Pa Environment Digest Dec. 18, 2017

Issue #703 Crisci Associates, Harrisburg, PA Dec.
18, 2017
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PAs New Chesapeake Bay Nutrient Reduction Targets For 2025 May Be Lower Than
Originally Thought
Preliminary information from the modeling done for the EPA

Chesapeake Bay Program shows Pennsylvanias 2025 targets for
reducing nutrients may be 7 million pounds less for nitrogen and
270,000 pounds less for phosphorus than originally thought.
Nicki Kasi, Director of DEPs Chesapeake Bay Office,
Wednesday told the Steering Committee for Phase 3 of PAs
Chesapeake Bay Watershed Plan better science, much better land
use data and an improved model that closely tracks real-world
water quality sampling results produced the lower numbers.
DEP said earlier in the year Pennsylvania had to reduce nitrogen by 34 million pounds by
2025. The new modeling shows a reduction of 25 to 26 million pounds is whats needed in the
Commonwealth.
The target phosphorus reductions declined slightly from 970,000 pounds to between
700,000 and 800,000 pounds.
Kasi and other presenters said improvements in science also found many existing best
management practices were more effective than originally thought, which increased the pounds
of nutrients on-the-ground practices actually yield.
The Phase 6 Model, the shorthand for the new model, also added many new approved
best management practices states can use to meet their reduction targets. There are now over
400 approved BMPs.
DEP Secretary Patrick McDonnell cautioned the group saying this is just the beginning of
the target setting process for 2025.
Negotiations with other Chesapeake Bay Watershed states, and the outcome of
discussions on how to account for growth, the reduced effectiveness of the Conowingo Dam in
stopping pollutants from getting into the Bay and how to incorporate climate change impacts
could also change the target numbers.
Click Here to review a copy of the presentation made to the Committee.
Next Meeting
The next meeting of the Steering Committee will be January 22 and will be held in Room
105 of the Rachel Carson Building starting at 1:00 p.m.
For more information on activities and for copies of handouts, visit the Phase 3 Steering
Committee Actions webpage. For a description of activities in Pennsylvania to meet Chesapeake
Bay cleanup commitments, visit DEPs Pennsylvanias Chesapeake Bay Plan webpage.
Related Stories:
EPA: Chesapeake Bay Water Quality Approaches Record High, Conservation Practices Are
Working
REAP Tax Credits Available To Help Farmers Add Conservation Practices, Improve Water
Quality
EPA Awards $3.7 Million To Pennsylvania For Chesapeake Bay Restoration
PAs Chesapeake Bay Watershed Planning Committee Takes Initial Actions On Developing
Pollution Reduction Plan
NewsClips:
Chesapeake Bay Water Quality Nears Record High Mark
York County Water Cleanup Projects Bag $845,000 In Growing Greener Grants
Latest From The Chesapeake Bay Journal
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[Posted: Dec. 14, 2017]
EPA: Chesapeake Bay Water Quality Approaches Record High, Conservation Practices
Are Working
The Chesapeake Bay Program Thursday announced estimated

water quality in the tidal Chesapeake Bay has reached a
near-record high.
According to preliminary data, almost 40 percent of the
Chesapeake Bay and its tidal tributaries met clean water
standards for clarity, oxygen and algae growth between 2014
and 2016.
This two percent increase from the previous assessment
period is due in large part to a rise in dissolved oxygen in the
deep channel of the Bay.
While this positive sign of resiliency in the nations largest estuary indicates our
ecosystem has recovered from the damages sustained during Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm
Lee, water quality must improve in 60 percent of the Chesapeake Bay and its tidal tributaries if
the estuary is to function as a healthy ecosystem.
Local efforts to reduce nutrient and sediment pollution have shown some success under
the Chesapeake Bays pollution diet, but the challenge of putting enough conservation
practices on the ground to further reduce agricultural runoff and urban runoff to local waterways
remains.
The Chesapeake Bay Program partnership uses several environmental indicators to track
pollution and assess aquatic health.
A suite of computer simulations called the Watershed Model is used to estimate the
impact that local conservation and best management practices have had on nutrient and sediment
loads.
Monitoring data collected from stations on the nine largest rivers in the watershed
provide the foundation for experts to estimate the total nitrogen, phosphorus and sediment
entering the Chesapeake Bay and its tidal tributaries each year, while data collected from stations
in non-tidal waters allow experts to assess the aquatic response to efforts to reduce agricultural
and urban runoff.
Monitoring data is also collected from a comprehensive network of hundreds of stations
in tidal waters to assess changes in water quality.
Computer simulations show that best management practices are currently in place to
achieve 33 percent of the nitrogen reductions, 81 percent of the phosphorus reductions and 57
percent of the sediment reductions necessary to achieve the pollution-reducing commitments of
the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement.
In 2016, Chesapeake Bay Program partners surpassed their phosphorus- and
sediment-reducing goals.
Nitrogen reductions, however, fell short of the target for the fourth year in a row,
due in large part to a gap in reported and implemented agricultural best management
practices in Pennsylvania.
At the 2016 meeting of the Chesapeake Executive Council, the U.S. Department of
Agriculture and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced their intent to increase
funding, technical assistance and direction for Pennsylvania in order to increase the
implementation of nitrogen controls in the Commonwealth.
Findings based primarily on monitoring data collected at nine River Input Monitoring
(RIM) stations reveal inconsistent trends in pollution loads.
-- In the District of Columbia, the Potomac RIM station has experienced improving ten-year
trends in nitrogen but degrading ten-year trends in phosphorus.
-- In Maryland, one stationin the Patuxenthas experienced improving ten-year trends in
nitrogen and phosphorus. The Susquehanna station has experienced degrading ten-year trends in
nitrogen and phosphorus; the Patuxent station has experienced degrading ten-year trends in
sediment; and the Choptank station has experienced degrading ten-year trends in nitrogen,
phosphorus and sediment.
-- In Virginia, both the James and the Rappahannock stations have experienced improving
ten-year trends in nitrogen. The Mattaponi station has experienced degrading ten-year trends in
nitrogen and phosphorus; the Pamunkey station has experienced degrading ten-year trends in
nitrogen and sediment; and the Appomattox station has experienced degrading ten-year trends in
nitrogen, phosphorus and sediment.
Monitoring data collected from non-tidal stations throughout the watershed show that
half of the stations analyzed for nitrogen, 38 percent of the stations analyzed for phosphorus and
20 percent of the stations analyzed for sediment have experienced improving ten-year trends.
Thirty-one percent of the non-tidal stations analyzed for nitrogen, 26 percent of those
analyzed for phosphorus and 37 percent of those analyzed for sediment have experienced
degrading ten-year trends.
While data also show that pollution loads in 2016 remained below the long-term average,
these loads did increase: between 2015 and 2016, nitrogen loads increased 12 percent to 241
million pounds, phosphorus loads increased 35 percent to 13.6 million pounds and sediment
loads increased 56 percent to 2.5 million tons.
Experts attribute this rise to an increase in river flow, which itself is affected by rainfall.
Improvements in water quality will take time, and there are often lags between the
implementation of best management practices and the visible effects of those practices on a
particular waterway.
In January, the Chesapeake Bay Program will release the 2016-17 Bay Barometer: Health
and Restoration in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed, which will explore how the entire
Chesapeake Bay ecosystem and its watershed are responding to the partnerships collective
protection and restoration efforts.
For a description of activities in Pennsylvania to meet Chesapeake Bay cleanup
commitments, visit DEPs Pennsylvanias Chesapeake Bay Plan webpage.
Reaction
Beth McGee, Chesapeake Bay Foundation Director of Science and Agricultural Policy,
issued this statement: "The new findings from the CBP provide both good and bad news. Its
clear the Clean Water Blueprint is working. Our water is getting cleaner, leading to smaller dead
zones and more Bay grasses and oysters. This is a testament to the strong monitoring and science
that supports the Blueprint.
But water quality still has to improve in 60 percent of the Bay, meaning that we cant
take our foot off the gas pedal. We need increased efforts from both the states and federal
government. The Bay Program must be fully funded and all the Bay jurisdictions must continue
to reduce pollution from agriculture and urban and suburban runoff."
For more on Chesapeake Bay-related issues in Pennsylvania, visit the Chesapeake Bay
Foundation-PA webpage. Click Here to sign up for Pennsylvania updates (bottom of left
column). Click Here to support their work.
Related Stories:
Originally Thought
Quality
NewsClips:
[Posted: Dec. 14, 2017]
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Thursday

announced it is providing $3.7 million to the Department of Environmental Protection to
implement best management practices (BMPs) on agricultural lands in Pennsylvanias portion of
the Chesapeake Bay watershed.
These practices will reduce the loads of nitrogen, phosphorus and sediment pollution
going to the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries.
The Chesapeake Bay Program is an excellent example of cooperative federalism at
work, said EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt. This funding will help Pennsylvania accelerate its
progress in improving local water quality and restoring the Chesapeake Bay.
Clean water is a top priority for EPA, said EPA Regional Administrator Cosmo
Servidio. This funding will help Pennsylvania continue putting the necessary pollution control
measures in place to restore local waters and the Chesapeake Bay. In addition, it helps to
demonstrate our commitment in working with the agricultural community where we see
first-hand the successes and challenges of growing food and having local streams, as well as
ensuring available water supplies, to support our farming communities.
The most practical way to balance farmers economic viability and the health of local
waters is to enlist farmers in using environmentally conscious and economically sustainable best
management practices, said Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Patrick
McDonnell. Were grateful for funding support from EPA that enables DEP to partner with
farmers to plan and implement these practices. Achieving clean local waters takes boots on the
ground farm by farm, stream by stream. With over 33,000 farms in Pennsylvanias part of the
Chesapeake Bay Watershed, we simply couldnt do it without EPAs support.
This funding, which is being provided through EPAs Chesapeake Bay Implementation
Grant Program will support activities to help achieve and maintain the water quality necessary to
fully restore the aquatic resources of the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries, including:
-- Developing multi-year management plans;
-- Chesapeake Bay education;
-- Implementing local BMPs to control stormwater runoff;
-- Developing agricultural nutrient and manure management plans;
-- Installing agricultural BMPs;
-- Funding cost share programs to reduce the cost to farmers of implementing BMPs; and
-- Providing funding opportunities to Pennsylvania conservation districts for implementing local
stormwater BMPs.
For more information about this program, visit EPAs Chesapeake Bay Implementation
Grant Program webpage.
Related Stories:
Originally Thought
Working
Quality
NewsClips:
[Posted: Dec. 14, 2017]
REAP Tax Credits Available To Help Farmers Add Conservation Practices, Improve
Water Quality
Pennsylvania farmers who want to implement best

management practices (BMPs) or purchase on-farm
conservation equipment can apply for 2017-2018 Resource
Enhancement and Protection (REAP) program tax credits.
REAP is a Pennsylvania tax credit program for agricultural
producers who install BMPs or make equipment purchases
that reduce nutrient and sediment runoff, which improves
Pennsylvanias streams and watersheds.
Ten years ago, we developed REAP in partnership with the General Assembly, as a new
way to encourage and improve conservation efforts on Pennsylvania farms, said Agriculture
Secretary Russell Redding. Since then, farmers have implemented more than 4,800 projects,
with impressive results. Their efforts have kept nearly 12 million pounds of nitrogen, nearly
800,000 pounds of phosphorus, and more than 700,000 tons of sediment where they belong: in
our fields, where they contribute to agricultural productivity, rather than threatening our
waterways and the species that call them home.
Farmers may receive tax credits of up to $150,000 per agricultural operation for 50 to 75
percent of the projects cost.
The most commonly approved projects are for no-till planting and precision ag
equipment, waste storage facilities, Conservation Plans, Nutrient Management Plans, and
protecting barnyards and other areas with animals.
Cover crops and riparian stream buffers are also popular REAP-eligible practices.
REAP can be used in conjunction with other funding sources, such as the Environmental
Quality Incentive Program (EQIP) or the Chesapeake Bay Program to help install BMPs.
REAP applications are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.
Theres still a lot of work ahead, Redding said, noting that the agriculture industry is
expected to make 75 percent of Pennsylvanias total nutrient load reductions. REAP is an
important mechanism to improve the viability of our farms and the health of our waterways
which benefits Pennsylvanians and everyone downstream.
Private investors may act as project sponsors by providing capital in exchange for tax
credits. Any individual or business subject to taxation through personal income tax, corporate net
income tax, the bank shares tax or others is eligible to participate in REAP.
Since the program began in 2007, REAP has awarded tax credits to more than 4,800
projects totaling more than $68 million. Public and private investments in REAP have
contributed to the conservation projects, worth more than $165 million.
The 2017-18 REAP application packet, as well as other information about REAP, is
available on the Department of Agricultures website or by contacting Joel Semke at
717-705-4032 or jsemke@pa.gov.
NewsClips:
Crable: Climate Change May Bring Pros, Cons For Lancaster Farmers
Crable: PSU Study Says Methane Emissions From Livestock Not Underestimated
Crable: DEP Orders Lancaster Farmers Composting Operation To Close
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Originally Thought
Working
[Posted: Dec. 14, 2017]
Funding Approved For Reclamation Of Abandoned Mines In Fayette, Jefferson, Somerset

Counties
Gov. Tom Wolf Friday announced funding for projects to cleanup acid mine drainage (AMD)
and contaminated land at three sites in Fayette, Jefferson and Somerset Counties.
It takes committed, hard work by many local partners to clean up the environmental
degradation left by decades of coal mining before federal and state regulations began in the
1970s, said Gov. Wolf. Their efforts are invaluable investments in our public health, the
vitality of our communities, and the quality of our environment in Pennsylvania.
The grants are supported by the federal Surface Mining Conservation and Reclamation
Act Fund, established to finance reclamation projects on lands scarred by surface mining, and
through the AMD abatement and treatment program to support remediation of AMD in a
Qualified Hydrologic Unita watershed, river basin, or other unit where AMD has significantly
affected water quality in a way that adversely affects biological resources.
DEP is pleased to approve funding to support these partnerships in abandoned mine
cleanup efforts, said Secretary Patrick McDonnell. Their work goes a long way to restore and
protect the land and water for their communities and the citizens of Pennsylvania.
The projects funded projects include:
-- Fayette County: AMD Cleanup at Spruell Mine Site: Western PA Conservancy will design
and build a passive AMD treatment system at the abandoned Spruell Mine site. The system will
remove 5 pounds of iron and 2 pounds of manganese daily from Glade Run to improve stream
health. The project was awarded a $414,650 SMCRA Grant.
-- Jefferson and Clarion Counties: Mill Creek Watershed Designation as Qualified Hydrologic
Unit: The Headwaters Charitable Trust will develop the Mill Creek Watershed as a Qualified
Hydrologic Unit in a project awarded a $27,850 AMD Set-Aside Grant.
This designation will enable the Mill Creek Coalition to leverage additional funding from
the AMD Set-Aside Fund to allow continued operation of 14 passive treatment systems in the
watershed and develop additional treatment systems to maintain recovered sections of the main
stem of Mill Creek and Little Mill Creek.
-- Somerset County: Hawk View Revegetation: The Somerset County Conservation District
will repair three acres of land, known as Hawk View, at an abandoned mine site now owned by
Somerset County Conservancy and designated a Qualified Hydrologic Unit.
Vegetation was killed by acidic material exposed by erosion. The project, which received
a $41,008 AMD Set-Aside Grant, consists of laying down a thin layer of crushed limestone and
topsoil and replanting with native vegetation.
For more information on mine reclamation in Pennsylvania, visit DEPs Bureau of
Abandoned Mine Reclamation webpage.
NewsClips:
DEP Stepping In To Stabilize Abandoned Mine Under Monroeville Businesses
Earth Conservancy To Hold Info Session On Workforce Training Program Dec. 15
[Posted: Dec. 15, 2017]
Op-Ed: Straight Talk: Time To Celebrate About Improved Water Quality... Or Not?
By John Arway, Executive Director, Fish & Boat Commission
In 1968, water pollution was causing the annual

loss of $3 million to the fishing industry of the
Chesapeake Bay. In 1969, over 41 million fish
were reported being killed by pollution in the
nations waters.
That same year, the Cuyahoga River in Ohio
caught on fire. In 1970, 30 percent of the samples
tested from our nations drinking water supplies
were found to contain chemicals that exceeded
public health protection limits.
In 1971, 87 percent of Swordfish samples had
mercury levels that were unfit for human consumption. In 1972, two-thirds of our nations waters
were unsafe for fishing or swimming (PBS 2002). Our nation was in a water pollution crisis, and
something had to be done.
I often say that we have more waters to fish today than when I was a child. I have been
extremely fortunate to have been part of a generation that has contributed to improving the
quality of Penns Waters and the health of our fisheries.
I have been privileged to work closely with the likes of Ralph Abele, Bob Ging, Pete
Duncan, John Childe, Dennis Guise, Bud Byron, Ken Sink, Paul Swanson, Ed Bellis and so
many other champions for our public natural resourcesthe white hats.
These are men of high integrity and conviction. Our story is part of the larger story of
successes that can be told from across our nation because of the priorities our society has given
to controlling water pollution.
I believe that there is one single action, a turning point so-to-speak, that is responsible for
moving society from an age of pollution to an age of restoration.
Although it began as the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (FWPCA) in 1948, it was
completely revised by the 92nd Congress in a series of amendments in 1972. The 1972 act was
vetoed by President Richard Nixon on October 17, 1972, which was overridden by the Senate
and House and became law on October 18, 2017.
The 1972 act was a commitment to restore and maintain the chemical, physical and
biological integrity of the nations waters. It called for zero discharge of pollutants into navigable
waters by 1985 and having all waters fishable and swimmable by 1983.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, in coordination with the states, is
responsible for the administration of the Act and implementation of its intent through regulations
contained in 40 Code of Federal Regulations.
While the Act has been further amended over time to include the Clean Water Act of
1977 and the Water Quality Act of 1987, I believe that the 1972 amendments are the primary
reason for the progress we have made in the treatment of point and nonpoint source pollution.
There is little doubt that the enforcement of the provisions of the 1972 Act has produced
the improvements that we have seen in the water quality of Pennsylvanias 86,000 miles of
streams and rivers, over 4,000 lakes and reservoirs and the waters of the United States including
the territorial seas.
One of the most important tenets of the 1972 Act was when Congress required the states
to implement a permitting system to effectively control pollution.
The National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit required industry
(manufacturing, mining, oil and gas extraction, etc.), government (sewage treatment plants and
Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission hatcheries) and some agricultural facilities (animal
feedlots) to obtain a permit for point source discharges into waters of the United States.
Additionally, the 1972 Act prescribed specific methods about how to control point source
pollution. Certain industries were required to use technology-based standards that are based on
the available methods to reduce pollution at a reasonable cost (Best Available Technology).
However, despite the requirement of technology-based standards, Congress
re-emphasized that one cannot impact the publics use of a receiving waterbody and reaffirmed
previous acts that included a water quality-based regulatory approach. The two primary protected
uses are water supply and aquatic life.
The regulatory approach included the development of water quality standards including
four fundamental parts: 1) Designated uses; 2) Water quality criteria; 3) Antidegradation policy
and 4) General policies.
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PA DEP) is responsible for
ensuring that the uses of our Commonwealth waters are protected as explained in our
Commonwealths water quality standards, which can be found in 25 PA Code Chapter 93.
The procedures defined in the 1972 Act continue to be the foundation of our water
quality protection programs.
Therefore, we should celebrate the 45th Anniversary of the 1972 Act since it is
principally responsible for the cleanup of thousands of miles of polluted water in Pennsylvania
and tens of thousands of miles around our nation.
Unfortunately, we have fallen far short in meeting the zero discharge and
fishable/swimmable goals. The PA DEP currently reports 20,149 (23 percent) miles of impaired
streams and rivers and 36,000 acres (40 percent) of lakes in Pennsylvania fail to meet protected
use designations (PA DEP 2016).
Our Commonwealths Environmental Rights Amendment, Article 1 Section 27 of the
Pennsylvania Constitution, was recently redefined by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, which
should help guide us into the future to insure our air, water and public natural resources will be
protected today and for future generations (PEDF v. Commonwealth).
However, at the same time, we are now seeing attempts at weakening environmental
protection at both the federal and state levels.
The discussion about Waters of the United States at the federal level and the
environmental riders inserted in the current state budget bill are troubling and are steps backward
in time.
In the meantime, it may be wise to heed the advice of Aldo Leopold (1887-1948),
regarded as the nations father of wildlife ecology. Leopold wrote in his famous book, A Sand
County Almanac, Rest! Cries the chief sawyer, and we pause for breath.
So, lets take a pause and celebrate the successes we have achieved and then get back to
the work of meeting the challenges that our forefathers set for us in 1972.
(Photo: Marcellus Shale drilling releases trapped acid mine drainage into Semiconon Run,
Butler County.)
John Arway became the Executive Director of Fish and Boat Commission in March 2010 and
has been a tireless advocate for the resource first policy and putting the Commission on a sound
financial footing.
NewsClips:
AP: PA AG, 2 Other Attorneys General Want Great Lakes Walled Off To Stop Asian Carp
Demko: Winter Months An Opportunity Northeast PA Trout Fishermen
Marianna Will Move Forward With Dam Removal Project In Washington County
Biologist Fighting Uphill Battle To Get Eelways Built On Potomac Dams
4 Chester County Project Benefit From Growing Greener Grants
Sewage Flows Into Pittsburghs Rivers, Is There A Fix That Wont Break The Bank?
Grant Will Restore Nesquehoning Stream Banks
Westmoreland County Property Sale Protects Headwaters Of Loyalhanna Creek
Delaware RiverKeeper Dec. 15 RiverWatch Video Report
(Reprinted from the January-February PA Angler & Boater magazine.)

[Posted: Dec. 13, 2017]
Budget Secretary: No Tax Increases Or Revenue Enhancements Needed To Balance FY

2018-19 Budget
During his mid-year budget briefing Thursday, Budget Secretary Randy Albright said they do
not believe there will be a need for increasing taxes or for any major revenue enhancements to
balance next years budget, other than the adoption of a natural gas severance tax.
Putting recent budget actions in context, Albright said the Wolf Administration inherited
a state budget that was balanced with one-time gimmicks and in the worst shape since the 2008
recession.
Albright said he was pleased to report today the states fiscal condition has significantly
improved over the last year.
As a result, Albright said they believe, because of $2 billion in cuts and savings by the
Administration and new recurring revenue, the structural deficit built into the state budget is all
but gone. He also pointed out complement reductions have resulted in the lowest number of
employees-- about 73,000-- he had seen in his lifetime.
At the same time, Albright noted there has been significant investment increases in
education, to address the opioid epidemic and other priorities.
With respect to the current year, Albright said they feel the FY 2017-18 budget year will
end with a modest $32 million budget surplus and without the need for any supplemental
appropriations.
The surplus, however, includes the lease-back of the Farm Show Complex Gov. Wolf
proposed, but no proceeds from his proposed securitization of Liquor Control Board revenues.
Click Here for a copy of the slides used in the briefing.
$1 Billion Difference
Secretary Albrights outlook on the FY 2018-19 state budget is in stark contrast to the
projections made by the Independent Fiscal Office in mid-November.
The IFO said Pennsylvanias General Fund budget will run a deficit starting at nearly $1
billion in FY 2018-19 rising to over $2.1 billion in FY 2022-23.
Specifically, the IFO projects deficits of $988 million in FY 2018-19; $1.865 billion in
FY 2019-20; $1.774 billion in FY 2020-21; $1.784 billion in FY 2021-22; and $2.189 billion in
FY 2022-23.
In response to a question about the differences, Albright said, he believes the IFO is
missing the mark on estimating expenditures and underestimated revenues.
Capitolwire.com reported IFO Executive Director Matt Knittel defended his agencys
forecast when asked his take on Albrights claims.
Based on the trends from the past month, I do not think our revenue outlook would
change much, explained Knittel. We do have concerns about the JUA (the Pennsylvania
Professional Liability Joint Underwriting Association) transfer, but we will not change our
assumption that we will receive those monies unless new information is made available.
Since we released our report in November, we have not received any new information
that would cause us to adjust our projections, Knittel said. For FY 2018-19, we projected a
deficit of $1.0 billion, but on a cost-to-carry basis, it was closer to $600 million. We are still
comfortable with those projections and our revenue estimate continues to hold up well.
Knittel admitted its possible the Budget Office is privy to some more up-to-date
spending information, but the IFO gets most of what Albrights shop has.
Regarding access to information: we largely have access to the same information for
revenues, but for expenditures, the administration will be in close contact with the agencies on a
weekly and even daily basis, and so could anticipate some savings or expenditures that we would
learn about only after a delay, Knittel said.
NewsClips:
Haggerty Absence In Harrisburg May Have Prevented Gas Severance Debate
Editorial: Haggertys Absence Help Kill Severance Tax
Meyer: Wolf Admin Reports Fiscal Turnaround, Contradicts IFO Projections
Meyer: How 6 House Bills Could Change The Way PA Budgets Are Done
[Posted: Dec. 14, 2017]
DEP Posts Advisory Committee, Board Meeting Schedules For 2018
The Department of Environmental Protection published the

2018 meeting schedules for its advisory committees and
boards in the December 16 PA Bulletin. The notice includes
schedules for--
-- Aggregate Advisory Board, [No Dates Scheduled Yet.]
DEP Contact: Daniel Snowden, 717-787-5103,
dsnowden@pa.gov;
-- Agricultural Advisory Board, DEP Contact: Jay Braund,
717-772-5636, jbraund@pa.gov;
-- Air Quality Technical Advisory Committee, DEP
Contact: Kirit Dalal, 717-772-3436, kdalal@pa.gov;
-- Board of Coal Mine Safety, DEP Contact: Peggy Scheloske, 724-404-3143,
mscheloske@pa.gov;
-- DEP Citizens Advisory Council, Executive Director Lee Ann Murray, 717-787-8171,
leemurray@pa.gov;
-- Cleanup Standards Scientific Advisory Board, DEP Contact: Mike Maddigan, 717-772-3609,
mmaddigan@pa.gov;
-- Climate Change Advisory Committee, DEP Contact: Mark Brojakowski, 717-772-3429,
mbrojakows@pa.gov;
-- Coal & Clay Mine Subsidence Insurance Fund Board, DEP Contact: Lawrence Ruane,
717-783-9590, lruane@pa.gov;
-- Coastal Zone Advisory Committee, DEP Contact: Stacey Box, 717-772-5622, sbox@pa.gov;
-- Environmental Justice Advisory Board, John Brakeall, 717-783-9731, jbrakeall@pa.gov;
-- Environmental Quality Board, DEP Contact: Laura Edinger, 717-772-3277, ledinger@pa.gov;
-- Laboratory Accreditation Advisory Committee, DEP Contact: Aaren Alger, 717-346-7200,
aaalger@pa.gov;
-- Low-Level Waste Advisory Committee, DEP Contact: Rich Janati, 717-787-2147,
rjanati@pa.gov;
-- Mine Families First Response & Communications Advisory Council, DEP Contact: Peggy
Scheloske, 724-404-3143, mscheloske@pa.gov;
-- Mining & Reclamation Advisory Board, DEP Contact: Daniel Snowden, 717-787-5103,
dsnowden@pa.gov;
--Oil and Gas Technical Advisory Board, DEP Contact: Todd Wallace, 717-783-9438,
twallace@pa.gov;
-- (DCED) PA Grade Crude Development Advisory Council [No Dates Scheduled Yet.]
-- PA Energy Development Authority, [No Dates Scheduled Yet.] DEP Contact: Dave Althoff,
717-783-8411, dalthoff@pa.gov;
-- Radiation Protection Advisory Committee, DEP Contact: Joseph Melnic, 717-783-9730,
jmelnic@pa.gov;
-- Recycling Fund Advisory Committee (same as SWAC), DEP Contact: Laura Henry,
717-772-5713, lahenry@pa.gov;
-- Sewage Advisory Committee, DEP Contact: Janice Vollero, 717-772-5157, jvollero@pa.gov;
-- Small Business Compliance Advisory Committee, DEP Contact: Nancy Herb, 717-783-9269,
nherb@pa.gov;
-- Small Water Systems Technical Assistance Center Board, DEP Contact: Dawn Hissner,
717-772-2189, dhissner@pa.gov;
-- Solid Waste Advisory Committee, DEP Contact: Laura Henry, 717-772-5713,
lahenry@pa.gov;
-- State Board for Certification of Sewage Enforcement Officers, DEP Contact: Kristen
Szwajkowski, 717-772-2186, kszwajkows@pa.gov;
-- State Board for Certification of Water & Wastewater Systems Operators, DEP Contact: Edgar
Chescattie, 717-772-2814, echescattie@pa.gov;
-- Storage Tank Advisory Committee, DEP Contact: Dawn Heimbach, 717-772-5556,
daheimbach@pa.gov;
-- Technical Advisory Committee on Diesel-Powered Equipment (Coal Mining), DEP Contact:
Peggy Scheloske, 724-404-3143, mscheloske@pa.gov;
-- Water Resources Advisory Committee, DEP Contact: Diane Wilson, 717-787-3730,
diawilson@pa.gov.
Click Here for a copy of the schedules.
[Posted: Dec. 15, 2017]
Bills On Governor's Desk
The following bills were given final approval by the Senate and House and are now on the
Governor's desk for action--
Water Authorities Under PUC: House Bill 1490 (Turzai-R-Allegheny) placing the Pittsburgh
Water and Sewer Authority under the regulation of the Public Utility Commission. A House
Fiscal Note and summary is available.
Storage Tanks: House Bill 290 (Metzgar-R-Bedford) providing for legislative appointments to
the Underground Storage Tank Indemnification Board, fills a gap in funding for DEPs Storage
Tank Program and extends the sunset date for the environmental cleanup programs for storage
tanks. A House Fiscal Note and summary is available.
Senate/House Bills Moving Last Week
The following bills of interest saw action last week in the House and Senate--
House
Severance Tax: House Bill 1401 (DiGirolamo-R-Bucks) which amends Title 58 to impose a
sliding scale natural gas severance tax, in addition to the Act 13 drilling impact fee, on natural
gas production (NO money for environmental programs) and includes provisions related to
minimum landowner oil and gas royalties. Additional efforts were made to bring the bill to a
vote in the House. The bill remains on the House Calendar. Click Here for more.
Replacing Lead Water Lines: Senate Bill 656 (Fontana-D-Allegheny) authorize local
governments to make funds available to repair or replace lateral water lines contaminated with
lead was removed from the Table and referred to the House Consumer Affairs Committee.
Steel Slag Exemption: Senate Bill 497 (Vogel-R-Beaver) exempting steel slag from the
definition of waste if it was not produced prior to January 1, 2007 or mixed with other waste
(sponsor summary) was reported from the House Environmental Resources and Energy
Committee and Tabled.
Northeast Wildlife DNA Laboratory: House Resolution 627 (R.Brown-R-Monroe)

recognizing the Northeast Wildlife DNA Laboratory at East Stroudsburg University for being a
leader in tick testing and prevention of Lyme disease and tick-borne illness (sponsor summary)
was adopted by the House.
Senate
Local Energy Efficiency Funding: Senate Bill 234 (Blake-D-Lackawanna) would authorize
local governments to create energy improvement districts to help fund energy efficiency,
renewable energy and water conservation projects by commercial and industrial buildings to
reduce their operating costs was amended on the Senate Floor and referred to the Senate
Appropriations Committee.
Voluntary Nutrient Reduction Program: Senate Bill 799 (Alloway-R-Franklin) a voluntary

program to allow municipalities to pay for nutrient reductions was reported from the Senate
Appropriations Committee and is on the Senate Calendar for action.
Senate/House Agenda/Session Schedule/Govs Schedule
Here are the Senate and House Calendars for the next voting session day and Committees
scheduling action on bills of interest as well as a list of new environmental bills introduced--
Bill Calendars
House (Jan. 2): House Bill 1401 (DiGirolamo-R-Bucks) which amends Title 58 to impose a
sliding scale natural gas severance tax, in addition to the Act 13 drilling impact fee, on natural
gas production (NO money for environmental programs) and includes provisions related to
minimum landowner oil and gas royalties; House Resolution 284 (Moul-R-Adams) urging
Congress to repeal the U.S. Environmental Protection Agencys MS4 Stormwater Pollution
Prevention Program (sponsor summary). <> Click Here for full House Bill Calendar.
Senate (Jan. 2): Senate Bill 792 (Alloway-R- Franklin) requiring law fertilizer applicators to be
certified in application techniques and creates an education program; Senate Bill 799
(Alloway-R- Franklin) a voluntary program to allow municipalities to pay for nutrient
reductions. <> 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
Check the PA Environmental Council Bill Tracker for the status and updates on pending state
legislation and regulations that affect environmental and conservation efforts in Pennsylvania.
Session Schedule
Here is the latest voting session schedule for the Senate and House--
Senate
January 2, 22, 23, 24, 29, 30, 31
February 5, 6 (Governor's Budget Address), 7
Budget Hearings: Feb. 20 - March 9
March 19, 20, 21, 26, 27, 28
April 16, 17, 18, 23, 24, 25, 30
May 1, 2, 21, 22, 23
June 4, 5, 6, 11, 12, 13, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29
House
January 2 (non-voting), 22, 23, 24
February 5, 6, 7
March 12, 13, 14
April 9, 10, 11, 16, 17, 18, 30
May 1, 2, 22, 23
June 4, 5, 6, 11, 12, 13, 18, 19, 20, 21, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30
Governors 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. Wolfs Weekly Calendar and Public
Appearances.
News From The Capitol
Proponents Again Come Within 1 Vote Of Considering Natural Gas Severance Tax Bill
House members Tuesday again came within one vote of considering legislation-- House Bill
1401 (DiGirolamo-R-Bucks)-- imposing a severance tax, in addition to the Act 13 drilling impact
fee, on natural gas production.
Rep. Todd Stephens (R-Montgomery) made a motion to have the House resume debate
on the bill as a Special Order of Business after all the other bills on the House Calendar were
considered for the day. The motion needed 101 votes to succeed.
In response, Rep. John Maher (R-Allegheny), Majority Chair of the House
Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, made a motion to adjourn, which takes
precedence. Although the adjournment motion was supported by House Majority Leader David
Reed (R-Indiana), it failed by a vote of 94 to 98.
After some debate, Rep. Stephens motion to consider the severance tax bill failed by one
vote-- 100 to 92.
House Speaker Mike Turzai (R-Allegheny) then went over the bill with no further action
by the House on Tuesday or Wednesday.
On December 4 consideration of the severance tax bill survived a vote to refer it to the
House Environmental Committee by one vote-- 93 to 94.
House Bill 1401 does not benefit any environmental restoration programs.
Rep. Maher told the House Environmental Committee at a meeting Tuesday he
anticipates committee meetings in January and February on the issue of a severance tax, adding
he believes House Bill 1401 may spend a few more months on the House Calendar.
He made it clear that consideration of the bill by the full House was not a good use of
time and said he thought Committee consideration was more appropriate.
Rep. Maher said the severance tax meeting may be held in a part of the state where the
issue will have the most impact.
The House and Senate return to kick off the second half of the 2017-18 legislative session
on January 2, but get down to work the week of January 22.
(Based in part on reporting by Pennsylvania Legislative Services.)
NewsClips:
[Posted: Dec. 14, 2017]
Senate Committee Hears Comments From Both Sides In Dispute Over Reversing Laurel
Pipeline
The Senate Republican Policy Committee

Tuesday held a hearing on the issue of whether to
reverse the flow of the Laurel Pipeline now
shipping products east to west and supplying the
Pittsburgh area with gasoline, heating oil and jet
fuel.
Buckeye Pipeline, the owner of Laurel,
wants to reverse the flow to carry petroleum
products from the Pittsburgh area to Altoona
introducing products from Midwest refineries to Western Pennsylvania.. Click Here for more.
The issue is now before the Public Utility Commission for a decision. [Docket Number:
A-2016-2575829.]
Christopher Ruggiero, Vice President of Monroe Energy (a Philadelphia area refiner),
said, For about 60 years, Laurel has been transporting finished fuel products, made by our
Southeastern Pennsylvania refineries, westward into the greater Pittsburgh region. During that
time, Laurel has always flowed in a westerly direction; today it is the only remaining refined
products pipeline running from eastern Pennsylvania to the west.
Buckeyes application to the PUC seeks to reverse the pipeline between Pittsburgh and
Altoona, effectively cutting of Pennsylvania refineries from the Pittsburgh market and making
consumers in the western part of our Commonwealth entirely dependent on refineries from Ohio
and points further west and south.
Buckeye proudly advocates on behalf of these out-of-state refiners, claiming that the
crude oil they use will somehow lead to lower prices for consumers in Pennsylvania. But both
the facts and even a basic understanding of how economic competition works shows such claims
to be faulty.
To be clear-- Buckeye does not want to reverse the Laurel because it will be good for
Pennsylvania. It wants to reverse the pipeline because it will be good for Buckeye-- in the way of
substantially more revenue for shipping these fuels on a federally regulated tariff from Ohio into
Pennsylvania than it does today on a PUC tariff from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh, Ruggiero said.
Buckeye would like you to believe that this is a complicated issue. But its really not.
Simply ask yourselves why have a group of large, well-recognized Pennsylvania companies such
as Monroe, Sheetz, Gulf, Giant Eagle, Philadelphia Energy Solutions and Guttman Energy
banded together in opposition to Buckeyes proposal?
These are companies that represent every facet of the fuel production and supply chain,
and in some cases, companies that are even in competition with one another, he continued. Yet
on this question of the Laurel Pipeline, they are absolutely united-- because they know that a
reversal of Laurel would threaten more than just their business-- it would threaten consumers,
workers, and the Commonwealth as a whole.
Mike Lorenz, Executive Vice President of Petroleum Supply, Sheetz, spoke against
reversing the Laurel Pipeline.
You have to ask yourself why do Buckeye and Midwest refining partners want to
reverse the line? Its because both will benefit at the expense of Pennsylvania consumers.
Remember the reverse line will be an interstate line and only be subject to federal regulation and
not state oversight by the PUC.
As a result, Buckeye will enjoy higher revenues due to higher tariff rates. Midwest
refiners already have full access to the Pittsburgh market and beyond and have only supplied 15
percent of the demand, he said. The true benefit to them is clearly not access to Altoona, but
the elimination of eastern competition to the larger Pittsburgh market.
They will benefit by blocking out competition and increasing revenues with higher
prices, he said. The reversal proposal is a bad idea for Pennsylvania Laurel and Midwest
refiners will be the clear winners while Pennsylvania consumers and businesses will be the clear
losers.
David Arnold, Vice President of Domestic Pipelines, Buckeye Partners, emphasized the
reversal would only impact the westernmost part of the Laurel Pipeline.
The proposed reversal will not impact the ability of gasoline importers into the New
York harbor or the Philadelphia refineries to reach any other Laurel destinations. There is no
proposal before the PUC to alter that.
Our project will further expand the pipeline capacity into Western Pennsylvania and
extend the supply into Central Pennsylvania, he said. All we ask is that the process be allowed
to go forward as intended and nobody put a thumb on the scale. We are confident that the facts
that are in the record bear out our argument that this project benefits all consumers throughout
Pennsylvania.
Dave MacGregor, Principal, Post and Schell, said, The situation for Laurel under its
current operating circumstances is dire; the Laurel pipeline is a wasting asset and is already
beginning to see operational problems due to the decline in volumes moving from the east. But,
there is one problem: transportation bottlenecks are preventing this lower-- cost Midwest-refined
gasoline from reaching Central and Eastern Pennsylvania.
The reversal, along with a companion debottlenecking project in Ohio by Laurels
affiliate, Buckeye Pipe Line Company, will help unlock the door to Central Pennsylvania and
bring an increased supply of lower cost petroleum product, he said. After the reversal, for the
first time, lower-cost Midwest supplies and corresponding lower-priced gasoline will be able to
reach Central Pennsylvania by pipeline, including Johnstown, Altoona, State College and the
surrounding areas.
And, as more volumes move east from the Midwest, they will push out higher cost
supplies on the East Coast, particularly product imports from overseas, which are the highest cost
supply to the East Coast, MacGregor said. This will reduce reliance on foreign oil and result
in lower gasoline prices in Eastern Pennsylvania, including Philadelphia. In addition, the reversal
will significantly improve reliability of supply for Central Pennsylvania.
Testimony was also submitted to the Committee by: Allegheny Institute, Commonwealth
Foundation and Steamfitters Local Union 420.
Click Here for a video of the hearing and written testimony.
Sen. David Argall serves as Chair of the Senate Republican Policy Committee.
(Based on reporting by Pennsylvania Legislative Services.)
(Photo: S&P Global Platts.)
NewsClips:
Legere: Will Pittsburghers Pay More Or Less For Gasoline If Laurel Pipeline Reversed
Maykuth: Will Consumers Benefit From PA Gasoline Pipeline Reversal?
Crable: FERC Refuses To Reconsider Atlantic Sunrise Pipeline Decision
Cusick: FERC Wont Reconsider Approval Of Atlantic Sunrise Pipeline
East Goshen Twp Pushes For Mariner East 2 Pipeline Changes
Cong. Meehan Seeks Pipeline Risk Assessment For Mariner East 2
Sunoco Pipeline Will Fund ATV For Westmoreland Fire Company
Op-Ed: FERC Should Clear Way For Natural Gas Pipelines
Related Story:
Altoona Mirror: PUC Faces Major Decision On Reversing Flow Of Buckeye Laurel Pipeline
[Posted: Dec. 13, 2017]
Senators Yudichak, Baker To Introduce Bipartisan Bill On Testing Children For Lead
Poisoning
Sen. John Yudichak (D-Luzerne), Minority Chair of the

Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee,
and Sen. Lisa Baker (R-Luzerne) Tuesday circulated a memo to colleagues asking them to
co-sponsor legislation providing for universal testing of children for lead exposure.
The Senators said, [The] effects of lead poisoning are irreversible and severe, including
neurological and developmental disabilities. No level of lead is safe for children, and symptoms
may not present themselves until it is too late.
Based on the Department of Healths most recent Childhood Lead Surveillance Annual
Report, only 28 percent of Pennsylvania children under the age of two were screened for blood
lead levels in 2015.
However, testimony presented at a recent public hearing of the Senate Environmental
Resources and Energy Committee informed us that ALL children may be at riskbased on
exposure in their homes or relatives homes, in care and educational facilities, or in playgrounds,
among other areas.
Recent discussions and research demonstrate that universal lead testing is a practical and
effective protective measure to reduce instances of lead poisoning. Accordingly, our legislation
seeks to ensure that all children at ages one and two, as well as pregnant women, are tested.
Similar legislation was introduced in the House of Representatives as House Bill 666
(Cruz-D-Philadelphia).
Ten other states and Washington D.C. have already implemented similar laws, and it is
important that we act to do the same. We hope you will join us in co-sponsoring this measure.
Senate Lead Task Force
In June the Senate passed Senate Resolution 33 (Yudichak-D-Luzerne) creating a
bipartisan task force to investigate the scope of Pennsylvanias lead exposure problem.
In October, the task force members were named and the Senate Environmental Resources
and Energy Committee held a hearing in Luzerne County on the issue.
Gov. Wolf has also called for the universal testing of blood-lead levels in children.
For more information on lead exposure, intervention and education, visit the Department
of Healths Lead Poisoning webpage. For more information on lead in drinking water, visit
DEPs Lead In Drinking Water webpage.
NewsClips:
Allegheny County Lead Task Force To Push Strategies To Ensure A Lead-Safe Pittsburgh
Lead Task Force Makes Recommendations To Fight Childhood Lead Exposure
Editorial: Why Would Pittsburgh Water Authority Dig Up, Re-Cover Service Lead Lines?
EPA Moves Toward Updating Lead Water Pipe Standards
Related Stories:
Allegheny County Lead Task Force Releases Recommendations, Final Report
Senate Environmental Committee Holds Hearing On Lead Exposure In Northeast PA
Senate Task Force, Lead Exposure Advisory Committee Members Named
Gov. Wolf Calls For Testing Of Blood-Lead Levels In Children Statewide
Senate Approves Resolution Creating Task Force To Investigate Threat Of Lead Exposure
[Posted: Dec. 13, 2017]
News From Around The State
DEP Issues Final Guidance For Chapter 105 Permit Larger Scale Project Environmental
Assessments
The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the December 16 PA Bulletin
of final technical guidance for completing the information requirements for a Chapter 105 Water
Obstruction and Encroachment Permit Environmental Assessment Form (DEP ID:
310-2137-006).
This final technical guidance is intended to clarify the process for completing the
information requirements for a Water Obstruction and Encroachment Permit application,
Environmental Assessment Form No. 3150-PM-BWEW0017.
Currently, the permit application requirements generally address proposed project
impacts to waters of the Commonwealth associated with small scale projects located in a single
county and covered by a single permit application.
Large scale projects, however, often cross more than one county and are covered by
multiple permit applications necessitating the need for a comprehensive environmental review of
all proposed impacts to waters of the Commonwealth for the entire project.
This final guidance provides the permit applicant with an outline of the information that
the applicant should submit to the Department as part of a comprehensive environmental
assessment to meet the regulatory standards in 25 Pa.Code Chapter 105 (relating to dam safety
and waterway management).
Questions regarding this technical guidance document should be directed to Sidney
Freyermuth at 717-772-5977 or send email to: sfreyermut@pa.gov.
Click Here for a copy of the guidance. The guidance is effective on December 16, 2017.
[Posted: Dec. 15, 2017]
Penn State: Citizen Scientists To Help Researchers Gauge Susquehanna River Water
Quality
By Jeff Mulhollem, Penn State News
Using a network of up to 60 citizen scientists, a team of Penn

State researchers will assess the levels of endocrine-disrupting
compounds in the Susquehanna River next year, and in turn
empower those volunteers to become part of the solution to
water-quality problems related to emerging contaminants.
The one-year project, funded by the National Science
Foundation, will address growing public concern about the
presence of trace-level unregulated chemicals in the river.
The Susquehanna's problems are well known a recent
analysis conducted by the Pennsylvania Department of
Environmental Protection indicated that the presence of endocrine-disrupting compounds such as
pesticides, pharmaceuticals and personal care products are contributing to the decline of
smallmouth bass in the river.
The Susquehanna situation is not unique, according to lead researcher Heather Gall,
assistant professor of agricultural and biological engineering, College of Agricultural Sciences.
A significant factor contributing to the presence of these compounds in surface water is
that wastewater treatment plants across the country were not designed to remove
endocrine-disrupting compounds.
Therefore, the chemicals and their metabolites often persist in the wastewater effluent,
which is typically discharged into rivers.
Although the wastewater must be treated to meet permit requirements, most
endocrine-disrupting compounds currently are not regulated and therefore the extent to which
treatment plants remove them prior to effluent discharge varies widely, she pointed out.
"Given the link between the usage of pesticides, pharmaceuticals and personal care
products and the presence of endocrine-disrupting compounds in the environment, citizens can
play a major role in the scientific discovery process," Gall said.
"With the lack of current water regulations or standards and the pressing need for
research to better understand the chemicals' presence, fate, transport, and impacts, citizen
scientists can participate in identifying potential courses of action and desired legislation."
In collaboration with the Susquehanna River Basin Commission, researchers will recruit
50-60 volunteer citizen scientists to participate in data generation and focus group meetings to
identify ways to reduce endocrine-disrupting compounds in the environment.
In addition, the citizen scientists will be asked to use an online tool recently developed by
Gall's research group to help them understand their current consumption of products containing
endocrine-disrupting compounds, so they can make informed choices about how best to reduce
their inadvertent, undesirable usage of these compounds.
Currently available online, the tool can be used to estimate the mass of
endocrine-disrupting compounds in the products that they use in their everyday household
activities associated with personal hygiene and household cleaning.
The calculator is divided into sections for each of three major categories: health and
beauty products, laundry products, and household cleaners.
The volunteers will be provided with test kits, instructed how to use them and assigned a
coordinate within the Susquehanna River watershed at a public location near where they live to
sample surface water for endocrine-disrupting compounds this spring.
Then they will participate in focus groups through the summer that will reveal their
concerns, future research directions, and potential desired legislation that could lead to
reductions of endocrine-disrupting compounds in the environment.
To illustrate the complexity of the dilemma with endocrine-disrupting compounds,
researchers offered this list based on a comprehensive study by the Silent Spring Institute: UV
filters, highest in sunscreen; cyclosiloxanes, highest in sunscreen and car interior cleaners; glycol
ethers, highest in floor and carpet cleaners, polish/wax and sunscreen; fragrances, highest in
surface cleaners, car fresheners, dryer sheets, air fresheners and perfume/cologne; and
aklylphenols, highest in shower curtains and car interior cleaners.
Also on the list are ethanolamines, highest in glass cleaners and laundry detergent;
antimicrobials, highest in hand and bar soaps; bisphenol A (BPA), highest in detergent, soap,
shampoo, conditioner, detergent, shaving cream, face lotion, toilet bowl cleaners, bodywash and
nail polish; phthalates, highest in makeup foundation, car fresheners and perfume/cologne; and
parabens, highest in face lotion, mascara, hair spray and sunscreen.
However, Gall's goal for the project is straightforward.
"By doing this research with citizen scientists, we can help people understand that
potentially dangerous compounds in products they use every day ultimately make their way
through wastewater treatment plants into their streams. Given the lack of water-quality standards,
the quickest way to reduce their presence in the environment is for people to become more
informed consumers," she said.
"We are hoping this project gives people a sense of empowerment that they can make a
difference in water quality in their local river," Gall added.
Also involved in the research are Lara Fowler, senior lecturer, Penn State Law and
assistant director for outreach and engagement, Penn State Institutes of Energy and the
Environment, whose focus is water-related conflicts and issues; and Bryan Swistock, senior
extension associate and water resources coordinator for Penn State Extension.
Penn State Survey Research Center personnel will lead focus group discussions. The U.S.
Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Research Services will analyze water samples under the
direction of Ray Bryant.
For more information, contact Dr. Gall at 814-863-1817 or send email to:
heg12@psu.edu.
NewsClip:
Pittsburghers Have Their First Chance To Become PA Master Naturalists
Related Stories:
DEP Chronicles Story Of Susquehanna River Stresses, Cites Successes On New Multimedia
Website
Audubons Christmas Bird Count, Other DCNR Citizen Science Opportunities
Brodhead Watershed StreamWatcher Program Receives $3,000 PPL Grant
U.N. Hears From Nature Abounds President On PA Volunteer Citizen Science Programs
Audubons Christmas Bird Count, Other DCNR Citizen Science Opportunities
[Posted: Dec. 11, 2017]
Lycoming College's Hellbender Research Helps Advance Senate Bill For First Ever State
Amphibian
The eastern hellbender is one step closer to becoming

Pennsylvanias first ever official state amphibian with the
passing of Senate Bill 658, a collaborated effort of the
Chesapeake Bay Foundations Pennsylvania Student Leadership
Council and Lycoming Colleges Clean Water Institute.
The bill advocates for the hellbender to be appointed the
state amphibian due to its natural ability to indicate water
quality a characteristic that they believe would make the
hellbender a mascot for clean water and an ideal representation
of the state.
Though many Pennsylvania natives might be learning
about the animal for the first time as a result of the bill,
members of the Lycoming College community are no strangers
to the hellbender, since the Colleges biology department and CWI have been studying the
creature for years.
Peter Petokas, Ph.D., research associate at Lycoming College and faculty member of the
CWI, has been working with and researching the hellbender for 12 years. His work with college
students began in 2006 with several projects focused on studying the ecology and health of the
eastern hellbender in tributaries of the Susquehanna River.
Petokas noted that at first, their projects revolved around population ecology-- looking at
where hellbender populations were occurring locally and how they were doing. Over the years
however, their efforts moved toward conserving and restoring the declining population of
hellbenders by creating habitats and collecting hellbender eggs to hatch, raise and release back
into the wild with the help of several outside conservation groups.
Student involvement in hellbender research has been integral to the CWIs efforts, and
has incited a passion for many that extends beyond the classroom.
Over the last decade, more than 30 CWI interns have been engaged in the study of the
population as well as completing some independent study projects and honors projects, said Mel
Zimmerman, Ph.D., professor emeritus of biology and director of the CWI. The hands-on field
and lab experiences provided by this project have sparked several students to continue on in
careers in wildlife and ecology.
The CWIs hellbender project attracts student interns each year who are eager to seize the
rare opportunity to work with the animals.
Working with Dr. Petokas on the Hellbender project was one of the greatest experiences
of my life, said Ruric Bowman 20. I was given the opportunity to work with and study these
elusive and rare amphibians. There are only so few people who can say that they had the
opportunity to study these amazing creatures, and Im glad to be able to say that Im one of
them.
The CWIs hellbender research recently attracted the attention of the Chesapeake Bay
Foundations Pennsylvania Student Leadership Council, a group of high school students who
approached Petokas with an interest in learning what they could do to help the hellbenders
cause.
The group accompanied Petokas on a day trip to New York that involved setting up
concrete nesting boxes to collect hellbender eggs to be housed in the Bronx Zoo for hatching and
release back into the wild.
Following this experience, the students came up with the idea to propose and draft a bill
requesting that the eastern hellbender be named the Pennsylvania state amphibian.
Senator Gene Yaw (R-Lycoming), Majority Chair of the Senate Environmental
Resources and Energy Committee, presented the student-drafted bill to the Senate State
Government Committee and on November 15 the full Senate passed the bill 47 to 2.
Sen. Yaw believes that the bill offers an opportunity to send a clear message about the
importance of clean water in Pennsylvania.
The hellbender as Pennsylvanias official state amphibian would symbolize the high
value that the commonwealth has for the pristine waters that run through it, said Sen. Yaw.
The positive impact of Senate Bill 658 extends to all species that rely on clean water, which
essentially encompasses all wildlife in Pennsylvania, including us.
Though the bill has yet to pass in the House of Representatives, Petokas believes that the
attention that it has already generated is a step in the right direction.
We want this effort to be successful so that we can garner support for the conservation
efforts that were pursuing, said Petokas.
Petokas and Zimmerman hope that the awareness raised by the bill will strengthen efforts
to conserve and protect hellbenders, as there is currently no real state or federal protection in
place for them.
Think about it, remarked Zimmerman. The largest salamander in North America is
living in our local waterways. We need to do what we can to protect this ancient species.
The CWI, comprised of Lycoming College faculty and students, contributes to the areas
understanding and health of the West Branch of the Susquehanna River and its tributaries, and
provides students with the opportunity to gain hands-on field experience in our local waterways.
Click Here for a background fact sheet on hellbenders prepared by Lycomings Clean
Water Institute.
Senate Bill 658 is now in the House State Government Committee.
Shortly after the Senate action in November, House Majority Leader David Reed
(R-Indiana) circulated a co-sponsor memo to colleagues announcing his intention to introduce a
resolution naming the common Wehrles Salamander as the states official amphibian.
Rep. Reed said this salamander was discovered by R. W. Wehrle, a jeweler, businessman,
and naturalist from Indiana, Pennsylvania in 1911. He was known for his submissions of animal
specimens to museums and for providing outdoors experiences for area boys through his Boys
Naturalist Club. In 1917, the salamander he discovered was named after him.
The bill has not been introduced yet.
The Hellbender bill prompted Associated Press reporter Marc Levy @timelywriter to do
a 24-hour poll on Twitter pitting the Hellbender against the Wehrles Salamander. The
Hellbender won handily with 90 percent of the vote with 144 votes counted.
Related Stories:
Slippery Rock Watershed Coalition: Eastern Hellbender Close To Being Named PAs State
Amphibian
Senate Passes Bill To Designate Hellbenders As PAs State Amphibian And Symbol Of The
Importance Of Clean Water
NewsClip:
Amphibian
[Posted: Dec. 13, 2017]
Slippery Rock Watershed Coalition: Eastern Hellbender Close To Being Named PAs State
Amphibian
The Eastern Hellbender appears to be well on its way to

being officially named the state amphibian of
Pennsylvania. Legislation designating the Eastern
Hellbender as State Amphibian was approved on
November 15 by the state Senate.
The Eastern Hellbender is native to certain areas where
water quality is pristine, so it serves as what is called a
natural indicator species due to its sensitivity to poor
water quality and pollution.
If hellbenders are found in a particular waterway, it can
be assumed that water is of high quality.
Three species of salamanders make up about 20 percent of herptile groups in the Slippery
Rock Watershed. It is exciting to know this particular species of aquatic giant salamander is
found in our area!
The unique and curiously likable creature is the largest North American salamander. Its
nicknames include snot otter, devil dog, and mud devil. It can grow up to 29 inches and weigh up
to five pounds.
Hellbenders are solitary, nocturnal, and elusive. Their relatively flat heads and bodies
allow them to hide under rocks.
They prefer shallow, clear, and fast streams, and need cold, clean water to survive.
Researchers from Lycoming College in Williamsport say hellbenders have lived in rivers
and streams throughout much of Pennsylvania, except for the Delaware River watershed. The
species has lasted through ice ages but is now in decline.
Researchers say the population is shrinking because of pollution and warmer water. In
Pennsylvania, mine drainage and sedimentation also contribute to the decline.
Chesapeake Bay Foundations Pennsylvania Student Leadership Council, consisting of
high school students, invested many hours studying the Eastern Hellbender and the problems the
amphibian is facing within the state.
With assistance from Lycoming College, the students drafted Senate Bill 658 and met
with elected officials to outline why they felt it should be the state amphibian.
Peter Petokas, Ph.D., Amphibian Conservation Biologist at Lycoming College and
faculty member of the Colleges Clean Water Institute, applauded Senate action.
Passage of Senate Bill 658 takes the Eastern Hellbender one step closer to the status of
official amphibian of the State of Pennsylvania, a designation that it uniquely deserves and
which will help promote conservation programs that protect and sustain the unique amphibian
resources of the Commonwealth.
We applaud the initiative of the students and hope their efforts will be rewarded. Senate
Bill 658 now moves to the House of Representatives.
If approved by the House and signed by the Governor, the Eastern Hellbender would join
the ranks of the White-Tail Deer as the State Animal, Ruffed Grouse as the State Bird, the Great
Dane as the State Dog and the Brook Trout as the State Fish.
Related Stories:
Amphibian
Senate Passes Bill To Designate Hellbenders As PAs State Amphibian And Symbol Of The
Importance Of Clean Water
(Reprinted from the December edition of the Catalyst newsletter by the Slippery Rock Watershed
Coalition in Butler County. Click Here to sign up for your own copy.)
[Posted: Dec. 15, 2017]
Underwater Insects Aid DEP in Water Quality Checks, Sampling Results Available Online
Theyre creepy. Theyre crawly. Theyre also

an excellent indicator of water quality
theyre the aquatic insects and animals that
live in Pennsylvanias rivers, lakes, and
streams.
The Department of Environmental Protection is for the first time visualizing benthic
macroinvertebrate sampling results from across the state. The data is now publicly available in a
GIS viewer with downloadable data sets for the first time as well.
Benthic macroinvertebrates are the insects and animals that spend most, if not all, of their
lives underwater. They can be mayflies or midges, crayfish or clams, or one of many other
underwater species, and are one of the most important parts of the food chain that fish, birds, and
other animals depend on.
Because they spend almost their entire lives in the water, benthic macroinvertebrates are
especially attuned to water quality, said Dustin Shull, Water Program Specialist for DEP. They
are an excellent way to gauge how healthy a particular section of stream or river is, and help
DEP meet our obligations for monitoring water quality. This kind of biological assessment helps
DEP see and assess long-term, cumulative effects of stressing factors on an ecosystem.
Not all streams and rivers are created equal, and DEP has developed unique
macroinvertebrate collection methods for freestone streams, limestone streams, and low-gradient
streams.
DEP uses these differing methods to get a complete picture of how many, what type, and
how healthy the invertebrates are in any given habitat.
DEP and partners have collected thousands of samples, and collect hundreds more every
year to continue to deepen our knowledge base on the health of Pennsylvanias waters, said
Shull.
See examples of the different streams types, the methods used to sample them, and results
of the sampling by visiting Looking Below the Surface, DEPs interactive story map on benthic
macroinvertebrates.
This type of research is vital to decision-making that goes on at DEP, said DEP
Secretary Patrick McDonnell. We use the data collected and analyzed by program staff when
were looking at how to clean up watersheds and improve water quality in backyards and
communities across Pennsylvania. And we want to make sure that Pennsylvania residents can see
the data were collecting, so they can know more about what is happening in their own area.
To learn more about benthic macroinvertebrates, sampling, and water quality, please visit
DEPs Looking Below the Surface website.
To retrieve sampling data, please visit DEPs Macro Viewer webpage.
For more information on environmental programs in Pennsylvania, visit DEPs website,
Click Here to sign up for DEPs monthly newsletter, visit DEPs Blog, Like DEP on Facebook,
Follow DEP on Twitter and visit DEPs YouTube Channel.
[Posted: Dec. 11, 2017]
Green Stormwater Infrastructure Partners Now Accepting Excellence Award Nominations

To Honor Triple Benefits Of Green Infrastructure
Green Stormwater Infrastructure Partners in the

Philadelphia region are now accepting
nominations for their 2018 Excellence Awards
to celebrate and elevate green stormwater
infrastructure projects and innovations, and the
triple bottom line (TBL) benefits that a
nature-based approach to stormwater management brings.
The deadline for nominations is February 2.
Projects can be any age, must be completed, and located in one of the five southeastern
Pennsylvania counties (Philadelphia, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, or Montgomery), or one of the
three New Jersey counties adjacent to Philadelphia (Camden, Burlington, or Gloucester).
On behalf of the Sustainable Business Network of Greater Philadelphia, the GSI Partners
are recognizing excellence in GSI in the following categories:
-- Public Projects: Built projects managed in large part by a public agency and/or on public
property (municipal, state, federal)
-- Private Projects: Built projects managed in large part by private entity and/or on private
property
-- Innovation: Processes or programs that break new ground, by applying information,
ingenuity, and initiative to significantly advance GSI impact
Winning applications will highlight the triple bottom line (environmental, social, and
economic) benefits of a green infrastructure approach to stormwater management.
Click Here to read about the 2016-17 winners.
For all the details, visit the Green Stormwater Infrastructure Partners 2018 Excellence
Awards webpage.
For more information on sustainability programs in the Southeast, visit the Sustainable
Business Network of Greater Philadelphia website.
(Photo: Villanova Urban Stormwater Partnership Bioinfiltration Traffic Island, Villanova,
2016-17 award winner.)
NewsClips:
DEP Announces Growing Greener Grants For Southwest PA
DCNR Grant Will Spur New Section Of Delaware & Lehigh Trail
DCNR Awards Grants For Delaware Canal Improvements
State Awards $426K In Grants For 3 Local Parks Projects In Montgomery
Harveys Lake Boro Receives Grant To Eradicate Hydrilla
[Posted: Dec. 11, 2017]
Clean, Green And Safe: Creating Healthy Communities Program Dec. 18 In Reading
10,000 Friends of Pennsylvania and Alvernia

University will hold a Clean, Green And Safe:
Creating Healthy Communities Program on
December 18 at the McGlinn Conference
Center at Alvernia in Reading, Berks County.
Urban areas across Pennsylvania are
struggling to address state and federal
requirements to eliminate combined stormwater and sewer systems and to reduce stormwater
runoff and the pollution that it causes.
Some communities, rather than constructing expensive and expansive underground
systems, have chosen alternative methods, which have not only helped deal with their
stormwater issues, but make their communities more attractive and safe.
For example, Philadelphia plans to reduce stormwater runoff by nearly 85 percent
through its "Green City, Clean Waters" initiative.
Lancaster's efforts will divert more than 750 million gallons of stormwater through a
coordinated effort that improves local streetscapes, parks, parking lots and alleys.
These projects, and efforts in other communities, have not only tackled this important
environmental issue, but they have helped make these cities a more attractive place to live and
work.
As Reading works to create a more vibrant and safe community, while addressing this
stormwater issue, learning from the experience in other communities can be invaluable.
This "Safe, Green and Clean" panel discussion will highlight some of these efforts.
Featured speakers include:
-- Charlotte Katzenmoyer, The Director of Public Works for the City of Lancaster
-- Joanne Dahme, General Manager for Public Affairs at the Philadelphia Water Department
-- Brian Marengo, Vice President of CH2M, a Global Consulting Firm.
-- Jack Machek, President and CEO of 10,000 Friends of Pennsylvania
The program is hosted by The Berks Alliance.
Click Here for all the details and to register.
NewsClips:
[Posted: Dec. 13, 2017]
Farm At Doe Run, clat Chocolate Partner With Stroud Water Research Center To Raise
Funds To Protect Clean Water
The Stroud Water Research Center in

Chester County is partnering with The Farm
at Doe Run and clat Chocolate to raise
funds for research and conservation efforts of
the Center through the sale of special Stroud
products.
The Stroud Center, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary, is an independent,
non-advocacy nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing knowledge and stewardship of fresh
water through scientific research, environmental education, and watershed restoration--
worldwide.
The Farm at Doe Run is donating 10 percent of proceeds from its Mayfly Cheese to the
Stroud Center.
clat Chocolate will share 50 percent of all proceeds from the Stroud 72 percent cacao
chocolate bar with Stroud.
The Farm at Doe Run
Cheese lovers have a new reason to celebrate this holiday season: The Farm at Doe Run--
which won Gold at the 2016 World Cheese Awards in San Sebastian, Spain, and second prize for
best in show at the American Cheese Societys 2016 and 2017 conferences-- has released a new
cheese in support of clean fresh water around the world.
The Farm at Doe Run is donating 10 percent of proceeds from its Mayfly Cheese to the
Stroud Water Research Center.
The Mayfly Cheese is named in honor of the delicate winged creatures that fly above
healthy streams and rivers; theyre what Stroud Water Research Center scientists call the canary
in the coal mine: when the mayflies disappear, its a good sign clean water has disappeared too.
Stroud Center Executive Director Dave Arscott said, We have a long history of
partnering with farmers and landowners to plant streamside forests and implement other
practices on land that will benefit the water quality in streams and provide a healthier habitat for
the fish and other organisms living in them. The Farm at Doe Run is one of those partners. The
Mayfly Cheese, produced using sustainable farming practices, is the perfect way to celebrate and
fund this work.
The Farm at Doe Run is situated along Sharitz Run, a small tributary of Doe Run, which
in turn feeds into Brandywine Creek-- Wilmington, Delawares drinking-water supply.
Although currently listed as an impaired stream by the Pennsylvania Department of
Environmental Protection, recent watershed restoration work guided by the Stroud Center at The
Farm at Doe Run and other sites owned by cooperating landowners has greatly improved water
quality.
The Stroud Center has also helped the effort by planting 6,000 trees in the watershed. The
long-term goal is to restore a viable brook trout fishery to Sharitz Run.
Cheesemaker Samuel Kennedy said, We love the idea that Stroud Water Research
Center is located right here in our own backyard and has long been recognized nationally and
internationally for their freshwater research, education, and watershed restoration programs that
help affect water quality and availability around the world. Their dedication to our local water
system is remarkable, providing necessary research and programs to ensure the future of clean
healthy water, our ecosystem, and farming.
Just a 10-minute drive from the farm, the Stroud Center provides educational programs
about streamside reforestation, riparian forest buffers, and their Leaf Pack Network for
students and tour groups.
In a formal statement, the farms creamery team announced, Clean healthy water is
essential to healthy communities, and we are honored to be working to help repair streams in our
area with the help of the highly skilled scientists at the Stroud Center. Our support for local
environmental organizations is just one way in which we are committed to building a healthier
landscape for us all.
The Mayfly is a Camembert-style cheese with a bloomy rind and is inspired by The Farm
at Doe Runs Normandy milk from their grass-fed herd and the beauty of tradition. It is available
at the following retailers:
-- 320 Market in Swarthmore and Media, Pennsylvania
-- Cornerstone in Wayne, Pennsylvania
-- Country Butcher in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania
-- Triple Fresh in East Fallowfield, Pennsylvania
-- Terrain in Glen Mills, Pennsylvania
-- Glen's Garden Market in Washington, DC
-- The Dabney in Washington, DC
clat Chocolate
Just in time for the holidays, proceeds from the sale of a new chocolate bar will help
protect clean fresh water around the world.
clat Chocolate, whose chocolates were named best in America by Bon Apptit, has
released the Stroud Chocolate Bar to support the scientific research, environmental education,
and watershed restoration work by Stroud Water Research Center.
The world-renowned nonprofit dedicated to advancing knowledge and stewardship of
fresh water is celebrating its 50th anniversary and will receive half of all proceeds from the 72
percent-cacao chocolate bar.
The Stroud Chocolate Bar is available at the clat Chocolate website and through clat
Chocolate retailers.
Stroud Center Executive Director Dave Arscott said, The Stroud Chocolate Bar is such
an appropriate way for people to support clean fresh water given our recent work near Iquitos,
Peru, to assess water quality in streams. DNA studies have confirmed that the pristine forest
region of Iquitos, along the headwaters of the Amazon River, is the birthplace of the evergreen
cacao tree (Theobroma cacao). Our work has shown that the Iquitos region is not only famous
for supplying the original genetic stock of the cocoa bean but also for supplying clean fresh
water to the Amazon. It is wonderful that the new chocolate bar will help support our efforts to
conserve and restore tropical forest ecosystems and their streams."
We have always been a supporter of environmental and sustainable practices, as water
quality affects all facets of ecosystems. Water conservation and protection is important to a
sustainable planet and quality of life to the farmers that grow this amazing cacao, said Master
Chocolatier Christopher Curtin.
For more information on programs, initiatives and special events, visit the Stroud Water
Research Center website, Click Here to subscribe to UpStream. Click Here to subscribe to
Strouds Educator newsletter. Click Here to become a Friend Of Stroud Research, Like them on
Facebook, Follow on Twitter, include them in your Circle on Google+ and visit their YouTube
Channel.
[Posted: Dec. 12, 2017]
December Catalyst Newsletter Now Available From Slippery Rock Watershed Coalition
The December edition of the Catalyst newsletter is now

available from the Slippery Rock Watershed Coalition in
Butler County featuring stories on--
-- Eastern Hellbender: Close To Being Named PAs State Amphibian (photo)
-- Students Shine In Annual Westminster College Student Symposium On The Environment
-- The Kids Catalyst: Connect-The-Dots Snowflake Fun
-- Click Here to sign up for your own copy.
The Catalyst newsletter is distributed to over 1,200 individuals in over a dozen countries
including: Brazil, Peru, South Korea, Mexico, England, Wales, Venezuela, South Africa, New
Zealand, Australia and Germany.
For more information on programs, initiatives and upcoming events, visit the Slippery
Rock Watershed Coalition website.
Clean Creek Products
Looking for a unique gift that will please the most discriminating taste and help the
environment? Consider pottery products from Clean Creek.
Clean Creek Products, a division of Stream Restoration Inc., a nonprofit watershed
restoration organization, was formed to market the metals recovered in treating abandoned mine
drainage. One of the uses for these metals is in ceramic pottery glazing.
Every product you purchase from Clean Creek will not only support the artists that create
them, but also helps support watershed groups doing local projects to help restore Pennsylvania's
over 16,500 miles of polluted waterways.
Click Here to see a video on Clean Creek pottery.
Related Story:
Amphibian
[Posted: Nov. 9, 2017]
DEP Invites Comments On Draft General Permit NPDES Permit For Aquatic Animal
Production Facilities

of a proposed PAG-11 NPDES General Permit for Discharges from Concentrated Aquatic
Animal Production Facilities (3800-PM-BCW0006d). Comments are due January 16.
The PAG-11 General Permit is intended to provide NPDES permit coverage for
discharges from CAAP facilities into surface waters of the Commonwealth. The existing
PAG-11 was extended on October 5, 2017, for 1 year.
The Department is proposing to reissue a final PAG-11 General Permit on or before
October 5, 2018.
The proposed fee for submission of a Notice of Intent (NOI) for coverage under this
General Permit is $100. The NOI fee will be paid one time with the NOI for permit coverage.
The Department is proposing that after coverage under the General Permit is authorized,
coverage will continue without the need to submit an NOI for renewal of coverage as long as the
permittee complies with the terms and conditions of the PAG-15 General Permit currently in
effect, unless the Department specifically requires the submission of an NOI in writing.
The Department will provide an opportunity for any interested person or group of
persons, any affected state, any affected interstate agency, the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency or any interested agency to request or petition for a public hearing with respect to the
proposed General Permit.
The request or petition for public hearing, which must be filed within the 30-day period
allowed for filing of written comments, must indicate the interest of the party filing the request
and the reasons why a hearing is warranted. A hearing will be held if there is significant public
interest.
All comments must include the commentator's name and address. Commentators are
encouraged to submit comments using the Department's eComment system or by email to:
ecomment@pa.gov. Written comments should be submitted to the Department of Environmental
Protection, Policy Office, 400 Market Street, PO Box 2063, Harrisburg, PA 17105-2063.
Comments submitted by facsimile will not be accepted.
Click Here for a copy of the proposed PAG-11 General Permit.
[Posted: Dec. 15, 2017]
EQB OKs Drinking Water Disinfection Rule, Eliminates Low-RVP Gasoline In Pittsburgh
The Environmental Quality Board Tuesday took final action to adopt a revised regulation setting
a more stringent drinking water disinfection requirement and a regulation eliminating the
low-RVP gasoline requirement in the Pittsburgh region as unneeded.
Also adopted as a final-omitted regulation were corrections to transcription errors in
cleanup standards for the Land Recycling Program.
For more information and available handouts, visit the Environmental Quality Board
webpage. Questions should be directed to Laura Edinger, Regulatory Coordinator, by sending
email to: ledinger@pa.gov or call 717-787-4526.
[Posted: Dec. 14, 2017]
Susquehanna River Basin Commission Hosts Susquehanna Greenway Photo Gallery
The Susquehanna River Basin Commission

Friday began hosting the Susquehanna
Greenway Partnerships Traveling Photo
Gallery that showcases the winning images from
the 6th Annual Susquehanna Greenway Photo
Contest.
The gallery will be open to the public at the
Susquehanna River Basin Commission offices,
4423 N. Front St. in Harrisburg from 9:00 a.m. -
4:00 p.m. through January 8, 2018. Please note that the Commission will be closed on Christmas
Day and New Years Day.
The Susquehanna Greenway Partnership (SGP) holds their annual photo contest as a way
of showcasing and inspiring connections between communities and the Susquehanna River.
Winning images from the photo contest are then printed and framed to travel throughout
the Susquehanna Greenway the following year.
All photographs were taken within the Susquehanna Greenway Corridor, which runs
about a mile on either side of the Susquehanna River within Pennsylvania.
Photographs were presented anonymously to a panel of five judges and evaluated based
on composition, technical quality, and adherence to the category themes.
This years contest categories included Treasured Landscapes, Treasured River Towns,
Susquehanna Adventures, and a Youth Category for young photographers under 18 years old.
Calendar Of Photos
While the photographs are not for sale, SGP produced a beautiful 2018 calendar with all
the photographs, which is now available for sale through their website. All funds raised through
the sale of the calendars will go directly to the 2018 photo contest and traveling gallery.
The winning photos will be travelling up and down the Susquehanna River on display at
seven locations through July.
The Commission offered to serve as host for the winning photos to emphasize our interest
in connecting people to the shared water resources that are so important to their communities.
For more information on programs, training opportunities and upcoming events, visit the
Susquehanna River Basin Commission website. Follow SRBC on Twitter, visit them on
YouTube.
[Posted: Dec. 15, 2017]
Keep PA Beautiful: Nearly 133,000 Volunteers Participated In 2017 Great American

Cleanup Of PA
Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful Wednesday

announced 132,695 volunteers participated in
7,280 events focused on community greening,
beautification and cleanups across the state as
part of the 2017 Great American Cleanup of
PA.
Organized groups, civic organizations,
families and friends took to Pennsylvania
parks, trails, and streets to reclaim
communities by picking up over 5 million
pounds of trash and planting 16,437 flowers, bulbs and other plants in an effort to keep
Pennsylvania beautiful.
Participating organizations garnered $13 million in in-kind donations and support
money saved or costs avoided due to the generous donations of supplies, services and
person-power.
As in years past, all 67 counties participated in this annual community improvement
event held from March 1 to May 31.
We are so grateful for the ongoing support of our sponsors, Business Council members,
volunteers, local municipalities and local businesses, said Shannon Reiter, President of Keep
Pennsylvania Beautiful. Without these partnerships and the tireless work of the volunteers the
Great American Cleanup of PA would not be possible.
In 2017, this annual event was held in conjunction with Keep America Beautifuls Great
American Cleanup and in partnership with support from the Department of Environmental
Protection, PennDOT, PA Waste Industries Association, the PA Food Merchants Association,
PA Beverage Association, Weis Markets, Inc., Wawa, Inc., Sheetz, ShopRite and The Fresh
Grocer, Steel Recycling Institute, Lancaster County Solid Waste Management Authority, Giant
Eagle Inc., Giant Food Stores, Inc., Republic Services, Wegmans Food Markets and Clean Earth.
To inquire about becoming a 2018 Great American Cleanup of PA sponsor, contact the
Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful office at 724-836-4121.
Click Here to view the 2017 Great American Cleanup of PA final report. Click Here for a
breakdown of stats by county to see how your county performed in 2017.
2018 Cleanup Registration
Registration for the 2018 Great American Cleanup of PA will open in January. During
this period, events registered online will receive free bags, gloves, and vests from PennDOT
District offices, as supplies last.
As part of this event, the Department of Environmental Protection and the PA Waste
Industries Association will sponsor Lets Pick It Up PA Everyday from April 7th 30th.
During the Pick It Up PA Days, registered events will be able to take the trash collected during
their cleanup to participating landfills for free or reduced cost.
For more information on programs, initiatives and special events, visit the Keep
Pennsylvania Beautiful website. Click Here to become a member. Click Here to sign up for
regular updates from KPB, Like them on Facebook, Follow on Twitter, Discover them on
Pinterest and visit their YouTube Channel.
Also visit the Illegal Dump Free PA website for more ideas on how to clean up
communities and keep them clean and KPBs Electronics Waste website.
[Posted: Dec. 13, 2017]
Students Shine In Annual Westminster College Student Symposium On The Environment
The 10th Annual Student Symposium on the

Environment was held on December 7th at
Westminster College in Wilmington,
Lawrence County.
Shaun Busler, Cliff Denholm, Margaret
Dunn, Vicki Michaels, Wil Taylor, Brandi
Miller, Kirk Brethauer, Charlie Cooper,
and Becky Lubold from the Slippery Rock
Watershed Coalition were on hand to take in
the evenings student presentations and creative works on environmental topics.
This year, approximately 75 students from 11 regional colleges, universities, and high
schools gave oral presentations and provided poster displays on a variety of environmental
research subjects.
Dozens of professionals, educators and watershed organizations came to the McKelvey
Campus Center to support the showcasing of some amazing student work.
Some of the topics included small mammal presence and abundance at Jennings
Environmental Education Center, coffee and humans (an ecology of the consumer), annual
precipitation and its effects on the growth of sugar maple trees, student construction of a
spectrophotometer, the impact of environmental exposure on trace metals in human hair, DCNR
invasive species initiative, natural dyes and textile art, the effect of size and age of ash trees on
the selectivity of the emerald ash borer, and many more!
Special thanks go out to the symposium judges, the oral session moderator-- Audrey
Nickle, symposium organizers Dr. Helen Boylan and Tauni Caylor, many student volunteers,
and to Stream Restoration Inc. for sponsoring the awards.
The students did an impressive job showcasing their research and many excellent
projects! Congratulations to all of the award winners!
Best Environmental Project: Anna Cowie (Winner) and Samantha Laurence
(Honorable Mention) Best Research Poster: Shadrack Ampomah (Winner) and Grant Gagnon
(Honorable Mention) Best High School Project: Dalton Fussnecker (Winner) and Jonathan
Micsky, Brianna Pennington, Caylee Jayne, Kyle Wingard (Honorable Mention) Best Oral
Presentation: Sydney Tomechko (Winner) and Tyler Hunt (Honorable Mention).
NewsClip:
Saint Vincent College Gets Scholarship To Promote Female STEM Enrollment
Related Stories:
Lacawac Sanctuary To Receive DCNR Grant For Environmental Education Center In Wayne
County
PPL Foundation Supports Science, Technology, Engineering, Math Education Programs
PA Assn Of Environmental Educators Invites Conference Presentation Proposals
Wildlife Leadership Academy Seeks Motivated Students To Become Youth Conservation
Ambassadors
DEP, Ag, Ed Officials Tour New Agricultural, Environmental Learning Center In Philadelphia
Western PA Clear The Air Student Poster Contest Now Accepting School Registrations
Demolition Begins For New Brodhead Creek Nature Center In Monroe County
(Reprinted from the December edition of the Catalyst newsletter by the Slippery Rock Watershed
Coalition in Butler County. Click Here to sign up for your own copy.)
[Posted: Dec. 15, 2017]
Lacawac Sanctuary To Receive DCNR Grant For Environmental Education Center In

Wayne County
Lacawac Sanctuary and Biological Field Station

Saturday announced it has received a $111,450 grant
from DCNR to purchase 0.8 acres of land to develop
a new Environmental STEAM (Science, Technology,
Engineering, Art and Math) Education Center.
For more than 50 years Lacawac Sanctuary has
inspired a love for nature and ecology among
families, researchers, and students throughout
Pennsylvania and beyond.
Nearly half a century of footprints on the trails and the natural evolution of our diverse
ecosystems have created a critical need to revitalize and expand the aging facilities and to
preserve our forests, wetlands and other natural areas for future generations.
Many of the Sanctuarys outreach programs connect underserved populations to nature
by partnering with agencies where low income, diverse students are already engaged.
Lacawac is currently the only environmental education center Wayne County. The
majority of children served come from schools where from 50 to 75 percent of students qualify
for a free or reduced lunch program.
The opportunities provided by Lacawac are likely to be the only affordable opportunities
for experiential, environmental education for the vast majority of the children served.
Lacawacs new center will anchor all of the work the Sanctuary has been doing for the
last 50 years and will be permanent, accessible and conducive to train the next generation of
scientists, conserve our natural resources and preserve our history.
Click Here for more information on the STEAM Center.
For more information on programs, initiatives and other upcoming events, visit the
Lacawac Sanctuary website. Click Here to sign up for regular updates (right panel). Follow on
Twitter. Like on Facebook. Click Here to support their work.
NewsClip:
Related Stories:
Ambassadors
[Posted: Dec. 10, 2017]
The PPL Foundation Tuesday announced the latest recipients of funds from its grant program,
awarding nearly $600,000 to support 16 organizations working to empower the communities
they serve.
Among the awards were grants to support Science, Technology, Engineering, Math
education programs, including--
-- Bloomsburg University Foundation's Regional STEM Education Center received $30,000 to
expand programming opportunities for students participating in the Center's Anchor program for
youth in foster care, the Girls in STEM program and the STEM Adventure Camps.
-- Da Vinci Discovery Center of Science and Technology in Allentown received $25,000 to
support a Science on the Move outreach vehicle, which will increase the number of students
served through outreach programs in Northeast Pennsylvania.
-- Lancaster Science Center received $100,000 to support a new hands-on science exhibit and
expansion of STEM programming.
-- Lehigh Carbon Community College Foundation received $30,000 to support expansion of
LCCC's STEM initiative to all three campuses (Schnecksville, Allentown and Tamaqua),
including the STEM Academy, Women in STEM GROW mentoring program and the Science
Technology Talent Showcase to recognize student achievement in STEM programs.
-- Pennsylvania Governor's School for the Sciences received $55,000 to provide students the
opportunity to attend the Pennsylvania Governor's School for the Sciences' summer program at
Carnegie Mellon University.
-- Pocono Environmental Education Center in Pike County received $25,000 to support the
development of the organization's Sustainability Lodge, an education center for the community.
-- Pocono Services for Families and Children received $45,000 to support the development of an
outdoor classroom for use by hundreds of children attending the on-site child care center.
-- Scranton Lackawanna Human Development Agency received $25,000 for a program that will
bring STEM curriculum to Head Start students in a four-county area as part of an initiative to
provide high quality early childhood education in Northeast Pennsylvania.
-- Valley Youth House in the Lehigh Valley received $25,000 to provide a free, week-long
overnight STEM camp for disadvantaged youth.
-- Wildlands Conservancy in the Lehigh Valley received $25,000 to support the expansion of a
sensory trail, accommodating more visitors and improving the safety and accessibility of the
parking area.
"Whether enhancing educational opportunities for students in our communities or
providing disadvantaged workers what they need to achieve economic stability, there are many
nonprofit organizations that are working to better the lives of the people who call our region
home," said Ryan Hill, president of the PPL Foundation. "The PPL Foundation is proud to
support the efforts of the organizations that help make our communities safe, strong and
sustainable."
For more information on this program, visit the PPL Foundation webpage.
NewsClip:
Related Stories:
County
Ambassadors
[Posted: Dec. 12, 2017]
The PA Association of Environmental

Educators is now inviting proposals for
presentations and workshops at the 2018 PAEE
Conference March 12-13 in State College.
January 15 is the deadline for submissions.
The theme of this years conference
Growing from Our Roots explores how
programs can include local lore and native
cultures to increase people's attachment to the
environment in their community.
Presentations and workshops should be interactive, engaging and fun, applying best
practices in environmental education and interpretation.
Conference strands include:
-- Our Roots: Words & Wisdom Using lore, local history and storytelling to infuse your
lessons and activities with life.
-- Our Strength: Tasks & Challenges Guidance for gaining confidence to put on the many
hats we wear.
-- Our Reach: Community & Colleagues Strengthening the connections with the
environmental education community of today and tomorrow.
Each year PAEE provides high-quality workshops that give attendees experiences to take
back and apply to their practices, programming, facilities, partnerships and staff.
Attendees include experienced and novice non-formal educators, naturalists, school
teachers, principals, early childhood educators, students, industry professionals and retired
individuals.
Sessions will be 75 minutes or 2.5 hours in length while a limited number of other length
programs may be accepted. Interactive workshops, multi-speaker presentations, round tables and
panels are welcome.
Presenters are expected to register and pay to attend the conference for at least one day.
Conference scholarships and volunteer opportunities are available.
Click Here for all the details and to submit a proposal.
For more information on environmental education resources and professional
development opportunities, visit the PA Association of Environmental Educators website. Click
Here to sign up for the EE Resources newsletter (bottom, left of page).
NewsClip:
Related Stories:
County
Ambassadors
[Posted: Dec. 13, 2017]
Allegheny County Lead Task Force Releases Recommendations, Final Report
Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald and members of

the Lead Task Force Tuesday released the recommendations
of the task force and its final report to the public. The 58-page
document includes 24 recommendations in seven categories
based on the best, currently-available science to best protect
the publics health.
I commend Dr. Hacker and the members of the Task Force for their diligent work and
expertise that they brought to the table in providing direction to continue to improve the health of
our county, said Fitzgerald. These recommendations, while based in science and reflective of
best practices, also tell us a lot about the science, our industrial heritage, the community and
what our residents do in response to concerns about lead.
In May 2017, Fitzgerald commissioned the Lead Task Force with nine members,
charging them with reviewing county data, examining potential policies, and reviewing strategies
and literature related to childhood lead exposure in the county.
The group met regularly throughout the summer and fall of 2017, spoke with 20 local and
nationally-recognized experts, and also reviewed the literature, numerous research studies, and
received recommendations from the public and parents.
Lead is ubiquitous in our environment, and there is no safe lead level in children. We
must address the risk of exposure to this lead in all its forms using both primary prevention and
post-exposure intervention strategies, said Dr. Karen Hacker, Chair of the Lead Task Force and
Director of the Health Department. We must also acknowledge lead exposure as a health equity
issue that must be resolved. The Task Force recognizes that while progress has been made to
address lead exposure, lead continues to represent a threat to human health.
The broad recommendations outlined in the report will take efforts from multiple
partners to achieve, which include housing providers, municipal and county government,
education, foundations, nonprofits and water systems, said Dr. Hacker. I am honored to have
chaired the Task Force and to have worked with such an excellent group of experts. We look
forward to having this report and its recommendations inform our collaborative work to protect
the publics health.
The Task Force concluded that both primary prevention and intervention strategies are
required, although only primary prevention will lead to a continuing overall reduction in
childhood lead exposure and should, therefore, be prioritized.
The recommendations developed by the task force relate to the leading sources of lead
exposure in the county, with additional recommendations relating to monitoring, reporting,
education and outreach.
The Task Force also concluded that implementation of the recommendations will require
cross-jurisdictional efforts, collaboration, and the engagement of multiple partners.
The recommendations are split into four main categories: Control sources of lead;
Monitor and report information on exposure; Investigate hazards; and Educate the public on
community lead hazards.
The first category was also broken down further to provide recommendations related to
specific sources including paint, dust and other household sources; water; soil; and, alternative
sources.
-- Paint, Dust and Other Household Sources
-- Increase the supply of lead-safe/lead-free housing through a lead-safe/lead-free certification
program;
-- Inform homeowners, housing providers and residents of lead hazards and lead exposure routes
and provide information on opportunities and requirements for remediation;
-- Establish programs that financially support lead remediation;
-- Prioritize settings where children spend substantial portions of time;
-- Advocate for state and federal resources to support remediation of lead hazards in housing,
child care facilities and schools; and
-- Increase the number of lead-safe contractors by expanding training and certification programs.
-- Water
-- Reduce exposure to lead from water lines by decreasing the presence of lead containing
plumbing materials (pipes, solder, fixtures);
-- Undertake short and medium-term strategies to minimize exposure;
-- Prioritize settings where children spend substantial portions of time; and
-- Advocate for improved national standards.
-- Soil
-- Improve demolition standards and conformity to those standards;
-- Identify and remediate contaminated soil; and
-- Support homeowners and housing providers to test and remediate lead in soil.
-- Alternative Sources
-- Identify and eliminate alternative sources of exposure to lead;
-- Identify high-risk occupations and hobbies and encourage appropriate lead-safe practices to
protect workers and their families; and
-- Advocate for additional federal regulations to identify and eliminate importation of lead
containing items that pose risk to children.
-- Monitoring and Reporting Information on Risk and Exposure
-- Identify communities in the county with high-risk for lead exposure;
-- Enhance surveillance efforts to address actionable interventions; and
-- Enhance public reporting.
-- Investigation of Hazards
-- Monitor changes to the Center for Disease Control and Preventions (CDC) guidelines for
management of elevated blood lead levels and adjust programming accordingly;
-- Conduct primary prevention investigations in homes based on risk factors (see
recommendation for paint, dust and home hazards); and
-- Provide linkage to resources for all children with elevated blood lead levels based on CDC
guidelines.
-- Public Awareness and Advocacy
-- Reconstitute a community lead advisory committee such as the prior Lead Safe Pittsburgh
organization as a countywide working group; and
-- Expand education strategies on the hazards of lead and strategies for remediation.
In addition to the recommendations noted above, the Task Force provides a full
discussion of what they learned in each of the recommendation areas.
I thank the members of the Task Force for their diligent work on this issue. To have
individuals of their caliber participate in this effort and give of their time, energies and talents is
remarkable, said Fitzgerald. We owe Patrick Dowd, Councilman Richard Ford, Dr. Bernard
Goldstein, Dr. Karen Hacker, Dr. Deborah Moss, Dr. Amy Nevin, Director Valerie McDonald
Roberts, Jeanne VanBriesen and Dr. Sharon Watkins a great debt of gratitude, and thank them
for this report.
The full report also includes a brief history of lead in the United States and in Allegheny
County, as well as a summary of current known data and current activities in Allegheny County
and other resources.
Click Here for a copy of the report.
For more information on lead exposure,risks and intervention in Allegheny County, visit
the Allegheny County Health Department website.
For more information on lead exposure, intervention and education, visit the Department
of Healths Lead Poisoning webpage. For more information on lead in drinking water, visit
DEPs Lead In Drinking Water webpage.
NewsClips:
Related Stories:
Senators Yudichak, Baker Introduce Bipartisan Bill On Testing Children For Lead Poisoning
Senate Environmental Committee Holds Hearing On Lead Exposure In Northeast PA
Senate Task Force, Lead Exposure Advisory Committee Members Named
Gov. Wolf Calls For Testing Of Blood-Lead Levels In Children Statewide
Senate Approves Resolution Creating Task Force To Investigate Threat Of Lead Exposure
[Posted: Dec. 13, 2017]
Gov. Wolf Announces Industrial Site Remediation, Assessment Grants In Northampton,

York Counties
Gov. Tom Wolf Tuesday announced two new grants through the DCED Industrial Sites Reuse
Program that will clean up a former industrial site in York County and assess the environmental
condition of a former Northampton County site to prepare them for occupation by businesses and
residential properties.
The process of fully remediating a site can often be difficult and costly, so this program
is vital to help get these sites pad-ready, Gov. Wolf said. Having a collection of former
brownfield sites ready for occupation helps attract companies to Pennsylvania and create jobs.
The ISRP provides loans and grants for environmental assessments and remediation. The
program is designed to foster the cleanup of environmental contamination at industrial sites,
thereby bringing blighted land into productive reuse.
Its exciting to look at what the developers have planned for these sites, DCED
secretary Dennis Davin said. These projects will help transform vacant brownfields into
flourishing cornerstones for community and economic development like housing, a playground,
and a medical clinic. This is great news for the cities of Easton and York.
Turning unused former industrial sites into places where people work, shop, and play is
one of the Department of Environmental Protections longest-running success stories, and I am
glad to see new chapters added for Easton and York, said Department of Environmental
Protection secretary Patrick McDonnell.
The two approved projects are as follows:
-- Northampton County: The city of Easton was approved for a $153,382 for a Phase II
environmental assessment of the 3.9-acre Black Diamond Silk Mill industrial site in
Northampton County.
Earlier this year, a Phase I environmental assessment was performed which identified
areas of environmental concern that warranted further investigation. Phase II will consist of an
initial assessment and the investigation necessary to complete the site characterization following
demolition.
ISRP funds will be used for site characterization including soil borings, geophysical
survey for two suspected underground storage tanks, soil investigation, groundwater testing,
Phase II reporting, and administration.
Once assessed and remediated, PIRHL Developers LLC plans to construct a 60-unit low
income housing complex, complementary community center, and a playground. A second phase
will be comprised of complementary mixed-uses, including a grocery store, retail and medical
office/urgent care clinic.
-- York County: The Redevelopment Authority of the City of York (RDA) was approved for
$1,000,000 for remediation of the former Danskin Factory clothing manufacturing facility
located at 300 North State Street in the city of York.
ISRP funds will be used for removal of asbestos-containing materials, contamination
debris, demolition debris, and other hazardous materials. Once the site is remediated, the RDA
plans to construct 56 units of affordable housing for families.
For more information on this program, visit DCEDs Industrial Sites Reuse Program
webpage.
Information on industrial site and brownfield reuse is available on DEPs Land Recycling
Program webpage.
NewsClips:
10,000 Friends Commonwealth Awards To Recognize York County
Eastons Black Diamond Site To Get Environmental Assessment
York City Receives $1M State Grant To Clean Up Danskin Eyesore
Related Story:
Changes Proposed To DEP Land Recycling Program Technical Guidance Manual
[Posted: Dec. 12, 2017]
Changes Proposed To DEP Land Recycling Program Technical Guidance Manual

of proposed changes to the Land Recycling Program Technical Guidance Manual (DEP ID:
261-0300-101). Comments are due March 16.
This is a substantive revision of the Land Recycling Program Technical Guidance
Manual (TGM) made necessary because the current TGM was developed in 2002 and is
outdated. Many of the procedures and processes used by the Land Recycling Program have been
updated and multiple clarifications have been made.
Revising the TGM will help avoid confusion for remediators and regional office staff
when assessing and remediating sites to satisfy the requirements of the Land Recycling and
Environmental Remediation Standards Act (35 P.S. 6026.1016026.908).
ecomment@pa.gov. Written comments should be submitted to the Technical Guidance
Coordinator, Policy Office, Department of Environmental Protection, 400 Market Street,
Harrisburg, PA 17101. Comments submitted by facsimile will not be accepted.
Questions regarding this guidance should be directed to Troy Conrad at 717-783-9480 or
by sending email to: tconrad@pa.gov.
Click Here for a copy of the proposed changes.
NewsClips:
Related Story:
Gov. Wolf Announces Industrial Sites Remediation, Assessment Grants In Northampton, York
Counties
[Posted: Dec. 15, 2017]
Attorney General Files Charges Against Company President For Illegally Storing,
Disposing Of Hazardous Waste
Attorney General Josh Shapiro Monday announced felony charges against the president of a
Chester County environmental company for illegally storing and disposing of hazardous wastes
for decades.
Thomas J. McCaffrey, Jr., 68, of Hibernia Road, Coatesville, is charged with the illegal
management of hazardous waste and unlawful conduct related to the illegal storage of hazardous
waste at Cedar Grove Environmental.
The company, on Gallagherville Road in Downingtown, tests and analyzes drinking
water and wastewater samples. McCaffrey is the firms president and laboratory manager.
This defendant illegally stored and disposed of hazardous wastes for many years,
Attorney General Shapiro said. Wastes were illegally poured down the drain on the companys
property. I wont allow anyone to deliberately harm Pennsylvanians rights to clean air and pure
water. Our Environmental Protection Section works every day to safeguard the environment in
our Commonwealth.
In December 2016, Office of Attorney General investigators discovered 250 brown and
clear glass jugs labeled TKN Waste and COD Waste in the basement of Cedar Grove
Environmental.
McCaffrey admitted the hazardous wastes which were later tested and found to exceed
the maximum regulated concentration levels for chromium, silver and mercury had been stored
in the basement for decades.
Employees and former employees of Cedar Grove Environmental said they were
instructed by McCaffrey to dispose of wastes by pouring them down the drain on company
property. The company had an on-lot septic system, but the system was only designed to treat
sewage -- not industrial wastes.
The Department of Environmental Protection, which worked with the Office of Attorney
General on this investigation, tested the septic system and ground nearby and discovered
elevated levels of mercury and silver.
By not properly disposing of hazardous wastes, McCaffrey and Cedar Grove
Environmental avoided paying for their safe and appropriate disposal.
DEP also determined McCaffrey knowingly provided fabricated test results, including
drinking water test results. DEP has revoked Cedar Grove Environmentals accreditation to
perform water testing samples, after it had previously suspended the companys accreditation
five times.
Neither McCaffrey nor Cedar Grove Environmental ever obtained the necessary permit
or exemption to use the company site as a solid waste processing, storage, treatment or disposal
facility.
These criminal charges are to hold the president of this company accountable for the real
environmental harm caused by his illegally storing and disposing of hazardous waste, Attorney
General Shapiro said. I appreciate the collaboration between my office and the Department of
Environmental Protection on this investigation.
McCaffreys bail was set at $25,000. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Dec. 12. The
case will be prosecuted by Senior Deputy Attorney General Brian Coffey of the Environmental
Protection Section.
Since being sworn into office in January, Attorney General Shapiro has made protecting
Pennsylvanias environment a top priority. He appointed Steve Santarsiero, an environmental
lawyer, as Chief Deputy Attorney General for Environmental Protection.
Attorney General Shapiro has filed lawsuits against the Environmental Protection Agency
over ozone levels, standards for emissions from automobiles, and to enforce rules designed to
curb greenhouse gases.
NewsClip:
Chester County Environmental Firm Caught Illegally Storing Hazardous Waste
[Posted: Dec. 11, 2017]
DEP On Track To Complete More Oil & Gas Drilling Site Inspections In 2017 Than 2016
The Department of Environmental Protection will announce December 18 it is on track to

complete more oil and gas drilling site inspections in 2017 than in 2016 as a result of an initiative
that replaced paper forms with a mobile app.
Oil and gas Deputy Secretary Scott Perry will discuss this and several other productivity
increases resulting from the early 2017 implementation of a mobile app for field inspectors, after
years of a paper-based process.
Sharon Ward, Director of the Governors Office of Transformation, Innovation,
Management and Efficiency (GO-TIME), will give an overview of the goals and successes to
date of the GO-TIME initiative.
The announcement will be held in the Capitol Media Center in the Capitol Building
Harrisburg starting at 11:00 a.m. Click Here to watch the event live online.
NewsClips:
AP: Cabot Oil To Court: Make Dimock Resident Pay For Disparaging The Company
Legere: DEP Releases Draft-Final Methane Permits For Shale Gas Sites
Penn State Study Shows Methane Emissions In PA Marcellus Shale Regions 0.4% Of Production
Marcellus Shale Development Doesnt Affect Mortality Rates
Study: Low Birth Weights Linked To Fracking Sites
Marcellus Shale Coalition: 5 Key Facts On New Infant Health Study
Bagenstose: Environmental Groups Ding DRBC On Public Input For Fracking Ban
Plum OKs Fracking In Rural, Industrial Zones
Monroeville Approves Seismic Testing
EQT To Drill 196 Shale Gas Wells In 2018
Westmoreland Transit Fueling Growing Fleet Of Natural Gas Buses
Westmoreland Transit Natural Gas Station To Open Thursday
Shell Donates Hundreds Of Gifts To Aliquippa Salvation Army
Trump Said To Have Interior Dept Open Door For East Coast Oil Drilling
Cusick: New Book Tackles Key Questions About Fracking
[Posted: Dec. 15, 2017]
Environmental Advocates Urge Gov. Wolf To Advance Methane Pollution Standards For
Natural Gas Sector
The Department of Environmental Protection

Thursday presented the draft-final general permits to
control methane pollution from new and modified
natural gas operations to the Air Quality Technical
Advisory Committee.
Residents affected by natural gas operations,
as well as environmental and public health advocacy
groups from across the Commonwealth, spoke at a
press conference and at the AQTAC meeting during
the public comment period.
The comments were a continuation of
advocacy that has spanned three years urging Gov. Wolf to fulfill his campaign promises on
methane controls. Wolf first promised to cut methane pollution from all new and existing gas
operations on the campaign trail in 2014. He announced his methane reduction strategy in
January 2016.
Environmental and public health advocacy groups and impacted residents were pleased to
finally see progress made on the methane reduction plan at the meeting, but say that the Wolf
administration must quickly finalize general permits and require companies to comply with
them.
Groups raised concerns about the administrations proposed concepts for weaker rules
covering existing source of methane pollution -- a major departure from what the governor
promised to do.
While the progress being made on methane standards covering new natural gas sources
is encouraging, the Wolf administration must move quickly to regulate existing sources in a
similar way, said Joseph Otis Minott, Executive Director and Chief Counsel of Clean Air
Council. What DEP is proposing to implement on existing sources is the bare minimum
required by law. Gov. Wolf must go well beyond the bare minimum in protecting the health of
Pennsylvania citizens. We elected this governor based on his promises to be a leader in
addressing methane pollution and climate change. Pennsylvanians deserve that leadership.
Methane, a very potent greenhouse gas, is accompanied by air pollutants harmful to
human health when it leaks from natural gas operations. Emissions in Pennsylvania continue to
rise year after year.
The standards for new and modified sources will be implemented through two general
permits, which allow for a streamlined approval process if industry operators agree to adhere to
the permit conditions.
One permit, GP-5A, covers unconventional gas wells and pigging operations and the
other, GP-5, covers processing plants and compressor stations, including those on large
transmission pipelines.
"Comprehensive methane rules for existing sources of pollution must be broader in scope
and more stringent than the requirements found in EPA guidelines," said Robert Routh, staff
attorney for Clean Air Council. "These guidelines represent the national floor. Gov. Wolf and
DEP need to lead here and aim much higher for the sake of all Pennsylvanians."
"The citizens of the Commonwealth are suffering needlessly when we have the tools and
technology available to greatly limit methane pollution and help clean our air," said Dr. Robert
Little, a family physician and president of the Harrisburg/Hershey chapter of Physicians for
Social Responsibility. "It bears emphasizing that we need to clear our air of both toxic
hydrocarbons and emissions of methane reducing one kind of pollution without the other gets
us nowhere."
"Until these new source rules are applied to existing sources, people in my community
and others dealing with methane pollution right now are still looking at an unfulfilled promise by
Gov. Wolf," said Lois Bower-Bjornson, an impacted resident of Washington County, PA. "I am
urging Gov. Wolf to be that leader who campaigned on a promise of holding the natural gas
industry accountable to the people of Pennsylvania and move forward on rules for existing
sources of methane pollution and VOCs immediately."
Today, my children and 3,200 of their classmates are attending school next to a gas well
pad roughly half a mile away exposing them to a known health and safety risk from oil and gas
air pollution including emissions of methane and volatile organic compounds, said Patrice
Tomcik, a mother of two sons from Butler County and a Field Consultant with Moms Clean Air
Force, a 1 million member strong organization. Lets be clear: This problem will not be
resolved unless and until DEP addresses these toxic pollutants like benzene, as well as methane
emissions.
For more information, visit DEPs Methane Reduction Strategy webpage.
(Photo: Dr. Robert Little, physician and President of the Harrisburg Chapter of Physicians for
Social Responsibility. Photo credit: Ptah Gabrie, Clean Air Council.)
NewsClips:
[Posted: Dec. 14, 2017]
DEP Publishes Interim Final Guidance On Drilling Marcellus Wells In Areas With
Longwall Coal Mining

of interim final technical guidance on drilling Marcellus Shale natural gas wells in areas with
longwall coal mining (DEP ID: 800-0810-0040). Comments due January 31.
This guidance was developed to facilitate appropriate unconventional well inactivation
and re-entry procedures in advance of, and subsequent to, longwall panel removal, respectively;
that will allow for continuous isolation of gas from workable coal seams, protection of mining
personnel and prevention of pollution of the waters of the Commonwealth, consistent with
applicable law.
This guidance is effective on December 16 in the interim while DEP accepts public
comments.
ecomment@pa.gov. Written comments should be submitted to the Technical Guidance
Coordinator, Policy Office, Department of Environmental Protection, 400 Market Street,
Harrisburg, PA 17101. Comments submitted by facsimile will not be accepted.
Questions regarding this technical guidance should be directed to Seth Pelepko at
717-772-2199 or send email to: mipelepko@pa.gov.
Click Here for a copy of the interim final guidance.
[Posted: Dec. 15, 2017]
Westmoreland County Transit Opens CNG Fueling Station
Department of Transportation representatives joined officials from Trillium CNG, Westmoreland

County Transit Agency to mark the start of fueling at the facility at 1823 Business Route 66 in
Greensburg.
This P3 CNG program continues to move forward and will make use of a
Pennsylvania-generated fuel resource, Gov. Wolf said. The benefits include more efficiency,
cleaner burning fuels and lower fuel costs for our transit agencies.
Through the $84.5 million statewide P3 project, Trillium is designing, building, financing
and will operate and maintain CNG fueling stations at 29 public transit agency sites through a
20-year P3 agreement.
Other stations will be constructed over the next five years, and Trillium is also making
CNG-related upgrades to existing transit maintenance facilities.
As part of the conversion in Westmoreland County, the transit agency will convert 25
diesel buses and 16 paratransit buses to CNG. The authority estimates saving more than
$400,000 annually based on current diesel costs and their diesel and gas usage of roughly
415,000 gallons per year.
PennDOTs overall P3 project includes CNG fueling accessible to the public at six transit
agency sites, with the option to add to sites in the future. PennDOT will receive a 15 percent
royalty, excluding taxes, for each gallon of fuel sold to the public at public sites, which will be
used to support the cost of the project.
Using the P3 procurement mechanism allows PennDOT to install the fueling stations
faster than if a traditional procurement mechanism were used for each site, resulting in
significant estimated capital cost savings of more than $46 million.
Stations have opened at:
-- Cambria County Transportation Authority, Johnstown Facility, includes public fueling;
-- Mid Mon Valley Transportation Authority;
-- Central Pennsylvania Transportation Authority, York Facility, includes public fueling;
-- Cambria County Transportation Authority, Ebensburg Facility;
-- Westmoreland County Transportation Authority;
-- Centre Area Transportation Authority; and
-- Beaver County Transit Agency.
When the project is completed, the fueling stations will supply gas to more than 1,600
CNG buses at transit agencies across the state.
To learn more about this project, visit PennDOTs CNG Fueling Stations Project
webpage.
NewsClips:
[Posted: Dec. 14, 2017]
Covanta Releases New Global Sustainability Report
Covanta, a world leader in sustainable

waste and energy solutions, Friday
released its latest Sustainability Report,
detailing its sustainability performance
and progress against goals.
"At Covanta, we work every day to
protect tomorrow," said Covanta
President and CEO Stephen J. Jones.
"Our operations help communities, clients and customers find practical solutions to waste and
materials management while generating clean energy. By running our business responsibly,
efficiently and profitably, we are addressing the three pillars of sustainability: people, planet and
prosperity."
The report details specific progress in Covanta's sustainability focus areas, which include:
Materials Management, Environmental, Community Relations, Safety and Health, and
Workforce Engagement. Highlights from the report include:
-- Avoided, recycled or reused over 900,000 tons of waste (a 60 percent increase), meeting a goal
four years early
-- Achieved a two-fold increase in non-ferrous metals recovered for recycling over the past five
years Covanta now recycles more than 510,000 tons of metal annually
-- Increased use of alternative water sources. Reclaimed wastewater, stormwater, saline water
and once-through cooling discharge now comprise 35 percent of process water utilized
-- Partnered with communities and law enforcement to safely destroy over 4 million pounds of
unwanted medications through the Rx4Safety program, helping to curb abuse and protect water
supplies
-- Continued to make workplace safety the top priority: 26 Covanta facilities and/or groups were
awarded the Occupational Excellence Achievement Award by the National Safety Council
-- Supported the transition of military veterans into the workforce with over 150 new veteran
hires. Veterans now represent 15 percent of the Covanta employee base.
"Sustainably isn't just the way we conduct our business, it is our business," said Paul
Gilman, Covanta's chief sustainability officer. "Environmental and social responsibility are at the
core of everything we do. Therefore, our sustainability goals guide not only our work in the
sustainable waste management sector, but also ensure we provide a safe and diverse workplace
for our employees, continue our practice of developing and maintaining strong ties with local
communities and maintain our track record of delivering 'beyond compliance' environmental
performance. I'm very pleased with the considerable strides we have made toward achieving our
targets."
The complete report, prepared in accordance with the latest Global Reporting Initiative
(GRI) guidelines, is available on Covantas Sustainability Report webpage.
In Pennsylvania, Covanta operates energy-from-waste facilities in Dauphin, Delaware,
Lancaster, Montgomery and York counties, a metals recycling facility in Bucks County and
ECOvanta, an electronics waste recycling operation in Philadelphia.
For more information on its facilities in Pennsylvania and around the world, visit the
Covanta website.
[Posted: Dec. 15, 2017]
Exelon Recognized For Sustainability Leadership In Newsweeks 2017 Green Rankings
Exelon Corporation was recognized for its

excellence in corporate sustainability and
environmental performance, coming in 12th
place on Newsweek Magazines annual
Green Rankings.
This year, Exelon moved up 26
positions in the U.S. and jumped up 48
positions to 24th in the global rankings as
part of Newsweek Magazines annual
assessment of sustainability practices at the
top 500 global publicly traded companies.
We have a longstanding commitment to operating our business in an environmentally
responsible way, and we recognize that providing clean energy is important to our customers,
said Chris Gould, senior vice president and chief sustainability officer for Exelon. This
recognition by Newsweek validates our approach and leadership in sustainability, and well
continue to make great progress in the years ahead.
Newsweeks Green Rankings evaluate the world's largest companies by market
capitalization and rate them based on a variety of corporate sustainability and environmental
impact factors, such as energy, greenhouse gas emissions, water and waste productivity;
company reputation and board-level oversight.
They are the result of comprehensive analysis by Newsweek, Corporate Knights Capital
and an advisory board of representatives of nongovernmental, academic and accounting
organizations.
The U.S report consists of 500 of the largest publicly traded companies headquartered in
the U.S. by revenue, and the Global 500 is an assessment of sustainability performance of the
500 largest publicly traded companies in the world as of Dec. 31, 2016.
Exelon, the nations largest producer of emissions-free energy, has a recognized track
record of leadership in environmental performance, sustainability and reducing greenhouse gas
emissions.
The company continues to lead, by providing its customers with tools and resources to
reduce their carbon footprint, a strategy that saved enough electricity last year to power more
than 1.5 million homes for one year.
Earlier this year, Exelon was also named to the Dow Jones Sustainability North America
Index for the 12th consecutive year and five of Exelons utilities were named to EPAs Energy
STAR Partner of the Year in 2016 for leadership in energy efficiency programs.
In December of this year, the Chicago Area Clean Cities Coalition announced that
ComEd was one of its Green Fleet Leadership Award winners for 2017, recognizing companies
and government agencies leading in the adoption of alternative fuels and clean-vehicle
technologies for their fleets.
Learn more about Exelon's environmental strategy and performance by visiting Exelons
Sustainability webpage. Click Here for a copy of Exelons 2016 Sustainability Report.
NewsClips:
Cusick: Timing Running Out To Save Three Mile Island From Early Closure
Op-Ed: Lawmakers Cant Let The Lights Go Out On Three Mile Island
Last Remaining Nuclear Power Plant Project May Be Canceled By End Of Year
Bill To Help Rescue New Jersey Nuclear Plants Unveiled
NERC Report: Natural Gas, Renewables Will Offset Coal, Nuclear Closures
Republicans Drop Nuclear Credits In Final Federal Tax Bill
Westinghouse Not Moving Fast Enough, Creditors Say
[Posted: Dec. 13, 2017]
Guaranteed Energy Savings Projects Cutting Energy Use, Cost At State, Other Buildings
Lower energy costs in state buildings will generate $4.2 million in annual savings Department of
General Services Secretary Curt Topper announced Thursday.
Using the Guaranteed Energy Savings Act, the department will invest $47 million in
energy efficiency measures at state facilities now and pay for them over time with the annual
savings from reduced utility consumption, rather than using commonwealth funds for upfront
capital investments.
This is a win-win for the state and taxpayers, said Topper. It allows the state to reduce
our carbon footprint, lower our energy bills to fund new construction projects, and ultimately
generate savings for the Commonwealth.
The Commonwealth currently has eight GESA projects underway. Once complete, they
will reduce energy consumption by an average of 22 percent.
Electricity use will be reduced as roughly 60,000 lighting fixtures are converted to LED
lighting and 40 million gallons of water will be saved through water conservation measures.
Carbon dioxide emissions will be cut by approximately 17,100 tons, the equivalent of
planting 40,200 trees or removing more than 3,320 cars from the road for a year.
One of the projects is at Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology in Lancaster, which
hosted the announcement.
Thaddeus Stevens success as a teaching institution that provides world-class hands-on
technical instruction speaks for itself, Topper said. We are immensely proud to have found a
way to incorporate that instruction directly into a cost-effective project that will benefit the
students and campus for years to come.
Thaddeus Stevens $2.6 million project will cover replacing and retrofitting interior and
exterior fixtures for LED lighting campus-wide, the upgrade of the electrical distribution system
and the installation of a sub-metering system that will aid in energy conservation and allocation
of expenses.
A unique feature of the project is that Thaddeus Stevens students will get hands-on
experience through their role in the project of installing the upgraded HVAC system in the
campuss Kreider Building.
The project will save approximately $122,000.00 annually.
In addition to the cost savings and new construction, DGS has made improvements to the
GESA program, include modernizing the bidding and awarding process to be totally electronic
from bid submission to document sharing to the signature process; prequalifying Energy Service
Companies (ESCOs) to make the bid process more efficient; and using a consultant and in-house
DGS engineer to ensure that the project scopes and measures are effective and achievable.
Visit the Commonwealths GESA Program webpage for more information.
NewsClips:
KEEA Energy Efficiency Case Study: Here & Now Brewing, Wayne County
$2.6M Project At Thaddeus Stevens College To Save $122K Per Year In Energy Costs
Erie Area Communities Divided Over Pursuit Of Clean Energy, Its Incentives
[Posted: Dec. 14, 2017]
Dec. 15 News & Views Newsletter Now Available From DEP
The December 15 edition of the News & Views

newsletter is now available from the Department
of Environmental Protection featuring articles
on--
-- Start The New Year By Nominating A Leader
For Governors Awards For Environmental
Excellence
-- AeroAggregates Paves The Way To A Greener
Future
-- Grant Funding Announced For 121 Projects With One Goal: Clean Local Waters
-- Grant Assists Derry Twp In Reducing Rainwater Runoff, Improving Water Quality
-- A News Life For Monocacy Creek In Bethlehem
-- Underwater Insects Aid DEP In Water Quality Checks, Sampling Results Available Online
-- Brownfield Projects Represent Opportunity, Jobs, Growth And Quality Of Life
-- Tip: Now Is The Time To Winterize Your Home!
-- Click Here to sign up for your own copy
For more information on environmental programs in Pennsylvania, visit DEPs website,
visit DEPs Blog, Like DEP on Facebook, Follow DEP on Twitter and visit DEPs YouTube
Channel.
[Posted: Dec. 15, 2017]
DCNR Offers Hotline, Training Opportunities For Snowmobiling, ATV Enthusiasts
With the arrival of winter weather across the state,

Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn is reminding
snowmobiling enthusiasts that updated trail conditions for snowmobile and ATV riding
enthusiasts are available by calling the department.
If you are a Bucks County resident thinking about trailering snowmobiles to Potter
County, you want to know what youll find when you get there, Dunn said. Thanks to our
snowmobile hotlines, information on natural snow depth, trail conditions and other key details
are just a phone call away. Also tailored to geographic areas, DCNRs website offer riders
another source of vital information.
Following the December 9 close of Pennsylvanias regular deer hunting season,
snowmobiling began Monday and closes April 1, 2018, in state forests and parks where
conditions permit.
This season, snowmobile riders in Pennsylvanias state forests and parks have access to
almost 3,000 miles of marked joint-use state forest roads, closed roads, and trails in 18 of the
states 20 state forest districts and in 32 state parks.
Winter ATV trails stretching more than 170 miles in seven state forest districts also
opened Monday.
DCNR is providing condition updates on its toll-free snowmobile hotlines,
1-877-SNOMBLE (1-877-766-6253); or 717-787-5651.
Recorded messages, providing reports on snow depths and trail conditions across the
state, are updated midday every Tuesday and Thursday.
DCNR also provides weather and condition reports online for state parks and forests.
Snowmobile enthusiasts are reminded bureau snowmobile maps are updated to reflect
changes linked to gas-drilling operations and possible storm damage.
Additionally, the Bureau of Forestrys ATV/Snowmobile Safety instructors will soon
begin offering training to both adult and young riders.
Effective January 1, 2018, the certified snowmobile and ATV instruction will be
expanded beyond the former age limitation of under 16.
Snowmobile enthusiasts will find maps, conditions, and other detailed information on
DCNRs Outdoor Recreation webpage.
All snowmobiles and ATVs in Pennsylvania must be registered with DCNRs
snowmobile/ATV Unit. For more information on registration, call toll free (866) 545-2476 or
visit DCNRs website.
For more information on state parks and forests and recreation in Pennsylvania, visit
DCNRs website, Click Here to sign up for the Resource newsletter, Visit the Good Natured
DCNR Blog, Click Here for upcoming events, Click Here to hook up with DCNR on other
social media-- Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Flickr.
NewsClips:
Centre County Groups Awarded Grants For Recreation, Environmental Projects
Crable: Enola, Warwick To Ephrata Rail Trail Get Key Grants For Missing Links
West Bethlehem Twp Creates Challenging Hiking Trail With Beautiful Vistas
Groundbreaking Held For Tacony Trail Connection
Dec. 15 Take Five Fridays With Pam, PA Parks & Forests Foundation
[Posted: Dec. 12, 2017]
Order Your 2018 Pennsylvania State Parks Calendar Today!
DCNR, in partnership with the PA Parks and Forests

Foundation, is pleased to offer the new, 2018 Pennsylvania
State Parks calendar featuring beautiful photography from
state parks!
Orders placed by December 14 are guaranteed for
Christmas delivery. The price is $12.26, which includes a
small shipping fee, plus sales tax, per calendar. You can
place your order online.
The images featured in the calendar are an assortment of
photographs taken by private individuals, professional
photographers, and state parks staff. Calendar sales
directly support maintenance of our state parks.
Click Here for all the details and how to order.
(Photo: Delaware Canal State Park Bucks County)
(Reprinted from the December 13 edition of DCNRs Resource newsletter. Click Here to sign up
for your own copy.)
[Posted: Dec. 14, 2017]
Start The New Year Off On The Right Foot With First Day Hike Jan. 1
Have a resolution for 2018? Is it to get healthier? Spend more time

with family? Enjoy the outdoors more? Whatever your goal, start the
new year off on the right foot with a First Day Hike!
DCNR is again sponsoring free, family-friendly, guided hikes in many
state parks on New Years Day as part of Americas State Parks First
Day Hikes initiative in all 50 states.
State parks offer so much, regardless of the season, and we are excited
to showcase their winter beauty by joining in this national effort to get
people outdoors and into parks.
Check out DCNRs First Day Hike events and more at the DCNR
calendar and Get Outdoors PA calendar.
NewsClips:
Low Delaware River Forces Shortened Washington Reenactment Sunday
(Reprinted from the December 13 edition of DCNRs Resource newsletter. Click Here to sign up
for your own copy.)
[Posted: Dec. 14, 2017]
Dec. 13 Resource Newsletter Now Available From DCNR
The December 13 edition of the Resource newsletter

from the Department of Conservation and Natural
Resources featuring articles on--
-- DCNR Invests $44 Million In Local Recreation,
Natural Resource Conservation Projects
-- DCNR Offers Hotline, Training Opportunities For
Snowmobiling, ATV Enthusiasts
-- Trails, Land, Water Protection In Schuylkill
Highlands Focus Of Visit
-- Susquehanna Riverlands Conservation Landscape Focus Of Visit By DCNR, Local Officials
In Lancaster
-- Order Your 2018 Pennsylvania State Parks Calendar Today!
-- New Bridge Installed In Union County Trail In Bald Eagle State Forest
-- REAP Tax Credits Available To Help Farmers Add Conservation Practices, Improve Water
Quality
-- Click Here to sign up for your own copy.
DCNRs website, Visit the Good Natured DCNR Blog, Click Here for upcoming events, Click
Here to hook up with DCNR on other social media-- Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Flickr.
NewsClips:
[Posted: Dec. 14, 2017]
Philly.com: PAs Private Forestlands Are Imperiled As Their Aging Owners Divide And
Sell
By Jason Nark, Phillynews.com
Many trees in Gary Hague's Wyoming County forest

sprouted before he was born. Others were planted with
his own rough hands. A memory seeded in the summer
twilight a half-century ago grows there, too.
The deed says 99 acres "more or less," but it felt even
bigger when Hague was 14 and his Uncle George said
they needed to walk it. They left the clapboard
farmhouse at dusk, mostly silent aside from waking
insects, and followed the boundary lines in the long shadows.
When George Hague died in 1973, an attorney told his nephew the land was his.
"I think he drew up his will that night after our walk," Gary Hague, 65, said from his
kitchen table in the rancher that replaced the farmhouse. "I think he was trying to show me what
stewardship was, that this is family, part of who we are."
He looked out the window at his inheritance.
"Sorry if I get a little emotional about it," he said. "When I was younger, I didn't get
emotional, but the older I get, the more I feel."
With about 58 percent of its 28.6 million acres covered in forest, Pennsylvania still
honors its namesake, "Penn's Woods," as one of the more heavily-wooded states in the country.
The largest forests are several hours' drive from Philadelphia and Pittsburgh in north-central
Pennsylvania, in counties like Elk, Cameron and Clinton, but unbroken canopies roll across the
horizon from all of the state's big highways.
It's often assumed that most Pennsylvania forestland is owned and protected by the state,
the federal government, or nonprofit conservancies. But clues on country roads, the thousands of
"No Hunting" signs tacked to trees and gated gravel roads, reveal what makes Penn's Woods
unique: Nearly three-quarters of it is privately owned. And in a myriad of ways, endangered.
Click Here to read the entire article.
NewsClips:
Northeast PA Tree Farms Well-Stocked For Holiday Season
PA Acts To Prevent Invasive Inspects From Spreading In Christmas Tree Shipments
Blair County Tree Growers Tout Good Season
Tree-Cycling Helps Provide Mulch For Community Parks
Steamtown Historic Site Hit Hard By Tree-Killing Beetle
AP: Firefighter Dies, Thousands More Take On California Wildfires
Southern California Left Dumbstruck By Week Of Wildfire Hell
[Posted: Dec. 14, 2017]
Western PA Conservancy Protects Loyalhanna Creek Property With Conservation

Easement In Westmoreland
The Western Pennsylvania Conservancy recently
announced the sale of a 115-acre property in
Ligonier Valley, Westmoreland County and its
permanent protection through a conservation
easement.
Located in Cook Township, the property includes a
house, log cabin and a barn. The property also
features important wildlife habitat, a mix of forest
and farmland and 2,500 feet of frontage along
Loyalhanna Creek.
It is also in close proximity to more than 3,000 acres of land in the upper Loyalhanna
Creek watershed previously protected through other WPC conservation easements.
The watershed, which drains the heavily forested slopes of Chestnut and Laurel ridges,
contains several high-quality streams that support a variety of wildlife habitats.
A conservation easement is a legal agreement that restricts future subdivision and
development on land.
Since the 1970s, the Conservancy has permanently protected nearly 27,000 acres of land
in the Ligonier Valley, of which more than 10,000 are through conservation easements.
We are pleased to sell and protect this property that will add to the agrarian heritage,
water quality, forests and open space in the Ligonier Valley an exceptional natural and scenic
area in our region, said Conservancy President and CEO Thomas Saunders.
The Conservancy first acquired the property in late 2015 with financial support from the
Richard King Mellon Foundation, Department of Environmental Protection Growing Greener
funds and Katherine Mabis McKenna Foundation.
It was listed for sale in March 2016 through the Conservancys Conservation Buyer
Program.
The Conservancy works with willing landowners to protect land either through outright
purchase or donation of land or conservation easements. WPC's Conservation Buyer Program
connects potential conservation-minded real estate buyers with sellers of protected properties.
The program offers properties that have conservation and recreational benefits. Interested
sellers or landowners should contact WPC's land protection department by sending email to:
land@paconserve.org or call 1-866-564-6972 for more information.
More information is available on programs, initiatives and special events at the Western
PA Conservancy website. Click Here to sign up for regular updates from the Conservancy, Like
them on Facebook, Follow them on Twitter, add them to your Circle on Google+, join them on
Instagram, visit the Conservancys YouTube Channel or add them to your network on Linkedin.
Click Here to support their work.
NewsClips:
Cumberland County: A Battle Between Growth, Open Space=
[Posted: Dec. 11, 2017]
Settlers Hospitality Group Guests Raise $10K For Delaware Highlands Conservancy
Programs
Settlers Hospitality Group staff presented the Delaware
Highlands Conservancy with a check for $10,132, for
funds collected in 2017 through the Green Lodging
Partnership program at Settlers Inn, Ledges Hotel, and
Silver Birches Resort, in Hawley, Wayne County.
Through the Green Lodging Partnership, guests at
participating hotels are invited to make a $2-per-stay
donation to the protection of the working farms and
forests, clean waters, and outdoor recreational
opportunities that make the Upper Delaware River
region such a wonderful place to live, work, and play.
The funds raised directly support the Conservancy's land protection effortsand ensure
that everything that's special about our region will remain, now and for future generations.
For more information on programs, initiatives and special events, visit the Delaware
Highlands Conservancy website or call 570-226-3164 or 845-583-1010.. Click Here to sign up
for regular updates from the Conservancy, Like on Facebook and Follow on Twitter. Click Here
to support their work.
(Photo: Conservancy staff Jason Zarnowski and Bethany Keene; and Settlers Hospitality Group
staff Patricia OConnor, Terri Marcellus, Kathleen Sarro, and Vicky Olsen.)
[Posted: Dec. 13, 2017]
AG Shapiro Calls On Army Corps Of Engineers To Protect Great Lakes From Asian Carp
Attorney General Josh Shapiro and the Attorneys

General of Michigan and Minnesota Tuesday called on
the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to change plans for an
expensive lock redesign and instead close a major lock
now to keep the invasive Asian carp species from
entering the Great Lakes, including Lake Erie,
potentially causing widespread harm to its ecosystem
and economy.
In a bipartisan joint letter to the Army Corps, the
three Attorneys General asked the Corps to rethink its
Brandon Road Plan, which would retrofit the Brandon Road Lock and Dam in Illinois with
technologies intended to deter the movement of Asian carp.
Asian carp present a real danger to the ecological balance of the Great Lakes, including
Lake Erie, Attorney General Josh Shapiro said. This invasive species consumes a large amount
of plankton, which native species depend on as a food supply, and can severely damage the
ecosystem if it continues to spread. My colleague Attorneys General and I are asking the Army
Corps to change their plans and act now to the Great Lakes from being overtaken by Asian carp.
In their letter to the Army Corps, the Attorneys General emphasize that the Corps own
analysis showed closing the Brandon Road Lock is the most effective, reliable option to stopping
the spread of Asian carp to the Great Lakes.
The Lock Closure Alternative supported by the Attorneys General is estimated to cost
$5.9 million -- compared to $275.3 million to implement the carp-deterrence technologies
favored by the Corps.
We urge the Corps to select and implement what the draft report itself identifies as the
most effective option closing the Brandon Road Lock, said the Attorneys General in the letter.
As the chief legal officers of our respective states, we share a strong, common interest in
protecting the unique resources of the Great Lakes and their connected waters from the
continuing threat that Asian carp present in the Illinois Waterway will invade and become
established in the Great Lakes, causing grave ecological and economic harm, the Attorneys
General wrote, explaining their legal basis for becoming involved in the Asian carp issue.
The Attorneys General letter challenged the Army Corps draft reports conclusion that its
estimated lost transportation cost savings should rule out the Lock Closure Alternative.
The letter pointed to a report prepared for the State of Michigan by transportation experts
that concludes the Corps estimates are grossly overstated, and that increased transportation costs
would be hundreds of millions less than the Corps report suggests.
The letter criticizes the draft report for failing to balance such increased transportation
costs against the far greater ecological and economic harm the public will suffer if Asian carp
invade the Great Lakes.
If Asian carp reach the Great Lakes, including Lake Erie, it will cause major ecological
and economic harm, Attorney General Shapiro said. Great Lakes sport fishing alone has an
annual value in the billions of dollars. That is at risk if Asian carp invade and become
established. For the benefit of the Great Lakes economy and environment, the Army Corps
should reconsider its decision and implement the most effective, most affordable way to keep
Asian carp out of the Great Lakes.
Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro was joined in signing the letter by Michigan
Attorney General Bill Schuette and Minnesota Attorney General Lori Swanson.
More information on the Asian Carp is available on the Asian Carp Response In The
Midwest webpage.
NewsClips:
[Posted: Dec. 12, 2017]
Delaware Highlands Conservancy Winter Eagle-Watching Events In Jan., Feb.
Join the Delaware Highlands Conservancy and our

partners for a series of eagle-watching events all
winter long, including guided bus tours starting at
Upper Delaware Visitor Center in Lackawaxen, Pike
County and Eagle Day at the Wallenpaupack
Environmental Learning Center, 126 PPL Drive,
Hawley, Wayne County.
Bus Tours
Learn from an expert guide and take a scenic drive on
a heated bus throughout the Upper Delaware River region to look for and learn about bald eagles
and their habitat.
The trips are scheduled for January 13 and 27 and February 10 and 17.
The trips start at the Upper Delaware Visitor Center in Lackawaxen, Pike County and run
from 10:00 a.m.- 1:00 p.m. Be sure to dress warmly in layers and wear waterproof boots. Bring
binoculars, camera, and snacks. Snow dates for the trips are the Sundays immediately following.
Click Here for more information and the most up-to-date information and any additional
trips. Refunds are not given in the event of cancelled reservations.
Eagle Day January 6
On January 6, join the Conservancy, Brookfield Renewable, and other local
environmental organizations for Eagle Day, a free afternoon of fun for the whole family at the
Wallenpaupack Environmental Learning Center in Hawley in Pike County.
Enjoy a Live Birds of Prey presentation with Bill Streeter of the Delaware Valley
Raptor Center and hands-on activities provided by Lacawac Sanctuary for all ages to learn about
eagles and other native birds.
Note - you do not need to register in advance for this program, but it is very popular and
seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Doors open at 1:30 p.m.
Eagle Watching On Your Own
The Upper Delaware Visitor Center at 176 Scenic Drive in Lackawaxen, Pike County is
generously provided by the National Park Service and is a center of information for visitors
looking to learn more about viewing and protecting eagles.
Visitors can pick up information about the bald eagle in the Upper Delaware River
region, get maps and directions to eagle viewing locations, watch a short film, and view new
interpretative exhibits.
The Visitor Center is staffed on Saturdays and Sundays in January and February,
beginning January 6, and open to visitors from 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
The Delaware Highlands Conservancy has also partnered with the National Park Service
and the New York State Department of Conservation to maintain well-marked Eagle Observation
Areas open to the public.
These viewing blinds are also staffed by Conservancy volunteers on weekends through
the winter season, and visitors can look through binoculars and spotting scopes to see bald eagles
in the wild. Click Here for directions and information about eagle viewing on your own.
The Upper Delaware River region is one of the largest wintering habitats for eagles in the
northeast United States because of abundant clean water and large, undisturbed stands of trees.
Protected lands in Sullivan County, NY and Pike and Wayne Counties in PA provide a safe
haven for these migratory birds, as well as breeding eagles that live here year-round.
The Conservancys Eagle Watch program is supported in part by grant funding from the
American Eagle Foundation; Orange and Rockland; Sullivan County; and The Philadelphia
Foundation. The February 10 bus trip is donated by the Estate of Becky Finch.
For more information on programs, initiatives and special events, visit the Delaware
Highlands Conservancy website or call 570-226-3164 or 845-583-1010.. Click Here to sign up
for regular updates from the Conservancy, Like on Facebook and Follow on Twitter. Click Here
to support their work.
(Photo by Stephen Davis.)
[Posted: Dec. 11, 2017]
Hawk Mountain Sanctuary Receives Grant From Tompkins VIST Bank
Visiting school groups at Hawk Mountain Sanctuary in

Berks County will continue to enjoy guided field trips,
thanks in part to support from Tompkins VIST Bank,
which recently awarded $5,000 in Educational
Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) funding to the Sanctuary.
The gift helps to support educational programming at
Hawk Mountain for public school groups.
"Hawk Mountain is thrilled to have Tompkins VIST Bank
as a corporate partner and friend, says Director of
Development Mary Linkevich. Its great to know this
community banking organization supports both the
outdoors and public education," she adds.
Tompkins VIST Bank is dedicated to enhancing the vitality of our community through
the support of more than 200 local economic, arts, education, and health-related organizations.
Above that, Tompkins VIST employees contribute countless hours of community service
and fundraising activities for local non-profits.
Recognized as the first refuge for birds of prey, Hawk Mountain Sanctuary is the worlds
oldest and largest, member-support raptor conservation organization.
Its scenic overlooks, mountaintop trails and Visitor Center are open to the public
year-round, and Hawk Mountain is well-known as a prime observation point to watch than
annual migration of hawks, eagles and falcons.
Trail fees, membership dues, gifts and grants support the Sanctuary's global raptor
conservation mission, which includes scientific research, professional training, and conservation
education programs.
For more information on programs, initiatives and upcoming events, visit the Hawk
Mountain Sanctuary website or call 610-756-6961. Click Here to sign up for regular updates
from the Sanctuary, Like them on Facebook, Follow on Twitter, visit them on Flickr, be part of
their Google+ Circle and visit their YouTube Channel. Click Here to support Hawk Mountain.
(Photo: Wayne Lutsey, left, and Beth Heckart, right, of Tompkins VIST Bank, present to Senior
Educator Rachel Spagnola.)
[Posted: Dec. 12, 2017]
Deadline Extended: Governor's Office Seeks Candidates To Fill Vacancy On Fish & Boat
Commission Board
The Governors Advisory Council for Hunting, Fishing and Conservation Friday announced it
has extended the deadline for applications for candidates to fill an upcoming vacancy on the
board of the Fish and Boat Commission from the Fourth District, which includes Bedford, Blair,
Cambria, Fulton, Huntingdon, Juniata, Mifflin and Somerset counties.
The deadline is now January 5 to send in resumes and cover letters.
The district has been represented with distinction by Leonard L. Lichvar, of Boswell,
Somerset County, since December 16, 2009.
The Governor is reaching out to the anglers and boaters of central Pennsylvania to find a
diverse group of qualified applicants, one of which will fill this vacancy, said Robb Miller,
director of the advisory council. Were encouraging anyone interested in volunteering on the
board to send us a letter that describes their qualifications and experience, along with a copy of
their professional resume.
Per the Fish and Boat Code, to qualify as a commissioner, the applicant must be a
resident of the district and be well informed on the subjects of conservation, restoration, fishing,
and boating.
The term of service is four years and members may serve three consecutive terms upon
being nominated by the Governor and confirmed by a majority of the members of the
Pennsylvania Senate.
While commissioners are not compensated, they do receive travel reimbursement.
Individuals interested in applying for this seat should send their materials to Robb Miller, 400
Market Street, 7th Floor, Harrisburg, PA 17101-2301. Individuals can also email the information
to Robb Miller at: robmille@pa.gov.
[Posted: Dec. 15, 2017]
Public Participation Opportunities/Calendar Of Events
This section lists House and Senate Committee meetings, DEP and other public hearings and
meetings and other interesting environmental events.
NEW means new from last week. [Agenda Not Posted] means not posted within 2 weeks
of the advisory committee meeting. Go to the online Calendar webpage for updates.
Note: DEP published the 2018 meeting schedules for its advisory committees and boards.
December 17-- Brodhead Watershed Association. Get Outdoors Poconos. West End Regional
Park Hike. Monroe County. 10:00.
December 18-- NEW. DEP Announcement On 2017 Drilling Site Inspections. Capitol Media
Center, Capitol Building, Harrisburg. 11:00. Click Here to watch the event live online.
December 19-- DCNR Public Meeting On Bloody Skillet & Whiskey Springs ATV Trails In
Centre, Clinton Counties. Durrwachter Alumni Conference Center, Lock Haven University,
Lock Haven. 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.
December 20-- CANCELED. DEP State Board For Certification of Sewage Enforcement
Officers meeting. 11th Floor Conference Room B, Rachel Carson Building. 10:00. DEP
Contact: 717-772-2186 or send email to: RA-seotrng@pa.gov. (formal notice)
January 4-- DEP hearing on RACT 2 Air Quality Plan for NRG Energy Center in Dauphin
County. DEP Southcentral Regional Office, 909 Elmerton Avenue, Harrisburg. 10:00. The
deadline to pre-register is December 28. To register to speak contact Thomas Hanlon at
717-705-4862. (formal notice with additional details PA Bulletin, page 7349).
January 6-- NEW. Delaware Highlands Conservancy. Eagle Day. Wallenpaupack
Environmental Learning Center, Hawley, Pike County.
January 10-- NEW. House Consumer Affairs Committee holds an informational meeting on
House Bill 107 (Godshall-R-Montgomery) providing for the recovery of natural gas distribution
system extension costs (sponsor summary). Room B-31 Main Capitol. 10:00.
January 10-- NEW. DEP Technical Advisory Committee on Diesel-Powered Equipment (Coal
Mining) meeting. DEP New Stanton Office, 131 Broadview Road, New Stanton. 10:00, DEP
Contact: Peggy Scheloske, 724-404-3143, mscheloske@pa.gov.
January 10-- DEP hearing on RACT 2 Air Quality Plan for Lehigh Cement Company in Berks
County. DEP Southcentral Regional Office, 909 Elmerton Avenue, Harrisburg. 10:00. Deadline
to pre-register is January 3. To register to speak contact Thomas Hanlon at 717-705-4862.
(formal notice with additional details PA Bulletin, page 7351).
January 11-- NEW. DEP Mining & Reclamation Advisory Board meeting. Room 105 Rachel
Carson Building. 10:00. DEP Contact: Daniel Snowden, 717-787-5103, dsnowden@pa.gov.
January 11-- NEW. DEP Coal & Clay Mine Subsidence Insurance Fund Board meeting. 12th
Floor Conference Room, Rachel Carson Building. 10:00. DEP Contact: Lawrence Ruane,
717-783-9590, lruane@pa.gov.
January 11-- DCNR, PA Recreation & Park Society Grant Application Webinar. 10:00 to 11:30.
January 11-12-- Morris Arboretum. 29th Annual Landscape Design Symposium. Montgomery
County Community College, Blue Bell.
January 16-- NEW. Environmental Quality Board meeting. Room 105 Rachel Carson Building.
9:00. DEP Contact: Laura Edinger, Environmental Quality Board, 400 Market Street, Harrisburg,
PA 17101, 717-772-3277, ledinger@pa.gov.
January 16-- NEW. DEP Citizens Advisory Council meeting. Room 105 Rachel Carson
Building. 10:00. Contact: Executive Director Lee Ann Murray, 717-787-8171,
leemurray@pa.gov
January 17-- NEW. DEP Coastal Zone Advisory Committee meeting. 10th Floor Conference
Room, Rachel Carson Building. 9:30. DEP Contact: Stacey Box, 717-772-5622, sbox@pa.gov.
January 20-- Pocono Heritage Land Trust. Cross Country Skiing Adventure, Brodhead Creek
Heritage Center at ForEvergreen Nature Preserve, 1539 Cherry Land Rd., East Stroudsburg,
Monroe County. Noon.
January 22-- NEW. PA Chesapeake Bay Watershed Planning Steering Committee meets.
Room 105 Rachel Carson Building. 1:00.
January 23-- Delaware River Basin Commission. Hearing on proposed fracking ban in
Delaware Watershed. Ladore Camp, Retreat and Conference Centers Performing Arts and
Recreation Center (PARC) Pavilion, 287 Owego Turnpike, Waymart, Wayne County. 1:00 to
4:30. Click Here to register to attend.
Delaware Watershed. Ladore Camp, Retreat and Conference Centers Performing Arts and
Recreation Center (PARC) Pavilion, 287 Owego Turnpike, Waymart, Wayne County. 6:00 to
9:30. Click Here to register to attend.
January 24-- House Appropriations Committee holds a hearing on special funds related to the
Department of Community and Economic Development. Location, Time To Be Announced.
Click Here for more.
January 24-- NEW. DEP Small Business Compliance Advisory Committee meeting. 12th Floor
Conference Room, Rachel Carson Building. 10:00. DEP Contact: Nancy Herb, 717-783-9269,
nherb@pa.gov.
January 24-- Dept. of Labor & Industry Uniform Construction Code Review and Advisory
Council meeting. Room E-100, First Floor, Department of Labor of Industry Building, 651 Boas
Street in Harrisburg. 10:00. Contact: Cindy Holtry, Department of Labor and Industry,
717-783-4560. (formal notice)
January 25-- House Appropriations Committee hearing on Special Funds Used By DEP and
DCNR. Location, Time To Be Announced. Committee hearings are typically webcast through
the House Republican Caucus website. Click Here for more.
January 25-- NEW. DEP Water Resources Advisory Committee meeting. Room 105 Rachel
Carson Building. 9:30. DEP Contact: Diane Wilson, 717-787-3730, diawilson@pa.gov.
Delaware Watershed. DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Philadelphia Airport, 4509 Island Ave.,
Philadelphia. 1:00 to 4:30. Click Here to register to attend.
Delaware Watershed. DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Philadelphia Airport, 4509 Island Ave.,
Philadelphia. 6:00 to 9:30. Click Here to register to attend.
January 25-26-- Chesapeake Bay Landscape Professional Certification Level I Training.

Lancaster.
January 31-- Pocono Heritage Land Trust. Full Moon Night Hike, Jonas Mountain Nature
Preserve, 506 Watercrest Dr. Monroe County. 6:00 p.m.
February 6-- Governors Budget Address.
February 6-- DEP Climate Change Advisory Committee meeting. Room 105 Rachel Carson
Building. 10:00. DEP Contact: Mark Brojakowski, 717-772-3429 or send email to:
mbrojakows@pa.gov.
February 7-10-- PA Association For Sustainable Agriculture Annual Conference. State

College.
February 8-- NEW. DEP Air Quality Technical Advisory Committee meeting. Room 105
Rachel Carson Building. 9:15. DEP Contact: Kirit Dalal, 717-772-3436, kdalal@pa.gov.
February 8-- NEW. DEP State Board for Certification of Water & Wastewater Systems
Operators meeting. 10th Floor Conference Room, Rachel Carson Building. 10:00. DEP Contact:
Edgar Chescattie, 717-772-2814, echescattie@pa.gov.
February 11--Pocono Heritage Land Trust. Winter Snowshoe Adventure, Brodhead Creek
Heritage Center at ForEvergreen Nature Preserve, 1539 Cherry Lane Rd., East Stroudsburg,
Monroe County. Noon.
February 13-- NEW. DEP Environmental Justice Advisory Board meeting. 14th Floor
Conference Room, Rachel Carson Building. 8:30. DEP Contact: John Brakeall, 717-783-9731,
jbrakeall@pa.gov.
February 13-- Dept. of Labor & Industry Uniform Construction Code Review and Advisory
February 14-- NEW. DEP Oil and Gas Technical Advisory Board meeting. Room 105 Rachel
Carson Building. 10:00. DEP Contact: Todd Wallace, 717-783-9438, twallace@pa.gov.
February 14-- NEW. DEP State Board for Certification of Sewage Enforcement Officers
meeting. Conference Room 11B, Rachel Carson Building. 10:00. DEP Contact: Kristen
Szwajkowski, 717-772-2186, kszwajkows@pa.gov.
February 22-- NEW. DEP Agricultural Advisory Board meeting. DEP Southcentral Regional
Office, 909 Elmerton Ave., Harrisburg. 9:00. DEP Contact: Jay Braund, 717-772-5636,
jbraund@pa.gov.
February 23-24-- Keystone Coldwater Conference. State College. (Note: PA Environment

Digest is a Conference sponsor.)
March 2-- Harrisburg University Center for Environment, Energy and Economy. Hosts The
Fracking Debate Author Daniel Raimi In Discussion Program. Harrisburg University, 326
Market St, Harrisburg. 11:30 to 1:00.
March 6-- NEW. DEP Storage Tank Advisory Committee meeting. Room 105 Rachel Carson
Building. 10:00. DEP Contact: Dawn Heimbach, 717-772-5556, daheimbach@pa.gov.
March 6-- NEW. DEP Board of Coal Mine Safety meeting. DEP Cambria Office, 286 Industrial
Park Road, Ebensburg. 10:00. DEP Contact: Peggy Scheloske, 724-404-3143,
mscheloske@pa.gov
March 6-- Dept. of Labor & Industry Uniform Construction Code Review and Advisory Council
meeting. Room E-100, First Floor, Department of Labor of Industry Building, 651 Boas Street
in Harrisburg. 10:00. Contact: Cindy Holtry, Department of Labor and Industry, 717-783-4560.
(formal notice)
March 8-- NEW. DEP Solid Waste Advisory Committee meeting. Room 105 Rachel Carson
Building. 10:00. DEP Contact: Laura Henry, 717-772-5713, lahenry@pa.gov.
March 12-13-- PA Association of Environmental Educators. 2018 Annual Conference. State

College, Centre County.
March 20-- Dept. of Labor & Industry Uniform Construction Code Review and Advisory
March 22-- NEW. DEP Radiation Protection Advisory Committee meeting. Room 105 Rachel
Carson Building. 9:00. DEP Contact: Joseph Melnic, 717-783-9730, jmelnic@pa.gov.
March 29-- NEW. DEP Small Water Systems Technical Assistance Center Board meeting.
Room 105 Rachel Carson Building. 9:00. DEP Contact: Dawn Hissner, 717-772-2189,
dhissner@pa.gov.
April 3-- Dept. of Labor & Industry Uniform Construction Code Review and Advisory Council
(formal notice)
April 4-- NEW. DEP Cleanup Standards Scientific Advisory Board meeting. Room 105 Rachel
Carson Building. 9:00. DEP Contact: Mike Maddigan, 717-772-3609, mmaddigan@pa.gov.
April 10-- NEW. DEP Mine Families First Response & Communications Advisory Council
meeting. DEP New Stanton Office, 131 Broadview Road, New Stanton. 10:00. DEP Contact:
Peggy Scheloske, 724-404-3143, mscheloske@pa.gov.
April 10-- Center for Watershed Protection. 2018 National Watershed & Stormwater
Conference. Maryland and Virginia In-person and online.
April 12-- NEW. DEP Laboratory Accreditation Advisory Committee meeting. DEP Bureau of
Laboratories building, 2575 Interstate Drive, Harrisburg. 9:00. DEP Contact: Aaren Alger,
717-346-7200, aaalger@pa.gov.
April 17-- Dept. of Labor & Industry Uniform Construction Code Review and Advisory Council
(formal notice)
April 17-19-- National Forum On Low-Zero Energy Buildings. Wyndam Grand Hotel,
Pittsburgh.
April 24-- NEW. DEP Sewage Advisory Committee meeting. DEP Southcentral Regional
Office, 909 Elmerton Ave., Harrisburg. 10:30. DEP Contact: Janice Vollero, 717-772-5157,
jvollero@pa.gov.
May 2-4-- PA Association Of Environmental Professional. Annual Conference. State College.
May 8-- 2018 PA Groundwater Symposium. Ramada Inn in State College, Centre County.
September 22-- NEW. Joint meeting of DEP Recycling Fund Advisory Committee and Solid
Waste Advisory Committee. Room 105 Rachel Carson Building. 10:00. DEP Contact: Laura
Henry, 717-772-5713, lahenry@pa.gov.
September 28-- NEW. DEP Low-Level Waste Advisory Committee meeting Room 105 Rachel
Carson Building. 10:00. DEP Contact: Rich Janati, 717-787-2147, rjanati@pa.gov.
October 17-21-- Passive House Western PA. North American Passive House Network 2018
Conference. David L. Lawrence Convention Center, Pittsburgh.
Visit DEPs Public Participation Center for public participation opportunities. Click Here to sign
up for DEP News a biweekly newsletter from the Department.
Sign Up For DEPs eNotice: Did you know DEP can send you email notices of permit
applications submitted in your community? Notice of new technical guidance documents and
regulations? All through its eNotice system. Click Here to sign up.
DEP Regulations In Process

Proposed Regulations Open For Comment - DEP webpage
Submit Comments on Proposals Through DEPs eComment System
Proposed Regulations With Closed Comment Periods - DEP webpage
Recently Finalized Regulations - DEP webpage
DEP Regulatory Update - DEP webpage
August 2017 DEP Regulatory Agenda - PA Bulletin, Page 4922
DEP Technical Guidance In Process

Draft Technical Guidance Documents - DEP webpage
Technical Guidance Comment Deadlines - DEP webpage
Recently Closed Comment Periods For Technical Guidance - DEP webpage
Technical Guidance Recently Finalized - DEP webpage
Copies of Final Technical Guidance - DEP webpage
DEP Non-Regulatory/Technical Guidance Documents Agenda (July 2017) - DEP webpage
Other DEP Proposals For Public Review

Other Proposals Open For Public Comment - DEP webpage
Recently Closed Comment Periods For Other Proposals - DEP webpage
Other Proposals Recently Finalized - DEP webpage
DEP Facebook Page DEP Twitter Feed DEP YouTube Channel
Click Here for links to DEPs Advisory Committee webpages.
DEP Calendar of Events DCNR Calendar of Events
Senate Committee Schedule House Committee Schedule
You can watch the Senate Floor Session and House Floor Session live online.
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.
December 18-- PA Parks & Forests Foundation 2018 Awards

December 20-- DCNR Forested Stream Buffer Grants
December 20-- DCNR Snowmobile, ATV Trail Grants
December 22-- Voting For PA 2018 River Of The Year
December 22-- PA Wilds Signage Mini-Grants
December 22-- PA Wilds Route 6 Facade Grants
December 29-- Western PA Conservancy Watershed Mini Grant Program
December 29-- PA Assn. Of Environmental Educators Excellence Awards
December 31-- DEP Alternative Fuel Vehicle Rebates (First-Come, First-Served)
January 1-- Governors Awards For Environmental Excellence
January 1-- DEP Accepting County Act 101 Waste Planning, HHW, Education Grants
January 15-- PA Land Trust Assn. Conservation Leadership Award
January 15-- Register For Western PA Lets Clear The Air Student Poster Challenge
January 19-- 3rd Annual Western PA Zero Waste Event and Business Awards
January 20-- What Does The Delaware River Mean To You? Beauty
January 20-- CFA Solar Energy Program Grants/Loans
January 23-- Start Applying: DCNR Community Conservation Partnership Grants
February 1-- U.S. Healthy Watersheds Consortium Grant Program
February 1-- Delaware River Basin Commission Winter Photo Contest
February 1-- ExtremeTerrains Clean Trail Grant Program
February 2-- NEW. Green Stormwater Infrastructure Partners Excellence Awards
February 5-- PA Environmental Professionals College Science Scholarships
February 12-- PA Land Trust Assn. Government Leadership Award
February 27-- West Penn Power Sustainable Energy Fund Clean Energy Projects RFP
March 22-- CFA Solar Energy Program Grants/Loans
April 1-- DEP Farm Conservation Plan Grant Chesapeake Bay Watershed
April 6-- Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program
April 12-- DCNR Community Conservation Partnership Grants
May 18-- CFA Solar Energy Program Grants/Loans
May 23-- SBA Flood Assistance Clearfield, Washington, 8 Other Counties
July 20-- CFA Solar Energy Program Grants/Loans
December 31-- DEP County Act 101 Waste Planning, HHW, Education Grants
-- Visit the DEP Grant, Loan and Rebate Programs webpage for more ideas on how to get
financial assistance for environmental projects.
-- Visit the DCNR Apply for Grants webpage for a listing of financial assistance available from
DCNR.
Environmental NewsClips - All Topics
Here are NewsClips from around the state on all environmental topics, including General
Environment, Budget, Marcellus Shale, Watershed Protection and much more.
The latest environmental NewsClips and news is available at the PA Environment Digest Daily
Blog, Twitter Feed and add PaEnviroDigest Google+ to your Circle.
Gerrymandering: How Did Pennsylvania Get This Bad?

Air
Allegheny Technologies Air Pollution Permit Sparks Concerns
EPA To Drop Key New Source Review Enforcement Provision
Alternative Fuels
Awards & Recognition
Biodiversity/Invasive Species
Budget
Meyer: Wolf Admin Reports Fiscal Turnaround, Contradicts IFO Projections
Meyer: How 6 House Bills Could Change The Way PA Budgets Are Done
Chesapeake Bay
Citizen Action
Pittsburghers Have Their First Chance To Become PA Master Naturalists
Climate
Ambitious Climate Suit Pitting Teen Against Trump Faces Test
Appeals Judges Underscore High Hurdles For Trump To Avoid Climate Lawsuit
Wind Energy Is Supposed To Fight Climate Change, But Climate Change Is Fighting Back
Op-Ed: The Scientific Debate Is Over, Its Past Time To Act On Climate Change
Follow The Money? Financial Institutions Lead The Charge On Climate Change
States Band Together To Defy Trumps Paris Climate Agreement Pullout
EPA Climate Science Debate On Hold After White House Meeting
Coal Mining
Proposed Coal Mine In Somerset Has Residents Questioning Water Quality Impact
Somerset Residents Concerned Proposed Mine Could Hurt Water Quality
Kleinman Center For Energy Policy Blog--
Part 1: Cost-Of-Service Retired More Coal
Part 2: Future Coal Retirements And The Grid Resiliency Proposal
Part 3: Utilities Continue Coal Retreat, Advance On Gas And Renewables
How Should Communities Cope With The End Of Coal? Advice From The Frontlines
Germany, Others Preparing For A Soft Exit From Hard Coal
Compliance Action
NYU Funds New Environmental Prosecutor AG Shapiros Office
Composting
Dams
Delaware River
Drinking Water
Proposed Coal Mine In Somerset Has Residents Questioning Water Quality Impact
Economic Development
Education
Emergency Response
Energy
Kleinman Center For Energy Policy Blog-
Part 1: Cost-Of-Service Retired More Coal
Part 2: Future Coal Retirements And The Grid Resiliency Proposal
Part 3: Utilities Continue Coal Retreat, Advance On Gas And Renewables
Family-Owned 200-Year Old Farm Is In Power Lines Path In York County
$17.6B Plan Would Rebuild Puerto Ricos Grid With Renewables
Energy Conservation
KEEA Energy Efficiency Case Study: Here & Now Brewing, Wayne County
$2.6M Project At Thaddeus Stevens College To Save $122K Per Year In Energy Costs
Farming
Flooding
Fayette County Communities, Families Still Dealing With 2016 Flood
Forests
Northeast PA Tree Farms Well-Stocked For Holiday Season
PA Acts To Prevent Invasive Inspects From Spreading In Christmas Tree Shipments
Blair County Tree Growers Tout Good Season
AP: Firefighter Dies, Thousands More Take On California Wildfires
Grants/Funding
Green Infrastructure
Growing Greener
Hazardous Waste
Land Conservation
Cumberland County: A Battle Between Growth, Open Space
Land Recycling
Land Use Planning
Cumberland County: A Battle Between Growth, Open Space
Mine Reclamation
DEP Stepping In To Stabilize Abandoned Mine Under Monroeville Businesses
Oil & Gas
Marcellus Shale Development Doesnt Affect Mortality Rates
Study: Low Birth Weights Linked To Fracking Sites
Marcellus Shale Coalition: 5 Key Facts On New Infant Health Study
Plum OKs Fracking In Rural, Industrial Zones
Monroeville Approves Seismic Testing
EQT To Drill 196 Shale Gas Wells In 2018
Shell Donates Hundreds Of Gifts To Aliquippa Salvation Army
Cusick: New Book Tackles Key Questions About Fracking
Pipelines
Legere: Will Pittsburghers Pay More Or Less For Gasoline If Laurel Pipeline Reversed
Maykuth: Will Consumers Benefit From PA Gasoline Pipeline Reversal?
Crable: FERC Refuses To Reconsider Atlantic Sunrise Pipeline Decision
Cusick: FERC Wont Reconsider Approval Of Atlantic Sunrise Pipeline
East Goshen Twp Pushes For Mariner East 2 Pipeline Changes
Cong. Meehan Seeks Pipeline Risk Assessment For Mariner East 2
Op-Ed: FERC Should Clear Way For Natural Gas Pipelines
Potomac River
Radiation Protection
Westinghouse Not Moving Fast Enough, Creditors Say
Recreation
Recycling/Waste
Regulations
Trump Pledges To Cut Regulations Down To 1960 Levels
White House: Year Of Regulatory Reform & Environmental Protection At EPA
Renewable Energy
Editorial: Masonic Village Taking Lead On Solar Power
Federal Renewable Energy Tax Credits Appear Safe As Tax Bill Speeds Toward Vote
Sustainability
Sustainability: Saving The World Is Good For Business
Watershed Protection
Wildlife
Crable: What Should We Do About Feral Cats, Pets That Destroy Wildlife?
Wildfires
Southern California Wildfire Explodes In Size Sending Celebs, Thousands Fleeing
New Evacuations Ordered In California Wildfires, Winds Kind Of Squirrelly
AP Coverage Of California Wildfires
Hurricanes
Federal Policy
Trump Pledges To Cut Regulations Down To 1960 Levels
EDF: Trump Turns Back Regulatory Clock To 1960
EPA To Drop Key New Source Review Enforcement Provision
White House: Year Of Regulatory Reform & Environmental Protection At EPA
Trump Takes Credit For Killing Hundreds Of Regs That Were Already Dead
Ambitious Climate Suit Pitting Teen Against Trump Faces Test
States Band Together To Defy Trumps Paris Climate Agreement Pullout
EPA Climate Science Debate On Hold After White House Meeting
Op-Ed: The Scientific Debate Is Over, Its Past Time To Act On Climate Change
Click Here For This Week's Allegheny Front Radio Program
Regulations, Technical Guidance & Permits
The Department of Environmental Protection published the 2018 meeting schedules for its
advisory committees and boards in the December 16 PA Bulletin.
No new Regulations were published this week. Pennsylvania Bulletin - December 16, 2017
Sign Up For DEPs eNotice: Did you know DEP can send you email notices of permit
applications submitted in your community? Notice of new technical guidance documents and
regulations? All through its eNotice system. Click Here to sign up.
DEP Regulations In Process

Proposed Regulations Open For Comment - DEP webpage
Proposed Regulations With Closed Comment Periods - DEP webpage
Recently Finalized Regulations - DEP webpage
DEP Regulatory Update - DEP webpage
August 2017 DEP Regulatory Agenda - PA Bulletin, Page 4922
Technical Guidance & Permits
Note: DEP published 56 pages of public notices related to proposed and final permit and
approval/ disapproval actions in the December 16 PA Bulletin - pages 7589 to 7645.
The Department of Environmental Protection published formal notice of the availability of

PAG-02 Stormwater General Permit in the December 16 PA Bulletin.
DEP published notice in the December 16 PA Bulletin of the 2016-17 Mine Reclamation Fee
Report and notification setting the mine reclamation fee at $0 for 2018.
DEP published notice in the December 16 PA Bulletin of changes to the list of companies
certified to perform radon-related activities in Pennsylvania (PA Bulletin, page 7642).
DEP published notice in the December 16 PA Bulletin of final technical guidance for completing
the information requirements for a Chapter 105 Water Obstruction and Encroachment Permit
Environmental Assessment Form (DEP ID: 310-2137-006).
DEP published notice in the December 16 PA Bulletin of proposed changes to the Land
Recycling Program Technical Guidance Manual (DEP ID: 261-0300-101). Comments are due
March 16.
DEP published notice in the December 16 PA Bulletin of interim final technical guidance on
drilling Marcellus Shale natural gas wells in areas with longwall coal mining (DEP ID:
800-0810-0040). Comments due January 31.
DEP published notice in the December 16 PA Bulletin of a proposed PAG-11 NPDES General
Permit for Discharges from Concentrated Aquatic Animal Production Facilities
(3800-PM-BCW0006d). Comments are due January 16.
DEP Technical Guidance In Process

Draft Technical Guidance Documents - DEP webpage
Technical Guidance Comment Deadlines - DEP webpage
Recently Closed Comment Periods For Technical Guidance - DEP webpage
Technical Guidance Recently Finalized - DEP webpage
Copies of Final Technical Guidance - DEP webpage
DEP Non-Regulatory/Technical Guidance Documents Agenda (July 2017) - DEP webpage
Other DEP Proposals For Public Review

Other Proposals Open For Public Comment - DEP webpage
Recently Closed Comment Periods For Other Proposals - DEP webpage
Other Proposals Recently Finalized - DEP webpage
Visit DEPs Public Participation Center for public participation opportunities. Click Here to sign
up for DEP News a biweekly newsletter from the Department.
DEP Facebook Page DEP Twitter Feed DEP YouTube Channel
Click Here for links to DEPs Advisory Committee webpages.
DEP Calendar of Events DCNR Calendar of Events
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PA Environment Digest is edited by David E. Hess, former Secretary Pennsylvania Department

of Environmental Protection, and is published as a service of Crisci Associates, a
Harrisburg-based government and public affairs firm whose clients include Fortune 500
companies and nonprofit organizations.
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Pa Environment Digest Dec. 18, 2017

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Issue #703 Crisci Associates, Harrisburg, PA Dec.

PA Environment Digest Blog Twitter Feed PaEnviroDigest Google+

Preliminary information from the modeling done for the EPA

The Chesapeake Bay Program Thursday announced estimated

EPA Awards $3.7 Million To Pennsylvania For Chesapeake Bay Restoration

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Thursday

Pennsylvania farmers who want to implement best

Funding Approved For Reclamation Of Abandoned Mines In Fayette, Jefferson, Somerset

By John Arway, Executive Director, Fish & Boat Commission

In 1968, water pollution was causing the annual

(Reprinted from the January-February PA Angler & Boater magazine.)

Budget Secretary: No Tax Increases Or Revenue Enhancements Needed To Balance FY

DEP Posts Advisory Committee, Board Meeting Schedules For 2018

The Department of Environmental Protection published the

Bills On Governor's Desk

Senate/House Bills Moving Last Week

Northeast Wildlife DNA Laboratory: House Resolution 627 (R.Brown-R-Monroe)

Voluntary Nutrient Reduction Program: Senate Bill 799 (Alloway-R-Franklin) a voluntary

Senate/House Agenda/Session Schedule/Govs Schedule

House: <> Click Here for full House Committee Schedule.

Senate: <> Click Here for full Senate Committee Schedule.

Bills Pending In Key Committees

News From The Capitol

The Senate Republican Policy Committee

Sen. John Yudichak (D-Luzerne), Minority Chair of the

News From Around The State

By Jeff Mulhollem, Penn State News

Using a network of up to 60 citizen scientists, a team of Penn

The eastern hellbender is one step closer to becoming

The Eastern Hellbender appears to be well on its way to

Theyre creepy. Theyre crawly. Theyre also

Green Stormwater Infrastructure Partners Now Accepting Excellence Award Nominations

Green Stormwater Infrastructure Partners in the

10,000 Friends of Pennsylvania and Alvernia

The Stroud Water Research Center in

The December edition of the Catalyst newsletter is now

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the December 16 PA Bulletin

Susquehanna River Basin Commission Hosts Susquehanna Greenway Photo Gallery

The Susquehanna River Basin Commission

Keep PA Beautiful: Nearly 133,000 Volunteers Participated In 2017 Great American

Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful Wednesday

Students Shine In Annual Westminster College Student Symposium On The Environment

The 10th Annual Student Symposium on the

Lacawac Sanctuary To Receive DCNR Grant For Environmental Education Center In

Lacawac Sanctuary and Biological Field Station

PPL Foundation Supports Science, Technology, Engineering, Math Education Programs

PA Assn Of Environmental Educators Invites Conference Presentation Proposals

The PA Association of Environmental

Allegheny County Lead Task Force Releases Recommendations, Final Report

Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald and members of

Gov. Wolf Announces Industrial Site Remediation, Assessment Grants In Northampton,

Changes Proposed To DEP Land Recycling Program Technical Guidance Manual

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the December 16 PA Bulletin

The Department of Environmental Protection will announce December 18 it is on track to

The Department of Environmental Protection

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the December 16 PA Bulletin

Westmoreland County Transit Opens CNG Fueling Station

Department of Transportation representatives joined officials from Trillium CNG, Westmoreland

Covanta Releases New Global Sustainability Report

Covanta, a world leader in sustainable

Exelon Recognized For Sustainability Leadership In Newsweeks 2017 Green Rankings

Exelon Corporation was recognized for its

Dec. 15 News & Views Newsletter Now Available From DEP

The December 15 edition of the News & Views