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8/20/2019 Pa Environment Digest Feb. 2, 2016
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PA Environment Digest
An Update On Environmental Issues In PAEdited By: David E. Hess, Crisci Associates
Winner 2009 PAEE Business Partner Of The Year Award
Issue #605 Harrisburg, Pa February 1, 2016
EQB Will Vote Feb. 3 On Whether To Update DEP’s Drilling Regulations
The PA Environmental Council has been active over the
last 6 years seeking to toughen Pennsylvania’s laws and
regulations on the oil and natural gas drilling industry.
With DEP’s Chapter 78 (conventional) and 78A(unconventional) regulations coming up for a critical
vote February 3, PEC posted this statement on its blog
marking this important milestone--
In one week the Environmental Quality Board
will be voting on Final Rulemaking from the Department
of Environmental Protection to implement a series of
critical improvements to Pennsylvania’s oil and gas regulations.
This rulemaking, which has been in development for over four years, is in the final stages
of the approval process. But first it must be approved by the EQB.
Interests opposed to the rulemaking have characterized it as unnecessary, or developed
through a process that failed to properly account for industry perspective. Neither of these accusations are even remotely true.
With respect to the process, the final rulemaking stands on the most extensive and
inclusive public process in modern environmental history. The outreach and consideration
performed by DEP is outlined in great detail in its Executive Summary to final rulemaking.
It is clear, by the timeline and actions described, that there has been unprecedented
inclusion of perspectives in this process.
The characterization of the rulemaking as unnecessary ignores a range of critical
improvements this proposal will make to state regulation. Some of these improvements include:
1. Establishing Stronger Protections for Landowners Whose Drinking Water or Property is
Impacted by Oil and Gas Activities.
2. Requiring Greater Preventive Controls on Well Sites to Avoid Migration of HazardousMaterials.
3. Having Well Operators Perform More Robust Pre-Drilling Analysis to Ensure that Drilling
Does Not Pose a Risk to Neighboring Landowners or the Environment.
4. Providing More Information to the Public about the Materials Used in Drilling Operations, and
Where - and How Much - Waste is Being Disposed of On Site or at a Disposal Facility.
5. Greater Protection of Water Resources Used by Operators to Perform Hydraulic Fracturing.
These are only a few of the many vital protections added to the state’s oversight
http://files.dep.state.pa.us/PublicParticipation/Public%20Participation%20Center/PubPartCenterPortalFiles/Environmental%20Quality%20Board/2016/February%203/Final%20Exec%20Summary.pdfhttp://www.dep.pa.gov/PublicParticipation/EnvironmentalQuality/2016%20Meetings/Pages/default.aspx#.VqabdMea10chttp://pecpa.org/policy/pec-urges-environmental-quality-board-to-approve-oil-and-gas-regulations/http://www.dep.pa.gov/PublicParticipation/EnvironmentalQuality/2016%20Meetings/Pages/default.aspx#.VqabdMea10chttp://pecpa.org/http://www.paenvironmentdigest.com/newsletter/default.asp?NewsletterArticleID=11953http://files.dep.state.pa.us/PublicParticipation/Public%20Participation%20Center/PubPartCenterPortalFiles/Environmental%20Quality%20Board/2016/February%203/Final%20Exec%20Summary.pdfhttp://www.dep.pa.gov/PublicParticipation/EnvironmentalQuality/2016%20Meetings/Pages/default.aspx#.VqabdMea10chttp://www.dep.pa.gov/PublicParticipation/EnvironmentalQuality/2016%20Meetings/Pages/default.aspx#.VqabdMea10chttp://pecpa.org/policy/pec-urges-environmental-quality-board-to-approve-oil-and-gas-regulations/http://www.dep.pa.gov/PublicParticipation/EnvironmentalQuality/2016%20Meetings/Pages/default.aspx#.VqabdMea10chttp://www.dep.pa.gov/PublicParticipation/EnvironmentalQuality/2016%20Meetings/Pages/default.aspx#.VqabdMea10chttp://pecpa.org/http://www.paenvironmentdigest.com/newsletter/default.asp?NewsletterArticleID=11953
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responsibilities. Any objective observer would consider these protections essential
to the “social license to operate” high volume resource extraction.
While we have, and will continue to advocate for, stronger protections, we believe the
citizens of the Commonwealth are far better served having this rulemaking in place and enforced
as soon as possible.
While continuous improvement should always be the goal, that goal is predicated onactual implementation of those improvements.
PEC strongly supports the Final Rulemaking. Click Here for a copy of PEC’s letter to the
EQB.
The meeting will be held on February 3 in Room 105 of the Rachel Carson Building in
Harrisburg starting at 9:00 a.m. Click Here to watch the meeting online.
Copies of the regulation changes and other related documents are available at the
Environmental Quality Board meeting webpage.
For more information on programs, initiatives and special events, visit the PA
Environmental Council website, visit the PEC Blog, follow PEC on Twitter or Like PEC on
Facebook . Click Here to receive regular updates on PEC programs, activities and special
events.)Related Story:
Analysis: Myth-- Conventional Oil And Gas Drilling Is Benign
Gov. Wolf: $28M DCNR Community Conservation Partnership Grants For 176 Projects
Standing near the site of a future trail linking the nationally
acclaimed Great Allegheny Passage with the Borough of
Homestead, Department of Conservation and Natural
Resources Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn Thursday
announced an investment of $28 million for 176 projects
across Pennsylvania that will create new recreational
opportunities, conserve natural resources and help revitalize
local communities.
“Our communities thrive economically when people
want to stay and businesses want to grow and these
beautiful public spaces and new recreational areas help improve the quality of life across our
commonwealth,” Gov. Tom Wolf said.
“Just as Gov. Wolf supports sound investments that translate into revitalized communities
and job growth, Homestead has rallied around three projects that will benefit from DCNR grants
being announced today,” Dunn said. “Its efforts exemplify the driving force behind DCNR’s
grants program — that the health and vitality of a community is reflected in the quality of its parks and trails, access to rivers, open spaces and outdoor recreation opportunities.”
Noting these grants throughout the state “help communities protect and enhance their
natural amenities,” the DCNR secretary told a gathering of borough residents and federal, state
and borough lawmakers that Homestead is receiving two $100,000 grants: one providing a direct
connection from the Great Allegheny Passage Trail to The Avenues Business District; and the
other providing funding for renovation of McLean Playground and Frick Park.
“Whether in Allegheny or Montgomery County, local parks are as diverse as the
http://www.atatrail.org/http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/cs/groups/public/documents/document/dcnr_20031593.pdfhttp://www.paenvironmentdigest.com/newsletter/default.asp?NewsletterArticleID=31809http://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://www.dep.pa.gov/PublicParticipation/EnvironmentalQuality/2016%20Meetings/Pages/default.aspx#.VqabdMea10chttp://pacast.com/players/live_dep.asp?utm_source=Listrak&utm_medium=Email&utm_term=http%3a%2f%2fpacast.com%2fplayers%2flive_dep.asp&utm_campaign=DEP+News+for+January+21%2c+2016http://pecpa.org/wp-content/uploads/PEC-Letter-to-EQB-and-IRRC.pdf
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populations they serve,” Dunn said, “but they face similar challenges — limited funding, aging
infrastructure, maintenance needs and reduced capacity to carry out programs and services.
These funds offer a helping hand to achieve projects countless studies show community residents
want.”
Homestead is overseeing three of 176 projects in the state that are being aided by 2015
grants awarded and administered by DCNR’s Community Conservation Partnerships Program.“We are extremely pleased by DCNR’s investment in our community, enabling us to
serve our residents better by rehabbing the parks and playgrounds, and offering green spaces that
will collect and retain stormwater,” Homestead Borough Council President Lloyd Cunningham
told listeners gathered along Waterfont Drive. “The Avenues Trail Connector will be an
excellent supplement to the Great Allegheny Passage trail, providing a direct connection from
the trail to The Avenues Business District and offering cyclists easier access to local businesses
in our Historic Business District.”
The council president hailed the borough projects as “an excellent example of regional
collaboration” involving the Allegheny County Sanitary Authority , Western Pennsylvania
Conservancy , Steel Valley School District and William V. Campbell Educational and
Community Foundation.“These grants are vital to the future growth and development of our communities and
breathe life into projects that will reinvest in families and their children,” said Sen. Jay Costa
(D-Allegheny). “For the Allegheny Passage, this is an incredible project that ties communities
together through recreation. This project alone will be an attraction that will drive people into
our communities to take advantage of recreation facilities, spurring the local economy in the
process.”
Stretching 150 miles from Pittsburgh to its junction with the C&O Canal Towpath at
Cumberland, Md., the Great Allegheny Passage offers afford hikers and bicycling enthusiasts the
opportunity to travel a more than 330-mile route between Pittsburgh and Washington, D.C., that
is free from traffic and motorized vehicles.
Funding for grants overseen by DCNR’s Bureau of Recreation and Conservation includes
the Keystone Fund, which is generated from a portion of the realty transfer tax; the
Environmental Stewardship Fund; the ATV/Snowmobile Fund generated through fees for
licenses; and federal monies.
In its Grant Round 21, DCNR received 430 grant applications in 2015 that accounted for
funding requests totaling more than $92 million. Grants were awarded in categories that included
municipal and regional community recreation and park projects; land acquisition; rivers
conservation efforts; and planning.
A list of grants approved is available online
.
NewsClips:
State Doles Out $28M For Outdoor Recreation State Gives Philly $2.7M For Parks, Recreation Projects StateImpact: Gas Royalties From State Forest Land Drop Sharply
Laurel Mountain Ski Resort Readies For Another Run
Troubled Ski Resort Begins Upgrades, To Open In Nov.
Cool New Rail Trail Project Proposed In Bucks County
Grant Cycle Begins For Lackawanna Heritage Valley
5 Things To Know About Codorus Corridor Plans In York
http://www.witf.org/news/2016/01/5-things-to-know-on-codorus-corridor-plans-in-york.phphttp://timesleader.com/news/local/507386/spring-grant-funding-cycle-has-begun-for-entities-in-lackawanna-heritage-valleyhttp://www.buckscountycouriertimes.com/news/local/newtown-rail-trail-proposed-for-old-rail-line/article_6ea7f66c-c471-11e5-9197-df1fb2ca9703.htmlhttp://m.apnews.com/ap/db_268748/contentdetail.htm?contentguid=tpGoOrTLhttp://triblive.com/news/westmoreland/9840237-74/ski-laurel-resorthttps://stateimpact.npr.org/pennsylvania/2016/01/28/gas-royalties-from-state-forest-land-drop-sharply/http://www.newsworks.org/index.php/the-feed/item/90544-state-grants-27-million-for-parks-and-recreation-projects-in-philly?linktype=hp_topstoryhttp://www.post-gazette.com/local/2016/01/29/State-doles-out-28-million-for-outdoor-recreation/stories/201601290152http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/cs/groups/public/documents/document/dcnr_20031593.pdfhttp://campbellecf.com/http://campbellecf.com/http://www.svsd.k12.pa.us/http://waterlandlife.org/http://waterlandlife.org/http://www.alcosan.org/
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Schneck: Are You Among 305 Million National Park Visitors?
Op-Ed: Our National Parks Are Under Attack
Editorial: In 100th Year, Boost National Park Service
New Philadelphia Bicycle Coalition ED Sarah Clark Stuart
DEP Releases Climate Change Action Plan Update For Public Comment
The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the January 30 PA Bulletin
saying the next update to the Pennsylvania Climate Change Action Plan is now available for
public review. Comments are due March 30.
The Plan is required to:
— Identify greenhouse gas (GHG) emission and sequestration trends and baselines in this
Commonwealth;
— Evaluate cost-effective strategies for reducing or offsetting GHG emissions from various
sectors in this Commonwealth;
— Identify costs, benefits and co-benefits of GHG reduction strategies recommended by the
Plan, including the impact on the capability of meeting future energy demand within thisCommonwealth;
— Identify areas of agreement and disagreement among committee members about the Plan; and
— Recommend to the General Assembly legislative changes necessary to implement the Plan.
DEP’s Climate Change Advisory Committee considered a draft Climate Plan Update at
its last meeting in November. Click Here to read a copy of the draft.
Climate Plan Update Sections
Part of the Plan Update will include 13 work group reports making recommendations
covering: Combined Heat and Power , Manure Digesters, GeoExchange Systems , Heating Oil
Conservation and Fuel Switching, Re-Lighting Pennsylvania , Semi-Truck Freight
Transportation , Building Energy Codes , High Performance Buildings , Coal Mine Methane
Recovery
, Urban and Community Forestry Role in Climate Change Mitigation
, Act 129 Phase
IV & V , Manufacturing Energy Technical Assistance and Energy Efficiency Finance .
Key Facts From Update
Here are some key facts from the Climate Plan Update--
-- Overall, Pennsylvania’s greenhouse gas emissions in 2030 are expected to be lower than in
2000.
-- Between 2000 and 2012 total statewide greenhouse gas emissions in Pennsylvania declined by
35.58 million ton carbon dioxide equivalents or by 11.02 percent-- from 322.96 MMTCO2e to
287.38 MMTCO2e.
-- The 13 specific Work Plans included in the Update are expected to reduce greenhouse gas
emissions by 337.69 million ton carbon dioxide equivalents.-- The Work Plans with the most cost-effective recommendations, according to the analysis done
in the Update are: Energy Efficiency Finance, Semi-Truck Freight Transportation , GeoExchange
Systems , Heating Oil Conservation and Fuel Switching and High Performance Buildings (see
page 6).
-- The Work Plans with the highest potential reductions are: Energy Efficiency Finance , High
Performance Buildings , Re-Lighting Pennsylvania , Heating Oil Conservation and Fuel
Switching , and GeoExchange Systems (see page 6). [Note: 4 of 5 overlap.]
http://files.dep.state.pa.us/Air/AirQuality/AQPortalFiles/Advisory%20Committees/CCAC/Docs/GeoExchange_Heating_and_Cooling_final_version.pdfhttp://files.dep.state.pa.us/Air/AirQuality/AQPortalFiles/Advisory%20Committees/CCAC/Docs/HeatingOilConservationandFuelSwitching_final_version_(3-18-15)_Purtell_(DG).pdfhttp://files.dep.state.pa.us/Air/AirQuality/AQPortalFiles/Advisory%20Committees/CCAC/Docs/HeatingOilConservationandFuelSwitching_final_version_(3-18-15)_Purtell_(DG).pdfhttp://files.dep.state.pa.us/Air/AirQuality/AQPortalFiles/Advisory%20Committees/CCAC/Docs/Re-Light_PA_(final%20version)_FJP_2-23-15.pdfhttp://files.dep.state.pa.us/Air/AirQuality/AQPortalFiles/Advisory%20Committees/CCAC/Docs/High_Performance_Bldgs_Final.pdfhttp://files.dep.state.pa.us/Air/AirQuality/AQPortalFiles/Advisory%20Committees/CCAC/Docs/High_Performance_Bldgs_Final.pdfhttp://files.dep.state.pa.us/Air/AirQuality/AQPortalFiles/Advisory%20Committees/CCAC/Docs/Energy_Efficiency_Finance_Work_Plan_08-04_DA_(R1).pdfhttp://files.dep.state.pa.us/Air/AirQuality/AQPortalFiles/Advisory%20Committees/CCAC/Docs/High_Performance_Bldgs_Final.pdfhttp://files.dep.state.pa.us/Air/AirQuality/AQPortalFiles/Advisory%20Committees/CCAC/Docs/HeatingOilConservationandFuelSwitching_final_version_(3-18-15)_Purtell_(DG).pdfhttp://files.dep.state.pa.us/Air/AirQuality/AQPortalFiles/Advisory%20Committees/CCAC/Docs/GeoExchange_Heating_and_Cooling_final_version.pdfhttp://files.dep.state.pa.us/Air/AirQuality/AQPortalFiles/Advisory%20Committees/CCAC/Docs/GeoExchange_Heating_and_Cooling_final_version.pdfhttp://files.dep.state.pa.us/Air/AirQuality/AQPortalFiles/Advisory%20Committees/CCAC/Docs/Freight_Transportation_Final.pdfhttp://files.dep.state.pa.us/Air/AirQuality/AQPortalFiles/Advisory%20Committees/CCAC/Docs/Energy_Efficiency_Finance_Work_Plan_08-04_DA_(R1).pdfhttp://files.dep.state.pa.us/Air/AirQuality/AQPortalFiles/Advisory%20Committees/CCAC/Docs/Energy_Efficiency_Finance_Work_Plan_08-04_DA_(R1).pdfhttp://files.dep.state.pa.us/Air/AirQuality/AQPortalFiles/Advisory%20Committees/CCAC/Docs/META_(7-7-15)_final.pdfhttp://files.dep.state.pa.us/Air/AirQuality/AQPortalFiles/Advisory%20Committees/CCAC/Docs/Act%20129_Phase_IV_V_6-16-15_final.pdfhttp://files.dep.state.pa.us/Air/AirQuality/AQPortalFiles/Advisory%20Committees/CCAC/Docs/Act%20129_Phase_IV_V_6-16-15_final.pdfhttp://files.dep.state.pa.us/Air/AirQuality/AQPortalFiles/Advisory%20Committees/CCAC/Docs/UCF_Role_in_Climate_Change_Mitigation_6-10-15_(FINAL).pdfhttp://files.dep.state.pa.us/Air/AirQuality/AQPortalFiles/Advisory%20Committees/CCAC/Docs/Coal_Mine_Methane_Recovery_6-10-15_(FINAL).pdfhttp://files.dep.state.pa.us/Air/AirQuality/AQPortalFiles/Advisory%20Committees/CCAC/Docs/Coal_Mine_Methane_Recovery_6-10-15_(FINAL).pdfhttp://files.dep.state.pa.us/Air/AirQuality/AQPortalFiles/Advisory%20Committees/CCAC/Docs/High_Performance_Bldgs_Final.pdfhttp://files.dep.state.pa.us/Air/AirQuality/AQPortalFiles/Advisory%20Committees/CCAC/Docs/Energy_Codes_Final.pdfhttp://files.dep.state.pa.us/Air/AirQuality/AQPortalFiles/Advisory%20Committees/CCAC/Docs/Freight_Transportation_Final.pdfhttp://files.dep.state.pa.us/Air/AirQuality/AQPortalFiles/Advisory%20Committees/CCAC/Docs/Freight_Transportation_Final.pdfhttp://files.dep.state.pa.us/Air/AirQuality/AQPortalFiles/Advisory%20Committees/CCAC/Docs/Re-Light_PA_(final%20version)_FJP_2-23-15.pdfhttp://files.dep.state.pa.us/Air/AirQuality/AQPortalFiles/Advisory%20Committees/CCAC/Docs/HeatingOilConservationandFuelSwitching_final_version_(3-18-15)_Purtell_(DG).pdfhttp://files.dep.state.pa.us/Air/AirQuality/AQPortalFiles/Advisory%20Committees/CCAC/Docs/HeatingOilConservationandFuelSwitching_final_version_(3-18-15)_Purtell_(DG).pdfhttp://files.dep.state.pa.us/Air/AirQuality/AQPortalFiles/Advisory%20Committees/CCAC/Docs/GeoExchange_Heating_and_Cooling_final_version.pdfhttp://files.dep.state.pa.us/Air/AirQuality/AQPortalFiles/Advisory%20Committees/CCAC/Docs/Digester_workplan_final_version.pdfhttp://files.dep.state.pa.us/Air/AirQuality/AQPortalFiles/Advisory%20Committees/CCAC/Docs/CHP_Workplan(12)_final_version.pdfhttp://www.dep.pa.gov/Business/Air/BAQ/AdvisoryGroups/CCAC/Pages/Archive.aspx#.VqtmAMea10chttp://www.elibrary.dep.state.pa.us/dsweb/Get/Document-110839/DRAFT%202015%20Climate%20Change%20Action%20Plan%20Update.pdfhttp://www.pabulletin.com/secure/data/vol46/46-5/160.htmlhttp://planphilly.com/articles/2016/01/26/bicycle-coalition-of-greater-philadelphia-names-sarah-clark-stuart-its-new-executive-directorhttp://thetimes-tribune.com/opinion/in-100th-year-boost-nps-1.2000352http://www.post-gazette.com/opinion/2016/01/27/Our-national-parks-are-under-attack/stories/201601270008http://blog.pennlive.com/pa-sportsman/2016/01/were_you_among_the_305_million.html#incart_river_home
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A copy of the Climate Plan Update for comment is now available online.
DEP Secretary John Quigley has said the Climate Change Action Plan and its updates are
broader in scope than the specific requirement to meet EPA’s Clean Power Climate Rule
requirements. DEP is just now putting together Pennsylvania’s plan to meet the Clean Power
Rule.
Comments can be submit through DEP’s eComment
webpage or by sending email to:[email protected] or in writing to the Department of Environmental Protection, Policy Office,
Rachel Carson State Office Building, P. O. Box 2063, Harrisburg, PA 17105-2063.
A copy of the Plan update is posted on DEP’s eComment webpage. Questions about the
Plan update should be directed to Mark Brojakowski, Bureau of Air Quality, 400 Market Street,
Harrisburg, PA 17101, 717-772-3429, [email protected] .
More background on the Climate Change Plan and other reports is available on DEP’s
Climate Change Advisory Committee webpage. The next meeting of the Committee is set for
March 8.
For more information on PA climate-related issues, visit DEP’s Climate Change
webpage.
NewsClips:States Seek Court Delay Of EPA Clean Power Plan
Editorial: Get To Work On Clean Power Plan PA
How New Environmental Rules Affect Brunner Island Plant
Op-Ed: PA’s Environmental Strategy Should Include Ethanol
Drilling Impact Fees Drop By $5,000 Per Well In 2015, Revenue Loss Could Be $34 Million
The Public Utility Commission published notice in the January 30 PA Bulletin that 2015 Act 13
drilling impact fees will drop by $5,000 per horizontal well, except for wells 3 years old.
The 2015 impact fee will be--
Horizontal Vertical
1st Year $45,300 $9,100
2nd Year $35,200 $7,000
3rd Year $30,200 $6,000
4th Year $15,100 $3,000
5th Year $15,100 $3,000
The 2014 impact was --
1st Year $50,300 $10,100
2nd Year $40,200 $
8,000
3rd Year $30,200 $
6,000
4th Year $20,100 $
4,000The PUC will get reports from well producers in April that will be used to calculate the
final revenue for calendar year 2015 based in part on this fee reduction.
Last June the Independent Fiscal Office projected a decline in Act 13 impact fee revenues
by $33.9 million for the 2015 Calendar year totalling $189.6 million. In 2014 fee collections
totaled $223.5 million. Their assumptions were based in part on a reduction of the per well fee
by $5,000 and declines in the price of natural gas.
For more information, visit the PUC’s Act 13 Drilling Impact Fee webpage.
http://www.puc.state.pa.us/filing_resources/issues_laws_regulations/act_13_impact_fee_.aspxhttp://www.paenvironmentdigest.com/newsletter/default.asp?NewsletterArticleID=32599http://www.pabulletin.com/secure/data/vol45/45-6/251.htmlhttp://www.pabulletin.com/secure/data/vol46/46-5/175.htmlhttp://www.pennlive.com/opinion/2016/01/pa_environmental_strategy_shou.html#incart_river_homehttp://www.yorkdispatch.com/story/money/business/2016/01/27/brunner-island-environmental-regulations/79417568/http://thetimes-tribune.com/opinion/get-to-work-on-clean-power-plan-pennsylvania-in-solid-position-to-comply-with-regulations-1.1999047http://powersource.post-gazette.com/powersource/policy-powersource/2016/01/26/States-seek-court-delay-in-enforcement-of-Clean-Power-Plan/stories/201601260187http://www.dep.pa.gov/Business/Air/BAQ/ClimateChange/Pages/default.aspx#.VqtkJcea10chttp://www.dep.pa.gov/Business/Air/BAQ/AdvisoryGroups/CCAC/Pages/default.aspx#.Vqtk88ea10cmailto:[email protected]://www.ahs.dep.pa.gov/eComment/mailto:[email protected]://www.ahs.dep.pa.gov/eComment/http://www.dep.pa.gov/Business/Air/BAQ/ClimateChange/Pages/default.aspx#.VqttAsea10chttp://www.paenvironmentdigest.com/newsletter/default.asp?NewsletterArticleID=34250http://www.paenvironmentdigest.com/newsletter/default.asp?NewsletterArticleID=34250http://www.elibrary.dep.state.pa.us/dsweb/Get/Document-110839/DRAFT%202015%20Climate%20Change%20Action%20Plan%20Update.pdf
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NewsClips:
PUC Announces Lower Drilling Impact Fee As Gas Price Drops
Does Wolf Still Want A Severance Tax On Natural Gas? StateImpact: Gas Royalties From State Forest Land Drop Sharply
PLS: 5-Party Budget Talks Resume, But Leaves Little Insight On Way Forward
Wolf, Legislative Leaders Meet On Budget With New Focus Analysis: Wolf Is Readying Choose Your Own Adventure Budget
IFO: DCNR Oil & Gas Lease Fund Revenues To Drop Nearly 40%
Legislature Trapped In Budgetary Twilight Zone
Op-Ed: Wolf’s Next Budget, Nothing But Reboot Will Do
Op-Ed: Will Wolf’s 1st Budget Be Done Before 2nd?
Editorial: Legislative Cowardice In Harrisburg
Related Stories:
Short Week In Harrisburg, But Still Long-Running Issues Dominated-- Budget, Kane
Independent Fiscal Office: Oil & Gas Lease Fund Revenues To Drop Nearly 40 Percent
Independent Fiscal Office: Oil & Gas Lease Fund Revenues To Drop Nearly 40 Percent
The Independent Fiscal Office released its economic outlook and state revenue forecast on
Wednesday adding more bad news to the state’s budget situation. State revenues under the
current structure will increase only 3.3 percent a year from FY 2015-16 to FY 2020-21, while
expenditures will increase by 4.5 percent annually.
The main cost drivers everyone knows-- pension contributions and healthcare will drive
costs as well as a 31.5 percent increase in the number of residents 65 and over in Pennsylvania.
At the same time, the number of residents age 20 to 64, the main labor force, will contract by 2.9
percent.
Pension costs alone are expected to increase $1.2 billion above current levels.
The IFO concluded, “The structural imbalance grows each year as tax base expansion is
insufficient to maintain the level of real services provided in the current fiscal year.”
General Fund revenue forecasts by the IFO show FY 2015-16 revenues of $30.9 billion,
$31.5 billion in FY 2016-17, $32.7 billion in FY 2017-18 to $36.3 billion in FY 2020-21.
Specifically on the FY 2015-16 General Fund budget based on House Bill 1460, the IFO
said $318 million would be needed this year to balance that budget and $600 million more for
the “agreed-to” $30.2 billion budget.
Assuming the budget in House Bill 1460 is final, the IFO says the state is facing a
structural deficit of $1.3 billion in the next budget in FY 2016-17 without any changes to taxes or
adoption of cost reduction measures.
Going forward, the IFO said the cost of Gov. Wolf’s expansion of the Medicaid programwill begin to hit the budget in FY 2017-18 on top of everything else.
The IFO highlighted projected revenue declines from DCNR’s Oil and Gas Lease Fund
in its report since DCNR is so dependent on those revenues for operating expenses in the face of
a significant decline in General Fund support (page 46).
Oil and Gas Lease Fund revenues are expected to drop 38 percent in the current FY
2015-16 to $71 million from $115 million last fiscal year. Revenues will increase slowly in the
coming years and not recover to $118 million until FY 2018-19 (page 73).
http://www.ifo.state.pa.us/resources/PDF/Five_Year_Outlook_2015.pdfhttp://www.ifo.state.pa.us/http://paenvironmentdaily.blogspot.com/2016/01/independent-fiscal-office-state-income.htmlhttp://paenvironmentdaily.blogspot.com/2016/01/short-week-in-harrisburg-but-still-long.htmlhttp://www.philly.com/philly/opinion/20160125_Legislative_cowardice.html?betaPreview=redesignhttp://www.pennlive.com/opinion/2016/01/will_gov_tom_wolfs_first_budge.html#incart_2box_opinionhttp://www.pennlive.com/opinion/2016/01/for_wolfs_next_budget_nothin.html#incart_river_indexhttp://www.post-gazette.com/news/politics-state/2016/01/25/Pennsylvania-Legislature-trapped-in-budgetary-twilight-zone/stories/201601210188http://paenvironmentdaily.blogspot.com/2016/01/independent-fiscal-office-state-income.htmlhttp://www.pennlive.com/opinion/2016/01/for_act_2_gov_wolf_is_readying.htmlhttp://www.pennlive.com/news/2016/01/gov_tom_wolf_legislative_leade.html#incart_river_homehttp://www.plsreporter.com/Home/TabId/56/artmid/472/articleid/1124/Resumption-of-five-party-budget-negotiations-leaves-little-insight-as-to-way-forward.aspx#.Vqkx8q_9nso.twitterhttps://stateimpact.npr.org/pennsylvania/2016/01/28/gas-royalties-from-state-forest-land-drop-sharply/http://www.pennlive.com/news/2016/01/other_states_with_severance_ta.htmlhttp://powersource.post-gazette.com/powersource/policy-powersource/2016/01/29/Shale-drillers-impact-fee-will-drop-on-natural-gas-low-prices-Pennsylvania-Marcellus-fracking/stories/201601290228
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In FY 2014-15 the Oil and Gas Lease Fund supported $122.6 million in operating costs
and the General Fund only $14.5 million. In FY 2008-09 the General Fund support for DCNR
was $113 million and Oil and Gas Lease Fund revenue $11.8 million, nearly the reverse.
Click Here for a copy of the full report. Click Here for a copy of the IFO presentation.
NewsClips:
PUC Announces Lower Drilling Impact Fee As Gas Price Drops Does Wolf Still Want A Severance Tax On Natural Gas? StateImpact: Gas Royalties From State Forest Land Drop Sharply
PLS: 5-Party Budget Talks Resume, But Leaves Little Insight On Way Forward
Wolf, Legislative Leaders Meet On Budget With New Focus
Analysis: Wolf Is Readying Choose Your Own Adventure Budget
IFO: DCNR Oil & Gas Lease Fund Revenues To Drop Nearly 40%
Legislature Trapped In Budgetary Twilight Zone
Op-Ed: Wolf’s Next Budget, Nothing But Reboot Will Do
Op-Ed: Will Wolf’s 1st Budget Be Done Before 2nd?
Editorial: Legislative Cowardice In Harrisburg
Related Stories:Short Week In Harrisburg, But Still Long-Running Issues Dominated-- Budget, Kane
Drilling Impact Fees Drop By $5,000 Per Well In 2015, Revenue Loss Could Be $34 Million
Short Week In Harrisburg, But Still Long-Running Issues Dominated-- Budget, Kane
The snow might have shorted the legislative week in Harrisburg, but the state’s longest running
dramas-- the budget impasse and what to do with indicted Attorney General Kathleen Kane-- still
generated lots of heat.
First, the Independent Fiscal Office delivered the bad news everyone already knew: state
revenues are forecast to grow at 3.3 percent annually, while expenditures will increase by 4.5
percent a year.
In other words, state government continues to dig itself deeper into a fiscal hole with no
agreement on relief-- either cutting long-term costs like pensions or raising taxes-- in sight.
The IFO said just to balance the budget passed by the Republicans in House Bill 1460 ,
and line-item vetoed by the Governor, would cost another $318 million and next year the deficit
is expected to be $1.3 billion, if nothing changes.
The IFO also highlighted the loss of revenue from DCNR natural gas leases on state
forest land dropping revenues for this fiscal year by 40 percent. Most of DCNR’s personnel and
administrative costs are funded by these revenues and not the General Fund.
On Saturday, the Public Utility Commission published a formal notice in the PA Bulletin
reducing the Act 13 drilling impact fee by $5,000 per well
reducing grants to local governmentsand state agencies for environmental projects by as much as $34 million.
The four legislative caucuses and Gov. Wolf did meet once on the budget Wednesday,
but did not discuss any specific proposals that would move the process forward. Here’s a recap
of comments and actions on the budget this week--
-- Senate Republicans: Senate Majority Leader Jake Corman (R-Centre) and only the
Republicans were working to finalize a supplemental funding bill (Senate Bill 1106
(Browne-R-Lehigh)) to fill the holes in the $30.2 billion budget bill created by the Governor’s
http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billInfo/billInfo.cfm?sYear=2015&sInd=0&body=S&type=B&bn=1106http://paenvironmentdaily.blogspot.com/2016/01/puc-act-13-drilling-impact-fees-drop-by.htmlhttp://paenvironmentdaily.blogspot.com/2016/01/independent-fiscal-office-state-income.htmlhttp://www.paenvironmentdigest.com/newsletter/default.asp?NewsletterArticleID=34423http://pacapitoldigestcrisci.blogspot.com/2016/01/independent-fiscal-office-state-income.htmlhttp://paenvironmentdaily.blogspot.com/2016/01/puc-act-13-drilling-impact-fees-drop-by.htmlhttp://paenvironmentdaily.blogspot.com/2016/01/short-week-in-harrisburg-but-still-long.htmlhttp://www.philly.com/philly/opinion/20160125_Legislative_cowardice.html?betaPreview=redesignhttp://www.pennlive.com/opinion/2016/01/will_gov_tom_wolfs_first_budge.html#incart_2box_opinionhttp://www.pennlive.com/opinion/2016/01/for_wolfs_next_budget_nothin.html#incart_river_indexhttp://www.post-gazette.com/news/politics-state/2016/01/25/Pennsylvania-Legislature-trapped-in-budgetary-twilight-zone/stories/201601210188http://paenvironmentdaily.blogspot.com/2016/01/independent-fiscal-office-state-income.htmlhttp://www.pennlive.com/opinion/2016/01/for_act_2_gov_wolf_is_readying.htmlhttp://www.pennlive.com/news/2016/01/gov_tom_wolf_legislative_leade.html#incart_river_homehttp://www.plsreporter.com/Home/TabId/56/artmid/472/articleid/1124/Resumption-of-five-party-budget-negotiations-leaves-little-insight-as-to-way-forward.aspx#.Vqkx8q_9nso.twitterhttps://stateimpact.npr.org/pennsylvania/2016/01/28/gas-royalties-from-state-forest-land-drop-sharply/http://www.pennlive.com/news/2016/01/other_states_with_severance_ta.htmlhttp://powersource.post-gazette.com/powersource/policy-powersource/2016/01/29/Shale-drillers-impact-fee-will-drop-on-natural-gas-low-prices-Pennsylvania-Marcellus-fracking/stories/201601290228http://www.ifo.state.pa.us/Resources/PDF/Five_Year_Outlook_2015_Presentation_Jan16.pdfhttp://www.ifo.state.pa.us/resources/PDF/Five_Year_Outlook_2015.pdf
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veto. The supplemental would cover the Department of Corrections, Agriculture and other
programs, but they didn’t quite get done putting it together. Republican members kept adding in
their favorite programs.
-- House Republicans: House Majority Leader David Reed (R-Indiana) said let’s get the last 10
percent of the budget done around the $30.2 billion spend number the Governor vetoed and
move on to the other issues of liquor privatization and pension reform later. The House alsoremoved several supplemental funding bills from the Table in preparation for a House vote:
House Bill 1801- Dept. of corrections, House Bill 1802- Child advocacy centers, House Bill
1803- Dept. of Human Services medical assistance payments;
-- Senate Democrats: Senate Minority Leader Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) said his Caucus is still
fighting for its priorities of education , human services, economic development, recreation and
other funding, but somehow more revenue has to be part of the equation. He cited the IFO
figures saying either we can’t fund state-related universities or there has to be more revenue, it’s
that simple;
-- House Democrats: House Minority Leader Frank Dermody (D-Allegheny) said the $30.8
billion “agreed-to” budget framework spend number (rather than the $30.2 billion budget
Republicans passed) is the right number they should be working toward. He also said liquor and pensions can wait; and
-- Gov. Wolf: The Governor’s Office did not have a reaction to the meeting, but a spokesperson
said the Senate and House must “move forward and fix the (structural) deficit and fund schools.”
Talking about the Governor’s budget address February 9, the spokesperson added, “We’re not
going to make a huge splash with aspirational messages.” [We do know of at least one splash
the Governor intends to make-- a new Growing Greener funding proposal for environmental
programs and projects-- from a DEP announcement last week.]
The public has finally said it does not like the continuing budget impasse. A new
Franklin & Marshall Poll released Thursday found Gov. Wolf is just as popular as Gov. Corbett
was-- 33 percent to 31 percent.
52 percent blame the Legislature for the impasse and 32 percent the Governor. Only 15
percent think the General Assembly is doing a good job.
The more surprising result is those polled said state government and politicians were the
No. 1 problem facing Pennsylvania, twice as many as education at 18 percent.
What’s Next
The Senate and House will return to Harrisburg the week of February 8 to hear the
Governor’s second budget address on February 9. Hearings on Wolf’s second budget proposal
begin on February 22.
NewsClips:
PUC Announces Lower Drilling Impact Fee As Gas Price Drops
Does Wolf Still Want A Severance Tax On Natural Gas? StateImpact: Gas Royalties From State Forest Land Drop Sharply
PLS: 5-Party Budget Talks Resume, But Leaves Little Insight On Way Forward
Wolf, Legislative Leaders Meet On Budget With New Focus
Analysis: Wolf Is Readying Choose Your Own Adventure Budget
IFO: DCNR Oil & Gas Lease Fund Revenues To Drop Nearly 40%
Legislature Trapped In Budgetary Twilight Zone
Op-Ed: Wolf’s Next Budget, Nothing But Reboot Will Do
http://www.pennlive.com/opinion/2016/01/for_wolfs_next_budget_nothin.html#incart_river_indexhttp://www.post-gazette.com/news/politics-state/2016/01/25/Pennsylvania-Legislature-trapped-in-budgetary-twilight-zone/stories/201601210188http://paenvironmentdaily.blogspot.com/2016/01/independent-fiscal-office-state-income.htmlhttp://www.pennlive.com/opinion/2016/01/for_act_2_gov_wolf_is_readying.htmlhttp://www.pennlive.com/news/2016/01/gov_tom_wolf_legislative_leade.html#incart_river_homehttp://www.plsreporter.com/Home/TabId/56/artmid/472/articleid/1124/Resumption-of-five-party-budget-negotiations-leaves-little-insight-as-to-way-forward.aspx#.Vqkx8q_9nso.twitterhttps://stateimpact.npr.org/pennsylvania/2016/01/28/gas-royalties-from-state-forest-land-drop-sharply/http://www.pennlive.com/news/2016/01/other_states_with_severance_ta.htmlhttp://powersource.post-gazette.com/powersource/policy-powersource/2016/01/29/Shale-drillers-impact-fee-will-drop-on-natural-gas-low-prices-Pennsylvania-Marcellus-fracking/stories/201601290228http://www.fandm.edu/uploads/files/401064709520750892-january-2016-franklin-marshall-college-poll.pdfhttp://www.pennlive.com/opinion/2016/01/for_act_2_gov_wolf_is_readying.htmlhttp://www.pennlive.com/opinion/2016/01/for_act_2_gov_wolf_is_readying.htmlhttp://www.plsreporter.com/Home/TabId/56/ArtMID/472/ArticleID/1127/VIDEO-Dermody-Lets-get-a-budget-this-year-and-one-next-year-.aspxhttp://www.plsreporter.com/Home/TabId/56/ArtMID/472/ArticleID/1127/VIDEO-Dermody-Lets-get-a-budget-this-year-and-one-next-year-.aspxhttp://www.plsreporter.com/Home/TabId/56/ArtMID/472/ArticleID/1125/VIDEO-Costa-gives-budget-discussion-update-.aspxhttp://www.plsreporter.com/Home/TabId/56/ArtMID/472/ArticleID/1125/VIDEO-Costa-gives-budget-discussion-update-.aspxhttp://www.plsreporter.com/Home/TabId/56/ArtMID/472/ArticleID/1124/Resumption-of-five-party-budget-negotiations-leaves-little-insight-as-to-way-forward.aspxhttp://www.plsreporter.com/Home/TabId/56/ArtMID/472/ArticleID/1124/Resumption-of-five-party-budget-negotiations-leaves-little-insight-as-to-way-forward.aspx
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Op-Ed: Will Wolf’s 1st Budget Be Done Before 2nd?
Editorial: Legislative Cowardice In Harrisburg
Related Stories:
Independent Fiscal Office: Oil & Gas Lease Fund Revenues To Drop Nearly 40 Percent
Drilling Impact Fees Drop By $5,000 Per Well In 2015, Revenue Loss Could Be $34 Million
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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 (Feb. 8): House Bill 48 (Godshall-R-Montgomery) setting standards for drinking water
well construction; House Bill 544 (Moul-R-Adams) further providing for liability protection for
landowners who open their land for recreation ( sponsor summary); House Resolution 60
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/Legis/CSM/showMemoPublic.cfm?chamber=H&SPick=20150&cosponId=16928http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billInfo/billInfo.cfm?sYear=2015&sInd=0&body=H&type=B&bn=0544http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billInfo/billInfo.cfm?sYear=2015&sInd=0&body=H&type=B&bn=0048http://www.twitter.com/PaCapitolDigesthttp://www.crisciassociates.com/category/capitol-blog/http://www.crisciassociates.com/category/environment-blog/http://www.twitter.com/http://www.crisciassociates.com/https://plus.google.com/+DavidHessGreenWorksInPA/postshttp://paenvironmentdaily.blogspot.com/2016/01/puc-act-13-drilling-impact-fees-drop-by.htmlhttp://paenvironmentdaily.blogspot.com/2016/01/independent-fiscal-office-state-income.htmlhttp://www.philly.com/philly/opinion/20160125_Legislative_cowardice.html?betaPreview=redesignhttp://www.pennlive.com/opinion/2016/01/will_gov_tom_wolfs_first_budge.html#incart_2box_opinion
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(Emrick-R-Northampton) directing the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to conduct a
comprehensive review of the state’s program to regulate the beneficial use of sewage sludge;
Senate Bill 385 (Pileggi-R-Delaware) updating and improving the Transit Revitalization
investment District; Senate Bill 307 (Yudichak-D-Luzerne) providing for an independent counsel
for the Environmental Quality Board; Senate Bill 811 (Hughes-D- Philadelphia) FY 2015-16
Capital Budget bill; Senate Bill 1071 (Browne-R-Lehigh), the “agreed-to” pension reform bill;Senate Bill 1073 (Browne-R-Lehigh) “agreed-to” $30.8 billion General Fund budget bill.
Click Here for full House Bill Calendar.
Senate (Feb. 8): Senate Bill 805 (Boscola-D- Lehigh) allowing an Act 129 opt-out for large
electric users ( sponsor summary ); House Bill 57 (Payne-R-Dauphin) further providing for
natural gas competition (sponsor summar y). Click Here for full Senate Bill Calendar.
Committee Meeting Agendas This Week
House: Click Here for full House Committee Schedule.
Senate: Click Here for full Senate Committee Schedule.
Bills Pending In Key Committees
Here are links to key Standing Committees in the House and Senate and the bills pending in
each--
House
Appropriations
Education
Environmental Resources and Energy
Consumer Affairs
Gaming Oversight
Human Services
Judiciary
Liquor Control
Transportation
Links for all other Standing House Committees
Senate
AppropriationsEnvironmental Resources and Energy
Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure
Community, Economic and Recreational Development
Education
Judiciary
Law and Justice
Public Health and Welfare
http://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.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/CO/SM/COSM.HTMhttp://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//cfdocs/Legis/CSM/showMemoPublic.cfm?chamber=H&SPick=20150&cosponId=15697http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billInfo/billInfo.cfm?sYear=2015&sInd=0&body=H&type=B&bn=0057http://www.legis.state.pa.us//cfdocs/Legis/CSM/showMemoPublic.cfm?chamber=S&SPick=20150&cosponId=18088http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billInfo/billInfo.cfm?sYear=2015&sInd=0&body=S&type=B&bn=0805http://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=0307http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billInfo/billInfo.cfm?sYear=2015&sInd=0&body=S&type=B&bn=0385
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Transportation
Links for all other Standing Senate Committees
Bills Introduced
The following bills of interest were introduced this week--
Waterfront Development Grants: House Bill 1810 (Driscoll-D-Philadelphia) creating a
waterfront development grant program (sponsor summary ).
Funding Energy-Efficiency Projects: Senate Bill 1069 (Blake-D-Lackawanna) authorizing
municipalities to establish authorities to make loans to commercial and industrial real estate
owners to retrofit their properties with energy-efficient technology (sponsor summary ).
Session Schedule
Here is the latest voting session schedule for the Senate and House--
Senate
February 8, 9, 10
Budget Hearings: Feb. 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, March 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 (no session during
hearings)
March 14, 15, 16, 21, 22, 23
April 4, 5, 6, 11, 12, 13
May 9, 10, 11, 16, 17, 18
June 6, 7, 8, 13, 14, 15, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30
House
February 8, 9, 10
March 14, 15, 16, 21, 22, 23
April 4, 5, 6, 11, 12, 13
May 2, 3, 4, 16, 17, 18, 23, 24, 25
June 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 day
will 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 the
Governor's desk for action--
http://www.governor.pa.gov/Schedule/Pages/schedule.aspx#.VNVGE0K4lBxhttp://www.legis.state.pa.us//cfdocs/Legis/CSM/showMemoPublic.cfm?chamber=S&SPick=20150&cosponId=18749http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/billinfo.cfm?syear=2015&sind=0&body=S&type=B&bn=1069http://www.legis.state.pa.us//cfdocs/Legis/CSM/showMemoPublic.cfm?chamber=H&SPick=20150&cosponId=19535http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/billinfo.cfm?syear=2015&sind=0&body=H&type=B&bn=1810http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/CteeInfo/StandingCommittees.cfm?CteeBody=Shttp://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/CteeInfo/index.cfm?Code=19&CteeBody=S
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Flood Insurance Report: Senate Bill 494 (Ward-R-Westmoreland) eliminating the requirement
for the Flood Insurance Report to the General Assembly. A House Fiscal Note and summary is
available.
Senate/House Bills Moving
The following bills of interest saw action this week in the House and Senate--
House
Flood Insurance Report: Senate Bill 494 (Ward-R-Westmoreland) eliminating the requirement
for the Flood Insurance Report to the General Assembly was passed by the House without
changes and now goes to the Governor for his action. A House Fiscal Note and summary is
available.
Stormwater: House Bill 1661 (Mustio-R-Allegheny) authorizing First Class Townships to adopt
stormwater management fees was removed from the Table, amended on the House Floor,
referred to and from the House Appropriations Committee and the House passed the bill. A
House Fiscal Note and summary is available. The bill now goes to the Senate for action.
Private Dam Financial Assurance: House Bill 1712 (R.Brown-R-Monroe) establishing the
Private Dame Financial Assurance program to offer financial assurance to private dam owners
required to post a bond under the Dam Safety and Encroachment Act, however, no funding was
provided for the program (sponsor summary
) was amended on the House Floor and referred to
the House Appropriations Committee.
Senate
Crude Oil Shipments: Senate Resolution 247 (Rafferty-R- Montgomery) urging U.S. DOT to
work with tank car manufacturers, crude oil shippers and the rail industry to adopt higher pool
fire survivability standards and to train emergency first responders ( sponsor summary ) was
adopted by the Senate.
Leasing Clean And Green Land: Senate Bill 201 (Schwank-D-Berks) authorizing the leasing
of property in the Clean and Green Program to a rural enterprise ( sponsor summary) was Tabled.
News From The Capitol
New Polls: Wolf Just As Popular As Corbett; Kane, Sestak, Clinton, Trump Leading
A new Franklin & Marshall Poll released Thursday found Gov. Wolf is just as popular as Gov.
Corbett was-- 33 percent to 31 percent; Kane is leading the Democratic contest for Attorney
General; Joe Sestak is leading the Democratic race for the state’s U.S. Senate seat; and Hillary
Clinton and Donald Trump are leading in the presidential race.
The more surprising result is those polled said state government and politicians were the
http://www.fandm.edu/uploads/files/401064709520750892-january-2016-franklin-marshall-college-poll.pdfhttp://www.legis.state.pa.us//cfdocs/Legis/CSM/showMemoPublic.cfm?chamber=S&SPick=20150&cosponId=15642http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/billinfo.cfm?syear=2015&sInd=0&body=S&type=B&bn=201http://www.legis.state.pa.us//cfdocs/Legis/CSM/showMemoPublic.cfm?chamber=S&SPick=20150&cosponId=19239http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billInfo/billInfo.cfm?sYear=2015&sInd=0&body=S&type=R&bn=0247http://www.legis.state.pa.us//cfdocs/Legis/CSM/showMemoPublic.cfm?chamber=H&SPick=20150&cosponId=19217http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billInfo/billInfo.cfm?sYear=2015&sInd=0&body=H&type=B&bn=1712http://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/SB0494P0442.pdfhttp://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billInfo/billInfo.cfm?sYear=2015&sInd=0&body=S&type=B&bn=0494http://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/BI/FN/2015/0/SB0494P0442.pdfhttp://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billInfo/billInfo.cfm?sYear=2015&sInd=0&body=S&type=B&bn=0494
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No. 1 problem facing Pennsylvania, twice as high as education at 18 percent. Overall, 67 percent
of those polled think the state is on the wrong track (up 5 percent from October). 52 percent
blame the Legislature and 32 percent the Governor (36 percent in October). Only 15 percent
think the General Assembly is doing a good job.
In the Democratic race for Attorney General, Kane is leading in a Harper Poll released
this week with 31 percent followed by Zappala at 18 percent and Shapiro at 13 percent.In the U.S. Senate Democratic race, Sestak has 17 percent, McGinty at 13 percent and
Fetterman at 6 percent. The Harper Poll found Sestak at 33 percent, McGinty 28 percent and
Fetterman at 11 percent.
The F&M Presidential Poll found Clinton leading Sanders 46 to 29 percent. The Harper
Poll found Clinton at 55 percent and Sanders 28 percent.
On the Republican side of the “Presidential” race in Pennsylvania, the F&M Poll found
Trump at 24 percent, Cruz 14 percent, Rubio 11 percent and Pennsylvania’s own Rick Santorum
at 1 percent.
A copy of the F&M Poll is available online .
NewsClips:
PA Voters Register Discussed With Harrisburg Antics In Poll F&M Poll: Voters Disgusted
Poll: Worst Performance Review Ever For Gov. Wolf
Harper AG Race Poll: Kane 31%, Zappala 18%, Shapiro 13%
Harper U.S. Senate Race Poll: Sestak 33%, McGinty 28%, Fetterman 11%
F&M U.S. Senate Race Poll: Sestak 17%, McGinty 13%, Fetterman 6%
Harper PA Presidential Poll: Clinton 55%, Sanders 28%
F&M Presidential Poll: Clinton 46%, Sanders 29%
F&M Presidential Poll: Trump 24%, Cruz 14%, Rubio 11%
News From Around The State
PA Farm Bureau Urges Farmers To Fill Out Chesapeake Bay Conservation Survey
The PA Farm Bureau is urging farmers in the Chesapeake
Bay Watershed to fill out a new survey that measures
conservation practices implemented by farmers to improve
water quality.
The survey asks farmers to provide information on
all of the best management practices (BMPs) on their
farms, including practices they have paid for without
cost-share assistance from the federal government.“Farmers in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed have
doled out a lot of their own hard-earned money to pay for a
wide variety of environmentally-friendly practices that improve water quality, but those efforts
have not been recognized by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in its calculations
measuring nitrogen, phosphorus and sediment reductions in the watershed,” said PFB President
Rick Ebert. “The goal of this survey is to document on-the-ground activities implemented by
farmers so Pennsylvania agriculture gets the credit it deserves for reducing nutrients in the
https://www.pfb.com/http://mobile.philly.com/beta?wss=/philly/news&id=366788031http://mobile.philly.com/beta?wss=/philly/news&id=366788031http://www.politicspa.com/harper-poll-clinton-55-sanders-28/72263/http://triblive.com/news/allegheny/9859443-74/percent-poll-votershttp://www.politicspa.com/pa-sen-harper-poll-sestak-33-mcginty-28-fetterman-11/72267/http://www.politicspa.com/harper-poll-kane-31-zappala-18-shapiro-13/72259/http://www.pennlive.com/news/2016/01/bad_budget_times_equal_bad_per.html#incart_river_homehttp://thetimes-tribune.com/news/poll-voters-disgusted-1.2000648http://triblive.com/news/allegheny/9859443-74/percent-poll-votershttp://www.fandm.edu/uploads/files/401064709520750892-january-2016-franklin-marshall-college-poll.pdfhttp://www.politicspa.com/harper-poll-kane-31-zappala-18-shapiro-13/72259/
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watershed.”
The Department of Environmental Protection has engaged Penn State University’s
Survey Research Center to administer the survey, which was developed collaboratively with
various state agencies, Penn State, Farm Bureau and others in the agricultural community.
The SRC will begin sending out an initial pre-notification letter to farmers during the
week of January 25-29. The letter will include a unique code for each farm and a link to a securewebsite where farmers can fill out the survey.
Farmers, who have not filled out a survey online by the middle of February, will be
mailed a paper copy of the survey.
The deadline to complete and submit the survey is April 30.
“We know that a significant number of farmers in the watershed have voluntarily
installed riparian buffers, stream bank fencing, barnyard runoff controls and other measures to
reduce runoff into waterways. Many farmers also utilize conservation-friendly practices such as
no-till and cover crops, which substantially reduce soil erosion and runoff into streams,” added
Ebert. “We’re hopeful that the information collected from the survey will provide DEP, and
ultimately EPA, a more accurate assessment of what farmers are doing to reduce nitrogen,
phosphorus and sediment into the watershed.”According to Penn State, ten percent of the survey participants will be selected randomly
for farm visits by Penn State Extension for verification purposes. PFB notes that responses will
be kept confidential and individual farm-specific information will not be shared with federal or
state regulatory agencies.
NewsClips:
York County Works To Help Save Chesapeake Bay
Op-Ed: Cheers For York County Regional Stormwater Plan
Op-Ed: Working Together, Let’s Restore The Wissahickon
Chesco Dam Dry And In Limbo
Editorial: RiverQuest Will Keep Its Classroom On The Rivers
Delaware Riverkeeper Riverwatch Video Report Jan. 22
Op-Ed: EPA’s Rule Muddies Water For Farmers, Builders
Op-Ed: Column On Waters Of US Impact In PA Misportrayed
Officials Assessing Oil Spill In Schuylkill River
Fuel Oil Spills Into Schuylkill River
Coast Guard: Most Of Diesel Went Into Schuylkill River
Alternatives To Rock Salt Keep Trees, Pavements, Pets Safer
Latest From The Chesapeake Bay Journal
Click Here
to subscribe to the Chesapeake Bay Journal
Related Stories:
Agencies Unveil New Chesapeake Bay Cleanup Strategy, New Growing Greener Ahead CBF-PA: PA Releases New Strategy For Meeting Chesapeake Bay Cleanup Commitments
Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Partners Argue Bay Restoration Rulings Should Stand
DEP Citizens Advisory Council To Discuss Longwall Mining, Chesapeake Bay Feb. 4
Coordinated State Effort Essential For Chesapeake Bay Watershed Cleanup
Penn State To Survey Farm Conservation Practices In Chesapeake Bay Watershed
Op-Ed: York County Has Taken The Initiative To Address Clean Water Issues
http://www.paenvironmentdigest.com/newsletter/default.asp?NewsletterArticleID=34523http://www.pennfuture.org/media_pr_detail.aspx?MediaID=2653&Archive=http://paenvironmentdaily.blogspot.com/2016/01/dep-citizens-advisory-council-to.htmlhttp://paenvironmentdaily.blogspot.com/2016/01/chesapeake-bay-foundation-partners.htmlhttp://paenvironmentdaily.blogspot.com/2016/01/cbf-pa-pa-releases-new-strategy-for.htmlhttp://www.paenvironmentdigest.com/newsletter/default.asp?NewsletterArticleID=34611http://www.bayjournal.com/subscriptionhttp://www.bayjournal.com/http://triblive.com/lifestyles/dougoster/9866231-74/salt-trees-rockhttp://mobile.philly.com/beta?wss=/philly/news&id=366996331https://stateimpact.npr.org/pennsylvania/2016/01/25/fuel-oil-spills-into-schuylkill-river/http://mobile.philly.com/beta?wss=/philly/news/breaking&id=366462681http://timesleader.com/opinion/columns/506517/ed-perry-column-on-clean-water-act-misportrayed-its-impact-on-pennsylvania-streamshttp://timesleader.com/opinion/columns/506065/u-s-rep-lou-barletta-epas-rule-muddies-water-for-farmers-and-home-buildershttps://youtu.be/E-3SEBA7smEhttp://www.post-gazette.com/opinion/editorials/2016/01/27/Still-rollin-RiverQuest-will-keep-its-classroom-on-the-rivers/stories/201601310209http://www.philly.com/philly/news/20160125_Picturesque_Chesco_dam_dry_and_in_limbo.html?betaPreview=redesignhttp://www.philly.com/inquirer/currents/20160125_Working_together__let_s_restore_the_Wissahickon.html?betaPreview=redesignhttp://www.ydr.com/story/opinion/readers/2016/01/29/cheers-regional-stormwater-plan/79531254/http://www.witf.org/news/2016/01/york-county-works-to-help-save-the-bay.phphttp://src.survey.psu.edu/farmbmp/http://src.survey.psu.edu/farmbmp/
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By Harry Campbell, Chesapeake Bay Foundation-PA
York County has again taken the initiative to address clean water
issues. Based on support from residents, the county commissioners
approved moving forward with a study of how to establish astormwater authority.
York County would join about 1,500 communities in the
United States that are taking more cost-effective steps to better fund
and manage polluted runoff and nuisance flooding. This often occurs
in developed areas such as malls, housing developments, roads and
parking lots.
In doing so, the county will help itself and the rest of
Pennsylvania get back on track toward meeting clean water
commitments.
In 2010, the Bay states and the federal Environmental Protection Agency set pollution
limits that would restore water quality in local rivers, streams and the Chesapeake Bay, and eachstate developed its own plan to meet those limits.
The goal is to implement 60 percent of pollution reduction practices to restore local water
quality in the Commonwealth by 2017, and 100 percent implementation by 2025. Unfortunately,
Pennsylvania will not meet its 2017 goal.
Statewide, efforts to reduce nitrogen and sediment pollution from agriculture and urban
polluted runoff are off track by millions of pounds.
About 350 miles of the nearly 2,000 miles of creeks, streams and the Susquehanna River
that flow through York County are polluted. Agriculture is the source of pollution to 160 miles
of waterways, and urban and suburban runoff is responsible for pollution in 130 miles of York
County waters.
The Commonwealth recently released its plan to “reboot” efforts to get Pennsylvania
back on track, including addressing stormwater pollution.
Comprehensive stormwater management of the scale York County is considering offers
three major advantages.
First, it allows communities to “start at the source” of the pollution problem, not just
where it is showing its greatest impacts.
Second, by working collaboratively communities can leverage expertise, equipment and
other resources to get the best results at the least cost.
Third, pollution reduction practices that preserve and restore nature’s ability to capture,
filter and infiltrate rain and snowmelt into the ground, are often more effective and cost less than
traditional practices. They also clean the air, reduce heating and cooling costs and beautifycommunities.
With a countywide stormwater authority that addresses regular flooding from
uncontrolled runoff that inflicts human, economic and property damage, York County is again at
the forefront of clean water efforts.
York County was the first county in the Commonwealth to adopt the Chesapeake Bay
Foundation’s “ Clean Water Counts ” resolution, calling on state officials to make clean water a
top priority for the Keystone State.
http://www.cbf.org/about-cbf/offices-operations/harrisburg-pa/issues/urge-county-commissioners-to-pass-clean-water-resolutionshttp://www.paenvironmentdigest.com/newsletter/default.asp?NewsletterArticleID=34611http://www.cbf.org/pa
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York County residents are also participating in the CBF’s “Clean Water Counts – York”
effort, raising their voices through phone calls and signing a petition, asking Gov. Tom Wolf and
legislators to support the Commonwealth’s new plan to reduce water pollution.
In the spirit of intergovernmental cooperation, the York County Regional Chesapeake
Bay Pollutant Reduction Plan involves 43 municipalities to better reduce pollution at lower cost.
Earlier this year, the Planning Commission finalized a countywide watershed plan thatanalyzes strategies and targets the pollution-reducing practices most appropriately suited for
York County.
The primary goal of the plan is to aid municipalities, citizens and businesses in
determining how to most efficiently reduce pollution from urban and suburban runoff.
By taking the lead in collaborative stormwater management, York County continues to
demonstrate that clean water counts. It is a legacy worth leaving future generations of York
countians.
For more information, visit CBF’s Clean Water Blueprint webpage. For more on
Chesapeake Bay-related issues in Pennsylvania, visit the CBF-PA webpage. Click Here to sign
up for Pennsylvania updates (bottom of left column).
Harry Campbell is Pennsylvania executive director of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation . He can
be contacted by calling 717-234-5550 or send email to: [email protected].
NewsClips:
Op-Ed: Cheers For York County Regional Stormwater Plan
York County Works To Help Save Chesapeake Bay
Related Stories:
Agencies Unveil New Chesapeake Bay Cleanup Strategy, New Growing Greener Ahead
CBF-PA: PA Releases New Strategy For Meeting Chesapeake Bay Cleanup Commitments
Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Partners Argue Bay Restoration Rulings Should Stand
DEP Citizens Advisory Council To Discuss Longwall Mining, Chesapeake Bay Feb. 4
Coordinated State Effort Essential For Chesapeake Bay Watershed Cleanup
DEP: Pennsylvania Not Meeting Chesapeake Bay Cleanup Commitments
CBF-PA Urges Impairment Listing For Lower Susquehanna In Wake Of River Study
CBF-PA: It’s Time For PA To Reboot Its Commitments To Chesapeake Bay Agreement
CBF-PA: Milestone Assessment Finds PA Falling Short Of Its Water Cleanup Commitments
Rep. Everett: If We Don’t Meet Chesapeake Bay Cleanup Milestones, It Isn’t Pretty
Analysis: PA Isn’t Cleaning Up Our Rivers, Streams Quickly Enough To Meet Commitments
Jan. 26 Chesapeake Bay Journal News Now Available
The January 26 edition of Chesapeake Bay Journal News is now available featuring articles on--
-- CBF, U.S. Justice Ask Supreme Court To Rebuff Challenge To Chesapeake Bay Program
-- Maryland Nutrient Credit Trading Program
-- Calendar of Events In Bay Watershed
-- Click Here to subscribe to the Chesapeake Bay Journal
Capital RC&D Video Series Life In The Soil On Farm Conservation Now Available
http://www.bayjournal.com/http://www.bayjournal.com/subscriptionhttp://www.bayjournal.com/calendarhttp://www.bayjournal.com/blog/post/trading_ideas_on_how_to_trade_pollutionhttp://www.bayjournal.com/article/cbf_u.s._justice_ask_supreme_court_to_rebuff_challenge_to_chesapeake_polluthttp://us5.campaign-archive2.com/?u=b17f916d2763f0738a1910143&id=39ee6bec99&e=49bc155bbdhttp://www.paenvironmentdigest.com/newsletter/default.asp?NewsletterArticleID=30987http://www.paenvironmentdigest.com/newsletter/default.asp?NewsletterArticleID=31608http://www.paenvironmentdigest.com/newsletter/default.asp?NewsletterArticleID=32776http://www.paenvironmentdigest.com/newsletter/default.asp?NewsletterArticleID=33664http://www.paenvironmentdigest.com/newsletter/default.asp?NewsletterArticleID=34282http://paenvironmentdaily.blogspot.com/2015/03/dep-pennsylvania-not-meeting-chesapeake.htmlhttp://www.pennfuture.org/media_pr_detail.aspx?MediaID=2653&Archive=http://paenvironmentdaily.blogspot.com/2016/01/dep-citizens-advisory-council-to.htmlhttp://paenvironmentdaily.blogspot.com/2016/01/chesapeake-bay-foundation-partners.htmlhttp://paenvironmentdaily.blogspot.com/2016/01/cbf-pa-pa-releases-new-strategy-for.htmlhttp://paenvironmentdaily.blogspot.com/2016/01/agencies-unveil-new-chesapeake-bay.htmlhttp://www.witf.org/news/2016/01/york-county-works-to-help-save-the-bay.phphttp://www.ydr.com/story/opinion/readers/2016/01/29/cheers-regional-stormwater-plan/79531254/http://www.cbf.org/pahttp://www.cbf.org/PAhttp://www.cbf.org/pahttp://www.cbf.org/how-we-save-the-bay/chesapeake-clean-water-blueprint/what-is-the-chesapeake-clean-water-blueprinthttp://yorkcity.org/user-files/file/City%20Council/BillsResolutions/2015Bills/Chesapeake-Bay-Pollutant-Reduction-Plan.pdfhttp://yorkcity.org/user-files/file/City%20Council/BillsResolutions/2015Bills/Chesapeake-Bay-Pollutant-Reduction-Plan.pdf
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Agricultural producers have access to many on-farm and laboratory tests to understand the
fertility, condition and even biological activity rates within their soil. Yet it is still difficult to
envision the microscopic life that makes agricultural production possible.
The Capital RC&D “ Life in the Soil” video series helps bridge the gap between test
results and images seen in books and on the web with the soils found and production practicesused on farms throughout Pennsylvania.
With support from USDA-NRCS, Capital RC&D staff collaborated with NRCS field
staff, advisors and landowners to identify sites representing a range of agricultural practices and
used soil samples from these sites to produce video images of the microscopic life present.
The practices include no-till and conventional tillage crop fields, grazing lands, and other
conservation plantings.
Each of the 9 videos feature images taken of the activity above ground as well as images
of the microscopic soil particles, debris, and life present in soil at each site. This series provides a
tool that allows producers to visualize the microscopic activity in their own and neighboring
fields.
NRCS, conservation district or agency staff are welcome to incorporate any segment ofthe video series into presentations or demonstrations as desired. Videos may be included as
embedded objects or shared through a variety of offline formats.
The video titles include--
-- No-Till Corn, Native Grass Buffers In York County;
-- Grazing In Forest and Washington Counties;
-- No-Till Corn In Columbia County;
-- Organic Pasture For Franklin County Dairy;
-- No-Till Soybeans, Sorghum Sudangrass In Centre County;
-- First Year Corn Production After Cool Season Grass Buffer In Columbia County;
-- Cover Crops, No-Till Corn Production In Clinton County;
-- Pasture In Lebanon County; and
-- Woodland Soil In Cumberland County.
The “ Life in the Soil ” video series and additional soil health links are available online.
For more information on programs, initiatives and upcoming events, visit the Capital
RC&D website or contact Cheryl Burns at Capital RC&D at 717-241-4361 or send email to:
Open Space Institute Now Accepting Applications For Delaware Watershed Capital Grants
The Open Space Institute
is now accepting applications for Capital Grants from the Delaware
River Watershed Protection Fund. Applications are due March 18.The Fund supports capital projects that permanently protect lands that conserve water
quality and quantity in the Delaware River watershed and invests in land conservation projects
that--
-- Are located in watersheds that have the ability to produce high quality ground and/or surface
water;
-- contribute to water quality through protection of streams, headwaters and other important
recharge areas; and
http://www.osiny.org/site/PageServer?pagename=Issues_Watershed_Fund_2http://www.osiny.org/site/PageServer?pagename=Issues_Watershed_Fund_2http://www.osiny.org/mailto:[email protected]://www.capitalrcd.org/http://www.capitalrcd.org/http://www.capitalrcd.org/viewproject/LITShttp://www.capitalrcd.org/viewproject/LITShttp://www.capitalrcd.org/
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-- protect sites that are vulnerable to erosion and groundwater pollution.
The grants are targeted to several cluster areas within the Delaware Watershed, including
the Pocono and Kittatinny, Upper Lehigh and Schuylkill Highlands in Pennsylvania.
For all the details on how to apply, visit the Delaware River Watershed Protection Fund’s
Capital Grants webpage.
Partnership For Delaware Estuary Looking For Mussel Volunteers
The Partnership for the Delaware Estuary needs your help locating
streams with mussels , as well as those with no mussels at all.
Working with local watershed organizations, volunteer partners
play an important role in helping scientists monitor the health and
locations of these extremely threatened animals, and identifying streams
in need of mussel restoration.
Freshwater mussels are facing an uncertain future in our local
waterways. Once abundant in both numbers and varieties, many
freshwater mussel species in the Delaware Estuary are now in danger ofextinction.
Streams without mussels are at a serious disadvantage. Mussels
provide valuable natural benefits, such as fortifying streambeds against
erosion, and removing particles and nutrients that benefit other plants and animals.
Additionally, a single mussel can filter up to 10 gallons of water per day. Imagine a
healthy population of these filter-feeding powerhouses doing the work of a man made water
treatment plant!
For information on training, a guidebook, data sheets and more, visit the Partnership’s
Mussel Survey webpage.
NewsClips:
Panel Asks Obama For Long-Term Asian Carp Control Study
Will Snow From Winter Storm Impact Eagle Egg Laying?
Elk Creek Public Access Expands In Erie
Coyote Hunt In NE PA To Attract 700 People
4,200 Gallons Of Heating Oil Released To Land, Schuylkill River In Philadelphia
The Department of Environmental Protection Monday responded to the release of an estimated
4,200 gallons of heating oil located at 2400 Market Street in Philadelphia. DEP Emergency
Response is on location to assess the situation and assist in mitigation of impact.
Working with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Coast Guard, the City ofPhiladelphia, Century Link (Operator) and Miller Environmental (Contractor).
Clean-up efforts began early Tuesday morning and will continue throughout the day.
The contractor has been successful in using vacuum trucks to get much of the oil out of
the river and will continue working throughout the day. They will also begin working to identify
the path of oil from the tank to the river; this will involve digging up snow and soil to try and
determine where the oil traveled. CSX Rail will be re-routing their rail traffic from this area to
accommodate cleanup efforts.
http://thetimes-tribune.com/news/coyote-hunt-to-attract-700-people-1.2001097http://www.goerie.com/field-notes-elk-creek-public-access-expandshttp://blog.pennlive.com/wildaboutpa/2016/01/bald_eagle_nest_cam_update_wil.htmlhttp://m.apnews.com/ap/db_268748/contentdetail.htm?contentguid=1ChMAljxhttp://delawareestuary.org/mussel-survey-programhttp://delawareestuary.org/mussel-survey-programhttp://delawareestuary.org/mussel-survey-programhttp://www.delawareestuary.org/http://www.osiny.org/site/PageServer?pagename=Issues_Watershed_Fund_2http://www.osiny.org/site/DocServer/OSI_DelawareWatershed_Map_Clusters2015_.pdf?docID=14801
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While the path remains unconfirmed at this time, a sewer manhole was discovered along
the Schuylkill Trail. The cover was not able to be lifted due to weather conditions, but readings
have shown high levels of contaminants and a piece of absorbent material stuck into the manhole
came out red in color.
A search conducted on the building side of the CSX tracks located a manhole cover as
well, although responders were unable to monitor the air or probe the manhole.DEP will be working with the U.S. Coast Guard on a Shoreline Cleanup Assessment
Technique (SCAT), which is used to determine the extent and impact of the oil spill.
Based on current assessment, the water portion of the cleanup is expected to be
completed by the end of the week, while the land clean up timeline is indeterminate at this time.
At this time, there have been no fish kills associated with the spill reported.
Public safety inquiries should be directed to the Philadelphia Water Department. All
downstream users and industrial intakes have been notified and are taking the necessary
precautions.
NewsClips:
Officials Assessing Oil Spill In Schuylkill River
Fuel Oil Spills Into Schuylkill River Coast Guard: Most Of Diesel Went Into Schuylkill River
DEP Awards Contract To Wayne County Company For Flood Control Project In Duryea
The Department of Environmental Protection Tuesday awarded Leeward Construction, Inc. of
Honesdale a $1.5-million contract for a flood control project along a portion of the Lackawanna
River in the borough of Duryea, Luzerne County.
The borough was hit hard during heavy flooding in September of 2011 as a result of
Tropical Storms Lee and Irene, destroying dozens of homes and businesses.
The work involves the installation of approximately 1-thousand feet of sheet pile, which
are vertical steel structures, designed to act as a flood wall and close a gap in an existing flood
wall currently running along the river bank. Associated work will also include a small section of
levee excavation and installation of two drainage structures with gates.
This project will improve upon the original levee constructed in 1967 and provide a
consistent level of flood protection throughout the borough.
“The awarding of this contract is a monumental step in getting flood protection for the
citizens and business owners of Duryea,” said Mike Bedrin, Director of DEP Northeast Regional
Office in Wilkes-Barre. “Many will never forget the water and debris the Lackawanna unleashed
on the borough, with many generational homes and family businesses wiped out, some never to
return. This will provide an appropriate level of protection.”
Work to construct the actual flood wall is set to begin in early February with ananticipated completion date for June, barring weather-related events, such as heavy snow or rain.
Pre-construction work on construction entrances and a silt fence to filter and control erosion and
sediment during digging has already begun.
The money to pay for the project which is entirely state-funded, has already been
allocated, established in ACT 131-the Commonwealth Budget Project- of 2002. No federal
monies will be used.
NewsClips:
http://mobile.philly.com/beta?wss=/philly/news&id=366996331https://stateimpact.npr.org/pennsylvania/2016/01/25/fuel-oil-spills-into-schuylkill-river/http://mobile.philly.com/beta?wss=/philly/news/breaking&id=366462681http://www.phila.gov/water/
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State-Funded Duryea Flood Control Project To Begin Next Month
The Great Melt Is Here… Are Your Storm Drains Clear?
Delaware River Basin Commission Holds Feb. 10 Hearing, March 16 Business Meeting
The Delaware River Basin Commission
will hold a hearing on February 10 and a businessmeeting on March 16 at Washington Crossing Historic Park Visitor Center, 1112 River Road,
Washington Crossing, PA. ( formal notice & agenda )
The agenda for both includes water withdrawal requests; authorizing the Executive
Director to enter into a contract with the lowest qualified bidder for the analysis of periphyton
samples from the non-tidal Delaware River (pdf 78 KB); authorizing the Executive Director to
enter into an administrative agreement with the New York State Department of Environmental
Conservation for the review of water withdrawal and wastewater discharge projects in the New
York portion of the Basin; adopting the Water Resources Program 2016-2018 and other issues.
The hearing will begin at 1:30 and the meeting at 10:30.
Click Here for the hearing and meeting agenda, available handouts and other details.
For more information on programs and initiatives, visit the Delaware River BasinCommission website. Click Here to sign up for regular updates from DRBC.
Keep PA Beautiful: 590,500 Volunteers Removed 7.5 Million Pounds Of Trash In 2015
Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful, its local affiliates and
partners, held cleanup events in 2015 resulting in removing
over 7.5 million pounds of trash, 1.9 million pounds of
electronics waste, over 53,000 tires and involved over
590,500 volunteers.
The mission of Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful, which
celebrated 25 years of community stewardship in 2015, is to
empower Pennsylvanians to make our communities clean
and beautiful.
The organization has 29 county and
municipality-based affiliates across the state that work closely with program partners, local
governments, like minded organizations and volunteers to coordinate initiatives in their three
program areas of Prevent It, Clean It and Keep It.
The diverse project initiatives they and KPB undertake include illegal dump and river
cleanups, litter pickups, recycling and special collections, tree and flower plantings, rain garden
and outdoor classroom construction and educational events just to name a few.
The results for 2015 speak for themselves— — 7,596,740 pounds of trash removed from Pennsylvania’s landscape;
— 1,944,850 pounds of electronics collected and properly recycled or disposed;
— 53,102 tires properly disposed;
— 590,526 volunteers; and
— $483,721 in-kind donations
“Since our inception in 1990, over 121 million pounds of trash has been removed from
our landscape and over 3 million pounds of electronics have been collected and recycled! We
http://www.keeppabeautiful.org/http://www.nj.gov/drbc/contact/interest/index.htmlhttp://www.nj.gov/drbc/http://www.nj.gov/drbc/http://www.nj.gov/drbc/meetings/upcoming/index.htmlhttp://www.pabulletin.com/secure/data/vol46/46-5/157.htmlhttp://www.nj.gov/drbc/http://www.phillywatersheds.org/great-melt-here-are-your-storm-drains-clearhttp://timesleader.com/news/506610/state-funded-duryea-flood-control-project-to-begin-next-month
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are proud of the efforts of such a diverse group of environmental and community stewards and
thank them and all Pennsylvanians for 25 years of dedicated service to help make their
communities clean and beautiful,” Shannon Reiter, President of Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful.
To get involved in 2016, Click Here to find a local affiliate near you, Click Here to
volunteer, and sign up to organize a local clean up event as part of the 2016 Great American
Cleanup of PA
or contact Michelle Dunn, Great American Cleanup of PA Program Coordinator,at 1-877-772-3673 ext. 113 or send email to: [email protected]
For more information on programs, initiatives and special events, visit the Keep
Pennsylvania Beautiful and Illegal Dump Free PA websites. Click Here to sign up for regular
updates from KPB.
NewsClips:
Sign Up Starts For Great American Cleanup Of PA
York Waste Authority Unwanted Prescription Drug Collection
Allegheny Front: No, Your Recycling’s Not Going To The Landfill
Pittsburgh Bridge To Be Recycled
Here’s Where You Can Recycle Electronics In Midstate
Keystone Landfill: It Was Mistaken About Leachate Discharge DEP Fines Vogel Waste Hauling $682,500
DEP Fines Vogel Waste Hauling $682,500
2016 Great American Cleanup Of PA Video Contest Now Accepting Entries
Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful, the PA Waste
Industries Association , and the Department of
Environmental Protection are again sponsoring the
2016 Great American Cleanup of PA Video Contes