September 5, 2014

Sept. 8 PA Environment Digest Now Available

The Sept. 8 PA Environment Digest is now available.  Click Here to print entire Digest.

PEC Policy Conference Features Senate, House Environmental Committee Chairs Sept. 17
The Pennsylvania Environmental Council will be hosting an Environmental Policy Conference on September 16th and 17th in Harrisburg that will feature, among other panelists, all four Chairs of the Senate and House Environmental Resources and Energy Committees.

Lycoming County Court Upholds Challenge To Local Permit For Gas Drilling Pad
On August 29, Judge Marc F. Lovecchio of the Court of Common Pleas of Lycoming County decided in favor of local residents in vacating and setting aside a conditional use permit that would have allowed Inflection Energy, LLC to build and operate a natural gas pad in the middle of a residential neighborhood in Fairfield Township.
The case was an early test of the Robinson Township decision, where the Supreme Court used Pennsylvania's Environmental Rights Amendment to strike down parts of Act 13 that sought to compel local government to allow gas operations across all zoned districts, including residential districts.

Auditor General Presents Marcellus Audit To DEP Citizens Advisory Council Sept. 16
Auditor General Eugene DePasquale will present the results of his recent audit of DEP’s Marcellus Shale water quality regulatory program to DEP Citizens Advisory Council on September 16.  DEP will present its response to the audit.
The Council will also recognize Pat Lupo for her 26 years of service as a member of the CAC.

Keep PA Beautiful Releases Recommendations To Reduce Illegal Dumping In PA  
Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful Wednesday released its recommendations for reducing illegal dumping in Pennsylvania at the 16th Annual Joint Fall Conference of the Keystone Chapter of the Solid Waste Association of North America, the PA Waste Industries’ Association, the Department of Environmental Protection and the PA Association of Host Municipal Inspectors.

Northeast PA Environmental Partners Announce 2014 Award Winners
The Northeast Environmental Partners Thursday announced this year’s recipients of the 24th annual Environmental Partnership Awards and the winner of the 20th annual Thomas P. Shelburne Award.
Award recipients will be honored at a dinner on October 30 at the Woodlands Inn and Resort, Wilkes-Barre.

Citizens Advisory Council Asks DEP Committees How To Improve Public Participation
DEP’s Citizens Advisory Council recently sent letters to the chairs of each DEP advisory committee asking for their input into revising the agency’s Advisory Committee Technical Guidance.