PA Environment Digest

An Update On Environmental Issues In PA

Edited By: David E. Hess, Crisci Associates
Winner 2009 PAEE Business Partner Of The Year Award Harrisburg, Pa August 13, 2012

Keep PA Beautiful, Keep America Beautiful Kick Off Recycle-Bowl Competition Keep PA Beautiful and Keep America Beautiful are again teaming up with Nestle Waters North America to announce the launch of the second annual Recycle-Bowl youth recycling competition. In its inaugural year, more than 1,200 elementary, middle- and highschools around the country, representing more than 500,000 students, participated in a fun, interactive way to learn about waste reduction and environmental responsibility through in-school recycling. Sixty-seven percent of participating schools saw a significant or some increase in the amount of materials their school recycled during the competition timeframe. Registration for this incentive-based recycling competition is now open to all U.S. schools at the Recycle-Bowl website. The competition runs from October 15 through November 9, culminating around America Recycles Day. Participating schools will track and report how much recyclable material they collect for a chance to win prizes. At the close of the four-week competition, the school in each state that collects the most recyclable material per capita will win $1,000. A national champion will then be chosen from among the statewide winners to receive an additional grand prize valued at $2,500. Inspiring young people to recycle at school reinforces the importance of recycling everywhere, whether at home or on-the-go, said Matt McKenna, president and CEO of Keep America Beautiful. And while students are becoming better recyclers, their school facilities are also increasing their capacity to handle and recover more recyclable materials, thus creating better and more efficient systems for reducing their waste. Educational recycling activities will also be provided online and through a registration toolkit. Recycle-Bowl is sponsored by Nestle Waters North America. "Nestle Waters North America is eager to see more recycling take place in our schools, said Heidi Paul, vice president of corporate affairs for Nestle Waters North America. Were proud to partner with Keep America Beautiful on this important recycling initiative. New DCNR Mobile Website Connects On-the-Go Users With The Outdoors The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources newly launched mobile website makes it easier for users of smartphones and tablet devices to connect with Pennsylvanias natural world while on-the-go. The new mobile site URL is http://m.dcnr.state.pa.us.

The new site offers expedient, informative details through a medium we know is being used more and more, said DCNR Deputy Secretary John Giordano. We have seen a dramatic increase in web traffic from mobile devices to our main website. The mobile site provides an interface that quickly leads users to information in an easy-to-read, mobile-friendly format. Visitors will find resources such as an interactive map providing location-based services, up-to-the-minute news and information via social feeds, and a searchable calendar of programs and events. This revolutionizes the way we use technology to connect residents with the natural world, said Giordano. It is another great example of DCNRs innovative work to improve access to information and customer service. This initiative is just one example of how DCNR is leveraging its internal application development team to save costs and enable other state agencies to share in its approach, said DCNR Chief Information Officer Stephen Aux. This is just the beginning; we intend to build upon the site. DCNR features an array of outdoor recreational opportunities, unique natural areas, and many other resources to which the mobile site can help lead visitors. In addition to 2.2-million acres of state forests, Pennsylvania has 120 state parks covering nearly 300,000 acres, which equates to a state park within 25 miles of nearly every Pennsylvanian. State parks are heavily integrated into local economies. For every dollar invested in state parks, more than $12 is returned to Pennsylvanias economy. Visitors to Pennsylvanias state parks generate more than $1 billion in economic activity in local communities and support almost 13,000 related jobs. Did You Know You Can Search 8 Years Of Digests On Any Topic? Did you know you can search 8 years of back issues of the PA Environment Digest on dozens of topics, by county and on any key word you choose. Just click on the search page. 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. PA Environment Digest Video Blog: showcases original and published videos from environmental groups and agencies around the state. Sign up to receive as they are posted updates through your favorite RSS read. You can also sign up for a once daily email alerting you to new items posted on this blog. 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 Here are the Senate and House Calendars and Committee meetings showing bills of interest as well as a list of new environmental bills introduced-Session Schedule Here is the latest voting session schedule for the Senate and House-Senate September 24, 25 October 1, 2, 3, 15, 16, 17 November 14 (Leadership Elections) House September 24, 25 October 1, 2, 3, 4, 15, 16, 17, 18 November 13, 14, 19, 20 Bill Calendars House (September 24): House Bill 1659 (Pyle-R-Armstrong) providing for a uniform permit review and consideration process within DEP; Senate Bill 367 (D.White-R-Indiana) providing for mineral resource development on other state lands and providing for allocation of revenue; Senate Bill 1150 (Smucker-R-Lancaster) providing for an historic preservation tax credit; Senate Bill 1480 (Corman-R-Centre) providing for the 2012-13 Capital Budget; House Resolution 438 (Cruz-D-Philadelphia) urging Philadelphia to establish a waste tire removal and disposal program; House Resolution 423 (Petri-R-Bucks) directing the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to study state funding formulas and how they impact counties; House Resolution 505 (Preston-D-Allegheny) disapproving the PUC regulation on natural gas competition. <> Click Here for full House Bill Calendar. Senate (September 24): All bills on the Senate Calendar were Tabled. <> Click Here for full Senate Bill Calendar. Committees House: the Transportation Committee holds a hearing on alternative fuels revenue and the Motor License Fund in Pittsburgh; the House & Senate Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committees hold an informational meeting on the federal Farm Bill at Penn State University;

the House Republican Policy Committee holds a hearing on downstream jobs creation and the Marcellus Shale industry in Pittsburgh <> Click Here for full House Committee Schedule. Senate: the House & Senate Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committees hold an informational meeting on the federal Farm Bill at Penn State University. <> Click Here for full Senate Committee Schedule.

News From The Capitol

Rep. George: DEP Uninterested In Stronger Injection Well Protections Rep. Camille George (D-Clearfield), Minority Chair of the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, Tuesday said his attempt to work with the Department of Environmental Protection on deep injection well policy has been stifled by the departments top administrator. Last month, I sent a letter to DEP Secretary Mike Krancer, voicing my willingness to work together on this issue, Rep. George said. The response I received was that Sec. Krancer is not convinced that deep well injection presents an issue that the Commonwealth needs to grapple with at this time. Earlier this year, Rep. George introduced House Bill 2350, the Injection Well Safe Water Act. The bill calls for stronger environmental protection provisions, setbacks from water sources and geologic fault lines, and a two-year moratorium on any new injection wells drilled in Pennsylvania. At least eight injection wells exist in Pennsylvania, and an injection well has been proposed in Brady Township, Clearfield County, to dispose of industrial gas drillers waste from the Marcellus shale play. Applications across the state are pending. This response from the DEP is representative of the Corbett administrations overall lackadaisical approach to environmental protection, Rep. George said. Both the governor and I want to see the gas companies do well in Pennsylvania, but we have to do this right and that means proper and safe disposal of the drilling wastewater. Concerns were raised about deep injection wells after several earthquakes occurred in the Youngstown, Ohio area following deep injection well activity there. Geologic fault lines running through the area with deep injection well activity was determined to be a factor in the earthquakes occurring. Clearfield County already has injection wells in Bell and Ferguson townships, Rep. George said. The one proposed in Brady Township is close to fault lines running right through the area. Earlier this year, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced a $159,000 settlement with EXCO Resources regarding failed mechanical integrity at the disposal well in Bell Township, after it was determined that the company had failed to comply with federal mechanical integrity standards, placing underground sources of drinking water at risk. Despite the Corbett administrations unwillingness to work with him on this issue, Rep. George promised to continue pushing for action on House Bill 2350 during the final months of the legislative session. We need to keep pushing, keep fighting for the right to clean water, and we need to keep this issue alive, Rep. George said. Ive started a page on my website, dedicated to providing information about deep injection wells. As I receive documents, such as the letter from DEP

Sec. Krancer, Ill add them to the page. I urge people to visit the webpage and learn more about this important issue, Rep. George said. The time to act is now. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regulated underground injection wells in Pennsylvania. Visit EPAs Underground Injection Control webpage for more information. NewsClips: DEPs Krancer Says No Worries Over Injection Wells

News From Around The State

Public Availability Session On De-listing Presque Isle Bay As Area Of Concern Aug. 28 The Department of Environmental Protection will hold a public availability session in Erie to solicit comments on the Stage 3 Remedial Action Plan and delisting of Presque Isle Bay as a Great Lakes Area of Concern. The session will be on August 28, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Erie County Conservation District office, 1827 Wager Road, Erie. These availability sessions are an opportunity for residents to learn about the Great Lakes Area of Concern Program and the progress made over the last 21 years since Presque Isle Bay was designated an area of concern, DEP Northwest Regional Director Kelly Burch said. Achieving this milestone marks an unprecedented cooperative effort between government and citizens; the environmental improvements are evident to all who enjoy the Bay. In 1972, Canada and the United States signed the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement, which describes a process and criteria for identifying and restoring geographical AOCs based on the presence of conditions that impair the beneficial uses of the aquatic ecosystem. The agreement lists 14 beneficial uses, covering issues from wildlife habitat to the ability to swim in, drink and eat fish that live in the water. In 1991, at the request of area residents, Presque Isle Bay became an AOC and in 1993, the Stage 1 Remedial Action Report identified two impairments as problematic for the Bay restrictions on dredging activities and fish tumors or other deformities. The restrictions on dredging were removed in 2007. DEP is requesting public comment on the Stage 3 RAP, which summarizes the studies, data and literature supporting the recommendation to de-list the fish tumor impairment and Presque Isle Bay as an AOC. A copy of the final draft RAP can be reviewed by contacting Lori Boughton, Office of the Great Lakes, at 814-217-9635 or through the Presque Isle Bay Public Advisory Committees website. The RAP can also be viewed at the Tom Ridge Environmental Center, 301 Peninsula Drive, Erie; the Erie County Public Library, 160 E. Front St., Erie; and the Erie County Conservation District, 1927 Wager Road, Erie. SRBC Holds Hearing August 23 On Water Withdrawal Requests The Susquehanna River Basin Commission will conduct a public hearing on August 23 to accept public comments on water withdrawal and consumptive use project applications.

The hearing will be held in the North Office Building, Hearing Room 1 (Ground Level), North Street at Commonwealth Avenue, Harrisburg, PA. The hearing will begin at 2:30 p.m. and end at 5:00 p.m. or when the public testimonies conclude, whichever comes first. The list of 28 project applications and options for submitting comments electronically are available on SRBCs Public Participation Center. Persons planning to present oral testimony at the public hearing are asked to notify SRBC prior to the hearing of their intent to testify and to indicate what they plan to comment on. The notices are to be directed to Richard Cairo, General Counsel, Susquehanna River Basin Commission, 1721 North Front Street, Harrisburg, PA 17102, Telephone: 717-238-0423, ext. 306, Fax: 717-238-2436 or send email to: rcairo@srbc.net. SRBC will also accept written comments until September 4. Comments may be submitted via the Internet or mailed or faxed to Mr. Cairo. SRBC is scheduled to vote on these and other action items at its next business meeting, which is tentatively scheduled for September 20. SRBCs 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 will be permitted to set up and use video and recording devices in a designated area. -- The public will be permitted to use small, hand-held devices that remain in their possession and are used in a non-disruptive manner. DEP Invites Comments On Watershed TMDLs In Columbia And Union Counties The Department of Environmental Protection published a notice inviting comments on proposed Total Maximum Daily Load Plans for Deerlick Run Watershed in Columbia County and Turtle Creek Watershed in Union County (PA Bulletin page 5292). A copy of the proposed TMDLs are available on DEPs TMDL webpage. PEC: Registration Now Open For Sept. 18-19 Stormwater Conference The PA Environmental Council is happy to announce registration is now open for our conference Stormwater- Green Solutions beyond Gray Pipes: A Conference on Policy, Financing and Technology on September 18 and 19 in Harrisburg. The profile of stormwater has steadily been increasing in recent years. Municipalities, businesses and homeowners are, now more than ever, looking for opportunities to effectively manage rainwater where it falls as a resource and to deliver improved environments. Green infrastructure experts will provide current local and regional perspectives and practical, cost effective solutions for managing stormwater in Pennsylvania. For the conference agenda and to register, visit the Stormwater Conference website. Sept. 19 DEP DEP@Home Webinar To Focus On Water Wellness Join experts from the Department of Environmental Protection and Penn State Extension's Master Well Owner Network on September 19 for an informative webinar about keeping your on-lot septic and private water systems problem-free. Learn how to avoid malfunction, prevent contamination, conserve water and reduce waste flow.

The webinar will take place from 7 to 8 p.m. Attendees can participate from the convenience of their home computers. There are over one million private water wells in Pennsylvania. Research has shown that more than 50 percent of these private water systems fail to meet at least one drinking water standard. Properly maintaining private water and sewage systems is essential in ensuring residents health. Featured speakers include Bryan Swistock of the PA Master Well Owners Network and John Diehl of DEPs Bureau of Point and Non-Point Source Management. The Master Well Owners Network seeks to train volunteers throughout Pennsylvania to help educate rural homeowners on the proper management of private water wells. The Bureau of Point and Non-Point Source Management is an office within the Department of Environmental Protection that ensures safe water practices throughout the state. This webinar is the second in a series of webinars produced by the Department of Environmental Protection. They are aimed at educating families about improving their home environment and safeguarding their health. Future topics will focus on energy conservation and radon testing and mitigation. This webinar is free and open to any and all interested residents. Online registration is available for the webinar If you are unable to participate on September 19, or for more information, visit DEPs DEP@Home webpage. Audubon PA, Ruffed Grouse Society Set Marcellus Shale Listening Sessions Are you a hunter, angler, hiker, or other outdoors-person living in South-central or Southeast Pennsylvania? Do you have something to say to Marcellus shale gas drilling companies about their operations in the state? Audubon Pennsylvania and the Ruffed Grouse Society have partnered with the Marcellus Shale Coalition to sponsor four Listening Sessions to bring conservation group representatives together to ask questions, discuss concerns, and partner on habitat restoration opportunities. The listening sessions will be held: -- August 27, 9:00 a.m. Noon at the John James Audubon Center at Mill Grove, near Valley Forge, PA 1201 Pawlings Road, Audubon, Pa; -- August 27, 2:00 p.m. 5:00, Cabelas (upstairs meeting rooms), 100 Cabela Drive, Hamburg, Pa; -- August 28, 9 a.m. Noon, Dauphin County Wildwood Park Nature Center, north end of 100 Wildwood Road, Harrisburg, Pa; and -- August 28, 2:00 p.m. 5:00, NRCS Farm & Home Center, 1383 Arcadia Road, Lancaster, Pa. Now that the natural gas industry has been active in Pennsylvania for several years, there is a track record that offers factual information about the impacts associated with drilling for, producing, and delivering natural gas. A facilitator will help us develop a thoughtful list of environmental concerns, and a list of suggestions for addressing them. Also, given that habitat changes will occur in much of the state due to Marcellus gas drilling and pipeline construction, we have an opportunity to be pro-active regarding what happens to these sites once gas extraction is completed.

Can we create early successional (young) forests to reverse the downward trend of bird populations that depend on this habitat such as ruffed grouse, American woodcock, and golden-winged warbler? How can the natural gas drilling industry be a partner in this effort? We need to know who plans to attend which session in order to reserve the proper size rooms. If you plan on coming, please confirm by emailing one of the contacts below and which session you plan to attend: Mike Zagata at: mzagata@stny.rr.com or Paul Zeph at: pzeph@audubon.org. Directions available upon request DEP Sets Aug. 28 Hearing On Susquehanna County Compressor Station The Department of Environmental Protection will hold a public meeting and hearing on Tuesday, August 28, to discuss Williams Energys proposed Air Quality plan approval to construct the Central compressor station in Bridgewater and Brooklyn townships, Susquehanna County. The 6 p.m. meeting and hearing will be at Montrose High School at 15 Meteor Way. Staff from DEPs Air Quality program will explain the application review process and applicable regulations, and Williams Energy officials will review the proposed project with the audience, DEP Northeast Regional Director Mike Bedrin said. We will have a question-andanswer session for DEP and the company to hear about residents concerns and provide needed information. Williams Energy submitted its Air Quality plan approval application to DEP in September 2011. The plan outlines that the compressor station would include three natural gasfired compressor engines; a solar turbine; an emergency generator; three water storage tanks; three dehydration units to remove water from incoming natural gas; and an enclosed, smokeless flare that is used to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The company proposes to build the compressor station as part of Williams Field Services gathering system in Susquehanna County, which draws natural gas produced from area wells. DEP published a notice of intent to issue the plan approval in the July 28 edition of the Pennsylvania Bulletin and asked for public comment. A significant number of residents asked the agency to hold a public meeting or public hearing to discuss the application. During the 6 p.m. meeting, the public will have an opportunity to ask DEP and Williams staff questions about the permit application and DEPs role in reviewing it. At 7 p.m., the public is invited to present up to five minutes of oral testimony about the application. Written testimony of any length will also be accepted. The testimony will be recorded by a court reporter and transcribed into a written document, and DEP will create a written response to all relevant testimony provided during the public hearing. Those who wish to present oral testimony may register that evening prior to the hearing. For anyone unable to attend the hearing, written comment should be submitted by the close of business on September 11, to DEP Air Quality Program Manager, 2 Public Square, WilkesBarre, PA 18703. Individuals in need of an accommodation as provided for in the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 should contact Colleen Connolly at 570-826-2035 or through the Pennsylvania AT&T Relay Service at 1-800-654-5984 (TDD). NewsClips: DEP Sets Public Meeting On Gas Compressor Station Luzerne County Hears Testimony On Compressor Station

PHFA: Grants Available To Address Housing Impacts Of Marcellus Shale The PA Housing Finance Agency has issued a Request for Proposals for projects to improve the availability and affordability of housing in the Marcellus Shale region of the state. The deadline for responses is November 2. The funding is being made available through the Pennsylvania Housing Affordability and Rehabilitation Enhancement Fund and Marcellus Shale impact fees. This funding will include $2.5 million collected in 2011 and $5 million collected each year that follows. Additional funding to be added to the PHARE Fund may include Marcellus Shale impact fees provided to municipalities that exceed a certain percentage or dollar amount set by law. Eligible applicants for the RFP include Pennsylvania counties that have adopted ordinances authorizing the imposition of an impact fee and that have producing, unconventional gas wells. Also eligible are municipalities that have excess (or spillover) funds deposited into the PHARE Fund, as noted above. We want the RFP to be as flexible as possible in considering ways we can expand the quantity and quality of housing in those communities impacted by the upsurge in natural gas drilling in the state, said PHFA Executive Director and CEO Brian A. Hudson Sr. We understand that different communities will undertake different approaches for addressing their housing needs, including such options as adding more multifamily housing, providing rental assistance, expanding homeownership opportunities, and other development ideas. Were looking for proposals that reflect the needs and wants of the communities theyll serve. The end result will be improved housing options suited to the needs of the people who live in those regions affected by the increase in natural gas drilling. The RFP stresses the agencys desire to fund projects that will leverage other funds secured to improve housing in a community. Proposals must ensure that at least 15 percent of any funds awarded will be used to help people or families with incomes below 50 percent of the median area income. Also, proposals cannot serve people or families with incomes above 200 percent of the median area income. Additional requirements are described in detail in the RFP. Public Information Sessions PHFA will host three public information sessions during which potential applicants can ask questions and get clarification on the requirements of the RFP. These will be held August 29, September 20 and October 3. The August and October sessions will be conducted via webinars. The September session will be held at the Radisson Hotel in Camp Hill. Click Here for more information about these sessions. Click Here for a copy of the RFP. The deadline for proposal submissions is November 2 at 2 p.m. DEP Fines EXCO Resources $47,500 For Operating Unpermitted Transfer Stations The Department of Environmental Protection announced Tuesday it fined EXCO Resources (PA) LLC of Warrendale, Allegheny County, $47,500 for operating unpermitted residual waste transfer stations in Lycoming and Sullivan counties in 2011 and earlier this year, which violated the states Solid Waste Management Act. For each transfer station, EXCO should have applied to DEP for a Solid Waste Processing permit that has specific requirements for the safe storage, processing and transfer

of residual wastes, DEP North-central Regional Director Marcus Kohl said. These permit requirements ensure proper protection of the environment as well as public health and safety. In October 2011, DEP inspectors visiting an EXCO site in Anthony Township, Lycoming County found 19 hydraulic fracturing tanks that were three-quarters full of flowback water. A conductivity meter placed in the water registered a high reading, and there was a leak between the first and second tanks with fluid accumulating in the containment area. It was apparent that flowback water from nearby EXCO well pads was being piped to the frack tanks. A standard frack tank can hold up to 21,000 gallons. The agency issued a notice of violation to EXCO in November 2011, instructing that the flowback water be transported to a permitted facility and that no additional flowback water be transported to the site until a permit was obtained from DEP. A DEP inspection in January 2012 confirmed that the tanks had been emptied but 10 rolloff containers were discovered, six of which contained waste sand. A follow-up inspection in February found that all the roll-off containers and 14 of the tanks had been removed. The two remaining tanks were empty. In January, DEP discovered similar violations involving seven frack tanks at an EXCO site in Shrewsbury Township, Sullivan County. The agency sent the company a notice of violation later that month, and a follow-up inspection in February confirmed that all the tanks had been removed. Staff from DEPs Waste Management and Oil and Gas programs worked together on the investigations, and the fine has been paid to the Solid Waste Abatement Fund. Register Now For Pennsylvania's Energy Future 2.0 September 5-6 The Pennsylvania Environmental Council will host Pennsylvania's Energy Future 2.0: Getting From Here To There on September 5-6 in Pittsburgh to explore issues related to developing the Commonwealth's energy resources. Featured speakers will include Lt. Gov. Jim Cawley and Mark Brownstein, Chief Counsel, Energy Program, Environmental Defense Fund. Pennsylvania contains some of the most abundant and diverse energy resources in the world. With the development of the Marcellus and Utica Shale natural gas reserves well underway, the challenge now is to develop an energy infrastructure that can accommodate the delivery of energy to end users most effectively. Energy production is only part of the equation. Now we must look ahead at delivering all that energy to the open market without unnecessarily impacting private property, public lands, parks, forests, protected open spaces, and other land assets throughout Pennsylvania. The PEC invites you to join us for this critical two-day conference that will assess how far Pennsylvania has come in developing its energy resources and turn to the future to meet the challenge of energy delivery. The agenda includes a distinguished lineup of highly qualified speakers on such topics as: Energy Delivery 101; Impacts of Energy Delivery Infrastructure; Energy Delivery Infrastructure Siting Process in Pennsylvania; Other State Models; Local Experience; What is the Role of Government and at What Level; and The Path Forward. As part of the run-up to the Conference, PEC invites comments on a special white paper which provides general background information on energy issues to stimulate a dialogue before the Conference.

This critical two-day conference will bring together: State, county and municipal officials; land and policy planners; Energy resource industry; energy technology industry; academia; environmental policy organizations; and other stakeholders. Registration and other details are available on PEC's website. Lt. Gov. Cawley Touts Rebirth Of Bloomsburg Fair Following 2011 Floods Lt. Gov. Jim Cawley Thursday toured the Bloomsburg Fairgrounds in Columbia County to review repairs made after the extensive damage caused by Tropical Storm Lee last September. Flood damage required more than $1.2 million in repairs to many structures including barns, stables, the grandstand and bleachers. It also resulted in the fairs first cancellation in the events 157-year history. I am here to celebrate the rebirth of the Bloomsburg Fair. Today, the fairgrounds are bustling with activity, but it was a very different picture last year, said Cawley. Last year, the state endured three flood events over a five-week period, which Cawley said resulted in: -- 18 Pennsylvanians losing their lives; -- 44 of 67 counties issuing emergency declaration; -- 1.3 million Pennsylvanians losing power; -- Closure of 559 state roads and 145 bridges; and -- $568 million in unemployment, counseling, loans, housing and other types of assistance provided statewide. Pennsylvanias recovery from the floods of 2011 is an ongoing success story, but more work needs to be done, Cawley said. Leaders continue to work together here in Bloomsburg and in Harrisburg to rebuild and prepare for the future. The Bloomsburg Fair is scheduled for September 22-29. NewsClips: Bloomsburg Fairgrounds Restoration: $2.5 Million Deadline To Apply For SBA Disaster Loans September 10 Flood Recovery Loan Helps Business Get Restarted Flood Control Initiative In Works For Mounds On Mon Feds Tour Flooding Sites In Wyoming County Friends Of The Wissahickon Sees Improvement In Litter At Devil's Pool The Friends of the Wissahickon is seeing improvement in the amount of litter at Devil's Pool this summer. FOW has been working with the Student Conservation Association in its continuing effort to keep the area clean and educate park visitors on safe and appropriate use of the park. The SCA crew reports that they are finding approximately 95 percent of litter at the area left in bags, which is an improvement over previous years. Many factors contribute to this improvement: -- FOW has been improving environmental conditions and increasing public safety at Devils Pool since 2006 with a public education program, $500,000 work of trail and habitat restoration work, and public outreach initiatives. -- The Student Conservation Association has been working with FOW since 2009 by cleaning the site regularly and educating visitors on park stewardship. Last year, the SCA crew designed and mounted a trash bag dispenser at Devils Pool.

-- Police officers from the 5th and 14th Districts have been patrolling the Wissahickon this summer in an effort to educate park users on Fairmount Park rules and enforce them. -- Park Rangers from Philadelphia Parks & Recreation have also increased their presence in the Wissahickon in order to help reduce problems such as illegal parking, swimming, diving, and littering, and violations of open container laws and the City-wide leash law, which requires all dogs in the park to be on a six-foot leash. FirstEnergy Accepting Applications From Educators For STEM Grants FirstEnergy Corp. is offering education grants of up to $500 for creative classroom projects planned for the 2012-2013 school year. The deadline for applications is September 17. The Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Classroom Grants are awarded for creative, individual classroom projects for grades pre-kindergarten through 12. The grants are available to educators and youth group leaders located in communities served by FirstEnergy's 10 electric operating companies, or in communities where the company has generating plants or does business. "Our goal is to encourage creative classroom learning in the STEM subjects; to support teacher professional development in these critical areas; and to expose both students and teachers to the career possibilities in the STEM fields of study," said Delores Jones, manager, Community Initiatives. "The students who benefit from these programs could become FirstEnergy's future engineers, scientists, accountants, information technologists and electricians." Grants will be awarded based on the recommendations of the FirstEnergy Education Advisory Council. Winners will be notified by October 8. More than 1,000 STEM grants have been awarded to educators and youth group leaders since 1986. For more information, visit the FirstEnergy Education Grants webpage. PUC: Most Electric, Natural Gas Customers Satisfied With Service The majority of electric and natural gas customers were satisfied with the way customer service representatives handled their calls in 2011, according to an annual report released Wednesday by the Public Utility Commission. The 2011 Customer Service Performance Report measures the customer-service performance of the states major electric and natural gas companies. This years report summarizes data from 2009, 2010 and 2011. It allows customers to see how well companies are responding to their questions and enables utilities to see how their level of service compares to other companies. The data falls into two categories: company-reported performance information and customer survey results. The company-reported data measures telephone access to the companies, such as the percentage of calls that were answered within 30 seconds, abandoned by customers or received a busy signal. Calls in the busy-out rate represent those attempted calls that received a busy signal or message. The report also measures how often companies failed to read meters, issue bills and promptly respond to customer disputes. The customer surveys measure customer perception of access to the company; employee courtesy and knowledge; promptness and timeliness of a response or visit; and satisfaction with the handling of the interaction. All of the utilities contracted with a common market- research

firm to conduct the surveys of their customers. Company-reported highlights include: -- Access statistics improved for three of the electric distribution companies (EDCs): UGI Utilities Inc. Electric, PECO Energy Co. and PPL Electric Utilities Corp., and declined for two. -- Four of the seven natural gas distribution companies (NGDCs) PGW, Peoples Natural Gas, UGI Penn Natural and UGI Utilities Inc. Gas - reported improved telephone access performance for 2011. One of the EDCs - West Penn Power - and two of the NGDCs Columbia Gas of Pennsylvania Inc. and PGW - reported improved statistics regarding the number of residential disputes that did not receive a response within 30 days. Customer survey result highlights include: -- On average, 89 percent of EDC consumers reported they were either somewhat or very satisfied with the overall quality of service they received from their EDCs in 2011, the same as in 2009 and 2010. -- On average, 86 percent of NGDC consumers reported they were either somewhat or very satisfied with the overall quality of service they received from their NGDCs last year, which is an increase from 85 percent in 2010. The full report is available at the PUC website. Potassium Iodide Tablets Available Starting Aug. 9 Around Nuclear Plants The Department of Health is again providing free potassium iodide, or KI, tablets starting on August 9 to help Pennsylvanians be prepared for public health emergencies involving nuclear facilities. Pennsylvanians who live, work or attend school within a 10-mile radius of one of the state's five nuclear power plants can get free potassium iodide, or KI, tablets. Taken as directed during a radiological emergency, KI can help protect the thyroid gland against harmful radioactive iodine. Individuals should only take KI tablets when directed to do so by state health officials or the governor. Four 65-milligram tablets will be provided to each adult. Smaller doses will be given to children, based on their age. Individuals can pick up KI tablets for other family members or those who are unable to pick them up on their own. Directions detailing when to take the tablets and how to store them will also be provided at each location. Anyone can take the tablets as long as they are not allergic to KI. They are safe for pregnant women and those who are breastfeeding, people on thyroid medicine, children and infants. Individuals who are unsure if they should take KI should ask a healthcare provider. Individuals who are unable to get tablets during the Aug. 9 distribution can pick them up any time at county and municipal health departments or state health centers. Pennsylvania's five nuclear power plants are closely regulated, secure and wellmaintained. The facilities are: Beaver Valley Power Station, Limerick Generating Station, Peach Bottom Atomic Power Station, Susquehanna Steam Electric Station and Three Mile Island Nuclear Generating Station. KI tablets will be available between 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. on August 9 at the following distribution sites: -- Beaver County State Health Center, 300 S. Walnut Lane, Beaver, PA 15009 -- Butler Township Community Center, 411 W. Butler Drive, Drums, PA 18222

-- Citizens Volunteer Fire Co., 171 S. Market St., Fawn Grove, PA 17321 -- Columbia County State Health Center, 1000 S. Market St., Suite 5, Bloomsburg, PA 17815 -- Fishing Creek Salem United Methodist Church, 402 Valley Road, Etters, PA 17319 -- Keystone Fire Company, 240 N. Walnut St., Boyertown, PA 19512 -- Kimberton Fire Company, 61 Firehouse Lane, Phoenixville, PA 19460 -- Lancaster County State Health Center, 1661 Old Philadelphia Pike, Lancaster, PA 17602 -- Lower Swatara Township Building, 1499 Spring Garden Dr., Middletown, PA 17057 -- Luzerne County Community College (Public Safety Institute), 1333 S. Prospect St., Nanticoke, PA 18634 -- Mohler Senior Center, 25 Hope Dr., Hershey, PA 17033 -- Solanco High School, 585 Solanco Road, Quarryville, PA 17566 -- Union Fire Company Number 1, 201 York St., Manchester, PA 17345 KI tablets will also be available at the following location from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on August 9: Pottstown Health Center, 364 King St., Pottstown, PA 19464 Appointments are not necessary for the distribution clinics. For more information, visit the Department of Healths Potassium Iodide FAQ webpage or call 1-877-PA-HEALTH (877-724-3258). NewsClips: Potassium Iodide Tablets Being Distributed In PA Free Radon Test Kits Available In 9 Counties Thru American Lung Association Free home radon test kits are available to residents of nine counties in northeast and north-central Pennsylvania, thanks to a $75,000 grant from the Department of Environmental Protection to the American Lung Association. The kits are offered to residents of Bradford, Clinton, Lycoming, Northumberland, Potter, Schuylkill, Sullivan, Susquehanna and Tioga counties. These test kits equip residents with information needed to confront the dangers of having radon in our homes, DEP Secretary Mike Krancer said. By providing this vital tool, DEP and ALA are making sure residents stay safe and informed. The testing is part of a three-year, community-based program ALA sponsors to promote radon awareness in Pennsylvania. The first year of the program is focused on the northeast region, which ALA has identified as having lower radon testing rates and greater likelihood of elevated radon levels than other areas of the state. Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that is colorless, odorless and tasteless. It is second only to cigarette smoking as a cause of lung cancer. The only way to know the level of radon inside a home or other kind of building is to test for it, and the U.S. Surgeon General and ALA recommend that all homes be tested for radon. Nearly one in 15 homes nationwide has a high level of indoor radon, and in Pennsylvania, the rates are even higher. Residents who are interested in obtaining a kit can do so in several ways. Visit ALAs website, where Pennsylvania residents can order a free home radon test kit, while supplies last. School-based programs at which ALA representatives give presentations may provide radon test kits to students for use in their homes. Commitment from parents that the test would be performed is required and, ideally, the school would use the radon program as part of its science lessons. ALA staff members or the organizations cooperative partners may also provide radon test kits to members of the public at community outreach events. In the past, businesses,

extension agents, health centers, municipal governments, shopping malls and civic clubs have participated. Interested schools and organizations should contact Tony Delonti, ALA program specialist, at 570-346-1784 or send email to: adelonti@lunginfo.org. For more information, visit DEPs Radon webpage or call 717-783-3594. NewsClips: Potassium Iodide Tablets Being Distributed In PA People Near Nuclear Plants Can Receive Free KI Tablets Iodide Pills A Hot Item In The TMI Region NRC Puts New Nuclear Reactor Permits On Hold PA State Transportation Commission Approves Revised 12-Year Plan The State Transportation Commission Thursday approved an update to Pennsylvania's 12-Year Transportation Program which anticipates $41.6 billion being available over the next 12 years for improvements to roads, bridges, transit systems, airports and railroads. "PennDOT is working very hard to make the most of every available dollar," said PennDOT Secretary and Commission Chairman Barry J. Schoch. "This plan, which was developed in partnership with all regions of Pennsylvania, focuses on preserving our current infrastructure while living with the reality of flat or reduced federal and state revenues." The newly adopted 12-Year Program, which takes effect October 1, anticipates just over $9 billion being available for highway and bridge projects in the first four years. Public transit is in line for $5.4 billion; aviation, $360 million; and the state's rail-freight systems are expected to receive $204 million. "PennDOT is committed to implementing cost-saving efforts and modernization practices that make sense and help us stretch Pennsylvania's limited resources," said Schoch. Eight Rural Planning Organizations and 15 Metropolitan Planning Organizations partnered with PennDOT in the review and development of the update. It will now be submitted to the Federal Highway Administration and the Federal Transit Administration for review and approval. The Federal Highway Administration coordinates with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to review the plan's conformity with air quality requirements. Highway funds listed in the 12-Year Program are distributed statewide using a formula that weighs population, lane miles and vehicle miles traveled. Bridge funds are distributed based on the condition of each region's structures. The commission consists of 10 appointed citizens and the majority and minority chairpersons of the state House and Senate Transportation committees. State law requires the commission to review and update the 12-Year Program every two years. No capital project can move forward unless it is included in the 12-Year Program. For more information, visit PennDOTs 12-Year Program webpage. DCNR Bureau of Forestry Announces Funding For Rural Firefighters More than $540,000 in grants will be awarded to help Pennsylvanias rural communities guard against the threat of fires in forests and other undeveloped areas, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Richard J. Allan announced Monday. A total of 141 volunteer fire companies across the state, all serving rural areas and communities where forest and brush fires are common, will benefit from these funds, Allan

said. One only has to look to the West earlier this summer to the horrific fires in Colorado to appreciate the value of having well-equipped and highly trained wildfire fighters. Local firefighting forces in rural areas or communities with fewer than 10,000 residents may qualify for the aid. Last year, the grant program awarded $699,000 to 160 fire companies across the state. The readiness of these men and women is demonstrated every spring and summer when they answer assistance calls coming from other states, while also responding regularly to local woodland and brush fires, Allan said. These federal grants allow firefighters from smaller companies to concentrate more on public safety and training while easing their fiscal constraints. Grant recipients were named following review of fire company applications meeting a May 2012 deadline. Grants and other assistance are provided through the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Bureau of Forestry, with funding supplied by the U.S. Department of Agricultures Forest Service through the Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act of 1978. The key objective is to better equip and train volunteers to save lives and protect property in unprotected or inadequately protected rural areas. Grant recipients are selected based on vulnerability and adequacy of existing fire protection. In reviewing applications, the bureau placed priority on applications seeking funds for projects that included purchasing wildfiresuppression equipment and protective clothing. Grants were also awarded for mobile or portable radios, water supply installations, wildfire prevention and mitigation, wildfire fighting training, and to convert and maintain federal excess vehicles the bureau receives and uses for fire suppression. Grants for any project during a fiscal year cannot exceed 50 percent of the actual expenditures. The maximum grant size was $7,500. Aid is granted on a cost-share basis, with recipients supplying matching funds. The bureau will begin accepting applications for 2013s grant program next spring. Grant information can be obtained from the Bureau of Forestry Division of Forest Fire Protection in Harrisburg. Call 717-787-2925 or visit DCNRs Volunteer Fire Departments webpage. PA Wilds Hosts 2nd Regional Conference On Sustainable Tourism Nov. 8-9 A regional conference on sustainable tourism development will be held November 8-9 in the Pennsylvania Wilds, and organizers are encouraging communities in the region to send teams to the two-day event to help advance local projects in their areas. PA Wilds Fall Workshop: Connecting Nature, Economy, and Community Character, will be held at the Red Fern in St. Marys. The conference is designed to help communities advance sustainable tourism projects that are important to them. Participants will hear from state and national experts on topics relevant to the region, and then work as a group in a structured setting to flesh out their project ideas, budgets, and next steps. The conference, offered by the PA Wilds Planning Team, is similar to one the group held in 2007, which led to several successful community-driven tourism projects in the region, from the Trail Central branding and trail developments in McKean County, to an impressive local, state, federal and private-sector partnership along the Clarion River that led to new directional

signage and access points along that river, new water trail maps, and improved roads and public restrooms along the river corridor. Residents know best what projects have potential in their areas, but it is sometimes hard to find the time or opportunity to get the right people around the table to advance these good ideas, said Planning Team Chair Dan Glotz. The PA Wilds Fall Workshop is a great opportunity to finally get that team together and drill down to the nuts and bolts of how to get your project done. Its also a great opportunity to network with experts and potential funders, and with teams from other communities in the region who have dealt with challenges similar to your own. This year, conference organizers will be accepting six to eight teams from across the PA Wilds. The strongest teams will have five to seven people from a variety of backgrounds small business owners, public lands managers, municipal officials, heritage and tourism professionals and community activists who together bring a wide range of skill sets and knowledge to the table to help push projects forward. A passion for the work is a must. If you have a project idea, but need help identifying potential team members, the PA Wilds Planning Team can provide assistance just contact Janine Morley at the phone number or email listed below. Team tuition is $200; scholarships are available to help cover travel and lodging expenses. Applications are due October 5. Application packets and a working agenda for the event are available online or by contacting Janine Morley at 814-274-4877 or by sending email to: janine@pottercountyedcouncil.org . Sustainable Lands Bus Tours Set In Lebanon, Luzerne, Montgomery Counties The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and local partners are sponsoring several bus tours will take place in various Pennsylvania communities to highlight the importance of sustainable land management and habitat protection. Attend one or more of these tours to see great examples, network and have fun--- Sustainable Forests and Meadows Bus Tour September 7 in Lebanon County -- Sustainable Landscapes Bus Tour September 20 in Luzerne County -- Sustainable Landscapes Bus Tour October 24 in Montgomery County For more information, download the tours flyer. Registration information is available online. For more information or questions, call Jessica Sprajcar at 717-798-2409 or send email to: jsprajcar@pa.gov. August 25 Bald Eagle Migration Day At Hawk Mountain Visit Hawk Mountain Sanctuary on Bald Eagle Migration Day August 25 and see a live Bald Eagle up close and personal during a noon-time presentation by Carbon County Environmental Center. This free presentation will be held in the outdoor amphitheater, or indoors in the event of rain. Bald Eagle Migration Day is designed to remind visitors that late August and early September is one of the best times to see bald eagles on migration. At this time of year visitors have a 40 percent chance of seeing a Bald Eagle at Hawk Mountains North Lookout, and a 52 percent chance between September 1 and 15th.

Also visiting that day will be John and Yoke DiGiorgio, authors of the newly released Nesting Diaries: the Triumphant Journey of Four Bald Eagle Chicks. Part photo-essay and part natural history, the book follows progress at an eagle nest along the Delaware River in Pennsylvania that successfully raised and fledged four youngan extremely rare phenomena. The DiGiorgios will be available to sign copies of their book, or just to talk and share video clips with visitors about their experiences. They will be found inside the Visitor Center from 10 am to 4 pm. Children will be invited to participate in a Bald Eagle counting activity at the Lookout, and those who participate will be entered into a drawing for a plush eagle puppet. Children also may take home free information about eagles, their conservation status and their natural history. In addition to the kids, every new member who joins Hawk Mountain on Bald Eagle Migration Day will receive two free trail passes to share with a friend and also will be entered to win a special bald eagle-themed prize. The giveaway is part of a national Pledge to Fledge initiative, which encourages birders to introduce friends and other non-birders so they can see and enjoy birds for the first time. Hawk Mountain Sanctuary is a non-profit, member-support organization located just seven miles north of I-78 near Hamburg (exit 29B). For more information on weather forecasts, or hear the daily hawk count, call the info line at 610-756-6000 x6, or, to speak to someone at the Sanctuary call 610-756-6961.

Spotlight-- Wildlife Conservation Partnership Celebrates 75 Years

By Joe Kosack Wildlife Conservation Education Specialist Game Commission Its hard to imagine how wild Pennsylvania in fact, America would be today without the annual funds provided by 1937s Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act. This landmark legislation, celebrating its 75th anniversary this year, redirected the use of a federal excise tax on sporting arms and ammunition to help restore Americas wildlife, explained Carl G. Roe, Pennsylvania Game Commission executive director. Now known as the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act, it is recognized as one of the most important and lasting commitments America has made to wildlife and its conservation. The maneuvering in Washington, D.C., to redirect this excise tax on sporting arms and ammunition 10 percent on most taxable items came as the Great Depression was winding down and before the United States plunged into World War II. Sandwiched between these two defining periods in American history, the new PittmanRobertson Wildlife Restoration Act (P-R Act) had time to get off the ground and running. In fact, had the P-R Act and subsequent state companion legislation been introduced five years earlier or later, this extraordinary wildlife partnership would not have had a chance, given the countrys pressing needs. The P-R Act is named after U.S. Rep. A. Willis Robertson, of Virginia, and U.S. Senator Key Pittman, of Nevada, who were instrumental in securing the bills passage in their respective chambers. The bill itself was written by Carl D. Shoemaker, who was a special investigator for the Special Committee on Conservation of Wildlife Resources in the U.S. Senate. The bill was adopted by Congress and signed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, who wasnt quite as bully for wildlife as his distant rough-riding cousin, President Teddy

Roosevelt, who was the countrys 26th president and incredibly instrumental in forging Americas then budding conservation movement. At that time, the Game Commission was living off the revenues $1.3 million in 1937 obtained from a $2 resident hunting license and a $15 nonresident license. It wasnt enough to adequately manage the more than 450 species of wild birds and mammals the agency was mandated to conserve. Thats why the new P-R funding immediately became so important to the agency. It didnt hurt that the Commonwealth benefitted greatly from the formula the U.S. Biological Survey became the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in 1940 used annually to disburse P-R funds. The hefty P-R allocations Pennsylvania receives annually have been and continue to be influenced mostly by the states large number of hunters. The USFWSs formula uses a states geographic size Pennsylvania ranks 33rd and hunting license sales Pennsylvania is usually one of the top three states to establish each states funding level. During the 1940s, hunter numbers dropped as Pennsylvanians enlisted for and fought in World War II. It would have been harder for the Game Commission to fulfill its duties had it not been for P-R funding. Those annual allocations helped keep the agencys programs on course. Then, after the war, the states hunter numbers grew every decade particularly after the babyboomers became of hunting age until they plateaued in the early 1980s. Pennsylvania continues to sell 900,000 to one million hunting licenses annually, and that keeps the Game Commission in an enviable position for P-R funding, explained Roe. Pennsylvania is grateful for all the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Program has done for the Commonwealth. Wildlife conservation in this state wouldnt be the same without it. Pennsylvania currently is surpassed only by Texas in hunter numbers, based on the a statistical analysis of all states conducted by the USFWS in the 2006 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting and Wildlife Associated Recreation, the latest report from which statistical information can be obtained. There wasnt a close third place among the remaining 48 states. What makes the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act so remarkable is the lasting ecological good it has fostered across America, said Roe. Since P-R began giving grant money to states in 1939, it has provided an amazing $7 billion including more than $275 million to Pennsylvania for wildlife conservation. P-R money has helped the Game Commission buy more than 185,000 acres of State Game Lands, fund important wildlife surveys and research and improve habitat on State Game Lands. It also helps finance hunter education and was instrumental in the reintroduction of bald eagles. The Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act also has helped ensure that every dollar raised through state hunting license sales is spent on wildlife management. This came about through a late adjustment in the bills development crafted by Rep. Robertson. His amendment created a mandate requiring all participating states to enact laws prohibiting the use of hunting license revenues for any purpose other than operating their state wildlife management agency. Compliance among the states came quickly, but not necessarily enthusiastically. In the first two years of P-R funding, 48 states split $2.29 million. Two of our now 50 states didnt receive federal aid, Alaska and Hawaii. Although Alaska began receiving P-R funding in 1942 and Hawaii in 1946, they received their aid because they were United States territories. Neither became states until 1959.

When the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act became law, the country had about 6.8 million hunters and Pennsylvania had about 606,600 licensed hunters. That meant 8.9 percent of Americas hunters resided in the Commonwealth. Today, Pennsylvanias one million hunters comprise 8.3 percent of the national total, according to the 2006 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting and Wildlife Associated Recreation. Our hunter numbers over time reflect a strong hunting heritage that can be traced back to our forefathers, Roe explained. Hunting has always been important to many Pennsylvanians, and P-R funding has helped strengthen our states and nations commitment to hunters, the people who silently have financed wildlife management in this state for nearly a century. Pennsylvania hunters began purchasing hunting licenses in 1913 to pay for the management of the states wildlife. The first year, the Commonwealth sold 305,028 resident licenses at a cost of $1 each. It would take the state until 1967 to sell one million general hunting licenses. Today, hunters continue to finance the management of wild birds and mammals in the Commonwealth. It is a legacy they honor and a responsibility they shoulder with pride. The USFWSs Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Programs vision is to provide healthy, diverse, and accessible fish and wildlife populations that offer recreation, economic activity and other societal benefits, in addition to sustainable ecological functions. P-R funding coupled with state contributions helps to support this far-reaching and balanced course in natural resource management. Its a direction that is green, clear and reasonable. Just the way conservationists prefer natural resources be managed. The Service is proud to join our partners in recognizing more than seven decades of wildlife conservation and quality outdoor recreational opportunities, said Dan Ashe, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service director. With our nations support and our partnerships renewed commitment, WSFR will help more Americans enjoy wildlife and our great outdoors for many years to come. For more information on the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act, visit USFWSs P-R 75th Anniversary website and watch in the September issue of Pennsylvania Game News magazine for an article on Pittman-Robertsons 75th anniversary by Gary Camus, Federal Aid Coordinator with the Game Commissions Bureau of Wildlife Habitat Management. DCNR Invites Bids On Projects In Centre, Sullivan Counties The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources published a notice inviting bids on projects on Centre and Sullivan counties. Help Wanted: Chester Conservation District Ag Resource Conservationist The Chester County Conservation District is seeking applicants for an Agricultural Resource conservationist position. Applications will be accepted through August 24. Click Here for more information. NOTICE: DEP Moving Internet Servers August 18-19 The Department of Environmental Protection issued an advisory this week saying it will be moving its Internet servers the weekend of August 18-19. Some service disruption should be anticipated.

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 15-- Perkiomen Watershed Environmental Award August 24-- Foundation for PA Watershed Grants August 31-- John Oliver Environmental Leadership Award August 31-- Chesapeake Bay Trust Environmental Ed Capacity Building Grants September 1-- Erie TreeVitalize Grants September 3- PA Parks & Forest Foundation Photo Contest September 17-- NEW. FirstEnergy STEM Education Grants September 26-- DEP Small Business Advantage Grant Program October 1-- DEP Recycling Performance Grants October 15-- DEP Coastal Zone Management Grants October 19-- PEMA Fire Company & Volunteer Ambulance Service Grants October 30-- Schuylkill River Network Photo Contest October 31-- PA Resources Council Lens On Litter Contest November 2-- NEW. PHFA Marcellus Shale Housing Grants December 14-- EPA College Campus RainWorks Challenge May 1-- Keep PA Beautiful Sue Wiseman Scholarship Grant -- Visit the DEP Grants and Loan Programs webpage for more ideas on how to get financial assistance for environmental projects.

Budget/Quick Clips
Here's a selection of NewClips on environmental topics from around the state-PA Environmental Chief Locks Horns With Activists Many At Risk Lacking Mine Subsidence Coverage Budget State Sells Naming Rights to Farm Show Complex Other DEPs Krancer Says No Worries Over Injection Wells DeBenedictis Still Pouring It On At Aqua America Coal Issue Playing Major Role in Presidential Battleground States Project Aims To Extract Useful Oil From Algae Air Products To Build Waste-To-Energy Project In U.K. PUC: PPL Had Highest Percentage Of Storm Outages Potassium Iodide Tablets Being Distributed In PA People Near Nuclear Plants Can Receive Free KI Tablets Iodide Pills A Hot Item In The TMI Region NRC Puts New Nuclear Reactor Permits On Hold Government Keeps Ethanol Mandate Despite Lack Of Demand

Green Power Takes To Academy Stage Air Quality Improves In PA, But Remains Near Bottom PA Firefighters To Be Deployed For California Fire Northeast On Pace For Hottest Year Ever Trailin A Work In Progress In Lancaster App Is Here For State Game Lands Where Are All The Hummingbirds This Summer? Endangered Night Herons Make Home In Midtown HBG Lets Talk About Birds: Gold-Medal Nest Builders Game Commission To Conduct Game Farm Tours Pittsburgh A Partner In Historic Preservation Materials Aim To Explain Flight 93 To Preschoolers 2 Pennsylvanians Have West Nile Virus PA Has First 2012 West Nile Virus Cases

Marcellus Shale NewsClips

Here are NewsClips on topics related to Marcellus Shale natural gas drilling--Op-Ed: Drilling Law Decision A Win For Local Government Cracker Means Jobs, But Air Pollution A Worry Shell, Beaver Officials Talk About Petrochemical Plant Pittsburgh Rebound Sparked By Spurned Gas Frackers Op-Ed: Shale Gas, Zoning And You Op-Ed: Get It Right On Natural Gas Gas Industry Ads Shift To Fracking, Environment DEP Sets Public Meeting On Gas Compressor Station Luzerne County Hears Testimony On Compressor Station Esquire: Is The Keystone Pipeline Worth It? Sunoco Pipeline Signing Up Marcellus Clients Allegheny Front: Marcellus Industry Offers White Collar Work Financial/Other States Marcellus Shale Is Top Gas Field Marcellus On Pace To Be To U.S. Gas Field 2nd Quarter Income Up 91 Percent For Chesapeake Gas Industrys Interest Godsend For WV 3 Companies Drilling In Ohio Report Good Results

Flooding/Watershed NewsClips
Here are NewsClips on watershed topics from around the state-Flooding Deadline To Apply For SBA Disaster Loans September 10 Flood Recovery Loan Helps Business Get Restarted Flood Control Initiative In Works For Mounds On Mon

Feds Tour Flooding Sites In Wyoming County Bloomsburg Fairgrounds Restoration: $2.5 Million Lehigh Nature Center Explores Flooding, Other Climate Issues Other Watershed NewsClips Lancaster, Philly Green Water Treatment Conowingo Dam Sediment Buildup Threatens Chesapeake Bay Flood Gage Funds Still Not A Priority Tamarack Lake Dam Called High Hazard DeBenedictis Still Pouring It On At Aqua America PA Officials Celebrate Continued Delaware Dredging Coast Guard Investigating Possible Delaware Oil Spill Environmentalists Raise Concerns Over Mine Water Cleanup

Regulations, Technical Guidance & Permits

The Public Utility Commission formally published final Default Service Regulations (PA Bulletin page 5185). The Game Commission published final regulations for Agriculture Deer Control Permits, proposed regulations covering the wildlife classifications for birds and notice of proposed actions to protect the remaining populations of Northern Long-Eared Bad, Tri-Colored Bad and the Little Brown Bat. Pennsylvania Bulletin - August 11, 2012 Proposed Regulations Open For Comment - DEP webpage Proposed Regulations With Closed Comment Periods - DEP webpage DEP Regulatory Agenda - DEP webpage

Technical Guidance & Permits

The Department of Environmental Protection published a notice of availability for the FY 201112 Reclamation Fee O&M Trust Account and projects for FY 2012-13. The Governors Office formally published the DEP Permit Decision Guarantee Executive Order. DEP published a notice of availability of draft technical guidance on Best Practices for Environmental Protection int he Mushroom Farming Community, notice of Nutrient Credit Trading Program actions and certification requests. The State Conservation Commission published FY2012-13 county allocations under the Dirt and Gravel Road Program. Technical Guidance Comment Deadlines - DEP webpage

Copies Of Draft Technical Guidance - DEP webpage Copies of Final Technical Guidance - DEP webpage

Calendar Of Events
Upcoming legislative meetings, conferences, workshops, plus links to other online calendars. Meetings are in Harrisburg unless otherwise noted. NEW means new from last week. Go to the online Calendar webpage. Click on Agenda Released on calendar entries to see the NEW meeting agendas published this week. August 15-- House Republican Policy Committee holds a hearing on downstream jobs creation and the Marcellus Shale industry. Nova Chemicals, Moon Township, Pittsburgh. 10:00. August 15-- House & Senate Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee hold an informational meeting on the federal Farm Bill. Penn State University, Agricultural Sciences Exhibits Building. 10:15. August 15-- NEW. House Transportation Committee holds a hearing on alternative fuels revenue and the Motor License Fund. Point Park University, Lawrence Hall Ballroom, Pittsburgh. 9:30. August 15-- CANCELED. DEP Agricultural Advisory Board meeting. Next scheduled meeting is October 17. (formal notice) August 21-- CANCELED. Environmental Quality Board meeting. The next scheduled meeting is September 18. (formal notice) August 21-- NEW. DEP Potomac Regional Water Resources Committee meeting. Adams County Agricultural Center, Gettysburg. 9:30. (formal notice) August 23-- Susquehanna River Basin Commission hearing on water withdrawal requests. Hearing Room 1, North Office Building. 2:30. (PA Bulletin page 5006). August 30-- DCNR Wild Resource Conservation Program hearing on FY 2012-13 grant applications. 6th Floor Conference Room, Rachel Carson Building. 11:00. (formal notice) September 12-- DEP Air Quality Technical Advisory Committee meeting. Room 105 Rachel Carson Building. 9:15. (formal notice) September 18-- House Local Government Committee holds a hearing on Senate Bill 1261 (Erickson-R-Delaware) further providing for stormwater management by municipal authorities. Room 140. 1:00.

September 18-- DEP Citizens Advisory Council meeting. Room 105 Rachel Carson Building. 11:00. October 5-- NEW. Senate Game and Fisheries Committee holds a hearing on PA Sea GrantPharmaceuticals in Water Program and Asian Carp. Tom Ridge Environmental Center, Erie. 9:00. DEP Calendar of Events Note: The Environmental Education Workshop Calendar is no longer available from the PA Center 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.

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: DHess@CrisciAssociates.com. 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 Harrisburgbased government and public affairs firm whose clients include Fortune 500 companies and nonprofit organizations. For more information, visit the newly updated Crisci Associates website or call 717-234-1716. PA Environment Digest weekly was the winner of the PA Association of Environmental Educators' 2009 Business Partner of the Year Award. Also sign up for these other 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. PA Environment Digest Video Blog: showcases original and published videos from environmental groups and agencies around the state. Sign up to receive as they are posted updates through your favorite RSS read. You can also sign up for a once daily email alerting

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