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PA Environment Digest
An Update On Environmental Issues In PAEdited By: David E. Hess, Crisci Associates
Winner 2009 PAEE Business Partner Of The Year Award
Harrisburg, Pa August 3, 2015
Environmental Heritage: Anthracite and Bituminous Coal Mine Subsidence Insurance Fund,
August 23, 1961 Act 484
CBF-PA Supports Severance Tax If It Funds PA Clean Water Efforts
The Chesapeake Bay Foundation-PA
Wednesday issued the following statement fromPennsylvania Assistant Executive Director Lee Ann Murray, explaining its conditional support
of a severance tax on natural gas extraction in the Commonwealth.
“As legislators and Governor Wolf continue to negotiate the 2015-16 budget, now almost
four weeks beyond the deadline, CBF would like to express its support for a reasonable
severance tax on natural gas extraction, with modifications, if one is passed. Governor Wolf
proposes that severance tax revenue be dedicated to education. CBF believes a portion of the
proceeds from natural gas drilling should be used to reduce water pollution and restore
Pennsylvania’s rivers and streams.
“Rep. Kevin Schreiber (D-York) said that a deal on a severance tax could be a ‘watershed
moment,’ for moving the spending plan forward. CBF hopes such a deal is the moment in time
that pr ovides the funding to get Pennsylvania and the entire Chesapeake Bay watershed back ontrack to achieving their clean water commitments.
“Pennsylvania is significantly off-track to reaching its goals to reduce pollution from
nitrogen and sediment runoff, particularly from agriculture.
“The Commonwealth must accelerate progress if it is to have 60 percent of the pollution
reduction practices in place by 2017 and 100 percent by 2025 as it committed to in its Clean
Water Blueprint. To do that, Pennsylvania must make a greater investment of financial and
technical resources, so that farmers and municipalities can implement conservation practices that
reduce pollution, and state agencies can ensure compliance. Revenue from a new natural gas
severance tax can help accomplish that.
“CBF supports portions of the Governor’s budget that already propose to increase
funding for renewable energy initiatives and for state agencies such as the Department ofEnvironmental Protection (DEP). The DEP is on the frontlines of farm inspections and for
fostering the culture of compliance that Pennsylvania sorely needs.
“Dedicating a portion of a new natural gas severance tax toward cleaning up our polluted
waterways improves and protects the health and economic well-being of every Pennsylvanian.
Achieving pollution reduction goals would result in an additional $6 billion annually to
Pennsylvania’s economy.
“Ensuring that future generations have clean water is a legacy worth leaving.”
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[Editor’s Note: Both Sen. Gene Yaw (R-Lycoming) and Rep. Garth Everett
(R-Lycoming), members of the Chesapeake Bay Commission for Pennsylvania, expressed
concern about funding to meet the Bay cleanup milestones and suggested during budget hearings
in March if additional funding is approved as part of the budget, it should be directed to meeting
clean water requirements.]
For more information, visit the Chesapeake Bay Foundation-PA
webpage.NewsClips:
Gas Severance Tax Faces Stalemate For 5th Year
Op-Ed: Don’t Kill Our Pennsylvania Shale Jobs
Budget Impasse Affects Gnat Control
Speaker Turzai Threatens Veto Override Vote
House Dems: Override Votes On Budget Aren’t Likely
State Budget Stalemate Turned Into Living Room War
Real People, Solutions At Heart Of GOP Ad Blitz In PA
John Baer: Message From The State Budget Mess
Dems Support Wolf, Urge End To Budget Impasse
Wolf, GOP Making Progress On Budget Talks Dems Warn Of Consequences If Budget Impasse Continues
Pennsylvanians Starting To Feel Budget Squeeze
House Republicans Say Wolf Must Face Budget Reality
Related Stories:
DEP To Sit Down With Stakeholders On Plan To Meet PA Clean Water Commitments
CBF-PA: Pennsylvania Declares Clean Water Counts!
Op-Ed: Commit To Saving Chesapeake Bay, Gov. Dick Thornburgh
CBF: Milestone Assessment Finds PA Falling Short Of Its Water Cleanup Commitments
EPA Notifies DEP It Will Act If PA Does Not Make Progress On Clean Water Goals
12 Maryland Legislators Urge EPA To Force PA To Meet Clean Water Commitments
Pennsylvania Has 530 Days To Meet 2017 Clean Water Milestones
Chesapeake Bay Executive Council Releases 25 Management Strategies For Bay Program
On July 23 the Chesapeake Executive Council released twenty-five management strategies
outlining the Chesapeake Bay Program’s plans to meet the goals of the Chesapeake Bay
Watershed Agreement, advancing the restoration, conservation and protection of the Bay, its
tributaries and the lands that surround them.
DEP Secretary John Quigley and Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding represented
Gov. Wolf at the Executive Council meeting.
Members of the Executive Council—which represents the seven watershed jurisdictions,a tri-state legislative commission and federal agencies—met to review the state of the Bay
Program and finalize the strategies at their annual meeting, held at the National Arboretum in
Washington, D.C.
In addition to announcing the strategies, the Executive Council passed two
resolutions—first, endorsing the recommendations of the State Riparian Forest Buffer Task
Force and committing to collaborative efforts that will increase the miles of forests on
agricultural lands, and second, that the Bay Program hold a symposium on financing
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environmental restoration efforts.
Members also agreed to two joint letters, one supporting programs to keep livestock out
of streams and another supporting funding in the President’s 2016 budget for the Land and Water
Conservation Fund , which includes more than $33 million for the Rivers of the Chesapeake
collaborative proposal.
“Our partnership to restore the Bay continues to move forward,” said Virginia Gov. TerryMcAuliffe, Executive Council Chair, in a release . “We recognize the significant challenges we
face and look forward to meeting them head on to ensure the restoration of our ecologic and
economic treasure, the Chesapeake Bay.”
Each management strategy addresses one or more of the Watershed Agreement’s
thirty-one measurable, time-bound outcomes that will help create a healthy watershed.
They will reduce nutrient and sediment pollution; ensure our waters are free of the effects
of toxic contaminants; sustain blue crabs, oysters and forage fish; restore wetlands, underwater
grass beds and other habitats; conserve farmland and forests; foster engaged and diverse citizen
stewards through increased public access and education; and increase the climate resiliency of
the watershed’s resources, habitats and human communities.
Considerable public input was sought and received which had a substantial impact on thecontent of the management strategies, representing a collaborative effort between Bay Program
partners, academic institutions, local governments, non-governmental organizations, businesses
and citizens.
Stakeholders throughout the region participated in the development of the strategies and
submitted hundreds of comments during the public review period. In the continued work toward
accomplishing the goals of the Watershed Agreement, Bay Program partners are currently
drafting two-year work plans that summarize the specific commitments, short-term actions and
resources required for success.
Prior to this year’s annual meeting, Gov. McAuliffe met to discuss recommendations
from the local government, citizen and scientific communities with the council’s three advisory
committees—the Citizens Advisory Committee, the Local Government Advisory Committee
and
the Science and Technical Advisory Committee .
For more information, visit the Chesapeake Executive Council webpage.
NewsClips:
PA Officials Vow To Reboot Chesapeake Bay Cleanup Efforts
Chesapeake Conservancy Mapping The Susquehanna River
Chesapeake Bay Council OKs New BMPs As Progress Lags
Crew Filming Length Of Susquehanna Due In HBG Saturday
Op-Ed: Time For PA To Walk The Walk On Clean Waters
Conewango Earns Its Place As PA River Of Year
Fairfield Resident Honored By Loyalhanna Watershed Assn Tests Find Radiation In Abandoned Mine Water In Washington County
Lycoming U Hosts Heartland Coalition For Environmental Studies
Creek Health Checked After Chemical Plant Fire
National, State Sportsmen Back EPA Waters Of US Rule
Riverlife Lands New CEO From Boston’s Harbor
Latest From The Chesapeake Bay Journal
Click Here to subscribe to the Chesapeake Bay Journal
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Related Stories:
DEP To Sit Down With Stakeholders On Plan To Meet PA Clean Water Commitments
CBF-PA: Pennsylvania Declares Clean Water Counts!
Op-Ed: Commit To Saving Chesapeake Bay, Gov. Dick Thornburgh
CBF: Milestone Assessment Finds PA Falling Short Of Its Water Cleanup Commitments
EPA Notifies DEP It Will Act If PA Does Not Make Progress On Clean Water Goals 12 Maryland Legislators Urge EPA To Force PA To Meet Clean Water Commitments
Pennsylvania Has 530 Days To Meet 2017 Clean Water Milestones
CBF-PA: Somerset County Joins PA Clean Water Counts! Campaign
The Chesapeake Bay Foundation-PA applauds the Somerset County commissioners, for adopting
a Clean Water Counts! resolution, calling on state officials to make clean water a top priority for
the Commonwealth.
Somerset is the 16th county to adopt a Clean Water Counts resolution, meaning the effort
now represents one-third of Pennsylvania’s population. The other 15 counties to sign on are
Berks, Cumberland, Erie, Fayette, Greene, Jefferson, Luzerne, Northumberland, Philadelphia,Schuylkill, Venango, Washington, Westmoreland, Wyoming, and York.
“Water is our greatest natural resource, one that we cannot take for granted,” said John
Vatavuk, chair of the Somerset County Board of Commissioners. “Supporting this campaign
supports our families, our farmers, our children, and our communities. Clean water is a legacy
we must leave behind for all future generations.
CBF and the PA Growing Greener Coalition launched the Clean Water Counts campaign
last summer, urging local governments across the Commonwealth to pass resolutions and join in
calling on Harrisburg to invest in local clean water programs and practices.
About 19,000 miles of Pennsylvania waters are impaired. Agriculture is the largest source
of pollution to the Commonwealth’s streams and rivers.
That pollution occurs when nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment run off farm fields into
local waterways and ultimately the Chesapeake Bay. The second leading cause of pollution in
Pennsylvania is acid mine drainage from the legacy of coal mining in parts of the state.
According to the Department of Environmental Protection, there are 462 miles of
impaired waterways in Somerset County. About 260 of those miles are polluted by abandoned
mine drainage. Just over 100 additional miles of waterways in Somerset County are degraded by
agriculture.
“Healthy families, strong communities and a thriving Pennsylvania economy depend on
clean water, said Harry Campbell, CBF’s Pennsylvania executive director. “We applaud and
thank the commissioners in Somerset and the other counties, for publicly voicing their support
for clean water in the Keystone State. Voices for clean water continue to grow stronger.”“We hope Clean Water Counts continues to build momentum,” Growing Greener
Coalition Executive Director Andrew Heath added. “The southwestern region is extremely
important to motivating greater leadership from Harrisburg on clean water issues and we look
forward to working with Indiana, Cambria, and Bedford counties in adopting resolutions.”
CBF recently expanded the Clean Water Counts campaign by inviting organizations,
groups, and businesses from across the Commonwealth to declare their support for making clean
water a priority in Pennsylvania.
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In a short period of time, over 85 statewide and regional organizations, conservancies,
watershed alliances, and conservation districts have signed on.
By supporting the Clean Water Counts campaign, Somerset and other counties and
organizations are telling lawmakers in Harrisburg that clean water is integral to Pennsylvania’s
economy, communities, and human health.
It’s a legacy worth leaving future generations.Click Here to find out how clean streams are in your county. For more information on
how you and your county can participate, visit CBF-PA’s Clean Water Counts! webpage.
Related Stories:
DEP To Sit Down With Stakeholders On Plan To Meet PA Clean Water Commitments
CBF-PA: Pennsylvania Declares Clean Water Counts!
Op-Ed: Commit To Saving Chesapeake Bay, Gov. Dick Thornburgh
CBF: Milestone Assessment Finds PA Falling Short Of Its Water Cleanup Commitments
EPA Notifies DEP It Will Act If PA Does Not Make Progress On Clean Water Goals
12 Maryland Legislators Urge EPA To Force PA To Meet Clean Water Commitments
Pennsylvania Has 530 Days To Meet 2017 Clean Water Milestones
How Clean Are Streams In Your County?
The Chesapeake Bay Foundation-PA has a new online tool available to help you find out which
streams in your county do not meet water quality standards.
About 19,000 miles of Pennsylvania waters are impaired. Agriculture is the largest source
of pollution to the Commonwealth’s streams and rivers. The second leading cause of pollution
in Pennsylvania is acid mine drainage from the legacy of coal mining in parts of the state.
Click on your county to find out more-- Adams | Allegheny | Armstrong | Beaver |
Bedford | Berks* | Blair | Bradford | Bucks | Butler | Cambria | Cameron | Carbon | Centre |
Chester |Clarion | Clearfield | Clinton | Columbia | Crawford | Cumberland*| Dauphin | Delaware
| Elk
| Erie* | Fayette* | Forest | Franklin
| Fulton |Greene*| Huntington
| Indiana
| Jefferson
|
Juniata | Lackawanna | Lancaster | Lawrence | Lebanon | Lehigh | Luzerne* | Lycoming | McKean
|Mercer | Mifflin | Monroe | Montgomery | Montour | Northampton | Northumberland * | Perry |
Philadelphia * | Pike | Potter | Schuykill * | Snyder |Somerset* | Sullivan | Susquehanna | Tioga |
Venango *| Warren | Washington *| Wayne | Westmoreland * | Wyoming * | York *
*These counties are already part of the Clean Water Counts! Campaign.
Related Stories:
DEP To Sit Down With Stakeholders On Plan To Meet PA Clean Water Commitments
CBF-PA: Pennsylvania Declares Clean Water Counts!
Op-Ed: Commit To Saving Chesapeake Bay, Gov. Dick Thornburgh
CBF: Milestone Assessment Finds PA Falling Short Of Its Water Cleanup Commitments EPA Notifies DEP It Will Act If PA Does Not Make Progress On Clean Water Goals
12 Maryland Legislators Urge EPA To Force PA To Meet Clean Water Commitments
Pennsylvania Has 530 Days To Meet 2017 Clean Water Milestones
EPA To Announce Final Clean Power Rule On Climate Monday, DEP To Develop Plan
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will announce the final version of its Clean Power
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Rule under Section 111(d) of the federal Clean Air Act on August 3, according to PennFuture .
This first-ever federal rule to curb carbon pollution from power plants seeks to cut carbon
emissions by 30 percent by 2030 by requiring states to come up with carbon reduction measures
in the form of amendments to their Air Quality State Implementation Plans.
While there are no details at this time, Pennsylvania state law requires extensive public
participation in the development of an amendment to the State Implementation Plan and aspecific law was passed in 2014 requiring a special review procedures for state plans developed
to implement Section 111(d).
State Air Pollution Control Act
All amendments to the state Air Quality State Implementation Plan are reviewed by
DEP’s Air Quality Technical Advisory Committee and subject to public hearings as required by
the state Air Pollution Control Act.
Any regulations required to implement the revision to the State Implementation Plan are,
in addition, also reviewed by the Air Quality Technical Advisory Committee and DEP’s Citizens
Advisory Council, require approval by the 20-member Environmental Quality Board, review by
the Independent Regulatory Review Commission and the environmental committees of the
House and Senate under the state Regulatory Review Act.Regulations can be disapproved by the IRRC and the House and Senate can pass a
resolution, just like a piece of legislation, to kill the regulations and present it to the Governor for
his action.
Any changes in state law required to implement the EPA Section 111(d) requirements
would have to be passed by the General Assembly and signed into law by the Governor.
PA Greenhouse Gas Regulation Implementation Act
In addition to these basic reviews, the PA Greenhouse Gas Regulation Implementation
Act passed in 2014 establishes a review process by the General Assembly and a one-House veto
of any Section 111(d) climate plan DEP would develop in response to a final EPA regulation.
The law was promoted by Pennsylvania’s coal industry as a way to protect their interests
in any Section 111(d) plan developed by DEP.
The Act also outlines a series of 12 factors DEP is to take into consideration in
developing a Section 111(d) plan.
A new measure-- House Resolution 259 (Neuman-D-Washington)-- was introduced in
April in the House to create yet another tool for the General Assembly to dictate the content of
any Section 111(d) plans in Pennsylvania.
The resolution would create a Joint Senate-House Select Committee on the
Implementation of EPA’s Greenhouse Gas Regulation to “examine, investigate and complete a
report on the most appropriate manner in which to comply with the federal carbon dioxide rule.”
In addition, the resolution says, “It is the intention of this Select Committee to further
direct the Department of Environmental Protection in the development of the StateImplementation Plan that will ultimately be submitted to the House of Representatives and the
Senate for approval.”
The resolution is in the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee. Click
Here for a sponsor summary.
PA Climate Change Act
Under the 2008 PA Climate Change Act, DEP was directed to developed and has
developed a Climate Change Action Plan with recommendations on how to reduce greenhouse
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gas emissions in the state.
A Climate Change Advisory Committee was formed to help in that process and has been
helping guide DEP in the development of the Action Plan, an adaptation plan, a greenhouse gas
inventory and other work plans associated with its responsibility.
NGA Technical Assistance
Pennsylvania will also benefit from a National Governor’s Association initiative
to provide states technical support in identifying cost-effective strategies for implement a final EPA
Clean Power Rule.
Pennsylvania was one of four states, including Michigan, Missouri and Utah, to receive
tailored modeling of their electricity sector to assess compliance options.
The Path Forward
Once EPA has finalized the Section 111(d) regulations, the job of the Department of
Environmental Protection will be to develop a plan to implement those regulations taking into
account all the various reviews required of that plan and its related regulations under state law
within the timeframes established by EPA in the final rule.
Under the Corbett Administration, DEP submitted comments on the Section 111(d)
proposal by EPA that raised basin concerns with the outline and details of the Plan.Since taking office, both Gov. Wolf and DEP Secretary John Quigley have said they will
take a different approach on Section 111(d) than the Corbett Administration, while coming up
with a “Pennsylvania solution” to the issue that respects the role coal plays in the state.
The specifics will, no doubt, unfold at some point after EPA’s announcement Monday.
NewsClip: Rally Supports Obama’s Clean Power Plan
Budget Impasse Week 4: Looked A Lot Like Week 3 Or Week 2 Or Week 1
House Speaker Mike Turzai (R-Allegheny) Monday raised the specter of bringing Gov. Wolf’s
veto of the Republican-passed budget up for a veto override vote during remarks at the
Pennsylvania Press Club.
Although he said it was just an option, just bringing the veto up for an override vote
would again put pressure on House Democrats to either support Gov. Wolf or side with those
school districts and others suffering through the lack of funding, but still providing services.
House and Senate Democrats and several media outlets continued on that last theme this
week by starting to outline the impact of the budget impasse on counties, nonprofits and others
trying to get some leverage with the public to move the process along.
And hitting closer to come, the four legislative caucus are running down their own
funding reserves to pay member and staff salaries and other costs, so much so that Speaker
Turzai said there are starting to be inquiries on whether the House or Senate or both could get a
line of credit to tide themselves over until the budget is settled.For his part, Gov. Wolf traveled to State College to visit with Senate Majority Leader
Jake Corman (R-Centre) and House Majority Leader David Reed (R-Indiana) for more budget
talks, this time away from Harrisburg.
While he still remains positive saying there is “progress,” precious little actual agreement
is evident from their discussions.
The budget impasse does not affect the West Nile Virus surveillance or mosquito
spraying operations, but it did mean an end to spraying for Black Flies on June 30, those
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annoying gnats.
If nothing else drives negotiators back to the budget table, perhaps all the gnats will!
Meanwhile, week 5 begins…..
NewsClips:
Gas Severance Tax Faces Stalemate For 5th Year
Op-Ed: Don’t Kill Our Pennsylvania Shale Jobs Budget Impasse Affects Gnat Control
Speaker Turzai Threatens Veto Override Vote
House Dems: Override Votes On Budget Aren’t Likely
State Budget Stalemate Turned Into Living Room War
Real People, Solutions At Heart Of GOP Ad Blitz In PA
John Baer: Message From The State Budget Mess
Dems Support Wolf, Urge End To Budget Impasse
Wolf, GOP Making Progress On Budget Talks
Dems Warn Of Consequences If Budget Impasse Continues
Pennsylvanians Starting To Feel Budget Squeeze
House Republicans Say Wolf Must Face Budget Reality
First Secretary, Current Secretary Celebrate DCNR’s 20th Anniversary
Two decades separated their milestones when they assumed
leadership roles, steering DCNR through waters that
sometimes could be rough, often challenging, but always part
of a sea that is beautiful.
One was the very first captain, the other, the most
recently named, and both came together to join in praising
their crew.
Together, John C. Oliver III and Cindy Adams Dunn
celebrated the 20th anniversary of the Department of
Conservation and Natural Resources and its past
accomplishments by acknowledging the men and women who
wear the DCNR logo daily. Many of them gathered July 22 to
hear the salute personally:
“Often, when people learn I was secretary, they’ll ask, ‘What was it like to be a state
employee? A bureaucrat?’” Oliver told his audience, gathered in Harrisburg’s Rachel Carson
State Office Building. “And I honestly say, ‘It was the best job I’ve ever had.'
“And I can thank many of you folks here for that. There is a passion here that you bring
to the job—daily—that is so different from other state employees in other departments. It is thiscommitment that makes DCNR the finest conservation organization in the United States.”
(Photo: From left: former Human Resources Bureau Director Dennis Farley, former
State Parks Bureau Director Bill Forrey, current DCNR Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn, and
former DCNR Secretary John Oliver.)
On July 6, 1995, then Gov. Tom Ridge nominated Oliver, longtime president of the
Western Pennsylvania Conservancy, to be the first secretary of the new department created just
five days earlier.
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On that date, a bill was signed into law restructuring the former Department of
Environmental Resources into two cabinet-level agencies—Conservation and Natural Resources
and Environmental Protection.
“John Oliver is one of Pennsylvania's most respected conservationists," Gov. Ridge said
in announcing the appointment. “I can think of no one more qualified to manage the parks and
woodlands that are so precious to all of us and which, in fact, give our state its very name.”Just about 20 years later, Gov. Tom Wolf used similar words to describe Dunn as he
swore in his nominee to become DCNR’s sixth secretary.
The official ceremony came just hours before an anniversary gathering that was marked
by a large-scale turnout of retirees and noted guests; a special, celebratory cake; and an address
by the newest department secretary.
Dunn called upon her listeners to liken DCNR’s 20-year-mark to the peregrine falcons
taking flight from the building’s nearby nest, or view it as a student graduating college: “The
best is yet to come,” she said.
“Where are we going now?” asked the secretary. “The answer can be found in the
principles upon which this department was founded—partnerships, stewardship and service.
Those pillars continue to resonate here today.” Noting state parks and state forests have the means, methods and committed people to
best chip away at a demonstrated disconnect between families and the outdoors, Dunn said
DCNR must continue striving to lure youngsters out of their homes and into woods, fields and
streams around them.
“We must reach out to the children of today who will become the conservationists of
tomorrow,” she said.
Throughout July, DCNR has been celebrating the 20th anniversary of its creation with a
digital education campaign informing citizens about its mission and encouraging more people to
visit Pennsylvania’s public lands.
The new department brought new focus, Dunn said: “Although we had a long history of
stewardship through our bureaus, the move made conservation and management of our natural
resources a priority, and recognized the importance of our parks and forests to quality of life,
tourism and our economy.”
As part of the July celebration, DCNR launched an Instagram account (@padcnr), and is
featuring 30 days of unique posts about the agency on it, using #DCNR20. Content also is shared
on Facebook at Pa. DCNR and Twitter through @DCNRNews, and visitors to state parks and
forests are encouraged to submit photos of their experiences on these social media.
Some DCNR accomplishments over the past 20 years include:
-- Expanding the State Park system to 120—one within 25 miles of every Pennsylvanian—and
being recognized nationally as the best park system in country
;
-- Becoming the first independently certified public forest in the nation, and the country’s longestcontinuously certified, well-managed forest;
-- Awarding grants that have assisted all Pennsylvania counties and more than 50 percent of all
communities—urban and rural—in meeting their recreation and conservation needs;
-- Created a Conservation Landscape Program that is recognized as a national model for regional
place-based landscape conservation;
-- Constructed 10 LEED-certified park and forest buildings ;
-- Expanded the award-winning TreeVitalize community tree-planting and education program to
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communities across the state, planting about 400,000 trees;
-- Launched Get Outdoors Pennsylvania-guided programs to use outdoor recreation activities
such as hiking, canoeing, and biking to engage new audiences and to create meaningful and
lasting connections between the commonwealth’s citizens and its natural resources; and
-- Completed and continue to upgrade a high resolution aerial photography and elevation data for
Pennsylvania used by all segments of government, industry and the general population.NewsClips:
Lake At Cowans Gap State Park Reopening To Swimming
90+ Fall Ill From Cowans Gap State Park Water
Sewer Problems Closed Lackawanna State Park After Opening
Regatta Attracts Thousands To Moraine State Park
Presque Isle Sand-Sculpture Contest Carves Friendships
How To Camp In A PA State Park
PA’s First Natural Play Area On Banks Of Lackawanna River
Wetlands Project To Start At York County Park
Mon Wharf Connector To Aid Bikers, Pedestrians
NE PA Pedals To Top As Bike Commuting Grows Pittsburgh Planning Bike Lanes In Oakland
More Bike Lanes Coming To Pittsburgh
Toughest Schuylkill Trail Stretch Opens
Amtrak Working On Bike Racks On Western PA Routes
Sept. 26 Walk to Raise Money For Flight 93 Trails
(Reprinted from the July 29 DCNR Resource newsletter. Click Here to sign up for your own
copy (bottom of the page).)
PA Environment Digest Google+ Circle, Blogs, Twitter Feeds
PA Environment Digest now has a Google+ Circle called Green Works In PA . Let us join your
Circle.
Google+ now combines all the news you now get through the PA Environment Digest,
Weekly, Blog, Twitter and Video sites into one resource.
You’ll receive as-it-happens postings on Pennsylvania environmental news, daily
NewsClips and links to the weekly Digest and videos.
Also take advantage of these related services from Crisci Associates
--
PA Environment Digest Twitter Feed: On Twitter, sign up to receive instant updates from:PAEnviroDigest.
PA Environment Daily Blog: provides daily environmental NewsClips and significant stories
and announcements on environmental topics in Pennsylvania of immediate value. Sign up and
receive as they are posted updates through your favorite RSS reader. You can also sign up for a
once daily email alerting you to new items posted on this blog. NEW! Add your constructive
comment to any blog posting.
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PA Capitol Digest Daily Blog to get updates every day on Pennsylvania State Government,
including NewsClips, coverage of key press conferences and more. Sign up and receive as they
are posted updates through your favorite RSS reader. You can also sign up for a once daily
email alerting you to new items posted on this blog.
PA Capitol Digest Twitter Feed: Don't forget to sign up to receive the PA Capitol Digest
Twitter feed to get instant updates on other news from in and around the Pennsylvania State
Capitol.
Senate/House Agenda/Session Schedule[Updated]/Gov’s Schedule
Here are the Senate and House Calendars and Committee meetings showing bills of interest--
Bill Calendars
House (August 25): House Bill 48
(Godshall-R-Montgomery) setting standards for drinking
water well construction; Senate Bill 307 (Yudichak-D-Luzerne) providing for an independent
counsel for the Environmental Quality Board. <> Click Here for full House Bill Calendar.
Senate (September 21): Senate Resolution 54 (Argall-R-Schuylkill) urging Congress to impose
tariffs on imported anthracite coal (sponsor summary); Senate Resolution 55 (Hutchinson-R-
Venango) a concurrent resolution establishing a Forestry Task Force associated with the Joint
Legislative Air and Water Pollution Control and Conservation Committee (sponsor summary ).
<> Click Here for full Senate Bill Calendar.
Committee Meeting Agendas This Week
House: <> Click Here for full House Committee Schedule.
Senate: <> Click Here for full Senate Committee Schedule.
Bills Pending In Key Committees
Here are links to key Standing Committees in the House and Senate and the bills pending in
each--
HouseAppropriations
Education
Environmental Resources and Energy
Consumer Affairs
Gaming Oversight
Human Services
Judiciary
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Liquor Control
Transportation
Links for all other Standing House Committees
Senate
AppropriationsEnvironmental Resources and Energy
Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure
Community, Economic and Recreational Development
Education
Judiciary
Law and Justice
Public Health and Welfare
Transportation
Links for all other Standing Senate Committees
Session Schedule (
Updated)
Here is the latest voting session schedule for the Senate and House--
Senate (unless sooner recalled)
September 21, 22, 23, 28, 29, 30
October 13, 14, 19, 20, 21, 26, 27, 28
November 16, 17, 18
December 7, 8, 9
House (unless sooner recalled)
August 25
September 21, 22, 28 (Non-Voting), 29, 30
October 5, 6, 7, 19, 20, 21, 26, 27, 28
November 16, 17, 18, 23, 24, 25 (Non-Voting)
December 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16
Governor’s Schedule
Gov. Tom Wolf's work calendar will be posted each Friday and his public schedule for the day
will be posted each morning. Click Here
to view Gov. Wolf’s Weekly Calendar and Public
Appearances.
News From The Capitol
July Environmental Synopsis Newsletter Available From Joint Conservation Committee
The July edition of the Environmental Synopsis newsletter is now available from the Joint
Legislative Air and Water Pollution Control and Conservation Committee featuring articles on--
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-- Coping With Scarce Fresh Water Resources
-- Penn State Study: 90 percent Of Roadside Springs Contaminated
-- New Diesel Engines Saving Lives, Lungs
-- Action On Climate Change Could Save Tens of Thousands of Lives
-- Fortifying Stormwater Systems With Green Infrastructure
-- Long Island Sound Report Card Offers Mixed Results-- This Month In PA Conservation History: Peregrine Falcons Reintroduced
-- Sign up for your own copy by sending an email to: [email protected] .
Sen. Scott Hutchinson (R-Venango) serves as Chair of the Committee.
News From Around The State
DEP Accepting Comments On Proposed Settlement For Ash Spill Into Delaware River
The Department of Environmental Protection Tuesday said it is accepting public comment on a
proposed settlement for natural resource damages with Talen Generation, LLC, formerly known
as PPL Generation, LLC, and Martins Creek, LLC, formerly known as PPL Martins Creek, LLC.
The settlement is associated with the August 2005 ash spill at the Martins Creek Steam
Electric Station in Lower Mount Bethel Township, Northampton County.
The spill occurred after a wooden stop log in the Ash Basin No. 4 discharge structure
failed, causing an estimated 100 million gallons of ash material to spread across local fields and
into the Oughoughton Creek and the Delaware River.
“DEP would like to hear from the public on this important and final piece in the
resolution of this matter. A significant amount of time and effort has been spent on assessing
impacts from the spill and crafting this settlement. We believe this is a sound and well developed
approach to addressing the Department’s claims for damages to the natural resources of the
region,” said Mike Bedrin, Director of DEP’s Northeast Regional Office in Wilkes-Barre. “Anycomments the Department receives will be considered in the final determination of settlement.”
The proposed settlement calls for the payment of $1,325,200 to fund dam removal and
mussel restoration projects on tributaries to the Delaware River in the area of the spill. From that
amount, $373,050 will be paid to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection for
New Jersey-based restoration projects under a separate agreement with that agency.
In May 2008, DEP reached a separate settlement with PPL that required payment of a
$1,500,000 civil penalty and corrective action for violations of various state statutes associated
with the ash spill. That settlement preserved the Department’s claims for natural resource
damages, which are now being resolved in this action and requires public comment.
Natural resource damages may occur at sites such as rivers or streams as a result of
releases of hazardous substances, such as ash, or oil. States and state agencies, including theDEP, can act as “trustees” on behalf of citizens to pursue claims for natural resource damages.
DEP is working in conjunction with members of a Natural Resource Damage Assessment
Team, which includes representatives of the New Jersey Department of Environmental
Protection, the Fish and Boat Commission, and the Delaware River Basin Commission.
DEP staff, working in conjunction with members of the Natural Resource Damage
Assessment team, had extensive involvement in overseeing and permitting cleanup of the spill.
This included reviewing and commenting on three phases of cleanup, as well as PPL’s Phase IV
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Completion Report that addressed residential property and shoreline inspections, sediment and
surface water sampling, and ecological investigations, such as damage to mussels.
Persons wishing to comment on the proposed settlement documents are invited to submit
comments in writing to: Colleen Connolly, Department of Environmental Protection, 2 Public
Square, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18701-1915.
TDD users may contact the Department through the Pennsylvania Relay Services at800-645-5984.
The public comment period will end on September 23, 2015. Copies of the settlement
documents are available in the Department’s Wilkes-Barre offices and also the Bethlehem
offices, located at 4530 Bath Pike, Bethlehem 18017.
After the public comment period ends, the Department will file a response to significant
written comments or indicate that no such comments were received.
An electronic copy is also available on the Department’s Northeast Regional Office
webpage.
PEC Blog: Helping Municipalities Comply With Stormwater Permits
By Susan Myerov, PEC Watersheds Program Director
The PA Environmental Council has a long history of involvement in stormwater management
issues affecting our state.
Persisting issues include providing municipal stormwater management education and
training opportunities, providing regulatory and policy recommendations, and advocating for
innovation in financing green stormwater infrastructure projects.
One of my roles as watersheds program director is to develop and implement programs
that help our municipalities in Southeast Pennsylvania meet the public education, community
outreach, and municipal good housekeeping objectives specified in their municipal separate
storm sewer system (MS4) permits.
These permits require a stormwater management program that address six minimum
control measures designed to reduce polluted runoff and illegal discharges. The six include:
-- Public education and outreach;
-- Public involvement and participation;
-- Illicit discharge, detection and elimination;
-- Construction site runoff controls;
-- Post-construction stormwater management; and
-- Municipal pollution prevention and good housekeeping.
In Pennsylvania there are over 900 designated MS4 communities across the state with
varying capacities to implement and fund stormwater management programs.PEC attempts to either directly provide technical assistance to our municipalities or link
them to resources they need to successfully meet their permit obligations.
These activities can range from providing printed and web–enabled materials, to hosting
training workshops for landowners on how to build rain gardens, transform lawns to meadows or
manage streamside properties, along with training municipal staff on properly maintaining their
own facilities.
We also help promote activities such as stream clean-ups and riparian buffer plantings
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organized by our watershed partners. One of the best resources we offer is our stormwater and
water resource brochure series.
These informative and easy to understand brochures provide illustrations and suggestions
on topics such as detention basin retrofits to caring for streamside properties. These can be
posted on websites or given out at events.
PEC distributes copies to organizations at no charge and we maintain the web-version onour website.
Feel free to check out our brochures and if you need hard copies and please feel free to
contact me directly by sending email to: [email protected] or call 215-545-4570.
(Reprinted from the PA Environmental Council Blog .)
PA Farmers Invited To Chesapeake Bay Panels On BMPs, Water Quality
The Department of Agriculture Monday extended an invitation to Pennsylvania’s farmers to
attend one of four panel discussions hosted by EPA’s Chesapeake Bay Program on agricultural
Best Management Practices and water quality starting August 10.The panels will cover conservation tillage, manure injection and incorporation, cover
crops and nutrient management.
Each panel has been charged with providing recommendations and technical expertise on
measures to protect the Chesapeake Bay. The workgroup provides a discussion forum for
partners at the local, state and federal levels to cover topics such as those relating to air and water
quality.
Below is a full listing of the upcoming panels as well as the registration deadlines for
each.
-- August 10: Conservation Tillage Phase 6.0 Expert Panel (Presenters must RSVP by July
27) University of Maryland Extension, 7303 Sharpsburg Pike, Boonsboro, MD. Click Here to
register.
-- August 11: Manure Injection & Incorporation Phase 6.0 Expert Panel (Presenters must
RSVP by July 28) University of Maryland Extension, 330 Montevue Ln, Frederick, MD. Click
Here to register.
-- August 19: Cover Crops Phase 6.0 Expert Panel (Presenters must RSVP by August 5)
Chesapeake Bay Program Office, Joe Macknis Memorial Conference Room - Fish Shack, 410
Severn Ave, Annapolis, MD. Click Here to register.
-- September 10: Nutrient Management Phase 6.0 Expert Panel (Presenters must RSVP by
August 27) USGS Water Science Center, 5522 Research Park Dr., Baltimore, MD Click Here
to
register.
Questions about the panels can be directed to: [email protected]:
PA Officials Vow To Reboot Chesapeake Bay Cleanup Efforts
Chesapeake Conservancy Mapping The Susquehanna River
Chesapeake Bay Council OKs New BMPs As Progress Lags
Op-Ed: Time For PA To Walk The Walk On Clean Waters
Nominate Your Chesapeake Bay Forest Champions By Aug. 12
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The Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay with support from the U.S. Forest Service is soliciting
nominations for their annual Chesapeake Forest Champions Contest. Nominations are due
August 12.
Forests provide clean water and air, wildlife habitat, recreational opportunities, and a host
of other benefits to people.The purpose of this contest is to recognize the outstanding efforts of groups and
individuals from around the bay watershed to conserve, restore, and celebrate Chesapeake
forests.
The contest is open to all including landowners, community groups, nonprofits, forestry
and natural resource professionals, schools, youth organizations, businesses, public agencies and
others working in rural, suburban and urban areas.
Basically, if you know any group or individual who is doing outstanding work for forests,
as a volunteer or professional, nominate them.
Nominations submitted for the last two contests will automatically be considered for
2015. Winners will be recognized at the annual Chesapeake Watershed Forum on September 25,
in Shepherdstown, WV. Registration, food and lodging expenses at the Forum will be coveredfor contest awardees.
Nominations must be completed using the form and submitted by email to:
For more information, download the Chesapeake Forest Champions Contest flyer.
NewsClips:
PA Officials Vow To Reboot Chesapeake Bay Cleanup Efforts
Chesapeake Conservancy Mapping The Susquehanna River
Chesapeake Bay Council OKs New BMPs As Progress Lags
Op-Ed: Time For PA To Walk The Walk On Clean Waters
2015 Chesapeake Bay Watershed Forum Registration Now Open
Registration is now open for the Alliance for the
Chesapeake Bay’s 10th Annual Chesapeake Watershed
Forum, held September 25-27 at the National
Conservation Training Center in Shepherdstown, WV.
Join 300 + water quality professionals, volunteers and
public servants from across the Bay to learn about the
latest in restoration science and policy at one of the most
unique nature-based facilities in the watershed.
Scholarships for Pennsylvania
residents are available on a limited basis. ContactAllison Fox by sending email to: [email protected] or call 717-737-8622.
Additional details can be found at the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay’s Chesapeake
Watershed Forum webpage. If you have any questions about the 2015 Forum, please contact Lou
Etgen by calling 443-949 0575.
NewsClips:
PA Officials Vow To Reboot Chesapeake Bay Cleanup Efforts
Chesapeake Conservancy Mapping The Susquehanna River
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Chesapeake Bay Council OKs New BMPs As Progress Lags
Op-Ed: Time For PA To Walk The Walk On Clean Waters
CBF-PA Teams With Heroes On The Water, Trout Unlimited For Paddling Event Aug. 29
Chesapeake Bay Foundation-PA
is teaming up with Heroes on the Water and local TroutUnlimited chapters on August 29 to celebrate and salute our veterans through a day of fishing
and paddling on the Susquehanna!
Veterans, community members, paddlers, fishermen, friends, and families are all
welcome to discover and appreciate the Susquehanna from 3 p.m.-7 p.m. on August 29, followed
by a dinner and open bar with live music.
All activities are free and open to the public. The dinner/open bar is available for just a
small $5 fee. The event kicks off at Shank's Mare Outfitters, Wrightsville, York County.
Click Here to reserve your spot today.
NewsClips:
PA Officials Vow To Reboot Chesapeake Bay Cleanup Efforts
Chesapeake Conservancy Mapping The Susquehanna River Chesapeake Bay Council OKs New BMPs As Progress Lags
Op-Ed: Time For PA To Walk The Walk On Clean Waters
Pitt Report: Fortifying Stormwater Systems With Green Infrastructure
By Coleen P. Engvall, Research Analyst, Joint Conservation Committee
Pennsylvania experiences a lot of rain. When one considers the droughts causing havoc on the
West Coast, the amount of rainfall the commonwealth enjoys is certainly a blessing. But it can
also have its drawbacks.
In a report released by the University of Pittsburgh, the unique difficulties associated with
plentiful rainfall and water resources are explored, as well as a way to mitigate them.
The publication, Green Infrastructure: Status Report, describes technologies that
simultaneously filter and slow storm waters, preventing flooding, erosion and the pollution of
waterways.
Current stormwater infrastructure focuses on moving water along as quickly as possible,
but when the system is overwhelmed, environmental problems are exacerbated.
For example, waterways are subjected to more pollutants when excessive rainfall washes
contaminants from topsoil and pavement into rivers, lakes and other bodies of water.
The Commonwealth’s current solution to these problems are known as “gray
infrastructure.” These consist of pipes, storage tanks, conveyance lines and sewers. The report points to how expensive these methods can be, and how easily they can be overwhelmed by
excessive rainfall.
Flooding still occurs regularly, and given that Pennsylvania is home to almost 7,000
impaired waterways, the report argues additional measures need to be taken.
The report discusses eight technologies that focus on containing, filtering or guiding the
storm water towards plant life or soil.
The first is permeable pavement. Currently roads, sidewalks, and parking lots all deflect
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water and keep it from entering the ground. If this water was able to reach the soil beneath the
pavement, there would be less of a burden on the storm drains, and contaminants from the road
surface would not be swept into waterways bio swales, rain gardens, green roofs, retention ponds
and tree groves all deal with making space more efficient at holding and filtering water using
vegetation and soil filtration.
Plants improve water retention via absorption, and they also slow the movement of water,meaning that soil has more opportunities to filter and neutralize pollutants. These technologies
also help recharge groundwater sources and reduce the amount of contaminants that reach them.
Another option is rainwater harvesting, which keeps excess water from entering storm
water systems. It can also lessen a property’s dependence on treated water, as the collected
rainfall can be used for nonpotable applications.
The final strategy detailed in the report is called stream daylighting, which resuscitates
streams that have been buried or enclosed. Enclosed streams accelerate the flow of water and
contribute to the overflow of gray infrastructure.
The report concedes that these projects will probably not replace gray infrastructure
entirely, but can reduce the burden on existing systems and decrease the need for expensive
updates.The high cost of upgrading gray infrastructure is well illustrated in the example of the
2013 Wet Weather Plan developed by the Allegheny County Sanitary Authority. Their plan was
to expand their gray infrastructure in order to comply with the Clean Water Act, however it had
to be abandoned due to high costs.
The report points out that their current plan, which again features gray infrastructure
updates, will shift an undue burden to ratepayers.
Green infrastructure projects tend to be smaller in scale, and less expensive to implement.
Many of them also have added benefits. For example, green roofs can improve the air quality and
temperature regulation in cities, and adding green infrastructure along roadways can safeguard
nearby residents from vehicle emissions.
Green infrastructure technologies are still new, and they are faced with specific
developmental challenges. For example, designers are still learning to cope with the clay soils
and harsh winters found in Pennsylvania.
To help move green infrastructure towards healthy development and usage, the report
emphasizes the need for leadership and coordination of research and implementation.
A copy of the full report is available online .
(Reprinted from the July Environmental Synopsis newsletter by the Joint Legislative Air and
Water Pollution Control and Conservation Committee . Sign up for your own copy by sending an
email to: [email protected]. )
PA Environmental Council Comments On DEP Stormwater Permit
The PA Environmental Council Tuesday submitted comments supporting many of the proposed
changes in DEP’s PAG-13 NPDES General Permit for Stormwater Discharges from Small
Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems, but suggested more explanation was needed on how
applicants will meet the critical requirement in the permit for 5 percent nutrient and 10 percent
sediment reductions over the five year life of the permit.
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Click Here for a copy of PEC’s comments. The comment period on PAG-13 closed on
July 29. Click Here to see comments submitted by others on this proposal through DEP’s
eComment system .
River Alert Information Network Holds Source Water Protection Conference Sept. 18
The River Alert Information Network in Western PA will hold a Source Water Protection
Conference on September 18 with the theme Celebrating and Enhancing Source Water
Protection.
The event will focus on early warning spill detection and source water protection in
western PA and northern West Virginia. Sessions will cover practical, collaborative and
cost-saving steps to protect drinking water, now and for future generations.
The conference is open to RAIN member water systems, utilities, municipal and other
local officials, county and municipal planners, watershed protection organizations, engineers,
industry and large river water users and citizens.
Watch the RAIN website for more information or direct your questions to Sherene Hess,
RAIN, 724-762-4162 or send email to: [email protected]
.
July Newsletter Now Available From Stroud Water Research Center
The July edition of UpStream, the newsletter from the Stroud Water Research Center in
Avondale, Chester County, is now available featuring articles on--
-- Court Ruling A Victory For Chesapeake Bay
-- Mapping The Recovery Of White Clay Creek In Chester County
-- Alexandra Cousteau To Receive Stroud Award For Freshwater Excellence
-- June Sustainable Splurges Event A Success
-- Staff Spotlight: Jessica Provinski
-- Upcoming Fall Events
-- Click Here to sign up for your own copy.
Susquehanna River Basin Commission Holds Aug. 6 Hearing On Withdrawal Requests
The Susquehanna River Basin Commission will receive public comment at a hearing on August
6 on project applications for several water withdrawal and consumptive water use applications; a
request by Panda Power Funds for transfer of ownership of Hummel Station LLC; and
amendments to the Comprehensive Plan for the Water Resources of the Susquehanna River
Basin.
The hearing will be held at the East Hanover Township Municipal Building, Main Hall,8848 Jonestown Road, Grantville, PA. The hearing will begin at 7:00 p.m. and end at 9:00 p.m.
or when public testimony concludes, whichever comes first. The parking lot entry is off of
Manada Gap Road .
The list of 28 project applications, request for conditional transfer, Comprehensive Plan
amendments and options for submitting comments electronically are all available on SRBC’s
Public Participation Center .
Persons planning to present oral testimony at the public hearing are encouraged to notify
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SRBC prior to the hearing of their intent to testify and to indicate the subject of their comment.
The notices are to be directed to Mr. Jason Oyler, General Counsel, Susquehanna River Basin
Commission, 4423 North Front Street, Harrisburg, PA 17110, Telephone: 717-238-0423, ext.
1312, Fax: 717-238-2436.
SRBC will also accept written comments until August 17, 2015. Comments may be
submitted electronically
or mailed or faxed to Mr. Oyler.The SRBC Commissioners are scheduled to vote on these and other action items at its
next business meeting on September 10 in Binghamton, New York.
SRBC’s rules of conduct for public hearings include:
— All persons must sign-in and show photo identification.
— Signage, posters, banners or other display media will be permitted only in designated areas.
— The press is permitted to set up and use video and recording devices in a designated area. The
public is permitted to use small, hand-held devices that remain in their possession and are used in
a non-disruptive manner.
For more information, visit SRBC’s Public Participation Center webpage.
NewsClips:
PA Officials Vow To Reboot Chesapeake Bay Cleanup Efforts Chesapeake Conservancy Mapping The Susquehanna River
Chesapeake Bay Council OKs New BMPs As Progress Lags
Op-Ed: Time For PA To Walk The Walk On Clean Waters
Crew Filming Length Of Susquehanna Due In HBG Saturday
EPA Report: Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Is Accelerating Cleanup, Protection
During its first five years, the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative , including Lake Erie,
implemented more than 2,500 projects to improve water quality, clean up contaminated
shoreline, protect and restore native habitat and species and prevent and control invasive species
in the Great Lakes, including Lake Erie in Pennsylvania.
That work, which began in 2010, is summarized in a new Report to Congress and the
President.
“The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative is making the Great Lakes healthier and local
economies stronger,” said EPA Administrator and Great Lakes Interagency Task Force Chair
Gina McCarthy. “With continued commitment from GLRI partners, we will continue to improve
the health of the Great Lakes ecosystem and the communities that depend on that ecosystem for
generations to come.”
The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative was launched in 2010 to accelerate efforts to
protect and restore the largest system of surface freshwater in the world.
Funding provided through the Initiative has been a catalyst for unprecedented federalagency coordination through the Great Lakes Interagency Task Force and the Great Lakes
Regional Working Group, which are led by EPA. This coordination has produced unparalleled
results, including:
-- Delisting five Great Lakes Areas of Concern;
-- Protecting, enhancing and restoring over 148,000 acres of wetlands, coastal, upland and island
habitat;
-- Working with the agricultural community to reduce phosphorus runoff, which contributes to
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algal blooms; and
-- Preventing new introductions of invasive species.
During the first five years of the GLRI, federal agencies and their partners completed all
cleanup actions required to delist five Great Lakes Areas of Concern and to formally delist the
Presque Isle Bay Area of Concern in Pennsylvania — a major change from the 25 years before
the Initiative, during which only one Area of Concern was cleaned up and delisted.The United States and Canada designated 43 heavily contaminated sites around the Great
Lakes as Areas of Concern under the 1987 Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement.
During the first five years of the Initiative, federal agencies and their partners also
worked to reduce the largest nonpoint source of phosphorus runoff — agricultural lands —
which contributes to harmful algal blooms in western Lake Erie, Saginaw Bay in Lake Huron
and Green Bay in Lake Michigan.
Federal agencies used GLRI funding to increase the number of acres of farmland enrolled
in agricultural conservation programs in these priority watersheds by more than 70 percent. In
the summer of 2014, EPA also provided almost 12 million dollars through the Initiative to
protect public health by targeting harmful algal blooms in Western Lake Erie.
Since 2010, GLRI has funded efforts to prevent new introductions of invasive species andto support the work of the Asian Carp Regional Coordinating committee to prevent
establishment of bighead and silver carp in the Great Lakes ecosystem.
GLRI has also funded efforts to control terrestrial invasive species on more than 84,000
acres and to protect and restore approximately 150,000 acres of coastal, upland and island habitat
in the Great Lakes basin.
The EPA leads the Great Lakes Interagency Task Force and the Regional Working Group
that coordinate the work of 16 federal agencies to implement the GLRI. Last year, GLRI
developed a new five-year plan to guide its 2015-2019 actions and strategically target the biggest
threats to the Great Lakes ecosystem.
For more information, including an interactive project map, visit the Great Lakes
Restoration Initiative website.
Keep PA Beautiful Urges Participation In National School Recycle-Bowl Competition
Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful is encouraging educators in Pennsylvania to get their schools
involved in the Recycle-Bowl Competition. The Recycle-Bowl competition begins October 19
and runs through November 15.
Recycle-Bowl is a program designed to invigorate student participation in recycling
through a national K-12 school recycling competition.
Registration will begin on August 3rd.
The objectives of the competition include: new recycling programs established withinschools, the increase of recycling rates in schools that currently recycle and the provision of
teacher/student educational opportunities about recycling and waste reduction.
“The Recycle Bowl offers a fun way to introduce or expand recycling programs within
our schools. Encouraging students to recycle will emphasize the importance of recycling
elsewhere,” said Shannon Reiter, President of Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful. “We are grateful to
Keep America Beautiful for providing this resource to our local schools.”
Sponsors and Teammates of Keep America Beautiful’s Recycle-Bowl are Busch
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Systems, Trex, Consumer Aerosol Products Council, Weisenbach, American Forest
Foundation/Project Learning Tree, Eco-School USA (National Wildlife Federation) and Earth
Day Network .
For more information and to register your school, visit the Recycle-Bowl Competition
website.
NewsClips:Jessup Eyeing Curbside Recycling Program
Where Do Your Recyclables End Up?
Proposed Lancaster Landfill Expansion Praised, Attacked
PA Resources Council Special Waste Collection Events In Allegheny, Beaver Counties
The PA Resources Council will hold six special collection events in August, September and
October for electronic waste, household chemicals and other often hard to recyclable materials.
Hard To Recycle Collections: Individuals can drop off electronic waste such as
computers, cell phones, printer/toner cartridges, CFLs and expanded polystyrene packaging
material at no cost. For a nominal fee, individuals can drop off alkaline batteries, fluorescenttubes, small Freon appliances and tires. Saturdays, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.--
-- August 22: Allegheny County Airport, West Mifflin;
-- August 29: Heinz Field, Allegheny County; and
-- October 3: The Mall at Robinson, Allegheny County.
Household Chemical Collections: Individuals can drop off automotive fluids, household
cleaners, pesticides, paints and other household chemicals for a cost of $3/gallon. Saturdays, 9
a.m. – 1 p.m.
-- August 15: Boyce Park, Allegheny County;
-- September 12: South Park, Allegheny County: and
-- October 10: Bradys Run Park, Beaver County.
For complete collection event information, visit the PA Resources Council website or call
PRC-West at 412-488-7452.
NewsClips:
Jessup Eyeing Curbside Recycling Program
Where Do Your Recyclables End Up?
Proposed Lancaster Landfill Expansion Praised, Attacked
Pittsburgh Church Sponsors Electronics Waste Recycling Event Aug. 1
The dog days of summer are upon us. Do something really “cool” in all this heat by helping the
environment.South Hills Assembly is proud to host a hard drive shredding and electronics waste
recycling event on August 1 on their premises located at 2725 Bethel Church Road in Bethel
Park, PA.
Area residents are encouraged to bring their obsolete and unwanted electronics to the
church from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Vehicle unloading assistance will be provided to all visitors.
This recycling event is intended for items typically purchased throughout the year
including computer equipment, cell phones, small appliances, cameras, calculators, typewriters,
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fax machines, keyboards, computer peripherals, and more.
Onsite hard drive shredding will be performed by CyberCrunch at a cost of $10 per hard
drive. CyberCrunch personnel will be onsite to help remove hard drives from computers. A
portion of the proceeds will benefit the church.
For security purposes, all data collected will be destroyed. This convenient recycling
program is provided by South Hills Assembly and all items collected will be responsiblyrecycled by Commonwealth Computer Recycling, a Pennsylvania compliant, R2 certified
universal waste and recycling firm.
For a full list of acceptable items, visit the Commonwealth Computer Recycling events
webpage.
Can’t make it to the event? They offer nationwide hard drive shredding through their
CyberCrunch mail back program.
NewsClips:
Jessup Eyeing Curbside Recycling Program
Where Do Your Recyclables End Up?
Proposed Lancaster Landfill Expansion Praised, Attacked
Centre County Adds Misc. Plastics Recycling Containers At Centre Hall Drop Off
The Centre County Recycling & Refuse Authority has
placed a container for recycling miscellaneous plastics in the
Centre Hall Snappy’s parking lot.
Plastics accepted at this location include: Yogurt
Containers, Margarine/Butter Tubs, Cottage Cheese
Containers, Sour Cream Containers, Whipped Topping
Containers, Strawberry/Blueberry/Raspberry Containers,
Cherry Tomato Containers, Lettuce/Salad Bar Containers,
Olive Bar Containers and much more. A comprehensive list is available online
.
DO NOT place these plastics in your curbside bin or blue commercial recycling toters -
they will not be collected in our curbside/commercial trucks due to space and operational issues.
For more information, please call the Authority’s office at 814-238-7005, or send email
to: [email protected] .
NewsClips:
Jessup Eyeing Curbside Recycling Program
Where Do Your Recyclables End Up?
Proposed Lancaster Landfill Expansion Praised, Attacked
EPA Announces 2 Brownfields Grants To Philadelphia Authorities
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Wednesday announced three brownfields grants for
a total of $600,000 - $400,000 to the Philadelphia Authority for Industrial Development and
$200,000 to the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority.
The grants will support efforts underway in assessing brownfields sites that are
potentially contaminated with petroleum and hazardous substances so they can be cleaned up and
redeveloped into beneficial spaces.
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Brownfields are properties where real or suspected environmental contamination has
prevented productive reuse.
“I want to congratulate Philadelphia Authority for Industrial Development and the
Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority on their success in redeveloping brownfields sites,” said
EPA Regional Administrator Shawn M. Garvin. “These funds will not only be used to assess
contamination, but will also facilitate the sites being returned to a more productive use that willhave lasting benefits to the surrounding communities.”
The funds will aid in assessing abandoned industrial and commercial properties,
frequently in underserved and economically disadvantaged neighborhoods, so they are more
livable, equitable and vibrant.
They will be used in developing neighborhood urban gardens and agriculture at the
Bartram South site, next to Bartram Gardens.
“As the factories of Philadelphia came and went, vacant land and contaminated soil was
often left behind. As Philadelphia looks to the future, green space, urban agriculture and
stormwater infrastructure will be key to community revitalization,” said Philadelphia
Redevelopment Authority Director Brian Abernathy. “We appreciate the EPA’s help and support
as we work to identify, assess and redevelop some of our vacant parcels into community assets.”EPA has been a long-time partner in Philadelphia’s redevelopment efforts. Including
today’s announcement, EPA has provided 17 grants totaling $5.6 million.
With these funds, the city has assessed more than 320 properties. In 1997, a $650,000
brownfields revolving loan led to the cleanup of the Frankford Arsenal. EPA is also supporting
two area wide planning efforts underway that are engaging residents and planning for
brownfields revitalization in Bridesburg and in Kensington.
These three grants were selected through a national competitive process, nationally 147
communities were chosen to receive 243 grants totaling $54.3 million in 2015 for assessment
and cleanup of brownfield sites.
For more information, visit EPA’s Brownfields webpage.
Report: PA Ranks 2nd In U.S. For Electric Competition
The Public Utility Commission Tuesday announced Pennsylvania now ranks as the No. 2 U.S.
state, behind only Texas, for residential, commercial and industrial electric competition,
according to the 2015 Annual Baseline Assessment of Choice in Canada and the United States.
“From accelerated switching to our newly redesigned PAPowerSwitch website -- there
are clear reasons why Pennsylvania continues to shine as a haven for competitive retail
shopping,” said Robert F. Powelson, Commissioner of the Pennsylvania Public Utility
Commission and member of the ABACCUS Advisory Board. “My colleagues and I are very
excited to see continued progress with retail offers and new market enhancement programs thatare driving further competition in the market. Further, we are committed in Pennsylvania to
maintaining the long-term viability of the marketplace.”
Pennsylvania ranked No. 3 overall (No. 2 excluding Canadian provinces) in the
ABACCUS report for residential electricity choice, and moved up from No. 4 to a tie with
Illinois for No. 2 for commercial and industrial electric shopping.
As of the end of June, more than 2 million total Pennsylvania electricity customers (or
35.8 percent) switched to an electric supplier.
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The report highlights www.PAPowerSwitch.com and its inclusion of fixed, variable and
renewable products; the PUC’s 2014 implementation of accelerated switching; last year’s action
to require a supplier contract summary highlighting key terms and conditions; and last year’s
PUC direction to include suppliers’ logos and additional supplier messaging space on the electric
utility bill.
ABACCUS 2015 includes best practices that states should follow, including one relatedto Pennsylvania’s PAPowerSwitch shopping website and consumer education:
— “Educate residential consumers and make information about power markets accessible:
— “Create a comprehensive education plan that reflects how far the markets have progressed.
— “Create a website for residential consumers that is easy to use, up-to-date and includes
comparison data regarding price, fixed-price contract term, renewable content,
deposit/cancellation fees, and other pertinent consumer information.”
According to the 2015 report, “Workable retail electric competition can thrive under a
range of market structures and policies. Pennsylvania, Illinois and Texas – just to name a few –
demonstrate there is more than one way to bring a choice of energy supplier, new and innovative
services, and lower prices to retail customers.”
ABACCUS is a scorecard designed to highlight the best market structures, policies and business practices that support and sustain a high level of market performance and individual
customer choice in the retail electricity sector. ABACCUS is released by Distributed Energy
Financial Group LLC (DEFG).
Copies of the full 2015 report and executive summary, along with reports from previous
years, are available at on the DEFG website .
NewsClips:
PA Improves Standing In Competitive Electric Markets
PA Competitive Electric Market Grows As Base Shrinks
Energy Spotlight: Larry Schweiger
New National Energy Lab Director Gazes Into The Future
Op-Ed: Coal Is Losing The War
Pitt To Start Energy Law & Policy Institute
Invasive Beetle Costs Western PA Power Companies Plenty
CFA Green Building, Renewable Energy Programs Accepting Applications
The Commonwealth Financing Authority is now accepting applications for energy-related
programs-- the High Performance Building Program and Renewable Energy Program.
Applications are due September 9 for action by the Authority on November 10.
The High Performance Building Program provides financial assistance in the form of
grants and loans to underwrite the cost associated with the design and construction or majorrenovation of high performance green buildings. Questions should be directed to Brian Eckert at
717-787-6245.
The Renewable Energy Program provides grants and loans for the use of alternative
energy. Questions should be directed to Blake Swett at 717-720-7344.
For more information, visit the CFA’s Energy Programs webpage.
Phipps Center For Sustainable Landscapes Energy Workshop, Tour Aug. 18
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The West Penn Power Sustainable Energy Fund and the
Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens in
Pittsburgh have organized an August 18 workshop and
tour of its Center for Sustainable Landscapes housing
groundbreaking sustainability research, education programs and serves as a key part of the garden’s visitor
experience.
In producing all of its own renewable energy,
and treating and reusing all water captured on site, the
CSL demonstrates the benefits of humanity living in harmony with nature. The CSL is the first
and only project to simultaneously attain the planet’s highest sustainable building certifications:
-- Living Building Challenge, the world’s most rigorous green building standard;
-- LEED Platinum – tied for the highest points awarded under version 2.2;
-- First and only Four Stars Sustainable SITES Initiative (SITES) for landscapes project (pilot);
and
-- First and only WELL Building Platinum project (pilot).Click Here for more information and to register.
Duquesne University Hosting Climate Change Conference Sept. 30-Oct. 2
Climate change will be the topic of this year’s Duquesne University Presidential Conference to
be held September 30 to October 2 in Pittsburgh.
This interdisciplinary, academic conference will occur each year to provide a scholarly
forum for exploring a topic related to the general theme of the Integrity of Creation.
The conference, commissioned by Duquesne President Dr. Charles J. Dougherty, is an
endowed academic event that celebrates the Spiritan mission of Duquesne University. The
conference is interdisciplinary in the sense that presenters and participants from different
disciplines are invited to engage each other in civil discourse on the conference topic.
Climate change will be discussed as a substantive and worrying change of patterns in the
weather and related phenomena over recent decades which negatively impact the entire planet.
This academic conference explores the implications of climate change from a variety of
scholarly perspectives to consider ways to improve our planet's future - safeguarding the
Integrity of Creation around us.
The conference has three goals:
— To provide a scholarly opportunity to engage established and emerging research on the
conference topic
— To foster interdisciplinary discourse on each topic, such as among science, health, philosophy, religion and policy
— To enlighten public awareness and discussion of the conference topic.
For a list of invited speakers, papers to be presented and registration information, visit the
Presidential Conference on the Integrity of Creation: Climate Change webpage.
NewsClip: Rally Supports Obama’s Clean Power Plan
Related Story:
EPA Set To Announce Final Clean Power Rule On Climate Monday
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Dept. Of Health Reports First Human Case Of West Nile Virus In Venango County
The Department of Health Thursday announced Pennsylvania’s first probable human case of
West Nile Virus infection in 2015 has been detected. A Venango county woman was
hospitalized due to WNV. She has since been released from the hospital and is recovering athome.
The departments of Health and Environmental Protection strongly recommend that all
residents minimize their exposure to mosquitoes.
“Detecting the first human case serves as a great reminder for Pennsylvanians to take the
proper precautions when they are outside or near areas where mosquitoes are prevalent,”
Secretary of Health Karen Murphy said. “There are some simple steps you can take to protect
yourself and your loved ones from mosquito-related diseases.”
Although mosquitoes can bite at any time of day or night, they are most active at dawn
and dusk. When outdoors, people can avoid mosquito bites by properly and consistently using
DEET-containing insect repellants and covering exposed skin with lightweight clothing. To keep
mosquitoes from entering a home, make sure window and door screens are in place and are ingood condition.
The Department of Environmental Protection conducts regular surveillance and control to
manage mosquito populations around the state. So far, DEP has detected WNV-infected
mosquitoes in 25 counties .
“DEP monitors the mosquito population across Pennsylvania,” said DEP Secretary John
Quigley. “Today’s announcement serves as a reminder that all Pennsylvanians should take
precautions to protect against mosquitoes. Using a personal insect repellant or staying indoors
during dawn and dusk will help prevent exposure to mosquitoes.”
The mosquitoes that transmit WNV breed in areas with standing and stagnant water.
These areas can include urban catch basins, clogged gutters, discarded tires, poorly maintained
swimming pools, flower pots and other types of plastic containers.
For more information, visit the West Nile Virus website.
NewsClips:
PA’s First Case Of West Nile Virus Confirmed
Health Secretary Promotes Lyme Disease Awareness
How To Reduce Your Chances Of Getting Lyme Disease
Treating Lyme Disease Can Be Complicated
Invasive Beetle Costs Western PA Power Companies Plenty
DEP Schedule For Mosquito Spraying Next Week
The Department of Environmental Protection and West Nile Programs across the state
announced a series of mosquito spray dates in the coming week. They include--
-- August 3: Cumberland County (Camp Hill Borough), Franklin County (Washington
Township), Indiana County (Shelocta Borough and Armstrong Township), York County
(Conewago Township);
-- August 4: Delaware County (Haverford Township);
-- August 5: Allegheny County (Munhall & Homestead Boroughs).
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Click Here for a list of spray dates. For more information, visit the West Nile Virus
website.
NewsClips:
PA’s First Case Of West Nile Virus Confirmed
Health Secretary Promotes Lyme Disease Awareness
How To Reduce Your Chances Of Getting Lyme Disease Treating Lyme Disease Can Be Complicated
Invasive Beetle Costs Western PA Power Companies Plenty
Forest Service Workshop On Aquatic Organism Road-Stream Passage Nov. 16-20
The U.S. Forest Service and its partners will host a workshop November 16029 in State College
providing training on a Stream Simulation Design Approach for Providing Aquatic Organism
Passage at Road-Stream Crossings .
This 4.5 day workshop will teach participants the necessary skills to design road-stream
crossing structures that provide unimpeded fish and other aquatic organism passage through the
structure, restore natural channel characteristics and fluvial processes through the structure, andmaximize the long-term stability of the structure.
Other partners in presenting this workshop are: National AOP Design Cadre, Eastern
Regional Office, Allegheny National Forest; USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service;
Trout Unlimited; and The Nature Conservancy.
Click Here for more background on the techniques involved. For more information, visit
the Workshop webpage , or contact Dan McKinley, U.S. Forest Service, by sending email to:
Lake At Cowans Gap State Park Reopening To Swimming In Fulton County
The departments of Health and Conservation and Natural Resources Friday announced, effective
August 1, swimming will again be permitted in the lake at Cowans Gap State Park , Fulton
County. The lake had been closed to swimming since July 22.
The decision to close the beach came after multiple reports of gastrointestinal illness
suspected of being norovirus .
The Department of Health investigation revealed at least 95 persons were sickened with
symptoms consistent with norovirus. Three of those cases were confirmed as norovirus,
demonstrating the outbreak was due to that virus.
"We have confidence that this was a short term incident," said Secretary of Health Karen
Murphy. "In addition to the latest testing, we found that among those who became ill, the vast
majority reported having visited the beach nearly two weeks ago."The illness was associated with swimming, especially among younger children who may
have accidentally swallowed contaminated lake water. As is common in norovirus outbreaks, a
few of those sickened may have acquired their infection from contact with an ill family member
who swam in the lake.
Norovirus is an extremely contagious virus that is passed from the vomit or stool of an
infected person, or through contaminated food or water. It can also be transmitted by touching a
contaminated surface and then eating or drinking without washing your hands. Symptoms can
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include stomach pain, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.
The beach was closed for a 10-day period as a precautionary measure to protect the
public's health and safety until a thorough investigation could be completed. The 1,085-acre park
has remained open to fishing, boating, hiking and other park activities.
"Safety of our park visitors always is our top concern," said DCNR Secretary Cindy
Adams Dunn. "We know lake swimming, especially during this hot weather, is a very popularactivity at Cowans Gap, but the welfare of swimmers justified the closure."
The secretary noted the lake's water has been tested regularly twice a week since
swimming began this summer. In addition, the Bureau of State Parks is ramping up efforts to
promote safe, hygienic swimming practices by park visitors through social media, and increased
signage and fact sheets aimed at preventing health issues in the future.
Health and park officials ask for the public's help to prevent the spread of norovirus and
other diseases. Persons with nausea, vomiting or diarrhea should stay out of the water. It is
preferable that small children in diapers, whether or not they have diarrhea, be kept out of the
water. And, as general advice, swimmers and other lake users are advised not to swallow lake
water.
The Department of Health recommends that anyone who has visited the park andexperiences diarrhea or vomiting should contact their healthcare provider, their local or state
health department or the Pennsylvania Department of Health at 1-877-PA-HEALTH
(877-724-3258).
Surrounded by Buchanan State Forest, Cowans Gap State Park draws more than 440,000
visitors annually. The 42-acre lake is complemented by a large campground, rustic cabins and
many hiking trails.
For more information, download a Department of Health Norovirus Fact Sheet or call
1-877-PA HEALTH (877-724-3258).
NewsClips:
Lake At Cowans Gap State Park Reopening To Swimming
90+ Fall Ill From Cowans Gap State Park Water
Sewer Problems Closed Lackawanna State Park After Opening
Regatta Attracts Thousands To Moraine State Park
Presque Isle Sand-Sculpture Contest Carves Friendships
How To Camp In A PA State Park
PA’s First Natural Play Area On Banks Of Lackawanna River
Wetlands Project To Start At York County Park
Mon Wharf Connector To Aid Bikers, Pedestrians
NE PA Pedals To Top As Bike Commuting Grows
Pittsburgh Planning Bike Lanes In Oakland
More Bike Lanes Coming To Pittsburgh Toughest Schuylkill Trail Stretch Opens
Amtrak Working On Bike Racks On Western PA Routes
Sept. 26 Walk to Raise Money For Flight 93 Trails
Pennsylvania Wilds Again Offering Mini Grants
The Pennsylvania Wilds Planning Team is pleased to announce a new
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mini-grant program for up to $25,000 in funding. Applications are due September 1.
“The PA Wilds Planning Team is pleased to be able to offer these mini-grants once
again,” said Jan Hampton of the Cameron County Conservation District, who serves as current
Chair of the Planning Team. “Many projects have been completed through past mini-grant
offerings that add natural interest and welcoming sites to our region.”
To be eligible, communities should have participated in two past workshops offered bythe PA Wilds Planning Team and are required to provide a 50-50 match to the grant. Eligible
applicants also include members of the workshop teams, include non-profit 501(c)3
organizations, municipalities, Councils of Government and Conservation Districts.
Two workshops hosted by the Planning Team were held in November 2007 and 2012.
The 2007 workshop entitled “Balancing Commerce and Nature for Sustainable
Community Development” included seven teams of community leaders to address issues of
specific concern to their areas and to create “vision to action” plans to guide collaboration among
diverse interests in their communities.
The 2012 workshop entitled “Connecting Nature, Economy, and Community Character,”
included nine teams from several different counties looking to advance sustainable tourism
projects important to their areas and that revolve around the region’s natural and cultural assets.Funding for the Planning Team’s 2015 Mini-Grant Program is provided through the
Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Bureau of Recreation and Conservation and
therefore must adhere to all statewide rules and regulations.
The Planning Team anticipates making award announcements by September 30.
Awardees would then have one year to complete their project.
The Pennsylvania Wilds region includes the counties of Warren, Forest, Elk, Potter,
McKean, Tioga, Clinton, Lycoming, Clearfield, Jefferson, Cameron and Clarion, Northern
Centre.
For full guidelines and an application, visit the Headwaters Charitable Trust website.
Friends Of Allegheny Wilderness Hickory Creek Wilderness Trail Cleanup Aug. 15-16
The Friends of Allegheny Wilderness will have a cleanup of the 13-mile Hickory Creek
Wilderness Trail on August 15-16 in Warren County.
Participants will be leaving from the Hickory Creek Wilderness trailhead on Hearts
Content Road Saturday morning, spend Saturday night in the wilderness, and hike out on
Sunday.
Minimum tools such as axes and elbow grease are all we will use to remove woody
debris and vegetation from the trail, in order to help perpetuate the rustic wilderness character of
the trail. And of course, no power tools such as chainsaws are permitted in wilderness, so there
will be no specialized training needed in that regard.There is no charge to join this program, but participants will need to bring all of their own
food, water and/or water filtration, camping equipment, and come fully prepared for any weather
conditions we may encounter.
Click Here to watch a video about Hickory Creek Wilderness Trail stewardship.
Questions should be directed to 814-723-0620 or send email to: [email protected] .
Delaware Highlands Conservancy August 14 Star Watch
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Join the Delaware Highlands Conservancy and local astronomer John Kocijanski for a free Star
Watch program on August 14 from 9 p.m.-11 p.m. at its office in Bethel, NY.
Watch the stars and planets, observe deep sky objects, and learn how to locate the
constellations. Please bring binoculars and/or your own telescope (we will have a limited number
available) and folding chairs, if you have them.This event is free and open to the public, but prior registration is required. Please call
570-226-3164, 845-583-1010, or send email to: [email protected] to register and
receive directions.
In case of inclement weather or cloudy skies, the program will be hosted the following
evening, on August 15. Registered participants will be notified of a change in date.
For more information on programs and activities, visit the Delaware Highlands
Conservancy webpage.
Allegheny Land Trust Summer Happenings: Blue Myst Hike, Bird Days Of Summer
The Allegheny Land Trust is hosting two interesting and fun events at the beginning of August:the Irwin Run Blue Myst Hike on August 7 and the Bird Days Of Summer Hike on August 8.
Join Allegheny Land Trust’s Land Protection Director, Roy Kraynyk, and local ghost
hunter Michael Pellas on the Blue Myst Hike for a one-of-a-kind out and back adventure. We’ll
walk about one mile along the closed off stretch of Irwin Road within the 73-acre Irwin Run
Conservation Area while learning the stories surrounding the area. Mysteries abound! Click
Here to register.
During the Bird Days of Summer Hike , learn the basics of bird-watching, find out how to
identify some of our region’s fascinating birds, and try your luck at a bird-spotting scavenger
hunt. This is a family-friendly event. Please direct questions to Rachael Letscher by sending
email to: [email protected] .
Natural Lands Trust Outlines August Events In Southeast PA
The Natural Lands Trust has posted its list of education programs, volunteer opportunities and
other unique events in Bucks County and Southeast PA. Click Here for NLT Calendar.
Delaware Highlands Conservancy Announces Free Community Picnic Aug. 29
The Delaware Highlands Conservancy is pleased to announce a free community event, August
29 from 12 p.m. -4 p.m. at its Bethel, New York office.
The Conservancy’s annual Thank-You Picnic celebrates its local community ofsupporters and friends and provides an opportunity for the public to enjoy the beautiful rolling
hills, meadows, gardens, and woods of their office.
Enjoy a light lunch made with local foods, live music from the Greater Rio Bluegrass
Quartet, a guided walk on our woodland trail, monarch butterflies with Ed Wesely and live
animals with the Pocono Wildlife Rehabilitation Center , and outdoor games, crafts, and fun for
all ages.
The first 100 people to arrive will receive a free reusable water bottle.
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For landowners, get your questions answered about stewarding or conserving your lands
with our Land Protection Coordinator, Jennifer Sherwood.
The Conservancy's Community Picnic was supported in part with funding from a
capacity grant from the New York State Conservation Partnership Program and New York's
Environmental Protection Fund. The NYSCPP is administered by the Land Trust Alliance, in
coordination with the state Department of Environmental Conservation.This event is free for our members and volunteers, but prior registration is requested. If
you are not a member, you have the option to join anytime on the Delaware Highlands
Conservancy website.
Please call the Delaware Highlands Conservancy at 570-226-3164 or 845-583-1010, or
send email to: [email protected] to register and receive directions.
July 29 DCNR Resource Newsletter Now Available
The July 29 issue of the Resource newsletter is now available from the Department of
Conservation and Natural Resources featuring articles on--
-- DCNR Releases Update To Shale Gas Monitoring Report -- DCNR Will Not Rebuild Mining Damaged Dam At Ryerson State Park
-- Health Concerns Close Lake At Cowans Gap State Park to Swimming
-- Pocono Forest And Waters Conservation Landscape Announces 2015 Mini Grants
-- DCNR Celebrates 20th Anniversary
-- Health Dept. Calls For Increased Awareness Of Lyme Disease
-- Schuylkill River Trail Named Best Urban Trail By USA Today Readers
-- Hawk Mountain Opens Accessible Trail
-- Click Here to sign up for your own copy (bottom of the page).
NewsClips:
Lake At Cowans Gap State Park Reopening To Swimming
90+ Fall Ill From Cowans Gap State Park Water
Sewer Problems Closed Lackawanna State Park After Opening
Regatta Attracts Thousands To Moraine State Park
Presque Isle Sand-Sculpture Contest Carves Friendships
How To Camp In A PA State Park
PA’s First Natural Play Area On Banks Of Lackawanna River
Wetlands Project To Start At York County Park
Mon Wharf Connector To Aid Bikers, Pedestrians
NE PA Pedals To Top As Bike Commuting Grows
Pittsburgh Planning Bike Lanes In Oakland
More Bike Lanes Coming To Pittsburgh Toughest Schuylkill Trail Stretch Opens
Amtrak Working On Bike Racks On Western PA Routes
Sept. 26 Walk to Raise Money For Flight 93 Trails
PEC’s Lindsay Baxter Recipient Of 2015 McCloy Fellowship In Environmental Policy
The PA Environmental Council Friday announced Lindsay Baxter , PEC’s
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Program Manager for Energy & Climate, has been named one of two Americans to receive a
2015 McCloy Fellowship in Environmental Policy through the American Council on Germany.
The program allows Baxter to travel to Germany for three weeks this fall to study energy
policy in that country.
Recipients of the fellowship design their own research project and itinerary and Baxter’s
research will focus on the challenges and opportunities of integrating increasing amounts ofrenewable energy into the electricity grid. This is an issue with immediate applicability in
Pennsylvania as our percentage of renewable electricity increases.
While in Germany, she will explore both technical solutions, such as advanced battery
storage and smart grid technologies, as well as policy-based options.
“It really is an honor to be selected for such a prestigious fellowship,” Baxter said. “I am
anxious to share what I learn through this experience with partners across Pennsylvania and use
it to inform PEC’s work towards an affordable, reliable, and sustainable energy future.”
Baxter, who is certified as a Qualified Environmental Professional, manages PEC’s
programs related to energy efficiency, renewable energy, and climate protection, including
low-impact hydroelectric development and PEC’s participation in the ReEnergize Pgh Coalition
and the Pittsburgh Climate Initiative
.She has also been instrumental in the implementation of PEC’s River Town Program .
“This is a great opportunity for Lindsay, and we are looking forward to seeing her apply
new learnings from Germany to her work here in Pennsylvania,” PEC President Davitt
Woodwell said.
The other fellowship recipients include one American and two Germans: Alan Cohn,
Climate Program Director for the New York City Department of Environmental Protection;
Frank Osterhage, Deputy Head of the Research Group on Development of City Regions at the
ILS – Research Institute for Regional and Urban Development; and Alexandra Seibt, Project
Coordinator for Research Group: Sustainable Protection and Consumption at Wuppertal Institute
for Climate, Environment, and Energy.
Opportunity To Bid On DEP Mine Reclamation Projects In Centre, Tioga Counties
The Department of Environmental Protection published notices in the August 1 PA Bulletin
announcing an opportunity to bid on mine reclamation projects in Centre County and Tioga
County .
Help Wanted: DEP Chief Information Officer, Director Of Information Technology
The Department of Environmental Protection is seeking qualified individuals to fill the position
of Chief Information Officer/Director of the Bureau of Information Technology. The deadlinefor applications is August 26. Click Here for all the details.
Help Wanted: PA Horticultural Society Plant One Million Trees Manager
The PA Horticultural Society is looking for qualified candidates to fill the position of Plant One
Million Regional Project Manager which coordinates and advances the PHS Plant One Million
and TreeVitalize Watershed reforestation program activities, primarily within Bucks, Chester,
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Delaware and Montgomery counties, with some overlap into Philadelphia and the Plant One
Million tri-state target area. Click Here for all the details.
Public Participation Opportunities/Calendar Of Events
This section lists House and Senate Committee meetings, DEP and other public hearings andmeetings and other interesting environmental events.
NEW means new from last week. [Agenda Not Posted] means not posted within 2 weeks
of the advisory committee meeting. Go to the online Calendar webpage for updates.
August 4-- CANCELED. DEP Environmental Justice Advisory Board meeting. Delaware
Room, 16th Floor, Rachel Carson Building. 8:30. ( formal cancellation notice )
August 4-5-- Mid-Atlantic Invasive Plant Council Conference. Juniata College, Huntingdon
County. Click Here for more information.
August 5-- Agenda Posted. DEP Solid Waste Advisory Committee Ad Hoc Convenience Center
Subcommittee meeting. 14th Floor Rachel Carson Building. 10:00. ( formal notice )
-- Discussion of Feasibility of Establishing Recycling Convenience Centers in Rural Areas
-- Click Here for available handouts.
August 6-- Agenda Posted. DEP Air Quality Technical Advisory Committee meeting. Room
105 Rachel Carson Building. 9:15.
-- Revised Policy On Developing Technical Guidance
-- Update on PA’s 2015 Ambient Air Monitoring Network Plan
-- Acid Rain - A PA Perspective
-- Concepts For Proposed Air Quality Fee Increases-- Proposed Attainment Demonstration For North Reading Lead Nonattainment
-- Overview Of Supreme Court Ruling On EPA’s Mercury, Air Toxics Standards
-- Regulatory Update/State Implementation Plan Revisions
-- Click Here for available handouts.
August 6-- Susquehanna River Basin Commission public hearing on proposed changes to the
Comprehensive Plan for the Water Resources of the Susquehanna River Basin and on individual
water withdrawal projects. East Hanover Township Municipal Building, 8848 Jonestown Rd.,
Grantville. 7:00 to 9:00. ( formal notice + agenda ) ( formal notice )
August 6-7-- 2015 PA Community Forestry Conference
. Penn State Erie.
August 7-8— Mid-Atlantic Volunteer Monitoring Conference . Shenandoah University,
Winchester, VA.
August 8-- Digital Photo Art Exhibit By Jerry Hassinger . Ned Smith Center for Nature and Art,
Millersburg, Dauphin County. 2:00 to 5:00 Reception.
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August 12-- NEW . Agenda Posted. DEP Aggregate Advisory Board meeting. 2nd Floor
Training Room, Rachel Carson Building. 10:00. ( formal notice )
-- Feedback on Field Trip To Millard Quarry
-- Updates on a variety of DEP noncoal mining program elements
-- Non-Coal Permit Fees
-- Non-Coal Bond Rate Guidelines-- Assistance for Abandoned Quarry Reclamation
-- Click Here for available handouts.
August 12-- Agenda Posted . DEP Water Resources Advisory Committee meeting. Room 105
Rachel Carson Building. 9:30.
-- Presentation on eComment System, Policy For Development Of Guidance
-- Implementation of Act 162 Riparian Forest Buffer Requirements
-- Design Standards For Sequencing Batch Reactors
-- Membrane Bioreactor Standards
-- Ultraviolet Disinfection Standards
-- Impact of Chlorine on May flies, Stroud Water Research Center Study-- Click Here for available handouts.
August 12-- Agenda Posted . DEP State Board For Certification Of Water And Wastewater
Systems Operators meeting. 10th Floor Conference Room, Rachel Carson Building. 10:00.
-- Approval of New, Upgrades, Reciprocity Applications
-- Board Secretary’s Report
-- Click Here for available handouts.
August 12-- DCNR Wild Resource Conservation Program hearing to comment on applications
submitted for FY 2015-16 grant funding. 6th Floor Conference Room, Rachel Carson Building,
Harrisburg. 10:00. ( formal notice
)
August 18-- CANCELED . Environmental Quality Board meeting. The next scheduled meeting
is September 15. 9:00. ( formal cancellation notice )
August 18-- CANCELED . DEP Citizens Advisory Council meeting. The next scheduled
meeting is September 15. 10:00.
August 18-- NEW
. DEP Climate Change Advisory Committee
meeting by WebEx (information
to be posted) to discuss the Manufacturing Energy Technical Assistance Work Plan. 11:00.
( formal notice
)
August 18-- NEW . West Penn Power Sustainable Energy Fund and the Phipps Conservatory and
Botanical Gardens Energy Workshop and Tour. Phipps Center, Pittsburgh. Click Here for more.
August 25-- CANCELED. DEP Oil and Gas Technical Advisory Board meeting. Next meeting
is September 2. ( formal notice )
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August 26-- DEP Cleanup Standards Scientific Advisory Board meeting. Room 105 Rachel
Carson Building. 9:00.
August 26-- DEP Pipeline Infrastructure Task Force meeting. Susquehanna Conference Rooms,
DEP Southcentral Regional Office, 909 Elmerton Ave., Harrisburg. 1:00. ( formal notice )
August 27-- DEP Conventional Oil and Gas Advisory Committee meeting. Room 105 Rachel
Carson Building. 10:00. ( formal notice )
August 29-- NEW . Chesapeake Bay Foundation-PA , Heroes On The Water, Trout Unlimited
Paddling event. Wrightsville, York County. 3:00-7:00 p.m. Click Here for more.
August 29— Brodhead Creek Watershed Assn. hosts 2 hikes in Monroe County. Click Here for
all the details.
September 1-- DEP Storage Tank Advisory Committee meeting. Room 105 Rachel Carson
Building. 10:00.
September 2-- NEW. DEP Oil and Gas Technical Advisory Board meeting. Room 105 Rachel
Carson Building. 10:00. ( formal notice )
September 8-- DEP Board of Coal Mine Safety meeting. DEP Cambria Office, 286 Industrial
Park Rd., Ebensburg. 10:00.
September 9-- NEW . Commonwealth Financing Authority . Hearing Room 1, Keystone
Building. 10:30.
September 15-- Environmental Quality Board meeting. Room 105 Rachel Carson Building.
9:00.
September 15-- DEP Citizens Advisory Council meeting. Room 105 Rachel Carson Building.
10:00.
September 17-- DEP Water Systems Technical Assistance Center Board meeting. Room 105
Rachel Carson Building. 9:00.
September 18--
NEW
. Rain Alert Information Network Source Water Protection Conference.
Western PA. (more information available soon
)
September 16-20-- National Trout Unlimited Meeting. Center City Hilton Hotel and Convention
Center, Scranton. Click Here for more information.
September 20-22-- 2015 Greenways and Trails Summit. Holiday Inn and Allegheny
Community Center, Warren.
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September 22-- DEP Sewage Advisory Committee meeting. Room 105 Rachel Carson
Building. 10:30.
September 23-- DEP Pipeline Infrastructure Task Force meeting. Susquehanna Conference
Rooms, DEP Southcentral Regional Office, 909 Elmerton Ave., Harrisburg. 1:00. ( formal
notice
)
September 24-- DEP Recycling Fund Advisory Committee & Solid Waste Advisory Committee
meeting. Room 105 Rachel Carson Building. 10:00.
September 24-- DEP Radiation Protection Advisory Committee meeting. 14th Floor
Conference Room, Rachel Carson Building. 9:00.
September 25-27-- NEW . Chesapeake Bay Watershed Forum. National Conservation Training
Center , Shepherdstown, WV.
September 30-October 2--
NEW. Duquesne University Presidential Conference on ClimateChange. Pittsburgh.
October 2-- DEP Low-Level Waste Advisory Committee. Room 105 Rachel Carson Building.
10:00.
October 8-- DEP Air Quality Technical Advisory Committee meeting. Room 105 Rachel
Carson Building. 9:15.
October 13— PA Environmental Council 2nd Annual Environmental Policy Conference .
Harrisburg.
October 14-- DEP Technical Advisory Committee on Diesel-Powered Mining Equipment
meeting. DEP New Stanton Office, 131 Broadview Rd., New Stanton. 10:00.
October 17-- Sen. Alloway, Alliance For Chesapeake Bay Tree Planting . Cumberland, Franklin
Counties. Click Here for more information or to volunteer.
October 20-- Environmental Quality Board
meeting. Room 105 Rachel Carson Building. 9:00.
October 20-- DEP Citizens Advisory Council meeting. Room 105 Rachel Carson Building.
10:00.
October 22-- DEP Mining and Reclamation Advisory Board meeting. Room 105 Rachel Carson
Building. 10:00.
October 27-- DEP Oil and Gas Technical Advisory Committee meeting. Room 105 Rachel
Carson Building. 10:00. ( formal notice )
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October 28-- DEP Pipeline Infrastructure Task Force meeting. Susquehanna Conference
Rooms, DEP Southcentral Regional Office, 909 Elmerton Ave., Harrisburg. 1:00. ( formal
notice )
October 28-30-- 2015 Partnership for Safe Water 2015 Water System Optimization Conference
hosted by the PA Section American Water Works Association
. Hershey.
October 28-- DEP Small Business Compliance Advisory Committee meeting. 12th Floor
Conference Room, Rachel Carson Building. 10:00.
October 29-- DEP Conventional Oil and Gas Advisory Committee meeting. Room 105 Rachel
Carson Building. 10:00. ( formal notice )
October 29-- DEP State Board For Certification Of Water And Wastewater Systems Operators
meeting. 10th Floor Conference Room, Rachel Carson Building. 10:00.
November 10-- NEW
. Commonwealth Financing Authority
. Hearing Room 1, KeystoneBuilding. 10:30.
November 16-20-- NEW . U.S. Forest Service Stream Simulation Design Approach for
Providing Aquatic Organism Passage at Road-Stream Crossings Workshop . State College.
November 18-- DEP Pipeline Infrastructure Task Force meeting. Susquehanna Conference
Rooms, DEP Southcentral Regional Office, 909 Elmerton Ave., Harrisburg. 1:00. ( formal
notice )
January 13-- DEP Pipeline Infrastructure Task Force meeting. Susquehanna Conference
Rooms, DEP Southcentral Regional Office, 909 Elmerton Ave., Harrisburg. 1:00. (
formal
notice )
February 26-27— 2016 Keystone Coldwater Conference. State College.
Visit DEP’s Public Participation Center for information on how you can Be Informed! and Get
Involved! in DEP regulation and guidance development process.
DEP Regulations In Process
Proposed Regulations Open For Comment - DEP webpage
Proposed Regulations With Closed Comment Periods
- DEP webpageRecently Finalized Regulations - DEP webpage
DEP Regulatory Update - DEP webpage
DEP Technical Guidance In Process
Draft Technical Guidance Documents - DEP webpage
Technical Guidance Comment Deadlines - DEP webpage
Submit Comments on Proposals Through DEP’s new Environmental Policy Comment System
8/20/2019 Pa Environment Digest Aug. 3, 2015
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Recently Closed Comment Periods For Technical Guidance - DEP webpage
Technical Guidance Recently Finalized - DEP webpage
Copies of Final Technical Guidance - DEP webpage
Other DEP Proposals For Public Review
Other Proposals Open For Public Comment - DEP webpageSubmit Comments on Proposals Through DEP’s new Environmental Policy Comment System
Recently Closed Comment Periods For Other Proposals - DEP webpage
Other Proposals Recently Finalized - DEP webpage
Click Here for links to DEP’s Advisory Committee webpages.
DEP Calendar of Events
DCNR Calendar of Events
Note: The Environmental Education Workshop Calendar is no longer available from the PACenter for Environmental Education because funding for the Center was eliminated in the FY
2011-12 state budget. The PCEE website was also shutdown, but some content was moved to
the PA Association of Environmental Educators' website.
Senate Committee Schedule House Committee Schedule
You can watch the Senate Floor Session and House Floor Session live online.
Add Green Works In PA To Your Google+ Circle
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.
August 7-- Chesapeake Bay Trust K-12 Environmental Ed Grants
August 12-- NEW . Chesapeake Bay Forest Champions Contest
August 14-- PA Sea Grant Program Research Grant Proposals
August 14-- PA Housing Finance Agency Drilling Fee Funded Housing Grants
August 24-- 10,000 Friends Of PA Commonwealth Awards
September 1-- NEW
. PA Wilds Mini Grant Program September 9-- NEW . CFA High Performance Building Program (for action Nov. 10)
September 9-- NEW . CFA Renewable Energy Program (for action Nov. 10)
September 12-- PPFF State Parks and Forests Through The Season Photo Contest
September 12-- Yellow Breeches Watershed Landscape Makeover Challenge
September 18-- PHS TreeVitalize Watershed Grants Southeast PA
September 18-- FirstEnergy STEM Education Grants
September 30-- DEP Recycling Performance Grants
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September 30-- Project Learning Tree GreenWorks! Grants
September 30-- PRC Anti-Litter Video Contest Pittsburgh
October 22-- Office State Fire Commission Fire Company Grants (Limited Info)
October 31-- PA Resources Council Lens On Litter Photo Contest
December 31-- DEP Alternative Fuels Incentive Vehicle Rebates
January 1-- DEP Small Business Advantage Grants
(first-come, first-served)
-- Visit the DEP Grants and Loan Programs webpage for more ideas on how to get financial
assistance for environmental projects.
Add Green Works In PA To Your Google+ Circle
Environmental NewsClips - All Topics
Here are NewsClips from around the state on all environmental topics, including General
Environment, Budget, Marcellus Shale, Watershed Protection and much more--
28 Things To Do, See In PA Before You Die
Air
Court Orders EPA To Relax Air Pollution Limits In 13 States
EPA Ordered To East Air Pollution Limits For Cross-Border Pollution
Jessup Power Plant Completes Draft Air Permit
Alternative Energy
Editorial: The Wind Ruse: A Failed Policy
Awards & Recognition
Fairfield Resident Honored By Loyalhanna Watershed Assn
BiodiversityInvasive Beetle Costs Western PA Power Companies Plenty
Budget
Gas Severance Tax Faces Stalemate For 5th Year
Op-Ed: Don’t Kill Our Pennsylvania Shale Jobs
Budget Impasse Affects Gnat Control
Speaker Turzai Threatens Veto Override Vote
House Dems: Override Votes On Budget Aren’t Likely
State Budget Stalemate Turned Into Living Room War
Real People, Solutions At Heart Of GOP Ad Blitz In PA
John Baer: Message From The State Budget Mess
Dems Support Wolf, Urge End To Budget Impasse Wolf, GOP Making Progress On Budget Talks
Dems Warn Of Consequences If Budget Impasse Continues
Pennsylvanians Starting To Feel Budget Squeeze
House Republicans Say Wolf Must Face Budget Reality
Climate
Rally Supports Obama’s Clean Power Plan
Economic Development
8/20/2019 Pa Environment Digest Aug. 3, 2015
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Riverlife Lands New CEO From Boston’s Harbor
Education
Banana Peels, Wind Turbine Rust Win Energy Science Fair
Energy
Energy Spotlight: Larry Schweiger
New National Energy Lab Director Gazes Into The Future PA Improves Standing In Competitive Electric Markets
PA Competitive Electric Market Grows As Base Shrinks
Op-Ed: Coal Is Losing The War
Pitt To Start Energy Law & Policy Institute
Invasive Beetle Costs Western PA Power Companies Plenty
Forests
PA’s First Case Of West Nile Virus Confirmed
Health Secretary Promotes Lyme Disease Awareness
How To Reduce Your Chances Of Getting Lyme Disease
Treating Lyme Disease Can Be Complicated
Invasive Beetle Costs Western PA Power Companies Plenty Mine Reclamation
Tests Find Radiation In Abandoned Mine Water In Washington County
Land Conservation
Editorial: 10 Alternatives To Tucquan Glen Nature Preserve
Oil & Gas
Gas Severance Tax Faces Stalemate For 5th Year
Op-Ed: Don’t Kill Our Pennsylvania Shale Jobs
Range Resources, DEP Haggling Over Proposed $8.9M Fine
Documents Show Ties Between Natural Gas Industry, GOP
How Gas Industry Gained Corbett Influence
Transco Pipeline Upsets Landowners
Protest Planned At Lancaster Pipeline Talk
Pipeline Opponents In Force In Lancaster Talk
U.S. Steel To Debut Oil, Gas Pipeline Connector
PJM, Natural Gas Pipelines Agree To Share More Information
Only 33% Of NJ Landowners Allow PennEast Pipeline On Property
PennEast Pipeline May Connect To Blue Mountain Resort
Op-Ed: PennEast Pipeline Will Provide Giant Economic Boost
Pipeline Routes Remain Risky Mystery
Jessup Power Plant Completes Draft Air Permit
Judge: Oil And Gas Lease For Washington County Tract Valid Peoples Gas Sees Unique Business Case For Philanthropy
Philadelphia Energy Solutions Pursues Loading, Storage Of Bakken Crude
Pennsylvania Sees Increase In Drilling Rigs
Natural Gas: New York’s Loss Is PA’s Gain
Plenty Of Natural Gas In Storage For Winter Weather
Blind, Handicapped Part Of Energy’s Transformation
Plummeting Natural Gas Prices Slash Shale Producer Revenue
8/20/2019 Pa Environment Digest Aug. 3, 2015
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Range Resources Cuts Workforce 11 Percent
Range Resources Reports Loss
Consol Energy Widens Loss, Cuts Spending
Global Oil Market Downturn Felt In Western PA
Oil Prices Fall On Stronger Dollar
OPEC Chief Expects Oil Prices To Stabilize U.S. Senate Panel Lifts Crude Oil Export Ban
Recreation
90+ Fall Ill From Cowans Gap State Park Water
Sewer Problems Closed Lackawanna State Park After Opening
Regatta Attracts Thousands To Moraine State Park
Presque Isle Sand-Sculpture Contest Carves Friendships
How To Camp In A PA State Park
PA’s First Natural Play Area On Banks Of Lackawanna River
Wetlands Project To Start At York County Park
Mon Wharf Connector To Aid Bikers, Pedestrians
NE PA Pedals To Top As Bike Commuting Grows Pittsburgh Planning Bike Lanes In Oakland
More Bike Lanes Coming To Pittsburgh
Toughest Schuylkill Trail Stretch Opens
Amtrak Working On Bike Racks On Western PA Routes
Sept. 26 Walk to Raise Money For Flight 93 Trails
Recycling/Waste
Proposed Lancaster Landfill Expansion Praised, Attacked
Jessup Eyeing Curbside Recycling Program
Where Do Your Recyclables End Up?
Wastewater Systems
PA American Makes Pitch For Scranton Sewer System
Watershed Protection
PA Officials Vow To Reboot Chesapeake Bay Cleanup Efforts
Chesapeake Conservancy Mapping The Susquehanna River
Chesapeake Bay Council OKs New BMPs As Progress Lags
Crew Filming Length Of Susquehanna Due In HBG Saturday
Op-Ed: Time For PA To Walk The Walk On Clean Waters
Conewango Earns Its Place As PA River Of Year
Fairfield Resident Honored By Loyalhanna Watershed Assn
Tests Find Radiation In Abandoned Mine Water In Washington County
Lycoming U Hosts Heartland Coalition For Environmental Studies Creek Health Checked After Chemical Plant Fire
National, State Sportsmen Back EPA Waters Of US Rule
Riverlife Lands New CEO From Boston’s Harbor
Latest From The Chesapeake Bay Journal
Click Here to subscribe to the Chesapeake Bay Journal
Wetlands
Wetlands Project To Start At York County Park
8/20/2019 Pa Environment Digest Aug. 3, 2015
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Wildlife
Western PA Audubon Hike, Geocashing Workshop Aug. 23
PA Could Toughen Penalties For Killing A Bald Eagle
Is PA In Mountain Lion’s Path Like Predecessor?
Manatee Sighted In Delaware River
New Trail For Disabled At Hawk Mountain Wildlife Investigations At East Stroudsburg DNA Lab
National, State Sportsmen Back EPA Waters Of US Rule
Other
Trucks Moved From Conservation Zone In Roaring Brook
Gannett Fleming Looks To Its Next 100 Years
DEP’s NewsClips webpage - Click Here
The latest environmental NewsClips and news is available at the PA Environment Digest Daily
Blog , Twitter Feed and add us to your Google+ Circle .
Regulations, Technical Guidance & Permits
No new regulations published this week. Pennsylvania Bulletin - August 1, 2015
DEP Regulations In Process
Proposed Regulations Open For Comment - DEP webpage
Proposed Regulations With Closed Comment Periods - DEP webpage
Recently Finalized Regulations - DEP webpage
DEP Regulatory Update - DEP webpage
Technical Guidance & Permits
The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the August 1 PA Bulletin of
requests for certification under the Nutrient Credit Trading Program.
The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources published notice in the August 1 PA
Bulletin it has executed a submerged lands lease for oil and gas rights for 174 acres in Lycoming
County with Inflection Energy.
The Fish and Boat Commission published notice in the August 1 PA Bulletin of additions to the
Class A Wild Trout Waters List and Wild Trout Stream List.
The Governor’s Office published a list of current Executive Orders, Management Directives for
reference purposes in the August 1 PA Bulletin.
DEP Technical Guidance In Process
Draft Technical Guidance Documents - DEP webpage
Technical Guidance Comment Deadlines - DEP webpage
8/20/2019 Pa Environment Digest Aug. 3, 2015
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Submit Comments on Proposals Through DEP’s new Environmental Policy Comment System
Recently Closed Comment Periods For Technical Guidance - DEP webpage
Technical Guidance Recently Finalized - DEP webpage
Copies of Final Technical Guidance - DEP webpage
Other DEP Proposals For Public ReviewOther Proposals Open For Public Comment - DEP webpage
Submit Comments on Proposals Through DEP’s new Environmental Policy Comment System
Recently Closed Comment Periods For Other Proposals - DEP webpage
Other Proposals Recently Finalized - DEP webpage
Visit DEP’s new Public Participation Center for information on how you can Be Informed! and
Get Involved! in DEP regulation and guidance development process.
Click Here for links to DEP’s Advisory Committee webpages.
DEP Calendar of Events
Add Green Works In PA To Your Google+ Circle
CLICK HERE To Print Entire PA Environment Digest
CLICK HERE to Print The Entire PA Environment Digest.
Stories Invited
Send your stories, photos and links to videos about your project, environmental issues or programs for publication in the PA Environment Digest to: [email protected].
PA Environment Digest is edited by David E. Hess, former Secretary Pennsylvania Department
of Environmental Protection, and is published as a service of Crisci Associates, a
Harrisburg-based government and public affairs firm whose clients include Fortune 500
companies and non-profit organizations.
Did you know you can search 10 years of back issues of the PA Environment Digest on dozens
of topics, by county and on any keyword you choose? Just click on the search page .
PA Environment Digest
weekly was the winner of the PA Association of Environmental
Educators' 2009 Business Partner of the Year Award.
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
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Unlimited .
Sponsor: 2016 Keystone Coldwater Conference , State College, Feb. 26-27.
