PA Environment Digest Blog

Tuesday, December 1, 2015

New Western PA Conservancy Video Reviews Highlights Of 2015

The Western PA Conservancy Tuesday released a new video highlighting its activities during 2015 to protect, restore, preserve and beautify some of Western Pennsylvania’s most exceptional places, including Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater in Fayette County. Click Here to watch the video.

Keep PA Beautiful, Westmoreland County Land Bank Partner On Strategic Greening Project

Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful, in partnership with the Westmoreland County Land Bank, announced a Strategic Community Greening Partnership Pilot Program with a $2,000 seed grant to the “The Seeds of Change Project” for a community garden in Jeannette.

The Seeds of Change project is a cooperative effort between the Westmoreland County Land Bank, the City of Jeannette and private citizens to transform a blighted, abandoned property into a community garden.

The Project property, located on Clay Ave. in Jeannette, is currently a vacant overgrown lot full of trash and debris blighting the community. The initiative will be a multiple step program with the first step commencing on December 5th to clean and clear the space, readying it for spring.

Future plans include building multiple raised gardens, a greenhouse, shared public gardens and a tranquil seating space. The project will reach out to the community to tend and maintain the space.

Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful’s mission is empowering Pennsylvanians to make our communities clean and beautiful.

Shannon Reiter, KPB President explains the significance of the partnership with the Westmoreland County Land Bank: “Community revitalization is so critical but resources are limited. When it comes to community greening, a little can go a long way if it is done right. Through this pilot, KPB is leveraging resources by coordinating investments with economic and community planning already underway and then engaging local community organizations to nurture long-term community stewardship.”

“Communities like Jeannette are mobilizing local community groups to take back their towns. The Land Bank makes it possible for volunteers and local leaders to come together as neighbors to create a better community image –both physically and socially- on a once-blighted property. We are so appreciative of the funding from KPB toward this community garden,” said April Kopas, Executive Director, Westmoreland County Land Bank.

KPB’s Strategic Community Greening Partnership Pilot is supported by the Richard King Mellon Foundation. The Pilot aims to fund 2-4 individual green reuse projects throughout Westmoreland County in partnership with the Westmoreland County Land Bank.

Each initiative will require a 50 percent community match and funds can be used to procure tools, equipment, green infrastructure, fencing or other resources needed to create, stabilize and maintain greenspaces.

Project sites are identified based on current properties available to purchase or lease through the Land Bank.

Sites will be considered for the pilot project once all other reuse options have been exhausted and local stakeholders determine that green-open space reuse is the preferred and most viable option for the community.

For more information on programs, initiatives and cleanup events, visit the Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful website. Click Here to sign up for regular updates from KPB.

PUC Video: Do-It-Yourself Home Energy Audits, Tips On Saving Energy

The Public Utility Commission Tuesday released an educational video on home energy audits, offering tips for consumers to detect and correct issues in their home to save both energy and money this winter.

"In Pennsylvania, we can spend a lot of our home budget on energy for heating, cooling, appliances and lighting," said a PUC consumer educator in the video. "A home energy audit, conducted by either a professional or a do-it-yourselfer, will detect problems in your home that waste energy – and reveal areas to save money. Fixing these issues may save you up to 30 percent on your monthly energy bill."

While the video describes measures that a hired professional can take to detect issues, it also explains ways for consumers to check their own homes for issues in five areas – air leaks, insulation, the furnace, appliances and lighting – and provides tips to correct these issues.

For example, the video notes that the attic is the most important area to insulate, and that replacing traditional light bulbs with newer, more efficient bulbs will both conserve energy and offer long-term cost savings.

"Lighting accounts for 10 percent of your electric bill, so start replacing your incandescent bulbs with high-efficiency CFLs and LEDs. They use about one-eighth of the energy of an incandescent bulb, and they last much longer."

The new video can be found on PAPowerSwitch.com, the PUC website on the Educational Videos page and on the PUC's YouTube channel. The video is part of a series of short videos highlighting key aspects of shopping for electricity and ways to save energy. PUC staff produces these videos with existing Commission resources.

The launch of this video coincides with the PUC's annual "Prepare Now" campaign, which provides consumers with simple tips to lower their energy bills, including shopping for electricity and natural gas, as well as ways to conserve energy around the house.

It also offers information about low-income programs that help consumers restore and maintain service.

The PUC's message is simple – Prepare Now for winter energy costs:

— Learn more about conservation.

— Check your electric and natural gas bills and supplier contracts.

— Use PAPowerSwitch.com and PAGasSwitch.com to shop for services.

— Look into programs that help low-income customers maintain service.

— Explore other steps to reduce long-term heating and energy consumption – such as weatherization programs, the addition of insulation and/or the installation of energy efficient appliances and lighting, which many consumers can do themselves.

Consumers interested in more information about these important programs can visit the PUC Prepare Now; follow social media messages that contain the #PrepareNow tag; or call the PUC at 1-800-692-7380.

Winslow Township Mine Reclamation Project Moving Forward In Jefferson County

The Department of Environmental Protection Tuesday announced it has selected P & N Coal Company, Inc. of Punxsutawney for a mine reclamation project in Winslow Township, Jefferson County.

The project will help eliminate safety hazards, promote positive drainage and contribute to the improved use of the property for wildlife.

“We continue to reclaim abandoned mine sites in Pennsylvania,” says Roger Bowman, Section Chief from the Knox office of the DEP. “This is another example of cleaning up old mines and restoring the natural habitat.”

The project will include the incidental removal of coal and the reclamation of 35 acres of abandoned deep mine and subsidence areas. The reclamation work will occur within the Redbank Creek sub basin, and will eliminate safety hazards, promote positive drainage to Fehley Run and contribute to the improved use of the property for wildlife habitat.

Located on the north side of State Route 1002, near the community of Rathmel, the project area is part of an abandoned deep mine from the 1920’s on the Lower Freeport coal seam.

The project will take 36 months to complete and is estimated to cost $193,700.

The Federal Office of Surface Mining (OSM) approved an amendment to Pennsylvania’s Abandoned Mine Landfill Plan on March 26, 1999, to authorize the Department to enter into GFCC, to remove incidental and necessary coal on reclamation contracts that are less than 50 percent federally funded as a means of enhancing the environment and aesthetic values of the Commonwealth.

Nominations For Bayer CropScience Young Farmer Sustainability Award Due Jan. 15

Bayer CropScience is seeking young agricultural producers that demonstrate leadership and excellence in the areas of business and environmental sustainability through the 2016 Young Farmer Sustainability Award.

Nominations are due January 15.

Any farmer or rancher age 40 and under who receives at least half of his or her income from farming and farm-related ventures is eligible to apply.

Award applicants will be judged by a panel of industry experts on the following criteria: their entrepreneurial initiative and adoption of new approaches to farming (50 percent), their environmental and other on-farm sustainability efforts (30 percent), and their economic stability and sustainability (20 percent).

The winning entrant will receive a 360 SOILSCAN™ portable soil testing system, an all-expense paid trip to the 2016 Ag Issues Forum and Commodity Classic in New Orleans, and credit towards a Farm Journal learning event.

"The next generation of farmers has a tough task ahead of them. They must meet the challenge of supporting a growing population through technology and innovation, and they must do it in a sustainable manner," said Jim Blome, president and CEO of Bayer CropScience LP. "The Young Farmer Sustainability Award recognizes the next generation of growers who are applying the latest and greatest innovations on their farms to ensure that their business, their community and the environment will prosper."

The next Young Sustainable Farmer will be selected in late January 2016, and the winner will be announced at the annual Bayer Ag Issues Forum, March 1 – 2 in New Orleans, just prior to the 2016 Commodity Classic.

2016 will mark the sixth year of the Young Farmer Sustainability Award.

Applications may be accessed and completed online at Bayer’s 2016 Young Farmer Sustainability Award webpage. Bayer’s U.S. headquarters is in Pittsburgh.

Urban Land Institute Now Accepting Nominations For Urban Open Space Award

The Urban Land Institute Tuesday announced it is now accepting entries for its Urban Open Space Award, an annual program that recognizes outstanding examples of successful large- and small-scale public spaces that have socially enriched and revitalized the economy of their surrounding communities.

Entries will be accepted until February 22. Early bird deadline January 22.

To be eligible for the competition, an open space project must have been opened to the public for at least one year and no more than 15 years; be predominantly outdoors and inviting to the public; provide abundant and varied seating, sun and shade, trees and plantings with attractions; be used intensively on a daily basis by a broad spectrum of users throughout the year; have a positive economic impact on its surroundings; promote physical, social, and economic health of the larger community; and provide lessons, strategies, and techniques that can be used or adapted in other communities.

The award was created through the generosity of Amanda M. Burden, former New York City planning commissioner and 2009 laureate of the ULI J.C. Nichols Prize for Visionaries in Urban Development.

In 2011, the Kresge Foundation, MetLife Foundation, and the ULI Foundation joined forces to continue the award. Last year, ULI reaffirmed its commitment to the award and announced it would expand the program to include global submissions.

Juries of ULI Full Members, chaired by ULI Trustees, choose finalists and winner. Jury members represent many fields of real estate development expertise, including finance, land planning, development, public affairs, design, and other professional services. They also represent a broad geographic diversity.

Finalists for the awards will be announced in the summer of 2016. The winner will be honored October 5-8, 2016 at the ULI Fall Meeting in Dallas.

Online entry forms and complete information on eligibility and requirements are available at the ULI Urban Open Space Award webpage. For more information, send an email to: awards@uli.org.

Nominations For ULI Global Excellence Award For Real Estate Projects Now Open

The Urban Land Institute Tuesday announced it is now accepting entries for its Global Awards for Excellence, widely recognized as one of the land use industry’s most prestigious award programs.

The Institute will accept entries until February 22.

The awards competition, now in its 38th year, recognizes real estate projects that achieve a high standard of excellence in design, construction, economics, planning, and management.

The program, open to all and not limited to ULI members, is viewed as the centerpiece of ULI’s efforts to identify and promote best practices in all types of real estate development.

The Awards for Excellence program is based on ULI’s guiding principle that the achievement of excellence in land use practice should be recognized and rewarded. ULI’s Global Awards for Excellence recognize the full development process of a project, not just its architecture or design.

The criteria for the awards include leadership, contribution to the community, innovations, public/private partnerships, environmental protection and enhancement, response to societal needs, and financial viability.

Throughout the program’s history, all types of projects have been recognized for their excellence, including office, residential, recreational, urban/mixed use, industrial/office park, commercial/retail, new community, rehabilitation, and public projects and programs.

Juries of ULI Full Members, chaired by ULI Trustees, choose finalists and winners. Jury members represent many fields of real estate development expertise, including finance, land planning, development, public affairs, design, and other professional services. They also represent a broad geographic diversity.

Finalists for the awards will be announced in the summer of 2016. The winners will be honored October 5-8, 2016 at the ULI Fall Meeting in Dallas.

Online entry forms and complete information on eligibility and requirements are available at the ULI Global Awards for Excellence webpage. For more information, send email to: awards@uli.org.

Report: PA Better Prepared For Climate-Driven Threats Than Most States

LancasterOnline.com reported Tuesday on a report showing Pennsylvania was among 5 states given an “A” grade on how prepared it is to meet climate-driven, weather-related threats.

The report, States At Risk: America’s Preparedness Report Card, is a collaboration of the website Climate Central and ICF International.

“Pennsylvania is one of the leaders in preparing for the future changes in climate risks. It faces only average or below average threat levels from the four climate threats assessed, and in addition to taking strong action to address these threats in the present, Pennsylvania has taken steps to understand and plan for its climate-change related risks,” the report said.

“Still, Pennsylvania could do more to solidify its plans and much more to put them into action.”

The report covers 5 specific threats: extreme heat, drought, wildfires, inland flooding, and coastal flooding. For Pennsylvania, the report said--

-- Extreme Heat- B+: Despite having a large number of people at elevated vulnerability to extreme heat, Pennsylvania faces a generally modest threat from extreme heat. With several climate change preparation assessments already complete, Pennsylvania has done much more than the typical state to prepare for future extreme heat threats.

-- Drought- A: Owing in large part to a thorough and detailed state water plan, Pennsylvania is one of the leaders among states in preparing for climate change-related drought risks. Combined with its low threat level, this high level of action earns the state an A.

-- Inland Flooding- B+: Pennsylvania has taken more action to understand its vulnerabilities to climate change-related inland flooding risks, and to plan for those changes, than most states. To improve its preparedness, the state should increase its efforts to put those plans into action.

-- Coastal Flooding- B-: A small portion of Pennsylvania's coast lies along the tidal portion of Delaware Bay; the state faces the second smallest threat from coastal flooding in the country. Pennsylvania's level of preparedness is typical among coastal states.

-- Wildfires- N/A: Grades were assigned only when threats were identified as priorities for that state.

In a more detailed discussion of the actions Pennsylvania has taken on the 5 climate-related threats, the report also found--

-- Addressing Current Risks: Strong;

-- Conducting Vulnerability Assessments: On 4 of the threats ranked a Strong, Extreme Heat was Fair;

-- Planning for Adaptation: On 4 of the threats ranked a Strong, Inland Flood was Fair;

-- Implementing Resilience Actions: Drought- Fair, Extreme Heat and Coastal Flooding- Limited and on Inland Flooding- None.

Among the actions already taken were--

— The Pennsylvania Department of Health keeps state-level statistics on the counts of deaths from inland flooding and exposure to excessive heat.

— Pennsylvania continuously tracks precipitation, streamflow, groundwater levels, soil moisture, and reservoir levels, providing real-time data and analysis of drought and ooding conditions throughout the state.

— The Pennsylvania Climate Impacts Assessment includes extensive information on modeling of future temperature, precipitation, and sea level rise, and projected impacts on different sectors throughout the state.

— The Pennsylvania Climate Adaptation Planning Report contains a discussion of adaptation measures for infrastructure and public health to address current and future risks, including drought, sea level rise, precipitation, and temperature.

— The State Water Plan incorporates climate change projections for temperature, precipitation and drought, and sea level

rise into its policy recommendations intended to promote sustainable water services in the state.

Among the weaknesses cited where--

-- No evidence of of cial state funding or policies across sectors examined to improve resilience against climate change-related extreme heat, inland ooding, drought, or coastal ooding.

-- Very little evidence of action to incorporate climate change projections associated with extreme heat or drought into state- level programs, investments, and activities across the sectors examined. No evidence of action to incorporate climate change projections associated with inland and coastal flooding.

-- The Pennsylvania Climate Adaptation Planning Report has not included formal incorporation of previous adaptation recommendations.

Overall, the analysis found that states across the country are largely unprepared to face the considerable and significantly increasing threat levels posed by the future changes in these 5 climate threats.

California, Connecticut, Massachusetts and New York also earned an “A.”

A copy of the report is available online.

For more information on climate issues in Pennsylvania, visit DEP’s Climate Change and the Climate Change Advisory Committee webpages.

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