PA Environment Digest

An Update On Environmental Issues In PA

Edited By: David E. Hess, Crisci Associates

Winner 2009 PAEE Business Partner Of The Year Award

Harrisburg, Pa April 18, 2011

Sen. Scarnati Supports Conservation Districts In Marcellus Shale Impact Fee Proposal

The PA Association of Conservation Districts this week applauded Senate

President Pro Tempore Senator Joe Scarnati (R-Jefferson) for his support
of conservation districts by dedicating a portion of his proposed impact fee
legislation to help fund them.
Sen. Scarnati recently reported his intent to introduce legislation
creating an impact fee for Marcellus shale activities at a Tioga County
Conservation District legislative meeting.
“Conservation district activities and assistance are vital to the local
communities in the counties I represent and all other areas of the
Commonwealth,” Sen. Scarnati concluded. “My proposal to fund conservation districts through
a portion of an enacted impact fee will serve Pennsylvania citizens well.”
“We need to support conservation districts as they strive to protect and preserve our
natural resources,” Sen. Scarnati added .
Conservation districts help people and communities by offering technical assistance and
educational guidance on the wise use of natural resources. Districts work with private
individuals and organizations as well as public agencies to implement practices intended to
protect soil, water and air.
“Sen. Scarnati understands the importance of the local conservation districts in 66
Pennsylvania counties," said Robert Maiden, PACD Executive Director. "His support of funding
for these important organizations in his impact fee proposal will help ensure our
Commonwealth’s natural resources for generations to come.”

Rep. Harper To Introduce Marcellus Shale Severance Tax To Support Growing Greener
Rep. Kate Harper (R-Montgomery) this week announced she will be
introducing a new Marcellus Shale natural gas production severance tax
she says will answer many of the criticisms other proposals have attracted.
Monies collected from the severance tax would be used to support
the Environmental Stewardship Fund (Growing Greener Program),
distributed to counties and municipalities affected by drilling, used to
support community colleges and higher education in the Commonwealth,
fund county conservation districts and for other purposes.
"As we continue to experience the growth of his industry in
Pennsylvania, this new source of revenue will provide important funding
for a variety of programs that continue to face difficult economic conditions," said Rep. Harper
in a memo to House members inviting co-sponsors for the new bill.
The legislation uses a tax formula similar to that of Arkansas and would assess a tax of
1.5 percent of the gross value of units severed at the wellhead during the first 60 months of
production and a 5 percent gross value of units during reporting periods thereafter for wells
producing in excess of 90,000 cubic feet of gas per day.
Revenue collected through the tax would be distributed into the Natural Gas Severance
Tax Account to be distributed as follows:
-- 32 percent to the Education Supplemental Account whereby 2/3 would be used to support
basic education and one-third would be to support community colleges and higher education in
the Commonwealth;
-- 29.6 percent to the Environmental Stewardship Fund (Growing Greener);
-- 32 percent to the Local Government Services Account, to be further distributed to counties and
municipalities affected by natural gas drilling, as well as ten percent to the Pennsylvania
Emergency Management Agency;
-- 1.6 percent to the Hazardous Sites Cleanup Fund;
-- 1.3 percent to the Conservation District Fund for distribution to county conservation districts
pursuant to guidelines established by the State Conservation Commission;
-- 1.4 percent to the Fish and Boat Commission;
-- 1.3 percent to the Department of Public Welfare to provide cash and crisis grants to low-
income households under the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program; and
-- 0.8 percent to the Department of Environmental Protection for State dam removal, restoration
and repair projects.
Rep. Harper can be contacted through her website.

Opinion

Pennsylvania Can’t Afford To Stop Growing Greener

Since 1999, the Growing Greener Program has improved

more miles of streams, preserved more farmland and
allowed for more job growth than any other environmental
program of its kind. It has proven, without a doubt, that
you can protect and repair our environment without preventing economic growth.
 Growing Greener has become the barometer of the health of Pennsylvania’s
environmental quality.
In the last four years alone, Growing Greener has reduced flooding and pollution of our
water through 400 watershed protection projects and more than 100 drinking and waste water
improvements; restored more than 1,600 acres of abandoned mine lands; and provided more than
$66 million to help counties address their local environmental priorities.
In 2002, a dedicated source of revenue for the Environmental Stewardship Fund that
supports Growing Greener was identified through increased in the tipping fee charged at
landfills. A $625 million bond approved by the voters in 2005 called Growing Greener II then
supplemented the tipping fees. However, the debt service on the Growing Greener bonds comes
out of the Environmental Stewardship Fund.
This fiscal practice of robbing Peter to pay Paul to pay for the debt on the Growing
Greener II bonds will leave the Environmental Stewardship Fund essential empty and the future
of the program in jeopardy. The environmental and fiscal consequences of letting Growing
Greener lapse increase exponentially as Pennsylvania enters the natural gas drilling boom.
There is a solution.
Pennsylvanians have been saying for months they want a fee for natural gas drilling to
protect communities from the environmental consequences associated with the industry.
In fact, a poll in March by Susquehanna Polling and research showed 70 percent of
Pennsylvanians support the idea.
We have the mechanism through Growing Greener to continue to repair, protect and
monitor our environmental quality at the local level. Using funds from an impact fee, severance
tax, future leases or even royalties to fund the Environmental Stewardship fund ensures that
Growing Greener will continue to maintain the environmental health of our communities.
The work of Growing Greener is far from finished. The Commonwealth currently has
16,000 miles of streams that are unfit for swimming or fishing. Abandoned mines scar 189,000
acres in 44 counties and are the cause of 5,300 miles of dead streams.
And while we have made good progress on preserving farmland to safeguard our food
supply, more than 2,000 families remain on a waiting list to protect their farms.
Natural gas drilling presents untold economic opportunities for Pennsylvania, similar to
the untold economic opportunities the coal and steel industries presented for our grandparents.
But generations later, we are still working to repair the scars of acid mine drainage.
If we have learned any lessons from our great past, it is that we need to be environmental
stewards of our future. By sustaining Growing Greener, we will not leave the same
environmental legacy for our grandchildren that our grandparents left for us.
For more information, visit the Renew Growing Greener Coalition website.

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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 Senate and House schedule

Senate
April 26, 27
May 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, 23, 24
June 6, 7, 8, 13, 14, 15, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 27, 28, 29, 30

House
April (25 NV-canceled), 26, and 27
May 2, 3, 4, 9. 10, 11, 23, 24, and 25
June 6, 7, 8, 13, 14, 15, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 27, 28, 29, and 30

Bill Calendars

House (April 26): House Resolution 87 (Pyle-R-Armstrong) calling on the Region III office of
the U.S. Environmental Protection to cease the unlawful review of NPDES water quality
permits. <> Click Here for full House Bill Calendar.

Senate (April 26): Senate Bill 263 (Erickson-R-Delaware) requiring proposed regulations to be
supported with empirical, replicable and testable data. <> Click Here for full Senate Bill
Calendar.
Committees

House: the Consumer Affairs Committee holds a hearing on House Bill 1294 (Godshall-R-
Montgomery) further providing for valuation of water and wastewater system property and
providing alternative ratemaking mechanism (DSIC) for natural gas and other utility distribution
systems; the House Republican Policy Committee hearing with Rep. Evankovich on water
safety and Marcellus Shale drilling in Murrysville; the House Democratic Policy
Committee holds a hearing on chemical leaks and air quality issues involving oil refineries
(agenda) in Philadelphia. <> Click Here for full House Committee Schedule.

Senate: the Senate Democratic Policy Committee holds a hearing on energy, economic
development and job creation initiatives (agenda) in Scranton. <> Click Here for full Senate
Committee Schedule.

Bills Introduced

The following bills of interest were introduced this week--

Halogenated Emissions: Senate Bill 956 (Rafferty-R-Montgomery) further providing for the
control of halogenated solvent cleaning facility emissions.

Drilling Notification: House Bill 1346 (Boback-R-Columbia) amending the Oil and Gas Act to
further provide for notification of water supplies and private water supplies owners.

Small Business Impacts: House Bill 1349 (Pickett-R-Bradford) requiring a small business
impact statement on any proposed regulation.

Natural Gas Vehicle Tax Credit: House Bill 1083 (Saylor-R-York) establishing a natural gas
fleet vehicle tax credit.

Oil & Gas Lease Fund Transfers: House Bill 1084 (Moul-R-Franklin) transfers monies from
the Oil and Gas Lease Fund to establish a program to convert transit vehicles to natural gas;
House Bill 1085 (Watson-R-Bucks) transferring monies from the Oil and Gas Lease Fund to
create a loan program to convert large mass transit bus fleets to natural gas.
NewsClips: Rep. Pickett Applauds Marcellus Works Proposal
Fill'er Up With Natural Gas?

Transit Vehicle Conversions: House Bill 1086 (Marshall-R-Beaver) requiring the conversion of
mass transit vehicles to natural gas.

Natural Gas Corridor Tax Credit: House Bill 1087 (Denlinger-R-Lancaster) establishing a
natural gas corridor tax credit.

Alternative Fuels-Biomass: House Bill 1088 (Pickett-R-Bradford) amending the Alternative

Fuels Incentive Fund to provide biomass-based diesel production incentives.
Clean Vehicles Program: House Bill 1089 (Perry-R-Cumberland) amending the Air Pollution
Control Act to establish a PA Clean Vehicles Program.

Senate/House Bills Moving

The following bills of interest saw action this week in the House and Senate--

House

Coal Mining/Gas Well Drilling: Senate Bill 265 (MJ White-R-Venango) further providing for
the coordination of coal mining and gas well drilling was reported from the House of
Environmental Resources and Energy Committee and was Tabled.

Severance Tax: House Bill 33 (Vitali-D-Delaware) providing for a Marcellus Shale natural gas
production severance tax. A resolution to discharge the bill from House Finance Committee.

Shooting Ranges: House Bill 754 (Gabler-R-Clearfield) directing DCNR not to transfer or
utilize a shooting range for any purpose other than a shooting range was reported from the House
Game and Fisheries Committee. The bill was then re-referred to the House Environmental
Resources and Energy Committee.

Earth Day 2011: House Resolution 191 (Briggs-D-Montgomery) designating April 16 as "Earth
Day-Pennsylvania" was adopted by the House. (Actually, April 22 is always Earth Day.)

Senate

Nominations: The Senate this week approved, as a group on one vote, the first of Gov. Corbett's
nominees for four agencies-- C. Alan Walker, Secretary of the Department of Community and
Economic Development; Barry Schoch as Secretary of Transportation; Sheri Phillips as
Secretary of General Services; and Frank Noonan as State Police Commissioner. (see separate
article)
Senate Committees also reported out five other nominees: the Senate State Government
Committee approved the nomination of Carol Aichele as Secretary of the Commonwealth; the
Judiciary Committee reported out the nomination of John Wetzel as Secretary of Corrections;
the Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee approved Major General Wesley
Craig as Adjutant General of Pennsylvania; the Aging and Youth Committee reported out the
nomination of Brian Duke as Secretary of Aging; the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee
approved the nomination of George Greig as Secretary of Agriculture. All the nominations go
to the full Senate for consideration.
NewsClips: Senate OKs Corbett Nominees For Police, Transportation
Coal Mogul Gets Position With Corbett
Supporting Data: Senate Bill 263 (Erickson-R-Delaware) requiring proposed regulations to be
supported with empirical, replicable and testable data was reported out of the Senate State
Government Committee and is now on the Senate Calendar for action.

Earth Day: Senate Resolution 91 (Hughes-D-Philadelphia) designating April 22 as Earth Day in

Pennsylvania was adopted by the Senate.

Drinking Water Week: Senate Resolution 89 (MJ White-R-Venango) designating May 1-7
Drinking Water Week in Pennsylvania was adopted by the Senate.

News From The Capitol

First Four Corbett Cabinet Nominees Approved By Senate

The Senate this week approved the first of Gov. Corbett's nominees for four agencies--
Community and Economic Development, Transportation, General Services and the State Police
Commissioner.
The Senate voted unanimously for these four nominees in a package:
-- C. Alan Walker, Secretary of the Department of Community and Economic Development;
-- Barry Schoch as Secretary of Transportation;
-- Sheri Phillips as Secretary of General Services;
-- Frank Noonan as State Police Commissioner.
These nominees have had Committee hearings--
-- Dr. Eli Avila as Secretary of Health;
-- Michael Consedine for Insurance Commissioner;
-- John Wetzel as Secretary of Corrections;
-- Ronald Tomalis as Secretary of Education;
-- Michael Krancer as Secretary of Environmental Protection;
-- Carol Aichele as Secretary of the Commonwealth;
-- Glenn Moyer as Secretary of Banking;
-- Brian Duke as Secretary of Aging;
-- Major General Wesley Craig as Adjutant General of Pennsylvania.
-- George Greig as Secretary of Agriculture; and
-- Daniel Meuser, Secretary of Revenue;
Nominations yet to come before a Committee--
-- Gary Alexander as Secretary of Public Welfare;
-- Richard Allan as Secretary of Conservation and Natural Resources; and
-- Julia Hearthway as secretary of Labor and Industry.
The only major nomination left is for the new Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs
which comes into existence in May.
NewsClips: Senate OKs Corbett Nominees For Police, Transportation
Coal Mogul Gets Position With Corbett
Joint Conservation Committee Evaluates Waste Tire Recycling

The Joint Legislative Air and Water Pollution Control and Conservation Committee this week
held a hearing on Pennsylvania’s Waste Tire Recycling efforts.
The Joint Committee heard Pennsylvanians currently generate roughly 12 million scrap
tires each year, which is enough to stretch from Harrisburg to Los Angeles, and back.
“The hearing was very informative to hear the progress on a state law I first introduced in
1995,” said Sen. David Argall (R-Schuylkill). “I was pleased to learn that 93 percent of waste
tire piles throughout the state have been effectively removed as a result of that law, reducing the
number of waste tires from 36 million in 1996 to roughly 2.43 million tires today. This hearing
served as an opportunity to hear about what is working and what needs to be improved with the
Waste Tire Recycling Act.”
The Joint Legislative Air and Water Pollution Control and Conservation Committee
public hearing focused predominately on working with the Department of Transportation to
implement cost savings measures to use waste tires in asphalt.
Several testimonies focused on the effectiveness and long-term benefits that rubberized
asphalt provides both travelers and taxpayers, noting that rubberized asphalt could require 60
percent less maintenance after 10 years of service. This will result in a cost-savings to the
taxpayer of approximately $900 per lane mile.
Sen. Argall concluded, “Testimony by the Rubber Manufacturers cited our tire recycling
efforts as ‘an extraordinary environmental victory.’ As a scout leader, I have pulled waste tires
out of creeks and rivers in Schuylkill County. I remember black smoke with toxic fumes and a
terrible odor from a waste tire pile catching fire outside of Pottsville. Now, our children enjoy
playing soccer where the waste tire pile once littered the landscape. Our next step is to keep the
pressure on to clean up the last waste tire piles in Pennsylvania, once and for all.”
For more information, visit DEP's Waste Tire Program webpage.

Sen. Judy Schwank Appointed To Senate Agriculture Committee Chair

Senate Democratic Leaders announced newly-elected Sen. Judy Schwank

(D-Berks) will serve as Democratic Chair of the Senate Agriculture
Committee.
Sen. Schwank, who was sworn in last week to complete the term of
the late Sen. Michael O’Pake, said the Committee is an opportunity to
continue to boost Pennsylvania’s largest industry.
“I am pleased to chair this very important committee,” Sen.
Schwank said. “Agriculture is so very critical to Pennsylvania’s economy
with approximately $6.1 billion in annual revenue. I will continue to foster
initiatives that invest in agriculture and boost economic development and stability in
Pennsylvania’s rural communities.”
Sen. Schwank has a long history of agriculture experience. She received her B.S. and
M.Ed. in agricultural education from Penn State University. Schwank then worked as a Berks
County horticultural agent with the Penn State Cooperative Extension for 19 years, during which
time she established the Master Gardener Program.
 In 1991, she became the first female director of the Berks County Cooperative Extension
Program, a position she held until 1999. In January 2010, she was appointed Dean of Agriculture
and Environmental Sciences at Delaware Valley College.
“In the midst of such financial difficulties, it is imperative that we continue to consider
new and innovative ways to enhance agriculture in the state,” Sen. Schwank said. “It is also
imperative that we continue to protect our food sources and our citizens with strict food
inspection policies and regulations.”
Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa, (D-Allegheny), said Sen. Schwank brings a
magnitude of knowledge and experience to the committee.
“Sen. Schwank has had a long career in the agriculture industry which gives her a unique
perspective into the needs of Pennsylvania,” Sen. Costa said. “Her leadership will help create
new opportunities to boost agricultural economic development and ensure the protection of the
health and safety of Pennsylvania citizens through smart food inspection policies.”
Sen. Elder Vogel (R-Beaver) serves as Majority Chair of the Senate Agriculture and
Rural Affairs Committee.

Rep. Freeman: Bill Would Provide Tax Incentives For Historic Preservation Projects

Rep. Bob Freeman (D-Northampton) this week announced the introduction

of House Bill 1354 to provide grants and tax incentives for residential and
commercial historic preservation projects.
The bill would establish the Historic Preservation Incentive Grant
Program within the Department of Community and Economic
Development. The program is designed to provide tax credits for certain
historic commercial projects – up to $500,000, and grants for certain
residential external rehabilitation or restoration projects – up to $15,000.
"These tax incentives and credits can act as a form of economic
stimulus for older communities, creating restoration and construction jobs while also preserving
historic buildings and improving the look of older communities," said Rep. Freeman, Minority
Chair of the House Local Government Committee.
Under the program, the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission would review
requests within 45 days of application, with priority given to properties located within Elm Street
and Main Street communities, enterprise zones and historic districts. All projects would have to
be completed within two years.
"In order to preserve historic buildings, it is vital that we provide assistance to renovate
and preserve them," Rep. Freeman said. "These buildings are sometimes very costly to renovate
and, because of that, can fall into disrepair. This bill can make a difference in renovating our
older communities."
Rep. Freeman said that he believes his bill is particularly relevant in today's economy.
"With the current economic downturn, this bill will provide relief for those who want to
preserve historic locations and turn buildings into environmentally friendly ones. The bill is good
for owners, good for the community, from both a historical and environmental perspective, and
good for the economy."

Rep. Boback Reintroduces Marcellus Shale Drinking Water Safety Bill

Rep. Karen Boback (R-Columbia) this week announced her plan to
reintroduce legislation from last session-- House Bill 2630-- to increase the
required distance between natural gas wells and waterways and would
require well operators to notify landowners within a certain proximity of
proposed gas wells.
“My number one concern when it comes to the development of the
Marcellus Shale is the safety of our waterways,” said Rep. Boback.
“Natural gas drilling is an important economic engine for our region and
state, but it must be done safely. The Commonwealth is the steward of our
water resources. They are a public resource that must be safeguarded.”
Rep. Boback’s legislation would require that any drilling permit application contain the
names of all surface landowners with water supplies within 5,500 feet of a proposed well. The
permit applicant would be required by the proposal to provide all named landowners with a plat
plan.
The legislation also would require permit applications to include: the zone of influence
on groundwater, an analysis of the travel time of a release to the nearest waterway and the
inclusion of an emergency contingency plan.
The legislation enumerates certain stipulations for the Department of Environmental
Protection as well. The department would be required to notify all public drinking water
operators within the watershed of drilling permit applications within 10 days of receipt. The bill
also directs DEP to convene a meeting among the well operator, the department and the public
water supply operator within 25 days to review the application, and publish a notice about the
permit in the PA Bulletin.
Finally, Rep. Boback’s legislation would place limits on the proximity of proposed wells
to waterways. It specifies that no well site that uses hydraulic fracking or horizontal drilling may
be drilled within 3,000 feet of or under any drinking water reservoir, community water system or
lake that is located within the boundaries of a borough or second-class township. It also increases
the distance required between a gas well and the nearest building or waterway to 1,000 feet.
“This legislation provides extra levels of environmental protection, which are vitally
important,” said Rep. Boback. “There are inherent environmental challenges associated with the
development of the Marcellus Shale, but I believe with proper regulation and oversight,
Pennsylvania can enjoy the economic benefits of this resource while preserving the natural
beauty of our landscape and protecting the health and safety of our citizens.”

House Republican Policy Committee Sets April 21 Hearing On Marcellus Water Quality
Issues

The House Republican Policy Committee will hold a hearing on April 21 on Marcellus Shale
water quality issues from 9:00 a.m. at the Murrysville Community Center.
“We, the public and elected officials, have real and well-placed concerns regarding water
quality,” said Rep. Eli Evankovich (R-Armstrong). “As I’ve stated before, I support fixing this
jobs-growing industry, not destroying it. The intention of this hearing is to better understand
existing practices and develop any policy changes necessary to ensure that we protect our
environment. I think that it’s appropriate to have this hearing in the town where commercial
natural gas began.”
“We want to make sure we have policies in place that balance our economic needs with
our environmental responsibilities,” said Rep. Dave Reed (R-Indiana), Chair of the House
Republican Policy Committee.
This hearing will be open to the public. The Murrysville Community Center is located at
3091 Carson Avenue, in Murrysville.

News From Around The State

Philadelphia High School Student Wins President's Environmental Award

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency this week presented high school senior Joy Best of
Philadelphia with the EPA mid-Atlantic Region’s 2010 President’s Environmental Youth Award
for coordinating a highly successful environmental awareness festival at a local library.
“Energetic students like Joy Best and all the young people who competed for the PEYA
awards demonstrate the enthusiasm EPA needs to promote awareness of our nation’s
environment,” said Shawn M. Garvin, regional administrator for EPA’s mid-Atlantic region.
“Her community festival at the Wyoming Branch of the Philadelphia Library is just one of
numerous inspirational projects from young environmental stewards throughout the mid-Atlantic
region.”
Best designed and coordinated the Environmental Awareness Festival for students and
adults in the Feltonville section of Philadelphia. The innovative project used youth-led research,
displays, arts and crafts, and experiments to educate and inspire the community about
environmental issues including water protection, solar energy, urban forestry and community
gardens.
Best’s environmental festival was chosen from applications in the mid-Atlantic region
that includes Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia and the District of
Columbia. Applications were evaluated by a regional awards panel of EPA employees. All
student participants receive a certificate signed by the President honoring them for their efforts to
protect human health and the environment.
Best and 11 other students who assisted her, were recognized during the annual EPA-
sponsored awards ceremony at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia.
The deadline for applying for the 2011 award is December 31. For more information on
how to apply, visit the President’s Environmental Youth Award webpage. Visit EPA's
Environmental Education webpage for more curriculum and activity ideas.

EPA Names Regional Environmental Achievement Award Winners, 5 In PA

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s mid-Atlantic region this week announced 11
winners of its annual Environmental Achievement Awards, including five from Pennsylvania.
“People and organizations throughout our region are making great strides in
environmental protection, and these awards recognize some of the shining stars who are doing
more than their share to keep our planet healthy and inspiring others to do the same,” said Shawn
M. Garvin, regional administrator for EPA’s mid-Atlantic region.
The Mid-Atlantic Environmental Achievement Awards recognize groups, agencies,
individuals and businesses making extraordinary contributions to improving the environment in
the mid-Atlantic region, which includes Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, West
Virginia and the District of Columbia. The winning entries were selected from among more than
30 nominations.
The Pennsylvania award winners include:
-- Upper Merion School District in King of Prussia, Pa. for being a 2010 Energy Star leader
and for reducing its energy consumption by more than 30 percent, an achievement reached by
only about a dozen of the nation’s 15,000 school districts. All six of Upper Merion’s schools
have earned the Energy Star rating and several buildings have energy reductions near 50 percent.
The district has also embarked on an aggressive recycling program that has resulted in about 50
percent of its solid waste being recycled instead of going to the landfill.
-- Tookany/Tacony-Frankford Watershed Partnership in Philadelphia for its energetic
devotion to improve the health of the Tacony Creek and its boundaries. With a small staff, this
non-profit organization along with volunteers has reached more than 8,700 watershed stewards
face-to-face; taught more than 60 lessons to local school children; restored more than 20,000
square feet of developed land into native habitat; installed more than 230 rain barrels which
keeps 16,500 gallons of rainwater out of overloaded sewer systems each time it rains; and
assisted its partners in restoring more than 13,000 feet of stream to native habitat.
-- Construction Specialties Inc., has a long and consistent record of environmental leadership at
its Muncy Pennsylvania facility in Lycoming County, seeing environmental protection as a
"journey - not a destination." Since 1995, they have taken a "Compass Approach" to implement
and achieve their long-range environmental vision and plan.
Construction Specialties’ facility upgrades and sustainable practices include the purchase
of existing manufacturing buildings in lieu of constructing new buildings on-site; installing
waterless urinals and flow sensors in the company’s buildings resulting in savings of about
800,000 gallons of water in the past two years; energy-saving upgrades to windows and lighting
fixtures; installing motion sensor lights in warehouses and offices; using green cleaning practices
and biodegradable food-service products; and adding a three-quarter mile walking trail at the
Muncy site. The company reports having reduced CO2 emissions by almost 3 million pounds
over two years.
-- Carroll Citizens for Sensible Growth, a non-profit group in Northern York County, Pa. By
recruiting volunteers to pick up trash and by organizing trash collection events, Carroll Citizens
for Sensible Growth has collected nearly 130,000 tons of debris and recycled 75 tons of scrap
metal. The group has rallied more than 460 people, contributing more than 2,000 volunteer
hours to clean up neighborhoods in Carroll Township.
-- Veronica B. Kasi of the Department of Environmental Protection has tirelessly worked to
promote sustainability at water and wastewater systems in the Pennsylvania, and has played a
key role in programs which provide funding for drinking water and water quality needs.
Kasi’s efforts included developing Pennsylvania’s Operator Certification Program, a new
and sophisticated program that provides varying types of certification for operators of water and
wastewater systems. She has helped reduce problems associated with old and outdated water
and sewer systems despite limited resources. By advocating the use of federal EPA principles
for water and wastewater operations, Kasi has established a standard to be met for sustainable
water infrastructure in Pennsylvania.
EPA presents awards in three categories: non-profit or volunteer organization; business
and industry; and state, local or other federal government agency.
The full list of of Award Winners is available online.

Winners Of Western PA Environmental Awards Announced, Dinner May 26

The Winners of the 2011 Western PA Environmental Awards will be honored at an awards
dinner on May 26 at Stage AE on Pittsburgh's North Shore hosted by the PA Environmental
Council and supported by Dominion and other benefactors.
The emcee for this special event will be Sally Wiggin, WTAE Channel 4. The keynote
speakers invited to attend will be: Richard Allan, acting Secretary Department of Conservation
and Natural Resources and David Raphael, Chief Counsel, Department of Environmental
Protection.
The winners of the Western PA Environmental Awards are:

-- Allegheny Valley Trails Association, Franklin: The Allegheny Valley Trails Association’s
mission as an all-volunteer non-profit is the acquisition of abandoned railways in the Allegheny
River watershed and their rehabilitation into multipurpose, non-motorized recreational trails.
Protection of the riparian corridor of a Wild and Scenic river, protection of large areas of
open space and important habitat, protection of the viewshed and corridor from development and
perhaps most importantly, connecting people with these outdoor resources are all essential in
today’s economy that is pushing for development.
AVTA began by researching rail bed ownership and obtaining rights to rail corridors, a
long tedious process. Success in developing the trails also required the cooperation of property
owners adjacent to the trails, which demanded a great deal of work to communicate with the
owners and convince them of the benefits of the trails. AVTA now owns and operates the 34.2
mile Allegheny River Trail along the Allegheny River, the 12 mile Sandy Creek Trail along
Sandy Creek and a total of over 330 acres.
Through AVTA’s efforts, agreements with other landowners and partnerships with
related organizations, over 40 miles of riparian corridor are protected from development. And,
regionally through AVTA and others, there are over 60 miles of trails that are connecting nearly
160,800 trail users per year with the great outdoors. A healthy, fully accessible recreational
amenity has led to a renewed attention to the local waterways, conservation easements,
restoration projects and the development of regional organizations focused on more extensive
greenways efforts.
As the trail has developed, the economic benefits to the trail communities have become
more apparent and significant. In 2010 the city of Franklin was designated as a Bicycle Friendly
Community through the League of American Bicyclists. Emlenton and Foxburg, just off
Interstate 80, are rapidly becoming hubs for the trail with new businesses opening.
New residents have moved to or retired to this area because of the trail system and the
natural environment they can enjoy here. To be sure, the availability of trails has made
Northwestern Pennsylvania a travel destination.
 A recent trail utilization study found that 75 percent of trail users cited these trails as their
main reason for coming to the area and approximately 160,792 users frequented the trail system
throughout the 2006 calendar year, creating an estimated overall economic impact of roughly
$4.3 million.
As the trail system has grown and connected to other communities, these numbers have
only grown showing how such amenities connect people to the outdoors.
Partners working with the Trails Association include the Allegheny Valley Conservancy.

-- Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy, Trail and Sign Improvement Project, Pittsburgh: The
Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy’s recent improvements through the Trail and Sign Improvement
Project are creating safer trails for park users as well as improving water flow within the parks,
removing invasive species, and planting native trees.
Pittsburgh’s trails are some of the most popular amenities in the city parks, but time and
urban development took their toll on these assets. Pittsburgh’s urban parks were designed at the
turn of the century, before the introduction of asphalt brought about challenging issues for the
City’s Department of Public Works maintenance crews.
The historic parks were also filled with crumbling terracotta drainage pipes dating to the
1930s that began to fail in recent years. These issues changed the path of water flow in the parks,
causing multiple problems including trail washouts and pollution from nearby city
neighborhoods.
In 2010, the Parks Conservancy and City of Pittsburgh improved almost six miles of
trails throughout the City of Pittsburgh’s four regional parks. The improvements were part of a
$3.8 million project managed by the Parks Conservancy and the City of Pittsburgh’s Department
of Public Works.
The project connected broken trail segments, including rebuilding several bridges.
Significant engineering went into the trail and bridge reconstruction. Trail surfaces were
repaired while storm water inlets and drainage pipes were cleaned, repaired or replaced. Public
Works crews and Parks Conservancy field staff worked closely with a local contractor to clear
fallen, dangerous, and dead trees along the trails that were reconstructed.
Invasive, non-native trees were removed along with dead and fallen trees. Native trees
and plants were added to the landscapes, improving stormwater absorption. All of the wood
from the downed trees was used to help stabilize the soils on the steep slopes.
Installation of 100 new signs throughout the four regional parks was also completed as
part of the project. In addition to directional signs, new interpretive signs will provide
information about park history, wildlife, and restoration projects that have improved the parks.
In 2009, the Parks Conservancy commissioned a survey of registered voters within the
City of Pittsburgh and found that the improvement to park trails and signs was of significant
importance. Approximately 40 percent of voters said that they use the parks for exercise or
taking a walk and 53 percent indicated their support of park trail improvements.
Although park user experience is of ultimate importance to the Parks Conservancy, the
trail improvements will have a long-lasting effect on the parks’ ecological health. The
improvements also decrease maintenance costs for the City of Pittsburgh by decreasing washouts
and damage from storm events.
-- Greater Labrobe Senior High School, Latrobe: It’s not unusual to see conservation groups
tackle a project to address habitat loss, erosion, and loss of riparian vegetation. It’s a lot less
common to see this task being undertaken by a group of senior high school students just learning
about the environmental science for the first time.
The Greater Latrobe Senior High School environmental program does exactly that.
Teachers at Greater Latrobe saw an opportunity to combine the need to educate students about
habitat, ecology, and water pollution with the clear need to protect, preserve, and restore Nine
Mile Run, which had been identified as a priority watershed for restoration by the Loyalhanna
Creek Watershed Assessment and Restoration Plan.
Starting in 2007, teachers coordinated a student-driven conservation project that takes
place on Nine Mile Run as it flows through Latrobe Rotary Park in Youngstown, Pennsylvania,
close to the senior high school. Nine Mile Run had been plagued by erosion, habitat loss, and
lack of riparian vegetation.
As a result of this project, a diverse group of 500+ students since 2007 have had the
opportunity to experience environment and ecology concepts as they observe fish being caught
during biological sampling, identify highly eroded areas, design stabilizing structures, pound
rebar to anchor habitat forming structures in place, and select native trees to plant as a stream
buffer. With the assistance and support of a strong community partnership, students have thus far
restored 2000 feet of stream bank.
Not only does this project address environmental and education needs, it addresses a
community need. Rotary Park, once underutilized, today has become the focal point for a
growing environmental education program serving Greater Latrobe students from kindergarten to
12th grade.
In planning the project, it was apparent that an effective experience for students would
only occur if they were completely immersed in the process of making a significant change to the
stream. To date, 21 log veins, mudsills, and deflectors have been installed along Nine Mile Run
where it flows through Rotary Park.
Prior to any work being done on the stream, a survey found only nine species of fish.
According to results from a September 2010 biological survey, this count has since increased to
22 species, including brown trout, rainbow trout, and small mouth bass that were previously
scarce or absent in this stream section.
Now in its 4th year, this project has become an integral part of the environmental science
curriculum at Greater Latrobe Senior High School. Since this project began, class enrollment in
all environmental programs at has increased from 90 to 140 students. Previously disengaged,
problematic students have a renewed interest in science as a result of this project and the class.
Partners for the program include: Westmoreland County Conservation District, Western
Pennsylvania Conservancy, Loyalhanna Watershed Association, Fish and Boat Commission,
Rotary Club of Latrobe, McKenna Foundation, McFeely Rogers Foundation, and Foundation for
Pennsylvania Watersheds.

-- DCNR Yellow Creek State Park, Penn Run: Yellow Creek State Park in Indiana County is
one of Pennsylvania’s 118 State Parks and was created to provide opportunities for healthful
outdoor recreation as well as to protect our state’s natural resources.
Since 1990 environmental education has played a major role in our efforts to increase
environmental awareness, particularly among young people. As issues such as global warming,
urban sprawl, habitat loss, and invasive species have come to the forefront in recent years, the
Department of Conservation and Natural Resources found that there was a need to take the lead
in providing park visitors with information that would help them make real change in their
lifestyle choices as they try to sift through the wealth of often confusing “green” advertised
practices and products currently being marketed.
DCNR took a multi-tiered approach that would reach all levels of constituents. Not only
did the program provide education and information, but also included actual examples that had
real application to those individuals interested in lifestyle changes meant to help the
environment.
Park officials sought to identify specific items that they could change about their own
practices and procedures that would set an example and have application outside the park, and to
convince park visitors to make behavioral changes that would result in a much wider impact.
They began by installing a 10KW wind turbine in 2007, which produces electricity for
the park’s Environmental Education classroom building to show an example of alternate energy.
Installation of a 2 KW solar panel followed in 2010.
Changes in our mowing practices by planting native meadows and installing a native
wildflower garden in front of the Environmental Learning classroom Building provided an
opportunity to show alternatives to mowing, and demonstrate the beauty and effectiveness of
landscaping with native species.
An invasive species control component was added to the park’s resource management
program to highlight the danger that invasive species pose to native habitats and wildlife. Use of
programmable thermostats, tank-less water heaters, building renovations with window
orientation for passive lighting and heating were all implemented in our older buildings.
Their goal to effect real change led to a climate survey tool developed by the U.S.
National Park Service called Climate Leadership in Parks. Data related to all aspects of park
operations was collected to measure the greenhouse gas emissions and criteria air pollutant
emissions generated at the park.
Changes implemented in park operations began to show a reduced impact in the CLIP
tool almost immediately. The initial goal was to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions by 20
percent within five years. That goal was accomplished in just three years.
The success of Yellow Creek State Park’s green initiative has resulted in a mandate that
all 118 State Parks in Pennsylvania complete the climate survey by the end of 2011 and reduce
their emissions 20 percent within five years.
Partners in the Yellow Creek projects include the Indiana County Master Gardeners.

-- Cambria County Conservation and Recreation Authority, Ebensburg: The Barnes-

Watkins Refuse Pile was located in Barr Township, Cambria
County and for nearly a century had occupied approximately 18
acres on property owned by the Cambria County
Conservation and Recreation Authority, just a few short miles from
the headwaters of the West Branch of the Susquehanna River.
Once mining industry activity ended in the region, this
refuse pile was left and little could be done to clean it up or remove
it. Over the years, the pile caught fire and smoldered, emitting
toxic fumes throughout the valley and adversely affecting public
health.
So much refuse had been dumped along and in the river
that it changed the natural course of the river. Estimated at
1,172,000 cubic yards in size, the waste coal was at the same time
potentially useable as a fuel for electricity production in a modern fluidized bed boiler, and
reject material consisting of acidic materials which could not be used as fuel and which should
be remediated at a permitted site.
With a $4.4 million Growing Greener grant from the Department of Environmental
Protection, the CCCRA hired a contractor remove and remediate the coal refuse pile. Over a
period of nearly 18 months, more than 320,000 cubic yards were removed, of which 180,000
tons of usable coal waste was shipped to nearby power plants for future use. Refuse that wasn’t
suitable for fuel was taken to a permitted site.
As refuse was removed and burned, the ash was returned to the site, mixed and graded to
engineered finish elevations in preparation of a second phase of the project. By mixing the
returned ash on the site, the polluting materials were permanently sealed and could no longer
pollute the environment.
In Phase II, an additional 862,000 cubic yards of refuse was removed, more than 778,000
tons of which were shipped for use in a power plant and the remainder sent to a permitted site.
Again, the ash was graded on site, and an appropriate conservation grass seed planted and the
site revegetated.
Once completed, a total of 1,183,000 cubic yards of material was removed, 960,000 tons
of usuable fuel was shipped for use as fuel for electricity, 18 acres of land were remediated and
returned to usable acreage, and the water quality of the West Branch of the Susquehanna River’s
first several miles were drastically improved.
Through this project, a serious environmental problem that once choked the air and rivers
with pollution has been transformed into a beautiful recreation area with abundant green space.
Partners include Robindale Energy Services, Inc.

The PA Environmental Council wishes to thank the benefactors for the Western PA
Environmental Awards Program and awards dinner: Babst Calland, CTC Foundation on behalf
of CTC and its affiliates, Dominion Foundation, EQT Corporation, Foundation for Pennsylvania
Watersheds, Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield, Katherine Mabis McKenna Foundation, Koppers
Inc., Pennoni Associates Inc., Range Resources, United States Steel Corporation, and Western
Pennsylvania Conservancy.
 For tickets, visit the Awards Dinner webpage or call PEC at 412-481-9400 or send email
to: wpea@pecpa.org.

Groups Begin To Outline Issues At Marcellus Shale Work Group Meetings

The Governor's Marcellus Shale Advisory Commission work groups on infrastructure, public
health, safety and environmental protection, local impact and emergency response and economic
and workforce development met for the first time this week to begin the process of sorting
through the specific issues they plan to address and heard presentations on topics related to the
groups.
Environmental Protection Work Group
Lt. Gov. Jim Cawley attended a portion of the Environmental Protection Work Group
meeting, which was chaired by Acting DEP Secretary Michael Krancer and Cynthia Carrow,
Western PA Conservancy.
In response to a question by Commission member Ron Ramsey, The Nature
Conservancy, about the recent directive to have enforcement and permit activities related to
Marcellus Shale development approved by the Secretary, Krancer said recent statements and
news articles have generated more heat than light on this issue and created a misapprehension.
Krancer said he does not want to sign off on every notice of violation saying field staff
should do what they need to do. He said consistency between field offices was important, and so
is having NOVs the agency can defend when they are appealed. The goal is more robust
enforcement that can withstand a challenge he said.
He noted DEP has taken action within the last two weeks to shutdown facilities that did
not meet requirements.
Krancer also explained the Oil and Gas Act itself requires the Secretary to sign off on
certain enforcement actions. He said there had already been in place a policy of notifying the
Secretary of major actions-- permit and enforcement-- for all programs when he took over the
agency in January.
Ramsey also outlined what he thought were important environmental issues the work
group and the Commission should address, including--
-- Strengthening the permit review process, establishing industry best management practices and
looking at the cumulative impacts of thousands of new Marcellus Shale gas wells;
-- Looking at forest and wildlife impacts, and opportunities to reduce footprint and avoid or
minimize impacts of well pads, pipelines and other infrastructure;
-- Providing better protection for sensitive lands within State Forests;
-- Improving protection of water resources, including drinking water supplies and ecological
flows in streams, encouraging frack water recycling and looking at aquatic impacts;
-- Identifying and addressing air quality impacts from full range of Marcellus activities;
-- Characterizing baseline environmental and wildlife habitat conditions in Marcellus Shale
areas, providing for ongoing monitoring of these conditions;
--- Looking at the capacity of State agencies and local
governments to handle impacts and responsibilities;
-- Looking at the options for a severance tax or impact fee to fund Growing Greener and other
environmental programs; and
-- Evaluating the current enforcement policies and structures for fines, penalties and other actions
needed to assure compliance with state laws and regulations.
Ramsey said this is just an initial list and recommended bringing in experts to give
presentations and provide input to the Commission on these issues.
The work group heard presentations from several speakers, including:
-- David Miller, American Petroleum Institute, on API's new engineering and practice standards
related to Marcellus Shale gas well development;
-- Pat Caravan, Clariton Municipal Authority, on their policies and practices in accepting drilling
wastewater for treatment;
-- Walt Nicholson, Williamsport Municipal Authority, on treatment of drilling wastewater and
selling water for fracking operations;
-- Tony Bartolomeo, PA Environmental Council, provided an overview of PEC's recent
Marcellus Shale Report recommendations.
Infrastructure Work Group
Much of the discussion at the Infrastructure Work Group meeting involved basic
background on the pipelines needed to take Marcellus Shale gas from well to markets.
Robert Powelson, Chair of the Public Utility Commission, provided an overview of the
PUC's responsibilities in regulating pipeline safety.
Chris Helms, NiSource Gas Transmission and Storage, and a represented of El Paso
Corporation discussed pipeline issues from a national perspective.
Local Impact & Emergency Response
Members of this work group heard presentations from the Lycoming County Gas Task
Force, David Sanko of the PA State Association of Township Supervisors and from Range
Resources providing an emergency response overview.
Economic & Workforce Development
The presentations for this work group will be posted soon online.
Presentation materials for this work group and each of the others are posted on the work
group's webpages (see right side of Commission webpage).
The next meeting of the full Commission is April 27. For more information, visit
the Governor's Marcellus Shale Advisory Commission webpage.
NewsClips: Marcellus Shale Working Groups Begin Meeting
Acting DEP Head Defends Marcellus NOV Policy Change
DEP Accused Of Rubber-Stamping Marcellus Well Permits
Editorial: Enforcement Of Gas Drilling In Political Hands
State Fire Commissioner: Drilling Impact Strains Volunteers

PEC: Business As Usual Not Acceptable In Dealing With Marcellus Shale Issues
Jack Ubinger, senior vice president of the Pennsylvania Environmental
Council, testified this week before the U.S. Senate Committee on the
Environment and Public Works in Washington, D.C. on Marcellus Shale
Development in Pennsylvania.
"There is widespread agreement that "business as usual" in
Marcellus Shale natural gas operations, as well as its current regulatory
oversight, is not equal to the scale and scope of this development, and that
simply applying conventional solutions to these significant challenges will
result in adverse consequences to all stakeholders in the process," said
Ubinger.
"Our fundamental position is that development of the Marcellus Shale need not produce
winners and losers," said Ubinger. "If done right, the industry, the people of Pennsylvania, and
the environment can all benefit from the combined effects of government regulation that is equal
to the task at hand and the enforcement of best management practices in an industry that has
already demonstrated its capabilities in this regard."
Ubinger said a fundamental change in the permitting process is required because the
existing process does not provide for the acquisition of sufficient information to make well-
informed well pad siting decisions.
Later this month PEC will present a package of proposed amendments to the
Pennsylvania Oil and Gas Act, which will include a section that will fundamentally alter the
existing permit application process. The revised application process is designed to gather more
information on site conditions and focus more attention on the siting of well pads and associated
infrastructure.
PEC will advocate that the permit application process for unconventional wells involving
development by high volume hydraulic fracturing be split into two distinct phases.
The first phase will be limited to the identification and assessment of site conditions for
the purpose of determining whether a well pad should be authorized and, if so, the siting
conditions that must be taken into account for selecting the precise location of the well pad and
ancillary infrastructure.
The second phase will focus on construction authorization of the well pad and the
drilling, casing and development of the wells.
A copy of the testimony is available online. A copy of PEC's "Developing The Marcellus
Shale" policy paper is also available online.

Groups Urge DRBC Don’t Drill the Delaware, Industry Says Rules Exceed Legal Authority

Groups representing residents of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York and Delaware gathered to
deliver more than 35,000 public comments to the Delaware River Basin Commission, urging
them not to move ahead with gas drilling in the River Basin until such drilling is proven safe.
The groups expressed strong concern that DRBC proposed rules without first conducting
a cumulative impact study.
At the same time, the Marcellus Shale Coalition, a group representing businesses
involved in Marcellus Shale development said while they support the state mission of DRBC to
ensure proper environmental controls on drilling, "we believe (the rules) exceed DRBC's legal
authority and duplicate member state jurisdiction and existing DRBC programs in several critical
respects."
Environmental Groups
The groups delivered more than 35,000 public comments from four states, including from
public health professionals and academics, in advance of the April 15th deadline, breaking the
record for the most number of comments ever delivered to DRBC, and demonstrating extreme
public concern over gas drilling’s impacts on the Delaware River and its surrounding watershed.
More than 15 million people rely on water from the Delaware River for drinking and
other everyday uses.
“It’s clear today, with more than 35,000 comments submitted, that the public is
demanding protection to their health, environment and drinking water from dangerous gas
drilling that’s been proposed near the Delaware River,” said Erika Staaf of PennEnvironment.
“Considering the gas industry’s track record of pollution in Pennsylvania, the DRBC should heed
the cries of these residents and extend the moratorium on gas drilling that has so far protected the
Delaware and its inhabitants from this hazardous practice.”
“Never before have so many stood up to demand action by the Delaware River Basin
Commission," said Maya van Rossum, the Delaware Riverkeeper. “This unprecedented and
overwhelming demand for protection from the DRBC demonstrates just what a major threat gas
drilling is to our region and should put the Governors on notice that if they don’t ensure the
DRBC protects the public, instead of continuing to act as servants for the gas drillers, the public
will hold them accountable.”
Since 2004, companies have drilled more than 4,300 hydraulic fracturing wells in
Pennsylvania and the state has issued permits for thousands more. New York could also expect
hydrofracking to begin soon. Incidents and accidents that damage the environment and put
public health at risk have already occurred:
-- In September 2009, Cabot Oil and Gas caused three spills in Dimock Township, Pennsylvania,
in less than a week, dumping 8,000 gallons of fracturing fluid components into Stevens Creek
and a nearby wetland.
-- A 2010 EOG well blowout in Clearfield County spilled 35,000 gallons of wastewater, some of
which reached the Little Laurel Run, a stream that feeds the Susquehanna River.
-- The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection recorded more than 1,000
violations of regulations intended to protect water quality at gas drilling sites between 2008 and
August 2010.
Specifically, the coalition expressed concerns that the rules do not restrict the use of toxic
chemicals drillers use while drilling and fracking in the watershed, regulate how to dispose of
toxic drilling wastewater, prevent drilling and associated development and waste pits near the
river and streams – which could occur as close as 500 feet, and do not stop the forested upper
Delaware from becoming a devastated industrial landscape.
“We are urging President Obama, through his representative on the commission, to keep
the moratorium on drilling in place in the Delaware River Basin and to call for preserving the
Delaware, a national treasure and the source of drinking water for five percent of the country.
Fuel production is not 'clean' when it damages our water, air and eco-systems,” said Karina
Wilkinson, Regional Organizer for Food & Water Watch, a national consumer advocacy group.
The Delaware River watershed, which extends through New York, Pennsylvania, New
Jersey and Delaware, supplies drinking water to more than 15 million people – over 5 percent of
the U.S. population, – provides recreational opportunities and pumps millions of dollars into the
region’s economy each year, and provides habitat for hundreds of critical wildlife species.
Marcellus Industry
“The MSC (Marcellus Shale Coalition) supports DRBC in its stated mission of ensuring
that proper environmental controls are provided to safeguard the water resources of the Delaware
River Basin, and of establishing a regulatory scheme within the scope of DRBC authority that
complements state and federal requirements,” said Kathryn Klaber, president of the MSC.
“However, the MSC has significant concern regarding the scope of the draft regulations, which
we believe exceed DRBC’s legal authority and duplicate member state jurisdiction and existing
DRBC programs in several critical respects.”
Specifically, the MSC’s comments, in part cite the following areas of paramount concern:
-- Requirements for the Siting, Design and Operation of Well Pads: The Draft Regulations
contain very detailed and far-reaching land use requirements pertaining to the siting, design,
construction and operation of well pads for natural gas activities – representing a significant and
unnecessary departure from the agency’s role of managing water resources in the basin. These
proposed regulations contain a host of new construction and operational standards that are either
not required by or inconsistent with state regulatory requirements.
-- Exceed the Scope of DRBC authority: DRBC’s regulatory authority is derived from, and
thus limited by, the Delaware River Basin Compact, which established DRBC in 1961 as a
regional agency to manage and control the water resources of the Delaware River Basin. The
Compact does not grant DRBC review and approval authority over land use as outlined in the
draft regulations.
-- Duplicative of State Requirements: Both New York and Pennsylvania have comprehensive
oil and gas regulatory programs. DRBC should defer to the member state programs in all areas
where they regulate, and thereby avoid unnecessary, duplicative requirements and administrative
costs.
-- Natural Gas Development Plan (NGDP) is Unworkable: A requirement to submit a 5-year
NGDP for review and approval, which would compel operators to prepare detailed, forward-
looking information about the development of all of their leasehold areas in the Basin, is
unworkable and demonstrates a fundamental misunderstanding of the manner in which natural
gas development occurs. This level of detail – over the entirety of an operator’s lease holdings to
be developed in 5-years – would be impossible to assemble with any meaning or accuracy in
advance.
-- Water Related to Natural Gas Development: The Draft Regulations addresses water sources
for uses related to natural gas development. Much of this section is unnecessary, since DRBC
already has a well-established program for review and approval of water withdrawals. DRBC
should utilize its existing program for Project Review under Section 3.8 of the Compact and
should not adopt a special water source program for water used in natural gas operations. No
other industry is singled out by DRBC with an industry-specific water source regulation.
In addition to submitting formal comments, the MSC, partnering with American
Petroleum Institute, requested an independent analysis of the draft regulations by ALL
Consulting, a professional consulting firm specializing in water management, planning and
energy development.
The complete analysis was submitted to the DRBC for review and consideration.
Following are several key findings of the analysis:
-- The consumptive water use requirements for natural gas development at full build-out, as
compared to other water uses within the Basin, are relatively minor. The nuclear power industry
uses more than 10 times the amount of water that would be used for natural gas development;
golf course maintenance uses more than 20 times the amount; and thermoelectric power
generation and agriculture use more than 45 times the amount.
-- The land footprint for natural gas development, as compared to other land uses, is relatively
minor. -- The footprint for natural gas development would be less than the footprint for golf
courses in the Basin and 50 times less than the footprint for homes in the Basin;
-- Absent a variance, the siting restrictions and setbacks contained in the Draft Regulations
would preclude natural gas development in more than half of the land area overlying the
Marcellus Shale formation in the Basin;
-- Many of the submittals, reporting requirements and notices required by the Draft Regulations
are duplicative of host state requirements; and
-- The process of applying for and obtaining approval to develop natural gas wells pursuant to
the Draft Regulations is likely to take as long as 24 months.
A complete copy of the MSC comments is available online.
A copy of DRBC's proposed rules is available on the DRBC website.
NewsClips: 35,000 Oppose Gas Drilling Near Delaware River
MSC: Draft DRBC Regulation Duplicative, Exceeds Legal Authority
Environmentalists Deliver 30,000 Anti-Drilling Comments To DRBC
Groups Urge Extension Of Delaware Gas Drilling Moratorium

Penn State Extension Webinar On Marcellus Shale Trends April 21

Penn State Extension, College of Agricultural Sciences, is sponsoring another in its series of
Marcellus Shale webinars on April 21 which shares two attorneys' observations of trends in
leasing, royalties and production. The next webinar in the series is May 19.
April 21 Webinar
Les Greevy, of Greevy and Associates in Williamsport and Kris Vanderman, of
Vanderman Law in Charleroi, Pa. -- both firms that specialize in representing clients with
Marcellus Shale natural-gas interests -- will make presentations in the webinar.
"We started with Extension in 2005-06, doing educational programs for landowners, and
we represent many people with gas-drilling leases," Greevy said. "We have been dealing with
issues such as going from the lease stage to the production stage, estate planning, protecting
assets and tax issues.
"A lot of leases are starting to run out, so we are starting a whole new cycle of leases. We'll be
discussing that, as well as pipeline-property issues and trends in contract addenda, royalty
payments and cash-bonus payments."
Greevy noted that business dealings with gas-drilling companies have changed somewhat
in north central Pennsylvania.
"The trend that we are seeing now in leasing is less competition between companies," he
said. "Previously you had any number of companies competing for leases and there was rapid
growth in leasing."Now, the gas companies have pretty much staked out geographic areas that
they're interested in and are not competing quite as much, and as a result, prices are down a little,
and the ability to get protective addenda in leases is diminished."
 Vanderman, whose firm represents only individuals and groups with land to lease -- and
never the gas-drilling companies -- has seen the same kind of consolidation in leasing by the
companies in the state's southwestern corner. And he also has witnessed a similar resulting drop
in lease payments to and leverage for landowners.
"Right now, there is an active swapping of leases between companies, and they are
carving out their territories," he said. "You have companies that are more or less dominant in
areas, and this consolidation of territory by lease swaps or farm-out agreements is ongoing."
Regarding the trend towards landowners having less ability to insert protective addenda
into leases, Vanderman indicated that companies from out-of-state now appear less flexible than
they had been when the Marcellus play was newer in Pennsylvania. However, in the southwest
there are two "home" companies, EQT and CNX -- the third, Atlas, was just acquired by
Chevron --that help keep competition in play, which is helpful for some landowners depending
on geography.
"I can say unequivocally the hand of Texas is revealed," he said. "Some of the newest
'standard offer' leases are extraordinarily -- even dramatically -- favorable to the interests of the
lessee gas companies. The issue here is, what is a landowner willing to concede for money?"
Vanderman noted that, during the webinar, he intends to also talk about environmental
progress that has been made voluntarily by operators in the southwest part of the state. "That
includes on-site water-treatment systems that have been implemented, recycling of flow back
water from fracking operations and installation of underground water-piping systems to remove
truck traffic from the roads," he said.
The webinar is part of a series of workshops and events addressing circumstances related
to the state's Marcellus Shale gas boom. Information about how to register for the webinar is
available on the webinar page of Penn State Extension's natural gas website.
Future webinars will include speakers on the following topics: the impacts of the natural-
gas industry on landfill operations; air quality issues related to unconventional gas plays; a
research update on the effects of Marcellus Shale drilling on wildlife habitat; and current legal
issues in Marcellus Shale development.
Previous webinars, publications and information on topics such as water use and quality,
zoning, gas-leasing considerations for landowners and implications for local communities also
are available on the Extension natural gas website.
May 19 Webinar
The next webinar in the series will be held on May 19 is entitled, "The Impacts of the
Natural Gas Industry on Landfill Operations."
For more information, visit the Penn State Extension webinar webpage or contact John
Turack, extension educator in Westmoreland County, at 724-837-1402 or send email to:
jdt15@psu.edu.

DEP Sets Chesapeake Bay Watershed Implementation Plan Meeting April 21

On April 16 the Department of Environmental Protection published notice of an April 21

meeting of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Implementation Management Team at the DEP
Southcentral Regional Office in Harrisburg starting at 12:30.
The meeting is intended to begin the process of developing Pennsylvania Phase 2
Watershed Implementation Plan
 For more information, visit DEP's Chesapeake Bay webpage or contact Karen Price at
717-772-4785 or send email to: kprice@state.pa.us.

DEP Invites Comments On TMDLs For Watersheds In Butler, Crawford, Erie Counties

The Department of Environmental Protection published a notice this week inviting comments on
proposed Total MAximum Daily Load Plans for three watersheds in Butler, Crawford and Erie
Counties. (PA Bulletin pages 2065-2066)
They include: Boles Run Watershed, Erie and Crawford Counties; Christy Run
Watershed, Butler County and French Creek Run Watershed, Crawford County.
For more information, contact Gary Gocek, DEP, at 717-772-1674 or send email to:
ggocek@state.pa.us. To see a copy of the plans, visit DEP's TMDL webpage.

Fish & Boat Commission Establishes Hotline To Report Suspected Pollution Incidents

The Fish and Boat Commission this week introduced a new toll-free hotline for the public to
report suspected pollution incidents or fish kills.
The number – 1-855-FISH-KIL (1-855-347-4545) – provides the public with a way to
quickly alert PFBC staff to suspected environmental incidents, according to Board President
William Worobec.
“Timely notification is the number one critical factor in dealing with suspected pollution
cases and protecting our aquatic resources,” he said. “The sooner we know about an incident, the
sooner we can evaluate it and, if necessary, implement a response plan. As more time passes
between an incident and our evaluation, we reduce our chances of clearly identifying the source
of the suspected pollutant.”
President Worobec emphasized that the number is to be used only for reporting suspected
cases of pollution or fish kills and is not meant for general inquires related to license sales, boat
registrations or other agency issues.
“We want the public to be vigilant and to help us protect our aquatic resources,” he said.
“But we also expect them to be responsible and to use the hotline only for its intended purpose.”
Callers using the hotline – which is available for use - will be directed to the PFBC’s
Bureau of Law Enforcement in Harrisburg, where staff will answer calls from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.,
Monday through Friday. Calls received after hours or on weekends will be sent to a voice
mailbox where the caller can leave a message. PFBC staff will review voice messages and
respond as soon as possible.
If someone spots a suspected incident and believes it is an immediate threat to public
safety or the environment, they should dial 911 or the Department of Environmental Protection’s
emergency number at 1-800-541-2050.
To assist the public with understanding this new resource, the PFBC has prepared a list of
Frequently Asked Questions, which appear on the PFBC website.

Coldwater Heritage Partnership Announces 2011 Grant Recipients

The Coldwater Heritage Partnership this week announced over
$60,000 in grants have been awarded to local organizations to protect
and conserve Pennsylvania’s coldwater stream habitats.
CHP is a cooperative initiative among DCNR, Pennsylvania
Trout Unlimited, the Fish and Boat Commission, and the Foundation
for Pennsylvania Watersheds.
The next grant round opens in September.
"This type of grassroots conservation work is vital for the
future of the state's coldwater streams and wild trout fisheries,” said PFBC Executive Director
John Arway. “Coldwater conservation plans help to build local awareness and support for the
long-term stewardship of coldwater streams and their surrounding watersheds.”
Grants have been made to the following organizations:
-- Chester Ridley Crum Watershed Association, Chester County: $8,000 to construct three
selected buffer and one stormwater project on the West Branch of Crum Creek. Also continue
workshops, mailings, and on-site landowner technical assistance to help landowners implement
coldwater conservation plan recommendations.
-- Clearfield County Conservation District, Clearfield County: $6,038 to create a coldwater
conservation plan for Snyder and Spring Run, which will provide invaluable baseline water
quality data for these streams as Marcellus Shale gas well drilling activity increases in the area.
The plan will also identify possible future projects and educate the public about this very
important natural resource.
-- Allegheny Mountain Chapter of Trout Unlimited, Clearfield and Jefferson Counties:
$3,260 to perform a comprehensive analysis of the Irish Run watershed in order to create a
conservation plan.
-- Trout Unlimited Eastern Abandoned Mine Program, Clinton and Centre Counties: $6,000
to determine the extent and causes for the apparent declines in brook trout populations in Wolf
Run and Eddy Lick Run.
-- Columbia County Conservation District on behalf of the Briar Creek Association for
Watershed Solutions, Columbia County: $5,788 to conduct physical biological and chemical
assessment and to use known data to generate a plan for conservation action on Briar Creek.
-- Huntingdon County Conservation District, Huntingdon County: $7,975 to enhance native
brook trout populations in Miller Run by replacing a stream crossing that is currently a barrier to
fish migration and conducting aquatic surveys on the stream to guide future enhancement
projects.
-- Lehigh County Conservation District, Lehigh County: $6,000 to carry out a watershed and
stream assessment for the Trout Creek Watershed.
-- Eastern PA Coalition for Abandoned Mine Reclamation, Luzerne County: $6,000 to
conduct a preliminary coldwater heritage conservation watershed assessment plan and project
implementation recommendation plan for Solomon Creek that will lead to future enhancement
projects related to the native brook trout populations within the watershed.
-- Somerset County Conservation District, Somerset County: $5,628 to assess the Whites
Creek watershed in order to obtain baseline data on the watershed that will assist in ecologically
safe future development.
-- Forbes Trail Chapter of Trout Unlimited, Westmoreland, County: $6,000 to begin
reconnecting Mill Creek, the largest source of coldwater and summer trout habitat, to the delayed
harvest section of the Loyalhanna Creek, by teaming with the municipal recreation board in their
approved Laurel Highlands Conservation Landscape Initiative Rails-to-Trails stream crossing
project.
“Pennsylvania Trout Unlimited is excited to award grants to worthy organizations for the
conservation and protection of their local streams,” stated Ken Undercoffer, President of the
Pennsylvania Council of Trout Unlimited.
This year the CHP awarded planning and implementation grants. Organizations funded
by a planning grant will be responsible for creating a “Coldwater Conservation Plan” that gathers
existing data about the coldwater ecosystem; identifies potential impacts, threats, problems and
opportunities to our coldwater streams; formulates a plan of action for proposed conservation
and protection strategies; and builds community awareness and support for the conservation of
our coldwater streams.
Besides offering grants, the Coldwater Heritage Partnership works to provide technical
and educational assistance to organizations interested in protecting coldwater ecosystems.
For additional information, please contact Samantha Kutskel at 814-359-5233 or send
email to: c-kutskel@state.pa.us or visit the Coldwater Heritage Partnership website.

Spotlight

Discovery Watersheds: Pennsylvania 4-H Water Project Curriculum Series

Are you looking for an excellent, hands-on curriculum to teach youth

about water? Consider using the Pennsylvania 4-H Program’s Water
Project Series.
This series of three books make teaching water issues to youth
fun and experiential, covering a variety of important topics that not
only promote water stewardship, but also help to enhance teaching the
state’s academic standards related to water.
Lesson types in these activity books include youth experiments,
group demonstrations, and field experiences. Each activity can be done
during a single group meeting.
The lessons in this book are based on the principle that children learn best by doing.
Some home exercises are included to allow the children to build on the concepts they learn in
meetings and to encourage family involvement. The lessons were constructed so that they build
upon each other, but various sections and/or activities could be used as stand-alone lessons.
Each of the activity books in this series, along with guide books for the leader/helper can
be accessed on the Penn State Extension 4-H website. You can also get printed copies of the
youth activity books by contacting the 4-H Educator in your county’s Penn State Extension
Office. (Find your county office.)
Unit 1 of the 4-H Water Project, Water Conservation with the Water Lion, is designed to
teach youth about water conservation in their communities. Completing the Water Conservation
project will open youth’s eyes to the realization that every living thing depends on water, and
that it is important for everyone to appreciate and conserve it.
 The goal of the curriculum is to help each youth develop “water consciousness” - an
awareness of water’s vital importance in our everyday lives. Youth will learn about the many
different ways we utilize water each day and the amount of water available on Earth.
Youth will also learn specific ways that they can conserve water including encouraging
family involvement in learning about water conservation.
Unit 2 of the 4-H Water Project, Incredible Water with the Water Lion, is designed to
teach youth about water itself; it’s existence, properties, states of matter, cycles, and more. Water
is a major part of the Earth’s system, which is constantly changing as air, soil, and rocks interact
with water every day.
Understanding the basics of water is the key to understanding many of the other things
going on in our world, whether that’s our own body systems and those of our pets, livestock, or
wildlife; how plants grow to produce food, building materials, fabrics, shelter, and oxygen; how
hills and valleys form, glaciers are made, lakes are filled and rivers flow; or how clouds, snow,
fog, and rainbows form in the atmosphere.
Completing the Incredible Water project will open youth’s eyes to just how much water
affects their everyday lives.
Unit 3 of the 4-H Water Project, Water Quality Matters!, is designed to teach youth about
the condition, or degree of cleanliness of water, which is referred to as water quality. Youth will
learn about water standards used to set limits for water quality. Youth will investigate what
influences water quality and how these substances get into streams and rivers. They will look at
the difference between point-source pollution and non-point source pollution.
As youth continue in Water Quality Matters! they will explore where their drinking water
comes from, identify different land uses in their watershed, and consider possible pollutants
based on land use. With hands on activities youth will use monitoring techniques while learning
about the physical, chemical, and biological criteria of water.
Completing the Water Quality Matters! project book will promote interaction of youth in
a common effort to increase environmental learning and stewardship of their watersheds.
For more information on protecting your watershed, visit the Penn State Extension
Discovery Watersheds webpage.

(Written by: Jennifer Fetter, Extension Educator, Penn State Cooperative Extension in Dauphin
County)

Earth Day Sale At Clean Creek Pottery Products

Clean Creek Products is offering special Earth Day discounts for those
who purchase pottery and other products from pigments using
manganese reclaimed from systems treating abandoned mine
discharges in Western Pennsylvania.
Click Here to order online and enter code "EARTH15" at
checkout to save 15 percent on every order.

Earth Day: Rachel Carson Homestead Sense Of Wonder Plant Sale, Garden Party April 21
The Rachel Carson Homestead is hosting a Sense of Wonder Plant Sale and Garden Party on
April 21 from 2:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the Homestead in Springdale, Allegheny County.
Please join Joy Braunstein, Executive Director in celebrating Earth Day with a very
special guest, Doug Oster. This Emmy Award winning documentary film maker, Post Gazette
columnist, author, radio personality and environmental activist will be on hand at the plant sale
from 4:00 p.m. He will sign books, tell stories, and provide advice to gardeners of all experience
levels. Early bird plant sale shoppers should arrive at 2:00 p.m. for the best selection.
At 5:00 p.m. we welcome our members, and encourage those who would like to be
members that evening, to join us for light hors d'oeuvre and wine while we present The Sense of
Wonder Award and announce our raffle winners. of a in home Master Gardner consultation.
Dress in casual garden attire and comfortable foot-wear so that you can enjoy all of what
the Homestead has to offer. Parking is available on Marion Avenue.
Master Gardeners will be on hand as well to share their advice and experience and to help
us find a Sense of Wonder in designing, planting, and tending our own gardens.
For more information, visit the Rachel Carson Homestead website.

Earth Day: York County Conservation District Bundles 500 Trees For Sale

The PA Association of Conservation Districts' Executive Director,

Robert Maiden, visited York County on April 13 to see first-hand
how the conservation district runs its annual seedling sale. Along
with twenty-seven other volunteers, staff and board members,
Robert helped bundle 500 trees for the sale.
“This was a great opportunity to get out and observe a
conservation district fundraiser. It gave me an appreciation and
understanding of the difficult task of raising money for special projects as well as the amount of
work that goes into holding a native plant sale,” said Maiden.
York County Conservation District has been holding its seedling sale for more than
thirty-five years. The sale features sixteen different varieties of ground cover, seedling shrubs
and trees like magnolia and Canadian hemlock, and larger fruit trees like elderberry and red
haven peach.
This year 475 orders were placed. The proceeds from the sale support educational
programs and discretionary expenses. The Districts anticipates raising around $10,000 in the sale
this year.
York County Conservation District Manager Mark Kimmel said, “The conservation
district was grateful to have Robert come and help out with preparations for our seedling sale
working shoulder to shoulder with our staff and directors. It gave him first-hand experience
getting his feet wet and his hands dirty helping with a successful fundraising project.”
Next, Robert will visit Chester and Berks Counties to meet with district staff and
directors to listen to their priorities and concerns as well as discussing the goals of the
Association.

Earth Day: Rachel Carson's Books Released As eBooks For Earth Day
Open Road Media this week announced the publication of Rachel Carson’s
Under the Sea Wind, The Sea Around Us, and The Sense of Wonder as
ebooks in time for Earth Day 2011.
Award-winning author Rachel Carson (1907–1964) is considered
one of the greatest American natural history writers of the twentieth
century.
In addition to her environmental classic Silent Spring, her books
include The Sense of Wonder, Under the Sea Wind, and The Sea Around
Us—which has sold more than one million copies, been translated into
twenty-eight languages, and won the National Book Award and John Burroughs Award.
Environmentalists of all generations cite Carson as a source of inspiration and guidance;
her work helped shape the modern environmental movement. Now, seventy years after Carson
published her first book and brought conservation and environmentalism to the forefront of the
cultural conversation, readers can buy three of her seminal works in the environmentally friendly
e-format.
Click Here for more information.

Earth Day: Wissahickon Creek Cleanup Set For April 20

The Friends of the Wissahickon and Wissahickon Valley

Watershed Association are teaming up once again to clean the
Wissahickon Creek from top to bottom on April 30 beginning at 9
a.m.
This spring marks the 41st anniversary of Wissahickon
Valley Watershed Association’s annual Creek Clean Up, and the
second year that FOW has teamed up with WVWA to clean the
Wissahickon Creek from top to bottom—all 21 miles of it! Volunteers of all ages will clean the
Creek, the surrounding trails, and the many tributaries of the Wissahickon Creek.
Armed with gloves and bags, volunteers will be assigned to sections of the creek to
collect anything from plastic bags and swing sets, to mattresses and tires.
Sponsors for the Creek Clean Up include Merck; Dow; MSS- Movers Specialty Service,
Inc.; North Wales Water Authority; Caddick Construction Co.; Aqua Pennsylvania; Colorcon;
BBD, LLP; Moyer Indoor/Outdoor; Rotary Club of Blue Bell; First Priority Bank; Russell
Roofing; North Penn Water Authority; Manufacturers’ Golf and Country Club, Philadelphia
Cricket Club and many more civic-minded companies. REI is a promotional partner for the
event.
Following the clean up, all volunteers are invited to WVWA’s picnic in Fort Washington
State Park, with food provided by Whole Foods Market of North Wales. The pavilion is located
on Mill Road in Flourtown.
To help in Montgomery County, all volunteers must be pre-assigned a section of the
Wissahickon Creek to clean. Please contact Bob Adams, WVWA Director of Stewardship, at
215-646-8866 ext. 14 or send email to: bob@wvwa.org.

Earth Day: Partners Aim To Scrub Schuylkill River Clean

Environmental groups throughout Southeast Pennsylvania have teamed up to promote river
cleanups during a campaign called the Schuylkill Scrub on April 15 to May 31.
Organizers created the Schuylkill Scrub to gather information about litter cleanups
scheduled in the Schuylkill River Watershed. Its purpose is to increase public participation in
cleanups, as well as create new ones. In doing so, they hope to measure and increase the amount
of litter being removed, preserve clean drinking water, and protect wildlife.
“Community groups have cleaned up small areas near the Schuylkill for many years.
However, most have little time or money to promote their events,” said Coordinator Tom
Davidock of the Schuylkill Action Network. “This campaign provides volunteer recruiters with
a means to unite and improve their efforts so they are more effective, visible, and accountable to
funders.”
Those working to organize a cleanup are encouraged to register their event online.
Individuals interested in volunteering can also visit this website to find registered events in their
community.
Organizers of the Schuylkill Scrub are coordinating their efforts with the Great American
Cleanup of PA, which also ends May 31. The Great American Cleanup of PA is organized by
Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful, an affiliate of Keep America Beautiful, Inc.
The Schuylkill Scrub is a collaborative effort by nearly a dozen environmental groups
whose shared mission is protecting the Schuylkill River. Each organization committed funds to
the campaign, and more was acquired from Pennsylvania’s Drinking Water State Revolving
Fund. This fund is provided by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to help water
suppliers improve sources of drinking water, like the Schuylkill River.
The Schuylkill Scrub was founded in 2010 when the Green Valleys Association and the
Hay Creek Watershed Association began coordinating their efforts near the border of Berks
County and Montgomery County.
The Schuylkill River travels 130 miles through the cities of Pottsville, Reading,
Pottstown, Norristown, and Philadelphia. Its watershed spans approximately 2,000 square miles
of land in Berks, Chester, Montgomery, Philadelphia and Schuylkill counties, among others.
For more information and other cleanup events in the Southeast, visit the Partnership for
the Delaware Estuary website and the Schuylkill Scrub webpage.

Earth Day: Volunteers Needed For April 30 Tree Planting In York County

TreeVitalize volunteers are needed to help plant 680 tree seedlings on April 30 along Willis Run
in York City’s Noonan Park as part of the WITF Woodland.
The event will begin with light refreshments at 9 a.m. The park is located north of
Kiwanis Lake, between Atlantic Avenue and Pennsylvania Avenue.
WITF provides funding for the seedlings through listener donations. The seedlings are
provided by the DCNR, which also identifies the location and types of trees to be planted. York
City is providing manpower and equipment to prepare the site, while the Conservation District is
managing the event.
The goal of the project is to help protect water quality and improve the park’s natural
appeal. Once mature, the trees will help prevent runoff into Willis Run, shade the water to make
it healthier for aquatic life and add beauty to the park.
 TreeVitalize is an effort to plant one million trees in metropolitan areas in Pennsylvania
to turn around an alarming loss of tree cover over the past several decades. More than 230,000
trees have been planted so far.
If possible, volunteers interested in participating in the seedling plant should bring:
gloves; shovels; buckets for watering; a sledge hammer for pounding stakes; a pocket knife and
shears.
Anyone who volunteers will receive a tree seedling following the planting to plant at their
own home compliments of the Conservation District.
For more information about the Willis Run planting event visit the York
TreeVitalize webpage.

Earth Day: FundingFactory Salutes Ink Cartridge Recycling Champions

Imagine turning used ink cartridges into a playground, a classroom of laptops, even an entire
computer lab! That's what six honorary recycling champions have done through returning used
ink cartridges and cell phones with Erie-based FundingFactory, a fundraising through recycling
program specifically designed for schools and non-profit organizations.
"In the spirit leading up to celebrating Earth Day, we are celebrating some of our top
recycling partners and applauding them, and other participants like them, for their efforts," said
Sean Michaels, President, FundingFactory. "We congratulate these champions for what they're
doing for their communities and the nation via this effort."
Champions like Kim Rosson, of Harrison, Arkansas. Kim, a Skyline Heights PTA parent
volunteer spearheaded her Funding Factory campaign nearly 10 years ago. To date, Skyline
Heights PTA's efforts have earned $28,000, enough funds to build a playground and provide
laptops for a classroom. All this, while saving these cartridges from going to our nation's
landfills.
"It's just so easy and it was something that the PTA could do and we ran with it! Now, we
do it for every school in the district. It has been amazing and it cost us nothing. You just watch
your points and your money grow," said Kim Rosson.
Laura Grimwood from the Lansing City Rescue Mission says the program has raised
$37,000 for their organization.
"This has been a truly amazing program for us. It really runs itself. Our volunteers have
really taken it upon themselves to solicit their doctors' offices, workplaces, daycare facilities and
anywhere they go regularly to ask them to recycle their cartridges. Sometimes, I almost feel
guilty getting that big check because it is such an easy program," Grimwood said.
For the West Boylston Public School system in West Boylston, MA, FundingFactory
translates to $40,000 worth of laptops, projectors, and entire multi-media curriculum otherwise
out of financial reach to them.
Steve Pellowe, technology coordinator for the West Boylston Public Schools system
says, "At this point, this program is a no-brainer for any school district looking to increase
fundraising."
FundingFactory's list of Recycling Champions includes a pediatric nurse, individual
schools, even an entire school district and its communities. Most of the organizations have been
members of the recycling fundraising program since its inception.
For more information, visit the FundingFactory website.
Earth Day: Community College Of Philadelphia Holds April 20-26 Special Earth Day
Events

As America gears up for Earth Day on April 22, Community College of Philadelphia will call
attention to sustainability, renewable energy, science and the environment, when it officially
opens its $31 million, eco-friendly, newly expanded and refurbished Northeast Regional Center
from 10:30 a.m.—12:30 p.m., April 20, at 12901 Townsend Road.
Federal, state and local officials, including Mayor Michael A. Nutter, will join College
President Stephen M. Curtis for this landmark event. In addition, over the next two weeks, the
College will hold a series of Earth Day-related events to highlight the new NERC and emphasize
the importance of sustainability, green technology, renewable energy and science.
The NERC has been transformed into a cutting edge, eco-sensitive education and training
facility where students witness sustainable design at work inside and outside the facility. A new
60,000-square-foot wing melds seamlessly with the existing 60,000-square-foot structure that
also has been extensively refurbished. The entire $31 million project is expected to receive
LEED gold environmental certification from the U.S. Green Building Council.
"The College is incredibly proud of what it has accomplished by melding the old with the
new at the Northeast Regional Center, making the finished project much greater than the sum of
its parts," President Curtis said of the 120,000-square-foot facility. "The end product is not just
bigger, it is better for students, and greener in ways that are better for the environment."
Scheduled events include the following:
-- 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. April 20– Northeast Regional Center Grand Opening – Federal, state
and local officials join President Curtis at the official opening of the College's eco-friendly
Northeast Regional Center.
-- 2 p.m. April 20– Dual Admissions Signing Ceremony – Presidents and representatives from
11 colleges and universities will participate in a signing ceremony marking the addition of two
new schools, Saint Joseph's University and Rosemont College, to the growing list of schools that
have joined the College in allowing graduates to transfer credits seamlessly to their four-year
institutions. Guest Thomas G. Morr, president and CEO of Select Greater Philadelphia, will
speak along with students, presidents and officials from some of the partner schools.
-- 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., April 25 – Philadelphia Science Festival Extravaganza in Partnership –
Featuring workshops, laboratory experiments and speakers, such as Jonathan D. Essoka of the
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region III, who will speak at 9 a.m. on the topic of
"Energy and Sustainability." This event is part of the Philadelphia Science Festival—a citywide
festival being held April 15-28. Other speakers include: Dr. Veda Giri of the Fox Chase Cancer
Center speaking at 10:30 a.m. on "Genetic Markers/Risk Factors for Prostate Cancer"; and Dr.
Carolyn Heckman of the Fox Chase Cancer Center speaking at 1 p.m. on "Skin Cancer
Prevention."
-- 3:30 p.m., April 25 – Pathways Magazine launch – Join Peter Longstreth, president and CEO
of the Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation (PIDC), and Katherine Gajewski,
director of the Mayor's Office of Sustainability, as they unveil the latest issue of the College's
Pathways magazine, which focuses on green technology and sustainability. Longstreth, Gajewski
and John Grady, PIDC's executive vice president, are featured in the cover-story. Gajewski and
Longstreth will speak at this invitation-only reception.
-- 9 a.m. and 5:30 p.m., April 26 – College for a Day (High School Recruitment & Adult
Student Recruitment) – In the morning, area high school students will tour the new NERC and
learn about the College's educational programs. In the evening, adult residents will be invited to
tour the NERC and learn about the College's educational and training programs.
-- 6 p.m., April 27 – Alumni "Delicious Developments" Reception –Invitation-only reception
for alumni and supporters of the College featuring regional wine, cheese and chocolate tasting
and music performed by students.
-- 8:30 a.m., April 29 -- Grand Chamber Event –An invitation-only breakfast for chamber of
commerce members from the Greater Philadelphia, Greater Northeast Philadelphia, African-
American, Hispanic, and Asian American chambers will showcase the new NERC, and allow
leaders from each chamber to speak about the services they offer.
Community College of Philadelphia enrolls more than 39,000 students annually at its
Main Campus, three Regional Centers and various locations throughout Philadelphia. The
College offers day, evening and weekend classes, as well as classes on the Internet.

Annual Meeting, Awards Luncheon PA Chapter National Assn. Of Water Companies May
3

The PA Chapter of the National Association of Water Companies will hold their annual awards
luncheon on May 3 in Hearing Room 1, Keystone Building beginning at 8:30 a.m.
Former Commissioner, Public Utility Commission, and Department of Environmental
Protection Secretary John Hanger will be honored at the luncheon.
The meeting will feature panel discussions with updates from the PUC, DEP and a
variety of water company executives.
For more information, download the registration form, or contact Erik Ross by sending
email to: eross@ggrgov.com or by calling 717-234-8525.

Centre County Household Hazardous Waste Collection Event April 29-30

Here's your chance to rid your home of old or unwanted hazardous chemicals and be sure they
are properly disposed of by bringing them to the April 29-30 Centre County Solid Waste
Authority drop-off event.
Bring your insecticides, weed killers, pool chemicals, cleaners, poisons, corrosives,
flammables, oil-based paints and many other household hazardous chemicals to the Centre
County Solid Waste Authority on April 29, (10:00 am – 6:00 pm), and on April 30, (9:00 am –
3:00 pm).
We will not be accepting used motor oil, antifreeze, batteries, tires, latex paint,
radioactive or medical material, explosives or ammunition.
For additional information about the event, visit the Centre County Solid Waste
Authority website or call 814-238-7005.

Dauphin County Sets Tire Recycling Event For April 23

The Dauphin County Recycling Center will accept unwanted passenger car and light truck tires
for recycling from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. April 23. The cost is $1 per tire.
 The Recycling Center is located at 1620 S. 19th Street in Harrisburg on the site of the
Harrisburg Resource Recovery Facility.

Waste Management Opens Philadelphia Materials Recovery Facility

Waste Management, Philadelphia Mayor Michael A. Nutter, local and state officials and WM
customers to celebrate the launch of its advanced Philadelphia Material Recovery Facility,
located in Northeast Philadelphia.
This innovative, 60,000-square-foot single-stream facility exemplifies Waste
Management's commitment to recovering the value in waste.
Waste Management invested over $20 million to create one of the most advanced single-
stream technology plants in operation at a former brownfield site.
The Philadelphia MRF is the largest such facility in the region and can sort and process
more than 20,000 tons of recyclable newspaper, cardboard, aluminum, glass and plastic each
month. The plant also captures materials that were historically discarded, such as film plastic
and rigid plastics, expanding the range of materials that can be recycled.
Single-stream recycling streamlines and simplifies the process of collecting and
processing recyclable materials, increasing recycling rates by up to 50 percent. In a single-
stream system, residents and commercial customers place recyclables in a single container for
pickup and no longer need to separate these materials in their homes or workplaces.
When recyclables arrive at WM's Philadelphia recycling facility, advanced technology
that includes magnets, screens and optical scanners is used to separate, sort and process the
materials, which are then shipped out for reuse.
"Waste Management is focused on recovering more of the valuable materials in waste
through the use of advanced technologies such as single-stream recycling," said Patrick
DeReuda, president, Waste Management Recycle America. "By making the process of handling
recyclables simpler for local residents and businesses, this facility has the potential to
significantly increase local recycling participation rates, enabling us to further reduce waste,
recover more material and improve the effectiveness of municipal and commercial recycling
programs."
The Philadelphia MRF accepts materials from the City of Philadelphia's single-stream
residential collection program as well as from other communities and commercial customers in
the region. Once fully staffed, the facility will employ over 70 people, most of them hired from
the Philadelphia area.
"Philadelphia's recycling program is good for the city environmentally and economically.
Single-steam recycling makes keeping the city clean as easy as possible for our residents," said
Mayor Michael A. Nutter. "I'd like to thank Waste Management for investing in Philadelphia
with this new recycling plant, and for the jobs that it will create."
The Philadelphia MRF was constructed using sustainable building and design techniques
and has received LEED Silver certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. The siding
and roofing of the processing building contain over 80 percent recycled content; advanced
stormwater management systems, including a green roof on the office facility, treat stormwater
to improve its quality prior to release.
 This project is part of Waste Management's sustainability initiative to nearly triple the
amount of recyclable materials it recovers, from approximately 8 million tons today to over 20
million tons by 2020.
"Waste is no longer something to get rid of – it's a resource. That's why Waste
Management is leading the way in adopting innovative solutions such as single-stream recycling
to benefit the communities and customers we serve," said James Fish, area vice president, Waste
Management. "We are proud to make this investment in this facility to help move Philadelphia
and the surrounding region to the forefront of recycling."
NewsClip: Sorting Out The Trash In Philadelphia

PROP: Apply Now For 2011 Waste Watchers Awards

The Professional Recyclers of Pennsylvania is now accepting

applications for the 2011 Waste Watcher Awards. Applications are due
by May 18.
The Waste Watcher awards are given to recycling, waste
reduction, reuse and composting programs in Pennsylvania that have
exhibited exemplary performance.
Each year, nearly one hundred municipalities, counties, private
businesses, individuals and community organizations from across the
state are recognized for going above and beyond what is mandated under Act 101 for their
communities or programs.
The Award categories include: recycling, composting/organics, public education, special
event recycling, special collections, reuse, environmental rehabilitation, recycling innovations,
waste reduction, closing the loop and "tales from the trenches."
The Pennsylvania Waste Watcher program is open to municipalities, counties, businesses
and industries, schools, colleges, universities, community non-profit program groups and
individuals who have made a significant contribution in recycling, composting and waste
reduction and reuse efforts during the 2010 calendar year.
Applicants must demonstrate that their efforts are above and beyond services normally
required or typically provided.
Act 101 - the Municipal Waste Planning, Recycling and Waste Reduction Act - has
helped generate significant economic and environmental benefits since 1988. Recycling has
become a billion dollar industry in Pennsylvania.
The amount of collected recyclables and the number of jobs created by the recycling
industry climbs each year. 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 those in the recycling industry like PROP Waste
Watcher winners.
Download the application form and send completed applications to Amy Schirf, Waste
Watcher Committee Chair c/o CCSWA by email to: amyschirf@uplink.net or via mail if
electronic submission is not available to: 253 Transfer Road, Bellefonte, PA 16823 or via fax to
814-238-3195.
EPA Recognizes Leaders In Energy Efficiency, Including 4 In PA

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency this week honored 111 Energy Star partners who
have demonstrated leadership and commitment in protecting American’s health and the
environment through energy efficiency achievements.
Those organizations recognized included: Saint-Gobain, Valley Forge; Sunoco, Inc.,
Philadelphia; Continental Refrigerator, Bensalem; and Energy CAP, Inc., State College.
2011 Energy Star award winners include manufacturers, retailers, public schools,
hospitals, real estate companies and home builders. Organizations are recognized in one of three
award categories: Sustained Excellence, Partner of the Year, and Excellence.
“Year after year, Energy Star award winners reflect American ingenuity at its highest
level,” said EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson. “The innovations at work in the Energy Star
program are cost-effective ways to reduce pollution, improve our health and grow our economy
all at the same time. Those who have invested in these energy saving technologies display
economically-sensible solutions that are good for our communities and our future.”
Last year alone, Americans, with the help of the Energy Star program and its 20,000
partners, saved approximately $18 billion on their energy bills while preventing greenhouse gas
emissions equivalent to the annual emissions of 33 million vehicles.
To date, nearly 1.2 million new homes and more than 12,600 office buildings, schools,
hospitals and public buildings have earned the Energy Star. Since 2000, approximately 3.5
billion Energy Star qualified products have been sold.
A complete list of those recognized is available online.

Alternative Fuels Sustainability Summit June 2 In Hershey

The Alternative Fuels Renewable Energies Council will host a Sustainability Summit in Hershey
on June 2.
The featured speaker will be Glenn Rice, President East Region UPS on balancing
economic prosperity, social responsibility and environmental stewardship.
The event will also include an Achieving Corporate Sustainability panel discussion with
David Lavery, Hershey Entertainment and Resorts, Bill Gregory, Turkey Hill, Mark Johnson,
Gannett Fleming. The moderator is Michael Smith, Lutron Electronics.
For more information, visit the Sustainability Summit webpage.

Chatham University Hosts Anna Lappe, Small Planet Institute, May 14

Chatham University in Pittsburgh will host a free lecture by author and activist Anna Lappe of
the Small Planet Institute on May 14 at 5:00 p.m. in the Eddy Theatre at the University's
Shadyside Campus.
Her lecture, “Firing-Up Food Activism, Cooling-Down the Planet,” promises to be an
inspiring talk about sustaining communities and encouraging innovative and democratic
solutions to hunger, inequality, and environmental degradation.
Ms. Lappe’s journey through the global food system shows us where the problems reside
and what people across the globe are doing in everyday actions to challenge and change our
world. Her most recent books include “Diet for a Hot Planet” and “Hope’s Edge.”
 Anna and her mother, Frances Moore Lappe founded the Small Planet Institute in 2001 to
help pursue examples of democracy as a rewarding way of life: a culture in which citizens infuse
the values of inclusion, fairness, and mutual accountability into all dimensions of public life.
The Institute supports people and projects around the world who work to remake societal
rules into shared values, focusing on collaborative public education, media programs, and
outreach campaigns.
“Firing-Up Food Activism, Cooling-Down the Planet” is co-sponsored by the following
community partners: The Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, Grow Pittsburgh, Slow
Food Pittsburgh, Just Harvest, The East End Co-op, and the Pittsburgh Food Forest.

DEP, Game Commission Host Teachers, Students At May 17 Falcon Banding Event

The Department of Environmental Protection and Game

Commission will conduct the annual peregrine falcon banding
event from 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m. on May 17 in the auditorium of the
Rachel Carson State Office Building in Harrisburg.
DEP invites teachers, non-formal educators and students to
attend the event, where biologists will weigh and band the newly-
hatched nestlings, called eyases. The event will also be streamed
live on DEP's website.
On May 17, biologists will retrieve the young peregrines from the nest located on the
15th Floor of the Rachel Carson State Office Building and place a metal band with a falcon-
specific code around the left leg of each of the eyases. The band code will be used by wildlife
officials and bird enthusiasts to monitor the birds once they leave the nest. In addition, a U.S.
Fish and Wildlife band will be placed on the eyases' right leg, registering each on a federal
banding database.
This event offers a unique opportunity to witness wildlife management techniques used to
reintroduce and monitor endangered species.
Since 1997, a pair of peregrine falcons has made their home on the 15th Floor of the
Rachel Carson State Office Building. While their numbers are increasing, peregrine falcons
remain an endangered species in Pennsylvania.
Through reintroduction programs, peregrines have adapted to life in urban environments
like Harrisburg, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and Williamsport. Each year, DEP and the Game
Commission track the activities of these birds and share their findings on the web.
The Rachel Carson nest site has been active and reproducing young peregrine falcons for
the past eleven years. This year, there is a new female in the nest who arrived in September and
has laid a clutch of four eggs.
To register for the peregrine falcon banding event, mid-state educators should contact
DEP's Environmental Education and Information Center at 717-772-1644 or by email at
adevine@state.pa.us by May 3.
Because space is limited, registrations will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis
with priority given to educators and students who have not previously attended the event.
The banding event can be viewed live by visiting DEP's website. Viewers will be able to
see the banding of the eyases and will learn how biologists use alphanumeric bands to study
peregrine falcons as they migrate, pair with other peregrines and set up breeding territories.
 Fans also can follow the peregrines through Twitter.

Wildlands Conservancy Protects 172 Acres Along Blue Mountain

The Wildlands Conservancy recently secured 172 acres of land in East Penn Township, Carbon
County, for the purpose of protecting the habitat and scenic beauty of the Blue Mountain along
the Kittatinny Ridge.
Noted for its unique grassland and woodland habitat, the property is home to several
insect species of statewide concern as well as recovering stands of oak, birch and chestnut trees.
“This acquisition continues our legacy involvement in protecting land and natural habitat
along the Kittatinny Ridge,” remarks Christopher M. Kocher, president, Wildlands Conservancy.
“Adjacent to the Appalachian Trail, the Lehigh Gap Nature Center and State Game Land 217,
this property will protect an important wildlife corridor and migratory path for raptors.”
Millions of Pennsylvanians and hundreds of communities value the Kittatinny Ridge for
its scenic beauty, recreational opportunities, water supplies, and wildlife habitat. The Ridge has
national importance as a critical habitat link in the Appalachian Forest that stretches the length of
the Eastern United States, and as a corridor for the world famous Appalachian Trail.
Wildlands Conservancy has entered into an agreement with the Game Commission to
transfer the property so that this parcel can be managed as part of the overall state game lands
network for betterment of wildlife.
Since the organization’s beginning in 1973, Wildlands Conservancy has protected more
than 48,000 acres of land in 18 counties in eastern Pennsylvania.
For more information on this property and the organization’s land conservation efforts,
contact Kent Baird, Director of Land Conservation and Planning, at 610-965-4397, ext. 119 or
send email to: kbaird@wildlandspa.org.

Reminder: Apply Now For Laurel Highlands Conservation Landscape Mini-Grants

The National Road Heritage Corridor is now accepting applications for mini-grants from
nonprofit organizations, municipalities, and friends groups of state parks/forests who are in the
Laurel Highlands Conservation Landscape Initiative region. Applications are due April 21.
Projects located in communities and parks connected to the Laurel Ridge, Chestnut
Ridge, greater Johnstown area, and the Great Allegheny Passage will be given a priority.
Funding for this opportunity comes from the Department of Conservation and Natural
Resources. Grant awards will be $1,500 to $15,000 and all will require a cash match. The
official Letter of Intent deadline is April 21. An invitation to submit a full application will be
announced May 10, with an application deadline of May 31. Grant awards will be announced
mid-June.
The Laurel Highlands Conservation Landscape Initiative is a Department of Conservation
and Natural Resources project. The initiative is a partnership that strives to raise the region’s
quality of life while crafting a model of sustainable development tied to the natural and cultural
assets of the region. It connects communities with state agencies and funding partners to
conserve and enhance the region’s economic viability.
To receive the map that identifies Mini-Grant eligible areas; the Mini-Grant Guidelines;
and the Letter of Intent, please contact Olga Herbert at Lincoln Highway by email to:
olga@lhhc.org or Donna Holdorf, Executive Director of The National Road Heritage Corridor
by sending email to: donnah@nationalroadpa.org or call 724-437-9877.

Cultural Resource Management Workshop May 17 In Harrisburg

In partnership with the 2011 Statewide Conference on Heritage, leaders in cultural resource
management will host a panel discussion on the changing regional and national landscape of
CRM and NEPA consulting. Representatives from the transportation, energy development and
communications fields will provide advice and resources for maintaining and growing your
client base.
Based on attendee interest, Preservation Pennsylvania is negotiating with Jeanine R.
Kingeter of HR Business Partners LLC in King of Prussia, one of the Middle Atlantic region's
leading marketing consultants, to provide a full afternoon of training in marketing strategies for
consulting services.
Preservation Pennsylvania is actively soliciting support for this workshop to help cover
the training costs and bring this important workshop to this year's conference. If your firm can
help support this training, please contact Jennifer Horn by sending email to:
jhorn@preservationpa.org.
To register and for a full workshop agenda, visit the Statewide Conference on Heritage
website.

Sustainable Landscapes Bus Tour Arrives in Lancaster County June 23

Township officials, landscape architects, planners, educators, park managers, and others – come
see six great examples of ways to plan and manage land in a healthier, more environmentally
friendly way while saving money!
The 2011 Sustainable Landscapes Bus Tour kicks off at 7:30 a.m. on June 23 at the Farm
and Home Center in Lancaster with a continental breakfast and keynote presentations.
Two buses will then depart for sustainable sites around Lancaster County including:
Schaeffer Elementary School, Warwick Township Building, Mummau Park, Santo Domingo
development, Ethel Swan Park and Raymark (a former industrial site), and Brubaker Farm.
These sites highlight native plantings, natural stormwater management, energy efficiencies, and
more.
The bargain price of the bus tour is $25 which includes breakfast, lunch, a spot on the bus
and handouts. Registration materials are available on the Department of Conservation and
Natural Resources website.
This event is being organized by a Sustainable Lands Partnership, which consists of the
Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, the Department of Environmental
Protection, the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay, the Capital RC&D, Lancaster County
Conservation District, Lancaster County Parks, Lancaster County Planning Commission,
LandStudies, LIVE Green, the PA Landscape and Nursery Association, the PA Recreation and
Park Society, and the Susquehanna River Basin Commission.
Only 100 seats will be available, so register early to secure your spot! For more
information about the event, and for information about sponsorships, call 717-214-7511.
Overnight Guests Again Welcome At Ironmaster's Mansion Pine Grove Furnace State
Park

Visitors to Pine Grove Furnace State Park in Cumberland County

are once again able to bunk down in the Ironmaster’s Mansion.
The Ironmaster’s Mansion—which features the only hostel
in Pennsylvania’s system of 117 State Parks—was closed for a
year for much-needed renovations.
“Like many of the attractions at our State Parks, the
Ironmaster’s Mansion at Pine Grove is steeped in history,” DCNR Bureau of State Parks
Director John Norbeck said.
Many famous families in state history have lived in the mansion, including Judge
Fredrick Watts, founder of Penn State University; Jackson Fuller, the namesake for Fuller Lake;
and Jay Cooke, often called "the financier of the Civil War."
The Ironmaster’s Mansion is being leased by the Central Pennsylvania Conservancy,
which completed the renovations through lots of volunteer work and private donations.
Reservations are handled by the Cumberland Valley Visitors Bureau.
The mansion, built between 1827 and 1829, still embodies all the features from its
original construction. Renovations included window replacements, a commercial kitchen, new
bunk beds and other furnishings, repainting, landscaping, and adding meeting space. The
renovations will allow the mansion to host weddings, meetings and other special events.
Rates are $25 plus tax per night and include dormitory lodging in bunk beds, linens, a
pasta dinner the evening of arrival, and breakfast the morning of departure. Lodging is $20 if you
opt not to have the meals.
A public grand reopening celebration will be held on May 6.
For more information about the Ironmaster’s Mansion or to make a reservation, call
717-486-4108 or send email to: ironmasterspinegrove@gmail.com.

Game Commission Adds Over 9,000 Acres To State Game Lands

The Board of Game Commissioners this week – in one of the largest land purchases in agency
history – approved the purchase of 9,306 acres in Bell and Greenwood townships, Clearfield
County, adjoining State Game Land 87, from RLF Deemer Properties LLC, for a lump sum
payment of $5,583,600.
The payment will be made using funds by third-party commitments for compensation of
habitat and recreational losses from previously-approved Board actions on oil/gas and mineral
recovery leases.
“Acquisition of this more than 14-square-mile property helps fulfill the Game
Commission’s mission of protecting wildlife habitats for current and future generations,” said
Bill Capouillez, Game Commission Bureau of Wildlife Habitat Management director. “A
purchase of this size is virtually unheard of these days anywhere within Pennsylvania, and
certainly exemplifies the Game Commission’s efforts to provide a legacy for future generations
to enjoy hunting and trapping opportunities, while helping to secure viable wildlife populations
for years to come.
 “Additionally, this purchase fulfills our obligation to hunters and trappers to offset
temporary recreation and habitat losses from oil, gas and mineral extraction previously approved
on various State Game Lands throughout the state.”
The Board also voted to add 172 acres in Carbon County, a land exchange in Cambria
County and oil and gas leases in Lycoming, Bradford and Tioga counties that will yield $18
million for the Commission.
More background on each of these actions is available online.

Seasons And Bag Limits Set By The Game Commission Board

Board of Game Commissioners this week gave final approval to hunting and trapping seasons
and bag limits for 2011-12, including big and small game seasons and furbearer seasons.
The Board also adopted antlerless deer license allocations for the 22 Wildlife
Management Units.
A summary of the highlights from the Game Commission Board meeting is available
online.

Fish And Boat Commission Finalizes Susquehanna River Bass Regulations

Fish and Boat Commission this week placed permanent catch-and-immediate-release regulations
on smallmouth and largemouth bass in portions of the Susquehanna and Juniata rivers, a move
designed to protect the rivers’ existing bass population.
At the same time, Commissioners at the quarterly business meeting approved publication
of proposed regulations which would, if adopted on final rulemaking, close bass fishing on the
same river segments during the spawning season and extend the catch-and-immediate-release
regulations to portions of tributaries beginning in 2012.
For more information, visit the full announcement online.

John Giordano Named DCNR Deputy Secretary For Administration

Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Acting Secretary Richard Allan this week
announced John Giordano will lead the agency’s administrative operations.
“As deputy secretary for administration, John Giordano will assist me in managing the
daily managerial and organizational operations of the department,” Allan said. “John’s diverse
knowledge of legal and environmental issues combined with his management experience make
him a good fit for this position.’’
In his new role, Giordano will be responsible for overseeing the department’s
administrative, human resource and information technology activities.
Giordano comes to DCNR from the Atlantic Trailer Leasing Corp., where he was
executive vice president and chief legal officer. Giordano is a former federal prosecutor, having
served in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia and as counselor to the
assistant attorney general for the Environment and Natural Resources Division at the Justice
Department.
 Giordano also previously served as a senior adviser and staff director at the U.S.
Department of Energy and was a member of Gov. Corbett's Energy and Environmental
Transition Team.
Giordano earned his undergraduate degree from Villanova University and his law degree
from Villanova University School of Law. He lives in Philadelphia.

Help Wanted: John James Audubon Center Environmental Educator Intern

Audubon Pennsylvania is seeking an environmental education summer intern for the John James
Audubon Center in Audubon, Pa. Deadline for applications April 20. Click Here for more
details.

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 19-- 4-H, FFA Grassland Scholarship Competition

April 20-- DCNR Community Conservation Partnership Grants
April 21-- NEW. Laurel Highlands Conservation Landscape Mini-Grants
April 22-- EPA Student Environmental Development Program
April 22-- EPA Earth Day Student Poster Contest
April 25-- Pocono Northeast RC&D: Household Water Well Assistance Program
April 30-- Northeast Audubon Society College Scholarship
May 1-- KPB Sue Wiseman College Scholarship
May 1-- Dominion Foundation Education Partnership Grants
May 2-- ConocoPhillips/Penn State Energy Prize
May 2-- EPA Environmental Education Grants
May 2-- Audubon/Toyota Alliance Conservation Leadership/Project Grants
May 2-- Common Waters Foundation Upper Delaware Forest Landowner Grants
May 18-- NEW. PROP 2011 Waste Watcher Awards
May 19-- DCNR Volunteer Fire Assistance Program
May 26-- EPA i6 Green Challenge Grants
May 31-- Fish & Boat Commission Boating Facility Grants
June 17-- DEP Alternative Fuels Incentive Grants
June 30-- DEP Nitrogen Tire Inflation System Grants
July 11-- PROP Annual Recycling FilmFest Competition
August-- EPA/American Rivers Potomac Highlands Restoration Grants
August 26-- Foundation for PA Watersheds Grants
September 4-- Chester County Green Business Awards
December 31-- NEW. President's Environmental Youth Awards

-- Visit the DEP Grants and Loan Programs webpage for more ideas on how to get financial
assistance for environmental projects.
Quick Clips

Here's a selection of NewClips on environmental topics from around the state--

Blog: PA Recycling Report, Next Generation Recycling, Waste Reduction

Budget
A Tax That Dares Not Speak Its Name (Severance Tax)
Shale Gas And The Severance Tax
Op-Ed: Keep State Growing Greener
Editorial: International (Severance Tax) Giveaway
Legislative Payroll Is Bigger Than Ever
Other
Coal Mogul Gets Position With Corbett
NE PA Cleanups Seek Volunteers
Annual Potomac Watershed Cleanup Yields Tons Of Debris
E-Waste Collection Set Saturday In East Liberty
Garb Oil & Power Corp Will Build Tire Recycling Plant In Reading
Kids Plant Philly's Trash Tree In Atlanta (Video)
Geocachers Seek Treasure While Cleaning Up The Woods
Recycling Gets All Lathered Up At Fairmont Hotel
Sorting Out The Trash In Philadelphia
Plans For Saucon Valley Environmental Center Discussed
Green Construction Offers Glimpse Of Employment Future
Column: Browner Shade Of Green (Pittsburgh Convention Center)
Wayne County Project Gets State Funding For Alternative Energy
Turkey Hill Wind Turbines Power Production Of Beverages, Ice Cream
Editorial: Stop The EPA
Editorial: Mercury In CFL Bulbs Anyone?
Mining Machinery Plants Busy
Dozens Of Firms Interested In Cleaning Up Erie GAF Site
Editorial: State Police Truck Inspection Blitz
Lancaster Project Gets National Brownfield Award
SteelStacks Venue Further Revives Former Steel Site
Bristol Twp Will Try to Revive Environmental Advisory Council
State Preservation Forum Slated In Scranton
Lackawanna Forum To Hear Residents Preservation Priorities
Dogs Allowed To Stay With Owners In Some State Park Cabins
Pittsburgh Council Budget Change Funds Bike Trail
Lyme Disease A Risk Throughout Western PA
Jersey Shore Considers Boat Launch Project
Easton To Be Part Of Shad Spawning Program
Lakeland Students Traverse Nature Trail
Presque Isle Audubon Program On Hawks, Plovers
Eagle's Nest Held Unexpected Lessons
Great Blue Herons, Bald Eagles Share Erie County
Game Commission: Please Don't Feed The Bears
Game Commission Considers Open Season On Porcupines
Game Commission Spars Over Deer Population
New Fossil Show To Open At Tom Ridge Environmental Center
Editorial: Keep Asian Carp Out Of Great Lakes
Japanese Earthquake
Still Within Safe Limits, Philly Water Shows Iodine Spike
Radioactive Iodine In Philly Water Spurs Enhanced Testing
Radioactive Iodine Source In Philly Water An Elusive Target
Philadelphia Radioactive Water In Schuylkill Not Related To Japan
FEMA To Evaluate TMI Emergency Preparedness
Drills At TMI Unconnected To Japanese Nuclear Disaster

Marcellus Shale NewsClips

Here are NewsClips on topics related to Marcellus Shale natural gas drilling---

Acting DEP Head Defends Marcellus NOV Policy Change

Editorial: Enforcement Of Gas Drilling In Political Hands
State Fire Commissioner: Drilling Impact Strains Volunteers
Drilling Highlights PA Firefighter Need
DEP Accused Of Rubber-Stamping Marcellus Well Permits
DEP Staffers Quickly Process Drilling Applications
Column: A Pollution Fox Guards Henhouse
Selling Natural Gas, Courtesy Of State Government
DEP May Limit Drilling Contaminated Sludge Disposal
State's Treatment Of Fracking Water Controversial
CBF Wants Feds To Take Closer Look At Drilling In Watershed
Op-Ed: On Shale Policy, DEP Head Should Have Known Better
Editorial: Permission To Enforce The Rules, Please?
Editorial: An Unhappy Gas Drilling Coincidence
Marcellus Shale Working Groups Begin Meeting
MSC: Draft DRBC Regulation Duplicative, Exceeds Legal Authority
Environmentalists Deliver 30,000 Anti-Drilling Comments To DRBC
Environmental Groups Urge Extension Of Delaware Gas Drilling Moratorium
35,000 Oppose Gas Drilling Near Delaware River
Brook Trout Can Keep Drillers From Polluting PA Waters
Environmentalists Say Radiation Tests Not Often Enough
More Jobs Than Workers In Marcellus Shale Region
Marcellus Shale Gas May Head Overseas
Rep. Pickett Applauds Marcellus Works Proposal
Fill'er Up With Natural Gas?
Panel: Caution Must Mix With Shale's Promise
Washington County Panel: Caution Must Mix With Shale's Promise
Bell Acres Marcellus Shale Forum Attracts Large Crowd
Marcellus Just Start Of Rich PA Reserves
Op-Ed: Marcellus Shale Key To Energy Independence
Editorial: Shale Gas Could Change The World
USA Today PA Marcellus Shale Job Analysis
Marcellus Shale Gas Drilling Divides Communities
Shale Art Imitates Life
7 Wastewater Plants Refuse To Take Fracking Fluid
700 Attend Pittsburgh Marcellus Shale Drilling Forum
Penn State Seeks Water Well Owners For Gas Study
Attorneys: Marcellus Shale Litigation Sure To Boom
Natural Gas Metering Station Set For Adjacent Property
Companies Lining Up Gas Leases In Beaver County
Registry For Natural Gas Fracking Chemicals Launched
Critics Say Drilling Chemical Registry Not Enough
Voluntary Online Registry Of Fracking Chemicals Draws Praise
Local Controls Touted Under Proposed Drilling Plan
Frack Water In Hanover Twp Opposed
Marcellus Shale Symposium Held In Kidder Township
Gas Firm Withdraws Back Mt. Plans, Will Resubmit
Wyoming Valley Frack Wastewater Treatment Information
Volunteers Seek Out Trout Streams, Test Water
Establishing Baseline Readings For Streams (Video)
Casey Testifies On Need To Protect Drinking Water In Fracking Debate
Drilling Opponent Dan Volz To Leave Pitt Post
Pitt: Departing Shale Drilling Opponent Free To Speak His Mind
Apology Sought From Former Pitt Marcellus Prof On Misleading Report
Drilling Water Treatment Plant Threatens Lawsuit Against Volz
Former Pitt Professor Continues To Blast DEP, Drillers
Activist Nuns Bringing Fracking To Vote
Washington County Residents Argue Shale Housing Rule
Op-Ed: Marcellus Shale Drilling In The Sewickley Area
Emsworth Rejects Gas Drilling In Community Park
Landscape Architects Find New Business In Marcellus Shale
Marcellus Wastewater Treatment Tech Fetches $18 Million
Wyoming Chamber Gets Gas Company Boost
Kingston Twp. OKs Gas, Oil Law
Multiple Drilling Lawsuits Expected In N. Huntingdon
Fire Levels Cabot Storage Barn
Chesapeake CEO: No Lasting Environmental Damage From Fracking
U.S. Senators Question Safety Of Water Used In Gas Drilling
Op-Ed: Our U.S. Senators Should Not Weaken The EPA
Expert: Product Of Hydraulic Fracturing Contaminates Water
Marcellus Shale Pipeline Coming To Philadelphia Area
Aging Natural Gas Lines A Concern
State May Build Facility To Train Marcellus Pipe Inspectors
Western PA Could Host National Pipeline Inspection Training Center
Drilling Training Facility Could Be Built In Pittsburgh
Federal Grants Funds Railroad For Marcellus Traffic
Study: Marcellus Shale Gas Worse Than Coal On Climate
Emissions Can Be Cut From Gas Well Drilling
Other States
Environmentalists Urge NJ Governor To Back Ban On Fracking
MD Environmental Chief Calls For Federal Oversight Of Fracking
MD Legislators Trying To Further Marcellus Drilling Studies
Financial
CONSOL Gas Division Reports Results

Watershed NewsClips

Here are NewsClips on watershed topics from around the state--

Op-Ed: Keep State Growing Greener

CBF Wants Feds To Take Closer Look At Drilling In Watershed
Ashland To Test Sewage Plant Upgrades
Volunteers Seek Out Trout Streams, Test Water
Establishing Baseline Readings For Streams (Video)
Penn State Seeks Water Well Owners For Gas Study
DuBois Works To Protect Its Watershed
Port Carbon Aims To Tackle Stormwater Separation Project
Brook Trout Can Keep Drillers From Polluting PA Waters
Feds Ax Regs Treating Spilled Milk As Pollutant
Lawsuit Blasts Flood Insurance Policies
Editorial: Latest Delaware River Flood Prevention Plan Too Timid
DEP To Study Water Particulate Problem In Carmichaels
Raising World Awareness About Water Issues

Regulations, Technical Guidance & Permits

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice of several air quality

requirements-- Final 2015 Season Nitrogen Oxide Allowances and Final 2011 Ozone Season
Nitrogen Oxide Limits. DEP also published notice of an update to the list of companies certified
to perform radon-related activities (PA Bulletin page 2063)

DEP invited comments on proposed Total Maximum Daily Load plans for three watersheds in
Butler, Crawford and Erie counties (PA Bulletin 2065-2066)
Pennsylvania Bulletin - April 16, 2011

Proposed Regulations Open For Comment - DEP webpage

Proposed Regulations With Closed Comment Periods - DEP webpage

Rolling Regulatory Agenda - DEP webpage

Technical Guidance & Permits

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice rescinding radon certification

guidance.

Rescission: DEP ID: 294-2309-003. Pennsylvania Radon Certification Guide. This content and
scope of this document no longer meets standard definition of Technical Guidance and is now
redundant with existing publications.

Technical Guidance Comment Deadlines - DEP webpage

Copies Of Draft Technical Guidance - DEP webpage

Copies of Final Technical Guidance - DEP webpage

Calendar Of Events

Upcoming legislative meetings, conferences, workshops, plus links to other online calendars.
Meetings are in Harrisburg unless otherwise noted. NEW means new from last week. Go to the
online Calendar webpage.

Click on Agenda Released on calendar entries to see the NEW meeting agendas published this
week.

April 19-- Agenda Released. DEP Citizens Advisory Council meeting. Room 105 Rachel
Carson Building. 11:00.

April 19-- CANCELED. DEP Environmental Quality Board meeting. The next scheduled
meeting is May 18. (formal notice)

April 20-- Time Changed. House Consumer Affairs Committee holds a hearing on House Bill
1294 (Godshall-R-Montgomery) further providing for valuation of water and wastewater system
property and providing alternative ratemaking mechanism (DSIC) for natural gas and other
utility distribution systems. Room 418. 1:30.
April 20-- NEW. Senate Democratic Policy Committee holds a hearing on energy, economic
development and job creation initiatives (agenda). Nazareth Student Center, Marywood
University, Scranton. 12:30.

April 20-- Agenda Released. DEP Agricultural Advisory Board meeting. Susquehanna Room,
DEP Southcentral Regional Office. 10:00.

April 20-- Agenda Released. DCNR Conservation and Natural Resources Advisory
Council meeting. Room 105 Rachel Carson Building. 10:00. (formal notice)

April 21-- NEW. DEP Chesapeake Bay Watershed Implementation Plan meeting. DEP
Harrisburg, Regional Office, Susquehanna Room, 909 Elmerton Ave., Harrisburg. 12:30.
(formal notice)

April 21-- NEW. House Democratic Policy Committee holds a hearing on chemical leaks and air
quality issues involving oil refineries (agenda). Amando Recital Room of Irvine Auditorium,
University of Pennsylvania. Philadelphia 10:00.

April 21-- House Republican Policy Committee hearing with Rep. Evankovich on water safety
and Marcellus Shale drilling. Murrysville Community Center, Murrysville. 9:00.

April 21-- Agenda Released. DEP Air Quality Technical Advisory Committee meeting. Room
105 Rachel Carson Building. 9:15.

April 25-- NEW. Governor's Transportation Funding Advisory Commission meeting. Room
105 Rachel Carson Building. 10:00. [information will be published on the PennDOT
website.] (formal notice)

April 26-- NEW. House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee holds an
informational meeting on water resources planning with DEP Executive Deputy Secretary John
Hines. Room B-31. 9:00.

April 27-- NEW. House Democratic Policy Committee holds a hearing on Marcellus Shale
development. Harrisburg Area Community College, CV Tech Building, Glatfelter Community
Room. 10:30.

April 27-- NEW. Governor's Marcellus Shale Advisory Commission meeting. Room 105
Rachel Carson Building. 10:00.

April 28-- NEW. House Democratic Policy Committee holds a hearing Marcellus Shale natural
gas drilling tax. Harrisburg Area Community College, CV Tech Building, Glatfelter Community
Room, 2010 Pennsylvania Ave., York. 10:30.

April 28- Agenda Released. DEP Mine Families First Response & Communications Advisory
Council. Marion Center Mine Rescue Facility, Home, Pa. 10:00.
May 2-- Environmental Issues Forum, Joint Legislative Air and Water Pollution Control and
Conservation Committee, hears a presentation on the new electronics recycling law. Room G-50
Irvis Building. 12:00.

May 4-- NEW. House Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee holds an
informational meeting on emergency preparedness involving nuclear power plant facilities.
Room G-50 Irvis Building. 9:00.

May 12-- NEW. House Democratic Policy Committee holds a hearing Marcellus shale natural
gas drilling tax. Bethlehem City Hall Town Hall, 10 East Church St., Bethlehem. 1:00.

June 10-- CANCELED. DEP Oil and Gas Technical Advisory Board meeting. Room 105
Rachel Carson Building. 10:00. (formal notice)

August 23-- DEP Oil and Gas Technical Advisory Board meeting. Room 105 Rachel Carson
Building. 10:00. (formal notice)

September 16-- CANCELED. DEP Oil and Gas Technical Advisory Board meeting. Room 105
Rachel Carson Building. 10:00. (formal notice)

December 6-- DEP Oil and Gas Technical Advisory Board meeting. Room 105 Rachel Carson
Building. 10:00. (formal notice)

DEP Calendar of Events

Environmental Education Workshop/Training Calendar (PA Center for Environmental

Education)

Senate Committee Schedule House Committee Schedule

You can watch the Senate Floor Session and House Floor Session live online.

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Send your stories, photos and videos about your project, environmental issues or programs for
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