Pa Environment Digest June 4, 2018

Issue #726 Crisci Associates, Harrisburg, PA June 4, 2018
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Chesapeake Bay Foundation: PA Lagging In Meeting All Pollution Reduction Goals

Except From Wastewater Plants
The Chesapeake Bay Foundation Wednesday

issued its midpoint assessment in meeting
Chesapeake Bay pollution reduction goals
through 2017. It's not a surprise
Pennsylvania is behind in meeting the
milestones on all categories except reducing
pollution from wastewater plants.
In Agriculture, Stormwater Runoff and other
sources, Pennsylvania is behind in reducing nitrogen, phosphorus and sediment pollution.
“Water quality is improving. The dead zone is getting smaller, scientists have
documented record Bay grass acreage again this year, and the Bay’s oyster population is
improving. But the recovery is fragile,” said CBF President William C. Baker. “The midpoint
assessment was designed so that course corrections can be made along the way, not to provide
excuses for delay. Rest assured, we will use all the advocacy and litigation tools at our disposal
to ensure the commitments are met.”
All three states have exceeded their goals reducing nitrogen and phosphorus pollution
from sewage treatment plants, a major reason for the success in Maryland and Virginia. That
progress makes up for shortfalls in other pollution-reduction efforts, but will not be sufficient to
achieve 2025 goals.
All the states fell short in implementing practices to reduce nitrogen pollution from
agriculture, urban runoff, and septic systems.
Watershed wide, the states achieved the 60 percent goal for phosphorus and sediment.
The region fell far short of meeting its nitrogen goal, largely as a result of shortfalls in
Pennsylvania’s efforts to reduce pollution from agriculture.
“While we are seeing some positive trends, we will not have a clean Bay unless we also
address the additional pollution due to the lost capacity at Conowingo Dam and the effects of
climate change,” said Chante Coleman, Director of the Choose Clean Water Coalition. “The
current clean-up goals do not take the impact of Conowingo and climate change into account,
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which is why the coalition will continue working with our members, like the Chesapeake Bay
Foundation, to ensure that the plans developed to address these challenges are sufficient to do the
job to restore the rivers and streams that flow to the Bay.”
Pennsylvania
Overall, Pennsylvania is significantly behind in meeting its goals for nitrogen and
sediment, but close to meeting its phosphorus goal.
The Commonwealth is significantly off track in reducing nitrogen, phosphorus, and
sediment pollution from agriculture and urban and suburban runoff.
Progress in reducing pollution from sewage treatment plants is ahead of schedule toward
meeting the 2025 goal, but it is not enough to make up for the overall shortfalls.
Although the Commonwealth is meeting the programmatic commitment of ensuring that
farms have plans, the inspection program should begin verifying implementation of practices in
the plans.
The CBF assessment said It is obvious from current levels of agricultural pollution, and
even more importantly the almost 6,800 miles of streams impaired by agricultural activities, that
implementation is falling far short of what is needed.
Future compliance efforts must transition toward technical assistance and
implementation.
Pennsylvania’s Phase III Watershed Implementation Plan will focus on counties,
intending that the largest reductions come from local areas contributing the most pollution to the
Bay.
Guiding the planning process will be technical data for each county including existing
pollution by source, local water quality, agricultural production, and reductions achieved and still
needed.
The statewide Keystone 10 Million Trees Partnership, coordinated by CBF, is expected to
have a positive impact on reducing agricultural and urban and suburban pollution by achieving as
much as two-thirds of the Blueprint goal of 95,000 acres.
Trees are the most cost-effective tools for cleaning and protecting waterways by filtering
and absorbing polluted runoff, stabilizing streambanks, and improving stream and soil quality.
“Pennsylvania’s Clean Water Blueprint, new watershed implementation plan, and
partnership that will plant 10 million trees can provide the boost needed to get the Keystone State
back on track,” said CBF Pennsylvania Executive Director Harry Campbell. “Meeting
clean-water goals in Pennsylvania continues to be challenged by federal and state investments
that have been inadequate to clean and protect our rivers and streams. Investments at the right
levels, in the right practices, and in the right places can change history.”
Click Here for more on Pennsylvania's progress in meeting its pollution reduction
obligations. Click Here for information on how other states are doing.
Pennsylvania is now in the middle of developing its Phase 3 Chesapeake Bay Watershed
Implementation Plan to meet its water quality cleanup obligations. Click Here for more
information.
NewsClips:
AP: Report: Chesapeake Bay Improving But Huge Challenges Remain
Chesapeake Bay Water Getting Cleaner But Hard Work Ahead In PA
Bay Journal: Chesapeake Bay Watershed Unlikely To Meet 2025 Unless Region Picks Up The
Pace
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Lancaster Farming: Slow Nitrogen Reductions Hamper Chesapeake Bay Cleanup
Lancaster Farming: Lancaster Farmland Trust Tallies Conservation Practices
Op-Ed: Data The New Driver In Conservation Decisions Regarding the Chesapeake Bay
Chesapeake Bay Foundation Third Annual Canoe Classic (Video)
Latest From The Chesapeake Bay Journal
Click Here to subscribe to the free Chesapeake Bay Journal
Click Here to support the Chesapeake Bay Journal
Follow Chesapeake Bay Journal On Twitter
Like Chesapeake Bay Journal On Facebook
Related Stories:
Landis Homes Retirement Community Friends Of The Woods & Wetlands Group Receives
Service Award In Lancaster
Lancaster Is Using Green Infrastructure To Manage Stormwater, Make Neighborhoods Safer
LandStudies Latest Green Infrastructure Newsletter Now Available
CBF-PA Praises U.S. Sen. Casey For Bill Increasing Federal Support For Farmers Planting
Streamside Buffers
PA To Pilot County-Level Chesapeake Bay Clean Water Planning Process In 4 Counties This
Summer
Inside Pennsylvania’s Strategy For Healthier Local Streams In The Chesapeake Bay Watershed
Op-Ed: Data The New Driver In Conservation Decisions Regarding The Chesapeake Bay
[Posted: May 30, 2018]
The Landis Homes Retirement Community

Friends of the Woods and Wetlands
environmental volunteers in Lancaster County
recently received the LeadingAge PA’s 2018
Distinguished Service Award for Volunteers.
The Volunteers Award recognizes individuals
or groups who have enhanced the quality of life
of seniors through volunteer work for the
benefit of the residents, member organization
and/or greater community.”
The group of about 25 volunteers are
exemplary stewards of the land who are committed to ensuring the health of the ecosystems in
their community through monitoring and advancing ecological diversity.
LandStudies designed and constructed the stream and floodplain restoration of Kurtz
Run, which flows through the Landis Homes Retirement Community.
The project created natural areas for residents to enjoy while also providing many
ecological and economic benefits to the community on a regional scale.
The group’s involvement not only helps to maximize the benefits of the project, but also
promotes the mission and goals of Landis Homes as an example for a sustainable and thriving
community that enhances the lives of its residents.
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The group’s activities include re-establishing native species; controlling invasive species;
studying environmental issues and making recommendations based on their findings. They
encourage involvement from other residents at Landis Homes and provide environmental
education to residents and the broader community.
The group actively participates in Healthy Watershed Green Infrastructure Tours guided
by LandStudies, sharing their findings and expertise with a variety of community stakeholders.
LandStudies recognizes the group as an important player in the longevity of our
floodplain restoration project and as a valuable asset to Landis Homes and the wider community.
Landis Homes Retirement Community is located at 1001 East Oregon Road in Lititz,
Lancaster County.
For more information, visit the LandStudies website or contact Christine Le,
717-726-4440 or send email to: christine@LandStudies.com. Click Here to sign up for green
infrastructure updates. LandStudies is certified as a Women’s Business Enterprise (WBE),
Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) and Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) based in
Lititz, Lancaster County. Follow LandStudies on Twitter, Like them on Facebook.
NewsClips:
Pace
Philadelphia’s Green City, Clean Water Needs Funding To Achieve Goals
Related Stories:
Landis Homes Regional Stormwater Management And Floodplain Restoration Project
Children's Water Festival Creates Young Conservationists In Erie
Delaware River Basin Commission Gives Clean Water Lesson To Students At Lehigh Valley
HydroMania
Deadline Extended: Goddard Student Leadership Legacy Institute Applications For July 8-13
Program
(Reprinted from the latest LandStudies green infrastructure newsletter. Click Here to sign up for
your own copy (right panel).)
[Posted: June 1, 2018]
DEP Loses Appeal Of Unconventional Drilling Regulation Injunction At PA Supreme

Court, Case On Merits Continues
The PA Supreme Court Friday issued a decision upholding almost all of the provisions of a
preliminary injunction issued by Commonwealth Court in November 2016 stopping DEP from
temporarily enforcing certain Chapter 78a regulations on unconventional natural gas drilling.
This means consideration of the merits of the challenge to these provisions brought by the
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Marcellus Shale Coalition will continue in Commonwealth Court.
At issue was the preliminary injunction prohibiting DEP from temporarily enforcing
regulations related to requiring drillers to--
-- Protect certain public resources-- playgrounds and common areas and wildlife species of
special concern;
-- Requiring drillers to monitor and plug orphan and abandoned oil and gas wells within 1,000
feet of a proposed new drill pad;
-- Upgrade or close existing well-development impoundments and applying new construction
standards to new centralized impoundments; and
-- Providing for restoration of well drilling pads after drilling is completed.
In all cases except two, the PA Supreme Court found Commonwealth Court did not err in
issuing a preliminary injunction until the merits of the case could be heard.
The exceptions were in the case of well pad restoration and application of the regulations
to well-development impoundments where it allows DEP to enforce these regulations until the
case is decided.
Click Here for a copy of the Court’s decision.
Related Stories:
PA Supreme Court Says Local Governments Must Amend Zoning Ordinances To Specifically
Allow For Drilling
Sen. Rafferty Introduces Bipartisan Resolution To Create Commission On Pipeline Construction
& Operations
Sen. Baker Introduces Bill To Declare DRBC Fracking Ban A Taking Of Property
IFO: Natural Gas Production Grows 9.9%, Producing Wells Up 9.1% In First Quarter
Volunteer Training For Shale Gas Stream Monitoring July 7, Allegheny County
PA Supreme Court Says Local Governments Must Amend Zoning Ordinances To

Specifically Allow For Drilling
The PA Supreme Court Friday issued an opinion that upholds a property owner’s challenge to a
decision by the Fairfield Township Board Of Supervisors in Lycoming County to allow natural
gas drilling even when the local zoning ordinance was found to not specifically authorize it.
The 4-3 decision involved a 2014 case-- Gorsline v. Board of Supervisors of Fairfield
Township-- where residents challenged the drilling of unconventional natural gas wells in a
residential district.
The Court’s opinion said in part, “Because the Ordinance does not expressly authorize a
gas wells use in any of the Township’s three zoning districts, such a use cannot enjoy any
presumption of being “similar to” uses that are permitted in those districts, and section 12.18
clearly places the burden of proof with respect to similarity of use on the applicant.
“The statutory language of section 12.18 neither states nor suggests that the issuance of
prior site-specific conditional use permits under that section of the Ordinance relieves an
applicant of its obligation to satisfy its burden of proof with respect to section 12.18 in its
entirety.
“In so ruling, this decision should not be misconstrued as an indication that oil and gas
development is never permitted in residential/agricultural districts, or that it is fundamentally
5
incompatible with residential or agricultural uses.
“As the Dissent fairly acknowledges, in Robinson I a plurality of this Court recognized
that the protection of environmental values is a “quintessential local issue that must be tailored to
local conditions.”
“To this end, the Municipalities Planning Code permits the governing body of a
municipality to amend its zoning ordinances to permit oil and gas development in any or all of its
zoning districts.
“The governing body must, however, actually amend its zoning ordinances to permit
drilling in designated areas, setting forth whatever limitations and conditions it decides are
appropriate for the protection of its citizenry.
“What a governing body may not do, however, and what the Fairfield Township Board of
Supervisors did in this case, is to permit oil and gas development in residential/agricultural
districts without first enacting the necessary amendments, based upon a clearly inadequate
evidentiary record and no meaningful interpretative analysis of the language of its existing
zoning laws.”
Click Here for a copy of the opinion.
NewsClip:
Carr: PA Supreme Court Decision Limits Gas Drillers From Developing Residential Areas
Related Stories:
DEP Loses Appeal Of Unconventional Drilling Regulation Injunction At PA Supreme Court,
Case On Merits Continues
& Operations
House Sets Final Vote Tuesday On Bill Weakening Standards For Conventional Oil & Gas
Drilling
House Republican Caucus Chair Rep. Marcy Toepel (R-Montgomery)

notified Republicans Thursday a final vote is scheduled for Tuesday on
House Bill 2154 (Causer-R-Cameron), the Conventional Oil and Gas
Act, which weakens environmental protection standards for
conventional oil and gas drilling and turns back the clock 34 years to
the original 1984 Oil and Gas Act.
A final vote on the bill was unexpectedly delayed on May 2 when
Rep. Martin Causer, the prime sponsor, told the House the vote would
be postponed to see if issues could be worked out with those opposing
the bill, including the Department of Environmental Protection.
Prior to the delay, the bill was on a fast track, coming out of the
House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee April 30 and
referred into the House Appropriations Committee May 1 and out again May 2.
The PA Environmental Council and Environmental Defense Fund wrote to all members
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of the House April 30 urging them to oppose House Bill 2154 (Causer-R-Cameron) as a
wholesale weakening of necessary environmental protection standards for conventional oil and
gas drilling.
The bill is on third consideration in the House, which means to amend the bill the House
would first have to suspend the rules and then vote the amendment. As of late Friday, there were
no amendments filed to the bill.
Comments By PEC, EDF
The PA Environmental Council and Environmental Defense Fund Monday wrote to all
members of the House urging them to oppose House Bill 2154 (Causer-R-Cameron) as a
wholesale weakening of necessary environmental protection standards for conventional oil and
gas drilling.
"It is our position that common-sense, practical solutions exist to address the concerns of
small company operators. However, House Bill 2154 is a wholesale unraveling of protections
that were established with the bipartisan enactment of Act 13 of 2012.
"In fact, this legislation would result in a law even weaker than the 1984 Oil and Gas Act
in several important respects."
The coal industry is also very concerned about House Bill 2154 because the provision on
the coordination of gas drilling in areas of underground coal mining are inadequate in their view.
The text of the PEC/EDF letter follows--
Dear Representatives:
The Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) and Pennsylvania Environmental Council
(PEC) respectfully submit the following comments on House Bill 2154 (P.N. 3187), which we
anticipate will come before the House on second consideration for a vote this week.
At the start, we wish to express our deep concern over the stated intent for this
legislation. It is our position that common-sense, practical solutions exist to address the concerns
of small company operators.
However, House Bill 2154 is a wholesale unraveling of protections that were established
with the bipartisan enactment of Act 13 of 2012. In fact, this legislation would result in a law
even weaker than the 1984 Oil and Gas Act in several important respects.
Said simply, characterizing House Bill 2154 as a credible plan to protect small businesses
and cut methane emissions from abandoned wells is an obfuscation of the true design of the bill.
If this legislation were to pass, Pennsylvania would have the discreditable distinction of
being the only state to significantly reduce environmental protection related to oil and gas
development in the modern era, walking back decades-old protections and operating standards
that are accepted by both the industry at large and other oil and gas producing states.
House Bill 2154 is Not Based on Actual Risk Assessment
Any potential divergence in protection standards must be based on objective risk
assessment, and consider actual practices and technologies employed at a well site.
Under Act 13 of 2012, and as defined in House Bill 2154, the fundamental distinction
between “conventional” and “unconventional” operations is one based on depth of drilling.
This distinction fails to account for what scale or type of operations are actually
happening at the well site – “conventional” wells can be drilled horizontally and hydraulically
fractured at much shallower formations in closer proximity to groundwater, a fact that House Bill
2154 expressly acknowledges.
As a starting point, any proposal that seeks to create separate rules must be narrowly
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tailored to the technologies and practices being used. House Bill 2154 does not accomplish this,
and would only create new problems by relaxing or removing standards irrespective of what is
actually occurring at the well site.
House Bill 2154 Weakens or Removes Fundamental Environmental and Health
Protections
Compared to existing and even prior law, some of the most significant changes in House
Bill 2154 include:
-- Complete removal of the requirement to analyze potential impacts to Public Resources. This
requirement was established in the 1984 law, expanded by Act 13, and validated by the
Pennsylvania courts.
-- Complete removal of the requirement for operators to disclose chemicals used in fracturing.
Disclosure – for both conventional and unconventional operators – is currently required practice
in Pennsylvania as well as in virtually all other jurisdictions in the United States.
-- Removing containment, as well as spill and leak prevention and reporting provisions, despite
the documented fact that conventional sites present threats similar to unconventional operations.
-- Exempting certain existing wastewater treatment facilities from state water protection
requirements [Section 904(h) of the legislation, page 64].
-- Weakening protections for impacted drinking water supplies, including failure to ensure that,
in all instances, replacement supplies meet the standards of the Safe Drinking Water Act.
[Section 308(a) of the legislation, page 29].
-- Weakening well integrity standards that are critical for groundwater protection [Section 307 of
the legislation, page 27].
-- Preserving woefully inadequate bonding and other financial assurance requirements, which
threaten to leave Pennsylvania on the hook for costly remediation work in the decades to come.
An operator is only required to provide a blanket bond of $25,000 no matter how many wells
they are operating. Remediation costs for an individual well can exceed this amount. While
House Bill 2154 allows, after a five period, for adjustment of this amount via rulemaking, it caps
any increase to no more than $10,000 from the prior amount. [Section 315 of the legislation,
page 44].
Orphaned Wells; Methane Emissions
Supporters of House Bill 2154 have touted provisions in the legislation for plugging of
orphaned and abandoned wells. Conventional operators have commendably taken the initiative to
begin to address this issue – and deserve incentive and support from the state.
But it is important to recognize that House Bill 2154 provides extraordinary limited
advancement for these efforts.
The Commonwealth needs a comprehensive strategy to address its legacy issues, one that
looks to a full suite of initiatives – everything from good Samaritan protections to new and
meaningful funding for innovative and collaborative efforts.
House Bill 2154 does not provide that foundation. In fact, the legislation’s across the
board rollback of protection standards is likely to increase the problem in the years to come.
Conclusion
House Bill 2154 is a wholesale weakening of necessary protection standards; standards
that are already the law in Pennsylvania, and that are accepted common practice in the industry
and other oil and gas producing states. We strongly urge you to oppose this bill.
Thank you for your consideration.
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Sincerely,
Andrew Williams
Director, Regulatory and Legislative Affairs, U.S. Climate and Energy
Environmental Defense Fund
John Walliser
Senior Vice President, Legal & Government Affairs
Pennsylvania Environmental Council
Click Here for a copy of the letter.
NewsClip:
Frazier: Study Finds Health Threats From Oil & Gas Brines Spread On Roads
Related Stories:
House Republicans Unexpectedly Delay Final Vote On Bill Weakening Standards Protecting
The Environment From Conventional Oil & Gas Drilling
Penn State Study: Using Oil & Gas Well Brine As Dust Suppressant Less Than Ideal
DCNR, Local Groups Join In Celebration Of State Park System's 125th Anniversary At
Washington Crossing Historic Park
Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary

Cindy Adams Dunn Wednesday joined other state officials, the
Bureau of State Parks, and historic group representatives in
marking state parks’ 125th anniversary at an event at Washington
Crossing Historic Park in Bucks County
“Throughout its 125 years, our state park system has been steeped
in history that began in Valley Forge, and is celebrated here today
on the grounds of Washington Crossing Historic Park,” Dunn said.
“It is the inherent values of history, natural beauty and recreational
potential that has earned our state parks national recognition, and
we intend to keep working to make our state parks better by
making them more appealing to visitors of all ages, and from all areas of the state.”
Washington Crossing was picked as the celebration site because it was most recently
added to Pennsylvania’s system of 121 state parks.
Rich in historical buildings and environmental education programs, the park is the site of
George Washington’s crossing of the Delaware River during the American Revolution, and is a
National Historic Landmark.
To plan state parks for the future, while preserving its legacy, the Bureau of State Parks
last year launched “Penn’s Parks For All,” a strategic planning process keyed to a public survey
and management of the parks for the next 25 years.
More than 14,000 people responded online and at individual parks to a series of questions
about recreation, overnight accommodations, resource protection, funding, and operations. The
department also is seeking input from state park staff and DCNR stakeholder groups; as well as a
special online survey reaching minorities and young adults.
Survey results will be shared later this year, and a final plan is due in late 2019.
“Our partnership with DCNR over the past two and one-half years has yielded some
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amazing results in not only making this a great park destination, but increasing our services to
visitors. It is a best-case example of a successful public-private partnership,” said George
Godzieba, president of Friends of Washington Crossing Historic Park.
Totaling almost 300,000 acres, Pennsylvania’s state parks received the 2009 distinction
of being named the nation’s best by the National Recreation and Park Society.
With more than 40 million annual visitors, Pennsylvania state parks and forests generate
more than $1 billion a year for the state’s economy through visitor expenditures on hotel rooms,
dinners, souvenirs, and other amenities.
A 2012 study by the Pennsylvania State University showed the return on taxpayer
investment in our state parks alone was estimated at nearly $12.41 for every $1 invested.
Click Here to learn more about the 125th Anniversary. To learn more about the
Commonwealth's conservation heritage, visit the PA Conservation Heritage Project website.
For more information on programs, initiatives and special events, visit the PA Parks &
Forests Foundation website. Click Here to sign up for regular updates from the Foundation,
Like them on Facebook or Follow them on Twitter. Click Here to become a member of the
Foundation.
For more information on state parks and forests and recreation in Pennsylvania, visit
DCNR’s 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.
Resource Links:
PA Parks & Forests Foundation: Celebrating 125 Years Of State Parks, Forests (Video)
PA Parks & Forests Foundation: 125 Years of Stewardship & Conservation
125 Facts On Pennsylvania State Parks And Forests
NewsClips:
PA Commemorates 125th Anniversary Of State Park System At Washington Crossing
Celebrating 125 Years Of PA’s State Parks And Forests
June 1 Take Five Fridays With Pam, PA Parks & Forests Foundation
Presque Isle Prepares For Start Of Swimming Season
State Parks Prepare For Summer
6 More State Park Beaches Smoke-Free
2 Women Rescued After 1 Tumbles 100 Feet At State Park
AP: Remaining Wreckage Of Flight 93 To Be Buried At Memorial
Related Stories:
PA Parks & Forests Foundation Launches 125th Anniversary State Parks, Forests Celebration
Senate, House Gov. Wolf Recognize 125th Anniversary Of Pennsylvania’s State Parks, Forests
Feature: A Legacy You Can Take Pride In Continuing - 125 Years Of State Parks & Forests
PA Parks & Forests Foundation Forthcoming Report: Conserving the Legacy: The Future Is In
Our Hands
The Conservation Fund Purchases 32,598 Acres Of Forest Land In Elk, McKean Counties
PA Parks & Forests Foundation Launches 125th Anniversary State Parks, Forests
Celebration
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The PA Parks and Forests Foundation encourages all Pennsylvanians to join in celebrating the
125th Anniversary of Pennsylvania's State Parks and Forests. On May 22 dignitaries gathered at
the State Capitol to kick off the celebration.
Representatives Kate Harper (R-Montgomery) and Mark Longietti (D-Mercer) discussed
the recent House Resolution 901, which recognizes the anniversary and the importance of
Pennsylvania’s state parks and forests.
“This resolution commemorates the internationally recognized conservation efforts
initiated in the Commonwealth by the General Assembly and Governor Robert Pattison in 1893,
and the contributions of Gifford Pinchot, Rachel Carson and many other individuals to promote
and preserve the Commonwealth’s resources in the 125 years since,” said Rep. Harper. Click
Here for video of her remarks.
Rep. Longietti went on to say that, “Our state parks directly supported 9,435 jobs in
2010, and the secondary effects of visits to the parks added another 3,200 jobs across the
economy. For every dollar invested in Pennsylvania’s state parks in 2010, $12.41 of value-added
income was returned to the Commonwealth.” Click Here for his remarks.
Senators Lisa Baker (R-Luzerne) and Judith Schwank (D-Berks) were on-hand to unveil
Senate Resolution 366, which also celebrates the 125th anniversary of Pennsylvania state parks
and forests.
“We frequently celebrate milestones in our Commonwealth’s political and economic
heritage,” said Sen. Baker. “It is a different matter when we celebrate our natural heritage, for
this creation was an inheritance, not something that men and women imagined and engineered
from a cold standing start. Yet, it was a groundbreaking political and economic move when the
state forests and state parks were established. This resolution and anniversary recognition help
restore the names of these preservation pioneers in terms of public awareness.” Click Here for
her remarks.
Sen. Schwank continued with, “Our state parks and state forests are nationally recognized
for their beauty, importance, and how well they are managed. Indeed, the health and vitality of
these Pennsylvania natural wonders is achieved not just by government agencies and our
dedicated state employees alone, but also by the extensive network of non-profit, private and
volunteer organizations, each working cooperatively and collaboratively to make our state forests
and parks the best system in the nation.” Click Here for her remarks.
DCNR Deputy Secretary of Parks and Forests John Norbeck, spoke of the economic,
health, and recreational benefits of Pennsylvania’s state parks and forests and the role each of us
can play in making sure these public lands will be here another 125 years from now. Click Here
for his remarks.
Wrapping up the event was Marci Mowery, President of PPFF, who said, “We are
excited to celebrate the 125th anniversary of Pennsylvania’s state parks and forests with all
citizens of Pennsylvania, but we are even more excited to start preparing for the next 125 years.
The legacy of Pennsylvania’s state parks and forests is thanks in part to forward-thinkers like
Maurice Goddard and Gifford Pinchot, as well as members of the public, who recognize the
value of these public lands. We need every resident of the Commonwealth to get behind our state
parks and forests, so they will be here for generations to come.”
The event also celebrated Gov. Wolf’s proclamation declaring May 23-30, 2018,
Pennsylvania State Park and Forest Week.
Some facts about Pennsylvania state parks and forests:
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-- Pennsylvania has 121 state parks and 2.2 million acres of state forest land. In 2009, our state
park system was named the BEST in the nation by the National Recreation and Park Society, and
our state forests are national certified sustainable by the Forest Stewardship Council.
-- There are more than 40 million annual visitors to Pennsylvania state parks and forests,
generating more than $1 billion a year for our economy through visitor purchases of hotel rooms,
dinners, souvenirs, and other amenities.
In fact, a 2012 study by Penn State University showed that the return on taxpayer
investment in our state parks alone was estimated at nearly $12.41 for every $1 invested.
-- But it’s not just the economics that are important. Spending time in our state parks and forests
is great for your health. Studies show that outdoor recreation reduces stress, anxiety and
depression, lowers the risk of obesity, helps regulate blood sugar and cholesterol levels, and
reduces your risk of cardiovascular issues.
Thankfully, there are many recreational opportunities at Pennsylvania’s state parks and
forests to keep you healthy, including 180 boat ramps, 56 swimming beaches, 50 fishing piers,
18 swimming pools, 280 cabins, 4 ski areas, 2 golf courses, and 2 model airplane airports, among
so much else.
-- Pennsylvania’s state parks and forests provide many ecosystem services too, including clean
air and water. In fact, our state forests act as a 2.2 million-acre water treatment system. These
public lands also provide habitat for a wide variety of plants, insects, and wildlife.
Click Here to learn more about the 125th Anniversary. To learn more about the
Commonwealth's conservation heritage, visit the PA Conservation Heritage Project website.
Foundation.
(Photo: 2016 PPFF People’s Choice Best In Show: Kyle Yates, Cook Forest State Park.)
Resource Links:
PA Parks & Forests Foundation: Celebrating 125 Years Of State Parks, Forests (Video)
PA Parks & Forests Foundation: 125 Years of Stewardship & Conservation
125 Facts On Pennsylvania State Parks And Forests
NewsClips:
Flight 93 Memorial Makes National Geographic List Of Underrated Parks
Related Stories:
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Our Hands
PA Parks & Forests Foundation Forthcoming Report: Conserving the Legacy: The Future
Is In Our Hands
The following summary of the forthcoming

report The Legacy of Pennsylvania’s State
Parks and Forests: The Future Is In Our
Hands by the PA Parks and Forests Foundation
was taken from the Summer Penn’s Stewards
newsletter. (See the newsletter for additional
charts and photos.)
In 2018, Pennsylvania’s state parks and forests
celebrate their 125th anniversary.
Keeping in mind that these parks and forests
were founded and developed through visionary
leadership for the long-term investment in Pennsylvania’s natural resources and its citizenry,
state elected officials and government administrators again have an extraordinary opportunity to
provide needed and overdue resources to address the more than $1 billion in state park and forest
infrastructure needs, which range from bridges to wastewater treatment facilities, from dams to
invasive plant removal, and from roads to trails.
In July, the Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation will release “The Legacy of
Pennsylvania’s State Parks and Forests: The Future Is In Our Hands,” a report funded through a
grant from Richard King Mellon Foundation and donor support that examines the story behind
the creation of Pennsylvania’s award-winning state park and forest system, and explores the
needs that must be addressed to assure that what we pass on to our children and grandchildren is
a legacy in which we can all be proud.
What follows, is a summary of the report. Visit [the PPFF] website for the full report in
July.
Popularity Is Not Inexpensive
Research demonstrates time and again that our public lands are well loved and much
appreciated by Pennsylvania residents, providing generations with fond memories, improved
health, and opportunities for relaxation.
However, with that use comes significant wear and tear to the built and natural
infrastructure, requiring maintenance and upgrades to keep our state parks and forests safe and
attractive.
Changing regulatory requirements for public safety also create a need for infrastructure
investments.
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The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) is one of the top state
agencies in terms of the amount of infrastructure it manages. Maintaining and repairing that
infrastructure requires resources – staff, funding, and materials – that have fallen increasingly
short over the past decade.
Unfortunately, the money required for regular infrastructure maintenance, upgrades, and
improvements has not kept pace with the need. In fact, money acquired from overnight stays in
state parks had been invested back into maintenance needs in the past, but is now used to cover
basic operations due to budget shortfalls.
Because of this lack of investment, we are losing the ability to maintain and enhance our
125-year legacy as a world-class state park and forest system.
Infrastructure Requires Routine Rehabilitation and Upgrades
Pennsylvania’s state park and forest infrastructure repairs and maintenance needs are
funded through multiple funding sources including allocations from the General Fund, the Oil
and Gas Lease Fund, the Key 93 Fund [Keystone Fund], the Environmental Stewardship Fund,
and, when available, park user fees.
However, these funding streams have been insufficient, resulting in an accumulation of
projects that are deferred, which often results in greater costs down the road.
Philanthropic donations, volunteer assistance, and other sources help supplement General
Fund allocations, but ultimately the condition of our state parks and forests depends on the
Pennsylvania General Assembly to recognize and abide by their civic duty to provide and
maintain public open space in a manner that ensures human safety and provides for future
generations.
DCNR’s budget is just one half of one percent of the annual Pennsylvania state budget. In
recent years, General Fund allocations to DCNR have been reduced and the balance supplanted
with funds from the Oil and Gas Lease Fund and revenue generated from overnight stays and
other user fees.
Lack of predictable funding hinders long-term planning and forces reallocation of funds
away from maintenance and innovation into general operations.
With the significant amount of buildings, roads, bridges, dams, and other structures
within our state parks and state forests, routine maintenance is a daily task.
Water and sewer lines, as well as treatment facilities, need to be upgraded to meet new
regulations, roofs worn by time need to be repaired or replaced, roads need to be resurfaced,
campsites need to be mowed, and fences need to be mended or removed.
Infrastructure Involves More Than Built Structures
Typically, infrastructure refers to buildings and roads, but state parks and forests include
natural infrastructure as well.
This includes cutting trees, controlling invasive species, collecting seeds, and planting
seedlings, among other tasks.
Maintaining natural infrastructure is an integral part of what DCNR does and from which
all Pennsylvanians benefit.
Long-Term Investments Promote Quality Communities & Job Creation
Every dollar invested in our state parks and forests brings multiple benefits to the
communities that surround them.
In a 2012 study, for instance, the return on taxpayer investment in our state parks alone
was estimated at nearly $12.41 for every $1 invested. With more than 41 million visitors to our
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state parks in 2016, that accounts for considerable economic stimulation and jobs created and/or
retained.
Our state park and forest resources also provide benefits through the environmental
functions that they perform such as water filtration, air quality improvement, and flood control.
They improve quality of life and housing values, and provide opportunities for recreation-based
employment.
In fact, Pennsylvania ranks fifth in the nation for outdoor recreation spending!
What Pennsylvanians Want
Through various surveys and polls, the same comments are made year to year:
Pennsylvanians want outdoor recreation opportunities at state parks and forests that are safe,
clean, and well-maintained.
For instance, the most recent State Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP)
states that maintenance of existing park and recreation areas continues to be the top concern and
priority for both citizens and recreation providers.
Well-maintained trails and clean restrooms are especially important to visitors.
SCORP and census data supports the fact that the face of Pennsylvania is changing, with
residents becoming older and more diverse. With these changes, come new recreational needs
and adaptations in order to remain relevant and accommodating.
The 2014-2019 SCORP priorities recognize the important role Pennsylvanian’s assign to
outdoor recreation – that role being improving human health. The SCORP plan was developed
after extensive input from Pennsylvania residents, who consistently support investment in state
park and forest maintenance.
Working Together to Find a Solution
“The Legacy of Pennsylvania’s State Parks and Forests: The Future Is In Our Hands”
presents an opportunity to provide major investments to our state parks and forests. These
commitments also invest in our local economies and the economic engine that is outdoor
recreation.
It creates a quality of life that makes Pennsylvania a great place to live, work, and play,
keeping us competitive on the national front for job creation, employee retention, and attracting
new businesses.
Pennsylvania stands at a critical juncture between handing our children a legacy of state
parks and forests in which we can all be proud and strapping them with a burden from which
they will struggle to recover.
An opportunity exists to look for a solution to address the most pressing infrastructure
repair needs in the treasures that are Pennsylvania’s state parks and forests.
While volunteers and private philanthropy are making a difference, the needs of our state
parks and forests require an investment by the state through adequate operational funding for
DCNR, for adequate staffing for state parks and forests, and for dedicated infrastructure funding.
Visit [the PPFF] website for the full report in July.
Foundation.
NewsClips:
15
20th Schuylkill River Sojourn Hits The Water Friday
Kummer: Schuylkill Environmental Center To Connect To Schuylkill River Trail
Kummer: No, You Can’t Swim In Devil’s Pool At The Wissahickon, Really
Sculptures On Display At Scranton Trail
North Pocono Trails Association Seeks Volunteers For Trail Work
Tunnel Renovation Will Be Climax On Armstrong Trail
Johnstown’s Jim Mayer Riverswalk Trail Added To National System
AP: He Gave Up Job For Life-Changing Appalachian Trail Hike
Schneck: 15 Things You Don’t Know About The Appalachian Trail In PA
Earth Matters: Cycling Through A Writer’s 40-Year Old Memories
Philly’s Parks & Rec Chief Says Rebuild Money Needed More Than Ever
Where’s The Restroom? In Philadelphia Parks There May Be None
Editorial: Fairmount Park Billboard Idea Deserves To Die
Money Magazine Names Phipps Conservatory Best Park In PA
Federal Mountain Bike Bill Undercuts Wilderness Act, Waters Down Backcountry Recreation
High Gasoline Prices Could Be Good For Midstate Tourism
Ticks Will Be Plentiful This Year; Take Precautions
Lyme Disease Soaring In Lehigh Valley And PA
PA, NJ Are The Worst States For Lyme Disease
WITF Smart Talk: Lyme Disease - First Epidemic Of Climate Change
Greatest Federal Conservation Program Nobody Ever Heard Of Could Be Going Away
Related Stories:
The Conservation Fund Wednesday announced the

purchase of 32,598 acres of sustainable timberland
land surrounding the city of Johnsonburg in Elk and
McKean Counties. The purchase was made
through the Fund's Working Forest Fund Program.
16
This is the largest single purchase of land in Pennsylvania by a nonprofit conservation
organization in Pennsylvania’s history.
“We are in an entirely new era of private forest ownership in America,” said Brian
Dangler, Vice President and Director of the Working Forest Fund. “The transfer of large,
industrial-size forests is happening so quickly, we only have a very short window to protect these
forested landscapes to ensure their ecological benefits and that they can remain the backbone of
rural economies and traditional uses nationwide.”
Under The Conservation Fund’s temporary ownership, the Pennsylvania land, called
Clarion Junction Forest, will continue to be sustainably managed as a working forest,
maintaining its role as a steady source of timber for local mills and jobs for timber crews.
“I was excited to learn of this land acquisition by The Conservation Fund,” said Lucas
Dillinger, Wood Procurement Manager at the Domtar Mill in Johnsonburg. “Under their
ownership, these lands will sustainably support the regional forest products industry, remain a
valuable part of the local tax base, and allow for public recreational access. It’s great to see these
conservation outcomes balanced with a win for our local communities.”
Located within the “Pennsylvania Wilds” region, the property provides a bridge between
Game Commission lands and the Allegheny National Forest.
The Conservation Fund’s purchase will maintain clean water and productive fishing
streams, securing the confluence of the East and West branches of the Clarion River and 100
miles of high quality cold water fisheries, six miles of which hold the state’s highest designation
of Exceptional Value.
The Clarion Junction Forest provides habitat for a variety of popular game species, like
deer and bear, as well as migratory bird species, including the American woodcock, bald eagle,
black-throated blue warbler, cerulean warbler and Louisiana water thrush.
The Fund will work to improve and protect both the forest and aquatic resources, while
maintaining current leases and public recreational uses, including hunting and trout fishing.
“Natural resources and conservation are at the heart of the Pennsylvania Wilds lifestyle
and economy, and a key driver of our $1.7-billion-dollar annual tourism industry,” said
Tataboline Enos, Executive Director of the PA Wilds Center for Entrepreneurship, a nonprofit
whose mission is to marry conservation and economic development through sustainable nature
tourism as a way to create jobs, diversify local economies, inspire stewardship, and improve
quality of life. “The Wilds is a big working forest. The investment and conservation strategy
behind the Clarion Junction Forest will be a boost to the Pennsylvania Wilds rural economy and
tourism industry. Forestland conservation on a large scale like this is truly vital for rural
economic development.”
The Conservation Fund will work with public and private partners in the coming years to
determine strategies to ensure the lands will remain healthy working forests. These strategies
could include placing conservation easements on the land and transferring it to private ownership
or conveying the land to a public agency for permanent protection.
“Our Commonwealth is blessed with an abundance of forestland, and Pennsylvanian’s
have a rich heritage of working, hunting, fishing, and recreating in these woods. But we cannot
take for granted that the same opportunities will be available for future generations,” said Kyle
Shenk, Pennsylvania State Director for The Conservation Fund. “The Conservation Fund’s role
is to ensure that forestland of community- and state-wide importance will always remain as
forests. We will work to implement permanent conservation solutions that meet the needs of
17
people, protect wildlife habitat and provide economic benefits.”
Over the last decade, The Conservation Fund has placed more than 500,000 acres under
conservation management through its Working Forest Fund program, with the goal of purchasing
and permanently protecting five million acres of working forests.
The Fund has worked with some of the world’s most innovative companies to protect
working forests across the U.S., including Apple, C&S Wholesale Grocers, Dell, Philadelphia
Eagles, The North Face, U-Haul, UPS, and more.
The organization also works with foundations and investors to secure additional funding
to meet this urgent conservation challenge.
For more information on programs and initiatives, visit The Conservation Fund website.
NewsClips:
Conservation Fund Buys 32,000 Acres Of Forest Land In Elk, McKean Counties
Nonprofit Buys 32,000+ Acres Of Forest In Western PA
Related Stories:
Our Hands
Northeast Environmental Partners Now Accepting Environmental Award Nominations
The Northeast Environmental Partners Friday

announced they are now accepting nominations
for the Northeastern Pennsylvania
Environmental Partnership Awards, the
Thomas P. Shelburne Award and the Emerging
Environmental Leader Award.
The deadline for nominations is July 18.
The Northeastern Pennsylvania
Environmental Partnership Awards are
presented annually to recognize the
achievements of individuals or organizations
that, through partnerships, have achieved excellence in environmental protection or conservation.
The Thomas P. Shelburne Environmental Leadership Award was established to
recognize an individual who stands out for his or her long-term commitment to environmental
quality through inspirational leadership, dedication and commitment to partnering.
The Emerging Environmental Leader Award will recognize a youth who demonstrates
young environmental leadership, creativity and dedication to inspire others to adopt similar
actions to protect the environment.
"Northeastern Pennsylvanians have greatly benefited from the fruits of collaboration,
18
which can be seen every day in our communities," said Meg Welker, Sr. Environmental
Professional at PPL and dinner planning committee chairperson. “Please help us identify those
leading the charge so we can thank them for diligently working to improve our quality of life
through environmental partnerships in our region.”
The Awards are open to any group, individual, company, program, or organization whose
work has had a positive impact on the environment in the following counties; Bradford, Carbon,
Columbia, Lackawanna, Lehigh, Luzerne, Monroe, Montour, Northampton, Northumberland,
Pike, Schuylkill, Sullivan, Susquehanna, Wayne and Wyoming.
Nominations may be made by a person or persons involved in the activity, or by a third
party.
Click Here for all the details and to submit nominations.
During the past 27 years, over 180 individuals and groups involved in agriculture,
forestry, business, industry, education, science, environmental awareness, community service,
and government have been honored.
The Northeast Environmental Partners include Northeastern Pennsylvania Alliance,
Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Department of Environmental Protection,
PA Environmental Council’s Northeast Office, PPL Corporation, Procter & Gamble Paper
Products Company and Wilkes University.
Award presentations will be made during the Environmental Partnership Awards Dinner
being held on October 25 at the Woodlands Inn & Resort in Wilkes-Barre.
For more information on programs, initiatives and special events, visit the PA
Environmental Council website, visit the PEC Blog, follow PEC on Twitter or Like PEC on
Facebook. Visit PEC’s Audio Room for the latest podcasts. Click Here to receive regular
updates from PEC.
(Photo: Susquehanna River, Asylum Township, Bradford County.)
NewsClips:
Carmichaels H.S. Team Wins Statewide Envirothon Competition
Video Profiles: Western PA Environmental Awards, Lifetime Award Winners
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--
Local Clean Energy Funding: Senate Bill 234 (Blake-D-Lackawanna), Property Assessed
Clean Energy Financing Program, that authorizes local governments to create energy
improvement districts to help fund energy efficiency, renewable energy and water conservation
projects for commercial, agricultural and industrial buildings to reduce their operating costs
(Senate Fiscal Note and summary).
Senate/House Agenda/Session Schedule/Gov’s Schedule/ Bills Introduced
19
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 (June 4): 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 Bill 1446 (Quinn-R- Bucks) encouraging
infrastructure for electric and natural gas fueled vehicles; House Bill 1284 (Peifer-R-Pike)
directs DCED to develop a one-stop-shop online permitting portal for business (sponsor
summary); House Bill 2154 (Causer-R-Forest), the Conventional Oil and Gas Act to regulate
conventional drilling operations and weaken environmental protection standards on fracking
based on the original 1984 Oil and Gas Act; House Bill 2131 (Quigley-R-Montgomery)
encouraging PennDOT to plant native vegetation along highways; House Resolution 284
(Moul-R-Adams) urging Congress to repeal the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s MS4
Stormwater Pollution Prevention Program (sponsor summary). <> Click Here for full House Bill
Calendar.
Senate (June 4): Senate Bill 819 (Aument-R-Lancaster) amending the Agricultural Security
Law to provide for agritourism uses on protected land; Senate Bill 835 (Dinniman-D-Chester)
requiring the registration of land agents working for pipeline companies (sponsor summary);
Senate Bill 930 (Dinniman-D- Chester) sets notification requirements related to pipeline
emergencies (sponsor summary); Senate Bill 931 (Dinniman-D-Chester) requires the installation
of automatic or remote controlled safety values in natural gas pipelines in densely populated
areas; Senate Resolution 104 (Bartolotta-R- Washington) resolution urging the Governor to end
the moratorium on new non-surface disturbance natural gas drilling on state forest land (sponsor
summary); House Bill 544 (Moul-R-Adams) further providing for liability protection for
landowners opening their land for public recreation; House Bill 913 providing for the adoption of
stormwater fees by incorporated towns; House Bill 914 providing for the adoption of stormwater
fees by boroughs; House Bill 915 providing for the adoption of stormwater fees by first class
townships; and House Bill 916 providing for the adoption of stormwater fees by Cities of the
Third Class. <> Click Here for full Senate Bill Calendar.
Committee Meeting Agendas This Week
House: the Agriculture and Rural Development Committee holds a hearing on Senate Bill
792 (Alloway-R-Adams) regulating the application of lawn fertilizer. <> Click Here for full
House Committee Schedule.
Senate: <> Click Here for full Senate Committee Schedule.
Other: Joint Legislative Budget & Finance Committee meets to release reports on Feasibility
of Establishing a Water Use Fee In PA [similar to House Resolution 908 (Everett-R-Lycoming],
Game Commission Compliance With Strategic Plan (annual report).
20
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.
Bills Introduced
The following bills of interest were introduced last week--
DRBC Eminent Domain Act: Senate Bill 1189 (Baker-R-Luzerne) would declare as a matter of
law that an oil and gas fracking moratorium enacted by the Delaware River Basin Commission
would constitute an act of eminent domain and a taking property for which property owners
would have to be compensated by the DRBC (sponsor summary).
Commission To Study Pipeline Operations: Senate Resolution 373 (Rafferty-R-Montgomery)

concurrent resolution establishing a bipartisan, bicameral legislative Commission to Study
Pipeline Construction and Operations to recommend improvements for the transport of oil,
natural gas and other hazardous liquids through pipelines (sponsor summary).
PennVEST Lyme Timber Audit: House Resolution 948 (Causer-R-Cameron) Requesting the
Auditor General to do a financial audit of the PennVEST nonpoint source program projects
[prompted by Lyme Timber $50 million loan] (sponsor summary).
Session Schedule
Here is the latest voting session schedule for the Senate and House--
Senate
June 4, 5, 6, 11, 12, 13, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29
House
June 4, 5, 6, 11, 12, 13, 18, 19, 20, 21, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30
Governor’s Schedule
Gov. Tom Wolf's work calendar will be posted each Friday and his public schedule for the day
will be posted each morning. Click Here to view Gov. Wolf’s Weekly Calendar and Public
Appearances.
News From The Capitol
Bill To Require DEP To Replace Delaware, Susquehanna River Basin Commissions

Referred To House State Government Committee, Bypassing Environmental Committee
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On Tuesday, House Bill 2222 (Moul-R-Adams), requiring the Department of Environmental
Protection to replace the interstate Delaware and Susquehanna River Basin Commissions in
regulating groundwater, was referred to the House State Government Committee, bypassing the
Environmental Committee.
Rep. Daryl Metcalfe (R-Butler), Chair of the House State Government Committee, held a
series of hearings over the last year related to what he sees as “regulatory overreach” by DRBC
and SRBC.
In fact, Rep. Metcalfe went so far as to say the members of the General Assembly who
originally adopted the Susquehanna River Basin Compact were either incompetent, negligent or
corrupt.
The Committee hearings led to the introduction of this legislation and House Republicans
passing a series of other “regulatory reform” bills.
The House State Government Committee has another hearing scheduled for June 11, this
time on issues related to the Delaware River Basin Commission.
House Bill 2222 would not only give DEP the authority to regulate groundwater
withdrawals statewide for the first time, it would also require DEP to submit any new or
amended regulations to regulate groundwater to the House and Senate Environmental Resources
and Energy Committees for their approval before the regulations could be promulgated.
This review and approval procedure is substantially different from the detailed review
procedures already established under the Regulatory Review Act which requires no legislative
approval before regulations are allowed to proceed.
In a co-sponsor memo circulated to House colleagues in February, Rep. Moul said,
“Currently, there are several entities that issue this type of [groundwater] regulation including the
DEP and the Susquehanna and Delaware River Basin Commissions.
“This joint authority often requires water users to engage in duplicative efforts in
attempting to comply with overlapping regulations, leading to great expense to the water users in
our communities.”
[Note: DEP has no statutory authority to regulate the withdrawal of groundwater. It only
has authority to regulate the withdrawal of water by supply water companies from surface water
sources.
[DEP can only collect information on how much water is being withdrawn from surface
and ground water sources under the Water Resources Planning Act of 2002.
[In fact, the 2002 Act specifically says, “Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to
authorize a delegation to the Statewide committee or the department of any power to regulate,
control or require permits for the withdrawal or use of water.”
[In addition, no state or federal statutory authority exists to regulate the withdrawal of
ground or surface water from sources in the Ohio River Watershed in the entire Western part of
the state.
[Both the Susquehanna and Delaware River Compacts has explicit authority to regulate
ground and surface water withdrawals in their respective areas.]
Rep. Moul’s memo went on to say, “My legislation would make DEP the exclusive
authority to regulate groundwater within the Commonwealth and to impose fees, fines or
penalties on the use, withdrawal, or retention of groundwater.”
Click Here for a sponsor summary.
Rep. Daryl Metcalfe (R-Butler) serves as Majority Chair of the Committee and can be
22
contacted by calling 717-783-1707 or sending email to: dmetcalf@pahousegop.com. Rep.
Matthew Bradford (D-Montgomery) serves as Minority Chair and can be contacted by calling
717-772-2572 or sending email to: mbradford@pahouse.net.
NewsClip:
Delaware RiverKeeper June 1 RiverWatch Video Report
Related Stories:
House Committee To Hold June 11 Hearing On Delaware River Basin Commission
Rep. Metcalfe: PA Leaders That Adopted Susquehanna River Basin Compact Were Incompetent,
Negligent Or Corrupt
Sen. Rafferty Introduces Bipartisan Resolution To Create Commission On Pipeline

Construction & Operations
Sen. John Rafferty (R-Montgomery) and bipartisan co-sponsors

Wednesday introduced Senate Resolution 373 that would establish a
23-member Senate-House legislative Commission to Study Pipeline
Construction and Operations and to recommend improvements for the
safe transport of oil, natural gas and other hazardous liquids through
pipelines.
The resolution was co-sponsored by Senators McGarrigle
(R-Delaware), Killion (R-Delaware), Folmer (R-Lebanon), Costa
(D-Allegheny), Schwank (D-Berks), Brewster (D-Allegheny) and
Dinniman (D-Chester).
“Natural gas and oil extraction has increased dramatically over the
last decade in the Commonwealth resulting in the construction of new
pipeline infrastructure to transport hazardous liquids, gases and other
byproducts in large quantities through the most sensitive areas of
Pennsylvania,” said Sen. Rafferty. “As such, many communities in the Commonwealth have
experienced the negative aspects associated with pipeline construction.
“Our communities now face increased safety risks due to these high pressure pipelines
being situated in close proximity to homes, schools and population centers,” Sen. Rafferty said.
“The construction of pipelines has also resulted in hundreds of environmental and safety
violations along with the contamination of private water wells and public waterways.
“These incidents and safety concerns have demonstrated a clear need for exploring
measures which will improve management, increase safety and provide for more comprehensive
oversight of pipeline construction and operations,” Sen. Raffterty explained.
Both the Senate and House have to adopt the resolution to make it effective. The
limited-term commission would make its recommendations by January 1, 2019.
The text of the resolution follows--
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
Establishing a special bipartisan, bicameral legislative commission to recommend safety,
oversight and interagency coordination improvements for the transport of oil, natural gas and
other hazardous liquids through pipelines in this Commonwealth and develop and promote
23
legislation in furtherance of its recommendations.
WHEREAS, The residents of this Commonwealth have a right to safe communities and
benefit from regulations and laws which are established to enhance their safety and protect the
environment; and
WHEREAS, Natural gas and oil extraction have increased dramatically over the last
decade in this Commonwealth, resulting in the construction of new pipeline infrastructure to
transport hazardous liquids, gases and byproducts in large quantities through the most sensitive
areas of this Commonwealth; and
WHEREAS, While the construction and operation of any pipeline carries some measure
of risk, the public safety and environmental risks associated with the construction and
transportation of volatile chemicals are compounded dramatically when high volume pipelines
operating under high pressure are situated in close proximity to homes, schools and population
centers; and
WHEREAS, The construction of pipelines throughout this Commonwealth has resulted
in hundreds of environmental and safety violations that have negatively impacted the residents of
this Commonwealth, resulting in the contamination of private wells and public waterways and
demonstrating the need for exploring measures that will result in improved management,
increased safety and more comprehensive oversight of pipeline construction and operation;
therefore be it
RESOLVED (the House of Representatives concurring), That the General Assembly
establish a special bipartisan, bicameral legislative commission to recommend improvements to
the process of regulating pipeline construction and operation in this Commonwealth and develop
and promote legislation in furtherance of its recommendations; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the commission consist of the following members:
(1) The chairperson and minority chairperson of the Environmental Resources and Energy
Committee of the Senate or designees.
(2) The chairperson and minority chairperson of the Environmental Resources and Energy
Committee of the House of Representatives or designees.
(3) The Director of Regulatory Affairs of the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission or a
designee.
(4) The Director of the Bureau of Investigations and Enforcement of the Pennsylvania Public
Utility Commission or a designee.
(5) The Director of the Environmental Emergency Response Program of the Department of
Environmental Protection or a designee.
(6) The Deputy Secretary for Oil and Gas Management of the Department of Environmental
Protection or a designee.
(7) The president of the Marcellus Shale Coalition or a designee.
(8) The executive director of the Pipeline Safety Coalition or a designee.
(9) The president of the Pennsylvania Municipal League or a designee.
(10) The president of the Pennsylvania State Association of Boroughs or a designee.
(11) The president of the Pennsylvania State Association of Township Commissioners or a
designee.
(12) The president of the Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors or a designee.
(13) The president of the Pennsylvania Association of Hazardous Materials Technicians or a
designee.
24
(14) Two fire chiefs of volunteer fire companies in this Commonwealth, one of whom shall be
selected by the President pro tempore of the Senate and one of whom shall be selected by the
Speaker of the House of Representatives.
(15) Two fire chiefs of municipal fire companies in this Commonwealth, one of whom shall be
selected by the President pro tempore of the Senate and one of whom shall be selected by the
Speaker of the House of Representatives.
(16) Four fire or emergency medical services members at large, two of whom shall be selected
by the President pro tempore of the Senate and two of whom shall be selected by the Speaker of
the House of Representatives; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the commission elect a chair from its membership; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the commission shall develop and recommend legislation to improve
the safety, oversight and interagency coordination for pipelines in this Commonwealth; and be it
further
RESOLVED, That the commission may hold hearings, take testimony and make
investigations at such places as it deems necessary in this Commonwealth; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee provide staff support
to the commission and assist with the final report; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the commission make a final report of all legislative recommendations
by January 1, 2019, which shall be submitted to the chairperson of the Environmental Resources
and Energy Committee of the Senate and the chairperson of the Environmental Resources and
Energy Committee of the House of Representatives; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the members of the commission shall serve without compensation, but
shall be reimbursed for all necessary and reasonable expenses incurred in the performance of
their duties; and be it further
RESOLVED, That reasonable expenses incurred by the commission be equally divided
between the Senate and the House of Representatives; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the approval of the chairperson and minority chairperson of the
Environmental Resources and Energy Committee of the Senate and the chairperson and minority
chairperson of the Environmental Resources and Energy Committee of the House of
Representatives, by action of a majority of members of the committees, shall be required to
preauthorize all proposed actions of the commission which will entail the expenditure of State
funds and shall also be required to approve all expenditures, including expense reimbursement
requests of commission members, prior to payment.
Click Here for a sponsor summary.
Pending Bills
Three bills sponsored by Sen. Andy Dinniman (D-Chester) related to pipeline safety
issues have been on the Senate Calendar waiting for action since April 24.
They include: Senate Bill 835 (Dinniman-D-Chester) requiring the registration of land
agents working for pipeline companies (sponsor summary); Senate Bill 930 (Dinniman-D-
Chester) sets notification requirements related to pipeline emergencies (sponsor summary); and
Senate Bill 931 (Dinniman-D- Chester) requires the installation of automatic or remote
controlled safety values in natural gas pipelines in densely populated areas.
Pipeline Task Force Report
In February of 2016 a Governor’s Pipeline Infrastructure Task Force presented its final
report containing a set of 184 suggestions to help Pennsylvania achieve responsible development
25
of natural gas pipeline infrastructure.
The 40+ members of the Task Force voted on whether they agreed or disagreed with each
of the recommendations. The top two recommendations under each general issue Gov. Wolf
asked the Task Force to address were:
-- Amplify and engage in meaningful public participation
-- Establish early coordination with local landowners and lessors
-- Educate landowners on pipeline development issues
-- Develop long-term operations and maintenance plans to ensure pipeline safety and integrity
-- Train emergency responders
-- Enhance emergency response training for responder agencies
-- Employ construction methods that reduce environmental impact
-- Minimize impacts of stream crossings
-- Use best available combination of technologies to protect exceptional value and high quality
waters
-- Maximize opportunities for predictable and efficient permitting
-- Ensure adequate agency staffing for reviewing pipeline infrastructure projects
-- Implement electronic permit submissions for chapters 102 and 105
-- Plan, site and route pipelines to avoid/reduce environmental and community impacts
-- Expand PA1Call for all classes of pipelines
-- Identify barriers to sharing rights-of-ways
-- Enhance workforce/economic development
-- Attract military veterans to the energy workforce
-- Enhance science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education
They should sound reasonably familiar judging from the legislative discussion happening
now nearly two-and-a-half years later.
Click Here for a copy of the report.
(Photo: Sen. Rafferty.)
NewsClips:
Maykuth: How Mariner East Pipeline Is Affecting Real Estate Prices In Chester, Delaware
Counties
Hurdle: Sunoco Urges Full PUC To Overturn Shutdown Order For Mariner East Pipelines
Sen. Dinniman Vows To Fight Appeal Of Mariner East Pipelines Shut Down
Municipalities Apply For Grant Funded By Mariner East 2 Pipeline Fines
FERC Denies Rehearing Requests For PennEast Pipeline
Related Stories:
Allow For Drilling
26
On Friday, Sen. Lisa Baker (R-Luzerne) introduced Senate Bill 1189
that would declare, as a matter of law, an oil and gas fracking
moratorium enacted by the Delaware River Basin Commission
would constitute an act of eminent domain and a taking of property
for which compensated would be required from DRBC.
“For years, landowners in the Delaware River drainage basin
have lived under a gas drilling moratorium imposed on them by the
Delaware River Basin Commission,” said Sen. Baker in her memo
to colleagues on the legislation. “This moratorium has prevented
impacted landowners from realizing the economic benefits that
accrue to landowners in nearly every other part of Pennsylvania.
“Now, the DRBC, with support from the Wolf
administration, is turning that moratorium into a permanent ban,”
Sen. Baker said. “As a matter of policy, this action seems a serious misjudgment. As a matter of
fairness, it is even worse, for it slams the door of opportunity on affected landowners by
significantly diminishing the value of their property.
“In my judgment, such deprivation of property rights constitutes a “taking” just the same
as if the property were condemned for a transportation project or for any other public use,”
explained Sen. Baker. “As a result, this economic justice proposal declares that a ban
implemented by the DRBC will constitute a taking that must be paid for by the DRBC.
“The legislation will provide that impacted landowners will be entitled to compensation
calculated in the same manner as is used to determine value in any other eminent domain
action,” she added.
The operative language in the bill says--
“A ban by the commission that affects lands in an impacted county shall be deemed to
have rendered the oil and gas estates, including, but not limited to, the oil and gas estates located
in the impacted counties, worthless and will deprive the owners of the estates of all economically
viable use of the oil and gas estates.
“A ban under section 4 shall constitute a taking by the commission of the property of the
owners of the oil and gas estates in the impacted counties and the owners shall be entitled to be
paid appropriate and just compensation by the commission, in accordance with law, as a remedy
for the taking.”
The bill is co-sponsored by Senators Scarnati (R-Jefferson), Yaw (R-Lycoming),
Eichelberger (R-Blair), Vulakovich (R-Allegheny), Hutchinson (R-Venango), Wagner (R-York),
Reschenthaler (R-Allegheny), Folmer (R-Lebanon), Vogel (R-Beaver), Bartolotta
(R-Washington), Alloway (R-Franklin), Brooks (R-Crawford), White (R-Indiana), Regan
(R-Cumberland), DiSanto (R-Perry) and Martin (R-Lancaster).
A sponsor summary is available.
Background
In October 2016, Sen. Baker was one of 3 state Senators who asked to intervene in a
lawsuit filed by Wayne County landowners in Federal Court in an attempt to lift the Delaware
River Basin Commission’s existing defacto fracking moratorium. That effort was unsuccessful
when the Court denied the request in January 2017.
In March of 2017 the federal lawsuit was thrown out of federal court.
27
The Delaware River Basin Commission has taken extensive pubic comment on its
proposed permanent fracking ban, but announced at the beginning of April it did not have a
timetable for finalizing the ban.
The House Republicans on the State Government Committee are scheduled to have a
hearing on the Delaware River Basin Commission June 11 and one of the issues is expected to be
the proposed fracking ban.
Related Stories:
Bill To Require DEP To Replace Delaware, Susquehanna River Basin Commissions Referred To
House State Government Committee
Allow For Drilling
& Operations
May Environmental Synopsis Now Available From Joint Conservation Committee
The May Environmental Synopsis newsletter is now

available from the Joint Legislative Air and Water
Pollution Control and Conservation Committee featuring
stories on--
-- Review Of Droughts In Pennsylvania And Their
Impacts
-- Graffiti On Natural Features (photo; PA Parks &
Forests Foundation Graffiti Campaign)
-- Ohio Farm Runoff Spurs Lake Erie Algal Blooms
-- Mercury Levels In Fish
-- Electric Vehicle Projections And Infrastructure Requirements
-- Beaver Dams And River Dynamics
-- 25 Years Ago Pennsylvania Became The First State In The Chesapeake Bay Watershed To
Adopt Mandatory Controls On Farm Pollution
Sen. Scott Hutchinson (R-Venango) serves as Chair of the Joint Conservation
Committee.
For more information, visit the Joint Conservation Committee website, Like them on
Facebook or Follow them on Twitter. Click Here to sign up for regular updates from the
Committee.
The Feds
CBF-PA Praises U.S. Sen. Casey For Bill Increasing Federal Support For Farmers
28
Planting Streamside Buffers
The Chesapeake Bay Foundation-PA Friday issued a

statement from Pennsylvania Executive Director Harry
Campbell, after U.S. Senator Robert P. Casey
introduced a bill to provide greater federal assistance to
farmers so they can plant more forested riparian buffers
in Pennsylvania.
The Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program
(CREP) Improvement Act allocates more acreage to
CREP so more farmers can participate, and ensures that
cost share that farmers provide is based on local prices
for practices like installing stream fencing, stream
crossing and alternative water sources on marginal pastureland.
The bill also provides more resources to farmers for care and maintenance of buffers and
requires greater accountability for federal contributions to CREP and for progress of CREP
agreements.
Forested riparian buffers are the most-cost effective tools for reducing polluted runoff of
nitrogen, phosphorus and sediment into local waters and the Bay. Buffers also improve herd
health, soil quality, habitat for wildlife, and reduce nuisance flooding. But new enrollments in the
CREP have declined in Pennsylvania in recent years.
Campbell said:
“CBF thanks Senator Casey for this bill that can support and accelerate the planting of
streamside buffers within Pennsylvania and advance the Keystone State toward its clean water
goals. It is a win-win for farmers, wildlife, those who enjoy the outdoors, and healthy
communities. This has been an issue of great importance to CBF for many years.
“CREP has made a difference for participating farmers who saw the win-win scenario
and put more trees and streamside buffers onto our landscape. CREP is an important program
that can keep family farms operating and enhance profitability. Senator Casey’s bill seeks to
re-energize CREP as an attractive option for PA farmers.
“On the state level, Pennsylvania legislators may soon have the opportunity to invest in
more trees and streamside buffers by passing a Keystone Tree Fund, which is a voluntary
check-off for driver’s license applicants and vehicle registrations to donate to the state Forest
Buffer and Treevitalize programs.
“Greater investments like these at the federal and state levels are essential to the success
of the new statewide Keystone 10 Million Trees Partnership’s goal of planting 95,000 acres of
forested buffers before the end of 2025.
“Adding 10 million new trees alongside streams, streets, and other priority landscapes
would boost the Commonwealth toward its clean water goals, achieving as much as two-thirds of
the 95,000-acre goal.”
“CBF looks forward to working with legislators at the state and federal levels to restore
and protect Pennsylvania’s rivers and streams. It is a legacy worth leaving for future generations.
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.
29
NewsClips:
Casey Introduces Bill To Help Farm Conservation Efforts
Pace
Related Stories:
New Statewide Partnership Launches Major Effort To Plant 10 Million Trees To Cleanup
Pennsylvania’s Streams, Rivers
Chesapeake Bay Foundation: PA Lagging In Meeting All Pollution Reduction Goals Except
From Wastewater Plants
Summer
By Nick DiPasquale & Joel Dunn in Chesapeake Bay Journal
The Chesapeake Bay restoration and conservation

movement is nearly 50 years old. What started with
advocacy and litigation, essential to galvanize action,
has now fully entered the implementation and
quantification phase.
Partners throughout the watershed are focused on
delivering results on-the-ground.
We are witnessing the dawn of a new era for our
society and the Bay movement: one where we
regularly employ advanced technology and intense
collaboration to move from an effort-based initiative
30
to a results-oriented community.
There is so much to celebrate regarding progress in the restoration and protection of the
Chesapeake ecosystem.
Water clarity is the best it has been in decades. Rockfish, oysters and blue crab
populations are rebounding, underwater grasses hit record levels for the third year running and
we continue to conserve critical lands and enhance public access.
Other than the land conservation and public access results, approximately 60 percent of
these improvements can be attributed to “point source” or end-of-pipe solutions, primarily
upgrades at major wastewater treatment plants like Blue Plains.
If we are to succeed in meeting our water quality goals, the next decade of actions will
need to focus on “nonpoint source” pollution, such as farm and urban runoff, which will be more
difficult to tackle.
Fortunately, we have entered the age of data-driven conservation.
Cloud computing, geographic information systems and remote sensing have completely
changed the realm of the possible and allowed us to pinpoint nonpoint source pollution as well as
opportunities for precise intervention.
As a result, the time has come for organizations and agencies to be evaluated on
measurable results that can be directly tied to their activities.
As Joe Whitworth eloquently points out in his book, Quantified: Redefining Conservation
for the Next Economy, this shift will revolutionize public, private and philanthropic investments
in the environment by changing their focus to quantified outcomes.
And thank goodness, because these new approaches need to become the norm, not the
exception, in order to address the severity of our environmental problems.
Since its establishment in 1983, the Chesapeake Bay Program has prided itself on using
science and consensus to make ecosystem restoration and conservation decisions.
Rapid advancements in geographic information systems have helped us understand the
landscape and revolutionized how we monitor, model, evaluate and even govern the Chesapeake
Bay.
Every version of the Bay Program’s watershed model, now in its sixth iteration, has used
extensive data for best management practices, land use/cover, point sources, septic systems,
federal population and agricultural census data, and other sources of pollution information.
These linked models also incorporate precipitation, meteorological, soil and elevation
data and are linked to national airshed models and land use change models.
These environmental simulations give us an unprecedented understanding of how the
watershed works and serve to estimate pollution loadings, based on land use patterns, and
pollution reductions, stemming from the implementation of pollution control measures.
The Bay Program partnership is halfway through the implementation of the Chesapeake
Bay Total Maximum Daily Load, or “pollution diet.”
As part of the process, the partners agreed to conduct a Midpoint Assessment to
determine whether the jurisdictions have achieved 60 percent of the pollution reductions required
to meet their pollution allocation by the 2025 deadline.
In recent years, the ability to collect, manage and analyze mountains of data has
improved exponentially.
Important Bay model improvements include incorporating new information on climate
impacts, such as increased water temperatures and sea level rise; newly approved best
31
management practices, such as land conservation and restoring oyster reefs;
phosphorous-saturated soils; lag times that are due to contaminated groundwater; and water
quality data and monitoring trends.
One of the largest changes in the Midpoint Assessment is the resolution at which the
model runs. Earlier versions relied on 30-meter resolution land cover data, which was the state of
the art at the time.
At that level of resolution, each pixel represented about a quarter acre on the ground, and
sources of pollution and the loading rates associated with various land uses had to be generalized
at the county level. This could result in erroneous or inaccurate land use designations,
misidentification of pollution sources and other anomalies.
In 2011, the Bay Program recognized and acknowledged the need to make improvements
in the model and its data sources to more accurately simulate the watershed.
The Chesapeake Conservancy, working with contractors for the Virginia Geographic
Information Network, in collaboration with the Bay Program’s Land Use and Modeling Work
Groups, created high-resolution land cover data at a 1-meter level for the entire watershed.
This new classification provides 900 times the amount of information and greater
accuracy compared with conventional 30-meter resolution data.
In addition, the Land Use Work Group obtained updated land use information from more
than 80 percent of the local governments in the watershed.
The combination of high-resolution land cover data with updated land use information
provides a much more accurate and precise representation of what is occurring on the land
throughout the watershed. In short, we have much better data.
With forthcoming new high-resolution data sets, the Bay Program will be able to evaluate
land use changes at 1 meter over time to determine whether the jurisdictions will need to offset
any increases in nutrient and sediment loadings from new sources or increases from existing
sources.
The Conservancy is working with Microsoft Research and Esri to pioneer a technique
that leverages artificial intelligence to decrease the amount of time it takes to update the
watershed’s land cover data.
The high-resolution land cover data also creates an opportunity to identify where
conservation and restoration actions are needed, such as defining the extent of riparian forest
buffers and urban tree canopy.
Already, the conservancy has used this data, along with light detection and ranging data
— which provides elevation information — to produce an inventory of roadside ditches
throughout two counties in Pennsylvania, a significant but unaccounted-for source of nutrient
and sediment pollution.
There are plans to expand the analysis watershedwide.
The conservancy is also leveraging the new land cover and elevation data in tools that
allow local partners to incorporate it into their planning efforts.
For example, they developed a stormwater planning tool for local governments in York
County, PA, that are subject to the Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System stormwater
regulations.
This tool is tied to the Chesapeake Assessment Scenario Tool and allows local
governments to quickly and easily identify potential stormwater projects at the parcel level and
calculate the amount of pollution reduction they would need to achieve to meet their obligations
32
under the Bay’s pollution diet.
The conservancy is also developing new capabilities for determining the most effective
placement for agricultural best management practices — not just on a single field, but across
entire watersheds.
This allows jurisdictions and federal grant funding agencies to focus scarce financial and
technical resources where they will get the greatest pollution reductions at the least cost.
Importantly, these tools also create greater flexibility to work with landowners to find an
appropriate solution that creates environmental benefits without placing an undue burden on their
operations.
The Chesapeake Bay restoration movement has made great strides. Together, we have
tackled large problems, such as upgrading wastewater treatment plants to such a degree that they
have already met their 2025 pollution reduction goals.
But it is clear that we will not reach water quality standards by using the same approaches
and practices that have allowed us to get to this point. Now we need to face the most herculean
of all tasks-- working acre by acre on targeted restoration projects. The time for data-driven
precision conservation has arrived, and the data is here to support it.
Nick DiPasquale is the former director of the Chesapeake Bay Program

Joel Dunn is the president and CEO of the Chesapeake Conservancy
NewsClips:
Pace
Related Stories:
Streamside Buffers
Summer
33
(Reprinted from the Chesapeake Bay Journal.)

National Sustainable Ag Coalition: USDA Resumes Farm Conservation Reserve Program

Enrollment
The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition Friday announced the U.S. Department of
Agriculture has resumed continuous Conservation Reserve Program enrollment following a
freeze initiated last year.
The announced sign up period will run from June 4 to August 17, 2018.
For more information on the program, visit the NRCS-PA Conservation Reserve Program
webpage or contact your local Farm Service Agency office.
NewsClips:
Tumultuous Dairy Industry Contributes To Tough Choices
Most Lebanon Dairy Farmers Survive Lost Dean Foods Contract
Crable: Penn State Research Garden In Lancaster Tests Flower Power
Pittsburgh’s First ADA-Accessible Community Flower Garden Opens
Crable: Rain Dampens Farmers’ Bounty Of Some Crops Like Strawberries
Editorial: Officials Need To Work Together To Retain Lancaster County’s Character
AP: Last Gasp For Hog Farm Lawsuit: We Don’t Want To Be Hostages
PA Researchers Trying To Grow Hemp In Coal Waste Using Mine Water
PA, Other Attorneys General Sue EPA Over Failure To Enforce Critical Rule On Methane
Emissions From Landfills
Attorney General Josh Shapiro, together with a coalition of seven

other Attorneys General, Thursday sued the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency over its failure to implement and enforce a critical
federal rule regulating methane emissions from landfills. There are 44
landfills in Pennsylvania.
Methane is a potent greenhouse gas and the second leading
climate-forcing agent after carbon monoxide globally. It warms the
climate 86 times more over a 20-year time frame than carbon
monoxide.
Climate change from gases like methane harm citizens
through increased incidences of heat deaths, asthma, heart disease and
emphysema, and contributes to increasingly severe weather events,
including hurricanes, floods, beach erosion and severe drought.
The rule – known as the 2016 Emission Guidelines and Compliance Times for Municipal
Solid Waste Landfills – reduces landfill emissions of methane, volatile organic compounds,
hazardous air pollutants and carbon dioxide. It went into effect on October 28, 2016 -- but the
34
EPA has not implemented or enforced it.
Instead, with no legal basis for delaying implementation and enforcement, the EPA stated
it plans to complete a reconsideration of the rule by spring 2020 – a violation of the Clean Air
Act, according to the lawsuit filed today by Attorney General Shapiro and his colleagues in U.S.
District Court in California.
“Methane is one of the most dangerous greenhouse gases,” Attorney General Shapiro
said. “I filed this suit to ensure the EPA does its job - mandated by Congress and the Clean Air
Act -- to limit this major contributor to climate change. The EPA and Secretary Pruitt cannot
ignore their legal obligations and compromise the health and safety of Pennsylvanians. I won’t
allow it.”
Since Attorney General Shapiro took office in January 2017, he has been fighting to
protect Pennsylvanians’ constitutional right to clean air and pure water.
At his direction, the Office of Attorney General has filed seven lawsuits against the EPA,
and nine suits overall dealing with environmental issues, including an April lawsuit against the
EPA for ignoring its responsibility under the Clean Air Act to control methane pollution.
Last year, the EPA reversed its course on delaying the implementation of an ozone rule a
day after being challenged in federal court by Attorney General Shapiro and 14 other state
Attorneys General.
Landfills are the third-largest source of human-related methane emissions in the United
States, accounting for approximately 18.2 percent of emissions nationally in 2015. The Clean Air
Act requires EPA to regulate all categories of stationary sources – such as landfills – that cause
or contribute significantly to air pollution that may endanger public health.
When adequately enforced, the federal rule at issue would lead to numerous public health
and environmental benefits including:
-- Preventing 8.2 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions per year, which translates to:
1.8 million passenger vehicles driven for one year.
-- Protecting against pollutants that cause asthma and other respiratory diseases, especially
among the country’s most vulnerable populations — children and senior citizens.
-- Protecting against cancer-causing hazardous air pollutants.
Joining Attorney General Shapiro in filing the lawsuit are the Attorneys General of
California, Illinois, Maryland, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Vermont.
Click Here for a copy of the complaint.
NewsClips:
Editorial: Natural Gas Companies Should Work With EPA To Reduce Leaks
Did Climate Change Kill People In Ellicott City?
Related Stories:
PA Attorney General Joins Other States In Suing EPA Over Controlling Methane Pollution From
Oil and Gas Operations
DEP Joins 9 Other States, DC In Opposing EPA Rollback Of EPA Vehicle Fuel Efficiency
Standards
AG Shapiro Joins Other States To Take Legal Action To Protect Fuel Efficiency Standards
AG Shapiro, DEP Join 14 States In Lawsuit Against EPA’s Delay In Federal Ozone Standard;
EPA Withdraws Delay
PA Attorney General, 13 Others Intervene In Lawsuit Against EPA On Reducing Oil & Gas
35
Methane Emissions
PA Attorney General, 10 Other AGs Sue DOE Over Stalled Energy Efficiency Rules
AG Shapiro Joins 19 Govt. Leaders Vowing To Support Paris Climate Accord
Pennsylvania, 12 Other States Challenge Rollback Of Federal Vehicle Emission Standards
Trump Orders DOE To Take Steps To Prevent The Loss Of Coal, Nuclear And
Fuel-Secure Power Generation Facilities
President Trump Friday directed the U.S. Department of Energy to prepare immediate steps to
stop the retirements of what he called “fuel-secure power facilities” like coal and nuclear electric
power generating facilities.
In a statement to the press, the White House spokesperson said, “President Donald J.
Trump believes in total energy independence and dominance, and that keeping America’s energy
grid and infrastructure strong and secure protects our national security, public safety, and
economy from intentional attacks and natural disasters.
“Unfortunately, impending retirements of fuel-secure power facilities are leading to a
rapid depletion of a critical part of our Nation’s energy mix, and impacting the resilience of our
power grid.”
Late Thursday Bloomberg News obtain a draft DOE memo that outlined a plan where the
Energy Department would exercise emergency authority to purchase electricity or electric
generation capacity from at-risk facilities over a two-year period.
No final memo has been released by DOE.
In response to the President’s direction, the PJM Interconnection released this statement--
“Our analysis of the recently announced planned deactivations of certain nuclear plants
has determined that there is no immediate threat to system reliability. Markets have helped to
establish a reliable grid with historically low prices.
“Any federal intervention in the market to order customers to buy electricity from
specific power plants would be damaging to the markets and therefore costly to consumers.
“There is no need for any such drastic action. PJM just released the results of its capacity
auction, which secured reliable supplies through 2021/2022.
“The auction results saw an increase in the amount of coal resources that cleared the
market, along with a diverse mix of natural gas generation, nuclear generation, renewable
resources, demand response and energy efficiency.
“The PJM electrical grid is more reliable than ever, with 23 percent reserve margins and
billions of dollars of new investment. All of this is occurring while emissions are decreasing and
wholesale prices are at historic lows for the 65 million consumers we serve.
“From 2008 to 2017, wholesale prices in PJM fell by more than 40 percent. Competition
has required generators to operate more efficiently while also attracting new, more efficient
technology, resulting in more than $1.4 billion in annual savings.
“We have acknowledged the concerns raised by officials and regulators about the
long-term resilience of the grid and we are embarking on a fuel security initiative that we
announced just a few weeks ago.
“Our goal with that initiative is to ensure that the already reliable electric grid will
continue to remain both reliable and resilient for years into the future without the need for
36
government intervention in the marketplace.”
In Pennsylvania
FirstEnergy (Beaver Valley) and Exelon (Three Mile Island) have both announced plans
to close nuclear power plants in the face of a market for electricity they say does not properly
consider the environmental benefits these plants offer in terms of reduced greenhouse gas and
other emissions.
The Senate-House Nuclear Energy Caucus has held a series of hearings on the economic
and environmental impacts of these and other nuclear power plants closing in Pennsylvania.
NewsClips:
Trump Preparing 2-Year Coal, Nuclear Power Bailout
Trump To Grant Lifeline To Money-Losing Coal, Nuclear Power Plants
Trump Administration Proposes Mandating Purchase Of Coal, Nuclear Power Citing National
Security
Clean Energy Funding Bill Heading To Governor’s Desk, Businesses Could Benefit
Nuclear Power Plants Hope Not To Close
WITF Smart Talk: Three Mile Island’s Future
One Year Later: Officials Still Torn Over Whether To Save TMI From Shut Down
Time Running Out For TMI And Its 670 Jobs
Local Leaders Call On Lawmakers To Save TMI With Legislation
Rep. Mehaffie Optimistic State Will Act In Time To Save TMI, Other Nuclear Plants
Frazier: Nuclear Energy’s Prospects Fall As Natural Gas Booms
Op-Ed: Don’t Nuke Consumers’ Wallets By Bailing Out Uncompetitive Power Plants
Op-Ed: The Clock Is Ticking To Save TMI, Keep Our Air Clean, Fmr DER Secretary Peter
Duncan
FERC, DOJ Support Illinois Nuclear Subsidies In Court Filing
Legislators Call On Gov. Wolf To Lend Support To Beaver Valley Nuclear Plant
Fmr Perry Adviser Is FirstEnergy’s Secret Weapon In U.S. Bailout
News From Around The State
For a fifth grader, Amari Eaddy is well on his way to

becoming a solid conservationist.
The Pfeiffer-Burleigh Elementary School student
smiled as he threw a life-size die as part of an
Interactive Watershed Game at the campus of Penn
State Behrend in Erie.
“The water we drink comes from Lake Erie, and
if more people are going to come to our city, we need
to keep the water clean,” Eaddy said. “People litter, and
our water gets dirty then, so we all need to do our part.”
Eaddy’s takeaway came from attending the annual Children’s Water Festival, held May
17 at Penn State Behrend.
37
More than 1,000 Erie County fifth-grade students attended the festival, which is modeled
after the national Children’s Groundwater Festival.
The daylong event is designed to educate students about the importance of water,
including groundwater, surface water, watersheds, water quality and water conservation, through
dynamic, hands-on activities.
“They’re getting to see firsthand how they can play a role in conserving water and
protecting our environment,” said Ann Quinn, director of Greener Behrend and co-chair of the
festival. “Attendees can become young advocates for water conservation as they take what they
learn today and spread awareness to both their friends and families.”
For Eaddy, that was the plan.
“I can’t wait to get home and tell everyone about my day,” he said as he proudly
displayed his Children’s Water Festival shirt.
Activities during the day were led by Penn State Behrend faculty members and water and
natural resource experts from several organizations, including Pennsylvania Sea Grant, Penn
State Extension, the Tom Ridge Environmental Center, the Erie County Conservation District,
Erie County Sustainability, the Erie Maritime Museum and others.
Julianna Fritts, a student at Clark Elementary, especially enjoyed creating a rain stick.
Starting with her grandfather, who had been a photographer, the arts have always been a big part
of her family. Thus, she was right at home when it came to designing her stick.
“I’m going to draw on this and put some symbols. I just really love doing crafts,” Fritts
said. “But it’s also fun because we learn while we do this. I’ve learned that there’s so little fresh
water, so it’s important to conserve.”
(Photo: Amari Eaddy, right, and David Burdak participate in an Interactive Watershed Game at
the Children's Water Festival.)
NewsClips:
Student Team Call ArtiFISHal Intelligence Invent Water Conservation Device
Op-Ed: Wanted: More Girls In STEM Careers
Crable: Lancaster County Water Week Features 2 Dozen+ Family Events June 1-9
Schneck: Fort Indiantown Gap Offers Tours To See Rare Regal Fritillary
Related Stories:
HydroMania
Program
(Reprinted from Penn State News)

Delaware River Basin Commission Offers Clean Water Lessons To Students At Lehigh
Valley HydroMania
38
On May 18 the Delaware River Basin Commission
participated in the 18th annual Lehigh Valley Water
Suppliers’ HydroMania, a fun-filled water festival
attended by over 1,000 3rd and 4th grade elementary
school students, teachers, and chaperones at Cedar
Crest College in Allentown.
Over the years, DRBC has been a regular HydroMania
exhibitor and was proud to again participate this year.
When the students arrived at the college, they
descended upon a large tent that was set up with a
variety of interactive exhibits and learning stations for
them to explore, each which answered a different water-themed question.
DRBC staff helped the students answer the questions, “Do we live in a watershed?” and
"How can we help keep our watershed clean?" using a map of the Delaware River Basin and the
commission’s Enviroscape watershed model.
The model teaches the students about different sources of nonpoint source pollution
found in runoff especially after heavy rains and what we can do to help keep our waterways
clean.
The model is always a hit with kids, especially younger children, as it demonstrates in a
visually engaging way the connection between land and water.
HydroMania is organized by the Lehigh Valley Water Suppliers, Inc. This educational
event aims to generate curiosity, excitement, and understanding about current water issues,
resulting in a lifetime of watershed-friendly water-use habits.
For more information on programs, initiatives and upcoming events, visit the Delaware
River Basin Commission website. Click Here to sign up for regulator updates. Follow DRBC
on Twitter. Visit them on YouTube.
NewsClips:
Related Stories:
Program
Delaware River Basin Commission Summer Photo Contest Begins June 25
Deadline Extended: Goddard Student Leadership Legacy Institute Applications For July
39
8-13 Program
The Central Pennsylvania Conservancy's Goddard Leadership

Legacy Institute has extended the deadline for accepting
applications for its leadership camp for youth ages 13 to 15
for its July 8-13 Program. The new deadline is June 8.
The theme for this year’s program is From the Headwaters to
the Bay: Lessons for Student Action."
The Institute is joining forces again with the Chesapeake Bay
Foundation-PA and offering stays at both the Ironmaster’s
Mansion at Pine Grove Furnace State Park in Adams County
and the Chesapeake Bay.
If you know of any students between the ages of 13 and 15
who have a keen interest in the environment, community leadership, conservation, or simply
enjoy the outdoors, please pass on this fulfilling summer opportunity!
Students must Apply Online and can find more information by viewing the program
brochure. Click Here to watch a video about the program.
Several scholarships will be awarded once applications have been submitted.
For all the details and to apply, visit the Goddard Leadership Legacy Institute website.
For more information on programs, initiatives and other upcoming events, visit the
Central Pennsylvania Conservancy website.
NewsClips:
Related Stories:
HydroMania
Agriculture Announces $1.3M In Ag Research Grants, Including On Nutrient Reductions,

Spotted Lanternfly
The Department of Agriculture Thursday announced $1.3 million for 35 grants to support
research agriculture-related research at Penn State University, the Rodale Institute and other
institutions to address nutrient reduction, the Spotted Lanternfly and other important issues
affecting the state’s agricultural industry.
“Since taking office, I have prioritized investments in education, research and
40
development, and workforce opportunities, and these grants will further our understanding on
how to manage against some of the most pressing challenges confronting agriculture today so
that the industry can continue to be a positive economic force for our communities in the future,”
said Gov. Tom Wolf. “By lending additional support to this critical research, we will be able to
better identify, understand and address problem areas, and learn more about emerging
opportunities in the industry.”
“Agriculture is a multi-billion-dollar industry with a strong, engaged, and passionate
workforce,” said Secretary of Agriculture Russell Redding. “From the lab to the classroom, from
the field to the factory, agriculturists pour both brain power and sweat equity into their work in
equal measure. We must continue to invest in research so that those workers can make informed,
data-driven decisions and explore new opportunities as the industry evolves and grows.”
Among the grants are--
-- Penn State: $120,245 assessing the impact of the Spotted Lanternfly on managed agricultural
ecosystems;
-- Penn State: $120,000 equipping scientists to better understand Spotted Lanternfly biology and
control;
-- Penn State: $106,060 automatic tool to count Spotted Lanternfly from tree bands;
-- Temple: $42,601 an integrative approach to model, predict and control the Spotted Lanternfly;
-- Rodale Institute: $81,000 systems to optimize the production of organic potatoes;
-- Rodale Institute: $90,000 long-term vegetable systems trial in Pennsylvania;
-- American Mushroom Institute: $42,400 beneficial uses of mushroom compost; and
-- Awbury Arboretum: $5,000 researching innovative practices and protocols in STEM
education.
Click Here for the complete list of projects funded.
NewsClips:
POWR, PEC Hold Regional Watershed Workshops June 20 Carlisle, June 28 Doylestown
The PA Organization for Watersheds and Rivers and

PA Environmental Council will hold two more in its
series of regional watershed workshops on June 20 in
Carlisle, Cumberland County and on June 28 in
Doylestown, Bucks County.
The workshops will provide opportunities for
community watershed groups to gather and learn about
41
resources and network with each other as well as provide organizational capacity training and
hope to set a strong foundation for sustaining watershed conservation and restoration programs.
The gatherings will also help set the agenda for our next statewide conference of
watershed organizations to be held on February 24-25, 2019 in State College.
The next two workshops will be held--
-- June 20: Dickinson College, Stern Great Room, 208 W. Louther St. in Carlisle from 9:45 to
3:00. Click Here for the agenda. Click Here to register.
-- June 28: Heritage Conservancy Aldie Mansion, 85 Old Dublin Pike, Doylestown from 9:30 to
3:00. Click Here for the agenda. Click Here to register.
Announcements of future workshops will be announced on PEC’s Regional Watershed
Workshop Resources webpage, along with a summary of previous workshops and available
presentations.
For more information, contact either Janet Sweeney, PEC Vice President, 570-718-6507
or send email to: Jsweeney@pecpa.org or Susan Myerov, PEC Director of Watershed Programs,
at 215-545-4570 or send email to: smyerov@pecpa.org.
Visit the PA Organization for Watersheds and Rivers website for information on
watershed restoration, the PA Rivers of the Year and annual Sojourn programs.
updates from PEC.
NewsClips:
Pace
Ohio River Pollution Watchdog ORSANCO Could Give Up Regulatory Power
Click Here to subscribe to the Chesapeake Bay Journal
Lancaster Is Using Green Infrastructure To Manage Stormwater, Make Neighborhoods

Safer
By Will Parson, Chesapeake Bay Program
42
Three things to know about seven-year-old Jaiden
Lawrence: He likes to ride bikes, he has a loose
tooth and he enjoys watering the plants and trees
in his neighborhood.
“He’s always in there playing and messing with
the flowers and the rocks,” explains his mother,
Kalanea Lawrence, standing in the doorway of
their apartment in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Earlier in the week, four or five children about the
same height were spotted from a distance pouring
water on a young tree covered in mulch. The
energetic Jaiden with his green mountain bike was very likely one of them.
Lawrence says they moved to this apartment about six months ago, which was after the
city completed a large project to return it to two-way traffic after about 40 years as a one-way
street. One goal was to slow down vehicle speeds and make the area safer for residents.
The project also included vegetated curb extensions, planted with native plants, which
serve as rain gardens. The rain gardens not only calm traffic but are a part of Lancaster’s large,
ongoing plan to address stormwater pollution using green infrastructure.
Lancaster has implemented 80 green infrastructure projects since 2012, including
tree-plantings, green roofs and permeable pavement, to address a combined sewage and
stormwater pollution problem that was sending hundreds of million gallons a year into the
Conestoga River.
The city’s plan calls for green infrastructure in order to not only treat pollution but make
the city more livable and sustainable.
The projects are also saving hundreds of thousands of dollars a year on water treatment
costs, and expected to save well over a hundred million dollars over the project’s 25-year span
compared to constructing large underground tanks to store stormwater.
The Lawrences’ front door is bathed in sunlight almost until sunset, even after the rest of
the block is cast into a mild evening shade. Still on his bicycle, Jaiden balances one foot on the
edge of the rain garden in front of his home.
“What’s that?” he asks, pointing to a dense purple bloom of beardtongue flowers.
A few years ago, the same footstep would have landed at the edge of bare asphalt and a
line of parked cars.
For more information, visit Lancaster’s Green Infrastructure webpage.
NewsClips:
Pace
43
Related Stories:
Streamside Buffers
Summer
(Reprinted from Chesapeake Bay Program Blog.)

The latest green infrastructure newsletter is now

available from Lancaster-based LandStudies
featuring articles on--
-- Lancaster County Water Week June 1 to 9
-- New Video Shows Waterfowl Making Santo
Domingo Stormwater Facility Home
-- Landis Homes Environmental Volunteers
Receive Recognition
-- Employee Spotlight: Matt Schavnis
-- Job Opening: Sustainable Landscape Foreman
-- Job Opening: Water Resources Engineer
-- Click Here to sign up for your own copy (right panel)
For more information, visit the LandStudies website or contact Christine Le,
717-726-4440 or send email to: christine@LandStudies.com. Click Here to sign up for green
infrastructure updates. LandStudies is certified as a Women’s Business Enterprise (WBE),
Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) and Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) based in
Lititz, Lancaster County. Follow LandStudies on Twitter, Like them on Facebook.
(Photo: Landis Homes Retirement Community Regional Stormwater Management and
Floodplain Restoration Project, Lancaster County.)
NewsClips:
Pace
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Related Stories:
Streamside Buffers
Summer
Mid-Atlantic Chapter International Erosion Control Association Conference Sept. 18-20 In

Camp Hill
The Mid-Atlantic Chapter of the International

Erosion Control Association will hold its 25th
Annual Conference, Workshop and Trade Show
September 18 to 20 in Camp Hill, Cumberland
County across the river from Harrisburg.
This year’s conference will center around higher
education in our industry while maintaining focus
on the four IECA’s 4 Educational Tracks of erosion
and sediment control, stormwater management,
MS4’s and surface water restoration.
For more information on the conference and to register, visit the 25th Annual
Conference, Workshop and Trade Show webpage.
Latest Runoff Rundown Newsletter Now Available From Center For Watershed Protection
The latest edition of the Runoff Rundown newsletter is now available from the Center for
Watershed Protection featuring stories on--
-- Targeting Regulatory Protections To Vulnerable Forests In Delaware River Watershed
-- Highlights Of 2018 National Watershed & Stormwater Conference
-- Beyond Lead: Infrastructure Concerns And Water Quality
-- June 20: Retrofitting The Urban Environment: What’s New Webcast
-- Video: About The Center For Watershed Protection
-- Click Here to sign up for your own copy.
For more information on programs, initiatives and education opportunities, visit the
Center for Watershed Protection website.
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NewsClips:
Pace
DEP Invites Comments On Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Compact Procedures, Guidance

Changes
The Department of Environmental Protection published

notice in the June 2 PA Bulletin inviting comments on draft
proposed changes to the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River
Basin Water Resources Compact and Agreement procedures
and guidance for reviewing water diversion proposals.
Comments are due June 21.
Pennsylvania is one of eight states in the United States and
two Canadian provinces sharing jurisdictional responsibilities
for water use and conservation in the Great Lakes.
In 2008, the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Compact and
Agreement created the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Council and the
Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Water Resources Regional Body.
These entities provide a venue and framework to assure the Compact and Agreement is
successfully implemented.
On September 1, 2017, the Compact Council and Regional Body created a Procedures
Update Team. The Team was charged with drafting updates to the Regional Body Interim
Procedures and Compact Council Interim Guidance for the Regional Body and Compact
Council's consideration.
This task includes recommending changes to these documents and potentially drafting
new rules for the Compact Council's consideration. Each member of the Regional Body and
Compact Council appointed at least one individual to the joint Team.
The draft documents include the following:
1. Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Water Resources Regional Body Procedures. This
document contains the procedures that the Regional Body will follow during the review of a
diversion subject to the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin Sustainable Water Resources
Agreement through the issuance of its Declaration of Finding. This document mirrors the
Compact Guidance for Parts I and II.
2. Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Compact Guidance and Rules
of Practice and Procedure. This document mirrors the Regional Body Procedures through Parts
I and II with respect to review of a diversion subject to the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River
46
Basin Water Resources Compact, then continues on to describe the decision making process and
the process for any administrative hearing, how modifications may be made to Compact Council
decisions, and the process to be used for rulemaking.
3. Sequence of Events for Consideration of Proposals for Exceptions to the Prohibition on
Diversions that are Subject to Regional Review. This document outlines the steps for review
and decision making for a diversion proposal.
Click Here for copies of the proposals.
Note that this is not the formal public comment period that is part of a notice and
comment rulemaking. Instead, the Team will take into consideration all feedback as it develops
its final recommendations to the Regional Body and Compact Council.
If the Compact Council decides to propose rules, public notice and an opportunity for the
public to submit comments to the Compact Council will be provided before any rules are
adopted.
Feedback can be sent to the Team at Procedures Update Team, c/o Great Lakes St.
Lawrence Governors and Premiers, 20 North Wacker Drive, Suite 2700, Chicago, IL 60606 or
by email to: feedback@gsgp.org. Use ''Procedures Update Team'' in the subject line.
Public Meeting
In addition, comments may be made verbally on June 21, 2018, following the public
meetings of the Regional Body and Compact Council beginning at approximately 10:30 a.m.
CDT in person at Fitger's Inn, Theater, 600 East Superior Street, Duluth, MN 55802 or by
webinar. Individuals wishing to speak must register online. Webinar ID: 867-268-467.
Individuals who wish to participate in listen only mode may call the following number in
the United States: 951-384-3421
For more information or questions, contact Timothy Bruno, Department of
Environmental Protection, Office of the Great Lakes, 814-835-1477 or send email to:
tibruno@pa.gov.
(Photo: Presque Isle, Lake Erie, Pennsylvania.)
Delaware River Basin Commission Summer Photo Contest Begins June 25
The Delaware River Basin Commission Thursday

announced it will accept entries for its Summer Photo
Contest from June 25 to August 1.
DRBC launched the seasonal photo contest to highlight
original, striking images that capture both the importance
and beauty of the basin’s water resources.
Click Here for instructions on how to enter.
For more information on programs, initiatives and
upcoming events, visit the Delaware River Basin
Commission website. Click Here to sign up for regulator
updates. Follow DRBC on Twitter. Visit them on YouTube.
(Photo: Red Spotted Newt by Janice Annunziata, winner of the Spring Photo Contest.)
NewsClips:
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Related Stories:
Who Will Be PA’s Official State Amphibian? The Eastern Hellbender Or Wehrle’s
Salamander? Time To Weigh In
Delaware River Basin Commission Offers Clean Water Lessons To Students At Lehigh Valley
HydroMania
Bill To Require DEP To Replace Delaware, Susquehanna River Basin Commissions Referred To
House State Government Committee
PA American Water Awards $50,000 In Grants To Local Fire Companies
Pennsylvania American Water Tuesday announced 68 emergency service organizations across

the Commonwealth received grants totaling approximately $50,000 through its annual
Firefighting Support Grant Program.
The company awards the grants to support local fire departments and emergency services
in purchasing protective gear, lifesaving equipment, firefighting apparatus and training materials.
“We are proud to support the critically important service provided by our communities’
emergency responders,” said Pennsylvania American Water President Jeffrey L. McIntyre. “At a
time when funding and volunteers are stretched thin at many fire departments, our Firefighting
Support Grants enable us to partner with and assist the dedicated men and women who put their
lives on the line to protect our customers’ homes and businesses.”
Pennsylvania American Water awarded grants ranging from $430 to a maximum of
$1,000 to the following fire departments and emergency service organizations. Click Here for a
list of grants awarded.
A panel of Pennsylvania American Water employees, including current and former fire
chiefs and firefighters, reviewed more than 160 applications that were submitted.
Since launching the grant program in 2009, Pennsylvania American Water has donated
more than $450,000 to help almost 600 fire departments and emergency service organizations
across the Commonwealth.
For more information for customers and other initiatives, visit the Pennsylvania
American Water website
NewsClips:
Pittsburgh Water Authority To Offer Filters For Homes With High Lead Results
Wilkes-Barre Offers Free Lead Testing To Residents With Children
PA American Water To Replace Water Valve In Pittsburgh’s West End After Break
Peoples Gas Weighing New Water Plant To Serve Pittsburgh Mayor Says
White: Allentown Water, Sewer Lease Still Right Move
Hatboro-Horsham Schools Closed Friday Due To Boil Water Advisory
May 31: National Dam Safety Awareness Day, Commemorates Johnstown PA Dam Failure
That Killed Over 2,200 People:
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On May 31st, we join together to commemorate
National Dam Safety Awareness Day, remembering
the lessons learned from past dam failures, pushing
for strong dam safety programs, investing in
Pennsylvania and America's critical infrastructure
and rededicating ourselves to the effective
public-private partnerships that work to keep
America's dams safe, operational and resilient.
The issue of dam safety was not widely recognized
until 1889 when the failure of South Fork Dam near
Johnstown, Pennsylvania claimed more than 2,200 lives.
As we observe the 129th anniversary of this tragedy on May 31, we encourage you to
know the benefits of dams, your risk, and your role; and, act. Dam safety is a shared
responsibility.
In Pennsylvania
After the Johnstown Flood in 1889, it wasn’t until 1913 and after the collapse of another
dam in Austin, Potter County in 1911 killing 78 people that Pennsylvania enacted the first known
dam safety legislation in the United States.
The current 1978 Dam Safety and Encroachments Act was the result of yet another flood
in Johnstown, this one in 1977 when six dams collapsed and killed 85 people.
The Department of Environmental Protection now regulates approximately 3,370 dams
and reservoirs throughout the state, with 2,330 classified as low hazard potential (as of 2016).
There are approximately 752 high hazard dams regulated by DEP, with 288 of those
having significant hazard potential. Sixty-three percent of those dams are classified as deficient
with 1.3 million people living downstream and at risk. (Governor’s Budget page E16-13)
Ninety-five percent of all dams have an approved Dam Emergency Action Plan to deal
with flood dangers, such identifying structures that could be inundated by a dam failure,
adequate warnings and monitoring.
Action Plans are created by the dam owner in cooperation with local and county officials,
DEP and the PA Emergency Management Agency.
The Governor’s 2018-19 budget request for an additional $2.5 million in funding for DEP
includes additional resources to regulate high hazard dams.
For more information on dam safety, visit DEP’s Dam Safety webpage.
Also visit the PA Association of State Floodplain Managers, a statewide organization of
floodplain managers, engineers, planners, local, state and federal officials, and water resource
professionals who promote public awareness of integrated floodplain management.
The Association will hold its annual Conference September 18-19 in Harrisburg.
Click Here to learn if you are in a floodplain using FEMA Flood Maps. Click Here to
learn more about Flood Insurance to protect your home or business. Click Here to learn more
about Disaster Assistance, Floodplain mapping and more from the PA Emergency Management
Agency.
[Note: The National Flood Insurance Program expires on July 31, 2018 unless it is
reauthorized by Congress.]
Dams also cause other hazards, in particular to recreational boaters. Visit the Fish and
49
Boat Commission Hazards On The Water webpage to learn more.
NewsClips:
Analysis: 2nd 1,000-Year Storm Engulfed Ellicott City, MD. Here’s How It Happened
Did Climate Change Kill People In Ellicott City, MD?
Related Story:
Center For Rural PA Study: 71% Increase In Very Heavy Precipitation Events In Last 54 Years,
831,000 Pennsylvanians Living At Risk On Floodplains
Just 1 Week Left! Enter Great American Cleanup Of PA Video Contest By June 8
You have just one week to enter the Keep

Pennsylvania Beautiful Great American Cleanup of
PA Video Contest. Entries are due June 8.
“We are excited to provide this opportunity for
community groups and individuals to showcase their
local programs. A lot of hard work and partnerships
go into the Great American Cleanup of PA events and
that’s what we want to see!” says Shannon Reiter,
president of Keep PA Beautiful. “The Keep
Pennsylvania Beautiful video contest is a way to gain recognition, build support for local
programs and thank all the volunteers and sponsors who helped make your Great American
Cleanup of PA event a success.”
To participate, send Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful a 60-second video of your Great
American Cleanup of PA event showing individuals, groups, children, and adults having fun
making our communities clean, beautiful and vibrant! Be sure to mention the Great American
Cleanup of PA in your video.
Cash prizes, sponsored by the PA Waste Industries Association, are $200 for the winning
entry and $100 each for two runners up.
The Department of Environmental Protection is also a sponsor of the video contest.
Help choose the winners by liking your favorite video on the Keep Pennsylvania
Beautiful Facebook page. Voting begins on June 18th and concludes on June 27th at 3:00 PM.
Sign up now for the 2018 Great American Cleanup of PA and volunteer or set up your
own cleanup and beautification event through May 31.
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 KPB’s Electronics Waste website.
(Photo: 2017 Video Contest Winner Peace Valley Nature Center, Bucks County.)
NewsClips:
Collaborative Effort To Address Electronic, Tire Recycling Problem In Monongahela
Erie Launches Bulky-Item Trash Pick-Up Pilot Program
Volunteers Spruce Up Downtown New Castle Over Memorial Day Weekend
50
July 19 DEP Hearing On Interim Response At Nockamixon TCE Well Contamination Site,
Bucks County
The Department of Environmental Protection will hold a hearing July 19 on the interim cleanup
steps it has taken to deal with TCE contaminated groundwater a 77-acre site at 44 and 84
Brennan Road in Nockamixon Township, Bucks County. (PA Bulletin page 3364)
After initiating the investigation in 2009 under the Hazardous Sites Cleanup Act, the
Department identified 45 private wells with concentrations of PCE and/or TCE exceeding the
Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCL) for safe drinking water.
In accordance with its August 15, 2011, Statement of Decision, the Department initiated a
HSCA interim response action to address the private well contamination through installation and
maintenance of carbon filtration systems coupled with institutional controls.
After discovery of the source areas, the Department initiated an investigation of potential
vapor intrusion near these areas. The investigation revealed that vapor intrusion is impacting one
home and actions were taken to address the issue.
The Administrative Record of the agency’s response is available for review at DEP’s
Southeast Regional Office, 2 East Main Street in Norristown from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Additional copies of the Administrative Record are available for review at the
Nockamixon Township Municipal Building, 589 Lake Warren Road, Upper Black Eddy, PA.
The hearing will be held at the Nockamixon Township Municipal Building, 589 Lake
Warren Road, Upper Black Eddy, PA starting at 7:00 p.m. Persons wishing to present comments
may pre-register with Virginia Cain, DEP, at 484-250-5808.
The deadline for all public comments is August 31. Comments should be sent to Dustin
Armstrong at the Department of Environmental Protection, 2 East Main Street, Norristown, PA
19401, by email to: darmstrong@pa.gov, or by delivering them to the Norristown office in
person.
For all the details, please read the entire PA Bulletin notice (PA Bulletin page 3364).
For more information on the HSCA program, including the location of sites around the
state, visit DEP’s Hazardous Sites Cleanup Program webpage.
July 11 DEP Hearing On Interim Response At Ridge Run PFAS, PFOS, PFOA Well
Contamination Site, Bucks County
The Department of Environmental Protection will hold a hearing July 11 on the interim cleanup
steps it has taken to deal with 12 private wells contaminated with poly-fluorinated alkyl
substances (PFAS), above the Health Advisory Limit combined concentration for
Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) at the Ridge Run site in
East and West Rockhill townships in Bucks County.. (PA Bulletin page 3365)
In August of 2016, the North Penn Water Authority conducted sampling for PFAS in two
public water supply wells in East Rockhill Township in accordance with the Federal Unregulated
Contaminant Monitoring Rule .
Analysis of these samples detected combined concentrations of PFOS and PFOA of 117
51
ng/L and 70 ng/L, both at or above the HAL. Approximately 156 homes have been sampled by
the Department in the subsequent investigation of the surrounding area.
Twelve properties have been impacted above the HAL.
No source area has yet been identified. The Department is continuing to sample homes
affected by the contamination to monitor concentrations at the Site.
In addition to the 12 properties impacted above the HAL, two other properties with
concentrations above 40 ng/L have continued to be monitored for seasonal fluctuations.
The Department has also been providing bottled water to impacted homes. The owners of
two of the affected homes have installed their own carbon filtration units, which have been
effective at reducing the levels of contamination below the HAL.
To address the release or substantial threat of release of contaminants at the Site, and
corresponding threats to human health and the environment, the Department proposes an interim
response action at the Site.
The Department also proposes the installation of whole house carbon filtration units on
affected private residential water supplies with concentrations exceeding the HAL.
The Administrative Record of the agency’s response is available for review at DEP’s
Southeast Regional Office, 2 East Main Street in Norristown from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Additional copies of the Administrative Record are available for review at the East
Rockhill Township Office, 1622 Ridge Road, Perkasie, PA 18944, the West Rockhill Township
Office, 1028 Ridge Road, Sellersville, PA.
The Administrative Record is also available online.
The hearing will be held at the West Rockhill Township Building, 1028 Ridge Road,
Sellersville starting at 6:30 p.m. Persons wishing to present comments may pre-register with
Virginia Cain, DEP, at 484-250-5808.
The deadline for all public comments is August 31. Comments should be sent to Lena
Harper at the Department of Environmental Protection, 2 East Main Street, Norristown, PA
19401, by email to: lharper@pa.gov..
For all the details, please read the entire PA Bulletin notice (PA Bulletin page 3365).
For more information on PFOA and PFOS contamination and other sites under
investigation, visit DEP’s PFOA and PFOS: What Are They webpage.
For more information on the HSCA program, including the location of sites around the
state, visit DEP’s Hazardous Sites Cleanup Program webpage.
NewsClips:
Hurdle: Cong. Fitzpatrick: Unacceptable For EPA Not To Release Military Contamination Study
PA Towns With Contaminations From Military Bases Chosen For Blood Testing By State
DEP Air Quality Advisory Committee To Discuss Proposed Fee Increases June 14
DEP’s Air Quality Technical Advisory Committee is scheduled to meet on June 14 to consider a
comprehensive package of proposed increases in Air Quality Permit fees, new fees for certain air
quality assessments and new annual permit administration fees. Click Here for the agenda.
DEP has two accounts into which it places air quality fees, one covering federal Title V
permits (for purposes under federal law) and another covering non-Title V or state-only air
permits.
52
DEP projects a deficit of $4.359 million in the non-Title V permit account in FY
2019-20. If no action is taken that deficit will grow to $17.398 million in FY 2021-22.
Currently the federal Title V account is projected to have a steadily shrinking balance
down to $5.4 million by the end of FY 2022-23. [Note: it normally takes about 2 to 3 years to
finalize a regulation adopting fee changes.]
As examples of some of the proposed non-Title V fee increases, a basic plan approval fee
would go from $1,000 to $2,500 in 2021 with planned increases every four years after that, the
fee for new applications for operating permits would increase from $375 to $2,500, a minor
modification from increase from $300 to $1,500 and a new fee of $9,000 is proposed for a
significant modification ambient impact analysis.
Similar fee increases are proposed for the Title V air quality permits and approvals, along
with a new annual operating permit maintenance fee. There is no change proposed to the per ton
emission fee for Title V facilities.
New fees are also proposed for certain other kinds of analysis required by DEP, including
risk assessment analysis for inhalation and multi-pathway and asbestos notifications.
Click Here for a presentation covering the proposed changes. Click Here for draft
regulation changes.
DEP regulates about 569 Title V facilities and about 2,100 non-Title V facilities as well
as covering about 7,000 asbestos projects a year.
The Committee discussed the Air Quality Program budget and proposed fee concepts at
its meeting in December. Click Here for a 39-page Air Quality Program funding cost and
revenue analysis, which also assumes federal grants to support the program continue at the same
level.
The meeting will be held in Room 105 of the Rachel Carson Building starting at 9:15.
For more information and available handouts, visit DEP’s Air Quality Technical
Advisory Committee webpage. Questions should be directed to Kirit Dalal at 717-772-3436 or
send email to: kdalal@pa.gov.
NewsClips:
Philadelphia Air Quality Soon Back On Track City Says
Ethanol, Farm Groups Sue EPA Over Refineries’ Biofuels Exemptions
Feds Charge 5 In PA With Diesel Truck Tampering To Get Around Clean Air Act
DEP Hearing July 17 [If Needed] On RACT II Air Quality Plan For Sonneborn Petrolia
Facility Butler County
The Department of Environmental Protection has scheduled a July 17 hearing [if requested] to
consider public comments on the RACT II Air Quality Plan for the Sonneborn, LLC Petrolia
Facility in Petrolia, Butler County. (PA Bulletin page 3375)
The hearing will be held at the DEP Northwest Regional Office, 230 Chestnut Street in
Meadville starting at 9:00 a.m.
To register to speak at the hearing, or to inquire if the hearing will be held, contact
Melanie Williams, Regional Community Relations Coordinator, at 814-332-6615. The last day to
pre- register to speak at the hearing will be July 10, 2018.
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If the Department does not receive any pre-registered speakers by this date, the hearing
will be canceled.
For all the details, read the PA Bulletin notice (PA Bulletin page 3375).
NewsClips:
Pennsylvania’s Solar Future Stakeholder Meeting June 14 In Philadelphia
The next meeting of DEP’s Pennsylvania’s Solar Future Stakeholder Meeting will be held June
14 at the Kleinman Center for Energy Policy, University of Pennsylvania, Fisher Fine Arts
Building, 220 S. 34th, Philadelphia from 9:00 to 4:00.
Pennsylvania’s Solar Future is a statewide planning project let by the DEP Energy
Programs Office to increase solar energy electricity production to 10 percent by 2030.
On the agenda is discussion of Pennsylvania’s Solar Future Plan.
Click Here to register. Click Here to attend the meeting by Webinar.
For more information on the project, visit the Pennsylvania Solar Future webpage.
NewsClips:
PPL Acquires New York Solar Energy Company
PennTAP: Saving Energy Costs Workshop For Business June 19 In Westmoreland County
The PA Technical Assistance Program will host a

free Saving Energy Costs By Implementing An
Energy Management System Workshop at the Penn
State New Kensington Campus in Westmoreland
County.
DOE’s 50001 Ready program is a
self-guided approach for facilities to establish an
energy management system and self-attest to the
structure of ISO 50001, a voluntary global standard
for energy management systems in industrial,
commercial, and institutional facilities.
No matter how large or small your organization, implementing a structured energy
management system can be a key step to: Cutting operational costs; Achieving continuous
operational improvement; Improving risk management; and Staying competitive in the
marketplace.
Let PennTAP show you how implementing an Energy Management System (EnMS) will
reduce your organization’s energy costs. This workshop will:
-- Help you understand the structure, goals and many benefits of an EnMS;
54
-- Outline the steps involved in implementing and maintaining an EnMS at your facility; and
-- Provide a step-by-step walk through of the Department of Energy’s online tool – 50001 Ready.
This workshop is brought to you with funding through the U.S. Department of Energy
State Energy Program and the Department of Environmental Protection.
The workshop will be held at The Corner, 701 Fifth Avenue in New Kensington from
9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Click Here to register and for more information.
Visit the PA Technical Assistance Program for more information for help to build your
business and to make your business more efficient.
NewsClips:
Legere: After Long Delay PA Building Codes Get An Update
EPA Sends Fuel Economy Changes To White House
Penn State Study: Using Oil & Gas Well Brine As Dust Suppressant Less Than Ideal
By A’ndrea Elyse Messer, Penn State News
At the least, wastewater from oil and gas drilling

should be treated in a waste treatment facility before it
is used on dirt roads to suppress dust or deice roads.
At the best, affordable, nontoxic dust suppressants
should be developed and used, according to a
multidisciplinary team of Penn State University
researchers.
"Thirteen states in the United States have regulations
that allow oil and gas wastewaters to be spread on
roads for deicing or dust suppression," the researchers
report Thursday in Environmental Science &
Technology.
The team analyzed regulations across the U.S. to determine where this wastewater can be
used for dust suppression and deicing.
While 13 states have regulations that permit its use, other states may allow wastewater
spreading on roads under their land spreading regulations, which could mean four additional
states may be included among those that use the wastewater.
The wastewater in question comes from conventional oil and gas wells that are typically
drilled vertically. The wastewater is not the fluid used in directionally drilled and hydraulically
fractured wells, such as the Marcellus wells.
"Oil and gas wastewaters are known to have high salt, organic and radioactivity
concentrations," said Travis L. Tasker, graduate student in environmental engineering, Penn
State. "When we found out that this wastewater was being spread on roads, we wanted to
evaluate its potential to cause biological toxicity and accumulate in road material or migrate into
water resources."
Analysis of oil and gas wastewater shows that it has a high salt content containing
55
sodium, calcium, magnesium and strontium, which may make it ideal for dust suppression and
deicing.
"We would like to do experiments to test how effective the wastewaters are at
suppressing dust in comparison to other commercial products," said Nathaniel R. Warner,
assistant professor of environmental engineering, Penn State. "If the salts in the wastewaters are
just as effective, then new regulations or additional treatment prior to spreading could help
reduce the concentration of other contaminants of concern that exist in wastewaters, but not in
commercial products."
These other contaminants of concern may include radium or other micropollutants the
team found in wastewaters spread on Pennsylvania roads.
"Radium is known to cause cancer, so we are concerned if it is spread on roads in high
concentrations," said William D. Burgos, professor of environmental engineering, Penn State.
The researchers collected wastewaters from townships in Pennsylvania that spread
wastewaters and did simulated lab experiments to see where the contaminants in the wastewater
end up.
They found that the salts wash off in subsequent rain, but that some of the metal
contaminants, such as lead, remain on the road surface and are not washed off. Some of the
radium stays in the road, but some of it washes off in rain events.
While organic materials, radium and heavy metals can all be a problem in the wastewater,
another problem with the mixture is high salt.
Conventional wastewater treatment can remove some of the contaminants, but it cannot
remove or lower the salt concentration.
If oil and gas wastewater were to be used as a dust suppressant or deicer, the researchers
suggest that at a minimum, wastewater treatment should be used to remove organics and radium
beforehand.
Although the researchers recommend that alternative, inexpensive material be developed
to replace the oil and gas wastewater in places where it is used, they understand that many of
these places cannot afford currently available alternatives.
Municipalities would be faced with either using the wastewater, or not deicing or
suppressing dust.
Other Penn State researchers working on project included Paulina Piotrowski, graduate
student in chemistry; L. Castillo-Meza, graduate student in environmental engineering; A.
Stallworth, graduate student in environmental engineering; J.P. Vanden Heuvel, professor of
veterinary science; F. Dorman, associate professor of biochemistry and molecular biology; N.R.
Warner, assistant professor of civil engineering; L.B. Fowler, senior lecturer, School of
International Affairs, and K.B. Ganow, Penn State Law student.
Researchers from the department of biological sciences, University of Alberta,
Edmonton, Canada included T.A. Blewett, P.L.M. Delompré and G.G. Goss were also part of the
team.
The U.S. Geological Survey supported this research.
For more information, Dr. Burgos may be reached at 814-863-0578 or send email to:
wdb3@psu.edu. Mr. Tasker may be reached by sending email to: tlt216@psu.edu. Dr. Warner
may be reached at 814-865-9423 or by sending email to: nrw6@psu.edu.
NewsClip:
56
(Reprinted by Penn State News.)
The Alliance for Aquatic Resource Monitoring and

Mountain Watershed Association are hosting a
volunteer training session on stream monitoring
related to Shale natural gas production on July 7 in
Allegheny County.
Participants will be provided with equipment and
trained on stream monitoring techniques in order to
document the health of local waterways, collect
baseline data, and report potential shale gas
extraction impacts.
The training will be held at the Blythedale Volunteer Fire Department, 1799 Blythedale
Road in Buena Vista from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Limited spots are available. Click Here to RSVP online or contact Ashley at
724-455-4200 ext #6..
For more information or questions, contact Natalie McNeill by sending email to:
mcneilln@dickinson.edu or call 717-254-8143.
Click Here to learn more about stream monitoring related to Shale gas production.
Related Stories:
Allow For Drilling
& Operations
DEP Opportunity To Bid On Plugging Abandoned Oil & Gas Wells In Butler County
The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the June 2 PA Bulletin of an

opportunity to bid on plugging abandoned oil and gas wells in Butler County.
The Department of Environmental Protection has available a current list of
Abandoned Mine Reclamation, Acid Mine Drainage, Surface Mine Reclamation, Cleaning Out
and Plugging Oil and Gas Wells, Waterways Engineering (Concrete Dams/Concrete Lined
Channels, Walls and Box Culverts, etc.), Hazardous Site Remediation, Removal and Disposal of
Underground Storage Tanks, and Wetland Restoration projects available for bidding. Click Here
for the list.
The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources has a current list of bid
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proposals for construction projects in State Parks and State Forests available online. Click Here
for the list.
The Independent Fiscal Office Thursday reported natural gas production in Pennsylvania grew
by 9.9 percent in the first quarter of 2018 to 1,441.2 billion cubic feet compared to the same time
period in 2017.
The increase is driven by horizontal Shale wells, which accounts for nearly all
production. All the production growth in the first quarter was from wells drilled in 2016-17.
There were 7,913 producing horizontal wells in the first quarter, a 9.8 percent increase
over the prior year. Total producing wells in the first quarter increased by 9.1 percent compared
to the prior year.
Four counties account for two-thirds of statewide natural gas production-- Susquehanna,
Washington, Bradford and Greene.
Non-producing wells also increased, with horizontal (5.7 percent) and vertical (1.2
percent) wells both showing gains.
Click Here for a copy of the report.
The Act 13 drilling impact fee collected by the Commonwealth is based on a per well fee,
not natural gas production.
Related Stories:
Allow For Drilling
& Operations
DEP To Name New Environmental Justice Director By End Of June
DEP Secretary Patrick McDonnell told the Environmental Justice Advisory Board Tuesday a
new Director of the Office of Environmental Justice will be named by the end of June and
another position will be added to bring the Office up to a complement of four.
Some other quick updates from the meeting--
-- Permit Reforms: McDonnell said DEP is opposed to permitting “reform” bills moving
through the General Assembly saying DEP has been addressing the issue of permit delays by
increasing staff training, working more efficiently and is making significant progress.
-- EJ Policy Draft: DEP expects to formally release its revised, draft Environmental Justice
Policy for public comment later in the summer after the new Director of the Office reviews it.
-- Electric Vehicle Roadmap: Under the discussion of the VW Settlement Driving PA Forward
Initiative, DEP said it will release its final Electric Vehicle Roadmap in mid-summer.
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-- Climate Plan: DEP hopes to have the next update of the Climate Change Action Plan done by
the end of this year that will include an economically feasible greenhouse gas emission reduction
goal.
Franklin Kury, the author of the legislation that became the Environmental Rights
Amendment to the state constitution, gave a presentation to the Board on its origin, along with
commentary on recent PA Supreme Court cases involving the Amendment.
The next scheduled meeting of the Board is July 10 via conference call.
For more information and available handouts, visit DEP’s Environmental Justice
Advisory Board webpage. Questions should be directed to: John Brakeall, 717-783-9731 or send
email to: jbrakeall@pa.gov.
Pocono Forests & Waters Conservation Landscape Initiative Awards $60,000 To 10

Projects
The Pocono Forests and Waters

Conservation Initiative, administered by the
PA Environmental Council, Tuesday
awarded 10 grants totaling $60,000 to
support recreation and education projects in
Carbon, Lackawanna, Luzerne, Monroe,
Pike and Wayne counties.
Funding is provided by the
Department of Conservation and Natural
Resources.
Funding was approved for these
projects--
-- Countryside Conservancy: $10,000 to build 2.6 miles of single track trails on the 82-acre
Gardner Preserve adjacent to Lackawanna State Park.
-- Delaware Highlands Conservancy: $9,050 to support the Women and Their Woods
educational initiative coordinated by the Delaware Highlands Conservancy and its partners to
create a network of landowners and natural resources professionals working together to connect
with and care for private forest lands.
-- Downtown Hawley Partnership: $7,500 to complete the Hawley Trail extension connecting
the Wayne County Historical Society Lock 31 trail to the Hawley Borough’s existing trails at
Riverside park with a comprehensive trail guide and trail side signage.
-- East Penn Twp./Park Commission: $7,400 to enhance Riverview Parks new primitive
camping area with a well, hand pump, and steps between the camp and the well at the D&L
Trailhead.
-- Greater Carbondale YMCA: $10,000 to develop a family-oriented 3.5-acre wellness park
with an ADA accessible trail loop, seating, natural playground, splash pad, pavilion, and sports
fields.
-- Lacawac Sanctuary: $2,250 to create Get Outside, Get Healthy! Guidebooks with trail, map,
and facility information about nature-based activities for health and wellness on Pike and Wayne
County public lands.
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-- Penn Kidder/Jim Thorpe ASD: $2,800 to establish a garden to teach the school community
about natural resources; develop a sense of stewardship in students; and to make the garden an
integral aspect of the science curriculum.
-- West End Park Open Space Commission: $5,000 to develop 900 linear feet of an
all-inclusive, shared use connector trail at West End Regional Park.
-- Wildlands Conservancy: $3,000 for boardwalk/trail construction at the Maple/Haase
Preserve to provide/enhance access to greenway/trail network connecting over 1000 acres of
Fern Ridge Bog openspace.
-- Wilkes University: $3,000 for a 4-day Environmental Science Camp utilizing 2 parks, a trail
and University facilities to educate students on soil, air, and water quality/quantity issues.
Visit the Pocono Forests and Waters Conservation Initiative webpage or directed
questions to Janet Sweeney, PEC Pocono Forests and Waters Coordinator, at 570-718-6507 or
send email to: jsweeney@pecpa.org.
Click Here for more information on DCNR’s other Conservation Landscapes Initiatives.
updates from PEC.
NewsClips:
DCNR Blog: PA River Sojourns Offer More Than A Quick Paddle
Love to kayak or canoe? Or have you always wanted

to try? Either way, embarking on a group, educational
water adventure, known as a river sojourn, could be
the experience you’re craving!
River sojourns are guided paddling trips on a
waterway, typically with stops for lunch and
educational programming. They offer both new and
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experienced paddlers an opportunity to enjoy outdoor recreation and learn more about specific
waterways, while being accompanied by experienced guides.
With June being Pennsylvania Rivers Month, there’s no better time to plan to get out on
the water, learn more about the importance of our waterways, and have a fun time with others.
The Pennsylvania sojourn program provides funding through a competitive grant
application process, to local organizations to lead these guided paddling trips.
These grants support between 12 and 17 paddling events each year, encompassing over
500 river miles and 50+ on-the-water days, offering more than 100 educational programs, and
engaging over 4,000 people.
The program is sponsored by the PA Organization for Watersheds and Rivers (POWR),
with support from DCNR and the American Canoe Association.
Here are some river sojourn facts from POWR:
-- Sojourn season in Pennsylvania generally is May-September;
-- Sojourns can be one day or multi-day;
-- The typical cost to participants is roughly $20-$80 per day; and
-- Cost often includes the paddling equipment, lunch, overnight camping (if applicable), and a
variety of educational speakers related to the waterway’s local heritage, economy, wildlife, etc.
Celebrating The 2018 River Of The Year: Loyalsock Creek
The 2018 Pennsylvania River of the Year, Loyalsock Creek, will be recognized and
celebrated with a sojourn on June 23, with DCNR Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn joining the
paddle, as well as a celebratory poster unveiling.
“This annual honor highlights our state’s wealth of rivers and streams, and recognizes the
core of dedicated folks who fight to protect them,” said Dunn. “Public awareness of the
Loyalsock’s value will be increased and initiatives along the waterway river will be underscored.
Both serve economic revitalization by enhancing access to the stream; increasing tourism; and
providing additional land and water-based recreational opportunities for area residents and
visitors alike.”
Plan Your Paddle Trip
POWR provides a map of sojourns across the state funded through the Pennsylvania
Sojourn Program. There currently are 24 trips scheduled for May through September 2018.
If you’d prefer to try kayaking on a lake at a state park, check out DCNR’s kayaking
events.
DCNR's Focus On Water
With an eye to the future, DCNR is focusing some strategic efforts around protecting and
improving water quality, and encouraging people to get out and enjoy the many lakes, rivers, and
streams that are found in the Commonwealth.
Part of this initiative is conserving and expanding forested landscapes -- including
woodlands, stream buffers, and community trees -- that serve as natural filters for pollutants
entering waterways.
The department also plays an active role in managing resources to provide water-based
recreation. In addition to supporting the rivers sojourns, this work includes:
-- Providing pools and swimming areas at state parks lakes, and encouraging healthy swim
behavior;
-- Expanding loaner equipment for fishing, and increasing the number of kayak launches
available for people with disabilities;
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-- Promoting paddleboarding as a new water-based recreation and a way to engage young people;
and
-- Supporting statewide water trail networks.
NewsClips:
Related Stories:
Brodhead Watershed: June 16: Van Buskirk Preserve Hike, Snorkeling In McMichael
Creek Kids Event, Monroe County
The Brodhead Watershed Association will

host two events on June 16-- a Water Wiser
Kids event snorkeling in McMichael Creek
and the Van Buskirk Preserve Hike that is
part of the Get Outdoors Poconos series, both
in Monroe County.
Snorkeling
From 10:30 a.m. to Noon June 16, educators
from Kettle Creek Environmental Education Center will lead a snorkeling exploration of
McMichael Creek near Snydersville.
Snorkeling a creek is one of the best possible ways to learn about-- and learn to love-- our
local natural world.
The program, part of the Water Wiser Kids series, gives children and their parents a
62
chance to get to know the freshwater world, a bug’s-eye and fish-eye view, by snorkeling local
creeks.
“Children are natural-born scientists, curious about everything,” said Roger Spotts,
environmental education coordinator for Kettle Creek. “They love learning about slippery,
slithery creatures, and when they have fun at the same time, that’s all to the good.”
Children will be introduced to stream ecology, such as what bugs can tell us about how
pure creek water is, what small fish need to survive, and how underwater plants contribute to
stream health.
For instance, did you know that at every stage of life, brook trout need water that is
COLD? Big, shady hemlocks and shrubs along a creek are important to keep the temperature
right.
The program is geared to children from kindergarten through seventh grade, but people of
all ages are welcome, including parents and older and younger siblings. Snorkeling gear will be
provided. Snorkelers should wear bathing suits and water shoes or old sneakers and bring towels
and a change of clothing.
The event is free, but registration is required and limited. Call 570-839-1120 or send
email to: info@brodheadwatershed.org.
Van Buskirk Preserve Hike
Carol Hillestand will lead a 2-mile loop hike at the Van Buskirk Preserve in Paradise
Township from 10 to 11:30 a.m. on June 16 that is part of the Get Outdoors Poconos series.
This is a strenuous hike on and off trail and requires climbing over and crawling under
fallen trees. Expect rocky, wet, steep conditions. Walking stick recommended.
The 80-acre preserve has always been full of fascination for hikers, with an overgrown
orchard, the stone foundation of a long-gone barn, an old red rock quarry, the gushing Cranberry
Creek, and multitudes of spring wildflowers.
But after March’s nor’easters and May 15’s violent windstorm, hardy hikers will find so
much more to see, navigate and appreciate. Tree limbs are embedded like swords, deep in the
earth. White pines are uprooted, their giant root masses on end and exposed, as tall as houses and
studded with slabs of stone.
Against the backdrop of raw and broken trees, spring doesn’t despair. Low-bush
blueberries are covered with nodding white flowers. Violets in every shade, false lily of the
valley, star flower, wild geranium, and Jack-in-the-pulpit abound.
Thousands of oak seedlings and saplings are filling in for the skeletal old oaks the gypsy
moths devoured a few years ago. Nature, as always, finds a way to rebound.
The hike series is administered by Brodhead Watershed Association and supported by a
grant from the William Penn Foundation.
The hike is free, but call 570-839-1120 or 570-629-2727 to register or send email to:
info@brodheadwatershed.org.
For more information on programs, initiatives and other upcoming events, visit the
Brodhead Watershed Association website.
NewsClips:
63
May 30 Resource Newsletter Now Available From DCNR
The May 30 edition of the Resource newsletter is now

available from the Department of Conservation and
Natural Resources featuring articles on--
-- PA River Sojourns Offer More Than A Quick Paddle
-- DCNR, Local Groups Celebrate 125th Anniversary
Of State Park System
-- DCNR Announces More Smoke-Free Beaches At
State Parks
-- DCNR To Hold 20 Meetings Seeking Public Input
On State Forest Districts Across PA
-- DCNR Begins Gypsy Moth Suppression Spraying In 8 Counties
-- Good Natured Pennsylvanians: Kyle Fawcett, Photographer, Outdoor Enthusiast
-- Local Whitewater, Greenhouse Parks Rededicated In Somerset County
-- Carmichaels Area High School, Greene County Wins 35th PA State Envirothon
-- Keep PA Beautiful, DCNR Partner On Cigarette Litter Prevention Program
-- Tom Ridge Environmental Center: Plastic Pollution Solution: One Small Change
-- Hawk Mountain Wraps Up Spring Migration Hawk Watch
-- Conservation Tip: Composting Day: May 29
-- Upcoming Events: National Trails Day: June 2
-- Click Here to sign up for your own copy
DCNR’s 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.
(Photo: Hickory Run State Park, Carbon County.)
NewsClips:
64
Related Stories:
[May 30, 2018]
Wildlands Conservancy Highlights June Education Programs
The Lehigh Valley-based Wildlands Conservancy Wednesday highlighted its June education
programs featuring, among others--
-- June 8: Appalachian Bat Count
-- June 10: Wild In The Parks: Turtles & Birds
-- June 21: Covered Bridge Park: Creek Crawl
-- June 23: Great American Backyard Campout
-- June 23-25: Lehigh River Sojourn
For more information on programs, initiatives and special events, visit the Wildlands
Conservancy website. Like on Facebook, Follow on Twitter and Join on Instagram. Click Here
to support the Conservancy.
Summer Penn's Stewards Newsletter Now Available From PA Parks & Forests Foundation
The Summer issue of Penn’s Stewards

newsletter is now available from the PA
Parks & Forests Foundation featuring articles
on--
-- Conserving The Legacy: The Future Is In
Our Hands (summary of forthcoming report)
-- Exploring The Night Sky
-- DCNR’s William Penn Forest District
-- Become A Keystone Fund Ambassador
-- Friends Of Varden Conservation Area In Action
Foundation.
NewsClips:
65
Related Stories:
Our Hands
Gifford Pinchot's Grey Towers Opens For 2018 Season In Pike County
As its beautiful annuals and perennials awaken

from their winter slumber, Gifford Pinchot’s Grey
Towers National Historic Site in Milford, Pike
County, opens for its 2018 visitor season.
[Who is Gifford Pinchot? Video]
The 1886 mansion, its gardens and grounds offer a
special setting for guided tours, public programs
and reflective inspirational thinking.
Guided tours of the mansion are offered every day
except Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 11:00 a.m.
to 4:00 p.m. on the hour. Reservations are required
for groups larger than 10 and youth programs.
Watch how lace is made by hand in a demonstration by the Lost Art Lace Makers of
North Jersey on June 9 from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m.
An outdoor landscape painting program begins on June 14 at 10:00 a.m. and is offered
throughout the summer. For information and dates call 570-775-6896 or online.
On June 16 at 5:30 pm the Kindred Spirits Arts Program offers an outdoor musical
performance, Noire Guitar Duo. For tickets call 570-296-7429 or online.
Want to learn more about the relationship between Americans and their trees throughout
history? Come hear Yale University Professor Eric Rutkow speak about his research and book,
"American Canopy: Trees, Forests and the Making of a Nation," on June 30, at 5:30 p.m. The
Grey Towers Heritage Association will sponsor a reception with light refreshments afterwards.
The lecture and reception are free.
For more information on programs, initiatives and other upcoming events, visit the Grey
Towers Heritage Association. Click Here to sign up for updates from the Association, Like them
on Facebook, Follow them on Twitter, visit their YouTube Channel, become part of their
Google+ Circle and follow them on Instagram.
Also visit the Grey Towers Historic Site website and the Pinchot Institute for
66
Conservation website for information on its conservation research and policy programs. Click
Here to sign up for the Institute’s regular updates.
(Photo: The Great Room, Grey Towers Heritage Association.)
Fort Indiantown Gap Offers Tour In Lebanon County To See Rare Regal Fritillary
Butterfly Late June, July
Visitors of all ages have the opportunity to see a rare Regal

Fritillary butterfly on June 29, 30 and July 6, 7 guided tours of
the PA National Guard’s Fort Indiantown Gap facility in
Lebanon County.
The Regal Fritillary is just one of the many rare species
that can be found at the Gap and is the official symbol for the PA
Natural Heritage Program.
Fort Indiantown Gap also provides a wide variety of
habitats for 40 species of mammals, 143 breeding species of
birds, 36 species of reptiles and amphibians, 27 species of fish, more than 800 species of plants
and many notable species of invertebrates to include 86 species of butterflies and 386 species of
moths.
Fort Indiantown Gap also provides habitat for more than 100 species of conservation
concern in Pennsylvania.
The tours, which have been offered for more than 10 years, allow the public to see this
rare butterfly and its associated rare grassland habitat on military training ranges, as well as
many other natural wonders on the 17,000-acre military post, which serves as the Pennsylvania
National Guard’s headquarters.
No reservations are required and no rain dates will be scheduled. Please arrive no later
than 9:30 a.m.
Tours will last approximately three hours, but attendees can leave earlier if necessary.
Visitors of all ages and abilities are welcome. Tours will be on foot on gravel roads and mowed
paths; wandering off of the path, into the fields is prohibited.
Please wear appropriate clothing and footwear for uneven terrain, and consider bringing
insect repellent, sun screen and other personal comfort items. Drinking water will be provided.
To navigate to parking, turn onto Asher Miner Road at the intersection of Asher Miner
and Fisher Avenue in Annville (GPS coordinates in decimal degrees: North 40.4214, West
-76.577), located immediately north of the entrance to the National Cemetery.
“Wildlife Event” signs, wildlife staff, and volunteers will direct attendees to the parking
area and provide additional instructions. Note: parking will be in different locations on Fridays
vs. Saturdays, but the directions above pertain to all tour days.
Click Here for the full announcement and other background information. General
inquiries about the tours can be directed by email to: RA-DMVA-Wildlife@pa.gov or call
717-861-2449.
NewsClips:
Schneck: Fort Indiantown Gap Offers Tour To See Rare Regal Fritillary
Peregrine Falcons Born On PPL Tower Leave 3rd Graders In Awe
67
AP: 3 Peregrine Falcons Born On Allentown Office Building Get Banded
Black-Crowned Night Herons, Whimbrels Spotted On Presque Isle
Falcon Family At Philadelphia City Hall Has New Addition
Lehigh Researchers Enlist Bats To Predict Ebola Outbreaks
Frye: Antlers Fascinate, And With Good Reason
Schneck: PA Snake-Hunting Season Almost Here: 15 Things You Don’t Know
Schneck: Why Are Turtles Suddenly Appearing On Our Roads, In Our Backyards?
Editorial: Treat Wildlife Cautiously
Game Commission Citizen Science: Join June Appalachian Bat Count!
The Game Commission invites you to be the most

creative host in your neighborhood-- host a bat count
this summer as part of the Appalachian Bat Count!
Two of Pennsylvania's bat species commonly
use buildings as their summer roosts. Abandoned
houses, barns, church steeples and even
currently-occupied structures – can provide a summer
home to female bats and their young.
Monitoring these "maternity colonies" can
give biologists a good idea of how bat populations in an area are doing from year to year.
With the occurrence of White Nose Syndrome in Pennsylvania this year, monitoring
these colonies is more important than ever.
Join the Game Commission in monitoring the health of Pennsylvania's summer bat
colonies through the Appalachian Bat Count. Colonies can be monitored by conducting a "bat
count" at a summer colony in your area.
The Game Commission asks you to count bats as they exit their summer roost at dusk in
June, then again later in the summer to see how the colony has grown as pups begin flying.
So please, grab a friend or two and go batty this summer for conservation.
For all the details on counting and how to submit your results, visit the Game
Commission’s Appalachian Bat Count webpage. Click Here to learn more about bats in
Pennsylvania.
NewsClips:
68
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.
June 5-- House Agriculture and Rural Development Committee holds a hearing on Senate Bill
792 (Alloway-R-Adams) regulating the application of lawn fertilizer. Room 205 Ryan Building.
9:00. Committee meetings are typically webcast through the House Republican Caucus website.
Click Here for more.
June 5-- Agenda Posted. DEP Board Of Coal Mine Safety meeting. DEP Cambria Office, 286
Industrial Park Road, Ebensburg. 10:00. DEP Contact: Peggy Scheloske 724-404-3143 or send
email to: mscheloske@pa.gov.
June 5-- CANCELED. DEP Storage Tank Advisory Committee meeting. Room 105 Rachel
Carson Building. 10:00. DEP Contact: Kris Shiffer 717-772-5809 or send email to:
kshiffer@pa.gov. (formal notice)
June 5-- PA Municipal League. Sustainable Pittsburgh. 3rd Annual Municipal Sustainability
Conference. Hyatt Place, State College. 9:00 to 4:00.
June 6-- Joint Legislative Budget & Finance Committee meets to release reports on Feasibility
of Establishing a Water Use Fee In PA [similar to House Resolution 908 (Everett-R-Lycoming],
Game Commission Compliance With Strategic Plan (annual report). Room 8E-B East Wing.
9:45. Click Here for more. Click Here to watch live online.
June 6-- DEP Coastal Zone Advisory Committee meeting. 10th Floor Conference Room,
Rachel Carson Building. 9:30. DEP Contact: Stacey Box 717-772-5622 or send email to:
sbox@pa.gov.
June 6-- DEP Webinar On Clean Diesel Grant Program. 10:30 to Noon. Click Here to register.
June 6-9-- Millersville University. Bowman’s Hill Wildflower Preserve. Native Plants In The
Landscape Conference. Millersville University, Lancaster.
June 7-- CANCELED. House Game and Fisheries Committee holds a hearing on Chronic
Wasting Disease. Rescheduled for June 14.
June 7-- Agenda Posted. DEP Solid Waste & Recycling Fund Advisory Committees meeting.
Room 105 Rachel Carson Building. 10:00. DEP Contact: Laura Henry 717-772-5713 or send
69
email to: lahenry@pa.gov.
-- Revisions To DEP’s Management Of Fill Policy
-- Update On Mercury Thermostat Recycling
-- Responsibilities of County Recycling Coordinators
-- Recycling Market Developments
June 7-- DEP Hearing On Rolling Hills Landfill Expansion Berks County. Earl Elementary
School, 22 School House Road, Boyertown, Berks County. 6:00.
June 9-- Choose Clean Water Coalition. 2nd Annual Susquehanna River Rally. City Island,
Harrisburg. 1:00 to 3:00.
June 10-14-- Rails-To-Trails Conservancy. Delaware & Lehigh Trail Sojourn. Eastern
Pennsylvania.
June 11-- House State Government Committee holds a hearing on the Delaware River Basin
Commission to hear from entities regulated and to investigate concerns about the impact of
DRBC policies and actions on economic vitality and property rights. Room 205 Ryan Building.
10:00. Committee meetings are typically webcast through the House Republican Caucus
website. Click Here for more.
June 12-- Penn State Center For Nutrient Solutions Presentation Of Research Results. Radisson
Hotel Harrisburg, 1150 Camp Hill Bypass, Camp Hill, Cumberland County. 8:00 to 4:00.
June 12-- DEP Weathering The Storm Stormwater Education Workshop. Alumni Room of the
Waldron Campus Center, Gannon University, 109 University Square, Erie. 8:30 to 3:30.
June 12-- PA Highlands Coalition. Multi-Functional Riparian Buffer Webinar. 10:30 to Noon.
June 12-- Sustainable Pittsburgh. Renewable Energy Procurement, Opportunities For PA

Businesses, Institutions Webinar. 2:00 to 3:00.
June 13-- DEP State Board For Certification of Water and Wastewater Systems Operators. 10th
Floor Conference Room, Rachel Carson Building. 10:00. DEP Contact: Edgar Chescattie,
717-772-2814 or eschescattie@pa.gov.
June 13-- DEP Weathering The Storm Stormwater Education Workshop. Winnie Palmer Nature
Reserve, Saint Vincent College, 744 Walzer Way, Latrobe, Westmoreland County. 8:30 to 3:30.
June 13-- Delaware River Basin Commission business meeting on a variety of policies and
water withdrawal requests. West Trenton Volunteer Fire Company, 40 West Upper Ferry Road,
West Trenton, NJ. 10:30. (formal notice) Click Here for more details.
June 13-- DCNR Elk State Forest District Public Meeting. Elk State Forest Resource
Management Center, 258 Sizerville Road in Emporium, Cameron County. 6:00 to 8:30.
70
June 13-- Penn State Agriculture & Environment Center. Stream Stewardship Workshop Part 1.
Milanof-Schock Library, 1184 Anderson Ferry Road, Mount Joy, Lancaster County. 6:30. Part
2 is June 20.
June 14-- House Game and Fisheries Committee holds a hearing on Chronic Wasting Disease.
Room 60 East Wing. 10:00. Committee meetings are typically webcast at the House Republican
Caucus website.
June 14-- Agenda Posted. DEP Air Quality Technical Advisory Committee meeting. Room 105
Rachel Carson Building. 9:15. DEP Contact: Kirit Dalal, 717-772-3436, kdalal@pa.gov.
(formal notice)
-- Proposed Air Quality Fee Increases
June 14-- PUC En Banc Hearing On Supplier Consolidated Billing By Electricity Suppliers.
Hearing Room 1, Keystone Building, 400 North Street, Harrisburg. 1:00. Note: Second hearing
on this topic July 12.
June 14-- NEW. DEP Pennsylvania’s Solar Future Stakeholder Meeting. Kleinman Center for
Energy Policy, University of Pennsylvania, Fisher Fine Arts Building, 220 S. 34th, Philadelphia.
9:00 to 4:00. Click Here to register. Click Here to attend the meeting by Webinar.
June 15-- Location Added. Susquehanna River Basin Committee business meeting. Crowne
Plaza Baltimore Downtown-Inner Harbor, Carroll Room, 105 W. Fayette Street, Baltimore. 9:00.
(formal notice) Click Here for more.
June 16-- PA Resources Council. Hard-To-Recycle Collection Event. Bethel Park High School,
Allegheny County. 9:00 to 1:00.
June 16-- NEW. Brodhead Watershed Association. Water Wiser Kids Snorkeling In McMichael
Creek. Snydersville, Monroe County. 10:30 to Noon.
June 16-- NEW. Brodhead Watershed Association. Get Outdoors Poconos Van Buskirk Preserve
Hike. Paradise Township, Monroe County. 10:00 to 11:30.
June 18-- House Consumer Affairs Committee holds a hearing on competitive energy supplier
sales and marketing practices. Room B-31 Main Capitol. 11:00. Committee meetings are
typically webcast through the House Republican Caucus website.
June 19-- Environmental Quality Board meeting. Room 105 Rachel Carson Building. 9:00. DEP
Contact: Laura Edinger, 717-772-3277, ledinger@pa.gov.
June 19-- DEP Citizens Advisory Council meeting. Room 105 Rachel Carson Building. 10:00.
DEP Contact: Neil Bakshi, DEP Policy Office, nebakshi@pa.gov.
71
June 19-- NEW. PA Technical Assistance Program. Saving Energy Costs By Implementing An
Energy Management System Workshop. Penn State New Kensington Campus, The Corner, 701
Fifth Avenue, New Kensington, Westmoreland County. 9:00 to 3:00.
June 20-- Penn State Agriculture & Environment Center. Stream Stewardship Workshop Part 2.
Little Chiques Park, 229 Park Ave., Mount Joy, Lancaster County. 6:30. Part 1 is June 13.
June 20-- NEW. PA Environmental Council. PA Organization For Watersheds and Rivers.
Regional Watershed Workshop. Dickinson College, Stern Great Room, 208 W. Louther St.,
Carlisle, Cumberland County. 9:45 to 3:00.
June 20-21-- Registration Open. 20th Anniversary PA Abandoned Mine Reclamation

Conference. Ramada Conference Center, State College.
June 21-- DEP Hearing [If Needed] On RACT II Air Quality Plan For Fiberglass Reinforced
Plastic, Shirley Township, Huntingdon County. DEP Southcentral Regional Office, 909
Elmerton Avenue, Harrisburg. 10:00. (PA Bulletin, page 2972) Click Here for more.
June 22-- 3 Rivers Wet Weather. Stream Restoration Workshop. McFadden Hall, 1520 Butler
Plank Road, Glenshaw, Shaler Township, Allegheny County. 9:00 to 3:00.
June 23-- Audubon Society of Western PA. Backyard Habitat Flowers And Feathers, The
Connection Between Plants and Birds Workshop. Beechwood Farms Nature Reserve, 614
Dorseyville Road, Pittsburgh. 10:00.
June 26-- DEP Climate Change Advisory Committee meeting. Room 105 Rachel Carson
Building. 10:00. DEP Contact: John Krueger, 717-783-9264, jkrueger@pa.gov.
June 27-- DEP Hearing [If Needed] On RACT II Air Quality Plan For DuPont Plant, North
Towanda Township, Bradford County. DEP Northcentral Regional Office, 208 West Third
Street, Williamsport. 10:00. (PA Bulletin, page 3009) Click Here for more.
June 28-- NEW. PA Environmental Council. PA Organization For Watersheds and Rivers.
Regional Watershed Workshop. Heritage Conservancy Aldie Mansion, 85 Old Dublin Pike,
Doylestown, Bucks County. 9:30 to 3:00
June 29-- NEW. PA National Guard Regal Fritillary Butterfly Tours. Fort Indiantown Gap,
Lebanon County.
June 30-- PA Resources Council. Hard-To-Recycle Collection Event. Quaker Valley High
School, Leetsdale, Allegheny County. 9:00 to 1:00.
June 30-- NEW. PA National Guard Regal Fritillary Butterfly Tours. Fort Indiantown Gap,
Lebanon County.
72
July 6-- NEW. PA National Guard Regal Fritillary Butterfly Tours. Fort Indiantown Gap,
Lebanon County.
July 7-- NEW. Alliance for Aquatic Resource Monitoring. Mountain Watershed Association.
Volunteer Training For Shale Gas-Related Stream Monitoring. Blythedale Volunteer Fire
Department, 1799 Blythedale Road, Buena Vista, Allegheny County. 9:00 to 3:30.
July 7-- NEW. PA National Guard Regal Fritillary Butterfly Tours. Fort Indiantown Gap,
Lebanon County.
July 11-- DEP Water Resources Advisory Committee meeting. Room 105 Rachel Carson
Building. 9:30. DEP Contact: Diane Wilson, 717-787-3730, diawilson@pa.gov.
July 11-- DEP Technical Advisory Committee On Diesel Powered (Mining) Equipment. DEP
New Stanton Office, 131 Broadview Road, New Stanton. 10:00. DEP Contact: Peggy Scheloski,
724-404-3143 or mscheloske@pa.gov.
July 11-- NEW. DEP Hearing On Interim Response At Ridge Run PFAS, PFOS, PFOA Well
Contamination Site In Bucks County. West Rockhill Township Building, 1028 Ridge Road,
Sellersville, PA. 6:30.
July 12-- PUC En Banc Hearing On Supplier Consolidated Billing By Electricity Suppliers.
Hearing Room 1, Keystone Building, 400 North Street, Harrisburg. 1:00.
July 17-- Environmental Quality Board meeting. Room 105 Rachel Carson Building. 9:00. DEP
Contact: Laura Edinger, 717-772-3277, ledinger@pa.gov.
July 17-- DEP Citizens Advisory Council meeting. Room 105 Rachel Carson Building. 10:00.
DEP Contact: Neil Bakshi, DEP Policy Office, nebakshi@pa.gov.
July 17-- NEW. DEP Hearing [If Needed] On RACT II Air Quality Plan For Sonneborn Petrolia
Facility In Butler County. DEP Northwest Regional Office, 230 Chestnut Street, Meadville,
Crawford County. 9:00 a.m.
July 19-- NEW. DEP Hearing On Interim Response At Nockamixon TCE Well Contamination
Site In Bucks County. Nockamixon Township Municipal Building, 589 Lake Warren Road,
Upper Black Eddy, PA. 7:00
July 25-- DEP Small Business Compliance Advisory Committee meeting. 12th Floor
Conference Room, Rachel Carson Building. 10:00. DEP Contact: Nancy Herb, 717-783-9269 or
nherb@pa.gov. (formal notice)
July 25-27-- Registration Open. Professional Recyclers of PA. 28th Annual Recycling &
Organics Conference. Best Western Premier Hotel, Harrisburg.
73
July 28-- PA Resources Council. Recycling Bin Distribution Event In Pittsburgh. Point Breeze
Distribution Event, URA’s Parking Lot on Meade Street. 8:00 to 2:00. Click Here to register.
July 28-- Audubon Society of Western PA. Backyard Habitat Gardening for Pollinators and
Butterflies Workshop. Beechwood Farms Nature Reserve, 614 Dorseyville Road, Pittsburgh.
10:00.
August 1-- DEP Cleanup Standards Scientific Advisory Board meeting. Room 105 Rachel
Carson Building. 9:00. DEP Contact: Michael Maddigan, 717-772-3609, mmaddigan@pa.gov.
August 8-- 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.
August 11-- PA Resources Council. Recycling Bin Distribution Event In Pittsburgh. Fairywood
Distribution Event, B Keppel Trucking, 100 Beechnut Drive, Pittsburgh. 8:00 to 2:00. Click Here
to register.
August 15-- DEP State Board for Certification of Sewage Enforcement Officers meeting. 11th
Floor, Conference Room B, Rachel Carson Building. 10:00. DEP Contact: Kristen
Szwajkowski, 717-772-2186, kszwajkows@pa.gov.
August 15-- DEP State Board For Certification of Water and Wastewater Systems Operators
meeting. 10th Floor Conference Room, Rachel Carson Building. 10:00. DEP Contact: Edgar
Chescattie, 717-772-2814, eshescattie@pa.gov.
August 20-23-- U.S. Biochar Initiatives Conference. Chase Center on the Riverfront,
Wilmington, Delaware.
August 21-- Environmental Quality Board meeting. Room 105 Rachel Carson Building. 9:00.
DEP Contact: Laura Edinger, 717-772-3277, ledinger@pa.gov.
August 25-- PA Resources Council. Hard-To-Recycle Collection Event. Century III Mall, West
Mifflin, Allegheny County. 9:00 to 1:00.
August 28-- DEP Climate Change Advisory Committee meeting. Room 105 Rachel Carson
Building. 10:00. DEP Contact: John Krueger, 717-783-9264, jkrueger@pa.gov.
September 4-- DEP Board Of Coal Mine Safety meeting. DEP Cambria Office, 286 Industrial
Park Road, Ebensburg. 10:00. DEP Contact: Peggy Scheloske 724-404-3143 or send email to:
mscheloske@pa.gov.
September 6-9-- Registration Open. Delaware Highlands Conservancy. Educational Retreat For
Women Forest Landowners. Highlights Workshop Facility in Boyd’s Mill, Milanville, Wayne
County.
74
September 18-20-- NEW. Mid-Atlantic Chapter International Erosion Control Association. 25th
Annual Conference, Workshop and Trade Show. Radisson Hotel, Camp Hill, Cumberland
County.
September 20-- DEP Solid Waste Advisory Committee & Recycling Funding Advisory
Committee meeting. Room 105 Rachel Carson Building. 10:00. DEP Contact: Laura Henry
717-772-5713 or send email to: lahenry@pa.gov.
September 22-- 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 23-- Audubon Society of Western PA. Backyard Habitat Trees and Shrubs,
Supporting Wildlife In Winter Workshop. Beechwood Farms Nature Reserve, 614 Dorseyville
Road, Pittsburgh. 10:00.
September 28-- 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 1-3-- Engineers’ Society of Western PA. PA Brownfield Conference. Sands Bethlehem
Casino, Bethlehem.
October 6-- PA Resources Council. Hard-To-Recycle Collection Event. Settlers Cabin Park,
Robinson Township, Allegheny County. 9:00 to 1:00.
October 17-21-- Passive House Western PA. North American Passive House Network 2018
Conference. David L. Lawrence Convention Center, Pittsburgh.
October 18-- DEP Radiation Protection Advisory Committee meeting. Room 105 Rachel
Carson. 9:00. DEP Contact: Joseph Melnic 717-783-9730 or send email to: jmelnic@pa.gov.
November 1-2-- PA Water And Wastewater Technology Summit. Penn Stater Conference
Center Hotel, State College.
Visit DEP’s Public Participation Center for public participation opportunities. Click Here to sign
up for DEP News a biweekly newsletter from the Department.
Sign Up For DEP’s 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
75
Proposed Regulations Open For Comment - DEP webpage
Submit Comments on Proposals Through DEP’s eComment System
Proposed Regulations With Closed Comment Periods - DEP webpage
Recently Finalized Regulations - DEP webpage
DEP Regulatory Update - DEP webpage
March 3, 2018 DEP Regulatory Agenda - PA Bulletin, Page 1374
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 (February 2018) - 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 DEP’s 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.
June 8-- Extended. Goddard Student Leadership Legacy Institute Camp Program
June 8-- Keep PA Beautiful Great American Cleanup Of PA Video Contest
June 8-- Keep America Beautiful National Youth Advisory Council
June 8-- PA Horticultural Society Gardening & Greening Contest
June 15-- Southern Alleghenies Regional Greenways, Recreation Mini-Grants
June 21-- DEP Mariner East II Pipeline Water Quality Project Grants
76
June 29-- Anthracite Power Producers’ Mine Reclamation Grants
June 30-- DEP Alternative Fuel Vehicle Rebates (first come, first serve)
June 30-- FirstEnergy Utilities All-Electric Vehicle Rebate From Nissan
July 6-- DEP Clean Diesel Grants (VW Settlement)
July 13-- DEP Growing Greener Plus Watershed Grants
July 13-- DEP Alternative Fuels Incentive Grants
July 18-- NEW. Northeast Environmental Partner Environmental Awards
July 20-- CFA Alternative & Clean Energy Funding
July 20-- CFA Renewable Energy-Geothermal & Wind Funding
July 20-- CFA Solar Energy Funding
July 20-- CFA High Performance Building Funding
August 1-- NEW. Delaware River Basin Commission Summer Photo Contest
August 15-- PA Leopold Farm Conservation Award $10,000
August 31-- OSMRE Not-For-Profit Acid Mine Drainage Watershed Grants
September 5-- PA Parks & Forests Foundation Photo Contest
September 15-- CFA Alternative & Clean Energy Funding
September 15-- CFA Renewable Energy-Geothermal & Wind Funding
September 15-- CFA Solar Energy Funding
September 15-- CFA High Performance Building Funding
September 28-- DEP Calendar 2017 Recycling Performance Grants
October 31-- PA Resources Council Gene Capaldi Lens On Litter Photo Contest
December 14-- DEP Alternative Fuels Incentive Grants
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.
Politics
Op-Ed: Wolf & Wagner Need To Be Specific In Plans To Help The Environment
Air
77
Alternative Fuels
Pittsburgh-Based Carrier To Test Natural Gas Mack Trucks
Hermitage To Open New Natural Gas Fueling Station
Penn State Research Into Rapid Charging Of Electric Vehicles Aided By $1M DOE Grant
Awards & Recognition
Video Profiles: Western PA Environmental Awards, Lifetime Award Winners
Beautification
Biodiversity/Invasive Species
Luzerne County Official Examining Gypsy Moth Spraying Options
Budget
AP-Scolforo: Governor, Lawmakers Aren’t Panicking As Budget Push Nears
AP: Pennsylvania Opens Budget Season With Stable Tax Collections
Editorial: State Has Proven It Can Go Without Shale Tax For Now
Chesapeake Bay
Pace
Climate
Did Climate Change Kill People In Ellicott City?
Coal Mining
Trump Orders DOE To Stop The Closure Of Coal, Nuclear Power Plants
AP: Trump Orders Immediate Steps To Boost Coal, Nuclear Plants
78
Security
EIA: Electric Power Sector Consumption Of Fossil Fuels At Lowest Level Since 1994
U.S. Coal Lobby Fights Black-Lung Tax As Disease Rates Surge
Compliance Action
Delaware River
Drinking Water
Pittsburgh Water Authority To Offer Filters For Homes With High Lead Results
Wilkes-Barre Offers Free Lead Testing To Residents With Children
PA American Water To Replace Water Valve In Pittsburgh’s West End After Break
Peoples Gas Weighing New Water Plant To Serve Pittsburgh Mayor Says
Hatboro-Horsham Schools Closed Friday Due To Boil Water Advisory
Economic Development
Conservation Fund Buys Over 32,000 Acres Of Forest Land In Elk, McKean Counties
Protesters Want Pittsburgh Mayor To Take Stand Against Beaver County Ethane Plant
Education
Energy
Duncan
79
Security
Penn State Research Into Rapid Charging Of Electric Vehicles Aided By $1M DOE Grant
UGI PNG To Pay Less For Fuel, Customers To Benefit
PUC Judges Tour Transource Power Line Route To Look At School, Trout Impacts
Energy Conservation
Legere: After Long Delay PA Building Codes Get An Update
Environmental Heritage
University Of Maryland Archaeology School Begins 3rd Season At Eckley Miners’ Village
Farming
Flooding
Analysis: 2nd 1,000-Year Storm Engulfed Ellicott City, MD. Here’s How It Happened
Did Climate Change Kill People In Ellicott City, MD?
Forests
Conservation Fund Buys Over 32,000 Acres Of Forest Land In Elk, McKean Counties
Luzerne County Official Examining Gypsy Moth Spraying Options
Green Infrastructure
80
Pace
Hazardous Sites Cleanup
PA Towns With Contaminations From Military Bases Chosen For Blood Testing By State
Land Conservation
Land Recycling
State Awards $2M To Redevelop Former South Side Silk Mill In Easton
Land Use Planning
Littering/Illegal Dumping
Mine Reclamation
Mine Fire Nearly Out In Jeansville, Luzerne County
Ohio River
Oil & Gas
Carr: PA Supreme Court Decision Limits Gas Drillers From Developing Residential Areas
Letter: PA’s Natural Gas Industry is Working To Keep The Environment Clean
UGI PNG To Pay Less For Fuel, Customers To Benefit
Pittsburgh-Based Carrier To Test Natural Gas Mack Trucks
Hermitage To Open New Natural Gas Fueling Station
Editorial: State Has Proven It Can Go Without Shale Tax For Now
EQT Trades Diversification For Focus
Protesters Want Pittsburgh Mayor To Take Stand Against Beaver County Ethane Plant
Worley & Obetz Laying Off 100+ Amid Potential Fraudulent Activity
Lancaster Fuel Company Cuts Jobs As Fraud Investigation Is Underway
Expert: Gasoline Prices Could State To Ease
Pipelines
Maykuth: How Mariner East Pipeline Is Affecting Real Estate Prices In Chester, Delaware
81
Counties
Hurdle: Sunoco Urges Full PUC To Overturn Shutdown Order For Mariner East Pipelines
Sen. Dinniman Vows To Fight Appeal Of Mariner East Pipelines Shut Down
FERC Denies Rehearing Requests For PennEast Pipeline
Radiation Protection
Duncan
Security
Recreation
82
Recycling/Waste
Recycled Asphalt Paving Roads In Lackawanna County
State College Schools Ditch Plastic Straws To Reduce Waste
Waste Management Recycling Center Options, Hours Cut In Erie
EcoCoin: New Program Aims To Reduce Plastic Bag Use On Main Penn State Campus
Renewable Energy
Wastewater Facilities
3 Townships Plan Legal Action To Stop Big Canonsburg-Houston Joint Authority Rate Hike
Watershed Protection
Pace
Click Here to subscribe to the Chesapeake Bay Journal
Wildlife
83
West Nile/Zika Virus
Hurricanes
Study: Puerto Rico Death Toll From Hurricane Marea Near 5,000
New Study Estimates Hurricane Maria Death Toll In Puerto Rico Could Exceed 4,000
2 More Months Needed To Restore Power In Puerto Rico
Federal Policy
U.S. Coal Lobby Fights Black-Lung Tax As Disease Rates Surge
Pruitt Blames Scandals On EPA Staff, Political Left
Click Here For This Week's Allegheny Front Radio Program
Regulations, Technical Guidance & Permits
No new regulations were published this week. Pennsylvania Bulletin - June 2, 2018
Sign Up For DEP’s 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
March 3, 2018 DEP Regulatory Agenda - PA Bulletin, Page 1374
Technical Guidance & Permits
84
Note: The Department of Environmental Protection published 48 pages of public notices related
to proposed and final permit and approval/ disapproval actions in the June 2 PA Bulletin - pages
3328 to 3376.
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 (February 2018) - 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 DEP’s 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 DEP’s Advisory Committee webpages.
DEP Calendar of Events DCNR Calendar of Events
CLICK HERE To View Or Print Entire PA Environment Digest
CLICK HERE to Print The Entire PA Environment Digest. This Digest is 86 pages long.
Stories Invited
Send your stories, photos and links to videos about your project, environmental issues or
programs for publication in the PA Environment Digest to: PaEnviroDigest@gmail.com.
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.
Did you know you can search back issues since May 28, 2004 of the PA Environment Digest on
85
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Issue #726 ​Crisci Associates​, Harrisburg, PA June 4, 2018

PA Environment Digest Blog​ ​Twitter Feed​ ​PaEnviroDigest Google+

Chesapeake Bay Foundation: PA Lagging In Meeting All Pollution Reduction Goals

The ​Chesapeake Bay Foundation​ Wednesday

The ​Landis Homes Retirement Community

DEP Loses Appeal Of Unconventional Drilling Regulation Injunction At PA Supreme

PA Supreme Court Says Local Governments Must Amend Zoning Ordinances To

House Republican Caucus Chair Rep. Marcy Toepel (R-Montgomery)

Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary

The following summary of the forthcoming

The Conservation Fund​ Wednesday announced the

Northeast Environmental Partners Now Accepting Environmental Award Nominations

The Northeast Environmental Partners Friday

Bills On Governor's Desk

Senate/House Agenda/Session Schedule/Gov’s Schedule/ Bills Introduced

Committee Meeting Agendas This Week

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

The following bills of interest were introduced last week--

Commission To Study Pipeline Operations:​ ​Senate Resolution 373​ (Rafferty-R-Montgomery)

News From The Capitol

Bill To Require DEP To Replace Delaware, Susquehanna River Basin Commissions

Sen. Rafferty Introduces Bipartisan Resolution To Create Commission On Pipeline

Sen. John Rafferty (R-Montgomery) and bipartisan co-sponsors

May Environmental Synopsis Now Available From Joint Conservation Committee

The ​May Environmental Synopsis​ newsletter is now

The ​Chesapeake Bay Foundation-PA​ Friday issued a

By Nick DiPasquale & Joel Dunn in ​Chesapeake Bay Journal

The Chesapeake Bay restoration and conservation

Nick DiPasquale​ is the former director of the Chesapeake Bay Program

(Reprinted from the ​Chesapeake Bay Journal​.)

National Sustainable Ag Coalition: USDA Resumes Farm Conservation Reserve Program

Attorney General Josh Shapiro, together with a coalition of seven

News From Around The State

Children's Water Festival Creates Young Conservationists In Erie

For a fifth grader, Amari Eaddy is well on his way to

(Reprinted from ​Penn State News​)

The Central Pennsylvania Conservancy's ​Goddard Leadership

Agriculture Announces $1.3M In Ag Research Grants, Including On Nutrient Reductions,

The ​PA Organization for Watersheds and Rivers​ and

Lancaster Is Using Green Infrastructure To Manage Stormwater, Make Neighborhoods

By Will Parson, ​Chesapeake Bay Program

(Reprinted from ​Chesapeake Bay Program​ Blog.)

LandStudies Latest Green Infrastructure Newsletter Now Available

The ​latest green infrastructure newsletter​ is now

Mid-Atlantic Chapter International Erosion Control Association Conference Sept. 18-20 In

The ​Mid-Atlantic Chapter of the International

DEP Invites Comments On Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Compact Procedures, Guidance

The Department of Environmental Protection ​published

Delaware River Basin Commission Summer Photo Contest Begins June 25

The ​Delaware River Basin Commission​ Thursday

PA American Water Awards $50,000 In Grants To Local Fire Companies

Pennsylvania American Water​ Tuesday announced 68 emergency service organizations across

You have just one week to enter the ​Keep

Pennsylvania’s Solar Future Stakeholder Meeting June 14 In Philadelphia

The ​PA Technical Assistance Program​ will host a

By A’ndrea Elyse Messer, ​Penn State News

At the least, wastewater from oil and gas drilling

The ​Alliance for Aquatic Resource Monitoring​ and

The Department of Environmental Protection ​published notice​ in the June 2 PA Bulletin of an

DEP To Name New Environmental Justice Director By End Of June

Pocono Forests & Waters Conservation Landscape Initiative Awards $60,000 To 10

The ​Pocono Forests and Waters

DCNR Blog: PA River Sojourns Offer More Than A Quick Paddle

​Love to kayak or canoe? Or have you always wanted

Issue #726 Crisci Associates, Harrisburg, PA June 4, 2018

PA Environment Digest Blog Twitter Feed PaEnviroDigest Google+

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation Wednesday

The Landis Homes Retirement Community

The Conservation Fund Wednesday announced the

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

Commission To Study Pipeline Operations: Senate Resolution 373 (Rafferty-R-Montgomery)

The May Environmental Synopsis newsletter is now

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation-PA Friday issued a

By Nick DiPasquale & Joel Dunn in Chesapeake Bay Journal

Nick DiPasquale is the former director of the Chesapeake Bay Program

(Reprinted from the Chesapeake Bay Journal.)

(Reprinted from Penn State News)

The Central Pennsylvania Conservancy's Goddard Leadership

The PA Organization for Watersheds and Rivers and

By Will Parson, Chesapeake Bay Program

(Reprinted from Chesapeake Bay Program Blog.)

The latest green infrastructure newsletter is now

The Mid-Atlantic Chapter of the International

The Department of Environmental Protection published

The Delaware River Basin Commission Thursday

Pennsylvania American Water Tuesday announced 68 emergency service organizations across

You have just one week to enter the Keep

The PA Technical Assistance Program will host a

By A’ndrea Elyse Messer, Penn State News

The Alliance for Aquatic Resource Monitoring and

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the June 2 PA Bulletin of an

The Pocono Forests and Waters

Love to kayak or canoe? Or have you always wanted

The Brodhead Watershed Association will

The May 30 edition of the Resource newsletter is now

The Summer issue of Penn’s Stewards

Visitors of all ages have the opportunity to see a rare Regal

The Game Commission invites you to be the most

June 12-- Sustainable Pittsburgh. Renewable Energy Procurement, Opportunities For PA

June 20-21-- Registration Open. 20th Anniversary PA Abandoned Mine Reclamation

DEP Facebook Page DEP Twitter Feed DEP YouTube Channel

Click Here for links to DEP’s Advisory Committee webpages.

DEP Calendar of Events DCNR Calendar of Events

Senate Committee Schedule House Committee Schedule

PA Environment Digest Blog Twitter Feed PaEnviroDigest Google+

PA Environment Digest Blog Twitter Feed PaEnviroDigest Google+

DEP Facebook Page DEP Twitter Feed DEP YouTube Channel

Click Here for links to DEP’s Advisory Committee webpages.

DEP Calendar of Events DCNR Calendar of Events

PA Environment Digest Blog Twitter Feed PaEnviroDigest Google+

PA Environment Digest is edited by David E. Hess, former Secretary Pennsylvania Department

PA Environment Digest weekly was the winner of the PA Association of Environmental

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

PA Environment Digest is a supporting member of the Pennsylvania Outdoor Writers