Pa Environment Digest Sept. 17, 2018

Issue #741 Harrisburg, PA Sept.
17, 2018
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PUC Pipeline Safety Division Working To Investigate Beaver County Pipeline Explosion
The Public Utility Commission this week said personnel

from its Pipeline Safety and Electric Safety Divisions are
currently working to investigate and address issues
related to the Energy Transfer Partners (parent company
to Sunoco Logistics) natural gas pipeline explosion in
Center Township, Beaver County on Monday.
A 24-inch natural gas gathering pipeline owned by
Energy Transfer Partners put into service on September 3
exploded early Monday morning destroying a house,
barn and several vehicles.
Energy Transfer Partners was quoted by the Associated Press Monday as saying “earth
movement” amid heavy rains was responsible for the explosion of the newly constructed
pipeline.
A landslide was blamed as the cause of another explosion of a newly constructed
TransCanada natural gas pipeline in West Virginia in July.
“Safety is a priority for the Commission, and our engineers – who were on-site soon after
the incident was reported – are focused on determining exactly what happened and why it
occurred,” said PUC Chairman Gladys M. Brown. “We appreciate the hard work of emergency
crews from throughout the region who responded this morning without hesitation, and the
residents and businesses impacted by this incident are very much on our minds.”
PUC Pipeline Safety engineers are coordinating with local emergency responders to gain
access to the scene, so they can begin efforts to identify the nature and cause of the incident.
The Commission is also working with utilities in the region to determine the potential
impact on any other systems or facilities.
There has been some confirmed damage to high voltage electric transmission and
distribution lines and towers located near the incident site.
The PUC’s Electric Safety Division and Bureau of Technical Utility Services are in
communication with FirstEnergy/West Penn Power and Duquesne Light regarding the repairs of
those facilities and restoration to impacted customers.
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The electric utilities reported limited, localized customer interruptions as the utilities
were able to re-route power around the damaged area.
As a policy, I&E does not comment on details of investigations until they result in
enforcement action or a formal petition or complaint filed before the Commission.
Findings So Far
Pipeline Safety Engineers have confirmed the following:
-- The incident involved a 24-inch natural gas gathering line located in Center Township, Beaver
County, operated by Energy Transfer Partners. Gathering lines are pipelines used to transport
crude oil or natural gas from production sites to collection or transmission sites.
-- The pipeline is in what is known as a Class 3 location. Location classification (Class 1 through
4) is based on population density near the pipeline, per federal standards – with Class 1 lines
located in the most lightly populated areas and Class 4 lines located in the most densely
populated areas.
-- The pipeline falls under the jurisdiction of the PUC’s Pipeline Safety Division based on Act
127 of 2011, the “Pipeline Act,” which expanded the Commission’s authority to enforce federal
pipeline safety laws as they relate to gas and hazardous liquids pipeline equipment and facilities
within the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
-- The pipeline was recently constructed and was in the process of being energized when the
incident occurred.
-- The pipeline was pressure tested in 2017 and 2018.
-- The investigation by the PUC’s Pipeline Safety Division will examine all aspects of
construction and operation, to identify the nature and cause of the incident.
-- The PUC continues to coordinate with Beaver County Emergency Management, the
Department of Environmental Protection and other utilities operating in the area around the
incident site.
-- Any potential investigations by other state or federal agencies would be separate and
independent of the PUC pipeline safety investigation.
Call For Construction Halt
Rep. Christopher Quinn (R-Delaware) issued a statement in reaction to the explosion
calling for an immediate halt to all pipeline construction activities on Energy Transfer Partners
Mariner East Pipelines.
“Today’s pipeline explosion in Beaver County was a graphic illustration of my worst
fears – and the fears of many local residents – related to the construction of the [Energy Transfer
Partners’] Mariner East pipeline.
“While I am relieved to know that no injuries occurred, I also realize that this area of
Beaver County is far less dense than the pipeline corridor in Delaware County. A similar incident
in my district could be even more destructive and have a greater human toll.
“Therefore, I am calling for an immediate halt to all pipeline construction activities. This
pipeline should not be built until the real and legitimate safety and environmental concerns raised
by myself and local residents have been fully addressed.
“It is the responsibility of Sunoco Logistics and Energy Transfer Partners to prove that
the tragedy that happened today in Beaver County – including the evacuation of residents and
closure of a school – could never happen in our community. If they are unable to do so, then this
pipeline should not be built. Public safety must be the top priority.”
hoto: P
(P ittsburgh Post-Gazette. )
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NewsClips:
Litvak: Who Gets To Say Where It’s Safe To Build A Pipeline? (Beaver County Explosion)
AP: Pipeline Owner Blames Beaver County Explosion On Earth Movement
Frazier: Part Of Energy Transfer Partners Pipeline Shut Down During Investigation After
Explosion
Landslide May Have Triggered Massive Gas Pipeline Explosion In Beaver County
Heavy Rain Contributed To Beaver County Pipeline Blast
Unfazed By Pipeline Explosion, Beaver County Township Removes Setback Ordinance
Lawmakers Call For Halt To Mariner East Pipeline Construction
AP: Explosion Of 24-Inch Energy Transfer Partners Natural Gas Pipeline Rocks PA Community
Reuters: Energy Transfer Says Natural Gas Pipeline Fire Put Out In PA
Phillips: Natural Gas Pipeline Blast In Beaver County Prompts Evacuation
Pipeline Blast, Fire Leads To Evacuations In Beaver County
Early-Morning Gas Line Blast Forces Evacuations In Beaver County
Evacuations Underway After Gas Line Explosion In Beaver County
Crable: Weather Delays Opening Of Atlantic Sunrise Pipeline, Landscaping Work In Lancaster
County
Hurdle: FERC Urged To Block Tree-Cutting Before Final Decisions On PennEast Pipeline
Federal Court Tosses Delaware RiverKeeper Challenge To Transco Pipeline
Engineer: PennEast Pipeline Could Complicate Penn Forest Wind Project In Carbon County
[Posted: Sept. 11, 2018]
Commonwealth Court Upholds $1.1 Million Penalty Against EQT Drilling For Wastewater
Impoundment Leaks
Commonwealth Court Monday issued a decision

upholding a $1.1 million penalty against EQT
drilling for leaks from a 6 million gallon drilling
wastewater impoundment in Tioga County in 2012
that contaminated 35 million gallons of groundwater.
The Court specifically rejected EQT’s argument
that a PA Supreme Court ruling in March of this year
vacating an earlier $4.5 million DEP penalty against
EQT for the same site for the same leaks was not
supported by the state Clean Streams Law.
Both Court decisions revolve around the calculation
of penalties by DEP and whether a provision allowing the agency to consider each day a separate
offense in developing a penalty was supported by the facts in the case and the Clean Streams
Law.
The PA Supreme Court ruled in March only the first day of an illegal discharge into
surface or groundwaters of the Commonwealth should be considered a violation of the Clean
Streams law-- the water-to-water theory basis for the $4.5 million penalty.
In Monday’s Commonwealth Court decision, the issue involved migration of
contaminants through soil into ground or surface water-- soil to water theory basis for the $1.1
million penalty.
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Commonwealth Court held there was “ample evidence” in the record to support the
continuous leaking of contaminants from the soil into water causing individual waters harm,
noting the leaks polluted 35 million gallons of groundwater, two High Quality Streams and an
Exceptional Value wetland.
The Court also said, “...the fact that EQT was still cleaning up the contamination four
years after discovering the leaks demonstrates that the contamination was “persistent and
prolonged.”
In summing up its decision, the Court said, “The [Environmental Hearing] Board’s
determination that contaminated water continued to infiltrate the groundwater beneath the S Pit
on a daily basis after June 15, 2012 (the date by which EQT had completely emptied the
impoundment, pressure washed it, and patched the holes in the liner) is supported by substantial
evidence of record.
“The Board’s determination that EQT acted recklessly with respect to the design and
construction of the S Pit, its investigation of the release(s), and its response to the release(s) is
also supported by substantial evidence of record.
“Finally, EQT’s contention that the Board violated this Court’s [March] decision in EQT
III by concluding that EQT violated Sections 307 and 401 of The Clean Streams Law is without
merit.”
Click Here for a copy of the Commonwealth Court decision.
hoto: Leaking Tioga County drill site, DEP.)
(P
NewsClips:
PA Court Upholds $1.1 Million Fine Against EQT For Wastewater Pit Leaks
AP: Court Upholds $1.1M Penalty Against EQT In Water Contamination Case
Related Story:
PA Supreme Court Rules DEP Penalty Against EQT Drilling Not Supported By Clean Streams
Law
PA Chesapeake Bay Steering Committee Readies Information For 39 Counties On Water

Pollution Reduction Planning Process
The PA Chesapeake Bay Watershed Planning Steering

Committee Monday took the initial steps in approving a
letter and other materials to notify all counties in the
Chesapeake Bay Watershed of their opportunity to
become involved in developing County-Level Water
Pollution Action Plans to meet Bay nutrient and sediment
reduction targets.
Marcus Kohl, co-chair of the Communications and
Engagement Workgroup, presented a series of
documents designed to go out to the 39 counties not
participating in the pilot program to develop
County-Level Water Pollution Reduction Action Plans using the Clean Water Toolbox.
The materials stress the fact counties have the opportunity to develop their own
County-Level Plans to meet specific nutrient and sediment reduction targets to be shared with
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them by DEP. If they or another local group wants to take a leadership role in developing the
plans, DEP will be there to assist them.
The materials outline the process and the background on the Watershed Implementation
Plan obligations Pennsylvania must meet.
The documents include--
-- General Letter To Counties “Healthy Waters, Healthy Communities”
-- Letter A County Could Send To Local Stakeholders Inviting Them To Participate
-- PowerPoint Presentation On County-Level Action Plans (longer version)
-- PowerPoint Presentation On County-Level Action Plans (shorter version, with Talking Points)
-- Fact Sheet On Developing A Countywide Action Plan
The Committee gave their tentative approval to the materials, pending the incorporation
of additional Committee member comments.
Pilot Countywide Plans
Kristin Wolf, DEP Chesapeake Bay Office, gave a brief update on the Pilot Countywide
Planning Process that has been underway in Adams, Franklin, Lancaster and York counties using
the draft Clean Water Toolbox.
She said Lancaster and York counties should both have draft county water pollution
reduction plans ready for additional review sometime in October. These counties alone account
for 25 percent of the nutrient reduction opportunities required for Pennsylvania to meet its Bay
pollution reduction milestones.
Adams and Franklin counties are working with Interstate Potomac River Basin
Commission and the Susquehanna River Basin Commission to develop their initial list of best
management plan options.
Both counties have initial stakeholder meetings scheduled-- September 25 in Adams
County and September 28 in Franklin County.
Land Policy Tool
Matt Johnston, University of Maryland, EPA Chesapeake Bay Office and Matt Keefer,
Forestry Workgroup co-Chair presented an overview of a new tool for analysing the impact on
pollution loadings of alternative land use and land conservation policies to help the state achieve
reductions to account for growth.
The Forestry Workgroup did not recommend any new policies beyond the suggestions it
made at the July 10 Steering Committee meeting.
Next Meeting
The next scheduled meeting of the Steering Committee is on October 24 from 9:00 a.m.
to Noon in Room 105 Rachel Carson Building. Click Here to pre-register to attend the meeting
by webinar. Participants will also need to call in 1-650-479-3208, PASSCODE 643 952 548.
However, the Committee is looking to reschedule the meeting to mid-November,
depending on the availability of information needed for the meeting.
For more information and available handouts, visit the PA Chesapeake Bay Watershed
Planning Steering Committee webpage.
Related Stories:
Agriculture, Forestry Workgroups Present Key Recommendations To Meet PA’s Chesapeake
Bay Pollution Reduction Obligations
PA To Pilot County-Level Chesapeake Bay Clean Water Planning Process In 4 Counties This
Summer
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Students Push For House Action To Designate Eastern Hellbender Official Symbol Of Clean
Water; Become A Hellbender Defender!
Renew The State's Commitment To Keeping Pennsylvania Clean, Green And Growing
Meeting The Challenge Of Keeping Pennsylvania Clean, Green And Growing
Related Stories This Week:
Op-Ed: Of Pennsylvania Floods And Our Future
NRCS-PA Accepting Applications For Emergency Watershed Protection Assistance In PA;
DEP To Pay 25% Local Share
Study Of Spring Creek Watershed, Centre County Finds Conservation Dairy Farming Could
Help PA Meet Chesapeake Bay Water Quality Targets
PA Grazing Lands Coalition Releases New Grapevine Grazing & Soil Health Podcast Series
Penn State Extension Holds 3 Rain Barrel Workshops In Bethlehem Sept. 29
Gov. Wolf Announces Deployment Of National Guard, Fish & Boat Personnel, Aircraft To
Support Florence Response
Gov. Tom Wolf Thursday announced more than 25

Pennsylvania National Guard members and six Fish and
Boat Commission rescue technicians, along with two
UH-60 Black Hawks and two CH-47 Chinook
helicopters, left from Fort Indiantown Gap and
Johnstown, Pennsylvania en route to McEntire Joint
National Guard Base, near Columbia, South Carolina to
assist with a response to Hurricane Florence.
“I am incredibly proud our National Guard members and
the Fish and Boat Commission personnel for their
readiness and willingness to assist where needed – in Pennsylvania and in other parts of the U.S.
during difficult times,” Gov. Wolf said. “While we continue to help those in Pennsylvania
affected by recent flooding, we also are thinking of our fellow citizens in North and South
Carolina as they prepare for Hurricane Florence. I want everyone to know that Pennsylvania is
with them, wishing safe passage through this storm.”
The National Guard aircraft and crew will integrate with thousands of National Guard
members and first responders who are prepositioning assets and supplies to be used in the
response to Hurricane Florence.
The Fish and Boat Commission technicians are trained members of the PA Helicopter
Aquatic Rescue Team, or PA-HART. The team deployed with one rescue truck and trailer
containing a cache of rescue support equipment, including inflatable boats.
The Pennsylvania National Guard responded to hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria in
2017.
Related Story:
NRCS-PA Accepting Applications For Emergency Watershed Protection Assistance In PA; DEP
To Pay 25% Local Share
NewsClips:
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How Much Rain Could Central PA See From Hurricane Florence?
Remnants Of Florence Could Lead To Heavy Rain In Lancaster County Next Week
Susquehanna River Covers Columbia River Park In Lancaster County
Army Corps: Dams, Reservoirs Kept Flood Damage From Being Much Worse
Army Corps: Reservoirs Prevented More Severe Flooding In Pittsburgh
Western PA Pounded By More Than 6 Inches Of Rain, Emergencies
New Flooding Across PA Happening As Persistent Rain Continues
Wilkes-Barre Retains Best Rating In PA For Flood Insurance Program
Editorial: National Flood Insurance Program Adrift
Williamsport Receives $1 Million Toward Relief Wells For Levee Project
Raystown Lake Boat Launches, Campgrounds Closing Due To Heavy Rain
Minor Flooding Reported Along Some Waterways In Central PA
Crable: Floods Damage Sewage Plants In Manheim, Mount Joy, Lancaster Reports Stormwater
Overflows
Days Of Rain Cause Major Flooding, Ceiling Collapse At Philly High School
Landslide Closes Portion Of Pittsburgh’s Elliott Neighborhood
Monongahela House Evacuated Over Ground Movement
Whitney Residents Turn To Unity Officials For Help With Flooding In Westmoreland
Storm Aftermath In S. Huntingdon Includes Landslide, Washed-Out Bridge
Continued Evacuations, Flooding Kept Philipsburg-Osceola Firefighters Busy
Sinkholes, Flooding: Here Are What Roads To Still Avoid In Centre County
Penn State To Close Some Grass Lots For Saturday’s Game Due To Rain
Editorial: Flooding Has Blair County Area On Guard
Susquehanna River Near Flood Stage In Williamsport As Hurricane Florence Nears Coast
100 People Evacuated In Derry, Westmoreland County Below Lower Ridge Dam
Valley High School Dismissed Early In Westmoreland Due To Rising Little Pucketa Creek
Cleanup Begins As Rain Stops Falling In Alle-Kiski Valley
Images Reveal Flooding Devastation Across Western PA
AP: Allegheny County Declares Disaster Emergency Due To Flooding
Rising Water Swamp Blair County Region
Bald Eagle Creek Continues To Rise In Centre County Causing Flooding, Evacuations
GoFundMe: Salts Springs Park Restoration, Susquehanna County
At Rodale Institute, A Rainstorm A Day Kept The Apples Away: Festival Canceled
Why Did Lancaster County Have So Much Flooding This Summer?
Luzerne County Flood Authority Looking At Project To Raise Homes In West Pittston
Altoona Area Exceeds Yearly Rainfall Average
Lancaster County Eclipses Average Annual Rainfall For Year
Scott Wagner Sees What’s Left After Flood In York County
Editorial: Florence Is Our Climate Change Frankenstein; Now What?
NWS Middle Atlantic River Forecast Center Major Flooding Occurring Or Forecast Map
Hurricanes
AP: Florence Could Dump 2 to 4 Inches Of Rain On Pennsylvania Next Week
Weather Channel: Pennsylvania Can’t Handle Another Drop Of Rain
Hurricane Florence Ravages The Coast: When Will It Affect PA?
Florence Moisture Will Sweep Up The East Coast, Meteorologists Say
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AP: Pennsylvania Sends Troops, Water Rescue Team For Storm Help
PA National Guard To Assist In Florence Response
Agencies, Utilities Prep For Storm Response
Animals Fleeing Florence Arrive In Lehigh Valley
Philly-Area Shelter Is Saving Dogs From Hurricane Florence
Florence Forces Pittsburgh-Area Natives To Come Home
Florence Could Bring Significant Rain To York County Tuesday
Climate Change Means Hurricane Florence Will Dump 50% More Rain
PA Task Force 1 Heads To South Carolina Ahead Of Hurricane Florence
S&P Global: Northeast Gas Production, Pipelines Threatened By Hurricane Florence
Duke Shuts Down Brunswick Nuclear Power Plant Ahead Of Hurricane Florence
Category 6 Hurricane? Climate Change May Cause Hurricanes To Rapidly Intensify
North Carolina Politicians Didn’t Like Science On Rising Sea Levels So They Passed A Law
Against It
North Carolina Politicians Have Decried Climate Change Science That Makes Hurricane
Florence So Dangerous
AP: Trump: 3,000 People Did Not Die In Two Hurricanes That Hit Puerto Rico
Trump: Storm Response In Puerto Rico Incredibly Successful
Trump’s Claim Of Success In Puerto Rico Hurricane Response Derided
Puerto Rican Evacuees Hunt For Housing As Vouchers Expire
One Year Later, People Still Try To Put Pieces Back Together From Harvey

USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service-PA

State Conservationist Denise Coleman Monday
announced NRCS-Pennsylvania is currently taking
applications for Emergency Watershed Program
assistance in Berks, Bradford, Chester, Columbia,
Dauphin, Lackawanna, Lancaster, Lebanon, Luzerne,
Lycoming, Montour, Northampton, Schuylkill, Sullivan,
Susquehanna, Wayne, Wyoming, and York Counties.
Applications will be taken until October 15.
The funding will enable NRCS to assist local government entities in stabilizing severely
eroding stream banks that threaten homes, business, and utilities. This funding will be used to
help restore streams whose natural flows were disrupted by the flooding from the July 21, 2018
storm or later.
"These funds will provide critical assistance to Pennsylvania residents and businesses and
continue the federal partnership for environmental restoration projects on private lands damaged
by natural disaster," Coleman said.
The funding is being made available through the NRCS Emergency Watershed Protection
Program.
On Thursday, Gov. Wolf announced DEP is making available funding to pay for the 25
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percent share normally paid by municipalities for these emergency projects.
“Getting our communities back on their feet after these floods is one of my
administration’s top priorities, and these grants to local governments will help make sure that
flooding can be reduced in the future,” said Governor Wolf. “DEP will work collaboratively with
the federal government on the design, permitting, and construction of these projects so that we
can ensure long-term protection from flooding.”
“Restoring and repairing streambanks in these areas can help protect residents from
future flooding,” said DEP Secretary Patrick McDonnell. “We are grateful to NRCS for making
this funding available and are looking forward to working with affected local governments to
begin this important work.”
EWP assists with the implementation of critical emergency measures needed to address
public safety and restoration efforts.
Typical streambank restoration projects funded under EWP include removing debris from
waterways, protecting eroded stream banks, reseeding damaged areas, and in some cases,
purchasing floodplain easements on eligible land. Maintenance and repair of existing structures
along a waterway are not eligible for funding.
Eligible sites must have a home (permanent residence) or business located within 50’ of a
stream and have experienced severe streambank damage. Examples include several feet or more
of bank loss, exposed foundations, or the total failure of existing streambank structures.
Damage to homes and businesses caused by high flood water is not eligible for
assistance.
Through EWP, NRCS provides up to 75 percent of the construction funds needed to
restore areas damaged by flooding. The community, local, or state sponsor for the work must pay
the remaining costs, which can be provided by cash and/or in-kind services. Program policy does
not allow NRCS to directly contract with individual landowners.
Please contact your local NRCS office for more information.
Visit the Natural Resources Conservation Service-PA webpage for more information on
technical and financial assistance available from NRCS.
Related Stories:
Gov. Wolf Announces Deployment Of National Guard, Fish & Boat Personnel, Aircraft To
Support Florence Response
NewsClips:
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Overflows
Wildlife Leadership Academy Awards $2,500 In College Scholarships To 5 Teen

Conservation Leaders In Honor Of Ralph Abele
This summer, the youth conservation program Wildlife

Leadership Academy in Union County, awarded five teens
Ralph Abele Excellence in Outreach Awards, which includes a
$500 college scholarship.
Awardees include John Sandala of Westmoreland County
(Bucktails field school); Jonathan Simak of Rockville, MD
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(Bass field school); Lenka Platt of Halifax, PA (Brookies field school); Pierce Landis of Warren,
PA (Drummers field school); and Laurie Enders of Ford City, PA (Gobblers field school).
Together the awarded students dedicated 798 hours to their communities and connected
with over 3,500 citizens.
Wildlife Leadership Academy is a year-round program for high-school age youth that
begins with rigorous summer field schools that focus on wildlife/fisheries biology and
conservation, as well as leadership skills development.
Following the field schools, students are mentored through the following year to serve as
Conservation Ambassadors, giving back to their communities through education, service, media
engagement, creative arts and outdoor mentorship.
The awardees each attended a 2017 Academy field school, taking their role as a
Conservation Ambassador to heart by going above and beyond to make an impact in their
community into the next year.
The Academy has been giving these awards since its inception in 2007. However, this
year, the award was renamed in honor of Pennsylvania’s conservation leader, Ralph Abele.
“Because of Mr. Abele’s dedication to engaging youth in conservation and the outdoors,
renaming our Excellence in Outreach Award in his honor seemed like a perfect full circle
moment,” said Academy Executive Director, Michele Kittell.
Laurie Enders felt that winning the award was an incredible honor. “Being recognized in
Ralph Abele's memory is truly inspiring! It helps me to see that my efforts to demonstrate the
importance of conservation are being heard, and seen, and that they are making a difference.”
At each field school, part of the curriculum includes Ralph Abele’s story shared through
the documentary Straight Talk: The Ralph Abele Story produced by WITF in partnership with
the Pennsylvania Conservation Heritage Project.
“Sharing his story with young, eager conservation leaders exemplifies to them that even
in difficult times, one can make amazing strides on behalf of our natural resources by working
hard and having a belief in something bigger than themselves,” Kittell says.
Award winner Pierce Landis agrees. “Overall this Academy has driven me to new
all-time highs and has become one of the milestones of my student career. I have worked
diligently on my outreach, presenting in numerous classrooms and furthering my own education.
Receiving the ‘Ralph Abele Excellence in Outreach Award’ has shown me that I have made a
difference and can accomplish what I apply myself to. This has given me more drive to do
further outreach, and has given me hope that I may someday make as large of an impact as Ralph
Abele did.”
The mission of the Wildlife Leadership Academy is to engage and empower high school
age youth to become Conservation Ambassadors to ensure a sustained wildlife, fisheries and
natural resource legacy for future generations.
In total, the Academy’s Conservation Ambassadors have conducted 4,194 outreach
projects, given more than 12,000 hours of work to their communities, and engaged over 72,000
citizens.
2019 Leadership Academy
The Wildlife Leadership Academy has opened its exclusive Youth Conservation
Ambassador nomination process for 2019 to the public and is currently seeking referrals of
motivated students ages 14 to 17 to become Certified Conservation Ambassadors.
Nominations are now being accepted online. Applicants may be nominated by an adult
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who knows them well, but is not a relative (teacher, school counselor, Envirothon advisor,
employer, youth group leader, etc.).
Please contact Michele Kittell, Executive Director, at 570-245-8518 or send email to:
mkittell@wildlifeleadershipacademy.org with any questions.
The Academy, a nonprofit organization, is a cooperative initiative involving state
agencies and conservation organizations. For more information, visit the Wildlife Leadership
Academy website or on Facebook.
(Photo: Michele Kittell and Award winner Pierce Landis.)
NewsClips:
Audubon PA: Highlighting Nature, History In The Discovery Center At Philadelphia Landmark
SEEDS Environmental Ed Center Goes Solar In Wayne County
From Forest To Classroom: Lehman Sanctuary Goes Online In Luzerne
DCNR’s PA Outdoors Corps An Introduction To Conservation Jobs
Acid Spill Prompts King’s College Laboratory Evacuation
U.S. Green Building Council Central PA Chapter To Recognize Green Building Projects
Nov. 1
The U.S. Green Building Council Central PA

Chapter will recognize the winners of its 2018 PA
Leaders Awards on November 1 at a special Forever
Green Ceremony at the Civic Club of Harrisburg.
This year’s winners include--
-- LEED Project of the Year will be awarded to
Iron Forge Elementary School in the South
Middleton School District, which received LEED
Gold certification and features thermal storage, solar
photovoltaics and displacement ventilation. The
project was submitted and designed by USGBC Central Pennsylvania annual sponsor Crabtree,
Rohrbaugh & Associates Architects.
-- Rise to the Challenge Award will be awarded for their renovation and addition to
Hildreth-Miza Humanities Center, Bucknell University, a building constructed in 1941 that is
pursuing LEED Silver certification. Buchart Horn Architects submitted and designed this
project.
-- Climate Champion Award will go to Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center
for their combined heat and power project, which reduced campus carbon emissions by 83,120
metric tons, equivalent to the annual residential electric use of 27,662 people.
-- Climate Champion Award Honorable Mention will be given to Messiah College for their
Student Enhancement Project, which included the implementation of a new combined cooling,
heat and power plant. The project was submitted by Gannett Fleming.
-- Commercial Project of the Year Award is going to Koch 33 Toyota Dealership in Easton,
which received LEED certification. USGBC Central Pennsylvania annual sponsor Mowery
submitted this project on behalf of their client.
-- Improving the Acceptance of Green Award, for the fourth year in a row, will be given to a
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Department of Conservation and Natural Resources project, the Buchanan State Forest
Resource Management Center, for their continued efforts in designing and constructing LEED
buildings that are used as teaching tools for the general public.
-- Innovative Project, New Construction Award is going to Franklin & Marshall College for
their Shadek Stadium project, a multipurpose stadium serving football, soccer, and lacrosse that
is pursuing LEED Silver certification. HKS designed and submitted this project.
-- Innovative Project, Residential Award will be awarded to the State College Community
Land Trust for their GreenBuild Duplex, affordable, zero energy homes for two
income-qualified families. Penn State Hamer Center for Community Design/Energy Efficient
Housing Research Group submitted this project.
-- Green School of the Year will go to Doe Run Elementary School in the Manheim Central
School District, Lancaster County which is aiming for LEED Gold certification, and was
designed by USGBC Central Pennsylvania annual sponsor EI Associates.
-- Greenest Apple Award will recognize Tom Horton, Director of Facilities for Carlisle Area
School District, for promoting and implementing high-performance buildings, including being an
exemplary participant in USGBC’s Arc for Schools pilot program.
-- The Community Changemaker Award will be given to Scot Chambers, Realtor, Better
Homes and Gardens Real Estate GSA Realty, for his recent designation as a National
Association of Realtors Green instructor.
-- Sustainable Leader of the Year Award is being given to the City of Lancaster for their
recent LEED for Cities Gold certification, as well as their green infrastructure, brownfield
redevelopment and climate change efforts.
-- The Six Years of Service Award will be given to F. Joshua Millman, Vice President of
Nutec Group; Scott Pusey, Senior Sustainability Consultant at Steven Winter Associates, Inc.;
and Ken Shultes, Associate VP for Sustainability and Facilities Planning at Dickinson College,
for their tenure on the USGBC Central Pennsylvania Market Leadership Advisory Board.
For more information on attending the awards ceremony, visit the 2018 Forever Green
Celebration webpage.
More information on programs, initiatives and other upcoming events is available from
the U.S. Green Building Council Central PA Chapter website.
NewsClips:
Lycoming Farm Celebrates A Century Of Hard Work
Harris Twp, Center County Named Gold-Certified Sustainable Community
Related Stories:
Penn State Affordable, Sustainable Housing Project Recognized By U.S. Green Building Council
Central PA
Buchanan Forest District Resource Center Awarded LEED Silver Certification
Penn State Affordable, Sustainable Housing Project Recognized By U.S. Green Building
Council Central PA
By Stephanie Swindle Thomas, Penn State News
Owning a home is often considered part of living
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the American Dream. But as housing costs have risen, that part of the dream has become more
and more unattainable.
Instead of just talking about the problem, Penn State architecture and engineering
students and faculty decided to become part of the solution and have received a U.S. Green
Building Council Central PA Chapter Leadership award for their efforts.
In 2014, they began GreenBuild, a collaborative project with the State College
Community Land Trust that would lead to the construction of affordable, energy-efficient homes
for two State College families, laying a foundation not just for the families’ future, but for the
future of housing in the area.
The GreenBuild duplex, located at the intersection of University Drive and Royal Road in
State College, is the first place winner of USGBC’s “Innovative Project, Residential” award.
Initially designed by students as a class project, the homes attempt to offer solutions and
lead to the construction of affordable, energy-efficient homes in State College.
“Rather than just talking about why housing is so expensive, the question became, ‘what
can we do to create affordable housing?’” explained Chris Hazel, 2017 graduate with a master of
architecture degree, who is working as a research technician in the Energy Efficient Housing
Research group, an outreach arm of the Hamer Center for Community Design in the Stuckeman
School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture.
The net zero-energy duplex was originally designed for the 2015 U.S. Department of
Energy (DOE) Race to Zero Student Design Competition, where the students won awards for
Design Excellence and Systems Integration Excellence.
Architecture faculty Lisa Iulo, director of the Hamer Center for Community Design, and
Scott Wing, associate dean for academic affairs and outreach in the College of Arts and
Architecture, served as faculty advisers, along with Ali Memari, professor in the College of
Engineering and Hankin Chair of the Pennsylvania Housing Research Center.
The students’ competition entry evolved into a real-life project thanks to partnerships
with SCCLT, West Penn Power Sustainability Fund, Henry Architecture and Design, Paul Macht
Architects, Weber Murphy Fox, the Borough of State College, community members, and
Envinity, Inc., a local green design-build firm that won the bid to construct the duplex.
After breaking ground in June 2017, a ribbon-cutting ceremony was held in May, and the
families moved into their new homes in July. Construction along the highly visible thoroughfare
generated excitement about the project and, in turn, sustainable design, leading to frequent visits
from curious stakeholders, news crews, and community members.
Faculty in the Stuckeman School are looking to leverage the educational takeaways in the
classroom. Hazel maintained a construction blog documenting the project to completion in order
to share processes and teach best practices. Iulo is already developing ideas for new projects and
collaborations with SCCLT and other regional housing organizations.
“Engaged scholarship projects like this epitomize the best of Penn State, bringing
together teaching, research, and outreach,” said Iulo. “The positive impacts and opportunities of
this collaboration are many, and I look forward to continuing to work with students, colleagues,
and community members on future projects.”
Peg Hambrick, SCCLT chair of GreenBuild, said she is pleased that the project has
generated a lot of buzz about housing that is both affordable and energy-efficient.
“When we started the project, some people questioned whether building one duplex
would make a significant contribution to the affordable housing market,” admitted Hambrick.
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“Since we have completed the building and opened the project to professional and community
visitors, I hear comments about applying GreenBuild’s concepts to their own projects. I am
confident that this prototype has sparked interest in building green throughout the Centre Region
and beyond.”
The team, including Penn State representatives, will attend the USGBC awards ceremony
in Harrisburg on Nov. 1.
For more information, visit the State College Community Land Trust’s GreenBuild
webpage.
NewsClips:
Related Story:
U.S. Green Building Council Central PA Chapter To Recognize Green Building Projects Nov. 1
(Reprinted from Penn State News.)

Penn State’s Michael Mann Receives 2018 AGU Climate Communications Prize
Michael Mann, distinguished professor of atmospheric sciences and director of Penn State's
Earth System Science Center, is the 2018 recipient of the American Geophysical Union's
Climate Communication Prize.
The prize was established in 2011 to highlight the importance of promoting scientific
literacy, clarity of message, and efforts to foster respect and understanding of science-based
values as they relate to the implications of climate change.
The AGU Climate Communication Prize is given annually to one honoree in recognition
of "the communication of climate science." The award honors scientists who have made a
significant contribution in promoting scientific literacy and fostering understanding of
science-based values, according to the AGU website.
Mann conducts hundreds of media interviews and appearances every year and directly
reaches public audiences via social media. His op-eds and commentaries have been published in
dozens of outlets, including The Washington Post, The Guardian and Le Monde.
Mann communicates about the effects of climate change through a variety of media,
including his third book, "The Madhouse Effect," published in 2017. For this effort, he teamed
up with Pulitzer Prize-winning political cartoonist Tom Toles to explore public perception of
climate change.
Mann also was a featured speaker during the 2017 March for Science in Washington, D.
C., and has testified before Congress.
Mann also collaborated with author and illustrator Megan Herbert on a children's book
titled "The Tantrum that Saved the World." He has appeared in numerous documentary films,
including a feature role in "Before The Flood" starring Leonard Di Caprio.
In addition to outreach efforts, Mann continues to conduct and publish research. His areas
of interest are in climate science, including climate change, sea level rise, human impact on
climate change, climate modeling, and the carbon budget. He is the author of more than 200
peer-reviewed and edited publications.
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In February 2018, Mann received the American Association for the Advancement of
Science's Public Engagement with Science Award. In 2017, he was recognized with the
Schneider Award from ClimateOne and the National Association of Geoscience Teachers' James
H. Shea Award. He was also inducted into the Green Industry Hall of Fame. Mann was elected
an AAAS fellow in 2015.
He completed his doctorate at Yale University in 1998.
Mann will receive the award in December at the AGU's fall meeting in Washington, D.C.
Related Story:
Philadelphia Joins Global Climate Action Summit In Fight Against Climate Change
NewsClips:
Philadelphia Signs New Climate Action Agenda
It Would Cost $145 Million To Air Condition Philadelphia Schools
Tropical Lagoon, Ice Rink Proposed For North Shore Development In Pittsburgh
Unexpected Outages, Intense Heat Behind ISO-NE Labor Day Price Spike
UN Chief Warns Of A Dangerous Tipping Point On Climate Change
Climate Change Activists Defy Trump’s Inaction With Their Own SF Summit
Thinktank: Global Demand For Fossil Fuels Will Peak In 2023
Maykuth: Trump Rollback Would Ease Rules On Climate-Changing Methane
Legere: As EPA Weakens Methane Rules For Gas Well Sites, PA Maintains Stricter Standards
Reuters: EPA Proposes Weaker Methane Rules For Oil & Gas Wells
EPA Admits Scrapping Oil & Gas Regs Will Put More Methane Into Atmosphere
Editorial: Rolling Back Standards For Coal-Fired Power Plants Poisonous Regulating
EIA: Coal Losing Market Share In U.S. As Source Of Electricity
Baker-Shultz Carbon Fee Most Ambitious Climate Plan In History
Against It
The Bipartisan Shadow Government On Climate Change
[Posted: Sept. 13, 2018
PA Recreation & Park Society, DCNR To Hold Community Conservation Grant

Workshops In Oct., Nov.
The PA Recreation and Park Society and DCNR are again
partnering on a series of 6 workshops designed to help
applicants develop project ideas in preparation of submitting
a grant application to the Community Conservation Grant
Program.
Community Conservation Partnerships Program grants can
fund:Planning, acquisition, and development of public parks;
Recreation areas; Motorized and non-motorized trails; River
conservation and access; and Conservation of open space.
Grants also support regional and statewide partnerships that
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build capacity to better develop and manage resources.
The Grant Program will begin accepting applications on January 22 and the deadline for
submissions is April 10.
The grant workshops will be held--
-- October 23 - Montgomery County: Montgomery County Fire Academy, 1175
Conshohocken Road, Conshohocken. 9:00 to Noon. Click Here for more.
-- October 25 - Luzerne County: Luzerne County Community College, Educational
Conference Center (Building #10), 1333 South Prospect Street, Nanticoke. 9:00 to Noon. Click
Here for more.
-- November 1 - Cumberland County: Giant Food Store Community Room, 3301 Trindle
Road, Camp Hill. 9:00 to Noon. Click Here for more.
-- November 7 - Centre County: Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Centre County, 780
Waupelani Drive Ext., State College. Click Here for more.
-- November 13 - Clarion County: Trinity Point Church of God, 180 W. Trinity Drive, Clarion.
9:00 to Noon. Click Here for more.
-- November 14 - Allegheny County: Collier township Community Center, 5 Lobaugh Street,
Oakdale, . 9:00 Noon. Click Here for more.
DCNR Bureau of Recreation and Conservation staff will be on hand to deliver a
powerpoint presentation on the application process, review current program priorities, and
discuss eligible project categories.
Potential applicants are strongly encouraged to attend at least one of the six statewide
in-person grant workshops.
If you have questions about your project before the workshops, contact one of DCNR’s
Regional Advisors.
For more information on the grant program, visit DCNR’s Community Conservation
Grant Program webpage.
For more information on programs, initiatives, upcoming events and training
opportunities, visit the PA Recreation and Park Society website. Like them on Facebook,
Follow them on Twitter, visit their YouTube Channel, and find them on Instagram. Click Here
to support their work.
For more information on state parks and forests and recreation in Pennsylvania, visit
DCNR’s website, Click Here to sign up for the Resource newsletter, Visit the Good Natured
DCNR Blog, Click Here for upcoming events, Click Here to hook up with DCNR on other
social media-- Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Flickr.
NewsClips:
Schneck: Will A Soaking Wet Summer Kill PA’s Fall Foliage?
Is An Early Fall Making The Leaves Fall Early, Or Is It Something Else?
10 Perfect Hikes To Enjoy Fall Colors In Pennsylvania
Sept. 14 Take Five Fridays With Pam From PA Parks & Forests Foundation
Frye: Keys To Successfully Camping In The Rain
2 Rescued After Getting Trapped While Hiking On Susquehanna River Islands
Canal Boat In Easton Remains Grounded, Costing D&L Thousands Of Visitors
Author, Environmentalist Tim Palmer To Speak Tuesday At Lycoming College
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How An Iconic Piece Of Presque Isle Was Restored
Reinstallation Of Presque Isle Landmark Starts Wednesday
Westmoreland County To Open 2nd Dog Park At Cedar Creek
VisitPA: 11 Hiking Trails To Abandoned Ruins In Pennsylvania
Give Disc Golf A Spin In Allentown
Grant Could Help Fund Bike, Walking Trail In Luzerne County
Carbondale’s Russell Park Renovations Nearing Completion
Delaware Highlands Conservancy Sept. 14 Newsletter
Story Behind Light-Colored Mist In Dilworth Park’s New Installation In Philly
Connecting The Schuylkill River Trails, 10th Anniversary Of 3 Bridges Walk - Video
Hundreds Of Fun-Loving Philadelphia Cyclists Ride Nude
Thousands Of Naked Cyclists Take Over Philadelphia For 10th Year
What’s In A Name? Not As Much As You’d Think Proves Oil City
Editorial: U.S. Energy Dominance Can Fix Our National Parks
We Remember September 11, 2001 - DEP Responds To A National Tragedy
This week as Pennsylvanians are recovering

from flooding in many parts of the state,
helping fight wildfires in the western states
and heading to South Carolina ahead of
Hurricane Florence to be there to help when
it comes ashore, we need to take at least a
few minutes to remember the role
Pennsylvania and Pennsylvanians played on
September 11, 2001.
We all remember where we were and what
we were doing on September 11, 2001, but
the employees of the Department of
Environmental Protection remember better
than most because they played a key role in
the responding to the Somerset County crash site of Flight 93.
Betsy Mallison, Community Relations Coordinator from DEP’s Southwest Regional
Office in Pittsburgh, will remember because she was one of the first state officials on scene after
the crash relaying information about the site back to the PA Emergency Management Agency
Operations Center. Click Here to read her story.
DEP Emergency Response personnel helped local first responders set up hazardous
materials safety measures to make sure the hundreds of local, state and federal officials at the site
were safe as they dealt with jet fuel and other hazards.
Water quality staff monitored a nearby pond and stream for contamination.
Staff from the mining program gave investigators valuable information on site geology
because the plane crashed on part of a reclaimed surface coal mine. The site, after all, was a
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crime scene and it had to be investigated carefully.
DEP staff from many programs were rotated in and out of the site for weeks dealing with
environmental issues there. The rotation was necessary not only because of the work, but
because it was difficult to be at the site of such tragedy for very long, especially during visits by
the families of those who perished in the crash.
Although a small town grew up at the site of the crash with hundreds of people, trailers,
ATVs and equipment, every time a car or bus carrying families came to the little village it
became very quiet and still as the families passed through.
One incident in particular affected many people. On a routine run to take water samples,
two DEP staffers found a nearly intact Bible, itself a miracle, with a note inside. It was from one
of the passengers writing to a loved one for the last time.
DEP and Pennsylvania offered staff and equipment support to New York City to help
them deal with air quality, waste and other environmental issues in and around the World Trade
Center site.
A good example was fielding a request to allow landfills in Pennsylvania to stay open
longer to allow regular trash from the city to be disposed of here. Regular services like garbage
pick up were significantly disrupted by the monumental response to the tragedy there, something
basic that you just don't think about.
In the weeks after September 11, DEP employees again played key roles in helping to
respond to the scare created by the anthrax attacks, running down potential threats to public
water supplies, dams, nuclear power plants and other infrastructure.
Emergency response procedures and local-state emergency management partnerships put
in place in Pennsylvania after floods, mine accidents and the 1979 accident at Three Mile Island
served the Commonwealth well, albeit after those hard lessons.
Many public employees and volunteers from first responders, local, state and federal
governments will remember that day, but those who were there at the crash site of Flight 93 on
that day and the many days that followed have a very vivid and personal memory of what
happened, just like all those at the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.
Little did DEP employees know that in 10 months they would be back in Somerset
County and the focus of world attention again with the Quecreek Mine Rescue.
(Photo: The Flight 93 site several weeks after the crash by David Hess.)
NewsClips:
Tom Ridge On War, Freedom Ahead Of His 9/11 Memorial Visit
Gov. Schweiker Addresses Latrobe Students Before Speaking At Flight 93 Event
Trump Hails Brave Patriots Aboard Flight 93
Our 40 - Heroes Of Flight 93 Remembered
Remembering The 30 Pennsylvania Victims Of The 9/11 Attacks
Op-Ed:We Must Never Forget What Took Place - Gov. Schweiker
Flight 93 Dedication, Remembrance Events Planned In Somerset
Sauro: Flight 93 Tower A Symbol Of Courage
Editorial: The Lesson Of United 93
Senate/House Agenda/Session Schedule/Gov’s Schedule/ Bills Introduced
19
Here are the Senate and House Calendars for the next voting session day and Committees
scheduling action on bills of interest as well as a list of new environmental bills introduced--
Bill Calendars
House (Sept. 24): House Bill 107 (Godshall-R- Montgomery) providing a mechanism to cover
costs of extending natural gas distribution systems; House Bill 1401 (DiGirolamo-R-Bucks)
which amends Title 58 to impose a sliding scale natural gas severance tax, in addition to the Act
13 drilling impact fee, on natural gas production (NO money for environmental programs) and
includes provisions related to minimum landowner oil and gas royalties; House Bill 1446
(Quinn-R- Bucks) encouraging infrastructure for electric and natural gas fueled vehicles; House
Resolution 284 (Moul-R-Adams) urging Congress to repeal the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency’s MS4 Stormwater Pollution Prevention Program (sponsor summary); Senate Bill 1172
(Vulakovich-R-Allegheny) further providing for enforcement of price gouging provisions during
an emergency declaration (Senate Fiscal Note and summary). <> Click Here for full House Bill
Calendar.
Senate (Sept. 24): Senate Bill 820 (Aument-R- Lancaster) providing liability protection for
owners and operators of on-farm agritourism activities (sponsor summary); Senate Bill 917
(Dinniman-R-Chester) amends Act 101 Municipal Waste Planning and Recycling Act to include
spent mushroom compost under the definition of “compost materials to encourage its reuse
(sponsor summary); Senate Bill 930 (Dinniman-D- Chester) sets notification requirements
related to pipeline emergencies (sponsor summary); Senate Bill 931 (Dinniman-D-Chester)
requires the installation of automatic or remote controlled safety values in natural gas pipelines
in densely populated areas; Senate Bill 1199 (Rafferty-R- Montgomery) providing for a
landowners’ bill of rights in cases of eminent domain, including by private entities like pipeline
companies (sponsor summary); Senate Resolution 104 (Bartolotta-R- Washington) resolution
urging the Governor to end the moratorium on new non-surface disturbance natural gas drilling
on state forest land (sponsor summary); Senate Resolution 373 (Rafferty-R-Montgomery) is a
concurrent Senate-House resolution to establish a Senate-House legislative Commission to Study
Pipeline Construction and Operations and to recommend improvements for the safe transport of
oil, natural gas and other hazardous liquids through pipelines; House Bill 544 (Moul-R-Adams)
further providing for liability protection for landowners opening their land for public recreation;
House Bill 927 (Rader-R-Monroe) amends Act 101 Municipal Waste Planning and Recycling
Act to eliminate the mandate on smaller municipalities to have a leaf waste collection program
(House Fiscal Note and summary); House Bill 1550 (Klunk-R-York) amending the Agricultural
Area Security Law to allow for a residence for the principal landowner (House Fiscal Note and
summary). <> Click Here for full Senate Bill Calendar.
Committee Meeting Agendas This Week
House: <> Click Here for full House Committee Schedule.
Senate: <> Click Here for full Senate Committee Schedule.
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Bills Pending In Key Committees
Check the PA Environmental Council Bill Tracker for the status and updates on pending state
legislation and regulations that affect environmental and conservation efforts in Pennsylvania.
Bills Introduced
The following bills of interest were introduced last week--
Updating Act 129 Energy Conservation Program: Senate Bill 1236 (McGarrigle-R-Delaware)
updating the Act 129 Energy Conservation Program requirements for electric utilities (sponsor
summary).
State Conservation Commission Report: House Bill 2639 (Zimmerman-R-Lancaster)

providing for an annual report by the State Conservation Commission on programs it administers
(sponsor summary).
PFOA Standard: House Bill 2643 (Murt-R-Montgomery) adding PFOA, PFOS to the
Hazardous Sites Cleanup Act dangerous substance list (sponsor summary).
Session Schedule
Here is the latest voting session schedule for the Senate and House--
Senate
Recessed to the call of the President Pro Tempore
September 24, 25, 26
October 1, 2, 3, 15, 16, 17
November 14
House
Recessed to the call of the House Speaker
September 24, 25, & 26.
October 1 (Non-Voting), 2 (Non-Voting), 9, 10, 15, 16, & 17.
November 13
Governor’s Schedule
Gov. Tom Wolf's work calendar will be posted each Friday and his public schedule for the day
will be posted each morning. Click Here to view Gov. Wolf’s Weekly Calendar and Public
Appearances.
The Feds
EPA Proposes New Air Emission Limits On Methane From Oil & Gas Operations; PA
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Reaction
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Tuesday proposed changes to the 2016 New Source
Performance Standards for the oil and gas industry to limit methane emissions from oil and gas
operations.
“These common-sense reforms will alleviate unnecessary and duplicative red tape and
give the energy sector the regulatory certainty it needs to continue providing affordable and
reliable energy to the American people,” said EPA Acting Administrator Andrew Wheeler.
“Removing these excessive regulatory burdens will generate roughly $484 million in cost
savings and support increased domestic energy production – a top priority of President Trump.”
The proposed improvements include: aligning requirements between EPA's rule and
existing state programs; modifying the frequency for monitoring leaks (also known as “fugitive
emissions”) at well sites and compressor stations; and making it easier for owners and operators
to use emerging measurement technologies in their leaks monitoring surveys.
EPA will take comment on the proposed rule for 60 days after the proposal is published
in the Federal Register and will hold a public hearing in Denver, Colo. Details on the public
hearing will be available shortly.
Click Here for more information on the proposal. Click Here for copies of actions and
notices related to federal regulation of methane emissions from oil and gas operations.
Reaction
Joseph Otis Minott, Esq., Executive Director and Chief Counsel of the
Philadelphia-based Clean Air Council, issued the following statement on the EPA
announcement-- “Acting Administrator Andrew Wheeler’s efforts to weaken critical safeguards
that have been working and were finalized over two years ago is dangerous and reckless.
“This demonstrates that the special interests of polluters are more important to him than
the health and well-being of Pennsylvanians and people across the country.
“Methane leaks are an issue at every stage along the oil and gas supply chain, which
means that routine, comprehensive inspections are key to detecting and repairing harmful
methane emissions.
“By arbitrarily reducing the frequency of these cost-effective leak inspections, Acting
Administrator Wheeler is allowing methane leaks to go undetected and unrepaired for longer
periods of time.”
The Environmental Defense Fund had these comments on EPA’s proposal.
“It’s unfortunate that the Trump Administration is once again ignoring facts and common
sense only to put the interests of the nation’s worst-run oil and gas companies ahead of the health
and welfare of all Americans,” said Matt Watson, Associate Vice President, Energy,
Environmental Defense Fund.
The proposal would severely weaken protections that have been in effect for a year,
diminishing vital safeguards that would otherwise prevent 300,000 short tons of methane
pollution, 150,000 short tons of smog-forming pollutants, and 1,900 short tons of toxic pollutants
per year by 2020, with further reductions by 2025.
EPA itself acknowledges that its proposal will allow additional methane emissions of at
least 380,000 additional tons of methane between 2019 and 2025, and that “EPA expects that the
forgone [volatile organic compound] emission reductions may also degrade air quality and
adversely affect health and welfare…”
22
The Trump Administration proposal stands in stark contrast to recent actions from oil and
gas companies that recognize their long-term viability depends on reducing emissions.
BP and ExxonMobil recently set methane reduction targets for their global operations;
and Chevron, Equinor, and Shell joined them in committing to principles to address methane,
including working with governments and NGO’s to support methane policies and regulations.
Last week, ExxonMobil asserted the position that “there should be a cost-effective
federal regulatory standard to manage methane emissions for both new and existing source oil
and gas facilities”
“To compete in today’s energy landscape you have to be both cheap and clean.” Watson
said. “The question now is whether leading companies are going to stand up against this
misguided effort or let the Trump Administration take the entire industry backward.”
The proposal comes just a few months after a comprehensive study in Science found
methane emissions from the U.S. oil and gas industry are 60 percent higher than EPA reports –
13 million metric tons a year.
This amount nearly doubles the near-term climate impact of natural gas and represents
the waste of enough natural gas to serve 10 million American homes every year.
The EPA proposal is the first step in an apparent two-part strategy to eliminate regulation
of oil and gas methane emissions entirely, according to EDF.
If the Administration and its backers are successful, the result will be a hobbled federal
framework that would likely reduce oil and gas methane emissions by no more than about three
percent by 2025 according to EDF’s initial analysis.
Analysis from the International Energy Agency indicates global oil and gas methane
emissions could be reduced by up to 75 percent using technologies available today and could be
reduced by 50 percent at zero net cost to companies.
The oil and gas sector is the largest industrial source of methane emissions in the U.S.,
with methane being responsible for about a quarter of the climate warming we’re experiencing
today, according to the Environmental Defense Fund.
Pennsylvania
In June, the Department of Environmental Protection finalized two new general permits
reducing methane emissions from new oil and gas operations and expects to have draft
regulations to limit methane emissions from existing sources in the first quarter of 2019.
In April, Attorney General Josh Shapiro joined Attorneys General from 14 other states to
sue EPA over its decision to unreasonably delay its mandatory obligation under the federal Clean
Air Act to control methane emissions from oil and gas operations.
As a result, the U.S. Court of Appeals vacated EPA’s stay of portions of the 2016 New
Source Performance Standards.
With the proposed rulemaking today, EPA is proposing to significantly amend the 2016
New Source Performance Standards related to methane emissions from oil and gas operations.
NewsClips:
Jessup Borough Council Question Invenergy Over Air Emissions
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Related Stories:
Wolf Announces Final General Permits Limiting Methane Emissions From New Unconventional
Oil & Gas Operations
Regulatory Agenda: DEP To Propose Methane Limits On Existing Oil & Gas Operations,
Conventional Drilling Regs Early In 2019
PA Attorney General Joins Other States In Suing EPA Over Controlling Methane Pollution
U.S. House Committee Marks Up Bill Extending Life Of Federal Land & Water
Conservation Fund
The U.S. House Natural Resources Committee Thursday

took action to amend legislation [HR 502] calling for
permanent reauthorization of the federal Land and Water
Conservation Fund.
Tom Cors, a spokesperson for the Land and Water
Conservation Fund Coalition and Director of
Government Relations for The Nature Conservancy
issued this statement supporting the action--
“With just 17 days left until expiration, the LWCF
Coalition applauds Chairman Bishop and Ranking
Member Grijalva for working out a compromise that has, at long last, advanced permanent
reauthorization of LWCF through the House Natural Resources Committee.
“This breakthrough recognizes the overwhelming bipartisan support in Congress for
America’s most important conservation and recreation program.
“It is a critical step forward for LWCF and the countless communities who rely on it to
provide public access to the outdoors, bolster their economies, safeguard key historic sites, and
conserve irreplaceable natural and recreation landscapes.
“We also commend Representatives Grijalva and Costello [from Chester County, PA] for
introducing legislation to provide the dedicated full funding LWCF needs to protect these places.
“The bill, a companion to the Burr-Cantwell bill that has attracted 48 bipartisan
cosponsors in the Senate, guarantees federal offshore energy revenues are reinvested in essential
conservation and recreation through LWCF.
“As the Committee moves to advance legislation allocating these energy revenues for
other purposes, it is vital that Congress provides that same guarantee of funding to LWCF. The
pre- existing commitment to LWCF must be honored along with these new commitments, and
we will not rest until LWCF receives permanent reauthorization as well as full and dedicated
funding.
“While this is an important milestone, there is more work to be done. As the clock ticks
down on LWCF’s current authorization, we look forward to working with the program’s many
House and Senate champions to reauthorize and fully fund LWCF, ensuring that the revenue
gained from the depletion of one natural resource is finally dedicated for the permanent
protection of our shared outdoor heritage.”
In Pennsylvania
To date LWCF has provided more than $309 million in funding support to
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Pennsylvania, from well-known places like the Flight 93 National Memorial, Appalachian Trail
and the Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area in Lebanon County to local projects like
public park development and improvement in counties and municipalities across Pennsylvania.
Click Here for more background on LWCF projects funded in Pennsylvania.
Contact your Representative and Senator in Congress to let them know you support
LWCF and want to see it both reauthorized and fully used for its intended purpose – to protect
natural, cultural, and recreational opportunities in Pennsylvania.
For more information on this issue, visit the Land and Water Conservation Fund
Coalition website.
NewsClip:
Podcast: Chris Hennessey, Back Country Hunters & Anglers On Federal Land & Water
Conservation Fund
Related Stories:
Op-Ed: Congress Needs To Permanently Reauthorize Land & Water Conservation Fund - Ed
Perry
Op-Ed: Time Is Running Out For The Federal Land And Water Conservation Fund - PEC
News From The Capitol
Sen. McGarrigle Introduces Update To Act 129 Energy Conservation Plan Program For
Electric Utilities
Sen. Thomas McGarrigle (R-Delaware) Monday introduced bipartisan

legislation-- Senate Bill 1236-- updating the Act 129 Energy Conservation
Program requirements for electric utilities.
“In the first seven years of implementation of Pennsylvania’s flagship
energy efficiency law, Act 129, energy efficiency programs have delivered
$6.4 billion in economic benefits to all Pennsylvanians, at a benefit-to-cost
ratio of nearly 2-to-1,” said Sen. McGarrigle in announcing the legislation.
“By keeping energy use down, energy efficiency investments have helped
Pennsylvania industries remain globally competitive, meet their corporate
sustainability goals, and create good-paying local jobs.
“In fact, a 2017 US Department of Energy report found that energy
efficiency accounts for over 62,000 Pennsylvania jobs.
“Currently, Pennsylvania’s annual saving from utility energy efficiency program lag
behind our peer states—this is largely due in part to the restrictive law that limits utility
investment in energy efficiency program to 2 percent in 2006 utility revenues,” explained Sen.
McGarrigle. “The cap artificially restrict the level of energy efficiency investment that
Pennsylvania’s utilities can make to eliminate energy waste.”
An analysis conducted for the Keystone Energy Efficiency Alliance shows expanding
utility energy efficiency investment, as Senate Bill 1236 allows, could deliver at least $240
million in additional benefits to Pennsylvania electric customers.
“Investments into energy efficiency are among the best our state can make,” said KEEA
policy director Julian Boggs. “But current state law actually limits the amount of investment
25
utilities can make into cost-saving energy efficiency measures like LED lighting, heating and
cooling upgrades, and industrial processes. Senate Bill 1236 is a commonsense step forward to
save Pennsylvania households and businesses money on their energy bills.”
The bill earned praise from a number of Pennsylvania businesses and national
associations:
"The DMI Companies are continuously improving energy efficiency to build a better
world for ourselves and our children by providing a sustainable environment through our
products, operations and personal conduct. It is the right thing to do, and we applaud legislative
leaders for taking this step to strengthen investment in energy efficiency across Pennsylvania,"
said Raymond Yeager, President, DMI Companies.
“Johnson Controls has a long history in Pennsylvania of designing and manufacturing
energy efficient products. We are also proud to deliver energy efficiency projects to customers
across the state. This is important legislation that will encourage more investments in projects
and save energy,” said Mark Wagner, Vice President of Government Relations for Johnson
Controls.
“CCI works with several utility partners in Western Pennsylvania to help renters and
homeowners reduce costs and usage. State programs for low-income energy customers combined
with Act 129 bring the biggest impact and relief for neighbors whose energy costs represent a
significant burden. Allowing utilities to invest more of their revenue in energy efficiency
improvements, as this bill does, could help to introduce more diverse, creative or innovative
conservation measures. These measures, such as robust improvements to household furnace
motors, could help a number of homeowners significantly reduce their electricity use,” said
Jeaneen Zappa, Executive Director, Conservation Consultants, Inc.
"For energy service companies, Senate Bill 1236 will help make our products more
competitive and make our services more robust. More importantly, it will help Pennsylvanians
across the state cut energy waste, create jobs, and reinvest in our communities. Energy service
companies support this bill because we want all Pennsylvania’s businesses to flourish," said
Donald Gilligan, President, National Association of Energy Service Companies.
“This important legislation will be a catalyst to advance residential energy savings in
Pennsylvania,” Keith Aldridge, President of the Home Performance Coalition.
"Energy efficiency expenditures are always a good investment: for the budgets of
Pennsylvania and the state's energy providers and for citizens' pocketbooks and well-being. The
cap on energy efficiency investment is counterproductive and should be removed," said Tom
Carter, Executive Director, Efficiency First.
Also sponsoring the bill are Senators Tom Killion (R-Delaware), Camera Bartolotta
(R-Washington), Mario Scavello (R-Monroe), Bob Mensch (R-Montgomery), John Rafferty
(R-Montgomery), David Argall (R-Schuylkill), John Blake (D-Lackawanna) and Andrew
Dinniman (D-Chester).
Proposed Changes
Among other changes to the Act 129 program, Senate Bill 1236 would eliminate the 2
percent cap entirely, allow an electric distribution company to recover decreased revenues due to
reduced energy consumption and limit upward rate adjustments to not greater than 2 percent.
The bill also specifically authorizes utilities to adopt financial incentives mechanisms for
energy conservation based on the achievement of energy savings and peak demand reduction
goals established by the Public Utility Commission.
26
Energy conservation measures counted toward the new Act 129 requirements would also
specifically include up to one-third of the energy savings resulting from adopting energy
efficiency building codes a utility was directly involved in helping to adopt.
Click Here for a sponsor summary of the legislation.
For more information on the Act 129 program, visit the PUC’s Act 129 webpage. For
Act 129 success stories and more background, visit the Keystone Energy Efficiency Alliance Act
129 webpage.
NewsClip:
6 Philly Businesses That Put Your Sustainability Efforts To Shame
Related Stories:
PUC Act 129 Report: $2.2 Billion In Customer Energy Savings In 3 Years
PUC Establishes Workgroup On Universal Service & Energy Conservation Programs
PUC Publishes Staff Report On Effectiveness Of Energy Conservation, Assistance Programs
Act 129 Energy Efficiency Law Fueling PA’s Energy Economy: 62,000+ Jobs And Counting
Four Seasons Produce In Ephrata Joins KEEA To Tout Benefits Of Energy Efficiency
KEEA Energy Education Fund Recognizes Schools Saving 2.9 Million Kwh Of Electricity
Pocono Environmental Education Center, KEEA Tout Benefits Of Energy Efficiency
Joint Conservation Committee Members Discover The Delaware River Aboard The
Schooner AJ Meerwald
On September 7, members of the Joint Legislative Air and

Water Pollution Control and Conservation Committee,
staff and local officials took part in an educational sail
aboard the historic schooner AJ Meerwald to learn more
about the Delaware River Basin Commission and its
programs.
Preceding the sail, the legislators held a press conference at
the Bristol Borough Wharf along the Delaware River
recognizing the importance of the river to the
Commonwealth and to the region.
The JLCC is a bipartisan committee made up of members of the House and Senate
whose mission is to assist the General Assembly in ensuring the sustainable use and care of
Pennsylvania’s land, water, and air.
Several of the JLCC members, including committee chair Sen. Scott E. Hutchinson
(R-Venango) and Sen. Scott Martin (R-Lancaster), represent districts outside of the Delaware
Watershed, but attended this event to learn more about the commission and show their support
for the Delaware River.
Local members of the JLCC who participated on Friday include Rep. Marguerite Quinn
(R-Bucks), Rep. Perry Warren (D-Bucks), and Rep. Mary Jo Daley (D-Montgomery).
“On behalf of the JLCC, thank you for this opportunity to discover the Delaware. The
river connects past and present and also state to state. We appreciate the work of the DRBC and
other stakeholders to address important issues that affect the basin and look for sustainable
solutions,” said Sen. Hutchinson.
27
The event came to fruition based on a recommendation from JLCC member Rep. Donna
Bullock (D-Philadelphia) for DRBC to engage the committee on major DRBC water
management programs.
Instead of holding the meeting in a traditional conference space, the Commission decided
on a more experiential approach and reached out to the Bayshore Center at Bivalve to see if they
would be willing to host the event aboard the schooner AJ Meerwald.
What better way to learn about the Delaware River and DRBC than on an historic sailing
vessel, and once on board, participants got right to work helping hoist the sails and then split into
three groups for short educational sessions with DRBC staff.
DRBC Manager for Water Quality Assessment John Yagecic, P.E., talked about the
Commission’s programs that assess and protect water quality throughout the basin, for example,
DRBC’s efforts to reduce PCBs and other toxic pollutants in the Delaware Estuary (the tidal
Delaware River and Bay); its Special Protection Waters program that protects the existing high
quality waters of the non-tidal Delaware River; and a new, multi-year effort to examine whether
criteria for dissolved oxygen can be improved to further support all life stages of resident and
migratory fish in the Delaware Estuary and Bay.
You can’t manage what you don’t measure, and monitoring is an important part of the
commission’s programs to manage and improve water quality for all those that depend on this
resource for drinking, agricultural, and industrial use, as well as for aquatic life.
“We all need clean water. The Delaware River is important to protect and safeguard for
the millions of people that depend on it for their drinking water,” said Bullock.
The lesson by DRBC Manager for Water Resource Operations Amy Shallcross, P.E.,
focused on flow management in the Delaware River Basin.
Even though the Delaware River is undammed, its flow is still highly managed through
reservoir releases and flow regimes.
This is especially important in times of drought or dry periods to ensure that there is
enough fresh water flowing downstream to repel the salty water from the ocean that could impact
drinking water and industrial intakes along the tidal portion of the river.
During past droughts in the basin, DRBC’s drought management programs have proven
successful in ensuring drinking water sources were protected and other water uses, for example,
industry and power generation, were not curtailed.
DRBC Manager for Water Resource Planning Chad Pindar, P.E., focused his talk on
various water uses in the basin and how DRBC manages water supply.
Thermoelectric power generation, public water supply, out of basin diversions, and
industry are the largest water users in the basin, and DRBC regulatory policies are in place to
help balance these needs to ensure there is enough water for all uses, as well as for in-stream
flow needs.
The Commission is also looking at projected demands to ensure a dependable water
supply for the basin in the future.
At the end of the sail, participants disembarked the AJ Meerwald with a new appreciation
for the complexities of river management and the work of the commission.
“We must come together across party lines to support the work of DRBC and unite to
protect and preserve our environment,” said Sen. Andrew E. Dinniman (D-Chester).
“Today the Delaware River is cleaner than it’s been in decades, thanks to water quality
improvement programs spearheaded by the DRBC, and people are returning to their local
28
waterfronts to reconnect with the river,” said DRBC Executive Director Steve Tambini. “Thank
you to all who took part in today’s educational sail; we hope you have a greater understanding of
the Delaware’s importance to the region and of the efforts that go into managing and protecting
this resource, which provides drinking water for about 15 million people, including nearly 5.5
million Pennsylvanians.”
Special thanks also go to event sponsor Pennoni, the Bayshore Center at Bivalve, the AJ
Meerwald crew, the Bristol Borough Council, and Rob Strasser of the King George II Inn.
For more information on programs, initiatives and upcoming events, visit the Delaware
River Basin Commission website. Click Here to sign up for regulator updates. Follow DRBC
on Twitter. Visit them on YouTube.
Sen. Scott Hutchinson (R-Venango) serves as Chair of the Joint Conservation
Committee.
For more information, visit the Joint Conservation Committee website, Like them on
Facebook or Follow them on Twitter. Click Here to sign up for regular updates from the
Committee.
NewsClip:
Delaware RiverKeeper Sept. 14 RiverWatch Video Report
Related Stories:
Senate Committee OKs Bills Requiring Compensation For DRBC Fracking Ban, To Form
Pipeline Commission
House Committee Hears Testimony On Delaware, Susquehanna River Basin Commissions
Federal Court Overturns Dismissal Of Wayne County Landowner Challenge To DRBC’s Shale
Gas Drilling Moratorium
DRBC: No Timetable For Finalizing Fracking Ban, Makes Comments Available
New Jersey Gov. Murphy Elected Chair Of Delaware River Basin Commission, Replacing Gov.
Wolf
Related Story This Week:
September Joint Conservation Committee Newsletter Now Available
September Joint Conservation Committee Newsletter Now Available
The September newsletter of the Joint House-Senate

Legislative Air and Water Pollution Control and
Conservation Committee is now available featuring
articles on--
-- Pennsylvania’s Dairy Farms
-- Plastic Debris In The Nation’s Waterways
-- Could Fertilizer Be Harming Crops’ Natural
Immunity?
-- California Wildfires Linked To Heart Problems
(photo)
-- Plastic Pollution Also Polluting The Air
-- Replacing Dams With Windmills To Save Salmon
Upcoming Meeting
29
The Committee will hold an October 4 roundtable discussion on the current status and
future of anthracite coal in Pennsylvania in Coaldale Borough, Schuylkill County. Location and
time to be announced.
Sen. Scott Hutchinson (R-Venango) serves as Chair of the Joint Conservation
Committee.
For more information, visit the Joint Conservation Committee website, Like them on
Facebook or Follow them on Twitter. Click Here to sign up for regular updates from the
Committee.
Related Stories:
Joint Conservation Committee Members Discover The Delaware River Aboard The Schooner AJ
Meerwald
EPA: Pittsburgh Group Wins Contest For Developing Air Monitors In Wildland Fire Sensors
Challenge
News From Around The State
DEP Citizens Advisory Council Sept. 18 Meeting To Focus On Environmental

Remediation, Governor’s Transition Report
The DEP Citizens Advisory Council is scheduled to meet on September 18 and on the agenda is
a presentation by DEP Deputy Secretary George Hartenstein on the agency’s environmental
remediation and brownfields program.
This year the Council has reviewed one of DEP’s programs at each meeting giving
members the opportunity to ask more in-depth questions about the needs and challenges of each
one.
DEP's Environmental Cleanup and Brownfields Program oversees assessment and
cleanup of contaminated land and assures the safe operation of storage tanks. DEP partners with
economic and industrial development associations, local governments, communities and
businesses to foster the cleanup of Pennsylvania's brownfields and other industrial sites.
DEP provides brownfields redevelopment and economic development assistance through
our award-winning Land Recycling Program. DEP manages the cleanup of storage tank releases
and state and federal superfund sites under Site Remediation programs.
DEP's Storage Tank program permits, registers and establishes operating requirements
for above and underground storage tanks.
Also on the agenda is a discussion of draft transition documents the Council is preparing
for the candidate who wins the gubernatorial election in November. It has been a task the
Council has undertaken for most incoming Governors.
Click Here for the complete agenda. Click Here to read a copy of DEP’s written report
to the Council.
The meeting will be held in Room 105 of the Rachel Carson Building in Harrisburg
starting at 10:00. There is also an option to join the meeting by conference call-- Bridge #:
717-612-4788, Toll Free #: 855-734-4390, PIN #: 192791.
For more information, visit DEP’s Citizens Advisory Council webpage. Questions
should be directed to Keith Saladar, Executive Director, ksalador@pa.gov or call 717-787-8171.
30
NewsClip:
Major Hazelwood Green Brownfield Redevelopment Gets Green Light
Academy Town Square Hosts Voting For The Environment Program Oct. 24 In
Philadelphia
The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel

University will host a Voting for the Environment
Program on October 24 at the Academy, 1900
Benjamin Franklin Parkway in Philadelphia from
6:30 to 8:00 p.m.
When it comes to the health of the planet, you
want to make sure your vote counts.
Learn about the important issues that affect the
local and global environment and how the
upcoming election will influence them. Join this interactive discussion that will help you become
a better citizen.
“Voting for the Environment” features a roundtable discussion with leaders of the League
of Conservation Voters, Clean Air Council, and other key environmental and advocacy
organizations. Speakers include--
-- Josh McNeil, Executive Director, Conservation Voters of Pennsylvania, Vice President for
Civic Engagement, PennFuture;
-- Julie Slavet, Executive Director, Tookany/Tacony-Frankford Watershed Partnership, Inc.
-- Joseph Minott, Esq., Executive Director and Chief Counsel, Clean Air Council.
The moderator will be Roland Wall, Director, Patrick Center for Environmental
Research,
Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University.
This event is free, but registration is required. Click Here to register.
For more information on programs, initiatives and other upcoming events, visit the
Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University website.
By Larry J. Schweiger, President Emeritus, PennFuture
Pennsylvania has a history of floods but none like what

we are experiencing today. The earliest floods recorded
in 1786, 1810 and 1820 were called "pumpkin floods"
because native Americans grew their pumpkins along
rich floodplain soils. During fall hurricanes, pumpkins
were swept into the rivers.
Later, loggers destroyed the virgin forests and fires
burned. Passing storms and denuded mountainsides
31
caused rapid runoff and flooded communities.
The connection between denuded mountainsides and floods was clear in 1895 when Dr.
Joseph Rothrock was hired as the first forestry commissioner to acquire and restore damaged
forests.
Rothrock warned, "Unless we reforest, Pennsylvania's highlands will wash into the
oceans.”
The Commonwealth purchased the worst of the denuded lands from lumber companies,
creating many state forests.
Today, the pumpkins are gone and the hillsides are reforested, but cars are being washed
away during unprecedented "rain bomb" events.
The dramatic and unprecedented uptick in floods from superstorms and hurricanes is an
early warning sign of what is coming our way in terms of the many impacts of climate change.
Why are we experiencing increasing storms with record-breaking rainfall?
Simply put, our lawmakers have ignored scientific warnings for many decades, and now
we are entering what will be a time for consequences. Yet, daily, humans continue to dump 110
million tons of heat-trapping pollution into the sky.
It turns out that 93 percent of the energy trapped by carbon dioxide, methane, and other
pollutants is channeled into the oceans.
Warmer waters pump vast amounts of moisture into the skies. Heat equivalent to a
staggering 400,000 Hiroshima-scale bombs is added to the oceans each and every day.
Overheated waters produce elevated storm intensities.
Every corner of the world is experiencing the consequences of climate change. The
American West has been overheated, drying out and catching on fire. The California firefighters
painfully understand the results of our failure to end the burning of fossil fuels.
The waters of the Gulf of Mexico and of the Caribbean don't flush well and are
particularly vulnerable to overheating. From Hurricanes Katrina, Maria, and Harvey, Gulf Coast
communities and our island territories have experienced unprecedented storms on steroids from
hurricanes passing over overheated water.
The Northeast, including Pennsylvania, is increasingly vulnerable as the Gulf Stream
warms and slows down. Let us not forget Superstorm Sandy or a much earlier Hurricane Agnes
that destroyed 68,000 homes and ruined 3,000 businesses.
On August 17th, Governor Tom Wolf signed a disaster emergency proclamation in
response to a series of severe rainstorms up to ten inches in some areas that triggered damage to
homes and businesses throughout much of north and central portions of the state.
It was the second time in 2018 that the Governor declared a state of emergency as a
massive snowstorm battered Eastern Pennsylvania and brought down thousands of trees and
destroyed homes and businesses in the Poconos.
Paradoxically, climate change can trigger more significant snowstorms as well as more
winter rainfall.
Pittsburgh’s February weather was a record breaker, including the warmest February day
on record with temperatures nearly 40 degrees above normal and a 7” month-long rainfall record.
Saturated soils initiated mudslides in Duquesne Heights, Babcock Boulevard, Garfield, Spring
Hill and Route 30 just to name a few of the dozens of massive landslides that occurred locally in
2018.
The 1977 Johnstown flood is the kind of flood pattern we must fear. The storm just hung
32
over the hills above Johnstown and caused 76 deaths, leaving $330 million in property damage.
We are experiencing similar intense, often nearly-stationary “rain bombs” triggering
flash-floods, mudslides overwhelming towns and roadways. When increased atmospheric water
vapor combines with a disrupted and wavier Jetstream, strong storms can be held in place longer.
A 4th of July storm hovered over Fox Chapel, O'Hara Township and Aspinwall, flooding
streets and bringing down trees and power lines. Twice in one week, the Delafield Road-Freeport
Road area suffered substantial damage.
What must we do to protect our communities from the ravages of floods?
First, we must shut off the spigot of pollution by demanding that Congress overcome
fossil-fuel's powerful grip and put a price on carbon emissions to quickly move our economy to
carbon-free energy.
Lawmakers must also incentivize efficient homes, cars, and businesses, cutting the
demand for such fuels.
Second, historical 100-year floods are no longer a relevant land planning standard.
Federal flood maps can’t keep up with growing flood risks and must be redrawn based on
climate modeling.
Stormwater infrastructure must also be built with more significant storms in mind. Banks
must say no to flawed construction in places with unstable slopes or flood-prone hazards. All
new land developments must be required to hold much more runoff.
Third, to address the relentless mega-storms and multi-billion-dollar floods, the Federal
Flood Insurance Program must be updated with rates that reflect the real costs of the risks and
include all areas that are now vulnerable.
Finally, climate disruption is a relentless feature in our world, but we must work together
to avoid the worst that will inevitably come if we continue to ignore the connection between
pollution and destructive climatic forces.
Let's put aside every political difference and work together to protect our children's
future.
(Photo: Bloomsburg, Columbia County flooding during T ropical Storm Lee in 2011. )
Related Stories:
Center For Rural PA: 71% Increase In Very Heavy Precipitation In Last 54 Years, 831,000
Pennsylvanians Living At risk On Floodplains
Green Infrastructure Related Stories:
Renew The State's Commitment To Keeping Pennsylvania Clean, Green And Growing
Meeting The Challenge Of Keeping Pennsylvania Clean, Green And Growing
Agriculture, Forestry Workgroups Present Key Recommendations To Meet PA’s Chesapeake
Bay Pollution Reduction Obligations
LancasterOnline: Lancaster Farmland Provides $676M In Annual Environmental Benefits
Estimated $939.2 Million Return On Investment In Protecting, Restoring Dauphin County’s
Natural Resources
Carbon County Has $800 Million Return On Investment From Natural Resources
Emma Creek Restoration Project Reduced Flood Damage, Sediment & Nutrient Pollution In
Huntingdon County
Another Green Infrastructure Project Reduces Flooding In Manheim, Lancaster County
Green Infrastructure Offers Triple Benefits, Cost Effective Solutions To Stormwater Pollution,
Reducing Flood Damage
33
NewsClips:
Overflows
34
Hurricanes
Against It
Study Of Spring Creek Watershed, Centre County Finds Conservation Dairy Farming
Could Help PA Meet Water Quality Targets
By Jeff Mulhollem, Penn State News
If the majority of dairy farms in Pennsylvania

fully adopt conservation best-management
practices, the state may be able to achieve its total
maximum daily load water-quality target for the
Chesapeake Bay, according to researchers.
That is the conclusion of a novel assessment of
the simulated effects of implementing a
35
conservation dairy-farming system on all dairy farms in the Spring Creek watershed, a small
drainage in Centre County.
In the simulations, the conservation dairy-farming systems-- which have been developed
and tested by Penn State researchers over the last decade-- produce the majority of the feed and
forage crops consumed by their cattle, use no-till planting, have continuous diversified plant
cover, and have one system to employ manure injection.
Using a variation of the Soil and Water Assessment Tool-- known as SWAT-- which was
customized and calibrated for the karst topography and hydrology in the Spring Creek watershed
in earlier Penn State research, researchers modeled nutrient and sediment-loading processes of
four dairy-farming scenarios that differed in land area, feed-production and nutrient-input
strategies.
They compared nonpoint pollution generated by "typical" existing Pennsylvania dairy
farms that include some no-till and limited cover cropping, with dairy farms under conservation
management.
The customized SWAT simulated the four dairy-cropping scenarios for a 12-year period.
All four dairy farms compared had 65 milking cows and young stock, fed the same dairy ration,
and were assumed to produce the same amount of manure with the same nutrient composition.
But the land needed to produce the crops differed among the four farming scenarios, and
the conservation farms had more land over which to grow feed and apply manure.
Compared to the "typical" Pennsylvania dairy farm that employs some best management
practices, produces all the herd's forage, and purchases most of the cattle feed grain, the
enhanced conservation dairy-cropping scenarios improved water quality by achieving significant
pollution reductions.
Over the 12-year SWAT simulation, they cut the number of in-stream peaks of nutrients
and sediment and reduced average concentration of sediment by 31 percent, organic nitrogen by
41 to 53 percent, nitrate by 23 percent, organic phosphorus by 36-45 percent and soluble
phosphorus by 32 to 43 percent.
Both conservation scenarios also decreased nitrous oxide emissions by reducing
denitrification, but the scenario that included manure injection retarded 91 percent of the
nitrogen volatilization that occurred in the broadcast-manure scenario.
"We wanted to evaluate what happens at a whole watershed scale if dairy farmers
implement different practices," said Heather Karsten, associate professor of crop production
ecology, Penn State, whose research group in the College of Agricultural Sciences conducted the
study. "So, we created these model farms to represent the range of dairy-farming systems that
could be present in a watershed."
The conservation farms were based on the average Pennsylvania dairy farm acreage and
herd size at the time the researchers designed the field study in 2010.
"They have twice as much land and are growing all of their feed and forage, which helps
them be profitable, because feed costs account for at least 50 percent of milk-production costs,"
she said. "And, perhaps most important, they are not applying manure to the same land as often
because they have more land to spread it on. In addition, when the conservation farms apply
manure in fall, they apply it to winter annual crops that are either cover crops, that retain some of
the nutrients, or silage crops, that utilize more of the fall-applied manure to produce forage
crops."
Of course, achieving such large-scale adoption of conservation dairy-farming practices
36
will not be simple, easy or cheap, Karsten conceded. Farmers will need access to affordable land
to grow more feed for their herds and apply manure at lower rates.
And, she pointed out, technical assistance and financial incentives will be needed to
facilitate large-scale adoption of best-management practices such as manure injection, winter
annual silage production and cover cropping.
Only about a third of the land in Spring Creek watershed is agricultural, according to lead
researcher M.G. Mostofa Amin, now a faculty member in the Department of Irrigation and
Water Management at Bangladesh Agricultural University.
A postdoctoral scholar and research associate when he led the Penn State study, he noted
that Spring Creek is one of the most studied streams in the East.
In earlier research, Amin used data from three U.S. Geological Survey streamflow-
monitoring stations in the watershed to customize the SWAT model to simulate the geology and
hydrological processes that contribute to sediment and nutrient loads in the Spring Creek
watershed.
"Using SWAT to simulate and compare four farming systems over 12 years at the
watershed scale enabled the team to assess the impact of large-scale implementation of the
dairy-farming scenarios," Amin said. "We learned that the conservation dairy-farming scenarios
can reduce nutrient and sediment losses from agricultural lands and help achieve targeted total
maximum daily loads into the Chesapeake Bay."
Also involved in the research, published in the September issue of Agricultural Systems,
were Douglas Beegle, distinguished professor of agronomy, Penn State and Peter Kleinman and
Tamie Veith, both with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Pasture Systems and Watershed
Management Research Unit.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Pasture
Systems and Watershed Management Research Unit, and the Center for Nutrient Solutions at
Penn State supported this research.
Questions should be directed Heather Karsten, Heather Karsten, associate professor of
crop production ecology, Penn State, at 814-863-3179 or send email to: hdk3@psu.edu.
Related Stories:
PA Grazing Lands Coalition Releases New Grapevine Grazing & Soil Health Podcast
Series
The PA Grazing Lands Coalition, with support from the

National Wildlife Federation’s Cover Crop Champions
Program, is producing The Graziers Grapevine podcasts
covering topics related to grazing and soil health.
37
If you’ve heard it through the grapevine, it must be true! Actually, a lot of what comes
“through the grapevine” in the agricultural world DOES hold merit.
Many people who raise livestock and/or crops appreciate hearing accounts of firsthand
experience from other farmers or graziers. Does it work? Is it worth the effort? What would
you do differently?
Would you like to hear it through the grapevine, too? Tune in to The Grazier’s
Grapevine!
The Graziers Grapevine podcasts are conversations between at least 2 people about topics
related to grazing, soil health, agronomy and more. There will be at least 7 episodes produced in
the next few months.
Click Here to download the first three Graziers Grapevine podcasts.
The first podcast is an introduction to technical assistance and cost sharing programs
available through the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).
The second podcast is a discussion between the hostess, Jenn Albright, and Monica Pape,
the Accidental Agronomist. Jen and Monica discuss the differences between soil health and soil
fertility, as they relate to cover cropping and grazing.
According to Monica, soil health is the general ability of soil to support the growing of
crops, and soil fertility is taking it one step further (the implementation of management practices
to get the soil to grow those crops well). Click Here to learn more about Monica and her work.
The third podcast features Annie Basehore-Starbard, who has decades of experience with
dairy goat management. Jenn and Annie discuss fencing, foraging, silvopasture and the art of
cheesemaking. Annie has also authored a book, which can be found here.
Click Here for more about The Graziers Grapevine podcasts.
There will be many more podcasts released soon, so please check out PA Grazing Lands
Coalition or Cover Crop Champions on Facebook for notification of new podcast releases.
NewsClips:
AP: From Traditional Farms To Niche Farming, Agriculture Evolves
Penn State Extension: No-Till Innovations In Tobacco By Lancaster County Amish - Video
Editorial: Diamonds Deserved For Luzerne Farmland Preservation Program
Easton Area Trees Next Target In Spotted Lanternfly Battle
Agriculture’s Spotted Lanternfly Calendar Contest Open For Students
Spotted Lanternfly Is A Pest Waiting To Bug Us
Argonne National Laboratory: Can Solar Energy Save Bees?
Pollinator-Friendly Solar Energy In Minnesota: Everyone Loves It
Related Story:
Lancaster County Graziers Group To Host Founder Of Savory Institute Sept. 19
38
2 Protect Your Springs, Wells & Cisterns Workshops Nov. 5 In Lancaster County
Penn State Extension will host two workshops on How

To Protect Your Springs, Wells And Cisterns on
November 5 at the Terre Hill Community Center, 131
West Main Street in Terre Hill, Lancaster County at
2:00 to 4:00 and 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.
Wells and springs supply water to over 1,000,000
farms and homes in Pennsylvania, mostly in suburban
and rural areas. Many residents also use on-lot septic
systems to treat and dispose of wastewater.
This workshop will provide information on protecting,
testing, and treating private water supplies.
Presenters will also discuss septic system inspection and maintenance. Learn how to
protect your family, your property, and our shared ground and surface water resources.
The first 30 households to register for each workshop will receive free drinking water
testing. Select a workshop location above, and then look for the Instructors tab for information
on who to call or email to confirm if water sample testing will take place at that workshop.
Support for these workshops is provided by the Penn State Extension Master Well Owner
Network grant from Department of Environmental Protection and the PA Ground Water
Association.
Click Here to register or for more information.
(Photo: Sanitary drinking water well cap to protect water.)
NewsClips:
Legere: Shift In PA Water Rules Could Put Coal Mines’ Treatment Burden On Drinking Water
Suppliers
Hopey: Report: Lead Levels In Children Decreasing In Allegheny County
Allegheny County Urges Municipalities To Inspect Rental Properties For Lead
Related Story:
Penn State Extension will hold three Rain Barrel Workshops

in Bethlehem on September 29 to help participants learn how
to make your own rain barrel and take it home.
The $40 workshop fee includes a plastic 55-gallon drum, all
the necessary parts, and assistance to build your rain barrel!
All tools are provided. Please bring appropriate transportation
to take your barrel home.
39
Each barrel is 40 inches tall, and 24 inches wide at the widest. They can fit in the
backseat of most sedans.
The workshops will be held at the Hanover Township Community Center, 3660
Jacksonville Road in Bethlehem from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m., 10:15 to 11:15 a.m. and from 11:30 to
12:30.
Click Here to register or for more information.
NewsClips:
Chambersburg Celebrates Stormwater Green Infrastructure Improvements
Monroeville Council Delays Vote On Stormwater Fee
Williamsport Approves Transferring Stormwater System To Authority
Related Stories:
Protect Your Springs, Wells, Septic Systems & Cisterns Workshops Nov. 5 In Lancaster County
DEP Reminds Pool Owners To Drain Pools Responsibly To Protect Water Quality
In an effort to help protect stream health and

aquatic life, the Department of Environmental
Protection would like to remind private and
public pool owners, as well as pool
management companies, how to properly close
their swimming pools for the season.
Discharged pool water containing chlorine or
other chemicals can be detrimental to aquatic
life if not handled responsibly. It is extremely
important that these waters are handled
correctly.
Pool water must not be discharged to any storm sewer or land in which a storm sewer is
accessible. Runoff can cause fish kills and unsafe aquatic conditions.
“Pool owners and professional pool cleaners need to dispose of old water appropriately
and conscientiously,” said DEP Secretary Patrick McDonnell. “Most of all, we need to make
sure the wastewater is going into the sanitary sewer, where it may be allowed – not into our
storm sewers where it will run into streams and could harm aquatic life.”
When draining a swimming pool this year, make sure to protect Pennsylvania by
following these tips:
40
-- Pool water may be disposed of through the sanitary sewer system ONLY with municipal
permission.
-- Never dispose of pool water through a storm sewer, which will discharge to a stream.
-- If lowering the water level of the pool, let it drain to a lawn to prevent it from running off into
a storm sewer.
-- If a sanitary sewer system is not available, water may be used for irrigation if it does not run
off the property or into a storm sewer.
The discharge of swimming pool water to any waters of the Commonwealth without a
permit is a violation of the Clean Streams Law. Property owners and pool companies that violate
this law may be subject to enforcement.
For more information on environmental programs in Pennsylvania, visit DEP’s website,
Click Here to sign up for DEP’s monthly newsletter, sign up for DEP Connects events, sign up
for DEP’s eNotice, visit DEP’s Blog, Like DEP on Facebook, Follow DEP on Twitter and visit
DEP’s YouTube Channel.
NewsClip:
DEP: Don’t Drain Water From Swimming Pools Into Storm Sewers
Opportunity To Bid On DEP Abandoned Mine Reclamation Project In Allegheny County
The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the September 15 PA Bulletin

of an opportunity to bid on an abandoned mine reclamation project in Allegheny County.
The Department of Environmental Protection has available a current list of
Abandoned Mine Reclamation, Acid Mine Drainage, Surface Mine Reclamation, Cleaning Out
and Plugging Oil and Gas Wells, Waterways Engineering (Concrete Dams/Concrete Lined
Channels, Walls and Box Culverts, etc.), Hazardous Site Remediation, Removal and Disposal of
Underground Storage Tanks, and Wetland Restoration projects available for bidding. Click Here
for the list.
The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources has a current list of bid
proposals for construction projects in State Parks and State Forests available online. Click Here
for the list.
NewsClip:
Centralia Film To Be Screened In Scranton
Susquehanna River Basin Commission Acts On Water Withdrawal Applications, Other

Issues
On September 7, the Susquehanna River Basin Commission held its quarterly business meeting
in Binghamton, N.Y. Among its actions, the Commission:
--Tabled the release of a proposed rulemaking for consideration at a future Commission meeting;
-- adopted an update to its investment policy statement addenda;
-- approved the following: execution of an amendment with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
(USACE) to participate in a study to update floodplain mapping for Blair County, Pa.; a grant
amendment with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection for its Chesapeake
41
Bay Watershed program; a grant amendment with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on
water quality protection and pollution prevention; a joint funding agreement with the U.S.
Geological Survey to upgrade its StreamStats database; an agreement with USACE for water
resources support; and the purchase of a Trimble R10 GNSS receiver and accessories; tabled
action on the resolution for a Billmeyer Quarry consumptive use water storage and mitigation
project for consideration at the December 2018 Commission meeting; granted a request from
Lycoming County Water & Sewer Authority to extend the deadline to commence withdrawal by
two years; and
-- approved 16 applications and tabled three others (see project action list).
The voting Commissioners and alternates were: Paul D’Amato, Chair, Director, Region
8, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation; Jennifer Orr, Director, Compact
and Commissions Office, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection; Virginia
Kearney, Deputy Director, Water Management Administration, Maryland Department of the
Environment; and Col. John Litz, Commander and District Engineer, Baltimore District, U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers.
Visit SRBC’s September 7 Meeting webpage for more information on this meeting.
For more information on programs, training opportunities and upcoming events, visit the
Susquehanna River Basin Commission website. Click Here to sign up for SRBC’s newsletter.
Follow SRBC on Twitter, visit them on YouTube.
Fish & Boat Commission: Logs Used To Control Outflow Of High Point Lake Dam In
Somerset May Have Ruptured
The Fish and Boat Commission Friday issued an update on the partial failure of the High Point
Lake Dam in Somerset County saying its engineering staff has evaluated the design and
construction of the control tower and conducted underwater testing and reported with a high
degree of certainty that one or more wooden stop logs used to control outflow, have ruptured,
resulting in a heavier than normal discharge.
The additional discharge remains at manageable levels and water is exiting the dam as
designed through the principal spillway outlet pipe.
The overall structure of the dam has not been compromised and engineers remain
confident there is no imminent danger to public safety.
As a precaution, the dam remains under 24-hour surveillance by PFBC staff. No
additional problems have been detected.
Nearby residents should be advised that while recent heavy rains have resulted in high
water levels downstream of the dam in Glade Run, McClintock Run and the Casselman River,
those conditions are not a result of additional discharge from the dam.
The PFBC is actively working to repair the dam, which will include utilizing a diver to
confirm the suspected cause and assist with repairs.
To access the damaged area, drawdown efforts at the lake will continue daily with a goal
of reducing the pool level by a minimum of 15 feet. To achieve that goal safely and efficiently,
PFBC is utilizing one 6-inch pump as well as two 12-inch pumps provided by the Somerset and
Westmoreland County Emergency Management Agencies. Additional pumps may be employed.
Progress has been impeded by recent rains, which have replenished the lake. Current pool
42
level is approximately 2-feet below normal. Required drawdown is expected to take several more
weeks.
At this time, there are no restrictions on fishing or boating on High Point Lake, though
the public is advised to remain at least 200-feet away from pumps and other equipment.
Throughout the process, PFBC will continue to provide additional updates and report any
safety concerns to Somerset County EMA, which will issue an alert to residents.
NewsClip:
Ruptured Wooden Stop Log Suspected Cause Of Partial Failure At High Point Dam Lake
Related Story:
Fish & Boat Commission Statement On Leak In High Point Lake Dam, Somerset County
Report: Blood Lead Levels In Allegheny County Children Going Down
The Allegheny County Health Department Wednesday

released its inaugural report on lead levels in children.
Lead is a neurotoxin commonly found in our
daily lives, and lead exposure can come from multiple
sources: pre-1978 lead paint and dust, water from lead
pipes, soil, ceramic plates, bowls, and glasses, and
imported candy, toys, cosmetics, and jewelry.
Lead can cause serious health problems,
especially for pregnant women and young children.
Findings of the lead report include:
-- Blood lead levels among the county’s children are, on average, going down.
-- The percentage of all children with an elevated blood lead level of 5 µg/dl (micrograms per
deciliter) is going down, although it has not changed significantly over the last year.
-- The number of children under 6 years of age that are being tested is going up significantly,
thanks to the countywide requirement enacted last year, and implemented in January; projection
of more than 23,000 children tested in 2018, which is more than double the number of children
tested in 2010.
-- More children are getting their capillary tests confirmed with a venous test.
-- There are still communities with significantly higher numbers and percentages of children with
confirmed blood lead levels of 5 µg/dl or above.
Click Here for a copy of the report.
“I was honored to be asked by County Executive Rich Fitzgerald to serve as Chair of the
county’s Lead Task Force in 2017. One of our recommendations of the was to provide regular
reporting on the issue to the public, and we are proud to present this first ever annual lead report
that fulfills this recommendation,” said Health Department Director Dr. Karen Hacker. “The
findings in this report demonstrate progress, but there is still work to be done, as far too many
children are still at risk for lead exposure.”
The Health Department’s lead exposure strategy includes surveillance, prevention,
education through its “Get Ahead of Lead” campaign, and intervention.
For any child under the age of 6 with a confirmed lead level of 5 µg/dl or above, the
Health Department offers a free lead home investigation.
43
Blood lead level testing is also offered at two Health Department locations, and is free to
those that are uninsured and underinsured.
In addition, Allegheny County Economic Development provides supplementary
resources to make your home lead safe through its Allegheny Lead Safe Homes Program.
For more information about lead exposure in Allegheny County, visit the Approach To
Lead webpage.
Pittsburgh Water Authority
The Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority has a drinking water testing program for lead
required by the Department of Environmental Protection due to lead levels above the drinking
water standards.
The Authority is also replacing customer lead water service lines to lower lead levels.
Visit the Authority’s Lead In Your Drinking Water webpage or call the Lead Help Desk
at 412-255-08987 to learn more about our lead line replacement programs.
For more information on lead in drinking water, visit DEP’s Lead In Drinking Water
webpage.
Senate Lead Task Force
In October 2017, the Senate unanimously approved Senate Resolution 33 sponsored by
Sen. John Yudichak (D-Luzerne), the Minority Chair of the Senate Environmental Resources and
Energy Committee that created a statewide Senate Lead Task Force and Advisory Committee
under the direction of the Joint State Government Commission.
The Resolution requires the Task Force to report to the Senate in 18 months-- by April
2019.
The Joint State Government Commission Senate Resolution Project Manager is Yvonne
Hursh, Counsel, and she can be contacted by calling 717-787-1906 or send email to:
yhursh@legis.state.pa.us.
For more information on lead exposure, intervention and education, visit the Department
of Health’s Lead Poisoning webpage.
NewsClips:
Trash Travels: Register A New Cleanup, Volunteer To Help With An Existing

International Coastal Cleanup In PA
Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful invites Pennsylvania

residents, civic organizations and businesses to
coordinate a cleanup or join an existing cleanup, as
part of the 2018 International Coastal Cleanup.
International Coastal Cleanup Day will be held on
September 19, however, ICC events can be held
through October 31.
All cleanup sites, land or water, are eligible. A
significant portion of waterway pollution originates
on land. When it rains, trash on sidewalks and streets
44
accumulates in the gutter and is swept into storm drains.
Most storm drain systems discharge directly into the nearest creek or river, eventually
flowing to the ocean taking all the trash with it.
“Cleaning up your local park or street that you live on might seem unrelated to healthy
waterways, especially when there isn’t any water in sight, but I think we have all seen litter
blocking storm drains. Cleaning up that litter before it has a chance to be washed down any
storm drain or blown into any creek will significantly reduce the amount of trash that reaches our
oceans,” explained Shannon Reiter, President of Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful. “Please do your
part and join us in a cleanup this fall.”
Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful is proud to coordinate this effort in Pennsylvania.
In 2017, nearly 14,000 volunteers from 35 counties canvassed their communities to
remove 861,655 pounds of trash and debris from Pennsylvania’s lands, waterways and coastal
regions during the International Coastal Cleanup event.
The Ocean Conservancy’s annual International Coastal Cleanup engages hundreds of
thousands of volunteers from around the world to remove millions of pounds of plastics and
debris from beaches, lakes and waterways.
The International Coastal Cleanup is the world’s largest volunteer effort to improve the
health of our oceans.
This event has grown to include participation by all 50 states and U.S. territories and 90
countries with the number growing each year.
Gloves and bags are available for registered events while supplies last. Click Here to
register online.
Click Here for cleanup tools and resources to help organize a safe and successful cleanup.
For questions regarding the International Coastal Cleanup, please contact Michelle Dunn,
Keep PA Beautiful’s International Coastal Cleanup Coordinator, at 1-877-772-3673 Ext. 113 or
send email to: mdunn@keeppabeautiful.org.
For more information on programs, initiatives and special events, visit the Keep
Pennsylvania Beautiful website. Click Here to become a member. Click Here to sign up for
regular updates from KPB, Like them on Facebook, Follow on Twitter, Discover them on
Pinterest and visit their YouTube Channel.
Also visit the Illegal Dump Free PA website for more ideas on how to clean up
communities and keep them clean and KPB’s Electronics Waste website.
Related Story:
Tailgating Penn State Fans Recycle Over 6 Tons Of Plastic, Glass Bottles, 2.5 Tons Of Steel,
Aluminum Cans
Tailgating Penn State Fans Recycle Over 6 Tons Of Plastic, Glass Bottles, 2.5 Tons Of
Steel, Aluminum Cans
The Centre County Recycling and Refuse Authority

Tuesday reported fans at Penn State's first home game of
the season recycled over 6 tons of plastic and glass bottles
and 2.5 tons of steel and aluminum cans in tailgating areas
near the stadium.
45
The Authority and Penn State University are making it easy to Recycle Right at home
games by using blue bags for recycling and clear bags for trash.
Blue bags are for plastic and glass bottles and metal cans. Everything else should be
placed in clear trash bags.
The Authority and University are asking fans to leave their tailgate area cleaner than they
found it.
The fields are multi-use by students, faculty, staff, visitors, as well as agriculture. It is
integral for the safety of all users that the fields are clean of debris.
For more information on recycling, special materials collection events and more, visit the
Centre County Recycling and Refuse Authority website.
NewsClips:
Appalachian Coal Mine Waste Could Provide Key Ingredients For Clean Energy
Why Can’t Straws, Styrofoam Be Recycled In Centre County?
Related Story:
Trash Travels: Register A New Cleanup, Volunteer To Help With An Existing International
Coastal Cleanup In PA
Reminder: Sept. 22 PRC Household Chemical Collection Event In Allegheny County
The PA Resources Council will hold a Household Chemical

Collection Event at the South Park Wave Pool in Allegheny
County from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Individuals can drop off automotive fluids, household
cleaners, pesticides, paints and other household chemicals
for a cost of $3/gallon (a few exceptions apply), cash only.
NEW IN 2018: collections accept smoke detectors ($3/each).
Click Here to read a flyer about the event.
For more details about similar events coming up, visit PRC’s
Household Chemical Collection Events Schedule webpage.
Click Here for the schedule of other PRC workshops, including Recycling Awareness,
Backyard Composting, Vermicomposting and Hard-To-Recycle Collections.
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 PRC’s Events Calendar. Click Here to support their work.
NewsClips:
Related Story:
PA Resources Council Sets Fall Recycling Awareness, Backyard Composting, Vermicomposting
Workshops, Hard-To-Recycle, HHW Collection Events In Allegheny, Beaver Counties
Wildlife Leadership Academy Youth Conservation Ambassador Program Now Accepting

2019 Nominations
46
The Wildlife Leadership Academy in Union County
is seeking nominations of motivated students ages
14 to 17 to become Certified Conservation
Ambassadors.
The mission of the Wildlife Leadership Academy is
to engage and empower high school age youth to
become Conservation Ambassadors to ensure a
sustained wildlife, fisheries and natural resource
legacy for future generations.
Nominated students should have demonstrated interest in wildlife and/or fisheries
conservation. Accepted nominees will become certified Conservation Ambassadors through
attending a 5-day residential summer field schools which focuses on a particular wildlife species,
including white-tailed deer, bass, brook trout, ruffed grouse, and/or turkey.
Students in each field school will gain extensive knowledge about natural resource
conservation, leadership experience, and communication skills.
Applicants may be nominated by an adult who knows them well but is not a relative
(teacher, school counselor, Envirothon advisor, employer, youth group leader, etc.).
As Conservation Ambassadors, students can receive a letter of a recommendation for
college applications; certification of community service work, and a certificate designating them
as Conservation Ambassadors.
Students are also eligible to apply for three college credits through Cedar Crest College,
return to the Academy tuition free the following year, compete for college scholarships, and join
an Academy Alumni Network of 100+ wildlife, fisheries, and conservation professionals.
Academy Alumni and Conservation Ambassador Luke Benzinger of Westmoreland
County describes his participation in the program as “life changing.”
“My whole life changed since attending the Wildlife Leadership Academy where I talked
to so many knowledgeable adults who wanted to spend time with other teenagers that were there
with me,” said Benzinger. “These adults opened my eyes to what I could do to teach everyone
else in the world about the passion I have for the outdoors.”
Nominations are now being accepted online. Please contact Michele Kittell, Executive
Director, at 570-245-8518 or send email to: mkittell@wildlifeleadershipacademy.org with any
questions.
The Academy, a nonprofit organization, is a cooperative initiative involving state
agencies and conservation organizations. For more information, visit the Wildlife Leadership
Academy website or on Facebook.
NewsClips:
Related Story:
Wildlife Leadership Academy Awards $2,500 In College Scholarships To 5 Teen Conservation
Leaders In Honor Of Ralph Abele
47
PA Housing Finance Agency Issues RFP For Local Housing Initiatives Funded In Part By
Act 13 Drilling Impact Fees
The PA Housing Finance Agency Monday issued a Request for Proposals soliciting applications
from organizations for projects to improve the availability and affordability of housing across the
Commonwealth. Proposals are due November 16.
$39.8 million in funding for this RFP is being provided through the PA Housing
Affordability and Rehabilitation Enhancement Fund funded by the Act 13 impact fee levied on
natural gas companies, a portion of the Realty Transfer Tax, and money from the National
Housing Trust Fund.
“The success of the PHARE program to date has been grounded in the decision to let
local governments and organizations determine where the greatest need and opportunity is for
affordable housing investments,” said Brian A. Hudson Sr., PHFA executive director and CEO.
“That’s why it’s so critical in this RFP that we hear from local groups who know firsthand
what’s happening in their communities and how best to respond. We need their input to make the
best use of these housing dollars.”
PHFA will hold webinars on this program September 20 and October 4.
Click Here for all the details on how to apply and about the webinars.
Related Story:
Philadelphia Housing Authority Breaks Ground On Norris Apartments Phase III, Will Seek
LEED Certification
Philadelphia Housing Authority Breaks Ground On Norris Apartments Phase III, Will
Seek LEED Certification
The Philadelphia Housing Authority and the City

of Philadelphia Monday celebrated the start of
construction for Norris Apartments Phase III at a
groundbreaking in the city’s North Central
neighborhood.
The development represents the third of five
phases developed following the award of a $30
million Choice Neighborhoods Implementation
grant to the City of Philadelphia and PHA by the
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban
Development (HUD) in June 2014.
The new development has high sustainability
goals and will seek certification from LEED, EnergyStar Homes and Enterprise Green
Communities.
“We’re thrilled to see the renewal of this neighborhood as we work toward building a
stronger, safer, more vibrant and sustainable community,” said PHA President and CEO Kelvin
Jeremiah. “The Choice Neighborhoods Implementation grant that is making this and other
48
redevelopment activities possible is one of the most significant investments in affordable housing
by the federal government in recent years.”
Norris Phase III consists of 50 newly constructed rental units. It will partially replace a
low-rise development that dated back to late 1959 and early 1960, and which has become
obsolete.
The development covers an area generally bounded by Marvine Street to the west, 11th
Street to the east, West Norris Street to the south, and a new subdivision line about 80 feet south
of Diamond Street.
Click Here for the complete announcement.
(Photo: President & CEO N ilda Iris Ruiz, Asociación Puertorriqueños en Marcha, Inc
President Richard Englert, Temple University; PHA Commissioner Sam Staton; Director of the
Planning and Development Anne Fadullon, City of Philadelphia; Deputy Director Division of
Housing and Community Development, M elissa Long, City Of Philadelphia; PHA President &
CEO Kelvin A. Jeremiah; President Donna Richardson, Norris Apartments Resident Council;
Regional Administrator J oe DeFelice, HUD Region III; Council President Darrell L. Clarke;
PHA Board Chair Lynette Brown-Sow; Mayor Jim Kenney; U .S. Senator Bob Casey;
Congressman Dwight Evans; Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell; Executive Director B rian
Hudson, PA Housing Finance Agency; and Rep. W. Curtis Thomas.)
Related Story:
PA Housing Finance Agency Issues RFP For Local Housing Initiatives Funded In Part By Act
13 Drilling Impact Fees
NRC To Hold Sept. 25 Meeting In York County On Extending Life Of Peach Bottom
Nuclear Power Plant 20 Years
Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff will meet in Delta,

York County, on September 25, to hear the public’s views
on environmental issues the agency should consider in
review of the Exelon Generation application for an
additional 20 years of operation for Peach Bottom Atomic
Power Station Units 2 and 3.
The NRC will hold the meeting at the Peach Bottom
Inn, 6085 Delta Road in Delta, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.
Staff presentations will describe the environmental
review process and the proposed review schedule. A formal
public comment session will follow the presentations.
An NRC open house, from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m., will provide the public an opportunity to
speak informally with agency staff.
Those preferring to register in advance to comment during the meetings should contact
David Drucker at 301-415-6223 or via email to: david.drucker@nrc.gov by September 18.
Those choosing to speak may also register in person by 5:45 p.m.
Individual comments could be limited based upon the time available and the number of
people seeking a speaking role. Individuals with special needs for attending or presenting
information at the meetings should notify the NRC by September 18.
49
NRC staff will also consider written comments on environmental issues until October 10,
following the publication of a notice in the Federal Register. Please include Docket ID
NRC-2018-0130 with the comment, via the regulations.gov website.
Exelon submitted the Peach Bottom subsequent license renewal application on July 10.
The subsequent license renewal process determines whether an operating reactor can extend its
license for an additional 20 years.
The application, less proprietary details, is available on the NRC website.
In addition, the Harford County Public Library, 2407 Whiteford Road in Whiteford, MD,
will maintain a copy of the application’s environmental report for public inspection.
(Photo: Peach Bottom Atomic Power Station.)
NewsClips:
Sept. 25 NRC Hearing On Extending Peach Bottom Nuclear Plant License 20 Years
Federal Judge Dismisses Challenge To Illinois Nuclear Power Plant Subsidies
Nudged By FERC, Federal Court Upholds Illinois Nuclear Subsidies
U.S. House Boosts Advanced Nuclear Power, Passing Senate-Approved Bill
S&P Global: PJM Continues Trying To Untangle Subsidized Resources From Its Capacity
Market
Philadelphia Joins Global Climate Action Summit In Fight Against Climate Change
The City of Philadelphia furthered its commitments to

fighting climate change this week during the Global
Climate Action Summit in San Francisco.
The Summit brings people from around the world
together to celebrate climate action by cities, business and
citizens. City Sustainability Director Christine Knapp is
in attendance and is speaking about Philadelphia’s clean
energy and climate plans.
The Summit challenged participants to sign on to further climate commitments and the
City of Philadelphia is pleased to announce it signed on the following:
-- Deadline 2020 – Develop an inclusive climate mitigation and adaptation plan compatible with
the Paris Agreement by 2020.
-- Advancing towards Zero Waste – Reduce municipal solid waste generation per capita by at
least 15 percent, reduce solid waste disposed to landfill or incineration by at least 50 percent, and
increase the diversion rate away from landfill and incineration by at least 70 percent by 2030.
This commitment is in line with the City’s Zero Waste and Litter Plan.
-- Achieving an equitable low-carbon transformation – Increase action on community-led
development, inclusive climate action, and infrastructure projects to achieve environmental,
health, social and economic benefits especially in low-income and vulnerable neighborhoods.
-- Just transition – Include workers and jobs as part of city climate strategy
-- Edmonton Declaration – Recognize need for urgent action, to coordinate and integrate efforts,
and to establish formal science-based policy and decision-making processes.
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-- Renewable Energy – Commit to 100 percent renewable electricity by 2035 and 100 percent
renewable energy by 2050. Mayor Kenney signed the Sierra Club’s “Ready for 100” pledge in
June of 2017.
-- Cities4Forests – Integrate forests into city development plans and programs.
“Philadelphia is proud to stand alongside so many other cities in leading the way on
climate change. Nearing the end of one of our hottest and wettest summers on record, we’re
already feeling the harmful effects of climate change and are committed to doing our part in this
fight,” said Mayor Jim Kenney.
Additionally, Philadelphia was recognized as one of the 27 international cities whose
greenhouse gas emissions have peaked, even while population has grown.
Scientists have calculated that global greenhouse gas emissions need to peak by 2020 at
the latest and then come down very steeply, which is why it’s important that Philadelphia is
already on the right path.
Locally, the City’s Office of Sustainability issued a Clean Energy Vision Action Plan that
outlines near term opportunities to ramp up progress on reducing carbon emissions in the City’s
built environment, as identified in Powering Our Future: A Clean Energy Vision for
Philadelphia.
The City also published the SOLAR rooftops application to help residents, businesses
and city agencies understand the solar potential from existing rooftops.
For more information, visit Philadelphia’s Office of Sustainability webpage.
NewsClips:
Against It
Related Story:
Penn State’s Michael Mann Receives 2018 AGU Climate Communications Prize
51
Bike The Brandywine In Chester County Sept. 22 To Benefit Brandywine Conservancy
Clean Water Programs
Explore the scenery, glimpse the history and discover

the lure of the Brandywine River during the third
annual Bike the Brandywine on September 22 to
benefit the Brandywine Conservancy’s clean water
programs.
The ride offers three routes that take in the
beautiful Brandywine Creek Greenway and
surrounding countryside. Riders can choose from
distances of 25, 45 and 80 miles-- each with unique and
thrilling experiences for both the recreational or more
avid seasoned cyclist.
Following both the East and West Branch of the historic and scenic Brandywine, the
80-mile loop will guide riders from Chadds Ford all the way to the river’s headwaters in bucolic
Honey Brook Township.
Along the way riders will experience iconic western Chester County vistas and stunning
views of rural landscapes, rich history and active farmland-- much of which the Brandywine
Conservancy has helped permanently protect and conserve for future generations.
For riders looking for a shorter-- but still challenging-- Brandywine experience, the
45-mile loop follows the West Branch of the river and passes through many historic sites,
incredible vistas and bucolic countryside.
Beginning in Chadds Ford, this route travels to The Laurels Preserve and treks through
the magnificent King Ranch area in Unionville before winding its way to the historic village of
Marshallton.
As an exciting introduction to the Brandywine Creek Greenway for the recreational
cyclist, the 25-mile loop closely mirrors the early routes of both the 80- and 45-mile options.
Following the West Branch of the Brandywine River through open farmland and scenic
river valleys, this route provides a trip through the historic village of Marshallton and its
surrounding equestrian and farming landscapes.
Each loop starts and ends at the Chadds Ford Historical Society, 1736 N Creek Road,
Chadds Ford, PA. Well provisioned rest stops are available every 10-20 miles, depending on the
route.
Cyclists of legal drinking age will be entitled to one free pint of Victory beer at the ride’s
conclusion. The post-ride celebration at the Chadds Ford Historical Society will also include free
lunch for all riders.
Bike the Brandywine is generously sponsored by the William Penn Foundation, Victory
Brewing Company, Chadds Ford Historical Society, L.L.Bean, Main Line Health Fitness &
Wellness Center, Trek Bicycle, Western Chester County Chamber of Commerce, For Fox Sake
and The Whip Tavern, and Willowdale Town Center.
The event takes place rain or shine from 6:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Advance registration is
$50 per rider, but the fee will increase closer to the date of the event. Click Here to register.
Brandywine Creek Greenway
The Brandywine Creek Greenway is a regional planning initiative of the Brandywine
52
Conservancy-- and 27 municipal partners in Chester and Delaware counties-- to create a 30-mile
conservation and recreation corridor along both branches of the Brandywine.
It stretches from the Delaware state line just south of Chadds Ford to the Pennsylvania
Highlands Mega-Greenway at the northern border of Honey Brook Township.
The Brandywine River and its network of parks and trails form the western limit of The
Circuit, a regional trail network of the greater Philadelphia region.
The vision of the Brandywine Creek Greenway is to build healthier, more sustainable
communities, by emphasizing the natural and cultural resources of the area; preserving and
protecting the Brandywine River; and creating connections among open space, parks, river
access points and area attractions.
For more information on programs, initiatives and upcoming events, visit the Brandywine
Conservancy website. Click Here to sign up for regular updates from the Conservancy (middle
of the webpage.) Visit the Conservancy’s Blog, Like the Conservancy on Facebook and Follow
them on Instagram.
NewsClips:
Public Now Welcome On Preserved Friends Hospital Grounds Along Tacony Creek In Philly
North Branch Land Trust Purchases 389-Acre Property In Luzerne County
Conservation Fund
Related Stories:
Western PA Conservancy: Affordable Farmland Protection Strategies Workshop Oct. 10 In
Pittsburgh
Brandywine Conservancy Commemorates Preservation Of Key Brandywine Battle Site On
Anniversary Of Revolutionary War Battle
Final 3 South Mountain Partnership Speakers Series Events Coming Up In Southcentral PA;
Ideas For 2019 Invited
Western PA Conservancy: Affordable Farmland Protection Strategies Workshop Oct. 10

In Pittsburgh
Land trust professionals, farmland preservation boards

and other conservation professionals are invited to a
one-day training session on Affordable Farmland
Protection Strategies October 10 in Pittsburgh hosted by
the Western PA Conservancy.
This full-day, in-depth training is focused on
innovative tools that land trusts, farmland preservation
boards, and other land access leaders can use to help
farmers gain secure, affordable access to land.
This training is part of a series of trainings that the National Young Farmers Coalition has
held around the country geared towards conservation professionals who are committed to
exploring, or have already begun to incorporate, strategies for protecting economically viable
53
working farms and keeping farmers on the land in their work.
The curriculum is focused on the use of enhanced agricultural easements and
shared-equity land ownership, and will feature presentations from NYFC, Equity Trust, farmers,
and land conservation professionals from around the country.
The training is designed with local partners to address the particular needs and challenges
of Pennsylvania farmers, but all are welcome.
The agenda Includes:
-- Overview of farmer land access challenges [NYFC & Margaret Schlass (One Woman
Farm)]
-- Achieving an affordable purchase price with easement restrictions [Equity Trust,
Columbia Land Conservancy, Vermont Land Trust]
-- Achieving affordable land access with split equity ownership or long-term lease [Equity
Trust, Columbia Land Conservancy]
-- Legal considerations for this work [national perspective from Rick Monk, general counsel to
American Farmland Trust / Pennsylvania perspective from Steve Schiffman, outside general
counsel to Western PA Conservancy]
-- Breakout sessions featuring time for audience questions
The workshop will be held at the Mattress Factory Museum, 500 Sampsonia Way in
Pittsburgh from 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Click Here to register or for more information. There is a $25 registration fee.
More information is available on programs, initiatives and special events at the Western
PA Conservancy website. Click Here to sign up for regular updates from the Conservancy, Like
them on Facebook, Follow them on Twitter, add them to your Circle on Google+, join them on
Instagram, visit the Conservancy’s YouTube Channel or add them to your network on Linkedin.
Click Here to support their work.
NewsClips:
Conservation Fund
Related Stories:
Bike The Brandywine In Chester County Sept. 22 To Benefit Brandywine Conservancy Clean
Water Programs

On September 11, 2018-- the 241st anniversary of
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the legendary American Revolutionary War Battle of Brandywine in Chester County-- the
Brandywine Conservancy commemorated its acquisition of a key piece of land within the heart
of the historic battlefield.
Complete with the Museum of the American Revolution’s replica of George
Washington’s tent, two of the Commander-in-Chief’s guards along with members of the 1st
Delaware Regiment (photo), and the occasional volley of musket fire, the dedication ceremony
celebrated the purchase of a 13-acre parcel located on Birmingham Hill-- the epicenter of the
battlefield-- which merges with an adjacent 100 acres previously acquired by the Conservancy in
2007.
This acquisition completes the organization’s remarkable 25-year endeavor to preserve
over 500 contiguous acres where the fiercest fighting transpired during the Battle of Brandywine.
“Today, we mark the acquisition of the final piece of a decades long puzzle. It is with
profound excitement for the future of this land that we will soon undertake a master planning
process to really explore how we can best activate and interpret this site,” said Ellen Ferretti,
Director of the Brandywine Conservancy. “We look forward to working with all levels of
government, with the community, our neighbors and area experts to create a plan that will pay
homage to the significant events that took place here and engage future generations in its
preservation.”
During the ceremony, Sen. Tom Killion (R-Delaware/Chester) and Rep. Carolyn
Comitta (D-Chester)spoke on the importance of the preservation of our nation’s history.
“Birmingham Hill is an incredibly significant Revolutionary War site for our country,”
noted Sen. Killion. “The Brandywine Conservancy has worked for decades to save hundreds of
acres of the Brandywine Battlefield. We are immensely grateful for their efforts in protecting our
land and preserving America’s history.”
“I have long admired the extraordinary work of the Brandywine Conservancy and am
pleased to offer my congratulations and support for this project,” said Rep. Comitta. “I believe
this purchase will allow for the permanent preservation of a vital part of our collective history
and an important national treasure.”
Beginning in the mid-1990s, the Brandywine Conservancy and a consortium of local
preservation groups, citizens, and federal, state, county and local government officials formed
the Brandywine Battlefield Task Force.
In addition to interpretation and education about the battle, the Task Force’s mission was
to implement public and private partnerships to preserve lands within the Brandywine Battlefield
National Historic Landmark.
This was the beginning of a concerted effort by the Conservancy to preserve the
remaining undeveloped historic sites where the heaviest battle action occurred.
Over the next 25 years, nearly $18 million was raised to purchase land outright or buy
conservation easements resulting in the permanent protection of 500 acres of the battlefield.
Chester County, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the National Park Service were
key partners in the project, along with Natural Lands.
Securing this last parcel on Birmingham Hill brings fulfillment to decades of work to
preserve the area as a contiguous whole and prevent development in the heart of one of the
nation’s most important historic battlefields.
In protecting this piece of our national heritage for future generations, the Brandywine
Conservancy looks forward to its next chapter planning the long-term use and management of
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the Birmingham Hill property.
Conservancy staff will undertake a master planning process that is expected to take a year
to complete. The immediate goals are to preserve the property’s historic integrity and conserve
its existing natural resources, while working alongside qualified partners.
Eventually the Conservancy hopes to open the property for public visitation—respectful
of the site’s historic value—with opportunities for public education and interpretation programs.
The final acquisition of the Birmingham Hill property was made possible by generous
support and contributions by many dedicated supporters, including the National Park Service
American Battlefield Protection Program, Chester County, the Longwood Foundation, the late
Mr. H. F. Lenfest and his wife, Marguerite, the McLean Contributionship, the American
Battlefield Trust, the Army Corps of Engineers, the Crestlea Foundation, the William P. Worth
Trust, Mr. and Mrs. William P. Worth, III, Mr. Peter Rogers, and Ms. Dianne Bricker.
For more information on programs, initiatives and upcoming events, visit the Brandywine
Conservancy website. Click Here to sign up for regular updates from the Conservancy (middle
of the webpage.) Visit the Conservancy’s Blog, Like the Conservancy on Facebook and Follow
them on Instagram.
NewsClips:
Conservation Fund
Related Stories:
Natural Lands, Partners Preserve 88-Acre Historic Revolutionary War Site In Chester County
Brandywine Conservancy Board Approves Purchase Of Brandywine Battlefield Land
Western PA Conservancy: Affordable Farmland Protection Strategies Workshop Oct. 10 In
Pittsburgh
Bike The Brandywine In Chester County Sept. 22 To Benefit Brandywine Conservancy Clean
Water Programs
Updated Schedule Of DCNR State Forest District Management Plan Meetings Coming Up
The Department of Conservation and Natural

Resources has scheduled 3 more public meetings
across the state to help the agency chart the future
course of Pennsylvania’s state forest districts.
The public meetings will focus on district specifics of
the plan and aid the bureau in revising its District State
Forest Resource Management Plans. A State Forest
Plan is written for each of the Bureau’s twenty forest
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districts across the state. Individual Plans can be found on each forest district webpage.
The meetings scheduled so far include--
-- September 26-- William Penn Forest District. French Creek State Park Conference Room,
843 Park Road, Elverson, Chester County. 6:00 to 8:00;
-- September 26-- Moshannon State Forest District. Moshannon State Forest District Office,
3372 State Park Road, Penfield, Clearfield County. 6:00 to 8:00;
-- October 17-- Buchanan State Forest District, District Office, 25185 Great Cove Road,
McConnellsburg, Fulton County. 6:00 to 8:30;
-- October 24-- Rescheduled. Clear Creek State Forest District. Rescheduled for October 30.
-- October 30--Clear Creek State Forest District. District Office, 158 South Second Ave.,
Clarion, Clarion County. 6:30 to 8:00;
-- November 8-- Rothrock State Forest District, Shaver’s Creek CFD Community Building,
8707 Firemans Park Ln, Petersburg, Huntingdon County. 6:30 to 8:00;
-- November 8-- Weiser State Forest District, District Office, 16 Weiser Lane, Aristes,
Columbia County. 6:00 to 8:00
-- November 13-- Pinchot State Forest District. District Office, 1841 Abington Road, North
Abington Township, Lackawanna County. 6:00 to 8:00.
DCNR tentatively plans meetings in the Delaware State Forest District (Monroe and
neighboring counties) and Cornplanter State Forest District (Warren and neighboring counties)
in October and the Bald Eagle State Forest District (Centre and surrounding counties) in
November.
For a listing of new meetings and more information, visit DCNR’s State Forest Resource
Management Plan webpage.
For more information on state parks and forests and recreation in Pennsylvania, visit
DCNR’s website, Click Here to sign up for the Resource newsletter, Visit the Good Natured
DCNR Blog, Click Here for upcoming events, Click Here to hook up with DCNR on other
social media-- Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Flickr.
NewsClips:
People Gather To Discuss Revision Of State Forest Management Plan In Lycoming County
Kummer: The Invasion Has Begun: Dreaded Spotted Lanternfly Lands In Philly
Venesky: Game Commission, DCNR Hope Fire Can Aid Rare Plants
Wildfires
Wildfires In Utah Close Roads, Force Hundreds Of Evacuations
Related Stories:
Penn State Extension Sets Spotted Lanternfly Meetings In Lebanon, Wayne Counties
Sept. 15 Showing Of Cathedral, A Film About Cook Forest To Benefit Fund For Hemlock
Woolly Adelgid Treatment
Challenge
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EPA: Pittsburgh Group Wins Contest For Developing Air Monitors In Wildland Fire
Sensors Challenge
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

and its federal partners Thursday announced
a Pittsburgh-based group has taken first
place in the Wildland Fire Sensors
Challenge, a competition that encourages
the development of innovative monitoring
technologies to measure air pollutants from
smoke during wildland fires.
Jason Gu and Bryan Tomko with SenSevere/Sensit Technologies in Pittsburgh and R.
Subramanian with Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh received first place and $35,000
award.
“Today’s winners are developing cutting-edge air quality monitoring systems designed to
make air measurements during wildfires easier,” said EPA Acting Administrator Andrew
Wheeler. “These compact air sensors have the potential to enhance existing regional air
monitoring networks and improve the air quality data provided to communities impacted by
smoke from fires.”
The winners used emerging technologies including miniaturized direct-reading sensors,
compact microprocessors, and wireless data communications to develop prototypes for
measuring smoke from wildland fires.
Following rigorous two-phase laboratory testing by EPA and the U.S. Forest Service
(USFS), a panel of technical experts reviewed results. The experts looked for prototypes that are
portable, durable, reliable, and wireless.
The winning systems showed significant promise in their design; ability to detect fine
particulate matter (PM2.5), ozone, carbon monoxide, and carbon dioxide; and comparability to
regulatory monitors.
This competition generated considerable interest in the sensor technology field and will
help to further accelerate the development of monitoring technology for use during wildland
fires.
EPA’s federal partners in sponsoring this challenge include the USFS, NASA, Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and
National Park Service.
For more information, visit EPA’s Wildland Fire Sensors Challenge webpage.
(Photo: Jason Gu of SenSevere/Sensit Technologies in Pittsburgh and R. Subramanian of
Carnegie Mellon University.)
NewsClip:
Related Stories:
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Final 3 South Mountain Partnership Speakers Series Events Coming Up In Southcentral

PA; Ideas For 2019 Invited
The South Mountain Partnership has three

special Speakers Series events left for this
season in Southcentral Pennsylvania. They
include--
-- September 17: Twilight of the Hemlocks
and Beeches: Inspiring Photographs &
Writings of Tim Palmer. Join award winning
author and photographer, Tim Palmer, who will
discuss the irreplaceable beauty of these
magnificent trees, and how exotic insects and
pathogens are tragically decimating one of the most beloved forest types in eastern America.
Orndorff Theater at Shippensburg University in Shippensburg, Cumberland County.
-- September 29: The Cradle of Conservation: Hike at Historic Pennsylvania State Forest
Academy. Take a hike through the 2nd Forestry Academy in the United States and learn more
about where American forestry began. 10:00 a.m. at Penn State Mont Alto Campus, Mont Alto,
Franklin County.
-- October 2: The Economic Value of Protected Open Space: Cumberland County's Return
on Environment Report. . Learn how Cumberland County has quantified the value of services
provided by the natural environment. Allen Road Service Building, 310 Allen Road, Carlisle,
Cumberland County. Click Here to register for this free event.
The South Mountain Speakers Series is presented as a revival of the Michaux Lectures, a
series of talks given by Joseph Rothrock to build a groundswell of public support for his work to
preserve and restore Pennsylvania’s forested landscape.
The late 19th century Michaux Lectures were an educational mission that catalyzed real
change in Pennsylvania’s environmental history.
As we face the challenges of the 21st century, the South Mountain Speakers Series is
intended to encourage a new generation to find in the past a positive vision for the future of the
South Mountain landscape.
Ideas For 2019
The South Mountain Partnership is still seeking a few events scheduled for next year to
add to the 2019 South Mountain Speakers Series.
The Partnership can help support an organization’s workshop, hike, lecture, tour, or
related event if it is related to the agriculture, history, recreation, natural resources, industry or
similar topic related to the South Mountain region.
If you would like your scheduled event to be considered for the 2019 Speakers Series,
59
please send the following information before October 30 by email to: jaiello@capitalrcd.org.
Include the :event name, a 1-3 sentence event description, date, and location.
For more information on programs, initiatives and other upcoming events, visit the South
Mountain Partnership website.
To learn more about this and other landscape initiatives, visit DCNR’s Conservation
Landscapes webpage.
(Photo: Mont Alto Woods “Men” team. )
Related Stories:
Challenge
Penn State Extension will host additional public

meetings on the spotted lanternfly in Lebanon and
Wayne counties in October. They will be held--
-- October 6: at the Richland Community Library, 111
East Main Street in Richland, Lebanon County from
10:00 to 11:00 a.m.
-- October 10: at the Park Street Complex, 648 West
Park Street in Honesdale, Wayne County from 6:00 to
7:30 p.m.
-- October 20: at the Lebanon Community Library, 125
North 7th Street, Lebanon, Lebanon County from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m.
The spotted lanternfly is an invasive insect that has spread throughout southeastern
Pennsylvania. It poses a serious threat to Pennsylvania agriculture, including the grape, tree
fruit, hardwood, and nursery industries.
Stopping the spread is a group effort, and we need your help!
Topics to be covered in these meetings include:
-- How to identify the spotted lanternfly
-- Impacts to local industry and communities
-- Current quarantine area in Pennsylvania
-- How you can help stop the spread
The best way to fight the spotted lanternfly is together! Click Here to register today for
any of these meetings and learn how you can do your part.
Find out more about Spotted Lanternfly, visit Agriculture’s Lanternfly webpage, USDA’s
website and Penn State Extension.
NewsClips:
60
Related Stories:
Challenge
Wild Excellence Films Sunday announced their

film Cathedral: The Fight to Save the Ancient
Hemlocks of Cook Forest will be shown at a benefit
film event September 15 at the Sawmill Center for
the Arts in Cooksburg, Clarion County starting at
7:00 p.m.
Proceeds from the event will go to the PA Parks
and Forest Foundation’s Fund for Hemlock Woolly
Adelgid Treatment as well as toward educating the
public about the issue in Cook Forest State Park.
Cathedral tells the story of the battle to save the beloved ancient hemlock trees of Cook
Forest State Park, which are under attack by an invasive insect, the Hemlock Woolly Adelgid.
The film includes interviews with park staff and is narrated by Old-Growth Forest
Network founder Joan Maloof.
The film takes the viewer on a journey through the forest in all seasons and shows the
important work being done by the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and the
Bureau of Forestry.
The benefit event includes a talk by Tim Palmer, author of Twilight of the Hemlocks and
Beeches; a Q&A session with representatives from DCNR, the Bureau of Forestry, Friends of
Cook Forest, and the Cook Forest Conservancy; and a raffle of Anthony E. Cook’s book The
Cook Forest: An Island in Time.
Tickets for this special event are available online. Click Here to donate to the PPFF Fund
for Hemlock Woolly Adelgid Treatment in Cook Forest.
For more information on the film, to watch a trailer and to see a schedule for other
screenings, visit the Wild Excellence Films’ Cathedral website.
To learn more about hemlocks and the woolly adelgid, visit DCNR's Woolly Adelgid
webpage.
NewsClips:
61
Related Stories:
Challenge
Game Commission: Elk Cam Goes Live To The World From Elk County
The Game Commission is again making available the live

online Elk Cam so people from around the world can see
and hear the wonder of the bugling season in Elk County.
While there's nothing quite like seeing a giant bull
up close, or feeling your rib cage resonate as it lets loose
an ear-splitting bugle, the Elk Cam gives viewers the
opportunity again has come to get a glimpse of and to hear
Pennsylvania's prime time for elk – without ever having to
leave home.
The Game Commission again has installed a
camera on State Game Lands 311 in Elk County, in a field
that typically is a hub of elk activity as the bugling season heats up.
The camera was installed with help from the state Department of Conservation and
Natural Resources’ Bureau of Forestry and the Northcentral Regional Planning and Development
Commission.
Viewers can expect not only to see elk, but turkeys, deer and other wildlife, as well.
The live stream, which is provided by the Game Commission’s partner, HDOnTap, is the
latest in a string of real-time wildlife-watching opportunities offered by the Game Commission.
The Game Commission’s Pennsylvania Elk webpage provides all sorts of handy
information for anyone visiting elk country. The live stream is slated to run until the end of the
bugling season, likely sometime in mid-October. The top time to see elk on camera is late in the
afternoon.
Click Here to see and hear Pennsylvania’s elk. Click Here for in-person elk viewing
destinations in Pennsylvania.
NewsClips:
Schneck: PA Elk Cam Up And Streaming For Another Bugling Season
New President PA Council Of Trout Unlimited Outlines Future Goals - Video
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Fish & Boat Commission Stream Surveys Identify Wild Trout Populations
Fish & Boat Commission On Hankins Pond Dam Court Order Halting Work, Wayne County
Schneck: Game Commission Spreading Information About Chronic Wasting Disease
Grant To Help State Combat Bat-Killing White-Nose Syndrome
Crable: Flathead Catfish Size Of 8-Year-Old Boy Pulled From Susquehanna River
Frye: Hawk Watching Season A Spectacle Not To Be Missed
Thrushes, Warblers, Hummingbirds Begin Southward Migration
Game Commission Sets Bear Traps In Wilkes-Barre Township
Feds OK Deer Hunting In Heinz Wildlife Refuge Near Philly Airport
10,000 Friends Of PA Names Stacie Reidenbaugh New President, CEO
10,000 Friends of Pennsylvania, the state’s leading voice for smart

growth, Tuesday announced Stacie Reidenbaugh as its new President
and CEO following an exhaustive search process that began in April
2018.
Reidenbaugh officially assumed her new role September 6,
succeeding Interim CEO Dan Wofford, who will remain associated
with 10,000 Friends as a senior consultant.
“The Board of Directors has enthusiastically selected Ms.
Reidenbaugh to be our next President,” said Caroline Boyce, Chair of
the Board. “We are fortunate to have someone of Stacie’s caliber and experience step up to lead
10,000 Friends of Pennsylvania. I’m enormously excited about this next chapter for the
organization under Stacie’s leadership.”
A native of Lancaster County, Reidenbaugh brings more than 20 years of experience in
nonprofit leadership, public policy, planning, and community development to 10,000 Friends.
She most recently served as Executive Director of Lancaster Lebanon Habitat for
Humanity, stepping down in January after 15 years. Reidenbaugh is the Board Chair and
co-founder of Habitat for Humanity Pennsylvania and serves on the boards of Housing Alliance
of PA and Moravian Manor.
Reidenbaugh studied government and business administration at Millersville University
and Elizabethtown College and serves as faculty for public policy and fundraising for Leadership
Lancaster.
“I’ve admired and respected the mission and policy work of 10,000 Friends for years, so
I’m humbled to be chosen to lead the organization into the future,” said Reidenbaugh.
“Community and economic development are the bedrock of our local communities across the
Commonwealth. 10,000 Friends has an important role in convening conversations and bringing
partners together to spark community change.”
“We had a tremendous expression of interest from many great candidates; it was a
difficult choice because of the quality of the applicants,” noted Bert Cossaboon, Board Vice
Chair and Chair of the Search Committee. “Stacie brings a deep commitment to 10,000 Friend’s
core values and mission, and a capacity to strategically guide the organization forward.”
63
“10,000 Friends begins a new chapter with Stacie,” Boyce noted. “One that will support
our current project work in local communities, but more importantly provide a platform for
broader conversations among stakeholders about Pennsylvania’s economic development and
environmental priorities.”
Reidenbaugh will be based at 10,000 Friends’ headquarters in Harrisburg at 240 North
Third Street.
In the coming months, she will work with the Board of Directors and staff to plan the
2018 Commonwealth Awards in Bethlehem and meet stakeholders and civic leaders from across
the state to gain their perspectives on economic and community development.
For more information on programs, initiatives and upcoming events, visit the 10,000
Friends of Pennsylvania website.
NewsClips:
Suburbs Now Growing Faster Than Cities, Except In Philly
Related Story:
10,000 Friends Of PA To Recognize Bethlehem With 2018 Commonwealth Awards Dec. 6
Environmental NewsClips - All Topics
Here are NewsClips from around the state on all environmental topics, including General
Environment, Budget, Marcellus Shale, Watershed Protection and much more.
The latest environmental NewsClips and news is available at the PA Environment Digest Daily
Blog, Twitter Feed and add PaEnviroDigest Google+ to your Circle.
PA Court Ruling Favors Chesco Residents Protesting Bishop Tube Site
Air
Awards & Recognition
Biodiversity/Invasive Species
64
Budget
Conservation Fund
Chesapeake Bay
Latest From The Chesapeake Bay Journal
Click Here to subscribe to the free Chesapeake Bay Journal
Click Here to support the Chesapeake Bay Journal
Follow Chesapeake Bay Journal On Twitter
Like Chesapeake Bay Journal On Facebook
Climate
Against It
Coal Mining
Suppliers
EPA Plans One Hearing On Coal Power Plant Rule Changes In Chicago
Compliance Action
Dam Safety
65
Delaware River
Drinking Water
Suppliers
Economic Development
Education
Energy
PUC Studying Energy Affordability In Pennsylvania
Study: York, Franklin Counties Transource Power Line Project Still Makes Economic Sense
York, Franklin Powerline Project; More Hearings On Eminent Domain Scheduled
Market
EPA Plans One Hearing On Coal Power Plant Rule Changes In Chicago
California Aims To Drop Fossil Fuels For Electricity By 2045
Editorial: California Disrupts Trump’s Plans To Rollback Coal, Efficiency Standards
Energy Conservation
Environmental Heritage
Mine Car Restoration Project Moves Forward At Anthracite Miners’ Park
Tom Ridge On War, Freedom Ahead Of His 9/11 Memorial Visit
Gov. Schweiker Addresses Latrobe Students Before Speaking At Flight 93 Event
Trump Hails Brave Patriots Aboard Flight 93
Our 40 - Heroes Of Flight 93 Remembered
Remembering The 30 Pennsylvania Victims Of The 9/11 Attacks
66
Op-Ed:We Must Never Forget What Took Place - Gov. Schweiker
Flight 93 Dedication, Remembrance Events Planned In Somerset
Sauro: Flight 93 Tower A Symbol Of Courage
Editorial: The Lesson Of United 93
Farming
AP: From Traditional Farms To Niche Farming, Agriculture Evolves
Flooding
Overflows
67
Hurricanes
Against It
Forests
68
Wildfires
Geologic Hazards
USGS: 2 Small Earthquakes Recorded In Berks County
Green Infrastructure
Hazardous Sites Cleanup
PA Court Ruling Favors Chesco Residents Protesting Bishop Tube Site
Lake Erie
Wolf Appoints Erie County Executive To Great Lakes Commission
Land Conservation
Conservation Fund
Land Recycling
Major Hazelwood Green Brownfield Redevelopment Gets Green Light
Land Use
Suburbs Now Growing Faster Than Cities, Except In Philly
Mine Reclamation
Noncoal Mining
After 62 Twp. Hearings, Lehigh Valley Quarry Case Wraps Up With Final Arguments
Oil & Gas
Hurdle: Report: More Than Half PA Gas Wells Used Secret Chemicals For Fracking Or Drilling
Editorial: Disclose All Fracking Chemicals
Oil & Gas Drilling Increased In 2017 After 2 Years Of Decline
Obetz Family Spars With Bankruptcy Trustee Over Fate Of 17 Properties
Report: Trump Set To Weaken Methane Air Pollution Rule
69
Southwestern Energy WV Sells First Shale Gas With 'Responsible' Branding
Gas Explosions Ignite Fires In 39 Homes Near Boston, Kill 1, It Looked Like Armageddon
Pipelines
Litvak: Who Gets To Say Where It’s Safe To Build A Pipeline? (Beaver County Explosion)
AP: Pipeline Owner Blames Beaver County Explosion On Earth Movement
Frazier: Part Of Energy Transfer Partners Pipeline Shut Down During Investigation After
Explosion
Landslide May Have Triggered Massive Gas Pipeline Explosion In Beaver County
Heavy Rain Contributed To Beaver County Pipeline Blast
Unfazed By Pipeline Explosion, Beaver County Township Removes Setback Ordinance
Lawmakers Call For Halt To Mariner East Pipeline Construction
AP: Explosion Of 24-Inch Energy Transfer Partners Natural Gas Pipeline Rocks PA Community
Reuters: Energy Transfer Says Natural Gas Pipeline Fire Put Out In PA
Phillips: Natural Gas Pipeline Blast In Beaver County Prompts Evacuation
Pipeline Blast, Fire Leads To Evacuations In Beaver County
Early-Morning Gas Line Blast Forces Evacuations In Beaver County
Evacuations Underway After Gas Line Explosion In Beaver County
DEP Urged To Deny Air Permit Exemptions For Shell Ethane Pipeline
Crable: Weather Delays Opening Of Atlantic Sunrise Pipeline, Landscaping Work In Lancaster
County
Hurdle: FERC Urged To Block Tree-Cutting Before Final Decisions On PennEast Pipeline
Federal Court Tosses Delaware RiverKeeper Challenge To Transco Pipeline
Radiation Protection
Sept. 25 NRC Hearing On Extending Peach Bottom Nuclear Plant License 20 Years
Market
Recreation
10 Perfect Hikes To Enjoy Fall Colors In Pennsylvania
Sept. 14 Take Five Fridays With Pam From PA Parks & Forests Foundation
Frye: Keys To Successfully Camping In The Rain
2 Rescued After Getting Trapped While Hiking On Susquehanna River Islands
Canal Boat In Easton Remains Grounded, Costing D&L Thousands Of Visitors
Author, Environmentalist Tim Palmer To Speak Tuesday At Lycoming College
How An Iconic Piece Of Presque Isle Was Restored
70
Reinstallation Of Presque Isle Landmark Starts Wednesday
Westmoreland County To Open 2nd Dog Park At Cedar Creek
VisitPA: 11 Hiking Trails To Abandoned Ruins In Pennsylvania
Give Disc Golf A Spin In Allentown
Grant Could Help Fund Bike, Walking Trail In Luzerne County
Carbondale’s Russell Park Renovations Nearing Completion
Story Behind Light-Colored Mist In Dilworth Park’s New Installation In Philly
Connecting The Schuylkill River Trails, 10th Anniversary Of 3 Bridges Walk - Video
Hundreds Of Fun-Loving Philadelphia Cyclists Ride Nude
Thousands Of Naked Cyclists Take Over Philadelphia For 10th Year
What’s In A Name? Not As Much As You’d Think Proves Oil City
Recycling/Waste
Renewable Energy
Four Seasons Produce Completes $1.7 Million, 1.3 MW Solar Array In Lancaster, Largest Green
Project Yet
California Aims To Drop Fossil Fuels For Electricity By 2045
Editorial: California Disrupts Trump’s Plans To Rollback Coal, Efficiency Standards
Stormwater
Sustainability
Watershed Protection
Suppliers
Groups At Odds Over Stream Protection In Monroe County
Rushbrook Creek Erodes Land And Residents’ Hopes In Lackawanna County
71
Wolf Appoints Erie County Executive To Great Lakes Commission
Latest From The Chesapeake Bay Journal
Click Here to subscribe to the Chesapeake Bay Journal
Follow Chesapeake Bay Journal On Twitter
Like Chesapeake Bay Journal On Facebook
Wildlife
New President PA Council Of Trout Unlimited Outlines Future Goals - Video
Fish & Boat Commission Stream Surveys Identify Wild Trout Populations
Schneck: Game Commission Spreading Information About Chronic Wasting Disease
Grant To Help State Combat Bat-Killing White-Nose Syndrome
Schneck: PA Elk Cam Up And Streaming For Another Bugling Season
Crable: Flathead Catfish Size Of 8-Year-Old Boy Pulled From Susquehanna River
Frye: Hawk Watching Season A Spectacle Not To Be Missed
Thrushes, Warblers, Hummingbirds Begin Southward Migration
Game Commission Sets Bear Traps In Wilkes-Barre Township
Feds OK Deer Hunting In Heinz Wildlife Refuge Near Philly Airport
Federal Policy
Report: EPA Lost More Than 1,500 Workers In First 18 Months Of Trump Administration
Click Here For This Week's Allegheny Front Radio Program
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. Go to the online Calendar webpage for updates.
Note: DEP published the 2018 meeting schedules for its advisory committees and boards.
September 15-- Brodhead Watershed Association. Water Wiser Kids - What’s Under That Log?
Program. Seven Pines Natural Area, Cresco, Monroe County.
September 15-- Partnership For The Delaware Estuary. PA Coast Day - Delaware River
Festival. Penn’s Landing in Philadelphia and the Camden Adventure Aquarium. 10:00 to 4:00.
September 15-- Wild Excellence Films Benefit Showing Of Cathedral: The Fight To Save The
Ancient Hemlocks Of Cook Forest. Sawmill Center for the Arts, Cooksburg, Clarion County.
7:00.
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September 15-- Allegheny Mountain Woodland Association Stream Buffer Workshop.
Ebensburg Borough Meeting Room, 300 W. High Street, Ebensburg, Cambria County. 9:00 to
Noon.
September 16-- Harrisburg Area Bicycle Club. Three Creek Century Ride To Benefit American
Cancer Society. Starting at Penn Township Fire Department, 1750 Pine Road, Newville,
Cumberland County.
September 17-- PA Resources Council. Backyard Composting Workshop. Mt. Lebanon Public
Library, Allegheny County. 7:00 to 8:30 p.m.
September 17-19-- 11th Eastern Native Grass Symposium. Erie Bayfront Convention Center.
September 18-- Senate Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee holds a
hearing on Senate Bill 1131 (Costa-D-Allegheny) establishing the Landslide Insurance and
Assistance Program (sponsor summary). Millvale Community Center, 416 Lincoln Avenue,
Pittsburgh. 10:00.
September 18-- CANCELED. Environmental Quality Board meeting. Next scheduled meeting
is October 16. DEP Contact: Laura Edinger, 717-772-3277, ledinger@pa.gov. (f ormal notice)
September 18-- Agenda Posted. DEP Citizens Advisory Council meeting. Room 105 Rachel
Carson Building. 10:00. Contact: Keith Saladar, Executive Director, ksalador@pa.gov or call
717-787-8171. Join the meeting by conference call: Bridge #: 717-612-4788, Toll Free #:
855-734-4390, PIN #: 192791
-- Overview of Bureau of Environmental Remediation & Brownfields
-- Draft Transition Documents For Governor
September 18-- CNRAC Field Trip Agenda. DCNR Conservation and Natural Resources
Advisory Council meeting. Columbia Crossing River Trails Center, 41 Walnut Street,
Columbia, Lancaster County. 1:00. DCNR Contact: Gretchen Leslie, 717-772-9084 or send
email to: gleslie@pa.gov. (formal notice)
September 18-- Public Utility Commission Transource Transmission Line Proposal Franklin
County. New Franklin Volunteer Fire Department Social Hall, 3444 Wayne Road,
Chambersburg. 1:00 and 6:00.
September 18-- Laurel Highlands Conservation Landscape. 2018 Laurel Highlands Trail
Summit. Ebensburg, Cambria County. 8:30 to 4:00.
September 18-- Get Outdoors PA. GOPA Exchange - Danville. Montour Preserve, 700
Preserve Road, Danville. 8:30 to 2:30.
September 18-- PA Resources Council. Not In Philly Meet-Up To Talk Trash & Combat Litter
Event. Pipeline Philadelphia, Graham Building, Dilworth Park, 30 S 15th Street, 15th Floor,
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Philadelphia. 5:30 to 7:00.
September 18-19-- PA Association Of State Floodplain Managers Annual Conference. Central
Hotel & Conference Center, Harrisburg.
September 18-20-- Mid-Atlantic Chapter International Erosion Control Association. 25th

Annual Conference, Workshop and Trade Show. Radisson Hotel, Camp Hill, Cumberland
County.
September 19-- Agenda Posted. DEP Water Resources Advisory Committee meeting. Room
105 Rachel Carson Building. 9:30. DEP Contact: Diane Wilson, 717-787-3730,
diawilson@pa.gov. (f ormal notice)
-- Lake Erie Phosphorus Reduction Domestic Action Plan
-- Renewal Of PAG-05 General Permit (Discharges from Petroleum Product Contamination
Groundwater Remediation Systems)
September 19-- Stroud Water Research Center. Citizen Scientists World Water Monitoring Day
Celebration. Stroud Center, 970 Spencer Road in Avondale, Chester County. 4:30 to 8:00.
September 19-- PA Resources Council. Backyard Composting Workshop. South Park Home
Economics Building, Allegheny County. 6:30 to 8:00 p.m.
September 19-- Lancaster County Graziers Group Hosts Savory Institute Founder. Martindale
Reception Center, 352 Martindale Road, Ephrata. 8:00 to 4:00.
September 20-- Agenda Posted. DEP Solid Waste Advisory Committee & Recycling Funding
Advisory Committee meeting. Room 105 Rachel Carson Building. 10:00. DEP Contact: Laura
Henry 717-772-5713 or send email to: lahenry@pa.gov.
September 20-- Public Utility Commission Transource Transmission Line Proposal York
County. Airville Volunteer Fire Department, 3576 Delta Road, Airville. 1:00 and 6:00.
September 20-- Green Building Alliance. Honoring 25 Western PA Green Building Projects -
Emerald Evening Gala. Carnegie Science Center’s PointView Hall, Pittsburgh.
September 20-- Penn State Extension: Update On Shale Gas Rule Of Capture Court Decision
Webinar. 1:00 to 2:00.
September 21-- Schuylkill Action Network. 15th Anniversary Schuylkill Action Network Bus
Tour-Schuylkill & Berks Counties. 8:30 to 4:30.
September 22-- PA Resources Council. Backyard Composting Workshop. Castle Shannon
Library, Allegheny County. 10:30 to Noon.
September 22-- PA Resources Council. Household Chemical Collection Event. South Park,
74
Allegheny County. 9:00 to 1:00.
September 22-- NEW. Brandywine Conservancy Bike The Brandywine In Chester County To
Benefit Clean Water Programs. Chadds Ford Historical Society, 1736 N. Creek Road, Chadds
Ford.
September 22-- Westmoreland Land Trust. 10th Anniversary Celebration - Wide Open Spaces
Party. Land Trust’s barn headquarters, 218 Donohoe Road, Greensburg. 4:30 to 7:30.
September 23-- Audubon Society of Western PA. Backyard Habitat Trees and Shrubs,
Supporting Wildlife In Winter Workshop. Beechwood Farms Nature Reserve, 614 Dorseyville
Road, Pittsburgh. 10:00.
September 23-- Brodhead Watershed Association. East Stroudsburg University Tree Museum
Tour/Hike. Monroe County.
September 25-- Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee holds a hearing on
foreign influence on natural gas development in PA. Hearing Room 1 North Office Building.
10:00. Click Here to check to see if the hearing will be webcast live. Click Here for more.
September 25-- NEW. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Public Meeting On Extending Peach
Bottom Nuclear Power Plant License For 20 Years. Peach Bottom Inn, 6085 Delta Road, Delta,
York County. 6:00 to 8:00
September 25-- PA Resources Council. Recycling Awareness Workshop. Mt. Lebanon Public
September 25-26-- Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed. 2018 Delaware River
Watershed Forum. Cape May, NJ.
September 26-- Location Added. DCNR Public Meeting On Forest District Plans: William Penn
Forest District. French Creek State Park Conference Room, 843 Park Road, Elverson, Chester
County. 6:00 to 8:00. Click Here for more.
September 26-- NEW. DCNR Public Meeting On Forest District Plans: Moshannon State Forest
District. Moshannon State Forest District Office, 3372 State Park Road, Penfield, Clearfield
County. 6:00 to 8:00. Click Here for more.
September 28-- DEP Low-Level Waste Advisory Committee meeting Room 105 Rachel Carson
Building. 10:00. DEP Contact: Rich Janati, 717-787-2147, rjanati@pa.gov.
September 28-- Brodhead Watershed Association. Members & Friends Celebration, Awards
Dinner. Camelback Resort’s Aquatopia in Tannersville, Monroe County.
September 29-- PA Resources Council. Backyard Composting Workshop. Construction
75
Junction, Point Breeze, Allegheny County. 11:00 to 12:30.
September 29-- PA CleanWays, Vector Control Of Cumberland County Tire Collection Event.
East Pennsboro Township Public Works, 645 Tower Road in Enola. 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
NOTE: Pre-registration, Prepayment are requested.
September 29-- Gifford Pinchot’s Grey Towers. Free Ice Cream, Magic & Open House.
Milford, Pike County. 11:00 to 4:00.
September 29-- NEW. Penn State Extension Rain Barrel Workshops (3). Hanover Township
Community Center, 3660 Jacksonville Road, Bethlehem. 9:00 to 10:00 a.m., 10:15 to 11:15 a.m.
and from 11:30 to 12:30.
October 1-2-- 2018 Eastern PA Greenways & Trails Summit. SteelStacks, 101 Founders Way in
Bethlehem.
October 1-3-- Engineers’ Society of Western PA. PA Brownfield Conference. Sands Bethlehem
Casino, Bethlehem.
October 3-- PA Chamber Fall Regional Environmental Conference In Harrisburg.
October 4-- NEW. Joint House-Senate Legislative Air and Water Pollution Control and
Conservation Committee Roundtable Discussion on the status and future of anthracite coal in
Pennsylvania. LTBA. Coaldale, Schuylkill County.
October 5-- NEW. House Tourism & Recreation Development Committee Roundtable
Discussion of tourism issues affecting the Laurel Highlands. State Theatre For The Arts, 37 E.
Main Street, Uniontown, Fayette County. 9:00.
October 5-- Berks Conservation District Farm Conservation Tour. Deep Roots Valley Farm,
1047 Irish Creek Creek Road, Mohrsville. 11:00 to 2:30.
October 5-- Alliance For The Chesapeake Bay. 2nd Annual Sportsmen’s Forum. Middle Creek
Wildlife Area, Lebanon County. 8:00 to 6:00.
October 6-- PA Resources Council. Hard-To-Recycle Collection Event. Settlers Cabin Park,
Robinson Township, Allegheny County. 9:00 to 1:00.
October 6-- PA Forestry Association Annual Conference - Managing & Conserving
Pennsylvania’s Forested Waters. Toftrees Resort, State College, Centre County.
October 6-- NEW. Penn State Extension Spotted Lanternfly Public Meeting. Richland
Community Library, 111 East Main Street in Richland, Lebanon County. 10:00 to 11:00
October 7-- PA Resources Council. Backyard Composting Workshop. Blueberry Hill Park,
76
Franklin Park, Allegheny County. 10:30 to Noon.
October 9-11-- PA Association of Conservation Districts. Annual Watershed Specialists

Meeting. State College.
October 10-- DEP Technical Advisory Committee On Diesel Powered (Mining) Equipment.
DEP New Stanton Office, 131 Broadview Road, New Stanton. 10:00. DEP Contact: Peggy
Scheloski, 724-404-3143 or mscheloske@pa.gov.
October 10- DEP Hearing (If Needed) On Georgia Pacific Plant RACT II Air Quality Plan in
Sergeant Township, McKean County. DEP Northwest Regional Office, 230 Chestnut Street,
Meadville. 9:00.
October 10-- NEW. Western PA Conservancy. Affordable Farmland Protection Strategies

Workshop. Mattress Factory Museum, 500 Sampsonia Way, Pittsburgh. 9:30 to 5:00
October 10-- NEW. Penn State Extension Spotted Lanternfly Public Meeting. Park Street
Complex, 648 West Park Street, Honesdale, Wayne County. 6:00 to 7:30
October 13-- PA Resources Council. Vermicomposting Workshop. Ross Township Community
Center, Allegheny County. 12:30 to 2:00.
October 13-- PA Resources Council. Household Chemical Collection Event. Bradys Run Park,
Beaver County. 9:00 to 1:00.
October 16-- Environmental Quality Board meeting. Room 105 Rachel Carson Building. 9:00.
DEP Contact: Laura Edinger, 717-772-3277, ledinger@pa.gov. (f ormal notice)
October 16-- DEP Citizens Advisory Council meeting. Room 105 Rachel Carson Building.
10:00. Contact: Keith Saladar, Executive Director, ksalador@pa.gov or call 717-787-8171.
October 17-- DEP State Board For Certification of Water and Wastewater Systems Operators
meeting. 10th Floor Conference Room, Rachel Carson Building. 10:00. DEP Contact: Edgar
Chescattle, echescattie@pa.gov.
October 17-- DCNR Public Meeting On Forest District Plans: Buchanan State Forest District,
District Office, 25185 Great Cove Road, McConnellsburg, Fulton County. 6:00 to 8:30 p.m.
Click Here for more.
October 17-- PA Chamber Fall Regional Environmental Conference In Mars, Butler County.
October 17-21-- Passive House Western PA. North American Passive House Network 2018
Conference. David L. Lawrence Convention Center, Pittsburgh.
October 18-- CANCELED. DEP Radiation Protection Advisory Committee meeting
77
rescheduled to November 15. DEP Contact: Joseph Melnic 717-783-9730 or send email to:
jmelnic@pa.gov. (formal notice)
October 18-- DEP Small Water Systems Technical Assistance Center Board meeting. DEP
Southcentral Regional Office, Susquehanna Room, 909 Elmerton Avenue, Harrisburg. 9:00.
DEP Contact: Dawn Hissner 717-787-9633 or send email to dhissner@pa.gov. (formal notice)
October 18-- PA State Assn. Of Township Supervisors. PA Stormwater Conference [Western].
Butler County.
October 18-- PA Resources Council. Recycling Awareness Workshop. Sewickley Public
October 18-- Susquehanna River Basin Commission Small Water System Finances, Funding
Preparing For Emergencies, Regulatory Updates Workshop. SRBC offices, 4423 North Front
Street, Harrisburg. 8:40 to 3:15.
October 20-- Eastern PA Coalition For Abandoned Mine Reclamation. Fall Cleanup In
Centralia, Columbia County.
October 20-- NEW. Penn State Extension Spotted Lanternfly Public Meeting. Lebanon
Community Library, 125 North 7th Street, Lebanon, Lebanon County. 10:00 to 11:00
October 23-- DEP Climate Change Advisory Committee meeting. Room 105 Rachel Carson
Building. 10:00. DEP Contact: John Krueger, 717-783-9264, jkrueger@pa.gov. (formal notice)
October 23-- NEW. PRPS, DCNR Community Conservation Grants Workshop. Montgomery
County Fire Academy, 1175 Conshohocken Road, Conshohocken. 9:00 to Noon. Click Here for
more.
October 24-- PA Chesapeake Bay Watershed Planning Steering Committee meeting. Room 105
Rachel Carson Building. 1:00. Click Here to register to join the meeting by webinar.
Participants also need to call in 1-650-479-3208, PASSCODE 643 952 548.
October 24-- DEP Small Business Compliance Advisory Committee meeting. 12th Floor
Conference Room, Rachel Carson Building. 10:00. DEP Contact: Nancy Herb, 717-783-9269,
nherb@pa.gov.
October 24-- CANCELED. DCNR Public Meeting On Forest District Plans: Clear Creek State
Forest District. Scheduled for October 30.
October 24-- NEW. Academy Of Natural Sciences Of Drexel University Hosts Voting For The
Environment Program. Academy, 1900 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia. 6:30 to 8:00.
October 24-25-- Penn State Extension: Biochar & Torrefied Biomass Short Course. Penn State
78
University Agricultural Engineering Building, Shortlidge Road, University Park.
October 25-- NEW. PRPS, DCNR Community Conservation Grants Workshop. Luzerne County
Community College, Educational Conference Center (Building #10), 1333 South Prospect Street,
Nanticoke. 9:00 to Noon. Click Here for more.
October 30-- NEW. DCNR Public Meeting On Forest District Plans: Clear Creek State Forest
District. District Office, 158 South Second Ave., Clarion, Clarion County. 6:30 to 8:00. Click
Here for more.
October 30-- PA Chamber Fall Regional Environmental Conference In King of Prussia.
October 30-31-- Northeast Recycling Council Fall Conference. Sheraton Hartford South Hotel,
Rocky Hill, Connecticut.
October 31-- DEP State Board for Certification of Sewage Enforcement Officers meeting.
Conference Room 11B, Rachel Carson Building. 10:00. DEP Contact: Kristen Szwajkowski,
717-772-2186, kszwajkows@pa.gov.
November 1-- NEW. U.S. Green Building Council Central PA Chapter Forever Green Awards
Ceremony. Civic Club of Harrisburg.
November 1-- NEW. PRPS, DCNR Community Conservation Grants Workshop. Giant Food
Store Community Room, 3301 Trindle Road, Camp Hill, Cumberland County. 9:00 to Noon.
November 1-2-- PA Water And Wastewater Technology Summit. Penn Stater Conference
Center Hotel, State College.
November 3-- PA Resources Council. Vermicomposting Workshop. Construction Junction,

Point Breeze, Allegheny County. 11:00 to 12:30.
November 5-- NEW. Penn State Extension Protect Your Springs, Wells, Septic Systems &
Cisterns Workshops (2). Terre Hill Community Center, 131 West Main Street, Terre Hill,
Lancaster County . 2:00 to 4:00 and 6:00 to 8:00
November 6-- PA Resources Council. Vermicomposting Workshop. North Park Rose Barn,
Allegheny County. 6:30 to 8:00 p.m.
November 7-- DEP Oil and Gas Technical Advisory Board meeting. Room 105 Rachel Carson
Building. 10:00. DEP Contact: Todd Wallace, 717-783-9438, twallace@pa.gov.
November 7-- NEW. PRPS, DCNR Community Conservation Grants Workshop. Unitarian
Universalist Fellowship of Centre County, 780 Waupelani Drive Ext., State College, Centre
County. 9:00 to Noon. Click Here for more.
79
November 8-- DCNR Public Meeting On Forest District Plans: Rothrock State Forest District,
Shaver’s Creek CFD Community Building, 8707 Firemans Park Ln, Petersburg, Huntingdon
County. 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. Click Here for more.
November 8-- DCNR Public Meeting On Forest District Plans: Weiser State Forest District,
District Office, 16 Weiser Lane, Aristes, Columbia County. 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Click Here for
more.
November 13-- NEW. DCNR Public Meeting On Forest District Plans: Pinchot State Forest
District. District Office, 1841 Abington Road, North Abington Township, Lackawanna County.
6:00 to 8:00. Click Here for more.
November 13-- NEW. PRPS, DCNR Community Conservation Grants Workshop. Trinity Point
Church of God, 180 W. Trinity Drive, Clarion, Clarion County. 9:00 to Noon. Click Here for
more.
November 14-- PA Resources Council. Vermicomposting Workshop. South Park Buffalo Inn,
Allegheny County. 6:30 to 8:00 p.m.
November 14-- NEW. PRPS, DCNR Community Conservation Grants Workshop. Collier
township Community Center, 5 Lobaugh Street, Oakdale, Allegheny County . 9:00 to Noon.
November 15-- DEP Radiation Protection Advisory Committee meeting. Room 105 Rachel
Carson. 9:00. DEP Contact: Joseph Melnic 717-783-9730 or send email to: jmelnic@pa.gov.
(formal notice)
November 16-- PA State Assn. Of township Supervisors. PA Stormwater Conference [Eastern].
Montgomery County.
November 20-- South Mountain Partnership Trails Workshop - Building Strong Community
Connections. Shippensburg University, Cumberland County. 8:30 to 5:00.
November 29-- Academy Of Natural Sciences of Drexel University. Delaware Watershed

Research Conference. Academy Offices in Philadelphia.
December 5-- DEP Storage Tank Advisory Committee meeting. Room 105 Rachel Carson
Building. 10:00. DEP Contact: Kris Shiffer 717-772-5809 or send email to: kshiffer@pa.gov.
(formal notice)
December 6-- 10,000 Friends Of Pennsylvania Commonwealth Awards Dinner. ArtsQuest,

Bethlehem.
December 17-- PA Chesapeake Bay Watershed Planning Steering Committee meeting. Room
80
105 Rachel Carson Building. 1:00. Click Here to register to join the meeting by webinar.
Participants also need to call in 1-650-479-3208, PASSCODE 644 895 237.
January 27-30-- Partnership For The Delaware Estuary. 2019 Delaware Estuary Science &
Environmental Summit. Cape May, NJ.
April 29 to May 2-- Center for Watershed Protection. 2019 National Watershed and Stormwater
Conference. South Carolina.
May 8-10-- PA Assn. Of Environmental Professionals. 2019 Annual Conference - Growth
Through Collaboration. State College.
Related Tools ----------------
Visit DEP’s Public Participation Center for public participation opportunities.
Click Here for links to DEP’s Advisory Committee webpages.
Visit DEP Connects for opportunities to interact with DEP staff at field offices.
Click Here to sign up for DEP News a biweekly newsletter from the Department.
DEP Facebook Page DEP Twitter Feed DEP YouTube Channel
DEP Calendar of Events DCNR Calendar of Events
Senate Committee Schedule House Committee Schedule
You can watch the Senate Floor Session and House Floor Session live online.
Grants & Awards
This section gives you a heads up on upcoming deadlines for awards and grants and other
recognition programs. NEW means new from last week.
September 27-- NFWF Delaware Watershed Conservation Fund

September 28-- Dept. Of Ag Research Grants: Lanternfly, Conservation Practices
September 28-- DCNR Multifunctional Riparian Forest Buffer Grants
September 28-- DEP Calendar 2017 Recycling Performance Grants
September 29-- Sinnemahoning Watershed Restoration Grants
September 30-- Fish & Boat Commission Clean Vessel Act Grants
September 30-- Duquesne Light, Nissan Electric Vehicle Rebate
September 30-- Project Learning Tree Environmental Ed Grants
September 30-- PPL Foundation STEM Educator Grants
October 1-- DEP Small Business Advantage Grants-Water Quality Projects (First-come)
81
October 15-- DEP Coastal Zone Grants
October 15-- NEW. NRCS-PA Emergency Watershed Protection Assistance Grants
October 31-- PA Resources Council Gene Capaldi Lens On Litter Photo Contest
October 31-- Axalta, Philadelphia Eagles All-Pro Teachers Program
October 31-- Dept. of Agriculture Spotted Lanternfly Student Calendar Contest
November 1-- Delaware River Basin Commission Fall Photo Contest
November 16-- NEW. PA Housing Finance Agency RFP For Housing Proposals
November 20-- PA Visitors Bureau Scenic Beauty Photo Contest In 5 Counties
December 1-- USDA Rural Community Water Infrastructure Funding (Rolling Deadline)
December 14-- DEP Alternative Fuel Vehicle Rebates (First-come)
December 14-- DEP Alternative Fuels Incentive Grants
December 15-- Coldwater Heritage Partnership Grants
December 31-- DEP County Act 101 Waste Planning, HHW, Education Grants
-- Visit the DEP Grant, Loan and Rebate Programs webpage for more ideas on how to get
financial assistance for environmental projects.
-- Visit the DCNR Apply for Grants webpage for a listing of financial assistance available from
DCNR.
Regulations, Technical Guidance & Permits
Here are highlights of actions taken by agencies on environmental regulations, technical

guidance and permits.
Regulations -----------------------
The Environmental Quality Board published notice in the September 15 PA Bulletin of a

final-omitted rulemaking adopting U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission relating to radioactive
A Bulletin page 5723) .
materials by reference (P
Pennsylvania Bulletin - September 15, 2018
Technical Guidance -------------------
No new technical guidance published this week.
Permits ------------
Note: The Department of Environmental Protection published 57 pages of public notices related
to proposed and final permit and approval/ disapproval actions in the September 15 PA Bulletin -
pages 5748 to 5805.
The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the September 15 PA Bulletin
82
of the FY 2017-18 Reclamation Fee O&M Trust Account Annual Report.
DEP published notice in the September 15 PA Bulletin of changes to the list of companies
A Bulletin 5803) .
certified to perform radon-related activities (P
Related Tools ----------------------
Sign Up For DEP’s eNotice: Did you know DEP can send you email notices of permit
applications submitted in your community? Notice of new technical guidance documents and
regulations? All through its eNotice system. Click Here to sign up.
Visit DEP’s Public Participation Center for public participation opportunities.
DEP Proposals Out For Public Review

Other Proposals Open For Public Comment - DEP webpage
Submit Comments on Proposals Through DEP’s eComment System
Recently Closed Comment Periods For Other Proposals - DEP webpage
Other Proposals Recently Finalized - DEP webpage
DEP Regulations In Process

Proposed Regulations Open For Comment - DEP webpage
Proposed Regulations With Closed Comment Periods - DEP webpage
Recently Finalized Regulations - DEP webpage
DEP Regulatory Update - DEP webpage
August 4, 2018 DEP Regulatory Agenda - PA Bulletin, Page 4733
DEP Technical Guidance In Process

Draft Technical Guidance Documents - DEP webpage
Technical Guidance Comment Deadlines - DEP webpage
Recently Closed Comment Periods For Technical Guidance - DEP webpage
Technical Guidance Recently Finalized - DEP webpage
Copies of Final Technical Guidance - DEP webpage
DEP Non-Regulatory/Technical Guidance Documents Agenda (July 2018)- DEP webpage
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Stories Invited
Send your stories, photos and links to videos about your project, environmental issues or
programs for publication in the PA Environment Digest to: PaEnviroDigest@gmail.com.
83
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Issue #741 Harrisburg, PA Sept.

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

The Public Utility Commission this week said personnel

Commonwealth Court Monday ​issued a decision

PA Chesapeake Bay Steering Committee Readies Information For 39 Counties On Water

The ​PA Chesapeake Bay Watershed Planning Steering

Gov. Tom Wolf Thursday announced more than 25

NRCS-PA Accepting Applications For Emergency Watershed Protection Assistance In PA;

USDA's ​Natural Resources Conservation Service-PA

Wildlife Leadership Academy Awards $2,500 In College Scholarships To 5 Teen

This summer, the youth conservation program ​Wildlife

The ​U.S. Green Building Council Central PA

By Stephanie Swindle Thomas, ​Penn State News

Owning a home is often considered part of living

(Reprinted from ​Penn State News​.)

PA Recreation & Park Society, DCNR To Hold Community Conservation Grant

We Remember September 11, 2001 - DEP Responds To A National Tragedy

This week as Pennsylvanians are recovering

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

Committee Meeting Agendas This Week

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

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

The following bills of interest were introduced last week--

State Conservation Commission Report:​ ​House Bill 2639​ (Zimmerman-R-Lancaster)

The U.S. House Natural Resources Committee Thursday

News From The Capitol

Sen. Thomas McGarrigle (R-Delaware) Monday introduced bipartisan

On September 7, members of the ​Joint Legislative Air and

September Joint Conservation Committee Newsletter Now Available

The ​September newsletter​ of the ​Joint House-Senate

News From Around The State

DEP Citizens Advisory Council Sept. 18 Meeting To Focus On Environmental

The ​Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel

Op-Ed: Of Pennsylvania Floods And Our Future

By Larry J. Schweiger, President Emeritus, ​PennFuture

Pennsylvania has a history of floods but none like what

By Jeff Mulhollem, ​Penn State News

If the majority of dairy farms in Pennsylvania

The ​PA Grazing Lands Coalition​, with support from the

Penn State Extension will host two workshops on ​How

Penn State Extension Holds 3 Rain Barrel Workshops In Bethlehem Sept. 29

Penn State Extension will hold ​three Rain Barrel Workshops

In an effort to help protect stream health and

Opportunity To Bid On DEP Abandoned Mine Reclamation Project In Allegheny County

The Department of Environmental Protection ​published notice​ in the September 15 PA Bulletin

Susquehanna River Basin Commission Acts On Water Withdrawal Applications, Other

Report: Blood Lead Levels In Allegheny County Children Going Down

The ​Allegheny County Health Department​ Wednesday

Trash Travels: Register A New Cleanup, Volunteer To Help With An Existing

Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful​ invites Pennsylvania

The ​Centre County Recycling and Refuse Authority

Reminder: Sept. 22 PRC Household Chemical Collection Event In Allegheny County

The ​PA Resources Council​ will hold a ​Household Chemical

Wildlife Leadership Academy Youth Conservation Ambassador Program Now Accepting

The Philadelphia Housing Authority​ and the City

Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff will meet in Delta,

The City of Philadelphia furthered its commitments to

Explore the scenery, glimpse the history and discover

Western PA Conservancy: Affordable Farmland Protection Strategies Workshop Oct. 10

Land trust professionals, farmland preservation boards

Brandywine Conservancy Commemorates Preservation Of Key Brandywine Battle Site On

On September 11, 2018-- the 241st anniversary of

The Department of Conservation and Natural

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

PA Environment Digest Blog Twitter Feed PaEnviroDigest Google+

Commonwealth Court Monday issued a decision

The PA Chesapeake Bay Watershed Planning Steering

USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service-PA

This summer, the youth conservation program Wildlife

The U.S. Green Building Council Central PA

By Stephanie Swindle Thomas, Penn State News

(Reprinted from Penn State News.)

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

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

State Conservation Commission Report: House Bill 2639 (Zimmerman-R-Lancaster)

On September 7, members of the Joint Legislative Air and

The September newsletter of the Joint House-Senate

The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel

By Larry J. Schweiger, President Emeritus, PennFuture

By Jeff Mulhollem, Penn State News

The PA Grazing Lands Coalition, with support from the

Penn State Extension will host two workshops on How

Penn State Extension will hold three Rain Barrel Workshops

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the September 15 PA Bulletin

The Allegheny County Health Department Wednesday

Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful invites Pennsylvania

The Centre County Recycling and Refuse Authority

The PA Resources Council will hold a Household Chemical

The Philadelphia Housing Authority and the City

The South Mountain Partnership has three

Wild Excellence Films Sunday announced their

The Game Commission is again making available the live

10,000 Friends of Pennsylvania, the state’s leading voice for smart

September 18-20-- Mid-Atlantic Chapter International Erosion Control Association. 25th

September 29-- PA Resources Council. Backyard Composting Workshop. Construction

October 3-- PA Chamber Fall Regional Environmental Conference In Harrisburg.

October 9-11-- PA Association of Conservation Districts. Annual Watershed Specialists

October 10-- NEW. Western PA Conservancy. Affordable Farmland Protection Strategies

October 18-- CANCELED. DEP Radiation Protection Advisory Committee meeting

November 3-- PA Resources Council. Vermicomposting Workshop. Construction Junction,

November 29-- Academy Of Natural Sciences of Drexel University. Delaware Watershed

December 6-- 10,000 Friends Of Pennsylvania Commonwealth Awards Dinner. ArtsQuest,

Visit DEP’s Public Participation Center for public participation opportunities.

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

DEP Facebook Page DEP Twitter Feed DEP YouTube Channel

DEP Calendar of Events DCNR Calendar of Events

Senate Committee Schedule House Committee Schedule

September 27-- NFWF Delaware Watershed Conservation Fund

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the September 15 PA Bulletin

Visit DEP’s Public Participation Center for public participation opportunities.

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

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

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