PA Environment Digest Blog

Wednesday, June 1, 2016

Schuylkill River Town Program Continues To Connect Communities To The River

After an eventful spring season, the PA Environmental Council’s Schuylkill River Town Program is gearing up for another summer of getting people onto both the river and the Schuylkill River Trail!

The season kicked off on April 16 when the Schuylkill River Towns celebrated Opening Day for trails with a scavenger hunt event that linked trail users with local businesses.

Participants were given River Town “passports” that showed them how to use the trail to reach local businesses in Phoenixville, Norristown, and Conshohocken where they would receive The Circuit Trails swag.

The Action Teams in each town worked together to organize the event and it was exciting to have multiple towns coordinating one event, highlighting how rivers are corridors that connect us to each other.

In May, Schuylkill River Towns hosted a walking tour of Lock 60 in partnership with the Schuylkill Canal Association. Participants learned about the history, wildlife, and legacy of this unique part of the river.

Schuylkill River Towns also worked with a local botanist to host a walking tour that highlighted edible plants growing naturally along the trail as well as a freshwater fishing class to attract new and experienced anglers to the Schuylkill.

From June to September, the program is organizing a series of kayak tours in Bridgeport, Norristown, and Mont Clare. Participants will discover the history and natural beauty of the River Towns from the vantage point of the river itself.

Some of the tours in the series have additional themes, including youth and moonlight paddles.

Funding from the Dolfinger-McMahon Foundation, the Phoenixville Police Athletic League, the PA Organization for Watersheds and Rivers (POWR), and the Darden Foundation are supporting the kayak series.

Schuylkill River Towns is also organizing events on the Schuylkill River Trail.

During National Trail Month in June, a bike trip from Conshohocken to Phoenixville and back will highlight the breweries and distilleries that call the River Towns home and depend on the waters of the Schuylkill.

The program is also offering tours to explore the natural heritage in the towns.

With funding from the Philadelphia Cultural Alliance, the Schuylkill River Towns is also working with Montgomery County Community College to create a Pop-up Art Gallery in Norristown that will draw attention to the proximity of the trail to downtown Norristown.

PEC believes that the programing created by the Schuylkill River Towns Program builds a connection between residents and their river that has been absent for decades.

By enabling communities to access their river and recreate on it, we create lifelong stewards of our natural resources.

More information is available at PEC’s Schuylkill River Town Program webpage or contact Lizzie Hessek by calling 215-545-4570 or send email to: lhessmiller@pecpa.org.

For more information on programs, initiatives and special events, visit the PA Environmental Council website, visit the PEC Blog, follow PEC on Twitter or Like PEC on Facebook. Click Here to receive regular updates from PEC.

Penn State: Politics, Not Ignorance May Pollute Support For Pro-Science Solutions

Mentioning politics in a message about an environmental issue may turn people -- even people informed about the issue -- away from supporting a pro-science solution, according to a team of researchers.

In a study, conservative participants who were asked to react to a message about excess water runoff showed lower support for an environmental science improvement project when the message was framed around global warming terminology, according to Lee Ahern, associate professor of advertising and public relations, Penn State.

The effect was even stronger among those conservatives with more knowledge about the issue, he added.

"It's the framing of the issue that's really important," said Ahern. "This is really a message for scientists and science communicators: don't pollute and politicize the information environment around the issue, because once you do that, people's political identities are going to get engaged."

This study, along with others, has established that having more knowledge about science does not necessarily translate into more support for pro-science policies, according to Ahern, who added that, in this case, the environmental solution was to add more green surface infrastructure, such as green roofs.

The researchers, who report their findings in a recent issue of Science Communication, suggest that a reader's political and social identities can be activated when politicized terms or concepts are used in a message.

This activation may then cause people to withdraw support from solutions they may have backed.

"The issue with the public's support for pro-science solutions for things like global warming, in particular, as well as other environmental issues that have socially contested policy solutions, is that the political identity of the people who are thinking about these issues often becomes activated," said Ahern, who worked with Colleen Connolly-Ahern, associate professor of advertising and public relations, Penn State and Jennifer Hoewe, assistant professor of journalism, University of Alabama.

Ahern said that all political ideologies, not just conservatives, are susceptible to this type of motivated reasoning.

"This is not unique to conservatives," said Ahern. "It works both ways. Studies have been done on other issues, for example, nuclear power and genetically modified organisms, that have shown similar effects among liberals."

The researchers suggest that scientists hoping to reach consensus on solutions should avoid political rhetoric in their communication.

"This is really a message for the scientists, not necessarily the public," said Ahern. "It's interesting for people to understand what's happening, but the people who really need to change what they are doing are the scientists and science communicators."

The researchers recruited 964 participants to take an online survey on local water quality in the Philadelphia area. The participants were asked what political party they supported and how strongly they supported the party.

They were also asked to respond to questions that would group them into a range of egalitarian-hierarchical or individualist-collectivist worldviews.

The researchers measured the participants' knowledge of stormwater runoff issues in Philadelphia and also used a quiz from the National Science Foundation to test their general science knowledge.

The study had two conditions. A normal condition attributed the water runoff problem to excess rain, while the global warming condition framed the problems around climate change. Statements and phrases, such as "stopping global warming will require international agreements" and "human-caused global warming," were used to frame the subject around climate issues.

Among solid or strong Democrats in the global warming condition, participants with high knowledge reported stronger willingness to pay for environmental solutions, such as adding green roofs.

Solid or strong Republicans with high knowledge, on the other hand, reported stronger support in the normal condition for the environmental solutions, but not in the global warming condition.

They were even more resistant to the solutions than low-knowledge Republicans.

"In fact, support among the low-knowledge Republicans increased in the global warming condition," said Ahern.

The William Penn Foundation supported this work.

Dr. Ahern may be contacted by calling 814-865-8314 or send email to: laa182@psu.edu.

May Environmental Synopsis Newsletter Available From Joint Conservation Committee

The May edition of the Environmental Synopsis newsletter is now available from the Joint Legislative Air and Water Pollution Control and Conservation Committee featuring articles on--

-- Get Outdoors PA!

-- Drivers Spend $3 Billion A Year To Repair Pothole-Related Car Damage

-- D.C. Properties With Green Energy Yield Major Resale Premiums

-- Maintaining Roadsides And Pollinator Populations

-- Determining Legacy Nitrogen In Subsurface Soil

-- USDA, EPA Need To Do More To Protect Bees

-- Click Here to sign up for regular updates from the Committee.

Sen. Scott Hutchinson (R-Venango) serves as Chair of the Joint Conservation Committee.

For more information, visit the Joint Conservation Committee website, Like them on Facebook or Follow them on Twitter.

CBF-PA Applauds Montour County For Joining Clean Water Counts Campaign

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation-PA Wednesday applauded Montour County commissioners, for adopting a Clean Water Counts resolution, calling on state officials to make clean water a top priority for the Commonwealth.

CBF and the PA Growing Greener Coalition launched the Clean Water Counts campaign in 2014, urging local governments across the Commonwealth to pass resolutions and join in calling on legislators in Harrisburg to invest in local clean water programs and practices.

Montour is the 19th county to adopt a Clean Water Counts resolution, meaning the effort now represents more than one-third of Pennsylvania's population.

The other 18 counties to sign on are Berks, Centre, Cumberland, Erie, Fayette, Greene, Indiana, Jefferson, Luzerne, Northumberland, Philadelphia, Schuylkill, Somerset, Venango, Washington, Westmoreland, Wyoming, and York.

Roughly 19,000 miles of Pennsylvania waters are impaired. Agriculture is the largest source of pollution to the Commonwealth's streams and rivers. That pollution occurs when nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment run off farm fields into local waterways.

According to the Department of Environmental Protection, there are nearly 160 miles of polluted waterways in Montour County. About 140 miles are degraded by agriculture.

"Healthy families, strong communities and a thriving Pennsylvania economy depend on clean water," said Harry Campbell, CBF's Pennsylvania executive director. "We applaud and thank the commissioners in Montour and the other counties, for publicly voicing their support for clean water in the Keystone State."

"We hope Clean Water Counts continues to build momentum," Growing Greener Coalition Executive Director Andrew Heath added. "The central region is extremely important to motivating greater leadership from Harrisburg on clean water issues and we look forward to working with the other counties in adopting resolutions."

By supporting the Clean Water Counts campaign, Montour and other counties are telling lawmakers in Harrisburg that clean water is integral to Pennsylvania's economy, communities, and human health. It's a legacy worth leaving future generations.

Montour County is represented by Sen. John Gordner (R) and Rep. Kurt Masser (R).

For more information and find out how clean streams are in your county, visit CBF-PA’s Clean Water Counts In Pennsylvania webpage.

For more on Chesapeake Bay-related issues in Pennsylvania, visit the CBF-PA webpage. Click Here to sign up for Pennsylvania updates (bottom of left column).

Op-Ed: You Can Be Pro-Environment And Pro-Job Creation

By Sen. John Yudichak (D-Luzerne)

Recently, a few groups have challenged my record on the environment. They have raised concerns about two issues - the Clean Power Plan and the new Chapter 78 oil and gas well site regulations.

First, to be clear, I support the goals of the Clean Power Plan. And, as the public record reflects, I have never voted to diminish the plan. Currently, I am working with the Wolf administration to ensure this federal climate change initiative is responsibly carried out with little impact on Pennsylvania jobs.

The Clean Power Plan, advanced by the Environmental Protection Agency, was halted by the United States Supreme Court, and as a result, state action on the plan has stalled until the case is resolved.

Second, check the record, as a member of the Environmental Quality Board I supported Governor Wolf's newly proposed Chapter 78 regulations that will provide the most comprehensive oversight of the oil and gas industry ever implemented in Pennsylvania history.

Some groups, however, believe you cannot be pro-environment and pro-job creation. On that point, we will have to agree to disagree.

I have the great honor of representing Luzerne and Carbon Counties in the state Senate. It is a region with a rich heritage of both energy production and a passion for the conservation of our pristine natural resources. The citizens of northeastern Pennsylvania have proven you can do both.

It is my responsibility, as a public servant, to reflect my constituents who want legislators to work with one another to achieve that important balance between economic development and environmental protection.

My environmental record over the years has been one of consistent support for policies that promote environmental reclamation and conservation without losing sight of the number one priority for most Pennsylvanians - jobs.

Working with groups, like the Earth Conservancy, we have secured more than $40 million to reclaim thousands of acres of mine scarred lands and miles of polluted streams. On many of those reclaimed sites new industries have grown and created jobs.

Companies, like CVS Caremark located in Hanover Township, have helped us transform our environmentally challenged sites by investing in our economic landscape with the creation of six hundred new jobs in the growing pharmaceutical industry.

Moreover, in the past two decades, I have supported new laws to promote a proper balance between environmental protection and economic development: Growing Greener, H2O PA, the Alternative Fuels Incentive Act, the Alternatives Energy Portfolio Standards Act, the Pennsylvania Climate Change Act, and the Alternative Energy Investment Act.

Collectively, my support of these landmark legislative achievements have made Pennsylvania a leader in renewable energy development, new energy jobs and the advancement of environmental protection.

In Carbon County, we have worked with Con Edison to develop PA Solar Park - Pennsylvania's largest solar park. PA Solar Park will ultimately produce enough electricity to fuel three thousand homes and effectively reduce the CO2 emissions of 22,971 barrels of oil.

In Greater Hazleton, we are working with an energy company, the Atlantic Carbon Group, that has invested over $16 million in our region and created nearly one hundred new jobs.

Atlantic Carbon Group is employing 21st century mining techniques to harvest our plentiful anthracite coal resources to support steel manufacturing, water purification and the manufacturing of silicon.

Investing in environmental protection and supporting the development of our energy infrastructure should not be mutually exclusive enterprises.

Building new natural gas plants, modernizing our natural gas infrastructure, while we continue to press for the development of alternative energy sources demonstrates that we can create jobs and protect the environment.

Building consensus, forging common sense solutions and working with Republicans and Democrats may not be popular in some political circles, but it is exactly how I try to best represent the good people of northeastern Pennsylvania.

We can fight climate change. We can improve our air and water. We can be responsible stewards of PENN's woods, and still develop Pennsylvania's diverse energy resources to create jobs and opportunities all across this great Commonwealth.

Sen. John Yudichak (D-Luzerne), Minority Chair of the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, and can be contacted by sending email to: yudichak@pasenate.com.

Pamela Witmer Joins UGI Energy Services’ Leadership Team

UGI Energy Services, LLC Wednesday announced former PUC Commissioner Pamela A. Witmer has been named vice president of government affairs for the company.

Witmer joins UGI Energy Services as the company continues to build-out its natural gas midstream assets to keep pace with growing demand for natural gas and to capitalize on the vast supplies in the Marcellus Shale regions of Pennsylvania.

“We’re excited and very fortunate to have Pam on our management team,” UGI Energy Services President Brad Hall said. “She has a wealth of experience in the public and private sectors and her perspective on energy policy as a former PUC Commissioner will help us to better communicate with and respond to the various stakeholders that are impacted by large scale, energy infrastructure projects.”

During her time with the Commission, Witmer served on the Advisory Council for the North American Energy Standards Board, as well as served on the Communications Security, Reliability and Interoperability Council of the Federal Communications Commission.

Witmer has also been active in the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners, having recently been appointed to a NARUC/Department of Energy natural gas infrastructure technical partnership.

In addition, Witmer served as a member of the Energy Resources & Environment and Critical Infrastructure Committees.

“The opportunity to play a role in the effort to provide clean, reliable, and local sources of energy to further enhance our economy is very exciting,” said Witmer. “And to work with a team that is bridging the gap between suppliers and customers is even more thrilling.”

As vice president of government affairs for UGI Energy Services, Witmer will represent the company’s interests before public officials and regulatory agencies, educate stakeholders on a variety of energy issues, and provide strategic counsel to new and existing customer projects.

River Sweep Seeking Volunteers For June 18 Cleanup In Western PA

Volunteers are needed for the 26th Annual River Sweep June 18, from 8 a.m. to noon to help clean up stream and riverbanks in Allegheny, Armstrong, Butler, Fayette, Washington and Westmoreland Counties.

The River Sweep, an annual six-state effort to clean up litter and debris in the Ohio River watershed, is the largest organized volunteer river cleanup effort in the country. The event winds through Ohio, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Indiana, West Virginia and Illinois, covering more than 2,400 miles of shoreline.

“The River Sweep teaches river awareness and respect for our natural resources,” said Betsy Mallison, Pennsylvania River Sweep Coordinator. “Come out and spend a few hours along our rivers and streams and help make a difference in our waterways.”

Volunteers are asked to wear sturdy shoes and long pants, and to bring work gloves, if available. Volunteers must sign a waiver and will receive a free River Sweep t-shirt for participating.

In Pennsylvania, the River Sweep is sponsored by the Department of Environmental Protection, the Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission (ORSANCO) and a number of Pennsylvania corporate sponsors including Duquesne Light, EQT, and the Neville Chemical Company.

There are more than 10 cleanup points in Pennsylvania. Residents can find out more about River Sweep cleanup locations, by checking the Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission River Sweep webpage.