Senate Committees To Hear Update On Chesapeake Bay TMDL

The Senate Environmental Resources and Energy and Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committees will hold an information meeting on March 17 to hear an update on the development of the Chesapeake Bay Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Plan.
The Committee has invited representatives from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to brief the Committees on the TMDL and to respond to members’ questions. Additionally, Secretary Russell Redding of the Department of Agriculture and Secretary John Hanger of the Department of Environmental Protection will also appear before the Committees to address how the state will implement the TMDL.
The meeting will begin at 9:30 in Hearing Room 1, North Office Building.
Sen. Mary Jo White (R-Venango) serves as Majority Chair of the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee and Sen. Ray Musto (D-Luzerne) serves as Minority Chair.
Sen. Mike Brubaker (R-Lancaster) serves as Majority Chair of the Senate Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee and Sen. Michael O'Pake (D-Berks) serves as Minority Chair.

Help Wanted: PA Resources Council Environmental Education Specialist

The PA Resources Council is looking to fill an Environmental Education Specialist position in the Harrisburg-Central Pennsylvania Region.
Primary duties involve presentation of PRC’s various Environmental Education curricula to students in grades K-8, on occasion, grades 9-12. Topics include Watershed Awareness, Alternative Energy, Litter & Recycling, Greener Lifestyles, Pennsylvania Songbirds, and Environmental Careers.
Basic qualifications for the position are a Bachelors Degree in Education with 1+ year of teaching experience, including science education or Bachelors Degree in Ecology, Environmental, or other Science discipline with 2+ years in Environmental Education programming. Bachelor’s Degree in other disciplines with relevant teaching experience may be considered. PA Teaching Certification a plus.
The deadline for applications is March 19. Send a cover letter with resume to: Diana Andrejczak, Manager of Education and Outreach, PA Resources Council, by sending email to: andrejczak@prc.org.

Tuesday NewsClips

Lancaster Watershed May Be Key To Saving Chesapeake Bay
Disputed Dredging Begins On The Delaware
Environmental Groups Rip Delaware River Dredging
Specter Bill On Delaware Dredging Helps Hazleton
Editorial: Urban Agriculture In Pittsburgh Cut
PA Forests: The Deer Balancing Act
Green Elementary School Begins In Wayne County
Judge Lets Suit Proceed In Erie Energy Plant Case
Delaware County Website Goes Green
State Holds Sessions To Promote Green Jobs
PennDOT Lands Could Be Worth Millions For Drilling
Butler Wind Turbine Ordinance Challenged
Chemical Waste Still Reaching Susquehanna River
Tioga County Group Uses Lime Grant To Clean Water
Plug Pulled On Coal Waste Power Plant Proposal
Face Off: Is Global Warming A Myth?
Officials Say McKean Stormwater Plan Stifles Development

DEP Secretary Hanger: Timely Permit Decisions Are More Difficult With Cuts

Department of Environmental Protection Secretary John Hanger told the Senate Appropriations Committee today his agency's ability to make timely decisions on permits is getting more difficult because of the budget cuts made this year and expected for next year.
Secretary Hanger said "these are not good times" for the agency, "we've been cut to the bone," but the "core functions" of the agency are being accomplished. He said the cuts mean certain things will not get done. He added even with the loss of 258 positions this fiscal year, enforcement and inspection functions were preserved in the agency.
Secretary Hanger said if permit activity returns to its previous levels when the economy recovers, he is very concerned that cuts to staffing levels will mean timely permit decisions could not be made.
He said the agency is moving ahead with permit application fee increases for NPDES water quality permits that will help ease funding concerns for his agency and for county conservation districts.
Gov. Rendell's proposed 2010-11 budget locks in the 26 percent cut in General Fund appropriations made in DEP's budget in FY 2009-10 cutting a total of $321 million in funding from previous years. Since 2003, DEP has seen a 19 percent reduction in its funded positions.
Here are some topics raised in the Senate budget hearing that were not covered last week in the House or were covered in different ways:
Chesapeake Bay Cleanup: In response to a questions from Sen. Mike Brubaker (R-Lancaster), Majority Chair of the Senate Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee, Sen. Mary Jo White (R-Venango), Majority Chair of the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, and Sen. Patricia Vance (R-Cumberland), Secretary Hanger said he thought Pennsylvania did have the resources in place for communities and farmers to meet the federal Clean Water Act mandate to reduce nutrient and sediment loads going to the Chesapeake Bay, "if nutrient credit trading works."
He said the Commonwealth has provided help to wastewater treatment plants through a portion of the $400 million bond issue passed in 2008 and the H2O Water Infrastructure program and through the Resource Enhancement and Protection (REAP) Farm Conservation Tax Credit Program to help farmers meet the mandates.
He acknowledged, though, cuts have been made last year and again this year in the REAP program reduced from $10 million to $4.5 million for this coming year, but said additional resources were being provided to the state through the federal Farm Bill to help the agricultural sector.
DEP and the Joint Legislative Budget and Finance Committee estimated the cost for wastewater plants to meet the Chesapeake Bay cleanup mandate was $1.4 billion in 2008 and about $600 million for farmers in 2005.
He said progress in meeting the Chesapeake Bay cleanup mandate can only be made if the nutrient credit trading program works and he pointed to an auction this month planned by the PA Infrastructure Investment Authority to solicit proposals for projects to reduce nutrient runoff from agricultural operations and other non-point sources of pollution.
[Update: The auction referred to by Secretary Hanger is actually a "mock" auction for nutrient credits among interest groups interested in helping to develop the process for buying and selling credits. A limited, real auction is expected to be held at the end of 2010 and a spot market auction by October 2011.]
Secretary Hanger concluded his response by saying if trading does not work, meeting the requirements will be "daunting."
Growing Greener Program Re-Start: Sen. Ray Musto (D-Luzerne), Minority Chair of the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, and Sen. Michael Stack (D-Philadelphia) both expressed concern about the Growing Greener Program II bond issue running out of project money this year.
Sen. Musto expressed the strong position the program should be permanently funded as a perpetual program for restoring the environment in Pennsylvania.
Secretary Hanger said the Growing Greener Program has done a "huge amount of good" for Pennsylvania's environment as well as creating jobs. He said a number of groups are looking to the proposed natural gas production severance tax as a possible source of funding.
Permitting Gas Wells In Floodplains: Sen. Lisa Baker (R-Lackawanna) asked if DEP can issue permits for Marcellus Shale natural gas wells in a floodplain and if DEP's permit overrides municipal floodplain zoning.
Secretary Hanger said the issue of permitting wells in floodplains was recently raised to his agency and he's looking into the issue. With respect to local zoning, he said his understanding of the law is DEP permits do not override local zoning as long as the local ordinances do not address the same issues as those covered in a DEP permit, for example, setting well casing standards.
Contamination From Fracking: In response to questions from Sen. Gene Yaw (R-Bradford) and Sen. Mary Jo White, Secretary Hanger said there has not been a case in Pennsylvania where groundwater was contaminated from natural gas fracking fluids. However, he said there have been cases of surface water contamination from fracking fluid spills and drinking water supplies have been contaminated by natural gas migration into groundwater.
Increasing Solar Energy Mandates: Sen. Robert Tomlinson (R-Bucks), Sen. Lloyd Smucker (R-Lancaster) and Sen. Mary Jo White asked about legislation (House Bill 80 and Senate Bill 92) to increase the state's solar energy mandates and its impact on electric costs and the possibility of reducing the need for peaking electric power plants.
Secretary Hanger said producing more electricity supply from any source will tend to reduce the wholesale price of electric, especially when electric usage is peaking during hot, sunny days when solar energy can be most effective.
He said the cost of generating solar electricity has dropped 40 percent over the last 12-18 months and was likely to be reduced even further in the future.
Sen. White noted electric utilities are meeting the existing alternative energy standards primarily by buying power from solar and other projects in Illinois and other surrounding states.
Clean Coal Power Plants: Sen. Stuart Greenleaf (R-Montgomery) asked if there was still a place for burning Pennsylvania's most plentiful energy source-- coal-- in the future.
Secretary Hanger said there is no perfect energy source from an environmental standpoint. They all have drawbacks. He explained new technologies to clean up emissions and sequester pollutants like carbon dioxide in combined cycle coal gassification plants offer a promising future for coal use and is where the industry should go.
West Nile Virus Program: Sen. Mary Jo White had the sharpest exchange of the day with Secretary Hanger over cuts to the West Nile Virus Control Program. Sen. White urged DEP to consider using Clean Water Fund monies last year to keep the program going.
Secretary Hanger said a legal review of how Clean Water Fund monies can be used said they can only be used to deal with water pollution and mosquitoes are not water pollution.
Sen. White countered the Clean Water Fund has been used to buy outboard motors, provide a grant to PennFuture and for an educational program in Reading.
Other Questions
As in the House, questions were asked about extending the $2 per ton Recycling Fee, paying back the $100 million borrowed from the Underground Storage Tank Indemnification Fund, standards under development for Total Dissolved Solids in drilling wastewater and other sources, Black Fly spraying, permit backlogs in DEP's Northeast Regional Office, a reduction in out-of-state waste coming to Pennsylvania and its impact on funding for recycling and waste reduction programs, where federal stimulus funds are being spent, cuts to county conservation district funding and a proposed moratorium on Marcellus Shale drilling in State Forests.
Click here for a summary of questions to DEP in the House last week. Click here for a summary of questions to the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources last week in the House and Senate.
A copy of Secretary Hanger's written testimony for the Senate Appropriations Committee is available online.

EPA Announces Environmental Justice Video Contest: Faces Of The Grassroots

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is sponsoring an Environmental Justice Video Contest to challenge professional or aspiring filmmakers to create videos that capture the faces of the environmental justice movement. Entries are due April 8.
The Faces of the Grassroots contest is an opportunity to publicly exhibit creativity with environmental justice stories, and connect with others working to raise awareness of the movement.
“Faces of the Grassroots will help EPA expand the conversation on environmentalism and work for environmental justice,” said Charles Lee, director of EPA’s Office of Environmental Justice. “Participants can make a difference for the historically underrepresented in their community by using motion pictures to show the struggles and triumphs they have endured to advance environmental justice.”
Videos can focus on any environmental justice activity, issue, or topic. Examples would be a music video about climate change, or a video recording a successful environmental justice project that has made a community a healthier and happier place to live.
Awards will be given to the winning submissions in each category. The videos will also be featured on EPA’s website and may be used as public service announcements. EPA will announce winners in honor of the 40th anniversary of Earth Day.
The categories and prize money include: Public Service Announcements (30 or 60 seconds): 1st Place - $2,500, 2nd Place - $1,500, 3rd Place - $1,000, Student Winner - $500 (13-18 years old), and Informational Video (3-5 minutes): 1st Place - $2,500, 2nd Place - $1,500, 3rd Place - $1,000, Student Winner - $500 (13-18 years old)
For more information, visit the EPA Environmental Justice Video Contest webpage.

Applications Now Being Accepted For Wildlife Leadership Academy Courses

The Wildlife Leadership Academy is a wildlife-focused leadership program coordinated by the Pennsylvania Institute for Conservation Education that equips youth ages 14-17 with the necessary skills to become ambassadors for conservation in their home communities. The deadline for applications to the Academy is April 1.
The Wildlife Leadership Academy is a cooperative initiative of various state agencies and conservation organizations. It is coordinated and administered by the Pennsylvania Institute for Conservation Education.

DCNR Seeks Student Applicants For Environmental Careers Camp

Department of Conservation and Natural Resources acting Secretary John H. Quigley is inviting young men and women across the state to apply for its summer residential camp for high-school students interested in pursuing environmental careers. Applications must be submitted by April 1.
“As the Environmental Careers Outdoors Camp enters its ninth year, the popular educational effort has become one of DCNR’s strongest success stories,” said Acting Secretary Quigley. “We know we’ve successfully worked with young people to hone their awareness of the natural world and the variety of related careers available to them.”
DCNR will offer the six-day camp, beginning July 11, at Kirby Episcopal House and Chapel, Glen Summit, Luzerne County. The camp is near Nescopeck State Park and approximately 10 miles south of Wilkes-Barre.
“DCNR staffers have proudly supported this ECO Camp effort,” Acting Secretary Quigley said. “Past campers have come from the state’s smallest towns and largest cities, forming a very unique pool of intelligence, spirit and commitment to environmental improvement.”
The ultimate camp goal is to introduce 20 to 25 students to conservation and environmental careers, and encourage their pursuit. From sampling streams for fish and aquatic life, to developing forestry skills, daily activities are planned to get students out in the field to meet and observe environmental professionals.
Participants are exposed to a wide range of career experiences, including water quality assessments, geology field studies, and overnight camping experiences. There will be opportunities to meet conservation professionals to learn about career opportunities.
Specialists and officials of DCNR’s bureaus of state parks, forestry and topographic and geologic survey will offer the instruction and daily activities without charge. Selected students in grades 10-12 will receive a hands-on, team-building learning experience in an outdoor setting.
After the camps, attendees will have a chance to seek internships, mentoring and job-shadowing positions, and return as future camp leaders.
For enrollment applications and information, download an application brochure or send email to: ECO_Camp@state.pa.us; or call 724-865-7857 or write to ECO Camp Coordinator, Bureau of State parks, Environmental Education and Information Division, P.O. Box 8551, Harrisburg, PA 17105-8551.

DEP Williamsport Regional Director Robert Yowell To Retire

Robert Yowell, Director of the Department of Environmental Protection's Williamsport Regional Office, announced he will retire from the agency at the end of April after 16 years of service to the Commonwealth.
Since 1994 Yowell has managed the state's air, water, waste, watershed, oil and gas, environmental cleanup and other environmental programs and a staff of over 160 environmental professionals in the 14 county Northcentral Region of DEP.
During his tenure with DEP he also served as Acting Deputy for Water Management, as senior Pennsylvania representative to the Chesapeake Bay Program and as lead Regional Director for the Water Supply and Environmental Cleanup Programs.
Yowell came to DEP with a background in county government working as Executive Director of the Lock Haven Area Flood Protection Authority, for the Lycoming County Solid Waste Department and the County Redevelopment Authority where he oversaw community recovery efforts after the 1972 Agnes Flood. He initially started work for Lycoming County as a community planner and taught municipal planning courses for Penn State University.

Monday NewsClips

Big Budget Cash Shortfall Vexes PA In Election Year
Officials Say NE Flooding Not Likely
Manure Becomes Pollutant As Its Volume Grows Unmanageable
Limerick Partners With Elementary School For Outdoor Classroom
Volunteers Get To Work On Damaged Trails
Meetings To Address Allegheny Trail
WV Groups to Sue Consol Over Fish Kill
Survey Shows Increasing Number Of Pennsylvanians Don't Believe In Global Warming
Firm Intends To Save Allegheny County Big On Energy
PA Gearing Up To Spend Funds For Weatherizing Homes
Delaware River Dredging Could Begin Monday
Officials Expect Clamor For Home Heating Rebates
Editorial: Check The New Flood Map
Tree Planting Set For Bucks County Creek
Op-Ed: Vitali Urges Marcellus Shale Drilling Moratorium