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Sunday, January 31, 2016
Saturday, January 30, 2016
CFA Accepting Applications For Water-Related And Recreation Grants Starting March 1
The Commonwealth Financing Authority will be accepting the next round of applications for grants funded by Act 13 for watershed restoration, abandoned mine drainage abatement, baseline water quality data, orphan or abandoned well plugging, sewage facilities and flood mitigation programs starting March 1. The deadline for applications is June 30.
Here’s a quick summary of what’s available and the links for more details--
-- Watershed Restoration: The overall goal of the Watershed Restoration and Protection Program is to restore, and maintain restored stream reaches impaired by the uncontrolled discharge of nonpoint source polluted runoff, and ultimately to remove these streams from the Department of Environmental Protection’s Impaired Waters list.
-- Abandoned Mine Drainage Abatement and Treatment: Projects which involve the reclamation of Abandoned Mine Well(s), construction of a new AMD site, remediation and repair of existing AMD project sites, operation and maintenance maintaining current AMD remediation sites, establishment of trust fund to ensure ongoing maintenance is achieved, and monitoring of water quality to track or continue to trace nonpoint source load reductions resulting from AMD remediation projects.
-- Orphan or Abandoned Well Plugging Program: Projects which involve the cleaning out and plugging of abandoned and orphan oil and gas wells; stray gas mitigation systems; and well venting projects.
-- Baseline Water Quality Data: Projects which involve practices for water sample collection and analysis to document existing groundwater quality conditions on private water supplies.
-- Sewage Facilities Program: Costs associated with the planning work required under Act 537 Sewage Facilities Act.
-- Flood Mitigation: Projects authorized by a flood protection authority, the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) or the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) or identified by a local government for flood mitigation are eligible for the program.
-- Greenways, Trails And Recreation Program: Projects which involve development, rehabilitation and improvements to public parks, recreation areas, greenways, trails and river conservation.
Applicants are strongly urged to contact their House and Senate member to make them aware you intend to submit an application for funding under theses programs.
The applications in this round will be considered at the September CFA Board meeting.
For more information and instructions on how to apply, visit the Commonwealth Financing Authority Act 13 Programs webpage. Questions should be directed to 717-787-6245.
CFA Accepting Applications For Alternative, Clean Energy Grants Starting Feb. 1
The Commonwealth Financing Authority will be accepting applications for its Alternative and Clean Energy Grant Program starting February 1. Applications are due April 1.
The program funds activities to promote the utilization, development and construction of alternative and clean energy projects, infrastructure associated with compressed natural gas and liquified natural gas fueling stations, plus energy efficiency and energy conservation projects in the state.
Applicants are strongly urged to contact their House and Senate member to make them aware you intend to submit an application for funding under theses programs.
The CFA Board will consider these applications at its May meeting.
For more information and instructions on how to apply, visit the Commonwealth Financing Authority Alternative and Clean Energy Grant Program webpage. Eligible applicants are encouraged to call 717-787-6245 to discuss potential projects.
Tookany/Tacony-Frankford Watershed Partnership Offers Educational Programs For All Ages
The Tookany/Tacony-Frankford Watershed Partnership in Montgomery and Philadelphia counties is offering several watershed and environmental education programs in the coming weeks. They include--
-- February 12-16: Great Backyard Bird Count;
-- February 15: Presidents’ Day Birdwalk;
-- February 18: Rain Garden Workshop;
-- February 25: Understanding The Urban Watershed Workshop For Educators;
-- March 3: Rain Garden Workshop; and
TTF’s mission is to improve the health and vitality of our watershed by engaging our communities in education, stewardship, restoration, and advocacy. They initiate and support efforts to restore the health of the watershed, and mobilize watershed stewards through outreach, education, and hands-on projects.
The watershed includes neighborhoods in North, Northeast, and Northwest Philadelphia and the communities of Abington, Cheltenham, Jenkintown, Rockledge, and Springfield in Montgomery County.
Working closely with communities, TTF supports the Philadelphia Water Department’s Green City Clean Waters 25-year plan to protect our watershed by managing stormwater through innovative green infrastructure.
They implement and encourage these same strategies with our partners in our upstream communities.
Currently, TTF is working closely with key stakeholders including the Philadelphia Water Department, Philadelphia Parks & Recreation, Cheltenham Township, the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, Partnership for the Delaware Estuary, the Abington School District and others to support overall green infrastructure and stream restoration initiatives in the region.
TTF is proud to serve as the connector between these organizations and watershed neighbors, sharing information and on-the-ground education to assist with adoption of these measures.
For more information on programs, initiatives and other special events, visit the Tookany/Tacony-Frankford Watershed Partnership website, Like them on Facebook, follow TTF on Twitter and visit them on Instagram. Click Here to sign up for regular updates from TTF (right panel, bottom).
Challenge To Use Of Oil & Gas Fund Monies To Be Heard By PA Supreme Court March 9
On March 9 the PA Supreme Court will hear an appeal of a 2015 Commonwealth Court decision upholding the right of the General Assembly and the governor to transfer monies from DCNR’s Oil and Gas Fund to the General Fund and the use of those funds for DCNR State Park and State Forest Operations.
The PA Environmental Defense Foundation filed the original lawsuit against Gov. Rendell for his leasing of nearly 137,000 acres of State Forest land for Marcellus Shale natural gas drilling and then transferring $383 million of the proceeds from the Oil and Gas Fund to the General Fund to balance the state budget.
Gov. Rendell also used Oil and Gas Fund revenue to fund administrative and personnel costs of State Parks and State Forest Operations. The practice continued during the Corbett Administration.
PEDF based its lawsuit, in part, on Pennsylvania’s Environmental Rights Amendment to the state Constitution.
With the makeup of the PA Supreme Court now dramatically changed as a result of the November 3 election, it will be interesting to see how the Court decides this issue.
The PA Supreme Court’s 2013 decision overturning portions of the Act 13 drilling law was based, again in part, on the Environmental Rights Amendment. The new court, with new members, may be more sympathetic to that argument.
On Wednesday, the Independent Fiscal Office released its economic outlook and state revenue forecast that highlighted projected revenue going into the Oil and Gas Lease Fund is expected to drop 38 percent in the current FY 2015-16 to $71 million from $115 million last fiscal year (page 46). Revenues will increase slowly in the coming years and not recover to $118 million until FY 2018-19 (page 73).
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.
Gov. Wolf's proposed last year to begin the process of weaning DCNR off of the Oil and Gas Lease Fund to pay for administrative costs with a $21.8 million General Fund appropriation. His proposal was included in the Republican budget passed in December and signed into law by the Governor with $48.7 million more in General Fund money for DCNR's General Government, State Parks and State Forest Operations line items.
For updates on the progress of the lawsuit, visit the PA Environmental Defense Foundation website. Click Here to sign up for regular news from PEDF.
For more information on drilling, visit DCNR’s Natural Gas Development and State Forests webpage.
Saturday PA Environmental NewsClips
5 Things To Know About Codorus Corridor Plans In York
It’s Official: Pittsburgh Home To World’s Greenest Skyscraper
It’s Official: Pittsburgh Home To World’s Greenest Skyscraper
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Friday, January 29, 2016
Feb. 1 PA Environment Digest Now Available
The February 1 PA Environment Digest is now available. Here are just a few of the headlines--
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.
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 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 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.
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).
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.
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 a stormwater authority.
The Open Space Institute is now accepting applications for Capital Grants from the Delaware River Watershed Protection Fund. Applications are due March 18.
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.
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 Contest. The deadline for entries is June 3.
The PA Organization for Watersheds and Rivers Friday announced it is now accepting applications for 2016 Pennsylvania River Sojourns Grants. Applications are due February 26.
The Williams Pipeline Company recently donated $2,400 to the Game Commission to be used for camera-aided enforcement to protect bat caves from intrusions. The funds will go toward adding six new cameras in two new sites.
To read the Digest, visit: www.PaEnvironmentDigest.com. Click Here to print the entire Digest.
PA Environment Digest is edited by David E. Hess, former Secretary Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, and is published as a service of Crisci Associates.
PA Environment Digest was the winner of the PA Association of Environmental Educators' 2009 Business Partner of the Year Award.
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