pa environment digest april 11, 2016

8/18/2019 Pa Environment Digest April 11, 2016

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PA Environment Digest An Update On Environmental Issues In Pennsylvania

Edited By: David E. Hess, Crisci Associates

Winner Of PA Association of Environmental Educators Business Partner Of The Year Award

PA Environment Digest Daily Blog Twitter Feed

Issue #615 Harrisburg, PA April 11, 2016

Dominion, PEC Announce Western PA Environmental Award Winners

Four environmental programs and one individual

will share $25,000 from Dominion and the PAEnvironmental Council for innovation and

effectiveness in making a positive impact on theWestern Pennsylvania environment.The Western Pennsylvania Environmental Awards

are presented annually to local organizations that demonstrate leadership, effectiveness, andresults in making an impact on the environment.

All five were chosen by a group of independent judges, environmental experts, and PECstaff in response to a call for entries earlier this year.

With these awards, each winner will designate a $5,000 cash prize to be used in supportof a nonp rofit environmental program of t heir choice.

The winners will be honored at the Western Pennsylvania Environmental Awards Dinnerand Awards Cere mony on May 26 at the Westin Convention Center Hotel downtown Pittsburgh.

The 2016 winners are—-- Connoquenessing Watershed Alliance Butler: The Connoquenessing Watershed Alliance replanted a riparian buffer along seven miles of sewer line crossings following the completion ofa major habitat improvement project in Thorn Creek.

At each stream crossing, 30 native tree and shrub seedlings were planted on both sides ofthe stream bank, with a total of over 1,500 seedlings planted. Four in-stream devices wereconstructed to create an immediate fish habitat.

More than 30 in-stream habitat devices have been installed which have stabilized over5,000 feet of stream bank and leveraged over $300,000 in watershed improvements throughgrants, donations, and partnerships.

This project has brought together many state and local partners, including governmentagencies, local municipalities, international corporations, concerned community members, local

businesses, and a school district. Thus far, close to 20 different groups or individuals have beenactive participants in the project.

Contact: David Andrews, 724-360-0290 or send email to: [email protected] .-- Crawford County Riparian Restoration Program, Meadville: The Crawford County

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Riparian Restoration Program addressed the environmental need to establish forested riparian plantings along 30 different streams that have been identified as impaired waterways, includingnearly 20 miles of streams in the Ohio and the Lake Erie/Great Lakes river basins.

Over the past 16 years, it is estimated that over 75,000 trees and shrubs have been plantedwith the help of 4,500 students from 12 local middle and high schools completing more than 100

different conservation projects.Every high school in Crawford County has been involved in this project as well as over

550 private citizens and members of local organizations. One student participant became theErosion and Sedimentation Specialist in the local county conservation district and another is nowa local forester.

All told, more than 110 acres of streamside buffers have been enhanced through this program, impacting the plants, animals, and citizens within the Ohio and Lake Erie watershedsand beyond.

Contact: Mark Lewis, Service Forester, DCNR Bureau of Forestry, 814-763-2545 orsend email to: [email protected] .-- Green Building Alliance , Pittsburgh 2030 District, Pittsburgh: In Pittsburgh, 47 percent ofgreenhouse gas emissions originate from commercial buildings and 30 percent of the energyused by the average commercial building is wasted.

The Pittsburgh 2030 District aims to create a stronger downtown by helping propertyowners to work collaboratively together and with a set of stated common goals to improveindoor air quality, reduce resources used, increase asset value, and create solid returns oninvestment.

In just three years, Pittsburgh has become the largest 2030 District in the world to date,consisting of 436 buildings with over 65.5 million square feet of real estate in DowntownPittsburgh and Oakland–all actively working towards 50 percent reductions in energyconsumption, water use, and transportation emissions by the year 2030.

Through 2015, 380 properties saved the equivalent energy use of 5,562 homes.Additionally, 96 downtown buildings achieved a ten percent reduction in water use, representing362 homes’ annual water usage.

Contact: Anna Siefken, Green Building Alliance, 412-773-6013 or send email to:[email protected] .-- Pittsburgh Botanic Garden, Oakdale: The Pittsburgh Botanic Garden is transforming 460acres of abandoned mining land just ten miles west of the city into a world-class botanic garden.Once completed, the Pittsburgh Botanic Garden will be one of the largest botanic gardens inAmerica.

It will be comprised of 18 distinct gardens, five diverse woodland experiences, a visitor’scenter, a celebration center, and a center for botanic research. What’s more, it is a world class

example of coal mine restoration and remediation and will be the only botanic garden in theUnited States built on reclaimed land.The Garden’s passive acid mine discharge treatment system removes 912 pounds of

pollutants per year as it treats 4.2 million gallons each year. The pH of this treated water hasimproved from 3 to 7. Additionally, there are now 111 different species of birds that can beobserved at the Garden as a result of the remediation and restoration work.

Contact: Christine Koebley, Pittsburgh Botanic Garden, 412-444-4464 x224 or sendemail to: [email protected] .

mailto:[email protected]://pittsburghbotanicgarden.org/mailto:[email protected]://www.go-gba.org/mailto:[email protected]


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-- Edward Schroth, Leetsdale: For more than 50 years, Ed Schroth has been one of the most popular and influential environmental educators in Western Pennsylvania.

He has dedicated his life to environmental education and outreach, first as a teacher of biology, water ecology and environmental science at Quaker Valley High School, and later atDuquesne University.

At Quaker Valley, he started the “Up the Creek Gang,” a project where students studiedthe ecology of Little Sewickley Creek and its watershed. He later teamed with the ChinaAssociation for Science and Technology to take high school students to Beijing and QingdaoChina for environmental studies three times.

Through Ed’s passion for environmental education and his unique teaching style, studentsget firsthand experience at data collection and measurements. As a leader in service learning, hehas set the standard for student-community engagement with such organizations as theAllegheny Land Trust, the Little Sewickley Creek Watershed, and others.

Contact: John Stolz, Ph.D., Center for Environmental Research and EducationDuquesne University, 412-396-4367 or send email to: [email protected] .

The Western Pennsylvania Environmental Awards program is open to individuals, businesses, and organizations that demonstrated a commitment to environmental excellence,leadership and accomplishment, and made significant contributions toward improving WesternPennsylvania’s environment.

Dominion and the PA Environmental Council sponsor the Western PennsylvaniaEnvironmental Awards each year to encourage the community to emulate the achievements ofthe winning entries, thereby promoting innovative environmental efforts and enhancing thequality of life in Western Pennsylvania.

The winners will be honored at the Western Pennsylvania Environmental Awards Dinnerand Awards Ceremony on May 26 at the Westin Convention Center Hotel downtown Pittsburgh.

For more information on programs, initiatives and special events, visit the PAEnvironmental Council website, visit the PEC Blog , follow PEC on Twitter or Like PEC onFacebook . Click Here to receive regular updates from PEC.

Conventional Drillers Tell Court Time Is Now To Decide Whether DEP Violated The Law

Lawyers representing conventional oil and gas drillerstold Commonwealth Court Thursday the time is now todecide whether DEP violated provisions of a 2014Fiscal Code amendment directing DEP to adoptseparate regulations for conventional andunconventional oil and gas drilling.

Lawyers for DEP, the Environmental QualityBoard and the Independent Regulatory ReviewCommission countered saying the legal challenge toDEP’s Chapter 78 (conventional) and 78a(unconventional) drilling regulation is premature and the conventional drillers are justspeculating about the decisions the IRRC, environmental committees of the Senate and Houseand the Office of Attorney General will make about the final regulation as the regulatory review

process proceeds.

http://www.dep.pa.gov/Business/Energy/OilandGasPrograms/OilandGasMgmt/Public-Resources/Pages/Oil-and-Gas-Surface-Regulations.aspxhttp://www.dep.pa.gov/Business/Energy/OilandGasPrograms/OilandGasMgmt/Public-Resources/Pages/Oil-and-Gas-Surface-Regulations.aspxhttp://www.paenvironmentdigest.com/newsletter/default.asp?NewsletterArticleID=29406http://www.paenvironmentdigest.com/newsletter/default.asp?NewsletterArticleID=29406http://pecpa.org/email-signup/https://www.facebook.com/PennsylvaniaEnvironmentalCouncilhttps://www.facebook.com/PennsylvaniaEnvironmentalCouncilhttps://twitter.com/pecpahttp://pecpa.org/pec-blog/http://pecpa.org/http://pecpa.org/http://pecpa.org/event/wpea2016/http://pecpa.org/event/wpea2016/mailto:[email protected]


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DEP counsel agreed, however, the issue may ripe to challenge again when the regulationsare published as final in the PA Bulletin.

The Court hearing Thursday in front of Senior Commonwealth Court Judge JamesGardner Colins lasted just over 90 minutes with both sides presenting their arguments to theCourt. The courtroom was packed with PIPP supporters.

Driller’s ChallengeThe PA Independent Petroleum Producers Association , joined by the PA Independent Oil

and Gas Association , filed a challenge to DEP’s Chapter 78 and 78a regulations on March 26asking the Court to order DEP to start its rulemaking process over and promulgate separateregulations for conventional oil and gas well drillers.

PIPP said a 2014 amendment to the Fiscal Code directed DEP to promulgate separateregulations. Counsel for PIPP said DEP’s “cut and paste” exercise he described as“meaningless” in dividing the regulations into Chapter 78 (conventional) and 78a(unconventional) does not meet the requirements of that law.

The relevant part of the Fiscal Code amendment says--“Section 1741.1-E. Environmental Quality Board. (a) Regulations.--From funds

appropriated to the Environmental Quality Board, the board shall promulgate proposedregulations and regulations under 58 Pa.C.S. (relating to oil and gas) or other laws of thisCommonwealth relating to conventional oil and gas wells separately from proposed regulationsand regulations relating to unconventional gas wells. All regulations under 58 Pa.C.S. shalldifferentiate between conventional oil and gas wells and unconventional gas wells. Regulations

promulgated under this section shall apply to regulations promulgated on or after the effectivedate of this section.”

Counsel for PIPP said the nature of conventional drilling is so different fromunconventional drilling it deserved to be treated through a separate process as the Fiscal Codeamendment envisions without being “polluted” by the unconventional industry.

Instead, PIPP said, DEP and the EQB adopted one regulation dealing the drilling that hasone IRRC number and which was considered at the same set of public hearings. PIPP counselnoted an attempt at the EQB meeting to consider each chapter separately was voted down.

PIPP counsel said the facts of applying the Fiscal Code law will not change regardless ofthe actions the IRRC, legislative committees or other parties take in the as yet incompleteregulatory review process.

Click Here for a copy of the PIPPA complaint.DEP, EQB, IRRC ResponseThe legal argument made in response to the PIPPA lawsuit hinges, in part, on the word

“promulgate.”DEP and the Environmental Quality Board say no possible harm could occur to

conventional oil and gas drillers (a standard for granting Court relief) until and unless theregulations are promulgated, meaning when they are published as final in the PA Bulletin, afterthe IRRC, legislative committees and the Office of Attorney General act.

Court action to block their publication before they go through the complete regulatoryreview process and are promulgated (published in the PA Bulletin) is premature. DEP and theother respondents also argued PIPPA did not have standing to file the lawsuit.

In addition, DEP said the plain language of the 2014 Fiscal Code amendment did notdirect the Environmental Quality Board to withdraw the regulations they had already published

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as proposed and start over.DEP counsel told the Court the facts of this case needed to be developed because there

are many substantive differences between the regulatory requirements in Chapter 78 covering theconventional industry and Chapter 78a covering unconventional drilling.

DEP also pointed out the regulations have undergone the most extensive public

participation process in DEP’s history-- 12 public hearings, 2 separate public comment periods,and more than a dozen public meetings with the oil and gas technical advisory boards.

The final rulemaking represents the first comprehensive changes to DEP’s drillingregulations in 15 years, since 2001 and was developed in response to changes in drillingtechnology and practices and legislation passed by the General Assembly in 2012 and signed intolaw by Gov. Corbett.

Click Here for a copy of the EQB response to the lawsuit.Independent EQB CounselIn an unprecedented action, the Environmental Quality Board was represented separately

in this case by an outside lawyer selected by DEP in the person of Adam Levine of Stradley,Ronon in Philadelphia.

DEP Secretary John Quigley notified members of the Environmental Quality BoardMonday that outside counsel had been retained for the EQB, however, the Board had no inputinto the response filed by Levine with the Court because of the short deadline for a response,Quigley said.

On a conference call and in email exchanges, several members of the Board expressedconcern about the lack of input and on the decision to retain counsel, including Rep. John Maher(R-Allegheny), Majority Chair of the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee,who sits on the EQB.

The EQB voted 15 to 4 in February to approve the final regulations, with Rep. Maher inthe negative, so the Board was divided when it took action.

This is the first time since it was formed 1971 that the EQB has been represented by itsown legal counsel.

Sen. John Yudichak (D-Luzerne), Minority Chair of the Senate Environmental Resourcesand Energy Committee, reintroduced a bill-- Senate Bill 307 in January of 2015 to let the EQBselect its own counsel. The bill passed the Senate in June of 2015 and is on the House Calendarawaiting action.

Rep. Maher introduced a companion bill-- House Bill 1099 -- in May of 2015 and it passed the House in June of 2015 and remains in the Senate Environmental Resources andEnergy Committee awaiting action.

Court Decision Before April 21Judge Colins said from the bench the Court would render a written opinion on the issue

before the scheduled April 21 IRRC meeting on DEP’s regulation.Committee ActionThe House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee is scheduled to meet on

April 12 for a voting meeting on DEP’s Chapter 78 (conventional) and 78a (unconventional) final regulations.

Among the Committee’s review options under the Regulatory Review Act are sending aletter disapproving of the regulations, issuing an early intent to extend its review time 14 days

beyond the April 21 meeting the Independent Regulatory Review Commission has set for action

http://www.paenvironmentdigest.com/newsletter/default.asp?NewsletterArticleID=35069http://www.dep.pa.gov/Business/Energy/OilandGasPrograms/OilandGasMgmt/Public-Resources/Pages/Oil-and-Gas-Surface-Regulations.aspx#.VthvFcea10chttp://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/cteeInfo/Index.cfm?Code=8&CteeBody=Hhttp://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billInfo/billInfo.cfm?sYear=2015&sInd=0&body=H&type=B&bn=1099http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billInfo/billInfo.cfm?sYear=2015&sInd=0&body=S&type=B&bn=0307http://www.paenvironmentdigest.com/newsletter/default.asp?NewsletterArticleID=34756http://www.stradley.com/professionals/l/levine-andrew-shttps://goo.gl/abiwTJ


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on the regulations or reporting out a concurrent, House-Senate resolution disapproving of theregulation. If passed by the House and Senate, the resolution would then be presented to theGovernor for his action.

The meeting will be in Room 205 Ryan Building starting at 9:30.The Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee is also scheduled to meet

April 12 to vote on sending correspondence to the IRRC on DEP’s Chapter 78 (conventional)and 78a (unconventional) final drilling regulations.

Also scheduled to be considered is Senate Bill 1011 (Hutchinson-R-Venango) killingDEP’s final drilling regulations covering conventional oil and gas wells and starting therulemaking process over and Senate Bill 1195 (White-R-Indiana) (not yet online) to further delaya Pennsylvania plan for meeting EPA’s Clean Power Climate Plan rule.

The meeting will be held in Room 8E-A East Wing starting at 11:00.For more information on the regulations, visit DEP’s Oil and Gas Regulations webpage.

NewsClips:Op-Ed: New Rules Would Make Drilling Safer In PA Editorial: Regulating PA Out Of Business Rice Energy Fined $393,500 By DEP For Permit Violations Driller Asks Judge To Throw Out $4.42M Dimock Verdict Cabot Appeals Drilling Water Contamination Verdict PUC: Columbia Gas Replacing Service Lines Faster, More Cheaply Radioactive Drilling Waste Causes Confusion Across State Lines Chemicals Found Near WV Drilling Wastewater Injection Well Public Health Advocates Renew Call For Fracking Health Registry Related Stories:PA Environmental Council Thanks Wolf For Veto Of Bill Killing DEP Drilling Regulations The Clock Starts: DEP Delivers Final Drilling Regs To House, Senate, IRRC For Review Conventional Oil & Gas Drillers File Lawsuit To Block Final DEP Drilling Regs Conventional Drillers Respond To Media Reports On Filling Challenge To DEP Regulations Analysis: Myth-- Conventional Oil and Gas Drilling Is Benign

House Environmental Committee Meets April 12 On DEP Drilling Regulations

The House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee is scheduled to meet on April 12for a voting meeting on DEP’s Chapter 78 (conventional) and 78a (unconventional) finalregulations.

Among the Committee’s review options under the Regulatory Review Act are sending aletter disapproving of the regulations, issuing an early intent to extend its review time 14 days

beyond the April 21 meeting the Independent Regulatory Review Commission has set for actionon the regulations or reporting out a concurrent, House-Senate resolution disapproving of theregulation. If passed by the House and Senate, the resolution would then be presented to theGovernor for his action.

Rep. John Maher (R-Allegheny), Majority Chair of the Committee, has been a critic ofthe process used by DEP to develop the regulations and voted against them at the FebruaryEnvironmental Quality Board meeting.

At a March 16 meeting of the Committee, Rep. Maher asked Committee members to

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provide him with comments on the regulations.Rep. Greg Vitali (D-Delaware), Minority Chair of the Committee, last week organized 18

other House members to write to the IRRC in support of DEP’s drilling regulations.The meeting will be in Room 205 Ryan Building starting at 9:30. Click Here to see if the

meeting will be webcast.

It is widely expected the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee isconsidering a meeting on the regulations next week as well, since the Senate and HouseCalendars have them in voting session only the week of April 11 and then they take a break untilthe week of May 2 and 9 respectively, after the IRRC meets.

Commonwealth Court has a hearing April 7 on a legal challenge to block the Chapter 78(conventional) regulations from being published as final filed by the PA Independent PetroleumProducers Association .

Rep. John Maher (R-Allegheny) serves as Majority Chair of the House EnvironmentalCommittee and can be contacted by sending email to: [email protected] . Rep. GregVitali (D-Delaware) serves as Minority Chair and can be contacted by sending email to:[email protected] .NewsClips:Op-Ed: New Rules Would Make Drilling Safer In PA Editorial: Regulating PA Out Of Business Rice Energy Fined $393,500 By DEP For Permit Violations Driller Asks Judge To Throw Out $4.42M Dimock Verdict Cabot Appeals Drilling Water Contamination Verdict PUC: Columbia Gas Replacing Service Lines Faster, More Cheaply Radioactive Drilling Waste Causes Confusion Across State Lines Chemicals Found Near WV Drilling Wastewater Injection Well Public Health Advocates Renew Call For Fracking Health Registry Related Stories:April 12: Senate Committee Considers Drilling Regs, Bill To Delay Clean Power PlanConventional Drillers Tell Court Time Is Now To Decide Whether DEP Violated The Law InAdopting Regs

April 12: Senate Committee Considers Drilling Regs, Bill To Delay Clean Power Plan

The Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee is scheduled to meet April 12 tovote on sending correspondence to the IRRC on DEP’s Chapter 78 (conventional) and 78a(unconventional) final drilling regulations.

Also scheduled to be considered is Senate Bill 1011 (Hutchinson-R-Venango) killing

DEP’s final drilling regulations covering conventional oil and gas wells and starting therulemaking process over and Senate Bill 1195 (White-R-Indiana) (not yet online) to further delaya Pennsylvania plan for meeting EPA’s Clean Power Climate Plan rule.

The Committee will be joined by the Senate Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee tohear a presentation from the U.S. Geological Survey on monitoring results for the ChesapeakeBay Watershed from Douglas Moyer.

The meeting will be held in Room 8E-A East Wing starting at 11:00. Click Here tocheck if the hearing will be webcast.

http://www.pasenategop.com/http://cbrim.er.usgs.gov/summary.htmlhttp://cbrim.er.usgs.gov/summary.htmlhttp://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/CteeInfo/index.cfm?Code=27&CteeBody=Shttp://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billInfo/billInfo.cfm?sYear=2015&sInd=0&body=S&type=B&bn=1011http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/CteeInfo/index.cfm?Code=9&CteeBody=Shttp://paenvironmentdaily.blogspot.com/2016/04/conventional-drillers-tell-court-time.htmlhttp://paenvironmentdaily.blogspot.com/2016/04/conventional-drillers-tell-court-time.htmlhttp://paenvironmentdaily.blogspot.com/2016/04/april-12-senate-committee-meets-on.htmlhttps://stateimpact.npr.org/pennsylvania/2016/04/06/public-health-campaigners-renew-call-for-fracking-health-registry/http://triblive.com/business/headlines/10257732-74/facility-chemicals-gashttp://powersource.post-gazette.com/powersource/policy-powersource/2016/04/04/Radioactive-oil-and-gas-waste-causes-confusion-across-West-Virginia-and-Kentucky-state-lines/stories/201604040015http://triblive.com/news/adminpage/10270390-74/gas-columbia-fasterhttp://thetimes-tribune.com/news/cabot-appeals-water-contamination-verdict-1.2028516http://www.philly.com/philly/business/energy/20160408_Marcellus_driller_asks_judge_to_throw_out__4_24M_Dimock_verdict.htmlhttp://triblive.com/business/headlines/10251504-74/rice-energy-spillhttp://triblive.com/opinion/featuredcommentary/10228465-74/dep-pennsylvania-environmentalhttp://www.philly.com/philly/opinion/20160407_Commentary__New_rules_would_make_drilling_safer_in_Pa_.htmlmailto:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.paenvironmentdigest.com/newsletter/default.asp?NewsletterArticleID=35335http://www.paenvironmentdigest.com/newsletter/default.asp?NewsletterArticleID=35335http://www.paenvironmentdigest.com/newsletter/default.asp?NewsletterArticleID=35335http://www.pahousegop.com/http://www.paenvironmentdigest.com/newsletter/default.asp?NewsletterArticleID=35410&http://www.paenvironmentdigest.com/newsletter/default.asp?NewsletterArticleID=35410&


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Sen. Gene Yaw (R-Lycoming) serves as Majority Chair of the Committee and can becontacted by sending email to: [email protected] . Sen. John Yudichak (D-Luzerne) serves asMinority Chair and can be contacted by sending email to: [email protected] .NewsClips:Op-Ed: New Rules Would Make Drilling Safer In PA

Editorial: Regulating PA Out Of Business Rice Energy Fined $393,500 By DEP For Permit Violations Driller Asks Judge To Throw Out $4.42M Dimock Verdict Cabot Appeals Drilling Water Contamination Verdict PUC: Columbia Gas Replacing Service Lines Faster, More Cheaply Radioactive Drilling Waste Causes Confusion Across State Lines Chemicals Found Near WV Drilling Wastewater Injection Well Public Health Advocates Renew Call For Fracking Health Registry Related Stories:House Environmental Committee Meets April 12 On DEP Drilling Regulations Conventional Drillers Tell Court Time Is Now To Decide Whether DEP Violated The Law InAdopting Regs

House Passes Fiscal Code Bill Cutting Growing Greener, Funding Natural Gas Expansion

The House this week took steps to put another Fiscal Code bill on the Governor’s desk-- HouseBill 1589 (Causer-R-Cameron) that includes many of the provisions vetoed by Gov. Wolf in thelast Fiscal Code bill-- House Bill 1327 (Peifer-R-Pike).

The environmental provisions in the bill includes a $15 million reduction in funding forthe Environmental Stewardship (Growing Greener) Fund, takes $12 million from CFA’s HighPerformance Buildings Program and transfers it to fund a new program to expand access tonatural gas infrastructure, earmarks existing DCNR funding for the operation of WashingtonCrossing Historical Park and directs funding to sewer and drinking water projects for specificlegislators.

It does NOT include the previous provisions delaying Pennsylvania’s plan to meet theClean Power Climate Plan rule or killing DEP’s final conventional oil and gas drillingregulations.

Interestingly, during consideration of this Fiscal Code bill, the Speaker of the Houseruled several proposed amendments to the bill out of order because they violated the singlesubject rule, something environmental and other groups have pointed out .

Wednesday the House passed House Bill 1589 by a vote of 176 to 11. The bill now goesto the Senate for consideration.

The Senate Appropriations Committee has scheduled an off the floor meeting April 11 toconsider the bill.A House Fiscal Note and summary is available.

NewsClips:Editorial: Restore DEP’s Budget To Protect Environment PLS Reporter: Game Commission Makes Case For License Increase PLS Reporter: Fish Commission Makes Case For Different Funding Plan PLS Reporter: House GOP Leaders: 2016-17 Budget Discussions In Infancy

http://www.theplsreporter.com/Home/TabId/56/ArtMID/472/ArticleID/1228/FY-2016-2017-budget-discussions-in-infancy-House-GOP-leaders-say.aspxhttp://theplsreporter.com/Home/TabId/56/ArtMID/472/ArticleID/1241/VIDEO-Fish-and-Boat-Commission-supports-different-funding-plan-for-licenses.aspxhttp://theplsreporter.com/Home/TabId/56/ArtMID/472/ArticleID/1240/VIDEO-Game-Commission-makes-case-for-increasing-costs-of-hunting-licenses.aspxhttp://thetimes-tribune.com/opinion/state-big-lab-for-bad-governance-1.2026191http://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/BI/FN/2015/0/HB1589P3086.pdfhttp://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/CteeInfo/index.cfm?Code=3&CteeBody=Shttp://www.paenvironmentdigest.com/newsletter/default.asp?NewsletterArticleID=35227http://www.paenvironmentdigest.com/newsletter/default.asp?NewsletterArticleID=35432http://www.paenvironmentdigest.com/newsletter/default.asp?NewsletterArticleID=35432http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billInfo/billInfo.cfm?sYear=2015&sInd=0&body=H&type=B&bn=1327http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billInfo/billInfo.cfm?sYear=2015&sInd=0&body=H&type=B&bn=1589http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billInfo/billInfo.cfm?sYear=2015&sInd=0&body=H&type=B&bn=1589http://paenvironmentdaily.blogspot.com/2016/04/conventional-drillers-tell-court-time.htmlhttp://paenvironmentdaily.blogspot.com/2016/04/conventional-drillers-tell-court-time.htmlhttp://paenvironmentdaily.blogspot.com/2016/04/house-environmental-committee-meets.htmlhttps://stateimpact.npr.org/pennsylvania/2016/04/06/public-health-campaigners-renew-call-for-fracking-health-registry/http://triblive.com/business/headlines/10257732-74/facility-chemicals-gashttp://powersource.post-gazette.com/powersource/policy-powersource/2016/04/04/Radioactive-oil-and-gas-waste-causes-confusion-across-West-Virginia-and-Kentucky-state-lines/stories/201604040015http://triblive.com/news/adminpage/10270390-74/gas-columbia-fasterhttp://thetimes-tribune.com/news/cabot-appeals-water-contamination-verdict-1.2028516http://www.philly.com/philly/business/energy/20160408_Marcellus_driller_asks_judge_to_throw_out__4_24M_Dimock_verdict.htmlhttp://triblive.com/business/headlines/10251504-74/rice-energy-spillhttp://triblive.com/opinion/featuredcommentary/10228465-74/dep-pennsylvania-environmentalhttp://www.philly.com/philly/opinion/20160407_Commentary__New_rules_would_make_drilling_safer_in_Pa_.htmlmailto:[email protected]:[email protected]


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PLS Reporter: House Rs Working On All Fiscal Code Issues Wolf Vetoed PA Dems: Governor Punishing Us For Supporting GOP Budget Esack: Wolf Angers GOP With Ed Funding Formula Op-Ed: PA’s Budget Deficit Is A Ticking Time Bomb Harrisburg GOP Begins Budget Strategizing

Column: Rep. Roae Offers Colorful Ideas For PA Budget

PA Environment Digest Google+ Circle, Blogs, Twitter Feeds

PA Environment Digest now has a Google+ Circle called Green Works In PA . Let us join yourCircle.

Google+ now combines all the news you now get through the PA Environment Digest,Weekly, Blog, Twitter and Video sites into one resource.

You’ll receive as-it-happens postings on Pennsylvania environmental news, daily NewsClips and links to the weekly Digest and videos.

Also take advantage of these related services from Crisci Associates --

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PA Capitol Digest Daily Blog to get updates every day on Pennsylvania State Government,including NewsClips, coverage of key press conferences and more. Sign up and receive as theyare posted updates through your favorite RSS reader. You can also sign up for a once dailyemail alerting you to new items posted on this blog.

PA Capitol Digest Twitter Feed : Don't forget to sign up to receive the PA Capitol DigestTwitter feed to get instant updates on other news from in and around the Pennsylvania StateCapitol.

Senate/House Agenda/Session Schedule/Gov’s Schedule/ Bills Introduced

Here are the Senate and House Calendars and Committee meetings showing bills of interest aswell as a list of new environmental bills introduced--

Bill Calendars

House (April 11): House Bill 1737 (Maher-R-Allegheny) further providing for the collection ofunused and unwanted prescription and over the counter drugs ( sponsor summary ); HouseResolution 60 (Emrick-R-Northampton) directing the Legislative Budget and Finance

http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billInfo/billInfo.cfm?sYear=2015&sInd=0&body=H&type=R&bn=0060http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billInfo/billInfo.cfm?sYear=2015&sInd=0&body=H&type=R&bn=0060http://www.legis.state.pa.us//cfdocs/Legis/CSM/showMemoPublic.cfm?chamber=H&SPick=20150&cosponId=18486http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billInfo/billInfo.cfm?sYear=2015&sInd=0&body=H&type=B&bn=1737http://www.twitter.com/PaCapitolDigesthttp://pacapitoldigestcrisci.blogspot.com/http://paenvironmentdaily.blogspot.com/https://twitter.com/paenvirodigesthttp://www.crisciassociates.com/https://plus.google.com/+DavidHessGreenWorksInPA/postshttp://www.goerie.com/roae-offers-colorful-ideas-for-pa-budgethttp://www.philly.com/philly/news/politics/20160403_Harrisburg_GOP_begins_budget_strategizing.htmlhttp://www.chestnuthilllocal.com/2016/04/06/pennsylvanias-budget-deficit-is-a-ticking-time-bomb/http://www.mcall.com/news/nationworld/pennsylvania/mc-pa-wolf-legislature-school-funding-20160406-story.htmlhttp://triblive.com/state/pennsylvania/10264881-74/letter-wolf-lawmakershttp://www.theplsreporter.com/Home/TabId/56/ArtMID/472/ArticleID/1235/House-Senate-load-proposals-to-respond-to-Fiscal-Code-veto.aspx


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Committee to conduct a comprehensive review of the state’s program to regulate the beneficialuse of sewage sludge; Senate Bill 307 (Yudichak-D-Luzerne) providing for an independentcounsel for the Environmental Quality Board; Senate Bill 811 (Hughes-D- Philadelphia) FY2015-16 Capital Budget bill; Senate Bill 1071 (Browne-R-Lehigh), the “agreed-to” pensionreform bill; Senate Bill 1073 (Browne-R-Lehigh) “agreed-to” $30.8 billion General Fund budget

bill. Click Here for full House Bill Calendar.

Senate (April 11): Senate Bill 289 (Fontana-D-Allegheny) funding to assist homeowners withdeteriorating private sewer laterals ( sponsor summary ); Senate Bill 1041 (Schwank-D-Berks)amending Act 101 to authorize all local governments to charge a recycling service fee ( sponsorsummary ); Senate Bill 1114 (Yaw-R-Lycoming) allowing the use of alternative on-lot septicsystems on the sewage facility planning process ( sponsor summary ); Senate Bill 1168 (Eichelberger-R-Blair) authorizing the Fish and Boat Commission to adopt fees charged by theagency rather than have them set by the General Assembly ( sponsor summary ); Senate Bill 1166 (Stefano-R-Fayette) authorizing the Game Commission to adopt fees charged by the agencyrather than have them set by the General Assembly ( sponsor summary ); House Bill 806 (Causer-R-Cameron) providing for county-specific use values for land in forest reserves ( sponsorsummary ); House Bill 1712 (R.Brown-R-Monroe) establishing a Private Dam FinancialAssurance Program ( House Fiscal Note and summary). Click Here for full Senate BillCalendar.

Committee Meeting Agendas This Week

House: the Environmental Resources and Energy Committee meets for a vote on DEP’sChapter 78 (conventional) and 78a (unconventional) final drilling regulations; the HouseDemocratic Policy Committee hearing on clean energy jobs. Click Here for full HouseCommittee Schedule.

Senate: the Environmental Resources and Energy Committee meets for a vote oncorrespondence to the IRRC on DEP’s Chapter 78 (conventional) and 78a (unconventional) finaldrilling regulations, Senate Bill 1011 (Hutchinson-R-Venango) killing DEP’s final drillingregulations covering conventional oil and gas wells and starting the rulemaking process over;Senate Bill 1195 (White-R-Indiana) [language posted Friday] to further delay a Pennsylvania

plan for meeting EPA’s Clean Power Climate Plan rule. The Committee will be joined by theSenate Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee to hear a presentation from the U.S.Geological Survey on monitoring results for the Chesapeake Bay Watershed from DouglasMoyer; the Local Government Committee meets to consider House Bill 1325

(Mustio-R-Allegheny) allowing townships of the second class to charge stormwater managementfees ( House Fiscal Note and summary), House Bill 1394 (Mustio-R-Allegheny) authorizing boroughs to charge stormwater management fees ( House Fiscal Note and summary), House Bill1661 (Mustio-R-Allegheny) authorizing first class townships to charge a stormwatermanagement fee ( House Fiscal Note and summary). Click Here for full Senate CommitteeSchedule.

Other: Environmental Issues Forum by the Joint Legislative Air and Water Pollution Control

http://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/CO/SM/COSM.HTMhttp://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/BI/FN/2015/0/HB1661P2765.pdfhttp://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billInfo/billInfo.cfm?sYear=2015&sInd=0&body=H&type=B&bn=1661http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billInfo/billInfo.cfm?sYear=2015&sInd=0&body=H&type=B&bn=1661http://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/BI/FN/2015/0/HB1394P2612.pdfhttp://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billInfo/billInfo.cfm?sYear=2015&sInd=0&body=H&type=B&bn=1394http://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/BI/FN/2015/0/HB1325P2611.pdfhttp://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billInfo/billInfo.cfm?sYear=2015&sInd=0&body=H&type=B&bn=1325http://cbrim.er.usgs.gov/summary.htmlhttp://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billInfo/billInfo.cfm?sYear=2015&sInd=0&body=S&type=B&bn=1195http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billInfo/billInfo.cfm?sYear=2015&sInd=0&body=S&type=B&bn=1011http://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/CO/HM/COHM.HTMhttp://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/SC/SC/0/RC/CAL.HTMhttp://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/BI/FN/2015/0/HB1712P2772.pdfhttp://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billInfo/billInfo.cfm?sYear=2015&sInd=0&body=H&type=B&bn=1712http://www.legis.state.pa.us//cfdocs/Legis/CSM/showMemoPublic.cfm?chamber=H&SPick=20150&cosponId=17643http://www.legis.state.pa.us//cfdocs/Legis/CSM/showMemoPublic.cfm?chamber=H&SPick=20150&cosponId=17643http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billInfo/billInfo.cfm?sYear=2015&sInd=0&body=H&type=B&bn=0806http://www.legis.state.pa.us//cfdocs/Legis/CSM/showMemoPublic.cfm?chamber=S&SPick=20150&cosponId=19679http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billInfo/billInfo.cfm?sYear=2015&sInd=0&body=S&type=B&bn=1166http://www.legis.state.pa.us//cfdocs/Legis/CSM/showMemoPublic.cfm?chamber=S&SPick=20150&cosponId=19508http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/billinfo.cfm?syear=2015&sind=0&body=S&type=B&bn=1168http://www.legis.state.pa.us//cfdocs/Legis/CSM/showMemoPublic.cfm?chamber=S&SPick=20150&cosponId=19376http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billInfo/billInfo.cfm?sYear=2015&sInd=0&body=S&type=B&bn=1114http://www.legis.state.pa.us//cfdocs/Legis/CSM/showMemoPublic.cfm?chamber=S&SPick=20150&cosponId=18547http://www.legis.state.pa.us//cfdocs/Legis/CSM/showMemoPublic.cfm?chamber=S&SPick=20150&cosponId=18547http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billInfo/billInfo.cfm?sYear=2015&sInd=0&body=S&type=B&bn=1041http://www.legis.state.pa.us//cfdocs/Legis/CSM/showMemoPublic.cfm?chamber=S&SPick=20150&cosponId=15457http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billInfo/billInfo.cfm?sYear=2015&sInd=0&body=S&type=B&bn=0289http://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/SC/HC/0/RC/SCHC.HTMhttp://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billInfo/billInfo.cfm?sYear=2015&sInd=0&body=S&type=B&bn=1073http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billInfo/billInfo.cfm?sYear=2015&sInd=0&body=S&type=B&bn=1071http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billInfo/billInfo.cfm?sYear=2015&sInd=0&body=S&type=B&bn=0811http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billInfo/billInfo.cfm?sYear=2015&sInd=0&body=S&type=B&bn=0307


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and Conservation Committee featuring a presentation on Sustainable Manufacturing in theForest Products Industry; the Legislative Forestry Task Force , Joint Air and Water PollutionControl and Conservation Committee meets on the topic of invasive species and their impact onforest health. Presenters for the task force meeting include: Mr. Don Eggen, forest healthmanager, DCNR's Bureau of Forestry; Mr. Sven Shichiger, entomology program manager,

Department of Agriculture; and Dr. Sarah Johnson, conservation GIS analyst, The NatureConservancy-Pennsylvania Chapter .

Bills Pending In Key Committees

Here are links to key Standing Committees in the House and Senate and the bills pending ineach--

HouseAppropriations EducationEnvironmental Resources and EnergyConsumer AffairsGaming OversightHuman ServicesJudiciaryLiquor ControlTransportationLinks for all other Standing House Committees

SenateAppropriationsEnvironmental Resources and EnergyConsumer Protection and Professional LicensureCommunity, Economic and Recreational DevelopmentEducationJudiciaryLaw and JusticePublic Health and WelfareTransportationLinks for all other Standing Senate Committees

Bills Introduced

The following bills of interest were introduced this week--

Expanding Natural Gas Service: House Bill 1946 (Godshall-R-Montgomery) recovery of costsrelated to expanding natural gas distribution service ( sponsor summary ).

Temporary Cessation Of Coal Mining Operations: House Bill 1967 (Gabler-R-Clearfield)

http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billInfo/billInfo.cfm?sYear=2015&sInd=0&body=H&type=B&bn=1967http://www.legis.state.pa.us//cfdocs/Legis/CSM/showMemoPublic.cfm?chamber=H&SPick=20150&cosponId=19868http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billInfo/billInfo.cfm?sYear=2015&sInd=0&body=H&type=B&bn=1946http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/CteeInfo/StandingCommittees.cfm?CteeBody=Shttp://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/CteeInfo/index.cfm?Code=19&CteeBody=Shttp://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/CteeInfo/index.cfm?Code=33&CteeBody=Shttp://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/CteeInfo/index.cfm?Code=29&CteeBody=Shttp://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/CteeInfo/index.cfm?Code=39&CteeBody=Shttp://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/CteeInfo/index.cfm?Code=23&CteeBody=Shttp://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/CteeInfo/index.cfm?Code=31&CteeBody=Shttp://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/CteeInfo/index.cfm?Code=7&CteeBody=Shttp://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/CteeInfo/index.cfm?Code=9&CteeBody=Shttp://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/CteeInfo/index.cfm?Code=3&CteeBody=Shttp://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/CteeInfo/StandingCommittees.cfm?CteeBody=Hhttp://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/CteeInfo/StandingCommittees.cfm?CteeBody=Hhttp://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/CteeInfo/index.cfm?Code=38&CteeBody=Hhttp://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/CteeInfo/index.cfm?Code=28&CteeBody=Hhttp://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/CteeInfo/index.cfm?Code=24&CteeBody=Hhttp://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/CteeInfo/index.cfm?Code=56&CteeBody=Hhttp://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/CteeInfo/index.cfm?Code=54&CteeBody=Hhttp://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/CteeInfo/index.cfm?Code=10&CteeBody=Hhttp://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/CteeInfo/index.cfm?Code=8&CteeBody=Hhttp://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/CteeInfo/index.cfm?Code=12&CteeBody=Hhttp://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/CteeInfo/index.cfm?Code=4&CteeBody=Hhttp://www.nature.org/ourinitiatives/regions/northamerica/unitedstates/pennsylvania/http://www.nature.org/ourinitiatives/regions/northamerica/unitedstates/pennsylvania/


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would eliminate the current DEP limit on temporarily ceasing surface coal mining operations of180 days and replace it with the less stringent federal requirement that has no specific timeframes ( sponsor summary ).

Earth Day: House Resolution 771 (Murt-R-Adams) encouraging all residents of the

Commonwealth to observe Earth Day on April 22 ( sponsor summary ).

Session Schedule

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

Senate April 11, 12, 13May 9, 10, 11, 16, 17, 18June 6, 7, 8, 13, 14, 15, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

House April 11, 12, 13May 2, 3, 4, 16, 17, 18, 23, 24, 25June 6, 7, 8, 13, 14, 15, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

Governor’s Schedule

Gov. Tom Wolf's work calendar will be posted each Friday and his public schedule for the daywill be posted each morning. Click Here to view Gov. Wolf’s Weekly Calendar and PublicAppearances.

Bills On Governor's Desk

The following bills were given final approval by the Senate and House and are now on theGovernor's desk for action--

Valuation of Water Systems: House Bill 1326 (Godshall-R-Montgomery) valuation of waterand wastewater systems for ratemaking purposes ( House Fiscal Note and summary).

Senate/House Bills Moving

The following bills of interest saw action this week in the House and Senate--

House

USTIF Board Appointments: House Bill 1895 (Metzgar-R- Bedford) changing the membershipof the Underground Storage Tank Indemnification Board from appointments only by theGovernor to appointments by both the General Assembly and the Governor was reported out ofthe House Appropriations Committee and passed by the House. The bill now goes to the Senate

http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billInfo/billInfo.cfm?sYear=2015&sInd=0&body=H&type=B&bn=1895http://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/BI/FN/2015/0/HB1326P2396.pdfhttp://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billInfo/billInfo.cfm?sYear=2015&sInd=0&body=H&type=B&bn=1326https://governor.pa.gov/schedule/http://www.legis.state.pa.us//cfdocs/Legis/CSM/showMemoPublic.cfm?chamber=H&SPick=20150&cosponId=19764http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billInfo/billInfo.cfm?sYear=2015&sInd=0&body=H&type=R&bn=0771http://www.legis.state.pa.us//cfdocs/Legis/CSM/showMemoPublic.cfm?chamber=H&SPick=20150&cosponId=19880


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for action. A House Fiscal Note and summary is available.A companion bill-- Senate Bill 1142 (Yaw-R-Lycoming)-- passed the Senate in March

and remains in the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee.

Budget Fiscal Code: House Bill 1589 (Causer-R-Cameron) amending the Fiscal Code to

authorize a transfer from the PA Racehorse Development Fund was removed from the Table,considered on the House Floor, was referred into the House Appropriations Committee, amendedto include some of the provisions vetoed by Gov. Wolf including a $15 million reduction infunding for the Environmental Stewardship (Growing Greener) Fund, takes $12 million fromCFA’s High Performance Buildings Program and transfers it to fund a new program to expandaccess to natural gas infrastructure, earmarks existing DCNR funding for the operation ofWashington Crossing Historical Park and directs funding to sewer and drinking water projectsfor specific legislators, but NOT the provisions delaying Pennsylvania plan to meet the CleanPower Climate Plan rule or killing DEP’s final conventional oil and gas drilling regulations andreported out of the House Appropriations Committee and passed by the House 176 to 11.

The bill now goes to the Senate for consideration. A House Fiscal Note and summary isavailable.

Interestingly, the Speaker of the House ruled several proposed amendments to the bill outof order because they violated the single subject rule.

The Senate Appropriations Committee has scheduled an off the floor meeting April 11 toconsider the bill.

The Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee meets April 12 to considertwo of the items vetoed by Gov. Wolf from the earlier Fiscal Code bill-- Senate Bill 1011 (Hutchinson-R-Venango) killing DEP’s final drilling regulations covering conventional oil andgas wells and starting the rulemaking process over; Senate Bill 1195 (White-R-Indiana)[language posted Friday] to further delay a Pennsylvania plan for meeting EPA’s Clean PowerClimate Plan rule.

Potomac River Basin Commission: House Bill 577 (Moul-R-Adams) allowing for alternatesfor some members of the Potomac River Basin Commission board was reported out of the HouseAppropriations Committee and passed by the House. The bill now goes to the Senate for action.A House Fiscal Note and summary is available.

Recreational Liability: House Bill 544 (Moul-R-Adams) making changes to the landownerliability for opening their land to public recreation was reported out of the House AppropriationsCommittee and passed by the House. The bill now goes to the Senate for action. A House Fiscal

Note and summary is available.

Senate

Fines For Littering: Senate Bill 973 (Scavello-R-Monroe) increasing the fines for littering( sponsor summary ) was amended on the Senate Floor and passed by the Senate. The bill nowgoes to the House for consideration.

Act 129 Opt Out: Senate Bill 805 (Boscola-D-Lehigh) allowing an Act 129 opt-out for large

http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billInfo/billInfo.cfm?sYear=2015&sInd=0&body=S&type=B&bn=0805http://www.legis.state.pa.us//cfdocs/Legis/CSM/showMemoPublic.cfm?chamber=S&SPick=20150&cosponId=16502http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billInfo/billInfo.cfm?sYear=2015&sInd=0&body=S&type=B&bn=0973http://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/BI/FN/2015/0/HB0544P3018.pdfhttp://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/BI/FN/2015/0/HB0544P3018.pdfhttp://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billInfo/billInfo.cfm?sYear=2015&sInd=0&body=H&type=B&bn=0544http://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/BI/FN/2015/0/HB0577P0646.pdfhttp://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billInfo/billInfo.cfm?sYear=2015&sInd=0&body=H&type=B&bn=0577http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billInfo/billInfo.cfm?sYear=2015&sInd=0&body=S&type=B&bn=1195http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billInfo/billInfo.cfm?sYear=2015&sInd=0&body=S&type=B&bn=1011http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/CteeInfo/index.cfm?Code=9&CteeBody=Shttp://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/CteeInfo/index.cfm?Code=3&CteeBody=Shttp://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/BI/FN/2015/0/HB1589P3086.pdfhttp://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billInfo/billInfo.cfm?sYear=2015&sInd=0&body=H&type=B&bn=1589http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billInfo/billInfo.cfm?sYear=2015&sInd=0&body=S&type=B&bn=1142http://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/BI/FN/2015/0/HB1895P2971.pdf


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electric users ( sponsor summary ) was Tabled.

News From The Capitol

Senate Approves Bill Increasing Penalties For Littering, Illegal Dumping

The Senate Wednesday unanimously passed Senate Bill 973 (Scavello-R-Monroe) increasing thefines for littering.

Currently, fines for littering under Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) run from $50 to $300for a first-time offense, and $300 to $1,000 for a second and subsequent offense. Senate Bill 973

boosts fines up to $2,000 for multiple offenses based on the size of weight and cubic feet oflitter.

This legislation will also increase the littering fines outlined in Title 75 (Vehicles), withheavier penalties for littering from vehicles on highways, properties and water, including in anagricultural security area.

“I believe the current fine system is not a proper deterrent for this crime,” said Sen. MarioScavello, prime sponsor of the bill. “The amount of trash along roadways and elsewhere is not

just aesthetically unpleasant, it’s bad for the environment.”The bill now goes to the House for consideration.

NewsClips:Senate Votes To Hike Littering Fines Volunteers Needed For Presque Isle Cleanup Saturday More Than 4,000 Volunteers In Erie Ready To Clean Up Region CMU Students Pitch In To Cleanup Neighborhood

Bill Allows Coal Mine Operators To Temporarily Suspend Operations

Rep. Matt Gabler (R-Clearfield) introduced House Bill 1967 (Gabler-R-Clearfield) this week thatwould eliminate the current DEP limit on temporarily ceasing surface coal mining operations of180 days and replace it with the less stringent federal requirement that has no specific timeframes.

This would allow surface coal mines to remain open and unreclaimed potentially foryears since the term of permits varies with the size and complexity of the mining operations.DEP’s regulations require the agency to review an active permit every five years.

Rep. Gabler said this measure was necessary because the Pennsylvania coal industry isexperiencing severe economic hardships.

While the legislation says the mine operator remains responsible for all permit

obligations, clearly in this economic climate for coal, this bill would give mine operators licenseto simply disappear without reclaiming the site.

A sponsor summary of this bill is available online.

House Democratic Policy Committee Holds Clean Energy Hearing April 11

The House Democratic Policy Chair Mike Sturla (D-Lancaster) announced Wednesday thecommittee will hold a public hearing April 11 hosted by Reps. Steve McCarter (D-Montgomery),

http://www.pahouse.com/PolicyCommitteehttp://www.legis.state.pa.us//cfdocs/Legis/CSM/showMemoPublic.cfm?chamber=H&SPick=20150&cosponId=19880http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billInfo/billInfo.cfm?sYear=2015&sInd=0&body=H&type=B&bn=1967http://www.sopghreporter.com/story/2016/04/05/news/cmu-students-pitch-in-to-clean-up-ss/16567.htmlhttp://www.goerie.com/more-than-4000-volunteers-in-erie-ready-to-clean-up-regionhttp://www.goerie.com/volunteers-needed-for-presque-isle-cleanup-saturdayhttp://abc27.com/2016/04/07/pa-senate-votes-to-hike-littering-fines/?cid=facebook_abc27_Newshttp://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billInfo/billInfo.cfm?sYear=2015&sInd=0&body=S&type=B&bn=0973http://www.legis.state.pa.us//cfdocs/Legis/CSM/showMemoPublic.cfm?chamber=S&SPick=20150&cosponId=18088


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Mary Jo Daley (D-Montgomery) and Leanne Krueger-Braneky (D-Delaware), on clean-energy jobs.

The current hearing agenda includes: — John Quigley, Secretary of DEP — Panel One:

-- Liz Robinson, Executive Director, Energy Coordinating Agency ;-- Ken MacDougal, National Electrical Contractors Association – PA-DE-NJ Chapter ;-- Nancy Mifflin, American Association of Blacks in Energy ; and-- Ron Celentano, PA Solar Energy Industries Association .-- Panel Two:-- Eric Miller, Keystone Energy Efficiency Alliance ; and-- Khari Mosely, BlueGreen Alliance .

The hearing starts at 10 a.m. in the House Democratic Caucus Room, 418 Main CapitolBuilding, Harrisburg.

For more information and copies of testimony after the hearing, visit the HouseDemocratic Policy webpage.NewsClips:Batteries Holy Grail For Transitioning To Clean Energy Allegheny County Solar Initiative Reaches Out To Businesses Bloomberg: Wind, Solar Are Crushing Fossil Fuels

Senate Local Government Committee Meets April 12 On Stormwater Fee Bills

The Senate Local Government Committee is scheduled to meet on April 12 to consider a package of 3 bills to allow townships and boroughs to charge local stormwater management fees.The bills include---- House Bill 1325 (Mustio-R-Allegheny) allowing townships of the second class to chargestormwater management fees ( House Fiscal Note and summary);-- House Bill 1394 (Mustio-R-Allegheny) authorizing boroughs to charge stormwatermanagement fees ( House Fiscal Note and summary); and-- House Bill 1661 (Mustio-R-Allegheny) authorizing first class townships to charge astormwater management fee ( House Fiscal Note and summary).

The meeting will be held in Room 156 Main Capitol starting at 10:30.Sen. Scott Hutchinson (R-Venango) serves as Majority Chair of the Committee and can

be contacted by sending email to: [email protected] . Sen. Rob Teplitz (D-Dauphin)serves as Minority Chair and can be contacted by sending email to:[email protected] .

NewsClips:Environmental Group, Pittsburgh Settle Stormwater Lawsuit Editorial: Get Firm Deal On Scranton Stormwater

News From Around The State

Citizens Advisory Council To Hear Update On Recycling, E-Waste Programs April 19

http://thetimes-tribune.com/opinion/get-firm-deal-on-stormwater-1.2026584http://triblive.com/news/adminpage/10276905-74/federal-future-2010mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/BI/FN/2015/0/HB1661P2765.pdfhttp://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billInfo/billInfo.cfm?sYear=2015&sInd=0&body=H&type=B&bn=1661http://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/BI/FN/2015/0/HB1394P2612.pdfhttp://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billInfo/billInfo.cfm?sYear=2015&sInd=0&body=H&type=B&bn=1394http://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/BI/FN/2015/0/HB1325P2611.pdfhttp://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billInfo/billInfo.cfm?sYear=2015&sInd=0&body=H&type=B&bn=1325http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/cteeInfo/Index.cfm?Code=15&CteeBody=Shttp://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-04-06/wind-and-solar-are-crushing-fossil-fuelshttp://triblive.com/business/headlines/10257108-74/solar-business-alleghenyhttp://powersource.post-gazette.com/powersource/companies/2016/04/05/Batteries-are-the-holy-grail-for-transitioning-to-clean-energy-but-development-is-slow/stories/201603220001http://www.pahouse.com/PolicyCommitteehttp://www.pahouse.com/PolicyCommitteehttp://www.bluegreenalliance.org/https://www.energywisepa.org/http://www.seia.org/state-solar-policy/pennsylvaniahttp://www.aabe.org/http://neca-pdj.org/https://www.ecasavesenergy.org/


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At its April 19 meeting, the DEP Citizens Advisory Council will hear updates from DEP on theRecycling Program generally-- Where We Are In 2016-- and the Covered Device (ElectronicsWaste) Recycling Program specifically.

Also on the agenda is a presentation on DEP’s proposed drinking water disinfectionregulation.

DEP Secretary John Quigley will provide Council with his regular update on agencyactivities and answer questions from Council members.

DEP also submits its regular monthly written report to CAC highlighting regulatory proposals in process, topics of upcoming advisory committee meeting, significant activitiesgoing on by agency program, grant and funding programs available and the monthly workloadreport from the Oil and Gas Management Program.

The meeting will be held in Room 105 Rachel Carson Building starting at 10:00. ClickHere to register to watch the meeting online.

The next meeting of the CAC is scheduled for May 17.For more information, visit the DEP Citizens Advisory Council webpage or contact Katie

Hetherington Cunfer by calling 717-705-2693 or send email to: [email protected] .NewsClips:Behrend Students Bring Recycling To Erie Veterans Greene County Planning Electronics Recycling Program Shippensburg Boro Seeks Changes To E-Waste Recycling Program Jessup Borough Will Auction Former Dump Site, Power Plant Site

NE Lawmakers Debate Environmental Issues, Take Center Stage Related Stories:Hearing: Electronics Manufacturers Need To Pay For E-Waste Actually Collected Keep PA Beautiful: Illegal Dumping Of Electronics Running Rampant In PA Keep PA Beautiful Launches New Electronics Waste Recycling Website

April 22 Is Earth Day: 1 Billion People Will Be Involved, Will You?

This Earth Day, April 22nd, more than one billion people in 192 countries will take action to protect our shared environment.

All across the globe, from big cities to small villages, people are organizing, demandingclimate action, cleaning up their local communities, meeting with their elected officials, plantingtrees, and teaching their children to protect our planet.

In a rare and unprecedented event, United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon hasinvited every world leader to the United Nations to officially sign the Paris Climate Agreementreached last December.

Both China and the United States – the two largest carbon emitters worldwide - haveconfirmed that they will sign that day. It is no coincidence that the agreement is being opened forsignatures on April 22nd, Earth Day.

"Earth Day is the largest, most recognizable face of the environmental movement," saidKathleen Rogers, president of Earth Day Network . "Millions of people the world over will

become lifelong environmentalists on Earth Day. Hundreds of thousands will be children – our planet's future. They will join the more than 1 billion people who already use Earth Day to focuson the urgent need to stabilize and reduce global greenhouse gas emissions and fight climate

http://www.earthday.org/http://www.paenvironmentdigest.com/newsletter/default.asp?NewsletterArticleID=35162http://www.paenvironmentdigest.com/newsletter/default.asp?NewsletterArticleID=35331http://www.paenvironmentdigest.com/newsletter/default.asp?NewsletterArticleID=35330http://thetimes-tribune.com/news/environmental-issues-take-center-stage-at-debate-for-state-rep-1.2027578http://thetimes-tribune.com/news/jessup-will-auction-former-dump-site-1.2027123http://cumberlink.com/news/local/communities/shippensburg/article_aa3ac85c-8944-5521-a7a2-f4e4d7b8837d.htmlhttp://www.observer-reporter.com/20160407/greene_county_planning_electronics_recycling_programhttp://www.goerie.com/behrend-students-bring-recycling-program-to-erie-military-veteransmailto:[email protected]://www.dep.pa.gov/PublicParticipation/CitizensAdvisoryCouncil/Meetings/Pages/default.aspx#.VrXnbZMrJBwhttps://copa.webex.com/mw0401lsp13/mywebex/default.do?nomenu=true&siteurl=copa&service=6&rnd=0.910099619374788&main_url=https%3A%2F%2Fcopa.webex.com%2Fec0701lsp13%2Feventcenter%2Fevent%2FeventAction.do%3FtheAction%3Ddetail%26confViewID%3D3572057097%26%26EMK%3D4832534b000000029a9017e013616cd217143003d0fbebd1b46f1954b8d17c23e741681a7aa979e5%26%26encryptTicket%3DSDJTSwAAAALx8yklyE_QQ1COe383QZAXXk8v8aABV-6obgDxVQWUXw2%26%26siteurl%3Dcopahttps://copa.webex.com/mw0401lsp13/mywebex/default.do?nomenu=true&siteurl=copa&service=6&rnd=0.910099619374788&main_url=https%3A%2F%2Fcopa.webex.com%2Fec0701lsp13%2Feventcenter%2Fevent%2FeventAction.do%3FtheAction%3Ddetail%26confViewID%3D3572057097%26%26EMK%3D4832534b000000029a9017e013616cd217143003d0fbebd1b46f1954b8d17c23e741681a7aa979e5%26%26encryptTicket%3DSDJTSwAAAALx8yklyE_QQ1COe383QZAXXk8v8aABV-6obgDxVQWUXw2%26%26siteurl%3Dcopahttp://files.dep.state.pa.us/PublicParticipation/Citizens%20Advisory%20Council/CACPortalFiles/Meetings/2016_04/April%20CAC%20Report.pdfhttp://www.dep.pa.gov/PublicParticipation/CitizensAdvisoryCouncil/Meetings/Pages/default.aspx#.VrXnbZMrJBw


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change."This year Earth Day Network is focusing on planting new trees and forests worldwide.

As we begin the countdown to Earth Day's 50th anniversary in 2020, EDN is pledging to plant7.8 billion trees worldwide – one for every person on Earth!

That's ambitious, but this down-payment must be made in order to combat climate

change and keep our most vulnerable ecosystems from extinction."We have no higher priority this year than to make sure the United States, China, India,

Russia, the EU, and all the largest CO2 emitters sign the Paris Agreement to prove that whathappened in Paris was not all talk. Signing the Paris Agreement this Earth Day at the United

Nations is just the beginning," Rogers said. "That, coupled with our global activities, will makethis the largest, most significant Earth Day in years and a perfect start in our countdown to EarthDay 2020, our 50th!"

For more information, visit the Earth Day Network website.Pennsylvania ResourcesHere are a few links to Pennsylvania resources to help celebrate, education and take

action in and around Earth Day 2016---- DEP Earth Day Educator Resources -- DEP Just For Kids! -- Pennsylvania Environmental Heroes Game - PPT-- Keep PA Beautiful: Great American Cleanup Of PA -- Pathways To Green Schools -- DCNR: Learn About PA’s Natural Resources -- PA Environmental Educators EE Resources -- Philadelphia Area Earth Day Events -- Earth Day In Frick Park Environmental Center Pittsburgh -- Pittsburgh Earth Day: Steel To Sustainability -- Celebrate Earth Month With PA Horticultural Society -- Celebrate Earth Month With Stroud Water Research Center NewsClip:Spring Cleanup In York City Seeks Volunteers

Celebrate Earth Month With Stroud Water Research Center

The Stroud Water Research Center in Chester County is celebrating Earth Month by holding aseries of events during April, including---- April 14 Volunteer Tree Plantings-- April 21 Our Rivers On Drugs Science Seminar

-- April 23 Brook Trout Release Day And Trout Adoption-- Click Here for all the details and more eventsFor more information on programs, initiatives and special events, visit the Stroud Water

Research Center website, Like them on Facebook , Follow on Twitter , include them in yourCircle on Google+ and visit their YouTube Channel .NewsClips:Spring Cleanup In York City Seeks Volunteers Senate Votes To Hike Littering Fines

http://abc27.com/2016/04/07/pa-senate-votes-to-hike-littering-fines/?cid=facebook_abc27_Newshttp://www.yorkdispatch.com/story/news/2016/04/04/spring-cleanup-york-city-seeks-volunteers/82619294/https://www.youtube.com/user/StroudCenterhttps://plus.google.com/u/1/+StroudCenterOrg1967https://twitter.com/StroudCenterhttps://www.facebook.com/StroudCenterhttp://www.stroudcenter.org/http://www.stroudcenter.org/http://www.stroudcenter.org/events/http://us5.campaign-archive1.com/?u=3d77fd7cc0af16769522e0fd7&id=f8e88ea7bc&e=0945dd75fdhttp://www.stroudcenter.org/http://www.yorkdispatch.com/story/news/2016/04/04/spring-cleanup-york-city-seeks-volunteers/82619294/http://paenvironmentdaily.blogspot.com/2016/04/celebrate-earth-month-with-stroud-water.htmlhttp://phsonline.org/earth-month-2016?utm_source=eblast4.1&utm_medium=bodyearthmonth&utm_content=bodyearthmonth&utm_campaign=earth2016http://www.visitpittsburgh.com/includes/calendar-of-events/Pittsburgh-Earth-Day/21952/http://www.pittsburghparks.org/earth-dayhttp://www.metrokids.com/MetroKids/Earth-Day-Events/http://www.paee.net/resources.htmlhttp://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/learn/index.htmhttp://www.pathwaystogreenschools.org/http://www.gacofpa.org/http://files.dep.state.pa.us/EnvironmentalEd/Earth%20Day/EarthDayPortalFiles/PennsylvaniaEnvironmentalHeroesGame.ppthttp://www.dep.pa.gov/Citizens/JustForKids/Pages/default.aspx#.VwKHQ2Oa10dhttp://www.dep.pa.gov/Citizens/EnvironmentalEducation/Earth%20Day/EducatorResources/Pages/default.aspx#.VwKGoGOa10chttp://www.earthday.org/


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Volunteers Needed For Presque Isle Cleanup Saturday More Than 4,000 Volunteers In Erie Ready To Clean Up Region CMU Students Pitch In To Cleanup Neighborhood

Volunteers Needed For April 30 Chester Ridley Crum Watersheds Assn Streams Cleanup

The Chester Ridley Crum Watersheds Association in Chesterand Delaware counties is seeking enthusiastic volunteers for its19th Annual CRC Streams Cleanup on April 30 from 9:00 to11:30 a.m. at thirty sites throughout the watersheds.A free picnic for volunteers will follow at Ridley Creek StatePark . Find a cleanup site near you by checking the onlinecleanup locations map. Volunteers are encouraged to registerfor the event through a form on the same page.The annual cleanup includes over 500 volunteers and has

removed more than 600,000 pounds of trash from our streams. Many faithful volunteers returnyear after year for the fun, camaraderie, and opportunity to improve their communities.

All are invited to volunteer and make this year’s the biggest and best cleanup yet.Children under the age of 18 are encouraged to participate, but must be accompanied by a parentor guardian.

Sponsorships for these events are still available .For more information, visit the Chester Ridley Crum Watershed Association CRC

Streams Cleanup webpage, call CRC at 610-359-1440 or send email to: [email protected] .NewsClips:Spring Cleanup In York City Seeks Volunteers Senate Votes To Hike Littering Fines Volunteers Needed For Presque Isle Cleanup Saturday More Than 4,000 Volunteers In Erie Ready To Clean Up Region CMU Students Pitch In To Cleanup Neighborhood

Capital Region Water: May 7 Litter Cleanup And Drinking Water Tour, Harrisburg

Capital Region Water is hosting a May 7 litter cleanup and drinking water tour it calls ConsiderThe Source at the Dehart Dam in Clarks Valley north of Harrisburg from 9:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Volunteers are needed to prevent litter from making its way into the DeHart Reservoir,the source of Harrisburg’s drinking water. The day will be begin with a safety briefing andorientation and wrap-up with lunch and behind the scenes tours.

Volunteers will have the chance to learn more about how their water is collected in theDeHart Reservoir and makes the nearly 25 mile journey to Harrisburg.Registration is required to participate to ensure your safety and security. Please let us

know you’re joining us and we’ll plan appropriately for transportation, supplies and lunch.A bus will be leaving Capital Region Water’s Customer Service Center located at 100

Pine Drive in Harrisburg promptly at 8:30 a.m. and leaving at 2:30 p.m. for an estimated 3:00 p.m. arrival back to the Customer Service Center.

Click Here for all the details.

http://capitalregionwater.com/considerthesourceday/#sthash.B3QinLDo.dpbshttp://capitalregionwater.com/considerthesourceday/#sthash.B3QinLDo.dpbshttp://capitalregionwater.com/considerthesourceday/#sthash.B3QinLDo.dpbshttp://capitalregionwater.com/http://www.sopghreporter.com/story/2016/04/05/news/cmu-students-pitch-in-to-clean-up-ss/16567.htmlhttp://www.goerie.com/more-than-4000-volunteers-in-erie-ready-to-clean-up-regionhttp://www.goerie.com/volunteers-needed-for-presque-isle-cleanup-saturdayhttp://abc27.com/2016/04/07/pa-senate-votes-to-hike-littering-fines/?cid=facebook_abc27_Newshttp://www.yorkdispatch.com/story/news/2016/04/04/spring-cleanup-york-city-seeks-volunteers/82619294/mailto:[email protected]://www.crcwatersheds.org/streams-cleanup.htmlhttp://www.crcwatersheds.org/streams-cleanup.htmlhttp://www.crcwatersheds.org/store/c4/19th_Annual_CRC_Streams_Cleanup_sponsorships.htmlhttp://www.crcwatersheds.org/streams-cleanuphttp://www.crcwatersheds.org/streams-cleanuphttp://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks/findapark/ridleycreek/http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks/findapark/ridleycreek/http://www.crcwatersheds.org/streams-cleanup.htmlhttp://www.crcwatersheds.org/http://www.sopghreporter.com/story/2016/04/05/news/cmu-students-pitch-in-to-clean-up-ss/16567.htmlhttp://www.goerie.com/more-than-4000-volunteers-in-erie-ready-to-clean-up-regionhttp://www.goerie.com/volunteers-needed-for-presque-isle-cleanup-saturday


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For more information on programs, initiatives and upcoming events, visit the CapitalRegion Water website. Click Here to receive regular updates from CRW, Follow them onTwitter and Like them on Facebook .NewsClips:Spring Cleanup In York City Seeks Volunteers

Senate Votes To Hike Littering Fines Volunteers Needed For Presque Isle Cleanup Saturday More Than 4,000 Volunteers In Erie Ready To Clean Up Region CMU Students Pitch In To Cleanup Neighborhood

LancasterOnline: Free Composting Workshops Offered In Lancaster County

Ad Crable, LancasterOnline , reported Thursday the Lancaster County Solid Waste ManagementAuthority , local municipalities, community organizations and Penn State Master Gardeners willsponsor a series of 7 organic composting workshops in Lancaster County starting on April 16.Click Here for all the details, including how to register.

Only 5,000 Of 33,600 Farmers Fill Out Chesapeake Bay Conservation Survey

Pennsylvania farmers still have time to help share theirindividual agriculture conservation stories by completingPenn State’s Survey Research Center’s best management

practices (BMPs) survey .Only about 5,000 of the 33,600 farmers in the

Pennsylvania portion of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed haveresponded to the survey.

The survey is designed to help identify thoseconservation BMPs installed by farmers without state orfederal cost-share funds (non-cost-shared BMPs) on farms

across the Chesapeake Bay watershed.The survey, which is to be completed by April 30, was designed to capture those

conservation practices farmers have installed – at their own expense – to maintain the viability oftheir farms while protecting water quality in their communities.

“For decades many of Pennsylvania’s farmers have been doing the right thing – growingtheir farms and working to minimize any impairment to their local water quality,” saidAgriculture Secretary Russell Redding. “You can’t have healthy farms without healthywaterways. Our farmers know this, which is why many of them have been working toward these

co-equal goals on their own. We want to ensure that their efforts are accounted for and give our producers credit for all they’re doing.”The survey, which is confidential, was developed to help collect data for those BMPs that

may not have been cost-shared and therefore are not on record as a part of the state’s efforts toimprove the health of the waterways, in particular the Chesapeake Bay.

“Earlier this year, we unveiled a strategy to restore the health of the Chesapeake Baywatershed, and its success relies on the agriculture industry making 75 percent of Pennsylvania’stotal nutrient load reductions,” said Redding. “While agriculture will do our part to continue

http://src.survey.psu.edu/farmbmphttp://src.survey.psu.edu/farmbmphttp://lancasteronline.com/news/local/free-composting-workshops-being-offered-around-lancaster-county/article_f3f1574e-fcc7-11e5-83e6-efbe74499977.htmlhttp://extension.psu.edu/plants/master-gardenerhttp://www.lcswma.org/http://www.lcswma.org/http://lancasteronline.com/news/local/free-composting-workshops-being-offered-around-lancaster-county/article_f3f1574e-fcc7-11e5-83e6-efbe74499977.htmlhttp://www.sopghreporter.com/story/2016/04/05/news/cmu-students-pitch-in-to-clean-up-ss/16567.htmlhttp://www.goerie.com/more-than-4000-volunteers-in-erie-ready-to-clean-up-regionhttp://www.goerie.com/volunteers-needed-for-presque-isle-cleanup-saturdayhttp://abc27.com/2016/04/07/pa-senate-votes-to-hike-littering-fines/?cid=facebook_abc27_Newshttp://www.yorkdispatch.com/story/news/2016/04/04/spring-cleanup-york-city-seeks-volunteers/82619294/https://www.facebook.com/capitalregionwaterhttps://twitter.com/CapRegionWaterhttps://twitter.com/CapRegionWaterhttp://capitalregionwater.com/updates/#sthash.MGCd7X0u.dpbshttp://capitalregionwater.com/http://capitalregionwater.com/


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meeting the state’s obligations to a healthier Bay watershed, it’s also important that we recognizeand capture the good work our farmers are doing on their own. I thank everyone who hasresponded to the survey already and urge those who haven’t to complete the survey and help uscontinue sharing agriculture’s story.”

Data from the survey on the non-cost-shared BMPs will be aggregated so no individually

identifiable information is available, then submitted to the Department of EnvironmentalProtection for review and analysis. DEP will share those findings with the U.S. EnvironmentalProtection Agency.

Currently, Pennsylvania has only reported those conservation BMPs that were funded (inwhole or partially) by state or federal dollars. This survey quantifies the BMPs and allows forfederally-approved documentation of the accuracy of this self-reported data through follow-upfarm visits.

“We need everyone’s input – the more we can quantify our good work, the further we aretoward agriculture’s nutrient reduction goals,” Redding added.

Several Ways To Fill Out SurveyClick Here to take the survey online, or call Penn State’s Survey Research Center at

866-898-4277 and reference the “PA Farm Conservation Practices Inventory Project” to receivea hardcopy survey.

Farmers can fill out the paper version of the survey or complete it online. Participantsshould submit their responses by April 30. When taking the survey, producers should have theirconservation and nutrient management plans on hand for reference.

Responses will remain confidential and never will be associated with a farmer's name orlocation. The survey is administered by Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences.

Ten percent of the participants will be selected randomly for farm visits by Penn StateExtension to assess inventory results and help researchers better understand the methods usedand challenges encountered when adopting various management practices.

For more information about the strategy to restore the health of the Chesapeake Bay, visitAgriculture’s Strategy for the Chesapeake Bay webpage and the DEP Chesapeake Bay webpage.NewsClips:Adams County’s Connection To The Chesapeake Bay Farmers Asked To Fill Out Chesapeake Bay Survey

March Catalyst Newsletter Available From Slippery Rock Watershed Coalition

The March edition of The Catalyst newsletter is now availablefrom the Slippery Rock Watershed Coalition in Butler Countyfeaturing articles on--

-- De Sale Phase II Mine Drainage Treatment System vs. TheEager Beavers!! (photo)-- Slippery Rock Watershed Coalition Forest LandownerConference Summary-- The Kids Catalyst: Seeking Spring-- Slippery Rock Watershed Coalition Volunteer Thank You

Dinner-- Click Here to sign up for your own copy.

http://www.srwc.org/publications/catalyst-sign-up/http://www.srwc.org/http://www.srwc.org/download/Catalyst/2016/cat%2003-16.pdfhttp://www.readingeagle.com/news/article/farmers-asked-to-fill-chesapeake-bay-surveyhttp://www.gettysburgtimes.com/life_entertainment/columns/article_11d6243a-7e60-5160-a6dd-036638045d51.htmlhttp://www.dep.pa.gov/Business/Water/Pages/Chesapeake-Bay-Office.aspx#.Vwgfh2Oa10chttp://www.agriculture.pa.gov/Protect/StateConservationCommission/Pages/Chesapeake-Bay.aspx#.VwgfRWOa10chttp://src.survey.psu.edu/farmbmp


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The Catalyst newsletter is distributed to over 1,100 individuals in over a dozen countriesincluding: Brazil, Peru, South Korea, Mexico, England, Wales, Venezuela, South Africa, NewZealand, Australia and Germany.

For more information on programs, initiatives, upcoming events and volunteeropportunities, visit the Slippery Rock Watershed Coalition website.

NewsClip:Earth Conservancy Building Road For Latest Project

April 4 Chesapeake Bay Journal News Now Available

The April 4 Chesapeake Bay Journal News is now available featuring stories on---- USGS Enlarging Water Monitoring Network In Chesapeake Bay Watershed -- Bay Restoration Depends On Decisions By Local Governments -- MD Lawmakers Approve Bill To Slash Greenhouse Gas Emissions -- Chesapeake Bay Calendar Of Events -- Click Here to sign up for your own copy.NewsClips:Adams County’s Connection To The Chesapeake Bay Farmers Asked To Fill Out Chesapeake Bay Survey

2015 Manure Expo Receives Governor’s Environmental Excellence Award

The 2015 North American Manure Expo , which wasco-hosted by Penn State's College of AgriculturalSciences , is being recognized with the Governor'sAward for Environmental Excellence , Pennsylvania's"highest honor bestowed upon businesses ororganizations for environmental performance andinnovation."

Held in Franklin County in July 2015, thethree-day expo drew a record 2,000 attendees from 23states and four Canadian provinces.

Organized by the Department of AnimalScience at Penn State and the Franklin County Conservation District, the event featured tours,demonstrations and educational sessions focused on manure handling and application.

Robb Meinen, Penn State senior extension associate , and Jennifer Bratthauar, agriculturalconservation technician and nutrient management specialist for the Conservation District,

co-chaired the expo.The two will accept the award at an April 19 dinner in Harrisburg hosted by the PAEnvironmental Council and the Department of Environmental Protection.

"This award is a wonderful tribute to the hard work that Robb and Jennifer put intoorganizing the expo," said Terry Etherton, head of the Department of Animal Science. "It also isa wonderful recognition of the enormous impact the expo has on improving both water and airquality. We are very proud of these efforts and grateful for this honor."

The expo's largest group of attendees consisted of professional manure handlers. Also

http://pecpa.org/http://pecpa.org/http://www.paenvironmentdigest.com/newsletter/default.asp?NewsletterArticleID=35304http://extension.psu.edu/http://animalscience.psu.edu/http://animalscience.psu.edu/http://www.paenvironmentdigest.com/newsletter/default.asp?NewsletterArticleID=35328http://www.paenvironmentdigest.com/newsletter/default.asp?NewsletterArticleID=35328http://agsci.psu.edu/http://agsci.psu.edu/http://www.manureexpo.org/http://www.readingeagle.com/news/article/farmers-asked-to-fill-chesapeake-bay-surveyhttp://www.gettysburgtimes.com/life_entertainment/columns/article_11d6243a-7e60-5160-a6dd-036638045d51.htmlhttp://www.bayjournal.com/subscriptionhttp://www.bayjournal.com/calendarhttp://www.bayjournal.com/blog/post/maryland_lawmakers_approve_bill_to_slash_greenhouse_gas_emissionshttp://www.bayjournal.com/article/bays_restoration_dependent_on_decisions_by_local_governmentshttp://www.bayjournal.com/article/usgs_enlarged_monitoring_network_providing_better_pollution_datahttp://www.bayjournal.com/http://thetimes-tribune.com/news/earth-conservancy-building-road-for-latest-project-1.2027592http://www.srwc.org/


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attending were dairy, livestock and poultry producers, nutrient-management plan writers, andagency and extension personnel.

"This recognition is quite an honor for the countless people and organizations thatcontributed to Manure Expo," Meinen said. "Professionals were exposed to information andequipment that allow simultaneous and practical progress for animal agriculture, crop production

and environmental stewardship. From beginning to end, that was our overarching goal."The environmental benefits promoted at the expo are real," he said. "The attendees have

enormous influence on environmental advancement across this region and all of North America.We offered programming for everyone, from a young professional driver of manure equipmentto policymakers in Washington, D.C."

Tours and demonstrations gave attendees a chance to view the latest technology in action,and the event offered more than 50 educational seminars.

Vendors are attracted to the expo because of the large number of commercial manureapplicators who attend, providing an opportunity to demonstrate the latest technology to a veryspecialized audience, Meinen noted.

"Manure Expo is helping to drive technology advancements in precision manure nutrientutilization," he said. "When commercial operators adopt these practices, the impact is realized onthe many farms and large acreages that they service."

Presented each year by DEP, the Governor's Awards for Environmental Excellencehighlight the best in environmental innovation and expertise throughout the Commonwealth.

These awards are the highest statewide honor bestowed on businesses and organizationsinvolved in a cross-section of environmental initiatives, such as cleaning up watersheds, savingenergy, eliminating pollution and reducing waste.

The awards program is open to all Pennsylvania businesses, farms, government agencies,educational institutions, nonprofit organizations and individuals that have created or participatedin the development of a project that promotes environmental stewardship and economicdevelopment in the state.

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pa environment digest april 11, 2016

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