Pa Environment Digest April 11, 2011

8/7/2019 Pa Environment Digest April 11, 2011

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PA Environment DigestAn Update On Environmental Issues In PAEdited By: David E. Hess, Crisci Associates

Winner 2009 PAEE Business Partner Of The Year Award

Harrisburg, Pa April 11, 2011

CBF, Groups Ask Federal Government To Assess Impacts Of Marcellus Shale Drilling

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation and other organizations this week

called on the federal government to conduct a comprehensive

scientific analysis of the cumulative impacts of natural gas drilling

in the Marcellus Shale formation in the six Bay states, New York,Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, West Virginia, and Virginia.

Hear remarks from the press conference call announcing

this action from:

-- Matt Ehrhart, PA Office Director, CBF

-- Amy McDonnell, CBF Attorney

-- John Dawes, Foundation for PA Watersheds

-- Cinda Waldbuesser, National Parks Conservation Association

The first action was to file a legal petition, under the National Environmental Policy Act,

calling for that comprehensive analysis, called a Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement,

of the risks and cumulative impacts of the extraction of natural gas from the Marcellus shale

formation in the Chesapeake Bay states. Once the analysis is complete the petition calls on the

government to make appropriate decisions about the need for new regulatory action.

Along with CBF, the petition was signed by the National Parks Conservation

Association, Appalachian Center for the Economy and the Environment, Chesapeake Climate

Action Network, Shenandoah Valley Network, The Foundation for Pennsylvania Watersheds,

Damascus Citizens for Sustainability, and Friends of the Upper Delaware River.

CBF also sent a letter to President Obama in support of the legal petition, signed more

than 120 businesses, organizations, elected officials, and individuals who are extremely

concerned about the unknown consequences and cumulative impacts of natural gas extraction

from the Marcellus shale formation on the environment, drinking water and human health, and

Americas treasured lands such as our national parks, wilderness areas, and wildlife refuges.Signatories to the letter include Audubon Pennsylvania, Citizens for Pennsylvania's

Future, the Mid-Atlantic Council Trout Unlimited, The Garden Club of America, and American

Rivers.

Ensuring clean, safe drinking water, healthy aquatic ecosystems, and healthy air across a

multi-state ecosystem cannot be done without an unbiased and comprehensive assessment of all

the impacts, and that assessment is the responsibility of the federal government, said CBF

Pennsylvania Executive Director Matt Ehrhart. Where drilling for natural gas in the Marcellus
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shale formation is concerned, that responsibility has been unfulfilled. If we are to have healthy

rivers and streams along with the economic activity of natural gas extraction, we must fill the

gaps in the science that now exist.

While natural gas in the Marcellus shale offers an abundant source of domestically-

produced energy that can create jobs and provide income, the history of resource extraction in

this country is littered with long-lasting environmental degradation and risks to human health.Drilling is already causing damage, to both human health and the environment. There has

been contamination of drinking water wells, gas bubbling up into the Susquehanna River, spills

of fracking water and diesel fuel, fires, blowouts, and explosions.

The law is clear that the federal government is required to undertake a comprehensive

study if activities like Marcellus drilling are likely to affect the environment through the release

of hazardous substances, result in significant cumulative adverse impacts on local air quality, or

significantly affect important resources including wetlands, aquifer recharge zones, or fish or

wildlife habitat, said CBF attorney Amy McDonnell. It is good science and good business to

get the facts and that is what we are seeking. Nothing less than human health is also at stake.

In many of the Bay states, most notably in Pennsylvania, natural gas wells are being

permitted at breakneck speed with scant regard to the cumulative damage that is occurring, orsupport for the affected communities.

According to the Department of Environmental Protection, the state issued over 1,900

permits for Marcellus shale drilling in 2009. In 2010 it issued over 3,300 more. And, in the first

two months of 2011, Pennsylvania issued an additional 590 permits. If that pace continues,

Pennsylvania will approve over 3,500 new permits this year alone.

A preliminary report from the Academy of Natural Sciences tested water, and looked for

sensitive insects and salamanders in areas with no wells, few wells, and high numbers of wells. It

found that as the number of wells in an area increased, water quality deteriorated, and the

number of insects and salamanders decreased by 25 percent. In a press statement Dr. David

Velinsky of the Academy of Natural Sciences said, This suggests there is indeed a threshold atwhich drillingregardless of how it is practicedwill have a significant impact on an

ecosystem.

With 35 national parks within or near the Marcellus Shale formation, including nine in

the Chesapeake Bay watershed, the threats to our national treasures are great, said Cinda

Waldbuesser, senior program manager for NPCAs Pennsylvania field office. The economic

benefits of natural gas development must not compromise the long-term benefits of protecting

water quality and preserving our national parks, which are already economic generators for local

communities.

The Executive Order issued by President Obama in 2009 says, Restoration of the health

of the Chesapeake Bay will require a renewed commitment to controlling pollution from all

sources as well as protecting and restoring habitat and living resources, conserving lands, andimproving management of natural resources, all of which contribute to improved water quality

and ecosystem health. The Federal Government should lead this effort.

And though there are several risk assessments underway, none is comprehensive or

complete. The cumulative effects of pollution from Marcellus shale drilling activities currently

underway or proposed in the future have not been assessed or factored in to any of the state plans

to reduce pollution.

For more details, visit the CBF announcement webpage.
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NewsClips: Groups Demand Federal Government Analyze Marcellus Drilling

Chesapeake Bay Advocates Want Overall Study Of Shale Drilling

CBF: Fracking Natural Gas Drilling Method Needs Study

Chesapeake Bay Supporters Want Shale Study

Groups Petition Government For Gas Impact Study

Governor Asked By Groups To Rescind DEP Marcellus Violations Policy

Forty-two faith, conservation and environmental organizations and businesses this week sent

Gov. Corbett a letterasking him to order Acting Department of Environmental Protection

Secretary Michael Krancer to rescind a pilot policy that requires the Secretary to approve

enforcement and other actions dealing with Marcellus Shale natural gas well development.

"Preventing DEP inspectors from issuing notices of violations of environmental laws

unnecessarily delays resolution of problems and conditions that pose threats to natural resources,

worker safety and public health," said Jan Jarrett, President and CEO of PennFuture. "We need

DEP to let on-the-ground inspectors do their jobs."

The DEP issued the new policy in March in a memo from Executive Deputy Secretaryfor Programs John Hines. The email applies only to Marcellus shale gas drilling and requires any

actions or notices of violation to get approval from a series of DEP officials and finally the

secretary before any action can be taken.

Jeff Schmidt, Director of Sierra Club Pennsylvania Chapter said, "We're calling on the

Governor to cancel this pilot policy and take the handcuffs off of our environmental cops. We

need prompt action to stop polluters, not bureaucratic delay."

In the letter, the groups point out: "A series of accidents, spills, and groundwater

contamination incidents, and reports by the media about weaknesses in Pennsylvania's regulatory

framework and enforcement capabilities, have created widespread public doubt that horizontal

drilling and hydrofracking can be done safely. One of the primary ways that the Commonwealthcan address those concerns is to adopt a zero tolerance policy for violations of environmental

protections at drilling operations."

NewsClips: Corbett Asked To Rescind DEP Policy On Drilling Violations

DEP Clarifies Drilling Inspection Policy

Shift By PA In Regulating Marcellus Drilling Concerns Environmentalists

Ferlo Fears PA Drilling Oversight Hampered

Phone Call Dispute Highlights Tension Over Gas Drilling Regs

Editorial: Change In Violation Policy In Drilling Bad Move

Editorial: DEP Order Raises Doubts About Marcellus Shale Regulation

Editorial: Let DEP Inspectors Do Their Job

Editorial: State Marcellus Inspector Oversight Too LongEditorial: How Do We Love Drillers? Let Us Count The Ways

Editorial: Drillers Have A Friend In Corbett

Editorial: State Should Not Have Last Word On Fracking

Editorial: DEP Drilling Regulatory Policy Error

DEP Tells EPA: PA Was Already Testing Water For Drilling Wastewater Contaminants
http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2011/04/environmental_groups_demand_fe.htmlhttp://online.wsj.com/article/APf9c270fd2f904e13a69330075674d573.htmlhttp://www.dailypress.com/news/gloucester-county/dp-nws-marcellus-shale-bay-20110404,0,5685564.storyhttp://www.timesleader.com/news/Bay_supporters_want_shale_study_04-04-2011.htmlhttp://thedailyreview.com/news/groups-petition-government-for-gas-impact-study-1.1127915http://www.pennfuture.org/UserFiles/File/MineDrill/Marcellus/DEPinspect_GovRescindLetter_20110407.pdfhttp://www.paenvironmentdigest.com/newsletter/default.asp?NewsletterArticleID=18620http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2011/04/corbett_asked_to_rescind_dep_p.htmlhttp://www.riverreporteronline.com/news/14/2011/04/05/dep-%E2%80%98clarifies%E2%80%99-drilling-inspectionshttp://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2011/04/state_department_of_environmen.htmlhttp://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/valleynewsdispatch/s_730746.htmlhttp://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2011/04/phone-call_dispute_highlights.htmlhttp://www.pennlive.com/editorials/index.ssf/2011/04/special_treatment_a_change_in.htmlhttp://www.goerie.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110403/OPINION04/304039924/-1/OPINIONhttp://www.philly.com/philly/opinion/20110404_Inquirer_Editorial__Let_inspectors_do_their_job.htmlhttp://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11093/1136362-192.stmhttp://www.philly.com/philly/opinion/20110404_DN_Editorial__How_do_we_love_you__gas_drillers__Let_us_count_the_ways_.htmlhttp://citizensvoice.com/news/drillers-have-a-friend-in-corbett-1.1127180#axzz1ISGGvQRMhttp://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11097/1137553-192.stmhttp://articles.lancasteronline.com/local/4/371974http://articles.lancasteronline.com/local/4/371974http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11097/1137553-192.stmhttp://citizensvoice.com/news/drillers-have-a-friend-in-corbett-1.1127180#axzz1ISGGvQRMhttp://www.philly.com/philly/opinion/20110404_DN_Editorial__How_do_we_love_you__gas_drillers__Let_us_count_the_ways_.htmlhttp://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11093/1136362-192.stmhttp://www.philly.com/philly/opinion/20110404_Inquirer_Editorial__Let_inspectors_do_their_job.htmlhttp://www.goerie.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110403/OPINION04/304039924/-1/OPINIONhttp://www.pennlive.com/editorials/index.ssf/2011/04/special_treatment_a_change_in.htmlhttp://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2011/04/phone-call_dispute_highlights.htmlhttp://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/valleynewsdispatch/s_730746.htmlhttp://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2011/04/state_department_of_environmen.htmlhttp://www.riverreporteronline.com/news/14/2011/04/05/dep-%E2%80%98clarifies%E2%80%99-drilling-inspectionshttp://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2011/04/corbett_asked_to_rescind_dep_p.htmlhttp://www.paenvironmentdigest.com/newsletter/default.asp?NewsletterArticleID=18620http://www.pennfuture.org/UserFiles/File/MineDrill/Marcellus/DEPinspect_GovRescindLetter_20110407.pdfhttp://thedailyreview.com/news/groups-petition-government-for-gas-impact-study-1.1127915http://www.timesleader.com/news/Bay_supporters_want_shale_study_04-04-2011.htmlhttp://www.dailypress.com/news/gloucester-county/dp-nws-marcellus-shale-bay-20110404,0,5685564.storyhttp://online.wsj.com/article/APf9c270fd2f904e13a69330075674d573.htmlhttp://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2011/04/environmental_groups_demand_fe.html


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In a letterthis week to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Regional Administrator

Shawn Garvin, Acting Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Michael Krancer said

Pennsylvania was already taking the steps needed to test streams and water supplies for

radioactivity and other contamination from drilling wastewater even before EPA asked for

testing.

The letter was in response to a letterfrom EPA on March 7 asking for additional testingas a result of several articles in the New York Times. (see 3/14/2011 PA Environment Digest)

"Unfortunately, your letter, along with the recent New York Times articles, overlooks

DEP's strong and ongoing efforts to protect the environment and public health," said Krancer.

"More specifically, the radionuclides and other pollutants of concern (barium and strontium)

that were highlighted in your letter had all been previously identified by DEP and targeted in

regulation, guidance, the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permitting

process, in-stream sampling, and public drinking water sampling."

Krancer reminded EPA that all in-stream water sampling to date, going back to

November and December of last year, has shown levels at or below normally naturally occurring

background levels of radiation.

"We are guided by sound science and the facts," said Krancer. "In that regard, wecontinue to agree with Steve Heare, head of EPA's Drinking Water Protection Division, when he

stated, "I have no information that states aren't doing a good job already [regulating fracking].

Again, based on current data and facts here in Pennsylvania, any backtracking from that

statement would be, in my opinion, unjustified."

In addition to providing EPA with other requested information, Krancer suggested DEP

and EPA meet quarterly to share "agency-wide priorities, environmental surveillance plans, and

regulatory updates."

A copy of the DEP response is available online.

NewsClips: DEP Responds To EPA On Testing For Drilling Water Pollution

DEP Steps Up Water Testing For Drilling ContaminantsPennsylvania Calls For More Water Tests

Phone Call Dispute Highlights Tension Over Gas Drilling Regs

Marcellus Shale Commission Work Groups To Meet April 11-14

The Governor's Marcellus Shale Advisory Commission work groups have scheduled meetings in

Harrisburg for April 11-14.

"The goal of these work groups is to delve more deeply into the many issues surrounding

Marcellus shale and the potential it holds for Pennsylvania. This work will play a key role in the

final report we will present to Governor Corbett in July," said Lt. Gov. Jim Cawley, Chair of the

Commission.Here are the details. All the meetings will be held from 10:00 to 2:00 in Room 105

Rachel Carson Building, except where noted, and are open to the public.

April 11 - Infrastructure: Chair: Barry Schoch, Acting Secretary of Transportation, Vice-

Chair: Chris Masciantonio, U.S. Steel, Rob Powelson, Chair, Public Utility Commission, Gary

Slagel, PA Independent Oil & Gas Association, Christopher Helms, NiSource Gas Transmission

and Storage, Matt Ehrhart, PA Director of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Randy Smith, U.S.
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Government Affairs Manager. Meeting from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. DEP staff support: Sabrina

Stanwood, Christopher Gray.

April 12 - Public Health, Safety & Environmental Protection: Chair: Michael Krancer,

Acting Secretary of DEP, Vice-Chair: Cynthia Carrow, Western PA Conservancy, Rick Allan,

Acting Secretary DCNR, Nick Haden, Reserved Environmental SerVices, Ron Ramsey, TheNature Conservancy, Tony Bartolomeo, PA Environmental Council, Jeff Kupfer, Chevron.

Meeting from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. DEP staff support: Elizabeth Nolan, Christopher Gray.

April 13 - Local Impact & Emergency Response: Chair: Glenn Cannon, Director, PA

Emergency Management Agency, Vice-Chair: Jeff Wheeland, Lycoming County Commissioner,

Terry Bossert, Chief Oil & Gas, Ray Walker, Marcellus Shale Coalition, Kip Allen, PA League

of Cities and Municipalities, Dave Sanko, PA State Association of Township Supervisors,

George Greig, Acting Secretary of Agriculture. Meeting from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. DEP staff

support: Laura Henry, Geoff Ayers, Christopher Gray. Meeting in 2nd Floor Training Room.

April 14 - Economic & Workforce Development: Chair: Alan Walker, Acting SecretaryDCED, Vice-Chair: Gene Barr, PA Camber of Business & Industry, Vince Matteo,

Williamsport-Lycoming Chamber of Commerce, Terry Engelder, Professor of Geosciences,

Penn State University, Dave Porges, CEO, EQT, Jim Felmlee, PA State Association of

Boroughs, Terry Pegula, Former President/CEO, East Resources. Meeting from 10:00 a.m. to

2:00 p.m. DEP staff support: Ann Roda, Christopher Gray. Meeting from 11:00 to 3:00.

For more information, visit the Governor's Marcellus Shale Advisory

Commission webpage. A formal notice of meeting dates for the full Commission was published

this week.

Poll: 87% Support Dedicating A Portion Of Natural Gas Severance Tax For Conservation

A poll of Pennsylvania voters found 87 percent support dedicating a portion of a Marcellus Shale

natural gas severance tax to conservation programs to protect land, water and wildlife and 55

percent prefer revenues from drilling on State Forest land be dedicated to conservation.

Eight in ten voters surveyed (79 percent) expressed support for allocating at least 25

percent of the revenue from a severance tax to conservation.

The poll, done by the bipartisan team of Fairbank, Maslin, Maullin & Associates and

Public Opinion Strategies, found 53 percent of voters surveyed supported a natural gas severance

tax and 37 percent opposed.

More recent voter polls have consistently found even higher levels of support for aseverance tax: 70 percent, including 62 percent of Republicans, by Susquehanna Polling and 62

percent in a Franklin & Marshall College poll.

For more information on how to support funding for environmental programs, visit

the Renew Growing Greenerwebsite.

Allentown Joins 51 Counties, Cities, Towns Calling For Renewal Of Growing Greener
http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/marcellus_shale_advisory_commission/20074http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/marcellus_shale_advisory_commission/20074http://www.pabulletin.com/secure/data/vol41/41-15/633.htmlhttp://goo.gl/qASv5http://www.paenvironmentdigest.com/newsletter/default.asp?NewsletterArticleID=18538http://www.paenvironmentdigest.com/newsletter/default.asp?NewsletterArticleID=18457http://www.paenvironmentdigest.com/newsletter/default.asp?NewsletterArticleID=18457http://www.renewgrowinggreener.org/http://www.renewgrowinggreener.org/http://www.paenvironmentdigest.com/newsletter/default.asp?NewsletterArticleID=18457http://www.paenvironmentdigest.com/newsletter/default.asp?NewsletterArticleID=18457http://www.paenvironmentdigest.com/newsletter/default.asp?NewsletterArticleID=18538http://goo.gl/qASv5http://www.pabulletin.com/secure/data/vol41/41-15/633.htmlhttp://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/marcellus_shale_advisory_commission/20074http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/marcellus_shale_advisory_commission/20074


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The Renew Growing Greener Coalition this week applauded the

City of Allentown for supporting a resolution calling for the

renewal of Growing Greener, the states primary source of funding

to help local communities preserve open space and farmland,

protect water quality, provide parks and recreation, and clean up abandoned mines.

Growing Greener is a bipartisan program established in 1999 under Gov. Tom Ridge andlater expanded by Govs. Schweiker and Rendell.

Since its establishment, Growing Greener has created a tremendous legacy of success,

preserving more than 25,000 acres of Pennsylvanias family farmland, conserving more than

21,000 acres of threatened open space, adding 26,000 acres to state parks and forests, and

restoring over 16,000 acres of abandoned mine lands.

This list of the 52 local governments passing resolutions supporting the renewal of

Growing Greener are in addition to the 190 organizations in the Coalition:

-- Cities: Allentown joins the City of Philadelphia, Carbondale;

-- Counties: Blair, Cambria, Fayette, Greene, Lackawanna, Lawrence, Lehigh, Luzerne,

Monroe, Philadelphia, Pike, Somerset, Sullivan, Susquehanna, Washington, Westmoreland and

Wyoming;-- Townships: Athens Township, Bradford County, Benton Township, Lackawanna County,

Covington Township, Lackawanna County, Elmhurst Township, Lackawanna County, Franklin

Township, Chester County, Glenburn Township, Lackawanna County, Greenfield Township,

Lackawanna County, Hamilton Township, Monroe County, New Milford Township,

Susquehanna County, North Coventry Township, Chester County, Noxen Township, Wyoming

County, Radnor Township, Delaware County, Ransom Township, Lackawanna County, Salford

Township, Montgomery County, Scott Township, Lackawanna County, Spring Brook,

Lackawanna County, Stonycreek Township, Somerset County, Thornhurst Township,

Lackawanna County, Troy Township, Bradford County;

-- Boroughs: Apollo Borough, Armstrong County, Archbald Borough, Lackawanna County,Athens Borough, Bradford County, Clarks Summit Borough, Lackawanna County, Jessup

Borough, Lackawanna County, Moscow Borough, Lackawanna County, New Milford Borough,

Susquehanna County, Nicholson Borough, Wyoming County, Rome Borough, Bradford County,

Stroudsburg Borough, Monroe County, Taylor Borough, Lackawanna County, Tunkhannock

Borough, Wyoming County; and

-- SEDA COG Council of Governments.

For more information, visit the Renew Growing Greenerwebsite.

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Senate/House Agenda/Session Schedule/Bills Introduced

Here are the Senate and House Calendars and Committee meetings showing bills of interest as

well as a list of new environmental bills introduced--

Session Schedule

Here is the Senate and House schedule

Senate

April 11, 12, 13, 26, 27

May 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, 23, 24

June 6, 7, 8, 13, 14, 15, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 27, 28, 29, 30

House

April 11, 12, 13, (25 NV), 26, and 27May 2, 3, 4, 9. 10, 11, 23, 24, and 25

June 6, 7, 8, 13, 14, 15, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 27, 28, 29, and 30

Bill Calendars

House (April 11): House Bill 295 (Freeman-D-Lehigh) extending the grant period for the Main

Street Program; House Resolution 87 (Pyle-R-Armstrong) calling on the Region III office of the

U.S. Environmental Protection to cease the unlawful review of NPDES water quality

permits. Click Here for full House Bill Calendar.

Senate (April 11): Click Here for full Senate Bill Calendar.

Committees

House: the Environmental Resources and Energy Committee meets to considerSenate Bill

265 (MJ White-R-Venango) amending the Coal and Gas Resource Coordination Act. Click

Here for full House Committee Schedule.
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Senate: the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee meets to consider the nomination of

George Greig as Secretary of Agriculture. Click Here for full Senate Committee Schedule.

Other: the Joint Legislative Air And Water Pollution Control and Conservation Committee

holds a hearing on waste tire recycling and reuse

Bills Introduced

The following bills of interest were introduced this week--

Senate

Administrative Procedure Code: Senate Bill 883 (Greenleaf-R-Montgomery) establishing the

Administrative Procedure Code consolidating the Commonwealth Documents Law, the

Commonwealth Attorneys Law and the Regulatory Review Act.

Drilling Moratorium: Senate Bill 906 (Ferlo-D-Allegheny) establishing a statewide MarcellusShale natural gas drilling moratorium.

House

Outdoor Advertising Control: House Bill 1272 (Adolph-R-Delaware) further providing for the

regulation of outdoor advertising.

Green Technology Testing: House Bill 1290 (George-D-Clearfield) creating the State Agency

Green Technology testing program.

DSIC/Utility Property Valuation: House Bill 1294 (Godshall-R-Montgomery) further

providing for valuation of water and wastewater system property and providing alternative

ratemaking mechanism (DSIC) for natural gas and other utility distribution systems.

Senate/House Bills Moving

The following bills of interest saw action this week in the House and Senate--

House

Pipeline Safety: House Bill 344 (Baker-R-Tioga) granting regulatory oversight of the gatheringlines to the Public Utility Commission in coordination with the U.S. Department of

Transportation's Pipeline and Hazardous Material Safety Administration was reported out of the

House Appropriations Committee and passed by the House. The bill now goes to the Senate for

consideration.

NewsClips: Baker Bill Will Improve Pipeline Safety

Senate Approves Pipeline Bill
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Federal DOT Calls For Better Pipeline Coordination

Columbia Gas To Replace 4,000 Too-Thin Pipes

Feds Want Aging Gas Pipelines Repaired

Feds Tell Pipeline Companies To Speed Up Gas Pipelines

U.S. Calls On Industry To Repair Aging Gas Pipelines

Main Street: House Bill 295 (Freeman-D-Lehigh) extending the duration of grants under the

Main Street Program was referred into and out of the House Appropriations Committee and

passed by the House. The bill now goes to the Senate for action.

Senate

Keystone Fund Reporting: Senate Bill 302 (MJ White-R-Venango) further providing for

annual reports from the Keystone Recreation, Park and Conservation Fund was passed by the

Senate and now goes to the House for consideration.

Hazardous Sites Cleanup Reporting: Senate Bill 303 (MJ White-R-Venango) further providingfor reports under the Hazardous Sites Cleanup Act was passed by the Senate and now goes to the

House for consideration.

Air Plan Comments: Senate Bill 304 (MJ White-R-Venango) requiring further public review of

state Air Quality Implementation Plans was passed by the Senate and now goes to the House for

action.

Pipeline Safety: Senate Bill 325 (Baker-R-Luzerne) giving the Public Utility Commission

further authority to regulate pipeline safety was amended on Third Consideration and passed by

the Senate. The bill now goes to the House for consideration.

News From The Capitol

House, Senate Approve Natural Gas Pipeline Safety Bills

Both the House and the Senate this week gave final approval to legislation granting regulatory

oversight of the gathering lines to the Public Utility Commission in coordination with the U.S.

Department of Transportation's Pipeline and Hazardous Material Safety Administration.

The bills are: House Bill 344 (Baker-R-Tioga) and Senate Bill 325 (Baker-R-Luzerne).

"With the influx of Marcellus Shale drilling across the state, the federal government has

expressed an interest to coordinate oversight of natural gas pipelines with the Commonwealth,"said Rep. Matt Baker. "Although the rapid development and growth of new pipelines has been

overwhelmingly positive thus far, we need to make sure that appropriate safety measures are

adhered to and that our citizenry and the environment are protected as much as possible."

Rep. Baker noted that this type of authority is not a new concept and that out of the

current 31 natural gas producing states, including Pennsylvania, 29 have statutory authority to

regulate gas gathering lines.
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"This is just one legislative measure that will help increase the safety of Marcellus Shale

drilling and production in Pennsylvania," said Rep. Baker. "This legislation will allow the PUC

to regulate natural gas pipelines without having to deem them a public utility. Therefore, the

power of eminent domain is not extended. This legislation does nothing more than bring the

Commonwealth in line with how other natural gas producing states are handling regulatory

oversight in conjunction with the federal government."Sen. Lisa Baker (R-Luzerne) said, "This legislation reflects a lot of responsible planning,

negotiating, and refining on the part of legislators, regulators, companies, and experts in utility

law. The process is driven by a real sense of urgency in communities across much of our

Commonwealth. What was a good bill was made better by an amendment that brought Class 1

pipelines under the registration requirement, providing much needed protection.

"One of the pressing public concerns arising as a result of the Marcellus Shale drilling is

oversight of all aspects of the operations. We have moved to upgrade and expand laws,

regulations, inspections, every piece of the apparatus necessary to protect communities and the

environment.

If someone asks how much pipeline will be laid as the result of the Marcellus Shale

development, the honest and indefensible answer is no one knows."This legislation is necessary because someone must know. Local officials need to know.

Emergency response units certainly need to know. Environmental protection agencies need to

know."

The Senate or House must give final approval to one of these bills before it becomes law.

NewsClips: Baker Bill Will Improve Pipeline Safety

Senate Approves Pipeline Bill

Federal DOT Calls For Better Pipeline Coordination

Columbia Gas To Replace 4,000 Too-Thin Pipes

Feds Want Aging Gas Pipelines Repaired

Feds Tell Pipeline Companies To Speed Up Gas PipelinesU.S. Calls On Industry To Repair Aging Gas Pipelines

Senate Passes Bills On Reporting From Keystone, Hazardous Sites Funds, Air Plan

Comments

The Senate this week approved three bills sponsored by Sen. Mary Jo White (R-Venango),

Majority Chair of the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, designed to shed

light on funding for parks and recreation projects and state Air Quality Implementation Plans,

and dedicate funds to hazardous sites cleanup.

Senate Bill 302 requires state agencies which receive funding under the Keystone

Recreation, Park and Conservation Fund Act (Key '93) to submit annual reports to the governorand General Assembly - including a description of projects, their locations and amounts

requested - and post the information online.

"Key '93 funds a variety of projects across the commonwealth, and taxpayers have a right

to see what is being funded and how much is being spent," said Sen. White.

Senate Bill 303 requires DEP to deposit any Hazardous Sites Cleanup Act-related fine

money into the HSCA Fund, which is used to clean up hazardous sites. Civil penalties under the
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Hazardous Sites Cleanup Act up to $25,000 per offense could not be used to supplant other

funds within DEP.

"Senate Bill 303 simply ensures that fines levied under the Hazardous Sites Cleanup Act

help fund critical cleanup projects in communities across Pennsylvania, and aren't diverted to

other uses," said Sen. White.

Senate Bill 304 requires the Department of Environmental Protection to post andmaintain all clean air State Implementation Plans on its website, and to provide the same to the

standing Senate and House oversight committees.

The bills will now go to the House of Representatives for consideration.

Senate, House Urban Affairs Committees Hold Joint Hearing On Land Banks

A joint informational meeting of the Senate Urban Affairs and House Urban Affairs Committees

was held this week in Harrisburg to discuss land reform measures and land banking, according to

Senate Committee Chairman Gene Yaw (R-Bradford).

A land bank focuses on the conversion of vacant, abandoned and tax-delinquent

properties into productive use.Testimony was given by Dan Kildee, co-founder and president of the Center for

Community Progress. Mr. Kildee initiated the use of Michigan's new tax foreclosure law as a

tool for community development and neighborhood stabilization.

He founded the Genesee Land Bank, and a model for others in the nation and serves as

its Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. In 2007, Kildee's land bank program was named

winner of the Harvard University/Fannie Mae Foundation Innovations in American Government

Award for Affordable Housing.

"Like Michigan, communities across the state of Pennsylvania are struggling to cope with

vacant, abandoned and tax delinquent properties," said Mr. Kildee. "Land banks are a unique tool

that can be used by communities and municipalities to facilitate the return of problem propertiesto productive use."

Since its founding, the Genesee land bank has sold 1,600 properties and has raised $6.4

million through the sales, Kildee said. That fund has enabled the land bank to reconstruct dozens

of single-family houses, sell hundreds of vacant lots to adjoining homeowners and create

incentives for downtown redevelopment projects.

"Mr. Kildee's testimony provided a great deal of insight into the land banking process,"

said Sen. Yaw. "If Pennsylvania does not aggressively and comprehensively address the

problems of blighted and abandoned properties plaguing many of our communities we will

continue to see a decline in our housing infrastructure and face the negative impacts of lower

property values and tax bases."

Video of the entire hearing is available on the House Urban Affairs Committee webpage.

Marcellus Works Proposal Introduced In House To Promote Use Of Natural Gas

House Majority Whip Stan Saylor (R-York) and members of the House Republican Caucus this

week unveiled a package of legislation called Marcellus Works, which is designed to secure

Pennsylvanias energy future and create thousands of new jobs by creating incentives for the use
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of the clean natural gas, which is plentiful in Pennsylvanias large Marcellus Shale formation, as

a vehicle fuel.

It has been estimated that the development of Pennsylvanias Marcellus Shale will

create tens of thousands of jobs, said Saylor. But extracting the natural gas represents only

half of the job creating potential. Using this clean burning and domestic resource will unlock the

key to the other half. That is where our plan comes in.The Marcellus Works plan includes these bills (not yet online):

-- House Bill 1083 (Saylor-R-York) creates tax credits for private fleet vehicles in order to lessen

incremental cost of natural gas vehicles.

-- House Bill 1084 (Moul-R-Adams) creates a grant program available to smaller mass transit

agencies to cover the incremental cost of natural gas buses.

-- House Bill 1085 (Watson-R-Bucks) creates a revolving loan program available to large mass

transit agencies to cover the incremental cost of natural gas buses.

-- House Bill 1086 (Marshall-R-Beaver) requires 25 percent of all new bus purchases made by

large mass transit agencies (SEPTA, PAT, Lehigh) in 2012-16 run on natural gas; 50 percent in

2017-2021; 75 percent in 2021-2026; and 100 percent in 2027.

-- House Bill 1087 (Denlinger-R-Lancaster) creates a natural gas corridor tax credit to encouragethe construction of natural gas fueling stations along travel corridors (I-76, I-78, I-79, I-80, I-81,

and I-83).

-- House Bill 1088 (Pickett-R-Bradford) dedicates the Alternative Fuel Incentive Fund to provide

grants to municipalities, schools, and the private sector for the purchase of natural gas vehicles.

-- House Bill 1089 (Perry-R-York) Repeals California Air Resources Board section 2030 to

eliminate costly duplication of EPA and CARB certifications for natural gas vehicles.

This plan is truly a win-win for everyone, Rep. Saylor added. This is an opportunity

for Pennsylvania to take the lead on clean energy and it is an opportunity for Pennsylvania to

encourage the development and growth of small businesses and the much-needed jobs they will

bring. We have a wonderful opportunity to grow our economy and ensure a clean energy futurefor future generations. We cannot squander it.

The estimated cost of the program is $47.5 million in one-time spending.

For more information, visit the Marcellus Works website.

NewsClips: House GOP Wants More Natural Gas Buses, Trucks

PA May Get Into Energy Business To Provide Marcellus Gas Market

Marcellus Shale Economic Impact At Heart Of Capitol Expo

News From Around The State

Take Recyclebank's Green Your Home Challenge For Earth Month
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Recyclebank, the Pennsylvania company that rewards

people for taking everyday green actions with discounts

and deals from more than 3,000 local and national

businesses, this week announced it has partnered with

consumer insights agency ROI Research and Google Inc. to

measure how gaming techniques can impact individuals'behaviors when applied to environmental causes.

The partnership will focus on Recyclebank's Earth

Month "Green Your Home Challenge", a nationwide

consumer contest that runs through April 30 and uses several gamification techniques to

motivate green behaviors.

ROI Research will track the effectiveness of the initiative's marketing strategies, seeking

to better understand the impact the game has on consumer engagement with the brand.

Google will leverage a beta version of Google Analytics to measure member participation

levels both on the Recyclebank website as well as through the various digital components of the

Challenge including the ROI of paid media, the viral nature of the Challenge and conversion

metrics within the Challenge.This includes quizzes, polls and a series of Recyclebank's Learn & Earn opportunities,

which reward individuals for engaging with sustainability-related digital education content.

The Green Your Home Challenge aims to bridge the divide between online and offline

green actions, rewarding consumers for completing a range of easy to more difficult

sustainability-related challenges to drive them through the engagement funnel toward true

behavior change.

A central element of the initiative is the use of gamification, which refers to the process

of using game mechanics in otherwise non-game environments. More details on the Challenge

and its innovative gamification components are available on the contest website or through the

official contest announcement."Google is excited to be partnering with Recyclebank and ROI Research on this green

initiative. It's a great opportunity for us to showcase the power of Google Analytics, while

continuing to have a positive impact on the world," said Sophie Chesters, product marketing

manager at Google. "For this project, we've leveraged a variety of product features such as event

tracking, tracking for Adobe Flash, and tracking events as goalsa feature new to our most

recently released version of Google Analyticsto help track how many daily challenges site

visitors are participating in. We will continue to work with both teams throughout Earth Month

to help analyze the impact that gamification has on driving people to interact with and share the

challenge as they take positive steps toward improving the environment."

"Recyclebank is devoted to making a measurable and trackable positive impact on the

planet," said Javier Flaim, senior vice president of global marketing at Recyclebank. "To date,we have seen enormous success with our home recycling rewards program using foundational

gaming techniques. As we expand our efforts to the digital realm, it's just as important to

understand and best maximize the impact we're having on consumer behavior. The insights we

gain from our partnership with ROI Research and Google Analytics will help us better

understand what truly motivates individuals to take positive environmental actions, and ensure

future Recyclebank initiatives are designed to make the largest difference on the environment."
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"The decision to bring the analytic muscle of Google and ROI together with

Recyclebank's approach to educating through foundational gaming techniques unfolded

naturally," said Scott Haiges, president of ROI Research. "We work regularly with both of these

innovators, and the combined analytic approach will help ensure a methodologically sound and

effective program as Recyclebank expands its gamification efforts online."

Visit the Green Your Home Challenge webpage to see how you can green your home.

DEP Issues Corrected Well Drilling Permits To Lake Erie Partners

The Department of Environmental Protection has issued two corrected natural gas well-drilling

permits to Lake Erie Energy Partners LLC after the company provided complete information to

remedy the original application defects.

This announcement replaces a similar announcement made last week.

The corrected permits are for the Dohler 1 and Dohler 3 non-Marcellus wells in North

East Township, Erie County. Township residents contacted DEP after observing water supply

notification shortcomings in the permit applications.

Lake Erie Energy Partners corrected those application defects, leading to this action. Theoriginal permits for the wells were revoked simultaneously with the issuance of the new permits.

DEP also revoked the permits for the Rahal 3 and Rahal 4 non-Marcellus wells in North

East Township. The applications for these wells were revoked as a result of an omission of

required information in the original drilling permit application. In the Rahal 4 case, the

application failed to meet the setback provisions of the Oil and Gas Act, which prohibits building

well sites less than 200 feet from an occupied structure.

The new Rahal 3 location plat, or map, submitted to DEP indicates the well is being

moved 57 feet from the original location without giving proper notification as required under the

Oil and Gas Act.

If the company intends to construct Rahal 3 and Rahal 4, it will need to submit a newwell drilling application that addresses the setback and notification requirements.

DEP Orders Catalyst Energy To Stop Operations At 36 Non-Marcellus Wells

The Department of Environmental Protection issued a cease and desist order to Catalyst Energy

Inc. that prohibits the company from conducting all drilling and hydro-fracturing operations for

the 36 non-Marcellus wells within 2,500 feet of two homes in the Yellow Hammer area of

Hickory Township, Forest County.

The order was issued after a DEP investigation confirmed that private water supplies

serving the two homes had been contaminated by natural gas and elevated levels of iron and

manganese from Catalysts operations.DEP first received complaints about water quality odor and a cloudy appearance in

January. Notices of violation were issued to Catalyst for groundwater contamination February 10

and March 1 for the two affected homes.

In late March, a follow-up investigation confirmed the presence of natural gas above the

surface and dissolved in both water supplies.
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In 2010, DEP issued permits to Catalyst for 36 non-Marcellus wells in the Yellow

Hammer neighborhood. According to DEP Northwest Regional Director Kelly Burch, Catalyst

has drilled 22 of those wells in recent months.

Burch explained that Catalyst must conduct the investigation to determine which well or

wells may be responsible for the gas migration.

Catalysts investigatory responsibility is part of Pennsylvanias more stringentregulations, which went into effect Feb. 5, related to well construction and gas migration cases.

In addition to its investigation and the obligation to stop all drilling and hydro-fracturing

in Yellow Hammer, Catalyst must immediately provide temporary whole-house water systems to

the two affected homes. Catalyst must either permanently restore or replace the water supplies by

July 1.

The company is required to submit a gas migration status report to DEP every ten days,

which provides information on the progress of the investigation.

The 22 wells in question are combination oil and gas wells with an average depth of

1,500 to 3,000 feet.

Catalyst Energy Inc. is headquartered in Cranberry, Butler County.

NewsClips: State Orders Drilling Halt After 2 Wells Are PollutedDEP Orders Drilling, Fracking To Stop At Catalyst Energy Wells

DEP Orders McKean Resident To Plug 3 Abandoned Wells Near Site Of Explosion

The Department of Environmental Protection has ordered a resident of Bradford Township,

McKean County, to plug three abandoned non-Marcellus wells that were discovered during the

investigation into the house explosion at 10 Helen Lane on Feb. 28.

Bruce George is the owner/operator of eight wells at a nearby property on West

Washington Street. Three of the wells are considered abandoned as they have not been in

production in the past 12 months. The order instructs George to begin plugging the abandonedwells within 20 days and finish the work within 45 days.

DEP learned of the wells as part of the search for a potential gas source in the Helen Lane

explosion. During the ongoing investigation, DEP staff detected gas in the soil near one of the

abandoned wells, Rogers 9, which is located about 300 feet from 10 Helen Lane. The order

requires George to plug Rogers 9 first.

"The department considers Rogers 9 a suspect well due to the conditions that

investigators have observed," DEP Regional Director Kelly Burch said. "This order is part of the

department's ongoing investigation."

Upon completion of plugging each well, George is required to notify DEP. The

department will continue its investigation of gas levels to assess the impact of each plugging.

On April 1, DEP issued a notice of violation to George for his failure to plug theabandoned wells. Rogers 9 was drilled in 1881 and the other two abandoned wells were drilled

nearly 90 years ago.

NewsClip: Casey Wants Feds To Investigate PA House Explosions

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Sponsors Energy Forum April 11
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The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and the Babst Calland law firm are sponsoring the first of three

energy forums on April 11-- "How Can We Balance The Need For Energy And The Desire For

Environmental Protection?"

Moderator for the event will be David Shribman, Executive Editor of the Post-Gazettte,

with an introduction by Chester Babst of Babst Calland.

Panelists include: Lou D'Amico, PA Independent Oil and Gas Association, John Hanger,former Secretary DEP, Jan Jarrett, PennFuture, Ray Walker, Jr., Range Resources and Ed Rubin,

Carnegie Mellon University.

To register, call 412-263-3850 or send email to: [email protected].

NewsClips: Energy Forum In Pittsburgh On Marcellus Shale April 11

April 14 Meeting In Sewickley Hills On Marcellus Shale

Delaware River Designated As National Great Water

The Delaware Riverhas been designated a Great Water, joining 18 other waterways

nationwide selected for that honor by a national coalition formed to protect waterways of high

economic, social and environmental importance.The Americas Great Waters Coalition, based in Washington, D.C., announced its 2011

selections last week. The coalition was formed in 2009 to advocate for the restoration and

protection of lakes, bays, rivers and marshes that are rich in natural resources and have a

significant impact on their surrounding regions.

The Delaware River is the longest un-dammed river east of the Mississippi, flowing for

330 miles from Hancock, N.Y., to the Delaware Bay, where it empties into the Atlantic Ocean.

More than 15 million people in four states depend on the rivers water for drinking, agricultural

and industrial use. The Delaware includes natural wonders -- three stretches along its course are

included in the National Wild and Scenic Rivers program and important commercial assets.

We welcome the news that the Delaware River has been recognized as a Great Water ofnational significance, said Kelly Mooij, Director of Government Relations for New Jersey

Audubon. We look forward to working closely with our partners in the Delaware River Basin

Commission and the coalition to find regional solutions to the challenges of protecting the river

and its basin. One state acting alone cant address the complex issues involved in managing the

resources of a river vital to the interests of four states.

Besides the Delaware, eight other Great Waters were named by the Coalition on March

22, World Water Day. They are the New York/New Jersey Harbor, Albemarle Pamlico Sound,

Colorado River, Galveston Bay, Missouri River, Narragansett Bay, Ohio River and the Rio

Grande. Ten more waterways were honored last year. While the Great Waters vary in geographic

location and physical characteristics, they are plagued by similar problems such as toxic

pollution, altered water flows, habitat loss, and destructive invasive species.The Delaware additionally faces new threats from hydraulic drilling for natural gas, a

controversial process known as fracking.

Hydrofracking in the Marcellus Shale formation is one of two imminent threats to the

river systems well-being, said Dan Plummer, board chairman of Friends of the Upper

Delaware River and a member of the coalition. A second threat is the inadequate water releases

from New York City-owned reservoirs, an issue that has plagued river residents, anglers and

other visitors, and the habitat and fisheries in the Delaware system for decades.
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Other conservation advocates focused on the significance of the river to wildlife,

including threatened and endangered species.

The Delaware is vitally important to wildlife, too, said Mooij. The largest population

of breeding horseshoe crabs in the world comes ashore in Delaware Bay, laying eggs that are an

important food for as many as a million migratory birds, including the endangered red knot.

Margaret OGorman, executive director of Conserve Wildlife, also noted the habitatvalue of the Delawares waters and shores.

Of course the Delaware River is a Great Water, sustaining an incredible diversity of

wildlife, both common and rare, along its length, she said. The Delaware River has been key to

the recovery of the bald eagle, which has seen statewide populations grow from one pair in the

late 1980s over 80 pairs breeding in New Jersey today. The river also provides critical habitat to

the Atlantic sturgeon and sustains shorebird populations whose continued decline is cause for

alarm.

The nations Great Waters are the backbone of Americas economy, impacting people,

businesses, communities and wildlife but, the coalition warned, these waters are under attack.

Landmark legislation and funding for restoration efforts that have protected our nations

waterways for more than three decades are now at risk. Honoring specific waterways is one wayto lend fresh impetus to conservation efforts.

The Great Water designation confirms the Delawares status as a national natural

treasure, said Plummer. It further inspires us to oppose drilling practices that could sterilize

miles of pristine water and to fight for a rational water-release plan that will preserve the

Delaware River from its headwaters to the bay and beyond.

Across the country, restoration efforts funded by the federal government are producing

on-the-ground results. In the Delaware River, for example, the National Oceanic and

Atmospheric Administration made $27.5 million available for restoration projects that

compensated for a 2004 oil spill by a cargo ship.

Projects included dam removals, wetlands upgrades and improvements along theshoreline. Part of another $20.3 million award from the Oil Spill Liability Fund made last year

will be used to create 50 acres of oyster reefs off Cape May County. But the work is far from

done, and critical decisions lie ahead, advocates said.

"The Delaware River has an irreplaceable role in this nation's past and present whether

it can have a healthy and contributing role in our future will be determined by the actions and

decisions of today, said Maya van Rossum, the Delaware Riverkeeper. Dangerous gas drilling,

irresponsible dredging and increasing pollution are threatening the ability of the Delaware River

to nourish and support our communities with healthy water, food and jobs. The Great Waters

program could play an important role in helping us to protect the river for the benefit of all, now

and into the future."

The Coalition calls for prompt action to ensure the health, safety, and livelihoods of themillions of Americans that depend on our Great Waters. These waterways benefit everyone not

only because of their economic, social, and environmental importance, but because they are

national treasures that support our nations economy and provide rich resources for future

generations.

From the Great Lakes to the Gulf of Mexico, from the Puget Sound to the Everglades,

Great Waters are the lifeblood of our nation, driving regional economies, preserving our national

heritage, and shaping the daily lives of Americans, said Theresa Pierno, co-chair for the


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Americas Great Waters Coalition and executive vice president for the National Parks

Conservation Association. We cannot afford not to protect our nations Great Waters. Whether

it is for drinking, fishing, transportation, recreation, trade, or energy, keeping the Delaware River

clean and accessible is essential to our health, happiness, and financial well-being.

The Great Waters Coalition works to illustrate to the American public and decision-

makers that our water resources must become a national priority for the security of our economyand way of life.

Three main goals drive the Coalitions work: (1) making the restoration of our Great

Waters a national priority, (2) securing sustainable dedicated funding for restoration, and (3)

enacting and ensuring sound implementation of restoration.

To learn more about the Great Waters Coalition, and to view a complete list of Americas

Great Waters visit the Great Waters Coalition webpage.

Spotlight

Penn State Extension: Doing Stream Restoration? Consider Biosecurity

Many watershed associations will be doing stream clean-ups and

buffer plantings. Here are a few things to consider when planning

these activities.

Since the goal of any group carrying out stream restoration

is to improve stream quality, introducing invasive plants or animals

into the system being restored is not desirable.

When installing a riparian buffer, the tools used to plant the

trees should be clean and free of soil that can contain seeds or plant fragments from other sites.

Purple loosestrife, Japanese stiltgrass or mile-a-minute for example, are invasive plant species

that can take over the area being restored. They are prolific seed producers. Seeds can also bemoved by water currents during heavy rains or moved in contaminated hay, soil or potted plants,

and on footwear.

Plant fragments may be carried in moist soil and have the potential to begin an

infestation. Seeds and plant fragments also spread in soil trapped in tire and track treads of heavy

equipment, so be sure those are free of soil.

A good resource useful for identifying invasive plants in the area being restored is the

Plant Invaders of Mid-Atlantic Natural Areas.These invasive plants should be controlled both

before and after planting since seed will often remain viable in the soil for several years.

Equipment used to do work in the water such as nets, boots, boats or trailers all need to

be cleaned, drained and dried before being moved from one watershed to another, particularly if

invasive species are known to be in the last stream or creek visited.Didymo (also called rocksnot) is a microscopic, single celled organism that can be

transferred between streams in the soles of felt-soled wading boots as well as in clumps caught

on boats or trailers.

Many invasive aquatic plant species are champions at reproducing by fragmentation. Any

vegetation clinging to a boat or trailer should be removed before you leave a watershed. If not
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cleaned at time of departure, remove and disposed of any plant material well away from any

water body. Do not wash the materials down any drains, dispose of it in the trash.

If working in the water, work from upstream to downstream to avoid carrying any

invasive species further up the stream. Remember to "Go with the flow."

The Fish and Boat Commission has information and protocols posted on theirAquatic

Invasive Species webpage forcleaning boat and fishing gear.

(Written by Diane Oleson, Extension Educator, York County, from Watershed Winds Newsletter)

Bethlehem, TNC Agreement Protects 22,000 Acres Of Watershed Lands

Clean drinking water, wildlife, recreation, and Pennsylvanias forest products industry will

benefit from a new agreement between The Nature Conservancy-PA and the Bethlehem

Authority.

The agreement, approved last night by Bethlehem City Council, will protect 22,000 acres

of forest in the watershed that provides drinking water to Bethlehem and surrounding

communities.Acting on a unanimous approval vote by the Bethlehem Authority Board, City Council

agreed to join the Conservancys Working Woodlands program, which provides forest

landowners with a rigorous analysis of their property and access to forest certification and carbon

markets, in exchange for a commitment to practice sustainable forestry.

The Authoritys lands, nestled in the highlands of northeastern Pennsylvania, are the first

parcels officially enrolled in the program. At 22,000 acres protected, the agreement is the largest

private conservation project ever in Pennsylvania, demonstrating the potential of the Working

Woodlands model.

Conserving this forestland is key to enhancing water quality, improving wildlife habitat,

maintaining recreation opportunities for local people and helping to mitigate the impacts ofclimate change, said Bud Cook, Northeast Pennsylvania program director for The Nature

Conservancy. Working Woodlands allows for traditional uses of the land such as forestry and

outdoor recreation, while ensuring that these forests will remain intact and healthy for future

generations to enjoy, Cook added.

Our primary mission is to supply the highest quality drinking water to the 115,000 plus

customers of the Bethlehem Water System as we possibly can. Preserving the pristine quality of

our watershed properties supports that mission. And the Working Woodlands Program enhances

our ability to do just that, and offers a modest revenue source as well, said Stephen Repasch,

Executive Director of the Bethlehem Authority.

In December 2009, the Nature Conservancy began speaking with landowners about

Working Woodlands, a model forest conservation program that aims to protect forests and fightclimate change via an agreement with carbon marketer and developer Blue Source, LLC to

create incentives that reward landowners for exceptional forest management practices.

Working Woodlands is a new model of conservation that leverages the market demand

for certified forest products and carbon offsets to help private landowners achieve their goals

while promoting long-term conservation at the same time, said Josh Parrish, the Pennsylvania

director of land protection for The Nature Conservancy.
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Building on the Conservancys experience with land protection and forest certification,

Working Woodlands uses an innovative combination of working forest conservation easements,

Forest Stewardship Council forest management certification, and forest carbon payments to

make conservation more attractive and relevant for private landowners. To market the carbon

credits, the Conservancy is working with Blue Source, North Americas largest and most

experienced developer of carbon offset projects.The program is designed to eliminate landowners up-front costs associated with forest

certification and help the landowners benefit from the market demand for certified products and

carbon offsets. Certification means the timber from the Authoritys lands will meet the

increasing market demands for certified products and will allow the Authority to sell carbon

credits on the open market. Companies around the world purchase these credits to offset

greenhouse gas emissions.

The Conservancy will obtain FSC certification for the Bethlehem Authority property and

Blue Source will provide financing for carbon credit development.

This alliance provides a means for landowners in the U.S. to embrace forest

conservation at no up-front cost and enables them to receive timber and carbon revenues as a

result of their commitment to improved environmental stewardship, Blue Source President,Roger Williams said. We see this as an evolution in land conservation and have structured this

program to make it easy for landowners to participate.

There are many forest carbon offsets in existence, but the Working Woodlands model is

very credible because it is tied to FSC certification, said Luke Dillinger, wood procurement

forester at Domtars Johnsonburg paper mill, an FSC-certified facility and a major market

participant for Pennsylvania forest products. The program offers a unique, market-based

mechanism to allow forest landowners to manage for the long-term health of the forest while

maximizing the sustainable revenue stream off of their properties, he said.

Working forests are a keystone of The Nature Conservancy's conservation efforts, here

in Pennsylvania and around the world, said Bill Kunze, state director of The NatureConservancys Pennsylvania Chapter. Harnessing the power of markets in service to the long-

term ecological and economic health of our forests can yield great benefit for both people and

nature.

For more information, visit The Nature Conservancy-PA webpage.

NewsClip: Bethlehem OKs Green Watershed Ventures

Four Penn State Water Quality Projects Honored By U.S.D.A.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Water Program has selected four clean-water

projects initiated by Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences as Regional Projects of

Excellence for the mid-Atlantic region.Administered by Penn State Extension, the selected projects were showcased at the recent

2011 Land Grant/Sea Grant National Water Conference in Washington, D.C. The programs

recognized are:

-- Regional Master Well Owner Network, conducted by Bryan Swistock, Penn State Extension

water resources specialist. The Master Well Owner Networkis an extension program first

initiated in Pennsylvania in 2003 and subsequently expanded throughout the mid-Atlantic region.
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Volunteers -- and in some states, extension educators and other professionals -- complete

a day-long training workshop to learn how to maintain private water systems and to protect or

improve water quality. Then, they share this information with others in their communities.

"More than 5.5 million households in the mid-Atlantic region rely on private water

supplies such as wells, springs and cisterns for their drinking water," said Swistock.

"Groundwater contamination is a common concern for these residents."He noted that in Pennsylvania since 2004, the Master Well Owner Network has trained

500 volunteers, who have made more than 25,000 educational contacts. "Better than three out of

four Master Well Owners Network contacts have taken action to improve their water supplies,"

he said.

-- Dairy Feed Management Planner's Certification Program, overseen by Virginia Ishler,

extension nutrient management specialist in dairy and animal science.

This program began in 2007 when Penn State scientists adapted the national feed-

management program to the needs of dairy consultants in the Chesapeake Basin. The program

certifies consultants in precision-feed management, a practice that reduces nutrient loads in

animal wastes by minimizing phosphorus and nitrogen content in the feed.

"Certified consultants in feed management assist dairy producers in improving herdnutrition

and meeting new conservation requirements," said Ishler. "The current regulatory and economic

situation requires cost-effective measures to control nutrient pollution."

Precision feed management slowly is being implemented, she noted, and it has been

accepted as a critical practice to help reduce nutrient pollution in the Chesapeake Bay region.

-- Regional Cropland Nutrient Budgets, initiated by Doug Beegle, Distinguished Professor of

Agronomy, and the late Les Lanyon, who was a professor of soil science and management.

Lanyon, collaborating with Beegle, developed a phosphorus budget that in 2003 led to an online

regional nutrient budget for Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia.

"That budget used livestock numbers, fertilizer sales and crop acreages to determinecounty-level phosphorus supply and crop-demand estimates, primarily for Census of Agriculture

years 1987, 1992, 1997 and 2002," said Beegle. "In 2008 the budget was updated to include

nitrogen, and it now incorporates 2007 Census of Agriculture data."

A nutrient budget can be used to determine the indicated areas of nutrient imbalance

where the nutrients applied to cropland in the form of manure and fertilizer exceed the nutrients

removed in crop harvests, Beegle explained.

"The results indicate the potential for nutrients in the soil to be lost to the environment

and help to target areas and practices where efforts to minimize the impact of nutrients can be

focused," he said. "In the Chesapeake Bay, the phosphorus budget led to a new public focus on

regional nutrient imbalances."

-- Educational Efforts on Water Quality Credit Trading Policies, conducted by CharlesAbdalla, professor of agricultural and environmental economics, and Kristen Saacke Blunk,

senior extension associate and director of the Agriculture and Environment Center.

Since the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency began promoting nutrient-trading

programs as one way to address water-quality impairments, programs around the region have

started to evaluate how such programs could reduce pollution.
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"While states in the mid-Atlantic region sought to advance water quality and nutrient

trading, many stakeholders did not fully understand water-quality credit-trading programs and

their inherent opportunities and obstacles," said Abdalla.

"Recognizing the need to educate citizens, policy-makers and agricultural,

environmental, and municipal interest groups, we began providing unbiased, science-based

information through publications, workshops and professional guidance."The effort that helped launch this regional initiative was the extension publication "A

Primer on Water Quality Credit Trading in the Mid-Atlantic Region," a resource that explained

trading and its potential benefits and consequences, and fostered development of educational

materials on the mid-Atlantic states' water-quality and nutrient-trading policies.

For more information, visit Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences webpage.

Landscape Rehabilitation And Sustainability Subject Of New Book

The Slippery Rock Watershed Coalition's valued participant and soil scientist Dr. Valentin Kefeli

has recently seen his book, "Mechanisms of Landscape Rehabilitation and Sustainability"

available for online purchase in an eBook format.The book is of particular interest to academic and professional biologists, soil scientists,

ecologists, agronomists and architects. It presents discoveries and proposals that have emerged

from the authors research and explains ways to protect Earths ecosystems against further

degradation.

These proposals are founded on the philosophy of sustainable development and its

application to various aspects essential to the long-term success of human beings; these include

community coexistence, education, water purification and recycling, agriculture, the production

of fabricated soil for landscape rehabilitation, and the preservation and propagation of wild flora.

Strategies for both indoor and outdoor systems are