pa environment digest june 6, 2011

8/6/2019 Pa Environment Digest June 6, 2011

1/36

PA Environment DigestAn Update On Environmental Issues In PAEdited By: David E. Hess, Crisci Associates

Winner 2009 PAEE Business Partner Of The Year Award

Harrisburg, Pa June 6, 2011

D-Day Arrives For State Budget, 15 Voting Days Left Until June 30

With only 15 voting days scheduled between now and the June 30 deadline for a new state

budget, the real work of getting agreement on budget items between the Senate, House and Gov.

Corbett begins in earnest.

The good news reported this week of higher than estimated May revenues is both anopportunity to limit the impact of significant budget cuts proposed by Gov. Corbett and a

challenge for House Republicans and the Governor to keep spending at their magic number of

$27.3 billion.

Revenues were a scant $33.9 million, or 1.9 percent, more than anticipated bringing the

year-to-date "surplus" to $539.4 million, or 2.3 percent, above estimate.

The issue of whether to adopt a severance tax or impact fee on the Marcellus Shale

natural gas industry is also up in the air.

Sen. Joe Scarnati (R-Jefferson) is pushing hard for Committee consideration of his

impact fee proposal in the Senate. But this week his partner in Leadership, Sen. Dominic Pileggi

(R-Delaware), announced he will introduce legislation imposing a severance tax on the industry

with the proceeds going for senior citizen property tax relief. Sen. Pileggi said he did support

Sen. Scarnati's impact fee proposal, however. (see separate article)

The fate of the Growing Greener Program, which has all but run out of money, is also up

in the air.

Funding for Growing Greener will run dry unless the state Legislature and Gov. Corbett

act now to renew it, said Andrew Heath, Executive Director of the Renew Growing Greener

Coalition. Even through these difficult economic times, Pennsylvanians from across the

Commonwealth understand the incredible importance of renewing funding for Growing Greener

in order to ensure families have access to clean drinking water, fresh air and green open spaces.

Since its establishment, Growing Greener has created a legacy of success, preserving

more than 34,000 acres of Pennsylvanias family farmland, conserving more than 42,300 acres ofthreatened open space, adding 26,000 acres to state parks and forests, and restoring over 16,000

acres of abandoned mine lands.

The next few weeks are critical to these issues as well as funding level for Pennsylvania's

environmental agencies.

Over the last eight years, over$1.3 billion in environmental funding has been diverted to

balance the state budget or given to programs which could not get funding on their own. Gov.
http://www.paenvironmentdigest.com/newsletter/default.asp?NewsletterArticleID=11953http://www.paenvironmentdigest.com/newsletter/default.asp?NewsletterArticleID=19293http://www.renewgrowinggreener.org/http://www.renewgrowinggreener.org/http://www.paenvironmentdigest.com/newsletter/default.asp?NewsletterArticleID=16176http://www.paenvironmentdigest.com/newsletter/default.asp?NewsletterArticleID=16176http://www.renewgrowinggreener.org/http://www.renewgrowinggreener.org/http://www.paenvironmentdigest.com/newsletter/default.asp?NewsletterArticleID=19293http://www.paenvironmentdigest.com/newsletter/default.asp?NewsletterArticleID=11953


2/36

Corbett'sproposed budget isn't pretty, but the House Republican budget makes additional cuts to

environmental agencies.

Where will it all end up? Stay tuned!

NewsClips: Funding Cuts For Growing Greener To Be Discussed In Doylestown

Leadership Pittsburgh Grads Say Tax The Marcellus Gas

Pileggi Proposes Severance Tax To Help SeniorsPilleggi Wants Severance Tax For Property Tax Freeze For Seniors

Two More Severance Tax Proposals In The Mix

Can Rep. Miccarelli Cut The Gordian Knot On A Severance Tax?

Rep. Miccarelli To Propose Gas Drilling Tax

Growing Greener Supporters Make The Case For More Funding

Rep. Kate Harper Holds Town Meeting On Value Of Open Space

Op-Ed: Marcellus Impact Fee Would Help Communities, Sen. Scarnati

Op-Ed: Cutting $$ For Growing Greener Hit

Capitol Matters: To Tax Or Not To Tax

Surplus Grows Amid Fight Over Cuts

Fuel Added To Budget Surplus DebateHouse Democrats Want To Utilize State's Surplus

Wagner: Corbett Right Not To Spend The Surplus

Drilling Wastewater Has All But Stopped Going To Treatment Plants Not Meeting

Standards

The Associated Press reported Friday, drilling wastewater has all but stopped going to treatment

plants not equipped to properly treat the water, according to the Department of Environmental

Protection.

In April, DEP requested Marcellus Shale drilling companies to cease deliveries of drillingwastewater by May 19 to treatment plants grandfathered under special provisions of Total

Dissolved Solids (TDS) standards adopted last year.

The grandfathered treatment plants could not properly treat the drilling wastewater to

meet the new TDS standard allowing only partially treated water to be discharged into rivers and

streams around the state.

While the prior administration allowed certain facilities to continue to take this

wastewater, conditions have changed since the implementation of the TDS regulations, DEP

Secretary Michael Krancer said. We now have more definitive scientific data, improved

technology and increased voluntary wastewater recycling by industry. We used to have 27

grandfathered facilities; but over the last year, many have voluntarily decided to stop taking the

wastewater and we are now down to only 15. More than half of those facilities are now up forpermit renewal. Now is the time to take action to end this practice.

A DEP spokesperson said Friday, agency staff have confirmed the flow of millions of

gallons of wastewater has been reduced to possibly just a handful of truck deliveries in the past

two weeks.

NewsClips: PA Says Flow Of Drilling Wastewater Almost Halted

Did You Know You Can Search 7 Years Of Digests On Any Topic?
http://www.paenvironmentdigest.com/newsletter/default.asp?NewsletterArticleID=18371http://www.paenvironmentdigest.com/newsletter/default.asp?NewsletterArticleID=19234http://www.phillyburbs.com/my_town/doylestown/funding-cuts-for-growing-greener-discussed-in-doylestown-thursday/article_8f940a48-e563-50f0-af19-df6598004948.htmlhttp://www.bizjournals.com/pittsburgh/blog/energy/2011/05/leadership-pgh-grads-say-tax-the-gas.htmlhttp://thetimes-tribune.com/news/gas-drilling/republican-pileggi-proposes-severance-tax-to-help-seniors-1.1156359#axzz1NjhaXPXvhttp://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2011/06/sen_dominic_pileggi_wants_a_ma.htmlhttp://www.witf.org/state-house-sound-bites/two-more-severance-taxes-in-the-mixhttp://www.politicspa.com/can-nick-miccarelli-cut-the-gordian-knot/24957/http://www.delcotimes.com/articles/2011/06/01/news/doc4de66aee4e3c1580733452.txt?viewmode=fullstoryhttp://www.phillyburbs.com/sports/high_school/courier/growing-greener-supporters-make-the-case-for-more-funding/article_8b131c5d-b3f3-524a-932e-79407434bf48.htmlhttp://ambler.patch.com/articles/rep-kate-harper-holds-town-hall-meeting-on-the-value-of-open-spacehttp://www.pennlive.com/editorials/index.ssf/2011/05/marcellus_impact_fee_would_hel.htmlhttp://www.delcotimes.com/articles/2011/05/28/opinion/doc4de069bccb853827646615.txthttp://thedailyreview.com/opinion/capitol-matters-to-tax-or-not-to-tax-1.1154318http://www.timesleader.com/news/Surplus_grows_amid_fight_over_cuts_06-01-2011.htmlhttp://www.mcall.com/news/nationworld/pennsylvania/mc-pa-corbett-budget-surplus-20110602,0,6285560.storyhttp://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11153/1150877-454.stmhttp://www.philly.com/philly/news/pennsylvania/20110603_Pa__top_auditor__Corbett_is_right_not_to_spend_the_surplus.htmlhttp://www.paenvironmentdigest.com/newsletter/default.asp?NewsletterArticleID=18880http://www.timesleader.com/news/-Pa-says-flow-of-drilling-wastewater-almost-halted.htmlhttp://www.timesleader.com/news/-Pa-says-flow-of-drilling-wastewater-almost-halted.htmlhttp://www.paenvironmentdigest.com/newsletter/default.asp?NewsletterArticleID=18880http://www.philly.com/philly/news/pennsylvania/20110603_Pa__top_auditor__Corbett_is_right_not_to_spend_the_surplus.htmlhttp://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11153/1150877-454.stmhttp://www.mcall.com/news/nationworld/pennsylvania/mc-pa-corbett-budget-surplus-20110602,0,6285560.storyhttp://www.timesleader.com/news/Surplus_grows_amid_fight_over_cuts_06-01-2011.htmlhttp://thedailyreview.com/opinion/capitol-matters-to-tax-or-not-to-tax-1.1154318http://www.delcotimes.com/articles/2011/05/28/opinion/doc4de069bccb853827646615.txthttp://www.pennlive.com/editorials/index.ssf/2011/05/marcellus_impact_fee_would_hel.htmlhttp://ambler.patch.com/articles/rep-kate-harper-holds-town-hall-meeting-on-the-value-of-open-spacehttp://www.phillyburbs.com/sports/high_school/courier/growing-greener-supporters-make-the-case-for-more-funding/article_8b131c5d-b3f3-524a-932e-79407434bf48.htmlhttp://www.delcotimes.com/articles/2011/06/01/news/doc4de66aee4e3c1580733452.txt?viewmode=fullstoryhttp://www.politicspa.com/can-nick-miccarelli-cut-the-gordian-knot/24957/http://www.witf.org/state-house-sound-bites/two-more-severance-taxes-in-the-mixhttp://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2011/06/sen_dominic_pileggi_wants_a_ma.htmlhttp://thetimes-tribune.com/news/gas-drilling/republican-pileggi-proposes-severance-tax-to-help-seniors-1.1156359#axzz1NjhaXPXvhttp://www.bizjournals.com/pittsburgh/blog/energy/2011/05/leadership-pgh-grads-say-tax-the-gas.htmlhttp://www.phillyburbs.com/my_town/doylestown/funding-cuts-for-growing-greener-discussed-in-doylestown-thursday/article_8f940a48-e563-50f0-af19-df6598004948.htmlhttp://www.paenvironmentdigest.com/newsletter/default.asp?NewsletterArticleID=19234http://www.paenvironmentdigest.com/newsletter/default.asp?NewsletterArticleID=18371


3/36

Did you know you can search 7 years of back issues of the PA Environment Digest on dozens of

topics, by county and on any key word you choose. Just click on the search page.

Also take advantage of these related services from Crisci Associates--

Twitter Instant Updates: On Twitter, sign up to receive instant updates from : PAEnviroDigest.

PA Environment Daily: provides daily environmental NewsClips and significant stories and

announcements on environmental topics in Pennsylvania of immediate value. Sign up and

receive as they are posted updates through your favorite RSS reader. You can also sign up for a

once daily email alerting you to new items posted on this blog.

PA Environment Digest Video Blog: showcases original and published videos from

environmental groups and agencies around the state. Sign up to receive as they are posted

updates through your favorite RSS read. You can also sign up for a once daily email alerting

you to new items posted on this blog.

PA Capitol Digest Blog to get updates every day on Pennsylvania State Government, including

newsclips, coverage of key press conferences and more. Sign up and receive as they are posted

updates through your favorite RSS reader. You can also sign up for a once daily email alerting

you to new items posted on this blog.

Senate/House Agenda/Session Schedule/Bills Introduced

Here are the Senate and House Calendars and Committee meetings showing bills of interest as

well as a list of new environmental bills introduced--

Session Schedule

Here is the Senate and House schedule-- 15 voting days until budget deadline.

Senate

June 6, 7, 8, 13, 14, 15, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 27, 28, 29, 30

House

June 6, 7, 8, 13, 14, 15, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 27, 28, 29, and 30

Bill Calendars

House (June 6): Click Here for full House Bill Calendar.

Senate (June 6): Senate Bill 263 (Erickson-R-Delaware) requiring the use of empirical,

replicable and testable supporting data in developing regulations; Senate Bill 341 (Greenleaf-R-

Montgomery) establishing a automotive fuel testing program; Senate Bill 460 (Yaw-R-Bradford)
http://www.paenvironmentdigest.com/newsletter/search.asphttp://www.crisciassociates.com/http://www.twitter.com/http://paenvironmentdaily.blogspot.com/http://paenvirodigestvideo.blogspot.com/http://pacapitoldigestcrisci.blogspot.com/http://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/SC/HC/0/RC/SCHC.HTMhttp://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/billinfo.cfm?syear=2011&sInd=0&body=S&type=B&bn=263http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/billinfo.cfm?syear=2011&sind=0&body=S&type=B&BN=0341http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/billinfo.cfm?syear=2011&sInd=0&body=S&type=B&bn=460http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/billinfo.cfm?syear=2011&sInd=0&body=S&type=B&bn=460http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/billinfo.cfm?syear=2011&sind=0&body=S&type=B&BN=0341http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/billinfo.cfm?syear=2011&sInd=0&body=S&type=B&bn=263http://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/SC/HC/0/RC/SCHC.HTMhttp://pacapitoldigestcrisci.blogspot.com/http://paenvirodigestvideo.blogspot.com/http://paenvironmentdaily.blogspot.com/http://www.twitter.com/http://www.crisciassociates.com/http://www.paenvironmentdigest.com/newsletter/search.asp


4/36

requiring when payment is made for oil or gas production to an interest owner, itemized

deduction information will be included on the check stub or an attachment to the form

payment; Senate Bill 469 (Argall-R-Schuylkill) Allows walking, jogging, bicycling, exercising

and horseback riding on nature trails as a recreational purpose by limiting liability and was

changed by a technical amendment; Senate Bill 618 (Yudichak-D-Luzerne) providing

independent counsel for Environmental Quality Board; Senate Bill 995 (Baker-R-Luzerne)requiring gas well operators to post certain 911 response information at the entrance to each well

site; Senate Bill 1054 (Corman-R-Centre) providing for a 2011-12 Capital Budget; Senate Bill

301 (Yaw-R-Bradford) amending Act 319 to authorize the splitting off of land for noncoal

mining, House Bill 143 (Major-R-Susquehanna) amending Act 319 to authorize the splitting off

of land for noncoal mining, House Bill 144 (Pickett-R-Bradford) amending Act 319 to authorize

taxation of oil and gas well production. Click Here for full Senate Bill Calendar.

Committees

House: the Environmental Resources and Energy Committee meets to considerHouse Bill

1088 (Pickett-R-Tioga) amending the Alternative Fuels Incentive Act to provide for biomass-based diesel production incentives, House Bill 1089 (Perry-R-Cumberland) amending the Air

Pollution Control Act to make natural gas fueled vehicles part of the Pennsylvania Clean

Vehicles Program, House Bill 1290 (George-D-Clearfield) providing for the testing of new,

environmentally beneficial and energy efficiency technologies; the Consumer Affairs

Committee meets to considerHouse Bill 1294 (Godshall-R-Montgomery) authorizing the PUC

to establish a distribution system improvement charge (DSIC) as an alternative to regular rate

cases to recover costs associated with replacing pipelines and other utility infrastructure.

Click Here for full House Committee Schedule.

Senate: Click Here for full Senate Committee Schedule.

Bills Introduced

The following bill of interest was introduced this week--

Whistleblower: House Bill 1605 (Frankel-D-Allegheny) amends the Oil and Gas Act to include

Whistleblower Act provisions for employees of natural gas well operators.

Farmland Plate: House Bill 1613 (Denlinger-R-Lancaster) authorizing a farmland preservation

vehicle license plate with proceeds used to support farmland preservation.

News From The Capitol

Rep. Harper Hosts Town Meeting On Value Of Open Space, Growing Greener
http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/billinfo.cfm?syear=2011&sInd=0&body=S&type=B&bn=469http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/billinfo.cfm?syear=2011&sInd=0&body=S&type=B&bn=618http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/billinfo.cfm?syear=2011&sInd=0&body=S&type=B&bn=995http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/billinfo.cfm?syear=2011&sInd=0&body=S&type=B&bn=1054http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/billinfo.cfm?syear=2011&sInd=0&body=S&type=B&bn=301http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/billinfo.cfm?syear=2011&sInd=0&body=S&type=B&bn=301http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/billinfo.cfm?syear=2011&sInd=0&body=H&type=B&bn=143http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/billinfo.cfm?syear=2011&sInd=0&body=H&type=B&bn=144http://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/SC/SC/0/RC/CAL.HTMhttp://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/billinfo.cfm?syear=2011&sind=0&body=H&type=B&BN=1088http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/billinfo.cfm?syear=2011&sind=0&body=H&type=B&BN=1088http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/billinfo.cfm?syear=2011&sind=0&body=H&type=B&BN=1089http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/billinfo.cfm?syear=2011&sind=0&body=H&type=B&BN=1290http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/billinfo.cfm?syear=2011&sind=0&body=H&type=B&BN=1294http://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/CO/HM/COHM.HTMhttp://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/CO/SM/COSM.HTMhttp://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/billinfo.cfm?syear=2011&sind=0&body=H&type=B&BN=1605http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/billinfo.cfm?syear=2011&sind=0&body=H&type=B&bn=1613http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/billinfo.cfm?syear=2011&sind=0&body=H&type=B&bn=1613http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/billinfo.cfm?syear=2011&sind=0&body=H&type=B&BN=1605http://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/CO/SM/COSM.HTMhttp://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/CO/HM/COHM.HTMhttp://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/billinfo.cfm?syear=2011&sind=0&body=H&type=B&BN=1294http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/billinfo.cfm?syear=2011&sind=0&body=H&type=B&BN=1290http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/billinfo.cfm?syear=2011&sind=0&body=H&type=B&BN=1089http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/billinfo.cfm?syear=2011&sind=0&body=H&type=B&BN=1088http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/billinfo.cfm?syear=2011&sind=0&body=H&type=B&BN=1088http://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/SC/SC/0/RC/CAL.HTMhttp://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/billinfo.cfm?syear=2011&sInd=0&body=H&type=B&bn=144http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/billinfo.cfm?syear=2011&sInd=0&body=H&type=B&bn=143http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/billinfo.cfm?syear=2011&sInd=0&body=S&type=B&bn=301http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/billinfo.cfm?syear=2011&sInd=0&body=S&type=B&bn=301http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/billinfo.cfm?syear=2011&sInd=0&body=S&type=B&bn=1054http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/billinfo.cfm?syear=2011&sInd=0&body=S&type=B&bn=995http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/billinfo.cfm?syear=2011&sInd=0&body=S&type=B&bn=618http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/billinfo.cfm?syear=2011&sInd=0&body=S&type=B&bn=469


5/36

Rep. Kate Harper (R-Montgomery) this week brought together advocates

for Pennsylvanias environment and open space initiatives for a town hall

meeting at Penllyn Woods to discuss the future of funding for the states

environmental programs.

We have made a great deal of progress in restoring and protecting

the environment in our region and throughout Pennsylvania because offunding provided through the Growing Greener program over the last

decade, Rep. Harper said. We cannot afford to let up on this effort. Our

natural resources are simply too valuable.

Rep. Harper said funding available for Growing Greener initiatives,

such as the one that helped to preserve Penllyn Woods, is dwindling. She has introduced

legislation that would impose a severance tax on natural gas drilling in the Marcellus shale and

would direct a portion of that revenue to the Growing Greener program.

Presentations were made by:

-- Patty Ellis of the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission discussed a recently

released report from the Green Space Alliance entitled: Return on Environment: The Economic

Value of Protected Open Space in Southeastern Pennsylvania.-- Andrew Heath, executive director of the Renew Growing Greener Coalition, gave an overview

of the Growing Greener program, its value and the state of the program today.

-- Rep. Harper and park officials talked about the history of Penllyn Woods and how it was saved

through the Growing Greener program.

NewsClips: Rep. Kate Harper Holds Town Meeting On Value Of Open Space

Growing Greener Supporters Make The Case For More Funding

Sen. Pileggi Proposes Marcellus Tax For Senior Property Tax Relief, Supports Impact Fee

Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi (R-Delaware) this weekannounced he would be introducing a "reasonable and competitive" tax on

Marcellus Shale natural gas production to fund a new program to give

property tax relief to senior citizens.

In a memo to his colleagues inviting them to co-sponsor the bill,

Sen. Pileggi said the proposal would be a fixed rate applied to both the

volume and price of natural gas and generate about $250 million per year

over the next five years to fund a school property tax freeze for senior

citizens.

"This proposal does not address the issue of the Marcellus Shale

industry's impact on the environment and local communities," said Sen. Pileggi. "I support Sen.

Scarnati's approach in that regard, implementing a fee to cover the cost of these impacts."To qualify for a property tax freeze, an individual 65 or older must have qualified for a

homestead exemption at their current residence for no fewer than five years. If an individual is

also eligible for the Property Tax and Rent Rebate Program, they would be required to choose

between the two program.

A copies of the co-sponsor memos are available online.

NewsClips: Pileggi Proposes Severance Tax To Help Seniors

Pilleggi Wants Severance Tax For Property Tax Freeze For Seniors
http://www.renewgrowinggreener.org/http://ambler.patch.com/articles/rep-kate-harper-holds-town-hall-meeting-on-the-value-of-open-spacehttp://www.phillyburbs.com/sports/high_school/courier/growing-greener-supporters-make-the-case-for-more-funding/article_8b131c5d-b3f3-524a-932e-79407434bf48.htmlhttp://www.paenvironmentdigest.com/newsletter/default.asp?NewsletterArticleID=19156http://www.paenvironmentdigest.com/newsletter/default.asp?NewsletterArticleID=19156http://goo.gl/1WOnBhttp://thetimes-tribune.com/news/gas-drilling/republican-pileggi-proposes-severance-tax-to-help-seniors-1.1156359#axzz1NjhaXPXvhttp://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2011/06/sen_dominic_pileggi_wants_a_ma.htmlhttp://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2011/06/sen_dominic_pileggi_wants_a_ma.htmlhttp://thetimes-tribune.com/news/gas-drilling/republican-pileggi-proposes-severance-tax-to-help-seniors-1.1156359#axzz1NjhaXPXvhttp://goo.gl/1WOnBhttp://www.paenvironmentdigest.com/newsletter/default.asp?NewsletterArticleID=19156http://www.paenvironmentdigest.com/newsletter/default.asp?NewsletterArticleID=19156http://www.phillyburbs.com/sports/high_school/courier/growing-greener-supporters-make-the-case-for-more-funding/article_8b131c5d-b3f3-524a-932e-79407434bf48.htmlhttp://ambler.patch.com/articles/rep-kate-harper-holds-town-hall-meeting-on-the-value-of-open-spacehttp://www.renewgrowinggreener.org/


6/36

Bill Proposes Senior Property Tax Cuts With Shale Revenue

Two More Severance Tax Proposals In The Mix

Can Rep. Miccarelli Cut The Gordian Knot On A Severance Tax?

House Environmental Committee To Consider Natural Gas Vehicle Incentive Bills

The House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee has scheduled a meeting for June 8

to consider two bills creating incentives for natural gas-fueled vehicles as part of the Marcellus

Works initiative and legislation setting up a green technology testing program. The bills include:

-- House Bill 1088 (Pickett-R-Tioga) amending the Alternative Fuels Incentive Act to provide

for biomass-based diesel production incentives;

-- House Bill 1089 (Perry-R-Cumberland) amending the Air Pollution Control Act to make

natural gas fueled vehicles part of the Pennsylvania Clean Vehicles Program; and

-- House Bill 1290 (George-D-Clearfield) providing for the testing of new, environmentally

beneficial and energy efficiency technologies.

Rep. Scott Hutchinson (R-Venango) serves as Majority Chair of the Committee and Rep.

Camille George (D-Clearfield) serves as Minority Chair.

News From Around The State

DEP Recommends Higher Penalties, Better Buffers, Drilling Wastewater Manifests

The Department of Environmental Protection last week gave members of the Governor's

Marcellus Shale Advisory Commission a set of recommended changes to the Oil and Gas Act to

consider, including higher penalties, larger buffer areas and requiring cradle to grave drilling

wastewater manifests.

"The amendments embody Gov. Corbett's concepts to improve (the Oil and Gas Act), aswell as some improvements needed that have come to our attention as we regulate the natural gas

industry," said DEP Secretary Mike Krancer. "We believe the suggested amendments will

provide DEP with additional tools to ensure that natural gas is extracted in a safe and

environmentally protective manner in Pennsylvania."

The recommendations include:

-- Expending an operator's presumptive liability for pollution from 1,000 to 2,500 feet and from

six months to one year. The presumption would include pollution caused by drilling, altering or

fracking a well;

-- Require operators to provide a notice and copy of a well plat to property users and host

municipalities within 2,500 feet of a proposed well;

-- Increase the private well distance restriction from 200 to 500 feet, unless waived by owner;

-- Restrict well drilling from within at least 1,000 feet of a public water supply, unless waived by

owner;

-- Add a prohibition for locating a well site in floodplains;

-- Require cradle to grave manifesting of frack wastewater from high volume wells (more than

80,000 gallons used in the fracking process);
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/state/s_740290.htmlhttp://www.witf.org/state-house-sound-bites/two-more-severance-taxes-in-the-mixhttp://www.politicspa.com/can-nick-miccarelli-cut-the-gordian-knot/24957/http://www.paenvironmentdigest.com/newsletter/default.asp?NewsletterArticleID=18694http://www.paenvironmentdigest.com/newsletter/default.asp?NewsletterArticleID=18694http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/billinfo.cfm?syear=2011&sind=0&body=H&type=B&BN=1088http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/billinfo.cfm?syear=2011&sind=0&body=H&type=B&BN=1089http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/billinfo.cfm?syear=2011&sind=0&body=H&type=B&BN=1290http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/marcellus_shale_advisory_commission/20074http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/marcellus_shale_advisory_commission/20074http://goo.gl/uOyzChttp://goo.gl/uOyzChttp://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/marcellus_shale_advisory_commission/20074http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/marcellus_shale_advisory_commission/20074http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/billinfo.cfm?syear=2011&sind=0&body=H&type=B&BN=1290http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/billinfo.cfm?syear=2011&sind=0&body=H&type=B&BN=1089http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/billinfo.cfm?syear=2011&sind=0&body=H&type=B&BN=1088http://www.paenvironmentdigest.com/newsletter/default.asp?NewsletterArticleID=18694http://www.paenvironmentdigest.com/newsletter/default.asp?NewsletterArticleID=18694http://www.politicspa.com/can-nick-miccarelli-cut-the-gordian-knot/24957/http://www.witf.org/state-house-sound-bites/two-more-severance-taxes-in-the-mixhttp://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/state/s_740290.html


7/36

-- Increase the current well bonding amounts from the existing $2,500 per well with cap of

$25,000 to a minimum of $10,000 per well of over 6,000 feet in depth up to different caps based

on the number of wells owned by the operator as outlined in Senate Bill 602 (MJ White-R-

Venango) and providing an opportunity to revisit bonding levels in future years;

-- Authorize DEP to revoke an operator's well permit if the operator has failed to comply with

any provision of the Oil and Gas Act and is not correcting violations to the satisfaction of DEP orhas shown a lack of ability or intention to comply with any provision of the Act;

-- Authorize DEP to withhold new permits or permit renewals if the operator failed or continues

to fail to comply with any provision of the Oil and Gas Act and is not correcting violations to the

satisfaction of DEP or has shown a lack of ability or intention to comply with any provision of

the Act or if the applicant has a related entity (including subsidiary corporation, contractor or

subcontractor) engaged in unlawful conduct under the Act;

-- Authorize DEP to impose penalties, removing the requirement the Environmental Hearing

Board assess penalties, and provide for the right to appeal penalties to the EHB;

-- Increase civil penalties up to $50,000, plus $2,000 for each day of continued violation;

-- Increase criminal penalties consistent with other state environmental laws;

-- Add a provision requiring those charged with a violation to pay the penalty within 30 days orput the amount in an escrow account or post an appeal bond;

-- Authorize DEP to develop a well operation permit so entities can adopt orphaned or

abandoned wells (the agency's previous authority was struck down in a court case);

-- Authorize DEP, by regulation, to condition a well permit based on its assessment of the impact

to public resources; and

-- Provide DEP with authority to enter into contracts with well control specialists in order to

provide adequate emergency response in the event of a well control emergency, add a provision

holding well control specialists free from all damages arising from their operations, and allow

DEP to seek cost recovery from operators where DEP is required to employ well control

specialists.A copy of the DEP recommendations is available online.

The next meetings of the Governor's Commission work groups will happen the week of

June 6. The full Commission meets again on June 17. The Commission must complete its work

by July 22.

NewsClips: Tighter Well Regs Needed, DEP Says

DEP Suggests Stronger Drilling Rules Are Needed

DEP Recommends Gas Act Overhaul to Protect Water Sources From

Drilling

DEP Says Drilling Wastewater No Longer Being Discharged Into Streams

Health Dept. Recommends Assessment Of Environmental Data From Marcellus ShaleDrilling

The state Department of Health last week provided the Governor's Marcellus Shale Advisory

Commission with its recommendations on issues involved in Marcellus Shale drilling, including

a requirement the agency routinely evaluate and assess environmental data to determine if there

are any health impacts from drilling operations.
http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/billinfo.cfm?syear=2011&sind=0&body=S&type=B&BN=0602http://goo.gl/uOyzChttp://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/marcellus_shale_advisory_commission/20074http://www.timesleader.com/news/Tighter_well_regs_needed__DEP_says_06-02-2011.htmlhttp://online.wsj.com/article/APda6b059295ad44818b60955e3e981cef.htmlhttp://thetimes-tribune.com/news/gas-drilling/dep-recommends-gas-act-overhaul-to-protect-water-sources-from-drilling-1.1156315#axzz1NjhaXPXvhttp://thetimes-tribune.com/news/gas-drilling/dep-recommends-gas-act-overhaul-to-protect-water-sources-from-drilling-1.1156315#axzz1NjhaXPXvhttp://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2011/06/dep_says_marcellus_drilling_wa.htmlhttp://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/marcellus_shale_advisory_commission/20074http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/marcellus_shale_advisory_commission/20074http://goo.gl/AgLkNhttp://goo.gl/AgLkNhttp://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/marcellus_shale_advisory_commission/20074http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/marcellus_shale_advisory_commission/20074http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2011/06/dep_says_marcellus_drilling_wa.htmlhttp://thetimes-tribune.com/news/gas-drilling/dep-recommends-gas-act-overhaul-to-protect-water-sources-from-drilling-1.1156315#axzz1NjhaXPXvhttp://thetimes-tribune.com/news/gas-drilling/dep-recommends-gas-act-overhaul-to-protect-water-sources-from-drilling-1.1156315#axzz1NjhaXPXvhttp://online.wsj.com/article/APda6b059295ad44818b60955e3e981cef.htmlhttp://www.timesleader.com/news/Tighter_well_regs_needed__DEP_says_06-02-2011.htmlhttp://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/marcellus_shale_advisory_commission/20074http://goo.gl/uOyzChttp://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/billinfo.cfm?syear=2011&sind=0&body=S&type=B&BN=0602


8/36

"With the increased development of the Marcellus Shale play, the Department of Health

has witnessed growing concerns among the public, the media and researchers about

contamination of water and air from drilling operations and waste disposal," said Health

Secretary Dr. Eli Avila. "As the agency in charge of monitoring the health status of those

residing in the Commonwealth, the Department is expected to address these public health

concerns and to assure residents of impacted areas that their health is not being adverselyaffected."

The Health Department's recommendations include:

-- Establishing a system to provide for a timely and thorough investigation of and response to

concerns/ complaints raised by citizens, health care providers or public officials;

-- The Department should be routinely evaluating and assessing environmental data collected

regarding Marcellus Shale-related activities. The data may involve air sampling, water testing

(public and private), solid waste testing, fish and other food testing and possibly other types of

sampling. The data must be properly evaluated based on levels and likely exposure pathways;

-- The Department should be collecting and evaluating clinical data provided by health care

providers;

-- The Department should be educating providers on the presentation and assessment of humanillness that may be caused by material in drilling constituents (both the acute and chronic

effects);

-- The Department should be educating the public on the constituents used in the drilling process

and whether or not they have the potential to cause human illness; and

-- The Department should either create or oversee the creation of a population-based health

registry with the purpose of characterizing and following over time individuals who live in close

proximity to a drilling site, e.g. within a one-mile radius, or are occupationally exposed.

A copy of the Health Department recommendations is available online.

The next meetings of the Governor's Commission work groups will happen the week of

June 6. The full Commission meets again on June 17. The Commission must complete its workby July 22.

Lt. Governor Leads Marcellus Shale Commission Members On Tour

Lt. Gov. Jim Cawley this week led the Marcellus Shale Advisory Commission on a fact-finding

mission to see the impact the natural gas industry is having on communities throughout

Lycoming County.

"I want commission members to see for themselves how the growing natural gas industry

is affecting Pennsylvania and its communities," Lt. Gov. Cawley said. "This experience will be

helpful as we begin work to finalize our recommendations to the governor."

About two dozen members of the commission took part in the tour, which was arrangedby the Lycoming County Chamber of Commerce.

Lt. Gov. Cawley and commission members talked with local government leaders and met

with several residents who have wells on their properties. Other tour stops included well sites

operated by Anadarko as well as several local employers that are doing business with the natural

gas industry.

One such company, Ralph S. Alberts, in Montoursville, has for years made products used

in amusement parks but has adapted its techniques for natural gas drilling. It now makes durable
http://goo.gl/AgLkNhttp://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/marcellus_shale_advisory_commission/20074http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/marcellus_shale_advisory_commission/20074http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/marcellus_shale_advisory_commission/20074http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/marcellus_shale_advisory_commission/20074http://goo.gl/AgLkN


9/36

plastic well-pad liners used to contain spills at drilling sites. Like many other companies in this

region, it is growing.

"There is only so much we can accomplish working in a hearing room in Harrisburg.

That's why we needed to get out and see with our own eyes how this industry in impacting the

region, its residents and the economy," said Lt. Gov. Cawley.

The next meetings of the Governor's Commission work groups will happen the week ofJune 6. The full Commission meets again on June 17. The Commission must complete its work

by July 22.

Delaware Riverkeeper Supports New York Lawsuit Calling For Drilling EIS

The Delaware and Hudson Riverkeepers this week applauded the announcement by New York

Attorney General, Eric T. Schneiderman, that his office has filed legal action to ensure a full

Environmental Impact Statement and review is completed before natural gas drilling regulations

for the Delaware River Basin are finalized.

The Riverkeepers, along with their supporting organizations, planned to intervene in the

litigation to ensure a full hearing in the courts.The Delaware River is the largest water supply in the Mid Atlantic region, and is the

foundation of our healthy environment and economy. Considering the catastrophes gas drilling is

inflicting on the waters, air, fish and wildlife, human communities and jobs across vast areas of

our country, it is shocking that the Delaware River Basin Commission and its federal

commissioner, the Army Corps of Engineers, would even consider evading and avoiding the

laws that mandate a full environmental impact analysis of drilling before drafting regulations that

would allow it to occur in our region, says Maya van Rossum, the Delaware Riverkeeper.

The Commissions preparation ofdraft rules in the absence of critical information that

would have been provided by the required environmental impact assessment places at risk the

drinking water of nine million New York City and State residents. Preparation of a fullenvironmental impact statement, in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act, is

essential to ensure effective regulations adequate to the task of meeting the DRBCs mandates

and controlling a risky industrial activity that has already caused documented environmental

impacts in Pennsylvania and other states, adds the Hudson Riverkeeper, Paul Gallay.

Thirty-six percent of the Delaware River basin is underlain by the Marcellus geological

layer, a shale formation that has become the most recent target for gas drilling using a new

process called hydrofracking. The Marcellus Shale underlies Pennsylvania and New York

portions of the watershed.

According to information on the Delaware Riverkeeper Network website: the Delaware

River watershed, which extends through New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware,

supplies drinking water to more than 15 million people over 5 percent of the U.S. population provides recreational opportunities and pumps millions of dollars into the regions economy each

year, and provides habitat for hundreds of critical wildlife species.

The DRBC is an interstate agency responsible for protecting the water resources of the

Delaware River Basin (NY, PA, NJ and DE) with a legal mandate, as per its Special Protection

Waters Designation, to protect the high existing water quality from degradation so that there is

no measurable change except towards natural conditions.
http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/marcellus_shale_advisory_commission/20074http://www.delawareriverkeeper.org/http://www.state.nj.us/drbc/notice_naturalgas-draftregs.htmhttp://www.state.nj.us/drbc/notice_naturalgas-draftregs.htmhttp://www.delawareriverkeeper.org/http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/marcellus_shale_advisory_commission/20074


10/36

The federal government is represented on the DRBC by the U.S. Army Corps of

Engineers; but all federal agencies including the Army Corps, the National Park Service, the U.S.

Fish and Wildlife Service and the Environmental Protection Agency are represented and

involved by this Commission seat.

According to van Rossum, The Special Protection Waters designation, a protection

secured because of petitions filed by the Delaware Riverkeeper Network over the past twodecades, requires strict regulation of any activity that would degrade the Rivers exceptional

quality, including natural gas development that threatens to pollute and diminish the water

resources of the Basin and the water supply for over 15 million people.

Jane Davenport, Senior Attorney for the Delaware Riverkeeper Network, says The

National Environmental Policy Act was enacted to ensure that our regulatory agencies and

decision makers would take careful stock of the harms they might cause by the decisions they

make. That the DRBC and Army Corps would not even be interested in undertaking a full

assessment of environmental effects from gas drilling, so much so that they are willing to violate

their legal duty to do so, is deeply disturbing considering their charge to protect and serve the

public.

NewsClips:NY Orders Review Of FrackingSuit Seeks Study Of Effects Of Gas Drilling On Delaware

NY Attorney General Suing Feds Over Gas Drilling

NY To Sue US. Over Delaware River Basin Gas Drilling

Indiana County, 4 More Groups Join Renew Growing Greener Coalition

The Renew Growing Greener Coalition applauded the

Indiana County Board of Commissioners this week for

passing a resolution calling for the renewal of Growing

Greener, the states primary source of funding to help localcommunities preserve open space and farmland, protect water quality, provide parks and

recreation, and clean up abandoned mines.

The Renew Growing Greener Coalition also announced four more organizations have

joined in supporting the effort to restore state funding for Growing Greener.

They include: the Delaware Valley Green Building Council (Philadelphia), Delaware

Valley Ornithological Club (Havertown), Friends Center (Philadelphia), and Schuylkill River

Development Corporation (Philadelphia) have signed theCoalitions Statement of Support, which

calls for the establishment of a dedicated and sustainable source of revenue to support the

renewal of Growing Greener.

They join more than 280 other organizations and municipalities that have also announced

their support for renewing Growing Greener.Funding for Growing Greener will run dry unless the state Legislature and Gov. Corbett

act now to renew it, said Heath. Even through these difficult economic times, County

Commissioners and Pennsylvanians from across the Commonwealth understand the incredible

importance of renewing funding for Growing Greener in order to ensure families have access to

clean drinking water, fresh air and green open spaces.

Each week support for the renewal of Growing Greener keeps building. It is more and

more apparent that Growing Greener is important to the people of Pennsylvania and must not be
http://www.delawareriverkeeper.org/http://www.timesleader.com/news/Fracking_review_ordered_05-29-2011.htmlhttp://www.philly.com/philly/news/pennsylvania/122923923.htmlhttp://www.pennlive.com/newsflash/index.ssf/story/ny-attorney-general-suing-feds-over-gas/4f0b9e2bb5ef4a879da92d8c4c7d6d06http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/regional/s_739739.htmlhttp://www.renewgrowinggreener.org/http://www.renewgrowinggreener.org/http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/regional/s_739739.htmlhttp://www.pennlive.com/newsflash/index.ssf/story/ny-attorney-general-suing-feds-over-gas/4f0b9e2bb5ef4a879da92d8c4c7d6d06http://www.philly.com/philly/news/pennsylvania/122923923.htmlhttp://www.timesleader.com/news/Fracking_review_ordered_05-29-2011.htmlhttp://www.delawareriverkeeper.org/


11/36

ignored, said Health. I am encouraged to see Pennsylvanians continue to urge the state

legislature andGovernor to take action to ensure that tomorrows Pennsylvania is even stronger

than todays.

Growing Greener is a bipartisan program established in 1999 under Governor Tom Ridge

and later expanded by Governors Schweiker and Rendell. Since its establishment, Growing

Greener has created a legacy of success, preserving more than 34,000 acres of Pennsylvaniasfamily farmland, conserving more than 42,300 acres of threatened open space, adding 26,000

acres to state parks and forests, and restoring over 16,000 acres of abandoned mine lands.

In 2002, a dedicated source of revenue for Growing Greener was identified in an increase

in the states tipping fee, the fee charged for dumping trash in Pennsylvanias landfills. Those

funds were supplemented by a $625 million bond approved by voters in 2005, called Growing

Greener II. Unless action is taken, those funds will be largely exhausted as of June 30th, with

most of the Growing Greener I tipping fees going to the debt service on the Growing Greener II

bonds.

Our state is losing three times more forest, wildlife habitat, farmland and other open

spaces to development than it is able to preserve, said David Frick, vice-chairman of the Indiana

County Board of Commissioners. The Commissioners encourage and support the renewal ofGrowing Greener by the General Assembly and new Governor with a dedicated and long-term

funding source.

Indiana County joins more than 80 other Pennsylvania municipalities and counties in

passing a resolution urging the Governor and legislature to renew Growing Greener funding.

Counties passing resolutions include: Blair, Cambria, Erie, Fayette, Greene, Lackawanna,

Lawrence, Lehigh, Luzerne, Lycoming, Monroe, Philadelphia, Pike, Somerset, Sullivan,

Susquehanna, Washington, Westmoreland, Wyoming and York.

The Renew Growing Greener Coalition is the Commonwealths largest coalition of

conservation, recreation and environmental organizations representing over 280 organizations

and government entities.

Philadelphia Water Department, DEP OK Green City, Clean Waters Initiative

The Philadelphia Water Department and the Department of Environmental Protection signed a

groundbreaking Green City, Clean Waters Program to allow the PWD to officially embark on the

implementation of its innovative strategy that uses green stormwater infrastructure to

substantially reduce Combined Sewer Overflows to its waterways.

Online Video: GreenTreks' Green City, Clean Waters Promo

PWD submitted the plan to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and DEP in

September, 2009, after vetting the plan with an enthusiastic public.

Green City, Clean Waters lays the groundwork for the PWD to spend approximately $2billion over the next 25 years to use primarily green infrastructure, such as - stormwater tree

trenches, vegetated bumpouts, porous asphalt, rain gardens, sidewalk planters as a means to

transform manmade surfaces that repel the rain to Greened Acres which capture rainwater runoff,

which then infiltrates, stores and manage the rain as a precious resource - just like Mother

Nature.
http://www.renewgrowinggreener.org/http://www.phillywatersheds.org/http://www.phillywatersheds.org/what_were_doing/documents_and_data/cso_long_term_control_planhttp://vimeo.com/17306371http://vimeo.com/17306371http://www.phillywatersheds.org/what_were_doing/documents_and_data/cso_long_term_control_planhttp://www.phillywatersheds.org/http://www.renewgrowinggreener.org/


12/36

The plan also includes wastewater treatment facility enhancements and pipe renewal and

replacement. Green City, Clean Waters works in tandem with the Mayors Greenworks

Philadelphia vision in order to reinvent Philadelphia as a green, sustainable city of the future.

We are thrilled and grateful that the DEP has recognized the incredible environmental

and public value of this plan and has worked with the City to embrace its vision, said Mayor

Michael Nutter. As a sustainable approach to stormwater issues, Green City, Clean Watersupholds the tenets of GreenWorks Philadelphia and makes significant progress towards

Philadelphia becoming the greenest city in the country.

Through the Green City, Clean Waters plan, we seek to achieve a host of tangible

environmental, social and economic benefits for Philadelphians while improving the health of

the Citys creeks, rivers and urban landscape, added Water Commissioner Howard Neukrug.

That means not only cleaner water for our citizens, but cleaner air, a higher quality of life and

meaningful jobs for future generations.

PWD has softly launched the plan over the last few years to develop green infrastructure

designs that work best in the Philadelphia landscape. These early projects serve as public

demonstrations for citizens and provide the PWD and its many partners with early opportunities

to monitor and improve the efficiencies of these practices.A list of featured projects and more information can be found at the Green City, Clean

Waters webpage.

PA American Water Announces 2011 Environmental Grant Awards

Pennsylvania American Water announced this week seven watershed initiatives across the state

have earned financial support through the companys 2011 Environmental Grant Program,

including a rainwater harvesting project at the Spring-Ford Intermediate School in Royersford,

Montgomery County.

Pennsylvania American Water awarded the approximately $3,600 grant to theSoutheastern Pennsylvania Resource Conservation and Development Council. With the funding,

the organization will establish a rainwater harvesting system at the Spring-Ford Intermediate

School to provide students with hands-on environmental lessons in water conservation. The

proposed system will capture rainwater to operate the schoolyard pond and stream, as well as

irrigate the plants in the schools garden.

The Spring-Ford project will also serve as a focal point for fifth- and sixth-grade lessons

on watersheds, wetlands, sustainability, conservation and water management.

In our seventh year of the Environmental Grant Program, Im very proud of how we

have partnered with so many community groups that share our dedication to the stewardship of

Pennsylvanias water resources, said Pennsylvania American Water President Kathy L. Pape.

The local grant recipients deserve our support for their innovative project to raise awarenessabout protecting our watersheds.

In Pennsylvania, a panel of judges selected this years winners from approximately 50

grant applications, which were evaluated on such criteria as environmental need, innovation,

community engagement and sustainability.

In addition to the local grant, Pennsylvania American Water awarded its

2011Environmental Grants to Marywood University (Lackawanna County), Pittsburgh Botanic

Garden (Allegheny County), Dauphin County Conservation District, Brandywine Valley
http://www.phillywatersheds.org/what_were_doing/documents_and_data/cso_long_term_control_planhttp://www.phillywatersheds.org/what_were_doing/documents_and_data/cso_long_term_control_planhttp://www.amwater.com/paaw/ensuring-water-quality/environmental-grants-program.htmlhttp://www.amwater.com/paaw/ensuring-water-quality/environmental-grants-program.htmlhttp://www.phillywatersheds.org/what_were_doing/documents_and_data/cso_long_term_control_planhttp://www.phillywatersheds.org/what_were_doing/documents_and_data/cso_long_term_control_plan


13/36

Association (Chester County), Clarks Summit Shade Tree Commission (Lackawanna County),

and Buffalo Creek Watershed Association (Washington County).

Discovery Watersheds

Are All Places Ready For A Watershed Management Approach?

Watershed-level management efforts are growing and supported by federal, state, and local

policy. The intent of these efforts is to create partnerships among local officials, state and county

agencies, community groups, and residents that will address environmental concerns.

In Pennsylvania, most of these efforts are targeted at improving or protecting water

quality in streams, rivers, and lakes. But are all watersheds ready for these kinds of efforts?

Research over the last decade has identified the need to conduct assessments of the

conditions within watersheds that can affect the partnerships likelihood of success. Assessments

help to identify strengths and challenges, and help the watershed partnerships to focus their

efforts and maximize their resources. Assessments should cover three main areas:

-- Scientific understanding: Is the issue one for which there is sufficient scientific knowledge

about the problem, how to monitor it and track changes in the conditions? Is the problem one for

which research has identified the most likely causes and consequences? Most importantly, are

there tools, technologies, or policies that have been tested for their ability to solve the problem?

Complex environmental problems without a clear understanding of the problem and identified

and accepted ways to address the problem can pose challenges for participants in watershed

management efforts to identify clear paths of action and allocate of resources effectively.

-- Community capacity: Does the watershed have a history of effectively addressing

environmental or other issues? Have previous attempts to deal with major local issues, such asthe closure of major employers or local planning efforts, created a track record of working

together or created (or exposed) community divisions? Are there individuals and organizations

that can provide leadership and technical knowledge to watershed efforts? Which organizations

need to be part of a watershed effort, and are they willing and able to do so? Are there existing

networks of individuals and organizations with collaborative histories that can be drawn in to the

effort? Preliminary assessment of the social context and history of the area, along with a scan of

the stakeholders involved, will provide important information to guide initial discussions. Early

efforts toward engagement of all stakeholders can enhance the transparency and legitimacy of

watershed partnership activities two factors that are critical to acceptance and community

support.

-- Existing behaviors and motivations: Whose behavior (e.g., riparian landowners, farmers,

non-farm urban or rural residents, organizations or businesses, etc.) needs to change to improve

the water resource? What is the level of understanding of, concern for, and attitudes toward the

environmental problem among this target audience? What existing management practices are

they already using? What are the barriers this audience faces when trying to change their

behavior? Which individuals, organizations, or informal networks are particularly influential


14/36

among the target audience, and what are they currently saying about the problem? Watershed

partnerships that have this information can more effectively identify action steps and allocate

their resources.

Assessment efforts can help partnerships strategically identify directions for action, especially in

the early stages. Partnerships that invest the time and resources in assessment are likely to bemore effective and efficient, and are more likely to build support, visibility, and legitimacy in the

community. Regularly re-visiting the assessment information and gathering new information

as needed can assist groups to adapt to changes over time.

(Written By: Kathryn J. Brasier, PhD, Assistant Professor of Rural Sociology, Department of

Agricultural Economics & Rural Sociology, Penn State University for Penn State Extension

Watershed Winds Newsletter.)

DEP Challenges EPA's Approach To Chesapeake Bay Stormwater Regulation

In a letterto the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency May 26, the Department ofEnvironmental Protection expressed concerns about EPA's approach to requiring stormwater

controls in the Chesapeake Bay watershed saying the $5.3 billion estimated cost is

"extraordinary" given stormwater's contribution of only 6 percent of the nutrient load to the Bay.

"The urban stormwater sector is identified as contributing only approximately 6 percent

of the problematic load. EPA contractors have estimated that it will cost municipalities $5.3

billion to address the problem," said DEP Secretary Michael Krancer. "This extraordinary cost is

simply not reasonable, not cost effective and not likely to result in significant needed

environmental gains and comes at a time when local governments are in significant economic

distress."

DEP said the problem is based, in part, on assumptions made by EPA in the ChesapeakeBay Watershed TMDL.

"Put simply, we do not think the application of the model to Pennsylvania MS4

(Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems) permits is scientifically or technically appropriate,"

said Secretary Krancer. "The model projects loads based upon very gross inputs. The model

does not reflect conditions at the local level for purposes of predicting specific local load

reductions to be included in individual permits, and was not developed for such a use."

DEP further explained the model inputs can have as much as a 15 percent error rate and

includes mining impacts in the urban stormwater section of the model.

"DEP is in the process of collecting the information we believe to be critical to making

the model results more reflective of on-the-ground construction, post construction and MS4

BMP (best management practice) implementation in Pennsylvania, and is also working with theNational Association of Conservation Districts, other states and NRCS to determine how to

better capture the full spectrum of agriculture BMPs for credit in the model," said Secretary

Krancer.

DEP also expressed a concern that EPA is using counties as a basis for calculating runoff

volumes and loads in the model, rather than Pennsylvania's traditional local governments--

townships and boroughs-- unnecessarily bringing a broader area under regulation.
http://extension.psu.edu/water/discovery-watersheds/newsletterhttp://goo.gl/SKJCbhttp://goo.gl/SKJCbhttp://extension.psu.edu/water/discovery-watersheds/newsletter


15/36

"DEP and our municipality stakeholders have been frustrated with EPA's continued

failure to acknowledge the challenge of Pennsylvania's unique municipal structure-- which

results in Pennsylvania having more regulated Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4s)

than any other state and one sixth of the nation's total with nearly 1,000 as of the 2000 Census,"

explained Secretary Krancer.

"An important consideration we believe EPA needs to recognize is Pennsylvania'srecently finalized stormwater regulations which require post construction stormwater best

management practices be implemented and maintained when a land development project disturbs

one or more acres of land-- regardless of whether the project is located in a regulated MS4 area,"

said Secretary Krancer. "Implementation of these regulations on average results in significantly

less pollutants being discharged to Pennsylvania's waters and ultimately the Bay than is

contemplated int he Chesapeake Bay model.

"Pennsylvania has articulated these reservations to EPA for quite some time, and has

been frustrated with the lack of collaborative dialogue on these issues," said Secretary Krancer.

"DEP has also been further disheartened and frustrated by the lack of support and

acknowledgement by EPA of Pennsylvania's strong stormwater management program.

"We will continue to lead, as we have, not only to restore and reclaim the ChesapeakeBy, but to protect and maintain Pennsylvania's water resources which are among the most

significant assets of the Commonwealth."

A copy of the letteris available online.

Watershed Webinars

Lessons From The Land Webinar Hits The Road For Summer Features

With three exciting programs featuring Pennsylvanias watershed successes under its belt, the

Lessons from the Land webinar takes to the road for its June and July featured programs.June 29, Lessons from the Land broadcasts live from the Penn State Center at

Pittsburghs Stormwater Management Workshop and will feature Department of Environmental

Protections Chief of the Watershed Support Section, Diane Wilson, speaking about Success at

the Streamside Pennsylvania Riparian Buffers that Work.

The noon webinar will highlight the benefit of riparian buffers for stream protection and

the states requirements and guidance for riparian buffers in different landscapes. Following the

live broadcast, Pittsburgh based engineers, landscape architects, planners, and other practitioners

will participate in an extended technical session on riparian buffer development, restoration,

regulations and guidance, and hands-on design activities.

Joining Wilson for the technical session are David Wise, Chesapeake Bay Foundation,

Lyle Sherwin (Penn State Center for Watershed Stewardship), Kristen Saacke Blunk (Penn StateAgriculture and Environment Center) and Diane Oleson (York County Extension).

For more information on the technical session and how to register, visit the Penn State

Center at Pittsburghs website.

The July 18 Lessons from the Land program will broadcast live from the 66th Annual

International Conference of the Soil and Water Conservation Society in Washington, DC,

beginning at 10:30 a.m. where the Conewago Creek Watershed Initiative will be highlighted in a
http://goo.gl/SKJCbhttp://pittsburgh.center.psu.edu/events/penn-state-center-technical-workshop-serieshttp://pittsburgh.center.psu.edu/events/penn-state-center-technical-workshop-serieshttp://goo.gl/SKJCb


16/36

symposium titled Anatomy of a Conservation Partnership for Integrated Watershed

Restoration.

Lessons from the Land will broadcast the entire 90 minute symposium which will feature

partner representatives from the conservation districts, the Natural Resources Conservation

Service, United States Geologic Service, and Penn State Extension.

The Conewago Creek Collaborative Initiative is one of the three USDA designatedShowcase Watersheds and was selected because of the high level of coordination and

collaboration underway between the community, agencies and organizations that seek to improve

local water quality and decrease the loads of nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment stemming from

cumulative land practices.

To participate in one of the upcoming sessions broadcast from the road simply sign in

at the webinar start time. To access this site, webinar participants will need a free Friends of

Penn State digital identity which is essentially a user ID and password which can be obtained

online.

Recordings of all Lessons from the Land programs can be viewed online following the

live broadcast.

(Written by: Kristen Saacke Blunk, Senior Extension Associate and Director, Agriculture &

Environment Center, Penn State Extension Watershed Winds Newsletter.)

Report Shows Delaware Estuary Is Economic Engine For Tri-state Region

The nonprofit Partnership for the Delaware Estuary announced this week waterways like the

Delaware and Schuylkill rivers contribute over $10 billion to the regions economy every year;

this, according to a new study released by the University of Delaware.

Researchers assessed the economic value of the tidal Delaware River, Delaware Bay, and

land downstream of Trenton, New Jersey. They compiled data on both the economic activityand the jobs associated with waters in this region to arrive at an estimate of over $10 billion in

economic activity supporting jobs for more than half a million people.

The results of this study were made public during a press conference at the Bridesburg

Outboard Club, a private boat launch on the Delaware River in Philadelphia. Organizers chose

this venue because it neighbors the former Philadelphia Coke Works, a site many would like to

see restored as a park along the 2,500-mile East Coast Greenway. They also chose it because

recreational boaters spend about $47 million every year according to UD experts.

The new study, entitled Economic Value of the Delaware Estuary Watershed, is the

first of its kind in more than two decades. It follows similar reports which catalog the value of

other coastal regions, like the Chesapeake Bay, Florida Everglades, and Great Lakes. Those who

will use it include economists, environmentalists, legislators, researchers and key decisionmakers.

You cannot put a price tag on the value of the Delaware River and Bay to peoples lives

its much more than an economic resource. However, we live in a time when major decisions

about activities like drilling, dredging and development are made based in part on economics,

said Jennifer Adkins, executive director of the Partnership for the Delaware Estuary. This study

will help people to consider the economic contributions of our estuary in those types of

decisions.
http://breeze.psu.edu/PAWatershedshttps://fps.psu.edu/https://fps.psu.edu/http://agsci.psu.edu/aec/webinars-presentations/lessons-from-the-landhttp://extension.psu.edu/water/discovery-watersheds/newsletterhttp://delawareestuary.org/http://www.delawareestuary.org/learn_publications_studies_reports.asphttp://www.delawareestuary.org/learn_publications_studies_reports.asphttp://www.delawareestuary.org/learn_publications_studies_reports.asphttp://www.delawareestuary.org/learn_publications_studies_reports.asphttp://delawareestuary.org/http://extension.psu.edu/water/discovery-watersheds/newsletterhttp://agsci.psu.edu/aec/webinars-presentations/lessons-from-the-landhttps://fps.psu.edu/https://fps.psu.edu/http://breeze.psu.edu/PAWatersheds


17/36

Gerald J. Kauffman, director of UDs Water Resources Agency, is the lead author of the

study. In addition to using traditional economics, he and his colleagues used a modern technique

called natural capital valuation. This allowed them to estimate the value of natural goods and

services provided by local land and water at over $12 million annually.

We found that drinking water alone provides $1.3 billion in value to the region, said

Kauffman. If you combine that with the value of drinking water taken from the Delaware Riverbefore it reaches Trenton, that value skyrockets to $3.1 billion.

To foster good investments in environmental improvements, public and private-sector

environmental leaders have joined forces to advance the restoration of key sites, like the adjacent

Philadelphia Coke Works. Other projects they are promoting include:

-- Using living shorelines to prevent marshes from washing into Delaware Bay;

-- Restoring freshwater mussels in local waterways to purify water;

-- Evaluating the health of underwater plants;

-- Restoring oyster reefs in Delaware Bay; and

-- Teaching school children about maritime culture by restoring oysters.

Patrick Starr, senior vice president of the Pennsylvania Environmental Council, believes

that restoring the riverfront in Bridesburg should be a top priority. He values it for its proximityto urban residents, scale, shoreline contours, and landowner cooperation, all of which combine to

make it a rare site in Philadelphia.

Philadelphia is the most populous community in the estuary, yet its residents are sorely

deprived of access and enjoyment of the estuarys rich natural resources, said Starr. Our

proposed ecological restoration is intended to provide recreational use as public open space in

tandem with new wildlife habitat and environmental quality.

This is the second time Bridesburgs riverfront has been selected as a high-priority

restoration project. Each year the PDE Alliance (Alliance for Comprehensive Ecosystem

Solutions) selects five or six projects its members will support.

Members of the PDE Alliance include more than a dozen member-organizations locatedin Delaware, southern New Jersey, and southeastern Pennsylvania. Working together, they

identify and promote the best investments for restoring and protecting the Delaware Estuary.

The Delaware Estuary Watershed is the tidal portion, or the lower half, of the Delaware

River Basin. It includes all of the land and waterways draining into the tidal Delaware River and

Bay. This watershed stretches as far west as the Schuylkill Rivers headwaters near Pottsville,

Pennsylvania, and as far east as the Rancocas Rivers headwaters near Fort Dix, New Jersey. Its

6,800 square miles make the Delaware Estuarys watershed one of the largest in the country.

Within these boundaries are over 200 species of fish, the continents second-highest

concentration of shorebirds, and over 400,000 acres of wetlands.

To learn more, visit the Partnership for the Delaware Estuary website.

NewsClip: Delaware Estuary Is $10 Billion Asset

DEP Announces $2.5 Million Penalty In Ivy Industrial Park Water Contamination Case

The Department of Environmental Protection this week announced agreements with Bostik Inc.

and Sandvik Inc., two companies determined to be responsible for contaminating groundwater in

four Lackawanna County municipalities.
http://www.pecpa.org/http://www.delawareestuary.org/science_programs_regional_restoration_aces.asphttp://www.delawareestuary.org/science_programs_regional_restoration_aces.asphttp://delawareestuary.org/http://www.udel.edu/udaily/2011/jun/delaware-estuary-060211.htmlhttp://www.udel.edu/udaily/2011/jun/delaware-estuary-060211.htmlhttp://delawareestuary.org/http://www.delawareestuary.org/science_programs_regional_restoration_aces.asphttp://www.delawareestuary.org/science_programs_regional_restoration_aces.asphttp://www.pecpa.org/


18/36

The settlement includes agreements to construct a water line to serve affected residents,

civil penalties totaling $2.5 million and recovery of past and future DEP costs.

DEP is making the settlement documents available for public review; the 60-day

comment period begins June 4.

A public meeting where department staff will discuss the case and the settlement will be

held at the Lakeland High School auditorium on July 13, at 6:30 p.m.The consent order and agreement with Bostik and Sandvik requires the companies to

construct a replacement water supply for the more than 200 residents affected by groundwater

contaminated by the volatile organic chemicals, TCE and PCE. The chemicals were traced back

to the companies facilities in the Ivy Industrial Park in Scott and South Abington townships.

DEP staff started investigating groundwater contamination at the industrial park in

August 2005. The department required three companies there to conduct expanded sampling

outside the park borders and to provide and maintain carbon treatment units to private well

owners with elevated levels of TCE or PCE.

DEP, along with the Environmental Protection Agency, conducted extensive sampling

and monitoring of soils, surface water and groundwater in and around the industrial park and in

areas up to two miles away from the park in each direction.That investigation, which included sampling more than 500 private wells, determined that

levels of TCE and PCE from Bostik and Sandvik had impacted groundwater in parts of Scott,

Abington, North Abington and South Abington townships.

DEP hosted a series of public meetings in the affected area and has routinely updated

federal, state and local elected officials on the investigations progress as well as the status of

ongoing settlement discussions.

Residents will be best served by connecting to a new public water source as a permanent

remedy rather than depending on maintaining in-house carbon treatment units. DEP Northeast

Regional Director Michael Bedrin said.

DEP has worked closely with Pennsylvania American Water Co. to develop the initialdesign of a large-scale waterline project in the investigated area. There are approximately 500

homes in that area, including 218 homes with carbon treatment units. All 500 of these homes are

eligible to connect to the new water supply.

Home owners who connect to the system would need to abandon their existing wells to

eliminate the effects of the contamination continuing to migrate in the geology of the area.

The project includes a new groundwater source, located outside the affected area, and

more than 21 miles of water mains and infrastructure at an estimated cost of $20 million, which

Bostik and Sandvik will pay.

The companies will continue to conduct quarterly sampling of another 300 wells in the

four-township affected area and will reimburse DEP $1.7 million for its investigatory costs

through June 2010, along with all future costs related to the site.The consent order and agreement and the consent assessment of civil penalty are

available for review at DEPs Northeast Regional Office in Wilkes-Barre by calling

570-826-5472 to make an appointment.

The documents are also available at the municipal buildings in Scott, Abington, North

Abington and South Abington townships.

Copies of the Bostick and Sandvik Consent Agreement, the Bostick Penalty

Assessment and the Sandvik Penalty Assessment are available online.
http://files.dep.state.pa.us/RegionalResources/NERO/NEROPortalFiles/Bostik_Sandvik_CO&A_4_13_11.pdfhttp://files.dep.state.pa.us/RegionalResources/NERO/NEROPortalFiles/Bostik_CACP_04_13_11.pdfhttp://files.dep.state.pa.us/RegionalResources/NERO/NEROPortalFiles/Bostik_CACP_04_13_11.pdfhttp://files.dep.state.pa.us/RegionalResources/NERO/NEROPortalFiles/Sandvik_CACP_4_13_11.pdfhttp://files.dep.state.pa.us/RegionalResources/NERO/NEROPortalFiles/Sandvik_CACP_4_13_11.pdfhttp://files.dep.state.pa.us/RegionalResources/NERO/NEROPortalFiles/Bostik_CACP_04_13_11.pdfhttp://files.dep.state.pa.us/RegionalResources/NERO/NEROPortalFiles/Bostik_CACP_04_13_11.pdfhttp://files.dep.state.pa.us/RegionalResources/NERO/NEROPortalFiles/Bostik_Sandvik_CO&A_4_13_11.pdf


19/36

Comments on the documents may be submitted in writing to Jeremy Miller, DEP

Hazardous Sites Cleanup Program, 2 Public Square, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18701.

NewsClip: DEP Announces $2.5 Million Settlement In Ivy Industrial Park Case

PEC Seeks Design Firm For Shaler Rain Garden Demonstration Project

The PA Environmental Council is seeking a firm to design and construct a Shaler Rain Garden

Demonstration project in Glenshaw, Allegheny County. Click Here for a copy of the RFP.

Proposals are due July 7.

WPC Seeks Public Input On Draft Watershed Plan For Lower Mahoning Creek

The Western Pennsylvania Conservancy held a public meeting in

May to present their draft watershed conservation plan for the

Lower Mahoning Creekin Armstrong, Indiana and Jefferson

County communities.

Individuals may now review the draft Lower MahoningCreek Regional Watershed Conservation Plan and provide

comments through June 21.

The Conservancy staff encourages individuals who live or work in the area, own a

business or land in the region, enjoy outdoor recreation, or are interested in natural resources,

historic preservation, tourism or community enhancement to attend this meeting.

This project is funded, in part, by a grant from the Community Conservation Partnerships

Program, Environmental Stewardship Fund, under the administration of the Department of

Conservation and Natural Resources, Bureau of Recreation and Conservation.

For more information, please contact Kylie Maland at the Western Pennsylvania

Conservancy Allegheny Regional Office at 814-776-1114 or send email to:[email protected].

Volunteer Work Days Set In June By Friends Of The Wissahickon

The Friends of the Wissahickon are organizing Volunteer Work Days in Wissahickon Valley

Park on June 11 and 18 on the white trail near Kitchens Lane. This is a trail re-route project,

part of the Sustainable Trails Initiative.

The White Trail gully just south of the parking lot has already been filled and closed.

Filling the gully reduces stormwater runoff, sedimentation in Wissahickon Creek, and erosion.

The new trail will be a sustainable trail that sheds stormwater much more effectively and helps to

reduce erosion.Volunteer work days will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Meet at the Kitchen's Lane

Parking lot (P-11 on the FOW Map) in Mt. Airy. Volunteers are encouraged to bike or carpool to

the event.

To register, contact FOW Volunteer Coordinator Kevin Groves by sending email to:

[email protected] or 215-247-0417 ext. 105.

DEP: NPDES Mining Permit Reviews By EPA Provide No Environmental Benefit
http://www.timesleader.com/news/DEP-Announces-Settlement-25-Million-Penalty-in-Ivy-Industrial-Park-Case.htmlhttp://www.pecpa.org/http://www.pecpa.org/RainGardenrfp%20http://www.paconserve.org/http://www.paconserve.org/117/saving-little-mahoning-creekmailto:[email protected]://www.fow.org/http://www.fow.org/sustrails.phphttp://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=40.037292,-75.202993&daddr=&hl=en&geocode=&mra=dme&mrsp=0&sz=18&sll=40.038355,-75.202387&sspn=0.00301,0.004823&ie=UTF8&z=18mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=40.037292,-75.202993&daddr=&hl=en&geocode=&mra=dme&mrsp=0&sz=18&sll=40.038355,-75.202387&sspn=0.00301,0.004823&ie=UTF8&z=18http://www.fow.org/sustrails.phphttp://www.fow.org/mailto:[email protected]://www.paconserve.org/117/saving-little-mahoning-creekhttp://www.paconserve.org/http://www.pecpa.org/RainGardenrfp%20http://www.pecpa.org/http://www.timesleader.com/news/DEP-Announces-Settlement-25-Million-Penalty-in-Ivy-Industrial-Park-Case.html


20/36

On May 27 the Department of Environmental Protection wrote a letterto the U.S. Environmental

Protection Agency expressing concerns about NPDES mining permit reviews EPA was doing

saying they only serve to increase permit review times and have "no environmental benefit."

DEP Secretary Mike Krancer said Pennsylvania's mining permit program has been held

in high regard since 1984 and recognized for its excellence many times. But, it has only beenrecently that EPA made a change in policy.

"This significant shift in EPA behavior and policy toward NPDES permits in this

particular area is disconcerting since this elevated scrutiny by EPA has little or no environmental

or scientific basis and is contrary to almost three decades of past relationship between EPA and

DEP," Secretary Krancer wrote.

EPA is requiring DEP to send copies of pending NPDES permit applications associated

with mining in the Monongahela River watershed. Since last August, the request resulted in 80

submission of draft NPDES permits to EPA Region III for review.

"This additional review by EPA seems to be beyond EPA's Administrative staffing

capabilities to review such permit applications in a timely manner," said Secretary Krancer.

DEP also questioned an April 1, 2010 EPA policy which requires the review saying thescientific basis for the policy does not apply in Pennsylvania.

"These objections, particularly those regarding conductivity thresholds, do not reflect an

appropriate level of scientific basis concerning the water quality (ionic signature) and aquatic

communities of the receiving streams in Pennsylvania," Secretary Krancer explained. "The

current data set represents portions of two eco-regions in West Virginia and Kentucky; not

Pennsylvania."

DEP asked EPA to respond to these concerns to help resolve this issue.

DEP also noted the General Assembly expressed concern about EPA mining permit

reviews by passing House Resolution 87 (Pyle-R-Armstrong) on May 3.

Secretary Krancer did note some issues raised by EPA during the permit review processwere useful.

A copy of the letteris available online.

Household Hazardous Waste Collection Event June 18 In Armstrong County

The Pennsylvania Resources Council and Zero Waste Pittsburgh will hold a household

hazardous waste collection event on June 18 in Kittanning, Armstrong County from 9 a.m. to

1:00 p.m. at the Walmart in the Hilltop Plaza.

Household cleaners, paint products, automotive fluids and other products will be

accepted. The cost for disposal is $2.

For information and a list of items accepted visit the Zero Waste Pittsburgh websiteor call PRC at 412-488-7452.

Outdoor Classroom Workshop For Educators June 29 In Blair County

JoinNatural Biodiversity and the Bellwood-Antis Middle School for an informative and

interactive workshop and open house on June 29 from 9 a.m. 1 p.m. at the Bellwood-Antis

Middle/High School in Blair County.
http://goo.gl/Sd2Fvhttp://goo.gl/ChClxhttp://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/billinfo.cfm?syear=2011&sind=0&body=H&type=R&BN=0087http://goo.gl/Sd2Fvhttp://www.prc.org/http://www.zerowastepgh.org/http://www.zerowastepgh.org/ZW-hcw-events.htmlhttp://www.zerowastepgh.org/http://www.naturalbiodiversity.org/roots.shtmlhttp://www.blwd.k12.pa.us/home_pages/ms/default.aspxhttp://www.blwd.k12.pa.us/home_pages/ms/default.aspxhttp://www.naturalbiodiversity.org/roots.shtmlhttp://www.zerowastepgh.org/http://www.zerowastepgh.org/ZW-hcw-events.htmlhttp://www.zerowastepgh.org/http://www.prc.org/http://goo.gl/Sd2Fvhttp://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/billinfo.cfm?syear=2011&sind=0&body=H&type=R&BN=0087http://goo.gl/ChClxhttp://goo.gl/Sd2Fv


21/36

Are you an educator that is interested in outdoor environmental education? Would you

like to learn ways to include experiential education into your schools curriculum?

The outdoor classroom workshop will cover steps for creating and financing an outdoor

classroom and include an exercise in brainstorming new outdoor classroom lessons. The

workshop will also tour the Bellwood-Antis outdoor classroom, which is in the first phase of

construction. Resource materials will be provided as well.This workshop is FREE and will be Act 48 certified for 4 hours.

Natural Biodiversitys assistance is made possible by a grant from the Department of

Environmental Protections Environmental Education program and the U.S. Department of

Agricultures Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.

Space is limited. Please RSVP by June 27 by contacting Matt Truesdale by calling

814-534-0204 or by sending email to: [email protected].

June Issue Of PCEE Environmental Ed Connections Newsletter Now Available

The June EE Connections newsletter is now available from the PA Center for Environmental

Education. Here are just some of topics covered in this month's newsletter--

General News: Hotline Established to Report Suspected Pollution Incidents, Recycling/Waste

Reduction Entries Wanted for PROP 'FilmFest' Website, Documentary Highlight Religious-

Environmental Action

K-12 News: Jennings Experience will go to Winning Survey Respondent, Natural Biodiversity

Seeks Teacher Input for Media Series, OSU's Online Climate Magazine Offers Lesson Plans and

More

Higher Education News: Chatham University Recognized in 'RecycleMania' Competition,Dickinson College Receives an 'A' for Sustainability, USDA Honors Four Penn State Water

Quality Projects, AASHE Conference Hosted in Pittsburgh

Professional Development for Educators: Penn State FRIT Offers Nature Course for

Educators, Connect 'Kids to Nature' with LCEI's Journaling Workshop, Explore Natural

Habitats, Identify Species in Audubon Workshop, Online Workshop Uses Chesapeake Bay

FieldScope Program

Other Professional Development: PRC East Announces Energy Workshops for Delaware

County, DCNR Sponsors Sustainable Landscapes Bus Tour

pa environment digest june 6, 2011

Documents