August 11 PA Environment Digest now available. Click Here to print entire Digest.
DEP Releases After Action Reports On Fatal Chevron Well Fire
The Department of Environmental Protection has completed its After-Action Review of the fatal well fire that occurred on Chevron’s Lanco gas well pad on February 11.
The report, released Wednesday, provides a summary of the incident, a chronology of events, a review of the problems encountered during the well incident and recommendations.
The report points to possible human error and a failed screw and nut assembly as factors that allowed gas to escape the well and led to the fire. Chevron has since inspected other wells with similar installations and issued guidelines.
DEP Recommends Against EQB Adopting Ashley Funk Carbon Dioxide Emission Limits
In a report to be considered August 19 by the Environmental Quality Board, the Department of Environmental Protection recommended against adoption of the carbon dioxide emission limits proposed in a rulemaking petition by Ashley Funk saying Pennsylvania’s Climate Change Action Plan already projects emissions in 2020 will be lower than those in 2000.
DEP also said a national approach to greenhouse gas emissions is needed like the Clean Power Plan proposed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in June because climate change is a national and global issue and should cover all sources of carbon dioxide emissions.
Sen. Rafferty To Introduce Bill Supporting Installation Of Forested, Streamside Buffers
Relying upon, current science that shows streamside forest buffers protect communities from pollution and reduce flooding, Sen. John Rafferty (R-Montgomery) plans to introduce a new bill-- Senate Bill 1465 (not yet online) to support protection of forest buffers along streams, creeks and rivers in the state. The new bill is being applauded by both conservation and water research organizations.
No House Session, But Line-Item Veto Makes News
If folks were expecting August to be a quiet month with the Senate and House still on vacation, it hasn’t started off that way.
Several of the principals involved in reviewing the constitutionality of Gov. Corbett’s line-item veto of “legislative initiatives” (read WAMS) in the Fiscal Code bill passed with the budget fired shots at each other this week.
DEP, DCNR Break Ground On Mather Coal Refuse Pile Project In Greene County
The departments of Environmental Protection and Conservation and Natural Resources Thursday hosted a groundbreaking ceremony to mark the start of the Mather refuse coal pile reclamation project.
The project will use silt from the bed of Duke Lake at Ryerson Station State Park to reclaim a waste coal pile and assist with the restoration of a recreational lake for the residents of Greene County.