PAEnvironmentDigest

AnUpdateOnEnvironmentalIssuesInPennsylvania
EditedBy:DavidE.Hess,
CrisciAssociates

WinnerOf
PAAssociationofEnvironmentalEducators
BusinessPartnerOfTheYearAward

PAEnvironmentDigestDailyBlog

TwitterFeed

Issue#620Harrisburg,PAMay16,2016

HouseCouldVoteOnResolutionToKillDEPsDrillingRegulationsAtAnyTime

HouseConcurrentRegulatoryReviewResolution#1
tokill
DEPsfinalconventional(Chapter78)andunconventional
(Chapter78a)drillingregulationsremains
ontheHouse
Calendar
andcouldbevotedonatanytimewhentheHouse
comesbacktosessionstartingMay16.
Asreportedlastweek
by
PAEnvironmentDigest
,
discussionsareongoingbetweenHouseandSenate
RepublicansandotherlegislatorsandtheWolf
Administrationonwhetheradealcouldbereachedtoavoid
avoteontheResolution.
Thepriceofavoidingavotetokilltheentirepackage,however,couldbekillingthe
regulationsinChapter78applyingtoconventionaldrillingandmakingDEPstartoverormaking
otherchangestotheregulation,alreadyapprovedbytheEnvironmentalQualityBoardandthe
IndependentRegulatoryReviewCommission.
Ultimately,iftheHouseandSenategoaheadandpasstheresolutionkillingthedrilling
regulations,Gov.Wolfwillhavetodecidewhetherhewillusehisvetoagainandwhetherthat
vetocouldbesustainedintheSenateandHouse.
TheHouseandSenatehave30calendardays(June2)or10legislativedays(June10)
whicheverislatertotakefinalactionontheresolution.
Interestingly,anelectroniccopyofHCRResolution#1isnotavailableontheGeneral
Assemblyswebsite.
TakeActionNow
ClickHere
tosendamessagetoyourlegislationsupportingDEPsdrillingregulations.
NewsClips:
DrillingWastewaterCanTaintSurfaceWater,MethaneEmissionsNeedControls
DrillingCommunitiesReapBenefitsOfHousingGrants
Letter:NotableVoicesCallingForDrillingMoratorium
LawmakersFunnelAnother$150KToDrillingIndustryResearchGroup
OpEd:ProtectPublicFromEnvironmentalHazardsOfDrilling,AdoptDEPRegulations
RelatedStories:

OpEd:ProtectPublicFromEnvironmentalHazardsOfDrilling,AdoptDEPRegulations
ChangingDEPsDrillingRegsMayBeatHeartOfBudgetCompromisesInHarrisburg
Analysis:WillTheConfrontationOverDrillingRegsKillTheEntirePackage?
PAEnvironmentalCouncilUrgesCommitteeNotToOpposeDEPFinalDrillingRegs

OpEd:ProtectPublicFromEnvironmentalHazardsOfDrilling,AdoptDEPRegulations

By
SuzanneAlmeida
,ExecutiveDirector,
LeagueOfWomenVotersOf
PA

[Note:ThefollowingOpEdappearedinthe
AllentownMorningCall
May11.]

Onceagain,thehealthandwelfareofPennsylvaniansarebeingusedas
apoliticalpawn.
Overthelastfiveyears,theDepartmentofEnvironmental
Protectionhasworkedwithenvironmentalgroups,gasandoilindustry
leaders,andPennsylvaniansfromacrosstheCommonwealthtodevelopmuchneededupdatesto
ouroilandgasdrillingregulations.
ButmanylawmakersinHarrisburgaredeterminedtostymietheimplementationofthese
muchneededregulations,seeminglyatthebiddingoftheoilandgasindustry.
CitizensacrosstheCommonwealthshouldbeoutraged.Howweregulatetheoilandgas
industryasweseektoprotectpublichealthandtheenvironmentisanissuethatconcernsusall.
OnApril21,IhadtheopportunityonbehalfoftheLeagueofWomenVotersof
Pennsylvaniatoaddressourstate'sIndependentRegulatoryReviewCommissionandencourage
ittoapproveproposedupdatestoouroilandgasrulesunderPa.CodeChapter78and78a.
Afteradaylongmeeting,thecommissionapprovedtheproposedrulesbyavoteof32.
Lessthanaweeklater,however,theHouseEnvironmentalResources&Energy
Committeepassedaresolutiontokilltherulemakingproposal.
Luckily,advocates,includingtheLeagueofWomenVoters,workedhardtostopthis
resolutionmovingforwardandwereabletopreventafloorvoteintheHouse,atleastforthe
moment.
Butthisisfarfromover.TheSenateisexpectedtoconsiderabillthatwouldhavea
similareffect,andtheresultsarefarfromcertain.
Whilereasonablepeoplecandisagreeaboutsomeoftheparticularsoftheregulations,
therecanbenodoubtthatthenewregulationsintheirentiretyarenecessaryupdatestothe
previousregulatoryscheme.
Asourunderstandingofthepublichealthrisksoffossilfueldevelopmentgrowsand
changes,sotoomusttheregulationsthatareputinplacetoprotectus.
Consequently,onecanonlyseepoliticalcalculationsinthemachinationsoflegislatorsin
Harrisburgaroundtheserules.
TheLeagueofWomenVotersfirmlybelievesthat,whilegasandoilproductionisapart
ofoureconomy,wemustenactpoliciesthatsupportthemaximumprotectionofpublichealth
andtheenvironment.
Throughour
StraightScooponShale
project,wehosttheannualShale&PublicHealth

Conference.Wealsoissueannualupdatestoour
ShaleGasExtractionandPublicHealth
ResourceGuide
.
Attheleague'sannual
Shale&PublicHealthConference
lastNovember,weheardfrom
aseriesofspeakers,includingresearchersfromtheUniversityofPittsburghandJohnsHopkins
University,ontheharmfulimpactsofdrillingthatencroacheseverclosertoourschoolsand
homes.
ResearchfromEvelynTalbottoftheUniversityofPittsburghhasfoundanincreased
numberoflowbirthweightbabiesindrillingregions,andthisinauspiciousstarttolifedoesnot
makeforbetteroutcomeslater.
Similarly,studiesbeingledbyBrianSchwartzofJohnsHopkins,utilizingdatafromthe
GeisingerHealthSystem,hasfoundanincreasedriskofprematurebirthsandhighrisk
pregnanciesinwomenexposedtoactive,unconventionalnaturalgasdevelopment.
Clearly,thereisaveryrealriskinfailingtoprotectthehealthandsafetyofall
Pennsylvaniansthrougheffectiveregulation.
ThecitizensoftheCommonwealthneedtorealizethathowwemoveforwardonthese
regulationsisabellwetherforhowtheoilandgasindustrywilloperateinPennsylvania.
Wemustbalancetheneedtoprotectjobswiththeneedtoprotectourwater,airandland.
NoPennsylvanianwillbeimmunefromtheconsequencesoffailingtoeffectively
regulateouroilandgasindustry.
LawmakersmuststopplayingpoliticswiththehealthandwelfareofPennsylvanians.
TheLeagueofWomenVoterscallsonlegislatorsacrossPennsylvaniatoresistattempts
toblocktheproposedoilandgasupdatesunderPa.CodeChapter78and78a.
Thehealthandwellbeingofourchildren,familiesandcommunitiesareatstake.We
needourleaderstoberesponsivetotheneedsoftheirconstituentsandwe,thepeople,needto
seetoitthatourvoicesareloudandclear.
Attheendoftheday,thepowertoeffectchangeisours.
Formoreinformation,visittheLeagueofWomenVotersofPA
MarcellusShale
webpage.

SuzanneAlmeida
,ExecutiveDirector,
LeagueOfWomenVotersOfPA
,canbecontactedby
sendingemailto:
salmeida@palwv.org
.

TakeActionNow
ClickHere
tosendamessagetoyourlegislationsupportingDEPsdrillingregulations.
NewsClips:
DrillingWastewaterCanTaintSurfaceWater,MethaneEmissionsNeedControls
DrillingCommunitiesReapBenefitsOfHousingGrants
Letter:NotableVoicesCallingForDrillingMoratorium
LawmakersFunnelAnother$150KToDrillingIndustryResearchGroup
OpEd:ProtectPublicFromEnvironmentalHazardsOfDrilling,AdoptDEPRegulations
RelatedStories:
ChangingDEPsDrillingRegsMayBeatHeartOfBudgetCompromisesInHarrisburg
Analysis:WillTheConfrontationOverDrillingRegsKillTheEntirePackage?
PAEnvironmentalCouncilUrgesCommitteeNotToOpposeDEPFinalDrillingRegs

PATroutUnlimited:TellYourLegislatorsNOWToLetDEPDrillingRegsMoveForward

PACouncilofTroutUnlimited
isurgingmembersofthepublicwhocareaboutcleanwaterand
theenvironmenttocontacttheirstateHouseandstateSenatemembertosupportDEPsChapter
78and78adrillingregulationsandvoteagainsteffortstokillthem.
ClickHere
tosendyourmessagenow.
BackgroundFromPATrout
Morethanfouryearsago,Pennsylvania'sGeneralAssemblypassedacomprehensive
billthatrequiredthedevelopmentofnewregulationstoprovidelongoverdueenvironmental
protectionsandperformancestandardsatoilandgaswellsites.
Sincethen,theDepartmentofEnvironmentalProtectionhasworkeddiligentlytoengage
thepublic,industryandconservationorganizationsindevelopingnewoilandgasrules,holding
twoseparatepubliccommentperiods,12publichearings,anddozensofmeetingswith
stakeholders.
ThenewregulationsupdatePennsylvania'soilandgasregulationsforthefirsttimein
manyyearsandincreasestreamprotectionsby:prohibitingtheuseofpitstostoreshalegasdrill
cuttingsandwastefluidsandrequiringsecondarycontainmentaroundallstoragetanksand
trucksanddrillrigsrequiringpipelinecompaniestoemploypollutionpreventionplanswhen
performinghorizontaldirectionaldrillingunderstreamsrequiringshalegasoperatorstoobtaina
watermanagementplanbeforetheywithdrawwaterforhydraulicfracturingprohibitingtheuse
ofshalegaswastewateronroadsfordustsuppressionanddeicingandimprovingwaste
trackingandreportingrequirements.
OnApril21,theIndependentRegulatoryReviewCommissionapprovedthenewoiland
gasregulationsoneofthekeyfinalstepsinPennsylvania'scomplexregulatoryprocess.
Now,thePennsylvaniaGeneralAssemblyistryingtooverturntheveryrulestheycalled
formorethanfouryearsago.
Soon,thePennsylvaniaHouseofRepresentativesislikelytovoteonaHouse/Senate
concurrentresolutiondisapprovingDEP'sfinaloilandgasregulationsandbarring
implementationoftherules.
ThePennsylvaniaSenateisalsoexpectedtoactontheResolutionortakeup
SenateBill
1011
,whichwouldhavethesameeffect.
ThismisguidedstepwouldunderminePennsylvania'sregulatoryreviewprocess,ignore
publicinput,andunnecessarilycontinuetoputtheCommonwealth'sstreams,fishandwildlifeat
riskfrompotentialharm.
TellyourlegislatorstodaytoprotectPennsylvania'sstreamsandopposeanyresolution
orbillthatwouldoverturnordelayimplementationofthenewoilandgasregulations.
ClickHere
tosendyourmessagenow.ThePATroutsystemwillautomaticallyfindyour
HouseandSenatememberbasedonyouraddress.
NewsClips:
DrillingWastewaterCanTaintSurfaceWater,MethaneEmissionsNeedControls
DrillingCommunitiesReapBenefitsOfHousingGrants
Letter:NotableVoicesCallingForDrillingMoratorium
LawmakersFunnelAnother$150KToDrillingIndustryResearchGroup
OpEd:ProtectPublicFromEnvironmentalHazardsOfDrilling,AdoptDEPRegulations
RelatedStories:

PAEnvironmentalCouncilUrgesCommitteeNotToOpposeDEPFinalDrillingRegs
Analysis:WillTheConfrontationOverDrillingRegsKillTheEntirePackage?
ChangingDEPsDrillingRegsMayBeAtHeartOfBudgetCompromisesInHarrisburg
OpEd:ProtectPublicFromEnvironmentalHazardsOfDrilling,AdoptDEPRegulations

PAEnvironmentDigestGoogle+Circle,Blogs,TwitterFeeds

PAEnvironmentDigestnowhasaGoogle+Circlecalled
GreenWorksInPA
.Letusjoinyour
Circle.
Google+nowcombinesallthenewsyounowgetthroughthePAEnvironmentDigest,
Weekly,Blog,TwitterandVideositesintooneresource.
YoullreceiveasithappenspostingsonPennsylvaniaenvironmentalnews,daily
NewsClipsandlinkstotheweeklyDigestandvideos.

Alsotakeadvantageoftheserelatedservicesfrom
CrisciAssociates

PAEnvironmentDigestTwitterFeed
:OnTwitter,signuptoreceiveinstantnewsupdates.

PAEnvironmentDailyBlog:
providesdailyenvironmentalNewsClipsandsignificantstories
andannouncementsonenvironmentaltopicsinPennsylvaniaofimmediatevalue.Signupand
receiveastheyarepostedupdatesthroughyourfavoriteRSSreader.Youcanalsosignupfora
oncedailyemailalertingyoutonewitemspostedonthisblog.
NEW!
Addyourconstructive
commenttoanyblogposting.

PACapitolDigestDailyBlog
togetupdateseverydayonPennsylvaniaStateGovernment,
includingNewsClips,coverageofkeypressconferencesandmore.Signupandreceiveasthey
arepostedupdatesthroughyourfavoriteRSSreader.Youcanalsosignupforaoncedaily
emailalertingyoutonewitemspostedonthisblog.

PACapitolDigestTwitterFeed
:Don'tforgettosignuptoreceivethe
PACapitolDigest
Twitter
feedtogetinstantupdatesonothernewsfrominandaroundthePennsylvaniaState
Capitol.

Senate/HouseAgenda/SessionSchedule/GovsSchedule/BillsIntroduced

HerearetheSenateandHouseCalendarsandCommitteemeetingsshowingbillsofinterestas
wellasalistofnewenvironmentalbillsintroduced

BillCalendars

House(May16):HouseConcurrentRegulatoryReviewResolution#1
todisapproveDEPs
finalconventional(Chapter78)andunconventional(Chapter78a)drillingregulations

House
Resolution60
(EmrickRNorthampton)directingtheLegislativeBudgetandFinance
Committeetoconductacomprehensivereviewofthestatesprogramtoregulatethebeneficial
useofsewagesludge

SenateBill307
(YudichakDLuzerne)providingforanindependent

counselfortheEnvironmentalQualityBoard
SenateBill1071
(BrowneRLehigh),the
agreedtopensionreformbill
SenateBill1073
(BrowneRLehigh)agreedto$30.8billion
GeneralFundbudgetbill.

<>
ClickHere
forfullHouseBillCalendar.

Senate(May16):

SenateBill289
(FontanaDAllegheny)fundingtoassisthomeownerswith
deterioratingprivatesewerlaterals(
sponsorsummary
)
SenateBill1041
(SchwankDBerks)
amendingAct101toauthorizealllocalgovernmentstochargearecyclingservicefee(
sponsor
summary
)
SenateBill1011
(HutchinsonRVenango)killingDEPsfinaldrillingregulations
coveringconventionaloilandgaswellsandstartingtherulemakingprocessover
SenateBill
1168
(EichelbergerRBlair)authorizingtheFishandBoatCommissiontoadoptfeeschargedby
theagencyratherthanhavethemsetbytheGeneralAssembly(
sponsorsummary
)
SenateBill
1166
(StefanoRFayette)authorizingtheGameCommissiontoadoptfeeschargedbythe
agencyratherthanhavethemsetbytheGeneralAssembly(
sponsorsummary
)
SenateBill1195
(WhiteRIndiana)tofurtherdelayaPennsylvaniaplanformeetingEPAsCleanPowerClimate
PlanrulebychangingtheGeneralAssemblysreviewdatesunder
Act175of2014

HouseBill
1325
(MustioRAllegheny)allowingtownshipsofthesecondclasstochargestormwater
managementfees
HouseBill1394
(MustioRAllegheny)authorizingboroughstocharge
stormwatermanagementfees
HouseBill1661
(MustioRAllegheny)authorizingfirstclass
townshipstochargeastormwatermanagementfee
HouseBill1712
(R.BrownRMonroe)
establishingaPrivateDamFinancialAssuranceProgram(
HouseFiscalNote
andsummary).
<>
ClickHere
forfullSenateBillCalendar.

CommitteeMeetingAgendasThisWeek

House:
<>
ClickHere
forfullHouseCommitteeSchedule.

Senate:
the
ConsumerProtectionandProfessionalLicensureCommittee
meetstoconsider
HouseBill1241
(R.BrownRMonroe)exemptingresortsofferingwaterandsewageservices
fromdefinitionofpublicutility(
HouseFiscalNote
andsummary)the
UrbanAffairsand
HousingCommittee
meetstoconsider
SenateBill141
(GreenleafRMontgomery)amending
theRealEstateSellerDisclosureLawtorequiredisclosureofapropertysfloodhistory(
sponsor
summary
),
SenateBill142
(GreenleafRMontgomery)amendingtheLandlordandTenantAct
torequiredisclosureofapropertysfloodhistory(
sponsorsummary
)the
SenateDemocratic
PolicyCommittee
holdsaroundtablediscussiononthepublichealtheffectsofleadexposurein
Philadelphia.<>
ClickHere
forfullSenateCommitteeSchedule.

Other:
EnvironmentalIssuesForum,
JointLegislativeAir&WaterPollutionControland
ConservationCommittee,
featuringapresentationonchronicwastingdiseaseindeer.

BillsPendingInKeyCommittees

HerearelinkstokeyStandingCommitteesintheHouseandSenateandthebillspendingin
each

House

Appropriations
Education
EnvironmentalResourcesandEnergy
ConsumerAffairs
GamingOversight
HumanServices
Judiciary
LiquorControl
Transportation
LinksforallotherStandingHouseCommittees

Senate
Appropriations
EnvironmentalResourcesandEnergy
ConsumerProtectionandProfessionalLicensure
Community,EconomicandRecreationalDevelopment
Education
Judiciary
LawandJustice
PublicHealthandWelfare
Transportation
LinksforallotherStandingSenateCommittees

BillsIntroduced

Thefollowingbillsofinterestwereintroducedthisweek

ElectronicsWasteRecycling:

HouseBill1900
(RossRChester)amendingtheCoveredDevice
RecyclingActtoattempttodealwiththecollapseofPennsylvaniaselectronicswasterecycling
program(
sponsorsummary
).

SolarEnergy:

HouseBill2066
(HeffleyRCarbon)requiresallrecipientsofgrantmoneyfor
solarpanelstousepanelsmanufacturedintheU.S.

AlternativeFuelTax:

HouseBill1057
(EllisRButler)amendingtheAlternativeFuelsTaxAct
relatingtotaxesimposedonelectricandotheralternativefueledvehicles(
sponsorsummary
).

ChesapeakeBayAwarenessWeek
:
SenateResolution352
(YawRLycoming)designatingthe
weekofJune5throughJune11ChesapeakeBayAwarenessWeekwaspassedbytheSenate.

CleanWaterCounts:

SenateResolution359
(McIlhinneyRBucks,AllowayRAdams)
recognizingMayasCleanWaterCountsMonthwaspassedbytheSenate.

SessionSchedule

HereisthelatestvotingsessionschedulefortheSenateandHouse

Senate
May16,17,18
June6,7,8,13,14,15,20,21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29,30

House
May16,17,18,23,24,25
June6,7,8,13,14,15,20,21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29,30

GovernorsSchedule

Gov.TomWolf'sworkcalendarwillbepostedeachFridayandhispublicschedulefortheday
willbepostedeachmorning.
ClickHere
toviewGov.WolfsWeeklyCalendarandPublic
Appearances.

Senate/HouseBillsMoving

ThefollowingbillsofinterestsawactionthisweekintheHouseandSenate

Senate

StormwaterFees:

HouseBill1394
(MustioRAllegheny)authorizingboroughstocharge
stormwatermanagementfeeswasamendedtoaddcitiesoftheThirdClassandwasreportedout
oftheSenateLocalGovernmentCommitteeandisnowontheSenateCalendarforaction.

ChesapeakeBayAwarenessWeek
:
SenateResolution352
(YawRLycoming)designatingthe
weekofJune5throughJune11ChesapeakeBayAwarenessWeekwaspassedbytheSenate.

CleanWaterCounts:

SenateResolution359
(McIlhinneyRBucks,AllowayRAdams)
recognizingMayasCleanWaterCountsMonthwaspassedbytheSenate.

NewsFromTheCapitol

GrowingGreenerCoalitionThanksSenateForMayCleanWaterCountsResolution

The
PAGrowingGreenerCoalition
thankedmembersoftheSenatefordesignatingthemonthof
Mayas
CleanWaterCounts
Monthbypassing
SenateResolution359
(McIlhinneyRBucks,
AllowayRAdams).
WearepleasedthatmembersoftheStateSenaterecognizetheneedtoimprovewater
qualityinPennsylvania,saidAndrewHealth,executivedirectorofthePennsylvaniaGrowing
GreenerCoalition.OurCoalitionlooksforwardtoworkingwithlawmakersintheupcoming
monthstoidentifyfundingforaGrowingGreenerIIIinitiativetohelpkeepourdrinkingwater
clean,protectourwildlife,parksandopenspace,andpreserveourfamilyfarmsandprecious
resources.

HeaththankedSenatorsRichardAlloway(RYork)andChuckMcIlhinney(RBucks)for
sponsoringtheCleanWaterCountsMonthresolution,whichpassedunanimously.
TheHouseunanimouslypassedasimilarresolution
HouseResolution825
sponsored
byRep.StanSaylor(RYork)lastweekwith40bipartisancosponsors.
Weneedtodoallwecantoimprovethehealthandconditionofourriversandstreams
inPennsylvania,saidSen.Alloway.Cleanwaterprovidesforgreaterhealth,stronger
communitiesandthrivingeconomieswithinourregion.
Sen.McIlhinneysaid:CleanwatermustbeapriorityforPennsylvania.Ourabilityto
attractgrowingbusinessesandtoprovideahealthyenvironmentforourresidentsdependsonit.
Pennsylvaniahasapproximately19,000milesofriversandstreamsthatdonotmeetbasic
waterqualitystandards.Inotherwords,nearlyonequarterofthecreeks,rivers,andlakesthat
Pennsylvaniansrelyonforrecreation,andfordrinkingandhouseholduses,arepolluted.
The
ChesapeakeBayFoundationPA
launchedthestatewide
CleanWaterCounts
campaignin2014callingontheCommonwealthtoprioritizefundingandincreaseinvestments
forcleanwater.
TheChesapeakeBayFoundationiscallingonPennsylvaniaofficialstomakeclean
waterapriority,tocommittheneededresources,andtoensurethatallour86,000milesof
waterwaysareclean,saidHarryCampbell,PAExecutiveDirectorfortheChesapeakeBay
Foundation,amemberoftheGrowingGreenerCoalition.WearethankfultotheSenatefor
designatingthemonthofMayasCleanWaterCountsmonthandlookforwardtotheircontinued
support.
SixteenPennsylvaniacountieshaveadoptedresolutionssupportingtheCleanWater
Countscampaignandcallingonstateofficialstomakecleanwaterapriorityforthe
Commonwealth.
Those16countiesare:Berks,Cumberland,Erie,Fayette,Greene,Jefferson,Luzerne,
Northumberland,Philadelphia,Schuylkill,Somerset,Venango,Washington,Westmoreland,
Wyoming,andYork.
VisitCBFPAs
CleanWaterCounts
webpagetoseehowcleanstreamsareinyourarea.
The
PAGrowingGreenerCoalition
,thelargestcoalitionofconservation,recreationand
preservationorganizationsintheCommonwealth,hasurgedtheGeneralAssemblyandtheWolf
Administrationto
passlegislationtofundaGrowingGreenerIIIprogram
toaddressthepressing
needsoftheCommonwealth,includingtheneedtokeepdrinkingwaterclean,protectparksand
openspaces,andpreservefamilyfarms.
FormoreonChesapeakeBayrelatedissuesinPennsylvania,visitthe
CBFPA
webpage.
ClickHere
tosignupforPennsylvaniaupdates(bottomofleftcolumn).
RelatedStories:
Sen.YawSponsorsResolutionDesignatingJune511ChesapeakeBayAwarenessWeek
ChesapeakeBayJournal:DespiteProgress,StatesToFallShortOfBayCleanupTargets
DEP,ConservationDistrictsWorkOnFarmInspectionsInChesapeakeBayWatershed
DEPTellsHouseCommitteesChesapeakeBayProgramFacesInadequateResources,Data
DamsOnSusquehannaAreUndoingProgressInReducingPollutionToChesapeakeBay
AgenciesUnveilNewChesapeakeBayCleanupStrategy
DCNRLeadingStatewideForestBufferEffortToImproveWaterQuality
PACoalitionEmergesToSupportFarmersInEffortToCleanUpChesapeakeBay
CBFPA:LackOfFundingForFarmersDefeatsEffortToMeetCleanWaterCommitment

CBFOpEd:FarmBureauCanChooseToBeASoreLoserOrPartOfTheSolution
RockLititzProjectReducesSediment,NutrientRunoffWithoutTaxpayerMoney

SenatePassesYawResolutionDesignatingJune511ChesapeakeBayAwarenessWeek

TheSenateMondayunanimouslyapproved
SenateResolution352
designatingtheweekofJune5throughJune11ChesapeakeBay
AwarenessWeek.TheresolutionwassponsoredbySen.GeneYaw
(RLycoming),MajorityChairoftheSenateEnvironmentalResourcesand
EnergyCommitteeandamemberoftheinterstate
ChesapeakeBay
Commission
.
TheChesapeakeBayisthelargestandmostproductivebayinthe
UnitedStates,Sen.Yawsaid.Collectively,theChesapeakesthree
largestriverstheSusquehanna,PotomacandJamesriversprovidemore
than80percentofthefreshwatertotheBay.
Withnearly1,800localgovernmentsintheBaywatershed,includingtowns,cities,
countiesandtownships,BayAwarenessWeekwillseektoengage,strengthenandpromote
environmentalstewardshipinthoselocalgovernments,aswellasincreaseBayawareness
throughoutourtristateregion,Sen.Yawadded.
SpecialUpcomingEvents
ThereareanumberofspecialeventsscheduledintheChesapeakeBayWatershedto
focusontheneedtoimprovewaterquality
FirstCanoeClassic:
The
ChesapeakeBayFoundationPAs
PennsylvaniaStudentLeadership
Councilwillhostits
firstCanoeClassic
forlocalhighschoolstudents,onMay15,from1to4
p.m.,at
SusquehannaOutfitters
inWormleysburg,nearHarrisburg.
CleanTheBayDay:
DuringthefirstSaturdayinJune,the
ChesapeakeBayFoundation
hosts

CleantheBayDay
duringwhichthousandsofvolunteersrolluptheirsleevesandtakedirect
actiontocleantheirwaterways.
SusquehannaSojournJune1719:
AlsoinPennsylvania,the
SusquehannaSojourn
,
celebratingthelargestrivereastoftheMississippithatsuppliesthelifebloodoffreshwater
flowingintotheChesapeakeBay,runsfromJune1719thisyear,furtherextendingourBay
awarenessfestivities.
RiverOfTheYear:
Earlierthisyear,theSusquehannaRiversNorthBranchwas
namedPA
RiveroftheYear
bytheDepartmentofConservationandNaturalResources.
OtherPennsylvaniamembersoftheChesapeakeBayCommissioninclude:Sen.Richard
Alloway(RAdams),Rep.GarthEverett(RLycoming),Rep.KeithGillespie(RYork),Rep.
MichaelSturla(DLancaster),DEPSecretaryJohnQuigleyandPennsylvaniacitizenmember
WarrenElliott.
LegislatorsfromPennsylvania,MarylandandVirginiaworkedcollaborativelyinseeking
passageofresolutionsdesignatingtheweeklongrecognitionoftheChesapeakeBay.Through
thisdesignation,thelegislaturesalsoencourageresidentsandenvironmentalandeducational
groupstohostevents,activities,andeducationalprogramstoincreaseawarenessofthe
importanceoftheChesapeakeBaytothestates,regionandUnitedStates.
Thetextoftheresolutionfollows
DesignatingtheweekofJune5through11,2016,as"ChesapeakeBayAwarenessWeek"

inPennsylvania.
WHEREAS,TheChesapeakeBayisthelargestandmostproductiveestuaryinthe
UnitedStates,itswatershedspanningsixstatesandtheDistrictofColumbiaand
WHEREAS,TheChesapeakeBayisfedby50majortributaries,thelargestbeingthe
SusquehannaRiver,whichprovides50percentofthefreshwatertothebayand
WHEREAS,Stretching200milesfromHavredeGrace,Maryland,toNorfolk,Virginia,
theChesapeakeBayhasanaveragedepthof21feetandrangesfrom3.4to35mileswideand
WHEREAS,TheChesapeakeBaysupports348speciesoffinfish,173speciesof
shellfishandmorethan3,600speciesofplantandanimallife,including2,700typesofplants
andmorethan16speciesofunderwatergrassesand
WHEREAS,TheChesapeakeBayproducesmorethan500millionpoundsofseafood
harvesteachyearand
WHEREAS,Thebay'stributariesinthisCommonwealthareanimportantsourceof
drinkingwaterandrecreationalfishingandboatingforthisCommonwealthand
WHEREAS,TheChesapeakeBaywatershedisanextraordinaryandvitalnatural
resource,withsomeofthenation'smostproductivefarmandforestlandsinthis
Commonwealth'sportionofthewatershedand
WHEREAS,Thisproductivitysupportedthesettlementandgrowthofournationandisa
vitalresourceforfuturegenerationsand
WHEREAS,TheChesapeakeBayareaishometomorethan17millionpeople,manyof
whomrelyuponthebayfortheirlivelihoodandrecreationalactivitiesand
WHEREAS,Therichhistory,pivotaleconomicimportanceandastoundingbeautyofthe
ChesapeakeBaywatershedneverceasetoamazeresidentsandvisitorsalikeand
WHEREAS,AllresidentsofthisCommonwealthareencouragedtocommemorate
"ChesapeakeBayAwarenessWeek"witheventsandeducationalprogramsdesignedtoincrease
awarenessoftheimportanceoftheChesapeakeBaytothisCommonwealth,theregionandthe
UnitedStatesthereforebeit
RESOLVED,ThattheHouseofRepresentativesdesignatetheweekofJune5through
11,2016,as"ChesapeakeBayAwarenessWeek"inPennsylvania.
Asimilar
HouseResolution739
wassponsoredbyRep.GarthEverett(RLycoming)and
passedbytheHouse.
FormoreonChesapeakeBayrelatedissuesinPennsylvania,visitthe
CBFPA
webpage.
ClickHere
tosignupforPennsylvaniaupdates(bottomofleftcolumn).
NewsClips:
ChesapeakeBayJournal:DespiteProgress,StatesToFallShortOfBayCleanupTargets
PAOfficialsCollaborateOnChesapeakeBayWatershedFarmInspections
Crable:FarmInspectionsToBeginSoonAsPartOfChesapeakeBayReboot
OpEd:BenefitsOfSoilHealthExtendBeyondFarm
PAPutsItsLaggingChesapeakeBayCleanupOnPollutionDiet
ChesapeakeBayCommissionQuietlyPushedEnvironmentalAgendaFor35Years
RelatedStories:
ChesapeakeBayJournal:DespiteProgress,StatesToFallShortOfBayCleanupTargets
DEP,ConservationDistrictsWorkOnFarmInspectionsInChesapeakeBayWatershed
DEPTellsHouseCommitteesChesapeakeBayProgramFacesInadequateResources,Data
DamsOnSusquehannaAreUndoingProgressInReducingPollutionToChesapeakeBay

AgenciesUnveilNewChesapeakeBayCleanupStrategy
DCNRLeadingStatewideForestBufferEffortToImproveWaterQuality
PACoalitionEmergesToSupportFarmersInEffortToCleanUpChesapeakeBay
CBFPA:LackOfFundingForFarmersDefeatsEffortToMeetCleanWaterCommitment
CBFOpEd:FarmBureauCanChooseToBeASoreLoserOrPartOfTheSolution
RockLititzProjectReducesSediment,NutrientRunoffWithoutTaxpayerMoney

CBFPAApplaudsPALegislatorsForChesapeakeBayAwarenessWeekResolutions

The
ChesapeakeBayFoundationPA
TuesdayapplaudedbothchambersofthePennsylvania
legislatureforunanimouslyapprovingresolutionsdesignatingtheweekofJune511as
ChesapeakeBayAwarenessWeek.
RestoringandprotectingtheCommonwealthsriversandstreams,andultimatelythe
ChesapeakeBay,takescommitmentandawarenessonbehalfofleadersinHarrisburgand
citizens,saidCBFExecutiveDirectorHarryCampbellinPennsylvania.Roughly19,000miles
ofPennsylvaniawatersarepolluted.RecognizingtheimportanceofcleanwaterinPennsylvania
andtheBay,andthattheCommonwealthneedstogetbackontracktowardmeetingitsgoalsof
reducingnitrogen,phosphorus,andsedimentpollution,isanimportantfirststep.
TheSenatepasseditsChesapeakeBayAwarenessWeekresolutionMonday
Senate
Resolution352
(YawRLycoming).
TheChesapeakeBayisthelargestandmostproductivebayintheUnitedStates,said
Sen.GeneYaw(RLycoming),whorepresentsPennsylvaniaontheinterstateChesapeakeBay
Commission.Withnearly1,800localgovernmentsintheBaywatershed,includingtowns,
cities,countiesandtownships,BayAwarenessWeekwillseektoengage,strengthenand
promoteenvironmentalstewardshipinthoselocalgovernments,aswellasincreaseBay
awarenessthroughoutourtristateregion.
ThestateHouseadoptedasimilarmeasureinMarch
HouseResolution739
(EverettRLycoming).ThatresolutionwasintroducedbyRepresentativesGarthEverett
(RLycoming),KeithGillespie(RYork),andMichaelSturla(DLancaster),allmembersofthe
ChesapeakeBayCommission.
OtherPennsylvaniamembersoftheChesapeakeBayCommissioninclude:Sen.Richard
Alloway(RAdams),DEPSecretaryJohnQuigleyandPennsylvaniacitizenmemberWarren
Elliott.
TheChesapeakeBayisfedby50majortributaries,thelargestbeingtheSusquehanna
River,whichprovides50percentofthefreshwatertotheBay,theresolutionssaid.The
ChesapeakeBaywatershedisanextraordinaryandvitalnaturalresource,withsomeofthe
nationsmostproductivefarmandforestlandsintheCommonwealthsportionofthewatershed.
Thisproductivitysupportedthesettlementandgrowthofournationandisavitalresourcefor
futuregenerations.
LegislatorsfromPennsylvania,MarylandandVirginiaworkedcollaborativelyinseeking
passageofresolutionsdesignatingtheweeklongrecognitionoftheChesapeakeBay.The
resolutionsencourageresidentsandenvironmentalandeducationalgroupstohostevents,
activities,andeducationalprogramstoincreaseawarenessoftheimportanceoftheChesapeake
Baytothestates,regionandUnitedStates.
FormoreonChesapeakeBayrelatedissuesinPennsylvania,visitthe
CBFPA
webpage.

ClickHere
tosignupforPennsylvaniaupdates(bottomofleftcolumn).
NewsClips:
ChesapeakeBayJournal:DespiteProgress,StatesToFallShortOfBayCleanupTargets
PAOfficialsCollaborateOnChesapeakeBayWatershedFarmInspections
Crable:FarmInspectionsToBeginSoonAsPartOfChesapeakeBayReboot
OpEd:BenefitsOfSoilHealthExtendBeyondFarm
PAPutsItsLaggingChesapeakeBayCleanupOnPollutionDiet
ChesapeakeBayCommissionQuietlyPushedEnvironmentalAgendaFor35Years
RelatedStories:
Sen.YawSponsorsResolutionDesignatingJune511ChesapeakeBayAwarenessWeek
ChesapeakeBayJournal:DespiteProgress,StatesToFallShortOfBayCleanupTargets
DEP,ConservationDistrictsWorkOnFarmInspectionsInChesapeakeBayWatershed
DEPTellsHouseCommitteesChesapeakeBayProgramFacesInadequateResources,Data
DamsOnSusquehannaAreUndoingProgressInReducingPollutionToChesapeakeBay
AgenciesUnveilNewChesapeakeBayCleanupStrategy
DCNRLeadingStatewideForestBufferEffortToImproveWaterQuality
PACoalitionEmergesToSupportFarmersInEffortToCleanUpChesapeakeBay
CBFPA:LackOfFundingForFarmersDefeatsEffortToMeetCleanWaterCommitment
CBFOpEd:FarmBureauCanChooseToBeASoreLoserOrPartOfTheSolution
RockLititzProjectReducesSediment,NutrientRunoffWithoutTaxpayerMoney

NewsFromAroundTheState

ChesapeakeBayJournal:DespiteProgress,StatesToFallShortOfBayCleanupTargets

KarlBlankenship,Editorofthe
ChesapeakeBayJournal
,recentlydid
acomprehensivearticle
examiningtheissuesrelatedtotheChesapeakeBayProgramsmidpointassessmentandwhether
statesaremeetingtheirsedimentandnutrientreductiontargets.
Hereisjustasmallpartofthearticle.
ClickHere
toreadtheentirearticle.
Takeone
ConowingoDam
,sprinkleitwithabitofclimatechange,mixinanunhealthy
amountofphosphorussaturatedsoilandyoucouldhavetherecipeforabigBayheadache.
Thosearesomeofthemajorscienceandpolicyissuesthatlocal,stateandfederal
officialsaregrapplingwithastheytakestockofwhereChesapeakeBaycleanupeffortsstand
withthehalfwaymarkapproachingintheagreedupontimetableforreachingrestorationgoals.
Forseveralyearsnow,officialshavebeenpreparingforwhatsknownasthemidpoint
assessment,mullingovernewscience,monitoringdata,landuseandotherlocalinformationto
gaugetheeffectivenessofactionstakentodate.
Andperhapsevenmoreimportantly,theyretryingtounderstandwhatschangedsince
thelatestBaycleanupgoalwassetin2010.
Thegoaloftheassessment,slatedforcompletionnextyear,istouseallavailablenew
informationtomakewhateveradjustmentsareneededtocompletethemultibilliondollar
restorationeffortbyits2025deadline.
Basedontheresults,statesandthefederalagencieswillneedtorevisetheirstrategiesfor
deliveringahealthyBayforthepublicaswellasforthecrabs,fish,underwatergrassesand
evenbottomdwellingwormsthatdependonit.

Thegoodnewsisthatawealthofnewinformationisprovidingaclearerthenever
pictureofwherepollutioniscomingfromandhowitsaffectingthenationslargestestuary.
Ontheotherhand,thatinformation,whenmeldedtogether,islikelytoshowthatmeeting
nitrogen,phosphorusandsedimentreductiongoalsby2025willbeamoredauntingtaskthan
whatwasenvisionedjustafewyearsago.
***
TheassessmentsoutcomewillsetthestagefortoughpolicydebatesamongtheEPAand
thestates.Newinformationcouldmakethecleanupjobsubstantiallymoredifficultperhaps
impossibleforsomeagriculturalareaswithphosphorussaturatedsoils.Pennsylvania,which
isalreadysignificantlylagginginitsefforts,couldfaceadditionalburdensrelatedtothe
Conowingoissue
.
Amongthequestionsthatcouldarise:Wouldotherareas,sectorsorstatesbeableor
willingtotakeonmoreofthepollutionreductionburden?Conversely,wouldstatesorfederal
agenciesbewillingtosendmoremoneyorresourcestoproblematicareas?
Ithinktheywouldbetoughconversationstohave,butIthinkwearegoingtohaveto
havethem,saidBethMcGee,seniorwaterqualityscientistwiththe
ChesapeakeBay
Foundation
.
Anevenmoredifficultquestion:Ifthechangesshowthecleanupeffortismoredifficult,
willBaywaterqualitygoalsactuallybeattainable?
***
KeyIssuesInTheMidpointAssessment
Heresalookatsomeofthekeyissuesinthemidpointassessment:
ConowingoDam:
Scientistshavelongwarnedthatonedaythereservoirbehindthe
ConowingoDamontheSusquehannaRiverwasfillingwithsediment,andasthathappens,more
nutrientsandsedimentpassthroughthedamandentertheBay.ButwhentheChesapeakeBay
TotalMaximumDailyLoadwascompletedin2010,itwasntrecognizedthatthereservoirhad
essentiallyalreadyreacheditsstoragecapacityandtheflowofnutrientshadalreadyincreased.
ArecentU.S.ArmyCorpsofEngineersreportsaidthatoffsettingthelost
pollutiontrappingimpactofConowingoDamcouldrequire2.4millionadditionalpoundsof
nitrogenreductionsand270,000poundsofadditionalphosphorusreductionsfromthe
SusquehannaRiver.
ThosearereductionsthatwerenotfactoredintotheTMDL.Notonlyaretheyextra
nutrientsthathavetobecontrolled,buttheyarecomingfromtheworstpossibleplace:the
Susquehanna.Poundforpound,nutrientsfromtheriverhaveagreaterimpactondissolved
oxygenlevelsinthedeepwaterareasoftheupperBaytheareawhichhasthegreatest
problemmeetingwaterqualitystandardsthannutrientsfromotherrivers.
Computermodelingshowsthatifthosenutrientreductionsdontcomefromthe
Susquehanna,otherportionsoftheBaywatershedwouldhavetocutbackbynearlytwiceas
much4.4millionpoundsofnitrogenand410,000poundsofphosphorustoachievethe
samewaterqualitybenefit.
FactorinthatPennsylvania,whichcontributesthelionsshareoftheSusquehannas
nutrients,isalreadytaskedwiththegreatestreductionburdenofanystateandisfarbehind
scheduleinmeetingitsgoals,andthestageissetforadifficultpolicydebate,probablynextyear.
ClimateChange:
WaterintheBayanditstributaryriversiswarmingChesapeakewater
levelsarerisingandthefrequencyandseverityofstormshavebeenincreasing.Allofthatcan

affecttheamountofnutrientsandsedimentwashingoffthelandandhowtheyaffectwater
quality.
Theinteractionsarecomplex:HighersealevelscandrawmoreoceanwaterintotheBay
andcausemorewatermixingwhichisgenerallyagoodthingbuttheycanalsoerode
shorelinesandbufferingmarshes.Warmerwatertendstoholdlessoxygenthancoolerwaterand
threatensthesurvivalofecologicallyvitaleelgrassintheLowerBay.
Onbalance,scientistsandofficialsbelievesuchchangeswillultimatelymaketheBay
cleanupmoredifficult.Keyquestions:Howrapidlywilltheyoccur,andwilltheyhaveanimpact
by2025,orsometimelater?
Attheleast,theissuecouldforceareexaminationofsomeofthebestmanagement
practicesbeinginstalled,aswellashowtomaintaintheireffectivenessindecadestocome.For
instance,stormwaterandsomefarmrunoffcontrolsmayneedtobedesignedtowithstandlarger,
morefrequentstorms.Buildingsocalledlivingshorelinesmaybecomemoreimportantin
managingerosionandprotectingmarshes.
Phosphorus:
Inthepast,theBayProgramswatershedmodelassumedthattheamountof
phosphorusthatrunsofffarmlandwasrelatedtotheamountthatisapplied.Butresearchhas
shownthatinareaswherephosphoruslevelshavebuiltupinsoilsovermanydecades,the
nutrientcontinuestoleakouteveniflittleornoneisspreadonfields.
Thatmayhelpexplainwhythemodelshowsphosphoruslevelsgoingdowninsome
placeswherewaterqualitymonitoringshowsworseningtrends.Anewsubmodelisbeing
developedincooperationwithlandgrantuniversitiesandtheU.S.DepartmentofAgricultureto
betteraccountforthephosphorusbuildupinsoils.Oncecompleted,itslikelytodiscountatleast
someofthephosphorusreductionspreviouslyestimatedbythemodel.
TheEPAlastyearwarnedstatesofthatlikelychange,sayingtheagencybelievesthat
thelevelofefforttomanagephosphorusmayincreaseandstatesshouldconsideradditional
actionstomanagephosphorusinthefuture.
BestManagementPractices:
Inthepast,theBayProgramonlycountedafewdozenbest
managementpractices,orBMPs,towardmeetingnutrientandsedimentreductiongoals.Inthe
lastfewyears,scoresofexpertpanelshavebeenconvenedtoexaminethebenefitsofnew
practicesurbantreecanopies,oysteraquaculture,streetsweeping,manuretoenergy
technologiesandmanymore.
Butthepanelsinsomecaseshaverecommendedchangesintheamountofnutrient
reductionsassociatedwithvariousBMPs.Further,astheyinteractwithnew,finescale
modeling,theeffectivenessofBMPscouldbeincreasedordecreasedinspecificplaces.
Meanwhile,stateshavebeenmakingeffortstoidentifyconservationpracticesalready
adoptedbyfarmersusuallythosewithoutcostsharefundingfromconservationagencies
thathaventbeenfactoredintothecleanupeffortyet.
Ontheotherhand,theEPAhasalsobeenpressingstatestocleanuptheirhistoricBMP
datagoingbackto1985andremovingfromtheirrecordsthosethatnolongerexist,orthosethat
mighthavebeendoublecounted.
Also,after2018,thestatesmustbeginperiodicallyinspectingBMPstoensurethatthey
aremaintainedandfunctioning.Thosenotverifiedwillnotbecountedtowardpollution
reductiongoals.
NewModels:
TheBayProgrampartnershipreliesonaseriesofcomputermodelsthathave
beendevelopedandrefinedoverthreedecadestoestimatethenutrientsandsedimentreaching

theBayandhowtheywillimpactwaterquality.Thereisanairqualitymodel,forinstance,that
estimatesatmosphericdepositionontheBayanditswatershedawatershedmodelthatestimates
themovementofnutrientsfromthelandtotheBayandanestuarinemodelthatsimulateswater
qualityinthemainstemoftheChesapeake.Inaddition,thereareavarietyofsubmodelsthat
coverlanduses,theeffectivenessofbestmanagementpractices,underwatergrasshabitats,
oysterfilterfeedingandmore.
Themodelshaveundergonesignificantrefinementssincetheywereusedtoestablish
TMDLgoalsin2010.Changeshavefocusedonthebetterhandlingoflocalmovementsof
nutrientsinthewatershedespeciallyphosphorusandlocalwaterqualityconditionsin
shallowpartsoftheBay.
Therefinementsshouldprovideaclearerpictureofhownutrientsmoveacrossthe
landscapehowthatmovementmayvaryregionallyandhowtheBayswaterqualityis
ultimatelyaffected.Becausethemodelsarecalibratedagainstdecadesofhistoricalwaterquality
monitoringdata,theirupdatingshouldnotyieldmajorchangesintheoverallestimatesof
nutrientsreachingtheBay.Itmayrevisetalliesofwherenutrientsarecomingfrom,thoughitis
tooearlytosaybyhowmuch.
Anotherchange:Manyofthenutrientreductionactionsonthelandscapetakeyears
beforetheyactuallyaffecttheamountreachingtheBay.Forthefirsttime,theupdatedwatershed
modelwillbeabletogiveanideaofthetimelagandthereforewhentheChesapeakemightbe
cleanedup.
Monitoring:
TheBayProgramhaslongbeencriticizedforbeingoverlyreliantoncomputer
modelsasitsprimarytoolforassessingpollutionreductionefforts.
Overthelastdecadeandahalf,beefedupmonitoringintributarieshasprovidedbetter
informationabouttrendsinnutrientandsedimentpollutionandtheirsources.Thosedataare
expectedtogivethemidpointassessmentabetterpictureofrealworldconditions,andwhats
drivingthosetrends.Improvedmonitoringalsocouldplayabiggerroleintrackingcleanup
progress.
EPAofficialsarealreadyexperimenting,forthefirsttime,withtranslatingnutrient
reductiongoalsnowspelledoutinpoundsremovedfromwastewaterandrunoffperyear
intopredictedloadsofnitrogenandphosphorusinsomelocalwaterways.Cleanupeffortscould
thenbetrackedwithrealworldwaterqualitymonitoring,ratherthanbyrelyingonsimulations
ofvirtualstreamconditionsgeneratedbycomputermodels.
LandUse:
Verylittleaffectsnutrientpollutionmorethanlanduse.Forthewatershedmodel,
alllandinthe64,000squaremilewatershedisgivenause,suchasimpervioussurfaceor
pavement,turfgrass,pasture,degradedriparianpasture,forest,disturbedforestandsoon.Each
oftheselandusesisassignedadifferentnutrientloadingratebyteamsofexpertsbasedona
varietyoffactors.
Landusedesignationsinthemodelhavesometimesbeenhighlycontentiousbecausein
manycasestheydidnotaccuratelyreflectlocalconditions.Forthemidpointassessment,land
useinformationhasbeenoverhauled.Itsbeenrevisedbasedonnewsatelliteimagerythat
provides1metersquaredetailfortheentirewatershed,incorporatingroads,buildingseven
streamforestbuffersthatpreviouslywentunseen.
Inaddition,localgovernmentshavebeeninvitedtoprovideinformationontheir
communitiesandtoreviewwhatsbeenputtogetherbytheBayProgram.Sofar,local
governmentsrepresentingabout80percentofthewatershedpopulationhaveprovidedlocalland

use,landcover,zoningorotherinformation.
***
Sediment:
Agriculture,thelargestsourceofnutrients,isnotonthetrajectorytomeet2017
goalsinmoststates,thoughthemostsignificantshortfallisinPennsylvania.Agricultural
nitrogenwasreducedfrom113.8millionpoundsin2009to99.2millionpoundsin2015,but
needstoreach88.7millionpoundsin2017and71.9millionin2025.
ClickHere
toreadtheentirearticle.
FormoreonChesapeakeBayrelatedissuesinPennsylvania,visitthe
CBFPA
webpage.
ClickHere
tosignupforPennsylvaniaupdates(bottomofleftcolumn).
NewsClips:
ChesapeakeBayJournal:DespiteProgress,StatesToFallShortOfBayCleanupTargets
PAOfficialsCollaborateOnChesapeakeBayWatershedFarmInspections
Crable:FarmInspectionsToBeginSoonAsPartOfChesapeakeBayReboot
OpEd:BenefitsOfSoilHealthExtendBeyondFarm
PAPutsItsLaggingChesapeakeBayCleanupOnPollutionDiet
ChesapeakeBayCommissionQuietlyPushedEnvironmentalAgendaFor35Years
RelatedStories:
DEP,ConservationDistrictsWorkOnFarmInspectionsInChesapeakeBayWatershed
DEPTellsHouseCommitteesChesapeakeBayProgramFacesInadequateResources,Data
Sen.YawSponsorsResolutionDesignatingJune511ChesapeakeBayAwarenessWeek
DamsOnSusquehannaAreUndoingProgressInReducingPollutionToChesapeakeBay
AgenciesUnveilNewChesapeakeBayCleanupStrategy
DCNRLeadingStatewideForestBufferEffortToImproveWaterQuality
PACoalitionEmergesToSupportFarmersInEffortToCleanUpChesapeakeBay
CBFPA:LackOfFundingForFarmersDefeatsEffortToMeetCleanWaterCommitment
CBFOpEd:FarmBureauCanChooseToBeASoreLoserOrPartOfTheSolution
RockLititzProjectReducesSediment,NutrientRunoffWithoutTaxpayerMoney

DEP,ConservationDistrictsWorkOnFarmInspectionsInChesapeakeBayWatershed

Inabriefingtothe
StateConservationCommission
Tuesday,DepartmentofEnvironmental
ProtectionofficialsdiscusseddetailsofthecollaborationbetweenDEPandcountyconservation
districtstoconductfarminspectionsintheChesapeakeBaywatershedaspartoftherecently
announced
BayReboot
strategy.
DEPannouncedthestrategyinJanuary.Itwasdevelopedinconjunctionwiththe
PennsylvaniadepartmentsofAgriculture,andConservationandNaturalResources,andtheState
ConservationCommission.
Thestrategyreliesonamixoftechnicalandfinancialassistanceforfarmers,improved
technology,expandeddatagathering,improvedprogramcoordinationandcapacityandwhen
necessarystrongerenforcementandcompliancemeasures.
TheWolfadministrationsoughtadditionalresourcesfromthefederalgovernment,and
hasbeenworkingwithfarmorganizationstoassistin
capturingonthefarmdata
ofbest
managementpracticesthroughoutthebaywatershed.
CapturingthisdataisessentialtoPennsylvaniareceivingfullcreditintheU.S.
EnvironmentalProtectionAgencymodel,whichisusedtomeasureprogresstowardpollution

reductiongoals.
DEPSecretaryJohnQuigleyandVeronicaKasi,programmanagerofDEPsnewly
formedChesapeakeBayProgramOffice,willdelivertheupdatetoSCCmembersattheir
statewidemeetinginHarrisburgandprovideatimelineforimplementation.
Withvaluablefeedbackfromourpartners,DEPhasdevelopeda
draftStandard
OperatingProcedure
andinspectionreportformforconservationdistrictandagencystaffto
followwhencompletingfieldinspectionsascalledforaspartoftherebootstrategy,Quigley
said.DEPwillsendpreinspectionletterstofarmerstomakethemawareoftheinspection
programandaffordthemanopportunitytodemonstratecompliancepriortoafieldinspection.
InDecember2010,EPAdevelopedatotalmaximumdailyload(TMDL)forthe
ChesapeakeBayinresponsetocourtordersandthefederalCleanWaterAct,whichrequires
Pennsylvaniatoreduceannualdischargesofnitrogen,phosphorousandsedimententeringthe
baywatershed.
Thesereductionsareneededtomeetwaterqualitystandardsby2025.
TheBayRebootstrategyisarecognitionbytheWolfadministrationthata"midcourse
changeindirection,"orrefocusofwork,isnecessarybecausePennsylvaniawillnotreachthe
goalsasdescribedinthecurrentWatershedImplementationPlan.
QuigleysaidDEPalsojustfinishedpilottestingthedraftSOPthismonthinafew
counties.Theresultsofthispilottesting,alongwithothercommentsreceivedfromconservation
districtandagencystaff,willbeusedtofinalizethisdraftSOP,whichcanbefoundonDEPs
websitehere.
Oncefinalized,DEPandconservationdistrictstaffwillbeprovidedwithformaltraining
beforefullimplementationoftheprograminJuly.
Countyconservationdistrictstaffhavehadaroleincomplianceinspectionsunderthe
Chapter83NutrientManagementandChapter102Erosion&Sedimentationregulatory
programsfordecades.
AspartoftheBayRebootstrategy,conservationdistrictstaffwillshifttheirfocusfrom
conducting100educationalfarmvisitstoconducting50farminspectionseachyear.The
inspectionswillinitiallyfocusonensuringfarmershaveimplementedmanuremanagementand
erosionandsedimentationplansaswellasidentifyinganysignificantwaterqualityproblems.
Wewanttomakesureconservationdistrictstaffhaveallthetoolsandtrainingthey
needtoproperlyconducttheseinspectionswhilecontinuingtheirinvaluableworkofproviding
ourfarmcommunitywithcomplianceassistance,Quigleysaid.Thiscollaborativeapproach
withinputfromallofourpartnerswillbekeytooursuccessinimprovingourwaterquality.
Thestrategycentersaroundsixelements:
Puthighimpact,lowcostBestManagementPractices(BMPs)ontheground,andquantify
undocumentedBMPsinwatershedsimpairedbyagricultureorstormwater.
Improvereporting,recordkeepinganddatasystemstoprovidebetterandmoreaccessible
documentation.
AddressnutrientreductionbymeetingEPAsgoalofinspecting10percentoffarmsinthe
watershed,ensuringdevelopmentanduseofmanuremanagementandagriculturalerosionand
sedimentcontrolplans,andenforcementfornoncompliance.
Identifylegislative,programmaticorregulatorychangestoprovidetheadditionaltoolsand
resourcesnecessarytomeetfederalpollutionreductiongoalsby2025.
Obtainadditionalresourcesforwaterqualityimprovement.

EstablishaChesapeakeBayOfficetocoordinatethedevelopment,implementationand
fundingofthecommonwealthsChesapeakeBayefforts.
ThedraftStandardOperatingProcedureandrelatedmaterialsonPennsylvanias
ChesapeakeBayProgram
areavailableonline
.
Formoreinformation,visitDEPs
ChesapeakeBayOffice
webpage.Formore
informationonconservationdistricts,visitthe
PAAssociationofConservationDistricts
website.
NewsClips:
ChesapeakeBayJournal:DespiteProgress,StatesToFallShortOfBayCleanupTargets
PAOfficialsCollaborateOnChesapeakeBayWatershedFarmInspections
Crable:FarmInspectionsToBeginSoonAsPartOfChesapeakeBayReboot
OpEd:BenefitsOfSoilHealthExtendBeyondFarm
PAPutsItsLaggingChesapeakeBayCleanupOnPollutionDiet
ChesapeakeBayCommissionQuietlyPushedEnvironmentalAgendaFor35Years
RelatedStories:
ChesapeakeBayJournal:DespiteProgress,StatesToFallShortOfBayCleanupTargets
DEPTellsHouseCommitteesChesapeakeBayProgramFacesInadequateResources,Data
Sen.YawSponsorsResolutionDesignatingJune511ChesapeakeBayAwarenessWeek
DamsOnSusquehannaAreUndoingProgressInReducingPollutionToChesapeakeBay
AgenciesUnveilNewChesapeakeBayCleanupStrategy
DCNRLeadingStatewideForestBufferEffortToImproveWaterQuality
PACoalitionEmergesToSupportFarmersInEffortToCleanUpChesapeakeBay
CBFPA:LackOfFundingForFarmersDefeatsEffortToMeetCleanWaterCommitment
CBFOpEd:FarmBureauCanChooseToBeASoreLoserOrPartOfTheSolution
RockLititzProjectReducesSediment,NutrientRunoffWithoutTaxpayerMoney

CBFOpEd:FarmBureauCanChooseToBeASoreLoserOrPartOfTheSolution

ByWilliamC.Baker,
ChesapeakeBayFoundation

[NOTE:ThefollowingOpEdwasprintedinthe
ChesapeakeBayJournal
May12
.]

ThelongandexpensivefightbytheAmericanFarmBureauFederation,the
FertilizerInstituteandtheiralliestoderailthe
ChesapeakeCleanWater
Blueprint
isfinallyover.
The[U.S.]SupremeCourtrefusedtoheartheirappealofalawsuitthat
theyhadlostinboththeU.S.DistrictCourtfortheMiddleDistrictof
PennsylvaniainHarrisburgandinaunanimousdecisionbytheThirdCircuitCourtofAppealsin
Philadelphia.
Nowthattheirlegaloppositionhasfinallybeenturnedback,wereachedouttotheFarm
Bureauanditsalliestoencouragethemtoworkwithus,ratherthanfightus.
ButdespitethedecisionbytheSupremeCourt,theFarmBureaucontinuesitsantiEPA
rhetoric.Inarecentpressstatement,theycontinuetocontendthattheEPAhasassertedthe
powertositasafederalzoningboard,dictatingwhichlandcanbefarmedandwherehomes,
roadsandschoolscanbebuilt.Thisargumenthasbeenrepeatedlyrejectedbyfederalcourts.

TheChesapeakeCleanWaterBlueprintpollutioncapsarestillunderattack.Timothy
Bishop,apartnerwithMayerBrownLLPinChicagowhorepresentstheAmericanFarmBureau
Federation,isquotedassayingthequestionoftheEPAsauthorityhasjustbeenpostponed
untilthereareninejusticesonthecourt.
Thereisarealdangerindenyingagriculturesroleinrestoringwaterquality.Thevery
bestestuarinescienceintheworldhaspresentedindisputableevidencethatagricultureispartof
theproblemandmustbepartofthesolution.
BeyondtheBay,aswell,arecentUniversityofMichiganledmultiinstitutionstudy
concludedthata40percentreductioninphosphorusrunofffromfarmsandothersourceswould
beneededtostemtheharmfulalgaebloomsanddeadzonesplaguingLakeErie.
Ifthat40percentreductionsoundsfamiliar,itshould.Fordecades,Bayscientistshave
knownthattorestoreourlocalrivers,streamsandtheChesapeakeBay,weneedtoreduce
nitrogenandphosphoruspollutionby40percent.
Wehavemadeprogress,butmuchofithasbeenachievedbyreducingpollutionfrom
sewagetreatmentplants.Whilemanyfarmershaveimplementedbestmanagementpractices,the
fullagriculturalcommunitymustdoitsfairshare.
TheChesapeakeCleanWaterBlueprintprovidesaroadmaptorecovery,butitmustbe
fullyimplemented.Withthe
2017MidpointAssessment
justaroundthecorner,itappearsthat
theregionwillmissanothermark,bymillionsofpoundsofpollution,largelybecauseof
Pennsylvania,andprimarilyfromagriculture.
TheCommonwealthsofficialshaveacknowledgedtheproblem,andsaidtheyare
committedtogettingthestatebackontrack.Ourreactionistotrust,butverify.
An
editorialinLancaster(PA)Farming
putitwell:
Weshouldalwayskeepcarefulwatchofwhatthegovernmentisdoing,especiallywith
ourmoneyandourfreedoms.
ButTMDLrequirementsprovideanopportunitytoshowtherestofthenationthat
farmerscancoexistwithnonfarmersandthattheenvironmentdoesnthavetosufferasaresult.
FarmBureaumayhavelostitsbattle,butfarmershaveachancetowinthepollution
war.
WeintheChesapeakeBayregionhavetheopportunitytoshowthenation,andtheworld,
whatcanbeaccomplishedifbusinesses,governments,individualsandeventheFarmBureau
worktogethertoreducepollutioninourlocalwaterwaysandtheChesapeakeBay.
FormoreonChesapeakeBayrelatedissuesinPennsylvania,visitthe
CBFPA
webpage.
ClickHere
tosignupforPennsylvaniaupdates(bottomofleftcolumn).
Formoreinformation,visitDEPs
ChesapeakeBayOffice
webpage.
NewsClips:
ChesapeakeBayJournal:DespiteProgress,StatesToFallShortOfBayCleanupTargets
PAOfficialsCollaborateOnChesapeakeBayWatershedFarmInspections
Crable:FarmInspectionsToBeginSoonAsPartOfChesapeakeBayReboot
OpEd:BenefitsOfSoilHealthExtendBeyondFarm
PAPutsItsLaggingChesapeakeBayCleanupOnPollutionDiet
ChesapeakeBayCommissionQuietlyPushedEnvironmentalAgendaFor35Years
RelatedStories:
ChesapeakeBayJournal:DespiteProgress,StatesToFallShortOfBayCleanupTargets
DEP,ConservationDistrictsWorkOnFarmInspectionsInChesapeakeBayWatershed

DEPTellsHouseCommitteesChesapeakeBayProgramFacesInadequateResources,Data
Sen.YawSponsorsResolutionDesignatingJune511ChesapeakeBayAwarenessWeek
DamsOnSusquehannaAreUndoingProgressInReducingPollutionToChesapeakeBay
AgenciesUnveilNewChesapeakeBayCleanupStrategy
DCNRLeadingStatewideForestBufferEffortToImproveWaterQuality
PACoalitionEmergesToSupportFarmersInEffortToCleanUpChesapeakeBay
CBFPA:LackOfFundingForFarmersDefeatsEffortToMeetCleanWaterCommitment
RockLititzProjectReducesSediment,NutrientRunoffWithoutTaxpayerMoney

(Reprintedfromthe
ChesapeakeBayJournalMay12
.)

StudentsPaddleForPrizes,FunAtCBFPAsFirstCanoeClassicMay15

The
ChesapeakeBayFoundationPAs
Pennsylvania
StudentLeadershipCouncilwillhostits
firstCanoe
Classic
forlocalhighschoolstudents,onMay15,from1
to4p.m.,at
SusquehannaOutfitters
inWormleysburg,
nearHarrisburg.
StudentteamsfromCedarCliff,CumberlandValley,
Fairfield,andLancasterCatholichighschoolsare
scheduledtocompete.
MoreteamsfromsouthcentralPennsylvaniaand
MarylandareexpectedtoenterbeforeSunday.Please
checkwithCBFforupdatesonadditionalparticipatingschools.
Theeventscheduleisasfollows:12:301p.m.Safetybriefingforracers12p.m.
Racing22:30p.m.Foodandsoundcheck2:303p.m.Awardsceremony34p.m.Rivers
band
TheonehalfmilecanoecompetitionwillbeginatSusquehannaOutfitters,proceed
upriver,andthengodownstreamtothefinish.Theeventisdesignedsothatevenfirsttime
paddlerswillhavefunandfeelsafe.
TheCanoeClassicwillbeheldrainorshine.Highwatersontherivercouldcancelor
postponetheevent.
TheCanoeClassicwillalsoincludealiveperformancebytheCarlislebasedfolk/rock
bandRivers,from34p.m.
Inlieuofaregistrationfee,studentsareaskedtocommittoanactionoradvocacyproject
tohelpcleanupandprotectPennsylvaniasriversandstreams.
Formoreinformation,checkoutthe
CanoeClassic
webpage
FormoreonChesapeakeBayrelatedissuesinPennsylvania,visitthe
CBFPA
webpage.
ClickHere
tosignupforPennsylvaniaupdates(bottomofleftcolumn).
NewsClips:
ChesapeakeBayJournal:DespiteProgress,StatesToFallShortOfBayCleanupTargets
PAOfficialsCollaborateOnChesapeakeBayWatershedFarmInspections
Crable:FarmInspectionsToBeginSoonAsPartOfChesapeakeBayReboot
OpEd:BenefitsOfSoilHealthExtendBeyondFarm
PAPutsItsLaggingChesapeakeBayCleanupOnPollutionDiet

ChesapeakeBayCommissionQuietlyPushedEnvironmentalAgendaFor35Years

LatestChesapeakeBayJournalNewsNowAvailable

The
May9ChesapeakeBayJournal
newsisnowavailablefeaturingarticleson

DespiteProgress,StatesLikelyToFallShortOfInterimBayCleanupTargets

Industry,EnvironmentalistsFindFaultWithPAPipelineTaskForceReport

LocalGovt.CommitteeToHelpLocalitiesRealizeTheirRoleInRestoringWatershed

ClickHere
tosignupforyourowncopy(bottomofthepage).
NewsClips:
ChesapeakeBayJournal:DespiteProgress,StatesToFallShortOfBayCleanupTargets
PAOfficialsCollaborateOnChesapeakeBayWatershedFarmInspections
Crable:FarmInspectionsToBeginSoonAsPartOfChesapeakeBayReboot
OpEd:BenefitsOfSoilHealthExtendBeyondFarm
PAPutsItsLaggingChesapeakeBayCleanupOnPollutionDiet
ChesapeakeBayCommissionQuietlyPushedEnvironmentalAgendaFor35Years

Study:WaterQualityMonitoringInadequateToDetectDrillingImpactsInSusquehanna

Astudyreleased
inFebruarybytheNortheastMidwestInstituteandthe
U.S.GeologicalSurveyfoundthat,evenafter8yearsofintenseshale
gasdevelopmentintheSusquehannaRiverBasin,currentwaterquality
monitoringisinadequatefordetectingpotentialsurfacewateror
groundwaterqualityimpactsofshalegasdevelopmentactivitiesinthe
basin.
Thestudyreviewedwaterqualitydatathrough2013.The
SusquehannaRiverBasinCommissionstartedits
RemoteWaterQuality
MonitoringNetwork
in2010andissueditsfirstreportonwaterquality
in2012.Themostrecentreportshows
nowaterqualitychangesdueto
drilling
.
Watermonitoringtomeasuretheeffectofnewindustrieson
waterresourcesrequirestargetedsamplingplansandrelevantmonitoringparameterstodetect
waterqualityimpactsfromemergingtechnology.
Becausetheywereselectedtomeetothermonitoringobjectives,theexistinglongterm
monitoringsitesintheSusquehannaRiverBasinarenotintherightlocationsanddonotcollect
therightdatatodetectwaterqualitychangerelatedtoshalegasdevelopmentstatedElin
Betanzo,leadauthorofthestudy.
ThereportdidfindthatnewersurfacewatermonitoringprogramsintheSusquehanna
RiverBasinarecollectingwaterdataintherightlocationstodetectchangesrelatedtoshalegas
development,butadditionalparameters,increasedsamplingfrequency,longtermdata
collection,andcontinuousstreamflowdataareneededtobeabletodetectrelevantsurfacewater
qualitytrends.
Ms.Betanzofurthernotedthattheamountofdataavailablethroughpublicdatasharing
systemsfordetectingchangesingroundwaterisevenmorelimitedthansurfacewaterdata.
Thestudypresentsseveralstrategiesforcollectingthewaterdataneededtodetect

whethershalegasdevelopmentiscontaminatingsurfacewaterorgroundwaterinthe
SusquehannaRiverBasin.
HydraulicfracturingandshalegasdevelopmentintheMarcellusshaleofPennsylvania
hastakenoffinthepastdecade.Thenumberofunconventionalwellsgrewfromlessthan200in
2007tomorethan9,300asofAugust2015.
Alongwiththisnewgrowthcomesconcernaboutpotentialwaterqualityimpactsofthe
relativelynewtechniqueofhighvolumehydraulicfracturingandthecumulativeeffectsofshale
gasdevelopmentontheenvironmentasdevelopmentactivitieshavemovedintominimally
developedareas,especiallyintheheadwatersoftheSusquehannaRiverBasin.
ThisreportbytheNortheastMidwestInstitutepointsouthowdifficultitisforthe
publictoaccesswaterdatatoanswerquestionsaboutwhethershalegasdevelopmentinthe
SusquehannaRiverBasinimpactswaterquality,andittakesahardlookatavailablewaterdata
foridentifyingpotentialproblems,saidDr.SusanBrantley,headofthe
ShaleNetworkatPenn
StateUniversity
.Thisreportlayssomeofthegroundworkfordesigningtargetedapproachesfor
surfacewaterandgroundwatermonitoringprogramsintheSusquehannaRiverBasin.
Thestudycallsforincreasedmonitoringinwatershedswithahighdensityofactive
HVHFwellsandanewsystematic,longtermgroundwatermonitoringprogramfordetecting
waterqualitychangerelatedtoshalegasdevelopmentinfreshwateraquifersthatunderliethe
SusquehannaRiverBasin.
Coordinationamongwatermonitoringorganizations,theshalegasdevelopmentindustry,
andlocalcitizensisessentialtoefficientlycollectthedataneededtotrackanywaterquality
changesintheSusquehannaRiverBasin.
ThestudypresentsthesefindingsregardingexistingwaterdataintheSusquehannaRiver
Basin:
Existingsurfacewaterdataareinsufficienttodetectwaterqualitychangerelatedto
shalegasdevelopment.
Outofapproximately14,700surfacewatermonitoringsitesinthe
SusquehannaRiverBasin,only10monitoringsiteshaveenoughbariumdata(anindicator
associatedwithHVHFdevelopment)forawaterqualitytrendanalysis,andnoneofthesesites
arelocatedinwatershedswithasubstantialnumberofactiveHVHFwellsfewofthe26
recommendedsurfacewatermonitoringparametersareavailableformonitoringsiteswitha
longtermdatarecord.
Recenttargetedmonitoringprogramsthroughthe
SusquehannaRiverBasinCommission
andDepartmentofEnvironmentalProtectionaremonitoringinappropriatelocations
,but
additionalsamplingfrequency,parameters,andstreamflowdataareneededbeforewaterquality
trendscanbegintobedetected.
PubliclyavailablegroundwaterqualitydataintheSusquehannaRiverBasinarenot
sufficienttoidentifywaterqualitychange
relatedtoshalegasdevelopmentandarenot
adequatetoserveasthefoundationofanewmonitoringprogram.
Thestudyalsopresentsrecommendationsforimmediateaction:
Increasesamplingfrequencyatasubsetoftargetedsurfacewatermonitoringsitesand
maintainlongtermmonitoring
,collectingthefullsuiteofprioritysurfacewaterparameters
andstreamflowateachmonitoringsite.Theincrementalcostestimatesforincreasedsurface
watermonitoringanddataanalysisrangefrom$720,000to$1.7millionperyear,asmall
percentageofthevalueofthesewaterresourcestotheregion.
Designandimplementasystematic,longtermgroundwatermonitoringprogram
for

detectinggroundwaterqualitychangerelatedtoshalegasdevelopmentintheSusquehannaRiver
Basin,buildingondatacollectedbyshalegasdevelopmentcompaniesifappropriate.Thecost
estimatesforimplementingthisgroundwatermonitoringprogram,includingdataanalysis,range
from$362,000to$524,000peryearfortheSusquehannaRiverBasin.
Establishacoordinatingentitytodevelopandimplementsurfacewaterandgroundwater
monitoringplansintheSusquehannaRiverBasin
,withrepresentationfromwatermonitoring
organizations,shalegasindustry,domesticwellowners,andcitizens.
Acopyofthestudy
isavailableonline
.
FortheresultsofrecentwaterqualitymonitoringintheSusquehanna,visitthe
SusquehannaRiverBasinCommission
RemoteWaterQualityMonitoringNetwork
webpage.

DEPParticipatesInLuzerneCountySaveTheRiverEarthDayCelebration

"SavetheRiverbyRecyclingandnotPollutingtheAir"
wasthethemeofaDepartmentofEnvironmental
ProtectionboothatEarthDayCelebration2016at
RiverFrontParkinKingston,LuzerneCountyonApril
22.
DEPNortheastRegionalAirQualityemployeesChris
OstrowskiandBrandiThear,alongwithCommunity
RelationsCoordinatorColleenConnolly,demonstrated
howDEPtestsforpollutantsintheairandhowcleanair
goesalongwithpreservingtheearth.
Ostrowskiusedahandheldmonitoringdevicetoshow
howthedepartmenttestsforVOCs,nitrates,COandotherpollutants.The1,000studentswho
attendedalsolearnedhowrecyclingcanbeavaluabletoolinkeepingtheearthcleanbynot
clogginguplandfillsorriverswithplastics,glassorpaper.
(Photo:DEP'sChrisOstrowskidemonstratesahandheldairqualitymonitoringdevice
tostudents.)

(Reprintedfromthe
May12DEPNews
.
ClickHere
tosignupforyourowncopy.)

USGSStudyOfJuniataRiverShowsNoImpactsFromDrilling,AcceptableWaterQuality

Theresultsofa26monthwaterqualitystudyreleasedTuesdayontheheadwaterstreamsofthe
JuniataRiverwatershedinWesternBlairCountyfoundnoimpactsfromnaturalgasdrillingand
acceptablewaterquality.
Thefullreport,
Physical,chemical,andbiologicalcharacteristicsofselectedheadwater
streamsalongtheAlleghenyFront,BlairCounty,Pennsylvania,July2011September2013
,is
availableonline.
Theaimofthestudywastogatherbaselinedatathatcouldbeusedtodetermineif
currentandfutureexplorationanddevelopmentofnaturalgasminingwillhavean
environmentalimpactonthewatershed.
TheU.S.GeologicalSurveyconductedthestudyincooperationwiththe
AltoonaWater
Authority
andthe
BlairCountyConservationDistrict
fromJuly2011throughSeptember2013,

andthefindingsweremostlypositive.
Wehavenotdetectedimpactstosurfacewaterqualityfromnaturalgasextraction
activitiesinthestudyarea,saidDennisLow,U.S.GeologicalSurveyHydrologistandlead
authorofthestudy.Weratedwaterqualityformostofthestreamsinthestudyasbeing
acceptable.
Whilethestudyconcludedgasextractionisnotcurrentlyhavinganegativeimpact,two
otherfactorswereidentifiedthatloweredthehealthandqualityofsomestreams.
Therewerethreestreamsthathadimpactsthatcouldaffectaquaticlifeandwaterquality
mostofthatwasfromhistoricabandonedminedrainage,saidLow.
Inadditiontothedrainageissuefromabandonedmines,theUSGSresearchersalso
discoveredanoticeabletrendofroaddeicingsaltsinfluencingthestreamsduringthewinter
months.
Lowsaidtheydetectedspikesofhighconductancewaterandchangesinthewater
chemistrythatoccurredwhenconditionswerefavorablefortheapplicationandrunoffofroad
salts.
WhiletheAltoonaandtheTyroneWaterAuthoritiesobtaintheirwaterfromtheJuniata
Riverwatershed,LowsaystheresidentsofWesternBlairCountyhavenocauseforalarm.
Theheadwaterstreamsmostaffectedbyabandonedminedrainageandroadsaltsarenot
usedforwatersupply.Overallwaterqualityinthestudyareawasacceptableforaquaticlifeand
didnotexceedEnvironmentalProtectionAgencylimits,saidLow.
Thisstudyisusefultowaterresourcemanagersbecausetheresultsprovideabaseline
againstwhichfuturechangescanbecompared.
JamesEckenrode,aWatershedSpecialistwiththeBlairCountyConservationDistrict,
saidthisstudywillbeaninvaluabletoolintherestorationandfutureprotectionofthestreamsin
theJuniataRiverwatershed.
Thereport
isavailableonline
.Formoreinformation,
ClickHere
forthecomplete
announcementofthestudy.

TreePlantingInWeiserStateForestUnderscoresAbandonedMineReclamationEfforts

Volunteers,including
PAEnvironmentalCouncil
staff
andDCNRBureauofForestrypersonnelkickedoffa
largetreeplantingoperationthroughout
WeiserState
Forest
[ColumbiaCounty]onApril30.
Morethanadozenpeopleplantedaround1,500
seedlingsontheday,with4,000seedlingsbeing
plantedbeforetheprojecthasbeencompleted.
"Itwasreallyafulfillingday,saidPEC
ExecutiveVicePresidentPatrickStarr.Notonlydid
weplanttreestogether,weenjoyedworkingtogether
tosolveoneofPennsylvaniasmostintractablepollutionproblems.Iwassogratifiedthatmore
thanadozenvolunteerspitchedinforthecauseevenourbusdriverdecidedtoplanttrees!
AfouracresegmentofthestateforestinColumbiaCountythatsbeenaffectedbythe
remnantsofminingactivitywastargetedbythevolunteersinanefforttoimprovetheareas
waterqualityandrestorelostforesthabitat.

Pennsylvaniahasmoremilesofstreamsaffectedbyminelanddrainagethananyother
state,withmorethan15,000degradedacresneedingtobereforested.
Thevolunteers,drawingfromColumbia,NorthumberlandandBerkscountiesandalso
includingmembersofthe
ShamokinCreekRestorationAlliance
,spentthedayplantingseedlings
suchassumac,scruboak,pitchpineandaspenstorestoreaforestonaminelandsiteaffecting
tributariesoftheShamokinCreek.
AforesterfromtheOfficeofSurfaceMiningReclamationandEnforcement
demonstratedhowtoplanttheyoungtrees.
Oneofthevolunteers,JohnDawes,istheexecutivedirectorofthe
FoundationforPA
Watersheds
,whichhasbeenworkingwithawidevarietyofenvironmentalgroups,government
agencies,volunteerorganizationsandotherstoimprovethehealthofwatershedsandforests
affectedbypastminingactivityinPennsylvania.
WhileothercausesofstreamdegradationposeriskstoPennsylvaniaswatersheds,
abandonedminedrainageactuallyisthelargestthreattothestatesstreamhealth.
Daweshassupervisedsmallgrantstoover350environmentalandwatershedassociations
throughoutthestatesincetheFoundationforPennsylvaniaWatershedswasfoundedin1994.
Theintentistoprovideseedmoneytoallowalocalgrouptoaccessagencyfunding
throughDCNR,DEP,thefederalOfficeofSurfaceMining,theU.S.EnvironmentalProtection
AgencyandtheU.S.ArmyCorpsofEngineers.
Thishasresultedinover$159millioninprojectcost.Themajorityofthissmallgrants
budgetisforabandonedminereclamation.
In2014,DawesreceivedtheECHOAwardfromtheU.S.Dept.OfInteriorsOfficeof
SurfaceMiningReclamationandEnforcement.
NamedtosignifythemostcommonprinciplesbehindtheSurfaceMiningControland
ReclamationAct(SMCRA)Environment,Community,HumanityandOwnershiptheaward
isgiventorecognizeindividualsfortheircontributionstosupportandstrengthenSMCRA,the
lawdesignedtoprotectpeopleandtheenvironmentfromtheadverseeffectsofcoalmining
whileprovidingforthenationsenergyneeds.
Theproblemofhistoricabandonedminelandsistheworstenvironmentalscaronthe
landscapeofPennsylvania,saidDawes.Theplantingofscarredminelandsisnotrocket
science.Itisamatterofaddingsoilamendmentsandrippingthesurfacetoallowtreesto
thriveincludingtheblightresistantAmericanChestnuttreeswhichrepresentdecadesof
selectivebreeding.
Communitiesnearthesesiteshavedepressedlandandhousingvaluesinthe44outof67
countiesaffectedbyabandonedminelands.Reclamationmeansjobstruckhauling,heavy
machinerydeployment,treeplanting,nurserypropagation,etc.Philanthropyiswillingtopartner
withthestateandthefederalOfficeofSurfaceMiningReclamationandEnforcementtogetthis
jobdone!
Pennsylvaniahasover200,000acresofabandonedminelands.Improvingthehealthof
theseareasisanimportantgoalofDCNRandtheDepartmentofEnvironmentalProtection.
DEPsForestryReclamationApproach(FRA)involvestheplantingofhigherqualitytrees,
minimumcompactionofthereclaimedground,theuseofnativeaswellasnoncompetitive
groundcoversandpropertreeplantingtechniques.
Onsomeplotsliketheonesin
SproulStateForest
[ClintonandCentrecounties]where
theyvebeendoingAMLreclamationprojectssincetheearly1990sandhavereclaimedaround

100acresamixofhardwoodsandconifersareused.
Speciesincludeoaks,whitepine,redpine,spruceandaspen.DCNRiscommittedto
offeringtechnicalassistanceinreclamationprojectsonprivatelandsthroughoutthestatein
additiontohostingtreeplantingsonstateforestland.
DCNR,throughtheBureauofForestry,hasadeephistoryintakingspoiled
landswhetheritwasthroughoverharvestingoftimberorunreclaimedminelandsand
returningthemtoproductiveforestlands,saidDCNRDeputySecretaryforParksandForestry
JohnNorbeck.Inthiscase,weareworkingwithourpartnerorganizationstoreturnthelandtoa
healthystateandcleaningupthewaterways.
ThisparticularplantingwasafirstforPECasapartnerinthe
AppalachianRegional
ReforestationInitiative
andinpartnershipwithDCNRsBureauofForestry,DEP,theOfficeof
SurfaceMiningReclamationandEnforcement,andGreenForestsWork.
Thisplantingandothersinthecomingmonthsarefundedbythe
Foundationfor
PennsylvaniaWatersheds
.
Formoreinformationonprograms,initiativesandspecialevents,visitthe
PA
EnvironmentalCouncil
website,visitthe
PECBlog
,follow
PEConTwitter
or
LikePECon
Facebook
.
ClickHere
toreceiveregularupdatesfromPEC.
NewsClips:
PA2ndOnlyToNYInNumberOfInvasiveForestPests
Flight93TreeSeedlingsPlantingALivingTribute
SmokeCoveringPartsOfLackawannaCountyFromBrushFire
BurnBanStillInEffectInSchuylkillCounty

RelatedStory:
VolunteersPlant4,000TreesAtWeiserStateForestColumbiaCounty

(Reprintedfromthe
May13DCNRResource
newsletter.
ClickHere
tosignupforyourown
copy(bottomofthepage).)

3RiversWetWeather:BetterBackyardsForHealthStreamsMay15InPittsburgh

3RiversWetWeather
andthe
NorthAreaEnvironmentalCouncil
willhosta
BetterBackyards
forHealthyStreamsWorkshop
onMay15startingat2:00intheRossCommunityCenter,1000
RossMunicipalDriveinPittsburgh.
Theworkshopwillhelpresidentslearnaboutstepstheycantaketoimprovewaterquality
intheirlocalstreamstoprovidebettermanagementofstormwaterrunoff.
Presentationsby
StormWorks
andthe
AlleghenyCountyConservationDistrict
will
include:
Howhardsurfacessuchasroofsanddrivewaysaffectstormwater
Whattoconsiderwhenchoosingstormwaterbestmanagementpracticesforyourproperty
Amenuofoptionstomanagestormwaterandthemaintenancerequiredand
Healthylawncarepracticestoreducepollutedrunoff.
Localvendorsthatprovideinstallationandmaintenanceofraingardens,rainbarrelsand
morewillbeonhandtoansweryourquestions.
Questions?Call3RiversWetWeatherat4125788375orsendemailto:

info@erww.org
.
ClickHere
toregisterfortheworkshop.
3RiversWetWeather
hasalsoscheduledaseriesofWetWeatherWorkshopsfor
municipalitiestohelpthemmeetstormwaterplanningandwaterqualityrequirements.
Click
Here
formoreinformation.
NewsClips:
Swift:SenateMovesOnRainFeeBill
ProjectAimsToSlowInnerCityErieStormwaterRunoff
HarvestingRainProvidesEnvironmental,EconomicBenefitsInErie
CochrantonAwarded$20KGrowingGreenerStormwaterGrant

AlleghenyCountyMunicipalStormwaterPlanning&MS4WaterQualityWorkshopsSet

3RiversWetWeather
hasscheduleda
seriesofworkshops
ontopicstohelpmunicipalitieswith
wetweatherplanningandmeetingtheirMS4regulatoryrequirementsforwaterquality.The
workshopsarescheduledfor
May24:
GreenInfrastructure:BuildItRightTheFirstTime,GreenTreeMunicipalBuilding.
9:0011:00a.m
June16:
GreenInfrastructureGroundTruthing:MonitoringResultsCaseStudiesFrom
AcrossTheCountry.GreenTreeMunicipalbuilding.9:0011:00a.m.
ClickHere
formoreinformationandtoregister.
3RiversWetWeather
andthe
NorthAreaEnvironmentalCouncil
willalsohosta
Better
BackyardsforHealthyStreamsWorkshop
onMay15startingat2:00intheRossCommunity
Center,1000RossMunicipalDriveinPittsburgh.
Formoreinformationonstormwatermanagementinitiatives,visitthe
3RiversWet
Weather
website.
NewsClips:
Swift:SenateMovesOnRainFeeBill
ProjectAimsToSlowInnerCityErieStormwaterRunoff
HarvestingRainProvidesEnvironmental,EconomicBenefitsInErie
CochrantonAwarded$20KGrowingGreenerStormwaterGrant

YoughioghenyRiverSymposiumJune2425AtPennStateFayetteInUniontown

Jointhe
ChestnutRidgeChapterofTroutUnlimited
anditspartners,
MountainWatershed
Association
andthe
YoughioghenyRiverkeeper
,
OhiopyleStatePark
andthe
FayetteCounty

ConservationDistrict
forthe
2ndYoughioghenyRiverSymposium
onJune2425.
TheopeningdayJune24featuresakeynoteaddressbyDepartmentofConservationand
NaturalResourcesSecretaryCindyAdamsDunn.
Inaddition,Dr.CynthiaWalter,associateprofessorofbiologyatSt.VincentCollegein
Latrobe,willdiscussWorldHeritageSitesandwhymanyareasinPennsylvaniashouldbe
consideredascandidates.
OtherpaneldiscussionsonJune24include:
TheLivingRiver:
withspeakersfromFish&BoatCommission,Departmentof
EnvironmentalProtection,U.S.ArmyCorpsofEngineers
TheRiverofOpportunity:
withspeakersfrom
LaurelHighlandsVisitorBureau
,
Wilderness
Voyageurs
andOhiopyleStatePark
HistoryofHealing:
withspeakersfrom
CasselmanRiverWatershedAssociation
,Chestnut
RidgeTU,
JacobsCreekWatershedAssociation
,MountainWatershedAssociation,
Sewickley
CreekWatershedAssociation

TheRiveratRisk:
withtopicsincludingInvasiveSpecies,ShaleGas,AbandonedMine
Drainage,ActiveMiningWaterQuantityandClimateChangebyCaliforniaUniversityof
Pennsylvania.
ThesymposiumendswithaCalltoAction.Afterwards,attendeesandguestscanmeet
forHappyHouratthenearbyKnightsofColumbuspaviliontohearsomeofthebestfishing
guidesontheYoughtalkabouttheircreelsurveysthenumberandsizeofsomeoftherivers
bigbrownsandrainbows.
EventswillbeheldJune24from8a.m.to4p.m.atPennsylvaniaStateUniversity
Fayette,EberlyCampus,onRoute119inUniontown.Costis$20.
June25isarelaxeddayforattendeesbeginningat11a.m.attheYoughioghenyLake
outflowinConfluence.
TourthecageculturenurserymaintainedbyChestnutRidgeTUinconjunctionwiththe
U.S.ArmyCorpsofEngineers.Stopbythechapterstentattheoutflow,grabahotdogatnoon
andseeoneofCRTUsmostpopularprojectswhiletakingsometimetowetalineonthe
Yough.
CosponsorsforthesymposiumincludetheFayetteCountyCommissioners,
Foundation
forPennsylvaniaWatersheds
,MountainWatershedAssociationandtheYoughiogheny
Riverkeeper,andtheFayetteCountyConservationDistrict.
Visitthe
2ndYoughioghenyRiverSymposium
webpagetoviewtheagendaordownload
directionsandtoregister.
Formoreinformationofprograms,initiativesandotherupcomingevents,visitthe
ChestnutRidgeChapterofTroutUnlimited
and
MountainWatershedAssociation
websites.
ClickHere
tosignupforregularupdatesfromtheAssociation.

(Reprintedfromthe
Spring2016newsletter
of
PACouncilofTroutUnlimited
.
ClickHere
to
signupforPATUupdatesbyemail(topofpage).)

MayCatalystNewsletterNowAvailableFromSlipperyRockWatershedCoalition

The
MayeditionofTheCatalystnewsletter
isnowavailablefromthe
SlipperyRockWatershed
Coalition
inButlerCountyfeaturingstorieson

SlipperyRockUniversityStudentsSampleWolfCreekNarrows
UpcomingEventsAt
JenningsEnvironmentalEducationCenter
TheKidsCatalystGoFish

PAAbandonedMineReclamationConference

ClickHere
tosignupforyourowncopy.
TheCatalystnewsletterisdistributedtoover1,100individualsinoveradozencountries
including:Brazil,Peru,SouthKorea,Mexico,England,Wales,Venezuela,SouthAfrica,New
Zealand,AustraliaandGermany.
Formoreinformationonprograms,initiatives,upcomingeventsandvolunteer
opportunities,visitthe
SlipperyRockWatershedCoalition
website.

ColdwaterHeritagePartnershipGrantAidsLittleLehighBufferProject

OnApril9,approximately40volunteersfromthe
LittleLehighChapterofTroutUnlimited
,Boy
ScoutTroop131andseveralcommunitymemberscompletedPhase1ofthechapters2016
riparianbufferrestorationprojectonLittleLehighCreek.
Thechapterwasawardeda$7,000
ColdwaterHeritagePartnership
implementationgrant
earlierthisyeartofundplantingof164nativetreesandshrubsalonga1,200footlongsectionof
theLittleLehighinLowerMacungieTownship,LehighCounty.
ThechaptersprojectpartnersincludedTroop131,whichprovidedlaborLower
MacungieTownship,whichownsthelandwheretheprojecttookplaceand
Wildlands
Conservancy
,whichconsultedwiththechapteronplanningandselectingappropriateriparian
bufferplants.
ThetownshipsPublicWorksDepartmentalsoassistedbyaugeringallplantingholes
aheadoftimeandprovidingmulchforthenewplantings.Membersofthecommunityalso
volunteeredtocutupsectionsofchickenwiretobeusedforprotectivecagesforthefinished
plantings.
TheobviousbeneficiariesofthisprojectwillbethetroutinLittleLehighCreek,whichis
designatedbytheDepartmentofEnvironmentalProtectionasahighqualitycoldwaterfishery.
Thetownshipwasalsointerestedinmitigatingstormwaterrunofftothecreek,because
DEPs
MunicipalSeparateStormSewerSystem
regulationsholdthetownshipaccountablefor
thequalityofstormwaterenteringthecreek.
Theriparianbufferplantingswillhelptofiltercontaminantsfromstormwaterwashing
offoftheadjacentroadandcomingfromresidentialdevelopmentacrosstheroad.Becausethe
neighboringdevelopmentdatestothe1960s,itsstormwaterisconveyeddirectlytotheLittle

Lehighwithnodetentionorretentionstructures.
WaterqualityintheLittleLehighisimportanttohumansaswellastroutbecauseitis
oneofthepublicwatersourcesforboththeCityofAllentownandLowerMacungieTownship.
Phase2oftheproject,scheduledforMay14,willinvolveplantinganadditional118
treesandshrubsintheriparianbufferto500feetupstreamofthePhase1projectarea.
Thesecondphasewillbefundedbya$5,000privategrantthattheLittleLehighChapter
wasawardedfromthe
RettewCharitableFoundation
,thephilanthropicarmofRettew
Associates,Inc.
RettewemployeeswillbeassistingwiththefieldworkforthePhase2planting.
Formoreinformationonprograms,initiativesandotherupcomingevents,visitthe
Little
LehighChapterofTroutUnlimited
website.
Forinformationongrantsandotherprograms,visitthe
ColdwaterHeritagePartnership
website.

(Reprintedfromthe
Spring2016newsletter
of
PACouncilofTroutUnlimited
.
ClickHere
to
signupforPATUupdatesbyemail(topofpage).)

PhiladelphiaCelebrates5YearsOfGreenCity,CleanWaters

PhiladelphiaWaterCommissionerDebraA.McCarty
joinedstudentsandmembersoftheWestPhiladelphia
CoalitionforNeighborhoodSchoolsatHenryC.Lea
ElementaryTuesdaytocelebratefiveyearsof
Green
City,CleanWaters
.
Shealsocelebratedthecompletionofanew
schoolyardfeaturingthreeraingardens,nearlytwodozen
newtrees,andporouspavingandplaysurfaces.
Thegreenstormwatertoolswerefundedlargely
througha$242,000
StormwaterManagementIncentives
Program
grantfromPhiladelphiaWater.
InadditiontomakingLeaagreener,morevibrantplacetolearnandplay,thegreen
infrastructuretoolsmanageover58,000gallonsofstormwaterrunoffforeveryinchofrainthat
falls.Dedicatedvolunteershelda
plantingdayinApril
tocompletetheproject..
Theribboncuttingceremonywasfollowedbyaplayactivitythathighlightedtheneedto
protectourriversnowandforfuturegenerations,andstudentsheldupasignthatread"Our
GreenSchoolYardMakesOttersHappy!"
BecauseLeaislocatedintheSchuylkillWatershed,area
stormdrainsandsidewalksare
marked
withriverotterstoremindpeoplethattrashandpollutioninthestreetsgetswashedinto
theSchuylkill.
Riverottersremindpeopletrashandpollutioninthestreetsgetwashedintothe
SchuylkillRiverwhereashort
ottervideowasfilmed
.
Formoreinformation,visitPhiladelphiaWaters
GreenCity,CleanWaters
webpage.
(Reprintedfrom
PhiladelphiaWatersBlog
.)
NewsClips:
PhiladelphiaWaterCelebrates5YearsOfGreenCity,CleanWaters

ProjectAimsToSlowInnerCityErieStormwaterRunoff
HarvestingRainProvidesEnvironmental,EconomicBenefitsInErie

DelawareRiverWatershedRemainsATopPriorityForTroutUnlimited

ByKatyDunlap,
TroutUnlimitedEasternWaterProject
Director

Fordecades,theDelawareRiverwatershedhasbeenatoppriorityforTroutUnlimited.
IfyouhaveeverfoughtwithawildbrowntroutintheWestBranchoftheUpper
Delaware,orchasedaftersmallbrownsinthetailwatersoftheLehigh,orevencastalinein
ValleyCreekaClassAstreamwildtroutstreamlocatedjustashort40minutedrivefrom
Philadelphia,
thenyouknowwhyTUhasworkedsohardtoprotectandrestorethebasinstroutstreams.
Withoutadoubt,thishasbeenaOneTUeffortwithgrassrootsandstaffworking
togethertoprovidecomprehensivecoverageofthewatershed.
TUrecentlyorganizedaflyinforTUmembersfromtheDelawareRiverwatershedto
meetwiththeirmembersofCongressinWashington,D.C.
FouroutstandingTUvolunteersfromPennsylvaniajoinedtheevent,includingBrian
Wagner(
ForksoftheDelawareChapterofTU
),MikeRecine(MonocacyChapterofTU),and
PeterHughesandChuckCutshall(
ValleyForgeChapterofTU
).
Meetingsfocusedoneducatingfederaldecisionmakersabouttheimportanceof
protectingfishandwildlifehabitatintheDelawareRiverwatershedandtheneedforfederal
fundingtoachieveconservationgoalsbothofwhichcouldbeaccomplishedwithpassageof
the
DelawareRiverBasinConservationAct
(DRBCA).
TheDRBCAwouldcreateanonregulatory,voluntaryprogramwithintheU.S.Fish&
WildlifeServicetohelpidentify,prioritizeandimplementprojectsthatenhanceshandwildlife
habitatprotectionandrestoration.
Importantly,thisbillauthorizes$5millioninfederalfundingforacompetitivegrant
programthatcouldleverageexistingrestorationandenhancementeffortsinthebasinmostof
whicharecurrentlyfundedbyprivatefoundationinvestmentsandstateandlocaldollars.
InearlyApril,TroutUnlimitedbroughtthatmessagehometoPennsylvaniatoraise
awarenessoftheDRBCAamongregionalandlocalorganizations.
WehostedanintimateconservationroundtablediscussionfocusedontheDRBCAin
Malvern,Pa.,withCongressmanRyanCostello(PA06)andabout20peoplerepresenting15
localconservationorganizationsfromhisdistrict,includingtheTulpehocken,Perkiomenand
ValleyForgeTUchapters.
Whileeachorganizationdescribedthechallengestheyareaddressingtoprotectwater
qualityandfishandwildlifehabitat,onethingbecameabundantlyclear:additionalfederal
dollarswouldsignificantlyenhanceandexpandtheworkthatisbeingdoneinPennsylvanias
6thdistrict.
TherearecountlessotherissuesthatTUstaff,chaptersandgrassrootsmembersare
workingontoimprove,protectandrestoretheDelawareRiverwatershedsstreamsandaquatic
lifetoomanytodescribehere.
Thankyou.Withoutyourefforts,theDelawareRiverwatershedwouldntbetheamazing
coldwaterfisheryitistoday.


KatyDunlap
,
TroutUnlimitedEasternWaterProject
Director,canbecontactedbysending
emailto:
kdunlap@tu.org
.
NewsClips:
TheWorldWillKnowOurWildDelawareRiver
GeotouristsCanNowFindTheirWayToPoconos
JeffreyFeatherstone,FmrDRBCWaterExpert,Passes

(Reprintedfromthe
Spring2016newsletter
of
PACouncilofTroutUnlimited
.
ClickHere
to
signupforPATUupdatesbyemail(topofpage).)

DelawareRiverBasinCommissionProposesRestructuringOfWaterWithdrawalFees

The
DelawareRiverBasinCommission
Mondayannouncedaproposaltomakeseveralchanges
toits
projectreviewfeestructure
andtoadjustitswatersupplychargesannuallyforinflation.
AninformationalmeetingforthepublicwillbeheldJune15onthefeeproposalfrom2
p.m.to4p.m.attheWashingtonCrossingHistoricParkVisitorCenter,1112RiverRoad,
WashingtonCrossing,BucksCounty.
ThismeetingwillincludepresentationsbyDRBCstaffaswellasaquestionandanswer
period.Oralcommentsfortherecordwillnotbeacceptedatthisinformationalmeeting.
FundinggoalsforDRBCarebasedupontheprinciplethatthesourcesoffundsneedto
bestable,sustainable,andrightsizedtomeetcriticalprogramneeds,saidDRBCExecutive
DirectorSteveTambini.Projectreviewfees,whichwerelastupdatedinJuly2009,andcurrent
feestructuresdonotfullysupportthebasicregulatoryprogramsneededtomanageandprotect
thebasinswaterresources.
TheDRBCisproposingnewfeestructuresalignedwiththeOneProcess/OnePermit
ProgramadoptedbyunanimousvoteofthecommissioninDecember2015.Theprogram
becameeffectiveonMarch4,2016.
ForroutineDRBCdocketapplicationsandrenewalsthatareprocessedbyDRBCs
memberstateagenciesthroughOneProcess/OnePermit,theDRBCprojectreviewfeescurrently
ineffectareproposedtobeeliminated.
DRBCwillcontinuetobeinvolvedinthereviewprocesshowever,aseparateDRBCfee
willnolongerberequiredatthetimeofapplicationtothestateagency.
Instead,DRBCscostsassociatedwithreviewsareproposedtobesupportedbyanannual
monitoringandcoordinationfee.
Thisproposedannualfeewouldapplytoallwaterwithdrawalsandwastewater
dischargessubjecttoDRBCreviewandapprovalundertheDelawareRiverBasinCompactand
implementingregulations,includingthosepermitsissuedundertheOneProcess/OnePermit
Program.
Theannualfeewouldrangefrom$300to$1,000dependinguponthemonthlywater
allocationforwithdrawalsandthedesigncapacityforwastewaterdischargers.
WithrespecttowaterwithdrawalprogramsforwhichtheDRBCcontinuestoactasthe
leadagency,theprojectreviewfeeisproposedtoberestructured.Theamountwillnolongerbe
baseduponprojectcostsoraflatrenewalraterather,itwillbebasedupontheapplicants
requestedmonthlyallocation.

ThischangewouldbetteralignDRBCsreviewfeewiththeactualcostofconductinga
thoroughtechnicalreviewoftheseapplications.
NochangeisproposedtofeesforDRBCsreviewofprojectsthatareneitherwater
withdrawalsnorwastewaterdischarges.TheDRBCreviewfeesforsuchprojectsare,andwill
continuetobe,baseduponprojectcosts.
Topaythecapitalandoperatingcostsofwatersupplyandflowaugmentationstorage
ownedbythecommissionintworeservoirsconstructedandmaintainedbytheU.S.ArmyCorps
ofEngineers,theDRBCalsocollectswatersupplychargeswhenapplicableforsurfacewater
withdrawalswithinthebasin.
ThewatersupplychargesrateshavenotchangedsinceJanuary2011,andnochangesto
theratestructureorthebaseratesarecurrentlyproposed.However,theDRBCisproposingan
annualindexedinflationadjustmentformostfeesandcharges,includingwatersupplycharges.
Beginningin2017,annualincreasesareproposedtobecomeeffectiveautomaticallyon
July1.Nochangetotheratewilloccurinanyyearinwhichtheapplicableinflationindexisflat
ornegative.
Wearepleasedtobeabletoworkcollaborativelywithourmemberstateagenciesto
moreeffectivelydelivercoordinated,regulatoryoutcomesconsistentwiththescope,jurisdiction,
andrequirementoftheDelawareRiverBasinCompact,saidTambini.TheDRBCstaffand
commissionersareannouncingthesefeerestructuringproposalstodayaftercarefullyreviewing
severaloptionstoensuresustainablefundingtosupportourcriticalregulatoryprograms.
PublicCommentsDueAugust12
Interestedpartieswillhavetheopportunitytoprovidewrittenandoralcommentstothe
DRBConthesefeeproposals.Thewrittencommentperiodwillrunthrough5p.m.onAugust
12.
OralcommentswillbeacceptedatapublichearingtobeheldJuly27at1p.m.atthe
DRBCofficebuilding,25StatePoliceDrive,inWestTrenton,N.J.
Commissionactionmayoccuronlyduringapublicbusinessmeetingfollowingaduly
noticedpublichearing.
Formoreinformationonthefeeproposal,visittheDRBC
FeeProposalNotice
webpage.
NewsClips:
TheWorldWillKnowOurWildDelawareRiver
GeotouristsCanNowFindTheirWayToPoconos
JeffreyFeatherstone,FmrDRBCWaterExpert,Passes

May9WatershedWindsNewsletterNowAvailableFromPennStateExtension

The
May9editionoftheWatershedWinds
newsletterisnowavailablefromPennState
Extensionfeaturingarticleson

InteractionBetweenGroundwater&ClimateHighlightedAtPAGroundwaterSymposium

CrayfishMayHelpRestoreDirtyStreams

PesticideApplicatorsLearnToKeepGroundwaterResourcesSafe

ExtensionCompletesDrinkingWaterWorkshopsInDauphin,Cumberland,Bucks

ScientistsStudyHowToKeepOnFarmPathogensOutOfDrinkingWater

USGS:VegetationTrapsNutrients,SedimentInFloodplainsInChesapeakeBayWatershed

ClickHere
tosignupforyourowncopy.


CountdownIsOnToStartOfDEPMobileInspections,ElectronicPermitting

SinceJanuary2015,theDepartmentofEnvironmental
Protectionhasembarkedonawideranging,
Secretaryprioritized,internalmodernizationeffortthatwill
includeimprovedbusinessprocesses,atransitiontonew
geolocationbasedmobilesolutions,paperlessworkflows,
archivedigitization,internaldatadrivenanalyticalresearch
efforts,andgreaterdatatransparency.
Thenextmilestoneofthiseffortwillbethe
introductionofanelectronicpermittingapplication,aswell
astheimplementationofamobileinspectionapplication.
Thesetwoinitiatives,leadbyDEPCIOSeanCrager,willbeoperatingbyFebruary15,
2017,andtheirusewillbeexpandedtootherprogramareasfollowingtheinitialrollout.
ThepilotfocusforelectronicpermittingwillbetheminingdeputateandtheBituminous
SurfaceMinePermitApplication.
DEPhasidentifiedover$500,000inTitleVfederalmatchingfundstobuildoutthe
agencysfirst,fullserviceelectronicpermittingsystem.
Thegoalwillbetousethiscodeforalloftheagencys700+authorizations.
DEPiscurrentlydevelopingthissysteminhouse,andexpectsthissystemtoincrease
productivitywhilesavingmoneyandprovidingbetterservicefortheregulatedcommunity.
Byrollingoutmobileinspections,DEPwillendadoubleentrysystemwhereinspections
areconductedwithcarbonlesspaperandthenkeyedintothecentraldatabaselaterbythesame
inspector.
DEPbelievesthisinvestmentwilldoubleaninspectorsproductivitythatisexpectedto
save$6.5millionoverfiveyears.
DEPiscurrentlypartneringwithPennDOTsMobileApplicationTeamtobuildtheapp
andleveragetheirbackendinfrastructuretosupportthatcapability.
DEPwillbeginwithanoilandgasinspectionprocessasapilot,withagoalof
configuringtheappforadditionalinspectionsinthenearfuture.
Upto350inspectorswillbeequippedwiththistechnologybyearly2018.

(Reprintedfromthe
May12DEPNews
.
ClickHere
tosignupforyourowncopy.)

EnvironmentalQualityBoardToConsiderAnotherDEPFeeIncreaseMay17

TheMay17

EnvironmentalQualityBoard
meetingagendaincludesanotherproposedregulation
increasingfees,thisoneisforthelaboratoryaccreditationprogramthatwouldraiseabout
$170,000moreperyear.
InApril,theEQBapprovedproposedfeeincreasesforpubliccommentfortheradonand
radiologicalhealthprogramstotallingabouta$2.1millionincreaseannually.
DEPisscheduledto
increasepermitfeesinatleastsixprograms
,includingthecoaland
noncoalminingprogramtohelpmakeupforGeneralFundcutstotheagency.
TheMayagendaalsoincludesafinalrulemakingupdatingthereminingstandardsfor

coalsurfacemining.
ThemeetingwillbeheldinRoom105RachelCarsonBuildingstartingat9:00.
Formoreinformationandavailablehandouts,visitthe
EnvironmentalQualityBoard
webpageorcontactLauraEdinger,EnvironmentalQualityBoard,bycalling7177723277or
sendemailto:
edinger@pa.gov
.
NewsClips:
Bumsted:RevivedShaleTaxCouldHaveLegs
Swift:BudgetDeadlineNearingFast
Micek:ThereWillBeABudgetOnGovernorsDeskByJune30
JohnBaer:Hey,ReadyForAnotherStateBudgetBattle?
SaleOfAsburyWoodsNatureCenterInErieDelayedByBudgetImpasse
Editorial:PreservePricelessNationalParksByIncreasingFunding
Editorial:CrumblingInfrastructureNotAClicheInPA

DEPCitizensAdvisoryCouncilToHearReportOnImpactOfBudgetCutsMay17

DEPs
CitizensAdvisoryCouncil
willhearareportatitsMay17meetingontheimpactofDEP
budgetcutsontheBureauofLaboratoriesoperationswhichhaveacriticalroletoplayin
determiningcompliancewithallair,water,waste,miningandotherstateenvironmental
protectionprograms.
TheCouncilwillalsohearpresentationsonDEPsAlternativeFuelIncentiveGrant
Program,DCNRsnewRiparianForestBufferInitiativeandanupdateonDEPsWorkforce
PlanningandCivilServiceReforms.
DEPalsoprovidedtheCouncilwith
itsMayReport
onsignificantagencyactivitiesover
thelastmonth,upcomingadvisorycommitteemeetingsanditsregularmonthlyreportonactions
bytheOilandGasProgram.
TheCACmeetingwillbeheldinRoom105RachelCarsonBuildingstartingat10:00
a.m.Themeetingwillalsobeavailableviawebcast.
ClickHere
toregisterforthewebcast.
Formoreinformation,visitDEPs
CitizensAdvisoryCouncil
webpageorcontactKatie
HetheringtonCunfer,CitizensAdvisoryCouncil,bycalling7177052693orsendemailto:
khethering@pa.gov
.
NewsClips:
Bumsted:RevivedShaleTaxCouldHaveLegs
Swift:BudgetDeadlineNearingFast
Micek:ThereWillBeABudgetOnGovernorsDeskByJune30
JohnBaer:Hey,ReadyForAnotherStateBudgetBattle?
SaleOfAsburyWoodsNatureCenterInErieDelayedByBudgetImpasse
Editorial:PreservePricelessNationalParksByIncreasingFunding
Editorial:CrumblingInfrastructureNotAClicheInPA

June20Meeting,HearingOnChangesToAirPermitForLackawannaGasPowerPlant

TheDepartmentofEnvironmentalProtectionFridayannounceditwillhostapublicmeetingand
hearingonrevisionstoanairqualityplanapprovalfor
LackawannaEnergyCenter,LLC
onJune
20from6to9:30p.m.attheValleyViewHighSchool,inArchbald

Thecompanyisproposingtobuildandoperatea1500megawattnaturalgasfiredpower
plantintheBoroughofJessup,LackawannaCounty.
LackawannaEnergyCentersubmittedaplanapprovalapplicationonFebruary24,2016,
torevisethelayoutoftheplanttoincludethreesmallersteamturbinesandthreesmaller
aircooledcondensersinplaceoftheoriginallyplannedsinglesteamgeneratorandsingle
aircooledcondenser.
Thesteamturbinesandaircooledcondensersarenotairemissionsources,therefore,this
planapprovalapplicationdoesnotchangeanyemissionlimitsimposedunderthepreviously
issuedplanapprovalinDecember2015.
Thepurposeofthemeetingwillbetodescribeandanswerquestionsfromthepublic
abouttheproposedreconfigurationofthesteamturbinesandaircooledcondensers.Immediately
followingthemeeting,apublichearingwillbeheldtotaketestimony.
ApublicnoticeforthereceiptofplanapprovalapplicationappearedinthePABulletin
onMarch12,2016.Apublicnoticefortheintenttoissuetheplanapprovalandpublic
meeting/hearingwillappearinthePABulletinonMay14,2016.
Concernedcitizenswhowishtoaskquestionsoroffertestimonyatthemeetingand
hearingcanpreregisterbynotifyingColleenConnolly,CommunityRelationsCoordinatorby
sendingemailto:
coconnolly@pa.gov
.
Citizensmayalsosubmitwrittentestimonyby4p.m.onJuly1.Thosecommentscanbe
addressedtoMarkWejkszner,AirQualityProgramManager,DEPNortheastRegionalOffice,2
PublicSquare,WilkesBarre,PA18711orbyemailto:
mwejkszner@pa.gov
.
AcopyofthedraftplanapprovalandapplicationcanbeviewedatDEPsNortheast
RegionalOfficeinWilkesBarre.Thosewishingtomakeanappointmenttoviewthedocuments
candosobetweenthehoursof8a.m.and4p.m.bycalling5708262511.
NewsClips:
ManganeseLevelsHigherThanNormalInBeaverCountyBorough
AirQualityImprovesInFranklinCounty
WhatPerdueSoybeanPlantMeansForYorkCounty
LocalOfficialSaysOppositionToSoybeanPlantFading
Editorial:BalancingBusiness,EnvironmentalHealth
Editorial:KidsAreShownToSufferFromBadAirQuality
GetReadyForMoreDetailedLookAtPittsburghsAirPollution
TrumpPromisesToEliminate90%OfCoalLaws
HazardousWasteIncineratorProposalInWorksInSusquehannaCounty
EmmausResidentsExposedToUnsafeLevelOfAirCarcinogen

AirborneManganeseLevelsInGlasgow,BeaverCountyWarrantFurtherInvestigation

TheDepartmentofEnvironmentalProtectionTuesdayannouncedairbornemanganese
concentrationsinGlasgowBoroughinBeaverCountywarrantfurtherinvestigation.
Theresults
ofashortterm(eightmonth)monitoringprojectrevealedmanganeselevelsexceedingfederal
healthbasedlongtermscreeningguidelines.
DEP,inconsultationwiththeU.S.EnvironmentalProtectionAgencyandOhios
environmentalagency,willbeginconductingfurtherinvestigationofmanganeseemissionsfrom
thenearby
S.H.BellEastLiverpoolTerminal
,locatedinEastLiverpool,Ohio,andMidland,PA,

alongtheOhioRiver,andotherpotentialsources.
ThehealthofourcitizensisparamounttoDEP,saidDEPSecretaryJohnQuigley.
Releasingthisinformationallowsstateandfederalagenciestoworkcloselywiththeresidents
onimprovingairqualityintheregion.
InresponsetoconcernsraisedbytheresidentsofGlasgowBoroughregardingthe
emissionofmetalsfromprocessingfacilitiesincludingtheS.H.Bellfacility,DEPconducted
ambientairmonitoringtocharacterizeambientconcentrationsofeightmetals:arsenic,
beryllium,cadmium,chromium,lead,manganese,nickel,andzinc.
Theambientairconcentrationsofmetalsotherthanmanganesedidnotexceedthe
longtermscreeningvalues.
DuringtheeverysixdaysamplingperiodfromOctober26,2014toJuly5,2015,40total
suspendedparticulate(TSP)and41PM10filterswerecollectedandqualityassuredasvalid
samples.
TheanalysesperformedbyDEPsBureauofLaboratoriesincludedtheweightof
particulatematterandmetalconcentrations.
AttherequestofDEP,theU.S.EPAprovidedassistancewithdataanalysisand
recommendedhealthbasedlongtermscreeningvalues
TheaverageambientmanganeselevelmeasuredinGlasgowBoroughrangedfrom0.036
to2.23microgramspercubicmeter,withameanconcentrationof0.521microgramspercubic
meter.
ThemeanmanganeseconcentrationexceededtheU.S.EPAandAgencyforToxic
SubstancesandDiseaseRegistryshealthbasedlongtermscreeningvaluesof0.05and0.30
microgramspercubicmeter,respectively.
DEPsentacopyofthefinalsummaryreporttotheGlasgowBoroughCouncil,
DepartmentofHealth,ATSDR,U.S.EPAandOhioEPA.
InadditiontorequestingfurtherevaluationofthemetalsdatabythePADOHand
ATSDR,DEPintendstoworkcloselywithresidentsintheGlasgowarea,U.S.EPAandOhio
EPAtoreduceambientconcentrationsofmanganeseinthearea.
DEPssummaryreportandpertinentgovernmentagencycontactinformation
isavailable
online
.
NewsClips:
ManganeseLevelsHigherThanNormalInBeaverCountyBorough
AirQualityImprovesInFranklinCounty
WhatPerdueSoybeanPlantMeansForYorkCounty
LocalOfficialSaysOppositionToSoybeanPlantFading
Editorial:BalancingBusiness,EnvironmentalHealth
Editorial:KidsAreShownToSufferFromBadAirQuality
GetReadyForMoreDetailedLookAtPittsburghsAirPollution
TrumpPromisesToEliminate90%OfCoalLaws
HazardousWasteIncineratorProposalInWorksInSusquehannaCounty
EmmausResidentsExposedToUnsafeLevelOfAirCarcinogen

DEPNoticeOfEnforcementPolicyFor500PPMHeatingOilSulfurLimit

TheDepartmentofEnvironmentalProtection
publishedanoticeintheMay14PABulletin

outliningatransitionpolicyforenforcementoftheJuly1deadlineforsellingheatingoilthat
meetsa500partspermillionsulfurcontentstandard(
25Pa.CodeSection123.22
).
Thetransitionpolicyisinresponsetounprecedentedheatingoilinventoriesremaining
fromanunusuallywarmwinter.Otherstateshavesimilartransitionperiods.
ThePAPetroleumAssociation,representingheatingoildistributors,hadproposeda15
ppmultralowsulfurstandardlikeotherneighboringstateshaveadoptedtoreducegreenhouse
gasemissions,butthatwasnotadoptedbytheCorbettAdministrationin2013.

PennFuture,StayPositiveClairtonHostAirQualityExpoMay15

PennFuture
andStayPositiveClairtonarehostinganAirQualityExpoMay15from4to6p.m.
attheCommunityEconomicDevelopmentCorporationCenterlocatedat282St.ClairAvenuein
Clairton,AlleghenyCounty.
TheissueofairqualityisimportanttomebecausepeopleinClairtonhaveagreater
chanceofgettingcancerandasthmaratesarealothigher.So,basically,everyonehereisjust
gettingpoisonedslowly,saidStayPositiveClairtonstudentleader,JadenMcDougald,age16.
Thiseventputsafacetothescienceofairquality,saidAnnieRegan,westernPennsylvania
outreachcoordinatorforPennFuture.Interactiveactivities,onsiteexperts,advocacy
organizations,communitymembers,andthestudentgroup,StayPositiveClairton,arehelpingto
showthatresidentsoftheregioncantakeairqualityintotheirownhandsimprovingtheir
healthandcommunity.
Theeventfeaturesinformation,resources,refreshments,andwillpremierePennFutures
documentary,ClairtonCokeWorks,CleanUpOurAir,PennFutureproducedtheshortfilm
thatfeaturesMonValleyresidentsaffectedbyairpollution.MattBroseydirectedandeditedthe
film.
Airpollutionismuchmorethanstatistics,saidRegan.Thesepersonalstoriesprovide
acriticalperspectiveontheimpactsofairpollution.
PennFuturebeganworkingwithresidentswhileitinvestigatedviolationsofairemissions
standardsatU.S.SteelsClairtonCokeWorks.
PennFutureuncoveredapproximately6,700airpollutionlimitviolationsbetweenJanuary
1,2012andMay31,2015,whichisakintooverfiveviolationsaday,everyday,fornearlythree
andahalfyears.
U.S.Steelandtheregulatorschargedwithprotectingpublichealthrepeatedlyfailedto
upholdtheirduty,addedRegan.Weknowthatbadairtravelstoaffecttheentireregionandall
countyresidentsshouldseewhatsreallygoingon.
PennFuture
issuedlegalnotice
toU.S.SteelandtheAlleghenyCountyHealth
DepartmentinlateJanuary.
JustdaysbeforethedeadlinebywhichitcouldinitiatelegalactiontoholdUSSteel
accountablefortheviolations,USSteelandACHDagreedtosettletheviolationsincountycourt
withoutinvolvingPennFutureornotifyingthepublicinadvance.

EDF:EPAFinalizesOilAndGasMethaneEmissionLimits

TheU.S.EnvironmentalProtectionAgencyThursday
finalizedcleanairstandardslimiting
emissionsofmethane
fromnewandheavilymodifiedsourcesintheoilandgasindustry.

Accordingtotheagencys
nationalemissionsinventory
,oilandgascompaniescurrently
releaseatleast9.8millionmetrictonsofmethaneintotheaireachyear(34percentmorethan
previousestimates).
Methane,themainingredientinnaturalgas,isapowerfulgreenhousegas,with84times
thewarmingpowerofcarbondioxideovera20yeartimeframe.
TheannouncementisthelatestinanongoingseriesofimportantstepsbytheObama
administrationaimedatreducingoilandgasmethaneemissionsby4045percentby2025.
ThenewEPAstandardsbuildfrompoliciesandpracticesinthestatesandprivatesector
includingcleanairsolutionsbeingdeployedinColorado,WyomingandOhio.Importantly,the
newemissionstandardsprovidefornationalsolutionstoaddressemissionsleakingfromnewly
constructedorrebuiltoilandgasindustrialactivity.
However,thestandardsdonotprovideforlimitsontheleaksandemissionsfromexisting
oilandgasinfrastructure,thesinglelargestsourceofmethaneinourair.
"TheU.S.oilandgasindustrypumpsoutalmost10millionmetrictonsofmethane
pollutionayearfromthousandsofsitesincommunitiesallacrossthenation,said
EnvironmentalDefenseFundPresidentFredKrupp.It'satremendousthreattoourclimate,and
aneedlesswasteofvaluableresources.Cuttingthispollutionisthefastest,cheapestpathtoslow
thewarmingwewillotherwiseseeinthenext20years.
Avastbodyofsciencehasrevealedthescaleoftheproblem,andprovenwecankeep
[muchof]thatescapinggasinthepipesatminimalcost.Somecompaniesarealreadysettinga
greatexampleofwhatcanbeachievedusingcommonsensesolutionstofindandfixleaks.
Weneedcommonsensestandardstomakebestpracticethestandardpractice.Andwe
needtobuildontodaysannouncementbyextendingthesesamelevelheadedstandardsto
thousandsofexistingfacilitiesthatarestillexemptdespitegeneratingmillionsoftonsof
methanepollutionayear."
FormoreinformationEDFactionsrelatedtooilandgasoperations,visitEDFs
Oiland
Gas
webpage.
IndustryReaction
MarcellusShaleCoalition
PresidentDavidSpigelmyerissuedthisstatementinresponsetothe
EPAsfinaloilandgasmethanelimitsregulation
Pennsylvaniasnaturalgasproducersareleadingthewayinenvironmentallyresponsible
energydevelopmentthatsresultinginsignificant,meaningfulairqualityimprovements.
Yetthe[Obama]AdministrationslatestruleisaclassiccaseofaWashingtonsolution
insearchofaproblemasthefactsclearlydemonstratethatmethaneemissionscontinueto
plummetevenasnaturalgasproductionrises.
AsPennsylvaniasenergyproducerscontinuetoweatherthispainfulmarketdownturn,
therecouldntbeaworsetimeformoreunnecessary,costlyWashingtonredtapethatwillresult
inlittletonoenvironmentalbenefit.
OtherReaction
NatureAbounds
PresidentMelindaHughesThursdayreleasedthisstatementinconjunctionwith
theU.S.EnvironmentalProtectionAgencyfinalrulesettinglimitsonclimatechangingmethane
emissionsfromoilandgasoperations
NatureAboundsapplaudstheObamaAdministrationonsettingstandardsprojectedto
reducetheequivalentof11millionmetrictonsofcarbonpollutionby2025andsaveAmericans
anetof$170millionincostsrelatedtomethanepollution.

Byissuingastandardfornewandmodifiedsources,EPAsetsthestagetobeginwork
onaruletocurbemissionsfromexistingoilandgasoperations.
Oilandgasoperationsarethelargestindustrialsourceofmethane,agreenhousegasthat
is80timesmorepotentthancarbondioxideoveratwentyyeartimeframe.
Methaneisapowerfulcontributortoclimatechangeandin2013alone,theoilandgas
sourcesemittedover7.3millionmetrictonsofmethane.Reducingmethaneemissionswasand
continuestobenecessaryforourfuture.
Bydoingso,itshouldalsoleadtoareductionofrespiratoryproblemswhichare
experiencedinepicnumbersinourmountainousareaasthetoxicairgetsentrappedinthe
valleys.
Thereductionalsolowerstheriskofexplosiverisksthatmethanealsobringstoour
areaasmixturesofjust5to15percentofmethaneinaircanbeexplosive.
Theoilandgasindustrymusttakeresponsibilityfortheirpollution,ratherthanasking
thepublicandourenvironmenttobeartheburden.ThankyoutotheEPAforfulfillingtheir
mission'toprotecthumanhealthandtheenvironment'.There'sabsolutelynoreasonthatwe
cannothaveastrongeconomywhilealsoprotectingourenvironmentandfuturegenerations."
Hughes
testifiedattheEPAhearings
lastfallontheproposedmethanerule.
Formoreinformationonprograms,initiativesandupcomingeventsofthis
Pennsylvaniabasednonprofitgroup,visitthe
NatureAbounds
websiteorcontactMelinda
Hughesat8147651453x203orsendemailto:
melinda@natureabounds.org
.
FormoreonPennsylvaniasactionstoreducemethane,visitDEPs
MethaneReduction
Strategy
webpage.
NewsClips:
EPAReleasesRulesToCurbMethaneLeaksFromOil&GasIndustry
U.S.ProposesToCutOil&GasMethaneEmissionsByNearlyHalf
EPAFinalizesNewMethaneStandardsForOil&GasIndustry
U.S.ProposesToCutOil&GasMethaneEmissionsByNearlyHalf
Editorial:NewMethaneRegulationClearsAir
IsItTimeForClimateActivistsToChangeTactics?
Editorial:ClimateThugs,ColludingAGs
AshleyFunk:ComingHomeToCoalPACountry
PA2ndOnlyToNYInNumberOfInvasiveForestPests
RelatedStories:
PECTV:MethaneEmissionsEnvironmentalFocusProgramNowOnline
EDF:EPAFinalizesOilAndGasMethaneEmissionLimits
Gov.WolfAnnouncesNewMethaneRegulationsOnOil&GasIndustry
PEC,OtherGroupsReactToNewPAOil&GasMethaneEmissionReductionProposals

PECTV:MethaneEmissionsEnvironmentalFocusProgramNowOnline

Methaneemissions,themaincomponentofnatural
gasandahighlypotentgreenhousegasandtheir
consequencesforPennsylvaniainthenaturalgasage
isthetopicofAprils
EnvironmentalFocus
now
availableonline
.

Thiseditionofthe
PAEnvironmentalCouncils
monthlyenvironmentalaffairstelevision
programairedfirstonthe
PennsylvaniaCableNetwork
(PCN)April17.
PennsylvaniaisthesecondlargestproducerofnaturalgasintheUnitedStateseven
conservativeestimatesofmethaneemissionsfromactiveandabandonedoilandgaswellsmake
thisissueatremendousissuefortheCommonwealth.
Methane,80timesmorepotentthancarbondioxideoveraneartermtimefree,is
responsibleforaboutonefourthoftheglobalwarmingtoday.
ThehalfhourtelevisionshowfeaturesAndrewPlace,ViceChairmanofthePublic
UtilityCommission,andoneoftheforemostexpertsonnaturalgasenergypolicyand
technology.
FollowingViceChairmanPlacesinterview,aroundtablediscussioncomposedofSam
RobinsonfromGov.TomWolfsOfficeofPolicyandPlanning,AndrewWilliamsofthe
EnvironmentalDefenseFund,andPECsJohnWallisercontinuedthediscussion.
AnymeaningfuldialogueonclimatechangeinPennsylvaniahastoincludereductionof
methaneemissions,Wallisersaid.Ourknowledgeofthetrueextentoftheseemissionsin
Pennsylvaniaisincomplete,and,astherecentgasleakinCaliforniasAlisoCanyonillustrates,
evenoneleakcanresultinveryseriouspublichealthandenvironmentalproblem.
PreviouseditionsofEnvironmentalFocushavefeaturedtopicssuchasoutdoor
recreationonPennsylvaniaswaterways,Pennsylvaniasstatebudget,thePennsylvaniaPipeline
InfrastructureTaskforce,andtheDelawareRiverConservationProgramwithguestssuchas
DepartmentofEnvironmentalProtectionSecretaryJohnQuigley,DepartmentofConservation
andNaturalResourcesSecretaryCindyAdamsDunn,Rep.KateHarper(RMontgomery),and
AndrewJohnsonoftheWilliamPennFoundation.
ClickHere
towatchthisepisodeandtoviewpastepisodesofPECsEnvironmental
FocusTVprogram.
MoreinformationaboutPennsylvaniasmethanereductionstrategyisavailableatDEPs
FrameworkForActionsOnMethaneReductions
webpage.
Formoreinformationonprograms,initiativesandspecialevents,visitthe
PA
EnvironmentalCouncil
website,visitthe
PECBlog
,follow
PEConTwitter
or
LikePECon
Facebook
.
ClickHere
toreceiveregularupdatesfromPEC.
NewsClips:
EPAReleasesRulesToCurbMethaneLeaksFromOil&GasIndustry
U.S.ProposesToCutOil&GasMethaneEmissionsByNearlyHalf
EPAFinalizesNewMethaneStandardsForOil&GasIndustry
U.S.ProposesToCutOil&GasMethaneEmissionsByNearlyHalf
Editorial:NewMethaneRegulationClearsAir
IsItTimeForClimateActivistsToChangeTactics?
Editorial:ClimateThugs,ColludingAGs
AshleyFunk:ComingHomeToCoalPACountry
PA2ndOnlyToNYInNumberOfInvasiveForestPests
RelatedStories:
EDF:EPAFinalizesOilAndGasMethaneEmissionLimits
PAsMarcellusDrillingIndustryReactsToNewEPARuleLimitingMethaneEmissions
NatureAboundsApplaudsNewEPACuttingOil&GasMethaneEmissions
Gov.WolfAnnouncesNewMethaneRegulationsOnOil&GasIndustry

PEC,OtherGroupsReactToNewPAOil&GasMethaneEmissionReductionProposals

DEPProposesIssuingWaterQualityCertificationForPennEastPipeline

TheDepartmentofEnvironmentalProtectionpublishednoticeintheMay14PABulletin
proposingtoissuefederalCleanWaterActcertificationforthe
PennEastPipeline
running
throughBucks,CarbonandLuzernecounties
(
PABulletin,page2450
)
.DEPisacceptingpublic
commentsontheproposedcertificationuntilJune13.
NewsClips:
WeldCoatingBeingLookedAtAsCauseOfPipelineExplosion
WestmorelandResidentsWonderWhyPipelinesDontHaveAutomaticShutoffs
AlleghenyFront:PipelineOwnerSorryForExplosion
WestmorelandResidentsWorriedAboutEffectsOfPipelineExplosion
CouldFasterGasFlowHaveContributedToWestmorelandPipelineExplosion?
Crable:AnotherGasPipelinePlannedForLancasterCounty
AtlanticSunrisePipelineOpponentsFileLawsuit,ThreateningProjectsMomentum
InvokingEminentDomain,PipelinesRunRoughshodOverLandowners
HumanPipelineFormedAtPhiladelphiaNaturalGasSummit
Editorial:CrumblingInfrastructureNotAClicheInPA

DEPOil&GasStaffParticipateInSustainableEnergyWorkshopInMongolia

TwomembersoftheDepartmentofEnvironmentalProtectionsOilandGasprogramjoined
otherexecutivesfromPennsylvaniasDepartmentofStateandtheU.S.Departmentof
CommerceatasustainableenergydevelopmentworkshopinUlaanbaatar,Mongolia,onMay
46.
ThiswasanunprecedentedopportunityforDEPtoassistMongoliangovernmentleaders
bysharingourknowledgeregardingenvironmentalregulationoftheoilandgasindustry,DEP
DeputySecretaryforOilandGasManagementScottPerrysaid.DEPsregulationsareamong
themostprotectiveinthiscountrybutstillallowfortheindustrytoproceedinaresponsible
manner.
PerrywasjoinedbyDEPsDirectorofDistrictOilandGasOperationsJohnRyder.
PerryandRydermadesevenpresentationstothe13Mongoliangovernmentexecutives
onawiderangeoftopics,includinginteragencygovernmentcoordination,conventionaland
unconventionalwellconstructionandpermitting,adaptingtowaterstressedareas,and
inspections,auditingandcompliancetracking.
TheworkshopwassponsoredbytheU.S.DepartmentofCommerceandtheAmerican
embassyinUlaanbaatarincoordinationwiththeMongolianPetroleumAuthorityandthe
MinistriesofMiningandtheEnvironmentandTourism.
FundingfortheworkshopwasprovidedbythefederalandstatedepartmentsofState.
MongoliaisacountryofaboutthreemillionpeopleinEastAsia.Coal,copperandgold
miningrepresentmorethan80percentofthecountrysexports.Thecountryalsoexportsnearly
10millionbarrelsofoiltoChinaannually.

(Reprintedfromthe
May12DEPNews
.
ClickHere
tosignupforyourowncopy.)


KeepPABeautifulApplaudsPennsylvaniaWinnersOf2016RecycleMania

KeepPennsylvaniaBeautiful
Wednesdaycongratulatedthe
Pennsylvaniawinnersofthe
2016RecycleMania
competition
SaintJosephsUniversity
inPhiladelphiawastheGrand
Championwitharecyclingrateof48.9percentandthePer
CapitaClassicwinnerwas
BucknellUniversity
inLewisburg
whorecycled26.5poundspercapita.
Thedaytodayeffortsputforthbythestudentsand
facultyofcollegesanduniversitieswhoparticipatedinthe
competitiontoreducetheamountofwastethatissenttothe
landfillisadmirable,statedShannonReiter,Presidentof
KeepPABeautiful.KPBisproudthatover20Pennsylvaniacollegesanduniversities
participatedinthisworthwhilecompetition,demonstratingthatwecanalldoourparttomakea
differenceinourenvironmentandengageotherstodothesame.Recyclingisnotonlygoodfor
theenvironmentbutitalsohelpsdrivethesuccessoftherecyclingmarketinPennsylvania.
Researchshowspeoplearemorelikelytorecyclewhentheyseeitaspartoftheculture
aroundthem,saidBrendaPulley,SeniorVicePresidentofRecycling,KeepAmericaBeautiful.
RecycleManiaprovidesuswithanopportunitytoheightenawarenessabouttheimportanceof
recyclingamongcollegestudents,andhelpmakerecyclingparticipationacorecomponentofthe
collegeexperience.Ourhopeisthattheserecyclingbehaviorsstickwiththemthroughouttheir
life,creatinganewgenerationofcommunitystewards.
The2016tournamentfeatured350schoolsparticipatingfrom48statesandtheDistrictof
ColumbiaandCanada,withanenrollmentof4.4millionstudents.RecycleManiaisthenations
premierwastereductionandrecyclingcompetitionandmobilizescollegesanduniversitiesto
benchmarkandimproveeffortstoreduceoreliminatewaste.
TheinitiativeismanagedbyKeepAmericaBeautiful.
Competingcollegesanduniversitiesarerankedaccordingtohowmuchrecycling,trash
andfoodwastetheycollectovertwomonths.
Duringthe2016competition,participatingschoolsrecycledorcomposted79.3million
poundsofrecyclablesandorganicmaterials,preventingthereleaseof122,000metrictonsof
carbondioxideequivalent(MTCO2E)intotheatmosphere,whichisequivalenttopreventing
annualemissionsfrom24,000cars.
ThecompetitionismadepossiblewiththesponsorshipsupportofAlcoaFoundation,The
CocaColaCompany,CyclePointfromSourceAmericaandRubbermaidCommercial
Products.
Foracompletelistofparticipatingschoolsandresultsgotothe
2016RecycleMania
website.
Formoreinformationonprograms,initiativesandspecialevents,visitthe
Keep
PennsylvaniaBeautiful
website.
ClickHere
tosignupforregularupdatesfromKPB,
Likethem
onFacebook
,
FollowonTwitter
,
DiscoverthemonPinterest
andvisittheir
YouTubeChannel
.
Alsovisitthe
IllegalDumpFreePA
websiteformoreideasonhowtocleanup
communitiesandkeepthemcleanandKPBsnew
ElectronicsWaste
website.
Signupnowforthe
2016GreatAmericanCleanupofPA
andsetupyourowncleanup

andbeautificationeventthroughMay31.

RegisterNowForPROPsRecycling&OrganicsConferenceJuly2729InHarrisburg

Registernowforthe
ProfessionalRecyclersofPA
26th
AnnualRecyclingandOrganics
Conference
toplaceJuly2729attheBestWesternPremierinHarrisburg.
AttendeeswillbeabletolearnaboutNewHorizonsforHarrisburgCreatingaClean
CityfromtheGroundUp,SingleStream,LitterManagement,RecyclingMarkets,21stCentury
MaterialsManagement,NextGenerationMaterials,NewECyclingOpportunities,TheOther
RReUse,aswellasLegislativeupdates,andupdatesfromtheDepartmentofEnvironmental
Protection.
ClickHere
toseethefullschedule.
Ofcoursetherewillbethe
AnnualFilmFestival
,aJamsessiononthepatio,Trivia
Night,andofcourseCertificationclasses,preconferenceaswellasseveralopportunitiesto
acquirecontinuingeducationunitsduringtheconference.
LetsnotforgetthatwewillhaveexhibitorsfromacrossPennsylvaniaaswellasaround
thecountryandCanadaavailabletoshowyouwhatisnewandhowtomakethemostoutofyour
programswiththeirproducts.
Sponsorship&Ads
PROPalsohas
opportunitiestosponsor
sessionsandplenaries,aswellasotheritemsat
theconference,suchasmealsandnetworkingevents.
PROPisnowacceptingads
forthe
conferencebooklet.AdsmustbereceivedbynolaterthanJune24tomakesureyouradisinthe
booklet.
Therewillbeplentyofopportunitiesfornetworkingwithotherconferenceattendeesand
exhibitors.
Forallthedetails,visitPROPs
AnnualRecyclingandOrganicsConference
webpage.

CentreCountyNowSellingCompostFromStateCollegeToBenefitEducationFund

The
CentreCountyRecycling&RefuseAuthority
iscurrentlysellingStateCollegeBorough
compostatitsfacilitylocatedat253TransferRoadinBellefonte.
ThisislocalcompostmadeandbaggedattheStateCollegeBoroughCompostFacility.
BagsareavailableforpurchaseattheScaleHouse.Thecompostcomesin40poundsbagsatthe
costof$6/bag.
AllproceedsfromthesaleofcompostbenefittheAuthoritysEducationEndowment
Fund.
Forquestionsregardingthesaleofcompost,pleasecalltheofficeat8142387005,or
sendemailto:
aschirf@centrecountyrecycles.org
.
Formoreinformationonprograms,initiativesandupcomingevents,visitthe
Centre
CountyRecycling&RefuseAuthority
website.

Gov.WolfAnnouncesZikaVirusSurveillancePlan,RisksVeryLowInPA

Gov.TomWolfThursdayannouncedhis
administrationsplantobolstersurveillance,
mitigation,andresponseeffortsfor
Zikavirus
to

betterprotectallresidentsintheCommonwealth.
ThePennsylvaniaZikaVirusResponsePlan,developedbythedepartmentsofHealthand
EnvironmentalProtection,outlinesthephasesofeducation,surveillance,andresponseactivities
thatwilloccurforvariouslevelsofmosquitoactivitywithintheCommonwealthaswellas
triggersbasedonthepresenceofZikadiseasewithinthestate.
Thephasesrangefromthecurrentsituationofamoderateleveloftravelassociatedcases
topotentialwidespreadlocaltransmissionbymosquitoes.
PennsylvaniahasrequestedfundsfromtheCentersforDiseaseControlandPrevention
(CDC)toimplementthisplan.
Myadministrationiscommittedtoensuringthehealthandsafetyofall
Pennsylvanians,saidGov.Wolf.Wearecontinuingtoworkwithourpartnersonthelocal,
state,andfederallevelstokeepPennsylvaniasafe.Therolloutofthisplanisanotherproactive
stepinourcollaborativestrategytoprotectourcitizensandpreventthespreadoftheZikavirus.
ThisZikaVirusResponsePlanwillbetterhelpusprotectthehealthofthemorethan12
millionpeoplewhocallPennsylvaniahome,saidSecretaryofHealthKarenMurphy.Zika
generallycausesverymildsymptomsandrarelyleadstoserioussideeffectsinthosewho
becomeillwiththevirus.However,pregnantwomenandthoseofchildbearingageareat
greatestriskasZikaisknowntopotentiallycauseseriousandevenfatalbirthdefectsinsome
babiesborntowomeninfectedwiththevirusduringpregnancy.Thisplanwillhelpensurewe
havethemeasuresinplacetobetterinformandprotectallofourresidents.
ThemaingoalsofthePennsylvaniaZikaVirusResponsePlanareto:
EnhanceDOHsurveillanceforZikacasesinPennsylvanians
DevelopaplanthatwillenableDOHtotestfortheviruswithoutusingCDClaboratories
EnhanceDEPvectorsurveillanceandcontroloftheAedesalbopictusandAedesaegypti
speciesofmosquitosand
Ensurecollaborationbetweencommonwealthagenciesandpartnerstoeducatepregnant
womenandthegeneralpublicaboutimportantZikavirusmessages.
Currently,theonlyconfirmedcasesofZikainPennsylvaniaareinindividualswho
contractedtheviruswhilevisitingoneoftheareaswherethevirusisactivelyspreading.
Atthistime,nocasesofZikainPennsylvaniaorinthecontinentalU.S.haveoccurredas
aresultoflocallyacquiredinfections.
OncewarmertemperaturesarriveintheCommonwealthandremaininplacethroughout
thesummermonths,theriskoflimitedlocaltransmissionofZikavirusbythetypeofmosquitos
thatpotentiallycarryitwillincrease.
DEPandourcountypartnersarefocusedonmonitoringforthepresenceofmosquitoes
potentiallyassociatedwithZikatransmissionandimplementingcontrolmeasureswhen
necessary,saidDEPSecretaryJohnQuigley.Weareworkingverycloselywiththe
DepartmentofHealthtoensurethesafetyofourcitizens.
Zikaisagenerallymildillness,andmostindividualsdonothaveanysymptoms.When
symptomsdooccur,theycanincludefever,rash,jointormusclepain,conjunctivitis(pinkeye),
orheadache,andlastfromseveraldaystooneweek.
AlthoughtheAedesaegyptimosquitoremainstheprimarycarrieroftheZikavirus,
Aedesalbopictushasalsobeenimplicatedasasecondarycarrierofthisdisease.WhileAedes
aegyptihasnotbeenfoundinPennsylvaniasince2002,Aedesalbopictushasbeenfound
throughoutthemajormetropolitanareasofsouthernPennsylvania.

ThesespeciesaredifferentfromonesDEPcurrentlysurveysandrequiredifferenttactics.
Thenewsurveillanceandcontrolmethodsoutlinedintheplanthatareneededtoprotect
publichealthfromthispotentialthreatwillrequireadditionalDEPresources.
Thediseasecanalsobetransmittedsexually,aswellasbybloodtransfusions.TheCDC
advisesmenwhohavetraveledtotheZikaaffectedareastowearcondomsconsistentlyand
correctlyduringsextoavoidspreadingthevirustotheirpartners.
Thisisespeciallyimportantformenwhosepartnersarepregnantwomenorwomenwho
areofchildbearingage,astheZikavirushasbeenlinkedtopotentiallyseverebirthdefectsin
babiesborntowomenwhohadtheillnessduringpregnancy.
TheCDCalsorecommendsthatallpregnantwomenconsiderpostponingtravelto
Zikaaffectedareas.Womenwhoarepregnant,planningtobecomepregnant,ormaybepregnant
andmusttraveltotheseareasshouldfirstconsultwiththeirhealthcareprovider.
PregnantwomenwhovisitZikaaffectedareasanddevelopsymptomswithintwoweeks
ofreturninghomeshouldcontacttheirhealthcareprovider.
BecausetherecurrentlyisnovaccineortreatmentforZika,thebestwaytoavoid
contractingthevirusistopreventmosquitobitesby:
UsinganinsectrepellentcontainingDEET
Wearinglightcolored,lightweight,loosefittingclothingthatcovershands,arms,legs,and
otherexposedskin.
Usingphysicalbarrierssuchasscreens,closeddoorsandwindows.
TheAedestypesofmosquitosthatcanpotentiallytransmittheZikavirusbiteduringthe
daytime.Tocontrolallmosquitosoutsideyourhomeorbusiness:
Installorrepairandusewindowanddoorscreens.
Onceaweek,emptyandscrub,turnover,cover,orthrowoutanyitemsthatholdwaterlike
buckets,planters,toys,pools,birdbaths,flowerpotsaucers,ortrashcontainers.Mosquitoslay
eggsnearwater.
Useanoutdoorflyinginsectspraywheremosquitosrestdark,humidareaslikeunderpatio
furnitureorunderthecarportorgarage.
Havecloggedroofgutterscleanedeveryyear,particularlyiftheleavesfromsurrounding
treeshaveatendencytoplugupthedrains.Roofgutterscanproducemillionsofmosquitoes
eachseason.
Ifyouhaveaseptictank,repaircracksorgaps.Coveropenventorplumbingpipeswith
wiremeshthatconsistsofholessmallerthananadultmosquito.
Formoreinformation,visittheDepartmentofHealths
ZikaVirus
webpage.
NewsClips:
WolfRollsOutZikaPlanForPennsylvania
AsWeatherWarms,PAPreparesForZikaVirus
PAPreparesStrategyToFightZikaVirusThisSummer
LancasterGettingSpecialFocusInPAsZikaPlan
WhatIsZikaRiskInAdams,YorkCounties?
ZikaUpdate:ScientistsStillLearningAboutStrangeVirus

BenefitsOfWasteToEnergyvs.LandfillsNeedsToBeRecognizedInPAClimatePlan

CovantaEnergys
recent
commentsonDEPs
draft
ClimateActionPlanUpdate
highlightedthe

needforthePlantorecognizethebenefitsofenergyfromwastefacilitiesinreducing
climatechangingemissionsfromthedisposalofwasteascountriesaroundtheworldhavedone.
CovantafullysupportsPennsylvaniaseffortstoreducegreenhousegasemissionsinthe
state.
ThedraftClimateActionPlaninaccuratelyincludednegativeemissionsofcarbon
dioxideequivalentsinPennsylvaniafromwastelandfills,wheninfact,landfilloperators
reported2.66milliontonsofcarbondioxideequivalentsaspartoftheU.S.EPAMandatory
GreenhouseGasReportingProgram.
Thedraftplanalsoattributeda7599percentlifetimemethanecollectionsystem
efficiencyatlandfills,wheninfact,California,theIntergovernmentalPanelonClimateChange
andtheEnvironmentalCommissionerofOntariohavedatatojustifya35to70percent
efficiency.
ToachieveDEPscollectionefficiencynumber,alandfillwouldhavetocollect100
percentofitsmethanegasallthetimewithnoleaks,failuresordowntimefor90years,aclear
impossibility.
CovantanotedenergyfromwastefacilitiesarerecognizedbytheU.S.Environmental
ProtectionAgency,theIntergovernmentalPanelonClimateChange,theEuropeanUnionand
manyotherstatesandnationalgovernmentsandnongovernmentorganizationsaroundtheworld
asawaytomitigategreenhousegasemissions.
Greenhousegasmitigationisachievedbydisplacinggridconnectedfossilfuelfired
electricity,recoveringmetalsfromthewastestreamforrecycling,andmostimportantly,by
avoidinglandfillemissionsofmethane,apotentShortLivedClimatePollutantover30times
strongerthancarbondioxideover100yearswhenallofitsimpactsareconsideredandover80
timesstrongerover20years.
Theonlysurewayofreducinglandfillmethaneemissionsistopreventtheirgenerationin
thefirstplacethroughlandfilldiversion.Infact,thisapproachhasbeenfollowedwithgreat
successbytheEuropeanUnion,primarilythroughtheLandfillWasteDirective,whichcallsfor
thereductioninlandfillingofbiodegradablewastes.
CovantarecommendedPennsylvaniaincludeenergyfromwastefacilitiesinTier1ofits
AlternativeEnergyPortfolioStandardsasanadditionalstrategytocomplywiththe
EPAClean
PowerClimateRule
.
EPAgaveveryclearguidancetostatesonhowtoincorporaterenewableenergy,
includingWTE,asaneligiblecomponentofapprovablestateplans.
SenateBill1035
sponsoredbySen.ScottWagner(RYork),nowintheSenate
EnvironmentalResourcesandEnergyCommittee,wouldmakethisneededchangetotheAEPS.
Covantaconcludeditscommentsbysaying,AsPennsylvania,theregion,andthenation
developgrowingandsignificantamountsofintermittentrenewablegeneration,itiscritically
importanttoensuresufficientcapacityisavailablefrombaseloadrenewablesources,suchas
wastetoenergyfacilities.
AcopyoftheCovantacomments
areavailableonline
.
Covantaoperates5energyfromwastefacilitiesinPennsylvania,includinginDauphin,
Delaware,Lancaster,MontgomeryandYorkcountiesandanelectronicswasterecyclingfacility
inPhiladelphia.
NewsClips:
EPAReleasesRulesToCurbMethaneLeaksFromOil&GasIndustry

U.S.ProposesToCutOil&GasMethaneEmissionsByNearlyHalf
EPAFinalizesNewMethaneStandardsForOil&GasIndustry
U.S.ProposesToCutOil&GasMethaneEmissionsByNearlyHalf
Editorial:NewMethaneRegulationClearsAir
IsItTimeForClimateActivistsToChangeTactics?
Editorial:ClimateThugs,ColludingAGs
AshleyFunk:ComingHomeToCoalPACountry
PA2ndOnlyToNYInNumberOfInvasiveForestPests

(Note:
CrisciAssociates
representsCovantainPennsylvania.)

AdvisoryCommitteeToConsiderFinalDEPClimatePlanUpdateMay17

DEPs
ClimateChangeAdvisoryCommittee
willreviewthefinalversionoftheupdatetoDEPs
ClimateActionPlan
atitsmeetingonMay17.
Alsoontheagenda
isapresentationonDCNRsClimateChangePaper,DEPs
Legacy
WellEmissionsStudy
andadiscussion
HouseBill2030
(SantarsieroDBucks)settingat50
percentby2030greenhousegasemissionreductiongoal.
Themeetingwillbeheldinthe
16thFloorConferenceRoomintheRachelCarson
Buildingstartingat10:00.
Formoreinformationandcopiesofavailablehandouts,visitDEPs
ClimateChange
AdvisoryCommittee
webpageorcontactMarkBrojakowski,BureauofAirQuality,bycalling
7177723429orsendemailto:
mbrojakows@pa.gov
.
NewsClips:
EPAReleasesRulesToCurbMethaneLeaksFromOil&GasIndustry
U.S.ProposesToCutOil&GasMethaneEmissionsByNearlyHalf
EPAFinalizesNewMethaneStandardsForOil&GasIndustry
U.S.ProposesToCutOil&GasMethaneEmissionsByNearlyHalf
Editorial:NewMethaneRegulationClearsAir
IsItTimeForClimateActivistsToChangeTactics?
Editorial:ClimateThugs,ColludingAGs
AshleyFunk:ComingHomeToCoalPACountry
PA2ndOnlyToNYInNumberOfInvasiveForestPests

PALeagueOfWomenVotersSustainableEnergy&JobsSymposiumMay19Pittsburgh

The
LeagueOfWomenVotersofPA
willhostthe
THRIVE:SustainableEnergy,Jobs&
EconomicDevelopmentSymposium
onMay19atthe
EnergyInnovationCenter
inPittsburgh.
Sessionswillcovervariousformsofrenewableenergy,aswellaseconomicdevelopment
initiativessuchasthosebeinglaunchedbythecityofPittsburgh.
Participantswillhearfromrenewableenergybusinesses(suchasAquionEnergy)and
sustainablejobtrainingprograms.LuncheonkeynotespeakerDr.PatriciaDeMarcowillpresent
on"JustTransitions"forworkersfromthefossilfueleconomy.
Thedaywillconcludewithastrategicplanningsessiononpolicy,includingbest
practicestospreadsustainableeconomicdevelopmentacrossWesternPennsylvania.

TheSymposiumbeginsat9a.m.(lightbreakfast8:30a.m.),includeslunch,aswellasa
touroftheEnergyInnovationCenter.
Thesymposiumisfreehowever,duetothelimitedspace,invitationonly(andopento
themedia).
ClickHere
foradetailedSymposiumagenda.
Symposiumpresentationswillberecordedandmadeavailabletothepubliconthe
LeagueofWomenVoters
NaturalGas
webpage.
Thiseventispartof
TheStraightScooponShale
initiativefundedbyaColcom
FoundationgranttoLeagueofWomenVotersofPennsylvaniasCitizenEducationFund.
NewsClips:
SolarActivistsStepUpDemandsOnPECOEnergy
DemonstratorsAgainPressurePECOOnSolarPower
ResidentsPackMeetingOnBethlehemsWindTurbinePlan
BethlehemTurbineProjectFacesHeadwindInPoconos
GEClosingBlawnoxSolarComponentsPlant
InvestmentsInRenewableEnergyOnTheRise
Editorial:RenewablesHereToStay

AwardWinner:PittsburghGreenBuildingAlliance

The
GreenBuildingAllianceinPittsburgh
isoneof5winnersofthe2016
Dominion
,
PA
EnvironmentalCouncil

WesternPAEnvironmentalAwards
.
Awardwinnerswillbehonoredata
specialawardsceremonyonMay26
attheWestin
ConventionCenterindowntownPittsburgh.
GreenBuildingAllianceisanonprofitorganizationthatinspiresthecreationofhealthy,
highperformingplaces.
InPittsburgh,47percentofgreenhousegasemissionsoriginatefromcommercial
buildingsand30percentoftheenergyusedbytheaveragecommercialbuildingiswasted.
GBAcreatedthe
Pittsburgh2030District
,anationallyrecognizedandlocallydriven,
voluntarycommunityofbuildingsworkingincollaborationtowardsinspirational,but
measurableperformancegoals.
ExistingbuildingsparticipatinginthePittsburgh2030Districtarecommittedto50
percentreductionsinenergyuse,waterconsumption,andtransportationrelatedemissionsby
2030.
ThePittsburgh2030Districtaimstocreateastrongerdowntownbyhelpingproperty
ownersworkcollaborativelytogetherandwithasetofstatedcommongoalstoimproveindoor
airquality,reduceresourcesused,increaseassetvalue,andcreatesolidreturnsoninvestment.
Throughthisprogram,Pittsburghsexistingbuildingsareabletovoluntarilyjointhe
greenbuildingconversationinawaythatrecognizespasteffortstocreateefficientproperties
whilestrivingtowardsthefuturewithongoingpeertopeereducationthatisdrivingtheregions
economiccompetitivenesstoday,intheyear2030,andbeyond.
Energydemandreductiontargetsfornewconstructionandmajorrenovationsaremore
aggressive,withagoalofcarbonneutralityby2030.Districtpartnersmakeasimplepledge
committothegoalsofThe2030ChallengeandworktogetherwithotherPittsburgh2030
Districtproperty,community,andresourcepartnerstoreachthosetargets.

Injustthreeyears,GBAlaunchedandhasfosteredPittsburghsDistricttobethelargest
2030Districtintheworldtodate.
ThroughDecember2014,thePittsburgh2030Districtincluded436buildingswithover
65.5millionsquarefeetofrealestateinDowntownPittsburghandOaklandallactivelyworking
towards50percentreductionsinenergyconsumption,wateruse,andtransportationemissionsby
theyear2030,withnewconstructionreachingcarbonneutralityby2030.
AsatestamenttotheongoinggrowthoftheDistrict,attheendof2015thetotalsquare
footageincreasedto67.6millionsquarefeet.
For2015,380properties(87percentofthoseparticipating)saved503,295,273kBtus,or
theequivalentenergyuseof5,562homes.
Additionally,96downtownbuildings(representing80percentofdowntownssquare
footage)achieveda10percentreductioninwateruse,puttingDowntownPittsburghatits2015
goal,representingalmost53milliongallonsofwateror362homesannualwaterusage.
Informationontrainingandotherinitiativesisavailableonthe
GreenBuildingAlliance
inPittsburgh
website.
ClickHere
tosignupforregularupdatesfromtheAlliance.
Formoreinformationonprograms,initiativesandspecialevents,visitthe
PA
EnvironmentalCouncil
website,visitthe
PECBlog
,follow
PEConTwitter
or
LikePECon
Facebook
.
ClickHere
toreceiveregularupdatesfromPEC.
NewsClips:
PittsburghShakesOffTheRust
CMU:MakeBuildingsMoreSustainable,PutWaterPipesOnOutside
RelatedStory:
AwardWinner:CrawfordCountyRiparianRestorationProgram

StateTreasurerRelaunchesKeystoneHELPHomeEnergyEfficiencyLoanProgram

ThePennsylvaniaTreasury,inpartnershipwithleadingnationalclean
energyfinancecompanyRenewFinancialandtheEnergyPrograms
ConsortiumThursdayannouncedtherelaunchoftheawardwinning
KeystoneHomeEnergyLoanProgram
(KeystoneHELP)
KeystoneHELPprovidesPennsylvaniahomeownerswithupto
$20,000ofaffordablefinancingforhomeenergyefficiency
improvements.
KeystoneHELPisadditionallysupportedbytheDepartmentof
EnvironmentalProtectionandthePAInfrastructureInvestmentAuthority.
(Photo:DEPSecretaryJohnQuigley.)
Originallylaunchedstatewidein2006,KeystoneHELPisaninnovative
public/privatepartnershipthatallowedapproximately14,000homeownerstoborrowupto
$15,000atverycompetitiveratesforarangeofhomeimprovements,includingHVAC
equipment,waterheaters,airconditioning,roofing,insulation,windows,doors,siding,
geothermalpowersystems,andotherimprovements.
BeforegoingdormantinJuly2014duetoalackoffunding,theprogrambecamea
nationalmodelforresidentialenergyefficiencyfinancing.
TherelaunchofKeystoneHELPwillbuildonthesignificanteconomicand
environmentalimpactsthatearlierprojectsarealreadyhaving.Thoseprojectsareestimatedto

produceenergyefficienciesthatoverthelifeoftheloanswillreduceutilitybillsbymore
than$140million,avoid421,633metrictonsofgreenhousegasesandsave.53terawatthoursof
electricity.
Additionally,theseprojectswillreducenaturalgasusagebyanestimated15.7million
therms,cutheatingoilconsumptionby6milliongallonsandlowerpropaneusageby1.9million
gallons.
Therelaunchismadepossible,inpart,byafirstofitskindfinancingpartnershipthat
includesPennVESTthestateswaterinfrastructuredevelopmentauthority.
Pennsylvaniaisthefirststateinthecountrytouseitsrevolvingwaterfundstosupport
loansfinancingresidentialenergyefficiencyimprovementsthatprotectwaterqualityby
reducingairborneemissions.
KeystoneHELPisalsosupportedbyasecondaryloanmarketcreatedbythe
Warehouse
forEnergyEfficiencyLoans
(WHEEL),theonlynationalfinancingfacilitythatoffersaffordable
financingforhomeenergyefficiencyprojectsnotonlyinPennsylvaniabutalsoinmanyother
statesinthecountry.
WHEELwascreatedin2014throughacollaborationinvolvingRenewFinancial,
PennsylvaniaTreasury,Citigroup,EPCandothers.
KeystoneHELPwasoriginallylaunchedin2006byenergyefficiencylenderAFCFirst
FinancialCorporation,nowapartofRenewFinancial,asapilotprogramwiththeWestPenn
PowerSustainableEnergyFundandexpandedstatewidewithPennsylvaniaTreasuryshortly
after.
Theprogramwasrecognizedwitha2013StarsofEnergyEfficiencyawardfromthe
AlliancetoSaveEnergy
andwonseveralotherenergyefficiencyawards.AndbothRenew
FinancialandCitiwererecognizedwithanEnergyEfficiencyawardfromEnvironmental
FinanceinMarch2016,whichnotedthefirstWHEELsecuritizationasoneoftheDealsofthe
Year.
KeystoneHELPefficiencyloansarefixedrateloanswithlongertermsavailablethan
typicalbankfinancing.Sincethereisnopenaltyforprepayment,homeownersmaypayitoffat
anytime.
BenefitsToConsumers
PhiladelphiahomeownerLizzieRothwellisaKeystoneHELPcustomerwhohasrealized
significantsavingsonherutilitybillsthankstovarioushomeefficiencyupgradesshecompleted,
includingroofcoatingandinsulation,newEnergyStarappliances,electricpanelreplacements,
newductworkandairsealing.
"MyhusbandandIboughtatraditionalPhiladelphiatrinitystyletownhousethatwas
builtaround1915anddefinitelyinneedofsomeupdates,saidRothwell.Wequicklyrealized
thatourtopprioritywastoupgradetheenergyperformance.KeystoneHELPmadeitpossiblefor
ustofinanceapackageofhomeenergyimprovementswithareassuringlylowandfixedinterest
rate.Thedropinourutilitybillswasimmediatelyapparent,andourhouseismuchmore
comfortableyearroundasaresultoftheimprovements."
WeareextremelyproudtobeabletoagainoffertheKeystoneHELPprogramto
Pennsylvaniaresidents,enablingthemtomakecrucialenergyefficiencyimprovementstotheir
homes,saidRenewFinancialCEOCiscoDeVries.Ourgoalistohelphomeownersacrossthe
countrymakethesemuchneededhomeimprovementstoreducetheirenergyuseandutilitybills,
andthisisonemorestepinachievingthatgoal.

KeystoneHELPprogramfeaturesinclude:Low,fixedinterestrateFixedmonthly
paymentsLoansupto$20,000,unsecuredfinancingFlexiblerepaymenttermsof5,7or10
years100percentoftheprojectcanbefinancedThousandsofeligibleimprovementstosave
energy,andmoneyUpto25percentofthefinancedamountcanbeusedfornonqualifying
productsWorkcompletedbyKeystoneHELPRegisteredContractorsNoupfrontcostsandno
hiddenfeesFast,simpleapprovalandapplicationprocessandStrongconsumerprotections
RegisteredNetworkofContractors
RenewFinancialisbuildingmutuallybeneficialrelationshipswithcontractors/dealersin
thehomeservicesindustry.AllcontractorswhoparticipateintheKeystoneHELPprogramare
fullylicensedandhavereceivedtrainingontheprogramandhowtorespondtoconsumer
inquiries.
Onlyapprovedcontractors/dealersareallowedtoperformworkunderthisfinancingand
morethan250contractorsstatewidehavealreadyenrolledintheprogramsinceenrollments
openedlastmonth.
PennsylvaniaresidentsinterestedinlearningmoredetailsaboutKeystoneHELPshould
gotothe
KeystoneHomeEnergyLoanProgram
website.
NewsClips:
StateRevivesEnergyEfficientHomeLoanProgram
StateRevivesEnergyEfficiencyLoansForHomeowners
HarrisburgCity:PPLFailsToAccountForNewLEDLights
AsSpeedLimitsRiseInPA,FuelEconomyFalls

PennStateToLeadUniversityCoalitionForCleanFossilEnergyResearch

PennStatewillleada
UniversityCoalitionforFossilEnergyResearch
(UCFER)thatwill
advancebasicandappliedresearchforcleanenergyinsupportoftheU.S.DepartmentofEnergy
mission.
UCFERwillidentify,select,execute,reviewanddisseminateknowledgefromresearch
thatwillimprovetheefficiencyofproductionanduseoffossilenergyresourceswhile
minimizingtheenvironmentalimpactsandreducinggreenhousegasemissions.
Throughanationwideopencompetition,thesixyear,$20millionprojectisawardedby
theDepartmentofEnergy's
NationalEnergyTechnologyLaboratory
.
FoundingmembersinadditiontoPennStatearetheMassachusettsInstituteof
Technology,PrincetonUniversity,TexasA&MUniversity,UniversityofKentucky,University
ofSouthernCalifornia,UniversityofTulsa,UniversityofWyomingandVirginiaTech.
ChunshanSong,directorof
PennState'sEnergyInstitute
intheCollegeofEarthand
MineralScienceanddistinguishedprofessoroffuelscienceandchemicalengineeringisthe
principalinvestigatorandwillbedirectorofUCFER.
"PennStatehasclearlyestablisheditselfamongtheverytoptierofAmerica's
powerhouseenergyresearchuniversities,"saidPennStatePresidentEricBarron."I'mvery
pleasedthatDr.Songhasbeenrecognizedwiththisleadershiprole,andwillbeworkingwith
colleaguesatotherdistinguisheduniversitiestogenerateanddisseminatetheknowledgethatwill
addresstheenergysecurityneedsofournation."
UCFERwillengageinbothfundamentalandappliedresearchforcleanandlowcarbon
energybasedonfossilresources.Outreachandtechnologytransfertoindustrywillbeimportant

componentsofthecoalition.
Withtheaimofreducingenvironmentalimpactsandminimizingcarbondioxide
emissions,thecoalitionwillexploreresearchincoal,naturalgasandoil,includingcarbon
dioxidecapture,storageandutilization.
"WearegratefultoDOEforentrustinguswiththisexcellentopportunityandlook
forwardtocollaboratingwithourpartneruniversitiesandtheNationalEnergyTechnology
Laboratory,"saidPennStateVicePresidentforResearchNeilSharkey."ProfessorSongis
ideallysuitedtoleadthisimportantmultiuniversitycollaborationandhehasthefullsupportof
PennStatebehindhimtoensureeffectivedeploymentofpreciousfederaldollarsacrossthe
coalitionasweworktogethertoadvancefossilenergyresearch."
UCFERwillsupportthemissionoftheU.S.DepartmentofEnergythroughmechanisms
thatpromotecollaborationamongtheNationalEnergyTechnologyLaboratoryandthe
universitiesthataremembersoftheCoalitionbythecoordinationofresearchandthesharingof
data.
Itscollaborativeresearchwillfocusoncoal,naturalgas,andoilandwillinvolve
expertiseinoneormoreofthefollowingfivecorecompetenceareasgeologicaland
environmentalsystems,materialsengineeringandmanufacturing,energyconversion
engineering,systemsengineeringandanalysis,andcomputationalscienceandengineering.
Researchingasandoilwillalsoincludeunconventionalresourcessuchasshalegas,
environmentalimpacts,andnaturalgasinfrastructureleakdetectionandsmartsensors,deep
watertechnology,methanehydratesandenhancedrecovery.
TheDepartmentofEnergyawardeda$20milliongranttosupportthisproject.
Formoreinformation,visitthe
PennState'sEnergyInstitute
webpage.

EPAAwards18BrownfieldsEnvironmentalJobTrainingGrants,3InPA

TheU.S.EnvironmentalProtectionAgencyThursdayannouncedtheselectionof18granteesfor
approximately$3.5millionin
BrownfieldsEnvironmentalWorkforceDevelopmentandJob
TrainingGrants
.
ThreeofthegrantswereawardedinPennsylvaniatothe
EnergyCoordinatingAgency
in
Philadelphiaandthe
RedevelopmentAuthorityofCumberlandCounty
andto
Auberlein
McKeesport
Pennsylvania.
Eachgranteewillreceivefundstooperateenvironmentaljobtrainingprogramsthat
advanceenvironmentaljusticebyprovidingopportunitiesforresidentslivinginareasimpacted
bycontaminatedlands.Traineesgainexperienceforjobsrelatedtocleanupactivitiesintheir
owncommunities.
EWDJTgrantstransformlivesbyprovidingindividualstheopportunitytogain
meaningfullongtermemploymentandalivablewageinthegrowingenvironmentalfield,said
MathyStanislaus,assistantadministratorofEPAsOfficeofLandandEmergencyManagement.
Individualscompletingtraininghaveoftenovercomeavarietyofbarrierstoemployment.
Formoreinformation,visitEPAs
BrownfieldsEnvironmentalWorkforceDevelopment
andJobTrainingGrants
webpage.

May12DEPNewsNowAvailable

TheMay12editionofDEPNewsisnowavailablefromtheDepartmentofEnvironmental
Protectionfeaturingarticleson

WolfAdministrationIncreasesZikaSurveillancePlans

KeystoneHELPHomeEnergyEfficiencyLoanProgramRelaunched

DEP,ConservationDistrictsWorkOnFarmInspectionsInChesapeakeBayWatershed

AirborneManganeseLevelsInGlasgow,BeaverCountyWarrantFurtherInvestigation

DEPIssuesAirPermitForPerdueSoybeanOilExtractionFacilityInLancaster

EPA,DEPReach$6.8MPenaltySettlementWithSchneiderElectricForSuperfundSite

CountdownIsOnToStartOfDEPMobileInspections,ElectronicPermitting

DEPReachesNearly$1MSettlementWithTalenGenerationOverMartinsCreekAshSpill

DEPOil&GasStaffParticipateInSustainableEnergyWorkshopInMongolia

DEPAnnouncesTrainingForMunicipalitiesInMS4StormwaterPermitProgram

DEPBegins2016OzoneForecastingSeason,GetEmailAlertsOfBadAirDays

YoungHarrisburgPeregrineFalconsInspected,Banded

EPARecognizesPASmallBusinessDevelopmentCenterEnvironmentalHelpProgram

DEPParticipatesInLuzerneCountyEarthDayCelebration

ClickHere
tosignupforyourowncopy.

StillTimeToApply:GoddardLeadershipLegacyInstituteStudentSummerProgram

The
GoddardLeadershipLegacyInstitute
isaccepting
applicationsforitssummerresidentialprogramforstudents
ages13to15throughJune10.
Theprogramwillbeheldatthe
IronmastersMansion
at
PineGroveFurnaceStatePark
inCumberlandCountyfrom
July1116.
Thiscooperativeeducationprogramiscoordinatedby
the
CentralPAConservancy
andPineGroveFurnaceState
Parkandthisyearisjoinedbythe
ChesapeakeBay
FoundationPA
.
ParticipantswillspendthreedaysattheIronmasters
MansionandtwodaysatCBFPAsPhilipMerrill
EnvironmentalCenterinAnnapolis,MD.
Theprogramexploresconservationleadership,environmentalandgovernmentissues,
marinebiology,waterqualityandecosystems,fieldstudies,landuse,agriculture,andforestry.
StudentswillalsobetakenonaworkboatexperienceontheChesapeakeBay.
Formoreinformationontheprogram,scholarshipsandhowtoapply,visitthe
Goddard
LeadershipLegacyInstitute
websiteorcall7172414360.
NewsClips:
PerkiomenValleyStudentsGivenAwardForSchuylkillWatershedWork
HulkActorShowsHisGreenSideToPhillyScienceStudents
AlleghenyFront:GroupTacklesEnvironmentalHazardsAtPASchools
SaleOfAsburyWoodsNatureCenterInErieDelayedByBudgetImpasse
AsburyWoodsEECenterAsksFor$1MillionInErie
AshleyFunk:ComingHomeToCoalPACountry


KettleCreekWatershedAssn.ProjectHealingWatersFlyFishingEventASuccess

The
KettleCreekWatershedAssociation
3dayProjectHealingWaterFlyFishingeventonMay
68fordisabledveteranswasasuccess.
TheAssociationwouldliketothankallthosewhohelpedinanyway,includingby
cookingandservingmeals,housingveteransandmentoringtheminflyfishing.
ThesemilitaryheroesgottoseeelkonthetripupfromRenovoviaBushDam/Kettle
CreekStateParktoCrossFork.TheywatchedthefishstockingFridaynight.Somesawabear
inthedumpsterattheCrossForkInn.
Thesewerenewexperiencesformany
ofthem
.Needlesstosaytheiractualfishing
experiencewasdestinedtobethetherapeuticsuccesswewantedandtheydeserved.Hardto
believebutthiswholeunselfishexperiencealmostleftusspeechless.

Itissomethingwewillneverforget.

The
ProjectHealingWatersFlyFishingProgram
isdesignedtoassistdisabled/recovering
militaryveteransdealwithinjuriesand/oradjusttocivilianlifewiththepeaceful,therapeutic
activityoffishing.PHWFFisdedicatedtoaidinginthephysicalandemotionalrehabilitationof
disabledmilitaryservicepersonnelthroughflyfishing.
Formoreinformationonprograms,initiativesandotherupcomingevents,visitthe
Kettle
CreekWatershedAssociation
website.TheAssociationworkstoimprovewaterqualityin
Clinton,PotterandTiogacounties.

NationalGeographicUnveilsScenic,WildDelawareRiverGeotourismInitiative

Businesses,organizations,electedofficials,the
NationalParkServiceandcommunityleaders
participatingrecentlyparticipatedintheScenic,
WildDelawareRiverGeotourisminitiativeand
introducedAmericasnewestandmost
compellingtraveldestination:the
Scenic,
WildDelawareRiver
.
TheScenic,WildDelawareRiver
regionoffersuniquecultural,recreationaland
naturalexperiencesalongtheupperandmiddleDelawareRiver.Itsattractionslaywithinafew
hoursdriveofNewYorkCity,NewarkandPhiladelphia.
Theregionisanchoredbythreeriverbasednationalparks:
UpperDelawareScenicand
RecreationalRiver
,
DelawareWaterGapNationalRecreationArea
and
MiddleDelaware
NationalScenicRiver
.
Herevisitorscanfish,swimandcanoeinarivercarvedbygeologictimeandhuman
history.Theycanconnectwithnaturebywatchingeaglessoaroverheadanddeerbrowsein
forestsandfields.
Thefamilycanenjoywaterfallsthatmaketheheartleap,learntocatchafishdownstream
andpicnicalongtheriversbanks.Visitorscandiscoverfriendlytownssteepedincultureand
historynestledamongapostcardlandscapefromabygoneera.
NationalGeographicunveiledthe
Scenic,WildDelawareRiverMapGuide
.

CreatedincoordinationwithNationalGeographicMaps,theMapGuideisaninteractive
travelwebsitefeaturingmorethan600landmarks,naturalresources,attractions,activities,
events,lodginganddiningvenuesnominatedforinclusionintheMapGuidebylocalresidents,
businesses,organizations,publicandprivatelandmanagers,educatorsandcommunity
establishments.
TheMapGuideaimstoattractanichemarketofnationalandinternationalgeotouriststo
theScenic,WildDelawareRiverregion.
Thisresourcewillservenationalandinternationaltouristsseekingculturallyand
naturallyauthenticplaces,anditwillallowvisitorsaccesstotraveladvicefromlocalresidentsin
ordertocreatetheirownitineraries.
TheannouncementincludedleadersfromtheScenic,WildDelawareRiverGeotourism
StewardshipCouncil,alongwithJamesDion,NationalGeographicMapsdirectoroftourism
programs.Speakerswillshowcasehowtousethenewtravelwebsiteandannounceprojectsfor
thecomingyear.
Businesses,sitesandattractionsthatappearinthenewMapGuidewerealsorepresented.
Formoreinformation,visittheNationalGeographics
Scenic,WildDelawareRiver
MapGuide
website.
NewsClips:
GeotouristsCanNowFindTheirWayToPoconos
TheWorldWillKnowOurWildDelawareRiver
JeffreyFeatherstone,FmrDRBCWaterExpert,Passes

KinzuaSkyWalkNamed1Of10MostBeautifulSkyWalksInTheWorld

The
KinzuaBridgeStateParkSkyWalk
inMcKeanCounty
hasbeennamedoneofthe
10mostbeautifulskywalks
in
theworldby
TheCultureTrip
websitewhichshowcasesthe
bestart,culture,foodandtravelforeverycountryinthe
world.
Measuring624feetlongand225feethigh,thesky
walkisanoldworldmarvelreinventedforthemodernera.
Featuringaglassbottomedobservationdeck,
visitorscanpeerdownatthehistoricstructuressupporting
towers.
Avisitorscenter,whichwillincludetwoclassroomsandtwoexhibitionhallsdedicated
todisplaysonengineering,energyandtheenvironment,willbeopenthisfall.
Formoreinformation,visitthe
KinzuaBridgeVisitors
webpage.
NewsClips:
KinzuaSkyWalk1Of10MostBeautifulSkywalksInTheWorld
DCNRHoldsMay17OpenHouseAtRyersonStationStatePark
PennDOTPlansNewAccessRampsToMoraineStatePark
SandWorkUnderwayAtPresqueIsleBeaches

DCNRPostsOpenDataPortalAllowingAccessToAllPublishedGISData

TheDepartmentofConservationandNaturalResourcesFridayposted
anewOpenData
webpagethatallowsaccesstoallofitspublishedGeographicInformationSystemdataover
130datasetsrelatedtostateparks,stateforests,geology,recreationalopportunitiesandmore.
InlinewithGov.TomWolfscallfortransparent,easilyaccessiblegovernment,DCNR
isofferinganOpenDatasitethatshouldproveinvaluabletothisaudienceofsciencebased,
datadrivenenvironmentalprofessionals,saidDCNRSecretaryCindyAdamsDunn.Iurge
youalltotakeadvantageofthisnewservice.
Gov.WolfsrecentannouncementthatPennsylvaniaisjoiningtheopendatamovement
andthatDCNRisattheforefrontwillleadtoexcitingopportunities,notonlyfor
environmentalprofessionals,butforthemedia,students,academia,taxpayers,businesses.The
listisendless,sheadded.
Inaddition,Dunnsaid:
ThesitewillprovidedirectaccesstoDCNRpublicGISdata,includingwellover100setsof
data
Userscanconnecttothedatafromanydeviceorplatformcreatetheirownmapsandreports
andaddtotheirownapplications
ThisisamajorincreaseinefficiencyforusandDCNRpartners/constituents,whorelyonits
information,aswellasanimprovedtoolforcollaborativework
Mostofthedataaccessedthroughthesiteisupdatedonadailybasismakingtheinformation
morereliable
ThisdataisthebasisforDCNRshighlyusedinteractivemapswhicharehighlightedand
accessibleviaamapgalleryintheOpenDatasiteand
Emphasisisoneasilyavailableandtransparentinformation.

ClickHere
togotoDCNRsOpenDataPortal.

May13DCNRResourceNewsletterNowAvailable

The
May13editionoftheResource
newsletterisnowavailablefromtheDepartmentof
ConservationandNaturalResourcesfeaturingarticleson

NationalBikeMonthShowcasesBikingOpportunitiesThroughoutPA

DCNROfferingOpenDataWebsite

JoshSwartleyNamedToHeadDelawareCanalStateParkComplex

TreePlantingInWeiserStateForestUnderscoresAbandonedMineReclamationEfforts

May16EnvironmentalIssuesForumFocusesOnChronicWastingDiseaseInDeer

Volunteers,HBGSenatorsBaseballTeamMarkArborDayWithTreePlanting

ExploreArcheryProgramsAvailableAtStateParks

GoddardStudentLeadershipLegacyInstituteLookingForApplicants

ConservationTip:ConsiderNativePlantsForLandscapingProjects

ClickHere
tosignupforyourowncopy(bottomofthepage).

GiffordPinchotsGreyTowersHeritageAssn.SummerLectureSeriesSet

ConservationandtheArtsisamajorfocus
ofthe
GreyTowersHeritageAssociation
Summer2016LectureSeriesat
Grey

TowersNationalHistoricSite
,Milford,PikeCounty.
Thelecturesarefreeandopentothepublic.
GreyTowersistheancestralhomeofGiffordPinchot,conservationistandtwoterm
GovernorofPennsylvania.
Publicprogramsaregearedtowardheighteningawarenessoftheconservation,socialand
philanthropiccontributionsthatthePinchotfamilymadetoimprovethelivesofallAmericans.
Thelectures,whichbeginat5:30pm,showarelationtothePinchotfamilyandillustrate
howwriters,paintersandphotographershadandcontinuetohaveaconnectiontonatureand
havebeenabletohelpothers,includingthePinchots,connecttoandinfluenceconservation.
AlectureonthespiritualityofGiffordPinchotutilizesexcerptsfromPinchotsdiariesto
gaininsighttohisspiritualbeliefs,includingtheafterlife.
Thelectures,whichwillbefollowedbyalightreceptionandanopportunitytomeetthe
guestspeakers,arefundedinpartwithanOrangeandRocklandCommunityInvestmentGrant.
Lecturescheduleisasfollows:
June4:TheMeansofSeeing:ConservationismandtheNatureEssaysofJohn
Burroughs.
ThePinchotsincludedBurroughswritingsintheircollectionofbooksthat
influencedtheirthinkingaboutnatureandconservation.MatthewNickel,Ph.D.,published
authorandassistantprofessorofEnglishatMisericordiaUniversity,istheguestspeakerforthis
firstinaseriesoflecturesillustratingconservationandthearts.
Thisprogramiscohostedbythe
GiffordPinchotAudubonSociety
,GreyTowers
HeritageAssociationandtheU.S.ForestService.
July16:"JervisMcEntee,thePinchotFamily,andtheHudsonRiverSchoolofArt."
ThisillustratedlecturebyKerryDeanCarso,associateprofessorofarthistoryatSUNYNew
Paltz,willdiscussthelandscapepainterJervisMcEntee(18281891)inrelationtohisfriendand
patronJamesPinchot.
AnativeofRondout(nowKingston),NewYork,McEnteewasknownforhis
introspectiveandmelancholypaintingsofAmericanscenery.Hewaspartofacircleofartists
(includingSanfordGifford,afterwhomGiffordPinchotisnamed)whorentedspaceintheTenth
StreetStudioBuildinginNewYork.
McEnteehadastrongconnectiontotheMilfordarea.HevisitedthePinchotfamilyat
GreyTowersontwooccasionsandwashimselfnamedafterJohnB.Jervis,theengineerofthe
DelawareandHudsonCanal,aswasthecityofPortJervis.
(Photo:ThisisJervisMcEnteesiconicViewontheHudsonNeartheRondout,from
thecollectionofRichardSharp.)
ThisprogramiscohostedbytheGreyTowersHeritageAssociationandtheU.S.Forest
Service.
August27:"TheSpiritualityofGiffordPinchot.
FormerGreyTowersDirectorEd
BrannoncontinueshisexplorationofGiffordPinchotsviewoftheafterlifeanddiscusseshow
Pinchotspersonaldiariesareagatewaytounderstandinghisspiritualbeliefs.
ThisprogramiscohostedbytheGreyTowersHeritageAssociationandtheU.S.Forest
Service.
September17:TheClearestWayintotheUniverse:NaturesMeaninginthe
PhotographsofAnselAdams.
GiffordPinchotwasoneofthefirstAmericanstorecognize
thatphotographycouldinfluencethenationsconservationthinking.
AnselAdamsalsowasavisionaryfigureinnaturephotographyandwilderness

preservation,andDr.BrianCarsowillpresentthisthirdinaseriesoflecturesinwhichhe
reflectsonhowAdamsfamousphotographscontinuetoinspireanappreciationfornatural
beautyandastrongconservationethic.
ThisprogramiscohostedbytheGiffordPinchotAudubonSociety,GreyTowers
HeritageAssociationandtheU.S.ForestService.
Alllecturesbeginat5:30pm.Preregistrationstronglyrecommendedasseatingis
limited.Pleasecall5702969625orsendemailto:
info@greytowers.org
.
Formoreinformationonprograms,initiativesandotherupcomingevents,visitthe
Grey
TowersHeritageAssociation
website.
ClickHere
tosignupforregularupdatesfromGrey
Towers.

GreyTowersHistoricGardenTourJune4InPikeCounty

Comeseethehistoricgardensat
GreyTowersNational
HistoricSite
,
Gov.GiffordPinchots
formerresidence,in
Milford,PikeCounty,initslatespringgloryonJune4at10
a.m.
Participantswilllearnbotanicalaswellashistorical
informationaboutthemanyperennials,floweringandwoody
shrubs,suchasthemountainlaurel,Pennsylvaniasstate
flower,thatshouldbeblooming.
Thehistoricgardensthatsurroundthestonemansionhave
providedinspirationsincetheywereplantedbyCornelia
Pinchotnearlyacenturyago.Experiencefirsthandhowthesettingcontinuestoinspire
generationsofvisitorstoday.
MeetHorticulturistElizabethHawkeattheVisitorPavilionintheGreyTowersparking
lotforthisapproximately90minutewalkingtourthroughthelandscape.
Reservationsstronglysuggestedcall5702969630forinformation.$8adults/$7seniors
exactchangepreferred.Thewalkisheldrainorshinesturdy,comfortablefootwearis
recommended.
Formoreinformationonprograms,initiativesandotherupcomingevents,visitthe
Grey
TowersNationalHistoricSite
website.
ClickHere
tosignupforregularupdatesfromGrey
Towers.

Sen.AllowayUrgesPublicToProvideOnlineFeedbackToFish&BoatCommission

Sen.RichAllowayII(RAdams)isencouraginglocalanglerstoprovidefeedbackonissues
pertainingtotheFishandBoatCommissionthroughtheuseofanewonlinepubliccomment
webpage.
Knownas
TheFishingHole
,thenewwebpageinvitesthepublictosharetheir
thoughts,questionsandconcernsregardingtheCommission,fishingandboating,andthestates
aquaticresources.
Thenewpubliccommentpageoffersagreatwayforsportsmentosharetheirstories
andexperiences,Sen.Allowaysaid.IcommendtheFishandBoatCommissionformaking
thistoolavailable,andIencourageallPennsylvaniaanglersandboatingenthusiaststoconsider

usingthisresourcetomaketheirvoicesheard.

SpringNewsletterFromPACouncilOfTroutUnlimitedNowAvailable

The
Spring2016newsletter
fromthe
PACouncilofTroutUnlimited
isnowavailablefeaturing
storieson
ColdwaterHeritageGrantAidsLittleLehighBufferProject
DelawareRiverWatershedRemainsATopPriorityForTU
TaliMacArthurNamedColdwaterHeritagePartnership&PATUProgramDirector
YoughioghenyRiverSymposiumJune2425
AnnualPATUAwardNominationsDueJuly31
ColdwaterHeritageAwards9GrantsAtKeystoneColdwaterConference
WomensInitiativeChairSeeksToJumpStartEventsAcrossTheState
ChapterNews

ClickHere
tosignupforPATUupdatesbyemail(topofpage).
ThePATroutnewsletterisavailablebypostalmailsubscriptionof$5/yearfor4issues.
Sendyournameandpostaladdressto:PATrout,POBox5148,Bellefonte,PA16823witha
checkmadeoutto:PATrout.
Formoreinformationonprograms,initiativesandupcomingevents,visitthe
PACouncil
ofTroutUnlimited
and
ColdwaterHeritagePartnership
websites.

PACouncilOfTroutUnlimitedNamesTaliMacArthurProgramManager

TaliMacArthurhasbeennamedProgramDirectorforthe
Coldwater
HeritagePartnership
and
PACouncilofTroutUnlimited
withover10years
experienceintheenvironmentalconservationandmanagementfield.
DuringacareerattheNewJerseyDepartmentofEnvironmentalProtection,
TalicoordinatedtheCleanMarinaProgram,anincentivebasedeffortto
encouragemarinaownerstoreducetheirecologicalimpactsonmarine
watersandhabitats.
Shepromotedthecreationofpublicaccesstrailsandwalkwaysalongthe
urbanHudsonRiverwaterfrontofnorthNewJersey.Shealsocoordinated
theNJVolunteerStreamMonitoringProgramandrecruitedandtrained
AmeriCorpsvolunteersasNJWatershedAmbassadorswhoworkedcloselywithlocal
communitiestomonitorstreamhealthandprovidewatershededucationandoutreachtolocal
residents.
TalispassionforoutdoorrecreationwasignitedwhileshewaslivinginSeattle,Wash.,
forgraduateschool.BikeridesandhikeswithspectacularvistasofthePacificOcean,the
Cascademountainrange,andtheGorgeatGeorgealongtheColumbiaRiverinspiredadesireto
ensurethatsuchcriticallandscapesandhabitatsareprotectedforfishandwildlifewhilestill
allowingfortheuseandenjoymentofthoseresourcesbylocalcommunities.
TalibringsthatpassiontoCHPandPATUandhopesthatherworkwillservetoconserve
andprotectPennsylvaniascoldwaterstreamsandthelegacyoffisheriestheyprovidefor
residentsandvisitorsalike.
Youcanreachherat8143595233or
ctmacarth@pa.gov
.

Formoreinformationonprograms,initiativesandupcomingevents,visitthe
PACouncil
ofTroutUnlimited
and
ColdwaterHeritagePartnership
websites.
ClickHere
tosignupforPA
TUupdatesbyemail(topofpage).
NewsClip:
TroutUnlimitedChapterReflects,GirdsForFuture

(Reprintedfromthe
Spring2016newsletter
of
PACouncilofTroutUnlimited
.
ClickHere
to
signupforPATUupdatesbyemail(topofpage).)

KimSnyderNewManagerOfDEPsWilkesBarreAbandonedMineReclamationOffice

TheDepartmentofEnvironmentalProtectionSaturdayannouncedtheappointmentofKim
SnyderasEnvironmentalProgramManagerfortheBureauofAbandonedMineReclamations
WilkesBarreOffice.
Snyderistakingoverthepositionfromtheretiring
MichaelKorb
onMay14.
HebeganhiscareerwithBAMRintheWilkesBarreDistrictOfficein1984.Hehas
workedtherefornearly32yearsandbringsawealthofknowledgeandexperiencetothe
position.
SnydergrewupintheConnellsvilleareaofwesternPennsylvaniabeforeattendingPenn
StateUniversitywherehereceivedabachelorofScienceDegreeinCivilEngineering.He
residesinWilkesBarrewithhiswifeSheryl,andthreesons,John,MatthewandTimothy.

HelpWanted:TroutUnlimitedPolicyDirectorForTheMidAtlanticRegion

TroutUnlimited
isseekingqualifiedcandidatesforthepositionofPolicyDirectorforthe
MidAtlanticRegiontoleadeffortstoprotectcoldwaterhabitatsunderpressurefromenergy
productionandtransmissionactivitiesbasedinHarrisburgortheDelawareRiverWatershed.
Responsibilitiesinclude
Organizeandleadadvocacycampaignsthatresultintheprotectionofimportantcoldwater
fisheries
Buildacoalitionofhuntersandanglersandotheradvocateswhocanbecalledupontoengage
inconservationefforts
ConductoutreachtoTUchapters,sportsmen'sorganizations,andotherstakeholdersaboutthe
potentialeffectsofenergydevelopmentandtransmissionandotherpertinentconservationissues
Manageasmallstafffocusedonfacilitatingvolunteermonitoringprograms,analyzingthreats
tocoldwaterfisheries,andengagingadvocatesintheprotectionoftrouthabitat
Fundraisetosupportongoingconservationprogramsand
Managegrantsandbudgets.
ApplicationsareduenolaterthanJune10.
ClickHere
forallthedetails.

HelpWanted:ManadaConservancyHiringPartTimeProgramCoordinator

The
ManadaConservancy
inDauphinCountyisseekingqualifiedcandidatestofillaparttime
ProgramCoordinatorpositiontoassistwiththeplanningandimplementationofupcoming
eventsandprograms.

Primaryresponsibilities:VolunteercoordinationEventplanningandexecutionProvide
assistancetotheActingExecutiveDirectorandCommitteememberswithawidevarietyof
tasksandAssistwitharangeoftasksfrompreservationworktodailyofficework,asneeded.
EssentialSkillsandQualifications:Abilitytoworkeffectivelywithawidevarietyof
individuals,staff,Boardmembers,partners,ManadamembersandvolunteersExcellentoraland
writtencommunicationskillsOrganized,selfmotivated,attentivetodetails,andresponsiveto
deadlinesAbilitytomultitaskProficiencywithMicrosoftOfficeexperienceindatabase
managementstronglypreferredWillingnesstoworkaflexibleschedule,someeveningsand
weekendsrequiredandAninterestinconservationandManadaConservancysmission.
ThedeadlineforapplicationsisMay30.Pleasesubmitresumeandcoverletterbyemail
to
office@manada.org
.

InternWanted:WesternPAConservancyWatershedConservationInternInElkCounty

The
WesternPAConservancy
isseekingcollegestudentstofillaWatershedConservationIntern
intheConservancysWatershedConservationProgramOfficeinRidgway,ElkCounty.
Applicationswillbeaccepteduntilthepositionisfilled.
ClickHere
forallthedetails.

OpportunityToBidOnDEPMineReclamationProjectInWestmorelandCounty

TheDepartmentofEnvironmentalProtection
publishednotice
intheMay14PABulletinofan
opportunitytobidonaminereclamationprojectinWestmorelandCounty.
The
DepartmentofEnvironmentalProtection
hasavailableacurrentlistof
AbandonedMineReclamation,AcidMineDrainage,SurfaceMineReclamation,CleaningOut
andPluggingOilandGasWells,WaterwaysEngineering(ConcreteDams/ConcreteLined
Channels,WallsandBoxCulverts,etc.),HazardousSiteRemediation,RemovalandDisposalof
UndergroundStorageTanks,andWetlandRestorationprojectsavailableforbidding.
ClickHere
forthelist.
The
DepartmentofConservationandNaturalResources
hasacurrentlistofbid
proposalsforconstructionprojectsinStateParksandStateForestsavailableonline.
ClickHere
forthelist.

PublicParticipationOpportunities/CalendarOfEvents

ThissectionlistsHouseandSenateCommitteemeetings,DEPandotherpublichearingsand
meetingsandotherinterestingenvironmentalevents.
NEW
meansnewfromlastweek.
[AgendaNotPosted]
meansnotpostedwithin2weeks
oftheadvisorycommitteemeeting.Gotothe
onlineCalendar
webpageforupdates.

May1315

SusquehannaGreenway
:
SusquehannaRiverSojournSayertoSugarRun
.

May14
PAResourcesCouncil

HardToRecycleCollectionEvent
.FrazerTownship,
AlleghenyCounty.

May14

FoundationforSustainableForests

LovingTheLandThroughWorkingForests
.

Corry,ErieCounty.

May14

PinchotsGreyTowersHeritageWalk
.Milford,PikeCounty.

May14

PAHorticulturalSociety

MeadowbrookFarmOpenHouse&PlantSale
.Jenkintown,
MontgomeryCounty.

May15
NEW
.
3RiversWetWeather

BetterBackyardsForHealthyStreamsLandowner
Workshop
.RossCommunityCenter,1000RossMunicipalDr.,Pittsburgh.2:00.

May15

NEW
.
ChesapeakeBayFoundationPA

StudentCanoeClassic
.
Susquehanna
Outfitters
,WormleysburgnearHarrisburg.

May16
EnvironmentalIssuesForum,
JointLegislativeAir&WaterPollutionControland
ConservationCommittee
,featuringapresentationonchronicwastingdiseaseindeer.Room
8EAEastWingCapitol.Noon.

May17

NEW
.
SenateDemocraticPolicyCommittee
holdsaroundtablediscussiononthe
publichealtheffectsofleadexposure.CHOP,KarabotsPediatricCareCenter,4865MarketSt.,
Philadelphia.11:00.

May17

AgendaPosted
.
EnvironmentalQualityBoard
meeting.DEPContact:LauraEdinger,
EnvironmentalQualityBoard,400MarketStreet,Harrisburg,PA17101,7177723277,
edinger@pa.gov
.
ProposedRulemakingIncreasingLaboratoryAccreditationFees
FinalRulemakingSettingReminingRequirements

ClickHere
foravailablehandouts

May17
AgendaPosted
.

DEPCitizensAdvisoryCouncil
.Room105RachelCarsonBuilding.
10:00.DEPContact:KatieHetheringtonCunfer,CitizensAdvisoryCouncil,P.O.Box8459,
Harrisburg,PA171058459,7177052693,
khethering@pa.gov
.
ClickHere
toregistertoattend
themeetingbywebinar.
PresentationOnImpactOfDEPBudgetCutsOnBureauOfLaboratoriesOperations
PresentationOnDEPsAlternativeFuelIncentiveGrantProgram
PresentationOnDCNRsnewRiparianForestBufferInitiativeand
UpdateOnDEPsWorkforcePlanningandCivilServiceReforms.

DEPsMayReportToCAC

ClickHere
foravailablehandouts.

May17

AgendaPosted
.
DEPClimateChangeAdvisoryCommittee
meets.16thFloor
ConferenceRoom,RachelCarsonBuilding.10:00.DEPContact:MarkBrojakowski,Bureauof
AirQuality,400MarketStreet,Harrisburg,PA17101,7177723429,
mbrojakows@pa.gov
.
(
formalnotice
)
DCNRsClimateChangePaperPresentation
DEPsLegacyWellEmissionsStudy

DiscussionOf
HouseBill2030
(SantarsieroDBucks)SettingEmissionReductionGoal
Review/DiscussionOfFinalClimateChangeActionPlan

ClickHere
foravailablehandouts.

May17
SusquehannaRiverBasinCommission
DevelopingAquiferTestingPlans&
GroundwaterWithdrawalApplicationsWorkshop
.CommissionsConferenceCenterlocatedat
4423N.FrontStreet,Harrisburg,PA.DayLong.

May18
NEW
.
SenateConsumerProtectionandProfessionalLicensureCommittee
meetsto
consider
HouseBill1241
(R.BrownRMonroe)exemptingresortsofferingwaterandsewage
servicesfromdefinitionofpublicutility(
HouseFiscalNote
andsummary).Room461.10:30.

May18
NEW
.
SenateUrbanAffairsandHousingCommittee
meetstoconsider
SenateBill
141
(GreenleafRMontgomery)amendingtheRealEstateSellerDisclosureLawtorequire
disclosureofapropertysfloodhistory(
sponsorsummary
),
SenateBill142
(GreenleafR
Montgomery)amendingtheLandlordandTenantActtorequiredisclosureofapropertysflood
history(
sponsorsummary
).RulesRoom.OfftheFloor.

May18
CANCELED.

DEPConventionalOilandGasAdvisoryCommittee
meeting.
RescheduledtoJune23atajointmeetingwiththeOilandGasTechnicalAdvisoryBoard.DEP
Contact:ToddWallace,OilandGasProgram,bycalling7177839438orsendemailto:
twallace@pa.gov
.

May1819

PAUrban&CommunityForestryCouncil

KeyToLongTermUrbanTree
SurvivalWorkshop
.Allentown.

May19

CANCELED
.
DEPOilandGasTechnicalAdvisoryBoard
meeting.Rescheduledto
June23atajointmeetingwiththeConventionalOilandGasAdvisoryCommittee.DEP
Contact:ToddWallace,OilandGasProgram,bycalling7177839438orsendemailto:
twallace@pa.gov
.

May19

NEW
.
PALeagueOfWomenVotersSustainableEnergy&JobsSymposium
.
Pittsburgh.

May19

PennStateWebinarOnMonitoringSeismicActivityInPA
.1:00.

May19

FriendsOfTheWissahickon
Lessons
BenefitsOfPark,GardenEcosystems
.
MontgomeryCounty.

May21

PAResourcesCouncil

HouseholdChemicalCollectionEvent
.CambriaCounty,
ConcurrentTechnologiesCorp.ETFFacility,Johnstown.9:00a.m.to1:00p.m.

May21

BrodheadWatershedAssociation

ThunderSwampHike
.PikeCounty.

May23

NEW
.
HouseTransportationCommittee
holdsahearingon
HouseBill1057

(EllisRButler)amendingtheAlternativeFuelsTaxActrelatingtotaxesimposedonelectric
andotheralternativefueledvehicles(
sponsorsummary
).Room205RyanBuilding.11:30.

May24
NEW
.
3RiversWetWeather

GreenInfrastructure:BuildItRightTheFirstTime
MunicipalWorkshop
.GreenTreeMunicipalBuilding,Pittsburgh.9:0011:00a.m.

May2425

PAEnvirothonCompetition
.SusquehannaUniversity,CampMountLutherin
Selinsgrove.

June1
CANCELED
.
DEPSmallWaterSystemsTechnicalAssistanceCenterBoard
meeting.
MeetingrescheduledtoJune23.DEPContact:DawnHissner,DEPBureauofSafeDrinking
Water,7177722189or
dhissner@pa.gov.

(
formalnotice
)

June3

AppalachianTrailMuseum

HallOfFameBanquet
.
AllenberryResort
,Boiling
Springs,CumberlandCounty.

June35

PAEnvironmentalCouncil

EnvironmentRide
.PhiladelphiatoBethlehembackto
Philadelphia.

June34

BrodheadWatershedAssociation

AnnualNativePlantSale
.Tannersville,Monroe
County.

June4

HawkMountainSanctuaryArtTour&Sale
.BerksCounty.

June4
SalvationArmy.
River&WindChallengeGreatAlleghenyPassageTrail
.Somerset
County.

June4

NEW
.
GreyTowersHistoricLandscapeWalk
.
GreyTowersNationalHistoricSite
.
PikeCounty

June4

NEW
.
GreyTowersHeritageAssn.SummerLectureSeries
:TheMeansOfSeeing:
ConservationismAndTheNatureEssaysOfJohnBurroughs.
GreyTowersNationalHistoric
Site
,Milford,PikeCounty.5:30p.m.

June410

18thAnnualSchuylkillRiverSojourn
.

June412

ChesapeakeBayWatershedAwarenessWeek
.

June7

DEPStorageTankAdvisoryCommittee
meeting.Room105RachelCarsonBuilding.
10:00.
DEPContact:CharlesM.Swokel,BureauofEnvironmentalCleanupandBrownfields,
400MarketStreet,Harrisburg,PA17101,7177725806or(800)4282657((800)42TANKS)
withintheCommonwealth,
cswokel@pa.gov
.
(
formalnotice
)

June9
DEPAirQualityTechnicalAdvisoryCommittee
meeting.Room105RachelCarson
Building.9:15.Contact:NancyHerb,
nherb@pa.gov
.


June1217

SusquehannaGreenway
:
SusquehannaRiverSojournLaceyvilletoShickshinny
.

June14
DEPBoardofCoalMineSafety
meeting.DEPCambriaOffice,286IndustrialPark
Rd.,Ebensburg.10:00.
DEPContact:AllisonGaida,BureauofMineSafety,Departmentof
EnvironmentalProtection,NewStantonOffice,131BroadviewRoad,NewStanton,PA15672,
7244043147,
agaida@pa.gov
.

June14or15

DEPMS4StormwaterWorkshops
.Uniontown.

June15

DelawareRiverBasinCommission
holdsabusinessmeetingonwaterwithdrawal
requestsandadoptingguidelinesforcertaindeterminationsmadeundertheCommissionswater
qualityregulations.WashingtonCrossingHistoricParkVisitorCenter,1112RiverRoad,
WashingtonCrossing,PA.10:30.
(
formalnotice
)

June15
NEW
.
DelawareRiverBasinCommission
informational
meetingonproposedchanges
toprojectreviewfeestructure
.
WashingtonCrossingHistoricParkVisitorCenter
,1112River
Road,WashingtonCrossing,BucksCounty.2:004:00p.m.

June16
DEPStateBoardforCertificationofWaterandWastewaterSystemsOperators
meeting.10thFloorConferenceRoom,RachelCarsonBuilding.10:00.DEPContact:Cheri
Sansoni,BureauofSafeDrinkingWater,OperatorCertification,400MarketStreet,Harrisburg,
PA17101,7177725158,
csansoni@pa.gov
.

June16
NEW
.
3RiversWetWeather

GreenInfrastructureGroundTruthing:Monitoring
ResultsCaseStudiesFromAcrossTheCountryMunicipalWorkshop
.GreenTreeMunicipal
Building,Pittsburgh.9:0011:00a.m.

June1719

SusquehannaGreenway
:
SusquehannaRiverSojournShickshinnyToSunbury
.

June18

PAResourcesCouncil
AlleghenyCountyReuseFest.Mt.Lebanon.

June18

BerksCountyConservationDistrict

CREPMaintenanceFieldDay
.Wernersville.

June1825

DelawareRiverSojourn
.

June20
NEW
.
DEPPublicMeeting,HearingOnChangesToAirPermitForLackawanna
EnergyCenter,LLCNaturalGasPowerPlantInJessupBorough,LackawannaCounty
.Valley
ViewHighSchool,Archbald,LackawannaCounty.6:00to9:30p.m.

June21

EnvironmentalQualityBoard
meeting.DEPContact:LauraEdinger,Environmental
QualityBoard,400MarketStreet,Harrisburg,PA17101,7177723277,
edinger@pa.gov
.

June21

DEPCitizensAdvisoryCouncil
.Room105RachelCarsonBuilding.10:00.DEP
Contact:KatieHetheringtonCunfer,CitizensAdvisoryCouncil,P.O.Box8459,Harrisburg,PA

171058459,7177052693,
khethering@pa.gov
.

June21or22

DEPMS4StormwaterWorkshops
.Scranton.

June2223

2016PAAbandonedMineReclamationConference
.IndianaUniversityofPA,
Indiana.

June23
Jointmeetingofthe
ConventionalOilandGasAdvisoryCommittee
and
OilandGas
TechnicalAdvisoryBoard
.
DEPMoshannonDistrictOffice,186EnterpriseDr.,Philipsburg.
10:00.DEPContact:ToddWallace,OilandGasProgram,bycalling7177839438orsend
emailto:
twallace@pa.gov
.

June23
DEPSmallWaterSystemsTechnicalAssistanceCenterBoard
meeting.Susquehanna
Room,Fish&BoatCommissionBuilding,1601ElmertonAve.,Harrisburg.9:00.DEPContact:
DawnHissner,DEPBureauofSafeDrinkingWater,7177722189or
dhissner@pa.gov.
(
formalnotice
)

June2425

NEW
.
YoughioghenyRiverSymposium
.
PennStateUniversityFayette
.
Uniontown.

June2429

WildlandsConservancy

LehighRiverSojourn
.

June25
PAResourcesCouncil

HardToRecycleCollectionEvent
.LTBA,AlleghenyCounty.

June28or29

DEPMS4StormwaterWorkshops
.Wyomissing.

June29

StateBoardforCertificationofSewageEnforcementOfficers
meeting.11thFloor
ConferenceRoomB,RachelCarsonBuilding.10:00.
DEPContact:KristenSzwajkowski,
BureauofPointNonPointSourceManagement,400MarketStreet,Harrisburg,PA17101,
7177722186,
kszwajkows@pa.gov
.

June30

DEPSolidWasteAdvisoryCommittee
meeting.Room105RachelCarsonBuilding.
10:00.
DEPContact:KeithAshley,BureauofWasteManagement,400MarketStreet,
Harrisburg,PA17101,7177872553,
riashley@pa.gov
.

July9

PAResourcesCouncil

HouseholdChemicalCollectionEvent
.WashingtonCounty,
WashingtonCountyFairgrounds.9:00a.m.to1:00p.m.

July16

NEW
.
GreyTowersHeritageAssn.SummerLectureSeries
:JervisMcEntee,The
PinchotFamilyAndTheHudsonRiverSchoolOfArt.
GreyTowersNationalHistoricSite
,
Milford,PikeCounty.5:30p.m.

July19or20

DEPMS4StormwaterWorkshops
.Lewisburg.

July21

AgendaPosted
.
DEPMiningandReclamationAdvisoryBoard
meeting.Cambria

DistrictMiningOffice,286IndustrialparkRoad,Ebensburg.10:00.DEPContact:Daniel
Snowden,BureauofMiningPrograms,400MarketStreet,Harrisburg,PA17101,7177875103,
dsnowden@pa.gov
.

July2529

TheSustainableEnergyFund

EnergypathRenewableEnergyConference,Student
EnergyCamps,ScienceFair
.PennStaterHotelandConferenceCenter,StateCollege.

July2729

PROPRecycling&OrganicsConference
.Harrisburg.

August13

PAResourcesCouncil

HouseholdChemicalCollectionEvent
.AlleghenyCounty,
BoyceParkFourSeasonsSkiLodgeparkinglot.9:00a.m.to1:00p.m.

August13
LacawacSanctuary50thAnniversaryFarmToPlateDinner
.WayneCounty.

August20
PAResourcesCouncil

HardToRecycleCollectionEvent
.WestMifflin,Allegheny
County.

August24

CANCELED
.DEP
ConventionalOilandGasAdvisoryCommittee
meeting.DEP
Contact:
ToddWallace,OilandGasProgram,bycalling7177839438orsendemailto:
twallace@pa.gov
.

August25

CANCELED
.DEP
OilandGasTechnicalAdvisoryBoard
meeting.DEPContact:
ToddWallace,OilandGasProgram,bycalling7177839438orsendemailto:
twallace@pa.gov
.

August27

NEW
.
GreyTowersHeritageAssn.SummerLectureSeries
:TheSpiritualityOf
GiffordPinchot.
GreyTowersNationalHistoricSite
,Milford,PikeCounty.5:30p.m.

September1518

DelawareHighlandsConservancy

WomenandTheirWoodsEducational
Retreat
.Milanville,WayneCounty.

September17

PAResourcesCouncil

HouseholdChemicalCollectionEvent
.Allegheny
County,SouthParkWavePoolparkinglot.9:00a.m.to1:00p.m.

September17

NEW
.
GreyTowersHeritageAssn.SummerLectureSeries
:TheClearestWay
IntoTheUniverse:NaturesMeaningInThePhotographsOfAnselAdams.
GreyTowers
NationalHistoricSite
,Milford,PikeCounty.5:30p.m.

September22
DEPRecyclingFundAdvisoryCommittee
meeting.Room105RachelCarson
Building.10:00.DEPContact:KeithAshley,BureauofWasteManagement,400MarketStreet,
Harrisburg,PA17101,7177872553,
riashley@pa.gov
.

September22
PennStateExtension
DiveDeeperIIIWaterEducatorSummit
.TheCentral
Hotel&ConferenceCenter,Harrisburg.

October1
PAResourcesCouncil

HardToRecycleCollectionEvent
.RobinsonTownship,
AlleghenyCounty.

October7

DEPLowLevelRadioactiveWasteAdvisoryCommittee
meeting.Room105
RachelCarsonBuilding.10:00.DEPContact:RichJanati,BureauofRadiationProtection,400
MarketStreet,Harrisburg,PA17101,7177872147,
rjanati@pa.gov
.

October8

PAResourcesCouncil

HouseholdChemicalCollectionEvent
.BeaverCounty,
BradysRunParkRecyclingCenter.9:00a.m.to1:00p.m.

October2628

PennsylvaniaBrownfieldsConference
.LancasterConventionCenter,
Lancaster.

VisitDEPs
PublicParticipationCenter
forpublicparticipationopportunities.
ClickHere
tosign
upforDEPNewsabiweeklynewsletterfromtheDepartment.

SignUpForDEPseNotice:
DidyouknowDEPcansendyouemailnoticesofpermit
applicationssubmittedinyourcommunity?Noticeofnewtechnicalguidancedocumentsand
regulations?AllthroughitseNoticesystem.
ClickHere
tosignup.

DEPRegulationsInProcess
ProposedRegulationsOpenForComment
DEPwebpage
SubmitCommentsonProposalsThrough
DEPseCommentSystem
ProposedRegulationsWithClosedCommentPeriods
DEPwebpage
RecentlyFinalizedRegulations
DEPwebpage
DEPRegulatoryUpdate
DEPwebpage
Feb.27DEPRegulatoryAgenda
PABulletin,page1123

DEPTechnicalGuidanceInProcess
DraftTechnicalGuidanceDocuments
DEPwebpage
TechnicalGuidanceCommentDeadlines
DEPwebpage
SubmitCommentsonProposalsThrough
DEPseCommentSystem
RecentlyClosedCommentPeriodsForTechnicalGuidance
DEPwebpage
TechnicalGuidanceRecentlyFinalized
DEPwebpage
CopiesofFinalTechnicalGuidance
DEPwebpage
DEPNonRegulatory/TechnicalGuidanceDocumentsAgenda(Feb.1,2016)
DEPwebpage

OtherDEPProposalsForPublicReview
OtherProposalsOpenForPublicComment
DEPwebpage
SubmitCommentsonProposalsThrough
DEPseCommentSystem
RecentlyClosedCommentPeriodsForOtherProposals
DEPwebpage
OtherProposalsRecentlyFinalized
DEPwebpage

DEPFacebookPage

DEPTwitterFeed

DEPYouTubeChannel

ClickHere
forlinkstoDEPsAdvisoryCommitteewebpages.

DEPCalendarofEvents

DCNRCalendarofEvents

Note:
TheEnvironmentalEducationWorkshopCalendarisnolongeravailablefromthePA
CenterforEnvironmentalEducationbecausefundingfortheCenterwaseliminatedintheFY
201112statebudget.ThePCEEwebsitewasalsoshutdown,butsomecontentwasmovedto
the
PAAssociationofEnvironmentalEducators'
website.

SenateCommitteeSchedule

HouseCommitteeSchedule

Youcanwatchthe
SenateFloorSession
and
HouseFloorSession
liveonline.

AddGreenWorksInPAToYourGoogle+Circle

Grants&Awards

Thissectiongivesyouaheadsuponupcomingdeadlinesforawardsandgrantsandother
recognitionprograms.
NEW
meansnewfromlastweek.

May14

VoteInChesapeakeBayFoundationPhotoContest
May16

EPAPresidentialEnvironmentalEducationInnovationAward
May16

USDAWetlandReserveEnhancementProgram
May19

DCNRVolunteerFireCompanyGrants
May19

SchuylkillHighlandsConservationLandscapeMiniGrantProgram
May31

$2KScholarshipsByNationalAssn.OfAbandonedMineLandPrograms
May31

PAWasteWatcherAwardsProgram
May31

DominionFoundationHigherEducation,K12EducationGrants
June1

PAHorticulturalSocietyTreeOfTheYearContest
June3

GreatAmericanCleanupofPAVideoContest
June15

PAHorticulturalSocietyGardening&GreeningContest
June17
SinnemahoningCreekWatershedGrants
June30

SusquehannaGreenwayPartnershipPhotoContest
June30
CFAAct13WatershedRestorationGrants
June30

CFAAct13AbandonedMineDrainageAbatementAndTreatmentGrants
June30

CFAAct13OrphanOrAbandonedWellPluggingGrantProgram
June30
CFAAct13BaselineWaterQualityDataGrantProgram
June30

CFAAct13SewageFacilitiesGrantProgram
June30

CFAAct13FloodMitigationGrantProgram
June30

CFAAct13Greenways,TrailsAndRecreationGrantProgram
June30
SusquehannaGreenwaysPartnershipPhotoContest
June30

EnergypathConferenceStudent/EducatorScholarships
July
CFARenewableEnergyGeothermalAndWindGrants
July

CFAHighPerformanceBuildingGrants
July8

ARIPPAAbandonedMineReclamationGrants

July8

PROPRecyclingFilmFestival
September
CFARenewableEnergyGeothermalAndWindGrants
September

CFAHighPerformanceBuildingGrants
October31
PAResourcesCouncilLensOnLitterPhotoContest
December31

DEPAlternativeFuelsIncentiveGrants

Visitthe
DEPGrant,LoanandRebatePrograms
webpageformoreideasonhowtoget
financialassistanceforenvironmentalprojects.

VisittheDCNR
ApplyforGrants
webpageforalistingoffinancialassistanceavailablefrom
DCNR.

AddGreenWorksInPAToYourGoogle+Circle

EnvironmentalNewsClipsAllTopics

HereareNewsClipsfromaroundthestateonallenvironmentaltopics,includingGeneral
Environment,Budget,MarcellusShale,WatershedProtectionandmuchmore.

ThelatestenvironmentalNewsClipsandnewsisavailableatthe
PAEnvironmentDigestDaily
Blog
,
TwitterFeed
and
addustoyour
Google+Circle
.

NewPoll:Clinton,TrumpNeckAndNeckInPA
Clinton,TrumpDeadlockedInPAPollFinds
TrumpPromisesToEliminate90%OfCoalLaws
ToomeyHoldOnU.S.SenateRaceTenuous
PollShowsTightRaceForU.S.Senate
Air
ManganeseLevelsHigherThanNormalInBeaverCountyBorough
AirQualityImprovesInFranklinCounty
WhatPerdueSoybeanPlantMeansForYorkCounty
LocalOfficialSaysOppositionToSoybeanPlantFading
Editorial:BalancingBusiness,EnvironmentalHealth
Editorial:KidsAreShownToSufferFromBadAirQuality
GetReadyForMoreDetailedLookAtPittsburghsAirPollution
TrumpPromisesToEliminate90%OfCoalLaws
HazardousWasteIncineratorProposalInWorksInSusquehannaCounty
EmmausResidentsExposedToUnsafeLevelOfAirCarcinogen
AlternativeFuels
SolarActivistsStepUpDemandsOnPECOEnergy
DemonstratorsAgainPressurePECOOnSolarPower
GEClosingBlawnoxSolarComponentsPlant
InvestmentsInRenewableEnergyOnTheRise
Awards&Recognition
PerkiomenValleyStudentsGivenAwardForSchuylkillWatershedWork

PhiladelphiaWaterCelebrates5YearsOfGreenCity,CleanWaters
KinzuaSkyWalk1Of10MostBeautifulSkywalksInTheWorld
Biodiversity/InvasiveSpecies
KeepingMicrobes,ZebraMusselsAway
PA2ndOnlyToNYInNumberOfInvasiveForestPests
GoNativeAtKingsGasEnvironmentalEdCenter
PurpleBlossomsHeraldSpringAtKingsGapEnvironmentalCenter
Budget
Bumsted:RevivedShaleTaxCouldHaveLegs
Swift:BudgetDeadlineNearingFast
Micek:ThereWillBeABudgetOnGovernorsDeskByJune30
JohnBaer:Hey,ReadyForAnotherStateBudgetBattle?
SaleOfAsburyWoodsNatureCenterInErieDelayedByBudgetImpasse
Editorial:PreservePricelessNationalParksByIncreasingFunding
Editorial:CrumblingInfrastructureNotAClicheInPA
ChesapeakeBay
ChesapeakeBayJournal:DespiteProgress,StatesToFallShortOfBayCleanupTargets
PAOfficialsCollaborateOnChesapeakeBayWatershedFarmInspections
Crable:FarmInspectionsToBeginSoonAsPartOfChesapeakeBayReboot
OpEd:BenefitsOfSoilHealthExtendBeyondFarm
PAPutsItsLaggingChesapeakeBayCleanupOnPollutionDiet
ChesapeakeBayCommissionQuietlyPushedEnvironmentalAgendaFor35Years
Climate
EPAReleasesRulesToCurbMethaneLeaksFromOil&GasIndustry
U.S.ProposesToCutOil&GasMethaneEmissionsByNearlyHalf
EPAFinalizesNewMethaneStandardsForOil&GasIndustry
U.S.ProposesToCutOil&GasMethaneEmissionsByNearlyHalf
Editorial:NewMethaneRegulationClearsAir
IsItTimeForClimateActivistsToChangeTactics?
Editorial:ClimateThugs,ColludingAGs
AshleyFunk:ComingHomeToCoalPACountry
PA2ndOnlyToNYInNumberOfInvasiveForestPests
ComplianceAction
DEP:HuberBreakerOwnersDidNotFollowComplianceAgreement
DelawareRiver
TheWorldWillKnowOurWildDelawareRiver
GeotouristsCanNowFindTheirWayToPoconos
JeffreyFeatherstone,FmrDRBCWaterExpert,Passes
DrinkingWater
PerkiomenValleyStudentsGivenAwardForSchuylkillWatershedWork
Editorial:CleanWaterWillStaySoWithPublicVigilance
NestleWaterPlansToDonate$205/DayToEldredTwp
HowHarrisburgTookItsTestingOfChildrenForLeadToNextLevel
Drought
SickOfRain?WeMightNeedMore

EconomicDevelopment
ShellToMoveForwardWithHighwayRelocationForCrackerPlant
Education
PerkiomenValleyStudentsGivenAwardForSchuylkillWatershedWork
HulkActorShowsHisGreenSideToPhillyScienceStudents
AlleghenyFront:GroupTacklesEnvironmentalHazardsAtPASchools
SaleOfAsburyWoodsNatureCenterInErieDelayedByBudgetImpasse
AsburyWoodsEECenterAsksFor$1MillionInErie
AshleyFunk:ComingHomeToCoalPACountry
EmergencyResponse
FirstRespondersTrainForHazardousSpills,DerailmentsInHarrisburg
Energy
PowerFailureTriggersEmergencyShutdownAtBerwickNuclearPlant
BethlehemTurbineProjectFacesHeadwindInPoconos
Editorial:RenewablesHereToStay
2MoreNaturalGasFiredPowerPlantsAdvancingInPA
NaturalGasComesTo600HomesInNorthumberlandCounty
Electric,GasUtilitiesLeaningOnRateIncreasesToFundProjects
PECOCombatsPeopleStealingPower
PUCSetsMay25HearingOnColumbiaGasRates
FormerUGIEmployeechargedWithHackingCompanysComputers
ConsolShifted,TurnedAsMarketsChangedAroundIt
TrumpPromisesToEliminate90%OfCoalLaws
EnergyConservation
StateRevivesEnergyEfficientHomeLoanProgram
StateRevivesEnergyEfficiencyLoansForHomeowners
HarrisburgCity:PPLFailsToAccountForNewLEDLights
AsSpeedLimitsRiseInPA,FuelEconomyFalls
EnvironmentalHeritage
WBMarkerWillNoteFoundingOfAmericanInstituteOfMiningEngineers
Farming
PAOfficialsCollaborateOnChesapeakeBayWatershedFarmInspections
Crable:FarmInspectionsToBeginSoonAsPartOfChesapeakeBayReboot
ExpertOnFarmToTableWeighsIn
Flooding
JohnstownFloodNationalMuseumAboutMissingAndMissed
Forests
PA2ndOnlyToNYInNumberOfInvasiveForestPests
Flight93TreeSeedlingsPlantingALivingTribute
SmokeCoveringPartsOfLackawannaCountyFromBrushFire
BurnBanStillInEffectInSchuylkillCounty
GreenBuildings/Sustainability
PittsburghShakesOffTheRust
CMU:MakeBuildingsMoreSustainable,PutWaterPipesOnOutside
GreenInfrastructure

ProjectAimsToSlowInnerCityErieStormwaterRunoff
HarvestingRainProvidesEnvironmental,EconomicBenefitsInErie
PhiladelphiaWaterCelebrates5YearsOfGreenCity,CleanWaters
GrowingGreener
GrowingGreenerFundingInBradford,Lycoming,UnionCounties
4GrowingGreenerGrantsAwardedInAllegheny,Beaver,LawrenceCounties
CochrantonAwarded$20KGrowingGreenerStormwaterGrant
LandUsePlanning
Wolf:PlayingFieldTiltedAgainstCities
LitterCleanup/IllegalDumping
PRCHoldingHardToRecycleEventToHelpGetRidOfOldTVs
AlleghenyReservoirCleanupMay14
MoreThan50VolunteersCleanUpSouthScranton
ErieCollects1,664TonsDuringSpringCleanup
ErieCountyPartnersWithKeepAmericaBeautiful
Oil&Gas
Bumsted:RevivedShaleTaxCouldHaveLegs
OpEd:ProtectPublicFromEnvironmentalHazardsOfDrilling,AdoptDEPRegulations
2MoreNaturalGasFiredPowerPlantsAdvancingInPA
NaturalGasComesTo600HomesInNorthumberlandCounty
EPAReleasesRulesToCurbMethaneLeaksFromOil&GasIndustry
U.S.ProposesToCutOil&GasMethaneEmissionsByNearlyHalf
EPAFinalizesNewMethaneStandardsForOil&GasIndustry
U.S.ProposesToCutOil&GasMethaneEmissionsByNearlyHalf
Editorial:NewMethaneRegulationClearsAir
DrillingWastewaterCanTaintSurfaceWater,MethaneEmissionsNeedControls
DrillingCommunitiesReapBenefitsOfHousingGrants
Letter:NotableVoicesCallingForDrillingMoratorium
LawmakersFunnelAnother$150KToDrillingIndustryResearchGroup
FireSafetyTrainingHeldOnNaturalGasVehiclesInWashingtonCounty
FirstRespondersTrainForHazardousSpills,DerailmentsInHarrisburg
RangeResourcesGoodNeighborAwardsASuccessInWashingtonCounty
OpEd:ObamaSidingWithGreenOverJobCreation,Again
ConsolShifted,TurnedAsMarketsChangedAroundIt
PennVirginiaDrillingCompanyFilesForBankruptcy
ShellToMoveForwardWithHighwayRelocationForCrackerPlant
ProtestorsRallyAgainstNavyYardOilPlan
PittsburghAreaGasolineHits$2.40/Gallon
AsSpeedLimitsRiseInPA,FuelEconomyFalls
Pipelines
WeldCoatingBeingLookedAtAsCauseOfPipelineExplosion
WestmorelandResidentsWonderWhyPipelinesDontHaveAutomaticShutoffs
AlleghenyFront:PipelineOwnerSorryForExplosion
WestmorelandResidentsWorriedAboutEffectsOfPipelineExplosion
CouldFasterGasFlowHaveContributedToWestmorelandPipelineExplosion?

Crable:AnotherGasPipelinePlannedForLancasterCounty
AtlanticSunrisePipelineOpponentsFileLawsuit,ThreateningProjectsMomentum
InvokingEminentDomain,PipelinesRunRoughshodOverLandowners
HumanPipelineFormedAtPhiladelphiaNaturalGasSummit
Editorial:CrumblingInfrastructureNotAClicheInPA
Recreation
BikeCountToAnalyzeImpactOfAddedLanes
Bike,PedestrianFriendlinessBigFactorsInHomeMarketability
PennDOTBike/PedestrianCoordinatorVisitsPittsburgh
Editorial:BikeShareProgramNeedstoShiftIntoHigherGear
DockToLockRaceAttractsCrowdOnGreeneRiverTrail
GreenSpace,TrailLinkPlannedForSouthSideTerminal
KinzuaSkyWalk1Of10MostBeautifulSkywalksInTheWorld
DCNRHoldsMay17OpenHouseAtRyersonStationStatePark
PennDOTPlansNewAccessRampsToMoraineStatePark
SandWorkUnderwayAtPresqueIsleBeaches
$50KWorthOfArcheryAtPAStateParks
GeotouristsCanNowFindTheirWayToPoconos
TheWorldWillKnowOurWildDelawareRiver
CedarCreekParkExpandsBy28AcresInWestmoreland
Editorial:ThinkCarefullyWhenProtestingAgainstHoltwoodPark
Editorial:PreservePricelessNationalParksByIncreasingFunding
BlackBearSpottedInFairmountParkPhiladelphia
Recycling/Waste
HazardousWasteIncineratorProposalInWorksInSusquehannaCounty
EmmausResidentsExposedToUnsafeLevelOfAirCarcinogen
RenewableEnergy
SolarActivistsStepUpDemandsOnPECOEnergy
DemonstratorsAgainPressurePECOOnSolarPower
ResidentsPackMeetingOnBethlehemsWindTurbinePlan
BethlehemTurbineProjectFacesHeadwindInPoconos
GEClosingBlawnoxSolarComponentsPlant
InvestmentsInRenewableEnergyOnTheRise
Editorial:RenewablesHereToStay
SchuylkillRiver
PerkiomenValleyStudentsGivenAwardForSchuylkillWatershedWork
RowersWorriedAboutSchuylkillRiverSediment
AsAnnualDadVailBegins,SchuylkillDredgingIssuesLooms
SchuylkillRiverInDireStraitsAfterDredgingIsDelayed
Stormwater
Swift:SenateMovesOnRainFeeBill
ProjectAimsToSlowInnerCityErieStormwaterRunoff
HarvestingRainProvidesEnvironmental,EconomicBenefitsInErie
CochrantonAwarded$20KGrowingGreenerStormwaterGrant
SuperfundSite

EmmausResidentsExposedToUnsafeLevelOfAirCarcinogen
WastewaterFacilities
LehighAuthorityOKsFirstProjectToAddressSewerOverflows
WatershedProtection
Swift:SenateMovesOnRainFeeBill
GrowingGreenerFundingInBradford,Lycoming,UnionCounties
4GrowingGreenerGrantsAwardedInAllegheny,Beaver,LawrenceCounties
CochrantonAwarded$20KGrowingGreenerStormwaterGrant
Editorial:CleanWaterWillStaySoWithPublicVigilance
LehighAuthorityOKsFirstProjectToAddressSewerOverflows
SickOfRain?WeMightNeedMore
DelawareRiverkeeperMay6RiverWatchVideoReport
PoolEyedInMontcoCreekDumpingProbe
SavingWhiteClayCreek:TheChargeOfTheDorothyMillerBrigade
LatestFromTheChesapeakeBayJournal
ClickHere
tosubscribetotheChesapeakeBayJournal
Wildlife
HarrisburgsNewestPeregrineFalconsGetBanded
PittsburghFalconFeedsSomeOfYoungTo1OfItsChicks
PittsburghFalconFeedsYoungTo4thChickAddingToQueasyNestCamSeason
AudubonSocietysRaptorProgramTeachesAboutBirdsRoleInEnvironment
HarrisburgHomeOfEndangeredYellowCrownedNightHerons
Schneck:HowManyCommonBirdEggsHaveYouSeen?
KeepingMicrobes,ZebraMusselsAway
TroutUnlimitedChapterReflects,GirdsForFuture
WorkCompletedOnAsianCarpBarrierToGreatLakes
Schneck:#OfDeerWithChronicWastingDiseaseDoublesIn2015
GameCommissionCelebratesSafetyInTheWoods
GameCommissionWarnsOfSpikesOnGameLandsTrail
BlackBearSpottedInFairmountParkPhiladelphia
ZikaVirus
WolfRollsOutZikaPlanForPennsylvania
AsWeatherWarms,PAPreparesForZikaVirus
PAPreparesStrategyToFightZikaVirusThisSummer
LancasterGettingSpecialFocusInPAsZikaPlan
WhatIsZikaRiskInAdams,YorkCounties?
ZikaUpdate:ScientistsStillLearningAboutStrangeVirus
Other
Flight93TreeSeedlingsPlantingALivingTribute
VolunteersSetToPlantMoreTreesAtFlight93Memorial
DelcoNativeSusanPhillipsMakesAMarkOnTheEnvironment

ClickHereForThisWeek'sAlleghenyFrontRadioProgram

Regulations,TechnicalGuidance&Permits


Nonewregulationswerepublishedthisweek.
PennsylvaniaBulletinMay14,2016

SignUpForDEPseNotice:
DidyouknowDEPcansendyouemailnoticesofpermit
applicationssubmittedinyourcommunity?Noticeofnewtechnicalguidancedocumentsand
regulations?AllthroughitseNoticesystem.
ClickHere
tosignup.

DEPRegulationsInProcess
ProposedRegulationsOpenForComment
DEPwebpage
SubmitCommentsonProposalsThrough
DEPseCommentSystem
ProposedRegulationsWithClosedCommentPeriods
DEPwebpage
RecentlyFinalizedRegulations
DEPwebpage
DEPRegulatoryUpdate
DEPwebpage
Feb.27DEPRegulatoryAgenda
PABulletin,page1123

TechnicalGuidance&Permits

TheDepartmentofEnvironmentalProtection
publishedanoticeintheMay14PABulletin
outliningatransitionpolicyforenforcementoftheJuly1deadlineforsellingheatingoilthat
meetsa500partspermillionsulfurcontentstandard(
25Pa.CodeSection123.22
).
Thetransitionpolicyisinresponsetounprecedentedheatingoilinventoriesremaining
fromanunusuallywarmwinter.Otherstateshavesimilartransitionperiods.
ThePAPetroleumAssociation,representingheatingoildistributors,hadproposeda15
ppmultralowsulfurstandardlikeotherneighboringstateshaveadoptedtohelpreduce
greenhousegasemissions,butthatwasnotadoptedin2013.

DEPpublishednoticeintheMay14PABulletinofchangestothelistofcompaniescertifiedto
performradonrelatedactivitiesinPennsylvania
(
PABulletin,page2472
)
.

DEPTechnicalGuidanceInProcess
DraftTechnicalGuidanceDocuments
DEPwebpage
TechnicalGuidanceCommentDeadlines
DEPwebpage
SubmitCommentsonProposalsThrough
DEPseCommentSystem
RecentlyClosedCommentPeriodsForTechnicalGuidance
DEPwebpage
TechnicalGuidanceRecentlyFinalized
DEPwebpage
CopiesofFinalTechnicalGuidance
DEPwebpage
DEPNonRegulatory/TechnicalGuidanceDocumentsAgenda(Feb.1,2016)
DEPwebpage

OtherDEPProposalsForPublicReview
OtherProposalsOpenForPublicComment
DEPwebpage
SubmitCommentsonProposalsThrough
DEPseCommentSystem
RecentlyClosedCommentPeriodsForOtherProposals
DEPwebpage
OtherProposalsRecentlyFinalized
DEPwebpage

VisitDEPs
PublicParticipationCenter
forpublicparticipationopportunities.
ClickHere
tosign

upforDEPNewsabiweeklynewsletterfromtheDepartment.

DEPFacebookPage

DEPTwitterFeed

DEPYouTubeChannel

ClickHere
forlinkstoDEPsAdvisoryCommitteewebpages.

DEPCalendarofEvents

DCNRCalendarofEvents

AddGreenWorksInPAToYourGoogle+Circle

CLICKHEREToPrintEntirePAEnvironmentDigest

CLICKHERE
toPrintTheEntirePAEnvironmentDigest.

StoriesInvited

Sendyourstories,photosandlinkstovideosaboutyourproject,environmentalissuesor
programsforpublicationinthe
PAEnvironmentDigest
to:
DHess@CrisciAssociates.com
.

PAEnvironmentDigest
iseditedbyDavidE.Hess,formerSecretaryPennsylvaniaDepartment
ofEnvironmentalProtection,andispublishedasaserviceof
CrisciAssociates
,a
HarrisburgbasedgovernmentandpublicaffairsfirmwhoseclientsincludeFortune500
companiesandnonprofitorganizations.

Didyouknowyoucansearch10yearsofbackissuesofthePAEnvironmentDigestondozens
oftopics,bycountyandonanykeywordyouchoose?
Justclickonthesearchpage
.

PAEnvironmentDigest
weeklywasthewinnerofthePAAssociationofEnvironmental
Educators'
2009BusinessPartneroftheYearAward
.

SupportingMemberPAOutdoorWritersAssn./PATroutUnlimited

PAEnvironmentDigest
isasupportingmemberofthe
PennsylvaniaOutdoorWriters
Association
,
PennsylvaniaCouncilTroutUnlimited
andthe
DocFritcheyChapterTrout
Unlimited
.