DCNR, Trails Advisory Committee, WeConservePA, Partners Release 2022 Pennsylvania Trails Annual Report

On August 31, the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, the Pennsylvania Trails Advisory Committee, and WeConservePA released the 2022 Pennsylvania Trails Annual Report.

The report documents many of the major accomplishments and milestones in the trails community in Pennsylvania during 2022 toward the goal of having a trail within 10 minutes of every citizen. 

Among the accomplishments listed--

-- 2 Priority Trail Gap projects were completed and open to the public in 2022

-- 43 trail grant projects completed totaling $8,045,765 in grant funds

-- 11 projects completed that address Priority Trail Gaps

-- 44 Priority Trail Gaps are being addressed by ongoing DCNR grant projects

-- Development of 12 miles of non- motorized trails, including 8 bridges, 1 comfort facility, and 4 trailheads

-- Rehabilitation of 15 miles of non-motorized trails, including 5 bridges and 5 trailheads

-- Planning for 165 miles of new trails, including 5 bridges, and 3 trailheads

-- Acquisition of 28 acres of land for non- motorized trails

-- Purchase of 10 pieces of equipment to construct and maintain 231 miles of motorized trails

-- Support for ATV and Dirt Bike youth training and education at events across the state. Over 480 youth were trained at 8 ATV events and over 180 youth were trained at 3 Dirt Bike events.

The documentation points to a robust and growing trails community in the Commonwealth, with miles upon miles of trails added and important connections being made, including the closures of several major trail gaps. 

Additionally, the report points to major advancements in accessibility, inclusion, research, and professional development opportunities within the Pennsylvania trails community.

The report’s content was created by DCNR, PTAC, WeConservePA, Keystone Trails Association, Pennsylvania Environmental Council, and other contributors. 

WeConservePA organized and compiled the report content, then enlisted the services of design company Fathom for the report’s layout and design. 

After extensive review and revision processes, the report was completed and published as a downloadable digital pdf on the PTAC webpage.

Visit Explore PA Trails and Get Outdoors PA for recreation areas near you.

Visit the PA Parks & Forests Foundation’s Events webpage and DCNR’s Calendar of Events for activities happening near you.

For more information on state parks and forests and recreation in Pennsylvania, visit DCNR’s website, Visit the Good Natured DCNR Blog,  Click Here for upcoming events, Click Here to hook up with DCNR on other social media-- Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Flickr.

NewsClips:

-- Williamsport Sun Editorial: Economic Impact Of Outdoor Recreation Cannot Be Overstated

-- Pittsburgh Business Times: Pittsburgh Ranks Among 10 Best Small Cities For Outdoor Enthusiasts

-- Williamsport Sun: Susquehanna River Offers Close-To-Home Outlet For Those Who Want To Enjoy Morning Boat Trip, Exercise

-- WHYY/BillyPenn: Jerome Shabazz’s Grand Vision To Turn Vacant Lots Into New Park System In Philadelphia  [Chair of DEP’s Citizens Advisory Council  ]

-- WESA: PA Legislators Work To Make Suicide Awareness Information Available In State Parks, Forests

-- Altoona Mirror: Conservation And Habitat Improvement Projects Helping Glendale Lake At Prince Gallitzin State Park 

-- TribLive: E-Bike Sales In High Gear, No Signs Of Slowing Down

-- ABC27 News: Ole Bull State Park Manager In Potter County Saves Bear Cub From Plastic Jug - Video 

Related Articles:

-- DCNR Celebrates Mount Jewett To Kinzua Bridge Trail As Pennsylvania’s 2023 Trail Of The Year  [PaEN]

-- DCNR Awards $1.3 Million To Support 10 ATV, Snowmobile Trail And Facility Projects; New Applications Due Sept. 29  [PaEN]

-- DCNR: New Budget Highlights Largest State Investment In State Parks & Forests In Decades

-- DCNR Blog: Accessible Recreation For All - By Hanna Ryon, DCNR Intern

-- Brandywine Conservancy Now Accepting Brandywine Creek Greenway Mini Grant Applications  [PaEN] 

[Posted: August 31, 2023]  PA Environment Digest

Shapiro Administration Works With Communities To Secure $100 Million+ In Federal Funding To Prevent Future Flood Damage In Philadelphia, Allegheny, Bucks, Northampton, York Counties

On August 31, the Shapiro Administration announced it has successfully worked with Philadelphia to secure more than $101 million in federal funding to reduce the threat of natural hazards and prevent future flooding in several areas of the Commonwealth.

The City of Philadelphia initially approached the Department of Community and Economic Development hoping community development funding could help mitigate flooding in its neighborhoods. 

DCED worked together with the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency to assist with the flood mitigation issue, which led to all three groups collaborating to secure funding for the City from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. 

This is further proof that when every level of government works together, government can deliver for Pennsylvanians.

“Mitigation projects are a critical part of building resilience in communities, and these awards are some of the largest the Commonwealth has ever received,” said Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency Director Randy Padfield. “Taking action now to reduce the threat from severe weather also saves significant money in the response to and recovery from a future disaster.”

Cohocksink Flood Mitigation Project

The Cohocksink Flood Mitigation Project, the final phase of a six-phase flood mitigation project, proposes to double the capacity of the combined sewer system in parts of lower North Philadelphia through the construction of new sewer infrastructure and six green stormwater infrastructure systems. 

The project will have a large area of impact that includes portions of the Northern Liberties, South Kensington, and Ludlow neighborhoods. 

The expanded sewer capacity will provide a check against extreme storms in the area and reduce the risk of basement and street flooding for residents. 

The new green infrastructure in these communities will reduce sewer overflow pollution, and additional investments include improvements to local streets, making them safer for pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers. 

Federal funding for this project totals more than $25 million.

“The City worked hard to secure this grant with our state and federal partners because it will fund vital work and sustain good-paying jobs while helping to reduce the costs of infrastructure investments that residents support through their water bills,” said Mayor Jim Kenney. “This project truly lives up to the goals of the Building Resilient Infrastructure & Communities program and it’s a powerful example of what we can do when all levels of government are working together.”

“Congratulations to the City of Philadelphia, PEMA, and FEMA for their work together to mitigate flood risks and benefit our residents and communities,” said DCED Secretary Rick Siger. “This is a great example of collaboration among government at all levels, and DCED was glad to play a part in bringing people together to move this project ahead.”

The Philadelphia Office of Emergency Management (OEM) coordinated with partners from FEMA, PEMA, and a local Hazard Mitigation Steering Committee to ensure the Cohocksink project was aligned to the city’s Hazard Mitigation Plan along with providing support to the Philadelphia Water Department throughout the process.

Office of Emergency Management staff has worked over recent years to build the City’s capacity to compete for grants that seek to lessen the impact of hazards in Philadelphia communities, putting the Hazard Mitigation Plan, which was developed by OEM, into action.

Other Flood Mitigation, Resilience Projects

FEMA also recently announced progress on funding applications for additional BRIC [Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities] projects, which were selected in a nationwide competitive grant process. 

BRIC emphasizes the use of nature based solutions -- sustainable planning, design, environmental management, and engineering practices that weave natural features or processes into the built environment to promote adaptation and resilience:

-- Philadelphia Water Department:

     -- Queen Lane Water Pump Generator – $6.08 million

     -- Pump Station Mitigation – $50 million

-- Bridgeville Borough (Allegheny County: Flood Control Infrastructure Project – $5.33 million

-- Bethlehem (Northampton County): Easton Avenue Flood Mitigation – $3.05 million

-- Dover (York County): Floodplain Mitigation – $5.83 million

Two awards for Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) programs were announced as well. 

Funds can be used for projects that reduce flood impacts and reduce or eliminate the risk of repetitive flood damage to buildings insured by the National Flood Insurance Program--

-- Yardley (Bucks County) Home Elevation – $671,292

-- Philadelphia Increased Sewer Capacity – $5.42 million

All projects will undergo rigorous environmental and historic preservation reviews throughout the approval process.

Visit PEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Planning webpage to learn more about this county-based process.

[Posted: August 31, 2023]  PA Environment Digest

DEP To Host Sept. 12 Public Meeting On Bishop Tube Hazardous Site Cleanup Plan In Chester County

On August 31, the Department of Environmental Protection announced it will hold an in-person public meeting on September 12 to discuss the Bishop Tube Hazardous Site Cleanup Plan for the site located in East Whiteland Township, Chester County.

The meeting will be held between 6:30 and 8:30 p.m. in the auditorium of the General Wayne Elementary School located at 20 Devon Road, Malvern, PA 19355.  

The DEP will present its remediation plan and a panel of experts will answer the public’s questions. 

In September 2022, DEP filed a remediation plan that addresses Trichloroethene (TCE), its breakdown products, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), certain heavy metals, and other contaminants in soil, groundwater and surface water. 

The plan also provided for a public water connection to a private homeowner in June 2023. 

The site will be remediated in accordance with the Act 2 Land Recycling Program, which aims to return contaminated properties back to productive use while preserving farmland and other natural resources. 

DEP selected a combination of on-site chemical injections, soil mixing, engineering practices, institutional controls, and long-term monitoring to address the soil, groundwater, and surface water contamination. 

The injection of chemical reducing agents creates a chemical reaction that destroys harmful contaminants and produces harmless byproducts. 

These remedial response actions will be conducted in place, without having to excavate soil or pump out groundwater for aboveground cleanup. 

Several industrial businesses manufactured stainless steel tubes at the 13.7-acre Bishop Tube HSCA site from the 1950s to 1999. 

TCE is considered the primary site-related contaminant of concern because its concentrations within soil, groundwater, and surface water are generally higher than other chlorinated solvents at the site and it poses the most substantial threat to human health and the environment. 

TCE is a commercial-grade solvent that was commonly used as a degreasing agent for manufactured metal parts. Besides being a known carcinogen, prolonged exposure to TCE can result in serious neurological, cardiac, reproductive, and developmental health problems. 

For more information, visit DEP’s Bishop Tube Site webpage.

The Hazardous Sites Cleanup Act was signed into law in 1988 to provide DEP the funding and authority to address hazardous substances and contaminants in the environment. 

To date, the program has conducted nearly 900 actions in communities across Pennsylvania, cleaning up groundwater, capping or removing contaminated soil, and ensuring thousands of people have access to safe drinking water.

For more information on the program, visit DEP’s Hazardous Sites Cleanup Program webpage.

For more information on environmental programs in Pennsylvania, visit DEP’s website, Click Here to sign up for DEP’s newsletter, sign up for DEP Connects events, sign up for DEP’s eNotice, visit DEP’s Blog,  Like DEP on Facebook, Follow DEP on Twitter and visit DEP’s YouTube Channel.

Related Articles:

-- DEP Finalizes Hazardous Site Cleanup Plan For Bishop Tube Site In Chester County  [PaEN 9.26.22]

-- DEP Sets Virtual Nov. 9 Hearing On Proposed Cleanup Plan For Bishop Tube Hazardous Waste Site In Chester County [Hazardous Sites Cleanup Funding Goes Off Fiscal Cliff This Year] [PaEN 9.26.21]

-- Chester County Judge Issues Opinion Reaffirming Decision To Dismiss SLAPP Suit Against Environmental Group [Bishop Tube Site]  [PaEN 10.24.17]

[Posted: August 31, 2023]  PA Environment Digest

DEP Awards $2.9 Million In Grants To Schools, Businesses, Local Governments To Switch To Zero- Or Low-Emission Vehicles; Next Round Of Applications Due Dec. 15

On August 31, the Department of Environmental Protection awarded $2.9 million in Alternative Fuels Incentive Grant funding to municipalities, schools, and businesses around the state to switch to zero- or low-emission vehicles. 

Click Here for a list of grants awarded in Allegheny, Berks, Bucks, Butler, Centre, Chester, Cumberland, Dauphin, Delaware, Lebanon, Mercer, Montgomery, Westmoreland counties and to trucking fleets serving Montgomery, Schuylkill and York counties.

Fifteen of the projects will serve environmental justice communities.

The DEP Alternative Fuels Incentive Grant Program supports projects to replace older gasoline or diesel fueled vehicles with cleaner fuel vehicles and install related fueling infrastructure to improve air quality in Pennsylvania. 

It builds on Gov. Shapiro’s agenda to create a bold, comprehensive climate and energy plan that will grow Pennsylvania’s economy, protect and create jobs, and address climate change.

The 28 funded projects will install 32 electric vehicle chargers for private and public use and put 95 electric vehicles, 24 compressed or renewable natural gas vehicles, and 11 propane vehicles on the road. 

Nine of the vehicles will be fully electric long-haul tractor trailers, the first supported by the AFIG program. 

Several other projects are for transit buses and garbage trucks. These three types of vehicles are the biggest consumers of gasoline, according to the U.S. Department of Energy webpage on average annual gasoline use by vehicle type.

The projects will be fully paid for with DEP funds. DEP receives approximately $5 million in funding each year through the utilities gross receipts tax collected during each fiscal year to carry out the provisions of the Alternative Fuels Incentive Act.

“The Shapiro Administration is committed to supporting municipalities, school districts, and businesses that want to make zero- or low-emission transportation part of their operations,” said DEP Secretary Rich Negrin. “The range of funded projects—our first funded electric 18-wheelers, a 40-car electric taxi fleet, electric scooters for a residential development, propane and electric buses and garbage trucks, and more—shows that interest in clean transportation is burgeoning among business and community leaders in Pennsylvania. DEP is excited to help them include healthier air quality in their mission.” 

The AFIG program supports the transition to alternative fuels including electricity, compressed natural gas, renewable natural gas, liquefied natural gas, propane, hydrogen, hythane, biodiesel, ethanol, methanol, and other advanced biofuels. 

Getting more zero- and low-emission vehicles on the road in Pennsylvania helps reduce harmful air pollutants, including nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, particulate matter, and volatile organic compounds. It also helps lower the level of carbon dioxide, helping to address climate change.

Gasoline and diesel vehicles generate 47 percent of nitrogen oxides emissions in Pennsylvania, contributing to ground-level ozone. 

This affects the health of children, older people, people who work or are active outdoors, and people with asthma, emphysema, or other lung conditions. 

The transportation sector makes up 22 percent of Pennsylvania’s total greenhouse gas emissions.

Next Grant Rounds Open

DEP is now accepting applications for the next round of Alternative Fuels Incentive Grants.  The deadline is December 15. 

DEP is also accepting applications for the Driving PA Forward Clean Diesel Grant Program.  The deadline is October 20.

For more information on environmental programs in Pennsylvania, visit DEP’s website, Click Here to sign up for DEP’s newsletter, sign up for DEP Connects events, sign up for DEP’s eNotice, visit DEP’s Blog,  Like DEP on Facebook, Follow DEP on Twitter and visit DEP’s YouTube Channel.

Related Articles:

-- PA Solar Center To Honor 10 Organizations For Their Solar Energy Leadership In Chester County On Sept. 28  [PaEN]

-- PA Solar Center Issues RFP For Solar Developers To Assist 11 Allegheny County Municipalities, Pittsburgh Water Authority Connect To Solar Energy  [PaEN]

-- PJM Interconnection Hears Testimony On Making Electricity Market Reforms To Address Nonperformance Of Natural Gas And Other Generators During Winter Storm Elliot; Transition To Clean Energy  [PaEN] 

[Posted: August 31, 2023]  PA Environment Digest