PA Environment Digest

An Update On Environmental Issues In PA

Edited By: David E. Hess, Crisci Associates
Winner 2009 PAEE Business Partner Of The Year Award Harrisburg, Pa State Budget Deadline Less Than 20 Voting Days Away The House has 19 and the Senate 17 voting days scheduled between now and the July 1 deadline to have a state budget and we have already seen lots of discussion in the media between Senate and House Republicans and the Governor on spending levels. With a bipartisan vote on their budget last week, Senate Republicans staked out the higher ground on rolling back a little more than $500 million in spending cuts Gov. Corbett had suggested, including $19 million for the Keystone Fund. Both Gov. Corbett and House Majority Leader Mike Turzai (R-Allegheny) have called the Senate $27.6 billion General Fund budget number the ceiling and Gov. Corbett's proposed $27.1 billion budget from February the floor on spending. Gov. Corbett this week was sticking to his no-tax, austerity message in appearances in Philadelphia and Allentown, but hinted he would consider higher spending than his own budget proposed. In Philadelphia he asked a Chamber of Commerce crowd to raise their hands if they thought the economy was turning around and none did, making his point obviously that he continues to feel state revenues will be shaky. Even with current state revenues not as bad as projected, Gov. Corbett again raised the issue of how the state was going to deal with state worker and school employee unfunded pension liabilities. Legislators are also pushing the Administration to do something serious on highway and transit funding. House Republicans have said they want to get the state budget done by June 15, but so far they are behind where they were last year in moving budget bills. In 2011 the House passed its version of the budget by May 9. This year the Senate took the early honors. With more than $500 million separating the floor and ceiling of negotiations, there's lots more to talk about. 2002 Environmental High Water Mark Funding for environmental programs in the last 10 years through each of the 8 years of the Rendell and the now two year old Corbett Administrations has been cut by over $1.8 billion from the high water mark achieved during the Ridge-Schweiker Administrations. DEP's authorized complement is now 2,759, down from 2,770 last year and 3,211 in FY 2002-03, and DCNR's is now 1,375, down from 1,389 last year and 1,391 in FY 2002-03. NewsClips: Budget Restoration Debate Takes Off May 21, 2012

Heated Negotiations Expected Over State Budget House To Take On Senate's Budget Plan House Democrats File Brief In Impact Fee Lawsuit Op-Ed: We're About To Close Rachel Carson Building Library Editorial: Corbett Must Realize Some Cuts Go Too Far Lancaster Groups Want Corbett To Restore Farmland Preservation Business Leaders Push Corbett For Transportation Fixes Corbett Open To Spending More With Protesters Near, Corbett Sticks To Budget Message Protesters Denounce Corbett's Opera Achievement Award Did You Know You Can Search 7+ Years Of Digests On Any Topic? Did you know you can search 7 years of back issues of the PA Environment Digest on dozens of topics, by county and on any key word you choose. Just click on the search page. Also take advantage of these related services from Crisci Associates-PA Environment Digest Twitter Feed: On Twitter, sign up to receive instant updates from: PAEnviroDigest. PA Environment Daily Blog: provides daily environmental NewsClips and significant stories and announcements on environmental topics in Pennsylvania of immediate value. Sign up and receive as they are posted updates through your favorite RSS reader. You can also sign up for a once daily email alerting you to new items posted on this blog. PA Environment Digest Video Blog: showcases original and published videos from environmental groups and agencies around the state. Sign up to receive as they are posted updates through your favorite RSS read. You can also sign up for a once daily email alerting you to new items posted on this blog. PA Capitol Digest Daily Blog to get updates every day on Pennsylvania State Government, including NewsClips, coverage of key press conferences and more. Sign up and receive as they are posted updates through your favorite RSS reader. You can also sign up for a once daily email alerting you to new items posted on this blog. PA Capitol Digest Twitter Feed: Don't forget to sign up to receive the PA Capitol Digest Twitter feed to get instant updates on other news from in and around the Pennsylvania State Capitol. Senate/House Agenda/Session Schedule/Bills Introduced Here are the Senate and House Calendars and Committee meetings showing bills of interest as well as a list of new environmental bills introduced--

Session Schedule Here is the latest voting session schedule for the Senate and House-Senate May 21, 22, 23 June 4, 5, 6, 11, 12, 13, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29 House May 21, 22, 23 June 4, 5, 6, 11, 12, 13, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29 Bill Calendars House (May 21): House Bill 1904 (Rapp-R-Forrest) limiting the condemnation of land for the Allegheny National Forest; House Resolution 438 (Cruz-D-Philadelphia) urging Philadelphia to establish a waste tire removal and disposal program; House Resolution 423 (Petri-R-Bucks) directing the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to study state funding formulas and how they impact counties; House Resolution 505 (Preston-D-Allegheny) disapproving the PUC regulation on natural gas competition. <> Click Here for full House Bill Calendar. Senate (May 21): Senate Bill 1398 (Yudichak-D-Luzerne) providing for an extension of the Underground Storage Tank Cleanup Program; Senate Bill 1480 (Corman-R-Centre) providing for the 2012-13 Capital Budget. House Bill 1913 (Culver-R-Northumberland) authorizing counties and school district to provide property tax abatement for properties damaged in September's flooding. <> Click Here for full Senate Bill Calendar. Committees Note: The Senate and House are on break until April 30. House: the Environmental Resources and Energy Committee meets to consider House Bill 1775 (George-D-Clearfield) amending the Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards to address ownership of alternative energy credits, House Bill 1659 (Pyle-R-Armstrong) providing for a uniform permit review and consideration process within DEP, House Bill 2359 (Causer-RCameron) further providing for stream clearance of flood debris, Senate Bill 367 (D.White-RIndiana) authorizing the sale and development of mineral rights under other state-owned land and allocating the funding from the development; the Finance Committee meets to consider Senate Bill 1150 (Smucker-R-Lancaster) providing for historic preservation tax credits; the Tourism and Recreational Development Committee holds an informational meeting on House Bill 1495 (Moul-R-Adams) further providing for the liability of landowners opening their property for recreation; the Local Government Committee meets to consider House Bill 2223 (Gingrich-R-Lebanon) further providing for the preservation of open space by local governments. <> Click Here for full House Committee Schedule.

Senate: the Environmental Resources and Energy Committee meets to consider Senate Bill 1346 (Kasunic-D-Somerset) encouraging the use of mine drainage water for fracking and other purposes, House Bill 1934 (Keller-R-Snyder) amending Act 101 to exclude the populations of prisons and other state facilities in calculating mandated recycling communities; the Game and Fisheries Committee holds a hearing on ongoing problems with the Susquehanna River and a case for impairment by the Fish & Boat Commission; the Labor and Industry Committee meets to consider House Bill 728 (Barrar-R-Bucks) setting new standards for emergency shut-off values for facilities dispensing flammable liquids. <> Click Here for full Senate Committee Schedule. Bills Introduced The following bills of interest were introduced this week-Oil & Gas Prices: House Resolution 728 (Hornaman-D-Erie) urging Congress to utilize findings compiled by the Oil and Gas Price Fraud Working Group to find a way to reduce the price of gasoline and diesel fuel in the U.S. Drilling Health Registry: Senate Bill 1519 (Yudichak-D-Luzerne) requiring $2 million of the drilling impact fee to be used by the Department of Health for the establishment of a populationbased health registry.

News From The Capitol

House Environmental Committee To Consider AEPS, Stream Clearance, Other Bills The House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee is scheduled to meet May 23 to consider legislation amending the Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards, create a uniform DEP permit review process, provide for streamline stream clearance approvals and authorize mineral rights development on other state lands. The bills include: -- House Bill 1775 (George-D-Clearfield) amending the Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards to address ownership of alternative energy credits; -- House Bill 1659 (Pyle-R-Armstrong) providing for a uniform permit review and consideration process within DEP; -- House Bill 2359 (Causer-R-Cameron) further providing for stream clearance of flood debris; and -- Senate Bill 367 (D.White-R-Indiana) authorizing the sale and development of mineral rights under other state-owned land and allocating the funding from the development. The meeting will be held in Room G-50 Irvis Building at 9:00. Rep. Scott Hutchinson (R-Venango) serves as Majority Chair and Rep. Bud George (DClearfield) serves as Minority Chair. Senate Environmental Committee To Consider Mine Water Reuse, Recycling Bills

The Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee is scheduled to meet on May 23 to consider legislation encouraging the reuse of mine drainage water in fracking operations and further defining mandated recycling communities. The bills include: -- Senate Bill 1346 (Kasunic-D-Somerset) encouraging the use of mine drainage water for fracking and other purposes; and -- House Bill 1934 (Keller-R-Snyder) amending Act 101 to exclude the populations of prisons and other state facilities in calculating mandated recycling communities. The meeting will be held in Room 8E-A East Wing at 10:30 a.m. Sen. Mary Jo White (R-Venango) serves as the Majority Chair and Sen. John Yudichak (D-Luzerne) serves as Minority Chair. Senate Bill Would Exempt 10-Year Old Vehicles, Others From Emissions Testing Sen. Elder Vogel, Jr. (R-Beaver) announced Wednesday he will be introducing legislation to alter the way vehicle emissions testing is done in Pennsylvania. The bill would exempt light passenger vehicles ten years old or newer and alternative fuel vehicles, but will require a visual anti-tampering inspection of emissions control components. "This legislation is a commonsense bill that allows Pennsylvanians to keep more of their hard earned money. I have heard from many of my constituents about how this is a needless burden without any environmental benefit," Sen. Vogel said. "Statewide the emissions failure rate is less than 2.5 percent of all vehicles. Newer vehicles fail at a rate of one quarter of one percent. This is a small fraction of the vehicles on the road." Despite the very low failure rate, the emissions testing program costs more than $100 million for consumers and millions of tax dollars to administer by the Commonwealth. In 2006, Pennsylvania's Environmental Quality Board adopted the California emissions standards for automobiles beginning in Model Year 2008. Since 2008, all new vehicles sold in Pennsylvania have greatly reduced the pollutant totals for Pennsylvania. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in 2006 required emission control warranties by vehicle manufacturers to protect consumers from the cost of repairs for certain emission related failures. The EPA required that major emission control components are covered for the first 8 years or 80,000 miles. Manufacturers of these emissions control parts guarantee the performance of their products in reducing and controlling emissions for a long period of time, yet Pennsylvania requires costly annual tests for these new, environmentally friendly vehicles. Additionally, there are no exemptions currently for electric, hybrid electric or compressed natural gas vehicles from the requirements of Pennsylvania's emissions testing program. "Because our vehicles are so much cleaner than they used to be, I would prefer that we did away with the program altogether. But that requires the Federal government to change the law," said Sen. Vogel. "Since they have shown little interest in that, our goal should be to make this program as consumer friendly possible and I believe my legislation does that. It's clear that cleaner vehicles are helping the air and environment we live in, this costly emissions program is not."

May Environmental Synopsis Now Available From Joint Conservation Committee The May Issue of Environmental Synopsis from the Joint Air and Water Pollution Control and Conservation Committee features a summary of the Committee's 2011 annual report. Other stories include: Philadelphia's Green City, Clean Waters Program, Pennsylvania and climate change, Need for Investment in Water Infrastructure and more. Rep. Scott Hutchinson (R-Venango) serves as Chair of the Committee.

News From Around The State

Susquehanna River Basin Water Quality Monitoring Reports Available Online Among its major responsibilities, the Susquehanna River Basin Commission is a leader in data collection and analysis for water quality monitoring, mine drainage and water resource availability. SRBC makes its findings readily available to the public both on-line and through printed publications. The reports include: -- Remote Water Quality Monitoring Network, Data Report of Baseline Conditions for 2010/ 2011 (Publication #280) - Provides data that characterize baseline water quality conditions to determine the existing conditions within select watersheds where SRBC has installed monitoring stations to generate real-time data that are uploaded to SRBCs web site. -- Juniata River Subbasin Year-1 Survey (Publication #274) - Provides data on the water chemistry, biological and habitat conditions throughout the Juniata River Subbasin in 2010. -- Susquehanna Large River Assessment Project (Publication #276) Provides data on the biological assessment in 2010 of the large rivers in the Susquehanna River Basin. -- West Branch Susquehanna Subbasin Year-2 Survey, An Assessment of the Abandoned Mine Drainage Impacts in Drury Run and Birch Island Run, Clinton County, PA (Publication #275) Provides data, collected in 2010 and 2011, for water chemistry, biological and habitat conditions in the mine drainage-impaired Drury Run and Birch Island Run Watersheds, and includes recommendations for restoration. -- Nutrients and Suspended Sediment in the Susquehanna River Basin (Publication #278) Provides data on nutrient and suspended sediment loads and yields in 2010 at SRBCs six longterm monitoring sites and data on long-term trends. -- Anthracite Region Mine Drainage Remediation Strategy (Publication #279) - Reports on SRBCs analysis of the impacts from abandoned mine drainage in the anthracite region and SRBCs recommended strategy to help agencies and organizations achieve comprehensive and long-term environmental results.

-- Morrison Cove Water Resources Availability Study (Publication #277) - Reports on SRBCs assessment of and recommendations for the water resources of the Morrison Cove area, which SRBC identified as a potentially water resource stressed area in the mid-2000s. SRBCs more recent technical reports available online or by requesting printed copies. Water Resources Education Network Awards Grants To Support 15 Community Partnerships The Water Resources Education Network (WREN) Project, a project of the League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania Citizen Education Fund, has awarded $65,000 in funding for the 2012 round to fifteen community partnerships across the state. Projects will carry out grass-roots community water resource education projects between July 1, 2012 and June 30, 2013. WREN is a nonpartisan informal collaboration of organizations and public officials working for the protection and management of Pennsylvanias water resources, both surface and ground water, through grass-roots education and informed policy-making. WREN provides training and grants for local coalition building to promote community awareness and development of public policies necessary to protect Pennsylvania water resources. Since 1992, LWVPA-CEF has awarded almost $2 million in funding through the WREN Project to over 300 community partnerships working to safeguard Pennsylvania water resources. The WREN Project has two clean water initiatives: Watershed Education to prevent Nonpoint Source (NPS) pollution to waterways, and Source Water Protection (SWP) Education to raise awareness about the importance of protecting public drinking water sources. Twelve non-point source (NPS) projects totaling $47,000 were awarded for activities focusing on improving watersheds by reducing nonpoint source water pollution. Funding for NPS education projects is made available by the Department of Environmental Protections Nonpoint Source Management Program through Section 319 of the Federal Clean Water Act, administered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. A list of all projects funding, including contacts for each project, is available online. Information on projects funded in previous years is also available online. The successful grantees of the 2012-2013 WREN NPS Grant Program are: -- Beaver County: Beaver County Conservation District, $2,800: The partners will conduct a storm drain marking project to raise awareness among businesses, residents and municipal officials about the direct connection between storm drains and streams , and that contaminants passing through the drains leads directly to local streams, impacting water quality. Storm drain markers will be placed in the commercial downtown and surrounding area of New Brighton, PA, to serve as reminders that the storm drains lead to the Beaver River. Prior to the installing the markers, door hangers describing the project and water quality issues will be distributed to businesses and residences. Several methods will be employed to promote the project including postings on the partners websites, the districts Facebook page and through its newsletter. A display will be placed in the New Brighton Library. The Pre and Post surveys will be distributed

to gauge increased understanding and changes in attitudes and behaviors among community members. Partners include: New Brighton Borough. -- Berks: Longswamp Township Environmental Advisory Council, $5,000: The project partners will hold a community stormwater management workshop that promotes use of rain barrels and rain gardens to reduce stormwater runoff and replacement of lawn areas with native trees and plants to create Birdtown habitats. Workshop attendees will have a hands-on opportunity to learn while doing during the rain garden construction at township property in Longswamp. Rain barrels will be offered to pre-registered attendees at a nominal fee. Partners will create four strategically placed interpretive signs that address watersheds, wetlands, rain gardens, native plants, wildlife habitat and clean water. A follow-up evaluation will be conducted to track attendees installation of the rain barrels and rain gardens. Partners include: Lehigh Valley Audubon Society; Longswamp Township. -- Bucks County: Bucks County Conservation District, $3,400: Partners will conduct a workshop for municipal officials, municipal engineers, planning commission members, township maintenance staff, developers and residents to raise awareness about the importance of maintaining stormwater best management practices to preserve their effectiveness over time, followed by a tour. The tour will address issues involving porous pavement, rain gardens, riparian buffers, bioswales, mowing techniques and other BMPs. Attendees will receive a guide referencing the Pennsylvania Stormwater Best Management Practices Manual tailored to the tour locations. Educational tour videos will be posted on Facebook, YouTube and partner websites. Partners include: Doylestown Township; Pennswood Village; Wells Appel, Planning, Landscape Architect, Urban Design; NAM Planning & Design LLC. -- Clearfield County: Clearfield County Conservation District, $3,000: The partners will create and publicize an online interactive map at http://www.clearfieldcountywaters.com/ covering 102 river miles of the West Branch of the Susquehanna River, flowing through Clearfield County. The map will include photographs, water quality data with GPS points, fish populations, riverbank conditions, riparian zones, trails, launch sites and historic information. Project partners also plan use the map to help promote regional tourism by helping people connect with the river, appreciate its resources, and learn how they can support and become involved in restoration activities from the legacy of water pollution created by Abandoned Mine Drainage (AMD). The map will support efforts to demonstrate progressive recovery of the Susquehanna as the direct result of numerous successful restoration projects. A bookmark and flyer will be developed to publicize the interactive map, with links from partner websites. Partners include: Visit Clearfield County; Clearfield Borough; Curwensville Borough; Clearfield YMCA. -- Crawford: Crawford County Conservation District, $5,000: Project partners will construct a demonstration rain garden as part of a streetscape project at a highly visible location in eastern Crawford County, along with an interpretive sign. The rain garden will be used as the focal point of a Conservation Landscaping/Stormwater Management workshop to be conducted by

the conservation district. An evaluation tool will be developed to measure increased knowledge among workshop attendees about stormwater management. Partners include: Crawford County Planning Commission; City of Titusville, Titusville Redevelopment Authority. -- Cumberland: Lower Allen Township, $2,000: The project partners will address stormwater management in the Yellow Breeches Watershed by conducting a rain garden workshop and demonstration during an annual green thumbs community event. The project evaluation strategy will involve tracking the number of participants and follow-up calls received after the event and monitoring the effectiveness of the demonstration garden related to storm events. Project partners will develop a tool to determine what aspects of the project participants found most valuable/interesting, what the attendees learned, and assess attendees willingness to install a rain garden at their home or place of business. Partners include: Yellow Breeches Watershed Association; Lower Allen Township Recreation & Parks Board; Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS). -- Delaware: Garrett Hill Coalition, $4,100: The partners will demonstrate a range of practical solutions that can be implemented by the community and individuals to help improve water quality by reducing storm water impacts. The project involves conducting two educational workshops about Valley Run and other local streams, where they flow and how they can be protected. Workdays are planned to establish rain barrel and rain garden demonstration sites, install interpretive signs and conduct seasonal buffer zone and garden maintenance. Evaluation strategies will involve tracking the number of workshop/workday attendees, the quantity of material and other information requested, and the number of website hits. Pre and Post meeting questionnaires will be distributed during workshops. The partners will also monitor the number of rain gardens, rain barrels, and other demonstration techniques being installed on communityowned and individual properties. Partners include: Radnor Township; Garrett Hill Community Enhancement Trust; Memorial Library of Radnor Township; Villanova Urban Stormwater Partnership; Delaware Riverkeeper Network; Aqua Pennsylvania; Chanticleer, A Pleasure Garden; Bryn Mawr Boy Scout Troop #19. -- Elk County: The Borough of Ridgeway, $3,000: The project will educate the community and municipal officials about issues facing the Big Millcreek Watershed and local water supply from acid rain deposition originating hundreds of miles away and runoff from transportation routes. Partners will form a public participation team to develop interpretive signage, create two newspaper articles, conduct an interactive tour of 2 of 4 passive acid rain deposition treatment basins, collect and analyze stream samples using water quality testers, and hold a ribbon cutting ceremony for the new permanent sign at Ridgeway Reservoir. Project evaluation techniques will involve direct observation and interviews of municipal officials, county personnel, water system employees and the public. Partners include: The Borough of Ridgway; Ridgway Township; Elk County Freshwater Association; Elk Conservation District; Elk County Planning Department.

-- Lackawanna, Wyoming and Susquehanna Counties: Keystone College, $5,000: The Keystone College Environmental Education Institute and partners will hold a regional stormwater workshop for community members and municipal officials to learn about the importance of managing stormwater to reduce nonpoint source pollution and prevent flooding in Lackawanna, Wyoming, and Susquehanna Counties. The workshop will promote a range of solutions to stormwater challenges, from simple rain barrels and rain gardens, to more complex best management practices for homes, schools, and businesses. Workshop participants will receive a rain barrel at a nominal fee, with instruction about how to paint rain barrels to become a decorative integral part of the landscape. The project will also install several rain barrel demonstration areas on the college campus to promote usage. Partners include: Aqua Pennsylvania; Penn State Cooperative Extension; Dalton Borough, Factoryville Borough, Abington Council of Governments; Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection; AfA - Artists for Art. -- Luzerne County: Greater Hazleton Area Civic Partnership, $3,900: The partners will install streamside buffer demonstration area and conduct drainage improvements along the Greater Hazleton Trail that leads to the Hazleton Area drinking water reservoir, an area hard hit by Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee in 2011. The partners will also conduct a public education workshop about how communities can use native plants in buffers to help combat nonpoint source pollution, reduce flooding and anchor soil in place to prevent sedimentation and erosion. Workshop attendees will receive instruction, educational booklets, take-home plants and other resources to encourage them to install buffers on their properties. An interpretive sign depicting before and after conditions, explaining the demonstration area and the role of buffers will be created and installed at the buffer site. Partners include: Center for Landscape Design & Stewardship; Hazleton City Authority; National Emergency Grant Workers; Hazelton City; Hazel Township; North Branch Land Trust. -- Montgomery County: PSR Philadelphia, $4,800: The project will reduce pharmaceutical pollution in the Norristown area to the Schuylkill watershed created by flushing unwanted, unused or expired pharmaceuticals. Project partners will enlist the participation of one or two local, independent pharmacies within the Watershed to help distribute educational materials to elderly customers. The target audience represents the largest percentage of prescription users, averaging 4 to 12 medications per day. Posters, flyers, and Green sticker with program logo for prescription containers will be used to help promote proper disposal techniques. Project evaluation will involve pre and post customer surveys. Partners include: Borough of Norristown; PA American Water; Schuylkill Action Network; Philadelphia Water Department. -- Montgomery County: Friends of High School Park, $5,000: Through a series of hands-on stormwater education workshops, township residents will learn about residential Best Management Practices (BMPs) that will minimize polluted runoff from their properties. Four workshops will be held, Tree Benefits: Tree Planting and Care; Green Your Lawn: Organic Lawn Care; Living Streamside; and Rainbarrels and You: Save Money and Protect Streams. Numerous evaluation strategies will be implemented including distribution of pledge forms, scheduling follow-up visits with participants, and sending e-mail questionnaires. Success will

also be measured through the number of workshop attendees, number of rainbarrels installed and number of trees planted. Partners include: Tookany/Tacony-Frankford Watershed Partnership; Cheltenham Township; Cheltenham Township Environmental Advisory Council; Pennsylvania Horticultural Society. Three Source Water Protection (SWP) projects totaling $18,000 were awarded for education activities focusing on Source Water Protection. Funding for SWP education projects is provided by the Department of Environmental Protection Source Water Protection Program through Section 1452 of the Safe Drinking Water Act of 1996, administered by U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The successful grantees of the 2012-2013 WREN SWP Grant Program are: -- Blair, Centre, Clearfield Counties: Rush Township, $6,000: The Partners will form a regional Source Water Protection Collaborative and will seek participation of additional area water systems interested in working together to educate local officials, citizens and school children about ways to protect local drinking water sources from pollution and address the increasing level of gas well drilling in the region. The goal is to encourage action to protect drinking water supply areas in the Moshannon-Mosquito Creek and Clearfield Creek Watersheds of Clearfield and Centre Counties, assist contingency planning and improve emergency response to potential contamination events. The coalition will create a Source Water Environmental Education Team (SWEET) that will conduct a series of public education and outreach events using visual models such as the groundwater model and source water area maps. To assist the coalitions activities, project funds will be used to develop a Source Water Protection brochure that will be distributed during public education events, field days, workshops and school programs and posted to partner websites. The coalition will address improved emergency response coordination to potential contamination events. Partners include: Philipsburg Borough; DCNR- Black Moshannon State Park; Houtzdale Municipal Authority; Clearfield County Conservation District; Moshannon Creek Watershed Coalition; Pennsylvania American Water; Centre County Conservation District; Oak Ridge Authority; Clearfield Planning and Community Development Office; BCI Municipal Authority; Chester Hill Borough. -- Lehigh County: City of Allentown, $7,000: The City of Allentown and LCA will form a regional Source Water Protection Collaborative and will seek participation of additional area water systems interested in working together to educate local officials, citizens and school children about ways to protect local drinking water sources from pollution. The goal is to encourage action to protect drinking water supply areas in the Lehigh Valley from potential contaminants, such as from transportation corridors, agricultural, urban runoff and other risks identified in the Source Water Protection Plans. The coalition will create a Source Water Environmental Education Team (SWEET) that will conduct a series of public education and outreach events. A variety of community outreach events are planned that will feature visual models such as the groundwater model and source water area maps. To assist the coalitions activities, project funds will be used to develop a Source Water Protection brochure that will be distributed during public education events, field days, workshops and school programs and

posted to partner websites. The coalition will address improved emergency response coordination to potential contamination events. Partners will purchase and install source water protection spill notification signs along key roadways. Partners include: Lehigh County Authority. -- Lancaster County: Terre Hill Borough, $5,000: The Partners will form a regional Source Water Protection Collaborative and will seek participation of additional area water systems in the coalition to work together to educate local officials, citizens and school children about ways to protect local drinking water sources from pollution. The goal is to encourage action to mitigate risks in Eastern Lancaster County from potential contaminants, such as from transportation corridors, agricultural urban runoff and other risks identified in the Source Water Protection Plans. The coalition will create a Source Water Environmental Education Team (SWEET) that will conduct a series of public education and outreach events. A variety of community outreach events are planned that will feature visual models such as the groundwater model and source water area maps. To assist the coalitions activities, project funds will be used to develop a Source Water Protection brochure that will be distributed during public education events, field days, workshops and school programs. The partnership will develop a drinking water educational display, and address improved coordination of emergency response to potential contamination events. Partners will purchase and install source water protection spill notification signs along key roadways. Partners include: Blue Ball Water Authority; Western Heights Water Authority; New Holland Borough; Earl and East Earl Townships. For more information, including more details and contacts for each project, download the project award list or contact Julie Kollar, WREN Project Director, 267-468-0555 or send email to: juliekwren@verizon.net. 8 Watershed Projects Receive PA American Water Environmental Grants Pennsylvania American Water Tuesday announced eight watershed initiatives across the state have earned financial support through the companys 2012 Environmental Grant Program. The recipients will receive a share of grant funds totaling approximately $35,600 for their community-based projects that improve, restore or protect watersheds. A panel of judges selected the winners from more than 50 grant applications, which were evaluated on such criteria as environmental need, innovation, community engagement and sustainability. As we mark the eighth year of our Environmental Grant Program, Im very proud of the partnerships that weve developed with so many community groups that share our dedication to watershed protection and environmental stewardship, said Pennsylvania American Water President Kathy L. Pape. The following describes the winning Environmental Grant projects: -- Pennsylvania Environmental Council, Luzerne County: With the funding, the PEC will undertake an invasive species removal, riparian buffer planting and educational program involving Pennsylvania American Waters property along the Huntsville Creek. The project will

improve the creeks water quality and educate volunteers about healthy riparian buffers. In addition to removing invasive Japanese Knotweed that contributes to stream bank erosion, the organization will replant the area with native species, trees and shrubs. -- Southeastern Pennsylvania Resource Conservation and Development Council, Montgomery County: To support volunteers working on environmental restoration and beautification projects throughout southeastern Pennsylvania, the grant will help provide tools, power equipment, safety gear and related supplies for the councils mobile shed known as the Conservation Planting Trailer. The program makes cleanup projects, rain garden plantings, riparian buffers and other environmental projects easier to plan and implement. -- Derry Township Environmental Action Committee, Dauphin County: The committee plans to host a Water Protection Workshop to educate residents and businesses on storm water runoff and source water protection. The funding will also provide rain barrels to participants of the workshop, which will also serve as a model for future community partnerships on watershed protection. -- Carnegie Borough Shade Tree Commission, Allegheny County: The grant will support commissions plans to plant a sunflower rain garden, which will educate residents on the use of rain gardens to alleviate runoff during rain events. A community mural and video documentary will commemorate the project and provide additional educational material on the project. -- Timmys Town Center, Lackawanna County: The organization will use the funding to develop an educational program entitled Wet Paint to educate children about watershed protection and resources. Additionally, the program will include decorating four benches to be placed along the Lackawanna River to encourage children to visit the river and foster environmental stewardship. -- Butler County Department of Community Corrections, Butler County: The grant will provide materials necessary for watershed cleanups along lakes, streams and reservoirs in the county. The project will collect, transport and dispose of litter from the waterways, as well as recycle the collected waste materials, whenever possible. -- East Pennsboro Township, Cumberland County: To improve the quality of the waterways impacted by the community's storm sewer system and resulting storm water runoff, the grant will fund the purchase storm sewer curb markers for raising public awareness that storm water content drains into local water sources. The project will engage volunteers from the Boys Scouts, Girls Scouts and other community organizations. -- Paddle Without Pollution, Allegheny County: Funding will allow the group to engage volunteers in a watershed cleanup project throughout southwestern Pennsylvania. Kayakers and canoeists will take to the waterways to rid the shorelines of debris during their journey. Pennsylvania American Water initiated the Environmental Grant Program in 2005 in Pennsylvania to support projects that protect or restore drinking water sources and surrounding

watersheds. Since then, American Water has expanded the annual program to many of its state subsidiaries across the nation. NewsClips: East Pennsboro Watershed Initiative Receives Grant Dauphin County Group Receives PA American Water Grant Volunteers And Farm Work Together To Improve Local Water Quality, Habitat The Chesapeake Bay Foundation, partners, and nearly 100 volunteers recently completed an onfarm streamside tree planting that will help improve local water quality while also educating the public about the connection between water quality and riparian buffers. The Oregon Dairy, owned and operated by the Hurst Family in Lancaster, may be best known for their award-winning bakery and their annual Family Farm Days, but on May 5 the nearly 100 volunteers got to know the dairy a whole lot better by investing their time and energy into making improvements that will not only help the farm, but everyone downstream. Volunteers from Lancaster, York, New Cumberland, Carlisle, and Reading planted a stream side buffer along a small stream that runs through the Hurst Farm, a tributary to the Conestoga River. Members and volunteers planted 1,800 native perennial plants, and 50 native shrubs and trees. They also potted up 50 bare root plants headed for a micro-nursery at the Millport Conservancy, and pulled invasive plant species like garlic mustard. But it wasnt ALL work; volunteers enjoyed a tour of the farm and a delicious barbecued chicken lunch, compliments of Oregon Dairy. CBF member Shelly Colehouse-Mayhew of Hanover helped with the planting. "This was my first time volunteering for a Chesapeake Bay Foundation event and I must say it was a very rewarding experience and I'm proud to be a part of it. Project partner, LandStudies, Inc., prepared the site plan and instructed volunteers on how to plant the perennial buffer. Both the trees and the perennial plants and shrubs will assist in curbing stream bank erosion, help filter pollutants before they reach the stream, provide habitat, and the perennials will also provide much-needed food sources for pollinators. The project area is near the entrance to the dairy, so we chose trees and plants that would offer visual appeal throughout the year, Andrew P. Korzon, Environmental Designer for LandStudies. We hope that visitors to the dairy will see the beauty of these trees and want to learn more about forested riparian areas. In addition to offering a beautiful setting for the Hursts, this site will also serve as a blueprint for implementing similar projects at other locations. The planting is part of a demonstration project at Oregon Dairy that illustrates the many options available to landowners interested in planting a stream side buffer. In the near future, Oregon Dairy will be adding educational signage to identify each of the native species in the buffer. Wed like to help the public better understand that there are a host of benefits to planting native species, and that they are quite beautiful, said George Hurst, a partner in Oregon Dairy. The riparian area will not only improve the stream but it will also serve as a tool for public education, and were excited about that. Visitors can see the early results at Oregon Dairy during their Family Farm Days June 12-14. I live about an hour away from the dairy and plan to visit this summer to see the

progress of the numerous trees, perennials and grasses that were planted, said Ms. ColehouseMayhew. I hope they fill in the area quickly, so they can begin to provide the water quality benefits needed for this stream and the Chesapeake Bay." Partners of the planting project include the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Oregon Dairy and the Hurst Family, LandStudies, Inc., the Lancaster County Conservation District, the Octoraro Native Plant Nursery, and the North Creek Nursery. Tree and shrubs were supplied by Octoraro Native Plant Nursery, herbaceous plants were supplied by North Creek Nurseries, and seed was supplied by Ernst Conservation Seeds. Riparian Planting Includes: Trees: Serviceberry, Red Maple, River Birch, Eastern Redbud, Sweet bay Magnolia, Swamp White Oak; Herbaceous Plants: Eastern Bluestar, Swamp Milkweed, Emory Sedge, Pink Turtlehead, Joe Pye Weed, Cardinal Flower, Brown Eyed Susan, Bluestem Goldenrod, Little Bluestem; and Shrubs: Viburnam, Nannyberry, Red Osier Dogwood, Elderberry. EPA Lauches College Competition For Innovative Stormwater Solutions The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is launching a new design competition called the Campus RainWorks Challenge to encourage student teams on college and university campuses across the country to develop innovative approaches to stormwater management. Stormwater is a major cause of water pollution in urban areas in the U.S., impacting the health of people across the country as well as tens of thousands of miles of rivers, streams, and coastal shorelines, and hundreds of thousands of acres of lakes, reservoirs, and ponds. The competition will help raise awareness of green design and planning approaches at colleges and universities, and train the next generation of landscape architects, planners, and engineers in green infrastructure principles and design. Student teams, working with a faculty advisor, will submit design plans for a proposed green infrastructure project for their campus. Registration for the Campus RainWorks Challenge opens September 4, and entries must be submitted by December 14 for consideration. Winning entries will be selected by EPA and announced in April 2013. Winning teams will earn a cash prize of $1,500 - $2,500, as well as $8,000 - $11,000 in funds for their faculty advisor to conduct research on green infrastructure. In 2013, EPA plans to expand Campus RainWorks by inviting students to design and complete a demonstration project assessing innovative green infrastructure approaches on their campus. Reducing stormwater pollution requires innovative approaches and Americas college students are incredibly creative and talented, said Nancy Stoner, acting assistant administrator for EPAs Office of Water. The Campus RainWorks Challenge will engage students across the country in tackling one of the toughest challenges to clean water and show them the opportunities in environmental careers. EPA is encouraging the use of green infrastructure as a solution to help manage stormwater runoff. Green Infrastructure uses vegetation, soils, and natural processes to manage stormwater runoff at its source and provide other community benefits, including economic development. Green infrastructure is increasingly being used to supplement or substitute for singlepurpose gray infrastructure investments such as pipes, and ponds. The Campus RainWorks

Challenge will help encourage the use of green infrastructure projects on college and university campuses to manage stormwater discharges. For more information, visit EPA's Campus RainWorks Challenge webpage. Spring Creek Festival, 5K Race June 2 At Millbrook Marsh, Centre County ClearWater Conservancy will hold its annual celebration of Spring Creek June 2 from 10 to 2 p.m. at Millbrook Marsh Nature Center. The event starts in the morning with a 5K run and continues through early afternoon with a host of educational events, conservation displays, programs, food and music for all ages. The festival is a free, rain or shine event. About 30 Central Pennsylvania agencies, non-profits and outdoors organizations and businesses will join ClearWater as exhibitors. Activities for children typically include a sing-along, a scavenger hunt, arts and crafts, an aquatic bug hunt, giant bunnies, ambulance tours, rocks and minerals and a Rubber Duck Race. Adults will enjoy live music and presentations from area conservation and outdoor groups including fly casting and tying lessons by the Spring Creek Chapter of Trout Unlimited, guided tours of the marsh, a presentation about Spring Creek by Bob Carline and much, much more. In addition, the George Harvey Spring Creek Heritage Award, given jointly each year by ClearWater and the Spring Creek Chapter of Trout Unlimited, will be awarded during the festival. The award honors an individual who has worked to improve or protect Spring Creek. The Spring Creek Festival 5K will kick off at 8:30 a.m. at Millbrook Marsh. Registration opens at 7 a.m. A free Childrens Fun Run will be held at 10 a.m. Click Here to view course. 5K registration is $18 in advance, $25 day of race. Online registration is available. Penn State Extension: Watch Out For Water Quality Scams A recent article brought to mind how easy it is to be confused about water quality issues as well as potentially lose a lot of money doing things we dont need to be doing. The article, by Karen Datko, was about con artists in South Florida who convinced elderly people they needed special toilet paper and other products to meet new government rules for septic tanks. The US Attorneys Office of South Florida stated that "Through this scheme, some elderly customers were defrauded into purchasing more than 70 years worth of toilet paper." The Miami Herald reported that Prosecutors said the company scammed about $1 million from more than a dozen victims from across the country." As Ms. Datko reported, according to authorities, here's how the scam worked. First, elderly folks with septic tanks got calls saying the company was the only one recognized by the Environmental Protection Agency and other federal agencies to sell an antisludge treatment for the tanks. The cost? $199! According to Reuters, those who placed an order were put on an "idiot" list and subsequently told they'd need to buy a special type of toilet paper, plus detergents and soaps, to meet all of these supposedly new EPA regulations.

Please keep in mind, the EPA may regulate a lot of things but the type of toilet paper that reaches your septic tank is not one of them. We all know that there are disreputable people out there that are trying to make a buck. However, there are also some very reputable businesses out there. Unfortunately, it is sometimes tough for us to tell the difference. Particularly if they really sound like they know what they are talking about. Always seek help from an unbiased source, such as Penn State Extension, especially when the concern you have may lead to spending money. Penn State Extension has a wealth of resources about water testing, on-lot septic system management, water treatment and other water quality issues. Here is another example of someone who was unwittingly bamboozled by a shady company. Several years ago I was called by someone wanting to know why their water was still brown. And if it was brown, was it safe to drink and cook with. It turns out that they had more than $10,000 worth of water treatment equipment installed in their house for a problem that should have only cost no more than $2000 to fix. The water treatment equipment, in this case, was actually causing the water to be worse than it was straight out of the well. If you have a private water source and think you may have a problem, it is always wise to have your water tested by a DEP accredited lab that is not associated with the company that is trying to sell you water treatment equipment. And, while the on-the-spot testing that water treatment companies do at your kitchen faucet may be helpful in determining where you MAY have a problem, it is wise not to rely exclusively on those at-home water tests. Now, getting back to toilet paperwhen you think you may have a problem with your septic system that may require major repair or replacement of some or all of your system, contact your local sewage enforcement officer. He or she will be able to help you figure out if you need permits, and if you could solve your problem in a less expensive way. And, as always, use common sense. If it seems to be too good to be true, it usually is. (Written By: Dana Rizzo, Extension Educator, Water Quality, Penn State Extension of Westmoreland County, & Westmoreland Conservation District, and reprinted from Watershed Winds Penn State Extension newsletter.) Eureka Resources To Construct Drilling Water Treatment Plant In Bradford County Eureka Resources, LLC, announced Thursday it will construct a world-class centralized wastewater treatment facility in Standing Stone Township, Bradford County, to treat wastewater generated during development of oil and gas wells in the Marcellus and Utica Shale. Plans for the facility include installation of Eureka's industry-leading treatment process that allows for recycling of Marcellus and Utica shale water for use at future well sites as well as a concentrated brine crystallizer to allow for beneficial reuse of valuable byproducts that can be extracted from the water. "Bradford County saw more drilling activity than any other Pennsylvania county last year," said Eureka's Chief Executive Officer Dan Ertel. "This facility will provide gas producers

in this area with a treatment option that is closer to home and helps reduce the number of trucks needed for off-site disposal and their associated costs, noise and pollution." The facility will be constructed in two phases. Phase 1, expected to be completed by year-end 2012, will include pretreatment and bulk storage tank systems capable of pretreatment of 10,000 barrels per day of multiple fluids, including drilling muds, flow back water and produced water. The treated water will be trucked offsite for reuse by gas well developers, temporarily stored on-site for reuse later, or disposed of through Eureka's existing Williamsport, Pa., facility. Phase 2 will include construction of a concentrated brine crystallizer that will allow Eureka to provide advanced treatment of the pretreated effluent. The first such facility to process highly concentrated brine for reuse from Marcellus wastewater in Pennsylvania, the crystallizer unit will generate solid-phase crystallized salt cake, concentrated liquid brine purge stream and distilled water, depending on the needs of the oil and gas operator. Completion of Phase 2 is expected in the third quarter of 2013. "Not only will this facility provide another reuse option for Marcellus wastewater, it will also reduce the need for the disposal of concentrated brine, which typically has been trucked to injection wells in Ohio," Mr. Ertel said. "The highly concentrated brine will be reusable in the natural gas and hydro fracturing industry, and the remaining waste after the crystallization process may be disposed of in landfills as solid waste." The proposed facility will operate 24-hours per day, seven days per week and will employ approximately 16 full-time employees. Eureka is obtaining the necessary regulatory approvals and permits to construct the facility. The Company already holds a WMGR123 permit from the Department of Environmental Protection Bureau of Waste Management to treat oil and gas wastewater. The Company's Williamsport, Pa., wastewater treatment plant has been operating since 2008 and has undergone multiple upgrades to add more capabilities. It is the only facility treating Marcellus wastewater that meets the DEP's stringent standards for discharge into the state's rivers or streams. "Eureka continues to lead the industry in wastewater treatment," Mr. Ertel said. "Our first centralized treatment plant in Williamsport is a truly world-class facility and is the only plant that meets Pennsylvania DEP's latest upgraded standards that enable Eureka's ultra clean effluent to be stored and transported again as fresh water. In fact, Eureka is the only company that can treat and return water to the customer that is considered dewasted and can be stored and handled as such. We plan to bring those same high standards to the Standing Stone facility." Tennessee Gas Pipeline Drains Wetlands With Emerging Amphibians In Pike County On May 11, the Delaware Riverkeeper Network visited wetlands on DCNR lands to videotape juvenile amphibians to document for the public and the Department of Environmental Protection the diverse and healthy juvenile and adult frog, toad and newt populations threatened by Tennessee Gas Pipelines delayed restoration work on its 300 Pipeline Project. One day after documenting the abundant life, Tennessee Gas quickly drained down the wetlands, apparently with the knowledge of state and local agencies; the result was to wipe out some of the emerging life within.

We notified the State and County agencies on Monday the 7th of the situation, urged them to order Tennessee Gas to hold off on their invasive wetlands work to allow the aquatic life to achieve maturity and move on. After all, the wetlands work was largely to ensure the critical habitat necessary for these sensitive species; it makes no sense to undertake the project at a time it will wipe out the very life it is intended to support. Rather than order the delay, it seems that state and local officials either acquiesced or perhaps even supported the devastating actions taken by Tennessee Gas over the weekend to drain the wetlands and kill the life that was struggling to grow there, said Maya van Rossum, the Delaware Riverkeeper. The Delaware Riverkeeper Network had written multiple agencies and Tennessee Gas last Monday to urge that the amphibians be protected during the companys delayed restoration actions. According to the letter by DRN, despite requests from regulatory agencies to Tennessee Gas to conduct final grading, stabilization, and seeding over the mild winter months when less biological activity was present in the already disturbed wetlands in the pipeline corridor, Tennessee Gas disregarded its restoration obligations for many months. The Tennessee Gas 300 line has been in operation since November 2011. As a result amphibians that avoided the Tennessee Gas 300 line impacts to these wetlands last year during construction, migrated back to the impacted wetlands that were not yet fully restored by Tennessee Gas in the early spring, mated and subsequently thousands of juveniles and adults resided in these wetlands. Delaware Riverkeeper Network staff witnessed bulldozers and were trailed by Tennessee Gas employees when they went to site on Friday, May 11, to seek video-documentation for the agencies as to the situation. Tennessee Gas work crews on site told the Delaware Riverkeeper, van Rossum that one of the most thriving wetlands present would not be drained or impacted over the weekend, they confirmed that work was scheduled for the following week and may be delayed further by rain. As a result we believed we would have more time to influence the PADEP to delay the wetlands work or as a last resort, that we would have time to mobilize a corps of volunteers and concerned citizens to help relocate some of the amphibians to nearby wetlands out of the pipeline corridor, said van Rossum, the Delaware Riverkeeper. Delaware Riverkeeper Network staff re-visited the pipeline corridor Saturday morning only to see the large wetland highlighted in the video already been pumped down and impacted, leaving a muddy mess behind. The pumping, dewatering, and sediment pollution certainly killed many amphibians that were documented to live in this wetland. As of Sunday, the wetland still remained cloudy and choked with suspended solids, said Faith Zerbe, Monitoring Director for Delaware Riverkeeper Network. According to van Rossum, this is sadly more of the same from Tennessee Gas Pipeline. According to a letter sent by the Delaware Riverkeeper Network to regulatory agencies earlier this year: During the Tennessee Gas 300 Line Project, in 28 out of 38 Environmental Compliance Monitoring Program Weekly Summary Report[s] that were provided on FERCs website, at least one recorded incident was reported where an activity did not come into compliance with Project specifications, mitigation measures, and applicable FERC-approved Project plans.

Out of 16 inspections conducted by the Wayne County Conservation District during the 300 Line Extension Project, violations were found in no less than 15 of the inspections. The Pike County Conservation District cited numerous violations during the 300 Line Extension Project including, but not limited to: 17 instances of dirt and sediment being discharged into water bodies, 7 violations for worksite conditions, and 21 instances of failure to properly institute Best Management Practices for erosion and sediment control. Marcellus Shale Coalition Launches New And Improved Online Headquarters The Marcellus Shale Coalition unveiled a new and improved website Friday which will serve as the online home to the regions largest trade association. The revamped site was built to incorporate the latest technologies aimed at improving user experience. DEP Awards Keep PA Beautiful Nearly $450,000 To Deter Illegal Dumping Statewide The Department of Environmental Protection has awarded a $449,182 grant to Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful to identify illegal dumpsites in Pennsylvania, spread awareness of improper waste disposal and promote environmental stewardship. Pennsylvania is on the path to a cleaner future and this grant is a tool to achieve that goal, DEP Secretary Mike Krancer said. The growing problem of illegal dumping harms our state and DEP is committed to ending it. The funding will help Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful complete its two-year statewide illegal dump survey by focusing on Susquehanna, Wyoming, Wayne, Pike, Northampton and Lehigh counties, the final six counties in the survey. This survey will be compiled into a report that will provide a full analysis of illegal dumping for all 67 counties over seven years. The survey is being used to educate state, county and local officials about how to combat illegal dumping in their communities by organizing cleanup events, municipal waste collections and recycling programs. Part of the grant will be used to promote and administer Keep Pennsylvania Beautifuls adoption program, which maintains more than 300 municipal roads, communities, parks, neighborhood blocks, greenways, waterways and trails. Funds will also be directed toward continuing the Litter-Free School Zone program, the Great American Cleanup of Pennsylvania and the states participation in the International Coastal Cleanup. PRC Hosts Household Chemical Collection Event May 19 In Johnstown The PA Resources Council and its partners will host a Household Chemical Collection on May 19, at Concurrent Technologies Corporation, ETF Facility, 128 Industrial Park Road, Johnstown, PA, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Cost: $2 per gallon. Click Here for the details on this and other similar events in Western Pennsylvania. 4th Annual Green Expo In Mifflin County June 9 The Mifflin County Solid Waste Authority and PA CleanWays of Mifflin County are hosting the

4th annual Green Expo on June 9 at the Mifflin County Youth Fair Grounds in Reedsville, Pa from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The Green Expo is an education event promoting a Green Initiative which could be anything from recycled crafts made from recycled materials to reduced landfill use. It could be alternative power energy efficiency efforst, green building construction or anything that helps make Mifflin County a greener place to live. There will be a compost seminar at 11 a.m. and a program called "All About Gourds" will take place at a time to be announced later. Vender registration forms are also available. For more information, visit the Green Expo webpage or contact Pam Sechrist at 717-899-6701 or send email to: pammiff@verizon.net. Western PA Residents Have Until June 15 To Mow Down Air Pollution There is still time to participate in the Southwest Pennsylvania Air Quality Partnership, Inc.s Clean Mower Exchange rebate program. Southwest Pennsylvania residents can exchange a gasoline-powered lawnmower and/or trimmer for a rebate toward the purchase of an electric or battery-powered mower and/or trimmer at 17 participating True Value stores in Allegheny, Beaver, Butler, Greene, and Westmoreland Counties. Residents have an opportunity to help mow down air pollution by replacing the gasoline-powered lawn equipment with an electric or battery-powered version that doesnt produce volatile organic compounds that bake in the summer sunlight to produce ground-level ozone, Betsy Mallison, Partnership Clean Mower Exchange Program Coordinator said. We have plenty of rebates available, so its time to take action on this opportunity. Ground-level ozone affects everyone, but the young, the old and those with respiratory problems are most at risk. However, when ground-level ozone concentrations are unhealthy, particularly during Air Quality Action Days, everyone is at risk. The Partnership is offering 300 rebates available on a first-come, first-serve basis, one rebate per household for a lawnmower and/or a lawn trimmer. Residents, at their convenience, may visit their local participating True Value Store to exchange the lawn equipment. The purchase of the new electric or battery-powered mowers and trimmers must be completed by May 31 and the rebate information mailed into the Partnership by June 15. To claim the rebate, residents need to send a copy of a receipt, the UPC code from the product box, mower survey and the rebate coupon they received at the True Value Store. Residents will receive a $100 rebate toward the purchase of the lawnmower and $25 toward the purchase of the trimmer. The Partnership will work with Evey True Value and Michael Brothers to drain the oil and gasoline and to recycle the equipment. A list of participating stores is available online. For more information, visit Southwest Pennsylvania Air Quality Partnerships Clean Mower Exchange Rebate webpage. DEP Announces X-Ray Registration Fee Amnesty Program The Department of Environmental Protection will begin a three-month amnesty program on June 1 to help identify unregistered X-ray machines and bring operators into compliance.

This initiative offers a limited-time opportunity for medical providers to come into regulatory compliance without suffering a penalty, DEP Secretary Mike Krancer said. The registration and inspection program is essential to safeguard all Pennsylvanians from unnecessary exposure to radiation while maintaining proper diagnostic quality. All health care providers with radiation-emitting equipment are required to register their machines with DEP. The providers are required to pay equipment-registration and inspection fees, which go toward Bureau of Radiation Protection operations. The amnesty period will give unregistered medical facilities the opportunity to comply with current regulations. While they will be required to pay all delinquent and current fees, they will be absolved of any potential civil penalties related to registration. The amnesty period will run from June 1 to August 31. During that time, DEPs Bureau of Radiation Protection will contact medical, dental, podiatric, chiropractic and veterinary associations to let them know about the amnesty program and reinforce details of the agencys regulations. For more information and to register, visit DEP's X-Ray Machine Registration webpage. DCNR Joins In Dedication Of New Riverfront Park Along Delaware River Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Deputy Secretary John Giordano Monday joined in the dedication of Lardners Point Park, a riverfront improvement project that showcases a rebounding Delaware River to the multitude of visitors drawn to its banks. When we broke ground for this park just six months ago, the initiative was hailed by anglers, bikers, hikers, and so many others, said Giordano, speaking at the dedication ceremony off Levick Street. They included city residents and visitors alike, all of whom applauded the unified effort to provide improved access to the river. DCNR invested $760,000 in the design and construction of the new 4.5 acre-park, located north of Center City and just south of the Tacony-Palmyra Bridge in the historic Tacony neighborhood of Northeast Philadelphia. Our support of this project is a sound investment for future generations, who will continue to enjoy the renewed value of a cleaner river and more aesthetically pleasing vistas, Giordano said. Today we celebrate not only the completion of a gateway to greater visitation and economic growth, but also to the health and social benefits gained from improved recreation. This vision hits the triple bottom line improving environmental quality, neighborhood economic value and the communitys social fabric. Specifically, DCNRs grant supported construction of a river overlook; fishing pier; restoration of a riverbank forest area for picnicking and recreation; park furniture; and interpretive signage about trees, bird and fish species, and the history of the Lardners Point Pump Station that has a long legacy at this site. Also, the park recreated an enlarged natural river edge with expanded tidal wetlands and aquatic, native vegetation. As a resident of Philadelphia, I have witnessed significant milestones in our citys riverfront improvement, along both the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers, and I know firsthand that more visitors are being drawn to their shores as a result, Giordano said. At DCNR, we are committed to facilitating these enhancements, the renewed public interest they promote, and the positive impact they have on the local economy.

Lardners Point Park expands Philadelphia's public park system and is in line with the city's Green 2015 Plan to create 500 new acres of open space and parkland. Lardner's Point Park will serve as a trailhead for the North Delaware Greenway, the national East Coast Greenway bike trail running along the entire Delaware Riverfront in Philadelphia, and eventually from Maine to Florida. The park also will link to the bi-state Delaware River Heritage Trail that will loop over the Tacony-Palmyra Bridge north to Trenton and south to the new park site. Giordano commended the project's federal partners for their roles in obtaining federal funding for the project, as well as the invaluable contributions of the Delaware River City Corporation, the Philadelphia Parks and Recreation Department, and the Pennsylvania Environmental Council. NewsClip: Bringing Urban Waterfronts Back To Life: Philadelphia Edition Lehigh River Sojourn Set For June 22-25, Register Now The Lehigh River Sojourn is a 28-mile guided paddling trip on the Lehigh River hosted by Wildlands Conservancy June 22-25. Beginning in the Pocono Mountains and ending in Northampton, Sojourners travel through the metro-wilderness of the Lehigh River region and experience all of the treasures of nature - scenic views, visits from resident wildlife and a shared appreciation for preserving the environment. The trip provides the opportunity for participants to learn about what is being done to protect the Lehigh River and how they can take an active role in preserving our natural resources. The sojourn celebrates the history, importance, and significance of the Lehigh River to the region and beyond. Each day is filled with education programs on the important conservation work being done by Wildlands Conservancy to improve and enhance the natural resources of the Lehigh River. For more information and to register, visit the 2012 Lehigh River Sojourn webpage. DCNR Hosting Bilblitz Inventory At Kings Gap Environmental Center Scientists, naturalists and volunteers from across the state will converge on Kings Gap Environmental Education Center, Cumberland County, in an extensive effort to document life forms June 2-3, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Richard Allan announced Wednesday. Participants, both professional and amateur, are requested to register by May 24 for this two-day, weekend event. They will attempt to identify as many plants and animals as possible in day and night field exercises, popularly known within the scientific community as a bioblitz. How fitting that a state park just expanded by more than 1,000 acres last fall should be the focal point of this dedicated gathering of keen scientific minds, said Allan. When the final tallies are in from this bioblitz we will be able to make sound decisions on the parks future based on scientific fact. Only the second event of its kind sponsored by DCNR, the research is being organized by the Bureau of State Parks, in cooperation with the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy.

Biologists and naturalists will be finding and identifying species of mammals, birds, fish, reptiles, amphibians, aquatic and terrestrial insects, fungi, mosses and many others. Bioblitz findings will supply us with an invaluable snapshot of the biological wealth found on this parks 2,530 acres, Allan said. We are inviting the general public, private citizens, teachers, local high school students and university members to observe, interact and participate in sampling activities. We are hoping to learn as much as possible about the biological diversity of the area so that it can be properly conserved and managed, but this bioblitz will offer much more, said Allan. Beyond establishing baseline information, the event will give participants a chance to join biologists in the field; participate in bona fide research; and learn from experts about biological inventorying and the importance of biodiversity. Regardless of weather, activities will begin at Kings Gap at 9 a.m. June 2, and close at 11 a.m. June 3. Participation is free, but pre-registration must be completed by May 24 by calling 717-486-3799. Throughout the day Saturday, park staff also will offer mini-blitz programs one-hour introductions to identification of birds, aquatic macro invertebrates and plants. No registration is required for these free programs starting at the Kings Gap Hollow Day-Use Area. Topics and starting times are: What Bird Do I Hear? 10:30 a.m.; Aquatic Macros, 1 p.m.; and Trees and Wildflowers, 2:30 p.m. DCNRs first bioblitz was held in 2004, when almost 200 scientists, volunteers and onlookers combed fields and forests of the newly acquired Erie Bluffs State Park along Lake Erie in Erie County. In October 2011, almost 1,100 acres in Penn and Cook townships, Cumberland County, were added to Kings Gap Environmental Education Center, reuniting lands that were the original Cameron family estate split in the 1950s. With the newly added land, Kings Gap now encompasses more than 2,530 acres, including 16 miles of hiking trails and the William C. Forrey Training Center and a 32-room stone mansion providing training facilities and overnight accommodations. The new property, which helps protect the sweeping view of the Cumberland Valley enjoyed from the patio of the Cameron Mansion, has trails and roads that will be connected to the Kings Gap system. There are plans to establish a 20-mile backpacking trail entirely on the newly-added property that will allow park staff to conduct two-day primitive camping trips, all within the park boundaries. Kings Gap sits astride South Mountain, a landscape that is the core of the South Mountain Conservation Landscape Initiative encompassing Adams, Cumberland, Franklin and York counties. NewsClip: BioBlitzers Take Aim On Kings Gap Environmental Center May 20 Pine Grove Lecture Kicks Off South Mountain Speaker Series The third season of an innovative series of speakers will begin May 20 at Pine Grove Furnace State Park in Franklin County. The series is intended to engage citizens in conserving the South Mountain regions natural landscapes by exploring lessons from the past.

The discussion, entitled Pine Grove: Connecting Geology and Human History, runs from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Furnace Stack Pavilion at the park and is free and open to the public. The lecture will be given by Helen Delano, senior geologist with the DCNR Bureau of Topographic and Geologic Survey, and Noel Potter, retired Earth Sciences professor at Dickinson College. The geology and topography of this South Mountain location provide all the necessary raw materials and an excellent setting for iron making, Delano said. With charcoal from the local forests, Pine Grove Furnace was a self-contained, very successful industrial facility for more than 100 years. This is a nice example of the ways in which geology and human history are interrelated. The entire event runs from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Participants are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and a picnic lunch or purchase lunch at the Pine Grove General Store. There will be history talks; walking tours; music; guided tours of the Ironmasters Mansion including a new historical society exhibit; activities for children; tours of the Appalachian Trail Museum and more. This is the third year for the South Mountain Speakers Series, envisioned as a revival of the talks given by Joseph Rothrock in the late 19th century as part of his work to preserve and restore Pennsylvanias forests and natural landscape. His educational mission became a catalyst for lasting change in the states environmental history. This lecture is sponsored by the Cumberland County Historical Society, Appalachian Trail Conservancy, DCNR and the South Mountain Partnership. July 19 Event The next talk in the series will be Bank Barns of Cumberland Valley on July 19 at the Community Center at Norlo Park, Fayetteville. The partnership is a group of citizens, businesses, non-profit organizations and government representatives in Adams, Cumberland, Franklin and York counties, working together to protect and enhance the landscape. The South Mountain Partnership was sparked by DCNRs Conservation Landscape Initiative -- an effort to engage communities, local partners, state agencies and funding opportunities to conserve the high-quality natural and cultural resources while enhancing the regions economic viability. South Mountain is at the northern end of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Communities in the 400,000-acre region have thrived off fertile limestone agricultural lands, the timber that fed iron furnaces, plentiful game and wildlife, and abundant pure spring water that is captured by the mountains permeable soils and released into the valleys. A rich cultural heritage exists in communities like Gettysburg, Chambersburg and Carlisle, and many smaller communities. Some of the earlier lectures in the speaker series can now be found on Youtube. For more information about the speaker series, visit the South Mountain Speakers Blog or call the Appalachian Trail Conservancy at 717-258-5771. First-Time Campers To Find Special Deal At Many PA State Parks The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources is again partnering with Gander Mountain to provide first-time campers with needed gear and a reservation for two nights at a participating state park for just $20.

This is the second year we are offering this hands-on instruction on camping and weve added five additional parks to the original 14, DCNR Secretary Richard Allan said. You cant beat this offer as far as the cost; the opportunity to enjoy many other activities at our state parks such as hiking and fishing; and a park staffer will even help you set up camp. Nineteen state parks around the state are participating in the program, including: Black Moshannon, Centre County; Caledonia, Franklin County; Chapman, Warren County; Colonel Denning, Cumberland County; Cook Forest/Clear Creek, Clarion and Jefferson counties; Gifford Pinchot, York County; Hills Creek, Tioga County; Keystone, Westmoreland County; Lackawanna, Lackawanna County; Laurel Hill, Somerset County; Little Pine, Lycoming County; Locust Lake, Schuylkill County; Ole Bull, Potter County; Parker Dam, Clearfield County; Promised Land, Pike County; Pymatuning, Crawford County; R.B. Winter, Union County; Ryerson Station, Greene County; and Sinnemahoning, Cameron and Potter counties. Reservations should be made by calling the park office directly. The program will run from Memorial Day weekend through the summer. The gear provided for use by Gander Mountain and DCNR is a four-person tent; rain tarp; four sleeping pads; four camp chairs; flashlight; lantern; camp stove; and four hot dog/ marshmallow sticks. The gear must be returned upon departure. Participants will need to bring their own food, cooking utensils and bedding. Suggested packing lists will be provided. Our love of nature often begins in our childhood if we have the opportunity to connect with the outdoors, so we especially encourage parents to take advantage of this affordable opportunity to create some wonderful family memories, Allan said. Last summer, in the programs first year, there were 180 reservations made to participate, with more than half of those who took a survey saying they had never before visited a Pennsylvania state park. Almost 500 people experienced camping in a state park for the first time last year. With 120 state parks covering about 300,000 acres, there is a state park within 25 miles of nearly every Pennsylvanian. The parks feature an array of recreational opportunities, provide a forum for multiple environmental education programs and conserve thousands of acres of unique natural areas, among many other features. State parks also serve as economic generators to the communities that surround them, generating about a billion dollars annually in economic activity. More information about Pennsylvania state parks can be found online. Game Commission Hosts PA Songbirds Workshop For Educators June 25 The Game Commission and its partners will host a Pennsylvania Songbirds Workshop for educators on June 25 at Black Rock Retreat in Quarryville, Pa. Pennsylvania Songbirds is a state-specific, hands-on bird education program about birds, people and the environment. During this workshop, participants will explore bird biology and the natural history of specific songbirds; examine ecological concepts such as adaptation and migration; discover how songbirds sing; and do a field study to ID songbirds.

Participants will also be introduced to eBird, an online citizen science program that teachers can use with their students to report birds on school grounds and access graphs and real data from birders throughout the state. PA Songbirds is a joint project of the Game Commission, DCNR's Bureau of State Parks and Audubon PA. Activities are designed to help educators address state Environment and Ecology Standards and Anchors. This workshop is approved for 5.5 ACT 48 hours. Registration deadline June 15. Click Here to download a workshop flyer. Project Wild Programs For Educators Offered By Game Commission The Game Commission Tuesday announced a series of upcoming professional development opportunities offered as part of the agencys Project WILD program. Classroom teachers, early childhood teachers, informal educators, homeschool leaders and Scout and youth group leaders are welcome to participate in these workshops. Workshop offerings range from Pennsylvania Biodiversity, a hands-on conservation education program that examines genetic, species and community diversity to WILD about Waterfowl, a session designed to explore the conservation, management and on-going banding of ducks and geese. New to the summer series is Flying WILD, a hands-on conservation education program that examines bird biology and conservation. We are also offering workshops at two new locations this summer, said Theresa Alberici, who coordinates the programs through the Game Commissions Bureau of Information and Education. Project WILD will be held at the Tuscarora Wildlife Education Project in Mercersburg, Franklin County, and PA Songbirds will be held at at Black Rock Retreat in Quarryville, Lancaster County. For a complete list of courses being offered, go to the agencys website. The listing includes a two-page summary of the courses being offered from June through August in various parts of the state, followed by information on how to register for each of the courses. Project WILD is an award-winning, international, hands-on conservation education program. It focuses on wildlife and the environment and how humans interrelate with both. WILD provides educators, primarily kindergarten through 12th grade, with interdisciplinary activities that help address state and national education standards and help educators comply with mandates of the No Child Left Behind Act. WILDs materials are scientifically sound and use educational practices proven to be effective. WILDs mission is to provide wildlife-based conservation education that fosters responsible action. WILDs goal is to develop the awareness, skills, knowledge and commitment that are necessary for people to make informed decisions and act constructively and responsibly toward wildlife and the environment. Educators leave Project WILD workshops with a renewed appreciation of wildlife and are excited about how theyre going to share what theyve learned with their students, Alberici said. This year, wildlife agencies nationwide celebrated one million educators Gone WILD. More than one million educators have been trained in the program since Project WILD originated in 1983. Project WILD isnt about teaching kids what to think about wildlife; its about teaching kids how to think about wildlife and giving them the skills they need to become responsibly

active citizens who recognize the importance of wildlife and the environment. The milestone of training one million educators means that, through Project WILD, more than 53 million people worldwide have experience in thinking responsibly about natural resources. Last year alone, state wildlife agencies ordered more than 65,000 guides for distribution to educators across the country, reaching 1.8 million students with information on wildlife conservation. Alberici works closely with Game Commission Southeast Region Wildlife Education Specialist Dan Lynch and Southwest Region Wildlife Education Supervisor Joe Stefko, as well as the Department of Education and prominent conservation and environmental education organizations throughout the state and the country. Delaware Estuary Partnership Educators' Workshop July 9-13 The Partnership for the Delaware Estuary has teamed up with The Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education and the Delaware National Estuarine Research Reserve to host a Delaware Estuary Watershed Teacher Workshop July 9-13. Together the groups have created a one-week workshop for teachers on the finer points of environmental education. Educators can bone up on their environmental science during the Delaware Estuary Watershed Teacher Workshop. Not only do participants visit outdoor sites in three states, but also they earn approximately 30 professional development hours in one fell swoop. As if that werent enough, the workshop takes place during summer, and it costs just $50. For details, download the workshop brochure or call Cheryl Jackson of the Partnership for the Delaware Estuary at 800-445-4935, extension 112. Chatham University Offers Summer Sustainability Course In July Chatham University in Pittsburgh is now registering for its summer sustainability course to be held at Eden Hall Campus from July 8 through July 21. During the two-week summer program titled Food, Farm, and Field, students will gain a deeper understanding of issues relating to sustainability and the environment while living at the Universitys Eden Hall Campus in Richland Township, Pa. In this dynamic course, students will live on campus for two weeks, exploring the critical relationship among food, farm, and environment. The program will blend classroom learning, group discussions, field trips throughout the community, and hands-on lab and field activities on the farm and in the kitchen. Each day will also include time for fun and relaxation with swimming, hiking, yoga, and reflection through writing, video, and photography. Because we take an interdisciplinary approach in this program, we can provide a whole range of perspectives on the way our food moves through our environment and our communities, says Alice Julier, director of the Master of Arts in Food Studies program at Chatham. The program at Chatham involves hands-on experiential training at our Eden Hall site, but also engagement with practitioners throughout Pittsburgh. This connection between the agricultural and environmental landscape and the communities where food is prepared and consumed is our innovative approach to this course.

Instructors will include Chatham Universitys renowned faculty in sustainability, food studies, film and digital media, agroecology, and creative writing. Local farmers, chefs, and food suppliers will also provide their perspectives as guest lecturers. Current undergraduate or graduate students in any field of study who are enrolled in accredited institutions or those who have completed an undergraduate degree at an accredited institution are encouraged to apply, as well as are those interested in agritourism or working in the food service industry. Students will receive three academic credits at the upper division undergraduate or graduate level. The cost is $2,400 and includes all course materials, academic credits, lodging, meals, and activities. To register, create an account. Once created, select the Food, Farm, and Field option and provide the necessary information. For more information, visit Chatham University's School of Sustainability and the Environment webpage or call 412-365-1498 to speak with someone about the program. Space is limited. Pittsburgh Convention Center Achieves Platinum LEED Certification Consulting firm, evolveEA performed a ground-breaking study to evaluate the David L. Lawrence Convention Centers operations, marking the first time a prominent LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Certified building has undergone a comprehensive evaluation for green operations, which has culminated in the facility becoming the first LEED Platinum convention center certified under the Existing Buildings Operations and Maintenance rating system. Christine Mondor, Principal at evolveEA says This study illustrates that the DLCC, one of the greenest convention centers in the world, is an excellent example of a building whose smart design leverages efficient operations. It is also a great story of what can be achieved by an operations team that looks for constant improvement. In 2003, the DLCC catalyzed the green building movement in the convention industry, becoming the first LEED Gold Convention Center. Now, as a result of this study, the DLCC has reaffirmed its leadership after nearly a decade of operations. Evidenced by the more than 50 facilities that have achieved or are pursuing LEED certification, convention centers and event destinations are prioritizing sustainability as they begin to understand the marketing and cost saving implications of sustainable operations. evolveEA and its team investigated the convention centers performance, not only as a physical building, but as a functioning organization. To do this, the team benchmarked the DLCC against other convention centers, and provided recommendations to improve operations and leverage marketing opportunities. The study highlighted that over $15 million in DLCC revenues from 2006 to 2011 came from green-seeking events. These same events brought approximately $176 million in direct spending to the Pittsburgh region. In addition to added business, the convention centers design and how it has been operated has allowed it to save over $2-million in energy costs since 2005, compared to a conventional venue of its size. The study can be found online. Selected from a field of 25 national firms, evolveEA led a project team comprised of CJL Engineering, Carnegie Mellon Universitys Center for Building Performance and Diagnostics,

and Civil and Environmental Consultants. By analyzing energy consumption, water use, airflow, purchasing, waste management, transportation, marketing, and occupant behavior and satisfaction, the team identified opportunities to make improvements that will continue to generate financial savings, marketing value, and business growth. Key findings of the study include: -- The largest benefit of the DLCCs sustainability initiatives is increased business. Convention centers exist to bring spending into their communities. Many lose money on an annual basis so that they can bring tourist dollars to local businesses. By pursuing sustainability, the DLCC has attracted more events and direct spending to Pittsburgh while reducing its operating costs. Evidence suggests this could translate to other facilities. -- It is difficult to imagine a better investment in local economic development than that in the green features of the DLCC. Its green attributes cost approximately $3 million initially, but have been leveraged into $15 million in revenue and $176 million in direct spending (as measured since 2006). -- Convention centers are extremely difficult to compare. Traditional approaches to benchmarking facilities like Energy Star Portfolio Manager are not adequate for the convention industry, as they do not account for visitorship, number and/or duration of events. Measuring performance by size and visitorship together (i.e. Btu/sf/visitor) is more relevant and actionable for facilities, and the study built a cohort of sustainable facilities to do this. -- The overall environmental footprint of a convention is much larger than what happens within the convention center walls. The associated travel, hotel stays, local transportation, and dining of conference goers can have a much larger impact than what happens within the convention facility. In addition to focusing on their internal operations, leading facilities are working with their suppliers and local value chain to reduce their overall environmental footprint and increase the marketing value of their destinations. -- The Indoor Environmental Quality of a convention center can be extremely valuable in marketing a facility. The more comfortable visitors are, the more likely they are to stay longer in that space. Longer stays can potentially lead to higher sales for vendors. -- Convention centers are increasingly competing for the highest waste diversion rate to show their commitment to sustainability. Although important, diverting waste is only part of the equation. It is more sustainable to avoid creating the waste in the first place. As such, source reduction of waste, or the amount of waste created per visitor, is an important metric to track and understand Stephen Hockley, evolveEA project manager says This study represents a truly compelling business case for pursuing sustainability. It shows that no matter the business model, an organization can do well by doing good. To learn more about the project, visit the evolveEA Convention Center webpage or call Stephen Hockley at 412-362-2100. DEP Small Business Environmental Assistance Program Wins National Honors The Department of Environmental Protection's Small Business Environmental Assistance Program has earned the top honor for Small Business Environmental Assistance Programs nationwide.

The SBEAP National Steering Committee presented the 2012 Small Business Environmental Assistance Program Award in a ceremony held during the National 2012 Annual 507 Program Training in Washington DC. Dale Kaplan of Kaplans Careful Cleaners and chair of the Pennsylvania and National Compliance Advisory Committees, Susan Foster of Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, and Nancy Crickman, director of the Pennsylvania Small Business Development Centers Environmental Management Assistance Program (EMAP) accepted the award on behalf of the Pennsylvania program. The award recognizes exemplary performance in developing program innovations in one or more areas where programs have contributed their time, created resources and work products, promoted policy advancements, developed program innovations, and established new partnerships to build a strong network of small business assistance. At the state level, Pennsylvania has been a leader in small business environmental compliance assistance since 1994. Pennsylvania DEP has maintained all three program components the Small Business Compliance Advisory Committee, free and confidential environmental compliance assistance provided through a partnership with EMAP and the Pennsylvania DEP Small Business Ombudsman. We are proud of our program and happy that we have received national recognition for the work that we have done on a state level said Dale Kaplan. As a small business owner I understand the challenges small businesses face understanding and complying with complicated environmental regulations and appreciate Pennsylvania DEPs commitment to providing these vital resources. The Pennsylvania partners have worked together to develop innovative resources and tools for small businesses. One unique program that Pennsylvania offers is the DEP Small Business Advantage Grant which provides incentive funding to promote the implementation of pollution prevention and energy efficiency projects. Since its inception in 2004, the grant program has issued 744 grants for over $4,000,000 to fund projects which benefit the environment and save businesses money on their operating expenses. EMAP provides free and confidential compliance assistance to small businesses by helping with permit preparation, emission calculations, record keeping and conducting on-site environmental assessments and employee training. EMAP resources include a toll-free compliance hotline, 877-ask-EMAP, a website of resources and tools, www.askemap.org, and one-on-one free environmental consulting assistance. For more information, visit the PA Small Business Assistance webpage. Electric Utilities, Experts To Brief PUC On Summer Electric Demand June 7 The Public Utility Commission Wednesday announced its annual Summer Reliability Forum, which provides a snapshot of various conditions that may affect electric supply, price and service reliability for the upcoming summer, will be held in Harrisburg. The Summer Reliability Forum meeting will begin at 1:30 p.m. June 7, in Hearing Room 1 of the Commonwealth Keystone Building.

PUC Chairman Robert F. Powelson will make opening remarks. Representatives from the PUC, PJM Interconnection LLC, the Energy Association of Pennsylvania and their member electric companies have been invited to provide information and updates. Topics that will be covered during the meeting include: forecasted load and capacity; generation and transmission adequacy for the upcoming summer months; the perspectives of electric distribution companies on electric distribution system reliability and the NERC national summer assessment. NewsClips: PA Utility Companies Expect Faster Recovery Of Fees Off-Peak Electricity Plans Face Criticism Feds Forecast Drop In Electricity Prices This Summer Two Big Wind Farm Projects Canceled In State Wind Farm Project Moving Forward In Noxen Twp Private Sector Leads On Clean Energy, Covanta Evacs And Drills Pared Near Nuclear Plants Here's How To Cut Your Carbon Footprint PJM Region Shines With One Gigawatt Of Solar Power PJM Interconnection this month passed the one gigawattone billion watts milestone for solar power installed in its region. One gigawatt of electricity generated would power between 800,000 and one million homes. Solar power more than doubled in each of the last two years and continues to grow. The map shows the amount of solar capacity by county in PJM's region. "We're now truly harnessing the sun's power," said Andrew Ott, PJM senior vice president of Markets. "Throughout PJM we are seeing tremendous growth, which aids in meeting the renewable goals of states in our region," Ott said. The states' renewable goals are presented on page 47 of PJM's Regional Transmission Expansion Plan report. Businesses and residences who are able to generate at least one megawatt-hour of power from solar energy can qualify to capture credit for the megawatt-hour as a solar renewable energy credit (REC). The solar REC can be traded or sold to another entity to satisfy its compliance with state goals. PJM Environmental Information Services (EIS), a subsidiary of PJM, administers the registry, the Generation Attribute Tracking System (GATS), which tracks and records RECs. A portion of the one GW of solar is considered "behind-the-meter" generation because it is not offered into the PJM wholesale market. However, "behind-the-meter" solar is also tracked by the PJM EIS registry. PJM's Renewable Energy Dashboard provides a snapshot of how much renewable energy is available in PJM and proposed to be built in the region. NewsClips: PA Utility Companies Expect Faster Recovery Of Fees Off-Peak Electricity Plans Face Criticism Feds Forecast Drop In Electricity Prices This Summer Two Big Wind Farm Projects Canceled In State Wind Farm Project Moving Forward In Noxen Twp Private Sector Leads On Clean Energy, Covanta

Evacs And Drills Pared Near Nuclear Plants Here's How To Cut Your Carbon Footprint West Penn Power Whole House Energy Conservation Rebates Now Available Residential customers of West Penn Power can earn up to $1,200 in rebates through a new home energy audit program. The Whole House Program also can help customers increase the comfort of their home while saving on their monthly energy bills. Contractors in the Whole House Program will visit participating customers' homes to identify potential energy efficiency improvements through a two-part, comprehensive home energy audit. Using diagnostic testing and state-of-the-art home energy software, these contractors can predict energy savings for any number of possible home improvements, including air or duct sealing, insulation, duct insulation or the installation of new energy-efficient windows and doors. Contractors will identify and recommend the most cost-effective strategies to reduce energy usage and increase the comfort level of the home. Homeowners can then choose to make any or all of the recommended improvements. Energy savings are confirmed through a follow-up home energy audit after the improvements are made. For more information on the Whole House Program and other West Penn Power residential energy efficiency programs, visit the Energy Save PA website or call 1-888-265-6684. DEP Holds Energy Building Code Workshops In Meadville, Concordville May 23, 31 The Department of Environmental Protection invites residential code enforcement officials, builders, contractors and designers to a May 24 workshop in Meadville and May 31 in Concordville, Delaware County on the 2009 International Energy Conservation Code. The Meadville workshop runs from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Meadville Days Inn at 18360 Conneaut Lake Road. Registration begins at 8 a.m. The Concordville workshop runs from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Best Western at Route 322 and U.S. Route 1. Registration begins at 8 a.m. Breakfast and lunch will be provided as part of the $40 registration fee. The IECC is updated every three years by the International Code Council. In Pennsylvania, it is considered part of the Uniform Construction Code, according to Act 49. This workshop will focus on best-management practices in sustainable residential building. Participants will also learn about sizing of residential HVAC units according to the Manual J methodology, a protocol used to determine how much heating and cooling a home requires. Attendees will receive six UCC continuing education hours for completing the training. Mike Turns, associate director of the Pennsylvania Housing Research Center, will be the instructor. Funding for the workshop is provided by the state through a U.S. Department of Energy State Energy Program grant.

For more information and to register, visit the PA Construction Codes Academy webpage or call 717-763-0930. AFREC, Mid-Atlantic Energy Council Hosts Sustainability Summit May 31 In Hershey AFREC and the Mid-Atlantic Energy Council will host a Sustainability Summit on May 31 in Hershey, Pa which will feature presentations on the impact of sustainability on companies covering a wide spectrum of sustainability from IT, water and energy. Speakers will include Lowell Cisowski, The Coca-Cola Company, Paul Gilman, Senior Vice President and Chief Sustainability Officer for Covanta Energy, Kathy Pape, President of PA American Water and many others. For more information, visit the AFREC website. PJM Auction Secures New Generation, Demand Response, Energy Efficiency With an unprecedented amount of electric generation retiring within the next three years, PJM Interconnection's capacity market secured record amounts of new generation, demand resources and energy efficiency to keep the grid reliable. PJM Friday announced the results of its capacity market, the annual Reliability Pricing Model (RPM) auction, for resources to meet power supply needs between June 1, 2015, and May 31, 2016. The RPM auction procured a record amount of new generation in one year, 4,900 megawatts (MW). In addition, capacity imported from west of PJM increased about 8 percent from last year to 4,335 MW. The RPM establishes contracts with power producers who commit to make their facilities available to provide electricity for the PJM system for a year. Prices are established through competitive bidding. PJM's auction also includes demand response and energy efficiency providers. This year, the auction procured 164,561 MW of capacity resources at a base price of $136 per MW. A megawatt is enough electricity to power 800 to 1,000 homes. PJM's all-time peak demand is 158,448 MW. Prices were higher in northern Ohio and the Mid-Atlantic region. "PJM is effectively, efficiently and reliably handling a massive shift in generation from coal to natural gas," said Andy Ott, PJM senior vice president Markets. "The RPM auction is addressing, in a quick and orderly manner, what could have been a prolonged and uncertain process to identify replacement resources. Simply put, RPM was put to the test and performed well." Ott added, "Nevertheless, much work needs to be done, including transmission upgrades required by plant retirements in order to deliver power supplies to population centers." In addition to new generation, most of it natural gas-fired, the capacity auction also procured 14,833 MW of demand response, a 5 percent increase over last year, and energy efficiency, a 12 percent increase. The amount of demand response was also a record for PJM, as well as for renewable generation. Solar increased to 56 MW of solar a 22 percent increase over last year and wind increased to 796 MW a 15 percent increase.

"Capacity prices were higher than last year's because of retirements of existing coal-fired generation resulting largely from environmental regulations which go into effect in 2015," Ott said. "The retirements impacted northern Ohio to a larger extent than the rest of PJM for several reasons including inherent transmission restrictions, and the level of retirements in that area relative to the rest of PJM. Thursday, PJM's board approved significant upgrades to address the transmission issues." In northern Ohio served by FirstEnergy, the price will be $357 per megawatt. The price of capacity in much of the Mid-Atlantic area will be $167 per megawatt. The area includes the regions served by Atlantic City Electric, Baltimore Gas and Electric Company, Delmarva Power, Jersey Central Power and Light Company (JCP&L), Metropolitan Edison Company (Met-Ed), PECO, Pennsylvania Electric Company (Penelec), Pepco, PPL Electric Utilities, Public Service Electric and Gas Company (PSE&G) and Rockland Electric Company. Ott noted that the 2015 capacity prices' overall effect on retail consumers' electricity rates is expected to be moderated by other factors. "Capacity is a fairly small component of the retail price of electricity, and the cost of capacity at the retail level tends to be averaged out over several years," Ott explained. "In addition, if natural gas prices remain low, that would tend to restrain retail electricity prices." Concurrent with the capacity auction, PJM's planning process is ensuring that electric transmission improvements are built to deliver power where it is needed. Thursday, the PJM Board approved $2 billion in electric transmission system upgrades to strengthen the transmission grid in response to the announced retirements of nearly 14,000 MW of coal-fired generation because of environmental regulations. "The transparent way in which PJM's planning process identifies needed transmission upgrades is working in tandem with the capacity market results we are announcing today," said Terry Boston, president and chief executive officer. "Together, they are proving to be the best mechanisms for responding to the challenges of this unprecedented change in fuel mix and will help us keep the lights on." Although the RPM auction procured sufficient resources to meet the projected demand, some generating units may need to remain available beyond their proposed retirement dates until transmission upgrades are completed. These units would be operated under "reliability must run" agreements. NewsClips: PA Utility Companies Expect Faster Recovery Of Fees Off-Peak Electricity Plans Face Criticism Feds Forecast Drop In Electricity Prices This Summer Two Big Wind Farm Projects Canceled In State Wind Farm Project Moving Forward In Noxen Twp Private Sector Leads On Clean Energy, Covanta Evacs And Drills Pared Near Nuclear Plants Here's How To Cut Your Carbon Footprint DEP Fines Crawford County Sand, Gravel Producer $33,065 For Waste Violations The Department of Environmental Protection has levied a $33,065 fine against Herbert L. Hasbrouck and Marion L. Hasbrouck of Oil Creek Township, Crawford County, and Hasbrouck

Sand and Gravel Inc. of Titusville, Crawford County, for violations of the Solid Waste Management Act related to the improper handling and disposal of waste tires. Proper disposal of waste is essential to preserving the quality of Pennsylvanias air, land and water, DEP Northwest Regional Director Kelly Burch said. The Solid Waste Management Act provides a mechanism for DEP to monitor and enforce appropriate disposal methods. In January 2011, DEP conducted an inspection of the Hasbrouck property and observed a large pile of incinerated tires that had been reduced to ashes. Smoke and flames were visible during the inspection and additional waste tires were scattered throughout the burn area. DEP staff determined that the tires were generated by Hasbrouck Sand and Gravel and transported to the property. The agency issued a Notice of Violation in February 2011, and numerous follow-up inspections confirmed the waste tires and tire ash that remained on the property had not been removed. On January 11, 2012, DEP issued an administrative order to Herbert L. Hasbrouck and Marion L. Hasbrouck and Hasbrouck Sand and Gravel to immediately cease transport of solid waste to the property; remove any remaining waste tires and waste ash; and submit receipts indicating proper disposal. DEP conducted a final follow-up inspection at the property on March 8 and concluded that all conditions of the administrative order were met. PA Council Of Professional Geologists Offer Training Courses The PA Council of Professional Geologists is offering several training courses in June and August on topics related to Marcellus Shale and rock slope engineering. The courses include: -- June 13: Marcellus Shale Environmental Management, Williamsport; -- June 27: Marcellus Shale Environmental Management, Mars; and -- August 2-3: Practical Rock Slope Engineering, Malvern. Click Here for more information and to register.

Grants & Awards

This section gives you a heads up on upcoming deadlines for awards and grants and other recognition programs. NEW means new from last week. May 25-- EPA/American Rivers Potomac Highlands Restoration Grants May 31-- Expedition Chesapeake Student Essay Contest June 8-- Richard C. Bartlett Environmental Education Award June 8-- Game Commission State Wildlife Grants June 29-- DEP Act 101 Recycling Implementation, Waste Planning Grants July 6-- PROP Recycling Film Festival July 15-- Pocono Forest and Waters CLI Conservation Assistance Grants July 31-- DCNR Southcentral PA Natural Resource Protection Grants August 1-- PA Snowmobile Assn. Trail Improvement Grants August 24-- Foundation for PA Watershed Grants

September 1-- Erie TreeVitalize Grants October 31-- PA Resources Council Lens On Litter Contest December 14-- NEW. EPA College Campus RainWorks Challenge -- Visit the DEP Grants and Loan Programs webpage for more ideas on how to get financial assistance for environmental projects.

Budget/Quick Clips
Here's a selection of NewClips on environmental topics from around the state-Budget Budget Restoration Debate Takes Off Heated Negotiations Expected Over State Budget House To Take On Senate's Budget Plan House Democrats File Brief In Impact Fee Lawsuit Op-Ed: We're About To Close Rachel Carson Building Library Editorial: Corbett Must Realize Some Cuts Go Too Far Lancaster Groups Want Corbett To Restore Farmland Preservation Business Leaders Push Corbett For Transportation Fixes Corbett Open To Spending More With Protesters Near, Corbett Sticks To Budget Message Protesters Denounce Corbett's Opera Achievement Award Other PA Utility Companies Expect Faster Recovery Of Fees Here's How To Cut Your Carbon Footprint Off-Peak Electricity Plans Face Criticism Feds Forecast Drop In Electricity Prices This Summer Two Big Wind Farm Projects Canceled In State Wind Farm Project Moving Forward In Noxen Twp Private Sector Leads On Clean Energy, Covanta Evacs And Drills Pared Near Nuclear Plants Mega-Lawsuit Claims Nuke Contamination In Armstrong DEP Sets May 30 Hearing On Armstrong County Site Cleanup Cleanup To Begin Soon At Former GAF Site June 14 Meeting On Northumberland Transfer Station Postponed Court Decision Ends Developer's Challenge To Farm Preservation BioBlitzers Take Aim On Kings Gap Environmental Center Recreational Opportunities Grow With Kiski River Trail Lackawanna River Trail Gains Ground Project Focuses On Farm-Friendly Raptors Game Commission Sets Songbird Workshop At Black Rock Game Commission: Understanding When To Leave Fawns Alone Game Commission To Lease Land For Drilling In Bradford

Brian Hoover Nominated For Game Commission Board Comeback Of American Chestnut Needs Our Help Point State Park Fountain Project Boosted By Mild Winter Flight 93 Memorial Fundraiser Nets $2 Million

Marcellus Shale NewsClips

Here are NewsClips on topics related to Marcellus Shale natural gas drilling--Gas Drillers In PA Reduce Environmental Violations Study: PA's Regulations Have Been Effective Corbett: Doctor Concerns Over Drilling Law May Be Moot Medical Records Could Yield Answers On Fracking DEP's Krancer And EPA On Drilling: It's Complicated Wayne Paper Stands Behind Story About DEP Secretary Editorial: Barking Up Wrong Tree On Fracking For Gas Is PA Ignoring Health Issues On Shale Drilling? Residents: PA Ignoring Drilling Related Health Complaints NPR: With Gas Boom, PA Fears New Toxic Legacy Reporting Of Fracking, Drilling Violations Weak In PA Gas Drillers In PA Trim Risks Of Harm Study Finds Taxpayers Pay As Fracking Trucks Overwhelm Rural Roads Some Marcellus Drilling Waste Comes To Lancaster County PA Farmer Speaks Out Against Fracking At Memorial For Wife Sewickley Township OKs Oil, Gas Deal Peters Twp. Official Concerned About PSATS Role In Drilling Law Fayette Commissioners Won't Back Shale Lawsuit Presentation On Water Protection, Gas Easements In Elk County Game Commission Accepting Bids For Drilling In Tioga County Game Commission To Lease Land For Drilling In Bradford Leaders Mull Natural Gas Boomlet In NE PA Forum: Shale, Health Care Bringing Change In NE PA Pittsburgh Rides Wave Of Westward Drilling Shale Drilling Will Play A Role In Erie Economy New Training Center For Marcellus Shale Workers Opens Natural Gas Garbage Trucks Save Money Corbett Wants More Natural Gas Vehicles On PA Roads UGI To Drop Rates In December 5 Drilling Companies Spend $1.3 Million In Lobbying Fee Bill Post-Gazette, Allegheny Front Win Awards For Shale Coverage Financial/Other States Chesapeake To Slow Land Acquisition, Focus On Drilling Liquids NY Regulations Would Prevent PA Fracking Problems Report Says

Flooding/Watershed NewsClips
Here are NewsClips on watershed topics from around the state-Flooding First Flood Aid Bill Moving In Other Chamber Flood Wall Repairs In Kittanning Moving Ahead Other Watershed NewsClips Stonycreek River Of The Year Celebration Somerset Conservation District Calling For Rain Barrel Use Water Purification Potential Surprises Science Award Winner East Pennsboro Watershed Initiative Receives Grant Dauphin County Group Receives PA American Water Grant Presentation On Water Protection, Gas Easements In Elk County PNC Funding Mountaintop Mining Hit Bringing Urban Waterfronts Back To Life: Philadelphia Edition

Regulations, Technical Guidance & Permits

No new regulations were published this week. Pennsylvania Bulletin - May 19, 2012 Proposed Regulations Open For Comment - DEP webpage Proposed Regulations With Closed Comment Periods - DEP webpage DEP Regulatory Agenda - DEP webpage

Technical Guidance & Permits

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice of final guidance on bonding for coal mining land reclamation and on tracking financial guarantees and bond credits. DEP also published notice of proposed 2016 annual and ozone season nitrogen oxide allowance allocations (PA Bulletin page 2808). The Department of Community and Economic Development published notice of the proposed Weatherization Assistance Plan. Final: DEP ID: 563-2504-001. Conventional Bonding for Land ReclamationCoal. Description: This guidance describes the regulatory and statutory requirements for determining bond amounts. Final: DEP ID: 563-2504-501. Qualifying, Processing and Tracking Financial Guarantees and Bond Credits. The purpose of this document is to provide guidance to evaluate, process and track Remining Financial Guarantees and bond credits.

Technical Guidance Comment Deadlines - DEP webpage Copies Of Draft Technical Guidance - DEP webpage Copies of Final Technical Guidance - DEP webpage

Calendar Of Events
Upcoming legislative meetings, conferences, workshops, plus links to other online calendars. Meetings are in Harrisburg unless otherwise noted. NEW means new from last week. Go to the online Calendar webpage. Click on Agenda Released on calendar entries to see the NEW meeting agendas published this week. May 22-- House Finance Committee meets to consider Senate Bill 1150 (Smucker-R-Lancaster) providing for historic preservation tax credits. Room 60 East Wing. 10:00. May 22-- House Tourism and Recreational Development Committee holds an informational meeting on House Bill 1495 (Moul-R-Adams) further providing for the liability of landowners opening their property for recreation. Room B-31. 10:00. May 22-- NEW. House Local Government Committee meets to consider House Bill 2223 (Gingrich-R-Lebanon) further providing for the preservation of open space by local governments. Room 205 Ryan Building. 9:00. May 22-- NEW. Senate Game and Fisheries Committee holds a hearing on ongoing problems with the Susquehanna River and a case for impairment by the Fish & Boat Commission. Room 461. 11:00. May 22-- NEW. Senate Labor and Industry Committee meets to consider House Bill 728 (Barrar-R-Bucks) setting new standards for emergency shut-off values for facilities dispensing flammable liquids. Room 461. 10:00. May 23-- NEW. House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee meets to consider House Bill 1775 (George-D-Clearfield) amending the Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards to address ownership of alternative energy credits, House Bill 1659 (Pyle-R-Armstrong) providing for a uniform permit review and consideration process within DEP, House Bill 2359 (Causer-RCameron) further providing for stream clearance of flood debris, Senate Bill 367 (D.White-RIndiana) authorizing the sale and development of mineral rights under other state-owned land and allocating the funding from the development. Room G-50 Irvis Building. 9:00. May 23-- NEW. Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee meets to consider Senate Bill 1346 (Kasunic-D-Somerset) encouraging the use of mine drainage water for fracking

and other purposes, House Bill 1934 (Keller-R-Snyder) amending Act 101 to exclude the populations of prisons and other state facilities in calculating mandated recycling communities. Room 8E-A East Wing. 10:30. May 23-- Agenda Released. DCNR Conservation and Natural Resources Advisory Council meeting. Room 105 Rachel Carson Building. 10:00. (formal notice) May 24-- CANCELED. DEP Climate Change Advisory Committee meeting. The meeting has been rescheduled for June 21. (formal notice) June 5-- CANCELED. DEP Storage Tank Advisory Committee meeting. The next scheduled meeting is September 11. (formal notice) June 7-- NEW. House Democratic Policy Committee holds a hearing on climate change. Philadelphia Seaport Museum. 10:00. June 7-- NEW. Public Utility Commission briefing on summer electric demand. Hearing Room 1, Keystone Building. 1:30. June 7-- CANCELED. DEP Solid Waste Advisory Committee meeting. Agenda available. The next scheduled meeting is September 13. (formal notice) June 7-- NEW. Susquehanna River Basin Commission meeting. Binghamton State Office Building, Binghamton, NY. 9:00. (formal notice) June 18-- Location Added. Environmental Issues Forum, Joint Legislative Air and Water Pollution Control and Conservation Committee will feature a presentation by the PA Biomass Energy Association. Room G-5- Irvis Building. Noon. June 21-- NEW. DEP Climate Change Advisory Committee meeting. Room 105 Rachel Carson Building. 10:00. (formal notice) DEP Calendar of Events Note: The Environmental Education Workshop Calendar is no longer available from the PA Center for Environmental Education because funding for the Center was eliminated in the FY 2011-12 state budget. The PCEE website was also shutdown, but some content was moved to the PA Association of Environmental Educators' website. Senate Committee Schedule House Committee Schedule

You can watch the Senate Floor Session and House Floor Session live online.

Stories Invited

Send your stories, photos and videos about your project, environmental issues or programs for publication in the PA Environment Digest to: DHess@CrisciAssociates.com. PA Environment Digest is edited by David E. Hess, former Secretary Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and is published as a service to the clients of Crisci Associates, a Harrisburg-based government and public affairs firm whose clients include Fortune 500 companies and non-profit organizations. For more information on Crisci Associates, call 717-234-1716. PA Environment Digest weekly was the winner of the PA Association of Environmental Educators' 2009 Business Partner of the Year Award. Also sign up for these other services from Crisci Associates-PA Environment Digest Twitter Feed: On Twitter, sign up to receive instant updates from: PAEnviroDigest. PA Environment Daily Blog: provides daily environmental NewsClips and significant stories and announcements on environmental topics in Pennsylvania of immediate value. Sign up and receive as they are posted updates through your favorite RSS reader. You can also sign up for a once daily email alerting you to new items posted on this blog. PA Environment Digest Video Blog: showcases original and published videos from environmental groups and agencies around the state. Sign up to receive as they are posted updates through your favorite RSS read. You can also sign up for a once daily email alerting you to new items posted on this blog. PA Capitol Digest: Don't forget to sign up to receive the PA Capitol Digest Twitter feed by going to: www.Twitter.com/PaCapitolDigest or click on this link for the regular daily PA Capitol Digest Blog to get other news from in and around the Pennsylvania State Capitol.

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