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 Harrisburg, Pa April 28, 2014 In Memoriam: Sen. Ray Musto, Democratic Chair Senate Environmental Committee Former Sen. Ray Musto (D­Luzerne), long­time Democratic Chair of the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, passed away Thursday at the age of 85. He retired from the Senate in 2010.

For many years Sen. Musto has been the regarded as a leading voice on environmental issues in the Senate and as a fierce advocate for his district. He has been involved in the passage of every major state environmental law and program for the last 30 years.

Among the notable environmental laws and initiatives completed as a result of Musto's work: ­­Curbside Recycling: Legislation that created Pennsylvania's curbside recycling program in 1988, the largest in the country; ­­Land Recycling: Pennsylvania's land recycling program­­Acts 2, 3 and 4 of 1995 which has become the national model program for the effective re­use of abandoned industrial property; ­­Growing Greener: Act 68 (1999) Pennsylvania's Growing Greener program that has led to the protection of open spaces and farmland preservation as well as water and sewer system upgrades;­­Air Pollution Control:Helped adopt far­reaching changes to the Air Pollution Control Act (Act 95) that has led to steadily improving air quality; ­­Infrastructure: Supported numerous bills to improve Pennsylvania's water and wastewater infrastructure, including a 1988 law creating the PA Infrastructure Investment Authority; ­­Chesapeake Bay: Helped adopt the Chesapeake Bay Commission Agreement in 1985 committing Pennsylvania to cleanup the Chesapeake Bay; ­­Water Resources: Helped pass the Water Resources Planning Act in 2002 to require a state water plan; ­­Hazardous Sites Cleanup: Shepherded the Hazardous Sites Cleanup Act in 1988 through the Senate; ­­ Key ‘93 Program: Help create the Keystone Recreation, Park and Conservation Fund to provide funding for Pennsylvania’s State Parks and Forests and local recreation projects; and ­­ Establishment of Nescopeck State Park.

Of her colleague, Majority Chair of the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee Sen. Mary Jo White (R­Venango) said when he retired in 2010, "Being in public service is a tough job where criticism and cynicism come with the territory; but it is also a wonderful job because you can directly make a difference in the lives of people. I congratulate Sen. Musto on his nearly 28

years of distinguished service in the state Senate. In addition to being a friend and true gentleman, Sen. Musto has been a passionate advocate for the environment.

"His imprint can be found on every major environmental accomplishment realized over the past three decades, including the state's landmark recycling, environmental education, Key '93, brownfields reuse, water resource planning, alternative energy and Growing Greener acts. None of these initiatives would be in place today without the guidance and support of Ray Musto.”

“Ray Musto was a devoted Democrat, but there was not a partisan bone in his body when it came to the environment,” said James M. Seif, former Secretary of DEP. “He worked with everyone to craft an enviable legislative record, and he always did so in a gentlemanly and good humored way. He provided strong support and good advice to many Pennsylvania environmental Secretaries. We will miss him, but his achievements will live on.”

“Without Ray Musto, Nescopeck State Park— a park jewel in Northeast Pennsylvania— would never have been a reality. He stood tall in the face of strong, but misguided opposition. It was an honor to be by his side,” said John C. Oliver, former Secretary of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

“I was privileged to know and work with Sen. Musto first as legislative liaison with the former DER, as Executive Director of the Senate Environmental Committee and finally as Executive Deputy in DEP and during all those years he truly had protecting and restoring Pennsylvania’s environment as a focus of all his efforts,” said David E. Hess, former Secretary of DEP. “His approach was always what was right and what was effective, not whether it was a Republican or Democratic idea. It was a loss for me professionally and personally when he retired and for the environment. But, he never did let me forget I beat him once in a lucky shot in bocce.”

Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa (D­Allegheny) said, “Sen. Musto was a lawmaker of depth, substance and compassion. He took time to learn issues and he used his experience and expertise to benefit the citizens of Luzerne County and Northeastern Pennsylvania.

“From legislation that established curbside recycling to Pennsylvania’s Growing Greener program and the landmark legislation to spur the development of abandoned industrial property, Senator Musto played a significant role in crafting environmental policy in his nearly 40 years in the legislature.

“During his long years of public service, he achieved a great deal for Northeastern Pennsylvania. His contributions will live on and his policy footprint will continue to guide future generations. Pennsylvania is a better place today because of Senator Ray Musto’s service.”

Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati (R­Jefferson) and Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi (R­Delaware) issued this joint statement­­ “Ray Musto will be remembered as a humble, compassionate and hardworking man who represented northeast Pennsylvania with a genuine desire to help his constituents and the communities they live and work in. During his time in the Senate, Ray was a strong advocate for countless environmental issues and worked effectively with members on both sides of the aisle.”

Sen. Musto is a Korean War veteran who served in the U.S. Army from 1951­53. He is a 1971 graduate of King's College in Wilkes­Barre. He holds Doctorate of Letters degrees from Kings and Wilkes Colleges. Musto has received many awards and honors for his work in the Senate.

The veteran lawmaker served in the state House from 1971 to 1980. He began his career when he was elected in a special election in 1971 to fill his late father James Musto's unexpired term. Musto was then elected to Congress in a special election in 1980. In 1982, he was elected to the state Senate. Musto has the distinction of being among only a few public servants to serve in the U.S.Congress, the

state House and state Senate. NewsClips: Musto Remembered For Environmental Accomplishments Musto Fondly Remembered Oil And Gas Industry, Business Concerned About Bipartisan Severance Tax Proposals Representatives of the oil and gas industry and business Tuesday said they are concerned about bipartisan discussion in the General Assembly on the adoption of a severance tax on natural gas production as part of an effort to deal with the state’s budget shortfalls.

Click Here to listen to the press conference. Stephanie Catarino Wissman, Executive Director of Associated Petroleum Industries in PA,

said natural gas drilling and production companies have already paid $2.1 billion in state and local taxes since 2007 and another $630 million in Act 13 drilling impact fees since 2013.

Adding a severance tax would have a severe impact on the natural gas industry in the state which has added thousands of jobs to Pennsylvania’s economy.

Louis D. D’Amico, President & Executive Director of the PA Independent Oil and Gas Association, said Pennsylvania’s present structure of business and sales taxes and the drilling impact fee now about equals the combination of business taxes and a severance tax in West Virginia, a state often compared to Pennsylvania.

D’Amico noted even the discussion of a severance tax is having a dampening effect on business in the state.

He said the number of drilling rigs now in Pennsylvania has been reduced significantly, from 111 in 2011 to just 56 now. Those rigs he said are moving to Ohio where there is a potential to produce oil, other valuable liquids related to “wet” natural gas and a better tax structure.

Eugene Barr, President and CEO of the PA Chamber of Business and Industry, said talk of a severance tax is just the most recent effort to make businesses pay more taxes at a time when businesses, particularly manufacturing, are just starting to see a comeback. He said any increase in business taxes is always passed on to consumers.

Chad Amond, President of the Westmoreland County Chamber of Commerce, said his county has seen the benefits of the existing Act 13 drilling fees in more road construction, emergency preparedness and other projects as well as from natural gas drilling and development.

He said the County has also been involved in job training programs through ShaleNet at Westmoreland County Community College that has trained over 9,500 students.

A major overhaul of the tax situation for the natural gas industry in Harrisburg is like a butterfly flapping its wings and having an impact in Westmoreland County.

Click Here to listen to the press conference. NewsClips: Amid State Budget Woes, Drilling Tax Turns GOP Heads Marcellus Shale Advocates Against Severance Tax Critics: Severance Tax Could Derail Gas Industry In PA Report: Higher Severance Tax Will Not Impede Ohio Gas Industry Local Governments Fail To Account For $17M In Drilling Impact Fee Money Related Links: Republicans, Democrats In Senate, House Join In Calling For A Natural Gas Severance Tax

Sen. Yudichak Natural Gas Severance Tax Proposal Funds Education, Environment Independent Fiscal Office Reports PA Marcellus Tax Rates Lowest Of Any State Advocates From PA, Ohio, West Virginia Urge Common Approach To Shale Taxation New Bipartisan Marcellus Shale Drilling Tax Proposal Announced By House Members PUC Expects To Collect $224.5 Million In Act 13 Drilling Impact Fees In 2014 Local Govts Missed Deadline To Report How $17.4 Million In Drilling Fees Were Spent StateImpact Pennsylvania Friday reported nearly half the townships and a quarter of the counties receiving funds from the Act 13 drilling impact fee missed the April 15 deadline for reporting how they spent $17.4 million of last year’s money. Reports were filed covering $81.8 million.

StateImpact Pennsylvania said local governments spent the impact fee money on­­ Amount Not Reported $17,491,130.43 Public Infrastructure Construction $24,789,409.37 StormWater/Sewer Systems $2,296,077.29 Emergency Preparedness/Public Safety $14,035,948.05 Environmental Programs $951,211.94 Water Preservation and Reclamation $7,296.00 Tax Reductions $580,400.94 Housing $280,000.00 Information Technology $1,844,399.12 Social Services $1,335,792.03 Judicial Services $959,481.09 Capital Reserve Fund $34,249,804.02 Career and Technical Centers $110,000.00 Planning Initiatives $35,018.87 Total: $98,965,969.15

About 1,500 counties and local governments receive impact fee for hosting drilling within their borders.

Click Here to read the entire story. Click Here to visit the PUC’s Act 13 Impact Fee webpage for more information and an interactive impact fee website. NewsClips: Local Governments Fail To Account For $17M In Drilling Impact Fee Money Amid State Budget Woes, Drilling Tax Turns GOP Heads Marcellus Shale Advocates Against Severance Tax Critics: Severance Tax Could Derail Gas Industry In PA Report: Higher Severance Tax Will Not Impede Ohio Gas Industry Governor’s 2014 Environmental Excellence Award Winners Honored On Tuesday the 23 organizations involved in 19 environmental projects from across the state were honored with the 2014 Governor’s Award for

Environmental Excellence. The Pennsylvania Environmental Council hosted a dinner to recognize the award winners and

featured keynote speaker Chris Abruzzo, Secretary of the Department of Environmental Protection and opening remarks by Ellen Ferretti, Secretary of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

Secretary Ferretti said DCNR’s employees are excited about implementing Gov. Corbett’s Enhanced Penn Woods initiative to repair and upgrade State Parks and Forests. She also congratulated PEC on its 44th birthday and recalled what a radical thing it was in 1970 to recycle.

Click Here to watch Ferretti’s remarks. “Each year, it’s inspiring to learn about the innovative, environmentally friendly projects from

across the state,” said DEP Secretary Chris Abruzzo. “This year’s award recipients are protecting Pennsylvania’s environment with creativity and ingenuity.”

Secretary Abruzzo provided an update on activities in DEP, including the Permit Review Guarantee (96 percent on time), transparency at the agency (a record number of hearings and webinars) and the best kept secret at the agency­­ the dramatic reduction of greenhouse gas emissions as a result of increased natural gas use (2020 emissions will be lower than 2000 emissions).

“You have the commitment of this Governor and this DEP Secretary, that every day we will work extraordinarily hard to uphold our mission to protect our land, water and air resources,” Abruzzo said.

Click Here to watch Abruzzo’s remarks. Gov. Corbett recognized the award winners by saying, “The recipients of this year’s award

represent a few of the many dedicated Pennsylvanians who have committed their businesses, schools and other organizations to be good stewards of the environment. Their efforts are key to ensure that Pennsylvania’s air, land and water are clean for generations to come.”

Any Pennsylvania business, school, government agency, trade organization, non­profit organization or agribusiness that has completed projects to promote environmental stewardship and economic development was eligible to apply for the award. The winners were selected by the Department of Environmental Protection.

The winning projects include tailgate recycling, abandoned mine drainage (AMD) abatement, rain gardens and the use of alternative energy, among others.

The Award winners are­­ ­­ Collier Township, Allegheny County, pursued the Rooftop Photovoltaic Electrical Generating System Project, a renewable energy project that will reduce over one million pounds of carbon dioxide gas emissions over time. The project consists of 132 glass tube solar modules installed on a nearby roof. This 22kW photovoltaic system is estimated to generate a net savings of approximately $75,000 over its lifespan by selling back to the local utility company via a “grid­tied” system. ­­ Pittsburgh Botanic Garden, Allegheny County, did a pond restoration project in the Woodlands of the World Garden where there is a pond once polluted with AMD. A passive treatment system was installed with a drainable limestone bed that neutralizes acidity and removes metal contaminants before clean water is released into the pond. ­­ Shell Appalachia, Allegheny County, created an Environmental Impacts Assessment with a web application that is used as a tool to help reduce risks associated with field development. This application allows planners in all facets of Shell Appalachia to choose from a library of spatial data layers including social, environmental, biological, regulatory, analytical (baseline water and air quality) data and critical infrastructure layers.

­­ Cumberland County’s Energy Efficiency Program included replacement of boilers at the courthouse, old courthouse and old jail; replacement of the cooling tower at the courthouse; installation of energy efficient lights; installation of energy efficient motion sensors on vending machines; installation of low­flow faucets and toilets; replacement of hot water usage with an ozone system for laundry at the Claremont Nursing and Rehabilitation Center and county prison; and installation of an energy management system which provides remote computer access to the county’s HVAC systems. ­­ Central Dauphin School District’s Energy Conservation Program, Dauphin County, has helped the district save money and reduce energy consumption, as well as reducing its carbon footprint. The district partnered with Cenergistic, Inc. to identify feasible means for reducing energy use in its buildings. ­­ Phoenix Contact, Dauphin County, came up with the SunPlug­Solar Powered Electric Vehicle Charging Station Project to prove that electrical vehicles can be re­charged with solar power and without burdening the electrical grid. A solar canopy that is the size of a typical parking lot with 12 high­performance solar panels generates 2.7 kW and is supported with battery storage of 4 kW and a 4.2 kW off­grid inverter to charge electric vehicles. ­­ SKELLY and LOY, Inc., Dauphin County, conducted the Allison Hill Automotive Brownfields Remediation Project. The former Allison Hill Automotive site was a 6.2­acre property with multiple vacant buildings that were an eyesore to the local community, an environmental hazard, and a tax liability to the City of Harrisburg. The restoration work included removing and disposing of hazardous wastes, abating materials containing asbestos, and demolishing the buildings. Fencing was installed around the site to improve security and to restrict direct contact to contaminated soils during the cleanup process. ­­ Environment Erie’s St. George Rain Catcher Project was a successful partnership of non­profits, private businesses, government and students. A rain garden was planted on the property of a local church to reduce stormwater runoff. Students from the partnering school were able to use the development and construction of the rain garden as a learning tool. ­­ PPL Renewable Energy, LLC partnered with the Borough of Chambersburg and IESI PA Blue Ridge Landfill in Franklin County to develop the Blue Ridge Renewable Energy Plant. This unique project consists of a 6.4 MW landfill gas­to­energy plant. ­­ Armstrong World Industries’ Recycling Program for Vinyl Composition Tile Flooring in Lancaster County is the first program of its kind to recycle installed Armstrong vinyl flooring products as well as qualifying competitive vinyl products. Under the program, vinyl flooring is recycled in a closed­loop, post­consumer stream with reclaimed material incorporated into new flooring products. ­­ City of Lancaster decided to improve stormwater management and traffic safety through its Plum and Walnut Green Intersection Project. The project integrates green infrastructure with enhanced pedestrian amenities and a roadway realignment that improves traffic safety. The project included a porous paver patio area, rain garden, and five porous paver, angled parking spaces in the area previously occupied by a troublesome merge lane, as well as a public art component – a cistern that collects rainwater from a local business’ rooftop. ­­ PPL Renewable Energy, LLC created a partnership with Lycoming County and the Federal Bureau of Prisons to work on a public­private­public project at Lycoming County’s Landfill. The entities worked together to develop and construct two co­located landfill gas­to­energy power plants. The project improved its energy efficiency and created jobs. ­­ North Penn Public School District, Montgomery County, created an Energy Management Program that combines operational changes, behavioral changes, demand response, energy efficiency savings and community engagement. The district has saved on energy expenses and created a program that educates and engages students and staff in energy conservation and efficiency.

­­ Pennsylvania Horticultural Society of Philadelphia worked with local partners to create the Community Farm and Green Resource Center at Bartram’s Garden along the shore of the Schuylkill River in the low income neighborhood of Southwest Philadelphia. The farm and resource center includes a full­scale greenhouse, community garden spaces, an orchard of 90 fruit trees, a farmers market and an entrepreneurial jobs training and leadership development program for local high school students. ­­ Robindale Energy Services, Inc., Westmoreland County, created the Seanor­GFCC Project to remove approximately 305,097 tons of waste coal from the Loyalhanna Creek Watershed. Robindale entered into a contract with DEP to remove all usable waste coal, restore the site to approximate original contour, topsoil and re­vegetate the affected area to establish positive surface runoff, thus eliminating the acidic runoff to the streams and enhance the area throughout the Rails to Trail segment at no cost to DEP. ­­ The Procter & Gamble Paper Products Company, Mehoopany Plant in Wyoming County installed a 64MW gas fired co­generator that produces electricity, steam and hot air for its operations with some excess electric for sale. The operation is completely self­sufficient, using natural gas extracted on the property to power the co­generator. ­­ Northcentral Pennsylvania Conservancy, Montour County Conservation District, Northumberland County Conservation District, Tioga County Conservation District, Union County Conservation District and Fish and Boat Commission’s Division of Habitat Management partnered together on the Northcentral Stream Restoration Project. The partners used proven in­stream stabilization structures, such as log vanes and mudsills, and agricultural best management practices, such as walkways and fencing. The group was able to implement practices with 18 landowners on 13 streams in four counties. ­­ Pennsylvania Resources Council, Inc., in Delaware and Allegheny counties developed the Tailgate Recycling Initiative to target large­scale special events and promote recycling. The Resources Council designed, developed and implemented a program to collect recyclables from tailgating fans attending Pittsburgh Steelers and Philadelphia Eagles home games. In addition to the collection effort, the council also used the program to educate the public about the benefits of recycling. ­­ Trout Unlimited, Inc. launched its AMD Technical Assistance Program in 2005. The program provides free technical services to assist Growing Greener­eligible entities in their efforts to improve water quality in AMD­impacted streams toward the ultimate goal of restoring fish and other aquatic life and whenever possible, removal of the stream or stream segment from the DEP’s Impaired Waters List. DEP Reports 15,882 Miles Of Streams Impaired, Down Slightly From 2012 The Department of Environmental Protection published notice that its draft 2014 Integrated Water Quality Monitoring and Assessment Report is available for public comment listing rivers, streams and lakes with impaired water quality.

The Monongahela River, which was impaired for potable water use, will be removed from the impairment list because the in­stream level of sulfates now meets Pennsylvania’s water quality standards.

The lower main stem of the Susquehanna River will be added to the fish consumption impairment list for channel catfish larger than 20 inches due to Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). The recommended consumption is no more than one meal per month.

DEP has conducted a comprehensive analysis of the Susquehanna River since 2012 and continues to do so in 2014. The 2013 Susquehanna River Study Report will be available in mid­May. A public webinar will take place at that time to discuss the results.

Overall, the report found 15,882 miles of impaired rivers and streams, down from 16,599 miles from the last report in 2012. The reports differ in the total number of stream miles assessed­­ 83,438 in the 2014 draft report and 84,571 in the 2012 report.

The top four causes for water quality impairments are (in stream miles): Agricultural Runoff ­ 5,802, Abandoned Mine Drainage ­ 5,584 and Urban Runoff/Storm Sewers ­ 2,655. Some 4,322 miles of stream are impaired for unknown reasons.

In 2012, the top four causes for water quality impairments were (in stream miles): Agricultural Runoff ­ 5,705, Abandoned Mine Drainage ­ 5,596 and Urban Runoff/Storm Sewers ­ 2,451. Some 3,482 miles of stream are impaired for unknown reasons.

There are 37,761 acres of lakes with impaired water quality, up slightly from 37,331 acres in 2012. The reports differ in the total acres of lakes assessed­­ 79,986 in 2014 and 80,525 in 2012.

“This report is an important tool to gauge our progress on protecting Pennsylvania’s waters.” DEP Secretary E. Christopher Abruzzo said. “While we have more work to do, this report demonstrates that DEP is working hard to improve water quality.”

The report, required every two years by the federal Clean Water Act, is an assessment of the state’s rivers and streams. DEP assesses four protected uses of all surface waters: fish consumption, recreation, potable water and aquatic life. DEP examines water chemistry, macro­invertebrates, pathogens, iron, nitrates and sulfates.

The Integrated Waters Report is now open for a 45­day comment period. After the comment period, comments will be reviewed by DEP, changes will be made and a comment response document released. DEP’s final draft of the report will be sent to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for approval.

Public comments on the report are encouraged. The public comment period will begin on April 26 and continue until June 10. Written comments should be submitted to Molly Pulket, Division of Water Quality Standards, Bureau of Point and Non­Point Source Management, P. O. Box 8774, Harrisburg, PA 17105­8774 or send by email to: RA­WQAssessments@pa.gov. Comments received by facsimile will not be accepted.

A copy of the report is available online. Copies of previous reports are available on DEP’s Water Quality Standards webpage. NewsClips: DEP: Monongahela River No Longer Belongs On Impaired Waters List Four Mile Creek Makes Comeback In Erie Volunteers Protect Shenango River Rocks Lititz Floodplain Restoration Project PennVEST Awards $1.5M To Lancaster Water Quality Projects Effort To Open Allegheny River Locks Moving Forward Slowly CBF­PA Urges Governor, Attorney General To Act Now To Support Bay Cleanup Plans Harry Campbell, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s Pennsylvania Executive Director Friday issued a statement to Gov. Tom Corbett and Attorney General Kathleen Kane urging them to join with other Bay states in filing a amicus brief in court to support Chesapeake Bay cleanup plans.

Philadelphia Wednesday join six other major cities and other groups in filing a brief supporting Bay cleanup plans.

In February attorneys general from 21 states filed a brief opposing the regional efforts of the

Chesapeake Bay Clean Water Blueprint, and in support of the Farm Bureau and other large agricultural interests, as well as the National Homebuilders Association. The Chesapeake Bay Foundation is a party to the lawsuit, defending the EPA.

“Today, we urge Gov. Corbett and Attorney General Kane to make a commitment to the Commonwealth’s rivers and streams by signing a “friend of the court brief” in support of the Chesapeake Clean Water Blueprint, a plan that Pennsylvania helped create and has been successfully implementing. We cannot allow these investments to be derailed.

“Pennsylvania may not touch the Chesapeake Bay, but our connection to this ‘National Treasure,’ through the Susquehanna River, which contributes nearly half of all the fresh water entering the Bay, is unique. Flowing past farms, forests, and our communities – the Susquehanna River is the Bay. Our responsibilities, and the positive outcomes of the Blueprint, lie here at home and downstream as well.

“This effort is about clean water, which is vital to our communities, our farmers, and our industries. We will leave a legacy of clean water for our children and future generations. The Blueprint is working.”

Others Defend Bay Standards Chesapeake Bay Foundation President William C. Baker Wednesday issued this statement

following the filing of two amicus briefs supporting EPA's Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) and state implementation plans, together known at the Chesapeake Clean Water Blueprint.

One brief was filed late Wednesday by the cities of New York, Baltimore, Chicago, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. The second was filed last week by Florida conservation groups the Florida Wildlife Federation, the Environmental Confederation of Southwest Florida, The Conservancy of Southwest Florida, and the St. Johns Riverkeeper.

In February attorneys general from 21 states filed a brief opposing the Blueprint, and in support of the Farm Bureau and other large agricultural interests, as well as the National Association of Home Builders.

"These amicus briefs will help achieve clean water in the Chesapeake Bay. They underscore the continuing concern at home and around the country about the damaging ecological, economic, and health impacts of pollution on local waters and the Chesapeake Bays.

"The positive impact of pollution reduction across the six states is unprecedented. There are many eyes watching and supporting the efforts to restore our nation's largest estuary. The Chesapeake Clean Water Blueprint is working. Progress is being made, pollution is being reduced, and jobs are being created. We will leave a legacy of clean water for our children and future generations." NewsClips: DEP: Monongahela River No Longer Belongs On Impaired Waters List Four Mile Creek Makes Comeback In Erie Volunteers Protect Shenango River Rocks Lititz Floodplain Restoration Project PennVEST Awards $1.5M To Lancaster Water Quality Projects Effort To Open Allegheny River Locks Moving Forward Slowly PEC Action Alert: Rare, Threatened, Endangered Species Again At Risk In House The PA Environmental Council Wednesday sent out an action alert saying rare, threatened and endangered species are again at risk from a new bill to be introduced in the House which has many of

the same fatal flaws as House Bill 1576 (Pyle­R­Armstrong). PEC said due to opposition from a wide array of conservation, recreation and sportsmen

groups, House Bill 1576 was not brought up for a vote in the General Assembly. But the same essential provisions of this legislation are expected to resurface as soon as next

week, with a new bill number to avoid association with House Bill 1576 even though the bills are functionally similar. This new legislation will again place a political process between science and the protection of species, and remove hundreds of species of concern from permit reviews.

This new bill ­ essentially House Bill 1576 "Take Two" ­ may be introduced this week and come up for a vote as early as Monday, April 28 in the House Game & Fisheries Committee. If so, this is an obvious attempt by certain members of the House to circumvent strong opposition to the legislation from both sides of the aisle.

PEC is making public this alert and asks concerned individuals contact your Representatives this week and tell them that you remain opposed to weakening species protection in Pennsylvania. Click Here to find your legislator.

The key concerns and responses PEC has about these bills include­­ ­­ Proposals to list or remove species from protection are already based on sound science by the Pennsylvania Biological Survey and resource protection agencies. ­­ Improvements are currently underway to the Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Inventory that will allow permit applicants greater access to species information to help them avoid impacts ­ there is no need for new legislation to accomplish this goal. ­­ Cooperation and transparency are vital, but House Bill 1576 (and any successive legislation) fail to meet either objective. They are designed only to limit species protection, not improve it.

A letter PEC sent to all members of the House on this issue is available online. Click Here for a full position statement from PEC on this issue.

CBF Warns New House Bill Will Also Put Brook Trout, Other Species At Risk When it comes to the environment and wildlife, we seem to be drawn to specific places and critters. Some of us are drawn to the ocean; others to the mountains. Similarly, some love watching birds while others are completely fascinated by turtles. And for many of us, there's no one favorite—we're simply fascinated by all of it.

For whatever reason, one critter that could likely use a little more appreciation is the fish. For me, that appreciation started as a kid. I grew up in the Pocono Mountains, and on any

given daily adventure you could find me, my sister, and a few others playing in or near a stream. The water was cool and clear and we thought nothing of drinking a scoopful.

My dad enjoyed fishing and always brought my sister and me. He and a handful of fellas started a rod and gun club, and built a fish hatchery on site. I remember the 'cribs' teeming, seemingly spilling­over with fish; mostly rainbow and brown trout, along with a few exciting, rogue, palominos. My sister and I would sit on the edge of the cribs for hours just watching them swim. I wouldn't trade these experiences for anything.

But not everyone has had that same opportunity, so I sometimes wonder if people have a connection to, or interest in, fish.

So I posed a simple question to approximately 30 people, an informal poll of sorts, and I'll ask you as well: off the top of your head, how many types of fish can you name? Don't think about it, just off the top of your head, how many come to mind?

My hunch was that most people would say a handful, a half­dozen. And I was right. The average was six. The responses ranged from two to thirty­three, but most people fell into the 'handful' category.

One species that nearly everyone can name is the trout, with special interest in our beloved native brook trout. Of the four types of trout found in Pennsylvania streams only the brook trout was here when settlers first arrived.

The brook trout is a fish of legend. To see one, swimming wild, is a rarity. To catch one can be life­changing. The mystique of the brook trout, or the 'brookie,' makes it 'the' treasure of fresh water fishing.

One of my colleagues is a master naturalist. His love of all things wild is extensive and profound, and he has a remarkable, romantic way of storytelling about everything from trout to moss that transports you.

He, John Page Williams (or 'JP') is also an avid fisherman. Fly fishing, fresh water, salt water, you name it. I asked him about the brookie and he started out by saying that he was by no means an expert, but I knew better.

He told me that today's brook trout is a descendant of the "Square­Tails." These massive fish were historically found throughout the northeast. These guys had it made. They lived in large rivers of clean, cool waters with plentiful food sources, and consequently, they grew to be massive in size; upwards of 12 pounds.

But as the human population expanded, we developed the land and sent our pollution into the waters, and consequently, changed the river­homes of the square­tail. The waters warmed, the food sources dwindled, and the water was no longer so clean.

Ultimately, that meant some pretty dramatic changes for the fish. And while you might still find a 12­pound square­tail in a few stretches of waters in the northeast, their numbers are few. Brookies are a much smaller fish. JP tells me that a 12­incher is a prize these days. And because it simply cannot survive pollution or drastic temperature change, its Pennsylvania range includes only a handful of exceptional and high quality watersheds; while its historic range spanned nearly the entire state.

Why does any of this matter? And why did I ask you how many fish you could name? It matters, and I'm asking because living in Pennsylvania's streams, rivers, and lakes right at this

moment, there are 160 different species of fish! 160. Yet most of us can only name a handful. Now, I'm not a numbers person. But I'm going to throw out one more that will, I hope, make

you stop for a moment to contemplate. Of those 160 species, 80 of them—half—are endangered, threatened, or have already been wiped­out from Pennsylvania's waters.

So what can we do? We can start by protecting the brookie and the other 159 species. Another House Bill Threatens On April 28th the state House Game & Fisheries Committee is scheduled to review a version of

previously introduced legislation­­ House Bill 1576 (Pyle­R­Armstrong)­­ the Threatened and Endangered Species Bill.

The crux of the bill is this: for the past 40 years the scientists at the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission have overseen special protections for the brookie, all fish, reptiles, amphibians, and aquatic invertebrates. Similarly, the Game Commission oversees protections for birds and mammals. And finally, the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) oversees the protection of

plants as well as unique ecological and geologic features. All three protect our wildlife and unique natural spaces from a host of threats including habitat

changes and pollution. And they do so by making credible decisions based on scientific study. This Bill proposes to throw a wrench into that process by inserting government­appointed politicians to oversee the scientific decisions of the Fish & Boat and Game Commissions along with DCNR.

Politicians have their expertise. Scientists have theirs. Let's keep it that way and let our scientists be the ones to make decisions about science.

We'll have more details about this pending legislation, so if you are a CBF action­network member, keep an eye on your inbox. If you're not already an action alert member, you can easily become one.

When people ask me what I do and I tell them that I advocate for clean water, I sometimes get a blank look in response. I then go on to tell them how I grew up drinking scoopfuls of clean stream water and that I want my niece Kate, who is five, to be able to do the same.

Her dad now takes her to the trout hatchery that my dad built. The cycle is repeating itself, and that gives me hope.

But ultimately, we have to protect the things that we care about because not everyone cares for the same things. So I hope that even if fish are not your 'thing' that you understand the value of clean water and will join CBF in protecting the brookie and the streams where they live. Thank you!

Click Here for more information. Written By: Kelly Donaldson, the Communications and Media Coordinator for Chesapeake Bay Foundation's Pennsylvania office. Add Us To Your Google+ Circle PA Environment Digest now has a Google+ Circle called Green Works In PA. Just go to your Google+ page and search for DHess@CrisciAssociates.com, the email for the Digest Editor David Hess, and let us join your Circle.

Google+ now combines all the news you now get through the PA Environment Digest, Weekly, Blog, Twitter and Video sites into one resource.

You’ll receive as­it­happens postings on Pennsylvania environmental news, daily NewsClips and links to the weekly Digest and videos. Also take advantage of these related services from Crisci Associates­­ PA Environment Digest Twitter Feed: On Twitter, sign up to receive instant updates from: PAEnviroDigest. PA Environment Daily Blog: provides daily environmental NewsClips and significant stories and announcements on environmental topics in Pennsylvania of immediate value. Sign up and receive as they are posted updates through your favorite RSS reader. You can also sign up for a once daily email alerting you to new items posted on this blog. PA Capitol Digest Daily Blog to get updates every day on Pennsylvania State Government, including NewsClips, coverage of key press conferences and more. Sign up and receive as they are posted

updates through your favorite RSS reader. You can also sign up for a once daily email alerting you to new items posted on this blog. PA Capitol Digest Twitter Feed: Don't forget to sign up to receive the PA Capitol Digest Twitter feed to get instant updates on other news from in and around the Pennsylvania State Capitol. Senate/House Agenda/Session Schedule Here are the Senate and House Calendars and Committee meetings showing bills of interest as well as a list of new environmental bills introduced­­ Bill Calendars House (April 28): House Bill 202 (Harper­R­Montgomery) prohibiting standby water service charges for fire companies; House Bill 1684 (Everett­R­Lycoming) which seeks to clarify a minimum royalty payment in state law. <> Click Here for full House Bill Calendar. Senate (April 28): Senate Bill 1255 (Erickson­R­Delaware) authorizing municipal authorities to establish programs that allow property owners to reduce their stormwater rates and changes by implementing best management practices­ sponsor summary. <> Click Here for full Senate Bill Calendar. Committee Meeting Agendas This Week House: the Game and Fisheries Committee meets to consider legislation, including possibly a newly introduced bill reducing protection for rare, threatened and endangered species in Pennsylvania; the Consumer Affairs Committee meeting to consider House Bill 2104 (Godshall­R­Montgomery) relating to retain variable rate electric service contracts­ sponsor summary; House Bill 2030 (Snyder­D­Fayette) establishing the Coal­Fired Electric Generation Facilities Deactivation Commission­ sponsor summary. <> Click Here for full House Committee Schedule. Senate: the Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure Committee holds a hearing on electric reliability. <> Click Here for full Senate Committee Schedule. Bills Pending In Key Committees Here are links to key Standing Committees in the House and Senate and the bills pending in each­­ House Appropriations Education Environmental Resources and Energy Consumer Affairs Gaming Oversight Human Services

Judiciary Liquor Control Transportation Links for all other Standing House Committees Senate Appropriations Environmental Resources and Energy Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure Community, Economic and Recreational Development Education Judiciary Law and Justice Public Health and Welfare Transportation Links for all other Standing Senate Committees Session Schedule Here is the latest voting session schedule for the Senate and House­­ House April 28, 29, 30 May 5, 6, 7 June 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, 16, 17, 18, 19, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30 Senate April 28, 29, 30 May 5, 6, 7 June 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, 16, 17, 18, 19, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30 News From The Capitol Sens. Scarnati, Hutchinson Bill To Create Special Rules For Conventional Oil, Gas Wells Sens. Joe Scarnati (R­Jefferson) and Scott Hutchinson (R­Venango) circulated a co­sponsor memo Monday to members of the Senate announcing their intent to introduce legislation to direct the Environmental Quality Board to adopt special rules for conventional oil and gas wells and not regulate them like Marcellus Shale wells.

DEP proposed Chapter 78 regulations would regulate conventional and Marcellus Shale wells similarly.

The memo said, “Unconventional or Marcellus shale gas well drilling differs greatly from the process used for conventional or shallow well drilling. Act 13 of 2012 created new and vigorous standards for unconventional gas well which are largely not applicable to conventional oil and gas wells.”

Both types of wells, however, can and are being fracked.

“It is important to note that this legislation would not relieve the conventional oil and gas industry from any existing or future health or safety regulations which may be appropriate or necessary. Rather, it would ensure that both industries continue to be held to the highest standards while not burdening the small shallow well drillers with regulatory requirements which are neither feasible or affordable for their industry.” Rep. Vitali Appeals DCNR Denial Of Right To Know Request On Drilling Plan Rep. Greg Vitali (D­Delaware), Minority Chair of the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, Tuesday appealed the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources' denial of his Right­to­Know request seeking information about Gov. Tom Corbett’s plan to raise $75 million through the additional leasing of state parks and forests for natural gas drilling.

"It's unfortunate we have to go to these lengths for information that should be readily available," said Rep. Vitali "The legislature needs to know which parks and forests are under consideration for drilling, how many acres will be leased, which companies will be doing the drilling and how the $75 million figure was calculated."

The appeal was filed with the Office of Open Records, which has 30 days after it receives the appeal to make a final determination.

In addition, Rep. Vitali last week filed two new Right­to­Know requests seeking information about the plan with the Office of the Budget and the Governor’s Office.

In its denial of the initial Right­to­Know request, DCNR directed Rep. Vitali to the Office of the Budget. Rep. Vitali said he also filed a Right­to­Know request with the Governor’s Office because the Governor’s Energy Executive Patrick Henderson is a likely possessor of the information.

In his budget address on February 4, Corbett proposed raising an additional $75 million from "non­surface impact” drilling. Rep. Vitali is opposed to this proposal because drilling is a highly industrial activity, and an expansion will have negative impact on state parks and forests. Rep. Vitali said a severance tax on gas drilling is a better way to raise revenue.

DCNR acknowledged the negative impacts of drilling in its Shale Gas Monitoring report, released last week, that states: "Natural gas development ... affects a variety of forest resources and values, such as recreational opportunities, the forest’s wild character, scenic beauty, and plant and wildlife habitat.”

Senate Committee Hears Testimony Urging Adoption Of Anti­SLAPP Legislation People and organizations that have been quieted by ongoing, frivolous lawsuits and mounting legal expenses Thursday urged the Senate Judiciary Committee to adopt Sen. Larry Farnese’s (D­Philadelphia) proposal­­ Senate Bill 1095­­ to curtail the unfair practice.

Sen. Farnese’s legislation would expand Pennsylvania’s limited regulations and give civic organizations, individuals and various groups the power to more easily have their case dismissed or recover attorney fees if they win a so­called Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation, or SLAPP.

“Whether it is the Old City Civic Association or any person who has been shut down because they are speaking up on an issue they believe is critical to their community or cause, SLAPPs have proven to be unfair and a detriment to open government,” Sen. Farnese said during the opening of the Senate Judiciary Committee’s public hearing on Senate Bill 1095.

“It is rarely the intent of the party filing the suit to argue their case before a judge. What they

want to do is drain the opposition’s resources or make it impossible for them to proceed in other ways until they are forced to go away,” Sen. Farnese said. “It’s beyond wrong.”

The Senate Judiciary Committee met in the Philadelphia Bar Association on Market Street here and gathered the personal stories of Joe Schiavo of the former Old City Civic Association, Steve Huntington of Crosstown Coalition, Matt Ruben of Northern Liberties Neighborhood Association, Joe Marino of Passyunk Square Civic Association, and Barbara Cappozi of Packer Park Civic Association.

Schiavo called Sen. Farnese’s proposal an important protection for community groups. “Those who give their time as volunteers on behalf of their community and participate in civic

organizations … should not have to face reprisals for participating in the public process that [governments] afford them,” Schiavo told the committee. “Senate Bill 1095 seems essential to preserve that fine­grain democratic mechanism of the local civic association.”

While Northern Liberties’ Matt Ruben agreed that Sen. Farnese’s bill would provide legal protection, he said if any changes were made to the bill they should be made with an eye towards protecting a defendant’s money and time.

“If an anti­SLAPP law does not protect defendants … from the use of the legal process to extract money from us and to take time to drag things out and wear down people’s will and inflict emotional duress then the anti­SLAPP law is not effective,” Ruben said.

The Committee also heard expert testimony from Professor David Kairys from Temple University’s Beasley School of Law; Andy Hoover, ACLU of Pennsylvania’s legislative director; and Pennsylvania News Media Association’s Paula Knudsen and Melissa Melewsky. Hoover said the ACLU is in favor of Sen. Farnese’s legislation.

“We believe that Senate Bill 1095 does a good job of drawing a balance between access to courts and the abuse of courts to bully people for exercising their First Amendment rights,” Hoover said.

Sen. Farnese began working on Senate Bill 1095 last year when the Old City Civic Association disbanded after 40 years of service because the increased threat of SLAPPs made obtaining insurance coverage unfeasible.

Twenty­seven states have adopted anti­SLAPP legislation. In 2000, Pennsylvania passed anti­SLAPP legislation that only applies only to environmental law and regulatory processes. Throughout Pennsylvania and the U.S., SLAPPs have been filed against a wide variety of protected speech and expression activities, including writing a letter to the editor, circulating petitions, erecting a sign or displaying a banner on their property, complaining to school officials about teacher misconduct or unsafe conditions in the school, testifying before Congress or state legislatures, and filing a public­interest lawsuit.

Click Here for the sponsor’s summary of Senate Bill 1095. Environmental Synopsis Newsletter Now Available From Joint Conservation Committee The April issue of the Environmental Synopsis newsletter is now available from the Joint Legislative Air and Water Pollution Control and Conservation Committee.

This month’s issue features articles on the economic impact of the waste industry in the state, background on the Keystone XL pipeline, report on job loss from proposed fracking ban, best management practices at construction sites and more.

Upcoming Events The Joint Committee has two events scheduled in May­­

­­ May 5­­ Environmental Issues Forum on the TreeVitalize Program. Room 8E­B East Wing Main

Capitol. Noon. ­­ May 7­­ Public hearing on the status of Pennsylvania’s Waste Tire Program. Room 8E­B East Wing, Main Capitol. 9:00.

Sen. Scott Hutchinson (R­Venango) serves as Chair of the Committee. For more information visit the Joint Conservation Committee website.

News From Around The State Corbett Issues Proclamation Celebrating April 22 As Earth Day Gov. Tom Corbett Tuesday issued a proclamation recognizing April 22, 2014 as “Earth Day” in Pennsylvania. This year’s celebration marks the 44th anniversary of the first Earth Day, a movement which elevated the nation’s consciousness and awareness of environmental stewardship and civic duty.

This year’s theme, “Pick It Up – Pennsylvania,” is aimed at encouraging continued citizen involvement in helping to beautify Pennsylvania by collecting and properly recycling or disposing of litter across the commonwealth. Corbett noted that in 2013, over 137,000 volunteers across Pennsylvania collected 6.1 million pounds of litter along the commonwealth’s roadways, trails and shorelines.

“Pennsylvania is a beautiful place to live, work and raise a family,” Corbett said. “We are blessed with abundant natural resources, park and forestlands, and we have an obligation to our children and grandchildren to be good stewards of Penn’s Woods. We are also blessed with tremendous volunteers and community organizations who help to beautify and protect these natural resources.”

“While we celebrate Earth Day today, we are reminded that every day is an opportunity to care for and improve upon our environment,” Corbett said.

The text of the proclamation follows­­ WHEREAS, “Pick it up PA” — Pennsylvania’s theme for Earth Day 2014— is committed to

raising awareness and encouraging citizens to participate in initiatives and efforts that will help keep our state clean and beautiful; and

WHEREAS, the Commonwealth’s agencies such as the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), the Department of Transportation (PennDOT) and the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) work year round to keep Pennsylvania’s resources pollutant­free and healthy; and

WHEREAS, each year DEP and PennDOT work together with Keep America Beautiful to sponsor the Great American Cleanup of Pennsylvania; and

WHEREAS, in 2013, more than 137,000 volunteers dedicated their time to help collect 6.1 million pounds of litter from Pennsylvania’s roads, trails and shorelines; and

WHEREAS, DEP is sponsoring several cleanups and outreach events on Earth Day; and WHEREAS, DEP is awarding 111 Environmental Education Grants totaling more than

$309,000 in honor of Earth Day; and WHEREAS, DCNR’s managers oversee 120 state parks and welcome about 38 million

visitors annually; and WHEREAS, DCNR’s foresters oversee the 2.2 million­acre state forest system to a level

where it is independently certified as “well­managed”; and WHEREAS, DCNR’s recreation professionals have assisted all Pennsylvania counties and

more than half of all communities in meeting their recreation and conservation needs; and

WHEREAS, together, DCNR’s parks and forests will be hosting a variety of special Earth Day events statewide to foster public appreciation of public lands by encouraging visitation and volunteerism and a commitment to keeping such lands clean and green; and

WHEREAS, DCNR’s bureaus of state parks and forestry again are active supporters and participants in the coming Get Outdoors Day on June 14, 2014 and National Public Lands Day on September 27, 2014; and

WHEREAS, cleanup programs play a huge role in keeping Pennsylvania well­maintained through cleaner roadsides and communities.

THEREFORE, in special recognition of the aforementioned efforts and dedication of the Commonwealth’s state agencies and volunteers, I, Tom Corbett, Governor of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, do hereby proclaim April 22, 2014 as EARTH DAY in Pennsylvania. I encourage all citizens to get involved and join the thousands of devoted volunteers who help to beautify the state. $41.7 Million In Water Infrastructure Project Funding Awarded By PennVEST Gov. Tom Corbett Tuesday announced the investment of $41.7 million in 13 non­point source, drinking water and wastewater projects across 12 counties through the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority.

"The investments that we make today in our environment and economy will improve the quality of life for Pennsylvanians in all corners of the Commonwealth," Gov. Corbett said. "The PennVEST Board's actions bring crucial financial resources to bear that will improve water quality and increase economic opportunity for all of us."

Of the $41.7 million, $32.9 million is for low­interest loans and $8.8 million is offered as grants. The awards range from a $537,000 loan to eliminate wet weather overflows of untreated

sewage into a stream in Allegheny County, to a $9.3 million loan and grant combination to renovate a deteriorated wastewater treatment plant in Bradford County that will allow a vacant manufacturing facility to accommodate the expansion of three businesses, leading to the creation of 221 new jobs and the investment of $40 million in the area.

A list of projects awarded funding is available online. The funding comes from a combination of state funds approved by voters, federal grants to

PennVEST from the Environmental Protection Agency and recycled loan repayments from previous PennVEST funding awards.

Funds for the projects are disbursed after bills for work are paid and receipts are submitted to PennVEST.

For more information, visit the PennVEST website or call 717­783­6798. NewsClip: PennVEST Awards $1.5M To Lancaster Water Quality Projects Glade Run Lake Restoration Starts With $2 Million In State Funds In Butler County Gov. Tom Corbett Wednesday joined state and local officials to announce that he has committed $2 million in capital budget funds toward the restoration of Glade Run Lake in Valencia, Butler County.

“We are here today to announce that Glade Run Lake’s long drought is coming to an end,” Corbett said. “In years to come, I might bring my grandson, Liam, to this spot, cast a line into the water, and have those magic moments that Glade Run has given so many in the past, and will again in the future.”

Glade Run Dam was declared unsafe on November 19, 2002, by mutual agreement of the Department of Environmental Protection’s Division of Dam Safety and the Fish and Boat Commission after it was determined to have seriously inadequate spillway capacity by a PFBC analysis.

Design for the proposed rehabilitation of this dam was initiated in 2009; however, in May 2011, seepage, that had been documented and monitored over the last several years by PFBC engineers, began to cause unacceptable levels of erosion near the downstream toe of the dam.

The PFBC engineers became concerned about the change in seepage patterns and the possibility of a severe subsurface problem. Because of the seepage and erosion problem, on May 24, 2011, the PFBC decided to relieve seepage pressure through the dam foundation by draining the lake.

Since the draining of the Glade Run Dam reservoir, the PFBC, along with its consultant, needed to redesign the project to resolve both the spillway inadequacy and the seepage issue. This draft detailed rehabilitation plan was received by DEP Dam Safety on April 9, 2014. The review, revision and approval process between the PFBC and DEP Dam Safety is expected to be completed by the end of September 2014.

“With 16,000 visitors every year, this lake was not only a part of the social fabric here; it’s also part of the economy, contributing more than $1 million every year to local business,” Corbett said.

Support for the $4.3 million project includes $2 million from the capital budget, $2 million from the Fish and Boat Commission and $300,000 from the Glade Run Lake Conservancy.

“Pennsylvania’s lakes are popular places for families to enjoy the outdoors, and they are also valuable economic assets to local communities,” said John Arway, Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission. “The Glade Run Lake project is a true partnership between state and local government and area communities. We wish to thank all of our partners who have helped us get to the point where we now have a plan and the funding to begin restoring the lake.”

“The Glade Run Lake Conservancy, including its Board of Directors, members and donors, is an example of how people with a passion for a noble cause can come together, work diligently and make a difference,” said Sigmund J "Siggy" Pehel III, President of the Glade Run Lake Conservancy. “Glade Run Lake has been at the heart of our community for 60 years, and its absence was felt by many in the Conservancy who have been working for the past three years to bring it back. We are delighted that our message was heard by our state officials who have worked just as hard to find a way to support its restoration. We now look forward to seeing the lake come alive again for our region.”

Key supporters of this project in the state legislature include Sen. Randy Vulakovich (R­Allegheny), Sen. Don White (R­Indiana), Sen. Scott Hutchinson (R­Venango) and Rep. Brian Ellis (R­Butler).

“I thank Senators Vulakovich, White and Hutchinson, and Representative Ellis for their strong leadership and I am pleased to partner with each of them to support Glade Run Lake’s restoration,” said Corbett.

An anticipated timeline for this project includes completing final design and permitting in late 2014 and beginning construction in early 2015. Construction is anticipated to be completed during the summer of 2016, followed by refilling reservoir through late summer and fall of 2016. Voting Now Open In Chesapeake Bay Foundation Save The Bay Photo Contest Hundreds of photos were reviewed, 10 semi­finalists have been selected and now it’s up to you to select the Viewers’ Choice Awards in the Chesapeake Bay Foundation Save the Bay Photo Contest. The deadline for voting is May 2 at 5:00 p.m.

Official judging for the top three photos will be conducted by a panel of CBF employees who will judge entries on subject matter, composition, focus, lighting, uniqueness, and impact.

All winners will receive a cash award:First Prize: $500; Second Prize: $250; and Third Prize: $150

In addition, the first­prize photograph will appear in CBF's 2014 calendar. And that's not all: All winners will also receive a one­year membership to CBF and will have their photos displayed on CBF's website, in a CBF e­newsletter, and in CBF's Save the Bay magazine.

Click Here to vote for your Viewers’ Choice Award (hint, 2 of the 10 are from Pennsylvania, by far the largest part of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed). ARIPPA Offers Abandoned Mine Reclamation Grants Now in its fifth year, the Western and Eastern Coalitions for Abandoned Mine Reclamation partnered with the Anthracite Region Independent Power Producer's Association to offer a competitive grants to watershed organizations working on Abandoned Mine Land and/or Abandoned Mine Drainage remediation projects.

Grant proposals are due July 14. Grants at a maximum of $2,500 will be awarded to at least one eligible environmental

organization or Conservation District in the Anthracite Region and one eligible environmental organization or Conservation District in the Bituminous Region in Pennsylvania actively working on AML/AMD issues.

Grant proposals should be for on­the­ground AML/AMD construction projects with a completion date between August 2012 and August 2014.

The amount granted is dependent upon demonstrated need. Applying organizations must support the mission of ARIPPA, including the removal and conversion of waste coal into alternative energy and the beneficial use of CFB ash for AML/AMD reclamation.

For applications and more information, visit the WPCAMC website. ClearWater Conservancy Honored For River Cleanup Program Centre County’s ClearWater Conservancy Riparian Conservation Program was named a winner of the 2014 Western Pennsylvania Environmental Awards, hosted by Dominion and the PA Environmental Council.

The award is presented for leadership, effectiveness and results in making an impact on the environment by and the PA Environmental Council and includes a $5,000 donation.

Miles of streams and creeks in central Pennsylvania are impaired by agriculture. So the ClearWater Conservancy developed its Riparian Conservation Program to restore functioning streambank buffer zones in Central Pennsylvania watersheds.

Thirty­six individual volunteers and three corporate groups acted as site stewards and another 85 volunteers assisted with restoration work in 2013, the inaugural year of the riparian site steward program.

Over the course of the year, stewards and volunteers collectively invested 800 hours in the program and planted 375 seedlings at 17 existing restoration sites and another 360 seedlings at three new restoration sites.

To date the Riparian Conservation Program has protected 4,600 acres of high­value riparian

habitat. More than 300 ClearWater staff and volunteers have installed riparian buffers along more than 69,890 feet of stream.

They’ve also installed 35,988 feet of streambank fencing and 16 stream crossings for livestock, removed three dams, installed 168 streambank stabilization and fish habitat enhancement structures, and treated countless acres of invasive species.

This project is one of three winners from throughout Western Pennsylvania chosen to receive this award by a group of independent judges of environmental experts and Pennsylvania Environmental Council staff in response to a call for entries earlier this year.

All entries were judged on the basis of their relevance to local environmental priorities, evidence of their impact on the environment, their approach to solving an environmental problem, and the environmental benefit of their work.

For more information, visit the ClearWater Conservancy website. Volunteers Needed For Manada Conservancy’s Buffer Planting, Native Plant Sale Manada Conservancy is holding a streamside buffer planting on April 26 at 10 a.m. at 109 North Hanover Street, in Hummelstown, Dauphin County. The buffer planting is being held in combination with Hummelstown’s 11th Annual Arbor Day Celebration.

The Celebration will include tree giveaways, kids crafts and face planting and more. The Conservancy’s 14th annual Spring Native Plant Sale on May 10 at the Meadowood

Nursery, 24 Meadowood Drive, Hummelstown from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Manada Conservancy members will enjoy a 10 percent discount.

For more information, visit the Manada Conservancy website, send email to: office@manada.org or call 717­566­4122. Corbett Awards 111 Grants For Environmental Education And Stewardship Gov. Tom Corbett Tuesday announced he is awarding $309,626 in environmental education grants to 111 schools, universities, non­profit organizations and conservation districts across Pennsylvania.

“Each year, these grants are awarded to deserving organizations to educate Pennsylvanians about important environmental issues,” Corbett said. “Their work plays in integral role in the preservation and enhancement of Pennsylvania’s air, land and water.”

Grant recipients will use the funding for various initiatives, including farm field days, summer camps, exploratory learning activities, professional development and explanatory signage along watersheds.

Through these initiatives, students, teachers, farmers and others will learn about a variety of environmental issues ranging from pollination, stormwater management and hydroponics in agriculture, to Marcellus Shale and the Chesapeake Bay, among other topics.

“These projects will use proven best management practices to educate Pennsylvanians about their environment,” Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Secretary E. Christopher Abruzzo said. “Funding environmental education initiatives is an important part of fulfilling DEP’s mission.”

The grant program was established by the Environmental Education Act of 1993, which mandates setting aside five percent of the pollution fines and penalties DEP collects annually for environmental education in Pennsylvania.

A list of grants awarded is available online.

For more information, visit DEP’s Environmental Education webpage or call 717­772­1828. NewsClip: Environmental Ed Grants Go To 5 NE PA Groups DCNR Launches Kids In Nature To Engage Children In Learning, Playing Outdoors Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Ellen Ferretti at Nescopeck State Park Tuesday unveiled Kids in Nature, renewing a focus on getting Pennsylvania’s families to spend more time enjoying the outdoors.

To celebrate Earth Day, Ferretti spent an hour talking with the 8th grade students from the Hazleton Area School District attending a full­day program at the park about protecting watersheds.

“Well­documented statistics indicate our children are becoming increasingly disconnected from the outdoors,” Ferretti said. “At DCNR, we work daily to connect people of all ages to nature through the public lands we manage and help support in communities.

“Kids in Nature will step up our efforts to raise the awareness of existing opportunities for connecting children and their families to the wonders of nature and getting them actively involved in recreation, educational programs and environmental careers,” Ferretti said.

Many child advocates fear that the lack of outdoor activities has a devastating effect on children’s mental and physical health. Environmental stewards worry that the younger generations’ disconnect to the outdoors will mean as adults they will be less likely to be personally committed to the protection of our natural resources.

DCNR staff will spend much of this year learning from youth and elevating the awareness of existing opportunities to get kids outdoors.

“I plan on visiting schools and state parks and forest kid­focused events throughout this year to gain an understanding of what is keeping kids and their families from exploring nature. We’ll also be conducting a few contests this summer to draw attention to Kids in Nature,” Ferretti said. “Our intent is to have conversations with young people to find out their wants, likes and dislikes related to learning about nature and spending time outside.”

The department is launching a website– PA Nature Kids­­ as a source of information for parents and teachers about where to go outside, and what to do when you get there.

“I believe that young people visiting our state parks and forests with their families, scout troops and schools, and participating in the unique programs we offer including Adventure Camps for kids from urban areas will come to know and love our natural resources and be advocates for their stewardship,” Ferretti said.

The secretary will attend a program with 5th graders at Gifford Pinchot State Park in York County on May 15.

For more information, visit the PA Nature Kids website. Lackawanna Environmental Education Center May, June Programs The Lackawanna College Environmental Education Center in Lackawanna County has programs for all ages coming up in May and June, including ages 3­6, 5­6 to adults. Click Here to find out more. Gray’s Woods, Park Forest Schools Win Centre Plastic Bag Recycling Challenge Congratulations to Gray’s Woods & Park Forest Elementary Schools for winning the Plastic Bag

Recycling Challenge sponsored by the Centre County Recycling and Refuse Authority. Park Forest collected the most bags overall (1,497 pounds) and Gray’s Woods collected the

most per capita (3.80 pounds per student). Honorable Mention goes to CLC Charter School for a close second and unbelievable effort!

Approximately 4,000 students from 16 State College Area Elementary Schools competed in the eight week Plastic Bag Recycling Challenge recycling a total of 5,631 pounds of plastic bags and film (that’s approximately 360,384 bags).

We would like to thank our partners, The Centre Region Council of Governments, State College Borough, The Trex Company, Weis Markets, Lowe’s and A Bag’s Life. They were instrumental in the success of the challenge.

Gray’s Woods & Park Forest will each receive a raised garden bed made from Trex Recycled Plastic Lumber filled with Weis Choice Compost and $50.00 in “seed” money.

All sixteen participating schools will receive a Trex Recycled Plastic Lumber Park Bench (made from 10,000 recycled plastic bags) donated by Weis Markets as well as a Trex Recycled Plastic Lumber Bird House.

Our sixteen participating schools were as follows: CLC Charter School, Corl Street Elementary, Easterly Parkway Elementary, Ferguson Township Elementary, The State College Friends School, Goddard School, Gray’s Woods Elementary, Houserville Elementary, Lemont Elementary, Mt. Nittany Elementary, Nittany Christian School, Nittany Valley Charter School, Our Lady of Victory Catholic School, Park Forest Elementary, Radio Park Elementary and The Young Scholars of Central PA Charter School.

This challenge took place nationwide with 424 schools participating and collecting over 131,000 pounds of plastic. This is approximately 9,779,625 plastic bags that have been recycled and saved from the landfill! This is an outstanding achievement and all schools should be commended for their participation.

The plastic bags collected by the schools will be sent to the Trex Company and recycled into plastic lumber.

For more information on this Challenge, please call 814­238­7005, or contact Amy Schirf by sending email to: aschirf@centrecountyrecycles.org. PROP: Lackawanna Elementary School Winner Of GreenSylvania Award On April 23 the Professional Recyclers of Pennsylvania and Waste Management, Inc. announced the Riverside Elementary School West, Lackawanna County, was the winner of the 2013 GreenSylvania Paper Recycling Competition.

The winning school received a traveling­trophy and a $500 cash prize that was generously sponsored by Waste Management, Inc.

Each fall PROP conducts the month­long GreenSylvania competition in Pennsylvania schools. The school that collects the most paper for recycling during that month receives the award.

Riverside Elementary in Taylor, Pennsylvania placed first in the competition again in 2013, marking the third year that it has won the award. With a population of 377, the school collected 21.11 pounds per capita of paper for recycling.

PROP's Executive Director, Kelly Megonnel, Susan Lewis of PROP, and John Hambrose of Waste Management attended the presentation at the school on Wednesday, April 23, 2014. School officials and others witnessed the presentation before the school's first through fourth grade students.

Megonnel explained that PROP recognizes the importance of these young recyclers. She said, "professional recyclers understand that developing early awareness of recycling is an ideal way to promote recycling with future generations."

This year PROP also recognizes a second place winner of the Competition, Hillview Intermediate Center in Grove City, Pennsylvania. This school was awarded a $ 50 gift card, sponsored by Staples of Camp Hill.

In the past few years, the GreenSylvania competition has been conducted in conjunction with the national Recycle Bowl competition of Keep America Beautiful, which includes the collection of other recyclable items. PA Resources Council Celebrates 75 Years Of Protecting The Environment The Pennsylvania Resources Council, the stateside non­profit that a group of concerned citizens founded in 1939 as the Pennsylvania Roadside Council, is celebrating its 75th anniversary of protecting Pennsylvania's natural resources and scenic beauty.

Just a few of the highlights from PRC’s history include— ­­ Introducing the Litterbug character and phrase "Don't Be A Litterbug" in 1952; ­­ Collaborating with Lady Bird Johnson to secure passage of the 1965 Beautification Act; ­­ 1988 Municipal Waste Planning, Recycling and Waste Reduction Act; ­­ Launching an award­winning campaign to introduce tailgate recycling at Pittsburgh Steelers and Philadelphia Eagles football games.

Click Here for a history of PRC accomplishments. Visit the PA Resources Council website and your find at least 75 ways to do your part to

protect the environment. Weis Markets Awards Gift Cards In Support of KPB’s Great American Cleanup of PA Weis Markets, Inc., the newest sponsor of the Keep PA Beautiful’s Great American Cleanup of PA, Wednesday announced the winners of their donated gift cards.

A total of twenty gift cards were given randomly to Great American Cleanup of PA registered participants from Allentown, Harrisburg, Lancaster, State College, York, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, and the Trash Free Potomac.

Black Moshannon State Park, Penns Valley Conservation Association and the Centre County Recycling & Refuse Authority were each selected to receive a Weis Markets gift card to help support their efforts to beautify and clean locations in Centre County to celebrate Earth Day.

“We used our gift card to provide refreshments and lunch as a way of thanks to the volunteers who made time in their busy schedules to join us for our Great American Cleanup of PA event,” said Rod Fye of the Centre County Recycling & Refuse Authority. “Volunteers are an asset to our community. We were able to show our appreciation thanks to Weis Markets.”

“Weis Markets is pleased to partner with Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful,” said Patti Olenick, Sustainability Manager. “It is part of our corporate commitment to sustainability, being good stewards of the environment and giving back to the communities we serve. We’ve been serving Pennsylvania

communities for more than 100 years and we are excited to be part of the Great American Cleanup of PA.”

“We value the partnership with Weis Markets, Inc. Their donation of gift cards provides a fun and valuable incentive to participate in the Great American Cleanup,” states Shannon Reiter, President of Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful. “Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful and Weis Markets share the goal of promoting a sustainable environment and livable communities. The Great American Cleanup empowers citizens to do that locally.”

Weis Markets, Inc. joins other 2014 event supporters: the Department of Environmental Protection, PennDOT, PA Waste Industries Association, the PA Food Merchants Association, Waste Management, Republic Services, Steel Recycling Institute, and the Lancaster County Solid Waste Management Authority.

Since the inception of this event in 2004, over 74 million pounds of litter and waste have been removed from Pennsylvania’s landscape, and over 100,000 of trees, bulbs, and flowers have been planted.

To register your event, find an event near you, report your results, or to find additional resources on the Keep PA Beautiful Great American Cleanup of PA website.

Any additional questions can be answered by Michelle Dunn, Great American Cleanup of PA Program Coordinator, at 1­877­772­3673 ext. 113 or send email to: mdunn@keeppabeautiful.org. Public Meeting, Hearing On Ridgway Landfill April 29 In Elk County The Department of Environmental Protection Wednesday announced it will hold a public meeting and formal hearing concerning the Ridgway Borough landfill site in Ridgway Township, Elk County, on April 29 at 6 p.m. at the Ridgway Borough building, 108 Main Street, Ridgway.

The landfill site consists of about 15 acres that once operated as a mixed waste landfill between the early 1960s and June of 1975. During a department investigation, lead­containing industrial waste and 55­gallon drums containing trichloroethylene (TCE) were encountered in several trenches throughout the landfill.

“This is an opportunity for the department to share important information with the public concerning the hazards at this landfill as well as DEP’s planned response,” Staci Gustafson, Acting Northwest Regional Director for DEP said. “We will be answering questions in addition to a formal hearing.”

DEP, under the authority of the Hazardous Sites Cleanup Act, 35 (HSCA), has determined that a response is necessary. The department is proposing to implement an interim response to reduce or eliminate the threats to human health and the environment from the hazardous wastes and substances found at the site by targeting the known drums of TCE and high levels of lead in the surface soils.

An HSCA Interim Response is not required to meet all the goals of a final cleanup, but it is consistent with those final goals. In this case, the planned response will address the two most immediate threats at the site, the release and potential release of drummed TCE waste, and exposure to surface lead contamination. Additional work may be required to achieve a final cleanup.

DEP will hold the public meeting at the Ridgway Borough building to explain the department’s proposed interim response. Following the meeting, the public will have the opportunity to present oral comments for inclusion into the administrative record regarding the proposed interim response at a formal public hearing.

The highest potential risks to human health and the environment at the site are the high levels of

lead found in surface soils and the known buried 55 gallon drums containing TCE. The lead poses a significant threat to human health through direct contact and inhalation. The potential risk posed by TCE and its breakdown products are to any potential end users including aquatic life and recreational users of surface water. TCE is a carcinogen. DEP Revokes Waste Permit For Tire Recycling Operation In Franklin County The Department of Environmental Protection Friday announced it has revoked Chambersburg Tire Recycling’s Waste Management Permit due to unresolved compliance issues and waste management violations at its Hamilton Township, Franklin County waste tire processing facility.

“Despite DEP’s various attempts to bring Chambersburg Tire Recycling into compliance and correct the environmental issues at the property, the company failed to comply with the department’s regulations and orders,” DEP Southcentral Regional Director Lynn Langer said. “A permit revocation is the last resort, but it was necessary to bring a stop to the violations occurring.”

Chambersburg Tire Recycling, LLC. (CTR) was first developed in 2006 to cleanup an existing pile of 750,000 waste tires at the site and begin a tire processing business.

On January 12, 2007, the owner of CTR entered into a Consent Order and Agreement with DEP to abide by its waste management permit limits for accepting tires; to process old and new tires in accordance with their processing plan; and to reuse or properly dispose of all processed material generated at the site. Between January 2007 and June 2010, CTR did not comply with the COA or its permit.

On June 14, 2010, CTR entered into a new COA with DEP in which CTR agreed to reduce the number of tires at the site; cease accepting tires during periods when the processing equipment was inoperable; and submit records to DEP detailing the number of tires imported and exported. CTR did not comply with the new COA.

On December 5, 2013, DEP ordered CTR to properly dispose of all remaining waste tires and wastes within 30 days. CTR failed to comply with the order.

Based on the department’s most recent estimate, CTR has 780 tons of waste materials onsite which includes waste tires, waste tire beads, waste tire wire and treads.

Prior to the decision to revoke the permit, DEP held weekly meetings with CTR to encourage proper removal and management of tires and wastes. Once the permit is revoked, CTR can no longer accept or process waste.

The department is currently evaluating remediation options for the site including potentially responsible parties and funding. Northcentral DEP Regional Citizens’ Roundtable Celebrates 30th Anniversary The Department of Environmental Protection’s Northcentral Regional Citizens’ Roundtable celebrated its 30th anniversary of on­going, transparent community dialogue at Monday evening’s meeting, which featured DEP Secretary E. Christopher Abruzzo as the special guest speaker.

“The Corbett administration made the revitalization of the department’s regional roundtables a priority from the very beginning, recognizing the need to openly share important agency information and receive feedback from citizens,” DEP Secretary E. Christopher Abruzzo said. “This group, however, needed no revitalization, celebrating 30 years of continual meetings today. I commend them for their dedication and interest in protecting our environment.”

For three decades, the Northcentral Regional Citizens’ Roundtable has enabled DEP to communicate openly and receive valuable feedback on a wide variety of environmental topics. The roundtable has held 120 consecutive quarterly meetings­in January, April, July and October of each year since its first meeting on April 26, 1984.

“The regional roundtable has been a real success story with regard to the department’s outreach efforts,” DEP Northcentral Regional Director Marcus Kohl said. “While the membership has changed over the years, the purpose has not—to improve communication and public participation by explaining our different program initiatives and regulations, and answering questions.”

The 19­member group represents environmental and public interest groups, business and industry, government, and academia. The group’s members reside in seven north­central Pennsylvania counties, including Centre, Clinton, Lycoming, Northumberland, Snyder, Tioga and Union.

Elected to serve two­year terms, the roundtable selects a chairperson and a steering committee. Megan Lehman, the current chairperson, represents Lycoming County’s Department of Planning and Community Development.

For more information, including meeting times and locations, visit DEP’s Northcentral Regional Citizens’ Roundtable webpage. DEP Issues Air Monitoring Report On Chevron Well Fire Site, Greene County The Department of Environmental Protection Wednesday issued a report concluding that no pollutants that would indicate a potential health concern for local residents or emergency responders were found as a result of the Greene County Chevron well fire incident.

“In order to ensure public health and safety, DEP immediately went to work on an aggressive sample regimen,” DEP Secretary E. Christopher Abruzzo said. “It was a top priority of the department to be certain that emergency response workers and nearby residents were not harmed by any emissions caused by this incident.”

DEP took samples from several locations, both upwind and downwind of the well pad. Sampling was conducted from February 12, the day after the fire began, to February 20, when the well was capped. Those samples were analyzed for 57 toxic air pollutants.

While none of the pollutant levels were found to be a threat to health, there were higher concentrations of propane, heptane and 1,2,4­trimethylbenzene than are typically found in other rural areas across the state.

However, DEP cannot verify that these concentrations occurred because of the fire and uncontrolled gas leak.

Heptane often comes from crude oil and is used in paints and solvents; 1,2,4­trimethylbenzene is usually found in coal tar or oil; and the higher concentrations of propane are believed to have come from nearby storage tanks.

DEP used air sampling canisters to collect both instantaneous samples (“grab” samples) and 24­hour samples in its efforts to determine potential public exposure to air pollution from the incident. Each day of the sampling period, two grab samples were collected near residences located downwind of the fire.

To serve as an air quality benchmark, a single daily upwind grab sample was also obtained. In addition, one 24­hour continuous sample was taken at one of the two downwind sample sites.

Department analysts compared the upwind and downwind samples in order to estimate the air toxics concentration during the nine days of the event. The samples were also compared to data

gathered by the 24­hour method. By comparing the sample readings with historic toxic air concentrations at three other air

monitoring sites in the state, analysts were able to determine the extent of any toxic pollution during the incident. In this case, the samples gathered at the Greene County site were compared to a rural location that is generally not impacted by air pollution and two urban sites with differing toxic pollution sources.

The control sites served as a benchmark to show typical air quality for this region of the state, providing the department with a better understanding of any impact that may have been a result of the incident.

A copy of the air monitoring report is available online. A copy of the radiological sampling report is also available online for the well fire. NewsClips: DEP: No Harmful Air Pollution From Greene Well Fire Greene County Gas Well Blast Did Not Foul Air Marcellus Shale Coalition Recognizes Earth Day In recognition of Earth Day, Dave Spigelmyer, President of the Marcellus Shale Coalition, an industry group representing the natural gas production industry, issued the following statement:

“To shale producers and the robust supply chain that supports this development, who are focused squarely on environmental and workforce safety, every day is Earth Day. Our industry goes to work each day, knowing it is crucial that our tightly­regulated operations are conducted with the highest respect for our environment and the communities where we are privileged to work.

“The results of this deeply shared commitment are clear. Today, CO2 emissions in the United States are lower than they have been in 20 years because of the increased natural gas production and use. Leveraging industry­leading technologies, all within a rigorous regulatory framework, our member companies’ collective work is enhancing our environment and making a positive difference across Pennsylvania and the country.

“Earth Day is a reminder that we all have a part to play in protecting and enhancing our environment today and for generations to come. For our industry, continuous improvement is a matter of course. Our commitment to responsibly develop these abundant, clean­burning resources has never been stronger.”

For more information, visit the Marcellus Shale Coalition’s Recommended Practices webpage. NewsClips: Amid State Budget Woes, Drilling Tax Turns GOP Heads Critics: Severance Tax Could Derail Gas Industry In PA Report: Higher Severance Tax Will Not Impede Ohio Gas Industry Local Governments Fail To Account For $17M In Drilling Impact Fee Money DEP: No Harmful Air Pollution From Greene Well Fire Greene County Gas Well Blast Did Not Foul Air Fracking Foes Cringe As Unions Back Drilling Boom Editorial: Key Methane Measure Is Important Marcellus Shale Coalition Recognizes Earth Day After Early Woes, Unions Back Drilling Royalties Bill Stalled In General Assembly Judge Denies Request For Driller’s Request For Spill Case Information

Crash Causes Fracking Water, Diesel Spill Into Chartiers Creek Clearfield Residents Challenge EPA Drilling Wastewater Well Environmental Rights Amendment: Delaware Riverkeeper Challenges Sunoco Pipeline On Monday the Delaware Riverkeeper Network submitted a Petition to Intervene and a Comment Letter with the Public Utility Commission opposing Sunoco Pipeline L.P’s request for an exemption from the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code for the construction of a series of industrial valve control and pumping stations.

Sunoco has proposed developing a pipeline project called Mariner East, which involves a combination of the construction of new pipeline facilities and the use of existing pipeline facilities that will transport natural gas liquids (NGLs) resulting from hydraulic fracturing activities from western Pennsylvania to the Marcus Hook Refinery Complex.

While Sunoco has stated that there are no major markets in the Northeast United States, it has not specifically identified where the NGLs will be shipped. Sunoco's Petitions describe that the Mariner East Project will require the construction of 17 valve stations in 15 different municipalities, and the construction of 18 pumping stations in 18 different municipalities. A number of these facilities would be constructed in Delaware, Chester, and Berks counties, Pennsylvania.

The Delaware Riverkeeper Network’s comment states that Sunoco does not meet the legal standard for classification as a public utility corporation and, therefore is not exempt from the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code, a position which is consistent with a recent decision by a York County Court of Common Pleas (Sunoco Pipeline v. William C. Loper & Jodi Loper, Civil Action No. 2013­SU­4518­05, Feb 25, 2014).

“It is clear here that Sunoco lost in York County, and is now simply trying to take a second bite of the proverbial apple. The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission should not permit them to do so,” states Maya van Rossum, the Delaware Riverkeeper. “It is vitally important that the impact to local communities, zoning, environmental resources, historic resources, public lands and community quality of life be given due consideration by local officials; it would be unfair and unwise to allow Sunoco to be the arbiter of what is right. It also would be setting dangerous precedent to allow Sunoco to evade compliance with the law and with local review, ” added van Rossum.

Furthermore, DRN’s comment argues that a grant of Sunoco’s Petitions is also prohibited by Article I Section 27 of the Pennsylvania Constitution, which states that citizens have a cognizable “right to clean air, pure water, and to the preservation of the natural, scenic, historic and esthetic values of the environment.”

In Robinson Township, Delaware Riverkeeper, et al., v. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court found that citizens and local government have a discrete interest in local zoning regulation with regard to oil and gas operations.

The Delaware Riverkeeper Network contends that if the PUC strips such an interest from local government, the PUC risks undermining the fundamental reasonable expectations on which those interests are based, and therefore, violating the constitutional mandate made clear in Robinson.

“Allowing the oil and gas industry to run roughshod over local communities irrespective of local concerns fundamentally disrupts the environment and the quality of life of those impacted, the PUC must respect the decision that was made by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court to make sure that this does not happen,” added van Rossum.

The Delaware Riverkeeper Network seeks to have the Public Utility Commission reject

Sunoco’s Petitions for exemptions; thereby ensuring that Sunoco abides by the applicable zoning regulations in each of the townships in which it wishes to construct its industrial facilities. NewsClips: Environmental Groups Intervene In Sunoco Pipeline Case Concern Over Sunoco’s Natural Gas Liquids Pipeline To Marcus Hook Lebanon County Group Forming To Oppose Pipeline Residents Grill Sunoco On Pipeline Pumping Station Plan Mount Joy Residents Vent Frustration Over Pipeline Neighbors Voice Concern Over Pipeline In Lancaster Environmental Impacts Of Lancaster Pipeline PA­NY Pipeline’s Future In Erie Attorney Gives Update On Lawsuit Against Regency Pipeline UGI May Soon Move Lots More Gas Editorial: Obama Ducks Keystone XL Pipeline Issue PA American Water To Expand Natural Gas Fleet In Northeast PA Pennsylvania American Water Monday announced plans to expand its fleet of compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles to its northeast Pennsylvania operations.

As a result of Act 13 funding recently awarded by Gov. Tom Corbett, the company will receive a $315,000 grant for CNG­fueled vehicles. The grant was secured through a partnership with Greater Philadelphia Clean Cities Coalition which serves 34 counties in eastern Pennsylvania and works with vehicle fleets, fuel providers, community leaders and other stakeholders to implement alternative fuel use in transportation. .

According to Pennsylvania American Water President Kathy L. Pape, the grant from the Department of Environmental Protection will be used to purchase 18 new utility trucks that use alternate CNG fuel.

The new alternative fuel vehicles will be stationed at Pennsylvania American Water’s operations in Scranton, expanding upon the company’s existing CNG­powered fleet in Norristown, Royersford, Coatesville, Bangor, Clarion and Punxsutawney.

"By growing our fleet of CNG and bi­fuel pick­up and utility trucks across the state, we are able to achieve operational savings through lower fuel costs while decreasing our environmental impact and carbon footprint," said Pape. "The Act 13 grant, thanks to our partnership with Greater Philadelphia Clean Cities, allows us to expand these benefits even further into northeast Pennsylvania."

Pape said the company continues to explore partnerships with alternate fueling providers, municipalities and other organizations to help expand CNG’s reach.

In early 2013, Pennsylvania American Water launched a pilot with four CNG­powered Ford F­250 trucks based in Punxsutawney and Coatesville.

Last November, the company received $62,800 in Alternative Fuel Incentive Grant funding from DEP to convert 14 new light­duty trucks to use alternate CNG fuel. The Act 13 Natural Gas Vehicle grants are financed by impact fees paid by natural gas operators. NewsClip: PA American Water Expanding Natural Gas Fleet DEP Now Accepting Applications For Clean Diesel Grants

The Department of Environmental Protection is now accepting applications for the Pennsylvania Clean Diesel Grant Program. Applications are due June 10. (formal notice)

The Department is seeking applications for projects that will replace, repower or retrofit fleet diesel­powered highway and nonroad vehicles.

Funding is available for public and private entities that operate diesel­powered fleets throughout this Commonwealth. These entities may include school districts, municipal authorities, political subdivisions, other State agencies, nonprofit entities, corporations, limited liability companies or partnerships incorporated or registered in this Commonwealth.

Projects must use technologies certified or verified by the EPA or the California Air Resources Board to lower diesel emissions. The technology may be a single technology or a combination of available technologies. The majority of the fleet's annual operation time must occur within this Commonwealth.

More information will be posted on DEP’s Diesel Retrofit Information webpage. Corbett Announces Carbon Sequestration Partnership With Wyoming, Other Coal States Gov. Tom Corbett Tuesday announced a new partnership with Wyoming Gov. Matthew H. Mead and governors of other major coal­producing states to address the need to effectively deal with carbon emissions from electric generating facilities by developing a test center, to be located at an operating coal­fired electric generation facility, to explore the potential of carbon capture and utilization.

The announcement was made at the Nemacolin Energy Institute’s 3rd Annual Coal Conference in Farmington, Fayette County.

“American­produced coal powers our homes and our economy, and through this partnership we will explore, test and develop commercially available methods to capture carbon emissions and either utilize them productively, or properly dispose of them,” said Corbett.

Gov. Corbett also noted that, on April 10, 2014, the Department of Environmental Protection submitted a white paper to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency , urging them to consider state differences and needed flexibility when developing emissions guidelines addressing carbon dioxide (CO2) standards for existing fossil fuel­fired power stations.

The department’s white paper presents an innovative and flexible framework for achieving lower CO2 emissions from existing fossil fuel­fired power plants and urges the EPA to preserve the authority and discretion of states in the development and implementation of emission control programs.

“An EPA mandate that does not provide for an ‘all of the above’ energy approach that does not recognize Pennsylvania’s diverse energy resources would compromise electric grid reliability, increase the cost of energy and result in significant job loss,” said Corbett. “We need innovation and flexibility to ensure that we are protecting our environment, while also securing the thousands of jobs that so many families in Pennsylvania’s coal industry rely on.”

In addition to providing the conference’s keynote address, the governor also participated in a roundtable discussion with workers and families from Pennsylvania’s coal­dependent communities.

“This morning, 14 hard­working people from the western region took time to share their personal stories with me about how they, and the towns in which they live are impacted by coal industry jobs,” said Corbett. “A lot of discussions around this issue focus on numbers. But behind each number is a person, working to provide for his or her family. This issue is very real to people and their lives are impacted daily. Federal regulators need to start listening and working with us, not against us.” NewsClips:

Corbett: Coal Is Working Coal Fires Plagued NE PA For Decades Brunner Island Power Plant Rolls With Mercury, Smog Rules Editorial: States Should End Appeals Of Mercury Rule Nuclear Reactor Owners To Reassess Quake Resistance Earthquakes Could Affect Beaver Valley Nuclear Plant More Than Thought TMI, Peach Bottom Must Do Further Earthquake Studies Penn State Receives Climate Study Grant Op­Ed: Act On Climate Change On Earth Day Exelon Meets Goal To Eliminate Carbon Emissions Years Ahead Of Schedule Continuing its progress toward a clean energy future, Exelon announced Wednesday it reduced or avoided more than 18 million metric tons of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in 2013, surpassing its goal of eliminating 17.5 million metric tons of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions per year by 2020.

The company completed the goal established by its Exelon 2020 program seven years earlier than planned through an enterprise­wide approach that included reducing emissions in its operations, helping its customers and communities reduce their emissions, and adding more clean energy on the grid to displace energy from higher carbon sources. The GHG emissions eliminated by Exelon in 2013 are equivalent to the annual: — GHG emissions of 3.8 million passenger vehicles, — CO2 emissions from nearly 2.5 million homes’ electricity use, or — carbon sequestered by 14.8 million acres of U.S. forests.

“We believe that clean, reliable and affordable energy is key to a more sustainable future. Exelon 2020 has helped us move closer to that vision,” said Chris Crane, Exelon’s president and CEO. “It provided us with a clear goal, and we could not have accomplished it without the dedication and effective collaboration of our employees, customers, communities and business partners.”

The company surpassed its goal through a series of cost­effective investments and business decisions in response to a rapidly shifting energy landscape. By innovating and maintaining a focus on efficient operations, Exelon achieved meaningful emissions reductions across its family of businesses, even as the energy industry underwent major changes since Exelon 2020 was introduced, including the natural gas boom, the growth of renewables and the expansion of beyond­the­meter solutions.

Examples of key Exelon initiatives that helped contribute to emissions reductions and avoidance include: — Retirement of fossil plants and company energy efficiency and process improvement efforts that resulted in a reduction of more than 9.8 million metric tons of GHG emissions; — Addition of 316 megawatts (MW) of emission­free energy through uprates across the nuclear fleet; — Employee efforts, such as increased waste recycling and carbon sequestration projects, that resulted in 2013 reductions of nearly 80,000 metric tons; — Customer energy efficiency programs at Exelon’s three utilities – BGE, ComEd and PECO – that saved a total of approximately 6.3 million megawatt­hours (MWh), equivalent to approximately 3.3 million metric tons of emissions in 2013; — Retail customer programs – including energy efficiency, distributed solar installation, sale of voluntary renewable energy credits (RECs) and demand response – that avoided more than 1.2 million metric tons of GHG emissions in 2013;

— Retirement of more than 2.7 million MWh of RECs purchased by the utilities in 2013 which support renewable development and meet state renewable portfolio standard obligations; — Retirement of more than 44,000 Climate Reserve Tonnes to offset Exelon’s entire 2013 business travel carbon footprint; and — Other company efforts since Exelon 2020 was introduced, such as the integration of more than 1,300 MW of new wind generation and addition of 359 MW of new solar capacity, that result in emissions avoidance not accounted for under the program.

Exelon’s industry­leading fleet of nuclear power plants plays an important role in its low­emissions profile, avoiding 82 million metric tons of GHG emissions per year. At a time when nuclear power plants face a combination of economic challenges that threaten their continued operation, Crane noted that the Exelon fleet and nuclear power in general remain essential to meeting the nation’s climate goals.

“Our reliable, always­on nuclear fleet produces enough affordable, carbon­free energy to power 17 million homes annually,” Crane said. “It is part of a U.S. fleet that provides 64 percent of our nation’s carbon­free electricity, up to a quarter of which could be at risk for early retirement. Losing that generating capacity would forfeit more than half of the progress to date in meeting U.S. climate goals. Our energy policies must ensure that existing nuclear energy plants are preserved.”

Exelon ensures accurate tracking and verification of its annual GHG emissions by conforming to The Climate Registry and the World Resources Institute’s GHG Protocol, as well as ISO 14064 standards. Elements of the Exelon 2020 program beyond its primary GHG inventory also were third­party verified for 2013. More information on Exelon 2020 is available here.

In 2013, Exelon was the only U.S.­based utility company to appear on CDP’s Global 500 Climate Disclosure Leadership Index and Climate Performance Leadership Index for leadership in reducing carbon emissions and addressing climate change. In recognition of Exelon’s consistently strong sustainability performance, the company has been named to the Dow Jones Sustainability North America Index for eight consecutive years.

Exelon introduced Exelon 2020 in 2008, with a goal of eliminating 15.7 million metric tons of GHG emissions annually by 2020, as measured from the company’s emissions in 2001, its first full year of operation. Following the March 2012 merger of Exelon and Constellation, the company updated its goal to reflect the combined carbon­abatement goals of the two companies before they merged. DEP Sets International Energy Conservation Code Workshop In Exton On May 15 The Department of Environmental Protection invites code enforcement officials, builders, contractors and designers to a May 15 training workshop in Exton, Chester County, on the 2009 International Energy Conservation Code.

The workshop will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Wyndham Garden Exton Valley Forge Hotel, 815 N. Pottstown Pike.

The one­day program will focus on energy code compliance for commercial buildings. Participants will learn about the duties of a commercial energy inspector, perform a thorough commercial energy review plan, review COMcheck software compliance materials and learn how to follow a process for completing thorough energy inspections.

The IECC is updated every three years by the International Code Council. In Pennsylvania, it is considered part of the Uniform Construction Code (UCC), according to Act 49.

The cost to register is $40 and includes a training manual, breakfast and lunch. Six Uniform

Commercial Code continuing education hours will be awarded to attendees. Registration is available online and will be accepted on a first­come, first­served basis. Walk­ins

may be accepted if space and materials are available. Funding for the workshop is provided by the department through a U.S. Department of Energy

State Energy Program grant. For more information, visit the PA Construction Codes Academy website or call

717­763­0930. CarCharging, Turnpike, DEP Partner To Provide Electric Vehicle Charging At 2 Plazas Car Charging Group, Inc. Wednesday announced drivers along the Pennsylvania Turnpike can now recharge their electric cars at the service plazas located in Bowmansville and King of Prussia.

The Bowmansville Service Plaza is located eastbound at milepost 290 in Lancaster County and the King of Prussia Service Plaza is located at milepost 328 in Montgomery County.

The EV charging services provided at the Turnpike Service Plazas are made possible through a partnership between the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission and the Department of Environmental Protection.

DEP awarded a $1 million Alternative Fuel Incentive Grant to CarCharging to help stimulate the electric car market in the Commonwealth. The deadline for new grant applications is May 30.

"We are delighted to partner with the PTC and DEP to offer EV charging services to travelers along the PA turnpike," said Michael D. Farkas, Chief Executive Officer of CarCharging. "CarCharging has served as a pioneer in providing public EV charging services and we are proud to support EV drivers with new and accessible locations as they travel throughout Pennsylvania."

"Gov. Corbett has consistently advocated for a true, 'all­of­the­above' energy policy; certainly, Pennsylvania has the resources and expertise to lead an American energy revolution," says DEP Secretary E. Christopher Abruzzo. "This commitment to EV charging stations at Turnpike service plazas is further proof that good business practices and environmental stewardship are not mutually exclusive."

"Within the next two weeks, charging services will expand to two additional plazas: Oakmont in Allegheny County and New Stanton in Westmoreland County," says Turnpike COO Craig Shuey. "Eventually, the plan is to offer EV charging at all 17 service plazas that dot the Pennsylvania Turnpike system."

The EV charging stations at the Bowmansville and King of Prussia Turnpike Service Plazas are Blink Level II chargers, which provide 240 volts with 32 amps of power to quickly recharge an EV's battery.

To initiate and pay for the charging session, EV drivers can easily request a Blink InCard. CarCharging's EV charging stations also accept direct payment via credit card. Scheetz Earns Gold LEED Certification For ShWellness Center On April 22 Sheetz, Inc. will formally accept the gold certification (second­highest level attainable) from the USGBC's LEED program for the environmentally responsible design of its Sheetz Center for Shwellness in Claysburg, Blair County. The program is kicking off a daylong Earth Day celebration for Sheetz employees.

Joe Sheetz, president/CEO of Sheetz, and Mike Schiller, executive director of the Green Building Alliance, Pittsburgh chapter of USGBC, headline the event. Members of the press are

welcome to join Sheetz in the celebration! "Meeting the gold level of LEED accreditation is an accomplishment we're quite proud of at

Sheetz," said Joe Sheetz. "Our in­house architects, designers and builders worked with talented partners to develop the plans and construct the facility to satisfy the guidelines of this program. Recognition from the USBGC with their gold certification is further evidence of our commitment to be environmentally responsible."

Opened in 2012, the 11,000­square­foot Sheetz Center for Shwellness became Blair County's first LEED Certified building, meaning it meets strict environmentally friendly criteria in its design, construction and operation as a truly "green" facility. The Sheetz Center for Shwellness is a complete health, fitness and learning facility that serves as a hub for wellness outreach to the 15,500+ Sheetz employees across the company's six­state operating area.

The Sheetz Annual Earth Day celebration, exclusively for Sheetz employees (and members of the press who wish to attend), continues immediately following the acceptance ceremony, until 4:30 p.m.

"Our annual Earth Day event has grown in size and popularity with our employees," said Sheetz. "We look forward to this day and encourage the Sheetz workforce from our distribution center, warehouse and Sheetz Bros. Kitchen in Claysburg, as well as our corporate office staff and CLI Transport team in Altoona to get out, get some fresh air, enjoy themselves, and learn about ways they can make a difference with the footprint they leave in their community."

Activities for the day include: Chair massages, drinks from the Sheetz Bros. Coffeez truck, snacks, lunch, Sheetz community garden sign­up, Shwellness fitness challenge, Seven Springs Mountain Resort overnight giveaways, a rock climbing wall, Sheetz Adopt­A­Highway sign­up, home energy audit information, Penn State's Enactus Team and Master Gardeners information and tips, Blair County Conservation tree sapling giveaways and displays about Rain Barrel Gardens, Care 4 Creation Garden Plot information, Inter­municipal Relations Committee Council of Governments Recycling and Composting inBlair County, Eaton Electric Car Charger and Chevy Volt display, Shaver's Creek Environmental Center Birds of Prey Exhibit, Fly Tying Demonstrations, representatives from the Central PA Humane Society, Rails to Trails of Central PA, DCNR, Game Commission, plus other fun and games, drawings and freebies. EPA Names Top 100 Organizations Using Renewable Energy The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Green Power Partnership Wednesday released an updated list of the Top 100 organizations that are choosing to use electricity from clean, renewable sources like wind and solar power.

The Pennsylvania organizations on the list included: BNY Mellon (21), University of Pennsylvania (28), City of Philadelphia (44), Carnegie Mellon University (48) and Drexel University (57).

EPA also put out a list of 100 percent green power users that included: Drexel University, ING U.S., SAP America, Philadelphia Phillies, Swarthmore College, Philadelphia Eagles, Allegheny College, Mercyhurst College, Haverford College, Chatham University, Eastern University, Borough of West Chester, Borough of State College, Philadelphia Insurance Companies, Academy of Natural Sciences, World Resources Company, Knepper Press, Westtown School, Malvern Schools, Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, Great Atlantic Graphics, Inc., Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh, 12th Street Gym, Borough of Swarthmore, Broudy Printing, Inc., Yards Brewing Company,

Greensgrow Farms, Dentists on Washington, SEEDS Green Printing and Design, The Barber Gale Group and evolveEA.

“By using green power, these companies and organizations are showing that business can flourish while taking meaningful steps to reduce carbon pollution,” said Gina McCarthy, EPA Administrator. “Making cleaner choices to power our communities, institutions and businesses reduces the pollution that contributes to climate change, protects America's health and environment, and supports continued growth in the green power sector."

The complete list of the Top 100 is available online. PUC Holds May 5 Hearing On Combined Heat, Power Technology The Public Utility Commission will hold an en banc hearing on the use of combined heat and power (CHP) on May 5 in Philadelphia to explore current issues and discuss regulatory policies impacting greater adoption of CHP in the Commonwealth.

The hearing, at Drexel University’s AJ Picture Gallery from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., will feature discussions by CHP experts, project developers, technology vendors and representatives from Philadelphia Gas Works and PECO Energy Company.

PUC Chairman Robert F. Powelson will attend, as well as Commissioners Gladys M. Brown, Pamela A. Witmer and James H. Cawley.

“CHP, despite having been used in the U.S. in some form for more than 100 years, is still underutilized,” said Chairman Powelson. “With an abundance of natural gas flowing from the Marcellus Shale, examining the role Pennsylvania CHP systems play in powering our businesses makes real economic sense.”

CHP is an efficient approach to generating electric power and thermal energy from a single fuel source, providing cost­effective energy services to commercial businesses like hotels, universities and hospitals. In addition to benefits like improving manufacturing competitiveness and reducing greenhouse gas emissions, CHP benefits businesses by reducing energy costs and enhancing energy reliability for the user.

Currently, CHP systems generate just 7.2 percent of Pennsylvania’s total electricity, amounting to 2,638 megawatts (MW). The technical potential for additional CHP systems in the Commonwealth, primarily in existing industrial and commercial facilities, is close to 11,000 MW.

Click Here for a copy of the agenda. FirstEnergy Waives Polar Vortex Surcharge For Residential Customers FirstEnergy Solutions, a subsidiary of FirstEnergy Corp. announced Friday a recently proposed surcharge associated with January's polar vortex will be waived for its residential customers. The one­time, $5 to $15 per customer surcharge would have appeared on customers' May, June or July bills.

"It was a very difficult winter, particularly for residential customers, and hopefully waiving the surcharge will make it somewhat easier," said Donald R. Schneider, president of FirstEnergy Solutions. "Even though our contracts allow us to pass through surcharges, we have decided we won't seek reimbursement from residential customers for the added costs."

During the January polar vortex, PJM Interconnection (PJM) – the regional transmission organization that coordinates reliability and wholesale electricity in our region – initiated emergency

procedures that included the purchase of reserve electric generation to keep the electric system operational throughout these severe conditions.

Costs associated with the purchase were invoiced by PJM to all retail suppliers serving customers throughout the region, and certain contracts allowed those costs to be passed through to customers at the discretion of the supplier.

FirstEnergy Solutions provides competitive electric generation supply and other energy­related products and services to more than 2.7 million customers, and is a licensed supplier in Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, Michigan and Illinois. NewsClips: 50K Electric Customers Flip Switch After Price Swings Winter Electric Bill Spikes Drive 50K To Local Suppliers Penn Township’s New Sustainability Park, Walking Path Open In Lancaster County Environmental stewardship is behind the new Sustainability Park located at 306 Doe Run Road in Penn Township, Lancaster County. Now open to the public, the four­acre park was developed with the cooperation of township officials, Northwestern Lancaster County Authorityand Kreider Farms.

The land, which was purchased by NWLCA and formerly part of Kreider Farms, provides access to a high­volume water well, which has been transformed into a NWLCA Water Treatment Plant Facility to provide safe, high­quality drinking water for the community. As part of the joint agreement, the three parties planned for a scenic park to surround the state­of­the­art treatment facility.

Completed this spring and open from dawn to dusk, Penn Township’s Sustainability Park includes a 1/4­mile walking trail loop that traverses through meadows, by several rain gardens, and alongside a maturing wooded riparian buffer, providing views of the surrounding valley.

Signs along the path explain numerous ways the environment is being protected at the site as well as on Kreider Farms’ adjacent land. Each sign features a take­home tip to demonstrate how environmental sustainability can be practiced “in your backyard.”

“The treatment facility’s location allows us to funnel stormwater directly into the aquifer; it’s a vital resource for us. The Township, NWLCA, and Kreider Farms recognize the importance of protecting our community’s water resources through implementation of ‘green’ infrastructure and sustainable farming practices,” explained David Kratzer, Township Manager. “While this new facility has the technical capacity to treat the raw water to a very high level of treatment prior to distribution to its customers, our cooperative efforts seek to improve raw water quality through improving the surface water quality; thereby, reducing operational treatment costs.”

“We are happy that a former portion of our farm could be used as a valuable source of drinking water as well as a beautiful park where visitors can experience nature and learn about simple strategies for improving the environment,” said Ron Kreider, president and CEO, and third­generation family leader of Kreider Farms. “Environmental stewardship is actively supported throughout our organization, from our Bion waste treatment facility to our solar­powered chicken houses and other conservation efforts.”

Open House On May 3 between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m., the water treatment facility and site

will be open for tours. Additional information about the NWLCA Water Treatment Facility and the Sustainability Park

can be obtained by contacting Penn Township at 717­665­4508 or send email to:

dkratzer@penntwplanco.org. For more information about Kreider Farms, please their website or Facebook page.

Groundbreaking For Bedford County Rail­Trail Project Held Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Ellen Ferretti Thursday joined state and local officials in celebrating the groundbreaking for a 2­mile stretch of the Huntingdon & Broad Top Rail Trail in Broad Top and Hopewell townships, Bedford County.

DCNR invested $80,000 through its Community Conservation Partnerships Program in this section of a trail that eventually will extend 10.6 miles. The rail trail project is the first in Bedford County.

“Pennsylvania has more open rail trails than any other state in the nation and is among the top states in rail­trail mileage,” Ferretti told the groundbreaking gathering. “And why is that? Because support of these projects is a sound economic investment.”

Referencing recent economic impact studies of 11 of the state’s longer rail trails, Ferretti noted “rail trails can offer a strong economic boost to local communities. These 11 trails alone receive more than 3 million visitors a year, generating more than $91 million in user­spending annually.”

Pending work at the Broad Top Township site will include trail construction from the Cooper Recreation Area to the Juniata River bridge, fencing, ADA­accessible features, landscaping, signage and other related site improvements. In an effort to contain costs, the township is supplying project labor.

When complete, the almost­11­mile trail will traverse the village of Riddlesburg, Hopewell Borough, and Hopewell and West Providence townships, and continue to the village of Tatesville.

“Trails are all about connections and we know users that come will be making those connections ­­ to the towns and abundant natural resources found along the way,” Ferretti said. “Recent survey data shows trails ranked as the number one recreational interest among Pennsylvanians right now, and people want them close to home.”

The trail project may be a first for Bedford County, but DCNR is no stranger to rail trails. Pennsylvania now boasts 177 open rail trails totaling 1,709 miles.

Broad Top Township owns the rights­of­way through multiple municipalities and has been instrumental in leading the trail building effort, along with Rails to Trails of Bedford County. Other key partners include the Department of Transportation, which has supplied $307,000 toward the total project; the Bedford County Commissioners; Bedford County Planning Commission; and the Southern Alleghenies Planning and Development Commission.

Ferretti was joined at the groundbreaking event by Sen. John Eichelberger (R­Blair) and Rep. Jesse Topper (R­Bedford).

For more information on trails in Pennsylvania visit Explore PA Trails. 500 Expected To Run/Hike In Central PA Conservancy’s Ironmaster’s Challenge April 27 Hosted by the Central Pennsylvania Conservancy in partnership with the Susquehanna Appalachian Trail Club, the Fifth Annual Ironmaster’s Challenge trail race will take place on April 27, starting at the Furnace Stack Pavilion and ending at the Ironmaster’s Mansion, both within Pine Grove Furnace State Park.

Event participants come from all over Pennsylvania and the Mid­Atlantic states to challenge

themselves by traversing one of three different distances through Michaux State Forest and Pine Grove Furnace State Park.

This unique south­central Pennsylvania running and hiking trail race is the biggest annual fundraiser of the Central Pennsylvania Conservancy and allows it to continue to maintain, operate, and host programs at the historic, 1829 Ironmaster’s Mansion.

The three events include a 50K Ultra, a 25K Challenge, and a 15K Challenge. They begin at 7:30, 8:30, and 9:30 am, respectively, at the Furnace Stack Pavilion. Registration for all three events is currently sold out at 500 participants. The event ends with a festive finish­line picnic celebration at the Ironmaster’s Mansion.

Among the many sponsors and volunteers that make this event possible include F&M Trust, The Friends of Pine Grove Furnace State Park, West Shore Family Dentistry, Waggoner, Frutiger, and Daub, Americprise Financial­Stickney Associates, Pepper Hamilton LLP, Saul Ewing LLP, Lobar Construction, and Select Medical.

Our 2014 Beverage Sponsors include Filson Water and Roy Pitz Brewing Company, both supporting the event for a second year in a row.

Our finish line picnic celebration and participant goody bags are made possible by the Cumberland Valley Visitor’s Bureau, Keystone Trails Association, Chambersburg Farmer’s Market, Sodexo, Hershey’s, Utz, Emergen­C packets, Allenberry Resort Inn and Playhouse, and The Boiling Springs Tavern.

The Ironmaster’s Mansion is managed by the Central Pennsylvania Conservancy as a youth hostel for overnight stays by the hiking community; a group rental facility for retreats and special events; and a venue for environmental education and history programming.

To learn more about this event, please visit the Ironmasters’ Challenge website and the Susquehanna Appalachian Trail Club Facebook page for new features and updates. Upper Delaware River Basin Cold Water Fisheries Economic Impact— $414 Million Delaware County Economic Development and Friends of the Upper Delaware River have completed a study of the economic impact of the cold water fishery that now exists on the Delaware River’s upper sections, including the East and West Branches.

The final estimate of the current net value of the cold water fishery is an estimated $414 million ($305 million in economic activity plus another $109 million in second home real estate values connected with that activity).

The estimated value of the cold water fishery as both a boating and fishing resource, as well as a foundation for camping and second home visitation, could be enhanced by $274 million with more consistent cold water releases ($203 million in economic activity plus another $71 million in second home real estate values connected with that activity).

Research and data from a number of sources concluded that the lack of consistent cold water releases from New York City’s Cannonsville and Pepacton Reservoirs has kept the local boating and fishing industry from capitalizing on approximately 40 percent of the recreational opportunities that could exist with more consistent releases.

“The Upper Delaware River is an environmental jewel and an economic driver for the region. This report demonstrates just how important it is to protect and restore this magnificent resource for people, communities, water quality, and wildlife habitat," said Jeff Skelding, Executive Director of Friends of the Upper Delaware River.

“The Upper Delaware Council (UDC) was pleased to award a 2014 Technical Assistance Grant to its member Town of Hancock to assist in the completion of this valuable economic study and the production of promotional materials to quantifiably demonstrate how improved releases from the New York City Water Supply System will help stimulate the economy of the Upper Delaware region,” said Laurie Ramie, Executive Director of the non­profit, bi­state organization that works in partnership with the National Park Service to coordinate implementation of the River Management Plan for the Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River.

The study further notes every dollar spent at the fishing destination by anglers is accompanied by another 61 cents spent en­route.

This means another $186 million is now being spent on boating and fishing related activities outside the immediately impacted area, with the potential to add another $124 million from more consistent releases. Assuming 75 percent of that money is spent in New York, that’s another potential $7.5 million in sales tax revenue for those areas.

“As Tourism Director of Delaware County,” stated James Thomson, “I have always felt that the true value of this important tourism resource was not being adequately acknowledged. To me this study validates my feelings and I am more convinced than ever that we need to work with NY City DEP to find ways to protect what we have now and to indeed maximize the tourism potential of the Delaware River.”

Finally, the study illustrates it is residents of the New York City metro area who own many of the second homes in the immediately impacted region and as much $22.8 million of the $109 million in second home value is related to boating and fishing. Their properties could gain as much as $15.2 million in value from more consistent cold water releases by the City of New York.

The study, accordingly, recommends a more reliable, consistent pattern of releases such as that as articulated within an “Equitable Apportionment Plan” strongly supported by both Upper Delaware conservation and development groups. The purpose of the plan is to alleviate dramatic fluctuations in releases and river flows and address thermal stress concerns.

Delaware County Economic Development Director, Glenn Nealis, commented that, “while it may not be practical to ensure proper flows for boating and fishing every weekend, there is a lot of room for improvement, and with the City’s cooperation, we could generate some significant economic benefits to the region potentially exceeding a quarter of a billion dollars.”

The study required eight months of research and included an online business survey. It was funded with help from the Delaware County Industrial Development Agency and the Upper Delaware Council.

The survey and study were conducted with the assistance of Shepstone Management Company and addressed economic impacts for a region encompassing parts of Broome, Delaware, Sullivan and Wayne Counties.

A copy of the study is available online. Fort Indiantown Gap Begins Prescribed Burns For Wildfire Prevention The Department of Military and Veterans Affairs’ Forestry Department has begun its spring prescribed burns to reduce the risk of wildfire at Fort Indiantown Gap, Lebanon County. Weather permitting, the burns will be held between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m.

A prescribed burn is a commonly used forestry management technique that reduces the amount of combustible material naturally existing in the wilderness. It is performed only when conditions such as

humidity, wind and temperature are ideal for managing fires. Prescribed burns are not conducted unless all required weather conditions are met.

“Prescribed burns help reduce the potential of major wildfires on Fort Indiantown Gap property,” said DMVA Forest Program Manager Shannon Henry. “They are always conducted by properly trained personnel with an approved plan and coordinated with the appropriate authorities.”

Prescribed burns will be conducted on approximately 2,500 acres at Fort Indiantown Gap through May.

Fort Indiantown Gap, headquarters to the DMVA and Pennsylvania National Guard, offers more than 17,000 acres and 140 training areas and facilities for year­round training.

It balances one of the region’s most ecologically diverse areas with a military mission that annually supports 19,000 Pennsylvania National Guard personnel and more than 130,000 other states’ Guard, military, law enforcement, and civilian personnel each year. It is the only live­fire, maneuver military training facility in Pennsylvania.

For more information, visit the Fort Indiantown Gap website. NewsClips: Brush Fire Season Ignites In NE PA Crews Battle Brush Fires In Lancaster Man Dead In Beaver County Brush Fire Open Burning Warning Issues For NE PA Your 2 Cents: Issues On Advisory Committee Agendas This section gives you a continuously updated thumbnail sketch of issues to be considered in upcoming advisory committee meetings where the agendas have been released May 6­­ DEP Environmental Justice Advisory Board meeting. City of Chester City Hall, Chester. 5:00 p.m. (formal notice) May 7­­ Agenda Released. DEP Chesapeake Bay Management Team meeting. DEP Southcentral Regional Office, 909 Elmerton Ave., Harrisburg. 9:30. (formal notice) ­­ Presentation on how to reduce costs ­ Jim Shortle ­­ EPA Updates ­­ Progress Run Watershed update ­­ Milestones Update ­­ New Watershed Agreement Update ­­ Next Steps <> Click Here for available handouts. May 7­­ DEP hearing session on Hilcorp Energy Gas Well Spacing Units application. Albert P. Gettings Government Center Annex of the Lawrence County Government Center, Assembly Room, 349 Countyline St., New Castle. 10:00 a.m. May 8­­ DEP hearing sessions on Hilcorp Energy Gas Well Spacing Units application. Albert P. Gettings Government Center Annex of the Lawrence County Government Center, Assembly Room, 349 Countyline St., New Castle. 9:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.

May 8­­ DEP holds a hearing on a air quality redesignation request for the Allentown Maintenance Area. DEP Regional Office, 2 Public Square, Wilkes­Barre. 1:00. (formal notice) May 8­­ Agenda Released. Susquehanna River Basin Commission holds a public hearing on water withdrawal requests. Room 8E­B East Wing, Capitol Building, Harrisburg. 2:30. (formal notice) May 14­­ DEP Water Resources Advisory Committee meeting. Room 105 Rachel Carson Building. 9:30. May 21­­ Environmental Quality Board meeting. Room 105 Rachel Carson Building. 9:00. May 21­­ DEP Citizens Advisory Council meeting. Room 105 Rachel Carson Building. 10:00. May 27­­ Environmental Quality Board holds a hearing on proposed changes to Chapters 121 & 129 ­ RACT requirements for major sources of NOx and VOCs. DEP Southwest Regional Office, 400 Waterfront Dr., Pittsburgh. 1:00. (formal notice) May 28­­ Environmental Quality Board holds a hearing on proposed changes to Chapters 121 & 129 ­ RACT requirements for major sources of NOx and VOCs. DEP Southeast Regional Office, 2 East Main St., Norristown. 1:00. (formal notice) May 29­­ Environmental Quality Board holds a hearing on proposed changes to Chapters 121 & 129 ­ RACT requirements for major sources of NOx and VOCs. DEP Office, Room 105 Rachel Carson Building, Harrisburg. 1:00. (formal notice) June 3­­ NEW. DEP Storage Tank Advisory Committee meeting. 14th Floor Conference Room, Rachel Carson Building. 10:00. June 4­­ NEW. DEP Coastal Zone Advisory Committee meeting. 10th Floor Conference Room, Rachel Carson Building. 9:30. June 5­­ NEW. DEP Solid Waste Advisory Committee meeting. Room 105 Rachel Carson Building. 10:00. June 10­­ NEW. DEP Board Of Coal Mine Safety meeting. DEP Cambria Office, 286 Industrial Park Rd., Ebensburg. 10:00. June 12­­ DEP Radiation Protection Advisory Committee meeting. 14th Floor Conference Room, Rachel Carson Building. 9:00. (formal notice) June 12­­ NEW. DEP Air Quality Technical Advisory Committee meeting. Room 105 Rachel Carson Building. 9:15. June 16­­ NEW. DEP Agricultural Advisory Board meeting. DEP Southcentral Regional Office, 909

Elmerton Ave., Harrisburg. 10:00. June 17­­ NEW. Environmental Quality Board meeting. Room 105 Rachel Carson Building. 9:00. June 17­­ NEW. DEP Citizens Advisory Council meeting. Room 105 Rachel Carson Building. 10:00. June 18­­ NEW. DEP Small Water Systems Technical Assistance Center Board meeting. Room 105 Rachel Carson Building. 10:00. June 18­­ NEW. DEP State Board for Certification of Water and Wastewater System Operators meeting. 10th Floor Conference Room, Rachel Carson Building. 10:00. June 24­­ NEW. DEP Climate Change Advisory Committee meeting. Room 105 Rachel Carson Building. 10:00. June 25­­ NEW. DEP State Board for Certification Of Sewage Enforcement Operators meeting. Conference Room 11B, Rachel Carson Building. 10:00. June 26­­ DEP Oil and Gas Technical Advisory Board meeting. Room 105 Rachel Carson Building. 10:00. July 30­­ NEW. DCNR Natural Gas Advisory Committee meeting. LTBA. Visit DEP’s new Public Participation Center for information on how you can Be Informed! and Get Involved! in DEP regulation and guidance development process. Click Here for links to DEP’s Advisory Committee webpages. DEP Calendar of Events Add Green Works In PA To Your Google+ Circle 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. April 30­­ Northeast PA Audubon Society College Scholarship April 30­­ EPA President’s Green Chemistry Challenge Awards May 1­­ Dominion Energy, Environment Education Grants May 2­­ NEW. Voting On CBF Save The Bay Photo Contest Winners May 9­­ CFA Alternative and Clean Energy Program May 9­­ CFA Renewable Energy Program May 9­­ CFA High Performance Building Program May 14­­ PennVEST Water Infrastructure Financing

May 15­­ Philadelphia Water Spokesdog Competition May 16­­ Fish & Boat Commission State Wildlife Grants May 16­­ CFA PA Small Water And Sewer Program May 22­­ DCNR Volunteer Firefighter Grants May 23­­ KPB Great American Cleanup Of PA Video Contest May 30­­ DEP Alternative Energy Vehicle Conversion Grants June 10­­ NEW. DEP Pennsylvania Clean Diesel Grant Program June 27­­ SRBC Consumptive Use Mitigation Project Proposals June 30­­ DEP Alternative Fuel Vehicle Rebate Program June 30­­ PennDOT Multi­Modal Transportation Projects July 11­­ CFA Alternative and Clean Energy Program July 11­­ CFA Renewable Energy Program July 11­­ CFA High Performance Building Program July 14­­ NEW. ARIPPA Abandoned Mine Reclamation Grants July 21­­ CFA Sewage Facilities Program July 21­­ CFA Abandoned Mine Drainage Abatement July 21­­ CFA Watershed Restoration Protection July 21­­ CFA Baseline Water Quality Data Program July 21­­ CFA Greenways, Trails and Recreation July 21­­ CFA Orphan or Abandoned Well Plugging July 21­­ CFA Flood Mitigation Program September 22­­ CFA Alternative and Clean Energy Program September 22­­ CFA Renewable Energy Program September 22­­ CFA High Performance Building Program October 31­­ Hawk Mountain Sanctuary Digital Photo Contest October 31­­ PRC Lens On Litter Photo Contest ­­ Visit the DEP Grants and Loan Programs webpage for more ideas on how to get financial assistance for environmental projects. Add Green Works In PA To Your Google+ Circle Budget/Quick NewsClips Here's a selection of NewsClips on environmental topics from around the state­­ Musto Remembered For Environmental Accomplishments Brush Fire Season Ignites In NE PA Crews Battle Brush Fires In Lancaster Man Dead In Beaver County Brush Fire Open Burning Warning Issues For NE PA Budget Amid State Budget Woes, Drilling Tax Turns GOP Heads Marcellus Shale Advocates Against Severance Tax Critics: Severance Tax Could Derail Gas Industry In PA

Report: Higher Severance Tax Will Not Impede Ohio Gas Industry Local Governments Fail To Account For $17M In Drilling Impact Fee Money Other Volunteers Needed For Susquehanna Cleanup Project Volunteers Clean Up Presque Isle Geisinger CMC Cleans Up On Earth Day Alphabet Academy Goes Green Finding The True Green On Earth Day Lehigh Grads Turn Ocean Waste Into Skateboards Derry Twp., Wegmans Participate In Drug Take Back Day Crawford Students Decorate Grocery Bags For Earth Day Manheim Center T­Shirts Support Clean Streams King’s Students Clean Up Earth Day Rally Reminder To Respect Planet Earth Day Fair Draws Crowds At Scranton University Earth Day Cleanup Planned For Harvey’s Lake Editorial: Saving RiverQuest, Time To Step Up PA American Water Expanding Natural Gas Fleet Editorial: Every Day Is Earth Day Editorial: These Earth Day Activities Can Improve Your Planet Environmental Ed Grants Go To 5 NE PA Groups Delta’s Refinery Loses $41 Million In Quarter Biofuel Falls Short As Alternative Report Says Swarthmore Team’s Car Gets 1,300 Miles Per Gallon Editorial: Give Carpooling Program A Shot Get Blown Away By Tours Of Turkey Point Wind Mills PSU GREEN Program Empowering Tomorrow’s Renewable Energy Leaders Mt. Pleasant To Save With Energy Efficient Lighting Attorney General Warns Of Electricity Shut­Off Scams PPL Seeks To Expand Storm Fund Category 50K Electric Customers Flip Switch After Price Swings Winter Electric Bill Spikes Drive 50K To Local Suppliers Brunner Island Power Plant Rolls With Mercury, Smog Rules Editorial: States Should End Appeals Of Mercury Rule Corbett: Coal Is Working Coal Fires Plagued NE PA For Decades New Federal Limits On Coal Dust In Mines Nuclear Reactor Owners To Reassess Quake Resistance Earthquakes Could Affect Beaver Valley Nuclear Plant More Than Thought TMI, Peach Bottom Must Do Further Earthquake Studies Casey: Move Forward On Nuke Dump Cleanup Penn State Receives Climate Study Grant Op­Ed: Act On Climate Change On Earth Day Landslides Put Baldwin Firefighters In Financial Peril Abbie Hoffman’s Presence Echoes Decades Later

Lehigh Valley Golf Courses Recognized For Green Commitment Garden Projects Unites Homewood Thru Self­Sufficiency Erie Industrialist Arbor Day Proponent Presque Isle Beaches In Good Shape Editorial: Earth Day Reminder, Protect Presque Isle Bucks, Montgomery Expanding Bike Trail Network Appalachian Trail Maintenance Often Falls To Volunteers Anglers Among First Impacted By Undesirable Plants, Animals Hawk Sanctuary Has Different Kind Of Egg Hunt Asian Carp May Be On Lake Erie Doorstep ­­ DEP’s NewsClips webpage ­ Click Here Add Green Works In PA To Your Google+ Circle Marcellus Shale NewsClips Here are NewsClips on topics related to Marcellus Shale natural gas drilling­­­ Amid State Budget Woes, Drilling Tax Turns GOP Heads Critics: Severance Tax Could Derail Gas Industry In PA Report: Higher Severance Tax Will Not Impede Ohio Gas Industry Local Governments Fail To Account For $17M In Drilling Impact Fee Money DEP: No Harmful Air Pollution From Greene Well Fire Greene County Gas Well Blast Did Not Foul Air Fracking Foes Cringe As Unions Back Drilling Boom Editorial: Key Methane Measure Is Important Marcellus Shale Coalition Recognizes Earth Day After Early Woes, Unions Back Drilling Royalties Bill Stalled In General Assembly Judge Denies Request For Driller’s Request For Spill Case Information Crash Causes Fracking Water, Diesel Spill Into Chartiers Creek Clearfield Residents Challenge EPA Drilling Wastewater Well Marcus Hook Refinery Gets Makeover As Gas Hub Delta’s Refinery Loses $41 Million In Quarter PA American Water Expanding Natural Gas Fleet Shale Development Boosting U.S. Retail Sector Editorial: Crude Oil Train Safety Still Off Track PA­NY Pipeline’s Future In Erie Environmental Groups Intervene In Sunoco Pipeline Case Concern Over Sunoco’s Natural Gas Liquids Pipeline To Marcus Hook Lebanon County Group Forming To Oppose Pipeline Residents Grill Sunoco On Pipeline Pumping Station Plan Mount Joy Residents Vent Frustration Over Pipeline Neighbors Voice Concern Over Pipeline In Lancaster

Environmental Impacts Of Lancaster Pipeline Attorney Gives Update On Lawsuit Against Regency Pipeline UGI May Soon Move Lots More Gas Editorial: Obama Ducks Keystone XL Pipeline Issue Hempfield Settles Seismic Testing Lawsuit West Deer, Frazer Drilling Proposal Draws Comments Questions Lobbed At Deer Lakes Park Drilling Meeting Change To Be Offered For Deer Lakes Drilling Lease Consol Gets OK To Drill At Pittsburgh Airport Drilling Prep Could Begin Next Week Near Airport Financial/Other States Editorial: Keystone XL Pipeline Politics Baker Hughes Phasing In Disclosure Of Fracking Fluid Make­Up EQT Gas Production Company Posts 92 Percent Jump In Earnings Utica Shale Gas Wells In Ohio Dismay EQT Add Green Works In PA To Your Google+ Circle Flooding/Watershed NewsClips Here are NewsClips on watershed topics from around the state­­ Flooding Failed Inspection Makes Flood Control Project More Costly Grant For Rain Barrels May Reduce Stormwater Runoff In East End Other Watershed NewsClips DEP: Monongahela River No Longer Belongs On Impaired Waters List Four Mile Creek Makes Comeback In Erie Volunteers Protect Shenango River Rocks Lititz Floodplain Restoration Project PennVEST Awards $1.5M To Lancaster Water Quality Projects Effort To Open Allegheny River Locks Moving Forward Slowly Add Green Works In PA To Your Google+ Circle Regulations, Technical Guidance & Permits The Independent Regulatory Review Commission published the comments it submitted to the Environmental Quality Board on DEP’s Chapter 78 drilling regulation changes (PA Bulletin page 2594). Pennsylvania Bulletin ­ April 26, 2014 Proposed Regulations Open For Comment ­ DEP webpage Proposed Regulations With Closed Comment Periods ­ DEP webpage

DEP Regulatory Agenda ­ DEP webpage Technical Guidance & Permits The Department of Environmental Protection published notice of its draft 2014 Integrated Water Quality Monitoring and Assessment Report for public comment. The report is required by section 303(d) and 305(b) of the federal Clean Water Act. DEP also published notice of draft technical guidance for civil penalty assessment information hearing procedures for the Office of Oil and Gas Management available for comment and notice of final 2014 ozone season NOx emission limits for nonelectric generating units. The Susquehanna River Basin Commission published notice of projects approved for consumptive water use in January. DRAFT DEP ID: 800­4000­002. Title: Civil Penalty Assessment Informal Hearing Procedure for the Office of Oil and Gas Management. Description: Section 3256 of the 2012 Oil and Gas Act (act) (58 Pa.C.S. § 3256) provides that the Department may assess a civil penalty for violations of the act or a regulation, order or permit issued by the Department under the act, after a hearing. Section 3256 of the act further provides that a person charged with a penalty must, within 30 days of notification, pay the penalty or file an appeal of the assessment with the Environmental Hearing Board. This document outlines the procedure for the conduct of the informal civil penalty assessment hearings.

Written Comments: Interested persons may submit written comments on this Draft Technical Guidance Document. Comments must be received by May 27, 2014. Comments submitted by facsimile will not be accepted. Comments, including comments submitted by electronic mail must include the originator's name and address. Written comments should be submitted to Kurt Klapkowski, Department of Environmental Protection, Bureau of Oil and Gas Planning and Program Management, P. O. Box 8765, Harrisburg, PA 17105­8765, (717) 772­2199 or kklapkowsk@pa.gov. Technical Guidance Comment Deadlines ­ DEP webpage Recently Closed Comment Periods For Technical Guidance ­ DEP webpage Technical Guidance Recently Finalized ­ DEP webpage Copies of Final Technical Guidance ­ DEP webpage Visit DEP’s new Public Participation Center for information on how you can Be Informed! and Get Involved! in DEP regulation and guidance development process. Add Green Works In PA To Your Google+ Circle 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. April 28­­ NEW. House Game and Fisheries Committee meets to consider legislation, including possibly a newly introduced bill reducing protection for rare, threatened and endangered species in Pennsylvania. Room 205 Ryan Building. Noon. April 29­­ NEW. House Consumer Affairs Committee meeting to consider House Bill 2104 (Godshall­R­Montgomery) relating to retain variable rate electric service contracts­ sponsor summary; House Bill 2030 (Snyder­D­Fayette) establishing the Coal­Fired Electric Generation Facilities Deactivation Commission­ sponsor summary. Room 39 East Wing. 9:00. April 29­­ Senate Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure Committee holds a hearing on electric reliability. Room 8E­A East Wing. 9:30. May 1­2­­ PA Land Conservation Conference. Crowne Plaza, Reading, Berks County. May 5­­ Location Added. Environmental Issues Forum, Joint Conservation Committee featuring an overview of the TreeVitalize Program. Room 8E­A East Wing. Noon. May 6­­ DEP Environmental Justice Advisory Board meeting. City of Chester City Hall, Chester. 5:00 p.m. (formal notice) May 6­8­­ PA Section American Water Works Association Conference. Sands Casino Resort, Bethlehem. May 7­­ House Professional Licensure Committee holds a hearing on House Bill 997 (Petri­R­Bucks) establishing a licensing program for soil scientists­­ sponsor summary. Room 60 East Wing. 9:30. May 7­­ Joint Legislative Air and Water Pollution Control and Conservation Committee holds a hearing on PA’s Waste Tire Recycling Program. Room 8E­B, East Wing Capitol Building. 9:00. May 7­­ Agenda Released. DEP Chesapeake Bay Management Team meeting. DEP Southcentral Regional Office, 909 Elmerton Ave., Harrisburg. 9:30. (formal notice) May 7­­ 2014 Pennsylvania Groundwater Symposium. Ramada Inn Conference Center in State College. May 7­­ DEP hearing session on Hilcorp Energy Gas Well Spacing Units application. Albert P. Gettings Government Center Annex of the Lawrence County Government Center, Assembly Room, 349 Countyline St., New Castle. 10:00 a.m. May 8­­ DEP hearing sessions on Hilcorp Energy Gas Well Spacing Units application. Albert P. Gettings Government Center Annex of the Lawrence County Government Center, Assembly Room, 349 Countyline St., New Castle. 9:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.

May 8­­ DEP holds a hearing on a air quality redesignation request for the Allentown Maintenance Area. DEP Regional Office, 2 Public Square, Wilkes­Barre. 1:00. (formal notice) May 8­­ Agenda Released. Susquehanna River Basin Commission holds a public hearing on water withdrawal requests. Room 8E­B East Wing, Capitol Building, Harrisburg. 2:30. (formal notice) May 14­­ DEP Water Resources Advisory Committee meeting. Room 105 Rachel Carson Building. 9:30. May 15­18­­ PA Outdoor Writers Association Spring Conference. In and around Shippensburg University. Click Here to read an article on the conference in the POWA newsletter. Click Here for a registration form. May 21­­ Environmental Quality Board meeting. Room 105 Rachel Carson Building. 9:00. May 21­­ DEP Citizens Advisory Council meeting. Room 105 Rachel Carson Building. 10:00. May 27­­ Environmental Quality Board holds a hearing on proposed changes to Chapters 121 & 129 ­ RACT requirements for major sources of NOx and VOCs. DEP Southwest Regional Office, 400 Waterfront Dr., Pittsburgh. 1:00. (formal notice) May 28­­ Environmental Quality Board holds a hearing on proposed changes to Chapters 121 & 129 ­ RACT requirements for major sources of NOx and VOCs. DEP Southeast Regional Office, 2 East Main St., Norristown. 1:00. (formal notice) May 29­­ Environmental Quality Board holds a hearing on proposed changes to Chapters 121 & 129 ­ RACT requirements for major sources of NOx and VOCs. DEP Office, Room 105 Rachel Carson Building, Harrisburg. 1:00. (formal notice) June 3­­ NEW. DEP Storage Tank Advisory Committee meeting. 14th Floor Conference Room, Rachel Carson Building. 10:00. June 4­­ NEW. DEP Coastal Zone Advisory Committee meeting. 10th Floor Conference Room, Rachel Carson Building. 9:30. June 5­­ NEW. DEP Solid Waste Advisory Committee meeting. Room 105 Rachel Carson Building. 10:00. June 10­­ NEW. DEP Board Of Coal Mine Safety meeting. DEP Cambria Office, 286 Industrial Park Rd., Ebensburg. 10:00. June 12­­ DEP Radiation Protection Advisory Committee meeting. 14th Floor Conference Room, Rachel Carson Building. 9:00. (formal notice)

June 12­­ NEW. DEP Air Quality Technical Advisory Committee meeting. Room 105 Rachel Carson Building. 9:15. June 16­­ NEW. DEP Agricultural Advisory Board meeting. DEP Southcentral Regional Office, 909 Elmerton Ave., Harrisburg. 10:00. June 17­­ NEW. Environmental Quality Board meeting. Room 105 Rachel Carson Building. 9:00. June 17­­ NEW. DEP Citizens Advisory Council meeting. Room 105 Rachel Carson Building. 10:00. June 18­­ NEW. DEP Small Water Systems Technical Assistance Center Board meeting. Room 105 Rachel Carson Building. 10:00. June 18­­ NEW. DEP State Board for Certification of Water and Wastewater System Operators meeting. 10th Floor Conference Room, Rachel Carson Building. 10:00. June 24­­ NEW. DEP Climate Change Advisory Committee meeting. Room 105 Rachel Carson Building. 10:00. June 25­­ NEW. DEP State Board for Certification Of Sewage Enforcement Operators meeting. Conference Room 11B, Rachel Carson Building. 10:00. June 26­­ DEP Oil and Gas Technical Advisory Board meeting. Room 105 Rachel Carson Building. 10:00. June 26­27­­ Pennsylvania Abandoned Mine Reclamation Conference. Ramada Inn and Conference Center, State College. July 30­­ NEW. DCNR Natural Gas Advisory Committee meeting. LTBA. July 23­25­­ PROP Recycling and Organics Conference. Double Tree­Pittsburgh Meadow Lands, Washington, PA. September 25­­ Penn State Extension Youth Water Educator’s Summit. The Central Hotel and Conference Center, Harrisburg. Visit DEP’s new Public Participation Center for information on how you can Be Informed! and Get Involved! in DEP regulation and guidance development process. Click Here for links to DEP’s Advisory Committee webpages. DEP Calendar of Events Note: The Environmental Education Workshop Calendar is no longer available from the PA Center for Environmental Education because funding for the Center was eliminated in the FY 2011­12 state

budget. The PCEE website was also shutdown, but some content was moved to the PA Association of Environmental Educators' website. Senate Committee Schedule House Committee Schedule You can watch the Senate Floor Session and House Floor Session live online. Add Green Works In PA To Your Google+ Circle CLICK HERE To Print Entire PA Environment Digest CLICK HERE to Print The Entire PA Environment Digest. Stories Invited Send your stories, photos and links to videos about your project, environmental issues or programs for publication in the PA Environment Digest to: DHess@CrisciAssociates.com. PA Environment Digest is edited by David E. Hess, former Secretary Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, and is published as a service of Crisci Associates, a Harrisburg­based government and public affairs firm whose clients include Fortune 500 companies and non­profit organizations. Did you know you can search 10 years of back issues of the PA Environment Digest on dozens of topics, by county and on any keyword you choose? Just click on the search page. PA Environment Digest weekly was the winner of the PA Association of Environmental Educators' 2009 Business Partner of the Year Award. Also sign up for these other services from Crisci Associates­­ Add Green Works In PA To Your Google+ Circle PA Environment Digest Twitter Feed: On Twitter, sign up to receive instant updates from: PAEnviroDigest. PA Environment Daily Blog: provides daily environmental NewsClips and significant stories and announcements on environmental topics in Pennsylvania of immediate value. Sign up and receive as they are posted updates through your favorite RSS reader. You can also sign up for a once daily email alerting you to new items posted on this blog. PA Capitol Digest Daily Blog to get updates every day on Pennsylvania State Government, including NewsClips, coverage of key press conferences and more. Sign up and receive as they are posted updates through your favorite RSS reader. You can also sign up for a once daily email alerting you to

new items posted on this blog. PA Capitol Digest Twitter Feed: Don't forget to sign up to receive the PA Capitol Digest Twitter feed to get instant updates on other news from in and around the Pennsylvania State Capitol. 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 Unlimited.