pa environment digest jan. 11, 2016

8/20/2019 Pa Environment Digest Jan. 11, 2016

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PA Environment Digest

An Update On Environmental Issues In PAEdited By: David E. Hess, Crisci Associates

Winner 2009 PAEE Business Partner Of The Year Award

Issue #602 Harrisburg, Pa January 11, 2016

DEP Releases Final Chapter 78 Drilling Regulations For Action By EQB

The Department of Environmental Protection Wednesday released the final version of its

Chapter 78 (conventional) and Chapter 78A (unconventional-- Marcellus Shale) oil and gas

drilling regulations it has submitted to the Environmental Quality Board for consideration on

February 3.The regulatory package-- over 2,500 pages-- is available on the EQB webpage. The

package includes the Executive Summary , Preamble, Final Regulation , Comment/Response- Part

1 (original comment period), Comment/Response- Part 2 (advanced notice of final rulemaking),

Regulatory Analysis Form, 1-Page Summaries and a Regulation Fact Sheet.

Comments by the Conventional Oil and Gas Advisory Committee and comments by the

Oil and Gas Technical Advisory Board are also available.

“These regulatory changes are balanced, incremental and appropriate; protecting public

health while enabling responsible drilling to proceed,” said DEP Secretary John Quigley. “These

rules are a long time coming -- more than 4 years -- and were written with an unprecedented

amount of public participation and transparency. We’ve worked hard to ensure that the health

and saf ety of our citizens are protected, and the needs of industry are being met.”Quigley said the amendments to the oil and gas regulations address surface activities at

well sites, and center on five core areas:

— Improve protection of water resources,

— Add public resources considerations,

— Protect public health and safety,

— Address landowner concerns, and

— Enhance transparency and improve data management.

“It’s important to emphasize the role of the public and stakeholders in this process.

Across a dozen public hearings, two public comment periods that attracted almost 28,000

comments, and 20 meetings with the Oil and Gas Technical Advisory Board and Conventional

Oil and Gas Advisory Committee, this has been an exercise in transparency in rulemaking,” saidQuigley.

“These rules present a distinct, substantive separation of regulatory provisions applicable

to conventional and unconventional wells. They will allow the oil and gas industries in

Pennsylvania to continue to flourish, while adding additional common-sense environmental and

public health safeguards,” he added.

Here are a few differences between the regulations for unconventional (Marcellus Shale)

and conventional drilling--

http://www.dep.pa.gov/Business/Energy/OilandGasPrograms/OilandGasMgmt/OilGasTech/Pages/default.aspx#.Vova-jaa10chttp://files.dep.state.pa.us/PublicParticipation/Public%20Participation%20Center/PubPartCenterPortalFiles/Environmental%20Quality%20Board/2016/February%203/COGAC%20to%20EQB%20Report%20Ch%2078.pdfhttp://paenvironmentdaily.blogspot.com/2016/01/conventional-oil-gas-advisory-committee.htmlhttp://files.dep.state.pa.us/PublicParticipation/Public%20Participation%20Center/PubPartCenterPortalFiles/Environmental%20Quality%20Board/2016/February%203/TAB%20Report.pdfhttp://files.dep.state.pa.us/PublicParticipation/Public%20Participation%20Center/PubPartCenterPortalFiles/Environmental%20Quality%20Board/2016/February%203/Comment%20Response%20-%20Part%202.pdfhttp://files.dep.state.pa.us/PublicParticipation/Public%20Participation%20Center/PubPartCenterPortalFiles/Environmental%20Quality%20Board/2016/February%203/Comment%20Response%20-%20Part%202.pdfhttp://files.dep.state.pa.us/PublicParticipation/Public%20Participation%20Center/PubPartCenterPortalFiles/Environmental%20Quality%20Board/2016/February%203/Final%20Exec%20Summary.pdfhttp://files.dep.state.pa.us/PublicParticipation/Public%20Participation%20Center/PubPartCenterPortalFiles/Environmental%20Quality%20Board/2016/February%203/Final%20Order.pdfhttp://files.dep.state.pa.us/PublicParticipation/Public%20Participation%20Center/PubPartCenterPortalFiles/Environmental%20Quality%20Board/2016/February%203/Final%20Order.pdfhttp://files.dep.state.pa.us/PublicParticipation/Public%20Participation%20Center/PubPartCenterPortalFiles/Environmental%20Quality%20Board/2016/February%203/Final%20Annex%20A.pdfhttp://files.dep.state.pa.us/PublicParticipation/Public%20Participation%20Center/PubPartCenterPortalFiles/Environmental%20Quality%20Board/2016/February%203/Comment%20Response%20-%20Part%201.pdfhttp://files.dep.state.pa.us/PublicParticipation/Public%20Participation%20Center/PubPartCenterPortalFiles/Environmental%20Quality%20Board/2016/February%203/Comment%20Response%20-%20Part%201.pdfhttp://files.dep.state.pa.us/PublicParticipation/Public%20Participation%20Center/PubPartCenterPortalFiles/Environmental%20Quality%20Board/2016/February%203/Comment%20Response%20-%20Part%201.pdfhttp://www.dep.pa.gov/PublicParticipation/EnvironmentalQuality/2016%20Meetings/Pages/default.aspx#.Vo1CUjaa10chttp://www.dep.pa.gov/PublicParticipation/EnvironmentalQuality/2016%20Meetings/Pages/default.aspx#.Vo1CUjaa10chttp://www.dep.pa.gov/PublicParticipation/EnvironmentalQuality/2016%20Meetings/Pages/default.aspx#.Vo1CUjaa10chttp://www.paenvironmentdigest.com/newsletter/default.asp?NewsletterArticleID=11953http://www.dep.pa.gov/Business/Energy/OilandGasPrograms/OilandGasMgmt/OilGasTech/Pages/default.aspx#.Vova-jaa10chttp://files.dep.state.pa.us/PublicParticipation/Public%20Participation%20Center/PubPartCenterPortalFiles/Environmental%20Quality%20Board/2016/February%203/TAB%20Report.pdfhttp://paenvironmentdaily.blogspot.com/2016/01/conventional-oil-gas-advisory-committee.htmlhttp://files.dep.state.pa.us/PublicParticipation/Public%20Participation%20Center/PubPartCenterPortalFiles/Environmental%20Quality%20Board/2016/February%203/COGAC%20to%20EQB%20Report%20Ch%2078.pdfhttp://files.dep.state.pa.us/PublicParticipation/Public%20Participation%20Center/PubPartCenterPortalFiles/Environmental%20Quality%20Board/2016/February%203/Fact%20Sheet%20for%20Final%20Ch%2078%20Regulation.pdfhttp://files.dep.state.pa.us/PublicParticipation/Public%20Participation%20Center/PubPartCenterPortalFiles/Environmental%20Quality%20Board/2016/February%203/One%20Page%20Summaries.pdfhttp://files.dep.state.pa.us/PublicParticipation/Public%20Participation%20Center/PubPartCenterPortalFiles/Environmental%20Quality%20Board/2016/February%203/Final%20RAF.pdfhttp://files.dep.state.pa.us/PublicParticipation/Public%20Participation%20Center/PubPartCenterPortalFiles/Environmental%20Quality%20Board/2016/February%203/Comment%20Response%20-%20Part%202.pdfhttp://files.dep.state.pa.us/PublicParticipation/Public%20Participation%20Center/PubPartCenterPortalFiles/Environmental%20Quality%20Board/2016/February%203/Comment%20Response%20-%20Part%201.pdfhttp://files.dep.state.pa.us/PublicParticipation/Public%20Participation%20Center/PubPartCenterPortalFiles/Environmental%20Quality%20Board/2016/February%203/Comment%20Response%20-%20Part%201.pdfhttp://files.dep.state.pa.us/PublicParticipation/Public%20Participation%20Center/PubPartCenterPortalFiles/Environmental%20Quality%20Board/2016/February%203/Final%20Annex%20A.pdfhttp://files.dep.state.pa.us/PublicParticipation/Public%20Participation%20Center/PubPartCenterPortalFiles/Environmental%20Quality%20Board/2016/February%203/Final%20Order.pdfhttp://files.dep.state.pa.us/PublicParticipation/Public%20Participation%20Center/PubPartCenterPortalFiles/Environmental%20Quality%20Board/2016/February%203/Final%20Exec%20Summary.pdfhttp://www.dep.pa.gov/PublicParticipation/EnvironmentalQuality/2016%20Meetings/Pages/default.aspx#.Vo1CUjaa10chttp://www.dep.pa.gov/PublicParticipation/EnvironmentalQuality/2016%20Meetings/Pages/default.aspx#.Vo1CUjaa10chttp://www.paenvironmentdigest.com/newsletter/default.asp?NewsletterArticleID=11953


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-- Use of pits to store drilling wastes: The unconventional industry will be prohibited from

utilizing pits to store drill cuttings and waste fluids. The conventional industry will continue to

be able to use pits that are less than 3,000 square feet and store less than 125,000 gallons of fluid

under a permit by rule. Larger pits will require an individual permit.

-- Disposal of drill cuttings: The unconventional industry will be required to obtain an

individual permit to dispose of drill cuttings at the well site. This practice is permitted by rule forthe conventional industry and no changes to this practice are proposed through this rulemaking.

-- Secondary containment at well sites: The unconventional industry will be required to

employ secondary containment around all storage vessels, trucks used to store pollutional

substances and drill rigs. Secondary containment is only required at new, replaced or refurbished

brine tanks at conventional sites.

-- Gathering lines: The unconventional rules contain new sections on gathering line

construction and horizontal directional drilling beneath streams. The conventional rules do not

contain these sections.

-- Temporary pipelines: The unconventional rules contain a new section on the installation and

use of temporary lines used to transport fresh water and wastewater. The conventional rules do

not contain this provision.-- Water management plans: The unconventional rules require operators to obtain a water

management plan before they withdraw water for hydraulic fracturing purposes. The

conventional rules do not contain this requirement.

-- Beneficial use of brine: Conventional operators have the ability to beneficially use their brine

for dust suppression and de-icing purposes. Waste fluid from unconventional wells may not be

used.

-- Reporting: Unconventional operators must report their product (gas and condensate) and

waste on a monthly basis. Conventional operators must report annually.

Industry Reaction - Unconventional Drillers

Marcellus Shale Coalition president David Spigelmyer issued the following statement

regarding the Department of Environmental Protection’s release of its final rulemaking regarding

oil and gas operations:

“Pennsylvania is already well-recognized for having among the nation’s strongest and

most effective environmental and enforcement standards, which the industry has worked hard to

modernize. Unfortunately, DEP failed to consult with the industry regarding its comprehensive

comments, as well as to better understand the cost of compliance with this rulemaking as they

had done with the initial proposal in 2013. As reflected in our comments, this rulemaking will

cost Pennsylvania job creators nearly $2 billion annually without providing meaningful

environmental benefits.

“We have worked in good-faith to provide constructive comments on this proposed rule.

We stand ready to work collaboratively with DEP and the General Assembly to advancecommon-sense policies that work for all Pennsylvanians.”

Pennsylvania Independent Oil & Gas Association President Louis D. D’Amico today

issued the following statement regarding the state Department of Environmental Protection’s

transmittal of the final oil and natural gas regulations (Chapter 78 and 78a) to the Environmental

Quality Board:

“The development of these regulations over the past four years has been flawed to the

point of being fraudulent. The modernization of environmental controls was required by Act 13

http://marcelluscoalition.org/


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for the unconventional industry and yet, despite working on these regulations since 2011, DEP

has still not explained or shown the need to make them applicable to the conventional industry.

“The reasonableness of these rulemaking packages is not determined by the volume of

materials accompanying them, and DEP’s touting its responses to ‘every one of the almost

28,000 comments’ received is disingenuous because many of those comments were form letters

and, more importantly, DEP’s responses come too late in the process to have any legitimacy ormerit.

“Just as disingenuous is DEP’s reference to the ’20 meetings with the Oil and Gas

Technical Advisory Board and Conventional Oil and Gas Advisory Committee’ as some type of

evidence this has been an ‘exercise in transparency in rulemaking.’ One must remember that in

the middle of this rulemaking process this administration quietly replaced all of the long-serving

and dedicated TAB members and violated the Oil and Gas Act by trying to add new ‘non-voting’

members, and yet still failed to engage TAB and the Conventional Oil and Gas Advisory

Committee in the required ‘consultation’ or to provide both with the required ‘reasonable

opportunity to review and comment prior to submission of the packages to the EQB.

“Repeated references by this administration to whatever it proposes as ‘commonsense’

cannot magically transform any of them, especially these rulemakings. We look forward to pressing on with our fight against this abuse of process and extreme regulatory overreach these

rulemakings represent.”

Industry Reaction - Conventional Drillers

PA Independent Oil & Gas Association President Louis D. D’Amico Thursday issued the

following statement regarding the Department of Environmental Protection’s transmittal of the

final oil and natural gas regulations (Chapter 78 and 78a) to the Environmental Hearing Board

[Note: Should be Environmental Quality Board.]:








and, more importantly, DEP’s responses come too late in the process to have any legitimacy or

merit.





and dedicated TAB members and violated the Oil and Gas Act by trying to add new ‘non-voting’members, and yet still failed to engage TAB and the Conventional Oil and Gas Advisory



“Repeated references by this administration to whatever it proposes as ‘common sense’

cannot magically transform any of them, especially these rulemakings. We look forward to

pressing on with our fight against this abuse of process and extreme regulatory overreach these


http://www.pioga.org/


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For more information on Chapter 78, visit the Environmental Quality Board webpage.

For more background information on how the Chapter 78 regulations were developed, visit

DEP’s Oil and Gas Management Regulations webpage.

NewsClips:

No Fracking Pits Allowed Under New DEP Drilling Regs

DEP Finalizes New Oil & Gas Drilling Regulations DEP Proposes Changes To Drilling Rules

DEP Releases Final Oil And Gas Regulations


DEP Moves Forward With Oil And Gas Rulemaking

How Much Will New DEP Drilling Regs Cost Industry?

Allegheny Front: What’s In DEP’s New Drilling Regs?

Related Stories:

Conventional Oil, Gas Advisory Committee Again Challenges DEP Drilling Regs

Marcellus Drilling Advisory Committee Provides Drilling Reg Comments To EQB

Analysis: Myth-- Conventional Oil And Gas Drilling Is Benign

Conventional Oil, Gas Advisory Committee Again Challenges DEP Drilling Regs

The voting members of DEP’s Conventional Oil and Gas Advisory Committee Monday finalized

its comments on the final Chapter 78 drilling regulations and submitted them to the

Environmental Quality Board for its consideration.

The voting member comments from the Committee again alleged DEP did not follow the

proper rulemaking procedures in developing the regulation; they said the rule creates an

unreasonable burden on drillers to replace water supplies they contaminated to pre-drilling

standards; creates an unreasonable standard for restoring drilling sites to pre-drilling standards;

and made other comments.

DEP’s 2014 Oil and Gas Annual Report found conventional oil and gas wells had three

times the violations of unconventional wells and nearly three times the number of enforcement

actions during 2014.

Click Here for a copy of the Committee’s 43 pages of comments.

Industry Reaction - Conventional Drillers

PA Independent Oil & Gas Association President Louis D. D’Amico Thursday issued the

following statement regarding the Department of Environmental Protection’s transmittal of the

final oil and natural gas regulations (Chapter 78 and 78a) to the Environmental Hearing Board

[Note: Should be Environmental Quality Board.]:


point of being fraudulent. The modernization of environmental controls was required by Act 13for the unconventional industry and yet, despite working on these regulations since 2011, DEP






merit.

http://www.pioga.org/https://goo.gl/dp5n5mhttp://www.paenvironmentdigest.com/newsletter/default.asp?NewsletterArticleID=32700http://paenvironmentdaily.blogspot.com/2016/01/dep-releases-final-chapter-78-78a.htmlhttps://goo.gl/dp5n5mhttps://goo.gl/dp5n5mhttp://www.dep.pa.gov/Business/Energy/OilandGasPrograms/OilandGasMgmt/OilGasConventional/Pages/default.aspx#.VovWRjaa10chttp://files.dep.state.pa.us/PublicParticipation/Advisory%20Committees/AdvCommPortalFiles/Oil_and_Gas/Conventional_Oil_and_Gas/COGAC%20Final%20Draft%20032315.pdfhttp://www.paenvironmentdigest.com/newsletter/default.asp?NewsletterArticleID=31809http://paenvironmentdaily.blogspot.com/2016/01/marcellus-drilling-advisory-committee.htmlhttp://paenvironmentdaily.blogspot.com/2016/01/conventional-oil-gas-advisory-committee.htmlhttp://alleghenyfront.org/story/whats-pennsylvanias-new-oil-and-gas-regulationshttp://www.pennlive.com/news/2016/01/shale_coalition_environmentali.html#incart_river_homehttp://www.natlawreview.com/article/pennsylvania-dep-moves-forward-oil-and-gas-rulemaking-despite-legal-and-politicalhttp://wesa.fm/post/dep-releases-final-oil-and-gas-ruleshttp://wesa.fm/post/dep-releases-final-oil-and-gas-ruleshttp://powersource.post-gazette.com/powersource/policy-powersource/2016/01/07/State-DEP-proposes-changes-to-drilling-rules/stories/201601070033https://stateimpact.npr.org/pennsylvania/2016/01/06/dep-finalizes-new-oil-and-gas-drilling-regulations/http://www.pennlive.com/news/2016/01/dep_announces_new_regulations.html#incart_river_homehttp://www.dep.pa.gov/Business/Energy/OilandGasPrograms/OilandGasMgmt/Public-Resources/Pages/Oil-and-Gas-Surface-Regulations.aspx#.Voqx9JMrJBxhttp://www.dep.pa.gov/PublicParticipation/EnvironmentalQuality/2016%20Meetings/Pages/default.aspx#.Vo1CUjaa10c


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and dedicated TAB members and violated the Oil and Gas Act by trying to add new ‘non-voting’

members, and yet still failed to engage TAB and the Conventional Oil and Gas AdvisoryCommittee in the required ‘consultation’ or to provide both with the required ‘reasonable






EQB Consideration Of Regulation Feb. 3

DEP released the final version of the Chapter 78 (conventional) and Chapter 78A

(unconventional) drilling regulations Wednesday.

The Environmental Quality Board is scheduled to meet on February 3 to consider the

final regulations.Conventional Committee Meeting Jan. 13

The Committee’s next meeting is on January 13 to consider other issues, including:

Review of Forms Required To Implement Chapter 78; Review of Technical Guidance To

Implement Chapter 78; DCNR Presentation On PA Natural Diversity Inventory Review System;

Presentation on EPA Clean Power Climate Plan Requirements; and Well Completion, Waste

Reporting, Drilling/Coal Mining Coordination.

The meeting will be held in Room 105 of the Rachel Carson Building starting at 10:00

a.m. Meetings of the Committee are frequently webcast, but no information has been posted yet

on that option.

The Conventional Oil and Gas Advisory Committee was created and named by DEP

Secretary in March of last year because DEP lacked an advisory group specifically on

conventional, versus Marcellus Shale, drilling industry.

For more information, visit DEP’s Conventional Oil and Gas Advisory Committee

webpage. DEP Contact: Kurt Klapkowski, Office of Oil and Gas Management, 400 Market

Street, Harrisburg, PA 17101, 717-772-2199, [email protected] .

Unconventional Drilling Advisory Committee Meeting Jan. 14

The next meeting of DEP’s Oil and Gas Technical Advisory Board (unconventional

Marcellus Shale drilling) is January 14 at the same location, time and with a similar agenda. The

DEP contact is the same.

The final version of the Chapter 78 (conventional) & 78A (unconventional) drilling

regulations is available on the Environmental Quality Board

webpage along with othersupporting materials.

For more background information on how the Chapter 78 regulations were developed,

visit DEP’s Oil and Gas Management Regulations webpage.

NewsClips:


DEP Finalizes New Oil & Gas Drilling Regulations

DEP Proposes Changes To Drilling Rules

http://powersource.post-gazette.com/powersource/policy-powersource/2016/01/07/State-DEP-proposes-changes-to-drilling-rules/stories/201601070033https://stateimpact.npr.org/pennsylvania/2016/01/06/dep-finalizes-new-oil-and-gas-drilling-regulations/http://www.pennlive.com/news/2016/01/dep_announces_new_regulations.html#incart_river_homehttp://www.dep.pa.gov/Business/Energy/OilandGasPrograms/OilandGasMgmt/Public-Resources/Pages/Oil-and-Gas-Surface-Regulations.aspx#.Voqx9JMrJBxhttp://www.dep.pa.gov/PublicParticipation/EnvironmentalQuality/2016%20Meetings/Pages/default.aspx#.Vo7wCjaa10chttp://www.dep.pa.gov/Business/Energy/OilandGasPrograms/OilandGasMgmt/OilGasTech/Pages/default.aspx#.Vova-jaa10cmailto:[email protected]://www.dep.pa.gov/Business/Energy/OilandGasPrograms/OilandGasMgmt/OilGasConventional/Pages/default.aspx#.VovWRjaa10chttp://paenvironmentdaily.blogspot.com/2016/01/dep-releases-final-chapter-78-78a.html


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Related Stories:DEP Releases Final Chapter 78 Drilling Regulations For Action By EQB


Analysis: Myth-- Conventional Oil And Gas Drilling Is Benign


On Wednesday the five voting members of DEP’s Oil and Gas Technical Advisory Board on

unconventional (Marcellus Shale) drilling submitted extensive comments to the Environmental

Quality Board on DEP’s final Chapter 78A drilling regulations .

The voting members of TAB commend DEP for the hard work and commitment its staff

has put into the regulatory development process, but makes a series of six recommendations onhow the TAB could have been used more effectively.

The TAB comments listed concerns with the final regulations, including the protections

for endangered species should be narrowed to meet the requirement of a recent procedural ruling

by Commonwealth Court ; how the restoration of water supplies damaged by drilling should not

be returned to Safe Drinking Water standards or better; the extent to which drillers are required

to identify abandoned wells in the area of drilling; well site restoration; and other issues.

The voting members of TAB also said the guidance and forms needed to implement the

regulation should be completed prior to enforcement of the regulations.

The voting members of TAB include: Bryan McConnell, P.G., Tenaska, Inc.; Fred

Baldassare, P.G., ECHELON Applied Geoscience Consulting; Robert Hendricks, P.G., Shell

Exploration and Production Company; Casey Saunders, P.E., CONSOL Energy; and David

Yoxtheimer, P.G., Marcellus Center for Outreach and Research, Penn State University.

Non-Voting Member Comments

The comments of the three non-voting members of TAB were also included in the report

sent to the EQB. The comments reviewed the extensive public participation tools DEP used in

the process of developing the regulations, including adding additional members to TAB to

provide other points of view.

“These rules are intended to provide for the safe, efficient, and environmentally sound

production of Pennsylvania’s oil and gas resources.

“Throughout the extensive public process, concerns have been expressed that either the

regulations are too restrictive on industry, or that they are not restrictive enough to adequately protect the public health and the environment.

“As with any rulemaking, these will always be some degree of disagreement. It is the job

of the PA DEP to balance the comments received, and, based on their own experience and the

laws of the Commonwealth, promulgate regulations they believe to be reasonable and necessary

for the protection of the environment.

“We believe the need and authority for this rulemaking is clear, the rules are based on

sound science and engineering and the PA DEP has taken unparalleled steps to consult with

http://www.paenvironmentdigest.com/newsletter/default.asp?NewsletterArticleID=34431http://www.paenvironmentdigest.com/newsletter/default.asp?NewsletterArticleID=34431http://www.dep.pa.gov/PublicParticipation/EnvironmentalQuality/2016%20Meetings/Pages/default.aspx#.Vo7gnzaa10chttp://files.dep.state.pa.us/PublicParticipation/Public%20Participation%20Center/PubPartCenterPortalFiles/Environmental%20Quality%20Board/2016/February%203/TAB%20Report.pdfhttp://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/oil_and_gas_technical_advisory_board_(TAB)/18260http://www.paenvironmentdigest.com/newsletter/default.asp?NewsletterArticleID=31809http://paenvironmentdaily.blogspot.com/2016/01/marcellus-drilling-advisory-committee.htmlhttp://paenvironmentdaily.blogspot.com/2016/01/dep-releases-final-chapter-78-78a.htmlhttp://alleghenyfront.org/story/whats-pennsylvanias-new-oil-and-gas-regulationshttp://www.pennlive.com/news/2016/01/shale_coalition_environmentali.html#incart_river_homehttp://www.natlawreview.com/article/pennsylvania-dep-moves-forward-oil-and-gas-rulemaking-despite-legal-and-politicalhttp://wesa.fm/post/dep-releases-final-oil-and-gas-ruleshttp://wesa.fm/post/dep-releases-final-oil-and-gas-rules


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industry and the public in their formation.

“As such, we endorse advance of the rulemaking.”

The non-voting members include: Michael Griffin, PhD, Department of Engineering and

Public Policy, Carnegie Mellon University; Emily Krafjack, Connection for Oil, Gas &

Environment in the Northern Tier ; and John Walliser, PA Environmental Council.

A copy of the comments is available online.Industry Reaction - Unconventional Drillers

Marcellus Shale Coalition president David Spigelmyer issued the following statement

regarding the Department of Environmental Protection’s release of its final rulemaking regarding

oil and gas operations:

“Pennsylvania is already well-recognized for having among the nation’s strongest and

most effective environmental and enforcement standards, which the industry has worked hard to

modernize. Unfortunately, DEP failed to consult with the industry regarding its comprehensive

comments, as well as to better understand the cost of compliance with this rulemaking as they

had done with the initial proposal in 2013. As reflected in our comments, this rulemaking will

cost Pennsylvania job creators nearly $2 billion annually without providing meaningful

environmental benefits.“We have worked in good-faith to provide constructive comments on this proposed rule.

We stand ready to work collaboratively with DEP and the General Assembly to advance

common-sense policies that work for all Pennsylvanians.”

Pennsylvania Independent Oil & Gas Association President Louis D. D’Amico today

issued the following statement regarding the state Department of Environmental Protection’s

transmittal of the final oil and natural gas regulations (Chapter 78 and 78a) to the Environmental

Quality Board:









merit.





and dedicated TAB members and violated the Oil and Gas Act by trying to add new ‘non-voting’members, and yet still failed to engage TAB and the Conventional Oil and Gas Advisory







http://marcelluscoalition.org/http://files.dep.state.pa.us/PublicParticipation/Public%20Participation%20Center/PubPartCenterPortalFiles/Environmental%20Quality%20Board/2016/February%203/TAB%20Report.pdfhttp://pecpa.org/http://cogentpa.org/http://cogentpa.org/https://www.cmu.edu/epp/people/faculty/michael-griffin.html


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EQB Consideration Of Regulation Feb. 3

DEP released the final version of the Chapter 78 (conventional) and Chapter 78A

(unconventional) drilling regulations Wednesday.

The Environmental Quality Board is scheduled to meet on February 3 to consider the

final regulations.

Unconventional Drilling Advisory Committee Meeting Jan. 14The next meeting of DEP’s Oil and Gas Technical Advisory Board (unconventional

Marcellus Shale drilling) is January 14 to consider other issues, including: Review of Forms

Required To Implement Chapter 78; Review of Technical Guidance To Implement Chapter 78;

DCNR Presentation On PA Natural Diversity Inventory Review System; Presentation on EPA

Clean Power Climate Plan Requirements; and Well Completion, Waste Reporting, Drilling/Coal

Mining Coordination.

The meeting will be held in Room 105 of the Rachel Carson Building starting at 10:00

a.m. Meetings of the Committee are frequently webcast, but no information has been posted yet

on that option.

For more information, visit DEP’s Conventional Oil and Gas Advisory Committee

webpage. DEP Contact: Kurt Klapkowski, Office of Oil and Gas Management, 400 MarketStreet, Harrisburg, PA 17101, 717-772-2199, [email protected] .

Conventional Committee Meeting Jan. 13

The Committee’s next meeting is on January 13 at the same location, time and with a

similar agenda. The DEP contact is the same.

The final version of the Chapter 78 (conventional) & 78A (unconventional) drilling

regulations is available on the Environmental Quality Board webpage along with other

supporting materials.

For more background information on how the Chapter 78 regulations were developed,

visit DEP’s Oil and Gas Management Regulations webpage.

NewsClips:


DEP Finalizes New Oil & Gas Drilling Regulations

DEP Proposes Changes To Drilling Rules






Related Stories:

DEP Releases Final Chapter 78 Drilling Regulations For Action By EQB

Conventional Oil, Gas Advisory Committee Again Challenges DEP Drilling Regs Analysis: Myth-- Conventional Oil And Gas Drilling Is Benign

Nominations For 2016 Governor’s Award For Environmental Excellence Due Jan. 15

The Department of Environmental Protection invites

Pennsylvania businesses, farms, government agencies,

educational institutions, non-profit organizations and

http://www.paenvironmentdigest.com/newsletter/default.asp?NewsletterArticleID=31809http://paenvironmentdaily.blogspot.com/2016/01/conventional-oil-gas-advisory-committee.htmlhttp://paenvironmentdaily.blogspot.com/2016/01/dep-releases-final-chapter-78-78a.htmlhttp://alleghenyfront.org/story/whats-pennsylvanias-new-oil-and-gas-regulationshttp://www.pennlive.com/news/2016/01/shale_coalition_environmentali.html#incart_river_homehttp://www.natlawreview.com/article/pennsylvania-dep-moves-forward-oil-and-gas-rulemaking-despite-legal-and-politicalhttp://wesa.fm/post/dep-releases-final-oil-and-gas-ruleshttp://wesa.fm/post/dep-releases-final-oil-and-gas-ruleshttp://powersource.post-gazette.com/powersource/policy-powersource/2016/01/07/State-DEP-proposes-changes-to-drilling-rules/stories/201601070033https://stateimpact.npr.org/pennsylvania/2016/01/06/dep-finalizes-new-oil-and-gas-drilling-regulations/http://www.pennlive.com/news/2016/01/dep_announces_new_regulations.html#incart_river_homehttp://www.dep.pa.gov/Business/Energy/OilandGasPrograms/OilandGasMgmt/Public-Resources/Pages/Oil-and-Gas-Surface-Regulations.aspx#.Voqx9JMrJBxhttp://www.dep.pa.gov/PublicParticipation/EnvironmentalQuality/2016%20Meetings/Pages/default.aspx#.Vo7wCjaa10cmailto:[email protected]://www.dep.pa.gov/Business/Energy/OilandGasPrograms/OilandGasMgmt/OilGasConventional/Pages/default.aspx#.VovWRjaa10chttp://www.dep.pa.gov/Business/Energy/OilandGasPrograms/OilandGasMgmt/OilGasTech/Pages/default.aspx#.Vova-jaa10chttp://paenvironmentdaily.blogspot.com/2016/01/dep-releases-final-chapter-78-78a.html


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individuals to submit nominations for the 2016 Governor’s Award for Environmental

Excellence .

Nominations are due January 15.

This prestigious award honors those projects that have transformed environmental

challenges into opportunities.

“We want to showcase the kinds of innovative, energy-saving and restorative projectstaking place all across Pennsylvania,” DEP Secretary John Quigley said. “These projects and the

people who develop them will help lead Pennsylvania into the next era of environmental

protection.”

Award-winning projects will be selected based on eight criteria: protection, partnership,

public service, environmental education and outreach, pollution prevention, economic impact,

innovative technology, and new this year, climate change.

“Pennsylvania's climate has been steadily warming over the past century and if it

continues, such warming will have disastrous impacts to our environment and economy,”

Quigley said. “We are particularly interested in projects that actively seek to limit or reduce the

rate of long-term climate change through the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.”

To be eligible for consideration, projects must have been completed between August 1,2014 and July 31, 2015.

Nominations must be submitted by email to: [email protected] in order to

be considered.

Project guidelines and nomination forms are available on DEP’s 2016 Governor’s Award

for Environmental Excellence webpage.

Nominations Now Being Accepted For 2016 Western PA Environmental Awards

Nominations for the 2016 Western Pennsylvania Environmental Awards are now being accepted.

The deadline for nominations is February 12.

The awards are presented annually to local organizations that demonstrate leadership,

effectiveness, and results in making an impact on the environment and will be awarded at PEC’s

annual Pittsburgh dinner on May 26.

The Awards are open to any group, individual, program, company, school, or

organization located and working in one of the following counties: Allegheny, Armstrong,

Beaver, Bedford, Blair, Butler, Cambria, Cameron, Centre, Clarion, Clearfield, Crawford, Elk,

Erie, Fayette, Forest, Fulton, Greene, Huntingdon, Indiana, Jefferson, Lawrence, McKean,

Mercer, Somerset, Venango, Warren, Washington, and Westmoreland.

Online nomination submissions

are encouraged, but nominations through U.S. Mail will

be accepted. Please include a copy of the nomination cover sheet with your mailed submission.

Please include contact information for nominator and nominee, if different. Include both phonenumber and email, if available.

Each nomination is limited to four (4) typed, one-sided, double-spaced 8 1∕2” x 11”

pages, and must provide responses to the following five questions:

-- What environmental need within the community or organization did the nominee address?

-- What kind of solution did the nominee develop to address the identified need? Describe any

unique or innovative aspects of the initiative, particularly any special challenges overcome as

part of the implementation and/or outstanding creativity involved.

http://pecpa.org/event/wpea2016/http://pecpa.org/event/wpea2016/http://www.dep.pa.gov/About/Awards/EnvironmentalExcellence/Pages/default.aspx#.VmnbtoSa10chttp://www.dep.pa.gov/About/Awards/EnvironmentalExcellence/Pages/default.aspx#.VmnbtoSa10cmailto:[email protected]://www.dep.pa.gov/About/Awards/EnvironmentalExcellence/Pages/default.aspx#.VmnbtoSa10chttp://www.dep.pa.gov/About/Awards/EnvironmentalExcellence/Pages/default.aspx#.VmnbtoSa10c


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-- What effect or impact did the nominee have on the environment? (Base your answer on

environmental benefits related to community awareness, environmental quality, the local

economy, the public, technical contributions, etc.) Include in your response the scope or breadth

of this impact within the community or organization.

-- What specific examples, data, or other evidence demonstrates the environmental effect or

impact described above?-- What other pertinent information about this nominee would you like the judges to consider?

In addition, all nominations must have one (1) letter of support from someone outside the

nominee’s organization who is familiar with the success of the nominated activity; someone

other than the nominator must write this letter.

The letter should explain the impact of the nomination, its environmental significance or

benefit, and its relevance in meeting a specific need. Letters of support may be submitted

separate from the nomination, but must also be received by February 12.

Winners of the Awards will receive a $5,000 cash award designated to the nonprofit

organization of their choice, a commemorative award, two complimentary tickets to the Western

Pennsylvania Environmental Awards Dinner, media recognition of their program and award,

along with recognition and a full description of their winning project in the Awards Dinner program.

Mailed entries may be submitted to: Pennsylvania Environmental Council, 2016 Western

PA Environmental Awards Program, 2124 Penn Avenue, 2nd Floor, Pittsburgh, PA 15222.

For more information, visit the 2016 Western Pennsylvania Environmental Awards

webpage. If you have any questions about the nomination process, please call the Pennsylvania

Environmental Council at 412-481-9400 or send email to: [email protected].

Visit Here to sign up for regular updates from the PA Environmental Council.

Learn How To Go Green At DEP’s Farm Show Exhibit

Visitors to the 100th Pennsylvania Farm Show

can

learn how to live green, plant green, build green and

save green at DEP's new interactive exhibit, titled,

"Go Green, PA."

The new exhibit features lots of energy-saving

and green product information for both inside and

outside your home. DEP’s display is located near the

butter sculpture in the Main Hall of the Farm Show

Complex.

Visit DEP’s Go Green PA

webpage for ideas on how you can protect the environment.

The Pennsylvania Farm Show is the nation’s largest indoor agricultural event, featuring6,000 animals, 10,000 competitive exhibits, and 300 commercial exhibitors.

For more information, visit the 100th Pennsylvania Farm Show website. The Farm Show

runs from January 9 to 16 in Harrisburg.

NewsClips:

Chiques Creek Watershed Rain Garden Going To Farm Show

Innovative Program Promotes Grazing In Chesapeake Watershed

The Real Cost Of Green Infrastructure

http://stormwater.wef.org/2015/12/real-cost-green-infrastructure/?utm_content=bufferd2b92&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=bufferhttp://blogs.usda.gov/2016/01/06/innovative-program-promotes-rotational-grazing-in-chesapeake-bay-area/http://lancasteronline.com/news/community/chiques-creek-watershed-rain-garden-is-going-to-the-farm/article_c1157b40-b3c8-11e5-b26c-a34fae1827db.htmlhttp://www.farmshow.state.pa.us/http://www.dep.pa.gov/Citizens/Go_Green_PA/Pages/default.aspx#.VpAs7jaa10dhttp://www.farmshow.state.pa.us/http://pecpa.org/email-signup/mailto:[email protected]://pecpa.org/http://pecpa.org/http://pecpa.org/event/wpea2016/


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Related Story:

1,000 Pound Butter Sculpture At Farm Show Will Be Turned Into Renewable Energy

(Reprinted from the January 7 DEP News. Click Here to sign up for your own copy.)

1,000 Pound Butter Sculpture At Farm Show Will Be Turned Into Renewable Energy

A sculpture made from more than 1,000 pounds of butter and

showcasing the diversity of Pennsylvania agriculture exhibited

throughout the 100th Pennsylvania Farm Show was unveiled

Thursday at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex and Expo

Center in Harrisburg.

The sculpture, sponsored by Mid-Atlantic Dairy Association

and Pennsylvania Dairy Promotion Program, has been a staple

of Pennsylvania’s Farm Shows since 1991.

This year’s sculpture pays tribute to the 100th Pennsylvania Farm Show and the state’s

agriculture industry.It depicts the many commodities grown and produced within Pennsylvania with a blue

rosette ribbon, while capturing a show enjoyed by all ages: an FFA member exhibiting her dairy

cow, along with a 4-H member with his baby chicks, a lady and gentleman showing off their

blue ribbon apples and pies, and a quilt and spinning wheel behind them. These features are

surrounded by the words “100th PA Farm Show” as a blue and gold centerpiece.

“For the past 100 shows, the Pennsylvania Farm Show has provided an opportunity for

exhibits to display the best of the state’s agriculture industry and for visitors to learn more about

how their food goes from the farm to the shelf,” said Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding.

“Whether you’re enjoying your first Farm Show milkshake, displaying your best sewing work,

or exhibiting your prized animal, everyone has their own blue ribbon experience at the Farm

Show.”

At the close of the show, the butter, which was donated by Land O’ Lakes in Carlisle,

Cumberland County, will be given to a Juniata County dairy farm. The butter will be put through

a methane digester, where it will be converted into renewable energy for the farm.

For more information, visit the 100th Pennsylvania Farm Show website. The Farm Show

runs from January 9 to 16 in Harrisburg.

NewsClips:




Related Story:Learn How To Go Green At DEP’s Farm Show Exhibit

PA Environment Digest Google+ Circle, Blogs, Twitter Feeds

PA Environment Digest now has a Google+ Circle called Green Works In PA . Let us join your

Circle.

Google+ now combines all the news you now get through the PA Environment Digest,

https://plus.google.com/+DavidHessGreenWorksInPA/postshttp://paenvironmentdaily.blogspot.com/2016/01/learn-how-to-go-green-at-deps-farm-show.htmlhttp://stormwater.wef.org/2015/12/real-cost-green-infrastructure/?utm_content=bufferd2b92&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=bufferhttp://blogs.usda.gov/2016/01/06/innovative-program-promotes-rotational-grazing-in-chesapeake-bay-area/http://lancasteronline.com/news/community/chiques-creek-watershed-rain-garden-is-going-to-the-farm/article_c1157b40-b3c8-11e5-b26c-a34fae1827db.htmlhttp://www.farmshow.state.pa.us/http://www.farmshow.state.pa.us/http://www.dep.pa.gov/Citizens/Pages/DEP-Newsletter.aspx#.Vo7aTTaa10chttp://paenvironmentdaily.blogspot.com/2016/01/jan-7-dep-news-now-available.htmlhttp://paenvironmentdaily.blogspot.com/2016/01/1000-pound-butter-sculpture-at-farm.html


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Weekly, Blog, Twitter and Video sites into one resource.

You’ll receive as-it-happens postings on Pennsylvania environmental news, daily

NewsClips and links to the weekly Digest and videos.

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

PA Environment Digest Twitter Feed: On Twitter, sign up to receive instant updates from:

PAEnviroDigest.

PA Environment Daily Blog: 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. NEW! Add your constructive

comment to any blog posting.

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

including NewsClips, coverage of key press conferences and more. Sign up and receive as theyare 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 Capitol Digest Twitter Feed: Don't forget to sign up to receive the PA Capitol Digest

Twitter feed to get instant updates on other news from in and around the Pennsylvania State

Capitol.

Senate/House Agenda/Session Schedule [Updated] /Gov’s Schedule

Here are the Senate and House Calendars and Committee meetings showing bills of interest aswell as a list of new environmental bills introduced--

Bill Calendars

House (Jan. 11): House Bill 48 (Godshall-R-Montgomery) setting standards for drinking water

well construction; House Bill 530 (Reese-R-Somerset) Education Code bill with much of the

“agreed-to” language still remaining, but with changes; House Bill 544 (Moul-R-Adams) further

providing for liability protection for landowners who open their land for recreation (sponsor

summary ); House Bill 1327 (Peifer-R-Pike) Fiscal Code bill with “agreed-to” budget language

restored, plus some extras; House Resolution 60 (Emrick-R-Northampton) directing the

Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to conduct a comprehensive review of the state’s program to regulate the beneficial use of sewage sludge; Senate Bill 385 (Pileggi-R-Delaware)

updating and improving the Transit Revitalization investment District; Senate Bill 307

(Yudichak-D-Luzerne) providing for an independent counsel for the Environmental Quality

Board; Senate Bill 811 (Hughes-D-Philadelphia) FY 2015-16 Capital Budget bill; Senate Bill

1071 (Browne-R-Lehigh), the “agreed-to” pension reform bill; Senate Bill 1073

(Browne-R-Lehigh) “agreed-to” $30.8 billion General Fund budget bill. Click Here for full

House Bill Calendar.

http://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/SC/HC/0/RC/SCHC.HTMhttp://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billInfo/billInfo.cfm?sYear=2015&sInd=0&body=S&type=B&bn=1073http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billInfo/billInfo.cfm?sYear=2015&sInd=0&body=S&type=B&bn=1071http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billInfo/billInfo.cfm?sYear=2015&sInd=0&body=S&type=B&bn=1071http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billInfo/billInfo.cfm?sYear=2015&sInd=0&body=S&type=B&bn=0811http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billInfo/billInfo.cfm?sYear=2015&sInd=0&body=S&type=B&bn=0307http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billInfo/billInfo.cfm?sYear=2015&sInd=0&body=S&type=B&bn=0385http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billInfo/billInfo.cfm?sYear=2015&sInd=0&body=H&type=R&bn=0060http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billInfo/billInfo.cfm?sYear=2015&sInd=0&body=H&type=B&bn=1327http://www.legis.state.pa.us//cfdocs/Legis/CSM/showMemoPublic.cfm?chamber=H&SPick=20150&cosponId=16928http://www.legis.state.pa.us//cfdocs/Legis/CSM/showMemoPublic.cfm?chamber=H&SPick=20150&cosponId=16928http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billInfo/billInfo.cfm?sYear=2015&sInd=0&body=H&type=B&bn=0544http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billInfo/billInfo.cfm?sYear=2015&sInd=0&body=H&type=B&bn=0530http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billInfo/billInfo.cfm?sYear=2015&sInd=0&body=H&type=B&bn=0048http://www.twitter.com/PaCapitolDigesthttp://www.crisciassociates.com/category/capitol-blog/http://www.crisciassociates.com/category/environment-blog/http://www.twitter.com/http://www.crisciassociates.com/


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Senate (Jan. 19): Senate Bill 201 (Schwank-D-Berks) authorizing the leasing of property in the

Clean and Green Program to a rural enterprise (sponsor summary ); Senate Bill 805

(Boscola-D-Lehigh) allowing an Act 129 opt-out for large electric users (sponsor summary );

House Bill 57 (Payne-R-Dauphin) further providing for natural gas competition (sponsor

summar y). Click Here

for full Senate Bill Calendar.

Committee Meeting Agendas This Week

House: Click Here for full House Committee Schedule.

Senate: Click Here for full Senate Committee Schedule.

Bills Pending In Key Committees

Here are links to key Standing Committees in the House and Senate and the bills pending in

each--

House

Appropriations

Education

Environmental Resources and Energy

Consumer Affairs

Gaming Oversight

Human Services

Judiciary

Liquor Control

Transportation

Links for all other Standing House Committees

Senate

Appropriations

Environmental Resources and Energy

Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure

Community, Economic and Recreational Development

Education

Judiciary

Law and JusticePublic Health and Welfare

Transportation

Links for all other Standing Senate Committees

Session Schedule [Updated]

Here is the latest voting session schedule for the Senate and House--

http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/CteeInfo/StandingCommittees.cfm?CteeBody=Shttp://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/CteeInfo/index.cfm?Code=19&CteeBody=Shttp://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/CteeInfo/index.cfm?Code=33&CteeBody=Shttp://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/CteeInfo/index.cfm?Code=29&CteeBody=Shttp://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/CteeInfo/index.cfm?Code=39&CteeBody=Shttp://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/CteeInfo/index.cfm?Code=23&CteeBody=Shttp://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/CteeInfo/index.cfm?Code=31&CteeBody=Shttp://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/CteeInfo/index.cfm?Code=7&CteeBody=Shttp://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/CteeInfo/index.cfm?Code=9&CteeBody=Shttp://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/CteeInfo/index.cfm?Code=3&CteeBody=Shttp://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/CteeInfo/StandingCommittees.cfm?CteeBody=Hhttp://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/CteeInfo/StandingCommittees.cfm?CteeBody=Hhttp://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/CteeInfo/index.cfm?Code=38&CteeBody=Hhttp://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/CteeInfo/index.cfm?Code=28&CteeBody=Hhttp://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/CteeInfo/index.cfm?Code=24&CteeBody=Hhttp://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/CteeInfo/index.cfm?Code=56&CteeBody=Hhttp://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/CteeInfo/index.cfm?Code=54&CteeBody=Hhttp://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/CteeInfo/index.cfm?Code=10&CteeBody=Hhttp://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/CteeInfo/index.cfm?Code=8&CteeBody=Hhttp://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/CteeInfo/index.cfm?Code=12&CteeBody=Hhttp://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/CteeInfo/index.cfm?Code=4&CteeBody=Hhttp://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/WU01/LI/SC/SC/0/RC/CAL.HTMhttp://www.legis.state.pa.us//cfdocs/Legis/CSM/showMemoPublic.cfm?chamber=H&SPick=20150&cosponId=15697http://www.legis.state.pa.us//cfdocs/Legis/CSM/showMemoPublic.cfm?chamber=H&SPick=20150&cosponId=15697http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billInfo/billInfo.cfm?sYear=2015&sInd=0&body=H&type=B&bn=0057http://www.legis.state.pa.us//cfdocs/Legis/CSM/showMemoPublic.cfm?chamber=S&SPick=20150&cosponId=18088http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billInfo/billInfo.cfm?sYear=2015&sInd=0&body=S&type=B&bn=0805http://www.legis.state.pa.us//cfdocs/Legis/CSM/showMemoPublic.cfm?chamber=S&SPick=20150&cosponId=15642http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/billinfo.cfm?syear=2015&sInd=0&body=S&type=B&bn=201


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Senate

January 19, 20, 25, 26, 27

February 8, 9, 10

Budget Hearings: Feb. 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, March 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 (no session during

hearings)March 14, 15, 16, 21, 22, 23

April 4, 5, 6, 11, 12, 13

May 9, 10, 11, 16, 17, 18

June 6, 7, 8, 13, 14, 15, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

House

January 11, 12, 25, 26, 27

February 8, 9, 10

March 14, 15, 16, 21, 22, 23

April 4, 5, 6, 11, 12, 13

May 2, 3, 4, 16, 17, 18, 23, 24, 25June 6, 7, 8, 13, 14, 15, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

Governor’s Schedule

Gov. Tom Wolf's work calendar will be posted each Friday and his public schedule for the day

will be posted each morning. Click Here to view Gov. Wolf’s Weekly Calendar and Public

Appearances.

News From The Capitol

New Year, Same Old Budget Fight; What Will Pass The House Remains The Issue

The holiday season’s Peace on Earth, Goodwill Toward Men (and Women), didn’t seem to have

much impact on the Senate, House or the Governor.

While all sides said they need to work together to get the budget finished after Gov.

Wolf’s line-item veto, everyone remains locked into the same positions.

There were also two new fights started-- one over how the basic education funding Wolf

did approve is being spent and a second over the Wolf Administration’s decision to borrow $2

billion to help the cash flow in the General Fund.

House Republicans

House Majority Leader David Reed (R-Indiana) said the House plans to reconvene onJanuary 11 and 12 to work on the 10 percent of the budget that was not approved by the

Governor, including funding for Penn State, Pitt, Temple and Lincoln University.

That remaining 10 percent will require additional revenues, but Rep. Reed said

lawmakers would be looking to other alternatives, like liquor privatization and an expansion of

gambling, before adopting any sort of general tax increase to make up those revenues.

How the remaining 10 percent gets funded, Rep. Reed said, depends on the outcome of

conversations with the Governor and Senate [sic].

http://plsreporter.com/Home/TabId/56/artmid/472/articleid/1101/Republicans-point-budget-blame-finger-back-at-Wolf.aspx#.Vow00jK4h38.twitterhttp://www.governor.pa.gov/Schedule/Pages/schedule.aspx#.VNVGE0K4lBx


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Also on tap in the House, he said, is work on the Fiscal Code-- House Bill 1327

(Peifer-R-Pike) -- and Education Code-- House Bill 530 (Reese-R-Somerset)-- bills. The House

Tuesday referred both bills back to the Rules Committee.

When asked whether there will be a return to the budget framework agreed to by all four

Caucuses and the Governor in November, Reed said it would have to be considered as a package.

“You’re going to have to see some items back on the table, certainly pension reform, property tax reform, and liquor privatization as well,” Rep. Reed said. “Ideally, we’d like to

close out this year and then move to next year, but the governor’s budget address is less than 30

days away [February 9], so whether that’s possible or not depends on which way people want to

go.”

Rep. Reed was also quoted as saying any budget deal is dead without the House priorities

of full liquor privatization and higher income and sales taxes to reduce local property taxes.

At another point, Rep. Reed floated the idea that maybe his members would accept the

line-item vetoes made by Gov. Wolf and move on to next year’s budget.

Senate Republicans

Senate Majority Leader Jake Corman (R-Centre) repeated several times this week there

isn’t much for the Senate to vote on, since all the budget-related bills and funding bills for theuniversities are in the House.

President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati (R-Jefferson) said, “We’re talking about how we’d

like to bring this whole scenario to an end, but certainly the Governor has a role in it and that

role has been drawing pretty hard lines.”

“Here’s what [House and Senate Republicans] are in accord with: if there’s no pension

changes supported by House Democrats, then clearly there is no new revenue and clearly the

Governor is responsible for that,” Sen. Scarnati said. “For the Governor to say he didn’t know

the House Democrats were voting as a bloc against pension reform, clearly shows the attitude of

‘I just want tax increases,’ the Governor is saying,” he said.

Senate Majority Appropriations Chair Pat Browne (R-Lehigh) added, “What we have to

do is make sure we can get as much done before the Governor’s budget address and—in the end

if we are talking about revenue to finalize, which we will be—that all of these things are a part of

that because that’s something we’ve committed to.”

In his very short acceptance speech after being unanimously re-elected President Pro

Tempore of the Senate, Joe Scarnati quoted a passage from a letter Thomas Jefferson wrote to

John Adams, “I like the dreams of the future better than the history of the past.” To which Sen.

Scarnati added, “It sounds like he served in the Pennsylvania Legislature in 2015.”

Gov. Wolf

On Wednesday, January 6, Gov. Wolf distributed a video

railing against the “fiscally

irresponsible [Republican] budget that increases the deficit and cuts education funding by $95

million.”Coincidentally, it was the day after the Senate and House reconvened for the ceremonial

beginning of their 200th legislative session and then left town again.

“Two weeks ago [actually it was December 29], I vetoed their budget, while releasing

emergency funding for schools and key services. Now, the legislature, which has been on

vacation since before Christmas, needs to come back to Harrisburg and finish their work.

“The budget they sent me not only underfunded education and adds to the deficit, it also

is plain unfinished. Literally, it is not complete. It is unacceptable and the legislature needs to

https://governor.pa.gov/blog-plain-unfinished-video/http://plsreporter.com/Home/TabId/56/artmid/472/articleid/1101/Republicans-point-budget-blame-finger-back-at-Wolf.aspx#.Vow00jK4h38.twitterhttp://www.mcall.com/news/nationworld/pennsylvania/mc-pa-pennsylvania-cannot-pay-its-bills-20160106-story.htmlhttp://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billInfo/billInfo.cfm?sYear=2015&sInd=0&body=H&type=B&bn=0530http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billInfo/billInfo.cfm?sYear=2015&sInd=0&body=H&type=B&bn=1327


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come back and immediately pass a responsible budget.

“We have a real chance to make historic investments in schools, truly balance the budget

and begin to fix the deficit, and Republicans need to get back to work immediately to finish the

job.”

At an event in Pittsburgh Thursday, Gov. Wolf was again critical of Republicans on the

budget telling the crowd, “Don’t hire people who think the job is not to show up.” At the sametime, Wolf said, “I'm not sure what more needs to be done. If they don't want to have a budget, I

don't know what more I can do beyond what I've already done.”

New Issues

Gov. Wolf used his own authority this week to direct how to spend the $2.8 billion in

education funding approved as part of the stopgap budget, since no education bill was passed by

the General Assembly.

Republicans say too much of the money is going to Philadelphia schools and the

redirection of $58 million in funding hurts charter schools and rural school districts.

Wolf said he’s only following the hybrid education funding formula agreed to, but not

enacted, as part of the budget.

Senate Republicans are exploring whether legal action is warranted on Wolf’s schoolspending.

At the Wolf Administration’s request, the State Treasurer Wednesday opened a $2 billion

line of credit in order to ensure the state’s General Fund cash balance does not drop below zero.

The Administration immediately used $1 billion of that to prevent a $922 million deficit in the

account.

Wolf blamed the need for the line of credit on the inability of the Republican-controlled

General Assembly to deal with the structural deficit.

Both Senate and House Republicans were critical of the move, reminding Democrats they

blasted Gov. Corbett in 2014 when he did the same thing.

Senate Republicans said House Democrats have failed to deal with the single largest cost

driver in the budget-- pensions.

What’s Next?

The House reconvenes January 11 and 12 and the Senate plans to reconvene on January

19, 20. Their voting session schedule through June 30 was also released.

Leaders in both chambers say there’s not much point in coming back to Harrisburg unless

there’s something to vote on.

Of course the Senate will be busy next week with a hearing January 12 on whether

Attorney General Kane can do her job without a law license; a hearing Kane said she would not

attend.

The fun and games continue in Harrisburg.

NewsClips:Rep. Christiana Posed To Introduce Natural Gas Severance Tax

Sturla’s New Severance Tax Proposal Would Fund Pensions

Wolf Takes Jabs At GOP Lawmakers In Pittsburgh Stop

Lawmakers Mull Leaving Wolf’s Deep Cuts To Budget

PA Legislative Leaders Pow-Wow On Budget Tuesday

AP: Lawmakers Reconvene, Budget Status Unclear

PLS: Republicans Point Budget Blame Finger At Wolf

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PLS: General Assembly Continues Wait-And-See Approach To Budget

Partial Budget Raises Odds Of Work On 2 Plans At Once

New Year Brings No Hint Of Budget Breakthrough

John Baer: PA Politics, What Lies Ahead?

Wolf Borrows $2 Billion To Pay PA Bills

School Funding Distribution Gives Rise To New Battle Kane Won’t Testify At Senate Removal Hearing

News From Around The State

Penn State To Survey Farm Conservation Practices In Chesapeake Bay Watershed

If you're a farm operator in the Chesapeake Bay watershed, you

soon will have a chance to highlight what steps you and your

fellow farmers have taken to protect and enhance water quality

in the region.

Several agricultural and governmental organizations have

partnered to develop a mail survey to over 20,000 farmers that

will ask producers to document conservation practices they

have adopted to promote water quality and soil health in the

bay watershed.

"Pennsylvania agriculture has done much to improve water quality in our local rivers and

streams and the Chesapeake Bay," said Matthew Royer, director of the Agriculture and

Environment Center in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences. "Yet that positive story

often is not told. We want to give farmers in the bay watershed a chance to tell that story."

More than half of Pennsylvania's land area drains to the Chesapeake Bay. The

Susquehanna River, which flows through the state's most fertile farming region, is the bay'slargest tributary.

The survey will be administered by the Penn State Survey Research Center, which soon

will mail a letter to farmers in the watershed seeking their participation. College of Agricultural

Sciences researchers will analyze the survey responses, and cumulative results will be provided

to the Department of Environmental Protection to document the practices farmers have adopted

to conserve soil and water and to protect water quality.

Ten percent of the participants will be selected randomly for farm visits by Penn State

Extension to assess inventory results and help researchers better understand the methods used

and challenges encountered when adopting various management practices.

Responses will be kept completely confidential and never will be associated with a

farmer's name or location, according to James Shortle, Distinguished Professor of Agriculturaland Environmental Economics and the lead researcher for the survey.

"The results reported to the Department of Environmental Protection will be provided in

summary form and will not include any names or locations of survey participants," Shortle said.

"All inventory and farm visit results will be permanently anonymized to prevent identification of

respondents."

Richard Roush, dean of the College of Agricultural Sciences, noted that many of the

conservation practices that farmers have implemented over the years are not accounted for in

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tracking the progress made toward meeting priority water quality goals, including cleaning up

the Chesapeake Bay.

"This is especially true where farmers have adopted these practices on their own initiative

and by using their own dollars," Roush said. "This survey will allow farmers in the Chesapeake

Bay watershed to report conservation practices implemented on their farms so the agricultural

community can get the credit it deserves for improving water quality. We also hope it will helpus set priorities for research and extension educational programs that can assist producers in

identifying and adopting appropriate best management practices."

Farmers will have the option of filling out the paper version of the survey or completing

it online.

Participants are asked to submit their responses by April 30.

The survey was developed collaboratively by Penn State, PA Farm Bureau, PennAg

Industries Association , PA Farmers Union , PA Association for Sustainable Agriculture,

Professional Dairy Managers of PA, the Department of Agriculture, the State Conservation

Commission , the PA Association of Conservation Districts and the Department of Environmental

Protection.

Last October, the PA Association of Conservation Districts and other groups gavefarmers an opportunity to voluntarily report their farm conservation practices by filling out an

online survey. That survey will be closed in favor of the new Penn State mail survey.

For more information, contact Matthew Royer, Director of Penn State’s Agriculture and

Environment Center, by sending email to: [email protected] or call 814-863-8756.

NewsClips:




Register Now For 2016 Keystone Goldwater Conference Feb. 26-27 In State College

The 2016 Keystone Coldwater Conference will be held February 26-27 at

the Ramada Inn Conference Center in State College, Centre County. The

theme for the upcoming conference is Coldwater Resources: Connecting

Conservation, Protection, Restoration, and Stewardship.

The Conference, held every other year, is a unique opportunity for

grassroots conservation organizations, environmental professionals, college

faculty, staff, and students to share ideas, concepts, and network in order to

protect, conserve and restore Pennsylvania's coldwater resources.

Speakers at the Conference include: Keynote-- DCNR Secretary Cindy

Adams Dunn and Charlie Charlesworth, President, PA Council of TroutUnlimited .

The agenda for February 26 and February 27 are packed with useful workshops and offer

lots of opportunities to mingle.

Student Posters Still Being Accepted

College students currently participating in research that relates to the conservation,

protection, restoration of Pennsylvania's coldwater streams are invited to participate in a student

poster session.

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The session will be held during the February 26 evening social. Students should prepare a

poster and a 3-5 minute presentation on their research. Posters will be judged by a technical team

on the presentation and outline of the poster. The top three presentations will be announced

during the conference on Saturday.

Click Here for all the details on student posters.

Sponsorship InformationWant to become a sponsor for this important event? Click Here for all the details on how

you can support this unique effort.

To register for the Conference or for more details, visit the 2016 Keystone Coldwater

Conference website.

NewsClips:

Study Of Sick Susquehanna Bass Cites Endocrine Disrupters

No Link Between Fracking, Smallmouth Bass Decline

WITF Smart Talk On Sick Susquehanna River Bass

Editorial: Susquehanna Impaired? You Bet

Study: Asian Carp Could Be Huge Presence In Lake Erie

First Winter Ice Forms On Lake Erie Letort Spring Run Focus Of New Book

Registration Now Open For 2016 Schuylkill River Watershed Congress March 12

Register now for the 2016 Schuylkill River Watershed Congress to be held March 12 at the

Montgomery County Community College Pottstown Campus .

The Watershed Congress, held annually since 1998, continues to advance the best

available information and techniques for protecting and restoring watersheds. The focus on

networking across disciplines means that the Congress melds science, policy and practical

applications into one program.

Every year, a growing and changing group of individuals attends to gain new knowledge,

acquire tools, and practice techniques that will allow them to take active roles in the stewardship

of their natural resources.

New this year: Get the Watershed Congress App.

Visit Here for a detailed Congress agenda. Online registration is available.

For all the details, visit the 2016 Schuylkill River Watershed Congress webpage.

Feature: Clean Water Among Many Visions For Many Streams Farm In York County

Among the many dreams Bob and Maggie Cahalan have for

their southern York County farm, protecting the water thatruns through it is one of their most important.

With the help of CBF in Pennsylvania and

restoration specialist Ashley Spotts, the Cahalans and their

partners planted more than 300 native trees and shrubs on

three acres, as buffers to trap and filter pollutants that would

otherwise flow into Ebaugh and Shaw streams. The cool,

babbling waters converge into Deer Creek, a tributary of the

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Susquehanna River, and eventually into the Chesapeake Bay.

CBF is emphasizing clean water efforts in York County through its "Clean Water Counts:

York " program, which organizes and mobilizes residents to urge leaders in Harrisburg to show

greater commitment to improving water quality, and focuses on the need to clean up York

County's 350 miles of impaired creeks, streams, and rivers.

The Cahalans live in Greenbelt, Maryland, and with partners Eugenia Kalnay and JorgeRivas, bought the 37-acre farm in Stewartstown, just north of the Mason-Dixon Line, in 2011. It

is no longer a working farm, in that there currently are no crops or livestock to tend.

The forested and streamside buffers on Many Streams Farm are unique in the diversity of

plants chosen. Various oaks and hickories, persimmon, paw paw, honey locust, and several types

of berry-producing shrubs are among the 40 species.

With guidance from CBF, Many Streams Farm benefited from the Commonwealth's

Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP), which makes annual rental payments for

land taken out of pasture or production and based on soil type.

"The CREP plan has everything they need to know, including tree and shrub numbers,

maintenance requirements, contractor lists, tree lists, and reimbursement costs for the program,"

CBF's Ashley Spotts says."CREP had value beyond monetary value, because it had certain procedures that were

developed and outlined," Bob Cahalan says. "We had to plant to a certain date and get 70 percent

to survive."

The Cahalans intend to practice permaculture amid the farm's rolling hills, streams, and

wetlands. They see permaculture as the harmonious integration of landscape and people,

providing food, energy, shelter, and other material and non-material needs in a sustainable and

ethical way.

"Experimenting with restorative and re-generative soil building agriculture that does not

depend on annual plantings for food sources is a major goal," Maggie Cahalan says. "We hope to

foster increased use of perennial and tree crops as food sources for humans and animals. We

think it is especially appropriate for the sloped land of this piedmont hill farm."

The Cahalans would like to produce half of their personal food on Many Streams Farm.

They have plans for spiral orchards of varieties of apples and cherries; a medicine wheel garden

of ginger, berries, witch hazel and other medicinal plants; a farm museum; and a greenhouse.

They are installing 30 solar panels to generate energy for farm needs and even have a project to

harvest acorns and make bread.

They also see the property as a place for environmental education, a nursery for heirloom

and edible native plants, and an opportune place for senior citizens to contribute and integrate.

The Cahalans' interest in clean water and the Chesapeake Bay extends beyond their York County

Farm.

They are very active in the non-profit CHEARS (CHesapeake Education, Arts, andResearch Society), dedicated to the health of all who share the Chesapeake watershed

environment. It is a vehicle for volunteer work to help the health of the Bay. The goal of the

non-profit is to foster rural-urban linkages for the good of the Chesapeake watershed in urban,

suburban, and rural areas in Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia.

The Cahalans are also very much committed to Chestory (The Center for the Chesapeake

Story), with roots in southern Maryland and the work of the late Tom Wisner . It is a group of

artists, scientists, citizen activists, educators, poets, writers, and waterfolk who believe that art,

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song, and story can be the thread that binds people with the deep spiritual Chesapeake

experience.

The Cahalans' passion for the Bay grew out of their reading CBF's State of the Bay report

in 2005 . "One of our first activities was to write an article for the little town we lived in, in

Greenbelt," Maggie Cahalan says. "It was to summarize materials from the Foundation, and it

galvanized us. I think the work of the Foundation in educating people is really important."For more information on programs, initiatives and special events, visit the

CBF-Pennsylvania webpage. Visit Here to sign up for regular updates from CBF-PA (bottom of

left panel.)

NewsClips:

Study Of Sick Susquehanna Bass Cites Endocrine Disrupters

No Link Between Fracking, Smallmouth Bass Decline

WITF Smart Talk On Sick Susquehanna River Bass

Editorial: Susquehanna Impaired? You Bet

Study: Asian Carp Could Be Huge Presence In Lake Erie

First Winter Ice Forms On Lake Erie

Letort Spring Run Focus Of New Book

(Written By: B.J. Small, CBF-PA Media and Communications Coordinator. Reprinted from the

Chesapeake Bay Foundation Blog , January 6.)

Join The Eastern Coalition For Abandoned Mine Reclamation Reclaim Crew

The Eastern Coalition For Abandoned Mine Reclamation’s Reclaim

Crew is a locally-based group of volunteers that assists EPCAMR

with reclamation efforts.

Join Reclaim Crew and be involved with a group of like-minded

individuals who care about the environment.

Learn about the reclamation efforts going on in your area, attend

meet & greets with other Reclaim Crew members at local restaurants, and enjoy events tailored

to sustainable issues here in the Anthracite Coal Region of Northeastern Pennsylvania!

EPCAMR is active in 16 Northeast counties, including: Tioga, Bradford, Susquehanna,

Lycoming, Sullivan, Wyoming, Lackawanna, Luzerne, Northumberland, Carbon, Schuylkill,

Columbia, Lebanon, Dauphin, Montour, and Wayne.

For more information, contact Elizabeth Rosser by sending email to: [email protected]

or Gabby Zawacki at: [email protected]

.

For information on programs, initiatives and special events, visit the Eastern Coalition

For Abandoned Mine Reclamation

website. Visit Here to sign up for regular updates fromEPCAMR, like E

pa environment digest jan. 11, 2016

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