Pennsylvania Environmental Council

PEC Releases Report on Marcellus Shale Development

john — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 07:11:07 -0400

Developing the Marcellus Shale Report

Press Release + Accompanying Remarks

Important State Budget Revenue Decisions Remain

john — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 13:11:59 -0400

Below is text of the mesage sent to members of the General Assembly as they consider the revenue component of the state budget.

June 30, 2010

PEC Statement on State Budget Negotiations

john — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 15:15:40 -0400

The Pennsylvania Environmental Council today joined the Pennsylvania Chapter of The Nature Conservancy (TNC), the Pennsylvania Office of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF), the Pennsylvania Organization for Watersheds and Rivers (POWR), and the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy (WPC) on the following statement.

PEC to Testify at Marcellus Shale Hearing

brad — Wed, 12 May 2010 11:08:04 -0400

Update: PEC's Testimony is now available online.

HARRISBURG -- John Walliser, Vice President of Legal and Government Affairs, Pennsylvania Environmental Council, will testify at a hearing on water quality issues relating to the Marcellus Shale industry in Pennsylvania from 10 a.m. to noon Friday, May 14, at Penn State Fayette's Eberly Campus, Williams Building, Swimmer Hall, One University Drive, Uniontown.

PEC Calls for Halt on Additional State Forest Land Leasing

john — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 14:12:47 -0400

The Pennsylvania Environmental Council, as well as the Pennsylvania Chapters of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation and The Nature Conservancy, today called on Governor Rendell and the General Assembly to halt any consideration of additional leasing of state forest land for natural gas extraction until a comprehensive environmental and public use assessment is conducted. A copy of the statement is included below.

New Report on Benefits of Growing Greener II

john — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 10:32:54 -0400

The Legislative Budget and Finance Committee, a joint committee of the Pennsylvania General Assembly, has issued a report on the Growing Greener II initiative. The report was conducted pursuant to a House Resolution (2009-17) introduced by Representative Kate Harper.

According to the Report, Growing Greener II has resulted in:

ACTION ALERT: Armstrong Trail needs your help.

jessica — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 12:42:01 -0500

BACKGROUND:
This rail with trail right-of-way along the Allegheny River in Gilpin and Bethel Townships between Schenley and Ford City was "railbanked" and purchased by the Allegheny Valley Land Trust (AVLT), managers of the Armstrong Trail.

For over eight years, the AVLT has been in conversations with The Kiski-Junction Railroad about sale of 9 miles of the right-of-way for both freight and scenic service. This is a laudable economic development goal and proper under the federal Rails to Trails Act.

Marcellus Shale Policy Conference

john — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 13:48:41 -0500

Please visit www.pecpa.org/marcellus for more information.

Marcellus Shale Policy Conference

john — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 09:33:34 -0500

Update: PEC has released a Report based upon findings and recommendations from the Conference.

Pennsylvania Environmental Council and Duquesne University

MARCELLUS SHALE POLICY CONFERENCE
May 3 & 4, 2010
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania Marcellus Shale Policy Conference

jessica — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 12:27:42 -0500

How should Pennsylvania construct an effective regulatory framework that allows the natural gas industry to prosper...while protecting environmental and conservation values?

PEC Announces Marcellus Shale Policy Conference

john — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 11:26:51 -0500

Marcellus Shale Policy Conference
May 3 & 4, 2010
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

If you have a stake in the development of regulatory policy and decision-making pertaining to Marcellus shale gas production in Pennsylvania, then you should attend this important conference!

PEC Comments on Proposed Rulemaking

john — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 10:01:35 -0500

The Pennsylvania Environmental Council submitted the attached comments to the Pennsylvania Environmental Quality Board, concerning proposed revisions to 25 PA CODE Chapter 102.

$58 million in DEP cuts to have far-reaching effect

brad — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 08:47:17 -0400

From The Allentown Morning Call

By Arlene Martínez of the Morning Call

Budget Dramatically Shifts Resources From Environmental Protection, Natural Resource Conservation

john — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 12:51:07 -0400

Cuts and diversions in the budget just adopted by the state have dramatically reduced spending for environmental and natural resource programs in Pennsylvania by $347 million in just one year according to Donald S. Welsh, President & CEO of the Pennsylvania Environmental Council.

Fire Sale

jessica — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 10:14:27 -0400

Unable, after a hundred days, to balance the budget, the Senate, House and Gov. Rendell have put a sign on our State Forest lands saying "Fire Sale. Must sell."

One of the last unresolved issues is the proposal to lease a minimum of 96,000 acres of State Forest land for natural gas drilling, or however much it takes to yield $240 million. Although those numbers may change, the fact remains: this will overturn a century of careful forest management that earned Pennsylvania a sustainable forest certification.

Action Alert: Make Your Voice Heard on the State Budget

john — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 10:40:08 -0400

Heading into our fourth month without a budget, the alleged light at the end of the tunnel is proving itself to be on oncoming train for those who care about the environment.

Severe Budget Cuts Mean Erosion Of Our Right To A Clean Environment

john — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 11:30:20 -0400

Statement by Donald S. Welsh
President & CEO

The debate surrounding a natural gas severance tax has become the latest political football in budget battles in Harrisburg; one that sidesteps a much deeper and more serious issue: the more than $385 million in additional budget cuts for environmental programs now being discussed in the State Capitol.

Proposed Budget Framework Puts Pennsylvania’s Environment at Further Risk

john — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 17:04:48 -0400

Pennsylvania Environmental Council (PEC) President and CEO Don Welsh today issued the following statement on the proposed budget framework agreement set forth by leadership from the General Assembly this morning.

"This budget proposal does nothing to address the critical funding shortfalls facing Pennsylvania's environment. In fact, it continues the theme of making millions of dollars of cuts and diversions from agency budgets that are already insufficient.

PEC and TNC Statement on House Budget Negotiations

john — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 08:38:01 -0400

Text of Letter from Don Welsh, President & CEO of PEC, and William Kunze, Pennsylvania State Director of The Nature Conservancy:

July 16, 2009

PEC and TNC Statement on House Budget Negotiations

jessica — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 15:05:00 -0400

Text of Letter from Don Welsh, President & CEO of PEC, and William Kunze, Pennsylvania State Director of The Nature Conservancy:

July 16, 2009

PEC Urges House Committee to Dedicate Funding for Environmental Programs

john — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 14:28:18 -0400

PEC Supports Forward-Looking Climate Legislation

john — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 13:34:29 -0400

The Pennsylvania Environmental Council today announced its support for House Bill 80 (Rep. Vitali, Delaware), with proposed Amendment A01746 (Rep. Ross, Chester), which will be considered by the House Environmental Resources & Energy Committee tomorrow morning.

A copy of PEC's letter of support can be found immediately below.

House Bill 80 and Amendment A01746 pursue two primary objectives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in Pennsylvania:

Don’t be Penny Wise and Pound Foolish on Environmental Budget

john — Wed, 27 May 2009 11:42:04 -0400

Starting June 1, against the backdrop of stark economic conditions, the state budget negotiations begin in earnest in Harrisburg. Many thorny choices need to be made; not just about where budget cuts should occur, but also about where new, reasonable revenues can be secured.

Even before current budget difficulties, environmental programs have often found themselves in the crosshairs of being diverted to help balance the budget or pay for other programs.

Pennsylvania Environmental Council Announces New President & Chief Executive Officer

john — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 08:52:02 -0400

Harrisburg, Pa. - Paul M. King, Board Chair for the Pennsylvania Environmental Council (PEC), announced today that, following a unanimous vote from the PEC Board of Directors, the organization has hired Donald S. Welsh as its new President and Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Welsh will officially begin his new role in PEC's Harrisburg office on Monday, April 27th.

Pennsylvania Works! Campaign Launched

john — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 11:58:22 -0400

A coalition of environmental, conservation, preservation, housing, and research groups, along with both Democrat and Republican members of the General Assembly, today announced their proposals to build green communities and jobs in Pennsylvania through the Pennsylvania Works! Campaign. PEC is a founding member of the campaign.

PEC Urges Prompt Consideration of Stormwater Legislation

john — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 11:04:01 -0400

Senator Ted Erickson (Chester and Delaware Counties) has reintroduced planning and implementation legislation (Senate Bill 524) that provides local government greater resources to address stormwater impacts from existing and potential sources. Similar legislation is expected in the House from Representative Robert Freeman (Northampton) in the near future.

PEC Opposes Diversion from Oil & Gas Fund

john — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 10:09:53 -0400

Included below is the text of a joint letter submitted to members of the Pennsylvania Senate.

PEC Joins Call on Environmental Funding

john — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 09:05:18 -0400

A coalition of environmental, conservation, and sportsmen groups including the Pennsylvania Environmental Council, as well as local government officials, today announced their support for directing a portion of any extraction tax on natural gas to restoration and habitat programs and to local governments impacted drilling operations.

Coalition Calls for Reinvestment in Pennsylvania's Natural Resources

john — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 18:26:29 -0500

The Pennsylvania Environmental Council (PEC), as part of the Pennsylvania Alliance for Restoration and Conservation (PARC Coalition), today called on Governor Rendell and the General Assembly to invest a portion of the proposed severance fee on drilling for natural gas in Pennsylvania toward environmental protection and improvement through the Environmental Stewardship Fund.

PEC and Center for Climate Strategies Announce Creation of "Center for Climate Strategies, Inc."

john — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 16:32:51 -0500

FOR IMMEDIATE RELASE

Contact:

For the Center for Climate Strategies:
Thomas Peterson, Chair (703) 691-3064

For the Pennsylvania Environmental Council:
Paul King, Chair and Interim President (412) 481-9400

PEC Supports Pennsylvania Clean Water Ballot Initiative

john — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 13:06:22 -0400

The referendum asks voters if they support allocating $400 million to help communities throughout the Commonwealth fund necessary upgrades to wastewater and drinking water facilities.

The Problem

Help is needed for many of Pennsylvania's 2,200 drinking water systems and 1,060 wastewater systems in order to meet federal and state environmental requirements, ensure clean drinking water, and clean up pollution discharges into our rivers and streams.

Historic Great Lakes Protection Compact Approved by Congress

john — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 16:59:22 -0400

Contact:
John Walliser
Vice President, Government & Legal Affairs
(412) 481-9400 office
(724) 719-0069 mobile
jwalliser@pecpa.org

For Immediate Release

HISTORIC GREAT LAKES PROTECTION COMPACT APPROVED BY CONGRESS

PEC Praises Pennsylvania Passage of Historic Great Lakes Compact Legislation

john — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 19:27:33 -0400