PA Capitol Digest Blog: December 2013

December 31, 2013

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December 30, 2013

Corbett: PA Will Not Extend Lottery Privatization Agreement

Gov. Tom Corbett Monday announced the Commonwealth and Camelot Global LLC will not continue to pursue the Lottery Private Management Agreement, and his administration will continue to fight for the best interests of the Older Pennsylvanians by looking for other ways to grow revenue.

"We have decided not to extend Camelot’s bid for the Lottery Private Management Agreement first reached over a year ago ” Gov. Corbett said. “As we move forward, we will take what we’ve learned to make our successful lottery even better--expanding the player and retailer base, improving player loyalty, and implementing strategies that will grow our lottery, responsibly and efficiently.”

“I want to thank the teams for the hard work and effort,” Corbett said. “Our continued goal is to ensure a growing, predictable revenue stream for senior programs to meet the growing demand, and we will continue to work with all stakeholders and interested parties to explore new ways to harness market resources to enhance our Lottery’s continued success.”

In April 2012, the Commonwealth began the competitive procurement process to engage a private manager to run the Pennsylvania Lottery. Last November, it announced Camelot Global, LLC, a global leader in the lottery sector, as the selected vendor and awarded the contract. However, the process was later challenged by the Attorney General, prompting several extensions of the bid.

Pennsylvania initially pursued a contract for management services to assure a more predictable and growing revenue source for Older Pennsylvanians and to keep up with the anticipated demand for our growing senior population.

Through a competitive procurement, Pennsylvania awarded the management agreement, which would have assured at least $34.6 billion in profit – an increase of up to $5 billion - that could have been invested in senior programs throughout the life of the contract. This was significantly greater than this year’s profit growth of $6 million, and could have met growing demand for services for senior citizens.

Monday NewsClips

Democrats In Governor’s Race Push Minimum Wage Increase

Point/Counterpoint: Reduce Size Of Legislature?

House Approves Career Program Tax Incentive

New Advocate Supports Crime Victims

Myers Aims For Mix Of Left, Right PA Policies

Turnpike Toll Hikes Promote E-ZPass

School Mergers So Rare In PA, Effects Unknown

Click Here for Today's PA Environmental News

December 29, 2013

Sunday NewsClips

Corbett’s Challenges With Legislature In 2014

Bumsted: The Guzzardi Factor

Kathleen Kane Is Democrats’ New It Girl

Op-Ed: On Shuster, And Putting A Forward Foot First

Erie To See Gas Tax Hike In 2014

Editorial: Find Cure For Corbettcare

GE Decision Cuts Erie Jobs, Worries Community

Click Here for Today's PA Environmental News

December 27, 2013

Dec. 30 PA Environment Digest Now Available

The Dec. 30 PA Environment Digest is now available. Click Here to print entire Digest.

Pennsylvania’s Environment - 2013 Year In Review

2013 ended with a bang as the PA Supreme Court issued a landmark opinion on the Act 13 Marcellus Shale drilling law and the application of the Environmental Rights Amendment that is likely to have implications far beyond the oil and gas industry.

But there were other major milestones, anniversaries, changes and actions in 2013 as well covered by the PA Environment Digest.

2013 saw a change in leadership at the departments of Environmental Protection and Conservation and Natural Resources with the resignation of Richard Allan at DCNR and his replacement with Ellen Ferretti. Chris Abruzzo replaced Michael Krancer at DEP in April. Both Ferretti and Abruzzo were confirmed by the Senate in December.

The Executive Directors of both the Susquehanna River Basin Commission and the Delaware River Basin Commission also announced their retirements. Long-time SRBC Executive Director Paul Swartz retired and was replaced by Andrew Dehoff. DRBC’s Executive Director Carol Collier announced her retirement in 2014.

Both Commissions have a significant role in regulating water withdrawals by the Marcellus Shale drilling industry and in the case of DRBC, managing the drilling moratorium that has been in place since December of 2011.

Carl Roe, who for 8 years served as Executive Director of the Game Commission, announced he would retire in January 2014.

Changes in leadership were also announced by several non-profit environmental groups, including Harry Campbell taking over at the Chesapeake Bay Foundation-PA, Cindy Dunn at PennFuture and the retirement of David Mazza in the PA Resources Council’s Pittsburgh office.

In August, Caren Glotfelty, a long-time leader in Pennsylvania’s environmental community, announced her departure from the Heinz Endowments after serving 13 years as the head of environmental programs. She has been a significant force in supporting Pennsylvania non-profit environmental groups.

Another long-time leader in state parks and forests, Patrick J. Solano, was honored for his lifetime of service by having the Environmental Education Center at Frances Slocum State Park in Luzerne County named after him.

Pennsylvania’s environmental community also lost a number of environmental pioneers including Dr. Ruth Patrick, William M. Heenan, Bruce Leavitt, Jim Holden and Walter Lyon.

Anniversaries

Pennsylvania celebrated the 45th anniversary of Project Scarlift and mine reclamation in the Commonwealth, a York County homeschool group won with 30th Pennsylvania Envirothon and we celebrated the 25th anniversary of both the Recycling Program and the Farmland Preservation Program and the Keystone Fund marked its 20th anniversary.

Other anniversaries and milestones commemorated during 2013 include--

-- 11th anniversary of Quecreek Mine Rescue;

-- 100th anniversary of the 1913 flood in Sharon;

-- Titusville remembers 40th anniversary of oil embargo;

-- 80th anniversary of Civilian Conservation Corps;

-- Golden anniversary of Pine Grove Furnace State Park;

-- Pinchot Institute’s 50th anniversary; and

-- A century of elk in Pennsylvania.

Environmental Funding

2013 was the eleventh year in a row environmental funding has been cut, starting with the 2003-04 budget under Gov. Rendell. So far $1.9 billion in environmental funding has been cut or diverted over the last 11 years to balance the general state budget or to support programs that could not get funding on their own.

On the positive side of the ledger, the $2.3 billion transportation funding plan signed into law in November included a $30 million increase in funding for the Dirt and Gravel Road Program and an increase in dedicated funding for the Fish and Boat Commission.

In addition, the Public Utility Commission distributed $102.6 million in drilling impact fees to local governments and another $94.7 million to state agency programs.

Program Initiatives/Changes/Actions

There were other significant environmental program milestones, changes and actions in 2013, some of which are outlined here.

DEP published a comprehensive update to Chapter 78 drilling regulations in December required by Act 13 laying out new environmental protection and permitting requirements and fundamentally changing the Marcellus Shale regulatory program.

DEP also announced the first comprehensive study in the country to look at the naturally occurring levels of radioactivity in by-products associated with oil and gas development.

The DEP Citizens Advisory Council made a series of recommendations to DEP on improving public participation in the agency, including asking the public directly for ideas on improving the process for developing regulations and policy development.

In response to the Council’s recommendations, DEP established an online Public Participation Center to make it easier for the public to learn about what issues are in front of the agency and how they can get involved.

DEP also started a biweekly online newsletter distributed by email, something the agency had not done for at least 8 years.

In another important court decision, Commonwealth Court ruled the City of Reading may no longer charge a recycling fee to support its city-run recycling program putting in doubt the fees charges by other municipalities and counties, including the cities of Pittsburgh and Philadelphia.

Other milestones, changes and actions of note--

-- A Federal Court turns back a challenge to Chesapeake Bay cleanup standards, but decision was appealed;

-- DEP finalizes air quality permit criteria for Marcellus gas well sites;

-- An Independent review of DEP’s Oil and Gas Program says the program well managed;

-- The Center For Sustainable Shale Development is formed to provide independent certification of drilling best practices;

-- Drilling fees fund more than $28.5 million in environmental, recreation projects;

-- Attorney General files criminal charges against XTO Energy drilling company;

-- Gov. Corbett urged DRBC to finalize drilling rules;

-- The William Penn Foundation announced the creation of a new vision for the Delaware Watershed.

--The Stroud Water Research Center forms Watershed Restoration Group to ensure water quality;

-- The Academy Of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia leads regional watershed protection efforts;

-- REAP farm conservation tax credit reduces over half million pounds of nitrogen;