A free multi-media presentation
by Appalachian Voices
When: Thursday, July 8 at 7:00 pm

Where: Botany Hall, Phipps Conservatory, Schenley Park, Pittsburgh, 15213

Who: Host for the event is the PA Alliance for a Coal Free Generation, with support from the Center for Coalfield Justice, Explorers Club of Pittsburgh,  Pittsburgh Student Environmental Coalition, and Sierra Club, Allegheny Group.

What: Appalachian Treasures, a free multi-media presentation about a critical social & environmental justice issue — mountaintop removal coal mining (MTR) in the mountains of Central Appalachia. Meet the people who are fighting to protect their homes, their families, and the mountains themselves from the irreversible destruction caused by MTR. (more…)

The Quebec Run defacto wild area of Forbes State Forest on Chestnut Ridge is one of the most popular areas for hiking and backpacking in southwestern Pa. Its many clean, clear mountain streams, mature forests and excellent trail system are some of the attractions. Five portals with parking lots are located along the rim of the area. In early July the area offers a special bonus for visitors. Many of the lower walls of the deep, steep-walled stream valleys are blanked with dense thickets of rhododendron – in full bloom. The streams and the shade often offer a fairly cool walk even in July. On this trip we will cover a loop 9.3 miles long that attempts to cover most (but not all) of the of the streamside trails through the more colorful displays of rhododendrons. (We wil miss the display along Long Run.) The trails offer fairly easy, mostly streamside walking, with only two significant hills. We may stop at the remains of an ancient grist mill and its aqueduct. If the group is a bit slow, or the temperature is higher than expected, we can take a few shortcuts. Those who like backpacking will be able to check out all the best streamside campsites. $10 recommended carpool fee – 65 miles from Monroeville. Meet at Gateway Middle School in Monroeville at 8 AM. Contact Bruce Sundquist at 724-327-8737 or bsundquist1@windstream.net. This will be a joint Allegheny Group – Meetup trip. Limit: 20. Those interested could stop at Valley Dairy (a Connellsville restaurant) for a snack or supper.

Visit Highland Park – an area that’s being planned to be renovated (not park property, but adjacent to it and important to everyone using this area for recreation).  Bag lunch at Gen’s house, she will provide drinks and cookies. Genevieve Mann: 412-661-5947.

Stormwater runoff
Photo: EPA

On July 21, Pittsburgh City Council will begin voting on a Clean Water bill sponsored by Councilman Bill Peduto. This bill is part of the Economic Development Reform legislative package supported by a coalition of labor, community, and environmental organizations.

10 a.m., Wednesday, July 21
City Council Chambers, Fifth Floor
414 Grant Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15219-2419

Testimony at a July 13 post-agenda hearing emphasized that the Clean Water bill breaks new ground by adopting the Federal standard for both eliminating storm water runoff and requiring the use of green, low impact technologies as the means to accomplish that standard to the furthest extent possible. By starting with coverage of only publicly subsidized development, the city will be able to see how the law works in practice and then either expand to cover all development with the same requirements or an amended version of the law.
(more…)

The U.S. EPA wants to hear from the public about a proposed study of the environmental effects of hydraulic fracturing (also known as “hydrofracking”).

Curb-side sign in Ithaca, NY.
Photo: P. Wray

Take Action Now – Let EPA know about YOUR experiences with contaminated water and the need to protect your drinking water. A coalition of environmental groups will hold a joint press conference before the meeting.

6:00 pm to 10:00 pm, Thursday, July 22
Hilton Garden Inn, Pittsburgh/Southpointe
1000 Corporate Drive
Canonsburg, PA 15317

You do not need to speak publicly at this meeting, BUT YOUR PRESENCE WILL SEND A STRONG MESSAGE to regulators that the public cares about what EPA does to regulate this new Marcellus gas industry. Large crowds have participated in similar meetings in Texas and Colorado, so ATTENDEES and SPEAKERS should register HERE
(more…)

A message from a League of Women Voters member:

This has become a huge issue for PA residents and the rest of the nation. The drilling for natural gas in the Marcellus Shale will have an impact on all of us because of the potential of an environmental disaster.

EPA Hearing on Hydraulic Fracturing 

When: Thursday, July 22, 2010 – 6pm-10pm

Where: SOUTHPOINTE Hilton Garden Inn
1000 Corporate Drive
Canonsburg, PA 15317

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is holding a series of meetings to obtain public input on EPA’s upcoming research study to investigate the potential adverse impact that hydraulic fracturing may have on water quality and public health.

Check out these links for More information on the EPA study and Meeting registration.

Gargoyle and architecture walk of Oakland. Bring a lunch or try a restaurant along Craig St. If it’s hot, we will spend more time inside the buildings.  Meet at the usual place so we can carpool to park at the big synagog across from WQED. Joan Roolf: 412-496-4925. 

This 8-mile loop hike in North Park starts at Beaver Shelter on Babcock Blvd. and loops through all the lands south of Ingomar Rd and Wildwood Road. This includes a 2-mile section of the infamous Rachel Carson Trail as it winds its way up an unnamed tributary of Pine Creek, into the Hemlocks, across South Ridge and West Ridge. We’ll also see the Pine Creek Spillway, the “Indian Caves”, and maybe the old Wildwood downhill ski area. Lots of lunch spots, lots of rest rooms. Most of the hike is shaded under the tree canopy. Call Jim Ritchie at 412.576.0849 for more information, reservations, or directions to the meeting spot. More information is available at the Pittsburgh Hiking Meetup Group at Meetup.com.

Come on the second of three DCNR trail maintenance trips of the summer-fall season. On this trip we will be working on the trails of Roaring Run Natural Area and the North Woods XC ski area. Usually about 20 outdoor groups join these trips. We usually quit around 3 PM. DCNR has been experiencing severe budget cuts in recent years. So keeping its trail system in good order is a difficult task without the help of trail users in these difficult times. Contact Dave Mottorn 724-327-7582 (dpmottorn@windstream.net). We usually meet at the Duff Park parking lot in Murrysville to form carpools.