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Energy Assistance:House Bill 1991 (Cutler-R-Lancaster) further providing for eligibilityscreening for energy conservation assistance was reported from the House AppropriationsCommittee and passed by the House. A summary and House Fiscal Note are available. The billnow goes to the Senate for consideration.

Nuclear Fuel Storage:House Resolution 750 (Godshall-R- Montgomery) memorializing thePresident and Congress to provide for the storage of used nuclear fuel was reported from theHouse State Government Committee and is on the House Calendar for action.Uniform Permit Reviews:House Bill 1659 (Pyle-R-Armstrong) providing for a uniform permitreview and consideration process within DEP was removed from the Table, amended on theHouse Floor after extended debate and many amendments and was referred into the HouseAppropriations Committee.Permit Extensions:House Bill 2470 (Evankovich-R-Armstrong) amending the Fiscal Code

to further provide for government permit extensions was reported from the House FinanceCommittee and referred to the House Rules Committee.Senate

BioEnergy Crops: House Bill 608 (Brooks-R- Crawford) providing for the use of bioenergycrops in mine reclamation was passed by the Senate without amendment. A summary andSenate Fiscal Note are available. The bill now goes to the Governor for his action.Regulatory Review:House Bill 1349 (Pickett-R-Bradford) providing for small business impactas part of regulatory review was amended on the Senate Floor and passed unanimously by theSenate and concurred in by the House. A summary and House Fiscal Note are available. Thebill now goes to the Governor for his action.

The complexity of state regulations, along with the undue hardships that sometimesfollow many regulatory mandates, hamper the success of small businesses to compete in thebusiness world, and it is time that the voice of small businesses be considered when formingregulations, said Rep. Tina Pickett, a former small business owner. This legislation gives smallbusinesses a seat at the table so their input and experience are considered when regulations aredrafted, debated and approved. This type of input is valuable to improve our business climate inPennsylvania and attract more job creators.

Ensuring that we have the proper regulations in place to protect the public is animportant part of our role in state government, but we must also achieve a reasonable balanceto ensure that the benefit of the regulation isnt outweighed by unreasonable cost, bureaucraticred tape or redundancy, she said. Instead, this legislation allows a business to be given moreflexibility in meeting paperwork deadlines or submitting paperwork electronically instead ofthrough the mail.Biofuels Compliance:House Bill 807 (Sonney-R-Erie) further providing for the definition,content, registration and enforcement of the Biofuel Development and In-State ProductionIncentive Act was passed by the Senate. A summary and Senate Fiscal Note is available. The

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House then concurred in Senate amendments and sent the bill to the Governor for his action.Mandatory Recycling:House Bill 1934 (F.Keller-R-Snyder) further providing for mandatoryrecycling was reported from the Senate Appropriations Committee and is on the Senate Calendarfor action.

Private-Public Transportation Projects:House Bill 3 (Geist-R-Blair) providing for private-public transportation projects was amended and reported from the Senate AppropriationsCommittee and is on the Senate Calendar for action. A summary and Senate Fiscal Note isavailable.Emissions Inspection: Senate Bill 1532 (Vogel-R-Beaver) exempting certain vehicles from thevehicle emissions inspection program was reported from the Senate Transportation Committeeand is now on the Senate Calendar for action.Business Permitting Portal:House Bill 2022 (Peifer-R-Monroe) providing for a PA Business

Permitting Portal within DCED was amended and reported from the Senate Community,Economic and Recreational Development Committee and is now on the Senate Calendar foraction.Alternative Energy: Senate Bill 1544 (Wozniak-D-Cambria) authorizing DCNR to lease landsfor wind, solar and other renewable energy projects was reported from the Senate EnvironmentalResources and Energy Committee and was referred to the Senate Appropriations Committee.Emergency Shut-Offs:House Bill 728 (Barrar-R-Bucks) setting new standards for emergencyshut-off values for facilities dispensing flammable liquids was referred to the SenateAppropriations Committee.Mine Drainage Reuse:Senate Bill 1346 (Kasunic-D-Somerset) encouraging the use of minedrainage water for fracking and other purposes was referred to the Senate AppropriationsCommittee.

News From The Capitol

Senate Committee OKs Bill Expanding Vehicle Emission Inspection Exemptions

Senate Bill 1532 (Vogel-R-Beaver) which Sen. Vogel explained would exempt light passengervehicles ten years old or newer and alternative fuel vehicles from the vehicle emissions

inspection program was reported out of the Senate Transportation Committee Tuesday and isnow on the Senate Calendar for action.The language in Senate Bill 1532, however, says, (5) Emission inspection criteria for

newest model year vehicles.-- A subject vehicle never before registered in this Commonwealthor any other jurisdiction shall be exempt from the requirements for emission inspection for tenyears from the date of original registration.

"I want to thank the members of the Senate Transportation Committee for voting to movethis commonsense, bipartisan legislation forward," said Sen. Elder Vogel. "This legislation

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will help drivers to avoid this costly and inherently unfair emissions testing program, while alsomaking sure our air remains clean."

The statewide emissions failure rate is less than 2.5 percent of all vehicles with thenewest vehicles failing at a rate of one quarter of one percent. Despite the very low failure rate,the emissions testing program costs more than $250 million a year for consumers according to

Drive Clean PA and millions of tax dollars to administer by the Commonwealth.Newer state and federal laws have done much to address vehicle emissions, includingrequirements that cars sold in Pennsylvania have to meet more stringent California emissionstandards.

The Federal Government requires certain areas in Pennsylvania to test emissions butgives the states wide latitude in its implementation. All of the states required to check emissionsfrom vehicles provide for many exemptions from their testing while Pennsylvania only exemptslight passenger diesel vehicles.

Senate Bill 1532 would also add exemptions for electric, hybrid electric or compressednatural gas vehicles from the requirements of Pennsylvania's emissions testing program.

"As I have said, I think the Federal Government needs to give serious consideration to

ending these testing requirements. There is no better example of how absurd this has becomethan Ellwood City Borough in my district. The Borough is located in both Beaver and Lawrencecounties and some residents on one side of Division Street are required to get tested whilethe residents on the other are not," Sen. Vogel added. "The goal of this legislation to makethis program more consumer-friendly. It's clear that cleaner vehicles are helping the air andenvironment we live in, but a costly annual emission test program is not."

Its time to update our automobile mandates to reflect reality, said Sen. John Wozniak(D-Cambria), a co-sponsor of the bill. When emissions inspections were enacted, there werestill a lot of old, polluting cars on the road. Today, nearly all cars pass the emissions test anddrivers have to pay up to $50 to be told what they already know.

Other states have waived emissions inspections for new cars up to a certain age, savingtaxpayers a small fortune, he said. Pennsylvanias new car owners have already paid dearlyfor that new car technology, they shouldnt have to pay for a redundant test.

NewsClip:Auto Emissions Exemption Bill Advances In SenatePA Biomass Energy Assn Presents Before Joint Conservation Committee

The PA Biomass Energy Association on Monday told the states Joint Legislative Air and WaterPollution Control and Conservation Committee that sustainable biomass has an important role toplay in an all of the above energy policy for Pennsylvanias future.

The Pennsylvania biomass industry is vast and diverse. It creates jobs, stimulates localeconomies, provides significant environmental benefits, and saves homeowners and businessesmillions of dollars in energy costs annually.

While biomass has historically been viewed as a wood-based industry, PBEA leadershipgave a much broader overview of the different materials that qualify as biomass, along withbenefits, challenges, and opportunities for the industry as a whole.

Pennsylvania has one of the best forest products industries in the world, leaving awealth of opportunities for the biomass industry and end-users of all scales said Jay Clark,PBEA President. However, it is also important to keep in mind that biomass is more than justwood. For example, Pennsylvania ranks second in the country in anaerobic digesters, and is also

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a leader in biogas from methane collection at landfills. Biomass includes food waste, animalwastes, low use wood, crop residues and more.

PBEA leadership detailed the segments of the industry which range from farms andforests to engineers and architects, manufacturing facilities and combined heat and poweroperations. Applications for biomass energy include residential heating, schools, hospitals,

cogeneration facilities and commercial scale electric generation.Pennsylvania has a solid foundation with hundreds of successful projects already in placeor about to go online, in addition to the extensive residential market which has seen a huge spikein growth over the past ten years as a result of locally sourced fuel and higher oil and gas prices.

While opportunities are great, PBEA leadership also detailed challenges the industryis facing, including economic uncertainties in financing, government policies, feedstocklogistics, and a need to educate end-users, developers and suppliers about the economics andenvironmental benefits of biomass energy.

In speaking before the JLCC, PBEA took a step forward in fulfilling one of the coregoals of the Association educating policymakers and end-users, said Karen Smeltz, PBEAVice President. In August we will take another step when we unveil a report currently being

developed by the Association to detail the opportunities and challenges for biomass energy inPennsylvania and recommend policies for the future.Rep. Scott Hutchinson (R-Venango) serves as Chair of the Joint Conservation Committee.

Rep. White Bill To Create Non-Taxpayer Funded Ethane Cracker Incentives

Rep. Jesse White (D-Washington) announced the introduction of House Bill 2493 to attract theglobal gas company Royal Dutch Shell to Pennsylvania, but without the use of any taxpayerdollars.

House Bill 2493, would impose a small surtax on the production of natural gas for anew "Energy Employment Legacy Fund." That fund would pay for tax incentives to industriesthat use ethane in manufacturing processes, including Gov. Corbett's controversial $1.6 billiontax credit proposal for Royal Dutch Shell.

"This revenue-neutral legislation is a perfect way to demonstrate that we stronglysupport the concept of the ethane cracker and its impact on job creation while adopting a fiscallyresponsible approach that avoids passing $1.6 billion in debt onto Pennsylvania taxpayers," Rep.White said. "The taxpayers have already created a tax-free Keystone Opportunity Zone for theproposed site of that ethane cracker, so the private sector producers who will greatly benefit froman increased customer base and a shorter supply chain should also do their part."

Rep. White said his measure would provide $66 million annually over 25 years. Thesurtax would be applied to all Marcellus Shale natural gas producers who currently pay theper-well fee under Act 13 of 2012. The tax credit would be available to any manufacturer thatpurchases natural gas containing ethane as raw material for production.

To calculate the surtax, the allocated amount of $66 million would be divided by thenumber of producing wells. That sum would then be collected from each natural gas producer towhich this applies.

According to the Department of Environmental Protection, 5,593 wells have been spudsince 2000 and are subject to the natural gas impact fee under Act 13. Based upon the calculationlisted above, a surtax amount of $11,800.46 would be placed on each of those 5,593 wells. Theeffective tax rate on the production of natural gas under Act 13 is about 1 percent; the added

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surtax would keep that overall effective rate below 1.25 percent."We should not be socializing costs while privatizing profits," Rep. White

added. "Pennsylvanians need to know there is a real alternative that promotes job creation andavoids passing $1.6 billion in crushing debt on future generations. House Bill 2493 is a truepublic-private partnership and common-sense approach to supporting job creation while being

fiscally responsible."June Environmental Synopsis Available From Joint Conservation Committee

The June issue of the Environmental Synopsis newsletter is now available from the Joint Air andWater Pollution Control and Conservation Committee.

The topics in this issue include: Pittsburgh Science & Engineering Ambassador Program,greenhouse gas credit marketplace, emissions from older coal-fired power plant, natural gas andrenewable energy and more.

Rep. Scott Hutchinson (R-Venango) serves as Chair of the Joint Conservation Committee.

News From Around The State

Ralph W. Abele Historical Marker To Be Unveiled July 17

Ralph W. Abele, the late Executive Director of the PA Fish and Boat Commission, will behonored with a State Historic Marker from the PA Historical and Museum Commission on July17 at 2:00 p.m. at the Commission headquarters building at 1601 Elmerton Ave. in Harrisburg.

The unveiling of the marker is sponsored by PHMC, the Commission and the Ralph W.Abele Conservation Scholarship Fund.

Throughout his life, Ralph Abele led, inspired, encouraged, motivated, supported andcommanded the fight to save our natural environment. He believed strong in the right of

everyone to clean air, pure water and the preservation of the natural, scenic, historic andaesthetic values of the environment.As an uncommon leader of the Commonwealth and a champion for living creatures, his

motto was Do Your Duty And Fear No One!For more information on his life and accomplishments, visit the Ralph W. Abele

webpage.Wildlands Conservancy Recognizes 2012 Friends Of The Lehigh River

The recipients ofWildlands Conservancys 2012 Friend of the Lehigh River Awards are: MarioSpangoletti, member of the Whitehall Township Environmental Advisory Council; Tom Shive,

retired Central Catholic High School teacher and champion for the schools EnviroMentorprogram; and the Hokendauqua Chapter #535 of Trout Unlimited.The awards will be presented during the closing ceremony of Wildlands Conservancys

16th Annual Lehigh River Sojourn at the Pool Wildlife Sanctuary on June 25th beginning at 6p.m. (award presentation at 7:00 p.m.)

The Friend of the Lehigh River award is Wildlands Conservancys annualacknowledgment of individuals, groups, organizations, businesses, institutions, or governmentalentities that deserve to be recognized for their commitment to preserving, protecting, restoring,

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and enhancing the Lehigh River and its watershed.The Lehigh River is one of the regions most precious natural resources. The work of

protecting and maintaining it as a viable home for plants and wildlife, as well as a destinationfor respite and adventure, cannot be accomplished alone. This award celebrates individuals andorganizations who proactively act and speak on behalf of the river to inspire its sustainability for

future generations, says Christopher Kocher, president of Wildlands Conservancy.Heres more on the award winners--Mario Spangoletti: Longtime volunteer of Wildlands Conservancy and a member of theWhitehall Township Environment Advisory Council, Spangoletti is a tireless steward of theenvironment. He is often found streamside, where over the years he has planted thousands ofplants and been actively involved in countless restoration projects.

Past EAC member Dale Ott credits Spangoletti with singlehandedly feeding the birds atthe Whitehall Parkway observation station. His caretaking also extends to the maintenance ofthe bluebird boxes and the rehabilitation of the Townships barn along Chestnut Street. Notable,too, is his dedication to the Townships annual recycling drive and his stream work with the

Little Lehigh and Hokendauqua chapters of Trout Unlimited.Tom Shive: Shive is a retired as Central Catholic High School (CCHS) teacher who hasanything but retired from educating students about nature in their neighborhoods, mostespecially those living in urban areas. He has been instrumental in bringing to life WildlandsConservancys EnviroMentor program that, too, engages elementary children at Sacred HeartRegional School.

Shive doubles as CCHSs Conservation Club leader. In this role, hes involved studentmembers in annual clean-ups of the Jordan Creek, the installation of bird houses and the plantingof riparian, or water-loving, plants to support soil conservation.

Shive is also an active member of the Jordan Heights Green Space committee, and hehas embraced Wildlands Conservancys proposed Jordan Creek Greenway & Trail, a plan tophysically connect five existing township-, city- and county-owned parks and recreation sites,from Jordan Meadows Park in Allentown to the Trexler Nature Preserve. The first 1.27-segmentopened in December 2011, and as efforts continue, Shive will undoubtedly celebrate havingmore room for young minds to grow.Hokendauqua Chapter #535 of Trout Unlimited: Since their first charter 25 years ago, theHokendauqua Chapter of Trout Unlimited has been devoted to local natural resource protection,and moreover, connecting the community with nature through education. Additionally, theChapter models the determination and dexterity needed to nurture partnerships with businessesand individuals and obtain grants, all for the improvement of their tributary to the Lehigh River.

The Chapter has a history of fulfilling numerous restoration projects. Their mostrecent effort focused on stream bank restoration in Northampton Borough and at the historicKreidersville Covered Bridge area.

In tandem with hands-on projects like this, the Chapter maintains a number of communityeducation programs. These include: sponsorship of Trout in the Classroom at CatasauquaHigh School, assisting youth field days, fly fishing instruction at the Women-in-the-Outdoorsevent, equipment and instructional support for Casting for Recovery, a breast cancer survivorsprogram, and Project Healing Waters, an activity for wounded veterans, and streamside-

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education for Cub and Boy Scouts and local schools. A new endeavor with the City of AllentownParks and Recreation Department offers field instruction on aquatic insects and fishinginstruction.PennVEST, DEP Announce Results Of Nutrient Credit Trading Auction

The PA Infrastructure Investment Authority and the Department of Environmental Protection,along with financial information services company Markit, Monday reported the results ofthe second forward auction of 2012 fornutrient credits in Pennsylvanias Chesapeake Baywatershed.

A forward auction means that the certified credits sold on June 13 will be deliveredlater and applied to the 2012-15 compliance years. The auction affords wastewater treatmentplants and other regulated entities the opportunity to purchase credits to meet their nitrogen andphosphorus discharge limits for these compliance years.

This auction continues PennVESTs and DEPs commitment to help Pennsylvania meetits goal to reduce nutrient discharge in the Chesapeake Bay watershed in a cost-effective way,

PennVEST executive director Paul Marchetti said. The public-private partnership used in theauction process will serve the state well in its efforts to achieve this goal.PennVEST hosts the auctions to encourage the trading of nutrient credits in the

Susquehanna and Potomac watersheds. DEPs nutrient credit trading program offers a cost-effective way for facilities that are subject to nitrogen and phosphorus limits to meet those limitsby working with other facilities, non-point sources or both.

For its auctions, PennVEST is supported by Markit, which provides the platform forenrollment and eligibility, auctions and registry services. Markit provides operations andinfrastructure services to environmental programs worldwide.

Credits representing the annual removal of 20,000 pounds of nitrogen from theSusquehanna River watershed and the Chesapeake Bay during 2012 were sold for $3.75 percredit. Credits representing the removal of 3,000 pounds of nitrogen in the Susquehanna Riverwatershed during 2014 were sold for $3.54 per credit.

PennVEST encourages the trading of nutrient credits by acting as a clearinghousein the credit market, entering into contracts to buy and sell credits. By participating in thesetransactions, PennVEST provides market certainty to buyers and sellers, which encouragesgreater activity in the market. Hosting periodic auctions is one way for PennVEST to facilitatethese nutrient credit trades.

PennVESTs next forward auction is September 12. The enrollment period for thatauction is expected to begin July 5.

For more information, visit PennVESTsNutrient Credit Trading webpage or call 717-783-4493.Penn State Extension Offers Water Resource Fact Sheets

The Penn State Extension Water Resources Team has recently released two new water relatedfact sheets. The fact sheets are quick reference guides to help Private Water Supply Ownersunderstand water supply problems and common water testing parameters in Pennsylvania.

The first fact sheet is entitled Common Water Test Parameters Related to Natural GasDrilling and is designed to assist people in interpreting their pre-gas well drilling water test

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reports. Many Pennsylvania residents are concerned about gas well drilling and are testing theirprivate water supplies, but are having difficulty in understanding or reading their water testresults.

This fact sheet describes the general parameters being tested in these gas related watertests and shares what typical concentration levels were from past research projects conducted in

Pennsylvania. An Acceptable Level Column provides the Environmental Protection Agenciesdrinking water standard for that parameter, if it exists.The second fact sheet is entitled Common Drinking Water Problems and Solutions and

is designed to assist people in identifying contaminant problems they may be having with theirprivate water supply.

The fact sheet describes the common symptoms of problem contaminates found inprivate water wells or springs in Pennsylvania. It suggests the common causes for the describedsymptoms and then recommends a possible solution such as specific water treatment equipment.It is a general guide to assist homeowners in working through their private drinking waterconcerns.

These fact sheets can be found on the Penn State Extension Water Resources webpage.

(Written By: James A. Clark, Extension Educator, Cameron/Elk/Jefferson/McKean/PotterDistrict, reprinted from the Penn State Extension Watershed Winds newsletter.)CREP Landowner Workshop Set For July 12 In Dauphin County

The Capital Resource Conservation & Development Area Council and the Alliance for theChesapeake Bay will hold a field day July 12 in Lykens, Dauphin County focused on practicalinformation to help landowners manage riparian forest buffers.

The agenda includes landowner information sharing, practical management suggestionsfor riparian forest buffers, and noxious weed control in CREP -- Conservation ReserveEnhancement Program-- areas.

Landowners participating in or considering enrolling their land in CREP are encouragedto attend. These field days are designed to provide landowners with the opportunity to viewsuccessful CREP riparian forest buffer projects.

Rick Kepner, USDA-NRCS (Natural Resource Conservation Service) DistrictConservationist in Dauphin County will provide a CREP program update and address questionsabout program re-enrollment.

Ashley Spotts, Watershed Specialist with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, willlead a walking tour and address buffer development questions. Rebecca Wertime, ProgramCoordinator for the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay will address maintenance issues. Therewill be multiple opportunities for participants to ask questions of land management experts andlearn about noxious weed control techniques.

This free session will take place rain or shine from 8:30 AM until 11:00 AM.Registration is requested by July 9 and directions to the event site with agenda details will beprovided in registration confirmation.

Funding support has been provided by the USDA Natural Resource ConservationService.

For more information or to register, contact Cheryl Burns at Capital RC&D at717.241.4361 or via email to: [email protected]. Online registration and a list of upcoming

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events are available.DEP Invites Comments On Panther Creek TMDL In Carbon, Schuylkill Counties

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice of an opportunity to comment

on a proposed Total Maximum Daily Load plan for Panther Creek in Carbon and Schuylkillcounties. (PA Bulletin page 3690)A copy of the plan is available on DEP TMDL webpage.

Source Water Protection Workshop On June 26 In Lawrence County

The Water Resources Education Networkand its partners will hold a Source Water ProtectionWorkshop on June 26 starting at 6:00 p.m. at the Bessemer Fire Hall, Bessemer, Pa.

The workshop will address these and other issues---- How land use impacts drinking water quality and treatment costs;-- How communities can assess and protect areas surrounding drinking water sources;

-- Source water protection concepts and resources;-- Contamination prevention and education efforts;-- DEPs Source Water Protection Technical Assistance;-- Technical and financial resources available; and-- Examples of drinking water protection programs.

Partners supporting the workshop include: Department of Environmental Protection, PARural Water Association, The League of Women Voters of Lawrence County, F. D. CampbellMemorial Library and "The Straight Scoop on Shale Drilling" initiative of the LWVPA CitizenEducation Fund.

For more information, download the Workshop flyeror contact Julie Kollar, WREN, 267-468-0555 or send email to:[email protected] Citizens Advisory Council Comments On DEP Longwall Mining Impact Report

On June 6, the Citizens Advisory Council to DEP issued comments on the 2003-2008 5-yearreport on the effects of subsidence resulting from longwall coal mining on surface structures andwater resources required by Act 54 of 1994.

Here are some of the issues the CAC highlighted in its cover letter---- There has been steady improvement in the quality and quantity of the data collected with eachsuccessive report. The latest report continues this positive trend and DEP and the authors are tobe commended.-- We note, however, that the report emphasizes data gathering rather than data analysis. Inorder to be in compliance with Section 18.1 (b) of Act 54, DEP needs to analyze the data anddetermine the total effects of deep mining subsidence on surface structures and features, and onwater resources, including sources of public and private water supplies. Future reports should gobeyond data gathering and provide a review and at least a preliminary analysis of these issues.-- (A review of the report) raises numerous concerns about the impacts of deep mining andresponse times over the reporting period that need to be responded to and addressed. Forexample, their analysis contends that, according to the latest 5-year report, less than 10 percent ofdamaged homes and wells actually are being repaired. If correct, these figures alone demonstrate

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a loack of balance between resource and surface owners.-- Each of the succeeding 5-year reports should address issues of cumulative impacts and trendsincluding: What are the cumulative impacts in each category over all four reporting periods?What trends can be discerned in the extent of damage and impacts in each category? Whattrends can be discerned in resolution times over the whole time period?

-- Regarding water impacts, the focus in the reports has been on water supplies and streamsegments, rather than an assessment of cumulative hydrological impacts. Do reported claimscapture impacts to natural resources, e.g. losing a spring vs. damage to aquifer, as well asconsider the duration of impact, temporary vs. long term?

Report Findings

The Act 54 report complied by Schmid and Company for DEP covers the period ofAugust 21, 2003 to August 20, 2008 and had these major findings---- Mining Activity: Fifty underground coal mines were active during the reports assessmentperiod undermining 38,256 acres of land. Thirty-six of the mines are room-and-pillar, eight arelongwall, and six are room-and-pillar mines with pillar recovery.-- Structures Affected: The report found 456 structures and 108 lands with reported effects

occurred from a total 3,735 inventoried structures and 3,587 properties. That is 12 percent of thetotal structures and 3 percent of the total properties undermined.-- Resolution of Impacts to Structures: The eight longwall mines operating in Greene andWashington counties account for almost 94 percent of the structure and 89 percent of landreported effects. The average number of days to resolved structure reported effects was 207 daysand for land 246. Compared with other feature types, i.e. water supplies, streams, and wetlands,this is a relative low time frame.-- Water Resource Impacts: 2,789 wells, spring, and ponds were undermined with 683 reportedeffects accounting for 24.5 percent of the total water supplies undermined. Water supplies haveproven a challenge but they are being resolved. 234 reported effects or 34 percent of the caseswere still awaiting a final resolution. The average number of days to resolve water suppliesreported effects was 321, a considerable increase compared to structures and land reportedeffects. Resolution strategies for recovering water supplies are often multi-step, especially whenwells and springs are being replaced.-- Stream Segment Impacts: Fifty-five stream investigation reports occurred and 20 have beenresolved. The average number of days to resolve stream impacts was 688, nearly double the timerequired to resolve water supply reported effects.

A copy of the complete report is available online. A copy of the CACs comments arealso available online.Register Now: PA Abandoned Mine Reclamation Conference August 2-4

The Eastern and Western Pennsylvania Coalitions for Abandoned Mine Reclamation invite youto register now for the 14th Annual PA Abandoned Mine Reclamation Conference, August 2-4 atthe Ramada Inn and Conference Center, State College, PA.

With the theme, "new frontiers in reclamation", this year's conference intends to exploreinnovative ways to achieve abandoned mine reclamation in Pennsylvania.

Times are changing and we've entered a new frontier in reclamation. Excitingopportunities abound with new and emerging treatment technologies in addition to partnershipopportunities with the shale gas industry in utilizing abandoned mine drainage and mine pool

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water.The conference will provide a forum for the dissemination of information and encourage

discussions between industry, watershed groups, and decision makers that can help to furtherinnovations in public policy, abandoned mine reclamation, remediation, and restoration.

Book your room before July 5 and mention the PA AMR Conference to take advantage

of the special room rates.To register and for more information, visit the Conference webpage.SRBC Extends Public Comment Period On Low Flow Protection Policy

The Susquehanna River Basin Commissionpublished a notice June 23 extending the commentperiod on its proposed low flow protection policy to July 16.

The proposed Policy was developed over the past yearbased on scientific advances inecosystem flow protectionto improve low flow protection standards associated with approvedwater withdrawals.

For more information, visit SRBCs Low Flow Protection Policy webpage.

DEP Publishes Advance Final Rule Setting Ultra Low Sulfur Fuel Oil Standards

The Department of Environmental Protectionpublished notice of an advanced final rule forcomment setting standards for ultra low sulfur fuel oil.

The summary of the rule provided by DEP said the proposed rulemaking contained asulfur limit of 15 parts per million (ppm) for No. 2 and lighter commercial fuel oil. The draftfinal rulemaking changes this limit to 500 ppm.

The Department received a number of comments indicating that the 15 ppm limit was notnecessary to reduce SO2 and PM2.5 emissions from heating oil and was not necessary for use inhigh efficiency boilers

The proposed rulemaking contained a compliance date of May 1, 2012, for revised sulfurlimits. The draft final rulemaking changes the compliance date for revised sulfur content limits toJuly 1, 2016.

The actual text of the advanced final rule is available on DEPs website.Mayor Provides Greenworks Philadelphia Progress Report

Mayor Michael A. Nutter and the Mayors Office of Sustainability released the GreenworksPhiladelphia Update and 2012 Progress Report, marking the midway point in the plans goal forPhiladelphia to be the greenest city in America by 2015.

Of the 167 initiatives put forth in Greenworks, 38 initiatives are complete, and 110 arecurrently underway.

For the first time, this years progress report features metrics for each of the plansmeasurable targets. Progress toward two thirds of the targets is on track, and two of the targetgoals, Targets 7 and 9, are exceeding expectations.

Target 7 is to divert 70 percent of solid waste from landfill; the City has exceeded thatand is now aiming higher. Target 9 was to provide Park and Recreation resources within 10minutes of 75 percent of residents; the City accomplished that and now is aiming to providewalkable access to Park and Recreation Resources for all residents.

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I am proud to say that Philadelphia has made significant progress in our goal to becomeAmericas greenest city. I hope that other cities can learn from our experiences and build off ofthem, said Mayor Nutter. Philadelphia would not be where it is now without the many partnersin the public and private sectors who want to see a cleaner, greener and healthier city. KatherineGajewski and the Mayors Office of Sustainability have demonstrated strong leadership on this

issue. Highlights on current progress include:-- A reduction of municipal energy use by 5 percent;-- A more than tripled rate for curbside residential recycling;-- Increased access to healthy, affordable food for more than 200,000 Philadelphians;-- 428 miles of bike lanes completed

We are proud to share our progress in implementing the Greenworks Philadelphia plan,said Gajewski, Director of the Mayors Office of Sustainability. Equally important, however,is the process. With this report we strive to provide numbers and data along with insight into theexperience and lessons learned along the way. Our success so far can be attributed to the manypartners within and beyond city government who have embraced the Greenworks goals and are

playing a leadership role in driving them forward.Some of the new initiatives include:-- Benchmarking large City facilities in order to evaluate City government energy consumption;-- Developing a climate adaptation plan that will address specific vulnerabilities and strategies todeal with climate change; and-- Conducting a regional clean economy survey every two years to track trends and outcomes inthe clean economy.

Mayor Nutter also announced that the City of Philadelphia in partnership withPhillyCarShare now has the nations largest publicly accessible fleet of American-made electricvehicles.

The City of Philadelphia, through a grant received from the Pennsylvania Department ofEnvironmental Protection, supported the installation of 20 electric vehicle chargers throughoutthe city.

These changes allowed Philly Car Share to add 20 Chevy Volts to its fleet and providetwo chargers to the public. The new fleet of electric vehicles allows the more than 10,000members of Philly Car Share, a division of Enterprise Holdings, access to cutting edgealternative fuel vehicles that are fun to drive and average 100 miles per gallon equivalent.

The full Greenworks Philadelphia Update and 2012 Progress Report is available online.EPA Welcomes Philadelphia As Green Power Community Partner

EPA Regional Administrator Shawn M. Garvin Wednesday welcomed the City of Philadelphiaas a new member of EPAs national Green Power Communities initiative, showing that a majormetropolitan area can reduce its carbon pollution, improve public health, and help expand thenations renewable energy supply.

The announcement came during an event at Citizens Bank Park, where Garvin alsopraised the Philadelphia Phillies and other organizations whose efforts for a cleaner environmentare helping Philadelphia achieve its clean energy goals.

As EPAs largest Green Power Community, Philadelphia is among the elite localgovernments that have met or exceeded their pledges to our nations clean energy future by

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