Monday, November 30, 2020

Marci Mowery, PA Parks & Forests Foundation, Named Chair Of New National Group To Support The Nation's State Parks


On November 30, the new National Association of State Park Foundations announced Marci Mowery, President of the
PA Parks and Forests Foundation, will serve as the group's first chair.

The national association is being launched to support and advocate for the army of volunteers and Friends groups that help care for the nation's state parks and forests.

"Every state in the nation has many wonderful state parks and forests and they all rely heavily on volunteers and nonprofit Friends groups," said Association Chair Marci Mowery.

Adding, "These volunteers and groups support the work of park managers and staff, raise funds for projects in the parks, help run educational and environmental programs, and much more. Without them, many parks would not be able to operate."

The National Association is a nonprofit organization designed to connect, build, elevate and empower member statewide nonprofit partners of America's state parks and advocate for them.

Full membership is open to all nonprofit groups directly supporting their state parks and affiliate membership is open to individuals, other organizations, and corporate entities that want to support our mission and goals, said Mowery.

The officers of the National Association are Marci Mowery, Chair, President of the PA Parks and Forest Foundation; Don Philpott, Vice-Chair, President-Elect of the Florida State Parks Foundation; and David Pearson, Secretary, and Treasurer, executive director of the North Carolina Friends of State Parks.

Contact Marci Mowery for more information on the National Association by sending email to: mmowery-ppff@pa.net

For more information on programs, initiatives, special events and how you can get involved, visit the PA Parks & Forests Foundation website.  Click Here to sign up for regular updates from the Foundation,  Like them on Facebook or Follow them on Twitter or tune in to their YouTube ChannelClick Here to become a member of the Foundation.

The Foundation and their 46 chapters mobilize 65,000 volunteers annually to steward YOUR state parks and forests.

Related Article:

Reminder: Nominations For PA Parks & Forests Foundation 2021 Annual Awards To Recognize COVID Champions Due Dec. 31 

[Posted: November 30, 2020]  PA Environment Digest

Joint Conservation Committee: Spotlight On Organizations Fighting Illegal Dumping & Littering


The following article first appeared in the
November newsletter from the Joint Legislative Air and Water Pollution Control and Conservation Committee.


By Sakura Ung, Joint Conservation Committee Project Manager


In Pennsylvania, it is against the law to engage in illegal dumping. Pennsylvania has several litter and illegal dumping laws such as the PA Vehicle Code, Title 75, Chapter 37 and the PA Crimes Code, Title 18, Chapter 65. 

These laws prohibit citizens from improperly disposing of trash or property in areas such as on highways and in our waters. These laws are enforced by local police, the PA State Police, DCNR, DEP, Fish and Boat Commission, local code enforcement officers, local solid waste authorities and county health departments.

Individuals who violate litter and illegal dumping laws are subject to penalties including hefty fines and confiscation of property such as vehicles. Items often found at illegal dumpsites include tires, furniture, appliances, debris from construction and demolition and other household items.

PennDOT notes that the department spends nearly $600 per ton to cleanup a single illegal dumpsite -- and with thousands of illegal dumpsites located throughout the Commonwealth, the figure is staggering.

In February 2020, Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful released a study analyzing the cost of littering and illegal dumping in nine Pennsylvania cities including: Reading; Allentown; Philadelphia; Pittsburgh; and Harrisburg.  Read more here.

The group found that the nine cities examined, “spend more than $68 million annually on cleanup, education, enforcement, and prevention efforts to address litter and illegal dumping.” 

They also state that efforts to clean-up litter and illegal dumping accounts for 80 percent of the total cost reported for these cities.

Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful noted some of the reasons why individuals may engage in this intentional behavior in their publication titled, “Guidelines for Littering and Illegal Dumping Enforcement.” 

The group cited “cost, convenience, ignorance, habit, profit, or to hide other illegal activities” as some of the motives. For example, people living in rural areas who are required to drive their trash to a site and pay per trash bag may want to save money.

Aside from the high cost of remedying illegal dumping, it adversely affects our economy, health and the environment - for reasons that are both obvious and startling. 

Illegal dumping pollutes our waters and land; harms our natural resources and the animals that rely on them; increases populations of disease-ridden rodents and insects; decreases the property values in our communities; increases the likelihood of crime to occur in the area; deters prospective businesses and residents from settling down in our communities; and creates the opportunity for more illegal dumpsites to pop-up.

One particular group that is hard at work to combat illegal dumping is Monroe County’s Waste Authority Police Department.

The department is focused on addressing both short-term and long-term issues “associated with transportation, storage, processing, and disposal of municipal waste.”

In an article from the Philadelphia Inquirer titled, “Illegal trash dumping plagues rural Pennsylvania roadsides during pandemic,” Captain Jacqueline Bagu, a member of the Waste Authority Police Department, stated that, “We are, as far as I know, the only solid waste management authority that has an enforcement division like ours...”

The Waste Authority Police Department is run by Officer A. Cruz, Captain Jacqueline Bagu, as well as another officer and sergeant. The police department issues citations to individuals caught littering or illegally dumping. 

The police department tracks these individuals down by responding to reports given to them by citizens and even searching through trash looking for pieces of information (i.e. mail) that can lead to the identity of the violator.

The department noted that it has seen an approximate 30 percent increase in illegal dumping in Monroe County during the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, new residents coming to the area who are not familiar with trash collection policies and procedures in rural areas, as well as individuals illegally utilizing other companies’ dumpsters to throw away their garbage have contributed to the problem.

In addition, the Monroe County Municipal Waste Management Authority as a whole participates in several clean-up events and initiatives such as Keep Northeastern PA Beautiful

The authority also established a standing Litter Committee comprised of Monroe County residents and individuals representing agencies and organizations such as PennDOT, the county conservation district and the county planning commission.

As proud Pennsylvanians, it is our duty to be mindful of the amount of trash we accumulate and to report any illegal dumping or littering that we may encounter.

Pennsylvania is fortunate to have groups like Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful, the Monroe County Municipal Waste Management Authority and the Waste Authority Police Department who are committed to eliminating litter and trash in our communities and educating citizens about its harmful impacts.

Click Here for more information about illegal dumping.

Click Here for more information about Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful’s litter cost study.

Click Here to read more about the efforts of the Monroe County Municipal Waste Management Authority and the Waste Authority Police Department.

Click Here to read the article from the Philadelphia Inquirer.

Other Articles

The November newsletter also includes articles on--

-- Policies To Prevent Over-Applying Fertilizer

-- Emissions From Asphalt Pavement

-- Mapping Migrations For Conservation

-- Plan For Shaft To Renewable Energy

Click Here to read the entire newsletter.

Rep. Parke Wentling (R-Mercer) serves as Chair of the Joint Conservation Committee.

For more information, visit the Joint Conservation Committee website, call 717-787-7570, Like them on Facebook or Follow them on TwitterClick Here to sign up for regular updates from the Committee.

[Posted: November 30, 2020]  PA Environment Digest

Registration Open For Delaware Estuary Science & Environmental Summit; Call For Presentations Extended To Dec. 4


The
Partnership for the Delaware Estuary is now accepting registrations for the virtual 2021 Delaware Estuary Science and Environmental Summit on March 1-3.

Since 2005, the goal of this biennial Summit has been to bring together scientists, managers, restoration practitioners, and educators from different sectors to share the latest scientific information, network, and make ecological linkages that promote a better understanding of the watershed as a whole.  

The central format is that of a conventional scientific meeting with abstracts, presentations and peer review Q&A. 

While the focus is on the watershed of the Delaware River and Bay, presentations are welcome from other areas if they help to inform our understanding of this system.

Click Here to register or for more information.

Presentations

The Partnership has extended the deadline for submitting presentation proposals for the Summit to December 4.

Proposals are being accepted for virtual 12-min oral presentations, five minute lightning presentations and poster presentations.

Click Here for more informationQuestions should be directed to Sarah Bouboulis by sending an email to: sbouboulis@delawareestuary.org

Sponsorships

Sponsorship opportunities are available for the Summit.  Contact Elizabeth Horsey by sending an email to ehorsey@DelawareEstuary.org for more information.

Visit the 2021 Delaware Estuary Science and Environmental Summit webpage to learn more.

For more information on programs, initiatives and upcoming events, visit the Partnership for the Delaware EstuaryClick Here to sign up for regular updates from the Partnership, Like the Partnership on Facebook, Follow them on Twitter, Join them on Instagram or Subscribe to their YouTube ChannelClick Here to support the Partnership’s work.

[Posted: November 30, 2020]  PA Environment Digest

Reminder: Nominations For PA Parks & Forests Foundation 2021 Annual Awards To Recognize COVID Champions Due Dec. 31


The
PA Parks and Forests Foundation is now accepting nominations for their 2021 Annual Awards to recognize outstanding service, programs, and people to remind everyone of the exemplary work happening in our state parks and forests. 

Nominations are due December 31.

The foundation plans to distribute 50 awards across the Commonwealth are open to individuals of all ages, groups, organizations, businesses or companies who have worked especially hard to provide safe outdoor recreation areas for mental health and physical release during the COVID pandemic. 

The number of awards pays tribute to the 50th anniversary (May 18th) of the Environmental Rights Amendment added to the Pennsylvania constitution in 1971. The amendment states that: 

“The people have a right to clean air, pure water, and to the preservation of the natural, scenic, historic and esthetic values of the environment. Pennsylvania’s public natural resources are the common property of all the people, including generations yet to come. As trustee of these resources, the Commonwealth shall conserve and maintain them for the benefit of all the people.”

Pennsylvania state parks and forests provide a safe space to improve our physical, mental, and emotional health. 

Our parks and forests also support local economies through visitations, consumer purchases of outdoor recreation equipment, and through projects and services at parks and forests.

The words of the ERA were never more evident than they were during 2020. Pennsylvanians instinctively knew that their right to clean air; pure water; and the natural, scenic, historic and esthetic values of their environment would see them through these difficult times. 

The PA Parks and Forests Foundation plans to celebrate both the anniversary of the ERA and the contributions of the people who made staying healthy during the pandemic possible with the COVID Champions.

Nominations are encouraged for awards to volunteers, Friends Groups, organizations, parks/forests staff members, business owners, medical providers, or elected or appointed officials who:

-- Went above and beyond to improve the visitor experience and create a welcoming environment;

 -- Created or continued an innovative program or project for user comfort, safety, or enjoyment; 

-- Worked to highlight the ongoing needs of our parks and forests even before the onset of the pandemic and the overwhelming use it brought to our public spaces; or 

-- Showed unusual leadership or creativity in support of their park or forest, or the outdoors in general.

“Spending time in the outdoors has long been recognized as a means for improving human health,” said Marci Mowery, President of the Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation. “With the COVID Champions award program we look to recognize the innovative spirit, the commitment, and the tenacity of staff, volunteers, decision makers, and businesses who saw to it that our parks and forests remained safe and welcoming environments for all users.”

“Never has the value of our state parks and state forests shined brighter than during these most difficult times when we see unprecedented numbers seeking the needed solace and escape of the unspoiled outdoors,” said Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn. “Our facilities never could meet that need without the invaluable services, programs and people recognized in these annual awards. We salute all and all that they do!” 

Click Here to submit a nomination or for more information.

For more information on programs, initiatives, special events and how you can get involved, visit the PA Parks & Forests Foundation website.  Click Here to sign up for regular updates from the Foundation,  Like them on Facebook or Follow them on Twitter or tune in to their YouTube ChannelClick Here to become a member of the Foundation.

The Foundation and their 46 chapters mobilize 65,000 volunteers annually to steward YOUR state parks and forests.

[Posted: November 30, 2020]  PA Environment Digest

NRCS-PA Hosts Virtual Open Houses On EQIP Financial Assistance For Urban Agriculture On Dec. 1 For Harrisburg, Dec. 7 For Philadelphia, Dec. 9 For Pittsburgh


The USDA
Natural Resources Conservation Service-PA will host two virtual open houses on
Environmental Quality Incentives Program financial assistance for urban agriculture in areas surrounding Harrisburg, Pittsburgh and Philadelphia

Harrisburg - Dec. 1

NRCS will hold a December 1 virtual open house for the Harrisburg area from Noon to 1:00 p.m.

Dayanna Estades, NRCS District Conservationist in Dauphin County, will be discussing the new EQIP urban agriculture assistance for growers in the Harrisburg area and answering your questions online.

Click Here to join the open house.

Philadelphia Area - Dec. 7

NRCS will hold a December 7 virtual open house for the Philadelphia area from Noon to 1:00 p.m.

Beth Sassaman, NRCS District Conservationist in Philadelphia, Delaware, and Chester Counties. Beth will be discussing the new EQIP urban agriculture assistance for growers in Philadelphia and answering your questions live through the Teams chat.

Click Here to join the open house.

Pittsburgh Area - Dec. 9

NRCS will hold a December 9 virtual open house for the Pittsburgh area from Noon to 1:00 p.m.

Andy Gaver and Dennis DiOrio, NRCS District Conservationists, will discuss the new EQIP urban agriculture assistance for growers in Pittsburgh and answer your questions live through the Teams.

The event is scheduled for one hour, and as a virtual open house where attendees are welcome to come and go. It will be question and answer format and will take place using Microsoft Teams.

Click Here to join the open house.

For more information on financial and technical assistance available to landowners in Pennsylvania, visit the Natural Resources Conservation Service-PA webpage.

[Posted: November 30, 2020]  PA Environment Digest

PA Organization For Watersheds & Rivers Hosts Dec. 10 Webinar On DEP Integrated Water Quality Report, Mapping Application


The
PA Organization for Watersheds and Rivers is hosting a December 10 webinar on the DEP 2020 Integrated Water Quality Report and mapping applications from Noon to 1:00 p.m.

Join POWR and your community watershed organization colleagues for a presentation by DEP staff on the Draft 2020 Integrated Water Quality Monitoring and Assessment Report. 

Like the 2018 report, this one conveys tremendous amounts of information in a way that is much easier to find, read, and understand than prior reports. 

Plus, DEP has updated the 2020 Integrated Report Viewer, which provides enhanced search capabilities and export functions. 

The combination of these two tools can help you access local water quality assessment information and make decisions about ways you can help maintain, protect, and restore those waters.

Click Here to register and for more information.

Visit POWR’s Education webpage for more information on this and past webinars, including presentation slides.

For more information on programs, initiatives, other upcoming events and how you can get involved, visit the PA Organization for Watersheds and Rivers website.

How Clean Is Your Stream?

DEP’s Interactive Report Viewer allows you to zoom in on your own stream or watershed to find out how clean your stream is or if it has impaired water quality using the latest information in the draft 2020 Water Quality Report.

(Photo: Map from Water Quality Report.  Red is bad.)

[Posted: November 30, 2020]  PA Environment Digest

Dec. 4 Penn State Seminar To Examine Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative And State Energy Policy


The
Penn State's Center for Energy Law and Policy will host a December 4 online seminar to examine the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative and state energy policy starting at Noon.

The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions from the electric power sector, will change Pennsylvania’s energy landscape, but it will not be the only major element of the commonwealth’s energy policy. 

Daniel Mallinson, assistant professor of public policy and administration at Penn State Harrisburg, and graduate student Andrew Bell will discuss how RGGI might interact with Pennsylvania’s Alternative Energy Portfolio Standard and Act 129

The talk will also cover topics such as reinvesting revenues generated by RGGI and ideas for leveraging these revenues to encourage equitable energy innovation for the post-COVID-19 economic recovery in Pennsylvania.

The seminar is free and open to the public and will be held through Zoom. Registration is required.

Mallinson’s talk is part of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative seminar series hosted by Penn State’s Center for Energy Law and Policy

The center is a University-wide initiative that supports independent and interdisciplinary research, education and stakeholder engagement on complex energy issues. It provides thought leadership on energy issues where emerging science and technology are intertwined with legal, economic and social institutions. 

For more information on the Center for Energy Law and Policy, please contact Seth Blumsack, center director, at sab51@psu.edu.

[Posted: November 30, 2020]  PA Environment Digest

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