June 23 PA Environment Digest Now Available

The June 23 PA Environment Digest is now available. Click Here to print entire Digest.

Commonwealth Sues Major Oil Companies To Recover MTBE Damage, Cleanup Costs

Attorneys representing the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania filed separate lawsuits in the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas Thursday, seeking relief for the widespread pollution and harm done to Pennsylvania's waters caused by gasoline containing the additive known as MTBE, and reimbursement for misuse of the PA Underground Storage Tank Indemnification Fund (USTIF).

Chesapeake Bay Foundation Commends Gov. Corbett For Signing New Bay Agreement

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation Monday thanked Gov. Tom Corbett for recommitting the Commonwealth to the effort to restore Pennsylvania’s rivers and streams, and the Chesapeake Bay.

DEP CAC Told PA Must Reduce Nitrogen By Over 10 Million Pounds By 2017

Andy Zemba, Director of DEP’s Interstate Waters Office, told the DEP Citizens Advisory Council Tuesday Pennsylvania must reduce its nitrogen load going into our rivers and streams by over 10 million pounds, our sediment load by nearly 212 million pounds and our phosphorus pollution by 141,000 pounds if we are to meet our 2017 Chesapeake Bay cleanup milestones.

Video: DEP Citizens Advisory Council Visits Dairy Farm To See BMPs First-Hand

Members of the DEP Citizens Advisory Council Tuesday visited the Dennis Garman Farm in Cumberland County to see first-hand how a working dairy farm incorporates best management practices into its operations to not only reduce their environmental footprint, but to improve profitability.

Gov. Corbett Gives Pension, Liquor Ultimatum, Does Not Rule Out Severance Tax

Gov. Corbett this week made a “request” that the Senate and House do meaningful pension reform and liquor reform first before he will talk about what to do with the state budget or enacting revenue measures like a natural gas severance tax.  But he didn’t rule out enactment of a severance tax. “I am willing to be here.  The Lt. Governor is willing to be here.  No bluster, no threats.  These are the facts,” said Gov. Corbett.

CBF-PA: Any Severance Tax Should Help PA Meet Clean Water Commitments

On Tuesday, Harry Campbell, Director of the PA Office of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, wrote to members of the House and Senate urging them to remember the commitments Pennsylvania has made to cleaning up its rivers and streams if they enact a natural gas severance tax.

Environmental Groups Urge Senate, House To Stop Cuts, Protect Our Land And Water

The Growing Greener Coalition, PA Land Trust Association, Chesapeake Bay Foundation-PA, Pennsylvania Environmental Council, Western PA Conservancy, The Nature Conservancy-PA Chapter,  Lancaster Farmland Trust, Preservation Pennsylvania, HeritagePA and dozens of other environmental and conservation groups Thursday urged members of the Senate and House to oppose budget cuts that reduce or eliminate General Fund appropriations to program that protect land, water and Pennsylvania’s heritage.

DEP To Webcast Oil & Gas Advisory Board Meeting Live June 26

DEP’s Oil and Gas Technical Advisory Board is scheduled to meet on June 26 to consider a summary of comments on the Chapter 78 drilling regulation changes and a conceptual overview of new, draft changes for a new regulation package covering well drilling standards, operations, plugging and underground gas storage.

Hayley Book, Director of DEP’s Office of Policy, told the DEP Citizens Advisory Council Tuesday the agency will be webcasting the meeting live as a webinar.  Click Here for more information on how to register when it becomes available.

Attorney General Files PUC Appeal On Variable Rate Electric Supply Contracts

Attorney General Kathleen G. Kane Friday announced the Bureau of Consumer Protection and the Office of Consumer Advocate have filed joint complaints against five out-of-state electric generation suppliers before the Public Utility Commission, after some consumers complained their electricity costs increased by as much as 300 percent.

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