DEP Forecasts Code Orange Air Quality Action Day Friday In 7 Regions

The Department of Environmental Protection and its regional air quality partnerships have forecast a code Orange air quality action day for ozone for Friday, August 2, in the seven Pennsylvania regions: Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Susquehanna Valley, Lehigh Valley, Liberty-Clairton and in Mercer and Indiana counties.  Click Here for details.

Corbett Discusses Challenges Ahead For Shell Cracker Plant

Gov. Tom Corbett was joined Thursday by elected state officials and representatives of labor and business to highlight the importance of continued state efforts to bring a petrochemical complex to Pennsylvania.

The Governor detailed the steps the state has taken so far to secure this project and the challenges ahead.

The proposed facility in Beaver County would create 10,000 construction jobs and more than 10,000 positions in spinoff production and manufacturing industries. Job impacts would be felt across Pennsylvania.

"If Shell decides to build this plant, that $4 billion investment will be felt statewide," Corbett said. "Pennsylvania has the chance to become the keystone of the new industrial revolution."

A petrochemical complex would include an ethane cracker that would process ethane from "wet" Marcellus natural gas to produce ethylene, one of the primary building blocks for petrochemicals. Ethylene is used for a number of chemical derivatives that are used to produce various products, including food packaging, bottles, house siding, pipes, toys, tires, diapers, footwear, detergent, adhesives and other products.

Pennsylvania, led by Corbett, beat out tough competition from surrounding states to become the primary choice location for this project. However there is still much work to be done in order to fully secure this project for Pennsylvania.

"We're not done," Corbett said. "We have brought Shell to this point but words on paper aren't shovels in the ground. We need to keep working. Our coalition for progress has come a long way, but we have miles yet to travel.

This plant will be the first in the northeastern U.S. and will, in order to be successful, require substantial additional investments from dozens of new manufacturers.

In June, the Governor successfully advocated for the Manufacturing Tax Credit, a program which encourages the retention of natural gas product, jobs and business in Pennsylvania. The credit helps to lend market security for companies looking to take advantage of the state's natural gas industry and encourage large investment like the one proposed by Shell Chemical in Beaver County.

"The Manufacturing Tax Credit used to lay the groundwork for this project will create tens of thousands of jobs," Corbett said. "Working men and women and their families understand this and they are the people we're listening to."

According to the American Chemistry Council, the construction of an ethylene production complex in Pennsylvania will lead to at least 10,000 construction jobs, and approximately 17,000 jobs in associated industries that will emerge to support and take advantage of this plant's operations.

"A strong coalition of support from labor, business and elected officials has helped to carry the message that this plant will create jobs," Corbett said. "The members of the House and Senate who worked to pass the legislation necessary to give us a fighting chance to complete this project, put aside party labels and election year hype and voted for jobs."

The governor was joined by many supporters of the project, including state elected officials from both sides of the aisle, leaders of trade unions, business groups, and industry associations.

Nominations Now Being Accepted For John C. Oliver Environmental Leadership Award

The Friends of the Tom Ridge Environmental Center are now accepting nominations for the John C. Oliver Environmental Leadership Award.  Nominations are due August 31.

The award recipient is selected by the Board of the Friends of TREC to recognize significant environmental leadership at location(s) such as The Tom Ridge Environmental Center, Presque Isle, the Erie Bay, and on the PA Lake Erie shoreline.

Past winners of the award included Dr. James K. Bissell, Jean Stull Cunningham and Robert W. Light, PhD.

For more information visit the John C. Oliver Environmental Leadership Award webpage.

PRC, E-Covanta Sponsoring E-Waste Collection Event Aug. 4 In Yeadon

The PA Resources Council and E-Covanta are sponsoring an electronic waste collection event on August 4 in Yeadon, Delaware County from 9:00 to 1:00 at the site of the former Yeadon Movie Theatre on Church Lane.  Click Here for details.

Thursday NewsClips

Analysis: Poll Suggests Many Disagree With Corbett Austerity
Editorial: Drilling Law Zoning Pre-Emption A Mistake
Drilling Leak Leads To Violation Notice
Gas Drilling Research Suffers From Lack Of Funding
Group Sues To Stop Bradford Compressor Station
Residents Raise Concerns About Compressor Station
State Funds Available For Housing In Shale Regions
State Distributing Marcellus Housing Aid
Op-Ed: Taking Shale Gas Boom Responsibility
EPA Willing To Consider Renegotiating With Alcosan
Bion Nutrient Credit Plan, Water Quality Permit OK’d By DEP
What’s Up With Flood Of Philly Water Main Breaks?
DEP Holds Meeting/Hearing On Limerick Station Wastewater Permit
Does Harrisburg’s Incinerator Have A Hazardous Waste Problem?
PA’s Largest Solar Farm Taking Shape In Lancaster
ECOtality Offers Free Car Charging Stations In Philly
Click Here for PA Capitol Digest NewsClips

PEC: Registration Now Open For Sept. 18-19 Stormwater Conference

The PA Environmental Council is happy to announce registration is now open for our conference “Stormwater- Green Solutions beyond Gray Pipes: A Conference on Policy, Financing and Technology” on September 18 and 19 in Harrisburg.
           The profile of stormwater has steadily been increasing in recent years. Municipalities, businesses and homeowners are, now more than ever, looking for opportunities to effectively manage rainwater where it falls as a resource and to deliver improved environments. 
           Green infrastructure experts will provide current local and regional perspectives and practical, cost effective solutions for managing stormwater in Pennsylvania.
           For the conference agenda and to register, visit the Stormwater Conference website.

DEP Forecasts Air Quality Action Day For Thursday In Philadelphia

The Department of Environmental Protection and its regional air quality partnerships have forecast a code Orange air quality action day for ozone for Thursday, August 2, in the Philadelphia region.  Click Here for details.

StateImpact PA: Tioga Commissioners' Meeting Dominated By Methane Questions

Scott Detrow of WITF's StateImpact PA reports the Williamsport Sun-Gazette reports a Tioga County Commissioner’s meet­ing was dom­i­nated by ques­tions about Shell’s Union Township methane migra­tion prob­lems, which StateIm­pact Penn­syl­va­nia pro­vided an update on Monday.
           Town­ship res­i­dent Tom Cochran, who attended the meet­ing, said his con­cern was that “after the blowout up here, when they tested, they only tested for methane, and the res­i­dents were expect­ing a bit more thor­ough water test.
           Photo: Methane geyser 5 days after it first appeared in Tioga County.

Wednesday NewsClips

New Federal Law May Cost PA Mine Reclamation Program $200M
State Leaders Want Quck Court Review Of Drilling Law Decision
PA Officials Seek Quck Review Of Drilling Law Ruling
Corbett Administration Presses On With Marcellus Shale
Editorial: Towns Win A Round Against Fracking
Living With Methane Migration
Tioga Resident Concerned About Methane Migration
Column: Back Door To Profit From Shale Gas Boom
Alcosan Plan Details Need To Reduce Stormwater Runoff
Casey Pushes FEMA For Plymouth Twp Flood Aid
Court: DEP Can’t Refuse To Disclose Hard-To-Find Records
IKEA Plugs Into Solar Energy Systems
Click Here for PA Capitol Digest NewsClips