EnviroPolitics Blog

Pa House Environmental committee meeting today

The Pennsylvania House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee was meeting
in Harrisburg, Pa. this morning to take up the three bills listed below (with their legislative history):

HB
1325 (Maloney) Amends the the Pennsylvania Sewage Facilities Act,
further providing for definitions, for official plans and for permits.
Referred to ENVIRONMENTAL
RESOURCES AND ENERGY, May 6, 2013

SB
196 (D. White) Expands PENNVEST funding under the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority Act
Referred to ENVIRONMENTAL
RESOURCES AND ENERGY, Jan. 17, 2013 [Senate]
Reported as committed from ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES AND ENERGY, Jan. 23, 2013
First consideration, Jan. 23, 2013
Re-referred to APPROPRIATIONS,
Feb. 13, 2013
Re-reported
as amended from APPROPRIATIONS, March 18, 2013
Second
consideration, April 8, 2013
Third
consideration and final passage, April 15, 2013 (49-0)

In the House
Referred to ENVIRONMENTAL
RESOURCES AND ENERGY, April 16, 2013

HR
223 (Tallman) A Resolution
memorializing the Congress of the United States to support Congressman Glenn
Thompson of Pennsylvania’s efforts to pass H.R. 979, known as the Forest
Products Fairness Act of 2013, and urging each member of Congress from
Pennsylvania to support his efforts.
Referred to ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES AND ENERGY, April 9, 2013

———————————————————————————————————————————-
For thorough coverage of environmental news, issues, legislation and regulation in NJ, PA, NY & DE, try a FREE subscription to EnviroPolitics. Our daily newsletter also tracks NJ & PA environment and energy bills–from introduction to enactment
———————————————————————————————————————————-

Our latest posts:
NRG agrees to stop burning coal at Pa power plant
PADEP: Anybody see a nuclear gauge laying around?
NJ agriculture, environment bills in committee today
NJIT professor’s encouraging new desalination process
Tweaks ahead for New York’s Brownfields programs?
Christie takes double rap on his environmental record

Pa House Environmental committee meeting today Read More »

PADEP: Anybody see a nuclear gauge laying around?

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection put out a news release today that had to hurt.

It asks whether anyone has seen a missing nuclear gauge containing sealed sources of radioactive material that apparently fell off the back of a truck somewhere in West Virginia.

Lest you think we’re making this up, here’s the full text of the news release:

HARRISBURG — The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission and West Virginia state officials are searching for a missing portable gauge containing sealed sources of radioactive material that was lost in West Virginia on May 3, and are asking anyone with information on the missing gauge to report it to DEP.

“It is critical for anyone who has information about the lost nuclear gauge to contact the Pennsylvania DEP, Nuclear Regulatory Commission or a local law enforcement agency immediately,” DEP Bureau of Radiation Protection Director David Allard said. “As long as the device is not tampered with or damaged, it presents no hazard to public safety.”

The gauge, a Troxler Model 3430 with serial number 32506, was lost when it apparently fell off the back of a truck on I-81 between the Pennsylvania and West Virginia border between mile markers 17 and 24. The bright yellow gauge is commonly used in road construction for taking measurements in the ground, and it is about the size of a shoe box, with electronic controls and a metal rod extending from the top surface.

The gauge is normally stored in a locked yellow transportation container when not in use at construction sites, but it apparently fell out of the container on the back of the company’s truck during transport.

Valley Quarries Inc. of Chambersburg, Franklin County, is licensed by DEP to possess and use the gauge. Staff from the company was using it in West Virginia at the time it was lost.

Anyone who finds the gauge should leave it alone and report the location to DEP during normal working hours at 717-787-2480 or 412-442-4227. After normal working hours and on weekends, call 1-800-541-2050 or 412-442-4000. In the event of an emergency, dial 911. A trained individual will be dispatched immediately to recover the gauge.

The company is offering a reward for information leading to its return.

Think there’s a chance the gauge will be ‘discovered’ tonight by Jay Leno, David Letterman
or Jon Stewart?

Our latest posts:
NJ agriculture, environment bills in committee today
NJIT professor’s encouraging new desalination process
Tweaks ahead for New York’s Brownfields programs?
Christie takes double rap on his environmental record
Shore reconstruction bills on NJ lawmakers’ agenda

PADEP: Anybody see a nuclear gauge laying around? Read More »

NJ agriculture, environment bills in committee today

Fourteen agriculture and environment bills will be considered in two committees

of the New Jersey Assembly in Trenton today at 2 p.m. To see a full copy of any
of the bills, just click its number.

Here’s the lineup:

ASSEMBLY AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES

Committee Room 14, 4th Floor, State House Annex, Trenton, NJ

A-946 Riley, C.M. (D-3)

Permits a farm income averaging credit under the New Jersey gross income tax.

A-1892 Milam, M.W. (D-1); Albano, N.T. (D-1); Andrzejczak, B. (D-1)

Creates State Beach Task Force. Related Bill: S-2359

A-3840 Albano, N.T. (D-1)

Prohibits DEP from reducing fishing quotas established by federal or regional entities, unless authorized by law.

A-3944 Riley, C.M. (D-3)

Removes statutory limitation on number of permits that may be issued by Division of Fish and Wildlife for the taking of beaver. Related Bill: S-2665

A-4036 Albano, N.T. (D-1); Andrzejczak, B. (D-1)

Establishes directed bait and human food fishery for menhaden, and clarifies existing law regarding taking of menhaden. Related Bill: S-2726

AJR-71 Vainieri Huttle, V. (D-37)

Designates Wednesday of second week in August as "Assistance Animal Recognition Day."

Related Bill: SJR-49

———————————————————————————————————————————-
For thorough coverage of environmental news, issues, legislation and regulation in NJ, PA, NY & DE, try a FREE subscription to EnviroPolitics. Our daily newsletter also tracks NJ & PA environment and energy bills–from introduction to enactment. ———————————————————————————————————————————-

ASSEMBLY ENVIRONMENT AND SOLID WASTE

Committee Room 9, 3rd Floor, State House Annex, Trenton, NJ

A-2852 McKeon, J.F. (D-27); Spencer, L.G. (D-29); Conaway, H. (D-7)

Establishes notification requirements for combined sewer overflows.

Related Bill: S-831

A-3836 Spencer, L.G. (D-29)

Concerns environmental permits in burdened communities.

Related Bill: S-962

A-3890 Eustace, T.J. (D-38); Schepisi, H. (R-39); Rudder, S. (R-8)

Provides limited exemption from local land use restrictions to allow certain existing structures to be raised to new FEMA base flood elevations. Related Bill: S-2598

A-3892 McKeon, J.F. (D-27)

Establishes criteria and requirements for shore protection project priority list and funding from Shore Protection Fund. Related Bill: S-2600

A-3920 Barnes III, P.J. (D-18); Ramos Jr., R.J. (D-33); Gusciora, R. (D-15)

Creates New Jersey Coastal Commission; reallocates certain funds from DEP to commission; and appropriates $20 million.

A-3921 Barnes III, P.J. (D-18); Ramos Jr., R.J. (D-33)

Changes type of development requiring CAFRA permit from DEP.

AR-150 Rudder, S. (R-8); Brown, C.J. (R-8)

Encourages schools to purchase and use products made with recycled materials.

S-831 Smith, B. (D-17); Scutari, N.P. (D-22)

Establishes notification requirements for combined sewer overflows. Related Bill: A-2852

Our latest posts:
NJIT professor’s encouraging new desalination process
Tweaks ahead for New York’s Brownfields programs?
Christie takes double rap on his environmental record
Shore reconstruction bills on NJ lawmakers’ agenda
EPA hearing on cleaner auto fuel today in Philadelphia

NJ agriculture, environment bills in committee today Read More »

NJIT professor's encouraging new desalination process

Drought has always been a problem but is increasing. Shortages of potable water worldwide are expected to rise to 50 percent by 2025, potentially spurring political instability and international conflict. Desalination of seawater can help coastal communities with local shortfalls but the process today is costly and not particularly efficient. But a new system developed by New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) chemical engineering professor Kamalesh Sirkar offers hope for a significant leap forward.

In 10 Innovations in Water Purification, Patrick J. Kiger writes:

In Sirkar’s direct-contact membrane distillation (DCMD) system, heated seawater flows across a plastic membrane containing a series of hollow tubes filled with cold distilled water. The DCMD’s tubes have tiny pores, which are designed so that they can be penetrated by the water vapor which collects on them, but not by salt. The vapor diffuses through the pores and is drawn off, to be condensed again into liquid water.

According to Sirkar, his system is extremely efficient — it can produce 80 liters (21 gallons) of drinking water per 100 liters (26 gallons) of seawater, about twice what existing desalination technology can produce. One potential downside of DCMD is that it requires a steady, inexpensive source of heat in order to prevent the water temperature on either side of the membrane from equalizing. But there’s the possibility that DCMD systems could someday recycle waste heat from shore-based factories and offshore oil drilling operations, making it a win-win for everybody

Also see Scientific American‘s: New Desalination Technique Yields More Drinkable Water

Our latest posts:
Tweaks ahead for New York’s Brownfields programs?
Christie takes double rap on his environmental record
Shore reconstruction bills on NJ lawmakers’ agenda
EPA hearing on cleaner auto fuel today in Philadelphia
Few surprises in latest poll on fracking in New York

*******************************************************************************************************
For coverage of environmental news, issues, legislation and regulation in NJ, PA, NY & DE, try a FREE subscription to EnviroPolitics. Our daily newsletter also tracks NJ & PA environment and energy bills–from introduction to enactment *******************************************************************************************************

NJIT professor's encouraging new desalination process Read More »

Tweaks ahead for New York's Brownfields programs?

In an alert to clients and friends, Adam C. Arnold, an associate in the Real Property & Environmental section of the Gibbons law firm, today writes:

New York State was among the first to enact programs aimed at remediation and redevelopment of contaminated sites. The goal of such programs is both to promote economic revitalization and to encourage private entities to remediate the state’s contaminated sites.

Three such programs, the Voluntary Cleanup Program (“VCP”), the Environmental Restoration Program (ERP), and the Brownfield Cleanup Program(“BCP”), have achieved considerable success, with over 400 sites having been remediated in the past two decades.

Nevertheless, policy makers continue to search for ways to make these programs better and more cost efficient. Prompted by the impending expiration of key provisions of the BCP, a report released by the New York State Comptroller’s office in April 2013, provides an assessment of these programs, as well as some options for improvement going forward.

For more about the state’s current programs and recommendations in the new report, read Mr. Arnold’s: New Report Considers Options For Tweaking Brownfields Programs in NY

For coverage of environmental news, issues, legislation and regulation in NJ, PA, NY & DE, try a FREE subscription to EnviroPolitics. Our daily newsletter also tracks NJ & PA environment and energy bills–from introduction to enactment

Tweaks ahead for New York's Brownfields programs? Read More »

Christie to holdouts: Dunes will be built; that’s no B.S.

New Jersey 101.5 today reports:

At his latest town hall on Long Beach Island, Governor Chris Christie said his message is simple for folks who fail to sign easements by the deadline, which is today.

“We are building these dunes,” he told a cheering crowd. “And we are building these dunes whether you consent or not.”

Opponents said the easements will give the state the green light to build not only dunes nearby, but other amenities like bathrooms and amusement rides.

Christie argued, “I have no interest in taking your property. I have no interest in building anything besides a dune on your property, and then replenishing that dune when it needs to be replenished.”

He said their reasons were ‘BS’ anyway, except he used the full word. According to Christie, the reluctant homeowners just don’t want their views blocked.

See the full story here and watch the video in which the governor asked parents to cover the ears of children before he delivered his no-abbreviation phrase.

At the meeting, he also explained his administration’s plans for property buyouts in Sayreville and other communities where property owners want buyouts.

Our most recent posts:
Christie takes double rap on his environmental record
Shore reconstruction bills on NJ lawmakers’ agenda
EPA hearing on cleaner auto fuel today in Philadelphia
Few surprises in latest poll on fracking in New York
A sick river, from those who brought you Agent Orange

Christie to holdouts: Dunes will be built; that’s no B.S. Read More »