Friday, January 31, 2020

Fmr. Sen. Mike Brubaker Joins Board Of Chesapeake Conservancy

On January 30, the Chesapeake Conservancy announced four new members have been added to its Board of Directors, including former Sen. Mike Brubaker (R-Lancaster).
“The Board is pleased to welcome four new members, each of whom brings valuable and different skill sets to the management of our growing organization. Together we will advance the Chesapeake Conservancy’s mission and contribute tangible results toward conservation and restoration of the Chesapeake Bay,” said Chair Scott.
“We are very pleased to welcome our new board members who bring a wealth of expertise in everything from accounting, to diversity and inclusion, government relations, and organizational management and represent various regions of the Chesapeake Bay watershed,” said Chesapeake Conservancy President and CEO Joel Dunn. “Our Board is positioned to lead as the Chesapeake Conservancy enters the next phase of growth and opportunity.”
Mike Brubaker
In 2006, Mike Brubaker was elected to the Pennsylvania State Senate for two consecutive four year terms. While representing the 36th district, he served four-year terms as Chair of the Agricultural & Rural Affairs Committee and Chair of the Senate Finance Committee. 
Brubaker also served as Board Member of the Chesapeake Bay Commission for eight years and served for two years as Chair of the Tri-State Commission.
“As a life-long Chesapeake Bay enthusiast and a 7th generation Pennsylvanian, I take great pride in the progress we have made in Bay conservation and look forward to working as a Chesapeake Conservancy Board Member to creatively and cooperatively work alongside Pennsylvanian leaders to ensure full compliance as we work collaboratively towards a cleaner, more viable Chesapeake Bay for all,” said Brubaker.
He is also the co-founder and managing partner of Principled Strategies, a business advisory firm dedicated to helping businesses grow by identifying barriers and creatively and collaboratively seeking solutions through mergers and acquisitions, new market creation, financing, real estate acquisition, and government relations.
Brubaker holds a Bachelor of Science in Agronomy from West Virginia University as well as an Honorary Doctorate from Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology. 
Mike and his wife of 35 years, Cindy, live in Lancaster, Pennsylvania and enjoy investing time with family, friends, family bike rides in Lancaster County, and boating on the upper Chesapeake Bay.
Chesapeake Conservancy’s mission is to conserve and restore the natural and cultural resources of the Chesapeake Bay watershed for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations.
As principal partner for the National Park Service on the Chesapeake Bay Gateways Network and the Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail, the Conservancy helped create 170 new public access sites and permanently protect some of the Bay’s special places like Werowocomoco, Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge, Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historical Park, and Fort Monroe National Monument.
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[Posted: January 31, 2020]  PA Environment Digest
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Interns Wanted: Gov. Pinchot's Grey Towers National Historic Site Internships In Pike County

Applications are currently being accepted for a number of unpaid college and post-graduate internships at Gov. Pinchot's Grey Towers National Historic Site in Milford, Pike County. 
College students interested in parks and recreation, history, gardening, horticulture and landscape architecture, museum services and forestry are encouraged to apply. 
These are unpaid learning opportunities. Housing on the historic estate and uniforms may be provided--
-- Visitor Services/Tours/Public Programs: Multiple opportunities are available for students to learn the history of conservation by developing and delivering mansion tours and education programs and participating in public events. Summer and Fall openings available. Deadline to apply is March 15. Send letter of interest to lori.mckean@usda.gov or call 570-296-9672.
-- Gardening/Horticulture: This internship provides a valuable, practical experience for students who want a hands-on experience with landscape design, horticulture and garden technique. Deadline to apply is March 31. Send letter of interest, including field of study and expected graduation date to Elizabeth.hawke@usda.gov or call 570-296-9661 for more information.
-- Museum/Archives: Students will learn how to care for museum collections including registration, cataloguing, conservation and archiving methods. Handson experience with inventorying, re-housing historic photos and documents, digitizing collections and more. Ideal for students of museum studies, art history, anthropology, archaeology and history. Contact Rebecca Philpot at Rebecca.philpot@usda.gov or 570-296-9679.
Start and end dates vary. Students may qualify for credits through arrangements they make with their academic institutions. For general information, call 570-296-9630 or email to: SM.FS.greytowers@usda.gov. 
For more information on programs, initiatives and other upcoming events, visit the Grey Towers Heritage Association.  Click Here to sign up for updates from the Association, Like them on Facebook, Follow them on Twitter, visit their YouTube Channel, become part of their Google+ Circle and follow them on Instagram.
  Also visit the Grey Towers Historic Site website and the Pinchot Institute for Conservation website for information on its conservation research and policy programs.  Click Here to sign up for the Institute’s regular updates.
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[Posted: January 31, 2020]  PA Environment Digest
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Help Wanted: PA Resources Council Recycling Operations Specialist In Pittsburgh

The PA Resources Council is seeking qualified candidates to fill a Recycling Operations Specialist position based in Pittsburgh.
This position supports the Collection Events Manager to produce PRC’s broad portfolio of recycling programs and includes the development and operations of these programs and will occasionally act as PRC’s primary point of contact at our recycling collection events.
The position requires routine Saturday work from March – October.
For more information on programs, initiatives and special events, visit the PA Resources Council website.  Click Here to sign up for regular updates, follow PRC on Twitter or Like them on Facebook.  Click Here for PRC’s Events Calendar.  Click Here to support their work.
[Posted: January 31, 2020]  PA Environment Digest
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Jan. 31 Take Five Fridays With Pam, PA Parks & Forests Foundation

The January 31 Take Five Fridays With Pam is now available from the PA Parks and Forest Foundation featuring articles on--
-- Damage Caused By Emerald Ash Borer Demonstrates Need For Year Of The Trees
-- Have You Visited The Earth Day 50 PA Website Yet?
-- Work And Play In State Parks & Forests Events
-- Friends of Ohiopyle’s Winterfest Set For Feb. 1 Due To Lack Of Winter
For more information on programs, initiatives, special events and how you can get involved, visit the PA Parks & Forests Foundation website.  Click Here to sign up for regular updates from the Foundation,  Like them on Facebook or Follow them on Twitter.  Click Here to become a member of the Foundation.
(Photo: Snowflakes on a picnic table at Laurel Summit State Park in Somerset County by Ted Massa.)
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[Posted: January 31, 2020]  PA Environment Digest
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Independent Regulatory Review Commission Approves Final Triennial Water Quality Standards, Stream Designation Regulation

DEP is required to review, revise and update, as needed, at least once every three years, water quality criteria and standards to reflect the latest scientific information and new federal guidelines for criteria development, and other implementation guidance.
The EQB adopted the Triennial regulation for comment in April of 2017 and held four public hearings on the proposal.  It was adopted as a final rule in November, 2019.
Among other issues, the regulation deals with setting standards for ammonia and bacteria, makes changes to stream designations for a variety of streams and providing for exceptions for fishable and swimmable waters.
On January 22, Republicans on the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee voted to send a letter to the IRRC recommending they disapprove the regulation.  Click Here for more.
The recommendation was based on comments presented to the Committee by the American Forest and Paper Association and the Monroe County Clean Streams Coalition, a group of business landowners who have been challenging stream redesignations in the Pocono Region. Click Here for more.
The IRRC received comments from four parties on the regulation, the two business groups, the House Committee and PennFuture, who supported the regulation.
The House Committee still has an opportunity to block the regulation by reporting out a concurrent House-Senate resolution disapproving of the regulation that must be passed by both chambers and presented to the Governor for his action.
A copy of the regulation, supporting documents and DEP’s presentation to the EQB can be found on the Environmental Quality Board 2019 meetings webpage for November.
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[Posted: January 31, 2020]  PA Environment Digest
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Dominion Energy Submits Application To Plug 3 Wells At Oakford Natural Gas Storage Complex In Westmoreland County

Dominion Energy Transmissions has filed an application for Section 401 Water Quality Certification with DEP to plug three wells it is abandoning at the Oakford Natural Gas Storage Complex in Hempfield Township, Westmoreland County.  (Feb. 1 PA Bulletin, page 737)
According to the permit application, the three wells were originally drilled for production in 1917 and then transferred to storage facility service in 1961 as “future storage” wells, but they were never used to provide storage service and are therefore proposed for plugging and abandonment.
In addition, the pipelines associated with the wells will be cut and capped for abandonment.
For more information on submitting comments and on the application, read the entire PA Bulletin notice.  (Feb. 1 PA Bulletin, page 737)
Click Here for more information on natural gas storage fields in Pennsylvania.
[Posted: January 31, 2020]  PA Environment Digest
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DEP Sets March 3 Hearing [If Needed] On RACT II Air Quality Plan For Facility In Blair County

The Department of Environmental Protection has scheduled a March 3 hearing [if needed] on the RACT II Air Quality Plan for the Appvion Operations, Inc. pulp and paper mill in Roaring Spring Borough, Blair County.  (Feb. 1 PA Bulletin, page 692)
The hearing will be held at the DEP Southcentral Regional Office, 909 Elmerton Avenue in Harrisburg starting at 10:00 a.m.
To register to speak at the hearing, please contact Thomas Bianca at 717-705-4863. Speakers must pre-register in order to testify at the hearing.  The deadline to register is February 25.
For more information, read the entire PA Bulletin notice. (Feb. 1 PA Bulletin, page 692)
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[Posted: January 31, 2020]  PA Environment Digest
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Susquehanna River Basin Commission Sets Feb. 6 Hearing, March 13 Business Meeting

The Susquehanna River Basin Commission is scheduled to hold a February 6  hearing on a proposed policy to provide guidance and assistance to project sponsors in meeting the existing requirements for metering or monitoring of withdrawals, consumptive uses, or diversions of water.
SRBC will also take testimony on proposed water withdrawal projects to be considered at the next business meeting of the Commission on March 13.  Click Here for more.
The document also offers assistance with how to prepare a groundwater elevation monitoring plan, which is a long-standing requirement for groundwater withdrawal projects. 
This guidance document is designed to help streamline a project sponsor’s metering, monitoring, or groundwater elevation monitoring plan so that plans are concise, current, and useable by both the project sponsor and Commission staff. 
The policy does not introduce any new requirements of project sponsors or require meters be installed, but rather offers suggested plan structure and content details that simplifies preparation of metering and monitoring plans. 
The Commission believes that application of this guidance will reduce the length, cost and complexity of these project sponsor prepared plans. 
The Commission’s goal with this policy is to serve the regulated community and continue to best manage the water resources of the Basin in an effective and efficient manner.
The hearing will be held at the SRBC Headquarters, 4423 N. Front Street in Harrisburg starting at 2:30 p.m.
The deadline for comments on the proposed policy is February 17.   Comments may be mailed to: Jason E. Oyler, Esq., General Counsel, Susquehanna River Basin Commission, 4423 N Front Street, Harrisburg, PA 17110-1788, or submitted by email to regcomments@srbc.net. 
Next Business Meeting
The next business meeting of the SRBC is on March 13 at the SRBC Headquarters, 4423 N. Front Street in Harrisburg starting at 9:00 a.m.  Click Here for more as it becomes available.
For more information on programs, training opportunities and upcoming events, visit the Susquehanna River Basin Commission website.  Click Here to sign up for SRBC’s newsletter.   Follow SRBC on Twitter, visit them on YouTube. 
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[Posted: January 31, 2020]  PA Environment Digest
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Delaware River Basin Commission Hearing Feb. 12, Business Meeting March 11

The Delaware River Basin Commission will hold a public hearing February 12 on pending water project applications and a resolution to adopt the Fiscal Year 2020 Water Resources Program.  A business meeting on those applications and other issues is set for March 11. (formal notice)
Hearing
Hearing items will include draft dockets for withdrawals, discharges, and other projects that could have a substantial effect on the basin’s water resources and a Resolution to adopt the Fiscal Year 2020 Water Resources Program-- 
-- View draft Resolution outlining projects and facilities the Commission proposes to undertake
The hearing will be held at the DRBC’s office Building, 25 Cosey Road in West Trenton, New Jersey starting at 1:30 p.m.
Business Meeting
The business meeting agenda tentatively will include the items that were the subject of the hearing, a report on hydrologic conditions and other items.
The meeting will be  held at the Washington Crossing Historic Park Visitor Center, 1112 River Road, Washington Crossing in Bucks County starting at 10:30.
For more information on programs, initiatives and upcoming events, visit the Delaware River Basin Commission website.  Click Here to sign up for regulator updates.  Follow DRBC on Twitter.  Visit them on YouTube.
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[Posted: January 31, 2020]  PA Environment Digest
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