EPA Completes Drinking Water Sampling In Dimock, No Further EPA Action Required

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced Wednesday it has completed its sampling of private drinking water wells in Dimock, Pa.

Data previously supplied to the agency by residents, the Department of Environmental Protection and Cabot Oil and Gas Exploration had indicated the potential for elevated levels of water contaminants in wells, and following requests by residents EPA took steps to sample water in the area to ensure there were not elevated levels of contaminants.

Based on the outcome of that sampling, EPA has determined that there are not levels of contaminants present that would require additional action by the Agency.

“Our goal was to provide the Dimock community with complete and reliable information about the presence of contaminants in their drinking water and to determine whether further action was warranted to protect public health,” said EPA Regional Administrator Shawn M. Garvin.  “The sampling and an evaluation of the particular circumstances at each home did not indicate levels of contaminants that would give EPA reason to take further action.  Throughout EPA's work in Dimock, the Agency has used the best available scientific data to provide clarity to Dimock residents and address their concerns about the safety of their drinking water.”

EPA visited Dimock, Pa. in late 2011, surveyed residents regarding their private wells and reviewed hundreds of pages of drinking water data supplied to the agency by Dimock residents, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and Cabot.  

Because data for some homes showed elevated contaminant levels and several residents expressed concern about their drinking water, EPA determined that well sampling was necessary to gather additional data and evaluate whether residents had access to safe drinking water.

Between January and June 2012, EPA sampled private drinking water wells serving 64 homes, including two rounds of sampling at four wells where EPA was delivering temporary water supplies as a precautionary step in response to prior data indicating the well water contained levels of contaminants that pose a health concern.  

At one of those wells EPA did find an elevated level of manganese in untreated well water.  The two residences serviced by the well each have water treatment systems that can reduce manganese to levels that do not present a health concern.

As a result of the two rounds of sampling at these four wells, EPA has determined that it is no longer necessary to provide residents with alternative water.  EPA is working with residents on the schedule to disconnect the alternate water sources provided by EPA.

Overall during the sampling in Dimock, EPA found hazardous substances, specifically arsenic, barium or manganese, all of which are also naturally occurring substances, in well water at five homes at levels that could present a health concern.

In all cases the residents have now or will have their own treatment systems that can reduce concentrations of those hazardous substances to acceptable levels at the tap.  EPA has provided the residents with all of their sampling results and has no further plans to conduct additional drinking water sampling in Dimock.

For more information on the results of sampling, visit EPA’s Pennsylvania webpage.

Wednesday NewsClips

Mine Safety Improves Since Quecreek
Tuesday Marks 10 Years Since Quecreek 9 Trapped
Quecreek Miner Recounts Story Of Survival
Speedier Environmental Reviews To Be Required
Corbett Tells DEP To Expedite Permit Process
Corbett Orders Firm Time Limits For Rulings By DEP
Residents In Marcellus Shale Want Voice In The Process
Campers Learn About Gas Industry First-Hand
Protesters Hold Mock Funeral Criticizing Shell Subsidies
DEP: Lake Erie Fish Kill Result Of Natural Causes
Casey Seeks to Keep Flood Ranking
Lawsuit Targets Developer In Flooding Death
Saint Clair To Appeal Schuylkill Landfill Decision
Ban On Bucks Sewer Hookups Stalls Construction
Neville Plant Pollution Nets $1.75 Million Fine
Corbett Flaunts Western PA Recreation
Click Here for PA Capitol Digest NewsClips

Corbett Issues Order Requiring DEP To Implement Permit Decision Guarantee Program

Gov. Corbett Tuesday issued Executive Order 2012-11, which requires the Department of Environmental Protection to immediately begin assessing how best to make timely permitting decisions.

The order establishes a Permit Guarantee Program, in which DEP will strive to make permitting decisions within established processing times for complete and technically adequate applications.

“One of the biggest complaints I have received over and over again is the time it takes for businesses, non-profit organizations and local governments to work through the permitting process,” Corbett said. “I promised to correct this, and today we are setting the wheels in motion to deliver on that promise. At the same time, DEP will continue its longstanding mission to protect our environment.

“While DEP will be working hard to become even more efficient, the new program also must make clear our expectations from those seeking permits. Full and complete applications are necessary for DEP to be able to make a timely decision without sacrificing their duty and commitment to protect the environment,” Corbett said. “Complete applications mean DEP can make a sound decision quickly.”

The order also requires DEP to coordinate the review of applications for projects with multiple permits; establish performance standards for staff engaged in permit reviews; and where possible, develop and improve electronic permitting tools.

Background
Gov. Corbett’s Executive Order builds on Executive Order 1995-5 issued by Gov. Tom Ridge creating the Money-Back Guarantee Permit Review Program which put obligations on both permit applicants and DEP during the review process.
Under the 1995 Order, if DEP failed to make a decision on a permit during the required review period applicants were given their permit application fees back.  During the operation of the program, there were 22 fee refunds out of 125,000 permit actions taken through mid-2002.
Robert D. Behen, director of The Governors Center at Duke University, lauded the Money-Back Program in a 1997 article in “Governing Magazine” as evidence that a public agency can dramatically improve efficiency with the dedicate work of committed managers and staff.
Executive Order 1995-5 has been in force since 1995, although there was significantly less emphasis on the program during the Rendell Administration.
The last version of the Money-Back Guarantee Policy Guidance is available online.

Clinton County CleanScapes Hosts West Branch Susquehanna Cleanup July 28

Clinton County CleanScapes and their partners are sponsoring the 9th Annual West Branch Susquehanna River Cleanup Community Cleanup Event-The Great Island Adventure in Woodward & Dunnstable Townships and the City of Lock Haven, Clinton County on July 28. 
          This community event is being sponsored by Anadarko Corp. and the Clinton County Community Foundation.
          Previous cleanups have attracted 596 community members and they removed 8 tons of man-made debris and 1,426 tires from the West Branch Susquehanna River.
          Download a flyer with all the details.  Please register by July 26 at noon.
          To register for this event send email to: clintoncountycleanscapes@yahoo.com or call 570-726-3511.

Infill Philadelphia: Soak It Up! Call For Entries

Got a great green project that can soak up stormwater and serve as a model for creating engaging, healthy, and visually-appealing urban places? Submit it for the upcoming Infill Philadelphia: Soak It Up! Precedent Exhibition.
The deadline for entries is August 1.

Co-sponsored by the Philadelphia Water Department, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and Community Design Collaborative, this national juried exhibition will show how designing with green tools can enhance cities, engage people, and spur new public-private partnerships.

The exhibition will provide inspiring precedents for Philadelphia, leading up to a national competition to be announced in fall 2012. Projects will be on display from September 17 through October 19 at AIA Philadelphia's Center for Architecture.

The aim is to present a wide range of projects and engage a diverse group of professionals who share an interest in the management of water resources. The exhibition will provide models for local projects that support Philadelphia's innovative stormwater management plan, Green City, Clean Waters.

For more information, visit the Infill Philadelphia: Soak It Up! webpage.

Tuesday NewsClips

Quecreek 9 Face 10th Anniversary With Gratefulness
DEP’s Sbaffoni Returning To Quecreek
Quecreek Mine Rescue Turns 10
Quecreek Foundation Plans 10th Anniversary Celebration
Quecreek Mine Rescue Celebrates 10-Year Anniversary
Counties Have Role To Play In Helping Clean Chesapeake Bay
Presque Isle Bay May Be Removed From Water Quality Watch List
Recent Rain Did Little To Ease Western PA Dry Spell
State To Study Marcellus Shale Air Quality
DEP Begins 1-Year Study Of Washington County Air
Westmoreland Residents Give Ideas For Shale Revenue
Erie County To Receive Air Quality Forecasts
Click Here for PA Capitol Digest NewsClips

DEP Launches 1-Year Marcellus Shale Air Monitoring Study In Southwest PA

The Department of Environmental Protection announced Monday it has started a long-term, one-year air monitoring study of Marcellus Shale development.

The study in Washington County will measure ambient airborne pollutants in an effort to determine potential air quality impacts associated with the processing and transmission of unconventional natural gas.

“We operate on facts and sound science, and this study will provide us with data on long-term air quality in an area of active natural gas extraction,” DEP Secretary Mike Krancer said. “There has been a documented downward trend in airborne pollutants across the state over the past 10 years, and Marcellus Shale development holds the promise of emissions benefits from the use of this cleaner-burning fuel in the transportation and electricity generation sectors.”

The data from the study will allow DEP to assess any potential long-term impact of air emissions from unconventional natural gas operations to nearby communities, and it will help DEP address the cumulative impact of the operations in the Marcellus Shale region.

In 2010 and 2011, the agency conducted short-term ambient air quality sampling in the southwest, northcentral and northeast parts of the state, where Marcellus Shale drilling was taking place.  DEP also asked natural gas facility operators to report their 2011 emissions.

The sampling did not identify concentrations of any compound that would likely trigger air-related health issues. DEP also tested for carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide and ozone, but did not detect concentrations above National Ambient Air Quality Standards at any of the sampling sites.

The primary site of the long-term study will be downwind of the Houston gas processing plant in Chartiers Township, Washington County, where DEP will monitor for ground-level ozone, particulate matter, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, hydrogen sulfide and methane. The ambient air will also be tested for more than 60 volatile organic compounds, including hazardous air pollutants, and meteorological data will be collected continuously.

DEP will also monitor for volatile organic compounds and collect meteorological data at three additional sites in Chartiers Township and Hickory Township, Washington County. Of the two additional Chartiers Township sites, one is upwind of the Houston gas processing plant, and the other is downwind of the Brigich compressor station. The site in Hickory Township will be located downwind of the Stewart compressor stations.

DEP intends to collect at least one year of data and compare those results to national ambient air quality standards, then conduct a long-term risk analysis. The Washington County results and risk analysis will aid in determining the need for any further long-term sampling in other regions of the state.

Monday NewsClips

Some Miners Not Sure They’ll Attend Mine Rescue Events
Op-Ed: Commemorating Quecreek 10 Years Later
Experts: Some Fracking Critics Use Bad Science
Drought Helps Fracking Foes Build Momentum For Recycling
Chamber Officials Lobby To Keep Shale Costs Low
Ralph Abele, Conservation Leader, Gets Historic Marker
CMU Students Design Eco-Friendly Water Feature
Op-Ed: In Rebuttal: Obama Is Not Pro-Coal
Op-Ed: Wind Energy Is Key For Pennsylvania
Volunteers Sought For Connellsville Cleanup
Click Here for PA Capitol Digest NewsClips

Corbett Tours Western PA On 3-Day Kayak Trip

Gov. Corbett Monday began a three-day kayak tour through Western Pennsylvania to promote Pennsylvania’s vast natural resources and array of recreational opportunities.

Gov. Corbett will be joined on the water by First Lady Susan Corbett and representatives of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and the Department of Environmental Protection.

“Pennsylvania is a vast state with an abundance of scenic landscapes,” Corbett said. “There are many ways to see Pennsylvania and, for the second year in a row, I will get to experience the beauty of our Commonwealth from our rivers.”

Setting off this morning from Tidioute, Warren County, Corbett will be kayaking down the Allegheny and Conemaugh rivers; visiting Forest, Venango and Warren counties, Johnstown and Pittsburgh. Throughout the trip, the governor will be spending time on water as well as on land touring several Pennsylvania parks and historic sites.

“Preserving our natural resources for generations to come is critical to the growth of our commonwealth. Not only do they support a high quality of life for our residents, but they support the continued success of Pennsylvania’s tourism industry,” Corbett said.

Gov. Corbett will also visit parks and historic sites in the region to see the successful partnership of preservation and economic growth. Pennsylvania parks are more popular than ever as an affordable destination and outdoor recreation option.

“Every dollar in state money we invest in our award-winning state park system generates $12 in local economic activity that helps communities prosper and maintain jobs,” said Corbett. “Businesses such as outfitters, bike shops, B & Bs and restaurants all crop up to support the visitors to our parks.”

In addition to DCNR and DEP, the governor will be joined throughout the trip by representatives from the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, the  Fish and Boat Commission and various local tourism and recreation groups.

For more information about state parks, visit the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources website and to find historic sites across the state, visit the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission online.