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Wednesday, July 31, 2013
Disaster Assistance Approved For Victims Of Severe Storms In Allegheny, Other Counties
Gov. Tom Corbett Tuesday announced the U.S. Small Business Administration approved his request to declare Allegheny County a disaster area after several weeks of severe storms and flooding caused significant damage to homes and businesses between June 26 and July 21.
Citizens in Allegheny County, as well as neighboring counties Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Washington and Westmoreland, may be eligible for low-interest disaster loans through the SBA Disaster Loan Programs.
Small Business Administration officials, along with local and state officials, conducted damage assessments at the site. The governor used the damage assessment results to support his assistance request to the SBA.
“Several weeks of heavy rain and severe storms have left their mark on much of western Pennsylvania,” Corbett said. “We are grateful that the Small Business Administration granted our request to help victims get their lives in order as quickly as possible.”
Low-interest loans of up to $200,000 are available to homeowners to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate. SBA regulations permit loans up to $40,000 to repair or replace personal property. Businesses and nonprofits can borrow up to $2 million to restore damaged or destroyed buildings, inventory, equipment and assets. Loan amounts and terms are set by the SBA and are based on each applicant’s financial qualifications.
SBA Outreach Centers
The SBA has established a disaster loan outreach center at the Allegheny County Airport, Main Terminal, Building 12 (inside main doors), 12 Allegheny County Airport (Lebanon Church Rd.), West Mifflin, PA 15122. The center will be open 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. on July 31 and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays from August 1 through August 8. Hours on August 3 are 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; it is closed on August 4.
SBA customer service representatives will be on hand at the disaster loan outreach center to issue loan applications, answer questions about the disaster loan program, explain the application process and help individuals to complete their applications.
Online Assistance
Individuals and businesses unable to visit the center in person may obtain information and loan applications by calling the SBA’s Customer Service Center at 1-800-659-2955 (1-800-877-8339 for the hearing impaired), Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., or by sending email to: disastercustomerservice@sba.gov.
Business loan applications can also be downloaded from the SBA website.
Completed applications should be returned to the center or mailed to: U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, TX 76155.
Victims may apply for disaster loans from SBA’s secure website.
Deadlines
The filing deadline to return applications for physical property damage is September 27, 2013. The deadline to return economic injury applications is April 29, 2014.
Tuesday, July 30, 2013
Monday, July 29, 2013
August EQB Meeting Now 27th
DEP has rescheduled the August Environmental Quality Board meeting to the 27th. The Chapter 78 drilling regulations were to be on the agenda.
Sunday, July 28, 2013
Sunday NewsClips
Lycoming’s Clean Water Institute Supports Summer Research
Click Here for PA Capitol Digest NewsClips
Saturday, July 27, 2013
Saturday NewsClips
Friday, July 26, 2013
July 29 PA Environment Digest Now Available
Advisory Board Says DEP Chapter 78 Drilling Rule Changes Not Ready For Public Review
On July 18 the Oil and Gas Technical Advisory Board wrote to the Department of Environmental Protection recommending DEP not publish the proposed Chapter 78 Marcellus Shale regulation changes required by Act 13 for public comment because they are not fully developed.
DEP said the regulation changes will be going to the Environmental Quality Board on August 20 for its approval as proposed rulemaking for public review.
-- It does not meet the requirements of Executive Order 1996-1 or the Department’s Policy for Development, Approval and Distribution of Regulations because the agency did not review the regulations to determine if the cost of the regulation outweigh the benefits, if non-regulatory alternatives were explored and preferred over regulation, if the regulations address a “compelling public interest” and “definable public health, safety or environmental risks,” and if the regulation will hamper Pennsylvania’s ability to compete effectively with other states.
-- Significant portions of the rule were removed from discussion at TAB’s April 2013 meeting because they require further development in technical workgroups, a process that has just begun. The subjects removed include: public resource protection, pre-hydraulic fracturing assessment (orphaned and abandoned wells), waste management at well sites and water supply restoration standards.
-- Certain provisions of the proposed rule exceed statutory authority, including provisions related to public resources, site restoration, pipelines and horizontal direction drilling and tanks and containers.
-- The Department has not critically analyzed or accommodated the anticipated impacts of the proposed rule on small businesses, which is required by the Regulatory Review Act and the Act 76 of 2012.
-- The rule fails to proposed criteria, which the Environmental Quality Board is specifically directed to do by Act 13, for the Department to use to impose permit conditions to mitigate probably harmful impacts to public resources while ensuring optimal development of oil and gas resources and respecting the property rights of oil and gas owners.
“To allow for full and robust public comment period, all of these concerns should be addressed before the proposed rule is published for comment.
“(The) Environmental Quality Board should remand the proposed rule to the Department and delay publishing any rule until the regulatory package is more fully developed and suitable for public comment.
“Indeed, the rule’s failure to propose any criteria with respect to public resource permit conditions renders the package incomplete and requires its return to the Department.”
The members of the Advisory Board signing the letter included: Gary Slagel (CONSOL Energy); Robert Watson, PhD (Penn State University); Samuel Fragale (Chief Oil & Gas); Burt Waite (Moody & Associates); and Arthur Yingling (Ark Resources, Inc.).
A copy of the letter is available online.
Friday NewsClips
Thursday, July 25, 2013
Thursday NewsClips
Wednesday, July 24, 2013
Tuesday, July 23, 2013
Advisory Board Says DEP Chapter 78 Drilling Rule Changes Not Ready For Public Review
On July 18 the Oil and Gas Technical Advisory Board wrote to the Department of Environmental Protection recommending DEP not publish the proposed Chapter 78 Marcellus Shale regulation changes required by Act 13 for public comment because they are not fully developed.
DEP said the regulation changes will be going to the Environmental Quality Board on August 20 for its approval as proposed rulemaking for public review.
The letter said the proposed rule is not ready for publication for five reasons--
-- It does not meet the requirements of Executive Order 1996-1 or the Department’s Policy for Development, Approval and Distribution of Regulations because the agency did not review the regulations to determine if the cost of the regulation outweigh the benefits, if non-regulatory alternatives were explored and preferred over regulation, if the regulations address a “compelling public interest” and “definable public health, safety or environmental risks,” and if the regulation will hamper Pennsylvania’s ability to compete effectively with other states.
-- Significant portions of the rule were removed from discussion at TAB’s April 2013 meeting because they require further development in technical workgroups, a process that has just begun. The subjects removed include: public resource protection, pre-hydraulic fracturing assessment (orphaned and abandoned wells), waste management at well sites and water supply restoration standards.
-- Certain provisions of the proposed rule exceed statutory authority, including provisions related to public resources, site restoration, pipelines and horizontal direction drilling and tanks and containers.
-- The Department has not critically analyzed or accommodated the anticipated impacts of the proposed rule on small businesses, which is required by the Regulatory Review Act and the Act 76 of 2012.
-- The rule fails to proposed criteria, which the Environmental Quality Board is specifically directed to do by Act 13, for the Department to use to impose permit conditions to mitigate probably harmful impacts to public resources while ensuring optimal development of oil and gas resources and respecting the property rights of oil and gas owners.
“To allow for full and robust public comment period, all of these concerns should be addressed before the proposed rule is published for comment.
“(The) Environmental Quality Board should remand the proposed rule to the Department and delay publishing any rule until the regulatory package is more fully developed and suitable for public comment.
“Indeed, the rule’s failure to propose any criteria with respect to public resource permit conditions renders the package incomplete and requires its return to the Department.”
The members of the Advisory Board signing the letter included: Gary Slagel (CONSOL Energy); Robert Watson, PhD (Penn State University); Samuel Fragale (Chief Oil & Gas); Burt Waite (Moody & Associates); and Arthur Yingling (Ark Resources, Inc.).
A copy of the letter is available online.
Chesapeake Bay Trust Mini Grant Education Program Apps Due August 9
The Chesapeake Bay Trust is now accepting applications for the Mini Grant Environmental Education Program until August 9.
Activities such as Meaning Watershed Educational Experience, teacher professional development and programs to advance environmental literacy may be funded. Non-profit organizations, community associations, faith-based organizations and others are eligible to apply.
For more information, visit the CBT Mini Grant Program webpage. (Reprinted from PA Association of Environmental Educators list-serv.)
Tuesday NewsClips
Monday, July 22, 2013
DEP Extends Comment Period On Proposed Permit Review Public Participation Policy
The Department of Environmental Protection Monday announced an extension of the public comment period for its draft Public Participation Policy for the Permit Review Process. The policy is open for public comment until Aug. 27.
“We are extending the public comment period to ensure that all have an opportunity to comment on this important policy,” Acting DEP Secretary Chris Abruzzo said. “Public participation is a key ingredient to a meaningful, transparent government.”
The comment period has been extended due to a printing error in the Pennsylvania Bulletin that affected the email address given for comments. The department places a high value on input and comments about the policy and strives to provide easy access to its draft proposals.
The draft policy proposes guidelines for public participation during DEP’s permit review process. The policy includes procedures for public hearings, and receiving and responding to public comments.
The policy will apply to all permits and authorizations that are published in the Pennsylvania Bulletin, the state’s official informational gazette published by the Pennsylvania Legislative Reference Bureau.
On July 15 the Citizens Advisory Council to DEP provided the agency with comments on the proposed policy.
Monday NewsClips
Bringing Oysters Back To Chesapeake Bay
Editorial: Form NE PA Stormwater Authority
Editorial: Form NE PA Stormwater Authority
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