Center For Rural PA Still Accepting Comments On Stream Cleaning To Prevent Flooding

As a follow up to a listening session on stream cleaning to prevent flooding on January 19, the Center for Rural Pennsylvania will continue to accept comments on the issue, according to Sen. Gene Yaw (R-Tioga).

            Center staff was be joined by state and local elected officials from Bradford, Lycoming, Sullivan and Susquehanna counties, members of the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau, local businesses and residents, many of whom have been affected and offered testimony regarding issues surrounding stream cleaning in the wake of recent flooding across Pennsylvania.

            "We need to look into the regulatory issues to address some of these problems," Sen. Yaw said. "As the presenters testified, a method to maintain stream channels that are sensitive to local conditions is essential. And we need to let regulators know that landowners and citizens are not the enemy but rather partners."

            As a result of this listening session, Sen. Yaw's office will be working directly with Secretary Michael Krancer of the state Department of Environmental Protection, as well as other state and local agencies, to address the current regulatory and permitting process. In addition, he and his staff will be working directly with the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau and its membership to tackle this issue head on.

            Podcast: Sen. Yaw Discusses Need For Stream Cleaning, Maintenance

            “The Center for Rural Pennsylvania continually works to gather input from rural residents on how state government can partner with them to address local challenges and opportunities,” said Barry Denk, Executive Director for the Center.  “The listening session in Sullivan County, called by our Chairman Senator Yaw, clearly shows this commitment to serving Pennsylvania's rural citizens and their communities.”

            Testimony from the hearing and a video are available online.  Comments can be submitted through Sen. Yaw's website.

DEP Inviting Comments On Noncoal Mining, Dam Safety, Waterways Permit Fees

Proposals to increase fees for Dam Safety and Waterway Management Permits and permits related to noncoal mining were the subject of PA Bulletin notices on January 28.

            The Environmental Quality Board published proposed increases in Dam Safety and Waterway Management Permit fees for public comment.  The proposal would increase fees nearly $8 million--  dam safety ($933,495 increase) and waterway management ($7,052,390 increase).

            The Department of Environmental Protection published notice it is soliciting additional public comments on a proposed rulemaking published in August, 2010 increasing noncoal mining-related permit fees.  The proposal would increase fees $2,475,000 (from $25,000 to $2,500,000 annually).

            DEP in December took action to withdraw proposed Drinking Water permit fee increases adopted by the Environmental Quality Board which would have generated $8.1 million (from $250,000 to $8,385,000 annually).

            Other pending permit fee increases include:

-- Coal Surface Mining Permits: $350,000 (from $50,000 to $400,000 annually); and

-- Air Quality Permits: $7.8 million (from $19,570,000 to $27,408,000 annually).

PUC Invites Comments On Order Implementing New Gas Pipeline Regulatory Program

The Public Utility Commission published notice of its tentative implementation order for the new Gas and Hazardous Liquids Pipelines Act for comment.  Comments are due February 1.

            The new law expands the Commission’s authority to enforce federal pipeline safety laws as they relate to gas and hazardous liquids pipeline equipment and facilities within the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

            The Pipeline Act requires the Commission to develop and maintain a registry of pipeline operators within Pennsylvania.

            The Commission will recover the costs of this program by assessments on pipeline operators based on the total intrastate regulated transmission, regulated distribution and regulated onshore gathering pipeline miles in operation for the transportation of gas and hazardous liquids in Pennsylvania during the prior calendar year.

            For more information, visit the PUC's Gas and Hazardous Liquids Pipelines Act webpage.

Friday NewsClips

Corman: Drilling Impact Fee Close
Cabot: EPA Investigation Of Dimock A Waste
Op-Ed: Lehigh Chamber President Weighs In On Marcellus Shale
Op-Ed: Pennsylvania's Saudi Arabia-- Marcellus Shale
Consol Energy Scales Back Its Drilling Plans
Consol To Cut Investment, Number Of Marcellus Wells
Declining Gas Prices Slow Shale Drillers
Consol Profit Rises 87 Percent On Coal Prices, Gas Sales
No Energy Industry Backing For The Word Fracking
What Makes Wet Natural Gas?
FirstEnergy Closing 6 Coal-Fired Power Plants, 1 In PA
Consol: No Miners Ill After Man's Death
Editorial: Lawmakers Must Work On Infrastructure
Montour Run Watershed Assn Plans To Curb Stream Erosion
State Gives $13 Million To Huge Somerset Wind Farm
TMI Finds Unexpected Flaws In New Steam Generators
Bethlehem Water Agency Considers Controlled Burns
Veteran Pursued Passion For Conservation, Outdoors
Sustainability Schools Teaching Non-Farmers How To Produce Food
Click Here for PA Capitol Digest

Thursday NewsClips

9 GOP Senators Speak Out Against Local Control Of Drilling
Bills Limiting Local Drilling Rules Draw GOP Foes
Senate Bloc Concerned About Curbs To Local Drilling Rules
Local Zoning Laws Issue In Shale Fees
Op-Ed: PA Should Protect Remaining State Lands From Drilling
Driller Ends Free Water Deal For Sewickley
Op-Ed: How A Gas Boom Became A Glut
Casey Presses Sunoco, ConocoPhillips On Refinery Closings
EPA: Waste Site Owners To Pay $2.1 Million
Landscaping May Ease Flooding In Millvale
Grant For Millvale To Pay For Stormwater Efforts
DEP Approves Chrin Landfill Expansion
PUC Renews Pressure For City To Sell PGW
Tree Pittsburgh At Work On First Urban Forest Master Plan
Bicycle-Passing Bill Sent To Governor
Click Here for PA Capitol Digest

PennTAP Seeking Industrial Clients To Participate In DOE's Save Energy Now Program

The PA Technical Assistance Program is searching for industrial clients willing to participate in the Department of Energy’s Save Energy Now pilot program.

            This program is aimed at implementing and achieving certification under the American National Standards Institute-accredited Superior Energy Performance program. A central element of Superior Energy Performance includes implementation of the recently published international energy management standard, ISO 50001.

            Successful management teams will have a strong commitment to reducing the energy intensity of their business, prior experience in implementing ISO 9001 and/or 14001 standards, manufacturing energy costs that justify program implementation costs, and the resources to complete certification under the ISO 50001 energy management standard.

            Participation in the pilot will result in personalized coaching and staff training, reduced energy costs, a smaller carbon footprint, and national recognition as being one of the first organizations to certify under the standard.

            The Superior Energy Performance program is a product of a partnership between DOE, the U. S. Council for Energy Efficient Manufacturing, PennTAP, and the DEP Office of Pollution Prevention and Energy Assistance.

            Through the Superior Energy Performance program industrial facilities have a roadmap for achieving, documenting and certifying ongoing energy efficiency improvements.         

            Additional program elements include American Society of Mechanical Engineers standards for assessing plant energy systems, an industrial measurement and verification protocol, and certified professionals to provide assistance completing all program elements.

            In Pennsylvania, the Save Energy Now program – now renamed Better Buildings, Better Plants - offers multiple benefits for industry.  PennTAP staffers provide multi-level plant energy assessment services, technical assistance, support for emerging energy-related businesses and technologies, DOE “Best Practices” workshop energy system training via the Penn State Extension, and referrals to other Commonwealth service provider resources.

            More about PennTAP’s services are available online.  More information about DOE’s Better Buildings, Better Plants program can be found online and the Superior Energy Performance Program website.

            Interested businesses should contact Ralene Molina-Kreiser, PennTAP Senior Technical Specialist, at 814-574-0813 or send email to: rxm174@psu.edu, for an application and additional information about participating in the program.

Wednesday NewsClips

Drilling Resumes In Allegheny National Forest
Oil, Gas Industry Wants Allegheny National Forest Plan Tossed
DEP Weighs Using Mine Water For Fracking
Range Resources Could Acquire South Fayette School Lease
Environmental Groups, McKeesport Settle Shale Lawsuit
NY Takes Action Against PA Driller Over Pollution
Feds: Lower Marcellus Shale Reserve, But More Production
Natural Gas Price On The Rise
Chesapeake Energy Describes Response To Low Natural Gas Prices
WV Stays Aggressive In Bid For Shell Gas Plant
Flood-Damaged Middletown Neighborhood Awaits Word On Aid
History Channel Features PSU On Farm Conservation Research
HBG Whitaker Center Starts $2 Million Energy Efficiency Project
Click Here for PA Capitol Digest

Nominations Now Being Accepted For 2012 Western PA Environmental Awards

Nominations for the 2012 Western PA Environmental Awards will be accepted by the PA Environmental Council through March 5.

            Sponsored by Dominion, this regionally acclaimed awards program recognizes and honors the outstanding achievements of organizations, businesses, schools and individuals in a wide range of environmental initiatives throughout Western Pennsylvania, and pays tribute to those that have demonstrated a commitment to environmental excellence, leadership, and accomplishment in their respective fields.

            The Awards are open to any group, individual, program, company, school or organization located and working in one of the following counties: Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Bedford, Blair, Butler, Cambria, Cameron, Centre, Clarion, Clearfield, Crawford, Elk, Erie, Fayette, Forest, Fulton, Greene, Huntingdon, Indiana, Jefferson, Lawrence, McKean, Mercer, Somerset, Venango, Warren, Washington, and Westmoreland.

            Each Western Pennsylvania Environmental Award winner will receive $5,000 cash award designated to the nonprofit organization of their choice and recognition and a full description of the winning project in the Awards Dinner program set for June 28.

            The nomination form and additional information are available on PEC's Western PA Environmental Awards webpage.

(Reprinted from the January 2012 issue of PEC's Catalyst for Collaboration online newsletter.)

PA American Water Accepting 2012 Environmental Grant Applications

PA American Water Company announced Tuesday applications are now being accepted for the company’s 2012 Environmental Grant Program.  Applications must be postmarked by March 10.

            The grant awards will be available in American Water service areas in ten states as follows: California, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Missouri, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and West Virginia. 

            Established in 2005, American Water’s Environmental Grant Program offers funds for innovative, community-based environmental projects that improve, restore or protect the watersheds, surface water and/or groundwater supplies through partnerships. 

            “American Water is committed to ensuring water quality through testing and treatment, as well as through consumer education and community source protection programs,” said Debra Vernon, Manager of Corporate Responsibility. “We are all environmental stewards in protecting our water supplies, and this program is one way we help communities play an active role in this important effort.” 

            To qualify, proposed projects must: 

-- Address a source water or watershed protection need in the community;

-- Be completed between May 1 and November 30, 2012;

-- Be a new or innovative program for the community, or serve as a significant expansion to an existing program;

-- Be carried out by a formal or informal partnership between two or more organizations;

-- Provide evidence of sustainability (continued existence after the American Water grant monies are utilized); and

-- Be located within one of American Water's service areas in the following states: California, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Missouri, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and West Virginia 

            In 2011, a total of 35 projects throughout American Water’s service areas in eight states were awarded grants totaling more than $155,600.

            Grant award recipients will be notified by April 9. 

            For more information, visit the Environmental Grant Program webpage.