Pa Environment Digest Dec. 3, 2018

Issue #753 Harrisburg, PA Dec.
3, 2018
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PA Supreme Court Upholds Decision Striking Down Protection Of School Property,

Playgrounds, Species Of Special Concern In DEP Drilling Permit Process
On November 28, the PA Supreme Court let stand

an August Commonwealth Court decision which
struck down provisions in DEP’s Chapter 78a(f)
and (g) unconventional drilling regulations
defining “common areas of a school’s property
and playgrounds,” and “species of special
concern” as public resources to be protected
during the permit review process under Act 13 of
2012.
This is one of several challenges to DEP’s
regulations brought by the Marcellus Shale
Coalition now in the state court system.
Technically, the PA Supreme Court “quashed” DEP’s appeal of the Commonwealth
Court decision, but the PA Supreme Court left the door open for DEP to appeal the decision
again when Commonwealth Court decides the merits of other challenges pending to its Chapter
78a regulations which were argued in September.
DEP has been under an injunction preventing it from enforcing the school property and
playground and species of concern portion of regulation since November 2016.
Click Here for a copy of the PA Supreme Court order.
Summary Of August Decision
In addition to nullifying the provisions noted above, Commonwealth Court also struck
down the provisions of the regulation requiring DEP to consider comments on well permits
submitted by municipalities, primarily due to an earlier PA Supreme Court decision in Robinson
II.
The Court, however, did generally uphold DEP’s fundamental authority to consider
impacts to and to protect other public resources from negative impacts of unconventional gas
well development based on the Environmental Rights Amendment to the state constitution.
“The statutory concept of “public resources” embodied in Act 13 and the Public Resource
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Regulations derives from Article I, Section 27 of the Pennsylvania Constitution.... Section 27
establishes a common law trust, with the Commonwealth as trustee and the public natural
resources managed by the Commonwealth as the corpus of the trust.
“The trustee is obligated to conserve, maintain and manage the corpus of the trust for the
benefit of the trust’s beneficiaries – the people.
“As the plurality of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court opined in Robinson II, the
constitutional concept of “public natural resources” includes: not only state-owned lands,
waterways, and mineral reserves, but also resources that implicate the public interest, such as
ambient air, surface and ground water, wild flora, and fauna (including fish) that are outside the
scope of purely private property.
“In furtherance of its trustee duties, the General Assembly directed the Department to
consider impacts of a proposed well on “public resources” when determining whether to grant a
well permit or add permit conditions to avoid potentially negative impacts from fracking
activities.”
Gathering Public Resource Information
The Court concluded DEP did have statutory authority to require drillers to gather
information on the permit review process on the potential impact of a proposed unconventional
gas well on public resources like parks, wildlife areas, history sites, schools, water wells private
and public (25 Pa Code Chapter 78a.15(f)) saying--
“Without this information, the Department’s ability to consider the potential impacts to
public resources would be severely hampered. Thus, we conclude that the Public Resource
Regulations do not exceed statutory authority by authorizing the Department to seek information
from well applicants and comments from public resource agencies as part of its impact
consideration.”
Conditioning Permits
The Court also upheld the general authority of DEP to put conditions on unconventional
well permits based on a well’s potential impact on public resources in order “...to avoid,
minimize or otherwise mitigate impacts to public resources; other measures necessary to protect
against a probable impact to the functions and uses of a public resource; comments and
recommendations from public resource agencies; and the optimal development of gas resources
and property rights.”
School Property & Playgrounds
The provision in Chapter 78a(f) authorizing DEP to consider the impact of a well permit
on “common areas of a school’s property and playgrounds” was challenged by the Marcellus
Shale Coalition as not being a “public resource” to be protected under Act 13 and that the terms
were not defined, were overly broad and unenforceable.
The Court agreed with Marcellus Shale Coalition--
“Although common areas of a school’s property and playgrounds may share some
similarities with the public resources listed in Section 3215(c), we agree with the Coalition that
they are not within the “same general class or nature as” their statutory counterparts.
“With regard to schools, virtually any school would fall within the definition of “school,”
such as career and technical centers, culinary schools, charter schools, community colleges,
private-licensed school, driver-training school, vocational schools, etc.
“The list is seemingly endless as any institution providing some form of educational
services would ostensibly qualify as a “school” under the regulatory definition.
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“As for the recreational aspect, a mere picnic table and bench or basketball hoop
accessible to the public would bring the school’s property within the purview of the regulation.
“Although common areas of a school’s property and playgrounds may share some
recreational similarities with the statutory public resources, they do not implicate “public
interest” in the same way and they are not part of the trust corpus over which the Commonwealth
is charged with protecting under the Constitution.
“For these reasons, we declare that the regulatory definition of public resources to the
extent it includes “common areas of a school’s property” and “playground” is void and
unenforceable.”
Species Of Special Concern
The Marcellus Shale Coalition challenged the inclusion of “species of special concern”
within the scope of the public resources to be protected saying it is not contained within or
authorized by Act 13.
The Court held that while Act 13 gave DEP the authority to protect rare, endangered,
threatened and critical species, the term “other critical communities” did not include “species of
special concern” and “represents a less imminent or potential conservation threat.” (25 Pa Code
78a(f))
“By creating obligations tied to species of special concern, which are not at the same
level of risk as threatened or endangered species, the regulation upsets the balance between
industry and the environment strived for in Act 13.
“Absent statutory authority for “species of concern,” as identified on the PNDI [PA
Natural Diversity Inventory], we conclude that the regulation exceeds the scope and purpose of
Act 13 and is unenforceable.”
Municipal Comments
The definition of “public resource agencies” was challenged by the Marcellus Shale
Coalition with respect to DEP considering the comments of “municipalities and playground
owners” on well permits 25 Pa Code 78a(f) and (g)). DEP, they argued, did not have the
authority to consider municipal comments as a result of the Robinson II PA Supreme Court
decision.
The Court upheld the inclusion of municipalities within the “public resource agencies”
by virtue of the trustee obligations local governments have under the state’s Environmental
Rights Amendment, but said the Robinson II decision “constrained to declare Section
78a.15(g)’s requirement that the Department will consider comments and recommendations
submitted by municipalities is unconstitutional and unenforceable….”
The Court also ruled the definition of “playground owners” was overly broad and “may
be unknown, unidentified or unlisted” and were therefore not a public resource agency to be
considered under the regulations.
Valid Adoption Of The Regulation
With respect to the Marcellus Shale Coalition’s challenge to the adoption of regulation
because of what the Coalition said was an inadequate Regulatory Analysis Form outlining the
economic impacts, statement of need and estimated costs to comply with the regulation, the
Court upheld the adoption of Chapter 78a, citing an earlier decision in Bedford v.
Commonwealth, 972 A.2d 53, 62 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2009)--
“... Bedford does not stand for the proposition that a party may challenge the validity of a
regulation based on the sufficiency of information submitted to the IRRC pursuant to the Review
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Act.
‘Indeed, Section 745.2(d) of the Review Act provides, “This act is not intended to create
a right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law by a person against another
person or against the Commonwealth, its agencies or its officers.” Section 2(d) of the Review
Act, 71 P.S. §745.2(d).
‘There is no evidence to suggest that the IRRC’s review of the Public Resource
Regulations was in any way thwarted by the lack of a more specific cost estimate. Thus, we
conclude there is no clear right to relief on this point.
“For these reasons, we decline to declare the permitting process devised under Section
78a.15(f) and (g) invalid and unenforceable.”
Conclusions
“In sum, we grant the Coalition’s Application in part and we deny it in part. We grant the
Application to the extent that we declare the regulatory definitions of “other critical
communities,” “common areas of a school’s property,” and “playground” contained in 25 Pa.
Code §78a.1 as void and unenforceable.
“We declare the regulatory definition of “public resource agency,” contained in 25 Pa.
Code §78a.1 and as used within 25 Pa. Code §78a.15(f), (g), void and unenforceable to the
extent that it includes “playground owners.”
“We are also constrained to declare Section 78a.15(g)’s requirement that the Department
will consider comments and recommendations submitted by municipalities is unconstitutional
and unenforceable based on the Supreme Court’s decision in Robinson II, in which it declared
Section 3215(d) of Act 13, 58 Pa. C.S. §3215(d) – the statutory authorization for this regulatory
provision – unconstitutional and enjoined its application and enforcement.
“We deny the Application in all other respects.”
Click Here for a copy of the Commonwealth Court decision.
Related Stories:
DEP Advisory Committee Meets Dec. 13 To Discuss Reg Limiting Emissions From Existing Oil
& Gas Operations; Update On PA Air Quality
Allegheny Institute: Time To Tighten Reporting On How Local Governments Spend Act 13
Shale Gas Drilling Fee Revenue
[Posted: Nov. 29, 2018]
DEP Advisory Committee Meets Dec. 13 To Discuss Reg Limiting Emissions From Existing
Oil & Gas Operations; Update On PA Air Quality
DEP’s Air Quality Technical Advisory Committee is scheduled

to meet December 13 on a draft regulation to set limits on
volatile organic compound emissions-- with the “co-benefit” of
reducing methane emissions-- from existing well sites, pumps,
storage and other equipment at oil and gas facilities.
The regulation is based on a federal Control Technique
Guideline for oil and gas facilities which will be used to
develop a RACT standard. RACT is defined as the lowest
emission limitation that a particular source is capable of
meeting with economically feasible, reasonably available
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emissions control technology.
DEP acknowledges in its proposal EPA is now considering changes to its CTG
requirement, but they intend to move ahead with a proposed rule “with due consideration to the
proposed changes.”
While the draft regulation technically proposes to regulate VOC emissions, these controls
will in turn reduce methane emissions because both volatile organic compounds and methane are
found in field gas at oil and gas operations.
Generally, the draft regulation calls for a 95 percent reduction in VOC emissions,
however, some equipment-specific requirements call for less or more. For example, natural gas
processing plants are required to have zero VOC emissions.
Click Here for a PowerPoint presentation on the proposal. Click Here for a very draft
regulation.
Update On PA Air Quality
There will also be a presentation on the latest ambient air quality monitoring information
DEP has available from 2017 and some from 2018. Some key results in terms of exceedences of
air quality standards--
-- Ozone (70 ppb): 2018-- 26 days (not QA/QC); 2017-- 22 days; 2016-- 27 days; 8 samplers, all
in the Philadelphia area, show nonattainment of the standard;
-- Particulate 2.5: 2017-- 13 days; 2016-- 16 days; 2015-- 20 days; 1 sampler in Allegheny
County shows nonattainment of the standard;
-- Sulfur Dioxide: 2017-- 21 days; 2016-- 1 day; 2015-- 22 days; 1 sampler in Allegheny County
shows nonattainment of the standard.
Included in the presentation is a historical look at the dramatic improvement in air quality
in Pennsylvania since the 1948 Donora air inversion that killed 20 people.
The meeting will be held in Room 105 of the Rachel Carson Building in Harrisburg
starting at 9:15.
For more information and available handouts, visit DEP’s Air Quality Technical
Advisory Committee webpage. Questions should be directed to Kirit Dalal by calling
717-772-3436 or send email to: kdalal@pa.gov.
hoto: H
(P ow Reducing Methane Emissions Creates Jobs, Environmental Defense Fund.)
Related Stories:
Playgrounds, Species of Special Concern In DEP Drilling Permit Process
[Posted: Nov. 30, 2018]
On November 28, the Allegheny Institute For

Public Policy in Pittsburgh released this Policy
Brief-- Time To Tighten Act 13 Reporting-- on
local government accountability for spending Act
13 shale gas drilling impact fee revenue--
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In February 2012, Act 13 was adopted not only to establish an impact fee for drillers in
Pennsylvania’s shale formations, but also to set up rules governing both the allocation of the fee
revenue to local and state government as well as to specify how the money can be used by the
municipalities and counties receiving the funds.
All are required to report to the Public Utility Commission how Act 13 proceeds have
been spent. However, not all municipalities are diligent in meeting those reporting requirements.
From 2011 to 2016 municipalities in the seven-county Pittsburgh Metropolitan Statistical
Area (MSA)-- Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Washington and Westmoreland
counties-- received $104,623,116 from the impact fee collections.
While “fracking” has received plenty of attention, little attention has been paid to local
accountability regarding Act 13 revenue usage. This Brief will look at municipalities in the
Pittsburgh MSA.
Municipalities receiving impact fee revenue must submit annually paperwork to the
Public Utility Commission demonstrating how the payments have been used in the 13
legislatively designated categories. They are:
1) Construction, reconstruction, maintenance and repair of roadways, bridges and public
infrastructure;
2) Water, stormwater and sewer systems;
3) Emergency preparedness and public safety, including law enforcement and fire services, as
well as hazardous material response, 911 and equipment;
4) Environmental programs, including trails, parks and recreation, open space, floodplain
management, conservation districts and agricultural preservation;
5) Preservation and reclamation of surface and subsurface waters and water supplies;
6) Tax reductions, including homestead exclusions;
7) Housing projects to increase safe and affordable housing;
8) Records management, geographic information systems and information technology;
9) Social services;
10) Judicial services;
11) Career and technical centers for training of oil and gas industry workers;
12) Local or regional planning initiatives under the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code;
13) Placed in the municipality’s capital reserve fund that can later be used in the aforementioned
categories.
It’s important to note that municipalities are not obligated to spend Act 13 funds in the
year they are received. The municipality’s capital reserve fund can act as a savings account for
the assets to be used at a later date.
Within the Pittsburgh MSA the most popular categories for municipal fund use have been
capital reserve fund and public infrastructure/construction.
Municipalities in Allegheny County, that did report, placed 39 percent of their Act 13
revenue in their capital reserve funds from 2011 to 2016. Over the same period, Allegheny
County municipalities spent 30 percent of their impact fee allocation on public infrastructure and
construction.
Act 13 mandates municipalities submit a yearly report to the PUC disclosing
expenditures. This basic form requires the municipality to indicate the dollar amount spent or
allocated for future use within the 13 categories.
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Yet many municipalities have failed to meet the reporting requirement.
Under Act 13 regulations if a municipality fails to submit the annual Municipal Approved
Budget Report, the municipality will be limited to a maximum of $500,000 in annual future
distributions from the Unconventional Gas Well fund.
But within the Pittsburgh MSA, a penalty has never been assessed because none of the
municipalities failing to report ever received more than $500,000 a year from Act 13 fees and,
presumably, never expected to get as much as $500,000.
In 2016, 45 municipalities out of a total of 130 in Allegheny County failed to report their
Act 13 details to the PUC. This has improved since 2012 when 95 municipalities failed to do so.
The best year for reporting was 2015 when just 31 municipalities did not report.
For example, since the impact fee was established, the City of Pittsburgh has disclosed
the use of its shale dollars one time, in 2013. Brentwood Borough, McKeesport City, Pleasant
Hills Borough and Sewickley Borough have never reported how their impact money was used.
Meanwhile, municipalities in other counties had lower rates of reporting non-compliance.
In 2016, four municipalities out of 57 in Butler; Washington, five municipalities out of 66;
Armstrong, eight municipalities out of 45; Fayette, nine municipalities out of 43; Westmoreland,
18 municipalities out of 65.
Since Act 13 passed, the mandate that municipalities report annually how they spend
their impact fee allocations has been obeyed by the vast majority of municipalities in the seven
counties of the Pittsburgh MSA.
Overall, municipalities within the MSA have improved their reporting from 2011 to
2016.
Allegheny County municipalities received a total of $2,797,742 from 2011 to 2016
compared to Washington County’s municipalities’ $55,412,444.
Clearly, municipalities in Washington County have a substantial amount of fees to lose if
they fail to comply with reporting and thus are more motivated to report fund usage than
municipalities in Allegheny County.
Washington County’s municipalities have received the largest amount of fees in the
MSA, followed by those in Butler, Fayette, Westmoreland, Armstrong, Allegheny and Beaver
counties.
However, municipal accountability should not be contingent upon the dollar amount
received but upon the principle of financial accountability and transparency.
Governments must be responsible for all actions including accounting for where all
revenues are spent. Municipalities receiving Act 13 funds, regardless of the amount, are required
to report the use and should do so. It’s not a municipal choice but an obligation.
The Legislature should revisit Act 13 and amend it to penalize municipalities that fail to
report how impact fee revenues are used by withholding all future allocations regardless of the
amount they would have received until they are in compliance by submitting reports for all past
years when no reports were filed.
Failure to correct this loophole leaves open too much opportunity for funds to be used as
municipalities wish as opposed to the uses designated by law.
Visit the Allegheny Institute For Public Policy website for information on other policy
briefs and reports they have prepared.
More information on how Act 13 fees have been spent is available at the PUC’s
Interactive Act 13 Fee website.
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Related Stories:
Playgrounds, Species of Special Concern In DEP Drilling Permit Process
& Gas Operations; Update On PA Air Quality
[Posted: Nov. 28, 2018]
Clean Air Council, Widener Law & Sustainability Center, 61 Others Petition EQB To Set
Up A Cap-And-Trade Program To Reduce PA Greenhouse Gas Emissions
On November 27, Robert B. McKinstry, Jr., the Clean Air Council,

Widener University Environmental Law and Sustainability Center,
eco(n)law LLC and 61 other individuals, groups, businesses and local
governments submitted a rulemaking petition to the Environment
Quality Board to establish a market-based cap-and-trade greenhouse
gas emission reduction program that eliminates those emissions from
major sources by 2052.
The Department of Environmental Protection is now reviewing
the petition to see if it meets the requirements for consideration by the
EQB. If it is acceptable, it will go to the EQB for a vote on whether
the petition should be accepted for study.
Petition Proposal
The 407-page rulemaking petition would require the EQB to adopt a regulation to cap
greenhouse gas emissions from major sources at 2016 levels. The emissions cap would then be
reduced by 3 percent annually until emissions are zero from covered sources by 2052.
These reductions would put Pennsylvania on track to meet the greenhouse gas reduction
goals established by the 2015, achieving the reductions that the most recent report of the
Intergovernmental Panel On Climate Change indicates are necessary to avoid the worst impacts
of climate disruption.
Emission allowances for each ton of greenhouse gas are then created based on the cap.
The regulation proposed by the petition authorizes DEP to auction off most of those allowances
or distribute them to the sources covered by the program.
The proposal creates a floor price for the allowances of at least $10 per ton in 2020, with
the floor price increasing 10 percent per year plus inflation until it hits the floor established by
California, at which point it will move with that floor.
After the auction and distribution of allowances, any person or business may buy or sell
an allowance creating a market for allowable greenhouse gas emissions.
Typically in a cap-and-trade market system, industries that can easily reduce emissions
below their emissions cap can sell those emission reduction allowances to other sources that may
not be able to make reductions as easily or cost effectively.
The petition proposes to cover 14 different industries that emit 25,000 tons or more of
greenhouse gases a year, including cement, iron, lead, petroleum products production, coal
mining, electric generating facilities, oil and gas production facilities, suppliers of natural gas
and carbon dioxide, and fuel oil and petroleum product distributors.
These facilities are already required to report greenhouse gas emissions to EPA. A total
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of 283 major facilities in Pennsylvania are now reporting their emissions to EPA.
Covered greenhouse gases include carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, sulfur
hexafluoride, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, nitrogen trifluoride and other fluorinated
greenhouse gases.
The rulemaking petition is based on California’s greenhouse gas cap-and-trade program.
Statutory Authority
The petitioners say Pennsylvania already has statutory authority under the state Air
Pollution Control Act to regulate greenhouse gas emissions. In addition, greenhouse gas
emissions are a pollutant required to be regulated under the federal Clean Air Act.
The EPA obligation to regulate greenhouse gas emissions as a pollutant under the federal
Clean Air Act has been affirmed by the U.S. Supreme Court in Massachusetts v. EPA in 2007.
In addition, the petitioners also say Article I, Section 27 of the state’s constitution-- the
Environmental Rights Amendment guaranteeing Pennsylvanians the right to clean air, pure water
and the preservation of the environment-- imposes a duty on the Environmental Quality Board
and the Commonwealth to act as a public trustee for common natural resources like clean air to
reduce pollutants that adversely affect that resource.
In a forthcoming article to be published in the Michigan Journal of Environmental and
Administrative Law, petition authors Robert B. McKinstry, Jr. and Professor John C. Dernbach
argue--
“Climate disruption already adversely affects Pennsylvania, and these adverse effects will
increase over time. The severity of future impacts depends to a great extent on what actions are
taken to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and even remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
“Yet under Article I, Section 27, the people of the Commonwealth have a right to a natural
climate that is not disrupted by excessive concentrations of GHGs [greenhouse gases] in the
atmosphere. In addition, the Commonwealth has a commensurate duty to limit emissions to
prevent climate disruption.”
In fact, the 4th National Climate Assessment released November 23 and the 2015 Climate
Change Impacts Assessment Update done for DEP document these changes.
Click Here for a copy of the full petition. Click Here for a copy of the draft regulation.
Existing Cap-And-Trade Programs
There have been cap-and-trade programs in place in Pennsylvania since 2000 that
regulate and reduce emissions of nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide from major sources of air
pollution like power plants and industrial boilers.
These market-based programs have been successful in reducing ozone pollution-causing
emissions of nitrogen oxide from power plants in Pennsylvania from 375,000 tons in 1990 to
37,150 tons in 2017.
Acid rain-causing sulfur dioxide emissions from power plants in Pennsylvania were
reduced from 900,000 tons in 1990 to less than 100,000 tons in 2016 because of cap-and-trade
and the markets they create.
While a cap-and-trade program for these pollutants is more straightforward and better
understood than for greenhouse gas emissions, the basic market principles of the system are
familiar to major air pollution emitters.
2nd Petition
This is the second petition the EQB has received asking DEP to set up a greenhouse gas
reduction program.
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In 2014 the Environmental Quality Board rejected a petition submitted in 2013 by
19-year-old Ashley Funk from Allegheny County asking for a 6 percent reduction in carbon
dioxide emissions in Pennsylvania by 2050 using a 2012 baseline.
In rejecting the petition, DEP said a national approach to greenhouse gas emissions is
needed like EPA’s now defunct Clean Power Plan because climate change is a national and
global issue and should cover all sources of carbon dioxide emissions, not just power plants.
PA Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Greenhouse gas emissions from power plants have already been significantly reduced in
Pennsylvania as a result of the coal-fired power plant closures and the dramatic increase in the
use of natural gas to generate electricity.
In fact, in comments to EPA on a proposed replacement for the former Clean Power Plan,
DEP said, “Pennsylvania has already exceeded its 2030 CPP [Clean Power Plan] goal of
[reducing power plant emissions to] 89,822,308 tons through a combination of market-driven
techniques like fuel switching [to natural gas] and renewable energy standards while maintaining
its status as a net energy exporter.”
An updated Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory prepared for DEP’s Climate Change
Advisory Committee shows power plant emissions of greenhouse gases were reduced from
116.13 million tons in 2000 to 86.37 million tons in 2015, far below the CPP target.
Total greenhouse gas emissions from all sectors in Pennsylvania have been reduced from
324.79 million tons in 2000 to 286.78 million tons in 2015, as reported to EPA.
PA Climate Action Plan
DEP’s Climate Change Advisory Committee is scheduled to meet on December 4 to
review the draft 2018 PA Climate Action Plan and recommendations as well as the updated
Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory.
Draft Plan recommendations will, for the first time, include overall greenhouse gas
emissions reduction targets of a 26 percent reduction in net emissions by 2025 from 2005 levels
and an 80 percent net reduction by 2050 to gauge the results of the recommended strategies.
The targets are in line with the goals established in the goal established by the 2015 U.N.
Paris Climate Agreement.
Note, however, the net pledges under the original Paris Climate Agreement fall far short
of what will be necessary to keep temperature increases below 2 degrees C, much less keeping
increases below 1.5 degrees C, as the most recent report of the Intergovernmental Panel On
Climate Change found necessary to avoid the worst impacts of climate disruption.
For more information and available handouts and presentations, visit DEP’s Climate
Change Advisory Committee webpage.
Related Stories:
Senate Democratic Policy Committee Hearing Nov. 28 In Pittsburgh On Climate Change
Auditor General DePasquale Urges National Strategy On Climate Change
DEP: Pennsylvania Has Already Met Original 2030 CPP Greenhouse Gas Reductions
PA Solar Future Plan Recommends Dramatic Increase In AEPS Solar Mandate Of Up To 8%
New PA Uniform Construction Code Will Save New Home Owners Up To 25 Percent Of
Energy Costs
Businesses Showcase Cutting-Edge Tech Solutions For Reducing Oil & Gas Methane Emissions
In PA
Sen. McGarrigle Introduces Update To Act 129 Energy Conservation Plan Program For Electric
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Utilities
PA Environmental Council: Putting A Price On Carbon Would Spur Energy Competition, Help
Nuclear Power Plants
DCNR Outlines 123 Action Steps In Climate Change Mitigation, Adaptation Report On Public
Lands
4th National Climate Assessment: Climate Change Is Human Caused; Flooding, Wildfires,
Health Impacts, Infrastructure, Economic Damage Will Increase Without Action
AG Shapiro, Philadelphia, Other States Say EPA’s Proposed Replacement For Clean Power Plan
Unlawful
Related Stories This Week:
DEP Climate Change Advisory Committee Meets Dec. 4 To Review Draft Recommendations
For Climate Plan Update
Senate Climate Change Hearing: In The Absence Of Federal Leadership, PA Must Act
Nuclear Energy Caucus Releases Report On The Impact Of Closing Nuclear Power Plants,
Possible Solutions
43 Mayors From Pennsylvania, All 50 States Call For More Solar Energy
NewsClips:
Cusick: Climate Petition Calls On PA To Cut Emissions Thru Cap-And-Trade System
Legere: Cap-And-Trade Petition Aims To Cut PA’s Climate-Warming Pollution
Clean Air Council: Petition Filed To Establish Climate Cap-And-Trade In PA
Clean Air Council, Widener Law & Sustainability Center, 61 Others Petition EQB To Set Up A
Cap-And-Trade Program To Reduce PA Greenhouse Gas Emissions
[Posted: Nov. 28, 2018]
On November 28, the Senate Democratic Policy

Committee held a hearing in Pittsburgh on local and
state efforts to address climate change.
“In the absence of federal leadership on climate change,
it is imperative that Pennsylvania continue to
participate in cooperative efforts to stave off the
catastrophic consequences of global warming,” said
Sen. Jay Costa (D-Allegheny). “We need to maintain
efforts to keep Pennsylvania on track to combat climate
change.”
Sen. Lisa Boscola (D-Lehigh), who chairs the Committee, added, “Controlling carbon
emissions and building a strong economy are not competing interests. There are numerous ways
we can slow the devastating effects of climate change while strengthening and expanding our
economy.”
Determined to engage state and local resources in the absence of federal support, Sen.
Costa introduced legislation-- Senate Bill 15-- aimed at keeping Pennsylvania in compliance
with the carbon emissions reduction goals of the accord.
Several bills and proposals were introduced to supplement existing environmental
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protection efforts included in the decade-old Alternative Energy Portfolio Standard (AEPS) and
Energy Efficiency and Conservation law (Act 129).
George Hartenstein, DEP Deputy Secretary for Waste, Air, Radiation and Remediation,
told the Committee, “Like every state in the country, Pennsylvania has already begun to
experience adverse impacts from climate change, such as flooding, heat waves and drought.
“Based on the overwhelming scientific evidence, those harms are likely to increase in
number and severity unless aggressive steps are taken to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide and
other greenhouse gases.”
Hartenstein said Pennsylvania has already reduced carbon dioxide emissions from power
plants below the former EPA Clean Power Plan goal of 89.2 million tons. In fact, he said 2018
emissions are projected to be 78.8 million tons, far below the goal.
[Note: Almost all of the reductions can be credited to the closure of coal-fired power
plants and their replacement with natural gas-fired electric generation.]
Hartenstein outlined a series of steps Pennsylvania has taken to reduce greenhouse gas
emissions and said a final 2018 Update to the state Climate Action Plan should be released in
early 2019 that outlines more than 100 actions government, businesses and citizens can take to
reduce those emissions.
Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald discussed the county’s efforts to embrace
alternative and sustainable fuels and emerging strategies aimed at reducing carbon emissions. He
mentioned goals aimed at reducing vehicular miles and transitioning to cleaner mass transit fuels
as an example.
Grant Ervin, who serves as Pittsburgh’s chief resilience officer, said at the hearing the
role of local governments to “provide for the health, safety and welfare of our residents.
Addressing the issues of climate change falls directly within that purview; and makes cities,
boroughs and townships some of the best points of delivery to both mitigate carbon emissions as
well as provide for the adaptation of our changing climate.”
Mandy Warner, senior manager for climate and air policy, Environmental Defense Fund,
added, “The federal government’s leadership on climate may have stalled, but Pennsylvania has
a significant opportunity to lead by setting a declining limit on carbon pollution, and creating the
opportunity for flexible, market-based solutions to achieve the limit.”
Spokespersons for the Pennsylvania Chamber of Commerce and coal industry pointed to
the importance of fossil fuels toward economic development and business production goals.
They claimed that current alternative energy options do not provide the reliability and
necessary volume of energy aimed at maintaining the state’s electricity and energy supply. While
insisting that a zero-carbon emissions goal is currently unrealistic, they noted that technological
advancement has enabled them to continually reduce carbon emissions.
Senators Boscola and Costa also said addressing climate change could spark investment
in renewable energy initiatives and create new economic development and expansion
opportunities.
“Infrastructure investment, technology development from research to manufacturing to
sales, workforce development, educational programs and community development can all be part
of an economic boom if we build our energy portfolio with a healthy mix of alternative fuels,”
Sen. Costa said.
Joining Senators Costa and Boscola at the hearing were Sen. Wayne Fontana
(D-Allegheny) and Senator-elect Lindsey Williams (D-Allegheny).
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Those presenting comments were (with links to written testimony)--
-- George Hartenstein, Deputy Secretary, Department of Environmental Protection
-- Rich Fitzgerald, Allegheny County Executive
-- Grant Ervin, Chief Resiliency Officer, City of Pittsburgh
-- Ashley Funk, Plaintiff, Our Children’s Trust
-- Dr. Deborah Gentile, Pediatric Allergy Physician
-- Rachel Gleason, Executive Director, Pennsylvania Coal Alliance
-- Kevin Sunday, Director of Government Affairs, PA Chamber of Commerce
-- Mandy Warner, Senior Manager for Climate & Air Policy, Environmental Defense Fund
-- Tom Schuster, Campaign Representative, Sierra Club
-- Marcel Minutolo, Associate Professor of Business Management, Robert Morris University
-- Khari Mosley, President of Blue Green Alliance
-- Joelle N. Salerno, Government Affairs Director, National Electrical Contractors Association.
Click Here to watch a video of the hearing.
Sen. Lisa Boscola (D-Lehigh) serves as chair of the Committee. She can be contacted by
sending email to: boscola@pasenate.com or calling 717-787-4236. Questions should be
directed to Seth Rolko, Executive Director, by sending email to: Seth.Rolko@pasenate.com or
calling 717-787-4236.
(Photo: Senators Boscola, Costa.)
NewsClips:
Some PA Lawmakers To Continue Climate Change Fight After Trump Rollbacks
Hopey: Local Action On Climate Change Needed, Senate Committee Told In Pittsburgh
Possible Solutions
[Posted: Nov. 28, 2018]
DEP Climate Change Advisory Committee Meets Dec. 4 To Review Draft

Recommendations For Climate Plan Update
DEP’s Climate Change Advisory Committee is scheduled to meet on

December 4 to review the draft 2018 PA Climate Action Plan and
recommendations as well as an updated Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Inventory.
Draft Plan recommendations will, for the first time, include overall
greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets of a 26 percent reduction
in net emissions by 2025 from 2005 levels and an 80 percent net
reduction by 2050 to gauge the results of the recommended
strategies..
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The targets are in line with the goals established in the goal established by the 2015 U.N.
Paris Climate Agreement.
Also included are over 100 recommended actions, in addition to citizen and business
actions, that would help the Commonwealth reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Fifteen actions
under 7 general strategy categories were selected as the most cost-effective with the biggest
greenhouse gas reductions--
-- Increase end use energy conservation and efficiency--
-- Update building codes
-- Increase adoption of energy efficiency and expand Act 129
-- Create an Act 129-like efficiency program for natural gas
-- Expand energy assessments and provide training on energy efficiency
-- Implement sustainable transportation planning and practices--
-- Reduce vehicle miles traveled for single-occupancy vehicles
-- Implement a strategic plan and incentives for increasing electric vehicle use
-- Increase the use of clean public transportation through electric municipal bus fleets
-- Increase use of clean, distributed electricity generation resources--
-- Invest in and promote building-scale solar
-- Incentivize and increase use of combined heat and power (CHP)
-- Create a diverse portfolio of clean, utility-scale electricity generation--
-- Increase Alternative Portfolios Energy Standard (AEPS) Tier 1 targets, further increase
in-state generation, use of renewables
-- Implement policy to maintain nuclear generation at current levels
-- Limit carbon emissions through an electricity sector cap and trade program
-- Reduce upstream impacts of fossil fuel energy production--
-- Implement policies and practices to reduce methane emissions across oil and natural gas
systems
-- Increase production and use of alternative fuels--
-- Increase recovery and use of gas from coal mines, agriculture, wastewater, and landfills for
energy
-- Use agricultural best practices---
-- Implement and provide training for no-till farming practices.
The meeting will be held in Room 105 of the Rachel Carson Building starting at 10:00.
For more information and available handouts and presentations, visit DEP’s Climate
Change Advisory Committee webpage. Questions should be directed to Lindsay Byron, DEP, by
calling 717-772-8951 or sending email to: lbyron@pa.gov.
Related Stories:
Possible Solutions
NewsClips:
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& Gas Operations
AP-Levy: Fight Brewing Over Prospect Of Nuclear Power Plant Shutdowns
Crable: Legislators Urge General Assembly, Governor To Step In To Save TMI Nuclear Plant
Cusick: Report: PA Nuclear Plants Could Be Saved, If Lawmakers Act
Thompson: Nuclear Power Supporters Make Case For State Help For Reactors
Litvak: Lawmakers Push To Save Nuclear Plants
Nuclear Energy Caucus Outlines Ways It Says Three Mile Island Can Be Saved
Letter: Nuclear Bailouts Undermine Energy Independence
Should Taxpayers Pay To Save Three Mile Island?
Letter: Carbon Fees Aid Energy Transition
Editorial: Price Carbon To Save Nuclear Plants
For 2018 Plan Update
Kummer: Federal Climate Report Details Troubling Findings For PA, NJ
Kummer: All That Drenching Rain? Federal Climate Report Says That Will Be Our New
Normal
What’s New In The Latest U.S. Climate Assessment
We Have Wasted 15 Years Of Response Time: Major Climate Change Warning
Climate Report: Trump Administration Downplays Warnings Of Looming Disaster
Trump: I Don’t Believe Government Climate Report Finding
Trump Disagrees With Federal Climate Change Report: I Don’t See It
Trump Dismantling U.S. Climate Efforts As Warnings Grow Dire
Notable Trump Policy Makers Didn’t Try To Soften Climate Report
EPA Chief: Trump Administration May Intervene In Next Climate Study
Column: How Trump Administration Used Old Trick To Downplay Climate Change Report
Op-Ed: The Apocalypse Is Not Coming, It’s Here [Climate Report]
Editorial: Climate Change Is Real And It’s Going To Cost Us Billions
Editorial: Climate Assessment Report Defies Current Trump Policy
A Vital Climate Report And Trout Unlimited’s Potential Unsung Song
Congressional Republicans Back Another Carbon Tax Bill That’s Bound To Fail
Past 4 Years Hottest On Record Data Shows
The Insect Apocalypse Is Here
Why Water Will Be Next Battleground In Fight Against Climate Change
Climate-Warming El Nino Very Likely In 2019 UN Agency Says
U.S. EIA: 2017 Saw Longer Power Interruptions Due To Hurricanes, Winter Storms
U.S. EIA: Average U.S. Electricity Customer Interruptions Totaled Nearly 8 House In 2017 Due
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To Hurricanes, Winter Storms
[Posted: Nov. 28, 2018]
Possible Solutions
On November 29, Senators Ryan Aument (R-Lancaster)

and John Yudichak (D-Luzerne) along with
Representatives Becky Corbin (R-Chester) and Rob
Matzie (D-Allegheny), co-chairs of the Senate-House
Nuclear Energy Caucus released a report summarizing
their findings on the impact of closing nuclear power
plants in Pennsylvania and outlining potential solutions.
The report, which will be transmitted to all members of the
General Assembly and to Gov. Wolf, includes four options
for the future of the state’s challenged industry, including the General Assembly taking action in
2019 to prevent the “employment, economic, and environmental devastation” associated with the
premature closure of nuclear plants in the Commonwealth.
Acknowledging the announced premature closures of Three Mile Island in 2019 and
Beaver Valley in 2021, one-fourth of Pennsylvania’s nuclear power, Sen. Aument said: “As state
lawmakers, we take seriously our obligations to set energy policies that help promote
Pennsylvania’s economy and protect our environment. The loss of these plants would be a
devastating and permanent blow to Pennsylvania’s communities, economy, and environment so
we took a hard look at what could and should be done to prevent this, and future, devastation.”
Since its formation in March 2017, the Nuclear Energy Caucus-- the first of its kind
anywhere in the nation-- has tried to better understand the underlying causes of nuclear plant
premature retirements, and to determine if these announced closures were an anomaly or a
symptom of a larger problem for Pennsylvania’s nuclear industry.
Benefits
After hosting educational meetings throughout the 2017-2018 Legislative Session to hear
expert testimony on topics ranging from clean energy to national security, the Nuclear Energy
Caucus found that Pennsylvania’s five nuclear plants provide numerous benefits, including:
-- Providing nearly 40 percent of the Commonwealth’s total electricity production and just over
93 percent of Pennsylvania’s zero-emissions energy
-- Supporting 16,000 jobs in Pennsylvania and contributing more than $2 billion annually to the
Commonwealth’s economy
-- Moderating electricity prices, benefitting Pennsylvania customers by an estimated $788
million per year in the form of lower bills
-- Improving air quality by preventing substantial emissions of C02, S02, and particulate matter
-- Ensuring grid resilience and reliability by providing energy to the grid 24/7
“Promoting and preserving the numerous, important benefits provided to our citizens by
the state’s nuclear industry is precisely the reason the Nuclear Energy Caucus was created,” said
Representative Matzie.
The Caucus also sought to understand the employment, economic, and environmental
impacts associated with the premature closures and determine if there are any actions the General
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Assembly or the Commonwealth should be undertaking to prevent the premature closure of the
state’s nuclear plants.
Understanding the continued inaction by Congress, the Federal Energy Regulatory
Committee, and regional grid operators such as PJM, states like New York, Illinois, Connecticut,
and New Jersey took direct action to prevent the devastating economic, environmental, and
consumer impacts associated with losing their state’s nuclear industry.
Options
According to the report, the current federal, regional, and state landscape leaves
Pennsylvania with four options to determine the future of Pennsylvania’s nuclear industry--
-- Do nothing and leave Pennsylvania’s clean energy resources, including its nuclear plants, on a
trajectory to early retirement – effectively allowing PJM to dictate the mix of resources serving
Pennsylvania.
-- Modify AEPS (or establish a ZEC program) to put nuclear generation on equal footing with
other zero-emission electric generation resources in Pennsylvania.
-- Modify AEPS (or establish a ZEC program) with a “safety valve” mechanism that (depending
on the outcome of the FERC proceeding) would allow Pennsylvania to adopt a new capacity
construct proposed by FERC that is designed to accommodate state programs to support
preferred generation resources.
-- Establish a Pennsylvania carbon pricing program.
“It’s clear to me that only some of the report’s options are viable for preventing
irreversible harm to Pennsylvania’s communities, economy, and environment associated with
losing nuclear power plants. Pennsylvania lawmakers will have to act soon if we want to protect
our consumers and the nuclear industry because policymakers and regulators in Washington D.C.
have failed to address growing, long-standing flaws in energy markets,” said Rep. Corbin.
“Given our state’s prominence in energy production, it is important that lawmakers focus
on an inclusive energy policy that promotes and respects the contribution that each resource
offers. The NEC looks forward to continuing the dialogue with our colleagues in the General
Assembly in the coming weeks and months,” said Sen.Yudichak. “But time is not on our side.
Pennsylvanians – especially those whose livelihood depends on nuclear energy – are looking to
us for action.”
Click Here for a copy of the report.
For more information and videos from past hearings, visit the Senate-House Nuclear
Energy Caucus webpage.
Reaction
The Environmental Defense Fund said this about the Caucus report-- “It’s clear that
Pennsylvania can, and must, set a declining limit on carbon emissions to protect families and
communities across the state from the growing threat of climate change” said Andrew Williams,
Director of Regulatory and Legislative Affairs for Environmental Defense Fund. “The federal
government’s leadership on climate may be stalled for the moment, but other states are leading
the way. Pennsylvania can – and should – step up and create a system with flexible,
market-based solutions that will reduce climate pollution.”
Pennsylvania is the only state in the Northeast without a hard limit on carbon pollution
from the power sector – or any plan to put one in place. Such a policy would drive cost-effective
investment in zero-emission resources, and ensure that the Commonwealth is achieving
necessary pollution reductions at the lowest cost.
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The Trump administration has said it will withdraw the U.S. from the Paris climate
accord, But Pennsylvania and other states can still work to meet the accord’s greenhouse gas
emissions reduction goals of up to 28 percent below the 2005 level by 2025.
The Natural Resources Defense Council issued this statement on the report-- The nuclear
caucus’s report lays out four policy options “to preserve the Commonwealth’s clean energy
resources,” a phrase used to mean both Pennsylvania’s nuclear plants and the various
“alternative” energy sources currently supported by the Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards
Act (AEPS).
Preservation of the AEPS resources is invoked because an ongoing proceeding at the
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) is likely to prevent AEPS-supported resources
from earning money in PJM’s capacity market, a reliability mechanism that pays plants for their
commitment to be available in the future.
As a result, whatever action Pennsylvania takes concerning the state’s nuclear plants, it
will likely have to change its laws to ensure that AEPS resources are fairly compensated for the
capacity they provide.
These ideas are an important starting point for discussing a clean energy transition in
Pennsylvania, but they fall short of the broad range of policies the Commonwealth really needs
to address climate change.
There is no discussion of how much energy Pennsylvania could save by ramping up
efficiency.
And in response to the idea that nuclear power should be replaced by renewables, the
report answers simply that “replacing the lost output from nuclear retirements with renewables
would take years at current development rates.”
But the relatively slow rates of development now are exactly why the Commonwealth
needs policies to spur efficiency, wind and solar. The caucus’s report does not appear to propose
anything that would do that.
This is a serious shortcoming and a missed opportunity. As our nuclear transition issue
brief makes clear, any legislation based on these recommendations must do better.
Click Here for a copy of NRDC’s nuclear power transition brief.
Citizens Against Nuclear Bailouts-- a diverse coalition of Pennsylvania citizens’ groups,
power generators, and energy, business and manufacturing associations-- has issued the
following statement in response to the Nuclear Energy Caucus report--
Today, the Nuclear Energy Caucus released its report based on testimony delivered
primarily by the nuclear industry itself. While we appreciate that the Nuclear Energy Caucus was
formed to better understand Pennsylvania’s competitive energy markets, this report takes a
singular view of a complex issue without input from consumer groups, state and federal
regulators, independent power generators and, most important, ratepayers, who are benefiting
from the state’s deregulated electricity markets.
Pennsylvanians are prospering more than ever thanks to a deregulated market, a diverse
energy portfolio that includes nuclear energy, the growth of energy-efficiency technology, and a
rise in cleaner natural gas and renewable power generation. The benefits of a competitive market
will continue with no disruption to service. PJM Interconnection, a regional transmission
organization, has publicly testified at a Nuclear Energy Caucus hearing that there is no concern
over grid resiliency or reliability — a statement at odds with the picture the nuclear industry has
attempted to create in an effort to secure a bailout.
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Our coalition values all sources of power generation; however, regulators at all levels
have confirmed that the markets are working and that the electricity grid will remain reliable and
resilient, calling into question the need for any policy change that would destroy the state’s
competitive electricity marketplace.
The nuclear industry will argue that Pennsylvania can’t afford to do nothing. The fact is
that competition, innovation, energy efficiency and sustainability are driving an electricity grid
that is more diverse than ever and an environment that is improving every day.
Citizens Against Nuclear Bailouts will continue to ask the state Legislature to heed the
call of our members and ratepayers in Pennsylvania who have overwhelmingly said they refuse
to pay more to prop up nuclear corporations that are failing to compete.
(Photo: Three Mile Island nuclear power plant, Dauphin County.)
Related Stories:
Nuclear Energy Caucus: Testimony Highlights Environmental Impacts Of Premature Shutdown
Of Nuclear Power Plants
PA Environmental Council: Putting A Price On Carbon Would Spur Energy Competition, Help
Nuclear Energy Caucus Hearing: No Mandatory Physical Or Cyber Security Standards Exist For
Natural Gas Pipelines
Nuclear Energy Caucus Hears Testimony On Jobs, Environmental Impacts Of Closing Nuclear
Power Plants
Exelon: Three Mile Island Did Not Clear PJM Capacity Auction
FirstEnergy Nuclear Power Plants Fail To Clear PJM Power Auction
FirstEnergy Files Letter With NRC Affirming Plans To Deactivate Beaver Valley, 2 Other
House-Senate PA Nuclear Energy Caucus Chairs React To FirstEnergy Nuclear Plant
Deactivation Notices
Nuclear Energy Caucus Hearing: The Federal Government Is Not Going To Act In Time To
Save Nuclear Power Plants
Senate, House Adopt FERC Coal/Nuclear Electric Pricing Resolutions
PJM: States Should Create Climate Benefit Markets If They Want To Subsidize Nuclear Plants
Effort To Keep Three Mile Island Open Gains More Local Government Support
Exelon To Retire Three Mile Island Nuclear Power Plant In 2019
New Report On Economic, Carbon Emission Benefits Of PA’s 5 Nuclear Power Plants
Possible Solutions
NewsClips:
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[Posted: Nov. 29, 2018]
University Of Pittsburgh To Purchase Hydropower From Proposed Allegheny River Lock

& Dam #2 Hydroplant
On November 29, the University of Pittsburgh

announced the first major commitment to renewable
energy will utilize the Allegheny River as the source
of clean, local and long term electricity for the
campus.
Pitt has signed a letter of intent with Rye
Development, LLC to purchase 100 percent of the
power from a low-impact hydroelectric power plant to
be built at the existing Allegheny Lock and Dam No.
2, just below the Highland Park Bridge, less than five miles from campus.
Expected to open in 2022, the facility will supply about 50,000 megawatt hours of power
per year, which equates to 25 percent of the electricity on the University’s Pittsburgh campus.
This investment will help Pitt to achieve its Sustainability Plan goal of 50 percent
renewable energy for the campus by 2030, said Greg Scott, Pitt’s senior vice chancellor for
business and operations.
“As a research institution and community partner, we are committed to leading by
example with sustainable practices that will help future generations thrive in a world that is
environmentally responsible, socially equitable and economically robust,” Scott said.
Pitt’s sustainability goals also include increased energy efficiency, along with a 50
percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. Aurora Sharrard, the University’s
director of sustainability, said the projected amount of hydropower is the equivalent of taking
nearly 8,000 cars off the road.
“This commitment is a significant step toward meeting Pitt’s sustainability goals,”
Sharrard said. “We’ve made great progress since 2008, already reducing our greenhouse gas
emissions 22.2 percent for the 2017 fiscal year. Since purchased electricity is the biggest
contributor to the University’s greenhouse gas emissions, it remains a key target for
conservation, efficiency and ongoing source changes.”
Pitt also plans to use the hydropower facility as an outlet for research and learning
opportunities.
“This is great news,” said Pitt student Sam Ressin, founder of the bipartisan climate
advocacy student group Climate Stewardship Society and chair of the Pitt Green Fund.
“Pitt students have been vocal advocates for sustainability, and I'm pleased that Pitt is
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listening. Taking strong action to reduce carbon emissions ensures that we will have a livable
world for generations to come,” said Ressin, a junior who is pursuing a joint major in economics
and statistics in the Kenneth P. Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences and a Global Studies
certificate in ecology and sustainability. “I’m proud to say my university is doing its part.”
This low-impact hydro plant at Allegheny Lock and Dam No. 2 will be the first of eight
potential hydropower facilities planned by Rye to capture the energy from Pittsburgh’s three
rivers.
“Pitt’s leadership in sourcing a significant percentage of its power from Pittsburgh’s
rivers is a positive step for the University and for the region as well,” said Paul D. Jacob, chief
executive officer of Rye Development, LLC.
“It’s been nearly three decades since a new hydropower facility was constructed on the
Allegheny River. Pitt’s commitment to this first new source of clean, reliable energy helps set
the stage for the addition of hydropower to more of the region’s existing locks and dams,” Jacob
added.
“The University’s investment in local hydropower will benefit the campus, the region and
the local economy for generations to come.”
(Photo: Allegheny River Lock & Dam #2.)
NewsClip:
University Of Pittsburgh Planning To Buy All Power From Planned Hydro Plant
[Posted: Nov. 29, 2018]
Inspections Find 96% Of Small Farms In PA Making Good Strides To Improve Water
Quality In Chesapeake Bay Watershed
On November 29, the Department of Environmental Protection

reported inspections found 96 percent of almost 3,000 small
farms visited in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed were meeting
state requirements for water quality planning.
“DEP’s expanded inspections program is a winning formula to
improve stream health in our 43 counties in the Bay watershed,”
said DEP Secretary Patrick McDonnell. “It documents the good
work many farmers are doing voluntarily to develop plans to
reduce pollution. Just as important, it creates productive working
relationships that help farmers meet their plan obligations.”
Farmers are required to have a Manure Management Plan to reduce nitrogen and
phosphorous levels, an Erosion and Sediment Control Plan to reduce sediment levels, or both.
“Nurturing living things is what farmers do,” Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding said.
“Pennsylvania’s farmers have demonstrated that they understand the connection between clean
water downstream, and healthy soil and water for Pennsylvania. We certainly have more work to
do, but these inspection results demonstrate that farmers are committed to doing their part to
improve water quality.”
DEP, Conservation District offices, and the State Conservation Commission teamed up
on inspections. They visited 2,924 farms, covering more than 329,000 acres of farmland.
Focusing on smaller farms, they inspected operations averaging 87 acres in size.
The results show that many farmers are willing to develop plans to reduce pollutants in
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local waters: Two-thirds of farmers visited already had their plan prepared at the time of
inspection.
Almost all the remaining one-third worked with conservation districts and agricultural
consultants to develop their plan by the end of the inspection year. The program covered July
2017–July 2018.
“Education is a large part of the program, as we use inspections as a catalyst to help
farmers understand what’s needed and get them on track to develop and ultimately act on their
plans. Action to improve water quality is our ultimate goal,” said Secretary McDonnell.
The results represent the second year of the inspections program, which DEP launched in
2016 to complement existing state farm inspection programs. While inspections currently focus
on plan development, the goal is to begin focusing on plan implementation in 2019-2020.
Pennsylvania has 33,610 farms, spanning three million acres in agricultural land use, in
the Chesapeake Bay Watershed.
For more information on Chesapeake Bay cleanup efforts in Pennsylvania, visit DEP’s
Chesapeake Bay Plan webpage.
NewsClips:
Crable: Study Looks At Moving Farming, Manure From Lancaster County To Western PA
NRCS-PA Accepting Applications For Farm, Forest Conservation Assistance In Central,
Southeast PA
Susquehanna Union Green’s First Phase Nears Approval In Harrisburg With Floodplain
Restoration
Wyoming Valley West Students Hold Community Tree Planting
AP: Conowingo Dam On Susquehanna Opens Floodgates Amid Record Rainfall
Op-Ed: Chesapeake Bay Program Fueled By Science, Driven By Partnership
Latest From The Chesapeake Bay Journal
Northeast Cover Crop Conference Showcased Cover Crop Innovations
Related Story:
Penn State Extension: Farm Soil Health & Cover Crop Workshops Coming Up
[Posted: Nov. 29, 2018]
Environmental Groups Deliver 4,038 Signatures To Gov. Wolf Urging Him To Prioritize
Delaware River Basin
On November 28, Pennsylvania members of the National

Wildlife Federation’s 4 The Delaware Campaign delivered
4,038 signatures on a petition to Gov. Tom Wolf urging him
to help create a new vision, prioritize resources, and further
watershed-wide planning for the Delaware River Basin by
attending a summit in 2019 with all four governors.
Representatives of PennFuture, Conservation Voters of
Pennsylvania, Coalition for the Delaware River, Audubon
Pennsylvania, Tookany/Tacony-Frankford Watershed Partnership and the Brodhead Chapter of
Trout Unlimited delivered the signatures.
Petitions were also delivered to New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy and New York Gov.
Andrew Cuomo.
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“People across the state are taking action on behalf of the Delaware River basin, and this
is another chance for citizens to take action for clean water,” stated Jacquelyn Bonomo, President
and CEO of PennFuture. “We thank Gov. Wolf for protecting Pennsylvania's parks and streams,
while making the Delaware a priority. This petition urges him to take the next step and stand
with our neighboring states to protect the Delaware River basin so that so that families, towns,
businesses, and wildlife that depend on it can thrive.”
The Delaware River Basin encompasses portions of Pennsylvania, Delaware, New York,
and New Jersey, and supplies over 15 million people with drinking water, which is 5 percent of
the U.S. population-- including the cities of Philadelphia, New York City, Trenton, and
Wilmington.
In Pennsylvania, the Delaware River Basin stretches from the Pocono Mountains down to
Philadelphia, occupying 14 percent of Pennsylvania's land area and includes 43% of the state's
population.
While the basin is a vital resource, it faces threats such as overdevelopment, stormwater
runoff, flooding, stream erosion, and wildlife habitat loss.
The Delaware River Basin provides habitat for over 200 resident and migrant fish
species, as well as birds, mammals, and other wildlife. Several threatened or endangered species
call the basin home as well, such as the Atlantic and shortnose sturgeon and the dwarf
wedgemussel.
“Through the leadership of the four Delaware River Basin Governors, a new vision for
the future of the basin must be forged. We’re delivering these petition signatures on behalf of
thousands of residents to signify that now is the time to prioritize the basin and further
basin-wide planning and protection efforts for our drinking water, wildlife habitat, and
economy,” added Sandra Meola, Director of the Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed.
The Delaware River Basin is an economic powerhouse that must be protected, as it
generates $25 billion in annual economic activity and contributes $21 billion worth of ecosystem
goods and services each year.
The Delaware River Basin creates 130,364 jobs, such as fishing, recreation, tourism,
water/sewer construction, water utilities, and ports, that generate $2.8 billion in wages.
The “4 the Delaware” campaign’s goal is to urge all four Delaware River Basin
governors to pledge to work together and share the responsibility of continuing progress
throughout the basin.
To date, there is strong interest from Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware to meet for
an in-person summit in early 2019 that will create a basin-wide vision and long-term plan for
management.
For more information on this initiative, visit the 4 The Delaware Campaign website.
NewsClips:
Philadelphia Green Infrastructure Stormwater Program Reduces Crime
Leak At Newly-Expanded Delaware River Chemical Plant Jams Highways
Delaware Memorial Bridge Re-Opens After Gas Leak Causes Closure Nightmare
Kummer: Threats To Wissahickon Creek In Philadelphia: A View From 800 Feet Up
Southeast PA
Nov. 30 Delaware RiverKeeper RiverWatch Video Report
[Posted: Nov. 28, 2018]
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DEP Awards $1.6 Million In Acid Mine Drainage Treatment Grants In Western PA
On November 28, the Department of

Environmental Protection awarded $1.6 million to
support 7 projects in Western Pennsylvania to
treat acid mine drainage.
“Pennsylvania continues to chip away at the
immense challenge of restoring streams impaired
before the creation of environmental regulations,”
said DEP Secretary Patrick McDonnell. “These
projects bring together the best resources in
planning, design, construction, and maintenance
to help bring streams back to life.”
Seven projects will help restore more than 20 miles of streams in four counties and at the
Flight 93 National Memorial site. The projects are as follows:
-- Clearfield County: Clearfield County Conservation District received $249,500 to improve
recreational use of Little Beaver Run in Decatur Township by designing and building an AMD
treatment system, including a pond, wetland, and limestone bed, to reduce acidity.
-- Fayette County: Mountain Watershed Association received $426,279 for new work to
maintain remediation and address new discharges in the Gallentine and Sagamore AMD passive
treatment systems in Saltlick and Springfield townships. The two systems are integral to
maintaining water quality in Indian Creek, which prior AMD remediation has restored to a
trout-stocked fishery.
-- Indiana County:
-- Indiana County Conservation District received $83,624 to develop a plan to restore 18
miles of AMD-impaired streams in the Yellow Creek Watershed. The conservation district office
will assess the watershed on foot and via drone and discharge sampling along Yellow Creek.
They’ll then develop a restoration plan that will guide future cleanup strategies and enable
existing and planned AMD treatment systems to qualify for funding.
-- Stream Restoration Incorporated received $57,559 to develop a plan to restore Aultman’s
Run Watershed, which has 69 miles of stream and covers parts of Indiana and Armstrong
counties. Completion of the restoration plan will guide future cleanup strategies and enable five
planned AMD and coal refuse cleanup projects to qualify for funding.
-- Somerset County:
-- Paint Creek Regional Watershed Association received $48,193 for limestone treatment to
restore AMD-impaired headwaters of Babcock Creek in Gallitzin State Forest. The project is
anticipated to expand local habitat for Pennsylvania’s state fish, the brook trout.
-- Somerset County Conservation District received $551,319 for construction of an AMD
passive treatment system on Lamberts Run in Stonycreek Township, one mile from the Flight 93
National Memorial. In addition to removing the final source of AMD impairment in Lamberts
Run Watershed, the system is expected to improve water quality in the upper Stonycreek River.
This project complements existing DEP-led treatment at the headwaters of Lamberts Run on the
Flight 93 property.
-- Shade Creek Watershed Association received $208,141 for AMD treatment on Coal Run
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in State Game Land 228, Shade Township. The project will restore more than 4 miles of stream
and maintain previous mine drainage treatment in the headwaters of Shade Creek, which are
supporting native brook trout populations.
The grants come from the state Surface Mining Conservation and Reclamation Act Fund
and a state AML Set Aside fund supported by the federal Abandoned Mine Land Program.
For more information on mine reclamation, visit DEP’s Abandoned Mine Reclamation
Program webpage.
(Photo: Oven Run passive mine drainage treatment system, Somerset County Conservancy.)
NewsClips:
Stream Near Flight 93 Memorial To Get Cleanup From Acid Mine Drainage
MMI Preparatory School To Use $200K Grant To Correct Mine Drainage Issues
PPL Foundation Awards Grant To Earth Conservancy
Related Story:
DEP To Host 2nd Information Session On Swoyersville Culm Bank Reclamation Project Dec. 5
In Luzerne County
[Posted: Nov. 28, 2018]
American Rivers Receives Stroud Water Research Center Award For Freshwater
Excellence
On November 29, Stroud Water Research Center

in Chester County presented the 2018 Stroud
Award for Freshwater Excellence to American
Rivers and its president and CEO, Wm. Robert
(Bob) Irvin, at the Stroud Center’s premiere
fundraising gala, The Water’s Edge.
Wilmington Trust was the presenting sponsor of
the event, which took place in Delaware, at
Winterthur, the childhood home of collector and
horticulturist Henry Francis du Pont. This
1,000-acre preserve of rolling meadows and
woodlands was designed by du Pont. Its 60-acre
naturalistic garden is among America’s best, with magnificent specimen plantings and massed
displays of color.
American Rivers is a national nonprofit conservation organization with offices across the
country, including in Pennsylvania. American Rivers is celebrating its 45th anniversary this year
and the 50th anniversary of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act.
Bob Irvin was recognized for his more than 30 year career in conservation and his
success advancing the mission of American Rivers, which is to protect wild rivers, restore
damaged rivers, and conserve clean water for people and nature.
“It is a great honor to receive this award from the Stroud Center,” Irvin said. “This award
is for all of our generous members and supporters who make our work possible. At American
Rivers, we believe every person in the country should have clean water and a healthy river and
our supporters are moving us closer to achieving that goal.”
“Water is the most important conservation issue of our time. Protecting and restoring the
25
health of the nation’s rivers is essential to our future health and security. We all have a
responsibility to be good stewards and to leave a legacy of healthy rivers and clean water for the
next generation,” Irvin said.
American Rivers has a 45-year track record of success that includes spearheading the
U.S. dam removal and river restoration movement, championing the preservation of thousands of
miles of Wild and Scenic Rivers, mobilizing public action through the annual America’s Most
Endangered Rivers® campaign, and advancing solutions for innovative water and river
management nationwide.
In 2018, American Rivers removed 13 outdated dams, restored more than 400 miles of
rivers, and protected more than 300 miles of wild rivers including securing Wild and Scenic
designation for Montana’s East Rosebud Creek.
American Rivers also helped win an important legal victory in defense of the federal
Clean Water Rule, which safeguards drinking water sources for one in three Americans.
Since its inception in 2003, The Water’s Edge has featured an impressive list of
individuals who have made noteworthy contributions to the world of science, fresh water, and
conservation.
Previous award recipients have included His Serene Highness Prince Albert II of
Monaco; National Park Service and its director, Jonathan Jarvis; Alexandra Cousteau; Robert F.
Kennedy Jr.; Dr. Jane Lubchenco and Dr. Kathryn Sullivan, National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration; Dr. John Briscoe; and Olivia Newton-John and John Easterling.
For more information on programs, initiatives and special events, visit the Stroud Water
Research Center website, Click Here to subscribe to UpStream. Click Here to subscribe to
Stroud’s Educator newsletter. Click Here to become a Friend Of Stroud Research, Like them on
Facebook, Follow on Twitter, include them in your Circle on Google+ and visit their YouTube
Channel.
(Photo: Stroud Board Co-Chairman Rodman W. Moorhead III, American Rivers President and
CEO Wm. Robert Irvin, Stroud Board Co-Chairman Charles Porter Schutt III, Stroud Director
David B. Arscott. Photo: Gene Miller Photography.)
NewsClips:
Voting Now Open For 2019 Pennsylvania River Of The Year
Vote Now: Lackawanna River Competing For 2019 River Of The Year
[Posted: Nov. 30, 2018]
On November 27, the Department of Conservation and

Natural Resources and the PA Organization for
Watersheds and Rivers open public voting for the 2019
Pennsylvania River of the Year. The deadline for
voting is January 4.
Voters will have the opportunity to cast their ballots for
the Clarion River, Conodoguinet Creek, Delaware
River, or the Lackawanna River.
“Pennsylvania is filled with countless waterway
treasures,” said Gov. Tom Wolf. “I encourage everyone
26
to vote on their favorite river as this annual contest enters its ninth year.”
Nominations consider each waterway’s conservation needs and successes, as well as
celebration plans if the nominee becomes 2019 River of the Year.
“This annual undertaking is much more than a public vote gauging popularity of a
Pennsylvania waterway,” said Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary
Cindy Adams Dunn. “Regardless of outcome, the competition builds community support around
our rivers and streams, putting them in the public limelight. All have unique attributes; offer
incredible recreational opportunities; and offer significant boosts to local economies.”
Presented since 1983, this year’s 2018 winner was Loyalsock Creek.
“We are excited to kick-off, for the ninth year, the public on-line voting process for
Pennsylvania River of the Year,” POWR Director Janet Sweeney said. “The River of the Year
program is a great way for us to highlight the opportunities and challenges facing the state’s
waterways.”
After a waterway receives the annual honor, local groups put in place a year-round slate
of activities and events to celebrate the river, including a paddling trip, or sojourn. The
organization nominating the winning river will receive a $10,000 leadership grant from DCNR to
help fund River of the Year activities.
POWR and DCNR also work with local organizations to create a free, commemorative
poster celebrating the River of the Year.
The River of the Year sojourn is among many paddling trips supported each year by
DCNR and POWR. An independent program, the Pennsylvania Sojourn Program, is a unique
series of a dozen such trips on the state’s rivers.
These water-based journeys for canoeists, kayakers and others raise awareness of the
environmental, recreational, tourism and heritage values of rivers.
Click Here to vote.
For more information on rivers, visit DCNR’s Rivers Conservation 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:
Related Stories:
DCNR Now Hiring Young Adults For PA Outdoor Corps Crews In Locations Around PA
PA Parks & Forests Foundation Offers Young, Seniors Access To Outdoors Scholarships
Citizen Science Opportunity: Join Audubon’s Christmas Bird Count Dec. 14 - Jan. 5
Groundbreaking Held For Multimodal Project To Improve Safety, Connectivity Around
Ohiopyle State Park, Fayette County
State, Local Officials Celebrate Opening Of S.H. Rothermel Walking Trail In Mifflin County
DCNR Uses Electric Motorcycles At Presque Isle, Delaware Canal State Parks To Reduce
Carbon Footprint
Nov. 29 Resource Newsletter Now Available From DCNR
[Posted: Nov. 28, 2018]
27
PUC #UtilityCareers Campaign Earns International Recognition
On November 30, the Public Utility Commission announced

it has received international recognition-- the 2018 MarCom
Gold Award-- for creative communications showcasing the
PUC’s ongoing #UtilityCareers campaign.
#UtilityCareers was launched to highlight the types of utility
careers available in Pennsylvania and to encourage more
talented individuals of all ages and backgrounds to consider
careers in the utility sector.
This is the second year in a row that the PUC’s public outreach and education efforts
have drawn international honors.
The MarCom award is one of the oldest, largest and most prestigious creative
competitions in the world-- recognizing outstanding achievement by creative professionals
involved in the concept, direction, design and production of communication materials and
programs.
“We are honored that this year’s MarCom award recognizes the PUC’s #UtilityCareers
campaign and our collaborative effort to highlight this important workforce development issue,”
said PUC Chairman Gladys M. Brown. “The PUC is committed to our public service mission,
and we are grateful that our team of dedicated communications professionals has again been
selected as among the best in the industry.”
The PUC’s #UtilityCareers campaign was honored alongside the work of numerous U.S.
and global businesses and organizations including the American Heart Association, Comcast,
Hilton Worldwide, IBM, Microsoft, National Geographic, Nissan North America, PepsiCo and
the PGA Tour.
Other MarCom Gold Award winners from Pennsylvania include Temple University
Health System, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Villanova School of Business, the American College
of Physicians, the Pennsylvania State Employees Credit Union (PSECU), the Pennsylvania
Housing Finance Agency, FedEx and the Carnegie Museum of Natural History.
The 2018 MarCom award winners were selected from more than 6,500 worldwide
entries. Judges were tasked with looking for entities whose talent exceeds a high standard of
excellence and whose work serves as a benchmark for the industry.
MarCom is sponsored and judged by the Association of Marketing and Communication
Professionals (AMCP), an international organization for creative professionals.
For more information on the careers program, visit the #UtilityCareers campaign website.
[Posted: Nov. 30, 2018]
Agriculture, Military Affairs Kick Off Trees For Troops Donation Weekend
On November 30, Agriculture Secretary Russell

Redding and Maj. Gen. Tony Carelli,
Pennsylvania’s Adjutant General and head of the
Department of Military and Veterans Affairs,
helped kick off the 2018 Trees for Troops
weekend, encouraging Pennsylvanians to donate
28
Christmas trees to active-duty military and their families.
“We often talk about the importance of partnerships in building a coalition of support for
Pennsylvanians; and forging relationships to inspire, and to grow, and to provide,” said Secretary
Redding. “Today we invite our friends and neighbors to join us in this partnership and help us
thank Pennsylvania’s military service members. This simple act can help inspire hope and can
provide our troops with a little piece of home, no matter where they are.”
Trees for Troops is a national program that provides free, farm-grown Christmas trees to
armed forces members and their families each holiday season.
Pennsylvanians can participate in the program by visiting a farm or participating location
from November 30 through December 2, and purchasing a tree for distribution to service
members.
"The Christmas tree is a symbol of the holiday spirit to many people across the globe.
This outstanding program will send trees overseas to spread joy to service members deployed far
away from their families, and also deliver trees stateside to brighten the hearts of our troops and
their families who were fortunate to be home for the holidays," said Carrelli. "By donating a tree,
this program gives people a meaningful opportunity to say thank you to our troops and help
ensure military families have the kind of joyful traditional Christmas memories that we would
wish for America's heroes."
Speakers at the event, held at Bustard’s Christmas Trees in Landsdale, encouraged
Pennsylvanians to do their part by contributing one of the more than 17,000 trees heading to
military installations throughout the country this month as a part of the annual program.
During the event, Redding and Carelli joined attendees to load a FedEx trailer with trees
donated from the farm.
FedEx partners to provide transportation services delivering the trees to more than 65
military bases in the U.S. and overseas, and has driven more than 573,000 ground miles for the
program.
This is the 14th year of Trees for Troops, which since 2005 has provided more than
176,000 Christmas trees to military families and troops in the United States and overseas. Last
year, more than 17,400 Christmas trees were delivered to 70 U.S. military bases and 250 trees
delivered to four international bases.
The program is part of the Christmas SPIRIT Foundation, a non-profit branch of the
National Christmas Tree Association, which represents more than 700 active member farms, 29
state and regional associations, and more than 4,000 affiliated businesses that grow and sell
Christmas trees or provide related supplies and services.
For more information and participating locations, visit the Christmas Spirit Foundation
website.
Want to know more about Christmas Trees in Pennsylvania? Visit the PA Christmas
Tree Growers Association website.
(Photo: Maj. Gen. Tony Carelli and Secretary Russell Redding.)
NewsClips:
Esack: Donate Christmas Trees To The Military Service Personnel, Families
Wet Weather Doesn’t Dampen Christmas Tree Sales In Westmoreland
Worried About Bugs On Your Christmas Tree? Here’s What You Can Do
Related Stories:
State Agencies Provide Year-End Update On Spotted Lanternfly
29
PA Environmental Council: Reforestation Partnership Takes Root
Western PA Conservancy: Trees For Johnstown, Cambria County
Penn State Extension Woods In Your Backyard Webinar Series For Forest Landowners
[Posted: Nov. 30, 2018]
Senate/House Agenda/Session Schedule[Updated]/Gov’s Schedule
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
All Bills Died
Committee Meeting Agendas This Week
All Committees must be reestablished in new legislative session
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.
Session Schedule
Here is the latest voting session schedule for the Senate and House--
Senate [Updated]
January 1, 15, 16, 28, 29, 30
February 4, 5, 6
Budget Hearings: Feb. 19, 20, 21, 25, 26, 27, 28, March 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
March 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 27
April 8, 9, 10, 29, 30
May 1, 6, 7, 8
June 3, 4, 5, 10, 11, 12, 17, 18, 19, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28
House [Updated]
January 1, 15, 16
Budget Hearings: Feb. 11, 12, 13, 14, 19, 20, 21, 25, 26, 27, 28, March 4, 5, 6, 7
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.
30
The Feds
Federal Storm Recovery Aid Approved For Portions Of Pennsylvania
On November 27, Gov. Tom Wolf announced the federal government has granted his request for
Public Assistance to reimburse state agencies, county and municipal governments and other
eligible private non-profits for costs associated with severe storms that brought heavy rainfall
and severe flash flooding to parts of Pennsylvania from August 10 to 15, 2018.
Public Assistance was awarded to the following counties: Bradford, Columbia,
Lackawanna, Lycoming, Montour, Schuylkill, Sullivan, Susquehanna, Tioga and Wyoming.
The governor’s request for Individual Assistance, which would make a variety of
programs available to citizens to meet their recovery needs, is still under review by the Federal
Emergency Management Agency.
“Historic rainfall this summer created a financial disaster for many communities across
the state,” Gov. Wolf said. “We hope that our request for Individual Assistance, which was
submitted at the same time, is also granted.”
Through the Public Assistance program, applicants can be reimbursed up to 75 percent of
the costs incurred on eligible expenses, such as but not limited to: costs associated with paying
overtime, repairs to damaged infrastructure, equipment rentals and materials.
Over the coming weeks, staff from the PA Emergency Management Agency will hold
meetings with applicants to thoroughly review all application documentation before forwarding
it to FEMA.
The process is expected to take several weeks, and all reimbursements are handled
electronically.
In order to request Public Assistance, the Commonwealth overall must meet a threshold
of $19,053,569. Estimated costs associated with this incident period total nearly $62.8 million.
The governor signed a Proclamation of Disaster Emergency, which is a required step in
order to request federal aid, for this storm on August 17.
NewsClips:
Feds OK Disaster Aid For PA Counties Flooded In August
Federal Flood Disaster Aid Approved For NE Counties
Lycoming, Tioga Counties Receive Federal Aid For Storm Damage
PA Receives Federal Aid For Severe Storms In August
Roads Flooded In York County As An Inch Of Rain Fell
2018: Will It Become The Wettest On Record?
Pittsburgh’s Four Mile Run Slated For Millions In Improvements
AP: National Flood Insurance Program Rebuilds Homes Repeatedly
[Posted: Nov. 28, 2018]
News From Around The State
DEP To Host 2nd Information Session On Swoyersville Culm Bank Reclamation Project
Dec. 5 In Luzerne County
31
On November 26, Department of Environmental Protection announced it will host a follow-up
information session on December 5 regarding the Swoyersville Culm Bank Removal Project in
Luzerne County.
The session will take place from 6:00 - 9:00 p.m. at the Swoyersville Hose Company No.
2, located at 299 Slocum Street, Swoyersville.
Representatives from DEP, the Department of Transportation, and the project contractor,
Keystone Reclamation, will be on hand to discuss the project and answer additional questions
from residents.
The estimated 10-year project involves removing more than 4 million cubic yards of coal
waste and rock material from the 55-acre site off Main Street in Swoyersville. The material was
generated from the Harry E. Coal Breaker, which ceased operations in the 1970’s and was
dismantled in 1995.
Once the refuse is removed, the area will be re-vegetated for development and 7.5 acres
of that will be donated to Swoyersville Borough for use as a public recreational area.
The work will also improve water quality in nearby Abraham’s Creek by reducing
flooding and decreasing the possibility of acid mine drainage.
Approximately 2.8 million cubic yards of the material removed from the site will be used
by Keystone Reclamation Fuel Management out of Northampton County as fuel for its
cogeneration facility.
The project is being funded by the federal Abandoned Mine Reclamation pilot program
which was authorized by Congress in 2017.
The partners for this project include: Keystone Reclamation Fuel Management,
Swoyersville Borough, Pagnotti Enterprises, Foundation for PA Watersheds and the federal
Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement.
For more information on mine reclamation, visit DEP’s Bureau of Abandoned Mine
Reclamation webpage.
NewsClips:
Related Story:
DEP Awards $1.6 Million In Acid Mine Drainage Treatment Grants In Western PA
[Posted: Nov. 26, 2018]
NRCS-PA Accepting Applications For Farm, Forest Owner Conservation Assistance In

Central, Southeast PA
On November 29, the Natural Resource

Conservation Service-PA announced it is now
accepting applications from agricultural
producers in targeted areas in central and
southeastern Pennsylvania for funding to help
improve water quality, enhance soil health, and
protect agricultural viability through the
Regional Conservation Partnership Program
32
(RCPP).
The deadline for applications is December 21
Created by the 2014 Farm Bill, RCPP connects partners with producers and private
landowners to design and implement voluntary conservation solutions that benefit natural
resources, agriculture, and the economy.
NRCS funding to producers and landowners is made available through the Environmental
Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). Awarded funds will be dedicated to installing conservation
practices in selected areas to accomplish the agricultural and natural resource goals of the
project.
In addition to USDA financial assistance funds, partners will expand upon conservation
efforts of the NRCS by contributing funds and in-kind services such as outreach and technical
assistance.
For FY 2019, funding for EQIP contracts is available through the following projects.
Applications are being accepted continuously until the next cutoff--
-- Chester County Portion Of Chesapeake Bay Watershed: Planning and implementation of
conservation practices, continued operation and maintenance of conservation practices; focus on
water quality and riparian buffers. Chester County Conservation District, CCCD Partnership for
Chesapeake Bay Water Quality.
-- Adams, Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Perry, and York Counties: Planning and
implementation of conservation practices, with a focus on livestock manure management
practices. PA Department of Agriculture, Implementing Conservation Practices and
Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plans on Pennsylvania Preserved Farms.
-- Centre, Clinton, and Lycoming Counties: Planning and implementation of conservation
practices that promote soil health. Chesapeake Bay Foundation-PA, Soil Health: Improving
Land, Water and Profitability.
Applicants should contact their local USDA NRCS Service Center for additional
information and application procedures.
For more information on programs, technical and financial assistance available, visit the
Natural Resource Conservation Service-PA webpage.
NewsClips:
Congress’s Lame-Duck Session: Farm Bill Other Critical Legislation
Related Stories:
Inspections Find 96% Of Small Farms In PA Making Good Strides To Improve Water Quality In
Chesapeake Bay Watershed
PA Sea Grant, Lake Erie Region Conservancy Receive DCNR Grants To Preserve 270 Acres Of
Farmland
[Posted: Nov. 30, 2018]
Soil Health And Cover Crops Workshops are coming up

in December and January across the state for agriculture
33
producers. The first workshops will be held December 17 in York County and January 10 in
Mercer County.
Come out and join Penn State Extension to hear local Extension Educators and farmers
talk about soil health, soil fertility, cover crop management, and more!
Wendell Berry, American philosopher, poet, and farmer, once wrote that, “what I stand
for is what I stand on.” Published in 1980, these words ring true for farmers today.
Over the last several years, there has been a momentous increase in awareness and
interest in protecting and improving soil while producing more food, feed, and fiber. However,
the abundance of information on soil health and cover crops can be overwhelming to digest and
implement on the farm.
Adding to this complexity, optimal cover crop management can vary depending on your
crop rotation, equipment, experience level, goals for a given field, and location within
Pennsylvania.
What we do know is that soil health, or the capacity of soil to perform according to its
potential, can be impacted—both positively and negatively-- by how we manage our fields. We
also know that cover crops are one tool we can use to promote soil health.
If you have ever wondered, for example, why you should care about microbes in your
soil; why earthworms or ground beetles matter; how to set up your no-till planter to handle cover
crop residue; which cover crop species or mixture is right for your crop rotation; or if there are
any cost-share options available to help implement cover crops, we encourage you to attend one
of our upcoming Soil Health and Cover Crop Workshops.
December 17 - York
The first event of this multi-county series is on December 17 at the York County Annex
Building, Room 1, 112 Pleasant Acres Rd., York, PA 17402, from 9:00 to Noon.
Speakers include local farmers with hands-on experience and insight on soil health and
cover crops; extension specialists and educators with helpful university trial data and
interpretation; industry professionals, who help growers choose the best products to foster soil
health; and NRCS and conservation district personnel, with expertise on cost-share options, how
best to comply with Agricultural Erosion and Sedimentation Control and Manure Management
Plans, and how these are influenced by cover crops.
You will leave the half-day workshop with a better understanding of why soil health is
important, practices that can improve soil health, why to consider incorporating cover crops and
how to manage cover crops in your rotation, and how neighbors of yours have done so,
successfully.
The event is free to attendees and registration is encouraged, but walk-ins are accepted.
Click Here to register for the York County Soil Health and Cover Crop Workshop today.
January 10 - Mercer
A second workshop has also been scheduled for January 10 at the Penn State Extension
Mercer County, 463 North Perry Highway, Mercer from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Click Here to
register.
For more information, visit Penn State Extension Soil Health And Cover Crops
Workshops webpage.
NewsClips:
34
Related Stories:
Inspections Find 96% Of Small Farms In PA Making Good Strides To Improve Water Quality In
Chesapeake Bay Watershed
Southeast PA
PA Sea Grant, Lake Erie Region Conservancy Receive DCNR Grants To Preserve 270 Acres Of
Farmland
[Posted: Nov. 29, 2018]
MS4 Stormwater Education Resources Available To Local Officials
To help them meet MS4 stormwater pollution

reduction education requirements, local public
officials can look to Penn State Extension for
stormwater education resources.
At their spring 2018 statewide meeting in
Harrisburg, and at fall forum meetings in
Cumberland, Centre, Montgomery, and Clarion
Counties, members of the PA State Association of
Township Supervisors were introduced to some of
Extension’s educational resources that could help
them in this endeavor.
Participants at these meetings learned
about the Stormwater Basics toolkit of short videos and fact sheets that can be used as part of a
community education program, and participated in a hands-on demo of Extension’s Rain to
Drain 4-H curriculum for youth audiences.
Other resources such as help with tree ordinances and plantings, finding local volunteer
watershed stewards, and online stormwater best management tools were also discussed.
Extension educators were able to gain valuable feedback from the group on how we can
further help them meet their educational needs.
Interested in taking a look at the Stormwater Basics Toolkit for your municipality? Visit
Penn State Extension's Stormwater Basics webpage to learn more!
Related Story:
Penn State Extension: Teaching Youth About Water Continues To Be a High Priority
Wildlife Leadership Academy Seeks Motivated Students To Become Youth Conservation
Ambassadors
Penn State Extension: Teaching Youth About Water Continues To Be A High Priority
NewsClips:
Restoration
Dallas Municipal Authority Plans Stormwater Meeting
35
Saplings And Babies, Growing Up Together In Pittsburgh
[Posted: Nov. 28, 2018]
By: Jennifer Fetter, Extension Educator, Renewable Natural Resources
In September, Penn State Extension hosted the fourth

biennial Dive Deeper Summit in Harrisburg. This
gathering of educators from across the mid-Atlantic region
highlights the importance of including water quality and
water issues as a learning priority in school and after
school.
“It’s a unique event and a special opportunity for
educators in Pennsylvania and across the mid-Atlantic
region. We are unaware of any other summit in the
country that is meant for educators teaching youth about
water” says Water Resources Educator, Jennifer Fetter.
The 2018 summit was a record-setting event. Over 160 educators attended this year, from
four different states.
Attendees had the opportunity to learn about innovative and exciting new tools, lesson
plans, and resources that they can use to help teach youth about water.
Over 93 percent of the participants this year said they learned about a new resource that
they plan to use in their education programs. Educators also benefit from networking with their
peers.
Over 86 percent of attendees this year said that they met someone new that they plan to
continue networking with about water education in the future.
In Pennsylvania, the mid-Atlantic, and across the country and globe, we can see
continuing water issues and new and emerging water issues. In some places flooding is causing
millions of dollars of damage and causing injuries and fatalities.
In other places, water quality issues are leading to drinking water health issues, depleted
fisheries with commercial losses, and habitat loss for wildlife.
At the same time that flooding is taking place, there are part of our country and world
where water is so scarce that agriculture and communities are suffering to get by.
Providing youth with knowledge and tools to understand these critical issues now
provides them the skills to become stewards for water in the future.
Water also makes a great cross-disciplinary topic in school and in out-of-school
activities. Water can easily be included in the sciences, but it also has a great fit in economics,
arts, social studies, agriculture, and even religion, among others.
It also helps youth build connections to their local community as they can explore their
own drinking water sources, streams in their neighborhoods, and stormwater on their streets.
The Dive Deeper Summit will return for its fifth offering in the fall of 2020. A request for
proposals to present or exhibit at the conference will be made available in late 2019.
If you would like to be notified when that time comes, please contact Jennifer Fetter by
36
sending email to: jrf21@psu.edu.
Related Story:
Stormwater Education Resources Available To Local Officials
Ambassadors
NewsClips:
Op-Ed: Midterm Elections Brought A Blue Wave, But We Should Be Focused On Going Green -
Schuylkill Center For Environmental Education
[Posted: Nov. 28, 2018]

Ambassadors
The Wildlife Leadership Academy in

Union County has opened its exclusive
Youth Conservation Ambassador
nomination process to the public and is
currently seeking referrals of motivated
students ages 14 to 17 to become
Certified Conservation Ambassadors.
The deadline for nominations is
February 8.
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 wildlife, fisheries, and conservation professionals.
Academy Alumni and Conservation Ambassador Aubree Reiter of Blair County
describes her participation in the program as an “absolutely amazing experience.”
“Everything was absolutely amazing. The people we met were extraordinary and the
amount of information we obtained was just mind boggling. I still talk about my experience to
my family and I am constantly referencing my notes. I can’t wait for my future! The field school
37
reached beyond my expectations,” said Reiter.
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. The Academy, a 501(c)(3) non-profit
organization, is a cooperative initiative involving state agencies and conservation organizations.
For more information, visit the Certified Conservation Ambassadors webpage or contact
Program and Outreach Coordinator, Katie Cassidy by sending email to:
kcassidy@wildlifeleadershipacademy.org or call 570-939-5109.
You can also connect with the Academy by visit the Wildlife Leadership Academy
website or on Facebook.
Related Story:
Boy Scout Takes On 4 Conservation Projects To Qualify For Prestigious William T. Hornaday
Silver Award
NewsClips:
[Posted: Nov. 29, 2018]
PennDOT Public-Private Partnership Program Requests Wetlands Mitigation Banking

Proposals
On November 27, the Department of Transportation announced it is issuing a request for

qualifications (RFQ) to solicit a private partner to develop a wetlands mitigation banking project
in southeastern Pennsylvania.
In addition, PennDOT will host an industry forum on December 18 to outline the P-3
concept for the project.
“Having such a wetlands bank will help expedite environmental clearances for important
transportation and other development projects,” PennDOT Secretary Leslie S. Richards said.
“Tackling such an issue shows how our innovative Public Private Partnerships law can have
wide, beneficial impacts for Pennsylvania.”
PennDOT’s vision is that the P-3 partner will develop 140 acres for a wetland banking
site in Chalfont, Bucks County.
PennDOT already owns the land and the proposed facility will provide on-demand
wetland mitigation credits for both PennDOT projects and other private development projects
that have wetland impacts within the same watershed.
PennDOT has been working with appropriate federal and state regulatory agencies to lay
the groundwork for the project.
Interested parties have 60 days to respond with a statement of qualifications.
Click Here for a copy of the RFQ.
For more information on this program and other P3 solicitations, visit PennDOT’s
Public-Private Partnerships webpage.
38
[Posted: Nov. 28, 2018]
DEP Advisory Committees Meet Dec. 12 To Continue Discussion On Changes To Act 101
Municipal Recycling Program
DEP’s Solid Waste Advisory & Recycling Fund

Advisory Committees are scheduled to meet on
December 12 to continue their discussion of proposed
changes to the municipal waste recycling program and
Act 101.
The Committees will discuss a revised list of 25
different areas of change they would like to see in
municipal waste recycling and disposal. On the list
are suggestions like--
-- Provide universal access to waste management and
recycling;
-- Authorize municipalities and counties to impose fees to support recycling programs;
-- Require any municipality with a population over 5,000 to recycle;
-- Require collection of all recyclable items listed in Act 101 (now it’s 3 out of 8);
-- Expand public education about recycling; and
-- Ban open burning of waste.
Click Here for a copy of the draft recommendations.
For more information on recycling, visit DEP’s Recycling In PA webpage.
Other Agenda Items
Also on the agenda for information or discussion are--
-- Draft General Permit For County Recycling Convenience Centers/Satellite Stations
-- Technical Guidance On Radioactivity Monitoring At Waste Facilities (Info)
-- Recent Act 101 Change On Leaf Waste (Info)
The meeting will be held in Room 105 of the Rachel Carson Building in Harrisburg
starting at 10:00.
For more information, visit the DEP Solid Waste Advisory Committee & Recycling Fund
Advisory Committee webpage. Questions should be directed to Laura Henry by calling
717-772-5713 or send email to: lahenry@pa.gov.
NewsClips:
Op-Ed: More Than Ever, We Need To Reduce, Reuse And Recycle
Hearing Gives Beaver County Residents Look At Plan To Control Little Blue Run Waste
Impoundment
Frazier: Leaky Coal Burning Waste Pond Seeks New Pollution Permit From DEP
Related Stories:
Fresh Paint Days Grants Help Community Improvement Projects In Monroe, Philadelphia,
Westmoreland Counties
EPA Settles Lead Safe Renovation Violations With Chester County Contractor
[Posted: Nov. 29, 2018]
Fresh Paint Days Grants Help Community Improvement Projects In Monroe,
39
Philadelphia, Westmoreland Counties
This fall, Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful,

in partnership with The Home Depot
and Behr, gave eight community groups
paint and painting supplies as part of the
2018 Fresh Paint Days PA Program
enabling them to renew a community
structure in need.
This year’s program engaged local volunteers in painting projects that included an
historic residence, a bandshell, a playground shelter, a family-owned destination eatery, local
missions, a church and a library.
Armed with 20 gallons of paint, residents made an impact to treasured neighborhood
structures, improving local areas and whole communities.
Community projects, completed between the months of September and November,
included:
-- Monroe County: Stroudsburg United Methodist Church, Stroudsburg: Used for decades
as a meeting place and a soup kitchen, the Parish Hall addition to the Stroudsburg United
Methodist church, was painted by church members and volunteers. “This section of the church
was made beautiful by the Fresh Paint Days grants. We are all very grateful,” said Kay Bucci,
coordinator of the event and church member.
-- Philadelphia: Association Puertorriquenos en Marcha: Students of Temple University
Lewis Katz School of Medicine and other program partners helped paint the Children's Mission
building that provides local children with interactive educational programs and health and
wellness services to adults and seniors.
-- Westmoreland County: West Newton Public Library, West Newton: "The Keep Pa
Beautiful Project transformed the West Newton Public Library into a focal point to attract
visitors to our community,” said Mary Popovich, Vice President, West Newton Public Library.
“Through collaboration with Behr paint, Home Depot, Contemporary Design and the Yough
Senior Art Students, West Newton's rich history has been represented by two murals designed by
two local students. The murals reflect our past and promote the progress our community has
made in economic growth of our trail town through recreation and tourism."
“Our program is meant to empower residents to enhance and improve one structure.
Sometimes that’s all it takes to get the momentum going to improve other buildings and even
whole areas and eventually spur economic growth and development,” added Shannon Reiter,
President of Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful. “Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful is thrilled to provide
the seed for such projects. It is so inspirational to see what can be accomplished when
community members work together. The transformations are a visible reminder of the pride that
people have for the places they live. Through our partnership with BEHR and The Home Depot
we are honored to be a part of these community revitalization efforts.”
More information on the program is available at KPB’s Fresh Paint Days PA Program
webpage.
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
40
Pinterest and visit their YouTube Channel.
Also visit the Illegal Dump Free PA website for more ideas on how to clean up
communities and keep them clean and KPB’s Electronics Waste website.
(Photo: Monroe, Philadelphia, Westmoreland county projects.)
Related Stories:
[Posted: Nov. 28, 2018]
On November 28, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced Chapman Windows
and Doors of West Chester, Chester County will pay a $17,500 penalty to resolve alleged
violations of the lead-based paint Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP) Rule.
This rule protects the public from toxic lead hazards created by renovation activities
involving lead-based paint. RRP safeguards are designed to ensure “lead safe” practices in the
renovation and repair activities involving “target housing” built before the 1978 federal ban on
lead-based paint.
EPA alleged during multiple renovations of target housing in West Chester in February
2017 that Chapman Windows and Doors, while working under the parent company Air Tight
Home Improvements, violated the RRP “lead safe” requirements by:
-- Failing to document whether target housing owners had timely received the required lead
hazard information pamphlet titled “Renovate Right: Important Lead Hazard Information for
Families, Child Care Providers and Schools;”
-- Failing to retain records to document compliance with lead-practices during renovation; and
-- Failing to ensure that the renovators conducting the work were EPA-certified to conduct
lead-safe renovations.
As part of the settlement, the company did not admit these alleged violations, but has
cooperated with EPA in resolving this matter and certifying its compliance with applicable RRP
requirements.
Infants, children, and pregnant women are especially vulnerable to lead exposure, which
can cause lifelong impacts including developmental impairment, learning disabilities, impaired
hearing, reduced attention span, hyperactivity, and behavioral problems.
Because of these health risks, the U.S. banned lead-based paint in 1978. However, EPA
estimates that lead-based paint is still present in more than 30 million homes nationwide.
For more information on the RRP program, visit EPA’s Renovation, Repair and Painting
(RRP) Rule webpage.
NewsClips:
Impoundment
Related Stories:
41
Fresh Paint Days Grants Help Community Improvement Projects In Monroe, Philadelphia,
Westmoreland Counties
[Posted: Nov. 28, 2018]
Brownfields Multipurpose, Assessment, Cleanup Grant Applications Due To EPA Jan. 31
The U.S. Environmental Protection agency is now accepting applications for FY19 Brownfields
Assessment, Cleanup and Multipurpose Grants. The deadline for applications is January 31.
Click Here for all the details on how to apply.
[Posted: Nov. 30, 2018]
EPA Accepting Applications For Environmental Justice Small Grants, Application

Assistance Calls Scheduled
The U.S. Environmental Protection is now accepting applications for its Environmental Justice
Small Grants Program. The deadline for applications is February 15.
Nonprofit groups are eligible for grants to support community-driven projects designed to
engage, educate, and empower communities to better understand local environmental and public
health issues and develop strategies for addressing those issues, building consensus in the
community, and setting community priorities.
The EJSG program will award approximately $1.5 million nationwide for this
competitive opportunity. EPA anticipates awarding approximately 50 grants (5 per EPA region)
of up to $30,000 each. These grants are for one-year projects.
Pre-Application Assistance Calls
EPA has scheduled a series of pre-application assistance conference calls to answer
questions about applying for these grants starting December 6. Click Here to review the
schedule.
For all the details, visit EPA's Environmental Justice Small Grants Program webpage.
[Posted: Nov. 27, 2018]
DEP Invites Comments On Acid Rain Permit For Jessup Natural Gas Power Plant,
Lackawanna County
The Department of Environmental Protection invites comments on a proposed Acid Rain Air
Quality Permit for the Lackawanna Energy Center natural gas power plant in Lackawanna
County (Dec. 1 PA Bulletin, page 7460)
All pertinent documents used in the evaluation of the application are available for public
review during normal business hours at the Department’s Northcentral Regional Office, 2 Public
Square, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18711. Appointments for scheduling a review must be made by
calling 570-826-2511.
Comments are due December 30. Read the entire PA Bulletin notice for more
ec. 1 PA Bulletin, page 7460)
information. (D
[Posted: Nov. 30, 2018]
42
43 Mayors From Pennsylvania, Plus All 50 States Call For More Solar Energy
On November 27, mayors from every U.S. state

including 43 mayors from Pennsylvania embraced a
vision for more solar energy in their communities, as
outlined in a national letter released by the
PennEnvironment Research & Policy Center.
The group of over 200 “Mayors for Solar Energy”
represents cities and towns in states from Florida to
Alaska, California to Maine, including 43 in
Pennsylvania. More Pennsylvania mayors signed on
than any other state in the country.
The Pennsylvania mayors include: Jeanne Sorg, Mayor, Ambler; Emily Marburger,
Mayor, Bellevue; John Fetterman, Mayor, Braddock; Mark Barbee, Mayor, Bridgeport;
Timothy Scott, Mayor, Carlisle; Josh Maxwell, Mayor, Downingtown; Ron Strouse, Mayor,
Doylestown; Nickole Nesby, Mayor, Duquesne; Salvatore Panto, Jr., Mayor, Easton; Joe
Schember, Mayor, Erie; Theodore Streeter, Mayor, Gettysburg; Arlene Wanatosky, Mayor,
Homer City Borough Debbie Mahon, Mayor, Hulmeville; David Wessels, Mayor,
Huntingdon; Paul Roberts, Mayor, Kingston; Danene Sorace, Mayor, Lancaster; Garry
Herbert, Mayor, Lansdale; David Burton, Mayor, Malvern; Patricia Witt, Mayor, Manchester;
Mike Detweiler, Mayor, Mansfield; Sean Strub, Mayor, Milford; Thomas S. Kramer, Mayor,
Millbourne; Antoinette L. Johnson, Mayor, Modena; Matthew Shorraw, Mayor, Monessen;
Bruce Blunt, Mayor, Morton; Frederick T. Courtright, Former Mayor, Mount Pocono; Lance E.
Colondo, Mayor, Nazareth; Sonya Sanders, Council President, Norristown; Jim Kenney,
Mayor, Philadelphia; Peter Urscheler, Mayor, Phoenixville; William Peduto, Mayor,
Pittsburgh; Stephanie A. Henrick, Mayor, Pottstown; Kevin Cunningham, Mayor, Rutledge;
Matthew Rudzki, Mayor, Sharpsburg; Donald Hahn, Mayor, State College; Tarah Probst,
Mayor, Stroudsburg; Tim Kearney, Mayor, Swarthmore; Dianne Herrin, Mayor, West
Chester; Dan DePaul, Mayor, West Easton; Tom Blaskiewicz, Mayor, West Pittston; Shawn
Mauck, Mayor, West York Borough; Marita Garrett, Mayor, Wilkinsburg; and Donald Barrett,
Mayor, Wilson Borough, Easton.
“While our federal government is promoting 19th-century energy policies, we have to
rely on local officials to lead the United States’ transition to modern clean energy usage,” says
Kelly Flanigan, Global Warming Solutions Associate for PennEnvironment. “Mayors across
Pennsylvania and the country are rising to the challenge -- thinking bigger, acting smarter, and
tapping the sun for more power.”
The list of mayors who signed the letter spans the political spectrum as well as a broad
range of city sizes and budgets.
"Solar power is a key component of advancing Pittsburgh's clean energy transition. We
have numerous assets that can provide as the launching point for solar generation in Pittsburgh
and southwestern Pennsylvania, from parking lots to rooftops. Increasing the amount of locally
generated solar power helps reduce carbon pollution, clean our air and provide a resilient,
sustainable and cost-effective electricity," said Pittsburgh Mayor William Peduto.
With millions of available rooftops, rising public demand for renewable energy, and
much-improved storage technology, America’s cities are resolving local air pollution and power
43
generation issues by switching to solar power.
The number of signatories on the Mayors for Solar Energy letter has more than tripled
from 70 on the initial letter in December of 2017, and the PennEnvironment Research & Policy
Center says that this number will continue to grow.
The Mayors for Solar Energy project goes beyond the letter itself; the organization is also
producing resources and hosting trainings to help cities adopt more renewable energy.
“Mayors know the needs of their townspeople better than anyone,” said Flanigan. “They
know the existing infrastructure and how to adapt it to best allow solar and other forms of clean,
renewable energy to displace the fossil fuels that pollute our communities and make our families
sick. These are neighbors helping neighbors to a brighter future."
Click Here for a copy of the letter.
For more information, visit the PennEnvironment website.
(Photo: Solar installation at Elizabethtown College. )
NewsClip:
Column: Is Wind Power Actually Cheaper Than Coal Fired Power? Well, No!
Related Stories:
[Posted: Nov. 28, 2018]

On November 28, Department of

Transportation Secretary Leslie S.
Richards and Department of
Conservation and Natural Resources
Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn joined
PennDOT regional, park, and local
officials to break ground on the
Ohiopyle Intermodal Gateway project.
The Ohiopyle Intermodal Gateway
project will reduce current conflicts
between vehicles, pedestrians, cyclists, and boat renters traversing Route 381 near Ohiopyle
State Park in Fayette County.
It will create a safer and better connection between the Borough of Ohiopyle and
Ohiopyle State Park with improved parking, sidewalks, crosswalks, and traffic-calming
measures.
“Transportation assets should meet community needs, and this is a great example of how
we can support local economies and improve safety,” Richards said. “I’m very proud of the
interagency and community collaboration that has gone into making this project a reality.”
Planned improvements include:
-- Widening Route 381 to the west (towards the Youghiogheny River/Ohiopyle State Park
44
visitor's area) to allow installation of sidewalks on both sides of Route 381;
-- Improved parking and pedestrian access on Route 381;
-- Reconstructing the existing parking area to the south of the Borough of Ohiopyle and east of
Route 381 to improve flow through the parking lot and increase the number of parking spaces;
-- Constructing a new pedestrian underpass from the redesigned parking area to the park Visitor's
Center area; and
-- Replacing a superstructure on the existing Route 381 bridge over the Youghiogheny River.
Additionally, Route 2012 (Sugarloaf Road) will be relocated slightly to the north so that
it parallels Negley Road (local road). Negley Road will no longer have an intersection with
Route 381 but will remain as a parking area/staging area for use by the businesses that abut
Negley Road.
Dunn noted close cooperation with PennDOT has been ingrained in past improvements at
Ohiopyle State Park, such as the June 2015 dedication of its Laurel Highlands Falls Area Visitor
Center.
A $4 million grant from the Federal Highway Administration’s National Scenic Byways
Program helped pave the way for much of that project, undertaken in close cooperation with
PennDOT’s Byways and Recreational Trails Section.
“Just as that incredible new visitor center casts a spotlight on all that Ohiopyle offers the
outdoors enthusiast, this groundbreaking highlights all the partnerships and cooperation among
two state departments that help a great state park get even greater,” Dunn said.
The contractor on this $12.4 million project is Plum Contracting, Inc., with the project
expected to be completed before Memorial Day 2020. Click Here to subscribe to PennDOT
news in Fayette, Greene, Washington, and Westmoreland counties.
The 20,500-acre Ohiopyle is Pennsylvania’s largest park, and among the United States’
most heavily visited state parks, welcoming more than 1.5 million people annually.
With the Ohiopyle Falls serving as its centerpiece and the Youghiogheny River flowing
through much of it, the park serves as a recreation and tourism hub amid 100,000 acres of public
lands.
NewsClips:
Work Begins On Multimodal Project Near Ohiopyle State Park
Major Road, Bridge Project Begins At Ohiopyle
Nov. 30 Take Five Fridays With Pam, PA Parks & Forests Foundation
Lehigh, Northampton Counties Receive Grants From DCNR
Lackawanna County Receives Nearly $900,000 For Parks, Playgrounds, Trails
Work To Convert Fmr West Deer Missile Site Into Park Nearly Done
Hidden Trolley Network In Fairmount Park Set For Revival In Philly
Pittsburgh Bike Share Completes 100th Station, More Coming
Feds Give $1.5 Million For Presque Isle State Park Sand In 2019
New Tick Species Capable Of Transmitting Deadly Disease Spreading In U.S.
45
What Is The Invasive Asian Longhorned Tick?
Related Stories:
Carbon Footprint
[Posted: Nov. 29, 2018]
State, Local Officials Celebrate Opening Of S.H. Rothermel Walking Trail In Mifflin
County
On November 28, Department of Community

and Economic Development Secretary Dennis
Davin and Department of Conservation and
Natural Resources Deputy Secretary Lauren
Imgrund joined local leaders to celebrate the
grand opening and dedication of the S.H.
Rothermel Walking Trail in Lewistown, Mifflin
County.
The project was supported by nearly $500,000 in
state funding from the DCED and DCNR.
“Gov. Wolf is committed to supporting projects
that improve our communities,” Secretary Davin
said. “This trail is going to be a great source of fun and exercise for Mifflin County residents and
visitors.”
The S.H. Rothermel Walking Trail is the first multi-purpose recreation trail along the
Juniata River in Mifflin County. The trail extends .75 miles from Victory Park west along the
north shore of the Juniata River to Crystal Springs Ave.
The project included the construction of a 10-foot-wide walking path, signage, solar
lighting in the parking area, benches, trash receptacles, and ADA accessibility upgrades.
“Trails provide a close-to-home connection to nature and recreation that is always free or
affordable,” Deputy Secretary Imgrund said. “The Juniata River Trail also provide public access
to the river and a safer route to Victory Park.”
The trail is expected to help boost the Lewistown economy as well. Encouraging healthy
recreation and providing access to the river will help attract outside visitors and raise the quality
of life for residents in the Lewistown area.
The project was supported by a $230,000 grant from DCED’s Greenways, Trails, and
Recreation Program funded by the Act 13 shale gas drilling impact fee and a $250,000 grant
from DCNR’s Keystone Recreation, Park, and Conservation Fund funded by a portion of the
realty transfer tax.
46
NewsClips:
Related Stories:
Carbon Footprint
[Posted: Nov. 29, 2018]
Carbon Footprint
On November 26, Department of Conservation and

Natural Resources Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn
announced electric motorcycles are in use as part of
public safety and operations at two state parks in
Pennsylvania.
“Electric motorcycles add to efforts to focus on the
responsible use of agency resources and promotion of
sustainable best practices,” Dunn said. “They are being
used by rangers as they patrol the parks. The
motorcycles are quiet so they don’t disturb visitors
enjoying nature, and energy efficient.”
The motorcycles are being piloted at Presque Isle State Park in Erie-- the most visited of
Pennsylvania’s state parks, and the 60-mile long Delaware Canal State Park in southeastern
47
Pennsylvania.
At Delaware Canal, the motorcycles will be used year round depending on the weather, at
Presque Isle operation will begin again in the spring.
The vehicles are Zero Motorcycles. The have a range of about 110 miles, and cost about
$1.50 to charge.
The two motorcycles combined will reduce carbon emissions equal to the carbon
sequestration of about 17-acres of forests each year, reducing carbon dioxide emissions equal to
more than 15,000 pounds of coal burned.
DCNR has 20 energy efficient vehicles and four hybrid electric vans in its fleet.
Greening the fleet is part of a department sustainability initiative that aims to reduce the
amount of carbon emissions released into the atmosphere and decrease fuel costs, while
increasing DCNR’s energy independence.
For more information about DCNR’s sustainable practices visit the DCNR website.
NewsClips:
Related Stories:
[Posted: Nov. 26, 2018]
On November 26, Department of Agriculture

provided a year-end update on the state’s
efforts to control the spread of the Spotted
Lanternfly, and joined the Game Commission
and Sen. Judy Schwank (D-Berks), Minority
Chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee,
to encourage hunters to take action by
scraping Spotted Lanternfly egg masses
while they are out hunting.
“By now we all know what destruction the
48
Spotted Lanternfly can bring to agricultural commodities, and over the past three years, we have
been dedicated to combating the invasive pest,” said Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding. “We
have seen some success, including the suppression of populations within the quarantine zone and
enhanced collaboration with partners around the state, but our work is not complete. This
coalition cannot do it alone; we need Pennsylvanians to help.”
Throughout the year, PDA has managed treatment within the quarantine areas where the
population numbers are high and targeted high-risk pathways that could enable the insect to
move to other locations.
Pesticide treatment is finished for the year, but property assessment and tree marking will
continue throughout the winter months.
PDA’s statewide survey teams are also responding to reports of possible sightings of
Spotted Lanternfly outside of the quarantine areas.
Hunters are encouraged to scrape egg masses and report any sightings through an online
reporting tool provided by our partners at Penn State Extension or by calling the Spotted
Lanternfly hotline 1-888-4BAD-FLY. The hotline will connect callers to Penn State Extension
staff who will provide guidance on next steps.
Spotted Lanternfly egg masses are laid in late September and will continue until a hard
freeze hits, when the adults die off. Adults will lay their eggs on host trees and nearby smooth
surfaces like stone, outdoor furniture, vehicles, and structures.
Newly laid egg masses have a grey mud-like covering which can take on a dry cracked
appearance over time. Old egg masses appear as rows of 30-50 brownish seed-like deposits in
four to seven columns on the trunk, roughly an inch long.
“If we are proactively checking and scraping for egg masses now, we can potentially put
a dent in the Spotted Lanternfly population,” said Game Commission Executive Director Bryan
Burhans. “It is imperative that Pennsylvania hunters aid the cause, and there is no easier way
than to scrape egg masses while you’re already outside. I encourage sportsmen and women to
join the effort while they’re out hunting this season.”
“Not only are there a wide array of agricultural commodities affected by the Spotted
Lanternfly, but this invasive insect has greatly impacted the quality of life of Pennsylvania
residents, including those in my community,” added Sen. Schwank. “We need to keep working,
keep fighting, and stay vigilant when we are out enjoying the outdoors, but we can only succeed
with the help and support of Berks County residents.”
This season, 130 reports of Spotted Lanternfly were received by the statewide survey
crew, of which 95 were negative, 30 were positive, and five are still in progress. In the past two
weeks, 291 egg masses, which equates to 10,185 Spotted Lanternfly, have been found and
removed by PDA staff.
For more information, visit the Spotted Lanternfly webpages of the Dept. Of Agriculture,
U.S. Dept. of Agriculture and Penn State Extension.
(Photo: Spotted Lanternfly egg masses, Penn State Extension.)
NewsClips:
Hunters Asked To Scrape Spotted Lantern Fly Egg Masses
Op-Ed: How We Can Contain The Spotted Lanternfly, Maybe The Worst Invasive Pest In
Generations
PennDOT Blog: Invasive Species Prevalent Along State Roadways
49
AP: Cost Of Keeping Asian Carp From Great Lakes Nearly Triples
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[Posted: Nov. 26, 2018]
PA Environmental Council: Statewide Reforestation Partnership Takes Root
By Laura Bray, West Region Program Coordinator
At the PA Environmental Council we believe in

“conservation through cooperation”: an ethic of
connection, engagement, and close collaboration with
partners.
By convening a diverse group of stakeholders to focus
on a problem we achieve not only a better
understanding of the challenges we face, but also a
broader range of viable solutions-- and, if we’re
lucky, a more robust plan for implementing them.
One of our key partners on reforestation, Scott
Eggerud at the federal Office of Surface Mining
Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE), has a saying that I like to think of as a corollary: the
best partners are those who want the same things for different reasons.
I had a chance to see this principle in action at a recent planning session, “Roots for
Success,” hosted by PEC in State College on November 8.
The 30 participants gathered there represented federal agencies-- OSMRE, U.S.
Department of Agriculture, state government-- DCNR, DEP, and the Game Commission-- and a
host of NGOs and other entities-- Susquehanna River Basin Commission, Chesapeake Bay
Foundation-PA, American Bird Conservancy, Trout Unlimited, and The American Chestnut
Foundation-PA-- working in conservation.
Each attendee brought a distinct set of perspectives to the table, but we all shared the
same ultimate goal: re-establishing healthy forests to clean our air, protect our watersheds, and
enhance the aesthetic and recreational value of our public lands.
Our vision for this first-of-its-kind gathering was an invitation-only event that would
resemble a conference as little as possible, with the hope that a more interactive and
participant-driven format would help us capitalize on the extensive knowledge and experience in
the room.
The goal was twofold: First, we wanted to better understand the extent of reforestation in
Pennsylvania. This would mean synthesizing a collection of local projects into a coherent
50
picture, in an institutional climate where it’s not always easy – so to speak – to see the forest for
the trees.
Secondly, we hoped to explore areas where strategic coordination could strengthen
existing efforts, and perhaps set the stage for future collaborations. And we gave ourselves just
five hours to do so.
Though this was only the second time I’ve played a role in planning and facilitating such
a conversation, it was easy to see the value in bringing these organizations together to identify
areas of overlap in our respective missions and seek out opportunities to advance our shared
vision.
But as with most worthwhile pursuits, it was clear that the strength of our approach – the
heterogeneity of the team we hoped to assemble – would also present challenges.
After committing to an event date and curating a target list of participants, in fact, it
became evident that this might be the first time many of these folks would even be in the same
room together.
How would they relate to one another? Would we find sufficient basis for a meaningful
alliance? Could we lay the groundwork for an unprecedented, multi-organization, multi-agency,
statewide collaboration in a single afternoon?
Welcoming participants to the session, PEC President Davitt Woodwell set the tone for
the day with a thought exercise, asking: “Why does reforestation matter to you?” Some chose to
answer the question through the lens of their organization’s mission, while others offered more
personal reasons.
One young man from Western Pennsylvania Conservancy told the story of his recovery
from a serious bike accident; the view of swaying branches outside his window, he said, was
what ultimately gave him the strength to rise from his hospital bed.
With that sense of shared purpose established, it was time to learn about the current state
of reforestation efforts across the Commonwealth.
Scott gave an overview of the Appalachian Regional Reforestation Initiative (ARRI) and
its successes using the Forestry Reclamation Approach to restore native forests on former mine
lands.
I then walked the group through an ESRI Story Map detailing PEC’s Reforestation
program, from conception in 2016 to future aspirations.
After a bite to eat, it was time to shake things up. Breakout groups were challenged to
complete a “SWOT” analysis, identifying strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats
implicit in the prospect of statewide coordination.
The result was encouraging: in each group, points listed under “opportunities”
outnumbered those in every other category. The feverishly-scribbled report out reflected broad
similarities in the groups’ analyses.
So it appeared our hunch was correct — we were all on the same page. Now what?
To help the group identify next steps, Davitt pulled out the major themes that had
cropped up in the SWOT discussions: mapping, regulations, funding, projects on private lands,
and planning and implementation.
Guided by probing questions from Davitt, the group kicked around ideas.
Finally, after a healthy back-and-forth, Davitt dropped the big question: Is there value in
organizing an interagency committee for enhanced coordination, collaboration, and strategic
planning?
51
Heads nodded, and a few partners raised the idea of forming thematic committees to
address the challenges and opportunities discussed throughout the day. More heads began
nodding in recognition of an emerging consensus: as long as collaboration doesn’t require
endless conference calls, most everyone was onboard.
Asked if anyone would like to step up to the task of organizing the effort, the room fell
silent. Eventually someone spoke up: “Laura did such a great job pulling everyone together for
the meeting. I think she and PEC should take lead.”
I smiled, thanking everyone for their participation, and said to myself: “now the real work
starts.”
For more information on programs, initiatives and special events, visit the PA
Environmental Council website, visit the PEC Blog, follow PEC on Twitter or Like PEC on
Facebook. Visit PEC’s Audio Room for the latest podcasts. Click Here to receive regular
updates from PEC.
NewsClips:
Generations
Texan Eyes Bethlehem’s Abandoned Fire Tower
Related Stories:
[Posted: Nov. 28, 2018]
Trees for Johnstown is a multi-phase project of the

Western PA Conservancy in partnership with the
City of Johnstown and the Johnstown Shade Tree
Commission in Cambria County.
With a generous grant from the Community
Foundation for the Alleghenies, WPC has
established a comprehensive community forestry
program in the city that includes a street and park
tree inventory and analysis, the completion of a
database to track forestry work, forestry expertise,
education and outreach, planting and maintenance
52
plans, and volunteer engagement.
Over the course of 2017, Conservancy staff completed a street and park tree inventory for
the City of Johnstown and created a report, called Trees for Johnstown, analyzing the City’s tree
inventory, providing in-depth benefits analysis, as well as best maintenance practices for planting
and maintenance.
In addition to the report, WPC staff engaged 50 volunteers to plant 25 trees in locations
throughout the City in the fall of 2017.
The Trees for Johnstown report includes an iTree Analysis, a leading forestry analysis
model developed by the US Forest Service and Davey Tree Company. This analysis provides
data on the current environmental, economic and aesthetic benefits of Johnstown’s street and
park tree population.
Johnstown’s public trees currently return more than $200,000 in benefits to the
community annually. These benefits will increase over time as the tree canopy grows.
The Conservancy is also partnering with Penn State Extension on Tree Tender training
courses for the project. This program is a formal training program for community residents to
help understand the importance of community forestry, tree biology, and how to plant and care
for trees.
Other partners on city-wide community outreach include the Roxbury Civic Group, the
City of Johnstown Planning Commission, the Johnstown Shade Tree Commission, the EADS
Group as well as collaboration with the Director of Public Works to implement education and
outreach efforts for businesses, property owners and residents.
Community education and outreach helps guarantee the success of community forestry
projects so that everyone has a vested interest in valuing, planting and caring for their trees now
and in the future.
The Trees for Johnstown project is in line with and actively contributes to Johnstown’s
Vision 2025, a volunteer-based organization with a vision to improve the Johnstown region
under three primary concepts: a strong sense of community, life sustaining landscapes and a
vibrant and open local economy.
The Conservancy will build on the Trees for Johnstown project in 2018 by working with
partners and residents to identify and plant an additional 50 street trees and train residents on
proper tree care with Penn State Extension.
Questions about the program should be directed to Jeff Bergman, WPC Director of
Community Forestry and TreeVitalize Pittsburgh, by calling 412-586-2396 or send email to:
trees@paconserve.org.
For information on community tree resources statewide, visit DCNR’s TreeVitalize
webpage.
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:
53
Generations
Related Stories:
[Posted: Nov. 30, 2018]
A new 8-part Woods In Your Backyard Webinar Series by

Penn State Extension and its partners will teach forest
landowners sustainable stewardship skills and techniques for
managing their land.
This online workshop is designed specifically (but not
exclusively) for smaller landowners, those with 1-10 acres.
By enhancing or creating natural areas and woodland,
landowners provide habitat for wildlife, improve water
quality, expand recreational opportunities, and enhance
aesthetics.
If parcels connect with others there is opportunity to make an even bigger impact.
The webinars will be held February 6, 13, 20, 27 and March 6, 13, 20, 27 from 7:00 to
8:00 p.m.
The workshop uses the manual The Woods in Your Backyard: Learning to Create and
Enhance Natural Areas Around Your Home. This self-directed book will guide participants
through the process of developing and implementing projects to enhance their land’s natural
resources.
Each participant will receive a complimentary, full-color, 108 page copy of The Woods
in Your Backyard manual (a $29 value).
Other partners in this webinar series include the Department of Conservation and Natural
Resources, Alliance of the Chesapeake Bay and the Forestry for the [Chesapeake] Bay Program.
Click Here for more information and to register. The live lectures are recorded and can
be viewed again.
NewsClips:
54
Generations
Related Stories:
[Posted: Nov. 27, 2018]
PA Sea Grant, Lake Erie Region Conservancy Receive DCNR Grants To Preserve 270
Acres Of Farmland
On November 26, Pennsylvania Sea

Grant and the Lake Erie Region
Conservancy proudly announce the
award of two DCNR grants to
permanently preserves 270 acres on
two farms in Erie County.
The Community Conservation
Partnership funds will be used to
purchase an 88-acre conservation easement on the historic Battles Farm property owned by the
Erie County Historical Society as well as to acquire a 182-acre tract, currently privately owned,
known as the Gilmore Farm.
Both projects, located in Girard, PA, preserve and protect natural and cultural resources.
The granta totaling approximately $550,000, will permanently conserve the farmland as
open space, protect critical wildlife habitat, and provide over 6,000 feet of Elk Creek as stream
access for anglers.
Walking trails already exist at the Battles Farm site for the community to enjoy, and more
trails are under consideration. Plans for the Gilmore Farm site include improved parking and
trail access to the creek.
“The conservation easement and fee simple acquisition will protect the properties from
being subdivided, fragmented or developed, which benefits the local community, economy,
water quality of Elk Creek, and wildlife,” said David Skellie, PA Sea Grant’s Coastal Land Use
& Economic Specialist.
Through these conservation efforts, PA Sea Grant and the Conservancy hope to connect
people to nature by protecting and enhancing the open space, forested acres, and enhancing
existing walking trails and access to encourage visitation.
“In addition to the perpetual protection benefits, both projects will also ensure that
current and future generations can enjoy visiting the properties for nature-based recreation via
walking trails and creek access” Skellie said.
55
The Battles Farm, owned and overseen by the ECHS is currently open to the public and
recognized as a historically important cultural and agricultural site. Built in the mid-late 1800’s,
the 300-acre farm produced potatoes, corn, wheat, and barley, and nut trees, grapes, and a fruit
orchard once flourished.
Today, only 131 of the 300 acres remain under the care of the HSEC, the other 169 acres
sold or developed over past decades. The farm hosts a mature and diverse woodland of native
trees, along with a more recently planted grove of American Chestnut. Visitors can explore the
farm and woodlands via a modest walking trail.
Trailhead signage encouraging responsible stewardship of the property, along with a tree
identification pamphlet, help to educate visitors about the natural beauty, trees, and wildlife that
live there. The conservation easement will preserve 88 of the remaining acres.
The second project will consist of the acquisition of 182 acres, part of the privately
owned Gilmore Farm, permanently protecting a substantial portion of the Elk Creek Natural
Heritage Area, and creating a new destination for nature-based tourism through managed public
access to the site.
Elk Creek, a world-class steelhead fishing stream, generates millions of dollars through
angler visits and associated recreational expenditures. Through this grant, 6,000 feet of
streambank will be conserved providing wildlife habitat and safe creek access for anglers.
The Lake Erie Region Conservancy, with the assistance of PA Sea Grant, has already
been awarded matching funds from the Fish and Boat Commission and the Erie Insurance Giving
Network.
Learn more about programs, initiatives, upcoming events and how you can get involved,
by visiting the Pennsylvania Sea Grant and the Lake Erie Region Conservancy websites.
(Photos: Access Improvement and Trail on Battles Farm.)
NewsClips:
Related Stories:
Inspections: 96% Of Small Farms In Chesapeake Watershed Making Strides To Improve Water
Quality
Southeast PA
[Posted: Nov. 27, 2018]
The Pennsylvania Outdoor Corps is now hiring for its

10-month young adult crews. Running March 4 to
December 6, 2019, the program aims to introduce young
people to careers in the outdoors.
2019 crew locations are: Altoona; Harrisburg; Meadville;
Philadelphia; St. Marys; Uniontown; Wilkes-Barre; and
Williamsport.
Community crew members meet at a central location in
56
their program cities to be transported to and from work sites daily.
In addition to the community-based crews, a statewide roving crew will be established
out of Harrisburg.
The roving crew will be deployed across the commonwealth for eight days at a time
while working on natural resource management projects. This crew will camp in parks and
forests while completing projects.
Positions are open to individuals ages 18 to 25 by the March 4, 2019, program start date.
Typical work days are Monday through Thursday, from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Members are paid
more than $12.00/hour and receive health benefits, including dental and vision.
Most work and activities take place outdoors in all seasons and weather and involve
physically demanding labor.
Projects include, but are not limited to, trail maintenance, habitat restoration, vegetation
management, facility maintenance, and light construction.
Members also participate in education and training activities related to natural resource
management, environmental topics, and recreation skills.
Additional information, including instructions for how to apply, are available at the
Student Conservation Association (SCA) website. Upon completing the SCA application, please
send an email to: paoutdoorcorps@thesca.org to let them know that you are interested.
For more information, visit DCNR’s Pennsylvania Outdoor Corps webpage.
Related Stories:
DCNR Blog: PA Outdoor Corps’ Successful 2018 Summer Youth Program
DCNR Blog: College Student’s Journey Into An Environmental Conservation Career With The
PA Outdoor Corps
Carbon Footprint
(Reprinted from the Nov. 29 DCNR Resource newsletter. C lick Here to sign up for your own
copy.)
[Posted: Nov. 30, 2018]
Thanks to Wilderness Wheels, a new PA Parks and

Forest Foundation donor-funded transportation
scholarship program that offers students and seniors
access to the outdoors.
Students in grades K-12 at a Title I school;
youth participating in a community enrichment
57
program such as Big Brothers/Big Sisters, the local Y, etc.; and seniors attending programs at
their local senior centers are eligible to apply for funding for the cost of transportation to a state
park educational program.
Grantees are then able to use Pennsylvania state parks and forests for experiential
learning, leadership development, team building, career exploration, or recreation skills
development.
Pennsylvania state parks and forests offer an opportunity to explore nature, provide
hands-on environmental learning opportunities, develop leadership skills, connect youth and
seniors to our rich cultural legacy, and develop recreational skills that can make them healthier.
For more information, visit PPFF’s Wilderness Wheels Transportation Scholarship
webpage.
More information on programs, initiatives and special events, visit the PA Parks &
Forests Foundation website. Click Here to sign up for regular updates from the Foundation,
Like them on Facebook or Follow them on Twitter. Click Here to become a member of the
Foundation.
Related Stories:
Carbon Footprint
copy.)
[Posted: Nov. 30, 2018]
Love birdwatching? Consider signing up to

participate in a National Audubon’s Christmas Bird
Count near you!
Data collected from the Christmas Bird
Count helps inform ornithologists and conservation
biologists about how the birds of the Americas are
faring over time.
The Christmas Bird Count will be
conducted from December 14 through January 5.
Counts take place in established areas that are a 15-mile wide circle, and are organized by a
count compiler.
All participants must make arrangements to participate in advance with the circle
compiler within an established circle, but anyone can participate.
If you are a beginning birder, you will be able to join a group that includes at least one
58
experienced birdwatcher!
To learn more or to find a count near you, visit the National Audubon’s Christmas Bird
Count website.
Other Citizen Science Opportunities:
EnviroDIY.org
Leaf Pack Network
Stroud Water Research Center Citizen Science Programs
Penn State Extension: Master Well Owner Network
Penn State Extension: Master Watershed Stewards
Penn State Extension: Master Gardeners
DCNR TreeVitalize Tree Tenders Training
Pennsylvania Master Naturalist Program
iConserve PA Citizen Science Opportunities
PA Audubon Citizen Science Programs
Citizen Science - Audubon Of Western PA
DCNR Citizen Science Events In State Parks, Forests
There are many more….
NewsClips:
Hanover Bald Eagle Livestream Is Back
Schneck: Bald Eagle Nestcam Begins Livestreaming Dec. 2
2 Bald Eagles Released In Erie Region
Bald Eagles In Harmar, Pittsburgh Are Building New Nests
Editorial: Lead Poses Threat To Eagles
Blair County Native Discovers New Hybrid Bird
Related Stories:
Carbon Footprint
copy.)
[Posted: Nov. 30, 2018]
The November 29 Resource newsletter is now

available from the Department of Conservation
and Natural Resources featuring stories on--
-- DCNR Invests $50 Million In 280 Recreation,
Conservation, Natural Resource Projects
59
-- Groundbreaking On Ohiopyle Multimodal Gateway Project To Improve Safety, Connectivity
-- Gov. Wolf Encourages Pennsylvanians To Vote For 2019 River Of The Year
-- DCNR Opens More PA State Forest Roads For Deer Hunters This Season
-- DCNR Uses Electric Motorcycles At Presque Isle, Delaware Canal State Parks To Reduce
Carbon Footprint
-- DCNR Now Hiring Young Adults For PA Outdoor Corps Crews In Locations Around PA
-- PA Parks & Forests Foundation Offers Young, Seniors Access To Outdoors Scholarships
-- Citizen Science Opportunity: Join Audubon’s Christmas Bird Count Dec. 14 - Jan. 5
-- Regulated Deer Hunts At Ridley Creek State Park, Delaware County
-- Deer Hunters Working Together to Provide Donated Venison To Help Feed Hungry
-- Click Here to sign up for your own copy
DCNR’s website, Visit the Good Natured DCNR Blog, Click Here for upcoming events, Click
Here to hook up with DCNR on other social media-- Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Flickr.
(Photo: Snow overnight made for a pretty morning at Pymatuning State Park, Mercer County.)
NewsClips:
[Posted: Nov. 30, 2018]
Ned Smith Center For Nature And Art Offers New Exhibit Of Ned Smith's Work In
Dauphin County
Working Together Through Time is the title of

an exhibit on display through January at the Ned
Smith Center for Nature and Art in Millersburg,
Dauphin County and a description that truly
embodies well-known artist Ned Smith’s nearly
lifelong association with the Game Commission.
Smith began working with the Game
Commission shortly after World War II, when he
started illustrating for Pennsylvania Game News
as a freelance artist.
The new kid in the Game News’ stable of artists,
Smith displayed an early talent to illustrate stories with made-to-order pen-and-ink drawings that
gave the magazine’s pages the pop that was so important in publishing then.
“Even in Ned’s early work, it’s not hard to see how talented he was,” said Game
Commission Executive Director Bryan Burhans. “But Ned was never satisfied. He continued to
grow as an artist throughout his life. His commitment to excellence is almost overwhelming.”
60
Smith illustrated his first Game News cover in 1950. Over his life-- and posthumously--
his work has appeared on 124 covers.
Of course, Smith was more than magazine covers to the Game Commission. He was an
award-winning columnist, helped start the agency’s Working Together for Wildlife and
Waterfowl Stamp programs, and made considerable contributions to conservation as a naturalist.
He also served a brief stint as Game News editor. Smith’s 1971 Gone for the Day book, a
compilation of his Game News columns, remains one of the agency’s best-selling books.
“He was Game News’ Norman Rockwell,” Burhans noted. “And his art and writings
embodied the crusade for wildlife conservation and a cleaner environment. He truly was one of
the best friends Pennsylvania wildlife ever had. I grew up as a kid reading every issue of Game
News. Ned Smith’s artwork became iconic of Game News and the Game Commission”
Smith’s original Game News cover paintings, as well as other historical items from the
Game Commission’s past are part of “Working Together Through Time: The Game Commission
and Ned Smith.”
For more information, visit the Ned Smith Center for Nature and Art website. The center
is located at 176 Water Company Road in Millersburg.
Click Here to watch a WITF - PA Conservation Heritage Project documentary on Ned
Smith for more information on his career.
(Photo: Gone For Another Day book by Scott Weidensaul, Ned Smith.)
[Posted: Nov. 30, 2018]
Natural Lands Names Oliver Bass New President
On November 26, Delaware County-based Natural Lands

announced Oliver Bass will become its next president effective
January 1. Bass, currently vice president of communications and
engagement, succeeds Molly Morrison, who will retire at the end
of the year after a 14-year tenure in the role.
“We undertook a rigorous, six-month, national search and
selection process managed by the Boston based firm
Isaacson-Miller,” said Peter Hausmann, chairman of the Board of
Trustees and the Search Committee. “Oliver distinguished himself
as the candidate best suited to steward Natural Lands’ vision,
culture, strategic direction, and record of success. The Search
Committee was unanimous in its enthusiasm for his leadership and
confident in his ability to take the reins from Molly—with whom
he has worked closely for nearly two decades—to guide us into the future.”
“While we can take immense pride in our past accomplishments,” continued Hausmann,
“to remain relevant, Natural Lands’ future—which will continue to emphasize the organization’s
traditional strengths in saving open space, caring for nature, and connecting people to the
outdoors—must incorporate new audiences and expanded definitions of conservation. Since he
joined the staff in the late 1990s, Oliver has been at the heart of Natural Lands’ efforts to open
doors to nature engagement. He will continue to make it an organizational priority.”
Bass has worked at Natural Lands for 21 years, the last seven as vice president of
communications and engagement, a position created to bring greater emphasis to the
61
organization’s evolving efforts to connect more people to the outdoors through its regional
network of nature preserves.
Bass took an entrepreneurial approach to his role: establishing a new department, greatly
expanding participation in public programs and volunteerism, elevating the organization’s public
profile, and launching a new initiative to improve equitable access to green spaces in
underserved communities of our region’s suburbs.
As a result, visitation to preserves has grown by 220 percent to 120,000 people a year;
more than 100 programs each year are attracting 5,000 participants; the Force of Nature®
program has graduated 200 volunteers; and overall volunteer participation has doubled to more
than 5,000 hours annually.
“As a member of the Board of Trustees, I have admired and appreciated the artful and
strategic manner in which Oliver builds constituencies and partnerships for conservation in our
region,” said Jane Pepper, former president of the PA Horticultural Society and a member of the
Search Committee. “Working with partners, he initiated a highly collaborative, public-private
effort to revitalize parks and program outdoor spaces in Coatesville. He has also developed the
Powered by Nature education program that is providing an innovative outdoor education
experience for all 4th, 5th , and 6th graders in Pottstown School District. In these and many other
areas, Oliver has earned and enjoyed the respect of others, which reflects well on him and on
Natural Lands.”
“I could not be more thrilled that Oliver has been selected as Natural Lands’ next
president,” added current President Molly Morrison. “As a member of the senior management
team, he has been intimately involved in organizational policy setting, financial and operational
management, and staff development. His specific guidance in evolving the organization’s
strategic approach to connecting people to the outdoors and to engaging younger and more
diverse audiences is positioning Natural Lands well to serve the region into the future. He is a
perfect fit for our staff of 80-plus, whose esteem and support he has as he steps into his new
role.”
Bass takes the reins at Natural Lands during a period of remarkable growth. Over the last
decade, the organization has preserved permanently more than 32,000 acres of open space in
eastern Pennsylvania and southern New Jersey.
This includes landmark additions to its network of 44 nature preserves such as the
1,282-acre ChesLen Preserve in Chester County; the 3,565-acre Bear Creek Preserve in
Lackawanna County; Natural Lands’ first Berks County property, the 201-acre Green Hills
Preserve; and the organizations’ first public garden, Stoneleigh: A Natural Garden in
Montgomery County.
Having successfully preserved the entire 1,505-acre Bryn Coed Farms in Chester Springs,
Chester County, in 2017, Natural Lands is poised to open its new 520-acre Bryn Coed Preserve
later this year.
“Natural Lands is an exceptionally effective and successful organization with a seasoned
senior management team, a nationally regarded staff, a knowledgeable and engaged Board of
Trustees, and a loyal and dedicated base of supporters and volunteers,” said Bass. “I am honored
and humbled to have been given the opportunity to serve as Natural Lands’ next president.”
Bass, who grew up in rural east Texas, graduated from Northwestern University in
Evanston, Illinois.
Early in his career, he held fundraising positions with West Virginia Public Radio and
62
WXPN-FM public radio in Philadelphia. He spent five years working in the performing arts
community in Philadelphia prior to coming to Natural Lands.
“Growing up, I spent much of my youth outdoors,” said Bass. “The east Texas forests of
yellow pine were my backyard and the large wooded lot next to our house was my playground.
My friends and I had the freedom to explore the nearby creeks, climb trees, build forts, and get
dirty. Nature became a place of play, discovery, and joy. Natural Lands has afforded me the
opportunity to invest my career in providing places where others can have the same chance to
enjoy and learn from nature.”
“Our mission—to save open space, care for nature, and connect people to the
outdoors—has a tangible and permanent impact on the environmental, economic, and social
health of our region,” Bass continued. “There is nothing I can imagine to be more fulfilling than
working alongside the Board and my remarkable colleagues to extend these benefits to even
more of the region’s communities.”
For more information on programs, initiatives and upcoming events, visit the Natural
Lands website. Click Here to sign up for regular updates from Natural Lands and Like them on
Facebook. Click Here to support their activities.
[Posted: Nov. 27, 2018]
Environmental NewsClips - All Topics
Here are NewsClips from around the state on all environmental topics, including General
Environment, Budget, Marcellus Shale, Watershed Protection and much more.
The latest environmental NewsClips and news is available at the PA Environment Digest Daily
Blog, Twitter Feed and add PaEnviroDigest Google+ to your Circle.
Politics
Democrats’ Gains In PA Just A First Step
Op-Ed: Did Republicans Hit High-Water Mark In Pennsylvania?
AP-Levy: PA Democrats Have High Hopes For Redistricting
Op-Ed: If You Supported A Cleaner Environment, You Won On Election Day
Op-Ed: Teens Deserve A Voice In Government, Why Won’t Most Politicians Listen?
Click Here for a Week’s Worth Of Political NewsClips
Air
& Gas Operations
63
Normal
Awards & Recognition
Biodiversity/Invasive Species
Generations
PennDOT Blog: Invasive Species Prevalent Along State Roadways
AP: Cost Of Keeping Asian Carp From Great Lakes Nearly Triples
64
Budget
Drilling Fee Revenue
Corps Of Engineers Announces $123.6M For Waterways Projects In Western PA
Chesapeake Bay
Quality
Op-Ed: Chesapeake Bay Watershed Forum Celebrates Diverse, Innovative Partnerships
Southeast PA
Restoration
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
& Gas Operations
65
Normal
Coal Mining
Dams
Beveridge: American Rivers Seeks To Breach Marianna Dam In Washington County
Delaware River
Southeast PA
Nov. 30 Delaware RiverKeeper RiverWatch Video Report
Drinking Water
Boil Water Advisory Issued In Yardley Due To High Turbidity Levels
Pennsbury Schools Closed As Boil Water Advisory Remains In Effect In Bucks
Manheim Borough Under Boil Water Advisory Amid Repairs
66
Economic Development
Op-Ed: We Need To Energize Pennsylvania’s Energy Economy
Education
Emergency Response
Gasket Failure Caused Croda Gas Leak That Close Delaware Memorial Bridge
What Was The Threat From Gas Leak That Jammed Traffic Over Delaware River?
Croda Gas Leak Highlights Risks To Poorer Delaware River Communities
AP-Scolforo: Report Warns Of Crisis In PA Volunteer Fire, Rescue Services
Report: Funding, Support Needed To Fix Volunteer Firefighter, EMS Shortage
Energy
University Of Pittsburgh Planning To Buy All Power From Planned Hydro Plant
UGI Residential Rates Fall 10.6% Thanks To Ample Natural Gas Supply
Op-Ed: Natural Gas Helping Pennsylvania Flourish
1,500 Mon Valley Residents Will Be Without Power In Planned Outage
PPL Responds To Talen Energy Lawsuit In Montana
IEA: Energy Efficiency Can Save The World- If We Can Figure Out How To Pay For It
Litvak: New Director Of National Energy Technology Lab In Pittsburgh Has Coal In His Blood
Energy Conservation
PA’s Medical Marijuana Growers Try to Tame A Power-Hungry Crop
IEA: Energy Efficiency Can Save The World- If We Can Figure Out How To Pay For It
Farming
Quality
67
Southeast PA
Flooding
Feds OK Disaster Aid For PA Counties Flooded In August
Federal Flood Disaster Aid Approved For NE Counties
Lycoming, Tioga Counties Receive Federal Aid For Storm Damage
PA Receives Federal Aid For Severe Storms In August
Roads Flooded In York County As An Inch Of Rain Fell
2018: Will It Become The Wettest On Record?
AP: National Flood Insurance Program Rebuilds Homes Repeatedly
Flooding - Hurricanes
After Hurricane Maria, Puerto Rico’s Female Farmers Work Together To Build Resilience
Forests
Generations
Forests - Wildfires
Rain Helps Douse California Wildfire But Slows Search For Victims
Catastrophic Northern California Wildfire Is Finally Contained
AP: Northern California Wildfire Costs Likely In Billions, Death Toll Stands At 88
California Wildfires Wind Down, Rain And Winds Create New Fears
Before And After: The Damage From The Paradise Wildfire In California
Column: Oil Is The Poison That Burns Paradise, Kills Khashoggi, Inflames Paris, When Will We
Quit?
Green Infrastructure
Restoration
Hazardous Sites Cleanup
First Blood Tests In Bucks, Montco Show Above-Average PFAS Contamination
Thousands Of Pennsylvanians Have Been Exposed to PFAS Chemicals
Health - Environmental
68
First Blood Tests In Bucks, Montco Show Above-Average PFAS Contamination
Thousands Of Pennsylvanians Have Been Exposed to PFAS Chemicals
Land Conservation
Plans Underway To Preserve 2,700 More Acres For Blue Mountain Wildlife Refuge
Mine Reclamation
Oil & Gas
PA Supreme Court To Hear Rule Of Capture Appeal On Natural Gas Development
Allegheny Twp Property Owners Taking Fracking Right To PA Supreme Court
Dallas Twp Proposes Zoning Change To Make It Easier For Gas Compressor Stations
Drilling Fee Revenue
Op-Ed: Natural Gas Helping Pennsylvania Flourish
Heating Oil Prices Aren’t Mirroring Falling Prices Of Oil At The Pump
Home Heating Oil Prices Likely To Hold Steady This Year
Have A Heating Oil Tank? You Should Check For Leaks
UGI Investigating Major Gas Leak In Lancaster
Natural Gas Leak Leads To Evacuation Of Scranton Neighborhood
Gasket Failure Caused Croda Gas Leak That Close Delaware Memorial Bridge
Croda Gas Leak Highlights Risks To Poorer Delaware River Communities
Editorial: No Excuses Gulf Coast Oil Spill Cleanup
Pipelines
Cusick: PUC Judge Reviews Request For Immediate Shutdown Of Mariner East Pipelines
2 Pipelines In PA, OH Rack Up More Than 800 Violations, Threaten Industry’s Future
Delaware County Risk Assessment Finds No Great Risk From Pipelines
First Responders Ready For Mariner East Pipelines Emergency, If There Are Any
AP: Federal Court Rules Against Proposed Interstate National Fuel Gas Pipeline
U.S. Senate Committee Advances FERC Nominee Despite Unfortunate Comments
Radiation Protection
Peach Bottom Nuclear Plant To Test Sirens Dec. 5
69
Recreation
Recycling/Waste
DEP Committees Meet Dec. 12 To Continue Discussion On Changes To Recycling
Impoundment
Renewable Energy
43 Mayors From Pennsylvania, Plus All 50 States Call For More Solar Energy
Stormwater
Restoration
Water Resources
Corps Of Engineers Announces $123.6M For Waterways Projects In Western PA
Wastewater Facilities
Lawsuits Stemming From Scranton’s 2016 Sewer Sale Still Unresolved
Watershed Protection
Quality
Southeast PA
Restoration
70
Beveridge: American Rivers Seeks To Breach Marianna Dam In Washington County
Click Here to subscribe to the Chesapeake Bay Journal
Follow Chesapeake Bay Journal On Twitter
Like Chesapeake Bay Journal On Facebook
Wildlife
Rain Doesn’t Stop Deer Hunters
Opening Day Of Deer Season Provides Opportunity For Family Bonding
Families Keep Hunting Traditions Alive
Schneck: Which PA Counties Produce The Most Trophy Deer?
5 Things To Know About PA’s Deer Hunting Season
Odds Favor Hunters As Deer Season Begins
Schneck: What Are The Biggest Bucks Ever Shot In PA?
To Me, Hunting Is Not About Killing
Buck Season To Begin In Pennsylvania
Editorial: Hunting Puts Food On PA Tables
Editorial: Hunters Are Now On Mark
AP: Deer-Related Crashes Spike In Pennsylvania
Crable: Hunters Take 1,993 Bears In 4-Day Gun Season, 9th Highest On Record
Hanover Bald Eagle Livestream Is Back
Schneck: Bald Eagle Nestcam Begins Livestreaming Dec. 2
2 Bald Eagles Released In Erie Region
Bald Eagles In Harmar, Pittsburgh Are Building New Nests
Editorial: Lead Poses Threat To Eagles
Blair County Native Discovers New Hybrid Bird
Editorial: Don’t Lift Ban On Sunday Hunting
Plans Underway To Preserve 2,700 More Acres For Blue Mountain Wildlife Refuge
West Nile/Zika Virus
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.
December 1-- Delaware Highlands Conservancy Eagle Watch Volunteer Training Day. Inn At
Lackawaxen, 188 Scenic Drive, Lackawaxen, Wayne County. 9:00 to 1:00.
71
December 3-- DEP Webinar On How To Apply For Class 8 Truck & Transit Clean Vehicle
Grants. 10:30.
December 4-- Agenda Posted. DEP Climate Change Advisory Committee meeting. Room 105
Rachel Carson Building. 10:00. DEP Contact: Lindsay Byron, 717-772-8951, lbyron@pa.gov.
(formal notice) Click Here for more background on agenda items.
December 4-- CANCELED. DEP Board Of Coal Mine Safety meeting. The next scheduled
meeting is March 5. DEP Contact: Margaret Scheloske, 724-404-3143, mscheloske@pa.gov.
(formal notice)
December 4-- DEP Webinar On How To Apply For Class 4-7 Truck, School Bus and Other
Clean Vehicle Rebates. 10:30.
December 4-- DEP Hearing [If Needed] On RACT II Air Quality Plan For East Penn
Manufacturing, Berks County. DEP Southcentral Regional Office, 909 Elmerton Ave,
Harrisburg. 10:00.
December 4-- DEP Hearing On New Adelphia Natural Gas Pipeline Compressor Station, Bucks
County. West Rockhill Township Municipal Building, 1028 Ridge Road, Sellersville, Bucks
County. 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.
December 4-- DEP Hearing On New Adelphia Natural Gas Pipeline Compressor Station,
Delaware County. Lower Chichester Township Municipal Building, 1410 Market Street,
Linwood, Montgomery County. 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.
December 5-- Agenda Posted. 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. (f ormal notice)
December 5-- Agenda Posted. DEP Laboratory Accreditation Advisory Committee meeting.
DEP Laboratory Building, 2575 Interstate Dr. Harrisburg. 9:00. DEP Contact: Aaren Alger,
717-346-8212 or send email to: aaalger@pa.gov. (f ormal notice)
December 5-- DCNR Pinchot State Forest District Resource Management Plan Meeting.
District Office, 1841 Abington Road, North Abington Township, Lackawanna County. 4:30 to
6:30.
December 6-- CANCELED. DEP Cleanup Standards Scientific Advisory Board meeting. Room
105 Rachel Carson Building. 10:00. DEP Contact: Michael Maddigan, 717-772-3609,
mmaddigan@pa.gov. (formal notice)
December 6-- Location Added. Susquehanna River Basin Commission business meeting on
proposed water withdrawal permits and other actions (Click Here for agenda). SRBC Office,
4423 North Front Street, Harrisburg. 9:00. SRBC Contact: Ava Stoops, 717-238-0423. (formal
72
notice) (formal notice-correction) Click Here for more.
December 6-- Westminster College Student Symposium On The Environment. Westminster

College, McKelvey Campus Center, New Wilmington, Lawrence County. 5:30 to 9:00.
December 6-- 10,000 Friends Of Pennsylvania Commonwealth Awards Dinner. ArtsQuest,

Bethlehem.
December 7-- Penn State Extension Understanding Dairy Business For Conservation
Professionals Workshop. Lancaster Farm and Home Center, 1383 Arcadia Road, Lancaster.
10:00 to 2:00
December 10-- PA Highlands Coalition Webinar: What Is Nature Worth? Return On
Environmental Studies, Economic Value Of The Outdoors. 10:00 to 11:30.
December 11-- DEP Hearing [If Needed] On RACT II Air Quality Plan For Monroe Energy
Facility, Delaware County. DEP Southeast Regional Office, 2 East Main Street, Norristown.
10:00.
December 11-- DEP Hearing [If Needed] On RACT II Air Quality Plan For Exelon Croydon
Power Plant, Bucks County. DEP Southeast Regional Office, 2 East Main Street, Norristown.
2:00.
December 11-- DEP Hearing [If Needed] On RACT II Air Quality Plan For Arcelormittal Plate
Company, Montgomery County. DEP Southeast Regional Office, 2 East Main Street,
Norristown. 8:00 a.m.
December 11-- PUC PA One Call Damage Prevention Committee. Hearing Room 1, Keystone
Building, Harrisburg. 9:00? Online livestream available.
December 12-- Agenda Posted. DEP State Board for Certification of Water and Wastewater
Systems Operators meeting. 10th Floor Conference Room, Rachel Carson Building. 10:00. DEP
Contact: Edgar Chescattie, 717-772-2814, eshescattie@pa.gov.
December 12-- Agenda Posted. DEP Solid Waste Advisory Committee & Recycling Fund
Advisory Committee meeting. Room 105 Rachel Carson Building. 10:00. DEP Contact: Laura
Henry, 717-772-5713, lahenry@pa.gov. Click Here for background on agenda items.
December 12-- DEP Information Session/Hearing On Amerikohl Revtai Mining, Reclamation

Project Water Quality Permit In Fayette County. Saltlick Township Municipal Building, 147
Municipal Building Road, Melcroft. 1:00 to 3:00.
December 12-- DEP Holds Dec. 12 Hearing [If Needed] On Delaware County Nonattainment
Maintenance Plan For Fine Particulate. DEP Southeast Regional Office, 2 East Main Street in
Norristown, Montgomery County. 10:00.
73
December 12-- DCNR State Forest District Management Plan Meetings - Bald Eagle State
Forest, District Office, 18865 Old Turnpike Road, Millmont, Union County. 6:00 to 8:00.
December 12-- Delaware River Basin Commission business meeting. Washington Crossing
Historic Park Visitor Center, 1112 River Road, Washington Crossing, PA.10:30. Click Here for
an agenda. (formal notice)
December 13-- Agenda Posted. DEP Air Quality Technical Advisory Committee meeting.
Room 105 Rachel Carson Building. 9:15. DEP Contact: Kirit Dalal, 717-772-3436 or send email
to: kdalal@pa.gov. (formal notice) Click Here for more background on agenda items.
-- Draft regulations setting methane emission limits for oil and gas operations
December 13-- CANCELED. DEP Sewage Advisory Committee meeting. DEP Contact: Janice
Vollero 717-772-5157 or send email to: jvollero@pa.gov. (f ormal notice)
December 13-- Penn State Extension Webinar: Unconventional Oil & Gas - Bringing Trusted
Science To Decision-Making. 1:00 to 2:00.
December 17-- 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 644 895 237.
December 17-- NEW. Penn State Extension Farm Soil Health & Cover Crop Workshop. York
County Annex Building, Room 1, 112 Pleasant Acres Rd., York. 9:00 to Noon.
December 18-- Environmental Quality Board meeting. Room 105 Rachel Carson Building.
9:00. DEP Contact: Laura Edinger, 717-772-3277, ledinger@pa.gov.
December 18-- DEP Hearing [If Needed] On RACT II Air Quality Plan For East Penn
Manufacturing In Berks County. DEP Southcentral Regional Office, 909 Elmerton Avenue,
Harrisburg. 10:00.
December 28-- DEP Hearing [If Needed[ On Lebanon County Fine Particulate Standard Plan.
DEP Southcentral Regional Office, 909 Elmerton Avenue, Harrisburg. 1:00.
January 1-- NEW. First Day Of New 2019-2020 Legislative Session
January 10-- NEW. Penn State Extension Farm Soil Health & Cover Crop Workshop. Penn
State Extension Mercer County, 463 North Perry Highway, Mercer. 10:00 to 1:00.
January 12-- Delaware Highlands Conservancy Eagle Watch Bus Tour. 10:00 to 1:00, Click
Here for more.
January 15-- NEW. Inauguration Day For Gov. Wolf, Lt. Gov. Fetterman
74
January 26-- Delaware Highlands Conservancy Eagle Watch Bus Tour. Noon to 1:00. Click
Here for more.
January 27-30-- Partnership For The Delaware Estuary. 2019 Delaware Estuary Science &
Environmental Summit. Cape May, NJ.
February 2-- Delaware Highlands Conservancy Eagle Watch Bus Tour. 10:00 to 1:00. Click
Here for more.
February 5-- NEW. Governor’s Budget Address.
February 6-- NEW. Penn State Extension Woods In Your Backyard Webinar Series Starts. 7:00
to 8:00 p.m.
February 6-9-- PA Association For Sustainable Agriculture. Pennsylvania Sustainable

Agriculture Conference. Lancaster County Convention Center, Lancaster.
February 12-13-- Advanced Watershed Educator Workshops For Non-Formal Educators.

Dauphin County Agriculture & Natural Resources Center, 1451 Peters Mountain Road, Dauphin,
Dauphin County. Click Here to register.
February 20-21-- DCNR, Western PA Conservancy. PA Riparian Forest Buffer Summit. Best
Western Premier Conference Center, 800 East Park Drive, Harrisburg.
March 2-- PA Wilds. Retailers, Producers, Public 3rd Annual PA Wilds Buyer’s Market.
Gemmell Student Complex Multi-Purpose Room, Clarion University.
March 5-- DEP Board Of Coal Mine Safety meeting. DEP Ebensburg Office, 286 Industrial
Park Road, Ebensburg. 10:00. DEP Contact: Margaret Scheloske, 724-404-3143,
mscheloske@pa.gov. (f ormal notice)
March 5-6-- Keystone Energy Efficiency Alliance. Healthcare Industry Forum On Energy
Efficiency. Penn Stater Hotel and Conference Center, State College, Centre County.
March 9-- 2019 Watershed Congress Along The Schuylkill River. Montgomery County
Community College campus in Pottstown.
March 21-- 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. (f ormal
notice)
March 27-28-- Advanced Watershed Educator Workshops For Non-Formal Educators. Jennings
Environmental Education Center, 2951 Prospect Road, Slippery Rock, Butler County. Click
Here to register.
75
April 5-- Wildlife For Everyone We Love Wild Things & Wild Places Gala.
April 7-9-- CMU Mascaro Center For Sustainable Innovation. 2019 Engineering Sustainability
Conference. David L. Lawrence Convention Center, Pittsburgh.
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.
May 16-18-- PA Land Trust Association. Land Conservation Conference. Monroe County.
July 24-26-- Professional Recyclers Of PA. Annual Recycling & Organics Conference.
Harrisburg.
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
Click Here to hook up with DCNR on other social media-- Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and
Flickr.
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.
December 1-- PHMC Historical Marker Nominations

December 1-- USDA Rural Community Water Infrastructure Funding (Rolling Deadline)
December 1-- Western PA Trail Volunteer Fund Grants
December 14-- DEP Alternative Fuel Vehicle Rebates (First-Come)
December 14-- DEP Alternative Fuels Incentive Grants
December 14-- FEMA/PEMA Pre-Disaster & Flood Mitigation Grants
December 15-- Coldwater Heritage Partnership Grants
December 17-- Governor’s Awards For Environmental Excellence
December 17-- PA Parks & Forests Foundation 2019 Awards
December 21-- ORSANCO Ohio River Sweep Student Poster Contest
76
December 21-- NEW. NRCS-PA Farm, Forest Conservation Grants, Central, SE PA
December 28-- Western PA Conservancy/Dominion Energy Watershed Mini Grants
December 30-- Coca-Cola, Keep America Beautiful Public Spaces Recycling Bin Grants
December 31-- DEP County Act 101 Waste Planning, HHW, Education Grants
January 4-- NEW. Voting Ends For 2019 Pennsylvania River Of The Year
January 11-- DEP Class 8 Truck/Transit Bus Clean Vehicle Grants
January 11-- PennDOT Green Light-Go Program, LED Light Upgrades
January 11-- DEP Environmental Education Grants
January 16-- West Penn Power Sustainable Energy Fund Project Funding
January 18-- South Mountain Partnership Spirit Of South Mountain Award
January 18-- PA Land Trust Assn. Lifetime Achievement Award
January 25-- DEP Grants/Rebates Electric Vehicle Charging Stations
January 31-- NFWF Five Star & Urban Waters Restoration Grants
January 31-- NEW. EPA Brownfields Assessment, Cleanup and Multipurpose Grants
February 4-- PA Environmental Professionals College Scholarships
February 8-- DEP FAST Act Alternative Fuels Corridor Infrastructure Grants
February 8-- NEW. Wildlife Leadership Academy Youth Conservation Ambassador
February 11-- PA Land Trust Assn. Government Leadership Award
February 15-- NEW. EPA Environmental Justice Small Grants
March 1-- NEW. PA Parks & Forests Foundation Wilderness Wheels Grants (Rolling Deadline)
March 1-- West Penn Power Sustainable Energy Investment Funding (Rolling Deadline)
March 4-- NEW. DCNR PA Outdoor Corps Young Adult Crews (At The Very Latest!)
March 31-- DEP Level 2 Electric Charging Station Rebates (First-Come)
May 10-- DEP Class 8 Truck/Transit Bus Clean Vehicle Grants
July 15-- DEP Grants/Rebates Electric Vehicle Charging Stations
December 16-- DEP Grants/Rebates Electric Vehicle Charging Stations
March 1-- Western PA Trail Volunteer Fund Grants
March 22-- DEP Act 101 Recycling Implementation Grants
June 1-- Western PA Trail Volunteer Fund Grants
September 1-- Western PA Trail Volunteer Fund Grants
September 23-- DEP Class 8 Truck/Transit Bus Clean Vehicle Grants
December 1-- Western PA Trail Volunteer Fund 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 -----------------------
77
No new regulations were published this week. Pennsylvania Bulletin - December 1, 2018
Technical Guidance -------------------
No new technical guidance was published this week.
Permits ------------
The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the December 1 PA Bulletin of

Nutrient Credit Trading Program actions (p age 7461) .
The Susquehanna River Basin Commission published notice in the December 1 PA Bulletin of
water projects approved in October.
Note: The Department of Environmental Protection published 50 pages of public notices related
to proposed and final permit and approval/ disapproval actions in the December 1 PA Bulletin -
pages 7411 to 7461.
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
78
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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PA Environment Digest is a publication of PA Environment News LLC and is edited by

David E. Hess, former Secretary Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. He can
be contacted by sending email to: PaEnviroDigest@gmail.com.
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Issue #753 Harrisburg, PA Dec.

PA Environment Digest Blog​​ ​Twitter Feed​​ ​ Facebook Page

PA Supreme Court Upholds Decision Striking ​Down Protection Of School Property,

On November 28, the PA Supreme Court let stand

DEP’s ​Air Quality Technical Advisory Committee​ is scheduled

On November 28, the ​Allegheny Institute For

On November 27,​ Robert B. McKinstry, Jr.,​ the ​Clean Air Council​,

On November 28, the ​Senate Democratic Policy

DEP Climate Change Advisory Committee Meets Dec. 4 To Review Draft

DEP’s ​Climate Change Advisory Committee​ is scheduled to meet on

On November 29, Senators Ryan Aument (R-Lancaster)

University Of Pittsburgh To Purchase Hydropower From Proposed Allegheny River Lock

On November 29, the University of Pittsburgh

On November 29, the Department of Environmental Protection

On November 28, Pennsylvania members of the National

On November 28, the Department of

On November 29, ​Stroud Water Research Center

Voting Now Open For 2019 Pennsylvania River Of The Year

On November 27, the Department of Conservation and

On November 30, the Public Utility Commission announced

On November 30, Agriculture Secretary Russell

Senate/House Agenda/Session Schedule[Updated]/Gov’s Schedule

All Bills Died

Committee Meeting Agendas This Week

All Committees must be reestablished in new legislative session

Bills Pending In Key Committees

Federal Storm Recovery Aid Approved For Portions Of Pennsylvania

News From Around The State

NRCS-PA Accepting Applications For Farm, Forest Owner Conservation Assistance In

On November 29, the ​Natural Resource

Soil Health And Cover Crops Workshops​ are coming up

MS4 Stormwater Education Resources Available To Local Officials

To help them meet MS4 stormwater pollution

By: Jennifer Fetter, Extension Educator, Renewable Natural Resources

In September, ​Penn State Extension​ hosted the fourth

Wildlife Leadership Academy Seeks Motivated Students To Become Youth Conservation

The​ Wildlife Leadership Academy​ in

PennDOT Public-Private Partnership Program Requests Wetlands Mitigation Banking

On November 27, the Department of Transportation announced it is issuing a ​request for

DEP’s ​Solid Waste Advisory​ & Recycling Fund

Fresh Paint Days Grants Help Community Improvement Projects In Monroe,

This fall, ​Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful​,

Brownfields Multipurpose, Assessment, Cleanup Grant Applications Due To EPA Jan. 31

EPA Accepting Applications For Environmental Justice Small Grants, Application

On November 27, mayors from every U.S. state

Groundbreaking Held For Multimodal Project To Improve Safety, Connectivity Around

On November 28, Department of

On November 28, Department of Community

On November 26, Department of Conservation and

State Agencies Provide Year-End Update On Spotted Lanternfly

On November 26, Department of Agriculture

PA Environmental Council: Statewide Reforestation Partnership Takes Root

By ​Laura Bray​, West Region Program Coordinator

At the ​PA Environmental Council​ we believe in

Western PA Conservancy: Trees For Johnstown, Cambria County

Trees for Johnstown is a multi-phase project of the

A new 8-part ​Woods In Your Backyard Webinar Series​ by

On November 26, ​Pennsylvania Sea

The ​Pennsylvania Outdoor Corps​ is now hiring for its

Thanks to Wilderness Wheels, a new ​PA Parks and

Love birdwatching? Consider signing up to

Nov. 29 Resource Newsletter Now Available From DCNR

The ​November 29 Resource newsletter​ is now

Working Together Through Time is the title of

PA Environment Digest Blog Twitter Feed Facebook Page

PA Supreme Court Upholds Decision Striking Down Protection Of School Property,

DEP’s Air Quality Technical Advisory Committee is scheduled

On November 28, the Allegheny Institute For

On November 27, Robert B. McKinstry, Jr., the Clean Air Council,

On November 28, the Senate Democratic Policy

DEP’s Climate Change Advisory Committee is scheduled to meet on

On November 29, Stroud Water Research Center

On November 29, the Natural Resource

Soil Health And Cover Crops Workshops are coming up

In September, Penn State Extension hosted the fourth

The Wildlife Leadership Academy in

On November 27, the Department of Transportation announced it is issuing a request for

DEP’s Solid Waste Advisory & Recycling Fund

This fall, Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful,

By Laura Bray, West Region Program Coordinator

At the PA Environmental Council we believe in

A new 8-part Woods In Your Backyard Webinar Series by

On November 26, Pennsylvania Sea

The Pennsylvania Outdoor Corps is now hiring for its

Thanks to Wilderness Wheels, a new PA Parks and

The November 29 Resource newsletter is now

On November 26, Delaware County-based Natural Lands

December 6-- Westminster College Student Symposium On The Environment. Westminster

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

December 12-- DEP Information Session/Hearing On Amerikohl Revtai Mining, Reclamation

January 1-- NEW. First Day Of New 2019-2020 Legislative Session

February 5-- NEW. Governor’s Budget Address.

February 6-9-- PA Association For Sustainable Agriculture. Pennsylvania Sustainable

February 12-13-- Advanced Watershed Educator Workshops For Non-Formal Educators.

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

December 1-- PHMC Historical Marker Nominations

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

PA Environment Digest is a publication of PA Environment News LLC and is edited by

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

Note: Content is gladly shared. For permission, send email to:

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