Penn Twp., Westmoreland County Receives $70,000 To Reduce Pollution From Stormwater

On January 10, the Department of Environmental Protection announced the award of a $70,000 Growing Greener grant to the Penn Township Commissioners in Westmorland County to reduction pollution from stormwater runoff.

The grant will be used to help manage stormwater in the Brush Creek watershed. Funding will go toward the design, permitting, survey, and project management of the Harrison Park Stormwater System conversion of two existing stormwater detention basins to dry detention basins which will reduce sediment from stormwater runoff from entering Brush Creek.

This project was proposed by Penn Township as part of the township’s pollution reduction plan to meet their municipal separate storm sewer systems (MS4) requirements.

“Through partnerships like this between state and local governments, we’re helping communities become more resilient to weather future storm events,” said DEP Secretary Patrick McDonnell.

The Growing Greener grant program is supported by the Environmental Stewardship Fund, which receives its funding from landfill tipping fees and a transfer from the Marcellus Shale Legacy Fund.

Click Here for more information on DEP’s Growing Greener Plus Grant Program.

Resources

For more information on buffers, financial and technical assistance available, visit DCNR’s Forest Buffers and DEP’s Stormwater Management webpages.

CFA Accepting Applications

The Commonwealth Financing Authority will accept applications from February 1 to May 31 for its Act 13 Watershed Restoration Grants which includes funding control nonpoint source pollution runoff, which includes agricultural operations.  Click Here for more.

New DCNR Grant Round

Learn more about grant opportunities to support riparian buffer, trail and recreation projects, visit DCNR’s Community Conservation Grant Program webpage. A new grant round is opening January 22 and will close April 10.  Click Here for more.

Forest Buffer Summit

Registration is now open for the DCNR and Western PA Conservancy Pennsylvania Riparian Forest Buffer Summit on February 20-21 at the Best Western Premier Conference Center, 800 East Park Drive in Harrisburg.  Click Here for more.