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Monday, October 28, 2013
Sunday, October 27, 2013
Sunday NewsClips
Saturday, October 26, 2013
Saturday NewsClips
State Court Rules Reading Can No Longer Impose Recycling Fee
Click Here for PA Capitol Digest NewsClips
Friday, October 25, 2013
Oct. 28 PA Environment Digest Now Available
PennFuture Joins Municipal Authorities, Chesapeake Bay Foundation Opposing SB 994
PennFuture this week wrote to members of the Senate expressing their “significant concerns” with Senate Bill 994 (Vogel-R-Beaver) saying the bill would “manipulate and skew the nutrient credit trading market on behalf of one technology being advanced by one company.
PennFuture joined the PA Municipality Authorities Association and the Chesapeake Bay Foundation-PA in opposing the bill.
The text of the PennFuture letter follows--
“PennFuture has significant concerns with Senate Bill 994, and urges you to oppose the bill should it come up for a vote in its current form.
“We are open to the general concept of nutrient trading to attain cost-effective reductions in nutrient pollution. We are also open to the general concept of public investments in emerging technologies with potentially significant environmental benefits to help bring the emerging technologies to market or scale. However, Senate Bill 994 does not merit your support for the following reasons:
-- Senate Bill 994 would manipulate and skew the nutrient credit trading market on behalf of one technology being advanced by one company. We have substantial concerns as to whether the technology being advanced by the supporters of this legislation would be a cost-effective investment in reducing nutrient pollution.
-- It is likely the credits created by Senate Bill 994 would not be approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, meaning Pennsylvania could not use them in meeting its federal TMDL obligations.
-- Senate Bill 994 would concentrate public resources at a handful of facilities, which would only benefit a few tributaries and communities as opposed to the existing system that encourages improvements across a much wider range of municipalities.
-- Senate Bill 994 would likely divert emphasis and funds away from established and effective water quality and pollution reduction programs that are much broader in scope and provide additional benefits such as reduced flooding and stormwater runoff, and protection of habitat and public drinking water supplies.
-- Despite the amendments made by the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee, we are still concerned that the legislation opens the door to raids on existing sources of funding for environmental programs.
“Senate Bill 994 was moved out of Committee without the benefit of a public hearing. When the bill was voted, reference was made to a future joint hearing on the bill to be held by the Senate Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee and the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee.
“We ask you to hold such a hearing so that the concerns raised and questions posed by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, PennFuture, and other organizations can be addressed.”
A copy of PennFuture’s letter is available online.
Brian Grove Appointed DCNR Deputy For Administration
Acting Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Ellen Ferretti Friday announced the appointment of Brian L. Grove as DCNR’s Deputy Secretary for Administration effective October 28.
Grove previously served as Senior Director of Corporate Development for Chesapeake Energy.
The Deputy for Administration is responsible for all budget, human resource and technological support for the department, including providing direction and oversight to the Bureaus of Administrative Services, Human Resources and Information Technology Services.
The position also oversees developing, updating and implementing the agency Continuity of Operations Plan; developing and managing strategic funding plans; ensuring strategic IT operations and plans are implemented; overseeing DCNR innovation ideas and plans; leading agency wide projects; preparing and presenting a variety of reports on tactical and strategic issues; and briefing and advising the Secretary on priority issues and initiatives.
His other work experiences include functioning as Chief of Staff and Campaign Manager for Sen. Lisa Baker (R-Luzerne); Executive Director for Back Mountain Recreation; Deputy Director of Operations for Gov. Tom Ridge and Director of the Office of Public Liaison for Governor’s Tom Ridge and Mark Schweiker.
Grove has also performed in several community leadership roles, such as service as the Director of the Wyoming County and the Wyoming Valley United Way programs.
He is a graduate of West Chester University of Pennsylvania, where he earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science.
He currently lives in Tunkhannock, PA.
DEP Proposes Changes To The Community Environmental Projects Guidance
The Department of Environmental Protection published a notice in the PA Bulletin on October 26 inviting comments on proposed changes to the agency’s technical guidance on Consideration of Community Environmental Projects in lieu of civil penalties. Comments are due November 25.
A link to the proposed guidance will be published in DEP’s new Public Participation Center. Questions should be directed towards to Holly Cairns at 717-787-6490 or by sending email to: RA-EPpubliccomments@pa.gov.
Halloween Treat: Season Of The Bat
Friday NewsClips
Thursday, October 24, 2013
DCNR/POWR Now Accepting Nominations For 2014 River Of The Year
The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and the PA Organization for Watersheds and Rivers are now accepting nominations for the 2014 River Of The Year. Nominations are due November 14.
The 2013 River of the Year was the Monongahela River in Pittsburgh.
“The River of the Year program and voting by the general public gives local nonprofit groups the opportunity to engage a broader audience in the appreciation of our rivers and streams,” said Paul King, president and CEO of the Pennsylvania Environmental Council, an affiliate of POWR.
“We look forward to once again highlighting the achievements of these local organizations who tirelessly work to protect and promote Pennsylvania rivers.”
After a waterway is chosen, local groups implement a year-round slate of activities and events to celebrate the river, including a paddling trip, or sojourn. The nominating organization of the winning river will receive a $10,000 leadership grant to help fund their River of the Year activities.
The River of the Year sojourn is just one of many paddling trips supported by DCNR and POWR each year.
An independent program, the Pennsylvania Sojourn Program, is a unique series of a dozen such trips on the state’s rivers. These water-based journeys for canoeists, kayakers and others raise awareness of the environmental, recreational, tourism and heritage values of rivers.
Applications for sojourn funding support will be accepted beginning in January.
To download a nomination form, visit the Nominate a 2014 River of the Year webpage.
For more information on other rivers programs, visit DCNR’s Rivers Conservation Program webpage.
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