Moshannon Group News

The Intersection Between Hydraulic Fracturing and Climate Change (6 min)

HOT ISSUE: Oppose Penn State Plan to Infringe on Borough Residents with High Pressure Pipeline

Penn State’s plan to convert its campus power plant to natural gas has crashed head-on into the rights of State College, PA citizens, as enumerated in Article XI of their Borough Charter. The plan to feed the Penn State power plant with fossil fuels calls for a high-pressure gas pipeline to snake through residential neighborhoods and past local businesses. The citizens of State College have risen up against it.

You can help: Sign the Petition to Stop the Penn State Pipeline

Events to explore

All events and presentations are open to the public as well as Moshannon Group members unless otherwise stated.

If you have an event you feel would be of interest to our Group, please send information to our Webmaster.

Sat, May 4 and Sun, May 5
May Day Environmental Film Festival
Films run from 1:00 - 9:30 p.m. both days
Hosted by PA Alliance for Clean Water and Air (PACWA)

Sponsored in-part by the Moshannon Group, this two-day film festival at the Reitz Theatre (36 E. Scribner Avenue, Dubois) is free to the public (although donations are greatly appreciated). Note-worthy and award-winning environmental films will be featured. Visit the PACWA website for the current May Day Environmental Film Festival film list, descriptions and trailers. For more information, call 814-422-5432 or email pacwa@ymail.com.

Need ideas for a daytrip or a weekend outing?
Check out our “On The Trail” columns for articles about central Pennsylvania outings to help plan your next nature walk, hiking, backpacking, camping or paddling excursion.

Outings to enjoy

All outings are open to the public as well as Moshannon Group members.

Sat, May 4 and Sun, May 5
PA Grand Canyon/Pine Creek Gorge Overnight Paddling Trip

Overnite paddling trip through the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon (Pine Creek) this year is scheduled for May 4th and 5th. Weather, conditions, and participation were great last year — Please join us for another successful adventure! Contact Ron Johnson at greenbowl1@hotmail.com for more information and to be added to this overnight trip’s contact list.

Visit our Facebook page for more available outings

Find us on Facebook

Outings News

The Moshannon Group Outings Chair seeks additional outings leaders to expand and diversify outing locations.

Read about leading an outing...

Development of Natural Gas from Shales: Some Myths and Realities on DVD
Get Your Copy Today!

Professor Ingraffea is one of the most articulate voices in the discussion of whether we should be drilling for deep shale natural gas.

Watch this DVD. Take notes. This DVD will show you why the technology is flawed, and why stronger regulations will not be enough to protect our environment and our communities.

Preview this DVD at the Moshannon Group Channel on YouTube (Audience Q&A not yet available on YouTube)

To receive a copy of Dr. Ingraffea’s May 10th, 2012 presentation on DVD by mail, send a check for $3 (or more, if you would like to help us distribute more of these DVDs) made out to “Sierra Club Moshannon Group”.

Mail your request to
Gary Thornbloom
702 Hall Road, Julian, PA 16844

Issues to protect

* Go to Bat for PA Bats *
Endangered Bats Need Official Listing by
from PA Game Commission

Three species of bats — northern long-eared, tri-colored, and little brown bats — have experienced a 95% decline in population due to white-nose syndrome (WNS) in the last 4 years warranting an Endangered status listing and protection. Read the Moshannon Group’s letter to the Pennsylvania Game Commission and feature articles to learn more about this issue.

Feature articles:

* Ongoing Issue *
Marcellus/Shale Gas Drilling

Groundwater, surface water, air quality, and wildlife habitat resources at risk. See our Marcellus Shale page for more information and resources.

Resources:
DCNR Natural Gas Impacts Mapping Analysis referenced in On The Trail — Quehanna Wild Area

Interactive Map of Deep Shale Gas Wells and Wind Turbines (existing and projected) from The Nature Conservancy

Act Now: Seven Steps to Make Marcellus Shale Gas Drilling Safer

Centre County Landfill

America’s “largest landfill East of the Mississippi” for other states’ garbage proposed for Centre County. See stoplandfill.com to learn more about this issue.

* Take Action *
Allegheny National Forest Wilderness

Send a Letter to Your U.S. Senators and Representative — Help permanently protect the remaining wilderness in ANF. Read about the ANF Wilderness proposal to learn more.

Wind Power Development

Inappropriate placement of wind farms planned for Central PA ridgetops.

More details about Issues...

Swallowtail butterfly on Echinacea
Photo by Helena Kotala

Moshannon Group eNews is here!

Interested in keeping up with the Moshannon Group through your Inbox? Our e-mail newsletter will keep you informed of upcoming presentations, outings, special events, and local issues. Announcements are sent on a weekly or biweekly basis. This is not a listserv.

To subscribe to Moshannon eNews, follow the link and select “Join the List.” You may also unsubscribe by choosing “Leave the List” on this eNews sign up page.

See you out there!

Bull elk in Moshannon country
Photo by Helena Kotala

What’s Your Carbon Footprint?

Every household can be a part of the solution to global warming.

Begin by calculating your household carbon footprint to learn exactly how many pounds of carbon dioxide (CO₂) you are responsible for emitting.

Learn many practical steps you can take to reduce your carbon footprint and the reduction in CO₂ each offers.

By using these easy tools, your concern for the environment can make a real difference.

Have a group who would like to learn more about their Carbon Footprints? Contact Lynne Heritage to arrange for a group presentation.

Learn more about Your Carbon Footprint...

Thinking about installing a solar electric system for your home? Want to know how to keep your lawn healthy without all of the chemicals? Are you curious about how to reduce your home’s carbon footprint? For most people, the journey towards a more sustainable lifestyle begins at home.

That’s why, as part of our mission to help people explore, enjoy, and protect the planet, we’re pleased to announce the launch of our partner website, Sierra Club Green Home, which was created to help individuals, like you, take simple steps to green their homes.

By helping people make their homes more energy efficient, ecologically sustainably, and healthy, Sierra Club Green Home advances our efforts to improve the environment.

Sierra Club Green Home is an information-rich resource that provides a wealth of information regarding environmentally friendly products and practices relating to every aspect of home life.

FreeCycle™

We acknowledge that part of being ecologically responsible involves what happens within our own households. We participate in responsible use of resources when we are careful to recycle our wastes, but recycling takes on a broader meaning if we utilize the resources available locally in Freecycle.

Tired of that well-intentioned project item taking up space but feeling guilty about tossing it? Have outgrown clothes or toys that are usable but not yard sale-worthy? If you would like to pass items on to your neighbors for free, consider giving them away through Freecycle™.

Acquiring used items locally rather than buying new can help reduce your carbon footprint. To find the local group for where you live visit:

http://www.freecycle.org/group/US/Pennsylvania

The Sierra Club is a dedicated grassroots environmental organization, inspired by and pursuing John Muir’s goals:

To explore, enjoy, and protect the wild places of the Earth;
To practice and promote the responsible use of the Earth’s ecosystems and resources;
To educate and enlist humanity to protect and restore the quality of the natural and human environment.

Pennsylvania Chapter of the Sierra Club