Pa Environment Digest Feb. 16, 2015

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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 February 16, 2015

Wolf Unveils Natural Gas Severance Tax Proposal, Nothing For The Environment

Gov. Tom Wolf Wednesday proposed an education reinvestment plan featuring a severance taxon natural gas extraction as part of his solution to properly fund public education in theCommonwealth.

The proposal would continue payments to local communities impacted by drillingcurrently funded under the Act 13 drilling impact fee, but said nothing about an funding forenvironmental restoration or programs.

Press coverage after the announcement mentioned the Act 13 impact fee would beretained for funding communities impacted by drilling and a “smaller portion” for theDepartment of Environmental Protection to help regulated the industry. Gov. Wolf was alsoquoted as saying he has not yet determined the exact formula for spending the severance taxrevenue.

Pennsylvania’s schools have suffered from $1 billion in funding cuts in recent years,Gov. Wolf said, forcing school districts to increase class sizes, lay-off teachers and other staff,and make serious program cuts that make it more difficult for students to get a strong education

in Penn sylvania’s public s chools.“We can get Pennsylvania back on track, and we can start by passing a commonsense

severance tax that will help fund our schools – an idea with bipartisan support,” Gov. Wolf said.“The Commonwealth ranks 45th in the nation in percentage of state funding for publiceducation, and as a result, we have seen larger class sizes, fewer teachers, and vital program cuts.These cuts have made it more difficult for students to get a strong education in Pennsylvania’s

public schools. This is the right thing to do for our children and our economy and to movePennsylvania forward.”

The proposal, called the Pennsylvania Education Reinvestment Act, enacts a reasonable 5 percent severance tax plus 4.7 cents per thousand feet of volume on extraction, which is expectedto generate over a billion dollars in fiscal year 2017 prior to exemptions. It is modeled onneighboring West Virginia’s severance tax plan.

Pennsylvania sits on one of the largest deposits of natural gas in the world. Other naturalgas producing states, including Texas and Oklahoma, levy a similar – and in some cases higher –tax on extraction to fund key priorities and initiatives.

Implementing a similar structure to West Virginia will ensure that Pennsylvania iscompetitive with neighboring states. In addition, this approach has the benefit of being fieldtested. West Virginia offers proof that a state can build a thriving and unconventional natural gasindustry while simultaneously using a portion of the proceeds to help make a better future for its

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citizens.The proposal would continue the payments made to impacted communities and make

reasonable exemptions for: gas given away for free; gas from low producing wells; and wells brought back into production after not having produced marketable quantities of gas. It will alsocontain provisions to protect property owners who lease land for natural gas exploration.

Gov. Wolf’s Background Memo Sent To LegislatorsPennsylvania’s schools have suffered from $1 billion in funding cuts and a lack of

resources. We have seen larger class sizes, fewer teachers, and program cuts that make it moredifficult for students to get a strong education in Pennsylvania’s public schools.

If we are going to get our Commonwealth back on track and be competitive in the 21stcentury economy, we must provide our young people with the educational foundation necessaryto be successful.

Pennsylvania currently ranks 45th in the nation in the percentage of funding the state provides for public education. This is intolerable. Pennsylvania must take the lead in investing inearly childhood, K-12, and higher education.

With Pennsylvania sitting on one of the largest deposits of natural gas in the world, it isup to us to use this resource wisely so it benefits all Pennsylvanians and helps to fund ourschools.

Pennsylvania is currently the only major gas producing state in the country that does notcharge a tax on oil and natural gas extraction – and we’re failing to tax this resource at a timewhen our schools need more funding.

If states like Texas, West Virginia, and Oklahoma are able to charge a severance tax tofund key priorities, it is long past time Pennsylvania does too.

In order to ensure that we are appropriately funding education at all levels, I am today proposing the Pennsylvania Education Reinvestment Act. This will raise needed new revenue forour state’s public education system by imposing a reasonable tax – in line with our neighbors -on the extraction of natural gas within the state.

The tax proposed in the Education Reinvestment Act will be modelled after the severancetax in neighboring West Virginia, which like Pennsylvania has seen a recent boom in productionof natural gas from unconventional drilling.

Implementing a similar structure to West Virginia will ensure that Pennsylvania iscompetitive with neighboring states. In addition, this approach has the benefit of being fieldtested. West Virginia offers proof that a state can build a thriving unconventional natural gasindustry while simultaneously using a portion of the proceeds to help make a better future for itscitizens.

I am proposing a 5 percent plus 4.7 cents per MCF tax. My proposal would not be on topof the existing impact fee but includes it. My proposal would continue the payments made to

communities impacted by drilling that are currently funded by the impact fee.We can get Pennsylvania back on track, and we can start by passing a commonsenseseverance tax that will help fund our schools – an idea with bipartisan support. At a time whenour budget is facing significant challenges and our schools are struggling, it simply makes senseto pass a competitive, commonsense severance tax.

Key FeaturesTax of: 5 percent of the value of gas at the wellhead; 4.7¢ per thousand cubic feet of

volume severed.


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Reasonable exemptions for: gas given away free; gas from low producing wells; andwells brought back into production after not having produced marketable quantities of gas.A tax with this structure is expected to generate over a billion dollars in fiscal year 2017 withrevenue expected to grow with production.

This number is based on the following estimates of production from both conventional

and unconventional wells: 2015: 4,915.0 bcf; 2016: 4,978.2 bcf; 2017: 5,065.3 bcf; 2018:5,114.0 bcf; 2019: 5,186.2 bcf; 2020: 5,265.5 bcf

Finally, the Education Reinvestment Act will contain provisions to protect propertyowners who lease land for natural gas exploration. No portion of the tax imposed in thislegislation will be allowed to be deducted from royalty payments.NewsClips:Wolf Proposes 5% Severance Tax For Schools Wolf Outlines Promised Shale Tax As Education Fund Wolf Outlines 5 Percent Tax On Natural Gas Drilling Wolf Unveils Severance Tax On Natural Gas Wolf Severance Tax Keeps Impact Fee For Communities Wolf Proposes Natural Gas Severance Tax Wolf Proposes 5% Natural Gas Tax Wolf Presents Plan To Tax Natural Gas Drilling Severance Tax Plan Prompts Swift Response Editorial: Wolf Severance Tax Onerous Editorial: What’s Best Use Of Severance Tax Revenue Wolf Pressured To Restrict Gas Drilling

CBF-PA: Severance Tax Proposal Should Include Funding Water Quality Cleanup

Chesapeake Bay Foundation Pennsylvania Executive Director Harry Campbell issued thisstatement Wednesday following Gov. Tom Wolf’s proposal for a natural gas severance tax to beused exclusively for education:

“While acknowledging the need for additional funds for Pennsylvania schools, theChesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) strongly urges that at least a portion of any new revenuesfrom an approved severance tax be used to support the staff and resources at the stateDepartment of Environmental Protection, particularly in the water programs, to help restorePennsylvania’s 19,000 miles of impaired streams through conservation programs like GrowingGreener.

“A recent CBF analysis determined that fully restoring Pennsylvania’s Chesapeake Baywatershed rivers and streams would result in more than $6 billion in economic benefits to the

Commonwealth.“CBF also strongly suggests that the current Act 13 impact fees distributed to countiescontinue to be available and directed to address local water quality issues, such as improvedmanagement of polluted runoff.”Related Stories: Growing Greener Coalition Renews Case For Environmental Funding In Severance Tax WITF Smart Talk: Is Pennsylvania Growing Greener? Analysis: Where Is The Environmental Funding In Gov. Wolf’s Severance Tax Proposal?

http://www.witf.org/smart-talk/2015/02/smart-talk-pa-growing-greener.phphttp://paenvironmentdaily.blogspot.com/2015/02/growing-greener-coalition-renews-case.htmlhttp://www.cbf.org/pahttp://www.philly.com/philly/business/homepage/20150208_Wolf_being_pressured_to_restrict_gas_drilling.htmlhttp://thetimes-tribune.com/opinion/gas-tax-issue-best-use-of-revenue-1.1831394http://triblive.com/opinion/editorials/7755362-74/wolf-governor-tomhttp://www.pennlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2015/02/severance_tax_prompts_a_swift.html#incart_riverhttp://www.yorkdispatch.com/breaking/ci_27508771/wolf-presents-his-plan-tax-natural-gas-drillinghttp://www.philly.com/philly/news/politics/20150212_Wolf_to_unveil_natural_gas_tax_proposal.htmlhttp://powersource.post-gazette.com/powersource/2015/02/11/Wolf-unveils-natural-gas-severance-tax-proposal-Pennsylvania/stories/201502110196http://thetimes-tribune.com/news/wolf-severance-tax-keeps-impact-fee-distribution-1.1831722http://www.witf.org/news/2015/02/governor-wolf-unveils-severance-tax-plan-on-natural-gas-drillers.phphttp://www.pennlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2015/02/gov_tom_wolf_outlines_5_percen.html#incart_m-rpt-2http://www.mcall.com/news/breaking/mc-pa-wolf-gas-driller-severance-tax-20150211-story.htmlhttp://triblive.com/business/headlines/7755992-74/wolf-tax-gas


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Analysis: PA Isn’t Cleaning Up Its Abandoned Mines, Streams Fast Enough

Growing Greener Coalition Renews Case For Environmental Funding In Severance Tax

The PA Growing Greener Coalition Friday reiterated its case for why environmental funding

must be contained in any severance tax package passed by the Commonwealth. Andrew Heath,executive director for the Coalition, issued the following statement:

“Since the Coalition first came into existence in 2008, our position concerning aseverance tax on natural gas extraction has been consistent - it must include conservation,restoration, and preservation funding for programs such as the Growing Greener EnvironmentalStewardship Fund. This position stems from the fact that when natural resources are used and/ordegraded in one region of the Commonwealth, there must be a reinvestment in resources inanother.

“On Wednesday, the Governor announced his plans to enact a 5 percent drilling tax plusa fee on gas production. These taxes would generate hundreds of millions of dollars for theCommonwealth each year. The Coalition urges the Administration and General Assembly toreinvest a portion of these revenues for conservation, recreation, and preservation programs.“The impacts of drilling in Pennsylvania are evident throughout the Commonwealth. Our parks,forests, scenic and cultural areas, and waterways are at risk of being disturbed and degraded.Funding through a severance tax is essential to addressing these issues and is a step in the rightdirection to increasing funds available for the Growing Greener and other environmental

programs.”The PA Growing Greener Coalition is the largest coalition of conservation, recreation,

and preservation organizations in the Commonwealth.Related Stories: CBF-PA: Severance Tax Proposal Should Including Funding For Water Quality Restoration WITF Smart Talk: Is Pennsylvania Growing Greener? Analysis: Where Is The Environmental Funding In Gov. Wolf’s Severance Tax Proposal?Analysis: PA Isn’t Cleaning Up Its Abandoned Mines, Streams Fast Enough

PennFuture Lauds Wolf’s Severance Tax Proposal Even Without Money For Environment

PennFuture Wednesday offered strong support for Gov. Tom Wolf's proposal to enact a 5 percent severance tax on natural gas drilling activity in Pennsylvania.

"Gov. Wolf has heeded the call of Pennsylvanians, who strongly support a severance taxon natural gas drilling in the Keystone state," said John Norbeck, acting president and CEO ofPennFuture. "Pennsylvania is currently the largest natural gas-producing state without a

severance tax, and it's time that drillers pay their fair share. As the governor noted, a portion ofthe tax will deal with the environmental impacts of drilling, an inherently industrial activity. Weurge him to also apportion funding from this tax toward renewable energy and energy efficiency.

"Pennsylvania has a history of extractive industries that have harmed the environmentand left successive generations to pay for the damage. Gov. Wolf's actions today clearly showthat this pattern will come to a close.

"The governor is making it clear that the rights of the citizens of Pennsylvania come first,and the Sheriff is back in town when it comes to natural gas drilling. We cheered his

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reinstatement less than two weeks ago of the moratorium on new drilling leases of public lands,and applaud his actions today on taxing shale gas drilling in Pennsylvania. Enacting a rule tocontrol methane emissions from natural gas operations should be next on Gov. Wolf's list, amove supported by 70 percent of Pennsylvanians in a recent poll."

Industry Reaction To Wolf’s Severance Tax Proposal

Marcellus Shale Coalition president David Spigelmyer issued the following statement on Gov.Wolf’s new energy tax proposal unveiled Wednesday in Thorndale, Pennsylvania:

“Gov. Wolf fails to acknowledge that the natural gas industry already pays significanttaxes in Pennsylvania. Natural gas operators pay the same taxes that every other business inPennsylvania pays, which has helped generate more than $2.1 billion through 2013.

“Pennsylvania is the only state that imposes a special impact tax that will have generatednearly $830 million by April of this year, directly benefitting all 67 counties throughout theCommonwealth. Pennsylvanians have realized more than $700 million in royalties fromenergy-development on public lands.

“By any measure, these are significant revenues that are boosting local communities, aswell as important environmental programs. More importantly, revenue estimates fail to accountfor the more than 200,000 hard-working Pennsylvanians who are employed by or support thisindustry and generate substantial revenue for the Commonwealth by paying their taxes.

“While we look forward to evaluating the policy details outlined by the Governor today,it’s clear that new energy taxes will discourage capital investment into the commonwealth andmake Pennsylvania less competitive. Make no mistake, adding a five percent tax to any businesssector – including the energy industry – is going to reduce capital spending and hit the supplychain, especially Pennsylvania-based small and mid-sized businesses, as well as our region’slabor and building trades.

“Pennsylvanians are looking to their elected officials to help create new jobs, not newtaxes, especially during these difficult and challenging times within an industry that has reducedenergy costs for every consumer and been a bright spot for the Commonwealth’s economy.”

Associated Petroleum Industries of PAThe governor's proposal for a new severance tax on natural gas development in

Pennsylvania will harm job growth and weaken the state's economy, said Stephanie CatarinoWissman, executive director of Associated Petroleum Industries of Pennsylvania.

"The governor's proposed tax hike could threaten the future of our state's best jobcreators," said Wissman. "The current local impact tax, which is collected from every shaledrilling site in the state, has distributed more than $630 million to communities since 2012 --including more than $224 million in just 2014. That's on top of over $2.1 billion in state and

local taxes generated by the energy industry. Driving development away from Pennsylvania willultimately cost jobs and lead to less revenue for education, transportation, healthcare, and otherstate programs. The governor needs to look for better budget solutions that will keep theCommonwealth competitive, protect long-term economic growth, and preserve the engine ofPennsylvania job creation."

Senate, House Reaction To Wolf’s Severance Tax Proposal

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Sen. Gene Yaw (R-Lycoming) , Majority Chair of the Senate Environmental Resources andEnergy Committee, issued this statement on the new severance tax proposal—

“It’s absurd to think development will increase to the point of generating $1 billion by2017 when companies are already slowing down development without a severance tax,” Yawsaid. “This same proposal was rejected under the Rendell Administration during much better

economic times. Does anyone in the Administration realize there is an oversupply of natural gasin the world market?

“Gov. Wolf opines that this (severance tax) is a ‘commonsense’ way to fund education.What is the logic behind more taxes on an industry that is at its lowest point in several years?Moreover, according to ‘Education Week’, Pennsylvania ranks very high, number eight, infunding and accomplishments in public education among all 50 states. Commonsense?”

Sen. John Yudichak (D-Luzerne) , Minority Chair of the Senate EnvironmentalResources and Energy Committee, released this statement on the severance tax proposal:

"I have introduced legislation and have fought for a fair and responsible 5 percentseverance tax on natural gas production. I am very encouraged with Gov. Wolf's announcementthat he is proposing a severance tax plan that will invest in education, the environment andsustainable economic development for all of Pennsylvania.”

“Finally, the conversation around a comprehensive energy policy for Pennsylvania beginstoday with Gov. Wolf's severance tax proposal."

Senate Majority Leader Jake Corman (R-Centre) said, "If it's a billion dollars, thatwould be an amazing tax, so, look, we'll hold hearings on all his proposals, including this one, tosee what they actually achieve, to see whether it helps or hurts the economy of Pennsylvania.”

Sen. Jay Costa (D-Allegheny), Senate Minority Leader , issued the followingstatement: “The Governor has made a responsible and balanced proposal to tax the shale industryto help fund education. The connection between the proposed severance tax and educationalinvestments makes sense. The new tax will provide resources that will help reverse thedevastating impact of the $1 billion in education cuts made by the Corbett administration thathave plagued the education community.

“Investing in education and meeting the needs of schools, students and taxpayers requiresnew resources. Using the proceeds of a reasonable tax on shale drilling is a policy option thatshould be explored in detail by lawmakers.

“Pennsylvania’s current impact fee is insufficient and does not help schools andtaxpayers. Gov. Wolf’s proposed Pennsylvania Education Reinvestment Act is the correct,

balanced approach that will generate additional revenues from the Marcellus industry. Thisreasonable proposal will allow Pennsylvania gas to be competitive in the market and will notoverburden the industry.”

House

House Majority Leader Dave Reed (R-Indiana) issued this statement regarding--“While the governor’s 7.5 percent natural gas severance tax proposal should not surprise anyone,we all need to remember, there is no ‘free money.’

“By adding 4.7 cents for each 1,000 cubic feet on top of the 5 percent on the value of thegas, the governor is, in actuality, pushing roughly a 7.5 percent effective tax rate – one of thehighest in the nation. In fact, of the top natural gas producing states, only Texas taxes at this rate,and comparatively, they don’t have a corporate tax like Pennsylvania.

“A comparison to West Virginia isn’t exactly fair either. Their corporate tax rate is just


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6.5 percent, compared to our 9.9 percent rate. Its energy production and job growth has slowedcompared to Pennsylvania – possibly due to the higher tax. Their unemployment rate stands at6.3 percent, compared to our 4.8 percent.

“Taxing questions cannot be discussed in a vacuum. When the governor divulges the fulldetails of his plan, we will evaluate his policy on the merits and will have, and the public

deserves, a full and fair discussion of Pennsylvania’s tax structure compared with other states.“Unfortunately, the cost of doing business in Pennsylvania is one of the highest in the

nation, and we have been working to reduce those costs and encourage job creators come toPennsylvania. Increasing those costs might not be the best message.

“The natural gas industry has helped drive the state’s unemployment to its lowest rate innearly seven years and added billions to our economic activity.

“The real question becomes what impact such a high tax rate would have on job creationthroughout the state."

Rep. Kate Harper (R-Montgomery) issued the following statement in response to theseverance tax proposal offered by Gov. Tom Wolf:

“Clearly, how to tax the natural gas industry and the Marcellus Shale is a debate we willneed to have this year in the Capitol. I have my own proposal.

“My biggest concern with the governor’s plan is that it does not keep the existing impactfee intact, and that could mean a major hit to the budgets of communities directly impacted bydrilling and to the many valuable statewide environmental programs supported by the fee. Theimpact fee has so far generated more than $630 million, and every community – evenMontgomery County, which does not have a single gas well – is benefitting from these funds.

“I believe the governor is also overestimating how much money his proposed 5 percenttax will generate given recent drops in production.

“I have introduced a plan I believe will better meet the needs of the Commonwealth byleaving the impact fee and its distribution schedule in place, and then adding a 3.5 percentseverance tax. My proposal would generate approximately $400 million annually, all of whichwould be dedicated to addressing the $32 billion unfunded liability in the Public SchoolEmployees’ Retirement System. Failure to address this problem will lead to skyrocketing

property taxes across the Commonwealth in the very near future.“That said, I am certainly looking forward to the debate and negotiation on this issue,

which I believe is vital to our Commonwealth’s financial well-being. This growing industry provides us with an opportunity to help the already overburdened taxpayers of theCommonwealth, but it is important to do it right – we do not want to push the industry out of ourstate and the areas that need job growth the most.”

Rep. Harper’s severance tax proposal, House Bill 82 , was referred to the HouseEnvironmental Resources and Energy Committee for consideration.

House Democratic Leader Frank Dermody (D-Allegheny) and Democratic WhipMike Hanna (D-Centre) said they are encouraged by Gov. Tom Wolf’s EducationReinvestment Act, which proposes to increase the money available for Pennsylvania schools bylevying a reasonable severance tax on natural gas production.

“This is going to be a key issue as we work on closing the large structural budget deficit,”Rep. Dermody said. “Gov. Wolf is following through on what he laid out in his campaign with a

proposal to bring Pennsylvania into line with all the other states that already tax natural gas production.

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“The resulting revenue will allow us to begin undoing the serious damage that was doneto education during the last four years. No doubt there will be a lot of debate about this, but thegovernor’s plan provides a framework for the legislature to consider in the next few months.”He noted that additional state funding of education will help relieve the upward pressure onschool property taxes.

Rep. Hanna added: “The Wolf plan is something constructive we can build on. Thegovernor and I agree we need to preserve the dollars that are going to all the municipalities andcounties impacted by drilling.

“Enacting a severance tax comparable to other states also will increase public support forresponsible gas drilling when the industry becomes an important partner in funding education.The added protection for natural gas leaseholders is another excellent component of thegovernor’s proposal,” Rep. Hanna said, “and it would fix a missing element of the impact feelaw passed three years ago.”

Analysis: Where Is The Environmental Funding In Gov. Wolf’s Severance Tax Proposal?

Gov. Wolf this week proposed a new severance tax on natural gas production with no mentionyet of funding for environmental restoration programs.

This is especially odd since Pennsylvania is facing significant environmental cleanupchallenges including, but certainly not limited to: 220,000 acres of abandoned mine lands, withthe federal Abandoned Mine Reclamation Fee ending in 2021 which funds the bulk of this work,and eliminating 10 pounds of nitrogen and 212 million pounds of sediment to meet our 2017Chesapeake Bay cleanup milestones over the next 683 days.

The proposal would do away with, at least in part, although that isn’t clear either, thecurrent Act 13 drilling impact fee. Funding for local communities, which takes 60 percent of thecurrent impact fee revenue, would be preserved, the proposal said, but without any additionaldetails.

Eliminating the Act 13 drilling impact fees for the other programs would put at least $76million in funding for these environmental programs at risk---- $20.5 million to PennVEST, Commonwealth Financing Authority for water and sewer

projects;-- $16.4 million to Commonwealth Financing Authority for abandoned mine reclamation,watershed restoration, water quality monitoring, abandoned oil and gas well plugging, cleanenergy programs;-- $12.3 million for Greenways, recreation trails, open space, natural areas preservation;-- $8.2 million to the Environmental Stewardship (Growing Greener) Fund for watershedrestoration and other environmental projects;

-- $7.5 million annually for county conservation districts, State Conservation Commission;-- $6 million to DEP for enforcement of clean water and clean air statutes (although there was a brief mention of this possibility after the announcement);-- $4.1 million to Hazardous Sites Cleanup Fund; and-- $1 million to the Fish and Boat Commission for review of drilling permit applications.

Also at risk is funding for natural gas conversion and support projects, housing financeassistance, PennDOT rail freight grants and funding for the Public Utility Commission, PAEmergency Management Agency and the Office of State Fire Commissioner.

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The lack of environmental restoration funding is even more glaring because three othernatural gas severance tax proposals announced in recent weeks by both Republicans andDemocrats included funding environmental restoration programs, like Growing Greener.

A proposal by Rep. Kate Harper (R-Montgomery)-- House Bill 82 -- would leave thecurrent drilling impact fee in place and along with its funding for environmental programs.

Another proposal by Rep. Gene DiGirolamo (R-Bucks) would earmark at least $56 million forenvironmental programs. A third proposal by Senators Art Haywood (D-Montgomery) andVincent J. Hughes (D-Philadelphia) would allocate $100 million to the EnvironmentalStewardship (Growing Greener) Fund.

With over $2.4 billion in environmental funding cut , diverted or used to balance the state budget, including hundreds of millions of dollars from Marcellus Shale gas leases on state land,over the last 12 years, wiping out the modest funding increases to environmental restoration

programs provided by the Act 13 drilling impact fees would pile more pain on an already tragicsituation.

Hopefully, in the coming weeks, more details will be available on whether anyenvironmental funding will be included in the Governor’s proposal.

If isn’t included, Pennsylvania will miss yet another opportunity to address the seriousenvironmental problems facing the Commonwealth. Related Stories: CBF-PA: Severance Tax Proposal Should Including Funding For Water Quality Restoration Growing Greener Coalition Renews Case For Environmental Funding In Severance Tax WITF Smart Talk: Is Pennsylvania Growing Greener? Analysis: PA Isn’t Cleaning Up Its Abandoned Mines, Streams Fast Enough

3 Other Severance Tax Proposals Provide Funding For Environmental Restoration

Three other natural gas severance tax proposals announced in recent weeks by both Republicansand Democrats included funding environmental restoration programs, like Growing Greener,making the omission of environmental funding from Gov. Wolf’s proposal Wednesday all themore glaring.

Rep. Gene DiGirolamo (R-Bucks) February 4 held a press conference to discusslegislation to impose a drilling tax within the Marcellus Shale and distribute those proceeds tostatewide initiatives.

In keeping with policies in other states with large natural gas reserves, Rep. DiGirolamo's proposal calls for a 3.2 percent drilling tax, while also keeping the impact fee created by Act 13to help communities directly affected by drilling.

Revenue would be distributed to the following priorities: basic education, 40 percent;

pension obligations, 35 percent; human services, 15 percent; and environmental programs, 10 percent---- Basic Education -- $226 million-- Pensions -- $197 million-- Human Services -- $85 million-- Environmental programs -- $56 million

Rep. Kate Harper (R-Montgomery) announced December 18 she is introducing HouseBill 82 to place a severance tax on natural gas drilling in the Commonwealth.

http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billInfo/billInfo.cfm?sYear=2015&sInd=0&body=H&type=B&bn=0182http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billInfo/billInfo.cfm?sYear=2015&sInd=0&body=H&type=B&bn=0182http://www.genedigirolamo.com/NewsItem.aspx?NewsID=22649http://www.paenvironmentdigest.com/newsletter/default.asp?NewsletterArticleID=30987http://www.witf.org/smart-talk/2015/02/smart-talk-pa-growing-greener.phphttp://paenvironmentdaily.blogspot.com/2015/02/growing-greener-coalition-renews-case.htmlhttp://paenvironmentdaily.blogspot.com/2015/02/cbf-pa-new-severance-tax-proposal.htmlhttp://www.paenvironmentdigest.com/newsletter/default.asp?NewsletterArticleID=30852http://www.paenvironmentdigest.com/newsletter/default.asp?NewsletterArticleID=31216http://www.paenvironmentdigest.com/newsletter/default.asp?NewsletterArticleID=31215http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billInfo/billInfo.cfm?sYear=2015&sInd=0&body=H&type=B&bn=0182http://www.paenvironmentdigest.com/newsletter/default.asp?NewsletterArticleID=30764


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The tax rate would be competitive with nearby shale drilling states, and the revenue itgenerates would be directed to public school employee pension costs. The Public SchoolEmployees’ Retirement System currently has an unfunded liability that exceeds $32 billion.

“As this industry continues to grow, we have an opportunity to generate much-neededrevenue to meet the ongoing economic challenges facing our state,” Rep. Harper said. “My

proposal strikes the appropriate balance between keeping this job-creating industry competitiveand capitalizing on the opportunity to protect our school taxpayers from skyrocketing pensioncosts.”

The tax would be in addition to impact fees assessed on drilling under Act 13 of 2012.Those fees are used to address infrastructure and other impacts in communities where drillingtakes place, and to contribute to several statewide environmental programs. So far, the impact feehas generated more than $630 million.

“The impact fee has been very effective in meeting the needs of drilling communities andthe Commonwealth’s environment overall, and my plan would not change one thing about thecollection or distribution of these funds,” Rep. Harper said.

Rep. Harper’s proposal would assess a tax of 3.5 percent of the gross value of unitssevered at the wellhead. It is estimated the tax would generate more than $400 million annually.

Senators Art Haywood (D-Montgomery) and Vincent J. Hughes (D-Philadelphia) February 5 announced legislation to impose an 8 percent tax on Marcellus Shale gas along withthe 1.9 percent impact fee.

Joined by Sen. Larry Farnese (D-Philadelphia), Haywood and Hughes said most of therevenue, which could reach nearly $2 billion a year within a few years, will go toward publiceducation, the underfunded pension liability and environmental protection.

Sen. Hughes, Minority Chair of the Senate Appropriations Chairman, said the bill couldgenerate more than $1 billion for next year’s budget.

From the revenue raised in the proposal: — $100 million dollars would go to the Growing Greener Program; — 60 percent of the money would go to fund Public Schools; and — 40 percent would go towards reducing the unfunded pension liability.

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Governor’s Schedule

Gov. Tom Wolf's work calendar will be posted each Friday and his public schedule for the daywill be posted each morning. Click Here to view Gov. Wolf’s Weekly Calendar and PublicAppearances.

Senate/House Agenda/Session Schedule Updated )/Bills Introduced

Here are the Senate and House Calendars and Committee meetings showing bills of interest aswell as a list of new environmental bills introduced--

Bill Calendars

House (February 23): Click Here for full House Bill Calendar.

Senate (February 17): Click Here for full Senate Bill Calendar.

Committee Meeting Agendas This Week

House: Click Here for full House Committee Schedule.

Senate: the Appropriations Committee meets to consider Senate Bill 279 (Hutchinson-R-Venango) creating the PA Grade Crude Development Advisory Council within DEP ( sponsorsummary ); the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee meets to consider Senate Bill 201 (Schwank-D-Berks) allowing the the location of agriculture-related business on preservedfarmland ( sponsor summary ); the Transportation Committee meets to consider Senate Bill 385(Pileggi-R-Delaware) creating a Transit Revitalization Investment District ( sponsor summary );Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee meets to consider Senate Bill 201 (Schwank-D-Berks) allowing the the location of agriculture-related business on preserved farmland ( sponsorsummary ). Click Here for full Senate Committee Schedule.

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Bills Pending In Key Committees

Here are links to key Standing Committees in the House and Senate and the bills pending ineach--

HouseAppropriations EducationEnvironmental Resources and EnergyConsumer AffairsGaming OversightHuman ServicesJudiciaryLiquor ControlTransportationLinks for all other Standing House Committees

SenateAppropriationsEnvironmental Resources and EnergyConsumer Protection and Professional LicensureCommunity, Economic and Recreational DevelopmentEducationJudiciaryLaw and JusticePublic Health and WelfareTransportationLinks for all other Standing Senate Committees

Bills Introduced

The following bills of interest were introduced this week--

Removing Ethanol Fuel Blending: House Bill 471 (Marshall-R-Beaver) removing the stateethanol fuel blending requirement ( sponsor summary ).

Stream Clearance Bill: Senate Bill 444 (Brooks-R-Crawford) allowing stream clearing withouta permit ( sponsor summary ).

Session Schedule ( Updated )

Here is the latest voting session schedule for the Senate and House--

Senate

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February 17, 18, 23, 24, 25March 2, 3, 4April 13, 14, 15, 20, 21, 22May 4, 5, 6, 11, 12, 13

June 1, 2, 3, 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, 17, 18, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30

House (Updated)

February 23, 24, 25, 26, 27March 2, 3, 4, 30, 31April 1, 13, 14, 15, 20, 21, 22May 4, 5, 6, 11, 12, 13June 1, 2, 3, 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, 17, 18, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

Senate/House Bills Moving

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

House

Wind Generation On Preserved Farms: House Bill 188 (Sonney-R-Erie) allowing for wind power generation systems on preserved farmland ( sponsor summary ) was reported from theHouse Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee and Tabled.

News From The Capitol

House Consumer Affairs Committee Hears PUC Priorities

The House Consumer Affairs Committee held an informational meeting Tuesday on thelegislative and other priorities of the Public Utility Commission this session.

Robert F. Powelson , Chair of the Commission, said their number one legislative priorityis updating the budget cap imposed on the Commission.

“PUC operating expenses have increased, due to contractual salary increases, the risingcost of healthcare benefits and pension costs, and the Commission's taking on of duties notrelated to the regulation of traditional utilities,” said Powelson. “The combined result of theseforces is a squeeze on the Commission's budget that requires a further legislative amendment andmodernization of the budget cap in Section 510 of the Code.”

Other legislative priorities include transfer of the PA One Call authority to the PUC,legislation to regulate new transportation services like Uber and Lyft and expand PUC authorityto order a takeover of troubled utilities.

Powelson also listed a number of “Issues of Primary Importance” to the PUC. Amongthem were---- Adopting new customer protections in the retail electricity market;-- Doing more to encourage competition in the natural gas retail market;

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-- Replacement of aging utility infrastructure; and-- Implementation of EPA’s Clean Power Rule to reduce climate emissions.

Also providing comments at the hearing were Tanya McClosky , Acting ConsumerAdvocate, and John Evans , Small Business Advocate.

The House Consumer Affairs Committee has a similar informational meeting set for

March 31 to hear presentations from the electric and natural gas industries on priorities.The Committee also meets on February 25 to consider House Bill 57 (Payne-R-Dauphin)

relating to improving natural gas retail competition by providing a more frequent mechanism fortruing up natural gas costs ( sponsor summary ) in Room 39 East Wing Capitol Building startingat 9:00 a.m.

Rep. Robert Godshall (R-Montgomery) serves as Majority Chair and Rep. Peter Daley(D-Washington) serves as Minority Chair.

PA Trout Unlimited Presentation To Joint Conservation Committee March 2

Brian Wagner, President of the PA Council of Trout Unlimited , will be the featured presenter atthe March 2 Environmental Issues Forum hosted by the Joint Legislative Air and Water PollutionControl and Conservation Committee in Harrisburg.

Wagner, and Kathy Dunlap, Eastern Waters Project Director , will discuss the history,conservation efforts and public outreach of Trout Unlimited in the Commonwealth.

The Forum will be held in Room 8E-A East Wing of the Capitol starting at noon.Sen. Scott Hutchinson (R-Venango) serves as Chair of the Joint Committee.

News From Around The State

Coldwater Heritage Partnership Announces 2015 Grant Awards

The Coldwater Heritage Partnership Tuesday announced over $58,000 in grants have beenawarded to local organizations to protect and conserve Pennsylvania’s coldwater streams.

The purpose of the program is to provide leadership, coordination, technical assistance,and funding support for the conservation and protection of Pennsylvania’s coldwater streams.The program awards planning and implementation grants to conservation organizations in aneffort to protect and conserve Pennsylvania’s coldwater resources.

The planning grant is awarded to organizations to create a coldwater conservation planthat evaluates the biological, physical, and chemical features of the stream or watershed toidentify potential threats, impacts, and opportunities and compile recommendations for future

protection.

The implementation grant is awarded to organizations to complete projects listed asrecommendations in Coldwater Conservation Plans or similar documents. Potential projects mustconserve, protect, or enhance the resources.

Grants have been awarded to the following organizations:-- Natural Lands Trust, Inc.: $5000 to create a collaborative and comprehensive plan in aneffort to understand and protect Shade Creek, Luzerne County.-- Western Pennsylvania Conservancy: $4,300 to develop a Coldwater Conservation Plan forthe East Branch Tionesta Creek, McKean County to aid regulatory agencies, local residents, and

http://www.coldwaterheritage.org/http://www.tu.org/tu-projects/eastern-shale-gas-developmenthttp://jcc.legis.state.pa.us/http://jcc.legis.state.pa.us/http://www.patrout.org/http://www.legis.state.pa.us//cfdocs/Legis/CSM/showMemoPublic.cfm?chamber=H&SPick=20150&cosponId=15697http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billInfo/billInfo.cfm?sYear=2015&sInd=0&body=H&type=B&bn=0057http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/CteeInfo/index.cfm?Code=10&CteeBody=Hhttp://wallaby.telicon.com/pa/library/2015/20150210TX.PDFhttp://wallaby.telicon.com/pa/library/2015/20150210TY.PDF


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conservation groups in a more informed manner in the management of the resource.-- Susquehanna Chapter of Trout Unlimited: $5,000 to develop a comprehensive ColdwaterConservation Plan for the Rock Run watershed, Lycoming County that may be used to secureadditional funding for the restoration projects to enhance the native brook trout fishery.-- Eastern Pennsylvania Coalition of Abandoned Mine Reclamation: $5,000 to complete an

assessment of natural trout populations and potential AMD and AML impacts to the Laurel Run,Luzerne County, a tributary in the Mill Creek watershed.-- Heritage Conservancy: $6,923 to improve the habitat quality and stream buffer along theCooks Creek, Bucks County.-- Trout Unlimited, Eastern Abandoned Mine Program: $4,000 to stabilize 500-600ft oferoding streambank and enhance habitat through the placement of multiple PFBC-approvedhabitat structures on the Chase Estate property in the Potts Run Watershed, Clearfield County.-- Wildlands Conservancy: $7,000 to implement stream restoration recommendations alonghigh priority reaches in Coplay Creek, Lehigh County.-- Monocacy Chapter of Trout Unlimited: $7,000 to restore the Monocacy Creek,

Northampton County through dam removal as recommended in the Monocacy CreekManagement Plan.-- Lackawanna Valley Chapter of Trout Unlimited: $7,000 to complete instream habitat,shade tree plantings, bank stabilization, riparian buffer improvement and knotweed eradicationon the Lackawanna River, Lackawanna County.-- Penns Valley Conservation Association: $7,000 to complete 20 fish habitat and streambankstabilization structures, and establish a 2.5 acre forested buffer of 400 native trees and shrubs inMuddy Creek, Centre County, a tributary to Penns Creek.

The Coldwater Heritage Partnership is a collaborative effort between the Department ofConservation and Natural Resources, Foundation for Pennsylvania Watersheds , Fish and BoatCommission and PA Council of Trout Unlimited .

For more information, visit the Coldwater Heritage Partnership website.

EPA, DEP Proposed Agreement To Resolve Some Harrisburg Clean Water Act Violations

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Harrisburg Wednesday announced a proposed partialsettlement with co-plaintiff Department of Environmental Protection and the City of Harrisburgand Capital Region Water to resolve alleged Clean Water Act violations involving seweroverflows and discharges of polluted stormwater to the Susquehanna River and Paxton Creek.The agreement will help protect people’s health, the two impacted waterways, and ultimately theChesapeake Bay.

Under the proposed agreement, Capital Region Water will take major steps to improve

the operation and maintenance of Harrisburg’s wastewater and stormwater collection systems,including construction upgrades at its wastewater treatment plant. The upgrades will significantlyreduce discharges of nitrogen pollution from the plant, which is currently the largest point-sourceof nitrogen pollution to the Susquehanna River.

In addition, Capital Region Water will conduct a comprehensive assessment of existingconditions within its combined sewer system and develop a long term control plan to curtailcombined sewer overflows.

The work under the partial settlement is estimated to cost $82 million and be completed

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within a period of about five years. Once a long term control plan is approved by EPA, the courtagreement will need to be modified, or a new one will need to be put in place to includeimplementation of the plan.

“This settlement reflects EPA’s commitment to an integrated approach for tacklingmultiple sewer and stormwater overflow problems, and helping Pennsylvania meet the nitrogen

and phosphorus reduction goals for improving its local waters and restoring a healthyChesapeake Bay,” said EPA Regional Administrator Shawn M. Garvin. “This phased approachfor controlling combined sewer overflows over time includes some early action projects toreduce pollution now, while conducting further assessment and planning for long termsolutions.”

Capital Region Water issued this statement on the proposed settlement, “Theannouncement today by EPA follows months of productive negotiations between Capital RegionWater, EPA, DOJ, and PA DEP to make improvements that will benefit the health of our localwaterways and our community in a fiscally responsible manner. Our Board approved this partialconsent decree last December and many of the projects outlined in the agreement are underway.

“As the steward of the Harrisburg community’s water systems, we encourage all of ourcustomers to read the agreement , provide comments to EPA during their 30 day public comment

period, and contact us with any questions or concerns.”The settlement, filed simultaneously with the complaint in federal court in Harrisburg by

the U.S. Department of Justice on behalf of EPA and DEP, addresses problems with Harrisburg’scombined sewer system, which during rain events and dry weather, frequently discharges rawsewage, industrial waste and polluted stormwater into Paxton Creek and the Susquehanna River,which are part of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed.

The settlement does not impose civil penalties against the City due to Harrisburg’scurrent financial situation.

Keeping raw sewage and contaminated stormwater out of the waters of the United Statesis one of EPA’s National Enforcement Initiatives. EPA is working to reduce discharges fromsewer overflows by obtaining commitments from cities to implement timely, affordablesolutions.

The proposed settlement is subject to a 30-day comment period and court approval after itis published in the federal register. The settlement agreement will be available online .NewsClips:Green vs. Gray Solutions At Alcosan Making No One Happy Camp Michaux Projects Preserves History, Protects Brook Trout Agreement Reached In Lawsuit Over FirstEnergy Disposal Impoundment Capital Region Water Hearing On Land Sale Jacobs Creek Watershed Assn. Names New Executive Director

CBF-PA: Venango County Commissioners Adopt Clean Water Counts! Resolution

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation-PA Tuesday applauded the Venango County Commissionersfor adopting a Clean Water Counts! resolution, calling on state officials to make clean water atop priority for the Keystone State.

Since launching this initiative, Berks, Luzerne, Westmoreland, Wyoming, York, Northumberland, Schuylkill, Fayette, Cumberland, Washington, Erie, Greene, Jefferson, and

http://cbf.org/PAForCleanWaterhttp://www.cbf.org/pahttp://triblive.com/neighborhoods/yourmtpleasant/7716547-74/quinn-association-environmental#axzz3RWJkE8Ulhttp://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2015/02/public_hearing_on_capital_regi.html#incart_riverhttp://triblive.com/news/adminpage/7743328-74/reached-firstenergy-lawsuithttp://cumberlink.com/sports/outdoors/camp-michaux-project-aims-to-preserve-history-protect-brook-trout/article_5135f5a6-57f6-5cae-aa52-3465240c2681.htmlhttp://www.post-gazette.com/opinion/brian-oneill/2015/02/08/Brian-O-Neill-column-for-Opinion-13/stories/201502080099http://www.justice.gov/enrd/Consent_Decrees.html


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now Venango counties have all joined the effort and have passed resolutions.“Healthy families, strong communities, and a thriving Pennsylvania economy depend on

clean water,” said Harry Campbell, CBF’s Pennsylvania Executive Director. “We applaud andthank the Venango County Commissioners for publicly voicing their support for clean water inthe Keystone State.”

CBF embarked on the Clean Water Counts campaign in response to the PennsylvaniaDepartment of Environmental Protection’s most recent statewide surface waters assessment. Theresults show that of the 86,000 miles of waterways flowing through the Commonwealth, nearly20,000 miles are polluted. DEP also reported that the top pollution sources are agricultural andurban/suburban runoff, and abandoned mine drainage.

According to DEP, 1,233 miles of waterways flow through Venango County, butunfortunately more than 250 of those miles are polluted. The leading cause of pollution isabandoned mine drainage, polluting 119 miles of rivers and streams.

Through public education and engagement, CBF is hoping to increase awareness of water pollution issues, like those in Venango County and elsewhere in the Keystone State. The goal isto urge state officials to make clean water a priority and commit the needed funding and

programs to ensure that the waters that we rely on—for drinking and household uses, recreation,and to grow our food—all meet clean water standards.

In addition to calling on local officials to pass resolutions, CBF is asking residents toshow their support by signing the Clean Water Counts online petition. It takes only a fewminutes, but signatures will go a long way toward demonstrating the importance of clean waterto our elected officials.

To learn more about the campaign, visit the Clean Water Counts! webpage.NewsClips:Green vs. Gray Solutions At Alcosan Making No One Happy Camp Michaux Projects Preserves History, Protects Brook Trout Agreement Reached In Lawsuit Over FirstEnergy Disposal Impoundment Capital Region Water Hearing On Land Sale Jacobs Creek Watershed Assn. Names New Executive Director

Interactive Website Highlights Pioneering Approach To Watershed Restoration

Franklin & Marshall College and multiple partners who collaborated to develop and test a newapproach to a wetland ecosystem restoration at Big Spring Run (BSR) in Lancaster County are

pleased to announce the launch of the BSR Project website .The BSR Project website consolidates more than a decade of research and monitoring of

a pioneering approach to ecosystem restoration within the Chesapeake Bay watershed, with the

research lead by Franklin & Marshall College and the restoration design and implementation byLandStudies Inc . from Lititz, Pennsylvania.The BSR Project website provides a virtual experience of both the restoration work and

approximately 10 years of research that laid the foundation for the development of a newrestoration technique aimed at restoring critical wetland ecosystem functions and services. T

he website is intended to serve as tool for communicating information that is vital tomitigating the downstream flow of excess sediment and nutrients to the Chesapeake Bay. Theaudience for this information ranges from research scientists and students to policy makers and

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restoration professionals.The website features three main sections: Restoration, Research, and Media Gallery.

Navigating through the Restoration section, users can gain a sense for the motivation behind therestoration approach by navigating through a variety of storyboard-style interactive displays.

The Research section allows users to download publications by BSR project

collaborators, access raw data, and link to real-time monitoring of the restoration site. The MediaGallery is a rich visual library featuring videos, photos, interactive visualizations and podcasts.

The BSR Project outreach team has developed an extensive plan of outreach incoordination with the group of institutions and agencies involved in the Project. The planutilizes pre-existing social media platforms including Twitter, Facebook and Youtube.

The BSR Project outreach team includes faculty, staff and students in Franklin &Marshall College’s Department of Earth and Environment . Members of the team have receivednational recognition for their work in the fields of geology and environmental science.

For more information, visit the BSR Project website .NewsClips:Green vs. Gray Solutions At Alcosan Making No One Happy Camp Michaux Projects Preserves History, Protects Brook Trout Agreement Reached In Lawsuit Over FirstEnergy Disposal Impoundment Capital Region Water Hearing On Land Sale Jacobs Creek Watershed Assn. Names New Executive Director

PA Must Meet 2017 Stream Cleanup Milestone In 683 Days

Pennsylvania has 683 days to put the best management practices on the ground needed toeliminate 10 million pounds of nitrogen and 212 million pounds of sediment from going into ourrivers and streams to meet the 2017 Chesapeake Bay cleanup milestones.

Simple math shows Pennsylvania will not have a chance to meet those milestones withthe current level of effort to improve water quality.

Last June, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reported Pennsylvania exceeded its2013 Chesapeake Bay cleanup milestone for phosphorus by 242,000 pounds, but fell short inmeeting the nitrogen goal by 2 million pounds and sediment reduction milestone by nearly 116million pounds.

If Pennsylvania does not meet the 2017 milestones, EPA has the authority to imposeadditional reduction requirements directly on wastewater treatment plants and set additionalcontrols on farmland and stormwater runoff.

For more information, visit the Chesapeake Bay Clean Water Blueprint webpage.NewsClips:

Green vs. Gray Solutions At Alcosan Making No One Happy Camp Michaux Projects Preserves History, Protects Brook Trout Agreement Reached In Lawsuit Over FirstEnergy Disposal Impoundment Capital Region Water Hearing On Land Sale Jacobs Creek Watershed Assn. Names New Executive Director

DEP Invites Comments On Proposed TMDL For Watershed In Armstrong, Indiana

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The Department of Environmental Protection published a notice inviting comments on a proposed TMDL (Total Maximum Daily Load) watershed plan for Crooked Creek Watershed inArmstrong and Indiana counties ( PA Bulletin, page 830 ). A copy of the TMDL is available onDEP’s TMDL webpage .

Susquehanna River Basin Commission Meets March 5 On Budget, Projects

The Susquehanna River Basin Commission is scheduled to meet on March 5 at the HersheyLodge, 325 University Drive, Hershey, starting at 9:00 a.m.

The agenda for the meeting includes: (1) informational presentation of interest to theLower Susquehanna Subbasin area; (2) revision of Fiscal Year 2016 budget; (3)ratification/approval of contracts/grants; (4) resolution to encourage the use of dry coolingtechnology for power generation and other facilities for the conservation of the waters of theSusquehanna River Basin; (5) notice for Four Seasons Golf Course project sponsor to appear andshow cause before the Commission; (6) regulatory compliance matter for Cabot Oil & GasCorporation; and (7) Regulatory Program projects.

For more information, visit SRBC’s Public Participation Center webpage.NewsClip: Cabot To Pay $50K For Violating SRBC Water Regulations

Creek In Crisis Meeting To Address Problems In Wissahickon Watershed May 13

A panel of regional experts will address the many issues relating to the Wissahickon watershedin Montgomery and Philadelphia counties on May 13, and will offer tangible ways forcommunity members to engage in protecting the 64-square mile area.

Hosted by Friends of the Wissahickon and the Wissahickon Valley WatershedAssociation , the meeting, “ A Creek in Crisis: Time for Action ,” will take place on May 13 from6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Arts Center Theater at Germantown Academy in Fort Washington and isopen to the public. At 5:30, light refreshments will be served. Local organizations and businesseswill also be exhibiting before the meeting.

This is a follow up to a 2012 town hall meeting which began a regional conversationabout the current conditions in the Wissahickon Creek with respect to flooding, water chemistryand biology and the relationships between land use and watershed health.

The panel will include Mike Helbing, a staff attorney with PennFuture; JeffreyFeatherstone, director of the Center for Sustainable Communities and professor in theDepartment of Community and Regional Planning (CRP) at Temple University; Chris Crockett,deputy commissioner of planning and environmental services at the Philadelphia WaterDepartment. The program will be moderated by Patrick Starr, executive vice president of

Pennsylvania Environmental Council .“By bringing citizens together to learn more about the Wissahickon and its importance tothe region, we hope to raise awareness about the creek as a valuable resource,” said MauraMcCarthy, executive director of Friends of the Wissahickon.

”When you educate municipalities and citizens alike on the issues facing the waterquality of the Wissahickon Creek and get everyone on the same page, all of our collectiveactions can make a positive impact and move the needle on improving water quality,” saidDennis Miranda, executive director of the Wissahickon Valley Watershed Association.

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More information on registration will be posted on the Friends of the Wissahickon website.

Brodhead Watershed Association Seeks Volunteers To Help Monitor Stream Quality

The Brodhead Watershed Association in Monroe County is looking for volunteers to help protectthe pristine waters in the Poconos by becoming trained Streamwatchers .

The BWA is holding two upcoming Streamwatch Training sessions where the public canlearn how monitor stream quality and report findings back to the BWA.

The volunteer Streamwatch Program is BWA’s first and longest-running program,enlisting the help of over 50 volunteers from the community.

Those interested in becoming a volunteer Streamwatcher must complete a trainingsession on either March 19, from 7-8:30 p.m. or March 21 from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. The trainingswill be held at St Paul's United Church in Swiftwater, PA and will be led by BWA membersTom Salmon and Ellen Davis.

Volunteer Streamwatchers take a monthly “snapshot” of the stream designated to them.They check water levels, water and air temperature, pH value, the physical condition of streamsand banks, plus nitrate and phosphate levels. Streamside time is approximately 10 minutes;at-home testing is approximately a half hour per site.

Streams include the Cherry, Paradise, McMichaels, Upper and Lower Brodhead, Pocono,and Marshalls Creek, plus their many tributaries that collectively make up the Brodheadwatershed.

For more information, please contact the Brodhead Watershed Association at570-839-1120 or by email to: [email protected] .

Preventing Driveway, Lane Washouts Workshop March 10, 12 In Westmoreland

Melting snow, heavy spring rains and flooding can wash out unpaved driveways, farm lanes, andaccess roads.

To help solve this problem, the Westmoreland Conservation District will host a workshopcalled After the Storms: How to Repair and Maintain Gravel Driveways and Unpaved Lanes .The workshop will show participants how to make cost-effective repairs and prevent repeat

problems in the future, saving both time and money.The exact same workshop will be offered on two different days at two different locations.

The public is invited and participants need to attend only one workshop to obtain all theinformation.

The same workshop will be offered:

— March 10 from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Loyalhanna Watershed Association, 110 AndiLane, Ligonier. — March 12 from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Allegheny Township Community Building, 136Community Building Road, Leechburg.

According to Rob Cronauer, watershed specialist for the Westmoreland ConservationDistrict and facilitator of the workshop, quick fixes might seem to work, but actually will costmore money in the long run.

This workshop will show how managing water before it gets to the lane or driveway will

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pounds of illegally dumped trash found throughout the watersheds of central Pennsylvania.Through a partnership with Centre County Recycling & Refuse Authority , an army of

citizen volunteers and the generosity of local contractors, heavy equipment operators, businesses,municipalities, Centre Region Parks and Recreation and the MS4 partners, Watershed CleanupDay continues to grow every year.

A pile of trash is not an attractive sight, but trash can do worse than spoil the natural beauty of our area. Pollutants leaching from trash can enter drinking water. Garbage can alsocause injuries, harm wildlife, and its removal can use tax dollars that could be put to other uses.Removing trash from our watersheds not only makes it more beautiful, but keeps the surroundingcommunity healthy.

Watershed Cleanup Day has enjoyed such success largely because of the people andorganizations who continue to donate their time, equipment, labor, and funding support year afteryear. (Photo: Enthusiastic volunteers from the 2014- Brownies from Troop 1253.)

“We hope that one year there will no longer be any litter polluting our environment, andtherefore nothing for our volunteers to cleanup,” said Lori Davis, Water Resources Coordinatorof ClearWater Conservancy. “However, until then we will continue to do our best to visiblyimprove the landscapes of central Pennsylvania while protecting its water resources.”

Donations of equipment or money are greatly appreciated and bring us one step closer toremoving this type of unsightly nonpoint source pollution from central Pennsylvania’s landscapeand waterways. To donate contact Lori Davis.

To volunteer, a simple one page form can be filled out at Clearwater’s website or contactLori Davis, at 814-237-0400.

Keep PA Beautiful Recognizes Outstanding Volunteers For 2014

Each year, Keep PA Beautiful awards the President’s Award to a volunteer who hasdemonstrated a sustained commitment and exceptional contributions on behalf of Keep PABeautiful to make our communities clean and beautiful. In 2014, Dale Frazier from BucksCounty was recognized for the distinction.

Dale Frazier, Founder of Greenbelt Overhaul Alliance of Levittown (G.O.A.L), has beeninstrumental in coordinating all aspects of illegal dump cleanups, litter cleanups, plantings,invasive species removal and educational initiatives in and around the lower Bucks Countyregion.

Dale first brought his ideas for G.O.A.L to a Keep PA Beautiful cleanup event at BristolMarch in 2009.

Since then, Keep PA Beautiful has partnered with G.O.A.L on eight cleanup projectswithin Lower Bucks County helping to remove and properly dispose of 47,580 pounds of trash

and 1,041 tires. G.O.A.L has also taken the Bucks County Illegal Dump Survey completed in2011 and cleaned 18 of those illegal dumpsites.In addition, Keep PA Beautiful provides an opportunity for their statewide affiliates to

recognize the outstanding efforts of their local volunteers. These volunteers were presented witha certificate of appreciation as a tribute to their efforts to keep Pennsylvania beautiful.

Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful’s 2014 Affiliate Volunteers of the Year include:-- Keep Bucks County Beautiful – Dale Frazier , founder of Greenbelt Overhaul Alliance ofLevittown (G.O.A.L), for his efforts to coordinate illegal dump cleanups, plantings, invasive

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species removal and educational initiatives in and around the lower Bucks County region;-- Keep Huntingdon County Beautiful – Andy Patterson , founding member of the affiliateand Huntingdon County Conservation District Manager, for his support of the affiliate as a

program of the District in addition to physically helping to move thousands of tires and tons oftrash from the hillsides of Huntingdon County;

-- PA CleanWays of Mifflin County – Bryson Wagner , member of the Granville VolunteerFire Company River Rescue Squad and the Lewistown Elks Club, for raising awareness of and

participating in local cleanups of the Juniata River; and-- Keep Perry County Beautiful – Lauren Chubb , Science and Ecology teacher, andEnvironmental Club advisor at Newport High School, for educating about and engaging studentsin community cleanups and special collections.

“Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful believes that by engaging volunteers, we extend the reachof our educational efforts and multiply the impact of our actions. These community volunteersexemplify the meaning of community stewardship. They serve as an inspiration to us all,” statedShannon Reiter, Keep PA Beautiful President.

Award winners and their programs can be found on Keep PA Beautiful’s Grants &Awards webpage.NewsClips:Karns 1st Derry Twp RecycleBank Partner DEP Sues, Shuts Down Erie Trash Hauler Anti-Landfill Group Holds Public Meeting Group Increasingly Organized To Oppose Keystone Landfill Companies Ordered To Pay $1.2M To Cleanup Junk Yard

Delaware Estuary, Chesapeake Bay Groups Join Great American Cleanup Of PA

Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful Wednesday announced they are teaming-up with the Partnershipfor the Delaware Estuary and the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay /Project Stream Clean for the2015 Great American Cleanup of PA.

“What happens on the land affects the water and in order to keep the Schuylkill Riverclean, we need to keep our communities, parks, roads, and neighborhoods clean. By registering acleanup or volunteering for one, anyone can help create a healthy Schuylkill River and a

beautiful Pennsylvania,” said Tom Davidock, Schuylkill Action Network Coordinator of thePartnership for the Delaware Estuary.

Alliance Executive Director Al Todd said, “This important partnership with KeepPennsylvania Beautiful will considerably expand the environmental impact of Project CleanStream. It’s an exciting opportunity for more people and more communities to take action and

join our cleanup efforts and also gain a deeper appreciation for why it’s so critical to care for theenvironment and keep their local streams healthy.”“We are proud and grateful for these partnerships. Both groups do amazing work to

improve the quality of the Schuylkill River Watershed and the Chesapeake Bay Watershed.These partnerships will make it easier for residents of Pennsylvania to access cleanup resourcesto make their communities clean and beautiful,” stated Shannon Reiter, President of KeepPennsylvania Beautiful.

Registration is open for the 2015 Great American Cleanup of PA which runs from March

https://allianceforthebay.org/http://www.delawareestuary.org/http://www.delawareestuary.org/http://www.keeppabeautiful.org/http://triblive.com/news/adminpage/7773277-74/state-pay-cleanup#axzz3R8w5GAHxhttp://thetimes-tribune.com/news/friends-of-lackawanna-increasingly-organized-in-opposition-to-landfill-expansion-1.1832483http://thetimes-tribune.com/news/anti-landfill-group-holds-public-meeting-1.1831090http://www.goerie.com/dep-sues-shuts-down-erie-trash-haulerhttp://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2015/02/karns_foods_is_first_derry_tow.html#incart_riverhttp://www.keeppabeautiful.org/GrantsAwards/Volunteersoftheyear.aspxhttp://www.keeppabeautiful.org/GrantsAwards/Volunteersoftheyear.aspx


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1st to May 31st. During this period, registered events can get free trash bags, gloves, and safetyvests from PennDOT district offices.

Events can be litter cleanups, illegal dump cleanups, beautification projects, specialcollections, and educational events. Events must be registered through the Great AmericanCleanup of PA website to get free cleanup supplies.

As part of this event, the Department of Environmental Protection and PA WasteIndustries Association are sponsoring Let’s Pick It Up PA – Everyday. During the Pick It Up PADays, registered event coordinators will be able to take the trash collected during their cleanup to

participating landfills for free disposal.The Let’s Pick It Up PA – Everyday event will begin on April 11th and end on May 4th.

The focus day will be April 25th.The 2015 Great American Cleanup of PA sponsors include: Department of

Environmental Protection, PennDOT, PA Waste Industries Association, the PA Food MerchantsAssociation, Weis Markets, Inc., Wawa, Inc., Sheetz, ShopRite and The Fresh Grocer.

Additional 2015 event supporters include: Steel Recycling Institute, Lancaster CountySolid Waste Management Authority, Giant Eagle Inc., Giant Food Stores, Inc., RepublicServices and Wegmans Food Markets.

Since the inception of this event in 2004, more than 1,565,967 volunteers removed80,575,227 pounds of litter from the Pennsylvania landscape and planted 136,321 trees, bulbs,and flowers.

To register your event, find an event near you, or to find additional resources on the KeepPennsylvania Beautiful Great American Cleanup of PA website. Any additional questions can beanswered by Michelle Dunn, Great American Cleanup of PA Program Coordinator, at1-877-772-3673 ext. 113 or by email to: [email protected] .NewsClips:Karns 1st Derry Twp RecycleBank Partner DEP Sues, Shuts Down Erie Trash Hauler Anti-Landfill Group Holds Public Meeting Group Increasingly Organized To Oppose Keystone Landfill Companies Ordered To Pay $1.2M To Cleanup Junk Yard

DEP Now Accepting Applications For Recycling Performance Grants

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice it is now accepting applicationsfor 2014 Recycling Performance Grants in the February 14 PA Bulletin . The deadline forapplications is September 30.

Click Here for more information or contact Mark Vottero, Department of Environmental

Protection, Bureau of Waste Management, Rachel Carson State Office Building, P. O. Box 8472,Harrisburg, PA 17105-8472 or by email to: [email protected] .

Bucks, Montgomery Hazardous Waste Sites Proposed For Removal From Priority List

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice it is proposing to remove twosites from the state Hazardous Site Cleanup Priority List in Bucks and Montgomery counties andis inviting public comments on the actions.

http://www.pabulletin.com/secure/data/vol45/45-7/272.htmlmailto:[email protected]://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/financial_assistance/14065/recycling_performance_grants_/589532http://www.pabulletin.com/secure/data/vol45/45-7/271.htmlhttp://triblive.com/news/adminpage/7773277-74/state-pay-cleanup#axzz3R8w5GAHxhttp://thetimes-tribune.com/news/friends-of-lackawanna-increasingly-organized-in-opposition-to-landfill-expansion-1.1832483http://thetimes-tribune.com/news/anti-landfill-group-holds-public-meeting-1.1831090http://www.goerie.com/dep-sues-shuts-down-erie-trash-haulerhttp://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2015/02/karns_foods_is_first_derry_tow.html#incart_rivermailto:[email protected]://www.gacofpa.org/http://www.gacofpa.org/http://www.gacofpa.org/


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Both sites have been listed on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s SuperfundList and by state law cannot be listed on Pennsylvania’s Hazardous Site Cleanup Priority List.

DEP proposes to remove---- Chem Fab, Doylestown Borough and Doylestown Township, Bucks County —The ChemFab Site is located at 300 North Broad Street, Doylestown Borough, Bucks County; it

encompasses an approximately 1-acre parcel and an associated plume of contaminatedgroundwater, extending from the Site southwest into Doylestown Township.-- Baghurst Alley Site, Upper Salford Township, Montgomery County— The Baghurst AlleySite is an area of groundwater contaminated by chlorinated solvents.

DEP will accept comments on these actions until March 16.For more information contact Stephan Sinding, Environmental Cleanup and Brownfields

Program Manager, Ragesh Patel, Chief, Hazardous Sites Cleanup Program, Dustin Armstrong,Project Officer, or Colin Wade, Project Officer, Department of Environmental Protection,Southeast Regional Office, 2 East Main Street, Norristown, PA 19401 or call 610-250-5900.

FirstEnergy Projects Support Western Pennsylvania Shale Gas Boom

FirstEnergy Corp. is investing nearly $35 million in new electric transmission projects to supportthe Marcellus Shale gas industry in western Pennsylvania. The new transmission facilities alsowill help enhance service reliability for West Penn Power customers.

The projects include upgrading an existing transmission line as well as building orexpanding two electric substations to accommodate expanding natural gas processing plants andcompressor stations in western Pennsylvania's Marcellus Shale gas fields.

New gas facilities in the area account for about 370 megawatts (MW) of projected loadgrowth, or the equivalent of more than 180,000 new homes in FirstEnergy's westernPennsylvania utility territory.

"Our investment in new transmission facilities directly supports the fast-growingMarcellus Shale industry," said Carl Bridenbaugh, vice president, Transmission at FirstEnergy."This industry continues to generate jobs and economic prosperity across western Pennsylvania,and we are working quickly to upgrade our system to continue providing our customers access tosafe, reliable and affordable electric power."

PJM Interconnection, the regional grid operator, has directed FirstEnergy to build these projects to maintain electric reliability in the region. The projects include a $31 millionsubstation in Washington County to support a new midstream gas processing facility nearBurgettstown, Pa., that separates natural gas into dry and liquid components.

The refinement and separation processes require large amounts of electricity. The newsubstation also will reinforce the regional transmission system which is expected to benefit more

than 40,000 West Penn Power customers in Washington and Allegheny counties. The newsubstation is scheduled to be completed and operational in 2016.FirstEnergy also plans to install new equipment to increase and maintain voltage levels in

an existing transmission substation near Houston, Pa. The substation improvements will supportoperations at a local gas processing plant.

The $1 million upgrade, expected to be completed and operational in 2015, also willreinforce the regional transmission system and is expected to benefit more than 23,000 customersin Washington County.

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The company also will upgrade a nine-mile, 138-kilovolt transmission line connecting ahigh-voltage substation near Weirton, W. Va., to a high-voltage substation near Burgettstown,Pa.

The $2.3 million project involves replacing several existing wood pole structures withtaller structures, or modifying those existing structures to increase their height. This will increase

line clearances and allow the line to carry more electricity to support area gas compressorstations and enhance service reliability for nearly 12,000 customers in Washington County.

This work is part of a $250 million investment in regulated transmission projects in 2015across FirstEnergy. These projects will support approximately 1,100 megawatts of expectedelectric load growth through 2019. FirstEnergy is currently evaluating additional transmissionupgrades as

Documents

Pa Environment Digest Feb. 16, 2015