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Let's Turn Down the Heat: Understanding why a 2°C warmer world must be averted    • Philadelphia, 05/18 A Watershed United: First annual meeting and conference of the Coalition of the Delaware River Watershed    • Lambertville, NJ, 06/10 Climate Change Advisory Committee meetings, 2013 Harrisburg open to the public; dates subject to change    • May 21    • July 2    • October 8

You can't make this stuff up
One of the many flaws in the bad drilling legislation signed by Gov. Corbett on Monday is that the impact fee is optional for counties. If a county doesn't approve the impact fee 60 days from Monday, then municipalities in the county totaling at least 50 percent of the county population must approve the fee within the next 60 days in order to override the lack of approval by the county.

But here's the kicker. If a county or the required number of municipalities does not approve the fee within this narrow schedule, then not only do the local governments not receive fee revenue, but the statewide programs funded by House Bill 1950 will also lose the revenue from that county.

Sure enough, a report this week by StateImpact, the reporting project of local public media and NPR, indicates that the Bradford County commissioners may not approve the fee.

And this isn't small potatoes. Bradford County, with a large number of Marcellus wells already, is one of the largest sources of money from the impact fee. In fact, Bradford County has so many wells that if the county or required number of municipalities do not approve the fee, then up to 25 percent of the entire fee income expected to go to the state will be lost. More counties could follow Bradford County's example, especially if drilling companies pressure its neighbors.

A thrust at the heart of conservation funding
The conservation movement started in Penn's Woods, but Pennsylvania's state government continues to slash its investment in public lands and conservation. The cruelest cut to conservation yet is Gov. Corbett's proposed elimination of all funding for Keystone Recreation, Park and Conservation Fund – a loss of $30 to $35 million.

The Keystone Fund receives its funding from a portion of the realty transfer tax, and the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources administers a grant program that gives conservation and recreation funding to community projects. The governor proposes diverting all funding for Keystone to the General Fund in his budget.

The Keystone Fund has been an extraordinary asset for conservation and recreation in Pennsylvania. Since the fund's creation in 1993, it's been used for:

• 846 trail projects, including the Great Allegheny Passage and the Pine Creek Trail;
• conservation of 145,909 acres of green space for county and municipal parks, greenways, wildlife habitat, and other open space uses;
• state park and state forest improvements including construction and rehabilitation of restrooms, parking lots, roads, bridges, visitors' centers, water fountains, sewage treatment, trails, cabins, campgrounds, and other facilities;
• 2,557 community park projects; and
• completion of county natural heritage inventories in 66 counties, which guide local governments, developers, and conservationists to make better decisions regarding land use.

Citizens need to speak out against this raid on Keystone and call on their legislators to oppose this change in the budget. Stay in touch with PennFuture for more information.

House passes land bank legislation
This week, the House passed Rep. John Taylor's, R-Philadelphia, land bank legislation that would help tackle the problems created by the 300,000 vacant and often blighted properties in Pennsylvania. House Bill 1682 allows counties and municipalities to establish land banks that will work to return these vacant and abandoned properties to productive reuse. Land banks acquire and maintain vacant properties, clear the title, do site preparation, and package and market properties for redevelopment. PennFuture supports HB 1682, which passed by a 180-13 vote.

Many legislators and organizations worked hard to pass this bill. Special thanks are due to Rep. Taylor, House Urban Affairs Committee Chairs Chris Ross, R-Chester, Rep. W. Curtis Thomas, D-Philadelphia, as well as their legislative staffs and the fine folks at the Housing Alliance of Pennsylvania.

No idle threat
Pennsylvania has a diesel idling law to protect air quality, but it seems some folks still don't get it. So our Breathe Easy, Stay Healthy Campaign started the “All Signs Point to Clean Air” project in the Pittsburgh region to enforce the 2008 diesel idling law's provision that requires facilities to post a sign stating the idling requirements.

You might be surprised and disappointed to learn who is violating the law. Yesterday PennFuture filed notices of our intent to sue the Allegheny County Health Department and Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh for their failure to post the legally required signs restricting diesel idling.

Last year we asked these institutions and the University of Pittsburgh to comply with the law. Pitt stepped up and did the right thing, installing the signs soon after we brought the issue to the attention of the administration. So, Hail to Pitt!

However, the continuing refusal of the Health Department — the agency charged with enforcing the law — and — Children's Hospital — a premier institution of children's health — to comply with the law is just stunning.

A citizen's guide to Marcellus Shale drilling
PennFuture is hosting a workshop in Tunkhannock (Wyoming County) to help citizens and landowners know their rights in dealing with deep gas drilling, including the changes from the just-passed dreadful drilling bill. The March 6 evening workshop is free, but you must register in advance. You can see more information and register on our website.

Your dream job awaits
Ever want to wake up in the morning, work to protect Pennsylvania's environment and improve its economy, and get paid for it? Here's how: PennFuture is looking for a southeast Pennsylvania outreach coordinator to assist our efforts on the ground in this region. Check the jobs board on our website for further details. The formal deadline is today, but we'll accept applications through Monday.

PennFuture's Session Daze is designed to be a brief, informative and occasionally humorous look at public policy in Pennsylvania. Please visit our website for more information about PennFuture.

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