Deadline For 2012 Recycling Film Festival Entries

Once again this year the Professional Recyclers of PA is sponsoring their Recycling Film Festival in conjunction with PROP's Annual Recycling and Composting Conference on July 25-27 in Philadelphia.  The deadline for entries has been extended to July 16.

* Construction To Begin On Susquehanna-Roseland Power Line

Pre-construction activities for the Susquehanna-Roseland regional power line project will begin in the Scranton area in mid-July, PPL Electric Utilities said Wednesday with line construction expected to start later this year.

* Heritage Conservancy Recognizes Local Individuals, Groups

The Heritage Conservancy hosted its annual member appreciation and donor recognition event on June 14, at historic Aldie Mansion in Doylestown, Bucks County. Beautiful weather complimented the organization’s “Garden Party,” which included a cocktail reception on the mansion’s terrace followed by an awards ceremony.

* Hawk Mountain Receives Grant For Raptor Care

Hawk Mountain Sanctuary, Kempton, Pa, has received a $6,866 grant from the Gloria M. Young Ornithological Fund of The Philadelphia Foundation to support the care and maintenance of its four resident live raptors: a red-tailed hawk, a screech owl, an American kestrel and a great-horned owl.

* Reminder: Pocono Forest & Waters Conservation Grant Apps Due July 15

Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Richard Allan Thursday reminded groups applications are due July 15 for the Pocono Forest and Waters Conservation Landscape Conservation Assistance Program.

* Apply Now For State Wildlife Grants To Benefit Endangered Mussel

Fish and Boat Commission Executive Director John Arway Friday announced an invitation for project applications to the State Wildlife Grant Program. These projects will help address conservation needs for a high-priority conservation project for a Pennsylvania endangered mussel, the Eastern Pearlshell.

* PA Angler & Boater Magazine To Feature Limited-Edition Ned Smith Prints

For the first time in its 81-year history, the Fish & Boat Commission’s flagship periodical Pennsylvania Angler & Boater is providing a limited-edition series of fine art prints by acclaimed wildlife artist Ned Smith.

* Corbett Creates Sunset Task Force To Review Existing Boards, Commissions

On June 23 Gov. Corbett published notice of Executive Order 2012-09 issued on May 11 creating a Sunset Task Force to review existing boards and commissions created by executive order or statute under the control of the Governor to determine whether they still have value.

* DEP Names Lynn Langer Southcentral Regional Director

Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Mike Krancer Wednesday announced Lynn Langer has been named regional director of the agency’s Southcentral office as of July 2. Langer has served since 2004 as the region’s assistant director.

* DEP Names Marcus Kohl Northcentral Regional Director

Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Mike Krancer Wednesday announced Marcus Kohl, director of DEP’s Office of Program Integration, has been named regional director of the agency’s Northcentral office effective July 2.

* DEP, DCNR Solicit Bids For Projects In Allegheny County, Philadelphia

The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources published notice inviting bids on a park development project in Benjamin Rush State Park in Philadelphia.

* 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.

* Budget/Quick Clips

Here's a selection of NewClips on environmental topics from around the state--

* Marcellus Shale NewsClips

Here are NewsClips on topics related to Marcellus Shale natural gas drilling---

* Flooding/Watershed NewsClips

Here are NewsClips on watershed topics from around the state--

* Regulations, Technical Guidance & Permits

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice of an advanced final rule for comment setting standards for ultra low sulfur fuel oil.

* 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

Send your stories, photos and videos about your project, environmental issues or programs for publication in the PA Environment Digest to:  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 Council Trout Unlimited and the Doc Fritchey Chapter Trout Unlimited.

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