PA Environment Digest An Update On Environmental Issues In Pennsylvania

Edited By: David E. Hess, Crisci Associates

Winner Of PA Association of Environmental Educators Business Partner Of The Year Award

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Issue #616 Harrisburg, PA April 18, 2016 Commonwealth Court Denies Challenge To DEP’s Drilling Regulations Commonwealth Court Judge James Gardner Colins Friday denied a request by groups representing conventional oil and gas drillers to invalidate DEP’s final Chapter 78 (conventional) and 78a (unconventional, Marcellus Shale) drilling regulations updates because they violated the provisions of a 2014 amendment to the Fiscal Code.

This action now clears the way for the regulatory review process to continue and for the Independent Regulatory Review Commission to consider the regulations on April 21.

In his written opinion, Judge Colins said on the issue of violating the Fiscal Code, “All three Respondents [DEP, Environmental Quality Board and the IRRC] argue that regardless of whether PIPP’s [PA Independent Petroleum Producers Association] assertions are accurate or legally meritorious, no relief can be granted to PIPP in this action because its claims are not ripe. The Court agrees.”

“To obtain relief in this Court, PIPP must show that it is aggrieved and that there is an actual controversy between the parties that is not contingent on future events that may never occur.

“Here, the harm to PIPP depends on future events that may or may not occur. The Final Form Regulations that PIPP seeks to set aside or prevent from being approved are not fully promulgated regulations.

“Thus, until the regulatory review process is complete, it is uncertain whether the Final Form Regulations will become final regulations in their current form and whether they will be promulgated as final regulations at all.

“... PIPP’s claims in this action are not ripe and cannot support summary relief or injunctive relief.”

In response to the argument by conventional drillers the industry will suffer instant harm because the final regulations would go into effect immediately, the Court said, “... there is no showing that PIPP’s members would incur serious harm instantaneously before it could seek relief from final regulations. PIPP has not set forth what costs of compliance its members would

incur in the first days and weeks under the Final Form Regulations; rather, its arguments of hardship and costs to conventional well operators refer only to the annual [Court’s emphasis] costs of compliance without discussion of when or how quickly those costs would be incurred.”

A copy of the Court’s opinion is available online. NewsClip: Drilling Rules Headed For Key Vote After Judge Rejects Stay Related Stories: Commonwealth Court Denies Challenge To DEP’s Drilling Regulations IRRC To Consider Final DEP Drilling Regs April 21, Meeting To Be Streamed Live Conventional Drillers Tell Court Time Is Now To Decide Whether DEP Violated The Law Senate, House Environmental Committees Disapprove DEP Drilling Regs COGENT Calls Committee Action to Disapprove DEP Drilling Regs A Travesty Senate Committee OKs Bills to Kill Conventional Drilling Regs, Delay Clean Power Plan Senate, House Environmental Committees Disapprove DEP’s Drilling Regulations The Senate and House Environmental Resources and Energy Committees Tuesday voted largely along party lines to notify the Independent Regulatory Review Commission they disapprove DEP’s Chapter 78 (conventional) and 78a (unconventional, Marcellus Shale) drilling regulations updates.

The Committees acted based on similar concerns­­ ­­ DEP violated a 2014 Fiscal Code amendment directing DEP to adopt separate regulations for conventional and unconventional oil and gas drilling. Sen. Scott Hutchinson (R­Venango) said at the Senate Committee meeting DEP started its rulemaking process without separate regulations as the 2014 law required. DEP started the regulatory process for the drilling regulations in August of 2013 before the Fiscal Code amendment was passed a year later. After the law was passed in 2014, during the Corbett Administration, DEP separated the regulations into a chapter for conventional and another chapter covering unconventional, Marcellus Shale drilling, and put the entire separated package out for another round of public review in April 2015.

In announcing the final regulation in January, DEP itemized the list of the major differences between the chapters covering conventional and unconventional drilling requirements.

A challenge to the regulations filed by the conventional well drillers exactly on this point was heard Thursday by Commonwealth Court which said it will rule on the issue before the April 21 meeting at which the Independent Regulatory Review Commission will consider the drilling regulations. ­­ DEP did not supply a Regulatory Analysis Form during consideration of the regulations that analyzed the economic impact of the regulations, in particular, on small businesses like conventional oil and gas drillers. DEP posted a Regulatory Analysis Form with the original proposed regulations in August of 2013 and an updated form in January of 2016 when Chapter 78 and 78a were considered in their final form by the Environmental Quality Board. The Form includes the IRRC­required information on economic impacts and specifically on alternative strategies used to reduce the impact of the regulation on small businesses. Copies of the Form were also provided to the House and Senate Committees and to the IRRC at both the proposed

and final stages of the rulemaking. ­­ The forms and policies required to implement the law were not provided to the EQB, Committees and the IRRC as required by law. The final forms and policies could not be provided to the EQB as a practical matter before the EQB voted to finalized the language of the regulations on February 3, 2016. Since that action by the EQB in February, both the Conventional Oil and Gas Advisory Committee, covering the conventional industry, and the Oil and Gas Technical Advisory Committee, covering Marcellus Shale issues, met on March 30 and 31, respectively, to review the draft forms and guidelines. ­­ DEP did not provide a compelling reason for the regulation and no new state law directed DEP to develop regulations covering the conventional drilling industry. Sen. Hutchinson made this point during the Senate Committee meeting. Rep. Jeff Pyle (R­Armstrong) said he was unaware Act 13 of 2012, which was used by DEP to justify the original proposed regulations in part, covered conventional oil and gas drilling. It was clear at least to Sen. Joseph Scarnati (R­Jefferson), President Pro Tempore of the Senate, Act 13 covered both conventional and unconventional wells because he said during a Senate Environmental Committee meeting in June 2014 the General Assembly “erred” in putting both kinds of wells in the same statute. ­­ DEP based its regulations on portions of Act 13 that were struck down by the PA Supreme Court. Act 13 was passed in 2012. DEP presented the original version of the regulations to the EQB for action in August of 2013. DEP published the proposed regulations for public comment on December 14, 2013. The PA Supreme Court’s Robinson decision referred to in both Committees was issued on December 19, 2013. In an email to members of the EQB after the decision, Scott Perry, DEP Deputy Secretary for Oil and Gas Management, said most of the Act 13 decision dealt with the preemption of local zoning ordinances and added DEP promulgated the proposed drilling regulations based on multiple statutes, not just Act 13. The list of statutes included the Clean Streams Law which gives DEP broad authority to protect the Commonwealth’s water resources.

Click Here for a copy of the Senate Committee letter sent to the IRRC and DEP Secretary John Quigley as Chair of the Environmental Quality Board.

The letter from the House Environmental Committee is not yet available. Ironically, both the House and Senate also passed resolutions this week urging all

Pennsylvania’s to observe Earth Day on April 22­­ Senate Resolution 348 (Hughes­D­ Philadelphia) and House Resolution 771 (Murt­R­Adams).

Rep. John Maher (R­Allegheny) serves as Majority Chair of the House Environmental Committee and can be contacted by sending email to: jmaher@pahousegop.com. Rep. Greg Vitali (D­Delaware) serves as Minority Chair and can be contacted by sending email to: gvitali@pahouse.net.

Sen. Gene Yaw (R­Lycoming) serves as Majority Chair of the Senate Environmental Committee and can be contacted by sending email to: gyaw@pasen.gov. Sen. John Yudichak (D­Luzerne) serves as Minority Chair and can be contacted by sending email to: yudichak@pasenate.com. NewsClips: House, Senate Panels Reject Oil & Gas Regulations PLS Reporter: House, Senate Committees Disapprove DEP’s Drilling Regs Energy Committees Urge No Vote On New Drilling Rules

Oil & Gas Regulations Rejected By House, Senate Committees Related Stories: Commonwealth Court Denies Challenge To DEP’s Drilling Regulations IRRC To Consider Final DEP Drilling Regs April 21, Meeting To Be Streamed Live Conventional Drillers Tell Court Time Is Now To Decide Whether DEP Violated The Law COGENT Calls Committee Action to Disapprove DEP Drilling Regs A Travesty Senate Committee OKs Bills to Kill Conventional Drilling Regs, Delay Clean Power Plan COGENT Calls Committee Action To Disapprove DEP Drilling Regs A Travesty The Connection for Oil, Gas & Environment in the Northern Tier had this reaction to Tuesday’s action by the Senate and House Environmental Committees recommending the Independent Regulatory Review Commission disapprove DEP’s Chapter 78 (conventional) and Chapter 78a (unconventional, Marcellus Shale) drilling regulations update—

“We can't even begin to share our dismay of the ERE Committee's action urging the IRRC to disapprove both Chapter 78 and 78a oil and gas drilling regulations.

“28,000 comments submitted over a two year period. COGENT participated in numerous subcommittee meetings, provided testimony at numerous hearings and submitted written comments.

“These regulations are necessary and long over­due. Rural shale residents in the Northern Tier Region are worthy of improved regulations in the drilling fields where we reside.

“This action is nothing short of a travesty.” Click Here to read the entire posting. Emily Krafjack from COGENT was an ad hoc member of DEP’s Oil and Gas Technical

Advisory Board advising the Department on issues related to unconventional drilling during the time DEP reviewed the regulations with the Committee. NewsClips: House, Senate Panels Reject Oil & Gas Regulations PLS Reporter: House, Senate Committees Disapprove DEP’s Drilling Regs Energy Committees Urge No Vote On New Drilling Rules Oil & Gas Regulations Rejected By House, Senate Committees Related Stories: Commonwealth Court Denies Challenge To DEP’s Drilling Regulations IRRC To Consider Final DEP Drilling Regs April 21, Meeting To Be Streamed Live Conventional Drillers Tell Court Time Is Now To Decide Whether DEP Violated The Law Senate, House Environmental Committees Disapprove DEP Drilling Regs Senate Committee OKs Bills to Kill Conventional Drilling Regs, Delay Clean Power Plan IRRC To Consider Final DEP Drilling Regs April 21, Meeting To Be Streamed Live The Independent Regulatory Review Commission will consider DEP’s Chapter 78 (conventional) and 78a (unconventional, Marcellus Shale) drilling regulations updates at its April 21 meeting in Harrisburg.

Click Here to find comments submitted by the Senate and House and members of the public to the IRRC on the final regulation. Search for IRRC# 3042.

Due to the expected heavy attendance at the meeting, the IRRC announced the meeting will be streamed live online. Click Here to watch the meeting live online starting at 9:00 a.m.

The final rulemaking has been in development three years and represents the first update to rules governing surface activities associated with the development of oil and gas wells since 2001 and implements provisions of the 2012 Oil and Gas Act.

The changes would strengthen the rules regarding oil and gas surface activities. These regulatory changes would: ­­ Ensure the protection of public health, safety, and the environment. ­­ Protect public resources to minimize impacts from oil and gas drilling. ­­ Modernize the regulatory program to recognize advances in technology. ­­ Address landowner concerns. ­­ Enhance transparency and improve data management.

The IRRC has the authority to approve or disapprove the regulation. If the regulation is disapproved, DEP has the opportunity to come back to the IRRC with a response to the concerns expressed by the Commission or withdraw the regulation.

The IRRC meeting will be held in the 14th Floor Conference Room, 333 Market St., Harrisburg starting at 9:00 a.m. Click Here to watch the meeting live online.

Click Here to find comments submitted by the Senate and House and members of the public to the IRRC on the final regulation. Search for IRRC# 3042.

For more information on the regulatory process, visit the Independent Regulatory Review Commission website. NewsClips: Drilling Rules Headed For Key Vote After Judge Rejects Stay House, Senate Panels Reject Oil & Gas Regulations PLS Reporter: House, Senate Committees Disapprove DEP’s Drilling Regs Energy Committees Urge No Vote On New Drilling Rules Oil & Gas Regulations Rejected By House, Senate Committees Related Stories: Commonwealth Court Denies Challenge To DEP’s Drilling Regulations Conventional Drillers Tell Court Time Is Now To Decide Whether DEP Violated The Law Senate, House Environmental Committees Disapprove DEP Drilling Regs COGENT Calls Committee Action to Disapprove DEP Drilling Regs A Travesty Senate Committee OKs Bills to Kill Conventional Drilling Regs, Delay Clean Power Plan Analysis: Senate Panel Ignores Obvious: Deep Cuts In DEP Budget Reduces Service The Senate Republican and Democratic Policy Committees Monday held a hearing on whether DEP’s ability to process permits has had an impact on economic development in Pennsylvania. There is no question the answer is yes, to some extent, but the cause of DEP’s slowdown in processing permits was in doubt to some on the panel.

Republican members of the panel didn’t seem to get a simple concept: if you cut DEP’s

General Fund budget by more than 40 percent over the last 13 years, cut DEP’s staff by 22 percent (including the recent freeze on hiring by Gov. Wolf), yet do not reduce its responsibilities, but increase them, there will be an impact.

If DEP was a private business, perhaps some panel members would get it. You can’t cut a business’ income by nearly half and prevent the filling of 22 percent of

its employee positions and NOT expect that business to close plants and cut lines of business. Except, a public agency like DEP can’t close its offices or decide which environmental

laws NOT to enforce because the General Assembly gives them all those jobs to do and NONE of those responsibilities have been taken away from DEP.

The General Assembly has only piled on MORE responsibilities without the necessary funding to support them over the last 13 years.

StateImpact reported Monday the Chair of Senate Republican Policy Committee Sen. David Argall (R­Schuylkill) made the statement, “How can we be sure if we allocate additional dollars for additional staff the situation improve? You certainly understand the fear that more staff equals more bureaucracy, which equals more delay, not less.”

To help debunk that myth, DEP Secretary John Quigley noted data from DEP’s Permit Decision Guarantee Program shows the agency meets its deadlines for review of permits 89 percent of the time, but he pointed out DEP must get complete permit applications from applicants to make those deadlines.

He described a recent study of Chapter 102 (erosion and sedimentation) and 105 (water obstruction) permit applications, the basic permits needed for development, that found 39.4 percent had technical deficiencies or were incomplete.

Meeting permit review deadlines, Quigley said, is a shared responsibility with applicants and nearly 40 percent of the time, on key water permits, they fail to submit complete applications the agency can process immediately.

“Application review is not a box­checking exercise. It involves scientific, technical, engineering, and legal analysis,” said Quigley. “Applications that are deficient ­ that do not meet all of the regulatory requirements for completeness and technical accuracy ­ simply take longer to review. In many cases, review of these applications requires multiple efforts by the consultant to add information to the application to satisfy regulatory requirements for environmental protection. This back and forth can add considerable time to the review process.”

Sen. Camera Bartolotta (R­Washington) expressed concern about “over­regulation,” and “why it takes so much longer to get permits for just about anything from [DEP’s] Southwest office.”

She suggested hiring outside firms to review permits, perhaps forgetting momentarily that that costs the state money and that any consulting firm doing those review would face significant conflict of interest requirements that would prevent them from working in DEP permit programs.

DEP’s Quigley strongly disagreed with the idea saying, “We have the most proficient, technically capable staff that you’ll find anywhere. The protection of public health and the environment is not something you can outsource.”

Quigley pointed to a proposal in Gov. Wolf’s FY 2016­17 budget that would increase investment in DEP’s information technology infrastructure to upgrade the agency’s eFACTS permit management system and allow DEP to implement more e­permitting processes within mining and other programs.

Asked if he thought Pennsylvania’s regulatory environment was hurting job growth and

economic development, Quigley said he disagrees. First, the natural resources that need protecting in Pennsylvania are “worthy of enhanced

protection, to say nothing of public health,” he noted. Further, he noted there are areas where regulations are not strong enough, including those

pertaining to natural gas. “If Pennsylvania is to join a race to the bottom, it does so at its own risk,” Quigley said.

It is too easy to blame the regulatory environment when other factors are in play as well. At the same time, Quigley said he has been working to streamline and improve the permit

review processes and is open to suggestions for how to do that in ways that do not compromise protecting the environment.

He said just last week DEP restarted a program to improve statewide consistency in inspections and enforcement that addresses a key issue with many in the regulated community.

A copy of Secretary Quigley’s written testimony is available online. Perhaps at some point, legislators will stop overlooking the 800­pound gorilla in the

room­­ adequate funding for Pennsylvania’s environmental programs. Click Here to watch the hearing online and for copies of available written testimony.

NewsClips: DEP’s Quigley: Budget Cuts Hurt Effort To Monitor Pipelines Wolf’s Next Move On Fiscal Code Bill? PLS Reporter: Quest For On­Time Budget Begins Dem Erie Lawmaker: Wolf Bullying Constituents Shooting Range Fees Implemented At Start Park Range Related Stories: Philly.com: DEP’s Quigley: Budget Cuts Leave DEP Ill­Equipped To Monitor Pipelines Analysis: Final Budget Rolls Back Environmental Funding For 13th Year In A Row PA Faces Losing Control Of Environmental Programs Due To DEP Funding, Staff Cuts DEP To Propose Permit Fee Increases For At Least 6 Programs In 2016 Budget Hearing: DEP Does Not Have Enough Staff To Meet Needs In Any Of Its Programs Budget Hearing: DEP: State Can’t Cut Its Way To A Better Environment 2nd Senate Budget Hearing: DEP: 12 Special Funds Will Have Funding Shortfalls By 2018 Wolf Shrinks DEP’s Staff By 200 Positions, Even Though DEP Has More Money CBF­PA Lack Of Funding For Farmers Defeats Effort To Meet Clean Water Commitment DEP Tells House Committees Chesapeake Bay Program Faces Inadequate Resources, Data What’s In Gov. Wolf’s New Budget For The Environment? Not Much Philly.com: DEP’s Quigley: Budget Cuts Leave DEP Ill­Equipped To Monitor Pipelines Philly.com reported Friday evening DEP Secretary John Quigley told a Villanova University law school symposium “years of relentless budget cuts” have left DEP ill­equipped for its role to monitor the tens of thousands of miles of natural gas pipelines to be build in Pennsylvania over the next decade.

Quigley said an estimated 2,000 major pipeline projects are in some stage of planning or construction in Pennsylvania.

He repeated what he has said before, that DEP has lost over 670

positions, about 20 percent of its staff, many of whom are permit writers or inspectors. The symposium brought together panelists to talk about the 184 recommendation made in

DEP’s recent Pipeline Infrastructure Task Force Report. NewsClips: DEP’s Quigley: Budget Cuts Hurt Effort To Monitor Pipelines Wolf’s Next Move On Fiscal Code Bill? PLS Reporter: Quest For On­Time Budget Begins Dem Erie Lawmaker: Wolf Bullying Constituents Shooting Range Fees Implemented At Start Park Range Related Articles: Analysis: Senate Panel Ignores Obvious: Deep Cuts In DEP Budget Reduces Services Analysis: Final Budget Rolls Back Environmental Funding For 13th Year In A Row PA Faces Losing Control Of Environmental Programs Due To DEP Funding, Staff Cuts DEP To Propose Permit Fee Increases For At Least 6 Programs In 2016 Budget Hearing: DEP Does Not Have Enough Staff To Meet Needs In Any Of Its Programs Budget Hearing: DEP: State Can’t Cut Its Way To A Better Environment 2nd Senate Budget Hearing: DEP: 12 Special Funds Will Have Funding Shortfalls By 2018 Wolf Shrinks DEP’s Staff By 200 Positions, Even Though DEP Has More Money CBF­PA Lack Of Funding For Farmers Defeats Effort To Meet Clean Water Commitment DEP Tells House Committees Chesapeake Bay Program Faces Inadequate Resources, Data What’s In Gov. Wolf’s New Budget For The Environment? Not Much New Fiscal Code Bill On Wolf’s Desk Cuts Growing Greener, Green Building Program The Senate, followed by the House Wednesday put a new Fiscal Code bill­­ House Bill 1589 (Causer­R­ Cameron)­­ on the Governor’s desk by veto­proof margins. The bill contains a new formula to distribute basic education funding, cuts Environmental Stewardship (Growing Greener) funding by $15 million and takes $12 million from CFA’s High Performance Buildings Program and transfers it to fund a new program to expand natural gas infrastructure.

The bill also contains provisions that earmarks existing DCNR funding for the operation of Washington Crossing Historical Park and directs funding to sewer and drinking water projects for specific legislators.

A House Fiscal Note and summary is available. A spokesperson for Gov. Wolf said he will review the legislation in its entirety and has

not decided whether to sign or veto the bill. He repeated the Governor's position that a new funding formula for basic education should not go into effect until after full funding is restored to schools.

It does NOT contain the provisions from the last Fiscal Code bill­­ House Bill 1327 (Peifer­R­Pike)­­ delaying Pennsylvania plan to meet the Clean Power Climate Plan rule and killing DEP’s final conventional oil and gas drilling regulations.

Those provisions were included in separate bills reported out of the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee and are on the Senate Calendar. Those bills are­­ ­­ Senate Bill 1011 (Hutchinson­R­Venango) killing DEP’s final drilling regulations covering conventional oil and gas wells and starting the rulemaking process over; and

­­ Senate Bill 1195 (White­R­Indiana) to further delay a Pennsylvania plan for meeting EPA’s Clean Power Climate Plan rule by changing the General Assembly’s review dates under Act 175 of 2014.

Both bills are on the Senate Calendar awaiting action for when the Senate returns on May 9. NewsClips: DEP’s Quigley: Budget Cuts Hurt Effort To Monitor Pipelines Wolf’s Next Move On Fiscal Code Bill? PLS Reporter: Quest For On­Time Budget Begins Dem Erie Lawmaker: Wolf Bullying Constituents Shooting Range Fees Implemented At Start Park Range DEP: Electronics Waste Recycling Programs Can Now Charge Fees For Recycling

In a March 30 letter, the Department of Environmental Protection announced a change in policy that will allow local electronics waste recycling programs to charge consumers for e­waste they bring in for recycling, if the collection event is not part of an electronics manufacturers’ recycling program funded under the state’s Covered Device Recycling Act.

Previously, DEP maintained no recycler who participated in an electronics manufacturer­ funded recycling program under the CDRA could also participate in other e­waste recycling events that charged consumers

to recycle TVs, computers, monitors and other electronic devices; the so­called “all­in or all­out” rule.

These recycling fees essentially charge consumers twice for recycling, according to testimony at a March 21 Joint Conservation Committee hearing.

Consumers pay the first time when they buy a product because the cost of recycling is built into the electronic devices we buy and now a second time if consumers bring their devices to recycling events that impose a fee.

The change in policy was in response to a letter to DEP Secretary John Quigley by Senate Majority Leader Jake Corman (R­Centre), Sen. Gene Yaw (R­Lycoming), Majority Chair of the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, and Sen. Elder Vogel (R­Beaver).

DEP’s response said in part, “Collectors and recyclers may charge fees to consumers when the electronic devices collected are not or will not be sold to or used by a manufacturer to satisfy its recycling goal obligation under the CDRA.

“Collectors and recyclers which are not able to get into a manufacturer’s [recycling] Plan may [also] charge fees.

“Finally, collectors and recyclers that have satisfied the contractual obligations of all the manufacturers that they supply prior to the end of the contract period or periods would be able to charge fees.”

DEP Secretary Quigley was clear, however, in saying fees are not the solution to the collapse of the e­waste recycling program that is leaving two­thirds of Pennsylvania counties

without access to electronics recycling. “DEP would like to add that it does not believe fees are the answer to this issue,” said

Quigley. “Fees could cause people to hold onto device until a no­cost option is available. Fees may also result in more illegal dumping and mishandling of this material.

Keep PA Beautiful testified before the March 21 Joint Conservation Committee hearing on the issue that e­waste dumping is already “rampant” across Pennsylvania because of the lack of to free and convenient CRT TV and electronics recycling across the state.

“The primary problem is the imbalance between the large amount of covered devices that need to be recycled and the inadequate manufacturer recycling mandates set forth in the [Covered Device Recycling] Act,” explained Quigley. “The long­term remedy to this supply and demand problem is to amend the Act so that it will accomplish the legislative goal of providing citizens with readily available opportunities for recycling their unwanted electronic devices.”

As many as 9 million CRT TVs and monitors are left to recycle across Pennsylvania, in addition to other electronic waste, according to the PA Recycling Markets Center.

The solution suggested by several witnesses at the March 21 Joint Conservation Committee hearing was to require electronics manufacturers to pay for recycling all the electronics waste collected in local recycling programs.

Rep. Chris Ross (R­Chester), the original sponsor of the 2010 CDRA, has been working on comprehensive amendments to the law which he is expected to introduce in the near future.

A copy of Senate letter and DEP’s March 30 response is available online. Visit Keep PA Beautiful’s new Electronics Waste website to learn more about the issue

and recycling opportunities near you. For more information on e­waste recycling, visit DEP’s Covered Device Recycling Act

webpage. NewsClips: Letter: Flawed PA Recycling Law Creates Roadside TV Dumps CRT Recycler Closed Loop Nears Collapse DEP Investigates Mattresses Found In Erie Warehouse Fire Related Stories: Hearing: Electronics Manufacturers Need To Pay For E­Waste Actually Collected Keep PA Beautiful Testifies About Rampant Illegal Dumping Of Electronics Analysis: Electronics Recycling Effort Shrinking In PA, The Law Needs To Be Fixed 2014 DEP Report To General Assembly Documented Problems With E­Waste Recycling Major CRT Recycler In Ohio, Arizona Near Collapse, Subject Of Enforcement Action Resource Recycling reported Thursday Closed Loop Refining and Recovery, a major recycler of CRT televisions and monitors collected by electronics waste programs, including many in Pennsylvania, is “on the brink of closing and leaving more than 90 million pounds of stockpiled CRT material in its wake.”

Closed Loop has recycling operations in Ohio and Arizona which were used by e­waste recycling programs across the country.

In addition, Resource Recycling reported the company “received a notice of violation from the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency that could trigger further enforcement action, including forced closure.”

Resource Recycling further reported: “Since its founding in 2010, Closed Loop stated repeatedly that it was working on plans to build furnaces in both states that would separate out lead. But the company's technology has not materialized, leaving millions of pounds of glass sitting in company sites on both ends of the country.”

Many electronics manufacturers across the country used the Closed Loop sites for their recycling programs, according to Resource Recycling.

Pennsylvania’s electronics waste recycling program has all but collapsed over the last year leaving two­thirds of Pennsylvania counties without access to free and convenient electronics recycling.

As many as 9 million CRT TVs and monitors are left to recycle across Pennsylvania, in addition to other electronic waste, according to the PA Recycling Markets Center.

The solution suggested by several witnesses at the March 21 Joint Conservation Committee hearing on the issue was to require electronics manufacturers to pay for recycling all the electronics waste collected in local recycling programs.

Just this week DEP announced a change in policy that would allow local electronics waste collection programs to charge consumers for recycling, but the material collected could not count toward an electronics manufacturer’s obligations under Pennsylvania’s e­waste collection law­­ the Covered Device Recycling Act.

These recycling fees essentially charge consumers twice for recycling, according to testimony at a March 21 Joint Conservation Committee hearing.

Consumers pay the first time when they buy a product because the cost of recycling is built into the electronic devices we buy and now a second time if consumers bring their devices to recycling events that impose a fee.

Visit Keep PA Beautiful’s new Electronics Waste website to learn more about the issue and recycling opportunities near you.

For more information on e­waste recycling, visit DEP’s Covered Device Recycling Act webpage. NewsClips: Letter: Flawed PA Recycling Law Creates Roadside TV Dumps CRT Recycler Closed Loop Nears Collapse DEP Investigates Mattresses Found In Erie Warehouse Fire Related Stories: DEP: Electronics Waste Recycling Programs Can Now Charge Fees For Recycling Hearing: Electronics Manufacturers Need To Pay For E­Waste Actually Collected Keep PA Beautiful Testifies About Rampant Illegal Dumping Of Electronics Analysis: Electronics Recycling Effort Shrinking In PA, The Law Needs To Be Fixed 2014 DEP Report To General Assembly Documented Problems With E­Waste Recycling DEP Mining & Reclamation Advisory Board Meets April 25 On Permit Fee Increases DEP’s Mining and Reclamation Advisory Board is scheduled to meet on April 25 to discuss proposed increases in coal mining permit fees to offset expected shortfalls in state General Fund appropriations to DEP and revenue from the existing permit fees. (formal notice)

The April 25 meeting will be held in Room 105 Rachel Carson Building starting at 10:00. For available handouts and more information, visit DEP’s Mining and Reclamation

Advisory Board webpage or contact Daniel Snowden, DEP Bureau of Mining Programs, by calling 717­787­5103 or sending email to: dsnowden@pa.gov. NewsClips: DEP’s Quigley: Budget Cuts Hurt Effort To Monitor Pipelines Wolf’s Next Move On Fiscal Code Bill? PLS Reporter: Quest For On­Time Budget Begins Dem Erie Lawmaker: Wolf Bullying Constituents Shooting Range Fees Implemented At Start Park Range Related Stories: DEP To Propose Permit Fee Increases For At Least 6 Programs In 2016 2nd Senate Budget Hearing: DEP: 12 Special Funds Will Have Funding Shortfalls By 2018 Budget Hearing: DEP Does Not Have Enough Staff To Meet Needs In Any Of Its Programs Budget Hearing: DEP: State Can’t Cut Its Way To A Better Environment Bipartisanship Doesn’t Describe How Medical Marijuana Passed, It’s More Than That It was a political odd couple that introduced the “Compassionate Use Of Medical Cannabis Act” in 2013 that lead, three years later, to its final passage Wednesday.

Sen. Mike Folmer (R­Lebanon), a.k.a. Citizen Mike, first came to the Senate in 2007 in the first wave of conservative lawmakers after beating long­time Senator and Senate Majority Leader Chip Brightbill on the issue of the midnight pay raise. He’s so conservative, he hasn’t voted for a single state budget.

Sen. Daylin Leach (D­Montgomery) is one of the most liberal members of the Senate or House. He champions abortion rights, same­sex marriage and the complete legalization of marijuana. He came to the Senate in 2009 after being a House member since 2003.

Yet in 2013, they teamed up to introduce legislation to legalize the medical use of marijuana.

Along the way, as an emotional Senate Majority Leader Jake Corman (R­Centre) said in Floor remarks Tuesday, Sen. Folmer worked unrelentingly to change member’s minds on the issue, including him, the hard way­­ member by member.

Sen. Corman said the effort to pass medical marijuana was bringing to real life the movie Mr. Smith Goes To Washington.

The successful passage of the Compassionate Use Of Medical Cannabis Act is less an example of bipartisanship and of the Senate and House working with the Governor, than it is an example of what a handful of legislators have to do to work an issue through the General Assembly, backed by advocates who effectively told their stories.

In poll after poll, public support for medical marijuana only climbed. Most results showed 85 percent or more of the public supported legalization of medical marijuana.

The medical marijuana issue also played a part in gubernatorial politics, when one­term Governor Tom Corbett first said he opposed the legislation.

He badly fumbled the answer to a question on whether he would find a way to use marijuana if his then 2­year old grandson needed it. He said he’d have to think about it, as a former prosecutor.

His answer led to news headlines like, “Corbett Wouldn’t Legalize Pot Even If Toddler Grandson Needed It.”

But he came around on the issue, later. Gov. Wolf never really had a hand in passing the legislation or in its negotiation. It was

purely a legislative initiative from the beginning. Like the final phase out of the Capital Stock and Franchise Tax, he happened to be there at the end.

Let’s hope, however, the after­glow of passing a major piece of legislation shines on other issues like the budget.

The Senate and House put another Fiscal Code bill on the Governor’s desk this week­­ House Bill 1589 (Causer­R­ Cameron) to finish up the FY 2015­16 state budget.

A spokesperson for Gov. Wolf said he will review the legislation in its entirety and has not decided whether to sign or veto the bill. He repeated the Governor's position that a new funding formula for basic education should not go into effect until after full funding is restored to schools.

We’ll see what happens there. In the meantime, Pennsylvania has become the 24th state to legalize medical marijuana.

It’s a headline that might have been worthy of the fake news site the Onion, but it’s very real, especially to the people who need it and fought for it.

Enjoy the victory! NewsClips: Lawmakers Left Harrisburg On A High (Not From Marijuana Alone) Medical Marijuana Will Be Big Business In PA Bumsted: House Sends Medical Marijuana Bill To Governor House Sends Medical Marijuana Bill To Governor Swift: Lawmakers Approve Medical Marijuana Bill Capitol Erupts In Joy After Medical Marijuana Bill Passes Corman Gives Emotional Tribute To Folmer On Medical Marijuana Senate Backs Medical Marijuana Bill 42­7 AP: Highlights Of PA’s Medical Marijuana Legislation Editorial: Medical Pot Eases Pain Editorial: Common Sense Prevails On Medical Marijuana Will Long Medical Marijuana Fight Finally Come To An End? PLS Reporter: Medical Marijuana Awaits Uncertain Future Medical Marijuana Bill Inches Forward, Path Cloudy Medical Pot Bill In PA Finds New Life PA Environment Digest Google+ Circle, Blogs, Twitter Feeds PA Environment Digest now has a Google+ Circle called Green Works In PA. Let us join your Circle.

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

You’ll receive as­it­happens postings on Pennsylvania environmental news, daily NewsClips and links to the weekly Digest and videos. Also take advantage of these related services from Crisci Associates­­

PA Environment Digest Twitter Feed: On Twitter, sign up to receive instant news updates. PA Environment Daily Blog: provides daily environmental NewsClips and significant stories and announcements on environmental topics in Pennsylvania of immediate value. Sign up and receive as they are posted updates through your favorite RSS reader. You can also sign up for a once daily email alerting you to new items posted on this blog. NEW! Add your constructive comment to any blog posting. PA Capitol Digest Daily Blog to get updates every day on Pennsylvania State Government, including NewsClips, coverage of key press conferences and more. Sign up and receive as they are posted updates through your favorite RSS reader. You can also sign up for a once daily email alerting you to new items posted on this blog. PA Capitol Digest Twitter Feed: Don't forget to sign up to receive the PA Capitol Digest Twitter feed to get instant updates on other news from in and around the Pennsylvania State Capitol. Senate/House Agenda/Session Schedule/Gov’s Schedule/ Bills Introduced Here are the Senate and House Calendars and Committee meetings showing bills of interest as well as a list of new environmental bills introduced­­ Bill Calendars House (May 2): House Bill 1737 (Maher­R­Allegheny) further providing for the collection of unused and unwanted prescription and over the counter drugs (sponsor summary); House Resolution 60 (Emrick­R­Northampton) directing the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to conduct a comprehensive review of the state’s program to regulate the beneficial use of sewage sludge; Senate Bill 307 (Yudichak­D­Luzerne) providing for an independent counsel for the Environmental Quality Board; Senate Bill 811 (Hughes­D­ Philadelphia) FY 2015­16 Capital Budget bill; Senate Bill 1071 (Browne­R­Lehigh), the “agreed­to” pension reform bill; Senate Bill 1073 (Browne­R­Lehigh) “agreed­to” $30.8 billion General Fund budget bill. <> Click Here for full House Bill Calendar. Senate (May 9): Senate Bill 289 (Fontana­D­Allegheny) funding to assist homeowners with deteriorating private sewer laterals (sponsor summary); Senate Bill 1041 (Schwank­D­Berks) amending Act 101 to authorize all local governments to charge a recycling service fee (sponsor summary); Senate Bill 1011 (Hutchinson­R­Venango) killing DEP’s final drilling regulations covering conventional oil and gas wells and starting the rulemaking process over; Senate Bill 1168 (Eichelberger­R­Blair) authorizing the Fish and Boat Commission to adopt fees charged by the agency rather than have them set by the General Assembly (sponsor summary); Senate Bill 1166 (Stefano­R­Fayette) authorizing the Game Commission to adopt fees charged by the agency rather than have them set by the General Assembly (sponsor summary); Senate Bill 1195 (White­R­Indiana) to further delay a Pennsylvania plan for meeting EPA’s Clean Power Climate Plan rule by changing the General Assembly’s review dates under Act 175 of 2014; House Bill

1325 (Mustio­R­Allegheny) allowing townships of the second class to charge stormwater management fees, House Bill 1394 (Mustio­R­Allegheny) authorizing boroughs to charge stormwater management fees, House Bill 1661 (Mustio­R­Allegheny) authorizing first class townships to charge a stormwater management fee; House Bill 1712 (R.Brown­R­Monroe) establishing a Private Dam Financial Assurance Program (House Fiscal Note and summary). <> Click Here for full Senate Bill Calendar. Committee Meeting Agendas This Week NOTE: The Senate and House are on a 2 week break for the April 26 Primary election. House: <> Click Here for full House Committee Schedule. Senate: <> Click Here for full Senate Committee Schedule. Bills Pending In Key Committees Here are links to key Standing Committees in the House and Senate and the bills pending in each­­ House Appropriations Education Environmental Resources and Energy Consumer Affairs Gaming Oversight Human Services Judiciary Liquor Control Transportation Links for all other Standing House Committees Senate Appropriations Environmental Resources and Energy Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure Community, Economic and Recreational Development Education Judiciary Law and Justice Public Health and Welfare Transportation Links for all other Standing Senate Committees Bills Introduced

The following bills of interest were introduced this week­­ Earth Day 2016: Senate Resolution 348 (Hughes­D­Philadelphia) encouraging all citizens to observe and participate in Earth Day April 22 (sponsor summary) was introduced and adopted. Session Schedule Here is the latest voting session schedule for the Senate and House­­ Senate May 9, 10, 11, 16, 17, 18 June 6, 7, 8, 13, 14, 15, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30 House May 2, 3, 4, 16, 17, 18, 23, 24, 25 June 6, 7, 8, 13, 14, 15, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30 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. Bills On Governor's Desk The following bills were given final approval by the Senate and House and are now on the Governor's desk for action­­ New Fiscal Code: House Bill 1589 (Causer­R­ Cameron) amending the Fiscal Code with some of the items Gov. Wolf vetoed in House Bill 1327 (Peifer­R­Pike) passed the Senate 37 to 11. The bill was then passed by the House 149 to 46. A House Fiscal Note and summary is available.

The bill includes provisions to authorize a transfer from the PA Racehorse Development Fund, a $15 million reduction in funding for the Environmental Stewardship (Growing Greener) Fund, takes $12 million from CFA’s High Performance Buildings Program and transfers it to fund a new program to expand access to natural gas infrastructure, earmarks existing DCNR funding for the operation of Washington Crossing Historical Park and directs funding to sewer and drinking water projects for specific legislators, but NOT the provisions delaying the development of a Pennsylvania plan to meet the Clean Power Climate Plan rule or killing DEP’s final conventional oil and gas drilling regulations. Valuation of Water Systems: House Bill 1326 (Godshall­R­Montgomery) valuation of water and wastewater systems for ratemaking purposes (House Fiscal Note and summary). This bill was signed into law as Act 12.

Senate/House Bills Moving The following bills of interest saw action this week in the House and Senate­­ Senate New Fiscal Code: House Bill 1589 (Causer­R­ Cameron) amending the Fiscal Code with some of the items Gov. Wolf vetoed in House Bill 1327 (Peifer­R­Pike) was reported out of the Senate Appropriations Committee, amended on the Senate Floor and passed the Senate 37 to 11. The bill was then passed by the House 149 to 46. A House Fiscal Note and summary is available.

The bill includes provisions to authorize a transfer from the PA Racehorse Development Fund, a $15 million reduction in funding for the Environmental Stewardship (Growing Greener) Fund, takes $12 million from CFA’s High Performance Buildings Program and transfers it to fund a new program to expand access to natural gas infrastructure, earmarks existing DCNR funding for the operation of Washington Crossing Historical Park and directs funding to sewer and drinking water projects for specific legislators, but NOT the provisions delaying the development of a Pennsylvania plan to meet the Clean Power Climate Plan rule or killing DEP’s final conventional oil and gas drilling regulations. Alternative On­Lot Septic Systems: Senate Bill 1114 (Yaw­R­Lycoming) allowing the use of alternative on­lot septic systems on the sewage facility planning process (sponsor summary) was passed by the Senate and now goes to the House for action. Stormwater Fees: House Bill 1325 (Mustio­R­Allegheny) allowing townships of the second class to charge stormwater management fees (amended), House Bill 1394 (Mustio­R­Allegheny) authorizing boroughs to charge stormwater management fees (amended), House Bill 1661 (Mustio­R­Allegheny) authorizing first class townships to charge a stormwater management fee (amended) were reported out of the Senate Local Government Committee and are now on the Senate Calendar for action. Killing DEP Conventional Drilling Regs: Senate Bill 1011 (Hutchinson­R­Venango) killing DEP’s final drilling regulations covering conventional oil and gas wells and starting the rulemaking process over was reported from the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee and is now on the Senate Calendar for action. This provision was vetoed by Gov. Wolf in the Fiscal Code bill­­ House Bill 1327 (Peifer­R­Pike). Clean Power Plan Delay: Senate Bill 1195 (White­R­Indiana) to further delay a Pennsylvania plan for meeting EPA’s Clean Power Climate Plan rule by changing the General Assembly’s review dates under Act 175 of 2014 was reported from the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee and is now on the Senate Calendar for action. This provision was vetoed by Gov. Wolf in the Fiscal Code bill­­ House Bill 1327 (Peifer­R­Pike). Forest Land Value: House Bill 806 (Causer­R­Cameron) providing for county­specific use values for land in forest reserves (sponsor summary) was Tabled.

Earth Day 2016: Senate Resolution 348 (Hughes­D­Philadelphia) encouraging all citizens to observe and participate in Earth Day April 22 (sponsor summary) was introduced and adopted. Drinking Water Week: Senate Resolution 328 (Yudichak­D­Luzerne) designating May 1 ­7 as Drinking Water Week in Pennsylvania (sponsor summary) was adopted by the Senate . Lyme Disease Awareness: Senate Resolution 338 (Greenleaf­R­Montgomery) designating May as Lyme Disease Awareness Month in Pennsylvania (sponsor summary) was adopted by the Senate. House Earth Day 2016: House Resolution 771 (Murt­R­Adams) encouraging all residents of the Commonwealth to observe Earth Day on April 22 (sponsor summary) was adopted by the House. Drinking Water Week: House Resolution 809 (Neuman­D­Washington) designating May 1­7 as Drinking Water Week in Pennsylvania was adopted by the House (sponsor summary). Prescription Take­Back: House Resolution 803 (Dean­D­Montgomery) designating April 30 as National Prescription Drug Take­Back Day (sponsor summary) was adopted by the House. News From The Capitol Hearing: Energy Efficiency Promoted As Cheapest, Cleanest, Safest Form Of Energy At a hearing of the House Democratic Policy Committee Monday, Liz Robinson, Executive Director of the nonprofit Energy Coordinating Agency in Philadelphia, promoted energy efficiency as the cheapest, cleanest and safest form of energy that eliminate building energy waste and creates more jobs.

Here is the text of her remarks before the Committee­­ Good morning. I am Liz Robinson, Executive Director of the Energy Coordinating

Agency (ECA). Thank you for this opportunity to testify before the House Committee on such an important subject.

ECA is a nonprofit corporation which provides energy efficiency, education and related services to the residential and commercial sectors. ECA also operates a nationally accredited Building Science Training Center, which trains to the highest national standards in both energy efficiency and environmental remediation.

As a jobs creation engine, the Clean Energy industry is one of the most important growth industries for Pennsylvania and the nation in the foreseeable future.

The energy industry as a whole is rapidly changing. The sources of energy in Pennsylvania have changed dramatically in the last 1D years and will continue to do so due to a host of factors.

The pace of technological innovation is driving much of this change. The DOE's first annual "United States Energy and Employment Report" finds that almost 2 million Americans

are now employed in energy efficiency. As the Pittsburgh Post­Gazette reported last month, "For every 1D Americans working to

create and distribute energy in 2015, there were roughly seven others working to conserve it." DOE also finds the number of jobs in Energy Efficiency poised to grow next year by 14

percent! Energy Efficiency is one of Pennsylvania's most abundant sources of energy, it is evenly

distributed all over the state (this is a polite way of saying that Pennsylvania has a lot of energy waste lurking in our old buildings) and energy efficiency is in fact the energy resource that creates the most jobs: it's the most labor intensive form of energy.

It's also the cheapest, cleanest and safest form of energy. It is the only form of energy which can actually help lower rates. For all these reasons, Pennsylvania should be pursuing energy efficiency much more vigorously than we are at present.

Solar is the second most labor intensive form of energy and it is also distributed everywhere in Pennsylvania.

One of the really important things to understand about jobs in the clean energy industry, particularly in energy efficiency, is that they are inherently local. You're not going to find guys from Texas and Oklahoma coming up here to blow insulation into your attic.

The energy efficiency industry has changed very dramatically in the last ten years. Now for the first time, we have a national standard for residential energy efficiency workers.

This standard, the Home Energy Professional (HEP) has been put in place by DOE in the low income Weatherization Assistance Program. This is the highest standard ever developed. HEP Auditors and Inspectors are true building scientists.

Pennsylvania is very fortunate to have two training centers which have been accredited nationally to train to this new national standard. ECA's is one of them.

In order to take full advantage of the growth in energy efficiency, solar, wind and other aspects of the clean energy industry, Pennsylvania needs to really focus on workforce development, and align its efforts to support this all important industry.

To my knowledge, outside of a little bit of training done by DCED for the WAP program, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is not doing anything to support workforce development in the clean energy industry.

At the same time that the clean energy industry is rapidly growing, the utility industry as a whole is facing a serious issue with its own workforce: the baby boomers are retiring, creating a brain drain of sorts.

Over 29 percent of workers in the utility industry are age 55 or older. According to Department of Labor reports, 10 percent of the workforce will retire this year, and another 10 percent will retire next year.

The utility industry is also facing unprecedented change from technological developments, and diversification of fuel sources, not to mention the challenges of climate change.

I would suggest that part of the educational crisis we face in Pennsylvania is that we haven't developed a strategy which can help build the clean energy workforce we need to meet the energy challenges we face.

Career and Technical Education (CTE) Schools are a key part of the solution. Once considered a dumping ground for low performing students, Philadelphia's Career

and Technical Education (CTE) program has been one of the few bright spots for the School

District Despite a significant lack of resources, district wide, the CTE schools have quietly produced some of the best outcomes for students in the City­­e.g., (according The Philadelphia School District's publication THE NOTEBOOK)­­ ­­ CTE students graduate at higher rates. The CTE graduation rate was 84 percent, compared to 62 percent citywide, and they were more likely to graduate on time. ­­ The racial "achievement gap" for graduation is almost eliminated. Black and Latino CTE students graduate at almost the same levels as White and Asian students. ­­ CTE students report better "soft" outcomes. The students reported more positive experiences than non­CTE students in areas like goal­setting, planning, recovering from setbacks, and staying engaged with classes.

I would strongly recommend that there be a Task Force created to study how to create a pipeline of technical training leading to national credentials and consistent with industry standards to insure that Pennsylvania can capture its full share of these great clean energy jobs.

Thank you very much for this opportunity. For more information on programs, initiatives and upcoming events, visit the Energy

Coordinating Agency website. DEP Secretary John Quigley also testified before the Committee saying, "The market

efficacy and the economics of clean energy development and energy efficiency show that they can not only be a part of the nation’s energy grid but integral to the nation’s economy.

"There’s an immense economic opportunity for all states, and Pennsylvania, I think, in particular, to embrace alternative energy, embrace energy efficiency, embrace storage technologies, create jobs, and accelerate the development of our economy."

Also presenting testimony were­­ ­­ DEP Secretary John Quigley ­­ Ken MacDougall, National Electrical Contractors Association ­­ Nancy Mifflin, American Association of Blacks In Energy ­­ Ron Celentano, PA Solar Energy Industries Association ­­ Eric Miller, Keystone Energy Efficiency Alliance Clean Jobs Pennsylvania Report ­­ Khari Mosley, BlueGreen Alliance In PA ­­ Center For Climate Strategies ­­ PA Solar Energy Industries Association ­­ Environmental Entrepreneurs ­­ American Jobs Project

Copies of all written testimony presented at the hearing are available online. NewsClips: Amid Fossil Fuel Layoffs, Dems Strategy For Clean Energy Jobs SEEDS Energy Conservation Program Receives Governor’s Award Wilkes­Barre Receives Governor’s Local Govt Award For Energy Savings Energy Efficiency Keeps Electricity Affordable, Reduces Environmental Costs Senate Committee OKs Bills To Kill Conventional Drilling Regs, Delay Clean Power Plan The Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee reported out bills to delay Pennsylvania’s response to EPA Clean Power Climate Plan requirements and kill DEP’s Chapter 78 (conventional) drilling regulations and make the agency start the rulemaking over.

In a separate action, the Committee voted to disapprove DEP’s Chapter 78 (conventional) and 78a (unconventional, Marcellus Shale) drilling regulations update and notify the Independent Regulatory Review Commission of its actions.

The IRRC is set to meet April 21 on DEP’s regulations. The bills approved by the Committee included­­

­­ Senate Bill 1011 (Hutchinson­R­Venango) killing DEP’s final drilling regulations covering conventional oil and gas wells and starting the rulemaking process over. This provision was vetoed by Gov. Wolf in the Fiscal Code bill­­ House Bill 1327 (Peifer­R­Pike). ­­ Senate Bill 1195 (White­R­Indiana) to further delay a Pennsylvania plan for meeting EPA’s Clean Power Climate Plan rule adding revised dates for reviewing the plan. This provision was vetoed by Gov. Wolf in the Fiscal Code bill­­ House Bill 1327 (Peifer­R­Pike).

Ironically, both the House and Senate also passed resolutions this week urging all Pennsylvania’s to observe Earth Day on April 22­­ Senate Resolution 348 (Hughes­D­ Philadelphia) and House Resolution 771 (Murt­R­Adams).

Sen. Gene Yaw (R­Lycoming) serves as Majority Chair of the Senate Environmental Committee and can be contacted by sending email to: gyaw@pasen.gov. Sen. John Yudichak (D­Luzerne) serves as Minority Chair and can be contacted by sending email to: yudichak@pasenate.com. NewsClips: Drilling Rules Headed For Key Vote After Judge Rejects Stay House, Senate Panels Reject Oil & Gas Regulations PLS Reporter: House, Senate Committees Disapprove DEP’s Drilling Regs Energy Committees Urge No Vote On New Drilling Rules Oil & Gas Regulations Rejected By House, Senate Committees Related Stories: Commonwealth Court Denies Challenge To DEP’s Drilling Regulations IRRC To Consider Final DEP Drilling Regs April 21, Meeting To Be Streamed Live Conventional Drillers Tell Court Time Is Now To Decide Whether DEP Violated The Law Senate, House Environmental Committees Disapprove DEP Drilling Regs COGENT Calls Committee Action to Disapprove DEP Drilling Regs A Travesty Dams On Susquehanna Are Undoing Progress In Reducing Pollution To Chesapeake Bay

The head of the U.S. Geologic Survey’s Chesapeake Bay Water Quality Monitoring Program Tuesday said water quality is improving in the Pennsylvania portion of the Bay watershed because of the steps being taken to reduce pollution, but some of the progress is being undone, particularly in sediment and phosphorous loadings, because the reservoirs behind three dams in the lower Susquehanna are about filled with sediment.

Scott Phillips, Chesapeake Bay Coordinator for the USGS, provided the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy and Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee

members with an overview of the water quality improvements from monitoring stations in the

Pennsylvania part of the Susquehanna Watershed and throughout the Bay drainage area. Phillips said of 18 monitoring sites looking at nitrogen in Pennsylvania, 14 show

improvement and 4 show degrading conditions or no change. The range of results shows from one to almost 33 pounds per acre across the watershed, with an average in Pennsylvania of 11.5 pounds per acre. The highest loads are in the lower part of the Susquehanna Watershed.

He said the results clearly show the combination of measures being taken in Pennsylvania are working to reduce nitrogen pollution.

With respect to total nitrogen loads going into the Chesapeake Bay itself from the Susquehanna River, loads have declined from 1985 to present day generally, but have generally plateaued at a lower level.

With respect to phosphorous levels, Phillips said Pennsylvania and the Chesapeake watershed are similarly seeing improvements, though the results are still showing above average loads per acre.

Sixty­eight percent of stations are showing improvement in phosphorous, 20 percent degrading and 12 percent no trend. Again, the measures being taken are working, said Phillips.

With respect to total phosphorus going into the Chesapeake Bay itself, the trend was downward from 1985 to 1995, but then it steadily increases until present day. The primary reason being the reduced effectiveness of the Holtwood, Safe Harbor and Conowingo (photo, USGS) dams in the lower Susquehanna in trapping sediment and its embedded phosphorous.

Phillips noted the measures taken from Marietta, Lancaster County up the Susquehanna have reduced phosphorus. It’s the results in the Lower Susquehanna, after the dams, which increased.

The results for sediment show 50 percent of stations showing improvement, 30 percent degrading conditions and 20 percent showing no trend.

Phillips said the results, particularly below the Conowingo Dam just south of the Pennsylvania­Maryland border, show less improvement because this dam in particular is at capacity in trapping sediment.

Phillips said the water quality results lead to three conclusions: what works in reducing pollution are upgrades to wastewater treatment plants, reductions in air emissions, and installation of agricultural best practices.

The challenges include the time it takes between installing best management practices and when they become fully effective, runoff pollution from development, and intensified agriculture overwhelming best practices.

Phillips said the results point to an opportunity to target nutrient and sediment reduction efforts, and improving stormwater management and monitoring.

After the presentation, Phillips said, “The item that needs more emphasis in the story is that while the majority of trends in Pennsylvania are improving, the levels of nitrogen and phosphorus are still high compared to the rest of the Chesapeake watershed. Therefore, more actions will be needed to meet reduction targets to improve water quality in the Bay.”

Sen. Gene Yaw (R­Lycoming), Majority Chair of the Senate Environmental Committee, said it appears targeting implementation requirements in areas where the loadings are highest, rather than having the same requirements over the entire watershed, may be a better use of resources.

Sen. Yaw also said the results showing the impact the three dams have in declining sediment and phosphorous results is a concern.

Phelps suggested the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has developed some options, including more practices upstream to reduce the phosphorous coming into the reservoirs. He indicated dredging was determined to be less feasible.

He added a multi­state approach will likely be needed to deal with the reservoirs. Sen. Judy Schwank (D­Berks), Minority Chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee,

noted farmers and others will have to maintain the practices they installed to keep them as effective as possible.

The U.S.G.S. information is a snapshot of where Pennsylvania is in terms of nutrient and sediment pollution, but was no information on how far Pennsylvania has to go yet.

Last September, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said Pennsylvania will miss the 2017 Chesapeake Bay milestones by 10 million pounds of nitrogen and 212 million pounds of sediment.

Pennsylvania fell short in meeting the 2013 milestones by 2 million pounds of nitrogen and nearly 116 million pounds of sediment.

Click Here to watch a video of the information hearing. Click Here for a copy of the PowerPoint presentation. Click Here for a summary of the presentation.

Sen. Gene Yaw (R­Lycoming) serves as Majority Chair of the Senate Environmental Committee and can be contacted by sending email to: gyaw@pasen.gov. Sen. John Yudichak (D­Luzerne) serves as Minority Chair and can be contacted by sending email to: yudichak@pasenate.com.

Sen. Elder Vogel (R­Beaver) serves as Majority Chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee, and can be contacted by sending email to: evogel@pasen.gov. Sen. Judy Schwank (D­Berks) serves as Minority Chair and can be contacted by sending email to: SenatorSchwank@pasenate.com.

For more information about the Pennsylvania strategy to restore the health of the Chesapeake Bay, visit Agriculture’s Strategy for the Chesapeake Bay webpage and the DEP Chesapeake Bay webpage.

For more on Chesapeake Bay­related issues in Pennsylvania, visit the CBF­PA webpage. Click Here to sign up for Pennsylvania updates (bottom of left column). Click Here for a copy of CBF­PA’s most recent newsletter. NewsClips: Chesapeake Bay Reboot Worries Northumberland Conservation District Crable: Susquehanna Named 3rd Most Endangered River Susquehanna River Back On Watchdog Group’s Endangered List Susquehanna Lands Back On Most Endangered Rivers List Related Stories: Coalition Emerges To Support Farmers In Effort To Clean Up Chesapeake Bay DEP Announces Settlement To Resolve Violations At York County Far+$20,000 Fine American Rivers Puts Susquehanna Back On Most Endangered Rivers List First Annual Chesapeake Bay Watershed Awareness Week June 4­12 Chesapeake Bay Commission Gets Milestone Update, What Will PA Do? CBF­PA: Lack Of Funding For Farmers Defeats Effort To Meet Clean Water Commitment CBF­PA: Wolf’s Budget Proposal Lacks Adequate Funding For Chesapeake Bay Cleanup Plan Budget Hearing: DEP: State Can’t Cut Its Way To A Better Environment

News From Around The State Coalition Emerges To Support Farmers In Effort To Clean Up Chesapeake Bay

As Pennsylvania renews efforts to clean the state's waterways and the Chesapeake Bay, Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences is helping to craft a strategy in which farmers spearhead clean­water initiatives. Agriculture has high standards for conservation, with roots in a culture of stewardship, and farmers are ready to lead and be the solution for clean water, according to Matthew Royer, director of the college's Agriculture and Environment Center. "While much progress has been made to reduce nutrient and

sediment pollution from agriculture, more work needs to be done," Royer said. "Agriculture is well positioned to take on the challenge."

In early March in Hershey, Royer coordinated a three­day conference, hosted by Penn State, aimed at developing a strategy for Pennsylvania contributing to Chesapeake Bay restoration.

The event, titled "Pennsylvania in the Balance," included leaders in agriculture and the environment working together to identify new, innovative solutions that can help ensure the state maintains a vibrant and productive agriculture industry, while meeting water­quality goals for the Commonwealth's rivers and streams and the Chesapeake Bay.

"A major theme that emerged from conference participants was that the culture of stewardship so prevalent in the agricultural community should be embraced in our ongoing efforts to solve the complex and challenging water­quality problems in the Chesapeake basin," he said. "Farmers are leaders in land and water stewardship within their communities. Those practicing good stewardship do not condone poor managers who are causing water­quality problems."

The conference was sponsored by Penn State, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, federal and state government agencies, nonprofit groups, agricultural organizations, and private­sector businesses.

The event attracted about 120 diverse stakeholders, including agricultural producers and industry representatives, scientists, federal and state agencies, extension personnel, agricultural and environmental attorneys, nonprofit conservation organizations, conservation districts and planners.

They covered key topics such as targeting resources, technical assistance, innovation, incentives, compliance and new funding strategies.

"Participants identified barriers, opportunities and solutions, asked and answered hard questions, and identified pathways forward to implement actionable outcomes," Royer said. "This collective effort has the potential to complement and enhance the Commonwealth's recently announced new strategy for Chesapeake Bay restoration."

With the hope of shaping policy, Royer will use the proposals developed during the conference to produce a strategy document with clear action items, which will be shared with the state departments of Agriculture and Environmental Protection, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

"The Pennsylvania in the Balance conference was a great reminder of how the power of partnerships can be harnessed to find solutions for the co­equal goals of water quality and viable farms," said Russell Redding, secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture. "Our collective challenge is to work to grow agriculture and maintain the balance of our surrounding communities."

Conference participant Matt Ehrhart, director of the Stroud Water Research Center, believes the conference will play an important role in helping Pennsylvania meet its clean­water obligations related to the Chesapeake Bay.

"Helping farmers and agribusinesses get to higher levels of water­quality protection and improving their economic viability will take innovation that's grounded in solid science," said Ehrhart, who also serves as president of the Penn State Agricultural Council, an industry group that advises the college on research and extension programming. "The conference provided a forum for innovation and created a renewed energy and a commitment among producers and other participants to take collective action to resolve this complex and challenging problem."

In addition to Embracing a Culture of Stewardship, six other strategies emerged from the conference: ­­Employ Effective Targeting. Targeting is essential to strategic use of limited resources and achieving maximum water­quality benefit for resources spent, Royer pointed out. Effective targeting should involve not only geography but also focus on key demographics within the agricultural community, and key practices should be prioritized. ­­Integrate Soil Health, Manure Management, and Riparian Ecosystem Stewardship into Water Quality Strategies. Integrating soil health concerns and actions into water­quality strategies is vitally important, Royer explained, because the health of the land and water is critical to meeting both farm production and conservation needs.

"Managing manure not as a waste product but as a resource to support crop production and soil health is a critical message for farmers," he said. "We should emphasize the importance of farmers practicing riparian ecosystem stewardship and providing multiple, ecosystem­service benefits for the farm, the community and society." ­­Support Community­Based Approaches. Supporting community­based approaches makes sense because they work, according to Royer. There is a critical need to foster more community­based approaches that are farmer led. Most, if not all, success stories to date in Pennsylvania involve locally led, community­ based approaches to water­quality improvement, he said. ­­Recognize and Support a Three­Pronged Approach to Accelerate Conservation. A three­pronged approach is needed to accelerate adoption of conservation practices within the agricultural community, including education and outreach, technical assistance and enforcement, Royer said. ­­Revisit and Retool Conservation Incentive Programs. "Several existing programs work well and should continue to serve as the core of conservation incentive programs," Royer said. "A willingness exists, however, to revisit existing programs to improve delivery and explore innovative new incentive structures." ­­Collaboratively Seek New Funding Opportunities. While being more strategic in spending existing resources is critical, existing funding is insufficient to achieve our water­quality goals, Royer contended. New funding opportunities must be sought. "A unified, collaboratively developed funding strategy offers the best chance for success."

More information on the conference outcome is available by contacting Matthew Royer, Director of Penn State’s Agriculture and Environment Center, by sending email to: mzr154@psu.edu or call 814­863­8756.

For more information about the Pennsylvania strategy to restore the health of the Chesapeake Bay, visit Agriculture’s Strategy for the Chesapeake Bay webpage and the DEP Chesapeake Bay webpage.

For more on Chesapeake Bay­related issues in Pennsylvania, visit the CBF­PA webpage. Click Here to sign up for Pennsylvania updates (bottom of left column). Click Here for a copy of CBF­PA’s most recent newsletter. NewsClips: Chesapeake Bay Reboot Worries Northumberland Conservation District Crable: Susquehanna Named 3rd Most Endangered River Susquehanna River Back On Watchdog Group’s Endangered List Susquehanna Lands Back On Most Endangered Rivers List Related Stories: Dams On Susquehanna Are Undoing Progress In Reducing Pollution To Chesapeake Bay DEP Announces Settlement To Resolve Violations At York County Far+$20,000 Fine American Rivers Puts Susquehanna Back On Most Endangered Rivers List First Annual Chesapeake Bay Watershed Awareness Week June 4­12 Chesapeake Bay Commission Gets Milestone Update, What Will PA Do? CBF­PA: Lack Of Funding For Farmers Defeats Effort To Meet Clean Water Commitment CBF­PA: Wolf’s Budget Proposal Lacks Adequate Funding For Chesapeake Bay Cleanup Plan Budget Hearing: DEP: State Can’t Cut Its Way To A Better Environment (Reprinted from the April 11 edition of the Watershed Winds from the Penn State Extension. Click Here to sign up for your own copy.) American Rivers Puts Susquehanna Back On Most Endangered Rivers List

The Susquehanna River is the third most endangered river in the United States, according to the national America’s Rivers organization.

America’s Most Endangered Rivers is a list of rivers at a crossroads, where key decisions in the coming months will determine the rivers’ fates. The American Rivers report identifies the 10 most threatened waterways in the country and highlights the urgent need for conservation, greater efficiency, and better

management of water resources to prevent further harm to river health, wildlife, fish and recreation.

The report on the Susquehanna River said, “The Susquehanna River is a vital resource and economic engine for communities, and a major influence on the overall health of the Chesapeake Bay.

“The Susquehanna is threatened by pollution, but is also imperiled by the Conowingo Hydroelectric Dam, which alters river flow, blocks fish and impacts water quality. The Exelon

Corporation is seeking to renew its federal license to operate Conowingo, and Maryland has the authority to require that the dam meet state water quality standards before a new license can be issued.

“However, a bill pending in Congress, H.R. 8, would take away Maryland’s authority to hold Exelon accountable for pollution, putting the Susquehanna River further at risk.”

For more information, visit the American Rivers 10 Most Endangered Rivers report. For more information about the Pennsylvania strategy to restore the health of the

Chesapeake Bay, visit Agriculture’s Strategy for the Chesapeake Bay webpage and the DEP Chesapeake Bay webpage.

For more on Chesapeake Bay­related issues in Pennsylvania, visit the CBF­PA webpage. Click Here to sign up for Pennsylvania updates (bottom of left column). Click Here for a copy of CBF­PA’s most recent newsletter. NewsClips: Crable: Susquehanna Named 3rd Most Endangered River Susquehanna River Back On Watchdog Group’s Endangered List Susquehanna Lands Back On Most Endangered Rivers List Related Stories: Dams On Susquehanna Are Undoing Progress In Reducing Pollution To Chesapeake Bay Coalition Emerges To Support Farmers In Effort To Clean Up Chesapeake Bay DEP Announces Settlement To Resolve Violations At York County Far+$20,000 Fine First Annual Chesapeake Bay Watershed Awareness Week June 4­12 Chesapeake Bay Commission Gets Milestone Update, What Will PA Do? CBF­PA: Lack Of Funding For Farmers Defeats Effort To Meet Clean Water Commitment CBF­PA: Wolf’s Budget Proposal Lacks Adequate Funding For Chesapeake Bay Cleanup Plan Budget Hearing: DEP: State Can’t Cut Its Way To A Better Environment First Annual Chesapeake Bay Watershed Awareness Week To Be Celebrated June 4­12

The first annual Chesapeake Bay Awareness Week will be celebrated from June 4­12 in Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania. Recognizing the rich history, pivotal economic importance, and astounding beauty of the Chesapeake Bay watershed, members of the interstate Chesapeake Bay Commission worked collaboratively in seeking passage of resolutions designating a week­long recognition of the Chesapeake Bay.

Through this designation, the legislatures encourage residents and environmental and educational groups to host events, activities, and educational programs to increase awareness of the importance of the Chesapeake Bay to the states, region and United States.

“In Pennsylvania, being more aware of the Chesapeake Bay and taking actions to reduce pollution directly benefits our local communities and local waters,” said Pennsylvania Representative and Commission Vice­Chair Garth Everett (R­Lycoming).

Other Pennsylvania members of the Chesapeake Bay Commission include: Sen. Gene Yaw (R­Lycoming), Sen. Richard Alloway (R­Adams), Rep. Keith Gillespie (R­York), Rep.

Michael Sturla (D­Lancaster), DEP Secretary John Quigley and Pennsylvania citizen member Warren Elliott.

House Resolution 739, sponsored by Rep. Everett, was adopted in the House March 21. A similar Senate resolution is also expected to be introduced.

Susquehanna Sojourn June 17­19 Also in Pennsylvania, the Susquehanna Sojourn, celebrating the largest river east of the

Mississippi that supplies the lifeblood of freshwater flowing into the Chesapeake Bay, runs from June 17­19 this year, further extending our Bay awareness festivities.

River Of The Year Earlier this year, the Susquehanna River’s North Branch was named PA River of the

Year by the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. “Public engagement and awareness were critical to achieving the water quality

improvements we’ve witnessed thus far. Bay Awareness Week will reinvigorate the public, engage new partners and help us meet our Chesapeake Watershed Agreement commitment to increase the number and diversity of local citizen stewards and local governments that actively support and carry out conservation and restoration.” said Maryland Senator (28th District) and Commission Chair Thomas “Mac” Middleton.

Virginia Delegate (31st District) and Commission Vice­Chair Scott Lingamfelter added, “We urge watershed residents to join us in becoming more Bay aware and during the second week of June, host events, activities, and educational programs to increase awareness of the Chesapeake Bay in your own community.”

“This is yet another example of Commission members working across political and geographic boundaries for the betterment of this national treasure," said Ann Swanson, Executive Director of the Commission.

For more information on programs, initiatives and other upcoming events of the Commission, visit the Chesapeake Bay Commission website.

For more information about the Pennsylvania strategy to restore the health of the Chesapeake Bay, visit Agriculture’s Strategy for the Chesapeake Bay webpage and the DEP Chesapeake Bay webpage.

For more on Chesapeake Bay­related issues in Pennsylvania, visit the CBF­PA webpage. Click Here to sign up for Pennsylvania updates (bottom of left column). Click Here for a copy of CBF­PA’s most recent newsletter. NewsClips: Chesapeake Bay Reboot Worries Northumberland Conservation District Crable: Susquehanna Named 3rd Most Endangered River Susquehanna River Back On Watchdog Group’s Endangered List Susquehanna Lands Back On Most Endangered Rivers List Related Stories: Dams On Susquehanna Are Undoing Progress In Reducing Pollution To Chesapeake Bay Coalition Emerges To Support Farmers In Effort To Clean Up Chesapeake Bay DEP Announces Settlement To Resolve Violations At York County Far+$20,000 Fine American Rivers Puts Susquehanna Back On Most Endangered Rivers List Chesapeake Bay Commission Gets Milestone Update, What Will PA Do? CBF­PA: Lack Of Funding For Farmers Defeats Effort To Meet Clean Water Commitment CBF­PA: Wolf’s Budget Proposal Lacks Adequate Funding For Chesapeake Bay Cleanup Plan

Budget Hearing: DEP: State Can’t Cut Its Way To A Better Environment

28 Nonpoint Source Pollution Prevention Grants Awarded By PA Conservation Districts The PA Association of Conservation Districts recently awarded more than $52,000 for 28 projects in 24 counties through the Nonpoint Source Pollution Prevention Mini Grant Program.

The projects promote water pollution prevention activities and will take place over the next 13 months.

“Conservation districts are in a unique position to identify the educational needs in their local communities and meet those needs through this program. These projects range in topic from grazing to golf course management to stormwater,” said Shannon Wehinger, Director of Communications & Education for the PA Association of Conservation Districts. “We thank the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection for the opportunity given to conservation districts to address local priorities.”

Funding for the grants, up to $2,000 each, is provided through the Department of Environmental Protection under Section 319 of the Clean Water Act, administered by the US Environmental Protection Agency.

Click Here for a list of projects funded. For more information on programs, initiatives and upcoming events, visit the PA

Association of Conservation Districts website. DEP Announces Settlement To Resolve Violations At York County Farm + $20,000 Fine The Department of Environmental Protection Tuesday announced it has entered into a consent order and agreement with the Gutman Family cattle businesses located in York and Adams counties, to correct various environmental violations of the Clean Streams Law.

As part of the agreement, the Gutmans paid a civil penalty in the amount of $20,000. The Gutman’s York County facility headquartered on Krafts Mill Road in Codorus and North Codorus Townships, is an agricultural operation that buys dairy heifers for resale domestically and overseas.

Responding to complaints, the York County Conservation District conducted multiple inspections between June 2014 and May 2015. During those inspections, the YCCD discovered that the Gutmans had insufficient Erosion and Sediment Control and Manure Management plans.

The YCCD also determined that the Gutmans failed to implement and maintain best management practices to minimize the potential for erosion and sedimentation from animal heavy use areas, and documented a discharge of sediment and manure from the Krafts Mill Road farm to an unnamed tributary to Codorus Creek.

The Gutmans also began construction of a new feed line and manure storage facility without first obtaining a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit for stormwater discharges associated with construction activities, and failed to obtain the necessary NPDES permit for the period of time they operated the farm as a Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation.

“The violations were extensive and far­reaching in scope,” said Lynn Langer, DEP Southcentral regional director. “All agricultural operations must be aware of the need to operate within the framework of the specific regulations. Adherence to the regulations helps minimize

harmful impacts to the environment, and will protect and improve the local water quality of Codorus Creek and, ultimately, the Chesapeake Bay.”

Within 60 days, the Gutmans are required to file the necessary control plans and begin taking the appropriate actions to bring their facilities into compliance with the regulations. Related Stories: Dams On Susquehanna Are Undoing Progress In Reducing Pollution To Chesapeake Bay Coalition Emerges To Support Farmers In Effort To Clean Up Chesapeake Bay American Rivers Puts Susquehanna Back On Most Endangered Rivers List First Annual Chesapeake Bay Watershed Awareness Week June 4­12 Chesapeake Bay Commission Gets Milestone Update, What Will PA Do? CBF­PA: Lack Of Funding For Farmers Defeats Effort To Meet Clean Water Commitment CBF­PA: Wolf’s Budget Proposal Lacks Adequate Funding For Chesapeake Bay Cleanup Plan Budget Hearing: DEP: State Can’t Cut Its Way To A Better Environment Susquehanna River Basin Commission Hearing May 4 On Variety Of Issues The Susquehanna River Basin Commission is scheduled to hold a hearing May 4 on individual water withdrawal requests as well as proposed changes to guidance dealing with fee schedules, expiring project approvals, terminating the review of project applications and the Comprehensive Plan for the Susquehanna River Basin. (formal notice & agenda)

The hearing will be held at the East Hanover Township Municipal Building, 8848 Jonestown Road, Grantville, Dauphin County starting at 7:00 p.m.

For more information, visit the SRBC Public Participation Center webpage or contact Jason Oyler, General Counsel, 717­238­0423 x 1312. Chesapeake Bay Journal April 11 News Now Available The April 11 Chesapeake Bay Journal News is now available featuring articles on­­ ­­ More Boots On The Ground Needed To Inspect Erosion At Building Sites ­­ Chesapeake Bay’s Water Was Clearer Last Year, Why So Murky? ­­ Potomac River Gets Improved Grade On Latest Report Card ­­ Chesapeake Bay Journal Calendar Of Events ­­ Click Here to sign up for your own copy. Stroud Water Research Center April UpStream Newsletter Now Available The April edition of the UpStream newsletter from the Stroud Water Research Center in Chester County is how available featuring articles on­­ ­­ Keeping Pathogens Out Of Drinking Water Sources ­­ Spring Student Field Trip Season Is Here! More About Stroud Education Programs ­­ Expanded WikiWatershed Toolkit Debuts ­­ Sharing Our Science (Multiple Articles) ­­ Stroud Center Wins Excellence In Green Stormwater

Infrastructure Award ­­ 15 Years Of The Leaf Pack Network ­­ Stroud’s Upcoming Events ­­ Click Here to sign up for your own copy.

For more information on programs, initiatives, research and special events, visit the Stroud Water Research Center website. April 11 Watershed Winds Newsletter Now Available From Penn State Extension The April 11 edition of the Watershed Winds newsletter is now available from Penn State Extension featuring articles on­­ ­­ View Webinar On Buying A Home With A Private Well & Septic System ­­ Flooding Alleviated By Targeted Tree Planting, River Restorations ­­ NOAA Awards Sea Grant College Status To Penn State ­­ Fertilizer Applied To Fields Today Will Pollute Water For Decades ­­ Extension Delivers Water Information At Women In Agriculture Event ­­ Coalition Emerges To Support Farmers In Effort To Clean Up Chesapeake Bay ­­ Click Here to sign up for your own copy. Register Now! May 10­12 PA Chapter American Water Works Assn Annual Conference There’s still time to register for the May 10­12 PA Chapter American Water Works Association Annual Conference before the April 25 deadline. Click Here to register or for more information. Wissahickon Watershed Creek Cleanup April 30, Philadelphia, Montgomery Counties The Friends of the Wissahickon and the Wissahickon Valley Watershed Association are once again joining forces to clean the Wissahickon Creek on April 30 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.

All volunteers are invited to join us after the clean­up for the “Talkin’ Trash” picnic at Fort Washington State Park at the Flourtown pavilion on Mill Road from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

This spring marks the 45th anniversary of the Wissahickon Valley Watershed Association’s annual creek clean­up, which is sponsored by Merck and Co. It is the 7th year that Friends of the Wissahickon has joined forces with WVWA to clean the Wissahickon Creek.

The Friends of the Wissahickon will clean up a section of the creek in Chestnut Hill, at Northwestern Avenue and Forbidden Drive, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.

To work with the Friends of the Wissahickon in Philadelphia, meet at Northwestern Avenue and Forbidden Drive at 9 a.m. Please register at the FOW website and indicate if you plan to attend the picnic. Contact volunteer coordinator, John Holback, with questions at 215­247­0417 x107 or send email to: holback@fow.org.

In Montgomery County, volunteers of all ages will be pre­assigned sections of the Wissahickon Creek or a tributary, extending from Lansdale to Flourtown. Sign­up online or contact Madalyn Neff or send email to: madalyn@wvwa.org.

Please indicate the name, size and age range of your group and whether you will join the picnic. You will be contacted regarding your clean up location assignment.

Registration is not required, but is recommended in order to be notified in case of any

changes due to weather. The event will be canceled in the event of heavy rain. Check FOW’s or WVWA’s website or Facebook page for updates.

Volunteers of all ages are encouraged to participate. Volunteers will be assigned to clean sections of the area and will be given bags in which to collect trash.

Sponsors of the event provide funding for WVWA’s stewardship efforts throughout the year. The presenting sponsor is Merck & Co. Volunteers from Merck’s West Point plant located at the headwaters of the Wissahickon Creek will help with the clean­up.

Conservationist sponsors include Covanta, DOW Chemical Company, First Niagara Bank and MSS Movers Specialty Service. Both DOW and First Niagara Bank will also send employee volunteers to help with the clean­up.

Additional sponsorship is provided by Aqua Pennsylvania, Ambler Savings Bank, Artman Lutheran Home, BBD, LLP, Caddick Construction, Colorcon, Inc., First Priority Bank, Manufacturer’s Golf & Country Club, North Penn Water Authority, The Philadelphia Cricket Club, Rotary Club of Blue Bell and Russell Roofing.

Companies interested in sponsoring the creek clean up should contact Gina Craigo at WVWA at 215 962­8726.

For more information on programs, initiatives and other upcoming events, visit the Friends of the Wissahickon or Wissahickon Valley Watershed Association websites. Keep PA Beautiful’s Annual Report On 2015 Activities Now Available The Keep PA Beautiful’s annual Beautiful newsletter highlighting 2015 program accomplishments and initiatives. In her cover letter, Shannon Reiter, President of KPB, said­­

We are excited to share with you our programs and accomplishments of the past year in this edition of Beautiful. It never ceases to amaze me what a group of volunteers can do – determined and so committed to their communities!

In 2015, we celebrated twenty­five years of building clean and beautiful communities by giving away 25 grants in 25 days in support of grassroots community improvement efforts. We loved watching these projects come to fruition and were astounded that these projects brought back more than $250,000 in community match.

This perhaps more than anything else, illustrates the power of grassroots community improvement ­ with even just a little water; the seeds planted will grow into a beautiful and vibrant community garden!

We are also excited about the progress we are making, with the help of local governments and enforcement agencies, to identify and hold accountable individuals and businesses that choose to dump their trash illegally.

Through IllegalDumpFreePA.org, an innovative program launched in 2015 that provides camera loans, training and online support to Pennsylvania municipalities and community groups to help them battle illegal dumping, there have been over 30 convictions in communities, state forests and recycling drop off centers across the state.

Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful was honored to be a part of the 2015­2016 Minor Judiciary

Education Board’s continuing education program where we trained the state’s judicial officers about the social, environmental and economic impacts of illegal dumping.

Our goal is to provide resources and identify real solutions for the challenges that our communities face regarding illegal dumping as we anticipate even more illegal dumping cases being seen in local courts as a result of our camera loan program mentioned above.

And finally, with many electronics recycling programs closing due to challenges with the state’s electronic waste recycling law, the Covered Device Recycling Act, a growing number of PA residents have been left without access to recycling options for their outdated electronic consumer goods.

Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful has launched eWastePA.org to help educate consumers about the law and disposal and recycling options for their electronics.

We are grateful for the on­going support of our state agency partners, business council members, partnering organizations, individual donors, private foundations and supporters and the hundreds of thousands of volunteers who all share in our vision of a clean and beautiful Pennsylvania.

Without your help our programs would not be possible. Thank you! Click Here to read the full newsletter. For more information on programs, initiatives and special events, visit the Keep

Pennsylvania Beautiful website. Click Here to sign up for regular updates from KPB, Like them on Facebook, Follow on Twitter, Discover them on Pinterest and visit their YouTube Channel.

Also visit the Illegal Dump Free PA website for more ideas on how to clean up communities and keep them clean and KPB’s new Electronics Waste website.

Sign up now for the 2016 Great American Cleanup of PA and set up your own cleanup and beautification event through May 31.

KPB Affiliate Collection Events For Butler, Cambria, Lawrence, Mercer, Washington Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful’s local affiliates will hold special waste collection events for Butler, Cambria, Lawrence, Mercer, Washington counties this spring, sponsored in part by the Department of Environmental Protection’s HHW/Small Business Hazardous Waste Collection Program.

“This program allows our affiliates to provide convenient, low cost collections for their residents for otherwise hard to dispose of items. The tires and appliances that are collected at these events won’t end up over the hill where they would be difficult and costly to remove,” said Shannon Reiter, President of Keep PA beautiful.

Upcoming special collection events include: ­­ Keep Cambria County Beautiful, Appliance and Tire Collections, April 23 at Croyle Township Municipal Building, April 30 at Cambria Township Municipal Building and May 21 at Patton Borough Municipal Football Field, all from 8AM ­ 1PM. For more information contact Mark Stockley at 814­472­2120. ­­ Tri­County CleanWays (Butler, Lawrence, Mercer Counties), Tire Recycling Event, May 7 at the Forward Township Municipal Building from 9AM – 1PM. Contact Jerry Zona for more information at 724­658­6925. ­­ Washington County Planning Commission in partnership with Keep Washington County

Beautiful, Tire Collection, May 14 at the Washington County Fairgrounds. Contact Jason Theakston for more information at 724­228­6811.

Check the Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful Calendar of Events webpage often, as events will be posted as they are scheduled. You can also contact your local KPB County affiliate for more information.

Click Here to find more special collection events supported by DEP. Click Here to learn more about how you can get support from DEP to hold your own Household Hazardous Waste Collection event.

For more information on programs, initiatives and special events, visit the Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful website. Click Here to sign up for regular updates from KPB, Like them on Facebook, Follow on Twitter, Discover them on Pinterest and visit their YouTube Channel.

Also visit the Illegal Dump Free PA website for more ideas on how to clean up communities and keep them clean and KPB’s new Electronics Waste website.

Sign up now for the 2016 Great American Cleanup of PA and set up your own cleanup and beautification event through May 31. NewsClips: Hardy Volunteers Help Pick Up Trash At Presque Isle Volunteers Needed For Harrisburg Litter Cleanup Day April 16 Jeannette Eyes Monthlong Trash Cleanup Volunteers Wanted For Forest Cleanups In Franklin County Letter: Flawed PA Recycling Law Creates Roadside TV Dumps

Westmoreland Cleanways & Recycling Earth Day Festival April 23 Westmoreland Cleanways and Recycling is hosting the 14th annual Westmoreland Earth Day Festival and Outdoor Adventure Fest on April 23 at the Winnie Palmer Nature Reserve at St. Vincent College in Latrobe.

There’s plenty for everyone­­ ­­ Visit with local outdoor and conservation organizations; ­­ Petting Zoo ­­ Nature Ninja Warrior Obstacle Course ­­ Trout Unlimited Fly Fishing Demonstration ­­ Rock Climbing Wall ­­ Live Music ­ Justin Beck ­­ Falcons in Flight Live Animal Show by the National Aviary

For more information on everything, visit the Westmoreland Earth Day Festival and Outdoor Adventure Fest website.

More information on programs, initiatives, special events and cleanups is available by visiting the Westmoreland Cleanways and Recycling website. Click Here to sign up for regular updates. NewsClips: Lehigh Valley Earth Day Events Penn State Students Plant 200 Trees As Earth Earth Day Present DEP Assesses $25,898 Penalty Against Brunner Island For January Fish Kill

The Department of Environmental Protection Tuesday announced Brunner Island LLC has signed a consent assessment of civil penalty, the result of a January fish kill at its coal­fired electric generating station on the Susquehanna River in York County.

Brunner Island paid a civil penalty of $25,898. The generating station releases heated water from the cooling process to a condenser

discharge channel. During cold weather, fish are generally attracted to the warmer water. An equipment shutdown on January 30 prevented the warmed water from entering the

channel. The water temperature in the channel dropped approximately 13 degrees in one hour, causing the death of more than 1,100 fish.

In response to a February 4 notice of violation, the company supplied the department with a list of corrective actions to reduce the likelihood of a similar situation occurring again. New procedures and equipment are in place to allow for a quicker response, and to ensure at least a partial heating of the water being discharged. NewsClips: Crable: Brunner Island Power Plant Fined For Fish Kill York County Power Plant Penalized $25K For Fish Kill

PRC: Let’s Clear The Air Poster Contest Winners Chosen, Vote 4 People’s Choice

Western Pennsylvania’s celebration of Earth Day 2016 will include a display of award­winning artwork created by local students who entered the 6th annual Let’s Clear the Air Poster Challenge sponsored by the Southwest Pennsylvania Air Quality Partnership and the PA Resources Council. And the winners are­­ ­­ Elementary Category ­­ First Place: Michael Ondercin from St. Malachy, Allegheny County (photo) ­­ Second Place: Lauren Van Fossen, Butler Catholic, Butler County ­­ Middle School Category

­­ First Place: Zahara Udaipurwala, Quaker Valley Middle, Allegheny County ­­ Second Place: Kira Pavlik, St. Bernadette, Allegheny County ­­ High School Category ­­ First Place: Isabella Zuccaro, Hopewell High, Beaver County ­­ Second Place: Ethan Bailey, Greensburg Central Catholic, Westmoreland County

“This year we’re excited to expand the program to enable people living throughout southwestern Pennsylvania to cast their votes for our new ‘People’s Choice’ Award,” said Sarah Alessio Shea, PRC Environmental Education Coordinator. “Now through the end of April, individuals can visit the PRC website to cast their votes to select one of three pieces of artwork, and the winner will be announced in May at a reception to honor our young artists.”

More than 1,900 students attending 35 public, parochial and private schools in a 10­county region took part in the poster challenge during the 2015­16 academic year.

“For a sixth school year, students were challenged with creating posters to educate the public, and again they did an amazing job of visually depicting their thoughts and perspectives,”

according to SPAQP Chair Betsy Mallison. "The goal of the program is to teach students about the effects of air pollution, how to reduce their exposure, and to then encourage action through a poster campaign promoting clean air and alternative transportation.”

Students created posters using a variety of art media including watercolor, pen and ink, crayon, marker and charcoal.

The winning artwork will be on display April 18 – 22 in the grand lobby of the City­County Building in Downtown Pittsburgh. The artwork will also be on display May 1 – 21 at the Children’s Museum in Pittsburgh.

Individuals can vote online for the “People’s Choice” Award through April 30. For more information on programs, initiatives and special events, visit the PA Resources

Council website. Click Here to sign up for regular updates, follow PRC on Twitter or Like them on Facebook. Click Here for PRC’s Events Calendar. DEP Begins Helicopter Spraying To Control Black Flies The Department of Environmental Protection Wednesday announced it has begun aerial spraying on more than 1,600 stream miles in 39 Pennsylvania counties to control black flies, also referred to as gnats.

Click Here for a list of waterways to be sprayed by county. The first aerial spraying took place on April 11 on the Juniata River, Schuylkill River,

Delaware River, and several of their smaller tributaries. Other waterways will be treated as stream flows and weather conditions allow.

“This annual initiative reduces the nuisance of black flies so Pennsylvanians can enjoy our state’s waterways,” DEP Secretary John Quigley said.

This year, 47 of Pennsylvania’s rivers and streams will be monitored and treated as needed. Spraying activities will be performed both by helicopter and ground crews; their frequency will depend upon weather and biological conditions. Treatments cannot occur during periods of heavy rain or when water levels are high as high water conditions lower the effectiveness of the treatment.

DEP uses Bti, a naturally occurring bacterium, to treat the larval stage of four specific human pest black fly species. This bacterium degrades quickly in the environment and does not harm the aquatic ecosystem, birds, or other insects.

DEP notifies county and local emergency management officials prior to any spraying activity. Helicopters seen flying over waterways and ground crews using backpack sprayers off bridges are conducting control operations on behalf of DEP’s black fly program.

Anyone concerned at the sight of a helicopter or ground personnel is encouraged to call their county emergency management office to verify that a black fly treatment is taking place in their area on that day.

For more information, visit DEP’s Black Fly webpage. Click Here for a list of waterways to be sprayed by county. NewsClips: DEP To Spray Susquehanna River For Black Flies DEP Beings Aerial Spraying To Control Black Flies

PA Health Alerts Public Of Confirmed Link Between Zika Virus, Serious Birth Defects

Pennsylvania Secretary of Health Dr. Karen Murphy Friday advised Commonwealth residents that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has confirmed the link between Zika Virus disease in pregnant women and microcephaly and other severe fetal brain defects.

The Department of Health takes the Zika virus very seriously and is working with the CDC to monitor the situation. Keeping the residents of the Commonwealth safe and healthy is the department’s top priority.

“The confirmation of these Zika­related health complications reinforces the need for all Pennsylvanians to be aware of how to protect themselves from the Zika Virus,” said Secretary Murphy. “The department takes the risk of birth defects very seriously and will continue to monitor this situation with the CDC to ensure everyone in the Commonwealth has the information and resources necessary to avoid this potentially serious virus.”

The finding that Zika virus infection can cause microcephaly and other severe fetal brain defects means that a woman who is infected with Zika during pregnancy has an increased risk of having a baby with these health problems.

It does not mean, however, that all women who have Zika virus infection during pregnancy will have babies with birth defects. As has been seen during the current Zika outbreak, many infected women have delivered babies that appear to be healthy.

Pregnant women should continue to avoid travel to areas where Zika is actively spreading. If a pregnant woman travels to an area with active Zika virus transmission, she should talk with her healthcare provider and strictly follow steps to prevent mosquito bites as well as acquiring the Zika virus from sexual contact.

The CDC advises men who have traveled to the Zika­affected areas to wear condoms consistently and correctly during sex to avoid spreading the virus to their partners. This is especially important for men whose partners are pregnant women or women who are of childbearing age.

As we approach the mosquito season in Pennsylvania, travelers from Zika­affected areas should take precautions to avoid mosquito bites in the week after returning home, even if they are not experiencing symptoms, in order to limit the introduction of this virus to local mosquito populations.

The mosquito that primarily carries the disease has rarely been found in Pennsylvania. A related type of mosquito that can potentially carry Zika has been found in southern and

southeastern Pennsylvania. At present, this mosquito does not appear to be as effective at spreading Zika.

Zika is a generally mild illness, and most individuals do not have any symptoms. When symptoms do occur, they can include fever, rash, joint or muscle pain, conjunctivitis (pink eye), or headache, and last from several days to one week.

Because there currently is no vaccine or treatment for the Zika virus, the best way to avoid contracting the virus when traveling to an affected area is to prevent mosquito bites by: ­­ Using an insect repellent containing DEET; ­­ Wearing light­colored clothes that cover as much of the body as possible; ­­ Using physical barriers such as screens, closed doors and windows; and ­­ Sleeping under mosquito nets.

If you develop symptoms within two weeks of visiting a Zika­affected country, contact your health care provider.

Visit the Department of Health’s Zika Virus webpage. NewsClips: CDC: Zika Definitely Causes Severe Birth Defects Scientists: Zika Tied To Another Adult Brain Disease April 14 DEP News Now Available The April 14 edition of the DEP News is now available from the Department of Environmental Protection featuring articles on­­ ­­ IRRC To Consider Final DEP Drilling Regulations April 21, Meeting To Be Streamed Live ­­ DEP Fines Rice Drilling $393K For 17 Environmental Violations In Greene, Washington ­­ DEP Restarts Initiative To Improve Consistency In Inspections, Enforcement Actions ­­ Expedited Permitting Subject Of Senate Hearing (PA Environment Digest Summary) ­­ DEP Secretary Quigley Testifies On Clean Energy Jobs (PA Environment Digest Summary) ­­ DEP Announces $25,898 Penalty Against Brunner Island For Fish Kill ­­ DEP Announces Settlement To Resolve Violations At York County Farm+$20,000 Penalty ­­ Harrisburg Falcons Eggs Hatching… Watch Live Now! ­­ Click Here to sign up for your own copy.

PEC TV: Methane Emissions Topic Of April 17 PCN Environmental Focus Program Methane emissions, the main component of natural gas and a highly potent greenhouse gas — and their consequences for Pennsylvania in the natural gas age — are the topic of April’s “Environmental Focus.”

This edition of the PA Environmental Council’s monthly environmental affairs television program airs on the Pennsylvania Cable Network (PCN) on April 17 at 4 p.m. Check Here for local listings.

Pennsylvania is the second­largest producer of natural gas in the United States; even conservative estimates of methane emissions from active and abandoned oil and gas wells make this issue a tremendous issue for the Commonwealth.

Methane, 80 times more potent than carbon dioxide over a near term time free, is responsible for about one­fourth of the global warming today.

The half­hour television show features Andrew Place, Vice Chairman of the Public Utility Commission, and one of the foremost experts on natural gas energy policy and technology.

Following Vice Chairman Place’s interview, a roundtable discussion composed of Sam Robinson from Gov. Tom Wolf’s Office of Policy and Planning, Andrew Williams of the Environmental Defense Fund, and PEC’s John Walliser continued the discussion.

“Any meaningful dialogue on climate change in Pennsylvania has to include reduction of methane emissions,” Walliser said. “Our knowledge of the true extent of these emissions in Pennsylvania is incomplete, and, as the recent gas leak in California’s Aliso Canyon illustrates, even one leak can result in very serious public health and environmental problem.”

Previous editions of “Environmental Focus” have featured topics such as outdoor recreation on Pennsylvania’s waterways, Pennsylvania’s state budget, the Pennsylvania Pipeline Infrastructure Taskforce, and the Delaware River Conservation Program with guests such as Department of Environmental Protection Secretary John Quigley, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn, Rep. Kate Harper (R­Montgomery), and Andrew Johnson of the William Penn Foundation.

Click Here to view past episodes of PEC’s Environmental Focus TV program. More information about Pennsylvania’s methane reduction strategy is available at DEP’s

Framework For Actions On Methane Reductions webpage. 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. Click Here to receive regular updates from PEC. NewsClips: Fracking Has Reduced Greenhouse Gases EDF Blog: Methane Emissions Becoming Key Climate Issue SolarCity Launches Solar Service To Homeowners In Western PA, Staff Needed SolarCity is making its popular solar service available to homeowners in Western Pennsylvania for the first time. It is also in need of staff to implement its program.

SolarCity will make it possible for many of the region's one million plus residents to install solar with no upfront cost and pay less for solar electricity than they pay for utility power. Customers can go solar for as little as $30 per month, with design, installation, financing, insurance, monitoring and a performance guarantee included.

SolarCity, which began taking orders from residents today, expects to begin installing the first customers this summer and will accommodate them on a first­come, first­served basis. The company's service will initially be available to customers of Duquesne Light utility territory.

SolarCity plans to open an operations center in the Pittsburgh­area soon and has already begun hiring for local positions in installation, sales and related positions. When fully staffed, SolarCity expects the new operations center will employ more than 75 people.

Area homeowners interested in SolarCity's services can contact the company directly at 1­888­SOL­CITY (1­888­765­2489) for a free, no­obligation solar consultation or visit SolarCity online.

Candidates interested in employment opportunities in Pittsburgh can view available positions and contact SolarCity directly via its online jobs form.

SolarCity also provides its services to Central and Eastern Pennsylvania. Visit the SolarCity website for more information.

NewsClips: SolarCity Moving Into Pittsburgh, Costs Falling Amid Fossil Fuel Layoffs, Dems Strategy For Clean Energy Jobs Editorial: Green Energy, Red Ink Nightmare

FirstEnergy Launches Switch2Green4Free Offer For First 1,000 Customers Starting April 15, the first 1,000 residential customers in Ohio and Pennsylvania can help

celebrate Earth Day by signing up with FirstEnergy Solutions to receive 100 percent wind energy at the same price as its standard energy offer.

This Switch2Green4Free offer is part of FirstEnergy's branding campaign – called "The Switch is On" – that highlights the company's environmental achievements and demonstrates its commitment to a cleaner energy future.

The Switch2Green4Free offer is designed to increase awareness of the benefits of green energy. Purchasing green energy from FirstEnergy Solutions is an investment in clean, renewable resources that helps to ensure more renewable energy is being created and delivered to the power grid.

The energy in the Switch2Green4Free offer is Green­e Energy Certified. Green­e Energy is the nation's leading independent certification and verification program for renewable energy and greenhouse gas emission reduction products.

For more information about the green energy offer – including pricing and contract lengths – and to enroll, visit TheSwitchIsOn.com or call 1­888­254­6359.

This offer is limited to the first 1,000 residential customers to enroll or until May 31, 2016.

In addition to providing a green energy offer, FirstEnergy's "The Switch is On" campaign also supports FirstEnergy's recently announced pledge to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions 90 percent below 2005 levels by 2045.

This goal represents a potential reduction of more than 80 million tons of CO2 emissions and is among the most aggressive targets in the utility industry.

More information about FirstEnergy's environmental commitment is available at TheSwitchIsOn.com. NewsClips: SolarCity Moving Into Pittsburgh, Costs Falling Amid Fossil Fuel Layoffs, Dems Strategy For Clean Energy Jobs Editorial: Green Energy, Red Ink Nightmare Business Council For Sustainable Energy: PA Halfway To Meeting Clean Power Plan Rule The Business Council for Sustainable Energy and Bloomberg New Energy Finance this week released its 2016 Sustainable Energy in America Factbook showing Pennsylvania is well­positioned to accelerate its clean energy deployment, is a leader in energy efficiency and receives significant economic benefits from these investments.

The report notes Pennsylvania, like much of the country, is already shifting to low­cost, lower­carbon natural gas as a result of cheap natural gas driven by in­state production. The state is scheduled to retire another 18 percent of its coal generating capacity by 2020.

In fact, Bloomberg found Pennsylvania is already halfway to achieving compliance with the EPA Clean Power Climate Plan as a result of the increased use of natural gas.

Market forces mean that less­polluting ­ and often cheaper ­ power is inevitable. Companies from a range of sectors are looking at energy prices and options as they consider where to invest.

In fact, corporate procurement of clean energy was a major story in 2015 ­ it doubled from 2014 to 2015 and reached 3.5GWs. Companies like Walmart, Johnson & Johnson, Google, General Motors, among others are leading players.

Their investments shows that clean energy is affordable and reliable and key to their business planning.

While renewables account for a small amount of Pennsylvania's power mix today, a study by Bloomberg New Energy Finance found that sustainable electricity sources including small hydro, onshore wind, waste­to­energy, and CHP (combined heat and power plants) are already among the cheapest options for generating electricity in the state.

In addition, a 2014 study by the global consulting firm Lazard found that when excluding subsidies, wind and solar are the cheapest forms of electricity generation for new installations.

The study also found that Pennsylvania is a relative leader in terms of its overall energy efficiency efforts, but more can be done.

Pennsylvania's own analysis under Act 129 shows it could feasibly reach a 17.3 percent cumulative energy savings by 2023. Given the PUC just approved Phase III Act 129, this should help the state along. Not only will efficiency investments lower carbon emissions, but, done right, they also will lower customers' bills.

The Business Council said Pennsylvania is well­positioned to be a leader in the power shift that is unfolding across the nation.

Business Council member companies in the energy efficiency, natural gas and renewable energy sectors are engaged in Pennsylvania and would like to see the state utilize the full portfolio of clean energy technologies available.

A copy of the fact book is available free online. Click Here for a Pennsylvania­specific fact sheet by Bloomberg that is due to be updated. For more information, visit the Business Council for Sustainable Energy website. The

Business Council is a coalition of companies and trade associations from the energy efficiency, natural gas and renewable energy sectors. NewsClips: SEEDS Energy Conservation Program Receives Governor’s Award Wilkes­Barre Receives Governor’s Local Govt Award For Energy Savings Energy Efficiency Keeps Electricity Affordable, Reduces Environmental Costs Amid Fossil Fuel Layoffs, Dems Strategy For Clean Energy Jobs SolarCity Moving Into Pittsburgh, Costs Falling Amid Fossil Fuel Layoffs, Dems Strategy For Clean Energy Jobs Editorial: Green Energy, Red Ink Nightmare Related Stories: PUC Invites Comments On Combined Heat And Power Policy Statement PA: Not That Far To Go To Meet EPA Clean Power Climate Plan Emission Limits PUC Approves PPL, PECO Act 129 Energy Efficiency Plans PUC OKs Next Phase Of Energy Efficiency Plans For FirstEnergy, Duquesne Light PUC Invites Comments On Combined Heat And Power Policy Statement The Public Utility Commission published notice of an opportunity to comment on a proposed policy statement on Combined Heat and Power in the April 16 PA Bulletin.

The proposed policy statement establishes a biennial reporting requirement for electric and natural gas distribution companies regarding their efforts to eliminate obstacles to the development of combined heat and power projects in Pennsylvania.

The deadline for comments is May 31. For more information, visit the PUC’s Combined Heat and Power webpage. The contact

for technical issues is Joseph Sherrick, Bureau of Technical Utility Services, by calling 717­787­5369 or sending email to: josherrick@pa.gov. The contact person for legal issues is Kriss Brown, Assistant Counsel, Law Bureau, 717­787­4518 or send email to: kribrown@pa.gov. NewsClips: SEEDS Energy Conservation Program Receives Governor’s Award Wilkes­Barre Receives Governor’s Local Govt Award For Energy Savings Energy Efficiency Keeps Electricity Affordable, Reduces Environmental Costs Amid Fossil Fuel Layoffs, Dems Strategy For Clean Energy Jobs SolarCity Moving Into Pittsburgh, Costs Falling Amid Fossil Fuel Layoffs, Dems Strategy For Clean Energy Jobs Editorial: Green Energy, Red Ink Nightmare Related Story: Business Council For Sustainable Energy: PA Halfway To Meeting EPA Clean Power Plan Rule PA Adds 32 Farms, 1,792 Acres To Farmland Preservation Program During the April meeting of the Pennsylvania Agricultural Land Preservation Board, an additional 1,792 acres on 32 farms in 14 counties were safeguarded through the state’s nation­leading farmland preservation program.

Since the program began in 1988, federal, state, county and local governments have invested more than $1.3 billion to preserve 520,619 acres on 4,951 farms in 57 counties for future agricultural production.

“Preserving farmland protects the environment and our natural resources, and supports sustainability of Pennsylvania agriculture,” said Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding. “I thank the Pennsylvania farm families that know the importance of preserving our farmland for future generations, and for their foresight to conserve the best of Pennsylvania agriculture.”

The board preserved farms in 14 counties: Adams, Armstrong, Berks, Bucks, Chester, Cumberland, Lancaster, Lebanon, Lehigh, Mifflin, Montgomery, Northampton, Washington and Westmoreland.

The Agricultural Conservation Easement Purchase Program identifies properties and slows the loss of prime farmland to nonagricultural uses. It enables state, county and local governments to purchase conservation easements, also called development rights, from owners of quality farmland.

A list of new farms preserved is available online. For more information, visit Agriculture’s Farmland Preservation webpage.

Permit Applicants Given Notice Of Changes To Endangered Species Review By DCNR The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources published a formal notice in the April 16 PA Bulletin giving permit applicants formal notice of its update of its system for reviewing applications for impacts on threatened and endangered species and species of special concern.

The changes include imposing a new fee for providing permit review receipts confirming

the reviews were completed, changing the name of the former PA Natural Diversity Inventory permit review tool to PA Conservation Explorer and updates to the technical guidance covering permit reviews.

PA Conservation Explorer is a one stop shop for conservation planning and PNDI environmental review. The Explorer provides conservation information on biological diversity, protected lands, streams and other natural resources for planning purposes and also allows users to screen a project area for potential impacts to threatened, endangered, and special concern species.

Click Here for the announcement of the PA Conservation Explorer. For more information, visit the PA Conservation Explorer webpage.

DCNR Honors Exemplary Volunteer Service At State Parks in Blair, Venango Counties A Blair County resident dedicated to making Canoe Creek State Park a showplace of safe, enjoyable trails, and a Venango County­based group initiating innovative and widely popular events at Oil Creek State Park have been named recipients of annual Conservation Volunteer Awards by the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

James J. Fitch, a virtual fixture of volunteerism at Canoe Creek State Park in Blair County, was awarded the Bureau of State Parks’ 2015 Individual Volunteer Award, and Friends of Oil Creek State Park, volunteers marking their 10th year of service at the Venango County park, were honored with a Group Volunteer Award. Both awards were presented late last month at the bureau’s annual meeting in State College.

“James Fitch has emerged as an iconic volunteer at Canoe Creek with trail work that supports the mission of the Bureau of State Parks while establishing great community relations,” said DCNR Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn. “As a group, Friends of Oil Creek State Park have distinguished themselves in event planning, fundraising, obtaining park supplies and equipment, and so much more.”

Timed to mark National Volunteer Week, April 10­16, Dunn’s announcement today is designed to “acknowledge the invaluable role of volunteers at our 121 state parks and on our more than 2.2 million acres of state forestland.

“When we tabulate reports from our parks and 20 state forest districts, we see state park volunteer hours totaled 160,019, and forestry hours approached 7,780. The savings – and service – to our park managers and foresters is tremendous.”

Besides overseeing maintenance of all trails in the park, Fitch also plans, designs, and oversees various community work projects. His planning and supervision has, over the last few years, improved the quality and safety of the trail system immensely, park officials say.

Under Fitch’s supervision, water bars, stairs and boardwalks have been installed. He designed and marked a number of trail re­routes, saving staff many hours of work. New routed wooden directional signage was installed at all trailheads and intersections, replacing posts and signs that often were faded and unreadable.

In 2015, Friends of Oil Creek State Park celebrated their 10th year, marking a span that brought to the park innovative and highly successful events, including a first­ever Winterfest; the Oil Creek 100 Ultra Run; and “Chicks N’ the Sticks”, an event designed to introduce women to a wide variety of outdoor skills and activities.

In addition to planning and hosting events in the park, the friends group also purchases

equipment and supplies for the park and its various volunteer groups. The group’s greatest accomplishment to date has been securing nearly $60,000 in grant funding in 2015 for new park playground equipment.

Individuals, as well as groups, can volunteer for various state park and forest projects throughout the state. Conservation Volunteers are paired with projects that match their skills and interests.

If interested in becoming a volunteer, contact any state park or forest district office, or visit DCNR's Conservation Volunteer Program webpage.

Experiencing Your Environment Thru Conservation High School Science Camp June 20­23

Registration is now open for the Experiencing Your Environment Through Conservation summer science experience for students entering grades 10 to 12 at the Jennings Environmental Education Center in Butler County. EYE Con is a day camp that engages students in real world conservation science. Students design their own investigations, work one­on­one with professional ecologists and biologists, carry out scientific research, and present findings to peers and professionals, all while

enjoying and having fun in our local parks. This year’s focus will be on forest change. This a one­of­a­kind camp experience facilitated by the Western PA Conservancy and

DCNR’s Bureau of State Parks. Click Here for more information and to register.

NewsClips: PAEE Honors Crawford County Nature Center Educator Students’ Project To Tell Story Of Acid Mine Treatment Ponds Hazleton Students Release Trout They Raised In Class 4th Annual Youth Conservations Leadership Camp Act 48 Approved Teacher Workshops At Parker Dam State Park

Penn State Students Plant 200 Trees In Rothrock State Forest, Other Earth Day Activities

Adam Larson and Tyler Farnan pile on the last scoops of soil around the new ash trees they just planted in Rothrock State Forest [in Centre County], their footprints still fresh in the dirt. While their footprints will eventually disappear, the local footprint they and their student organization, Positive Energy, have made will endure far into the future. Larson, Farnan and six students from Positive Energy planted 200 trees on April 9. The group partnered with

Rothrock Land Management, which provided the seedlings and necessary tools. Comprised primarily of students from the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences, but

welcome to students of any major, the group completed a similar project in 2015, when it planted 201 trees in Roaring Branch, Tioga County.

“Last year, we celebrated Earth Day in Roaring Branch, and this year we’re celebrating a little bit early with this reclamation project at Rothrock,” said Larson, a sophomore studying petroleum and natural gas engineering (PNGE).

This year, the group planted trees along the Musser Gap Trail, a hotspot for recreational activities, such as hiking and horseback riding. The trail serves as a corridor between the State College region and Rothrock State Forest.

“Our organization is interested in land reclamation from activities related to the energy industry, so it was important for us to plant at Rothrock because the forest is home to a pipeline that runs underground,” said Farnan, a senior PNGE student.

Farnan said approximately one third of the trees they plant will survive to be fully grown adults, which can take nearly 100 years.

In addition to the positive environmental impact, Larson and Farnan highlighted the other benefits that come with a project like this.

“This is a great opportunity to get students interested in the environment and its resources to volunteer and make an impact. And by doing this, we’re all giving back to the environment,” said Larson.

Farnan hopes that future projects could stem from the group’s partnership with Rothrock. “This is another step toward developing friendships with all of the great state parks in

central Pennsylvania, and hopefully we’ll be able to continue these types of projects in upcoming years,” he said.

More Penn State Earth Day Activities Penn State celebrates Earth Day through a week of activities on campus. For more

information, visit the Earth Week 2016 at Penn State webpage. NewsClips: Penn State Students Plant 200 Trees As Earth Earth Day Present Lehigh Valley Earth Day Events DCNR, Western PA Conservancy Tree Planting In Indiana County, Other Opportunities Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn Wednesday joined the Western PA Conservancy and volunteers in planting two acres of trees along the lake at Yellow Creek State Park in Indiana County to improve water quality.

"April, which hosts Earth Day and Arbor Day, is a good time to take action for our environment, and volunteer, tree­planting and clean up opportunities are scheduled," Dunn said. "Through the remainder of the month, DCNR staff will be working alongside our Friends groups and volunteers to encourage everyone to give back by planting trees, volunteering or trying some conservation practices at home."

The secretary joined more than 50 people planting 400 seedlings at Yellow Creek, as part of an effort coordinated by WPC and the Friends of Yellow Creek State Park.

"This planting is a great and tangible education tool on the importance of riparian trees, partnerships and restoring places that the public can immediately see and experience," said Alysha Trexler, a watershed project manager who coordinates riparian tree plantings for WPC.

Since 2013, WPC's watershed conservation riparian restoration project has planted 140 acres with more than 30,000 trees to reforest and restore areas along streams, creeks and rivers in western Pennsylvania to help protect water quality.

Other partners in the Yellow Creek project include Evergreen Conservancy, Bobcat of Indiana and the Indiana Rotary Club.

Cindy Rogers, a volunteer with the Friends group, said "it's wonderful that all these groups and volunteers came together to do this much­needed tree planting."

DCNR's Bureau of Forestry is leading an effort to work with numerous agencies, partners and landowners to expand forest buffers along waterways in the commonwealth.

"Just as people depend on water, rivers depend on woodlands. Trees and shrubs along stream banks help control stormwater and runoff, provide shade to cool the water and provide habitat and food for life in the streams," Dunn said. "Planting trees – anywhere – is something that anyone can do to make a difference."

Forest buffers along stream banks provide critical barriers between polluting landscapes and receiving waterways. Properly planted and maintained, streamside tree and shrub plantings filter the runoff of sediments and the fertilizers that are applied to lawns and crops; control erosion; improve water quality; reduce flooding; cool stream temperatures; and improve fish habitat.

Dunn noted during the past 15 years tens of thousands of acres of buffers have been planted in Pennsylvania. The rejuvenated initiative will look to complement existing programs and provide greater flexibility in landowner eligibility, buffer designs, widths, plant species and innovative maintenance practices.

Yellow Creek State Park has implemented many green and sustainable practices as part of its operations, and educated visitors about them. They include: ­­ Using more energy efficient watercraft and lawn mowers; ­­ Planting native wildflower meadows, significantly reducing the need for mowing; ­­ Using programmable thermostats and more efficient lights bulbs; ­­ Installation of a wind turbine, which is also used to educate visitors about this alternative form of energy; ­­ Cleaning with biodegradable soaps; and ­­ Retrofitting buildings for efficiency.

Other Volunteer Opportunities There are dozens of volunteer opportunities listed in the DCNR Calendar of Events

throughout the remainder of the month. Some highlights include: ­­ Jennings Environmental Education Center Take Back the Woods invasive species battle in Butler County, April 16; ­­ Earth Day cleanup with Friends of MK Goddard State Park, Mercer County April 21; ­­ Earth Day tree planting event at Jacobsburg Environmental Education Center, Northampton County April 23; ­­ Delaware Canal State Park paddle and clean up in Bucks County April 24; and

­­ Friends of Cook Forest spring work day in Clarion County April 28. Visit DCNR’s Calendar of Events webpage for more information. Click Here if you

want to part of DCNR’s formal Conservation Volunteer Program. Visit the PA Parks and Forests Foundation website for information on State Parks for Forests Friends group near you.

Visit DCNR’s website for information on all of Pennsylvania’s State Parks, Forests, hiking trails and much more. NewsClips: Volunteers Wanted For Forest Cleanups In Franklin County Prescribed Burn Planned In Upper Dauphin County Game Commission Uses Prescribed Burns To Clean Land For Wildlife RES Donates 2,000 Trees To Cumberland Conservation District For April Seedling Sale

Resource Environmental Solutions, the nation’s leading supplier of ecological offsets for unavoidable project­related impacts to wetlands, streams and habitats, Thursday announced the donation of 2,000 trees to the Cumberland County Conservation District. The trees will support the District’s annual Tree Seedling Sale on April 14­15. This annual fundraiser supports Cumberland County’s Envirothon.

The Envirothon is an academic competition about the natural environment. Local schools prepare teams of five students that compete locally within their county, then the county winners move on to the state level and state winner on to the national level.

This program has helped create many environmental leaders and has expanded the importance of our environment to a larger community.

Winners of county Envirothon competitions go on to a statewide competition then to the international Envirothon.

Elliott Bouillion, RES’ Chief Executive Officer said, “Giving back to the community is a core value at RES. It’s very rewarding supporting our local conservation districts and supporting the education of our next environmental leaders.”

Conservation District Chairman Wilbur Wolf stated, “The Cumberland Conservation District appreciates Resource Environmental Solutions partnering with us for a donation of white pine seedlings that will help offset costs for the local Envirothon while adding trees to the Cumberland County landscape.”

RES’ nursery is located in Eighty Four, Washington County, Pennsylvania. RES grows tens of thousands of large, containerized native trees and shrubs. These trees are grown to provide the highest quality plant material for RES stream and wetland restoration projects.

A key component of any restoration planting is matching the specific species to the ecosystem that is to be restored. RES achieves the specific requirements and high quality by internalizing the plant production portion of our projects.

The Cumberland Conservation District Tree Seedling Sale is being held on April 14­15. For more information its restoration activities, visit the Resource Environmental

Solutions website. For more information on the Envirothon competition, visit the Pennsylvania Envirothon website.

NewsClips: Volunteers Wanted For Forest Cleanups In Franklin County Prescribed Burn Planned In Upper Dauphin County Game Commission Uses Prescribed Burns To Clean Land For Wildlife

Western PA Conservancy: Pittsburgh Redbud Free Trees Project: April 16, 19, 23, May 12 The Western PA Conservancy Pittsburgh Redbud Project is distributing free redbud trees to City of Pittsburgh residents at these locations­­ ­­ April 16 from 9 a.m.­Noon. – on the North Shore Heritage Trail, River Avenue (near Bay Valley Foods); ­­ April 19 from 10 a.m.­Noon – at the North Shore Riverfront Park (near the Mr. Rogers statue); ­­ April 23 from 9 a.m.­ Noon – at the North Shore Riverfront Park (near the Water steps); and ­­ May 12 from 10 a.m.­2 p.m. – Market Square Farmers Market.

Click Here to learn how to properly plant redbud bare root trees. 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. NewsClips: Volunteers Wanted For Forest Cleanups In Franklin County Prescribed Burn Planned In Upper Dauphin County Game Commission Uses Prescribed Burns To Clean Land For Wildlife Appalachian Trail Museum To Host Banquet, Hall Of Fame Ceremonies June 3

Five new members will be inducted into the Appalachian Trail Hall of Fame on June 3 at the sixth annual Appalachian Trail Hall of Fame Banquet at the Allenberry Resort in Boiling Springs, Cumberland County. The banquet will begin at 7:00 p.m. and will be preceded by a reception. Emcee for the evening will again be DCNR Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn, who will also deliver remarks. Music will be provided once again by Randy "Windtalker" Motz. The Hall of Fame Banquet will be the kickoff of the

Appalachian Trail Museum’s Hall of Fame Weekend. There will be a Children's Festival on Saturday from 11:00 to 2:00. During this event, the museum's new children's area will be dedicated. From 2:00 to 4:00, several Hall of Famers will speak. Additional events will be announced later.

Tickets for the banquet are available (there is a fee). For more information on the weekend, send email to: atmbanquet@gmail.com.

For more information, visit the Hall of Fame Banquet webpage and the Appalachian Trail Museum website.

NewsClips: Wissahickon Volunteers Work To Maintain Trails Philadelphia Getting More Protected Bike Lanes PA Horticultural Society To Host Philly Pop­Up Park 10 More Waterfalls To Visit In PA Shooting Range Fees Implemented At Start Park Range Act 48 Approved Teacher Workshops At Parker Dam State Park Visit A National Park Free Beginning This Weekend

(Reprinted from the April 13 edition of the Resource newsletter from DCNR. Click Here to sign up for your own copy.) Get Outdoors PA Webinar April 29 On National Get Outdoors Day The Get Outdoors PA program will be hosting a webinar on April 29 from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. The session will focus on the upcoming National Get Outdoors Day in June, and explore ways those interested and jump­start an event to help celebrate the day.

Expert Get Outdoors PA partners will discuss the nuts and bolts of their innovative and successful Get Outdoors Day events. The goal is to promote National Get Outdoors Day, where healthy, active, outdoor fun is encouraged in communities.

Click Here to register. Registration is required. Visit the Get Outdoors PA website for more information on how you can get outside in

PA. NewsClips: Wissahickon Volunteers Work To Maintain Trails Philadelphia Getting More Protected Bike Lanes PA Horticultural Society To Host Philly Pop­Up Park 10 More Waterfalls To Visit In PA Shooting Range Fees Implemented At Start Park Range Act 48 Approved Teacher Workshops At Parker Dam State Park Visit A National Park Free Beginning This Weekend

(Reprinted from the April 13 edition of the Resource newsletter from DCNR. Click Here to sign up for your own copy.) DCNR Proposes Wild Areas In Centre, Clinton, Elk, Fayette, Mifflin, Pike, Potter Counties The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources published notice soliciting public comments on 5 proposed State Forest Wild Areas designations in Centre, Clinton, Elk, Fayette, Mifflin, Pike and Potter counties in the April 16 PA Bulletin.

The proposed Wild Areas include­­ ­­ Hammersley Wild Area (Clinton, Potter Counties): As part of the 2016 update of the State Forest Resource Management Plan, the Bureau of Forestry is proposing to finalize approximately 30,000 acres in Susquehannock State Forest as the Hammersley Wild Area. This area, located in the Deep Valleys ecoregion, is the largest roadless area in this Commonwealth, providing

opportunities for primitive recreation, as well as protecting Exceptional Value streams and native brook trout habitat. Since it was proposed in the 2003 Plan, the area has been managed following the Wild Area guidelines in 17 Pa. Code Chapter 27 (relating to State Forest natural areas—statement of policy). The proposal has undergone an extensive internal review and the final boundaries reflect careful consideration of Bureau staff. A map of the final boundaries can be found online. ­­ Penns Creek Wild Area (Centre, Mifflin Counties): As part of the 2016 update of the Plan, the Bureau is proposing to finalize approximately 6,200 acres in Bald Eagle State Forest as the Penns Creek Wild Area (3,810 acres area already designated as the White Mountain Wild Area; an additional 2,473 acres would be added to create the new Penns Creek Wild Area). This area, located in the Ridge and Valley ecoregion, is characterized by its scenic stream corridor, riparian habitats, undeveloped nature and Nationally­recognized trout stream. Since it was proposed in the 2003 Plan, the area has been managed following the Wild Area guidelines. The proposal has undergone an extensive internal review and the final boundaries reflect careful consideration of Bureau staff. A map of the final boundaries can be found online. ­­ Quebec Run Wild Area (Fayette County): As part of the 2016 update of the Plan, the Bureau is proposing to finalize approximately 6,000 acres in Forbes State Forest as the Quebec Run Wild Area. This area, located in the Allegheny Mountain ecoregion, is characterized by its wild character and High Quality streams, and it is home to several rare and threatened species. Since it was proposed in the 2003 Plan, the area has been managed following the Wild Area guidelines. The proposal has undergone an extensive internal review and the final boundaries reflect careful consideration of Bureau staff. A map of the final boundaries can be found online. ­­ Square Timber/Big Run Wild Area (Elk County): As part of the 2016 update of the Plan, the Bureau is proposing to finalize approximately 5,600 acres in Elk State Forest as the Square Timber/Big Run Wild Area. This large, undeveloped area, located in the Deep Valleys ecoregion, provides opportunities for primitive recreation, as well as providing key habitat for many aquatic and terrestrial organisms. Since it was proposed in 2003, the area has been managed following the Wild Area guidelines. The proposal has undergone an extensive internal review and the final boundaries reflect careful consideration of Bureau staff. A map of the final boundaries can be found online. ­­ Stairway Wild Area (Pike County): As part of the 2016 update of the Plan, the Bureau is proposing to finalize approximately 2,700 acres in Delaware State Forest as the Stairway Wild Area. This area, located in the Glaciated Low Plateau ecoregion, provides opportunities for primitive recreation, supports a unique diversity of plant and animal species, and contains Exceptional Value streams. Since it was proposed in 2003, the area has been managed following the Wild Area guidelines. The proposal has undergone an extensive internal review and the final boundaries reflect careful consideration of Bureau staff. A map of the final boundaries can be found online.

DCNR will accept public comments on the proposed designations through May 16. Oral or written comments or questions concerning the proposed designations may be

addressed to Amanda Parks, Planning Section, Bureau of Forestry, P. O. Box 8552, Harrisburg, PA 17105­8552, 814­364­5150, Ext. 307, or send email to: amparks@pa.gov. Oral and written comments will become part of the official document used in the final decision process.

April 13 Resource Newsletter Now Available From DCNR

The April 13 edition of the Resource newsletter is now available from the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources featuring articles on­­ ­­ PA Provides Plenty Of Fishing Opportunities Throughout The Spring ­­ DCNR, Western PA Conservancy Tree Planting In Indiana County, Other Opportunities ­­ DCNR Warning Anglers, Others Of High Woodland Fire Danger ­­ DCNR Honors Exemplary Volunteer Service At State Parks In Blair, Venango Counties ­­ PA Parks & Forests Foundation Launches New Website ­­ Get Outdoors PA Webinar April 29 On National Get Outdoors Day ­­ Appalachian Trail Museum To Host Banquet, Hall Of Fame Ceremonies June 3 ­­ Click Here to sign up for your own copy. Open Land Conservancy Of Chester County Hosts Climate Program April 19 The Open Land Conservancy of Chester County will host an April 19 program on Global Warming ­ What We Need To Know featuring Richard Whiteford who served as a delegate to the 2015 Paris Climate Summit.

The program will be held at the Great Valley Presbyterian Church, 2025 Swedesford Road in Malvern starting at 7:30 p.m.

For more information on programs, initiatives and other upcoming events, visit the Open Land Conservancy of Chester County website. NewsClips: Fracking Has Reduced Greenhouse Gases Straight Talk: Our Common Endangered Brook Trout John Arway EDF Blog: Methane Emissions Becoming Key Climate Issue Why Climate Change Doubters Still Exist Op­Ed: Prosecute Climate Deniers, Hold Those Who Mislead Accountable Editorial: Climate Denial Goes Wobbly Editorial: UN Watch: A Climate Chill DCNR Warning Anglers, Others Of High Woodland Fire Danger With the approach of Pennsylvania’s traditional statewide trout season opener on April 16, and weather conditions that keep firefighters busy responding to wildfires across much of the state, the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Wednesday urged anglers, property owners and others to take steps to prevent forest and brush fires.

“We ask trout anglers and other forest visitors to be extremely careful this weekend because fire danger is increasing rapidly amid sunny, warm days and little rainfall,” said DCNR Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn. “One act of carelessness could prove disastrous among tinder­dry conditions in some of our forests, where wildfire dangers climb with each day of sun and wind.”

Open fires are forbidden on state forestland from March 1 through May 25, and when the

fire danger is listed as high, very high or extreme. “One has to only look back to last month to see how fires spike quickly when the

combination of sun, wind and lack of rain create tinder­like conditions,” Dunn said. “We remind folks to be careful with campfires and backyard burning, and to take the proper precautions at all times.”

So far this spring, the largest wildfire scorched more than 70 acres in Tioga County. Others have destroyed one home,damaged two, and destroyed 10 out buildings and other structures.

Advice from DCNR’s Bureau of Forestry includes: ­­ Clear the area around a campfire prior to starting it; ­­ Keep the fire small and never leave it unattended; ­­ Before you strike a campfire match, first consider if it is too warm, dry or windy for a fire and if the surrounding area is free of leaves and other combustibles; ­­ Make sure there is a ready source of water (bucket or hose) nearby and a rake to extinguish any embers that might escape; and ­­ When you are done with the fire, put it out with water until all ashes are cold to the touch.

Dunn noted that light rainfall in many areas, lack of green foliage in the spring, low humidity and sunny, windy days all combine to increase chances of forest and brush fires spreading. Such fires are almost always traced to human carelessness, she said.

Nearly 10,000 acres of state and private woodlands are burned by wildfires each year, and nearly 85 percent of all fires in Pennsylvania woodlands occur during the months of March, April and May. Almost all of these fires threaten people and their homes, as well as trees and wildlife.

State forestry officials urge landowners to check with local municipalities to see if outdoor burning is allowed, and to avoid entirely or use extreme caution when burning trash and debris – one of the most common causes of wildfires.

Residents are also advised to create “safe zones” around homes and cabins by removing leaves and other debris from the ground and rain gutters, stack firewood away from structures and trim overhanging branches.

The Bureau of Forestry is responsible for the prevention and suppression of wildfires on Pennsylvania’s 17 million acres of private and state­owned woodlands.

For more information on wildfire prevention, contact local district foresters; call the Bureau of Forestry at 717­787­2925; or visit DCNR’s Wildland Fire webpage. NewsClips: Volunteers Wanted For Forest Cleanups In Franklin County Prescribed Burn Planned In Upper Dauphin County Game Commission Uses Prescribed Burns To Clean Land For Wildlife Activate Phoenixville Holds 3 Prescribe­A­Trail Events Thru April 30 In Chester County Activate Phoenixville Area in Chester County will hold 3 Prescribe­A­Trail events along the Schuylkill River Trail between now and April 30. Events will be held April 16, 20 and 30.

Join your favorite doctors for a walk along the beautiful Schuylkill River Trail at the Foundry parking lot trail head.

Get your healthcare questions answered, get free fitness give­a­ways, healthy snacks,

meet new friends, all while getting some exercise. Click Here for all the details.

NewsClips: Wissahickon Volunteers Work To Maintain Trails Philadelphia Getting More Protected Bike Lanes PA Horticultural Society To Host Philly Pop­Up Park 10 More Waterfalls To Visit In PA Shooting Range Fees Implemented At Start Park Range Act 48 Approved Teacher Workshops At Parker Dam State Park Visit A National Park Free Beginning This Weekend Gifford Pinchot Grey Towers Fly Fishing Event May 7

A unique public program that will illustrate Gifford Pinchot’s enthusiasm for fly fishing is planned for May 7 from 10 a.m. ­ 12 p.m. at Pinchot’s former home, Grey Towers National Historic Site, Milford, Pike County. Many know of Pinchot as the eminent conservation thinker of the early 20th century; his vision helped introduce scientific forestry to America and he served as first chief of the U.S. Forest Service. But where did he gain his inspiration? How did he shape his vision? By fly fishing right here in the healthy waters of Pike County! The May 7 program, appropriate for ages 8 through

adult, will be a blend of historic perspective and today’s modern sport. It will include some lectures, an interesting exhibit, films and a fly fishing demo on the lawn of Grey Towers, the same place where Gifford and his friends and family practiced their casting.

The lectures will include an historical perspective of fly fishing and visitors can see some of Gifford’s fly fishing equipment, including the newly renovated canoe that he loved to fish from.

Local fly fishing instructor/guide and wildlife photographer Nancy Hopping will lead the casting demonstrations, beginning at 11 a.m.

The program is rain or shine and free of charge. Registration is required; when you sign up let us know if you are bringing or need to borrow equipment for the demonstration. It is sponsored by the U.S. Forest Service and the Grey Towers Heritage Association, with support from Cabela’s.

For more information and to register, please call 570­296­9625 or send an email to: info@greytowers.org.

April/May Currents Newsletter Now Available From The Fish & Boat Commission The April/May edition of the Currents newsletter from the Fish and Boat Commission is now available featuring articles on­­

­­ PFBC Celebrates 150th Anniversary With Special Event ­­ House Committee Holds Hearing On Bill To Allow Fish, Game Commissions To Set Fees ­­ New Videos Highlight Cooperative Nursery Program ­­ Habitat Project Advances At Somerset County Reservoir (photo) ­­ Tiger Musky Stocking To Continue At Fords Lake ­­ Updated Strategic Plan For Trout Management Available ­­ Latest Straight Talk Columns From John Arway, Executive Director ­­ Click Here to sign up for your own copy. Opportunity To Bid On DEP Mine Reclamation Projects In Butler, Washington Counties The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the April 16 PA Bulletin of the opportunity to bid on mine reclamation projects in Butler County and Washington County. Public Participation Opportunities/Calendar Of Events This section lists House and Senate Committee meetings, DEP and other public hearings and meetings and other interesting environmental events.

NEW means new from last week. [Agenda Not Posted] means not posted within 2 weeks of the advisory committee meeting. Go to the online Calendar webpage for updates. April 16­­ PA Resources Council Hard­To­Recycle Collection Event. Oakdale, Allegheny County. April 16­­ Clean & Green Harrisburg, Keep Harrisburg/Dauphin County Beautiful 4th Annual Great Harrisburg Litter Cleanup. Dauphin County. April 16­­ PA Environmental Council Light Bright Ride On The Circuit Trails. Philadelphia. April 16­­ Mehoopany Creek Watershed Association Trout Day Fundraiser. Wyoming County. April 16­­ NEW. Activate Phoenixville Prescribe­A­Trail Event. Schuylkill River Trail, Chester County. April 18­­ Lunch And Learn With Grey Towers Heritage Association. Pike County. April 19­­ Agenda Posted. Environmental Quality Board meeting. DEP Contact: Laura Edinger, Environmental Quality Board, 400 Market Street, Harrisburg, PA 17101, 717­772­3277, edinger@pa.gov. ­­ Proposed Increases In Radon, Radioactive Materials Inspection Fee Increases ­­ Proposed Stream Redesignations in Berks, Chester, Monroe, Northampton, Susquehanna Counties ­­ Final Land Recycling Regulations ­­ Laboratory Fee Report Recommending Increases ­­ Click Here for available handouts.

April 19­­ Agenda Posted. DEP Citizens Advisory Council. Room 105 Rachel Carson Building. 10:00. DEP Contact: Katie Hetherington Cunfer, Citizens Advisory Council, P. O. Box 8459, Harrisburg, PA 17105­8459, 717­705­2693, khethering@pa.gov. Click Here to register to watch the meeting online. ­­ DEP Secretary John Quigley Reports ­­ Proposed Drinking Water Disinfection Regulation ­­ Recycling: Where We Are In 2016 ­­ Covered Device (Electronics Waste) Recycling Act Update ­­ DEP’s Monthly Written Report To CAC ­­ Click Here for available handouts April 19­­ Agenda Posted. DEP Mine Families First Response & Communications Advisory Council meeting. DEP New Stanton Office, 131 Broadview Rd., New Stanton. 10:00. DEP Contact: Allison Gaida, Bureau of Mine Safety, Department of Environmental Protection, New Stanton Office, 131 Broadview Road, New Stanton, PA 15672, 724­404­3147, agaida@pa.gov. ­­ Introduction of Jeffrey Stanchek, new Director Bureau of Mine Safety ­­ Bureau of Mine Safety Report of Activities ­­ Update Fatality Management Pursuant To Mine Families First Act ­­ Recollections of the Sago Mine Accident ­­ Click Here for available handouts. April 19­­ PA Environmental Council Governor’s Environmental Awards Dinner. Harrisburg. April 19­­ Westmoreland County Conservation District Stormwater Public Input Session. J. Roy Houston Conservation Center, 218 Donohoe Rd., Greensburg 1:00­3:00 p.m. April 19­­ Westmoreland County Conservation District Stormwater Public Input Session. Rostraver Township Municipal Building, 201 Municipal Dr., Belle Vernon. 6:30­8:30 p.m. April 19­­ NEW. Open Land Conservancy Of Chester County Global Warming­What We Need To Know. Great Valley Presbyterian Church, 2025 Swedesford Road, Malvern. April 20­­ DEP Southcentral Employees’ Asylum Run Cleanup. Adjacent to the DEP Southcentral Regional Office, 909 Elmerton Ave., Harrisburg. 9:00. Contact: John Repetz jrepetz@pa.gov. April 20­­ NEW. Activate Phoenixville Prescribe­A­Trail Event. Schuylkill River Trail, Chester County. April 21­­ CANCELED. DEP Mining and Reclamation Advisory Board meeting. DEP Contact: Daniel Snowden, Bureau of Mining Programs, 400 Market Street, Harrisburg, PA 17101, 717­787­5103, dsnowden@pa.gov. (formal notice) April 21­­ Independent Regulatory Review Commission meets to consider final Chapter 78

Drilling Regulations. 333 Market St., 14th Floor, Harrisburg. 9:00 a.m. Click Here to watch the meeting live online. April 21­­ Westmoreland County Conservation District Stormwater Public Input Session. Ligonier Township Municipal Complex, One Municipal Park Dr., Ligonier. 6:30­8:30 p.m. April 22­­ Earth Day. April 22­­ Wildlands Conservancy, Lehigh Valley Planning Commission Return On The Environment Workshop. Center Valley. April 22­­ Berks County Conservation District Annual Tree Seedling Sale. April 22­30­­ Philadelphia Science Festival. Philadelphia. April 23­­ Centre County Watershed Cleanup Day. April 23­­ French Creek Cleanup Day. Montgomery County. April 23­­ Grey Towers Heritage Association 8K Run/Walk. Pike County. April 25­­ NEW. Agenda Posted. DEP Mining and Reclamation Advisory Board meeting. Room 105 Rachel Carson Building. 10:00. DEP Contact: Daniel Snowden, Bureau of Mining Programs, 400 Market Street, Harrisburg, PA 17101, 717­787­5103, dsnowden@pa.gov. (formal notice) ­­ Proposed Increases In Permit Review Fees ­ MRAB Recommendations ­­ Committee Reports On Policy, Regulations, Legislation & Technical Guidance, Reclamation ­­ Proposed Technical Guidance Revision On Pre­Application Review ­­ Professional Licensure and Permit Review ­­ Regular Program Updates ­­ Bond Rate Guidelines Update ­­ Federal AML Grant Funding Status ­­ 2015 Reclamation And Remining Incentives Report ­­ July Field Trip: Flight 93 AMD Treatment Facility Other Sites ­­ Click Here for available handouts. April 25­­ Energy Alliance Of Greater Pittsburgh Annual Meeting. Pittsburgh. April 25­26­­ Delaware Highlands Conservancy Women And Their Woods Workshop. Milford, Pike County. April 26­­ Pennsylvania Primary Election. April 27­­ Agenda Posted. DEP Small Business Compliance Advisory Committee meeting. 12th Floor Conference Room, Rachel Carson Building. 10:00. DEP Contact: Nancy Herb, Bureau of

Air Quality, 400 Market Street, Harrisburg, PA 17101, 717­783­9269, nherb@pa.gov. ­­ Small Business Ombudsman Report ­­ Environmental Management Assistance Program Report ­­ Proposed Reg Setting VOC Emission Standards For Industrial Cleaning Solvents ­­ Final Reg Setting Metal Parts Surface Coating Standards ­­ Final Reg For Automobile, Light­Duty Truck Coating Standards ­­ Click Here for available handouts. April 28­­ CANCELED. DEP Small Water Systems Technical Assistance Center Board meeting. The June 1 meeting of the board has been rescheduled to June 23. DEP Contact: Dawn Hissner, DEP Bureau of Safe Drinking Water, 717­772­2189 or dhissner@pa.gov. (formal notice) April 28­­ Westmoreland County Conservation District Stormwater Public Input Session. Allegheny Township Community Building, 136 Community Building Road, Leechburg. 6:30­8:30 p.m. April 29­­ NEW. Get Outdoors PA National Get Outdoors Day Webinar. 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. April 30­­ PA Resources Council Pharmaceutical Collection Events In Allegheny County. 4 Locations. 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. April 30­­ Foods Of The Delaware Highlands Dinner. Hawley, Wayne County. April 30­­ Chester Ridley Crum Watersheds Streams Cleanup Day. Chester and Delaware Counties. April 30­­ NEW. Wissahickon Creek Watershed Cleanup. Montgomery, Philadelphia Counties. April 30­­ NEW. Activate Phoenixville Prescribe­A­Trail Event. Schuylkill River Trail, Chester County. May 4­­ NEW. Susquehanna River Basin Commission holds a hearing. East Hanover Township Municipal Building, 8848 Jonestown Road, Grantville, Dauphin County. 7:00 p.m. SRBC Contact: Jason Oyler, General Counsel, 717­238­0423 x 1312. (formal notice & agenda) ­­ Proposed Guidance For Expiring Project Approvals ­­ Proposed Guidance For Terminating Review Of Project Applications ­­ Proposed Amendments To Regulatory Program Fee Schedule ­­ Comprehensive Plan For The Water Resources Of The Susquehanna River Basin ­­ Individual Water Withdrawal Requests ­­ Click Here to go to SRBC’s Public Participation Center for more details. May 4­­ PA Groundwater Symposium. Ramada Inn Conference Center, State College. May 5­­ NEW. Senate Democratic Policy Committee holds a roundtable discussion on natural

gas extraction in the Lake Erie Watershed. Location TBA in Erie. 10:00. May 6­8­­ Kettle Creek Watershed Association Disabled/Recovering Veterans Fly Fishing Event. Tioga, Potter and Clinton counties. May 7­­ PA Resources Council Household Chemical Collection Event. Allegheny County, North Park Swimming Pool. 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. May 7­­ Manada Conservancy’s Annual Spring Native Plant Sale. Dauphin County. May 7­­ Capital Region Water Consider The Source Litter Cleanup & Drinking Water Tour. Harrisburg. May 7­­ NEW. Gifford Pinchot Grey Towers Fly Fishing Event. Milford, Pike County. May 10­­ Wildlife for Everyone Governor Tom Ridge Wetlands Thru The Camera Lens Student Program. Centre County. May 10­12­­ PA American Water Works Association Annual Conference. Bethlehem Sands Hotel and Casino, Bethlehem. May 11­­ PA Parks & Forests Foundation 2016 Awards Banquet. Camp Hill, Cumberland County. May 11­13­­ PA Association of Environmental Professionals Annual Conference. State College. May 13­15­­ PA Outdoor Writers Association Spring Conference. Sayre, Bradford County. Conference details are coming together. Contact Nick Sisley by email to: nicksisley@hotmail.com with any questions. May 13­15­­ Susquehanna Greenway: Susquehanna River Sojourn Sayer to Sugar Run. May 14­­ PA Resources Council Hard­To­Recycle Collection Event. Frazer Township, Allegheny County. May 14­­ Foundation for Sustainable Forests Loving The Land Through Working Forests. Corry, Erie County. May 17­­ Environmental Quality Board meeting. DEP Contact: Laura Edinger, Environmental Quality Board, 400 Market Street, Harrisburg, PA 17101, 717­772­3277, edinger@pa.gov. May 17­­ DEP Citizens Advisory Council. Room 105 Rachel Carson Building. 10:00. DEP Contact: Katie Hetherington Cunfer, Citizens Advisory Council, P. O. Box 8459, Harrisburg, PA 17105­8459, 717­705­2693, khethering@pa.gov.

May 17­­ NEW. DEP Climate Change Advisory Committee meets. 16th Floor Conference Room, Rachel Carson Building. 10:00. DEP Contact: Mark Brojakowski, Bureau of Air Quality, 400 Market Street, Harrisburg, PA 17101, 717­772­3429, mbrojakows@pa.gov. May 17­­ Susquehanna River Basin Commission Developing Aquifer Testing Plans & Groundwater Withdrawal Applications Workshop. Commission’s Conference Center located at 4423 N. Front Street, Harrisburg, PA. Day­Long. May 18­­ DEP Conventional Oil and Gas Advisory Committee meeting. Room 105 Rachel Carson Building. 10:00. DEP Contact: Kurt Klapkowski, Office of Oil and Gas Management, 400 Market Street, Harrisburg, PA 17101, 717­772­2199, kklapkowsk@pa.gov. May 19­­ DEP Oil and Gas Technical Advisory Board meeting. Room 105 Rachel Carson Building. 10:00. DEP Contact: Kurt Klapkowski, Office of Oil and Gas Management, 400 Market Street, Harrisburg, PA 17101, 717­772­2199, kklapkowsk@pa.gov. May 19­­ Friends Of The Wissahickon Lessons Benefits Of Park, Garden Ecosystems. Montgomery County. May 21­­ PA Resources Council Household Chemical Collection Event. Cambria County, Concurrent Technologies Corp. ETF Facility, Johnstown. 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. June 1­­ CANCELED. DEP Small Water Systems Technical Assistance Center Board meeting. Meeting rescheduled to June 23. DEP Contact: Dawn Hissner, DEP Bureau of Safe Drinking Water, 717­772­2189 or dhissner@pa.gov. (formal notice) June 3­­ NEW. Appalachian Trail Museum Hall Of Fame Banquet. Allenberry Resort, Boiling Springs, Cumberland County. June 3­5­­ PA Environmental Council Environment Ride. Philadelphia to Bethlehem back to Philadelphia. June 4­10­­ 18th Annual Schuylkill River Sojourn. June 4­12­­ NEW. Chesapeake Bay Watershed Awareness Week. June 7­­ DEP Storage Tank Advisory Committee meeting. Room 105 Rachel Carson Building. 10:00. DEP Contact: Charles M. Swokel, Bureau of Environmental Cleanup and Brownfields, 400 Market Street, Harrisburg, PA 17101, 717­772­5806 or (800) 428­2657 ((800) 42­TANKS) within the Commonwealth, cswokel@pa.gov. (formal notice) June 9­­ DEP Air Quality Technical Advisory Committee meeting. Room 105 Rachel Carson Building. 9:15. Contact: Nancy Herb, nherb@pa.gov. June 12­17­­ Susquehanna Greenway: Susquehanna River Sojourn Laceyville to Shickshinny.

June 14­­ DEP Board of Coal Mine Safety meeting. DEP Cambria Office, 286 Industrial Park Rd., Ebensburg. 10:00. DEP Contact: Allison Gaida, Bureau of Mine Safety, Department of Environmental Protection, New Stanton Office, 131 Broadview Road, New Stanton, PA 15672, 724­404­3147, agaida@pa.gov. June 16­­ DEP State Board for Certification of Water and Wastewater Systems Operators meeting. 10th Floor Conference Room, Rachel Carson Building. 10:00. DEP Contact: Cheri Sansoni, Bureau of Safe Drinking Water, Operator Certification, 400 Market Street, Harrisburg, PA 17101, 717­772­5158, csansoni@pa.gov. June 17­19­­ Susquehanna Greenway: Susquehanna River Sojourn Shickshinny To Sunbury. June 18­­ PA Resources Council Allegheny County ReuseFest. Mt. Lebanon. June 18­25­­ Delaware River Sojourn. June 21­­ Environmental Quality Board meeting. DEP Contact: Laura Edinger, Environmental Quality Board, 400 Market Street, Harrisburg, PA 17101, 717­772­3277, edinger@pa.gov. June 21­­ DEP Citizens Advisory Council. Room 105 Rachel Carson Building. 10:00. DEP Contact: Katie Hetherington Cunfer, Citizens Advisory Council, P. O. Box 8459, Harrisburg, PA 17105­8459, 717­705­2693, khethering@pa.gov. June 23­­ NEW. DEP Small Water Systems Technical Assistance Center Board meeting. Susquehanna Room, Fish & Boat Commission Building, 1601 Elmerton Ave., Harrisburg. 9:00. DEP Contact: Dawn Hissner, DEP Bureau of Safe Drinking Water, 717­772­2189 or dhissner@pa.gov. (formal notice) June 29­­ State Board for Certification of Sewage Enforcement Officers meeting. 11th Floor Conference Room B, Rachel Carson Building. 10:00. DEP Contact: Kristen Szwajkowski, Bureau of Point Non­Point Source Management, 400 Market Street, Harrisburg, PA 17101, 717­772­2186, kszwajkows@pa.gov. June 25­­ PA Resources Council Hard­To­Recycle Collection Event. LTBA, Allegheny County. June 30­­ DEP Solid Waste Advisory Committee meeting. Room 105 Rachel Carson Building. 10:00. DEP Contact: Keith Ashley, Bureau of Waste Management, 400 Market Street, Harrisburg, PA 17101, 717­787­2553, riashley@pa.gov. July 9­­ PA Resources Council Household Chemical Collection Event. Washington County, Washington County Fairgrounds. 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. July 21­­ NEW. Agenda Posted. DEP Mining and Reclamation Advisory Board meeting. Cambria District Mining Office, 286 Industrial park Road, Ebensburg. 10:00. DEP Contact:

Daniel Snowden, Bureau of Mining Programs, 400 Market Street, Harrisburg, PA 17101, 717­787­5103, dsnowden@pa.gov. July 25­29­­ The Sustainable Energy Fund Energypath Renewable Energy Conference, Student Energy Camps, Science Fair. Penn Stater Hotel and Conference Center, State College. August 13­­ PA Resources Council Household Chemical Collection Event. Allegheny County, Boyce Park Four Seasons Ski Lodge parking lot. 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. August 20­­ PA Resources Council Hard­To­Recycle Collection Event. West Mifflin, Allegheny County. September 15­18­­ Delaware Highlands Conservancy Women and Their Woods Educational Retreat. Milanville, Wayne County. September 17­­ PA Resources Council Household Chemical Collection Event. Allegheny County, South Park Wave Pool parking lot. 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. September 22­­ DEP Recycling Fund Advisory Committee meeting. Room 105 Rachel Carson Building. 10:00. DEP Contact: Keith Ashley, Bureau of Waste Management, 400 Market Street, Harrisburg, PA 17101, 717­787­2553, riashley@pa.gov. September 22­­ Penn State Extension Dive Deeper III Water Educator Summit. The Central Hotel & Conference Center, Harrisburg. October 1­­ PA Resources Council Hard­To­Recycle Collection Event. Robinson Township, Allegheny County. October 7­­ DEP Low­Level Radioactive Waste Advisory Committee meeting. Room 105 Rachel Carson Building. 10:00. DEP Contact: Rich Janati, Bureau of Radiation Protection, 400 Market Street, Harrisburg, PA 17101, 717­787­2147, rjanati@pa.gov. October 8­­ PA Resources Council Household Chemical Collection Event. Beaver County, Bradys Run Park Recycling Center. 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. October 26­28­­ Pennsylvania Brownfields Conference. Lancaster Convention Center, Lancaster. Visit DEP’s Public Participation Center for public participation opportunities. Click Here to sign up for DEP News a biweekly newsletter from the Department. 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.

DEP Regulations In Process Proposed Regulations Open For Comment ­ DEP webpage Submit Comments on Proposals Through DEP’s eComment System Proposed Regulations With Closed Comment Periods ­ DEP webpage Recently Finalized Regulations ­ DEP webpage DEP Regulatory Update ­ DEP webpage Feb. 27 DEP Regulatory Agenda ­ PA Bulletin, page 1123 DEP Technical Guidance In Process Draft Technical Guidance Documents ­ DEP webpage Technical Guidance Comment Deadlines ­ DEP webpage Submit Comments on Proposals Through DEP’s eComment System Recently Closed Comment Periods For Technical Guidance ­ DEP webpage Technical Guidance Recently Finalized ­ DEP webpage Copies of Final Technical Guidance ­ DEP webpage DEP Non­Regulatory/Technical Guidance Documents Agenda (Feb. 1, 2016) ­ DEP webpage Other DEP Proposals 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 Facebook Page DEP Twitter Feed DEP YouTube Channel Click Here for links to DEP’s Advisory Committee webpages. DEP Calendar of Events DCNR Calendar of Events Note: The Environmental Education Workshop Calendar is no longer available from the PA Center for Environmental Education because funding for the Center was eliminated in the FY 2011­12 state budget. The PCEE website was also shutdown, but some content was moved to the PA Association of Environmental Educators' website. Senate Committee Schedule House Committee Schedule You can watch the Senate Floor Session and House Floor Session live online. Add Green Works In PA To Your Google+ Circle Grants & Awards This section gives you a heads up on upcoming deadlines for awards and grants and other recognition programs. NEW means new from last week.

April 22­­ REAP Farm Conservation Tax Credit Program April 22­­ Chesapeake Bay Foundation Photo Contest April 25­­ PEC Pocono Forest & Waters Conservation Landscape Mini­Grants April 26­­ EPA Clean Diesel Grants April 30­­ Trees For Tomorrow Franklin, Dauphin Cumberland Counties April 30­ Abele College Scholarship Applications April 30­­ Northeast PA Audubon College Scholarship April 30­­ York­Lancaster Counties Habitat Improvement Grants May­­ CFA Renewable Energy­Geothermal And Wind Grants May­­ CFA High Performance Building Grants May 3­­ Energy Sprout Sustainable Energy Design Competition May 10­­ NRCS Regional Conservation Partnership Grants May 16­­ EPA Presidential Environmental Education Innovation Award May 19­­ DCNR Volunteer Fire Company Grants May 19­­ Schuylkill Highlands Conservation Landscape Mini Grant Program May 31­­ $2K Scholarships By National Assn. Of Abandoned Mine Land Programs May 31­­ PA Waste Watcher Awards Program May 31­­ Dominion Foundation Higher Education, K­12 Education Grants June 3­­ Great American Cleanup of PA Video Contest June 30­­ Susquehanna Greenway Partnership Photo Contest June 30­­ CFA Act 13 Watershed Restoration Grants June 30­­ CFA Act 13 Abandoned Mine Drainage Abatement And Treatment Grants June 30­­ CFA Act 13 Orphan Or Abandoned Well Plugging Grant Program June 30­­ CFA Act 13 Baseline Water Quality Data Grant Program June 30­­ CFA Act 13 Sewage Facilities Grant Program June 30­­ CFA Act 13 Flood Mitigation Grant Program June 30­­ CFA Act 13 Greenways, Trails And Recreation Grant Program June 30­­ Susquehanna Greenways Partnership Photo Contest June 30­­ Energypath Conference Student/Educator Scholarships July­­ CFA Renewable Energy­Geothermal And Wind Grants July­­ CFA High Performance Building Grants July 8­­ ARIPPA Abandoned Mine Reclamation Grants July 8­­ PROP Recycling Film Festival September­­ CFA Renewable Energy­Geothermal And Wind Grants September­­ CFA High Performance Building Grants October 31­­ PA Resources Council Lens On Litter Photo Contest December 31­­ DEP Alternative Fuels Incentive Grants ­­ Visit the DEP Grant, Loan and Rebate Programs webpage for more ideas on how to get financial assistance for environmental projects. ­­ Visit the DCNR Apply for Grants webpage for a listing of financial assistance available from DCNR. Add Green Works In PA To Your Google+ Circle

Environmental NewsClips ­ All Topics Here are NewsClips from around the state on all environmental topics, including General Environment, Budget, Marcellus Shale, Watershed Protection and much more. The latest environmental NewsClips and news is available at the PA Environment Digest Daily Blog, Twitter Feed and add us to your Google+ Circle. Politics Bernie Sanders Releases Anti­Fracking Ad Clinton, Sanders Spar Over Fracking Ahead Of NY, PA Primaries Air EDF Blog: Methane Emissions Becoming Key Climate Issue Alternative/Renewable Energy Amid Fossil Fuel Layoffs, Dems Strategy For Clean Energy Jobs SolarCity Moving Into Pittsburgh, Costs Falling Editorial: Green Energy, Red Ink Nightmare Awards, Recognition PAEE Honors Crawford County Nature Center Educator SEEDS Energy Conservation Program Receives Governor’s Award Wilkes­Barre Receives Governor’s Local Govt Award For Energy Savings Black Flies DEP To Spray Susquehanna River For Black Flies DEP Beings Aerial Spraying To Control Black Flies Budget DEP’s Quigley: Budget Cuts Hurt Effort To Monitor Pipelines Wolf’s Next Move On Fiscal Code Bill? PLS Reporter: Quest For On­Time Budget Begins Dem Erie Lawmaker: Wolf Bullying Constituents Shooting Range Fees Implemented At Start Park Range Chesapeake Bay Chesapeake Bay Reboot Worries Northumberland Conservation District Crable: Susquehanna Named 3rd Most Endangered River Susquehanna River Back On Watchdog Group’s Endangered List Susquehanna Lands Back On Most Endangered Rivers List Climate Fracking Has Reduced Greenhouse Gases Straight Talk: Our Common Endangered Brook Trout John Arway EDF Blog: Methane Emissions Becoming Key Climate Issue Why Climate Change Doubters Still Exist Op­Ed: Prosecute Climate Deniers, Hold Those Who Mislead Accountable Editorial: Climate Denial Goes Wobbly Editorial: UN Watch: A Climate Chill Compliance Action

Crable: Brunner Island Power Plant Fined For Fish Kill York County Power Plant Penalized $25K For Fish Kill Conservation Districts Chesapeake Bay Reboot Worries Northumberland Conservation District PAEE Honors Crawford County Nature Center Educator Delaware River $5M Federal Funding Proposals Would Aid Delaware River Basin Drinking Water AP: 100+ Private Water Systems In PA Topped Lead Limit Up To 15,000 Allentown Water Lines May Be Made Of Lead Hershey Walk For Clean Water Raises $17K For Charity Earth Day Lehigh Valley Earth Day Events Penn State Students Plant 200 Trees As Earth Earth Day Present Economic Development American Eagle Paper Mills Tyrone Converting To Natural Gas Education PAEE Honors Crawford County Nature Center Educator Students’ Project To Tell Story Of Acid Mine Treatment Ponds Hazleton Students Release Trout They Raised In Class 4th Annual Youth Conservations Leadership Camp Act 48 Approved Teacher Workshops At Parker Dam State Park Energy Will Energy Hub Save Philly Or Destroy It? Clearing Begins On Jessup Natural Gas Power Plant Site Crable: Brunner Island Power Plant Fined For Fish Kill York County Power Plant Penalized $25K For Fish Kill Coal Slump Sends Peabody Energy Into Bankruptcy Peabody Coal Seeks Bankruptcy Protection WSJ: Peabody Bankruptcy Puts Environmental Obligations At Risk Op­Ed: After Bankruptcies, Coal’s Dirty Legacy Lives On Energy Efficiency SEEDS Energy Conservation Program Receives Governor’s Award Wilkes­Barre Receives Governor’s Local Govt Award For Energy Savings Amid Fossil Fuel Layoffs, Dems Strategy For Clean Energy Jobs Energy Efficiency Keeps Electricity Affordable, Reduces Environmental Costs Flooding $4M In Flood Damage Prompted Susquehanna River Island Vacate Order Forests Volunteers Wanted For Forest Cleanups In Franklin County Prescribed Burn Planned In Upper Dauphin County Game Commission Uses Prescribed Burns To Clean Land For Wildlife Green Buildings/Sustainability After 4 Years, Forks Township Moves Into Green Building Littering/Illegal Dumping

Hardy Volunteers Help Pick Up Trash At Presque Isle Volunteers Needed For Harrisburg Litter Cleanup Day April 16 Jeannette Eyes Monthlong Trash Cleanup Volunteers Wanted For Forest Cleanups In Franklin County Letter: Flawed PA Recycling Law Creates Roadside TV Dumps Mine Reclamation Students’ Project To Tell Story Of Acid Mine Treatment Ponds WSJ: Peabody Bankruptcy Puts Environmental Obligations At Risk Op­Ed: After Bankruptcies, Coal’s Dirty Legacy Lives On Oil & Gas Drilling Rules Headed For Key Vote After Judge Rejects Stay House, Senate Panels Reject Oil & Gas Regulations PLS Reporter: House, Senate Committees Disapprove DEP’s Drilling Regs Energy Committees Urge No Vote On New Drilling Rules Oil & Gas Regulations Rejected By House, Senate Committees Fracking Has Reduced Greenhouse Gases EDF Blog: Methane Emissions Becoming Key Climate Issue Panel At Wilkes U. Discusses Fracking’s Pros, Cons Clearing Begins On Jessup Natural Gas Power Plant Site UGI Spending Big Money To Replace Old Pipelines PennEast Pipeline Announces Grant Recipients PGW Execs Guaranteed Bonuses In Failed Sale Process American Eagle Paper Mills Tyrone Converting To Natural Gas PA At Low Risk For Earthquakes, Hopes To Keep It That Way Conventional Oil & Gas Group Loses 40% Of Its Members Feds To Issue Offshore Drilling Rule Industry Fought Rice Energy To Buy Bankrupt Alpha Gas Assets Pipelines DEP’s Quigley: Budget Cuts Hurt Effort To Monitor Pipelines Sunoco Pipeline To Cross 270 Properties In Westmoreland Speaker: Communities Need To Revolt To Stop Pipelines Recreation Wissahickon Volunteers Work To Maintain Trails Philadelphia Getting More Protected Bike Lanes PA Horticultural Society To Host Philly Pop­Up Park 10 More Waterfalls To Visit In PA Shooting Range Fees Implemented At Start Park Range Act 48 Approved Teacher Workshops At Parker Dam State Park Visit A National Park Free Beginning This Weekend Recycling/Waste Letter: Flawed PA Recycling Law Creates Roadside TV Dumps CRT Recycler Closed Loop Nears Collapse DEP Investigates Mattresses Found In Erie Warehouse Fire Stormwater Dunmore May Allocate Sewer Money to Stormwater Projects

Susquehanna River Crable: Susquehanna Named 3rd Most Endangered River Susquehanna River Back On Watchdog Group’s Endangered List Susquehanna Lands Back On Most Endangered Rivers List $4M In Flood Damage Prompted Susquehanna River Island Vacate Order DEP To Spray Susquehanna River For Black Flies Wastewater Facilities Overbrook Residents, Pittsburgh Sewer Authority Clash Dunmore May Allocate Sewer Money to Stormwater Projects Scranton, Dunmore Forecast May Call For Rain Tax Scranton Authority, American Water Submit Application To PUC Westmoreland Authority To Borrow $220M For Water Infrastructure Watershed Protection Crable: Susquehanna Named 3rd Most Endangered River Susquehanna River Back On Watchdog Group’s Endangered List Susquehanna Lands Back On Most Endangered Rivers List Chesapeake Bay Reboot Worries Northumberland Conservation District NE Master Watershed Steward Program On Tap Dunmore May Allocate Sewer Money to Stormwater Projects $5M Federal Funding Proposals Would Aid Delaware River Basin Delaware RiverKeeper April 8 RiverWatch Video Report PA Congressmen Call For Tougher Water Standards Latest From The Chesapeake Bay Journal Click Here to subscribe to the Chesapeake Bay Journal Wildlife How You Can Save A Toad’s Life In Roxborough Straight Talk: Our Common Endangered Brook Trout John Arway Hazleton Students Release Trout They Raised In Class Students Get Visit From Nescopeck Butterfly Farm Crable: Brunner Island Power Plant Fined For Fish Kill York County Power Plant Penalized $25K For Fish Kill Editorial: Big Things Await NE Anglers On Opening Day Prescribed Burn Planned In Upper Dauphin County Game Commission Uses Prescribed Burns To Clean Land For Wildlife Crable: As Lancaster’s Speedwell Lake Refills, Uncommon Birds Drop In Presque Isle Bay Is For The Birds Schneck: Hummingbirds Back In PA For Breeding Season NW Hawk Watch Collects Data In Erie Audubon Of Western PA: Eaglet Hatches At Harmer Nest Hawk Injured With Arrow On The Mend In York Newport Twp Mine Where Bats Hibernate Part Of State Game Land PA’s Deer Harvest Increases From Previous Season Zika Virus CDC: Zika Definitely Causes Severe Birth Defects Scientists: Zika Tied To Another Adult Brain Disease

Click Here For This Week's Allegheny Front Radio Program Regulations, Technical Guidance & Permits No new regulations were published this week. Pennsylvania Bulletin ­ April 16, 2016 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. DEP Regulations In Process Proposed Regulations Open For Comment ­ DEP webpage Submit Comments on Proposals Through DEP’s eComment System Proposed Regulations With Closed Comment Periods ­ DEP webpage Recently Finalized Regulations ­ DEP webpage DEP Regulatory Update ­ DEP webpage Feb. 27 DEP Regulatory Agenda ­ PA Bulletin, page 1123 Technical Guidance & Permits The Public Utility Commission published notice of an opportunity to comment on a proposed policy statement on Combined Heat and Power in the April 16 PA Bulletin. The deadline for comments is May 31. The Department of Environmental Protection published notice of final changes to technical guidance identifying procedures for awarding Hazardous Sites Cleanup Act permit review grants in the April 16 PA Bulletin. DEP published notice of a federal consistency determination under the federal Coastal Zone Management Act for the Lake Erie Connector international electric transmission cable project in the April 16 PA Bulletin. DEP published notice of changes to the list of companies certified to perform radon­related activities in the April 16 PA Bulletin (page 1951). The Fish and Boat Commission published notice in the April 16 PA Bulletin of the addition of 22 streams sections to its list of Class A Wild Trout Streams and the addition of 99 new waters to the list Wild Trout Streams. DEP Technical Guidance In Process Draft Technical Guidance Documents ­ DEP webpage Technical Guidance Comment Deadlines ­ DEP webpage Submit Comments on Proposals Through DEP’s eComment System Recently Closed Comment Periods For Technical Guidance ­ DEP webpage

Technical Guidance Recently Finalized ­ DEP webpage Copies of Final Technical Guidance ­ DEP webpage DEP Non­Regulatory/Technical Guidance Documents Agenda (Feb. 1, 2016) ­ DEP webpage Other DEP Proposals 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 Visit DEP’s Public Participation Center for public participation opportunities. Click Here to sign up for DEP News a biweekly newsletter from the Department. DEP Facebook Page DEP Twitter Feed DEP YouTube Channel Click Here for links to DEP’s Advisory Committee webpages. DEP Calendar of Events DCNR Calendar of Events Add Green Works In PA To Your Google+ Circle CLICK HERE To Print Entire PA Environment Digest CLICK HERE to Print The Entire PA Environment Digest. Stories Invited Send your stories, photos and links to videos about your project, environmental issues or programs for publication in the PA Environment Digest to: DHess@CrisciAssociates.com. PA Environment Digest is edited by David E. Hess, former Secretary Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, and is published as a service of Crisci Associates, a Harrisburg­based government and public affairs firm whose clients include Fortune 500 companies and nonprofit organizations. Did you know you can search 10 years of back issues of the PA Environment Digest on dozens of topics, by county and on any keyword you choose? Just click on the search page. PA Environment Digest weekly was the winner of the PA Association of Environmental Educators' 2009 Business Partner of the Year Award. Supporting Member PA Outdoor Writers Assn./PA Trout Unlimited PA Environment Digest is a supporting member of the Pennsylvania Outdoor Writers

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