PA Capitol Digest Blog: March 2017

March 31, 2017

April 3 PA Environment Digest Now Available

The April 3 PA Environment Digest is now available. Here are just a few of the headlines--

DCNR Names The Watershed Farm, Westmoreland County, Green Park Award Winner

Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn Tuesday announced The Watershed Farm in Westmoreland County is the recipient of the 2017 Green Park Award for its demonstrated commitment to water resource protection, habitat creation and connecting people to nature.

PA Assn. Of Environmental Educators 2017 Award Recipients Honored

The PA Association of Environmental Educators honored the winners of its 2017 Awards at its annual conference in mid-March. Ruth Roperti, past president of PAEE, was recognized with the Keystone Award which recognizes an educator who has dedicated their life to advancing the quality and opportunity for environmental education in Pennsylvania.

DEP, PennDOT Receive National Recognition From Keep America Beautiful

The departments of Environmental Protection and Transportation were two of 13 Keep America Beautiful State Agency Partner Award recipients at the annual Keep America Beautiful National Awards Ceremony in January for their support of the Great American Cleanup of PA.

PA Chesapeake Bay Watershed Implementation Planning Steering Committee Meets April 3

Development of Phase 3 of Pennsylvania’s Chesapeake Bay Watershed Implementation Plan begins April 3, with the first meeting of the steering committee that will coordinate a broad-based effort by work groups and committed partners in the 43 watershed counties.

Bipartisan RECLAIM Reintroduced In Congress To Cleanup Abandoned Mine Lands

Monday a bipartisan group of legislators in Washington reintroduced legislation in Congress known as the RECLAIM Act – that would expedite much-needed funding from the Abandoned Mine Land Trust Fund for projects that restore mine-scarred land and enhance local economic development in coal field communities.

PUC Urges Preservation Of Federal Heating Assistance, Weatherization Programs

The Public Utility Commission Thursday sent a letter to members of Pennsylvania’s Congressional delegation to continue federal funding for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP).

SRBC, DEP Partner On Water Loss Management Training For Drinking Water Systems

The Susquehanna River Basin Commission’s Public Water Supply Assistance Program by partnering with the Department of Environmental Protection Operator Outreach Assistance Program to present a three-part instructional series on Water Loss Management in April, July and August.

Keep PA Beautiful Urges Students To Apply For KAB’s Youth Advisory Council

Keep America Beautiful is now accepting applications for the 2017-2018 National Youth Advisory Council which provides an opportunity for 10 high school students (15-18 years old) from diverse backgrounds to participate in a service learning and leadership development program.

To read the Digest, visit: www.PaEnvironmentDigest.com. Click Here to print the entire Digest.

PA Environment Digest is edited by David E. Hess, former Secretary Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, and is published as a service of Crisci Associates.

PA Environment Digest was the winner of the PA Association of Environmental Educators' 2009 Business Partner of the Year Award.

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Dept. Of Health Asks Health Care Providers For Input On Medical Marijuana Program

Secretary of Health Dr. Karen Murphy Friday encouraged health care providers to participate in an online survey as the agency moves forward in the implementation of the Pennsylvania Medical Marijuana Program.

“Since April 2016, we’ve been working to implement a patient-focused Medical Marijuana Program for Pennsylvanians in desperate need of medication,” Secretary Murphy said. “Many health care providers treat these patients every day and understand the impact this medication could have on their treatment. Provider input is invaluable to ensuring that we are able to implement this program as quickly and effectively as possible.”

During the next month, the department will be logging in applications received for growers/processors and dispensaries and begin the permit-review process.

Click Here to participate in the survey of licensed physicians.

“We know that the number one question on everyone’s mind is who applied for a permit and where are they looking to place a facility,” Secretary Murphy said. “It’s important that we take this time to ensure that we are conducting every part of this intake and review process carefully, and according to our regulatory requirements. Once that is completed, we will be able to release the number of applications that were received.”

Secretary Murphy said the department anticipates being able to release information about who applied, and for which region or county, after the permits are issued in late June.

The Medical Marijuana Program became effective on May 17, 2016, and is expected to be fully implemented by 2018. The program will offer medical marijuana to patients who are residents of Pennsylvania and under a physician’s care for the treatment of a serious medical condition as defined by Act 16.

More information about the program is available on Health’s Medical Marijuana Program webpage. Questions about the Medical Marijuana Program can be emailed to RA-DHMedMarijuana@pa.gov.