PA Environment Digest Blog: 2024

Tuesday, May 7, 2024

Two Months: Road Dumping Conventional Oil & Gas Wastewater Continues To Surround The Home Of A Senate Witness Who Opposes The Illegal Practice

Starting on March 12, Siri Lawson has taken photos and gotten physically ill from the illegal, repeated road dumping of conventional oil and gas wastewater on the road running past her home and on every dirt and paved road she has to travel to get groceries, go to the doctor and take the normal trips anyone would make in Warren County.

She has filed complaints on everything she sees with the Department of Environmental Protection, sent them copies of photos of the dumping and has talked to inspectors on the phone as well as a in-person site visit to her home.

On April 4 and 15, Lawson said wastewater was dumped on the road in front of her house for the first time in six years.

On April 17 she provided testimony to a Senate Committee on the issue of road dumping and on April 19-- “I left [home], I believe it was quarter of nine in the morning and I returned at like ten-thirty. And so there was about an hour and a half, hour and 45 minutes I was gone. And it was during that time period they [dumped again].”

On April 30, the dumpers hit the road in front of her home again, along with the nearby Scranton Hollow Road.

Each time, Lawson said she experienced the symptoms typical of past exposures to oil and gas wastewater-- “burning sinuses, a burning mouth and respiratory issues” and her voice gets hoarse because of the irritation of the vocal cords, which can last for days.

Click Here for just some of the photos she took + a map of the area.

Report Violations

To report oil and gas violations or any environmental emergency or complaint, call DEP at 800-541-2050 or visit DEP’s Environmental Complaint webpage.

(Photos: Lawson’s road; top right- Scranton Hollow Road (straight start line for dumping); right bottom- Another part of Scranton Hollow Road)

Resource Links:

-- Senate Hearing: The Case For An Immediate, Total Ban On Road Dumping Conventional Oil & Gas Wastewater [PaEN]

-- Senate Hearing: Penn State Expert: ‘No More Research That Needs To Be Done’ To Justify A Ban On Road Dumping Conventional Oil & Gas Wastewater [PaEN]

-- Senate Hearing: First-Hand Account Of Health, Environmental Impacts From Road Dumping Conventional Oil & Gas Wastewater - ‘Inhaling Oil & Gas Wastewater 24-Hours A Day’ [PaEN]

-- Senate Hearing: 3.5 Million Gallons Of Conventional Oil & Gas Wastewater Dumped On PA Public Roads Since DEP’s ‘Moratorium’ On Dumping Started 6 Years Ago [PaEN]

-- Senate Hearing: DEP Still Evaluating The Data On Road Dumping Conventional Oil & Gas Wastewater; Asks Public To Report Road Dumping [PaEN]

Governor's Invasive Species Council: Celebrate Pennsylvania Native Species Day May 16

The Governor's Invasive Species Council celebrates the second annual Pennsylvania Native Species Day on Thursday, May 16. Mark your calendars and plan to join in!

All organizations, government offices, farms, schools, and businesses are welcome to join in with their own activities.

Why celebrate and protect Pennsylvania's native species?

Pennsylvania is home to diverse native plants, trees, insects, fish, birds, and mammals that originated thousands of years ago and thrive in mutual dependence.

This native ecosystem provides us with natural resources that benefit our lives by enabling agricultural food production, recreation, fisheries, timber, and more.

As worldwide commerce and travel have increased, non-native species have crisscrossed the world with us.

When species are transported to areas outside their native range, they have no natural predators. They often invade, crowding out and threatening the survival of native species.

Help showcase Pennsylvania's native species on land and in water. Highlight the importance of reducing invasive species to sustain Pennsylvania's biodiverse ecosystem and all that depends on it.

More Information

Visit the PA Native Species Day website for participating organizations and events near you, including ways to get involved, native and invasive plant information.

If you have any questions about Pennsylvania Native Species Day, contact Kris Abell at krabell@pa.gov.

Resource Links:

-- Pollinator Gardens: Help Encourage Ecological Diversity In Your Own Backyard [PaEN]

-- Pollinator Vehicle License Plate Now Available From PennDOT To Support Pollinator Habitat Fund [PaEN]

-- Master Watershed Steward Watershed-Friendly Native Plant Kit Sale Thru June 18 [PaEN]

-- Firefly Populations At Risk Due To Climate Change, Urban Development [PaEN]

-- Penn State Extension Hosts May 22 In-Person Tap Talk: Deep Dive Into Vernal Pools Workshop In York [PaEN]

-- Perkiomen Watershed Conservancy Holds PA Native Plant Sale May 11-12 In Montgomery County [PaEN]

-- DCNR To Begin Accepting Applications For Wild Resource Conservation Grants May 6 [PaEN]

NewsClips:

-- Hawk Mountain Sanctuary Spring Native Plant Sale May 18-19

-- Penn State: Surviving Ash Trees May Hold Genetic Key To Saving Multiple Tree Species From Emerald Ash Borer In The Nature Conservancy, US Forest Service Project

-- Chesapeake Bay Journal - Ad Crable: PA Researchers Test New Strategies To Fight Deadly Bat Disease

-- Penn State: Bee Body Mass, Pathogens And Local Climate Influence Heat Tolerance

[Posted: May 7, 2024] PA Environment Digest

PA Watershed Advocates List Top 5 Water Priorities For State Legislators In 2024

On May 7, environmental, conservation, anglers, and sporting groups from all over Pennsylvania are gathering in Harrisburg to educate state legislators about five key clean water policies during Clean Water Education Day.

Led by Choose Clean Water Coalition, Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed, and members of Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition, the groups representing watersheds across Pennsylvania share their top five legislative priorities that aim to protect and ensure access to clean water for all Pennsylvanians--

-- Full fair-share funding of all of the interstate basin commissions

-- Delaware River Basin Commission ($1,047,000)

-- Susquehanna River Basin Commission ($740,000)

-- Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission ($182,000)

-- Great Lakes Commission ($97,000)

-- Potomac River Basin ($51,000)

-- Protect marginalized communities who bear the brunt of downstream pollution by codifying the Office of Environmental Justice (Senate Bill 158/House Bill 742) and the Environmental Justice Advisory Board (House Bill 707).

-- The creation of the Healthy Outdoors for All Program (HOAP), which would provide matching grants to fund projects that rehabilitate and support trails, parks, and open spaces.

-- Support for the Riparian Buffer Protection Act (House Bill 1275)

-- Riparian buffers act as natural filters, trapping sediments, nutrients, and pollutants from runoff before they reach water bodies, thus significantly reducing water pollution.

-- Legislation mandates a 100-foot riparian buffer along each side of a surface body of water.

-- Streams designated as High Quality or Exceptional Value would require a minimum 300-foot buffer.

-- Dedicated sustainable funding for the Clean Streams Fund

-- The CSF addresses the three primary causes of water pollution in PA: acid mine drainage, agriculture, and stormwater runoff.

-- Legislators need to identify and advocate for a sustainable, annual source of future funding.

Over one-third of Pennsylvania's 86,000 stream miles are degraded and considered "impaired" by the Department of Environmental Protection. [Read more here.]

According to DEP's 2024 Pennsylvania Integrated Water Quality Report, the three primary sources of impairment are agriculture, acid mine drainage, and urban runoff.

Consequently, those sources lead to pathogens, metals, and silt polluting our waterways.

“As a Coalition of 190 nonprofit organizations dedicated to protecting and restoring the Delaware River Watershed, we are proud to unite with advocates across the Commonwealth to urge the PA Legislature to invest in projects that fund clean water programs, safeguard our drinking water, improve outdoor access for all, and preserve our critical natural resources,” said Kelly Knutson, Director of the Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed. “Over 5 million people in PA rely on the Delaware River Watershed for their clean drinking water, and by directing resources toward clean water initiatives within the state, we can lay the groundwork for a future that meets the needs of generations to come, all while protecting the health of the entire Delaware River Watershed.”

Interstate shared water resources need consistent and reliable funding to ensure clean drinking water is protected.

“Each basin commission is responsible for overseeing water quality, flood control, wildlife, water flow, water withdrawals, aquatic flora, recreation, navigation, and/or industrial runoff, said PennFuture President & CEO Patrick McDonnell. “Inadequately funded and staffed commissions put Pennsylvania’s communities at risk of suffering from increased water pollution, infrastructure issues, and declining aquatic wildlife.”

Codifying the Office of Environmental Justice ranks high on the coalition's list of priorities. In meetings with legislators, the groups hope to raise awareness that clean water issues are often environmental justice issues.

The Office of Environmental Justice is only protected by Executive Order. That means it's vulnerable to any future unsupportive administration who may want to dismantle it. It's time to codify the OEJ and make environmental justice a permanent priority of the DEP.

Additionally, the creation of HOAP will expand the impact of green spaces for everyone, with a specific emphasis on broadening access for individuals from disadvantaged communities.

"Farmers are drawn to conservation stewardship for as many reasons as there are farms: a long-term business strategy, a deep respect for their farm's ecology, even as an expression of their faith,” said Hannah Smith-Brubaker, Executive Director of Pasa Sustainable Agriculture. “So, why, then, aren’t more farms embracing these strategies? A Pasa member survey administered in 2022 pointed to three essential barriers: time, money, and know-how. Farmers who adopt conservation practices are investing substantial resources into our collective well-being. That’s why government-funded conservation assistance programs are so critical to supporting the farmers who have been on this path for a while and those who are just beginning their journey, so they need not shoulder that burden alone."

“Clean water is at the heart of every healthy community. As Pennsylvania is an incredibly water-rich state, protecting and restoring the Keystone State’s rivers and streams is essential to the Commonwealth's economy, public health, and way of life,” said Kristin Reilly, Director of Choose Clean Water Coalition. “We encourage Pennsylvania’s legislators to make the necessary investments to support projects and programs that will have positive ripple effects for generations to come.”

Click Here for the complete announcement.

Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful Announces Litter Hawk Youth Award Program Winners

Winners of Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful’s Litter Hawk Youth Award Program were recognized at a ceremony at the State Capitol Building in Harrisburg on May 2.

Winning students, their families and legislators with winning students in their district were invited to attend a ceremony honoring the Litter Hawk Youth Award winners and participants.

Over 50 people showed up to support and celebrate the winners and their efforts. Shannon Reiter, President, Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful, Phoebe Coles, Chair, Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful and Ramez Ziadeh, Acting Executive Deputy Secretary for Programs, Department of Environmental Protection, provided remarks about the importance of educating youth about litter and anti-littering behaviors.

The program, funded by the Department of Environmental Protection, provides a way for students in kindergarten through grade 6 to express their concerns about litter through art, words or video.

Each participant completed a project specific to their grade level.

To complement our Open Your Eyes to Litter book series, the theme was: Open Your Eyes to Litter – Show Us What You See.

Judges were excited to see so many thoughtful submissions illustrating positive changes towards reducing the amount of trash found in our parks, school grounds and along our roadways. Almost a thousand students participated in this year’s program.

First and second place winners in each grade level received ribbons, certificates and a Litter Hawk decal.

First Place Winners

-- Mayameen Sarkar Manha, Kindergarten (poster), PA Leadership Charter School, Montgomery County

-- Hudson Hess, Grade 1 (poster), Reamstown Elementary School, Lancaster County

-- Veda Alluri, Grade 2 (poster), Shamona Creek Elementary School, Chester County

-- Nora Buchanan, Grade 3 (poster), George Washington Elementary School, Allegheny County

-- Beckett Blouir, Grade 4 (poster), West Greene Elementary, Greene County

-- Eleanor Mountz, Grade 5 (essay), Little Red School House, Chester County

-- Dion Cooper, Serenity Foster, RJ Green, Royce Lane, Grade 6 (video), Twin Valley Middle School, Berks County

Runners-Up Winners

-- Henry Trout, Grade K (poster), Norvelt Elementary School, Westmoreland County

-- Elizabeth Kalista, Grade 1 (poster), Holy Trinity Catholic School, Blair County

-- Tanesha "Gia" Iyer, Grade 2 (poster), PA Leadership Charter School, Lehigh County

-- Ava Milford, Grade 3 (poster), Knoch Primary School, Butler County

-- Josiah Haley, Grade 4 (poster), Homeschool, Clinton County

-- Alekhya Doddapaneni, Grade 5 (essay), Eden Hall Upper Elementary, Allegheny County

-- Everly Henderson, Mary Rhenish, Jacqueline Li, Emma Johnston, Grade 6 (video), Mars Area Centennial School, Butler County

"Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful wants to thank all the students who participated in our Litter Hawk Youth Award program this year. It’s been so rewarding to see the thoughtful and inspiring messages reflected in the hundreds of Litter Hawk entries. Each project is unique, reflecting the students’ own experiences, values and concerns. The nearly 1,000 entries are a clear indication that our youth are insisting on a cleaner, safer and more beautiful Pennsylvania," said Shannon Reiter, President of Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful. "A big thank you to the families and educators for traveling to the state capitol and helping to make the awards celebration special. Congratulations to this year’s Litter Hawks! We hope to see everyone back again next year."

Winning entries will be displayed in the East Wing Rotunda of the Pennsylvania State Capitol Building in Harrisburg through May 23.

The Litter Hawk Youth Award Program is offered annually and was created with funding provided by the Department of Environmental Protection.

Pennsylvania students can participate individually or as part of a lesson initiated by schools, environmental clubs, scouts or other organized groups.

To view winning entries and for more information about the program, visit the KPB Litter Hawk Awards webpage. Winners will also be featured on Pennsylvania Beautiful’s Facebook page..

For more information on programs, initiatives and special events, visit the Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful website. Click Here to sign up for regular updates from KPB, Like them on Facebook, Follow on Twitter, visit their YouTube Channel.

The 2024 Pick Up Pennsylvania Initiative through May 31! Questions should be directed to Michelle Dunn at 1-877-772-3673 Ext. 113 or send email to: mdunn@keeppabeautiful.org.

Keep PA Beautiful helps mobilize over 100,000 volunteers a year to pick up litter, clean up illegal dumping and beautify Pennsylvania.

(Photos: top-left: First Place, 1st grade: Hudson Hess, Shannon Reiter, KPB, Ramez Ziadeh, DEP and Hess family members; top-right: First place, kindergarten: Mayameen Sarkar Manha, her mother and Shannon Reiter, KPB; Bottom-- First place in the 6th grade video division: Twin Valley middle School students, their teacher, Jennifer Eversmeyer and Shannon Reiter, KPB)