PaEnvironmentDigest June 15, 2015

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PA Environment Digest

An Update On Environmental Issues In PAEdited By: David E. Hess, Crisci Associates

Winner 2009 PAEE Business Partner Of The Year Award

Harrisburg, Pa June 15, 2015

EPA: PA Substantially Off Track Meeting Chesapeake Bay Commitments

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Thursday reported Pennsylvania is “substantially off

track” in meeting its nitrogen and sediment reduction milestones for agriculture and urban/

suburban stormwater, two of the state’s biggest sectors.

More ominously, EPA said Pennsylvania is at “

backstop action levels” for these samesectors, meaning EPA has more than enough justification to develop its own plan for meeting

Chesapeake Bay milestone requirements in the state.

Wastewater treatment plants in Pennsylvania, in contrast, are on track to meet permit

limits and their nitrogen and phosphorus reductions.

EPA also said Pennsylvania will have to finalize changes to its Nutrient Credit Trading to

r esolve objections from EPA.

These conclusions are part of an interim assessment state progress in meeting the

2014-15 milestones and implementation of Pennsylvania’s Watershed Implementation Plan.

For more details and the complete report, visit EPA’s Chesapeake Bay TMDL webpage.

Related Stories:

CBF-PA: PA’s Efforts To Reduce Water Pollution Falling Short Of Commitments Analysis: Will PA Show Leadership On Water Cleanup Issues, Or Surrender To Feds?

NewsClips:

EPA Finds PA Lagging Badly In Chesapeake Bay Cleanup

EPA Reviews PA Animal Agriculture Programs

Editorial: Pursue Cure For Sick Susquehanna River

Groups Push Back On Delaware County Refinery Water Intake Plan

Western PA Farmers Keep Eye On Drought Watch

Latest From The Chesapeake Bay Journal

CBF-PA: PA’s Efforts To Reduce Water Pollution Falling Short Of Commitments

A Chesapeake Bay Foundation review of the U.S.

Environmental Protection Agency’s interim milestone

assessment shows that Pennsylvania is falling dangerously

short of meeting the commitments it made to reduce

pollution and restore the Commonwealth’s waterways.

As part of the Clean Water Blueprint, the Bay states

developed two-year incremental pollution reduction targets,

http://paenvironmentdaily.blogspot.com/2015/06/epa-pa-substantially-off-track-meeting.htmlhttp://www.cbf.org/pahttp://paenvironmentdaily.blogspot.com/2015/06/epa-pa-substantially-off-track-meeting.htmlhttp://triblive.com/news/westmoreland/8464276-74/drought-farmers-statehttp://triblive.com/news/westmoreland/8464276-74/drought-farmers-statehttp://www.thelegalintelligencer.com/id=1202729107859/EPA-Reviews-Pa-Animal-Agriculture-Program-for-Bay-TMDL-Compliance?slreturn=20150512032504http://www.epa.gov/reg3wapd/tmdl/ChesapeakeBay/RestorationUnderway.html?tab2=2&tab1=4http://www.epa.gov/reg3wapd/tmdl/ChesapeakeBay/RestorationUnderway.html?tab2=2&tab1=4http://www.epa.gov/reg3wapd/tmdl/ChesapeakeBay/RestorationUnderway.html?tab2=2&tab1=4http://www.paenvironmentdigest.com/newsletter/default.asp?NewsletterArticleID=11953http://www.cbf.org/how-we-save-the-bay/chesapeake-clean-water-blueprint/what-is-the-chesapeake-clean-water-blueprinthttp://paenvironmentdaily.blogspot.com/2015/06/epa-pa-substantially-off-track-meeting.htmlhttp://paenvironmentdaily.blogspot.com/2015/06/epa-pa-substantially-off-track-meeting.htmlhttp://paenvironmentdaily.blogspot.com/2015/06/epa-pa-substantially-off-track-meeting.htmlhttp://www.cbf.org/pahttp://www.bayjournal.com/http://triblive.com/news/westmoreland/8464276-74/drought-farmers-statehttp://www.delawareonline.com/story/news/local/2015/06/08/environmental-groups-push-back-refinery-water-intake-plan/28712507/http://www.timesleader.com/news/editorial-ouropinion/153923541/OUR-VIEW-Pursue-cure-for-ailing-Susquehannahttp://www.thelegalintelligencer.com/id=1202729107859/EPA-Reviews-Pa-Animal-Agriculture-Program-for-Bay-TMDL-Compliance?slreturn=20150512032504http://www.baltimoresun.com/features/green/blog/bal-epa-finds-maryland-mostly-on-track-in-bay-cleanup-but-pennsylvania-lagging-badly-20150612-story.htmlhttp://paenvironmentdaily.blogspot.com/2015/06/analysis-is-pa-going-to-surrender.htmlhttp://paenvironmentdaily.blogspot.com/2015/06/cbf-pa-pas-efforts-to-reduce-water.htmlhttp://www.epa.gov/reg3wapd/tmdl/ChesapeakeBay/RestorationUnderway.html?tab2=2&tab1=4http://www.paenvironmentdigest.com/newsletter/default.asp?NewsletterArticleID=31871http://www.epa.gov/reg3wapd/tmdl/ChesapeakeBay/RestorationUnderway.html?tab2=2&tab1=4http://www.epa.gov/reg3wapd/tmdl/ChesapeakeBay/RestorationUnderway.html?tab2=2&tab1=4http://www.paenvironmentdigest.com/newsletter/default.asp?NewsletterArticleID=11953


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called milestones, with the goal of implementing 60 percent of the programs and practices

necessary to restore local water quality by 2017, and finish the job by 2025.

EPA reviewed Pennsylvania’s reported progress in its 2014-15 milestones and found that

while on track for phosphorus reduction goals, there are significant shortfalls in meeting nitrogen

and sediment pollution goals.

This follows Pennsylvania having also missed the mark for nitrogen and sediment in its2012-13 milestones.

“It is past time for Pennsylvania to take meaningful actions that will accelerate pollution

reduction,” said CBF President William C. Baker. “If Pennsylvania does not significantly

advance their efforts to reduce pollution then CBF calls on EPA to specify the actions it intends

to take to ensure pollution is reduced. Unless there are consequences for failure, we are in danger

of repeating the decades of failed Bay restoration efforts of the first three Bay agreements.”

The most significant shortfall is in reducing nitrogen and sediment pollution from

agriculture. To get back on track, the Commonwealth would have to reduce nitrogen pollution by

an additional 14.6 million pounds, or 22 percent, by the end of this year.

“The Wolf administration inherited the issues identified in EPA’s assessment and has

acknowledged that a pollution reduction ‘reboot’ of the Commonwealth’s efforts is necessary. Now is the time to galvanize leadership in restoring Pennsylvania’s rivers and streams and solve

this problem,” Baker said. “But they must begin now. There is a blueprint in place, and it must

be implemented.”

Agriculture, in general, is one of the least expensive sources of pollution to reduce, and

the source that the Commonwealth is relying on most to achieve its water quality goals. It’s also

the leading cause of stream impairment in Pennsylvania, with more than 5,000 miles of rivers

and streams damaged as a result of pollution from agriculture.

While Pennsylvania has long had requirements that farms have plans to reduce polluted

runoff, it is estimated that no more than one in three farms actually has a plan that meets current

standards.

And, at the current pace of enforcement, it will take the Department of Environmental

Protection more than 150 years to reach all farms in the state to ensure compliance.

The report also found that Pennsylvania will need to add 22,000 acres of forest and grass

buffers to meet its commitments by 2017. That compares to only 3,000 acres achieved in 2014.

In President Obama’s Chesapeake Bay Executive Order, the U.S. Department of

Agriculture was called on to target funding to key watersheds to assist states in meeting two-year

milestones as identified in their clean-up plans.

“CBF calls on USDA to follow through on this commitment by prioritizing technical and

financial resources to Pennsylvania to help achieve milestone goals for forested stream buffers

and other pollution reduction practices,” said CBF’s Pennsylvania Executive Director Harry

Campbell.Reducing pollution from urban/suburban runoff is also off track. Using 2009 as a

baseline, Pennsylvania committed to reducing nitrogen pollution from urban/suburban runoff by

41 percent by 2025. As of 2014, practices have been put in place to reduce nitrogen pollution by

only 1 percent.

“ An economic report commissioned by CBF found that the benefits of fully

implementing the Blueprint in the Commonwealth would increase the value of the natural

services by $6.2 billion annually,” Baker said. “Restoring water quality in local rivers, streams,

http://www.paenvironmentdigest.com/newsletter/default.asp?NewsletterArticleID=30153


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and the Chesapeake Bay will reduce human health risks, bolster local economies, and leave a

lasting legacy for our children and future generations.”

Related Stories:

EPA: PA Substantially Off Track In Meeting Chesapeake Bay Milestones

Analysis: Will PA Show Leadership On Water Cleanup Issues, Or Surrender To Feds?

NewsClips:EPA Finds PA Lagging Badly In Chesapeake Bay Cleanup






Analysis: Will PA Show Leadership On Water Cleanup Issues, Or Surrender To Feds?

Pennsylvania hasn’t had a sustained, serious effort to

address its nearly 20,000 miles of polluted streams andrivers in the last 12 years.

Sure, there have been initiatives in fits and starts

like the Growing Greener II bond issue, but that was

limited in time and money and also capped the original

Growing Greener Program meant to address

Pennsylvania’s most significant water quality issues, in

particular, nonpoint source pollution.

The Act 13 drilling impact fees did provide some

money, but merely restored just a small portion of the

funding to address water quality issues cut in previous budgets and capped with the Growing

Greener II bond issue.

Pennsylvania has 565 days (as of June 15) to put the best management practices on the

ground needed to eliminate 10 million pounds of nitrogen and 212 million pounds of sediment

from going into our rivers and streams to meet the 2017 Chesapeake Bay cleanup milestones.

Pennsylvania is even further behind because we did not meet the 2013 pollution

reduction milestones.

Last June, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reported Pennsylvania exceeded its

2013 Chesapeake Bay cleanup

milestone for phosphorus by 242,000 pounds, but fell short in

meeting the nitrogen goal by 2 million pounds and sediment reduction milestone by nearly 116

million pounds.

If Pennsylvania doesn’t meet the milestones, it leaves EPA free to come up with its own plan on how the state can meet them, and as Rep. Garth Everett (R-Lycoming) said during DEP’s

budget hearing, “It isn’t pretty.”

The question comes down to whether the General Assembly and Gov. Wolf want to yield

this responsibility to the federal government.

But there’s another clock ticking, this one for the state budget.

June 30 is the deadline for a new budget and if it does not include resources to address

Pennsylvania’s critical water quality cleanup needs, we will have to wait an entire year until they

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can be addressed.

What will it take to meet the 2017 milestones? A coherent plan and more resources.

We know DEP Secretary John Quigley and Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding (now

confirmed by the Senate) have been working on a plan to meet the milestones.

They’ve been actively talking to stakeholders, evaluating the programs now in place and

working with their staffs on a plan.We hope they produce an outline soon.

Using the Commonwealth’s reported average rate of Chesapeake Bay Program

implementation from 2009 to 2013, here’s an estimate of how much each of key measures would

have to increase to meet the 2017 milestones:

— Forested stream buffers on farms: from 6 acres per day to over 38 acres;

— Farm conservation plan development: from 46 acres a day to over 589 acres;

— Rotational grazing practices: from 8.5 acres to roughly 135 acres a day;

— Urban stormwater infiltration practices: from 7 acres to 368 acres per day;

— Stormwater treatment wet ponds & wetlands: from 0.4 acres to 28 acres a day; and

— Dirt & gravel road repair: from 334 feet per day to over 1,411 feet per day.

Agriculture, Pennsylvania’s number one source of nutrient and sediment pollution, needssignificant help getting conservation practices on the ground. The reduction in funding and

design help supported by state resources over the last 12 years has put them far behind.

And farmers are actively seeking technical and financial help with these practices in large

numbers. Amazingly, 75 percent of those that ask for help cannot get it from county, state or

federal agencies .

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation-PA has been actively supporting more support for

farmers who want to do the right thing, but getting little response.

Addressing these issues is tall order, but if we do nothing, as the current discussions over

the state budget and natural gas severance tax indicate, we have no chance of meeting the

milestones. Not even close.

Another danger we face is getting sidetracked by make-believe solutions

to nutrient

reductions like Senate Bill 724 (Vogel-R-Beaver).

What we need is leadership.

If we don’t get that leadership, and surrender this issue to the federal government, not

only will Pennsylvania’s environment suffer, but our farmers, builders, local governments and

wastewater plant ratepayers will too if EPA gets to put in place its “backstop” plans to meet our

cleanup milestones.

So what’s it going to be?

Resources: How Clean Is Your Local Stream?

Related Stories:

EPA: PA Substantially Off Track In Meeting Chesapeake Bay Milestones CBF-PA: PA’s Efforts To Reduce Water Pollution Falling Short Of Commitments

Budget Hearing: PA Not Meeting Chesapeake Bay Cleanup Commitments

Chesapeake Bay Foundation-PA Responds To Gov. Wolf’s Budget Proposal

Rep. Everett: If We Don’t Meet Chesapeake Bay Cleanup Milestone, It Isn’t Pretty

Prepare For EPA Action If PA Does Not Meet 2017 Stream Cleanup Milestones

Op-Ed: Budget: Accelerate, Don’t Negotiate PA’s Clean Water Commitment

Analysis: PA Environmental Funding, Eat Your Vegetables, Then Dessert

http://www.paenvironmentdigest.com/newsletter/default.asp?NewsletterArticleID=31531http://www.paenvironmentdigest.com/newsletter/default.asp?NewsletterArticleID=32017http://www.paenvironmentdigest.com/newsletter/default.asp?NewsletterArticleID=31871http://www.paenvironmentdigest.com/newsletter/default.asp?NewsletterArticleID=31608http://www.paenvironmentdigest.com/newsletter/default.asp?NewsletterArticleID=31529http://www.paenvironmentdigest.com/newsletter/default.asp?NewsletterArticleID=31737http://paenvironmentdaily.blogspot.com/2015/06/cbf-pa-pas-efforts-to-reduce-water.htmlhttp://paenvironmentdaily.blogspot.com/2015/06/epa-pa-substantially-off-track-meeting.htmlhttp://www.cbf.org/about-cbf/offices-operations/harrisburg-pa/issues/urge-county-commissioners-to-pass-clean-water-resolutions#howcleanhttp://www.paenvironmentdigest.com/newsletter/default.asp?NewsletterArticleID=32016http://www.paenvironmentdigest.com/newsletter/default.asp?NewsletterArticleID=32017http://www.paenvironmentdigest.com/newsletter/default.asp?NewsletterArticleID=32017http://www.cbf.org/pa


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Analysis: Bring Constructive Emotion, Passion Back To Environmental Movement

NewsClips:




Groups Push Back On Delaware County Refinery Water Intake Plan Western PA Farmers Keep Eye On Drought Watch


PEC Blog: Clean Water Counts More Than Ever In Pennsylvania

The following PA Environmental Council Blog post was written by John Wallizer, Vice

President for Legal & Government Affairs for PEC--

With nearly 20,000 miles of streams in Pennsylvania not meeting federal Clean Water

Act standards, the Commonwealth continues to face one of its most significant environmental

challenges.

The Pennsylvania Environmental Council has joined the Clean Water Counts! Campaign,organized by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation , to draw attention to the need to do more cleanup

of this vital natural and economic resource.

The most significant causes of water pollution in Pennsylvania are not new. Abandoned

coal mines, which are the legacy of decades of unregulated activity, are the biggest offender. Left

in their wake are dead streams and landscapes that will cost the Commonwealth billions of

dollars to clean up.

Agricultural and stormwater runoff are the other two major sources of nonpoint water

pollution that continue to vex our waterways and communities. Once again the adage of an ounce

of prevent – through implementation of demonstrated management practices, green

infrastructure, and riparian protection measures – proves itself as the sensible approach.

A new challenge to water quality in recent years is Marcellus Shale natural gas drilling,

that not only uses millions of gallons of water to develop each gas well, but also presents threats

in terms of spills and groundwater contamination.

Long overdue regulations are now being finalized by the Department of Environmental

Protection to better protect both surface water and groundwater by strengthening water sourcing

protection and well site containment and protection standards.

Importantly, the environmental standards covering conventional oil and gas well drilling

are also being enhanced because shallow wells have the very same potential for polluting the

environment.

Clean, abundant supplies of water are critical to economic development and it is here that

Pennsylvania has a clear advantage over many other regions of the country. Studies and surveyshave repeatedly shown the significant contribution anglers, hunters, and vacationers make to

Pennsylvania’s economy, in addition to fishing in clean water, boating, canoeing and kayaking

on streams and rivers, following water trails, and simply enjoying our breathtaking scenic areas

where water is a prime focus.

We also need clean, dependable drinking water and water for power and industrial

processes. California’s ongoing drought and our own current drought watch conditions are a

reminder of how important water is to our daily lives and how carefully we need to protect it.

http://www.cbf.org/pahttp://www.cbf.org/about-cbf/offices-operations/harrisburg-pa/issues/urge-county-commissioners-to-pass-clean-water-resolutionshttp://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/water_quality_standards/10556/draft_integrated_water_quality_report_-_2014/1702856http://pecpa.org/pec-blog/http://www.bayjournal.com/http://triblive.com/news/westmoreland/8464276-74/drought-farmers-statehttp://www.delawareonline.com/story/news/local/2015/06/08/environmental-groups-push-back-refinery-water-intake-plan/28712507/http://www.timesleader.com/news/editorial-ouropinion/153923541/OUR-VIEW-Pursue-cure-for-ailing-Susquehannahttp://www.thelegalintelligencer.com/id=1202729107859/EPA-Reviews-Pa-Animal-Agriculture-Program-for-Bay-TMDL-Compliance?slreturn=20150512032504http://www.baltimoresun.com/features/green/blog/bal-epa-finds-maryland-mostly-on-track-in-bay-cleanup-but-pennsylvania-lagging-badly-20150612-story.htmlhttp://www.paenvironmentdigest.com/newsletter/default.asp?NewsletterArticleID=32158


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Clean water does count. We need to do much more to ensure the insults to water quality

from the past are cleaned up and to provide effective protection measures for the future.

One way is to join the Clean Water Counts! Campaign. We have, and we hope you will

too.

Resources: How Clean Is Your Local Stream?

NewsClips:EPA Finds PA Lagging Badly In Chesapeake Bay Cleanup






PUC Posts Details On $223.5 Million Drilling Impact Fee Disbursements For 2014

The Public Utility Commission Wednesday published information on the PUC website regarding

the final approved distribution of $223.5 million in Act 13 drilling impact fee disbursements,down slightly from last year’s $225.7 million.

Over the past four years, the PUC has collected and distributed more than $855 million in

impact fees.

The PUC’s Act 13 reporting website provides a detailed breakdown of the payments to

county and municipal governments, along with specifics on how much money has been collected

for each year, since 2011; how that money has been allocated, by category; and comparisons to

previous years.

Of those funds, $123,300,000 will be distributed to county and municipal governments

who are directly affected by drilling.

Also, $18 million will be distributed to state agencies that are defined by the Act-

-- $7.5 million for County Conservation Districts;

-- $5 million to DEP;

-- $1 million to Fish and Boat Commission;

-- $1 million each to PUC, and PennDOT; and

-- $750,000 each to PEMA, Office of State Fire Commissioner.

The remaining $82,200,000 will be placed into the Marcellus Legacy Fund--

-- $16.4 million to Commonwealth Financing Authority for acid mine drainage, orphan well

plugging, watershed restoration, recreational and open space and sewage facilities grants;

-- $20.5 million divided equally to PA Infrastructure Investment Authority and the

Commonwealth Financing Authority H2O Program for drinking water and wastewater projects

-- $20.5 million to repair or replace local bridges;-- $12.3 million for recreation, open space and conservation projects;

-- $8.2 million to Environmental Stewardship (Growing Greener) Fund; and

-- $4.1 million to Hazardous Sites Cleanup Fund.

The interactive website provides numerous reports regarding the collection and

distribution of these funds, along with graphical data regarding the top paying producers, well

count breakdowns and top receiving counties and local governments.

Visitors to the Act 13 website can search and download statistics such as money paid by

https://www.act13-reporting.puc.pa.gov/Modules/PublicReporting/Overview.aspxhttp://www.puc.state.pa.us/filing_resources/issues_laws_regulations/act_13_impact_fee_.aspxhttp://www.bayjournal.com/http://triblive.com/news/westmoreland/8464276-74/drought-farmers-statehttp://www.delawareonline.com/story/news/local/2015/06/08/environmental-groups-push-back-refinery-water-intake-plan/28712507/http://www.timesleader.com/news/editorial-ouropinion/153923541/OUR-VIEW-Pursue-cure-for-ailing-Susquehannahttp://www.thelegalintelligencer.com/id=1202729107859/EPA-Reviews-Pa-Animal-Agriculture-Program-for-Bay-TMDL-Compliance?slreturn=20150512032504http://www.baltimoresun.com/features/green/blog/bal-epa-finds-maryland-mostly-on-track-in-bay-cleanup-but-pennsylvania-lagging-badly-20150612-story.htmlhttp://www.cbf.org/about-cbf/offices-operations/harrisburg-pa/issues/urge-county-commissioners-to-pass-clean-water-resolutions#howcleanhttp://www.cbf.org/about-cbf/offices-operations/harrisburg-pa/issues/urge-county-commissioners-to-pass-clean-water-resolutions


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producers or money disbursed to state, county or local governments.

The information also breaks down the distribution calculations outlined in the law in

areas such as eligible wells per county/municipality; and distributions to municipalities and

counties with qualifying wells; and to municipalities that are located within a county with

qualifying wells and are contiguous to a municipality with wells or within five miles of a

municipality with wells (based on population and highway miles calculations).The Impact Fee producer payments for 2014 total $223,500,000. The PUC has forwarded

the information for payment and expects checks to be mailed prior to July 1, 2015.

Producer Impact Fee payments are due to the PUC on April 1 of each year. Distributions

of the money collected by the PUC are due to county and municipal governments by July 1 of

each year. County and municipal government information on how the 2013 Impact Fee monies

were allocated was due to the PUC on April 15, 2015.

Under the Unconventional Gas Well Impact Fee Act, the PUC is responsible for

implementing the imposition, collection and distribution of an unconventional gas well fee.

For more information, visit the PUC’s Act 13 Impact Fee webpage.

NewsClips:

PA GOP Projects Impact Fees At $223 Million PA To Send Out $224M From Drilling Impact Fee

PUC Posts Details On Gas Well Fee Payments

PUC Orders Gas Driller To Pay $500K In Impact Fees

$48M In Impact Fees Coming To Western PA

Impact Fees Total $627K For Lehigh, Northampton

Impact Fees Fund Parks, Trails In Cumberland County

NE PA Sees Increase In Act 13 Impact Fee Disbursements

Video: Turzai, Christiana Discuss Impact Fee Distributions

Northeast Sees Increase In Act 13 Impact Fee Disbursements

House Speaker Says Wolf’s Severance Tax Would Cost Jobs

Turzai Blasts Governor’s Severance Tax Proposal

Drilling Impact Fee Numbers Cited By Severance Tax Foes

Rhetoric Heats Up Over Severance Tax

Op-Ed: Here’s Why Lawmakers Should Support Severance Tax

Editorial: Wolf’s Severance Tax In Its Totality

Senate GOP Leaders Issue Statement On 2014 Drilling Impact Fee Revenue Disbursements

Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati (R-Jefferson) and Senate Majority Leader Jake

Corman (R-Centre) issued the following statement Tuesday regarding 2014 Marcellus Shale

impact fee disbursements

:“With 2014 Marcellus Shale impact fee disbursements we will again see over $223

million dollars being collected from the industry for investment by our communities and state.

For over four years our Commonwealth has experienced the substantial benefits of Act 13 of

2012 – bringing the total revenue collected to more than $850 Million.

“The Marcellus Shale impact fee has done exactly what it was created to do – place a fee

on the industry and direct the money back to communities that are affected by drilling, as well as

to help support statewide environmental initiatives and monitoring of the industry.

http://wallaby.telicon.com/PA/library/2015/2015060956.HTMhttp://wallaby.telicon.com/PA/library/2015/2015060956.HTMhttp://www.post-gazette.com/opinion/editorials/2015/06/07/Leaning-tower-Gov-Tom-Wolf-s-severance-tax-must-be-seen-in-its-totality/stories/201506300007http://www.pennlive.com/opinion/2015/06/for_schools_and_the_future_-_h.html#incart_riverhttp://stateimpact.npr.org/pennsylvania/2015/06/09/as-budget-negotiations-heat-up-so-does-rhetoric-over-gas-tax/http://triblive.com/business/headlines/8533308-74/million-impact-countyhttp://www.delcotimes.com/business/20150612/pa-house-speaker-turzai-blasts-guvs-proposal-to-tax-marcellus-shalehttp://www.philly.com/philly/news/politics/20150609_ap_4e0edd82b4e24b26af1b070d313c766f.htmlhttp://thetimes-tribune.com/news/region-sees-increase-in-act-13-impact-fee-disbursements-1.1895853http://www.theplsreporter.com/Home/TabId/56/ArtMID/472/ArticleID/753/VIDEO-Turzai-Christiana-discuss-latest-impact-fee-distributions-.aspxhttp://thetimes-tribune.com/news/nepa-sees-increase-in-act-13-impact-fee-disbursements-1.1895853http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2015/06/parks_trails_projects_funded_w.html#incart_riverhttp://www.lehighvalleylive.com/breaking-news/index.ssf/2015/06/marcellus_shale_fees_total_627.htmlhttp://powersource.post-gazette.com/powersource/policy-powersource/2015/06/11/48-million-in-impact-fees-coming-to-area-state-PUC-reveals/stories/201506110071http://powersource.post-gazette.com/powersource/companies/2015/06/12/PUC-orders-natural-gas-producer-to-pay-500-000-in-unpaid-impact-fees-Snyder-Brothers-Pennsylvania-Marcellus-Shale/stories/201506110188http://triblive.com/business/headlines/8540944-74/state-county-figureshttp://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2015/06/pa_to_send_out_224_million_fro.html#incart_riverhttp://powersource.post-gazette.com/powersource/policy-powersource/2015/06/10/GOP-projects-impact-fees-at-223-million/stories/201506090223http://www.puc.state.pa.us/filing_resources/issues_laws_regulations/act_13_impact_fee_.aspx


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“Through the impact fee it is clear that we have found a way to balance the industry

paying their fair share, while fostering strong economic growth across our state. We continue to

have severe concerns about Gov. Wolf’s severance tax and the extremely detrimental effect that

it would have on jobs and sustained economic growth. The Independent Fiscal Office analysis

projects an average tax rate of over 17 percent under Wolf’s proposed severance tax.

“The shale industry has brought tens of thousands of family-sustaining jobs andeconomic growth to Pennsylvania, hopefully including a soon-to-be $2 billion ethane cracker

plant. It is important that we continue to see this significant economic growth within our state.”

A copy of the 2014 fee disbursements is available online. For more information, visit the

PUC’s Act 13 Impact Fee webpage.

NewsClips:

PA GOP Projects Impact Fees At $223 Million

PA To Send Out $224M From Drilling Impact Fee




Impact Fees Total $627K For Lehigh, Northampton Impact Fees Fund Parks, Trails In Cumberland County








Op-Ed: Here’s Why Lawmakers Should Support Severance Tax

Editorial: Wolf’s Severance Tax In Its Totality

Rep. DiGirolamo Introduces Bipartisan Marcellus Shale Severance Tax Proposal

Rep. Gene DiGirolamo (R-Bucks) Wednesday introduced House Bill 1321 which imposes a

severance tax on unconventional natural gas production.

The bill is structured in such a way as to fund many of the Commonwealth’s top priorities

without passing the burden onto working families. It calls for a 3.2 percent drilling tax, while

also keeping the impact fee created by Act 13 of 2012 to help communities directly affected by

drilling.

“The Marcellus Shale development has brought about a number of positives in terms of

jobs and lower-cost energy, but there are additional ways in which we can capitalize, and mostresidents agree that a drilling tax is one way for the industry to provide even more benefits to all

corners of the Commonwealth,” Rep. DiGirolamo said. “In addition, I believe the major selling

point of my proposal, which has received bipartisan support, is that it keeps in place the impact

fee and protects communities when the impact fee revenue starts to drop in the coming years.”

Rep. DiGirolamo said the severance tax is far more sustainable than an impact fee alone.

Under the current impact fee, each well is assessed a fee which declines over time for the first 15

years of operation. All unconventional wells drilled each year, no matter how much natural gas is

http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billInfo/billInfo.cfm?sYear=2015&sInd=0&body=H&type=B&bn=1321http://www.post-gazette.com/opinion/editorials/2015/06/07/Leaning-tower-Gov-Tom-Wolf-s-severance-tax-must-be-seen-in-its-totality/stories/201506300007http://www.pennlive.com/opinion/2015/06/for_schools_and_the_future_-_h.html#incart_riverhttp://stateimpact.npr.org/pennsylvania/2015/06/09/as-budget-negotiations-heat-up-so-does-rhetoric-over-gas-tax/http://triblive.com/business/headlines/8533308-74/million-impact-countyhttp://www.delcotimes.com/business/20150612/pa-house-speaker-turzai-blasts-guvs-proposal-to-tax-marcellus-shalehttp://www.philly.com/philly/news/politics/20150609_ap_4e0edd82b4e24b26af1b070d313c766f.htmlhttp://thetimes-tribune.com/news/region-sees-increase-in-act-13-impact-fee-disbursements-1.1895853http://www.theplsreporter.com/Home/TabId/56/ArtMID/472/ArticleID/753/VIDEO-Turzai-Christiana-discuss-latest-impact-fee-distributions-.aspxhttp://thetimes-tribune.com/news/nepa-sees-increase-in-act-13-impact-fee-disbursements-1.1895853http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2015/06/parks_trails_projects_funded_w.html#incart_riverhttp://www.lehighvalleylive.com/breaking-news/index.ssf/2015/06/marcellus_shale_fees_total_627.htmlhttp://powersource.post-gazette.com/powersource/policy-powersource/2015/06/11/48-million-in-impact-fees-coming-to-area-state-PUC-reveals/stories/201506110071http://powersource.post-gazette.com/powersource/companies/2015/06/12/PUC-orders-natural-gas-producer-to-pay-500-000-in-unpaid-impact-fees-Snyder-Brothers-Pennsylvania-Marcellus-Shale/stories/201506110188http://triblive.com/business/headlines/8540944-74/state-county-figureshttp://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2015/06/pa_to_send_out_224_million_fro.html#incart_riverhttp://powersource.post-gazette.com/powersource/policy-powersource/2015/06/10/GOP-projects-impact-fees-at-223-million/stories/201506090223http://www.puc.state.pa.us/filing_resources/issues_laws_regulations/act_13_impact_fee_.aspxhttp://wallaby.telicon.com/PA/library/2015/2015060956.HTM


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produced, pay the same fee.

For what is thought to be a typical unconventional well, the total impact fees paid over 15

years amount to less than 2 percent of the value of the natural gas sold from the well.

“Any drilling tax proposal we consider must be sustainable for future years, and by

adding to the current impact fee, we can ensure that funding is available for our most critical

needs – education, human services and environmental programs,” he added.Under House Bill 1321, the tax would be set up in a way that in the first year 1 percent of

the tax will equal $6 million, and would grow to more than $9 million per percentage point by

2019-20 with continued modest growth in production.

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.

The lawmaker believes that his proposal is fair and reasonable to the industry, assists

impacted communities, makes long-term investments in natural resources and environmental

programs, strengthens the safety net for those in need, and allows every citizen to benefit.

Joining Rep. DiGirolamo in sponsoring the bill are Reps. Harry Readshaw

(D-Allegheny), Pam DeLissio (D-Montgomery), Robert Freeman (D-Northampton), CurtisThomas (D-Philadelphia), Tom Murt (R-Montgomery). There are 14 bipartisan co-sponsors of

the bill.

Pennsylvania, now the second largest producer of natural gas in the nation, is the only

major gas producing state that does not impose a drilling tax.

A sponsor summary of the bill is available.

NewsClips:

PA GOP Projects Impact Fees At $223 Million

PA To Send Out $224M From Drilling Impact Fee




Impact Fees Total $627K For Lehigh, Northampton

Impact Fees Fund Parks, Trails In Cumberland County








Op-Ed: Here’s Why Lawmakers Should Support Severance Tax Editorial: Wolf’s Severance Tax In Its Totality

Senate Panels Hear Testimony On Efforts To Improve Safety Of Crude Oil Trains

The Senate Transportation and Environmental Resources and Energy Committees Tuesday heard

Gladys Brown, Chair of the Public Utility Commission, which has responsibility to do safety

inspections on about 700 rail lines used by crude oil trains, say her agency would like to increase

http://www.post-gazette.com/opinion/editorials/2015/06/07/Leaning-tower-Gov-Tom-Wolf-s-severance-tax-must-be-seen-in-its-totality/stories/201506300007http://www.pennlive.com/opinion/2015/06/for_schools_and_the_future_-_h.html#incart_riverhttp://stateimpact.npr.org/pennsylvania/2015/06/09/as-budget-negotiations-heat-up-so-does-rhetoric-over-gas-tax/http://triblive.com/business/headlines/8533308-74/million-impact-countyhttp://www.delcotimes.com/business/20150612/pa-house-speaker-turzai-blasts-guvs-proposal-to-tax-marcellus-shalehttp://www.philly.com/philly/news/politics/20150609_ap_4e0edd82b4e24b26af1b070d313c766f.htmlhttp://thetimes-tribune.com/news/region-sees-increase-in-act-13-impact-fee-disbursements-1.1895853http://www.theplsreporter.com/Home/TabId/56/ArtMID/472/ArticleID/753/VIDEO-Turzai-Christiana-discuss-latest-impact-fee-distributions-.aspxhttp://thetimes-tribune.com/news/nepa-sees-increase-in-act-13-impact-fee-disbursements-1.1895853http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2015/06/parks_trails_projects_funded_w.html#incart_riverhttp://www.lehighvalleylive.com/breaking-news/index.ssf/2015/06/marcellus_shale_fees_total_627.htmlhttp://powersource.post-gazette.com/powersource/policy-powersource/2015/06/11/48-million-in-impact-fees-coming-to-area-state-PUC-reveals/stories/201506110071http://powersource.post-gazette.com/powersource/companies/2015/06/12/PUC-orders-natural-gas-producer-to-pay-500-000-in-unpaid-impact-fees-Snyder-Brothers-Pennsylvania-Marcellus-Shale/stories/201506110188http://triblive.com/business/headlines/8540944-74/state-county-figureshttp://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2015/06/pa_to_send_out_224_million_fro.html#incart_riverhttp://powersource.post-gazette.com/powersource/policy-powersource/2015/06/10/GOP-projects-impact-fees-at-223-million/stories/201506090223http://www.legis.state.pa.us//cfdocs/Legis/CSM/showMemoPublic.cfm?chamber=H&SPick=20150&cosponId=17062


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the number of safety inspectors.

About half of the crude oil moved by rail in the United State is bound for refineries near

Philadelphia, according to an Associated Press report. About 60 to 70 trains a week go through

Pennsylvania carrying about 150 million gallons of crude oil.

Click Here to watch a video of the hearing. The Committees heard testimony from--

-- Gladys Brown

, Chair of the Public Utility Commission-- Allen Zarembski, Special Advisor to the Governor on Crude Oil Transportation

-- Rudy Husband , Vice President Norfolk Southern

-- Quintin Kendall, Vice President CSX Transportation ( Attachment to Testimony)

-- Robert Full, Chief Deputy Director, PA Emergency Management Agency

-- Scott Martin , Lancaster County Commissioner

-- Randy Gockley, Director Of Lancaster County Emergency Management Agency

-- Elisabeth Treseder , American Petroleum Institute

-- Philip Rinaldi, CEO, Philadelphia Energy Solutions

-- Written Testimony- Sierra Club of Chester County

Brown said the PUC inspects a total of about 5,600 miles of track with 8 safety

inspectors, which is fewer inspectors per mile than neighboring states. Brown said the PUC hastrouble retaining inspectors because once they get to be certified inspectors they move to the

Federal Railroad Administration for double the pay.

The FRA has primary responsibility for rail safety inspections, investigating derailments,

does track inspection record checks and drug and alcohol tests.

Representatives of both CSX Transportation and Norfolk Southern told the Committees

they would like to see stronger standards for tank cars.

Allan Zarembski, the Governor’s Special Advisor of Rail Transportation Safety , said he

has just begun the data collection phase of his work and will address three major areas:

derailment risk, tank car breach/rupture risk and regulatory oversight capacity and resources.

Lancaster County Commissioner Scott Martin said the threat of crude oil train

derailments has a low probability, “however, if it occurs would be a very dangerous and tedious

incident.”

“This hearing has been vital in gathering information on how energy products, including

crude oil, are moved through Pennsylvania, how local, state and federal governments can work

together to address rail safety, and what resources are needed to protect communities,” said Sen.

John. Rafferty (R-Montgomery), Majority Chair of the Senate Transportation Committee. “We

were interested to learn more about safely moving these products across the state and work

swiftly and proactively with various stakeholders to implement new safeguards.”

“Transportation by rail is obviously really important,” said Sen. Gene Yaw

(R-Lycoming), Majority Chair of the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee.

“The United States is blessed with all of the energy possibilities that it has, but we need to get allthose products to market. Rail is one way we can get those products to market. As Committee

Chairmen, Sen. Rafferty and I are continuously working to ensure that these products are shipped

safely and efficiently across the Commonwealth.”

“Following a rash of derailments, accidents and disasters in communities throughout our

state and nation, it is critical that we take steps to reduce the risk of accidents,” said Sen. John

Yudichak (D-Luzerne), Minority Chair of the Senate Environmental Committee. “There were

more crude oil train spills last year than in any year since the federal government began

http://www.paenvironmentdigest.com/newsletter/default.asp?NewsletterArticleID=32118http://environmental.pasenategop.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/34/files/2015/06/Sierra-Club.pdfhttp://environmental.pasenategop.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/34/files/2015/06/Rinaldi.pdfhttp://environmental.pasenategop.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/34/files/2015/06/Treseder.pdfhttp://environmental.pasenategop.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/34/files/2015/06/Martin.pdfhttp://environmental.pasenategop.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/34/files/2015/06/full.pdfhttp://environmental.pasenategop.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/34/files/2015/06/kendall-attachment.pdfhttp://environmental.pasenategop.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/34/files/2015/06/kendall-final.pdfhttp://environmental.pasenategop.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/34/files/2015/06/Husband.pdfhttp://environmental.pasenategop.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/34/files/2015/06/Zarembski.pdfhttp://environmental.pasenategop.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/34/files/2015/06/Brown.pdfhttp://environmental.pasenategop.com/2015/06/08/safe-transportation-of-crude-oil-and-other-energy-products-by-rail-in-pennsylvania/http://www.paenvironmentdigest.com/newsletter/default.asp?NewsletterArticleID=31977


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collecting statistics in 1975. It’s also important to emphasize that 25 million Americans live

within the U.S. Department of Transportation’s one-mile oil train evacuation zone.

“While safety improvement efforts are underway, I want to make sure that state and

federal officials are working together to ensure the safety of our rail transport system. We need

to make sure that the train tracks are adequately inspected and monitored, and that emergency

responders are trained and prepared when incidents do occur.“I also questioned the rail industry executives on the required training and certification

for their engineers that are transporting the crude oil.

“The joint committee today heard from a number of different experts with a multitude of

unique perspectives on these train transport safety issues. Their testimony will help guide our

work on these issues, help us shape legislative remedies and provide direction on future

challenges.”

Pennsylvania has the most operating railroad companies of any state, with a total of 57

across the state – ranging from the largest Class I railroads, moving long trains of goods along

busy main line tracks to small “short line” railroads that may serve a short list of industries in a

small area, moving a few cars at a time.

While testifiers emphasized that North America’s rail networks moves almost all of itshazardous material shipments to their destination without incident, they said that coordination,

planning and being prepared are crucial to prevent accidents.

Testifiers also said proactive efforts are being made by government agencies, the railroad

companies, the oil industry and emergency response agencies to avoid a major loss of life, the

impact of a serious environmental disaster and to minimize considerable energy and utility

losses.

They emphasized that Pennsylvania needs to take comprehensive approach to prevent

train derailments, comply with new federal guidelines and give first responders the knowledge

and tools they need to respond to incidents.

“In recent years, we have seen significant increases to U.S. oil and natural gas production

improve economic growth and promote energy independence,” Sen. Rafferty said. “We now

need to continue implementing sound policy decisions to secure a prosperous Commonwealth for

the decades ahead.”

“Through communication, cooperation and coordination we can make rail transportation

even safer and provide assurances to communities that we have good plans in place to address

this important issue,” Sen. Yaw added.

Click Here to watch a video of the hearing.

Sen. John Rafferty (R-Montgomery) serves as Majority Chair of the Transportation

Committee, email: [email protected]

, and Sen. John Wozniak

(D-Cambria) serves as Minority

Chair, email: [email protected]

.

Sen. Gene Yaw

(R-Lycoming) serves as the Majority Chair of the EnvironmentalResources and Energy Committee, email: [email protected] , and Sen. John Yudichak

(D-Luzerne) serves as Minority Chair, email: [email protected].

NewsClips:

Railroads, PUC Call For Stricter Tank Car Standards, More Inspectors

Lawmakers Seek Answers On Oil Train Safety

PA Needs More Inspectors For Rail Line Carrying Crude Oil

Oil Firms But Millions In Fund For Train Blast Victims

http://www.wsj.com/articles/big-oil-firms-put-millions-into-compensation-fund-for-train-blast-1433980259http://triblive.com/state/pennsylvania/8531696-74/crude-rail-oilhttp://stateimpact.npr.org/pennsylvania/2015/06/09/pennsylvania-lawmakers-seek-answers-on-oil-train-safety/http://powersource.post-gazette.com/powersource/policy-powersource/2015/06/10/Railroad-companies-regulators-call-for-shifts-in-standards/stories/201506100081mailto:[email protected]://www.senatoryudichak.com/mailto:[email protected]://www.senatorgeneyaw.com/mailto:[email protected]://www.senator-wozniak.com/mailto:[email protected]://www.senatorrafferty.com/http://environmental.pasenategop.com/2015/06/08/safe-transportation-of-crude-oil-and-other-energy-products-by-rail-in-pennsylvania/


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Natural Gas Pipeline Rupture Forces Temporary Evacuations

Natural Gas Line Rupture Forces Temporary Evacuations

Feds Investigating Pipeline Explosion In PA

Lycoming Gas Pipeline Rupture Was Same Line Thru Lancaster

Pipeline Company Wants Compressors In Franklin New Pipeline Could Mean Tax Bonanza For NJ, Not PA

Editorial: Pipe Up On Luzerne Natural Gas Pipeline

PA Environment Digest Google+ Circle, Blogs, Twitter Feeds

PA Environment Digest now has a Google+ Circle called Green Works In PA . Let us join your

Circle.

Google+ now combines all the news you now get through the PA Environment Digest,

Weekly, Blog, Twitter and Video sites into one resource.

You’ll receive as-it-happens postings on Pennsylvania environmental news, daily

NewsClips and links to the weekly Digest and videos.

Also take advantage of these related services from Crisci Associates --

PA Environment Digest Twitter Feed: On Twitter, sign up to receive instant updates from:

PAEnviroDigest.

PA Environment Daily Blog: provides daily environmental NewsClips and significant stories

and announcements on environmental topics in Pennsylvania of immediate value. Sign up and

receive as they are posted updates through your favorite RSS reader. You can also sign up for a

once daily email alerting you to new items posted on this blog. NEW! Add your constructive

comment to any blog posting.

PA Capitol Digest Daily Blog to get updates every day on Pennsylvania State Government,

including NewsClips, coverage of key press conferences and more. Sign up and receive as they

are posted updates through your favorite RSS reader. You can also sign up for a once daily

email alerting you to new items posted on this blog.

PA Capitol Digest Twitter Feed: Don't forget to sign up to receive the PA Capitol Digest

Twitter feed to get instant updates on other news from in and around the Pennsylvania State

Capitol.

Senate/House Agenda/Session Schedule/Gov’s 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--

Bill Calendars

http://www.twitter.com/PaCapitolDigesthttp://www.crisciassociates.com/category/capitol-blog/http://www.crisciassociates.com/category/environment-blog/http://www.twitter.com/http://www.crisciassociates.com/https://plus.google.com/+DavidHessGreenWorksInPA/postshttp://www.timesleader.com/news/editorial-ouropinion/153857918/OUR-VIEW-Dont-be-mum-about-planned-gas-pipelineshttp://stateimpact.npr.org/pennsylvania/2015/06/11/new-pipeline-could-mean-tax-bonanza-for-nj-towns-but-for-pa-not-so-much/http://www.watershedpost.com/2015/new-pipeline-company-wants-compressors-franklin-schohariehttp://lancasteronline.com/news/local/lycoming-county-gas-pipeline-rupture-was-to-same-pipeline-that/article_617740fe-1073-11e5-b35d-03389d3c2219.htmlhttp://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2015/06/federal_officials_investigatin_1.html#incart_riverhttp://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2015/06/gas_rupture_forces_temporary_e.html#incart_riverhttp://www.sungazette.com/page/content.detail/id/864547/Gas-rupture-forces-temporary-evacuations-in-Pennsylvania.html?isap=1&nav=5020http://www.delawareonline.com/story/news/local/2015/06/08/environmental-groups-push-back-refinery-water-intake-plan/28712507/


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House (June 15): Click Here for full House Bill Calendar.

Senate (June 15): Click Here for full Senate Bill Calendar.

Committee Meeting Agendas This Week

Note: It's budget time, Committee meetings can be scheduled with little warning.

House: the Transportation Committee holds a hearing on Senate Bill 385 (Pileggi-R-Delaware)

promoting development around transit stations. Click Here for full House Committee

Schedule.

Senate: the Appropriations Committee meets to consider Senate Bill 307 (Yudichak-D-Luzerne)

establishing an independent counsel for the Environmental Quality Board ( sponsor summary ).

Click Here for full Senate Committee Schedule.

Other: Senate, House Legislative Coal Caucus hold joint hearing on EPA’s Clean Power Plan.

Bills Pending In Key Committees

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

each--

House

Appropriations

Education

Environmental Resources and Energy

Consumer Affairs

Gaming Oversight

Human Services

Judiciary

Liquor Control

Transportation

Links for all other Standing House Committees

Senate

Appropriations

Environmental Resources and EnergyConsumer Protection and Professional Licensure

Community, Economic and Recreational Development

Education

Judiciary

Law and Justice

Public Health and Welfare

Transportation

http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/CteeInfo/index.cfm?Code=19&CteeBody=Shttp://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/CteeInfo/index.cfm?Code=33&CteeBody=Shttp://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/CteeInfo/index.cfm?Code=29&CteeBody=Shttp://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/CteeInfo/index.cfm?Code=39&CteeBody=Shttp://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/CteeInfo/index.cfm?Code=23&CteeBody=Shttp://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/CteeInfo/index.cfm?Code=31&CteeBody=Shttp://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/CteeInfo/index.cfm?Code=7&CteeBody=Shttp://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/CteeInfo/index.cfm?Code=9&CteeBody=Shttp://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/CteeInfo/index.cfm?Code=3&CteeBody=Shttp://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/CteeInfo/StandingCommittees.cfm?CteeBody=Hhttp://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/CteeInfo/StandingCommittees.cfm?CteeBody=Hhttp://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/CteeInfo/index.cfm?Code=38&CteeBody=Hhttp://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/CteeInfo/index.cfm?Code=28&CteeBody=Hhttp://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/CteeInfo/index.cfm?Code=24&CteeBody=Hhttp://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/CteeInfo/index.cfm?Code=56&CteeBody=Hhttp://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/CteeInfo/index.cfm?Code=54&CteeBody=Hhttp://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/CteeInfo/index.cfm?Code=10&CteeBody=Hhttp://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/CteeInfo/index.cfm?Code=8&CteeBody=Hhttp://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/CteeInfo/index.cfm?Code=12&CteeBody=Hhttp://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/CteeInfo/index.cfm?Code=4&CteeBody=Hhttp://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/CO/SM/COSM.HTMhttp://www.legis.state.pa.us//cfdocs/Legis/CSM/showMemoPublic.cfm?chamber=S&SPick=20150&cosponId=16407http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/billinfo.cfm?syear=2015&sInd=0&body=S&type=B&bn=307http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/cteeInfo/Index.cfm?Code=3&CteeBody=Shttp://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/CO/HM/COHM.HTMhttp://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billInfo/billInfo.cfm?sYear=2015&sInd=0&body=S&type=B&bn=0385http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/cteeInfo/Index.cfm?Code=38&CteeBody=Hhttp://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/SC/SC/0/RC/CAL.HTMhttp://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/SC/HC/0/RC/SCHC.HTM


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Links for all other Standing Senate Committees

Bills Introduced

The following bills of interest were introduced this week--

Wetlands Purchases: House Bill 333 (Davis-D-Bucks) requiring hearing on Department of

General Services purchases of wetland areas (sponsor summary).

Flood Insurance Premiums: House Bill 1299 (Santarsiero-D- creating a Flood Insurance

Premium Assistance Task Force to gather information on the flood insurance program and

making a report to the Senate, House and the Governor (sponsor summary ).

Severance Tax: House Bill 1321 (DiGirolamo-R-Bucks) adding a 3.2 percent severance tax to

the Act 13 impact fee on natural gas production with proceeds going to: basic education-- 40

percent; pension obligations-- 35 percent; human services-- 15 percent; and environmental

programs-- 10 percent (sponsor summary

).

Session Schedule

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

Senate

June 15, 16, 17, 18, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30

House

June 15, 16, 17, 18, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

Governor’s Schedule

Gov. Tom Wolf's work calendar will be posted each Friday and his public schedule for the day

will be posted each morning. Click Here to view Gov. Wolf’s Weekly Calendar and Public

Appearances.

Senate/House Bills Moving

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

House

Leachate Transport: House Bill 398 (Killion-R-Delaware) authorizing the transport of landfill

leachate by truck was reported out of the House Appropriations Committee and passed by the

House. A House Fiscal Note and summary are available. The bill now goes to the Senate for

action.

http://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/BI/FN/2015/0/HB0398P1691.pdfhttp://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billInfo/billInfo.cfm?sYear=2015&sInd=0&body=H&type=B&bn=0398http://www.governor.pa.gov/Schedule/Pages/schedule.aspx#.VNVGE0K4lBxhttp://www.legis.state.pa.us//cfdocs/Legis/CSM/showMemoPublic.cfm?chamber=H&SPick=20150&cosponId=17062http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billInfo/billInfo.cfm?sYear=2015&sInd=0&body=H&type=B&bn=1321http://www.legis.state.pa.us//cfdocs/Legis/CSM/showMemoPublic.cfm?chamber=H&SPick=20150&cosponId=18078http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billInfo/billInfo.cfm?sYear=2015&sInd=0&body=H&type=B&bn=1299http://www.legis.state.pa.us//cfdocs/Legis/CSM/showMemoPublic.cfm?chamber=H&SPick=20150&cosponId=16444http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/billinfo.cfm?syear=2015&sind=0&body=H&type=B&bn=333http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/CteeInfo/StandingCommittees.cfm?CteeBody=S


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EQB Counsel: House Bill 1099 (Maher-R-Allegheny) providing for an independent counsel for

the Environmental Quality Board was amended, referred into and out of the House

Appropriations Committee and passed by the House. A House Fiscal Note and summary are

available. The bill now goes to the Senate for action.

Flood Program Report: Senate Bill 494

(Ward-R-Westmoreland) eliminating the requirementfor an annual flood insurance report was referred to the House Appropriations Committee.

Sustainable Forestry: House Resolution 375 (Rapp-R-Forest) designating June 5 as PA

Sustainable Forestry Initiative Day (sponsor summary ) was passed by the House.

Senate

Leachate Transport: Senate Bill 513 (McGarrigle-R-Delaware) providing for the truck

transport of landfill leachate (sponsor summary ) was passed by the Senate and now goes to the

House for action.

Conservation Easements: House Bill 188 (Sonney-R-Erie) authorizes wind energy projects on

preserved farmland was amended on the Senate Floor and passed by the Senate and now goes to

the House for action.

Waterfront Tax Credit: Senate Bill 282 (Vulakovich-R-Allegheny) establishing the waterfront

development tax credit was referred to the Senate Appropriations Committee.

News From The Capitol

Rep. Maher: Bill Strengthening Environmental Quality Board Passes House

The House passed House Bill 1099 (Maher-R-Allegheny) Wednesday establishing an

independent counsel for the Environmental Quality Board. The bill was sponsored by Rep. John

Maher (R-Allegheny), Majority Chair of the House Environmental Resources and Energy

Committee.

In Pennsylvania, all environmental regulations are issued by the Environmental Quality

Board. Despite the complicated legal issues often involved, the EQB has never had its own legal

counsel, instead depending on legal judgments of lawyers who have no duty to the EQB or its

members.

House Bill 1099 would require the Department of Environmental Protection to appoint an

independent legal counsel who would have a clear duty to the EQB. The independent counselwould assist EQB members on issues and actions before the board, and would provide advice on

procedural matters.

“Clean air, water and land are important to all Pennsylvanians,” Rep. Maher said. “The

Environmental Quality Board is comprised of a variety of cabinet secretaries, heads of boards

and commissions and members of the General Assembly. It makes decisions that affect the

health and safety of our environment and Pennsylvania citizens, but despite its important role,

the EQB has no attorney with a clear duty to call straight-forward balls and strikes on legal

http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billInfo/billInfo.cfm?sYear=2015&sInd=0&body=H&type=B&bn=1099http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billInfo/billInfo.cfm?sYear=2015&sInd=0&body=S&type=B&bn=0282http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billInfo/billInfo.cfm?sYear=2015&sInd=0&body=H&type=B&bn=0188http://www.legis.state.pa.us//cfdocs/Legis/CSM/showMemoPublic.cfm?chamber=S&SPick=20150&cosponId=16561http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/billinfo.cfm?syear=2015&sInd=0&body=S&type=B&bn=513http://www.legis.state.pa.us//cfdocs/Legis/CSM/showMemoPublic.cfm?chamber=H&SPick=20150&cosponId=18457http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billInfo/billInfo.cfm?sYear=2015&sInd=0&body=H&type=R&bn=0375http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billInfo/billInfo.cfm?sYear=2015&sInd=0&body=S&type=B&bn=0494http://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/BI/FN/2015/0/HB1099P1755.pdfhttp://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billInfo/billInfo.cfm?sYear=2015&sInd=0&body=H&type=B&bn=1099


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issues.”

In order to avoid a structural conflict of interest − real or perceived − Rep. Maher is

proposing the appointment of an independent counsel to the board. To ensure independence,

Rep. Maher’s bill would also protect the confidentiality of communication between counsel and

individual members.

The bill now goes to the Senate for consideration.A similar bill-- Senate Bill 307-- sponsored by Sen. John Yudichak (D-Luzerne),

Minority Chair of the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, is now in the

Senate Appropriations Committee. The Committee is due to consider the bill on June 15.

A House Fiscal Note and summary are available.

Senate, House Coal Caucus Hearing June 16 On EPA Clean Power Plan

The Senate and House Legislative Coal Caucus will hold a joint hearing on EPA’s Clean Power

Plan June 16 in Harrisburg.

The hearing will feature witnesses from the Pennsylvania coal industry and the United

Mine Workers offering their perspective on the challenges posed by EPA’s proposal includinghow it will limit coal usage, and its effects on jobs, the economy and the price and reliability of

electric supplies.

The hearing will be held in Room 140, the House Majority Caucus Room starting at 8:30.

For more information, contact Adam Pankake, Majority Executive Director of the Senate

Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, by calling 717-787-3280 or send email to:

[email protected] .

News From Around The State

Nominations For NE PA Environmental Awards Extended To July 1

The Northeast Environmental Partners Tuesday announced the deadline for nominations for the

Northeast Environmental Partnership Awards has been extended to July 1.

The winners of the award will be recognized at the 25th Annual Evening for Northeast

Pennsylvania’s Environment on October 19 at the Woodlands Inn & Resort, Wilkes-Barre.

The Partners include: Northeastern Pennsylvania Alliance, Department of Conservation

and Natural Resources, Department of Environmental Protection, PA Environmental Council’s

Northeast Office, PPL Corporation, Procter & Gamble Paper Products Company, and Wilkes

University.

The Northeastern Pennsylvania Environmental Partnership Awards are presented

annually to recognize the achievements of individuals or organizations that, through partnerships, have achieved excellence in environmental protection or conservation.

The awards dinner will showcase the recipient of the Thomas P. Shelburne

Environmental Leadership Award. This award, in its 21st year, was established by the NEPA

Environmental Partners to recognize an individual who stands out for his or her long-term

commitment to environmental quality through inspirational leadership, dedication, and

commitment to partnering.

This year will also focus on the 2015 Emerging Environmental Leader Award, which will

http://pecpa.org/http://pecpa.org/wp-content/uploads/2015-Call-for-Nominations.25th-Annual-Evening-for-NE-PA-Environment.pdfmailto:[email protected]://www2.epa.gov/carbon-pollution-standards/clean-power-plan-proposed-rulehttp://www2.epa.gov/carbon-pollution-standards/clean-power-plan-proposed-rulehttp://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/BI/FN/2015/0/HB1099P1755.pdfhttp://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billInfo/billInfo.cfm?sYear=2015&sInd=0&body=S&type=B&bn=0307


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be awarded to a student who demonstrates young environmental leadership, creativity and,

dedication to inspire others to adopt similar actions to protect the environment.

“We’re so fortunate to live in a region of Pennsylvania where collaboration and working

together for the benefit of our environment comes naturally,” said Meg Welker, Sr.

Environmental Professional at PPL and dinner planning committee chairperson. “Please help us

find and recognize those leaders who demonstrate successful partnerships in our communities.”The awards are open to any group, individual, company, program, or organization whose

work has had a positive impact on the environment in Northeastern Pennsylvania’s following

counties: Bradford, Carbon, Columbia, Lackawanna, Lehigh, Luzerne, Monroe, Montour,

Northampton, Northumberland, Pike, Schuylkill, Sullivan, Susquehanna, Wayne, and Wyoming.

During the past 24 years, over 175 individuals and groups involved in agriculture,

forestry, business, industry, education, science, environmental awareness, community service,

and government have been honored.

Click Here for all the details.

DEP Invites Comments On Revised Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System Permit

The Department of Environmental Protection Monday invited local governments, engineers,

environmental groups, and the general public to comment on the proposed changes to the

National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System General Permit for Stormwater Discharges

from Small Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4).

The proposal updates the requirements for entities applying for new MS4 permits, new or

reissued, to better control pollution caused by stormwater. One of the updates requires some

MS4 entities to prepare pollution control plans before submitting their next MS4 application to

DEP and to apply a public participation process to those plans.

The proposed changes will promote the use of technologies to better remove specific

types of pollution. For example, MS4s which impact streams that are impaired by mine drainage,

pathogens or organic chemicals will be required to apply specific control measures.

Those measures will result in a better assessment of the local problem and set the stage

for improved pollution control technologies to address the specific type of pollution.

DEP published a notice of the 60-day comment period in the PA Bulletin on May 30 .

Comments are due by July 29.

This proposal is the first to utilize DEP’s electronic eComment system. EComment

enables DEP to publish the comments it receives, both electronically and in writing, within five

business days of receiving them. It also provides better access to the proposal and any supporting

documentation that may be relevant to the commenters.

The public is encouraged to submit comments about the “National Pollutant Discharge

Elimination System General Permit for Stormwater Discharges from Small Municipal SeparateStorm Sewer Systems” using the new eComment system.

The public may also submit written comments to DEP Bureau of Point and Nonpoint

Source Management, P.O. Box 8774, Harrisburg, PA 17105-8774.

Comments submitted by facsimile will not be accepted. All comments, including those

submitted by electronic mail, must include the originator’s name and address.

For more information, visit DEP’s MS4 webpage.

NewsClips:

http://www.depweb.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/municipal_stormwater/21380#changehttp://www.ahs.dep.pa.gov/eCommenthttp://www.pabulletin.com/secure/data/vol45/45-22/1013.htmlhttp://www.depweb.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/municipal_stormwater/21380#changehttp://pecpa.org/wp-content/uploads/2015-Call-for-Nominations.25th-Annual-Evening-for-NE-PA-Environment.pdf


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Volunteers Needed For CBF-PA Tree Planting In Dauphin County June 20

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation-PA will hold a tree planting on June 20 in Londonderry,

Dauphin County starting at 9:00 a.m.

About 400 trees and shrubs will be planted along Swatara Creek to help control

stormwater runoff and reduce nutrient and sediment pollution.

To volunteer for this event, send an email to Kate Austin, PA Grassroots Field Specialist,

at: [email protected] .

Capital RC&D Hosts Farm Conservation Program Field Days June, July, August

The Capital Resource Conservation & Development Area Council (RC&D) is hosting three field

days in June, July and August in Franklin and York counties designed to give farmers and other

landowners a look at successful maintenance and management techniques for acreage enrolled in

the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP).

The first walk will highlight a warm season grass planting on June 20 from 9:00 – 11:00

a.m. in Stewartstown, PA (York County) then followed by a riparian buffer tour on July 7 in

Dillsburg. The series will conclude with a riparian buffer and native grass planting tour in Spring

Run (Franklin) on August 6 .

The warm season grasses Dan Wolf planted as part of CREP over ten years ago are the

focus of the June 20th event. Prior to enrolling in the program, the areas were difficult to farm

and often too wet to plant in the spring, but now that they are established the acreage provides

needed erosion control and allows him to focus on production using his top acreage.

Mr. Wolf will lead the tour of his grass plantings and Kristopher Goetz, CREP Biologist

in Adams and York Counties, will join him to talk about beneficial plants and wildlife benefits as

well as weed identification and maintenance issues.

Rick Csutoras, County Executive Director for the USDA-York County Farm Service

Agency, will also be available to share reminders about CREP requirements and answer program

questions.

Kris Goetz will also lead discussion during the July 7 evening event (6-8:00 p.m.) in

Dillsburg that will begin with a buffer walk through a two year old riparian buffer with siteowner Steve West.

Session highlights include issues commonly noticed during the establishment period,

such as tree shelter damage, weed identification, weed control and pest management. Beneficial

plants and wildlife will also be highlighted.

This free workshops series concludes on the morning of August 6 (9-11:00 a.m.) with a

tour of two CREP practices including native grass plantings and riparian buffer acreage. This site

in Spring Run, northern Franklin County, will feature discussion about practice benefits

http://www.creppa.org/http://www.capitalrcd.org/mailto:[email protected]://www.cbf.org/pahttp://www.bayjournal.com/http://triblive.com/news/westmoreland/8464276-74/drought-farmers-statehttp://www.delawareonline.com/story/news/local/2015/06/08/environmental-groups-push-back-refinery-water-intake-plan/28712507/http://www.timesleader.com/news/editorial-ouropinion/153923541/OUR-VIEW-Pursue-cure-for-ailing-Susquehannahttp://www.thelegalintelligencer.com/id=1202729107859/EPA-Reviews-Pa-Animal-Agriculture-Program-for-Bay-TMDL-Compliance?slreturn=20150512032504http://www.baltimoresun.com/features/green/blog/bal-epa-finds-maryland-mostly-on-track-in-bay-cleanup-but-pennsylvania-lagging-badly-20150612-story.html


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including wildlife and beneficial plants, but also share weed identification and maintenance tips.

For more information or to register, contact Cheryl Burns at Capital RC&D at

717-241-4361 or via email to: [email protected]

Visit the Capital Resource Conservation & Development Area Council website for

additional upcoming workshops and field days.

NewsClips:EPA Reviews PA Animal Agriculture Programs

Experts: Avian Flu At PA’s Doorstep

DCNR, Dickinson College Monitoring Health Of 3 Lakes In Cumberland County

Researchers at Dickinson College are collaborating with the state Department of Conservation

and Natural Resources to study three Cumberland County lakes that are popular spots for fishing,

boating and other recreational activities, DCNR Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn said Monday.

Thanks to a $27,000 mini-grant from DCNR through the South Mountain Partnership,

Dickinson researchers are utilizing cutting-edge technology to monitor the health and ecology of

Laurel and Fuller lakes in Pine Grove Furnace State Park

and Opossum Lake near Carlisle.The project’s goals are threefold: provide insights into how storm events and weather

affect water quality; provide lake managers with a more comprehensive understanding of the

lakes’ ecology; and enhance communication to the public by producing signage for lake visitors.

Potential signage topics include lake ecology and history, wildlife, and a map with

optimal fishing spots.

“Projects such as this define the primary goal of the South Mountain Partnership

Mini-Grant Program -- to sustain the South Mountain landscape’s sense of place by protecting

and promoting the region’s valuable natural resources,” said DCNR Secretary Cindy Adams

Dunn. “To the 334,000 visitors who come to Pine Grove Furnace State Park each year Laurel

and Fuller lakes are most valuable, indeed.”

Owned by the Fish and Boat Commission, the 59-acre Opossum Lake in Lower

Frankford Township is managed by the commission for recreational purposes and is especially

popular with anglers.

“Scientific research is the cornerstone of fisheries management, and collaborative efforts

between state government and colleges like Dickinson are crucial in our efforts to fully

understand the environment,” said PFBC Executive Director John Arway. “This project fits in

perfectly with our new ‘S.O.S. - Save Our Susquehanna’ Campaign and we look forward to the

results of this project and using the data to help us manage Opossum Lake and the Susquehanna

River watershed.”

Last month, high-frequency sensors were deployed at key locations in the three lakes,

supplying lake managers with high-resolution temperature and oxygen data outlining theconditions of the lake in various habitat zones.

Sensory data will be recorded every hour throughout the summer and supplemented by

biweekly monitoring of lake chemistry and biological communities in the lake, such as algae and

zooplankton. In September, preliminary data will be analyzed and reported to lake managers.

“Information from Dickinson’s monitoring and research will be used to shape

management efforts at our two parks,” Dunn said. “For instance, knowing what is triggering an

influx of sediment and nutrients will allow park and resource managers to develop more

http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks/findapark/pinegrovefurnace/http://southmountainpartnership.org/http://www.philly.com/philly/news/politics/20150611_Experts__Deadly_avian_flu_at_Pa__s_doorstep.htmlhttp://www.thelegalintelligencer.com/id=1202729107859/EPA-Reviews-Pa-Animal-Agriculture-Program-for-Bay-TMDL-Compliance?slreturn=20150512032504http://www.capitalrcd.org/mailto:[email protected]


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customized action or effort. Examples might be a focus on stream bank stabilization within the

park, or working with partners to make improvements on a larger, watershed scale outside park

boundaries.”

According to lead researcher Kristin Strock, an aquatic limnologist and assistant

professor of environmental studies at Dickinson, the Northeast U.S. has experienced the most

substantial increase in storm frequency and severity of any region in the U.S. since 1950.Rain events can increase the delivery of sediment, organic matter and nutrients from the

watershed that can reduce water clarity and influence aquatic communities. While the threat of

these changes to water quality are potentially great, there is currently little information to inform

lake-management strategies, Strock noted.

“These lakes are important, heavily used resources in the South Mountain landscape,”

said Strock. “The results from this work will help us to understand and communicate how the

lakes are functioning and how they might be changing over time.”

Strock has successfully completed similar projects in Maine’s Acadia National Park and

in Minnesota’s Isle Royale National Park.

“By partnering with DCNR, this new knowledge can help inform lake management now

and in the future,” she said.

Duquesne University Receives Grant For Sharing 3Rivers Quest Water Quality Data

Duquesne University’s role in a regional water quality monitoring initiative will be expanded,

thanks to continued grant funding from the Colcom Foundation . The new funding will be used to

disseminate the results of the ongoing study to community groups, government agencies and

individuals in an understandable format.

The goal is to promote greater public understanding of water quality data, what it is and

what it means, in order to facilitate appropriate action, when necessary.

Duquesne is one of four partners in the 3Rivers Quest (3RQ) initiative, which has

received more than $1.6 million from the Colcom Foundation to establish baseline water quality

data and to train citizen scientists in water sampling.

In this third round of funding, Duquesne will receive $151,580 of the $350,000 from

Colcom, a Pittsburgh-based foundation interested in environmental sustainability, to show

community members how to use these online databases, said Dr. Stan Kabala, the 3RQ

coordinator based in Duquesne’s Center for Environmental Research and Education.

“People have renewed appreciation for the amenities of living by our rivers,” Kabala

said, citing the numbers of boats, kayaks and paddleboards spotted along with fishermen, hikers

and bikers on riverside trails.

“There is no question that we have improved the region’s river water quality by

addressing issues like untreated sewage—a biological issue—and abandoned mine drainage—achemical issue like those we are tracking,” Kabala continued. “Industry—most prominently,

fracking—poses a chemical threat to the watershed. There is a risk of going backward after

decades of improvement at a time when people value these amenities and realize what a treasure

these rivers are.”

With the latest funding, Duquesne and each partner will hire a part-time coordinator

bridging the gap between researchers and the public, sharing information and training those

interested in using databases available on the 3Rivers Quest website.

http://www.3riversquest.org/http://3riversquest.org/http://colcomfdn.org/


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“This new program, Research Enhancing Awareness via Community Hydrology

(REACH), will give people the ability to understand what they are seeing,” Kabala said. “With

this ability to interpret data, it’s up to them to take it to the next level and demand action if action

is required.”

In this way, Kabala said, citizens become more engaged in the democratic progress and

even more vested in their communities. “It’s definitely about citizens taking action and beingengaged in the political processes with a firm base of data.”

Since 2013, Duquesne has monitored the lower Allegheny River, working with the Iron

Furnace Chapter of Trout Unlimited as it monitors the upper Allegheny. Wheeling Jesuit

University monitors the upper Ohio River and West Virginia University, which is the

headquarters for the initiative, monitors the Monongahela River.

Abington Friends School Hosts June 17 Forum On Waters Of U.S. Rule In Montgomery

On June 17 the Abington Friends School will host a forum on the recently finalized EPA Waters

of the U.S. rule in Jenkintown, Montgomery County, 575 Washington Lane starting at 5:30.

Scheduled to speak are: Shawn Garvin, EPA Region III Administrator, Bern Sweeney,Stroud Water Research Center , Christer Anderson, Philadelphia Water Department, J. Drew

Shaw, Montgomery County Planning Commission and Steven Miano, Hangley Aronchick Segal

and Pudlin.

Click Here to register for this event.

June 8 Watershed Winds Newsletter Available From Penn State Extension

The June 8 edition of the Watershed Winds newsletter is now available from Penn State

Extension featuring articles on--

-- Roadside Spring Factsheet From Penn State Extension

-- DEP Revises Policy On Developing Technical Guidance, Invites Comments

-- Final EPA Waters Of The U.S. Rule Issued, Little Impact In PA Expected

-- Penn State Extension At Great Lakes Children’s Water Festival

-- Click Here to sign up for your own copy.

PEC: Bills Allow Committees To Delay Regulations For No Reason, Reduce Transparency

The PA Environmental Council wrote to every member of the House Thursday expressing its

concerns with Senate Bill 562 (Gordner-R-Columbia) and House Bill 965

(Godshall-R-

Montgomery) that it said would all Senate or House committees to delay regulations for an

indeterminate amount of time for no apparent reason and reduce public information available onregulatory proposals.

Senate Bill 562 is now in the House State Government Committee and House Bill 965 is

in the House Consumer Affairs Committee.

The text of PEC’s letter follows--

Dear Representative:

On behalf of the Pennsylvania Environmental Council, I am writing to express our

concerns with companion legislation – SB 562 (P.N. 731) and HB 965 (P.N. 1210) – which

http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billInfo/billInfo.cfm?sYear=2015&sInd=0&body=H&type=B&bn=0965http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billInfo/billInfo.cfm?sYear=2015&sInd=0&body=S&type=B&bn=0562http://pecpa.org/http://extension.psu.edu/natural-resources/water/news/subscribehttp://extension.psu.edu/natural-resources/water/news/2015/penn-state-extension-at-2015-great-lakes-children2019s-water-festivalhttp://extension.psu.edu/natural-resources/water/news/2015/final-epa-waters-of-the-u.s.-rule-issued-little-impact-in-pa-expectedhttp://extension.psu.edu/natural-resources/water/news/2015/dep-revises-policy-on-developing-technical-guidance-invites-comments-launches-new-comment-toolhttp://extension.psu.edu/natural-resources/water/news/2015/penn-state-extension-releases-new-roadside-spring-factsheethttp://extension.psu.edu/natural-resources/water/news?utm_campaign=Watershed+Winds+Newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&utm_content=newsletter_view_onlinehttp://tpin.webaction

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