August 1, 2014

August 4 PA Environment Digest Now Available

The August 4 PA Environment Digest is now available.  Click Here to print the entire Digest.

More Details Released On DCNR Non-Surface Disturbance Natural Gas Leasing
On Wednesday, the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources released more details on how it plans to go about leasing additional State Forest and State Park lands for “non-surface disturbance” natural gas development.
Draft leasing criteria and a draft text for a lease were given to the Natural Gas  Advisory Committee for discussion.  These documents are designed to implement Gov. Corbett’s Executive Order 2014-3 outlining the general ground rules for additional natural gas leasing.

DCNR To Open 15 Day Comment Period On Loyalsock State Forest Drilling Plan
Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Ellen Ferretti Wednesday announced the department will seek public comment once a draft Surface Development Management Agreement has been negotiated to protect the natural and recreational resources of a 25,000-acre tract known as the Clarence Moore lands in the Loyalsock State Forest, Lycoming County.

Fish Commission Asks EPA Help Identifying Factors In Poor Susquehanna River Health
The Executive Director of the Fish and Boat Commission Monday called on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to help identify the factors contributing to the poor health of the Susquehanna River and begin taking steps to improve the river’s condition “before it becomes too late to repair the damage.”
In a July 28 letter to EPA Administrator Shawn Garvin, Executive Director John Arway said the agency supports the EPA’s recent decision to increase oversight of pollutants from the agricultural sector in Pennsylvania’s portion of the Chesapeake Bay, but said more needs to be done.

Call For Abstracts: Susquehanna River Symposium Nov. 21-22
Bucknell University will host the 9th Susquehanna River Symposium on November 21-22 at the Elaine Langone Center in Lewisburg, Union County.  

Save The Date: PEC Hosts Pennsylvania Environmental Policy Conference Sept. 17
The Pennsylvania Environmental Council will be hosting a one day policy conference on September 17 in Harrisburg featuring dialog on key environmental issues in the Commonwealth.