PA Environment Digest
An Update On Environmental Issues In Pennsylvania
Edited By: David E. Hess,
Crisci Associates
Winner Of
PA Association of Environmental Educators
Business Partner Of The Year Award
PA Environment Digest Daily Blog
Twitter Feed
Issue #613 Harrisburg, PA March 28, 2016
Winners Of 2016 Governor’s Award For Environmental Excellence Announced
Gov. Tom Wolf Monday announced that 17
organizations involved in 14 projects from across
the Commonwealth will receive the prestigious
Governor’s Award for Environmental Excellence
.
These award winners represent the best in
using innovation, collaboration, and public service
to improve and protect Pennsylvania’s environment.
“Pennsylvania is blessed with an abundance of natural beauty,” said Gov. Wolf. “The
award winners prove that Pennsylvania is also blessed with excellent environmental stewards. I
applaud every winning and nominated organization for their commitment to the commonwealth
and our environment.”
Pennsylvania businesses, schools, government agencies, trade or nonprofit
organizations, or agribusinesses that have completed projects to promote environmental
stewardship and economic development were eligible to apply for the award. The winners were
selected by the Department of Environmental Protection.
“DEP received dozens of entries from projects using innovative approaches to solve
Pennsylvania’s environmental concerns,” said DEP Secretary John Quigley. “The 14 exemplary
projects awarded today support DEP’s mission of protecting Pennsylvania’s land, air, water, and
public health.”
The winners of this year’s award are (listed by county)
Allegheny County
Allegheny Land Trust – Community Awakening of Dead Man’s Hollow:
The
Allegheny
Land Trust
engaged residents, municipalities, businesses, and nonprofits to complete a
comprehensive land management plan for the historic 450acre property at Dead Man’s Hollow,
the largest privately protected conservation area in the county.
Borough of Etna – Etna Green Streetscape Phase 1:
Etna’s Green Streetscape project has
installed 12 new trees, 2,300 cubic feet of underground storage, 2,900 square feet of pervious
pavers, and downspout connections – all of which are stormwater management best practices that
improve local water quality.
Pittsburgh’s Green Building Alliance – Pittsburgh 2030 District:
The
Green Building
Alliance’s
Pittsburgh 2030 District is a voluntary, locally driven initiative focused on
highperformance buildings to balance economic prosperity and environmental concerns.
Click
Here
for more details.
Dauphin County
Chesapeake Bay FoundationPA – Riparian Forested Buffer Stewardship:
The
Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s
Riparian Forested Buffer project provided tens of thousands of
trees to landowners to foster the creation of riparian buffers, which will improve the water
quality of the Susquehanna Watershed.
Phoenix Contact Services, Inc. – Phoenix ContactEmployee/Visitor Electric Vehicle
Charging Stations
:
Phoenix Contact
dedicated eight parking spaces to electric vehicle charging
stations. Those stations are available, for free, to employees and to the public to charge electric
and hybrid vehicles, which reduce fossil fuel usage.
Delaware County
PA Resources Council & Eastern Delaware County Stormwater Collaborative – Darby
Cobbs Stormwater Initiative: Getting to the New Normal:
The
PA Resources Council
and the
Eastern Delaware Stormwater Collaborative
partnered to educate the residents of the Darby and
Cobbs creeks watersheds on rain gardens and the best practices for stormwater management.
Franklin County
Pennsylvania State University Department of Animal Science & Franklin County
Conservation – 2015 North American Manure Expo:
The
North American Manure Expo
at
Chambersburg attracted livestock producers and manure handlers from the state, midAtlantic
region, and beyond to meet with national experts on manure nutrient issues.
Lycoming County
Jersey Shore Area High School – Jersey Shore Outdoor Club:
The volunteers of the
Jersey
Shore Area High School
Outdoor Club removed a damaged flood culvert on a tributary of Pine
Creek, cleaned up the Tomb Flats Picnic and Campground area, and restored 28 miles the
Tiadaghton Hiking Trail.
Montgomery County
— SBM Site Services (in collaboration with Jones Lange LaSalle & Sustainable Waste
Solutions) – Food Waste Composting Program Reengineering:
SBM Site Services
reengineered waste composting programs at two locations in order to keep 70.76 tons of food
waste out of landfills.
Montour County
Geisinger Medical Center – Janet Weis Children’s Hospital Solar Panel Project:
As part
of its commitment to a sustainable future, Geisinger installed 144 solar panels on the roof of the
Janet Weis Children’s Hospital
to serve as an educational tool on the environmental benefits of
solar energy while creating a cleaner environment.
Philadelphia County
— Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority – Griscom Wayside Energy
Storage System:
SEPTA’s Griscom Wayside Energy Storage System
, located on SEPTA’s most
heavily traveled route, the MarketFrankford Line, recycled a train’s braking energy to reduce
electricity consumption and to generate revenue.
Wayne County
Sustainable Energy Education and Development Support (SEEDS) of Northeastern PA
– SEED’s Free Energy Assessment Program (5th Season):
SEEDS Program has offered free,
customized energy assessments of a home’s energy efficiencies to the residents of Wayne and
Pike counties since 2010. To date, SEEDS has assessed 200 buildings and has provided summer
jobs for more than 15 area high school students.
Multiple Counties
Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission – Regional Traffic Signal Program Cycle 2:
The
Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission’s
Regional Traffic Signal Program assisted 28
municipalities in seven counties with optimizing traffic lights at 207 intersections in the region,
demonstrating a costeffective way to reduce fuel consumption and emissions while improving
the safety of the region’s roadways.
The
PA Environmental Council
and DEP will
host a dinner to honor the award winners
on April 19 at the Harrisburg Hilton. Secretary Quigley will deliver the keynote address.
For more information on this awards program, visit DEP’s
Governor’s Awards for
Environmental Excellence
webpage.
NewsClips:
Jersey Shore Environmental Project Earns Governor’s Award
Manure Expo Wins PA Environmental Award
Erie Benedictine Pat Lupo Honored With Women In Conservation Award
Sister Pat Lupo Honored With Women In Conservation Award In Erie
In recognition of Women’s History Month,
PennFuture
, in
conjunction with the National Wildlife Federation,
Wednesday presented its 2016 Celebrating Women in
Conservation Award to Sister Pat Lupo of the
Benedictine
Sisters of Erie
for her dedication and achievements in the
environmental field.
At a reception at the
Erie Art Museum
, PennFuture
president and CEO, Larry Schweiger, said of Lupo, "Sister
Pat’s efforts to mitigate climate change and transition the
commonwealth to clean energy are deeply rooted in her
faith and passion for educating others. Her tireless activism is evident in the numerous
organizations with which she is affiliated and her consistent presence in the community."
Lupo has served on Gov. Tom Wolf’s transition team for environmental protection,
devoted 26 years as a member of the Department of Environmental Protection’s Citizens
Advisory Council, and was a finalist for the Green Building Alliance’s 2015 Luminary Award.
She has served on numerous local and regional, environmentally focused boards such as
the County Off Shore Wind Committee, Erie Vital Signs, Great Lakes Commission, Lake Erie
Region Conservancy, Northwest Pennsylvania Green Economy Task Force, Our Water Our
Rights, PA Lake Erie Watershed Association, PA Sea Grant, Presque Isle PAC, and served on
the Environmental Advisory Committee for Sen. Sean Wiley (DErie).
Additionally, Sr. Lupo is a member of the Emmaus Grove, Erie Urban Farm School, and
Mount St. Benedict Energy steering committees.
"We all know that no one person earns an award and this is true of this award," said Lupo
as she accepted the honor. "This award belongs to the people I work with every day. They, too,
are committed to inspire and transform the next generation. With Margaret Mead I am convinced
that we should, 'Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the
world; indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.'"
With the next generation at the heart of her work, Lupo is a steadfast advocate for
environmental education and works with the Erie Neighborhood Art House and John E Horan
Garden Apartments leading Green Teams, community gardening, clean up, recycling, and
volunteer initiatives.
"I don’t think there is anything more rewarding than working with children and young
adults unless it’s meeting them 10 or 20 years later and seeing the wonderful people they have
become," said Lupo.
"Our environmental program strives to have the children become catalysts for action in
their neighborhoods," added Lupo. "In the process, they become aware of environmental
concepts and strategic planning; they work on projects with neighbors, businesses and
government officials. They learn the importance of sharing their knowledge with others as well
as supporting the work of other groups in our community. Our young people, all young people,
are awesome when given the opportunity."
Unafraid to speak out on critical issues, Lupo has penned countless blog posts and
opinion pieces in local and regional newspapers, often connecting faith and the environment with
what she believes is a moral obligation for people to care for the planet.
"A call to action has been issued by the faith leaders in our communities," said Lupo.
"We have a moral imperative to live sustainably now so that a healthy, vibrant Earth can be
passed to the next generations. This call to action means that we pursue social justice causes in
legislation – in the public arena. It means we form new alliances and break through the partisan
divides that threaten the life of the planet on every side."
Over 75 members of the community, including faith, environmental, elected leaders were
on hand to congratulate Lupo, including Erie County Executive Kathy Dahlkemper.
"Each year PennFuture acknowledges outstanding contributions in the areas of
Pennsylvania’s environmental health and conservation," added Schweiger. "We’re thrilled to
recognize this fearless champion and faith leader who effectively educates and mobilizes her
community in conservation and climate action."
NewsClips:
Erie Benedictine Pat Lupo Honored With Women In Conservation Award
Jersey Shore Environmental Project Earns Governor’s Award
Manure Expo Wins PA Environmental Award
Hearing: Electronics Manufacturers Need To Pay For EWaste Actually Collected
The
Joint HouseSenate Legislative Air and
Water Pollution Control and Conservation
Committee
heard testimony Monday saying the
collapse of the state’s Electronics Waste
Recycling Program resulted from the fact that
the amount of material actually collected by
local recycling programs is many times more
than the amount of waste electronics
manufacturers are required to pay for under the
2010 Covered Device Recycling Law.
This problem is particularly acute in the case of old tubestyle CRT televisions and
monitors.
Ken Reisinger
, DEP Deputy Secretary for Waste, Air, Radiation and Remediation,
reported over 17 million pounds of CRTs were collected and warehoused in Erie alone awaiting
recycling and there are few affordable options for CRT recycling available.
Robert Bylone
of the
PA Recycling Markets Center
said over twothirds of Pennsylvania
counties do not have access to free and convenient CRT and electronics recycling, adding this
year only 32 of the 377 collection sites expected to be in operation will even accept all
electronics and TVs just 8.5 percent.
PRMC estimated last year as many as 9 million CRTs are left to recycle across
Pennsylvania.
Witnesses said with no good recycling options, there has been a dramatic increase in the
number of TVs and other electronics just dumped in the countryside.
“We are finding piles of stripped televisions carcasses of broken plastic and shards of
leaded glass scattered in open fields and on deadend streets. People have resorted to dumping
TVs and other electronic devices illegally on vacant lots, in wooded areas, and over riverbanks,”
said
Shannon Reiter
, President of
Keep PA Beautiful
. “Others are sneaking them into nearby
dumpsters or abandoning them at recycling dropoffs — even when clearly posted that these
materials are not accepted. All of this is costing our communities valuable resources and is
polluting our environment.
Representatives of York and Elk counties outlined the difficulties they have had
maintaining their electronics recycling programs.
“For residents seeking to recycle their electronic devices at no charge as the act
intended Elk County is the only outlet within the 5,279 square miles, that includes Elk,
McKean, Clearfield, Warren, Cameron, Jefferson and Forest counties,” said
Bekki Titchner
,
Recycling Coordinator for Elk County.
“If 100 percent of the population is banned from throwing away a TV, then 100 percent
of the population needs to be provided with free, convenient access to recycling [not 85 percent
as it says in the CDRA],” said Titchner. “And processors need to be paid enough by the
manufacturers to cover their costs, particularly the costs specific to recycling old leaded glass
TVs and monitors. These orphan devices aren’t going away anytime soon, and putting a cap on
market share combined with a disposal ban is working against everything the law intends.”
“From the [York] Authority’s perspective, the Commonwealth’s ewaste management
framework is fundamentally flawed and the CDRA should be modified,” said
David Vollero
,
Executive Director of the
York Solid Waste and Refuse Authority
. “Most importantly, if the
General Assembly’s policy objective is comprehensive producer responsibility for ewaste, the
equipment manufacturers’ combined recycling obligation absolutely must match the type and
quantity of material delivered for recycling.”
Vollero said they just reached agreement Monday with an electronics recycler to restart
their local program, but cautioned that may only be a temporary measure.
Ned Eldridge
, CEO of
eLoop LLC
, an electronics recycler in Western Pennsylvania, said
even in the best of times, funding from manufacturers only covered 5055 percent of the cost of
recycling, but in today’s commodity markets, recycling programs cannot be maintained unless
the full costs of recycling are covered.
Rep. Chris Ross (RChester), the original sponsor of the CDRA, said, “If you’re around
here long enough, you get to fix things that go off the rails with a law you helped enact and that’s
the case with CDRA.”
Rep. Ross is working on legislation House Bill 1900 to require electronics
manufacturers to pay for significantly more of the material actually collected as a temporary
measure to get over the problem with recycling CRTs in particular.
Rep. Ross said he opposed lifting the ban on dumping electronics in landfills now part of
the CDRA because he believes it undermines the recycling capacity the state does have and
would create a longterm “timebomb” where lead could leach from the crushed CRT monitors.
Ken Reisinger, DEP Deputy Secretary for Waste, Air, Radiation and Remediation, said
his agency would like to see the amount of waste collected and the amount of waste electronics
manufacturers pay for brought back into alignment and recycling expanded to every county in
the state.
Reisinger noted CDRA has resulted in manufacturers paying for the recycling of over
200 million pounds of electronics over the last 4 years and will again this year collect and pay for
another 62 million pounds.
The Joint Conservation Committee will be accepting comments on the CDRA and
electronics waste recycling until June 21. Send comments to:
[email protected]
.
Click Here
to watch a video of the hearing.
A more detailed summary of the nearly 3your hearing and written testimony follows.
Keep PA Beautiful
“The lack of access to convenient and affordable disposal and recycling is causing a crisis
in Pennsylvania,” said
Shannon Reiter
, President of
Keep PA Beautiful
. “ This lack of access is
best illustrated by the fact that we are seeing so many standalone, isolated electronics dumped
across the state in urban, suburban and rural communities, in state parks, game lands, and
forests.
“We are finding piles of stripped televisions carcasses of broken plastic and shards of
leaded glass scattered in open fields and on deadend streets. People have resorted to dumping
TVs and other electronic devices illegally on vacant lots, in wooded areas, and over riverbanks,”
said Reiter. “Others are sneaking them into nearby dumpsters or abandoning them at recycling
dropoffs — even when clearly posted that these materials are not accepted. All of this is costing
our communities valuable resources and is polluting our environment.
“Public works crews are spending time and money routinely picking up abandoned
televisions. The City of Lancaster has shared that they are cleaning up 10 to 20 televisions a
week. The City of Allentown reported 40 a month,” added Reiter.
“From Erie to Philadelphia, and Washington to Scranton, and everywhere in between our
communities and our volunteers are left to clean up these materials,” said Reiter. “We need your
help. We urge you to fix the Covered Device Recycling Act.”
(Photo courtesy of Keep PA Beautiful.)
Just 2 weeks ago,
Keep PA Beautiful
launched a
new electronics waste recycling website
to give consumers more information on the issue and where they can recycle TVs.
York County
“The Authority’s efforts to provide affordable ewaste recycling to York County have
likewise been complicated by DEP’s interpretation of the CDRA. Safetosay the CDRA has
been a challenge for DEP as well,” said
David Vollero
, Executive Director of the
York Solid
Waste and Refuse Authority
.
“For example, the Department maintains the position that the CDRA prohibits collectors
(e.g. the Authority) from charging customers who deliver covered devices to a recycling
program, when that program is also subsidized by an equipment manufacturer,” said Vollero.
“The Authority, based on the advice of counsel, disagrees with this interpretation and, in fact,
many local government sponsored ewaste collection programs are subsidized in some fashion
by both the agency (e.g. labor, administrative support, and provision of facilities) and equipment
manufacturers.
“In 2015 the Authority spent approximately $50K of local funds to support our program
that collected more than 3,000,000 pounds of ewaste. The program was also subsidized by
equipment manufacturers,” explained Vollero. “We estimate it would have cost the Authority
approximately $1 million to offer our residents that same program without manufacturer support.
Thus confusion around allowable program funding, and other aspects of the CDRA, bring more
uncertainty and instability to the Commonwealth’s ewaste recycling infrastructure.
“From the Authority’s perspective, the Commonwealth’s ewaste management
framework is fundamentally flawed and the CDRA should be modified,” said Vollero. “Most
importantly, if the General Assembly’s policy objective is comprehensive producer
responsibility for ewaste, the equipment manufacturers’ combined recycling obligation
absolutely must match the type and quantity of material delivered for recycling.
“If comprehensive producer responsibility is not the policy objective, then the disposal
ban [now in the CDRA] should be lifted. Responsible ewaste recycling is relatively expensive,
but even without the disposal ban, in times of high commodity prices most ewaste would be
recycled,” said Vollero. “However, in lean times like we see now, residents could dispose of
unwanted ewaste safely and affordably if there were no disposal ban.”
Elk County
“For residents seeking to recycle their electronic devices at no charge as the act
intended Elk County is the only outlet within the 5,279 square miles, that includes Elk,
McKean, Clearfield, Warren, Cameron, Jefferson and Forest counties,” said
Bekki Titchner
,
Recycling Coordinator for Elk County.
“That doesn’t mean there is no cost to Elk County. In fact, due to elements of the
Covered Device Recycling Act, our costs for managing electronic scrap have continued to
escalate,” said Titchner. “We were expecting relief from managing these devices on our own –
considering the law calls for manufacturer responsibility – but what we got instead has amounted
to an unfunded mandate.
“In our first nine years of operation, we recycled 1.5 million pounds of electronics and
we did it with three fulltime staff and a group of volunteers one Saturday a month. We relied on
DEP Act 190 monies to help offset charges from our contractor, businesses contributed, and
residents donated,” explained Titchner. “When the CDRA took effect we rejoiced. Not only
would we not have to pay the contractor, we were told that the manufacturers would pay US for
our labor and handling! Our joy was shortlived.
“We underestimated how much was being thrown away in the landfill or over the
hillside. We underestimated how many more people would seek us out once they had no other
choice. We underestimated how vast our service area would be come,” said Titchner. “We
overestimated as well. We overestimated the rebates we were to receive and we certainly
overestimated how many other programs would be available to people in our region.
“Nearly 70 percent of the half million pounds of electronics we’ve recycled in the past
two years have been televisions. We ask people where they are from and many times we will be
questioned back, “If I’m not from Elk County will you still take my TV?”
“People – and entire municipalities come from Cameron and McKean counties on a
regular basis. Often they bring truckloads of devices,” said Titchner. “We have accepted
electronics from folks in Jefferson County and we’ve also gotten calls from residents of Warren
and Forest counties who inquire about using our program.
“Earlier this month a municipality in Warren County called and said, “We hear you take
TVs.” Last month we accepted electronics from Coraopolis, because even the City of Pittsburgh
no longer has access to a program where manufacturers cover the cost,” add Titchner.
“There is no doubt the legislature truly wanted to do something good when it created this
law. It wanted to keep these items out of our landfills and properly recycled. But we are all here
because that law, though well intended, isn’t working,” said Titchner.
“If 100 percent of the population is banned from throwing away a TV, then 100 percent
of the population needs to be provided with free, convenient access to recycling [not 85 percent
as it says in the CDRA],” said Titchner. “And processors need to be paid enough by the
manufacturers to cover their costs, particularly the costs specific to recycling old leaded glass
TVs and monitors. These orphan devices aren’t going away anytime soon, and putting a cap on
market share combined with a disposal ban is working against everything the law intends.
“The amount of electronics generated by the residents of Pennsylvania in a given year
should be recycled, regardless of what that number might be,” recommended Titchner. “If that is
not a possibility, then perhaps there should be thought given to lifting the disposal ban on CRT
glass – at the very least or give consideration to other environmentally acceptable and permitted
options.”
PA Recycling Markets Center
“There is mounting fear that without some near term fixes the ewaste infrastructure in
broad geographic areas could implode. We are presently living out this near disaster in
Pennsylvania,” warned
Robert Bylone
, Executive Director of the PA Recycling Markets Center.
“If left unattended, could another tire pile crisis be brewing?
Bylone explained Pennsylvania’s ewaste recycling law requires manufacturers to fund
recycling programs to meet the weight of ewaste sold in the state the prior year, rather than pay
for their share of ewaste actually collected in recycling programs. Manufacturers are not
responsible for paying for any electronics collected above their annual cap by law.
As a result, Bylone said, “(M)anufacturers begin to see long before the end of the year
when they will exceed the capped market share weights. Collections programs have then been
terminated midyear. The processor is often left with unpaid inventory and unable to fulfill
commitments, leaving our citizens denied access to convenient recycling their rights intended by
the law, and municipalities faced with a backlog of unwanted devices.”
Bylone, whose testimony was coauthored with Michele Nestor, President, Nestor
Resources Inc, RMC Board Chair, made a series of 14 recommendations for amending the
CDRA.
EWaste Recycler
“From 2010 to 2012 the economics were favorable to the recycler in several ways. We
maintained the relationship with the collectors at the source of the scrap, and provided them with
a level of service that kept them from getting backed up with loads of TV’s,” said
Ned Eldridge
,
CEO of
eLoop LLC
, an electronics recycling from Western PA.
“By January 24, 2013 the disposal ban went into effect and from that moment on the
volume of TV’s at collection points grew faster that anyone could imagine and an obvious
struggle became apparent between the manufacturers and the PA DEP,” said Eldridge. “ The
DEP expected the manufacturers to receive pounds at the collection sites named in their
approved plan for the entire year, while the manufacturers were determined to meet their market
share requirements, but not sustain collection sites once their goal was met.
“Unfortunately, eLoop was caught between the DEP requesting the sites stay open and
the manufacturer’s decision to stop paying for lbs beyond fulfilling their requirement for
pounds,” said Eldridge.
“For the remainder of 2013 we sustained our service to our collectors based on the
contracts we had in place with them. It was done at our expense, we didn’t want our problem to
become their problem,” explained Eldridge. “In late October we did receive some manufacturer
support from Apple that kept us from ending the year overwhelmed with CRT glass.
“In 2015 the number of collection sites in our network decreased by 5 locations that
could no longer sustain their programs, but eLoop was able to attract and fulfill contracts for 2
manufacturer plan administrators,” said Eldridge.
“In the fall of 2015 planning for the 2016 began and there was concern that the plan
administrators that I had worked with in past years did not get a renewal from a large
manufacturer,” said Eldridge. “I just never got the call!
“The net result is that all the lbs allocated to service counties in the central part of
Pennsylvania were retained by that plan administrator, but the remaining pounds required to
service 8 counties and 12 collection sites were not available in western PA. Those locations were
closed at the end of 2015 and they are no longer collecting lbs with eLoop.
“Today eLoop services 15 collection sites in 14 counties,” said Eldridge. eLoop had
operated 26 collection sites in 17 counties.
“In western Pennsylvania we have seen an increase in illegal dumping of TV’s in rural
areas, off road ways, and in our state and county parks and eLoop can’t help them,” said
Eldridge. “We also have local environmental groups that want to conduct events that charge
residents for TV recycling, but we can’t help them.
“It is not that we don’t have the capacity or the certifications to do the work. We can’t
participate and stop this environmental problem from escalating because of a DEP interpretation
of Section 504 of the law,” said Eldridge. “The interpretation basically states that if eLoop
participates and accepts money from a manufacturer’s plan in State College PA then eLoop can’t
charge for the collection, transportation, or processing of TV’s in Pittsburgh PA.
“If I was fortunate enough to retain the lbs that serviced this area in the past it would not
be an issue, but since I did not get allocated lbs I can’t participate in remediating these problems
in western PA based on the current interpretation of the law,” said Eldridge.
“One of the major problems is that 100 percent of the residents in Pennsylvania are
impacted by the disposal ban yet 100 percent of the residents don’t have access to no cost
recycling of TV’s. There should not be a ban without a plan,” said Eldridge.
“While not all counties are created equal if adequately compensated they would serve as
collectors and educators of their constituents like they are for Act 101 materials,” said Eldridge.
“If they needed grant money for equipment or buildings there should be a way for them to apply.
If we agree that the residents are the customers and the counties the service providers then the
ability for the county to solicit an RFP for service should not be ruled out as a possibility.
“If the county picks the bidder with oversight from the DEP at the state or regional level
the county will work out payment arrangements with the DEP or another responsible part of the
state government,” said Eldridge. “The state can bill the manufacturers and receive payment. The
state then pays the county who pays the recycler and transporter.
“I don’t see the benefit in a detailed plan from the manufacturer since whatever is
collected by the county will be compensated by the manufacturer based on their market share,”
said Eldridge. “It places the responsibility for serving the customer / resident directly on the
county administration and the DEP and takes the recycler out of the middle to perform the work
in an economically and environmentally compliant manner.”
Electronics Manufacturers
“CTA has been monitoring implementation of the CDRA as commodity prices and
recycling markets for electronics have tanked not only in Pennsylvania but around the world,”
said
Walter Alcorn
,
Consumer Electronics Association
. CTA is very aware of the end of the
glasstoglass recycling era for cathode ray tube (CRT) glass where multiple processors – and
manufacturers of CRT glass used in older television sets – used to call Pennsylvania home.
“Instead of creating a new staterun system (still paid for by manufacturers) for “surplus”
covered devices collected by counties, CTA suggests amending the law to authorize a
manufacturerfinanced and manufacturerrun Surplus Covered Device Clearinghouse.”
Alcorn made a series of four recommendations on changing the ewaste program in
Pennsylvania.
“Similar to the state procurement system called for in House Bill 1900 [Rep. Ross’s draft
of legislation which has yet to be finalized and introduced], this Clearinghouse would provide a
means for all counties in Pennsylvania who have been unable to obtain a nocost contract with a
recycler to have their collected covered devices safely recycled by covered device
manufacturers,” recommended Alcorn.
Under the CTA recommendation, consumers, however, would still be charged a “small
fee” to cover collection costs as a way of sharing responsibility for the electronics recycling
program.
Additional Background
The
PA Resources Council
has reported only 25 percent of state residents have access to
free TV recycling, down from 63 percent just a short time ago, and that coverage continues to
shrink. In the last 2 years PRC said
Goodwill announced it
will no longer accept TVs for recycling
;
Five counties around Philadelphia report they were forced to suspend electronics programs
because no recyclers were willing to support them;
Construction Junction
in Pittsburgh closed its doors to accepting electronics;
York County shuts down all electronics collections sites
;
eLoop, a Pittsburghbased recycler, announces it will
no longer offer CDRAsupported
recycling in western PA
; and
Best Buy issues a news release announcing
it will no longer accept TVs
for recycling at its 37
PA stores.
Click Here
for the PRC action flyer on ewaste recycling.
The lack of recycling opportunities and the ban on landfill disposal means more
Pennsylvanians may resort to illegal dumping.
Keep PA Beautiful
wrote to every House and Senate member earlier in February warning
2016 could be a “
recordbreaking year for abandoned and dumped electronics
” if Pennsylvania’s
electronics recycling law isn’t fixed.
In January the Electronics Recycling Association of PA, representing ewaste recyclers,
called for action to fix the state’s recycling law
saying without fundamental changes recycling
opportunities will continue to disappear.
Copies Of Testimony
Copies of written testimony are available online
Ken Reisinger,
DEP Deputy Secretary for Waste, Air, Radiation and Remediation;
Testimony
;
Walter Alcorn
, Consumer Electronics Association (manufacturers:;
Testimony
. Attachment:
Customer Survey
. Attachment:
CRT Capacity
;
Ned Eldridge,
CEO of
eLoop LLC
, an electronics recycler from Western PA:
Testimony
;
David Vollero,
York County Solid Waste Authority
:
Testimony
;
Bekki Titchner,
Recycling & Solid Waste Coordinator, Elk County
:
Testimony
;
Shannon Reiter,
President,
Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful
:
Testimony
; and
Bob Bylone,
President & CEO, and Michele Nestor, President, Nestor Resources Inc, Board
Chair,
PA Recycling Markets Center
:
Testimony
.
The Joint Conservation Committee will be accepting comments on the CDRA and
electronics waste recycling until June 21. Send comments to:
[email protected]
.
Click Here
to watch a video of the hearing.
Sen. Scott Hutchinson (RVenango) serves as Chair of the Joint Committee. To sign up
for a monthly update from the Joint Committee, send an email to:
[email protected]
.
For more information on ewaste recycling, visit DEP’s
Covered Device Recycling Act
webpage.
NewsClips:
Public Cost Of Recycling TVs Skyrockets
Electronics Recycling Coming Back In York County
Trash Pickup Bills May Be Going Higher With Wolf Proposal
DEP Secretary Quigley: 2016 Great American Cleanup Of PA
Illegal Dump In Harrisburg You Have To See To Believe
WilkesBarre To Take Part In Great American Cleanup Of PA
Newport Twp Volunteers Come Together For Great American Cleanup
OpEd: Spring Cleaning That Mountain Of EWaste
York Penn Waste Recycling Center Seeing More Needles
Advocate: Keystone Landfill Expansion Debate is Nationally Important
Editorial: Keystone Landfill Cash No Benefit
DEP: Asbestos Found In Huber Breaker Soil Samples
DEP To Abandoned Permits For Recycling Drilling Waste
Related Stories:
Keep PA Beautiful Testifies About Rampant Illegal Dumping Of Electronics
York County Solid Waste Authority To ReLaunch Electronics Recycling Program
Keep PA Beautiful: Illegal Dumping Of Electronics Running Rampant In PA
Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful
Monday
provided testimony
to the
Joint HouseSenate Legislative
Air and Water Pollution Control and Conservation Committee
at a public hearing concerning the
Covered Device Recycling Act (Act 108 of 2010), urging members to take action to ensure that
every resident in the state has access to convenient and affordable trash disposal and recycling.
The Covered Device Recycling Act (Act 108), enacted in 2010, prohibits the acceptance
of ‘covered devices’ such as televisions, computers, computer monitors and all peripherals, at all
PA solid waste facilities.
This prohibits residents from putting them out at the curb for pickup. The law also
stipulates that recyclers cannot charge a fee to offset the cost of proper disposal as costs for
collection, transportation and recycling are to be borne by the manufacturer.
A combination of these and other factors has created an imbalance of supply and demand
causing many electronics collection programs to shut down leaving a growing number of
Pennsylvania residents without access to recycling options for their outdated electronic consumer
goods, particularly old televisions and monitors.
“People have resorted to dumping TVs and other electronic devices illegally on vacant
lots, in wooded areas, and over riverbanks. We are finding piles of stripped televisionscarcasses
of broken plastic and shards of leaded glass scattered in open fields and on deadend streets,”
said Shannon Reiter, President of Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful.
“We know there is less illegal dumping in areas where there is universal access to waste
and recycling collection, we know if residents cannot dispose of bulky items at the curb or at a
convenient drop off center, public works crews and volunteers are more likely to see them
dumped along the roads and over hillsides,” said Reiter.
Reiter goes on to explain, “All of this is costing our communities valuable resources and
is polluting our environment. Remediation of illegal dumpsites costs $614/ton with the average
community cleanup costing $2,947. The illegal dumping of hazardous electronic waste, which
often contains lead, cadmium and mercury, poses a threat to public health. The electronics crisis
we are facing is only making matters worse.”
To help Pennsylvanians better understand Act 108, Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful has
launched
www.eWastePA.org
, a consumer resource for electronics recycling in Pennsylvania.
“Our goal is to educate consumers about the law itself, explain why there is value in
recycling those materials and why it is important to handle these materials properly. The site
shares what resources are available to consumers, how to do the right thing, and urges them, if
there is no outlet, to hold on to the materials until the law is fixed,” explained Reiter. “We know
Pennsylvanians want to do the right thing and dispose of their ewaste properly.”
Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful works with communities all across the state through a broad
network which includes more than 30 county and municipal affiliates and thousands of
community partners.
In total, more than 2 million volunteers have cleaned up more than 121 million pounds of
trash from Pennsylvania roadsides, riverbanks, community parks, vacant lots, rivers and streams.
Through various special collection programs, the Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful network has
properly disposed of 830,000 tires and recycled more than 3 million pounds of electronics.
“Since 1990, our organization has developed a certain level of expertise for cleaning up
trash from roadside litter to 300 ton dumpsites. Our goal, however, isn’t to clean up trash, it is
to prevent these materials from being dumped in the first place,” stated Reiter.
For more information on programs, initiatives and special events, visit the
Keep
Pennsylvania Beautiful
website.
Click Here
to sign up for regular updates from KPB,
Like them
on Facebook
,
Follow on Twitter
,
Discover them on Pinterest
and visit their
YouTube Channel
.
Also visit the
Illegal Dump Free PA
website for more ideas on how to clean up
communities and keep them clean and KPB’s new
Electronics Waste
website.
Sign up now for the
2016 Great American Cleanup of PA
and set up your own cleanup
and beautification event through May 31.
NewsClips:
Public Cost Of Recycling TVs Skyrockets
Electronics Recycling Coming Back In York County
Trash Pickup Bills May Be Going Higher With Wolf Proposal
DEP Secretary Quigley: 2016 Great American Cleanup Of PA
Illegal Dump In Harrisburg You Have To See To Believe
WilkesBarre To Take Part In Great American Cleanup Of PA
Newport Twp Volunteers Come Together For Great American Cleanup
OpEd: Spring Cleaning That Mountain Of EWaste
York Penn Waste Recycling Center Seeing More Needles
Advocate: Keystone Landfill Expansion Debate is Nationally Important
Editorial: Keystone Landfill Cash No Benefit
DEP: Asbestos Found In Huber Breaker Soil Samples
DEP To Abandoned Permits For Recycling Drilling Waste
Related Stories:
Hearing: Electronics Manufacturers Need To Pay For EWaste Actually Collected
York County Solid Waste Authority To ReLaunch Electronics Recycling Program
Wolf To Allow GOP Budget Bill To Become Law, But Will Veto Fiscal Code Bill
Gov. Tom Wolf Wednesday announced he would let the Republican FY 201516 budget bill
House Bill 1801
(IrvinRCentre) become law March 27 without his signature. The bill
contains $6.05 billion in supplemental appropriations for the current year.
He will also allow bills to become law that would fund Penn State, Pitt, Lincoln and the
University of Pennsylvania in Senate Bills 912, 913, 914, 915 and 916.
At the same time, Gov. Wolf said he would veto the entire Fiscal Code bill
House Bill
1327
(PeiferRPike) citing constitutional issues with some language and because of concerns
he had with some environmental provisions in the bill.
“I am going to allow the 20152016 budget to become law without my signature,” said
Gov. Wolf. “This will allow for funding to go out to schools and other services in the short term,
but we still face enormous problems that this budget does not even pretend to address.
“Let’s be clear: the math in this budget does not work. Next fiscal year that already has
a $2 billion deficit will now begin with an extra $300 million deficit. Ratings agencies and the
Independent Fiscal Office have all agreed that we face a massive structural deficit,” added Gov.
Wolf. “Left unaddressed, the deficit will force cuts to schools and human services, devastating
credit downgrades that will cost taxpayers millions, and increase property taxes for our senior
citizens. We must face this reality this year and balance our budget with real, sustainable
revenues.”
The day after Gov. Wolf made his announcement,
PNC Bank issued a notice warning
Pennsylvania’s credit rating could still be downgraded.
Moody’s
and
Standard and Poor’s
followed on its heels saying the spending package doesn’t resolve the state’s structural budget
deficit or address its looming pension crisis.
Republican Reaction
At a press conference following the Governor’s announcement, both House Majority
Leader David Reed (RIndiana) and Senate Majority Leader Jake Corman (RCentre) said they
were happy with the Governor’s action to bring the FY 201516 budget to a close based on the
$30 billion Republican General Fund budget.
Sen. Corman did say they would be looking at the impact of the Governor’s veto of the
Fiscal Code bill. He noted the formula for distributing basic education funding was in the Fiscal
Code bill, so they would be looking to see how the Governor distributes that funding to schools.
Sen. Corman repeated what he has said before in looking at next year’s budget new
revenue will be a last resort for us.
Rep. Reed said they would be meeting as soon as Monday to work on the FY 201617
budget. He added if there was a need to rectify any problems caused by the Governor’s veto of
the Fiscal Code bill they would certainly consider passing new legislation to fix those problems.
The Senate and House return to voting session April 4, so we will likely see what they
have in store next.
General Fund Bill Contents
House Bill 1801
(IrvinRCentre) includes $6.05 billion in supplementation
appropriations for
Dept. of Agriculture $83.8 million
Dept. of Conservation & Natural Resources $2.25 million Heritage Parks Program
Dept. of Environmental Protection does NOT restore $900,000 for Sewage Facilities Grants
The budget contains no money to implement the
reboot of the Chesapeake Bay Program
announced by Gov. Wolf in January.
Click Here
for a copy of the linebyline General Fund spreadsheet by House
Republicans. A
Senate Fiscal Note
and summary is available.
Fiscal Code Bill
The Governor will veto all of
House Bill 1327
(PeiferRPike), the Fiscal Code bill, the
provisions that would NOT become law include a new bipartisan basic education funding
formula and language that would have killed DEP’s Chapter 78 conventional drilling regulations
and make DEP start over, reduced Growing Greener watershed restoration funding by $15
million this fiscal year and slowed consideration of any state plan to comply with the EPA Clean
Power Climate Plan.
The bill would have also transferred $12 million from the High Performance Green
Buildings Program to the Natural Gas Infrastructure Development Fund administered by the
Commonwealth Financing Authority.
Also included in the bill was language related to transfers from the Department of
Agriculture that could affect some agency programs.
A
House Fiscal Note
and summary is available.
This is the
fourth budget Republicans
sent to the Governor since June 30 of last year.
(
Click Here
for the timeline.)
The General Fund budget was vetoed entirely by the Governor last July. A stopgap
budget package in September was vetoed by the Governor in its entirety. And finally, $6.8
billion of the General Fund budget passed in December was lineitem vetoed by the Governor.
In between those budgets, the House failed in 14 attempts to override the Governor’s veto
of the June 30 budget.
NewsClips:
DEP Secretary: DEP Isn’t Lean, It’s Emaciated
Thompson: PA’s Next Budget, Have We Learned Anything?
Bumsted: Gov. Wolf Relents After 9 Month Budget Impasse
AP: Governor Relents After 9 Month Budget Impasse
PLS: Wolf To Allow Budget To Become Law Without His Signature
PA’s Budget Woes Bring Warning From Lenders, Ratings Agencies
Wolf Warns Of Impending 201617 Budget Crisis
Farm Bureau Says Penn State Extension Offices To Remain Open
AP: Democrats Urge Wolf To Relent On Budget Veto Threat
AP: Catching Bigfoot: Wolf Pursues ElectionYear Tax Increase
Democrats Line Up Behind GOP Budget Bill
PA Budget Crisis Could Cause York County Ag Office
Trash Pickup Bills May Be Going Higher With Wolf Proposal
New F&M Poll: Wide Support For New Tax On Natural Gas Industry
Lower Gasoline Prices Saving State Taxpayers $500K/Month
Related Stories:
Analysis: Final Budget Rolls Back PA Environmental Funding For 13th Year In A Row
PA Environmental Council Thanks Wolf For Veto, Resource Agencies Need More Funding
PEC Opposes Killing Conventional Drilling Regs, Delaying Clean Power Plan
Reports: Conventional Oil & Gas Drillers File Lawsuit To Block Final DEP Drilling Regs
Growing Greener Coalition Calls For Boost In Funding For Environmental Agencies
DEP Tells House Chesapeake Bay Program Faces Inadequate Resources
CBFPA: Lack Of Funding For Farmers Defeats Effort To Meet Clean Water Commitment
PA Faces Losing Control Of Environmental Programs Due To DEP Funding, Staff Cuts
PA Environmental Council Thanks Wolf For Veto, Resource Agencies Need More Funding
The
PA Environmental Council
released this statement Thursday thanking Gov. Wolf for vetoing
House Bill 1327
(PeiferRPike), the Fiscal Code bill, and reminded House and Senate
lawmakers and the Governor they must provided the necessary funding for our resource
protection agencies to address mandatory environmental restoration requirements across the
state.
The
Clean Power PA Coalition
also applauded Gov. Tom Wolf for announcing he will
veto
House Bill 1327
(PeiferRPike).
Click Here
to read their statement.
The PA Environmental Council statement follows
Pennsylvania’s longstanding budget impasse came one step closer to an end yesterday
when Gov. Wolf announced that he will not stand in the way of supplemental appropriation
legislation passed by the General Assembly.
The Governor did, however, convey his intention to veto corresponding fiscal code
legislation that contained a number of bad environmental riders unrelated to the budget process.
The Pennsylvania Environmental Council has consistently opposed use of the budget
process to effect substantive changes to environmental law, and we commend Governor Wolf for
vetoing House Bill 1327.
This legislation would have negated environmental rulemaking for conventional oil and
gas operations that has been in development for more than four years through an open public
process. It would also have placed further delay on state preparation for Clean Power Plan
implementation.
While the budget process is a difficult and unenviable task for the Governor and General
Assembly, they now must return to the table and advance a definite budget plan for our
Commonwealth. That plan should not include rollbacks of environmental protections.
What it must include is necessary funding for the Department of Environmental
Protection and Department of Conservation & Natural Resources, and sufficient resources to
address mandatory environmental restoration requirements across the state. There is no more
time to waste.
For more information on programs, initiatives and special events, visit the
PA
Environmental Council
website, visit the
PEC Blog
, follow
PEC on Twitter
or
Like PEC on
Facebook
.
Click Here
to receive regular updates from PEC.
Related Stories:
Analysis: Final Budget Rolls Back PA Environmental Funding For 13th Year In A Row
PEC Opposes Killing Conventional Drilling Regs, Delaying Clean Power Plan
Wolf To Allow GOP Budget Bill To Become Law, But Will Veto Fiscal Code Bill
Reports: Conventional Oil & Gas Drillers File Lawsuit To Block Final DEP Drilling Regs
Growing Greener Coalition Calls For Boost In Funding For Environmental Agencies
DEP Tells House Chesapeake Bay Program Faces Inadequate Resources
CBFPA: Lack Of Funding For Farmers Defeats Effort To Meet Clean Water Commitment
PA Faces Losing Control Of Environmental Programs Due To DEP Funding, Staff Cuts
Analysis: Final Budget Rolls Back Environmental Funding For 13th Year In A Row
While some are breathing a sigh of relief, the FY 201516
budget represents the 13th year in a row funding and staff for
environmental programs has been cut, diverted or simply
held in place, which really amounts to yet another cut.
As DEP Secretary John Quigley
told the Scranton Times
Thursday
, “DEP isn’t lean it’s emaciated.” He was also
right when he
said at his House budget hearing
, the state
“can’t cut its way to improving the environment.”
DEP, he said has been the
victim of relentless and
debilitating budget cuts for more than a decade
.
Since FY 20022003, more than a 40 percent has been cut from General Fund support
for the Department – going from $245.6 million in 20022003 to
$142.6 million in 20152016
.
As a result, the Department has lost 22 percent of its staff. That’s more than 700 positions,
including the
current hiring freeze/cap by Gov. Wolf
.
Although DEP continues to propose significant
increases in regulatory program permit
and inspection fees
to make up some of these losses, permit charges still make up only about 50
percent of its budget. Only 22 percent comes from the General Fund and the remainder from
federal funds.
Meanwhile, DEP continues to administer over 40 state environmental protection and
public health and safety laws assigning responsibilities to the agency. None have ever been
repealed, but many have been replaced with new and more significant requirements.
And Pennsylvania’s environmental cleanup obligations haven’t gone away, in particular
programs related to water quality restoration. There are no plans by anyone yet to bring in new
resources to address them.
There is no funding in this year’s budget or even proposed for FY 201617 to
meet the
commitments Pennsylvania itself made
to cleanup the Susquehanna and Potomac River
Watersheds to comply with Chesapeake Bay milestones.
Pennsylvania agriculture, the
number one source of nutrients and sediment polluting
Chesapeake Bay and streams and rivers statewide, is being left out in the cold to fend for itself.
There will be
$35 million less funding
next year going to the Environmental Stewardship
(Growing Greener) Fund to support reclaiming abandoned mines, Pennsylvania’s
number two
water quality problem
.
As Secretary Quigley and Sen. Pat Browne (RLehigh), Majority Chair of the Senate
Appropriations Committee, agreed,
12 of DEP’s special funds
, including the Hazardous Sites
Cleanup Fund, the Storage Tank Fund, funds supporting the Air Quality and coal and noncoal
mining programs and others, are due to run out of money or will not have enough to support their
regulatory programs by 2018.
Federal agencies, like the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Office of
Surface Mining,
have warned Pennsylvania that DEP’s
federal programs administered by the
agency are understaffed and becoming ineffective, including the Safe Drinking Water, surface
mining, Air Quality, stormwater, Chesapeake Bay and others.
Over the last decade, DEP has been taking steps to become much more efficient to at
least retain most of the effectiveness of its core environmental protection programs. As
Secretary Quigley has said, “DEP got rid of all the extras a long time ago.”
It had no choice in the face of significant cuts in funding and staff.
Even with the steady decline in funding for 13 years, DEP staff still meet the
Permit
Decisions Guarantee Program
permit review deadlines
89 percent of the time
. True, it isn’t the
95 percent the agency
had been achieving in the past, but what private business can say that after
a 22 percent cut in their resources and no changes in product?
The one proposal in Gov. Wolf’s FY 201617 budget that will begin to make a difference
is a $2 million investment in new technology to replace DEP’s aging
eFACTS
permit
management/public information system and to get new mobile technology for programs like Oil
and Gas Management into the hands of inspectors.
Secretary Quigley said the boost in efficiency from using mobile technology (and the
backend systems that support them), means DEP
could get along with fewer staff
without
sacrificing effectiveness.
There were suggestions during the Senate and House budget hearings this year, as in past
years, that state agencies should be run more like businesses or use the concept of zerobased
budgeting to construct their budgets from a plain piece of paper.
These comments reflect a fundamental misunderstanding of the responsibilities public
agencies like DEP and DCNR have.
In constructing its budget, is DEP to assume none of the 40 environmental laws it
administers exist? That it has no legally binding obligations to clean anything up?
Should the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources ignore their responsibility
as custodian of 2.1 million acres of State Forest and 121 State Parks?
There is no argument that public agencies should be run as efficiently, in terms of
operations, as they can be because they are also stewards of taxpayer money. But even that costs
money for things like technology which agencies like DEP haven’t gotten for a decade.
But, while the world can probably get along without the latest new and improved
multifunction, grabhandled, rosecolored thingamawidget, we can’t get along without clean
air, pure water and we can’t close down our responsibility as a trustee for Pennsylvania’s green
infrastructure.
Being public officials means something. It doesn’t JUST mean being a good steward of
the public purse. It ALSO means making sure public agencies have the resources they need to
do the jobs public officials themselves assign to them.
With respect to Pennsylvania’s environmental commitments and responsibilities, public
officials can no longer do just half their jobs.
Related Stories:
What’s In Gov. Wolf’s New Budget For The Environment? Not Much
Budget Hearing: DEP Does Not Have Enough Staff To Meet Needs In Any Of Its Programs
Budget Hearing: DEP: State Can’t Cut Its Way To A Better Environment
2nd Senate Budget Hearing: DEP: 12 Special Funds Will Have Funding Shortfalls By 2018
Wolf Shrinks DEP’s Staff By 200 Positions, Even Though DEP Has More Money
CBFPA: Lack Of Funding For Farmers Defeats Effort To Meet Clean Water Commitment
DEP Tells House Committees Chesapeake Bay Program Faces Inadequate Resources, Data
PA Faces Losing Control Of Environmental Programs Due To DEP Funding, Staff Cuts
DEP To Proposed Permit Fee Increases For At Least 6 Programs
Reports: Conventional Oil & Gas Drillers File Lawsuit To Block Final DEP Drilling Regs
Just one day after Gov. Wolf said he would veto
House Bill 1327
(PeiferRPike) that includes a
provision that would have killed a comprehensive
update of DEP drilling regulations
covering
conventional oil and gas wells, the
Pittsburgh
PostGazette
and
Tribune Review
reported Thursday
conventional well drillers have filed a lawsuit to
block the regulations from becoming final.
The
PA Independent Petroleum Producers
Association
filed the lawsuit in Commonwealth
Court alleging DEP violated a
provision in the 2014
Fiscal Code bill
that required DEP to publish separate rules for conventional and unconventional
drilling.
The trade group was quoted by the PostGazette as saying, “the commingling of the rules
made it nearly impossible to stop them because public and political support for regulating the
shale gas industry is strong.”
The lawsuit asks the court to void the rules adopted as final by the
Environmental Quality
Board in February
and to direct the rulemaking board to begin the regulatory process anew if it
wants to create new regulations for conventional wells.
The trade group also asked for an expedited review of its petition or for the court to stay
the meeting of the
Independent Regulatory Review Commission on April 21
where Chapter 78
and 78a will be on the agenda for action.
Background
In fact DEP did separate the regulations Chapter 78 deals with conventional drilling and
Chapter 78a covers unconventional (Marcellus Shale) drilling.
The conventional drilling operators have consistently opposed modern updates to DEP’s
drilling regulations because they they believe their industry is environmentally benign. In fact,
they even said their industry
was benign in legislation
introduced at their request 2 years ago.
The facts are
1. Conventional Wells Cause Water Loss, Contamination Just Like Unconventional Wells:
Conventional wells are just as likely to cause water well loss and contamination as
unconventional wells, even more so because there are more conventional wells than
unconventional wells.
2. Conventional Wells Have More Violations:
DEP inspections found conventional drillers had
a higher rate of violations of the existing regulations than unconventional drillers. In fact,
conventional wells had 3 times the violations
of unconventional wells in 2014, according to
DEP.
3. Both Use Fracking:
Both conventional and unconventional wells use fracking to increase
production and conventional well drillers are also exploring the
use of horizontal drilling
to
increase yields.
4. Conventional Wells Are Drilled Through Same Sensitive Aquifers
: Conventional wells can
be drilled to a
depth of 1,500 to 21,000 feet
and unconventional wells can be drilled to a depth of
5,000 to 9,000 and then laterally another 10,000 feet or more, both passing through sensitive
groundwater aquifers.
5. Conventional Wells Create A Bigger Footprint:
To develop the same amount of natural gas,
conventional well drillers must drill 16 or more wells, while unconventional drillers use as few
as 8 in
75 percent less land area
.
6. Smaller Companies, Fewer Resources:
Conventional oil and gas well drillers tend to be
smaller companies with fewer resources to deal with environmental and water replacement
problems when they do develop and that means taxpayers may have to foot the bill much more
often.
For more information on Chapter 78 and 78a drilling regulations, visit DEP’s
Oil and Gas
Rulemaking
webpage.
NewsClips:
Conventional Drilling Group Files Lawsuit To Block DEP Drilling Regulations
Petroleum Group Sues To Block PA Drilling Rules
PostGazette: Conventional Drillers Oppose Any DEP Drilling Regulation Update
Related Stories:
PA Environmental Council Thanks Wolf For Veto, Resource Agencies Need More Funding
Wolf To Allow GOP Budget Bill To Become Law, But Will Veto Fiscal Code Bill
PEC Opposes Killing Conventional Drilling Regs, Delaying Clean Power Plan
The Clock Starts: DEP Delivers Final Drilling Regs To House, Senate, IRRC For Review
EQB Overwhelmingly Approves chapter 78 Drilling Regulations
DEP: Conventional Wells Had 3 Times The Violations Of Unconventional Wells In 2014
Analysis: Myth Conventional Oil And Gas Drilling Is Benign
DEP: Fiscal Code Provision On Conventional Wells Delays Drilling Regs 23 Months
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Capitol.
Senate/House Agenda/Session Schedule/Gov’s 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
Bill Calendars
House (April 4):
House Resolution 60
(EmrickRNorthampton) directing the Legislative
Budget and Finance Committee to conduct a comprehensive review of the state’s program to
regulate the beneficial use of sewage sludge;
Senate Bill 307
(YudichakDLuzerne) providing
for an independent counsel for the Environmental Quality Board;
Senate Bill 811
(HughesD
Philadelphia) FY 201516 Capital Budget bill;
Senate Bill 1071
(BrowneRLehigh), the
“agreedto” pension reform bill;
Senate Bill 1073
(BrowneRLehigh) “agreedto” $30.8 billion
General Fund budget bill.
<>
Click Here
for full House Bill Calendar.
Senate (April 4):
Senate Bill 289
(FontanaDAllegheny) funding to assist homeowners with
deteriorating private sewer laterals (
sponsor summary
);
Senate Bill 805
(BoscolaD Lehigh)
allowing an Act 129 optout for large electric users (
sponsor summary
);
Senate Bill 973
(ScavelloRMonroe) increasing the fines for littering (
sponsor summary
);
Senate Bill 1041
(SchwankDBerks) amending Act 101 to authorize all local governments to charge a recycling
service fee (
sponsor summary
);
Senate Bill 1114
(YawRLycoming) allowing the use of
alternative onlot septic systems on the sewage facility planning process (
sponsor summary
);
Senate Bill 1168
(EichelbergerRBlair) authorizing the Fish and Boat Commission to adopt fees
charged by the agency rather than have them set by the General Assembly (
sponsor summary
);
Senate Bill 1166
(StefanoRFayette) authorizing the Game Commission to adopt fees charged
by the agency rather than have them set by the General Assembly (
sponsor summary
);
House
Bill 806
(CauserRCameron) providing for countyspecific use values for land in forest reserves
(
sponsor summary
);
House Bill 1712
(R.BrownRMonroe) establishing a Private Dam Financial
Assurance Program (
House Fiscal Note
and summary). <>
Click Here
for full Senate Bill
Calendar.
Committee Meeting Agendas This Week
House:
<>
Click Here
for full House Committee Schedule.
Senate:
<>
Click Here
for full Senate Committee Schedule.
Bills Pending In Key Committees
Here are links to key Standing Committees in the House and Senate and the bills pending in
each
House
Appropriations
Education
Environmental Resources and Energy
Consumer Affairs
Gaming Oversight
Human Services
Judiciary
Liquor Control
Transportation
Links for all other Standing House Committees
Senate
Appropriations
Environmental Resources and Energy
Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure
Community, Economic and Recreational Development
Education
Judiciary
Law and Justice
Public Health and Welfare
Transportation
Links for all other Standing Senate Committees
Bills Introduced
The following bills of interest were introduced this week
EWaste Recycling:
House Bill 1916
(D.MillerDAllegheny) would amend the Covered
Device Recycling Act to require manufacturers to recycle 2 pounds of electronics waste for
every 1 pound of new devices they sell (
sponsor summary
).
House Lead Testing Package:
House Bill 1917
(CruzDPhiladelphia) would require children
under 6 to be tested for elevated lead levels in their blood. Currently, the U.S. Centers for
Disease Control recommends children be tested at 1, 2 and again before 6;
House Bill 1918
(CruzD Philadelphia) would amend the state Safe Drinking Water Act to require more frequent
testing for lead in water. Under current law, water is tested every three years at a reduced number
of sample sites after the initial passing; and
House Bill 1919
(SchlossbergDLehigh) would
require lessors of residential dwellings built before 1978 to inspect dwellings for the presence of
leadbased paint and hazardous conditions such as chipping paint when those dwellings become
vacant or prior to new occupancy. Lessors must also disclose all information regarding levels of
lead and inspection results, and provide those findings to a lessee prior to occupancy. A sponsor
summary of this 3bill package
is available online
.
Senate Lead Package:
Senate Bill 1173 (YudichakDLuzerne)
would create a task force to
study the scope of the lead issue, including an accounting of the age of the state’s housing stock,
pipelines, school buildings and day care centers. It would also study best practices and make
recommendations;
Senate Bill 1174 (HaywoodDAllegheny)
would require every school
building to be tested (water, paint, soil) for lead before a school year begins. Test results would
be sent to parents of every enrolled child and posted on school district websites. If a school tests
at lead levels higher than the Centers for Disease Control’s acceptable amount, it would be
required to submit a remediation plan to the state Department of Education;
Senate Bill 1175
(KitchenDPhiladelphia)
seeks to require lead testing (water, paint, soil) in day care centers
licensed by the Department of Human Services. DHS would be prohibited from issuing a license
to a day care operator if lead levels are higher than CDC recommended readings;
Senate Bill
1176 (FontanaDAllegheny)
would require any agreement of sale for real property in the
commonwealth to include an option to have the water tested for lead;
Senate Bill 1177
(HughesDPhiladelphia)
would create a “SuperFund for Lead Abatement” that could be used
by schools, day care centers, and other organizations to defray lead remediation costs.
Fish & Boat Commission Fees:
Senate Bill 1168
(EichelbergerRBlair) authorizing the Fish
and Boat Commission to adopt fees charged by the agency rather than have them set by the
General Assembly (
sponsor summary
).
Game Commission Fees:
Senate Bill 1166
(StefanoRFayette) authorizing the Game
Commission to adopt fees charged by the agency rather than have them set by the General
Assembly (
sponsor summary
).
Session Schedule
Here is the latest voting session schedule for the Senate and House
Senate
April 4, 5, 6, 11, 12, 13
May 9, 10, 11, 16, 17, 18
June 6, 7, 8, 13, 14, 15, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30
House
April 4, 5, 6, 11, 12, 13
May 2, 3, 4, 16, 17, 18, 23, 24, 25
June 6, 7, 8, 13, 14, 15, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30
Governor’s Schedule
Gov. Tom Wolf's work calendar will be posted each Friday and his public schedule for the day
will be posted each morning.
Click Here
to view Gov. Wolf’s Weekly Calendar and Public
Appearances.
Bills On Governor's Desk
The following bills were given final approval by the Senate and House and are now on the
Governor's desk for action
Supplemental FY 201516 Appropriations:
House Bill 1801
(IrvinRCentre) containing $6.05
billion in supplemental appropriations for FY 201516 developed by Republicans.
Click Here
for a copy of the linebyline General Fund spreadsheet by House Republicans. A
Senate Fiscal
Note
and summary are available. The Governor will allow this bill to become law March 27
without his signature.
FY 201516 Fiscal Code Bill:
House Bill 1327
(PeiferRPike) amending the Fiscal Code to
implement the FY 201516 Republican General Fund budget. A
House Fiscal Note
and
summary are available. The Governor will veto this entire bill.
The bill amends the Fiscal Code to among other things, kill DEP Chapter 78 conventional
drilling regulations and make DEP start over, reduce Growing Greener watershed restoration
funding by $15 million this fiscal year and to slow consideration of any state plan to comply with
the EPA Clean Power Climate Plan.
The bill would also transfer $12 million from the High Performance Green Buildings
Program to the Natural Gas Infrastructure Development Fund administered by the
Commonwealth Financing Authority.
Senate/House Bills Moving
The following bills of interest saw action this week in the House and Senate
House
Transit Revitalization District:
Senate Bill 385
(PileggiRDelaware) further providing for
Transit Revitalization Investment Districts was reported from the House Appropriations
Committee and passed by the House. A
House Fiscal Note
and summary is available. The bill
returns to the Senate for a concurrence vote.
USTIF Board:
House Bill 1895
(MetzgarRBedford) changing the members of the
Underground Storage Tank Indemnification Board and how they are appointed was removed
from the Table and referred to the House Appropriations Committee.
Potomac River Basin Commission:
House Bill 577
(MoulRAdams) authorizing designees
with proxy voting rights for certain members of Interstate Commission on the Potomac River
Basin (
sponsor summary
) was removed from the Table and was referred to the House
Appropriations Committee.
Landowner Liability:
House Bill 544
(MoulRAdams) further providing for liability protection
for landowners who open their land for recreation (
sponsor summary
) was referred to the House
Appropriations Committee.
Chesapeake Bay Awareness Week:
House Resolution 739
(EverettRLycoming) designating
the week of June 511 as Chesapeake Bay Awareness Week was adopted by the House
unanimously.
Fish & Boat Commission Anniversary:
House Resolution 737
(GillespieRYork)
congratulating the Fish and Boat Commission on its 150th Anniversary (
sponsor summary
) was
adopted by the House.
Senate
USTIF Board:
Senate Bill 1142
(YawRLycoming) amends the Storage Tank Act to add
members to the Underground Storage Tank Indemnification Fund Board was passed by the
Senate and now goes to the House for action.
Extending 1Pound Waiver
:
Senate Bill 1123
(VogelRBeaver) extends the onepound Reid
Vapor Pressure waiver for gasoline sold in Pennsylvania that is due to expire on May 1, 2016
was passed by the Senate and now goes to the House for action.
Recycling Fee:
Senate Bill 1041
(SchwankDBerks) amending Act 101 to authorize all local
governments to charge a recycling service fee (
sponsor summary
) was reported out of the Senate
Environmental Resources and Energy Committee and is now on the Senate Calendar for action.
Alternative Septic Systems:
Senate Bill 1114
(YawRLycoming) allowing the use of
alternative onlot septic systems on the sewage facility planning process (
sponsor summary
) was
reported out of the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee and is now on the
Senate Calendar for action.
Private Dam Financial Assurance:
House Bill 1712
(R.BrownRMonroe) establishing a
Private Dam Financial Assurance Program (
House Fiscal Note
and summary) was reported out
of the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee and is now on the Senate
Calendar for action.
Sewer Lateral Funding:
Senate Bill 289
(FontanaDAllegheny) funding to assist homeowners
with deteriorating private sewer laterals (
sponsor summary
) was reported from the Senate
Appropriations Committee and is now on the Senate Calendar for action.
Increase Fines For Littering:
Senate Bill 973
(ScavelloRMonroe) increasing the fines for
littering (
sponsor summary
) was moved up to Second Consideration on the Senate Calendar.
Fish & Boat Commission Fees:
Senate Bill 1168
(EichelbergerRBlair) authorizing the Fish
and Boat Commission to adopt fees charged by the agency rather than have them set by the
General Assembly (
sponsor summary
) was amended and reported from the Senate Game and
Fisheries Committee and is now on the Senate Calendar for action.
Game Commission Fees:
Senate Bill 1166
(StefanoRFayette) authorizing the Game
Commission to adopt fees charged by the agency rather than have them set by the General
Assembly (
sponsor summary
) from reported from the Senate Game and Fisheries Committee and
is now on the Senate Calendar for action.
Fish & Boat Commission Anniversary:
Senate Resolution 314
(ScavelloRMonroe)
congratulation the Fish and Boat Commission on its 150th Anniversary (
sponsor summary
) was
adopted by the Senate.
News From The Capitol
House Unanimously Adopts Chesapeake Bay Awareness Week Resolution
Reps. Garth Everett (RLycoming), Keith Gillespie (RYork) and Michael Sturla (DLancaster),
three of Pennsylvania’s members on the
Chesapeake Bay Commission
, introduced and the House
unanimously passed
House Resolution 739
designating the week of June 511 Chesapeake Bay
Awareness Week.
The text of the resolution follows
Designating the week of June 5 through 11, 2016, as "Chesapeake Bay Awareness Week"
in Pennsylvania.
WHEREAS, The Chesapeake Bay is the largest and most productive estuary in the
United States, its watershed spanning six states and the District of Columbia; and
WHEREAS, The Chesapeake Bay is fed by 50 major tributaries, the largest being the
Susquehanna River, which provides 50 percent of the fresh water to the bay; and
WHEREAS, Stretching 200 miles from Havre de Grace, Maryland, to Norfolk, Virginia,
the Chesapeake Bay has an average depth of 21 feet and ranges from 3.4 to 35 miles wide; and
WHEREAS, The Chesapeake Bay supports 348 species of finfish, 173 species of
shellfish and more than 3,600 species of plant and animal life, including 2,700 types of plants
and more than 16 species of underwater grasses; and
WHEREAS, The Chesapeake Bay produces more than 500 million pounds of seafood
harvest each year; and
WHEREAS, The bay's tributaries in this Commonwealth are an important source of
drinking water and recreational fishing and boating for this Commonwealth; and
WHEREAS, The Chesapeake Bay watershed is an extraordinary and vital natural
resource, with some of the nation's most productive farm and forest lands in this
Commonwealth's portion of the watershed; and
WHEREAS, This productivity supported the settlement and growth of our nation and is a
vital resource for future generations; and
WHEREAS, The Chesapeake Bay area is home to more than 17 million people, many of
whom rely upon the bay for their livelihood and recreational activities; and
WHEREAS, The rich history, pivotal economic importance and astounding beauty of the
Chesapeake Bay watershed never cease to amaze residents and visitors alike; and
WHEREAS, All residents of this Commonwealth are encouraged to commemorate
"Chesapeake Bay Awareness Week" with events and educational programs designed to increase
awareness of the importance of the Chesapeake Bay to this Commonwealth, the region and the
United States; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate the week of June 5 through
11, 2016, as "Chesapeake Bay Awareness Week" in Pennsylvania.
For more on Chesapeake Bayrelated issues in Pennsylvania, visit the
CBFPA
webpage.
Click Here
to sign up for Pennsylvania updates (bottom of left column).
Click Here
for a copy
of CBFPA’s most recent newsletter.
NewsClip:
Crable: Agencies: PA Farm Bureau’s Dire Warning Not True
Latest From The Chesapeake Bay Journal
Click Here
to subscribe to the Chesapeake Bay Journal
Senate Committee OKs Recycling Fee, Septic System, Dam Financial Assurance Bills
The
Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee
reported three bills out of
Committee at its meeting Tuesday, including bills authorizing a local recycling fee, further
allowing the use of alternative septic systems in sewage planning and establishing a private dam
financial assurance program. The bills were
Recycling Fee:
Senate Bill 1041
(SchwankDBerks) amending Act 101 to authorize all local
governments to charge a recycling service fee (
sponsor summary
);
Alternative Septic Systems:
Senate Bill 1114
(YawRLycoming) allowing the use of
alternative onlot septic systems on the sewage facility planning process (
sponsor summary
); and
Private Dam Financial Assurance:
House Bill 1712
(R.BrownRMonroe) establishing a
Private Dam Financial Assurance Program (
House Fiscal Note
and summary).
The bills now go to the Senate Floor for consideration.
Sen. Gene Yaw (RLycoming) serves as Majority Chair of the Committee and can be
contacted by sending email to:
[email protected]
. Sen. John Yudichak (DLuzerne) serves as
Minority Chair and can be contacted by sending email to:
[email protected]
.
DCED Urges House To Keep Incentives For Natural Gas Vehicles In Place
The Department of Community and Economic Development Monday told the
House Democratic
Policy Committee
there are a variety of hurdles to the deployment of more natural gasfueled
vehicles in the state and the
program created in the Act 13 of 2012
to provide incentives should
be kept in place.
Denise Brinley
, DCED Special Assistant to the Secretary for Strategic Industry
Initiatives, said, “Pennsylvania needs to become more than a producer of natural gas. The
Commonwealth also needs our businesses and residents to become consumers. Now is the time
for our state to harness our resources to drive economic progress beyond the boundaries of the
resource development itself.”
She recommend the following natural gas uses: heat and power manufacturing plants;
manufacture chemicals and plastics; power more electric generating plants; heat homes; fuel
school buses and fleet vehicles; and manufacture, distribute, and apply fertilizers to grow food.
David Althoff, Jr
., Manager of DEP’s Office of Pollution Prevention and Energy
Assistance said the
Act 13 Natural Gas Energy Development Program
resulted in the conversion
of
987 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) vehicles weighing greater than 14,000 lbs;
119 Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) vehicles weighing greater than 14,000 lbs;
An estimated 13.9 million gasoline gallon equivalents (GGE) of natural gas fuel used annually,
displacing petroleum fuel;
Vehicles supporting 41 new natural gas fueling stations built in PA (38 CNG and 3 LNG); and
Vehicles supporting 34 existing stations in Pennsylvania (30 CNG and 4 LNG).
As of the beginning of 2016, Althoff explained, DEP reimbursed grantees for the
purchase or conversion of 434 heavy duty vehicles totaling more than $8.7 million in program
funds disbursed.
[
Note:
DEP is now accepting applications for natural gas conversions through its
Alternative Fuel Incentive Grant Program
. Applications are due April 29.]
Rob Altenburg
, director,
PennFuture Energy Center
, stated, “Pennsylvania must work to
reduce dependence on fossil fuels and promote alternatives such as energy efficiency and clean
renewable energy. To do so, we must align our investments with our goals and avoid unintended
side effects that promote pollution.”
Altenburg recommended, “To make informed decisions, policymakers and the public
need to have ready access to the magnitude of existing subsidies and their impacts. We
recommend that a nonpartisan, governmental organization should develop and periodically
update a comprehensive report on Pennsylvania’s energy subsidies.”
Michael Griffin
, associate research professor of Engineering and Public Policy, Carnegie
Mellon University, said, “First, natural gas is not a bridge fuel to a renewable energy system, it is
simply a bridge to nowhere. Second, natural gas is a cleaner burning fuel compared to its other
fossil counterparts.”
Griffin detailed a paper that he worked on that was recently accepted in the journal
Energy, which shows a complete switch to natural gas from coal can result in a reduction of
monetized health and environmental damages of between $20 and $50 billion annually.
Griffin also commented on whether incentives are needed to make the transition from
coal to natural gas “I can’t imagine the Commonwealth can do much at rework the entire
electricity system as this is a massive change but the adoption of the
Clean Power Plan
(CPP)
will be a step towards this transition. We should expect similar health benefits (but not as large)
can be expected for natural gas replacement of diesel fuel because of the particulate emissions
associated with diesel combustion.”
Tom Peterson
, president and CEO,
Center for Climate Strategies
, stated that the matrix of
justifications for market intervention combined with macroeconomic evidence and strategy
suggests that incentives for natural gas in Pennsylvania might be most productive under certain
guidelines he outlined in his testimony.
Don Brown
, Scholar in Residence,
Widener University Commonwealth Law School
,
offered details on positive developments from the 2015 United Nations Climate Change
Conference held in Paris.
Dr. Robert Howarth
, professor of Ecology and Environmental Biology, Cornell
University, stated, “In the past, industry as well as many politicians promoted natural gas,
including shale gas, as a ‘bridge fuel’ that would allow society to continue to use fossil fuels for
the next few decades while reducing carbon dioxide emissions.
He said while less carbon dioxide is produced while burning natural gas than is true for
coal for a given amount of energy, methane emissions from the use of natural gas are far higher
than from coal.
Dr. Howarth explained
methane is a potent greenhouse gas
, one that is more than 100
times as effective as carbon dioxide in trapping heat in the atmosphere for the decade or so
following emission when both gases remain in the atmosphere.
Mark Szybist
, senior program advocate for Energy and Transportation,
Natural Resources
Defense Council
, opposed incentivizing natural gas as part of a plan to meet EPA’s Clean Power
Climate Plan.
Copies of written testimony
are available online
.
April 11 Hearing
The
House Democratic Policy Committee
will hold a hearing on April 11 on clean energy
jobs in Room 418 Main Capitol starting at 10:00 a.m.
For more information, visit the
House Democratic Policy Committee
webpage.
NewsClip:
House Democrats Scrutinize Natural Gas Incentives
Related Story:
Derry Township School District Adds 3 CleanBurning Propane Buses To Fleet
House Democrats Introduce, Call For Support Of LeadTesting Legislation
Citing the tragedy unfolding in Flint, Michigan, Rep. Angel Cruz (DPhiladelphia) was joined by
a bipartisan group of legislators Tuesday calling for support of a legislation package that aims to
reduce the risk of lead poisoning in Pennsylvania.
“It’s unfortunate that the events in Flint had to bring the dangers of lead poisoning to the
forefront, but the danger is real and it’s impacting children in Pennsylvania,” Rep. Cruz said.
“Numerous cities across Pennsylvania, including Allentown, Altoona, Easton, Erie, Philadelphia
and Pittsburgh, among others, are dealing with elevated blood lead levels in children at a higher
rate than what we’ve seen in Flint. The risk of permanent damage to both their mental and
physical health is too high to allow this to continue.”
House Bill 1917
introduced by Cruz would require children under 6 to be tested for
elevated lead levels in their blood. Currently, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control recommends
children be tested at 1, 2 and again before 6.
“Out of over 1 million children in Pennsylvania under the age of 7, less than 15 percent
were tested for lead exposure in 2014,” Cruz said. “As legislators, we must work to increase
testing, especially considering that the damage from lead poisoning is most severe in children
under the age of 7.”
House Bill 1918
(CruzDPhiladelphia) would amend the state Safe Drinking Water Act
to require more frequent testing for lead in water. Under current law, water is tested every three
years at a reduced number of sample sites after the initial passing.
Rep. Cruz’s legislation would require testing to be done annually at the reduced number
of sample sites and a complete test from all sample sites every three years.
House Bill 1919
(SchlossbergDLehigh) would require lessors of residential dwellings
built before 1978 to inspect dwellings for the presence of leadbased paint and hazardous
conditions such as chipping paint when those dwellings become vacant or prior to new
occupancy.
Lessors must also disclose all information regarding levels of lead and inspection results,
and provide those findings to a lessee prior to occupancy.
“There are thousands of homes across the state that have layers of lead paint present,
possibly without tenant's knowledge. Homeowners have the inspection process to give them
peace of mind, but renters currently have no assurances about their residences,” said Rep. Mike
Schlossberg.
“This is especially troubling for families with young children, who are most at risk to
negative consequences due to lead exposure. Parents have the responsibility to protect their
children, but that could only be done if they are informed,” said Rep. Schlossberg. “My
legislation would give parents the information they need, by informing renters about any lead
risks present in their homes so they can protect their children.”
A sponsor summary of this 3bill package
is available online
.
For more information on the health threats of lead, visit DEP’s
Lead In Drinking Water
webpage.
NewsClips:
PLS: Legislators Support LeadTesting Legislation
PA Proposals Aim To Minimize Lead Exposure
Swift: House Bills Call For More Lead Tests
4 Private Water Systems In Lebanon Receive EPA Attention
How Safe Is Philadelphia’s Water?
Water Officials: Philadelphia No Flint
No Lead Found In Water Tested By WilkesBarre
Lead Not A Problem In Most Lebanon County Water
Lead Paint Was Banned 40 Years Ago, Why Is It Still A Problem?
Related Story:
Senate Democrats Call For Statewide Task Force On Lead Problem
Senate Democrats Call For Statewide Task Force On Lead Problem
A group of Democratic Senators and state health officials Wednesday announced the
introduction of a package of 5 bills to address lead problems in Pennsylvania.
“Whether it’s lead in the water or in the peeling paint that still clings to aging homes and
school buildings, we believe we have a problem that will only grow worse if we do nothing to
help now,” Sen. Vincent Hughes (DPhiladelphia) said. “Our fivebill package today will help us
get a better understanding of lead and how it is threatening generations of Pennsylvanians.
“The effect of lead is not reversible, and it’s pretty serious,” Sen. Hughes said. “Experts
are talking about lead’s potential relationship to learning disabilities, autism, and behavioral
health problems. We must do more to stop this trend.”
Senators John Yudichak (DLuzerne), Art Haywood (DPhiladelphia), Shirley Kitchen
(DPhiladelphia), Wayne Fontana (DAllegheny) and Sen. Hughes are each sponsoring one bill
in the fivebill package
(not yet online)
:
Senate Bill 1173 (YudichakDLuzerne)
would create a task force to study the scope of the
lead issue, including an accounting of the age of the state’s housing stock, pipelines, school
buildings and day care centers. It would also study best practices and make recommendations.
Senate Bill 1174 (HaywoodDAllegheny)
would require every school building to be tested
(water, paint, soil) for lead before a school year begins. Test results would be sent to parents of
every enrolled child and posted on school district websites. If a school tests at lead levels higher
than the Centers for Disease Control’s acceptable amount, it would be required to submit a
remediation plan to the state Department of Education.
Senate Bill 1175 (KitchenDPhiladelphia)
seeks to require lead testing (water, paint, soil) in
day care centers licensed by the Department of Human Services. DHS would be prohibited from
issuing a license to a day care operator if lead levels are higher than CDC recommended
readings.
Senate Bill 1176 (FontanaDAllegheny)
would require any agreement of sale for real
property in the commonwealth to include an option to have the water tested for lead. And,
Senate Bill 1177 (HughesDPhiladelphia)
would create a “SuperFund for Lead Abatement”
that could be used by schools, day care centers, and other organizations to defray lead
remediation costs.
“In 2014, I sponsored legislation that was enacted to reduce the levels of lead in drinking
water. It is a critical public health and environmental issue. We need to be doing everything we
can to reduce the public's exposure to lead,” Sen. Yudichak said. “That is why I am introducing
Senate Bill 1173. This task force would look at all the pathways that the public can be exposed to
lead and make recommendations as to how we can reduce the risk of lead exposure.”
“Just like we have put mechanisms in place to alert residents about the presence of radon
or leadbased paint, lead in water can be a safety concern, especially for families where a mother
is pregnant, they are expecting, or young children and middleage men and women reside,” Sen.
Fontana said about his Senate Bill 1176. “For between $20 and $50, that it is a small price to pay
for peace of mind that your new home’s drinking water is safe.”
“When children consume lead their chances for healthy growth and a vibrant life
dwindle,” Sen. Kitchen said in explaining why she is pushing Senate Bill 1175. “Hurting
children with avoidable problems is something we cannot allow as Pennsylvanians, and we must
make sure that our babies and toddlers are not exposed to lead dangers in the one place they
spend many hours: day care.”
“We must do everything in our power to ensure that Pennsylvania's children are safe,”
Sen. Haywood underlined about Senate 1174. “Monitoring lead levels in our schools is a
fundamental step we can take in that direction.”
Department of Health Deputy Secretary for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention
Loren Robinson, MD, MSHP, spoke about the dangerous effects of lead exposure, as did
Pennsylvania Public Interest Research Group Field Organizer Michael Roles.
While she was unable to attend the press conference, Dr. Marsha Gerdes from the
Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia confirmed that lead is a problem and efforts like these must
happen.
“Prevention of exposure to lead from old lead paint or leadtainted water should be a
priority across Pennsylvania, which has a high prevalence of older housing and water systems,”
said Gerdes, an early childhood psychologist at CHOP, as well as a senior psychologist at the
hospital’s PolicyLab. “It is our youngest children who are at the highest risk of lead exposure
due to drinking formula mixed with tainted water or inhaling paint dust as they crawl on the
floor. For those children who already show elevated levels, we need to ensure that they are
enrolled in the educational services or mental health services that can help them.”
For more information on the health threats of lead, visit DEP’s
Lead In Drinking Water
webpage.
NewsClips:
PLS: Legislators Support LeadTesting Legislation
PA Proposals Aim To Minimize Lead Exposure
Swift: House Bills Call For More Lead Tests
4 Private Water Systems In Lebanon Receive EPA Attention
How Safe Is Philadelphia’s Water?
Water Officials: Philadelphia No Flint
No Lead Found In Water Tested By WilkesBarre
Lead Not A Problem In Most Lebanon County Water
Lead Paint Was Banned 40 Years Ago, Why Is It Still A Problem?
Related Story:
House Democrats Introduce, Call For Support Of LeadTesting Legislation
Senate Committee Reports Bills To Allow Game, Fish & Boat Commissions To Set Fees
The
Senate Game and Fisheries Committee
Wednesday unanimously reported out bills
authorizing the Game and Fish and Boat Commissions to set the fees they charge rather than
having the General Assembly establish the fees by law.
The bills include
Senate Bill 1166
(StefanoRFayette) Game Commission (
sponsor
summary
) and
Senate Bill 1168
(EichelbergerRBlair) Fish & Boat Commission (
sponsor
summary
).
Senate Bill 1168 was amended to make several technical changes before being reported
out.
The bills now go to the full Senate for consideration.
Sen. Mario Scavello (RMonroe) serves as Majority Chair of the Committee and can be
contacted by sending email to:
[email protected]
. Sen. James Brewster (DAllegheny)
serves as Minority Chair and can be contacted by sending email to:
[email protected]
.
On April 7, the
House Game and Fisheries Committee
holds a hearing on the issue of
hunting license fees in Room 205 of the Ryan Building starting at 10:00 a.m.
PA Environmental Council Support
On Monday, the
PA Environmental Council
sent a letter to members of the Senate Game
and Fisheries Committee supporting both Senate Bill 1166 and Senate Bill 1168.
The text of the letter follows
On behalf of the PA Environmental Council, I would like to offer our strong support for
both Senate Bill 1166 and Senate Bill 1168. This legislation allows the Game Commission and
the Fish & Boat Commission, respectively, to establish their own fees.
As independent agencies not supported by General Fund revenues, it is vital that both
Commissions have sufficient ability to support their important service to the people of the
Commonwealth.
Not only do they help maintain one of the cornerstones of our Commonwealth’s economy
– recreation and tourism – they perform vital conservation work that increases quality of life for
all Pennsylvanians.
Both Commissions submit annual reports to the Senate and House Game & Fisheries
Committees, and are subject to periodic audits by the Legislative Budget and Finance
Committee.
Further, it is in the inherent best interests of both Commissions to maintain a fee structure
that accommodates our state’s active and diverse recreational community.
We commend the sponsors of this legislation, and the members of the Committee, for
supporting the important work of these two Commissions. We ask that you support this
legislation.
Thank you for your consideration.
John Walliser, Senior Vice President, PA Environmental Council
For more information on programs, initiatives and special events, visit the
PA
Environmental Council
website, visit the
PEC Blog
, follow
PEC on Twitter
or
Like PEC on
Facebook
.
Click Here
to receive regular updates from PEC.
Legislative Forestry Task Force Meets On Invasive Species April 14 In State College
The Legislative Forestry Task Force, an initiative of the
Joint Air and Water Pollution Control
and Conservation Committee
, will meet in State College on April 14 to hear presentations on
invasive species and their impact on forest health.
Presenters are expected to include: Mr. Don Eggen, Forest Health Manager, DCNR's
Bureau of Forestry; Mr. Sven Shichiger, Entomology Program Manager, Department of
Agriculture; and Dr. Sarah Johnson, Conservation GIS Analyst,
The Nature
ConservancyPennsylvania Chapter
.
The meeting will be held in Room 217 of the Forest Resources Building on the Penn
State University campus in State College starting at 10:00 a.m.
Upcoming Event
April 11:
Environmental Issues Forum. Topic To Be Announced. Room 8EA East Wing.
Noon.
Sen. Scott Hutchinson (RVenango) serves as Chair of the Joint Conservation
Committee.
For more information, visit the
Joint Conservation Committee
website,
Like them on
Facebook
or
Follow them on Twitter
. To be added to the email list for the Committee, send an
email to:
[email protected]
.
NewsClips:
Millcreek Requires Tree Planting In Some Parking Lots
Visitors Learn About Maple Syrup During Open House
Burn Bans In Effect In York Because It’s Dry, Windy
Crawford County Crews Battle Multiple Brush Fires
March Environmental Synopsis Newsletter Available From Joint Conservation Committee
The
March edition of the Environmental Synopsis
newsletter is now available from the
Joint
Legislative Air and Water Pollution Control and Conservation Committee
featuring articles on
PA To Receive $33.5 Million U.S. Fish And Wildlife Service Grant
Select Group Of Trees Have Traveled Over 238,000 Miles
Taller Turbines Could Unlock More Wind Power
Advanced Treatment Of Dairy Farm Waste Still Falls Short
The Impact, Growth Of PA’s Heritage Areas
To get your own copy, send an email to:
[email protected]
.
Upcoming Events
April 11:
Environmental Issues Forum. Topic To Be Announced. Room 8EA East Wing.
Noon.
April 14:
Legislative Forestry Task Force. Room 217 Forest Resources Building, Penn State
University. State College. 10:00. The topic of the meeting will be invasive species and their
impact on forest health. Presenters for the task force meeting include: Mr. Don Eggen, forest
health manager, DCNR's Bureau of Forestry; Mr. Sven Shichiger, entomology program manager,
PA Department of Agriculture; and Dr. Sarah Johnson, conservation GIS analyst,
The Nature
ConservancyPennsylvania Chapter.
Sen. Scott Hutchinson (RVenango) serves as Chair of the Joint Conservation
Committee.
For more information, visit the
Joint Conservation Committee
website,
Like them on
Facebook
or
Follow them on Twitter
.
News From Around The State
Applications Now Being Accepted For REAP Farm Conservation Tax Credit Program
Pennsylvania farmers who want to implement best
management practices (BMPs) or purchase onfarm
conservation equipment are encouraged to apply for
remaining 201516
Resource Enhancement and Protection
(REAP) Program
tax credits. The deadline for applications
is April 22 (Earth Day).
REAP is a tax credit program for agricultural producers who
install BMPs or make equipment purchases that reduce
erosion and sedimentation that impacts Pennsylvania’s
streams and watersheds.
The program, administered by the
State Conservation Commission
, gives agriculture
producers an incentive to purchase conservation equipment and materials to better protect the
environment.
Farmers may receive tax credits of up to $150,000 per agricultural operation for 50 to 75
percent of the project’s cost. The most common projects approved are for notill planting and
precision ag equipment, waste storage facilities, Conservation Plans, Nutrient Management Plans
and protecting heavy animal use areas like barnyards.
REAP can be used in conjunction with other funding sources such as the NRCS
Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQUIP)
or the Chesapeake Bay Program for
purchases.
“With the
2017 midpoint assessment
for our Chesapeake Bay Watershed
Implementation Plan in our view, we continue to take steps to bring balance and resilience to
protecting the bay watershed,” said Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding. “The agriculture
industry is expected to make 75 percent of Pennsylvania’s total nutrient load reductions, in large
part because we show the greatest opportunity for achieving restoration of the bay.
“We’re doing great work already to safeguard our local waterways and we’re working to
highlight the efforts of those in the industry doing that work. But we also know there’s still more
work to be done. I encourage farmers to take advantage of the funding REAP provides to help
continue making conservationminded capital improvements while we all work to meet coequal
goals of viable farms and clean water,” Redding added.
Private investors may act as a sponsor by providing capital to producers as a project is
approved in return for tax credits. Any individual or business subject to taxation through
Personal Income Tax, Corporate Net Income Tax, Bank Shares Tax or others is eligible to
participate in REAP.
Since the program began in 2007, REAP has awarded tax credits to 3,900 projects
totaling more than $50 million. Public and private enterprises investments in REAP have
contributed to the conservation projects, worth more than $128 million.
From 2010 to 2014, REAP has helped reduce an estimated runoff of nearly 1.4 million
pounds of nitrogen, 84,000 pounds of phosphorus and 9,000 tons of sediment.
Earlier this year, the departments of Agriculture and Environmental Protection unveiled a
reboot of the Chesapeake Bay Program
. The strategy focuses on:
Putting highimpact, lowcost Best Management Practices (BMPs) on the ground, and quantify
undocumented BMPs in watersheds impaired by agriculture or stormwater.
Improving reporting, record keeping and data systems to provide better and more accessible
documentation.
Addressing nutrient reduction by meeting EPA’s goal of inspecting 10 percent of farms in the
watershed, ensuring development and use of manure management and agricultural erosion and
sediment control plans, and enforcement for noncompliance.
Identifying legislative, programmatic or regulatory changes to provide the additional tools and
resources necessary to meet federal pollution reduction goals by 2025.
Obtaining additional resources for water quality improvement.
Establishing a
DEP Chesapeake Bay Office
to coordinate the development, implementation
and funding of the Commonwealth’s Chesapeake Bay efforts.
Chesapeake Bay Farmer Survey
Producers are encouraged to participate in a BMP survey being conducted by Penn State
Extension to help tell the story of agriculture and the work producers are doing to protect water
quality in the state.
The survey can be accessed online
.
Applications for the 20152016 REAP program area available at Agriculture’s
Resource
Enhancement and Protection (REAP) Program
webpage. Questions should be directed to Joel
Semke at 7177054032 or send email to:
[email protected]
.
NewsClips:
Crable: Agencies: PA Farm Bureau’s Dire Warning Not True
Explainer: William Penn Foundation Delaware Watershed Project
Lancaster Science Fair Champion Tackles Greywater Recycling
Millcreek Requires Tree Planting In Some Parking Lots
Brodhead Watershed Assn Is Up Quack Creek
Capital Region Water Considering $9M Land Deal
Delaware Riverkeeper March 18 Riverwatch Video Report
Storm Erosion Closes Bridge In Pottstown’s Riverfront Park
Latest From The Chesapeake Bay Journal
Click Here
to subscribe to the Chesapeake Bay Journal
Chesapeake Bay Foundation 2016 Photo Contest Now Accepting Entries
The
Chesapeake Bay Foundation
announces its 12th
Annual Watershed Photo Contest
is now underway.
Photo submissions are being accepted through April 13.
Photographers of all skill levels are encouraged to
participate to win cash prizes of from $100 to $500, and
to have their photos featured in CBF’s awardwinning
publications.
Pennsylvania now is your chance to show off
your local watersheds!
(Photo 2015 entry from
Ricketts Glen State Park
.)
CBF is seeking photographs that illustrate the positive aspects of the Bay and its rivers
and streams. We want to see your vision of the Bay region—from Pennsylvania to Virginia, from
the Shenandoah Mountains to the Eastern Shore. Images depicting people, wildlife, recreation,
and farms within the watershed will all be considered.
All photos must include water from the Chesapeake Bay or a river, stream, creek, or other
body of water in the Chesapeake Bay watershed.
“I am always amazed by the talent the contestants show in their photos,” said Jennifer
Wallace, CBF managing editor and contest organizer. “It’s wonderful to see how connected and
aware people are of our great rivers, streams, and the Bay.”
All winners will receive a oneyear membership to CBF and winning photos may be
displayed on CBF’s website, in a CBF enewsletter, in CBF’s 2017 calendar, and in CBF’s
awardwinning magazine, Save the Bay.
Judging will be conducted by a panel of CBF employees on the basis of subject matter,
composition, focus, lighting, uniqueness, and impact. The public will also be able to vote online
for their favorite photo in the Viewers’ Choice Gallery, starting May 5.
Last year the judges considered more than 1,000 entries. Participation in the Viewers’
Choice Award was outstanding, too, with more than 2,400 votes cast.
Contest rules and details are available at CBF’s
Watershed Photo Contest
webpage.
For more on Chesapeake Bayrelated issues in Pennsylvania, visit the
CBFPA
webpage.
Click Here
to sign up for Pennsylvania updates (bottom of left column).
Click Here
for a copy
of CBFPA’s most recent newsletter.
NewsClips:
Crable: Agencies: PA Farm Bureau’s Dire Warning Not True
Explainer: William Penn Foundation Delaware Watershed Project
Lancaster Science Fair Champion Tackles Greywater Recycling
Millcreek Requires Tree Planting In Some Parking Lots
Brodhead Watershed Assn Is Up Quack Creek
Capital Region Water Considering $9M Land Deal
Delaware Riverkeeper March 18 Riverwatch Video Report
Storm Erosion Closes Bridge In Pottstown’s Riverfront Park
Latest From The Chesapeake Bay Journal
Click Here
to subscribe to the Chesapeake Bay Journal
Capital Region Water Proposes DeHart Watershed Conservation Plan In Dauphin County
On Monday
Capital Region Water
announced a proposal to conserve its 8,000 acre DeHart
Watershed Property, the source of drinking water for Harrisburg in Dauphin County, by
easement in partnership with the
Ward Burton Wildlife Foundation
,
The Nature
ConservancyPA
, and
Fort Indiantown Gap
in Lebanon County.
Under the proposal, Capital Region Water will receive approximately $9 million through
the Fort Indiantown Gap
Army Compatible Use Buffer Program
to grant a conservation
easement limiting development on the property.
This proposal will be voted on at Capital Region Water's Board of Directors meeting on
April 27. Public comments will be accepted until April 8 and can be submitted online, through
the mail, email, and in person at public hearings on March 23 and March 29.
Click Here
to learn all the details.
Other Upcoming Events
Volunteers are needed for the
4th Annual Great Harrisburg Litter Cleanup
on April 16
organized by
Clean and Green Harrisburg
and Keep Harrisburg/Dauphin County Beautiful.
Click Here
for all the details.
Volunteers are also needed for the Consider the source Cleanup in Clarks Valley on May
7 for a litter cleanup and drinking water tour.
Click Here
for details and to register.
For more information on programs, initiatives and upcoming events, visit the
Capital
Region Water
website.
Click Here
to receive regular updates from CRW,
Follow them on
Twitter
and
Like them on Facebook
.
NewsClip:
Capital Region Water Considering $9M Land Deal
(Reprinted from the
March 21 Capital Region Water
newsletter.
Click Here
to sign up for your
own.)
Video: A River Again, The Story Of The Schuylkill River Restoration Project
Chari Towne, the Delaware Riverkeeper Network’s Director of
Schuylkill Programs, told the story of the massive restoration
project to return the Schuylkill River to a healthy waterway at
the recent
Schuylkill Watershed Congress
. Just a reminder of
how far we have come.
Click Here
to watch the video.
Schuylkill Sojourn
The
2016 Schuylkill River Sojourn
will run from June
410.
Click Here
for all the details.
CBFPA Congratulates Fish & Boat Commission On Its 150th Anniversary
Chesapeake Bay FoundationPA
issued this statement
Thursday by Pennsylvania Executive Director Harry
Campbell, as the
Fish and Boat Commission
prepares to
commemorate its 150th anniversary on March 30.
Over the last 150 years, the Commission has evolved from a
oneman operation funded solely by the general fund, to an
agency with a complement of 432 staff, funded by anglers
and boaters through license and registration fees and federal
excise taxes on fishing and boating equipment.
Mr. Campbell said:
“The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission was born in 1866 out of concerns about
damage to mountain lakes and streams due to sedimentation caused by wholesale logging, and
for the reduction in American Shad runs in the Susquehanna River. As one of the nation’s oldest
conservation agencies, the Commission nobly carries on its duties today, to protect, conserve,
and enhance the Commonwealth’s aquatic resources.
“The Commission’s commitment to the resources, and to the anglers and boaters it
serves, is exemplified by its taking the lead in efforts to save the sick Susquehanna River and to
have it declared to be an impaired waterway.
“As we celebrate our own 30th year of restoring and saving Pennsylvania’s waters, the
Chesapeake Bay Foundation stands with the Fish and Boat Commission in appreciating the value
that clean water offers our health, economy, and recreation.
“CBF and the Fish and Boat Commission share the commitment to clean waterways and
the wildlife that depends on them in Pennsylvania. At CBF, we will continue to work diligently
to see to it that the Commonwealth achieves its
Clean Water Blueprint
, which is designed to
restore water quality to local rivers and streams by 2025.”
Visit the Fish and Boat Commission’s
150th Anniversary
webpage for more information
on the agency’s history and upcoming anniversary events.
For more on Chesapeake Bayrelated issues in Pennsylvania, visit the
CBFPA
webpage.
Click Here
to sign up for Pennsylvania updates (bottom of left column).
Click Here
for a copy
of CBFPA’s most recent newsletter.
NewsClip:
Crable: Columbia Dam Helped Create Fish & Boat Commission
Related Stories:
CBFPA Urges Impairment Listing For Lower Susquehanna In Wake Of River Study
Fish Commission, Abele Fund Launch Save Our Susquehanna Fundraising Site
PA Environmental Council Provides Update On Water Resource Protection Efforts
The
PA Environmental Council
Tuesday provided
a video
update
on its projects and initiatives to protect and restore
water resources in Pennsylvania.
Pennsylvania is home to 86,000 miles of rivers and
streams, the second most stream miles of of any state in
America. Yet,
19 percent of those miles
do not support
healthy aquatic life, while some are not fishable,
swimmable, or drinkable.
That’s where PEC comes in.
PEC works with stakeholders to tackle water quality issues on both the legislative and
municipal levels, while promoting the use of green stormwater infrastructure.
Sue Myerov, PEC Program Director for Watersheds, updates the status of PEC’s
watershed protection efforts on all levels across the state.
“Our work is critically important, because water is the basis of life, and we should do our
best to protect our water resources here in the state and around the world. We do this not just for
ourselves, but for our future generations,” said Sue Myerov, Watersheds Program Manager for
PEC.
Click Here
to watch the update. To contact Sue Myerov, send email to:
[email protected]
or call 2155454570.
For more information on programs, initiatives and special events, visit the
PA
Environmental Council
website, visit the
PEC Blog
, follow
PEC on Twitter
or
Like PEC on
Facebook
.
Click Here
to receive regular updates from PEC.
2016 National Watershed & Stormwater Conference April 12
The
Center for Watershed Protection’s
2016 National Watershed and Stormwater InPerson and
Webcast Conference
will be on April 12.
Along with the national webcast, the conference also features live hubs in California,
Connecticut, Georgia, Idaho, Maryland, and Nebraska.
More information about the general details, including the conference agenda, visit the
National Watershed and Stormwater Conference
webpage.
DEP Holds Disinfection Rule Stakeholders Work Group Meeting April 15
The Department of Environmental Protection will hold a meeting of the Stakeholder Work
Group on the
proposed disinfection requirements rule
for public water suppliers on April 15.
The proposed disinfection rule was published in the February 20 PA Bulletin (
page 857
)
for public comment. Three hearings are being held on the rule March 28, April 5 and April 7.
The meeting will be held in Room 105 Rachel Carson Building starting at 10:00 a.m.
For more information,
Click Here
for the PA Bulletin notice or contact
Dawn Hissner,
DEP, by sending email to:
[email protected]
.
Start Of Spring Brings Greater Risk Of Flooding In Pennsylvania
The
PA Emergency Management Agency
Monday
reminded citizens to practice flood safety during the start
of the Spring weather.
“Flooding is the number one weather threat we face in
Pennsylvania,” said PEMA Director Richard D. Flinn Jr.
“People need to understand that just a few inches of water
can knock over a person, and one to two feet of water can
carry away most cars.”
(Photo:
Johnstown Flood
in 1889 killed 2,209
people.)
Flinn also said it is important for the public to understand the difference between a flood
watch and a flood warning because each represents a different level of action to be taken.
National Flood Safety Awareness Week is March 2125 and is a good opportunity for the
public to learn more about flood safety.
A flood watch means that flooding may occur. Residents should stay alert and watch rivers
and streams, and be prepared to move to high ground quickly.
A flood warning means that there is actual flooding. Residents should act at once and move to
high ground.
In addition, citizens should:
Learn whether your property is above or below the flood stage water level and become
familiar with the history of flooding for your region;
Learn floodwarning signs and your community alert signals to be better prepared for floods
and flash floods; and
Install check valves in building sewer traps to prevent flood waters from backing up in sewer
drains.
Plan and practice an evacuation route. Individuals living or working in flash flood areas
should have several alternative routes for leaving and getting to higher ground.
Have disaster supplies on hand in your home, including:
flashlights and extra batteries;
portable, batteryoperated radio and extra batteries;
first aid kit and manual;
bottled water and nonperishable food;
manual can opener;
essential medicines/prescriptions; and
cash, credit cards and important legal documents.
Develop an emergency communication plan in the event that family members are
separated from one another during floods or flash floods a real possibility during the day when
adults are at work and children are at school and have a plan for getting back together.
Free flood safety information, including templates for family emergency plans and
checklists for emergency kit supplies, is available at
www.ReadyPA.org
.
Follow @ReadyPA on Twitter and like ReadyPA on
www.facebook.com/BeReadyPA
for
more emergency preparedness information. The free ReadyPA app is also available for both
Apple and Android devices.
Also visit DEP’s
Flooding Resources
webpage for practical tips on how to recover from a
flood.
NewsClips:
Preparation Is Key To Flood Safety
1936 Flood Showed Need For Levees In Scranton, WilkesBarre
F&M Highlights Big Spring Run Stream, Floodplain Restoration Efforts In Lancaster
Big Spring Run
stream and floodplain restoration efforts
in Lancaster County were highlighted in the Winter
issue of
Franklin & Marshall’s Winter Magazine
.
The efforts involve using a new paradigm for
ecosystem restoration pioneered with the help of
Dorothy Merritts and Robert Walter from
Franklin &
Marshall’s Hackman Physical Science Laboratories
.
Under the watchful eye of Merritts, Walter and a
collaborative team of environmental engineers,
geologists, botanists, landowners and F&M students, Big
Spring Run is transforming into a new ecosystem, one
that’s helping to revive the Chesapeake Bay Watershed’s
ecology and challenging longheld, but ineffective, notions about stream restoration in
Pennsylvania.
How did they do it? For starters: removing 20,000 tons of legacy sediment—“mud,”
confirms Merritts—from the restoration site.
At first, removing truckloads of dirt sounds like a drastic solution for fixing a stream
valley struggling with erosion and loss of plant life.
“It does seem radical,” Merritts, F&M’s Harry W. & Mary B. Huffnagle Professor of
Geosciences, admits of the Big Spring Run restoration plan. “On the other hand, it seems radical
to us to go into those same valley bottoms and line the eroding stream banks with immense
boulders.”
Jeffrey Hartranft, a botanist by trade, works for the Pennsylvania DEP and is part of the
Big Spring Run project team. In the course of partnering with Merritts and Walter, he was
excited to discover that lying beneath the legacy sediment of Big Spring Run was a possible key
to the environment that had thrived there in the past. “I was looking at this hydric soil saying,
‘Wow, this is a paleoenvironment that gives us a clue as to what was here beforehand,’” says
Hartranft, who studied the evidence of seeds and other plant life unearthed once the sediment
was removed.
Figuring out that the site should be restored as a wetland at all is an accomplishment in
and of itself. “Conventional wisdom had always held that the landscapes adjacent to streams
were forested,” explains Hartranft. “We found evidence contrary to that.”
The team discovered, instead, a complex ecosystem involving many different stream
channels and wetland sedge meadows buried beneath hundreds of years worth of muck.
Click Here
to read the full article.
Franklin & Marshall has
put together a website
detailing the approach and the results of
floodplain restoration in the Big Spring Run Watershed.
A Lancaster Countybased consulting firm
Landstudies, Inc
. has worked with Franklin &
Marshall and other partners on floodplain restoration and legacy sediment projects, like
Big
Spring Run
.
Click Here
for more information on floodplain restoration.
NewsClips:
Crable: Agencies: PA Farm Bureau’s Dire Warning Not True
Explainer: William Penn Foundation Delaware Watershed Project
Lancaster Science Fair Champion Tackles Greywater Recycling
Millcreek Requires Tree Planting In Some Parking Lots
Brodhead Watershed Assn Is Up Quack Creek
Capital Region Water Considering $9M Land Deal
Delaware Riverkeeper March 18 Riverwatch Video Report
Storm Erosion Closes Bridge In Pottstown’s Riverfront Park
Latest From The Chesapeake Bay Journal
Click Here
to subscribe to the Chesapeake Bay Journal
DEP Cites Monster & Mom & Bobo’s Car Wash For Illegal Tire Dump In Allegheny
The Department of Environmental Protection, partnering with the municipality of Penn Hills,
Tuesday cited Monster and Mom and Bobo’s Car Wash LLC, for illegally storing an estimated
50,000 waste tires.
Penn Hills Police discovered the tire dump, which is adjacent to a daycare center. The
operators of the tire dump solicited the waste tires from throughout the area.
Penn Hills Police filed summary criminal charges against the owners of Monster and
Mom in the Penn Hills District Justice’s Office. After a hearing, the District Justice found
Monster and Mom guilty and imposed a fine.
In addition to the Penn Hills Police court action, DEP issued an order requiring the
immediate cleanup of the site and the proper recycling or disposal of the tires. An investigation
into other incidents of illegal tire dumping at the site is continuing.
Pennsylvania regulations require an operator of a waste aggregation and storage facility
to first obtain a permit from the Department. A review of DEP records showed that Monster and
Mom does not have a permit to store, collect, process or dispose of waste.
Monster and Mom has a Waste Tire Hauler Authorization which authorizes only the
transportation of waste tires from a source to a permitted recycling or disposal facility.
Recently, local environmental officials have noted an increase in the number of illegal
tire dumps in Pittsburgh and the southwest region. These tires that should be recycled are
dumped over hill sides.
Unlicensed tire transporters and aggregators dump tires on vacant or private properties.
These tire dumps are potential fire hazards, scar the land and provide a ready breeding ground
for mosquitos during the spring and summer months.
Waste tire sources, like gas stations and tire retailers, have the responsibility of
consigning their tires to permitted haulers and disposal facilities. These waste tire generators also
must keep records documenting the proper handling of all waste tires.
DEP regulations require that all tires should be sent for recycling or energy recovery.
Details of the agency’s waste tire program can be found here.
For more information on waste tires, visit DEP’s
Waste Tire Program
webpage.
Still Time To Do Some Spring Cleaning, Join 2016 Great American Cleanup Of PA
There is still time to do a little Spring cleaning
along roads, streams and in parks all over
Pennsylvania by volunteering a few hours to do a
cleanup or beautification project as part of the
Great American Cleanup of PA
.
Organize your own cleanup or join one
happening in your area by going to the
Great
American Cleanup of PA
.
Click Here
to watch a public service
announcement about the program.
Click Here
to
watch an interview with DEP Secretary John Quigley on how you can get involved.
Sign up now for the
2016 Great American Cleanup of PA
and set up your own cleanup
and beautification event through May 31.
For more information on programs, initiatives and special events, visit the
Keep
Pennsylvania Beautiful
website.
Click Here
to sign up for regular updates from KPB,
Like them
on Facebook
,
Follow on Twitter
,
Discover them on Pinterest
and visit their
YouTube Channel
.
Also visit the
Illegal Dump Free PA
website for more ideas on how to clean up
communities and keep them clean and KPB’s new
Electronics Waste
website.
NewsClips:
DEP Secretary Quigley: 2016 Great American Cleanup Of PA
Illegal Dump In Harrisburg You Have To See To Believe
WilkesBarre To Take Part In Great American Cleanup Of PA
Newport Twp Volunteers Come Together For Great American Cleanup
OpEd: Spring Cleaning That Mountain Of EWaste
York County Solid Waste Authority To ReLaunch Electronics Recycling Program
The
York County Solid Waste Authority
Monday announced it will relaunch a Residential
Electronics Recycling Program in York County beginning in early April, 2016. The exact start
date will be announced soon.
The program is free and open to York County residents ONLY and will now be
conducted Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 3:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. every week at the
Authority’s Yard Waste Site located off of Flour Mill Road in Manchester Township.
Saturday events will no longer be conducted at the Yard Waste Site.
The multiple days and additional hours will provide residents with greater opportunity,
flexibility and efficiency in recycling electronic devices.
Penn and Fairview Townships will also be conducting electronics recycling collection
programs. Both Penn and Fairview will accept electronics from all York County residents and
offer weekday and Saturday collection hours.
Please call, or visit their websites for times and locations:
Penn Township
, 7176371561,
Fairview Township
, 7179015200.
The Authority’s new escrap management contract is with electronics recycling vendor
ECOvanta
and extends only to December 31, 2016. The Authority is pursuing program
alternatives for 2017.
Act 108 bans both the disposal and collection of certain electronic “covered devices”.
Electronics currently banned from hauler collection and disposal in PA waste disposal facilities
include: televisions, desktop and laptop computers, computer monitors and computer peripherals
(anything that connects to a computer such as a mouse, keyboard, printer, etc.).
Material accepted in the program includes these electronic “covered devices” as well as
other electronic recyclables including cell phones, vacuum cleaners, alarm clocks, irons and
coffee makers or anything with a plug that does not contain Freons.
Examples of Freoncontaining items include refrigerators, freezers, air conditioners and
dehumidifiers.
Act 108, the Covered Device Recycling Act, applies only to residential sources of
electronic devices specified in the Act. As such, Original Equipment Manufacturers providing
recycling capacity to electronics recycling vendors will not accept electronics from
nonresidential sources.
York County organizations, schools and businesses that wish to recycle electronic
devices may contact electronics recycling vendors directly. A list of recycling vendors
is
available online
.
For information on other programs, initiatives and special events, visit the
York County
Solid Waste Authority
website.
NewsClips:
Electronics Recycling Coming Back In York County
Public Cost Of Recycling TVs Skyrockets
Related Stories:
Hearing: Electronics Manufacturers Need To Pay For EWaste Actually Collected
Keep PA Beautiful Testifies About Rampant Illegal Dumping Of Electronics
Gov. Wolf Announces Federal Disaster Funding For 23 Counties
Gov. Tom Wolf Thursday announced the federal government has granted his request for federal
disaster assistance to reimburse state, county and municipal governments and other eligible
private nonprofits for costs associated with the response to the winter storm that impacted parts
of Pennsylvania January 2223 in 23 counties.
“The expenses incurred by local governments in responding to this historic snowstorm in
many cases wiped out an entire winter budget for snow removal,” said Gov. Wolf. “We
appreciate that the federal government recognized the impact of the storm and our need for this
type of assistance.”
The governor said the following counties are included in the disaster declaration: Adams,
Bedford, Berks, Blair, Bucks, Chester, Cumberland, Dauphin, Fayette, Franklin, Fulton, Juniata,
Lancaster, Lebanon, Lehigh, Montgomery, Northampton, Perry, Philadelphia, Schuylkill,
Somerset, Westmoreland, and York.
Over the coming weeks, staff from the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency
will hold meetings with applicants to thoroughly review all application documentation before
forwarding it to the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
The process is expected to take several weeks, and all reimbursements are handled
electronically.
NewsClips:
PA Eligible For Federal Disaster Funds From Winter Storm
FEMA To Aid PA Counties Hit By January Snowstorm
Will There Be More Snow Disaster Declarations In Coming Winters?
Crawford County Crews Battle Multiple Brush Fires
DEP Issues Emergency Contract To Stop Mine Subsidence Damage In Allegheny County
The Department of Environmental Protection Thursday announced
it has authorized an emergency contract to stop serious mine
subsidence in Pleasant Hills, Allegheny County.
Two homes on Brushglen Lane have shown considerable
structural damage due to the shift of ground underneath their
foundations.
DEP inspectors were first alerted to the problem on March
16. During an onsite survey the following day, they noted
significant damage throughout the homes and were able to trace the
problems to mine subsidence.
The homes are located over the abandoned Pittsburgh
Terminal No. 6 mine, which was abandoned prior to 1936.
Damages to the homes include cracks in the plaster walls in several rooms; stuck doors
and windows; floors that are now tilted; and significant cracks in foundations, in some cases up
to one inch wide. The subsidence continues to impact the homes.
The emergency authorization allows DEP’s Bureau of Abandoned Mine Reclamation to
immediately gather estimates, choose the most qualified bidder, and contract to begin work to
stabilize the site.
Quotes are scheduled to be received by DEP by the morning of March 24, with work
scheduled to begin March 29. The project is anticipated to take two to three weeks to complete.
Mine Subsidence Insurance Available
DEP continues to encourage residents of the importance of having
mine subsidence
insurance
.
A typical homeowner’s insurance policy rarely covers mine subsidence damage, leaving
the property owner with repair expenses which can often exceed $100,000 per building. Mine
subsidence insurance is an affordable option that protects homeowners from the cost of potential
damages caused by subsidence.
The insurance, which is administered by DEP, is inexpensive, at about 55 cents for every
$1,000 of coverage. An average policy of $175,000 would cost just $95 a year, about $8 a month
or .25 cents a day.
But, despite the low cost, only about 62,000 buildings are insured statewide.
As part of an ongoing awareness campaign, DEP mailed details of the insurance program
to Pleasant Hills residents a year ago, alerting them to the danger posed by abandoned coal mines
underneath their properties.
Much of the area in the southern and eastern Pittsburgh neighborhoods and suburbs are
undermined.
An estimated 1,000,000 buildings are constructed over abandoned mines in Pennsylvania.
Because subsidence hasn’t occurred in a particular neighborhood in the past doesn’t mean it
won’t happen in the future.
Detailed information about the mine subsidence insurance is available on DEP’s
Mine
Subsidence Insurance Program
webpage or call 18009221678.
NewsClips:
Natural Gas Power Plant Proposed Nemacolin Mine Property
Plans Reviewed For Cleanup At Former Huber Breaker Site
DEP: March 29 Meeting/Hearing On Gibraltar Rock Quarry Permit Montgomery County
The Department of Environmental Protection Thursday announced it will host an information
session and public hearing March 29 concerning the renewal of an Individual National Pollution
Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit in association with mining activities at the
Gibraltar Rock Quarry, located in New Hanover Township in Montgomery County.
The event will take place at 5:30 p.m. at Boyertown Area Junior High School East,
located at 2020 Big Road, Gilbertsville, PA 19525.
The evening will begin with an information session at which time attendees may ask
questions of DEP staff; formal comments and testimony will be received beginning at 7:00 p.m.
Comments given during the formal comment period should be directly related to the
NPDES permit application.
Representatives from both the DEP Pottsville District Mining Office and the Southeast
Regional Office will be on hand to answer questions from the public from 6:007:00 p.m.
In addition to testimony given beginning at 7:00 p.m., DEP will also accept written
comments until April 28. Written comments may be sent to Nathan Houtz, Permitting Chief at
the Department of Environmental Protection, 5 West Laurel Boulevard, Pottsville, PA 17901.
Comments may also be emailed to:
[email protected]
, with the subject clearly stating that
the email is intended for public record.
Those wishing to testify in person at the hearing should contact Community Relations
Coordinator Virginia Cain at 4842505808.
A copy of the application is available for public inspection at the
New Hanover Township
Administrative Office
at 2943 North Charlotte Street, Gilbertsville, PA 19525 during regular
township business houses and at the
Pottsville District Mining Office
during regular business
hours of 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m, Monday through Friday.
Individuals in need of an accommodation as provided for in the Americans with
Disabilities Act of 1990 should contact Virginia Cain or make accommodations through the
Pennsylvania AT&T Relay Service at 18006545984 (TDD).
Derry Township School District Adds 3 CleanBurning, Propane Buses To Fleet
Derry Township School District
in Dauphin County
introduced three new school buses fueled by propane
into its fleet for the 201516 school year. The Blue Bird
Propane Vision buses have already saved the school
district money by reducing fuel and maintenance costs.
“It’s our department’s goal to save money in
transportation costs that can be used for better purposes.
Our normal preventative maintenance will cost about
$240 less per bus per year with the propane autogas
buses,” said Steve Bell, director of transportation and
garage operations for Derry Township Schools. “The
down time and other repair costs will definitely be less than our diesel buses.”
Along with being fiscally responsible, Bell says the school district’s use of more
environmentally friendly buses fit well into the district’s efforts to reduce its carbon footprint.
“We’re delighted that Derry Township made its first purchase of Blue Bird Propane
Vision buses, providing cleaneroperating transportation for its students at lower operating
costs,” said Phil Horlock, president and CEO of Blue Bird.
Equipped with propane autogas fuel systems manufactured by ROUSH CleanTech, the
buses will reduce nitrogen oxide emissions by over 2,300 pounds and particulate matter by about
95 pounds each year compared with the diesel buses they replaced.
Vehicles fueled by propane autogas emit 80 percent fewer smogproducing hydrocarbons
and virtually eliminate particulate matter when compared to diesel.
“Derry Township School District is the latest in a growing community of North
American school districts to discover the many benefits of propane autogas. It is better for the
environment as well as the bottom line,” said Brian Carney, group account director for ROUSH
CleanTech.
Another advantage DTSD has experienced with the propane autogas buses is the quieter
operating engine.
While diesel engines are commonly associated with producing noticeable engine noise,
propane autogas engines allow drivers to better hear and communicate with students onboard,
and vastly improve the audio clarity coming from onboard camera systems in the buses.
“Our school district appreciates the cleaner air to breathe and a sense of environmental
responsibility for the whole community that comes with these buses,” said Bell. “The students
and bus drivers, along with the general public, enjoy the lower noise levels which will continue
as our district gradually replaces its diesel buses with propane autogas models.”
Later this year, DTSD will take delivery of three additional Blue Bird Propane Vision
buses. These buses, which will replace aging diesel models, will be deployed for the 201617
school year.
The school district plans to continue adding propane autogas buses to its fleet in the
coming years.
Related Story:
DCED Urges House To Keep Incentives For Natural Gas Vehicles In Place
Energypath Renewable Conference: Futurist, Student Camps, Science Fair July 2529
The Sustainable Energy Fund
Thursday announced Jack Uldrich, renowned futurist and
bestselling author, as the keynote speaker for
Energypath 2016
in State College July 2829.
Uldrich is the author of 11 books and a regular guest and contributor for a number of
national news outlets. He also frequently appears on the
Science Channel’s FutureScape
and
Discovery Channel’s Inside Out.
“Jack is known the world over for his assessment of renewable energy and technological
trends and their effect on our society,” said John Costlow, president and CEO of SEF. “We are
glad to welcome such a distinguished thought leader as our keynote speaker, and are excited to
have him share his insight into the future of renewable and sustainable energy practices.”
Uldrich is a former naval intelligence officer, and previously served as the director of the
Minnesota Office of Strategic and LongRange Planning. Uldrich’s expertise has been sought
after by leading Fortune 100 corporations, venture capital firms, and state and regional
governments on five continents.
At Energypath Uldrich will provide insight into energy trends with the presentation
Foresight 20/20: The Ten Trends Transforming Tomorrow and How They Will Impact Energy.
Energypath is the largest sustainable energy conference in Pennsylvania, and will be held
from July 28 to July 29 at the
Penn Stater Hotel and Conference Center
adjacent to the main
campus of Pennsylvania State University in State College.
The event hosts leading experts, scholars, entrepreneurs and innovators to discuss and
share resources that engage communities and businesses in sustainable energy practices and
renewable energy technology.
Student Energy Camps, Science Fair
In addition to panel discussions and presentations, Energypath 2016 will feature
energy
camps
July 2527 (apply now) and a
science fair
July 29 (deadline to apply July 1) for middle
and high school students.
Energy Sprout Competition
The conference also features a competition for innovative products and business models,
Energy Sprout
. The competition will award a top grant of $100,000 to a business or individual.
There is still time to enter the competition. Proposals are due May 3.
For more information and to register, visit the
Energypath 2016
website.
NewsClips:
Protesters Demand PECO Support For Solar In N. Philadelphia
FirstEnergy Quietly Markets Green Offer
Quaker Group Says Philly Solar Panels Could Meet PECO Power Target
Energy Alliance Pittsburgh Annual Meeting April 25
The
Energy Alliance of Greater Pittsburgh
will hold its annual meeting on April 25 at 11
Stanwix Street, Pittsburgh from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. PUC Commissioner Robert F. Powelson will
be the keynote speaker for this special event.
Click Here
for all the details and to register.
Final STEM For Sustainable Schools Teacher Program April 11 To May 6
Lebanon Valley College
and the
Green SchoolsBlue Waters Program
will hold the last of their
three more credit graduate course designed to provide educators in grades 3 to 12 with activities
and resources to support
STEM Investigations For Sustainable Schools
from April 11 to May 6.
The one credit graduate course is entitled School Yard Habitat, Gardens, Health and
Nutrition: April 11 to May 6 (online), with a field workshop on April 16th
Educators who would like to attend the Saturday only field workshops can receive Act 48
credit for a small registration fee. The Saturday field workshops are free to participants not
interested in receiving credit or Act 48.
Click Here
for registration information for credit from
Lebanon Valley College.
The program is supported by a DEP Environmental Education Grant.
Click Here
for a full description of the module. Questions should be direct to Carrie
Coryer, Director MSE by calling 7178676190 or send email to:
[email protected]
.
For other environmental education programs and professional development opportunities,
visit the
Green SchoolsBlue Waters Program
website.
NewsClips:
Erie Benedictine Pat Lupo Honored With Women In Conservation Award
Lancaster Science Fair Champion Tackles Greywater Recycling
Philadelphia Science Festival Targets K12 Students, Teachers April 2230
The
Philadelphia Science Festival
is a communitywide celebration
of science that takes place annually. This year it will be held from
April 2230.
The Festival features lectures, debates, handson activities,
special exhibitions and a variety of other informal science
education experiences for Philadelphians of all ages.
It aims to provide opportunities for all Philadelphians to
positively engage with and build a community around science, engineering, and technology by
showcasing the role that each plays in the city and region.
The Festival seeks participation especially by K12 students. Professional scientists,
engineers, and technologists from every discipline are invited to volunteer throughout the
program.
K12 teachers are integral partners—classroom curriculum and resources are in
development to facilitate Festival involvement. The goal is for the Festival to offer something for
everyone in hopes of sparking interest and involvement.
Environmental partners include
The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University
,
Audubon Pennsylvania
,
The Nature ConservancyPA Chapter
,
Riverbend Environmental
Education Center
,
Fairmount Water Works
,
John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum
,
Natural Lands Trust
,
Partnership for the Delaware Estuary
,
Fish and Boat Commission
,
Philadelphia Water Department
,
Sustainable Business Network of Greater Philadelphia
, and the
Tookany, Tacony, Frankfort Watershed Association
.
Click Here
for a calendar of events covering all 9 days organized by students, adults,
educators and families.
For all the details, visit the
Philadelphia Science Festival
website.
NewsClips:
Erie Benedictine Pat Lupo Honored With Women In Conservation Award
Lancaster Science Fair Champion Tackles Greywater Recycling
DCNR Launches Endangered Species Permit Review Tool— PA Conservation Explorer
Department of Conservation and
Natural Resources Secretary Cindy
Adams Dunn Monday announced the
department and its partners today are
launching
PA Conservation Explorer
to assist businesses, local
governments and citizens with
conservation planning, and improve the process for environmental reviews for threatened and
endangered species that are required during permitting for construction and other activities.
"A government that works efficiently makes it easier to evaluate the impact that projects
will have on our threatened and endangered species so that they can be avoided through the
planning and permitting processes," Dunn said. "For the first time, species habitat information
will be available online, and applicants can submit projects electronically, replacing a
cumbersome process that required paper submissions to four different agencies."
PA Conservation Explorer replaces the PA Natural Diversity Inventory Environmental
Review Tool (PNDI).
The new tool provides conservation information on biological diversity, protected lands,
streams and other natural resources for planning purposes. It also allows users to screen a project
area for potential impacts to threatened, endangered, and special concern species once they
register.
In Pennsylvania, examples of threatened and endangered species include the blue spotted
salamander; Indiana bat; piping plover; bog turtle; and the leafy white orchid.
The tool does not list specific locations for species, but instead shows the species habitat.
Use of the Conservation Explorer as a planning tool can be done without charge. There is
a $40 convenience charge per project to use PA Conservation Explorer and get documentation
for the permitting process.
Users without access to a computer or who do not wish to use the convenience option
may submit their project for review directly to each of the four jurisdictional agencies at no
charge.
Jurisdictional agencies are: DCNR, plants; Game Commission, birds and mammals; Fish
and Boat Commission, fish, reptiles and amphibians; and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,
federallylisted species.
To learn more about Pennsylvania's diversity of species and natural heritage and access
PA Conservation Explorer
, visit DCNR’s
Natural Heritage
webpage.
DCNR Now Accepting Applications For Fire Company Grants To Help Battle Wildfires
The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources is
now accepting applications from
volunteer fire companies
for grants
to help battle wildfires. Applications are due
May 19.
With spring’s arrival and the increased risk of
forest and brush fires across the state, federal grants now
are available to help Pennsylvania’s rural communities
better guard against the threat of fires in forested,
undeveloped and unprotected areas.
“Spring’s warming temperatures, sunny days and
strong winds all combine to usher in wildfire dangers that emphasize the value of having
welltrained and wellequipped local firefighting forces in rural areas,” Department of
Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn said. “These men and women
deserve the very best training and equipment, and these grants help them obtain both.”
In 2015, $592,030 was awarded to 156 volunteer fire companies serving rural areas and
communities where forest and brush fires are common. The grant program, offered through
DCNR and paid through federal grants from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service,
has awarded more than $11.5 million since it began in 1982.
Local firefighting forces in rural areas or communities with fewer than 10,000 residents
qualify for the aid, which is used for training and equipment purchases directly related to fighting
brush and forest fires.
In reviewing applications, DCNR will place priority on those requests seeking funds for
projects that include the purchase of wildfire suppression equipment and protective clothing.
Grants also may be used for purchasing mobile or portable radios, installing dry hydrants,
wildfire prevention and mitigation work, training wildfire fighters, or converting and maintaining
federal excess vehicles. These vehicles are presented to the local departments exhibiting the
greatest needs and those that commit to outfitting them for fire suppression.
Aid is granted on a costshare basis. Grants for any project during a fiscal year cannot
exceed 50 percent of the actual expenditures of local, public and private nonprofit organizations
in the agreement.
The maximum grant that will be considered from any fire company in 2016 is $7,500.
To expedite application and decisionmaking processes, DCNR is accepting
only online
applications
.
For more information, visit DCNR’s
Resources For Volunteer Fire Departments
webpage
or contact the bureau’s Division of Forest Fire Protection at 7177872925 or send email to
ra
[email protected]
.
NewsClips:
Crawford County Crews Battle Multiple Brush Fires
Burn Bans In Effect In York Because It’s Dry, Windy
Millcreek Requires Tree Planting In Some Parking Lots
Visitors Learn About Maple Syrup During Open House
Natural Lands Trust Mega Tree Planting Party April 16 Chester County
The
Natural Lands Trust
is seeking volunteers for a “Mega
Tree Planting Party” April 16 at the
ChesLen Preserve
in
Coatesville, Chester County from 9:00 a.m. to Noon.
The goal of the
TreeVitalize
related event is to plant 630
trees.
Volunteers will meet and park along Kelsall Road, between
Route 162 and Cannery Road, not at the Lenfest Center in the Preserve.
Click Here
for all the details.
For more information on programs, initiatives and upcoming events, visit the
Natural
Lands Trust
website.
Click Here
to sign up for regular updates from the Trust and
Like them on
Facebook
.
For more information on support for planting trees, tree tender training and more, visit
the
TreeVitalize
website.
NewsClips:
Millcreek Requires Tree Planting In Some Parking Lots
Visitors Learn About Maple Syrup During Open House
Burn Bans In Effect In York Because It’s Dry, Windy
Crawford County Crews Battle Multiple Brush Fires
PA Horticultural Society Tree Tenders Classes Coming Up In Southeast
The
PA Horticultural Society
has scheduled a series of
Spring and Fall Tree Tender classes
in the
5county Philadelphia area to help residents learn tree biology, identification, planning, proper
care and working with your community to promote tree planting. The schedule includes
Chester County March 30, April 6, 13
Montgomery County May 5, 12, 19
Philadelphia County May 9, 16, 23
Bucks County September 22, 29 and October 6
Delaware County September 28, October 5, 19
Philadelphia County September 21, 28 and October 5
The training is free and ISA, PA LA, and PLNA credit is available. This course is not
appropriate for children under 16.
Click Here
to register for Tree Tender training.
Tree Tender training is also available through
Tree Pittsburgh
.
Click Here
for upcoming
courses.
NewsClips:
Millcreek Requires Tree Planting In Some Parking Lots
Visitors Learn About Maple Syrup During Open House
Burn Bans In Effect In York Because It’s Dry, Windy
Crawford County Crews Battle Multiple Brush Fires
Wildlands Conservancy, Partners: Return On The Environment Workshop April 22
The
Wildlands Conservancy
and its partners will hold a Return On The Environment Workshop
April 22 (Earth Day) at
DeSales University
, University Center, 2755 Station Ave., Center Valley
from 8:00 to 11:00 a.m.
The Wildlands Conservancy has done its homework, and in the Lehigh Valley, money
really does grow on trees! As a local community or business leader, the Conservancy wants you
to benefit from the wealth of information they have to share about how “green” makes the most
“dollars and sense” for our region’s vitality.
Please join Wildlands Conservancy and the
Lehigh Valley Planning Commission
to learn
firsthand how the Lehigh Valley region’s local natural features and existing growth opportunities
are the foundation of a healthier environment, a stronger economy and improved quality of life.
Click Here
to register. There is a $30 cost for the program.
For more information on other programs, initiatives and special events, visit the
Wildlands Conservancy
website.
Click Here
to sign up for regular updates from the
Conservancy.
Delaware Valley Planning Commission Awards $7.6M For Bike Trails In Southeast
The
Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission
Friday announced it has awarded $7.6
million to eleven local projects in Southeastern Pennsylvania through the Transportation
Alternatives Program.
Projects were funded in Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia
counties.
The federal program funds communitybased "nontraditional" projects designed to
strengthen the cultural, aesthetic, and environmental aspects of the nation's intermodal
transportation system. Selected projects include trail, sidewalk, transit stop, and onroad bicycle
improvements.
“These eleven projects will enable communities to build multiuse trails, safe routes to
school and pedestrian pathways, and bike lanes and bikeway projects, providing transportation
options for a wide variety of users throughout our region,” said Barry Seymour, DVRPC
Executive Director. “This is one more step in our ongoing efforts to implement The Circuit, the
region’s ambitious plan for a 750mile network of connected trails.”
Click Here
for a list of projects funded.
NewsClips:
DVRPA Awards $7.6M For Protected Bike Lanes In SE
York Rail Trail Partial Closure Begins Monday
Picnic Grove To Be Built At RailTrail In Hazleton
Police To Monitor Lackawanna River Trail Via Cameras
Ballyhooed Beaches Aren’t Presque Isle’s Only Charms
Birding Legend Coming To Presque Isle Festival In May
Pymatuning Dam Construction To Continue
YorkArea Kayakers Prep For World Championship
Storm Erosion Closes Bridge In Pottstown’s Riverfront Park
PA Parks & Forests Foundation Launches New Website
The
PA Parks and Forests Foundation
, the only nonprofit whose mission is Pennsylvania’s state
parks and forests, is launching its new website this week. They invite visitors to explore the new
design and features.
The new website, populated with beautiful photos from Pennsylvania’s state parks and
forests, has been designed to provide a userfriendly experience. The site allows users to learn
more about how to become engage in state parks and forests—from attending events, joining a
friends group (or perhaps starting one!), or becoming a Steward of Penn’s Woods.
Users can also download informational factsheets and newsletter, sign up for electronic
newsletters, and will soon be able to follow our blog.
A webstore
holds items that assist the park and forests enthusiast explore their state parks
and forests—from the everpopular Pennsylvania State Parks and Forests Passport to the fun
wearable checklist of parks and forests, there is something to appeal to everyone.
“We are excited to unveil the new website,” says Marci Mowery, President of the
Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation. “It allows enthusiasts to become involved in their
parks and forests—whether at an event, volunteering, or donating. The website also unveils the
new mission statement of the Foundation, which is "to inspire stewardship of Pennsylvania’s
state parks and forests through public engagement in volunteerism, recreation and conservation.”
For more information on programs, initiatives and special events, visit the
PA Parks &
Forests Foundation
website.
Click Here
to sign up for regular updates from the Foundation,
Like them on Facebook
or
Follow them on Twitter
.
NewsClips:
Ballyhooed Beaches Aren’t Presque Isle’s Only Charms
Birding Legend Coming To Presque Isle Festival In May
DVRPA Awards $7.6M For Protected Bike Lanes In SE
York Rail Trail Partial Closure Begins Monday
Picnic Grove To Be Built At RailTrail In Hazleton
Police To Monitor Lackawanna River Trail Via Cameras
Pymatuning Dam Construction To Continue
YorkArea Kayakers Prep For World Championship
Storm Erosion Closes Bridge In Pottstown’s Riverfront Park
Western PA Conservancy Spring Conserve Magazine Now Available
The
Spring edition of Conserve
, the quarterly magazine by the
Western PA Conservancy
, is now
available featuring articles on
WPC Campaign Advances To Protect Important Forestland, Natural Areas, Scenic Beauty
Conserving And Restoring Water Quality For All
Fallingwater’s Continued Legacy Of Education And Preservation
Urban Green Spaces Connect Pittsburgh Community, Nature
More information is available on programs, initiatives and special events at the
Western
PA Conservancy
website.
Click Here
to sign up for regular updates from the Conservancy,
Like
them on Facebook
,
Follow them on Twitter
, add them to your
Circle on Google+
, join them on
Instagram
, visit the
Conservancy’s YouTube Channel
or add them to your
network on Linkedin
.
Feature Remembering The Accident At Three Mile Island, 3:53 a.m., March 28, 1979
At 3:53 a.m., March 28, 1979, the cascading failures of
valves, pumps, gauges and reactor operators combined to
produce the worst accident in the U.S. commercial nuclear
power industry.
The accident occurred at the Three Mile Island
nuclear power plant Unit 2 near Middletown, a few miles
downstream from Harrisburg. For 48 hours, the reactor
was dangerously out of control.
Anyone living in and around T.M.I. remembers
exactly where they were on March 30 when they heard Gov. Dick Thornburgh order all
preschool children and pregnant women within five miles of the plant to evacuate and later
everyone within 10 miles to close their windows and stay indoors.
Seven thousand people were evacuated and perhaps a hundred thousand more fled.
A hydrogen bubble formed in the reactor bringing it very close to exploding. Within a
few days, scientists reduced the size of the bubble. The cooling down process, however, took a
month and the radioactive plant would take years to decontaminate.
Though no lives were lost in the accident, the uncertainty and fear it caused gave people a
new sense of vulnerability. The day after the accident, 35,000 protesters in Hanover, West
Germany, chanted, "We all live in Pennsylvania."
In contrast to Unit 2, Unit 1 at Three Mile Island has operated successfully since it first
began commercial operations in 1974 producing electricity for Pennsylvania and the
MidAtlantic region.
As a result of the accident, emergency planning and response programs at the local, state
and federal level were dramatically improved around nuclear plants and state efforts to monitor
radiation and provide direct oversight at these facilities also underwent significant changes.
Here are remembrances from that day by two of the people who were touched in unique
ways by the accident –
Thomas M. Gerusky
, the late Director of the Bureau of Radiation Protection at the
thenDepartment of Environmental Resources on March 28, 1979, and who was in charge of the
state’s technical response to the accident; and
James M. Seif
, former Secretary of the Department of Environmental Protection, and in 1979
administrative assistant to Gov. Dick Thornburgh.
It’s a Biggie – Some Thoughts on the Accident at Three Mile Island
By Thomas M. Gerusky
Last week, I was interviewed by the producers of a proposed Public Television Network show
which will provide a 20year update on the Three Mile Island accident. That accident occurred
on March 28, 1979.
To prepare for the interview, I went back to my notes and published reports of the
accident to refresh my memory. As I wandered through the documents, the memories of that
time and the aftermath of the accident came slowly into focus. The following are some of the
thoughts that returned.
It is difficult to discuss the accident and the Commonwealth’s response to it without
reviewing the attitudes of the public, the press, the nuclear industry, the regulators and the
technical world. Nuclear power was touted as the safest form of supplying energy. Nuclear
reactors were designed and operated to run without a serious accident. New nuclear power
stations were being proposed all over the country.
The staff of the Bureau of Radiation Protection and the Pennsylvania Emergency
Management Agency had prepared emergency response plans for an accident at those power
reactors situated in the state and for accidents at other facilities and on the transportation routes
for spent fuel and other sources of radioactivity. Infrequently, transportation accidents had taken
place and we had responded. In no case was there any serious release to the environment nor any
exposure of the public.
A plan had been drawn up for the Three Mile Island complex. It is interesting to note that
a public meeting on that plan was held in Middletown, just north of the reactors, only a short
time before the accident and few people showed up.
At approximately 7 a.m. on the morning of March 28, I received a call from our bureau’s
emergency officer, Bill Dornsife, a nuclear engineer who had previously worked at Three Mile
Island, who informed me that he had received a call from the island concerning an emergency
that was occurring there. He gave me some details, but the words I will always remember were
"It’s a biggie." The procedure was for me to proceed to the office while other staff members
contacted other individuals and agencies to provide them with the information.
I arrived at the office around 7:20 a.m. From that time on and continuing for the next 30
days, our office was open and staffed around the clock. Bureau and department technical and
administrative staff assisted in providing the coverage. It became a team effort and continued a
team effort through the cleanup.
Although we had established an open phone line with the reactor, the lack of early
information was a major concern. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the federal regulator of
the facility, had not yet arrived on site and even after they arrived, little new information was
forthcoming.
Metropolitan Edison Company, the operator of TMI, had stated through its public
relations office in Reading that the accident was under control and that no serious releases of
radioactivity had occurred. Our information from the radiation protection staff on the island
indicated otherwise.
As the seriousness of the accident became more apparent, more Pennsylvania officials
became involved, first Lt. Gov. William Scranton, and then Gov. Dick Thornburgh. The
administration had just been sworn into office the previous January and their responsibilities
under emergency conditions were just becoming known to them. Throughout the course of the
accident, both men exhibited professionalism and leadership. I was really impressed with the
way the governor listened to the information he was receiving, asked very pointed questions and
then made up his mind after reviewing all of the facts.
Two days later, Friday, March 30, was a day I will always remember.
We had been receiving reports from the island that controlled releases of radioactive
gases were occurring. Monitoring was being performed from a helicopter situated above the
release point and offsite.
The information concerning the levels was being relayed by phone to the NRC
emergency desk at the commission’s headquarters in Washington. There was confusion
concerning the data and Washington incorrectly thought that the levels reported at the release
point were occurring offsite. As a result, they contacted the Pennsylvania Emergency
Management Agency and recommended an evacuation. From that point on, chaos reigned until
the governor contacted the chairman of the NRC to question its recommendation.
On a subsequent telephone call from the chairman to the governor, he told the governor
that the NRC had no idea what was happening inside that reactor and, when questioned about the
need for an evacuation, he stated that if his wife and daughter were in the immediate vicinity of
TMI, he would get them out.
Gov. Thornburgh had no choice, and started a voluntary evacuation program for the most
vulnerable of the population, pregnant women and small children. The governor also requested
that senior NRC staff be sent to the island to take over the accident response. That brought
Harold Denton and many NRC staff members here. Someone said later that it was impossible to
"run" an accident response from Washington.
The ensuing days were filled with tension, the possibility of an explosion from a
hydrogen bubble growing inside the reactor, the visit of President Jimmy Carter and the governor
to the plant, the planning for a massive evacuation of the residents of the area in case things got
worse, continuing releases of inert radioactive gases from the stack, the hoard of press from all
over the world, and finally, the subsequent relaxation of the recommendation for evacuation
based upon the knowledge that there was no potential for an explosion.
For us, the NRC, the utility and the public in the vicinity of TMI, the cleanup of the
reactor over the next 10 years, the need to vent the remaining radioactive Krypton from the
building before anyone could enter, learning that the fuel had melted and the expenditure of over
a billion dollars kept the accident in our minds.
The reactor has now been mothballed with considerable radioactive material still inside.
It will stay that way until it’s sister reactor, Three Mile Island I, is shut down. They will be
decommissioned together, when the next generation also will learn what happened on March 28,
1979.
REACTOR!!??
by James M. Seif
I enjoyed Tom Gerusky’s account of the TMI incident, and would like to add three memorable
moments of my own.
The first occurred about 7:30 a.m. on Wednesday, March 28, 1979.
Always an early riser, I was settled into my small office in Room 225, Main Capitol, the
official address of the Governor’s Suite in Harrisburg. State Trooper Denny Denisevicz and I had
just made a "fresh pot"— his had cooked all night as he tended the antique Governor’s
Switchboard.
I was administrative assistant to Gov. Dick Thornburgh. My duties were principally as
scheduler. (The "Abominable No Man" as he put it.) But only two months had elapsed since
inauguration, and all of us were still trying to define our assignments.
My phone rings. Denny says, "a guy from Met Ed wants to reach the Governor to report
something." One thing I did know about my job was to step in front of such anonymous reports. I
say, "anonymous" because I had just moved to Harrisburg, and had no idea that GPU was a
utility and didn’t know that Three Mile Island was a power plant — let alone a nuke.
In any case, the man told me his emergency manual required a call to the governor’s
office when there’s a "reportable incident at our plant."
"Okay, what happened?"
"We lost cooling in the reactor, but it’s okay now. We’ve shut down as a precaution."
"REACTOR!!??" (I still hope I didn’t say it that way.)
"Yes, this is a nuclear power plant."
I asked several questions. Did they call local police? State Police? Emergency
management people? The nuclear regulators in Washington? Yes to all. Was anyone hurt? No.
What about damage to equipment? He didn’t know.
Given the answers to his questions and his calm tone, I concluded that the call was little
more than his following the checklist in his manual — and the "call the governor" item was on
the checklist as a matter of political caution and not necessary for any real emergency purpose.
It turns out that was, in fact, the origin of the "call the governor" item, but of course, as
the crisis developed in the next hours, I felt I had been misled. I can’t recall now if I mentioned
any of this to Gov. Thornburgh or not, but I did let him take a scheduled trip out of town that
day, and valuable hours were lost.
The second recollection is from late Saturday night, March 31, when the crisis reached its
most perilous point. Reactor temperature was rising, evacuation was accelerating and a lot of us
were getting tired and edgy. After riding around for several hours with State Police
Commissioner Dan Dunn, I was especially tense. Dan was a former FBI Special Agent, whom I
had known for years, and he was one of the drollest and most cheerful people I knew. But this
night, his jaw was clenched.
Back in the governor’s office with other staff, we checked the TV and Saturday Night
Live, hosted by the comedians Bob and Ray, came on. To our shock, it opened by announcing a
contest to pick a new capitol of Pennsylvania!!! We called the network in New York, hoping that
the script could be altered by the news of how serious we thought the problem had become. We
figured the network — and certainly the sponsors — would not want to add to any panic.
No such luck. An unresponsive switchboard operator said only that he would try to get a
message to the theater. To this day, I recall him by the name he carries in that night’s phone log:
FNU LNU – First Name Unknown, Last Name Unknown. This was FBI lingo taught to me years
before – by Dan Dunn.
Finally, there was an interesting postscript: About six weeks after the crisis had passed,
Another governor called. Gov. Thornburgh was on the road; and so I took the call.
This governor was also a "rookie" and was calling to glean some of the lessons of TMI.
We spoke about the organizational issues of emergency management, localstate relations,
medical perils (including panic), the political danger of Congressional Second Guessers, the
media circus and so on.
I was impressed because he was one of the few people who was interested in the policy
and managerial implications of what had happened, and the only governor that I know of who
ever called.
When we were finished, I said, "Thank you for calling, Gov. Clinton."
He said, "It’s Bill. Keep up the good work, Dick!"
Volunteer Wanted: PA/NJ Chapter American Chestnut Foundation Treasurer
The
PA/NJ Chapter of The American Chestnut Foundation
is seeking a volunteer to serve as
Treasurer with knowledge and experience in finance and accounting.
The Treasurer will be an appointed member of the Executive Committee of the Chapter’s
Board of Directors. She or he will oversee and be a cosignature on financial accounts of the
Chapter.
The Treasurer will work closely with the Chapter Administrator to maintain the balance
of office checking account for expenses under $1,000, writing checks for approved expenses
over $1,000 (less than a dozen a year), and submitting biannual reports of account balances to
Board of Directors meetings.
The treasurer may work remotely. Board attendance is welcomed and encouraged, in
person or via phone, but not required. There will be maintenance of past records; working with
Chapter Administrator to refine categories. Tax filing is done by a contracted accounting firm.
Estimated time required for this position at 4 to 6 hours a month.
Please email the Chapter Administrator, Jean Najjar at:
[email protected]
or call her at
8148637192. Office hours are 9:30 am to 3:00 pm Monday through Thursday. The Board
will followup with interested parties.
For more information on programs, initiatives and upcoming events, visit the
PA/NJ
Chapter of The American Chestnut Foundation
website. Sign up for the Chapter email list by
sending email to:
[email protected]
.
Help Wanted: McKean County Conservation District Recycling Director
The
McKean County Conservation District
has an opening for a grant funded Recycling Director
to direct the administration and management of the McKean County Recycling Program and the
components of the McKean County Municipal Waste Management Plan. The deadline for
applications is April 8.
Requirements include:
A Bachelor’s Degree in either Public Administration, Marketing, Environmental Studies,
Natural Resource Management or related field or equivalent experience. Two Four years
related experience recommended;
Writing and administering grants;
Possess the knowledge and understanding of the concept of conservation;
Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing;
Work independently in the absence of supervision to meet deadlines; and
The ability to work irregular hours including evenings and weekends.
Interested applicants are invited to apply by completing an application and resume.
Please forward them to Kathy Roche, Human Resources Director, McKean County
Courthouse, 500 West Main Street, Smethport, PA 16749, or email to
[email protected]
. We are an equal opportunity employer, M/F/D/V.
Help Wanted: PA Audubon Society Executive Director
Audubon Pennsylvania
is seeking candidates to fill the position of Vice President and Executive
Director.
Click Here
for a detailed job description and instructions on how to apply.
Public Participation Opportunities/Calendar Of Events
This section lists House and Senate Committee meetings, DEP and other public hearings and
meetings and other interesting environmental events.
NEW
means new from last week.
[Agenda Not Posted]
means not posted within 2 weeks
of the advisory committee meeting. Go to the
online Calendar
webpage for updates.
March 26
Little Paint Creek Cleanup
. Cambria County.
March 28
Environmental Quality Board
public hearing on proposed changes to public water
supply disinfection requirements
. DEP Southcentral Regional Office, Susquehanna Room, 909
Elmerton Ave., Harrisburg. 1:00 p.m. A copy of the proposed regulation is available and
comments can be submitted via
DEP’s eComment
webpage
(Feb. 20 PA Bulletin
page 857
)
March 29
NEW
.
DEP meeting/hearing on Gibraltar Rock Quarry NPDES permit in
Montgomery County
. Boyertown Area Junior High School East, located at 2020 Big Road,
Gilbertsville. 5:30.
March 29
Elk County Stream Protection, Water Quality Workshop
.
Elk County Visitor
Center
, Benezette. 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
March 29
Westmoreland County Conservation District
Landowners Conservation Reserve
Enhancement Program Workshop
. Greensburg.
March 29, 30, 31
Penn State Extension Community Forestry Short Course
. InPerson, Online.
March 30
Agenda Posted
.
DEP Conventional Oil and Gas Advisory Committee
meeting.
Room 105 Rachel Carson Building. 10:00. DEP Contact: Kurt Klapkowski, Office of Oil and
Gas Management, 400 Market Street, Harrisburg, PA 17101, 7177722199,
[email protected]
.
Update On Status Of Final Chapter 78, 78a Drilling Regulations & Training Opportunities
Discussion of Draft Forms To Implement New Regulations
Discussion of Draft Technical Guidance To Implement New Regulations
Discussion Of Changes To Oil and Gas Compliance Report Viewer
Discussion Of Efforts To Develop New Controls For Underground Injection Wells
Update On Chapter 78, Subchapter D Proposed Rulemaking
Click Here
for available handouts
March 30
Partnership For The Delaware Estuary
Green $aves Green Stormwater Management
Workshop
. Phoenixville, Chester County.
March 30
Project WET Educator Workshop
. Brandywine Red Clay Alliance, West Chester.
March 31
Agenda Posted
.
DEP Oil and Gas Technical Advisory Board
meeting. Room 105
Rachel Carson Building. 10:00. DEP Contact: Kurt Klapkowski, Office of Oil and Gas
Management, 400 Market Street, Harrisburg, PA 17101, 7177722199,
[email protected]
.
Update On Status Of Final Chapter 78, 78a Drilling Regulations & Plans For Implementation
Update On Chapter 78, Subchapter D Proposed Rulemaking
Discussion of Draft Forms To Implement New Regulations
Discussion of Draft Technical Guidance To Implement New Regulations
Proposed Methane Reduction Standards
Update On Coal/Gas Work Group
Click Here
for available handouts
March 31
NEW
. Dept. of Labor & Industry
Uniform Construction Code Review and Advisory
Council
meeting. 1st Floor, E100 Conference Room, 651 Boas St., Harrisburg. 10:00.
(
formal
notice
)
March 31
PA Environmental Council
Regional Watershed Workshop
. Mechanicsburg.
March 31
Green Stormwater Infrastructure Partners Awards Program
. Philadelphia.
March 31April 1
Green Building Alliance
Green Schools Conference & Expo
. Pittsburgh.
April 1
Hawk Mountain Sanctuary Spring Hawk Watch Begins
.
April 2
Alliance For Chesapeake Bay Project Clean Stream!
Chesapeake Bay Watershed.
April 2
Friends of Fort Washington State Park Volunteer Work Day
. Montgomery County.
April 4
Spring Black History Achievement Awards Banquet Recognizes Ralph Elwood Brock
First African American Forester
. Coraopolis.
April 5
Environmental Quality Board
public hearing on proposed changes to public water
supply disinfection requirements
. DEP Southeast Regional Office, 2 East Main St., Norristown.
1:00 p.m. A copy of the proposed regulation is available and comments can be submitted via
DEP’s eComment
webpage
(Feb. 20 PA Bulletin
page 857
)
April 5
Susquehanna River Basin Commission
Developing Aquifer Testing Plans &
Groundwater Withdrawal Applications Workshop
. Commission’s Conference Center located at
4423 N. Front Street, Harrisburg, PA. DayLong.
April 5
DEP Peregrine Falcon Educator’s Workshop
. Harrisburg.
April 5
Friends Of The Wissahickon
Lessons Learned From Black Rock Forest
. Montgomery
County.
April 6
House Health Committee
holds an information meeting on Lyme disease. Room 205
Ryan Building. 10:00.
April 6
CANCELED
.
House Local Government Committee
holds a hearing on House Bill
1392 (DushRIndiana) authorize municipal water and sewer authorities to collect a security
deposit from new customers (
sponsor summary
). Room 140 Main Capitol. 9:00.
April 6
PA Environmental Council
Regional Watershed Workshop
. Scranton.
April 6
Berks County Conservation District
Manure Management For Horse Operations
Workshop
. Berks County Agricultural Center, 1238 County Welfare Road, Leesport. 6:00 to
9:00 p.m.
April 6
NEW
.
Natural Lands Trust
Mega Tree Planting Party
. Chester County.
April 67:
PA Bar Association Environmental Law Forum
. Harrisburg.
April 7
House Game and Fisheries Committee
hearing on hunting license fees. Room 205
Ryan Building. 10:00.
April 7
DEP Radiation Protection Advisory Committee
meeting. 14th Floor Conference
Room, Rachel Carson Building. 9:00.
DEP Contact: Joseph Melnic, Bureau of Radiation
Protection, 400 Market Street, Harrisburg, PA 17101, 7177839730,
[email protected]
.
April 7
Environmental Quality Board
public hearing on proposed changes to public water
supply disinfection requirements
. DEP Southwest Regional Office, Building 500, 400
Waterfront Dr., Pittsburgh. 1:00 p.m. A copy of the proposed regulation is available and
comments can be submitted via
DEP’s eComment
webpage
(Feb. 20 PA Bulletin
page 857
)
April 7
NEW
.
DEP Alternative Fuels Incentive Grant Seminar
. Norristown, Montgomery
County.
April 8
Berks County Conservation District
Manure Management For Horse Operations
Workshop
. Berks County Agricultural Center, 1238 County Welfare Road, Leesport. 6:00 to
9:00 p.m.
April 8
State Museum Of PA, Game Commission
Working Together For Wildlife Art Exhibit
Opens
. Harrisburg.
April 9
PA Environmental Council
,
Potter County Conservation District
Illegal Dumpsite
Cleanup
. Galeton, Potter County.
April 11
NEW.
Environmental Issues Forum,
Joint Legislative Air and Water Pollution
Control and Conservation Committee
.
Topic To Be Announced
. Room 8EA East Wing. Noon.
April 11
House Democratic Policy Committee
hearing on clean energy jobs. Room 418 Main
Capitol. 10:00.
April 12
DEP State Board for Certification of Water and Wastewater Plant Operators
meeting.
10th Floor conference Room, Rachel Carson Building. 10:00. DEP Contact: Cheri Sansoni,
Bureau of Safe Drinking Water, Operator Certification, 400 Market Street, Harrisburg, PA
17101, 7177725158,
[email protected]
.
April 12
NEW
.
2016 National Watershed & Stormwater Conference
.
April 13
DEP Technical Advisory Committee On DieselPowered Equipment
meeting. DEP
New Stanton Office, 131 Broadview Rd., New Stanton. 10:00. Contact: Allison Gaida,
[email protected]
.
April 14
NEW
.
Legislative Forestry Task Force,
Joint Air and Water Pollution Control and
Conservation Committee
. The topic of the meeting will be invasive species and their impact on
forest health. Presenters for the task force meeting include: Mr. Don Eggen, forest health
manager, DCNR's Bureau of Forestry; Mr. Sven Shichiger, entomology program manager,
Department of Agriculture; and Dr. Sarah Johnson, conservation GIS analyst,
The Nature
ConservancyPennsylvania Chapter
. Room 217 Forest Resources Building, Penn State
University. State College. 10:00.
April 14
CANCELED.
DEP Air Quality Technical Advisory Committee
meeting. Room 105
Rachel Carson Building. 9:15. Contact: Nancy Herb,
[email protected]
.
April 14
NEW
. DEP Northwest Regional Roundtable meeting. DEP Northwest Regional
Office, 230 Chestnut St., Meadville. 10:00 a.m. Contact: Melanie Williams
[email protected]
.
Carl Jones, Director of
DEP’s Office Of Environmental Justice
is guest speaker.
April 14
PA Environmental Council
Regional Watershed Workshop
. King of Prussia.
April 14
Clean Water Counts: York County Town Hall Reception On Water Quality Issues
.
Wrightsville.
April 1415
Registration Open
.
West Branch Susquehanna Restoration Symposium
. Toftrees
Resort and Conference Center, State College.
April 15
NEW
.
DEP Stakeholder Work Group Meeting On Proposed Disinfection
Requirements Rule
. Room 105 Rachel Carson Building. 10:00. Contact: Dawn Hissner
[email protected]
.
April 15
Penn State Extension,
DCNR Tree Tenders Training
. Scranton.
April 16
PA Resources Council
HardToRecycle Collection Event
. Oakdale, Allegheny
County.
April 16
Clean & Green Harrisburg,
Keep Harrisburg/Dauphin County Beautiful 4th Annual
Great Harrisburg Litter Cleanup
. Dauphin County.
April 18
Lunch And Learn With Grey Towers Heritage Association
. Pike County.
April 19
NEW
.
Environmental Quality Board
meeting. DEP Contact: Laura Edinger,
Environmental Quality Board, 400 Market Street, Harrisburg, PA 17101, 7177723277,
[email protected]
.
April 19
NEW
.
DEP Citizens Advisory Council
. Room 105 Rachel Carson Building. 10:00.
DEP Contact: Katie Hetherington Cunfer, Citizens Advisory Council, P. O. Box 8459,
Harrisburg, PA 171058459, 7177052693,
[email protected]
.
April 19
DEP Mine Families First Response & Communications Advisory Council
meeting.
DEP New Stanton Office, 131 Broadview Rd., New Stanton. 10:00.
DEP Contact: Allison
Gaida, Bureau of Mine Safety, Department of Environmental Protection, New Stanton Office,
131 Broadview Road, New Stanton, PA 15672, 7244043147,
[email protected]
.
April 19
NEW
.
PA Environmental Council
Governor’s Environmental Awards Dinner
.
Harrisburg.
April 20
NEW
. DEP Southcentral Employees’ Asylum Run Cleanup. Adjacent to the
DEP
Southcentral Regional Office
, 909 Elmerton Ave., Harrisburg. 9:00. Contact: John Repetz
[email protected]
.
April 21
Independent Regulatory Review Commission
meets to consider
final Chapter 78
Drilling Regulations
.
333 Market St., 14th Floor, Harrisburg. 9:00 a.m.
April 22
Earth Day
.
April 22
NEW
.
Wildlands Conservancy
,
Lehigh Valley Planning Commission
Return On The
Environment Workshop
. Center Valley.
April 22
Berks County Conservation District Annual Tree Seedling Sale
.
April 2230
NEW
.
Philadelphia Science Festival
. Philadelphia.
April 23
Centre County Watershed Cleanup Day
.
April 23
French Creek Cleanup Day
. Montgomery County.
April 23
Grey Towers Heritage Association 8K Run/Walk
. Pike County.
April 25
NEW
.
Energy Alliance Of Greater Pittsburgh Annual Meeting
. Pittsburgh.
April 27
Agenda Posted
.
DEP Small Business Compliance Advisory Committee
meeting. 12th
Floor Conference Room, Rachel Carson Building. 10:00. DEP Contact: Nancy Herb, Bureau of
Air Quality, 400 Market Street, Harrisburg, PA 17101, 7177839269,
[email protected]
.
April 30
PA Resources Council
Pharmaceutical Collection Events In Allegheny County
. 4
Locations. 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
April 30
Foods Of The Delaware Highlands Dinner
. Hawley, Wayne County.
May 4
PA Groundwater Symposium
. Ramada Inn Conference Center, State College.
May 7
PA Resources Council
Household Chemical Collection Event
. Allegheny County,
North Park Swimming Pool. 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
May 7
Manada Conservancy’s
Annual Spring Native Plant Sale
. Dauphin County.
May 10
Wildlife for Everyone
Governor Tom Ridge Wetlands Thru The Camera Lens Student
Program
. Centre County.
May 1012
PA American Water Works Association Annual Conferenc
e. Bethlehem Sands
Hotel and Casino, Bethlehem.
May 11
PA Parks & Forests Foundation 2016 Awards Banquet
. Camp Hill, Cumberland
County.
May 1113
PA Association of Environmental Professionals
Annual Conference. State College.
May 1315
PA Outdoor Writers Association
Spring Conference
. Sayre, Bradford County.
Conference details are coming together. Contact Nick Sisley by email to:
[email protected]
with any questions.
May 1315
Susquehanna Greenway
:
Susquehanna River Sojourn Sayer to Sugar Run
.
May 14
PA Resources Council
HardToRecycle Collection Event
. Frazer Township,
Allegheny County.
May 14
Foundation for Sustainable Forests
Loving The Land Through Working Forests
.
Corry, Erie County.
May 17
NEW
.
Environmental Quality Board
meeting. DEP Contact: Laura Edinger,
Environmental Quality Board, 400 Market Street, Harrisburg, PA 17101, 7177723277,
[email protected]
.
May 17
NEW
.
DEP Citizens Advisory Council
. Room 105 Rachel Carson Building. 10:00.
DEP Contact: Katie Hetherington Cunfer, Citizens Advisory Council, P. O. Box 8459,
Harrisburg, PA 171058459, 7177052693,
[email protected]
.
May 17
Susquehanna River Basin Commission
Developing Aquifer Testing Plans &
Groundwater Withdrawal Applications Workshop
. Commission’s Conference Center located at
4423 N. Front Street, Harrisburg, PA. DayLong.
May 18
NEW
.
DEP Conventional Oil and Gas Advisory Committee
meeting. Room 105
Rachel Carson Building. 10:00. DEP Contact: Kurt Klapkowski, Office of Oil and Gas
Management, 400 Market Street, Harrisburg, PA 17101, 7177722199,
[email protected]
.
May 19
NEW
.
DEP Oil and Gas Technical Advisory Board
meeting. Room 105 Rachel Carson
Building. 10:00. DEP Contact: Kurt Klapkowski, Office of Oil and Gas Management, 400
Market Street, Harrisburg, PA 17101, 7177722199,
[email protected]
.
May 19
Friends Of The Wissahickon
Lessons
Benefits Of Park, Garden Ecosystems
.
Montgomery County.
May 21
PA Resources Council
Household Chemical Collection Event
. Cambria County,
Concurrent Technologies Corp. ETF Facility, Johnstown. 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
June 35
PA Environmental Council
Environment Ride
. Philadelphia to Bethlehem back to
Philadelphia.
June 410
NEW
.
18th Annual Schuylkill River Sojourn
.
June 7
DEP Storage Tank Advisory Committee
meeting. Room 105 Rachel Carson Building.
10:00.
DEP Contact: Charles M. Swokel, Bureau of Environmental Cleanup and Brownfields,
400 Market Street, Harrisburg, PA 17101, 7177725806 or (800) 4282657 ((800) 42TANKS)
within the Commonwealth,
[email protected]
.
(
formal notice
)
June 9
NEW.
DEP Air Quality Technical Advisory Committee
meeting. Room 105 Rachel
Carson Building. 9:15. Contact: Nancy Herb,
[email protected]
.
June 1217
Susquehanna Greenway
:
Susquehanna River Sojourn Laceyville to Shickshinny
.
June 14
NEW.
DEP Board of Coal Mine Safety
meeting. DEP Cambria Office, 286 Industrial
Park Rd., Ebensburg. 10:00.
DEP Contact: Allison Gaida, Bureau of Mine Safety, Department
of Environmental Protection, New Stanton Office, 131 Broadview Road, New Stanton, PA
15672, 7244043147,
[email protected]
.
June 16
NEW.
DEP State Board for Certification of Water and Wastewater Systems Operators
meeting. 10th Floor Conference Room, Rachel Carson Building. 10:00. DEP Contact: Cheri
Sansoni, Bureau of Safe Drinking Water, Operator Certification, 400 Market Street, Harrisburg,
PA 17101, 7177725158,
[email protected]
.
June 1719
Susquehanna Greenway
:
Susquehanna River Sojourn Shickshinny To Sunbury
.
June 18
PA Resources Council
Allegheny County ReuseFest. Mt. Lebanon.
June 1825
Delaware River Sojourn
.
June 21
NEW
.
Environmental Quality Board
meeting. DEP Contact: Laura Edinger,
Environmental Quality Board, 400 Market Street, Harrisburg, PA 17101, 7177723277,
[email protected]
.
June 21
NEW
.
DEP Citizens Advisory Council
. Room 105 Rachel Carson Building. 10:00.
DEP Contact: Katie Hetherington Cunfer, Citizens Advisory Council, P. O. Box 8459,
Harrisburg, PA 171058459, 7177052693,
[email protected]
.
June 29
NEW
.
State Board for Certification of Sewage Enforcement Officers
meeting. 11th
Floor Conference Room B, Rachel Carson Building. 10:00.
DEP Contact: Kristen Szwajkowski,
Bureau of Point NonPoint Source Management, 400 Market Street, Harrisburg, PA 17101,
7177722186,
[email protected]
.
June 25
PA Resources Council
HardToRecycle Collection Event
. LTBA, Allegheny County.
June 30
NEW.
DEP Solid Waste Advisory Committee
meeting. Room 105 Rachel Carson
Building. 10:00.
DEP Contact: Keith Ashley, Bureau of Waste Management, 400 Market Street,
Harrisburg, PA 17101, 7177872553,
[email protected]
.
July 9
PA Resources Council
Household Chemical Collection Event
. Washington County,
Washington County Fairgrounds. 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
July 2529
NEW
.
The Sustainable Energy Fund
Energypath Renewable Energy Conference,
Student Energy Camps, Science Fair
. Penn Stater Hotel and Conference Center, State College.
August 13
PA Resources Council
Household Chemical Collection Event
. Allegheny County,
Boyce Park Four Seasons Ski Lodge parking lot. 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
August 20
PA Resources Council
HardToRecycle Collection Event
. West Mifflin, Allegheny
County.
September 17
PA Resources Council
Household Chemical Collection Event
. Allegheny
County, South Park Wave Pool parking lot. 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
September 22
DEP Recycling Fund Advisory Committee
meeting. Room 105 Rachel Carson
Building. 10:00. DEP Contact: Keith Ashley, Bureau of Waste Management, 400 Market Street,
Harrisburg, PA 17101, 7177872553,
[email protected]
.
September 22
Penn State Extension
Dive Deeper III Water Educator Summit
. The Central
Hotel & Conference Center, Harrisburg.
October 1
PA Resources Council
HardToRecycle Collection Event
. Robinson Township,
Allegheny County.
October 7
DEP LowLevel Radioactive Waste Advisory Committee
meeting. Room 105
Rachel Carson Building. 10:00. DEP Contact: Rich Janati, Bureau of Radiation Protection, 400
Market Street, Harrisburg, PA 17101, 7177872147,
[email protected]
.
October 8
PA Resources Council
Household Chemical Collection Event
. Beaver County,
Bradys Run Park Recycling Center. 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
October 2628
Pennsylvania Brownfields Conference
. Lancaster Convention Center,
Lancaster.
Visit DEP’s
Public Participation Center
for public participation opportunities.
Click Here
to sign
up for DEP News a biweekly newsletter from the Department.
Sign Up For DEP’s eNotice:
Did you know DEP can send you email notices of permit
applications submitted in your community? Notice of new technical guidance documents and
regulations? All through its eNotice system.
Click Here
to sign up.
DEP Regulations In Process
Proposed Regulations Open For Comment
DEP webpage
Submit Comments on Proposals Through
DEP’s eComment System
Proposed Regulations With Closed Comment Periods
DEP webpage
Recently Finalized Regulations
DEP webpage
DEP Regulatory Update
DEP webpage
Feb. 27 DEP Regulatory Agenda
PA Bulletin, page 1123
DEP Technical Guidance In Process
Draft Technical Guidance Documents
DEP webpage
Technical Guidance Comment Deadlines
DEP webpage
Submit Comments on Proposals Through
DEP’s eComment System
Recently Closed Comment Periods For Technical Guidance
DEP webpage
Technical Guidance Recently Finalized
DEP webpage
Copies of Final Technical Guidance
DEP webpage
DEP NonRegulatory/Technical Guidance Documents Agenda (Feb. 1, 2016)
DEP webpage
Other DEP Proposals For Public Review
Other Proposals Open For Public Comment
DEP webpage
Submit Comments on Proposals Through
DEP’s eComment System
Recently Closed Comment Periods For Other Proposals
DEP webpage
Other Proposals Recently Finalized
DEP webpage
DEP Facebook Page
DEP Twitter Feed
DEP YouTube Channel
Click Here
for links to DEP’s Advisory Committee webpages.
DEP Calendar of Events
DCNR 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
201112 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.
Add Green Works In PA To Your Google+ Circle
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.
March 27
EPA Toxics Release Inventory University Challenge
March 30
Delaware Highlands Conservancy College Scholarships
March 30
PA American Water Protect Our Watershed Student Art Contest
March 31
DEP Host Municipal Inspector Grants
March 31
Delaware Water Resources Assn. College Scholarship
March 31
Schuylkill Action Network Scholastic Drinking Water Awards
March 31
USDA Farm Conservation Practices Funding For PA
April 1
PA American Water Environmental Grant Program
April 1
CFA Alternative And Clean Energy Grants
April 1
Northeast PA Audubon Environmental Ed Scholarship
April 1
Wildlife Leadership Academy Field Schools
April 8
EPA Environmental Education Grants
April 13
DCNR Community Conservation Partnerships Grant Program
April 15
USDA Bedford, Blair Farm Conservation Practices Funding
April 15
Recycling Partnership Grants
April 22
NEW
.
REAP Farm Conservation Tax Credit Program
April 22
NEW
.
Chesapeake Bay Foundation Photo Contest
April 25
PEC Pocono Forest & Waters Conservation Landscape MiniGrants
April 26
EPA Clean Diesel Grants
April 30
Abele College Scholarship Applications
April 30
Northeast PA Audubon College Scholarship
April 30
YorkLancaster Counties Habitat Improvement Grants
May
CFA Renewable EnergyGeothermal And Wind Grants
May
CFA High Performance Building Grants
May 3
Energy Sprout Sustainable Energy Design Competition
May 16
EPA Presidential Environmental Education Innovation Award
May 19
NEW
.
DCNR Volunteer Fire Company Grants
May 31
$2K Scholarships By National Assn. Of Abandoned Mine Land Programs
June 3
Great American Cleanup of PA Video Contest
June 30
CFA Act 13 Watershed Restoration Grants
June 30
CFA Act 13 Abandoned Mine Drainage Abatement And Treatment Grants
June 30
CFA Act 13 Orphan Or Abandoned Well Plugging Grant Program
June 30
CFA Act 13 Baseline Water Quality Data Grant Program
June 30
CFA Act 13 Sewage Facilities Grant Program
June 30
CFA Act 13 Flood Mitigation Grant Program
June 30
CFA Act 13 Greenways, Trails And Recreation Grant Program
June 30
Susquehanna Greenways Partnership Photo Contest
June 30
Energypath Conference Student/Educator Scholarships
July
CFA Renewable EnergyGeothermal And Wind Grants
July
CFA High Performance Building Grants
July 8
ARIPPA Abandoned Mine Reclamation Grants
September
CFA Renewable EnergyGeothermal And Wind Grants
September
CFA High Performance Building Grants
October 31
PA Resources Council Lens On Litter Photo Contest
December 31
DEP Alternative Fuels Incentive Grants
Visit the
DEP Grant, Loan and Rebate Programs
webpage for more ideas on how to get
financial assistance for environmental projects.
Visit the DCNR
Apply for Grants
webpage for a listing of financial assistance available from
DCNR.
Add Green Works In PA To Your Google+ Circle
Environmental NewsClips All Topics
Here are NewsClips from around the state on all environmental topics, including General
Environment, Budget, Marcellus Shale, Watershed Protection and much more.
The latest environmental NewsClips and news is available at the
PA Environment Digest Daily
Blog
,
Twitter Feed
and
add us to your
Google+ Circle
.
Children, Adults Learn About Rabbits At Ridge Environmental Center
Schneck: 12 Beautiful Bird Eggs You Won’t Find In An Easter Basket
Air
U.S. Steel Agrees To $3.9M Air Pollution Settlement With Allegheny County
CMU Speck Pollution Monitors Available At Carnegie Libraries
Editorial: Go To The Library To Check Your Home Air Quality
DEP: Asbestos Found In Huber Breaker Soil Samples
Early Spring Blooms May Signal Extended Allergy Season
Burn Bans In Effect In York Because It’s Dry, Windy
Alternative, Renewable Energy
Protesters Demand PECO Support For Solar In N. Philadelphia
FirstEnergy Quietly Markets Green Offer
Quaker Group Says Philly Solar Panels Could Meet PECO Power Target
Awards & Recognition
Jersey Shore Environmental Project Earns Governor’s Award
Manure Expo Wins PA Environmental Award
Erie Benedictine Pat Lupo Honored With Women In Conservation Award
Budget
DEP Secretary: DEP Isn’t Lean, It’s Emaciated
Thompson: PA’s Next Budget, Have We Learned Anything?
Bumsted: Gov. Wolf Relents After 9 Month Budget Impasse
AP: Governor Relents After 9 Month Budget Impasse
PLS: Wolf To Allow Budget To Become Law Without His Signature
PA’s Budget Woes Bring Warning From Lenders, Ratings Agencies
Wolf Warns Of Impending 201617 Budget Crisis
Farm Bureau Says Penn State Extension Offices To Remain Open
AP: Democrats Urge Wolf To Relent On Budget Veto Threat
AP: Catching Bigfoot: Wolf Pursues ElectionYear Tax Increase
Democrats Line Up Behind GOP Budget Bill
PA Budget Crisis Could Cause York County Ag Office
Trash Pickup Bills May Be Going Higher With Wolf Proposal
New F&M Poll: Wide Support For New Tax On Natural Gas Industry
Lower Gasoline Prices Saving State Taxpayers $500K/Month
Chesapeake Bay
Crable: Agencies: PA Farm Bureau’s Dire Warning Not True
Climate
DEP Secretary: NE PA Snow Industry Could Melt Away By 2050
Poll: More Americans Recognize, Fear Global Warming
Scientists Warn Of Climate Shift Within Decades, Not Centuries
First U.S. Climate Refugees In Louisiana
Impact Of Climate Change Examined In New Philly Exhibit
Editorial: Lawsuits Would Cast Pall On Scientific Progress
Opponents Question Climate Benefits, Morality Of Natural Gas
Millcreek Requires Tree Planting In Some Parking Lots
Warm Winter Weather Explains Early Allergy Season
Will There Be More Snow Disaster Declarations In Coming Winters?
With Climate Rule On Hold, Should State Worry About Deadlines?
Banks Pull Financing, Coal’s Future Grows Murkier
Compliance Action
U.S. Steel Agrees To $3.9M Air Pollution Settlement With Allegheny County
MarkWest Midstream Drilling Practices Under Investigation By Feds
Delaware River
Explainer: William Penn Foundation Delaware Watershed Project
Drinking Water
PLS: Legislators Support LeadTesting Legislation
PA Proposals Aim To Minimize Lead Exposure
Swift: House Bills Call For More Lead Tests
4 Private Water Systems In Lebanon Receive EPA Attention
How Safe Is Philadelphia’s Water?
Water Officials: Philadelphia No Flint
No Lead Found In Water Tested By WilkesBarre
Lead Not A Problem In Most Lebanon County Water
Lead Paint Was Banned 40 Years Ago, Why Is It Still A Problem?
Capital Region Water Considering $9M Land Deal
White House Seeks Corporate Investment In Water Supplies
Economic Development
House Democrats Scrutinize Natural Gas Incentives
Pittsburgh Energy Startups Bemoan The Valley Of Funding Death
OpEd: Rezoning Pittsburgh’s Riverbanks
Education
Erie Benedictine Pat Lupo Honored With Women In Conservation Award
Lancaster Science Fair Champion Tackles Greywater Recycling
Emergency Response
PA Eligible For Federal Disaster Funds From Winter Storm
FEMA To Aid PA Counties Hit By January Snowstorm
Will There Be More Snow Disaster Declarations In Coming Winters?
WindWhipped Brush Fires Plague Crawford County
Energy
FirstEnergy Quietly Markets Green Offer
Quaker Group Says Philly Solar Panels Could Meet PECO Power Target
Energy Spotlight: Paul Ohodnicki, CMU
Pittsburgh Energy Startups Bemoan The Valley Of Funding Death
PPL Pulls Plug On Cumberland County Power Line Project
UGI Sets Hearing For Rate Hike
Natural Gas Power Plant Proposed Nemacolin Mine Property
Banks Pull Financing, Coal’s Future Grows Murkier
DC Approves Exelon’s Takeover Of Pepco
Energy Conservation
Utilities Use Incentives To To Get Customers To Conserve
PPL Energy Efficiency Plan Gets Approval
OpEd: The Greening Of Pittsburgh, Next Up, Schools
Environmental Heritage
Crable: Columbia Dam Helped Create Fish & Boat Commission
1936 Flood Showed Need For Levees In Scranton, WilkesBarre
Farming
Crable: Agencies: PA Farm Bureau’s Dire Warning Not True
Crable: Lancaster Residents Want More Farmland Preservation
Flooding
Preparation Is Key To Flood Safety
1936 Flood Showed Need For Levees In Scranton, WilkesBarre
Forests
Millcreek Requires Tree Planting In Some Parking Lots
Visitors Learn About Maple Syrup During Open House
Burn Bans In Effect In York Because It’s Dry, Windy
Crawford County Crews Battle Multiple Brush Fires
Land Conservation
Crable: Lancaster Residents Want More Farmland Preservation
Capital Region Water Considering $9M Land Deal
Litter Control/Illegal Dumping
DEP Secretary Quigley: 2016 Great American Cleanup Of PA
Illegal Dump In Harrisburg You Have To See To Believe
WilkesBarre To Take Part In Great American Cleanup Of PA
Newport Twp Volunteers Come Together For Great American Cleanup
OpEd: Spring Cleaning That Mountain Of EWaste
Mine Reclamation
Natural Gas Power Plant Proposed Nemacolin Mine Property
Plans Reviewed For Cleanup At Former Huber Breaker Site
Oil & Gas
Drilling Group Files Suit To Block New Rules For Conventional Wells
Petroleum Group Sues To Block PA Drilling Rules
Luzerne Group Hopes To Bring Positive Change To Drilling Industry
DEP To Abandoned Permits For Recycling Drilling Waste
House Democrats Scrutinize Natural Gas Incentives
Opponents Question Climate Benefits, Morality Of Natural Gas
Natural Gas Power Plant Proposed Nemacolin Mine Property
Thousands Call FERC To Support Office Of Public Participation
Despite Downturn, Oil & Gas Industry Still A Boost To Nonprofits
Allegheny Front: When The Fracking Boom Goes Bust
NE Chambers Of Commerce Support PennEast Pipeline
Crable: Decision On Sunrise Pipeline In Lancaster Delayed To As Late As 2017
Peoples Creating Own Pipeline Construction Division
MarkWest Midstream Drilling Practices Under Investigation By Feds
UGI Sets Hearing For Rate Hike
Western PA Home Rentals Slump With Drilling Downturn
U.S., Canadian Gas Suppliers Jockey For Market Share
Lower Gasoline Prices Saving State Taxpayers $500K/Month
Oil Refineries Prepare For Summer Gasoline
Gasoline Prices Increase To $2.06 In Pittsburgh
Pipelines
NE Chambers Of Commerce Support PennEast Pipeline
Crable: Decision On Sunrise Pipeline In Lancaster Delayed To As Late As 2017
Peoples Creating Own Pipeline Construction Division
Recreation
Ballyhooed Beaches Aren’t Presque Isle’s Only Charms
Birding Legend Coming To Presque Isle Festival In May
DVRPA Awards $7.6M For Protected Bike Lanes In SE
York Rail Trail Partial Closure Begins Monday
Picnic Grove To Be Built At RailTrail In Hazleton
Police To Monitor Lackawanna River Trail Via Cameras
Pymatuning Dam Construction To Continue
YorkArea Kayakers Prep For World Championship
Storm Erosion Closes Bridge In Pottstown’s Riverfront Park
Recycling/Waste
Public Cost Of Recycling TVs Skyrockets
Electronics Recycling Coming Back In York County
Trash Pickup Bills May Be Going Higher With Wolf Proposal
York Penn Waste Recycling Center Seeing More Needles
Advocate: Keystone Landfill Expansion Debate is Nationally Important
Editorial: Keystone Landfill Cash No Benefit
DEP: Asbestos Found In Huber Breaker Soil Samples
DEP To Abandoned Permits For Recycling Drilling Waste
Watershed Protection
Crable: Agencies: PA Farm Bureau’s Dire Warning Not True
Explainer: William Penn Foundation Delaware Watershed Project
Lancaster Science Fair Champion Tackles Greywater Recycling
Millcreek Requires Tree Planting In Some Parking Lots
Brodhead Watershed Assn Is Up Quack Creek
Capital Region Water Considering $9M Land Deal
Delaware Riverkeeper March 18 Riverwatch Video Report
Storm Erosion Closes Bridge In Pottstown’s Riverfront Park
Latest From The Chesapeake Bay Journal
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Wildlife
Schneck: 12 Beautiful Bird Eggs You Won’t Find In An Easter Basket
Crable: Columbia Dam Helped Create Fish & Boat Commission
Getting Ready For Opening Of Trout Season
How Many Trout Does It Take To Stock York County Creek?
Deer Harvest Up After Past Struggles
First Eaglet Arrives In Pittsburgh Bald Eagle Nest
First Pip Confirmed For Hays Bald Eagle Egg
Crable: All Eyes On Hanover Eagle Cam As Eggs Ready For Breakout
Pittsburgh Peregrine Falcon Finds New Beau
Birding Legend Coming To Presque Isle Festival In May
Birdwatchers Start Spring With A Primer
Drone Incidents At Middle Creek, Eagle Cam May Prompt Ban
Game Commission Asks Court To Kill Lawsuit By ExExec. Director
Other
Andrew McElwaine: Environmental Journalism Not Dead
Pittsburgh Botanic Garden’s Bumpy Road To Success
Click Here For This Week's Allegheny Front Radio Program
Regulations, Technical Guidance & Permits
No new regulations were published this week.
Pennsylvania Bulletin March 26, 2016
Sign Up For DEP’s eNotice:
Did you know DEP can send you email notices of permit
applications submitted in your community? Notice of new technical guidance documents and
regulations? All through its eNotice system.
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DEP Regulations In Process
Proposed Regulations Open For Comment
DEP webpage
Submit Comments on Proposals Through
DEP’s eComment System
Proposed Regulations With Closed Comment Periods
DEP webpage
Recently Finalized Regulations
DEP webpage
DEP Regulatory Update
DEP webpage
Feb. 27 DEP Regulatory Agenda
PA Bulletin, page 1123
Technical Guidance & Permits
The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the March 26 PA Bulletin of
extensions for general permits on the
Beneficial Use Of Biosolids By Land Applications
(PAG08)
,
Beneficial Use Of Exceptional Quality Biosolids By Land Application (PAG07)
and
Beneficial Use Of Residential Septage By Land Application (PAG09)
.
The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
published notice
in the March 26 PA
Bulletin of revisions to the schedule of prices and fees for State Park shooting ranges.
DEP Technical Guidance In Process
Draft Technical Guidance Documents
DEP webpage
Technical Guidance Comment Deadlines
DEP webpage
Submit Comments on Proposals Through
DEP’s eComment System
Recently Closed Comment Periods For Technical Guidance
DEP webpage
Technical Guidance Recently Finalized
DEP webpage
Copies of Final Technical Guidance
DEP webpage
DEP NonRegulatory/Technical Guidance Documents Agenda (Feb. 1, 2016)
DEP webpage
Other DEP Proposals For Public Review
Other Proposals Open For Public Comment
DEP webpage
Submit Comments on Proposals Through
DEP’s eComment System
Recently Closed Comment Periods For Other Proposals
DEP webpage
Other Proposals Recently Finalized
DEP webpage
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for public participation opportunities.
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to sign
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