Sunday NewsClips

State Cuts To Require Drastic Measures
Blog: Corbett Hints At More Privatization To Balance Budget
Growing Greener's Roots Run Deep
Climate Cloudy For Growing Greener Future
Perks From PA Drilling Interests
Disappointing Marcellus Wells Help Define Promise
Geologist Warns Of Fracking Water
Harvey's Lake Citizens Hear About Drilling Ordinance
Consol Keeps Growing, Triples Marcellus Shale Production
Proposed Stormwater Ordinance On Hold In Lancaster
Smart Meter Test Program Worked Out, Snag Remains
Wildlife Officer Cadets Prepare For Job's Challenges
Plymouth Mine Disaster Recalled
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Saturday NewsClips

Gas Pipeline company Plans 100 New Jobs
Williams Energy Will Open Offices, Hire Workers
Court: Gas Driller May Be Liable For Water Quality
Kittanning Caught In New Floodplain Maps
New Economic Reality Of Recycling
NJ Seeks To Stop Western PA Power Plant Over Emissions
Editorial: Obama Energy Initiative Has Wide Appeal
Deer Season Could Start Sooner
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Feb. 14 PA Environment Digest Now Available

Feb. 14 PA Environment Digest now available. Click Here to print this Digest.

Fish & Boat Commission Sets Meetings On 3 River Management Plans

The Fish and Boat Commission has scheduled seven public meetings to receive comments about the agency’s draft river management plans for the Susquehanna River, the Three Rivers in Pittsburgh and the Delaware River.

At each meeting, PFBC biologists will describe the history of fish management on the particular river, identify the factors affecting the biological health of the river, prioritize the future needs relative to fisheries management, and discuss the proposed future plans. The public will then have the opportunity to provide brief comments. Click Here to read more...

Friday NewsClips

Penn State to Study Effect Of Drilling On Well Water In Fayette
Former Secretary Hanger On Challenges Of Regulating Marcellus Shale
Gas Drilling Brings Jobs, Economic Leaders Say
Groups File Lawsuit Against DRBC Over Drilling Regs
Pike, Wayne Coalition Worries Draft DRBC Regs De Facto Ban On Drilling
Editorial: DRBC Taking Comments On Drilling Regs Seriously
Interdisciplinary Event Drills Into Marcellus Development Issues
Aging Gas Main Suspected In Allentown Blast Killing 5
Gas Pipeline Explosion Rocks Ohio Countryside
Steam Pipe Break Injuries 6 At Homer City Power Plant
Erie Senators To Hold Hearing On Lake Erie Wind Energy March 14
Op-Ed: PA Poised To Be Energy Power
NE PA Unlikely To Experience Flooding After Thaw
More Erie, Crawford Families Apply For Home Heating Help
Corbett Buys Fishing License During Sports Show Tour
National Forests Plan Would Expand Local Managers' Authority
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Thursday NewsClips

Pittsburgh Has Numbers To Meet Ozone Goal For Now
Op-Ed: Marcellus Shale Guiding Principles Or Guiding Platitudes?
Dallas Officials Will Visit Penn Twp. Compressor Site
Marcellus Shale Drill Technique Used For Oil
Time To Unplug Your Power Provider?
Op-Ed: Open Space More Than Just A Pretty Place
Editorial: Raise Stakes For Boaters
Click Here for PA Capitol Digest
Note: NewsClips will be later than usual over the next few days because the editor is temporarily relocating to a different time zone.

Northeast Audubon Society Offers College Scholarship

The Northeast Pennsylvania Audubon Society announces a $4,000 college scholarship to students who wish to pursue a career in an environmental field such as Forestry, Natural Resources, Environmental Planning, Environmental Engineering, Fish, Game, or Wildlife Management, Ecology and/or Environmental Science.

Applications are due April 30.

Applicants must be from Pike, Wayne, Lackawanna, or Susquehanna County and must enroll full-time in an accredited two- or four-year college or university program.

The winning applicant will receive $1,000 per year for up to four years. The scholarship is funded by the annual Audubon Arts and Craft Festival held each July.

Interested students can find the application form online or they can use the universal scholarship application form available at their high school guidance office.

Wednesday NewsClips

Corbett Poring Over PA Budget Line By Line
Editorial: No-Tax Ideas For Corbett
Editorial: Not So Fast With Capital Grants
Blog: Newser Leftovers From Corbett Press Conference
Democrats Try Again For Tax On Marcellus Shale Production
House Democrats Renew Severance Tax Pitch
Shale Tax Bill Proposal Unveiled In Harrisburg
Startling Roar In Dimock Part Of Planned Pipeline Work
Protesting Frack Water Plans In Wyoming Valley

Southwestern Buys Eco Leaseholdings

Who Owns The Natural Gas?

Senator Proposes Leasing New Categories Of State Land

Harveys Lake Anti-Drilling Group Plans Info Session

Carrizo Gives Up On Wyoming County Gas Well

Cambria Authority Lowers Rates With Eye Toward Gas Drillers

Op-Ed: We Must Move Away From Coal
Op-Ed: What Energy Deregulation Has Provided PA
Report: EPA Clean Air Regulations Will Create Jobs

DEP Issues Order For Weissport To Comply With Stormwater Issues
Plan To Move Deer Season Start Surprises Game Official
Click Here for PA Capitol Digest

Senators Leach, Mary Jo White Sponsor Bill Creating New Class Of Benefit Corporation

Sen. Mary Jo White (R-Venango) took part in a press conference today unveiling legislation to create a new class of corporation in Pennsylvania.

Senate Bill 433 (not yet online), sponsored by Sen. Daylin Leach (D-Montgomery), would provide for the recognition of Benefit Corporations ("B Corps") -- businesses that have the ability to more positively impact their communities.

The Benefit Corporation class would reclassify the fiduciary duties of corporation directors, allowing them to take non-financial interests into consideration when making decisions for the corporation.

"Benefit Corporations are an intriguing concept that I believe is worth exploring, and I look forward to hearing from Pennsylvania businesses as this legislation moves forward," said Sen. White. "With their input, Pennsylvania can establish a new voluntary class of corporation that would be appealing to those investors looking for dividends that go beyond financial to include a host of needs such as education, housing, health and the environment."

Under Senate Bill 433, companies that see value in making a positive social and environmental impact on their communities would be able to make those "for benefit" operations part of their corporate mission. Other corporation classes do not currently allow directors to take not-for-profit benefits into account. Under the new corporate classification model, Benefit Corporations could not be held liable for lost monetary value as a result of socially-conscious decisions made.

"Simply put, this legislation would allow businesses to use their power and influence to solve social and environmental problems without needing to muddle through red tape and the current corporate legal environment," Sen. Leach said. "Under this new model of business management, corporations will have unsurpassed freedom and accountability in their decision-making process so that they may ultimately make decisions that are good for society, rather than just for their shareholders."

The process of becoming a Benefit Corporation would be entirely voluntary and based on shareholder desire. If a business chooses to become a Benefit Corporation, it must designate a benefit director and provide yearly disclosures to shareholders of the public benefit efforts the company has undertaken.

The senators were joined by Jay Coen Gilbert, co-founder of B Lab, and Jacob Gray, Managing Partner at Murex Investments and Founder of Good Company Ventures in support of the bill. According to Gilbert, Certified B Corporations meet rigorous standards of social and environmental performance, legally expand their corporate responsibilities to include consideration of stakeholder interests and build collective voice through the power of the unifying B Corporation brand.

As of August 2010, there are over 320 certified B Corporations from over 60 industries. Similar legislation has been enacted in Maryland and Vermont, and is being considered in California, New York, North Carolina, Oregon and Colorado. The legislation is supported by the Pennsylvania Bar Association.

"The recent economic challenges have made it abundantly clear that there are limits to what government can do and what it can afford," said Sen. White. "In times of government belt-tightening, the option of Benefit Corporations could be a tool for the private sector to provide much needed resources to meet social needs."

Tuesday NewsClips

Landowners Need More Information On Marcellus Shale Drilling
DRBC Prepares For Barrage Of Comments On Gas Regulations
Federal Lawsuit Filed Against DRBC
Marcellus Drilling Rules Still In Works In Upper Burrell
North East Twp. Approves Drilling, With Conditions
Concerns About Natural GAs Compressor In Dallas Twp.
Schuylkill County Work Force Ready For Possible Marcellus Shale
Op-Ed: Marcellus Shale Should Benefit Everyone
Chesapeake Energy To Sell $5 Billion In Assets Outside PA
Range Resources Updates Marcellus Shale Potential
Money, Organization, People Key To Watershed Group Success
FirstEnergy Offers Cash For Coal Ash Disposal Site
Utility Wants To Expand Beaver County Coal Ash Dump
Developer Says He Has Money For Former Dump In Bangor
Pittsburgh Sets Rules For Urban Farmers
Click Here for PA Capitol Digest