Friday, November 21, 2014

Nov. 24 PA Environment Digest Now Available

Nov. 24 PA Environment Digest now available.  Click Here To Print Entire Digest.

CBF-PA Calls On Gov.-Elect Wolf To Appoint Clean Water Commission In First 100 Days
As Gov.-elect Tom Wolf continues to announce his transition team, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation-PA calls on him to ensure that his new administration makes clean water a priority and commits the needed resources to work to implement Pennsylvania’s Clean Water Blueprint. Nearly one-quarter, almost 20,000 miles, of the rivers and streams that Pennsylvanians rely on for fishing, recreation, farming, and for drinking and household uses are polluted.

DEP CAC Adopts Transition Report-Pt. 1, Advisory Committee Recommendations
DEP’s Citizens Advisory Council Tuesday adopted Part 1 of an expected two-part Transition Report to the incoming Wolf Administration as well as a set of recommendations for improving DEP Advisory Committee interactions.
Acting DEP Secretary Dana Aunkst told Council his agency will finish projects it has underway during the transition to a new Governor, including the report on radiation in natural gas development and distribution (TENORM), issuing policies needed to implement House Bill 1565 (Hahn-R-Northampton) relating to stream buffers, making changes to Air Quality GP-5 related to natural gas operations prompted by a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision, considering recommended changes from the PA Supreme Court decision last December overturning part of the Act 13 drilling act and finalizing the long-term Southwest PA Marcellus Shale air monitoring study.

Senate Majority Leader Does Not Rule Out January Session Before Corbett’s Term Ends
Senate Majority Leader Jake Corman (R-Centre) told an interviewer for WHP-TV, as reported by PennLive.com, he is not ruling out a lame-duck January legislative session while Gov. Corbett is still in office to move important legislation.
In the same interview, Sen. Corman was cool to Gov.-Elect Wolf’s proposal for a natural gas severance tax and income tax increase proposals saying the state needs to look for savings and other efficiencies before a tax can be considered as a last resort.

Delaware River Basin Commission Will Subject PennEast Pipeline To Review
Responding to multiple requests by the Delaware Riverkeeper Network, supported by hundreds of letters from individuals, the Delaware River Basin Commission has determined the PennEast Pipeline Project will be subject to DRBC jurisdiction and must obtain a docket before it can proceed.

Feature: Trout Unlimited Scores Victory For Brook Trout In PA’s Twomile Run
With some projects, the results are immediately tangible. Take for instance a project where a mudsill is installed to provide cover and habitat for trout. I have observed the trout hiding out in the deep, shady pool under the mud sill the very next day after it was in place.

PA Resources Council Launches New Anti-Litter Campaign With Video In Pittsburgh
The PA Resources Council has launched its latest anti-litter campaign and encourages residents to share the message via 21st century technology such as social media and electronic communication.  Serving as the centerpiece of the campaign is a “Crying Steelers Fan” video produced in tribute to the Keep America Beautiful “Crying Indian” public service announcement of the 1970s.