October 26, 2012

Oct. 29 PA Environment Digest Now Available

The Oct. 29 PA Environment Digest is now available.  Click Here to print entire Digest.

New York City Reservoir Drawn Down To Prepare For Hurricane Sandy

The partner governments who cooperatively manage the Delaware River—Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey, New York and New York City—announced Friday more than 120 million gallons of water per day are being released from the Neversink Reservoir in Sullivan County, New York.
The water is being released from the reservoir, located in the Delaware River basin about 75 miles northwest of New York City, in order to make room for rainfall from Hurricane Sandy.
“While modeling forecasts show the storm may lose strength when it makes landfall, there are still large volumes of rain that are expected to come down,” DEP Secretary Mike Krancer said. “In order to create more capacity in the reservoir to capture stormwater and prevent spilling, everyone has agreed that a release at Neversink Reservoir is in all of our best interests.
“Residents along the Delaware River may see higher than normal river volumes in the coming days in advance of the storm,” he said. “But this release now will help prevent the possibility of much higher river flows and flooding later on in the course of the storm event.”
Earlier this year, Pennsylvania and its partners signed an extension of a water management agreement that allowed for such releases in advance of storms. The agreement also includes measures to protect the habitat in the waterways and to balance the drinking water needs of millions of residents in the four states.
The two other New York City-owned reservoirs in the Delaware River watershed, Pepacton and Cannonsville, are at about 70 percent capacity. Additional releases at these reservoirs will not be conducted at this time. The Cannonsville Reservoir is along the West Branch of the Delaware River, and the Pepacton is on the East Branch.
NewsClips:
Corbett Declares State Of Emergency Ahead Of Storm
PA Residents Told To Prep As Super Storm Looms
East Coast Readies For Frankenstorm Monster
Flash Flooding Likely From Hurricane Sandy
Preparing For Hurricane Sandy In PA
Philly Region Likely To Feel Storm’s Wrath
Eastern Utilities Brace For Expected Super Storm

Friday NewsClips

Corbett Defends Handling Of Sandusky Case
Corbett Blames Dems, Media For Sandusky Case Attacks
Corbett Responds To Criticism Over Sandusky Probe
Corbett: No Politics In Sandusky Investigation
Justice Reinvestment Prison Reform Becomes Law
Corbett Signs Juvenile Murder Sentence Legislation
Corbett Signs Law To Cut Prison Population
GOP Hasn’t Ruled Out Romney Win In PA
Rasmussen Poll: Obama Up 5 Percent In PA
Butler Firm Gives Big To Rove PAC
U.S. Senate Candidate Meet For Only Debate
Smith Raises More Money Than Casey In October
Lehigh GOP Hits Casey In TV Ads
House Candidates Weigh-In On Education
Another Death Row Inmate Seeks Appeal
3 Sponsors Pull Names From PA Rape Bill
Commission Approves Lawrence County Race Track
Musto’s Trial Delay Request Denied
Op-Ed: Act 47 Worked For Pittsburgh
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October 19, 2012

Oct. 22 PA Environment Digest Now Available

The Oct. 22 PA Environment Digest is now available.  Click Here to print entire Digest.

Good And Bad Environmental Bills Left On The Table As Legislative Session Ends

The Senate and House finished up voting on legislation for the year Wednesday leaving lots of unfinished business on environmental issues on the table.  All bills not on the Governor’s Desk will have to start over in January.
Three environment or energy-related bills did make it to the Governor before adjournment-- Senate Bill 1298 (Smucker-R-Lancaster) providing for composting facilities on Act 319 farmlands; House Bill 1813 (Tobash-R-Berks) authorizing a financial guarantee option covering mine reclamation; and House Bill 1991 (Cutler-R-Lancaster) further providing for proof of eligibility for energy conservation programs.
Two big issues-- transportation funding and paying for damage caused by Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee in 2011 were not considered. Click Here for full story.

Friday NewsClips

Mystery Money Flowed To Corbett Campaign
Voter ID Opponents Say Ads Misleading
Analysis: Casey Retaining Seat Isn’t Sure Thing
Smith, Casey Tangle Over Medicaid, Social Security
Casey Holds Rare Campaign Event
Editorial: State Row Office Endorsements
Editorial: Re-Elect Murphy
Musto Faces Oct. 24 Arraignment On Charges
Editorial: Musto Overdue For Day In Court
Turzai Says He’ll Keep Pushing For Liquor Privatization
No Action On Liquor Store Privatization
State University Faculty Taking First Step Toward Strike
Charter School Reform Inaction Angers Both Sides
HBG Mayor, Receiver Grilled At City Forum
Click Here for today's Environmental News