Pa Environment Digest June 26, 2017

PA Environment Digest
An Update On Environmental Issues In Pennsylvania

Edited By: David E. Hess, Crisci Associates
Winner Of PA Association of Environmental Educators

Business Partner Of The Year Award
PA Environment Digest Daily Blog Twitter Feed
Issue #678 Harrisburg, PA June 26, 2017
PA Supreme Court Declares Law Diverting Oil & Gas Lease Funds To General Fund
Unconstitutional
The PA Supreme Court Tuesday issued an opinion

declaring the 2009 and 2010 Fiscal Code and other
amendments diverting $478 million from DCNRs
Oil and Gas Fund to the General Fund
unconstitutional because there was no evidence the
General Assembly considered the use of the funds in
its role as public trustee for natural resources under
the Environmental Rights Amendment to the state
constitution.
The case involved a challenge to the
transfers by the PA Environmental Defense
Foundation including the 2009 Fiscal Code amendments transferring $60 million to the General
Fund without restriction to use it for conservation and an additional $143 million transferred to
the General Fund in the General Supplemental Appropriations Act, a 2010 transfer of an
additional $180 million and a 2014 transfer of $95 million.
The Court said, On their face, these amendments lack any indication that the
Commonwealth is required to contemplate, let alone reasonably exercise, its duties as the trustee
of the environmental public trust created by the Environmental Rights Amendment.
The Commonwealth itself readily acknowledges that revenue generated by oil and gas
leases is now spent in a multitude of ways entirely unrelated to the conservation and maintenance
of our public natural resources.
... there is no indication that the General Assembly considered the purposes of the public
trust or exercised reasonable care in managing the royalties in a manner consistent with its
Section 27 trustee duties.
We hold, therefore, that sections 1602-E and 1603-E [Fiscal Code], relating to royalties,
are facially unconstitutional. They plainly ignore the Commonwealths constitutionally imposed
fiduciary duty to manage the corpus of the environmental public trust for the benefit of the
people to accomplish its purpose conserving and maintaining the corpus by, inter alia,
preventing and remedying the degradation, diminution and depletion of our public natural
resources
To the extent the remainder of the Fiscal Code amendments transfer proceeds from the
sale of trust assets to the General Fund, they are likewise constitutionally infirm.
As described herein, the legislature violates Section 27 when it diverts proceeds from oil
and gas development to a non-trust purpose without exercising its fiduciary duties as trustee.
... if proceeds are moved to the General Fund, an accounting is likely necessary to
ensure that the funds are ultimately used in accordance with the trustees obligation to conserve
and maintain our natural resources.
The Court remanded the case to Commonwealth Court for further proceedings
consistent with this Opinion.
To the extent such payments are consideration for the oil and gas that is extracted, they
are proceeds from the sale of trust principal and remain in the corpus. These proceeds remain in
the trust and must be devoted to the conservation and maintenance of our public natural
resources, consistent with the plain language of Section 27.
The PEDF (PA Environmental Defense Fund] is grateful that, after 45 years since
enactment, the Supreme Court has finally adopted Article I Section 27 as a viable trust for our
public natural resources, said John Childe of the Pennsylvania Environmental Defense
Foundation. The Court has mandated that the Commonwealth must manage and protect our
public natural resources under strict compliance with the fiduciary requirements as a trustee.
No longer can the Commonwealth treat our public resources as government property.
Our resources are our property, and the government must protect them for us and for all our
future generations.
The court has further recognized that money from the conversion of those resources
must be used for the benefit of those resources. This should stop our legislature from requiring
leasing of our State Forest and Parks for revenue.
The opinion is clear and far reaching. But there are many issues left open to further
interpretation. There is still much work to be done in our courts to provide the protection of our
resources from further government incursion, said Childe.
Copies of the decisions and related opinions are available online--
-- Copy of Opinion - Saylor, Eakin, Baer, Todd, Donohue, Dougherty, Wecht
-- Dissenting Opinion - Chief Justice Saylor
-- Concurring And Dissenting Opinion - Justice Baer
NewsClips:
PA Supreme Court Rules State Forest Gas Royalty Transfers Unconstitutional
AP: Environmentalists Win In Court On Use Of Oil & Gas Lease Fund Monies
PA Supreme Court Upholds Broad Interpretation Of Environmental Rights Amendment
Split PA Supreme Court Curtails States Use Of Oil & Gas Lease Fund Monies
Court Ruling Raises $100M Question: How Can PA Spend Drilling Riches?
Editorial: Environmental Rights Decision, Its Your Environment After All
Related Stories:
PA Supreme Court Upholds DEP Authority To Regulate Impact Of Conventional Oil & Gas
Wells On Public Resources
Challenge To Use Of Oil And Gas Fund Monies To Be Heard By PA Supreme Court March 9
(2016)
Commonwealth Court Upholds Transfer Of Oil And Gas Funds
PA Environmental Defense Foundation Sues Over Use Of Drilling Revenues
[Posted: June 20, 2017]
DEP Authority To Regulate Impact Of Conventional Oil & Gas Wells On Public Resources
Upheld By PA Supreme Court
The PA Supreme Court Tuesday issued a decision upholding a 2016

Commonwealth Court decision that found DEP can regulate
conventional oil and gas operations under Section 3215(c) of Act 13
which requires DEP to take into account the impact of a well on public
resources, including local, state and national parks, natural landmarks,
habitats of rare and endangered species, historical and archaeological
sites and sources of drinking water supply.
Conventional drillers argued the 2016 decision by the PA Supreme
Court in Robinson invalidated Section 3215, but Commonwealth Court
found otherwise.
...DEPs authority under Section 3215(c) to consider the impact
that a proposed well will have on public resources, those listed and
unlisted, is extant, limited only by the portion of the Supreme Courts mandate in Robinson Twp.
I that enjoins its application and enforcement with respect to the water source setback and waiver
provisions set forth in Section 3215(b).
In practice, this means that when DEP considers the impact of a proposed well on a
source or sources used for public drinking supplies, it is not constrained to do so in accordance
with enjoined Section 3215(b).
In Act 13, the General Assembly unambiguously expressed its intent that the EQB
promulgate regulatory criteria that DEP must use for conditioning a well permit based on its
impact to the public resources identified under [Section 3215(c)] and for ensuring optimal
development of oil and gas resources and respecting property rights of oil and gas owners.
Section 3215(e) of Act 13.
Any concerns over how DEP exercises its authority under Section 3215(c) of Act 13
with respect to well permit applications, including, but not limited to, whether DEP follows the
regulatory criteria established by the EQB, are better left to the administrative agency process,
followed by review in our appellate jurisdiction.
A copy of the PA Supreme Court ruling is available online. Click Here for the 2016
Commonwealth Court decision.
(Photo: PA Independent Oil and Gas Association)
Related Stories:
Unconstitutional
Commonwealth Court: DEP Can Protect Public Resources In Oil & Gas Permits
Obligatory Article Saying State Budget Negotiations Are Coming Down To The Wire
Here we are again, just a mere five voting days away from the
deadline to have a state budget in place, and Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati
(R-Jefferson) said Wednesday, How we close this out [budget] remains to be seen.
Will Republicans--
-- Borrow $1.5 billion against tobacco settlement revenue or securitize some other revenue
stream to pay for paperclips and fill the General Fund revenue hole;
-- Approve 40,000 video gaming terminals for everyone with a liquor license (bars, nursing
homes and churches);
-- Extend the state Sales Tax to warehousing and storage;
-- Redirect the local share of the present casino tax revenues to the state General Fund, along
with adopt new casino license fees;
-- Authorize beer, wine and spirits sales in more private outlets;
-- Shift the Sales Tax on bottles of wine and spirits from the bottle bought by liquor license
holders to the individual drink bought by consumers;
-- Sell or lease out state assets like the Farm Show Building or something else;
-- Special Fund transfers to the General Fund that House or Senate members believe are just
sitting there flush with cash and not doing anything better; and even
-- Legalizing marijuana (admittedly pretty far down the list).
Or, all of the above?
All these ideas have been suggested to avoid a general increase in the Personal Income
Tax and Sale Tax that all parties said are off the table.
Court Decision Wildcard
The Post-Gazette Friday published a story by Laura Legere on questions being raised by
the PA Supreme Court decision this week declaring unconstitutional previous budget bills
diverting proceeds from Shale gas drilling on DCNR forest land to the General Fund to balance
the states budget.
She noted the General Assembly in the past, the House Republican budget passed in
April and Gov. Wolfs proposed budget would divert about $100 million from DCNRs Oil and
Gas Lease Fund to pay for the agencys daily operations.
Nearly one-third of DCNRs total proposed budget for next fiscal year is supported by
Oil and Gas Lease Fund revenues Legere reported.
Aides to Senate Republican leaders said the decision will have minor ramifications
because they money from the Fund will be used for conservation purposes by supporting DCNR.
John Childe, an attorney for the PA Environmental Defense Foundation who brought the
successful lawsuit and others disagree.
Senate Republicans
Sen. Scarnati said Republicans have generally agreed on a spend number of around $31.8
billion for the new year, but still need to fill a $1.5 billion hole in FY 2016-17 and an $700
million hole in the FY 2017-18 budget at that spend number.
The House Republican budget passed April 4 had a spend number for next year at $31.52
billion. The Independent Fiscal Office reported an updated revenue estimate for FY 2017-18 of
$32.48 billion, but legislators need to fill the FY 2016-17 hole first.
I think there is a general desire to get it done on time, theres no big policy fight that we
had two years ago, but the decisions are difficult, said Senate Majority Leader Jake Corman
(R-Centre) said. Every time you are talking about a $2.2 billion deficit, thats not an easy thing
to solve, so its going to take all our collective ideas to solve it, but I think the relationships and
the spirit of trying to get it solved are good.
Gaming is always tough because it always grows and then everyones interest gets
involved and then it gets too big to pass; were running through all the dynamics of it and no
final decisions have been made, said Sen. Corman. [VGTs are] a big lift. Youre talking about
a significant expansion of gaming, so any time you have a significant expansion of gaming, its a
big lift.
House Republicans
The House passed a budget in April, so we kind of put out a path of where we were
headed, we were talking for six months about reinventing government and doing things a little
bit differently, said House Majority Leader David Reed (R-Indiana). Now we have to wait and
see if the Senate is going to be a partner in reinventing government or whether we are going to
be getting back to the status quo. Hopefully, well be moving forward together.
Governors Office
On Wednesday, Gov. Wolf expressed concerns about several of the ideas Republicans
floated to deal with the budget, including borrowing against future state revenue and legalizing
gambling on video gaming terminals.
"I want real revenue, and I want net revenue something that is recurring revenue, not
another one-time fix, not another thing that just kicks the budget problem, the deficit problem
down the road for another year or two," Gov. Wolf said. "I don't want anything that we do in
gaming or gambling to interfere with the revenues that are already in place. If it just cannibalizes
and takes from one bucket called gambling to another, the Commonwealth isn't doing anything
more than it has in the past."
Gov. Wolf renewed his call for a severance tax on natural gas production and other
revenue measures in his proposed budget, although none of the revenue would be earmarked for
environmental purposes.
Well, there are still five voting days left.
NewsClips:
Op-Ed: Use Natural Gas Severance Tax To Pay For Our Infrastructure Needs
Op-Ed: Will The Case For A Drilling Tax Finally Sink In This Year?
Op-Ed: PA Should Just Say No To Tax On Gas Drillers, Marcellus Shale Coalition
Associated Press Calls DEP Wracked By Years Of Budget Cuts
Clean Water Part Of The Bottom Line
DEP Secretary: PA House Republican Budget Puts Public Health At Risk
PA Parks & Forests Foundation: Speaking On Behalf Of Clean Water, Parks & Forests
Budget Cuts Threaten Forests Roads, Hunting, Fishing
Crable: Fracking Money Pays For Bridge Repairs, Saving Farmland
Deer Lakes Park Upgrades In Allegheny County, Thanks To Drilling Impact Fees
Why Cut $73 Million A From Chesapeake Bay Program That Provides Billions In Benefits?
Electronic Bidding Helps DEP Lower Cost Of Construction Contracting
Pittsburgh To Spend $5M To Simplify Building Permit Approval Process
Trying To Make Pittsburgh Friendly To Small Businesses
AP: Wolf Takes Dim View Of GOPs Budget-Balancing Strategies
Days From The Deadline, Budget Indecision In PA
Lawmakers Appear Far From Consensus On Paying For Budget
Lawmakers Considering Borrowing Money To Balance Budget
State Badly Needs New Revenue Top Senate Dem Says
Top Senate Democrat Says Budget Probably Wont Be Balanced
John Baer: PA Lawmakers Are Masters Of The Budget Puniverse
Op-Ed: Its Time For PA To Stop Papering Over Its Budget Holes, Rep. Dermody
Op-Ed: No More Excuses, Time To Finish Up State Budget
Editorial: PAs GOP-Controlled Legislature Is Stuck In Budget La La Land
Editorial: Budget By Microwave Does PA No Good
PLS Reporter: House Republicans Float Proposal To Keep Local Share Of Casino Taxes
EPA Plans To Buy Out 1,200+ Employees By End Of Summer
Federal Workers Protest Trump Budget In Philadelphia
DOEs Perry Tells Senators He Did Not Write Trump Energy Budget
Zinke Defends Trumps Sharp Cuts At Interior
Related Stories:
Unconstitutional
Post-Gazette: Court Decision Raises Question Of How Legislature Can Spend DCNR Drilling
Proceeds
PA House Republican Budget Deals Crippling Blow To DCNR Budget, Leads To Layoffs
PA Parks & Forests Foundation: Stop The Attack On Our Parks, Forests & Environment, Act
Now!
Op-Ed: Parks, Forest And Recreation - Essential To Pennsylvania Health And Economy
Take A Few Minutes To Write To Your Legislator To Save Our State Parks & Forests
DEP: PA House Republican Budget Will Delay Permit Reviews, Put Public Health At Risk
DEP Citizens Advisory Council: The Consistent Cuts To DEPs Budget Are Unsustainable
Op-Ed: Nobody In Pennsylvania Benefits When DEPs Budget Is Cut
In a statewide story about the state budget situation

Sunday, the Associated Press said members of the
General Assembly are bracing for what they call a
get-out-of-town budget that does little to bring
long-term balance to the states tattered finances.
The AP said some, however, worry the
get-out-of-town budget will leave problems to fester
like school districts and a Department of Environmental
Protection so wracked by years of budget cuts that the
federal government is threatening to revoke some enforcement powers.
They quote Sen. Bob Mensch (R-Montgomery) as saying, This budget is going to be
difficult and any solution is going to involve pain.
Except, Republicans and Gov. Wolf ruled out any increases in broad-based taxes to
balance the budget and deal with estimated $2.2 billion budget deficit.
Click Here to read the entire article.
NewsClip:
AP: A Get-Out-Of-Town Budget Appears Inevitable, Lawmakers Say
Related Stories:
Unconstitutional
Proceeds
Budget Challenges Part I: Will General Assembly Continue Systematic Dismantling Of DEPs
Core Programs?
Budget Challenges Part II: Environmental Restoration, Park, Land Conservation Project Funding
Cut 75 Percent
Budget Challenges Part III: Federal Govt Pays More To Fund DEP Than PA Does, Will They
Cut Too?
Post-Gazette: Court Decision Raises Questions On How Legislature Can Spend DCNR
Drilling Proceeds
The Post-Gazette Friday published a story by Laura Legere on questions being raised by the PA
Supreme Court decision this week declaring unconstitutional previous budget bills diverting
proceeds from Shale gas drilling on DCNR forest land to the General Fund to balance the states
budget.
She noted the General Assembly in the past, the House Republican budget passed in
April and Gov. Wolfs proposed budget would divert about $100 million from DCNRs Oil and
Gas Lease Fund to pay for the agencys daily operations.
Nearly one-third of DCNRs total proposed budget for next fiscal year is supported by
Oil and Gas Lease Fund revenues Legere reported.
Aides to Senate Republican leaders said the decision will have minor ramifications
because they money from the Fund will be used for conservation purposes by supporting DCNR.
John Childe, an attorney for the PA Environmental Defense Foundation who brought the
successful lawsuit told Legere spending oil and gas royalties from the Fund on DCNR operations
does not comply with the court opinion.
Former DCNR and DEP Secretary John Quigley pointed to a 2004 Auditor Generals
report and a 1991 guidance letter from the state Attorney General advising DCNR and its
predecessor agency the Oil and Gas Lease Fund monies had to be used directly for physical
enhancement or conservation of natural resources.
Quigley said some of these questions may be answered in future phases of the case, since
the PA Supreme Court remanded the case back to Commonwealth Court for further action
consistent with the opinion the Court issued.
NewsClips:
Related Stories:
Unconstitutional
PA Parks & Forests Foundation: Stop The Attack On Our Parks, Forests & Environment, Act
Now!
PA Parks & Forest Foundation: Stop The Attack On Our Parks, Forests & Environment,
Act Now!
The following was provided by PA Parks and Forests Foundation President Marci Mowery--
Pennsylvania House Bill 218, the budget bill for fiscal

year 2017-18 which passed the house and has set the tone for the Senate----seeks to severely
under-fund of the Departments of Conservation and Natural Resources and Environmental
Protection.
The passing of this budget would send us backwards as it relates to operating our more
than 2 million acres of state forest and 121 state parks and protection of the environment.
DCNR is the agency charged with managing our 121 state parks and 2.2 million acres of
state forests, as well as investing in community recreation, trails and open space. They also
provide information on our ecological and geological resources.
DEP protect Pennsylvania's air, land and water from pollution and to provide for the
health and safety of its citizens through a cleaner environment. Both agencies play an important
role in our ability to live a healthy life.
As an advocate for our state parks and forests, I urge you to support sustainable and
adequate funding for operations of our state parks and forests, for investments in community
recreation, and for protection of our environment by signing this petition to inform our members
of the Pennsylvania General Assembly that we, the people, support investment in conservation,
recreation and environmental protection and to remind our decision makers that parks, forests
and open space are essential to both human health and to a viable economy for the state.
We have all witnessed the passion Pennsylvanians have for their parks and forests, as
well as the needs that exist both on our public lands and for environmental protection. We know
the important role our parks and forests play in supporting surrounding communities and the role
that a clean environment plays in keeping Pennsylvanias citizens and economy healthy.
Our state constitution, Section 27, Article 1, states that "the people have a right to clean
air, pure water, and the preservation of the natural, scenic, historic and esthetic values of the
environment. Pennsylvanias public natural resources are the common property of all the people,
including generations yet to come. As trustee of these resources, the Commonwealth shall
conserve and maintain them for the benefit of all people."
We, the undersigned, urge the General Assembly to keep Pennsylvania a tourism and
industry leader by protecting those assets that make Pennsylvania a great place to live, work and
play.
Invest in our Departments of Conservation and Natural Resources and Environmental
Protection as part of the 2017-2018 budget negotiations with funding that allows full operations
and keeps our parks, forests and environmental protection moving forward.
Click Here to sign the petition.
Related Stories:
Unconstitutional
Proceeds
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Senate/House Agenda/Session Schedule/Govs Schedule/ Bills Introduced
Here are the Senate and House Calendars for the next voting session day and Committees
scheduling action on bills of interest as well as a list of new environmental bills introduced--
Bill Calendars
House (June 26): House Bill 1469 (Heffley-R-Carbon) authorize municipalities to use
third-party agencies to enforce the Uniform Construction Code; House Resolution 284
(Moul-R-Adams) urging Congress to repeal the U.S. Environmental Protection Agencys MS4
Stormwater Pollution Prevention Program (sponsor summary). <> Click Here for full House Bill
Calendar.
Senate (June 26): Senate Bill 658 (Yaw-R-Lycoming) designating the eastern hellbender as the
state amphibian (sponsor summary); Senate Bill 692 (Blake-D-Lackawanna) amends to Sewage
Facilities Act to increase what a local agency may charge from $25 to $100 (sponsor summary);
House Bill 187 (Sonney-R-Erie) further authorize wind energy facilities on preserved farmland
(House Fiscal Note and summary); House Bill 790 (Pashinski-D-Luzerne) establishing the
Controlled Plant and Noxious Weed Committee (House Fiscal Note and summary). <> Click
Here for full Senate Bill Calendar.
Committee Meeting Agendas This Week
Note: This is budget week. House and Senate committees can add and cancel meetings with
little notice.
House: the State Government Committee holds a hearing on the Susquehanna River Basin
Commission and concerns about regulatory overreach in Shrewsbury Borough, York County; the
Consumer Affairs Committee meets to consider House Bill 1563 (Reese-R-Somerset) requiring
consent for sharing information from electricity smart meters (sponsor summary); the
Transportation Committee meets to consider Senate Bill 589 (Langerholc-R-Bedford)
increasing maximum allowable weight for natural gas vehicles (sponsor summary); the
Environmental Resources and Energy Committee meets to consider -- Senate Bill 646
(Killion-R-Delaware) would prevent a funding crisis in the states Recycling Program by
eliminating the expiration date for the Act 101 $2 per ton recycling fee on waste disposed in
Pennsylvania, Senate Bill 144 (Yaw-R-Lycoming) amending Act 537 ton include alternative
on-lot sewage systems in sewage plans (sponsor summary). <> Click Here for full House
Committee Schedule.
Senate: the Appropriations Committee meets to consider House Bill 290 (Metzgar-R-Bedford)
providing for legislative appointments to the Underground Storage Tank Indemnification Board,
fills a gap in funding for DEPs Storage Tank Program and extends the sunset date for the
environmental cleanup programs for storage tanks, Senate Bill 431 (Scavello-R-Monroe)
increasing penalties for littering and illegal dumping. Rules Room; the Agriculture and Rural
Affairs Committee is scheduled to consider Senate Bill 792 (Alloway-R-Adams) regulating the
application of law fertilizer (sponsor summary); the Labor and Industry Committee meets to
consider House Bill 409 (Evankovich-R-Allegheny) making changes to the process for adopting
amendments to the Uniform Construction Code (House Fiscal Note and summary). <> Click
Here for full Senate Committee Schedule.
Other: the Joint Legislative Budget and Finance Committee meets to release a report on PAs
Program For Beneficial Use Of Biosolids (Sewage Sludge).
Bills Pending In Key Committees
Check the PA Environmental Council Bill Tracker for the status and updates on pending state
legislation and regulations that affect environmental and conservation efforts in Pennsylvania.
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
Bills Introduced
The following bills of interest were introduced last week--
Regulating Fertilizer: Senate Bill 792 (Alloway-R-Adams) regulating the application of lawn
fertilizer and requiring professional fertilizer applicators to be certified (sponsor summary).
Clean Water Procurement Program: Senate Bill 799 (Alloway-R-Adams) establishing the
Clean Water Procurement Program (sponsor summary). (Much more to come on this one next
week.) Heres a quick summary--
Senate Bill 799, promoted by Bion Environmental Technologies, would require any
municipality (not public authorities that hold the permits for wastewater plans required to make
reductions) and public stormwater authorities anywhere in the state that discharges nitrogen or
phosphorus into the waters of the Commonwealth to pay, in aggregate, $50 million annually for
10 years to raise $500 million.
The funds are used, according to the bill, to pay for practices that reduce nitrogen and
phosphorus pollutants going into rivers and streams that make up the Chesapeake Bay Watershed
drainage area in Pennsylvania, about half the state.
In return, DEP is required to transfer the total nutrient reduction mandates (met and
unmet, it is not clear) from the municipalities or public stormwater authorities to the competitive
bidding program established in the legislation.
The municipalities and stormwater authorities in turn are absolved of any further
responsibility for implementing those reduction requirements forever.
The bill requires the State Conservation Commission administer the overall bidding
program and adopting regulations implementing it.
The first task for the Commission involves determining the unmet nitrogen and
phosphorus reductions required by TMDL (Total Maximum Daily Load) Plans across the
Commonwealth over three years only. The program in the bill is a 10 year funding program.
Based on that number for the Chesapeake Bay Watershed, the PA Infrastructure
Investment Authority will put out a Request for Proposals to solicit proposals to meet the unmet
nitrogen and phosphorus reductions in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed drainage area only.
Proposals can only be solicited from vendors approved under the Commonwealth
Procurement Code administered by the Department of General Services, which municipalities
are not authorized to participate in, so they are excluded from bidding.
The bid process and effective dates of the nutrient credits must also specifically account
for the time frame necessary for the permitting and development of public or private credit
generator facilities. Which apparently means 10-year credits are not really 10-year credits, but
something a whole lot less.
Presumably, the Commission (or it could be PennVEST since it puts out the RFP) then
makes awards of grants based on the bids for practices to reduce nitrogen and phosphorus in the
Chesapeake Bay Watershed to be paid for from the fund financed by municipalities and
stormwater authorities from across the state.
The bill contains a very general provision that requires any load reduction activity to
meet the requirements of any applicable offset program in force regarding the Chesapeake
Bay.
The bill provides a set aside of 20 percent of the winning bid credits so small sources
(unclear who that is) that install best management practices can sell credits for those practices at
the winning bid price.
The program outlines a 10 year program, but does not address what happens after that
time.
Natural Resources Trust Fund: House Bill 1601 (Hanna-D-Centre) establish a Public Natural
Resources Trust Fund into which the proceeds of oil and gas development on DCNR lands
would be deposited with some funds set aside in a special account managed by the State
Treasurer when funds exceed $70 million annually (sponsor summary).
Session Schedule
Here is the latest voting session schedule for the Senate and House--
Senate
June 26, 27, 28, 29, 30
House
June 26, 27, 28, 29, 30
Governors Schedule
Gov. Tom Wolf's work calendar will be posted each Friday and his public schedule for the day
will be posted each morning. Click Here to view Gov. Wolfs Weekly Calendar and Public
Appearances.
Bills On Governor's Desk
The following bills were given final approval by the Senate and House and are now on the
Governor's desk for action--
Banning Plastic Bag Bans: House Bill 1071 (Farry-R-Bucks) to prevent the imposition of a
ban, fee or surcharge on recyclable plastic bags (House Fiscal Note and summary). Gov. Wolf
said he will veto this legislation.
Senate/House Bills Moving
The following bills of interest saw action last week in the House and Senate--
House
Purchase Of Federal Timber: House Bill 1494 (Rapp-R-Forest) authorizing the state to enter
into a cooperative agreement with federal agencies for the purpose of selling timber on federal
land was reported out of the House Appropriations Committee and passed by the House. A
House Fiscal Note and summary is available. The bill now goes to the Senate for action.
Roll Back Protection From Deep Mining: Senate Bill 624 (Scarnati-R-Jefferson) retroactively
rolling back protections for streams from deep coal mining was reported out of the House
Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, was amended on the House Floor and was
referred to the House Appropriations Committee. (Click Here for more.)
Roll Back Protection From Surface Mining: House Bill 1333 (Gabler-R-Clearfield)
eliminating the current DEP limit on how long surface mine operators can temporarily cease
mining operations from 180 days to the federal standard of what could be years was reported out
of the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, referred into and out of the
House Rules Committee and was referred to the House Appropriations Committee. (Click Here
for more.)
Certify Mine Medical Emergency Responders: House Bill 1341 (Pyle-R-Armstrong)

providing for the certification of bituminous coal mine emergency medical responders (sponsor
summary), was amended to include advanced medical responders and reported out of the House
Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, referred into and out of the House Rules
Committee and was referred to the House Appropriations Committee.
Members Of Ag Lands Condemnation Board: House Bill 1518 (Causer-R-Cameron) further

providing for the appointment of members to the Agricultural Lands Condemnation Approval
Board was amended and reported from the House Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee and
rereferred to the House Rules Committee as all bills are this time of year.
Ag Security Areas: House Bill 1550 (Klunk-R-York) amend the Agricultural Area Security
Law allowing for the voluntary relinquish the right to construct a residence was amended and
reported from the House Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee and rereferred to the House
Rules Committee as all bills are this time of year.
Uniform Construction Code: House Bill 1469 (Heffley-R- Carbon) authorize municipalities to
use third-party agencies to enforce the Uniform Construction Code was reported out of the
House Rules Committee and is now on the House Calendar for action.
Performance Budgeting: Senate Bill 181 (Mensch-R-Montgomery) establishing a

performance-based budgeting process was amended and reported out of the House
Appropriations Committee and Tabled.
Pollinator Week: House Resolution 387 (Matzie-D-Allegheny) designating week of June 19 to

25 Pollinator Week in Pennsylvania (sponsor summary) was adopted by the House.
Senate
PA One Call, Natural Gas Line Protection: Senate Bill 242 (Baker-R-Luzerne) adds natural
gas gathering lines to the PA One Call utility construction safety program so they can be
identified and mapped for emergency services was amended on the Floor to keep the exemption
for conventional oil and gas stripper well gathering lines (8 inches or less in diameter), referred
into and out of the Senate Appropriations Committee and was passed by the Senate. A Senate
Fiscal Note and summary is available. The bill now goes to the House for action. (Click Here
for more.)
Alternate Onlot Systems: Senate Bill 144 (Yaw-R-Lycoming) amending Act 537 ton include
alternative on-lot sewage systems in sewage plans was passed by the Senate and now goes to the
House for action. A Senate Fiscal Note and summary is available.
Funding Water Laterals: Senate Bill 639 (Fontana-D-Allegheny) authorizing a municipality or

authority to include private lateral rehabilitation or replacement of water lines in PennVEST
funding applications - no new funding source identified was reported out of the Senate
Environmental Resources and Energy Committee referred into and out of the Senate
Appropriations Committee and passed by the Senate. A Senate Fiscal Note and summary is
available. The bill now goes to the House for action.
Water Line Replacement: Senate Bill 656 (Fontana-D-Allegheny) authorize local governments
to make funds available to repair or replace lateral water lines contaminated with lead was
amended and reported out of the Senate Local Government committee, referred into and out of
the Senate Appropriations Committee and was passed by the Senate. A Senate Fiscal Note and
summary is available. The bill now goes to the House for action.
Funding Sewer Laterals: Senate Bill 334 (Fontana-D-Allegheny) authorizing a municipality or

authority to include private lateral rehabilitation or replacement of sewer lines in PennVEST
funding applications - no new funding source identified (sponsor summary) was reported out of
the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee and was referred to the Senate
Appropriations Committee.
USTIF Board Members: House Bill 290 (Metzgar-R-Bedford) providing for legislative
appointments to the Underground Storage Tank Indemnification Board was amended to include
language from Senate Bill 649 (Yudichak-D-Luzerne) filling a gap in funding for DEPs Storage
Tank Program and extending the sunset date for the environmental cleanup programs for storage
tanks and reported out of the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, was
amended on the Floor and referred to the Senate Appropriations Committee. (Click Here for
more.) (The Senate Appropriations Committee is scheduled to meet on this bill Monday, June
26.)
Local Onlot Septic System Fees: Senate Bill 692 (Blake-D-Lackawanna) amends to Sewage
Facilities Act to increase what a local agency may charge from $25 to $100 (sponsor summary)
was reported out of the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee and is now on
the Senate Calendar for action.
Wind Energy Facilities: House Bill 187 (Sonney-R-Erie) further authorize wind energy
facilities on preserved farmland (House Fiscal Note and summary) was reported from the Senate
Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee and is now on the Senate Calendar for action.
Noxious Weed Law: House Bill 790 (Pashinski-D-Luzerne) establishing the Controlled Plant
and Noxious Weed Committee (House Fiscal Note and summary) was amended and reported
from the Senate Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee and is now on the Senate Calendar for
action.
The Feds
PA Attorney General, 13 Others Intervene In Lawsuit Against EPA On Reducing Oil &
Gas Methane Emissions
Attorney General Josh Shapiro and a coalition of 13 other attorneys

general Wednesday announced they have filed a motion to intervene in a
lawsuit against U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator
Scott Pruitts actions to halt the regulation of methane, one of the most
potent greenhouse gases, and other harmful air pollutants.
The motion to intervene in the case Clean Air Council v. Pruitt is in support of a group
of environmental organizations seeking to immediately stop the EPAs unlawful stay of a climate
rule, finalized in 2016, that would prevent emissions of thousands of tons of the potent
greenhouse gas methane, smog-forming volatile organic compounds and hazardous air
pollutants, including benzene and formaldehyde from facilities built after September 2015.
EPA Administrator Pruitt announced in April the EPA would halt the rule currently in
place, and on June 5 implemented a 90-day stay of the rules key leak detection and repair
requirements, along with an order to reconsider aspects of the climate rule, which has been in
place for nearly a year.
Methane is one of the most dangerous greenhouse gases, and making sure this rule goes
into place is one of the most effective things we can do to combat climate change, Attorney
General Josh Shapiro said. By filing this motion, I am following through and upholding our
commitment to curb climate change. This action is good for Pennsylvania and consistent with
steps the Commonwealth took last year to monitor these emissions. The federal government
should do the same and give the energy industry the predictability they need.
Last year, Gov. Tom Wolf unveiled a plan to reduce methane emissions during natural
gas development, production and transmission by requiring leak detection and repair measures,
equipment efficiency upgrades, improved processes, implementation of best practices, and more
frequent use of leak-sensing technologies.
The current EPA rule requires oil and gas companies to monitor sources of emissions at
well sites and compressor stations constructed after September 2015 in order to detect air
pollutant leaks and repair them at regular intervals.
According to testimony filed by scientific experts in the case, during the 90-day term of
the administrative stay alone, more than 5,300 tons of methane, 1,475 tons of volatile organic
compounds, and 56 tons of hazardous air pollutants will be emitted that would otherwise have
been prevented had the EPA not put the brakes on the climate rule.
In addition, Administrator Pruitt and the EPA have signaled that they will seek to further
stay the current emissions rule for an additional 27 months.
Methane is a powerful agent of climate change. Pound-for-pound, methane warms the
climate about thirty-four times more than carbon dioxide over a 100-year period, according to
the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
In addition to Attorney General Shapiro, the attorneys general of Massachusetts,
Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Iowa, Maryland, New Mexico, New
York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington joined the motion, as well as Chicago.
For more information on Pennsylvanias methane emissions, visit DEPs Methane
Reduction Strategy webpage.
Related Stories:
PA Attorney General, 10 Other AGs Sue DOE Over Stalled Energy Efficiency Rules
AG Shapiro Joins 19 Govt. Leaders Vowing To Support Paris Climate Accord
Pennsylvania, 12 Other States Challenge Rollback Of Federal Vehicle Emission Standards
News From The Capitol
Senate Passes PA One Call Pipeline Safety Bill, With Shale Gas, Not Smaller Conventional
Gathering Lines
The Senate unanimously passed Senate Bill 242

(Baker-R-Luzerne) that extends the PA One Call utility
safety program to 2024 and adds unconventional natural
gas gathering pipelines to the program, but continues an
exemption for conventional oil and gas gathering lines (8
inches or less) serving small volume stripper wells.
PA One Call is a service to contractors who want to locate
utilities and natural gas pipelines prior to digging
foundations or other excavations that might hit those lines
and cause service interruptions or explosions and death or injuries.
There are now an estimated unmapped 100,000 miles of natural gas pipelines in
Pennsylvania vulnerable to hits from construction and digging equipment.
Prime sponsor Sen. Lisa Baker (R-Luzerne) noted in a background memo on the bill
there are more than 6,000 incidents of striking utility lines every year, with approximately half
involving natural gas lines because facility owners do not join the PA One Call program or for
other reasons.
All of these instances jeopardize public safety, place workers at risk, compromise
infrastructure, trigger outages, generate environmental hazards and cost consumers, businesses,
and utilities time and money, said Sen. Baker. Preventing this unnecessary damage will
increase public safety and reduce costs.
At a June 6 hearing by the House Consumer Affairs Committee, representatives of the
conventional oil and gas well drillers said they cannot afford the cost of reporting the locations of
their natural gas pipelines to PA One Call to prevent pipeline explosions and deaths.
The bill now goes to the House, which killed the addition of gathering lines in 2016. A
Senate Fiscal Note and summary is available.
(Photo: An example of what can happen when a backhoe hits a natural gas pipeline.)
Related Stories:
Conventional Gas Drillers: We Cant Afford To Protect Public, Workers From Our Pipelines
Exploding
House Committee OKs Bills To Roll Back Environmental Standards For Mining
The House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee Monday approved and reported out
two bills rolling back environmental protection measures from surface and deep coal mining and
legislation on certifying mine emergency responders.
The bills include--
-- Senate Bill 624 (Scarnati-R-Jefferson) retroactively rolling back protections for streams from
deep coal mining was reported out on a party-line vote with Republicans supporting. [amended
on the House Floor and referred to House Appropriations Committee]; (Click Here for more)
-- House Bill 1333 (Gabler-R-Clearfield) eliminating the current DEP limit on how long surface
mine operators can temporarily cease mining operations from 180 days to the federal standard of
what could be years was reported out on a party-line vote with Republicans supporting [referred
to House Appropriations Committee] (Click Here for more); and
-- House Bill 1341 (Pyle-R-Armstrong) providing for the certification of bituminous coal mine
emergency medical responders (sponsor summary), was amended to include advanced medical
responders [referred to House Appropriations Committee].
Groups like the PA Environmental Council opposed Senate Bill 624 and House Bill 1333
as a roll back of environmental protection standards for surface and deep coal mining. (Click
Here for a copy of the PEC letter to the Committee.)
Rep. John Maher (R-Allegheny) serves as Majority Chair of the House Environmental
Committee and can be contacted by sending email to: jmaher@pahousegop.com. Rep. Mike
Carroll serves as Minority Chair and can be contacted by sending email to:
mcarroll@pahouse.net.
Senate Committee OKs Bills On State Funding For Lateral Water, Sewer Lines
The Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee Monday approved several
wastewater infrastructure bills and a bill to change the makeup of the Underground Storage Tank
Indemnification Board with an amendment to fill a gap in funding for DEPs Storage Tank
Program.
The bills include--
-- Senate Bill 334 (Fontana-D-Allegheny) authorizing a municipality or authority to include
private lateral rehabilitation or replacement of sewer lines in PennVEST funding applications -
no new funding source identified (sponsor summary) [now in Senate Appropriations
Committee];
-- Senate Bill 639 (Fontana-D-Allegheny) authorizing a municipality or authority to include
private lateral rehabilitation or replacement of water lines in PennVEST funding applications -
no new funding source identified (sponsor summary) [passed by the Senate];
-- Senate Bill 692 (Blake-D-Lackawanna) amends to Sewage Facilities Act to increase what a
local agency may charge from $25 to $100 (sponsor summary) [on Senate Calendar]; and
-- House Bill 290 (Metzgar-R-Bedford) providing for legislative appointments to the
Underground Storage Tank Indemnification Board was amended to include language from
Senate Bill 649 (Yudichak-D-Luzerne) filling a gap in funding for DEPs Storage Tank Program
and extending the sunset date for the environmental cleanup programs for storage tanks. [Senate
Appropriations Committee will consider Monday, June 26.] (Click Here for more.)
Sen. Gene Yaw (R-Lycoming) serves as Majority Chair of the Senate Environmental
Committee and can be contacted by sending email to: gyaw@pasen.gov. Sen. John Yudichak
(D-Luzerne) serves as Minority Chair and can be contacted by sending email to:
yudichak@pasenate.com.
PUC Tells House Committee Microgrids Offer Many Benefits To Grid, Consumers
Gladys Brown, Chairman of the Public Utility Commission, told the

House Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee
Monday microgrid systems offer many potential benefits to the electrical
grid, including increased resiliency during large scale electric disruption, increased integration of
highly efficient Distributed Energy Resources (like solar energy and combined heat and power
systems) and potential cost savings for consumers, ratepayers and utilities.
Microgrids serve a small number of electricity users with a local source of power that is
able to function independently from the larger electricity grid, but is still connected to it.
Legislation pending in the Committee-- House Bill 1412 (Barrar-R-Delaware)-- would
encourage the use of microgrids and energy grid storage capabilities by providing a clearer
regulatory framework for approving microgrid systems.
Brown said microgrids fall into three categories: utility owned, privately owned and
hybrid microgrid and would encourage changes to House Bill 1412 to encourage all three types
of microgrids.
Martyn Nevil, Deputy Director at the PA Emergency Management Agency, told the
Committee a strategy that helps people return to normal life as the recovery proceeds begins with
the restoration of power and other lifeline centers.
He said microgrid and energy storage solutions are localized grouping of electric storage
and systems that normally operate on a macro grid, but cannot disconnect and work as
autonomously as physical and economic conditions dictate.
Nevil said they believe it is the efforts to effectively integrate various sources of
distributed generation sources within the Commonwealth that is vital.
Tony Cusati, PA chair of the Retail Energy Supply Association, said his members made
investments to position themselves to be microgrid providers, noting microgrids are being
developed on a large scale without electric distribution company pilots or ratepayer subsidies in
many states.
Cusati noted Pennsylvania has a competitive electricity market for electric generation and
utilities cannot recover the cost of electricity from all of its customers. House Bill 1412 would
do the opposite and allow utilities to recover costs from all customers.
Cusati said there is nothing preventing private money now from establishing microgrids.
Bill Patterer, PECO Energy Company, said his company strongly supports House Bill
1412 because it will promote the development of microgrids.
Patterer stated PECO is interested in exploring pilot microgrid projects, both to build
technical expertise to offer dramatically improved system resiliency to critical customers in
communities and to deliver enhanced reliability solutions to all customers.
He said the challenge that utilities in the state face is that Pennsylvanias utility laws do
not define how microgrids and battery storage systems are to be regulated.
Will Agate, CEO NetZero Microgrid Solutions, said he strongly supports the legislation
since it will promote the development of scalable microgrids.
He said his company installed the Philadelphia Navy Yards microgrid. That project is
just one example of successful microgrid pilots in the United States, Agate said.
He said now it is essential to turn the corner to allow a flexible framework of
understanding so that the publicly regulated utilities within Pennsylvania can also propose
projects of these kinds.
Also providing testimony and comments to the Committee were--
-- Tanya McCloskey, Acting Consumer Advocate, PUC
-- John Caldwell, Chief Economist, Edison Electric Institute
-- Sunil Cherian, CEO Spirae LLC
-- Rick Hartlein, Georgia Tech National Electric Energy Testing, rEsearch and Applications
Center
-- John Stampfel, EATON
A video of the hearing is posted on the Committee Video webpage.
Rep. Stephen Barrar (R-Delaware) is Majority Chair of the Committee and can be
contacted by sending email to: sbarrar@pahousegop.com and Rep. Chris Sainato (D-Lawrence)
is Minority Chair and can be contacted by sending email to: csainato@pahouse.net.
Shale Gas Industry Tells House Committee, We Dont Want Regulatory Relief, We Want
Permits On Time
The House State Government Committee held its third hearing Tuesday on the regulatory
climate in Pennsylvania, this one focused on potential solutions to regulatory burdens. However,
they were told by the Shale gas industry they dont want regulatory relief, they just want their
permits on time.
Carl Carlson, Range Resources (Shale natural gas driller), said permitting delays and new
regulations by DEP are impeding competition with other states in natural gas development. The
drilling industry, he said, needs a constant stream of new permits to keep drilling moving or the
investments will go elsewhere.
The industry is not looking for regulatory relief from environmental requirements, but
more certainty in permit review times, said Carlson.
Jennifer Hoffman, Huntley & Huntley Energy Exploration, said she has confidence in the
professionalism in the staff of DEP and echoed Carlsons comments on not seeking regulatory
relief.
Carlson explained erosion and sedimentation review times differ significantly from DEP
region to region, from 90 days in one office to 200+ days in others. He also said review times
for the basic oil and gas well has exceeded the 45 days required in the Oil and Gas Act.
He also noted the number of permits is down significantly from its peak, yet permit
review times increase.
Hoffman said there are a number of reasons for differences in review times, including
inadequate applications submitted by consultants.
Carlson expressed specific concerns about the potential review times for the proposed
GP-5 and GP-5A permit when the existing GP-5 permit covering methane emissions from oil
and gas operations exceeds the 30 day limit in the state Air Pollution Control Act.
Larry Schweiger, President & CEO of PennFuture, told the Committee the debate in the
General Assembly so far on regulations has missed the mark. Pennsylvania voters want their air
and water resources protected and regulations are needed to do that.
He said voters have proven this point over and over again by supporting the state
constitutions Environmental Rights Amendments by an overwhelming 82 percent and other
environmental initiatives.
Schweiger said Senate Bill 561, now in the Committee, would provide an
unconstitutional veto of regulations. He said House and Senate committees already have
oversight responsibilities on regulations through constitutional pathways and Senate Bill 561 is
not needed. (Click Here for more on Senate Bill 561.)
Schweiger said Pennsylvania needs effective regulations on methane emissions and on
the conventional oil and gas operations.
He said the bill would put yet another bureaucratic hurdle in the way of adopting
regulations. Pennsylvania already has one of the most byzantine processes for adopting
regulations.
Schweiger also noted the General Assembly has used the power of the purse in a punitive
way to cut DEPs staff and resources. He said these cuts are the reason for permit delays that
plague certain areas of the state and have left the agency unable to properly oversee energy
development in the state.
Schweiger said these cuts should be the subject of the Committee hearing, not
regulations.
George Bedwick, Commissioner on the Independent Regulatory Review Commission,
and David Sumner, Executive Director, provided an overview of the existing regulatory review
process and background on the enactment of the original Regulatory Review Act of 1982.
Commissioner Bedwick, who noted he was on the staff on the General Assembly when
the Act passed in 1982, said, at that time, there was a concern agencies were adopting regulations
not in line with statutory direction.
Bedwick said the original Act contained a one-House veto of a regulation that was
challenged in Commonwealth Court by the state Department of Environmental Resources
[forerunner of DEP] during the Casey Administration saying it was unconstitutional because it
violated the separation of powers.
The Court ruled the provision was unconstitutional because the Senate and House have to
act as a body and nothing was presented to the Governor for his action as required by the
constitution. [DER v. Julielier, 130 Pa.Commw. 124, 567 A.2d 741 (1989)]
The Act was then amended by the General Assembly with the current process which
requires the Senate and House to pass a resolution and that resolution has to be presented to the
Governor for his action. The change was adopted prior to a final ruling on the case by the PA
Supreme Court which then ruled the case moot because the law was changed. [DER v. Jubelirer,
531 Pa 472 (1992)]
Bedwick said they have seen a consistent decline in the number of regulations presented
to the IRRC over the last few years. There were just 43 final rules last year as opposed to 91 in
2001. He noted a study recently found Pennsylvania and North Carolina tied for having the
regulatory review process with the most opportunity for input in the process.
In response to a question, Berwick and Sumner said the Regulatory Review Act contains
a process where anyone can petition the Commission to review an existing regulation.
Bedwick said they do not take a position on legislation, but noted a concern with Senate
Bill 561 saying it would lengthen an already long regulatory process.
Kevin Moody, PA Independent Oil & Gas Association (conventional oil and gas drillers),
offered his support for Senate Bill 561 which allows the General Assembly to disapprove
regulations by taking no action at all.
[Note: In 2016, conventional oil and gas drillers successfully lobbied the General
Assembly to pass a law to kill an update of conventional drilling regulations DEP had been
working on for five years, even without a process like Senate Bill 561 would enact.]
Paul Brahim, CEO of BPU Investment Management, Inc., provided an overview of the
regulatory burden on the financial services industry.
James Broughel, Mercatus Center at George Mason University, repeated the testimony he
gave at the Committees June 6 hearing recommending a cap on the number of regulations.
He said at the earlier hearing, a cap could lock in advantages for Pennsylvania, because
the states regulatory environment actually looks more competitive than neighboring New York
and New Jersey.
The cap concept is simply numerical and takes no account of the content of those
regulations, statutory direction (state or federal) to adopt a regulation or the benefits or cost of a
regulation, much like the Trump Administrations Executive Order requiring the elimination of
two regulations for every new one adopted.
One member of the Committee-- Rep. Mary Jo Daley (D-Montgomery)-- noted it might
be good to adopt the same concept in capping the number of House and Senate bills members
introduce, since so few of them ever become law.
David Taylor, President PA Manufacturers Association, said the states regulatory
environment is just as important as tax policy, lowering state spending and preparing a
workforce for jobs.
Taylor said no one is saying we should not protect the environment with reasonable
regulations. He said the Commonwealth should be a partner in compliance, because that is the
public good outcome of regulations.
Government should be required to show the benefits of regulations outweigh the costs to
the public, there should be limits set on the cost of complying with a regulation and standards
should not be tightened just because you can measure smaller and smaller particles.
In response to a question, Taylor said Pennsylvania should follow the actions of the
Trump Administration to require review and elimination of regulations.
Darrin Youker, PA Farm Bureau, also submitted written comments to the Committee.
Click Here to watch a video of the hearing.
Follow Up Hearing
The Committee has scheduled a hearing on June 26 to hear comments from entities
regulated by the Susquehanna River Basin Commission and concerns about regulatory
overreach. Shrewsbury Borough Municipal Building, 35 West Railroad Ave., Shrewsbury, York
County. 9:00.
On June 7 the House passed House Bill 922 (Tallman-R-Adams) removing new
employees of the Susquehanna River Basin Commission from the state employees retirement
system. (A House Fiscal Note and summary is available.)
The legislation is sponsored by the same House members who have been expressing
concerns about the way SRBC is doing its work under its interstate compact.
Rep. Daryl Metcalfe (R-Butler) serves as Majority Chair of the Committee and can be
contacted by sending email to: dmetcalf@pahousegop.com. Rep. Matthew Bradford
(D-Montgomery) serves as Minority Chair and can be contacted by sending email to:
mbradford@pahouse.net.
Related Stories:
House Committee Seeks Ways The General Assembly Can Get More Involved In Regulatory
Process
DEP To Senate Committee: Complete Applications, More DEP Staff Keys To Improving permit
Turnaround Times
Sen. Alloway Bill Regulates Lawn Fertilizer Application To Reduce Nutrient Pollution
Sen. Richard Alloway (R-Adams), one of Pennsylvanias

representatives on the interstate Chesapeake Bay
Commission, introduced Senate Bill 792 Wednesday
regulating the application of lawn fertilizer and requiring
professional fertilizer applicators to be certified in
fertilizer application techniques.
[The Senate Agriculture and Rural Affairs
Committee is scheduled to consider this bill June 26.
Click Here for more.]
The health of Pennsylvanias streams and rivers is
of critical importance to our economic future and quality of life, said Sen. Alloway.
Unfortunately, thousands of miles of streams in the Commonwealth are impaired due to excess
levels of nitrogen and phosphorus. Excess levels of these nutrients are also significant
contributors to the impairment of the Chesapeake Bay, whose watershed covers 50 percent of our
state.
For decades, Pennsylvanias farmers have led the way to implement erosion and
sedimentation controls, nutrient management plans and other best management practices on
farms, explained Sen. Alloway. More recently, wastewater treatment plants have begun to
implement upgrades to reduce nitrogen and phosphorus emissions. Both sectors should be
commended for their successful efforts.
Unfortunately, as these sectors continue to implement nutrient reductions, the loads
from urban and suburban stormwater continue to grow, noted Sen. Alloway. In the Chesapeake
Bay Watershed, acres of turf now outnumber acres of corn.
This legislation will reduce the environmental impact of fertilizer applied to turf areas,
such as lawns, golf courses and athletic fields, while ensuring that all turf areas within the
Commonwealth will be able to receive adequate nutrients so that adverse turf health will not
result as an unintended consequence, said Sen. Alloway.
In addition to setting clear standards for the application of fertilizer to turf, the bill will
also require all professional fertilizer applicators to be certified in proper application techniques
and best management practices, said Sen. Alloway. This legislation is specifically focused on
the lawn care industry and will not apply to agricultural production.
Similar legislation has already been enacted in Maryland, Virginia and New Jersey, and
the industry has expressed a strong desire for consistency across the region and state.
The bill was referred to the Senate Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee.
A sponsor summary of the bill is available.
Related Stories:
PA Chesapeake Bay Commission Members Spotlight Need For Clean Water Fund In PA
CBF-PA: No Surprise, PA Significantly Off Track In Meeting Chesapeake Bay Milestones
Wyoming Valley Sanitary Authority Leads MS4 Stormwater Effort To Save Communities 50+
Percent In Compliance Costs
New EPA Guide To Green Infrastructure In Parks To Manage Stormwater Now Available
Alliance For Chesapeake Bay Selling Stormwater Workshop July 17 In Dauphin County
Chesapeake Bay Landscape Professional Certification Training July 24-25 In Lancaster
June Environmental Synopsis From Joint Conservation Committee Features Oil & Gas
Industry
The June edition of the Environmental Synopsis

newsletter from the Joint legislative Air and Water
Pollution Control and Conservation Committee features
articles on--
-- Importance of Oil and Gas Industry In Pennsylvania,
Sen. Hutchinson (R-Venango)
-- Role, Impacts Of In-Ground Pools - 129,776 in PA
-- More Milkweed Needed To Restore Monarch
Butterflies
-- Nuclear Waste Treatment And Disposal Still
Contentious
-- Shrinking City of Detroit Provides Habitat For Bumbees
-- Water Efficiency Lagging In Rural Areas
-- Click Here to sign up for your own copy.
Sen. Scott Hutchinson (R-Venango) serves as Chair of the Joint Conservation
Committee.
For more information, visit the Joint Conservation Committee website, Like them on
Facebook or Follow them on Twitter.
(Photo: Drake Well, in Venango County near Titusville, Crawford County, visit the Drake Well
Museum and Park.)
House Committee Set To Do Recycling Fee Extension, Onlot Septic System Bills June 27
The House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee is scheduled to meet June 27 on
legislation eliminating the sunset date on the $2 Recycling Fee in Act 101 and a bill to provide
for alternative onlot septic system technologies in local sewage plans.
The bills include
-- Senate Bill 646 (Killion-R-Delaware) would prevent a funding crisis in the states Recycling
Program by eliminating the expiration date for the Act 101 $2 per ton recycling fee on waste
disposed in Pennsylvania; and
-- Senate Bill 144 (Yaw-R-Lycoming) amending Act 537 ton include alternative on-lot sewage
systems in sewage plans (sponsor summary).
There is speculation the Committee will also consider other amendments to Act 101 during
the meeting.
The meeting will be held in Room B-31 of the Main Capitol starting at 9:30. House
Committee meetings are typically webcast through the House Republican website.
Rep. John Maher (R-Allegheny) serves as Majority Chair of the House Environmental
Committee and can be contacted by sending email to: jmaher@pahousegop.com. Rep. Mike
Carroll serves as Minority Chair and can be contacted by sending email to:
mcarroll@pahouse.net.
NewsClips:
Thompson: Wolf To Veto Bill Banning Local Plastic Bag Bans, Fees
Wolf To Veto Plastic Bag Bill Despite Bipartisan Support
Cities, Municipalities Will Keep Control Of Plastic Bag Bans
Crable: No Plans To Ban Glass From Recyclables In Lancaster As Harrisburg Did
Sorting Options On Keystone Landfill Expansion Plan
Editorial: Keystone Landfill Plan Isnt About NE PA Trash
Salvage Yard Owner Must Stay In Prison For Refusing To Clean Up His Mess
Related Story:
DEP Recycling Waste Advisory Committees To Discuss Forming Act 101 Changes Workgroup
June 29
Senate Lawn Fertilizer Application Bill To Be Considered By Committee June 26
The Senate Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee is

scheduled to consider Senate Bill 792 (Alloway-R-Adams)
that would regulate the application of lawn fertilizer on
June 26.
The bill was introduced Wednesday by Sen.
Richard Alloway (R-Adams), one of Pennsylvanias
representatives on the Interstate Chesapeake Bay
Commission.
The health of Pennsylvanias streams and rivers is
of critical importance to our economic future and quality
of life, said Sen. Alloway. Unfortunately, thousands of miles of streams in the Commonwealth
are impaired due to excess levels of nitrogen and phosphorus. Excess levels of these nutrients are
also significant contributors to the impairment of the Chesapeake Bay, whose watershed covers
50 percent of our state.
For decades, Pennsylvanias farmers have led the way to implement erosion and
sedimentation controls, nutrient management plans and other best management practices on
farms, explained Sen. Alloway. More recently, wastewater treatment plants have begun to
implement upgrades to reduce nitrogen and phosphorus emissions. Both sectors should be
commended for their successful efforts.
Unfortunately, as these sectors continue to implement nutrient reductions, the loads
from urban and suburban stormwater continue to grow, noted Sen. Alloway. In the Chesapeake
Bay Watershed, acres of turf now outnumber acres of corn.
This legislation will reduce the environmental impact of fertilizer applied to turf areas,
such as lawns, golf courses and athletic fields, while ensuring that all turf areas within the
Commonwealth will be able to receive adequate nutrients so that adverse turf health will not
result as an unintended consequence, said Sen. Alloway.
In addition to setting clear standards for the application of fertilizer to turf, the bill will
also require all professional fertilizer applicators to be certified in proper application techniques
and best management practices, said Sen. Alloway. This legislation is specifically focused on
the lawn care industry and will not apply to agricultural production.
Similar legislation has already been enacted in Maryland, Virginia and New Jersey, and
the industry has expressed a strong desire for consistency across the region and state.
The meeting will be held in the Rules Room of the Senate Off the Floor, which means
there is no set time for the meeting. It could be called any time after the Senate convenes
Monday.
Sen. Elder Vogel (R-Beaver) serves as Majority Chair of the Senate Agriculture
Committee, and can be contacted by sending email to: evogel@pasen.gov. Sen. Judy Schwank
(D-Berks) serves as Minority Chair and can be contacted by sending email to:
SenatorSchwank@pasenate.com.
Will The Senate Vote The Hellbender To Be State Amphibian? Stay Tuned!
The Senate has only five voting days left before they finish
the budget and head home for the summer, but still no word
on whether they plan to vote on Senate Bill 658
(Yaw-R-Lycoming) to designate the eastern hellbender
Pennsylvanias state amphibian.
The bill is sponsored by Sen. Gene Yaw (R-Lycoming),
Majority Chair of the Senate Environmental Resources and
Energy Committee and of of Pennsylvanias representatives
on the interstate Chesapeake Bay Commission.
Sen. Yaw took on the project at the request of the Chesapeake Bay Foundations Student
Leaders group.
Its about all species that rely on clean water, which essentially encompasses all wildlife
in Pennsylvania, including us, SLC President Anna Pauletta said of the campaign during a visit
to Harrisburg in May. Being able to speak up for something that doesnt necessarily have a
voice and making impact on their survivorship through legislation. She is a senior at
Cumberland Valley High School.
Long-term we are also looking to raise awareness for clean water in general, but within
the legislative process as well, because its an issue that is commonly overlooked, Pauletta
added.
Without help and more clean water, the Eastern hellbender could disappear.
They are a natural barometer of water quality and they live where the water is clean,
Sen. Yaw said, recalling days as a youngster catching hellbenders in the local creek. If they are
surviving in the streams in this area, that is a good sign for the water quality. Here is natures
own testing kit for good water quality.
Much of what remains of a depleted hellbender population in Pennsylvania can be found
in waters within the Senators district, which includes Bradford, Lycoming, Sullivan, part of
Susquehanna and Union counties.
Hellbenders survive where there is cold, clear, swift-running water. They prefer rocky
streambeds. Their sponge-like bodies allow them to squeeze into crevices which they use for
protection and for nesting. The slimy salamanders feed at night, primarily on crayfish.
Folds of wrinkled skin provide a large surface through which they draw most of their
oxygen.
The presence of streamside trees or forested buffers stands out among factors that enable
hellbenders to survive.
Forested buffers are one of the most cost-effective practices available for not only
keeping pollutants out of the stream, but also for providing hellbenders cool, clean water and
habitat to live, said CBFs Pennsylvania Executive Director Harry Campbell. Science tells us
no other practice does so much for so many.
A lack of forested buffers along Commonwealth waterways allows waters to warm,
polluted runoff to enter rivers and streams, and silt to build up in streambeds. As a result, habitat
has been degraded and hellbender numbers were decimated in streams where they were plentiful
as recently as 1990.
The Senator and the students believe recognizing the Eastern hellbender as the state
amphibian can encourage more Pennsylvanians to protect it and its environment.
More information about the campaign for the Eastern hellbender, visit CBFs Hellbender
webpage. Click Here to watch a video about hellbenders.
Click Here to see how clean the streams are in your county.
For more on Chesapeake Bay-related issues in Pennsylvania, visit the Chesapeake Bay
Foundation-PA webpage. Click Here to sign up for Pennsylvania updates (bottom of left
column). Click Here to become a member.
Related Story:
Sen. Yaw, CBF Student Leaders Support Bill To Save Hellbenders And Clean Water In PA
News From Around The State
Don Welsh Elected Chair, James Sandoe Vice Chair Of DEP Citizens Advisory Council
The DEP Citizens Advisory Council Tuesday elected Donald Welsh Chair of the Council. He
succeeds William Fink who first became Chair in 2015. James Sandoe was elected Vice Chair.
Don Welsh
Don Welsh has 30 years of experience in federal, state and local government and lives in
Chester County. He was elected vice-chair of the CAC in June 2015.
He is known for building and maintaining successful partnerships among elected
officials, government agencies, businesses and interest groups to achieve environmental results.
In 2009-2010 he served as President & Chief Executive Officer of the PA Environmental
Council where he led and directed Pennsylvanias most respected statewide non-profit
environmental organization.
Prior to PEC, Don was the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region III Regional
Administrator for eight years where he was responsible for planning, managing and directing the
activities of the U.S. EPA in the six-state Mid-Atlantic Region.
His career with EPA also included time as the Region III Chief of Government Affairs
(1984-1995), Executive Assistant to the Regional Administrator (1985-1991) and Pennsylvania
State Liaison Officer (1984-1985).
He has held several positions in the Department of Environmental Protection, including
Deputy Secretary for State/Federal Relations (1997-2001) and Special Assistant to the Secretary
for Federal Liaison (1995-1997).
James Sandoe
James Sandoe is a retire business executive from Lancaster County with over 30 years in
the automotive and logistics fields at the level of General Manager.
Before retiring, he served as Northeast Regional Manager for Bridgestone Logistics in
York. The company served as the east coast hub for California Wine Country Gift Baskets and
Sandoe was in charge of inventory and shipment of thousands of packages daily to all fifty
states.
Since he retired, he has been involved in the science of climate. I have taken seven
college courses, including the basic science, earth science and the economics of sustainability.
The last one with Dr. Jeffrey Sachs at Columbia University had a big impact on me personally,
and it is the reason that I am applying for this position.
The July 18 meeting of Council is canceled. The next meeting will be held on August 14
and will be a field visit (location to be decided).
For more information, visit DEPs Citizens Advisory Council webpage or contact Lee
Ann Murray, Executive Director, P. O. Box 8459, Harrisburg, PA 17105-8459, 717-705-2693,
LeeMurray@pa.gov.
CBF-PA: No Surprise, Pennsylvania Significantly Off Track In Meeting Chesapeake Bay

Milestones
The Chesapeake Bay Foundation Wednesday released its

assessment of the progress made implementing Chesapeake
Bay Watershed milestone commitments in 2016 and found
Maryland and Virginia largely on track to meet commitments
for reducing pollution and Pennsylvania falling significantly
short in reducing nitrogen pollution.
While there is significant room for improvement in all the
states, it is important to note that reduced pollution is
benefitting the Bay. Over time, the dead zone is getting
smaller, Bay grasses are at record levels, and oysters are
rebounding, said CBF President William C. Baker. The success all three states have had in
reducing pollution from sewage treatment plants is important, but it also masks shortfalls in each
of the states efforts to reduce pollution from agriculture and urban/suburban runoff. Continued
federal and state investments will be key to success on the state level, and we know the payoff
will be significant.
Under the Chesapeake Clean Water Blueprint, the states have committed to implementing
60 percent of the practices necessary to restore the Bay by 2017, and 100 percent by 2025. Over
the next year, the states and EPA will assess progress and develop new plans to achieve the 2025
goal.
The two-year milestones provide transparency and accountability for restoration efforts.
This assessment is for the first year of the 2016-17 milestone period.
CBFs assessment looked at the practices the states put in place in 2016, as well as
selected programs each state has designed to achieve the long-term goals.
Pennsylvanias pollution reduction strategy has shown some progress and the
Commonwealth is in the process of developing a new watershed implementation plan to carry it
toward the 2025 goals, said CBF Pennsylvania Executive Director Harry Campbell. But the
Commonwealth is considering yet another budget that falls well short of providing the
investments necessary for success. Pennsylvania will only be successful with sustained
investments in the right places and on the right practices.
Pennsylvania Assessment
Pennsylvania is significantly off track in reducing nitrogen and phosphorus pollution
from agriculture as well as urban/suburban runoff. Progress in reducing pollution from sewage
treatment plants is on track.
Overall progress to reduce nitrogen pollution is significantly off track, but efforts to
reduce phosphorus and sediment pollution are only slightly off track.
Pennsylvanias re-boot committed the Commonwealth to develop and implement an
agricultural compliance and enforcement strategy. As part of that strategy inspections were to be
conducted on 10 percent of its farms annually.
With funding from the Chesapeake Bay Program and other sources, over 1,100 farms
were visited between October 2016 and March 2017, an inspection rate below what is needed to
visit 10 percent of farms.
However, the pace of inspections has increased now that the process is more established.
Roughly 70 percent of the farms had the required plans. These inspections, however,
only assess whether the required plans exist, not whether they are implemented a major
shortfall of state efforts to date.
Pennsylvania also committed to counting and reporting on agricultural practices that are
not government funded. A recent Penn State study reported many practices that the
Commonwealth had not counted.
Pennsylvanias efforts to reduce pollution from urban/suburban runoff are showing mixed
success. The Commonwealth is significantly off track in reducing pollution from nitrogen,
phosphorus, and sediment.
To help jumpstart reductions, the Commonwealth has implemented specific, numeric
goals in permits for small municipalities.
Click Here for a copy of the Pennsylvania portion of the report. Click Here for
Maryland. Click Here for Virginia.
column). Click Here to support their work.
For more information on Pennsylvania Chesapeake Bay efforts, visit DEPs Phase III
Chesapeake Bay Watershed Implementation Plan webpage.
NewsClips:
MD, VA On Track With Chesapeake Cleanup Goals, PA Lags
Whats Next As PA Enters Chesapeake Bay Phase 3 Cleanup?
3 Back Mountain Municipalities Teaming Up For Own Stormwater Plan
Editorial: Wyoming Valley Offers Collective Approach To Clean Water
Op-Ed: Science Is The Source Of Solutions
Latest From The Chesapeake Bay Journal
Click Here to subscribe to the Chesapeake Bay Journal
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Related Stories:
Feature: Parks To The Rescue On Stormwater, Flooding
PA Launches Effort To Write Cleanup Plan Addressing Chesapeake Bay Shortfall
Chesapeake Bay States, DC Call For Continued Federal Funding Of Cleanup Efforts
EPA: PA Must Identify Significant New Funding Needed To Meet Chesapeake Bay Cleanup
Targets
EPA Letter Tells PA To Increase Chesapeake Bay Cleanup Effort Or It Will Act
Lack Of Resources, New Cleanup Goals Will Make Chesapeake Bay Cleanup Harder In PA
Wyoming Valley Sanitary Authority Leads MS4 Stormwater Effort To Save Communities
More Than 50% In Compliance Costs
The Wyoming Valley Sanitary Authority has

been providing wastewater treatment services
for residents of Luzerne County since 1962.
WVSAs service area includes 35 municipalities
from Harveys Lake to Pittston to Newport
Township.
Not only is the Authority managing
upgrades to deal with its combined wastewater
and stormwater sewer system, it has proposed a new role for itself in serving as permit
administrator to comply with the MS4 Stormwater pollution prevention program for its member
municipalities.
As of June 22, the Authority has heard from only one of the 36 communities who said
they do not want to join the regional program. Two other municipalities-- Dallas Borough and
Dallas township have said they plan to join another multi-municipal efforts lead by the Dallas
Area Municipal Authority.
Under its program, the Authority estimated the cost to property owners would be $36 to
$54 per year or $3 to $4.50 per month, depending on the impervious area on a property. This
estimate is more than half the cost of complying with the requirements if the communities went
on their own.
The Authority will take the responsibility for--
-- Preparation of a Regional Chesapeake Bay Pollution Reduction Plan (PRP) and Watershed
Based PRPs to reduce sediment pollution from each municipality by 10 percent, phosphorus by 5
percent and nitrogen by 3 percent for submission by municipalities to Department of
Environmental Protection (due September 2017).
-- Design, implementation and ownership of Best Management Practices (BMPs) outlined in the
PRP (implementation of BMPs must be complete by March 2023).
-- Operation and maintenance of BMPs installed by WVSA.
-- System-wide mapping of separate stormwater infrastructure (including Pollution Control
Measures (PCMs) included as part of Appendix A and Appendix C of various MS4 permits held
by individual municipalities).
-- Completion of all efforts necessary for municipalities to comply with Minimum Control
Measures (MCM) #1(Public Education), #2 (Public Involvement) and #6 (Pollution
Prevention/Good Housekeeping).
-- Completion of mapping activities and regional training for municipal staff related to MCM #3
(Illicit Discharge Detection)
-- Development of standard ordinances relative to MCM #5 (Post-Construction Runoff Control).
-- Provision of emergency operation and maintenance support to municipalities relative to
separate storm sewer system operation.
-- Provision of funding to municipalities to support repair, rehabilitate and replace existing
stormwater infrastructure, or the implementation of local BMPs (currently assumed to be
$10/year/ERU).
-- Development of two to four regional stormwater parks in the Wyoming Valley Region.
-- Provide documentation to municipalities relative to BMP implementation of MCMs completed
by WVSA for use by the municipalities in submitting annual MS4 Status Update Reports.
Provide additional guidance to municipalities relative annual MS4 reporting requirements.
Advantages Of Regional Approach - 50% Savings
The Authority notes under a per municipal approach to MS4 permit compliance, each
municipality would bear the cost of developing their own pollution reduction plans and siting
BMPs within their municipality, and within the drainage area of impaired waterways, in order to
ensure the required pollutant load reductions-- 10 percent sediment, 5 percent phosphorus and 3
percent nitrogen-- are met.
Under a regional approach in Wyoming Valley, DEP will accept a single Chesapeake
Bay pollution reduction plan for all 36 municipalities and six watershed based plans for the
Region.
If a municipality were to complete Pollution Reduction Planning and implementation on
their own, they are limited to the available land in their municipality and, in many cases, in the
drainage area of an impaired stream.
A regional plan provides significant flexibility in that the BMPs may be located
anywhere within the watershed.
This provides the opportunity to site and select BMPs in ways which provide the greatest
pollutant reduction for the lowest cost.
In the case of the Wyoming Valley Region, regional Pollution Reduction Planning results
in a reduced number of required BMPs for permit compliance which cuts the average cost per
municipality by more than half.
To learn more about the Wyoming Valleys regional approach to MS4 Stormwater
compliance, visit the Authoritys Stormwater webpage.
Other Innovative Approaches
In Lycoming County they have adopted their own local nutrient credit trading program to
promote cost effective solutions to nutrient and sediment reduction. York County has also taken
a county-wide approach and created an Integrated Water Resources Plan to comply with not only
MS4 Stormwater requirements, but to comply with all Chesapeake Bay and local TMDL
impaired stream nutrient and sediment reductions.
The City of Lancaster established a Green Infrastructure Program to install stormwater
pollution reduction measures throughout the City. A similar green infrastructure plan is being
finalized by the Capital Region Water Authority for the City of Harrisburg.
The Philadelphia Water Departments Green City, Clean Waters Program is now into its
sixth year of implementing its green infrastructure program and the City of Pittsburgh is now
proposing its own green infrastructure program along with the 3 Rivers Wet Weather Project to
promote green infrastructure on a regional basis.
What do all these approaches have in common? Low-tech, cost-effective best
management practices that work to prevent pollution from stormwater and reduce nutrients and
sediment getting into our rivers and streams.
For more information on stormwater requirements, visit DEPs Municipal Stormwater
webpage.
(Photo: Little Conestoga Watershed regional stormwater solution in Lancaster County.)
NewsClips:
Most Municipalities Signing Up For WVSA Pollution Reduction Plan
Pittstown Council OKs Deal To Separate Stormwater, Sewage Lines
Duryea To Join Huge Project To Clean Up Susquehanna River
Kingston Twp Doesnt Plan To Join Wyoming Valley Authority Stormwater Program
Taxpayers Face Expense To Reduce Susquehanna River Pollutants
Wilkes-Barre, Kingston Fined By EPA For Non-Compliance With Stormwater Program
Follow Chesapeake Bay Journal On Twit
Related Stories:
The City of Lancaster Green Infrastructure

Program will host the 2017 Chesapeake Bay
Landscape Professional (CBLP) certification
Level 1 training on July 24-25.
CBLP is a new, voluntary, regional credential for
professionals who design, install, and maintain
sustainable landscapes in the Chesapeake Bay
watershed.
CBLP offers two levels of training and
certification:
-- Level 1 is a baseline certification in design, installation, and maintenance of sustainable
landscapes, with emphasis on how to properly maintain stormwater best management practices
(BMPs). Click Here to register.
-- Level 2 is an advanced credential in design or installation, focusing on stormwater BMPs
Level 1 training consists of one two-day class that combines classroom learning about
conservation landscaping and stormwater best management practices, with a field-based
maintenance practicum.
CBLPs active learning program focuses on critical thinking, problem solving, and
collaborative practice.
Candidates also receive unlimited access to CBLPs online webinar series on sustainable
landscaping topics, and may participate in a live exam preparation webinar.
Level 1 Certification
The Level 1 package, which includes training and exam, administered by CBLP, is $425.
Click Here for more information and to register for Level 1 training.
Candidates for Level 1 must have a degree, certificate, or certification in a related field,
or have professional experience in landscape design, installation, or maintenance. In order to
qualify for Level 2, professionals must complete Level 1 and demonstrate experience designing
or installing stormwater BMPs.
Level 1 certification exams will be given in several locations, August 2017-January 2018.
A Level 2 seminar will be held November 9-11, 2017, in Arlington, VA. Registration will
open this summer.
Click Here for a searchable, online directory of over 100 CBLP landscape professionals
certified during the pilot program is available at http://cblpro.org/directory/
For more information on the full program, visit the Chesapeake Bay Landscape
Professional webpage or contact Beth Ginter, CBLP Coordinator, by sending email to:
beth@chesapeakelandscape.org.
NewsClips:
Related Stories:
The Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay, Capital Region Council of Governments and other
partners are hosting a Selling Stormwater Workshop on July 17 at the Londonderry Township
Building, 783 S. Geyers Church Road in Middletown, Dauphin County from 8:00 to 3:00.
Participants involved in meeting MS4 Stormwater pollution prevention requirements will
learn about the latest research on selling stormwater programs to the public and review of case
studies of how communities have handled these issues.
Presentations will be made by--
-- Erie Eckl, Water Words That Work - Selling Stormwater Management - PA Stormwater
Survey with Recommendations; and
-- Nathan Walker, AMEC Environment and Infrastructure, Inc. - Local Municipal Stories:
Multiple Paths for Meeting MS4 Requirements.
Other participating organizations include the University of Maryland Environmental
Finance Center and Water Words That Work.
Click Here for more information and to register.
For more information on stormwater requirements, visit DEPs Municipal Stormwater
webpage.
NewsClips:
Related Stories:
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently

released a new guide, Green Infrastructure in Parks: A
Guide to Collaboration, Funding, and Community
Engagement, to help cities and towns increase green
infrastructure in their local parks.
Controlling stormwater runoff can be a challenge in
urban areas, where a high level of hard surfaces like
roads, sidewalks and buildings prevent water from
soaking into the soil.
Instead, water is funneled into storm drains, usually
after picking up pollutants such as motor oil and
fertilizers. Fast-moving runoff that is exiting storm drains into local waterways can also erode
stream banks.
Green infrastructuresuch as rain gardens, green roofs and pervious pavementuses
soil and vegetation to help slow the flow of runoff and manage rainwater where it falls.
By capturing stormwater onsite and allowing it to slowly infiltrate back into the soil,
green infrastructure can help prevent erosion and keep pollution from entering storm drains.
When used in parks, green infrastructure can add recreational, educational, aesthetic and
economic benefits as well.
Amenities such as pervious biking trails create more reasons for residents to use parks;
features such as native rain gardens and trees not only help control stormwater, but are also
attractive; and improved drainage and the use of native plants reduce maintenance costs.
The step-by-step guide provides tips for identifying, funding and partnering on green
infrastructure projects, including:
-- Identifying and engaging partners;
-- Building relationships;
-- Leveraging funds;
-- Identifying green infrastructure opportunities;
-- Planning for maintenance; and
-- Creating pilot projects.
A number of case studies and photos are also included, illustrating how nongovernmental
organizations and federal, state and local governments partnered to incorporate green
infrastructure into parks across the country.
The guide is available online.
For more information on stormwater management and parks, visit DCNRs Manage
Stormwater Naturally webpage, to see case studies of green infrastructure in Pennsylvania parks,
visit DCNRs PA Green Community Parks webpage and for general stormwater requirements in
Pennsylvania, visit DEPs Municipal Stormwater webpage.
(Photo: Sullivan Park, Easton, Lehigh County, DCNR Green Park Award Winner in 2014.)
(Reprinted from the Chesapeake Bay Program Blog.)
NewsClips:
Related Stories:
Green Infrastructure: Managing Stormwater Naturally With Green Parks
Explaining How Green Infrastructure Can Provide Protection From Flooding
Watch This Webinar On Natures Financial Benefits From Penn State Extension
Op-Ed: Under The Microscope: Science The Source Of Solutions
By Harry Campbell, PA Director, Chesapeake Bay Foundation
As a young boy, my curiosity about the woods, critters

and water of the Back Mountain region of northern
Luzerne County made for an exciting and formative
time.
As I observed the fish and habitat around the
lake I lived next to, the intricacies and
interrelationships of the land and water came into
focus.
It was 7th grade biology class where it all
seemed to come together. It is when science class went from the solar system and earths
geology to the science of living things and their relationship to their surroundings.
I was fascinated by the sense of discovery brought on by learning how chemistry,
biology, and physics intertwine to affect our environment and even ourselves. It led me to
becoming the water quality scientist I am today.
The Chesapeake Bay Foundations work in Pennsylvania translates science into action
be it educating people on the challenges and means of cleaning up 19,000 miles of polluted
rivers and streams, advocating for meaningful legislation, or installing practices on the ground
that reduce pollution and restore our streams.
The legacy of coal mining, intensive agriculture, and urbanization are why our streams
are polluted.
How do we know this? Science.
Science also shows us solutions. Without science, we wouldnt know that preserving and
restoring streamside and streetside trees, among other nature-based solutions, are the most
effective and least costly ways to improve stream health.
Science has shown that for about every dollar invested in keeping pollution out of the
water through things like trees, around $27 is saved in treatment costs in order to meet human
health standards.
Thats important, because if youre like most Pennsylvanians, you get your drinking
water from surface waters like the Conestoga and Susquehanna.
Science also says that these same solutions reduce nuisance flooding, help cleanse the air,
preserve and protect wildlife, and increase property values and farm productivity.
Sadly, without science, decision-makers could be susceptible to false solutions that waste
taxpayer money and dont solve the problem. Without science our waters have, and may yet
again, be contaminated with raw sewage, choked by dirt and algae, and even catch fire.
As a scientist, its my duty to help others understand why and to prevent it from
happening again.
But we scientists must do better at letting others know the relevance science has in our
lives.
Now, more than ever, we must make it clear that science informs the basic structures of
our society. Our medicine, our technologies, our food, our water all that and more depend on
sound science.
Congress has before it a proposed budget from the Administration for fiscal year 2018
that would eliminate the federal Chesapeake Bay Program.
It is an initiative started in the mid-1980s that supports scientific studies of the rivers and
streams that go to the Bay. It explores solutions, coordinates actions, and supports programs and
partners that work with everyone from farmers to communities to restore our waters to health.
Like in the early days as a young man exploring nature in Luzerne County, when it
comes to talking and teaching about the relevance of science to water quality in our daily lives,
Ill leave no stone unturned.
So should you.
Harry Campbell is PA Executive Director, Chesapeake Bay Foundation, and can be contacted
by sending email to: hcampbell@cbf.org.
column). Click Here to support their work.
NewsClip:
50 Years Of Fresh Water, Stroud Water Research Center Builds Clean Water Legacy
Profile: Stroud Water Research Center 50 Years Of Fresh Water
The Stroud Water Research Center in Chester County has a

simple mission, but one thats hard to accomplish-- To
advance knowledge and stewardship of freshwater systems
through global research, education and restoration.
This is how it all began 50 years ago.
The story of one of the worlds foremost freshwater research institutions began in the salt
waters of the Pacific Ocean.
In 1956 W. B. Dixon Stroud joined a snail-collecting expedition from the Academy of
Natural Sciences in Philadelphia and spent two months off the coast of New Guinea diving for
live shells.
This was not Dick Strouds first immersion in Pacific waters. Eleven years earlier he had
been officer of the deck when the USS William D. Porter was hit by a kamikaze pilot during the
Battle of Okinawa.
The ship sank in 90 minutes. None of the crew was killed in the attack, but, as second in
command, Lieutenant Stroud was the next-to-last man off.
His subsequent Pacific voyage left a better memory. It also introduced Dick Stroud to the
scientific research efforts of the Academy.
That introduction bore fruit nine years later when he and his wife, Joan, met Ruth Patrick,
the head of the Academys limnology department. The three quickly became friends, and Dr.
Patrick urged the Strouds to build a small laboratory dedicated to freshwater research along
White Clay Creek on their farm in southern Chester County.
Dr. Ruth Patrick conceived the idea of the Center and urged the Strouds to build it.
They made a special team.
Ruth was a relentless worker and one of the countrys foremost scientists. Dick had a
head for business, a fascination with science and a love of the outdoors.
Joan brought a deep commitment to education, a drive to get things done and an
unquenchable curiosity.
I remember an early trip to a forestry conference at Oregon State, said Robin Vannote,
the Centers first director. Joan was studying every inch of the way. Perhaps above all, she had
an unsurpassed ability to turn an empty building into an inviting and inspiring place.
In the summer of 1966 the Stroud Water Research Center began its existence as a field
station of the Academy in a hastily cleared space above the Strouds garage. Hot, dusty and dark,
the attic made the cool streams, where the real scientific work was to be done, look inviting
indeed.
Robin Vannote works in the Centers indoor stream, which he designed and built.
Dr. Patricks first act was to hire Vannote, a young scientist working for the Tennessee
Valley Authority. By early fall his experimental leaf packs had become a familiar sight in the
local streams.
In a letter dated June 30, 1966, Academy President John Bodine outlined the first years
budget to Dick Stroud. Because the $46,100 total included $15,000 for equipment, Bodine
estimated a figure of $36,250 for subsequent years. It was up to the Strouds and the Center staff
to come up with the money.
The forecast was on target. The Centers expenditures for its first fiscal year were
$46,126.29. It is one measure of how much has happened in the intervening years that the Center
now has a multi-million dollar budget.
But while the Center has grown, its essence has not changed.
Ruth and Robin set the tone, said Bern Sweeney, the former director. They were
constantly challenging, asking hard questions, never satisfied, always demanding another
experiment. Its the same now. Its an intense and focused place.
The scientists continue to ask fundamental questions. They work as a team, and their
sights are still set on the long term.
In a world where clean water is no longer taken for granted, they remain determined to
make a difference.
Click Here to watch a short video about Strouds work.
For more information on programs, initiatives and special events, visit the Stroud Water
Research Center website, Click Here to learn how you can support their work, Like them on
Facebook, Follow on Twitter, include them in your Circle on Google+ and visit their YouTube
Channel.
NewsClip:
June 19 Watershed Winds Newsletter Now Available From Penn State Extension
The June 19 edition of the Watershed Winds newsletter is now

available from Penn State Extension features stories on--
-- Could Radon Be Present In Your Well Water? (Photo)
-- DEP: House Republican Budget Proposal Puts Public Health
At Risk
-- Chesapeake Bay Landscape Professional Certification
Training In Lancaster
-- Penn State Receives Grant Aimed At Solving Agricultural
Water Issues
-- Click Here to sign up for your own copy.
NewsClips:
Toads, Turtles, Snakes Delight At ALCOSAN Summer Camp
Delaware RiverKeeper June 23 RiverWatch Video Report
Deadline Extended For Northeast Environmental Partners Awards To July 19

The Northeast Environmental Partners Thursday announced the deadline for nominations for the
Northeastern Pennsylvania Environmental Partnership Awards, including the Thomas P.
Shelburne Award and the Emerging Environmental Leader Award, has been extended to July 19.
The Awards are open to any group, individual, company, program, or organization whose
work has had a positive impact on the environment in Northeastern Pennsylvanias following
counties; Bradford, Carbon, Columbia, Lackawanna, Lehigh, Luzerne, Monroe, Montour,
Northampton, Northumberland, Pike, Schuylkill, Sullivan, Susquehanna, Wayne and Wyoming.
The Northeast Environmental Partners include the Northeastern Pennsylvania Alliance,
Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Department of Environmental Protection,
PA Environmental Councils Northeast Office, PPL Corporation, Procter & Gamble Paper
Products Company, and Wilkes University.
Click Here for all the details on applying.
For more information on programs, initiatives and special events, visit the PA
Environmental Council website, visit the PEC Blog, follow PEC on Twitter or Like PEC on
Facebook. Visit PECs Audio Room for the latest podcasts. Click Here to receive regular
updates from PEC.
NewsClip:
Business Leaders Want Pittsburgh To Be Leader In Sustainability
Keep PA Beautiful Thanks Thousands Of Participants In 2017 Great American Cleanup

Of PA
Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful Wednesday thanked the

thousands of volunteers who made the 2017 Great
American Cleanup of PA a success.
In 2016, 171,576 volunteers removed over 5.5
million pounds of trash. A complete report on the
2017 cleanup will be available late summer.
From March 1 through May 31, individuals, families,
civic groups, schools, organizations and businesses
came together to renew parks, trails and recreation
areas, plant flowers and trees, increase recycling and
remove litter from our shared waterways and public lands.
These events united communities and set an example for others to follow.
"Our Borough of Jefferson Hills Earth Day cleanup continues to grow every year thanks
to the cooperation of our families, businesses, students, scouting and civic groups. In addition,
we could not have pulled off an event of this size without the great support provided to us by
Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful, says Jane Milner, Borough Coordinator of Community Relations.
"We are so proud of our beautiful, clean and green Borough."
Keep Erie County Beautiful officially became an affiliate of Keep America Beautiful in
early March, making the Great American Cleanup of PA our first large event. It was a great way
for us to get our name out there, let folks know who we are and what we can do to help the
community. We had an overwhelmingly positive response from the community with so many
people reaching out to us for help coordinating community or school projects and we are very
appreciative of their efforts. Making these great connections now with so many great people will
help make it easier to find future volunteers for community projects like this, said Brittany
Prischak, Sustainability Coordinator, Erie County Department of Planning and Keep Erie County
Beautiful Coordinator.
We want to thank each and every one of the Great American Cleanup of PA volunteers
who joined together to create positive change and a lasting impact on our local environment.
Whether events were large or small, they all made a difference! It is your commitment to being
stewards of our communities that helps make this event a success year after year, said Shannon
Reiter, President of Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful. Our work would not be possible without the
commitment and dedication of local volunteers and the support of our partners. Thank you.
This annual event is held in conjunction with Keep America Beautifuls Great American
Cleanup and led by a coalition of non-profit, state agency and business partners such as the
Department of Environmental Protection, PennDOT, PA Waste Industries Association, the PA
Food Merchants Association, Weis Markets, Inc., Wawa, Inc., Sheetz, Giant Food Stores, Inc.,
ShopRite and The Fresh Grocer.
Additional 2017 event supporters include: PA Beverage Association, Steel Recycling
Institute, Lancaster County Solid Waste Management Authority, Giant Eagle Inc., Republic
Services, Clean Earth and Wegmans Food Markets.
During the three-month long initiative, registered participants received free trash bags,
gloves, and safety vests from PennDOT district offices. From April 18th through May 8th, trash
collected at registered events was taken to participating facilities for free or at a reduced rate.
All 67 counties in Pennsylvania were represented in the 2017 Great American Cleanup of
PA.
For more information on programs, initiatives and special events, visit the Keep
Pennsylvania Beautiful website. Click Here to become a member. Click Here to sign up for
regular updates from KPB, Like them on Facebook, Follow on Twitter, Discover them on
Pinterest and visit their YouTube Channel.
Also visit the Illegal Dump Free PA website for more ideas on how to clean up
communities and keep them clean and KPBs new Electronics Waste website.
NewsClips:
Related Story:
Keep PA Beautiful Announces Winners Of Great American Cleanup of PA Video Contest
Keep PA Beautiful Announces Winners Of Great American Cleanup of PA Video Contest
Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful Friday announced the

first, second and third place winners of its Great
American Cleanup of PA Video Contest on the KPB Facebook page.
The winning videos were submitted by--
-- First Place: Peace Valley Nature Center, Bucks County (166 votes)
-- Second Place: Lake Frederick Homeowners Association, Dauphin County (157 votes)
-- Third Place: Lancaster Trash Dragon Neighborhood Cleanup (148 votes)
The entry with the most likes wins a cash prize of $200. Two runners up will receive
$100 each.
Watch the other great video entries--
-- The Ray of Hope Project, Philadelphia
-- Swatara Watershed Association - Swatara Sojourn, Dauphin & Lebanon Counties
-- Slatington Recreation and Park Commission, Lehigh County
-- Mountain View Elementary School Kindergarten Class
-- Harrison Township, Allegheny County
-- Conestoga Valley High School - Not All Heroes Wear Capes, Lancaster County
-- Citizens Fiber Cleanup Day, Westmoreland County
We received entries that are representative of the diverse grassroots network that
participates in the Great American Cleanup of PA. Kindergarten and high school classes,
conservation groups, townships and businesses shared their stories of partnerships, innovation
and pride. We couldnt be more pleased to share these stories through our video contest, said
Shannon Reiter, President of Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful.
Cash prizes sponsored by the PA Waste Industries Association.
Visit the KPB Facebook page for more.
For more information on programs, initiatives and special events, visit the Keep
Pennsylvania Beautiful website. Click Here to become a member. Click Here to sign up for
regular updates from KPB, Like them on Facebook, Follow on Twitter, Discover them on
Pinterest and visit their YouTube Channel.
Also visit the Illegal Dump Free PA website for more ideas on how to clean up
communities and keep them clean and KPBs new Electronics Waste website.
(Photo: Cub Scout volunteers from the Peace Valley Nature Center video.)
NewsClips:
Related Story:
Keep PA Beautiful Thanks Thousands Of Participants In 2017 Great American Cleanup Of PA
28 Fewer Illegal Dumpsites In Northeast PA Thanks To PEC, Partners & Many Volunteers
The PA Environmental Councils Community

Illegal Dumpsite Cleanup Program returned to
action this spring, as nearly 200 local volunteers hauled away upwards of 46 tons of waste and
debris from sites across northeastern Pennsylvania.
In all, PECs partners and volunteers eradicated 28 illegal dumpsites during April and
May. Participants donated more than 900 hours of their time to remove a total of:
-- 26.13 tons of trash
-- 2.31 tons of assorted metals
-- 1,377 tires weighing 20.13 tons
Here are some more specific results.
Pike County
Six sites were cleaned up in Pike County. On May 10th six DCNR Foresters spent the
day cleaning up four of those sites in the Delaware State Forest, then blocking access to motor
vehicles. Two other sites were cleaned up through volunteer efforts with 27 volunteers logging
162 total hours. Nearly twelve tons of trash were removed and 138 tires recycled.
Partners included The Escape in Greentown and the PA Department of Conservation and Natural
Resources Delaware Forest District.
Susquehanna County
PECs ongoing partnership with the Friends of Starrucca Creek and Southwestern Energy
Marcellus Volunteer Council resulted in the cleanup of twenty sites in Susquehanna County. As
a result, 13.4 tons of trash, 2.31 tons of scrap metal, and 1,162 tires were removed by 156
volunteers working a total of 723 hours.
Volunteers came from Friends of Starrucca Creek, Southwestern Energy, NEPA
Rail-Trail Council, Susquehanna High School, Endless Mountain Rod & Gun Club local
scouting and religious groups, family, friends and neighbors. Participating municipalities
included Susquehanna Depot Borough Lenox Township and Gibson Township.
Wayne County
Two more sites in neighboring Wayne County began the summer litter-free, thanks to the
efforts of ten volunteers from the Friends of Starrucca Creek who worked 42 hours to collect
1,500 pounds of trash and 77 tires along Starruccca Creek.
A third event planned for Wayne County would have been our first cleanup of the year, if
not for inclement weather. The site, located over an embankment off Adams Road in Manchester
Township, was under five feet of snow on the originally scheduled date of March 25.
Unfortunately, the rescheduled cleanup also had to be scrapped when rain and mud again
made the location inaccessible.
Support For Program
As an affiliate of Keep America Beautiful and in partnership with Keep PA Beautiful and
PennDOT, PEC received various types of in-kind support and services such as work gloves, glad
bags, safety vests, banners, bottled water from Niagara, and free landfill space from the Alliance
Landfill and Keystone Landfill.
Local sponsors also stepped up to provide materials and supplies, including refreshments
donated by Pepsi and Middleswarth Chips, buckets from Lowes, and towelettes from
Dickinsons.
Total donations exceed $3,500.
For more information on programs, initiatives and special events, visit the PA
Environmental Council website, visit the PEC Blog, follow PEC on Twitter or Like PEC on
Facebook. Visit PECs Audio Room for the latest podcasts. Click Here to receive regular
updates from PEC.
NewsClips:
DEP Recycling/Waste Advisory Committee To Discuss Forming Act 101 Changes

Workgroup June 29
At the June 29 meeting of DEPs DEP Solid Waste

Advisory and Recycling Fund Advisory Committees,
DEP plans to discuss the formation of an Act 101
Municipal Waste Planning, Recycling and Waste
Reduction Act stakeholder group to take about
potential changes to the Act.
The discussion will be lead by Michele
Nestor, Chair of the Solid Waste Advisory Committee
and Chair of the PA Recycling Markets Center Board,
along with Larry Holly, Chief of DEPs Division of
Waste Minimization and Planning and Laura Henry, Chief of Program Development and
Support.
DEP hopes to get feedback from the Committees on members in the workgroup, how it
should operate and what kinds of issues it should tackle.
DEP is generally looking at an 18-month long process for developing recommendations.
The meeting will be held in Room 105 of the Rachel Carson Building in Harrisburg
starting at 10:00.
For more information, visit DEPs Solid Waste Advisory Committee webpage or contact
Laura Henry 717-772-5713 or send email to: lahenry@pa.gov.
House Committee To Consider Recycling Fee Bill June 27
The House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee is scheduled to meet June
27 on legislation eliminating the sunset date on the $2 Recycling Fee in Act 101-- Senate Bill
646 (Killion-R-Delaware). (Click Here for more.)
There is speculation the Committee will also consider other amendments to Act 101
during the meeting.
PRC Act 101 Round Table June 29
The PA Resources Council and the Sustainable Business Network of Greater
Philadelphia are holding a round table discussion on June 29 at PRCs Environmental Living
Demonstration Center in Newtown Square, Delaware County from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. (Click
Here for more.)
NewsClips:
Related Stories:
Renewing Recycling Fee, Illegal Dumping, Fixing E-Waste Recycling Law Key Issues At
Hearing On Act 101
KPB: Act 101 Good At Recycling, Building Safe Disposal, Not So Much On Illegal Dumping,
Education
DEP Urges Reauthorization Of $2 Recycling Fee Before Joint Conservation Committee
PRC Hosts Rain Barrel, Composting, Healthy Body & Healthy Home Workshops In
Western PA
The PA Resources Council will host a series of workshops in

Allegheny County this summer on using Rain Barrels,
Backyard Composting and Healthy Body and Healthy
Homes.
By attending a PRC workshop, participants can learn
how to conserve water with a rain barrel, turn leaves and
food scraps into valuable compost or deal with exposure to
common chemicals, carcinogens and toxins in the
environment.
To register for any of these and other PRC
workshops or see the schedule of upcoming collection events
by visiting PRCs Workshop Programs webpage or calling 412-488-7490 x247.
Watershed Awareness/Rain Barrel Workshops
-- June 29: 7 8:30 p.m., Community Library of Castle Shannon
-- August 2: 6:30 8 p.m., Baldwin Borough Public Library
Discover how to harvest rainwater from your roof, store it in a barrel and use it in the
landscape. Learn about problems associated with stormwater runoff, ways to conserve water in
your home, and techniques to reduce your contribution to watershed pollution.
Course fee includes 90 minutes of instruction plus a FreeGarden RAIN 55-gallon
easy-to-install rain barrel.
Cost: $80 per person ($85 per couple) and includes one rain barrel. Pre-registration is
required.
Backyard Composting Workshops
-- July 8: 10:30 a.m. Noon, Western Allegheny Community Library, Oakdale
-- August 5: 10:30 a.m. Noon, Baldwin Borough Public Library
Learn to turn kitchen scraps as well as leaves, garden and yard debris into a natural
homemade compost for your lawns and gardens. Youll receive a composting bin at class.
This workshop thoroughly covers the importance and benefits of composting, including
the overall process, methods for setting up a compost pile, proper maintenance and ways to use
finished compost.
Participants receive a FreeGarden EARTH Compost Bin, which features an 82-gallon
capacity ideal for both urban and suburban settings.
Cost: $70 per person ($75 per couple) and includes a composting bin. Pre-registration is
required.
Healthy Body & Healthy Home Workshop
-- July 13: 7 8:30 p.m., Community Library of Castle Shannon
Take action concerning the issue of toxins in the environment by discovering how to
combat exposure to chemicals, carcinogens and toxins. At this workshop youll learn what to
look out for and how to find alternative options to reduce everyday exposure.
During the session, youll learn how to make your own cleaning products and personal
care products and then take home a green cleaning starter kit at the conclusion of the class.
Cost: $30 per person ($35 per couple) and includes a non-toxic cleaning kit.
Pre-registration is required.
To register for any of these and other PRC workshops or see the schedule of upcoming
collection events by visiting PRCs Workshop Programs webpage or calling 412-488-7490 x247.
For more information on programs, initiatives and special events, visit the PA Resources
Council website. Click Here to sign up for regular updates, follow PRC on Twitter or Like them
on Facebook. Click Here for PRCs Events Calendar. Click Here to support their work.
DEP Held Meeting On Yard Waste/Organics Composting Facility In Dauphin County
Department of Environmental Protection held a public informational meeting June 22 on an

application for a new yard waste and organics composting facility proposed to be located on
Harrisburg School District property at 1850 Stanley Road in Susquehanna Township, Dauphin
County.
The proposed facility would be used for the collection of wood waste, yard waste and
food scraps and will process these materials to generate wood chips, mulch and compost.
The application is available for public review at the DEP Southcentral Regional Office,
909 Elmerton Avenue, Harrisburg, PA 17110, Monday through Friday between 8:00 a.m. and
4:00 p.m. Please call 717-705-4732 to make an appointment.
Questions should be directed to John Repetz, DEP Southcentral Regional Office,
717-705-4904.
NewsClips:
Aramark Demonstrates Progress In Minimizing Food Waste
Philadelphia-based Aramark Monday announced the latest step demonstrating its commitment to
environmental sustainability by reducing, reusing and recycling food waste through responsible
practices, from the initial purchase to final waste disposal.
Aramarks Food Waste Progress Report published Monday highlights recent steps toward
its goal to reduce food waste by 50 percent by 2030. Progress includes:
-- 100 percent of the companys food locations tracking waste, enabling better decisions about
what to purchase and how much to prepare;
-- 500 of its largest accounts using cutting edge waste tracking technology provided by
LeanPath, a food waste prevention company;
-- 100,000 pounds of food donated this past year to local non-profit organizations feeding those
in need, helping the environment and our communities; and
-- 86 percent of its university dining halls implementing trayless dining, reducing waste by
almost two ounces per person, and decreasing energy, water, and cleaning chemicals.
We are committed to making progress through our industry leading food management
practices and procedures, said Harrald Kroeker, Aramarks Senior Vice President of
Transformation. We serve 2 billion meals annually. Our goal to reduce the amount of food
waste we generate 50 percent by 2030 can make a meaningful difference to our business, the
environment and communities.
From back-of-house practices in our kitchens and front-of-house consumer engagement
and education, Aramark is minimizing waste by focusing on where it can make the greatest
environmental impact.
The companys approach is consistent with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agencys
food recovery hierarchy, which calls for reducing food waste before it is even generated, then
feeding hungry people, followed by feeding animals, composting, and landfilling as a last resort.
This past year Aramark was recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
and the U.S. Department of Agriculture as a Food Loss and Waste 2030 Champion for its efforts.
Aramark is stepping up to the plate to keep good food from going to waste, said
JoAnne Berkenkamp, Natural Resources Defense Councils Senior Advocate of the Food and
Agriculture Program. Saving food not only saves money, it saves water, land and energy. By
committing to food waste reduction and aggressively tracking waste in their kitchens, Aramark is
helping to protect our planet.
The companys food waste reduction practices are part of its Green Thread
environmental sustainability commitment.
Aramark is focused on the areas it can make the greatest impact and include sourcing
responsibly, minimizing waste and running buildings and fleet efficiently.
For more about Green Thread and to read the companys full food waste progress
report, visit Aramarks Reducing Our Waste webpage.
NewsClips:
Energy Efficiency, Job Training Newsletter From Energy Coordinating Agency
The summer edition of the energy efficiency and job training

newsletter from the nonprofit Energy Coordinating Agency in
Philadelphia is now available featuring articles on--
-- ECAs Energy FIT Program Weatherization & Assistance
Program Moves Forward (photo)
-- Free Tenant Workshops On Saving Money On Your Energy
Bills
-- Knight Green Jobs Training Center Update
-- Save The Date: ECAs Sustainable Energy Conference Nov. 9
-- Click Here to watch a short video about ECA employees and what they do
-- Click Here to read the entire newsletter
-- Click Here to sign up for your own copy (bottom right of the page)
For more information on programs, initiatives and other upcoming events, visit the
Energy Coordinating Agency website. , follow ECA on Twitter, Like them on Facebook or visit
ECAs YouTube Channel. Click Here to support ECAs work.
NewsClip:
Philly Nonprofit ECA Losing Its Founder After Whistleblowers Complain
Southwest PA Launches CEOs For Sustainability To Advance Economic, Social Prosperity

For Region
Recognizing the strong link between business

sustainability performance, financial performance,
and regional quality of life, corporate CEOs from
throughout the Pittsburgh region Tuesday
announced the formation of the CEOs for
Sustainability executive council.
As an initial demonstration of their commitment,
100 percent of participating companies have completed the Southwestern Pennsylvania
Sustainable Business Compact On Ramp, a business sustainability performance self-assessment
used to track and report progress over time.
Co-chaired by founding participants WindStax Energy CEO Ron Gdovic and Covestro
LLC President Jerry MacCleary, CEOs for Sustainability provides a forum for CEOs of the
regions leading companies to share best practices in sustainable business and collaborate in
growing the ranks of businesses around the region that pursue sustainability.
The market is shifting to favor companies that are high performers in the areas of
environmental, social, and governance responsibility, said Gdovic. Businesses focusing on
these core areas gain competitive advantages in terms of winning contracts, customers,
employees, and reputational benefits. The benefits for long-term financial performance are
proven, from better stock valuation and access to capital to market access and revenue growth.
Recognizing these bottom-line advantages, 82 percent of S&P 500 companies issued
corporate sustainability reports in 2016.
Our regions got a great story to tell, said MacCleary. Nearly 75 years ago, we led the
world in developing strategies to create a more sustainable economy and quality of life. Weve
made great progress, but the work is never done. Todays CEOs for Sustainability understand
that for Pittsburghs economy to thrive into the future, its business community must continue to
take the lead in advancing even more sustainable business policies and practices for the benefit
of individual companies, as well as the region as a whole.
In partnership with the Allegheny Conference on Community Development and its
affiliates, CEOs for Sustainability hosted an executive briefing, Bottom-Line Benefits of
Business Sustainability, on June 20.
The event, sponsored by BNY Mellon and UPMC, featured case studies presented by
C-suite speakers from two companies with local roots and growing in the region.
Eatn Park Hospitality Group CEO Jeff Broadhurst described how sustainable practices
have enabled Eatn Park to thrive at a time when many family establishments have had to shutter
restaurants, while PITT OHIO President Chuck Hammel discussed how sustainability has
allowed his company to foster innovations outside of what transportation and logistics service
providers traditionally have done.
The case studies may be downloaded at the CEOs for Sustainability website.
To further engage the regions business leaders, CEOs for Sustainability will present a
CEOs Speaker Series starting this fall.
Sponsored by Covestro and IKEA, these accelerated trainings will feature executive-level
presenters sharing the triple-bottom-line business case for companies large and small,
sustainability as a market advantage, and lessons for getting started with business sustainability.
CEOs for Sustainability participants represent a broad range of sectors and business
types, from small startups to global corporations:
-- Jeff Broadhurst, Eat'n Park Hospitality Group
-- Lalit Chordia, Thar Energy
-- Ned Eldridge, eLoop LLC
-- Ron Gdovic, WindStax Energy
-- Steve Guy, Oxford Development Company
-- Chuck Hammel, PITT OHIO
-- Colin Huwyler, Optimus Technologies
-- Jerry MacCleary, Covestro
-- Robert Nutting, Pittsburgh Pirates, Seven Springs
-- Antonis Papadourakis, LANXESS
-- Ciannie Rodriguez, IKEA
-- Murray Rust, Montgomery & Rust Inc.
-- Jack Scalo, Burns & Scalo
-- AJ Schwartz, Environmental Planning & Design
-- Venkee Sharma, Aquatech International
-- Ernie Sota, Sota Construction Services Inc.
-- Raymond Yeager, DMI Companies
The CEOs for Sustainability Vision: CEOs for Sustainability is exemplary executive
leadership and collaboration to drive positive change in the region. By demonstrating
responsibility and creativity in the use of precious resources (human, natural, energy, capital and
materials), we ensure enduring economic and social prosperity for our businesses and for our
regional community.
The group is facilitated by Bill ORourke, the former Vice President of Sustainability,
Environment, Health and Safety at Alcoa and a former Sustainable Pittsburgh Board Chair.
RANDs Susan Everingham is the research liaison.
CEOs for Sustainability is supported by Sustainable Pittsburgh in concert with its
Champions for Sustainability business network.
For more information visit the CEOs for Sustainability website and find tools, case
studies and other resources for sustainable business strategy and practices.
NewsClip:
PennLive.com: Exelon Notifies NRC It Will Close TMI In September 2019
PennLive.com Friday published a story by Wallace

McKelvey saying Exelon formally notified the federal
Nuclear Regulatory Commission on June 20 it will
close the Three Mile Island Nuclear Power Station in
Dauphin County in September 2019.
The letter, signed by the company's general counsel J.
Bradley Fewell, is the next step in a years long
shutdown process that will result in the storage of spent
fuel at the Londonderry Township facility for
potentially decades to come.
"Exelon certifies to the [NRC] that it has decided to permanently cease power operations
at TMI, Unit 1 on or about September 30, 2019," Fewell wrote.
A separate letter sent by Exelon Generation's Senior Vice President Bryan Hanson on
May 30 to electrical grid operator PJM went into further detail.
"Safe shutdown of the facility may require the units to coast down from maximum output
as fuel is depleted resulting in an actual shutdown date that varies slightly from the target date,"
Hanson wrote.
He noted that once the plant is completely shut down, it cannot be reopened.
The reasons for the shutdown are fairly obvious but Hanson made them explicit.
What happens if Three Mile Island nuclear power plant closes?
"Unit 1 is unprofitable and has lost more than $300 million over the past five years
despite being one of Exelon's best-performing plants," he said. "The energy market in PJM has
not adapted to the evolution of the fleet, which has caused the devaluation of resources."
Click Here to read the entire story, plus visit the related links in the story for much more
detail.
NewsClips:
McKelvey: Exelon Notifies NRC It Will Close TMI In September 2019
Spate Of Nuclear Power Plant Closures Could Be Start Of Full-Fledged Crisis
More Than Half Of U.S. Nuclear Power Plants Losing Money
Natural Gas Industry Blasts Nuclear Power With Fake News
Op-Ed: Say No To Bailing Out Three Mile Island
Letter: Carbon Fee Would Help Environment
U.S. Economic Development Administration Offers Coal Communities Assistance Grants
The U.S. Economic Development Administration Friday announced it is accepting applications

for $30 million in Community Assistance Grants for communities in coal mining areas.
The funds will be awarded on a competitive basis to assist communities severely
impacted by the declining use of coal through activities and programs that support economic
diversification, job creation, capital investment, workforce development and re-employment
opportunities.
Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis. Funds not obligated by October 1 may
not be available for awarding.
June 27 Webinar
The EDA will hold a webinar on June 27 from 3:00 to 4:00 p.m. on how to apply for
Community Assistance Grants. Click Here to register.
Click Here for all the details.
NewsClip:
Coal County Targeted For $30 Million In Community Initiative Grants
Can Coal Be King Again Through Rare Earth Elements?
Anthracite Coal Mining Operation Has A Future
First-Of-Its-Kind Clean Coal Plant May Not Burn Coal At All
DEP July 19 Public Conference On Bailey Mine Expansion Permit, Greene County
The Department of Environmental Protection Thursday announced it will hold an informal

public conference on July 19 from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. at Ryerson Station State Park Visitor
Center, 361 Bristoria Road, Wind Ridge, PA 15380 to gather public feedback on a permit
application from Consol Pennsylvania Coal Company LLC (Consol).
Consol applied to revise the Bailey Mine & Prep Plant (Permit No. 30841316) for the
addition of 4,875 acres of underground permit area and subsidence control plan area for
development mining located in Richhill, Gray, and Center Townships in Greene County.
Representatives of DEP District Mining Operations will be available to answer general
questions on the permit application and receive both written and oral testimony regarding the
application.
Testimony will be placed into the public record for the application and considered in the
application review process.
Individuals wishing to attend who require an auxiliary aid, service or other
accommodation to participate should contact Bonnie Herbert at 724-769-1100. The AT&T Relay
Service is available by calling 1-800-654-5984 (TTD users) or 1-800-654-5988 (voice users) and
request that the call be relayed to Bonnie Herbert at the number above.
Copies of the application are on file for public review at the DEP California District
Mining Office, 25 Technology Drive, California Technology Park, Coal Center, PA 15423.
Interested individuals should call 724-769-1100 to schedule an appointment.
[Note: This is the underground mine involved in damaging the dam at Ryerson Station
State Park and the current legislation to retroactively rollback environmental protection standards
for streams in Senate Bill 624. Click Here for more).]
Questions should be directed to Lauren Fraley, DEP Southwest Regional Office, by
calling 412-442-4203 or send email to: lfraley@pa.gov.
NewsClips:
DEP Issues Water Quality Permit For Shell Petrochemical Complex In Beaver County
The Department of Environmental Protection Friday announced it has issued a National

Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit amendment to Shell Chemical
Appalachia for the proposed petrochemical complex in Beaver County.
The permit allows for discharges of treated wastewater and stormwater into the Ohio
River, Poorhouse Run, and Rag Run from Shells proposed facility.
DEP held a public comment period and several public hearings seeking input on the
NPDES permit modification and the Air Quality Plan Approval for the facility. Comments from
the public were accepted at the public hearings and during public comment periods in October
and December 2016.
The final modified Air Quality Plan was approved December 30, 2016.
A copy of the amended NPDES permit and fact sheet addendum, which includes DEPs
responses to the public comments, can be viewed at DEPs Southwest Regional Office at 400
Waterfront Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15222 or DEPs Southwest Regional Office Community
Information webpage.
Questions should be directed to Lauren Fraley, DEP Southwest Regional Office,
312-442-4203 or send email to: lfraley@pa.gov.
NewsClips:
Shell Ethane Plant Granted Water Discharge Permit By DEP
Shell Manager Says Ethane Plant Will Change Pittsburgh Forever
Shell: Safety Of Workers, Contractors At Forefront Of Ethane Plant Project
Shell, CCBC Discuss Workforce Development At Pittsburgh Conference
Allegheny Front: Abundant Shale Gas Could Lead To More Chemical Plants
Babst Calland Report: Resurgence Of Appalachian Shale Gas Industry, Challenges Ahead
The law firm of Babst Calland Tuesday released its seventh annual energy industry report titled,
"The 2017 Babst Calland Report Upstream, Midstream and Downstream: Resurgence of the
Appalachian Shale Industry; Legal and Regulatory Perspective for Producers and Midstream
Operators."
This annual review of shale gas development activity acknowledges the continuing
evolution of this industry in the face of economic, regulatory, legal and local government
challenges.
In this Report, Babst Calland attorneys provide perspective on issues, challenges,
opportunities and recent developments in the Appalachian Basin and beyond relevant to
producers and operators.
In general, the oil and gas industry has rebounded during the past year through efficiency
measures, consolidation and a resurgence of business opportunities related to shale gas
development and its impact on upstream, midstream and downstream industries.
As a result, many new opportunities and approaches to regulation, asset optimization and
infrastructure are underway.
Increased Spending/Significantly Higher Rig Counts
Increased spending during the past year has led to a significantly higher rig count in the
Appalachian Basin enabling growth in the domestic production of oil and gas as other shale
plays across the country experience reductions.
The shale gas industry continues to provide the tri-state region with significant economic
opportunities through employment and related revenue from the development of well sites,
building of pipelines necessary to transport gas to market, and new downstream opportunities
being created for manufacturing industries due to the volume of natural gas and natural gas
liquids produced in the Appalachian Basin.
Shell's progress from a year ago to construct an ethane cracker plant in Beaver County,
Pennsylvania represents just one example of the expanding downstream market for natural gas.
Many other manufacturing firms are expected to enter the region and establish businesses
drawn by the energy and raw materials associated with natural gas and natural gas liquids from
the Marcellus and Utica shales.
The Report also highlights changes that have occurred during the past year in the political
landscape that are expected to affect the energy industry.
The Trump administration is signaling a fundamental shift in the energy policies
established by the Obama administration. New executive orders and policies have been issued
that promise to lead to more pipeline development, reduced federal oversight of the oil and gas
industry and increased access to oil and natural gas reserves.
Joseph K. Reinhart, shareholder and co-chair of Babst Calland's Energy and Natural
Resources Group, said, "This Report provides perspective on the challenges and opportunities of
a resurging shale gas industry in the Appalachian Basin, including: the divergence of federal and
state policy that creates more uncertainty for industry; increased special interest opposition
groups on new issues and forums despite their lack of success in the courts; and the expansion
from drilling to midstream development and now to downstream manufacturing that
demonstrates the emergence of a more diverse energy economy."
The 74-page Report contains six sections, highlighted below, each addressing key
challenges for oil and gas producers and midstream operators.
-- Business Issues: Adapting to the New Price Environment as natural gas producers continue
to focus on reducing costs and improving efficiencies.
Recently, the number of natural gas producers in the Appalachian Basin has contracted
through select merger and acquisition activity. With efficiency of operations in mind, natural gas
producers continue to focus on consolidating their activities geographically.
The oil and gas industry faced significant financial stress over the past year, and 2016
will go down as one of the more dramatic years in the United States' oil and gas history. In the
2016 calendar year, primarily due to low commodity prices, 70 North American oil and gas
exploration and production companies filed for bankruptcy protection.
-- State and Federal Governments Remain Active in a Changing Regulatory Landscape as
developments in the state environmental standards for enforcement, air, water and waste
management in Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Ohio, as well as anticipated initiatives from
non-governmental organizations (NGOs), will continue to have an effect on production and
midstream operations.
Separately, the impact of the Trump administration on various federal regulatory
initiatives from the Obama era promises to be significant. President Donald Trump's March 28,
2017 Executive Order was directed towards the development of the country's natural resources.
The order, among other things, requires agencies to review regulations that may burden
the development or use of domestic energy resources.
-- Pipeline Safety Legislative and Regulatory Developments Continue to Shape the Industry
through the U.S. Department of Transportation's Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety
Administration's (PHMSA) pipeline safety program. It is unlikely that there will be a dramatic
shift in PHMSA's enforcement policy in 2017.
"Protecting our Infrastructure of Pipelines and Enhancing Safety Act of 2016" (PIPES
Act) was signed into law last year with a provision allowing PHMSA to issue emergency orders
if an unsafe condition or practice constitutes, or is causing, an imminent hazard. These
emergency orders can impose industry-wide operational restrictions, prohibitions, or safety
measures without a prior hearing.
-- Litigation Trends including a number of alleged nuisance claims continue to travel through
West Virginia, Ohio and Pennsylvania courts. Materials discussing alleged health effects from
unconventional natural gas development continue to be disseminated at a record pace by industry
opposition groups.
A casual review of the material could lead to the erroneous conclusion that air emissions
have not been tested; this is not, however, the case. The air quality data collected by a variety of
objective parties using established monitoring and testing protocols around shale development in
northeastern U.S. over the last six years demonstrate that shale operations are safe.
-- Local Government Law and Regulations Continue to Spawn Debate and Legal
Challenges which continue to increase throughout the Appalachian Basin. However, the industry
has successfully challenged overly-restricted ordinances.
In contrast to municipalities that have adopted ordinances that permit reasonable oil and
gas development, some local governments continued in 2017 to test their regulatory authority by
enacting strict regulations for uses ancillary to well site development.
Operators impacted by these regulations likewise continued to push back on these local
regulations that severely impede, if not entirely prohibit, development or operation.
-- Downstream Opportunities include exciting developments for production and midstream
companies with new emerging markets for consumption of natural gas and natural gas liquids,
such as power generation, export, and the petrochemical and related manufacturing industries.
The U.S. petrochemical industry is undergoing tremendous growth, including the
Northeast which is a prime target for more niche markets, and an opportunity to repurpose
industrial assets for this regionalized growth.
As market conditions evolve for the oil and gas industry in the Appalachia Basin and
throughout the United States, Babst Calland's multidisciplinary team of energy attorneys
continues to stay abreast of the many legal and regulatory challenges currently facing producers
and midstream operators.
The Babst Calland Report is provided for informational purposes to our clients and
friends, and is not intended to constitute legal advice.
To request a copy of the Report, contact info@babstcalland.com.
NewsClips:
PA Supreme Court Upholds DEP Authority To Regulated Impact Of Conventional Oil & Gas
Two Pittsburgh Conventions Targets Of Fracking Protesters
Study Of Texas Drilling Finds Pollution, Connections To Earthquakes
EQT Drilling To Buy Rice Energy For $6.7 Billion
EQT To Become Largest Gas Driller With Rice Acquisition
Gasoline Prices Likely To Remain Low This Summer
Pittsburgh-Area Gasoline Prices Fall To $2.60 A Gallon
Gasoline Prices, Will They Keep Falling?
Oils Slide To Lowest Price Of The Year Pulls Stocks Lower
Pipelines
Crable: Atlantic Sunrise Pipeline Owner Made Plans To Protect Fake Lancaster Cemetery
Crable: 7 Lancaster Property Owners Still Refuse To Give Up Land For Atlantic Sunrise
Pipeline
Sunoco Appeals Decision Allow Trial On Mariner East 2 Pipeline Challenge
SEPTA Approves Easements For Mariner East 2 Pipeline
Dakota Access Pipeline Fight Enters New Phase
West Nile Virus Program Announces Positive Mosquito Results In 5 More Counties
The Department of Environmental Protection Tuesday

announced positive mosquito results for West Nile
Virus have been found in Brighton Township, Beaver
County, Newtown Township, Bucks County, Darby
Township, Delaware County, Hamilton Township,
Franklin County and Manchester Township, York
County.
Other positive mosquito results have been found in
these other counties this season-- Berks, Centre,
Chester, Cumberland, Lackawanna, Lawrence and
Schuylkill.
[Note: The budget passed by House Republicans in April cut West Nile/Zika Virus
Control funding by $338,000. House Republicans increased the Black Fly spraying line item by
$100,000 (the ONLY item not cut in DEP's budget). Black Flies are annoying on golf courses
and at outdoor events, but don't spread disease.]
For more information on the West Nile Virus prevention efforts in Pennsylvania, visit the
West Nile Virus website.
NewsClip:
8 Lancaster Locations Being Monitored For Mosquitoes With Zika Virus
Agriculture Expands Spotted Lanternfly Quarantine Area In Berks, Bucks, Montgomery

Counties
Department of Agriculture officials published notice in the June

24 PA Bulletin announcing the Spotted Lanternfly quarantine has
been expanded in Berks, Bucks and Montgomery counties.
(formal notice)
The new municipalities in each county now in the quarantine area
include: Muhlenberg Township and Laureldale and Temple
Boroughs, Berks County; Springfield, East Rockhill and West
Rockhill Townships and Perkasie, Sellersville, and Telford
Boroughs, Bucks County; and Telford Borough, Montgomery County.
Areas where the pest has been found are now under quarantine. The general quarantine
restricts movement of any material or object that can spread the pest.
This includes firewood or wood products, brush or yard waste, remodeling or
construction materials and waste, packing material like boxes, grapevines for decorative
purposes or as nursery stock, and any outdoor household articles like lawnmowers, grills, tarps
and other equipment, trucks or vehicles typically not stored indoors.
All Quarantine Areas
All areas quarantined now include:
-- Berks County: Alsace, Amity, Centre, Colebrookdale, Douglass, District, Douglass, Earl,
Exeter, Hereford, Longswamp, Maiden Creek, Maxatawny, Muhlenberg, Oley, Pike, Richmond,
Robeson, Rockland, Ruscombmanor, Union and Washington townships and the boroughs of
Bally, Bechtelsville, Birdsboro, Boyertown, Centreport, Fleetwood, Kutztown, Laureldale,
Lyons, St. Lawrence, Temple and Topton;
-- Bucks County: East Rockhill, Haycock Township, Richland, Milford, Springfield, West
Rockhill townships, Perkasie, Quakertown, Richlandtown, Sellersville, Telford and
Trumbauersville boroughs;
-- Chester County: East Coventry, East Pikeland, East Vincent, North Coventry, South
Coventry, Warwick townships, Spring City Borough;
-- Lehigh County: Allentown City, Bethlehem City, Lower Milford, Salisbury, South Whitehall,
Upper Macungie, Upper Millford, Upper Saucon, Whitehall townships and Alburtis,
Coopersburg and Emmaus Boroughs;
-- Montgomery County: Douglass, New Hanover, Limerick, Lower Frederick, Lower
Pottsgrove, Marlborough, Upper Frederick, Upper Hanover, Upper Pottsgrove, Upper
Providence, Upper Salford and West Pottsgrove Township townships and the boroughs of East
Greenville, Pennsburg, Pottstown, Red Hill, Royersford and Telford; and
-- Northampton County: Bethlehem City.
Since receiving additional funding from the United States Department of Agriculture,
survey work began May 1, 2016 to identify additional challenges and improvements with the
invasive species.
Residents can help with this eradication effort. Download the Spotted Lanternfly
Quarantine Checklist or contact a local municipality or extension office.
The checklist provides guidelines for inspection of vehicles and other items stored
outdoors, each time they move them out of the quarantine area.
Businesses in the general quarantine area need to obtain a Certificate of Limited Permit
from the department in order to move articles. Local Department of Agriculture inspection staff
can work with businesses to ensure they are complying with quarantine restrictions.
Criminal and civil penalties of up to $20,000 and prison time can be imposed for
violations by businesses or individuals.
The Spotted Lanternfly is an inch-long black, red and white spotted pest and is native to
China, India, Japan and Vietnam. Its an invasive species in Korea, where it has attacked 25 plant
species which also grow in Pennsylvania.
The pest had not been found in the United States prior to its initial detection in Berks
County in the fall of 2014.
Spotted Lanternfly, Lycorma delicatula, attacks grapes, apples, pines and stone fruits. It
often attaches to the bark of Tree of Heaven (Ailanthus altissima), an invasive species similar to
Sumac that can be found around parking lots or along tree lines.
Adults often cluster in groups and lay egg masses containing 30-50 eggs that adhere to
flat surfaces including tree bark. Freshly laid egg masses have a grey waxy mud-like coating,
while hatched eggs appear as brownish seed-like deposits in four to seven columns about an inch
long.
Trees attacked by the Spotted Lanternfly will show a grey or black trail of sap down the
trunk.
All Pennsylvanians are encouraged to watch for the Spotted Lanternfly and offered the
following suggestions:
-- During the months of July through December, when the adults are active, conduct a quick
inspection of your vehicle any time you move in or near a quarantine area, to find any spotted
lanternfly hitchhikers.
-- If you see eggs on trees or other smooth outdoor surfaces: Scrape them off, double bag them
and throw them in the garbage, or place the eggs in alcohol or hand sanitizer to kill them.
-- If you collect a specimen: First, place the sample in alcohol or hand sanitizer in a leak proof
container. Then, submit the specimen to your county Penn State Extension office or to the
departments Entomology Lab for verification. Dont move live specimens around, even within
the quarantined area. There are many places under quarantine that do not yet have active
populations of spotted lanternfly you do not want to help them establish a new home base.
-- If you take a photo: Submit photo of adults or egg masses to: badbug@pa.gov.
-- If you want to report a site: Call the Invasive Species report line at 866-253-7189 and provide
any details of the sighting and your contact information.
Suspect specimens can also be submitted directly to the departments headquarters in
Harrisburg or to any of its six regional offices. Specimens can also be submitted to county Penn
State Extension offices as well.
For more information, visit the Department of Agricultures Spotted Lanternfly webpage.
NewsClip:
Gypsy Moths Munching Forest At Higher Rate
PennDOT Announces PAs First Nationally Designated Bike Route - Route 50
The Department of Transportation Wednesday

announced the designation of Pennsylvanias first
nationally designated bicycle route - U.S. Bicycle
Route 50.
The American Association of State Highway and
Transportation Officials officially approved the route
in May making Pennsylvania the 25th state to join the
developing U.S. Bicycle Route System (USBRS).
We are very proud to have, along with our partners,
developed more than 160 miles of trails and roadway
for U.S. Bicycle Route 50, said Leslie S. Richards, Department of Transportation Secretary.
We expect the designation of U.S. Bicycle Route 50 to result in significant transportation,
health, and economic benefits to the region.
The 163-mile route mostly follows off-road trails, including the popular Great Allegheny
Passage, Montour Trail (photo), and the Panhandle Trail and connects Maryland to West
Virginia through a variety of natural and agricultural landscapes, historical sites, thriving small
towns, and recreational hot spots.
Cyclists can visit restored rail stations; Ohiopyle State Park, which has some of the best
white water rafting on the East Coast; Point State Park in Pittsburgh; and the nearby Fort Pitt
Museum.
What an honor to have sections of the Montour Trail -- our 2017 Trail of the Year -- the
Great Allegheny Passage and other trails comprising much of this first nationally designated
bicycle route, said Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Cindy Adams
Dunn. Trails connect communities and destinations to each other; people to the outdoors and
healthy exercise; and attract visitors who spend money. They also serve as testament to the
commitment of so many incredible volunteers who help them grow.
Additionally, Amtraks Capitol Limited route parallels U.S. Bicycle Route 50 between
DC and Pittsburgh and offers the opportunity for cyclists to carry their bikes on or off the train at
any station.
This multimodal option allows for more flexibility to plan bicycle trips without a car.
To see the placement of USBR 50 in Pennsylvania visit Statewide Bike Routes at
PennDOTs Ride a Bike webpage.
NewsClips:
PA Becomes 25th State To Partner On U.S. Bicycle Route 50
One Of PAs Most Beautiful Bike Trails: Pine Creek Rail Trail
Schuylkill River Trail Construction In Pottstown Progressing Smoothly
Op-Ed: How Citizens In Philly Won The Fight To Cover I-95
Column: Woman On Quest To Walk Every Pittsburgh Street
West Side Trail In Luzerne Prompts Concern
Updated PA Wilds Design Guide For Community Stewardship Now Available
The PA Wilds Center Friday released a new

edition of the PA Wilds Design Guide for
Community Character Stewardship, a popular
free tool for communities in the Pennsylvania
Wilds, is now available for download, and a
national expert on sustainable development
called it and the work it relates to one of the best
rural development effort in the nation.
Click Here to watch a new video promoting
the Design Guide.
Ed McMahon of the Urban Land Institute and a
national expert on sustainable community
design, says the effort to grow the place-based tourism industry in the Pennsylvania Wilds is
"one of the single greatest rural, natural resource-based, economic development programs in the
United States of America.
He said the comments to a crowded room of more than 250 people from across the region
who had gathered at the DuBois Country Club this spring to unveil the Second Edition of the
Design Guide and celebrate other milestones in the Pennsylvania Wilds effort.
"People in the world that I work in talk about this initiative all over the country,
because it's about taking what's special and making it valuable, McMahon said.
The Design Guide is a core program of the larger Wilds movement, which also includes
regional marketing, growing and connecting unique place-based businesses, youth outreach,
regional planning and inspiring stewardship of natural and community assets.
Many local stakeholders from the public and private-sectors are involved in the Wilds
work. State and federal partners are also at the table. PA Wilds Center, a regional nonprofit, is
the coordinating entity of the landscape-level effort.
A lot of people have asked us for a link to his talk because they wanted to share it with
their city or borough councils, local townships and other partners, said PA Wilds Center
Executive Director Ta Enos. So many of our communities in rural PA are dealing with the same
development issues. Ed has a way of inspiring people to action.
A former TED Talk speaker, McMahon is well known for his passion and humor and his
ability to use common sense and before and after photos to transcend political and other lines. He
told the crowd in April:
I am one of those people who think we spend way too much time in this country fighting
about what we disagree on and not nearly enough time sitting down community by community
and figuring out what we do agree about. And I tell you when you do do that -- you can reach
consensus about place. Because most Americans care more about the place they live than the
political party they belong to.
He went on to say that communities have two choices, to shape development or to let
development shape them. There is no place in the world today that will stay special by
accident, he said.
McMahon helped inspire the original Design Guide, which rolled off the presses in 2007,
just as the Wilds effort was starting to gain steam.
It was a product of the PA Wilds Planning Team, a grassroots stakeholder group that
includes the regions 12 county governments and dozens of other nonprofit and economic
development stakeholders from across the Wilds.
The document provided tips and illustrations on how communities, developers, architects,
business owners and others could be good stewards of their community character as they grew.
Several counties in the Pennsylvania Wilds amended their comprehensive plans to
include the Design Guide, and other organizations voluntarily made its use a requirement for
accessing mini grants and other similar types of programs.
Over the last few years it has been used by a variety of partners to guide development
projects of all types and sizes, from chains looking to do something less cookie cutter to
communities looking to better reflect their history or connection to nearby natural assets.
The new Design Guide includes new chapters, is far more visual than its predecessor, and
also highlights more local examples of its practices in action, said Clearfield County Planning
Director Jodi Brennan, whose committee spearheaded the overhaul.
What's the saying, a picture is worth a thousand words? Brennan said. These visuals
are more inspiring than any words could do justice They reflect not what's happening
somewhere else USA but here in our own home towns. Folks will recognize places from their
own communities in this Second Edition or those they have visited or travelled through.
An award-winning resource unto its own, the Design Guide has proved seminal to the
Wilds partnership being able to compete for additional resources for the region, including two
rounds of signage mini grants, one round of design assistance grants, and most recently,
$183,000 for a regional faade grant pilot program targeting Route 6 communities in the Wilds,
all of which have or will leverage tens of thousands of dollars in private-sector investment
toward strategic revitalization efforts.
During the development of the 1st Edition I didn't dream of the possibilities that are now
before us, Brennan said. The recent award of regional facade dollars for Route 6 Alliance was
SO exciting and has opened the door for other communities to follow in their footsteps.
Community leaders, business or property owners, architects, developers, government
partners and others on the front lines of shaping growth in communities in the Wilds are
encouraged to check out the new Design Guide and McMahons presentation.
The Pennsylvania Wilds includes the counties of Warren, McKean, Potter, Tioga,
Lycoming, Clinton, Elk, Cameron, Forest, Clearfield, Clarion, Jefferson and northern Centre.
Click Here to download the Design Guide Second Edition. Click Here for McMahons
full presentation. Click Here to watch a new video promoting the Design Guide.
For more information, visit the PA Wilds Center website.
[Posted: June 23, 2-17]
Natural Lands Accepting Nominations For Growing Greener Communities Award In

Montgomery County
Natural Lands and the Montgomery County Association

of Township Officials are now accepting nominations
for the Growing Greener Communities Award, which
honors conservation-minded accomplishments by
townships in Montgomery County.
Nominations are due July 28.
The Natural Lands Growing Greener Communities
Award was developed to recognize municipalities that have engaged in dynamic initiatives to
save land, steward natural resources, and/or connect people to nature. The award will be
presented at the fall MCATO conference this September.
Said Molly Morrison, president of Natural Lands, All across Montgomery County,
township are doing amazing work that will help connect their community members to the
outdoors, and we want to recognize dedicated officials, staff, and volunteers who are
championing that work.
Last year, Upper Salford won the Growing Greener Communitys Award by a unanimous
vote from the review committee. By creating a comprehensive Greenway Guidebook, Upper
Salford Township is guiding the growth of the community in a way that protects their cultural
and natural resources.
The Guidebook describes 67 parcels totaling 2,051 acres that are eligible for conservation
subdivision. Preserving 60 percent of these properties will yield 1,231 acres of greenway land,
putting 21 percent of the township into privately owned conservation.
We are pleased to partner with Natural Lands on this award program, and hope that it
serves to encourage and promote continued forward-thinking projects and planning within the
County, said Daniel Littley, past-president of MCATO.
Examples of qualifying projects include:
-- Dynamic utilization of open space, such as a community garden or multi-use trail;
-- Efforts to care for land and water, such as a stream cleanup, riparian buffer planting, meadow
naturalization, or environmentally sensitive stormwater management; and
-- Progressive, conservation-minded planning, such as ordinances that preserve community green
space or improve commercial corridors with shade trees and other greening elements.
For all the details, visit the Growing Greener Communities Award webpage or call
Patrick Gardner at 610-353-5587 ext. 211.
For more information on programs, initiatives and upcoming events, visit the Natural
Lands website. Click Here to sign up for regular updates from Natural Lands and Like them on
Facebook. Click Here to support their activities.
PA Horticultural Society Receives Grant To Create Farm For The City Program
The PA Horticultural Society Tuesday announced it has

been awarded a $300,000 grant from The Pew Center
for Arts & Heritage to spotlight healthy food access
issues and invite the public to help solve these issues
through urban gardening and farming.
PHS will accomplish this goal by creating a
temporary farm across from City Hall next year and
engage the public in a dialogue designed to galvanize
action to increase access to healthy food for all
Philadelphians.
Titled Farm for the City: Growing for Greater Good, the urban agriculture project will
be created on 2,000 square feet on the Thomas Paine Plaza of the Municipal Services Building,
1400 Arch Street in Philadelphia.
The demonstration farm will open in summer 2018 and continue into the fall as a site for
dynamic public forums, gardening workshops and performances.
The programming will bring people together in a civic discussion about social equity and
food security, encourage policies that promote healthy communities, and highlight ways urban
agriculture strengthens neighborhoods.
We are extremely grateful to The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage for supporting the
creation of this extraordinary project, PHS President Matt Rader said. We hope it will bring
together Philadelphians from diverse backgrounds and points of view to work toward food
security for everyone. We also believe it will demonstrate the power of horticulture to transform
communities and lives.
The farm will produce an estimated 1,000 pounds of fruit and vegetables to be donated to
Broad Street Ministry, which is dedicated to serving the homeless.
Young apprentices will assist in the food production on the farm and will engage visitors
in dialogue about urban gardening and social issues related to food security.
Broad Street Ministry also will host two community dinners for 150 people, featuring
food grown at the farm, to facilitate conversation about food access and community
revitalization.
Participants in the dinners will be a cross-section of city residents, city officials, young
people, homeless individuals, people transitioning from prison, and immigrants.
Click Here for information on PHSs City Harvest Program.
For more information on programs, initiatives and upcoming events, visit the PA
Horticultural Society website, Like PHS on Facebook, Join PHS on Instagram and Follow on
Twitter. Click Here to sign up for regular updates from PHS. Click Here to become a member.
NewsClips:
Erie Council OKs Urban Farming Zoning Changes
Rodale Considering Sale Of Whole Company
If Rodale Is Sold, Emmaus Could See Devastating Impact
Rodale And Lehigh Valley, A Timeline
An Organic Truth: Publisher Rodale Is For Sale
Chesapeake Bay Journal: Take A Pollinator To Lunch: Plant A Native Garden
June 27-29 PA Horticultural Society Workshop To Teach Educators To Build School

Gardens
The PA Horticultural Society will teach educators how

to build a sustainable school garden and inspire children
to get involved in gardening at a three-day workshop on
June 27-29 at Tilden Middle School in Southwest
Philadelphia.
Thanks to a $105,000 grant from GSK, the PHS Green
City Teachers Program is developing a new school
gardening-STEM curriculum (Science, Technology,
Engineering and Math), and finding new ways to focus
on the importance of healthy eating for children.
The three-day workshop will cover these topics and
much more. Staff from PHS and Bartrams Garden will lead the hands-on activities.
We are pleased to support PHS as they give Philadelphia students the opportunity to get
their hands dirty and learn about healthy eating in a fun and engaging way, said Becki Lynch,
Manager of Community Partnerships at GSK.
The 12 hours of training for educators will include how to design, build and maintain a
school garden year-round; integrating STEM-related activities in the classroom and garden;
relevant indoor activities and lesson plans; getting the community involved in a school garden;
working with administrators; making a school more sustainable; relating school gardens to
healthy eating; and finding ways to get kids outside to enjoy the natural environment.
Tilden Middle School is located at 6601 Elmwood Ave., Philadelphia, 19142.
Fee for the training is $50. Group discounts are available. Graduates quality to apply for
up to $200 in in-kind project support.
Click Here for all the details and to register.
For more information on programs, initiatives and upcoming events, visit the PA
Horticultural Society website, Like PHS on Facebook, Join PHS on Instagram and Follow on
Twitter. Click Here to sign up for regular updates from PHS. Click Here to become a member.
(Photo: PHS Green City Teachers Build School Garden.)
NewsClips:
Big Spring Watershed Assn Unveils Native Plant Habitat Project In Cumberland County
The Big Spring Watershed Association recently

completed the first phase of a Native Plant Habitat
Improvement Project along the Big Spring Creek in
Newville, Cumberland County.
The project is part of the Cumberland County
Conservation Districts pilot program to assist
Watershed Associations with improving water
quality.
This first phase included developing a bird
and pollinator habitat area near Big Spring Creek by
the Nealy Road parking lot.
The area provides food and cover for many of the creeks year-round residents, summer
nesting, wintering and migratory birds. Pollinators will also benefit from the new habitat by
having an area to feed and reproduce.
Initial planning for the habitat began in November 2016 by BSWA members and became
a reality on June 15 and 16, 2017.
Volunteers removed nearly 600 square feet of invasive plants from the area, replacing it
with Side Oats Gramma grass, Butterfly Weed, Purple Coneflower and Sweet Goldenrod plugs
all native plants.
Volunteers from BSWA and local gardeners will maintain the area. A second planting of
150 Little Bluestem grasses will take place in late July.
Partnerships with various agencies and individuals made this project possible, including
the Fish and Boat Commission (owner of the property where the habitat is located) and financial
support from the Cumberland County Conservation Districts Unconventional Gas Well Fund
2016 Watershed Mini-Grant Program.
More than 14 volunteers, including BSWA members, worked together to make this
habitat a reality.
Experienced local gardeners, Master Gardeners from Washington, DC, and Watershed
Coordinators from the Alliance for Aquatic Resource Monitoring at Dickinson College, worked
together to install the 350 plants planned for the habitat.
The second phase of the project involves the creation of a rock vane, to enhance the flow
of the spring for fish habitat. It is anticipated this phase will be completed later this summer.
For more information on the Cumberland County Conservation Districts Watershed
Program webpage.
NewsClips:
Related Story:
Bayer Feed A Bee Program Announces Pollinator Forage Initiative Grants, 1 In PA
Bayer Feed A Bee Program Announces Pollinator Forage Initiative Grants, 1 In PA
In the spirit of true National Pollinator Week celebration,

Bayer Monday announced the first round of organizations
that will receive Feed A Bee Program funding to establish
forage for pollinators across the nation, including a grant to
the Loyalhanna Watershed Association, Inc. in
Westmoreland County.
Nearly 100 projects were submitted in response to the
request for proposals for the first round of funding, which
were reviewed and evaluated by the inaugural Feed a Bee steering committee.
Ultimately, 58 projects in more than 30 states and Washington, D.C., have been chosen
as the first to receive awards ranging from $1,000 - $5,000.
"It's thrilling to see so much interest around the country in such a short amount of time,"
said Dr. Becky Langer, project manager, Bayer North American Bee Care Program. "We're more
than halfway to accomplishing our goal after the first round of proposals with more than a year
and a half left in the initiative. It's rewarding to see organizations across the country come
together with one common goal: providing quality nutrients for pollinators. We look forward to
seeing all the creative project ideas yet to come!"
"The funding provided by Feed a Bee is instrumental in restoring our Butterfly and
Pollinator Garden, which serves as a valuable tool to ensure young people who visit our grounds
walk away understanding the value of protecting our country's pollinators," said Nadia Mercer,
Washington Youth Garden program director. "We have been sharing knowledge of butterflies
and other pollinators for over forty years and look forward to many more."
This event served not only as a celebration of National Pollinator Week, but also as
recognition of the effort being done across the county in support of the 2015 Pollinator Health
Strategic Plan, put in place by the White House Pollinator Health Task Force.
"We are proud to be doing our part in promoting the task force's goal of restoring or
enchaining 7 million acres of forage by 2020," Langer said. "I'm glad we can aid in
implementing the White House strategy coast to coast, beginning in the city that made pollinator
health a national priority."
Click Here to watch the Feed A Bee video.
In Pennsylvania, the Ernst Conservation Seed Company in Crawford County and the
Northcentral PA Conservancy in Lycoming County are Feed a Bee partners.
Feed a Bee is one of several programs sponsored by Bayer's Bee Care Program,
continuing its nearly 30 years of supporting bee health. You can also follow and share on
Twitter @BayerBeeCare, on Facebook and view photos on Flickr.
Bayer USA has corporate offices in Pittsburgh and facilities in several other Pennsylvania
locations.
[Note: The House adopted House Resolution 387 (Matzie-D-Allegheny) designating
week of June 19 to 25 Pollinator Week in Pennsylvania (sponsor summary) on Monday.]
NewsClip:
Helpful Links:
Penn State Center For Pollinator Research
Pollinator Garden Certification
Landscapes For Honey Bees
Ernst Seeds (Crawford County): Pollinator Habitat
Related Stories:
Big Spring Watershed Assn Unveils Native Plant Habitat Project In Cumberland County
Pollinator Population Is Going Down In PA Due To Pesticides, Parasites And Pathogens
Applications Now Being Accepted For Wild Resource Conservation Program Grants
Applications are now being accepted for Wild Resources

Conservation Program Grants to protect Pennsylvania's
non-game animals, native plants and their habitat.
Applications are due August 15.
For more than 30 years the Wild Resource Conservation
Program has helped to protect Pennsylvania's native
biodiversity by supporting research, conservation, and
education projects.
This year WRCP is soliciting grant applications in the areas
of surveys, research and conservation and management.
"Our native species are facing more challenges today than ever," said Department of
Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn. "Habitat loss, competition
from invasive species, pollution, and the imminent threat of climate change means that we must
focus our resources on applied science and conservation projects that reduce or eliminate the
effects of these stresses."
Secretary Dunn noted a House GOP-proposed budget could have possible negative
effects on future funding of Wild Resource Conservation Program and other grant-based
department programs.
Launched in 1982, the program is funded through DCNR and voluntary contributions,
and supports research and protection efforts to conserve Pennsylvania's diverse native wildlife
resources, including bird and mammal species, amphibians and reptiles, insects and wild plants.
Among the many projects supported by the Wild Resource Conservation Program was
research into the hellbender salamander in Pennsylvania streams.
Applications again will only be accepted electronically through DCNR's eGrants online
grant application system.
For more about the program, visit DCNRs Wild Resource Conservation webpage and
learn how you can provide your support.
(Photo: Hellbender salamander in Pennsylvania. Senate Bill 658 (Yaw-R-Lycoming) designating
the eastern hellbender as the state amphibian (sponsor summary) is now on the Senate Calendar
for action.)
Related Story:
Sen. Yaw, CBF Student Leaders Support Bill To Save Hellbenders And Clean Water In PA
Attention Weekly PA Environment Digest Subscribers!
Due to a change in policy at the website service hosting the weekly PA Environment Digest
newsletter, the weekly Digest will be emailed out in segments of 1,198 subscriber emails starting
Friday night and on Saturday morning.
The website service adopted a policy that websites cannot send out more than 2,000
emails an hour. We now have 5,559 confirmed email subscribers.
This change should also help eliminate instances of subscribers not receiving the Digest
since some emails were no doubt caught in the recent website hosting service policy change.
Thanks for subscribing!
Public Participation Opportunities/Calendar Of Events
This section lists House and Senate Committee meetings, DEP and other public hearings and
meetings and other interesting environmental events.
NEW means new from last week. [Agenda Not Posted] means not posted within 2 weeks
of the advisory committee meeting. Go to the online Calendar webpage for updates.
Note: DEP published its 2017 schedule of advisory committee and board meeting in the
December 17 PA Bulletin, page 7896.
Note: This is budget week. House and Senate committees can add and cancel meetings with
little notice.
June 24-- PA Resources Council Hard-To-Recycle Collection Event. Quaker Valley High
School, Leetsdale, Allegheny County.
June 24-- Brodhead Watershed Association Get Outdoors Poconos Mount Nebo Hike. Monroe
County.
June 26-- NEW. Senate Appropriations Committee meets to consider House Bill 290
(Metzgar-R-Bedford) providing for legislative appointments to the Underground Storage Tank
Indemnification Board, fills a gap in funding for DEPs Storage Tank Program and extends the
sunset date for the environmental cleanup programs for storage tanks, Senate Bill 431
(Scavello-R-Monroe) increasing penalties for littering and illegal dumping. Rules Room. Off the
Floor.
June 26-- NEW. Senate Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee is scheduled to consider
Senate Bill 792 (Alloway-R-Adams) regulating the application of law fertilizer (sponsor
summary). Rules Room. Off the Floor.
June 26-- NEW. Senate Labor and Industry Committee meets to consider House Bill 409
(Evankovich-R- Allegheny) making changes to the process for adopting amendments to the
Uniform Construction Code (House Fiscal Note and summary). Rules Room. Off the Floor.
June 26-- House State Government Committee holds a hearing on the Susquehanna River Basin
Commission and concerns about regulatory overreach. Shrewsbury Borough Municipal Building,
35 West Railroad Ave., Shrewsbury, York County. 9:00.
June 26-- NEW. House Consumer Affairs Committee meets to consider House Bill 1563
(Reese-R-Somerset) requiring consent for sharing information from electricity smart meters
(sponsor summary). Room 60 East Wing. 12:30.
June 26-- NEW. House Transportation Committee meets to consider Senate Bill 589
(Langerholc-R-Bedford) increasing maximum allowable weight for natural gas vehicles (sponsor
summary). Room 205 Ryan Building. Noon.
June 26-- Joint Legislative Budget and Finance Committee meets to release a report on PAs
Program For Beneficial Use Of Biosolids (Sewage Sludge). Room 8E-B, East Wing. 10:00.
June 27-- NEW. House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee meets to consider --
Senate Bill 646 (Killion-R-Delaware) would prevent a funding crisis in the states Recycling
Program by eliminating the expiration date for the Act 101 $2 per ton recycling fee on waste
disposed in Pennsylvania, Senate Bill 144 (Yaw-R-Lycoming) amending Act 537 ton include
alternative on-lot sewage systems in sewage plans (sponsor summary). Room B-31 Main
Capitol. 9:30. House Committee meetings are typically webcast through the House Republican
website.
June 27-- NEW. U.S. Economic Development Administration Coal Communities Assistance
Grants Webinar. 3:00 to 4:00 p.m.
June 27-29-- NEW. PA Horticultural Society Workshop To Teach Educators To Build School
Gardens. Tilden Middle School, 6601 Elmwood Avenue, Philadelphia.
June 28-- Agenda Posted. DEP Cleanup Standards Scientific Advisory Board meeting. Room
105 Rachel Carson Building. 9:00. DEP Contact: Michael Maddigan at 717-783-9480 or send
email to: mmaddigan@pa.gov. (formal notice)
June 28-- PennVEST, DEP Public Meeting On Clean Water and Drinking Water State
Revolving Fund Programs 2017 Intended Use Plans. 2nd Floor Auditorium, Rachel Carson
Building. 1:30. (formal notice)
June 29-- NEW. Agenda Posted. Joint meeting of DEP Solid Waste Advisory Committee and
Recycling Fund Advisory Committee. Room 105, Rachel Carson Building. 10:00. DEP
Contact: Laura Henry 717-772-5713 or send email to: lahenry@pa.gov. (formal notice) (Click
Here for more details.)
-- Glass Management In PA
-- Act 101 Municipal Waste Planning, Recycling and Waste Reduction Act History Lesson
-- Establishing An Act 101 Workgroup
-- Update On Recycling Grant Shutdown Strategy if $2 Recycling Fee is not extended
-- Update On Section 904 Recycling Grants
-- Click Here for available handouts
June 29-- DEP Water, Wastewater Resilience Planning Workshop. DEPs Southcentral Regional
Office, 909 Elmerton Ave., Harrisburg. 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
June 29-- NEW. PA Resources Council Watershed Awareness/Rain Barrel Workshop.

Community Library of Castle Shannon, Allegheny County. 7 to 8:30 p.m.
July 5-- DEP Hearing On RACT II Air Pollution Controls For Wood-Mode, Inc. in Middlecreek
Township, Snyder County. DEP Northcentral Regional Office, 208 West Third Street
Williamsport. 10:00.
July 5-- DEP Hearing On RACT II Air Pollution Controls For Resilite Sports Products, Inc. in
Northumberland County. DEP Northcentral Regional Office, 208 West Third Street in
Williamsport. 10:00.
July 8-- NEW. PA Resources Council Backyard Composting Workshop. Western Allegheny
Community Library, Oakdale, Allegheny County. 10:30 a.m.
July 8-- Gifford Pinchots Grey Towers Farm To Table, Explore the Landscape Event. Grey
Towers, Milford, Pike County. 4:00 p.m.
July 11-- DEP Climate Change Advisory Committee meeting. Room 105 Rachel Carson
Building. 10:00. DEP Contact: Mark Brojakowski, mbrojakows@pa.gov or 717-772-3429.
(formal notice)
July 12-- DEP Technical Advisory Committee on Diesel-Powered Underground Mining

Equipment. DEP New Stanton Office, 131 Broadview Road, New Stanton. 10:00. DEP Contact
Peggy Scheloske, mscheloske@pa.gov or 724-404-3143.
July 12-- DEP Hearing On RACT II Air Quality Control Plans For First Quality Tissue, LLC
in Castanea Township, Clinton County. DEP Northcentral Regional Office, 208 West Third
Street, Suite 101 in Williamsport. 10:00. (Click Here for more.)
July 12-- DEP Hearing On Air Quality Plan Approval For Natural Gas-Fired Beech Hollow
Power Plant In Washington County. Fort Cherry Jr./Sr. High School Auditorium at 110 Fort
Cherry Road, McDonald. Meeting- 6:00 p.m., Hearing- 7:00 p.m. (formal notice, PA Bulletin
page 3242) (Click Here for more.)
July 12-- SRBC, DEP Water Loss Management Training For Drinking Water Systems: Metering
and Billing Operations. SRBC, 4423 N. Front Street, Harrisburg. 8:30 to 3:30.
July 13-- DEP Small Water Systems Technical Assistance Center Board meeting. Room 105
Rachel Carson Building. 9:00. DEP Contact: Dawn Hissner, dhissner@pa.gov or 717-772-2189.
(formal notice)
July 13-- DEP Hearing On RACT II Air Quality Control Plans For Fairless Energy, LLC, Falls
Township, Bucks County, The Boeing Company in Ridley Township, Delaware County,
Sunoco Partners Marketing & Terminal, LP, Marcus Hook Borough, Delaware County,
Global Advanced Metals USA, Inc. in Douglass Township Montgomery County. DEP
Southeast Regional Office, 2 East Main Street, Norristown, Montgomery County starting at 9:00
a.m. for Fairless Energy, LLC, 11:00 a.m. Sunoco Partners Marketing & Terminal, LP, 1:30
p.m. for The Boeing Company, 3:30 p.m. for Global Advanced Metals. DEP Southeast Regional
Office, 2 East Main Street, Norristown, Montgomery County. (Click Here for more.)
July 13-- NEW. PA Resources Council Healthy Body & Healthy Home Workshop. Community
Library of Castle Shannon, Allegheny County. 7 - 8:30 p.m.
July 14-- Penn State Extension Community Tree Management Workshop. Milford Township
Building, 2100 Krammes Road, Quakertown, Bucks County. 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
July 15-- Westmoreland Cleanways and Recycling Household Hazardous Waste Collection
Event. Westmoreland CleanWays Recycling Center, 113 Innovative Lane in Latrobe. 9:00 a.m.
to 1:00 p.m.
July 15-- Penn State Extension Community Tree Management Workshop. Penn State University
Lehigh Valley Campus, 2809 Saucon Valley Road, Center Valley, Lehigh County. 10:00 a.m. to
3:00 p.m.
July 15-- Food Guy Adventures, Sustainable Pittsburgh A Taste Of Sustainability: Cultural
District Restaurant Tour. Pittsburgh.
July 17-- NEW. Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay Selling Stormwater Workshop. Londonderry
Township Building, 783 S. Geyers Church Road in Middletown, Dauphin County. 8:00 to 3:00
July 18-- CANCELED. Environmental Quality Board meeting. Next scheduled meeting is
August 15. DEP Contact: Laura Edinger, Environmental Quality Board, 400 Market Street,
Harrisburg, PA 17101, 717-772-3277, edinger@pa.gov. (formal notice)
July 18-- CANCELED. DEP Citizens Advisory Council meeting. Room 105 Rachel Carson
Building. 10:00. DEP Contact: Lee Ann Murray, Citizens Advisory Council, P. O. Box 8459,
Harrisburg, PA 17105-8459, 717-705-2693, LeeMurray@pa.gov.
July 18-- DEP Hearing On State Implementation Plan Revision On Fine Particulate Matter.
DEP Southeast Regional Office, 2 East Main Street, Norristown. 10:00. Persons wishing to
present testimony should contact Roma Monteiro, P.O. Box 8468, Harrisburg, PA 17105 at
717-787-9495 or send email to: rmonteiro@pa.gov to reserve a time. If no person has expressed
an interest in testifying at the hearings before July 17, the hearings will be canceled.
July 18-- DEP Hearing On State Implementation Plan Revision On Fine Particulate Matter. DEP
Southwest Regional Office, 400 Waterfront Drive, Pittsburgh. 10:00. Persons wishing to present
testimony should contact Roma Monteiro, P.O. Box 8468, Harrisburg, PA 17105 at
July 18-- DEP Hearing On State Implementation Plan Revision On Fine Particulate Matter.
DEP, Room 105, Rachel Carson Building, Harrisburg. 10:00. Persons wishing to present
testimony should contact Roma Monteiro, P.O. Box 8468, Harrisburg, PA 17105 at
July 18-- Environmental Quality Board hearing on VOC, NOx Emission Controls, RACT for
Major Sources Proposed Regulation. DEP Southeast Regional Office, 2 East Main Street,
Norristown. 1:00.
Major Sources Proposed Regulation. DEP Southwest Regional Office, 400 Waterfront Drive,
Pittsburgh. 1:00.
July 19-- DEP Hearing On Proposed State Implementation Plan Revision Setting The Base Year
Inventory For The Lebanon County Nonattainment Area For 2012 Fine Particulate Matter
Standard. DEP Southcentral Regional Office, 909 Elmerton Avenue, Harrisburg. 10:00.
Persons wishing to present testimony should contact Roma Monteiro, P.O. Box 8468,
Harrisburg, PA 17105 at 717-787-9495 or send email to: rmonteiro@pa.gov to reserve a time. If
no person has expressed an interest in testifying at the hearings before July 17, the hearings will
be canceled.
July 19-- NEW. DEP informal public conference on expansion permit for the Baily underground
coal mine in Greene County. Ryerson Station State Park Visitor Center, 361 Bristoria Road,
Wind Ridge, Greene County. 1:00 to 3:00.
July 20-- DEP Mining and Reclamation Advisory Board meeting. Knox District Mining Office,
310 Best Lane, Knox. 9:00. DEP Contact Daniel Snowden, dsnowden@pa.gov or
717-787-5103.
Major Sources Proposed Regulation. DEP, Room 105, Rachel Carson Building, Harrisburg.
1:00.
July 20-- DEP Hearing On Proposed Transfer Of Emission Reduction Credits To Perdue
AgriBusiness, Lancaster County. Bainbridge Fire Hall, 34 South 2nd Street, Bainbridge. 6:30 to
8:30. Contact Brenda Esterline at 717-705-4704 to testify. (June 17 PA Bulletin, page 3392)
July 22-- PA Resources Council. Household Chemical Collection Event. Consol Energy Park,
Washington County.
July 24-- DEP Hearing On Draft NPDES Water Quality Permit for the Brunner Island Power
Station, York County. Union Fire Company, 201 York Street, Manchester. 6:30 to 8:30. Those
who wish to present testimony during the hearing are asked to register in advance by contacting
John Repetz in the Southcentral Regional Office, 717-705-4904 or send email to:
jrepetz@pa.gov. (June 17 PA Bulletin, page 3432)
July 24-25-- NEW. Chesapeake Bay Landscape Professional Certification Training. City Hall,
Lancaster.
July 26-- DEP Small Business Compliance Advisory Committee meeting. 12th Floor
Conference Room, Rachel Carson Building. 10:00. DEP Contact: Nancy Herb, nherb@pa.gov
or 717-783-9269.
July 29-- PA Resources Council Hard-To-Recycle Collection Event. La Roche College,

McCandless, Allegheny County.
August 1-- DEP Environmental Justice Advisory Board meeting. Room 105 Rachel Carson
Building. 8:30. DEP Contact: Carl Jones, caejone@pa.gov or 484-250-5818.
August 2-- DEP Aggregate Advisory Board meeting. Hampton Inn, 202 Fairview Drive,
Monaca, Beaver County. 10:00. DEP Contact Daniel Snowden, dsnowden@pa.gov or
717-787-5103.
August 2-- NEW. PA Resources Council Watershed Awareness/Rain Barrel Workshop. Baldwin
Borough Public Library, Allegheny County. 6:30 - 8:00 p.m.
August 5-- NEW. PA Resources Council Backyard Composting Workshop. Baldwin Borough
Public Library, Allegheny County. 10:30.
August 9-- DEP Water Resources Advisory Committee meeting. Room 105 Rachel Carson
Building. 9:00. DEP Contact: Diane Wilson, 717-787-3730 or diawilson@pa.gov.
August 12-- PA Resources Council Hard-To-Recycle Collection Event. Century III Mall, West
Mifflin, Allegheny County.
August 12-- Food Guy Adventures, Sustainable Pittsburgh A Taste Of Sustainability: Cultural
District Restaurant Tour. Pittsburgh.
August 14-- DEP Citizens Advisory Council Field Visit Meeting. Location TBD. DEP Contact:
Lee Ann Murray, Citizens Advisory Council, P. O. Box 8459, Harrisburg, PA 17105-8459,
717-705-2693, LeeMurray@pa.gov.
August 15-- Environmental Quality Board meeting. Room 105 Rachel Carson Building. 9:00.
DEP Contact: Laura Edinger, Environmental Quality Board, 400 Market Street, Harrisburg, PA
17101, 717-772-3277, edinger@pa.gov.
August 16-- SRBC, DEP Water Loss Management Training For Drinking Water Systems:
Fundamentals of Leakage and Pressure Management. SRBC, 4423 N. Front Street, Harrisburg.
8:30 to 3:30.
August 17-- CANCELED. Oil and Gas Technical Advisory Board meeting. Room 105 Rachel
Carson Building. 10:00. DEP Contact: Todd Wallace 717-783-9438 or send email to:
twallace@pa.gov. (formal notice)
August 17-- PA Grade Crude Development Advisory Council meeting. Location TBD. 1:00.
August 19-- PA Resources Council. Household Chemical Collection Event. Boyce Park,
Allegheny County.
August 23-- Oil and Gas Technical Advisory Board meeting. Room 105 Rachel Carson
Building. 10:00. DEP Contact: Todd Wallace 717-783-9438 or send email to: twallace@pa.gov.
(formal notice)
September 13-- DEP Laboratory Accreditation Advisory Committee meeting. Room 206,
Bureau of Laboratories Building, 2575 Interstate Drive, Harrisburg. 9:00. DEP Contact: Aaren
Alger, aaalger@pa.gov or 717-346-7200. (formal notice)
September 13-- PA Section of the American Water Works Association. Small Water System
Rates & Finance Workshop. PA American Water, 2736 Ellwood Road in New Castle, Lawrence
County. 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
September 16-- PA Resources Council. Household Chemical Collection Event. South Park,
Allegheny County.
September 21-- DEP Recycling Fund Advisory Committee/Solid Waste Advisory Committee
joint meeting. Room 105 Rachel Carson Building. 10:00. DEP Contact: Laura Henry,
lahenry@pa.gov or 717-772-5713.
September 23-26-- Statewide Greenways & Trails Summit. DoubleTree Hotel in Reading,
Berks County.
September 24-26- PA Recreation and Parks Society PA Greenways and Trails Summit.
Reading, Berks County.
October 4-- CANCELED. DEP Low-Level Radioactive Waste Advisory Committee meeting
rescheduled to October 10. DEP Contact: Molly Adams, 717-787-2480, moadams@pa.gov..
October 5-- DCNR Snowmobile and ATV Advisory Council meeting. Promised Land State
Park, 100 Lower Lake Road, Greentown, Pike County. 10:00. DCNR Contact: Jennie Shade,
717-772-9084. (formal notice)
October 5-- PA Section of the American Water Works Association. Small Water System
Improving Drinking Water Quality Workshop. Lehigh County Authority, 1053 Spruce Street,
Wescosville, Lehigh County. 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
October 7-- PA Resources Council Hard-To-Recycle Collection Event. Settlers Cabin Park,
Allegheny County.
October 10-- DEP Low-Level Radioactive Waste Advisory Committee meeting. Room 105
Rachel Carson Building. 10:00. DEP Contact: Molly Adams, 717-787-2480, moadams@pa.gov.
(formal notice)
October 14-- PA Resources Council. Household Chemical Collection Event. Bradys Run Park,
Beaver County.
November 1-- Oil and Gas Technical Advisory Board meeting. Room 105 Rachel Carson
Building. 10:00. DEP Contact: Todd Wallace 717-783-9438 or send email to: twallace@pa.gov.
(formal notice)
November 14-- DEP Environmental Justice Advisory Board meeting. 16th Floor Conference
Room, Rachel Carson Building. 8:30. DEP Contact: Carl Jones, caejone@pa.gov or
484-250-5818.
November 16-- CANCELED. Oil and Gas Technical Advisory Board meeting. Room 105
Rachel Carson Building. 10:00. DEP Contact: Todd Wallace 717-783-9438 or send email to:
twallace@pa.gov. (formal notice)
November 16-- PA Grade Crude Development Advisory Council meeting. Location TBD.
1:00.
December 5-7-- National Brownfields Conference - Sustainable Communities Start Here.

LEED-certified David L. Lawrence Convention Center, Pittsburgh.
February 7-10-- PA Association For Sustainable Agriculture Annual Conference. State

College.
Visit DEPs Public Participation Center for public participation opportunities. Click Here to sign
up for DEP News a biweekly newsletter from the Department.
Sign Up For DEPs eNotice: Did you know DEP can send you email notices of permit
applications submitted in your community? Notice of new technical guidance documents and
regulations? All through its eNotice system. Click Here to sign up.
DEP Regulations In Process

Proposed Regulations Open For Comment - DEP webpage
Submit Comments on Proposals Through DEPs eComment System
Proposed Regulations With Closed Comment Periods - DEP webpage
Recently Finalized Regulations - DEP webpage
DEP Regulatory Update - DEP webpage
February 2017 DEP Regulatory Agenda - PA Bulletin, Page 740
DEP Technical Guidance In Process

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

Other Proposals Open For Public Comment - DEP webpage
Recently Closed Comment Periods For Other Proposals - DEP webpage
Other Proposals Recently Finalized - DEP webpage
DEP Facebook Page DEP Twitter Feed DEP YouTube Channel
Click Here for links to DEPs Advisory Committee webpages.
DEP Calendar of Events DCNR Calendar of Events
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
2011-12 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

Grants & Awards
This section gives you a heads up on upcoming deadlines for awards and grants and other
recognition programs. NEW means new from last week.
June 30-- Centers Of Dairy, Beef Excellence Farm Compliance Grants

June 30-- Susquehanna Greenways Partnership 2017 Photo Contest
June 30-- State Fire Commissioner Emergency Response Grants Related To Gas Wells
July 7-- ARIPPA Mine Reclamation Mini-Grants
July 14-- DEP Alternative Fuels Incentive Grants
July 14-- CFA Renewable Energy-Geothermal & Wind Funding
July 14-- CFA Solar Energy Program
July 14-- CFA High Performance Building Program
July 17-- Keep PA Beautiful Fresh Paint Days Grants
July 19-- NEW. Northeast Environmental Partners Award Nominations
July 21-- PA Horticultural Society/Philadelphia Airport Landscape Design Competition
July 28-- NEW. Natural Lands Growing Greener Communities Award, Montgomery County
August 15-- NEW. DCNR Wild Resource Conservation Grants
August 18-- SBA Flood Disaster Economic Injury Assistance In Northcentral PA
September 1-- American Chestnut Foundation Chestnut Photo Contest
September 5-- SBA Disaster Assistance Nonprofit Economic Injury NC PA
September 7-- PA Parks & Forests Foundation Thru The Seasons Photo Contest
September 15-- CFA Renewable Energy-Geothermal & Wind Funding
September 15-- CFA Solar Energy Program
September 15-- CFA High Performance Building Program
September 30-- DEP Recycling Performance Grants
October 1-- NEW. U.S EDA Coal Community Assistance Grants
October 31-- PA Resources Council Lens On Litter Photo Contest
December 15-- DEP Alternative Fuels Incentive Grants
-- Visit the DEP Grant, Loan and Rebate Programs webpage for more ideas on how to get
financial assistance for environmental projects.
-- Visit the DCNR Apply for Grants webpage for a listing of financial assistance available from
DCNR.
Environmental NewsClips - All Topics
Here are NewsClips from around the state on all environmental topics, including General
Environment, Budget, Marcellus Shale, Watershed Protection and much more.
The latest environmental NewsClips and news is available at the PA Environment Digest Daily
Blog, Twitter Feed and add us to your Google+ Circle.

Op-Ed: Bill On General Assembly Voting On Regulations Illegitimate Power Grab
Air
Lawsuit Filed Against DEP Over Cheswick Power Plants Expired Permit
Alternative Fuels
Pittsburgh To Buy First Batch Of Electric Vehicles
Awards & Recognition
Biodiversity/Invasive Species
Black Flies
Helicopter Sprays Length Of Schuylkill River To Control Black Flies
Budget
Clean Water Part Of The Bottom Line
DEP Secretary: PA House Republican Budget Puts Public Health At Risk
PA Parks & Forests Foundation: Speaking On Behalf Of Clean Water, Parks & Forests
Electronic Bidding Helps DEP Lower Cost Of Construction Contracting
Pittsburgh To Spend $5M To Simplify Building Permit Approval Process
Trying To Make Pittsburgh Friendly To Small Businesses
PLS Reporter: House Republicans Float Proposal To Keep Local Share Of Casino Taxes
Federal Workers Protest Trump Budget In Philadelphia
Chesapeake Bay
Climate
Ending Pittsburghs Fossil Fuel Pension Investments Wont Be Easy
Pittsburgh To Buy First Batch Of Electric Vehicles
French Kids Thank Pittsburgh Officials For Climate Stand
Pittsburgh To Host Conference On Improving Mass Transit
Philly Commits To 100% Renewable Energy By 2035
Philly Joins List Of Cities Pledging To Fight Climate Change
How One Philadelphia Neighborhood Battles Rising Tides
Big Oil Steps Up Support For Carbon Tax
DOEs Perry Questions Role Of Carbon Dioxide In Climate Change
EU Ministers Back Climate Pact, Regret Trump Withdrawal
EU Rejects Trumps Demands To Renegotiate Paris Climate Pact
Letter: Leaving Paris Climate Accord Gives U.S. A Black Eye
Column: Make Planet Earth Great Again!
Coal Mining
Compliance Action
Delaware River
Drinking Water
Senate Passes Plan To Fund Lead Water Line Replacement (No Funding)
Philadelphia Water Unveiling Income-Based Water Bills
In Booming Philly Wards, Lead-Poisoned Soil Is Resurfacing
Philly Health Commissioner Pushes Back On Lead Dangers Story
Philly Mayor Wants Pre-1978 Housing Owners To Prove They Are Safe From Lead
Editorial: Philly Should Take The Lead In Protecting Children From Lead
Economic Development
Education
PECO Grant Allows Pottstown Students To Be Powered By Nature
Philly Schools First Outdoor Learning Environment Focused On STEM Education
Greenhouses Offer Hands-On Learning For Dunmore Students
In June, Bartrams Garden Springs To Life
Energy
Sauro: Pumped Storage Hydro Power Facilities Planned In Blair County
Ellwood City Electric Bills Spur Move To Restrict Municipal Power Company Spending
PPL Customers Can Opt To Hook Up To Multiple Utilities When Moving
New PJM White Papers Aim To Integrate State Power Policies Into Wholesale Markets
Op-Ed: Better Leadership On Energy Needed In D.C.
Energy Conservation
Philly Nonprofit ECA Losing Its Founder After Whistleblowers Complain
Environmental Heritage
Somerset Corner Recalls Work After Flight 93 Tragedy
1972 Tropical Storm Agnes, A 5-Day Dance Of Havoc
Hurricane Agnes 45 Years Later
Farming
Flooding
AP: Indiana County Flash Flood Takes Mans Life, Derails Empty Tanker Cars
New Susquehanna River Flood Maps Nearing Release
New Susquehanna Flood Maps Could Reveal Changes
How One Philadelphia Neighborhood Battles Rising Tides
Crews Work To Remove Debris In Allegheny Countys Flood-Prone Creeks
Broken Wires, Burning Gas Line Trap Residents In OHara
Storm Floods Road, Drops Trees In Erie Region
Flood Insurance Facts And Fiction
Hurricane Agnes 45 Years Later
1972 Tropical Storm Agnes, A 5-Day Dance Of Havoc
Remembering Hurricane Agnes
Op-Ed: Hurricane Agnes: Memories Of Mud And Stink
Loyalhanna Dams 75th Anniversary Highlighted By Tours, Activities
Forests
Geologic Hazards
Scranton Eyeing Temporary Fix For Backyard Sinkholes
Green Infrastructure
Hazardous Sites
In Booming Philly Wards, Lead-Poisoned Soil Is Resurfacing
Mine Reclamation
Oil & Gas
Two Pittsburgh Conventions Targets Of Fracking Protesters
EQT Drilling To Buy Rice Energy For $6.7 Billion
EQT To Become Largest Gas Driller With Rice Acquisition
Gasoline Prices Likely To Remain Low This Summer
Pittsburgh-Area Gasoline Prices Fall To $2.60 A Gallon
Gasoline Prices, Will They Keep Falling?
Oils Slide To Lowest Price Of The Year Pulls Stocks Lower
Pipelines
Crable: Atlantic Sunrise Pipeline Owner Made Plans To Protect Fake Lancaster Cemetery
Crable: 7 Lancaster Property Owners Still Refuse To Give Up Land For Atlantic Sunrise
Pipeline
Sunoco Appeals Decision Allow Trial On Mariner East 2 Pipeline Challenge
SEPTA Approves Easements For Mariner East 2 Pipeline
Radiation Protection
Yucca Mountain Nuclear Waste Facility Funding A Bright Spot In Trumps Budget
Radon
Silent Killer Radon Is Still Home Threat
Recreation
PA Becomes 25th State To Partner On U.S. Bicycle Route 50
Take Five Fridays With Pam, PA Parks & Forests Foundation
Schneck: First Look At Newest Park In Central PA
One Of PAs Most Beautiful Bike Trails: Pine Creek Rail Trail
Philly Officials Celebrate 6 New Playgrounds, More To Come
Schuylkill River Trail Construction In Pottstown Progressing Smoothly
Op-Ed: How Citizens In Philly Won The Fight To Cover I-95
Column: Woman On Quest To Walk Every Pittsburgh Street
West Side Trail In Luzerne Prompts Concern
Recycling/Waste
Regulations
Op-Ed: Bill On General Assembly Voting On Regulations Illegitimate Power Grab
Renewable Energy
Philly Commits To 100% Renewable Energy By 2035
Philly Joins List Of Cities Pledging To Fight Climate Change
Philly Neighborhoods With The Most Solar Energy, How To Add More
Solar Power Gaining Ground
Bridgeville-Based Solar Maid Battles Squirrels, Pigeons And Moss On Its Panels
Juline-Titans Wins Auction For Pittsburgh Aquion Energy Assets
Aquion Energy Assets Likely To Be Exiting PA After Auction
Trump Attacks Wind Power In A State That Gets Nearly One-Third Of Its Power From Wind
Study: Wind, Solar Energy Have Not Harmed U.S. Power Grid
Stormwater
Susquehanna River
New Susquehanna River Flood Maps Nearing Release
Sustainability
Wastewater Facilities
Open Records Office Gets Unredacted Scranton Sewer-Sale Invoices
Scranton Sewer Authority Again Rejects Call For Auditor General Review
Watershed Protection
Wildlife
July 4 Marks PAs Second Fish-For-Free Day
Hayes: Fish Habitats Placed At Pymatuning Lake
Frye: Officials Survey PA Waters In Search of Blue Catfish
Kernan: Relishing All Things Rattlesnake At Noxen Roundup
Schneck: Waterfowl In PA, Beginning Life With A 50-Foot Fall
Peregrine Falcon Killed After Flying Into Window In Pittsburgh
Hayes: National Geographic Will Feature Live Wildlife Shots From SW PA
Schneck: See Rare Regal Fritillary Butterflies At Fort Indiantown Gap, Lebanon County
Crable: 550-Pound Black Bear Caught In Lancaster, Relocated
West Nile/Zika Virus
8 Lancaster Locations Being Monitored For Mosquitoes With Zika Virus
Other
New Tri-State Infrastructure Council Studies Gaps In Western PA Infrastructure
Pittsburgh To Host Conference On Improving Mass Transit
Disincorporation Not Only Targeted To Allegheny Countys Smallest Municipalities
31 Things You Didnt Know Were In Pennsylvania
Federal Policy
DOEs Perry Questions Role Of Carbon Dioxide In Climate Change
EU Ministers Back Climate Pact, Regret Trump Withdrawal
EU Rejects Trumps Demands To Renegotiate Paris Climate Pact
Letter: Leaving Paris Climate Accord Gives U.S. A Black Eye
Column: Make Planet Earth Great Again!
Trump Attacks Wind Power In A State That Gets Nearly One-Third Of Its Power From Wind
Yucca Mountain Nuclear Waste Facility Funding A Bright Spot In Trumps Budget
Click Here For This Week's Allegheny Front Radio Program
Regulations, Technical Guidance & Permits
No new regulations were published this week, however, the July 18 Environmental Quality
Board meeting has been canceled. (formal notice) The next scheduled EQB meeting is August
15.
Pennsylvania Bulletin - June 24, 2017
Sign Up For DEPs eNotice: Did you know DEP can send you email notices of permit
applications submitted in your community? Notice of new technical guidance documents and
regulations? All through its eNotice system. Click Here to sign up.
DEP Regulations In Process

Proposed Regulations Open For Comment - DEP webpage
Proposed Regulations With Closed Comment Periods - DEP webpage
Recently Finalized Regulations - DEP webpage
DEP Regulatory Update - DEP webpage
February 2017 DEP Regulatory Agenda - PA Bulletin, Page 740
Technical Guidance & Permits
Note: DEP published 50 pages of public notices related to proposed and final permit and
approval/disapproval actions in the June 24 PA Bulletin - pages 3501 to 3553 (minus 2 blank
pages).
DEP published notice in the June 24 PA Bulletin of requests for nutrient credit certification
under the Nutrient Credit Trading Program.
DEP published notice in the June 24 PA Bulletin that Wyoming County is seeking requests for
municipal waste disposal capacity as part of an update to its county waste plan required by Act
101 (PA Bulletin page 3553).
DEP Technical Guidance In Process

Draft Technical Guidance Documents - DEP webpage
Technical Guidance Comment Deadlines - DEP webpage
Recently Closed Comment Periods For Technical Guidance - DEP webpage
Technical Guidance Recently Finalized - DEP webpage
Copies of Final Technical Guidance - DEP webpage
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Pa Environment Digest June 26, 2017

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Pa Environment Digest June 26, 2017

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PA Environment Digest

An Update On Environmental Issues In Pennsylvania

Winner Of PA Association of Environmental Educators

PA Environment Digest Daily Blog Twitter Feed

Issue #678 Harrisburg, PA June 26, 2017

The PA Supreme Court Tuesday issued an opinion

The PA Supreme Court Tuesday issued a decision upholding a 2016

Associated Press Calls DEP Wracked By Years Of Budget Cuts

In a statewide story about the state budget situation

Pennsylvania House Bill 218, the budget bill for fiscal

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

Senate/House Agenda/Session Schedule/Govs Schedule/ Bills Introduced

Committee Meeting Agendas This Week

Bills Pending In Key Committees

The following bills of interest were introduced last week--

Bills On Governor's Desk

Senate/House Bills Moving

Certify Mine Medical Emergency Responders: House Bill 1341 (Pyle-R-Armstrong)

Members Of Ag Lands Condemnation Board: House Bill 1518 (Causer-R-Cameron) further

Performance Budgeting: Senate Bill 181 (Mensch-R-Montgomery) establishing a

Pollinator Week: House Resolution 387 (Matzie-D-Allegheny) designating week of June 19 to

Funding Water Laterals: Senate Bill 639 (Fontana-D-Allegheny) authorizing a municipality or

Funding Sewer Laterals: Senate Bill 334 (Fontana-D-Allegheny) authorizing a municipality or

Attorney General Josh Shapiro and a coalition of 13 other attorneys

News From The Capitol

The Senate unanimously passed Senate Bill 242

Gladys Brown, Chairman of the Public Utility Commission, told the

Sen. Richard Alloway (R-Adams), one of Pennsylvanias

The June edition of the Environmental Synopsis

Senate Lawn Fertilizer Application Bill To Be Considered By Committee June 26

The Senate Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee is

News From Around The State

CBF-PA: No Surprise, Pennsylvania Significantly Off Track In Meeting Chesapeake Bay

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation Wednesday released its

The Wyoming Valley Sanitary Authority has

Chesapeake Bay Landscape Professional Certification Training July 24-25 In Lancaster

The City of Lancaster Green Infrastructure

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently

Op-Ed: Under The Microscope: Science The Source Of Solutions

By Harry Campbell, PA Director, Chesapeake Bay Foundation

As a young boy, my curiosity about the woods, critters

Profile: Stroud Water Research Center 50 Years Of Fresh Water

The Stroud Water Research Center in Chester County has a

The June 19 edition of the Watershed Winds newsletter is now

Deadline Extended For Northeast Environmental Partners Awards To July 19

Keep PA Beautiful Thanks Thousands Of Participants In 2017 Great American Cleanup

Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful Wednesday thanked the

Keep PA Beautiful Announces Winners Of Great American Cleanup of PA Video Contest

Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful Friday announced the

The PA Environmental Councils Community

DEP Recycling/Waste Advisory Committee To Discuss Forming Act 101 Changes

At the June 29 meeting of DEPs DEP Solid Waste

The PA Resources Council will host a series of workshops in

DEP Held Meeting On Yard Waste/Organics Composting Facility In Dauphin County

Department of Environmental Protection held a public informational meeting June 22 on an

Energy Efficiency, Job Training Newsletter From Energy Coordinating Agency

The summer edition of the energy efficiency and job training

Southwest PA Launches CEOs For Sustainability To Advance Economic, Social Prosperity

Recognizing the strong link between business

PennLive.com: Exelon Notifies NRC It Will Close TMI In September 2019

PennLive.com Friday published a story by Wallace

U.S. Economic Development Administration Offers Coal Communities Assistance Grants

The U.S. Economic Development Administration Friday announced it is accepting applications

The Department of Environmental Protection Thursday announced it will hold an informal