The June 26 PA Environment Digest is now available. Here are just a few of the headlines--
The PA Supreme Court Tuesday issued an opinion declaring the 2009 and 2010 Fiscal Code and other amendments diverting $478 million from DCNR’s Oil and Gas Fund to the General Fund unconstitutional because there was no evidence the General Assembly considered the use of the funds in its role as public trustee for natural resources under the Environmental Rights Amendment to the state constitution.
The House State Government Committee held its third hearing Tuesday on the regulatory climate in Pennsylvania, this one focused on potential solutions to regulatory burdens. However, they were told by the Shale gas industry they don’t want regulatory relief, they just want their permits on time.
The Senate has only five voting days left before they finish the budget and head home for the summer, but still no word on whether they plan to vote on Senate Bill 658 (Yaw-R-Lycoming) to designate the eastern hellbender Pennsylvania’s state amphibian.
The Chesapeake Bay Foundation Wednesday released its assessment of the progress made implementing Chesapeake Bay Watershed milestone commitments in 2016 and found Maryland and Virginia largely on track to meet commitments for reducing pollution and Pennsylvania falling significantly short in reducing nitrogen pollution.
The Wyoming Valley Sanitary Authority has been providing wastewater treatment services for residents of Luzerne County since 1962. WVSA’s service area includes 35 municipalities from Harveys Lake to Pittston to Newport Township.
Not only is the Authority managing upgrades to deal with its combined wastewater and stormwater sewer system, it has proposed a new role for itself in serving as permit administrator to comply with the MS4 Stormwater pollution prevention program for its member municipalities.
By Harry Campbell, PA Director, Chesapeake Bay Foundation
As a young boy, my curiosity about the woods, critters and water of the Back Mountain region of northern Luzerne County made for an exciting and formative time.
The Stroud Water Research Center in Chester County has a simple mission, but one that’s hard to accomplish-- “To advance knowledge and stewardship of freshwater systems through global research, education and restoration.” This is how it all began 50 years ago.
Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful Friday announced the first, second and third place winners of its Great American Cleanup of PA Video Contest on the KPB Facebook page.
The PA Environmental Council’s Community Illegal Dumpsite Cleanup Program returned to action this spring, as nearly 200 local volunteers hauled away upwards of 46 tons of waste and debris from sites across northeastern Pennsylvania.
Gladys Brown, Chairman of the Public Utility Commission, told the House Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee Monday microgrid systems offer many potential benefits to the electrical grid, including increased resiliency during large scale electric disruption, increased integration of highly efficient Distributed Energy Resources (like solar energy and combined heat and power systems) and potential cost savings for consumers, ratepayers and utilities.
PennLive.com Friday published a story by Wallace McKelvey saying Exelon formally notified the federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission on June 20 it will close the Three Mile Island Nuclear Power Station in Dauphin County in September 2019.
Recognizing the strong link between business sustainability performance, financial performance, and regional quality of life, corporate CEOs from throughout the Pittsburgh region Tuesday announced the formation of the CEOs for Sustainability executive council.
The PA Horticultural Society Tuesday announced it has been awarded a $300,000 grant from The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage to spotlight healthy food access issues and invite the public to help solve these issues through urban gardening and farming.
In the spirit of true National Pollinator Week celebration, Bayer Monday announced the first round of organizations that will receive Feed A Bee Program funding to establish forage for pollinators across the nation, including a grant to the Loyalhanna Watershed Association, Inc. in Westmoreland County.
To read the Digest, visit: www.PaEnvironmentDigest.com. Click Here to view or 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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