PA League Of Women Voters Shale Drilling & Public Health Conference Nov. 23

The PA League of Women Voters is hosting Shale Drilling and Public Health: A Day of Discovery Conference November 23 at the Heinz History Center, 1212 Smallman St., Pittsburgh from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

The conference features the latest research relating to shale gas extraction and its impact on public health.

Nationally known experts who will address topics ranging from worker health, to the impact of unconventional drilling on food production, the health effects of industrial noise, and shale industry best practices, among others.

In conjunction with the conference, interactive exhibits from health organizations and environmental and agricultural groups will cover a range of practical information for the consumer, including a demonstration of innovative in-home water monitoring equipment, and up-to-date information on how to enroll for health insurance.

The conference and exhibits are free and open to the public.

All attendees will receive a copy of the League's latest resource guide entitled "Shale Drilling and Public Health."

The League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania began its study of shale issues in 2008, when the Indiana County Chapter formed a Marcellus Shale Study Committee.  The Indiana group published five study guides in 2009-2010.

An agenda, list of participating exhibitors and online registration is available on the Conference website. Pre-registration is required.  Call 1-800-61-SHALE (1-800-617-4253) for more information.

This event is part of “The Straight Scoop on Shale” initiative funded by a Colcom Foundation grant to League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania’s Citizen Education Fund.

DCNR Accepting Nominations For Trails Advisory Committee

The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources is accepting nominations through December 1 for seven members of the Pennsylvania Trails Advisory Committee.

“When it comes to being active outdoors, hitting a trail is among the most popular activities,” DCNR Acting Secretary Ellen Ferretti said. “This committee helps the department implement the recommendations of our statewide outdoor recreation plan to build a statewide network of land and water trails.”

The Pennsylvania Trails Advisory Committee consists of 20 members appointed by DCNR. Members represent different types of trail users, builders and advocates, and people with disabilities.

Nominations for the current open positions should represent one of the following areas: horseback riding; 4-wheel driving; cross-country skiing; water trail users; trail walkers; trail planners; and one member at large.

The committee’s responsibilities are to advise DCNR on the use of trail funding in Pennsylvania, review and rank trail project applications, and present an annual report to the secretary on trail accomplishments from the preceding year.

Appointees will serve for three consecutive years.

To obtain a nomination form, Click Here or call 717-787-7672 or send email to: roprunty@pa.gov.  Click Here for more information on Pennsylvania’s trails.

SRBC Monitoring Confirms 2nd Instance Of Rock Snot In Pine Creek, Potter County

Monitoring staff at the Susquehanna River Basin Commission have documented the second occurrence of the aquatic invasive species Didymosphenia geminata (didymo or “rock snot”) in the Susquehanna basin in the West Branch of Pine Creek, Potter County on October 16.

Didymo is a highly invasive algae that has caused ecological harm in many high profile instances worldwide. The massive blooms and mats resulting from the spread of didymo have the potential to choke aquatic life in the basin’s high quality, cold water streams and rivers.

“The Commission takes very seriously one of its core functions of monitoring the health of the Susquehanna Basin’s aquatic ecosystems,” said SRBC Executive Director Andrew Dehoff. “The second discovery of didymo in the basin causes concern with regards to the potential threat it poses to the sensitive habitats found within our more pristine waters of the basin.”

The first occurrence of didymo in the Susquehanna basin was documented by Department of Environmental Protection biologists in June in the main stem of Pine Creek in Lycoming County near Waterville, Pa.

Prior to that, such occurrences were documented in the Upper Delaware Watershed in Pennsylvania and New York as well as in several watersheds in southwestern Pennsylvania, western Maryland, and portions of West Virginia.

Anglers, boaters, or anyone coming into contact with an infected waterway can unknowingly spread this microscopic alga, which can cling to fishing gear, waders, boots, and boats.

Studies indicate that didymo can survive outside of a stream in a cool, dark, damp environment for at least 40 days, and only one cell is needed for it to spread. Those coming into contact with an infected waterway are encouraged to disinfect their gear to prevent further spread.

To find out more about didymo, the threats this aquatic invasive species poses to the Susquehanna basin, and detailed information on disinfection procedures, please visit the Fish and Boat Commission’s didymo information webpage and the Pennsylvania Sea Grant’s didymo information webpage.

General Assembly Launches New Website Election Day

A completely revamped version of the General Assembly’s website was launched Tuesday to give the public better access to a wide array of legislative information, including bill text and history, votes in the Senate and the House, committee meetings and votes, and much more, legislative leaders announced.

“This is a total overhaul,” said Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi (R-Delaware), a strong proponent of open government initiatives and chairman of the Legislative Data Processing Committee, the body which oversees and manages the General Assembly’s website. “Transparency builds confidence in government, and we rebuilt the website from the ground up so that it’s easier than ever for the public to follow and comment on the work of the General Assembly.”

Some of the most prominent features of the redesigned website include:

— a front page that highlights current, relevant content such as convening times for the Senate and House, upcoming committee meetings and recent votes;

— new pages for the Senate and the House which highlight recent roll call votes and scheduled committee meetings;

— buttons on nearly every page which make it easy for users to share that page on Twitter, Facebook, Google+ and LinkedIn; and

— the ability to track bill and committee activity through the free PaLegis Notifications email system.

“The extensive updates and changes to the General Assembly website are part of an ongoing effort to create a more open and transparent state government,” said Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati (R-Jefferson). “With the total renovation of the site, our hope is that individuals will now have increased accessibility to legislative documents and information.”

“The General Assembly’s new website is more than just a refreshed design,” said Speaker of the House Sam Smith (R-Jefferson). “We put a lot of time and effort into re-structuring and re-designing the site to provide a better and easier user experience.”

“There is nothing more important than open government,” said Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa (D-Allegheny). “By redesigning the website, we further our commitment to provide information in the easiest and most accessible way for all Pennsylvanians.”

“We wanted the website to present information in the quickest and most organized way so all Pennsylvanians can access the state legislature in an easy-to-use format,” said House Majority Leader Mike Turzai (R-Allegheny). “As our official online portal, we hope our constituents use it and agree.”

“Pennsylvanians deserve a state government that is transparent and provides easy access to information about their elected officials and the work we do here in the General Assembly,” said House Democratic Leader Frank Dermody (D-Allegheny). “From information about bills and committee meetings to email and Twitter updates, this redesigned website virtually brings the legislature to you.”

Additional features of the new site include:

— easier tools to help residents identify their legislators and find the text of bills being considered;

— new Google Calendar and iCal features, making it easy to add upcoming committee meetings to the user’s personal calendar;

— integrated, relevant tweets from the nonpartisan @PaLegis Twitter account;

— a new “popular pages” tab on the front page, giving instant access to the most-visited pages on the website;

— an enhanced executive nominations section, which includes links to roll call votes, nomination letters, and Statements of Financial Interest;

— easier site navigation, with relevant additional information in the right column; and

— an entirely new, user-friendly look and feel throughout the website.

Sen. Pileggi said the redesign was completed by existing legislative personnel at no additional cost to the taxpayers. “The staff of the Legislative Data Processing Center did amazing work,” he said. “I can’t compliment them enough.”

The legislative leaders encouraged the public to comment on the new site using the Twitter hashtag #PAGAwebsite or by clicking on the email link in the top right corner of every page on the new site.

For more information, visit the General Assembly’s new website.

Tuesday NewsClips

Election Day: State Capitol Closed, State Agencies Open

Drilling Industry Announces Radiation Study To Parallel DEP Effort

State Natural Gas Subsidies Could Reach $1 Billion Over Decade

Top PA Parks Official To Lead Environmental Group

Cindy Dunn PennFuture Names New CEO

Hotline Set Up To Stop Littering From Cars In Pittsburgh

Lititz Farm Could Prevent Future Manure Pit Tragedies

Erie County Twp Passes Wind Farm Law

Thomas Merton Award Goes To Climate Change Activist

PA Forests Stable, But Plenty Of Risks Abound

Nov. 9 Meeting Set On Presque Isle Water Trail
Add Us To Your Google+ Circle

Click Here for PA Capitol Digest NewsClips

Chesapeake Bay Foundation-PA Hosts Tree Plantings In Harrisburg Nov. 9

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation-PA is hosting tree plantings at two locations in Harrisburg:

— Wesley Union AME Zion Church, 5th and Camp Streets, 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.; and

— Community Action Commission, 1514 Derry St., 12:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m.

RSVP by sending an email to: abliss@cbf.org to contact Andrew Bliss, PA Grassroots Coordinator for CBF-PA.

House Democrats To Hold News Conference On Endangered Species Bill Nov. 7

The top officials of the Game and Fish and Boat commissions will join Rep. Greg Vitali (D-Delaware), Minority Chair of the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, to discuss their opposition to House Bill 1576 (Pyle-R-Armstrong) during a news conference at 10 a.m. November 7 at the Capitol Media Center.

House members, including Rep. Steve McCarter (D-Montgomery), will speak at the news conference, along with leaders of environmental and outdoors organizations.  Confirmed speakers include:

— Fish and Boat Commission Executive Director John Arway;

— Game Commission Executive Director Carl Roe;

— PennFuture Chief Counsel George Jugovic and PennFuture Policy Director Steve Stroman;

— Sierra Club Pennsylvania Chapter Senior Director Jeff Schmidt;

— Trout Unlimited Eastern Water Project Director Katy Dunlap.

The news conference is being held in advance of a vote on the bill by the House Game and Fisheries Committee. The vote is tentatively scheduled for November 13.

            Click Here for more background on the legislation and this issue.

Philadelphia EPA Exhibit Shows How To Keep Schools Green, Healthy

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is encouraging healthy school environments in a new exhibit "Lessons for a Green and Healthy School," a walk-through classroom exhibit that demonstrates techniques to create a green and healthy school environment.

The exhibit is on display at EPA's Public Information Center at 1650 Arch Street.  

"This display showcases EPA’s strategies, programs, and resources that protect the health of children and staff when they are in school, where they spend about 25 percent of their time every year," said EPA Regional Administrator Shawn M. Garvin. "The exhibit contains practical advice and techniques that school administrators can put in place."

Green school buildings and education are vital to the development and learning of every student. And a green schools benefits teachers and other staff as well because they, too, work better when the indoor air and other conditions are healthy.

The exhibit focuses on five central lessons: energy efficiency, integrated pest management, air quality, storm water management, and green cleaning materials. The lessons cover a number of EPA programs that are showcased in the exhibit including: Tools for Schools; Energy Star; Integrated Pest Management; and Design for the Environment.

Running through January 2014, the exhibit is free and open to the public. EPA’s Public Information Center is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. All visitors who are 18 and older must show a valid photo ID and go through security before entering the exhibit area.  

For more information on healthy schools, visit EPA’s Healthy Schools Toolkit webpage.

Discount Registration Available For Annual Statewide Brownfields Conference Dec. 9-11

The Department of Environmental Protection Monday reminded private developers, economic development professionals and government officials to register for the annual Pennsylvania Brownfields Conference, to be held December 9-11, at the Radisson Valley Forge Hotel, King of Prussia.

Stakeholders can save money by registering on or before November 8.

The conference, hosted by DEP, in partnership with the Engineers’ Society of Western Pennsylvania, is the largest brownfields networking and education event in Pennsylvania.

The theme of this year’s conference, “Positioning for the Future,” will highlight building community partnerships, incorporating sustainable design into projects, accessing financial assistance and keeping abreast of regulatory changes.

New to this year’s conference will be an optional opportunity to meet with the directors of DEP’s regional offices and members of their environmental cleanup and local government staff.

Brownfields are properties that are in need of expansion, redevelopment or reuse, but because of actual or anticipated hazardous substances, pollutants or contaminants, that work is made more challenging.

Pennsylvania’s approach to brownfields redevelopment has proven to be a national model for transforming abandoned, idle properties into places of environmental protection and economic opportunity.

To register for the conference, or to view a full list of presentations and speakers, visit the Brownfields Conference webpage or call 717-783-1566.