Pennsylvania senate passes smoking ban

HARRISBURG, PA — Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell has signed into law the Clean Indoor Air Act, which would ban cigarette, cigar and pipe smoking in most workplaces and public spaces, including restaurants, office buildings, bus and train stations and sports arenas. The new law will take effect 90 days from signing, on Thursday, September 11.

Among the exempted venues are bars that draw 20 percent or less of annual revenue in food sales, as well as cigar bars, tobacco shops and private clubs whose officers agree to allow smoking.

Senator Lisa Baker issued a statement saying, “We have taken a major step forward to reduce a serious health risk in our state by assuring that smoking will no longer be allowed indoors in most public locations and work places. While the final product contains what I believe to be too many exemptions, it offers a lot of new protections for people.”

DEP Secretary supports gas drilling; seeks balance

HARRISBURG, PA — At a summit last week attended by about 150 representatives of the gas and oil drilling industry, Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Secretary Kathleen A. McGinty said taking advantage of the state’s energy resources is important to its economy and the nation’s interests, but doing so must be balanced against the need to protect its natural resources.

“Over the past few weeks, DEP inspectors have observed a number of violations at drilling sites operated by companies that were new to Pennsylvania,” said McGinty. “In light of those discoveries, we acted quickly to stop this harmful activity and felt it was necessary to bring all current and potential operators together to meet directly with the agencies responsible for protecting our water and other natural resources.” On May 30, DEP ordered the partial shutdown of two drilling operations in Lycoming County and began enhanced inspections of drilling operations statewide.

The department has issued 2,510 permits in 2008 to date.

Glen Spey man assaulted in dispute

GLEN SPEY, NY — On the morning of Sunday, June 15 at approximately 7:38 a.m., deputies from the Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office were called to a dispute at a residence on County Route 31 in the Glen Spey section of the Town of Lumberland. Deputies found Frank Bastone, age 39, suffering from stab wounds. He was taken to Bon Secours Hospital in Port Jervis, and is listed in stable condition.

Deputies arrested Paul Miranda, age 40, of the Bronx, and charged him with assault in the second degree. Miranda is being held in the Sullivan County Jail in lieu of $10,000 bail. Deputies say that the two men know each other and that the investigation into this incident is continuing.

Generation company warns of NYRI overload on grid

NEW YORK STATE — Dynegy Northeast Generation, Inc. (DNG) has written a letter to the New York Public Service Commission saying that if the New York Regional Interconnect (NYRI) line were energized, “it would create system overload conditions on the Central Hudson transmission system in the vicinity of the Roseton and Danskammer units.” DNG is requesting permission to intervene in NYRI’s Article VII Application for a Certificate of Environmental Compatibility and Public Need.

Steve DiMeo, Chairman of Communities Against Regional Interconnect (CARI), a group concerned with the impacts of the NYRI project, said, “Dynegy’s statements support the finding of CARI, whose technical experts agree that NYRI would not increase the reliability of the transmission system and if granted, a Certificate of Environmental Compatibility and Public Need could very well destabilize portions of the transmission system. In addition, NYRI has failed to show public need for this project in New York State and will raise energy rates in communities throughout the upstate region.”

Shohola considers four-day workweek

SHOHOLA, PA — Shohola Township chairman of the township board, Steve Dellert, said the board would consider changing to a four-day work week with an extended day for its employees. The measure would encourage the conservation of gasoline and other forms of energy that the township uses.

“Given the price of gasoline and heating oil and the fact that many experts say the price will not come down any time soon, we think it’s time to consider the four-day move,” Dellert said.

This does not mean that the township will adopt the measure, he said. “We want to see how people feel about such a move,” he said.

White House interferes with EPA scientists on toxic chemicals

WASHINGTON, DC — A new White House policy deals a crippling blow to the ability of the scientific staff of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to identify chemicals that pose the greatest risk to public health, potentially putting millions of people at risk, says Dr. Linda Greer, director of the Natural Resources Defense Council’s (NRDC) public health program.

Greer testified on June 16 before the House Science Committee’s Investigation and Oversight Subcommittee.

“The Bush administration’s action is politicizing and injecting secrecy into EPA’s process for identifying the health risks posed by toxic chemicals,” she said. “These changes are yet another escalation on the administration’s war on science and public health that has gone on for almost eight years.”