Pa Environment Digest May 4, 2015

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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 May 4, 2015

Wolf Announces Winners Of 2015 Governor’s Environmental Excellence Awards

Gov. Tom Wolf Tuesday announced 15 environmental projects from across the state will receive

the 2015 Governor’s Award for Environmental Excellence .

“These awards represent some of our best citizen-led efforts in environmental

stewardship,” Wolf said. “Their leadership is bound to make a positive impact on thecommunities they serve.”

Any Pennsylvania business, school, government agency, trade organization, non-profit

organization, or agribusiness that has completed projects to promote environmental stewardship

and economic development was eligible to apply for the award. The winners were selected by the

Department of Environmental Protection.

DEP Acting Secretary John Quigley delivered the keynote address, thanking all of the

award recipients for their dedication and efforts to improve Pennsylvania's environment.

"Collectively, they demonstrate the essential fact that environmental stewardship and

economic development are inextricably linked, as they must be to build a more prosperous,

healthier future for Pennsylvania," Quigley said.

He also talked about Gov. Wolf's proposed budget, calling it a blueprint forPennsylvania's future.

"A fundamental underpinning of this vision is that we cannot accept where things

currently stand, nor can we accept business as usual," Quigley said.

He also pledged DEP's commitment to meeting Gov. Wolf's challenge to deliver jobs that

pay, schools that teach, and government that works for all Pennsylvanians.

"A government that works is a government that listens. It's all about dialogue," Quigley

said.

“We received numerous entries from worthy projects across the state,” Quigley said.

“The innovations shown by this year’s winners represent Pennsylvanians’ commitment to

protecting our environment.”

The winning projects include a recycling drive, a statewide litter cleanup, a watershedenhancement initiative, a cleanup of an industrial site, and much more.

The Pennsylvania Environmental Council will host a dinner to honor the award winners

April 28 at the Hilton in downtown Harrisburg.

The winners by county are:

-- Adams County: Adams County Chapter 323 Trout Unlimited - Conococheague Creek

Trout Habitat Enhancement Project. ACTU coordinated a multi-year project to improve the trout

habitat in a stream within Michaux State Forest. The project included the installation of 24

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habitat devices including a log and stone tip-deflector, root wads, instream boulders, mudsills,

stone vanes, long-term stream monitoring, and the planting of 160 native trees and shrubs along

the riparian buffer. This restoration project enhanced the wild trout fishing on the

Conococheague Creek (on public land) for future generations.

-- Allegheny County: Sustainable Pittsburgh - Performance Programs: From air and water

quality to energy efficiency, recycling and waste management, to land use and transportation,workforce development, healthy people and economic prosperity, SP remains at the forefront of

working with organizations to integrate more sustainable development for southwestern

Pennsylvania. Over the past two Green Workplace Challenges , nearly 100 employers from

throughout southwestern Pennsylvania took over 2,000 actions, saving $7.4 million in energy

costs and enough water to fill the playing surface of Heinz Field 223 feet deep. Participants

reduced carbon emissions by 22,821 metric tons of carbon dioxide.

-- Bucks County: Yardley Borough Environmental Advisory Commission: Yardley Borough

Recycling Day 2014: Every spring the EAC's biggest event is Yardley Borough Recycling Day,

in which it runs a multi-item recycling event. This year, there was a steady flow of traffic for

four hours. The event collected 22,056 pounds of waste including:: 44 percent TVs, 16 percent

consumer, 13 percent PCs, 10 percent misc., 4 percent AC units, 2 percent other materials. Therewere also three trucks full of shredded paper materials, estimated at around 12,000 pounds There

were 45 pairs of sneakers, 30 batteries, 20 cell phones, 30 bikes, and eight American Flags.

-- Chester County: Exelon Generation - Kennett Square Environmental Council

Stewardship and Outreach: The Kennett Square Environmental Council organized

environmental stewardship efforts to reach out to campus employees, the local community,

schools, and local families. These efforts promoted environmental stewardship, sustainability

practices, and habitat improvement concepts, and resulted in planting 840 plants, reducing

79,662 lbs. of CO2 from the atmosphere, reducing 21 percent of energy use, recycling 10,000

pounds of electronic material, and creating 15 nesting structures.

-- Clearfield County: Headwaters Resource Conservation & Development Council

Sinnemahoning Stakeholder Committee - Sinnemahoning Stakeholder Committee: A

Restoration, Education, and Financial Stewardship Commitment. The Sinnemahoning

Stakeholders Committee has awarded over $1 million for 100 projects to conservation groups

and agencies to assist in the restoration of the watershed. This endeavor does not consist of just

one project. Rather, it addresses many projects that address water quality, habitat improvements,

environmental outreach, and education. Through their work, the river shows great signs of

improvement both with growing fish populations and healthy vegetation after 48,000 gallons of

Sodium Hydroxide and chlorine spilled into the water.

-- Dauphin County: Phoenix Contact Services, Inc. - Combined Cooling Heating & Power:

Phoenix Contact's combined cooling, heating, and power system is comprised of micro-turbines

packaged in a single container, a gas absorption chiller, and a heat exchanger. Themicro-turbines are driven in direct proportion to the demand of the thermal requirements of the

facility. The system micro-turbines are fueled by natural gas, a Pennsylvania-produced, cleaner

burning natural resource. The pollution prevention aspects of this project are directly realized at

the utility power generation plant. This project offsets the amount of fuel needed at the utility

power plant and utilizes the byproduct of heat usefully, in lieu of rejecting the heat directly to the

environment as is typical of utility power plant electrical production.

-- Delaware County: The Vanguard Group, Inc. - Vanguard's Commuter Reduction

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Program: As a large financial investment company in Chester County, Vanguard has made

significant efforts to encourage employees to use alternative modes of transportation for their

daily commute. Forms of alternative transit that are being invested in include; shuttles to public

transit, public transit benefits, carpools, bike locks and showers, and electric vehicle charging

stations. Through a third party consultant, it is estimated that in 2014 the Vanguard shuttle

service alone saved 24,954 gallons of gasoline and 222.59 metric tons of CO2-- Erie County:

-- Harmful Algal Bloom Task Force - Algal Bloom Monitoring & Response Strategy for

Recreational Waters: The task force determined that a monitoring and response strategy for

HAB needed to be developed for Pennsylvania, particularly Lake Erie recreational waters. The

strategy is designed to monitor environmental conditions to predict HAB formation, sample for

toxin levels in public recreational waters, use sample results to make advisory decisions, and

inform the public and water resource managers of how to recognize a HAB and the associated

hazards.

-- Pennsylvania Sea Grant - Great Lakes - Great Stewards: "Great Lakes - Great Stewards"

combined service learning instruction with Pennsylvania Sea Grant, National Oceanic and

Atmospheric Administration and Great Lakes Restoration Initiative-funded resources to provide10 outstanding teachers and 250 students from low-income schools with science-based

experiential learning on multiple watershed water quality issues. This project, which focused on

emerging contaminants, stormwater management, invasive species, and wetland and habitat

restoration, included a variety of teacher/student trainings, classroom learning, and shipboard and

field activities. Students researched, developed, and implemented a second service project on a

topic that they chose themselves.

-- Regional Science Consortium - The Pennsylvania Lake Erie Nearshore Buoy: The

technologically advanced buoy system included a full weather station, water quality monitor, a

wave meter, and a video camera capturing 10 second video clips of lake conditions. Quantified

data was collected every 20 minutes and was used in modeling efforts to examine bacterial

concentrations that are used as a regulatory indicator for beach waters at Presque Isle State Park.

This allowed beach managers to issue "Pre-cautionary Advisories" on their beaches.

-- Philadelphia County: PECO - Norristown Manufactured Gas Plant (MGP) Site

Remediation: PECO investigated and remediated the former Norristown MGP site in

accordance with the provisions of the Pennsylvania Land Recycling Program. PECO's primary

goal of enrolling its portfolio of former MGP sites in the voluntary Act 2 cleanup program is to

minimize the mass and volume of contamination in the environment. Through the removal of

100,000 tons of impacted soils from the subsurface, an estimated 1,000 to 2,000 tons of

hazardous substances were removed from the environment and from the Schuylkill/Delaware

watershed.

-- Philadelphia Water Department - Delaware Valley Early Warning System: Tidal SpillTrajectory Tool: The Philadelphia Water Department identified the need for improved

communications among water suppliers and other stakeholders during water quality emergency

events and created an EWS. EWS is a web-based notification system and data portal designed to

provide advanced warning of surface water quality or flooding events in the Schuylkill and

Lower Delaware river watersheds. In the event of an accidental or deliberate contamination

event, this tool adds capabilities that existing tidal models cannot offer, by incorporating the

effect of wind and weather on the movement of water pollution in tidal settings.

http://www.phila.gov/water/http://www.paseagrant.org/


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-- Schuylkill County: Schuylkill County Municipal Authority - Deer Lake Wastewater

treatment Plant and Sanitary Upgrades: The project consists of construction of a 1 million

gallon-per-day wastewater treatment plant, three pumping stations, and over 12 miles of

collection and conveyance lines to serve areas of Deer Lake Borough, West Brunswick

Township, Auburn Borough, and Orwigsburg Borough. The regional project consolidated five

existing public/private treatment facilities into one comprehensive, energy efficient plant. The project eliminates significant environmental issues with malfunctioning on-lot septic systems and

contamination of private drinking water wells in the Pine Creek drainage basin, a designated

Cold Water Fishery and Migratory Fishery by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

-- Somerset County: Conemaugh Valley Conservancy, Inc-Kiski - Conemaugh Stream

Team: The mission of the Stream Team is to educate and engage citizen stewards in

maintaining, enhancing, and restoring the natural resources of the Kiski-Conemaugh River

Basin, which encompasses portions of Armstrong, Cambria, Indiana, Somerset, and

Westmoreland Ccunties. The Stream Team provides a critical service to watershed groups that

do not have the staff or resources to conduct this sampling and obtain these data. The Stream

Team oversees 11 "Trout in the Classroom Projects" through the counties.

-- Statewide: Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful - Great American Cleanup of Pennsylvania: Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful believes that education is the key to encourage positive behaviors

for community improvement. In 2014, 5,349 cleanup events were registered with 136,507

volunteers. Volunteers collected 6,359,872 pounds of trash. They cleaned 13,603 miles of roads,

railroad tracks, trails, waterways, and shorelines, and 9,113 acres of parks and wetlands.

Additionally, volunteers planted 31,406 trees and bulbs.

For more information, visit the Governor’s Award for Environmental Excellence

webpage.

NewsClips: Conococheague Creek Group Honored For Trout Efforts

Keep PA Beautiful’s Great American Cleanup Of PA Receives Governor’s Award

The Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful Great American Cleanup of PA has been selected to receive a

2015 Governor’s Award for Environmental Excellence.

The Great American Cleanup of PA is an annual program empowering Pennsylvanians to

make communities clean and beautiful by removing litter and trash along roadsides, streams,

beaches, parks, forests and neighborhoods.

Events can also include recycling collections for hard-to-dispose of items like tires and

appliances, creating or enhancing green areas through beautification and community greening,

removing or painting over graffiti that devalues a neighborhood, and other activities that help

beautify any community.

Community and civic associations, schools and youth groups, families and friends, business employees, hunting and fishing clubs, conservation organizations, sports teams, and

others organize their members and participate in the annual Great American Cleanup of PA.

Since the inception of this event in 2004, over 1,565,950 million volunteers have picked

up 80,575,227 million pounds of litter and waste, 146,259 miles of roads, waterways, shorelines,

and trails have been cleaned, and more than 136,300 trees, bulbs, and flowers have been planted.

Volunteers also removed over 202,350 tires and 130,218 pounds of scrap metal.

“The Great American Cleanup of PA is successful year in and year out due to its

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long-term committed industry and state agency partners, municipal and civic event coordinators,

and the more than 130,000 community stewards across the state that roll up their sleeves to

improve their communities,” stated Shannon Reiter, President of Keep PA Beautiful. “Keep

Pennsylvania Beautiful is honored to accept this award on behalf of our partners and

environmental stewards who take responsibility for improving their community.”

Each year organizations and companies that encourage and promote environmentalstewardship are recognized with the Governor’s Award for Environmental excellence for their

accomplishments and contributions to the conservation of Pennsylvania’s environment.

A reception of honorees was held on April 28 at the Harrisburg Hilton Hotel.

For more information, visit KPB’s Great American Cleanup of PA webpage.


PECO Environmental Program Receives Governor’s Environmental Excellence Award

Gov. Tom Wolf and the Department of Environmental Protection have recognized PECO with

the 2015 Governor’s Award for Environmental Excellence for the company’s work to restore the

site of a former manufactured gas plant in Norristown, PA.“It is truly an honor to be recognized by the Commonwealth for a program that has such a

far-reaching environmental impact,” said Ellen Cavanaugh, PECO vice president of Support

Services. “This voluntary program solidifies the company’s role as an environmental steward

and breathes new life into industrial land, paving the way for future redevelopment.”

Between 2011 and 2014, PECO restored the former Norristown MGP, located along the

banks of the Schuylkill River. The restoration process included the removal of 103,000 tons of

impacted soil and the treatment of more than 11 million gallons of impacted groundwater, which

was treated and returned to the environment.

More than $12 million was invested in the remediation work to restore the site and all

work was completed in accordance with the provisions of the Pennsylvania Land Recycling

Program (Act 2).

MGPs were operated throughout the U.S. during the late 1800s and 1900s to produce gas

for heating and lighting purposes. Byproducts of the gas production process, such as coal tar and

cinders sometimes remained on site after the plants closed.

As part of PECO’s ongoing commitment to protect and preserve the environment, the

company voluntarily restores former MGPs across its southeastern Pennsylvania service

territory.

Since the early 1990s, PECO has restored 16 former MGP sites throughout the region,

with the approval of the PADEP. The company plans to restore 10 remaining sites during the

next few years.

The Governor’s Award for Environmental Excellence recognizes companies andorganizations that encourage and promote environmental stewardship and contribute to the

conservation of Pennsylvania’s environment.

For more information, visit PECO’s Environment webpage.


Gov. Wolf’s First 100 Days, A Review By The Governor

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Gov. Tom Wolf Wednesday put out a review of his actions during his first 100 days in office in

the form of a memo and video to media. Here’s what it said with respect to environmental

issues.

During his inauguration, Gov. Wolf said he does not want to be part of the first

generation of Pennsylvanians who have to tell their children they have to go elsewhere to

achieve success.He said that in order to build a better Pennsylvania, his administration will be dedicated

to three simple things: jobs that pay, schools that teach and government that works.

Pennsylvania can achieve these three goals, but we need to act now. During his first 100

days in office, Gov. Wolf has taken concrete actions and introduced bold proposals to secure a

better future for Pennsylvanians.

-- Gov. Wolf’s Budget - a Blueprint for Pennsylvania: Gov. Wolf’s budget fixes the deficit,

makes historic investments in education, rebuilds the middle class by strengthening

manufacturing and workforce development, and provides property tax relief to middle-class

families and seniors.

“A majority of Pennsylvania voters support Gov. Tom Wolf’s spending plan that

aggressively increases education funding, a statewide Franklin & Marshall College poll found.And they agree with the first-year Democratic governor that a natural-gas extraction tax should

be imposed and lower property taxes should be swapped for higher state taxes, the new poll

shows. The survey found 59 percent of registered voters back the budget proposal.” [LNP,

3/26/15]

[Note: Pennsylvania collected $4 billion in General Fund revenue in April, which was

$201 million, or 5.3 percent, more than anticipated, Acting Secretary of Revenue Eileen

McNulty reported Friday. Fiscal year-to-date General Fund collections total $25.7 billion, which

is $569.1 million, or 2.3 percent, above estimate.]

-- Making Gas Companies Pay Their Fair Share: Gov. Wolf proposed a severance tax on

natural gas so we can fund our schools for a change.

“A severance tax makes sense and is fair — which is probably why a solid 61 percent of

Pennsylvanians support it...” [York Dispatch, 2/14/15]

-- Protecting Our State Parks and Forests: Gov. Wolf signed an executive order reinstating a

moratorium on new leases for oil and gas development in state parks and forests.

“Abundant natural gas is a great resource for Pennsylvania. But so are the abundant

forests for which the Commonwealth is named. Gov. Tom Wolf restored perspective Thursday

when he issued a new moratorium on drilling under state park and forest land.” [Times-Tribune,

1/31/15]

-- Gov. Wolf Works to Increase Oil Train Safety: Gov. Wolf is focused on the safety of

Pennsylvanians and protecting people from the potential disaster resulting from Bakken crude oil

train derailments“Gov. Wolf has made oil train safety a priority during the first 100 days of his

administration.” [StateImpact, 4/28/15]

Click Here to watch Gov. Wolf’s video on the first 100 days. Click Here for the full 100

days message.

NewsClips:

State Revenues Exceed Projections By $569M Thru April

Wolf Seeks Expert Advice On Crude Oil Trains

http://powersource.post-gazette.com/powersource/policy-powersource/2015/04/28/Wolf-seeks-expert-advice-on-crude-oil-by-rail-issues-Pennsylvania/stories/201504280186http://www.sungazette.com/page/content.detail/id/840003/State-revenues-exceed-projections-by--569M-through-April.html?isap=1&nav=5020http://www.pacapitoldigestcrisci.blogspot.com/2015/04/gov-wolfs-first-100-days-review-by.htmlhttp://youtu.be/DsNhYzNRCBEhttp://youtu.be/DsNhYzNRCBE


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Wolf Hires Rail Expert To Evaluate Oil Train Risks

Wolf Hires Expert On Preventing Oil Train Mishaps

PA Environmental Council Offers Comments At First Hearing On DEP Drilling Regs

John Walliser, PA Environmental Council’s

vice president for Legal and Government Affairs,offered these comments on the Chapter 78 (conventional) and Chapter 78A (unconventional)

proposed final regulations on drilling at DEP’s first hearing on the package Wednesday in

Washington County.

“Good evening. My name is John Walliser and I am a Vice President with the

Pennsylvania Environmental Council (PEC), a statewide membership organization.

“We commend the Department for making improvements to the environmental protection

provisions in the proposed rulemaking, and for allowing further public comment. Chief among

those improvements are more robust pre-drilling analysis to prevent pollution migration, more

detailed analysis and reporting with respect to protection of water resources, and tougher

containment standards.

“PEC will be submitting more detailed written comments to the Department, but tonight Iwant to underscore the critical importance of finalizing this rulemaking proposal.

“This rulemaking is the result of enactment of Act 13 of 2012, the subsequent

Pennsylvania Supreme Court decision in Robinson (December 2013) on sufficiency of that

statute, a series of issue workgroups convened by the Oil & Gas Technical Advisory Board, a

previous round of public hearings and comment, and the collective management and

enforcement experience of the Department over the past several years.

“At current pace, this rulemaking proposal will not be finalized until 2016. That’s four

years from the date of the authorizing statute.

“While there remain areas where we feel the rulemaking can be further improved – and

again PEC will present those details to the Department as part of the additional public comment

process – we must also recognize that the citizens and environment of Pennsylvania are best

served by having regulations on the books and in operation across the state.

“This holds true of advancing updates to conventional well regulations as well;

particularly containment and financial assurance measures to ensure that we don’t further add to

Pennsylvania’s already significant and expensive legacy of abandoned well remediation.

“PEC has long embraced the concept of continuous improvement through our own

advocacy and involvement in efforts like the Center for Sustainable Shale Development. This

rulemaking proposal is a strong step in that direction.

“While there are some who seek to derail this process altogether by trying to run out the

procedural clock, they certainly don’t represent the view of a majority of Pennsylvanians or the

demonstration by many in the industry that we can achieve success and high standards in bothoversight and operation.

“The people and environment of Pennsylvania deserve as much, and I probably don’t

have to remind you it’s a fundamental right guaranteed by our state’s constitution.

“Again, we commend the Department for strengthening this rulemaking proposal, and

urge swift finalization after receipt and consideration of additional public comment.”

About 200 people attended the hearing.

One more hearing on the regulations is scheduled for May 4 in Williamsport.

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DEP is accepting comments on the proposal final changes to the regulations until May

19.

For more information, visit DEP’s Oil and Gas Regulations webpage.

NewsClips:

Planned DEP Rules Don’t Satisfy Drillers, Environmentalists

DEP Hearing On Drilling Rules Shows Sharp Divisions State Hears Comments On New Fracking Regulations

PA Environmental Council Cites Concerns, Opposes Senate Bill 724

Ahead of a scheduled May 6 hearing by Senate Republican Policy Committee on Senate Bill 724

(Vogel-R-Beaver), the PA Environmental Council sent this letter to all members of the

Committee citing concerns with the bill and urging opposition to the legislation. The text of the

letter follows--

“In advance of the Senate Republican Policy Committee’s planned hearing on Senate Bill

724 (P.N. 730), the Pennsylvania Environmental Council would like to share our concerns with

this legislation. While, on its face, SB 724 appears to further Pennsylvania’s ability to meet itscommitment to cleaning up the Chesapeake Bay Watershed, in reality this legislation may only

benefit impractical pollution management practices.

“The Total Maximum Daily Load credit purchase process outlined in the bill will only

attract large, capital-intensive treatment systems. Farmers who desperately need assistance to

install best management practices to control nutrient and sediment runoff will not have the

resources to participate in the proposed RFP process.

“In addition, the bill does not require those participating in the RFP process to have their

management practices approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Chesapeake Bay Program, nor does it require the “credits” generated by the process to meet EPA

or Department of Environmental Protection regulations.

“As a result, Pennsylvania could be forced to overpay for “credits” that are not approved

and do not count toward our Chesapeake Bay commitments; taxpayers would be left holding

“credits” that cannot be traded to any facility or developer because they do not meet regulatory

standards. The bill also offers no funding for the Department to undertake the RFP process or to

buy the “credits” created under the bill.

“Pennsylvania is facing a 2017 deadline to install on-the-ground practices to meet

specific milestone commitments to clean-up the Susquehanna basin. If we do not meet those

milestones, the EPA has the authority to step in and impose measures that may prove undesirable

to many communities and citizens. We already have the tools on the books to promote least-cost,

effective conservation practices. We need to fully support them, and to do so now.

“Senate Bill 724 would promote unproductive practices at significant potential cost, andshould be opposed as currently written. We would be happy to answer any questions you may

have.

“Thank you for your consideration.”

Related Articles:

Senate GOP Policy Committee Holds May 6 Hearing On SB 724

Chesapeake Bay Foundation-PA: SB 724 Could Derail Clean Water Efforts In PA

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PA Environmental Council Launches Environmental Focus TV Show On PCN

The PA Environmental Council has announced it will

produce a monthly, half-hour television talk show on

environmental issues beginning May 3 on the

Pennsylvania Cable Network

and later online at PEC’swebsite.

Titled “Environmental Focus,” this show will

center on a different environmental topic each month,

and will feature guests and roundtable discussion with

particular insights and expertise on the issues.

The broadcast one Sunday afternoon per month on PCN.

The May 3 program will air at 5:30 p.m. and will focus on the Pennsylvania capital

budget. The featured guest will be former Department of Environmental Protection secretary

David Hess, now Director of Policy & Communications at Crisci Associates in Harrisburg.

A one-on-one interview with Hess will be followed by a roundtable discussion on the

budget with R. John Dawes, executive director of the Foundation for Pennsylvania Watersheds

,Harry Campbell, Pennsylvania director of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, and Davitt

Woodwell, president of the PA Environmental Council.

“Environmental Focus is another way that PEC is taking its message to our members, our

constituents, policy-makers, and decision-makers in Pennsylvania,” said Woodwell.

“We think it’s an effective tool for reaching important audiences and openly discussing

the issues, ideas, and challenges facing the Pennsylvania environment,” he added. “And PEC

hopes to lead the discussion on these issues in ways that elevate the debate in a thoughtful,

transparent, and productive way.”

For more information, visit the PA Environmental Council website.

General Assembly Returns To Begin Race To Meet June 30 Deadline For Budget

The Senate and House return to session Monday and with their return they begin the run up to

the June 30 deadline to pass a state budget.

While Gov. Wolf and Republican Leaders in the Senate and House say they are working

towards an on-time budget, their public and private statements more than hint at the difficulties

of any acceptable budget passing by the deadline.

Budget workgroups comprised of representatives of all three have started work to see if

they can come to agreement on several key issues-- education funding, property tax relief and tax

increases are three.

But, the workgroups-- some as large as 35 people-- are a nearly unmanageable tool towork on these issues insiders say. Several have broken into sub-groups with the hope of

accomplishing at least something.

Senate Republicans have staked out the position of requiring an agreement on pension

reform first, the key budget cost driver, and said they plan to introduce their own pension

proposal in May.

House Republicans are pushing for liquor privatization which they say can contribute to

closing the $2 billion, or so, budget deficit.

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Gov. Wolf is pushing hard for his budget to be considered as one package-- tax increases

to provide $1 billion in new education funding, a natural gas severance tax and more property tax

relief. He has opposed liquor privatization, and instead is pushing for liquor system reform.

House Majority Leader David Reed (R-Indiana) said he plans to bring up Gov. Wolf’s

package for a vote in the House in May, which he said is unlikely to garner enough Republican

and Democratic votes to pass.The most likely scenario at this point is Senate and House Republicans will pass their

own versions of pension reform, possibly a liquor privatization (although that is iffy since

Republicans on either side of the rotunda have often failed to agree on a plan) and a property tax

relief program and then put their ideas on the Governor’s desk.

Gov. Wolf will then veto what he doesn’t like, alla Gov. Rendell in 2003, and the real

budget-pension-liquor-property tax negotiations will take place.

With these billion dollar issues playing out, the two weeks of voting session in May, with

a break for the Memorial Day holiday, and four weeks of session in June are likely to be very

lively.

Hold on to your hat, because we’re in for a rough ride.

NewsClips:State Revenues Exceed Projections By $569M Thru April

Wolf Administration Disputes Independent Report On Taxes

Conservatives: Tell Wolf You Can’t Afford His Tax Plan

Liquor Reform Could Again Hinge On Budget

Op-Ed: Wolf’s Tax Hikes Ignore The Main Problem

Op-Ed: PA Chamber Had It Wrong On Wolf’s Budget

Op-Ed: Wolf’s Budget Moment Of Truth For PA

Op-Ed: Sen. Alloway Had It Wrong On Wolf’s Tuition Freeze

Editorial: Wolf Budget Right, Even If All Must Pay

Editorial: Wolf’s Budget: Inconvenient Truth

PA Pensions Plans Unlikely To Keep Promises To Workers

Grell To Earn $215,000 As Executive Director Of PSERS

Municipal Pension Woes Becoming A Bigger Issue

Free Frozen Treats For State Employees Wednesday

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.

http://www.twitter.com/http://www.crisciassociates.com/https://plus.google.com/+DavidHessGreenWorksInPA/postshttp://www.pennlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2015/04/frozen_treats_state_employees.html#incart_riverhttp://www.pennlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2015/04/municipal_pension_woes.html#incart_riverhttp://www.pennlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2015/04/glen_grell_to_earn_215000_a_ye.html#incart_riverhttp://www.philly.com/philly/news/politics/Pa-pension-plans-unlikely-to-keep-promises-to-workers.htmlhttp://triblive.com/opinion/editorials/8254208-74/budget-wolf-truthhttp://lancasteronline.com/opinion/editorials/wolf-budget-right-approach-even-if-all-pennsylvanians-must-pay/article_d369e172-eaca-11e4-b96a-a71c7039d080.htmlhttp://www.pennlive.com/opinion/2015/04/alloway_had_it_wrong_on_wolfs.html#incart_riverhttp://www.pennlive.com/opinion/2015/04/wolfs_budget_is_a_moment_of_tr.html#incart_riverhttp://www.pennlive.com/opinion/2015/04/gov_wolfs_budget_works_for_pa.html#incart_riverhttp://www.post-gazette.com/opinion/Op-Ed/2015/05/01/Gov-Wolf-s-tax-hikes-ignore-the-main-problem-Pennsylvania-must-address-its-deepening-pension-crisis/stories/201504290018http://www.mcall.com/news/nationworld/pennsylvania/mc-liquor-wine-reform-20150430-story.html#navtype=outfithttp://blog.pennlive.com/capitol-notebook/2015/04/tell_tom_wolf_you_cant_afford.html#incart_riverhttp://www.witf.org/news/2015/04/wolf-administration-disputes-independent-report-on-taxes.phphttp://www.sungazette.com/page/content.detail/id/840003/State-revenues-exceed-projections-by--569M-through-April.html?isap=1&nav=5020


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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.

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/Gov’s Schedule/ Bills Introduced

Here are the Senate and House Calendars and Committee meetings showing bills of interest as

well as a list of new environmental bills introduced--

Bill Calendars

House (May 4): Click Here for full House Bill Calendar.

Senate (May 4): . Click Here for full Senate Bill Calendar.

Committee Meeting Agendas This Week

House: the Consumer Affairs Committee meets to consider House Bill 844

(Godshall-R-Montgomery) regulating variable rate electric contracts (sponsor summary )

Click Here for full House Committee Schedule.

Senate: the Game and Fisheries Committee holds a hearing on the 2014 Annual Report of the

Game Commission; the Finance Committee holds a hearing on tax credits for waterfront

development and data center investment in Pittsburgh; the Senate Republican Policy

Committee is scheduled to hold a hearing on Senate Bill 724 (Vogel-R-Beaver) and options for

meeting Pennsylvania’s commitments to clean up the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. ClickHere 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--

http://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/CO/SM/COSM.HTMhttp://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/CO/SM/COSM.HTMhttp://www.paenvironmentdigest.com/newsletter/default.asp?NewsletterArticleID=32016http://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/CO/HM/COHM.HTMhttp://www.legis.state.pa.us//cfdocs/Legis/CSM/showMemoPublic.cfm?chamber=H&SPick=20150&cosponId=15592http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billInfo/billInfo.cfm?sYear=2015&sInd=0&body=H&type=B&bn=0844http://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/SC/SC/0/RC/CAL.HTMhttp://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/SC/HC/0/RC/SCHC.HTMhttp://www.twitter.com/PaCapitolDigesthttp://www.crisciassociates.com/category/capitol-blog/http://www.crisciassociates.com/category/environment-blog/


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House

Appropriations

Education

Environmental Resources and Energy

Consumer Affairs

Gaming OversightHuman Services

Judiciary

Liquor Control

Transportation

Links for all other Standing House Committees

Senate

Appropriations

Environmental Resources and Energy

Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure

Community, Economic and Recreational DevelopmentEducation

Judiciary

Law and Justice

Public Health and Welfare

Transportation

Links for all other Standing Senate Committees

Session Schedule

Here is the latest voting session schedule for the Senate and House--

Senate

May 4, 5, 6, 11, 12, 13

June 1, 2, 3, 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, 17, 18, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30

House

May 4, 5, 6, 11, 12, 13

June 1, 2, 3, 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, 17, 18, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

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

House Committee Postpones May 7 Hearing On Chapter 78 Drilling Regulations

http://www.governor.pa.gov/Schedule/Pages/schedule.aspx#.VNVGE0K4lBxhttp://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/CteeInfo/StandingCommittees.cfm?CteeBody=Shttp://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/CteeInfo/index.cfm?Code=19&CteeBody=Shttp://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/CteeInfo/index.cfm?Code=33&CteeBody=Shttp://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/CteeInfo/index.cfm?Code=29&CteeBody=Shttp://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/CteeInfo/index.cfm?Code=39&CteeBody=Shttp://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/CteeInfo/index.cfm?Code=23&CteeBody=Shttp://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/CteeInfo/index.cfm?Code=31&CteeBody=Shttp://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/CteeInfo/index.cfm?Code=7&CteeBody=Shttp://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/CteeInfo/index.cfm?Code=9&CteeBody=Shttp://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/CteeInfo/index.cfm?Code=3&CteeBody=Shttp://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/CteeInfo/StandingCommittees.cfm?CteeBody=Hhttp://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/CteeInfo/StandingCommittees.cfm?CteeBody=Hhttp://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/CteeInfo/index.cfm?Code=38&CteeBody=Hhttp://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/CteeInfo/index.cfm?Code=28&CteeBody=Hhttp://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/CteeInfo/index.cfm?Code=24&CteeBody=Hhttp://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/CteeInfo/index.cfm?Code=56&CteeBody=Hhttp://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/CteeInfo/index.cfm?Code=54&CteeBody=Hhttp://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/CteeInfo/index.cfm?Code=10&CteeBody=Hhttp://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/CteeInfo/index.cfm?Code=8&CteeBody=Hhttp://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/CteeInfo/index.cfm?Code=12&CteeBody=Hhttp://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/CteeInfo/index.cfm?Code=4&CteeBody=H


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Rep. John Maher (R-Allegheny), Majority Chair of the House Environmental Resources and

Energy Committee , sent out an email Thursday postponing the May 7 Committee hearing on

DEP’s proposed final Chapter 78 drilling regulations .

“Yesterday afternoon, the Department of Environmental Protection advised House staff

that Acting Secretary John Quigley has declined the invitation to appear at the HouseEnvironmental Resources and Energy Committee hearing next week on what DEP has published

as an "Advance Notice of Final Rulemaking" for Oil & Gas regulations referred to as Chapter 78

and 78A,” said Rep. Maher.

“This hearing was postponed from its originally scheduled date to accommodate DEP'

when it announced a series of hearings on the subject. DEP now advises that Acting Secretary

Quigley has a "scheduling conflict" on May 7,” he said. “Acting Secretary Quigley's testimony

is essential and, accordingly, the May 7th hearing is postponed with the hope that a hearing date

might be discovered that will not present a "scheduling conflict" for Mr. Quigley.”

Rep. Greg Vitali (D-Delaware) serves as Minority Chair of the Committee.

NewsClips:

Planned DEP Rules Don’t Satisfy Drillers, Environmentalists DEP Hearing On Drilling Rules Shows Sharp Divisions

State Hears Comments On New Fracking Regulations

Senate GOP Policy Committee Holds May 6 Hearing On SB 724 Which Could Derail PA

Clean Water Efforts

The Senate Republican Policy Committee is scheduled to hold a hearing on May 6 on Senate Bill

724 (Vogel-R-Beaver) the Chesapeake Bay Foundation-PA says threatens to derail current clean

water restoration efforts and divert critical funding from proven science-based practices, while

favoring proprietary, corporate-backed and costly manure technologies.

The list of witnesses scheduled to appear include: Ed Schafer, Chairman, Coalition for an

Affordable Bay Solution and Executive Vice Chairman of Bion Environmental Technologies ,

Inc., the company behind Senate Bill 724; Ron Kreider, President, Kreider Farms where the Bion

manure treatment facility is located; Phil Durgin, Executive Director Joint Legislative Budget

and Finance Committee; Mike McCloskey, Member, National Milk Distributors Association;

and Elliott Keller, General Manager for JBS Souderton, Inc.

The hearing will be held in Hearing Room 1 of the North Office Building starting at 9:30.

Click Here

to watch the hearing live on the day of the event.

Sen. David Argall (R-Schuylkill) serves as Chair of the Committee.

NewsClips:

Op-Ed: State Budget Can’t Forget Chesapeake Bay Cleanup PA Municipalities Targeted In Clean Water Crackdown

Legislation Would Help Delaware River Watershed Groups

Hundreds Of Volunteers Cleanup Watershed In Centre County

Rebirth On The Monongahela River

In Dunmore, Environmental Mystery Never Solved

Latest From The Chesapeake Bay Journal

Related Articles:

http://www.bayjournal.com/http://thetimes-tribune.com/news/in-dunmore-an-environmental-mystery-never-solved-1.1870610http://www.keystoneedge.com/features/monrivervalley043015.aspx?utm_source=VerticalResponse&utm_medium=Email&utm_term=Rebirth+on+the+Monongahela+River&utm_content=%7bEmail_Address%7d&utm_campaign=River+of+Life%3a+Transformation+along+a+PA+waterways%3b+plus%2c+summer+fun+in+Philly+and+artisan+watches+in+the+countrysidehttp://www.statecollege.com/news/local-news/hundreds-of-volunteers-clean-watershed-pollution-on-saturday,1463742/http://www.pottsmerc.com/environment-and-nature/20150426/legislation-would-help-pa-watershed-organizationshttp://www.mcall.com/news/local/mc-lehigh-valley-epa-storm-water-crackdown-20150425-story.html#page=1http://www.pennlive.com/opinion/2015/04/when_theyre_debating_the_budge.html#incart_riverhttp://av.pasenategop.com/streams/Videofeeds.html?feed=nob%7Ctitle=Senate%20Majority%20Policy%20Committee%7Cdesc=Wastewater/Stormwater%20Issues%20(SB%20724)http://www.paenvironmentdigest.com/newsletter/default.asp?NewsletterArticleID=32015http://www.paenvironmentdigest.com/newsletter/default.asp?NewsletterArticleID=32015http://www.paenvironmentdigest.com/newsletter/default.asp?NewsletterArticleID=32016http://www.paenvironmentdigest.com/newsletter/default.asp?NewsletterArticleID=32016http://policy.pasenategop.com/http://stateimpact.npr.org/pennsylvania/2015/04/30/state-hears-comments-on-new-fracking-regulations/http://powersource.post-gazette.com/powersource/policy-powersource/2015/04/29/DEP-hearing-on-rules-for-oil-and-gas-wells-shows-sharp-divisions/stories/201504290229http://triblive.com/state/pennsylvania/8271030-74/gas-dep-ruleshttp://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/public_resources/20303/surface_regulations/1587188http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/CteeInfo/index.cfm?Code=8&CteeBody=Hhttp://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/CteeInfo/index.cfm?Code=8&CteeBody=H


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PA Environmental Council Cites Concerns, Opposes Senate Bill 724

Chesapeake Bay Foundation-PA: SB 724 Could Derail Clean Water Efforts In PA

Environmental Issues Forum Features PA Trout Unlimited May 11

The May 11 Environmental Issues Forum hosted by the Joint Legislative Air and WaterPollution Control and Conservation Committee will feature a presentation by Brian Wagner and

Katy Dunlap from PA Trout Unlimited.

The presentation will update members on PA TU’s activities in the state and on its

eastern waters project.

The Forum will be held in Room 8E-A of the Capitol East Wing at Noon.

Sen. Scott Hutchinson (R-Venango) serves as Chair of the Committee.

News From Around The State

2015 PA Abandoned Mine Reclamation Conference Registration Now Open

Online registration is now open for the 2015 PA Abandoned Mine Reclamation Conference on

June 24-25 at the Ramada Inn and Conference Center in State College, PA.

The conference will offer more than 20 unique presentations on all kinds of issues related

to the reclamation of our abandoned mine-scared lands and waterways. Here is a short list of

some of the interesting things you will learn:

-- How monarch butterfly habitat can be incorporated into mine reclamation,

-- How drone technology might be the next thing to help you with your water quality monitoring

-- How refuse bank fires are extinguished

In addition to the great presentations, the AMR Conference also offers some of the best

networking available to the PA watershed community.You have your choice of three activities during the afternoon on Thursday, including a

golf outing benefiting EPCAMR and WPCAMR , a sustainability tour of Centre County featuring

a stop at a winery, and a film festival showing multiple films collected throughout the state that

is sure to spark insightful conversation.

And let’s not forget the banquet dinner and the presentation of the coveted Mayfly

Award.

Registration fees remain low! Full registration is $90. Representatives of non-profits

may apply for a scholarship of $45. That’s 50 percent off what everyone else pays! Where else

are you going to get 2 full days of networking and education for so cheap?

But, bring your wallets along because our silent auction returns this year with all new

items. Here are a few items you should place a bid on: beautiful photography from our very ownMelissa Reckner; hand-carved walking sticks; a Safelight Auto basket; several homesteading

baskets filled with home-canned items, candles, soaps, and a whole leg of Fortiter Farm lamb

(courtesy of Andy McAllister); and many more surprises.

Don’t delay. Register now and reserve your room. More information can be found at the

PA Abandoned Mine Reclamation Conference website.

NewsClip: In Dunmore, Environmental Mystery Never Solved

http://thetimes-tribune.com/news/in-dunmore-an-environmental-mystery-never-solved-1.1870610http://www.treatminewater.com/http://www.wpcamr.org/http://www.epcamr.org/http://www.treatminewater.com/http://www.patrout.org/http://jcc.legis.state.pa.us/http://jcc.legis.state.pa.us/http://www.paenvironmentdigest.com/newsletter/default.asp?NewsletterArticleID=32015http://paenvironmentdaily.blogspot.com/2015/05/pa-environmental-council-cites-concerns.html


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(Written by Anne Daymut, WPCAMR Watershed Coordinator, from the Western Coalition for

Abandoned Mine Restoration Abandoned Mine Posts. Click Here to sign up for your own copy.)

Dominion Awards $135,000 In Grants Supporting Environmental Initiatives In PA

Dominion Resources is making grants totaling $1.2 million available to fifty-two organizationsin eight states as part of its competitive program designed to support specific, short-term projects

that improve the environment.

In Pennsylvania, Dominion awarded grants to: PA Environmental Council- $100,000 for

the Western PA Environmental Awards Program and $35,000 to the Western PA Conservancy

for its Watershed Mini Grants Program.

The grants are made available through the Dominion Foundation, the company’s

philanthropic arm. The program has been expanded since it was piloted in Virginia in 2013.

"Expanding the program to include additional communities this year was an exciting

prospect," said Hunter A. Applewhite, president of the Dominion Foundation. "The response

from the nonprofit community during the last two years of the pilot in Virginia was remarkable,

and the result is that an even wider variety of programs promoting environmental stewardshipreceived much-needed funding."

These organizations will receive financial support for programs that protect and preserve

natural habitats, monitor and enhance water quality, prevent pollution and improve open spaces,

make nature accessible, and educate the public about environmental stewardship.

Since 2003, the Dominion Foundation has given more than $20 million in support of

environmental initiatives.

The list of all grants awarded is available online.

For more information, visit the Dominion Foundation’s Environmental Grants webpage.

Schuylkill Action Network To Honor Students For Work In Protecting Drinking Water

The Schuylkill Action Network will recognize students in the Schuylkill River Valley for their

work protecting drinking water from the Schuylkill River.

The Schuylkill Action Network will present the Schuylkill Scholastic Drinking Water

Award to the Science Leadership Academy at Beeber on May 4 at 3:20 p.m. in celebration of

National Drinking Water Week on May 3-9.

The Science Leadership Academy at Beeber is one of three award winners in 2015. The

Schuylkill Action Network will also honor Reading Area Community College

in Berks County

and Blue Mountain Middle School in Schuylkill County for projects they completed on their

campuses.

Students at the Science Leadership Academy at Beeber worked with the PhiladelphiaWater Department to build and install environmental sensors, or “root kits,” in a rain garden to

monitor soil moisture and temperature. They also made these kits for three elementary schools.

“Projects like this one are very important for keeping the Schuylkill Watershed clean,”

said Tom Davidock, senior coordinator of the Schuylkill Action Network at the Partnership for

the Delaware Estuary . “Schools provide that direct link to communities and can teach all of us

simple things we can all do to keep our rivers and streams healthy. The students at the Science

Leadership Academy at Beeber are involved in a small project that can have a big impact on the

http://www.delawareestuary.org/http://www.delawareestuary.org/http://www.bmsd.org/?page_id=3736http://www.racc.edu/http://slabeeber.org/http://www.schuylkillwaters.org/https://www.dom.com/corporate/our-commitments/community/charitable-giving-and-the-dominion-foundation/environmental-stewardship-grants-programhttps://www.dom.com/library/domcom/pdfs/corporate/our-commitments/community/education/env-grants-2015.pdfhttp://waterlandlife.org/http://pecpa.org/http://amp.wpcamr.org/subscribehttp://www.wpcamr.org/http://www.wpcamr.org/


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watershed.”

Click Here for more information on the Beeber project. For more information on how

you can protect drinking water, visit the Schuylkill Action Network website.

NewsClips:

Students Learn Outside At Westmoreland’s Envirothon

Armstrong Students Learn In Outside Classroom At Envirothon

Sewickley Creek Watershed, Partners Celebrate Earth Day In Westmoreland County

Sewickley Creek Watershed Association in

Westmoreland County partnered with the City of

Greensburg and other groups to conclude a three-year,

streambank remediation project and celebrate Earth Day

at Lynch Field on April 25.

(Photo: Westmoreland County Commissioner Ted

Kopas addresses the Earth Day crowd at Lynch Field.)

With grants from Firestone Building Products, the groupfinalized the project by installing an education kiosk and

interpretive trail signs along Jacks Run, adjacent to the

athletic complex.

The kiosk and signs explain the best engineering practices employed to prevent bank

erosion and re-direct the flow of the stream. They include stream deflectors, geo-web panels,

rip-rap, and a jack dam. Trees, shrubs and grass have also been planted over the past three years

to help stabilize the bank.

The tens of thousands of visitors who visit the park annually can learn how similar

techniques might be used in their communities and backyards.

The kiosk was designed and constructed by students from the Central Westmoreland

Career and Technology Center. At the kiosk dedication ceremony, Gary Kistler, Carpentry

Instructor, expressed how proud he was of his students.

“The project was a practical learning experience that our students will be able to

showcase to their family and friends for decades to come. The students enjoyed putting their

engineering and carpentry skills to work on a real community project!” said Kistler.

Westmoreland County Commissioner Ted Kopas thanked all of the partners, especially

Scout Troop 465 from Hempfield Township that has helped Sewickley Creek on Earth Day

events since 1995.

“It is through partnerships like this project that we can make the biggest difference in our

communities. Each group brings a piece of the puzzle to the table,” said Commissioner Kopas.

“It is great to see the City, Firestone, the Career and Technology Center and all of the volunteers pulling together to repair the streambanks, and to use Lynch Field as a demonstration site.”

The scouts installed five interpretive trail signs, planted 80 tree seedlings, and spread

mulch prior to the ceremony.

In other related Earth Day events, volunteers cleaned up 42 tires, a sofa, electronics and

40 bags of litter along Shinsky Road in Unity Township. Local residents have adopted this

heavily littered roadway through Westmoreland Cleanways, and with the help of Township

Supervisors, clean it regularly.

http://www.sewickleycreek.com/http://triblive.com/news/armstrong/8261672-74/envirothon-students-classroomhttp://triblive.com/news/westmoreland/8239152-74/students-envirothon-countyhttp://www.schuylkillwaters.org/http://greenstemnetwork.org/green-sensor-design-and-terrible-gardening-at-sla-beeber/


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And, 15 employees at Menasha Packaging Company near Yukon celebrated Earth Day

by completing their own beautification project at the entrance to their plant. As part of that

project, they removed trash, including tires and lawn chairs, from the banks of Sewickley Creek

adjacent to the plant.

The Association expresses its sincere appreciation to all of the partners and volunteers

who helped bring this three-year project to fruition. Sewickley Creek Watershed Association is a501 c 3 nonprofit, organization that helps manage the 168 square mile watershed drained by

Sewickley Creek in Westmoreland County.

Their primary focus is remediation of abandoned mine discharges. Other projects include

building riparian buffers, trail development and environmental education.

For more information about the organization and pictures from the Earth Day event, visit

the Sewickley Creek Watershed Association website.

1,700 Students Expected At May 14 Great Lakes Children’s Water Festival In Erie

The Water Systems Council will hold its 2015 Great

Lakes Children's Water Festival on May 14 on thecampus of Penn State Erie, the Behrend College, drawing

almost 1,700 5th grade students from Pennsylvania, New

York and Ohio.

The 2015 Great Lakes Children's Water Festival

is one of the largest WSC has ever hosted. During the

festival, students will explore drinking water,

groundwater, watersheds, surface water, well systems,

and water quality and conservation through dynamic and

interactive activities.

The festival gives the students a better understanding of their water supply and America's

groundwater resources. A record number of 72 classes will be taught by water and natural

resource experts from local, state and national organizations.

Local WJET-TV weatherman Tom Atkins will also make a presentation to educate

students about the role of water in the weather and weather forecasting.

The Department of Environmental Protection is a major sponsor of the festival, which is

helping the DEP as well as the Departments of Environmental Protection in Ohio and New York

to fulfill their conservation and efficiency outreach requirements under the Great Lakes Compact

Agreement.

DEP Secretary John Quigley is scheduled to participate in the Edible Aquifers activity

where students build an aquifer using ice cream, crushed ice, soda and sprinkles. The Edible

Aquifers presentation is the most popular activity at the festival.Additional festival sponsors include the Peter A. Yeager Memorial Foundation and the

Water Systems Council, whose members donated more than $50,000 for the event. Those

members include A.O. Smith Water Systems; Baker Water Systems; Flexcon Industries;

Flomatic Valves; Franklin Electric Co., Inc.; Grundfos Pumps Corp.; Merrill Manufacturing;

Milby Co.; Pentair; Preferred Pump; and Xylem, Inc.

These donations underwrite the cost of the festival, which is free to students and

participating school districts. Penn State Behrend has donated the use of their campus for the

http://www.watersystemscouncil.org/water-festivals/http://www.watersystemscouncil.org/water-festivals/http://www.watersystemscouncil.org/http://www.sewickleycreek.com/


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festival. In addition, more than 235 community volunteers are involved in this year's festival.

For more information, visit the Water Systems Council Great Lakes Children's Water

Festival webpage.

NewsClips:

Students Learn Outside At Westmoreland’s Envirothon

Armstrong Students Learn In Outside Classroom At Envirothon

May 5 Webinar: Establishing & Maintaining Forested Stream Buffers

Penn State Extension continues its Green Infrastructure series of webinars with a webcast on

May 5 at noon on Establishing and Maintaining Forested Stream Buffers. Click Here to register.

Other recorded webinars in the series are available online-

-- The Ecology Of Streams And Forested Buffers

-- Penn State’s Center’s Stormwater Mitigation Initiatives In Pittsburgh

-- Incorporating Green Infrastructure To Revitalize Your Community: Lancaster Case Study

-- Maintaining Green Infrastructure Systems In Your Community

-- Green Stormwater Infrastructure-An Overview Of Villanova’s Research -- Click Here for more webinars.

NewsClips:

Op-Ed: State Budget Can’t Forget Chesapeake Bay Cleanup

PA Municipalities Targeted In Clean Water Crackdown

Legislation Would Help Delaware River Watershed Groups


Rebirth On The Monongahela River

In Dunmore, Environmental Mystery Never Solved

Latest From The Chesapeake Bay Journal

April 27 Watershed Winds Newsletter Now Available From Penn State Extension

The April 27 issue of the Watershed Winds newsletter from Penn State Extension is now

available featuring articles on--

-- Recipe For Saving Coral Reefs: Add More Fish

-- Make Your Home A Home For The Birds

-- Webinar On Harmful Algae Blooms In PA April 29

-- New USDA Nutrient Management Publications Available

-- Deforestation Is Messing With Our Weather, And Our Food

-- Recent Webinar Discusses Penn State Master Watershed Steward Program

-- Click Here

to sign up for your own copy.

Weis Markets Awards KPB’s Great American Cleanup Of PA Gift Cards

Weis Markets, Inc. , a sponsor of the Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful Great American Cleanup of

PA , Tuesday announced the winners of their donated gift cards.

The Centre County Recycling & Refuse Authority was selected to receive a Weis

Markets gift card to help support their efforts to beautify and clean Dale Road in Rush Township

http://www.centrecountyrecycles.org/http://www.gacofpa.org/http://www.gacofpa.org/http://www.keeppabeautiful.org/https://www.weismarkets.com/about-weis/sustainability/http://extension.psu.edu/natural-resources/water/news/subscribehttp://extension.psu.edu/natural-resources/water/news/2015/webinar-discusses-penn-state-master-watershed-steward-programhttp://extension.psu.edu/natural-resources/water/news/2015/deforestation-is-messing-with-our-weather-and-our-foodhttp://extension.psu.edu/natural-resources/water/news/2015/new-usda-nutrient-management-publications-availablehttp://extension.psu.edu/natural-resources/water/news/2015/penn-state-is-hosting-a-webinar-on-harmful-algae-blooms-in-pennsylvaniahttp://extension.psu.edu/natural-resources/water/news/2015/make-your-home-a-home-for-the-birdshttp://extension.psu.edu/natural-resources/water/news/2015/recipe-for-saving-coral-reefs-add-more-fishhttp://extension.psu.edu/natural-resources/water/news?utm_campaign=Watershed+Winds+Newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&utm_content=newsletter_view_onlinehttp://www.bayjournal.com/http://thetimes-tribune.com/news/in-dunmore-an-environmental-mystery-never-solved-1.1870610http://www.keystoneedge.com/features/monrivervalley043015.aspx?utm_source=VerticalResponse&utm_medium=Email&utm_term=Rebirth+on+the+Monongahela+River&utm_content=%7bEmail_Address%7d&utm_campaign=River+of+Life%3a+Transformation+along+a+PA+waterways%3b+plus%2c+summer+fun+in+Philly+and+artisan+watches+in+the+countrysidehttp://www.statecollege.com/news/local-news/hundreds-of-volunteers-clean-watershed-pollution-on-saturday,1463742/http://www.pottsmerc.com/environment-and-nature/20150426/legislation-would-help-pa-watershed-organizationshttp://www.mcall.com/news/local/mc-lehigh-valley-epa-storm-water-crackdown-20150425-story.html#page=1http://www.pennlive.com/opinion/2015/04/when_theyre_debating_the_budge.html#incart_riverhttp://extension.psu.edu/natural-resources/forests/courses/green-infrastructure-webinar-series/webinarshttp://extension.psu.edu/natural-resources/forests/courses/green-infrastructure-webinar-series/webinars/green-stormwater-infrastructure-an-overview-of-villanova-universitys-researchhttp://extension.psu.edu/natural-resources/forests/courses/green-infrastructure-webinar-series/webinars/maintaining-green-infrastructure-systems-in-your-commuityhttp://extension.psu.edu/natural-resources/forests/courses/green-infrastructure-webinar-series/webinars/incorporating-green-infrastructure-to-revitalize-your-community-leading-the-way-in-lancaster-pahttp://extension.psu.edu/natural-resources/forests/courses/green-infrastructure-webinar-series/webinars/penn-state-centers-stormwater-mitigation-iniativites-in-pittsburghhttp://extension.psu.edu/natural-resources/forests/courses/green-infrastructure-webinar-series/webinars/the-ecology-of-streams-and-forested-buffershttp://extension.psu.edu/natural-resources/forests/courses/green-infrastructure-webinar-serieshttp://extension.psu.edu/natural-resources/forests/courses/green-infrastructure-webinar-serieshttp://triblive.com/news/armstrong/8261672-74/envirothon-students-classroomhttp://triblive.com/news/westmoreland/8239152-74/students-envirothon-countyhttp://www.watersystemscouncil.org/water-festivals/http://www.watersystemscouncil.org/water-festivals/


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during the 19th Annual Watershed Clean Up, a registered Great American Cleanup of PA event.

“We used our gift card to provide refreshments and lunch as a way of thanks to the

volunteers who made time in their busy schedules to join us for our Great American Cleanup of

PA event,” states Rod Fye, Enforcement Officer for the Centre County Recycling & Refuse

Authority. “Volunteers are an asset to our community. We were able to show our appreciation

for their efforts thanks to Weis Markets.”“Weis Markets is pleased to partner with Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful,” said Patti

Olenick, Sustainability Manager. “It is part of our corporate commitment to sustainability, being

good stewards of the environment and giving back to the communities we serve. We’ve been

serving Pennsylvania communities for more than 100 years and we are excited to be part of the

Great American Cleanup of PA.”

“We value the partnership with Weis Markets, Inc. Their donation of gift cards provides a

fun and valuable incentive to participate in the Great American Cleanup,” states Shannon Reiter,

President of Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful. “Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful and Weis Markets

share the goal of promoting a sustainable environment and livable communities. The Great

American Cleanup empowers citizens to do that locally.”

Weis Markets, Inc. joins other 2015 event supporters: the Department of EnvironmentalProtection, PennDOT, PA Waste Industries Association, the PA Food Merchants Association,

The Fresh Grocer, ShopRite, Sheetz, Wawa, Republic Services, Steel Recycling Institute, Giant

Eagle, Giant Food Stores, Inc., Wegmans and the Lancaster County Solid Waste Management

Authority.

Since the inception of this event in 2004, over 1.565,950 million volunteers have picked

up 80,575,227 million pounds of litter and waste and over 202,350 tires from Pennsylvania’s

landscape. In addition, more than 136,300 trees, bulbs, and flowers have been planted.

For more information, visit the Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful and the Great American

Cleanup of PA website or contact Michelle Dunn, Great American Cleanup of PA Program

Coordinator, at 1-877-772-3673 ext. 113 or send email to: [email protected].

NewsClips:


Westmoreland Pushes To Clean Up Litter, Dumps

Wilkes U Students Help Clean Up Wilkes-Barre

Annual Household Hazardous Waste Collection Event In Centre County May 1-2

The Centre County Recycling and Refuse Authority

will hold a household hazardous waste

collection event on May 1 and 2.

Here's your once a year chance to rid your home of old or unwanted hazardous chemicals

and be sure they are properly disposed of.Bring your insecticides, weed killers, pool chemicals, cleaners, poisons, corrosives,

flammables, oil-based paints, CFL bulbs, fluorescent tubes and many other household hazardous

chemicals to the Centre County Recycling & Refuse Authority, 235 Transfer Road, Bellfonte

from 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.), and on May 2, (8:00 am – 2:00 pm).

The Authority will not be accepting used motor oil, antifreeze, batteries, latex paint,

radioactive or medical material, explosives or ammunition. Please call the Authority office if

you have a question about your material.

http://www.centrecountyrecycles.org/http://www.timesleader.com/news/home_top-local-news/153139144/http://triblive.com/news/westmoreland/8217803-74/litter-recycling-cleanhttp://www.statecollege.com/news/local-news/hundreds-of-volunteers-clean-watershed-pollution-on-saturday,1463742/mailto:[email protected]://www.gacofpa.org/http://www.gacofpa.org/http://www.keeppabeautiful.org/


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For additional information about the event, visit the Centre County Recycling & Refuse

Authority website or call 814-238-7005.

PA Joins In Declaring Air Quality Awareness Week April 27 To May 1

Pennsylvania will join states across the nation this week in recognizing April 27 through May 1as Air Quality Awareness Week.

“As we continue to feel the adverse impacts of air pollution, improving our air quality is

more important than ever before,” Acting DEP Secretary John Quigley said. “This administration

is committed to seeking solutions for improving air quality.”

In honor of Air Quality Awareness Week, the Department of Environmental Protection

asks Pennsylvanians to renew their commitment to protecting air quality and learning how air

quality can impact public health and the environment.

Residents of Pennsylvania can take proactive steps, including the following, to improve

air quality in the home and outside during the ozone season:

— Conserve electricity. During the summer, consider setting the thermostat a little higher so the

air conditioner is not running continuously. — Choose a cleaner commute by utilizing a carpool, public transportation, or riding a bike.

— Combine errands to reduce trips and “cold starts” of your car.

— Avoid idling motor vehicles.

— Ensure that tires are properly inflated to use less gasoline.

— Refuel vehicles in the evening and avoid topping off the gas tank when refueling vehicles.

— Limit lawn care and gardening activities that require the use of gasoline-powered equipment.

As a result of air quality initiatives and the measures aimed at reducing emissions,

cumulative air contaminant emissions across Pennsylvania have declined significantly.

In particular, between 2008 through 2013, sulfur dioxide emissions from electric

generating units (EGUs) have been reduced by approximately 70 percent. The emissions of

nitrogen oxides and particulate matter have also been reduced by approximately 35 percent and

50 percent, respectively, from the EGU sector.

These reductions represent between $14 billion and $37 billion of annual public health

benefits, based on U.S. Environmental Protection Agency methodologies.

Air Quality Awareness Week begins the 2015 ozone forecasting season in Pennsylvania.

DEP monitors ambient ozone concentrations year-round and makes air quality forecasts for

ground-level ozone during the spring and summer months. Fine particulate matter forecasts are

provided year-round.

The daily forecasts, developed in conjunction with local Air Quality Partnerships

, use a

color-based Air Quality Index for air quality conditions. Green signifies good air quality; yellow

means moderate conditions; orange represents pollution levels that could trigger health effectsfor sensitive people, such as the very young, the elderly, and those with respiratory ailments; and

red warns of pollution levels that could trigger health effects for all members of the population.

These forecasts are provided in cooperation with the Air Quality Partnership of the

Delaware Valley , the Southwest Pennsylvania Air Quality Partnership, the Lehigh Valley/Berks

Air Quality Partnership and the Susquehanna Valley Air Quality Partnership .

To sign up to receive air quality forecasts via email, visit the Air Quality Notifications

webpage.

http://www.enviroflash.info/http://www.airqualitypartners.org/Partners-Join.htmlhttp://www.aqpartners.state.pa.us/join_lv.htmhttp://www.aqpartners.state.pa.us/join_lv.htmhttp://www.aqpartners.state.pa.us/join_sw.htmhttp://www.aqpartners.state.pa.us/join_se.htmhttp://www.aqpartners.state.pa.us/join_se.htmhttp://www.ahs2.dep.state.pa.us/aq_apps/aqpartners/default.asphttp://www.centrecountyrecycles.org/http://www.centrecountyrecycles.org/


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NewsClips:

Pittsburgh’s Air Continues To Improve

Air Pollution Worsens In Harrisburg-York-Lebanon

Lancaster Air Quality Better, But Still Bad

Marcellus Gas Industry Campaign Contributions Up 47 Percent

A new study finds a 47 percent increase in campaign donations from the natural gas industry to

Pennsylvania politicians in the 2013-2014 election cycle (over 2011-2012). Lobbying

expenditures grew 13 percent over the same period.

The study was done by MarcellusMoney.org, a project of Common Cause and the PA and

Conservation Voters of PA that tracks campaign contributions of the gas drilling industry. Quick

Facts:

-- Natural gas campaign contributions (2013-2014): $2,819,109

-- Total contributions (since 2007): $8,221,909

-- Natural gas lobbying expenditures (2013-2014): $17,903,738

-- Total lobbying (since 2007): $46,869,515In 2013-2014, natural gas industry donations were made to:

-- Republican candidates and PACs totaled $2,195,254.

-- Democratic candidates and PACs totaled $519,814.

In the executive branch, 2013-2014 natural gas donations were made to:

-- Gov. Tom Corbett totaled $794,884.

-- The Republican Governors Association totaled $501,377.

-- Gov. Tom Wolf totaled $59,500.

-- Katie McGinty totaled $72,500.

In the General Assembly, 2013-2014 natural gas donations were made to:

-- Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati totaled $101,788.

-- House Majority Leader Dave Reed totaled $81,250.

-- Senate Minority Leader Jay Costa totaled $48,700.

-- Representative Jeffrey Pyle totaled $44,745.

-- Former Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi totaled $43,000.

-- Senate Majority Leader Jake Corman totaled $40,750.

-- House Speaker Mike Turzai totaled $27,500.

For more information, the full data sheet, and analysis of the impacts of these

expenditures, read the full report at www.marcellusmoney.org

.

NewsClip: Report: Gas Industry’s Campaign Donations Rose 47%

DEP Awards $2.05 Million In West Nile Virus Grants To 25 Counties

The Department of Environmental Protection Friday awarded $2.05 million in West Nile Virus

Control grants to 25 counties.

West Nile Virus is most commonly transmitted to humans through the bites of infected

mosquitoes. DEP annually partners with counties to cover the costs associated with surveying

and controlling mosquitoes that can carry WNV.

DEP and county programs use a combination of education, surveillance, source

http://www.westnile.state.pa.us/http://stateimpact.npr.org/pennsylvania/2015/05/01/gas-industrys-campaign-donations-rose-47-in-2013-14-report-says/http://www.marcellusmoney.org/http://marcellusmoney.org/http://lancasteronline.com/news/local/report-lancaster-county-s-air-quality-better--but-still/article_1d58cffc-ee9d-11e4-9ca9-6b2f7617c88b.htmlhttp://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2015/04/air_pollution_worsens_in_harri.html#incart_riverhttp://www.post-gazette.com/news/environment/2015/04/29/Pittsburgh-s-air-continues-to-improve-American-Lung-Assn-says/stories/201504290071


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reduction, and environmentally responsible insecticides to reduce the risk of WNV.

“DEP is committed to preventing the spread of West Nile Virus,” said DEP Secretary

John Quigley. “We are proud to partner with local governments each year in order to protect the

public from this health risk.”

The grants, funded by the General Fund, were developed in consultation with county

officials and are largely based on the historic risk of WNV.Most people infected with WNV will never exhibit any symptoms, but one in five may

develop a fever with symptoms such as fatigue and body aches. While there is currently no

vaccine for WNV, most people completely recover from the fever. Less than 1% percent of

people infected with WNV will develop a serious neurological illness, such as encephalitis.

DEP encourages Pennsylvanians to remove standing water from their property and use

insect repellents outdoors to prepare for mosquito season and prevent infection.

In the summer of 2014, DEP detected 1,240 mosquito samples, 17 avian specimens, one

horse, and 17 humans infected with WNV, including a Philadelphia man in his 80s who

succumbed to the neurological form of the virus.

Birds can be carriers of WNV, and DEP tests dead birds for WNV to determine the virus’

presence in the environment.To report a dead bird, file a mosquito complaint, or for more information about WNV,

visit the West Nile Virus website or call 717-346-8243.

April 30 DEP News Now Available

The April 30 edition of the DEP News newsletter is now available from the Department of

Environmental Protection featuring articles on--

-- DEP, PEC Honor Winners Of 2015 Environmental Excellence Awards

-- DEP Awards 110 Environmental Education, Stewardship Grants

-- 1st Of 3 Hearings Held On Changes To Chapter 78 Drilling Regulations

-- New Data Reveals Increasing In Emissions From Natural Gas Operations

-- DEP OKs Air Permit For Easton Compressor Station

-- DEP Study Reveals Lyme Disease Risk In All 67 Counties

-- DEP Honored For Clarion County Abandoned Mine Reclamation Project

-- Construction Begins To Provide Clean Water In Lackawanna County

-- DEP At Home Exhibit Makes Stops At Phillies Game, State Capitol

-- DEP Southcentral Region Employees Cleanup Along Asylum Run

-- Take Your Child To Work Day A Success At DEP

-- Click Here

to sign up for your own copy.

May 28 Regional Keystone Energy Education Program Workshop In Philadelphia

The Department of Environmental Protection invites middle school teachers, administrators and

building managers to a May 28 training workshop in Philadelphia on the Keystone Energy

Education Program (KEEP) to teach and track energy efficiency in school buildings and homes.

The workshop is offered free of charge and will be from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at

Springside Chestnut Hill Academy, 500 West Willow Grove Ave., Philadelphia. Pre-registration

is required by May 21.

http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/environmental_education/13903http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/environmental_education/13903http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/News_and_Events/21504/DEP_Newsletter/1714475http://wallaby.telicon.com/PA/library/2015/2015043060.HTMhttp://wallaby.telicon.com/PA/library/2015/2015043060.HTMhttp://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/dep_@home/21204http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/news_releases/14288http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/news_releases/14288http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/news_releases/14288http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/news_releases/14288http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/news_releases/14288http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/news_releases/14288http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/news_releases/14288http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/news_releases/14288http://wallaby.telicon.com/PA/library/2015/2015043060.HTMhttp://www.westnile.state.pa.us/


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KEEP is primarily for teachers of grades 4 through 8, administrators, and building

maintenance managers. Workshop participants will explore energy conservation, efficiency,

energy basics, student energy teams, and benchmarking the school building using the free

Energy Star Portfolio Manager program through presentations, tours, and hands-on activities.

Participants will have the opportunity to integrate high-level, standards-based energy

education into their formal curriculum. This could include lesson plans, curricular modules,energy benchmarking through EPA’s Energy Star Portfolio Manager, or hands-on student-led

energy efficiency assessments leading to improvements that reduce energy consumption.

The workshops are based on Pennsylvania’s Academic Standards and Assessment

Anchors for Environment and Ecology, Science and Technology and Engineering Education.

Participating teachers will receive background information, standards-based curricular materials

and energy conservation kits that contain a Kill-a-Watt meter, light meter, multimeters, power

conserving plug-in wall switches, and thermometers (each kit valued at $75).

Participating teachers will be eligible for 6.5 Act 48 credit hours. Participants should

bring their lunch.

Space is limited, so registrations will be accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis.

The next workshop is scheduled for June 17 at the Ferguson Township ElementarySchool in Pine Grove Mills, Centre County.

For more information and to register, visit DEP’s KEEP Program webpage.

EPA Recognizes 9 PA Universities As Top Green Power Users In Their Conferences

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has recognized 9 Pennsylvania colleges and

universities as 2014-2015 Individual Conference Champions of the College & University Green

Documents

Pa Environment Digest May 4, 2015