News You Can Use

August 10, 2007

Time to Update the Do Not Call List

Time flies when unwanted telemarketing calls are no longer interrupting your dinner, but not for long if you fail to act. According to the PA Office of Attorney General, it has been almost five years since Pennsylvania adopted a Do Not Call registry that expires on November 1, 2007 for those who registered before September 15, 2002.

Failing to re-register prior to the deadline means you may receive unwanted phone calls for up to 120 days. Registration is conducted on a quarterly basis as follows:

Register before:	Telemarketers cannot call you after:
September 15	November 1
December 15	February 1
March 15	May 1
June 15	August 1

Verify your enrollment in the Do Not Call Program and you will receive an immediate response. You will be informed of the date of your enrollment, allowing you to determine if the 5-year registration period is about to expire. In which case, you can re-enroll or enroll for the first time.

You may also contact the PA Do Not Call Center toll-free at 1-888-777-3406 to register for the program. If you prefer you may mail your name, complete mailing address, telephone number and signature to:

Office of Attorney General
Bureau of Consumer Protection
Do Not Call List
Strawberry Square, 15th Floor
Harrisburg, PA 17120

Access Frequently Asked Questions about the PA Do Not Call Program.

Consumers can have the benefits of being on both the federal and Pennsylvania Do Not Call lists free-of-charge. The federal Do Not Call program began in 2003 and registrations for that program also expire after five years. Information on the National Do Not Call list is available online. The Federal Trade Commission operates the national do-not-call registry, also available at 1-888-382-1222.

PA Initiates Drought Watch List

Declining groundwater levels throughout much of Pennsylvania have resulted in the declaration of a drought watch in 58 of the state's 67 counties, according to the Department of Environmental Protection. The move follows two months of limited rainfall and the meeting of other drought factors.

A drought watch is one of three drought classifications; followed by a warning, then an emergency. A watch calls for the voluntary reduction of water usage by five percent, while a voluntary reduction of 10 – 15 percent is requested with a drought warning. A drought emergency entails the banning of nonessential water usage, such as watering lawns, gardens, and shrubs; washing vehicles and paved surfaces; filling swimming pools, and other ornamental purposes.

DEP offers the following tips to help your family achieve a reduction in water usage:

In the Bathroom:

Install low-flow plumbing fixtures and aerators on faucets;
Check for household leaks – a leaking toilet can waste up to 200 gallons of water per day; and
Take short showers instead of baths.

Kitchen/Laundry Areas:

Replace older appliances with high efficiency, front loading models that use about 30 percent less water and 40-50 percent less energy;
Run dishwashers and washing machines only with full loads; and
Keep water in the refrigerator to avoid running water from a faucet until it is cold.

Outdoors:

Water outdoors in the early morning or evening hours to cut down on evaporation;
Use a broom, not a hose, to clean driveways, steps and sidewalks;
Use soaker hoses and trickle irrigation systems to reduce water use by 20-50 percent; and
Cover swimming pools to prevent evaporation.

Access the statewide drought map to see if your county is included in the drought watch.

For a greater perspective on drought management in Pennsylvania, then consult "Drought Emergency Frequently Asked Questions," "Drought Management in PA" and "Managing Water During a Drought Emergency."

Turn to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Water Sense--Efficiency Made Easy to help you comply with the voluntary reduction request.

Fly Out of PA Airports to Save Time & Money

Utilizing the services of one of Pennsylvania's 15 convenient airports may be the key to savings for your travel budget, according to the state's website IFlyPA.com. Since 2000, the average Pennsylvania airfare dropped more than 24 percent—one of the largest airfare declines of any state. At 2006 fare levels, Pennsylvania residents spent $1.3 billion less than they would have at 2000 rates.

The savings go beyond the ticket price. Compare travel for a one-week trip flying from the Lancaster airport versus Baltimore. Save 168 miles and 3 hours and 32 minutes on the road traveling to the airport. Decreasing drive time saves $81.48 in gas and another $56 in long-term parking fees for a one week total savings of $137.48.

IFlyPA.com provides direct links to each of the state's airports and more than 18 domestic and international carriers. Travel facts and the latest in Pennsylvania air service news are also available at IFlyPA.com. Visit IflyPA.com before you book your next flight from an airport outside of the state. Link to the Transportation Security Administration for help with tips on packing, carry-on items, travel attire, identification, and more.

Directory Assistance Charges Increase

If you have been relying on long distance directory assistance by dialing the area code followed by 555-1212, you may want to seek lower or no cost alternatives to retrieve unknown numbers, according to the PA Office of Consumer Advocate.

The previous $1.99 charge was increased, effective August 1, 2007, by 50 cents to $2.49 per call.

Rate increases were also responsible for a 14-cent increase from $1.15 to $1.29 to place calls using directory assistance.

Callers choosing local 411 directory assistance are charged 95 cents per call, after the monthly two call allowance. A national 411 call costs $1.25, while dialing the operator for directory assistance costs $1.75.

In addition to free online directories, callers may select 1-800-FREE-411. You will have to listen to a brief advertisement before receiving the number but your monthly bill will be free of directory assistance call charges. Access the company's website.

Find more tips from the Office of Consumer Advocate.

Outdoor Enthusiasts to See Changes at Fort Indiantown Gap

Changes await those who hunt, fish or gather wood at Fort Indiantown Gap (FITG) during 2007-08. A mandatory safety briefing and a $20 conservation fee are among the changes.

Briefings are to be conducted August 21 at 7 p.m.; August 28 at 7 p.m., and September 23 at 2 p.m. and will cover FITG's new hunting lottery system, the "earn a buck" policy, and use of the conservation fee.

The Gap's lottery system will be employed for deer season, requiring an additional $5 fee to manage a program ensuring hunters do not exceed available natural resources. The "earn a buck" policy will require doe hunters to first harvest a doe before taking a buck.

Those intending to hunt must bring a valid hunting license, current driver's license, and vehicle registration. Wood gatherers must bring a current driver's license and vehicle registration. Photocopies are acceptable. Individuals under the age of 18 are required to be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. Applicants who attended a safety briefing in 2006 do not need to attend this year. Call the Fort Indiantown Gap outdoor recreation program coordinator at 717-861-2150. Visit the FITG website for more details.

Apply for a PA hunting license.

Apply for a PA driver's license and/or register a vehicle.

Well Water and Your Home

Approximately half of Pennsylvania's tested wells fail to meet at least one drinking water standard, according to the College of Agricultural Sciences (CAS) for Penn State University (PSU). With some 3.5 million rural Pennsylvanians relying on more than one million private wells for their drinking water and about 20,000 new wells drilled annually, the CAS is encouraging and facilitating water quality testing to safeguard the health of people, crops and livestock.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has established primary and secondary drinking-water standards. Primary standards apply to contaminants -- such as coliform bacteria, nitrate and lead -- that cause health problems. Secondary standards address iron, manganese, chloride and other pollutants that cause aesthetic problems, such as stains, odors or off-tastes. Penn State's program will provide well owners with reports detailing how their water-test results compare to these EPA standards.

To submit a water sample for testing, customers first must obtain a water-test kit from Penn State's Ag Analytical Services Lab or from a participating county office of Penn State Cooperative Extension. The kit includes shipping materials, instructions on how to take a sample and a submission form. Residents will choose from a range of testing options available for each water type (drinking, irrigation or livestock) and will send the kit, with the appropriate fee, to the lab. Test results and relevant fact sheets or recommendations typically will be returned in two to three weeks. Locate your County Cooperative Extension Office or call 814-863-0841.

Water testing will be conducted for livestock consumption and horticultural uses as well. See the announcement for details. Find more Water Resources Publications.