September 15, 2017

September 18 PA Environment Digest Now Available

The September 18 PA Environment Digest is now available.  Here are just a few of the headlines--

The General Assembly and various Governors have spent more than 10 years cutting environmental agency budgets-- DEP’s General Fund budget alone has been cut 40 percent and its staff by more than 25 percent-- now with the action by House Republicans Wednesday to pass a budget that transfers over $317 million out of environmental and energy special funds, House Republicans are directly attacking support for local,  community-based environmental protection projects.

PEC: House Approves Largest Cut To Environmental, Energy Programs In PA History
Late Wednesday the Pennsylvania House of Representatives passed legislation (House Bill 453) that, if enacted as part of the state budget, would constitute the largest cut to environmental and energy program funds in the state’s history.

Sen. John Yudichak (D-Luzerne), Minority Chair of the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, Monday said he intends to introduce a resolution requiring the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to do an independent performance evaluation of DEP’s Chapter 102 (Erosion and Sedimentation) and Chapter 105 (Water Obstruction and Encroachment) permit programs.

Sustainable Pittsburgh Thursday revealed the top scorers of the 2016-2017 Pittsburgh Green Workplace Challenge during an evening celebration at the Senator John Heinz History Center in Pittsburgh’s Strip District.  

The Senate Tabled Senate Bill 658 (Yaw-R-Lycoming) designating the eastern hellbender Pennsylvania’s state amphibian on July 9 because the bill had been on the Senate Calendar for 10 legislative days without action.

Stormwater management efforts by Lemoyne Borough, Lower Paxton Township, Susquehanna Township, Harrisburg’s Capital Region Water, and municipalities statewide were highlighted Friday at an event in Lemoyne held by the Department of Environmental Protection.

Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful affiliates, Keep Huntingdon County Beautiful and Keep Perry County Beautiful hosted a cleanup initiative along the Juniata River in August.


The PA Resources Council will hold its second Future of Recycling Roundtable discussion on October 11 at Construction Junction, 214 N. Lexington Street in Pittsburgh from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.

The West Nile Virus Program Wednesday reported two more probable human cases of West Nile Virus in Chester (2), Clinton and Northumberland counties bringing the total number of human cases to 10.  

The Department of Environmental Protection has revised its criteria for rebates to individuals purchasing new and used vehicles under the Alternative Fuels Incentive Grant Program.  (formal notice)

Pennsylvania’s 17 million acres of woodlands soon will be bathed in autumn colors and the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and PA Tourism Office again are teaming up to ensure fall foliage fans know when and where to look.

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.


Additional Tools--
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PA Environment Daily Blog: Update on PA environmental issues.
Green Works In PA Google+ Circle: Update on PA environmental issues.
Questions?: Send email to David Hess at: DHess@CrisciAssociates.com