DEP Invites Comments On Draft Assessment & Strategy For PA Coastal Zone Resources; Apply For Coastal Zone Grants Starting Aug. 26

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the August 23 PA Bulletin inviting comments on a draft Section 309 Assessment and Strategy for Pennsylvania's Coastal Resources.

Pennsylvania's coastal areas include Lake Erie and the Delaware Estuary.

The Section 309 Enhancement Program, established under the CZMA, encourages state and territorial coastal management programs to strengthen and improve their federally approved coastal management programs in nine key areas. 

The Assessment covers these subject areas-- wetlands, coastal hazards, public access, marine debris, cumulative and secondary impacts, Special Area Management Plans (SAMPs), ocean and Great Lakes resources, energy, and government facility siting.

There are two primary objectives outlined in the strategy--

-- Determining the feasibility of creating a shellfish contribution fund to offset unavoidable impacts to establishing shellfish beds in the Delaware Estuary; and

-- Assessing and modernizing the management of the Lake Erie Bluffs.

Click Here for a copy of the draft Assessment and Strategy.

Comments are due by September 22. Read the entire PA Bulletin notice for information on how to submit comments and other background.

Questions should be directed to Randall Brown, DEP Water Program Specialist, at ra-epcoastalzone@pa.gov  or by telephone (717) 772-4785.

Coastal Zone Grants

DEP published notice in the August 23 PA Bulletin announcing it will start accepting applications for federally- funded Coastal Resources Grants on August 26.  The deadline for applications is October 14.

Projects must be located within the Delaware Estuary Coastal Zone or the Lake Erie Coastal Zone boundaries as noted in the Coastal Zone Grant Application Instruction Guide. 

Proposals must support the mission of the Department's Coastal Resources Management Program to protect and enhance coastal resources in this Commonwealth.

Visit DEP’s Coastal Zone Grant webpage for more information [when posted].  Questions should be directed to: RA-epcoastalzone@pa.gov or (717) 705-7692.

Visit DEP's Coastal Zone Management Program to learn more about this program.

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

Related Articles This Week:

-- State Conservation Commission Agricultural Conservation Funding Guide For Pennsylvania Now Available  [PaEN]  

-- Shamokin Creek Restoration Alliance Hosts Sept. 17 Meeting On Upper Watershed Assessment & Restoration Plan In Northumberland County  [PaEN] 

-- Media Reports: An Estimated 16,000 Gallons Of 'Black Goop' Spills From Closed Eureka Resources Oil & Gas Wastewater Treatment Plant In Williamsport Reaching Susquehanna River  [PaEN]

-- Middle Susquehanna RiverKeeper Blog/PennLive: 1.3 Million+ Oil & Gas Wastewater Stored At The Closed Eureka Resources Facility In Williamsport; DEP Issued Violations 10 Days Before Aug. 17 Spill Into Susquehanna  [PaEN] 

-- Susquehanna River Basin Low Flow Water Conditions Trigger Water Withdrawal Restrictions On 47 Shale Gas Development Water Withdrawal Points In PA  [PaEN] 

-- DCNR Releases Technical Bulletin On Managing Stormwater In Karst Areas Of Pennsylvania  [PaEN] 

NewsClips:

-- Republican Herald: Schuylkill Conservation District Holds Awards Ceremony

-- Middle Susquehanna RiverKeeper Blog: Initial Radioactivity Scan Show No Elevated Levels From Eureka Resources Oil & Gas Wastewater Spill In Williamsport

-- PennLive - John Beauge: DEP Issued Violation 10 Days Before Tank At Eureka Resources Oil & Gas Wastewater Facility Leaked Oily Discharge Into Susquehanna River

-- PennLive - John Beauge: Oily Substance From Tank In Closed Oil & Gas Wastewater Treatment Plant Leaks Into Susquehanna River  [PDF of Article]

-- Williamsport Sun: Extensive Cleanup Underway After Oil Substance Leaks Into River In Williamsport  [PDF of Article]

-- Middle Susquehanna RiverKeeper Volunteers Find Persistent Oily Waste From Eureka Resources Oil & Gas Wastewater Treatment Plant Spill In Williamsport; Advise Public To Avoid Recreational Use Of River For Now 

-- Public Herald: Closed Eureka Resources Oil & Gas Wastewater Treatment Plant Has Spill Of Thousands Of Gallons Of Wastewater Into West Branch Of Susquehanna River At Williamsport  

-- The Derrick: Leak Found In Service Station Underground Gasoline Tank In Downtown Titusville, Crawford County

-- Delaware Currents: Public Wastewater Agencies Ask For Reprieve To New Federal Water Quality Improvement Rules On A Portion Of The Delaware River  

-- US Geological Survey Study Tracking 7 Key Water Quality Trends In The Chesapeake Bay Watershed 

-- PennLive: Drought Conditions Begin To Affect Parts Of PA After Rainy Summer

-- Post-Gazette: Montour Run: A Perfect Storm Of PFAS ‘Forever Chemicals,’ Firefighting Foam, Frequently Stocked Fish 

-- Penn State Extension Hosts Sept. 5 In-Person Workshop On Manure Management Essentials In Indiana County, 9:00 a.m. to Noon 

-- Watershed Alliance Of York: 23rd Annual York Watershed Week - Sept. 13 to 20 

-- York Watershed Week Sept. 15 Waterways On Wheels - Codorus Creek Bike Tour, 6:00 to 7:30 p.m.

-- Penn State Watershed Stewards Sept. 29 In-Person Plant A Tree, Support Healthy Stream Volunteer Event In Shippensburg, 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. 

[Posted: August 22, 2025]  PA Environment Digest