PA Environment Digest

An Update On Environmental Issues In PA

Edited By: David E. Hess, Crisci Associates
Winner 2009 PAEE Business Partner Of The Year Award Harrisburg, Pa November 28, 2011

Analysis: Should Taxpayers Spend $75 M A Year To Subsidize Zack & Mira Make A Porno? There is no doubt the public and therefore politicians are in a "no tax increase,""cut the size of government" mood these days. They want every dollar spent to go to a valid public purpose and to create some lasting public value. So, many taxpayers are surprised when they learn $75 million a year of their tax money has gone to support the production of movies like Zack and Mira Make a Porno ($5.7 million in 2008), has subsidized Danzel Washington in Unstoppable ($20.8 million) and supports TV productions like the QVC home shopping network ($3.7 million). Since the PA Film Production Tax Credit Program was adopted in 2007 at the urging of Gov. Rendell, some $242.5 million in taxpayer dollars have gone to subsidize productions like Russell Crowe in The Next Three Days ($7.3 million), Sigourney Weaver and Twilight's Laylor Lautner in Abduction ($8.9 million) and the Restaurant Impossible TV show on the Food Network ($1.3 million). The most recent report by the Department of Community and Economic Development for FY 2010-11 said the $242.5 million in tax credits issued so far has "injected over $1 billion directly into Pennsylvania's economy, generated an estimated $1.8 billion in total economic activity, and supported nearly 14,500 jobs." To qualify for the tax credit, at least 60 percent of the total production budget must be spent in Pennsylvania, therefore movies like Batman: The Dark Knight, which filmed in Pittsburgh this summer, do not qualify. Even though a 2009 Legislative Budget and Finance Committee report found "there is a net fiscal loss" when comparing the taxes generated by productions and the cost of the tax credits in the first years of the program, Gov. Rendell was an avid supporter of the program. The report also noted film and television production is going on in Pennsylvania without the tax credit program, but concedes some of that production would be at risk without the credit program. The main economic beneficiaries of the productions, the report said, were to transportation, lodging, car and truck rentals, gas stations, food and beverage establishments, construction and other personal services.

The economic benefits lasted as long as the film or television show was in local production. Other state tax credit programs have been enacted to support Educational Improvement, Homeowners' Emergency Mortgage Assistance, Economic Development Districts, Neighborhood Assistance, Research and Development and Coal Waste Removal, most with some sort of lasting value to show for their public investment. This is especially true of the Resource Enhancement and Protection (REAP) Tax Credit Program which was increased to $10 million by Gov. Corbett and the General Assembly in July to help farmers install permanent best management practices. Even fiscally conservative Gov. Corbett, like most legislators, is a fan of the film tax credit. In a recent news article he was quoted as saying, "There was never a doubt in my mind that we need to have the film tax credit. And I would like to see, at some point in time, that we be able to grow the film tax credit. A lot of that is going to depend on the economy. But rest assured that we will work to do our best to keep this industry going." The question is, in these tight budget times, can state government afford to be star-struck? Should we continue to spend $75 million a year of taxpayer money on Zack and Miri and the QVC home shopping channel, or should we provide more support to programs (PA Environment Digest is showing its bias here) like REAP and Growing Greener which have real, lasting environmental and economic value for the public? So far the answer has been to support One for the Money ($7.7 million), Love and Other Drugs ($6.4 million) and Kitchen Impossible on the DIY Network ($686,765). If legislators and the Governor can come up with a scheme to give $75 million a year to give temporary jobs to Russell Crowe and Sigourney Weaver, surely they can also come up with a Marcellus Shale drilling impact fee that makes sense? If not, then taxpayers should at least score some free tickets out of the deal! Here are just a few of the film and television productions benefiting from Pennsylvania's Film Production Tax Credit in FY 2010-11-Movies -- Unstoppable: about a runaway freight train starring Danzel Washington and Chris Pine (Star Trek) - $20.8 million tax credit -- I Am Number 4: a sci-fi thriller about an alien trying to save his species from other evil aliens - $8.1 million tax credit -- One For The Money: An unemployed lingerie buyer convinces her bail bondsman cousin to give her a shot as a bounty hunter - $7.7 million tax credit -- The Next Three Days: thriller staring Russell Crowe and Elizabeth Banks - $7.3 million tax credit -- Abduction: starring Twilight's Laylor Lautner and Sigourney Weaver - $8.9 million tax credit -- Love and Other Drugs: a romantic comedy about a pharmaceutical salesman - $6.4 million tax credit -- Dark Fields (Limitless): starring Robert DeNiro - $4.8 million tax credit -- Still I Rise: An inspirational drama about education - $3.9 million tax credit -- The Perks of Being A Wallflower: About an introvert freshman taken under the wings of two

seniors who welcome him to the real world - $2.8 million tax credit. -- The North Star Movie: Produced by North Star Movie LLC but A Google search turned up no information on the film - $1.1 million tax credit -- The Genesis Project: Produced by Genesis Film Productions LLC but a Google search turned up no information on the film - $862,151 tax credit. -- The Sibling: a horror film - $329,000 tax credit --Backwards: A sports romance - $317,900 tax credit -- The Discoverers: a movie about a dysfunctional family who embark on a Lewis & Clark reenactment trek - $276,728 tax credit -- The Fields: A thriller staring Cloris Leachman - $145,278 tax credit -- Future Weather: a character-driven drama about three generations of women navigating responsibility and self-fulfillment - $136,590 tax credit -- 99 Percent Sure: a romantic comedy - $10,412 tax credit Other movies include: The Lovely Bones, The Last Airbender, My Bloody Valentine, Zack and Miri Make A Poro Television Shows QVC Network Shows - Around the House, Beauty Beat, By Popular Demand, Cooking on Q, Denim & Co, Diamonique Jewelry, Easy Solutions, Electronics Today Kitchen Ideas, PM Style, Problems Solved, Q Check, QVC Morning Show, Savings on Style, Susan Graver Style: $3,760,933 in tax credits Outlaw: Open 4 Business Productions - $1.6 million tax credit Restaurant Impossible, Food Network: $1,356,6113 tax credit Lindsey's Way, The Road Less Traveled: $703,625 tax credit Kitchen Impossible, DIY Network - $686,765 tax credit The Drill Team Series: A& E Network - $685,481 tax credit Dinner Impossible, Food Network: $636,238 tax credit The Best Sports Legends: Steve Rotfield Productions, Inc. - $267,387 tax credit Whaddyathink: Steve Rotfield Productions, Inc. - $300,190 tax credit Noodle and Doodle, Sprout Network: $479,403 tax credit Staten Island Cakes: $426,632 tax credit Locke & Key: produced by Steven Spielberg for Fox Television - $1,813,045 tax credit Twisted Justice, Justice Project LLC - No information turned up in Google search - $247,378 tax credit. Seeking Solutions with Suzanne: Exploring The Arts: $219,604 tax credit Philadelphia: The Great Experiment - $196,812 tax credit Weekends with Luis, HGTV Network: $175,440 tax credit Extreme Makeover Home Edition: $160,412 tax credit Them Idiots: starring Jeff Foxworthy, Larry the Cable Guy and Bill Engvall - $66,548 tax credit UPMC Community Benefits Video: $63,386 Source: Film Tax Credit Report FY 2010-11, FY 2009-10, FY 2008-09 Governors Report: $11.4 Billion In Drinking Water System Work Needed In PA

Every three years, in accordance with the 1996 Amendments to the federal Safe Drinking Water Act, the Department of Environmental Protection is required to produce a "Capability Enhancement Program Report to the Governor." The report outlines the challenges DEP faces as it assists public drinking water systems in enhancing their technical, managerial and financial capability to ensure the long-term sustainability of the states drinking water infrastructure as part of the Capability Enhancement Program. CEP involves a hands-on, cooperative effort from a small state staff that draws on the many TMF resources available throughout the state. Critical findings of the gap study include: -- $11.4 billion in construction must be done over the coming 20 years in Pennsylvania to repair or enhance the states drinking water infrastructure; -- The total governmental funding expected to be available for award (to satisfy both drinking water and wastewater needs) is $1.1 billion; -- Pennsylvanias drinking water capital assets are seriously deteriorated and slowly getting worse; -- There is a huge gap ($8.1 billion at current user charge rates) between how much money systems will need statewide over the next 20 years and how much they can expect to have using existing local, state and federal financial resources; and -- If user rates were to increase, where needed, to 1.5 percent of median household income, the 20-year gap is reduced to $3.7 billion. Other issues of concern identified in the report are: -- Only a small percentage of drinking water systems apply Asset Management principles; -- System revenues are sometimes used by local authorities for non-drinking water purposes; -- Some systems do not have certified operators, or when they do have operators they are improperly certified; and -- Some systems have inadequate operation and maintenance or security and emergency response plans. Some of CEPs achievements are: -- Improved TMF capability for approximately 200 systems through specific, on-site assistance; -- Individual assistance in completing TMF assessments to pinpoint system weaknesses and strengths in the areas of TMF capabilities; and -- Coordination with state and federal agencies to secure grant and low-interest loan funding for public water system construction projects. A copy of the report is available online. For more information, contact Brian Schlauderaff, Chief of Operational Services, by sending email to: bschlauder@pa.gov or call 717-772-5620. Dept. Of Revenue Overestimated Marcellus Shale Tax Revenue By $56.5 Million The Tribune Review Tuesday reported the Department of Revenue overestimated the collection of state taxes from Marcellus Shale operations by $56.5 million. The agency had reported property owners paid $102.7 million in state taxes on lease and royalty income when the actual figure was $46.2 million for 2010.

Since 2006, the state has collected an estimated $1.56 billion in taxes associated with Marcellus Shale drilling operations. NewsClip: State Overestimates Tax Collections From Shale Gas Income Did You Know You Can Search 7 Years Of Digests On Any Topic? Did you know you can search 7 years of back issues of the PA Environment Digest on dozens of topics, by county and on any key word you choose. Just click on the search page. Also take advantage of these related services from Crisci Associates-Twitter Instant Updates: On Twitter, sign up to receive instant updates from : PAEnviroDigest. PA Environment Daily: provides daily environmental NewsClips and significant stories and announcements on environmental topics in Pennsylvania of immediate value. Sign up and receive as they are posted updates through your favorite RSS reader. You can also sign up for a once daily email alerting you to new items posted on this blog. PA Environment Digest Video Blog: showcases original and published videos from environmental groups and agencies around the state. Sign up to receive as they are posted updates through your favorite RSS read. You can also sign up for a once daily email alerting you to new items posted on this blog. PA Capitol Digest Blog to get updates every day on Pennsylvania State Government, including NewsClips, coverage of key press conferences and more. Sign up and receive as they are posted updates through your favorite RSS reader. You can also sign up for a once daily email alerting you to new items posted on this blog. Senate/House Agenda/Session Schedule/Bills Introduced Here are the Senate and House Calendars and Committee meetings showing bills of interest as well as a list of new environmental bills introduced-Session Schedule Here is the Senate and House schedule Senate December 5, 6, 7, 12, 13, 14 2012 ----------------------------January 3, 17, 18, 23, 24, 25 February 6, 7, 8 Governor's Budget Address: February 7 Budget Hearings: Feb. 13, 14, 15, 16, 21, 22, 23, 27, 28, 29 and March 1 March 5, 6, 7, 12, 13, 14, 26, 27, 28

April 2, 3, 30 May 1, 2, 7, 8, 9, 21, 22, 23 June 4, 5, 6, 11, 12, 13, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29 House December 5, 6, 7, 12, 13, 14, 15, 19, 20 2012 ----------------------------January 3 (non-voting), 17, 18, 23, 24, 25 February 6, 7, 8, 13, 14, 15 Budget Hearings: Feb. 21, 22, 23, 24, 27, 28, 29, March 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 March 12, 13, 14, 26, 27, 28 April 2, 3, 4, 30 May 1, 2, 7, 8, 9, 21, 22, 23 June 4, 5, 6, 11, 12, 13, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29 Bill Calendars House (December 5): House Bill 3 (Geist-R-Blair) authorizing public-private transportation partnerships; House Bill 1950 (Ellis-R-Butler) amending the Oil and Gas Act to include additional environmental protection measures for Marcellus Shale drilling, a county-optional drilling impact fee and additional transfers from the Oil and Gas Fund; Senate Bill 303 (MJ White-R-Venango) providing for the disposition of fines under the Hazardous Sites Cleanup Act; Senate Bill 304 (MJ White-R-Venango) requiring the posting of the state air quality implementation plan on the Internet; House Resolution 70 (Harhart-R-Lehigh) requesting the Department of Transportation to study the potential use of quarry and other mining waste in highway and civil engineering projects. <> Click Here for full House Bill Calendar. Senate (December 5): ; Senate Bill 433 (Leach-D-Montgomery) providing for the incorporation of benefit corporations; Senate Bill 152 (D.White-R-Indiana) amending the PennVEST Act to clarify the eligibility of stormwater and other nonpoint source projects for funding; Senate Bill 477 (Browne-R-Lehigh) compelling the removal of outdoor advertising under the Municipalities Planning Code; Senate Bill 532 (Rafferty-R-Montgomery) further providing for penalties and waste permit renewals under the Solid Waste Management Act; Senate Bill 1150 (Smucker-RLancaster) establishing the Historic Rehabilitation Investment Incentive tax credit;; House Bill 608 (Brooks-R-Crawford) providing for the use of bioenergy crops in mine reclamation. <> Click Here for full Senate Bill Calendar. Committees House: <> Click Here for full House Committee Schedule. Senate: <> Click Here for full Senate Committee Schedule. Bills Introduced

The following bill of interest was introduced this week-Reuse Of Mine Water: Senate Bill 1346 (Kasunic-D-Somerset) providing for the use of mine drainage water in Marcellus Shale fracking operations and providing liability protection.

News From Around The State

DCNR/POWR: Vote Now For Pennsylvania's 2012 River Of The Year The public is invited to vote online for the 2012 Pennsylvania River of the Year, choosing among the Kiskiminetas River, Middle Monongahela River, Upper Juniata River and Stonycreek River. This is the second year that our selection process is through a public vote, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Richard J. Allan said. We think the spirit of competition rallies community support for our waterways and helps to highlight the many great rivers we are fortunate to have in Pennsylvania. Visit the River of the Year webpage to read the nomination statement for each river and to vote. Voting ends December 31. DCNR and the Pennsylvania Organization for Watersheds and Rivers, or POWR, administer the River of the Year program. Nominations were made by local groups. Pennsylvanias River of the Year is an honor designed to elevate public awareness of specific rivers and recognize important conservation needs and achievements. River of the Year designations have been presented annually since 1983. We are excited to once again partner with DCNR on this exciting effort, POWR Board Chair Mel Zimmerman said. The River of the Year program is one way that we can highlight the opportunities and challenges facing the states waterways. This also is part of the larger annual river sojourn program that gets thousands of Pennsylvanians out on the water. After a waterway is chosen, local groups implement a year-round slate of activities and events to celebrate the river, including a special extended paddling trip known as a sojourn. These water-based journeys for canoeists, kayakers and others raise awareness of the environmental, recreational, tourism and heritage values of rivers. The Pennsylvania Sojourn Program, jointly run by DCNR and POWR, is a unique series of a dozen such trips on the states rivers. POWR and DCNR also work with the local organization to create a free commemorative poster celebrating the River of the Year. Pennsylvanias 2011 River of the Year is the Delaware River, the longest un-dammed river east of the Mississippi that serves the water needs of more than 15 million people from four different states. Visit DCNR's Rivers Program webpage to learn more about Pennsylvania's major rivers and river programs. Watershed Association Capacity Building Assistance Now Available For Western PA

The Foundation for Pennsylvania Watersheds, the Bayer Center for Nonprofit Management and the Western PA Conservancy are again teaming up to provide watershed associations with capacity building services in Western Pennsylvania. Applications for the services are due December 21. This year the sponsors are looking for community watershed organizations who want to improve their internal governance and leadership, community partnerships, financial and human resources, and other organizational issues. For this third year of the program, the sponsors are considering offering a spectrum of services tailored to the needs of each organization, rather than a year-long, full-service consultation. This means that if you think your group is in need of any organizational development, you should fill out and return the application. More detailed information will be provided after all applications are reviewed. The groups expect to begin consultation work in April 2012, contingent upon funding. A copy of the application and more information is available online. For more information, contact Gwen Johnson, Project Coordinator, FPW, by calling 814-669-4244 or send email to: GwenJohnson@PennsylvaniaWatersheds.org. Whitaker Center Expedition Chesapeake Project Goes Live On The Web Expedition Chesapeake is making waves on the web. Whitaker Center for Science and the Arts in Harrisburg Monday unveiled a new website for the Center's $10 million initiative to entertain, educate and engage the 17 million residents of the Chesapeake Bay watershed. The website adds to the project's Facebook, Twitter and You Tube presence and includes a host of features designed to bring the Chesapeake Bay watershed and the project to life. A promo video which highlights Emmy winner Jeff Corwin is featured, as well as information about the watershed and the bay itself and updates on the key elements of the project. Expedition Chesapeake includes four related components headlined by a 42-minute giant screen film. The educational components include a television documentary, a hands-on, traveling science exhibit, and a set of online learning experiences designed to engage students from Cooperstown, New York to Virginia Beach, Virginia. "This website will serve as a crossroads for every element of Expedition Chesapeake and it will be the primary way we deliver educational materials and interact with students," said Dr. Michael L. Hanes, President and CEO of Whitaker Center. Visitors to the site can click on the "Get Involved" button to learn how to become an active participant in the initiative as a donor or an Expedition Chesapeake ambassador by following updates on Chesapeake's various social media channels. "The issues affecting the vitality of the Chesapeake Bay can not be corrected overnight or with just a handful of informed residents. Through the Expedition Chesapeake website we can connect with the 17 million stakeholders," Hanes said. In recent weeks, Whitaker Center announced the addition of Jeff Corwin to the project and will partner with producer David Lickley to make the film. Corwin is perhaps the world's best known celebrity scientist and Animal Planet star. He recently launched the ABC television series Ocean Mysteries.

Lickley has won virtually every award in the giant screen film industry in his 25-year career as producer, director and writer. He has directed some of the most successful giant screen nature films of all time, including "Born to Be Wild," "Bears," and "Jane Goodall's Wild Chimpanzees." Lickley is Director of Large Format Films for Science North, one of Canada's leading science education centers. The television documentary will be made in partnership with Penn State Public Broadcasting. It will focus on the making of the giant screen film, the first of its kind for the watershed. PSPB can include the Emmy-award winning Courtside with Coquese and videos for the Geospatial Revolution project and collaborations with NASA in their gallery of work. For more information, visit the new Expedition Chesapeake website. Penn State Extension Offers New Online Tool To Help Interpret Water Test Results Penn State Extension is now offering a new online tool to help Pennsylvanians interpret water test results called DWIT-- Drinking Water Interpretation Tool. You recently had your private water supply tested, hoping to gain valuable information about the quality and condition of your water. Upon receiving the water analysis report, you find yourself looking at confusing columns of decimal numbers, abbreviations, and contaminants that are difficult to pronounce. What does this all mean? This scenario happens all too often to those with private water supplies, and if that person is unsure as to what the water analysis report means, it will be difficult to make any changes to improve or protect their water supply. While reports will differ depending on the lab doing the analysis, most will contain some of the same basic features: a list of contaminants tested, their concentrations, and, in some cases, highlight any problem contaminants. An important feature of the report is the units used to measure the contaminant level in your water. Milligrams per liter (mg/l) of water are used for substances like metals and nitrates. A milligram per liter is also equal to one part per million (ppm) - that is one part contaminant to one million parts water. About 0.03 of a teaspoon of sugar dissolved in a bathtub of water is an approximation of one ppm. For extremely toxic substances like pesticides, the units used are even smaller. In these cases, parts per billion (ppb) are used. Another unit found on some test reports is that used to measure radon - picocuries per liter. Some values like pH, hardness, conductance, and turbidity are reported in units specific to that test. Results of the water analysis report are compared to Department of Environmental Protections drinking water standards. Each contaminant that was tested for, have acceptable limits or standards in drinking water. These standards are categorized into Health-based (primary) standards, and Aesthetic (secondary) standards. Health Based Standards include those contaminants that have known health effects. Examples include total coliform bacteria, E.coli bacteria, barium, lead and mercury.

Aesthetic standards include contaminants that affect the taste, odor or color of the water. While these have no adverse health effects, they may make water unpalatable, reduce the effectiveness of soaps and detergents, or cause staining. Aesthetic contaminants may include iron bacteria, hydrogen sulfide, and hardness. Depending on the lab, the analysis report may indicate which of the standards were not met by your water supply and give suggestions or resources for remediation of the problem. Whether your water is causing illness, stains on plumbing, scaly deposits, or has a bad taste, a water analysis report identifies the problem and enables you to make knowledgeable decisions about water treatment. Retain your copy of the report in a safe place as a record of the quality of your water supply. If potentially polluting activities occur in your area, you may need a record of past water quality to prove that your supply has been damaged. Penn State Extension also offers a tool on its website to help with water test result interpretation. The tool is called DWIT (Drinking Water Interpretation Tool) and can be accessed online. Simply type in the results that you received on a water analysis report to the online form, click submit, and recommendations will be given based on those results. The Penn State publication, "Water Tests: What do the Numbers Mean?" is also available on the Water Resources website to aid in reading and understanding your water analysis report. Some information taken from the Penn State Extension Fact Sheet F103-- How to Interpret a Water Analysis Report. (Written By: Susan M. Boser, Water Quality Educator, Penn State Extension/Beaver Co. Conservation District and reprinted from the Penn State Extension Watershed Winds online newsletter.)

Spotlight Tree Planting In Paradise

By Ryan Mahony Summer Intern With BioMost, Inc. I am a graduate of Hampton High School in Allison Park, Pa. Through my participation in scouts I gained a love for the environment which has remained with me since I was young. As an Environmental Science major at Slippery Rock University, completing an internship was a requirement for graduation which I needed to fulfill. I saw an opportunity posted along the hallway at school and inquired about it with one of my professors, Dr. Burkhart. He had me contact Tim Danehy, and there I was with an internship with BioMost, Inc. for the summer. As part of my internship I worked at a mine site planting wetlands that flow to a stream which runs through the site. Along with planting trees and shurbs, I and the other interns worked to create habitat for animals along the channels flowing to and from each wetland. It was hard work and the weather was not always ideal, but the sense of accomplishment I had after seeing the site when we were finished was well worth the effort.

While waiting for orders of plants to arrive, projects around the office such as constructing an iron oxide drying facility and cleaning out the garage for iron and manganese processing kept me busy. Another task I performed this summer was low-pH iron oxide recovery at De Sale 1 and McIntyre sites, both are passive treatment systems within the Slippery Rock Creek Watershed. I and the other interns quickly discovered why it was our job to reclaim iron. It was a very dirty process, but someone had to do it! This internship has provided me with valuable experiences and useful new information about watershed quality. I am fortunate to have had the opportunity to perform the work alongside people that also want to make a difference. I hope to have the opportunity to continue working with Stream Restoration, Inc. in the future, and to be able to keep learning from my experiences with them to further benefit their efforts in improving water quality in the watershed. Reprinted from The Catalyst newsletter from the Slippery Rock Creek Watershed Coalition.

Spotlight
Students Help Aultman Watershed Association For Restoring The Environment On November 4, fourteen student volunteers from Indiana University of Pennsylvania along with their professor and AWARE President, Dr. Brian Okey and Stream Restoration Inc.'s Shaun Busler and Ryan Mahony "pitched in" to plant the newly constructed wetland at the Reeds Run AMD Remediation Site in Indiana County, Pa. This was one of the few remaining efforts needed to complete a project that was made possible by a DEP Growing Greener Grant and the generous support of numerous partners to clean up the site which polluted a 3.5 mile stretch of Reeds Run. The site was previously the home of 72,647 tons of coal refuse which was the main cause of pollution. This coal refuse was removed from the site and transported to the Seward Plant near Johnstown to generate electricity. As part of the project, a three-quarter acre wetland was created, which during the dry summer/fall months is expected to be the primary source of water to Reeds Run. With a decrease of an estimated 9 tons of acidity and 5 tons of metals annually to Reeds Run, future monitoring will document the impact to stream water quality and aquatic habitat. Stay tuned for further information on this site! Congratulations to AWARE and their partners! Reprinted from The Catalyst newsletter from the Slippery Rock Creek Watershed Coalition. Friends Of Wissahickon Presentation On Water Quality Dec. 13 Friends of the Wissahickon is hosting a lecture on Trends in Water Quality of the Wissahickon Creek on December 13 at Valley Green Inn on Forbidden Drive in Wissahickon Valley Park.

Presented by Dennis Pennington of the Wissahickon Valley Watershed Association, this free lecture will begin at 6:30 p.m. Seats are limited and registration is encouraged. Dennis Pennington has more than 38 years of experience in hazardous waste and ground water investigations and remediation. His presentation will address the Wissahickon Valley Watershed Association water quality monitoring program. WVWA has 11 sampling stations along the Wissahickon Creek and Sandy Run, the largest tributary to the Wissahickon Creek. Mr. Pennington will discuss major trends of the potential pollutants as well as how WVWA intends to use the data to plan restoration and identify areas of environmental concern. Register for this event by sending email to: magnuson@fow.org or calling 215-247-0417 ext 109. Wildlands Conservancy Offers December Program Schedule The Wildlands Conservancy just published its schedule of programs for December. Fall Issue Of Delaware Estuary News Now Available The Fall Issue of the Delaware Estuary News online newsletter from the Partnership for the Delaware Estuary is now available online. Lab Error In Center For PA Study Negates Well Water Pollution Finding From Drilling The Tribune Review reported Thursday a Center for Rural Pennsylvania study of water well contamination from Marcellus Shale drilling had yet another problem. This time Penn State researchers said a lab error showing increases in bromide levels in seven water wells were wrong. When the report was originally released in October, the authors of the report had to correct charts showing data collected in the report. A notice about the study posted on the Center for Rural PA's website says, "According to the University, these updated results show that the occurrence of bromide in water wells after gas drilling or drilling and fracking is not as prevalent as first reported (in 7 wells), but did occur in a single case (1 well). In this case, the increase in bromide was accompanied by increases in chloride, hardness, and other indicators after drilling and fracking had occurred, as documented in the report. "At this time, all research findings are being reviewed. Upon completion of the review, the researchers will develop an errata sheet to reflect all corrected data and analyses. Based on the errata, the Center for Rural Pennsylvania will issue a revised report, which should be available in the coming weeks." Based on the original sampling results, the study recommended increasing the zone of presumptive liability and private water well testing from 1,000 to 3,000 feet from Marcellus Shale gas wells due to increased levels of bromide, sediment and metals found by the study. NewsClip: Lab Error Negates Findings In Well Water Dec. 6 Penn State Webinar/Teleconference On Municipal Experiences With Marcellus Shale

A presentation detailing how municipal governments are dealing with the Marcellus Shale natural-gas boom will be offered by Penn State Extension from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. on December 6. "Marcellus Shale Development: The Pa. Municipal Experience to Date and Possibilities for the Future" will provide a venue for officials to share their breadth of experiences and knowledge. The registration fee for this program is $25. Preregistration is required to participate. The registration deadline is December 3. To register or for more information, visit the webinar webpage or call toll-free 877-489-1398. "By hearing about the lessons learned and actions taken by local officials, participants will be able to draw upon the experience of others when facing issues and considering decisions," said program coordinator Neal Fogle, extension educator based in Snyder County specializing in economic and community development. "Utilizing video teleconferencing and panels of local officials representing Northcentral and Southwest Pennsylvania, this program will provide insight into how select municipalities have reacted to and are planning for items such as land use, roads, budget and finance, communication needs, community cohesion and the stresses of public office." Program panelists include Raymond J. Stolinas Jr., Bradford County planning director; Ron Reagan, chairman, Athens Township supervisors (Bradford County); Joseph Reighard, president, Lycoming County Supervisors Association; Jim Morrison, chief administrator, municipality of Murrysville (Westmoreland County); Thomas Stull Jr., 1st vice president, Westmoreland County Supervisors Association; and Rich Ward, manager/zoning officer, Robinson Township (Washington County). Jointly funded by Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences, Pennsylvania counties, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the program -which has been submitted to the American Planning Association for 2.5 AICP CM credits by the Pennsylvania Chapter of the American Planning Association -- will feature a question-andanswer session following the facilitated discussion. "Marcellus Shale development in Pennsylvania has resulted in local municipalities having to make decisions and take actions on issues such as infrastructure, municipal services, regulatory controls and community planning," Fogle said. "Municipalities throughout Pennsylvania have experienced various levels and stages of development as well as the community issues that result. "These experiences have provided municipal officials with a unique perspective on how to more effectively address municipal and community needs and concerns related to natural-gas issues." The program will be offered at the following locations via video teleconference (contact the locations for directions): -- Beaver County: Penn State Extension, 2020 Beaver Ave., Suite 200, Monaca, 724-774-3003; -- Bradford County: Northern Tier Regional Planning and Development Commission, 312 Main Street, Towanda 888-868-8800; -- Centre County: 217 Forest Resources Building, Penn State University Park campus, 814-223-9028; -- Clearfield County: Penn State DuBois, College Place, DEF 202 & 204, DuBois, 800-346-7627;

-- Lackawanna County: Penn State Worthington Scranton, Dawson 10, 120 Ridge View Drive, Dunmore, 570-963-2500; -- Lycoming County: Pennsylvania College of Technology, 1127 W. 4th St., Room 133, Williamsport, 570-327-4775; -- Potter County: Penn State Extension, 24 Maple View Lane, Suite 1, Coudersport, 814-274-8540; -- Somerset County: Penn State Extension, 6024 Glades Pike, Suite 101 , Somerset, 814-445-8911, Ext. 7; -- Susquehanna County: Penn State Extension, County Office Building, 81 Public Avenue, Montrose, 570-278-1158; -- Tioga County: Penn State Extension, Courthouse Annex, 118 Main Street, Wellsboro, 570-724-9120; -- Washington County: Penn State Extension, 100 West Beau Street, Suite 601, Washington, 724-228-6881; and -- Westmoreland County: Penn State Extension, Donohoe Center, 214 Donohoe Road, Suite E, Greensburg, 724-837-1402. For more information on Penn State Extension Marcellus Shale programs, visit Extension's Natural Gas website or the webinar webpage. Marcellus Shale Industry Offers Tips On Safe Deer Hunting Around Drilling Facilities The Marcellus Shale Coalition wants to remind its neighbors and sportsmen of some basic yet very important tips for hunting in areas where natural gas development may be underway. As sportsmen take to the woods, they should be aware that the development of natural gas in many regions across Pennsylvania may have resulted in changes to the landscape. Although the edge habitat and additional access to your hunting areas will likely improve hunting in coming years, there may be some temporary disruptions and precautions to take near active gas operations. Recognizing this, the MSCs Land Affairs Committee has developed the following tips for sportsmen and women when hunting or fishing near areas where Marcellus exploration or pipeline activities are underway. -- Always ask permission prior to hunting or fishing on private property. With the exception of public lands, all lands are privately owned and subject to trespass laws. Asking permission before entering private property is always the right thing to do, and the landowner may be able to provide you with information about ongoing and planned gas industry activities on their property, so that you are aware prior to going afield. Likewise, local Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and Game Commission regional offices may be able to alert you to gas industry operations on their lands. -- Always be alert when driving and park well off the traveled portion of the roadway. Vehicle safety is critically important to the gas industry. Operators work with DCNR and PGC to minimize traffic on key season opening days and holidays, but not all truck traffic ceases and many hunting and fishing seasons span several weeks. In many areas, large trucks will be sharing the roadway, so be sure to park well off the roadway. -- Drill sites typically have temporary housing, office trailers, control rooms and restrooms which are occupied structures with associated safety zones.

The Game Law establishes a 150-yard safety zone around occupied structures during firearms hunting seasons, and 50-yards in some cases for bow hunters. Remember that you cannot hunt for, shoot at, or disturb wildlife in safety zones without specific permission from the landowner(s). -- Do not hunt near, around or from atop production equipment including storage tanks. Restricted areas should be respected as a safety concern and should not be trespassed upon. -- Always identify your target and what is beyond it. In addition to construction and drilling activity on and near operational locations, foresters, surveyors, environmental and other industry or contract personnel may be in the field doing planning work for future operations. MSC member companies will try to minimize these activities on season opening days and Saturdays, but you may encounter such personnel during your hunts. They may not be wearing fluorescent orange, so as always, be absolutely sure of your target and what is beyond. -- Do not shoot at random. The game law prohibits random shooting during big game seasons. Random shooting near gas drilling sites, compressor stations, processing facilities and pipelines is dangerous and unlawful. -- If you see something that looks unusual or suspicious on or near a well site or other facilities, please let us know. &nbsp; Emergency phone numbers are posted at the entrance to all well sites, and many are patrolled by security guards who are present on site. -- If you become lost or injured in the woods, and can see or hear an occupied well site, we encourage you to seek a representatives attention, as we would be pleased to help. For your personal safety, please remember to always notify a representative of the well site before walking onto the pad, as it is an active industrial work site. A copy of these tips is available online. NewsClip: Deer Hunters Again Urged To Share Their Harvest With Hungry Hunters Advised To Check Status Of State Forest Roads Hunters heading into Pennsylvanias state forests for the opening of black bear and deer seasons may find some roads newly opened while others remain closed for a number of reasons, Bureau of Forestry Director Dan Devlin announced last week. Hunters should check in advance with our state forest districts about their travel plans and access to favorite hunting grounds, Devlin said. We encourage them to visit our new website listing state forest roads, trails and hunting areas that may be closed or altered due to gas drilling activities, road construction, timber harvesting and flooding. Meanwhile, an additional 442 miles of state forest roads in 18 of the 20 state forest districts will be open for the statewide four-day bear season, Nov. 19 and Nov. 21-23. Throughout the states other hunting seasons, running into January 2012, hunters will find more than 3,000 miles of state forest roadways open. Click Here for more information. NewsClip: Deer Hunters Again Urged To Share Their Harvest With Hungry

Southeast Household Hazardous Waste Drop-Off Program Wins Recognition The Regional Southeastern PA Hazardous Waste Drop-Off Program, consisting of Philadelphia, Bucks, Chester, Delaware and Montgomery Counties, has been named by the North American Hazardous Materials Management Association as the 2011 Longstanding Program Excellence award winner. Since 1997 the five counties, through an intergovernmental agreement, have been able to share the administrative burden that often accompanies managing Household Hazardous Waste collection programs. Through this process, the counties are able to achieve the best price (per pound, per material) for all waste streams. The partnership also allows any resident the opportunity to attend nearly 30 HHW collection events in the five county region, allowing for a disposal option almost every other weekend of the year. Over the years, the regional program has seen many successes and milestones. In 2010, the regional program collected approximately three million pounds of HHW and Electronics and served nearly 30,000 households. Since 2004, the program has nearly doubled the amount of material collected and households participating. The program, funded in part by the Department of Environmental Protection, has been recognized for its successes by the Pennsylvania Environmental Council, receiving the Governors Award for Environmental Excellence in 1999 and 2008. The program has also been recognized for outstanding achievement in special collections by receiving a Waste Watcher award in 2007 through the Professional Recyclers of Pennsylvania, the states recycling organization. NAHMMA is a professional organization established in November of 1993, dedicated to pollution prevention and reducing the hazardous constituents entering municipal waste streams from households, small businesses and other entities that may be exempt from local, regional or national regulations. For more information on the Regional Southeastern Pennsylvania Household Hazardous Waste Drop-Off Program please contact: Bucks County 215-345-3400; Chester County 610-273-3771 x228; Delaware County 610-892-9627; Montgomery County 610-278-3618; City of Philadelphia 215-686-5560. Southwestern PA Smart Growth Conference Set For Dec. 13 In Pittsburgh The 11th Annual Southwestern PA Smart Growth Conference will be held at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh on December 13 from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The theme of this year's conference is "Smart Growth is Smart Business." Businesses are on a fast uptake in integrating sustainability in their operations. It's paying off in savings, talent attraction, new markets, and more. However, the sustainabilityminded business also engages outside its operations to improve the larger regional systems in which it operatesthat is, systems that can make or break a sustainable economy conducive to prosperity. For example, how is business performance affected by our region's investments in infrastructure? Do existing growth and development patterns serve a sustainable business economy? What are tax and cost implications? How do housing choices and health of

communities and the environment impact your ability to hire qualified workers? What are the economic ramifications of growing numbers of vacant properties? Why is smart growth planning and management material to protecting and enhancing business investments? The Smart Growth Conference is an invitation for businesses to explore and influence the regional systems connected to these questions. Be part of determining your business's success by engaging in how Southwester Pennsylvania can grow smarter to become a more economically robust region. The Conference is presented by the Allegheny Conference on Community Development, Green Building Alliance, NAIOP Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh Technology Council, Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission, Sustainable Pittsburgh, and ULI Pittsburgh. For more information on the conference agenda and registration, visit the Smart Growth Conference webpage. Small Scale Demand-Side Projects In PA Provide Benefits To PJM The PJM Interconnection Monday received the first frequency regulation services from smallscale demand resources under new rules allowing smaller projects to participate in PJMs Regulation Market. The two western Pennsylvania projects use diverse technologies. To provide regulation service to PJM, demand resource provider Enbala Power Networks uses water pumps at a wastewater treatment facility in Washington County, Pa., adjusting its water pumps up or down to match PJMs regulation signal. The other project from Viridity Energy uses building load and a behind-the-meter battery in New Castle, Pa. The battery responds to the PJM signaleither charging or discharging as appropriate. Weve long seen the value of demand-side resources in our markets, so expanding the opportunities for demand response to participate in the regulation service market makes sense and offers a faster and potentially more accurate response, said Andrew L. Ott, PJM senior vice president Market Services. Our new minimum level for participation allows demand-side resources and other innovative technologies to cost-effectively enhance grid reliability. Regulation service corrects for short-term changes in electricity use that might affect the stability of the power system. It helps match generation and load and adjusts generation output to maintain the desired frequency. Previously, system operators have relied on flexible generating resources to vary output to balance system frequency. In October, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission approved rule changes that reduced the minimum required amount of resources to 100 kW, from the previous minimum of 500 kW. Sustainable Convention Center Brings Millions In Spending To Downtown Pittsburgh evolveEA Wednesday released the findings of its 22-month-long study to evaluate Pittsburgh's David L. Lawrence Convention Centers effectiveness which found 38 percent of the events at the Center came from green events bringing in $144 million in spending to Pittsburgh between 2006 to 2010.

In addition, the study found the Center has saved over $2 million in energy costs since 2005 compared to a conventional venue of the same size. This study marks the first time a prominent LEED Certified building has undergone a comprehensive evaluation for green operations. Christine Mondor, principal at evolveEA says "This study illustrates that the DLCC, one of the greenest convention centers in the world, is an excellent example of a building whose smart design leverages efficient operations. It is also a great story of what can be achieved by an operations team that looks for constant improvement. evolveEA and its team investigated the convention centers performance, not only as a physical building, but as a functioning organization. To do this, the team benchmarked the DLCC against other convention centers, and provided recommendations to improve operations and leverage marketing opportunities. The study highlighted that 38 percent of DLCC revenues from 2006 to 2010 came from green-seeking events. These same events brought approximately $144 million in direct spending to the Pittsburgh region. In addition to added business, the convention centers design and how it has been operated has allowed it to save over $2-million in energy costs since 2005, compared to a conventional venue of its size. Upon its completion in 2003, the David L. Lawrence Convention Center facility received LEED Gold Certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. It was the worlds largest green building at 1.4 million square feet, and was the first LEED certified convention center, hosting the G-20 Summit in 2009, and receiving international acclaim. Selected from a field of 25 national firms, evolveEA led a project team comprised of CJL Engineering, Carnegie Mellon Universitys Center for Building Performance and Diagnostics, and Civil and Environmental Consultants. By analyzing energy consumption, water use, airflow, purchasing, waste management, transportation, marketing, and occupant behavior and satisfaction, the team identified opportunities to make improvements that will continue to generate financial savings, marketing value, and business growth. Stephen Hockley, evolveEA project manager says This study represents a truly compelling business case for pursuing sustainability. It shows that no matter the business model, an organization can do well by doing good. A copy of the study is available online. PUC Sustainable Energy Board Meets December 7 The Pennsylvania Sustainable Energy Board, in conjunction with the Public Utility Commission, will hold its annual meeting at 10 a.m., on December 7, in Hearing Room 1 of the Commonwealth Keystone Building, Harrisburg. This meeting is being held to update Commonwealth agencies and other interested groups on activities of the regional sustainable energy funds, and the market status of sustainable energy technologies and projects. The meeting will also provide an opportunity for the regional funds to collaborate on larger projects that may be of interest to collective funds and provide updates from the Regional Sustainable Energy Funds. Some of the projects being discussed at the meeting will include the following:

-- PPL Electric Utilities Inc. Sustainable Energy Fund will highlight its Sustainable Energy Conference; -- West Penn Power Co.'s Sustainable Energy Fund will discuss the funding of energy audits at three Excela Health facilities in the Greensburg area, which will be used to improve energy efficiency at the facilities; -- The Metropolitan Edison Co. (Met-Ed) and Pennsylvania Electric Co. (Penelec) Sustainable Energy Fund will cover financing assistance to Opportunity House, in Reading, for their Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)- level building project; and -- The Reinvestment Fund (TRF) Sustainable Development Fund, which covers the PECO Electric Co. service territory, will talk about the rehabilitation of a boiler house building adjacent to the Ambler train station and downtown Ambler into 40,000 square feet of office space. Representatives from the Department of Environmental Protection, Office of Consumer Advocate, the Department of Community and Economic Development, and the Pennsylvania Environmental Council have been invited to attend. The PASEB was originally established by the Commission in 1999 to provide oversight, guidance and technical assistance to the regional sustainable energy boards that fund projects such as wind farms, solar power systems, smart thermostat programs and the construction of buildings using energy efficient technologies. On August 7, 2003, the Commission issued an order further defining the role of the PASEB. That order charged the PASEB with holding an annual meeting; enhancing communications among the four funds and state agencies; and establishing bylaws and a "best business practices" model. For more information visit the PA Sustainable Energy Board webpage.

Spotlight
Louisville Slugger Maker Welcomes Foresters Although the name says Louisville Slugger, the famous baseball bats roots are in Pennsylvania. Several DCNR employees recently popped in on a mill in Akeley, Warren County, where the ubiquitous Louisville Slugger is born. DCNR Deputy Secretary for Parks and Forestry Ellen Ferretti, State Forester Dan Devlin, Assistant State Forester Brad Elison, Cornplanter District Forester Cecile Stetler and Assistant District Forester Scott Rimpa joined staff from the mill on a cold fall day to learn how local forest products in Pennsylvania are sustaining an American pastime. Louisville Slugger provides more than 60 percent of the bats used by Major League Baseball. General Manager of the mill Brian Boltz was joined by employees Pete Eckman, Ethan Smith and Ben Fluent to give the DCNR staff an insiders look at how the bats are shaped into billets40-inch cylinder-shaped pieces of woodat the mill after being harvested from the 8,500 acres of private land managed Larimer & Norton, a division of Louisville Slugger's parent company.

The 18 employees work at the Akeley mill to process ash and some maple, the two species preferred by baseball players. The billets are then shipped to Louisville to form the perfect home run weapon. (Reprinted from the November 23 issue of DCNR's Resource online newsletter.) Plan Shaping Philadelphia's Green Spaces Wins Award GreenPlan Philadelphia, an open space plan developed and completed under two administrations and involving 13 city agencies, recently received a National Honor Award from the American Society of Landscape Architects. Not only did the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources help to fund the plan, staff from the Bureau of Recreation and Conservation served as a partner in its development and the Philadelphia Natural Heritage Inventory, which was done as part of the plan. In honoring the plan, the awards jury said, This plan is based in reality and even though its very large scale, its entirely achievable. It puts numbers to things and establishes a strong trend of quantifying the costs and returns. This plan represents a shift from the city saying were going to be the greenest city to saying were going to be the most successful city by leveraging our green infrastructure. GreenPlan Philadelphia sets over 30 targets, including achieving at least 30 percent tree cover in every neighborhood; increasing park space to 10 acres of parkland per thousand residents; greening 100 additional schoolyards through the Campus Parks program; creating a citywide network for 1,400 miles of green streets; and ensuring that there is a trail within a half mile of all residents. Although more than 90 percent of Philadelphians live within a half mile of a park or recreation facility, the plan noted only 58 percent of residents are adequately served when taking facility size and barriers to access into account. For more information about the plan, visit here. (Reprinted from the November 23 issue of DCNR's Resource online newsletter.) DCNR Joins In Groundbreaking For Philadelphia Park Along Delaware River Ground was broken Monday for Lardners Point Park, a riverfront project offering visitors improved access to -- and enhanced appreciation of -- the rapidly rebounding Delaware River. The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources invested $760,000 in the design and construction of the new 4.5 acre-park, located north of Center City and just south of the Tacony-Palmyra Bridge in the historic Tacony neighborhood of Northeast Philadelphia. The Delaware River has come so far from decades past, said DCNR Deputy Secretary John Giordano, speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony off Levick Street. Today, its rebound draws boaters and anglers. Its shores are appealing to hikers and bikers. And its river neighborhoods once again are realizing the economic and aesthetic impact of its historic riverfront. With its improved quality there must be improved access, Giordano said. Lardners Point Park will prove an invaluable asset to generations discovering the renewed value of the

Delaware. Not only will it be a gateway to greater visitation and, in turn, economic growth along the river, it will further promote the health and social benefits gained from recreation. This new park expands Philadelphias public park system and is in line with the citys Green 2015 Plan to create 500 new acres of open space and parkland. Lardners Point Park will serve as a trailhead for the North Delaware Greenway, the national East Coast Greenway bike trail running along the entire Delaware Riverfront in Philadelphia, and eventually from Maine to Florida. The park also will link to the bi-state Delaware River Heritage Trail that will loop over the Tacony-Palmyra Bridge north to Trenton and south to the new park site. DCNRs grant will support construction of a river overlook; fishing pier; restoration of a riverbank forest area for picnicking and recreation; park furniture; and interpretive signage about trees, bird and fish species, and the history of the Lardners Point Pump Station that has a long legacy at this site. Also, the park will recreate an enlarged natural river edge with expanded tidal wetlands and aquatic, native vegetation. As a resident of Philadelphia, I have witnessed firsthand the resurgence of this river, its heightened popularity, and how important these things are to reinvigorating the local economy," Giordano said. The North Delaware Riverfront Greenway Plan, forged by the Pennsylvania Environmental Council and City of Philadelphia, called for a necklace of new parks and greenways reconnecting residents to the river. Lardners Point Park is emerging as a gem in that process and DCNR is proud to help make it shine. Giordano commended the project's federal partners for their roles in obtaining federal funding for the project, as well as the invaluable contributions of the Delaware River City Corp., Philadelphia Parks and Recreation Department and the Pennsylvania Environmental Council. NewsClip: Officials Gather To Get Park, Greenway Rolling On River D&L Trail Connection Will Aid Access To Delaware Canal A major obstacle in the completion of the 165-mile Delaware & Lehigh Trail is a step closer to being eliminated, thanks to a recent award that will close gaps in the trail in Lower Bucks County and promote a regional network of multi-use trails within the Greater Philadelphia area. A $471,000 grant from the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commissions Regional Trails Program funded through the William Penn Foundation - paired with $1.69 million of Federal Transportation Enhancement funds secured by the Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor, will be used to connect two segments of the D&L Trail in Tullytown Borough, Bucks County, that are currently disconnected by U.S. Route 13. The project is being administered by the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. The disconnected sections of the D&L Trail will be brought together by a tunnel constructed underneath the four-lane Route 13. The trail will follow the old towpath of the Delaware Canal, which was filled in at Route 13 during the 1950s.

The D&L Trail, which will run from Wilkes-Barre to Bristol when complete, has been identified as a Regional Trunk Trail connecting Lower Bucks County to Philadelphia and extending north into the Lehigh and Wyoming valleys. DCNR has worked closely with the Heritage Corridor for nearly a decade to secure funding for the Route 13 project. Once completed, the tunnel underneath Route 13 will allow trail users in Lower Bucks County greater access to Delaware Canal State Park, which parallels the Delaware River through Bucks and Northampton counties and ends in Easton. (Reprinted from the November 23 issue of DCNR's Resource online newsletter.) Game Commission Offers Wild Gift Giving Ideas Does the thought of Black Friday shopping crowds make you want to go into hibernation? Do the traffic jams near the malls get unbearable? Dozens of "wild" holiday gifts for that hunter, trapper or wildlife fan on your list are just a click away at "The Outdoor Shop" on the Game Commission's website. Fish & Boat Commission Offers Gift Giving Ideas That Will Float Your Boat Dozens of "wild" holiday gifts for the angler, boater or wildlife fan on your list are just a click away at "The Outdoor Shop" on the Fish & Boat Commission's website.

Grants & Awards

This section gives you a heads up on upcoming deadlines for awards and grants and other recognition programs. NEW means new from last week. November 28-- EPA Brownfields Assessment, Cleanup Grants November 30-- iConservePA CSI Pennsylvania Super Sleuth Sweepstakes! December 2-- Chesapeake Bay Watershed Groups Capacity Building Grants December 5-- PennSERVE AmeriCorps Grants December 15-- DEP State Clean Diesel Grants December 16-- Coldwater Heritage Partnership Grants December 16-- WPC, Dominion Western PA Watershed Mini-Grants December 16-- DEP Environmental Education Grants December 21-- NEW. FPW Watershed Assn. Capacity Building Services December 30-- DEP Recycling Performance Grants December 30-- EPA Environmental Educator Awards December 30-- PA Park & Forest Foundation Awards Program December 31-- EPA Green Chemistry Award Nominations December 31-- DEP Storm Relief Pollution Prevention, Energy Efficiency Grants December 31-- President's Environmental Youth Awards December 31-- NEW. DCNR/POWR: 2012 PA River Of The Year

January 6-- EPA Document Your Environment Student Contest January 6-- PA Snowmobile Assn. Trail Improvement Grants January 30-- Ben Franklin Marcellus Shale Innovation Prizes February 15-- Delaware Valley Air & Waste Mgmt. Assn. Student Scholarships March 1-- Erie TreeVitalize Grants April 4-- DCNR Community Conservation Partnership Grants March 1-- Keystone Historic Preservation Project and Construction Grants August 1-- PA Snowmobile Assn. Trail Improvement Grants September 1-- Erie TreeVitalize Grants -- Visit the DEP Grants and Loan Programs webpage for more ideas on how to get financial assistance for environmental projects.

Budget/Quick Clips
Here's a selection of NewClips on environmental topics from around the state-Rain Doesn't Cut Down Supply Of Christmas Trees Budget State Overestimates Shale Tax Revenue Norquist Now Calling Corbett's Impact Fee A Tax Corbett: I Have A Dispute With Norquist Over Impact Fee Corbett Disputes Claim That Impact Fee Is Tax Corbett Defends Support Of Natural Gas Fee Corbett's Fee Claims Don't Mesh With Campaign Rhetoric Rep. Day Explains Support For Drilling Impact Fee Pickett Endorses Marcellus Drilling Standards Bill PA Lawmakers Differ On Gas Drilling Activists Join Senator To Oppose Drilling Regs Editorial: Drillers Can Afford Real Tax Dozens Rally Against Gas Drilling State Officials Getting 3 Percent Raise Other Tire Recycler finds Success Forging New Roads For Rubber Pittsburgh Ranks In Top Green Cities Blog: Lehigh Valley Activist Quits State Planning Board Avalon Air Pollution Higher Than Clairton Op-Ed: Allegheny County Proves Clean Air, Growth Possible Cheaper Green Energy For Sale Wind Mill Blades Sign Of Energy To Come Energy Company's Deal Aids Schools PPL Electric Rates To Drop 7.6 Percent Park Service Advises Against PPL Power Line Project Editorial: Scientists See More Disaster From Climate Change

Ohio River Trail Proposal Due For Hearing Officials Gather To Get Park, Greenway Rolling On River Bids Approved For Projects In State Parks, Forests Deer Hunters Again Urged To Share Their Harvest With Hungry Editorial: Farm Bureau's Sunday Hunting Compromise Squirreling Away Acorns Less Likely Doylestown Audubon Bird Town Initiated

Marcellus Shale NewsClips

Here are NewsClips on topics related to Marcellus Shale natural gas drilling--State Overestimates Shale Tax Revenue Corbett Still Pushing To Preempt Local Drilling Ordinances Norquist Now Calling Corbett's Impact Fee A Tax Corbett: I Have A Dispute With Norquist Over Impact Fee Corbett Disputes Claim That Impact Fee Is Tax Corbett Defends Support Of Natural Gas Fee Corbett's Fee Claims Don't Mesh With Campaign Rhetoric Rep. Day Explains Support For Drilling Impact Fee Pickett Endorses Marcellus Drilling Standards Bill PA Lawmakers Differ On Gas Drilling Activists Join Senator To Oppose Drilling Regs Editorial: Drillers Can Afford Real Tax White House Will Determine What's Next On DRBC Vote Environmentalists Rally In Trenton Against DRBC Fracking Rules Gas Drilling Along Delaware Remains In Limbo Dozens Rally Against Gas Drilling Growing Tensions Over Drilling In Delaware Basin DE Lawmaker Creates Online Petition Against DRBC Rules Editorial: Gather Facts First On Delaware Gas Drilling Lab Error Negates Center For Rural PA Well Water Findings Gas Company Whistle-Blower Details Spills, Errors Gas Firm, Residents Settle Suit Over Pipeline In Dallas PA Tries To Avert Fights Between Towns, Drillers Drilling Causes Housing Shortage In Northern Tier View From The Middle Of Marcellus Shale Debate Dec. 6 Penn State Webinar On Marcellus Municipal Experiences DEP Hopes To Enhance Enforcement Of Gas Drilling PA DEP Head Lobbies For Gas Drilling EPA To Weigh Rules On Fracking Chemical Disclosure Allegheny Port Authority Looks At Switching To Gas Financial Ohio's Gas Fields Could Be An Issue For PA

Ohio To Get More Disposal Wells For Drilling Waste Texas Tries To Fend Off PA's Energy Push Marcellus Shale Gas Boom Mirrors Gold Rush In WV Drilling Companies Ramp Up Ads, Lobbyists In NY

Watershed/Flooding NewsClips
Here are NewsClips on watershed topics from around the state-Flooding Food, Fellowship To Flood-Ravaged West Pittston For Flood Victims, Holiday Cheer From Charities Insurance Companies Frustrate Flood Victims FEMA To Close Lebanon Valley Disaster Center Other Watershed NewsClips Watershed Assn. Capacity Building Assistance Available A Tale Of Two Watersheds

Regulations, Technical Guidance & Permits

No new regulations were published this week. Pennsylvania Bulletin - November 26, 2011 Proposed Regulations Open For Comment - DEP webpage Proposed Regulations With Closed Comment Periods - DEP webpage Rolling Regulatory Agenda - DEP webpage

Technical Guidance & Permits

The Fish and Boat Commission published notice of proposed changes to Class A Wild Trout Waters and the 2012 classification of Wild Trout Streams. Technical Guidance Comment Deadlines - DEP webpage Copies Of Draft Technical Guidance - DEP webpage Copies of Final Technical Guidance - DEP webpage

Calendar Of Events
Upcoming legislative meetings, conferences, workshops, plus links to other online calendars. Meetings are in Harrisburg unless otherwise noted. NEW means new from last week. Go to the online Calendar webpage.

Click on Agenda Released on calendar entries to see the NEW meeting agendas published this week. December 2-- CANCELED. DEP State Board for Certification of Water and Wastewater Systems Operators meeting. It has been rescheduled to December 13. (formal notice) December 2-- NEW. PA Energy Development Authority board meeting. 16th Floor Conference Room, Rachel Carson Building. 9:00. (formal notice) December 6-- NEW. House Veterans Affairs & Emergency Preparedness Committee meets to consider House Bill 1701 (Cutler-R-Lancaster) establishing the State Geospatial Council. Room B-31. 9:15. December 6-- DEP Oil and Gas Technical Advisory Board meeting. Room 105 Rachel Carson Building. 10:00. (formal notice) December 7-- Environmental Issues Forum, Joint Legislative Air and Water Pollution Control and Conservation Committee, features a presentation by Nate Fice, PA Sustainable Forestry Initiative. Room G-50 Irvis Building. Noon. December 7-- NEW. PUC Sustainable Energy Board meeting. Hearing Room 1, Keystone Building. 10:00. December 8-- House Consumer Affairs Committee holds a hearing on House Bill 1580 (Ross-RChester) increasing the solar mandate in the Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards. Room G-50 Irvis Building. 10:00. December 8-- NEW. Delaware River Basin Commission meeting. West Trenton, NJ. (formal notice) December 13-- Agenda Released. DEP Board of Coal Mine Safety meeting. Mining Technology and Training Center, Ruff Creek, PA. 10:00. December 13-- DEP State Board for Certification of Water and Wastewater Systems Operators meeting. 10th Floor Conference Room, Rachel Carson Building. 10:00. (formal notice) December 15-- NEW. Susquehanna River Basin Commission meeting. Best Western East Mountain Inn, Wilkes-Barre, Pa. 8:30. (formal notice) December 16-- NEW. DEP Water Resources Advisory Committee meeting for the purpose of reviewing draft Chapter 93 Water Quality Standards Triennial rulemaking. Room 105 Rachel Carson Building. 9:30. (formal notice)

January 12-- DEP Southwest Regional Office Roundtable meeting. DEP Southwest Regional Office, Waterfront A & B, 500 Waterfront Dr. 10:30. Contact Holly Cairns at 412-442-4116 or send email to: hcairns@pa.gov. (formal notice) DEP Calendar of Events Note: The Environmental Education Workshop Calendar is no longer available from the PA Center for Environmental Education because funding for the Center was eliminated in the FY 2011-12 state budget. The PCEE website was also shutdown, but some content was moved to the PA Association of Environmental Educators' website. Senate Committee Schedule House Committee Schedule

You can watch the Senate Floor Session and House Floor Session live online.

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Send your stories, photos and videos about your project, environmental issues or programs for publication in the PA Environment Digest to: DHess@CrisciAssociates.com. PA Environment Digest is edited by David E. Hess, former Secretary Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and is published as a service to the clients of Crisci Associates, a Harrisburg-based government and public affairs firm whose clients include Fortune 500 companies and non-profit organizations. For more information on Crisci Associates, call 717-234-1716. PA Environment Digest was the winner of the PA Association of Environmental Educators' 2009 Business Partner of the Year Award.

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