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September WREN Feature is Posted
Nationwide Drug Take-Back Program - September 25
 The first-ever national
drug take-back program is being coordinated by the federal Drug
Enforcement Agency (DEA) and state and local law enforcement partners.
The National Take-Back Day provides an opportunity for the public to
dispose of expired, unwanted, or unused pharmaceutical controlled
substances and other medications for destruction. Although targeted at
controlled substances, the program will accept all prescription and
over the counter solid dosage medications - tablets and capsules.
Improper disposal of unused medicines (such as flushing) can
contaminate streams, groundwater and drinking water supplies.
Visit the website http://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/takeback/ and enter your zipcode to find a take-back location near you.
Read more ... |
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 PSU Pub on Pharmaceutical Disposal and Water Quality
Jim Clark, McKean County Extension Educator and A. R. Jarrett, Professor of Biological Engineering have produced a four-page flyer describing the hazards of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) in drinking water and how to properly dispose of these products. The pub is available on the WREN website, or from your Penn State Extension office.
Jim Clark was part of the McKean County Team that ran a successful drug take back program in 2009, partially funded by a WREN grant. Read more about that program. |
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USGS: Aquatic Life Declines at Early Stages of Urban Development
The number of native fish and aquatic insects, especially those that
are pollution sensitive, declines in urban and suburban streams at low
levels of development - levels often considered protective for stream
communities, according to a new study by the U.S. Geological Survey.
 "When the area of driveways, parking lots, streets and other impervious
cover reaches 10 percent of a watershed area, many types of pollution
sensitive aquatic insects decline by as much as one third, compared to
streams in undeveloped forested watersheds."
For more on this study by USGS scientists on "Effects of Urbanization on Stream Ecosystems," visit: http://water.usgs.gov/nawqa/urban/html/pubs/invert2010.html
The website includes podcasts to download and a link to the full article in Ecological Society of America's online journal. |
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"Web Sprint" Help for Watershed Groups' Websites
 Get help building an up-to-date website at this year's Chesapeake Watershed Forum at Shepardstown, WV, November 11-14.
This is a unique opportunity for watershed associations, waterkeepers, land trusts, conservation districts, and related organizations to catch up with today's web. If you elect to participate in the "Sprint," you will:
· Leave the Forum with a website you can keep - and that you are proud of · Develop the skills to use your site fluently · Have a platform to launch online advocacy, fundraising, and pollution prevention campaigns · Save time and money over alternate methods for developing your site.
Scholarships are available for PA organizations, even those not in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. |
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Buffer Regulations Effective November 19
The final Erosion and Sedimentation Control regulations (Chapter 102) were published in the PA Bulletin on August 21 and go into effect on November 19. Among many other provisions, these regulations require riparian buffers of 150 feet in High Quality and Exceptional Value watersheds under certain conditions.
Update: PA DEP tells us, "there was a printing error in the buffer section of the rule (102.14 (a)(1) and
(2)). We expect that a correction will be published in the September 18 Pa. Bulletin."
High Total Dissolved Solids in Wastewater Targeted in New Regulations
Wastewater from the extraction of natural gas is very high in Total Dissolved Solids (primarily salts), much higher than any other industrial discharge. Changes to Wastewater Treatment Requirements (Chapter 95) have been adopted to regulate these discharges. The new regulation was published August 21 and was effective immediately. |
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Penn State Cooperative Extension Marcellus Webinar Series
September 16 "Natural Gas
Experiences of Marcellus Residents: Preliminary Results from the Community
Satisfaction Survey"
Kathy Brasier,
Penn State University. 1-2
PM
October 21 "
Water Use and Water Reuse/Recycling in Marcellus Shale Gas Exploration and Production"
Dave Yoxtheimer, Penn State University and Tony Gaudlip, Range Resources, 1-2 PM
Registration is Free. REGISTER HERE for Marcellus Shale webinars.
Once you have registered to attend a seminar, you will be directed to a website providing details on how to connect and participate in future seminars.
Upcoming and previous
webinars, which covered topics such as water use and quality,
gas-leasing considerations for landowners and implications for local
communities, can be viewed online. |
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Quick Links
EPA's Watershed Academy
New resources on WREN's Publications page
WREN's Water Calendar
WREN websites: http://wren.palwv.org and www.drinkingwaterwise.org
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