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PA Environment DigestAn Update On Environmental Issues In PAEdited By: David E. Hess, Crisci Associates

Winner 2009 PAEE Business Partner Of The Year Award

Harrisburg, Pa February 13, 2012

Senate, House Send Drilling Fee, Environmental Protection Bill To Governor

The House Wednesday voted 101 to 90 to send Marcellus

Shale legislation-- House Bill 1950 (Ellis-R-Butler)-- to

the Governor for his signature. The House followed a 31

to 19 vote in the Senate Tuesday to approve the samelegislation.

House Bill 1950 contains a uniform, statewide

county-adopted drilling impact fee and a set of more than a

dozen additional environmental protection measures. In

addition, the bill contains a transfer of monies from the DCNR Oil and Gas Fund to the

Environmental Stewardship (Growing Greener) Fund. ( Click Here for bill summary. Click Here

 for revenue distribution.)

If all the Marcellus counties adopted the drilling fee, the fee would raise about $180.5

million in 2011 and $211.1 million in 2012 and revenue would increase to about $355 million in

2015. ( Click Here for revenue projections.)

Unfortunately, these gains in funding for local government and environmental projects

were offset in part Tuesday in the Governor's FY 2012-13 budget proposal which calls for $56.6

million in funds from the Keystone Recreation, Parks and Conservation Fund and the Cigarette

Tax to go to the General Fund to balance the state budget.

About $36.1 million from the Keystone Fund and $20.5 million from the Cigarette Tax

goes to the General Fund. While Department of Agriculture staff have said the $20.5 million

will be made up with interest payments from the Growing Greener II bond fund, that is still a net

loss to environmental funding.

"This new industry has brought economic growth and jobs, but it has also brought new

challenges," said Sen. Joe Scarnati (R-Jefferson), a prime sponsor and an advocate for Marcellus

Shale legislation. "The most important issue in this whole conversation is the protection of our natural resources and the communities where drilling takes place. I believe we can have the jobs

that this new industry brings, and we can still protect our environment in a balanced way.

"This legislation will help communities in the Marcellus Shale region provide for 

reasonable local zoning parameters and implement strong environmental protections. Drillers

will pay their fair share, and that revenue will help our state and its citizens as this industry

continues to grow.

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"Local governments will retain their traditional powers to provide for local zoning and

regulation, and we can, at the same time provide for the development of natural gas and the jobs

and opportunities that this industry brings.

"The Marcellus Shale industry is here to stay in Pennsylvania – bringing us jobs, huge

economic benefits and the potential for energy independence," Sen. Scarnati said. "It makes

sense to impose a reasonable impact fee on the industry to provide the funding necessary tofurther protect our natural resources, particularly at a time when our state is being forced to

stretch our tax dollars."

Gov. Tom Corbett thanked the members of the House and Senate for passing House Bill

1950, which is a comprehensive Marcellus Shale package. The Conference Committee report

 passed today in the House.

“After long negotiations and a lot of hard work, we have reached a consensus on how to

address the impacts in the Marcellus Shale regions,” Corbett said. “I am very pleased with the

cooperative spirit shown by the General Assembly and their staffs while working to resolve this

complex issue. I look forward to signing this legislation into law.”

Last October, Corbett outlined his Marcellus Shale proposal, which followed the work of 

the Marcellus Shale Advisory Commission and includes a plan to help create thousands of jobsfor Pennsylvania residents, to enhance protection of our natural resources, and to move the state

toward energy independence. House Bill 1950 contains 24 of the legislative recommendations

offered by the advisory commission.

“This legislation reaffirms our strong commitment to safe and responsible natural gas

development here in Pennsylvania,” Corbett said.

Reaction

The Renew Growing Greener Coalition, the largest coalition of conservation, recreation

and environmental organizations in the Commonwealth, issued the following statement from

Executive Director Andrew Heath, expressing support for the environmental funding outlined in

the current Marcellus Shale impact fee proposal:“At first glance, this proposal appears to be a good first step toward restoring funding for 

the Environmental Stewardship Fund and supporting Growing Greener programs and projects

that protect our drinking water, conserve our open space, enhance recreational opportunities and

stimulate economic recovery across the Commonwealth.

“We commend the General Assembly and the Governor for recognizing the importance

of Growing Greener, which has transformed Pennsylvania by empowering communities to

 preserve working farms and conserve special places, clean up rivers and streams, improve parks

and trails, maintain our heritage areas, and revitalize cities and towns."

The PA Association of Conservation Districts Tuesday issued the following statement in

response to the Marcellus Shale Local Impact Fee (House Bill 1950) that passed the Senate.

"Today, Pennsylvania's Senate made an important and historic investment in our environment, communities and our citizens," said Robert B. Maiden, Executive Director of the

Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts. "The action taken by the Senate today to

 pass the local impact fee should be applauded by citizens and communities around the state.

PACD appreciates the commitment of the Senate, especially Sen. Scarnati, to ensure that

Pennsylvania’s environment and communities are protected and safeguarded for generations to

come. We look forward to the House of Representatives passing this important bill for the future

of conservation in Pennsylvania."

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The County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania Monday wrote to members of 

the House and Senate saying they supported the compromise Marcellus Shale bill.

"The bill includes provisions counties have sought, including meaningful revenues and a

meaningful local share, a workable levy and administrative mechanism, the distribution formula

we have sought, allowable uses that meet the broad and divergent needs of impacted counties

and their municipalities, additional funding to counties from state shares to provide for bridgerepair and replacement and for greenways, and allocation of funding proceeds statewide to

conservation districts and some environmental programs."

Matthew J. Ehrhart, Pennsylvania Executive Director for the Chesapeake Bay

Foundation and a member of the Governor’s Marcellus Shale Advisory Commission, Monday

issued the following statement in response to the final Marcellus bill being voted out of 

conference committee.

“House Bill 1950 represents a tremendous step forward for the Commonwealth in

managing current and future drilling operations in the Marcellus Shale formation. This bill

combines the best of the environmental protection provisions from both Senate Bill 1100 and

House Bill 1950, and improved upon them. The result is a package that while not perfect, will

help protect Pennsylvania’s environment.“This bill is the only option we have to increase protections to the environment and our 

communities. CBF supports much of the proposed language of House Bill 1950, and encourages

the General Assembly to work together to pass this legislation.

“We are encouraged by the attention paid to increased environmental protections.

Specifically, the Bill would provide: protective setbacks from wells, public drinking supplies,

structures, streams, and wetlands over one acre; post-construction management plans; floodplain

 protections; water management plans; for required erosion & sediment inspection before drilling

can begin; for required best management practices for chemical storage; standards for drill-site

containment practices; clear authorization to DEP for the management and oversight of wells;

and increased fines and bonding.“The Bill also provides tremendous financial resources to the Growing Greener program

and other environmental interests such as water infrastructure, sewer infrastructure, and

watershed projects. CBF does, however, believe that a significantly higher impact fee is

warranted.

“There are a few issues that were left out of this legislation and that we will work to

resolve. These include: a more inclusive definition of water and water bodies; required disclosure

of fracking chemicals for all drilling operations, not only unconventional wells; and requiring

complete public disclosure of waste water manifesting."

Paul King, President of the PA Environmental Council, issued this statement in reaction

to the Marcellus Shale bill conference committee report:

"The enemy of the good is the perfect, and while this legislation is not perfect, the peopleof Pennsylvania are better served by passage of this bill now than to wait another year or longer 

for something stronger.

"The Pennsylvania Environmental Council has worked hard over the past two years to

identify the critical policy issues for effectively regulating development of the Marcellus Shale

gas industry. PEC has released a series of reports and legislative proposals, containing more than

40 specific policy recommendations, several of which are now law. We are pleased that many of 

the environmental protection measures contained in this bill match those recommended by PEC,

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and represent a meaningful step forward: including greater well site setback and containment

standards, enhanced inspection and reporting requirements, and greater protection for water 

resources and drinking water supplies.

"However, this legislation comes up short on several key issues, including complete

enhanced public disclosure of the chemicals used in hydraulic fracturing fluids, as well as

automatic reporting to the Department of Environmental Protection on wastewater handling anddisposal.

"Additionally, PEC remains concerned with the limitations this bill imposes on the rights

of local governments in managing drilling activities in their own jurisdictions. We believe that

local government should retain a degree of authority to enact additional controls when specific,

local circumstances warrant.

"This legislation would take an important first step toward ensuring safe development of 

natural gas in Pennsylvania by incorporating many of the recommendations of the Marcellus

Shale Advisory Commission. But this is only the first step; much more work remains to be done

to ensure that the growth of this industry is truly an asset for all of Pennsylvania’s citizens and

our environment.

"We look forward to working with the General Assembly and the administration, particularly DEP, in advancing implementation of other PEC recommendations through the

legislative and regulatory process."

Marcellus Shale Coalition president Kathryn Z. Klaber issued the following statement

upon the passage of H.B. 1950 through the Pennsylvania General Assembly:

“The Marcellus Shale Coalition has steadfastly advocated for a modernized oil and

natural gas regulatory framework to further protect the Commonwealth’s environment while

encouraging the safe development of abundant and clean American natural gas. This legislation

 builds upon, and further strengthens, the collaborative efforts undertaken over the past several

years, ensuring that Pennsylvania has industry-leading, world-class shale gas regulations on its

 books. “The legislation, while not perfect, provides the industry greater certainty to operate

across Pennsylvania and takes a balanced approach to further strengthening the Commonwealth's

forward-leaning health, environmental, and safety regulations, incorporating many of the

recommendations of the Marcellus Shale Advisory Commission – a broad-based group of 

interests across industry, government, and the conservation community. Without question, it will

further increase costs, in terms of both time and resources, at a time of historically-low natural

gas prices, which will affect decisions made into the future.

“With resolution and greater certainty at hand, it is time to build a stronger Pennsylvania

and power our region with clean, American natural gas.”

More Marcellus Shale Bill Details

Here are several more details of the provisions in House Bill 1950.Drilling Fee: The drilling impact fee is a true compromise between proposals by the Senate and

the Governor. It would set a uniform statewide per well fee, but one adopted by each county in

the Marcellus Shale area and collected by the Public Utility Commission. In addition, the per 

well fee would increase if the price of natural gas increases.

The fee would start at $40,000 per well dropping to $5,000 in year 11 if the price of 

natural gas is up to $2.25 per thousand cubic fee. At the upper end of the fee schedule, the fee

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would increase to $60,000 per well dropping to $10,000 per well if the price of natural gas is $6

or more per MCF.

If county commissioners fail to adopt the fee, there is a provision allow municipalities to

adopt resolutions supporting a fee and if half the municipalities or municipalities representing at

least half of the county's population adopt fee resolutions a county-wide impact fee would be

adopted.The PUC is also authorized to adjust the fee based on the Consumer Price Index.

Environmental Protection: The environmental protection provisions of the compromise bill

would increase setbacks from water wells, reservoirs and streams, require the restoration of well

drilling pads in 9 months, require the disclosure of fracking chemicals but still protected by trade

secrets, increases bonding and increases criminal and civil penalties.

Local Regulation: Local regulation of drilling and related natural gas development facilities by

local governments would have to occur within a prescribed set of requirements specified in the

compromise language. The Public Utility Commission is given the authority to determine if a

local ordinance complies with the requirements prior to enactment. Local governments that

adopt their own fee or an ordinance in violation of the new act would not be eligible to receive

funding from the state fee.Click Here for bill summary. Click Here for revenue distribution. Click Here for revenue

 projections.

NewsClips:

County Commissioners Face Decision On Drilling Fee

Mapping PA Counties' Impact Fee Money

Optional Drilling Fee Could Pull In $40 Million

Range Resources, Lawmakers Respond To Marcellus Bill

Mixed Bag Out Of PA On Fracking Chemical Disclosure

House Sends Drilling Fee Bill To Governor's Desk House Votes To Send Shale Drilling Fee To Corbett

House Sends Gas Drilling Bill To Corbett's Desk 

House Approves Marcellus Shale Bill

 Natural Gas Impact Fee Bill Headed To Corbett's Desk 

Impact Fee Bill Wins Final Approval

Corbett Praises Impact Fee Vote

Range Resources, Lawmakers Respond To Marcellus Bill

Pickett Says Impact Fee Addresses Concerns Of Communities

Impact Fee Can Provide Money For Ethane Cracker 

What Happens Now After Passing Marcellus Bill

Senate Approves First Fees On Shale DrillingSenate Approves Shale Impact Fee

Senate Approves Proposed Fee On PA Shale Drilling

Senate Approves Impact Fee Bill

Senate Clears Marcellus Shale Fee Bill

Green Groups Split On Protections In Drilling Bill

Political Pressure Led Philly Democrats To Back Impact Fee

 NE Senators Skeptical Of Marcellus Bill

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PA Set To Allow Local Taxes On Shale Gas

Marcellus Coalition Talks About Chemical Disclosure, Drilling Fees

Conference Committee Approves Drilling Impact Fee

Final Drilling Impact Fee Bill Clears First Vote

Lawmakers Agree On Bill To Impose Drilling Fee

Conference Committee Sends Drilling Fee Bill To Floor VoteGas Drilling Fee Moves Forward In PA

Drilling Fee Would Yield $190 Million First Year 

Editorial: Marcellus Drillers Get Their Way

Editorial: Drilling Down Into Fee Details

Editorial: Fee Goes Easy On Gas Drillers

Editorial: Hasty Drill Bill Deeply Disturbing

350 Member Growing Greener Coalition Commends Funding In Marcellus Shale Bill

The Renew Growing Greener Coalition, the largest coalition of conservation, recreation and

environmental organizations in the Commonwealth, Wednesday issued the following statementfrom Executive Director Andrew Heath, commending the Growing Greener funding contained

within House Bill 1950, which passed Wednesday.

“The Renew Growing Greener Coalition is pleased with the passage of House Bill 1950

due to the environmental funding and commends the leadership of the General Assembly,

legislators, and the Governor for taking the first step toward renewing funding for the

Environmental Stewardship Fund and Growing Greener programs and projects.

“While this bill may not be perfect, it makes critical investments in stormwater 

management and programs to protect our drinking water, preserve farmland and open space,

enhance our recreational opportunities, support our heritage areas, and stimulate our local and

regional economies.”Growing Greener is a bipartisan program established in 1999 under Gov. Tom Ridge and

later expanded by Governors Schweiker and Rendell. Since its establishment, Growing Greener 

has created a legacy of success, preserving more than 107,000 acres of Pennsylvania’s family

farmland, conserving more than 42,300 acres of threatened open space, adding 26,000 acres to

state parks and forests, and restoring over 16,000 acres of abandoned mine lands.

Moreover, Growing Greener has contributed and leveraged billions of dollars to the

Pennsylvania economy by helping to boost tourism, create jobs and generate revenue.

Yet despite the program’s accomplishments, funding for Growing Greener projects and

grants fell from an average of approximately $150 million per year for the last six years to $27.3

million in the current state budget, over an 80 percent reduction.

The Renew Growing Greener Coalition is the largest coalition of conservation, recreationand environmental organizations in the Commonwealth, representing nearly 350 organizations

and government entities from across the state.

More than 140 government entities, including 32 counties, representing more than seven

million Pennsylvanians, have passed resolutions calling for a dedicated source of funding for the

Growing Greener Environmental Stewardship Fund.

For more information on the Coalition website.

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6 Environmental Groups Decry Passage Of Marcellus Shale Bill

Clean Water Action, Conservation Voters of Pennsylvania, Delaware Riverkeeper Network,

Earthworks, PennEnvironment, and the PA Chapter-Sierra Club decried the lack of concern for 

communities, health and property in passing Marcellus Shale legislation-- House Bill 1950.

All the groups are outspoken opponents of drilling in the state. Their statement said:Tuesday in the Senate and today in the House, the Pennsylvania legislature voted in favor 

of House Bill 1950, a compromise gas development bill that was hammered out behind closed

doors under the heavy hand of Gov. Tom Corbett.

Under the guise of providing “impact fees” to municipalities where gas operations occur,

the legislature effectively supported a takeover of municipalities by the State and the gas industry

 by gutting established and effective local planning and zoning rights.

(Note: The County Commissioners Association of PA and the PA Association of 

Township Supervisors supported House Bill 1950.)

Through provisions contained in the bill, municipalities will no longer be able to play a

central, critical role in protecting the health, safety, and welfare of residents and determining

which uses of land are most beneficial.The bill requires that all types of oil and gas operations (except for natural gas processing

 plants)—unlike any other commercial or industrial business—be allowed in all zoning districts,

even in residential neighborhoods and near schools, parks, hospitals, and sensitive natural and

cultural resource protection areas.

As a result, people could be forced to live only 300 feet away from a gas well, open frack 

waste pit, or pipeline, despite growing evidence that such development causes pollution,

damages health, and lowers property values.

The bill also mandates a one-size-fits-all ordinance that supersedes all existing

ordinances and prevents municipalities from adopting any zoning provisions that are stricter than

the weak, mandated standards.“The PA Legislature has let the gas industry take over, despite the terrible consequences

that drilling is having in communities across the Commonwealth. This so-called impact fee bill

 brings no net fiscal gain to Pennsylvania residents; it robs us of the ability to protect what is most

locally valuable—our health, safety, and resources—and gives gas operators the right to run all

over our communities. This is unjust and exposes the true allegiances of the Bill’s

supporters—self-interested gas developers and their backers,” said Maya van Rossum, the

Delaware Riverkeeper.

“Today, many legislators and Gov. Corbett told Pennsylvania residents that protecting

their health and rights matters far less to them than the gas industry’s demands,” said Nadia

Steinzor, Marcellus Regional Organizer for Earthworks’ Oil and Gas Accountability Project.

“They and other supporters of this bill turned a blind eye on the widespread damage caused bydrilling and a deaf ear to calls from citizens for change, while doing the bidding of companies

that want to drill anywhere, anytime.”

“If legislators were looking to pass a proposal that will allow more gas drilling near 

 people’s homes, and the parks, playgrounds and schools where our children play and spend their 

days, then ‘Mission Accomplished,’” said Erika Staaf of PennEnvironment. “Sadly, this is just

one more case of powerful interests dominating the political process, and the lack of leadership

on both sides of the aisle to do anything about it.”

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“A poorly-regulated gas industry will be able to drill in residential neighborhoods,

 bringing thousands of gallons of toxic chemicals, thousands of tractor trailers, round the clock 

noisy, polluting drilling, all as little as a football field away from homes, day care centers, and

 playgrounds,” said Jeff Schmidt, Director of Sierra Club’s Pennsylvania Chapter. “The

legislators who voted in favor of HB 1950 have abandoned any pretense that they are acting in

the public interest. We will make sure the public knows who sided with the drillers and whosided with citizens when they go to the polls for this year’s elections.”

“This bill represents a huge step backwards in protection for Pennsylvania towns and the

environment,” said Myron Arnowitt, PA State Director for Clean Water Action. “The state

override of local zoning ordinances will greatly increase the threats to communities from all

aspects of gas extraction. Never before has one industry been given full rights to do as they

 please, without recognizing the needs of other businesses, residents, and our environment. 2012

is an election year, and we will be devoting our energy to ensuring that the voters of 

Pennsylvania are aware of which legislators voted to give away our control over an industry that

has contaminated our air, land, and water.”

“The legislators who voted for House Bill 1950 made a short-sighted decision that puts

the health and safety of Pennsylvania’s communities at risk,” said Josh McNeil, ExecutiveDirector of Conservation Voters of Pennsylvania. “They voted against the interests of their 

constituents and should expect those constituents to return the favor in the November election.”

Governor's Budget Cuts Environment Again, Keystone Fund Zeroed Out For DCNR 

Gov. Corbett presented his budget proposal to a joint session of the Senate and House Tuesday

 proposing a $27.1 billion General Fund budget, a 0.1 percent cut from the FY 2011-12 budget,

which features significant cuts to higher education, and environmental programs, but no tax

increases as he promised. ( text of speech )

The Governor now estimates FY 2011-12 will end with a $719 million deficit, up fromthe $500 million projected earlier.

The Governor also said he did not include transportation funding proposals in his budget,

which he said would be dealt with separately.

In addition, $56.6 million in funds from the Keystone Recreation, Parks and

Conservation Fund and the Cigarette Tax will go to the General Fund to balance the state budget.

About $36.1 million from the Keystone Fund and $20.5 million from the Cigarette Tax. While

Department of Agriculture staff have said the $20.5 million will be made up with interest

 payments from the Growing Greener II bond fund, that is still a net loss to environmental

funding.

The proposal would also shift $6.5 million dedicated to the Alternative Energy Incentive

Fund from the Utility Gross Receipts Tax to the General Fund.Unfortunately, the gains in funding for local government and environmental projects

made in the Marcellus Shale drilling fee just adopted by the General Assembly this week were

offset in part by these diversions from previously allocated conservation funds.

The Governor's proposal would further reduce administrative costs by eliminating 649

state worker positions, including a reduction of 14 positions in DCNR and 11 positions in DEP.

DEP's authorized complement is now 2,759, down from 2,770 last year and 3,211 in FY

2002-03, and DCNR's is now 1,375, down from 1,389 last year and 1,391 in FY 2002-03.

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Budget Secretary Charles Zogby said at a press briefing on the budget, the proposal does

not anticipate any additional leasing of State Forest land for drilling and that cuts to DEP's

 budget were possible in part because it receives funding from permit fees.

The proposal also continues the phase out of the Capital Stock and Franchise Tax.

He also discussed other proposed shifts in revenue such as funding agricultural,

veterinary, and fair programs through the Racehorse Development Fund while, he said, still preserving $160 million for the initial purposes of the fund.

Secretary Zogby also pointed out Tobacco Settlement Fund money will be redirected to

 pay for health related costs and fund offsets in long-term care in the Department of Public

Welfare rather than funding new health research.

Click Here for full budget proposal. Click Here for line-item spreadsheet. Click Here for 

 budget slide presentation. Also available again this year is the Governor's Budget Dashboard

which allows a variety of different views of the FY 2012-13 budget proposal.

For a different view, visit the House Democratic Appropriations Committee webpage for 

an analysis of the Governor's proposal by Democratic Chair Rep. Joe Markosek (D-Allegheny).

"Last year, we accomplished much of real consequence. For the first time in 40 years, we

spent less,'' Corbett said. "Pennsylvania took its first steps toward changing the culture of tax andspend. Together, we showed we can make reforms that count. It is time to show citizens, weary

of empty promises…that we can accomplish more.

"Today I bring before you a budget grounded in difficult realities but framed in the

optimism that we are solving our problems,'' Corbett said. "Once again, revenues do not match

mandated, escalating costs. That means we must continue the course bravely charted by this

assembly in the year just passed.''

The $27.14 billion proposal maintains Corbett's commitment to balance the state budget.

The budget closes a projected revenue shortfall of more than $700 million and reduces spending

 by more than $20 million. It meets the state's pension obligations and does not raise taxes for 

residents or businesses."Every dollar taken in tax is one less dollar in the hands of a job-holder or a job-creator,''

Corbett said. "We will not spend more than we have. We will not raise taxes. We can't ask 

 people to travel the road to recovery and then turn around and add to the burden they must carry

along the way.''

Most importantly, this year's budget begins to transform the way government delivers

 products and services, the Governor said, through greater use of block grants giving greater 

control and flexibility to the recipients, including local governments, community organizations

and school districts.

Note: You can watch the hearings live through the Senate webpage and the House

webpage or on the PA Cable Network website.

More Budget DetailsThe Governor's budget proposal would make these changes to environmental agency

 programs:

Agriculture

General Fund - Cut $76.8 Million - 57.7 percent - $56.2 million (cuts due to decreases to Penn

State and the University of Pennsylvania line items moved to the Race Horse Development

Fund)

Conservation Districts - Cut $10,000 - 1 percent - $1,019,000

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 Nutrient Management Fund - Cut $27,000 - 1 percent - $2.7 million

Agricultural Research, Hardwoods Research & Promotion, Agricultural Promotion, Education

and Exports - zeroed out.

Resource Enhancement and Protection Tax Credit - $10 million, same as last year 

(Note: Film Production Tax Credit - $60 million, same as last year)

Growing Greener Funding- $2.7 million, down from $5.1 millionAgricultural Land Preservation- $20.5 million in Cigarette Tax revenue previously earmarked for 

agricultural land preservation will instead be put in the General Fund to balance the budget.

These dollars, the Department of Agriculture said will be offset in some fashion by interest from

the Growing Greener II bond fund, but it still represents a net loss of conservation funding.

Conservation and Natural Resources

General Fund - Cut $2.5 Million - 4.6 percent - $52.7 million

State Park Operations - Cut $1.3 million

State Forest Operations - Cut $382,000

Keystone Recreation, Park and Conservation Fund - zeroed out, no transfers to DCNR for grants,

a cut of $36.1 million

Growing Greener Funding- $5.7 million, down from $19 millionOil & Gas Fund - $69.5 million for DCNR, State Parks Operations, down from $79.5 million

from last year, no transfer to General Fund

Environmental Protection

General Fund - Cut $10.5 million - 7.8 percent - $124.8 million

General Government Operations - Cut $108,000 - 1 percent - $10.6 million

Environmental Program Management - Cut $3 million - 11 percent - $24.9 percent

Environmental Protection Operations - Cut $3.5 million - 4.6 percent - $74.5 million

Black Fly Control - Cut $103,000 - 3 percent

West Nile Virus Control - Cut $118,000 - 3 percent

Sewage Planning Grants - zeroed out - $779,000Sewage Facilities Enforcement Grants - zeroed out - $2.5 million

Ohio River Basin Commission - zeroed out - $13,000

Susquehanna River Basin Commission - Cut $64,000 - 10 percent

Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission - Cut $7,000 - 4.9 percent

Conservation District - Cut $29,000 - 1 percent - $2.8 million

Alternative Energy Production Tax Credit - $7 million, $2 million more than last year 

Alternative Fuels Incentive Fund: $6.5 million in Utility Gross Receipts Tax revenue normally

transfered to the Alternative Fuels Incentive Grant Fund will be diverted to the General Fund

Growing Greener Funding- $8.9 million, down from $40.9 million from last year 

Recycling Fund - $38.2 million would be available, down from $46.7 million last year 

PA Infrastructure Investment AuthorityGrowing Greener Funding- $5.6 million, down from $8.1 million from last year 

PA Emergency Management Agency

Hazard Mitigation (Including Floods) - $2.6 million (new)

State System of Higher Education

PA Center for Environmental Education - zeroed out again ($368,000)

McKeever Environmental Center - zeroed out again ($213,000)

NewsClips: Budget Cuts Higher Education, $719 Million Deficit Projected

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Corbett's Budget Cuts Environment Again, Zeroes Out Keystone Fund

Governor's Budget Mixed Bag For Conservationists

Environmental Programs Take A Hit In State Budget

 No New State Forest Leases In Corbett's Budget

Corbett's Proposed Budget Includes Cuts In Agriculture

Corbett's Budget Would Cut DEP SpendingDEP, DCNR Among Dozens Of Other Groups Affected

Corbett Says Transportation Funding Too Big For Budget

Corbett Talks Education, Transportation Spending

State's Nonunion Employees Want A Pay Raise

Turzai Pitches Bill To Limit Capital Budget Spending

Turzai Calls For New Controls On State Borrowing

The Record: $1.8 Billion Cut/Diverted From Environmental Programs Last 10 Years

If Gov. Corbett's proposed FY 2012-13 budget is approved, it will extend the record set by Gov.

Rendell in cutting environmental programs, which started in his very first year in office, to over $1.8 billion over the last 10 years.

Gov. Rendell's share of these cuts/diversions is $1.4 billion. Gov. Corbett's share is

$376.5 million, so far. That's $1.8 billion diverted or cut from environmental programs to help

 balance the state budget or to fund programs that could not get funding on their own.

Here's an itemized list of the cuts and diversions--

-- $533 million in Act 339 grants intended to support wastewater plant operations over the last

nine years were eliminated to balance the budget ($52 million or so each year);

-- $143 million diverted from the DCNR Oil and Gas Fund to balance the FY 2008-09 budget;

-- $79 million cut from the DEP and DCNR General Fund budget during FY2009-10;

-- $60 million diverted from the DCNR Oil and Gas Fund to balance the FY 2009-10 budget;-- $100 million in 2002 from the Underground Storage Tank cleanup insurance fund to balance

the budget (although this is slowly being repaid over 10 years);

-- $52.7 million “one-time” diversion from the Keystone Recreation, Parks and Conservation

Fund in 2006 to balance the budget;

-- $50 million in 2007 and 2008 from the Environmental Stewardship Fund, which supports mine

reclamation and watershed restoration, to fund the Hazardous Sites Cleanup Program because

there was no agreement on how to fund that program;

-- $201.9 million in FY 2007-08, 2008-09, 2009-10, 2010-11, 2011-12, 2012-13 from the

Environmental Stewardship Fund to pay debt service on the Growing Greener II bond issue and

taking funding away from restoration projects each year for the next 25 years – reflecting a

 pattern of only environmental programs being required to address their own bond debt service;-- $15 million from the Recycling Fund in to balance the FY 2008-09 budget;

-- $18.4 million put into budgetary reserve in 2008-09 from the Department of Environmental

Protection and Department of Conservation and Natural Resources;

-- $5 million reduction in Resource Enhancement and Protection (REAP) farm conservation tax

credit program in FY 2009-10;

-- $102.8 million cut from the DEP and DCNR General Fund budget in FY 2010-11 budget;

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-- $180 million diverted from the DCNR Oil and Gas Fund to General Fund in proposed FY

2010-11 budget;

-- $5.5 million reduction in Resource Enhancement and Protection (REAP) farm conservation

tax credits in FY 2010-11;

-- $5 million in additional cuts to the agencies to balance the FY 2010-11 budget;

-- $3.9 million in across-the-board cuts to help fill gaps caused by reduced federal Medicaidappropriations-- $2.4 million from DEP, $1.5 million from DCNR;

-- $669,000 from the Safe Water line item in DEP's budget;

-- $102.8 million cut continued from the FY 2010-11 DEP and DCNR General Fund budget in

FY 2011-12 budget;

-- $8.3 million Mid-year budget freeze cuts additional resources for environmental programs:

Agriculture: $2.6 million; DCNR: $1.5 million; and DEP: $4.2 million.

-- Governor's proposed FY 2012-13 budget eliminates $36.1 million in funding for DCNR from

the Keystone Recreation, Parks and Conservation Fund.

-- Governor's proposed FY 2012-13 budget eliminates $10.5 million in General Fund monies

from DEP, and $2.5 million from DCNR.

-- Governor's proposed FY 2012-13 budget continues the $102.8 million cut made by Gov.Rendell beginning in FY 2010-11.

-- Governor's proposed FY 2012-13 budget takes $20.5 million in Cigarette Tax revenue

 previously earmarked for agricultural land preservation and puts it in the General Fund to

 balance the budget.

-- Governor's proposed FY 2012-13 budget takes $6.5 million in Utility Gross Receipts Tax

revenue normally transfered to the Alternative Fuels Incentive Grant Fund and puts it in the

General Fund.

-- Governor's proposed FY 2012-13 budget for the State System of Higher Education zeroes out

funding again for the PA Center for Environmental Education ($368,000) and McKeever 

Environmental Center ($213,000).DEP/DCNR Staff Cuts

DEP's authorized complement is now 2,759, down from 2,770 last year and 3,211 in FY

2002-03, and DCNR's is now 1,375, down from 1,389 last year and 1,391 in FY 2002-03.

The FY 2012-13 proposal includes a reduction of 14 positions in DCNR and 11 positions

in DEP.

In addition, the Rendell Administration used over 100 DEP Air, Waste and Water Quality

field staff to act as managers for federal stimulus projects, projects funded by the Energy

Harvest and PA Energy Development Authority programs taking time away from permit

reviews, inspections and compliance activities.

The FY 2009-10 budget cuts alone required DEP and DCNR to furlough or eliminate 333

full time positions. DCNR had to eliminate or reduce hours for 1,131 seasonal workers, puttingappropriations for DEP at 1994 levels and for DCNR at 1995-96 levels.

One result of all these cuts is the permit review backlog DEP said was already building

in 2009 and in truth the last 7 years, delaying hundreds of millions of dollars in economic

development projects across the state.

Of course, DEP and DCNR still have the same amount of work to do, the same laws to

enforce and State Forests and State Parks to protect and manage.

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In the case of DEP, they face the further challenge of new programs to get up and

running, like the electronics recycling program, and the continuing challenges of regulating

Marcellus Shale drilling.

General Fund Budget Perspective

The state's General Fund budget has always been a huge part of how environmental

 programs and agencies are funded, but that has changed dramatically over the last 9 years.In most cases, General Fund cuts to DEP and Agriculture resulted in significant staff 

reductions with only a small portion being made up in things like permit review fee increases. In

the case of DCNR, monies from the Oil and Gas Fund fed by Marcellus Shale drilling revenues

on State Forest land made up many of the losses.

Here's some perspective--

-- Dept. of Environmental Protection:

General Fund FY 2002-03: $728.2 million

General Fund FY 2012-13: $124.8 million (Proposed)

-- Dept. of Conservation & Natural Resources:

General Fund FY 2002-03: $322.9 million

General Fund FY 2012-13: $52.7 million (Proposed)-- Department of Agriculture:

General Fund FY 2002-03: $274.3 million

General Fund FY 2012-13: $56.2 million (Proposed)

Permit Review Fees

The Department of Environmental Protection in particular has been trying to make up for 

some of the General Fund budget cuts finalizing about $27.8 million in fee increases over the last

18 months as a result of Rendell Administration initiatives:

-- Marcellus Shale Drilling Permits: $7,465,000 (from $935,000 to $8.4 million annually);

-- NPDES Water Quality Permits: $4,250,000 (from $750,000 to $5 million annually);

-- Chapter 102 Regulations: $6,665,000 (from $635,000 to $7.3 million annually);-- Laboratory Certification: $1,550,000 (from $500,000 to $1.6 million annually);

-- Beneficial Use of Coal Ash: $75,000 annually; and

-- Uniform Environmental Covenants: $82,250 annually.

Another fee package for Air Quality Permits was adopted as final by the Environmental

Quality Board in November 2010. The new fees would have raised $7.8 million (from

$19,570,000 to $27,408,000 annually).

Although adopted as final by the EQB, DEP has decided not to take the steps needed to

 publish them as final in the PA Bulletin and they are considered withdrawn. The Governor's

Office Regulatory Agenda published in the PA Bulletin on February 11 says a new Air Quality

 permit fee package will be proposed in the Spring of this year. (  PA Bulletin page 887  )

DEP also proposed additional fee increases totaling just over $7 million in the last 18months, again all in the Rendell Administration:

-- Coal Surface Mining Permits: $350,000 (from $50,000 to $400,000 annually), the fees were

 published as proposed for comment and are still with DEP for finalization;

-- Non-Coal Surface Mining Permits: $2,475,000 (from $25,000 to $2,500,000 annually), DEP

 just solicited additional public comments on the fee package; and

-- Dam Safety and Water Management Permits: $4,267,612 a year (dam safety would

increase to $1,390.850 from $28,000 and waterway management permit fees income would

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increase to $2,952,612 from $47,850) [Note: these revenue numbers were revised downward

from the original Fee Report Form published with the proposed regulation in December 2010.] ;

In December DEP took action to withdraw proposed Drinking Water permit

fee increases adopted by the Environmental Quality Board in November 2010 which would have

generated $8.1 million (from $250,000 to $8,385,000 annually).

Senate Starts Budget Hearings This Week, House Following Week 

The Senate Appropriations Committee will start public hearings on Gov. Corbett's proposed

 budget on February 13 and the House will start February 21. You can watch the hearings live

through the Senate webpage and the House webpage or on the PA Cable Network website.

Here's the schedule of upcoming hearings--

February 13-- Senate Appropriations Committee budget hearings: 9:30 - Governor's Budget

Office; 1:00 - Independent Fiscal Office Economic Outlook and Revenue Overview. All Senate

hearings will be in Hearing Room 1, North Office.

February 14-- Senate Appropriations Committee budget hearings: 9:30 - Department of General

Services; 1:00 - Public Utility Commission.

February 16-- Senate Appropriations Committee budget hearings: 1:00 - State Police/

Homeland Security; 3:00 - Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

February 21-- House Appropriations Committee budget hearings: 9:30 - Global Economy;

11:00 - Independent Fiscal Office; 1:30 - Department of Revenue. All House hearings will be in

Room 140.

February 22-- Senate Appropriations Committee budget hearings: 9:30 - Department of 

Environmental Protection; 1:00 - Department of Transportation.

February 27-- House Appropriations Committee budget hearings: 10:00 - Public Utility

Commission; 11:00 - Office of Consumer Advocate, Small Business Advocate.

February 28-- Senate Appropriations Committee budget hearings: 1:00 - Department of 

Agriculture.

February 28-- House Appropriations Committee budget hearings: 9:30 - Department of 

Agriculture; 10:30 - Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

February 29-- Senate Appropriations Committee budget hearings: 9:30 - PA Emergency

Management Agency.

February 29-- House Appropriations Committee budget hearings: 9:30 - Department of 

Transportation; 3:00 - Department of Environmental Protection.

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March 1-- House Appropriations Committee budget hearings: 10:00 Department of Labor &

Industry; 1:00 - Department of Community and Economic Development.

March 6-- House Appropriations Committee budget hearings: 9:30 - State Police/Office of 

Homeland Security; 11:00 - PA Emergency Management Agency; 3:00 - Department of General

Services.

March 8-- House Appropriations Committee budget hearings: 10:00 - Budget Secretary; 1:00 -

House Member Testimony.

Did You Know You Can Search 7+ Years Of Digests On Any Topic?

Did you know you can search 7 years of back issues of the PA Environment Digest on dozens of 

topics, by county and on any key word you choose. Just click on the search page.

Also take advantage of these related services from Crisci Associates--

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Capitol.

Senate/House Agenda/Session Schedule/Bills Introduced

Here are the Senate and House Calendars and Committee meetings showing bills of interest as

well as a list of new environmental bills introduced--

Session Schedule

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Here is the latest voting session schedule for the Senate and House--

Senate

Budget Hearings: Feb. 13, 14, 15, 16, 21, 22, 23, 27, 28, 29 and March 1

March 5, 6, 7, 12, 13, 14, 26, 27, 28April 2, 3, 30

May 1, 2, 7, 8, 9, 21, 22, 23

June 4, 5, 6, 11, 12, 13, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29

House

February 13, 14, 15

Budget Hearings: Feb. 21, 22, 23, 24, 27, 28, 29, March 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9

March 12, 13, 14, 26, 27, 28

April 2, 3, 4, 30

May 1, 2, 7, 8, 9, 21, 22, 23

June 4, 5, 6, 11, 12, 13, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29

Bill Calendars

House (February 13): House Bill 3 (Geist-R-Blair) authorizing public-private transportation

 partnerships; House Bill 1682 (Taylor-R-Philadelphia) further providing for the creation of land

 banks; House Bill 2059 (Miller-R-York) amending the Agricultural Area Security Law to

 provide for the inspection of agricultural conservation easements on at least a biennial

 basis; House Bill 2106 (Ross-R-Chester) further providing for the relinquishment of the right to

farmland preservation; House Resolution 438 (Cruz-D-Philadelphia) urging Philadelphia to

establish a waste tire removal and disposal program; House Resolution 423 (Petri-R-Bucks)directing the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to study state funding formulas and

how they impact counties; House Resolution 505 (Preston-D-Allegheny) disapproving the PUC

regulation on natural gas competition. <> Click Here for full House Bill Calendar.

Senate (March 5): Senate Bill 1324 (Yaw-R-Bradford) quieting mineral property title

rights; Senate Bill 1398 (Yudichak-D-Luzerne) extending the Underground Storage Tank 

Environmental Cleanup Program from 2012 to 2017; House Bill 1813 (Tobash-R-Schuylkill)

further providing for anthracite reclamation fees and guarantees. <> Click Here for full Senate

Bill Calendar.

Committees

House: the Environmental Resources and Energy Committee meets to consider House Bill

1934 (F.Keller-R-Snyder) excluding people residing in federal or state facilities for determining

when a municipality must recycle. <> Click Here for full House Committee Schedule.

Senate: the Appropriations Committee budget hearings: Governor's Budget Office;

Independent Fiscal Office Economic Outlook and Revenue Overview; Department of General

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Services; Public Utility Commission State Police/ Homeland Security; Department of 

Conservation and Natural Resources. <> Click Here for full Senate Committee Schedule.

Other: Joint Legislative Budget & Finance Committee meeting to release report on Game

Commission compliance with its strategic plan

Bills Introduced

The following bills of interest were introduced this week--

Natural Gas Fueling: House Bill 2164 (P.Costa-D-Allegheny) establishing a natural gas fueling

station tax credit.

Capital Budget Reform: House Bill 2175 (Turzai-R-Allegheny) further providing for the

adoption of Capital Budget projects.

Requesting Smart Meters: House Bill 2188 (Reese-R-Fayette) authorizing consumers torequest electric utilities to provide smart meters.

Bills On Governor's Desk 

The following bill was given final approval by the Senate and House and is now with the

Governor for his action--

Infrastructure Funding: House Bill 1294 (Godshall-R-Montgomery) authorizing the PUC to

establish a distribution system improvement charge (DSIC) as an alternative to regular rate cases

to recover costs associated with replacing pipelines and other utility infrastructure. A summaryand House Fiscal Note are available. The bill now goes to the Governor for his action.

Marcellus Shale: House Bill 1950 (Ellis-R-Butler) imposing a Marcellus Shale drilling fee and

enacting a laundry list of additional environmental protection measures related to drilling was

amended in Conference Committee, passed by the Senate and the House and now goes to the

Governor for his action.

Senate/House Bills Moving

The following bills of interest saw action this week in the House and Senate--

Senate

Marcellus Shale: House Bill 1950 (Ellis-R-Butler) imposing a Marcellus Shale drilling fee and

enacting a laundry list of additional environmental protection measures related to drilling was

amended in Conference Committee, passed by the Senate and the House and now goes to the

Governor for his action.

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Mineral Rights: Senate Bill 1324 (Yaw-R-Bradford) quieting mineral property title rights was

amended and reported out of the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee and is

now on the Senate Calendar for action.

Pittsburgh Gasoline: Senate Bill 1386 (Vogel-R-Beaver) repealing the requirement for low-RVP gasoline in the Pittsburgh region and Stage II vapor controls was reported out of the Senate

Environmental Resources and Energy Committee and referred to the Senate Appropriations

Committee.

Storage Tank Program: Senate Bill 1398 (Yudichak-D-Luzerne) extending the Underground

Storage Tank Environmental Cleanup Program from 2012 to 2017 was reported out of the Senate

Environmental Resources and Energy Committee and is on the Senate Calendar for action.

Anthracite Reclamation: House Bill 1813 (Tobash-R-Schuylkill) further providing for 

anthracite reclamation fees and guarantees was reported out of the Senate Environmental

Resources and Energy Committee and is on the Senate Calendar for action.

House

Infrastructure Funding: House Bill 1294 (Godshall-R-Montgomery) authorizing the PUC to

establish a distribution system improvement charge (DSIC) as an alternative to regular rate cases

to recover costs associated with replacing pipelines and other utility infrastructure was concurred

in by the House. A summary and House Fiscal Note are available. The bill now goes to the

Governor for his action.

Snowmobile/ATV Registration: House Bill 2151 (Gabler-R-Clearfield) further providing for the registration of snowmobiles and ATVs and providing for vintage snowmobile permits was

referred into and out of the House Appropriations Committee and passed by the House. A

summary and House Fiscal Note are available. The bill now goes to the Senate for action.

Permitting Portal: House Bill 2022 (Peifer-R-Monroe) establishing a PA Business Permitting

Portal was reported from the House Appropriations Committee and passed by the House. A

summary and House Fiscal Note are available. The bill now goes to the Senate for consideration.

Metals Theft: House Bill 2032 (Metcalfe-R-Butler) further providing for the theft of secondary

metals was removed from the Table and referred into and out of the House Appropriations

Committee and was passed by the House. A summary and House Fiscal Note is available. The bill now goes to the Senate for consideration.

Agricultural Easements: House Bill 2059 (Miller-R-York) amending the Agricultural Area

Security Law to provide for the inspection of agricultural conservation easements on at least a

 biennial basis was amended and reported out of the House Agriculture and Rural Affairs

Committee and is now on the House Calendar for action.

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Farmland Preservation: House Bill 2106 (Ross-R-Chester) further providing for the

relinquishment of the right to farmland preservation was amended and reported out of the House

Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee and is now on the House Calendar for action.

Waste Tires: House Resolution 438 (Cruz-D-Philadelphia) urging Philadelphia to have a year-

round program for the safe removal and disposal of waste tires was removed from the Table andis now on the House Calendar for action.

Funding Formulas: House Resolution 423 (Petri-R-Bucks) directing the Legislative Budget and

Finance Committee to study state funding formulas and how they impact counties was removed

from the Table and is now on the House Calendar for action.

Conservation Projects/Prevailing Wage: House Bill 1543 (Milne-R-Chester) exempting

 projects by nonprofit historical organizations or land conservancies from prevailing wage was

amended and reported out of the House Labor and Industry Committee and Tabled.

Landowner Liability: Senate Bill 469 (Argall-R-Schuylkill) further providing for relief of liability by landowners who open their lands to walking, jogging, bicycling and horse riding

trails was amended and reported from the House Tourism and Recreational Development

Committee and Tabled.

Radon Month: House Resolution 546 (Readshaw-D-Allegheny) commemorating January as

Radon Awareness Month was adopted by the House.

News From The Capitol

Utility Infrastructure Funding Bill Sent To Governor

The House and Senate gave final approval this week to House Bill 1294 (Godshall-R-

Montgomery) which makes it easier for public utilities-- electric, natural gas, water and

wastewater-- to make infrastructure improvements by providing them with the ability to recover 

their capital investments in a timely manner.

"Pennsylvania's public utility infrastructure is failing and no one knows this more than

the citizens of Philadelphia and Allentown where aging gas pipelines have exploded, killing

 people in their homes and injuring many more," said Rep. Bob Godshall, Majority Chair of the

House Consumer Affairs Committee. "The deficiencies in our state's public utility infrastructure

must be addressed before more lives are needlessly lost."

House Bill 1294 will permit utilities, subject to Public Utility Commission approval, togradually recover infrastructure investment costs from consumers, rather than impose large

increases in customer bills following general rate cases. It is a bill with many winners.

"Utilities, ratepayers and consumers will benefit from a more modern and efficient utility

infrastructure," said Rep. Godshall. "Consumers will experience gradual price increases that will

reflect savings that utilities will achieve in being able to quickly pay back loans instead of 

waiting for the next general rate case to recover it.

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"House Bill 1294 will also extend the time between PUC base rate case proceedings,

saving ratepayers millions of dollars. Finally, the work that will be done under this legislation

will provide much-needed jobs for thousands of people all across the Commonwealth," he added.

Visit Rep. Godshall's website for more information.

Senate Committee Looks At Impact Of Southeast PA Refinery Closures

The Senate Republican Policy Committee, chaired by Sen. Ted Erickson (R-Delaware), held

a public hearing Monday to examine the possible impact of three planned oil refinery closures on

statewide fuel supplies.

The refineries, located in Philadelphia, Marcus Hook and Trainer, supply gasoline, diesel

fuel, heating oil and other petroleum products across the commonwealth and elsewhere. The

facilities have been put up for sale and could be dismantled.

“While we must consider the impact on fuel supplies, the most important issue is the

 potential job loss if the refineries close down,” said Sen. Erickson. “We’ve got to work even

harder to keep these refineries open. The loss of jobs would be devastating.”

The Committee heard from energy researcher and consultant Kevin J. Lindemer; RussellD. Christoff and John Kulik of the Pennsylvania Petroleum Marketers and Convenience Store

Association (PPMCSA); and Dennis Rochford of the Maritime Exchange for the Delaware River 

and Bay.

Mr. Lindemer discussed a report he prepared for PPMCSA titled “Market Implications of 

East Coast Refinery Closings,” which outlined the driving forces behind East Cost refinery

closures and their impact.

Mr. Kulik told the committee that losing the Philadelphia refinery, in addition to those

that have closed in Marcus Hook and Trainer, would be a serious blow.

“The shuttering of all three refineries in question would result in a historic quantum

change in how energy is provided to the Commonwealth. We would no longer have the strong production presence within the state that has been there back to the invention of the automobile,”

he said.

He noted the impact of the closings could be especially serious in the Pittsburgh region,

where federal regulations require use of a specific blend of gasoline provided by the refineries,

and urged that the requirement be repealed or at least suspended for the summer.

Dennis Rochford, president of the Maritime Exchange for the Delaware River and Bay,

testified that the Gulf of Mexico has refinery capacity to fill the void. However, he indicated that

the higher costs associated with shipping the oil as well as the availability of tankers or barges to

 bring the product from the Gulf are issues that must be considered.

Copies of testimony and a video of the hearing is available online.

Senate Committee OKs Bill To Quiet Mineral Rights

The Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee reported out Senate Bill

1324 (Yaw-R-Bradford), a bill designed to assist landowner’s who, through no fault of their 

own, cannot gain ownership of their subsurface mineral, oil and gas rights.

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Senate Bill 1324 would amend the Action to Quiet Title law in Pennsylvania to provide

for a ‘rebuttable presumption’ that mineral, oil and gas rights have been abandoned in favor of a

surface owner after a 50 year period if the subsurface ownership is unclear or unknown.

“The legal principle known as an Action to Quiet Title has been an integral part of 

Pennsylvania law for at least 100 years,” said Sen. Gene Yaw. “Senate Bill 1324 simply gives

the surface owner, after 50 years, a slight advantage at the start of a court case to clarify theownership question. This bill does not change the fact that the plaintiff landowner still must

 prove his case, in court, by a preponderance of the evidence just as the plaintiff can, and is

required, to do today.”

The legislation was amended in Committee to exempt fee interests, including deeds and

long-term leases for coal and other minerals and oil and gas reserved or acquired by a duly

recorded conveyance. In addition, the amendment further defined the “exercise of subsurface

rights.”

“I have had numerous constituents contact me regarding title problems with their 

subsurface rights, which go back well over 100 years,” Sen. Yaw added. “Senate Bill 1324 takes

nothing away from any subsurface owner who has a legitimate ownership interest. Anyone who

has such an interest would need to deliberately ignore all of the notice provisions in the law inorder to be negatively impacted.”

Senate Bill 1324 was supported by the Pennsylvania Coal Association and the National

Association of Royalty Owners.

Sen. Mary Jo White (R-Venango) serves as Majority Chair of the Committee and Sen.

John Yudichak (D-Luzerne) serves as Minority Chair.

Senate Environmental Committee OKs Bill On Potential Gasoline Shortage In Western PA

The Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee Tuesday reported out legislation

designed to help alleviate a potential gasoline shortage in Western PA, legislation extending thestorage tank cleanup program and a bill on anthracite reclamation requirements.

The bills include:

-- Senate Bill 1324 (Yaw-R-Bradford) quieting mineral property title rights (amended);

-- Senate Bill 1386 (Vogel-R-Beaver) repealing the requirement for low-RVP gasoline in the

Pittsburgh region and Stage II vapor controls;

-- Senate Bill 1398 (Yudichak-D-Luzerne) extending the Underground Storage Tank 

Environmental Cleanup Program from 2012 to 2017; and

-- House Bill 1813 (Tobash-R-Schuylkill) further providing for anthracite reclamation fees and

guarantees.

Sen. Mary Jo White (R-Venango) serves as Majority Chair of the Committee and Sen.

John Yudichak (D-Luzerne) serves as Minority Chair.

Turzai Legislation Would Dramatically Change The Capital Budget Process

House Majority Leader Mike Turzai (R-Allegheny) announced new legislation-- House Bill

2175-- which would change the Capital Budget process to redefine eligible projects, reduce the

cap on authorized borrowing and all Capital Budget projects not authorized by the Governor as

of December 31, 2011 would expire.

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Rep. Turzai was joined in the announcement by Rep. Eli Evankovich (R-Westmoreland

County), Rep. Mike Vereb (R-Montgomery County), and Rep. Rosita Youngblood (D-

Philadelphia).

Rep. Turzai’s legislation would reduce the RACP debt ceiling, initially to $3.5 billion

from its current $4.05 billion, then, incrementally until it reaches $1.5 billion. The bill does not

eliminate the economic development grant program, but redefines it and makes it financiallyviable.

The legislation redefines the program to finance “buildings and related infrastructure (i.e.

roads, bridges, tunnels, waste disposal, storm water, sewage or water infrastructure; bridges or 

roads when part of an economic development project) projects with a total cost of $1 million or 

more, and would generate or maintain substantial economic activity (e.g. substantial increases in

employment or maintenance of tax revenues) and have a substantial regional or multi-

 jurisdictional economic impact.

Projects on the current Itemization list that have not been authorized as of December 31,

2011 would expire. To be awarded from any future Itemization Acts, a project must comply with

all new RACP requirements.

Finally, the legislation would create a new stringent review and approval process withinthe Office of the Budget. The Budget Office would develop eligibility criteria and establish

guidelines for the process.

“The out-of-control borrowing and spending policies of the past just don’t work, and the

growing RACP is saddling our kids and grandkids with a credit card bill which will last for at

least 20 years to come,” Rep. Turzai said. “Like all state spending, capital projects deserve

 public scrutiny and careful evaluation, my legislation makes that happen.”

According to Rep. Turzai, putting Pennsylvania’s financial house in order is a top priority

for members of the House, and part of that is controlling spending in the annual operating

 budget; and part is dealing with the state’s capital budget and the responsible issuance of debt.

Created in 1999 with an initial debt ceiling of $1.2 billion, the RACP debt ceiling has been raised six times since then, pushing it up to $4.05 billion. There are approximately 8,000

RACP projects that have been added to the program’s list since 1999.

RACP provides a list of private or public economic development or infrastructure

 projects, funded by borrowed money, from which the governor can select recipients of that

 borrowed money.

“It’s time that state government pays down its debt and rein in this much maligned grant

 program,” Rep. Turzai said. “This legislation offers responsible reforms while ensuring these

grants stimulate regional economic growth in an open, transparent, process. Taxpayers deserve

no less.”

The legislation will be considered in the House Finance Committee February 13.

NewsClips: Turzai Pitches Bill To Limit Capital Budget SpendingTurzai Calls For New Controls On State Borrowing

News From Around The State

Reminder: Next Round Of Foundation For PA Watersheds Applications Due

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The Foundation for PA Watersheds recently approved funding for watershed restoration projects

in the Conemaugh River Watershed and reminded applicants of the schedule for the next round

of grants.

The Foundation became the benefactor of the largest settlement agreement ever levied in

the Conemaugh River Basin. The funds were part of a citizens’ suit against GenOn—a coal-fired

 power plant operator.As part of the settlement, FPW received $3.5M for site-specific restoration projects. The

first installment of $500,000 was received in November 2011. A subsequent installment of $1.5

million was received in January 2012.

R. John Dawes, FPW Executive Director, said, “Receiving the funds was a natural

extension of what we do. We’ve invested more than $8 million throughout Pennsylvania, and

we’ve leveraged more than $118 million. That’s what we were created to do—leverage local,

state, and federal funds to protect healthy, natural streams and clean and restore habitats. Being

named the benefactor of the settlement is not something we’ll take lightly; we will see that these

funds are used appropriately and result in positive change.”

October 20, 2011 was a monumental day, as a visioning session was facilitated by The

Bayer Center for Nonprofit Management. The session brought together more than 30 individualswho represented more than 20 different watershed and recreational interests. Attendees shared

their visions for a cleaner, healthier, and more productive Conemaugh River. With recent

restoration initiatives cleaning-up the Stonycreek, attendees were excited about how we might

replicate that work within the Conemaugh.

The group discussed increasing river access, river beautification projects, abandoned

mine drainage treatment, new opportunities to work with industry, and a desire to work on

 problems from St. Michael to Johnstown to Indiana. Attendees brought project applications that

ranged from $23,000 to $550,000.

The applications were reviewed and voted on by FPW’s Board, which approved projects

totaling $379,000.These included correlating water health to habitat for birds and animals; funding St.

Francis University for technical assistance to nonprofits working on water issues; supporting

abandoned mine treatment projects; developing restoration plans for mine-impacted bodies of 

water; exploration of mine-pool water for geothermal purposes; and restoring plant buffers along

the Conemaugh.

The Board gave priority to projects that leveraged public funds and that resulted in a

large environmental benefit.

Branden S. Diehl, FPW Grant and Project Consultant, said, “We were entrusted with

these funds, and we are committed to working with old and new grantees to ensure we are

maximizing environmental benefits. Grant applications that were declined in the first round will

have an opportunity to resubmit—we’ve made it clear to applicants what they need to do in order to qualify for funds. Bottom-line, if you have a water related project in the Conemaugh Basin,

we want to hear from you.”

A list of projects approved is available online.

The deadline for the next round of applications, not just for the Conemaugh Watershed, is

March 13. Letters of intent for the fall grant rounds are due August 24. Applications for FPW

funding are available online. A subsequent grant round will be open from April 1 through July

24, 2012.

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Friends Of Wissahickon Receives $150,000 Grant

The Friends of the Wissahickon has been awarded a grant of $150,000 from the Community

Conservation Partnerships Program administered by the Department of Conservation and Natural

Resources or capital improvements to the Andorra Natural Area.According to FOW Executive Director Maura McCarthy, the trails in this area are

severely degraded, the habitat is marred by invasive plants, and educational wayfinding signage

is dilapidated.

FOW will rehabilitate and redesign 18,000 linear feet of trail to benefit the natural

environment and user experience, install signage, and a public, ADA accessible composting

restroom. This project is considered Stage 4 of FOW's Sustainable Trails Initiative, a project to

restore 50 miles of natural surface trails in Wissahickon Valley Park.

The Andorra Natural Area of Wissahickon Valley Park serves as the outdoor classroom

of the Wissahickon Environmental Center, also known as the Tree House, the most visited center 

within the Philadelphia park system. FOW’s work will make the trails a more suitable

educational facility for visitors to the WEC.DCNR funding for these types of projects comes from the Keystone Recreation, Park and

Conservation Fund, the Environmental Stewardship (Growing Greener) Fund and federal

funding sources. “We are gratified to be the recipient of these DCNR funds,” says McCarthy. “It

is a very competitive funding process and we are proud to have the state of Pennsylvania place

its trust in FOW to make these improvements on behalf of the public on park land.”

Key partnering organizations for this project are: the Philadelphia Department of Parks

and Recreation; Commission on Parks and Recreation; and the Philadelphia Water Department,

Office of Watersheds.

“FOW would not be able to complete this project without the support of our partners,”

says McCarthy, “particularly the Department of Parks and Recreation.”

Free Farmer Conservation Workshops In Lancaster, Chester Counties February 28, 29

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation and its partners are hosting two free workshops for Chester 

County and southern Lancaster County producers interested in improving farming operations,

and local water quality.

Attendees will receive basic information and financial-assistance opportunities including

the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP), and the Buffer Bonus program, which

is available to Plain Sect communities.

CBF is a private, non-governmental organization which has helped over 4,000 PA

landowners improve their streams.The Buffer Bonus Program offers up to $20,000 per farm to Plain Sect farmers in

Lancaster and Chester Counties to be used to install Best Management Practices (BMPs) that are

good for the farm and good for the stream. Farmers qualify for these funds when they agree to

have a contractor plant trees along their stream through CREP funding.

For every acre of streamside trees planted, the Buffer Bonus Program pays $4,000 toward

other conservation practices chosen by the farmer.

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CREP provides farmers with significant financial returns for planting streamside trees.

The program covers costs for trees, fencing, crossings and watering systems, and provides funds

to help pay for maintenance. Landowners also receive rental payments for up to fifteen years,

 providing an additional source of revenue.

CBF has worked with hundreds of farmers to implement CREP practices on their farms,

and in just one-year since the Buffer Bonus program started, twenty Lancaster County Plain Sectfarmers have enrolled, with half-a-dozen more considering enrollment.

Assistance through the Buffer Bonus program provides farmers with the tools they need

to meet state water quality regulations, but funding is available for a limited time. Lamonte

Garber, CBF's Agricultural Manager in Pennsylvania has worked one-on-one with farmers to

explain the benefits of Buffer Bonus.

"Streams flowing through our farms and communities tie us together, connect us to our 

downstream neighbors, and reflect how we use the land," said Garber. "Traditionally a place

where families could fish, relax, and enjoy nature, the condition of our streams now brings

worries to some households who hear about pollution problems and regulations tied to the

Chesapeake Bay. The goal of these workshops is to discuss tools and opportunities for financial

and hands-on assistance for farmers grappling with clean water requirements."Workshop Details

The first workshop will be held on February 28th from 9:30 to 2:00 at the Dutch-Way

Farm Market Banquet Room in Christiana. The second workshop will be held on February 29th

from 9:30 to 2:00 at the Post House Restaurant’s Banquet Room, near Oxford.

The keynote speaker, Dr. Bernard Sweeney, Director of the Stroud Water Research

Center in Chester County, brings a promising message of restoration for waterways that flow

through Chester and Lancaster Counties.

Dr. Sweeney draws on a lifetime of research on streams and rivers throughout the world,

and will share his knowledge on the economic and environmental "services" that healthy streams

offer landowners and communities."We know that the Chesapeake Bay is only as healthy as its tributary streams," said

Sweeney. "We also know that healthy streams, both now and in the past, are typically bordered

 by trees and have lots of trees in their watershed. Current science shows that the strategic

 placement of trees along streams can enable farms, houses, and businesses to exist in a watershed

without loss of stream health or water quality."

David Wise, Stream Buffer Program Manager for CBF's Pennsylvania office will provide

an overview of the opportunities available through CREP, as well as the unique opportunity for 

Plain Sect farms through the Buffer Bonus program.

Additionally, Art Gover, Research Support Associate, from Penn State University, will

 provide detailed information for the maintenance of forested streambank buffers, and Dan

Miloser, Agricultural Technical Leader, from the Chester County Conservation District willaddress why every farm needs conservation and manure management plans, and how farmers can

get help in developing these essential plans.

The meetings are free and open to the public, but registration is requested. A free lunch is

 provided by Dutchway Farm Market and Post House Restaurant. Contact Lamont Garber at

717-576-3287 or mail a note with name, date of workshop attending, and the number attending

to: Lamont Garber, Chesapeake Bay Foundation, 614 North Front Street, Harrisburg, PA 17101.

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WREN: Source Water Protection 101 Workshops March 20, 22

The Water Resources Education Network of the PA League of Women Voters will sponsor two

Source Water Protection 101 Workshops on March 20 in Harrisburg and on March 22 in State

College.

The Source Water Protection 101 Course is designed to equip you with the tools andtechniques you need to carry out your land use responsibilities in a manner that will ensure the

long-term reliable supply of safe, affordable drinking water.

Source water protection offers the most cost effective way to prevent pollution of present

and future drinking water sources and makes much more sense than remediating a contaminated

water supply.

This course will equip you with an understanding of:

-- The crucial role of water to every municipality’s future and how to protect it;

-- How you can make better land use decisions that avoid negative impacts to drinking water;

-- The role of planning commissions, comprehensive planning, and land use regulations so you’ll

know how to use all of the tools available; and

-- How to develop a protection plan that will work for your municipality.Download the Workshop brochure for more information. Click Here for more water 

education programs.

Center For Private Forests Created By Penn State College Of Agriculture

 Nearly two-thirds of Pennsylvania is covered by forests, with more than 70 percent of those

woodlands privately owned. Recent estimates indicate Pennsylvania has more than 600,000

 private forest landowners, representing about one out of every nine households.

To better serve these landowners and advise them about forest conservation, Penn State's

College of Agricultural Sciences has created the Center for Private Forests.The focus of the center will be applied research, education and outreach to students,

forest landowners, the forest-products industry, loggers, conservation districts, agencies, land

trusts, nongovernmental organizations and the public.

Housed in the college's School of Forest Resources, the center will foster the retention,

stewardship and management of private forests, according to center director James Finley,

Ibberson Professor of Forest Resources. "We intend to focus outreach and research on the

stewardship of private forests and, through this process, to create collaborative learning

opportunities for students and stakeholders."

Faculty and staff involved in the center will cut across several Penn State departments

and will include agricultural and natural-resource economists, forest scientists, rural sociologists,

environmental scientists, biologists and others.Forests dominate the land cover in Pennsylvania, Finley explained, covering 17 million

of the state's 28 million acres. Private forests -- those owned by individuals, families, nonforestry

corporations and organizations -- account for 12 million of these forested acres, or 71 percent.

These owners represent an important constituency, Finley noted. Small parcels of 1 to 10

acres account for 25 percent, or 3 million acres, of private forestland. Only 3.5 percent of the

state's private forest landowners control parcels of more than 100 acres.

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"Both the many small tracts and bigger parcels are extremely important to conservation

efforts, to the forest industry and for providing many social and ecological values," he said.

"Addressing the needs of all forest landowners, both small and large, requires continued

development of applied research and outreach programs tailored to the unique challenges of 

managing forests in the complex ownership matrix."

The benefits derived from these private forests are diverse and widely enjoyed by allPennsylvanians, Finley pointed out. Individuals own forests for privacy, wildlife, recreation,

heritage and income-production values.

"But we all benefit from the critical ecological services such as clean air and water and

wildlife habitat provided by these private forests," he said. "The flow of goods from private

forests is an important economic driver in many rural and urban communities, providing nearly

100,000 jobs and adding an estimated $14 billion to the state's gross product."

"Private forests also contribute significantly to our economy through recreational pursuits

such as birding, hunting, fishing and other activities. The contribution of Pennsylvania's private

forests to our overall quality of life is inestimable."

Finley cited critical challenges that the center will help address: forest parcelization,

estate planning, sustainable forest management and regeneration, cross-boundary cooperation,taxation, ecosystem services and community support for retaining working forest landscapes.

"Failure to build a commitment for addressing these and other issues will certainly reduce

the flow of benefits and values from private forests," he said.

Link: Effort To Establish Blight-Free American Chestnut Switches Gears

DEP Fines Chesapeake Appalachia $565,000 For Multiple Violations

The Department of Environmental Protection Thursday fined Chesapeake Appalachia LLC a

total of $565,000 in civil penalties and reimbursement costs for erosion and sediment controlviolations, wetland encroachment violations and an April 2011 well control incident.

“The governor and I expect the highest standards to be met and when they are not, we

take strong enforcement action,” DEP Secretary Mike Krancer said. “We will continue to be

vigilant on that front. The protection of the state’s water is paramount.”

West Branch Township, Potter County

DEP fined Chesapeake $215,000 for a March 2011 incident in West Branch Township,

Potter County, where sediment discharged into a stream classified as high quality. High-quality

streams receive some of the highest levels of protection in the state, and operators are expected

to ensure their work does not negatively affect them.

In late February and early March, heavy rain caused significant erosion to an access road

and Chesapeake’s Beech Flats gas well pad, both of which lacked sufficient controls in place to prevent the run-off. As a result, significant amounts of sediment entered the Right Branch of 

Wetmore Run, a high-quality stream.

An inspection found that accelerated erosion had occurred at several spots on the access

road and the well pad because the operator failed to construct adequate controls to prevent the

run-off of sediment.

The sediment traveled downstream and impacted Galeton Borough Authority’s water 

treatment filters. Chesapeake has since paid $190,000 to the authority to repair and upgrade the

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water supply facility and has made assurances it will reimburse the authority any additional costs

associated with this incident.

DEP issued a compliance order that required Chesapeake to cease all activity at the site

that would disturb earth, such as road maintenance and grading; movement of rock, soil or earth;

and activity associated with gas drilling and extraction. Chesapeake was also ordered to

implement additional measures designed to lessen environmental impact and submit a revisederosion and sediment control plan.

Soon after that, the company installed silt fences, silt socks, gravel surfacing of the access

road and a stormwater capture ditch, and it submitted the revised plan.

Follow-up inspections determined that the violations were corrected. The authority

thanked DEP for taking immediate action.

Leroy Township, Bradford County

In addition, Chesapeake paid $190,000 as part of a consent order and agreement after the

operator lost control of a well head during hydraulic fracturing of the Atgas 2H Well in Leroy

Township, Bradford County, on April 19, 2011. Fluids from the well mixed with rainwater and

entered a nearby unnamed tributary to Towanda Creek and Towanda Creek itself.

On April 20, DEP detected levels of total dissolved solids, chlorides and barium that werehigher than background levels at the mouth of the tributary, where it enters Towanda Creek.

Subsequent testing further downstream and on the following days showed these levels returned

to normal background levels.

Chesapeake took two days to stop the flow from the well and four days beyond that to

 bring the well fully under control. At DEP’s request, Chesapeake suspended completion

activities at well sites across the state for approximately three weeks while assessing its

equipment’s integrity, containment mechanisms and procedures.

Chesapeake’s payment includes a $67,000 reimbursement for costs associated with the

agency’s response. The company must also conduct further testing, using an independent

laboratory, of five groundwater monitoring wells from the surrounding area to ensure there wereno impacts to groundwater from the release. Samples of the five monitoring wells taken in July,

August and October 2011 showed levels consistent with regional groundwater quality.

North Towanda Township, Bradford County

In connection with a third site, DEP fined Chesapeake $160,000 as part of a consent

order and agreement resulting from violations in 2010 of impacting a wetland and allowing

sediment to enter Sugar Creek in North Towanda Township, Bradford County. Part of a well pad

was built in the wetland. It was constructed with extremely high, steep slopes which, after 

significant precipitation, caused additional sediment to slide further into the wetland and the

nearby stream.

A series of site inspections in July 2010 found that the well pad had been constructed

 partially in a wetland and the construction activities deviated from the site’s erosion andsediment control plan, rendering the site vulnerable to erosion. DEP issued a notice of violation

for encroaching on wetlands without a permit and failing to implement best management

 practices. A follow-up meeting also directed Chesapeake to develop a remediation plan.

By constructing the well pad in that way, the company filled a third of an acre of 

wetlands without authorization. There were additional temporary impacts to the wetland through

erosion and tree clearing and in October 2010, heavy rains caused the middle portion of the pad’s

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fill slope to fail and sediment to enter Sugar Creek and an unnamed tributary, as well as further 

impact the nearby forested wetland.

In addition to paying the penalty, the company has removed the fill from the impacted

wetland and must construct 2.55 acres of replacement wetlands. The company is also required to

submit regular, detailed wetlands restoration monitoring reports.

Chesapeake’s actions constituted violations of the Oil and Gas Act, Clean Streams Lawand the Dam Safety and Encroachments Act.

NewsClips: DEP Fines Chesapeake $565,000

Driller Fined $565,000 For 3 Releases In Northern Tier 

Bradford Blow-Out Costs Chesapeake Energy More Than $250K 

Why DEP Cut Chesapeake's Fine In Half 

Drilling Violations Dropped In 2011

Drillers Cited For 3,300 Violations Over 4 Years

Governor's Office Publishes Regulatory Agenda For Next Six Months

The Governor's Office published its semi-annual notice of proposed and new regulations stateagencies will be considering in the next six months in the February 11 PA Bulletin, including

regulations for DEP, DCNR, Agriculture and other agencies under the Governor's jurisdiction.

(  PA Bulletin page 879 )

Marcellus Drilling Violations Drop In 2011

The PennEnvironment Research and Policy Center released a new study Wednesday which

found that out of a total of 4,596 Marcellus Shale wells drilled between 2008 and 2011, gas

operators accumulated 3,355 violations of environmental laws, with 2,392 violations (over 70

 percent) that likely posed a direct threat to the environment.“Our analysis shows that Marcellus Shale gas drilling companies are either unable or 

unwilling to comply with basic environmental laws,” said Erika Staaf of PennEnvironment

Research and Policy Center. “PennEnvironment Research and Policy Center is calling on our 

state leaders to halt additional shale gas extraction until gas operators can demonstrate that shale

gas extraction is safe for the environment and public health—a threshold that, to date, they have

not met.”

PennEnvironment Research and Policy Center pointed to recent incidents at Marcellus

Shale sites that put human health and safety at risk, such as a 2011 Chesapeake Appalachia

liquid storage tank explosion in Avella, Washington County and a Chesapeake Energy well

 blowout in Bradford County, also from 2011.

The report’s other findings included:-- The greatest numbers of environmental violations were related to improper erosion and

sedimentation plans: (625), and the second-greatest number involved faulty pollution prevention

techniques (548).

-- The top five operators for total number of violations were, in order, Cabot Oil and Gas Corp.

(412); Chesapeake Appalachia, LLC (393); Chief Oil and Gas, LLC (313); Talisman Energy

USA, Inc. (303); and East Resources, Inc. (170).

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-- The top five operators for average number of violations per well drilled were, in order,

Guardian Exploration, LLC (11 violations per well drilled); AB Resources PA, LLC (9); JW

Operating Co. (5.3); Flatirons Development, LLC (4.7) and Novus Operating, LLC (4.6).

“We believe these numbers offer a conservative view of environmental violations by

Marcellus Shale gas drilling companies in Pennsylvania,” said Staaf. “Given limited PADEP

enforcement staff relative to the more than 4,000 Marcellus wells drilled, we believe there aremany more violations that flew under the radar and went undetected.”

PennEnvironment Research and Policy Center is recommending the following policy

handles to stop the environmental violations that drilling companies commit in Pennsylvania

each year:

-- Increase mandatory minimum penalties for polluters that violate environmental laws. There

must be stronger incentives to protect our environment and the public’s health, and we need the

state to make sure that there is an economic incentive for complying with the law.

-- Update and increase the bonding requirements for gas drilling companies in order to cover the

full cost of completing a gas well. Pennsylvania’s taxpayers should not be left footing the bill for 

an expensive BP-like disaster related to gas drilling in the Commonwealth, or the legacy of coal

mining pollution—a bill that is mostly footed by taxpayers .-- Put areas that supply our drinking water, critical wildlife habitat and ecosystems, and our state

forests and other public lands completely off limits to drilling.

-- Increase funding to PADEP and other state agencies to ensure they can properly enforce

environmental and public health laws.

“If legislators were looking to pass a proposal that will allow more gas drilling near 

 people’s homes, and the parks, playgrounds and schools where our children play and spend their 

days, then ‘Mission Accomplished,’” Staaf added.

A copy of the report is available online.

NewsClips: Drilling Violations Dropped In 2011

Drillers Cited For 3,300 Violations Over 4 YearsDEP Fines Chesapeake $565,000

Driller Fined $565,000 For 3 Releases In Northern Tier 

Bradford Blow-Out Costs Chesapeake Energy More Than $250K 

Why DEP Cut Chesapeake's Fine In Half 

Riverside Elementary, Lackawanna County, Wins School Recycling Contest

Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful, the Professional Recycling of Pennsylvania and Keep America

Beautiful, Inc., Thursday announced the Pennsylvania winner of “Recycle-Bowl” was Riverside

Elementary West in Lackawanna County.

Riverside students recycled 35 pounds of waste per capita, earning $1000 in prize moneyfor the school. Students will be recognized at a special awards ceremony at the school this

month.

Additionally, Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful and Greenstar Recycling will be awarding

$500 at special award ceremonies to the four Recycle-Bowl runner-up schools in Pennsylvania.

The four schools are Stroudsburg Middle School (26 pounds), Monroe County, Greenfield

School (18 pounds), Philadelphia County, Mill Hall Elementary (16 pounds), Clinton County,

and Phillipsburg-Osceola Area Senior High School (10 pounds), Centre County.

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“Greenstar is proud to be associated with Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful and Recycle-

Bowl. The competition is a great way to highlight that recycling is one of the best, most cost

effective ways to conserve our natural resources and reduce carbon emissions. Healthy behavior 

changes in families often starts with the children,” said Matt Delnick, CEO of Greenstar 

Recycling. “Congratulations to all of the participants – recycle and everybody wins.”

Riverside Elementary West was also the winner of Greensylvania competition sponsored by the Professional Recyclers of Pennsylvania and was awarded an additional $250 for recycling

the most paper per capita in Pennsylvania.

“Keep America Beautiful is thrilled with the success of Recycle-Bowl’s inaugural year 

and our congratulations go out not just to Riverside Elementary West, but to all participating

schools for their work in showing how small changes can make a huge impact,” said Matt

McKenna, President and CEO of Keep America Beautiful. “Teachers and recycling coordinators

report that the competition provided them with a mechanism to start or improve their school’s

recycling operations. Importantly, they tell us it also provided them with invaluable teaching

moments about sustainability, math, science, and social studies.”

 Nestle Waters North America sponsored this year’s Recycle-Bowl competition. "We’re

eager to see more recycling in our schools and to help students learn how important recyclingis,” said Christine Korduba, Communications for Nestle Waters North America. “We’re excited

to partner with Keep America Beautiful and every participating school on this important

recycling initiative.”

A full list of statewide winners can be found online.

For information, visit the Recycle-Bowl webpage. To sign-up to receive updates for next

year’s competition, register online.

RecycleMania Kicks Off 2012 Collegiate Recycling Competition

RecycleMania springs back into action as college campuses compete to see who can reduce,reuse and recycle the most on-campus waste.

For an eight-week period, beginning in early February and running parallel to the NCAA

 basketball tournament, colleges and universities take part in an exciting competition that

increases recycling participation by students and staff, and raises awareness about the

significance of waste reduction programs on campuses.

From February 5 through March 30, 605 schools representing all 50 states, the District of 

Columbia and five Canadian provinces will compete in nine categories to see who recycles the

most on a per capita basis, who produces the least amount of waste and who recycles the largest

 percentage of their overall waste stream.

The states with the most participants include Pennsylvania (43), Texas (36),

Massachusetts (41), New York (41) and California (30). The list of institutions taking part isdiverse, ranging from Purdue University to UC-Berkeley to Washtenaw Community College in

Ann Arbor, Mich.

Colleges and universities choose to participate in either the formal competition which

ranks them based on standardized weight measurements, or as part of the less formal

"Benchmark" division. In both cases, schools submit weight data for paper, cardboard, cans and

 bottles, food waste and general trash each week, and are, in turn, able to see how they measure

up against each other in the continuously updated results.

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Video Contest

The 2012 tournament will feature a new electronics category, as well as a promotional

video contest based on a "Spirit of Recycling" theme. This year's competition also coincides with

the re-launch of the RecycleMania website.

"RecycleMania's power comes from the way it taps school spirit to motivate students who

may not react to a traditional environmental message," according to Bill Rudy, RecyclingManager at Brigham Young University and President of RecycleMania, Inc.

Indeed, RecycleMania is about more than simply winning. It is an opportunity for schools

to raise awareness about their campus recycling programs as well as waste reduction and

conservation issues in general. And, of course, it's also about simply recycling more.

In 2011, 630 participating colleges and universities collected over 91 million pounds of 

recyclables and compostable organics. This prevented the release of 127,553 metric tons of 

carbon dioxide equivalent (MTCO2E) into the atmosphere.

Top schools in the competition included California State University, San Marcos in the

Grand Champion category, Union College of Schenectady, N.Y. in the Per Capita Classic, and

 North Lake College of Irving, Texas, winner of the Waste Minimization category.

"Promoting sustainability to students on college campuses forms a prelude to anenvironmentally-conscious adulthood," said Matthew M. McKenna, President and CEO of Keep

America Beautiful. "Our organization is thrilled to play a role in RecycleMania as both a sponsor 

and an administrator of the program."

The RecycleMania competition began in 2001 as a challenge between Miami University

of Ohio and Ohio University. Today, it is independently owned by RecycleMania, Inc., which is

governed by a steering committee made up of recycling managers from participating universities.

Program management for the 2012 RecycleMania Tournament is provided by the national

nonprofit Keep America Beautiful.

The competition is made possible with the sponsorship support of Alcoa, The Coca-Cola

Company, SCA Tissue, Waste Management, the American Forest & Paper Association and HP."In the U.S., we have an enormous opportunity to improve our environmental footprint

 by recycling more of what we consume. When recycled, a can of soda is back on the shelf in just

60 days," said Paula Davis, President, Alcoa Foundation. "RecycleMania draws upon the energy

of Millennials and their passion for 'greener' living to mobilize their peers to reduce waste.

Together with Keep America Beautiful, we will reach more than 600 campuses and thousands of 

students with the message that everyday actions can make a difference. We are proud to support

this initiative and excited to see how creative schools get as they vie for bragging rights to the

number one spot."

"Recycling is good for all of us – it saves energy, conserves natural resources, and

reduces the need for landfill space," said Alain Robichaud, President of Coca-Cola Recycling

LLC. "Recycled beverage containers can be made into new cans and bottles, plus all sorts of  products you might never expect – apparel, backpacks, outdoor furniture and carpet are just a

few examples. RecycleMania gives us the opportunity to remind college students about the good

things that happen when they recycle."

"Because of SCA's commitment to sustainability, programs like RecycleMania are

important to us and connect with our core values," said Joe Russo, Vice President Sales and

Marketing, SCA AFH Professional Hygiene. "From our ongoing participation, we know this

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 program brings awareness to the benefits of recycling. We hope it continues to establish lifelong

habits and inspires others to get involved."

"We are thrilled with the long and successful relationship Waste Management has had

with Keep America Beautiful, and are excited to once again support RecycleMania," said Paul

Pistono, Vice President, Public Sector Solutions. "RecycleMania showcases Waste

Management's ability to divert materials and improve recycling rates among colleges anduniversities. Our dedicated higher education team is very knowledgeable of the unique

challenges and opportunities facing colleges and universities and WM has created solutions and

 programs specifically for this environment and to help improve diversion, drive toward zero

waste, and make sustainability a way of life on campus."

Additional program support is provided by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's

WasteWise program and the College and University Recycling Coalition.

RecycleMania has grown to 605 colleges and universities this year. These colleges and

universities represent more than 5.1 million students, and 1.1 million faculty and staff from 50

states, the District of Columbia and Canada.

A complete list of participants can be found online.

Click Here for details on the video contest. Click Here for a list of participating schools.Visit the RecycleMania website for more information on the program.

Three Hershey Plants Achieve Zero Waste To Landfill

The Hershey Company Thursday announced three of its manufacturing facilities in Pennsylvania

have achieved “Zero-Waste-to-Landfill“ status as a result of the company’s ongoing efforts to

enhance sustainability through recycling and waste management. Two of the facilities are in

Hershey, Pa., and the third is in Hazleton, Pa.

“We are proud of our role as stewards of the environment and of our progress in

eliminating waste from our operations,” said Terence O’Day, Senior Vice President of GlobalOperations at The Hershey Company. “We achieved ZWL at these facilities through a rigorous

 process of eliminating waste, recycling and converting waste to energy. Our employees

understand the importance of sustainability across our company and are working together to

reach our reduction goals.”

Zero Waste to Landfill means that routine manufacturing waste has been eliminated from

landfill disposal. The company’s Hazleton plant achieved ZWL status this month. The West

Hershey plant became a ZWL facility in October 2011.

In addition, the $200 million to $225 million expansion of the West Hershey facility,

announced in June 2010, is a Zero-Waste-to-Landfill construction project and the new addition

will be ZWL upon completion later this year.

In 2010, the Reese plant, also located in Hershey, Pa., achieved ZWL status. These plantsrecycle approximately 90 percent of the waste generated from operations and the remainder is

converted to energy at nearby waste-to-energy incinerators located in Bainbridge, Pa., and

Harrisburg, Pa.

The Hershey Company continues to improve its recycling and energy efficiency

 programs at all of its U.S. plants.

The company has added biogas capturing equipment at four of its U.S. facilities: Stuarts

Draft, Va.; Lancaster, Pa.; Hazleton, Pa.; and Robinson, Ill. The equipment captures biogas

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 produced through onsite wastewater treatment and converts it to energy, decreasing the

company’s reliance on fossil fuels.

The Hershey Company has a long history of environmental sustainability programs as

 part of its commitment to social responsibility. Company founder Milton Hershey started the

company’s first recycling center in Hershey in 1937, long before recycling and reducing waste

were common practices.Last year, Hershey unveiled two sets of solar arrays at facilities in Hershey, Pa., that

generate an estimated 318 megawatt-hours (MWh) per year and will eliminate hundreds of 

metric tons of greenhouse gases each year.

In 2009, the company committed to reducing its green house gas emissions by 15 percent

 by the end of 2011 based on 2008 emission levels and is on track to achieve this goal by the end

of the year.

For more information, visit The Hershey Company Environment webpage.

Aqua America Completes Solar Farm In Chester County

Aqua America Chief Financial Officer David P. Smeltzer said its utility operations are makingdeliberate steps into the alternative energy arena having recently completed a fourth solar 

installation to power as many water treatment facilities.

Smeltzer’s remarks were made in Philadelphia yesterday at the 19th Annual Emerald

Groundhog Day Investment Forum sponsored by Emerald Asset Management.

“Our investment in solar makes perfect sense for us because we are such heavy

consumers of electricity. Next to labor, it’s our greatest expense,” said Smeltzer.

Aqua Pennsylvania, Inc. recently completed construction of the latest installation—1.5

megawatt (MW) solar farm located on 6.5 acres of ground at the site of Aqua’s Pickering water 

treatment plant in Schuylkill Township, Chester County.

The farm, which will help power Aqua’s largest water treatment facility, is expected toreduce Aqua’s grid-tied usage by 2.2 million kilowatts (kW) annually resulting in a direct

economic benefit of $250,000 each year in avoided energy costs in 2012.

Aqua’s first solar facility was constructed in 2009 at its Ingram’s Mill water treatment

 plant in East Bradford Township, Chester County. The 1 MW farm was built on 4.5 acres of land

and has reduced grid-tied usage by 1.3 million kilowatt-hours during the past 12 months

resulting in a direct economic benefit of $130,000 annually in energy savings.

Late last year, Aqua America’s New Jersey subsidiary constructed two solar farms at

treatment facilities in Lopatcong Township, Warren County and in Gloucester Township,

Camden County. The 0.4 MW facility in Lopatcong powers the company’s ultraviolet light water 

treatment plant and is expected to save the company more than $72,000 in electricity costs.

The smaller 0.07MW solar farm in Gloucester Township powers a well station where it isexpected to achieve approximately $13,000 annually in electricity savings. Collectively, the New

Jersey solar facilities offset the need for 940 barrels of oil annually, or avoid the equivalent of 

926,000 car miles each year, or reduces CO2 emissions by 885,000 pounds annually.

All four projects alleviate congestion on the PJM grid resulting in additional savings to

all consumers by reducing line losses and congestion charges during daytime hours. Aqua

Pennsylvania is one of the largest producers of solar power in Pennsylvania and is the largest

water utility producer of solar energy in the Commonwealth.

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“We buy electricity at night when demand is lowest, which reduces our costs. During the

day when pricing is highest and need is greatest, we reduce our dependency on the grid at the

Pickering facility and get off the grid at the other three facilities," said Smeltzer. “We produce

enough power to sell some back to the grid during optimum periods. Our cost savings benefit

Aqua customers because the expense savings are passed on to customers. Our usage savings

 benefit other electricity consumers overall because the excess power we sell back to the gridhelps keeps pricing down for everyone."

“Additionally, there is an environmental benefit because we are producing power with

greatly reduced emissions, which shrinks our carbon footprint and helps lower the need for the

construction of new power generation facilities,” said Smeltzer.

FirstEnergy: Where To Get Money For Energy Efficiency Projects Feb. 15 Webinar

FirstEnergy's EnergySavePA Program is sponsoring a webinar on February 15 starting at noon

on Where To Get Money For Your Energy Efficiency Project. Click Here to register.

PA Biomass Energy Association Promotes Biomass, CHP Applications

The PA Biomass Energy Association, an outgrowth of the PA Biomass Working Group and the

PA Fuels for Schools programs, is working to advance the use of biomass for clean heat and for 

combined heat & power (CHP) applications in the state.

Members of the group are manufacturers, project developers, growers, end users, farmers,

foresters, and others who are interested in biomass energy use.

For more information and to join, visit the PA Biomass Energy Association website.

Underground Storage Tank Operator Training Deadline Nears

The Department of Environmental Protection this week reminded owners of underground storage

tanks they must meet operator training requirements by August 8. Click Here for the details.

DEP Falcon-Cam Returns, Offers Intimate Look At Nesting Birds of Prey

The Department of Environmental Protection has begun its annual live, 24-hour webcast of a

nesting pair of peregrine falcons living on a ledge on the Market Street side of the Rachel Carson

State Office Building in Harrisburg.

Three cameras chronicle the falcons while streaming the footage live on the Internet to

viewers around the world.

"Technology enables us to provide the world's bird lovers with a front-row seat to watchthe story of our falcon couple and offspring unfold before our eyes," DEP Secretary Mike

Krancer said. "This is a great show and more people are tuning in all the time."

Follow the falcons by visiting the PA Falcon Cam webpage. There, fans can also sign up

to receive the Falcon Wire electronic newsletter. Follow the falcons on Twitter .

Already this year, the resident male, who has been at the site since 2005, has had to

defend his territory from an ambitious adolescent tiercel. This development leaves the female

falcon with two potential mates this season.

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"The encouraging thing is that the female is here and healthy," DEP Environmental

Education director Jack Farster said. "My expectation is that the breeding season will be

successful and the resident male will maintain his breeding dominance."

Falcons have nested at the building for 12 years. To date, the nest has produced 53 eggs

and 45 hatchlings. Of these, 29 falcons survived; 13 males and 16 females. The gender of one of 

the nestlings that hatched in 2008, the runt of the clutch, or set of offspring, could not bedetermined.

Last year, the female falcon laid a clutch of four eggs, and only one hatched. The first

eggs of the 2012 breeding season will be laid in late March. The eggs should begin to hatch

around mid-May and the young falcons, or "eyases," will begin to take their first flights, or 

"fledge" in mid-June.

While their numbers are increasing, the Game Commission still lists peregrine falcons as

an endangered species. The bird's population in Pennsylvania has increased since the early 1990s

as a direct result of conservation efforts like this one. There are now 32 pairs of peregrine falcons

nesting at various locations across the state, according to the Game Commission.

 Nationally, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service removed the bird from its list of 

endangered and threatened species in 1999.For more information, visit the PA Falcon Cam webpage.

Temple-Ambler Hosts Summer Nature Camp, Nature Detectives Program July 9-13

The Wissahickon Valley Watershed Association in partnership with Temple University Ambler 

 present the second annual Summer Nature Camp. The camp will be held Monday- Friday, July

9- 13 from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. for campers ages 8 to 12.

The camp will be held at the Temple Ambler Campus on Meetinghouse Road with field

trips in the Wissahickon Watershed. The cost is $249.00 per camper and there is a 10 percent

discount for registrations before April 30.WVWA Educator Suzanne Smith-Oscilowski explains that students will learn the

following during this fun and informative one-week session: What is nature? Who lives in the

woods and wetlands? Explore insects, mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and plants--even

 plants that bite back! The campers will track wildlife, take wetland walks, build animal shelters,

 play games and create art from nature as they explore local woods and wetlands.

For more information, visit the Summer Nature Camp webpage or call 267-468-8500 for 

registration and more information.

Chesapeake Bay Foundation Summer Education Programs For Students, Teachers

Register now for summer education programs sponsored by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation for students and teachers.

Longwood Gardens Symposium On Zoos, Gardens And Advocates For Conservation

March 2

The 2012 Longwood Gardens Graduate Program Symposium will feature a program entitled,

"The Panda and the Public Garden: Reimagining Our Conservation Story."

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The Symposium will bring together the best of zoo and garden expertise to discover how

 public gardens and other institutions can inspire their audiences to care and advocate for 

conservation.

Featured speakers include:

-- Jerry Borin, former Executive Director of Columbus Zoo;

-- John Gwynne, Emeritus Chief Creative Officer and Vice President of the WildlifeConservation Society;

-- Dr. Alistair Griffiths, Curator of Horticultural Science at the Eden Project, UK;

-- Catherine Hubbard, Director of the ABQ Biopark, NM;

-- Kathy Wagner, consultant and former Vice President for Conservation and Education at the

Philadelphia Zoo;

-- Sally O'Byrne, teacher and naturalist at the Delaware Nature Society, will share the practical

art of storytelling in relation to conservation messaging; and

-- Andrew Losowsky, books editor at the Huffington Post, will address the nature and mechanics

of a good story.

Designed for the professional staff of public gardens, conservation-oriented

organizations, and cultural institutions, the Symposium will take place in Longwood Gardens’spectacular Ballroom starting at 8:00 am. Registration for the daylong event is $75.00 for 

 professionals, and $55.00 for full-time students.

For more information and to register online, visit the Symposium webpage or call the

Longwood Graduate Program office at 302-831-2517.

Naturalist Training Program Seeks Participants in Southeastern Pennsylvania

The volunteer training program Pennsylvania Master Naturalist is expanding its reach by

 partnering with three organizations across southeastern Pennsylvania, the PA Institute for 

Conservation Education announced.With training courses now in Philadelphia, Bucks and Chester counties, the Pennsylvania

Master Naturalist program will prepare substantially more citizens to become volunteer leaders

reaching out to their communities through conservation education, citizen science and

stewardship.

Pennsylvania Master Naturalist is a year-long volunteer leadership program with three

key components: the initial volunteer training course, annual volunteer service, and continuing

education in the natural sciences.

Master Naturalist volunteers design and pursue a wide variety of service projects,

following their own unique interests and passions. Since becoming a certified Master Naturalist

in 2010, George Parris has dedicated himself to improving his local neighborhood.

Mr. Parris used grant money to install a native plant garden in Malcolm X Park inPhiladelphia in partnership with Philadelphia Parks and Recreation, Friends of Malcolm X Park 

and St. Thomas Episcopal Church. Mr. Parris said that the revitalization project "enable[s] the

community to be a part of something they can be proud of because we all come together for a

common goal and everyone pitches in and nobody feels left out. With gardening you can actually

see your creation... and know we each put our love and care in it."

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Another Master Naturalist, Maggie Strucker, has designed a different kind of service

 project. Ms. Strucker has dedicated herself to developing after school programs for children who

 participate in Habitat for Humanity's Learning Lab.

Once a week she meets with two groups of students to teach lessons about natural history,

covering topics like native animals and native plants. Ms. Strucker incorporates hands-on

exploration and games to ensure that the students have fun while learning science. She said shehopes to "share [her] passion for nature with children that may not understand the wonders that

are right outside their doors, just as [her] eyes were opened to all of the natural wonders of urban

environments by the PMN training." For her the most important part of the PMN program was

learning about "fostering a sense of wonder about the natural world."

To date, twenty-six Master Naturalist volunteers have conducted 1,153 hours of volunteer 

outreach, stewardship, citizen science and education, contributing $23,000 of cost-savings to

eighteen (18) conservation and community-based organizations in the region.

For more information, visit the Pennsylvania Master Naturalist Program webpage.

Help Wanted: Science Education Specialist, Phipps Conservatory In Pittsburgh

Phipps Conservancy and Botanical Gardens in Pittsburgh is seeking a full-time Science

Education Specialist to strengthen and create new youth-focused education and outreach

initiatives in the areas of environmental conservation and sustainability, art and science, and

healthy living, with the core of building a positive relationship between humanity and the

environment.

The Science Education Specialist will work closely with the Science Education staff and

volunteers to:

-- Create, coordinate and teach cross-disciplinary, participatory environmental education

 programs and tours to school, homeschool, scout, after-school, camp, and under-resourced youth

groups.-- Develop programs that connect youth and the public to environment-focused scientists in

Phipps’ Botany in Action program.

-- Prepare materials, purchase supplies, maintain records, and help evaluate effectiveness of 

 programs.

-- Assist in the development, coordination and tracking of enrichment opportunities for formal

and informal educators.

-- Represent Phipps at community events, online as applicable, and present on Phipps’

innovative green initiatives.

Candidates must have a passion for teaching and for the environment, and a demonstrated

ability to work with children and the general public through engaging group presentations.

Requirements: bachelor’s degree in environmental education, environmental social

sciences or the ecological or conservation-based biological sciences; minimum of 2 years of 

relevant work experience; and a valid driver’s license and consistent access to a vehicle. Phipps

offers a competitive compensation package, strong benefits and unique atmosphere.

Qualified candidates should email their resume, cover letter and salary requirements

to: hr@phipps.conservatory.org or mail to Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, Human

Resources Department, 1059 Shady Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15232. No telephone calls, please.

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October 31-- PA Resources Council Lens On Litter Contest

-- Visit the DEP Grants and Loan Programs webpage for more ideas on how to get financial

assistance for environmental projects.

Budget/Quick Clips

Here's a selection of NewClips on environmental topics from around the state--

Budget

Budget Cuts Higher Education, $719 Million Deficit Projected

Corbett's Budget Cuts Environment Again, Zeroes Out Keystone Fund

Governor's Budget Mixed Bag For Conservationists

Environmental Programs Take A Hit In State Budget

 No New State Forest Leases In Corbett's Budget

Corbett's Proposed Budget Includes Cuts In Agriculture

Corbett's Budget Would Cut DEP Spending

DEP, DCNR Among Dozens Of Other Groups Affected

Corbett Says Transportation Funding Too Big For Budget

Corbett Talks Education, Transportation Spending

State's Nonunion Employees Want A Pay Raise

Turzai Pitches Bill To Limit Capital Budget Spending

Turzai Calls For New Controls On State Borrowing

Marcellus Drilling Fee

County Commissioners Face Decision On Drilling Fee

Mapping PA Counties' Impact Fee Money

Optional Drilling Fee Could Pull In $40 MillionHouse Sends Drilling Fee Bill To Governor's Desk 

House Votes To Send Shale Drilling Fee To Corbett

House Sends Gas Drilling Bill To Corbett's Desk 

House Approves Marcellus Shale Bill

 Natural Gas Impact Fee Bill Headed To Corbett's Desk 

Impact Fee Bill Wins Final Approval

Corbett Praises Impact Fee Vote

Range Resources, Lawmakers Respond To Marcellus Bill

Pickett Says Impact Fee Addresses Concerns Of Communities

Impact Fee Can Provide Money For Ethane Cracker 

What Happens Now After Passing Marcellus BillSenate Approves First Fees On Shale Drilling

Senate Approves Shale Impact Fee

Senate Approves Proposed Fee On PA Shale Drilling

Senate Approves Impact Fee Bill

Senate Clears Marcellus Shale Fee Bill

Green Groups Split On Protections In Drilling Bill

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Political Pressure Led Philly Democrats To Back Impact Fee

 NE Senators Skeptical Of Marcellus Bill

PA Set To Allow Local Taxes On Shale Gas

Marcellus Coalition Talks About Chemical Disclosure, Drilling Fees

Conference Committee Approves Drilling Impact Fee

Final Drilling Impact Fee Bill Clears First VoteLawmakers Agree On Bill To Impose Drilling Fee

Conference Committee Sends Drilling Fee Bill To Floor Vote

Gas Drilling Fee Moves Forward In PA

Drilling Fee Would Yield $190 Million First Year 

Editorial: Marcellus Drillers Get Their Way

Editorial: Drilling Down Into Fee Details

Editorial: Fee Goes Easy On Gas Drillers

Editorial: Hasty Drill Bill Deeply Disturbing

Other

 New Recycling System Hailed In Wilkes-Barre

Delco Seeks To Assure Safety Of Ex-RefineriesResearch On Improved Wind Turbines Under Way

A Solar Farm's Slow Going

Sewage Plant Will Generate Biofuel, Clean Water 

Utilities Power Up Social Networks

Power Plant Owner Seeks Comment On Shoreline Strategy

PA-Based NASCAR Team Takes Earth-Friendly Steps

Pitt To Receive $22 Million For Energy Research

Pitt Conference Spotlights Careers In Sustainability

Green Gym In Hazleton, Just The Beginning

Feds OK First New Nuclear Reactors In 30 YearsDEP Orders Radon Contractor To Surrender Certification

DEP Fines Engineering Firm $10,000 For Radiation Violations

DEP Fines Veterinary Hospital, Dentist For X-Ray Violations

More Birds Die As Temple Grows

Editorial: Bikes v. Cars Why Can't We Get Along?

265,000 People Visited Flight 93 Memorial Last Year 

Marcellus Shale NewsClips

Here are NewsClips on topics related to Marcellus Shale natural gas drilling---

County Commissioners Face Decision On Drilling Fee

Mapping PA Counties' Impact Fee Money

Optional Drilling Fee Could Pull In $40 Million

Range Resources, Lawmakers Respond To Marcellus Bill

Pickett Says Impact Fee Addresses Concerns Of Communities

Mixed Bag Out Of PA On Fracking Chemical Disclosure

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House Sends Drilling Fee Bill To Governor's Desk 

House Votes To Send Shale Drilling Fee To Corbett

House Sends Gas Drilling Bill To Corbett's Desk 

House Approves Marcellus Shale Bill

 Natural Gas Impact Fee Bill Headed To Corbett's Desk 

Impact Fee Bill Wins Final ApprovalCorbett Praises Impact Fee Vote

Impact Fee Can Provide Money For Ethane Cracker 

What Happens Now After Passing Marcellus Bill

Senate Approves First Fees On Shale Drilling

Senate Approves Shale Impact Fee

Senate Approves Proposed Fee On PA Shale Drilling

Senate Approves Impact Fee Bill

Senate Clears Marcellus Shale Fee Bill

Green Groups Split On Protections In Drilling Bill

Political Pressure Led Philly Democrats To Back Impact Fee

Marcellus Coalition Talks About Chemical Disclosure, Drilling Fees NE Senators Skeptical Of Marcellus Bill

PA Set To Allow Local Taxes On Shale Gas

Conference Committee Approves Drilling Impact Fee

Final Drilling Impact Fee Bill Clears First Vote

Lawmakers Agree On Bill To Impose Drilling Fee

Drilling Fee Would Yield $180 Million First Year 

Editorial: Marcellus Drillers Get Their Way

Editorial: Drilling Down Into Fee Details

Editorial: Fee Goes Easy On Gas Drillers

Editorial: Hasty Drill Bill Deeply DisturbingDEP Secretary Answers Questions On Marcellus Drilling

Landfill Proposes To Mill Marcellus Waste

Marcellus Shale Making Homeless Veterans Problem Worse

PUC Plans Expanded Oversight On Natural Gas Pipelines

Pipeline Projects In Works For Lycoming, McKean, Elk Counties

PA Court: Oil, Gas Leases Valid, But Vague

Feb. 16 Webinar Looks At Marcellus Impacts On Transportation

Op-Ed: Marcellus Shale Industry Supports Fair, Uniform Policies

Op-Ed: Health Impacts Of Marcellus Drilling Still Unknown

Fire Destroys Mercer County Natural Gas Compressor Station

A Year After Explosion, Little Is Known About Gas LinesThe Generous Side Of Natural Gas Companies

Drilling Violations Dropped In 2011

Drillers Cited For 3,300 Violations Over 4 Years

DEP Fines Chesapeake $565,000

Driller Fined $565,000 For 3 Releases In Northern Tier 

Why DEP Cut Chesapeake's Fine In Half 

Bradford Blow-Out Costs Chesapeake Energy More Than $250K 

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Trib Reporter Receives Carnegie Award For Marcellus Articles

Financial/Other States

Consol Energy Adds Natural Gas Reserves

Editorial: Exploit Low Natural Gas Prices

Utica Shale Deals Leapt To $6.7 billion In 2011

Sierra Club Faces Gas Cash FalloutU.S. Energy Czar Touts Natural Gas During Visit

 New Film In Defense Of Fracking

Flooding/Watershed NewsClips

Here are NewsClips on watershed topics from around the state--

Flooding

Harrisburg Major Applies For Federal Flood Aid

Other Watershed NewsClips

Manure Management Rules Expanded

Clearfield Creek Watershed Group Lands $528G Grant

Mine Water Treatment Plant Sending Clean Water To Susquehanna

Shupe Run Watershed Protection Project Funded

Lebanon Valley Sites Receive Growing Greener Grants

 NCCD Awarded Grant From Growing Greener 

DEP Awards $1.65M For Midstate Watershed Projects

Palmyra Gets Grant For Wetlands Project

Erie Projects Earn Growing Greener Grants

Sewage Plant Will Generate Biofuel, Clean Water 

Power Plant Owner Seeks Comment On Shoreline Strategy

Regulations, Technical Guidance & Permits

The Governor's Office published its semi-annual notice of proposed and new regulations state

agencies will be considering in the next six months, including regulations for DEP, DCNR,

Agriculture and other agencies under the Governor's jurisdiction. (  PA Bulletin page 879 )

The Environmental Quality Board published notice of proposed air quality regulations covering

 packaging printing presses and other printing operations for comment.

Pennsylvania Bulletin - February 11, 2012

Proposed Regulations Open For Comment - DEP webpage

Proposed Regulations With Closed Comment Periods - DEP webpage

DEP Regulatory Agenda - DEP webpage

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Technical Guidance & Permits

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice of draft guidance on tracking

financial guarantees and bond credits for comment, notice of certification requests under the

 Nutrient Credit Trading Programm, notice of rates used for calculating long-term costs for water supply replacement for mining operations

DEP ID: 563-2504-501. Qualifying, Processing, and Tracking Financial Guarantees and Bond

Credits. The purpose of this document is to provide guidance to evaluate, process and track 

remining financial guarantees and bond credits.

Technical Guidance Comment Deadlines - DEP webpage

Copies Of Draft Technical Guidance - DEP webpage

Copies of Final Technical Guidance - DEP webpage

Calendar Of Events

Upcoming legislative meetings, conferences, workshops, plus links to other online calendars.

Meetings are in Harrisburg unless otherwise noted.  NEW means new from last week. Go to the

online Calendar webpage.

Click on Agenda Released on calendar entries to see the NEW meeting agendas published this

week.

Note: You can watch the hearings live through the Senate webpage and the House webpage or 

on the PA Cable Network website.

February 13-- Senate Appropriations Committee budget hearings: 9:30 - Governor's Budget

Office; 1:00 - Independent Fiscal Office Economic Outlook and Revenue Overview. Hearing

Room 1, North Office.

February 14-- Senate Appropriations Committee budget hearings: 9:30 - Department of General

Services; 1:00 - Public Utility Commission. Hearing Room 1, North Office.

February 14-- NEW. House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee meets to consider 

House Bill 1934 (F.Keller-R-Snyder) excluding people residing in federal or state facilities for 

determining when a municipality must recycle. Room 205 Ryan Building. 9:15.

February 15-- Joint Legislative Budget & Finance Committee meeting to release report on

Game Commission compliance with its strategic plan. Hearing Room 3, North Office Building.

10:00.

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February 15-- CANCELED. DEP Agricultural Advisory Board meeting. Next scheduled

meeting is April 18. (  formal notice )

February 16-- Senate Appropriations Committee budget hearings: 1:00 - State Police/

Homeland Security; 3:00 - Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Hearing Room1, North Office.

February 16-- Susquehanna River Basin Commission meeting on water withdrawal,

consumption requests. Room 8E-B East Wing. 2:30. (  formal notice with Agenda )

February 16-- Agenda Released. DEP Board for Certification of Water and Wastewater 

Systems Operators meeting. 10th Floor Conference Room. 10:00.

February 21-- House Appropriations Committee budget hearings: 9:30 - Global Economy;

11:00 - Independent Fiscal Office; 1:30 - Department of Revenue. Room 140.

February 21-- CANCELED. Environmental Quality Board meeting. Next scheduled meeting is

March 20. (  formal notice )

February 21-- Agenda Released. DEP Citizens Advisory Council meeting. Room 105 Rachel

Carson Building. 11:30.

February 22-- Senate Appropriations Committee budget hearings: 9:30 - Department of 

Environmental Protection; 1:00 - Department of Transportation. Hearing Room 1, North Office.

February 27-- House Appropriations Committee budget hearings: 10:00 - Public UtilityCommission; 11:00 - Office of Consumer Advocate, Small Business Advocate. Room 140.

February 28-- Senate Appropriations Committee budget hearings: 1:00 - Department of 

Agriculture. Hearing Room 1, North Office.

February 28-- House Appropriations Committee budget hearings: 9:30 - Department of 

Agriculture; 10:30 - Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Room 140.

February 29-- Senate Appropriations Committee budget hearings: 9:30 - PA Emergency

Management Agency. Hearing Room 1, North Office.

February 29-- House Game and Fisheries Committee informational meeting on Fish and Boat

Commission's Annual Report. Room 39 East Wing. 10:00.

February 29-- House Appropriations Committee budget hearings: 9:30 - Department of 

Transportation; 3:00 - Department of Environmental Protection. Room 140.

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March 1-- House Appropriations Committee budget hearings: 10:00 Department of Labor &

Industry; 1:00 - Department of Community and Economic Development. Room 140.

March 6-- House Appropriations Committee budget hearings: 9:30 - State Police/Office of 

Homeland Security; 11:00 - PA Emergency Management Agency; 3:00 - Department of General

Services. Room 140.

March 6-- CANCELED. DEP Storage Tank Advisory Committee meeting. Next scheduled

meeting is June 5. (  formal notice )

March 7-- House Game and Fisheries Committee informational meeting on Game Commission's

Annual Report. Room 39 East Wing. 10:00.

March 8-- House Appropriations Committee budget hearings: 10:00 - Budget Secretary; 1:00 -

House Member Testimony. Room 140.

March 14-- DEP Air Quality Technical Advisory Committee meeting. Room 105 Rachel CarsonBuilding. 9:15. (  formal notice )

March 26-- Environmental Issues Forum, Joint Legislative Air and Water Pollution Control and

Conservation Committee featuring a presentation by DCNR Secretary Richard Allan. (Location

to be determined) Noon.

DEP Calendar of Events

Note: The Environmental Education Workshop Calendar is no longer available from the PA

Center for Environmental Education because funding for the Center was eliminated in the FY2011-12 state budget. The PCEE website was also shutdown, but some content was moved to

the PA Association of Environmental Educators' website.

Senate Committee Schedule House Committee Schedule

You can watch the Senate Floor Session and House Floor Session live online.

Stories Invited

Send your stories, photos and videos about your project, environmental issues or programs for 

 publication in the PA Environment Digest to: DHess@CrisciAssociates.com.

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