DEP Publishes Advisory Committee Meeting Schedule For 2013

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice on the 2013 meeting schedule for its advisory committees and boards on December 15 (PA Bulletin page 7608).  Included on the schedule are meeting dates for--

Agricultural Advisory Board
Air Quality Technical Advisory Committee
Citizens Advisory Council
Cleanup Standards Scientific Advisory Board+Vapor Intrusion, Technical Manual Work Groups
Climate Change Advisory Committee
Coal and Clay Mine Subsidence Insurance Fund Board
Coastal Zone Advisory Committee
Environmental Justice Advisory Board
Environmental Quality Board
Low-Level Radioactive Waste Advisory Committee
Mine Families First Response and Communications Advisory Council
Mining and Reclamation Advisory Board
Oil and Gas Technical Advisory Board
Radiation Protection Advisory Committee
Recycling Fund Advisory Committee
Sewage Advisory Committee
Small Business Compliance Advisory Committee
Solid Waste Advisory Committee
Storage Tank Advisory Committee
Technical Advisory Committee on Diesel-Powered Equipment
Water Resources Advisory Committee
State Board for Certification of Water and Wastewater System Operators

No 2013 meeting dates have been set yet for these DEP committees/boards--

Board of Coal Mine Safety
Chesapeake Bay Advisory Committee
Laboratory Accreditation Advisory Committee
Statewide Water Resources Advisory Committee
Regional Water Resources Committees
Small Water Systems for Technical Assistance Center
State Board for the Certification of Sewage Enforcement Officers

Click Here for links to DEP’s Advisory Committee webpages.

DEP Seeking Contractor For Energy Education Workshops

The Department of Environmental Protection Office of External Affairs, Environmental Education and Information Center is seeking the services of an experienced contractor to coordinate a statewide K-12 Energy Education Curriculum Integration Program.
Bids are due January 11.

The Energy Education Program is designed to educate teachers, administrators and building managers about energy use, ways to save electricity, and enhance student career development to include all energy technologies.

DEP is seeking bidders who have experience specifically related to developing and implementing a Pennsylvania-based energy education program for grades 5-7.  The contractor will use existing Pennsylvania-based educator guides, materials and other curricular resources to design, implement and evaluate a comprehensive energy efficiency and conservation education program.  

Regional professional development workshops (12 total; two within each DEP region) will be coordinated for teachers of grades 5-7.  Energy Star Portfolio Manager benchmarking, student energy teams and web-based information and resources will be included and utilized.

The invitation for bid for this project is 6100023923. The IFB due (opening date) is January 11 at 9:00 a.m.  Bids must be submitted online via Department of General Services’ eMarketplace website located at www.emarketplace.state.pa.us.  

Pre-Bid Conference

All vendors planning to submit a proposal and response for this bid must attend a mandatory pre-bid conference that will be held on December 18 from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. in the 10th Floor conference room, Department of Environmental Protection, 400 Market Street, Harrisburg, PA  17036. Interested bidders must physically attend the meeting; conference call attendance is not permitted.

Prior to the mandatory pre-bid conference, general questions regarding the contracting or bidding procedures should be directed to Janet Noll by sending email to: janoll@pa.gov.  Any general project/program related questions should be directed to Ann Devine by sending email to: adevine@pa.gov.

Click Here for a copy of the invitation to bid.

Friday NewsClips

Corbett Announces Modernization Of PA Infrastructure
Corbett Promises Fund Plan For Transit, Roads
PA Natural Gas Pipeline Primer
Ruptured Natural Gas Pipeline Had Thinned
Northeast Housing Projects Get Impact Fee Revenue
FirstEnergy To Give Complimentary Light Bulbs
Another Round Of Layoffs At PBS Coal
Exelon Will Retire Schuylkill Station
Search For Food Brings Colorful Flocks To Western PA
Click Here for PA Capitol Digest NewsClips

Thursday NewsClips

State Report Shows 12 Point Drop In Environmental Compliance
Mon River Water Sampling Project Expands
I-77 Reopened After Natural Gas Pipeline Explosion
WV Blast Heightens Concerns Over Natural Gas Pipelines
EPA Allowed Injection Wells To Pollute 100 Aquifers
Hanover Twp Dedicates Green Municipal Complex
Casey Joins Call For LIHEAP Funding Increase
Editorial: Utilities Have All The Juice At PUC
Click Here for PA Capitol Digest NewsClips

State Performance Report Shows Over 12 Point Drop In Environmental Compliance

Budget Secretary Charles B. Zogby Wednesday released the 2011-12 Report on State Performance.  The report reviews the activities of 30 Commonwealth agencies, providing details on their challenges and accomplishments as they work to improve the lives of Pennsylvania's citizens.
The report shows the percentage of sites in full compliance with environmental regulations enforced by the Department of Environmental Protection dropped 12 percentage points since 2001, from 89.9 percent in 2001 to 77.71 percent in 2011-12 performance report and lower than in 2009-10 at 78.75 percent.
At the same time, the report said the percentage of inspections with violations increased by 0.6 percent-- 14.9 percent to 15.51 percent, and higher than in 2009-10 at 15.03 percent.
The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources reported a 10,428 acre drop in the number of land acquired through fee simple acquisition or easements for conservation purposes, from 17,405 last year to 6,977 in 2011-12 and less than in 2009-10 at 11,936 acres.
DCNR did see a $2.3 million increase in Community Conservation Partnership Grants awarded in 2011-12-- $29.1 million to $31.4 million, which was more than in 2009-10 at $25.3 million.

Overall the report examines the Commonwealth’s performance in the areas of education, economic development, health and human services, the environment, public safety, consumer protection and government efficiency.

By outlining agencies’ key objectives and presenting measurable results in dozens of different categories, the report evaluates state government's ongoing efforts to deliver quality services to its citizens.

“The Report on State Performance clearly outlines how effectively we are serving the residents of Pennsylvania and how efficiently these services are being delivered,” Zogby said.  “As the Commonwealth contends with increasing cost pressures on the budget, it is important that state agencies can measure success and demonstrate our fiscal responsibility.”

DEP Performance

Key performance results for DEP during the reporting time period include--
Agency Overall-
-- Increase in the percentage of inspections with violations of 0.6 percent (14.9 percent to 15.51 percent, and higher than in 2009-10 at 15.03 percent);
-- Decrease in the percentage of sites with full compliance with environmental regulations of 1.52 percent (79.23 percent to 77.71 percent, and lower than in 2009-10 at 78.75 percent);
-- Decrease in the percentage of violations resolved of 7.1 percent (99.24 percent to 92.14 percent, and lower than in 2009-10 at 94.63 percent);
Oil & Gas Permits-
-- Decrease in the number of oil and gas permits processed of 874 (6,326 to 5,452);
-- Decrease in the number of gas well enforcement actions- unconventional (Marcellus) wells of 7 (271 to 264, and lower than in 2009-10 at 330);
-- Decrease in the number of gas well enforcement actions- unconventional (Marcellus) wells of 506 (1,410 to 902, and lower than 2009-10 at 1,078);
-- Increase in the number of gas well inspections- unconventional (Marcellus) wells of 4,192 (7,876 to 12,068);
-- Increase in the number of oil and gas enforcement actions-conventional wells of 80 (437 to 517, and higher than in 2009-10 at 465);
-- Increase in the number of oil and gas violations- conventional wells of 749 (1,545 to 2,294, and higher than in 2009-10 at 2,023); and
-- About the same number of oil and gas well inspections - conventional (12,075 to 12,077).
Waste/Wastewater Facilities-
-- Decrease in the percentage of waste facilities complying with environmental regulations of 4.75 percent (81.53 percent to 76.78 percent, significantly lower than in 2009-10 with 81.86 percent);
-- Decrease in the percentage of wastewater facility inspections with no recorded violations of 6.5 percent (74.50 percent to 68 percent, and significantly lower than in 2009-10 at 74.7 percent);
-- Decrease in the percentage of wastewater facility violations remedied of 16.2 percent (84.2 percent to 68 percent, and significantly lower than 2009-10 at 89.4 percent);
-- Increase in the number of solid waste facility inspections of 847 (3,184 to 4,031, and slightly lower than in 2009-10 at 4,101);
-- Increase in the number of wastewater facility inspections of 423 (5,967 to 6,390, and higher than in 2009-10 at 6,310); and
-- Increase in number of wastewater systems with improved operational capacity of 6 (7 to 13).
Dam Safety-
-- Increase in dam emergency action plan compliance rate of 1 percent (89 percent to 90 percent, and higher than in 2009-10 at 85 percent);
-- Percentage of deficient high hazard dams 69.8 percent;
-- Percentage of high hazard dams classified as safe 85.10 percent; and
-- Population at risk downstream of deficient high hazard dams 1,452,000.
Drinking Water-
-- Increase in drinking water survey inspections of 282 (2,271 to 2,553, but lower than in 2009-10 at 3,177);
-- Increase in the number of water samples tested for private well owners 2,845 (2,800 to 5,645, a 100 percent increase over 2009-10);
-- Percentage of community water systems meeting health based drinking water standards- 97 percent (the same as 2009-10); and
-- Slight decrease in the percentage of public water systems with no reported cases of waterborne disease- 99.96 percent, down slightly from 99.98 percent and 2009-10 at 100 percent.
Renewable Fuels-
-- Increase in the gallons of renewable liquid fuels generated 1.5 million (128.8 million to 144.3 million, and a significant increase over 2009-10 at 87.1 million).
Measures to Reduce Pollution-
-- Significant increase in miles of impaired streams restored to designated uses- 284 (184 to 468, and fewer than in 2009-10 at 3,241, and more than in 2009-10 at 335));
-- Significant decrease in the acres of stream buffers installed of 2,907 (5,907 to 3,000);
-- Acres of existing stream buffers protected- 1,350;
-- Reduction in the percentage of hazardous air pollutant reductions of 8.4 percent (31.3 percent to 22.90 percent, and less than in 2009-10 at 30.41 percent);
-- Significant reduction in the percentage of population in counties attaining 1997 ozone standard of 12 percent (100 percent to 88 percent, and less than in 2009-10 at 95 percent);
-- Percent of population in counties attaining the 2008 ozone standard- 35 percent;
-- Increase in percent of population in counties attaining PM-2.5 (fine particles) standard- 10 percent (90 percent to 100 percent);
-- Cleanups completed under the Land Recycling Act- 380; Site currently in the Land Recycling Act cleanup program- 3,132;
-- Slight increase in tons of municipal waste disposed per person- .01 tons (.69 to .7 tons, but slightly less than in 2009-10 at .72 tons);
-- Cumulative acres of abandoned mine land reclaimed sin 1977- 27,985)
-- Slight increase in tons of municipal waste recycled of 40,000 tons (5.54 million to 5.5 million tons, and more than in 2009-10 at 5.3 million);
-- Decrease in acres of abandoned minelands reclaimed- 139 (714 to 575);
-- Increase in abandoned mine reclamation projects started of 64 (179 to 243);
-- Decrease in the cost of abandoned mine reclamation projects started of $1 million ($15.6 million to $14.5 million);
-- Reclamation value of Government Financed Construction Contract reclamation projects- $1.3 million, 188 acres;
-- Reclamation value of remining by current mine operators-- $850,000, 141 acres;
-- Total number of mine drainage treatment systems-- 300;
-- Increase in the storage tank cleanups completed of 525 (655 to 1,180); and
-- Slight decrease in the response actions under Hazardous Sites Cleanup Act- 1 (139 to 138).
DCNR Performance

Key performance results for DCNR during the reporting time period include--

-- Significant decrease in land conservation acquisition and easement acreage- 10,428 (17,405 to 6,977, and less than in 2009-10 at 11,936);
-- Increase in river implementation projects completed of 2 (16 to 18, and more than in 2009-10 at 7);
-- Slight increase in total carbon sequestered in state forests of 130,000 tons (3.9 million to 4.1 million tons, and more than in 2009-10 at 3.84 million);
-- Decrease in the number of firefighters trained of 187 (5,024 to 4,837, but more than in 2009-10 at 4,193);
-- Increase in forest stewardship plans completed of 112 (3,046 to 3,158, more than in 2009-10 at 3,147);
-- Increase in Community Conservation Partnership Grants awarded of $2.3 million ($29.1 million to $31.4 million, and more than in 2009-10 at $25.3 million);
-- Increase in cumulative total trees planted under TreeVitalize of 51,047 (288,165 to 339,212, up from 215,236 in 2009-10);
-- Increase in cumulative attendance a environmental education programs of 12,679 (now 397,388, up from 2009-10 at 346,793);
-- Increase in Get Outdoors recreation programs of 111 (2,740 to 2,851, and increase over 2009-10 at 2,779);
-- Slight increase in miles of new recreation trails of 2 miles (61 to 53 miles, up from 38 miles in 2009-10);
-- Increase in State Park attendance of 1.2 million (37.6 million to 38.8 million, and an increase over 2009-10 at 38.4 million);
-- Increase in State Park cabin nights rented of 959 (58,248 to 59,207, and about the same as 2009-10 at 59,182);
-- Increase in State Park camp sites rented of 21,319 (295,087 to 316,406 but down from 2009-10 at 325,323);
-- No change in acres of State Forest land treated for certified timber - 12,429, down from 2009-10 at 14,301);
-- Number of LEED certified park and forest buildings- 11, up 1 from last year;
-- Increase in number of green C2P2 grants of 3 (31 to 34 and 27 in 2009-10);
-- increase in the number of PA Natural Diversity Inventory database searches of 2,577 (53,600 to 56,177 and significantly more than the 49,042 in 2009-10);
-- Downloads of State Park mobile app 13,785; and
-- Increase in social media subscribers of 65,000 (20,000 to 85,000).
Department of Agriculture

Key performance results for the Department of Agriculture during the reporting time period include--

-- Increase in number of best management practices of 346 (483 to 829, and an increase over 2009-10 at 436);
-- Decrease in farm acres covered by Nutrient Management Plans of 184 (890 to 706, but a decrease over 2009-10 at 715);
-- Increase in REAP Tax Credit project funding of $14.1 million ($10.48 million to $24.60 million, and over the $12 million in 2009-10); and
-- Decrease in farm acreage preserved of 3,624 (15,225 to 11,601, and a significant decrease over 2009-10 at 17,889).
The report is available online in a dashboard format that offers interactive features not possible with a paper report.

Governor's Environmental Award Nominations Due January 31

The Department of Environmental Protection is now accepting applications for the 2013 Governor’s Award for Environmental Excellence. 
The Governor’s Award for Environmental Excellence is open to any Pennsylvania businesses, farms, government agencies, educational institutions, non-profit organizations and individuals that have created, or participated in, the development of a project that promotes environmental stewardship and economic development in the state. 
To be eligible for consideration, projects must have been completed between August 1, 2011 and July 31, 2012.
Click Here for a copy of the award guidelines and an application. Please send all completed applications by email to: RA-EPgovenviroawards@pa.gov.

Wednesday NewsClips

The End For Smallmouth Bass In The Susquehanna?
Interview: Susquehanna River Is Sick, Fish & Boat Commission
Towanda’s First Two Booms, Timber, Coal
Towanda By The Numbers
Gas Pipeline Explosion In West Virginia
Study: Burning Repurposed Wood Could Harm Children
Report: PA Needs Stricter Controls On Wood-Burning Boilers
Environmentalists Seek Halt To Power Line
PPL Customers Will See 4 Percent Rate Hike
Lancaster Soybean Plant Hearing In York County
Lancaster County Preserves 6 More Farms
Editorial: Don’t Let PA Get Derailed On Transportation Funding
Editorial: Learn From Others Before Bike-Share Begins
Click Here for PA Capitol Digest NewsClips

Energy Executive Issues Report On Natural Gas Gathering Lines With Recommendations

On December 11, Patrick Henderson, the Governor’s Energy Executive, issued a report on the 1,727.8 miles of natural gas gathering lines in the Commonwealth making 16 recommendations to tighten regulatory and other requirements over the lines.
The report was required by Act 13 drilling law and was provided to the General Assembly.
The 20-page report provides an overview of gathering lines-- the pipelines which carry natural gas from a production facility (wells) to a transmission line-- current siting considerations, state and federal regulations and laws covering these pipelines and the role of landowners in the siting process.
A state law adopted last year-- Act 127 of 2011-- requires pipeline operators to register their pipelines with the Public Utility Commission which as of October 1 reported 2,535.5 miles of pipelines serving Marcellus Shale (or unconventional gas wells) in the state.  Of these, 1,727.8 miles were gathering lines and 807.7 miles fall under the regulatory jurisdiction of the PUC.
The report pointed out the  PUC does not have legal authority over the siting of natural gas gathering lines.
The report includes 16 recommendations for improving environmental and safety oversight of gathering lines--
-- Legal impediments to the sharing of state and local road rights-of-way with gathering lines should be repealed or modified to encourage the use of existing corridors;
-- The PUC Code should be clarified to say sharing of pipeline capacity should not give a pipeline public utility status;
-- DEP/Corps of Engineers General Permit-4 should be changed to remove existing duplications related to the protection of historic, cultural and natural resources while increasing predictability in planning and permit processing time;
-- DEP should regularly review its Permit Decision Guarantee policy to ensure administratively complete permits are reviewed in a timely manner and consider expedited review for projects which share rights-of-way;
-- The PA Natural Diversity Inventory review tool should be enhanced to assist in up-front avoidance of conflicts with threatened and endangered species;
-- The PA One Call law should be amended to include mandatory participation and registration of all gathering lines;
-- The PUC should work with PA One Call to create a map of gathering lines;
-- County planning offices should work with drilling operators and gathering line companies to under future development plans to maximize opportunities for shared rights-of-way;
-- DEP should adopt environmental review standards for drilling proposals which seek to avoid surface disturbances, impacts on sensitive lands, forest fragmentation, viewsheds and direct intersection with waterways;
-- Pipeline operators should collaborate to standardize right-of-way markers;
-- Landowner outreach efforts, such as through county extension offices, should expand landowner awareness of standard terms and conditions and other important information related to leasing pipeline rights-of-way;
-- County and municipal governments should be encouraged to consult with gathering line operators to better understand the implications of a proposed project on local comprehensive plans;
-- The PUC and DEP should continue their efforts to coordinate and provide public outreach to further citizens’ understanding of the roles each agencies plan in the permitting of gathering lines;
-- The Governor’s Center for Local Government Services, along with the PUC and DEP, should work with local government associations to assist in disseminating information on the laws and requirements covering gathering lines.
-- Pipeline operators should be encouraged to consult with the appropriate experts to replant rights-of-way with vegetation that fosters habitat development for wildlife; and
-- Consideration should be given to using existing or new pipeline pathways nearing existing or potential industrial development to maximize job creation, lower energy costs and secure the nation’s energy independence.
A copy of the report is available online.

Tuesday NewsClips

Ruling On Drilling Law Will Not End Fray
Boomtown: Radio Smart Talk Tackles Towanda, Drilling
Marcellus Shale Brings Freight Traffic For Trains
Natural Gas Dehydration Station Topic Of Meeting
Pittsburgh Inspired Colorado Town’s Fracking Ban
Drilling Company Controller Charged With Embezzling $6 Million
Few Turnout For Lancaster Sewer Rate Increase Hearings
PEC: Bike Share Business Plan RFP
Erie Coke Wants DEP To Reissue Operating Permit
Click Here for PA Capitol Digest NewsClips