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PA Environment DigestAn Update On Environmental Issues In PAEdited By: David E. Hess, Crisci Associates

Winner 2009 PAEE Business Partner Of The Year Award Harrisburg, Pa January 6, 2014

Corbett Administration Files For Reconsideration Of Act 13 Drilling Law Opinion

The Corbett Administration Thursday filed for reconsideration of the December 19 PA Supreme Courtopinion declaring unconstitutional provisions of the Act 13 Marcellus Shale Drilling law related to

preempting local regulation of drilling operations.

James D. Schultz, General Counsel to the Governor, released the following statement on themotion for reconsideration--"Today, lawyers representing Commonwealth agencies and officials in the Robinson Township

matter have sought reconsideration of the Supreme Court's December 19, 2013, Opinions and Order.In the Robinson Township decision, the Court declared key provisions of Act 13 of 2012 (theCommonwealth's oil and gas law) to be unconstitutional.

“In announcing a neve r-before-employed balancing test against which the constitutional validityof the law is to be judged, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court made its own sweeping factual findingsregarding the impact of Act 13, none of which finds any support in the sparse and uneven factual recordthat was made before Commonwealth Court. The Supreme Court's decision is a stunning departurefrom the historical practice of that Court, and an unrestrained venture into a fact-finding role that the

Court a lways has insisted is not its proper place in the judicial system.“Accordingly, today's request for reconsideration seeks to give Act 13 its fair day in court, as

every law of this Commonwealth deserves when challenged. We are asking the Supreme Court tofollow its own established precedent and remand the case to Commonwealth Court for the developmentof an evidentiary record (through a fair and thorough process in which all parties have a real and equalopportunity to participate), application of the Court's newly-pronounced standards to the facts as found

by the Commonwealth Court (with legal briefs from all parties), and finally a fair and final determinationas to whether Act 13 violates Article I, Section 27 based on a full record and formal findings.

“In addition, the Department of Environmental Protection is asking the Supreme Court toreconsider a decision that certain provisions of Act 13 that involve the agency's responsibility to protect

public resources (such as public parks) cannot stand separately from provisions that the Court hasdetermined are unconstitutional.

“The Department contends that the Supreme Court misunderstood how the statutory provisionswork separately from each other and asks the Court to direct Commonwealth Court to study thatquestion as part of the other matters it must examine on remand."NewsClips:Corbett Declines To Discuss Challenge To Act 13 DecisionLawyers Ask Court To Rethink Gas Drilling OpinionCorbett Asks Court To Reconsider Act 13 Decision

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PA Lawyers Ask Court To Rethink Gas Drilling OpinionRemanded Drilling Impact Fee Could Be Rule Out Pending DecisionAct 13 Ruling Revives Questions On Doctor Gag Order PA Officials React To Supreme Court Oil & Gas Act RulingStateImpact: Top 10 Stories Of 2013 IA

StateImpact: Top Stories Of 2013 IBKey Gas Drilling Health Study Collecting PA DataHealth Study On Drilling Continues Collecting Data In PACriminal Case Against XTO Energy Heads To CourtEditorial: Extended Option Looks Good For Shell PlantExtension Office Plans 2 Marcellus Shale SeminarsKeystone Drill Services Innovates To Leave Diesel

Natural Gas Bills Set To Rise In Western PA Natural Fuel Gas Prices Could Fall SlightlySurvey: Most Americans Don’t Know Much About Fracking

Final PA Climate Change Action Plan Update Goes To Governor, General Assembly

On December 31, DEP Secretary Chris Abruzzo forwarded the final version of the PA Climate ChangeAction Plan Update to Gov. Corbett and members of the Senate and House Environmental Resourcesand Energy Committees.

The Plan Update transmittal letter , the Plan Update and the Appendices containing individualsector options for future actions are available online.

"As this plan shows, Pennsylvanians can be proud of the progress we are all making towardimproving air quality and addressing climate change," DEP Secretary Chris Abruzzo said. "Much of thissuccess can be attributed to expanding the use and availability of renewable and alternative energysources, higher standards for mobile and stationary sources of emissions and DEP's continuedcommitment to effective programs.

"Each one of us can play a role in helping to reduce our emissions footprint," Abruzzo said."Pennsylvania is committed to working with other states and nations to address this global issue."

The final version of the Plan Update was reviewed by DEP’s Climate Change AdvisoryCommittee , but the contents of the report are a combination of recommendations made by Committeemembers and DEP. There was no overall vote by the Committee to endorse the Plan. Any differences

between Committee members and DEP are noted in the Plan Update and Appendices, according toDEP.

The Appendices to the Plan Update also include comments on the Plan submitted by individualCommittee members starting on page 232.

OverviewThe Plan notes there have been significant changes to Pennsylvania’s greenhouse gas emissionssince the base year of 2000 used in the Plan resulting in the estimate that overall climate changingemissions from the Commonwealth will be lower in 2020 than in the base year.

The reduction in the use of coal for power generation and the switch to natural gas alone willresult in emissions savings of about 12 million metric tons of carbon dioxide annually.

The Plan concludes: “Pennsylvania CO2 (carbon dioxide) emissions have fallen dramatically, inlarge part because Pennsylvania is generating more electricity with natural gas instead of coal. However,

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other factors, including improved energy efficiency standards from consumer products and automobileshave contributed to the decline in carbon emissions. Pennsylvania continues to be a leader in reducingmethane emission from the natural gas industry and solid waste landfills. Moreover, further reductionsare occurring, and future reductions will occur, through new regulatory requirements like the TailoringRule, NSPS, and MACT (new air quality regulations).”

The plan highlights several of Pennsylvania's emission-reduction efforts, including:-- DEP implementing new, more stringent requirements for the natural gas industry that are reducingmethane emissions. Pennsylvania is the first state to require leak detection and repair over the entire wellsite to minimize emissions.-- Gov. Corbett signing Act 13 of 2012, providing $20 million from natural gas operator impact fees for the purchase or retrofit of heavy-duty vehicles to operate on natural gas. It is projected that these

projects will displace 3.67 million gallons of gasoline each year.-- DEP providing, through the Alternative Fuel Incentive Grant Program, $3 million for Alternative FuelVehicle (AFV) rebates for Pennsylvania consumers since 2011. In addition, another $1 million has beencommitted for AFV rebates in 2014 to support plug-in hybrid electric vehicles and electric vehicles aswell as other AFVs purchased and registered by Pennsylvanians.-- DEP reimbursing $5.5 million in solar rebates to homeowners and small businesses, resulting inenergy savings, reduction in heating fuel consumption and reduction in GHG emissions since January2013.-- Providing $46.5 million, since 2011, through the Keystone Home Energy Loan Program toPennsylvania homeowners looking to implement energy efficiencies.-- Preservation of forests and open space through forest protection easements and acquisition. Act 13

provided the first infusion of money into the Growing Greener Program since 2005, as well as providingover $20 million annually in new park, open space and recreation funding.-- Due to Pennsylvania's efforts over the last decade, according to EPA's Greenhouse Gas EmissionsInventory, the state's GHGs are expected to be lower in 2020 than in 2000, with reductions in theresidential, commercial, transportation, agriculture and waste sectors.

Policy/Program RecommendationsThe Plan Update provides options in several sectors--

-- Electricity Production, Transmission and Distribution: Act 129 electricity use reduction, coalmine methane recovery, surface mines and non-gassy underground mines, gassy underground mines,combined heat and power, reducing methane leakage from natural gas infrastructure, waste-to-energydigesters, beneficial use of municipal solid waste (waste-to-energy facilities), nuclear capacity uprates,manure digesters and sulfur hexafluoride emission reductions from the electric power industry;-- Residential, Commercial and Industrial: building commissioning, demand side management-natural gas and water, high-performance buildings, re-roof Pennsylvania, re-light Pennsylvania, industrialelectricity best management practices, heating oil conservation and fuel switching, improved efficiency at

wastewater treatment facilities and increased recycling initiative;-- Land Use and Transportation: alternative fueled transit bus, taxicab fleets, cutting emissions fromfreight transportation; and-- Agriculture and Forestry: durable wood products, forest protection easements, forestland

protection initiative-acquisition, urban forestry and no-till farming.Legislative ChangesThe Plan Update includes recommendations for legislative changes made by DEP in several

areas--

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-- Carbon Capture Liability: Address long-term liability issues associated with carbon capture andsequestration;-- Carbon Capture Incentives: Provide incentives for the capture and use of coal mine methane;-- DSIC Program Effectiveness: Evaluate the effectiveness of the DSIC ( Distribution SystemImprovement Charges ) Program for utilities to determine the impact accelerated natural gas distribution

infrastructure replacement has on decreasing fugitive methane emissions;-- Expand Natural Gas Use: Enact legislative incentivizing and directing natural gas utilities to expandexisting service territory to un-serve customers in a cost-effective manner;-- Alternative Fueled Vehicles: Provide additional incentives for the use of alternative fueled vehicles,including electric and LNG/CNG, particularly by large fuel consumption fleets;-- Energy Use Profiling: Consider legislative mandating or encouraging energy use profiling for commercial buildings, similar to the City of Philadelphia ordinance;-- Competitive Energy Markets: Expand competitive electricity markets to foster and encouragerenewable and alternative energy suppliers to enter Pennsylvania’s market;-- Support AEPS: Continue to support the implementation of the Alternative Energy PortfolioStandards; and-- Add New Waste-To-Energy To AEPS: Amend the Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards to

permit the inclusion of additional waste-to-energy facilities.Climate Impact AssessmentIn addition to the Action Plan Update, DEP released a Climate Impacts Assessment Update in

October prepared by professors and students at Penn State University’s Environment and NaturalResources Institute.

For more information, visit DEP’s Climate Change Advisory Committee webpage.

CBF Finds Feds Are Falling Short In Key Forested Stream Buffer Milestones

A Chesapeake Bay Foundation review of the federal government’s 2014-15 draft milestones and other recent actions released Monday has determined the federal government is falling short in itscommitments to expand forest buffers, rein in air pollution, and comply with the Clean Water Act whenapproving permits to reduce stormwater pollution from urban/suburban runoff.

“While the Clean Water Blueprint is successfully reducing pollution from some sources, federalefforts in key areas are falling short,” said CBF Senior Water Quality Scientist Beth McGee. “Of evenmore concern is that important actions to achieve those commitments have not been included in the nexttwo-year milestones. One of the things that distinguishes current efforts from past efforts that fell far short of the mark are these clear and transparent short-term commitments.”

President Obama’s Executive Order in 2009 required the federal government to develop andimplement two-year milestones to support state pollution reduction efforts.

All the major Bay states rely heavily on forest buffers to achieve their water quality goals. Infact, according to the Chesapeake Bay Program, these buffers are the second most important practiceto reduce nitrogen pollution.

State pollution reduction plans call for roughly an additional 185,000 acres of forest buffers by2025, an average increase of 14,200 acres per year. Implementation progress in 2012 was roughly anadditional 2,600 acres. This is less than 20 percent of the amount needed annually, and one of thelowest acreage gains since the late 1990s.

Funding for buffers, and the technical assistance to implement them, comes primarily from the

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Farm Bill. The 2008 Farm Bill prioritized buffer planting and provided additional assistance to theregion’s farmers. Much of that funding expired this fall when Congress failed to pass an extension of thelegislation.

“The lack of progress toward forest buffer goals is alarming given the importance of this practiceto achieving clean water,” CBF’s McGee said. “Bay Program staff are aware of the shortfall and CBF

calls on USDA to include milestone commitments that will accelerate implementation of forest buffers inthe Bay states.”

As part of the Clean Water Blueprint , the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency committed toreducing nitrogen pollution from the air by an estimated three million pounds. That reduction wasexpected to be achieved by air pollution regulations that have now been tied up in court for years. Andthose regulations only cover coal-fired power plants.

Federal courts have ruled that sources of air pollution that are known to directly discharge pollutants into waters of the United States can be regulated not just under the Clean Air Act, but under the Clean Water Act as well.

CBF is calling on EPA to utilize its current authority to do just that. In addition to coal plants,major polluters like asphalt plants, cement kilns, and pulp and paper manufacturers within theChesapeake Bay airshed could be forced to reduce pollution damaging local rivers, streams, and theChesapeake Bay.

Finally, CBF and the Choose Clean Water Coalition are concerned that many permits thatreduce polluted runoff from urban and suburban areas are failing to comply with the Clean Water Act.They fail to set deadlines and regular benchmarks for reducing pollution from runoff, fail to promote thekinds of runoff control practices that would best protect water quality in the rivers and streams therunoff enters, and fail to require adequate monitoring of results. EPA is responsible for final review andapproval of these permits.

In Pennsylvania, which has permits that don’t explain the kinds of implementation plans that areexpected of localities, EPA has not exerted its authority sufficiently to ensure transparency andaccountability, and that pollution is reduced and deadlines are met.

“Restoring local rivers, streams, and the Chesapeake Bay will only be achieved when all the partners do their fair share,” McGee said. “The federal government must step up its oversight andclearly define the actions it will take over the next two years to ensure progress. Meeting the milestoneswill not just benefit us today, but also our children and future generations.”

Chesapeake Bay Cleanup Fact SheetsThe Chesapeake Bay Foundation PA Office has issued a series of fact sheets outlining the

water quality problems and solutions being implemented in the Pennsylvania portion of the ChesapeakeBay Watershed---- A Primer On Pollutants Of Concern -- outlines the contributions Pennsylvania’s portion of theChesapeake Bay Watershed makes to nitrogen, phosphorus and sediment pollution to the Bay.

-- Nearly 20,000 Miles Of PA Streams Are Polluted -- details the fact there are thousands of streammiles and hundreds of acres of lakes all across Pennsylvania that are considered “impaired” under thefederal Clean Water Act that either have or will require what is known as a Total Maximum Daily Load(TMDL).-- Cost Effective Solutions Are Known, Documented For The Chesapeake Bay -- notes cost effective

pollution solutions have already made significant progress in reducing pollution going to the Bay, particularly in Pennsylvania.-- Lancaster County Plain Sect Farms As Clean Water Stewards -- provides a snapshot of the Buffer

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Bonus initiative from CBF to encourage the installation of stream buffers by Amish and Plain Sectfarmers in Lancaster County.-- Amish and Old Order Mennonite Farms Protect Streams And The Bay -- provides an overview of aCBF initiative to work with Plain Sect farmers in Lancaster and Chester counties to install bestmanagement practices under federal Farm Bill Programs like the Conservation Reserve Enhancement

Program (CREP).In addition, Dr. Beth McGee, Senior Water Quality Scientist at CBF, gave a PowerPoint

presentation October 16 on the status of the Chesapeake Bay Cleanup in Pennsylvania and thechallenges that remain.

Learn About Saving Energy, Alternative Fuels Rebates At DEP’s Farm Show Exhibit

The Department of Environmental Protection will display its interactive “ DEP at Home ” exhibit duringthe 98th Pennsylvania Farm Show in the Main Hall of the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex and ExpoCenter in Harrisburg from January 4 to 11.

DEP at Home is an interactive, educational home structure that features practices and products promoting energy efficiency and sustainable building materials, as well as environmentally-friendly andPennsylvania-produced products for the home.

“This year, our exhibit has a renewed focus on alternative fuels.” DEP Secretary Chris Abruzzosaid. “I encourage all farm show visitors to stop by and learn how to plug in an electric vehicle, or fuel atruck that runs on compressed natural gas.”

The exhibit, which made its debut at the 2012 Farm Show, now features a garage to showcasevehicles that run on alternative fuels.

There are useable pumps and receptacles for compressed natural gas and electric vehicles (EV)so visitors can experience fueling an alternative fuel vehicle (AFV). The garage also boasts flooringmade from recycled tires, information about proper disposal of household hazardous waste, as well aslandscaping with native plants and tips on proper pest management.

DEP has partnered with Nissan North America to bring a Nissan Leaf all-electric vehicle totheir Farm Show exhibit. The Leaf was manufactured at the Nissan plant in Tennessee and will sit in the“driveway” of DEP’s exhibit. Farm Show visitors will be able to use the EV charger to “power” thevehicle and sit at the wheel to envision driving this innovative car.

Residents that are interested in purchasing an AFV, like the Nissan Leaf, can take advantage of DEP’s AFV Rebate Program , which provides rebates to PA residents that purchase certain types of alternative fuel vehicles.

“Because of the popularity and success of this rebate program, we have decided to infuse anadditional one million dollars into the rebate fund so that more Pennsylvanians are able to purchase thesevehicles,” Abruzzo said.

Returning to the DEP at Home exhibit this year are the popular kitchen with recycled gladcountertop and a working radon mitigation unit.Radon Action MonthJanuary is Radon Action Month and is a good time to consider testing the home or workplace.

On January 5, staff from DEP’s Bureau of Radiation Protection will be available at the exhibit fromnoon to 4 p.m. to answer visitors’ radon questions.

Farm Show HoursThe Pennsylvania Farm Show runs January 4 to 10 from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. and January 11 from

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8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is free and parking is $10. The Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex andExpo Center is easily accessed from nearby Interstate 81.

DEP created the exhibit through funds provided by the U.S. Department of Energy’s StateEnergy Program.NewsClip: How Art Becomes Energy, 1,000 Pound Butter Sculpture

Add Us To Your Google+ Circle

PA Environment Digest now has a Google+ Circle called Green Works In PA. Just go to your Google+ page and search for DHess@CrisciAssociates.com , the email for the Digest Editor DavidHess, and let us join your Circle.

Google+ now combines all the news you now get through the PA Environment Digest, Weekly,Blog, Twitter and Video sites into one resource.

You’ll receive as-it-happens postings on Pennsylvania environmental news, daily NewsClipsand links to the weekly Digest and videos.

Also take advantage of these related services from Crisci Associates --

PA Environment Digest Twitter Feed : On Twitter, sign up to receive instant updates from:PAEnviroDigest.

PA Environment Daily Blog: provides daily environmental NewsClips and significant stories andannouncements on environmental topics in Pennsylvania of immediate value. Sign up and receive asthey are posted updates through your favorite RSS reader. You can also sign up for a once daily emailalerting you to new items posted on this blog.

PA Capitol Digest Daily Blog to get updates every day on Pennsylvania State Government, including NewsClips, coverage of key press conferences and more. Sign up and receive as they are postedupdates through your favorite RSS reader. You can also sign up for a once daily email alerting you tonew items posted on this blog.

PA Capitol Digest Twitter Feed : Don't forget to sign up to receive the PA Capitol Digest Twitter feedto get instant updates on other news from in and around the Pennsylvania State Capitol.

Senate/House Agenda/Session Schedule

Here are the Senate and House Calendars and Committee meetings showing bills of interest as well as a

list of new environmental bills introduced--

Session Schedule

Here is the latest voting session schedule for the Senate and House--

HouseJanuary 7 (Non-Voting), 13, 14, 15, 27, 28, 29

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February 3, 4, 5March 10, 11, 12, 17, 18, 19, 31April 1, 2, 7, 8, 9, 28, 29, 30May 5, 6, 7June 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, 16, 17, 18, 19, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

SenateJanuary 7, 13, 14, 15, 27, 28, 29February 3, 4, 5March 10, 11, 12, 17, 18, 19, 31April 1, 2, 7, 8, 9, 28, 29, 30May 5, 6, 7June 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, 16, 17, 18, 19, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

Bill Calendars

House (January 7): House Bill 302 (Moul-R-Adams) transferring $5 million to DEP for a competitivegrant program to convert small mass transit bus fleets to natural gas; House Bill 303 (Moul-R-Adams)transferring $7.5 million to DEP for a competitive grant program to convert large mass transit fleets tonatural gas; House Bill 304 (Marshall-R-Beaver) funding conversions of transit buses to natural gas;House Bill 306 (Pickett-R-Bradford) redirecting $5.3 million from the Alternative Fuels Incentive Fundto create the Keystone Fuel Incentive Program to fund conversions of vehicles to natural gas and

provide a 10 cent per gallon biofuels production subsidy; House Bill 308 (Saylor-R-York) redirecting$6 million annually from the Clean Air Fund to finance vehicle conversions to natural gas. <> Click Here for full House Bill Calendar.

Senate (January 7): <> Click Here for full Senate Bill Calendar.

Committee Meeting Agendas This Week

House: <> Click Here for full House Committee Schedule.

Senate: <> Click Here for full Senate Committee Schedule.

Bills Pending In Key Committees

Here are links to key Standing Committees in the House and Senate and the bills pending in each--

HouseAppropriationsEducationEnvironmental Resources and EnergyConsumer AffairsGaming OversightHuman Services

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JudiciaryLiquor ControlTransportationLinks for all other Standing House Committees

SenateAppropriationsEnvironmental Resources and EnergyConsumer Protection and Professional LicensureCommunity, Economic and Recreational DevelopmentEducationJudiciaryLaw and JusticePublic Health and WelfareTransportationLinks for all other Standing Senate Committees

News From The Capitol

State Collects 1.6 Percent Less Than Anticipated In December

Pennsylvania collected $2.4 billion in General Fund revenue in December, which was $40 million, or 1.6 percent, less than anticipated, Secretary of Revenue Daniel Meuser reported Thursday. Fiscalyear-to-date General Fund collections total $12.3 billion, which is $2.6 million above estimate. Click Here for more details.NewsClips:

PA Tax Revenues Remain Slightly Above EstimatesDecember Revenue Report Shows Proof Of Tepid ChristmasErie To See Gas Tax Hike In 2014Higher Gas Taxes, Gas Prices Will Drop SlightlyPennsylvania Gasoline Taxes Go Up Jan. 1Coalition Pledges To Keep Pro-Transportation Lawmakers In OfficeIt Took A Wolff To Shepherd Transportation Funding BillEditorial: The TaxmanEditorial: Focus Should Be On Property Tax ReformTurnpike Toll Hikes Promote E-ZPassCommonwealth Financing Authority’s Projects Examined

News From Around The State

Registration Now Open For Schuylkill Watershed Congress On March 15

The Schuylkill Watershed Congress is a an annual gathering of citizens interested in watershed protection and restoration which this year will be held on March 15 at the Montgomery CountyCommunity College campus in Pottstown.

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The 2014 Watershed Congress program kicks off with a keynote panel presented by staff of the William Penn Foundation who will be speaking about the Foundation's Delaware River WatershedProtection Grant Program .

Concurrent sessions for the upcoming program include presentations on the Schuylkill River water trail, abandoned mine drainage, invasive rock snot, habitat restoration, green construction, native

meadow management, rain barrels and rain gardens, living with flood plains, watershed education, andmuch more.

Registration fees start at $40 (covers participation in Saturday’s program, Saturday morning’srefreshments, and lunch).

For more information and to register, visit the Schuylkill Watershed Congress webpage.

Penn State Extension: Update On The PA Master Well Owner Network

Funding provided by the Department of Environmental Protection and Pennsylvania Ground Water Association was used to develop and implement programs of Penn State Extension’s Master WellOwner Network over the past year.

This volunteer network is dedicated to providing unbiased, research-based education for themillions of private water well owners in Pennsylvania. A glance at accomplishments from the MWON

program includes:-- A total of 54 new MWON volunteers were recruited and trained at face-to-face workshops and aseven-week online course joining a total of 249 active MWON volunteers in 64 counties.-- MWON partnered with various agencies to provide 30 educational workshops or webinars to 1,225

private water supply owners and free water testing to nearly 400 homeowners and farmers.-- Active MWON volunteers reported spending 1,447 hours educating an additional 3,197 privatewater supply owners in Pennsylvania. 73 percent of volunteers educated water supply owners throughone-on-one conversations while 26 percent utilized the table-top display at events and 21% gave

presentations to small groups.-- Since its inception, MWON volunteers have dedicated nearly 8,000 hours of their time to directlyeducate nearly 34,000 private water supply owners. Additional indirect education through newsletters,newspapers and publications has been provided to over 100,000 private water supply ownersthroughout the state.-- 23 new volunteers are currently enrolled in the online training course this fall. An additional trainingcourse for new volunteers will be offered on Saturday, December 14, 2013 in Bucks County.-- In May 2013 MOWN partnered with numerous agencies to present the 2013 PennsylvaniaGroundwater Symposium at Penn State for 150 groundwater professionals. Planning is alreadyunderway for the 2014 Pennsylvania Groundwater Symposium on May 7, 2014 at the Ramada Inn inState College, PA.

To learn more, visit the Master Well Owner Network website.

(Written By: Bryan Swistock, Water Resources Specialist, Renewable Natural Resources, PennState Extension, Department of Ecosystem Science and Management, and reprinted from PennState Extension’s Watershed Winds newsletter.)

$1.1 Million Mine Reclamation Contracts Awarded In Clearfield, Northumberland

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The Department of Environmental Protection Thursday announced contract awards for two abandonedmine reclamation projects in Clearfield and Northumberland counties, totaling $1,113,300.

The contract awarded in Woodward Township, Clearfield County totals $324,767 for theimplementation of an erosion and sediment control plan, excavating a subsurface drain of 1,720 linear feet, grading 219,300 cubic yards, incorporating 2,400 tons of limestone, and seeding 24 acres.

Totaling $788,533, the contract awarded in Coal Township, Northumberland County will fundthe implementation of an erosion and sediment control plan, clearing and grubbing vegetation, grading490,740 cubic yards, excavating 2,050 cubic yards for drainage, lining 1,540 square yards of rock, andseeding 73.1 acres.

E.M. Brown Inc. of Clearfield was selected to complete the Woodward Township project. The project is expected to start in early January and be completed by July 14 of this year.

The Coal Township project contract was awarded to JBS Dirt Inc. of Canastota, New York.The project is expected to start in January and be completed by March 9, 2015.

Contracts were awarded on a competitive basis and are federally funded by Office of SurfaceMining grants. Grant funds are supported by a fee on the modern coal industry and are distributed tostates as annual grants to reclaim mine sites that were abandoned prior to passage of the federal SurfaceMining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977.

For more information, call 717-783-2267.

DEP Employees Recognized For Abandoned Mine Reclamation Project Work

Two DEP employees from the Wilkes-Barre District of the Bureau of Abandoned Mine Reclamationwere recognized for their efforts in completing the ongoing work at the Boyers Knob LookoutAbandoned Mine Reclamation Project at a recent meeting of the Anthracite Outdoor Adventure AreaAuthority in Northumberland County.

John Curley , chief of the Design Section, and Larry Dobash , chief of the SouthernConstruction Section, were both lauded for their hard work in getting the project off the ground. Arepresentative from AOAA said the group appreciates the reclamation and views the restoration effortas a great step in a very positive direction.

The Boyers Knob Lookout project, started in March 2013 and is scheduled to be completed inMarch 2014. The work site is located between the Villages of Excelsior and Gowen City in CoalTownship, Northumberland County. The project access road is on the east side of State Route 125,approximately 1.1 miles north of the intersection of SR 2044 and SR 125.

This site was part of the Enterprise Colliery and had been deep-mined from the late 1800s tothe 1950s. Strip mining occurred in the 1950s to 1960s. The mining left behind a number of abandoned strip pits and mine openings. The pits and mine openings are being reclaimed by backfillingwith on-site material, grading the land back to its approximate pre-mining contours and then replanting

the disturbed area with grass, legume and tree seed mixtures.Also, certain areas of the final graded project site will be prepared for future planting of American Chestnut trees. Thus far, about two-thirds of the project is complete, over 30 acres have

been revegetated, the nine mine openings reclaimed and several small hazardous structures removed.The contract work is being performed by Morgan’s Excavating of Mount Union, at the bid

price of $1.2 million. The project is being funded by The Abandoned Mine Reclamation Trust Fundwhich is subsidized by the coal industry via fees paid on each ton of coal mined.

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(Reprinted from the December 26 issue of DEP News.)

DEP Invites Comments On Octoraro Creek Watershed TMDL

The Department of Environmental Protection published a notice inviting comments on a proposal Total

Maximum Daily Loads Plan for the Octoraro Creek Watershed in Lancaster County ( PA Bulletin page95). A copy of the plan is available on DEP’s TMDL webpage .

December 26 DEP News Now Available

The December 26 DEP News online newsletter is now available featuring articles on Act 13 PASupreme Court ruling, DEP’s new interactive gas well mapping tool, DEP employees recognized for abandoned mine reclamation project work and DEP at Home energy exhibit at the Farm Show. Click Here to sign up for your own copy.

PA Statewide Sustainable Energy Board To Meet Jan. 9

The PA Statewide Sustainable Energy Board , in conjunction with the Public Utility Commission, willhold its annual meeting at 11 a.m., January 9, in Hearing Room 1 of the Commonwealth KeystoneBuilding, Harrisburg.

In the event of inclement weather, the event will be held January 23 in the same location.The meeting will provide updates from the regional sustainable energy funds (SEFs) and is being

held to update Commonwealth agencies and other interested groups on activities of the energy funds.Some of the projects being discussed at the meeting will include the following:

— The Sustainable Energy Fund, operating in the PPL Electric Utilities Corp. service territory, willhighlight EnergyPath 2013 and the Sustainable Energy Finance Program which is a new program that

provides 0 percent loans to municipalities and nonprofit organizations. — The Sustainable Development Fund, operating in the PECO service territory, will present informationon lessons learned from energy lending, with special attention on various local projects.

— The Metropolitan-Edison Co. and Pennsylvania Electric Co. Sustainable Energy Fund will focus onits Energy and Education Plan, which is a comprehensive, education-based energy conservation

program. — The West Penn Power Co.’s Sustainable Energy Fund will provide an overview of the programs and projects which it helped co-fund, including efforts to support the use of biomass for thermally-driven,industrial and institutional applications.

Representatives from the Department of Environmental Protection, Office of Consumer Advocate, the Department of Community and Economic Development, and the Pennsylvania

Environmental Council have been invited to attend.For more information, visit the PA Statewide Sustainable Energy Board webpage.

PRC’s PECO Smart Ideas Program Set For Philadelphia Home Show Jan. 10-12

The PA Resources Council East is continuing to conduct educational outreach on the PECO SmartIdeas Program in 2014 which is designed to help customers reduce energy consumption throughconservation and efficiency.

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The education staff visits fairs, festivals, markets and home shows to share information withresidents in the PECO service region. Most of the ideas are low or no cost. Unplugging to reduce"Phantom Draw" is one example. Switching to CFL or LED bulbs is another. In addition, there areincentives to purchase energy efficient appliances and equipment for those willing to invest in energyreduction options.

January begins the Home Show season. First up is the ACS Greater Philadelphia Spring HomeShow held at the Valley Forge Resort, 1160 First Ave., King of Prussia, Montgomery County. We will

be there January 10, 11 and 12. For more information about show hours please visit the website or contact Jayne Young at 610-353-1555 ext. 222 or send email to: young@prc.org .

Anthracite Heritage Foundation Mining History Week Jan. 8-22

A regional observance of Mining History Week will take place January 8-22 at programs inWilkes-Barre, Scranton, Pittston, Port Griffith, and Ashley. The annual event focuses on anthracitemineworker, families and communities, and the hard coal industry in Northeastern Pennsylvania.

The programs are sponsored by the Anthracite Heritage Museum , the Anthracite HeritageFoundation , King's College, the Lackawanna Historical Society, the Luzerne County Historical Society,the Huber Breaker Preservation Society, the Anthracite Living History Group, the Old Forge CoalMine, the Greater Pittston Historical Society, and the Knox Mine Disaster Memorial Committee.

The public is cordially invited to attend the events. All but one is open free of charge.Schedule

-- January 8: 7 p.m., William Conolgue, Professor of English, Marywood College, will speak on hisrecent book, "Here and There: Reading Pennsylvania's Working Landscapes," Lackawanna HistoricalSociety, Catlin House, 232 Monroe Avenue, Scranton. Refreshments served.-- January 9: 7 p.m., Thomas Dublin, Professor Emeritus of History at SUNY Binghamton, will deliver the Annual Msgr. John J. Curran Lecture, "When the Mines Closed," at King's College, BurkeAuditorium, McGowan Business School. Refreshments served at 6:30 p.m.-- January 12: 2 p.m., Robert Thomas Hughes will present a dramatic reading of his work, "A Miner'sTale," which tells the story of the anthracite coal miner in Northeastern Pennsylvania through monologue.The event will be hosted by Anthracite Heritage Museum, McDade Park, Scranton; the cost of $5.00

per person also includes admission to all of the Museum's exhibits.-- January 18: 2 p.m., The Annual Knox Mine Disaster Commemorative Program, Anthracite HeritageMuseum, McDade Park, Scranton. F. Charles Petrillo, Wilkes-Barre, will present a multi-media

program on, "The End of Deep-Coal Mining Following the Knox Mine Disaster of 1959." Guestmusician Lex Romane will play original musical selections. A large needlework designed andembroidered by Audrey Baloga Calvey, as a tribute to her father, Knox victim John Baloga, and theother men lost that day, will be exhibited. Other speak. Refreshments served.

-- January 19: 10 a.m., Annual Knox Disaster Memorial Mass, St. John the Evangelist Church,Pittston.-- January 19: 11:30 a.m., Annual Knox Disaster Commemorative Ceremony, PHMC Knox Disaster Historical Marker located in front of Baloga Funeral Home (formerly St. Joseph's Church), Main Street,Port Griffith. Coffee served.-- January 21: 7 p.m., William A. Hastie, West Pittston, will speak on his recent co-authored book:"Anthracite Labor Wars: Tenancy, Italians, and Organized Crime in the Northern Coalfield of

Northeastern, PA, 1897-1959," Huber Breaker Preservation Society, Earth Conservancy Building, 101

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South Main St., Ashley. Refreshments served.-- January 22: morning (time and place TBA), Dedication and Unveiling of the PHMC HistoricalMarker for The Baltimore Tunnel Mine Disaster of 1919, in Wilkes-Barre.-- January 22: 3 p.m., Panel discussion on the Baltimore Tunnel Mine Disaster of 1919, featuringKing's Colleges Professors Thomas Mackaman and Dan Clasby, Katie Lavery who lost two uncles in

the disaster, and King's students who worked with the above persons in securing the PHMC marker;Fitz Room, Sheehey-Farmer Campus Center, King's College, Wilkes-Barre.

Western PA 2013 Household Chemical, Pharmaceutical Collection Recap

The PA Resources Council , wants to thank those of you who helped make the 2013 HouseholdChemical & Pharmaceutical Collections season a whopping success! PRC truly appreciates your

participation, interest, input and if you volunteered, your dedication and perseverance in less than idealweather conditions.

Not only did we attract more participants this year than ever, but we also collected over 60,000more pounds of material than any other year of the program dating back to 2003. It demonstrates howimportant and needed this program is to help ensure the health and environmental well-being of westernPennsylvania residents.

Following is a short recap of activities:-- Total participants - 5,271;-- Household chemicals collected - 366,995 lbs.;-- Pharmaceutical waste collected - 2,146 lbs.; and-- Total waste collected - 369,141 lbs.

Be on the lookout for the 2014 schedule which will be posted here . For sponsorship, volunteer or other information please contact Michael Stepaniak at 412-488-7452 or send email to:michaels@ccicenter.org . Thanks again for a great 2013!

PRC West Recognized For Contribution To Clean Pittsburgh Commission

Congratulations to all of the members of the Clean Pittsburgh Commission for receiving a proclamationfrom Mayor Luke Ravenstahl.

At the December meeting the 15 commission members, which include Dave Mazza and SarahAlessio Shea of PA Resources Council West, were surprised with proclamations from the Mayor stating "I do hereby declare and celebrate December 12, as 'Clean Pittsburgh Commission Day' here inour most livable City of Pittsburgh."

The Clean Pittsburgh Commission, established in 2005, works to improve the environmentalquality of life of Pittsburgh residents through litter and illegal dumping prevention, cleanup and

enforcement efforts.Congratulations to all of the CPC members, your work has made Pittsburgh a cleaner, greener City!

Mt. Lebanon Township, PRC Begin Recycling Program In 2014

Mt. Lebanon Township , Allegheny County, will be tackling business and multi-family unit recycling over the next year with the help of the PA Resources Council .

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The township will utilize funding from DEP and team up with PRC to increase recycling inneighborhood businesses, multi-family units and institutions.

PRC representatives will be working with community members, business owners and publicofficials alike to increase recycling participation. In the first few weeks of the New Year PRC staff will

be making introductions and distributing surveys, education packets and important recycling information.

PRC West is looking forward to working with local businesses, multi-family unit building ownersand residents and institutions to increase recycling and make Mt. Lebanon a more sustainablecommunity. Let the recycling begin!

Environmental Theme For Delaware Valley Educators Conference March 21-22

The theme of this year’s Delaware Valley Association for the Education of Young Children is “Take AWalk on the Wild Side Connecting Children with Nature” set for March 21-22 in the PA ConventionCenter, Philadelphia. Click Here for registration and other details.

Wildlands Conservancy Special Homeschool Programs Begin Jan. 23

The Wildlands Conservancy is sponsoring a series of special educational events at the Pool WildlifeSanctuary in Emmaus Lehigh County for homeschool students. Click Here to see a calendar of theevents.

January Is Radon Action Month In Pennsylvania

The Department of Environmental Protection reminded Pennsylvanians Thursday January is RadonAction Month .

Radon is a colorless, odorless, radioactive gas that occurs naturally through the breakdown of uranium in soil and rocks. It can seep into homes through cracks in basements and foundations and can

build up inside to concentrations many times the recommended level."Elevated levels of radon affect nearly half of all Pennsylvania homes, but it is easily fixed," DEP

Secretary Chris Abruzzo said. "Don't allow your home or family to become a statistic. I've tested myhome for radon. Test yours now."

Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in Pennsylvania and causes about 20,000lung-cancer deaths in the United States every year. Pennsylvania is particularly prone to elevated radonlevels, with about 40 percent of homes in the state having radon levels above the U.S. EnvironmentalProtection Agency's action level of four picocuries per liter.

While radon problems may be more common in some regions of the state, the potential existsfor any home in Pennsylvania to have high radon levels.

Testing for radon is the only way to know if a home or other structure has elevated levels of radon. DEP recommends testing all homes and public and private buildings. The best time to test isduring the cold-weather months, when homes and buildings are closed and radon is most likely to buildup to unhealthy levels.

Residents may hire a certified radon testing company, though it is easy to perform a radon test by using a kit that can be purchased at a home improvement store or a Pennsylvania-certified radonlaboratory.

Completed test kits should be sent to a Pennsylvania-certified laboratory, where samples are

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analyzed. If results reveal radon levels above the action level, a radon mitigation system may benecessary.

Radon mitigation systems cost between $800 and $1,200 and require minimal maintenance.Most home or building owners choose to hire a radon mitigation professional to install the system.

Farm Show

Residents seeking more information about radon can stop by DEP's exhibit at the PennsylvaniaFarm Show on January 5 from noon to 4 p.m. to talk to a radon professional with the department'sBureau of Radiation Protection.

For more information about radon, including information on interpreting test results and finding aPennsylvania-certified radon contractor, visit DEP’s Radon webpage or call 1-800-23-RADON.

Western PA Conservancy Protects 2 Properties Along Great Allegheny Passage

The Western Pennsylvania Conservancy has purchased two properties along the Great AlleghenyPassage , capping off a year in which the Conservancy, with these two acquisitions, has protected 18

properties.The two recent purchases in Somerset County preserve hillside views surrounding Confluence,

one of the centerpiece communities along the Great Allegheny Passage – also known as the GAP trail.The acquisitions enhance the hiking and biking trail that the Conservancy helped create more

than 35 years ago and provide access to the nearby Casselman River, WPC announced today.The Conservancy purchased the 49-acre forested property in Confluence and a 96-acre parcel

that sits in both Confluence and Lower Turkeyfoot Township. The GAP trail either borders or runsthrough both Somerset County properties. Both sites contain frontage along the Casselman River; thelarger property will provide public access between the GAP trail and the river.

“December is a fun time in the land conservation business, because many of our key acquisitionsclose then. This year, the Conservancy has protected diverse properties, such as ones in Erie, FrenchCreek, Ligonier Valley and these two wonderful properties along the Great Allegheny Passage,” saidTom Saunders, WPC’s president and chief executive officer. “Thirty-five years ago, so many peoplehad such vision to begin the acquisitions for the GAP trail from Pittsburgh to Washington, D.C. Nowthat it’s complete, it’s exciting to be able to acquire and protect some of the key vistas along the trail.”

The Conservancy received help from state partners and private funders during the acquisitions,Saunders said. WPC, the state, key foundations and other partners identified priority land conservationopportunities along the GAP trail, based on their high level of visibility, use by the public and their

proximity to the Casselman River.The smaller parcel borders a section of the GAP trail just before it crosses the Casselman River

into Confluence. It encompasses most of a scenic hill, so any development there would be highly visiblefrom Confluence and the trail.

A mile-and-a-half section of the GAP trail passes directly through the larger property as the trailenters Confluence from the east.“A 50-lot residential development had been planned for the property about 10 years ago,” said

Michael Knoop, a land protection and planning manager at the Conservancy. “Fortunately, thelandowner chose to sell the property to WPC for conservation purposes.”

Since the 1950s, the Conservancy has protected more than 81,000 acres of priority land in theLaurel Highlands. In the late 1970s, WPC purchased the first property that would become part of theGAP trail – a 27-mile stretch from Connellsville to Confluence – from the Western Maryland Railway

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Company. Nine miles of trail from Ohiopyle to Ramcat, near Confluence, were opened in 1986. Thetrail now stretches 150 miles from Cumberland, Md., to Pittsburgh.

Financial support for the project came from the family of B. Kenneth Simon, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Community Conservation Partnerships Program, the Nimick Forbesway Foundation and the Katherine Mabis McKenna Foundation.

The Conservancy plans to own and manage the properties for public use and the protection of conservation values. The Conservancy’s Benjamin Holland Memorial Stewardship Fund will supportstewardship expenses.

ClearWater Conservancy For The Love Of Art And Chocolate Event Feb. 7

For the 15th year of ClearWater Conservancy’s For the Love of Art & Chocolate , has some newthings in store. Gourmet chocolate and nature-inspired local art will still be the foundation of our signature winter gala, but a more intimate setting, a pre-event sponsor reception and other additions willadd some spice to this event.

Join Conservancy members and supporters February 7 from 7 to 9:30 p.m. at the RamadaConference Center and Golf Hotel in State College to enjoy silent and live auctions, raffles, horsd'ourves, live music and of course, gourmet chocolate. Attendance is limited to 250. No walk-ins.R.S.V.P. by January 17. Reservations can be made online .

Just a week before Valentine’s Day, guests can treat their sweetheart to an indulgent evening of chocolate while proclaiming their love for our beautiful natural environment here in the heart of Pennsylvania. All proceeds from this event go to support ClearWater’s mission of conserving land andwater resources in Central Pennsylvania.

The Conservancy will feature one of the long-standing programs at For the Love of Art &Chocolate this year. ClearWater’s “Connections” program raises the needed funds each year to send2,000+ local students to Millbrook Marsh Nature Center for hands-on outdoor environmentaleducation. To do this, we need at least $20,000 each and every year. On average, it costs $10 per child to cover the admission fee and bus transportation to Millbrook Marsh.

For more information, visit the ClearWater Conservancy’s For the Love of Art & Chocolatewebpage.

Friends Of The Wissahickon Names Sarah West As Volunteer Of The Year

The Friends of the Wissahickon in Montgomery County awarded Sarah West the Volunteer of the Year Award at its annual Volunteer Recognition Night at Valley Green Inn in December. West is a long-timeFOW member, former FOW Board Member, and a current Trail Ambassador.

"The growth and popularity of FOW's Trail Ambassador hikes and talks is due in large part to

her dedication," says FOW Outreach Manager Sarah Marley. "Sarah West was nominated by her peers for tirelessly contributing her time and expertise to FOW and the park, and for serving as aninspiration and mentor to her fellow volunteers."

Sarah West was presented with a hand-carved hiking stick, created by local artisan IsaacMaefield from locally-sourced wood. Maefield incorporated Wissahickon schist into its designespecially for West, who leads geology hikes in the Wissahickon as a Trail Ambassador. She was asecondary and college teacher in the sciences for 40 years, 25 of those years at Germantown FriendsSchool.

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FOW volunteers serve on various committees, participate in workdays in the park, or serve asTrail Ambassadors. These hardworking individuals help build structures in the park, repair trails, assistwith fundraising, write for the newsletter, patrol the park, lead hikes, and countless other tasks.

To volunteer with FOW, contact Volunteer Coordinator Eric Falk by sending email to:falk@fow.org or call 215-247-0417 x107.

Game Commission Habitat Seedling Sales Begin Jan. 6

While it might be winter, landowners can begin making plans to help wildlife this spring – and beyond – by planting tree and shrub seedlings offered by the Game Commission’s Howard Nursery. The 2014seedling order form is available online , and sales are set to begin January 6.

Most seedlings are sold in units of 25, but 100-seedling bundles also are available in mixes to benefit deer, game birds and songbirds, as well as to improve riparian and winter-thermal habitats.

The 2014 order form contains a wide selection of evergreens, shrubs and fruit- and nut-bearingtrees. Most species are native to Pennsylvania, and with the exception of black locust, all of theavailable hardwoods are grown from seed collected from Pennsylvania sources and processed byGame Commission personnel.

Two offerings have been added to the order form this year. Black-gum/Black Tupelo is aslow-growing tree that provides food for birds and wildlife and, as it grows, often provides nestingcavities. A unit of 25 1-year-old seedlings is available for $12.50.

Also available this year is a mixed-oak collection, which may contain some or all of northern redoak, white oak, chestnut oak, pin oak and black oak seedlings. A unit of 25 seedlings is available for $8.75, but – like many of the seedlings offered for sale – can be purchased at a discounted price.

Although a discount is not offered for all species or habitat bundles, orders of 12 or more totalunits qualify for applicable discounted pricing. With the discount, prices are as low as $3.75 per bundle,or 15 cents per seedling.

The mixed-oak bundle costs $6.25 with the discount.Species that qualify for the discount are marked on the order form.Annetta Ayers, superintendent at Howard Nursery, said there is a very limited supply of some

of the seedlings for sale. Those who are interested might want to call Howard Nursery at814-355-4434. Hours of operation are Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.Orders can be placed by telephone, as well.

The order form and information about the seedlings for sale are available at the GameCommission’s website .

The order form can be completed and submitted online, or printed out and faxed or mailed.Payments are not due until the order is confirmed by Howard Nursery.

For those without Internet access, order forms can be obtained at Game Commission offices or

various displays or booths at shows in which the agency participates through the spring or by sending aself-addressed, stamped envelope to: Howard Nursery, 197 Nursery Road, Howard, PA 16841.While the order form provides a brief description of the tree species available and their benefits

to birds and wildlife, more information is available on the website under “Tree Seedling Index.”The preferred method of delivery is by United Parcel Service. Shipping and handling charges do

apply. Orders are shipped only Monday through Wednesday to assure delivery for weekend planting.However, orders also may be picked up in person at the nursery once buyers are notified the order isready.

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Generally, seedlings ship in the month of April.

Your 2 Cents: Issues On Advisory Committee Agendas

This section gives you a continuously updated thumbnail sketch of issues to be considered in upcomingadvisory committee meetings where the agendas have been released.

NOTE: The Department of Environmental Protection published a schedule of 2014 advisory committeeand board meetings in the December 21 PA Bulletin starting on page 7503.

January 7-- Environmental Quality Board hearing on Chapter 78 Oil and Gas Regulation Changes.Tunkhannock High School Auditorium, 135 Tiger Drive, Tunkhannock, Wyoming County. 6:00 p.m.( formal notice-PA Bulletin, page 7377 )

January 8-- DEP Technical Advisory Committee on Diesel-Powered Mining Equipment meeting.Fayette County Health Center, Uniontown. 10:00.

January 9-- Agenda Released . DEP Mining and Reclamation Advisory Board meeting. Room 105Rachel Carson Building. 10:00.-- Update on regulatory packages, NPDES permitting, ABS Legacy Trust Account, Permit DecisionGuarantee Program, Bond Rate Guidelines, Abandoned Mine Reclamation Report-- Beneficial Use Of Coal Ash At Mine Sites presentation<> Click Here for available handouts.

January 9-- Environmental Quality Board hearing on Chapter 78 Oil and Gas Regulation Changes.West Chester University of Pennsylvania’s Sykes Student Union Theater, 110 West Rosedale Avenue,

West Chester, Chester County. 6:00 p.m. ( formal notice-PA Bulletin, page 7377 )

January 13-- Environmental Quality Board hearing on Chapter 78 Oil and Gas Regulation Changes.Pennsylvania College of Technology’s Klump Academic Center, One College Avenue, Williamsport,Lycoming County. 6:00 p.m. ( formal notice-PA Bulletin, page 7377 )

January 14-- DEP public hearing on proposed repeal of the portable fuel container regulation from thestate Air Quality Implementation Plan. DEP Southcentral Regional Office, 909 Elmerton Ave.,Harrisburg. 1:00. ( formal notice )

January 15-- DEP Water Resources Advisory Committee meeting. Room 105 Rachel Carson

Building. 9:30.

January 15-- Agenda Released . DEP Coastal Zone Advisory Committee meeting. 10th Floor Conference Room, Rachel Carson Building. 9:30.-- Update On 2014 Coastal Zone Grants-- Update on Coastal Marine Spatial Planning, Boundary Expansion<> Click Here for available handouts.

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January 15-- Environmental Quality Board hearing on Chapter 78 Oil and Gas Regulation Changes.Meadville Area Senior High School Auditorium, 930 North Street, Meadville, Crawford County. 6:00

p.m. ( formal notice-PA Bulletin, page 7377 )

January 16-- Environmental Quality Board hearing on Chapter 78 Oil and Gas Regulation Changes.

Good Hope Middle School Auditorium, 451 Skyport Road, Mechanicsburg, Cumberland County. 6:00 p.m. ( formal notice-PA Bulletin, page 7377 )

January 21-- Environmental Quality Board meeting. Room 105 Rachel Carson Building. 9:00.

January 21-- DEP Citizens Advisory Council meeting. Room 105 Rachel Carson Building. 11:00.

January 21-- DEP hearing on Regional Haze State Implementation Plan revisions related to theCheswick Power Plant, Allegheny County. DEP Southwest Regional Office, 400 Waterfront Dr.,Pittsburgh. 1:00. (f ormal notice )

January 21-- DEP hearing on Regional Haze State Implementation Plan revisions related to theCheswick Power Plant, Allegheny County. DEP Southcentral Office, 909 Elmerton Ave., Harrisburg.1:00. (f ormal notice )

January 21-- DEP hearing on Regional Haze State Implementation Plan revisions related to theCheswick Power Plant, Allegheny County. DEP Southeast Regional Office, 2 East Main St.,

Norristown. 1:00. (f ormal notice )

January 22-- Environmental Quality Board hearing on Chapter 78 Oil and Gas Regulation Changes.Washington and Jefferson College’s Rossin Campus Center / Allen Ballroom, 60 South Lincoln Street,Washington, Washington County. 6:00 p.m. ( formal notice-PA Bulletin, page 7377 )

January 22-- DEP Chesapeake Bay Management Team meeting. DEP Southcentral Office, 909Elmerton Ave., Harrisburg. 9:30.

January 22-- DEP Small Business Compliance Advisory Committee meeting. 12th Floor ConferenceRoom, Rachel Carson Building. 10:00.

January 23-- Environmental Quality Board hearing on Chapter 78 Oil and Gas Regulation Changes.Indiana University of Pennsylvania’s Convention and Athletic Complex, 711 Pratt Drive, Indiana,Indiana County. 6:00 p.m. ( formal notice-PA Bulletin, page 7377 )

January 23-- DEP public hearing on proposed revisions to the state Air Quality Implementation Planfor motor vehicle emissions budgets in Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton 8-hour ozone maintenance area.DEP Northeast Regional Office, 2nd Floor Little Schuylkill Room, 2 Public Square, Wilkes-Barre.10:00. ( formal notice )

Visit DEP’s new Public Participation Center for information on how you can Be Informed! and GetInvolved! in DEP regulation and guidance development process.

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Budget/Quick NewsClips

Here's a selection of NewsClips on environmental topics from around the state--

Emergency Heating Grants Available For Low-Income PeopleOp-Ed: Endangered Species Rules Are A Necessary ChangeHow Art Becomes Energy, 1,000 Pound Butter SculptureBudgetErie To See Gas Tax Hike In 2014Higher Gas Taxes, Gas Prices Will Drop SlightlyPennsylvania Gasoline Taxes Go Up Jan. 1Transportation Bill Big Victory For LegislatureCommonwealth Financing Authority’s Projects ExaminedOtherPennDOT Uses Beet Juice To Treat Icy RoadsRecycled Christmas Trees To Be Used As Trail MulchChristmas Treecycling Offered This WeekendPittsburgh Native Returns To Lead PRC-PittsburghMedical Waste Still Popping Up In Monroeville LandfillRecycling Facility Plans Halted In ZelienopleOver $2K Worth Of Scrap Metal Stolen From Recycling PlantMore Households Left Out In Cold This Winter 40-Watt Bulbs To Disappear From ShelvesAnthracite Museum Hosts Reading For Mining History Week

Historic Preservation Grants AvailableRails, Trails Prove Essential To Connellsville’s FutureHikers Start New Year Off On Right FootBicycle Enthusiasts Pumped About Greenway SojournCitizen Scientists Count Birds For AudubonInvasion Of Snowy Owls Into PennsylvaniaGame Commission Tests Confirm CWD CaseMoscow 25th Anniversary As Tree City USAIce Dunes At Presque Isle Pretty, Dangerous

-- December 26 DEP News-- DEP’s NewsClips webpage - Click Here

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Marcellus Shale NewsClips

Here are NewsClips on topics related to Marcellus Shale natural gas drilling---

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Corbett Declines To Discuss Challenge To Act 13 DecisionLawyers Ask Court To Rethink Gas Drilling OpinionCorbett Asks Court To Reconsider Act 13 DecisionPA Lawyers Ask Court To Rethink Gas Drilling Opinion

Remanded Drilling Impact Fee Could Be Rule Out Pending DecisionAct 13 Ruling Revives Questions On Doctor Gag Order PA Officials React To Supreme Court Oil & Gas Act RulingStateImpact: Top 10 Stories Of 2013 IAStateImpact: Top Stories Of 2013 IBKey Gas Drilling Health Study Collecting PA DataHealth Study On Drilling Continues Collecting Data In PACriminal Case Against XTO Energy Heads To CourtEditorial: Extended Option Looks Good For Shell PlantExtension Office Plans 2 Marcellus Shale SeminarsKeystone Drill Services Innovates To Leave Diesel

Natural Gas Bills Set To Rise In Western PA Natural Fuel Gas Prices Could Fall SlightlyFinancial/Other StatesSurvey: Most Americans Don’t Know Much About Fracking

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Flooding/Watershed NewsClips

Here are NewsClips on watershed topics from around the state--

Cost Of Clean Water Act Is Unequal BurdenCost-Sharing Among 4 Towns Eases Water ManagementWarren County Treatment Plant Wants Lawsuit Tossed OutEnvironment Erie Holds Workshop On Septic SystemsMassive Water Pipeline Proposed For Albion Smelting Plant

New State Law A Boon To Produce Farmers

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Regulations, Technical Guidance & Permits

No new regulations were published this week. Pennsylvania Bulletin - January 4, 2014

Proposed Regulations Open For Comment - DEP webpageProposed Regulations With Closed Comment Periods - DEP webpageDEP Regulatory Agenda - DEP webpage

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Technical Guidance & Permits

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice of extension of NPDES General Permit(PAG-04) for discharges from small flow treatment facilities and published notice of draft changes to

NPDES General Permit (PAG-04) for discharges from small flow treatment facilities.

DEP published a notice suspending certification to perform radon-related activities for ThomasO’Connor ( PA Bulletin page 94 ).

The Public Utility Commission published notice of Standards for the Participation of Demand SideManagement Resources Technical Reference Manual.

Technical Guidance Comment Deadlines - DEP webpageRecently Closed Comment Periods For Technical Guidance - DEP webpageTechnical Guidance Recently Finalized - DEP webpageCopies of Final Technical Guidance - DEP webpage

Visit DEP’s new Public Participation Center for information on how you can Be Informed! and GetInvolved! in DEP regulation and guidance development process.

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Calendar Of Events

Upcoming legislative meetings, conferences, workshops, plus links to other online calendars. Meetingsare in Harrisburg unless otherwise noted. NEW means new from last week. Go to the online Calendar webpage .

Click on Agenda Released on calendar entries to see the NEW meeting agendas published this week.

NOTE: The Department of Environmental Protection published a schedule of 2014 advisory committeeand board meetings in the December 21 PA Bulletin starting on page 7503.

January 7-- Environmental Quality Board hearing on Chapter 78 Oil and Gas Regulation Changes.Tunkhannock High School Auditorium, 135 Tiger Drive, Tunkhannock, Wyoming County. 6:00 p.m.( formal notice-PA Bulletin, page 7377 )

January 8-- DEP Technical Advisory Committee on Diesel-Powered Mining Equipment meeting.Fayette County Health Center, Uniontown. 10:00.

January 9-- Agenda Released . DEP Mining and Reclamation Advisory Board meeting. Room 105Rachel Carson Building. 10:00.

January 9-- Environmental Quality Board hearing on Chapter 78 Oil and Gas Regulation Changes.

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West Chester University of Pennsylvania’s Sykes Student Union Theater, 110 West Rosedale Avenue,West Chester, Chester County. 6:00 p.m. ( formal notice-PA Bulletin, page 7377 )

January 9-- NEW . PA Statewide Sustainable Energy Board meeting. Hearing Room 1, KeystoneBuilding. 1:00.

January 10-- Senate Game and Fisheries Committee and Senate Republican Policy Committee hearingon threatened and endangered species-- Senate Bill 1047 (Scarnati-R- Jefferson). Eberly College of Business and Information Auditorium, 664 Pratt Dr., Indiana University, Indiana. 10:00.

January 13-- Environmental Quality Board hearing on Chapter 78 Oil and Gas Regulation Changes.Pennsylvania College of Technology’s Klump Academic Center, One College Avenue, Williamsport,Lycoming County. 6:00 p.m. ( formal notice-PA Bulletin, page 7377 )

January 14-- NEW . House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee meets to consider HouseBill 1699 (Ross-R-Chester) setting air quality standards for backup generators-- sponsor summary .Room 205 Ryan Building. 9:00.

January 14-- DEP public hearing on proposed repeal of the portable fuel container regulation from thestate Air Quality Implementation Plan. DEP Southcentral Regional Office, 909 Elmerton Ave.,Harrisburg. 1:00. ( formal notice )

January 15-- DEP Water Resources Advisory Committee meeting. Room 105 Rachel CarsonBuilding. 9:30.

January 15-- Agenda Released . DEP Coastal Zone Advisory Committee meeting. 10th Floor Conference Room, Rachel Carson Building. 9:30.

January 15-- Environmental Quality Board hearing on Chapter 78 Oil and Gas Regulation Changes.Meadville Area Senior High School Auditorium, 930 North Street, Meadville, Crawford County. 6:00

p.m. ( formal notice-PA Bulletin, page 7377 )

January 16-- Environmental Quality Board hearing on Chapter 78 Oil and Gas Regulation Changes.Good Hope Middle School Auditorium, 451 Skyport Road, Mechanicsburg, Cumberland County. 6:00

p.m. ( formal notice-PA Bulletin, page 7377 )

January 21-- Environmental Quality Board meeting. Room 105 Rachel Carson Building. 9:00.

January 21-- DEP Citizens Advisory Council meeting. Room 105 Rachel Carson Building. 11:00.

January 21-- DEP hearing on Regional Haze State Implementation Plan revisions related to theCheswick Power Plant, Allegheny County. DEP Southwest Regional Office, 400 Waterfront Dr.,Pittsburgh. 1:00. (f ormal notice )

January 21-- DEP hearing on Regional Haze State Implementation Plan revisions related to the

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Cheswick Power Plant, Allegheny County. DEP Southcentral Office, 909 Elmerton Ave., Harrisburg.1:00. (f ormal notice )

January 21-- DEP hearing on Regional Haze State Implementation Plan revisions related to theCheswick Power Plant, Allegheny County. DEP Southeast Regional Office, 2 East Main St.,

Norristown. 1:00. (f ormal notice )

January 22-- DEP Chesapeake Bay Management Team meeting. DEP Southcentral Office, 909Elmerton Ave., Harrisburg. 9:30.

January 22-- DEP Small Business Compliance Advisory Committee meeting. 12th Floor ConferenceRoom, Rachel Carson Building. 10:00.

January 22-- Environmental Quality Board hearing on Chapter 78 Oil and Gas Regulation Changes.Washington and Jefferson College’s Rossin Campus Center / Allen Ballroom, 60 South Lincoln Street,Washington, Washington County. 6:00 p.m. ( formal notice-PA Bulletin, page 7377 )

January 23-- NEW . House Finance Committee holds a hearing on House Bill 1461 (Killion-R-Delaware) establishing a waterfront development tax credit-- sponsor summary . Independent SeaportMuseum, 211 S. Columbus Blvd & Walnut St., 4th Floor, Philadelphia. 10:00.

January 23-- Environmental Quality Board hearing on Chapter 78 Oil and Gas Regulation Changes.Indiana University of Pennsylvania’s Convention and Athletic Complex, 711 Pratt Drive, Indiana,Indiana County. 6:00 p.m. ( formal notice-PA Bulletin, page 7377 )

January 23-- DEP public hearing on proposed revisions to the state Air Quality Implementation Planfor motor vehicle emissions budgets in Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton 8-hour ozone maintenance area.DEP Northeast Regional Office, 2nd Floor Little Schuylkill Room, 2 Public Square, Wilkes-Barre.10:00. ( formal notice )

February 5-- DCNR Community Conservation Partnership Grants Workshop. Camp Hill, Prosser Hall, Camp Hill Borough Building. 9 to noon. Click Here to register.

February 6-- DCNR Community Conservation Partnership Grants Workshop. Conshohocken, FireAcademy, Montgomery County Public Safety Training Campus. 9 to noon. Click Here to register.

February 19-- DCNR Community Conservation Partnership Grants Workshop. Nanticoke,

Educational Conference Center, Luzerne County Community College. 9 to noon. Click Here to register.

February 20-- DCNR Community Conservation Partnership Grants Workshop. Boalsburg,Pennsylvania Military Museum. 9 to noon. Click Here to register.

February 25-- DCNR Community Conservation Partnership Grants Workshop. Wexford, PineTownship Recreation Center. 9 to noon. Click Here to register.

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8/13/2019 Pa Environment Digest Jan. 6, 2014

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