Help Wanted: Watershed Restoration Director

The Nature Conservancy seeks an experienced conservation professional to lead the implementation of strategies in predominantly rural landscapes that improve water quality and habitat in the Chesapeake Bay basin. Applications are due by January 31.
Focused primarily on the eastern shore of Maryland, but also working collaboratively with staff in Delaware, Pennsylvania and Virginia, the Watershed Restoration Director will coordinate the Conservancy's work in priority watersheds to achieve effective and efficient reductions in nutrients and sediments through the use of BMPs and habitat restoration.
Click Here to apply. Search for Job# 12798.

Sunday NewsClips

Rendell's Farewell Grants Top $1 Billion
Closer Look At 10 Campaign Promises Made By Corbett
Corbett Fills New Energy Executive Post
Op-Ed: Ways To Close PA Budget Gap
Trout Unlimited Turns Focus To Water Quality
Farmers Claim They're Unfairly Targeted In Chesapeake Bay Plan
Promoting Forest Buffers In The Lower Susquehanna
March 11 Keep The Rain Out Of The Drain Workshop
Departing DEP Secretary Says More Rules Needed For Drilling
Primer Helps Residents Battle Shale Industry
Gas Drilling Plan Provokes Outcry In Erie
Editorial: Wind (less) Mills
Pennsylvania: The Sweet Spot For Syrup
Column: Tomorrow's Eagles
This Year's Easton's Shad Fest Canceled
Click Here for PA Capitol Digest

Saturday NewsClips

DEP Allows Dana Mining Drainage Without Permit
Low Natural Gas Prices No Boon For Shale
2nd Firm Seeks Maryland Natural Gas Drilling Permit
Turtle Creek Greenway Meeting Set For Jan. 27
Valley View Students To Get Green Education
Company Hiring Brokers To Get Utility Customers To Switch
PUC Pleased With Switch Rate Among PECO Customers
Click Here for PA Capitol Digest

Jan. 17 PA Environment Digest Now Available

January 17 PA Environment Digest now available. Click here to print this Digest.

Corbett Names Michael Krancer DEP Secretary

Gov.-elect Tom Corbett this week announced he intends to nominate Michael Krancer, 53, of Bryn Mawr, Montgomery County, as Secretary of Environmental Protection.
Corbett also named John Hines, 42, of Palmyra, Lebanon County, as Executive Deputy Secretary of Programs and Jeff Logan, 53, of Mechanicsburg, Cumberland County, as Executive Deputy Secretary of Administration and Management. Click here to read more…

Friday NewsClips

Marcellus Shale Coalition Makes Pitch At Farm Show
Drilling Flare In Pittsburgh Mills Concerns Officials
North Huntingdon Discusses Noise Restrictions On Drillers
Two Companies Fined Over Oil Well Explosion
Honesdale Pressed to Ban Natural Gas Drilling
First FracPure Facility Approved for Drilling Water By DEP
Shale Gas Affecting Industry's Pricing
State Officials No Shows At Marcellus Event
On The Record: Severance Tax Might Make Comeback, Vitali
Letter: Marcellus Shale Drilling Poses Serious Risks
Editorial: Open Dialogue With Drillers
Rules Eased On Eating Fish From Pittsburgh's Rivers
Harvey's Lake Gets Grant For Water Quality
DEP Sues Homer City Power Plant For Violating Laws
Ex-Employee: DEP Ignores Own Ash Rules
Reformulated Dishwasher Detergent Forces Consumers To Adjust
Click Here for PA Capitol Digest

Pennsylvanians Choose Delaware as 2011 River Of The Year

The people have spoken: the Delaware River is Pennsylvania's River of the Year for 2011.

Chosen for the first time through a public vote, the Delaware bested five other candidates in an online contest that saw more than 10,000 ballots cast from across the state. The Delaware received 2,520 votes.

"The Delaware River is the longest un-dammed river east of the Mississippi and is steeped in history, diverse in resources, and is vital to protect," Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary John Quigley said. "Its waters serve the needs of more than 15 million people from four different states, including more than 5 million Pennsylvanians. It boasts the largest freshwater port in the world, as well as threatened and endangered species, and a thriving tourism industry.

"A goal of the River of the Year designation is to raise awareness of the river and its conservation needs. The public voting format used to nominate and select the River of the Year for the first time this year certainly generated local enthusiasm for conservation and recognition of the importance of our waterways," Secretary Quigley said.

The five other finalists were: Clarion River, Conewango Creek, Kiskiminetas River, Pine Creek, and the Stonycreek River.

DCNR and the Pennsylvania Organization for Watersheds and Rivers, or POWR, administer the River of the Year program. Local organizations submit nominations.

"Although we could only have one winner, each of the waterways that were nominated is special and important in its own way," Secretary Quigley said. "Congratulations to all the local groups who nominated their rivers, and rallied support for them not only for this vote, but through all of their activities and advocacy."

POWR helps train and organize local watershed associations, as well as the groups who lead a dozen sojourns on rivers around the state each year.

"The Delaware River is simply an incredible resource – not just for Pennsylvania, but for the nation as a whole," said POWR Executive Director Jon Meade. "To honor it with the River of the Year award reflects the importance of preservation to those who live near it and experience it every day."

There are a number of organizations that work in partnership to support conservation and recreation activities along the Delaware, including: the Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC); Delaware Canal State Park; National Canoe Safety Patrol; National Park Service; and Upper Delaware Preservation Coalition.

These groups will organize several events throughout the year, including the 17th annual Sojourn paddling trip, a symposium, photo contest and river legacy fundraiser. The eight-day sojourn will include educational programs, and give paddlers a chance to experience the Delaware River to encourage greater understanding of the river and stewardship needs.

"On behalf of the steering committee and all our partners, I would like to thank everyone who voted for the Delaware. Having the Delaware be Pennsylvania's 2011 River of the Year is truly an honor, especially since it is the people's choice and with this the DRBC's 50th Anniversary year," said Kate O'Hara, co-coordinator of the Delaware Sojourn Steering Committee. "This designation will not only showcase the Delaware and all it has to offer, but also highlight the numerous organizations, agencies, and individual volunteers who work together to protect and enhance the river for future generations."

The Delaware also will be celebrated with an annual Rivers Month poster issued in June.

Pennsylvania's River of the Year has been presented annually since 1983.

For more sojourn event information, visit POWR's website or contact Jon Meade by sending email to: info@pawatersheds.org or visit the DCNR Rivers Program webpage.

Thursday NewsClips

Sen. Yaw On Royalty Assessments vs. Severance Tax
Rep. White: Public Not Invited to Drilling Event
Lancaster Eyes Sewer Rate Hikes, Applies for Grants
Companies Thriving In Water
Water-Related Industry Hikes Local Liquidity
Allegheny County Cites Gain In Air Quality Efforts
Tires-To-Energy Plant Still On Track In Crawford County
Hybrid Rental Car Program Debuts At Marywood
Planners Opposed To Solar Farm
Editorial: Subsidence Still Haunts PA
Corbett Taps Engineering Exec To Head Transportation
Corbett's PennDOT Pick Faces Challenges
Click Here for PA Capitol Digest

PRC: Litterbug License Plate Now Available From PennDOT

The Pennsylvania Resources Council announced this week PennDOT has approved a Litterbug Speciality License Plate and it is now available for order.
The cost of each plate is $45, which covers fees to PennDOT for issuing and producing the plate and makes a $21 contribution to PRC.
Download and complete the application for Speciality Registration Plate form and mail a check for $45 made out to Pennsylvania Resources Council, Attention: Donna Mazza, 64 South 14th St., Pittsburgh, PA 15203.
For more information, contact Donna at 412-488-7490 ext. 246 or send email to: donnam@ccicenter.org.

Wednesday NewsClips

Corbett Taps Secretaries Of Environmental Protection, Welfare
Corbett Picks Krancer, Alexander For Cabinet Posts
Corbett Names Bryn Mawr Judge To Lead DEP
Corbett Names DEP Team
Corbett Fills DEP, Public Welfare Positions
Blog: Corbett Names Secretaries For DEP, DPW
Editorial: Creative Funding Will Spur Chesapeake Cleanup
Drilling Company Looking To Hire 90 In NE
Jan. 20 Marcellus Shale Webinar, Penn State Extension
Sen. Yaw Will Introduce Marcellus Shale Legislation
Allegheny County Pushed To Act Quickly On Bad Air
Op-Ed: Hybrid Buses Are Expensive Route For Local Transit
Judge Ordered Rosebud To Stop Warning Of Inspections
Judge: Don't Tip Off Mine Inspections
Chief Of Western PA National Parks Named
Click Here for PA Capitol Digest