PAEnvironmentDigest

AnUpdateOnEnvironmentalIssuesInPA
EditedBy:DavidE.Hess,CrisciAssociates

Winner2009
PAEEBusinessPartner
OfTheYearAward

Issue#603Harrisburg,PaJanuary18,2016

SusquehannaRiversNorthBranchNamedPARiverOfTheYear

Steepedinhistoricalandrecreationalvalue,thefreeflowing
SusquehannaRiverNorthBranchinnortheastern
Pennsylvaniahasbeenvotedthe2016
PennsylvaniaRiverof
theYear
followingafiveweekpublicvotingperiod.
ThegeneralpublicwasinvitedtovoteonlineNov.13Dec.14,
choosingfromamongfivewaterwaysnominatedacrossthe
state.ResultswereannouncedjointlyThursdaybythe
DepartmentofConservationandNaturalResourcesandthe
PAOrganizationforWaterwaysandRivers
(POWR).
Fourotherriverswerenominatedfinalists:theKiskiConemaughRiverinthesouthwest
LackawannaRiver,northeastLehigheastandOhio,southwest.
Shapingcountlesscommunitylifestylesinthepastwhileemergingasarecreational
treasureofthefuture,theNorthBranchoftheSusquehannalikeallwaterwaysnominatedfor
2016highlightshowPennsylvaniaisblessedwithawealthofriversandstreams,andacoreof
dedicatedfolkswhofighttoprotectthem,"saidDCNRSecretaryCindyAdamsDunn."Through
plannedRiveroftheYearcelebrations,publicawarenessoftheriver'svaluewillbeincreased
andmajorinitiativesalongthissectionoftheriverwillbeunderscored.Economicrevitalization
ofrivertowncommunitieswillenhanceaccesstotheriverincreasetourismandprovide
additionallandandwaterbasedrecreationalopportunitiesforlocalresidentsandvisitorsalike."
DCNRandPOWRwillworkwiththe
EndlessMountainsHeritageRegion
tocreatea
free,commemorativepostercelebratingtheSusquehannaRiverNorthBranchasthe2016
PennsylvaniaRiveroftheYear.
EMHR,theapplicantnominatingthewaterwayinclosecooperationwiththe
SusquehannaGreenwayPartnership
,willreceivea$10,000LeadershipGranttohelpfund
yearlongRiveroftheYearactivities.
TheSusquehannaRiverNorthBranchisanationaltreasureinourownbackyardand
weregratefulforthisopportunitytoraiseawarenessoftherivershistoricalandrecreational
valueandenvironmentalsignificance,saidEMHRDirectorAnnetteSchultz.Weremaking
planstocelebratetheSusquehannaRiversnewestdesignationthroughouttheyearwith
educationalkayakingsojourns,riverfestivals,educationalforums,andRiverTowndesignations
andsupport.Thisyearwillbeabanneryearfortheriver.
TheSusquehannaconnectsustooneanotherandthenaturalworld.Itswatersrejuvenate
usandprovideuswithpower,anditslandscapesinspireustobebetterstewards,said

SusquehannaGreenwayPartnershipDirectorTrishCarothers.Thishonorbelongstotheriver
andthemanypeoplewhocareaboutthisveryspecialpartofourheritage.Wemustconserve,
connectandenjoytheSusquehannatoensureahealthyfutureforourregion.
IncooperationwithDCNR,selectionofpublicvotingchoicesalsowasoverseenby
POWR,anaffiliateofthe
PAEnvironmentalCouncil
.
POWRwouldliketocommendeveryoneacrossthecommonwealthfortheirsupportfor
thenominatedrivers,saidPOWRVicePresidentJanetSweeney.TheRiveroftheYear
programisawonderfulopportunitytoshowcaseallofthenominatedriversandthegreatwork
beingdoneinPennsylvaniacommunitiesonthesevaluableresources."
A15milestretchoftheSusquehannaRiverNorthBranchflowsfromNewYorkinto
PennsylvaniasNorthernTier,andcontinuessouth166milestojointheriversWestBranchat
ShikellamyStatePark
inNorthumberlandCounty.
TheSusquehannaRiverNorthBranchisaprominentregionalfeature,runningthrough
Susquehanna,Bradford,Wyoming,Lackawanna,Luzerne,Columbia,Montour,and
Northumberlandcounties.Onceamajortransportationcorridor,theentirewaterwaystillis
navigablebykayaksandcanoes,evenduringdryseasons.
POWRadministerstheRiveroftheYearprogramwithfundingfromDCNR.Presented
annuallysince1983,the2015RiveroftheYeardesignationwasawardedtoConewangoCreek
innorthwestPennsylvania.
TheRiveroftheYearsojournisjustoneofmanypaddlingtripssupportedbyDCNRand
POWReachyear.Anindependentendeavor,the
PennsylvaniaSojournProgram
offersadozen
suchtripsonthestatesrivers.
Thewaterbasedjourneysforcanoeists,kayakersandothersraiseawarenessofthe
environmental,recreational,tourismandheritagevaluesofrivers.
Formoreinformation,visitthe
PennsylvaniaRiveroftheYear
,
PennsylvaniaSojourn
Program
,
SusquehannaGreenwayPartnership
,
PAOrganizationforWaterwaysandRivers
and
DCNRs
RiversConservation
webpages.
NewsClips:
RiverOfTheYearFlowsThroughWilkesBarre
LakeEriePlanProvidesVitalWaterSourceOutline
DelawareRiverkeeperJan.8RiverwatchVideoReport
ArmyCorpsOfEngineersSeeksCommentOnErieHarborDredging
U.S.HouseBlocksStreamProtectionRuleForCoal
LatestFromTheChesapeakeBayJournal
ClickHere
tosubscribetotheChesapeakeBayJournal

PAParks&ForestsFoundationAnnounces2016AwardWinners

The
PAParksandForestsFoundation
Fridayannouncedthewinnersofits2016annualawards.
Andthewinnersare
CliffJonesKeystoneLegacyAward:
RobWonderling
JosephIbbersonGovernmentAward:
DCNRsPennNursery
,CentreCounty
PresidentsAward:

GreenwoodFurnaceStateParkComplex
,HuntingdonCounty
ParkoftheYearAward:

GiffordPinchotStatePark
,YorkCounty
ForestoftheYear:

TuscaroraStateForest
,Cumberland,Franklin,Huntingdon,Juniata,

Mifflin,andPerrycounties
Volunteerism
Education:
PamKarhan,
CherrySpringsStatePark
,PotterCounty
Improvement:
RidgeRunners,
LaurelHighlandsHikingTrail
,FayettetoCambriacounties
Individual:
StephenSmetana,
NescopeckStatePark
,LuzerneCounty
Group:
SaveOurNativeSpecies(SONS)ofLakeErie
,
PresqueIsleStatePark
YoungVolunteer:
ZacharyJones,
GouldsboroStatePark
,YorkCounty
TheawardwinnerswillberecognizedataspecialbanquetMay11atthe
WestShore
CountryClub
inHarrisburg.
Formoreinformationonprograms,initiatives,specialeventsandhowyoucanget
involved,visitthe
PAParksandForestsFoundation
website.
ClickHere
tosignupforregular
updatesfromtheFoundation,
followthemonTwitter
,
likethemonFacebook
,orfollowthe
FoundationonPinterest
.
NewsClips:
HowToHelpGiveBackToPhiladelphiasOutdoors
LebanonPlansPlaygroundRevitalizationProject
4TobyhannaStateParkEmployeesChargedWithForgingDocuments

(Reprintedfromthe
Jan.15TakeFive
fromtheFoundation.)

DEPReportsOn2015AccomplishmentsToProtectAir,Land,Water,PublicHealth

OnTuesday,theDepartmentofEnvironmentalProtectionreleased
areportonits
2015accomplishments
.
UndertheWolfAdministration,thereportsaid,the
DepartmentofEnvironmentalProtectionhasworkedtouse
innovationtohelprestorethecapacityandintegrityoftheagency
thatprotectsPennsylvaniasair,land,water,andpublichealth.
DEPSecretaryJohnQuigleysaidheiscommittedto
collaboration,science,andtransparencyinmeeting
theagencys
mission
.
Overthepastyear,DEPhasmademajoradvances,even
thoughDEPlost14percentofitsstaffcomplementoverthelast10years,with671fewer
positionsthan7yearsago.Thatiscomparedtoastategovernmentaverageofa6percent
decreaseinstaffinthatsametimeperiod.
ModernizingtheagencyhasalsobeenachallengewiththedepartmentsInformation
Technologybudget43percentlessinnominaltermsthanitwas11yearsago.
Withmodernizationinmind,thedepartmentachievedthefollowingsuccessesin2015:
ProtectingPublicHealthAndTheEnvironment
FinalChapter78Oil&GasDrillingRegulations:
DEPupdatedtheperformancestandards
forsurfaceactivitiesatconventionalandunconventionaloilandgaswellsitestoensure
additionalprotectionstotheenvironment,publichealth,andsafety.
Thisrulemaking
represents
thefirstupdatetorulesgoverningsurfaceactivitiesassociatedwiththedevelopmentofoiland
gaswellssince2001,andimplementsprovisionsofthe2012OilandGasAct.Afteran
unprecedented12publichearings,almost28,000publiccomments,andthecreationofthe

ConventionalOilandGasAdvisoryCommittee(COGAC),therulesareontrackforSpring2016
adoption.
OnlineNaturalGasProductionReporting:
DEPimplementedmonthly
onlineproduction
reporting
forunconventionalnaturalgaswells,toimprovetransparencyingasproductionthat
willbeparticularlyusefulforroyaltyownersandproductionforecasters.Productiondatawas
previouslyreportedonasemiannualbasis.
WorkedOnChesapeakeBayProgramReboot:
DEPworkedwithfederalandstate
agencies,andstakeholderstodevelopaplanforaJanuary2016
launchtoreboot
Pennsylvaniaseffort
torestorelocalwaterqualityandthatoftheChesapeakeBay.
AssessmentOfClimateChangeImpacts:
DEPreleasedascientific
assessmentofthe
impactsofclimatedisruption
onPennsylvania.Thereport,preparedforDEPatthedirectionof
thePennsylvaniaGeneralAssembly,findsthatPennsylvaniahaswarmed1.8Finthepast110
years,andthewarmingwillincreaseatanacceleratedrate.
By2050,Pennsylvaniawillbe5.4Fwarmerthanitwasintheyear2000.By2050,
PhiladelphiasclimatewillbesimilartocurrentdayRichmond,Virginia.Pittsburghwillbe
similartocurrentdayWashington,DCorBaltimore,Maryland.
ListeningSessionsOnEPACleanPowerClimatePlan:
DEPcommencedworkon
PennsylvaniasCleanPowerPlan
,withSecretaryQuigleychairing14listeningsessionsaspart
oftheefforttodevelopamadeforPennsylvaniaplantoachievefederalmandates.
DEPwasselectedbytheNationalGovernorsAssociationasoneoffourstatesto
participateinaPolicyAcademytohelpstatesexaminecosteffectivestrategiesformeetingthe
potentialrequirementsoffederalregulationstoreducecarbonemissionsfromexistingpower
plants.
NitrogenOxideReductions:
DEPadvancedthe
ReasonablyAvailableControlTechnology
(RACT)regulation
toreduceNitrogenOxideemissionsfrompowerplantsthroughthe
EnvironmentalQualityBoard.FinalactionbytheIndependentRegulatoryReviewCommission
isanticipatedearlyin2016.
BrunnerIslandAirPollutionReductionPlanChanges:
DEPsuccessfullynegotiatedwith
TalenEnergythesubmissionofarequesttomodifytheairplanapprovalfortheBrunnerIsland
PowerPlant,whichissoutheasternandsouthcentralPennsylvaniaslargestemitterofnitrogen
oxide(NOx),toestablishanenforceable50percentreductioninthepotentialtoemitNOx
emissionsfromthefacility.TherequestforthemodificationwasreceivedbyDEPonDecember
17,2015.
DrivenByScience
StudyOfBassMortalityInLowerSusquehanna:
DEPfacilitateda
multiyear,
multiagencystudy
toeliminatepossiblecausesofyoungofyearsmallmouthbassmortalityin
theSusquehannaRiver.Thestudyexamined14possiblecauses,andidentified2likelycauses
endocrinedisruptingcompounds/herbicidesandpathogens/parasites.Theresultsofthisresearch
allowDEPtofocusonidentifyingthesourcesofthelikelycausesandcontinueresearchinto
someofthecandidatecausesthatprovideduncertainresults.
DEP/DCNRStatewideSeismicMonitoringNetwork:
DEPpartneredwithDCNRtocreate
a
statewideseismicmonitoringnetwork
.Thenew,jointeffortwillmaintainanetworkof30
realtimemonitoringstations,mostofwhichwillbelocatedonstateparklands.Inadditionto
the30fixedstations,5additionaltemporarystationswillbeavailableforrapiddeploymentto
investigateseismiceventsindetail.

MoreEfficientMineDrainageTreatment:
DEPevaluatedandredesignedatreatment
methodatLancashiretreatmentplantinCambriaCountywithintheWestBranchSusquehanna
RiverBasin,tolowercostswhilepreservingeffluentperformance.Thealternativestrategy
producesaneffluentqualityequalorbetterthanthetraditionalmethod,withannualoperational
savingsofmorethan$200,000.ThissavingswillhelppreserveassetsintheBarnesandTucker
TreatmentTrusttoensurethelongtermtreatmentoftheLancashireNo.15MinePool.
CommittedToCollaboration
PipelineInfrastructureTaskForce:
DEPconvenedGov.TomWolfs
Pipeline
InfrastructureTaskForce
,acollaborativetaskforcetoexploretheburgeoningconstructionofas
manyas25,000milesofnaturalgasgatheringlinesand5,000milesofinterstatenaturalgas
pipelines.Inearly2016,themultiagency,multistakeholdertaskforcewillrecommendpractices
thatwillcreatepredictabilityinpermittingwhilesimultaneouslyreducingenvironmentaland
communityimpacts.
Revived,RenamedOfficeOfEnvironmentalJustice:
DEPrevivedandrenamed
DEP
OfficeofEnvironmentalJustice
,toserveallresidentsofPennsylvania,andimprovepartnerships
withEnvironmentalJusticecommunitymembersandadvocatesinpolicy,planningand
permittingprocesses.Newstaffareestablishingadialoguewithcommunitiesthatdonotalways
haveavoiceinenvironmentalissues,ensuringthattheirconcernsareheard,andwherepossible
addressed,bytheagency.
DevelopedNewALCOSANSewagePollutionReductionPlan:
DEPdevelopeda
twophaseplan
providing83AlleghenyCountySanitaryAuthoritycustomermunicipalitiesan
18monthextensionofconsentordersthatexpiredMarch30.Thefirstphaserequiresthe
customermunicipalitiestodevelopasourcereductionstudytoreduceflowsenteringinthe
regionalsewercollectionsystemthatincludesconsiderationofgreeninfrastructure.
LaunchedOnlineeCommentTool:
DEPlaunchedthe
onlineeCommenttool
toenhance
publicparticipationinandtransparencyofregulatoryprocess.Nearly4,000commentshavebeen
submittedtothesystemonissueslikeclimatechange,pipelineinfrastructure,water
management,andthefederalCleanPowerPlan.
AsAnInnovator
CompletedInformationTechnologyNeedsAssessment:
DEPcompletedassessmentof
InformationTechnologyneedsanddevelopedastrategicplantomodernizeIT,improvebusiness
processes,trackperformancemetrics,transitiontonewgeolocationbasedmobilesolutions,
paperlessworkflows,archivedigitization,internaldatadrivenanalyticalresearchefforts,and
greatertransparencytothepublicandregulatedcommunity.
BeginScientific,TechnicalNeedsAssessment:
DEPbegananassessmentofsystemsand
processestoenhancethescientificandtechnicalcapabilitiesoftheagency.
ReviewedPoliciesForMoreConsistentStatewideApplication:
DEPconductedinternal
reviewsofvariousagencypoliciestoprovideformoreconsistentstatewideapplication.
AgencyReorganizationToFocusAvailableResources:
DEPbegana
multiphaseagency
reorganization
tobetterfocusresources.
RelatedStories:
Gov.WolfReviewsAccomplishmentsDuring1stYearInOffice
Jan.6DCNRResourceNewsletterReviews2015AgencyAccomplishments

Gov.WolfReviewsAccomplishmentsDuring1stYearInOffice


Gov.Wolfreleaseda
listofhismajoraccomplishments
duringhisfirstyearinofficeFriday
alongwithaspecial
webpagecalledResults
.Amongtheenvironmentalaccomplishmentsheput
onhislistfor2015were
Reinstitutingthe
moratoriumonadditionalleasing
ofstateparkandforestlandfordrilling
Releasinga
reportonoiltrainsafety

Formingthe
PipelineInfrastructureTaskForce
and
Announcing
140SmallBusinessAdvantageGrants
inMayoflastyear.
Otheraccomplishmentsincluded
ExpandingMedicaidFor500,000Pennsylvanians
LaunchingOnlineVoterRegistration
EndingTheCapitalStock&ForeignFranchiseTax
CombatingPennsylvaniasHeroinCrisisand
GiftBanForStateOfficialsandEmployees.
Formoreinformation,visitGov.Wolfs2015
ListOfAccomplishments
and
Results
webpage.
RelatedStories:
DEPReportsOn2015AccomplishmentsToProtectAir,Land,Water,PublicHealth
Jan.6DCNRResourceNewsletterReviews2015AgencyAccomplishments

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Senate/HouseAgenda/SessionSchedule/GovsSchedule/BillsIntroduced

HerearetheSenateandHouseCalendarsandCommitteemeetingsshowingbillsofinterestas
wellasalistofnewenvironmentalbillsintroduced

BillCalendars

House(Jan.25):
HouseBill48
(GodshallRMontgomery)settingstandardsfordrinkingwater
wellconstruction
HouseBill544
(MoulRAdams)furtherprovidingforliabilityprotectionfor
landownerswhoopentheirlandforrecreation(
sponsorsummary
)
HouseBill1712
(R.BrownRMonroe)establishingthePrivateDameFinancialAssuranceprogramtooffer
financialassurancetoprivatedamownersrequiredtopostabondundertheDamSafetyand
EncroachmentAct,however,nofundingwasprovidedfortheprogram(
sponsorsummary
)
HouseResolution60
(EmrickRNorthampton)directingtheLegislativeBudgetandFinance
Committeetoconductacomprehensivereviewofthestatesprogramtoregulatethebeneficial
useofsewagesludge

SenateBill385
(PileggiRDelaware)updatingandimprovingtheTransit
RevitalizationinvestmentDistrict

SenateBill307
(YudichakDLuzerne)providingforan
independentcounselfortheEnvironmentalQualityBoard
SenateBill811
(HughesDPhiladelphia)FY201516CapitalBudgetbill
SenateBill1071
(BrowneRLehigh),
theagreedtopensionreformbill
SenateBill1073
(BrowneRLehigh)agreedto$30.8
billionGeneralFundbudgetbill.

<>
ClickHere
forfullHouseBillCalendar.

Senate(Jan.19):

SenateBill201
(SchwankDBerks)authorizingtheleasingofpropertyinthe
CleanandGreenProgramtoaruralenterprise(
sponsorsummary
)
SenateBill805
(BoscolaDLehigh)allowinganAct129optoutforlargeelectricusers(
sponsorsummary
)
HouseBill57
(PayneRDauphin)furtherprovidingfornaturalgascompetition(
sponsor
summar
y).<>
ClickHere
forfullSenateBillCalendar.

CommitteeMeetingAgendasThisWeek

House:
<>
ClickHere
forfullHouseCommitteeSchedule.

Senate:
the
TransportationCommittee
meetstoconsider
SenateResolution247
(RaffertyRMontgomery)urgingU.S.DOTtoworkwithtankcarmanufacturers,crudeoil
shippersandtherailindustrytoadopthigherpoolfiresurvivabilitystandardsandtotrain
emergencyfirstresponders(
sponsorsummary
).<>
ClickHere
forfullSenateCommittee
Schedule.

BillsPendingInKeyCommittees

HerearelinkstokeyStandingCommitteesintheHouseandSenateandthebillspendingin

each

House
Appropriations
Education
EnvironmentalResourcesandEnergy
ConsumerAffairs
GamingOversight
HumanServices
Judiciary
LiquorControl
Transportation
LinksforallotherStandingHouseCommittees

Senate
Appropriations
EnvironmentalResourcesandEnergy
ConsumerProtectionandProfessionalLicensure
Community,EconomicandRecreationalDevelopment
Education
Judiciary
LawandJustice
PublicHealthandWelfare
Transportation
LinksforallotherStandingSenateCommittees

BillsIntroduced

Thefollowingbillsofinterestwereintroducedthisweek

FishingLicenseIncreases:

SenateBill1103
(BrewsterDAllegheny)providingforanincrease
infishinglicensesfrom$21to$30.43in2022.

SessionSchedule

HereisthelatestvotingsessionschedulefortheSenateandHouse

Senate
January19,20,25,26,27
February8,9,10
BudgetHearings:Feb.22,23,24,25,26,29,March1,2,3,4,7,8,9,10,11(nosessionduring
hearings)
March14,15,16,21,22,23
April4,5,6,11,12,13
May9,10,11,16,17,18

June6,7,8,13,14,15,20,21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29,30

House
January25,26,27
February8,9,10
March14,15,16,21,22,23
April4,5,6,11,12,13
May2,3,4,16,17,18,23,24,25
June6,7,8,13,14,15,20,21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29,30

GovernorsSchedule

Gov.TomWolf'sworkcalendarwillbepostedeachFridayandhispublicschedulefortheday
willbepostedeachmorning.
ClickHere
toviewGov.WolfsWeeklyCalendarandPublic
Appearances.

Senate/HouseBillsMoving

ThefollowingbillsofinterestsawactionthisweekintheHouseandSenate

House

PreviouslyAgreedToFiscalCodeBill:

HouseBill1327
(PeiferRPike)amendmentstothe
FiscalCodetoimplementaGeneralFundbudget,previouslyagreedto,wasamendedbyHouse
RepublicanstoincludeanewbasicschoolfundingdistributionformulaintheHouseRules
CommitteeandpassedbytheHouseinapartylinevoteof111to81.Thebillnowreturnstothe
Senateforaconcurrencevote.
ThebillstillincludesprovisionsaddingyetmorereviewtimeforanyplanDEPdevelops
tomeetEPAsCleanPowerClimatePlanregulationsandwouldkillDEPregulationsduetobe
finalizedataFebruary3EnvironmentalQualityBoardupdatingconventionaldrillingrulesand
forcethemtostartover.

PrivateDamFinancialAssurance:

HouseBill1712
(R.BrownRMonroe)establishingthe
PrivateDameFinancialAssuranceprogramtoofferfinancialassurancetoprivatedamowners
requiredtopostabondundertheDamSafetyandEncroachmentAct,however,nofundingwas
providedfortheprogram(
sponsorsummary
)wasremovedfromtheTableandisnowonthe
HouseCalendarforaction.

NewsFromTheCapitol

BudgetBottomLine:HouseFailsToSolveAnyPartOfBudgetMess,Again

Ifyouwerewaitingforsomeglimmerofagreementonat
leastonebudgetissuethisweekintheHouse,youwerevery
disappointed.Ontheotherhand,ifyouwerewaitingforthe

HousetodesignatetheweekofDecember26throughJanuary1as
KwanzaaWeek
in
Pennsylvania,thetwoweekdelaywasworthit.
TheHouseMondayfailedtogettherequiredtwothirdsvotetopassbillsfundingthe
staterelateduniversitiesPennState,Pitt,Temple,LincolnandPennVeterinaryCollegein
SenateBills912through916byvotesof116to75alongpartylines.
Thisisdejavualloveragain.OnJune28theHousealsofailedinitsfirstattempttogeta
twothirdsvoteforitsownversionsoffundingforstaterelateduniversitiesHouseBills1385
through1389bysimilarmargins.
HouseRepublicansTuesdaypassedaFiscalCodebill
HouseBill1327
(PeiferR
Pike)backtotheSenateforaconcurrencevotewithacontroversialprovisionchangingthe
currentbasiceducationfundingdistributionformulawhichhasnotyetbeenagreedtobySenate
Republicans.
ThebillalsostillincludesprovisionsaddingyetmorereviewtimeforanyplanDEP
developstomeetEPAsCleanPowerClimatePlanregulationsandwouldkillDEPregulations
duetobefinalizedataFebruary3EnvironmentalQualityBoardupdatingconventionaldrilling
rulesandforcethemtostartover.
Inbothcases,HouseDemocratsopposedthebillssayingRepublicansneededtostop
wastingtimeandfinishworkonacompletebudget.
HouseDemocraticLeaderFrankDermody
(DAllegheny)commentedonthe
unfinishedworkandsaidRepublicanleadershavefailedtoengageinsubstantivediscussions
sinceDecember.
"PennsylvaniastillneedsafullyearbudgetandwhatweneedfromHouseRepublican
leadersisseriousness.Threeweeksagowewereonthecuspofgettingsuchabudgetfinished,
lessthanadayaway,buttheRepublicanleadersinsteadshuttheHousedownandsenteveryone
home.
"TheHouseresumedsessionthisweekandlawmakersreturnedhopingtogetrealwork
done,butallwegotwasmoredelayanddistraction.
"TheHouseRepublicanleadersdictatedthatratherthanworkonarealbalancedbudget,
theHousewouldspenditsfirsttwolegislativedaysof2016consideringbillstoinadequately
fundlocalschoolsfortheremainderofthefiscalyear,increasefundstoaselectgroupof
universitieseventhoughthere'snobudgettofundthoseappropriations,andrejectanegotiated
bipartisanfundingplanthatwouldbefairertoallschools.
"PennsylvaniacontinuestomakehistorywiththisbudgetimpasseandtheHouse
Republicanleadersareonthewrongsideofthathistory.
"Theyneedtostopplayinggamesandconcentratealongwiththegovernorandtherest
ofthelegislatureonpassingacomplete,balancedandfullyearstatebudgetthatfairlyrestores
educationfundingatalllevels,supportshumanservices,investsincommunitiesandfixesthe
budgetdeficitwithpredictableandsustainablerevenues."
Rep.DermodynotedtheHouseadjournedTuesdayandisnotscheduledtoreturnto
sessionuntilJanuary25,atwhichtimethebudgetimpassewillhavestretchedtoalmostseven
months.
JeffSheridan,Gov.Wolf'sPressSecretary
,said,Weneedarealbudgetonethatis
balanced,fixesthedeficitandinvestsineducationatalllevels.Unfortunately,HouseRepublican
leadersarestillnotseriousaboutthebudget.
Today,theytriedtoenactnewfundingforthestaterelateduniversitieswithoutpaying

forit.Thiscomesontheheelsoftheirbudgetthatwas$500millionoutofbalance,wouldgrow
thedeficittoover$2.3billionandwouldhavecutfundingtoKthrough12educationby$95
million.
InvestinginhighereducationisimportantandGovernorWolfhasbeenfightingto
restorethecutsmadebyRepublicanstoeducationatalllevels,includingourstaterelated
universities.TherealityisthattheRepublicanmathdoesnotaddup.
ThetimeforpoliticalposturingislongoveritistimeforHouseRepublicanstopassa
balancedbudgetthatfixesthedeficitandtrulyfundseducation.
Rep.WilliamAdolph(RDelaware),MajorityChairoftheHouseAppropriations
Committee
,saidinastatementMonday,"Iamverydisappointedtoseethatmycolleagueson
theothersideoftheaislehavejoinedGov.TomWolfinopposingthisneededfundingforour
staterelateduniversities.Ourstudentsshouldnotbeheldhostageduringthisbudgetimpasse.
This5percentincreasewasagreedtobythegovernorinNovemberandreceivedavoteof482
intheSenate.
"Letmebeveryclearthereareavailablecurrentyearrevenuestopayforallfiveof
theseappropriations.ThevotetodaybyHouseDemocratswasavotetouseourstudentsas
unnecessaryleverageinanefforttoraisetaxes.
ThegovernorcertifiedavailablerevenuesforFY201516at$29.82billion.By
bluelining
HouseBill1460
toaspendnumberof$23.4billion,thegovernorleft$6.3billionof
availablefundsonthetable.Thetotalcostofallfivenonpreferredappropriationbillsis
approximately$578million.
ArentthesethesamethingseachofthesepartiesweresayinginJune?Yep!
WeeksAhead
TheSenatereturnstovotingsessionJanuary19andtheHouseonJanuary25.
Gov.WolfssecondbudgetaddressisFebruary9.
SenateandHouseAppropriationsCommitteehearingsonGov.WolfsFY201617
budgetrequestwillstartFebruary22.
NewsClips:
Drillers,LawmakersRenewFrayOverSeveranceTax
Rep.ChristianaProposesShiftToSeveranceTax
HouseOKsFiscalCodeBillWithControversialEnergyProvisions
HouseGOPPassesFiscalCodeBillSchoolFunding,EnvironmentalIssues
$41MInEarmarksUnveiledInStateBudgetsFiscalCode
RepublicansDisagreeOverWhetherTheBudgetIsDone
PLS:RepublicansStillSearchForBudgetSolutions
PartisanBickeringOnBudgetContinuesInHarrisburg
AP:PressureOff,PAsBudgetFightCouldBeOnIce
AP:WolfStillHopesForBudgetDealAsNextBudgetNears
StickingPointOnBudget:FindingTheMoney
NonUnionizedStateWorkersWaitForWordOnPayRaise

Senate/HouseReleaseFY201617BudgetHearingSchedule

The
SenateAppropriationsCommittee
MondayreleaseditsscheduleofhearingsontheFY
201617budgetrequest

February2210:00Governor'sBudgetOffice
February2410:00Dept.ofConservationandNaturalResources
February2510:00Dept.ofEnvironmentalProtection
March13:00Dept.ofAgriculture
NohearinghasbeenscheduledyetforthePublicUtilityCommission.
ClickHere
to
reviewthefullschedule.
AllhearingsareinHearingRoom1,NorthOfficeBuilding.
ClickHere
forthecompleteSenatebudgethearingschedule.
Sen.PatBrowne(RLehigh)servesasMajorityChairoftheCommitteeandSen.Vincent
Hughes(DPhiladelphia)servesasMinorityChair.
The
HouseAppropriationsCommittee
Thursdayreleaseditsbudgethearingscheduleon
theFY201617budgetrequest
February29:2:00Dept.ofConservationandNaturalResources
March8:9:30Dept.ofEnvironmentalProtection
March9:1:30Dept.ofAgriculture
March10:9:30Governor'sBudgetOffice
AllhearingsareinRoom140oftheMainCapitol.
ClickHere
forthecompleteHousebudgethearingschedule.
Rep.BillAdolph(RDelaware)servesasMajorityChairoftheCommitteeandRep.Joe
Markosek(DAllegheny)servesasMinorityChair.
AlsoavailableinonelistingatthePAEnvironmentDigest's
CalendarofEvents
section.

Rep.SturlaUnveilsNaturalGasSeveranceTax,NothingForTheEnvironment

Rep.MikeSturla(DLancaster)isseekingsupportforhislegislationthatwouldimplementa
graduatedseverancetaxonMarcellusShaletofundpensionobligationsatstateandlocallevels.
Zerofundingwouldgotoenvironmentalprograms.
"Theproposalisafairapproachthatwouldcapturemuchneededfundingforthe
commonwealthforoneofourmostvaluableresourceswhileprovidingabreaktotheindustry
whenpricesaredown,"Rep.Sturlaexplained.
Theproposalwouldhaveaslidingscaleoftaxrates:
TAXRATEGASVALUE
4percent$0$.99/mcf
5percent$1$1.99/mcf
6percent$2$2.99/mcf
7percent$3$3.99/mcf
8percent$4$4.99/mcf
9percent$5andabove/mcf
Thelegislationwouldexemptgasseveredfromastripperwellseveredfromastorage
fieldandusedwithin5milesofthewellformanufacturinginPennsylvania.Additionally,the
currentimpactfee,postproductioncostsandinitialcapitalcostswouldbedeductiblefroma
severancetaxliability.
FundsgeneratedwouldbeusedtofundtheunfundedpensionliabilitybeforeAct120of
2010pensionobligationsforSERSandPSERS,unfundedmunicipalpensionsandpostAct120
of2010pensionobligationsforlocalschooldistrictsandthestate.

"Therearemyriadaspectsofthislegislationthathavelongtermbenefitsandimpacts.I
lookforwardtoworkingwithstakeholderstocometoanagreementthatprovidesabenefittoall
involved,"Rep.Sturlasaid.
NewsClips:
Drillers,LawmakersRenewFrayOverSeveranceTax
Rep.ChristianaProposesShiftToSeveranceTax

Gov.Wolf,Senate,HouseGOPOutline2016Priorities,EnvironmentMissingSoFar

PALegislativeServices
isinthemiddleofaseriesofarticlesoutliningthe2016budgetand
nonbudgetprioritiesofGov.Wolfandeachofthefourlegislativecaucuses.Heresaquick
summaryoftheprioritiestheGovernor,SenateRepublicansandHouseRepublicansidentified
Gov.Wolf
Minimumwageincreaseto$10.10
Broadeningantidiscriminationlaw
Legalizingmedicalmarijuana
Increasingeducationfunding
Naturalgasseverancetaxtofundeducation
Makingstategovernmentmoreefficient
Workforcedevelopmentinitiatives
SenateRepublicans
Publicpensionreform
Alcoholsalesreform
DollarfordollarPropertytaxrelief
Moretransparencyinstateunionnegotiations
Legalizingmedicalmarijuana
Jobcreationandeconomicdevelopmentinitiatives
Makingstategovernmentmoreefficient
HouseRepublicans
Pensionreform
Propertyreform
Liquorstoreprivatization
Privatesectorjobcreation,curbingantijobregulations
Educationreforminitiatives,charterschoolreformlegislation
Improvingeffectiveness,efficiencyofstateexpenditures
Youwillnote,neithertheenvironmentnoranyofthethingswehavetodo,likemeetour
ChesapeakeBaycleanupcommitments,havemadeitoneitherGov.WolfsortheSenateor
HouseRepublicantopsevenlist,sofar.Eventhediscussionofenactinganaturalgasseverance
taxinvolveseducationfunding.
OfcoursetheGovernorsbudgetaddressFebruary9,andthedebatesurroundingit,
wouldbeagoodchancetogetintosomeofthoseissues.
NewsClips:
2016Priorities:Gov.WolfPart1
2016Priorities:Gov.WolfPart2
2016Priorities:SenateRepublicanCaucus

2016Priorities:HouseRepublicanCaucus

NewsFromAroundTheState

FinalMeetingOfPipelineInfrastructureTaskForceJan.20

The
PipelineInfrastructureTaskForce
willmeetforthefinaltime
onJanuary20tofinishitsworkonabout184recommendationson
howtobetterguidethedevelopmentofnaturalgaspipelinesinthe
Commonwealth.
FortyeightTaskForcemembersandmorethan100
individualsservedonadozenworkgroupstodevelopthe
recommendationssincelateJuly.
TaskForcememberswillbeurgedtosignontoacover
lettertransmittingtherecommendationstoGov.Wolf,butasof
yet,norevisedreportorcoverletterhasbeenpostedontheTaskForcewebpage.
Themeetingisscheduledtostartat1:00atDEPsSouthcentralRegionalOffice,909
ElmertonAve.,inHarrisburg.

ClickHere
towatchthemeetingviawebcast
.
Formoreinformation,visitthe
PipelineInfrastructureTaskForce
webpageforthelatest
information.
NewsClips:
ForEurope,MarcellusEthaneIsInThePipeline
Editorial:KeystoneXLPipeline,Ideologyvs.Reality
ProtestersShareAntiFrackingMessageAtFarmShow
OpEd:HowNaturalGasHasHelpedPAsFamilyFarmers
2ndNaturalGasPowerPlantProposedInLackawanna
NaturalGasBreathesNewLifeIntoCoalFiredPowerPlant

PostGazette:EHBSidesWithDEPInRegulationOfOilAndGasEmissions

The
PittsburghPostGazettereportedTuesday
theEnvironmentalHearingBoardhassidedwith
DEPonhowitaggregatesnaturalgasemissionsforregulationin
anappealbroughtbyNational
FuelGasMidstream
,SenecaResourcesandothers.
TheEHBsaidDEPwaswithinitsauthoritytoaddtogethertheairemissionsfromagas
wellpadandacompressorstationonastateforesttractinLycomingCountyanddeterminethey
areasinglepollutionsource.
ThewellwasoperatedbySenecaResourcesandthecompressorstationbyNaturalFuel
Gas.NationalFuelGashasnotyetdecidedonwhetheritwillappealthedecision.
ThisisthefirstdecisionbytheEHBonDEPspolicyofaggregatingnaturalgas
emissions.
NewsClips:
EHBSidesWithDEPOnRegulatingNaturalGasEmissions
AlleghenyCountySeeks$9.3MInChangesToAirQualityOffices
CMUCreatesHomeAirPollutionMonitor

CBFPA:WaterQualityPlaysKeyRoleInReturn,SurvivalOfBaldEagles

ByHarryCampbell,PAOfficeDirector,
ChesapeakeBayFoundation

AnewseasonoftheCommonwealthsmostpopular,highflyingreality
showisbackonline.
MillionsareexpectedtologontothePennsylvaniaGame
Commissionwebsiteandwatchaslivestreamingcamerasshowthedrama
ofnatureatseveralbaldeaglenestsintheKeystoneState.
Theexperiencesopenwindowsontonaturelikeneverbefore.
Peoplewentonlinemorethanoneandahalfmilliontimeslast
yeartoseeapairofbaldeagleraisedtwoeagletsina
nestnearCodorus
StatePark
.Theysawtheentireprocess,fromnestorationsinJanuary,
layingoftheeggsinFebruary,hatchinginMarch,andtheeagletsleaving
thenestinJune,asithappened.
Thisisthetenthyearforthenestandthesecondthatcamerasandmicrophonesarethere.
AnotherpopularnestisinaHackberrytree
inthetownofHays
,alongtheMonongahela
River,nearPittsburgh.Thecameraandsoundaresponsoredbythe
WesternPAAudubon
Society
.
Thisisthethirdseasonacamerahaswatchedthenestthateaglesfirstusedin2013.
Sadly,neitherofthetwoeggsintheHaysnestwereviablelastyear.Buttheyearbefore,three
eagletsthrivedandsuccessfullyleftthenest.
Thosewhologontothelivecamerasrealizequicklythatwaterwaysplayakeyroleinthe
livesofbaldeaglesandnestingsitesareneverfarfromwater.Streams,lakes,andriversarekey
habitatforbaldeagles.Inthewinter,theycongregateintalltreesnearopenwater,tospotprey
andshelteratnight.
Fishmakeupalmost90percentofabaldeaglesdiet.Isthereamoremajesticsightthan
aneaglesoaringandscanningopenwater,swoopinggracefullydownward,andthenwiththeir
talons,pluckingpreythroughthewaterssurface?
TheCodoruseaglesfeedfishfromLakeMarburg,CodorusCreek,andotherYork
Countywaterwaystotheiryoungones.BassfromtheMonongahelaisoftenonthemenuatthe
Haysnest.
SoitsnosecretthatthesurvivalandrecoveryofbaldeaglesinPennsylvaniaare
dependentoncleanwater,andtheavailabilityofhealthyfishandotheraquaticlife.Itisyet
anotherreasonwemustmakeprogressinrestoringthe19,000milesofwaterwaysin
Pennsylvaniathatarepolluted.
About350milesofwaterwaysinYorkCountyareimpaired.
Therunoffofnitrogen,phosphorusandsedimentisdamagingourriversandstreams,and
theCommonwealthissignificantlybehindinmeetingitscommitmenttoreducepollutedrunoff.
Also,considerfindingsofthelatestmultiyearstudyofthecausesbehindthedeathsof
youngsmallmouthbass,andlesionsandspotsonoldersmallmouthsintheSusquehannaRiver.
SomeofthosefishareservedupinbaldeagleneststhroughoutcentralPennsylvania.
Endocrinedisruptingcompoundsandherbicides,andpathogensandparasites,arethe
twomostlikelycausesofdiseasedanddyingfishintheSusquehanna.Theyarepartofaperfect
stormofcompoundssuchascosmetics,detergents,pharmaceuticals,andhormonesinanimal

andhumanwaste,thatfindtheirwayintothedietsofbaldeaglesandotherwildlife.
Onthebrightside,theresurgenceofbaldeaglesnationallyandinPennsylvaniaisan
endangeredspeciessuccessstory.
Habitatdestruction,contaminatedfoodsources,andillegalshootingtookbaldeaglesto
thebrinkofextinction.TheroadtorecoverytookmajorturnswhenthepesticideDDTwas
bannedin1972,andin1978whenbaldeagleswerelistedasendangeredundertheEndangered
SpeciesAct.
In1980,therewereonlythreeknownpairsofbaldeaglesnestinginPennsylvania.
Reintroductionbeganinthe1980swhentheGameCommissionbrought88eagletstothe
CommonwealthfromCanada,raisedthemonspeciallyconstructedtowers,andreleasedthem
intothewild.
BaldeagleswereremovedfromthefederalListofEndangeredandThreatenedWildlife
inthelower48statesin2007.
By2008thenumberofnestingpairsinPennsylvaniahadgrownto150.In2013there
werenestsinallbutahandfulofKeystoneStatecountiesandmorethan270nestingpairs.
Cleanwatercounts
inPennsylvania.Itisalegacyworthleavingfuturegenerationsof
humansandbaldeagles.
ClickHere
toaccesstheCodoruscameras.
ClickHere
toaccesstheHayscamera.For
morebackgroundonbaldeagles,visitthe
GameCommissions
website.
NewsClips:
OpEd:WaterQualityPlaysKeyRoleInReturn,SurvivalOfBaldEagles
NedSmithCenterFeaturesExhibitOnConservationLeaderDingDarling
BaldEagleNestCam:WhereAreTheEggs?
HowToHelpGiveBackToPhiladelphiasOutdoors
ShootingSportsIndustryToGatherInPennsylvania
LakeErieMarineSanctuaryPlanSubmittedToNOAA
WhatsKillingOurSnakesBesidesUs?
PresqueIsleAudubonBirdCount
WestDeerCompanyStrivesToPoliceTheGeese
HelpSoughtForFirstEverPAMammalProject
RelatedStories:
CBFPAUrgesImpairmentListingForLowerSusquehannaInWakeOfRiverStudy
CBFPA:PresenceOfPharmaceuticalsInPAWatersDoubleDoseOfReality
CBFPA:ItsTimeForPAToRebootItsCommitmentsToChesapeakeBayAgreement
CBFPA:PennsylvaniaDeclaresCleanWaterCounts
CBFPA:MilestoneAssessmentfindsPAFallingShortOfItsWaterCleanupCommitments

EPAWastewaterInfrastructureNeedsSurvey:$6.950BillionInPennsylvania

TheU.S.EnvironmentalProtectionAgencyWednesdayreleasedasurveyshowingPennsylvania
has$6.950billioninwastewaterinfrastructurerepair/replacementneeds,includingthepipesthat
carrywastewatertotreatmentplants,thetechnologythattreatsthewater,andmethodsfor
managingstormwaterrunoff.
Thesurveyfoundinfrastructure
needsbycategoryinPennsylvania
are:
$2.826billion:combinedseweroverflowcorrection

$1.230billion:secondarywastewatertreatment
$1.209billion:conveyancesystemrepair
$916.8million:newconveyancesystemsand
$766.6million:advancedwastewatertreatment.
Atotalof576facilitiesrequireupgrades.
Theonlywaytohavecleanandreliablewateristohaveinfrastructurethatisuptothe
task,saidJoelBeauvais,EPAsActingDeputyAssistantAdministratorforWater.Ournation
hasmadetremendousprogressinmodernizingourtreatmentplantsandpipesinrecentdecades,
butthissurveytellsusthatagreatdealofworkremains.
Adequatewastewaterinfrastructureplaysavitalroleinthehealthofstreams,rivers,and
lakes,wheredischargedwastewaterandstormwaterrunoffoftenendup.Wastewater
infrastructuremustalsobecomemoreresilienttotheimpactsofclimatechange,includingsea
levelrise,strongerandmorefrequentstorms,flooding,anddrought.
Wastewaterinfrastructureimprovementsalsosupporthealthyeconomies.Construction
projectscreategoodpayingjobs,andwherenewfacilitiesarebuilt,workersareneededto
operateandmaintainthem.Upgradedinfrastructureresultsincleanerwater,whichisessential
formanybusinessesandsectorsoftheeconomy.
Formoreinformation,visitEPAs
InfrastructureNeedsSurveyDataDashboard
webpage.
NewsClips:
DeerParkMayGetConditionalPermitToExtractPoconosWater
WestmorelandAuthorityWaterRatesToJump25Percent

CapitalRegionWaterGreeningEventsJan.28,Feb.2InHarrisburg

CapitalRegionWater
willholdtwo
CommunityGreeningEvents
onJanuary28atCampCurtin
YMCAandFebruary2attheLincolnSchoolinHarrisburgaspartofits
CityBeautifulH2O
Initiative
.
CometotheseeventstolearnwhatcommunitygreeningisandhelpCapitalRegion
WateridentifyprojectsandlocationsinHarrisburgthatwillbringthemosttothose
neighborhoods.
TheCityBeautifulH2OInitiativeisacommunitybasedcampaigntoimprovethehealth
oflocalwaterwaysandgreentheCityofHarrisburgtoreducesewageoverflowsandbetter
managestormwaterpollution.
Formalpresentationswillbeheldat6:00,7:00and8:00p.m.Formoreinformation,visit
the
CityBeautifulH2OInitiative
webpage.
Formoreonprograms,initiativesandspecialevents,visitthe
CapitalRegionWater
webpage.
ClickHere
tosignupforregularemailupdatesfromCapitalRegionWateror
follow
onTwitter
.
NewsClips:
DeerParkMayGetConditionalPermitToExtractPoconosWater
WestmorelandAuthorityWaterRatesToJump25Percent

DEPOnPaceToReclaimOver1,300AcresOfAbandonedMineLandsFrom2015

A
DepartmentofEnvironmentalProtectionreport
tothe
DEPMiningandReclamationAdvisory
Board
foritsJanuary21meetingshowstheagencywillfinishreclamationofabout1,368acres
ofabandonedminelandsfromthe2015season.
Thattotalisupfrom1,146acresin2014and
647.3acresin2013
.Butthattotalismuch
lessthantheannualaverageof4,125acresandtheover
33,300acresofminelandsreclaimed
between1995to2002.
AlmostallofthemoneyusedtoreclaimminelandscamefromthefederalAbandoned
MineReclamationFund$52.8millionofthe$58.3millionin2015reclamationcosts.
AccordingtoDEPsreport,theagencyhasprojectsunderwaythatwillresultinthe
reclamationof2,799acreswhentheyarecompletedin2016and2017worthabout$134.7
million,againalmostallfromfederalfunds$134.1million.
Projects,particularlythemorecomplexones,typicallytakeayearormoretodesignand
getinpositiontoletoutforbid.
Pennsylvaniastillhasabout220,000acresofunreclaimedabandonedminelands
pollutingmorethan4,000milesofstreamsthatwillcostover$1.1billiontomakesafe.
Acopyofthereport
isavailableonline
.
FormoreinformationonminereclamationactivitiesinPennsylvania,visitDEPs
Bureau
ofAbandonedMineReclamatio
nwebpage.
MRABwillholditsmeetinginthe2ndFloorTrainingRoom,RachelCarsonBuilding,
startingat10:00.
Visitthe
DEPMiningandReclamationAdvisoryBoard
webpageformoreinformation
onitsupcomingmeeting.DEPContact:DanielSnowden,BureauofMiningPrograms,400
MarketStreet,Harrisburg,PA17101,7177875103,
dsnowden@pa.gov
.
NewsClip:
AlleghenyFront:CoalsSlideMakesItHarderToCleanUpItsDirtyPast

PennState:RapidAssessmentToolProvidesEasierWayToMonitorWetlandQuality

Amodifiedor"rapid"versionofanexistingwetlandassessmenttoolcanaccuratelyassessthe
qualityofwetlands,accordingtoPennStateresearchers.Usingtherapidversionofthetool,
knownasthe
FloristicQualityAssessmentIndex
(FQI),cansavetimeandimproveupon
wetlandmonitoringstrategies.
"SomeU.S.stateshavelost90percentoftheirwetlandssincethe1950s,and,oftheones
thatareleft,manyarebeingdegraded,"saidSarahChamberlain,seniorresearchassistantand
botanistforPennState'swetlandresearchcenter,Riparia,andleadauthoronthefindings
publishedinthecurrentissueofEcologicalIndicators.
Monitoringthequalitywillallowustoprotectwetlandsingoodconditionandrestore
thoseinpoorcondition,"Chamberlinsaid.
Wetlands,anecosystemcharacterizedbythepresenceofinundationorwatersaturated
soilsandaquaticvegetation,arefoundallovertheworldandarehometonumerousplantand
animalspecies.Ifnotmonitoredproperly,wetlandsareatriskofbeingdegradedbyexcess
sedimentsandnutrients,aswellasbeingoverrunbyinvasivespecies.
Sincethe1990s,Ripariahasdevelopedstrategiesfornaturalresourcemanagersthrough
severalnovelwetlandspecificmonitoringtools.Muchofthisworkwasdoneincollaboration
withotherstatesintheMidAtlanticregionthroughtheMidAtlanticWetlandsWorkgroup,

whichRipariafacilitateswiththeU.S.EnvironmentalProtectionsAgencyRegion3.
TheresearchersfoundinpreviousworkthattheFQItool,whichwasoriginally
developedtomonitorprairiehabitatsintheMidwest,couldalsobeeffectivelyappliedto
wetlands.However,theFQItoolrequiresthattheuserhavealistofallplantsinagivenwetland,
whichisnotalwaysfeasible.
"WehaveheardfromindividualsmonitoringwetlandqualitythattheFQIwastoo
timeconsumingandthatthefieldtechniciansdidn'talwayshavethebotanicalknowledgeto
accuratelyidentifyalltheplantsinanarea.Additionally,somewetlandsareprivatelyowned,so
it'snotalwayseasyorpossibletoaccessthoseareastoidentifywhatspeciesexist,"said
Chamberlain.
Wetlandssometimeshavemorethan80plantspecies.Itrequiresadvancedbotanical
knowledgetoaccuratelyidentifyandcounteachspecies.ChamberlainandRobertBrooks,
professorofgeographyandfounderanddirectorofRiparia,investigatedthefeasibilityofusing
anabridgedlistofawetland'sdominantspeciestosavetime.
Inordertoclassifyanareaasawetland,federalregulationsrequiredocumentationofa
wetland'sdominantspecies.
ChamberlainandBrookstestedtherapidmodelagainst87ofthe200pluswetlandsthat
areactivelymonitoredbyRiparia.Theyusedabbreviatedspeciesliststheyrecordedwhenthe
wetlandswerefirststudiedandfoundthattherapidversionofthemodelwasjustaseffectiveat
predictingwetlandqualityasthestandardversion.
TheRipariateamalsocreatedafreeonlinecalculatorwithwhichpeoplecanmonitorthe
qualityoftheirwetlands.Afterinputtingalistofexistingflorainagivenarea,ausercanseean
objectiveassessmentofthequalityofagivenwetlandarea.
TheFQIcanalsobeusedtoassessthequalityofhabitattypesotherthanwetlands,such
ashighlandsormountainousregions.
"Ourultimategoalistoprovidetoolsthatstatescanusetoeasilymonitorwetlands,
whichwillhopefullyassistwiththepreservationoftheseuniqueandspecialareasinthefuture,"
saidChamberlain.
MichaelNassry,postdoctoralscholarwithPennState'sDepartmentofGeography,
providedassistancewiththeresearch.
TheU.S.EnvironmentalProtectionsAgencyfundedthiswork.
Formoreinformation,contactDr.Chamberlainbysendingemailto:
sjm20@psu.edu
.

SusquehannaRiverBasinCommissionFeb.4HearingOnWaterWithdrawalRequests

The
SusquehannaRiverBasinCommission
willholdapublichearingFebruary4attheEast
HanoverTownshipMunicipalBuilding,8848JonestownRd.,Grantville,DauphinCountyto
acceptcommentsonproposedwaterwithdrawalrequests.
(
formalnoticeandagenda
)
TheCommissionwillacceptpubliccommentsuntilFebruary15.SRBChastentatively
scheduledactiononthewaterwithdrawalrequestsatitsMarch10meeting.
Formoreinformationandalistofproposedwithdrawals,visitSRBCs
Public
ParticipationCenter
orcontactJasonOyler,SRBCGeneralCounsel,7172380423,Ext.1312,
fax7172382436.

DEPNoticeOfProposedGreatLakesWaterWithdrawalInWisconsin


TheDepartmentofEnvironmentalProtection
publishednotice
intheJanuary16PABulletinofa
proposedbanonawaterwithdrawalfromtheGreatLakesinWisconsinandanopportunityfor
publiccomment.
Thenoticeisbeingmadeunderthe
GreatLakesSt.LawrenceRiverBasinWater
ResourcesCompact
andthe
GreatLakesSt.LawrenceRiverBasinSustainableWaterResources
Agreement
.
AFebruary18hearingisscheduledinWisconsinandcommentswillbeaccepteduntil
March14.DEPisprovidingthenoticeasacourtesyandisnotcollectingcommentonthis
proposal.

StateInsuranceCommissionerSupportsFloodInsuranceReformsToLowerCost

InsuranceCommissionerTeresaMillerWednesdaytestifiedataCongressionalsubcommitteeon
legislationthatwouldhelpconsumersandisinlinewithWolfAdministration'splanstohelp
homeownersandrentersgetbetteraccesstoprivatefloodcoverage.
CommissionerMillertestifiedonbehalfoftheNationalAssociationofInsurance
Commissioners,beforetheHouseSubcommitteeonHousingandInsurance.Hertestimonywas
insupportof
H.R.2901
,knownastheFloodInsuranceMarketParityandModernizationAct
thatwoulddirectlenderstoacceptqualifiedprivatefloodinsuranceforfederallybacked
mortgages.
CommissionerMillertoldthecommitteethatfacilitatingtheentryofadditionalcarriers
intothemarketwillprovideconsumerswithaccesstoadditionaloptionsforfloodinsurance
products.
ShesaidthatPennsylvaniaisalreadyseeingexamplesofprivatecarriersoffering
comparablecoverageatalowercostthantheNationalFloodInsuranceProgram,thefederal
governmentrunprogramthatprovidesmostfloodinsurancethisdemonstratesthatcompetition
benefitsconsumersbyprovidingmorechoicesandbetterprices.
"Wehaveheardstoriesofconsumersgettingsubstantialsavingsfromprivateflood
insuranceasopposedtotheNFIPproduct,"saidCommissionerMiller."Inoneparticularcase,a
consumer'sannualpremiumunderNFIPwas$7,500,butaprivateplanofferedsimilarcoverage
for$1,415.Inanotherinstance,thefederalNFIPpremiumwas$6,000,whileprivateinsurance
wasjust$900."
Inspiteofthesepotentialsavings,therearenumerousobstaclestomakingprivateflood
insurancemorewidelyavailabletohomeowners.
"Oneoftheobstaclesthatwe'veseenisthatmanylendersarereluctanttoissue
mortgagesforhomeswithprivatefloodinsurance,becausetheyarenotsurethecoveragemeets
therequirementsofthefederalgovernment,"thecommissionertestified."H.R.2901would
removethatobstaclebyrequiringlenderstoacceptprivatefloodinsuranceifitmeetscertain
coveragecriteriaandissubjecttosupervisionbystateinsuranceregulators."
CommissionerMilleriscurrentlyworkingtohelphomeownersandrentersfindprivate
floodinsurancethatisavailableinPennsylvania.Thedepartmentwillannouncemoredetailson
thisinitiativesoon.
"WhileweinPennsylvaniaworkwithinsurerstomakeprivatefloodcoveragemore
available,weneedourpartnersinthefederalgovernmenttotakethisimportantsteptomake

suremortgagesareavailabletohomeownerswithprivatefloodinsurance,"CommissionerMiller
said.
Wednesdaystestimonyfollowsaletter
CommissionerMillerwroteinJuly
,urging
Pennsylvania'sCongressionaldelegationtosupport
H.R.2901
.
NewsClip:
PortCarbonToSetPublicMeetingOnFloodIssues

DEPCommitteeToHearAboutWasteToEnergyRoleInMeetingEPACleanPowerRule

DEPsSolidWasteAdvisoryCommittee
willhearapresentationatitsJanuary21meetingon
howwastetoenergyfacilitiescanhelpPennsylvaniameetsitsobligationsunderthe
EPAClean
PowerClimaterule
.
DavidVollero,ExecutiveDirectorofthe
YorkCountySolidWasteAuthority
,Jim
Warner,ChiefExecutiveOfficer,
LancasterCountySolidWasteManagementAuthority
,and
MichaelE.VanBrunt,DirectorofSustainabilityfrom
CovantaEnergy
willbemakingthe
presentation.
IncommentsprovidedtoDEP
duringitslisteningsessionslastyearontheEPAClean
PowerRule,theEnergyRecoveryCouncilsaidPennsylvaniassixwastetoenergyfacilities
reducedtheemissionofmorethan3milliontonsofgreenhousegasesfromprocessingmorethan
8,700tonsoftrashperdayin2012.
WastetoenergyfacilitiesrepresentedaboutonethirdofPennsylvaniasnonhydro
renewableelectricityin2012andabaseloadelectricgenerationcapacityof268megawatts.
AccordingtoU.S.EPA,lifecycleemissionanalysisshowswastetoenergyfacilities
actuallyreducetheamountofgreenhousegasesexpressedasCO2equivalents(GHGsorCO2e)
intheatmospherebyapproximately1tonforeverytonofmunicipalsolidwastecombusted.In
Pennsylvaniaspecifically,thatoffsetis.6tonsofgreenhousegasequivalentsforeverytonof
waste.
Wastetoenergyachievesthesereductionsingreenhousegasemissionthroughthree
separatemechanisms:1)bygeneratingelectricalpowerorsteam,wastetoenergyavoidscarbon
dioxide(CO2)emissionsfromfossilfuelbasedelectricalgeneration,2)thewastetoenergy
combustionprocesseffectivelyavoidsallpotentialmethaneemissionsfromlandfillsthereby
avoidinganypotentialreleaseofmethaneinthefutureand3)therecoveryofferrousand
nonferrousmetalsfromMSWbywastetoenergyismoreenergyefficientthanproductionfrom
rawmaterialstherebyavoidingCO2fromfossilfuelcombustion.
TheCommitteewillalsohearupdatesonPennsylvaniasRecyclingProgramandonthe
economicimpactoftherecyclingindustryintheCommonwealth.
ThemeetingwillbeheldinRoom105RachelCarsonBuildingstartingat10:00.
Formoreinformation,visit
DEPsSolidWasteAdvisoryCommittee
webpage.DEP
Contact:KeithAshley,BureauofWasteManagement,400MarketStreet,Harrisburg,PA17101,
7177872553,
riashley@pa.gov
.
(Note:CrisciAssociatesrepresents
CovantaEnergy
inPennsylvania.)
NewsClips:
TransmissionLinesWithCleanPowerPlan,OftenContested
ClimateConcernsIgniteSearchForNextGenEnergy
RelatedStories:

OpEd:PennsylvaniaElectronicsRecyclingRulesNotEasilyMet
Analysis:ElectronicsRecyclingEffortShrinkingInPA,TheLawNeedsToBeFixed
PRCVermicomposting,BackyardComposting,RainBarrelWorkshopsInWesternPA

OpEd:PennsylvaniaElectronicsRecyclingRulesNotEasilyMet

ByDavidE.Vollero,ExecutiveDirector,
YorkCountySolidWasteAuthority

OnDecember18,theYorkCountySolidWasteAuthoritymadethe
difficultdecisiontosuspenditselectronicsrecyclingprogramduetoalack
ofrecyclingoutletsforcollectedelectronicdevices.
Thissuspensionalsoappliestomunicipalsatelliteprogramspreviously
conductedinthefollowingmunicipalities:Carroll,Fairview,Hopewell,
Penn,Shrewsbury,Warrington,Dover,Fawn,LowerWindsorandWindsor
Townships,aswellasStewartstownandtheCityofYork.
TheAuthorityhascollectedscrapelectronicsfromYorkCountyresidents,
freeofcharge,since2002.Between2002and2015ourelectronics
recyclingprogramgrewfromannualcollectioneventsatonesite,toacombinationoffulltime,
weekly,biweeklyandannualcollectionsat13differentcollectionpointsacrossthecounty.
From2002through2012electronicsrecyclinginPennsylvaniawasvoluntaryand
recyclingofcollectedelectronicdeviceswaspaidforbytheAuthoritywithfundsderivedfrom
operationsoftheYorkCountyResourceRecoveryCenterandfromthesaleofcollected
electronicdevices.
CommencingonJan.24,2013,Act108,thePennsylvanialawknownastheCovered
DeviceRecyclingActmandatedtherecyclingofspecificelectronicsthatincludetelevisions,
desktopandlaptopcomputersandcomputerperipherals.
Act108requiresOriginalEquipmentManufacturers(OEMs)thatsellelectronic
productsinPennsylvaniatoprovidefortherecyclingofasubstantialamountofelectronic
devices.
However,thelawalsocontainsfundamentalflawsthatmakerecyclingelectronicsin
Pennsylvaniachallenging.
Forexample,theActbansthedisposalofcertainelectronicdevicesinPennsylvania
wastedisposalfacilities.Thisbanhascontributedtoasignificantinfluxofelectronicdevices
intotherecyclingmarketwhich,inturn,hascontributedtoaglutofthosedevicesanda
correspondingdeclineinthepricepaidforscrapelectronics.
BecauseOEMrecyclingobligationsarebasedontheweightofcovereddevicessold,and
electronicdevicesaregettingsmaller,OEMobligationsfallshortoftheamountofelectronics
thatneedtoberecycled.
Furthermore,PennsylvaniasimplementationoftheActprohibitselectronicsrecyclers
fromoperatingprogramsthatarefundedbybothOEMsanduserfees.Therelativeoversupplyof
scrapelectronicsandthestaterestrictionsonprogramfundinghavemadeitprohibitively
expensiveforlocalgovernmentsandprivatevendorstoconductelectronicsrecyclingin
Pennsylvania.
Coupledwiththedisposalban,thisleavesmanyorphaneddevicesthatcannotbe
disposedofinPennsylvania.

In2015YorkCountyrecycledmorethan3millionpoundsofelectronics.Therecycling
vendorwhohadservicedYorkCountysprogramforthepastseveralyearsinformedusin
Augustthattheycouldnolongerservicetheprograminamannerthatwouldcomplywithstate
restrictions.
TheAuthorityimmediatelybegantheprocessofsecuringanewvendorfor2016,andby
September,reachedagreementwithanewvendortoservicetheprogram.
Unfortunately,thatvendorinformedusonDecember18thattheywereunabletosecure
adequateOEMsupportforourprogramandwouldnotacceptelectronicsfromtheAuthoritys
program.
Atthatpoint,withnorecyclingordisposaloutletsavailable,theAuthorityhadnochoice
buttosuspenditselectronicsrecyclingprogram.
Wearecurrentlyseekinganalternativesolutiontoprovideforelectronicsrecyclingin
YorkCounty,andareadvisingresidentsandbusinessestoholdontotheirelectronicdevicesuntil
wecandetermineanalternatecourseofaction.
RetailoutletsthatacceptcertainelectronicsforrecyclinginYorkCountyeitherhave
OEMsupportorhavemadeotherarrangementstocovercosts.
TheillegaldumpingofelectronicsatBestBuysparkinglot,andthemarkedincreasein
thevolumeofmaterialthatisbeingdeliveredtothem,illustratestheneedforelectronics
recyclingandshowcasestheshortcomingsofAct108.
PennsylvanialegislatorsarewellawaretheActhasshortcomingsthatundermineour
abilitytoproperlymanagescrapelectronicsinYorkCounty.
ManyothercountiesinPennsylvaniahavealsodiscontinuedorsuspendedelectronics
recyclingforthereasonsdescribedabove.
TheAuthorityhasurgedourlegislatorstoactquicklytoamendtheActandalleviatethe
currentelectronicsrecyclingsituation.
PossibleimprovementstoAct108includesettingaminimumpricepaidbyOEMsforall
collecteddevicesthatissufficienttosustainrecyclingprograms,liftingthedisposalbanto
reducetheoversupplyofscrapelectronicsheadedforrecycling,and/orallowforthelandfill
disposalofjustcathoderaytubeswhichhaveverylimitedrecyclingpotentialandarethe
materialprimarilyresponsibleforthesupply/demandimbalance.
Weencourageresidentstolettheirlegislativerepresentativesknowthismatteris
importanttoYorkCounty.
Forbackgroundontherecyclingelectronicslaw,visitDEPs
ElectronicsRecycling
webpage.
NewsClips:
OpEd:PAElectronicsRecyclingRulesNotEasilyMet
WhyItsGettingHarderForYouToRecycleElectronics
RecyclingOldTelevisionsARealChallengeInPA
Editorial:MakeElectronicsRecyclingLawRevisionAPriority
Editorial:PALawMakingitHarderToRecycleEWaste
RelatedStories:
Analysis:ElectronicsRecyclingEffortShrinkingInPA,TheLawNeedsToBeFixed
DEPCommitteeToHearAboutWasteToEnergyRoleInMeetingEPACleanPowerRule
PRCVermicomposting,BackyardComposting,RainBarrelWorkshopsInWesternPA

PRCVermicomposting,BackyardComposting,RainBarrelWorkshopsInWesternPA

The
PAResourcesCouncil
WednesdayannounceditsWinter2016scheduleof
vermicomposting,backyardcompostingandrainbarrelworkshops
totakeplaceinJanuary,
FebruaryandMarchatseverallocationsinAlleghenyCounty.
VermicompostingWorkshops
January23,from10:30a.m.Noon,RossTownshipCommunityCenter
February18,from78:30p.m.,PhippsGardenCenterinMellonPark
March17,from6:308p.m.,AnnJonesGeraceCenter(formerlyCCICenter),SouthSide
Tryindoorcompostingwithredwigglerworms!Buildacompletevermiculturesystem
totakehomeattheendoftheworkshop.Wormsproduceaproduct(castings)thatisconsidered
anespeciallygoodsoilamendmentandnutrientsource.Learnhowtohouse,feed,harvestand
careforwormsthatproduceanatural,homemadefertilizerforyourlawnandgarden.
Coursefeeincludes90minutesofinstructionplusacomplete,readytousevermiculture
system.Cost:$70perperson($75percouple)andincludesonecompostboxwithworms.
Preregistrationisrequired
.
BackyardCompostingWorkshops
February27,from10:30a.m.Noon,RossTownshipCommunityCenter
March10,from78:30p.m.,PhippsGardenCenterinMellonPark
MoreworkshopshavebeenscheduledforApril5,16,May14andJune23.
Learnthebenefitsofbackyardcomposting,includingtheoverallprocess,methodsfor
settingupacompostpile,propermaintenanceandwaystousefinishedcompost.
Coursefeeincludes90minutesofinstructionplusaFreeGardenEARTHCompostBin,
whichfeaturesan82galloncapacityidealforbothurbanandsuburbansettings.
Cost:$70perperson($75percouple)andincludesonecompostingbin.
Preregistration
isrequired
.
WatershedAwareness/RainBarrelWorkshop
March19,from10:30a.m.Noon,RossTownshipCommunityCenter
April14,from7:00p.m.8:30p.m.,PhippsGardenCenter
April30,from10:30a.m.tonoon,BlueberryHillActivityCenter.
Discoverhowtoharvestrainwaterfromyourroof,storeitinabarrelanduseitinthe
landscape.Learnaboutproblemsassociatedwithstormwaterrunoff,waystoconservewaterin
yourhome,andtechniquestoreduceyourcontributiontowatershedpollution.
Coursefeeincludes90minutesofinstructionplusaFreeGardenRAIN55gallon
easytoinstallrainbarrel.
Cost:$80perperson($85percouple)andincludesonerainbarrel.
Preregistrationis
required
.
ToregisterforaPRCworkshop,clickonthePreregistrationisrequiredlinksabove,
visitPRCs
ConservationWorkshops
webpageorcall4124887490x226.
Formoreinformationonprograms,initiativesandothereducationalopportunities,visit
the
PAResourcesCouncil
website.
ClickHere
tosignupforregularupdatesfromPRC(bottom
ofthepage).
NewsClips:
OpEd:PAElectronicsRecyclingRulesNotEasilyMet
Editorial:LawMakingItHarderToRecycleElectronicsWaste

ScrantonHiresConsultantToImproveRecycling
RelatedStories:
OpEd:PennsylvaniaElectronicsRecyclingRulesNotEasilyMet
Analysis:ElectronicsRecyclingEffortShrinkingInPA,TheLawNeedsToBeFixed
DEPCommitteeToHearAboutWasteToEnergyRoleInMeetingEPACleanPowerRule

KPBSurveillanceCameraProgramResultsInOver30ConvictionsForIllegalDumping

KeepPennsylvaniaBeautifuls

SurveillanceCameraLoan
Program
hasresultedinover30convictionsforillegal
dumpingincommunities,stateforestsandrecyclingdropoff
centersoverthelastyear.
In2015,KeepPennsylvaniaBeautifullaunchedthe
IllegalDumpFreePA.org
websitetoputinoneplacethe
communityresourcesneededtofightillegaldumping.It
includesa
MunicipalitiesToolkit
withsamplelettersto
magistratesandmediareleasesaimedatpreventingandstoppingillegaldumpingatthelocal
level.
Throughthewebsite,municipalitiesalsohavetheopportunitytoapplyforaCamera
LoanProgramgrant.Thegrantincludestheloanofasetofthreehighquality,motionactivated,
covertsecuritycamerasthatprovideinstantwirelesstransmissionofsiteactivity,photo
documentationoflicenseplatesatspeedsofupto50MPH,andclearphotosofactivitydayor
nightthatarekeytoprosecutions.
(Photo:Illegaldumpingatnight.)
TheCameraLoanProgramisgainingtractionandhasbeeninstrumentalinprovidingthe
informationneededforillegaldumpingconvictionsacrossthestate.Asadirectresultofthe
Program,therehavebeenover30convictionsincommunities,stateforestsandrecyclingdrop
offcenters.
KeepPennsylvaniaBeautiful'sinvolvementwithourdumpingproblemhasnotonly
givenusatargetedplanbasedontheiryearsofexperience,buttheywerealsoabletoprovideus
withusefulsurveillanceequipmentthatwehaveusedtocatchdumpersandmonitorproblem
areas,saidToddOttinger,ForestRanger,
MichauxStateForest
.
Foryears,residentsofWesleyvilleBoroughandnearbycommunitieshavedumpedold
furniture,mattresses,tires,computers,evenhazardouschemicalsandpaintattheBoroughs
recyclingcenter.ThishasbeguntochangethankstoKeepPennsylvaniaBeautifulandits
generousloanofhighqualitycameras,saidTomMaggio,WesleyvilleBoroughManagerin
ErieCounty.Eighteenindividualswerecaughtoncameraandfoundguiltyoftheftofservice
andorderedtopayafine.
Illegaldumpingisnotonlydetrimentaltotheenvironment,butalsobringsafinancial
burdentoourlocalcommunitiesastheyareoftentheoneslefttocleanupthemess,said
ShannonReiter,President,KeepPennsylvaniaBeautiful.KeepPennsylvaniaBeautifulfound
thatonaverage,itcostslocalcommunities$600pertonornearly$3,000foratypicalillegal
dumpcleanup.Thosefundscouldbebetterspentelsewhere,suchasparks,childrensorseniors
programs,orcommunityinfrastructure.
WeareexcitedtoseetheIllegalDumpFreePAProgramworkingasitwasintendedto

work.KeepPennsylvaniaBeautifulsupplieshightechsurveillancecamerasandsupportto
municipalitiesandlocalorganizationstohelpidentifyillegaldumpers.Itisthelocal
commitment,dedication,andstrongenforcementpartnershipsthatbringitfullcircle,Reiter
added.
ClickHere
toviewimagestakenwith
KeepPennsylvaniaBeautifuls
surveillance
cameras.
ToapplyforaCameraLoanGrant,visit
www.IllegalDumpFreePA.org
,contactHeidi
Pediconetollfreeat8777723673orsendemailto:
hpedicone@keeppabeautiful.org
.
NewsClips:
OpEd:PAElectronicsRecyclingRulesNotEasilyMet
Editorial:LawMakingItHarderToRecycleElectronicsWaste
ScrantonHiresConsultantToImproveRecycling
RelatedStories:
OpEd:PennsylvaniaElectronicsRecyclingRulesNotEasilyMet
Analysis:ElectronicsRecyclingEffortShrinkingInPA,TheLawNeedsToBeFixed
DEPCommitteeToHearAboutWasteToEnergyRoleInMeetingEPACleanPowerRule

JanuaryPROPConnectionNewsletterNowAvailableForProfessionalRecyclers

The
JanuaryissueoftheConnectionnewsletter
isnowavailablefromthe
ProfessionalRecyclers
ofPA
featuringarticleson

WasteManagementToPay$2MToSettleTullytownLandfillCase

YorkCountyCancelsEWasteRecyclingDueToStateLaw

BackMountainResidentsBenefitFromRecycling

DEPGrantsKeystoneLandfillExtensionToRespondToConcerns

ScrantonHiresConsultantToImproveRecycling,Reporting

CentreCountyRecycling&RefuseAuthorityOpensCNGStation

FacilityInFocus:SolvingC&DConundrums

KeepUpToDateOnProfessionalCertification&Training

KidsCorner:Resource&ProjectLinks

ClickHere
tosignupforyourowncopy.

PittsburghBusinessTimes2016EnergyLeadershipAwardNominationsDueFeb.19

The
PittsburghBusinessTimes
isnowacceptingnominationsforits
2016EnergyLeadership
Awards
.ThedeadlinefornominationsisFebruary19.
TheEnergyLeadershipAwardswillhonorallcategories,includingnaturalgas,oil,coal,
nuclear,windandsolar.
Thisisthesixthyearfortheprogram.WinnerswillbeannouncedinMayattheEnergy
Gala,areceptionhonoringtheregion'senergyleaders.
Formoreinformation,visitthe
2016EnergyLeadershipAwards
webpageorcontact
RichardCerillibysendingemailto:
rcerilli@bizjournals.com
orcall4122083815.

PennTAP,DEPEnergyManagementSystemsWebinarJan.28

PennTAPwillhostawebinaronJanuary28on
SavingMoneyThroughEnergyManagement
Systems
startingatnoon.
EnergyManagementSystems,suchasISO50001andSuperiorEnergyPerformance,are
powerfultoolstoensurethatafacilityiscontinuouslyreducingitsenergyusageand
environmentalfootprint.
PennTAPwillreviewthestepsandrequirementsforcertificationundereachsystem.
PennTAPwillalsooutlinethebenefitsbeyondreducingenergycosts.Thepresenterwillbe
DeniseBechdel,PennTAPsEnergyandEnvironmentTeamLead.
PennTAPisavailabletosupportcompanieswithpersonalizedtrainingandcoachingfor
manufacturesthroughoutPennsylvania.ThesupportiscoveredbyagrantfromtheDepartment
ofEnvironmentalProtectionandareprovidedatnocosttoyou.
VisitHere
toregisterforthiswebinar.Formoreinformationonotherprogramsand
specialevents,visitthe
PennTAPwebsite
.

ChesapeakeBayWatershedStudents:VisualizeYourWaterChallenge

HighschoolstudentsintheChesapeakeBayWatershedareinvitedto
becomepartofthe
VisualizeYourWaterChallenge
sponsoredbythe
U.S.EnvironmentalProtectionAgency,
ChesapeakeBayFoundation
andotherpartners.
VisualizeYourWaterisanexcitingchallengethatwillequiphigh
schoolstudentswithnewtechnologyskillsandhelptobroadentheir
understandingofnutrientpollutionissues.Studentswillsubmittheir
best,mostinnovativevisualizationthattellsastoryaboutnutrient
pollutioninalocalwaterway.
TheChallengeseekstoengagetheinnovativespiritofhighschoolstudentsintheGreat
LakesandChesapeakeBaywatershedstatestocreatecompellingvisualizationsaboutnutrient
pollutionusingGISsoftwareandwaterqualitydatacollectedbyfederal,stateandlocalefforts.
Howdoteachersgetinvolved?ThischallengeisanopportunitytobringGISandwater
qualityeducationintotheclassroom!Teacherscanusethischallengeinoroutoftheclassroom,
andprovidestudentstheopportunitytoengage(singlyorinteams)withanimportant
environmentalissue(waterquality)andarobusttechnologyforvisualizationandanalysis(GIS).
WhereToBegin?
The
GettingStartedGuide
providesstudentsandteacherswithresourcesandinstruction
onhowtousedigitalmappingtechnologytopreparesubmissionandhowtoentertheVisualize
YourWaterChallenge.
TheU.S.GeologicalSurvey,MinnesotaSeaGrant,WisconsinSeaGrant,Centerfor
GreatLakesLiteracy,GreatLakesObservingSystem,andtheNationalGeographicSociety,with
theassistanceoftheU.S.DepartmentofEducationarealsopartnersinthisinitiative.
Visitthe
VisualizeYourWaterChallenge
webpageforallthedetails.

GreenSchoolsBlueWatersSTEMInvestigationsForSustainableSchoolsPrograms

LebanonValleyCollegeandthe
GreenSchoolsBlueWatersProgram
issponsoringaseriesof
fouronlinemodulesdesignedtoprovideeducatorsingrades3to12withactivitiesandresources

tosupport
STEMInvestigationsForSustainableSchools
.
Themodulesinclude
EnergyScienceandSocialStudies:January18toFebruary5
Recycling,WasteReductionandEnvironmentalQuality:February15toMarch4
WaterQualityandStormwaterManagement:March14toApril1
SchoolYardHabitat,Gardens,HealthandNutrition:April11toMay6
EducatorswhowouldliketoreceivecreditcanreceiveAct48creditforasmall
registrationfee.Thecourseisfreetoparticipantsnotinterestedinreceivingcredit.
ClickHere
forregistrationinformationforcreditfromLebanonValleyCollege.
ParticipantsnotinterestedinreceivingcreditsshouldcontactKimTesorieroat
ktesoriero@csc.csiu.org
orcall7177631661ext.169toreservetheirseatintheclassorfor
questionsregardingthecourse.
TheprogramissupportedbyaDEPEnvironmentalEducationGrant.
ClickHere
forafulldescriptionofthemodules.QuestionsshouldbedirecttoCarrie
Coryer,DirectorMSEbycalling7178676190orsendemailto:
coryer@lvc.edu
.
Forotherenvironmentaleducationprogramsandprofessionaldevelopmentopportunities,
visitthe
GreenSchoolsBlueWatersProgram
website.

TheNatureConservancyAwards4PhillySchoolsNatureWorksEverywhereGrants

The
McCallSchool
,
NewFoundationsCharterSchool
,
TildenMiddleSchool
andthe
Penn
AlexanderSchool
weretherecipientsfourofthe50
NaturalWorksEverywhere
grantsfrom
The
NatureConservancy
thisweek.
Thegrantsaredesignedtoconnectstudentstoaglobalchallengetounderstandand
protectthenaturalsystemsthatproduceourfood,water,cleanairandenergy.
ThankstogeneroussupportfromLowesandTheWaltDisneyCompany,TheNature
Conservancyexpandedtheprogramthisyeartooffergrantsnationwide,andmorethandoubled
thenumberofgrantsawardedinpreviousyears.
Thegrantshelpstudentsandteachersaddressconservationchallengesintheir
communitiesbyimplementingnaturalsolutions.Schoolgardenswillserveasoutdoorscience
learninglabswhileachievingpositiveconservationoutcomeswhichaddressmultipleissues,
includingstormwaterretention,increasingbiodiversityandpollinatorhabitat,andimproving
communitygreenspaces.
Forourplanettoprosperinthefuture,weneedtoensurethatwereempoweringyoung
conservationiststoday,saidBrigitteGriswold,DirectorofYouthEngagementProgramsforThe
NatureConservancy.Buildinggardensgivesstudents,teachersandcommunityvolunteersthe
opportunitytocometogetherandtakeactiontoaddressenvironmentalissuesthataffectthem
rightintheirownneighborhoods.
Eachgardenalsoprovidesalivinglearninglaboratoryforenvironmentalscience
educationattheschools.Eachschoolreceivesmaterialsandinstructionstoengagestudentsand
localvolunteersinbuildingagarden,aswellasresourcestoincorporatestandardsaligned
environmentalsciencelessonsfocusedonthegardenthroughouttheacademicyear.
WearehonoredtopresenttheseschoolswithNatureWorksEverywheregardens
grants,saidAngelaBrisson,manageroftheNatureWorksEverywhereprogramforTheNature
Conservancy.Educationalgardensprovidetheopportunityforvaluablehandsonlearningthat

growsintoalifelongappreciationfortheenvironmentandconservation.
VisitHere
toseeallthegrantsawarded.
Formoreinformationonprograms,initiativesandspecialeventsinPennsylvania,visit
TheNatureConservancyPA
webpage.
ClickHere
toreceiveregularupdatesfromTNCPA.

PAAmericanWaterNowAcceptingApplicationsForStreamOfLearningScholarships

PennsylvaniaAmericanWater
Wednesdayannouncedapplicationsarenowbeingacceptedfor
its
2016StreamofLearningScholarshipProgram
toprovidefinancialassistancetohighschool
seniorswhoareplanningtopursuecareersinthewaterandwastewaterindustry.
ApplicationsaredueMarch21.
TheprogramisdesignedtosupportoutstandingstudentslivinginPennsylvania
AmericanWatersserviceterritorieswhoarechartingacourseofstudyinspecificfields,
rangingfromengineeringtoenvironmentalscience,whicharecrucialtothewaterand
wastewaterbusiness.
Thecompanywillawardscholarshipsof$2,000eachto10studentswhoareselected
throughtheprogramsapplicationprocess.Applicantsmustmeetthefollowingcriteria:
StudentsmustcurrentlyliveinoneofPennsylvaniaAmericanWatersserviceareas.
(Studentscanattendcollegeoutsideofthecompanysserviceterritory.)
Studentsmustplantoattendatwoorfouryearcollegeortechnicalschool.
Studentsmustplantostudyenvironmentalscience,engineering,biologyorchemistry.
Nowinitsseventhyear,ourStreamofLearningScholarshipProgramishelpingattract
extremelybright,dedicatedstudentswhohavemuchtoofferforourindustrysfuture,said
KathyL.Pape,presidentofPennsylvaniaAmericanWater.Webelieveitsimportanttoinspire
andsupporttalentedyoungpeoplewhoshareourcommitmenttomaintainingpublichealth,
protectingtheenvironmentandpromotingeconomicdevelopment.
WinnerswillbeselectedbyapanelofjudgesandwillreceivetheirawardsinMay.
FamilymembersofPennsylvaniaAmericanWateremployeesarenoteligible.
Thismonth,thecompanyissendingscholarshipbrochuresandapplicationstohigh
schoolguidancecounselorsthroughoutitsserviceterritory.
ApplicationscanalsobedownloadedfromPennsylvaniaAmericanWaters
2016Stream
ofLearningScholarshipProgram
webpage.

$4,000CollegeScholarshipApplicationsDueToNortheastPAAudubonApril30

The
NortheastPennsylvaniaAudubonSociety
isnowacceptingapplicationsfora
$4,000college
scholarship
tostudentswhowishtopursueacareerinanenvironmentalfieldsuchasForestry,
NaturalResources,EnvironmentalPlanning,EnvironmentalEngineering,Fish,Game,or
WildlifeManagement,Ecologyand/orEnvironmentalScience.
ApplicationsaredueApril30.
ApplicantsmustbefromPike,Wayne,Lackawanna,orSusquehannaCountyandmust
enrollfulltimeinanaccreditedtwoorfouryearcollegeoruniversityprogram.
Thewinningapplicantwillreceive$1,000peryearforuptofouryears.Thescholarship
isfundedbyAudubonsannualAudubonArtsandCraftFestivalheldeachJuly.
InterestedstudentscanfindtheapplicationformontheNortheastPAAudubonSociety

Scholarships
webpageortheycanusetheuniversalscholarshipapplicationformavailableat
theirhighschoolguidanceoffice.

NortheastPAAudubonOffersScholarshipsForHogIslandEnvironmentalEdProgram

The
NortheastPennsylvaniaAudubonSociety
is
offeringafullscholarship
foroneadultanda
relatedchildbetweentheagesof8and13tothefamilycamponMainesscenicHogIsland,a
landmarkofenvironmentaleducationsince1936.
ApplicationsaredueApril1.
ScholarshipapplicantsmustresideinterritorycoveredbytheNortheastPennsylvania
AudubonSociety,includingLackawannaCounty,SusquehannaCounty,WayneCountyand
mostofPikeCounty.
ThesessionsprogramwilltakeplacefromAugust1419onthe330acreislandin
midcoastMainesMuscongusBayandwillbeledbynaturalistsandenvironmenteducators.
Thecampisdesignedforfamilieswithchildrenages813.Afamilyunitincludesatleast
onechildandoneadult.Grandparents,aunts,andunclesarewelcome.
MidAugustinmidcoastMaineiswhenfallmigrationisstarting,thesaltmarshesare
changingcolors,bioluminescencesparklesthroughthesaltwater,andthenorthernlightsmight
bedancingacrossthesky.
ApplicationsareavailableontheNortheastPAAudubonSociety
Scholarships
webpage.

DelawareHighlandsConservancyScholarshipApplicationsDueMarch30

The
DelawareHighlandsConservancy
isnowacceptingapplicationsfromeligiblehighschool
seniorsforthe
DelawareHighlandsConservancy/YeamanScholarship
andthe
VanessaVan
GorderMemorialScholarship
,bothintheamountof$1,000.
TheYeamanScholarshiphasbeengivenannuallysince2004toastudentplanningto
pursueafieldinenvironmentalstudiesincollege,inhonoroftheConservancysfounder,
BarbaraYeaman.
ItisopentostudentsinschooldistrictsborderingtheUpperDelawareRiverinNewYork
andPennsylvania.TheseincludeHancockCentral,DepositCentral,Eldred,Monticello,and
SullivanWestinNY,andWallenpaupackArea,Honesdale,andDelawareValleyinPA.
In2015,theConservancyestablishedaMemorialScholarshipinhonorofVanessaJoy
VanGorder,whotragicallylostherlifeonDecember26,2014.
ArecentgraduatefromWestChesterUniversitywithadegreeineducation,Vanessawas
passionateabouttheoutdoorsandlovedexploringthelakes,rivers,andforestsoftheUpper
DelawareRiverRegionwithherfriendsandfamily.TheConservancyestablishedthis
scholarshipinVanessasmemoryandtohonorherdreamofbecominganeducator.
Thescholarshipisopentohighschoolseniorspursuingacareerineducationor
environmentalstewardship,inschooldistrictsborderingtheUpperDelawareRiverin
Pennsylvania,includingWallenpaupack,Honesdale,orDelawareValley.
Forbothscholarships,studentsateligibledistrictsshouldcontacttheirguidance
counselorsforapplications.
Applicationsmustbesubmittedthroughtheschoolsguidancecounselorfortransmittal
totheDelawareHighlandsScholarshipCommitteebyMarch30,2016.

RecipientsofthescholarshipwillbenotifiedinMay.
Formorebackgroundonthescholarships,visittheConservancys
Scholarships
webpage.
Tomakeadonationtothescholarshipfund,call5702263164/8455831010orsendanemail
to:
info@delawarehighlands.org
.
ClickHere
tosignupforregularupdatesfromthe
Conservancy(topofthepage).

ApplyNowFor2016HouseOfRepresentativesCollegeScholarships

Highschoolseniorscannowapplyfora
PAHouseofRepresentativesScholarship
tohelpcover
thecostsofhighereducation.ThedeadlinetoapplyisMarch1.
Thescholarshipprogram,administeredthroughthe
FoundationforEnhancing
Communities
,isopentograduatinghighschoolseniorswhoarePennsylvaniaresidentswith
planstoattendaPennsylvaniacollege.
Eachyear,twostudentsareselectedbyanindependentpanelofjudgestoreceive
fouryearscholarships,whichareprivatelyfundedbyindividualandcorporatedonors.Notaxor
otherpublicfundsareused.
Tobeeligible,studentsmusthaveattaineda3.0gradepointaverageinhighschool.A
studentscommitmenttocommunity,leadershipqualities,extracurricularactivitiesandfinancial
needarealsoconsidered.
Toapply,visitthe
PAHouseofRepresentativesScholarship
webpage.

ProjectWETWorkshopsMarch16InPoconos,March30InWestChester

Thinkingaboutbeinga
ProjectWET
educator?Attendthe
ProjectWETFacilitatorWorkshoptobeheldMarch16atthe
InnatPoconoManorinconnectionwiththe
PAAssociationof
EnvironmentalEducatorsConference
Duringthis8hourworkshopwe'llwadethroughhowtobest
utilizethenewfullcolorGuide2.0curriculumbook,theonline
DiscoverWaterresourceandtheinsandoutsofgettingpeopleof
anyageinvolvedinthewonderfulworldofwater!
ThisworkshopisgreatforleadersofallagesPreKadult,preserviceeducators,scout
leadersandnonformaleducatorsandincludesyourowncopyoftheGuide2.0andaccessto
ProjectWETonlinesupport.
UponcompletingtheinpersonworkshopyouwillbecomeaProjectWETEducatorand
uponcompletingtheathomeassignmentyouwillbecomeaProjectWETFacilitatorandwillbe
abletorunworkshopsatyourownfacilityorforotherorganizations.
Continuingeducationhours(Act48)areavailableforeducatorsandacertificateof
completionwillbeprovided.
ThisisapostworkshopdaytothePAEEAnnualConference.Alleducatorsand
interestedadultsarewelcometoattendtheworkshopandconference.Moreinformationand
registrationcanbedone
throughthePAEEwebsite
.
March30Workshop
NewtotheinternationalcurriculumofProjectWET?Hasitbeenagessinceyouwere
trainedinProjectWET?AttendtheMarch30ProjectWETworkshopatthe
BrandywineRed

ClayAlliance
inWestChester.
Thisisnotyourtypicalworkshop,we'llbeupandactiveandevenoutonthetrailsand
downatthecreekpracticing.learningandhavingfun!ProjectWEThaslaunchedtheirnewfull
colorGuide2.0andnewonlineresourceswitheducationalgamesforstudents.
ParticipantswillreceivethenewGuide2.0andhandsonexperiencewithvarious
activitiesandtheonlineresources.Thisprogramisprovidedforfreethankstoagrantfromthe
DepartmentofEnvironmentalProtection.Registrationisrequiredand
canbedoneonline
.
Thisprogramisopentoformal,nonformalandpreserviceteachersaswellasinterested
adults.
ProjectWETtrainingisbeingmadeavailablewiththehelpof
TheOutdoorClassroom
in
Pittsburghandthe
PAAssociationofEnvironmentalEducators
.ContactJessicaKester,Program
Manager,TheOutdoorClassroomat4128380064orsendemailto:
jessica@TheOutdoorClassroomPA.org
formoreinformation.

EnvironmentalEducatorIdeasNeededOnUsingEnviroHeritageVideosInClassrooms

The
PennsylvaniaConservationHeritageProject
isnow
solicitingcommentsfromenvironmentaleducatorson
usingtheminidocumentariesofRalphAbele,Mira
LloydDockandGiffordPinchotproducedby
WITFTVintheclassroomsatspecialeventson
February3inHarrisburgandFebruary8inNazareth,
NorthamptonCounty,orthroughanonlinesurvey.
Youcanviewallthreeminidocumentaries
online

StraightTalk:TheRalphAbeleStory:
RalphW.AbelesResourceFirstphilosophyhelped
protectandconservetheCommonwealthswaterwaysandaquaticlife.Aslongestserving
ExecutiveDirectoroftheFish&BoatCommission,AbeleiscreditedwithmodernizingtheFish
&BoatCode,leadingeffortstorestoretheAmericanshadpopulationtotheSusquehannaRiver
andmuchmore.
ClickHere
foramoredetailedprofile.

MiraLloydDock:ABeautifulCrusade:
In1899womenwereseennotheard,butnotMira
LloydDock.AProgressiveEraactivist,shehelpedrescueHarrisburgfromfilthandpollution.
DuringherserviceonthePAForestCommission,onemillionacresofforestbecamereserves.
Shewasthefirstwomanintheworldtobeappointedtoapublicforestcommissionandthefirst
womantoholdjobinPAgovernmenteitherappointedorelected.
ClickHere
foramoredetailed
profile.

GiffordPinchotsConservationLegacy
:AsAmericasfirsttrainedforesterand
conservationist,GiffordPinchotusedhiswealthandpowertoprotectthenationsnatural
resourcesforthegreatestgood,forthegreatestnumber,inthelongrun.In1905hebecame
headofthenewlyestablishedUnitedStatesForestService.AsGovernorofPennsylvania
PinchotputPennsylvaniansbacktoworkduringtheGreatDepression.
ClickHere
foramore
detailedprofile.
February3Harrisburg
TheFebruary3eventwillbeheldfrom6:00to7:30p.m.atthe
BenjaminOlewineIII
NatureCenteratWildwoodPark
inHarrisburgtoreviewtheRalphAbeleandMiraLloydDock

videos.
Followingeachvideowillbeabriefdiscussion,sharingthoughtsandideasonhowthe
videomightbeintegratedintotheclassroom.
ToRSVPfortheWildwoodshowing,sendanemailto:
bartz@paparksandforests.org
.
February8Nazareth
TheFebruary8eventwillbeheldfrom6:30to8:00p.m.atthe
Jacobsburg
EnvironmentalEducationCenter
,400BelfastRoad,NazarethtoreviewtheGiffordPinchotand
MiraLloydDockvideos.
Thesamediscussionformatwillbefollowedwithlightrefreshmentsandarandom
drawingforanAmazongiftcardatbothevents.
OnlineComments
Educatorscanalsoprovideonlinecommentsonallthreeminidocumentariesandusing
themintheclassroom.
ClickHere
totaketheonlinesurvey.AnAmazongiftcardwillalsobe
givenawayatrandomforfillingouttheonlinesurvey.
Formoreinformationandtobecomeinvolved,visitthe
PennsylvaniaConservation
HeritageProject
website.

LacawacSanctuaryJan.21FireandIceCocktailEvent&ArtExhibit

The
LacawacSanctuaryandFieldStation
willhostthe2ndannual
FireandIceEventonJanuary21insupportofenvironmentaland
scienceoutreachK12schoolprogramsinLackawanna,Luzerne,
Pike,Susquehanna,WayneandWyomingCounties.
JoinLacawacSanctuaryatTheColonnade,JeffersonAvenuein
Scrantonfrom6to8p.m.Thiseventisguaranteedtobrightenup
yourwinter.
SponsoredbyNBTBank,ScartelliOlszewskiPCAttorneysatLaw,OlsommerClarke
InsuranceGroup,andGrahamPublicRelationsandAdvertising,FireandIceEventisa
fundraisertosupportLacawacSanctuaryandFieldStation,anonprofitorganizationthatoffersa
diversesetofnaturalareas,facilities,andoutreachprogramsforK12andpostsecondary
educatorsandstudents,arearesidents,scientificresearchers,andsummervisitorstotheregion.
Theeventisopentothepublicandisa21+event.TheColonnadewillprovideheavy
horsdoeuvresacashbarwillbeavailable.Attireiscompletelyyourchoicebutweather
appropriate.Thatmeans,ifyouwanttowearyourcutepartydressorcoolnewshirtfantastic.
Butifitscoldandblizzardyoutandyoucan'timaginewearinganythingbut
flannellinedjeansandabigsweater,that'sfinewithus!
FireandIcewillfeatureaspecialexhibitentitledImmersionbyHeidiVanLeuven.Heidi
isanNEPAbasedartistandrecentLacawacartistinresidencewhodrawsmuchinspiration
fromnatureanditsintertwiningmicrocosms.
AfterreceivingherBFAinPaintingwithaMinorinArtHistoryfromMarywood
Universityin2005,sheinternedasastudioassistantwithBrooklynbasedsculptorDennis
Oppenheim.
ShelaterattendedGeorgiaSouthernUniversityandcompletedherMFAinPaintingin
2009.Currently,Heiditeachespaintingclasseswhileworkingonavarietyofartandmusic
projectsintheScrantonarea.

Ticketsare$25.ComesharethewarmthandsupportLacawacseducationprograms!
Ticketscanbepurchasedthrough
BrownPaperTickets
online.
Questionsorforeventdetails,contactLacawacSanctuaryspresidentCraigLukatchby
sendingemailto:
craig.lukatch@lacawac.org
orcall5706899494.
Formoreinformationonprograms,initiativesandspecialevents,visitthe
Lacawac
SanctuaryandFieldStation
website.

InternWanted:PittsburghOutdoorClassroomHasSummerInternPositionAvailable

The
OutdoorClassroominPittsburgh
isseekingastudentforanonpaidsummerinternposition
toworkinenvironmentaleducationprograms,highlightinginterrelationshipsbetweenhumans
andtheenvironment,forprimaryandsecondaryschoolstudents,communitygroups,scout
troops,andothers.
ClickHere
forallthedetails.

InternsWanted:U.S.ForestService,GreyTowersNationalHistoricLandmark

Applicationsarecurrentlybeingacceptedforanumberofdifferentsummerinternshipsat
Grey
TowersNationalHistoricSite
,Milford,PikeCounty.
Collegestudentswhoareinterestedinparksandrecreation,history,gardeningand
landscapearchitectureandforestryareencouragedtoapply.
Studentscanearnfrom$75perweeksubsistenceallowanceto$2,500forthe12week
season,dependingonwhichinternshiptheyqualifyfor.Housingonthehistoricestateand
uniformsmaybeprovided.
Availablepositionsinclude:
Education/Interpretation/VisitorServices:
Multiple12weekinternshipsareavailablefor
studentstodeliverinterpretivemansiontoursandeducationprogramsandhonetheirvisitor
servicesskills.
Studentswillhaveanopportunitytolearnandimproveskillsinsuchareasaspublic
speaking,communication,researchandrelatedprograms.Studentswilldevelopanddeliver
tours,assistwitheducationalandotherpublicprograms,providevisitorservicesandcomplete
oneresearch/interpretiveproject.
DeadlinetoapplyisMarch1forMaythroughAugustinternship.Visitthe
GreyTowers
webpage,sendemailto:
greytowers@fs.fed.us
orcall5702969630forinformation.
Gardening/Horticulture:
TwoopportunitiesareavailableforMaythroughAugusteach
providesavaluable,practicalexperienceforamotivatedundergraduatecollegestudentwho
wantsahandsonexperiencetochallengeandbroadenthestudentsknowledgeofpractical
applicationsofhorticulturaltheorylearnedintheclassroom.
DeadlinetoapplyisApril1,2016.Forthehorticultureposition,visitthe
Student
ConservationAssociation
websiteandsearchforPosition#00696016.
FortheElizabethS.Mortimergardeninginternship,sendaresumeandcoverletterthat
indicatesyourfieldofstudyandexpectedgraduationdateto:ElizabethHawke,Horticulturist,
GreyTowersNationalHistoricSite,POBox188,Milford,PA18337,orfaxto5702969675or
sendemailto:
ehawke@fs.fed.us
.Formoreinformationcall5702966061ext.162.
Additionalhorticulture,visitorservicesandmuseuminternshipswillbeofferedinthe
Fall,AugustthroughDecember.Formoreinformationcall5702969630orsendemailto:

greytowers@fs.fed.us
.

HelpWanted:PittsburghOutdoorClassroomSeekingEnvironmentalEducators

The
OutdoorClassroominPittsburgh
isseekingqualifiedindividualsforeducatorpositionsto
workinenvironmentaleducationprogramshighlightinginterrelationshipsbetweenhumansand
theenvironment,forprimaryandsecondaryschoolstudents,communitygroups,scouttroops,
andothers.
ClickHere
forallthedetails.

PittsburghTreeVitalizeNowAcceptingApplicationsForAlleghenyCounty

PittsburghandAlleghenyCountyneighborhoodscannowapplyfortreesandotherservicesto
supportstreet,parkandriverfronttreeplantingsbythe
PittsburghTreeVitalizeProgram
administeredbythe
WesternPAConservancy
.
ApplicationdeadlineisMarch18.
Submittinganapplicationdoesnotguaranteeyourgroupwillreceivetrees,andfunding
forseasonalplantingsislimited.Pleasereviewyour
communityseligibility
and
selection
criteria
beforeapplying.
PleasecontactJeffreyBergman,TreeVitalizedirector,at4125862396orsendemailto:
trees@paconserve.org
todiscussyourplantingplanbeforemovingforwardwithyourproject.
Formoreinformationonprogramsandinitiatives,visitthe
PittsburghTreeVitalize
Program
webpage.
ForinformationonsimilarprogramsinotherareasofPennsylvania,visitthe
TreeVitalize
Program
website.

PECTV:PATrailNetworksFeaturedOnJan.17EnvironmentalFocusOnPCN

Over1,700milesofhikingandbikingtrailshaveproven
tobeaneconomicboomforthecitiesandtownsacross
Pennsylvania.Connectingthesetrailstogethertocreate
regionaltrailnetworksishighlightedinthismonths
editionofEnvironmentalFocus,the
PA
EnvironmentalCouncils
monthlyenvironmentalaffairs
televisionprogram.
Theshowwillaironthe
PennsylvaniaCable
Network
(PCN)onJanuary17at4p.m.,andwillinclude
featuredguestandformerPittsburghMayorandStateRepresentativeTomMurphy,nowa
fellowattheUrbanInstituteinWashington,D.C.Murphyplayedaleadingroleindeveloping
Pittsburghstrailnetworksintowhattheyaretoday.
FollowingMurphysinterview,aroundtablediscussionwillbeledbyTomSextonofthe
RailstoTrailsConservancy
,ChristopherLinnofthe
DelawareValleyRegionalPlanning
Commission
,andPECsFrankMaguire.
PreviouseditionsofEnvironmentalFocushavefeaturedtopicssuchasoutdoor
recreationonPennsylvaniaswaterways,Pennsylvaniasstatebudget,the
DEPPipeline
InfrastructureTaskforce
,andthe
DelawareRiverConservationProgram
withguestssuchas

DepartmentofEnvironmentalProtectionSecretaryJohnQuigley,DepartmentofConservation
andNaturalResourcesSecretaryCindyAdamsDunn,AndrewJohnsonofthe
WilliamPenn
Foundation
,andmore.
ClickHere
toviewpastepisodesofEnvironmentalFocus.
Formoreinformationonprograms,initiativesandspecialevents,visitthe
PA
EnvironmentalCouncil
.
ClickHere
tosignupforregularupdatesfromPEC,readthe
PECBlog
,
follow
PEConTwitter
and
onFacebook
.
NewsClips:
HowToHelpGiveBackToPhiladelphiasOutdoors
LebanonPlansPlaygroundRevitalizationProject
4TobyhannaStateParkEmployeesChargedWithForgingDocuments

CenterForRuralPA:PAHeritageAreasContribute$2BillionToStatesEconomy

AstudyreleasedThursdaybythe
CenterforRuralPennsylvania
foundvisitorsto
Pennsylvanias
HeritageAreas
contributejustover$2billionannuallytothestateseconomysupportingover
25,700jobs.
TheCenterestimatedvisitorpartiesspentanestimated7.5milliondays/nightsinthe12
HeritageAreas.
Overall,thestatestravelandtourismsectordirectlycontributedanestimated$15.3
billiontothestates2013GDP.
Acopyofthestudy
isavailableonline
.
Formoreinformation,visitthe
CenterforRuralPennsylvania
.Toreceiveupdates
directlyfromtheCenter,sendyouemailto:
caldarac@rural.palegislature.us
.
NewsClips:
HowToHelpGiveBackToPhiladelphiasOutdoors
LebanonPlansPlaygroundRevitalizationProject
4TobyhannaStateParkEmployeesChargedWithForgingDocuments

FormerDEPSec.AbruzzoNamedPAAmericanWaterEnvironmentalComplianceChief

PAAmericanWater
TuesdayannouncedtheappointmentofE.ChristopherChrisAbruzzoas
seniordirectorofWaterQualityandEnvironmentalCompliance.
Inthisrole,Abruzzowilloverseeenvironmentalpoliciesandpractices,aswellasdirect
thecompanysteamofwaterqualityexpertstoensurecompliancewithallfederalandstate
waterandwastewaterregulations.
Priortojoiningthecompany,Abruzzowasseniorvicepresidentandgeneralcounselfor
MicrobacLaboratoriesinPittsburgh.
Inaddition,hewassecretaryfortheDepartmentofEnvironmentalProtection,theagency
thatregulatesenvironmentalprogramsincludingair,water,oilandgasdevelopment,solidwaste,
coalandnoncoalmining,deepcoalminesafety,siteremediation,brownfieldsandenergy
programs.
HewasalsodeputychiefofstaffforthegovernorofPennsylvaniawithoversight
responsibilityforpublicsafetyagencies,theDepartmentofEnvironmentalProtectionandthe
PublicUtilityCommission.

AresidentofDerryTownship,AbruzzoalsoservedonthetownshipsBoardof
Supervisorsasaboardmemberandchairman.HeisagraduateofSt.JosephsUniversityin
Philadelphia,andearnedhislawdegreefromWidenerUniversitySchoolofLawinHarrisburg,
Pa.
NewsClips:
DeerParkMayGetConditionalPermitToExtractPoconosWater
WestmorelandAuthorityWaterRatesToJump25Percent

HelpWanted:PAConservationDistrictsHiringConservationEngineer,Technician

The
PAAssociationofConservationDistricts
isseekingqualifiedindividualstofilla
ConservationEngineer
and
ConservationTechnician
positionsinitsBloomsburgTechnical
Office,ColumbiaCounty.ApplicationsaredueJanuary29.
ClickHere
forallthedetailsand
forjobopportunitiesinindividualcountyconservationdistricts.

OpportunityToBidOnDEPMineReclamationProjectInAlleghenyCounty

TheDepartmentofEnvironmentalProtection
publishednotice
intheJanuary16PABulletinof
theopportunitytobidonaminereclamationprojectinAlleghenyCounty.

PublicParticipationOpportunities/CalendarOfEvents

ThissectionlistsHouseandSenateCommitteemeetings,DEPandotherpublichearingsand
meetingsandotherinterestingenvironmentalevents.
NEW
meansnewfromlastweek.
[AgendaNotPosted]
meansnotpostedwithin2weeks
oftheadvisorycommitteemeeting.Gotothe
onlineCalendar
webpageforupdates.

NOTE:
TheDepartmentofEnvironmentalProtectionpublisheditsscheduleofadvisory
committeeandboardmeetingsfor2016intheDecember19
PABulletin(page7230)
.Thenext
andfirstmeetingsofeachadvisorycommitteeorboardhasbeenaddedtothissection.

January17

NEW
.
PECTV:PATrailNetworksFeaturedOnEnvironmentalFocus
.PACable
Network.4:00.

January19
U.S.EPAGreen&HealthySchools
WebinarOnSchoolsAndOutdoorAir
Quality
.3:00.

January20

NEW
.
SenateTransportationCommittee
meetstoconsider
SenateResolution247
(RaffertyRMontgomery)urgingU.S.DOTtoworkwithtankcarmanufacturers,crudeoil
shippersandtherailindustrytoadopthigherpoolfiresurvivabilitystandardsandtotrain
emergencyfirstresponders(
sponsorsummary
).Room8EBEastWing.10:00.

January20
AgendaPosted.

DEPPipelineInfrastructureTaskForce
meeting.DEP
SouthcentralRegionalOffice,909ElmertonAve.,Harrisburg.1:00.Contact:
RAEPPITF@pa.gov
.
(
formalnotice
)

ClickHere
towatchthemeetingviawebcast.

FinalMeetingDiscussingRecommendations

ClickHere
foravailablehandouts

January20
DEP,PennState
EnergyAssetScoreToolWorkshop
.DEPsSouthwestRegional
Office,500WaterfrontDr.,Pittsburgh.10:00.

January20

DCNROpenHouseOnDentonHillStateParkStudy
.DentonHillSkiLodge,
PotterCounty.6:30.

January21

AgendaPosted
.
DEPMiningandReclamationAdvisoryBoard
meeting.2nd
FloorTrainingRoom,RachelCarsonBuilding.10:00.
DEPContact:DanielSnowden,Bureau
ofMiningPrograms,400MarketStreet,Harrisburg,PA17101,7177875103,
dsnowden@pa.gov
.
CommitteeReports:Policy,Regulation,Legislation&TechnicalGuidance
ProgramUpdatesFromDEP
ReminingRegulationsUpdate
BondRateGuidelinesUpdate
DEPAbandonedMineReclamationReport

ClickHere
foravailablehandouts.

January21

AgendaPosted
.
DEPSolidWasteAdvisoryCommittee
meeting.Room105
RachelCarsonBuilding.10:00.
DEPContact:KeithAshley,BureauofWasteManagement,400
MarketStreet,Harrisburg,PA17101,7177872553,
riashley@pa.gov
.
EPACleanPowerClimatePlan
ThePerfectStormEconomicImpactInTheRecyclingIndustry
PotentialRoleOfWasteToEnergyInCleanPowerPlanCompliance
PALandfillsAndClimatechange
DEPsRecyclingProgram

ClickHere
foravailablehandouts.

January21
DCNRCommunityConservationPartnershipGrantWebinar
.10:00a.m.

January21

NRCSStateTechnicalCommittee
meeting.USDAStateOffice,Harrisburg.
12:30.

January23

DelawareHighlandsConservancyEagleDay
.
ClickHere
forotherBaldEagle
viewingopportunitieswiththeConservancy.

January23

BrodheadCreekWatershedAssociation

WestEndHike
.Brodheadsville,Monroe
County.

January25
DEPPublicMeetingOnProposedChrinLandfillExpansion,Northampton
County
.WilsonAreaHighSchool,424WarriorLane,Easton,PA18042.69p.m.

January26

DEPHearingOnWestmorelandTenaskaNaturalGasPowerPlantAirPermit
.

TurkeytownSouthHuntingtonTownshipfirehall(HuntingtonPlace),90SupervisorDrive,West
Newton,PA.6:00p.m.

January27

[AgendaNotPosted]
DEPSmallBusinessComplianceAdvisoryCommittee
meeting.12thFloorConferenceRoom,RachelCarsonBuilding.10:00.
DEPContact:Susan
Foster,BureauofAirQuality,400MarketStreet,Harrisburg,PA17101,7177877019,
sufoster@pa.gov
.

January28

[AgendaNotPosted]
DEPSmallWaterSystemsTechnicalAssistanceCenter
Board
meeting.Room105RachelCarsonBuilding.9:00.
DEPContact:DawnHissner,Bureau
ofSafeDrinkingWater,400MarketStreet,Harrisburg,PA17101,7177722189,
dhissner@pa.gov
.

January28

NEW
.
PennTAPSavingMoneyThroughEnergyManagementSystemswebinar
.
Noon.

January28

NEW
.
CapitalRegionWaterCommunityGreeningEvent
.CampHurtinYMCA,
Harrisburg.6:00.

February2

NEW
.GroundhogDay![FormerdateofGovernorsBudgetAddress.]

February2
DEPEnvironmentalJusticeAdvisoryBoard
meeting.DelawareRoom,16th
Floor,RachelCarsonBuilding.8:30.
DEPContact:CarlJones,OfficeofEnvironmentalJustice,
2EastMainStreet,Norristown,PA19401,4842505818,
caejone@pa.gov
.

February2

NEW
.
CapitalRegionWaterCommunityGreeningEvent
.LincolnSchool,
Harrisburg.6:00.

February3

EnvironmentalQualityBoard
meeting.Room105RachelCarsonBuilding.9:00.
DEPContact:LauraEdinger,EnvironmentalQualityBoard,400MarketStreet,Harrisburg,PA
17101,7177723277,
edinger@pa.gov
.
FinalChapter78&78ADrillingRegulations

ClickHere
foravailablehandouts.

February3

CANCELED(ErrorInDEPsDecemberNotice)
.
DEPAggregateAdvisoryBoard
meeting.2ndFloorTrainingRoom,RachelCarsonBuilding.10:00.
DEPContact:Daniel
Snowden,BureauofMiningPrograms,400MarketStreet,Harrisburg,PA17101,7177875103,
dsnowden@pa.gov
.

February4
DEP
CitizensAdvisoryCouncil
meeting.Room105RachelCarsonBuilding
10:00.
DEPContact:KatieHetheringtonCunfer,CitizensAdvisoryCouncil,P.O.Box8459,
Harrisburg,PA171058459,7177052693,
khethering@pa.gov
.

February4

NEW
.
SusquehannaRiverBasinCommission
holdsahearingonwaterwithdrawal
requests.EastHanoverTownshipMunicipalBuilding,8848JonestownRd.,Grantville,Dauphin

County.7:00p.m.ContactJasonOyler,SRBCGeneralCounsel,7172380423,Ext.1312,fax
7172382436.
(
formalnoticeandagenda
)

February9
Gov.WolfsSecondBudgetAddress.

February10

DEPWaterResourcesAdvisoryCommittee
meeting.Room105RachelCarson
Building.9:30.DEPContact:SeanGimbel,OfficeofWaterManagement,400MarketStreet,
Harrisburg,PA17101,7177834693,
sgimbel@pa.gov
.

February10
DEPStateBoardforCertificationofWaterandWastewaterSystemOperators
meeting.10thFloorConferenceRoom,RachelCarsonBuilding.10:00.DEPContact:Cheri
Sansoni,BureauofSafeDrinkingWater,OperatorCertification,400MarketStreet,Harrisburg,
PA17101,7177725158,
csansoni@pa.gov
.

February11
DEPAirQualityTechnicalAdvisoryCommittee
meeting.Room105Rachel
CarsonBuilding.9:15.DEPContact:NancyHerb,BureauofAirQuality,400MarketStreet,
Harrisburg,PA17101,7177839269,
nherb@pa.gov
.

Febinary11
DCNRCommunityConservationPartnershipGrantWebinar
.10:00a.m.

February18

NEW
.
DEPAggregateAdvisoryBoard
meeting.Room105,RachelCarson
Building.10:00.
DEPContact:DanielSnowden,BureauofMiningPrograms,400Market
Street,Harrisburg,PA17101,7177875103,
dsnowden@pa.gov
.

February22

NEW
.
SenateAppropriationsCommittee
BudgetHearings:10:00Governors
BudgetOffice1:00IndependentFiscalOfficeEconomicOutlook&RevenueOverview.
HearingRoom1,NorthOfficeBuilding.

February24

NEW
.
SenateAppropriationsCommittee
BudgetHearings:10:00Dept.of
Conservation&NaturalResources.HearingRoom1,NorthOfficeBuilding.

February24

NEW
.
HouseAppropriationsCommittee
BudgetHearing:1:00PublicUtility
Commission3:00PUCConsumerAdvocateandSmallBusinessAdvocate.Room140Main
Capitol.

February24

DEPCleanupStandardsScientificAdvisoryBoard
meeting.Room105Rachel
CarsonBuilding.10:00.DEPContact:MikeMaddigan,BureauofEnvironmentalCleanupand
Brownfields,400MarketStreet,Harrisburg,PA17101,7177723609,
mmaddigan@pa.gov
.

February25

NEW
.
DEPAgriculturalAdvisoryBoard
meeting.DEPSouthcentralRegional
Office,909ElmertonAve.,Harrisburg.9:00.DEPContact:TomJuengst,DivisionofPlanning
andConservation,7177725646,
tjuengst@pa.gov
.

February25

NEW
.
SenateAppropriationsCommittee
BudgetHearings:10:00Dept.of
EnvironmentalProtection.HearingRoom1,NorthOfficeBuilding.


February2627
RegistrationOpen.

2016KeystoneColdwaterConference
.StateCollege.

February29

NEW
.
HouseAppropriationsCommittee
BudgetHearing:2:00Dept.of
Conservation&NaturalResources.Room140MainCapitol.

March1

NEW
.
SenateAppropriationsCommittee
BudgetHearings:3:00Dept.of
Agriculture.HearingRoom1,NorthOfficeBuilding.

March3

PublicUtilityCommissionEnBancHearingOnAlternativeUtilityRatemaking
Methods
.HearingRoom1,KeystoneBuilding.9:00.

March8

NEW
.
HouseAppropriationsCommittee
BudgetHearing:9:30Dept.of
EnvironmentalProtection.Room140MainCapitol.

March8

DEPStorageTankAdvisoryCommittee
meeting.DEPSouthcentralRegionalOffice,
909ElmertonAve.,Harrisburg.10:00.
DEPContact:CharlesM.Swokel,Bureauof
EnvironmentalCleanupandBrownfields,400MarketStreet,Harrisburg,PA17101,
7177725806or(800)4282657((800)42TANKS)withintheCommonwealth,
cswokel@pa.gov
.

March8
DEPBoardofCoalMineSafety
meeting.DEPCambriaOffice,286IndustrialPark
Rd.,Ebensburg.10:00.
DEPContact:AllisonGaida,BureauofMineSafety,Departmentof
EnvironmentalProtection,NewStantonOffice,131BroadviewRoad,NewStanton,PA15672,
7244043147,
agaida@pa.gov
.

March9

NEW
.
HouseAppropriationsCommittee
BudgetHearing:1:30Dept.ofAgriculture.
Room140MainCapitol.

March10

NEW
.
HouseAppropriationsCommittee
BudgetHearing:9:30BudgetSecretary.
Room140MainCapitol.

March10

NEW
.
LocationToBeAnnounced.

SusquehannaRiverBasinCommission
business
meeting.ContactJasonOyler,SRBCGeneralCounsel,7172380423,Ext.1312,fax
7172382436.
(
formalnotice
)

March10

BowmansHillWildflowerPreserve

LandEthicsSymposium
.DelawareValley
University,Doylestown.

March12

RegistrationOpen.

2016SchuylkillRiverWatershedCongress
.Montgomery
CountyCommunityCollegePottstownCampus.

March1316

RegistrationOpen.

PARecreation&ParkSocietyAnnualConference
.Seven
Springs,SomersetCounty.

March1416

PAAssociationofEnvironmentalEducators

AnnualConference
.TheInnat
PoconoManor,PoconoManor,MonroeCounty.

March16

StateBoardforCertificationofSewageEnforcementOfficers
meeting.Conference
Room11B,RachelCarsonBuilding.10:00.
DEPContact:KristenSzwajkowski,Bureauof
PointNonPointSourceManagement,400MarketStreet,Harrisburg,PA17101,7177722186,
kszwajkows@pa.gov
.

March16
NEW
.
ProjectWETEducatorWorkshop.PoconoManor
.

March22

DEPSewageAdvisoryCommittee
meeting.Room105RachelCarsonBuilding.
10:30.
DEPContact:JohnDiehl,BureauofPointandNonPointSourceManagement,400
MarketStreet,Harrisburg,PA17101,7177832941,
jdiehl@pa.gov
.

March22

DEPLaboratoryAccreditationAdvisoryCommittee
meeting.Room206,DEP
BureauofLaboratoriesBuilding,2575InterstateDr.,Harrisburg.9:00.
DEPContact:Aaren
Alger,BureauofLaboratories,2575InterstateDrive,Harrisburg,PA17110,7173467200,
aaalger@pa.gov
.

March30
NEW
.
ProjectWETEducatorWorkshop
.BrandywineRedClayAlliance,West
Chester.

March31April1
GreenBuildingAlliance
GreenSchoolsConference&Expo
.Pittsburgh.

April7

DEPRadiationProtectionAdvisoryCommittee
meeting.14thFloorConference
Room,RachelCarsonBuilding.9:00.
DEPContact:JosephMelnic,BureauofRadiation
Protection,400MarketStreet,Harrisburg,PA17101,7177839730,
jmelnic@pa.gov
.

April13

DEPTechnicalAdvisoryCommitteeOnDieselPoweredEquipment
meeting.DEP
NewStantonOffice,131BroadviewRd.,NewStanton.10:00.Contact:AllisonGaida,
agaida@pa.gov
.

April14
DEPAirQualityTechnicalAdvisoryCommittee
meeting.Room105RachelCarson
Building.9:15.Contact:NancyHerb,
nherb@pa.gov
.

April1415

WestBranchSusquehannaRestorationSymposium
.ToftreesResortand
ConferenceCenter,StateCollege.

April19

DEPMineFamiliesFirstResponse&CommunicationsAdvisoryCouncil
meeting.
DEPNewStantonOffice,131BroadviewRd.,NewStanton.10:00.
DEPContact:Allison
Gaida,BureauofMineSafety,DepartmentofEnvironmentalProtection,NewStantonOffice,
131BroadviewRoad,NewStanton,PA15672,7244043147,
agaida@pa.gov
.

May4
PAGroundwaterSymposium
.RamadaInnConferenceCenter,StateCollege.

May1113

PAAssociationofEnvironmentalProfessionals
AnnualConference.StateCollege.

May1315

PAOutdoorWritersAssociation

SpringConference
.Sayre,BradfordCounty.
Conferencedetailsarecomingtogether.ContactNickSisleybyemailto:
nicksisley@hotmail.com
withanyquestions.

June35

PAEnvironmentalCouncil

EnvironmentRide
.PhiladelphiatoBethlehembackto
Philadelphia.

September22
DEPRecyclingFundAdvisoryCommittee
meeting.Room105RachelCarson
Building.10:00.DEPContact:KeithAshley,BureauofWasteManagement,400MarketStreet,
Harrisburg,PA17101,7177872553,
riashley@pa.gov
.

October7

DEPLowLevelRadioactiveWasteAdvisoryCommittee
meeting.Room105
RachelCarsonBuilding.10:00.DEPContact:RichJanati,BureauofRadiationProtection,400
MarketStreet,Harrisburg,PA17101,7177872147,
rjanati@pa.gov
.

VisitDEPs
PublicParticipationCenter
forpublicparticipationopportunities.
ClickHere
tosign
upforDEPNewsabiweeklynewsletterfromtheDepartment.

SignUpForDEPseNotice:
DidyouknowDEPcansendyouemailnoticesofpermit
applicationssubmittedinyourcommunity?Noticeofnewtechnicalguidancedocumentsand
regulations?AllthroughitseNoticesystem.
ClickHere
tosignup.

DEPRegulationsInProcess
ProposedRegulationsOpenForComment
DEPwebpage
SubmitCommentsonProposalsThroughDEPsnew
EnvironmentalCommentSystem
ProposedRegulationsWithClosedCommentPeriods
DEPwebpage
RecentlyFinalizedRegulations
DEPwebpage
DEPRegulatoryUpdate
DEPwebpage

DEPTechnicalGuidanceInProcess
DraftTechnicalGuidanceDocuments
DEPwebpage
TechnicalGuidanceCommentDeadlines
DEPwebpage
SubmitCommentsonProposalsThroughDEPsnew
EnvironmentalCommentSystem
RecentlyClosedCommentPeriodsForTechnicalGuidance
DEPwebpage
TechnicalGuidanceRecentlyFinalizedDEPwebpage
CopiesofFinalTechnicalGuidance
DEPwebpage

OtherDEPProposalsForPublicReview
OtherProposalsOpenForPublicComment
DEPwebpage
SubmitCommentsonProposalsThroughDEPsnew
EnvironmentalCommentSystem
RecentlyClosedCommentPeriodsForOtherProposals
DEPwebpage
OtherProposalsRecentlyFinalized
DEPwebpage

DEPFacebookPage

DEPTwitterFeed

DEPYouTubeChannel

ClickHere
forlinkstoDEPsAdvisoryCommitteewebpages.

DEPCalendarofEvents

DCNRCalendarofEvents

Note:
TheEnvironmentalEducationWorkshopCalendarisnolongeravailablefromthePA
CenterforEnvironmentalEducationbecausefundingfortheCenterwaseliminatedintheFY
201112statebudget.ThePCEEwebsitewasalsoshutdown,butsomecontentwasmovedto
the
PAAssociationofEnvironmentalEducators'
website.

SenateCommitteeSchedule

HouseCommitteeSchedule

Youcanwatchthe
SenateFloorSession
and
HouseFloorSession
liveonline.

AddGreenWorksInPAToYourGoogle+Circle

Grants&Awards

Thissectiongivesyouaheadsuponupcomingdeadlinesforawardsandgrantsandother
recognitionprograms.
NEW
meansnewfromlastweek.

January29

2016YouthWildlifeArtContest
January29

EPASaferChoicePartnerOfTheYearAwards
January29

Fish&BoatCommissionStateWildlifeGrants
January30
DEPAlternativeFuelsVehicleRebates
(OrUntilFundingIsGone)
February1

BenFranklinShaleGasInnovationContest
February4

Delaware&LehighHeritageCorridorMiniGrants
February12

PALTAGovernmentConservationLeadershipAward
February12

PECWesternPAEnvironmentalAwards
February15

AcademyOfNaturalSciencesDelawareRiverResearchGrants
February15

StroudCriticalZoneScienceStudent,TeacherExperience
February19

NEW
.
PittsburghBusinessTimesEnergyLeadershipAwards
February22

UrbanLandInstituteUrbanOpenSpaceAward
February22

UrbanLandInstituteGlobalExcellenceForRealEstateProjectsAward
February29

SchuylkillActionNetworkStudentStreetArtContest
March1
SusquehannaUFreshwaterResearchInitiativeRFPs
March1
NEW
.
PAHouseofRepresentativesCollegeScholarship
March1
SouthwestClearTheAirStudentPosterChallenge
March4
GetOutdoorsPAPartnerMiniGrantProgramCloses
March18

NEW
.
PittsburghTreeVitalizeGrantsInAlleghenyCounty
March21

NEW
.
PAAmericanWaterStreamOfLearningScholarships
March30

NEW
.
DelawareHighlandsConservancyCollegeScholarships
March31

DEPHostMunicipalInspectorGrants
April1
NEW
.
NortheastPAAudubonEnvironmentalEdScholarship

April13

DCNRCommunityConservationPartnershipsGrantProgram
April30
AbeleCollegeScholarshipApplications
April30

NEW
.
NortheastPAAudubonCollegeScholarship
May31

$2KScholarshipsByNationalAssn.OfAbandonedMineLandPrograms
June30
SusquehannaGreenwaysPartnershipPhotoContest

Visitthe
DEPGrant,LoanandRebatePrograms
webpageformoreideasonhowtoget
financialassistanceforenvironmentalprojects.

VisittheDCNR
ApplyforGrants
webpageforalistingoffinancialassistanceavailablefrom
DCNR.

AddGreenWorksInPAToYourGoogle+Circle

EnvironmentalNewsClipsAllTopics

HereareNewsClipsfromaroundthestateonallenvironmentaltopics,includingGeneral
Environment,Budget,MarcellusShale,WatershedProtectionandmuchmore

Air
AlleghenyCountySeeks$9.3MInChangesToAirQualityOffices
CMUCreatesHomeAirPollutionMonitor
Awards&Recognition
RiverOfTheYearFlowsThroughWilkesBarre
HuffingtonPostListsChesterCountyAmongTop10InU.S.
PittsburghBusinessTimes2016EnergyLeadershipAwards
Budget
Drillers,LawmakersRenewFrayOverSeveranceTax
Rep.ChristianaProposesShiftToSeveranceTax
HouseOKsFiscalCodeBillWithControversialEnergyProvisions
HouseGOPPassesFiscalCodeBillSchoolFunding,EnvironmentalIssues
RepublicansDisagreeOverWhetherTheBudgetIsDone
PLS:RepublicansStillSearchForBudgetSolutions
PartisanBickeringOnBudgetContinuesInHarrisburg
AP:PressureOff,PAsBudgetFightCouldBeOnIce
AP:WolfStillHopesForBudgetDealAsNextBudgetNears
StickingPointOnBudget:FindingTheMoney
$41MInEarmarksUnveiledInStateBudgetsFiscalCode
NonUnionizedStateWorkersWaitForWordOnPayRaise
Climate
TransmissionLinesWithCleanPowerPlan,OftenContested
ClimateConcernsIgniteSearchForNextGenEnergy
DrinkingWater
DeerParkMayGetConditionalPermitToExtractPoconosWater
WestmorelandAuthorityWaterRatesToJump25Percent

Education
NedSmithCenterFeaturesExhibitOnConservationLeaderDingDarling
Energy
HouseholdsWithoutHeatHitHighestLevelSince2001
UnpaidUtilityBillsTotal$315MIn2014
16TipsForLoweringYourHeatingBill
TransmissionLinesWithCleanPowerPlan,OftenContested
SouthParkLab,CMUOn$4MPowerGridProject
PPLToutsPowerOutageReductions
WilliamsportDamEyedForHydroelectricGeneration
MuddyRunHydroPlantLicenseRenewedWithImprovements
2ndNaturalGasPowerPlantProposedInLackawanna
NaturalGasBreathesNewLifeIntoCoalFiredPowerPlant
LaBellePlansFightAgainstMoreCoalAshDumping
ObamaHaltsNewCoalLeasesOnFederalLands
ClimateConcernsIgniteSearchForNextGenEnergy
Column:DivestFromFossilFuels?Sure,ButSlowly
ConsolToReduceOperationsAtBaileyMineInGreene
ConsolIdling1Of5LongwallMiningMachinesAtBaileyMine
ArchCoalFilesForBankruptcyProtection
PittsburghBusinessTimes2016EnergyLeadershipAwards
EnvironmentalHistory
AnthraciteFoundationPreparesMinersMemorialInWB
Jan.16:ButlerMineTunnelFromTheInsideProgram
FarmActivities
ExhibitPushingOrganicFarmingDrawsAttentionAtFarmShow
OpEd:HowNaturalGasHasHelpedPAsFamilyFarmers
StateCertifiedOrganicFarmersLongPathToMarket
PennStateStudentBlendsWork,Wilderness
Rep.CutlerRaisesConcernOverAvianFluPreparedness
YorkCountyIncreasesFarmlandPreservationFunding
Flooding
PortCarbonToSetPublicMeetingOnFloodIssues
LandConservation
CumberlandCountyTriesToBalanceGrowth,RuralPreservation
YorkCountyIncreasesFarmlandPreservationFunding
MineReclamation
AlleghenyFront:CoalsSlideMakesItHarderToCleanUpItsDirtyPast
MiningCoal
U.S.HouseBlocksStreamProtectionRuleForCoal
MiningHistoryMonthToCelebrateHeritageOfLuzerne,Lackawanna
Oil&Gas
Drillers,LawmakersRenewFrayOverSeveranceTax
Rep.ChristianaProposesShiftToSeveranceTax
ProtestersShareAntiFrackingMessageAtFarmShow

OpEd:HowNaturalGasHasHelpedPAsFamilyFarmers
2ndNaturalGasPowerPlantProposedInLackawanna
NaturalGasBreathesNewLifeIntoCoalFiredPowerPlant
ForEurope,MarcellusEthaneIsInThePipeline
Editorial:KeystoneXLPipeline,Ideologyvs.Reality
SciencePanelFaultsEPAFrackingProbe
EnvirosAskSanders,WarrenForFERCInvestigation
Oil&GasDrillersFacingBankruptcyAsPricesCrash
DrillingRigCountFallsSharplyInPA
EnergySlumpBleedsIntoWesternPAHousingMarket
EnergyIndustrySpotlight:KimberlyPrice
WhyAreRangeResourcesExecutivesSellingTheirStocks?
CAUtilityMayHaveUnderstatedHealthThreatFromGasLeak
OilPricesSlide,NoBottomInSight
EnergyPriceForecastsAlwaysWrong,UntilTheyreRight
Recreation
HowToHelpGiveBackToPhiladelphiasOutdoors
LebanonPlansPlaygroundRevitalizationProject
4TobyhannaStateParkEmployeesChargedWithForgingDocuments
Recycling/Waste
OpEd:PAElectronicsRecyclingRulesNotEasilyMet
Editorial:LawMakingItHarderToRecycleElectronicsWaste
ScrantonHiresConsultantToImproveRecycling
WatershedProtection
RiverOfTheYearFlowsThroughWilkesBarre
LakeEriePlanProvidesVitalWaterSourceOutline
OpEd:WaterQualityPlaysKeyRoleInReturn,SurvivalOfBaldEagles
DelawareRiverkeeperJan.8RiverwatchVideoReport
ArmyCorpsOfEngineersSeeksCommentOnErieHarborDredging
U.S.HouseBlocksStreamProtectionRuleForCoal
LatestFromTheChesapeakeBayJournal
ClickHere
tosubscribetotheChesapeakeBayJournal
Wildlife
NedSmithCenterFeaturesExhibitOnConservationLeaderDingDarling
BaldEagleNestCam:WhereAreTheEggs?
OpEd:WaterQualityPlaysKeyRoleInReturn,SurvivalOfBaldEagles
HowToHelpGiveBackToPhiladelphiasOutdoors
ShootingSportsIndustryToGatherInPennsylvania
LakeErieMarineSanctuaryPlanSubmittedToNOAA
WhatsKillingOurSnakesBesidesUs?
PresqueIsleAudubonBirdCount
WestDeerCompanyStrivesToPoliceTheGeese
HelpSoughtForFirstEverPAMammalProject

ClickHereForThisWeek'sAlleghenyFrontRadioProgram


ThelatestenvironmentalNewsClipsandnewsisavailableatthe
PAEnvironmentDigestDaily
Blog
,
TwitterFeed
and
addustoyour
Google+Circle
.

Regulations,TechnicalGuidance&Permits

Nonewregulationswerepublishedthisweek.
PennsylvaniaBulletinJanuary16,2016

SignUpForDEPseNotice:
DidyouknowDEPcansendyouemailnoticesofpermit
applicationssubmittedinyourcommunity?Noticeofnewtechnicalguidancedocumentsand
regulations?AllthroughitseNoticesystem.
ClickHere
tosignup.

DEPRegulationsInProcess
ProposedRegulationsOpenForComment
DEPwebpage
SubmitCommentsonProposalsThroughDEPsnew
EnvironmentalCommentSystem
ProposedRegulationsWithClosedCommentPeriods
DEPwebpage
RecentlyFinalizedRegulations
DEPwebpage
DEPRegulatoryUpdate
DEPwebpage

TechnicalGuidance&Permits

TheDepartmentofEnvironmentalProtection
publishednotice
intheJanuary16PABulletinofa
proposedbanonawaterwithdrawalfromtheGreatLakesinWisconsinundertheGreat
LakesSt.LawrenceRiverBasinWaterResourcesCompactandtheGreatLakesSt.Lawrence
RiverBasinSustainableWaterResourcesAgreement.AFebruary18hearingisscheduledin
WisconsinandcommentswillbeaccepteduntilMarch14.DEPisprovidingthenoticeasa
courtesyandisnotcollectingcommentonthisproposal.

DEP
publishednotice
intheJanuary16PABulletinofthe2016meetingscheduleforthe
AgriculturalAdvisoryBoard
.

DEPpublishednoticeintheJanuary16PABulletinofchangestothelistofindividualsand
companiescertifiedtoperformradonrelatedservices(
PABulletin,page415
).

DEPTechnicalGuidanceInProcess
DraftTechnicalGuidanceDocuments
DEPwebpage
TechnicalGuidanceCommentDeadlines
DEPwebpage
SubmitCommentsonProposalsThroughDEPsnew
EnvironmentalCommentSystem
RecentlyClosedCommentPeriodsForTechnicalGuidance
DEPwebpage
TechnicalGuidanceRecentlyFinalizedDEPwebpage
CopiesofFinalTechnicalGuidance
DEPwebpage

OtherDEPProposalsForPublicReview
OtherProposalsOpenForPublicComment
DEPwebpage
SubmitCommentsonProposalsThroughDEPsnew
EnvironmentalCommentSystem

RecentlyClosedCommentPeriodsForOtherProposals
DEPwebpage
OtherProposalsRecentlyFinalized
DEPwebpage

VisitDEPs
PublicParticipationCenter
forpublicparticipationopportunities.
ClickHere
tosign
upforDEPNewsabiweeklynewsletterfromtheDepartment.

DEPFacebookPage

DEPTwitterFeed

DEPYouTubeChannel

ClickHere
forlinkstoDEPsAdvisoryCommitteewebpages.

DEPCalendarofEvents

DCNRCalendarofEvents

AddGreenWorksInPAToYourGoogle+Circle

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