pa environment digest feb. 27, 2012
TRANSCRIPT
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PA Environment DigestAn Update On Environmental Issues In
PA
Edited By: David E. Hess, Crisci Associates
Winner 2009 PAEE Business Partner Of The Year Award
Harrisburg, Pa February 27, 2012
DEP Secretary: I'm Bullish About This Budget And In Our Ability To Deliver
Secretary of Environmental Protection Michael Krancer told the Senate Appropriations
Committee Wednesday DEP has the resources and personnel to properly regulate and protect
pubic health and safety and the environment in all areas of the department, including Marcellus
Shale. "I'm bullish about this budget and in our ability to deliver."
A copy of Secretary Krancer's formal budget statement is available online and a summary
appears below. Video of the Senate budget hearings for the Department of Conservation &
Natural Resources and Department of Environmental Protection are available online.
Here are some highlights of the Committee's two hours of questioning on DEP's proposed
budget--
Drilling Wastewater Treatment: Drilling companies have complied with the request to not
send their wastewater to public wastewater treatment facilities without the ability to properly
treat the water. He said it is one of the real success stories that happened without the need toissue orders. 90 percent or more of the wastewater is being recycled and about 10 percent is
being sent for disposal. He also said there are facilities being developed in-state specifically for
treating drilling wastewater.
He added DEP is continuing to monitor rivers like the Monongahela River for the impact
of the drilling wastewater policy, but it is too early to draw any conclusions from the
information.
This issue was also addressed in Secretary Krancer's written opening statement (below).
County Option Marcellus Fee: In response to a question about what happens if counties like
Bradford do not adopt the new impact fee, Secretary Krancer said the funds DEP expects are
supplementing the funding they have now. The revenue from the impact fee is not "backfilling"funding that is not there.
Coordination With PUC On Impact Fee: Secretary Krancer said he has a good personal
relationship with the Chair of the PUC Robert Powelson and talks to him almost every day so
coordination on implementing the new impact fee should not be a problem.
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Marcellus Shale Air Inventory: In answer to a question about the Marcellus Shale air emission
inventory DEP is working on, Secretary Krancer said it will yield important data about the nature
and extent of emissions related to the industry.
This issue was also addressed in Secretary Krancer's written opening statement (below).
Uniform State vs. Local Regulation: Asked whether the limits on local regulation of MarcellusShale drilling would be replicated for other industries, Secretary Krancer said he had no way to
predict whether it will be expanded to other industries. He noted a similar concept was applied
to farming.
Marcellus Well Inventory: In response to a question about a newspaper report that 495
Marcellus wells were not in the DEP database, Secretary Krancer said DEP is working on its
data management system which is always an issue. He said the agency does not make decisions
based on newspaper articles.
This issue was also addressed in Secretary Krancer's written opening statement (below).
Encourage Natural Gas Use: Secretary Krancer agreed there should be more end use of naturalgas and its byproducts, but decisions about its use should be left up to the market to decide.
DRBC Drilling Regulation: Secretary Krancer said he does not know when the Delaware River
Basin Commission will finalize its drilling regulations. He said it should have been done last
year. He noted other states have reduced their funding to DRBC by 70 percent (Delaware) when
Pennsylvania only reduced it by 5 percent.
Drinking Water Well Standards: In response to a question about the need to set drinking water
well construction standards, Secretary Krancer said the Center for Rural Pennsylvania
documented the many issues with private water wells and that DEP has testified in favor of legislation setting water well standards.
Permit Review Times/Consistency: The reorganization of the agency last year was aimed in
part at making improvements in the consistency of permit reviews between regions Secretary
Krancer said. He also said an enforcement and permit process review in the agency found
different ways of doing the same things and those are in the process of being corrected.
He said permit processing time depends on the quality of the applications coming in the
door. Applicants need to give the department a good product to work with, said Secretary
Krancer. He also noted the agency is developing an e-permitting application process for certain
programs.
This issue was also addressed in Secretary Krancer's written opening statement (below).
Hazardous Sites Cleanup: Secretary Krancer said with the phase out of the Capital Stock and
Franchise Tax there will need to be a conversation on how to fund the Hazardous Sites Cleanup
Fund, although the new Marcellus impact fee does provide some funding for the program.
Flood Recovery Funding: Secretary Krancer said the cuts to the flood control and stormwater
funding line items will not have a bearing on funding projects related to last year's flood damage.
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It was noted the House is getting signals from the Corbett Administration they do not think any
more needs to be done on flood control projects, part of the six bill bipartisan package passed by
the Senate last September. Secretary Krancer said he would be happy to talk about the issue.
This issue was also addressed in Secretary Krancer's written opening statement (below).
Delaware River Flooding: In response to a question about New York reservoir releasescontributing to flooding along the Delaware River, Secretary Krancer said Pennsylvania has been
working with New York under the flexible flow management agreement to provide better control
of Delaware River levels.
Riparian Buffers: Secretary Krancer said they are looking to see how the requirement included
in Chapter 102 regulations requiring riparian buffers works in practice before he considers
changes.
Federal Mine Reclamation: DEP expects about $67 million in federal mine reclamation funds
in FY 2012-13, up from $47 million in the current year.
Sewage Facilities/Operating Grants: Secretary Krancer said the reality is the sewage related
line items have been going down for some time. He noted local governments could support
these with fees. This issue was also addressed in Secretary Krancer's written opening statement
(below).
Expanding Recycling: In response to a question about whether the state should expand the
recycling program, Secretary Krancer said he would like to take that as a homework assignment
Formal Opening Statement
In his formal budget statement, Secretary Krancer highlighted many different initiativesundertaken in the agency over the last year to improve operations and address major issues in the
department--
DEP Reorganization: The objective of the reorganization was aimed a recasting DEP to reflect
Gov. Corbett's and his policy priorities of, among other things, getting DEP back to its basic
mission, consistency in the application of rules and regulations and emphasizing brownfields
redevelopment.
Flood Response: The budget request includes the necessary state funding needed to trigger
matching funds from the federal government for flood recovery. Secretary Krancer noted DEP
had a major role in flood recovery in response to Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee,including issuing over 1,000 emergency permits for flood debris cleanup, distributed about 3,000
drinking water well test kits, enhanced vector control programs to monitor and spray in 18
counties, helped facilitate county-centralized debris collection centers and secured a gasoline
shortage declaration for Western PA.
Drilling Wastewater: Secretary Krancer said the call to drillers to cease delivering wastewater
to 15 water treatment facilities previously exempted from Total Dissolved Solids regulations was
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a success and a "dramatic sea change" from what has occurred in Pennsylvania in prior years.
Enforcement Activities: He highlighted the largest penalty ever assessed against a drilling
operation as evidence of tough enforcement which agency staff worked very hard to accomplish
as well as other major enforcement actions.
Permit Backlog Review/Analysis: He said DEP undertook "business-like steps" to examine the
permit backlog problem, diagnose it and resolve it noting improvements to the way drilling
operations are regulated under Chapters 78 (well construction standards) and 102 (erosion and
sedimentation), web-based training for the new Chapter 102 regulations agency-wide and they
initiated several projects to create additional general permits where appropriate to simplify the
permitting process to drastically reduce the agency's workload, without negatively impact the
environment.
Comprehensive Regulation/Policy Review: As promised during Gov. Corbett's campaign, the
agency completed its review of DEP's 5,500 pages of regulations and over 530 technical
guidance documents during the first 90 days of the Administration for necessity, clarity,administrative efficiency, economic competitiveness and federal consistency. That review, he
said, was ongoing in a staged manner in coordination with the Governor's Policy Office.
DEP's Enforcement Consistency Study: An internal team of DEP staff reviewed the agency's
oil and gas enforcement policies, the violations issued and enforcement actions taken and
announced recommended program changes aimed at achieving more consistency last November .
DEP has already implemented a more detailed electronic inspection form and developed
additional training for inspectors and water quality specialists.
Marcellus Shale Well Numbers: DEP has been working diligently to address data qualityissues both internally and with the regulated community regarding the way information on wells
is reported. It is not true, he said, the lack of any information from DEP delayed the
consideration of Marcellus Shale legislation.
Marcellus Drilling-Related Air Emissions: He noted air quality has improved across the state,
even in areas with drilling and burning more natural gas will further improve air quality. In 2010
and 2011 short-term air assessments where drilling is happening does not identify concentrations
of air contaminates likely to trigger air-related health issues. He said without legislation, DEP is
undertaking an inventory of air emissions from Marcellus Shale operations which he said the
agency will publish by the end of this year.
Southeast Refineries: DEP stands ready to work with the seller and any buyers of the Southeast
Pennsylvania refineries recently shutdown to transfer permits or on any new required permits.
DEP is also "on watch" to make sure there are no public safety concerns during this process.
Spending Reductions: He said spending reductions over the last two years were achieved
without the furlough of any DEP employees and with "no reduction in the delivery of
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environmental oversight and protection." The budget reduction did result in the elimination of
51 positions in the agency that were vacant.
Sewage Facilities Enforcement & Planning Grants: He noted applications for enforcement
grants have decreased since 2008 and local governments have the ability to raise fees and have
budgeted for the reductions in reimbursements. He said there is currently a backlog of severalyears worth of sewage facilities grants which will not receive reimbursement until 2015-16. As a
result, there should be minimal impact on local sewage planning activities. In addition, the new
Marcellus Shale law will provide more funding for water and sewer projects through PennVEST
and the H20 Program.
Marcellus Shale Law: Secretary Krancer said the new Marcellus Shale law is a balanced,
multilateral approach to responsible domestic energy development in Pennsylvania and fulfills
his major goals for the program, including providing additional protection for the environment
and public health. He also noted the impact fee will provide significant additional funding for
Oil and Gas Operations, as well as water infrastructure programs and the Environmental
Stewardship (Growing Greener) Fund.
Video of the Senate budget hearings for the Department of Conservation & Natural
Resources and Department of Environmental Protection are available online.
NewsClips: DCNR Linked To Natural Gas Revenue
Luzerne County May Adopt Gas Impact Fee
Bradford Commissioner Discusses View On Impact Fee
Lycoming Commissioners: Gas Impact Fee Limits Control
Shale Law Does Not Pre-Empt Local Control
Wyoming County To Approve Drilling Impact Fee
PUC: Commission Will Be Agressive About Impact Fee SpendingAttorney General Candidates Debate Drilling Impact Fee
Op-Ed: Where's Pennsylvania's Transportation Plan?
Growing Greener Coalition: Corbett Budget Cuts Undermine New Shale Law
The Renew Growing Greener Coalition, the largest coalition of conservation, recreation and
environmental organizations in the Commonwealth, Tuesday urged the General Assembly to
reject cuts to environmental, conservation and recreation programs in the Governor’s proposed
2012-2013 budget.
“With Pennsylvania’s land, water and air facing significant threats and impacts due to
Marcellus Shale development, we should be increasing, not decreasing, funding for the programsthat protect these vital resources,” said Andrew Heath, executive director of the Renew Growing
Greener Coalition. “The funding contained in the Marcellus Shale legislation was meant to help
address the environmental impacts of natural gas drilling, but there would actually be less
funding available for these purposes if the Legislature approves the cuts to environmental,
conservation and recreation programs proposed in the Governor’s budget.”
Under the proposed budget, the Corbett administration has recommended:
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-- Using more than $37.5 from the Environmental Stewardship Fund to pay for debt service,
leaving just $23 million available for Growing Greener programs and projects, the lowest
amount of funding in recent decades.
-- Transferring $30 million from the Keystone Recreation, Park and Conservation Fund to the
general fund, and permanently eliminating this popular and important conservation and
recreation program. This is the largest cut in conservation funding in state history.-- Diverting $20.5 million in dedicated farmland preservation funding from the cigarette tax to
the general fund for 2012 and beyond.
“These cuts undermine the progress made in the Marcellus Shale legislation to increase
investments in these programs,” said Heath. “We are calling on our legislative champions who
support Growing Greener to prevent this from happening.”
Together, these programs have supported thousands of park and trail projects throughout
the Commonwealth,preserved thousands of acres of family farmland, conserved thousands of
acres of threatened open space and protected hundreds of miles of streams and waterways. In
addition, they have contributed and leveraged billions of dollars to the Pennsylvania economy by
helping to boost tourism, create jobs and generate revenue.
The Renew Growing Greener Coalition is the largest coalition of conservation, recreationand environmental organizations in the Commonwealth, representing nearly 350 organizations
and government entities from across the state.
More than 140 government entities, including 35 counties, representing more than seven
million Pennsylvanians, have passed resolutions calling for a dedicated source of funding for the
Growing Greener Environmental Stewardship Fund.
Updated Schedule For Remaining Senate, House Budget Hearings
The Senate and House Appropriations Committees both have budget hearings scheduled this
week on Gov. Corbett's proposed budget You can watch the hearings live through the Senatewebpage and the House webpage or on the PA Cable Network website.
Here's the schedule of the remaining budget hearings--
February 27-- House Appropriations Committee budget hearings: 10:00 - Public Utility
Commission; 11:00 - Office of Consumer Advocate, Small Business Advocate.
February 28-- Agenda Changed. Senate Appropriations Committee budget hearings:
[deleted- 1:00 - Department of Agriculture]. Hearing Room 1, North Office.
February 28-- House Appropriations Committee budget hearings: 9:30 - Department of
Agriculture; 10:30 - Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.
February 29-- Senate Appropriations Committee budget hearings: 9:30 - PA Emergency
Management Agency.
February 29-- House Appropriations Committee budget hearings: 9:30 - Department of
Transportation; 3:00 - Department of Environmental Protection.
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March 1-- House Appropriations Committee budget hearings: 10:00 Department of Labor &
Industry; 1:00 - Department of Community and Economic Development.
March 1-- NEW. Senate Appropriations Committee budget hearings: 1:00- Department of
Agriculture.
March 6-- House Appropriations Committee budget hearings: 9:30 - State Police/Office of
Homeland Security; 11:00 - PA Emergency Management Agency; 3:00 - Department of General
Services.
March 8-- House Appropriations Committee budget hearings: 10:00 - Budget Secretary; 1:00 -
House Member Testimony.
Videos of the Senate budget hearings on the Department of Conservation & Natural
Resources and the Department of Environmental Protection are available online.
Related Stories
Governor's Budget Cuts Environment Again, Keystone Fund Zeroed Out For DCNR
The Record: $1.8 Billion Cut/Diverted From Environmental Programs Last 10 Years
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Senate/House Agenda/Session Schedule/Bills Introduced
Here are the Senate and House Calendars and Committee meetings showing bills of interest as
well as a list of new environmental bills introduced--
Session Schedule
Here is the latest voting session schedule for the Senate and House--
Senate
Budget Hearings: Feb. 27, 28, 29 and March 1
March 5, 6, 7, 12, 13, 14, 26, 27, 28
April 2, 3, 30May 1, 2, 7, 8, 9, 21, 22, 23
June 4, 5, 6, 11, 12, 13, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29
House
Budget Hearings: Feb. 27, 28, 29, March 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
March 12, 13, 14, 26, 27, 28
April 2, 3, 4, 30
May 1, 2, 7, 8, 9, 21, 22, 23
June 4, 5, 6, 11, 12, 13, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29
Bill Calendars
House (March 12): House Bill 1934 (F.Keller-R-Snyder) excluding people residing in federal or
state facilities for determining when a municipality must recycle; House Resolution 438 (Cruz-
D-Philadelphia) urging Philadelphia to establish a waste tire removal and disposal
program; House Resolution 423 (Petri-R-Bucks) directing the Legislative Budget and Finance
Committee to study state funding formulas and how they impact counties; House Resolution
505 (Preston-D-Allegheny) disapproving the PUC regulation on natural gas competition.
<> Click Here for full House Bill Calendar.
Senate (March 5): Senate Bill 1324 (Yaw-R-Bradford) quieting mineral property titlerights; Senate Bill 1398 (Yudichak-D-Luzerne) extending the Underground Storage Tank
Environmental Cleanup Program from 2012 to 2017; House Bill 1813 (Tobash-R-Schuylkill)
further providing for anthracite reclamation fees and guarantees. <> Click Here for full Senate
Bill Calendar.
Committees
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House: the Appropriations Committee holds budget hearings on: Public Utility Commission,
Office of Consumer Advocate, Small Business Advocate, Department of Agriculture,
Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Department of Transportation, Department
of Environmental Protection, Department of Labor & Industry, Department of Community and
Economic Development; the Game and Fisheries Committee holds an informational meeting
on Fish and Boat Commission's Annual Report; the House Democratic Policy Committee holdsa hearing on Marcellus Shale air emissions in Bryn Mawr. <> Click Here for full House
Committee Schedule.
Senate: the Appropriations Committee holds budget hearings on: PA Emergency Management
Agency, Department of Agriculture <> Click Here for full Senate Committee Schedule.
Bills Introduced
The following bills of interest were introduced this week--
Emission Inspections: House Resolution 580 (Gibbons-D-Beaver) memorializing Congress tore-evaluate the enhanced vehicle emissions inspection program.
News From The Capitol
Rep. George To Introduce Injection Well Moratorium Bill
Rep. Camille George (D-Clearfield), Minority Chair of the House Environmental Resources and
Energy Committee, Wednesday said he is seeking support for legislation he is drafting to address
concerns with injection wells used to dispose or store oil and gas drilling waste.
“I receive calls and e-mails about this issue nearly every day,” Rep. George said. “Peopleare concerned about their water and the potential dangers associated with injection wells.”
At least eight injection wells exist in Pennsylvania, and an injection well has been
proposed in Brady Township, Clearfield County, to dispose of industrial gas drillers’ waste from
the Marcellus shale play. Roughly two dozen applications across the state are pending.
Rep. George said only injection wells drilled for the disposal of waste from oil- or
natural-gas-related drilling would be affected by his legislation.
“My bill provides for a two-year moratorium on the drilling of any new injection wells
used for disposing of oil or gas waste,” Rep. George said. “The bill will not affect existing wells.
However, any wells drilled after Jan. 1 of this year, including the well proposed in Brady
Township, would not be allowed to accept the drilling waste.”
The measure also will contain other water protection measures that will remain in effectafter the moratorium expires.
Included in Rep. George’s bill is a 2,000-foot setback from private water supplies, unless
consent is granted by the owner of the private water well, as well as a 5,500-foot setback from
public water supplies.
The bill bans the deep waste-disposal wells in floodplains and provides a 2,000-foot
setback from trout streams and High Quality/Exceptional Value waterways.
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Rep. George currently is accepting co-sponsors for the bill and plans to introduce it
before the House returns to session in March.
“Communities cannot exist without fresh water,” Rep. George said. “We must do
everything possible to ensure the integrity and protection of our drinking water supplies.”
February Environmental Synopsis Now Available From Joint Conservation Committee
The February issue of the Environmental Synopsis newsletter is now available online from the
Joint Legislative Air and Water Pollution Control and Conservation Committee.
This month's issue features articles on sustainable forestry, the increasing role of natural
gas in the U.S. energy budget, measuring the performance of transportation dollars, renewable
energy production drops, competitive leasing of public lands, and more.
Rep. Scott Hutchinson (R-Venango) serves as Chair of the Joint Committee.
News From Around The State
CBF Comments On EPA Review Of Pennsylvania's Chesapeake Watershed Plan
Matthew J. Ehrhart, PA Executive Director for the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Monday issued
the following statement in conjunction with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
evaluation of the draft Pennsylvania Watershed Implementation Plan (WIP), recently submitted
by the Department of Environmental Protection.
EPA’s evaluation of the recently submitted PA WIP and milestones identifies both key
strengths and needed improvements in order to meet Pennsylvania’s water quality goals.
Overall, EPA summarizes that while PA’s draft Phase II WIP provides updates on
progress to date, it does not provide clear next steps and reasonable assurance that the objectives
will be met. So significant are some of the deficiencies that if improvements aren’t made in thefinal document, Pennsylvania may face ramifications to federally delegated regulatory and
enforcement programs and related federal grants.
“CBF joins EPA in commending DEP for strengths highlighted in the draft plan,
including the development of a plan to ensure that farmers comply with current laws and
regulations; an increased commitment to the Conservation Districts; enabling on-farm visits to
ensure awareness of Erosion Control and the newly updated Pennsylvania Manure Management
Manual; performing compliance inspections on agricultural operators; and increased training and
permitting procedures related to General Permit for stormwater discharges for local
communities," said Ehrhart.
“Additionally, EPA commends PA for taking strides to coordinate with federal agencies
to reduce pollution entering our waterways and the Bay. CBF, as a working partner with DEP,agrees, and cites updates to compliance tools, such as the Manure Management Manual, as
important advances to assist communities in meeting state water quality goals.
“At the same time, this plan is weak in several key areas. Overall, the draft Phase II WIP
is too vague regarding the strategies, programs, resources, legislation, and timing to be employed
to meet our water quality obligations. Nor does it provide reasonable assurance that our goals
will be met.
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“One critical shortcoming with the draft Phase II WIP is the lack of specific information
regarding the expectations of counties to plan for and facilitate pollution reductions. For
decades, Pennsylvania’s effort to restore the Bay has failed in large part due to the large-scale
focus that disconnected farmers, citizens, and local governments and others from the process and
responsibility. One of EPA’s central goals of the Phase II WIPs was to avoid repeating the
mistakes of the past by making the effort more localized and, therefore, more relevant. This plandoes not adequately do that.
“Providing communities with the information, tools, and guidance they need to achieve
our water quality goals will be a challenge, but CBF is confident that DEP and EPA can do so.
And with the increased funding to water infrastructure and the environmental stewardship fund
through recent Marcellus Shale legislation provides Pennsylvania, a unique opportunity to
address staffing and resource shortfalls, and to help DEP implement a plan, and meet our water
quality goals. Counties receiving direct funding from the impact fee should also prioritize efforts
toward meeting these key concerns.
“CBF looks to the Commonwealth to provide a detailed WIP that outlines the required
steps, provides for the needed programs and resources, establishes expectations and compliance
mechanisms for all sectors, and provides reasonable assurance that Pennsylvania will, by 2025,meet federal clean water requirements.”
Expedition Chesapeake Launches Student Essay Contest
The Whitaker Center for Science and the Arts is inviting students in 7th and 8th grades who live
in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, New York, West Virginia, Delaware and the District of
Columbia to participate in a new essay contest as part of the Expedition Chesapeake Initiative at
the Whitaker Center in Harrisburg.
Students are asked in 500 words or less to discuss their favorite science teacher and how
this teacher has had an impact on his or her learning.The deadline for essay submissions is May 31, and the winning essay will be chosen
before June 25.
The winner of a new essay contest to spend a day with international conservationist and
educator Jeff Corwin on the set of Expedition Chesapeake during the 2012-2013 school year.
Jeff Corwin will serve as the host for the 42-minute Large Format film that is the center of
Expedition Chesapeake.
Corwin is perhaps the world's best known celebrity scientist and has worked for the
conservation of endangered species and ecosystems around the world. He recently launched the
ABC television series Ocean Mysteries.
He has also hosted a variety of popular television shows, including Animal Planet's Jeff
Corwin Experience, Corwin's Quest and Giant Monsters; Disney's Going Wild with Jeff Corwin;Investigation Earth with the Discovery Networks; and NBC's Jeff Corwin Unleashed, which was
nominated four times for an Emmy and won an Emmy for Outstanding Host.
Complete contest rules and requirements are available by sending email to:
[email protected] or by calling 717-234-1295. One winning essay will be
chosen by a committee from the Expedition Chesapeake Advisory Panel.
"Whitaker Center aims to educate the next generation about important watershed issues
and the environment around them. We understand the critical role that teachers play in the
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education of our youth, and this is an opportunity to recognize the efforts of the area's best
science teachers while also reconnecting students with their writing skills," says Dr. Michael
Hanes, President and CEO of Whitaker Center.
Expedition Chesapeake includes four related components headlined by a 42-minute Large
Format film. The educational components include a television documentary, a hands-on, 4D
science exhibit that will travel to science centers, and a set of online learning experiencesdesigned to engage students throughout the six states of the watershed. The Chesapeake Bay
watershed supports 17 million residents and is the largest estuary in the nation.
Perkiomen Watershed Annual Stream Cleanup April 21
The Perkiomen Watershed Conservancy in Montgomery County will hold its annual stream
cleanup on April 21. Volunteers age 3 and up are welcome to participate. Each year over 500
volunteers will help celebrate Earth Day by removing trash from the watershed. Click Here for
more details and to register.
PUC Provides Direction On Implementation Of Drilling Impact Fee
The Public Utility Commission Wednesday provided direction for local governments and other
interested parties on the PUC’s implementation of the Unconventional Gas Well Impact Fee Act
(Act 13).
In a Secretarial Letter issued Wednesday, the PUC provided information regarding the
filing of documents with the Commission. The PUC also has established a page on its website to
provide information and answer questions about Act 13.
“We understand that dealing with the PUC is new for many of those impacted by Act
13,” said Commission Chairman Robert F. Powelson. “As we move through the implementation
steps, we will work to keep interested parties informed and help them meet their obligationsunder the Act.”
The Commission has created an email address – [email protected] – in order to create an
electronic distribution list for interested parties and to receive information regarding
implementation of Act 13. Those wishing to be on the official service list for this docket should
send their name and mailing address to that email address.
All Implementation Orders and other official information on Act 13 will be docketed at
M-2012-2288561. Interested parties can use the Search for Public Documents function on the
PUC’s website and enter the docket number to view all of the documents connected with the
ongoing implementation of the Act.
In the coming weeks, the Commission plans to issue a Tentative Implementation Order
that will address various issues and proposed procedures related to the Commission’s dutiesunder the Act. The PUC will provide an opportunity for comment on the implementation plans
before they become final.
The guidance provided by the Tentative Implementation Order will include additional
information that must be filed with requests for advisory opinions and reviews of local
ordinances.
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Counties and municipalities also should use the docket number to file notices that they
plan to implement an impact fee and/or municipal resolutions to compel the imposition of an
impact fee.
Requests from municipalities for advisory opinions regarding proposed local ordinances
regulating oil and natural gas operations should be filed with no docket number. The
Commission will assign a separate docket number for each of those requests.For more information, visit the PUC's Act 13 webpage.
NewsClips: PUC: Commission Will Be Agressive About Impact Fee Spending
Luzerne County May Adopt Gas Impact Fee
Wyoming County To Approve Drilling Impact Fee
Bradford Commissioner Discusses View On Impact Fee
Lycoming Commissioners: Gas Impact Fee Limits Control
Shale Law Does Not Pre-Empt Local Control
Attorney General Candidates Debate Drilling Impact Fee
Chief Oil & Gas Improves 80 Miles Of Pennsylvania Roads In 2011
In 2011, Chief Oil & Gas repaired or made improvements to nearly 80 miles of road across the
four counties where it operates in Pennsylvania: Bradford, Sullivan, Susquehanna, and
Wyoming.
While Chief's development of the Marcellus Shale natural gas in Pennsylvania provides
important economic benefits to the local communities, Chief understands that its operations
place additional pressure on infrastructure, particularly local roads.
"We are pleased to be able to support the communities where we live and work by
providing these important infrastructure improvements to local roads," said Terry Bossert, Senior
Vice President of Environmental and Regulatory Affairs for Chief Oil & Gas. "The safety of
those who travel the roads in these counties is of paramount importance to us."Working with several local Pennsylvania contractors, including Eastern Industries, Glenn
O. Hawbaker and Tom Charles Construction, Chief spent more than $6.1 million on
improvements to 30 roads last year. Over the last five years, Chief has spent more than $25
million total on local roads.
Road improvements on these local roads included widening, shoulder upgrades, spring
thaw repairs and surface treatments.
A list of roads improved is available online.
Marcellus Shale Coalition Chair Ray Walker Named Engineer Of The Year
At its 128th Annual Banquet, the Engineers' Society of Western Pennsylvania Wednesday namedRay N. Walker, Jr. “Engineer of Year” for his pioneering Marcellus Shale natural gas
development work.
Walker, who co-founded the Marcellus Shale Coalition and served as the organization’s
first chairman, is Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at Range Resources
Corporation. Led by Walker, Range successfully drilled and completed the first Marcellus Shale
natural gas well.
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“It’s a real privilege to receive this recognition, and I thank the Engineers' Society of
Western Pennsylvania for its great work. More than anything, though, this award is truly a
testament to and an affirmation of the tremendous talent and dedicated professionals we are
fortunate to have at Range, including some of the industry’s best and brightest engineers,” said
Walker. “Natural gas development from the Marcellus Shale has proven to be one of the most
transformative and pivotal energy breakthroughs of our lifetime. It’s been an incredibleexperience, both professionally and personally, to be so closely involved in this positive progress
for the region and our nation.”
“Ray’s enthusiasm for the responsible development of clean, American natural gas is
matched only by his passion to ensure that our industry remains committed to getting this
historic opportunity right,” said Marcellus Shale Coalition president Kathryn Klaber. “This
important recognition is well-deserved, and on behalf of the organization he helped to build, I
thank Ray again for the enormous steps forward our industry has made, and continues to make,
because of his thoughtful leadership and vision.”
NewsClip: Range Resources' Walker Named Engineer Of The Year
DEP Fines Catalyst Energy $185,000 for Water Contamination, Erosion Violations, Spills
The Department of Environmental Protection Wednesday announced it has fined Catalyst
Energy Inc. $185,000 for a number of violations at its non-Marcellus oil and gas well operations
in Forest, McKean and Warren counties.
In addition to paying a fine and taking corrective actions at their well sites, Catalyst faces
restrictions on drilling, hydraulically fracturing or developing new or existing well sites.
“Catalyst has paid the penalty and is working under a negotiated timetable to rectify these
violations,” DEP Northwest Regional Director Kelly Burch said. “The company must also
demonstrate it is in total compliance before drilling or completing more wells.”
Catalyst’s drilling activities in an area of Hickory Township, Forest County,contaminated 14 water supplies. Samples showed that the water contained iron, manganese and
methane at higher levels than existed prior to drilling.
In Pennsylvania, unless operators can prove their drilling activities did not cause the
contamination, they are presumed liable for water contamination if the affected water supply is
within 1,000 feet of the drilled oil or gas well and the pollution occurred within six months of the
completion of drilling.
Catalyst installed water treatment systems and conducted cleanouts of some of the wells,
restoring the water supplies, and returned other water supplies to pre-drill conditions through
other work on the company’s wells. Catalyst now has 60 days to submit a remediation plan to
address the eight remaining water supplies not yet restored or replaced.
Through the end of 2012, Catalyst must obtain DEP’s authorization before it can developor drill new wells or hydraulically fracture existing wells. DEP will grant the authorization if its
inspections verify the company is in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations at the
site.
DEP inspections of well sites in Hickory and Kingsley townships, Forest County, found
that Catalyst had not installed sufficient controls to prevent sediment runoff. A November 2011
inspection of the Warrant 5211 well site in Hickory Township found sediment being discharged
into Lick Run, a nearby waterway.
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DEP immediately issued a field order, requiring Catalyst to suspend construction activity
at the site. A follow-up inspection performed the next day found the company had not complied
with the order. Catalyst has since put in place the needed erosion and sedimentation controls and
submitted the necessary changes to its control plans that are filed with DEP.
The penalty also settles violations resulting from spills and leaks of oil and fluids at well
sites in Forest, Warren and McKean counties. The company has addressed and resolved theseviolations.
Catalyst also has two years to plug 13 abandoned wells left behind by an operator it
acquired in 2007. To date, the company has plugged 103 wells abandoned by the former
operator.
Catalyst’s actions in these cases constitute violations of the Clean Streams Law, the Oil
and Gas Act and the Solid Waste Management Act.
Keep PA Beautiful Expands Successful Cigarette Litter Prevention Program With Grants
Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful announced Friday a 28.5 percent reduction in cigarette litter at five
PennDOT Welcome Centers as a result of the Cigarette Litter Prevention Program. As a resultof this success, KPB is offering grants to communities to expand the program and a special
"Guide to Cigarette Litter Prevention" to duplicate that success elsewhere.
The program, initially launched in 2011, included public education messaging that a
cigarette butt not properly disposed is litter; the distribution of free pocket ashtrays to adult
smokers; and the installation of ash receptacles in the program area.
After completing a follow up scan (a recount of littered cigarette butts) in the program
area, the research team was able to determine the difference this litter prevention program makes
in reducing cigarette butt litter.
Building off of this success, Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful is announcing an expansion of
the CLPP program in Pennsylvania.Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful was recently awarded grant funding to implement the CLPP
program at five PennDOT Welcome Centers located in Mercer, Washington, Greene, Fulton and
Franklin Counties.
Additionally, in partnership with the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources,
Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful will implement the program at Pine Grove Furnace, Blue Knob and
Canoe Creek State Parks.
“We are grateful for the opportunity to bring these valuable anti-litter resources to
Pennsylvania. Through partnerships with both PennDOT and DCNR, we plan to demonstrate
again that with the appropriate tools and resources, we really can change people’s behavior when
it comes to litter and illegal dumping, ” explained Shannon Reiter, President of Keep
Pennsylvania Beautiful. Nationally, Keep America Beautiful reports an average 54 percent reduction of cigarette
litter in the communities implementing KAB’s Cigarette Litter Prevention Program during 2011.
In 2011, the program’s ninth year, there were 252 grant-supported implementations across the
country including downtowns, roadways, beaches, parks, marinas, colleges/universities, tourist
spots, and at special events.
Over the past six years, the CLPP has consistently cut cigarette butt litter by half based
on local measurements taken in the first four to six months after implementation. Survey results
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also showed that as communities continue to monitor the program; those reductions are sustained
or even increased over time. For example, eight communities that started programs between
2007 and 2009 showed a total average reduction of 74 percent when measured again in 2011.
"Changing ingrained behaviors, such as littering, requires a long-term and sustained
commitment,” says Matthew M. McKenna, president and CEO of Keep America Beautiful.
“We’re clearly seeing evidence that the longer a community focuses on anti-litter education programs, the more successful their efforts will be.”
Tobacco products, consisting mainly of cigarette butts, are the most-littered item in
America, representing nearly 38 percent of all items according to "Litter in America", KAB’s
landmark 2009 study of litter and littering behavior.
In response to this issue, KAB developed the CLPP with funding from Philip Morris
USA, an Altria company. In 2010, the program received additional support from RAI Services
Company. Since its inception, the program has been implemented in over 1,000 U.S.
communities.
Research has shown that even self-reported “non-litterers” often don’t consider tossing
cigarette butts on the ground to be "littering." Keep America Beautiful has found that cigarette
butt litter occurs most often at transition points—areas where a person must stop smoking before proceeding into another area. These include bus stops, entrances to stores and public buildings,
and the sidewalk areas outside of bars and restaurants, among others.
To address cigarette butt litter, KAB’s Cigarette Litter Prevention Program recommends
communities integrate four proven approaches: encourage enforcement of litter laws, including
cigarette litter; raise awareness about the issue using public service messages; place ash
receptacles at transition points such as entrances to public buildings; and distribute pocket or
portable ashtrays to adult smokers.
Guide & Grants
The "Guide to Cigarette Litter Prevention" provides information about starting and
maintaining a Cigarette Litter Prevention Program in your community and can be found online.CLPP grant applications are currently being accepted until March 14 for local programs.
Call Todd Crouch at Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful for more information, 724-836-4121 Ext. 103.
PennDOT: Statewide Roadside Cleanup Planned, Volunteers Needed Starting March 1
PennDOT is seeking volunteers for this year’s Great American Cleanup of PA, which begins
March 1 and runs through May 31.
“Cleanup events like this have been a great success in improving the quality of life for
Pennsylvanians by creating cleaner roadsides and communities,” said Secretary Barry Schoch.
“Many dedicated residents return year after year to show their support, and I encourage more
Pennsylvanians to show pride in our state through these great opportunities.”Interested volunteers can find a listing of cleanup events, resources for organizing a
cleanup group and other information at the Great American Cleanup of PA website.
Many of PennDOT’s 7,100 Adopt-A-Highway groups, who collect trash year-round, also
join in this event. Visit the PennDOT website and click on “PennDOT near you” for the phone
number of the nearest PennDOT District Office to sign up for Adopt-A-Highway.
Last year, more than 159,000 volunteers collected 7 million pounds of trash from 13,140
miles of roads, trails and shorelines during the Great American Cleanup of Pennsylvania.
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Additionally, PennDOT’s Adopt-A-Highway volunteers picked up more than 3.5 million pounds
of trash along more than 10,000 miles of roadway during the cleanup event last year.
PennDOT provides gloves, trash bags and safety vests to cleanup volunteers.
For more information, visit the Great American Cleanup of PA website.
Keep PA Beautiful Sue Wiseman Student Scholarship Applications Due May 1
Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful is now accepting applications for the Sue Wiseman Scholarship, an
annual $1,000 scholarship that recognizes youth who have demonstrated leadership and shown
exceptional commitment and dedication to improving their community.
Applications are due May 1.
The Sue Wiseman Scholarship is open to Pennsylvania high school seniors who have
initiated and carried out a personal project that addresses one of Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful’s
focus areas of Prevent It (recycling, community greening, education presentations/workshops,
littering/illegal dumping deterrents), Clean It (illegal dump cleanups, Great American Cleanup,
International Coastal Cleanup, graffiti abatement, invasive plant removal), or Keep It (murals,
plantings/beautification, displays/outreach).The scholarship is named for Sue Wiseman, whose own commitment and dedication to a
cleaner environment led to the founding of PA CleanWays in 1990, which is now Keep
Pennsylvania Beautiful, a statewide nonprofit organization whose mission is empowering
Pennsylvanians to make their communities clean and beautiful.
For applications and more information, visit the KPB Sue Wiseman Scholarship webpage
or the Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful office at 877-772-3673.
Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful has facilitated 35,701 litter and illegal dump cleanups
resulting in the removal of 86,897,316 pounds of trash, 4,930,956 pounds of scrap metal and
576,264 tires statewide. Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful’s community-based approach has involved
1,347,786 volunteers.
Recycling Markets Center Hosts Composting Summit March 15
The Pennsylvania Recycling Markets Center will host a Composting Summit on March 15 from
10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. in at the Holiday Inn Harrisburg East.
The "2012 PA Recycling Markets Development Summit Spotlight on Organics" will
feature markets development programming from nationally recognized organics industry experts
and the U.S. Compost Council; blended with peer networking.
Click Here for a detailed agenda and registration information.
Green Valleys Association Sponsors Permaculture Principles Workshop March 17
The Green Valleys Association at Welkinweir will host a Permaculture Principles Workshop on
March 17 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Green Valley's office in Pottstown, Montgomery
County.
The workshop will showcase how to create sustainable gardens and landscapes by
modeling Permaculture principles and practices.
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Workshop and hands-on activities will explore understanding soil, building soil health,
and structuring human landscapes that model nature’s way. Participants will receive a copy of
Gaia’s Garden: A Guide to Home-Scale Permaculture by Toby Hemenway.
Workshop topics include:
-- Bottom up Gardening, Basic Soil Biology - The composition of a healthy rhizosphere, the
beneficial bacteria and fungi, and plant and soil relationship dynamics.-- Building Soil health using Compost Teas - Determining which compost tea 'recipe' is right for
your land and where to obtain the ingredients and equipment; Brewing, handling and applying
compost tea, and determining an 'application regimen' for healing and improving soil and plants.
-- Permaculture principles and ethics - Hear how to implement this system to create a future that
is beyond merely sustainable!; Learn how permaculture can be applied, not only to create
abundance in for our gardens and farms, but also to the many of the other facets of our lives.
The presenter will be Melissa Miles is the Organizer and Lead Instructor for the Eastern
Pennsylvania Permaculture Guild. She serves as a Director at the Permanent Futures Institute at
Two Miles Micro-Farm. Her training is in Environmental Biology, Conservation Planning, and
Permaculture Design. Melissa's particular areas of interest include integrating Permaculture
ethics and principles and bioremediation/ecological restoration and agroforestry projects.Click Here for more information and to register or call 610-469-7543 or send email to:
DEP Fines Lawn Service Firm $160,000 For Stream Pollution
The Department of Environmental Protection Wednesday fined EG Systems of Marysville, Ohio,
$160,000 in connection with an employee’s deliberate disposal of an herbicide-pesticide-
fertilizer mixture into a small Allegheny County stream. EG Systems does business in the
Pittsburgh area as Scotts Lawn Service.
“The results in this case serve notice that DEP will work diligently and tirelessly to protect our streams and waterways,” DEP Southwest Regional Director Susan Malone said.
In June 2010, DEP investigators discovered an EG Systems employee at the Scotts Lawn
Service location in Monroeville had built a siphon system connecting an 8,000-gallon holding
tank to a gutter downspout drain. The drain empties directly into a storm sewer, which
discharges into an unnamed tributary that flows into Thompson Run.
On June 30, 2010, the employee used the siphon to drain five gallons of a mixture of
herbicide, pesticide, fertilizer and water into the drain, in order to test how long it would take to
drain a known volume of the material. Neighbors noticed a strong odor coming from the storm
sewer, but officials could not pinpoint the source because the discharge was relatively small.
The next day, the employee used the siphon to discharge between 800 and 1,000 gallons
of the mixture into the drain. Neighbors again complained about the odor and contacted local police and fire officials. This time, officials found the source and contacted DEP, which notified
EG Systems. The company promptly hired an environmental remediation contractor to handle
the cleanup.
DEP’s investigation uncovered the employee’s arrangement and resulted in eight
violations of the state’s Solid Waste Management Act and the Pennsylvania Clean Streams Law.
The agency and the company entered into a Consent Assessment of Civil Penalty. The $160,000
penalty DEP collected goes into the Clean Water Fund, which is used to address pollution issues.
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In a separate action, the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General reached a settlement on
criminal charges against the employee. He must serve two years probation, pay a $2,500 fine and
perform 40 hours of community service.
NewsClips: Ohio Company Fined $160,000 For Polluting Stream
Lawn Service Firm Agrees To Settlement Over Discharge
Game Commission Offers Seedlings For Schools Program
Game Commission Executive Director Carl G. Roe Tuesday announced the agency again will be
helping Commonwealth school students learn about the vital role of trees in the environment
through its “Seedlings for Schools” program, in which students will be able to plant a variety of
tree seedlings at home, on school grounds or in their communities.
Orders will be accepted from February 27 to April 1 only through the agency’s website.
“There is no charge to schools participating in this project, as the seedlings are provided
by the Game Commission’s Howard Nursery,” Roe said. “The cost of shipping seedlings is
covered through the generous donations of Waste Management, Mealey’s Furniture, Wildlife for
Everyone Foundation and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service-Partners for Wildlife."The program provides two levels of involvement based on the grade level, and the agency
has been working with the state Department of Education to get the word out about the
availability of seedlings.
“Seedlings for Your Class” is primarily for elementary students. As part of this program,
the Game Commission provides a classroom or one grade level with enough seedlings for each
student to take a seedling home to plant. Seedling choices are silky dogwood or white pine, and
a teacher’s guide comes with the seedlings.
“Seedlings to Develop Habitats” is primarily for middle and high school students. As
part of this program, the Game Commission provides a variety of seedlings to students interested
in planting seedlings on school or community grounds to improve habitat, plant along a stream,develop a tree nursery, or create an environmental area.
“Seedlings come in bundles of 25, and will be shipped directly to schools by UPS toward
the end of April, depending on order receipt and weather,” said Annetta Ayers, superintendent of
the Game Commission’s Howard Nursery. “Once seedlings arrive, it is important to keep them
moist. Hand out seedlings with roots in plastic bags with moist shredded newspaper or plant
them in juice/milk cartons for transplanting at home. ‘How to plant’ information and educational
materials will be provided with seedlings.”
A teachers' guide and student sheet also will be available on the Seedlings for Schools
webpage.
Northeast Regional Wildlife Conservation Needs Grants Due March 1
The Northeast Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies announced a Request for Proposals for
grants under the 2012 Northeast Regional Conservation Needs Grant Program are now being
accepted through March 1.
The objective of the Northeast RCN Grant Program is to address landscape-scale,
regional wildlife conservation issues by combining resources, leveraging funds, and prioritizing
conservation actions identified in State Wildlife Action Plans.
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NAFWA has identified five priority topics which can be addressed by proposals:
-- Develop regional base maps for Analysis of SWAP data;
-- Identify high priority NE species of greatest conservation need;
-- Identify NE species of greatest conservation need data gaps;
-- Identification of regional focal areas and corridors; and
-- Design and implement conservation strategies.Click Here for details on the RFP and application procedures.
Bats, Other Rare Wildlife In Central PA Cave Saved From Mine
Conservationists have succeeded in saving a Blair County cave and surrounding wildlife habitat
from a proposed limestone mine.
A state-endangered bat species and a tiny cave arthropod found nowhere else on the
planet are among the beneficiaries of the settlement agreement reached Thursday by
conservation groups Center for Biological Diversity and Juniata Valley Audubon Society, and
the Department of Environmental Protection and Catharine Properties, the mine developer.
In exchange for dropping their lawsuit against the state and Catharine Properties,conservationists received a formal pledge from the company that it will not disturb the cave site
or surrounding area or bring harm to the species of concern.
“Bats in the Northeast have been under huge pressure in recent years because of the
devastating effects of white-nose syndrome,” said Mollie Matteson with the Center. “Further
stressing these animals, by destroying important bat habitat and possibly even killing bats
directly, is completely unacceptable.”
The groups had challenged the state permit because it failed to protect the eastern small-
footed bat, which hibernates in Heller Cave and roosts in rock piles in the surrounding area. The
mine also threatened the sole location of the Heller Cave springtail, first discovered in 1997.
Hikers, bicyclists and birdwatchers were concerned about the impact of the quarry on theadjoining Lower Trail; local residents worried about the safety of hundreds of quarry trucks per
day, driving back and forth on the area’s narrow, rural roads.
The bats in Heller Cave were discovered to have contracted the newly emergent fungal
disease, white-nose syndrome, two winters ago. Bats throughout the eastern United States have
been devastated by the illness, which is estimated to have killed nearly 7 million bats over the
past five years, in 16 states and four provinces.
The Center filed a federal petition two years ago requesting endangered species listing of
the eastern small-footed bat and the northern long-eared bat, which has also been found in the
vicinity of the mine. Both species are in steep decline from the ravages of the disease.
The terms of the settlement agreement stand so long as Catharine Properties, or its
successors, are without an approved “large non-coal” mining permit. The large permit would besubject to the same review, and potential litigation, as the small permit that had been challenged
by the conservation groups.
Among the claims brought by the groups was that the Department of Environmental
Protection had not included a requirement in the permit for a “total avoidance area” around
Heller Cave — a stipulation made by the Game Commission in its review of the permit’s impact
on state-protected species.
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Stan Kotala, conservation chair at Juniata Valley Audubon, was cautiously optimistic that
the long-term outcome for the Heller Cave area would be its permanent protection.
“Ideally, this site, which has been recognized by both Blair County and the state of
Pennsylvania as an outstanding natural area, will eventually be protected by a permanent
designation, such as a conservation easement. Until then, our groups will stay vigilant to protect
this special place.”The conservation groups were joined in the lawsuit by wildlife advocate Laura Jackson
and were represented by Professor Kenneth T. Kristl and his law students at Widener University
Environment and Natural Resources Law Clinic. The Delaware-based school has a campus in
Harrisburg.
Wildlands Conservancy Announces March Youth, Community Education Programs
The Wildlands Conservancy this week announced their Youth and Community education
program schedule for March. Click Here for more details.
DCNR Helps Dedicate Newly Restored Schuylkill River Trail
Department of Conservation and Natural Resources officials Thursday joined neighborhood, city
and state leaders in the dedication of a newly restored, highly popular trail along the Schuylkill
River that draws thousands of people each year to Philadelphia’s Manayunk section.
“One of the major ways to encourage people to get outdoors and enjoy the natural world
around them is to build trails or trail connectors close to where they live,” said DCNR Deputy
Secretary John Giordano, speaking at a ribbon-cutting ceremony along the Schuylkill Canal
Towpath, off of Lock Street. “As you can see, the Schuylkill River Trail does just that -- it
traverses through many of Philadelphia’s neighborhoods and provides close access to a well-
maintained and loved recreational amenity.”The ceremony celebrated completion of a 2.2-mile segment of the Schuylkill River Trail,
extending north from the end of the canal toward the river and the Shawmont Avenue area of
Philadelphia’s Roxborough section. Linking Montgomery County to the north, it sees the
heaviest use of any trail in Philadelphia, luring hikers, bikers, joggers and other outdoors
enthusiasts.
“This trail will not only promote the health and social benefits realized from recreation, it
will be a gateway to increased visitation and, in turn, boost the economic vitality of Manayunk’s
rebounding Main Street area business district, “ Giordano said. “In fact, we already see
businesses responding, by beginning to front on the canal and towpath.”
The aesthetics and recreational value of the canal and paralleling towpath and trail have
been linked to the location of new businesses and residential development.“I can’t emphasize enough the importance of the partnerships that led to the completion
of this project,” Giordano said. “Like many of our projects across Philadelphia, the cooperative
work of the city, the state and regional organizations are what made this project possible.”
The project was financed through a $300,000 DCNR grant to Philadelphia’s Fairmount
Park Commission; a matching state Department of Transportation Transportation Enhancement
grant; and Philadelphia capital budget funds.
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The restoration project was needed to address recurrent flooding caused by poor
drainage, and the deterioration of four trail bridges spanning small streams flowing into the
Schuylkill from the Shawmont hills. The restored section is among the trail’s most scenic,
threading through heavily wooded, shaded areas along the river.
Specifically, work included: installation of new fencing along the canal’s towpath area;
rebuilding and widening of the trail; flooding remediation; removal of overgrown vegetation thatclogged the trail in some areas; and planting of trees and shrubbery.
Several other improvements are planned or under way in Philadelphia that will enhance
the Schuylkill River Trail experience for users and increase their connections with other trails.
This work includes:
-- Inception of a canal dredging project by the city to clean and deepen the silt and storm debris-
clogged waterway;
-- Restoration of historic canal locks;
-- Construction of an “off-road” trail, taking travelers from the Shawmont Avenue terminus of
the Schuylkill River Trail to Port Royal Avenue, and then north into Montgomery County. This
trail originally used at least one city street to facilitate travel;
-- Construction of a trail over the Manayunk Bridge, connecting Lower Merion’s Cynwyd Trailwith Manayunk and the Schuylkill River Trail;
-- Redevelopment of Manayunk’s Venice Island, between the Schuylkill and the canal, to offer a
new city recreation and performing arts center, upgraded parking and storm-water retention
structures.
For more information, visit the Schuylkill River Trail website.
Pennsylvania Issues Updated Fish Consumption Advisories For 2012
State officials Thursday released an updated list of fish consumption advisories that adds three
new advisories, increases the restrictions on one advisory and eases or lifts four other advisories.The new list also changes the segment description on five existing advisories and clarifies
that harvesting live mussels and clams in Pennsylvania is now prohibited, which affects the
existing one-meal-per-month advisory for Corbicula, or Asiatic clam, on the Schuylkill River.
The annual advisories are developed through a partnership between the Fish and Boat
Commission and the state departments of Environmental Protection, Health and Agriculture.
They apply only to fish caught recreationally and not to fish raised for commercial purposes or
those bought in stores or restaurants.
"Consumption advisories are not intended to discourage anyone from fishing or eating
fresh fish in moderation," DEP Secretary Mike Krancer said. "At-risk groups and those who
regularly eat sport fish are most susceptible to contaminants that can build up in fish over time,
so they should space out fish meals according to these advisories and in consultation with their physician."
"Pennsylvania's fish consumption message is consistent with the story being told
throughout the country--eat fish, but choose wisely," PFBC Executive Director John Arway said.
"Pennsylvania's waters offer a bounty of clean, safe fish for people to eat. The information
provided today helps guide consumers when they are making their choices."
All of Pennsylvania remains under a blanket advisory that recommends limiting
consumption of any recreationally caught fish to one meal per week. This is designed to protect
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against eating large amounts of fish from waters that have not been tested, certain species that
have not been tested or fish that may contain other unidentified contaminants. One meal is
considered to be one-half pound of fish for a 150-pound person.
While fish can be part of a healthy, balanced diet, some fish caught in Pennsylvania may
contain chemicals of concern, such as mercury and Polychlorinated Biphenyls, or PCBs. These
contaminants are found in some waterways because of their use in industry before manyenvironmental regulations existed.
Consumers can reduce their risk of exposure to organic contaminants by properly
cleaning, skinning, trimming and cooking fish. Proper preparation generally includes trimming
away fat and broiling or grilling the fish to allow remaining fat to drip away. Juices and fats that
cook out of the fish should not be eaten or reused for cooking or preparing other foods.
For more information, visit DEP's Fish Advisories webpage.
NewsClips: State Agencies Updates Fish Consumption Warnings
Where Not To Eat The Fish
ClearWater Conservancy Earns National Recognition
The Land Trust Accreditation Commission, an independent program of the Land Trust Alliance,
announced this week the ClearWater Conservancy in Centre County has been awarded
accredited status.
“Accredited land trusts meet national quality standards for protecting important natural
places and working lands forever,” said Commission Executive Director Tammara Van Ryn.
“The accreditation seal lets the public know that the accredited land trust has undergone an
extensive, external review of the governance and management of its organization and the
systems and policies it uses to protect land.”
Based in State College, ClearWater Conservancy is the foremost land trust and natural
resource conservation organization in central Pennsylvania. Since 1980, ClearWater has workedto improve central Pennsylvania for all through land conservation, water resource protection, and
environmental outreach to the community.
“When ClearWater Conservancy first heard of the Land Trust Alliance accreditation
program, we realized the importance of becoming a part of it. The two-and-a -half years we took
to assess our organization and prepare our accreditation application made our organization
stronger and more focused going forward. That application was 8 inches high of 8½ x 11 inch
double sided sheets,” said Bill Hilshey, conservation easement manager at ClearWater and the
lead staff member on the accreditation effort.
ClearWater Conservancy was awarded accreditation this month and is one of 158 land
trusts from across the country awarded accreditation since the fall of 2008. Accredited land trusts
are able to display a seal indicating to the public that they meet national standards for excellence,uphold the public trust and ensure that conservation efforts are permanent. The seal is a mark of
distinction in land conservation.
“This distinction demonstrates ClearWater Conservancy’s proven commitment to the
high standards established by the land trust community,” said Jennifer Shuey, ClearWater’s
executive director. “We are very excited to share this milestone moment in our evolution with
our members, partners, and the community that we serve.”
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Shuey and Hilshey will attend the Land Trust Rally in Salt Lake City, Utah in the fall,
where the 23 newly-accredited land trusts will be celebrated.
Land is America’s most important and valuable resource. Conserving land helps ensure
clean air and drinking water, food security, scenic landscapes and views, recreational places, and
habitat for the diversity of life on earth.
Across the country, local citizens and communities have come together to form landtrusts to save the places they love. Community leaders in land trusts throughout the country have
worked with willing landowners to save over 47 million acres of farms, forests, parks and places
people care about.
Strong, well-managed land trusts provide local communities with effective champions
and caretakers of their critical land resources, and safeguard the land through the generations.
Some of ClearWater’s many conservation and environmental protection achievements
include:
-- Conservation of nearly 5,000 acres of land in Central Pennsylvania through conservation
easement, outright ownership or purchase and transfer to public ownership;
-- Installation of 25,500 feet of streambank fencing and 48,000 feet of riparian buffer through our
Riparian Conservation Program;-- Proper disposal of 2,738 tons of illegally dumped trash through our Watershed Cleanup Day,
now in its 17th year; and
-- Funded thousands of elementary and middle school students in schools throughout Centre
County to take outdoor field trips through our Connections programs.
For more information, visit the ClearWater Conservancy website.
PPL Applies To Lower Default Service Electric Rates
PPL Electric Utilities has filed its generation rates and Price to Compare for the three months
beginning March 1 with the Public Utility Commission. The new rates will be lower for residential and small-commercial customers on the utility’s default supply service.
The updated rates reflect recent power supply costs and projected market costs for the
next three months. They also reflect the reconciliation of collections from customers with the
company’s power supply costs so far this year.
The new Price to Compare for residential customers will be 6.935 cents per kilowatt-
hour, down from 7.769 cents per kilowatt-hour currently. A typical residential customer may use
1,000 kWh of electricity a month.
This price applies to residential customers who have not chosen an alternative supplier
and receive “default” supply service from PPL Electric Utilities. The Price to Compare includes
generation and transmission service, which make up 65 to 70 percent of the typical residential
monthly bill. It does not include distribution charges, which apply to all customers and cover thecompany’s costs to deliver power and provide customer service.
For small-business customers, the new Price to Compare will be 6.387 cents per kilowatt-
hour, compared with 6.775 cents per kilowatt-hour currently.
A full list of PPL Electric Utilities’ new rates for all rate classes can be found online.
DEP Hosts Workshops On ISO Energy Efficiency Standards March 6, 8, 20 & April 5
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The Department of Environmental Protection invites industries, businesses, utilities and local
government introductory workshops about the International Organization for Standardization
(ISO) 50001, a program designed to promote energy efficiency and help reduce operating costs.
The workshops will be held in--
-- Harrisburg workshop will be from 9 a.m. to noon at DEP’s South-central Regional Office
building at 909 Elmerton Ave. in Harrisburg;-- Norristown workshop will be from 9 a.m. to noon at DEP’s Southeast Regional Office at 2 E.
Main St. in Norristown;
-- Cranberry Township workshop will be from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Cranberry Township at the
Cranberry Township Municipal Building - 2525 Rochester Rd., Cranberry Twp.; and
-- Erie workshop will be from 9 a.m. to Noon at the Tom Ridge Environmental Center, 301
Peninsula Drive, Erie.
ISO 50001 is the new energy management system standard designed to help
organizations improve energy efficiency, evaluate the use of energy-efficient technology, and to
reduce operating costs and improve profitability. Attendees will learn more about the concept
and benefits of energy management systems.
This workshop also includes an opportunity to learn more about the U.S. Department of Energy’s “Save Energy Now” pilot program, which is aimed at implementing and achieving
certification under the American National Standards Institute-accredited “Superior Energy
Performance” program. One of the program’s central elements is ISO 50001 implementation.
A representative of the Pennsylvania Technical Assistance Program (PennTAP), who is
implementing the “Save Energy Now” pilot program on behalf of the U.S. Department of
Energy, will be available at the end of the introductory workshop to provide information to
industrial clients if they are interested in participating.
Warren Weaver, Principal Consultant with Energy Materials Sustainability Consulting,
will be the guest speaker. He is an ISO 14001-certified auditor who previously worked for Penn
State University’s PennTAP. He has worked with numerous industries to implementmanagement systems.
The free workshops are being offered as part of DEP’s state energy plan initiatives
through a grant provided by the U.S. Department of Energy. All workshop details can be found
online.
Those who plan to attend should register by visiting the website or by calling
814-332-6681.
Heating Bill Help Available For Low-Income Households Until March 31
Pennsylvania is receiving an additional $52.3 million in federal funding for the Low-Income
Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) to assist those who are struggling to pay homeheating bills, Department of Public Welfare Secretary Gary D. Alexander announced Friday.
The federally-funded program provides cash grants to eligible low-income households to
help pay for home heating fuel. It also provides crisis grants to address heating emergencies such
as furnace failures or unexpected fuel shortages.
“Despite seeing a warmer-than-usual winter, many people in Pennsylvania are still
seeking this critical assistance,” said Alexander. “This funding allows us to keep LIHEAP open
through March 31.”
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Economic and Fiscal Impacts from Heritage Tourism
Historic preservation safeguards Pennsylvania’s heritage assets that serve as significant
tourism draws. The report estimates that heritage tourism accounts for 32 million visitors and $1
billion in visitor spending each year, which, when combined with direct expenditures associated
with the ongoing operations of heritage tourism destinations, results in an industry that has a total
annual economic impact of $2.9 billion, supporting 37,000 jobs and generating $90 million instate tax revenues. Pennsylvania can especially benefit from the importation of purchasing power
from outside the state for the benefit of merchants and communities across Pennsylvania.
Qualitative Impacts
Aesthetic and education, environmental sustainability and revitalization and stabilization
are in line with the kinds of objectives being pursued by governments at all levels. As a result,
historic preservation is increasingly understood in these terms, and there are many opportunities
for collaboration, with historic preservation playing its role in stimulating economic
development.
The report concludes that historic preservation efforts come in all shapes and sizes.
Beyond the aesthetic, cultural and historical benefits of historic preservation, this report adds its
many economic benefits: economic stimulus through construction projects, wealth gains and taxrevenue generation through property value appreciation, and jobs supported from all of these
activities, including heritage tourism.
The full report is available online.
Help Wanted: Chester County Conservation District Agricultural Conservationist
The Chester County Conservation District is seeking candidates for an Agricultural Resource
Conservationist position. An Agricultural Resource Conservationist provides technical and
financial assistance to local landowners in order to conserve soil, and to protect and enhance
Chester County's natural resources. Click Here for instructions on how to apply.
Help Wanted: Berks Conservation District Agricultural Conservationist, West Nile
Technician
The Berks County Conservation District is seeking candidates for an Agricultural Resource
Conservationist position. An Agricultural Resource Conservationist provides technical and
financial assistance to local landowners in order to conserve soil, and to protect and enhance
Berks County's natural resources.
The District is also seeking candidates for a West Nile Virus Seasonal Technician to be
responsible for implementing mosquito control and Integrated Mosquito Management
throughout Berks County. Duties include field work, data collection, data entry, mosquito controlactivities and coordination with neighboring counties and Department of Environmental
Protection staff.
All applicants should be able to identify larval, pupal and adult mosquitoes, transport and
set up equipment in isolated areas, read and understand label directions for the application on
insect eradication agents, walk and work in heavily wooded and wet areas.
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All applicants are required to have a B.S. in Entomology, Environmental Resource
Management, Biology or a closely related field is required; all applicants are required to possess
or be able to acquire a PA Department of Agriculture Pesticide Applicator’s License.
Interested applicants should submit a resume to the Berks County Conservation District
either by mail to 1238 County Welfare Road, Suite 200, Leesport, PA 19533 or send email to
[email protected], no phone calls, please. Additional information will be posted onthe District website.
Grants & Awards
This section gives you a heads up on upcoming deadlines for awards and grants and other
recognition programs. NEW means new from last week.
February 29-- EPA Environmental Justice Small Grants
February 29-- Ben Franklin BIG IDEA Business Plan Contest
February 29-- PA American Water Stream of Learning Scholarships
February 29-- West Branch Susquehanna Orange Rock Awards
March 1-- Erie TreeVitalize Grants
March 1-- NEW. Northeast Regional Conservation Needs Grants
March 1-- Keystone Historic Preservation Project and Construction Grants
March 2-- Coca-Cola, Keep America Beautiful Recycling Bin Grants
March 2-- Conservation Innovation Grants, Chesapeake Bay Nutrient Credit Grants
March 5-- TogetherGreen Fellowship and Innovation Grants
March 5-- PEC/Dominion Western PA Environmental Awards
March 10-- PA American Water Environmental Grants
March 14-- NEW. Keep PA Beautiful Cigarette Litter Prevention Grants
March 15-- Keep PA Beautiful Greenways Mini-GrantsMarch 23-- Water Resources Education Network Grants
March 30-- PA American Water Protect Our Watersheds Student Art Contest
March 31-- DEP Host Municipal Inspector Grants
April 1-- NEW. Game Commission Seedlings For Schools Program
April 3-- West Penn Power Sustainable Energy Fund Grants, Loans
April 4-- DCNR Community Conservation Partnership Grants
April 15-- Wild Resource Conservation Fund Income Tax Checkoff Deadline
May 1-- NEW. Keep PA Beautiful Sue Wiseman Student Scholarships
May 31-- NEW. Expedition Chesapeake Student Essay Contest
August 1-- PA Snowmobile Assn. Trail Improvement Grants
August 24-- Foundation for PA Watershed GrantsSeptember 1-- Erie TreeVitalize Grants
October 31-- PA Resources Council Lens On Litter Contest
-- Visit the DEP Grants and Loan Programs webpage for more ideas on how to get financial
assistance for environmental projects.
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Budget/Quick Clips
Here's a selection of NewClips on environmental topics from around the state--
Budget
DCNR Linked To Natural Gas RevenueLuzerne County May Adopt Gas Impact Fee
Bradford Commissioner Discusses View On Impact Fee
Lycoming Commissioners: Gas Impact Fee Limits Control
Shale Law Does Not Pre-Empt Local Control
Wyoming County To Approve Drilling Impact Fee
PUC: Commission Will Be Agressive About Impact Fee Spending
Attorney General Candidates Debate Drilling Impact Fee
Op-Ed: Where's Pennsylvania's Transportation Plan?
Other
Politics, Resignations Add Wrinkle To Pittsburgh DEP Office
State Agencies Updates Fish Consumption Warnings
Where Not To Eat The Fish
Heating Oil On Rise Despite Tepid Winter Temps
Harrisburg Gasoline Prices Likely To Rise
Gasoline Expected to Rise This Weekend
Idled Refineries Contribute To Rising Gasoline Prices
Editorial: Gasoline Prices May Fuel Changes
Editorial: Many Factors Fuel Rise In Gasoline Prices
DEP: No Fines In Tunkhannock Service Station Leak
Ohio Company Fined $160,000 For Polluting Stream
Power Price To Drop March1 For PPL CustomersSticker Shock: Electricity Rates Keep Falling
PPL Bills Go Lower Thanks To Cheap Natural Gas
Westmoreland Agency Borrows $4 Million For Energy Efficiency
Rex Energy To Stop Supplying Water To Butler County Homes
Column: Climate Scientist Accused Of Stealing Documents
Lehigh Valley Group Names Brownfields Director
Bat Disease Expected At Western PA Sites
Endangered Rattlesnake Gets Sanctuary In Venango
PA Among Leaders In Great Backyard Bird Count
200 Pound Feral Hog Shot In Wayne County
Lancaster Urban Forest Plan Ready For PublicCourt Denies Centralia Property Owners From Keeping Homes
Marcellus Shale NewsClips
Here are NewsClips on topics related to Marcellus Shale natural gas drilling---
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DCNR Linked To Natural Gas Revenue
Bradford Commissioner Discusses View On Impact Fee
Luzerne County May Adopt Gas Impact Fee
Lycoming Commissioners: Gas Impact Fee Limits Control
Shale Law Does Not Pre-Empt Local ControlWyoming County To Approve Drilling Impact Fee
PUC: Commission Will Be Agressive About Impact Fee Spending
Attorney General Candidates Debate Drilling Impact Fee
As Marcellus Boom Slows, Worry Sets In
DEP Investigates Spill At Washington County Gas Well
Water Discharge Near Butler Gas Well Site Probed
Another Leak Springs At Drilling Site In Butler County
DEP Investigating Gas Spill Near Washington County Well
State Probing 2nd Spill At Washington Well
Fish Commission Probes Pipeline Leak Into Butler County Creek
Western PA Residents Say Water Ruined By Drilling, State Says NoWestern PA Tests: Chemicals In Drilling Area Water
First Shale Health Center Now Open
Target 11 Investigates Marcellus Shale Drilling
Water Well Regs Could Reduce Contamination, Increase Costs
Inside PA's New Drilling Production Numbers
Editorial: Selling Gas Works Debated
Transco Natural Gas Pipeline Worked Discussed
Cabot, Williams Announces New Marcellus Pipeline
New Law Tightens Oversight Of Natural Gas Pipelines
Op-Ed: Eminent Domain For Pipelines A ProblemStudy: Crime Rates Unsettled In Marcellus Shale Drilling Areas
Natural Gas Industry, Environmental Groups Alliance Fractures
PPL Bills Go Lower Thanks To Cheap Natural Gas
Clean Air Council Says DEP Lax In Drilling Air Pollution
Property Owners Lobby For DRBC To Lift Drilling Ban
Drilling Feeds Washington County's Development
Marcellus Development Continues In Western PA
State Funds Rail Work At Potential Cracker Site In Beaver
NE Rail Projects Receive Funding
Closer Look At PSU's Drilling/Crime Study
Wyoming County Men Arrested In Gas Equipment TheftBook Reviews: Why Not Frack?
The Fracking Landscape, A Tale Of Two Pennsylvanias
Financial/Other States
Range Resources' Walker Named Engineer Of The Year
Range Resources Could Be Takeover Target
Range Resources Sets Sights On Super Rich
Cabot Oil & Gas Provides Operations Update
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Illinois Cracker Plant A Mixed Blessing
Enerplus Adding Marcellus Production, Reserves
PSS Adds Strategic Marcellus Shale Location With Acquisition
Flooding/Watershed NewsClips
Here are NewsClips on watershed topics from around the state--
Flooding
Casey Calls On Corps To Work On Damaged Levees
Flood Victim Goes To Congress
Other Watershed NewsClips
Water Well Regs Could Reduce Contamination, Increase Costs
Protecting Watersheds Goal Of Schuylkill River Congress
Jacobs Creek Watershed Receives Growing Greener Grant
North Scranton Reclamation Project Funded With Growing Greener
USDA Announces New Funding For Conservation Partners
Island In Harvey's Lake To Munch On Chemicals
Proposed Harveys Lake Wetland Island Discussed
Panel Puts Harvey's Lake On A Diet
Op-Ed: Philadelphia A Leader On Clean Water
Report: Lake Wallenpaupack Water Quality Up
Looking For Delaware River Ambassadors
Lawn Service Firm Agrees To Settlement Over Discharge
Regulations, Technical Guidance & Permits
No new regulations published this week. Pennsylvania Bulletin - February 25, 2012
Proposed Regulations Open For Comment - DEP webpage
Proposed Regulations With Closed Comment Periods - DEP webpage
DEP Regulatory Agenda - DEP webpage
Technical Guidance & Permits
The Department of Environmental Protection published notice of proposed nitrogen oxide
allowance allocations for 2016. The Fish & Boat Commission published notice of a correction to
the list of Class A Wild Trout Waters.
The Public Utility Commission published its final statement of policy on default service and
retail electric markets and a final policy on utility service outage public notification.
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Technical Guidance Comment Deadlines - DEP webpage
Copies Of Draft Technical Guidance - DEP webpage
Copies of Final Technical Guidance - DEP webpage
Calendar Of Events
Upcoming legislative meetings, conferences, workshops, plus links to other online calendars.
Meetings are in Harrisburg unless otherwise noted. NEW means new from last week. Go to the
online Calendar webpage.
Click on Agenda Released on calendar entries to see the NEW meeting agendas published this
week.
Note: You can watch the budget hearings live through the Senate webpage and the House
webpage or on the PA Cable Network website.
February 27-- House Appropriations Committee budget hearings: 10:00 - Public Utility
Commission; 11:00 - Office of Consumer Advocate, Small Business Advocate. Room 140.
February 27-- House Democratic Policy Committee holds a hearing on Marcellus Shale air
emissions. Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church, Bryn Mawr. 10:00.
February 28-- Agenda Changed. Senate Appropriations Committee budget hearings:
[deleted- 1:00 - Department of Agriculture]. Hearing Room 1, North Office.
February 28-- House Appropriations Committee budget hearings: 9:30 - Department of
Agriculture; 10:30 - Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Room 140.
February 29-- Senate Appropriations Committee budget hearings: 9:30 - PA Emergency
Management Agency. Hearing Room 1, North Office.
February 29-- House Game and Fisheries Committee informational meeting on Fish and Boat
Commission's Annual Report. Room 39 East Wing. 10:00.
February 29-- House Appropriations Committee budget hearings: 9:30 - Department of
Transportation; 3:00 - Department of Environmental Protection. Room 140.
March 1-- House Appropriations Committee budget hearings: 10:00 Department of Labor &
Industry; 1:00 - Department of Community and Economic Development. Room 140.
March 1-- NEW. Senate Appropriations Committee budget hearings: 1:00- Department of
Agriculture. Hearing Room 1, North Office.
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