PA Environment Digest

An Update On Environmental Issues In

PA
Edited By: David E. Hess, Crisci Associates

Winner 2009 PAEE Business Partner Of The Year Award

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Harrisburg, Pa September 6, 2010

Fall Environmental Agenda Crowded For Last 3 Weeks Of Legislative Session

The Senate and House will only be in voting session together for three
more weeks during the remainder of this year. Any bills not receiving
final votes will die and have to be reintroduced in the new session in
January when a new Senate and House and Governor will consider them.
The Senate is scheduled to be in session for three weeks-- the
weeks of September 20, 30 and October 12-- and will not consider
legislation after the election. The House will return to session for the
weeks of September 13, 20, 27, October 4, November 8, 15.
Here is a list of some of the major bills and issues still awaiting
action. It is by no means a complete list--

Severance Tax Commitment

The General Assembly made a commitment in the Fiscal Code bill-- Senate Bill 1042-- passed as
part of the budget in July to pass a Marcellus Shale natural gas severance tax by October 1 and to
allocate the revenue between the Commonwealth, counties and municipalities and environmental
initiatives.
Section 4 (page 155) of Senate Bill 1042 reads--
"It is the intent of the House Majority Leadership and Senate Majority Leadership to
pass legislation that raises revenue from the extraction of Marcellus Shale natural gas by October
1, 2010, with an effective date for implementation no later than January 1, 2011. It is the further
intent to have revenue raised from the extraction of Marcellus Shale natural gas to be divided by
a ratio to be determined by legislation between the Commonwealth, counties and municipalities
and environmental initiatives."
The last severance tax proposal made by Gov. Rendell was in his February budget
address which would have generated $178.6 million in FY 2010-11 and allocate $160.7 million
to a proposed Stimulus Transition Fund (which never got any support from legislators) and $17.9
million to local communities seeing infrastructure and other impacts from drilling.
 The Governor made no allocation to fund environmental programs like Growing Greener,
which ran out of money this year.
Both Senate Republican and House Democratic staffs have been working on separate
drafts of a severance tax and in the case of the Senate, also on other items they say should be
linked to the adoption of the tax like more "reasonable" permit and inspection requirements and
dealing with local ordinances that regulate drilling.
Gov. Rendell said at his press conference this week he expects House Democrats to adopt
their severance tax proposal soon after they return to session on September 13, although they had
significant difficulty in lining up the votes for a tax in June.
A list of severance tax bills in the House and Senate is included in the list below. Click
here for talking points on the issue from the Foundation for Pennsylvania Watersheds.
NewsClips: Senate GOP Writes Marcellus Shale Tax, Overhaul Of Drilling Rules
Onorato Slams Corbett's Opposition To Drilling Tax
Onorato Slams Corbett On Drilling
Onorato: Make Gas Drillers Pay, Not Taxpayers
Onorato Decides To Back Shale Gas Extraction Tax
Marcellus Shale Severance Tax Coming Up
Think Tank Warns Of Gas Industry Tax Breaks
Editorial: Quick Disclosure On Natural Gas Political Contributions

State Budget Shortfall

Two weeks ago Gov. Rendell took steps to implement his plan to make up for the $280 million
shortfall caused by a reduced federal appropriation for Medicaid funding.
That plan includes--
-- An across-the-board cut of 1.9 percent in the state budget that would yield $212 million: 1.9
percent cut to "discretionary appropriations," including $50 million to basic education funding;
1.9 percent cut to the General Assembly, Courts and to elected row offices (Auditor General,
Attorney General and State Treasurer);
-- Using $70 million from the proposed Marcellus Shale natural gas production severance tax.
If the General Assembly fails to adopt the Marcellus Shale severance tax, there will be
another $70 million hole to fill.
The Governor said there will still be the need to layoff about 100 state workers, but he
has not yet released a list of which agencies would be affected.

Alternative Energy

Gov. Rendell this week added to his list of "to-dos" for the General Assembly by again urging
the Senate and House to adopt an expansion of the state's Alternative Energy Portfolio Standard
focused on increasing solar energy requirements.
Rendell said he cut back his "ask" for a wholesale expansion of the Portfolio Standard in
favor of just the expansion of the solar energy standard.
House Democrats have had Alternative Energy Portfolio Standard legislation-- House
Bill 80 (Vitali-D-Delaware) and then House Bill 2405 (DePasquale-D-York) expanding the
Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards and authorizing a carbon sequestration network (both
without funding)-- on the House Calendar since July 2 of 2009 without being able to bring the
bills to a vote.
Alternative energy isn't even on the Senate Republican radar screen.
NewsClip: Lawmakers Cool To Rendell Call For Solar Energy

Transportation Funding

On August 23 Gov. Rendell unveiled what he said would be a $1 billion increase in annual
transportation-- highway and transit-- funding needed to fill the hole left when the federal
government failed to approve plans to toll I-80. His plan includes--
-- $576 million from a new net profit tax on oil companies which he said now only paid $35
million in state Corporate Net Income Tax, while making $5 billion in profits in Pennsylvania;
and
-- $434 million by raising driver and vehicle fees consistent with the increase in inflation (for the
average driver the increase would cost 33 cents per week).
He cited poll numbers saying 74 percent of the public supported the oil company tax and
a narrow majority supporting the increase in driver and vehicle fees.
So far, his tax and fee proposals are not getting much traction with legislators.
At a hearing last week, Sen. John Rafferty (R-Montgomery), Majority Chair of the Senate
Transportation Committee, said he would like to see a more comprehensive proposal including
not only highway and transit, but also items like rail freight funding. He said 2011 would be a
better time to consider these items.
NewsClip: Onorato Opposes Gasoline Tax, Vehicle Fee Hikes

Reports

REAP Farm Conservation Tax Credit: The House adopted House Resolution
127 (Levdansky-D-Allegheny) directing the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to
determine the impact of tax credit programs on the Commonwealth's economy, job market and
state and local tax revenues, including the Resource Enhancement and Protection Farm
Conservation Tax Credit. The report is tentatively set to be released in September.

Meeting Chesapeake Bay Cleanup Standards: The Senate adopted Senate Resolution
215 (Brubaker-R-Lancaster) directing the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to study
the costs to achieve the Chesapeake Bay Program nutrient load reductions required by
agricultural sources and to evaluate funding strategies. The study was to be done on June 30,
2010. The Committee has not yet taken action to hire a contractor to do the study.

Senate

Drilling Moratorium: House Bill 2235 (Vitali-D-Delaware) imposing a 3 year moratorium on

Marcellus Shale natural gas drilling in State Forests and requiring certain studies by the Joint
Legislative Budget and Finance Committee (no funding provided) was passed by the House 157
to 33 and is now in the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee for action.
Severance Tax: Senate Bill 905 (Musto-D-Luzerne), Senate Bill 997 (Dinniman-D-Chester)
using the severance tax to balance the budget and fund some environmental programs, Senate
Bill 1254 (Dinniman-D-Chester) using the severance tax to provide additional property tax relief.
All the bills are in the Senate Finance Committee.

Leasing Other State Lands For Drilling: Senate Bill 1159 (D.White-R-Indiana) authorizing
the Department of General Services to lease minerals on state land owned by agencies other than
DCNR, Fish and Boat and Game Commissions and depositing any payments or royalties in the
Environmental Stewardship (Growing Greener) Fund was referred to the Senate Appropriations
Committee.

Gas/Coal Spacing: Senate Bill 1374 (MJ White-R-Venango) requiring DCNR's Bureau of
Topographic and Geologic Survey to update workable coal seams maps annually and setting
separation distances from gas wells and coal seams with funding provided by the Oil and Gas
Fund was referred to the Senate Appropriations Committee.

Well Operator Certification: Senate Bill 1451 (Baker-R-Luzerne) requiring gas well and
wastewater treatment operators to be certified by DEP (no funding provided) is in the Senate
Environmental Resources and Energy Committee awaiting action.

Gas Well Setbacks: Senate Bill 1452 (Baker-R-Luzerne) would require each oil and gas well
permit to be accompanied by information regarding the zone of influence of the well site on
groundwater and an analysis of the time a potential release of drilling fluids would reach the
nearest waterways; a preparedness, prevention and contingency plan; and a plan for notifying all
downstream water users in the event of a spill.
The bill requires the notification of all public drinking water system operators within the
water within 10 days of receiving a permit; a requirement that wells not be drilled within 1,000
feet of a building or water well without the consent of the owner; not within 1,000 feet of any
stream, spring or body of water; or 1,000 feet of any wetlands or within 3,000 feet of a drinking
water reservoir. The permit application must also contain a groundwater monitoring and
sampling plan before, during and after drilling.
The bill is in the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee awaiting
action.

Ultra Low Sulfur/Bio Heating Oil: Senate Bill 1282 (Erickson-R-Delaware) requiring heating
oil to meet the same ultra low sulfur and biofuels content requirements of diesel fuel is in the
Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee for consideration.

Flood Control: Senate Bill 235 (Wozniak-D-Cambria) authorizing the use of non-structural
flood control alternatives was reported from the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy
Committee and is now in the Senate Appropriations Committee for consideration.

Green Buildings: House Bill 444 (M.Smith-D-Allegheny) requiring buildings built and funded
by the Commonwealth to meet green building standards (no funding provided) was passed by the
House, was amended and reported out of the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy
Committee and Tabled.

Green Buildings: Senate Bill 728 (Rafferty-R-Montgomery) setting standards for high
performance green buildings (without funding) was referred to the Senate Appropriations
Committee.

Green Schools: House Bill 689 (Drucker-D-Chester) providing for reimbursements for schools
which meet LEED green building standards (no funding provided) is in the Senate Education
Committee for consideration.

Energy Office: House Bill 786 (George-D-Clearfield) creating a State Energy Office within
DEP (no funding provided) was passed by the House, was amended and reported out of the
Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee and was Tabled..

Solar Energy: House Bill 2234 (Houghton-D-Chester) prohibiting deed restrictions related to
solar energy systems on residential property was passed by the House and is now in the Senate
Urban Affairs and Housing Committee.

Leasing Lake Erie For Wind Farms: House Bill 2342 (Hornaman-D-Erie) authorizing the
Department of General Services to lease submerged lands in Lake Erie for wind farms was
passed by the House and is now in the Senate State Government Committee.

Biofuels: Senate Bill 698 (Waugh-R-York) creating the PA Farms to Fuels Incentive Act along
with a $10 million General Fund appropriation was referred to the Senate Appropriations
Committee.

Farms- Energy Production: House Bill 984 (Kessler-D-Berks) would limit the roll-back taxes
when a landowner leases land enrolled in the program for a wind power generation system was
passed by the House and is now in the Senate Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee for
action.

Farmland/Energy Production: House Bill 1394 (Houghton-D-Erie) providing for the splitting
off of farmland for the production of alternative energy was amended and reported from the
Senate Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee and was Tabled.

Land Conservation: Senate Bill 884 (Waugh-R-York) requiring proceeds from the sale of
certain state farms to the Agricultural Conservation Easement Purchase Fund was referred to the
Senate Appropriations Committee.

Nutrient Credit Trading: Senate Bill 767 (Vance-R-Cumberland) establishing the Nutrient
Credit Trading Program in law and creating a Nutrient Credit Trading Bank is in the Senate
Environmental Resources and Energy Committee.
Stormwater Funding: House Bill 2591 (George-D-Clearfield) authorizing funding for
stormwater management projects under PennVEST was passed by the House and is now in the
Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee for consideration.

Clean Water Fund: Senate Bill 1303 (MJ White-R-Venango) authorizing the use of the Clean
Water Fund to finance Black Fly and West Nile Virus suppression was referred to the Senate
Appropriations Committee.

Electronics Recycling: House Bill 708 (Ross-R-Chester) establishing an electronics waste

recycling program with program funding provided by registration fees was passed by the House
and is now in the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee for consideration.

Recycling Textbooks: Senate Bill 1379 (Musto-D-Luzerne) requiring the recycling of textbooks
(without funding) was referred to the Senate Appropriations Committee.

Open Space: House Bill 951 (Dally-R-Northampton) providing additional tools to acquire and
hold open space was referred to the Senate Appropriations Committee and Senate Bill
172 (Brubaker-R-Lancaster) further authorizing local governments to preserve, acquire or hold
land for open space purposes was also referred to the Senate Appropriations Committee.

Land Banks: House Bill 712 (J.Taylor-D-Philadelphia) providing for creating of land banks to
put properties back into productive use (no funding provided) was passed by the House and is
now in the Senate Urban Affairs and Housing Committee for action.

Traditional Neighborhood: House Bill 1609 (Freedom-D-Lehigh) further providing for the
definition of traditional neighborhood within the Municipalities Planning Code was reported
from the Senate Local Government Committee, Senate Appropriations Committee and was
Tabled.

Main Street Program: House Bill 102 (Freeman-D-Lehigh) extending the duration of Main
Street Program Grants was passed by the House and is now in the Senate Community, Economic
and Recreational Development Committee for action.

Landfill Penalties: Senate Bill 547 (Rafferty-R-Montgomery) providing penalties for repeat
violations of landfill regulations was referred to the Senate Appropriations Committee.

Historic Preservation: House Bill 42 (Freeman-D-Lehigh) providing for Historic Preservation

Grants (no funding provided) was passed by the House and is now in the Senate Community,
Economic and Recreational Development Committee for consideration.

Snowmobiles: House Bill 1171 (Hanna-D-Clinton) relating to snowmobile and ATV

registration and use of restricted account was passed by the House and is now in the Senate
Environmental Resources and Energy Committee for action.
Green Technology Testing: House Bill 2601 (Siptroth-D-Monroe) establishing the Green
Technology Implementation Act to provide for the testing of new environmental and energy
technologies (with no funding provided) was passed by the House but has not yet been referred
to the Senate State Government Committee.

Box Turtle: House Bill 621 (Curry-D-Montgomery) naming the Eastern Box Turtle as the
official reptile of the Commonwealth was passed by the House, was reported from the Senate
State Government Committee and Tabled.

House

Natural Gas Severance Tax: House Bill 1489 (George-D-Clearfield) authorizing a natural gas
severance tax was referred back and forth from the House Environmental Resources and Energy
Committee and is now in the House Appropriations Committee.
House Bill 2443 (Levdansky-D-Allegheny) imposing a natural gas production severance
tax depositing 45 percent in the General Fund, 22 percent in the Environmental Stewardship
(Growing Greener) Fund, 20 percent in a new Local Government Services Fund for counties and
municipalities in the drilling areas, 2 percent in the Hazardous Sites Cleanup Fund, 3 percent in
the Conservation Districts Fund, 2 percent to the Game Commission, 4 percent to the Fish and
Boat Commission and 2 percent to the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program is in the
House Finance Committee.
House Bill 2438 (D.Evans-D-Philadelphia) imposes a natural gas production severance
tax depositing 90 percent in the General Fund through June 30, 2011 and 10 percent in a
restricted account to be allocated as follows-- 50 percent distributed to municipalities in natural
gas drilling areas, 50 percent to counties in natural gas drilling areas to be used for road and
bridge repairs, parks and recreation, industrial and commercial development, improvement of
municipal water and wastewater systems, preservation and reclamation of surface waters and
other purposes relating to the consequences of natural gas development was amended and is in
the House Appropriations Committee.

Oil And Gas Wells Water Protection: House Bill 1155 (George-D-Clearfield) providing for
addition protection of surface rights owners and requiring compensation agreements with those
holding oil and gas well drillers and was referred to the House Appropriations Committee.

Protecting Water Supplies: House Bill 1205 (Pickett-R-Bradford) providing further protection
of water supplies from oil and gas drilling through pre-drilling water well surveys was reported
from the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee and referred to the House
Appropriations Committee.

Protecting Surface Landowners/Water Supplies From Drilling: House Bill 2213 (George-D-
Clearfield) amending the Oil and Gas Act to further provide for ground and surface water
protection (amended) and House Bill 2214 (George) providing for minimum oil and gas royalties
were reported from the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee and referred to
the House Appropriations Committee.
Farm-Drilling: Senate Bill 298 (Yaw-R-Bradford) allowing the split off of preserved farmland
for drilling purposes was amended and reported out of the House Agriculture and Rural Affairs
Committee and re-referred to the House Appropriations Committee..

Mineral Rights: House Bill 1436 (White-D-Allegheny) authorizing re-recording of subsurface

mineral rights by surface owner after 10 years of non-use was reported out of the House
Environmental Resources and Energy Committee and then referred to the House Rules
Committee.

Nutrient Trading: House Bill 1381 (DePasquale-D-York) establish the Nutrient Credit Trading
Program in law is now in the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee for action.

Stormwater Planning: House Bill 1390 (Freeman-D-Lehigh) authorizing local integrated water
resources plans was amended to allow local governments to avoid the mandate for stormwater
planning if the state does not provide its share of funding (no additional funding provided) and
reported from the House Local Government Committee and was referred to the House
Appropriations Committee.

Distribution System Improvement Funding: The House Consumer Affairs Committee

reported out House Bill 194 (Preston-D-Allegheny) providing for a DISC program for
wastewater systems and House Bill 744 (Solobay-D-Washington) providing for a DISC program
for natural gas systems. Both bills were referred to the House Appropriations Committee.

Electric Rate Caps: House Bill 20 (McCall-D-Carbon) phasing in electric rate increases was
amended and reported out of the House Consumer Affairs Committee and was referred to House
Appropriations Committee.

Commonwealth Energy Agency: House Bill 1909 (George-D-Clearfield) creating a

Commonwealth Energy Procurement and Development Agency and Fund (without funding) was
reported out of the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee and then referred to
the House Rules Committee.

Borough Electric Purchases: Senate Bill 168 (Brubaker-R-Lancaster) authorizing boroughs to

enter into energy contracts was reported from the House Local Government Committee and was
referred to the House Consumer Affairs Committee.

Alternative Energy/Carbon Network: House Bill 80 (Vitali-D-Delaware) and House Bill

2405 (DePasquale-D-York) expanding the Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards and
authorizing a carbon sequestration network (without funding) is on the House Calendar for
action.

Green Building Credit: House Bill 43 (Harper-R-Montgomery) establishing a high-

performance, green building construction tax credit (without funding) was amended and reported
out by the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee and then referred to House
Appropriations Committee.
Energy Star Tax Credit: House Bill 448 (M.Smith-D-Allegheny) providing for an Energy Star
rated glass tax credit (no funding provided) was reported from the House Environmental
Resources and Energy Committee and then referred to House Appropriations Committee.

Biofuels Exemption: Senate Bill 901 (Scarnati-R-Jefferson) would provide a one year
exemption from biodiesel mandates for small refiners was amended and reported from the House
Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee and then referred to the House Appropriations
Committee.

Ultra Low Sulfur/Bio Heating Oil: House Bill 2578 (George-D-Clearfield) including heating
oil in the ultra low sulfur and requiring a biofuels content just like diesel fuel was reported from
the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee and referred to the House Rules
Committee.

County Waste Management Fee: House Bill 1069 (Scavello-R-Monroe) authorizing a county
waste management fee was reported from the House Environmental Resources and Energy
Committee and was referred to the House Appropriations Committee.

Air Pollution Fines: Senate Bill 1250 (Pileggi-R-Delaware) requiring the sharing of air
pollution fines with local governments was passed by the Senate and is now in the House
Environmental Resources and Energy Committee.

Mining Fees: Senate Bill 1176 (D.White-R-Indiana), Senate Bill 1196 (D.White), Senate Bill
1197 (D.White) requiring mining permit fees to be adopted by regulation were passed by the
Senate and are now in the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee for action.

Non-Coal Permit Fees: Senate Bill 1394 (Eichelberger-R-Blair) requiring permits fees for non-
coal mining operations to be set by regulation was reported from the Senate Environmental
Resources and Energy Committee and Tabled.

State Parks Use: Senate Bill 974 (D.White-R-Indiana) directing DCNR to honor leases during
periods when State Parks or Forests are closed due to an action of the agency was passed
unanimously by the Senate and is now in the House Environmental Resources and Energy
Committee for action.

Water Trails: House Resolution 884 (Levdansky-D-Allegheny) directing the Joint Legislative
Budget and Finance Committee to study the economic impact of Pennsylvania's Water
Trails (without funding) is in the House Tourism and Recreational Development Committee
awaiting action.

Open Space: House Bill 1772 (Matzie-D-Allegheny) further authorizing local governments to
hold open space for preservation was amended and reported from the House Local Government
Committee and was referred to the House Appropriations Committee.
Sludge Testing: House Bill 1341 (George-D-Clearfield) requiring the testing of sewage sludge
(without funding) was referred to the House Appropriations Committee.

Blight: Senate Bill 900 (Argall-R-Schuylkill) providing for neighborhood blight reclamation and
revitalization (no funding provided) was passed by the Senate and is now in the House Urban
Affairs Committee for consideration.

Acceptable Data: Senate Bill 136 (Erickson-R-Delaware) requiring the submission of

acceptable data to the Independent Regulatory Review Commission to support regulatory
proposals (without funding) was referred to the House Appropriations Committee.

Environmental Advisory Councils/Geohazards: House Bill 1450 (Deasy-D-Allegheny)

transfers language relating to local environmental advisory councils and creates a geologic
hazards program (without funding) was amended and reported out of the House Environmental
Resources and Energy Committee and then referred to the House Rules Committee.

Hazardous Sites Reporting: Senate Bill 783 (MJ White-R-Venango) requiring additional
reporting on the Hazardous Sites Cleanup Fund was passed by the Senate and is now in the
House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee for consideration.

Air Quality Plans: Senate Bill 115 (MJ White-R-Venango) requiring publication of changes to
the State Air Quality Implementation Plan was passed by the Senate and is now in the House
Environmental Resources and Energy Committee for action.

DEP Special Funds: Senate Bill 116 (MJ White) requiring additional reporting by DEP special
funds was passed by the Senate and is now in the House Environmental Resources and Energy
Committee for action.

Keystone Fund: Senate Bill 117 (MJ White) requiring additional reporting for expenditures
from the Keystone Recreation, Park and Conservation Fund was passed by the Senate and is now
in the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee for action.

EQB Counsel: Senate Bill 85 (Musto-D-Luzerne) providing for an independent counsel for the
Environmental Quality Board (without funding) was passed by the Senate and is now in the
House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee for action.

Lyme Disease: House Bill 894 (Phillips-R-Northumberland) establishing a Lyme Disease Task
Force and assigning responsibilities to the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
(without funding) was reported from the House Appropriations Committee and is now on the
House Calendar for action.

GeoSpatial Coordinating Council: House Bill 2300 (Fairchild-R-Mifflin) creating the State
Geospatial Coordinating Council (without funding) was amended and reported from the House
Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee and re-referred to the House Rules
Committee.
Onorato, Corbett Differ On Marcellus Shale Natural Gas Production Tax

Democratic Gubernatorial candidate Dan Onorato this week said if a Marcellus Shale natural gas
production tax does not meet his priorities as Governor, he will ask the General Assembly to
redirect the revenue to restore cuts to the Department of Environmental Protection, create drilling
impact funds for local governments and fund a Growing Greener III program.
Republican candidate Tom Corbett has opposed a severance tax, but has said he would
use royalties now collected from drilling on state lands and existing fees to give to communities
being impacted by drilling.
Senate Republicans and House Democrats adopted a written commitment as part of the
state budget settlement in July to pass a severance tax by October 1.
NewsClips: Onorato Slams Corbett's Opposition To Drilling Tax
Onorato Slams Corbett On Drilling
Onorato: Make Gas Drillers Pay, Not Taxpayers
Onorato Decides To Back Shale Gas Extraction Tax
Marcellus Shale Severance Tax Coming Up
Think Tank Warns Of Gas Industry Tax Breaks
Editorial: Quick Disclosure On Natural Gas Political Contributions
Onorato Opposes Gasoline Tax, Vehicle Fee Hikes

PA Submits Draft Chesapeake Bay Plan To EPA, Budget Cuts Impair Effectiveness

Pennsylvania joined Maryland in submitting a draft Chesapeake

Bay Watershed Implementation Plan on time by the September 1
deadline this week, but Virginia asked for a two day extension.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency requires each
plan must assign nutrient and sediment loads by source sector:
agriculture, stormwater, wastewater treatment, forestry and
resource extraction and further by major drainage basins within the
Chesapeake Bay Watershed. In Pennsylvania this covers two-thirds of the state.
The Plan must show how Pennsylvania will achieve at least 60 percent of the required
reductions with controls to be put in place by 2017 and have all controls in place by 2025 to meet
the mandated nutrient and sediment reductions.
Sources Of Pollutants
In Pennsylvania's portion of the Bay watershed, agriculture contributes 59.8 million
pounds of nitrogen, 1.7 million pounds of phosphorous and 895,000 tons of sediment, making it
the largest contributor to nutrient and sediment loads.
Forests have the second highest contribution with 22.6 million pounds of nitrogen,
617,000 pounds of phosphorous and 249,000 tons of sediment.
In third place are wastewater treatment plants and other point sources with 12.7 million
pounds of nitrogen, 1.1 million pounds of phosphorous and 8,300 tons of sediment.
Urban and developed area stormwater contributes 6.7 million pounds of nitrogen,
378,000 pounds of phosphorous and 131,000 pounds of sediment.
 On-lot septic systems contribute 3.2 million pounds of nitrogen and no phosphorous or
sediment, according to the EPA model.
Air deposition results in 1 million pounds of nitrogen, 41,000 pounds of phosphorous and
of course no sediment.
Developing The Plan
The Department of Environmental Protection convened a stakeholder's group on March
31 to start working on the Plan.
Also in March the Chesapeake Bay Foundation issued a special report on Pennsylvania
efforts to cleanup the Bay watershed which concluded the state will have to double or triple its
efforts to install agricultural best management practices if it hopes to meet the aggressive cleanup
milestones established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Last month both the Chesapeake Bay Foundation and the PA Farm Bureau said more
resources are needed if Pennsylvania is to meet its commitment to reducing nutrient and
sediments.
The draft Plan submitted by DEP expresses concerns about how recent budget cuts have
reduced staff and funding to implement measures to reduce nutrient and sediment pollution.
Several examples include--

Growing Greener Watershed Funding: The Plan notes Growing Greener funding has all but
ended this year resulting in only $6 million available for grant rounds in 2010 instead of over
$35 million in previous years. (Pennsylvania has 19,000 miles of rivers and streams which do
not meet federal Clean Water Act water quality standards, according to DEP.)

Resource Enhancement and Protection (REAP) Farm Conservation Tax Credit: The Plan
notes in FY 2008-09 $10 million in credits were available, but that has been cut to $4.5 million
in FY 2010-11.

Compliance With Agricultural Requirements: "With current budget considerations, there is

no expectation that additional state funds for staff resources will become available in the near
term. Currently there are vacancies within the program at the state, regional and local levels
which are not expected to be filled."

Stormwater Program Compliance: "Appropriations for the state’s 75 percent cost share of
stormwater management planning and municipal implementation costs have been suspended due
to budgetary reductions, therefore no funding is currently available to support fulfillment of the
Act’s requirements."

Erosion & Sedimentation Controls: "With current state and local budget considerations, there
is no expectation that additional or increased funds for staff resources will become available in
the near term. Increased integration, efficiency, coordination, and cross-training of local, county
and state staff to enhance effectiveness in program implementation will be needed."

Forestry Technical Assistance: "Demands on their time have been intensified due to recent
budgetary and staffing cuts; CFM (service forester) staffing was reduced by 19 percent, resulting
in 15 full-time equivalents to provide technical support to 7 million acres of private forest land
across the 33 counties within the Bay watershed."

Forestland Conservation: "Funding for forestland conservation has come primarily from state
Growing Greener funds, Key ‘93 funds, and the Oil and Gas fund. These sources are in jeopardy,
either scheduled to expire soon, declining with the recession, or diverted to help balance the state
budget."

John Brosious, PA Municipal Authorities Association, said, "The Pennsylvania

Municipal Authorities Association (PMAA) supports the DEP Watershed Implementation Plan
as it applies to nutrient reduction at wastewater plants. PMAA represents many of the 184
impacted plants and has worked closely with DEP and other stakeholders to achieve equitable
reduction goals. We are pleased that the Wastewater Treatment Plan adopted as part of the
original Tributary Strategy, setting nitrogen limits at 6 mg/l and phosphorus limits at 0.8 mg/l,
was retained and included in the new Watershed Implementation Plan."
The final Watershed Implementation Plan is due to EPA on November 29.
A copy of Pennsylvania's draft plan is available online.
NewsClip: PA Plan To Reduce Pollution Going To Chesapeake Bay Released

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Senate/House Agenda/Session Schedule/Bills Introduced

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

Session Schedule
Senate Fall Session
September 20, 21, 22, 27, 28, 29, 30
October 12, 13, 14
November 18 (Ceremonial Session to Elect an Interim President Pro Tempore)

House Fall Session

September 13, 14, 15, 20, 21, 22, 27, 28, 29
October 4, 5, 6
November 8, 9, 10, 15, 16

Calendars

House (September 13): House Bill 80 (Vitali-D-Delaware) expanding the Alternative Energy
Portfolio Standards and authorizing a carbon sequestration network; House Bill 894 (Phillips-R-
Northumberland) establishing a Lyme Disease Task Force and assigning responsibilities to the
Department of Conservation and Natural Resources without funding; House Bill
2405 (DePasquale-D-York) which would increase the solar mandate provisions of the
Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards and provide for carbon sequestration facilities.

Senate (September 20): All items were Tabled.

Committees

House: the Consumer Affairs Committee holds two hearings, one on House Bill 1817 (Schroder-
R-Chester) adopting the Mid-Atlantic Natural Gas Pipeline Corridor Compact and a second
on House Bill 2619 (Preston-D-Allegheny) providing for municipality-based electric generation
aggregation in Bethlehem.

Bills Introduced

The following bill of interest was introduced this week--

Oil & Gas Well Permits: Senate Bill 1461 (Leach-D-Montgomery) further providing for
setbacks from water supplies, requiring municipal notification of permits, setting requirements
for well pad access roads, prohibiting well fracking in certain areas and making other changes.

Senate/House Bills Moving

The following bills of interest saw action recently--

Senate

Non-Coal Mining Fees: Senate Bill 1394 (Eichelberger-R-Blair) requiring permits fees for non-
coal mining operations to be set by regulation was Tabled
Green Buildings: House Bill 444 (M.Smith-D-Chester) setting standards for high performance
green buildings without funding was Tabled.

Energy Office: House Bill 786 (George-D-Clearfield) establishing a State Energy Office within
the Department of Environmental Protection without funding was Tabled.

Farmland Energy Production: House Bill 1394 (Houghton-D-Erie) providing for the splitting
off of farmland for the production of alternative energy was Tabled.

Traditional Neighborhoods: House Bill 1609 (Freeman-D-Lehigh) further providing for

traditional neighborhood development in the Municipalities Planning Code was Tabled.

News From The Capitol

Rep. Conklin Introduces Bill On Emergency Response At Oil And Gas Wells

Rep. Scott Conklin (D-Mifflin) this week introduced a bill designed to

enhance emergency response if needed at oil and gas wells in
Pennsylvania.
Conklin's legislation-- House Bill 2683-- would be similar, yet
Pennsylvania-specific, to that of U.S. Sen. Robert Casey (D-Pa) called the
Faster Action Safety Team Emergency Response Act, or FASTER.
"On the state level, my bill would involve the Department of Labor
and Industry," Rep. Conklin said. "We have drilling sites unique to
Pennsylvania and this would allow us to develop policies and regulations
that fit our mold.
"Two incidences immediately come to mind where this bill could have applied: the
Clearfield County blowout and the Indiana Township accident. Higher safety standards have the
ability to minimize potential hazards."
Under Rep. Conklin's bill, the Secretary of Labor and Industry could develop regulations
that would require an employee trained in emergency response to be present at the well during
exploration and drilling, require a certified response team to be based within one hour of travel
time from a well site, require contact with local emergency responders within 15 minutes and the
Department of Labor and Industry within one hour of the beginning of an emergency and
provide annual training for emergency personnel related to well-site hazards.
"Oil and gas well operators also would have to file an annual report with the department
of detailed information outlining the work of a response at each of their wells," Rep. Conklin
said. "In Centre County, we stand to benefit from this locally because the Mid-State Airport is an
ideal place to house an emergency response team. Its central location provides access to many
current drilling sites."

Rep. Eachus To DEP Secretary: Department Failed Hazleton Residents

 Rep. Todd A. Eachus (D-Luzerne) this week called on the Department of
Environmental Protection Secretary John Hanger to answer important
questions about a fourth permit application to fill abandoned mines in
Hazleton, noting that the DEP has failed to adequately inform the public at
an "information meeting" held earlier this week.
Rep. Eachus sent a letter to Secretary Hanger expressing his
frustrations with the DEP and its handling of permit applications by
Hazleton Creek Properties, LLC (HCP) to fill hundreds of acres of
abandoned mines in Hazleton.
He said the meeting held Tuesday at the Hazleton Area High School was a
disappointment to him and many of his constituents, because representatives from DEP could not
answer many of the questions posed to them about this fourth permit application by HCP.
"Given your department's continued failure to properly educate and inform the residents
of the Greater Hazleton area about this troubling proposal, I am writing directly to you for
answers to some important questions about this permit application and proposal," Rep. Eachus
wrote. "Surely someone in your department should have the requisite knowledge and background
on these issues to answer these pressing concerns. However, no one with such expertise was
present at this 'information meeting,' much to the chagrin of many of my constituents."
Rep. Eachus also took issue with the prominent role played by the developer's lead
spokesman, Mark McClellan, during the DEP's meeting. Instead of the state DEP running the
meeting, Eachus said it seemed as if the developer and McClellan were allowed to run the show.
In fact, he noted, DEP's representatives often evaded questions posed by the public, or
deferred them to McClellan to answer.
"What was billed by your department as an 'information meeting' was little more than a
choreographed public relations event – complete with a 10-minute promotional video by the
developer – intended to give the applicant a platform to sell its project to the public," Rep.
Eachus wrote to Secretary Hanger.
"Such deference to a developer, whose project would place potentially hazardous and
toxic materials in the ground, is both troubling and seemingly counter to your department's
mission," Rep. Eachus added.
Among the concerns listed by Rep. Eachus was the fact that the DEP representatives at
the meeting had no specific details of the permit application by HCP, nor could they elaborate on
the guidelines or requirements for the permit. In addition, the specific permit application,
WMGR125 is not listed on the DEP website.
"How could your department effectively inform the public about a permit application
without the very application being made available on your website or at the meeting?" he asked.
"I am growing increasingly skeptical of the department's ability to objectively review this
application."
Rep. Eachus said he remains concerned about the safety of dumping this proposed Flue
Gas Desulfurization Gypsum on a site where an experimental mixture of river dredge, fly ash
from coal plants, and construction and demolition waste has already been approved to fill the
mines.
He also raised concerns about the potential financial liability for taxpayers if something
goes wrong on the site and the developer doesn't have the financial resources to pay for the
clean-up.
 Rep. Eachus said he remains committed to job creation and economic development
projects in the Hazleton area and throughout Pennsylvania, but not at the expense of people's
health and safety.
"Public health and safety must come before developer profits," he said.
NewsClips: Eachus Leery Of Latest Material For Filling Mine Pits
Eachus Blasts DEP Mine Fill Info
Health Impact Of Mine Reclamation Project Questioned

Carbon Trading Subject Of September 27 Environmental Issues Forum

The forest products industry is one of Pennsylvania’s leading industries, and investing and
trading in the forest carbon market will be the topic of the Joint Legislative Air and Water
Pollution Control and Conservation Committee’s September 27 Environmental Issues Forum.
The forum will be held starting at 12:00 noon in Room G-50 of the K. Leroy Irvis
Building.
The guest speaker will be Matt Smith, Vice-president of Forest Operations for the Finite
Carbon Corporation, a forest carbon development company working with landowners in creating
and monetizing carbon credits and carbon offsets. Finite Carbon has offices in Wayne, Pa.
Smith’s presentation will focus on the forest carbon market - what it means, why it is
important and what its future looks like, as well policy development and federal policy
outcomes, trends and challenges in the market.
Rep. Scott Hutchinson (R-Venango) serves as Chair of the Committee and Sen. Ray
Musto (D-Luzerne) serves as Vice Chair.

News From Around The State

Keep The Promise Tour Reminds Legislators Of Commitment To Pass Severance Tax

Citizens for Pennsylvania’s Future this week announced it is

launching the “Keep the Promise Tour” across Pennsylvania to
make sure the General Assembly keeps its promise to pass a
Marcellus Shale natural gas production tax by October 1.
“A poll taken last week shows that nearly everyone in the
state agrees on one thing: the Marcellus Shale drillers must pay
their fair share,” said Jan Jarrett, president and CEO of PennFuture.
“The drilling companies are spending enormous amounts of
money to stop the severance tax. They have hired lobbyists of
every stripe – including former Gov. Tom Ridge – and are working hard to keep the voice of the
people from being heard.
"The drillers will make enormous profits from the natural gas they take from our land –
it's only fair that they pay a reasonable tax that will go to protect our environment and local
communities that "host" the drilling, fund our natural resource agencies, and help balance our
budget.
 “A poll taken last week shows that nearly everyone in the state agrees on one thing: the
Marcellus Shale drillers must pay their fair share,” continued Jarrett. “Three out of four voters in
both Pittsburgh and Philadelphia want the legislature to pass a severance tax. The support is even
stronger in rural areas, with 84 percent supporting the tax. Three out of four Republicans support
the tax, and 79 percent of Democrats want the tax passed. But we need to make sure that the
sheer number of lobbyists and available campaign cash from the drillers don’t blind the
legislators to the wishes of their constituents and the good of the Commonwealth.”
Tour Schedule
-- September 8 - Breakfast in South Hills (Pittsburgh), Allegheny County 8:00-10:00 a.m.;
-- September 9 - Town Hall in Jersey Shore, Lycoming County 7:00-9:00 p.m.;
-- September 10 - Breakfast in Scranton, Lackawanna County 8:00-10:00 a.m.;
-- September 13 - Breakfast in Gettysburg, Adams County 8:00-10:00 a.m.;
-- September 16 - Breakfast in Horsham, Montgomery County 8:00-10:00 a.m.; and
-- September 17 - Breakfast in Essington/Tinicum, Delaware County 8:00-10:00 a.m.
Can't join the Keep the Promise Tour? Follow us here, on Facebook or on Twitter.
There will be no onsite registration. Registration may be made online where a list of
speakers and the details for each stop are available, or by telephone at 717-214-7920.
NewsClips: Group Touring State To Push For Marcellus Gas Tax
Editorial: Severance Tax Must Be Priority #1 For Legislature

Fish & Boat Commission Executive Director To Make Case For Severance Tax

Fish and Boat Commission Executive Director John Arway will be the featured speaker at two
upcoming to discuss Marcellus Shale production severance tax on September 8 in Erie and
September 22 in Williamsport.
The September 8 event will be held at the American Legion Club at 4109 West 12th
Street, Erie starting at 7:00 p.m.
The September 22 event will take place at 7:00 p.m. in Room D-001 of the Academic
Center on the Lycoming College campus.
Mr. Arway will offer the Fish and Boat Commission’s perspective on the current and
potential impacts of Marcellus development to aquatic resources, fishing and boating. He will
explain the Commission’s role as it relates to enforcing pollution laws and advising on Marcellus
activities and make the case for enactment of the proposed severance tax.
He will also describe the authority to enforce water pollution laws vested in the
Commission as far back as 1909 and the important roles that Commission staff continues to play
in making sure that Marcellus and other projects are designed and implemented with as little
impact to the resource as possible.
Mr. Arway will explain how the Fish and Boat Commission wants to help the industry
protect our waters and habitats and comply with the environmental laws that the General
Assembly promulgates. Most people do not realize that the Commission relies almost entirely
on fishing licenses, boat registrations, and federal funding tied to fishing and boating to pay for
everything it does.
This includes trying to keep pace and stay ahead of the curve on the current and projected
impacts of Marcellus development to fishing, boating, and the resources the Commission is
entrusted to protect.
 In a sneak preview of his talk, Mr. Arway noted, “If we received a portion of a severance
tax, we could take a collaborative approach with both the industry and the other agencies that are
reviewing and advising on projects. Ultimately, we would like to have Commission staff in
position to spend the necessary time reviewing and commenting on projects, working in the field
with developers and other agencies and enforcing the water pollution laws of the Commonwealth
to make sure our resources are protected. I truly believe that the public expect that service from
us, and the resources under our jurisdiction depend upon it to survive.”

DEP, State Police To Step-Up Inspections Of Drilling Wastewater, Trash Haulers

The Department of Environmental Protection and the Pennsylvania State Police have agreed to
increase funding for inspections in the coming year that will ensure waste haulers are obeying
state laws.
The unannounced roadside inspections, commonly known as FracNet and TrashNet, have
removed hundreds of unsafe and illegally-operated waste vehicles from the roadways, including
trucks operating in support of Marcellus Shale gas drilling operations.
“Pennsylvania is one of the largest importers of trash from other states and has also seen
a dramatic increase in the number of vehicles hauling wastewater from Marcellus Shale drilling
sites,” DEP Secretary John Hanger said. “This partnership with the state police has proven to be
an effective method in addressing waste hauling safety and compliance issues throughout the
state, and in putting drilling operators and their contractors on notice that we expect them to
comply with our laws.”
The two agencies have signed a memorandum of understanding that provides funding to
the state police from the Waste Transportation Safety Account, which is supported by fees, fines
and penalties paid by the waste-hauling industry. The agreement will enable both agencies to
conduct roadside inspections with increased frequency and duration.
“We’re pleased to resume our working relationship with our counterparts in the DEP,”
said State Police Commissioner Frank E. Pawlowski. “This year’s agreement will allow us to
replicate and expand past enforcement operations as each agency shares the common goals of
removing violators from our highways, improving public safety, and decreasing the potential for
environmental hazards.”
In the first half of 2010, roadside inspections by the state police and DEP found that more
than 40 percent of the large trucks serving the Marcellus Shale natural gas industry were
operating in violation of state motor carrier safety regulations. Nationally, since 2006, the
trucking industry averaged only a 23-30 percent out-of-service violation rate.
In June, a three-day enforcement effort involving DEP, state police, the Pennsylvania
Public Utility Commission and the federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration focused on
trucks hauling waste water from Marcellus Shale gas drilling operations and resulted in 250
commercial vehicles being placed out of service for various vehicle safety deficiencies.
Under a similar interagency agreement in 2009, state police and DEP inspected more than
4,300 waste haulers along Pennsylvania roadways, placing 770 vehicles out of service and
issuing 2,654 traffic citations.
During FracNet and TrashNet enforcement operations, DEP inspectors check to ensure
that waste vehicles have proper signage and required authorizations, and that daily logs
specifying the origin and type of waste are accurate and up-to-date. Vehicles are checked for
weight and leakage, the presence of working fire extinguishers and to verify that loads are
properly enclosed and secured.
State police teams check vehicle braking systems, exterior lighting and other equipment
that plays a role in operational safety. They also check drivers for appropriate operator licenses.
NewsClip: DEP, State Police Increase Waste Hauler Inspections

Chief Oil & Gas Announces Voluntary Disclosure of Marcellus Shale Hydraulic Fracturing

Chief Oil & Gas LLC this week announced a voluntary disclosure initiative of Marcellus Shale
hydraulic fracturing additives to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and
West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection starting October 1.
"It is our hope that this voluntary disclosure of the additives used at each well site, along
with the volumes, dilution factors and classifications will help alleviate the public's concern and
increase the open, honest and transparent communication that has been a Chief value since its
start in 1994," said Michael Radler, Chief Operating Officer.
"The Marcellus Shale is an enormous opportunity for all who live miles above it and
Chief is fully committed to working to achieve the proper balance while developing this game-
changing U.S. natural gas resource. Our commitment includes working together with the
communities around our operations; respecting and protecting all natural resources; repairing,
sometimes in advance, the roads we travel with our trucks and equipment; a focus on hiring
locally which includes working with education and training initiatives and our decade-long
dedication to community outreach and education. To date, Chief has hosted or participated in
hundreds of community education events throughout the Marcellus Shale and has hosted more
than 200 field tours of Chief operations to showcase shale drilling and production."
For more information, visit the Chief Oil & Gas website.
NewsClip: Chief Oil & Gas Discloses Fracking Fluid Additives

USGS: 34 Counties Now In Drought Watch Condition

The USGS Pennsylvania Water Science Center this week reported

the number of counties in drought watch condition doubled from
10 to 20 in the last two weeks, according to the Palmer Drought
Severity Index. One county-- Carbon-- is in drought emergency
condition for groundwater sources.
The Department of Environmental Protection is the agency
charged with officially declaring a drought watch or emergency
and no drought watches, warnings or emergencies have been declared.
The counties with drought watch conditions using the Palmer Index include: Allegheny,
Armstrong, Beaver, Bedford, Berks, Blair, Bucks, Butler, Cambria, Cameron, Carbon, Centre,
Chester, Clearfield, Clinton, Dauphin, Delaware, Elk, Fayette, Fulton, Huntingdon, Greene,
Indiana, Lancaster, Lawrence, Lebanon, Lehigh, Montgomery, Northampton, Philadelphia,
Schuylkill, Somerset, Washington and Westmoreland.
The counties in drought conditions for surface water include: drought warning-- Fayette,
Monroe and Somerset; in drought watch-- Beaver, Berks, Carbon, Franklin, Fulton, Juniata,
Philadelphia, Schuylkill and Tioga.
 The counties in drought conditions for groundwater include: drought emergency--
Lawrence, Mercer; drought warning-- Carbon, Columbia, Lackawanna, Monroe and Pike;
drought warning-- Bradford, Dauphin, Juniata, Lebanon, Luzerne, Mifflin, Montour, Perry,
Sullivan, Union and Wyoming.
For current drought conditions, visit the USGS Pennsylvania Water Science
Center webpage. Visit DEP's Drought webpage for official drought declarations.

PennVEST Plans Mock Nutrient Credit Trading Auction September 15

The PA Infrastructure Investment Authority, working closely with the Department of

Environmental Protection and representatives of the Chicago Climate Exchange, plans to hold a
mock auction September 15 for nutrient credits.
During a mock auction for nutrient credits conducted last week, hypothetical contracts
were created for nearly 500,000 nitrogen and phosphorous credits in the Chesapeake Bay
watershed.
"Our mock auction, which included 25 participants, demonstrates serious interest in
nutrient credit trading in Pennsylvania's Chesapeake Bay watershed," said Paul Marchetti,
PennVEST executive director. "The mock auction was a significant step forward in our plan to
foster trades in the Bay watershed."
PennVEST is implementing a new initiative to encourage the trading of nutrient credits
within the Chesapeake Bay watershed to promote cost-effective solutions to the problem of
nitrogen and phosphorous discharges. These nutrients encourage algae growth in the Bay, which
ultimately reduces oxygen levels available for aquatic plants and animals.
There are many ways to reduce these nutrient discharges, including implementing
farming practices that reduce water runoff. Reducing discharges below certain levels creates
nutrient credits that farmers can sell to wastewater treatment plants, which must meet certain
permitted limits for these discharges.
By using the credits purchased through the auction, treatment plants can, in many cases,
meet their required discharge levels in a much more affordable way than by building upgrades to
their facilities.
PennVEST will encourage the trading of nutrient credits by acting as a clearinghouse in
the credit market. It will enter into contracts to both buy and sell credits. By participating in
these transactions, PennVEST will provide market certainty to both buyers and sellers which, in
turn, should help encourage more activity in this market.
One mechanism that PennVEST will employ to facilitate these trades will be to host
periodic auctions, starting this fall, in which buyers and sellers will participate simultaneously.
More information about the auction, visit the PennVEST Nutrient Credit Trading
Program or DEP's Nutrient Trading webpage.

USDA Awards Nearly $1.8 Million In Conservation Innovation Grants To PA Projects

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack recently announced the winning proposals for the 2010
Conservation Innovation Grants, among the 61 projects selected, six of them will directly benefit
Pennsylvanian.
 CIG invests in innovative, on-the-ground conservation technologies and approaches, with
the goal of wide-scale adoption to address water quality and quantity, air quality, energy
conservation, and environmental markets, among other natural resource issues.
"Creative solutions that help producers conserve natural resources and reduce costs are an
important part of our efforts to improve the quality of our air, water, and soil," said Noel Soto,
CIG program Coordinator for USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service. "The
Conservation Innovation Grants will produce far-reaching results on a wide range of issues,
including conservation management and bio-energy production, by facilitating the development
and adoption of new approaches and technologies."
NRCS administers CIG as part of the Agency's Environmental Quality Incentives
Program. Grants are awarded to state and local governments, as well as non-governmental
organizations and individuals.
Nationally, NRCS received 230 full proposals and awarded nearly $18 million in
Conservation Innovation Grants. Grant recipients provide matching funds to CIG bringing the
total value of the approved projects to more than $35 million.
Pennsylvania's six selected proposals include:
-- $503,000 to the National Center for Appropriate Technology for integrating sustainable and
organic agriculture into NRCS programs;
-- $225,000 to the Dairy Research Institute to implement a farm energy audit data collector
training program;
-- $147,000 to the Forest Guild to promote the adoption of innovative conservation practices for
sustainable forest biomass harvesting;
-- $600,000 to the World Resource Institute to build an online multistate water quality trading
platform and carbon estimating tool for the Chesapeake Bay watershed;
-- $284,000 to Cornell University for the adaptation of near-real-time high resolution climate
data to provide field-specific in-season Nitrogen fertilizer recommendations; and
-- $256,960 to the Pennsylvania State University to promote the adaptation of conservation
practices on small dairy farms without the need of government regulatory measures or subsidies.
For more information, visit the Conservation Innovation Grants webpage and the NRCS
Pennsylvania Office webpage for other assistance opportunities available to state landowners.

Penn State Ag/Environmental Center Sponsors September 21 Buffer Workshop

The Penn State Agriculture and Environment Center is sponsoring a Riparian Buffer and Stream
Ecology Workshop on September 21 from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in Elizabethtown.
This free workshop features one of the world’s foremost experts on stream ecology, Dr.
Bern Sweeney, Director, Stroud Water Research Center. Dr. Sweeney will present on stream
ecology and the functions and values of forest riparian buffers, with emphasis on their water
quality benefits.
The workshop will also include a field visit to a local buffer site and presentations and
discussion of buffer restoration programs and opportunities for streamside landowners in the
Conewago Creek watershed and beyond.
Who should attend? streamside landowners; Conservation District, NRCS, FSA, and
Cooperative Extension staff; municipal officials; planning commission members; EAC members;
park and recreation professionals and volunteers; land trust staff and volunteers; developers;
consultants; environmental educators; anyone who wants to learn more about improving the
water quality of our local streams!
The workshop will be held at St. Paul's United Methodist Church, 398 N. Locust St.,
Elizabethtown. Space is limited, so if you are interested in attending, please contact Matt Royer
by sending email to: mroyer@psu.edu or call 717-948-6459 to register today. Registration will
end September 10.

Applications For NOAA Chesapeake Bay Watershed Education Grants Due October 15

The NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office is now accepting applications for B-WET-- Bay Watershed
Education and Training Grants-- until October 15.
B-WET funds high-quality K-12 environmental education programs, fosters the growth
of new, innovative programs, and encourages capacity building and partnership development for
environmental education programs throughout the watershed.
For the formal notice and more information, visit the NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office
webpage.

York Watershed Alliance Sponsors Watershed Weekends In September, October

The Watershed Alliance of York and its member groups is sponsoring its annual Watershed
Weekends starting September 11 through October 5.
Watershed Weekends venues are indoors and outdoors fun for the whole family! Use our
convenient Watershed Weekends Guide to locate your watershed and venue nearest you. Guides
will also be available to the public at local libraries, municipal offices, York County ANNEX,
and from venue sponsors.
The Watershed Alliance of York is doing our part to help protect and restore the
Chesapeake Bay Watershed. The Chesapeake Bay is a national treasure constituting the largest
estuary in the United States and one of the largest and most biologically productive estuaries in
the world.
Restoration of the health of the Chesapeake Bay will require a renewed commitment to
controlling pollution from all sources as well as protecting and restoring habitat and living
resources, conserving lands, and improving management of natural resources, all of which
contribute to improved water quality and ecosystem health.
Come out and get to know your watershed and the people and organizations working hard
to restore and protect it. Watershed Weekends 2010 features 24 public venues. Venues include a
variety of hands-on conservation, environmental education, and stewardship activities, in York
County’s Watersheds.
For information, visit the Watershed Weekends 2010 webpage or contact Gary R.
Peacock at 717-840-7430.

Clinton CleanScapes Phase II West Branch Susquehanna Cleanup September 11

Clinton County CleanScapes and its partners are sponsoring a Phase II West Branch
Susquehanna Cleanup on September 11 in Woodward Township near Lock Haven.
 On July 17, 65 participants removed 6.67 tons of tires and 798 lbs. of man-made debris
from the West Branch Susquehanna River. At the western edge of The Great Island it is reported
that there are 65-135 more tires ready for removal. This is the only area that we plan to
concentrate our efforts-it is anticipated that we can finish this section during Phase II!
Waders, paddlers, flat bottom boaters and photographers are encouraged to consider
joining this unique recreational opportunity. To date, friends and family from Sunken Treasure
Scuba Center and Lock Haven University’s AmeriCorp/VISTA students have already committed
to joining this event. This is exciting-such a wide range of ages and abilities always creates a
unifying team building atmosphere!
Funding for this project is provided in part by the Clinton County Government, the
Wayne Twp. Landfill/Solid Waste Authority, PennDot District 2 and CCC supporting members.
For more information, contact Project Director Elisabeth Lynch McCoy at 570-726-3511
or send email to: clintoncountycleanscapes@yahoo.com.

Feature

Penn State College Of Ag Freshmen Spend Overnighter On Chesapeake Bay

Penn State offers new students nearly limitless options through its
Learning Edge Academic Program (LEAP), designed to help
freshmen interact with peers, take advantage of university
resources and ease the transition to the college life.
The College of Agricultural Sciences this year took the
LEAP idea one step further, providing students with an overnight
educational trip.
Ag LEAP focuses on agriculture, food and environmental ethics and issues. Students
enroll in the campuswide CAS 100A speech class and Ag 160: Introduction into Ethics and
Issues in Agriculture. Both courses feature sections comprised exclusively of Ag LEAP
participants.
It's no surprise then that Ag LEAP focused on the issues surrounding water quality in the
Chesapeake Bay watershed. When the opportunity to take an overnight trip to the Chesapeake
Bay arose, Karen Vines, Ag LEAP coordinator, jumped at the chance.
"We've always offered ag industry tours to demonstrate why our classroom discussions
are important," said Vines. "Over the years, Ag LEAP has evolved more and more into
approaching the issues surrounding agriculture, so that our tours don't simply demonstrate,
'These are happy cows,' but instead, ask, 'How do we keep producing happy cows?'"
The Chesapeake Bay visits were organized by Matt Ehrhart, executive director of the
Chesapeake Bay Foundation. The trip was funded through the Growmark Foundation's Glenn
Webb Education Fund.
The trip began on a Wednesday with a travel route that followed the Susquehanna River
to Havre de Grace, Md., where the Susquehanna empties into the Chesapeake Bay. There,
students met with several experts from the Chesapeake Bay Foundation and canoed around the
bay. Students first performed several water-quality tests for pH, dissolved oxygen content, and
nitrate and phosphorus concentrations.
 Afterward, they spent time spotting and catching wildlife by tying boats together and
wading into chest-high water exploring the grass beds. Nets yielded various examples of aquatic
life, but the highlight was a blue crab.
"The experts never remembered catching a blue crab so far inland at this time of year,
which is a positive indicator of the health of the bay," said Caleb Wright, an incoming freshman
and Ag LEAP student.
"It was a little windy, and the water was somewhat rough, but it was a successful day,"
said Vines. "Only one canoe capsized!"
After a full day of traveling, canoeing and enjoying the camaraderie, the Ag LEAP crew
spent the night in Lancaster. "Day two was on the land, looking at what contributes to the quality
-- or degradation -- of the water," said Vines.
Thursday morning they traveled to the National Novelty Brush Company, where they
climbed stairs to observe the "green" roof installed on the building. A green roof features plants
that absorb rainwater to reduce stormwater runoff, cool the building during the summer, add an
extra layer of insulation during the winter, and offer the prospect of growing food.
The group then traveled to Franklin and Marshall College to learn about that college's
sustainability projects. Penn Staters were primarily shown the college's porous pavement project,
which allows runoff to seep through the pavement into the gravel and soil below, reducing
stormwater runoff.
After lunch, the Ag LEAP students toured Brubaker Farms, a dairy farm in Mount Joy,
Pa., that works to incorporate modern sustainable technologies in its daily operations. Luke
Brubaker, who manages the farm with his sons, was selected as Farmer of the Year for 2005 by
Country Folks magazine. He currently serves on the Pennsylvania Milk Marketing Board and in
other leadership positions in the agriculture industry. Brubaker Farms is also a Chesapeake Bay
Program Farm.
Brubaker Farms is noted for its innovations, which include solar panels mounted across
its heifer barn that supply enough energy for 120 houses. The farm also features a manure
digester, which captures the methane created during anaerobic decomposition to power a
generator.
These two operations enable the farm to sell nutrient and carbon credits as far away as
Ohio, allowing for extra income. And all operations must improve cash flow -- no unprofitable
enterprise will be added -- so the Brubakers can showcase emerging technologies as a real-world
adaptable option for farmers.
"We were in a wagon touring the farm, wondering where the solar panels are, when we
finally realized that they're on the roof," said Vines. "They're very unobtrusive -- you really have
to look to notice where they are."
Freshman Wright noted that not only do the Brubakers use technology to improve cow
comfort, feed efficiency and barn cleanliness, but they use science and research within the
confines of practical dairying. "And they're able to be good stewards of the land while still being
a successful dairy," he said. "Being able to talk with Mr. Brubaker, a wealth of knowledge who
was proud to be a dairy farmer, made the trip even better."
In addition to viewing the energy-generating components of the farm, the students toured
the farm's entire dairy operation and its two broiler chicken houses.
 The final stop on the trip was the Jim Hess Farm, a grass-fed beef operation that featured
both wind turbines and solar panels. The primary interest at the farm is its forest buffer and
stream bank reclamation project, which helps protect water quality.
Ag LEAP students said they enjoyed spending two days of hands-on experiential learning
out of the classroom. This trip afforded an opportunity to learn about one of the region's largest
environmental concerns and offered exposure to several different methods of farming.
"The trip was great fun -- we were not only able to see the bay, but observe some of the
practices being implemented to help preserve it," said Wright. "And for those of us who had
never seen the Chesapeake Bay, this was a really unique opportunity to see it for the first time."
For more information, visit the PA Chesapeake Bay Foundation webpage.

Heat Wave Again Imperils Upper Delaware Trout

The summer season is ending the way it began, with the upper Delaware River’s wild trout at
peril from rising water temperatures. Friends of the Upper Delaware River is again calling on
officials to respond to this emergency by ordering additional releases of cold water from the New
York City reservoirs that feed the river.
“We are going to relentlessly keep the pressure on the water bureaucracy until they use
some common sense to deal with this recurring crisis,” said Al Caucci, FUDR vice president and
a legendary flyfisherman, guide and author. “All they need to do is open the spigot to allow more
life-sustaining cold water to flow from the reservoirs. There is plenty of water to go around.”
On Monday, as water temperatures on the river soared to 70 degrees in places, the New
York City reservoirs were 75 percent full overall, with Roundout at 94 percent of capacity and
the Croton system at 86 percent.
Water temperatures were expected to go even higher as air temperatures in the Hancock,
N.Y., area were forecast to reach the 90s through the week. The river stretch from Hancock
downstream to Lordville, N.Y., is regarded as the heart of the Delaware’s wild trout fishery.
Trout are subjected to potentially lethal stress when water temperatures rise above 68
degrees. The aquatic insects essential to keeping the trout healthy are at risk, as well.
FUDR is issuing its third water temperature “Crisis Alert” of the summer. Temperature
spikes in late May and a sustained heat wave after July 4th took a deadly toll on the brown and
rainbow trout that thrived in the Delaware’s main stem for more than 100 years.
Caucci says it has become abundantly clear that this federally designated National Wild
and Scenic River has been subjected to mismanagement by the Delaware River Basin
Commission, the multi-state entity charged with overseeing the system. Also to blame is the New
York City Department of Environmental Protection, which has extraordinary influence with the
DRBC.
Water temperatures are based largely on the volume of cold-water releases from the
bottom of reservoirs, and protocols for the rates of release are spelled out in the so-called
Flexible Flow Management Program, approved in 2007 by the commission.
FUDR has long been a critic of yo-yo water releases from the New York City reservoirs,
which often flow heavy when trout need it least and are throttled down to a trickle when the fish
need it most. FUDR advocates a common-sense release plan that would benefit the wildlife as
well as those who live on and visit the river for recreation.
 The simple solution, supported by environmental groups and fishery experts, is a steady
release of water that will keep the water temperature below 68 degrees at Lordville.
FUDR and other interested parties have suggested a minimum flow rate of about 600
cubic feet per second out of Cannonsville Reservoir into the West Branch of the Delaware from
April through September. Currently, the flow rate often is throttled back to about half that.
Even those who devised the flow plan now admit its shortcomings, but the water
bureaucracy has refused to make the adjustments it knows are needed.
At the very least, the bureaucrats must devise a new water-release agreement that
includes a rational emergency response mechanism to deal with these inevitable heat crises.
“It's time, once and for all, to revamp and modernize the management plan to take into
account the health of the river corridor, its fish life and the millions of folks who live here,” said
Joe Demalderis, an upper Delaware River flyfishing guide and FUDR board member.
FUDR is urging the river’s residents, fishing enthusiasts, those who use the river system
for recreation, and those in the region who earn a living from outdoors tourism to contact their
elected officials or the DRBC to let them know that they value a healthy river and oppose the
flawed flow plan.

LandStudies Names New President, Announces Organizational Restructuring

LandStudies, an environmental restoration design / build firm based in

Lititz, announced the realignment of the organization by appointing Kelly
Gutshall, RLA, ASLA president of the firm.
Gutshall, a registered landscape architect has designed and
managed projects with LandStudies since 1988.
The announcement coincides with strategic rebranding efforts
centering around innovative water resource management and sustainable
design. LandStudies' "Green Masterplan" is a creative approach in which
unique "green" solutions are integrated into a site plan to address environmental challenges.
Examples include stormwater management Best Management Practices (BMP), stream
and floodplain restoration, native landscape design, groundwater recharge, watershed planning
and the emerging field of nutrient credit trading.
"I am very excited to have the opportunity to lead our dynamic organization and our
outstanding team," said Gutshall. "LandStudies has a great reputation as a leader in the
environmental restoration industry and the new initiatives build upon this extensive experience to
address the many emerging environmental challenges facing our communities."
With the company relaunch, LandStudies has reorganized its structure and staff to
provide the diverse expertise needed to support the company's new direction. As the premier
organization in developing and implementing innovative cost-effective solutions to
environmental challenges, LandStudies will continue to provide full service design/build
approaches to meet client needs.
LandStudies also recently achieved certification as a Women's Business Enterprise
(WBE) through the Pennsylvania Department of General Services (DGS) and Woman-Owned
Business (M/W/DSBE) with the City of Philadelphia Office of Economic Opportunities.
This process is designed to confirm that the business is at least 51 percent owned,
operated and controlled by one or more women. By achieving WBE certification, LandStudies
will have the opportunity to do business with organizations that purchase from WBE-certified
companies.
In addition, LandStudies also announced the launch of a new website. The site features a
sleeker design with a new navigational interface that will provide visitors with faster access to
information and improved ease of use.

Eastern Coalition For Abandoned Mine Reclamation's New AmeriCorps Volunteer

The Eastern PA Coalition for Abandoned Mine Reclamation this week named Wren Dugan to
the position of Watershed Community Development Coordinator for the coming year.
The Watershed Community Development Coordinator serves to enable EPCAMR's
success along with its supporting organizations by building public awareness and involvement
through educational outreach and community revitalization projects.
The volunteer position is cost-shared between EPCAMR, the Corporation for National
Service, and the Appalachian Coal Country Watershed Team, under the direction of the Federal
Office of Surface Mining.
Wren will also assist with water monitoring, watershed research, and developing projects
necessary to help secure EPCAMR additional organizational funding to keep the small staff of
two full-time and fully operational and self-sustaining.
Wren holds a B.F.A. from Edinboro University of PA, where she served as Managing
Editor of the internationally-award winning art and literary journal, allowing her to build
experience with fundraising and events planning, and volunteer organization.
With more than a decade of experience with educational programming for children and
youth, her personal investment with family roots in Bradford County, and a passion for all things
environmental make her an enthusiastic advocate for the reclamation of lands effected by
abandoned mine drainage.
"With Wren's skills in fundraising, marketing, and previous work with children and
youth, we feel that she is going to bring those sets of much needed assets to our organization
over the next year to help us move forward, during these economic hard times when finding
funds, in the non-profit world, are hard to come by," said Robert Hughes, EPCAMR Executive
Director.
"EPCAMR has just recently begun to update our strategic plan for our organization
looking forward three to five years down the road, and Wren is coming in at a time when her
ability to help us sort out some of those strategic implementation goals and objectives are going
to crucial to the future success of our organization's development."
In June 2011, EPCAMR will be celebrating its 15th year of existence as a regional non-
profit environmental organization that has become a state-wide leader in the fight to reclaim
abandoned mine lands and to restore streams impacted by abandoned mine drainage.
"Wren is going to be able fulfill the role of that third full-time staff person that will be
able to help us put together our first 15th Anniversary Dinner and Fundraiser, before her term of
service is up next August," said Hughes.
For more information, visit the Eastern PA Coalition for Abandoned Mine Reclamation
website.

Opportunity To Bid On DEP Mine Reclamation Projects In Butler, Schuylkill Counties

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice of the opportunity to bid on mine
reclamation projects in Butler and Schuylkill counties.

Appalachian Outdoors, ClearWater Conservancy Hosts Environmental Film Festival Sept.

23

Appalachian Outdoors, State College’s premier outdoor specialty retail shop, is once again
hosting the Wild and Scenic Environmental Film Festival on Tour at the Mount Nittany Middle
School in State College on September 23 from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
All proceeds from local sponsorship and ticket sales will benefit ClearWater
Conservancy, a Centre County-based nonprofit land trust and natural resource conservation
organization.
The Wild and Scenic Film Festival was conceived by a California watershed advocacy
group (the South Yuba River Citizens League (SYRCL)) in 2003 and has since flourished into
the largest film festival of its kind in North America.
In 2004, environmental groups started asking if they could bring the festival to their
community, and gradually a touring version of the Wild and Scenic Film Festival developed
from outside interest. Five years later, the tour now visits over 90 communities nationwide.
The Wild and Scenic Film Festival on Tour aims to provide grassroots environmental
organizations with a unique means for generating local environmental activism.
“The films tell a story about our planet, highlighting issues, providing solutions and
giving a call to action,” says Tour Manager, Susie Sutphin. “Their collective energy empowers
communities to initiate conversations that can bring about compromise and collaborative efforts
that positively impact our wild places.”
The evening will provide a special opportunity for the local community to see award-
winning films that highlight a wide array of environmental issues and stories.
From “Ascending Giants,” a film that follows tree-lovers Brian and Will as they find and
climb Oregon’s largest Sitka Spruce trees, to “Split Estate,” which examines the consequences
and conflicts that can arise between surface land owners and those who own the energy and
mineral rights below, the Wild and Scenic Film Festival on Tour showcases a diverse assortment
of film genres and environmental issues.
This year’s Tour includes the 2010 Wild and Scenic Jury Award-winning film “No
Impact Man.” “No Impact Man” is a feature-length film that follows a newly self-proclaimed
environmentalist who leaves behind his liberal complacency and vows to make as little
environmental impact as possible for one year.
His espresso-guzzling, retail-worshipping wife and their two year-old daughter are
dragged into the fray, and what began as one man’s environmental experiment quickly becomes
an experiment in how much one woman is willing to sacrifice for her husband’s dreams.
“No Impact Man” provides both a front-row seat into the experiment that became a
national fascination and media sensation, and a behind-the-scenes look at the marital challenges
that result from one couple’s radical lifestyle change.
The event is hosted by Appalachian Outdoors to benefit ClearWater Conservancy.
Tickets will cost $8 if purchased in advance and $10 if purchased at the event. Tickets can be
purchased at Appalachian Outdoors or ClearWater Conservancy.
 For mail order tickets, call ClearWater Conservancy at 814-237-0400. For more
information about the event and to view a movie trailer from “Low Impact Man” or the
Conservancy visit the ClearWater Conservancy website.

Allegheny Land Trust To Release Sycamore Island Plan September 9

Allegheny Land Trust will hold a public meeting on September 9 at 6:30 p.m. at Sylvan Canoe
Club in Verona (132 Arch St.) near Pittsburgh to release the preliminary findings of the
Sycamore Island Management Plan.
The public is encouraged to attend the meeting to give feedback on the findings and to
learn more about volunteer opportunities.
The Management Plan, completed by Applied Ecological Services, will provide ALT
with specific scientific findings and suggested recommendations for the best use of the island.
These recommendations focus on providing safe, interesting and educational access to the island
for the public including designs for a low impact trail that allows visitors to experience the
internal spaces of the island without harming the unique habitat.
Sycamore Island is a 14-acre island located in the Allegheny River near Blawnox that
was protected by ALT in 2007. Sycamore Island hosts a unique floodplain hardwood forest –
among the most rare plant community types globally.
The Allegheny County Natural Heritage Inventory included Sycamore Island as part of
the “Allegheny River Biological Diversity Area” which has a ranking of “High Significance.”
The mission of Allegheny Land Trust is to help local people save local land that
contributes to the scenic, recreational, educational and environmental well being of our
communities.
Most recently, ALT’s Board of Directors has adopted a strategic plan that calls for the
implementation of the ALT GREENPRINT – a regional land conservation plan and map of
conservation priorities that provide the greatest public benefit. Since its incorporation in 1993,
ALT has protected over 1,500 acres in 21 municipalities in Allegheny and Washington
Counties.
To learn more, visit the Allegheny Land Trust website or call 412-741-2750.

Western PA Conservancy Purchases Key Property Within Bear Run Nature Reserve

The Western Pennsylvania Conservancy has recently purchased a

25.5-acre property that WPC considers critical to the long-term
protection of the Bear Run Nature Reserve in Fayette County.
The acquired land was already completely surrounded by Bear
Run, and will help maintain the pristine quality of the Bear Run
watershed and the quality of the visitor experience in this remote area
for years to come.
Located in the Laurel Highlands, the 5,100-acre Bear Run
Nature Reserve is home to black bears, bobcats and 53 species of
breeding birds. Visitors enjoy hiking on its 20-mile trail system,
backcountry camping, hunting, fishing, bird and wildlife watching and
nature study.
 The reserve also provides the setting for WPC-owned Fallingwater, the famous house
designed for the Kaufmann family of Pittsburgh by architect Frank Lloyd Wright.
The newly acquired property is located on a relatively steep slope that drains into Bear
Run stream, and is situated in the most remote eastern portion of the reserve—accessible only on
foot. It will remain in an undeveloped state, open to the public for low-impact recreational
activities.
The property’s former owners had expressed an interest in developing this one remaining
private parcel in this remote part of the reserve for a second home or retirement residence.
Development of this site could have negative impacts on the water quality of the stream
due to sediment and erosion related to road building and site preparation, trees being harvested
during clearing as well as any nutrient runoff related to on-lot septic necessary to service
residences. Any development would have increased the likelihood of establishing non-native
invasive species in the heart of the reserve.
Realizing the impacts of such development within the reserve, the Conservancy acquired
the land using funds provided by generous benefactors. Part of the purchase was funded through
a significant bequest from a longtime WPC member who designated her support for the
acquisition of natural areas. The remaining funds were made available in the form of a no-
interest loan from a WPC member-couple.
“The Bear Run Reserve is an important place because it provides a protected landscape of
5,000 acres in the Laurel Highlands, but also because it provides the pristine setting for
Fallingwater that makes the visitor experience such a special thing,” said Thomas Saunders,
WPC President and CEO.
“The Conservancy works on an ongoing basis to expand and protect the reserve. Adding
this 25-acre parcel in the heart of it means that this remote part of the reserve will stay intact,
without development. Anyone who has hiked into this back, interior, part of the reserve knows
that this area should stay undisturbed and natural forever,” Saunders added.
Bear Run Nature Reserve is designated as an Exceptional Biological Diversity Area and
the Conservancy has managed it as a natural area for the past 50 years. One of the reserve’s most
prized features is Bear Run, an Exceptional Value Stream and a Pennsylvania Scenic River that
supports wild brook trout and other aquatic life. Through WPC’s land protection efforts, the Bear
Run Nature Reserve encompasses almost 70 percent of the Bear Run watershed.
The Western Pennsylvania Conservancy, a private nonprofit organization, protects and
restores exceptional places throughout Western Pennsylvania through a range of projects and
programs. To date, WPC has conserved more than 228,000 acres of land for the benefit of people
and wildlife through purchase, conservation easements and other means.
WPC also improves rivers and streams through watershed restoration projects carried out
with volunteers and grassroots organizations.

PA's First Long-Term Forest Assessment Finds Challenges Ahead

A first-ever, federally required review shows Pennsylvania's woodlands will face future
challenges requiring continued planning and management, State Forester Daniel Devlin said this
week.
"Pennsylvania is blessed with abundant forests providing many values and benefits to
society, from clean air and water to wood products, biological diversity, recreational
opportunities and scenic beauty," said Devlin. "However, there are many challenges to
conserving these forests. We can only be successful by working strategically and collaboratively
with our partners and stakeholders."
"Overall, Pennsylvania's forests are 'sustainable,' but we need to keep our 'eye on the ball'
on certain issues to ensure this trend continues," said Devlin, citing forest-condition indicators
featured in the report.
Some of the concerns Devlin cited include invasive plant and insects; white-tailed deer
impacts; forest loss and fragmentation; energy development; and overall forest health and tree
diversity.
The state forester's comments came at the completion of a statewide forest assessment
performed as part of a national effort toward protecting and sustaining healthy forests—an effort
Devlin termed "essential steps" to safeguarding Pennsylvania forests for future generations.
DCNR's Bureau of Forestry documented state, and privately owned forests, and
formulated strategies for their long-term sustainability, as well as future management goals and
initiatives. The Statewide Forest Resource Assessment and Strategy is prescribed by the U.S.
Department of Agriculture's Forest Service and is required every five years under the 2008 Farm
Bill in order to ensure continued funding for Pennsylvania's forestry programs.
"Besides meeting federal requirements, the bureau is using this process to undertake a
holistic, long-term evaluation and strategic planning effort for Pennsylvania's forests," Devlin
said. "The completion of these Farm Bill requirements is the first step of this longer-term,
continuous endeavor, including updating the bureau's strategic plan—Penn's Woods—which was
developed and adopted in 1995."
The assessment provides an analysis of forest conditions and trends in the state, and
identifies priority rural and urban forest areas and issues, Devlin said. Strategies, meanwhile,
provide long-term plans for addressing needs identified in the assessments through state agency
initiatives, federal investments and partner engagement.
"The Bureau of Forestry will be seeking additional stakeholder involvement in
developing annual work plans to address the assessment and strategies," Devlin said. "Our
conservation partners and stakeholders were essential in shaping this document and will continue
to play a role in identifying and implementing strategies and opportunities."
The bureau's Assessment and Strategy records compiled a wealth of information on
Pennsylvania's forests and strategies for addressing key forest sustainability issues, including
forest health, forest management, climate change, communicating natural resource values,
energy development, wild land fire and public safety, plant and animal habitat, and recreation
and quality of life.
The process was guided by three national priorities: conserve working forest landscapes;
protect forests from threats; and enhance public benefits from trees and forests. Using public
input, local expertise and the best available data on forest conditions, the documents also
incorporate existing forest management plans, including state wildlife action and community
wildfire protection plans.
For details, visit the PA Statewide Forest Resource Assessments and Strategy webpage.

Spotlight
Loyalsock State Forest Hosts Best Forest Practices Tour

In mid-August the Bureau of Forestry’s Loyalsock forest district

played host to the Bradford-Sullivan Forest Landowners
Association’s “Endless Mountains Forestry Best Management
Practices” tour.
The event—funded through a grant from the USDA Forest
Service—was designed to engage forest landowners, conservation
leaders, government officials and elected representatives with the
management challenges and opportunities of forest management on privately owned land.
“Most of Pennsylvania’s forests are privately owned,” said Nancy Baker, president of the
Bradford-Sullivan Forest Landowners Association. “If we want to sustain our forest, we have to
look to private forest landowners. They are truly the face of forestry in Pennsylvania.”
The more than 50 attendees embarked on a day-long tour of the Loyalsock region’s
forests, including privately owned land, Worlds End State Park, Loyalsock State Forest, and
Laporte Borough’s community forest.
Participants were shown areas where federal cost-sharing funds helped a private forest
landowner establish a new crop of trees, a practice that will provide public benefits in clean air
and water, wildlife habitat and economic values.
Along the way, the group discussed the best management practices to control for erosion
and sedimentation; the importance of urban tree canopy cover; the Envirothon program; and
biomass energy opportunities through the “PA Fuels for Schools and Beyond” program.
The tour led the group to the Rusty Wheel timber sale in Loyalsock State Forest. There,
DCNR foresters explained to participants the challenges of regenerating Pennsylvania’s forests
and how the agency, through its practices and policies, ensures a healthy forest for the future.
“Through our practices on state forest land, we hope to serve as an example of
sustainable management across the region,” said Joe Dotzel, assistant district manager.
The tour ended at the Loyalsock Forest Resource Management Center in Dushore, where
tour organizers led a discussion about the challenges and opportunities in managing the region’s
private forest resource, and how government and forest conservation organizations can work
together to make that happen.
“Today reinforced to me the importance of private forest land,” said Ed Zygmunt, field
representative for U.S. Representative Christopher Carney. “It was very helpful to see how our
federal dollars are being spent to improve conservation on the ground.”
Mike Lester, Assistant State Forester with the Bureau of Forestry, capped the discussion
with a call for cooperation in conserving our forests.
“No one organization can do it alone,” Lester said. “We have to work together—across
government agencies, conservation organizations and private industry—if we want to have any
chance at keeping our forests healthy and sustaining them for future generations.”

(Reprinted from the DCNR Resource online newsletter.)

Latest PA Urban Forestry Newsletter Now Available Online

The PA Community Forests Program now has available the latest issue of its Urban Forestry
News online.
The Urban Forestry News in an effort to communicate with municipalities, shade tree
commissioners, community volunteers, non-profits, and the green industry. Each year, two to
four issues of the newsletter were mailed to over 14,000 people across the Commonwealth and
country.
With rising costs, shrinking budgets and the new digital age we all live in, it seemed like
the time to move to a digital newsletter and save resources.
Click here to download newsletter. Click here to sign up for electronic delivery.

TreeVitalize Coupons Available For Trees In Midstate

Looking to plant a tree this Fall? The DCNR TreeVitalize

Program in Central PA has available coupons good for $15 off the
purchase of a tree you can plant at participating nurseries in
Cumberland, Dauphin, Lancaster, Perry and York counties.
Click here for details and to find a participating nursery.

Online Video: Meet The Barkleavies In This Entertaining Series By iConservePA.org

Four trees, one different kind of family. Follow Bud, Chlorophyllis, Ace,
and Pinelope as they grow wiser, facing the challenges and opportunities
confronting trees and forests.
Whether you laugh, wince, or cry, there’s something to learn in
every zany, monthly episode. The Barkleavies truly are a family tree with
issues!
And learn about things like Old Growth Forests, pruning, using trees as buffers as and
much more at iConservePA.org website.

Philadelphia Fish For Fun Fest Set For September 11

The 7th Annual Philly FUN Fishing Fest will be held on September 11 from 7:00 a.m. to 11:00
a.m.
This free event is sponsored by the Philadelphia Water Department with the support of
the Fish and Boat Commission, Schuylkill River Development Corporation, and Philadelphia
Parks & Recreation.
The event gives people the opportunity to fish the banks of the Schuylkill River and
experience the great outdoors in the middle of a busy city. The event is open to all skill levels
and ages. There will be prizes, fun activities for kids, and fishing skills instruction. A limited
supply of bait and rods will be available.
 Participants age 16 and older are not required to possess a fishing license during this
event. Come join us!
Registration is required. For more information and to register, visit the Philly FUN
Fishing Fest webpage or call 215-685-6300.

Cast Your Ad In The 2011 Fish & Boat Summary Book

What do more than one million licensed anglers in Pennsylvania do before their first cast of the
season? They pick up a copy of the Fish and Boat Commission’s Summary of Fishing Laws and
Regulations.
Businesses who want to reach those anglers should act now to reserve advertising space
in the 2011 Fishing Summary Book. Interested advertisers should contact Outdoor Sales &
Marketing Group, Inc. at 1-800-564-6818 for rate and placement information.

Pennsylvania's First Nature Inn Opens At Bald Eagle State Park

Doors opened this week at the Nature Inn at Bald Eagle, the
first facility of its type in Pennsylvania's nationally recognized
state park system, offering visitors modern accommodations
and an up-close experience with nature.
"Our vision was to expand the range of overnight
accommodations in our state park system to attract new
visitors," Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
Secretary John Quigley said. "You can now stay the night at a primitive tent site, a yurt, camping
cottage or modern cabin, or have modern conveniences provided at the Nature Inn, depending on
your preference.
"As a southern entrance point to the 12-county Pennsylvania Wilds, this Nature Inn will
welcome people to a region known for its wealth of state parks and forests and opportunities for
wildlife watching and many other outdoor adventures," Secretary Quigley added.
Secretary Quigley said new visitors may include busy families staying closer to home and
taking shorter vacations; visitors who are looking for modern amenities in their overnight
accommodations; extended families taking advantage of multiple overnight choices at the park;
businesses or organizations looking for a different kind of retreat or meeting locale; and people
with disabilities.
"Along with offering a good night's rest, we also are demonstrating stewardship and
conservation by connecting guests to outdoor activities in the park and showing them 'green,'
energy efficient building features and how to collect and use rainwater," Secretary Quigley
added. "We will have accomplished our goals if visitors develop a love of bird-watching and
therefore work to protect habitat, or try out one of the 'green' features in their own homes."
Each of the inn's 16 rooms is named for a different bird and features coordinating prints
by artists John James Audubon and Ned Smith.
"One reason Bald Eagle State Park was chosen as the first location for a nature inn was
the terrific wildlife-watching opportunities at the park that result from its ridges, valleys and
diverse habitat that attract many bird species," Secretary Quigley said.
 Every spring, songbirds including warblers, flycatchers and swallows, display courtship
rituals and sing enchanting melodies while searching for nesting spots in the park. Boaters and
beach-goers commonly see herons, gulls, geese and osprey around the lake. In the fall, visitors
can find migrating mergansers, cormorants and buffleheads on the lake.
Secretary Quigley said the 18,500-square foot inn also demonstrates the use of
environmentally friendly architecture and green technology, and explains it to visitors.
Green features include: a high efficiency geothermal heating and cooling system; solar
collectors to heat water for showers and laundry; five rain barrels and four large cisterns to
collect and harvest rainwater for flushing toilets; low-water-use plumbing fixtures and high
efficiency lighting; Pennsylvania hardwoods from certified sustainable forests that were used in
the structure, finishes and furnishings; and direct access to hiking and biking trails to enable and
encourage healthy interaction with park resources.
Featuring several works of art by local artisans including a large stained-glass window of
a bald eagle, and butternut wood fireplace mantels and oak frames in the guest rooms, the inn
will display artisan products and connect people to the Pennsylvania Wilds Artisan Trail.
DCNR has contracted with an innkeeper, Charlie Brooks, to handle general operations
and provide guest services, while the park staff will be responsible for buildings and grounds
maintenance.
Reservations can be made through the existing State Park reservation system.
Rooms include a microwave, refrigerator, cable TV, DVD player and Internet access.
Breakfast is provided with an overnight stay.
Bald Eagle State Park is located in Centre County, not far from Interstate 80. The inn is
approximately a 3-hour drive from Pittsburgh; slightly longer from Philadelphia.
For more information, visit the Nature Inn at Bald Eagle website or call 814-625-2879.

Game Commission to Hold State Game Land Tours For Public

As part of the Game Commission's efforts to highlight its ongoing habitat improvement
initiatives, the public is invited to take part in upcoming tours of several State Game Lands
between September 25 and October 17. All tours are free.
"State Game Land tours provide the opportunity for those who enjoy nature to come out
and talk with our employees – the people who are directly responsible for managing and
protecting these lands," said Carl G. Roe, Game Commission executive director. "With autumn
nearly here, these tours will provide a chance to see some of the best scenery the Commonwealth
has to offer. These tours afford hunters and trappers and others who appreciate wildlife the
opportunity to see how the Game Commission is spending hunting and furtaker license fees to
acquire and to manage these lands for wildlife."
Roe noted that staff shortages and limited financial resources forced a reduction in the
number of State Game Land tours this year.
"Recognizing the benefit of the tours, the agency has maintained some tours," Roe said.
"It was a difficult decision to scale back on the number of tours we offer this year. However,
the agency's current financial situation required that we make tough choices."
Here is the schedule-- Elk County - September 25; McKean County - September 26;
Bradford County - October 3; Clarion County - October 6; Bedford/Blair Counties - October 10;
Luzerne/ Wyoming Counties - October 10; Somerset County - October 17; Berks/Schuylkill
Counties - October 17; and Dauphin/Lebanon Counties - October 17.
Details on each tour location are available online.

Feature

From Woods And Waters, At ECO Camp Paths Lead Students To Higher Learning

Punctuated by the occasional popped wheelie, and prerequisite

group photo shoot at every tumbling waterfall, the five-mile
bicycle trip took the 20 students down a shade-dappled path to a
little fun—and a lot more learning.
(Photo: Environmental Education Specialist Ian Kindle
unlocks mysteries of the stone formation that once was a canal lock
alongside the Lehigh River.)
On this day in late July, Lehigh Gorge State Park served as yet another daily classroom
without walls. The Industrial Revolution came to life as young campers scrambled amid remains
of a canal lock and heard how a former waterway helped fuel an emerging nation. The first-time
park visitors heard so much more that day:
How the coal that once was king took a deadly toll on the Lehigh River rolling before
them, and how that waterway since has been reclaimed to now offer fishing, boating and dozens
of scenic vistas;
How the 4,548-acre state park snaking through Carbon and Luzerne counties was
preserved and protected by the unified efforts of local citizens, conservancies and the
Department of Conservation and Natural Resources;
How each year sees more bicyclists, hikers, boaters and anglers drawn to the clean river
and the steep, hardwood-covered slopes that shade and protect it.
Welcome to Day 6 of the ninth annual Environmental Careers Outdoors (ECO) Camp, a
highly successful educational effort that has steered hundreds of young people to the woods and
waters around them. Assertiveness, confidence, an unquenchable thirst for answers, these are the
character traits the students’ mentors have been polishing over the course of a one-week camp
stay. Throw in the ability to make friends with others from all walks of life.
Then, add in a willingness to try anything new outdoors and you have just a few basic
elements of that highly successful DCNR effort known as ECO Camp.
Are they working? Visit 16-year-old Rachel Bailey at Shippensburg Area High School
where she’s beginning her junior year. She’s ready to tackle new challenges, overcome old fears,
she says, thanks to a newly instilled confidence found at ECO Camp:
“I was really, really scared to go canoeing the one day, but after the instruction and being
out there on Beltzville Lake with everyone, I was able to overcome my fears,” Rachel recalled.
“Yep, after that one day, I like being out on the water a lot more now.”
The young lady, who now aspires to careers as a naturalist, or teaching environmental
science at the high school level, says the camp stay helped shape her career goals and honed
social skills for the upcoming social melting pot that is college life.
 “Always, I knew I wanted some type of career in the environmental field, but camp really
helped me focus—not only on my true interests, but also the many career opportunities that are
out there,” Rachel said. “There is so much to be said for mixing it up with young people with all
types of different backgrounds. Every part of the state is different, and it’s so interesting to learn
what they see and experience just by talking.
“I have to say for the very first time ever in my life, I experienced the pleasure of being
molded into group that was just so comfortable with each other and easygoing.”
And that, says DCNR Secretary John Quigley is exactly the intent.
“For nine summers now, ECO Camp has been most successful at honing an awareness of
the outdoors and the variety of related careers available to young people,” said Secretary
Quigley. “With interest comes respect and a quest for learning, and with that education comes a
willingness to protect and preserve our natural world.”
Surrounded by the natural beauty that is the PA Wilds, Tom Yanak of St. Marys had that
outdoors interest fueled at a very young age. Still, the young man sought career direction as he
prepared to enter his senior year at Elk County Catholic High School:
“I know I plan to go on for schooling for a career in forestry or construction,” Tom said,
“and I think ECO Camp helped narrow my idea of what I want to do after high school. My
favorite camp activity was the forestry program and wildlife presentations.”
And what was that one “take-away” thought that stayed with him after the final daily
excursion from the Kirby Episcopal House and Chapel in Glen Summit, Luzerne County?
“I learned that there are a lot of different kinds of people, and just because you’re not a
country person does not mean you can’t be interested in the outdoors. The staff at Kirby House
and others from DCNR are very nice, knowledgeable people, and they never stopped trying to
develop that interest.”
For DCNR, entrusted with overseeing our state’s park and forestlands, the ECO Camp
effort is a natural:
“These young campers always have represented a very unique pool of intelligence, spirit
and commitment to environmental improvement,” Secretary Quigley said. “The camp is a
worthy investment in both their future and that of our natural resources, and DCNR staffers
proudly support it.”
Confidence is infectious at ECO Camp. So, too, is encouragement to pursue choices.
That’s what the camps have offered no less than 350 young men and women since 2002 as they
bring students together with the men and women who start their days as foresters, biologists,
park managers, wildlife and waterways officers and geologists.
Sometimes, campers like Alex Wall, 16, are inclined to come back—and serve as camp
student leaders. A junior at Eastern Lebanon County High School, Alex said two years at ECO
Camp fueled his quest for a future career in viticulture or microbiology.
“Attending camp gave me so many different options and knowledge of other careers,”
Alex said. “Also, it’s always an interesting experience just talking to people from the opposite
end of the state who do things other things than what I do, yet still enjoy many of the same things
I do.”
Parting thought? “I truly hope DCNR always will have funding to continue offering ECO
Camp, to continue to offering the same experiences I enjoyed to other young people across the
state.”
 Always, camp emphasis is on drawing diverse groups of student from Pennsylvania’s
largest cities and its smallest villages. Inquisitive minds and a love of nature are the catalysts that
consistently meld students of different ethnic and cultural enthusiastic about exploring more of
our state parks and learning more about the environment of Pennsylvania.
The ultimate goal of each camp is to introduce 20 to 25 students to conservation and
environmental careers, and encourage their pursuit. From stream sampling of fish and aquatic
life, to forestry skills, daily activities are planned to get students out in the field to meet and
observe environmental professionals.
It’s also an excellent place to have fun. Some campers immerse themselves in scouring
rocky ledges for fossils at Beltzville State Park; others savor the adrenalin rush of Lehigh
Gorge’s whitewater. Usually, area state parks supply the venues, their natural resources, and the
excitement.
Throughout their week, campers have the chance to ask plenty of questions and are
exposed to a wide range of career experiences, including water quality assessments, geology
field studies, and overnight camping experiences. There are daily opportunities to meet and talk
with conservation professionals about career opportunities.
Offered without charge, instruction and activities are overseen by specialists and officials
of DCNR’s bureaus of state parks, forestry, and topographic and geologic survey. Selected
students usually are from grades 10 through 12.
After the camps, attendees will have a chance to seek internships, and mentoring and job-
shadowing positions, and return as future camp leaders.
For ECO Camp enrollment applications and information, send email to:
ECO_Camp@state.pa.us or write to ECO Camp Coordinator, Bureau of State Parks,
Environmental Education and Information Division, P.O. Box 8551, Harrisburg, PA
17105-8551; or telephone 717-783-4356.

(Reprinted from the DCNR Resource online newsletter. More ECO Camp photos available
online.)

New Issue Of Environmental Ed Connections Available From PCEE, Join Website Testers

The September Environmental Connections newsletter is now

available from the PA Center for Environmental Education.
PCEE is looking for a few good readers to help beta-test our
(drum roll, please) newest website! If you are interested in checking
out our new site and completing a brief survey in the next two months,
send an email to: melissa.reynolds@pcee.org. Completed survey responses will be eligible to
win a $50 gift certificate to Randy's Books, "the best books on nature & the environment."
Here are just some of topics covered in the newsletter--

General News: PA DEP's Marcellus Shale Newsletter Now Available, Federal Grants Boost
Pest and Invasive Controls on State Lands, New Integrated Pest Management Resources
Highlighted
K-12 News: PROP's 'GreenSylvania' Competition Registration Opens Sept. 1, 'Al the Can'
Invites Followers to Social Media Websites, 'Year of Forests' Activity Released from Project
Learning Tree, Websites Help Make Walking and Biking to School a Way of Life

Higher Education News: Dickinson College Ranks Second in Greenest Schools Contest,
Summit Produces AASHE’s 'Call to Action' Report

Professional Development for Educators: Pittsburgh Zoo Hosts PA Amphibians and Reptiles
Workshop,REEC Offers PRC Climate Change Workshop, NAAEE’s 39th Annual Conference
Comes to Buffalo, N. Y.

Other Professional Development: Green Building Product Summit Features Leading Experts,
Rodale Organic Gardening Workshops Offered this Fall, Brownfields Conference Planned for
Allentown

Grants/Awards: Applications Accepted for Watershed Restoration Projects, Pennsylvania

Game Commission Wildlife Grants Available, Funding for Chesapeake Bay Watershed
Education

Contributions welcome! The Center receives news and information from a variety of
sources across Pennsylvania and beyond. We appreciate all of the organizations, agencies and
individuals who provide EE services and share their relevant information.
If you would like to contribute to future issues of EE Connections, please submit your
article before the 15th of the month. Articles should be of statewide interest and are subject to
space availability.
Share EE Connections! If you know of others who would appreciate receiving EE
Connections, please complete the online form or call 724-738-9020. To see all of the resources
available on the PCEE website.

PA Environmental Education Center Question Of The Week For Students, Teachers

One of the Pennsylvania Center for Environmental Education's more

popular online activities, "Question of the Week," returns this month to
educate and entertain Pennsylvanians for another semester.
Providing thought-provoking questions and information about
Pennsylvania's environment, each week's question highlights a current or
seasonal topic. The questions target students in grades 4 – 10, and are
aligned with the Pennsylvania Environment and Ecology Academic
Standards.
Teachers, encourage your students to participate every week to win an award. Questions
are posted every Monday.
Visit the PCEE Question of the Week webpage for more information.

Call For Presentations: 2011 PA Assn. Of Environmental Educators Conference

The PA Association of Environmental Educators have issued a call for presentations for their
2011 annual Conference on March 17-19 at Antiochian Village in Ligonier.
Click here to download proposal form (Word document).

Philadelphia Expands Recycling Program

Mayor Michael A. Nutter heralded the expansion of the City's Recycling Program to include all
household plastics containers labeled #3 through #7.
The Streets Department's Sanitation Division now collects these household materials as
part of its weekly, single stream recycling collection. Residents are able to add these items to the
recyclables they set out along with paper, glass, metal, cardboard, #1 and #2 plastics already
collected at curbside.
The event was held on the 2600 block of S. Chadwick St. in South Philadelphia, the
region of the city with the highest recycling diversion rate (the amount of recyclable materials
that are diverted away from landfills), 30 percent.
The addition of #3 through #7 plastics supports Philadelphia's goal of becoming the
"greenest" city in America. For FY '10, the City's diversion rate was 15.7 percent, meaning that
99,445 tons of waste had been recycled rather than landfilled. That is a 32 percent increase in
recycling rates over FY '09.
The City's recycling rates continue to rise. In July 2010 the City diverted 16.8 percent of
its waste or 9,544 tons. This reflects a 12 percent increase in the recycling rate over the same
month last year. Every ton of waste diverted from landfills saves the City approximately $68.
The City is also paid $51 per ton for recycling, resulting in a benefit of more than $100 per ton of
recycling to the City's budget.
"Recycling really is green. Not only is it better for the environment, but recycling
actually earns the City money," said Mayor Nutter. "Now that residents can recycle plastics #3 to
#7 as well, the benefits to both everyday citizens and the City as a whole will only grow."
"We are excited to provide another opportunity for Philadelphia to collect and divert even
more valuable commodities from our waste streams," said Streets Commissioner Clarena I.
Tolson. "The City continues to save more and now it is even easier for residents to recycle more
materials."
Increasing the amount of materials accepted for recycling is an important step towards
achieving the goals established in GreenWorks, the City's plan to make Philadelphia the most
sustainable city in America, of diverting 20 percent of the City's waste by 2011 and 25 percent
by 2015.
The expansion of the City's single stream recycling program to include these additional
materials will help the City achieve and hopefully exceed those goals.
To learn which items are recyclable and acceptable for City collection, residents can look
for the plastic products code, usually on the bottom of the container. Typical #3 through #7 items
are listed below:
-- Rigid plastic containers and juice bottles;
-- Squeezable lotion and sunscreen tubes;
-- Plastic tubs and lids from butter/margarine, yogurt containers, deli trays;
-- Plastic cups, plates and clear to-go containers;
-- Mixed plastic containers usually labeled as "other;"
In addition to the household plastics, residents can continue to recycle certain types of
metal, glass, mixed paper and cardboard:
-- Metal: tin and aluminum cans, empty aerosol cans and empty paint cans;
-- Glass: jars and bottles;
-- Certain types of mixed paper: newspaper, magazines, mail (junk and personal), phone books,
food boxes (remove plastic liner), computer paper, flyers, wrapping paper (no foil or plastic
wrap), soda and beer cartons;
-- Cardboard: empty and flattened;
-- Materials still not accepted for recycling collection include styrofoam products, plastic bags,
PVC piping and packing inserts or "peanuts."
Almost every household plastic and consumer packaging product found on store shelves
are now accepted for collection in the City of Philadelphia. Residents can set out more
recyclables and earn even more rewards by participating in the Philadelphia Recycling Rewards
Program.
The program allows residents with City provided recycling collection to earn points that
can be redeemed for discounts, full-value gift cards or charitable contributions at hundreds of
local and national stores.
The full citywide rollout of the Philadelphia Recycling Rewards Program was completed
in July and ensures valuable rewards and savings for every Philadelphian with city recycling
service.
To learn more about the city's newest additions to its Recycling Program and to sign-up
for Philadelphia Recycling Rewards Program or call the Philadelphia Recycling Rewards
Customer Affairs Unit at 1-888-769-7960.
For more information on how to recycle, please contact the Streets Department Customer
Affairs Unit at 215-686-5560. For all City services, please call 3-1-1.

Lehigh Valley Zoo Closes The Recycling Loop With New Exhibit

The Lehigh Valley Zoo is promoting green living among both children and adults of
Northeastern Pennsylvania. They have done so by instituting a new exhibit at their zoo in
Schnecksville, P1.
They have invited Rita Lacey from her business Close the Loop, LLC to come and create
a recycling exhibit. The exhibit consists of all recycled products that are available from Close
The Loop in the Poconos. It features products such as glass mulch, glass sand, plastic fencing,
tire swings, and much more.
Some people may not know quite what some of these products are. They may hear glass
sand and wonder how that is safe, or how it is made. The same goes for glass mulch and plastic
fencing. The bottles are crushed and tumbled making the products very safe for home or business
use. There’s even a sandbox at the exhibit for children to play in (and it is filled with the glass
sand!).
There’s also a walkway with glass mulch, a swing set with tire swings creatively shaped
into animals, and a set of plastic fencing made locally in Saylorsburg, Pa from 400 gallon sized
milk jugs. A fire pit area is a gathering spot for educational talks with flames shooting out of the
vibrant blue colored glass mulch. This exhibit is open for all to see now.
 The recycling exhibit will help to enforce the fact that we all need to take a bigger step
towards a greener way of life.
You are welcome to go see this new exhibit at the Lehigh Valley Zoo any time. Not only
will you get to see this exhibit when you visit, you will also see many animals such as camels,
kangaroos, prairie dogs, emus, bison, elk, and many other animals. Just go take a look and you
will have a great time!
Visit the Close the Loop and the Lehigh Valley Zoo websites for more
information. (written by Mae Lacey)

EPA, Air & Waste Management Assn. Offer Clean Air Transport Rule Webinar
September 10

The Pittsburgh-based Air & Waste Management Association will host a webinar September 10
at 11:30 a.m. featuring U.S. Environmental Protection Agency air quality officials who will
provide detailed information and insight into the new Clean Air Transport Rule.
Sam Napolitano, Director, Clean Air Markets Division for EPA’s Office of Air and
Radiation, and Richard Wayland, Director of EPA’s Air Quality Assessment Division, will
discuss CATR in depth, offering insight and instruction to participants in A&WMA’s “Urgent
CAIR: EPA’s New Clean Air Transport Rule (CATR)” Webinar. Neal Fann, EPA Air Quality
Benefits Analyst, will present information on the projected benefits of CATR implementation.
“The new Transport Rule, which replaces 2005’s CAIR regulation, will impact 31 states
and the District of Columbia” said Jeffry Muffat, A&WMA 2011 President Elect and Manager
of Environmental Regulatory Affairs for 3M Environmental Operations. “Because the new rule
has facets that vary by state and region, EPA and A&WMA are looking to provide specific
education to those responsible for managing air pollution reductions.”
CATR requires new emissions reductions of ozone precursors and fine particulate matter
from fossil-fuel power plants. CATR calls for cuts to begin in 2012, with a goal of reducing
nitrogen oxides (NOx) by 52 percent and sulfur dioxide (SO2) by 71 percent of 2005 levels by
2014.
The “Urgent CAIR: EPA’s New Clean Air Transport Rule” Webinar is open to both
A&WMA members and non-members. Registration and pricing information for the CATR
Webinar is available online.

DEP OKs General Permit For Fill Project At Former NJ Zinc Plant In Palmerton

The Department of Environmental Protection this week granted approval to Phase III
Environmental of Lehighton for the beneficial use, controlled placement and monitoring of
regulated fill at the former New Jersey Zinc West Plant in Palmerton Borough, Carbon County.
"The company addressed concerns the department detailed during our review of their
application, including compliance with our regulated fill management policies and procedures
for identifying sources of the fill material and ensuring it meets our criteria," said DEP Northeast
Regional Director Michael Bedrin.
Under state General Permit WMGR096, regulated fill will be used to meet site cleanup
standards and allow for the redevelopment of this Brownfields site. The company will meet all
DEP limits for metals and organic chemicals in the fill material.
 DEP is also requiring the company to develop a site-wide grading plan to delineate the
placement of the fill, which the company estimates will require an increase in overall elevation
by 10 to 15 feet with the placement of four to six million tons of regulated fill material.
Phase III Environmental will work under an agreement with CBS Operations Inc. and
Northface Development LLC to implement DEP's Act 2 Land Recycling Program standards and
EPA's One Cleanup Program. This will include the necessary engineering controls for the
placement of fill and capping, and conducting groundwater monitoring on the property.
The Carbon County Conservation District has approved the company's erosion and
sedimentation control plan and DEP has issued a stormwater control permit for the first phase of
the project.
Their proposal indicates that it may take 10 or more years to develop the site using the
regulated fill material and allow for the subsequent redevelopment of the property, construction
of buildings and installation of utilities.
NewsClip: Zinc Brownfield Gets DEP Permit

New Jersey Adopts Ultra Low Sulfur Standard For Cleaner, More Efficient Heating Oil

New Jersey this week followed New York in adopting an ultra low sulfur standard for cleaner,
more efficient heating oil making it the same as diesel fuel.
Pennsylvania is also considering legislation and the PA Department of Environmental
Protection proposed a regulation to adopt the same 15 ppm ultra low sulfur standard.
Adopting the rule in Pennsylvania will mean the state's 1.2 million heating oil customers
about $86 million a year, or the equivalent of 14 cents per gallon in more efficient fuel use and
the reduced need for furnace cleaning.
New York adopted the 15 ppm standard with a deadline for compliance of July 1, 2012.
The issue is now truly bipartisan and regional with a Republican Governor in New Jersey
following a Democratic Governor in New York in taking the same action.
“This rule is an important component of New Jersey’s plan to reduce air pollution and
improve public health and welfare, which are priorities of the DEP, ’’ said NJ Department of
Environmental Protection Commissioner Bob Martin. “This will markedly reduce sulfur dioxide,
particulate and nitrogen oxide emissions, making New Jersey a much healthier place to live.
“At the same time, we have provided a strict but reasonable time frame to allow industry
to be able to install new equipment and prepare to meet these new standards. This is a win for all
sides.’’
A new maximum sulfur content standard of 500 parts per million for home heating oil
and lighter grade fuel oil will take effect on July 1, 2014, and a second phase of more stringent
standards to reduce sulfur to 15 parts per million will take effect on July 1, 2016. That is down
from current maximums of 2,000 to 3,000 parts per million.
In moving to adopt tougher sulfur standards, New Jersey joins an effort undertaken by
many other Mid- Atlantic and Northeast states in a regional strategy to reduce air pollution, said
Commissioner Martin. New York, Connecticut and Maine recently passed legislation mandating
a 15 parts per million home heating oil standards, while Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Maryland,
New Hampshire, Vermont, Delaware, Rhode Island and the District of Columbia also are
considering sulfur reductions.
 Under New Jersey's new rules, home heating oil must be as clean as ultra low sulfur
diesel fuel currently available for diesel vehicles. This also will make home heating oil as clean
as natural gas and enable the use of high efficiency condensing furnaces, which can significantly
reduce oil use by about 10 percent, saving money for persons who buy such furnaces.
The amended sulfur rules will be published in the New Jersey Register on September 20.

Governor Announces Alternative Energy Projects, Trims Changes To Portfolio Standards

Gov. Rendell this week announced $20.5 million in state and federal investments that will create
1,400 jobs in the rapidly expanding clean energy industry. At the same time he again urged the
General Assembly to pass an expansion of the state's Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards, but
said only the portion related to increasing the mandates for solar energy.
The funding will benefit 40 diverse energy projects that will generate or save the
equivalent of more than 10 billion kilowatt hours of electricity over their lifetimes. That's enough
energy to power 1 million average homes in Pennsylvania for one year — and reduce carbon
emissions by nearly 9 million tons, which is the equivalent of removing 1.5 million passenger
cars from the roads for one year.
"A few years ago, projects like these existed only in theory. Today, they are a reality,"
said Gov. Rendell. "They benefit Pennsylvania's consumers by generating and saving electricity,
driving down utility rates, making additional projects more affordable and feasible, while
stimulating the economy by creating manufacturing and employment opportunities, attracting
private investments and making our environment cleaner."
The Governor noted that the state investment provided through the PA Energy
Development Authority, will also leverage more than $211 million in private funds, generating a
10-to-1 return on investment. Since 2005, PEDA has invested more than $99 million in 201
projects which have generated more than $883 million in matching funds.
Funding for the projects came from the Growing Greener II bond issue (which he noted is
out of money), federal economic stimulus funds and a settlement involving Duquesne Light.
A list of projects funded is available online.
Portfolio Standards
He also stressed the need to increase Pennsylvania's clean energy portfolio standards,
saying higher standards will translate into even more jobs and economic development for the
state — just as the first Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards law did.
The House has had Alternative Energy Portfolio Standard legislation-- House Bill
80 (Vitali-D-Delaware) and House Bill 2405 (DePasquale-D-York) expanding the Alternative
Energy Portfolio Standards and authorizing a carbon sequestration network (both without
funding)-- on the House Calendar since July 2 of 2009 without being able to bring the bills to a
vote.
NewsClips: Ultra-Poly Corp Receives $775,000 State Energy Grant
Curwensville School Wins $575,000 Energy Grant
Dauphin County Alternative Energy Projects Receive Funding
Midstate Clean Energy Projects Net State Grants

Environmental Heritage
DCNR At 15: Kinzua Railroad Bridge

At 301 feet, the Kinzua railroad bridge was the fourth-tallest

railroad bridge in the United States. Rebuilt in 1900 to replace the
original iron bridge, the new steel bridge carried the Erie Railroad
over the Kinzua Valley in McKean County to support the nearby
coal industry.
By the ‘50s, steam locomotives had stopped using the
bridge, and the state purchased the bridge and surrounding land in 1963 to create a state park. In
1975, improvements were made to the park, and beginning in 1987, excursion trains used the
tracks and bridge for sightseeing tours. In 2002, the bridge was closed for repairs.
But on July 21, 2003, as repairs were underway, a severe thunderstorm moved through
the area. At the park, it spawned an F1 tornado, that cut a swath of destruction through the park
and 3 and a half miles beyond.
Touching down right near the bridge—with perpendicular winds of around 94 mph—the
ancient bolts supporting the steel towers were no match for the load-shifting, and the bridge
failed around 3:30 p.m. No one was on the work site at the time, but the destruction was
widespread.
The towers remain down to this day; while reconstruction of the bridge is currently too
costly, improvements are planned to enhance visitors’ views of the wreckage—and the
remaining parts of the bridge that survived Mother Nature.
Click here for more of the story. (Reprinted from the DCNR Resource online newsletter.)

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.

September 13-- Natural Biodiversity Photo Contest

September 17-- DEP Growing Greener, Flood Protection Grants
September 24-- The Sprout Fund Western PA Biodiversity Grants
September 24-- Game Commission State Wildlife Grants
September 30-- DEP Recycling Performance Grants
September 30-- PROP GreenSylvania School Recycling Contest
October 1-- Friends Of The Wissahickon Photo Contest
October 15-- DEP Coastal Zone Management Grants
October 15-- NEW. NOAA Chesapeake Bay Watershed Education & Training Grants
October 22-- PEMA Volunteer Fire Company, Ambulance Service Grants
October 25-- DEP Power Plant Air Pollution Control Technology Grants
ASAP-- NRCS Health Forest Reserve Program Grants
December 31-- Fish & Boat Commission 2010 Photo Contest
February 15-- PennVEST Water Infrastructure Funding
June 30-- DEP Nitrogen Tire Inflation System Grants
Other Funding Programs
-- DEP PA Sunshine Solar Energy Rebates
-- CFA High Performance Building Financing (Program Link)
-- CFA Solar Energy Financing (Program Link)
-- CFA Geothermal, Wind Energy Projects (Program Link)

-- Visit the DEP Grants and Loan Programs webpage for more ideas on how to get financial
assistance for environmental projects.

Quick Clips

Here's a selection of NewClips on environmental topics from around the state--

Budget
Corbett Primed To Cut Spending, Even It It Costs
Onorato: Make Gas Drillers Pay, Not Taxpayers
Onorato Decides To Back Shale Gas Extraction Tax
Marcellus Shale Severance Tax Coming Up
Natural Gas Tax Plan Suggested
Op-Ed: School Districts Would Benefit From Marcellus Shale Tax
Op-Ed: Proposed Marcellus Shale Taxes Detrimental To Everybody
Editorial: Tax Will Not Hamper Marcellus Shale Drillers
Editorial: Severance Tax Must Be Priority #1 For Legislature
Editorial: Quick Disclosure On Natural Gas Political Contributions
Onorato Opposes Gasoline Tax, Vehicle Fee Hikes
Op-Ed: PA Roads Hit Dead End Without Funding
Other
PEC Recognizes Lycoming County Planner
Allegheny Front: Next Generation Of Conservationists
Green Way To Recycle Electronics
PA Coal Plants Face Big Changes Under Planned EPA Pollution Rules
Op-Ed: A Break For Breathing In PA
Editorial: U.S. Steel's Upgrade At Clairton Gets Better
Editorial: Hybrid Plant, Pie In Sky?
A Green School Blooms In Millcreek
East Lycoming Schools See Green Projects
Schools, Towns Doing Their Part Going Green
Editorial: Let More Sun Shine In
Energy Saving Equipment To Save Allegheny County $2 Million
Dauphin County Alternative Energy Projects Receive Funding
Philly Navy Yard Mini-City Of Energy Innovation
Fed Grants To Aid Homeowners With Energy Costs
Ultra-Poly Corp Receives $775,000 State Energy Grant
Curwensville School Wins $575,000 Energy Grant
PECO Holds Energy Hike To 10 Percent
Lawmakers Cool To Rendell Call For Solar Energy
Western PA Solar Industry Bright
Editorial: Solar Energy Viable Alternative
Sestak Requests $350,000 Wind Energy Earmark
Sestak Bashed Over $350,000 Energy Earmark Request
Recent Nuclear Plant Drill Faulty
Agriculture: Rabies Vaccination Program Underway In Western PA
Friends Group Forms At Pine Grove State Park
Flight 93 Memorial Needs Money For Completion
Op-Ed: Congress Should Fully Fund Land, Water Conservation
Dry Weather Has Leaves Turning Early
Annual Hawk Migration Draws Birders To Hawk Mountain

Marcellus Shale NewsClips

Here are NewsClips on topics related to Marcellus Shale natural gas drilling---

Click here for this week's Marcellus Shale Examiner newsletter from DEP.

Drillers Draw Stronger Warning From DEP Secretary

State Drilling Deals Raise Eyebrows
Onorato: Make Gas Drillers Pay, Not Taxpayers
Onorato Decides To Back Shale Gas Extraction Tax
Marcellus Shale Severance Tax Coming Up
Natural Gas Tax Plan Suggested
Editorial: Tax Will Not Hamper Marcellus Shale Drillers
Editorial: Severance Tax Must Be Priority #1 For Legislature
DEP, State Police Increase Waste Hauler Inspections
DEP Chief Advocates For Permanent Water Supply For Dimock
DEP Promises Water Fix In Dimock
Blog: PA Politicians Steal Property Rights To Support Gas Drilling
Natural Gas Landowners Band Together In Clarion
3 Township Zoning Board Members Resign Over Drilling Water Withdrawals
Cabot Wants To Draw Drilling Water From Tunkhannock Park
Cecil Drilling Plan Raises Safety Concerns
Chief Oil & Gas Discloses Fracking Fluid Additives
CNN: Fracking Yields Fuel, Fear In Northeast- Dimock
Unions Want Their Piece Of Shale Business
Carbondale Chamber Eyes Business Loans, Engaging Gas Industry
NW PA Marcellus Shale Showcase October 6,7
Natural Gas Class Students Eye Jobs
Gas Jobs Not Yet Making Dent In NE Joblessness
Opportunities In Drilling, Job Possibilities To Be Explained
Out-Of-State Drillers Fill Up Williamsport Hotels
Group Touring State To Push For Marcellus Gas Tax
Gas Stock Organizer Sees Need For Statewide Drilling Activism
Is Gas Drilling Hazardous To Your Health?
Gas Bubbling From Susquehanna River At Sugar Run
McKeesport Approves Shallow Drilling Lease
Indiana Exhibit On Gas Drilling Draws Queries
Lackawanna College Offers Marcellus Shale Course
Expect More Natural Gas Related Use Of Railyards
Tapping Shale, Seeking Sustainability, A Rare Oilman
Expert Urges Water Tests To Find Drilling's Impact
Drilling Company Takes Steps To Ensure Safety
EPA Sets New Date, Place For Fracking Meeting
Column: Gas Development = Open Space
Editorial: Keep Our Eyes On The Big Frack Attack
Financial
Rex Energy Announces Transfer Of Marcellus Shale Leases

Watershed NewsClips

Here are NewsClips on watershed topics from around the state--

PA Plan To Reduce Pollution Going To Chesapeake Bay Released

Panther Hollow Watershed Restoration Gets Million Dollar Boost
Penn State Project's Goal: Pollution Free Dairy Farms
Some Worry New CAFO Rules Will Put Small Farms Out Of Business
Stream Restoration: If It's Good For Trout, It's Good For Bay
Recent EPA Enforcement Actions Sends Message To Bay Polluters
Middletown Fly Fisherman Sees Changes In Susquehanna
Photographers Document Local Parts Of Bay's Watershed
Exelon Hopes Schuylkill River Project Becomes Permanent
Hydro Plant Malfunction Kills 1,200 Yough Trout
Eachus Leery Of Latest Material For Filling Mine Pits
Eachus Blasts DEP Mine Fill Info
Health Impact Of Mine Reclamation Project Questioned
Stormwater Runoff Rules Not A Sure Bet In Butler County
East Stroudsburg Residents Asked To Curb Water Use
Water Pipeline Connects Johnstown To Ligonier
Will Harrisburg Sludge Come To Tuscarora?
Mayfield Clears Sediment From Lackawanna River
Lack Of Rainfall, Geology Bring Water Restrictions
Invasive Species Plagues Perkiomen
Editorial: Protect Clean Water, Septic Tank Standards
Lock, Dam Fix Melds Taxes, Caps, Feds

Regulations, Technical Guidance & Permits

No new regulations were published this week. Pennsylvania Bulletin - September 4, 2010

Proposed Regulations Open For Comment - DEP webpage

Proposed Regulations With Closed Comment Periods - DEP webpage

Rolling Regulatory Agenda - DEP webpage

Technical Guidance & Permits

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice of intent to rescind a series of

policy documents related to the PADWIS Drinking Water Information System.

Intent to Rescind: DEP ID: 383-3310-609. PADWIS Reporting. The Department of

Environmental Protection (Department), Bureau of Water Standards and Facility Regulation,
provides procedures in this document to support Department staff who retrieve and print
computerized inventory data under the Safe Drinking Water Program.

Intent to Rescind: DEP ID: 383-3310-409. Pennsylvania Drinking Water Information System
(PADWIS) Violation and Enforcement User's Manual. The Department of Environmental
Protection (Department), Bureau of Water Standards and Facility Regulation, provides
procedures in this document to support Department staff who manage a computerized public
drinking water violation and enforcement database under the Safe Drinking Water Program.

Intent to Rescind: DEP ID: 383-3310-309. Pennsylvania Drinking Water Information System
(PADWIS) Laboratory Sample User's Manual. The Department of Environmental Protection
(Department), Bureau of Water Standards and Facility Regulation, provides procedures in this
document to support Department staff who manage computerized public drinking water
laboratory sample data under the Safe Drinking Water Program.

Intent to Rescind: DEP ID: 383-3310-209. PADWIS Inventory Reports by PWSID. The
Department of Environmental Protection (Department), Bureau of Water Standards and Facility
Regulation, provides procedures in this document to support Department staff who retrieve and
print computerized public water system inventory data under the Safe Drinking Water Program.

Intent to Rescind: DEP ID: 383-3310-109. Pennsylvania Drinking Water Information System
(PADWIS) Inventory Users Manual. The Department of Environmental Protection
(Department), Bureau of Water Standards and Facility Regulation, provides procedures in this
document to support Department staff who maintain computerized public water system inventory
data under the Safe Drinking Water Program.
Technical Guidance Comment Deadlines - DEP webpage

Copies Of Draft Technical Guidance - DEP webpage

Copies of Final Technical Guidance - DEP webpage

Calendar Of Events

Upcoming legislative meetings, conferences, workshops, plus links to other online calendars.
Meetings are in Harrisburg unless otherwise noted. NEW means new from last week. Go to the
online Calendar webpage.

Click on Agenda Released on calendar entries to see the NEW meeting agendas published this
week.

September 7-- DEP Mining and Reclamation Advisory Board meeting. 10th Floor Conference
Room, Rachel Carson Building. 12:00. (formal notice)

September 8-- House Consumer Affairs Committee holds a hearing on House Bill 1817
(Schroder-R-Chester) adopting the Mid-Atlantic Natural Gas Pipeline Corridor Compact. Room
G-50 Irvis Building. 1:00.

September 9-- House Consumer Affairs Committee holds a hearing on House Bill 2619
(Preston-D-Allegheny) providing for municipality-based electric generation aggregation.
Bethlehem City Hall. 9:30.

September 10-- Agenda Released. DEP Recycling Fund Advisory Committee meeting. Room
105 Rachel Carson Building. 10:00.

September 13-- DEP Mine Families First Response And Communications Advisory
Council meeting. Lancaster Host Hotel. 3:00. (formal notice)

September 14-- House Consumer Affairs Committee holds a hearing on Senate Bill
168 (Brubaker-R-Lancaster) authorizing boroughs to contract for electric service. Room 39 East
Wing. 9:00.

September 14-- CANCELED. DEP Storage Tank Advisory Committee meeting. Next
scheduled meeting is December 7. (formal notice)

September 15-- DEP Air Quality Technical Advisory Committee meeting. 2nd Floor Training
Room, Rachel Carson Building. 9:15. (formal notice)
September 15-- CANCELED. DEP Sewage Advisory Committee meeting. Next scheduled
meeting is November 10. (formal notice)

September 15-- NEW. Delaware River Basin Commission meeting/hearing. West Trenton, NJ.
(formal notice)

September 15-- NEW. DEP Coastal Zone Management Program Evaluation public meeting.
Tom Ridge Environmental Center, Erie. 6:30. (formal notice)

September 16-- House Labor Relations Committee holds a hearing on workplace and safety
issues relating to Marcellus Shale operations. Career Technology Center of Lackawanna
County, Scranton. 1:00.

September 16-- NEW. Senate Urban Affairs and Housing Committee holds a hearing on House
Bill 712 (J.Taylor-R-Philadelphia) authorizing urban land banks for the conversion of vacant or
tax-delinquent properties. Penn State Beaver Campus. 10:00.

September 16-- Susquehanna River Basin Commission meeting/hearing on water resources

projects, compliance issues and actions on water diversions and consumptive uses. Radisson
Hotel Corning, NY. 8:30. (formal notice)

September 16-- Location Change. DEP Oil and Gas Technical Advisory Board meeting. DEP
Southcentral Regional Office, Harrisburg. 10:00. (formal notice)

September 24-- Location Change. DEP Board for Certification of Water and Wastewater
System Operators now a regular meeting, not a conference call. 10th Floor Conference Room,
Rachel Carson Building. 10:00. (formal notice)

September 27-- NEW. Environmental Issues Forum on Carbon Trading. Joint Legislative Air
and Water Pollution Control and Conservation Committee. G-50 Irvis Building. Noon.

September 28-- NEW. Senate Urban Affairs and House Committee holds a hearing on impact
of natural gas industry on housing in Northcentral PA. Room 8E-A East Wing. 10:00.

November 17-- CANCELED. DEP Small Water Systems Technical Assistance Center Advisory
Board. There are no further meetings scheduled in 2010. (formal notice)

DEP Calendar of Events

Environmental Education Workshop/Training Calendar (PA Center for Environmental

Education)

Senate Committee Schedule House Committee Schedule

You can watch the Senate Floor Session and House Floor Session live online.
Stories Invited

Send your stories, photos and videos about your project, environmental issues or programs for
publication in the PA Environment Digest to: DHess@CrisciAssociates.com.

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

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Harrisburg-based government and public affairs firm whose clients include Fortune 500
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Supporting Member PA Outdoor Writers Assn./PA Trout Unlimited

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

Association, Pennsylvania Council Trout Unlimited and the Doc Fritchey Chapter Trout
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