pa environment digest jan. 5, 2015
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PA Environment Digest
An Update On Environmental Issues In PAEdited By: David E. Hess, Crisci Associates
Winner 2009 PAEE Business PartnerOf The Year Award
Harrisburg, Pa January 5, 2015
Analysis: Funding Deficit For Basic PA Environmental Programs Is Now $2.4 Billion
Pennsylvanias General Fund budget might be $2 billion in debt, but the Commonwealths basic
environmental programs have a $2.4 billion deficit accrued over the last 12 years thanks to cuts
and diversion of environmental funding to balance the state budget or to fund programs that were
not funded on their own.Over the last 12 years, DEPs authorized complement has been reduced by about 548
positions since FY 2002-03 or 17 percent. DCNR has not suffered as much because cuts in
General Fund money has been made up by income from upfront payments and royalties from
Marcellus Shale gas development on State Forest land.
But a lawsuit now in Commonwealth Courthas challenged these diversions from
DCNRs Oil and Gas Fund as unconstitutional and illegal. A decision on the issue is expected at
any time which could further complicate funding issues for DCNR and the state budget.
On the plus side of the ledger in recent years, DEP and DCNR have received an
additional $30 million a year as a result of the transportation funding package for the Dirt and
Gravel Road Program, the $45 million in additional funding for State Park and Forest
infrastructure investments in the Enhance Penns Woodsinitiative and additional fundingprovided by the Act 13 drilling impact fees.
DEP also received the first significant increase in General Fund monies in the FY
2014-15 budget in the last 12 years-- about $12.4 million-- while the number of authorized
complement continued to fall.
This years budget also included the $10 million in continued funding for the Resource
Enhancement and Protection (REAP) farm conservation tax credit program for the fourth year in
a row.
With a new Governor being sworn in on January 20 and Gov. Wolf set to offer his first
budget in March, now is the time to stop all the cuts and diversions that hurt basic environmental
protection programs and stem the bleeding of DEP staff positions that has occurred every year
for the last 12 years.It is also time for additional resources to be invested in environmental restoration
programs-- watershed improvement, abandoned mine drainage abatement and other programs
that make a real, measurable difference in environmental quality.
Nearly 20,000 miles of Pennsylvanias streamsare polluted to the point they do not meet
federal Clean Water Act standards.
A good start would be to use a major portion of revenue from any new natural gas
severance tax to support restoration efforts, including our commitments to clean up our rivers
http://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.paenvironmentdigest.com%2Fnewsletter%2Fdefault.asp%3FNewsletterArticleID%3D30168&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNHAeTYywJTDi2jaFuqjNLTySl3Mfwhttp://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.paenvironmentdigest.com%2Fnewsletter%2Fdefault.asp%3FNewsletterArticleID%3D11953&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNFSPEUcwhnqVJLvxVyzABsEHAreLQhttp://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.paenvironmentdigest.com%2Fnewsletter%2Fdefault.asp%3FNewsletterArticleID%3D26668&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNEI4qG--O9FuZCaSVDUZM-ImpokcQhttp://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.paenvironmentdigest.com%2Fnewsletter%2Fdefault.asp%3FNewsletterArticleID%3D28325&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNE3HKwhEQgQw8sCOQFxiOruu1OETAhttp://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dcnr.state.pa.us%2Fdiscoverdcnr%2Fataglance%2Fenhancepennswoods%2Findex.htm&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNHbsYo9WxyybwwtMCuzIkuKPLU3gQhttp://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.paenvironmentdigest.com%2Fnewsletter%2Fdefault.asp%3FNewsletterArticleID%3D30168&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNHAeTYywJTDi2jaFuqjNLTySl3Mfwhttp://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.paenvironmentdigest.com%2Fnewsletter%2Fdefault.asp%3FNewsletterArticleID%3D11953&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNFSPEUcwhnqVJLvxVyzABsEHAreLQ -
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and streams across the state and in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed.
The fact is, Pennsylvania has a legal obligation under the federal Clean Water Act to
clean up our our rivers, streams and lakes to meet minimum water quality standards and we have
the experience and the award-winning programs, like the original Growing Greener, to do just
that.
Now is the time for a more thorough debate on these issues and to show the kind ofleadership Pennsylvania has had in the past to deal with our most pressing need-- clean water.
Itemized List Of Cuts/Diversions
Here's an itemized list of the cuts and diversions of environmental funding over the last
12 years--
-- $635 million in Act 339 grants intended to support wastewater plant operations over the last
nine years were eliminated to balance the budget ($52 million or so each year)
-- $143 million diverted from the DCNR Oil and Gas Fund to balance the FY 2008-09 budget
-- $79 million cut from the DEP and DCNR General Fund budget during FY2009-10
-- $60 million diverted from the DCNR Oil and Gas Fund to balance the FY 2009-10 budget
-- $100 million in 2002 from the Underground Storage Tank cleanup insurance fund to balance
the budget (although this is slowly being repaid over 10 years)-- $52.7 million one-time diversion from the Keystone Recreation, Parks and Conservation
Fund in 2006 to balance the budget
-- $50 million in 2007 and 2008 from the Environmental Stewardship Fund, which supports mine
reclamation and watershed restoration, to fund the Hazardous Sites Cleanup Program because
there was no agreement on how to fund that program
-- $285.7 million in FY 2007-08, 2008-09, 2009-10, 2010-11, 2011-12, 2012-13, 2013-14,
2014-15 from the Environmental Stewardship Fund to pay debt service on the Growing Greener
II bond issue and taking funding away from restoration projects each year for the next 25 years
reflecting a pattern of only environmental programs being required to address their own bond
debt service
-- $15 million from the Recycling Fund in to balance the FY 2008-09 budget
-- $18.4 million put into budgetary reserve in 2008-09 from the Department of Environmental
Protection and Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
-- $5 million reduction in Resource Enhancement and Protection (REAP) farm conservation tax
credit program in FY 2009-10
-- $102.8 million cut from the DEP and DCNR General Fund budget in FY 2010-11 budget
-- $180 million diverted from the DCNR Oil and Gas Fund to General Fund in proposed FY
2010-11 budget
-- $5.5 million reduction in Resource Enhancement and Protection (REAP) farm conservation
tax credits in FY 2010-11
-- $5 million in additional cuts to the agencies to balance the FY 2010-11 budget-- $3.9 million in across-the-board cuts to help fill gaps caused by reduced federal Medicaid
appropriations-- $2.4 million from DEP, $1.5 million from DCNR
-- $669,000 from the Safe Water line item in DEP's budget
-- $102.8 million cut continued from the FY 2010-11 DEP and DCNR General Fund budget in
FY 2011-12 budget
-- $8.3 million Mid-year budget freeze cuts additional resources for environmental programs:
Agriculture: $2.6 million DCNR: $1.5 million and DEP: $4.2 million
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-- FY 2012-13 budget eliminates $11.8 million in General Fund monies from DEP, and $2.5
million from DCNR
-- FY 2012-13 budget continues the $102.8 million cut made by Gov. Rendell beginning in FY
2010-11
-- FY 2012-13 budget for the State System of Higher Education zeroes out funding again for the
PA Center for Environmental Education ($368,000) and McKeever Environmental Center($213,000)
-- FY 2013-14 budget continues the $102.8 million cut made by Gov. Rendell beginning in FY
2010-11
-- FY 2013-14 budget for the State System of Higher Education zeroes out funding again for the
PA Center for Environmental Education ($368,000) and McKeever Environmental Center
($213,000)
-- FY 2013-14 budget diverts $106.5 million from the Oil and Gas Fund to support DCNR
operations
-- FY 2014-15 budget diverts $73 million from the Oil and Gas Fund to support DCNR
operations. [While still funding environmental programs, this transfer takes funds away from
supporting long-term investments in the environment to funding day-to-day operations. It alsoraises a concern over whether it is sustainable without forcing additional leasing of state forest
lands for natural gas drilling.]
-- FY 2014-15 budget diverts another $95 million in royalties and payments from the Oil and
Gas Fund to balance the state budget
-- FY 2014-15 budget diverts $20 million from State Forest Timber operations to balance the
state budget
-- FY 2014-15 budget diverts $6.2 million from the Alternative Fuels Incentive Grant Fund to
balance the state budget
-- FY 2014-15 budget continues the $102.8 million cut made by Gov. Rendell beginning in FY
2010-11
-- FY 2014-15 budget for the State System of Higher Education zeroes out funding again for the
PA Center for Environmental Education ($368,000) and McKeever Environmental Center
($213,000) and
-- FY 2014-15 budget cuts $500,000 for Delaware River Basin Commission.
NewsClips:
State Revenues Continue Late Year Uptick
Gov.-Elect Wolf Faces Big Challenges
GOP Draws Lines As Wolf Focuses On Huge Deficit
Some Lawmakers Float Business Tax Hikes To Close Budget Gap
Op-Ed: State Has An Obligation To Enact Severance Tax
PoliticsPA: Severance Tax Should Be Wolfs Top PriorityOp-Ed: Time For Tom Wolf To End Blame Game And Govern
Op-Ed: Dealing With PAs Budget Deficit Has Consequences
Editorial: Wolf Must Articulate Positive Vision For PA
PA Gasoline Taxes To Rise After Big Drop In Price
PennDOT Not Sure If Motorists Fees Will Rise
Links To Other Yearend Stories:
General Assembly Ends Legislative Session With Few Positive Environmental Bills
http://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.paenvironmentdigest.com%2Fnewsletter%2Fdefault.asp%3FNewsletterArticleID%3D30583&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNGYxXFe-S_lgjD8o1bq2yKXDrdTAAhttp://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.pennlive.com%2Fpolitics%2Findex.ssf%2F2014%2F12%2Fpenndot_officials_not_sure_if.html%23incart_m-rpt-1&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNFKLpiC7lOx2lwT4E9BkgWK5Fjl4whttp://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fcitizensvoice.com%2Fnews%2Fpa-gas-taxes-to-rise-after-big-drop-in-2014-price-1.1810694&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNF-VAifqkc30IdwM2IICBrDClbvmghttp://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Flancasteronline.com%2Fopinion%2Feditorials%2Fgov--elect-wolf-must-articulate-a-positive-vision-for%2Farticle_9ad817fc-8b93-11e4-9d14-7fdb21660b0b.html&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNEqFwiqOk_2J2L0jz3j2zo7h8F3cQhttp://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.pennlive.com%2Fopinion%2F2015%2F01%2Fpennsylvania_structural_defici.html%23incart_river&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNGK5oDiOTfvYA-ZrXKWI9aDLMRMxQhttp://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.timesleader.com%2Fnews%2Fopinion_columns%2F50905731%2FTHEIR-VIEW-Wolf-urged-to-end-blame-game&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNFkDvCQJ_efWjfMFicxPeoekycYEAhttp://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.politicspa.com%2Freader-poll-extraction-tax-should-be-wolfs-top-priority%2F62648%2F&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNGvobE3A3fUJ8s17n6RKcAhdf2-aghttp://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fopinion%2Finquirer%2F20150101_State_has_an_obligation_to_tax_gas_extraction.html&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNEEdAZ0domPMbqLTC0TDfocECsdJAhttp://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mcall.com%2Fnews%2Fnationworld%2Fpennsylvania%2Fmc-pa-wolf-legislature-taxes-20141231-story.html&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNElwFlOldYAQQfT9GzBOefvlEiAWAhttp://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fnews%2Fpolitics%2F20141227_ap_40e609a793ab4710a6d2ecffb6b2de1c.html&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNFkAKjeWWj9LbpJ2pCv6goXF4NKZwhttp://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.post-gazette.com%2Fnews%2Fstate%2F2015%2F01%2F01%2FPennsylvania-s-Governor-elect-Wolf-faces-big-challenges%2Fstories%2F201501010162&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNEiWo3zL1TfBhaD0L55KRsvoNyqtAhttp://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.pennlive.com%2Fmidstate%2Findex.ssf%2F2015%2F01%2Fstate_government_revenues_cont.html%23incart_river&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNEnG_IZC49vpCQ1zCVHpPrB11yD7Q -
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What Can We Expect For The Environment Next Legislative Session?
117 Stories About Hundreds Of PA Environmental Stewards Honored In 2014
DEP Report: 40% Of Streams Show Adverse Impacts Of Underground Coal Mining
The Department of Environmental ProtectionTuesday released the fourth in a series of
ongoing reportsdetailing the effects of surface
subsidence related to underground bituminous
coal mining in Pennsylvania covering the
period between 2008-2013.
The report addresses the effects of
underground mining in Armstrong, Beaver,
Cambria, Clearfield, Elk, Greene, Indiana,
Jefferson, Somerset and Washington counties.
Forty percent of the streams
undermined by deep coal mining (39 of 96 miles) suffered flow loss or pooling that had anadverse impacts on aquatic life, pH and conductivity in the streams.
Eight of the 55 stream segments identified as being affected in the 2003-2008 report have
yet to recover from the impacts of mining.
There were 855 reported impacts to water supplies from longwall mining: 393 were
found to be from longwall mining, 384 from room-and-pillar deep mining, 54 from inactive deep
mines and 24 from pillar recovery mining.
In one-third of the cases, the mining company was not found liable for the water loss or
contamination.
Despite an 18 percent drop in the number of acres undermined, the number of water
supply reported effects has increased by approximately 25 percent (855 from 683).
It took an average of 220 days to resolve water loss/water contamination issues either
through permanent replacement water supplies, repair of the water well or agreements for
compensation with landowners.
A total of 201 water loss/water contamination cases were not resolved by the end of the
2008-2013 reporting period.
There were 389 cases of reported damage to surface structures of which 238 were
determined to be caused by mining: 315 from longwall mining, 48 from room-and-pillar, 19
from inactive deep mines and 7 from pillar recovery mining.
It took an average of 169 days to resolve cases of surface structure damage.
The report also included sections on impacts to wetlands and groundwater.
This report provides vital information about the significance of bituminous mining onPennsylvanias landscape, DEP Deputy Secretary for Active and Abandoned Mine Operations
John Stefanko said. We will use this information to evaluate the effectiveness of our mining
program and consider ways to enhance the program in the future.
The report, mandated by Act 54, details the amount of structures, water supplies and
streams undermined during a five-year assessment period. It also provides an overview of the
type of effects to surface structures and surface features, as well as information on how long it
took to resolve those issues. Three previous Act 54 reportscovered 1993 through 2008.
http://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.portal.state.pa.us%2Fportal%2Fserver.pt%2Fcommunity%2Fact_54%2F20876&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNH8ujidD3FZ1QW77KgRh02NKaBvJAhttp://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.portal.state.pa.us%2Fportal%2Fserver.pt%2Fcommunity%2Fact_54%2F20876&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNH8ujidD3FZ1QW77KgRh02NKaBvJAhttp://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.portal.state.pa.us%2Fportal%2Fserver.pt%2Fcommunity%2Fact_54%2F20876&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNH8ujidD3FZ1QW77KgRh02NKaBvJAhttp://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.paenvironmentdigest.com%2Fnewsletter%2Fdefault.asp%3FNewsletterArticleID%3D30807&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNF5FMQ7h7_3HvYlkLuXzGZDxXNhYwhttp://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.paenvironmentdigest.com%2Fnewsletter%2Fdefault.asp%3FNewsletterArticleID%3D30584&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNErsqDM4EZ3ry5n27bgLjtAXTAlmQ -
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According to the report, there were 46 underground coal mines active during the
reporting period beneath 31,343 acres of land, an 18 percent decline in the amount of land
undermined during the previous five-year assessment period.
In total, there were approximately 1,250 different effects, or incidents reported to DEP
during this most recent five-year period by its staff, coal companies or landowners.
Other FindingsOther findings of the report include:
Since the last assessment, DEP has been able to identify more than double the amount of
pre-mining wetland acreage due to improved techniques
Continued study is warranted to assess wetland mitigation sites, if required, to make sure that
the sites achieve proposed functionality.
Total biological scores, a measure of the insect life, show improvement over time at sites
impacted by flow loss.
Gate cut mitigation, a method of leveling-out land that has experienced subsidence, has
emerged as a successful tool to restore streams to their pre-mining condition.
A technical guidance document, titled Surface Water Protection Underground Bituminous
Coal Mining Operations, which was put in place in 2007, has improved the way DEP quantifiesand interprets impacts to surface waters.
DEP has increased the amount and type of data required to make permit decisions related to
mining activities
Data management and storage must be enhanced and standardized in order to efficiently
enforce the requirements of Act 54 and its implementing regulations.
The report was prepared by the University of Pittsburghs Departments of Biological
Sciences, Geology and Planetary Science, Civil and Environmental Engineering. The University
was selected to conduct the study because it employs faculty and research staff with the expertise
to review all aspects of the effects of mining-related subsidence.
Representatives from the university will present their findings to DEPs Citizens
Advisory Councilduring an upcoming meeting. The meeting is public, and a date will be posted
to DEPs online calendar in the near future.
Act 54 was passed in 1994 and requires DEP to assess the impacts of underground
bituminous coal mining on surface features. It expanded the list of structures for which mine
operators were liable and held deep mine operators legally responsible for mining-related
impacts to water supplies for the first time in Pennsylvanias history.
The report illustrates the subsidence potential for active mines. Abandoned mines also
pose a danger, so it is important for those owning property above abandoned underground mines
to insure themselves and their belongings against subsidence-related damage.
DEP offers Mine Subsidence Insuranceto residents owning property above abandoned
mines. Mine subsidence insurance is as affordable as ever, costing about 26 cents a day to insurehomes, businesses and other structures.
Currently, there are 58,146 MSI policies that cover approximately $10.34 billion in
property.
The report is posted on DEPs Act 54 webpagealong with previous reports.
NewsClips:
7,000 Fewer Acres In PA Sit Atop Deep Coal Mines
Pennsylvania Coal Comes Of Age
http://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fpowersource.post-gazette.com%2Fpowersource%2Fcompanies-powersource%2F2014%2F12%2F30%2FSulfur-regulations-first-boost-then-leapfrog-Central-Appalachian-coal-mines%2Fstories%2F201412300014&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNGn_XJa9U56ijEcwJeYN08cvsDhMwhttp://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Ftriblive.com%2Fbusiness%2Fheadlines%2F7471140-74%2Fmines-report-coal%23axzz3NBNgeReR&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNFWCMsGdN8WUkwm7juB68-bo9crMAhttp://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.portal.state.pa.us%2Fportal%2Fserver.pt%2Fcommunity%2Fact_54%2F20876&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNH8ujidD3FZ1QW77KgRh02NKaBvJAhttp://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dep.state.pa.us%2Fmsihomeowners&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNGDGFZWB732zBoe1KS8m0vXuYSdaQhttp://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.portal.state.pa.us%2Fportal%2Fserver.pt%2Fcommunity%2Fcitizens_advisory_council%2F21503&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNEUW90I9uNIlcz_cOFzUqhkQM0EzQhttp://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.portal.state.pa.us%2Fportal%2Fserver.pt%2Fcommunity%2Fcitizens_advisory_council%2F21503&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNEUW90I9uNIlcz_cOFzUqhkQM0EzQ -
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Coal Industry Trains For Zero-Accident Mine
Rosebud Takes Over Former Amfire Mines In PA
States Look To Tweak EPA Clean Power Plan
Op-Ed: PA Should Embrace New Energy Economy
Editorial: Government Funded Energy Deals Paying Off
Fitzgerald Touts Pittsburghs Development, Cleaner Air, Economy
Trout Unlimited Raises Concerns About Shale Drilling Hurting Lake Erie
Trout Unlimited is featuring the Lake Erie watershed in a new reporthighlighting outstanding
public fishing and hunting areas in the Central Appalachian region that are at risk from shale gas
drilling-related activities.
The organizations 10 Special Places report focuses on areas that are rich in fish, game
and natural beauty, and that have for generations provided abundant opportunities for hunters
and anglers. It covers threats to the specific regions and offers recommendations for the best
approaches sportsmen and women can use to protect these areas from potential risks.
The Lake Erie watershed is the ninth of the 10 Special Places to be announced. TroutUnlimited will announce a new place weekly this fall, releasing the full report in December.
We need to proceed cautiously, said Jerry Darkes, a fly fishing guide who operates
Angling Consulting Services in Strongsville, Ohio. It doesnt have to be a race to pull
everything out as fast as we can get it out.
The steelhead fishery has developed to a point where it really is very important to the
economics of not only northeast Ohio, but northwest Pennsylvania.
Lake Erie and its tributaries in Ohio, Pennsylvania and New York are home to large
commercial and recreational fisheries. An estimated 450,000 people fish the Ohio waters of Lake
Erie annually, targeting species including steelhead, trout, walleye, bass and perch, and
contributing $680 million to the states economy.
A recent survey of steelhead anglers in Erie County, Pa., found that they spent nearly
$9.5 million on trip-related expenditures in a single year.
The Lake Erie watershed is a unique place and an anglers paradise, said Katy Dunlap,
Eastern Water ProjectDirector for Trout Unlimited. It is imperative that any shale gas-related
development -- including Utica Shale gas drilling, water withdrawals for hydraulic fracturing and
wastewater management -- is done in a way that avoids or minimizes impacts to these
ecologically and economically valuable fisheries.
Trout Unlimited promotes responsible energy development and, in collaboration with
others, seeks to ensure that all reasonable efforts are made to avoid or mitigate the impacts such
development may have on important coldwater resources, such as Lake Erie and its watershed.
Most of the Lake Erie watershed that overlies the Utica shale gas formation is found inOhio, where a law adopted in 2012 allows companies to withdraw an average of 2.5 million
gallons of water per day out of the lake over three months, without a permit.
The law also allows up to 1 million gallons per day to be pulled from streams that feed
Lake Erie. Such withdrawals could adversely impact streamflows and steelhead fishing, and also
could increase the risk of invasive species introductions.
While Utica shale gas drilling is just getting underway in Ohio, the state has been
receiving wastewater from drilling operations in Pennsylvania, and disposing of the water in
http://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.tu.org%2Ftu-projects%2Feastern-shale-gas-development&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNEZZvCcYjPYI3-QsX5SiWH9yk_fyAhttp://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Ftu.org%2Fspecial-places&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNHNIiP06tDhV3nfCXGX4iIrvlHA1Qhttp://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Ftriblive.com%2Fnews%2Fallegheny%2F7332153-74%2Ffitzgerald-pittsburgh-county&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNFAP5_S_DBpeQJ5ocRIEfMgk1sHdQhttp://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fthetimes-tribune.com%2Fopinion%2Fenergy-deals-paying-off-1.1810719&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNH9NKsitTellD5wq-084_6B8mlMpghttp://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.post-gazette.com%2Fopinion%2F2014%2F12%2F30%2FPennsylvania-should-embrace-the-new-energy-economy-coal%2Fstories%2F201412300055&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNE9tUOCmvUoksBJjwU5j4WBb7iwZAhttp://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fpowersource.post-gazette.com%2Fbusiness%2F2014%2F12%2F30%2FWith-GOP-in-command-states-look-to-tweak-Clean-Power-Plan%2Fstories%2F201412300015&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNGVM-cm_6E8GXsWo5NJl99gcZnlCQhttp://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Ftriblive.com%2Fbusiness%2Fheadlines%2F7469964-74%2Fmines-rosebud-alpha&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNGu66ilbfVJn-QI5v9CcDn354E6Ighttp://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fpowersource.post-gazette.com%2Fpowersource%2Fcompanies-powersource%2F2014%2F12%2F30%2FCoal-industry-trains-for-a-zero-accident-coal-mine%2Fstories%2F201412300007&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNHfydRlq3sqxwfQE41fjsBYwwACWA -
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deep injection wells.
Trout Unlimited is urging anglers and hunters to call on the state and the gas industry to:
develop rules to manage water withdrawals to protect streams, wetlands and other bodies of
water in the watershed ensure that comprehensive invasive species control programs are in
place and to also study the cumulative impacts of shale gas wastewater disposal in underground
injection wells in Ohio.The report and related content are available online.
DEP Finalizes Policy On Oil & Gas Spill Reporting, Cleanup
The Department of Environmental Protection finalized one of two enforcement and investigative
policies related to oil and gas and other spill reporting and cleanup, according to a notice
published in the January 3 PA Bulletin.
The policy-- DEP ID: 260-0500-001- Policy for Coordinating Immediate Responses and
Final Remediation of Spills and Releases-- summarizes how the Department oversees immediate
responses and final remediation of spills and releases of regulated substances onto soils.
The purpose of the policy is to facilitate the consistent investigation of and the responseto spills and to coordinate immediate response needs with final remediation endpoints.
The other guidance dealing with aproposed new Oil and Gas Program enforcement
policy has not yet been finalized.
A copy of the policy will be made available on DEPs website. For more information,
contact Randy Roush by calling 717-787-1566 or send email to: [email protected].
Sen. Scarnati Plans To Reintroduce Marcellus Shale Health Advisory Panel Bill
Sen. Joe Scarnati (R-Jefferson) is circulating a co-sponsor memo on legislation he plans to
reintroduce creating a Marcellus Shale Health Advisory Panel he said similar to Senate Bill
555of last session.
The panel would be tasked with thoroughly investigating and studying advancements in
science, technology and public health data in order to provide Pennsylvania elected officials,
regulators and the general public with information, analysis and recommendations regarding the
safe, efficient and environmentally responsible extraction and use of unconventional natural gas
reserves in the Commonwealth.
There has been much discussion regarding the potential effects of Marcellus Shale
drilling on public health and safety, said Sen. Scarnati. The creation of an advisory panel
composed of experts from a wide range of fields including doctors, scientists, academics and
industry leaders will provide Pennsylvania with a critical asset in addressing any current or
future impacts arising from the development of the Marcellus Shale.The creation of a permanent health advisory panel was a suggestion of the Governor's
Marcellus Shale Advisory Commission.
The panel would consist of nine members including the Secretaries of Health and
Environmental Protection, as well as individuals to be appointed by the Governor, President Pro
Tempore of the Senate, Speaker of the House, and the House and Senate Minority Leaders.
NewsClips:
After NY Ban, PA Renews Focus On Fracking Health Impacts
http://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fstateimpact.npr.org%2Fpennsylvania%2F2014%2F12%2F30%2Fafter-new-york-ban-pennsylvania-renews-focus-on-fracking-health-impacts%2F&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNHlv44W4dIJ2vAw733VjCbNzDwP-Ahttp://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.paenvironmentdigest.com%2Fnewsletter%2Fdefault.asp%3FNewsletterArticleID%3D19729&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNHcbtnYtdJqvyVXTIdPWKHztl_NiQhttp://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.paenvironmentdigest.com%2Fnewsletter%2Fdefault.asp%3FNewsletterArticleID%3D19729&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNHcbtnYtdJqvyVXTIdPWKHztl_NiQhttp://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.legis.state.pa.us%2Fcfdocs%2FbillInfo%2FbillInfo.cfm%3FsYear%3D2013%26sInd%3D0%26body%3DS%26type%3DB%26bn%3D0555&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNExEYr2G2KijkkQHFWfwKlPhh4H7whttp://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.legis.state.pa.us%2Fcfdocs%2FbillInfo%2FbillInfo.cfm%3FsYear%3D2013%26sInd%3D0%26body%3DS%26type%3DB%26bn%3D0555&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNExEYr2G2KijkkQHFWfwKlPhh4H7wmailto:[email protected]://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.portal.state.pa.us%2Fportal%2Fserver.pt%2Fcommunity%2Ftechnical_guidance%2F21828%2Frecently_finalized_technical_guidance%2F1831386&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNHxiKilFedCPQ_LrPc-190E6BLG6whttp://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.paenvironmentdigest.com%2Fnewsletter%2Fdefault.asp%3FNewsletterArticleID%3D30088&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNGce3I1Xb0ktKfzG74-KrE9hkaghQhttp://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.pabulletin.com%2Fsecure%2Fdata%2Fvol45%2F45-1%2F14.html&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNGAog12pu9Pi6o9YugeQul47Ek2wghttp://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Ftu.org%2Fspecial-places&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNHNIiP06tDhV3nfCXGX4iIrvlHA1Q -
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Obama Official: Fracking Bans Are Wrong Way To Go
White House Plans New Oil & Gas Methane Regulations
Report Clears Coal Waste Of Affecting Inmates Health
Gov.-Elect Wolf Adds To DEP Transition Agency Review Team
Gov.-Elect Wolf Monday added four new members to his Agency Review Team for DEP: David
Masur, PennEnvironment, Josh McNeil, PA League of Conservation Voters, Charlie Schliebs,
Managing Director, Stone Pier Capital Advisors, LP and Denise Brinley, Former DEP Deputy
Secretary for Environmental Cleanup and Brownfields. Click Herefor the complete
agency-by-agency Team members.
Add Us To Your Google+ Circle
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Google+ page and search for [email protected], the email for the Digest Editor
David Hess, and let us join your Circle.Google+ now combines all the news you now get through the PA Environment Digest,
Weekly, Blog, Twitter and Video sites into one resource.
Youll receive as-it-happens postings on Pennsylvania environmental news, daily
NewsClips and links to the weekly Digest and videos.
Also take advantage of these related services from Crisci Associates--
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Senate/House Agenda/Session Schedule
Here are the Senate and House Calendars and Committee meetings showing bills of interest as
http://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.twitter.com%2FPaCapitolDigest&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNGWrE0J29KeaafDM7MJyMC8ers1CAhttp://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.crisciassociates.com%2Fcategory%2Fcapitol-blog%2F&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNEr34LqbrgLctLRRFIpQj8389er0Qhttp://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.crisciassociates.com%2Fcategory%2Fenvironment-blog%2F&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNFbHV5G7iUyBtnZtTKN4KGsug3TQQhttp://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.twitter.com%2F&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNGXriPf7nAwCc24P4VynFe1LpqWFghttp://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.crisciassociates.com%2F&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNHXIVMkGh_c7n4BmGVntccrLXM7egmailto:[email protected]://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwolftransitionpa.com%2Fsections%2Fpage%2Fcommittee-members&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNGZjm4ZpCgL238m1wtj3G1z5yfXHghttp://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Ftriblive.com%2Fnews%2Ffayette%2F7478025-74%2Ffayette-coal-sci&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNHvPARViq3PdMpErsZv01dqBTYnBAhttp://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fonline.wsj.com%2Farticles%2Foil-and-gas-regulatory-push-coming-from-obama-administration-1419890081&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNEYEBvHjVqlVyaE8HBrTB_bdd0iuAhttp://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fstateimpact.npr.org%2Fpennsylvania%2F2015%2F01%2F02%2Fobamas-interior-secretary-says-fracking-bans-are-wrong-way-to-go%2F&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNHukq-Olxz7bubrHto9AJNwkR0_TA -
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well as a list of new environmental bills introduced--
Bill Calendars
House (January 6): Click Herefor full House Bill Calendar.
Senate (January 6): Click Herefor full Senate Bill Calendar.
Committee Meeting Agendas This Week
House: Click Herefor full House Committee Schedule.
Senate: Click Herefor full Senate Committee Schedule.
Session Schedule
Here is the latest voting session schedule for the Senate and House--
Senate
January 6 (General Assembly reconvenes), 20, 21, 26, 27, 28
February 2, 3, 4, 23, 24, 25
March 2, 3, 4
April 13, 14, 15, 20, 21, 22
May 4, 5, 6, 11, 12, 13
June 1, 2, 3, 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, 17, 18, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30
House
January 6 (General Assembly reconvenes), 20, 21, 26, 27, 28
February 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, 23, 24, 25
March 2, 3, 4, 30, 31
April 1, 13, 14, 15, 20, 21, 22
May 4, 5, 6, 11, 12, 13
June 1, 2, 3, 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, 17, 18, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30
News From The Capitol
Senate, House Open New Legislative Session January 6
Senate and House members return to session on January 6 to swear in new members and to
formally begin the 2015-16 legislative session.
Gov.-Elect Wolf and Lt. Gov.-Elect Stack will sworn in on January 20, which is the first
real session voting day on the legislative schedule at this point.
While the main order of the day will be parties, the Senate and House are expected to
http://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.legis.state.pa.us%2FWU01%2FLI%2FCO%2FSM%2FCOSM.HTM&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNGm2MqrSWvfq9tan4rDgY7fJhcc2Ahttp://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.legis.state.pa.us%2FWU01%2FLI%2FCO%2FHM%2FCOHM.HTM&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNHN4VHsg-7-WbaLdRZFal9NTpr5vQhttp://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.legis.state.pa.us%2FWU01%2FLI%2FSC%2FSC%2F0%2FRC%2FCAL.HTM&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNENWoZbghsL-QNbPuf7XexFfCvTqQhttp://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.legis.state.pa.us%2FWU01%2FLI%2FSC%2FHC%2F0%2FRC%2FSCHC.HTM&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNE9F2VxwWmFjFIYNSSBlw4h-xB5dg -
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name Committee Chairs and possibly members, although that may take longer.
January 6 will also be the first day bills are introduced and receive numbers, although
members have been circulating co-sponsor memos for their legislation since the beginning of
December.
It will be interesting to see which bills receive the coveted Senate Bill 1 and House Bill 1
numbers because they many times signal those issues that are a priority for the new session. Ifpast history is any guide, being first doesnt always mean the bill gets to the Governors desk.
At the opening of the 2013-14 session, Senate Bill 1 (Rafferty-R-Montgomery) proposed
a transportation improvement funding package and never got to the Governors desk. House Bill
1060 (Pyle-R-Armstrong) was signed into law in 2013 as the funding package.
Interestingly, there was no House Bill 1 in the 2013-14 session.
NewsClips:
GOP Preps For Tom Wolf With Me-First Attitude
Some Lawmakers Float Business Tax Hikes To Close Budget Gap
Editorial: Resolutions For Our Lawmakers
Editorial: Legislature Is Ethics Cesspool
How Much Do State Lawmakers Get Paid?
December State Revenues $161.7 Million More Than Anticipated
Pennsylvania collected $2.7 billion in General Fund revenue in December, which was $161.7
million, or 6.3 percent, more than anticipated, Secretary of Revenue Daniel Meuser reported
Friday.
Fiscal year-to-date General Fund collections total $13.3 billion, which is $270.7 million,
or 2.1 percent, above estimate.
Sales tax receipts totaled $804.2 million for December, $10.3 million above estimate.
Year-to-date sales tax collections total $4.8 billion, which is $59.7 million, or 1.3 percent, more
than anticipated.
Personal income tax revenue in December was $1 billion, $25.3 million above estimate.
This brings year-to-date PIT collections to $5.2 billion, which is $14.5 million, or 0.3 percent,
above estimate
December corporation tax revenue of $564.2 million was $77.5 million above estimate.
Year-to-date corporation tax collections total $1.4 billion, which is $163.5 million, or 12.9
percent, above estimate.
Inheritance tax revenue for the month was $72.1 million, $7.4 million below estimate,
bringing the year-to-date total to $521.7 million, which is $82.9 million, or 18.9 percent, above
estimate.
Realty transfer tax revenue was $40.4 million for December, $6.1 million above estimate,bringing the fiscal-year total to $216 million, which is $21.1 million, or 8.9 percent, less than
anticipated.
Other General Fund tax revenue, including cigarette, malt beverage, liquor and table
games taxes, totaled $146.6 million for the month, $12 million above estimate and bringing the
year-to-date total to $741.8 million, which is $9.5 million, or 1.3 percent, above estimate.
Non-tax revenue totaled $63.2 million for the month, $38 million above estimate,
bringing the year-to-date total to $376.8 million, which is $38.3 million, or 9.2 percent, below
http://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.pennlive.com%2Fcapitol-notebook%2F2014%2F12%2Fhow_much_do_state_lawmakers_ge.html&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNFk90Ai5e0nM2kgmUZXf-xzuhMHighttp://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.post-gazette.com%2Fopinion%2Feditorials%2F2014%2F12%2F28%2FEthics-cesspool-No-wonder-the-state-Legislature-is-a-rogue-s-gallery%2Fstories%2F201412310033&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNGaeoKJ7dmSxaiIdI_Q2rNUEudoKQhttp://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.yorkdispatch.com%2Fbreaking%2Fci_27235256%2Feditorial-resolutions-our-lawmakers&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNH7yoItRkHPLojaYpvHOlSRr01KrAhttp://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mcall.com%2Fnews%2Fnationworld%2Fpennsylvania%2Fmc-pa-wolf-legislature-taxes-20141231-story.html&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNElwFlOldYAQQfT9GzBOefvlEiAWAhttp://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.pennlive.com%2Fpolitics%2Findex.ssf%2F2014%2F12%2Fpa_republicans_prep_for_tom_wo.html%23incart_river&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNGJr0gp_-Bix34dIHlZdkhxYawqHQ -
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estimate.
In addition to the General Fund collections, the Motor License Fund received $170.1
million for the month, $12.4 million below estimate. Fiscal year-to-date collections for the fund
which include the commonly known gas and diesel taxes, as well as other license, fine and fee
revenues total $1.2 billion, which is $1.4 million, or 0.1 percent, above estimate.
NewsClips:State Revenues Continue Late Year Uptick
Gov.-Elect Wolf Faces Big Challenges
GOP Draws Lines As Wolf Focuses On Huge Deficit
Some Lawmakers Float Business Tax Hikes To Close Budget Gap
Op-Ed: State Has An Obligation To Enact Severance Tax
PoliticsPA: Severance Tax Should Be Wolfs Top Priority
Op-Ed: Time For Tom Wolf To End Blame Game And Govern
Op-Ed: Dealing With PAs Budget Deficit Has Consequences
Editorial: Wolf Must Articulate Positive Vision For PA
PA Gasoline Taxes To Rise After Big Drop In Price
PennDOT Not Sure If Motorists Fees Will Rise
December Environmental Synopsis Now Available From Joint Conservation Committee
The December issue of the Environmental Synopsisnewsletter is now available from the Joint
Legislative Air and Water Pollution Control and Conservation Committeefeaturing articles on--
-- Rolling Coal - Black Clouds From Diesel Engines
-- Ranking The Walkability Of Philadelphia and Pittsburgh
-- Audubon: Climate Change To Impact Bird Population
-- Global Shift To Mass Transit Could Save $100 Trillion
-- Methane Emissions From Oil And Gas Operations Dropping
-- Summary Of Nov. 20 Tour Of Penn Waste Recycling Facility
-- Sign Up for your own copy by sending an email to: [email protected].
News From Around The State
EPA OKs DEP 2014 Water Quality Report, Status Of Lower Susquehanna, Monongahela
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has approved Pennsylvanias 2014 Integrated Water
Quality Monitoring and Assessment Report, the Department of Environmental Protection
announced Monday.
Required every two years by the federal Clean Water Act, the report describes the waterquality of the states many streams, rivers, lakes and waterways. The report takes more than
8,700 staff hours to complete and includes a list of waterways that are impaired.
As of this report, 83,438 miles of streams and rivers are assessed for aquatic life use with
67,556 miles listed as attaining that water use, which means there are 15,882 miles of streams
with impaired water quality in Pennsylvania.
Of the impaired miles, 9,031 require development of a Total Maximum Daily Load
(TMDL) to reduce pollutant inputs and 6,851 have an approved TMDL. An additional 72 miles
http://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.portal.state.pa.us%2Fportal%2Fserver.pt%2Fcommunity%2Fwater_quality_standards%2F10556%2Fintegrated_water_quality_report_-_2014%2F1702856&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNEBBatSi8ihXTEjtNKQEtR6IOsbeghttp://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.portal.state.pa.us%2Fportal%2Fserver.pt%2Fcommunity%2Fwater_quality_standards%2F10556%2Fintegrated_water_quality_report_-_2014%2F1702856&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNEBBatSi8ihXTEjtNKQEtR6IOsbegmailto:[email protected]://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fjcc.legis.state.pa.us%2Findex.cfm&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNEqbSPEelu-fOoGTKta0VZ0AaOE-Qhttp://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fjcc.legis.state.pa.us%2Findex.cfm&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNEqbSPEelu-fOoGTKta0VZ0AaOE-Qhttp://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fjcc.legis.state.pa.us%2Fresources%2Fftp%2Fdocuments%2Fnewsletters%2FEnvironmental%2520Synopsis%2520-%2520December%25202014.pdf&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNGfxJsgtMRTJeRekMpvBbcyl-zZpwhttp://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.pennlive.com%2Fpolitics%2Findex.ssf%2F2014%2F12%2Fpenndot_officials_not_sure_if.html%23incart_m-rpt-1&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNFKLpiC7lOx2lwT4E9BkgWK5Fjl4whttp://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fcitizensvoice.com%2Fnews%2Fpa-gas-taxes-to-rise-after-big-drop-in-2014-price-1.1810694&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNF-VAifqkc30IdwM2IICBrDClbvmghttp://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Flancasteronline.com%2Fopinion%2Feditorials%2Fgov--elect-wolf-must-articulate-a-positive-vision-for%2Farticle_9ad817fc-8b93-11e4-9d14-7fdb21660b0b.html&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNEqFwiqOk_2J2L0jz3j2zo7h8F3cQhttp://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.pennlive.com%2Fopinion%2F2015%2F01%2Fpennsylvania_structural_defici.html%23incart_river&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNGK5oDiOTfvYA-ZrXKWI9aDLMRMxQhttp://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.timesleader.com%2Fnews%2Fopinion_columns%2F50905731%2FTHEIR-VIEW-Wolf-urged-to-end-blame-game&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNFkDvCQJ_efWjfMFicxPeoekycYEAhttp://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.politicspa.com%2Freader-poll-extraction-tax-should-be-wolfs-top-priority%2F62648%2F&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNGvobE3A3fUJ8s17n6RKcAhdf2-aghttp://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fopinion%2Finquirer%2F20150101_State_has_an_obligation_to_tax_gas_extraction.html&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNEEdAZ0domPMbqLTC0TDfocECsdJAhttp://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mcall.com%2Fnews%2Fnationworld%2Fpennsylvania%2Fmc-pa-wolf-legislature-taxes-20141231-story.html&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNElwFlOldYAQQfT9GzBOefvlEiAWAhttp://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fnews%2Fpolitics%2F20141227_ap_40e609a793ab4710a6d2ecffb6b2de1c.html&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNFkAKjeWWj9LbpJ2pCv6goXF4NKZwhttp://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.post-gazette.com%2Fnews%2Fstate%2F2015%2F01%2F01%2FPennsylvania-s-Governor-elect-Wolf-faces-big-challenges%2Fstories%2F201501010162&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNEiWo3zL1TfBhaD0L55KRsvoNyqtAhttp://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.pennlive.com%2Fmidstate%2Findex.ssf%2F2015%2F01%2Fstate_government_revenues_cont.html%23incart_river&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNEnG_IZC49vpCQ1zCVHpPrB11yD7Q -
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are under compliance agreements and expected to improve within a reasonable amount of time.
The two largest problems are agriculture and abandoned mine drainage. The largest
stressors are siltation and metals.
However, other problems should not be minimized because in local areas they may
impact a relatively large percentage of waters. For example, urban runoff/storm sewers is a
minor problem in rural areas but major in metropolitan regions.Since the last report in 2012, a total of 333 miles of previously impaired flowing waters
and 853 lake acres were restored. In addition, the fish consumption advisories were removed
from 11,592 lake acres.
This year there are two major listing changes. The Monongahela River, which was
impaired for potable water use, was removed from the impairment list because the in-stream
level of sulfates now meets Pennsylvanias water quality standards.
The lower main stem of the Susquehanna River will be added to the fish consumption
impairment list for channel catfish larger than 20 inches due to polychlorinated biphenyls
(PCBs). The recommended consumption rate is no more than one meal per month.
In its letter approving the report, EPA commended DEPs ongoing study of the
Susquehanna Riverand tributaries. It also recognized DEPs recent efforts to bring together apanel of experts from Fish and Boat Commission, Susquehanna River Basin Commission, U.S.
Geological Survey, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, EPA and members of the Susquehanna River
Heartland Coalition for Environmental Studies.
This diverse group has been working together to gather and evaluate data related to the
Susquehanna River and its tributaries for the Causal Analysis/Diagnosis Decision Information
System (CADDIS). The CADDIS panel is tasked with determining the attainment status of the
Lower Susquehanna and Juniata rivers for the 2016 Integrated Water Quality Monitoring and
Assessment.
DEP will continue and expand its intense studies of the river and tributaries through
2015.
A copy of the complete 2014 Integrated Water Quality Report is available online.
For more information, visit DEPs 2014 Integrated Water Quality Reportwebpage and
for copies of all TMDLs, visit DEPs TMDL webpage.
NewsClips:
Feds Approve PAs Water Quality Report
State May Be Ready To Rule If Susquehanna Is Sick This Summer
5 Things You Need To Know About Susquehanna Pollution
PCB Contamination Advisory For Susquehanna River
Contamination Leads To More Scrutiny Of Susquehanna River
Water Quality Report: Monongahela No Longer Degraded By Sulfates
Monongahela River Taken Off PA Impaired ListFederal Legislation Expands White Clay Creek Designation
Alternative To Water For Fracking Could Ease Environmental Issues
Energy Spotlight: Melissa Pagen, Drilling Wastewater Manager
Washington County Familys Water Wells Ruined By Mining
Communities Rely On Salt Brine To Treat Streets Before Snow
Latest From The Chesapeake Bay Journal
http://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bayjournal.com%2F&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNH6Px9j09ljaRg857-DuR91nljFvghttp://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Ftriblive.com%2Fnews%2Fallegheny%2F7315542-74%2Fsalt-brine-roads&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNHudxQJAeTRvDvPehYyDtpwPU39cwhttp://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Ftriblive.com%2Fbusiness%2Fheadlines%2F7439985-74%2Fmine-eighty-mining&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNEHbeARFnnv43k9-3Mq7FyMXp3qGAhttp://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Ftriblive.com%2Fbusiness%2Fheadlines%2F7437576-74%2Fpagen-industry-management&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNEo_YfFxJBFvObOKyCYa7SlS5i-1ghttp://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Ftriblive.com%2Fbusiness%2Fheadlines%2F7306534-74%2Fgas-environmental-fracking&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNFS42Ko5gu1oZ6K8sjR9RrIo6fqGQhttp://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dailylocal.com%2Fgeneral-news%2F20150102%2Fwhite-clay-legislation-expands-protection-to-watershed&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNHw2JAC824ikLGsEc5pYib-KLnIbAhttp://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sungazette.com%2Fpage%2Fcontent.detail%2Fid%2F765353%2FMonongahela-taken-off-Pennsylvania-s-impaired-list.html%3Fisap%3D1%26nav%3D5020&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNEa9aAQ0z1wwjTPe8BKBkVkRanpbQhttp://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.post-gazette.com%2Fnews%2Fenvironment%2F2014%2F12%2F29%2FReport-on-water-quality-says-Mononghela-River-no-longer-degraded-by-sulfates%2Fstories%2F201412290187&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNG6T9L7NdyBEzd-IvYyURGTjEjHZghttp://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.pennlive.com%2Fmidstate%2Findex.ssf%2F2014%2F12%2Fcontamination_leads_to_catfish.html%23incart_m-rpt-1&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNFotXncNJC_v3GemVXarP4IUpruOghttp://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Flancasteronline.com%2Fnews%2Flocal%2Fpcb-contamination-causes-fish-consumption-advisory-for-catfish-caught-from%2Farticle_ea4fd690-8f93-11e4-9e96-97713c0276f0.html&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNETeDzx5rpbsWdtaWgiO5lOWTUK4whttp://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.pennlive.com%2Fmidstate%2Findex.ssf%2F2014%2F12%2F5_things_you_need_to_know_abou.html%23incart_river&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNHzC46fEafHXnAmV7GTBZDlepB4eQhttp://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Flancasteronline.com%2Fnews%2Flocal%2Fstate-could-be-ready-to-rule-if-susquehanna-is-sick%2Farticle_76bf4084-9066-11e4-9a1c-c7c7fb43fbcc.html&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNHTf7uCh7jgYBNejdjbiQxxaCup7Qhttp://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fstateimpact.npr.org%2Fpennsylvania%2F2014%2F12%2F29%2Ffeds-approve-pennsylvanias-water-quality-report%2F&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNGVHbd8ZidV-FesFY2ArmdN66yCXghttp://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ahs.dep.pa.gov%2FTMDL%2F&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNGiqs89KoDaycaZztgj4c-w37yxNQhttp://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.portal.state.pa.us%2Fportal%2Fserver.pt%2Fcommunity%2Fwater_quality_standards%2F10556%2Fintegrated_water_quality_report_-_2014%2F1702856&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNEBBatSi8ihXTEjtNKQEtR6IOsbeghttp://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.portal.state.pa.us%2Fportal%2Fserver.pt%2Fcommunity%2Fwater_quality_standards%2F10556%2Fintegrated_water_quality_report_-_2014%2F1702856&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNEBBatSi8ihXTEjtNKQEtR6IOsbeghttp://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.portal.state.pa.us%2Fportal%2Fserver.pt%2Fcommunity%2Fwater_quality_standards%2F10556%2FSusquehanna_River_Study_Updates%2F1449797&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNET8TTp-iyFdzpGiqbPhbBSLXu7TAhttp://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.portal.state.pa.us%2Fportal%2Fserver.pt%2Fcommunity%2Fwater_quality_standards%2F10556%2FSusquehanna_River_Study_Updates%2F1449797&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNET8TTp-iyFdzpGiqbPhbBSLXu7TA -
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Advisory: Chesapeake Bay Foundation To Release Report On Bay Health January 5
The Chesapeake Bay Foundationwill release the 2014 State of the Bay report on January 5 at a
10:30 a.m. press conference at CBF headquarters in Annapolis.
The biennial State of the Bay Report is a comprehensive measure of the Bay's health,
evaluating the following indicators: oysters, shad, crabs, striped bass (rockfish), underwatergrasses, wetlands, forested buffers, resource lands, toxics, water clarity, dissolved oxygen, and
phosphorus and nitrogen pollution.
CBF scientists compile and examine the best available historical and up-to-date
information for each indicator and assign it an index score, between 1 and 100. Taken together,
these indicators offer an assessment of Bay health.
CBF will also discuss priorities for 2015. In Pennsylvania, CBFs priorities include:
Ensuring Pennsylvanias Department of Environmental Protection, County Conservation
Districts, and local partners work to assure robust outreach and education, technical and financial
assistance, and compliance with state water quality laws and regulations by farmers in the
Commonwealth. It is estimated that a substantial percentage of farms still are lacking required
pollution prevention and reduction plans and have long waits for assistance. Promoting new efforts to accelerate the planting of forest buffers and other core pollution
reducing practices. In Pennsylvania forested stream buffers were established at a rate of six acres
per day from 2009 to 2013, but must increase to a rate of fifty acres per day through 2017 to
meet the goal the Commonwealth set.
Updating Pennsylvanias Phosphorus Index to reduce over-application of phosphorus
fertilizer on farm fields that can pollute streams and the Bay.
NewsClips:
Feds Approve PAs Water Quality Report
State May Be Ready To Rule If Susquehanna Is Sick This Summer
5 Things You Need To Know About Susquehanna Pollution
PCB Contamination Advisory For Susquehanna River
Contamination Leads To More Scrutiny Of Susquehanna River
Water Quality Report: Monongahela No Longer Degraded By Sulfates
Monongahela River Taken Off PA Impaired List
Federal Legislation Expands White Clay Creek Designation
Alternative To Water For Fracking Could Ease Environmental Issues
Energy Spotlight: Melissa Pagen, Drilling Wastewater Manager
Washington County Familys Water Wells Ruined By Mining
Communities Rely On Salt Brine To Treat Streets Before Snow
Latest From The Chesapeake Bay Journal
DEP Awards Grant To Clinton County To Install Farm Conservation Practices
The Department of Environmental Protection Tuesday announced it has awarded a $315,000
grant to the Clinton County Conservation District so it can assist local farmers in the
development of agricultural best management practices (BMPs) to prevent future pollution in the
Antes Creek Watershed.
The department is pleased to provide this funding to the conservation district to assist
http://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bayjournal.com%2F&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNH6Px9j09ljaRg857-DuR91nljFvghttp://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Ftriblive.com%2Fnews%2Fallegheny%2F7315542-74%2Fsalt-brine-roads&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNHudxQJAeTRvDvPehYyDtpwPU39cwhttp://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Ftriblive.com%2Fbusiness%2Fheadlines%2F7439985-74%2Fmine-eighty-mining&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNEHbeARFnnv43k9-3Mq7FyMXp3qGAhttp://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Ftriblive.com%2Fbusiness%2Fheadlines%2F7437576-74%2Fpagen-industry-management&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNEo_YfFxJBFvObOKyCYa7SlS5i-1ghttp://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Ftriblive.com%2Fbusiness%2Fheadlines%2F7306534-74%2Fgas-environmental-fracking&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNFS42Ko5gu1oZ6K8sjR9RrIo6fqGQhttp://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dailylocal.com%2Fgeneral-news%2F20150102%2Fwhite-clay-legislation-expands-protection-to-watershed&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNHw2JAC824ikLGsEc5pYib-KLnIbAhttp://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sungazette.com%2Fpage%2Fcontent.detail%2Fid%2F765353%2FMonongahela-taken-off-Pennsylvania-s-impaired-list.html%3Fisap%3D1%26nav%3D5020&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNEa9aAQ0z1wwjTPe8BKBkVkRanpbQhttp://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.post-gazette.com%2Fnews%2Fenvironment%2F2014%2F12%2F29%2FReport-on-water-quality-says-Mononghela-River-no-longer-degraded-by-sulfates%2Fstories%2F201412290187&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNG6T9L7NdyBEzd-IvYyURGTjEjHZghttp://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.pennlive.com%2Fmidstate%2Findex.ssf%2F2014%2F12%2Fcontamination_leads_to_catfish.html%23incart_m-rpt-1&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNFotXncNJC_v3GemVXarP4IUpruOghttp://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Flancasteronline.com%2Fnews%2Flocal%2Fpcb-contamination-causes-fish-consumption-advisory-for-catfish-caught-from%2Farticle_ea4fd690-8f93-11e4-9e96-97713c0276f0.html&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNETeDzx5rpbsWdtaWgiO5lOWTUK4whttp://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.pennlive.com%2Fmidstate%2Findex.ssf%2F2014%2F12%2F5_things_you_need_to_know_abou.html%23incart_river&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNHzC46fEafHXnAmV7GTBZDlepB4eQhttp://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Flancasteronline.com%2Fnews%2Flocal%2Fstate-could-be-ready-to-rule-if-susquehanna-is-sick%2Farticle_76bf4084-9066-11e4-9a1c-c7c7fb43fbcc.html&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNHTf7uCh7jgYBNejdjbiQxxaCup7Qhttp://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fstateimpact.npr.org%2Fpennsylvania%2F2014%2F12%2F29%2Ffeds-approve-pennsylvanias-water-quality-report%2F&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNGVHbd8ZidV-FesFY2ArmdN66yCXghttp://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cbf.org%2Fpa&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNGSWPVAaMesqRihAJwZTyppW6zgVA -
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with the development or improvement of agricultural plans, engineering evaluations, and the
implementation of BMPs in this high risk watershed to prevent future surface and groundwater
pollution, Northcentral Regional Director Marcus Kohl said. We also believe this funding is
important to prevent the long-term degradation of this watershed as a tributary to the Chesapeake
Bay.
Land use within the watershed is mostly agriculture and the watershed is at high risk forpollution incidents due to a large number of sinkholes in the area, especially those near or within
farm fields, and inadequate manure storage for local farmers during high risk periods.
One such incident occurred in March, where manure was applied on partially
snow-covered ground over an unidentified sinkhole. Heavy snow melt transported applied
manure into the regional groundwater table. About 12 local residents contacted DEP because
their well water appeared and smelled like manure.
The department responded to these complaints, and assisted the residents by providing
potable water until the groundwater cleared, which occurred several weeks later.
The Clinton County Commissioners later requested the department conduct an evaluation
of all agricultural operations within the western half of the Nippenose Valley to locate open
sinkholes, identify high risk practices, and identify best management practices that could beimplemented by local farmers to prevent a future pollution incident.
A preliminary watershed assessment completed by DEPs Waterways and Wetlands
program staff has identified of number of additional BMPs that could prevent future pollution in
the watershed, including manure storage facilities, roof gutter systems, fencing, milk house
waste, agricultural erosion and sedimentation plans, and updated manure management plans.
DEP awarded the grant to the conservation district based on an immediate need for the
work to be completed as soon as possible and the districts history and experience with this type
of work.
For more information call 570-327-3636.
2015 PA Farm Show Set For January 10 To 17
The 99th annual Pennsylvania Farm Showwill be held at the Farm Show Complex in Harrisburg
from January 10 to 17.
Among the 10,000 exhibits and 300 commercial exhibits are booths for the departments
of Environmental Protection and Conservation and Natural Resources as well as the Fish and
Boat and Game Commissions showcasing a variety of conservation, energy conservation and
other topics.
Report Clears Coal Waste Of Affecting Inmates Health In Fayette County
After concluding a comprehensive reviewof conditions at the State Correctional Institution at
Fayette, the Department of Corrections has found no credible evidence of any unsafe
environmental conditions at the facility or of any abnormalities with regard to the safety and
health of inmates at the prison.
"We work hard to ensure the safety and welfare of our inmates," Corrections Secretary
John Wetzel said. "When concerns were raised, we initiated environmental tests and medical
reviews to examine the conditions at the prison. The Department found no evidence of any
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unsafe environmental conditions or any related medical issues."
The Department was made aware of reports alleging that unsafe levels of coal waste in
the vicinity of SCI Fayette were connected to purported medical problems for inmates at the
facility.
Department officials reviewed water supply tests and analyses, inmate medical records,
rates of cancer and cancer-related deaths among inmates at the prison and the use of pulmonaryand gastrointestinal medications.
"Our review found no scientific data to support claims of any unsafe environmental
conditions or any related medical issues to exist at SCI Fayette," Wetzel said.
A copy of the review is available online.
NewsClip:Report Clears Coal Waste Of Affecting Inmates Health
PRC: Learn To Make Non-Toxic Personal Care, Cleaning Products At Workshops
The PA Resources Councilwill sponsor a series of four workshopsin Western PA to teach
attendees how to make non-toxic personal care and cleaning products. The workshops will be
held---- January 24: Ross Township Community Center from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m.
-- February 7: Yagel Community Center, Churchill, from 10:30 a.m. to Noon.
-- February 21: Bradford Woods Borough Office, from 1 to 2:30 p.m.
-- February 24: Green Tree Borough Building, from 6:30 to 8 p.m.
This workshop is designed to heighten awareness and encourage action around the issue
of carcinogens and toxins that we come into contact with daily in our environment through the
products we use and the food we eat.
The workshop also focuses on the consequences of these toxins on our health and how
we can avoid exposure.
The program provides the public with practical solutions such as recipes and materials for
making green cleaning and personal care products. Participants will make products during the
workshop as well.
In an effort to reduce ones exposure to toxins and to reduce the amount of toxins in our
environment, all workshop participants will receive a non-toxic green cleaning kit.
The cost of the workshop is $25 per person or $30 per couple.
For more information and to register, visit the Healthy Body, Health Home Workshops
webpage or call 412-773-7156 with questions.
PA Housing Authority Opens Comments On Housing Program Funded By Drilling Fees
The PA Housing Finance Agency Tuesday announced it is inviting public comment on its planfor overseeing the annual allocation of money from the PA Housing Affordability and
Rehabilitation Enhancement Fund. (formal notice)
The PHARE fund was established by Act 105 of 2010 (the "PHARE Act") to provide the
mechanism by which certain allocated state or federal funds, as well as funds from other outside
sources, would be used to assist with the creation, rehabilitation and support of affordable
housing throughout the Commonwealth.
The PHARE Act did not allocate any funding for housing initiatives. But the Marcellus
http://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.pabulletin.com%2Fsecure%2Fdata%2Fvol45%2F45-1%2F38.html&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNECooPsAsOKpeECGzN93sH5QpaddAhttp://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.phfa.org%2Flegislation%2Fact105.aspx&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNFGL9Z8COplA0urAWvkryiPWFjRcwhttp://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.phfa.org%2Flegislation%2Fact105.aspx&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNFGL9Z8COplA0urAWvkryiPWFjRcwhttp://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.zerowastepittsburgh.org%2FZW-PRC-envhealth.html&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNGZxFeZdYZjhK4kLwArA4LtppgrGQhttp://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.zerowastepittsburgh.org%2FZW-PRC-envhealth.html&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNGZxFeZdYZjhK4kLwArA4LtppgrGQhttp://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.prc.org%2F&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNEGotMC4pORTyfgpURSBZwXPSJC2whttp://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Ftriblive.com%2Fnews%2Ffayette%2F7478025-74%2Ffayette-coal-sci&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNHvPARViq3PdMpErsZv01dqBTYnBAhttp://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cor.pa.gov%2FDocuments%2FFAYETTE%2520-%2520Coal%2520Ash%2520Allegations%2520-%2520Review%2520Report%252012-31-14.pdf&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNFFVCe_xXH-5oISZkICXSmU9qD9VQ -
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Shale impact fee legislation, Act 13 of 2012 (the "Impact Fee Act"), specifically allocates certain
amounts from the impact fees on natural gas drilling companies into the PHARE fund.
"PHARE funding is helping to address housing shortages in Marcellus Shale counties of
the state," said Brian A. Hudson Sr., PHFA executive director and CEO. "We're inviting public
comment on our PHARE plan because we want to make sure investments of this funding are
properly guided by local perspectives about housing challenges and the best solutions."Since 2012, the PHARE fund has distributed $26 million supporting 104 local housing
proposals in 32 counties. That capital has been used to leverage additional funding of $165
million to be invested in new housing construction and the rehabilitation of existing housing.
The request for public comments will also be published in the PA Bulletin. The comment
period will end on March 1, 2015.
Comments about the 2015 PHARE draft plan should be sent to Bryce Maretzki at PHFA
either by mail at: PO Box 8029, Harrisburg, PA 17105-8029 or by email to:
For more information and a copy of the draft plan, visit the PHARE webpage.
NewsClips:
GOP Draws Lines As Wolf Focuses On Huge DeficitSome Lawmakers Float Business Tax Hikes To Close Budget Gap
Op-Ed: State Has An Obligation To Enact Severance Tax
PoliticsPA: Severance Tax Should Be Wolfs Top Priority
Op-Ed: Time For Tom Wolf To End Blame Game And Govern
Editorial: Wolf Must Articulate Positive Vision For PA
PA Gasoline Taxes To Rise After Big Drop In Price
PennDOT Not Sure If Motorists Fees Will Rise
PUC To Host PA Statewide Sustainable Energy Board Meeting Jan. 15
The PA Sustainable Energy Board, in conjunction with the Public Utility Commission, will hold
its annual meeting at 11 a.m., January 15 in Hearing Room 1 of the Commonwealth Keystone
Building, Harrisburg.
The meeting will provide updates from the regional Sustainable Energy Funds (SEFs)
and is being held to update Commonwealth agencies and other interested groups on the funds'
activities.
Some of the projects being discussed at the meeting will include the following:
The Metropolitan-Edison Co. (Met-Ed) and Pennsylvania Electric Co. (Penelec) Sustainable
Energy Fund will highlight its mapping project that was completed last year and shows funding
allocations since inception of the funds.
The West Penn Power Co. Sustainable Energy Fund will provide an overview of programsand projects which it helped to co-fund. The PennSEF bond finance program, a recently
launched program with the PA Treasury Department, will be discussed in detail.
The Sustainable Energy Fund, operating in the PPL Electric Utilities Inc. service territory,
will highlight an LED lighting project at the Harrisburg International Airport.
The Sustainable Development Fund, operating in the PECO service territory, will present
information on a new financing model where third party providers are financed instead of the
building owner or borrower.
http://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.puc.pa.gov%2Futility_industry%2Felectricity%2Fsustainable_energy_fund.aspx&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNEncjuJKo8AKNi3mwO-vzFFYSAIpAhttp://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.pennlive.com%2Fpolitics%2Findex.ssf%2F2014%2F12%2Fpenndot_officials_not_sure_if.html%23incart_m-rpt-1&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNFKLpiC7lOx2lwT4E9BkgWK5Fjl4whttp://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fcitizensvoice.com%2Fnews%2Fpa-gas-taxes-to-rise-after-big-drop-in-2014-price-1.1810694&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNF-VAifqkc30IdwM2IICBrDClbvmghttp://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Flancasteronline.com%2Fopinion%2Feditorials%2Fgov--elect-wolf-must-articulate-a-positive-vision-for%2Farticle_9ad817fc-8b93-11e4-9d14-7fdb21660b0b.html&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNEqFwiqOk_2J2L0jz3j2zo7h8F3cQhttp://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.timesleader.com%2Fnews%2Fopinion_columns%2F50905731%2FTHEIR-VIEW-Wolf-urged-to-end-blame-game&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNFkDvCQJ_efWjfMFicxPeoekycYEAhttp://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.politicspa.com%2Freader-poll-extraction-tax-should-be-wolfs-top-priority%2F62648%2F&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNGvobE3A3fUJ8s17n6RKcAhdf2-aghttp://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fopinion%2Finquirer%2F20150101_State_has_an_obligation_to_tax_gas_extraction.html&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNEEdAZ0domPMbqLTC0TDfocECsdJAhttp://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mcall.com%2Fnews%2Fnationworld%2Fpennsylvania%2Fmc-pa-wolf-legislature-taxes-20141231-story.html&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNElwFlOldYAQQfT9GzBOefvlEiAWAhttp://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fnews%2Fpolitics%2F20141227_ap_40e609a793ab4710a6d2ecffb6b2de1c.html&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNFkAKjeWWj9LbpJ2pCv6goXF4NKZwhttp://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.phfa.org%2Flegislation%2Fact105.aspx&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNFGL9Z8COplA0urAWvkryiPWFjRcwmailto:[email protected] -
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Representatives from the Department of Environmental Protection, the Office of
Consumer Advocate, the Department of Community and Economic Development, and the PA
Environmental Councilhave been invited to attend.
The PASEB was originally established by the Commission in 1999 to provide oversight,
guidance and technical assistance to the regional sustainable energy boards that fund projects
such as wind farms, solar power systems, smart thermostat programs and the construction ofbuildings using energy efficient technologies.
On Aug. 7, 2003, the Commission issued an order further defining the role of the
PASEB. That order charged the PASEB with holding an annual meeting enhancing
communications among the four funds and state agencies and establishing bylaws and a "best
business practices" model.
In the event of inclement weather, the event will be held January 29 at the same location
and time.
NewsClips:
State Gets Aggressive On Credits For Passive Energy
7,000 Fewer Acres In PA Sit Atop Deep Coal Mines
Pennsylvania Coal Comes Of AgeCoal Industry Trains For Zero-Accident Mine
Rosebud Takes Over Former Amfire Mines In PA
Report Clears Coal Waste Of Affecting Inmates Health
States Look To Tweak EPA Clean Power Plan
Op-Ed: PA Should Embrace New Energy Economy
Editorial: Government Funded Energy Deals Paying Off
Fitzgerald Touts Pittsburghs Development, Cleaner Air, Economy
Comprehensive PA Conservation Heritage Bibliography Released
The Pennsylvania
Conservation Heritage
Project released an annotated
bibliography and supporting
documents of Pennsylvanias
conservation history and
leaders earlier this month
through their Pennsylvania
Conservation Heritagewebsite.
The bibliographies provide a comprehensive reference of printed materials directly
relating to the Commonwealth's conservation legacy. The initial biographies include: MauriceGoddard, Joseph Rothrock, Mira Lloyd Dock, Gifford Pinchot and Rachel Carson.
Another section of the website features PA Conservation Heroes: Ralph Abele, John
James Audubon, Lucy Bakewell, Alexander Boyd, Ralph Brock, Marion Brooks, Arthur Davis,
Samuel Dixon, Rosalie Edge, Frances Morton Froelicher, Ralph Harrison, Joseph Kalbfus,
Franklin Kury and J. Horace McFarland.
The annotated bibliographies were funded through a grant from the PA Association of
Environmental Professionals. Research was completed by Marcy Larson under the guidance of
http://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.paep.org%2F&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNGW0lVKlVZju2p1KLkYa6nQ8KtwPQhttp://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.paep.org%2F&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNGW0lVKlVZju2p1KLkYa6nQ8KtwPQhttp://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fpaconservationheritage.org&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNHxdWZOU-n2Y6_JkfBqy13Qene7dghttp://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fpaconservationheritage.org&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNHxdWZOU-n2Y6_JkfBqy13Qene7dghttp://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Ftriblive.com%2Fnews%2Fallegheny%2F7332153-74%2Ffitzgerald-pittsburgh-county&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNFAP5_S_DBpeQJ5ocRIEfMgk1sHdQhttp://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fthetimes-tribune.com%2Fopinion%2Fenergy-deals-paying-off-1.1810719&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNH9NKsitTellD5wq-084_6B8mlMpghttp://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.post-gazette.com%2Fopinion%2F2014%2F12%2F30%2FPennsylvania-should-embrace-the-new-energy-economy-coal%2Fstories%2F201412300055&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNE9tUOCmvUoksBJjwU5j4WBb7iwZAhttp://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fpowersource.post-gazette.com%2Fbusiness%2F2014%2F12%2F30%2FWith-GOP-in-command-states-look-to-tweak-Clean-Power-Plan%2Fstories%2F201412300015&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNGVM-cm_6E8GXsWo5NJl99gcZnlCQhttp://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Ftriblive.com%2Fnews%2Ffayette%2F7478025-74%2Ffayette-coal-sci&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNHvPARViq3PdMpErsZv01dqBTYnBAhttp://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Ftriblive.com%2Fbusiness%2Fheadlines%2F7469964-74%2Fmines-rosebud-alpha&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNGu66ilbfVJn-QI5v9CcDn354E6Ighttp://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fpowersource.post-gazette.com%2Fpowersource%2Fcompanies-powersource%2F2014%2F12%2F30%2FCoal-industry-trains-for-a-zero-accident-coal-mine%2Fstories%2F201412300007&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNHfydRlq3sqxwfQE41fjsBYwwACWAhttp://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fpowersource.post-gazette.com%2Fpowersource%2Fcompanies-powersource%2F2014%2F12%2F30%2FSulfur-regulations-first-boost-then-leapfrog-Central-Appalachian-coal-mines%2Fstories%2F201412300014&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNGn_XJa9U56ijEcwJeYN08cvsDhMwhttp://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Ftriblive.com%2Fbusiness%2Fheadlines%2F7471140-74%2Fmines-report-coal%23axzz3NBNgeReR&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNFWCMsGdN8WUkwm7juB68-bo9crMAhttp://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.post-gazette.com%2Fnews%2Fstate%2F2014%2F12%2F30%2FNew-incentives-push-energy-efficiency-for-low-income-housing%2Fstories%2F201412230174&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNHR3HWudx9iIruDxjmJwPNQ46ljEAhttp://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fpecpa.org%2F&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNFiRuHPFFVf-VCYxD-bxBSteKfujQhttp://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fpecpa.org%2F&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNFiRuHPFFVf-VCYxD-bxBSteKfujQ -
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Professor Brian Black at Penn State Altoona.
The bibliography and supporting documents are part of a larger effort to reconnect
Pennsylvanians to their rich conservation history.
Pennsylvanias Conservation Heritage: Telling the Story is a statewide initiative with the
mission of documenting and interpreting the commonwealth's rich and diverse conservation and
environmental history through oral interviews, a series of documentaries, public programs, andarticles.
The work thus far has been supported through the generosity of the Department of
Conservation and Natural Resources, the Heinz Endowment, the PA Association of
Environmental Professionals and the Foundation for Pennsylvania Watersheds. A diverse array
of partnersnonprofits, agencies and individualsserve as steering committee for the project.
For more information, visit the Pennsylvania Conservation Heritagewebsite.
Related Conservation History Links:
DEP: Pennsylvanias Environmental Heritage
PHMC: Pennsylvanians And The Environment
Echoes Through Penns Woods Documentary/Educators Guide
Op-Ed: The Common Man Can Have An Uncommon Impact On Protecting The
Environment
By John Arway, Executive Director of the Fish and Boat
Commission
The common man is usually regarded as the average man or as more
appropriately defined here as one of the common people. The term
usually applies to the larger portion of our society, the commons,
who are typically concerned about personal or family issues and
dont have the time to worry about other things that dont concern
their everyday lives.
In my training as an expert witness, I learned that an expert is a person who has special
knowledge or skills about a particular subject beyond that of the average person. I was actually
summoned to court one day in a case involving the tainting of fish by oil that was discharged
from an oil refinery into the Allegheny River.
My testimony was not to use my education or training as a fisheries biologist since I was
asked to testify about my experience as an angler and, in this case, consumer of fish. The federal
judge in the case questioned my experience with the culinary arts, but the attorney who
subpoenaed me convinced him that I had prepared and eaten enough fish in my lifetime that hecould trust my judgment about this subject.
So, I appeared in court, was sworn to tell the truth and proceeded to answer questions
about my experiences of eating fish downstream of discharges that contained oil.
This story actually began many years before my court appearance when I decided to
catch a few trout below a brine discharge from an oil well that we were studying in the
Allegheny National Forest.
My staff and I had sampled the discharge and determined that it contained petroleum
http://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.greenworks.tv%2Fpennswoods%2Fhome.html&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNGS1vMQ9J_GK6z3Gr7qlcfpsQ_t-Qhttp://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fexplorepahistory.com%2Fstory.php%3FstoryId%3D1-9-E&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNFSYXo8nxYOyeidX3CqQdqTfGLe-ghttp://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.portal.state.pa.us%2Fportal%2Fserver.pt%2Fcommunity%2Fenvironmental_heritage%2F13842&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNGEf5_-A0W-5XOvYzMgeEZYB7hAcQhttp://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fpaconservationheritage.org&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNHxdWZOU-n2Y6_JkfBqy13Qene7dghttp://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fpennsylvaniawatersheds.org%2F&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNEG2WfJuuUU_vV2JTUHa0ciAKakkQ -
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hydrocarbons (oil) and other assorted chemicals commonly associated with the discharge of
brine (salty water) from oil and gas wells.
At the time, these wastewaters were being discharged virtually untreated, except for one
small step of oil/water separation, into our streams and rivers. We were also concerned that the
materials we were finding in the water may be affecting the fish and possibly the people who
chose to eat them. Accordingly, we decided to sample fish tissue, which confirmed what thelocal anglers already knew.
The fish in the stream below these discharges contained high levels of the same aliphatic
and aromatic petroleum hydrocarbons that were in the water. We used this evidence to
eventually get the polluter to plead guilty to summary charges of littering since the local district
attorney wasnt interested in pursuing more appropriate pollution charges and eventually worked
with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Resources (now Pennsylvania Department
of Environmental Protection) to restrict the discharge of untreated brine to streams and rivers.
So, how does an expert suddenly become a lay witness in federal court? Well, I decided
to conduct a personal experiment on my own one day. I went to the same stream, below the same
discharge and caught a few of the wild Brown Trout at that location. I took them back to camp,
filleted them, cooked them and did a personal taste test.I discovered that they did indeed smell like oil when they were cooking (probably the
aromatic hydrocarbons volatilizing) and tasted like oil when I tried eating them (most likely the
aliphatic hydrocarbons left behind after cooking).
Well, the judge became so interested in my lay testimony that he allowed me to talk
about all of my other work as an expert. The defense attorney representing the oil refinery was so
upset that he objected and accused me of being a stealth expert.
Needless to say, the judge ruled against the refinery, which was then required to construct
redundant oil/water separators so that if one failed, they would have backup treatment to prevent
the continued discharge of oil into the Allegheny River.
I believe that we are all specialists in some things and are common men when it comes to
others. Just as I functioned as both a lay and expert witness on the witness stand that day in
federal court, you can also perform those dual roles when it comes to helping us make decisions
about conservation and recreation in Pennsylvania.
I would say with some degree of certainty that by virtue of you reading this article, you
are sufficiently interested in fishing and boating issues and are the uncommon man.
Based on recent estimates, we have over 1.1 million anglers in our Commonwealth, and
over 850,000 of us bought fishing licenses last year. We have over 3 million total boaters, and
over 400,000 of us registered our boats last year.
However, we only have about 16,000 subscribers to this magazine and furthermore as
shown in Table 1 (Click Here to view), we only have about 366,000 members of conservation
and sportsmen organizations in our Commonwealth.Considering that I, and many of you, belong to multiple groups, I believe that this
probably overestimates the total membership in these organizations.
Since we have over 12 million people in our Commonwealth, I submit that we are
collectively the uncommon men by being part of the organized minority.
However, we are typically the ones who speak out whenever a voice is needed to educate
our Legislature about the importance of rare species and wild trout, debate the idea of raising (or
how about lowering) the cost of a fishing license or trout stamp, make a decision about using bait
http://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Ffishandboat.com%2Fimages%2Fpeople%2Fexec_dir%2Fstraight_talk%2F2015_01_02_common.pdf&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNE9WhGtC613XiF12YQZ1b2Wcs4dcQ -
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or flies on a wild or even stocked trout water, determine how many or where boat accesses are
needed on a particular water and many other issues.
Given the numbers of us involved as professional career employees or as part of an
organized volunteer group, I can unequivocally say that we are the uncommon men.
I need your help to reach out to the common men who are not represented in these
discussions the ones who are too busy with other demands for their time. We need their help toprotect, conserve and enhance our