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PA Environment DigestAn Update On Environmental Issues In
PA
Edited By: David E. Hess, Crisci Associates
Winner 2009 PAEE Business Partner Of The Year Award
Harrisburg, Pa September 5, 2011
Yet Another Poll Finds 65 Percent Support Marcellus Drilling Tax/Fee
A newpoll by Franklin & Marshall College released Wednesday found 65 percent of adults in
Pennsylvania support a tax/fee on Marcellus Shale natural gas drillers. 72 percent of those
surveyed opposed more natural gas drilling in state-owned forests. Other poll results--
-- 72 percent believe proceeds from a drilling tax should be shared by both the state and local
communities where drilling takes place;
-- 35 percent feel natural gas drilling has improved PA quality of life;
-- 39 percent believe benefits of drilling outweigh environmental damage;
-- 35 percent say potential damage from drilling outweighs economic benefits;
-- 53 percent of Pennsylvanians believe the state is headed in the wrong direction; and
-- 32 percent approve of Gov. Corbett's performance, up 1 percent from March.
This poll is just the most recent showing overwhelming and historic supportby
Pennsylvania voters and the public for a natural gas severance tax or fee.
NewsClips: Poll: 65 Percent Of Pennsylvanians Favor Tax On Gas DrillersPA Residents Like Gas Industry, Worry About Environment
GOP Legislature Must Tackle Marcellus Shale, Transportation
Poll: Pennsylvanians Approve Of Drilling, But Want It Taxed
Growing Greener Coalition: Heed The Public, Enact A Marcellus Drilling Tax/Fee
The Renew Growing Greener Coalition Thursday issued the following statement from Executive
Director Andrew Heath in response to a newly releasedpoll by Franklin and Marshall showing
that the majority of Pennsylvanians support taxing companies that extract and sell natural gas,
but do not support additional drilling in state forests:
"This poll clearly shows that that the public strongly supports making Marcellus Shaledrillers pay for the local and statewide impacts of drilling, and strongly opposes additional
drilling in state forests. The poll also seems to indicate that the majority of Pennsylvanians reject
suggestions by the industry and its lobbyists and believe that the impact of drilling will be felt
statewide.
http://www.paenvironmentdigest.com/newsletter/default.asp?NewsletterArticleID=11953http://paenvironmentdaily.blogspot.com/2011/09/poll-65-percent-support-marcellus.htmlhttp://images.lancasteronline.com/local_old/449463/FandMpoll_Sept2011.pdfhttp://www.paenvironmentdigest.com/newsletter/default.asp?NewsletterArticleID=19836http://citizensvoice.com/news/pa-residents-favor-gas-tax-1.1196328#axzz1Wh37dXLwhttp://thetimes-tribune.com/state-residents-like-gas-industry-worry-about-environment-1.1196424http://www.pennlive.com/editorials/index.ssf/2011/08/priority_list_gop-controlled_l.htmlhttp://www.witf.org/regional-state-news/poll-shows-pennsylvanians-approve-of-natural-gas-drilling-but-want-it-taxedhttp://www.renewgrowinggreener.org/http://paenvironmentdaily.blogspot.com/2011/09/poll-65-percent-support-marcellus.htmlhttp://paenvironmentdaily.blogspot.com/2011/09/poll-65-percent-support-marcellus.htmlhttp://www.renewgrowinggreener.org/http://www.witf.org/regional-state-news/poll-shows-pennsylvanians-approve-of-natural-gas-drilling-but-want-it-taxedhttp://www.pennlive.com/editorials/index.ssf/2011/08/priority_list_gop-controlled_l.htmlhttp://thetimes-tribune.com/state-residents-like-gas-industry-worry-about-environment-1.1196424http://citizensvoice.com/news/pa-residents-favor-gas-tax-1.1196328#axzz1Wh37dXLwhttp://www.paenvironmentdigest.com/newsletter/default.asp?NewsletterArticleID=19836http://images.lancasteronline.com/local_old/449463/FandMpoll_Sept2011.pdfhttp://paenvironmentdaily.blogspot.com/2011/09/poll-65-percent-support-marcellus.htmlhttp://www.paenvironmentdigest.com/newsletter/default.asp?NewsletterArticleID=119538/4/2019 Pa Environment Digest Sept. 5, 2011
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"The Renew Growing Greener Coalition urges lawmakers to listen to their constituents
and impose a severance tax or impact fee on the natural gas industry this fall that not only cares
for our shared communities, but also cares for our shared environment.
"The Coalition continues to call on the Governor and Legislature to enact an impact fee
with a significant portion of the revenues allocated to restoring funding for Growing Greener to
address the statewide conservation, recreation and environmental impacts of drilling."Growing Greener is a bipartisan program established in 1999 under Gov. Tom Ridge and
later expanded by Governors Schweiker and Rendell. Since its establishment, Growing Greener
has created a legacy of success, preserving more than 33,700 acres of Pennsylvania's family
farmland, conserving more than 42,300 acres of threatened open space, adding 26,000 acres to
state parks and forests, and restoring over 16,000 acres of abandoned mine lands.
Moreover, Growing Greener has contributed and leveraged billions of dollars to the
Pennsylvania economy by helping to boost tourism, create jobs and generate revenue.
Yet despite the program's accomplishments, funding for Growing Greener projects and
grants fell from an average of approximately $150 million per year for the last six years to $27.3
million in the Governor's proposed budget. This is an 82 percent cut at a critical time when the
natural gas drilling boom poses significant threats statewide to our water, air and environment.To date, more than 225 organizations and groups have announced their support for
renewing Growing Greener. In addition, at least 85 Pennsylvania municipalities and 22 counties,
representing more than 5 million Pennsylvanians, have passed resolutions urging the Governor
and Legislature to renew Growing Greener funding.
The Renew Growing Greener Coalition is the Commonwealth's largest coalition of
conservation, recreation and environmental organizations representing over 300 organizations
and government entities.
Analysis: Is 8 Years Long Enough To Wait To Update PA's Drilling Law?
Since the first Marcellus Shale natural gas well was drilled in Pennsylvania in 2003, eight years
ago, over7,200 Marcellus Shale well permits have been issued, hundreds of miles of pipelines
lain and billions of gallons of water used for fracking.
But Pennsylvania's Oil and Gas Act remains essentially the same, regulating these high-
tech wells like they were the shallow wells Col. Drake drilled in Titusville in 1859.
The only substantive change made so far to the 27-year old law requires semi-annual
reporting of Marcellus Shale gas production. A separate bill has updated another law
coordinating gas wells and coal mining. But that's it.
Yes, the Department of Environmental Protection has updated well construction
standards, hired more staff for inspections and generally has gone about as far as they can under
existing legal authority, but that's the point.The Governor's Marcellus Shale Advisory Commission report in July was not the first to
conclude Pennsylvania needs to update its bonding requirements, offer better protection for
streams and rivers through setbacks, expand liability for polluting rural water wells, increase
penalties for violations and establish a better process for regulating thousands of miles of natural
gas pipelines.
There are 30 or so recommendations in the Commission report that need to implemented
by legislation.
http://www.renewgrowinggreener.org/http://www.dep.state.pa.us/dep/deputate/minres/oilgas/new_forms/marcellus/marcellus.htmhttp://www.legis.state.pa.us/CFDOCS/Legis/PN/Public/btCheck.cfm?txtType=HTM&sessYr=2009&sessInd=0&billBody=S&billTyp=B&billNbr=0297&pn=1632http://www.legis.state.pa.us/CFDOCS/Legis/PN/Public/btCheck.cfm?txtType=HTM&sessYr=2009&sessInd=0&billBody=S&billTyp=B&billNbr=0297&pn=1632http://www.legis.state.pa.us/CFDOCS/Legis/PN/Public/btCheck.cfm?txtType=HTM&sessYr=2011&sessInd=0&billBody=S&billTyp=B&billNbr=0265&pn=0242http://www.paenvironmentdigest.com/newsletter/default.asp?NewsletterArticleID=19729http://marcellus.pecpa.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/Developing-the-Marcellus-Shale.pdfhttp://marcellus.pecpa.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/Developing-the-Marcellus-Shale.pdfhttp://www.paenvironmentdigest.com/newsletter/default.asp?NewsletterArticleID=19729http://www.legis.state.pa.us/CFDOCS/Legis/PN/Public/btCheck.cfm?txtType=HTM&sessYr=2011&sessInd=0&billBody=S&billTyp=B&billNbr=0265&pn=0242http://www.legis.state.pa.us/CFDOCS/Legis/PN/Public/btCheck.cfm?txtType=HTM&sessYr=2009&sessInd=0&billBody=S&billTyp=B&billNbr=0297&pn=1632http://www.legis.state.pa.us/CFDOCS/Legis/PN/Public/btCheck.cfm?txtType=HTM&sessYr=2009&sessInd=0&billBody=S&billTyp=B&billNbr=0297&pn=1632http://www.dep.state.pa.us/dep/deputate/minres/oilgas/new_forms/marcellus/marcellus.htmhttp://www.renewgrowinggreener.org/8/4/2019 Pa Environment Digest Sept. 5, 2011
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Many of those recommendations have already been included in dozens of bills introduced
in the House and Senate to update the Oil and Gas Act, but they've gone nowhere in eight years.
One important piece of this debate-- a severance tax or drilling fee to provide
communities impacted by drilling with support and funding forthreadbare state environmental
restoration programs-- has gone nowhere, in spite ofoverwhelming and historic supportby
voters in Pennsylvania.It has been three years since the first severance tax on natural gas production was
proposed by Gov. Rendell. Last year the Senate, House and Gov. Rendell put apromise in law
to enact a Marcellus Shale production tax by the end of 2010, but it went nowhere.
While the House has passed one proposal, the Senate took only its first step in the process
by moving a bill out of Committee in June.
We've also had other proposals to support communities and programs like Growing
Greenerwith fees and royalties from Marcellus Shale development.
They include proposals for leasing other state lands besides State Forests, using what will
be $300 million in annual royalties from existing State Forest leasing more effectively and taxing
natural gas mineral holdings like other property for the benefit of local governments and school
districts.But, they've gone nowhere.
The Senate and House Environmental Committees were busy holding hearings on
Marcellus Shale issues over the last two years, but other than hearings involving the new
Secretaries of DEP and DCNR, neither committee has held any hearings this year, or during their
summer break, on Marcellus Shale issues.
Part of the reason for the delay was a request by Gov. Corbett for the General Assembly
to take no action on Marcellus-related bills until his Advisory Commission report was
completed. That happened July 22.
Gov. Corbett has not yet said which recommendations in the Commission report he
supports.When faced with significant environmental issues in the past, the Governor and General
Assembly have provided the leadership needed to solve these kinds of problems.
In 1999, faced with federal Clean Water Act and nutrient and sediment reduction
mandates to cleanup the Chesapeake Bay, Gov. Tom Ridge proposed the award-winning
Growing GreenerProgram in his February budget address.
After lots of difficult work, the General Assembly passed and Gov. Ridge signed the
initial $645 million program into law in December and by mid-January the first projects were
already funded. It remains the largest single investment in restoring and preserving the
environment ever made by the Commonwealth.
Yes it was a different time, money wasn't as tight, but the key difference was leadership.
Leadership from the Governor and members of the Senate and House to make it happen.And not coincidentally, in 1999, the Senate, House and Governor were all in Republican
hands like today.
There is lots of talk these days about government setting priorities and returning to core
missions.
What's more basic than protecting our water, our air and our land? In fact, it's a right
guaranteed uniquely by Pennsylvania's Constitution in Article I, Section 27.
http://www.paenvironmentdigest.com/newsletter/default.asp?NewsletterArticleID=19578http://www.paenvironmentdigest.com/newsletter/default.asp?NewsletterArticleID=19836http://www.paenvironmentdigest.com/newsletter/default.asp?NewsletterArticleID=11474http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/billinfo.cfm?syear=2009&sind=0&body=S&type=B&BN=1042http://www.paenvironmentdigest.com/newsletter/default.asp?NewsletterArticleID=19424http://www.paenvironmentdigest.com/newsletter/default.asp?NewsletterArticleID=19355http://www.renewgrowinggreener.org/http://www.renewgrowinggreener.org/http://www.witf.org/state-house-sound-bites/scarnati-says-marcellus-shale-commission-delayed-action-on-impact-feehttp://stateimpact.npr.org/pennsylvania/2011/08/23/one-month-later-corbett-stays-vague-on-reports-recommendations/http://growinggreener.com/http://growinggreener.com/http://www.paenvironmentdigest.com/newsletter/default.asp?NewsletterArticleID=19935http://www.paenvironmentdigest.com/newsletter/default.asp?NewsletterArticleID=19935http://growinggreener.com/http://growinggreener.com/http://stateimpact.npr.org/pennsylvania/2011/08/23/one-month-later-corbett-stays-vague-on-reports-recommendations/http://www.witf.org/state-house-sound-bites/scarnati-says-marcellus-shale-commission-delayed-action-on-impact-feehttp://www.renewgrowinggreener.org/http://www.renewgrowinggreener.org/http://www.paenvironmentdigest.com/newsletter/default.asp?NewsletterArticleID=19355http://www.paenvironmentdigest.com/newsletter/default.asp?NewsletterArticleID=19424http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/billinfo.cfm?syear=2009&sind=0&body=S&type=B&BN=1042http://www.paenvironmentdigest.com/newsletter/default.asp?NewsletterArticleID=11474http://www.paenvironmentdigest.com/newsletter/default.asp?NewsletterArticleID=19836http://www.paenvironmentdigest.com/newsletter/default.asp?NewsletterArticleID=195788/4/2019 Pa Environment Digest Sept. 5, 2011
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Is eight years too long to wait for changes to a 27-year old law to regulate an activity that
is fundamentally changing Pennsylvania's economy, environment and landscape?
Yes.
What we need is leadership. The Senate returns to voting session September 19 and the
House on September 26.
Let's get busy.
Did You Know You Can Search 7 Years Of Digests On Any Topic?
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Also take advantage of these related services from Crisci Associates--
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Senate/House Agenda/Session 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--
Session Schedule
Here is the latest voting session schedule for the Senate and House--
Senate
September 19, 20, 21, 26, 27, 28
October 17, 18, 19, 24, 25, 26, 31
November 1, 14, 15, 16
December 5, 6, 7, 12, 13, 14
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House
September 26, 27, 28
October 3, 4, 5, 17, 18, 19, 24, 25, 26, 31
November 1, 2, 14, 15, 16, 21, 22, 23
December 5, 6, 7, 12, 13, 14
Bill Calendars
House (September 26): Senate Bill 303 (MJ White-R-Venango) providing for the disposition
of fines under the Hazardous Sites Cleanup Act; Senate Bill 304 (MJ White-R-Venango)
requiring the posting of the state air quality implementation plan on the Internet; House
Resolution 70 (Harhart-R-Lehigh) requesting the Department of Transportation to study the
potential use of quarry and other mining waste in highway and civil engineering projects.
Click Here for full House Bill Calendar.
Senate (September 19): Click Here for full Senate Bill Calendar.
Committees
House: Click Here for full House Committee Schedule.
Senate: Click Here for full Senate Committee Schedule.
Other: the Joint Conservation Committee holds a Legislative Forestry Task Force Meeting in
State College.
Bills Introduced
The following bills of interest were introduced this week--
Fracking Fluid Disclosure: Senate Bill 1226 (Stack-D-Philadelphia) providing for the
disclosure of fracking fluid contents.
Septic System Permit Exemption: Senate Bill 1234 (Solobay-D-Washington) eliminating the
requirement for a septic system permits on lots of 100 acres or more.
News From The Capitol
Lyme Disease Education Topic Of House Committee Hearing
Rep. Dick Hess (R-Bedford) presented testimony to the House Human Services Committee
Tuesday on his legislation designed to promote better treatment of and education about Lyme
disease and other tick-borne illnesses.
http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/billinfo.cfm?syear=2011&sind=0&body=S&type=B&BN=0303http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/billinfo.cfm?syear=2011&sind=0&body=S&type=B&BN=0304http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/billinfo.cfm?syear=2011&sind=0&body=H&type=R&bn=70http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/billinfo.cfm?syear=2011&sind=0&body=H&type=R&bn=70http://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/SC/HC/0/RC/SCHC.HTMhttp://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/SC/SC/0/RC/CAL.HTMhttp://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/CO/HM/COHM.HTMhttp://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/CO/SM/COSM.HTMhttp://jcc.legis.state.pa.us/http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/billinfo.cfm?syear=2011&sind=0&body=S&type=B&BN=1226http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/billinfo.cfm?syear=2011&sind=0&body=S&type=B&bn=1234http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/billinfo.cfm?syear=2011&sind=0&body=S&type=B&bn=1234http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/billinfo.cfm?syear=2011&sind=0&body=S&type=B&BN=1226http://jcc.legis.state.pa.us/http://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/CO/SM/COSM.HTMhttp://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/CO/HM/COHM.HTMhttp://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/SC/SC/0/RC/CAL.HTMhttp://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/SC/HC/0/RC/SCHC.HTMhttp://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/billinfo.cfm?syear=2011&sind=0&body=H&type=R&bn=70http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/billinfo.cfm?syear=2011&sind=0&body=H&type=R&bn=70http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/billinfo.cfm?syear=2011&sind=0&body=S&type=B&BN=0304http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/billinfo.cfm?syear=2011&sind=0&body=S&type=B&BN=03038/4/2019 Pa Environment Digest Sept. 5, 2011
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Lyme disease is a very serious and debilitating ailment, and many Pennsylvanians suffer
from this and other tick-borne illnesses, said Rep. Hess. My legislation would bring much-
needed help to them in the form of better treatments that would be covered by health insurers,
and establish an educational information campaign to raise awareness of these diseases.
House Bill 272 would require health insurers to cover treatment of Lyme disease and
tick-borne illnesses if the diagnosis and a treatment plan are documented. In addition, a taskforce would be created to work with the Game Commission, Department of Conservation and
Natural Resources and the Department of Health to create a statewide education effort on Lyme
disease and related maladies.
Rep. Hess said the number of cases of Lyme disease in Pennsylvania is very large and a
comprehensive effort is needed to help those who suffer from it. The Commonwealth ranks
number one in the nation in the amount of Lyme disease cases. There are no current laws that
mandate specific health insurance coverage of these diseases.
There is solid bipartisan support for this bill and I am hopeful that the committee will
soon vote to send it to the House floor for a full and fair debate, said Rep. Hess. The testimony
provided in the public hearing by victims and support groups was very powerful, and I hope that
their information helps move this much-needed legislation forward. The time has come to do theright thing for victims of Lyme disease and tick-borne illnesses.
Similar legislation was passed by the committee in the previous session, but did not get to
the House floor.
News From Around The State
DEP Lifts Drought Declarations For 40 Counties, 4 Changed To Drought Watch
Based on Pennsylvania Drought Task Force recommendations, the Department of Environmental
Protection Friday lifted drought watch declarations for 40 counties and reclassified four countiesto drought watch status.
Recent rainfall, particularly in the last week, has returned stream flows, groundwater
levels and soil moisture levels to normal in the eastern and several southern portions of the
state, DEP Secretary Mike Krancer said. Conditions have begun to improve, but rainfall
deficits still exist in the northwest and north-central regions. For now, we will keep those
drought watch declarations in place.
The 40 counties for which the drought watch was lifted are Allegheny, Armstrong,
Beaver, Bedford, Berks, Blair, Bradford, Bucks, Butler, Cambria, Centre, Chester, Clarion,
Clearfield, Clinton, Crawford, Dauphin, Delaware, Erie, Forest, Fulton, Huntingdon, Indiana,
Jefferson, Juniata, Lancaster, Lawrence, Lebanon, Lycoming, Mercer, Mifflin, Montgomery,
Perry, Philadelphia, Schuylkill, Sullivan, Tioga, Venango, Warren and Wyoming.The counties changed from drought warning to drought watch are Cameron, Elk,
McKean and Potter.
Drought watches and warnings were issued Aug. 5 because of below-normal rainfall that
resulted in low stream-flow conditions, decreased groundwater levels and precipitation deficits
of up to four inches. The Pennsylvania Drought Task Force used reports and forecasts from the
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National Weather Service in conjunction with DEPs drought monitoring program to form the
recommendation.
A drought watch declaration, the first and least severe level of the states three drought
classifications, calls for a voluntary five-percent reduction in non-essential water use. A drought
warning is the second level of the drought classification and asks residents to voluntarily reduce
water use by 10-15 percent. A drought emergency is declared through proclamation by thegovernor, bans non-essential use and requires public water suppliers to implement contingency
plans.
For more information on water conservation tips and drought information, visit DEP's
Drought webpage.
NewsClip: In Case You Didn't Guess, Drought Is Over
Lancaster County Clean Water Consortium Announces Workshops Series
The Lancaster County Clean Water Consortium has announced a series of four workshops on a
variety of issues, including: stormwater management and permitting, best management practices
and infrastructure, sustainable stormwater infrastructure funding and the ChesapeakeConservation Landscaping Council Conference.
Local officials, staff, engineers, landscape architects, developers, building and many
others involved in land development and environmental protection would find these workshops
very useful.
The schedule of workshops through the end of 2011 includes:
-- September 20: Implementation of MS4 Stormwater Permits Throughout the County;
-- October 18: Stormwater BMPs and Infrastructure;
-- November 8: Sustainable Stormwater Financing; and
-- December 2: Chesapeake Conservation Landscaping Council Conference.
The workshops will be held at the Farm & Home Center, 1383 Arcadia Road, Lancaster.For more information, visit the Lancaster County Clean Water Consortium website.
Spotlight
Conewago Creek Conservation Initiative Preliminary Survey Results
The Conewago Creek Conservation Initiative is Pennsylvanias Discovery Watershed, a place
to target resources and test approaches to improve water quality.
This article discusses using surveys as a tool to initially describe the context for
conservation efforts, then assess the effectiveness of these efforts and describe preliminary
results from the initial survey.Watershed management projects often use education as a means to encourage individual
land owners to use best management practices. A critical component is understanding the
landowners existing knowledge and landscape behaviors to appropriately target educational
efforts.
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A survey of watershed residents is one way to gain the information needed. For example,
survey results can identify the main barrier to the use of a rain garden among suburban
landowners as information about where to get one and how to use it.
Educational efforts can then focus on this audiences need for this type of information.
Surveys at the beginning and end of educational efforts can provide information to assess the
effectiveness of those efforts.Earlier this year, residents in the Conewago Creek watershed received surveys asking
about their management practices and perceptions of water quality in Conewago Creek,
Susquehanna River, and Chesapeake Bay.
The results of this survey are being analyzed and will be used by the Conewago
Conservation Initiatives Project Advisory Team to develop partnerships and educational efforts
to improve water quality in the Watershed.
The goals of the survey were to: Understand context of the CCIs efforts; Describe
landowners in the watershed and their current attitudes, beliefs, behaviors, knowledge; Describe
current conservation activities in watershed; Identify opportunities for education and
intervention; Identify appropriate methods of intervention, and by whom; and Develop baseline
data for future assessment and evaluation.The survey was mailed to a list of 190 farmers and 1500 randomly sampled non-farm
landowners in the watershed between February and May of 2011.
A total of 93 responses were received from farmers and 563 responses were received
from non-farm landowners. After removing the bad addresses from the mailing list, this results in
a 51 percent response rate from farmers and 40 percent from non-farmers.
Below are preliminary results from the survey, focused on water quality.
Water quality is described as worse in the Chesapeake Bay and Susquehanna River than
the Conewago Creek. Farmers are split on their views on water quality in the Conewago Creek;
non-farmers generally see the water quality in the Susquehanna River and Chesapeake Bay as
worse than farmers see it.-- Conewago Creek: 34 percent of farmers and 28 percent of non-farmers rated water quality in
Conewago Creek as poor/fair; 44 percent of farmers and 35 percent of non-farmers rated it as
good/excellent.
-- Susquehanna River: 47 percent of farmers and 52 percent of non-farmers rated water quality in
the Susquehanna River as poor/fair; 26 percent of farmers and 16 percent of non-farmers rated it
as good/excellent.
-- Chesapeake Bay: 41 percent of farmers and 46 percent of non-farmers rated water quality in
the Chesapeake Bay as poor/fair; 19 percent farmers and 13 percent of non-farmers rated it as
good/excellent.
Concern about water quality in these places was relatively high, and equal across all
groups and water bodies. About 80 percent of farmers and non-farmers described their level ofconcern as somewhat or very concerned for the Conewago Creek, Susquehanna River, and
Chesapeake Bay.
The majority of respondents report equally little knowledge of water quality in each of
the three water bodies. Farmers generally report slightly more knowledge than non-farmers.
-- Conewago Creek: 42 percent of farmers and 34 percent of non-farmers described themselves
as somewhat or very knowledgeable about water quality in Conewago Creek.
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-- Susquehanna River: 44 percent of farmers and 36 percent of non-farmers described themselves
as somewhat or very knowledgeable about water quality in the Susquehanna River.
-- Chesapeake Bay: 39 percent of farmers and 32 percent of non-farmers described themselves as
somewhat or knowledgeable about water quality in Chesapeake Bay.
Respondents were also asked to describe water quality in Conewago Creek related to
specific activities. Farmers generally saw water quality as less of a problem than non-farmersacross all activities. The primary concerns of both groups were related to fishing.
-- For eating fish caught in the Creek: 39 percent of farmers and 28 percent of non-farmers report
water quality as good/excellent;
-- For fish habitat: 38 percent of farmers and 32 percent of non-farmers report water quality as
good/excellent;
-- For swimming or wading: 46 percent of farmers and 38 percent of non-farmers report water
quality as good/excellent;
-- For canoeing, kayaking, or other boating: 48 percent of farmers and 46 percent of non-farmers
report water quality as good/excellent;
-- For scenic beauty: 74 percent of farmers and 60 percent of non-farmers report water quality as
good/excellent;-- For wildlife habitat: 70 percent of farmers and 54 percent of non-farmers report water quality
as good/excellent.
Complete reports will be made available on the Conewago Creek Conservation Initiative website
later this fall.
For more information, visit the Conewago Creek Conservation Initiative website.
(Written by: Kathryn J. Brasier, Associate Professor of Rural Sociology, Department of
Agricultural Economics & Rural Sociology, Penn State University and reprinted from the Penn
State Cooperative Extension Watershed WindsNewsletter.)
York Watershed Weekend Set For September 24-25
The Watershed Alliance of Yorkis hosting the 9th Annual Watershed Weekend Doing Our
Part to Help the Chesapeake Bay!
The purpose of the Watershed Weekend is to increase public awareness about the
importance of local watersheds to community health, sustainable economies, and the quality of
life we all know and enjoy.
You will get to know your watersheds and meet the folks and organizations who are
working hard to enhance, restore and protect them.
Watershed Weekend is September 24 and 25 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., daily. The
public is invited and encouraged to participate in one or more of the 14 exciting conservation,educational and stewardship venues located in the Conewago, Codorus, Kreutz, and Muddy
Creek watersheds, in the Lower Susquehanna River Basin, of York County, Pennsylvania.
Most venues are outdoors and there are many hands-on activities to choose from.
Watershed Weekend is educational and fun for the whole family!
A complete listing of 2011Watershed Weekend venues maybe found online. You can
view, print and download a copy of our free, self-guided tour brochure and individual venue
descriptions, location maps and other information. We hope you join us!
http://www.conewagoinitiative.net/http://extension.psu.edu/water/discovery-watersheds/newsletter/news/2011/conewago-creek-conservation-initiative-preliminary-survey-results?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+agsci-water-watershedwinds+%28Penn+State+Watershed+Winds+Newsletter%29http://www.watershedsyork.org/http://www.watershedsyork.org/http://www.watershedsyork.org/http://www.watershedsyork.org/http://extension.psu.edu/water/discovery-watersheds/newsletter/news/2011/conewago-creek-conservation-initiative-preliminary-survey-results?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+agsci-water-watershedwinds+%28Penn+State+Watershed+Winds+Newsletter%29http://www.conewagoinitiative.net/8/4/2019 Pa Environment Digest Sept. 5, 2011
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Fall Walks In The Wissahickon Set For September With FOW Trail Ambassadors
The Friends of the Wissahickon will sponsor a series of Fall walks in Montgomery County
hosted by FOW Trail Ambassadors during September. Click Here for the schedule.
PA Attorney General Joins Great Lakes Colleagues On Invasive Species Response
Attorney General Linda Kelly has joined with the Attorneys General from five other Great Lakes
states in an effort to expand a coalition to fight aquatic invasive species like Asian carp and
Zebra mussels.
Kelly said the Great Lakes attorneys general are reaching out to colleagues in 27 other
states that are affected by aquatic invasive species, asking that they join together in a coordinated
effort to develop a permanent ecological separation between the Great Lakes and the Mississippi
River Basin.
The Great Lakes campaign includes Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette, Minnesota
Attorney General Lori Swanson, New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman, Ohio AttorneyGeneral Mike DeWine and Wisconsin Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen, along with
Pennsylvania Attorney General Linda Kelly.
"Invasive species are not just a concern for communities surrounding the Great Lakes,
but are a potential hazard to numerous other waterways in states all across the country," Kelly
said. "It is vital that we work together to craft a coordinated, comprehensive response to this
growing ecological and economic threat."
According to the Great Lakes attorneys general, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
released a list in July 2011 of 40 aquatic invasive species with the highest risk of traveling
between the lakes and the Mississippi basin. Thirty of those species are considered a high-risk to
the Mississippi River and ten, including Asian carp, are high-risk to the Great Lakes Basin.The Great Lakes attorneys general are reaching out to 27 states that have already been
affected by invasive species first introduced to the United States via the Great Lakes. The current
connection between the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River Basin through the Chicago Area
Waterway System has allowed harmful invasive species like the Zebra and Quagga mussels to
spread, causing significant economic and ecological harm to states on both sides.
Affected states include those with territory on waterways along the Mississippi River and
its tributaries, as well as those as far west as Nevada, who have seen these same alien species
then brought into their waters, most likely on boats that picked them up in the Mississippi Basin.
The coalition of attorneys general will urge Congress to require federal officials to move
aggressively for a permanent ecological separation to address the urgency of the threats posed by
biological invasions in both directions.For more information, visit the Attorney General's website.
SRBC: 13 Water Withdrawals Remain On Hold To Protect Susquehanna Streams
The Susquehanna River Basin Commission Tuesday announced that 13 separate water
withdrawals approved by SRBC in 6 Pennsylvania counties remain temporarily suspended due to
localized lower stream flow levels.
http://www.fow.org/http://www.fow.org/upcoming.php#tahikeshttp://www.attorneygeneral.gov/http://www.srbc.net/http://www.srbc.net/http://www.attorneygeneral.gov/http://www.fow.org/upcoming.php#tahikeshttp://www.fow.org/8/4/2019 Pa Environment Digest Sept. 5, 2011
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Of the 13 withdrawals still suspended, 11 are related to water for natural gas projects.
The suspended withdrawals are part of SRBCs passby flow requirement to protect
aquatic resources and downstream water users. When streams drop below pre-determined
protective flow levels, project sponsors who are required to meet SRBCs passby requirement
must stop taking water. They cannot resume taking water until streams have recovered above the
protected level for at least 48 hours.SRBC and its regulated project sponsors monitor real-time stream flow data generated by
stream gages maintained and operated by the U.S. Geological Survey. Regulated project
sponsors also are required to install tamper-proof water meters that automatically record their
water withdrawals on a daily basis. SRBC requires that information be reported quarterly, in
addition to continuous spot-inspections conducted by SRBC field staff working out of the field
office in Sayre, Bradford County, Pennsylvania.
A list of water withdrawals on hold is available online.
DEP Approves Increase For Cumberland Landfill Previously Approved For Drill Cuttings
The Department of Environmental Protection Friday issued a permit to Community RefuseServices Inc. for an increase in average and maximum daily volume at its Cumberland County
Landfill in Hopewell and North Newton townships.
Residents expressed concerns about acceptance of Marcellus Shale drill-cutting waste,
and DEP concluded that the application was not related to the landfills acceptance of drill
cuttings. The landfill does not accept liquid waste or frac fluids, and a permit modification was
previously issued to accept drill cuttings.
The companys application, submitted to DEP in March 2010, proposed a 1,000-ton
increase in the average daily volume from 1,500 tons to 2,500 tons per day, and an increase in
the maximum daily volume of 1,950 tons to 2,950 tons daily. Public meetings, municipal
meetings and a public hearing were conducted as part of the application review process. Staffalso approved the companys harms/benefit analysis or environmental assessment.
Prior to approving this permit, DEP conducted thorough assessments and examinations
of the landfill site, the haul route and citizen safety, DEP South-central Regional Director
Rachel Diamond said. We have concluded that the proposed mitigation measures will
adequately protect the environment and the publics health and safety.
One of the main concerns voiced during the review process involved the safety of the
Amish community and students attending an Amish school along the haul route. The Amish
community uses horse-drawn buggies, carts and scooters for travel, which would be shared with
the truck traffic.
Community Refuse Services established a transportation compliance plan, which includes
a requirement of one-minute spacing between transfer trailers traveling to and from the landfillon the haul route. DEP verified that the compliance plan would adequately address the traffic
issue.
Included in the harms/benefit analysis were air quality impact tests, extensive traffic
analysis, penalties for truck violations, a noise study, present value analysis, a comparison of
vibration analysis and a study of impact fees given to nearby Newburg borough. The benefits
include free waste disposal services of up to five 30-gallon bags for North Newton Township
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residents, free bulk waste cleanup days for the township and unlimited waste disposal services
for Newburg.
PSU: Study Shows Marcellus Shale Benefits Economy, But Questions Remain
A new study examining the Marcellus Shale natural-gas boom in Pennsylvania suggests that,although development of this resource is having a positive economic impact in the state, the net
benefits may be more modest than previously reported.
Summarized in a publication, "Economic Impacts of Marcellus Shale in Pennsylvania:
Employment and Income in 2009," the study was conducted by the Marcellus Shale Education
and Training Center, a partnership between Penn State Extension and the Pennsylvania College
of Technology in Williamsport.
Timothy Kelsey, professor of agricultural economics in Penn State's College of
Agricultural Sciences and a lead author of the publication, said the study looked at several
aspects of Marcellus Shale natural-gas development in Pennsylvania that had not been
considered in previous research and assessed how these factors affected the overall economic
impact."For instance, we examined where leasing and royalty dollars actually are going and how
they are being spent," Kelsey explained. "The economic impacts will be very different depending
on how many dollars go to Pennsylvania households, to state and local governments, and to
nonresidents.
"In addition, how many of those dollars are immediately spent by residents and how
many are saved also will affect the impact, as will the proportion of wages being paid to out-of-
state workers."
The study included surveys of landowners, local businesses and local government
officials, as well as a GIS analysis of land-ownership patterns among Pennsylvania residents,
nonresidents and the state. The researchers combined this information with industry spendingdata to estimate the spatial distribution of natural-gas-company spending over time. They then
entered the data into economic-analysis software to model the state's economy and estimate
multiplier effects.
The results suggest that in 2009, Marcellus Shale development supported between 23,385
and 23,884 jobs in the state and generated around $3.1 billion in economic activity. This
included about $1.2 billion in labor income and nearly $1.9 billion in added value.
"These results are about half the size of those estimated in previous Marcellus economic-
impact studies," Kelsey said, "but this isn't surprising because we had more detailed information
about leasing and royalty income. Our results confirm that where leasing and royalty dollars are
going significantly influences the estimated overall impacts."
Kelsey explained that only about half of the land in counties with Marcellus activity isowned by residents within those counties. Twenty-five percent is owned by residents living
elsewhere in Pennsylvania, and nearly 8 percent is owned by out-of-state landowners. The
remaining 17 percent is owned by the public sector, primarily the state.
"This would imply that a large portion of the economic benefits immediately leaves the
communities being impacted by drilling," he said.
Similarly, the study looked at wages paid by the industry and where they are going. "A
recent Marcellus workforce study indicated that about 37 percent of Marcellus workers are non-
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Pennsylvania residents," said Kelsey. "We estimated two alternative scenarios -- 25 percent and
50 percent -- for how much of the payroll going to non-Pennsylvanians is sent back to their
home-state communities. We also accounted for how their spending likely differs from typical
resident workers."
In addition, the study found that the amount of lease and royalty payments spent or saved
affects the gas play's immediate impacts. The researchers surveyed landowners in Bradford andTioga counties who live within 1,000 feet of active Marcellus wells. The results suggest that
lease holders save or invest about 55 percent of leasing proceeds and about 66 percent of royalty
payments in the year they are received, rather than spending them immediately.
"This means a significant portion of leasing and royalty dollars are not spent in
Pennsylvania in the year received, reducing the potential economic impact in that year," Kelsey
said.
The researchers also looked at the Marcellus boom's fiscal impacts on local governments.
They found that the effects on municipal coffers so far are minimal.
All 494 municipal governments in 12 Marcellus counties were surveyed, with 293
responding. Only about 18 percent of governments experiencing Marcellus activity said their tax
revenues had increased, and about 26 percent said costs had increased, especially related to roadmaintenance.
"To have a complete understanding of the impacts of gas-development, you have to
consider both revenues and costs," Kelsey noted. "These findings contrast with previous
economic studies that predicted large local tax impacts but did not verify what actually is
occurring."
Local businesses in two counties surveyed as part of the study described positive impacts,
according to the authors. About a third of all responding businesses in Bradford and Washington
counties reported increased sales due to natural-gas development, and only 3 percent reported a
sales decline.
"Businesses across the economy reported positive effects, though hotels, constructioncompanies, transportation concerns, eating and drinking places, wholesalers and financial-
services firms were most likely to report higher sales," Kelsey said.
The researchers did not try to quantify other important but difficult-to-measure costs of
Marcellus development, such as effects on the environment and health. They said they hoped that
future studies can look at such issues as better information becomes available about their
prevalence and extent.
"The long-run implications of Marcellus Shale development are still unknown," Kelsey
emphasized. "We believe our results must be viewed as a preliminary, short-term view of the
impacts of Marcellus Shale and should be placed in the broader context of these other important
concerns."
A copy of the report is available online. Note: The Penn State Extension Service may have to close some offices to meet
state budget cuts. NewsClip: Penn State Extension Offices May Face Layoffs
NewsClips: Study Shows Marcellus Shale Benefits Economy, But Questions Remain
Marcellus Shale Gas Boom Brings Jobs, But How Many?
Study: More Shale Jobs Are Staying In Region
Penn State Study Finds Fewer Jobs, Royalty Revenues Go Elsewhere
Penn State Study Shows More Modest Marcellus Economic Impact
http://www.msetc.org/docs/EconomicImpactFINALAugust28.pdf#zoom=75http://www.witf.org/regional-state-news/penn-state-cooperative-extension-offices-may-face-layoffshttp://live.psu.edu/story/54756http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/cityregion/s_754102.htmlhttp://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11242/1170836-503.stmhttp://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11242/1170836-28.stmhttp://thetimes-tribune.com/news/penn-state-study-shows-more-modest-economic-impact-from-shale-gas-1.1195154http://thetimes-tribune.com/news/penn-state-study-shows-more-modest-economic-impact-from-shale-gas-1.1195154http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11242/1170836-28.stmhttp://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11242/1170836-503.stmhttp://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/cityregion/s_754102.htmlhttp://live.psu.edu/story/54756http://www.witf.org/regional-state-news/penn-state-cooperative-extension-offices-may-face-layoffshttp://www.msetc.org/docs/EconomicImpactFINALAugust28.pdf#zoom=758/4/2019 Pa Environment Digest Sept. 5, 2011
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New Study Cuts Estimated Marcellus Job Creation In Half
Corbett Administration: Marcellus Shale Creating Finance Industry Jobs
Secretary of the Commonwealth Carol Aichele Tuesday outlined the positive job impact of the
Marcellus Shale gas industry on the financial sector, and the Corbett Administration's support offuture economic opportunities for financial professionals.
"A Penn State study shows the Marcellus Shale industry has created about 4,200 jobs in
the finance and insurance sectors," Aichele told more than 150 certified public accountants at a
two-day conference on Marcellus Shale issues, hosted by the Pennsylvania Institute of CPAs in
State College. "This kind of job creation throughout our economy is why Gov. Corbett is doing
all he can to support Marcellus Shale development in Pennsylvania."
Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry statistics indicate there were more than
218,000 in-state jobs in Marcellus Shale core and ancillary industries by the end of 2010.
The Department of State, which licenses 29 professions including accountants, is
working with the State Board of Accountancy to encourage continuing education providers to
offer courses dealing specifically with Marcellus Shale development in Pennsylvania, Aichelesaid. The board will accept Marcellus Shale courses provided by an approved program sponsor
and contributing directly to the maintenance of professional competence of a CPA or public
accountant.
"Having specific training in the many areas of business and personal income and taxes
arising from the Marcellus Shale industry will provide opportunities for our license holders to
increase their business, and create jobs in the financial services industry," Aichele said. "By
providing continuing education courses from approved program sponsors, we can assure
businesses and individuals receiving income from Marcellus Shale they can have confidence in
our license holders to give sound advice and make the most of this economic opportunity."
Aichele said this policy dovetails with the Pennsylvania Institute of CPAs' creation of aMarcellus Shale task force to identify ways for financial professionals to take advantage of this
growing industry in Pennsylvania.
PA American Water Facebook/Twitter Challenge To Support Low-Income Water
Program
Pennsylvania American Waterannounced Thursday it will donate one dollar to the Help to
Others (H2O) Program for every new fan or follower on Facebook and Twitter. The special
campaign to generate financial support for the companys low-income assistance program runs
from September 1, to October 15.
This campaign is a great opportunity for stakeholders to start engaging withPennsylvania American Water through social media, and at the same time, lend their support to
low-income families who need help with their water bills, said Terry Maenza, Pennsylvania
American Water director of communications and external affairs. Twitter and Facebook enable
us to connect directly with customers; thats why were urging more people to join us.
To join, visit the companys social media sites at www.twitter.com/paamwaterand
www.facebook.com/pennsylvaniaamwater. You can also view a brief video about this special
campaign on YouTube.
http://stateimpact.npr.org/pennsylvania/2011/08/30/new-study-cuts-estimated-marcellus-job-creation-in-half/http://www.amwater125.com/http://www.amwater.com/paaw/customer-service/low-income-program.htmlhttp://www.amwater.com/paaw/customer-service/low-income-program.htmlhttp://www.twitter.com/paamwaterhttp://www.facebook.com/pennsylvaniaamwaterhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EnXQoBOvxQk&feature=youtu.behttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EnXQoBOvxQk&feature=youtu.behttp://www.facebook.com/pennsylvaniaamwaterhttp://www.twitter.com/paamwaterhttp://www.amwater.com/paaw/customer-service/low-income-program.htmlhttp://www.amwater.com/paaw/customer-service/low-income-program.htmlhttp://www.amwater125.com/http://stateimpact.npr.org/pennsylvania/2011/08/30/new-study-cuts-estimated-marcellus-job-creation-in-half/8/4/2019 Pa Environment Digest Sept. 5, 2011
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Donations will be limited to the first 2,000 people who sign up.
Pennsylvania American Waters Facebook and Twitter pages provide real-time
information, as well as: Water emergency and boil water advisories; Updates on water and
wastewater construction projects; Information on customer programs, community events and
environmental initiatives; and Conservation and watershed protection tips.
For almost 20 years, Pennsylvania American Water has been assisting low-incomecustomers who qualify through its H2O Program. The program offers qualified recipients grants
of up to $500 per year, a 65-percent discount on the monthly service fee, and water-saving
devices and education.
In 2010, Pennsylvania American Water provided $327,000 in assistance grants to help
customers pay their water bill. Grants are funded through a corporate match, customer
contributions, employee donations and other fundraising activities. In 2010, Pennsylvania
American Water increased its corporate match to $250,000 per year.
For more information, or to see if you qualify, please contact Pennsylvania American
Waters program administrator, Dollar Energy Fund, toll free at 1-888-282-6816.
In 2011, American Water is celebrating its 125th anniversary with a yearlong campaign
to promote water efficiency and the importance of protecting water from source to tap.
2011 Waste Watcher Recipients Recognized By PROP
The Professional Recyclers of Pennsylvania Wednesday recognized Pennsylvanias most
outstanding recycling and composting programs and projects through the 2011 Waste Watcher
Awards Program.
The Waste Watcher awards are given to recycling, waste reduction, reuse and composting
programs in Pennsylvania that have exhibited exemplary performance. This year 118
municipalities, counties, private businesses, individuals and community organizations from
throughout Pennsylvania are being recognized for going above and beyond what is mandatedunder Act 101 for their communities or programs.
In keeping with tradition for Waste Watchers, recipients were invited to attend the 2011
PROP Conference Annual Waste Watchers Luncheon on July 27th, held during the conference in
Erie, PA. PROP members welcomed 18 Waste Watcher recipients to the luncheon. Each
recipient was recognized for their efforts and presented a plaque by Amy Schirf, Awards
Committee Chair and Art Feltes, PROP Board President.
When reflecting on the 2011 Waste Watcher program, Committee Chair Amy Schirf
commented, "We were so pleased to award 118 Waste Watchers across the Commonwealth in
2011. It is inspiring to see so many businesses, organizations, community projects and
individuals doing their part for the health of the environment.
Act 101 the Municipal Waste Planning, Recycling and Waste Reduction Act hashelped generate significant economic and environmental benefits for over 20 years. Recycling
has become a billion dollar industry in Pennsylvania.
With each passing year, there is a steady increase in the amount of collected recyclables
and the number of jobs created by the industry. Recycling has saved precious resources and
energy, limited greenhouse emissions and other air and water pollutants.
This growth and success is the result of a serious commitment to recycling by
individuals, businesses, government and the recycling industry like these award winners:
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-- Allegheny: Pennsylvania Resources Council; Dining Services, University of Pittsburgh;
Allegheny County Health Department; Centria; Marshall Elementary School/Fifth Grade Class;
Pennsylvania Resources Council; SW PA HHW Task Force; Pleasant Hills Pet Hospital
-- Beaver: CENTRIA
-- Berks: Conrad Weiser High School
-- Blair: Hollidaysburg Community Partnership; Jack & Georges; C.W. Longer Elementary;Darden Restaurants of Altoona (Red Lobster); Darden Restaurants of Altoona (Olive Garden);
Graystone Courts; Great Commission Schools; Tyrone Area School District; Hollidaysburg Area
Junior High; Intermunicipal Relations Committee COG Member Municipal Buildings; General
Cable; Giant Eagle Member Municipal Buildings
-- Bucks: Waste Management of Pennsylvania, The NIE; Doylestown Hospital
-- Cameron: Cameron County Woodland Elementary School
-- Carbon: Panther Valley Middle School Recycling Club
-- Centre: Centre Regional Recreation Authority; Ruth Evans-Fultz; Corl Street Elementary;
State College Spikes; Elfrig Publishing/KNUTES; Envinity Inc; State College Area High School
- Green Sierra Coalition; Heritage Innovations; Mount Nittany Middle School; Ferguson
Township Elementary School; Otto's Pub and Brewery; School of Hospitality Management -Penn State; Girl Scout Troop 41147; The Centre County Grange Encampment & Fair; The Penn
Stater Conference Center Hotel; Bellefonte High School; Park Forest Elementary School; The
Prom Attire Event; State College Friends School; Young Scholars of Central PA Charter School;
The Art Alliance of Central Pennsylvania; Bellefonte Elementary School; Nittany Christian
School; Houserville Elementary; The Coca-Cola Company; Columbia Gas of PA, Inc; The
Borough of State College's Greening State College Program; The Borough of State College;
Centre County Solid Waste Authority; Builders Association of Central PA; Wegmans State
College; Swartz Fire & Safety Equipment; Wal-Mart Supercenter; Edible Arrangements;
Easterly Parkway Elementary; Our Lady of Victory Church; Autoport Restaurant; Ponderosa
Restaurant; Weis Market; Wingate Elementary; Benjamin's Catering; Gray's Woods ElementarySchool; Harris Township - Boalsburg Memorial Day Festival; Foxdale Village Retirement
Community; Champs Sports Grill; Damon's Grill; Harrison's Wine Grill & Catering; Hi-Way
Pizza; Luna 2 Woodgrill & Bar; Olde New York; Outback Steakhouse; Texas Roadhouse; T.G.I.
Fridays; Webster's Bookstores Caf
-- Clinton: Clinton County Solid Waste Authority
-- Columbia: Rieter Automotive; North Centre Township; Professor Nathaniel Greene /
Bloomsburg University; Kawneer Company Inc.; Town of Bloomsburg
-- Columbia/Luzerne: Berwick Offray, LLC
-- Cumberland: Messiah College; Delaware; Concord Township; Ridley Park Borough;
deckstool.com
-- Lackawanna: Lackawanna County Government Office of Environmental Sustainability;Riverside Elementary WEST; Moscow Borough
-- Lancaster: Township of Manheim; Lancaster County Solid Waste Management Authority
Lawrence: Shenango Township
-- Lehigh: City of Allentown, Bureau of Recycling & Solid Waste and Department of Parks and
Recreation
-- Montgomery: Globus Medical, Inc; Abington Memorial Hospital; Holy Redeemer Hospital;
Plymouth Township; Upper Merion Township; Douglass Township
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-- Northampton: Just Born- Green Team
-- Northumberland: Weis Markets
-- Philadelphia: Temple University
-- Pike: Pike County Single-Stream Recycling
-- Schuylkill: Solar Innovations, Inc.
-- Union: Playworld Systems, Inc-- Westmoreland: Westmoreland Cleanways; Delmont Lions Club; Central Westmoreland
Habitat for Humanity Restore
-- York: Springettsbury Township; Carroll Citizens for Sensible Growth
Register Now For GreenSylvania/RecycleBowl School Recycling Competition
Beginning with the October / November 2011 Competition, GreenSylvania is teaming up with
KAB and "Recycle-Bowl." Registering with the Keep America Beautiful RecycleBowl will
automatically register you for GreenSylvania.
The first 1000 Competition or Open Division schools to register will receive a Recycle-
Bowl coordinator toolkit. The toolkit will include Recycle-Bowl competition posters, a Recycle-Bowl t-shirt, recycling material to hang up in your cafeteria, a recycling book for your library
(elementary schools only) and a lesson plan guide (high schools and middles schools only).
Be sure to sign up by October 10.
If you have any questions or comments, please contact the Recycle-Bowl staff at
202-688-0605 and/or send email to: [email protected]. Click Here to register.
College Footfall Fans Can Compete In Game Day Recycling Challenge
This fall, colleges across the country will compete to see which schools can reduce, reuse, and
recycle the most waste as part of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agencys 2011 Game DayChallenge.
Registration for the competition is now open, and champions will be crowned this
December.
Any college or university in the United States with a football team can compete. The
challenge is for schools to design a waste reduction plan for one 2011 regular season home
football game and measure the results.
Schools can collect common materials for recycling including paper, beverage containers,
cardboard, and food to be donated and composted. The amount of waste generated and recycled
will determine which school is the greenest on the gridiron.
Schools can win in several categories: Least amount of waste generated per attendee;
Greatest greenhouse gas reductions from diverting waste; Highest recycling rate; Highestorganics reduction rate (i.e., food donation and composting); and Highest combined recycling
and composting rate.
The competition is sponsored by EPAs WasteWise Program, a voluntary program
through which organizations eliminate costly municipal solid waste and select industrial wastes,
benefiting their bottom line and the environment. Reducing waste generated at collegiate
sporting events can save energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
http://www.greensylvania.org/index.htmlhttp://www.paenvironmentdigest.com/newsletter/default.asp?NewsletterArticleID=19951&SubjectID=70mailto:[email protected]://connect.re-trac.com/register/RecycleBowlhttp://www.epa.gov/gamedayhttp://www.epa.gov/gamedayhttp://www.epa.gov/epawaste/partnerships/wastewise/index.htmhttp://www.epa.gov/epawaste/partnerships/wastewise/index.htmhttp://www.epa.gov/gamedayhttp://www.epa.gov/gamedayhttps://connect.re-trac.com/register/RecycleBowlmailto:[email protected]://www.paenvironmentdigest.com/newsletter/default.asp?NewsletterArticleID=19951&SubjectID=70http://www.greensylvania.org/index.html8/4/2019 Pa Environment Digest Sept. 5, 2011
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Last year, more than 75 participating schools kept 500,000 pounds of waste out of
landfills, which prevented nearly 940 metric tons of carbon dioxide from being released
equivalent to the annual greenhouse gas emissions of approximately 180 cars.
Register for the Game Day Challenge online.
10,000 Friends: Insist On Reforms In Transportation Funding
10,000 Friends of Pennsylvania Tuesday applauded the Governors Transportation Funding
Advisory Commission for recommending new sources of revenue to support Pennsylvanias
crumbling infrastructure system and under-financed transportation system.
But 10,000 Friends also urged the Governor to tie new funding to reforms that ensure
disciplined asset management and efficient land use.
The group warned that without implementing these reforms, transportation revenue could
be spent inefficiently, and would make matters worse by encouraging migration patterns
increasing traffic congestion and opening the door to expensive new projects when the state
cannot afford to properly maintain the roads and bridges that it already has.
Failing to enact fundamental reforms simply wouldnt be fiscally responsible.Pennsylvania is facing a daunting and well-documented crisis in funding for
transportation and infrastructure needs across the state. The Governor asked his Commission to
find $2.5 billion in annual revenue streams, and the Commission in turn found $2.7 billion in
revenue enhancements.
It is critical that the Governor and the Legislature embrace the new revenue streams, as
they are absolutely necessary for Pennsylvanias economic success. But new revenue must also
be tied to smarter management of our land, a consumable resource of the Commonwealth, or the
state will be doomed to repeat expensive past mistakes.
For example, PennDOT must commit to a Fix it First strategy with funds for
infrastructure projects. Twenty eight percent of Pennsylvanias bridges are structurally deficient,and as of 2008, 22 percent of Pennsylvanias state-owned road miles are in poor condition.
These repair needs are costing us exponentially moreup to ten times morebecause the
proper preventive maintenance wasnt done during the entire life of the road or bridge.
By failing to do this maintenance, and failing to generate the revenue needed to do so, we
are passing the bill to our childrenrobbing them of future tax revenue needed to meet the
challenges of their generation.
While there may be isolated situations where adding new capacity to the road network is
the right thing to do, the state should commit to a fiscally responsible Fix it First
approachfix it all firstbringing our massive backlog of bridges and roads back up to a state
of good repair, and create strict criteria for evaluating new capacity projects.
According to 10,000 Friends President Jack Machek, Pennsylvania must adopt somebasic bedrock principles in supporting comprehensive funding for transportation: we must Fix
our Existing Infrastructure Firsttoday and alwaysto control future costs and protect the
billions in investments that we have already made in existing assets serving historically vital
corridorsthis is just plain old common sense.
Second, we must build the right infrastructure, Machek emphasized, by investing in
high value, community-driven projects that are linked to efficient land use.
https://my.re-trac.com/gamedayhttp://10000friends.org/http://www.paenvironmentdigest.com/newsletter/default.asp?NewsletterArticleID=19861&SubjectID=http://www.paenvironmentdigest.com/newsletter/default.asp?NewsletterArticleID=19861&SubjectID=http://www.paenvironmentdigest.com/newsletter/default.asp?NewsletterArticleID=19861&SubjectID=http://www.paenvironmentdigest.com/newsletter/default.asp?NewsletterArticleID=19861&SubjectID=http://10000friends.org/https://my.re-trac.com/gameday8/4/2019 Pa Environment Digest Sept. 5, 2011
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Infrastructure and transportation projects need to be designed to incorporate the visions of
our communities and preserve both the natural environment and the quality of life. Pennsylvania
must improve upon its past failures in this area, and more explicitly require transportation
projects that offer cost-effective solutions that fit with community needs and public input.
Because transportation demands evolve as mobility patterns change, we must plan ahead and link
transportation investments with community land use.According to Machek, Transportation infrastructure is the lifeblood of our communities
and is essential to facilitating commerce; if done the right way we can rebuild our key assets
instead of draining our communities financially.
Finally, we need a funding program to plan and construct these projects that create better
communities and give consumers more travel choices. This means changing project selection
criteria to prioritize projects linking land use and transportation networks, and ensuring that
adequate funding follows the new priorities.
Doing this, Machek asserted, will result in: projects connecting existing communities
with job and economic centers; projects that save money while enhancing quality of life; and
strategic planning focused on existing assets to reduce local and state spending on expensive
expansions of public safety services or new water and sewer lines. We would enjoy a betterbuilt environment while preserving our treasured natural environment.
By connecting transportation and infrastructure projects with critical reforms,
Pennsylvania can make real and lasting progress. If such strategies are not pursued and the state
reverts back to business as usual, money will be wasted and our traffic and transportation
problems will endure, said Machek.
President Obama Withdraws Proposal For Stricter Ozone Standard
In a statement released Friday, President Obama took action to withdraw a proposal by the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency to ratchet down the federal ozone pollution standard.Under the proposal, as many as 35 Pennsylvania counties would have been out of
compliance with the new standard. The state would have been forced to adopt much more
stringent controls on emissions of volatile organic compounds and oxides of nitrogen.
The statement said--
"Over the last two and half years, my administration, under the leadership of EPA
Administrator Lisa Jackson, has taken some of the strongest actions since the enactment of the
Clean Air Act four decades ago to protect our environment and the health of our families from
air pollution. From reducing mercury and other toxic air pollution from outdated power plants to
doubling the fuel efficiency of our cars and trucks, the historic steps weve taken will save tens
of thousands of lives each year, remove over a billion tons of pollution from our air, and produce
hundreds of billions of dollars in benefits for the American people."At the same time, I have continued to underscore the importance of reducing regulatory
burdens and regulatory uncertainty, particularly as our economy continues to recover. With that
in mind, and after careful consideration, I have requested that Administrator Jackson withdraw
the draft Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards at this time. Work is already underway
to update a 2006 review of the science that will result in the reconsideration of the ozone
standard in 2013. Ultimately, I did not support asking state and local governments to begin
implementing a new standard that will soon be reconsidered.
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"I want to be clear: my commitment and the commitment of my administration to
protecting public health and the environment is unwavering. I will continue to stand with the
hardworking men and women at the EPA as they strive every day to hold polluters accountable
and protect our families from harmful pollution. And my administration will continue to
vigorously oppose efforts to weaken EPAs authority under the Clean Air Act or dismantle the
progress we have made."In response to the President's action, EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson said--
"Since day one, under President Obamas leadership, EPA has worked to ensure health
protections for the American people, and has made tremendous progress to ensure that Clean Air
Act standards protect all Americans by reducing our exposures to harmful air pollution like
mercury, arsenic and carbon dioxide. This Administration has put in place some of the most
important standards and safeguards for clean air in U.S. history: the most significant reduction of
sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide air pollution across state borders; a long-overdue proposal to
finally cut mercury pollution from power plants; and the first-ever carbon pollution standards for
cars and trucks. We will revisit the ozone standard, in compliance with the Clean Air Act."
For more background, visit DEP's Ozone Standard webpage.
Penn State: Sustainability Of Pennsylvania Forests Challenged
A new report on the sustainability of forests in the United States indicates that Pennsylvania
forests have declined slightly in the last decade and face a number of threats, according to an
expert in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences.
The USDA Forest Service recently released the secondNational Report on Sustainable
Forests for the United States, and it offers a good look at how Keystone State forests are faring,
noted Jim Finley, professor of forest resources. "The first report was released in 2004, and now,
seven years later, we have a second snapshot to see how our forests are changing and the
challenges they face," he said."The new report, which is aimed at creating discussion about forest sustainability,
provides data and analysis addressing forest conditions and gives us some idea of how well we're
caring for our forestlands."
While the National Report on Sustainable Forests focuses on the big picture -- the public
and private forests of the nation -- the key findings are relevant to Pennsylvanians and are worth
considering, Finley pointed out.
"Nationwide, our forest area is stable, but for Pennsylvania, the most recent assessment
suggests a small decline in forest area as development in our more-urban areas outpaces
farmland abandonment," he explained.
Across the country, fragmentation and forest loss is occurring in many regions and
localities, owing mostly to development. According to the U.S. census, Pennsylvania has one ofthe lowest population-growth rates, yet data from other sources show that we have one of the
highest forest and agriculture land-cover conversion rates in the nation."
National levels of forest disturbance are rising due to insect-induced mortality, Finley
noted, and that's especially true in Pennsylvania, where emerald ash borer, hemlock wooly
adelgid, elongated scale, gypsy moth and other native and nonnative insects are changing the
face of our forests.
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Nationwide, wood-products production is declining relative to growing consumption,
driving increases in imports. Pennsylvania is no exception. "The economic downturn, especially
in the housing market, has lowered hardwood consumption, and many hardwood sawmills have
been shuttered in the commonwealth," he said.
"This change in demand may, in the long-term, affect the ability of some forest owners to
hold their land, and it could lead to further development and fragmentation."The one piece of good news contained in the report, Finley contended, is that there is a
growing interest in public and private collaborations through projects devoted to landscape-scale
conservation. That is happening in Pennsylvania. "The dialogue about sustaining forests here is
expanding," he said.
"The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources' landscape-conservation
initiatives are increasing sustainable-forest discussions. Twenty-eight woodland owner groups,
covering about three-quarters of the state, are helping private landowners make sustainable forest
decisions. The forest-products industry also is supporting forest-sustainability initiatives through
training and education."
The national report suggests that three overarching issues emerge about forests, Finley
said. First, nationwide and locally, we are going to face challenges as we lose forest land nearurban centers. This loss of forest cover will affect ecological and social values, such as clean air
and water, wildlife habitat, and recreation.
At the same time, loss of forest cover has economic costs as employment tied to forestry
and forest products declines. While harvesting trees is not the leading reason among private
landowners for holding land, a lack of markets over time will mean more land is lost to
development.
"Second, forests are at risk from climate change and bioenergy demand," he said.
"Already, there is evidence of forests affected by changes in temperature, precipitation and
insects. We will know more about the effects of these changes in the coming decades.
"At the same time that change is happening, we know forests sequester large amounts ofcarbon and that many people believe they are a source of carbon-neutral energy. Harvesting our
forests for energy could alter ecological and economic landscapes.
Third, forest health and disturbance patterns could lead to unexpected consequences,
according to Finley. Careful management and tracking are important on all forests, he said.
Landowners can request information about managing a woodlot following principles of
sustainable forestry by requesting a copy of "Forest Stewardship Principles for Landowners"
from the Forest Stewardship office at Penn State at 800-235-9473 or by downloading a copy
online.
The Pennsylvania Forest Stewardship Programprovides publications on a variety of
topics related to woodland management. For a list of free publications, call 800-234-9473, send
email to: [email protected] or write to Forest Stewardship Program, Forest Resources Extension,The Pennsylvania State University, 416 Forest Resources Building, University Park, PA 16802.
The Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry and USDA Forest Service, in partnership with Penn
State Forest Resources Extension, sponsor the Forest Stewardship Program in Pennsylvania.
Note: The Penn State Extension Service may have to close some offices to meet state
budget cuts. NewsClip: Penn State Extension Offices May Face Layoffs
Raystown Celebrates Return Of American Chestnut Trees To Central PA Sept. 25
http://sfp.cas.psu.edu/pdfs/FSPrinciples.pdfhttp://sfp.cas.psu.edu/pdfs/FSPrinciples.pdfhttp://extension.psu.edu/private-forests/forest-stewardship-programmailto:[email protected]://www.witf.org/regional-state-news/penn-state-cooperative-extension-offices-may-face-layoffshttp://www.witf.org/regional-state-news/penn-state-cooperative-extension-offices-may-face-layoffsmailto:[email protected]://extension.psu.edu/private-forests/forest-stewardship-programhttp://sfp.cas.psu.edu/pdfs/FSPrinciples.pdfhttp://sfp.cas.psu.edu/pdfs/FSPrinciples.pdf8/4/2019 Pa Environment Digest Sept. 5, 2011
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The Raystown Restoration Branch of the American Chestnut Foundation will hold its second
annual Chestnut Restoration Celebration at the C. Barton McCann School of Art on September
25 starting 3:00 p.m.
The festivities will begin with a social hour followed by a wine tasting, chestnut cooking
sessions and a talk on chestnut restoration. There will also be auctions and door prizes.The event celebrates the tremendous progress being made to restore the American
chestnut in Pennsylvania. For over 35 years, The American Chestnut Foundation has been
working tirelessly toward its ultimate goal of restoring the American chestnut to eastern forests.
"Central PA is the epicenter of chestnut restoration and research in PA." says Mark
Banker, Director of Development for TACF. "We have large orchards at Penn State, Raystown
Lake and Juniata College. No other state has more chestnut orchards managed by TACF
volunteers."
One hundred years ago, the chestnut was the most abundant tree in eastern forests from
Maine to Georgia until it was nearly wiped out by the chestnut blight. It was used by people as
food, feed for livestock, building material, furniture, and fuel. The chestnut is also a very
important to wildlife, providing a reliable source of highly nutritious food.Thanks to the efforts of TACF members, volunteers and sponsors who have been
working on developing blight resistant trees, the restoration of the chestnut tree back into the
wild has begun.
"However," says Banker, "there is still a lot of work to be done, so we urge people to join
the organization and get involved."
Ticket Price will include a one-year membership in The American Chestnut Foundation.
Anyone wishing to sponsor the event ($350) will receive two potentially blight-resistant seeds
for their own planting. There also are many other ways that interested people can get involved.
The Raystown event will feature a tasting of award-winning wines from Seven
Mountains Wine Cellars, a cooking demonstration highlighting delicious chestnut-based recipesand both a silent and live auction. Auction items will include a football signed by Penn State
legend Joe Paterno, as well as a handcrafted chestnut checkerboard table and many other
chestnut related items.
The McCann School of Art is located at 4144 Miller Road, Petersburg, PA 16669. Take
Rt. 26 north from Huntingdon or south from State College.
Tickets are $60 for an individual (Includes 1 TACF Membership, a $40 value!) and $80
for couples (Includes 1 TACF Membership). Contact Lori Krause at 814-643-2372 or send
email to: [email protected]. Tickets can also bepurchased online.
For more information, download a flyeron this special event or visit the Raystown
Restoration Branch of the American Chestnut Foundation website.
For information on the restoration of the American chestnut, including photographs,contact Paul Franklin, Director of Communications, The American Chestnut Foundationby
calling 828-281-0047 or send email to:[email protected].
DCNR, Western PA Conservancy Preserve 137 Acres In Somerset County
Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Richard J. Allan Tuesday
announced 137 acres in Jefferson Township, Somerset County, including about 2,000 feet of
http://www.patacf.org/http://www.acf.org/http://shop.acf.org/pa-raystown-event.aspxhttp://www.mccannart.org/http://www.mccannart.org/mailto:[email protected]://shop.acf.org/events.aspxhttp://www.acf.org/pdfs/events/Raystown%20Event%20Flyer.pdfhttp://www.patacf.org/http://www.patacf.org/http://www.acf.org/mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.acf.org/http://www.patacf.org/http://www.patacf.org/http://www.acf.org/pdfs/events/Raystown%20Event%20Flyer.pdfhttp://shop.acf.org/events.aspxmailto:[email protected]://www.mccannart.org/http://www.mccannart.org/http://shop.acf.org/pa-raystown-event.aspxhttp://www.acf.org/http://www.patacf.org/8/4/2019 Pa Environment Digest Sept. 5, 2011
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land along Laurel Hill Creek, is being transferred from the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy
and will be added to Laurel Hill State Park.
"By conserving this land, we are protecting much more than habitat and open space,"
Allan said today at a ceremony on the property. "With 2,000 feet of frontage on Laurel Hill
Creek, this property has significant recreational value and will be open to fishing and hiking with
its addition to the Laurel Hill State Park."This acquisition also helps to protect the water quality of Laurel Hill Creek and the
scenic views of Laurel Ridge, all priorities of the Laurel Highlands Conservation Landscape
effort," Allan said.
DCNR invested $250,000 through its Community Conservation Partnerships Program to
acquire the land - known as the Countryman property - through the Western Pennsylvania
Conservancy. The funds were matched with $465,000 in private donations from the family of B.
Kenneth Simon and the Colcom Foundation.
"This is a special property to us," said Tom Saunders, president of the Western
Pennsylvania Conservancy. "It took two years to do the transaction, starting with the day that one
of our staff members went to the original auction for the property. Then the conservancy worked
with a family, a local Pittsburgh foundation and DCNR, who all put in funding. All it took wasour land conservation staff walking the trail along Laurel Hill Creek, and hiking up the ridge to
see the view back toward the existing state park, and we knew this was a property to be
protected.
"DCNR has an exceptional asset in Laurel Hill State Park it's a beautiful, fun
destination, and much-used for all types of recreation," Saunders added. "This adds a new
hillside, woods and a long stretch of this endangered creek to the park."
The vision of the Laurel Highlands Conservation Landscape Initiative is to protect the
unique character of the Laurel Highlands and recognize its communities as world-class heritage/
recreation destinations as well