pa environment digest aug. 29, 2011

8/4/2019 Pa Environment Digest Aug. 29, 2011

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PA Environment DigestAn Update On Environmental Issues In

PA

Edited By: David E. Hess, Crisci Associates

Winner 2009 PAEE Business Partner Of The Year Award

Harrisburg, Pa August 29, 2011

Northeast Environmental Partners Announce Award Winners, October 27 Dinner

The winners of 21st Annual Environmental Partnership Awards were announced Tuesday by the

Northeast Environmental Partners along with the winner of the Thomas P. Shelburne

Environmental Leadership Award.

The award winners will be recognized at a special awards dinner on October 27 at the

Woodlands Inn & Resort in Wilkes-Barre.

The award winners include:

-- Earth Conservancy, Luzerne County Huber III Reclamation Project, Luzerne County: The

Earth Conservancy is being honored for the reclamation of the Huber III mine land project, an 82

acre site, which presented environmental hazards of acid mine drainage (AMD) to the Solomon

Creek Watershed. The reclamation of this dormant culm-laden site now no longer contributes

AMD to the environment and can be responsibly reutilized for purposes that will improve the

local economy and quality of life.

-- Joseph Orlowsky, Schuylkill County: Mr. Orlowsky is being honored for his contributionand commitment to improving the streetscape and parks in his community for the past decade.

Through Mr. Orlowskys leadership over 500 trees have been planted along the streets of

Pottsville. He has dedicated many hours above and beyond his chairmanship of the Shade Tree

Commission to spearhead tree planting education and initiatives in his and neighboring

communities.

-- SEEDS of NEPA, Sustainable Energy Education & Development Support, Wayne County:

SEEDS of NEPA is being honored for its efforts to build demand and infrastructure for

renewable energy and to encourage sustainable living through energy conservation. SEEDS

partnered with Northampton Community College, Wayne County Conservation office,

Workforce Wayne, PPL-Electric Utilities as well as many other organizations to provide

education, training and recognition regarding alternative energy choices and options.-- Robert Skulsky, Luzerne County: Mr. Skulsky is being honored for his leadership and

commitment to enhance the environment of Northeastern Pennsylvania through his work as the

Executive Director of the Greater Hazleton Area Civic Partnership. Mr. Skulsky has been

integral in developing the first four miles of the Greater Hazleton Rail to Trail (GHRT). Mr.

Skulsky has partnered with many organizations including Leadership Hazleton to promote
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environmental education, the Greater Hazleton Wellness Center, Wyoming Valley Wellness

Trails Partnership and Live Well Luzerne to promote healthy living.

-- Bonnie Smith, Luzerne County: Ms. Smith is being honored for her efforts and advocacy for

environmental and land protection. Ms. Smith shares her legal expertise with others to champion

environmental protection throughout Northeastern Pennsylvania. Ms. Smith has partnered with

many organizations, such as, North Pocono C.A.R.E., Anthracite Scenic Trails Association,Endless Mountains Nature Center and Stoddartsville Preservation Society among others, to

protect area waterways and conserve land. Her efforts have a lasting impression on a myriad of

non-profit organizations that have benefitted from her guidance.

-- South Branch Tunkhannock Creek Watershed Coalition, Lackawanna County: The

South Branch Tunkhannock Creek Watershed Coalition is being honored for their activities to

protect and maintain the health of the nearly 100 square mile area of the South Branch

Tunkhannock Creek Watershed. The Coalition works to educate, promote and sustain the health

of the Watershed. The Coalition has partnered with the Lackawanna County Conservation

District to conduct dumpsite cleanups, Lackawanna State Park to provide environmental

educational forums for area residents; and the Keystone College Willary Water Resource Center

and the Countryside Conservancy to support their water quality monitoring program.Shelburne Award

The Seventeenth Annual Thomas P. Shelburne Environmental Leadership Award will be

presented this year to: Dorrance Belin, Lackawanna County. Mr. Belin is being honored for his

dedication, leadership and commitment to preserving and protecting the environment of

Northeastern Pennsylvania.

For four decades Mr. Belin has been a leader in the environmental arena through his

unique combination of vision and organizational skills, quiet, diplomatic persistence, legal

expertise and ability to identify and inspire the human and financial resources so critical to the

conservation movement.

Mr. Belin was a founding member of the Northeastern Pennsylvania Chapter of theNature Conservancy as well as the Countryside Conservancy. Mr. Belin has been a steadfast,

highly effective leader for the environment for the last forty years utilizing his abilities and

expertise to foster partnerships and inspire others to action.

Dinner Speakers

This years Keynote address will be given by Secretary Michael Krancer, PA DEP.

Michael Krancer was nominated by Gov. Tom Corbett to be the Secretary of Environment

Protection on January 18, 2011. The nomination was confirmed by the Pennsylvania State Senate

on April 26, 2011

Special Commentary will be given by Secretary Richard Allan, PA DCNR. Governor

Tom Corbett nominated Richard J. Allan as DCNR secretary on March 23, 2011. The state

Senate confirmed that nomination June 13, 2011 by a vote of 50-0.Thomas Makowski, Vice President, Business Development and Marketing at Borton

Lawson will be the Master of Ceremonies.

To receive information on attending or sponsoring this event, please contact the NE

Office of the Pennsylvania Environmental Council at 570-718-6507.

Governor Declares Emergency, PEMA Urges Pennsylvanians To Prepare For Hurricane

Irene


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The Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency Thursday urged Pennsylvanians to prepare

forexpected high winds and heavy rain from Hurricane Irene this weekend. Although the storm

is expected to primarily impact southeastern Pennsylvania, residents across the state should

remain alert and be prepared.

In anticipation of the Hurricane, Gov. Tom Corbett Friday declared a state of emergencythroughout Pennsylvania.

The worst conditions in Pennsylvania are due to hit Saturday evening into Sunday.

"The approaching hurricane means all residents should be sure emergency supplies are

ready in our homes, and to secure outdoor items so they don't cause more damage when the

winds come," said PEMA Director Glenn Cannon. "As this week's historic East Coast

earthquake reminded everyone, being prepared at all times is critical."

In the event that roadways become impassable or power is lost, Cannon said residents

should be prepared to survive on their own without outside assistance for at least three days.

Emergency crews simply will not be able to reach everyone immediately after the danger has

passed.

Have disaster preparedness supplies on hand, including:Flashlights and extra batteries;Portable, battery-operated radio and extra batteries; First aid kit and manual; Emergency food

and water; Non-electric can opener; Essential medicines/prescriptions; Cash, credit cards and

important legal documents; and Sturdy shoes.

If residents are ordered to evacuate, they should do so without hesitating, and should take

important papers with them including: Checkbooks; Driver's license; Credit card information;

Birth certificates; Social Security cards; and Other forms and documents proving ownership/

identity.

Never drive into low-lying areas or over roads and bridges that are already under water.

Just a few inches of moving water can sweep away the average car.

Individuals and families need to have a communication plan in place in order to contactor find each other if separated. As the storm approaches, residents should listen to and closely

follow instructions from local and state authorities.

"Personal preparedness is an essential responsibility," Cannon said. "Individuals and

families should be ready to take protective actions at any time, whether the forecast gives us

several days notice of a storm, or with an unexpected event like Tuesday's earthquake."

State of Emergency

Corbett issued the disaster proclamation Friday after meeting with Glenn Cannon,

director of the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency, and other emergency officials at

their headquarters in Harrisburg.

We are urging all Pennsylvanians to take action now to be prepared, Corbett said. We

will continue to monitor this changing situation statewide and plan for all possible emergencies.Should the need arise, we will be able to help as quickly and efficiently as possible.

The state's Emergency Operations Center has been monitoring conditions statewide, as

well as communicating with other states and federal officials, to assess conditions and coordinate

any response necessary to support Pennsylvanias counties and municipalities in the affected

areas.

The latest weather forecasts predict that the eastern portion of the state will bear the brunt

of the storm with heavy rains of up to 10 inches, and strong winds gusting to 60 mph or more.
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The combination of wind and rain could result in downed trees and utility lines, possibly

resulting in extensive power outages and flash flooding.

In addition, state emergency officials are in communication with multiple state agencies,

including the state departments of Transportation, Health, Public Welfare, General Services,

State Police, Pennsylvania National Guard, Turnpike Commission, Public Utility Commission

and the American Red Cross, to make sure supplies and personnel are ready if needed.Individuals needing assistance should call their local municipal emergency management

office in the Blue Pages section of the phone book or, if they have an emergency, should call

911 immediately. Never call 911 to request or report road conditions. When calling 911 to report

an emergency, it is critical for callers to stay on the line, even if for an extended series of rings,

until the operator answers.

Motorists can check road conditions on state roads by calling 511 or visiting

www.511PA.com. Available 24 hours a day, the number provides traffic delay warnings,

weather forecasts, average traffic speeds on urban interstates and access to more than 500 traffic

cameras. Regional Twitter alerts are also available on the 511PA website.

ReadyPa.org

To be better prepared for emergencies of all sorts, Cannon urged residents to visitwww.ReadyPA.org -- a state resource that encourages citizens to take three basic steps before an

emergency or natural disaster:

-- Be Informed: know what threats Pennsylvania and your community face.

-- Be Prepared: have an emergency kit with at least three days' worth of essentials at your home,

including food, one gallon of water per person per day, medications and specialized items such

as baby or pet supplies. Create an emergency plan so family members know where to meet if

everyone is separated when an incident occurs.

-- Be Involved: Pennsylvanians have a long history of helping one another in times of need.

Specialized training and volunteer opportunities are available so citizens can help others in their

community in a disaster.Information such as checklists for emergency kits and templates for emergency plans, as

well as other information and volunteer opportunities, is available at www.ReadyPA.org or by

calling 1-888-9-READYPA (1-888-973-2397).

Flooding Fact Sheets

To track Hurricane Irene, visit theNational Hurricane Centerof the National Weather

Service.

Click Here for a Floods and Flash Floods Fact Sheet from the PA Emergency

Management Agency.

Click Here for Flood Recovery of heating and cooling systems fact sheet.

Click Here for recovery of flood damaged electric motors and appliances fact sheet.

Click Here for recovery of flood damaged walls fact sheet.Click Here for instructions in disinfection of home wells and springs fact sheet.

Click Here for specific National Weather Service Flood Alerts for your county.

NewsClips: Corbett Issues Emergency Declaration For PA

With Irene Looming, Corbett Declares State Of Emergency

Guard Troops Staging For Storm Aid

Corbett Tells Midstate Not To Let Down Their Guard On Irene

PA Organizations Prepare For Irene's Expected Arrival
http://www.511pa.com/http://www.readypa.org/http://www.readypa.org/http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt?open=512&objID=4666&&PageID=464641&level=2&css=L2&mode=2http://www.dep.state.pa.us/dep/deputate/watermgt/GENERAL/FLOODS/fs1957.htmhttp://www.dep.state.pa.us/dep/deputate/watermgt/GENERAL/FLOODS/fs1951.htmhttp://www.dep.state.pa.us/dep/deputate/watermgt/GENERAL/FLOODS/fs1958.htmhttp://www.dep.state.pa.us/dep/deputate/watermgt/GENERAL/FLOODS/wells.htmhttp://www.nws.noaa.gov/alerts/pa.htmlhttp://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/state/s_753624.htmlhttp://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2011/08/irene_worries_cause_corbett_to.htmlhttp://thetimes-tribune.com/news/guard-troops-staging-for-storm-aid-1.1194077http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2011/08/pa_gov_tom_corbett_tells_midst.htmlhttp://www.witf.org/regional-state-news/pa-organizations-prepare-for-irene-s-expected-arrivalhttp://www.witf.org/regional-state-news/pa-organizations-prepare-for-irene-s-expected-arrivalhttp://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2011/08/pa_gov_tom_corbett_tells_midst.htmlhttp://thetimes-tribune.com/news/guard-troops-staging-for-storm-aid-1.1194077http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2011/08/irene_worries_cause_corbett_to.htmlhttp://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/state/s_753624.htmlhttp://www.nws.noaa.gov/alerts/pa.htmlhttp://www.dep.state.pa.us/dep/deputate/watermgt/GENERAL/FLOODS/wells.htmhttp://www.dep.state.pa.us/dep/deputate/watermgt/GENERAL/FLOODS/fs1958.htmhttp://www.dep.state.pa.us/dep/deputate/watermgt/GENERAL/FLOODS/fs1951.htmhttp://www.dep.state.pa.us/dep/deputate/watermgt/GENERAL/FLOODS/fs1957.htmhttp://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt?open=512&objID=4666&&PageID=464641&level=2&css=L2&mode=2http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/http://www.readypa.org/http://www.readypa.org/http://www.511pa.com/


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Insurance Commissioner: To Check Insurance Policies

Agriculture Secretary: Take Food Safety Precautions

Western PA Readies Help For Storm Victims

Hurricane Outlook For NE PA Worsening

Hurricane Irene Expected To Soak Central PA

PA Fuel Distributors Join Groups Asking EPA For Fuel Waivers As A Result Of Irene

The PA Petroleum Marketers and Convenience Store Association Friday joined with other

vehicle fuel distributors in the Northeast United States urging the U.S. Environmental Protection

Agency to issue fuel waivers to allow for the timely distribution of fuel during the Hurricane

Irene emergency.

The letter said in part--

"It is estimated that more than 80 million people along the Eastern Seaboard will be

impacted by Hurricane Irene over the next four days. PMAA and its affiliated state association

members in the path of the storm are urgently working to develop a coordinated plan to ensure

that the supply distribution network for gasoline, diesel fuel, kerosene and heating oil fuel will bemaintained before during and after Hurricane Irene passes through the region.

"PMAA anticipates that numerous federal fuel waivers authorized under the Clean Air

Act Section 112(c)(4)(C), will be necessary during this period in order to meet demand,

particularly for emergency responders and other vital services such as hospitals and utility crews.

It is essential that the EPA move quickly with sufficient regulatory flexibility to ensure the

uninterrupted distribution of petroleum as a result of the storm.

"First, the EPA must take proactive measures to ensure that the region is fully prepared

for Hurricane Irene. PMAA is urging the agency to issue a fuel waiver today that would allow

heating oil to be used in emergency generators and back-up equipment that ordinarily requires 15

ppm diesel fuel."Information from PMAA state associations in the region indicate that petroleum

marketers are being inundated with calls from emergency responders and vital service providers

for fuel to power emergency generators and back up equipment due to anticipated prolonged

power outages.

"Marketers across the region are reporting urgent fuel supply requests for emergency

equipment from from local fire, police and DPW departments, hospitals and nursing homes,

water and sewage facilities, public utilities, the National Guard and 911 emergency centers, to

name a few.

"Fuel for emergency generators and back-up equipment is in high demand because

supply tanks are typically left close to empty to prevent fuel spoilage while not in use. The

logistical problem of meeting the current unprecedented demand is due to a lack of 15-ppmsupply at local bulk storage facilities which are currently filled with heating oil in anticipation of

the upcoming winter heating season.

"Consequently, in order to obtain adequate supply of 15-ppm fuel for emergency

equipment, multiple trips back and forth to distant terminal facilities are required. Demand

cannot be met in this way because there is simply not enough time, trucks or drivers available to

make these multiple, time consuming runs.
http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/pennsylvania-insurance-commissioner-consumers---be-prepared-and-check-your-policy-before-the-hurricane-128484663.htmlhttp://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/agriculture-secretary-reminds-pennsylvania-residents-to-take-food-safety-precautions-during-flooding-power-outages-128485528.htmlhttp://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/regional/s_753530.htmlhttp://thetimes-tribune.com/news/hurricane-outlook-for-nepa-worsening-1.1193812?cache=03D163D03D163D%3Fcache%3D03D163D03D163D%3FparentPage%3D2.644%3FparentPage%3D2.1188%3FparentPage%3D2.1244http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2011/08/hurricane_irene_expected_to_so.htmlhttp://www.ppmcsa.org/http://www.ppmcsa.org/http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2011/08/hurricane_irene_expected_to_so.htmlhttp://thetimes-tribune.com/news/hurricane-outlook-for-nepa-worsening-1.1193812?cache=03D163D03D163D%3Fcache%3D03D163D03D163D%3FparentPage%3D2.644%3FparentPage%3D2.1188%3FparentPage%3D2.1244http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/regional/s_753530.htmlhttp://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/agriculture-secretary-reminds-pennsylvania-residents-to-take-food-safety-precautions-during-flooding-power-outages-128485528.htmlhttp://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/pennsylvania-insurance-commissioner-consumers---be-prepared-and-check-your-policy-before-the-hurricane-128484663.html


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"On the other hand, marketers have ample heating oil on hand at their bulk storage

facilities that could easily substitute for 15ppm product and ensure that emergency responders

and vital service providers receive the fuel they need prior to the arrival of Hurricane Irene. For

this reason a proactive waiver of the 15ppm requirement for emergency generators and

equipment is absolutely essential at this time.

"Second, the EPA must move quickly in the aftermath of the storm to ensure thatadequate supplies of gasoline, diesel fuel, kerosene and heating oil remains available. PMAA

anticipates that Hurricane Irene will knock out power to refineries and terminal facilities and

require the shutdown of vital petroleum supply pipelines. If this occurs, the EPA must be ready

to waive RVP, RFG, and ULSD fuel requirements across the area affected by Hurricane Irene.

"The nation learned in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina that proactive preparedness is

essential to prevent avoidable catastrophic consequences of killer storm. Hurricane Irene is a

very dangerous storm headed towards the nations most populated region. For this reason PMAA

and its member associations urge the EPA to move quickly on the requests presented in this

letter."

A copy of the letteris available online.

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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--
http://goo.gl/BaAbUhttp://www.paenvironmentdigest.com/newsletter/search.asphttp://www.crisciassociates.com/http://www.twitter.com/http://paenvironmentdaily.blogspot.com/http://paenvirodigestvideo.blogspot.com/http://pacapitoldigestcrisci.blogspot.com/http://pacapitoldigestcrisci.blogspot.com/http://paenvirodigestvideo.blogspot.com/http://paenvironmentdaily.blogspot.com/http://www.twitter.com/http://www.crisciassociates.com/http://www.paenvironmentdigest.com/newsletter/search.asphttp://goo.gl/BaAbU


7/30

Session Schedule

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

SenateSeptember 19, 20, 21, 26, 27, 28

October 17, 18, 19, 24, 25, 26, 31

November 1, 14, 15, 16

December 5, 6, 7, 12, 13, 14

House

September 26, 27, 28

October 3, 4, 5, 17, 18, 19, 24, 25, 26, 31

November 1, 2, 14, 15, 16, 21, 22, 23

December 5, 6, 7, 12, 13, 14

Bill Calendars

House (September 26): 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 (September 19): Click Here for full Senate Bill Calendar.

Committees

House: the Human Services Committee hearing on House Bill 272 (Hess-R-Blair) establishing

a task force on Lyme disease and related maladies. Click Here for full House Committee

Schedule.

Senate: Click Here for full Senate Committee Schedule.

Bills Introduced

The following bills of interest were introduced this week--

Marcellus Tax: House Bill 1804 (Pashinski-D-Luzerne) providing for a Marcellus Shale

severance tax.

Reclamation Guarantees: House Bill 1813 (Tobash-R-Berks) providing for financial

guarantees as an option for mine reclamation bonding.
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8/30

AEPS: House Bill 1822 (Moul-R-Adams) adding natural gas to the Alternative Energy Portfolio

Standards.

News From The Capitol

House Republicans Examine Energy Mandates And Impacts On Consumers

The House Republican Policy Committee Monday held a hearing on the energy mandates

included in the Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards and underAct 129 of 2008.

Terry Fitzpatrick, Energy Association of PA, told the Committee electric distribution

companies are concerned about the cumulative cost to consumer of these mandates in light of the

need to modernize electric infrastructure and maintain programs to assist low-income

individuals. He noted the bulk of the requirements to purchase power from certain sources have

not yet taken affect, however, the cost of alternative energy credits and compliance payments

will increase the cost of electricity to consumers.

Fitzpatrick said the cost to comply with Act 129 mandates to reduce electricity use are

complex and contentious as well as very prescriptive increasing the cost of compliance for

consumers. The total cost of compliance is expected to be about $1 billion in Pennsylvania.

Romulo Diaz, PECO, said while environmental stewardship is one of PECO's core

values, there are more effective and less effective ways of achieving those goals laid out by

AEPS and Act 129. "Our experience has been that some of these programs have been successful

and cost-effective, but others can be improved while maintaining their basic structure, and a few

require fundamental re-thinking."

Doug Krall, PPL Electric Utilities, said the energy efficiency and conservation programs

in Act 129 are providing value to customers, but the AEPS requirements should not be changed

to allow the electricity market to respond, react and adjust to the act's mandates.Bill Roland, Duquesne Light, said whether we like it or not, the energy mandates have to

be paid for by the consumers and that allowing customers the choice of electric suppliers is a

core philosophy of his company.

Chuck Fullem, FirstEnergy, said the goals included in Act 129 were set in a "vastly

different economic landscape" than Pennsylvania's finds itself in now. He noted in particular the

mandates for smart meters and penalties for not achieving mandated electric use reductions

should be review.

Rep. David Reed (R-Indiana), Chair of the Committee, said they will continue to explore

energy efficiency policies and their impact on consumer in future meetings.

Copies of testimony are also available at the Committee website.

Rep. Baker To Introduce Bill To Include Natural Gas Lines In PA One Call

In an effort to increase consumer safety and ensure the delivery of essential home heating fuel is

not disrupted, Rep. Matt Baker (R-Tioga) has authored legislation that will include oil and

natural gas gathering lines under the Pennsylvania Underground Utility Protection Law.
http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/billinfo.cfm?syear=2011&sind=0&body=H&type=B&bn=1822http://pagoppolicy.com/http://www.legis.state.pa.us/CFDOCS/Legis/PN/Public/btCheck.cfm?txtType=HTM&sessYr=2003&sessInd=0&billBody=S&billTyp=B&billNbr=1030&pn=1973http://www.legis.state.pa.us/CFDOCS/Legis/PN/Public/btCheck.cfm?txtType=HTM&sessYr=2007&sessInd=0&billBody=H&billTyp=B&billNbr=2200&pn=4526http://wallaby.telicon.com/pa/library/2011/20110822tz.pdfhttp://wallaby.telicon.com/pa/library/2011/20110822ty.pdfhttp://wallaby.telicon.com/pa/library/2011/20110822tx.pdfhttp://wallaby.telicon.com/pa/library/2011/20110822TV.PDFhttp://wallaby.telicon.com/pa/library/2011/20110822tw.pdfhttp://pagoppolicy.com/2011Hearings.aspxhttp://pagoppolicy.com/2011Hearings.aspxhttp://wallaby.telicon.com/pa/library/2011/20110822tw.pdfhttp://wallaby.telicon.com/pa/library/2011/20110822TV.PDFhttp://wallaby.telicon.com/pa/library/2011/20110822tx.pdfhttp://wallaby.telicon.com/pa/library/2011/20110822ty.pdfhttp://wallaby.telicon.com/pa/library/2011/20110822tz.pdfhttp://www.legis.state.pa.us/CFDOCS/Legis/PN/Public/btCheck.cfm?txtType=HTM&sessYr=2007&sessInd=0&billBody=H&billTyp=B&billNbr=2200&pn=4526http://www.legis.state.pa.us/CFDOCS/Legis/PN/Public/btCheck.cfm?txtType=HTM&sessYr=2003&sessInd=0&billBody=S&billTyp=B&billNbr=1030&pn=1973http://pagoppolicy.com/http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/billinfo.cfm?syear=2011&sind=0&body=H&type=B&bn=1822


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The Pennsylvania Underground Utility Protection Law was developed to protect the

public health and safety by preventing excavation and demolition work from damaging

underground lines used to provide electricity, communication, gas, oil, sewage, water or other

services.

Under the law, prior to any work being done that may disturb the earth, homeowners,

contractors, plumbers, excavators, and others must make a Pennsylvania One Call that notifiesall service providers of the work being done so they can come out and properly mark the location

of the lines.

The Pennsylvania One Call System is an important program that protects consumers and

service workers from accidentally hitting a line and causing injury or disruption of service when

digging for a new foundation for a house, installing a fence or even planting landscaping if you

are using powered equipment, said Rep. Baker. It is important to include natural gas and oil

lines as part of this service because a break in the lines could cause fires, explosions or

asphyxiation. It could also lead to gas or oil leaching into the ground and area water supplies. My

legislation will simply make sure natural gas and oil companies are included when someone calls

the system.

Rep. Baker said the natural gas industry is rapidly growing in the Commonwealth andgathering lines for gas are becoming more prevalent and, therefore, need to be included in the

Pennsylvania Underground Utility Protection Law so as to prevent damage to underground

utility infrastructure and assure public safety and environmental protection.

This is a commonsense and timely bill, said Rep. Baker. I am hopeful it will gain

quick passage through the committee process and come before the full House for a vote in the

very near future.

August Environmental Synopsis Features GreenCircle Recycling Content Program

The Joint Conservation Committee's August Environmental Synopsis features the GreenCircleCertification Program for recycled content.

This issue also features stories on: state environmental budgets, Pennsylvania's clean

economy and jobs, pharmaceuticals disposal and power plant emissions.

Rep. Scott Hutchinson (R-Venango) serves as Chair of the Joint Legislative Air and

Water Pollution Control and Conservation Committee.

News From Around The State

Lehigh Valley Clean Water Summit Set For September 29

TheNorthampton County Conservation Districtin partnership with the Upper Mount BethelTownship Environmental Advisory Council, Portland Borough Authority, the Water Resources

Education Network and the Martins-Jacoby Watershed Associationwill host a Lehigh Valley

Clean Water Summit from 4:00 to 8:30 p.m. on September 29 at the Lower Mt Bethel Welcome

Center, 7701 Martins Creek-Belvidere Highway, Bangor, Pa.
http://jcc.legis.state.pa.us/http://jcc.legis.state.pa.us/resources/ftp/documents/newsletters/Environmental%20Synopsis%20-%20August%202011.pdfhttp://www.greencirclecertified.com/http://www.greencirclecertified.com/http://northamptoncd.org/http://northamptoncd.org/http://www.greencirclecertified.com/http://www.greencirclecertified.com/http://jcc.legis.state.pa.us/resources/ftp/documents/newsletters/Environmental%20Synopsis%20-%20August%202011.pdfhttp://jcc.legis.state.pa.us/


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This program is designed to provide tools and resources on drinking water protection for

county and municipal officials, councils, commissions and boards; community watershed

organizations; public water providers; and other interested groups and individuals.

Representatives from the Water Resources Education Network, Department of

Environmental Protection, and others will address regulatory and non-regulatory ways to protect

drinking water sources.Registration for the Lehigh Valley Clean Water Summit is $10 by September 21, which

includes workshop attendance, materials, and dinner.

This program has been funded by the League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania Citizen

Education Fund through a Section 319 federal Clean Water Act grant from the Department of

Environmental Protection, administered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, with

additional funding provided by the Martins-Jacoby Watershed Association, Martins Creek,

Pennsylvania.

For more information or to register for the Lehigh Valley Clean Water Summit, contact

Jim Wilson, Watershed Specialist with the Northampton County Conservation District, at

610-746-1971 or send email to:[email protected].

ClearWater Conservancy Sponsors Wild and Scenic Film Festival September 22

ClearWater Conservancy will host the Wild and Scenic Environmental Film Festival for the third

time this fall at 7 p.m. September 22 at the State Theatre in State College.

Festival-goers will see 10 films in all: one feature length film and eight shorts selected

locally from more than 50 award-winning films about nature, community activism, adventure,

conservation, water, energy and climate change, wildlife, environmental justice, agriculture and

indigenous cultures. Together, the films will run a little over two hours.

This year the feature-length film is Living Downstream by Chandra Chevannes. Cancer

runs in Sandra Steingrabers family: her mother, aunts and uncles, and now her. But Sandra isadopted. This unusual twist led Sandra to ask what else families have in common besides their

DNA. The answer is all around us: our environment. This film is based on the 1997 book of the

same name by ecologist and cancer survivor Sandra Steingraber, Ph.D.

The Wild and Scenic Film Festival was conceived by a California watershed advocacy

group (the South Yuba River Citizens League) in 2003 and has since flourished into the largest

film festival of its kind in North America. It is held each January in Nevada City, California.

In 2004, environmental groups started asking if they could bring the festival to their

community, and gradually a touring version of the Wild and Scenic Film Festival developed

from outside interest. Seven years later, the tour now visits more than 110 communities

nationwide.

Advance purchase tickets are $14, $12 with student I.D. On the evening of the show,tickets will be $16 at the door. Tickets can be purchased online. Tickets may be purchased in

downtown State College at Appalachian Outdoors, 123 South Allen Street and at the State

Theatre box office, 130 W. College Avenue.

Tickets can also be purchased at ClearWater Conservancy, 2555 North Atherton Street.

For mail-order tickets, call ClearWater at 814-237-400.

Penn State: Environmentally Friendly Horsekeeping Part 2
mailto:[email protected]://www.clearwaterconservancy.org/http://www.clearwaterconservancy.org/wild.htmhttp://www.thestatetheatre.org/purchase.phphttp://www.thestatetheatre.org/purchase.phphttp://www.clearwaterconservancy.org/wild.htmhttp://www.clearwaterconservancy.org/mailto:[email protected]


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Going green on your horse farm is not difficult or expensive. You may already be doing

environmentally friendly methods of horse-keeping and just need to make some adjustments.

This is part one of a two-part series.

Part Two: Clean Water and Manure Management from the Penn State Cooperative

Extension.Note: The Penn State Extension Service may have to close some offices to meet state

budget cuts. NewsClip: Penn State Extension Offices May Face Layoffs

New Book: Aquatic Plants Of PA, A Complete Reference Guide

From the Delaware River to the shores of Lake Erie, Pennsylvania's diverse watery habitats are

home to more than 200 species of aquatic plants.

In Aquatic Plants of Pennsylvania: A Complete Reference Guide, botanists Timothy A.

Block and Ann Fowler Rhoads have assembled the first identification guide specific to the

Keystone State yet useful throughout the Mid Atlantic region.

Organized and written in a way that will make information easily accessible to specialistsand nonspecialists alike, the book highlights the diversity and vital ecological importance of this

group of plants, providing photographs, illustrations, descriptions, and identification keys for all

emergent, floating-leaved, and submergent aquatic plants found in the Commonwealth.

An introductory chapter on aquatic plant ecology covers topics such as evolution, form,

and reproduction of aquatic plants, vegetation zones, types of aquatic ecosystems, and rare and

endangered species.

Information on invasive plants, such as Eurasian water-milfoil and curly pondweed, that

threaten Pennsylvania's aquatic ecosystems will be especially useful to watershed organizations,

citizen monitoring projects, lake managers, and natural resource agency personnel.

An illustrated identification key guides the reader through a series of steps to properlyidentify a specimen based on its characteristics. Each of the more than 200 listings provides a

plant's taxonomy, detailed description, distribution map, and expert botanical illustrations. Many

also include color photographs of the plants in their natural habitats.

At the Morris Arboretum of the University of Pennsylvania, Timothy A. Block is John J.

Willaman Chair of Botany and Director of the Pennsylvania Flora Project, Ann Fowler Rhoads is

Senior Scientist of the Pennsylvania Flora Project, and Anna Anisko is Botanical Illustrator.

They are coauthors and illustrator of The Plants of Pennsylvania: An Illustrated Manual

and The Trees of Pennsylvania: A Complete Reference Guide, both also available from the

University of Pennsylvania Press.

Copies ofAquatic Plants of Pennsylvania are available online.

PEC Officially Joins National Green Infrastructure Partnership

The PA Environmental Council has signed the statement of support, recognizing the multiple

benefits of green infrastructure in reducing pollution and improving water quality.

PEC is currently one of only 3 Pennsylvania organizations included in this partnership.

However, local and state governments, environmental groups, development groups, and other

corporate entities are invited to sign the Statement of Support.
http://extension.psu.edu/water/discovery-watersheds/newsletter/news/2011/environmentally-friendly-horsekeeping-part-2?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+agsci-water-watershedwinds+%28Penn+State+Watershed+Winds+Newsletter%29http://www.witf.org/regional-state-news/penn-state-cooperative-extension-offices-may-face-layoffshttp://www.upenn.edu/pennpress/book/14906.htmlhttp://www.upenn.edu/pennpress/book/14906.htmlhttp://www.pecpa.org/http://www.pecpa.org/http://www.upenn.edu/pennpress/book/14906.htmlhttp://www.upenn.edu/pennpress/book/14906.htmlhttp://www.witf.org/regional-state-news/penn-state-cooperative-extension-offices-may-face-layoffshttp://extension.psu.edu/water/discovery-watersheds/newsletter/news/2011/environmentally-friendly-horsekeeping-part-2?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+agsci-water-watershedwinds+%28Penn+State+Watershed+Winds+Newsletter%29


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The Environmental Protection Agency's Green Infrastructure Partnership aims to promote

green infrastructure as a preferable approach to manage stormwater runoff.

Family Fun Awaits at Delaware Coast Day September 10

Delight in the Delaware River at Pennsylvania Coast Day on September 10, from 11 a.m. to 4p.m. in Philadelphia. Visitors can board the RiverLink Ferry for a free, round-trip tour of the

Delaware River (while supplies last). They can also paddle Penns Landing in a kayak or swan

boat for $8 to $10, and that's not all. Click Here for a full list of attractions.

Lt. Governor Says Marcellus Shale Industry Creating Jobs In Wilkes-Barre

Even in areas of Pennsylvania where there is no Marcellus Shale natural gas production taking

place, the industry is creating jobs, Lt. Governor Jim Cawley said Wednesday during a tour of

Cleveland Brothers Equipment, a distributor of Caterpillar vehicles, parts and service.

Natural gas is already providing thousands of jobs for Pennsylvania. You can see it right

here at Cleveland Brothers. They may not be drilling here, but jobs are being created here inWilkes-Barre and across the state, said Cawley.

Cawley said the natural gas industry and related businesses generated more than 72,000

new hires in Pennsylvania over the last 18 months alone. These are family-sustaining jobs,

paying on average nearly $70,000.

Cleveland Brothers is a family-owned company that has been doing business in PA since

1937. It currently employs more than 1,100 people statewide and is growing because of the need

for heavy equipment in the natural gas industry.

To those who say Marcellus Shale is not benefiting Pennsylvania, I say come to Wilkes-

Barre and see for yourself, Cawley said. Pennsylvanians are finding good jobs, and not just on

the drilling rigs.Cawley headed the Governors Marcellus Shale Advisory Commission, which in July

unanimously adopted 96 recommendations for responsible natural gas drilling in Pennsylvania.

The recommendations provide for: Stronger regulations for drilling; Tougher penalties for

violators; Promoting PAs energy independence; Protecting public safety and health; and

Creating jobs for Pennsylvanians.

NewsClips: Lt. Gov: Gas Industry Is Paying Its Share

Lt. Gov. Calls For Improvements To Drilling Regulations

Lt. Gov Tours Wilkes-Barre Region On Marcellus Shale

One Month Later, Corbett Vague On Marcellus Recommendations

PUC Clarifies Decision On Laser Natural Gas Pipeline Case

The Public Utility Commission Thursday clarified its June 2011 Order that determined that Laser

Northeast Gathering Co.'s proposed service was a 'public utility service and denied two petitions

for reconsideration.

The Commission voted 4-1 to provide clarification by further defining the parameters of

the determination that Lasers proposed service meets the definition of a 'public utility.'

Commissioner James H. Cawley issued a dissenting statement.
http://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/greeninfrastructure/gisupport.cfmhttp://www.delawareestuary.org/news_coastday.asphttp://www.paenvironmentdigest.com/newsletter/default.asp?NewsletterArticleID=19729http://www.timesleader.com/news/Cawley__Gas_industry_is_paying_its_share_08-24-2011.htmlhttp://citizensvoice.com/news/cawley-calls-for-improvements-to-drilling-regulations-1.1193095http://thetimes-tribune.com/news/cawley-tours-region-speaks-on-marcellus-boon-1.1193312http://stateimpact.npr.org/pennsylvania/2011/08/23/one-month-later-corbett-stays-vague-on-reports-recommendations/http://www.puc.state.pa.us/pcdocs/1144280.pdfhttp://www.puc.state.pa.us/pcdocs/1144280.pdfhttp://stateimpact.npr.org/pennsylvania/2011/08/23/one-month-later-corbett-stays-vague-on-reports-recommendations/http://thetimes-tribune.com/news/cawley-tours-region-speaks-on-marcellus-boon-1.1193312http://citizensvoice.com/news/cawley-calls-for-improvements-to-drilling-regulations-1.1193095http://www.timesleader.com/news/Cawley__Gas_industry_is_paying_its_share_08-24-2011.htmlhttp://www.paenvironmentdigest.com/newsletter/default.asp?NewsletterArticleID=19729http://www.delawareestuary.org/news_coastday.asphttp://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/greeninfrastructure/gisupport.cfm


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The Commission did not vote on whether the granting of a certificate of public

convenience to Laser was "necessary or proper for the service, accommodation, convenience of

safety of the public" under the Public Utility Code. In its June 2011 Order, the Commission

remanded that issue to the PUC Office of Administrative Law Judge for further consideration,

which is ongoing.

In clarifying the June 2011 Order, the Commission used criteria set forth in relevant caselaw and an existing Commission policy statement. Based on that review, the Commission

considered various facts including:

-- Laser will be transporting or conveying natural or artificial gas by pipeline or conduit for

compensation.

-- Laser will serve any and all potential customers needing to move gas through the pipeline

system.

-- Laser intends to utilize negotiated contracts to secure customers; contracts are not meant to be

exclusionary, but rather to establish technical requirements, delivery points, and other terms and

conditions of service.

-- Laser has made a commitment to expand its capacity, as needed, to meet increased customer

demand.In a separate action, Commissioner Cawley also requested a Secretarial Letterbe issued

asking that the parties in the case address his questions and areas of concern as part of the

remand of the case.

Keep PA Beautifuls Fresh Paint Days Pennsylvania Grant Winners Announced

Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful Thursday announced the 10 grant winners of their new Fresh Paint

Days Pennsylvania Program grants.

Designed to provide community groups with paint and painting supplies, the program

enables these groups to renew a community structure in need into something beautiful throughthe application of fresh paint and a lot of elbow grease.

This annual event is held in partnership with support from PPG PITTSBURGH Paints

and The Home Depot. During the month of September, the 10 grant winners will transform their

structure utilizing up to 40 gallons of exterior paints and $200 in painting supplies.

The 10 grant winners are as follows:

-- Allegheny County Bloomfield/Garfield Corp. for painting Kraymicks Bike Shop in the

Penn Avenue Arts Revitalization district.

-- Allegheny County Tarentum Borough for painting the Chapman Building in the central

business district.

-- Berks CountyWest Reading Elm Street for the Lets Paint the Town project for historic

row homes in West Reading Borough.-- Clearfield County Downtown DuBois Revitalization Group for painting the Tubbs Building

in the City of DuBois.

-- Dauphin County Penbrook Revitalization, Inc. for painting the Salvatore Pantano residence

in the Borough of Penbrook as part of the Paint Penbrook Beautiful project.

-- Lancaster County Boys and Girls Club of Lancaster to paint the Walker Clubhouse in the

City of Lancaster as part of the Paint it Pretty project.
http://www.puc.state.pa.us/pcdocs/1144312.dochttp://www.keeppabeautiful.org/http://www.keeppabeautiful.org/http://www.puc.state.pa.us/pcdocs/1144312.doc


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-- Philadelphia County Project H.O.M.E for painting of businesses on Ridge Avenue as part

of the City of Philadelphia and The Cecil B Moore Ridge Avenue commercial corridor

revitalization initiative.

-- Westmoreland County City of Arnold to repaint the Amphitheater at Roosevelt Park.

-- Westmoreland County Greater Monessen Historical Society to paint the Museum Annex in

the City of Monessen.-- York County Glen Rock Borough for painting the maintenance building as part of the

downtown area revitalization effort.

Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful received 48 applications, and grant winners were chosen

based on their applications. Two of the awardees will receive an additional $500 from PPG

Pittsburgh Paints and The Home Depot at the end of the project for community improvement

projects, based on reporting and the winner of two criteria; best visual impact and best

community revitalization story.

We are proud supporters of Fresh Paint Days Pennsylvania, said Dori Marks, senior

marketing manager, PPG Industries. It is a valuable new program and I really want to

encourage community groups in Pennsylvania to take full advantage of this great opportunity.

Through our partnership with PPG Pittsburgh Paints and The Home Depot, Fresh PaintDays Pennsylvania empowers community groups to take a direct role in community

revitalization efforts, explains Shannon Reiter, President of Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful.

Something as simple as a fresh coat of paint on a public library or community center sends a

strong message that we care about our communities.

For additional information regarding Keep Pennsylvania Beautifuls Fresh Paint Days

Pennsylvania Program, please contact Michele Dunn, Fresh Paint Days Pennsylvania Program

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

Hard To Recycle Collection Event At Pittsburgh Mills September 17

The PA Resources Council and Zero Waste Pittsburgh will hold a Hard To Recycle Collection

event at the Galleria at Pittsburgh Mills on September 17. Click Here for details.

Registration Now Open For 2011 Pennsylvania Brownfields Conference

Registration is now open for the 2011 Pennsylvania Brownfields

Conference to be held September 27-28 at the Blair County

Convention Center, Altoona.

This years conference features big changes as it moves to

Altoona and the commonwealth joins forces with the Engineers

Society of Western Pennsylvania to combine the two largest statewide brownfield conferencesinto one unique and informative event.

The first brownfields conference was held by the Engineers' Society in1994, a year

before Pennsylvania's award-winning Land Recycling Act. was passed.

This years conference will focus on the redevelopment of smaller brownfields sites.

Sessions will be offered for both those new to brownfields as well as the seasoned brownfields

practitioner. Preceding the conference, a Brownfield Basics course will be offered to provide
mailto:[email protected]://www.prc.org/http://www.zerowastepgh.org/ZW-PRC-hardtorecycle.htmlhttp://www.palocalgovtraining.org/brownfields11.shtmlhttp://www.palocalgovtraining.org/brownfields11.shtmlhttp://www.eswp.com/http://www.eswp.com/http://www.eswp.com/http://www.eswp.com/http://www.palocalgovtraining.org/brownfields11.shtmlhttp://www.palocalgovtraining.org/brownfields11.shtmlhttp://www.zerowastepgh.org/ZW-PRC-hardtorecycle.htmlhttp://www.prc.org/mailto:[email protected]


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new attendees with the fundamental concepts of brownfields redevelopment. Other sessions will

focus on planning and financing innovations to advance brownfield projects.

The conference agenda includes an informative field trip where attendees will experience

first-hand the impressive results of Altoonas downtown revitalization as well as tour a more

traditional manufacturing reuse of a former rail car shop in Hollidaysburg. The tour will be

followed by a networking event at the historic Railroaders Memorial Museum.The conference has been approved for 6.75 organizational Professional Development

Units through the Pennsylvania Economic Development Institute. For a listing of the approved

sessions within the conference, call PSATS at 717-763-0930.

Additionally, the conference satisfies requirements forPA Economic Development

Association Professional Development Units. Attendance at all sessions also equates to 10

Professional Development Hours for Engineers.

To see how brownfields remediation and redevelopment are benefiting communities

across Pennsylvania, visit DEPs Land Recycling webpage.

For sponsorship or exhibit information, contact the conference manager at 717-763-0930

or send email to: [email protected].

For more information or to register online, visit the Conference webpage.

PA Protects 1,425 More Acres Of Prime Farmland

The Pennsylvania Agricultural Preservation Board this week took action to ensure 1,425

additional acres on 16 farms in seven counties are preserved for future generations through the

states nationally recognized farmland preservation program.

The board met Thursday to approve the preservation of these farms, located in Bucks,

Dauphin, Lancaster, Lehigh, Montgomery, Northampton and York counties.

During the programs 23-year history, 453,419 acres on 4,189 farms have been

safeguarded for future agricultural production.Preserving farmland is the first step in securing the future of Pennsylvanias number-one

industry, said Agriculture Secretary George Greig. Agriculture provides not only one-in-seven

jobs and $51 billion in total economic impact, but also provides a way of life for Pennsylvanias

farm families. I thank these producers who have decided to set aside land for agricultural

production. They are ensuring the future success of the agriculture industry and its ability to

serve as the cornerstone of our states economic recovery.

The states farmland preservation efforts work through the Pennsylvania Agricultural

Conservation Easement Purchase Program, which was developed in 1988 to help slow the loss of

prime farmland to non-agricultural uses. The program enables state, county and local

governments to purchase conservation easements, also called development rights, from owners

of quality farmland.Since the programs inception, state, county and local governments have invested more than $1

billion to preserve farms.

Greig added that farm succession planning is essential to ensuring producers are available

to farm preserved land, and the Center for Farm Transitions can offer assistance to find the next

generation of farmers.

For more information, visit Agriculture's Farmland Preservation webpage.
http://peda.org/http://peda.org/http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/success_stories/10332mailto:[email protected]://www.palocalgovtraining.org/brownfields11.shtmlhttp://www.iplantofarm.com/http://www.agriculture.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/gateway/PTARGS_0_2_24476_10297_0_43/http%3B/10.41.0.36/AgWebsite/ProgramBrowse.aspx?action=browse-by-organization&navid=12&parentnavid=0&orgid=10&http://www.agriculture.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/gateway/PTARGS_0_2_24476_10297_0_43/http%3B/10.41.0.36/AgWebsite/ProgramBrowse.aspx?action=browse-by-organization&navid=12&parentnavid=0&orgid=10&http://www.iplantofarm.com/http://www.palocalgovtraining.org/brownfields11.shtmlmailto:[email protected]://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/success_stories/10332http://peda.org/http://peda.org/


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DEP Awards Nearly $517,000 In Clean Diesel Grants

The Department of Environmental Protection announced Thursday it has awarded $516,637 in

clean diesel grants to four organizations.

Bucks County Transport, of Holicong; Jennings Transportation Corp., of Nazareth,

Northampton County; Kuhn Transportation LLC, of Jim Thorpe, Carbon County; and BerksCounty Intermediate Unit, of Reading, will use the grants to implement clean diesel technology.

There are three primary benefits to the grants: these bus fleets will run cleaner, theyll

require less fuel, and the state will move ahead in attaining and maintaining federally required

national ambient air quality standards, DEP Secretary Mike Krancer said.

Each of the four recipients will match a percentage of the grant amount with their own

funds to purchase compressed natural gas-powered vehicles; retrofit diesel engines with cleaner

technology; replace older, more polluting diesel buses with cleaner diesel buses; or purchase

hybrid electric-powered buses. The implementation of such technology will result in reduced

emissions and fuel use from the recipients fleets.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has designated the five-county

Philadelphia region of Bucks, Delaware, Chester, Montgomery and Philadelphia counties as non-attainment for ozone and fine particulate matter air quality standards. A non-attainment

designation means air quality in the region does not meet federal standards.

Berks, Lehigh and Northampton counties are currently designated as non-attainment for

federal particulate matter standards. Recent monitoring indicates these counties particulate

matter levels are meeting the standards, but continuous compliance must occur before EPA will

grant an attainment designation.

The clean diesel programs goal is to improve air quality by decreasing emissions from

diesel-powered transit bus and school bus fleets. The program supports projects that re-power or

retrofit fleet vehicles to curb emissions; purchase and install idle-reduction technology; or

purchase clean alternative-fuel fleet vehicles.Ground-level ozone, a key component of smog, forms during warm weather when

pollution from vehicles, industry, homes and power plants bakes in the hot sun, making it

difficult for some people to breathe.

Fine particulate matter, or PM 2.5, has a diameter of less than 2.5 micrometers, about

one-thirtieth the diameter of a human hair. These particles can get deep into the lungs and cause

significant health problems. PM 2.5 has been determined to be most closely associated with

health effects related to increased hospital admissions and emergency room visits for heart and

lung disease, increased respiratory symptoms and disease and decreased lung function.

DEP is funding the grants through a combination of the state's Clean Air Fund, which is

financed by permitting fees and enforcement penalties, and a September 2010 award from EPA

administered under the federal Diesel Emission Reduction Act.A list of grant recipients is available online.

For more information, visit DEP's Diesel Retrofit Information webpage.

PA Chamber Hosts Regional Stormwater, Greenhouse Gas Storage Tank Conferences
http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/news_releases/14288http://www.dep.state.pa.us/dep/deputate/airwaste/aq/cars/retrofit.htmhttp://www.dep.state.pa.us/dep/deputate/airwaste/aq/cars/retrofit.htmhttp://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/news_releases/14288


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The PA Chamber of Business and Industry is hosting a series of three regional conference

devoted to several important environmental tops in October-- Water Quality, Stormwater,

Greenhouse Gas Regulations and Underground Storage Tanks.

They will be held on October 4 in Mars, October 19 in Camp Hill and on October 26 in

King of Prussia. Click Here for more details and registration information.

Tour The New Wind Project At Turkey Point September 17 In Lancaster County

The Lancaster County Solid Waste Management Authority and

PPL Renewable Energy are inviting the public to tour the new

Wind Project at Turkey Point in Conestoga, Pa to learn more

about wind energy.

Free two-hour tours depart at 9:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 1:30

p.m. and 2:30 p.m. Delicious Turkey Hill ice cream and small gift provided. All ages welcome.

Rain or shine.

Seating is limited, and pre-registration is required. Click on the link at the left to register

your preferred tour time, along with full name, phone number and email address. You'll receive aconfirmation to bring along with you to the tour.

Click Here for details and to register.

Students Can Register Free For PA Environmental Professional's Conference Sept. 21-23

College students can register free for the upcoming PA Association of Environmental

Professionals' Conference by submitting an article about their current research, a recent class

paper or any article of interest dealing with the environment.

The Conference is being held at the Ramada Inn Conference Center in State College

September 21-23.Submissions should be 1-5 pages, single spaced, size 11 font. Please include author name

and contact information in the submission email, as well as professor contact information to

confirm student status. Please note: by submitting an article, you are giving PAEP permission to

print your article in conference publications and/or future editions of the Environmental

Assessment.

Submissions are due by September 9 and must be submitted by email to: [email protected].

Click Here for more information on the Conference.

DCNR Offers 2012 State Parks Calendar

The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources is pleasedto offer a new 2012 16-month calendar featuring beautiful

photography from Pennsylvania State Parks.

The calendar serves as a daily reminder of the striking

natural beauty found within Pennsylvanias State Park system. It

also provides the added value of tips and facts that make it easy for

people to get outside to discover what the state parks have to offer.
https://www.pachamber.org/www/conferences/main.php?utm_source=Listrak&utm_medium=Email&utm_term=https%3a%2f%2fwww.pachamber.org%2fwww%2fconferences%2fmain.php&utm_campaign=2011+Enviro+Compl+Emailhttp://www.lcswma.org/http://www.pplrenewableenergy.com/http://campaign.r20.constantcontact.com/render?llr=ehwzsghab&v=001BrgDgGpztzfRkdEcZYXdWsGzNpzdblylywfmBCf6vmHjnVcqgjc6HEWMrT5x6KK8N0btjpy5mRwcEewgGFZlFhXJexgm3Ote2kfL52434gDU-BhdaO_Y6w%3D%3Dhttp://www.paep.org/http://www.paep.org/mailto:[email protected]://www.paep.org/2011Annual_Conference.htmhttp://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks/findinfo/calendar/index.htmhttp://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks/findinfo/calendar/index.htmhttp://www.paep.org/2011Annual_Conference.htmmailto:[email protected]://www.paep.org/http://www.paep.org/http://campaign.r20.constantcontact.com/render?llr=ehwzsghab&v=001BrgDgGpztzfRkdEcZYXdWsGzNpzdblylywfmBCf6vmHjnVcqgjc6HEWMrT5x6KK8N0btjpy5mRwcEewgGFZlFhXJexgm3Ote2kfL52434gDU-BhdaO_Y6w%3D%3Dhttp://www.pplrenewableenergy.com/http://www.lcswma.org/https://www.pachamber.org/www/conferences/main.php?utm_source=Listrak&utm_medium=Email&utm_term=https%3a%2f%2fwww.pachamber.org%2fwww%2fconferences%2fmain.php&utm_campaign=2011+Enviro+Compl+Email


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The calendar is $8.49 plus sales tax, and a small shipping fee of $1.95. Profits from

calendar sales goes directly into maintaining State Parks.

You may purchase a calendar by calling the PA State Park Reservation Center at

1-888-PA-PARKS (727-2757), Monday through Saturday between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m.

Elk County Visitor Center Gears Up For Elk Viewing Season

Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Richard J. Allan Wednesday

visited the Elk Country Visitor Centerin Elk County to preview the upcoming elk-viewing

season and see the centers new exhibits.

He also met the leadership of DCNRs partner the Keystone Elk Country Alliance and

learned about the economic impact and potential of both public and private investments in the

Pennsylvania Wilds.

I wanted to see and hear about the tremendous success we are experiencing at the Elk

Country Visitor Center, including a phenomenal number of visitors from all over the world, and

the increased amount of economic activity this world-class destination is bringing to this region,

Allan said. This is one of our shining examples that conserving and promoting our naturalresources are important not only for protecting habitat and providing outdoor experiences, but

also as a way to make local economies vibrant.

The Elk Country Visitor Center, first opened in September 2010, is nestled on 245-acres

owned by the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources in Benezette. It includes a 4D

story theater; interactive interpretive exhibits; wildlife trails and viewing areas; wagon rides;

year-round restrooms; and parking for cars, RVs and buses.

In 2009, DCNR partnered with the nonprofit Keystone Elk Country Alliance, a

Pennsylvania-based wildlife conservation organization, whose mission is to conserve and

enhance Pennsylvanias elk country for future generations; raise private funds for the project;

assist in the development of the interactive displays; and conduct the day-to-day operations ofthe center.

This private-public partnership between DCNR and KECA is an exceptional example of

how government and the private sector can work together to create a wonderful conservation

education facility and improve opportunities for local and regional business owners, Allan said.

Fall is the peak season for viewing elk in the Pennsylvania Wilds because the mating

season, or rut, occurs, and bugling bulls can be heard throughout elk country.

New exhibits for the season include:

-- Bugle Like an Elk. This exhibit allows visitors to see how close they can come to replicating

the sound of an elk during the mating season.

-- Discovery Room. Located just adjacent to the Great Room, this room now offers more

hands-on activities about elk and other wildlife in the Pennsylvania Wilds, as well as a close lookat the work of wildlife biologists and conservationists in the field, laboratory and community.

Web cameras provide a glimpse of fields and wildlife beyond the viewing range of the

center, and wildlife watching trails and viewing areas provide closer encounters for more-

adventurous visitors.

KECA employs nine local residents at the center. In addition to operating the center, it

helps to develop and maintain wildlife forage plans to attract elk and other wildlife for public

viewing.
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KECA applauds DCNR for its novel thinking in developing this private public

partnership, said KECA President and CEO Rawley Cogan. We work every day through

educational programming developed cooperatively between KECA and DCNR to present a clear

and consistent conservation education message to thousands of visitors travelling to

Pennsylvanias elk country. Our guests also understand that all of the funds generated by the

alliance remain here in Pennsylvania to support our wildlife resources and to ensure that thisextraordinary facility is self-sustaining.

For September and October, the grounds at the center are open dawn to dusk, seven days

a week. Early morning and twilight are the best times to spot elk. The center itself is open 8 a.m.

to 8 p.m.

The Commonwealth invested $6 million to build the center with another $6 million from

private donations.

The center -- and the larger Pennsylvania Wilds effort to develop sustainable nature and

heritage tourism in the area -- has had a positive local economic impact. Between 2005 and 2010

the number of businesses offering overnight lodging in the Benezette-Weedville area has more

than doubled -- from seven to 16, according to Pennsylvania Wilds Small Business Ombudsman

Ta Brant.The North Central Regional Planning and Development Commission serving the

counties nearby has processed more than $2 million in tourism loans for start-ups and expansions

of restaurants, lodges, wineries, outfitters, golf courses and the like, creating 177 jobs since

2006, Brant said.

A majority of the loans were initiated through the Commonwealth Financing Authoritys

First Industries program, a tourism loan fund administered by the Department of Community and

Economic Development. All told, since 2004 DCED has invested more than $5.5 million in First

Industries monies in tourism businesses across the entire region, creating 275 jobs.

This is really incredible for such a remote area, Brant said.

In many cases, the elk center itself is having a direct impact on businesses.KECA and DCNR have worked hard to cultivate local artisans and vendors for the elk

centers gift shop, and to pass the centers robust foot traffic to area businesses, Brant said.

Business owners have shown me before and after business data related to the elk center

opening and the growth at some places has just been incredible. One vendor told me last week

the center was a life changer for his business. Tourism businesses in three counties around the

elk center have even started meeting quarterly to network and find more ways to pass foot traffic

among each other. This is all great stuff thats helping diversify our rural economy.

Brant works directly with communities and small tourism businesses in the region,

helping them find answers and resources to grow and ways to tie into the larger Pennsylvania

Wilds Initiative. She also works closely with the many stakeholders involved in growing the

nature and heritage tourism industry in the 12 county Pennsylvania Wilds region. DCNR,DCED, and the Appalachian Regional Commission have all helped fund the ombudsman

position since it was created in 2008.

To contact the ombudsman, or to learn more about opportunities available, go to the PA

Wilds webpage or follow the ombudsman on Facebook.

For more information about the Elk Country Visitor Center, visit the Elk Visitor Center

webpage or call 814-787-5167.
http://www.pawildsresources.org/http://www.pawildsresources.org/http://www.facebook.com/PAWildsResourceshttp://www.elkcountryvisitorcenter.com/http://www.elkcountryvisitorcenter.com/http://www.facebook.com/PAWildsResourceshttp://www.pawildsresources.org/http://www.pawildsresources.org/


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Cameron County Artisan Center Boosts Economy

Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Richard J. Allan Wednesday

visited the Cameron County Artisan Centerin Emporium, a popular stop on the Pennsylvania

Wilds Artisan Trail.

Allan said the center is making a difference to individual businesses and artisans whilecontributing to the overall momentum of the Pennsylvania Wilds initiative. DCNR has supported

the artisan project with Growing Greener grant funding working with the Lumber Heritage

Region and other partners.

"This effort seems to be clearly demonstrating the power of a brand that promotes

authentic local products, many made with wood and other natural materials, as well as a positive

conservation 'buy local' message," Allan said. "The artisan project is becoming increasingly

important to the overall Pennsylvania Wilds initiative. The region's many skilled artisans help

give the Pennsylvania Wilds its unique sense of place and make it a destination. Several of our

state parks are now showcasing local artisan works and promoting the trail."

The Pennsylvania Wilds Artisan Development Project was launched in 2006 to raise the

visibility and profitability of artisans and arts-related businesses in the region.The program does this by branding high-quality products made by local artisans with the

"Proudly Made in the Pennsylvania Wilds" brand so these products can command a higher price;

and by helping to get more of these items to market by establishing an Artisan Trail and an

online presence so artisans can more easily market their products to residents, retailers, visitors,

design professionals and others.

In its first two years, the program had an estimated overall economic impact of $100,000,

according to a recent study conducted as part of the Community and Economic Development

Master's program through Penn State University. The program led to a 23 percent increase in

Pennsylvania Wilds Artisans selling their products through retail trail sites across the 12

1/2-county region. Commissions paid to artisans increased almost 30 percent from 2008 to2009.

"These are great results for an effort that was just getting off the ground in the middle of

one of the worst recessions in history," said Bob Veilleux, who oversaw the study. "We expect

that these figures have only increased over the last two years."

The study also looked at the importance and economic power of the Pennsylvania Wilds

brand a key aspect of the artisan project and of the larger effort to grow sustainable tourism in

the region. The study showed that artisan products branded with the Pennsylvania Wilds logo

were considered higher quality by customers and more likely to be purchased than products

without the branding.

The Cameron County Artisan Center is a testament to the program's momentum. The

center opened in 2008 in large part because of the marketing, networking and brandingopportunities offered through the Pennsylvania Wilds Artisan Trail.

In order to have Cameron County represented on the trail, the local chamber transformed

a vacant storefront in downtown Emporium into a chamber office and artisan center. In three

short years, the center has gone from carrying 10 artists to carrying more than 80, and has sold

more than $60,000 in artwork.

It also now offers art classes a needed service in the community that has created

additional work opportunities for local artisans.
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"This is a fantastic success story in a county that has only 5,200 people," said

Pennsylvania Wilds Small Business Ombudsman Ta Brant, who helps oversee the artisan

project. "The chamber's executive director has done an amazing job and has been very generous

with her time. She is the person all our new trail sites go to for advice."

While in Emporium, Allan also heard about efforts by community groups to revitalize the

area by developing and promoting outdoor recreation assets like trails and geocaching. ChamberDirector Tina Johns Solak works with a variety of community organizations to develop these

opportunities so local businesses reap the benefits.

"By providing grants to support the work of the Pennsylvania Wilds Planning Team,

DCNR is pleased to have created opportunities for Emporium and other communities in the

region to take advantage of the initiative," Allan said. "DCNR's support to the Planning Team

has led to on-the-ground resources for communities and businesses like design assistance and

signage grants, trail workshops, the Pennsylvania Wilds Resource Center website and a variety

of locally-driven recreation and conservation projects that not only contribute to sustainable

tourism, but also improve quality of life."

To learn more about opportunities available, visit Pennsylvania Wilds website or follow

the initiative on Facebook.

State Parks Again Offering Early Canada Goose Hunting

Pennsylvania State Parks again will allow Canada goose hunting when the state's season opens

on September 1.

Hunters should contact individual park offices for local starting dates and other details as

some parks are closed to hunting. Also, with the early season starting date falling prior to Labor

Day, some parks will not allow hunting until September 6, the day after Labor Day. Sunday

hunting is not permitted in Pennsylvania.

Click Here for more information.

Participate In The 2011 Great PA Outdoor Challenge: September 10 To October 9

What do the outdoors, 30 X 30, physical activity, and a month-long challenge have in common?

They combine to form a better YOU!

The PA Parks and Forests Foundation introduces the 4th annual Great Pennsylvania

Outdoor Challenge, starting on September 10, and concluding on October 9, and invites you to

participate in support of our Commonwealths parks and forests.

You are invited to make a 30-minutes-per-day for 30-days investment in your future,

personal health and well-being. At the end of it, not only will you be on the way to creating a

better YOU, but you also will have made an investment in the future of outdoor recreationalopportunities in Pennsylvanias parks and forests.

Studies show that there is a direct connection between physical activity and improved

health, and our state parks and forests are the perfect place to challenge yourself and jump-start

your daily workouts. Dont feel that you are limited to physical activity on our public lands.

You can do your 30 minutes of activity anywhere!

Find out more about the GPOC, view the activities and events calendar, and register

online.
http://www.pawildsresources.org/http://www.facebook.com/PAWildsResourceshttp://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/pennsylvania-state-parks-again-offering-early-canada-goose-hunting-128469043.htmlhttp://www.thegpoc.org/http://www.thegpoc.org/http://www.thegpoc.org/http://www.thegpoc.org/http://www.thegpoc.org/http://www.thegpoc.org/http://www.thegpoc.org/http://www.thegpoc.org/http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/pennsylvania-state-parks-again-offering-early-canada-goose-hunting-128469043.htmlhttp://www.facebook.com/PAWildsResourceshttp://www.pawildsresources.org/


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You can also contact the PPFF Office to receive a hard copy of the GPOC registration

packet. GPOC events showcase all the opportunities that our state parks and forests have to

offer. We invite you to take part in these activities in addition to your own GPOC recreation

plans. You can even use our new Pennsylvania State Parks & State Forests Passport to craft your

own challenge.

For PPFFs GPOC events in particular, please take note of the Lace-Up for LeahMemorial 5K Run/Walk, as well as Play Like a Kid Day, at Sam Lewis State Park in York

County both scheduled for Sunday, September 18. Check out the PPFF website for further

details and to register for the run/walk.

Registration is open as well on the day of the race event. National Public Lands Day is

Saturday, September 24, and there are more than 30 events across the state for you to get

involved in celebrating and caring for our state forests and parks.

The GPOC like our State Parks and forests is canine-friendly! On Saturday, October

1, participate in the 2nd annual Bark in the Park at Colonel Denning State Park from 10:00 a.m.

until 3:00 p.m.

At this event, you will mingle with other dog lovers, learn from a variety of

dog-centric presentations including a local man who trains Iditarod sled dogs interact withpet-related product vendors, and view the winning entries of the 2nd annual Dogs in the

Outdoors Photo Contest.

These are just a few of our fabulous GPOC events. Remember: 30 X 30 = U!

PA Economic Development Association Sets Fall Conference October 5

The PA Economic Development Association will hold its annual conference in State College on

October 5 at the Toftrees Golf Resort and Conference in State College. Click Here for details on

the agenda and registration information.

All 4 Exelon Nuclear Plan Operate Safely Following Seismic Activity

None ofExelon Nuclear's four Mid-Atlantic nuclear energy stations was affected by this

afternoons seismic activity in Virginia, and all continue to operate safely Tuesday.

An Unusual Event was declared at each of the stations following the seismic activity,

in accordance with plant procedures: Peach Bottom Atomic Power Station, Three Mile Island

Generating Station and Limerick Generating Station in Pennsylvania, and Oyster Creek

Generating Station in New Jersey.

Plant equipment continued to function normally at each of the Exelon Nuclear stations.

Operators are currently performing "walk-downs" to identify any potential affects from the

seismic activity, but no damage to equipment or plant operations has been identified at this time.Each plant continued to operate at normal power level throughout the event and no evacuations

or additional safety measures were required.

Nuclear energy plants are designed specifically to withstand the impact of earthquakes

and other severe acts of nature. The earthquake, reported to be at a magnitude of 5.9 on the

Richter Scale, did not challenge the engineered design of the Exelon facilities.

An Unusual Event is the lowest level emergency classifications as determined by the

Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
http://www.paparksandforests.org/http://peda.org/http://peda.org/events?eventId=285040&EventViewMode=EventDetailshttp://www.exeloncorp.com/energy/generation/nuclear.aspxhttp://www.exeloncorp.com/energy/generation/nuclear.aspxhttp://peda.org/events?eventId=285040&EventViewMode=EventDetailshttp://peda.org/http://www.paparksandforests.org/


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NewsClips: PA Earthquake Rattles Nerves, Buildings

Central PA Earthquake Disrupts Phone Service

Out Of Nowhere, Earthquake Rattles Area

Marcellus Shale Drilling To Blame For Earthquake? No Fracking Way

No Damage Or Injuries At Nuclear Power Plant

No Unusual Event At Shippingport Nuclear PlantPA Infrastructure Withstands Quake

PEMA Pleased With State Coordination After Earthquake

Spotlight

PSU: Eastern Earthquake Unusual But Not Remarkable

The earthquake that shook the entire northeast Tuesday afternoon was unusual in its strength but

not an unusual event, according to a Penn State geophysicists.

"It is unusual to have an earthquake of this size on the east coast, but it is not unusual to

have earthquakes in this area," said Kevin P. Furlong, professor of geosciences, Penn State.

"This is on the higher end of earthquakes in this area, but not unheard of."

The earthquake, which occurred at 1:51 p.m., was centered on Mineral, Va., about 92

miles southwest of Washington, D.C. and northwest of Richmond, Va. The earthquake epicenter

was 270 miles from the University Park campus. It was also felt in Toronto, along the east coast

and at least as far west as Flint, Mich.

"The fact that it was felt 300 miles away shows that it was a strong earthquake," said

Furlong. The U.S. Geological Survey now estimates the magnitude of the earthquake at 5.8 and,

according to Furlong, we may not feel any of its aftershocks this far away in Pennsylvania.

"This afternoon, since the original 5.8 earthquake occurred the U.S.G.S. has recorded two

earthquake aftershocks, one 2.8 and one 2.2 in magnitude," said Charles Ammon, professor ofgeoscience, Penn State.

The aftershocks were also recorded in the Earth and Mineral Sciences museum on their

seismographs, but were not felt by anyone in the area.

"The key thing to remember is that this fault line is probably only two to three miles long

and the aftershocks will occur in the same area or nearby, probably within two or three miles of

the original earthquake," said Furlong.

Historically there were large earthquakes on the United State's east coast in the 1700s and

1800s. The Cape Ann earthquake in Massachus

pa environment digest aug. 29, 2011

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