September 5, 2015

Saturday NewsClips

Click Here  for Today's PA Environmental News
Posted by at

September 4, 2015

Sept. 7 PA Environment Digest Now Available

The September 7 PA Environment Digest is now available.  Here are just a few of the headlines--
The Chesapeake Bay Commission will hear a midpoint assessment of the progress states are making toward meeting their 2017 Chesapeake Bay cleanup milestones at its next meeting on September 10-11 in Alexandria, Virginia.
Pennsylvania has 481 days (as of September 7) to put the best management practices on the ground needed to eliminate 10 million pounds of nitrogen and 212 million pounds of sediment from going into our rivers and streams to meet the 2017 Chesapeake Bay cleanup milestones.
By Harry Campbell, PA Executive Director, Chesapeake Bay Foundation
Hampden Township, Cumberland County, is the latest Pennsylvania municipality to address its flooding and clean water problems by implementing a polluted runoff fee, and asking residents to be part of the solutions.
Hampden Township is not alone. There are over 1,550 municipalities in the United States with similar fees, and local governments across the Commonwealth are lining up to implement their own. Philadelphia, Lancaster, Hazleton (Luzerne County), Mt. Lebanon (Allegheny County) and Radnor (Delaware County) townships, and Jonestown Borough (Lebanon County) have already instituted polluted runoff fees.
The Department of Environmental Protection posted a new fact sheet on carbon emissions in Pennsylvania highlighting the fact that Pennsylvania is achieving emissions reductions through regulatory requirements and holistic decision making efforts, and those efforts have resulted in considerable emissions reductions in recent years.  For example:
—  Pennsylvania’s greenhouse gas emissions emissions are expected to be lower in 2020 than in 2000 with reductions in the residential, commercial, transportation, agriculture and waste sectors, according to the 2013 Update to Pennsylvania’s Climate Change Action Plan.
Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful is encouraging colleges and universities in Pennsylvania to participate in the RecycleMania competition sponsored by Keep America Beautiful, The Alcoa Foundation and the Coca-Cola Company.
RecycleMania is a friendly competition and benchmarking tool for college and university recycling programs to promote waste reduction activities to their campus communities.

DEP Secretary John Quigley joined other state and local officials on September 2 to celebrate the Schuylkill River Trail being named USA TODAY’s Best Urban Trail.
The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and the PA Park and Recreation Society are inviting Pennsylvanians to find some healthy fun at a park or recreation program close to them through a new website, brand and outreach effort.
The “Good for You, Good for All” campaign is intended to broaden awareness, and increase engagement and support for local parks and recreation.

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.
Additional Tools--
Click Here to sign up to receive the Digest directly by email.
Click Here for a Calendar of Upcoming Events.
Click Here to search back issues of the Digest.
PA Environment Digest Twitter Feed: Update on PA environmental issues.
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
Posted by at

Senate Schedule For Week Of Sept. 14 Now Uncertain

The Senate schedule is uncertain.  Media reports Friday said the Senate may not meet September 14 or 15, but no official announcement has been made.
Posted by at

FirstEnergy, Community College Utility Worker Partnership Begins New Year

More than 300 students are headed back to school as part of FirstEnergy Corp.'s Power Systems Institute, a unique worker training program that combines learning hands-on utility skills at company training facilities with technical coursework at local community college classrooms.
The award-winning, two-year program is designed to train the next generation of FirstEnergy's utility line and substation workers.  Of those currently enrolled in the Power Systems Institute programs at 12 schools in Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and West Virginia, about 40 are in their second year, with 270 beginning their first year.  
In addition to being considered for employment at FirstEnergy upon graduation, students will earn an associate degree in Electric Utility Technology.
"Since we created this program in 2000, more than 1,100 Power Systems Institute graduates currently are working in the field as FirstEnergy utility employees, using the training they received from this unique program to help keep the lights on for our customers," said Steven E. Strah, president, FirstEnergy Utilities.  "Whether it's linemen who work above ground or substation personnel who operate on the ground, the Power Systems Institute is a great opportunity for someone looking for a career in the utility industry."
FirstEnergy has Power Systems Institute partnerships with these colleges in Pennsylvania: Reading Area Community College in Reading; Westmoreland County Community College in Youngwood; Pennsylvania Highlands Community College in Johnstown; and Porreco College of Edinboro University in Erie.
For more information about future enrollment, visit the FirstEnergy Power Systems Institute webpage or call 800-829-6801.
Posted by at

August Slot Machine Revenue 3.3 Percent Lower Than Last Year

The gross revenue from the play of slot machines in August of this year fell by $7 million from August 2014 revenue, according to the Gaming Control Board.
The monthly slot revenue report shows August gross revenue from slot machine play was $203,026,163, an amount 3.32 percent lower than the $210,006,849 in revenue generated in August 2014.
Tax revenue collected by the Commonwealth from the play of slot machines was $108,434,577 this August.
The average number of operating slot machines throughout Pennsylvania casinos was 26,234 in August 2015 compared to 26,403 in August 2014.
A more complete report is available online.
Posted by at

DEP To Hold 14 Listening Sessions On Developing PA’s Clean Power Climate Plan

The Department of Environmental Protection Thursday announced 14 listening sessions and a 2-month comment period on the federal Clean Power Plan to hear from Pennsylvanians about the plan to cut carbon pollution.
DEP will also hold a webinar on September 9 on the Clean Power Plan and accept written comments on general and specific issues by November 12.
Click Here for the full story.
Posted by at

Friday NewsClips

Click Here  for Today's PA Environmental News
Posted by at
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)