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A monthly Update from the Water Resources Education Network
 a project of the League of Women Voters of PA - Citizen Education Fund 

December 2013
In This Issue
Season's Greetings
December Feature: It May Be Wintry Weather, but Look Forward to Spring - Begin Planning Your WREN Grant Project Now
Late Breaking News
A PROPOSED GENERAL PERMIT NEEDS YOUR INPUT
The Science behind Water Management
A Win for Water Quality in Rural Pennsylvania
Update on Federal Farm Bill
Policy Updates and Public Comments Requested
Oil & Gas Regulations Open for Comment
Funds from Act 13 Unconventional Gas Well Impact Fee May be Used to Benefit Water Quality and Plug Old Wells
Marcellus Shale Legacy Fund Grants $28 Million
Educational Opportunities Not to Be Missed
New Finding: Only Half of Drugs in Sewage are Removed at the Plant
WREN December
Feature

It May Be Wintry Weather, but Look Forward to Spring - Begin Planning Your WREN Grant Project Now

Nominations Requested
Applications Open for Presidential Innovation Award for Environmental Educators 
Due: February 28, 2014
Call For Presenters
Abstracts will be accepted through January 31, 2014. 
Symposium will be held May 7, 2014 in State College, PA
Webinars

DEP Webinar on Proposed Oil & Gas Regulations

January 3, 2014

 9:30-10:30am  

 

DEP will review changes to GP-8 that pertain to temporary road crossings and environmental testing or monitoring activities.
Jan. 7, 2014
2:30 to 3:30 p.m.
  
  

 U.S EPA's Green Infrastructure Program

   
 
March 4, 2014
Green Winter Tip
"Scraping the windshield" photo by MBK.

 

Avoid scraping frost from your car's windshield by mist­ing its windows the evening before a freeze with a solu­tion of three parts vinegar to one part water.

Reports

 Bay Barometer: Health and Restoration in the Chesapeake Watershed 2012-2013

 

 The Green Edge: How Commercial Property Investment in Green Infrastructure Creates Value

Videos to Watch
Harvard Law School Professor Richard Lazarus delivered this lecture 


Part 2 will air January 13 at 7 p.m. Each part of "WaterWise" chronicles 6 to 8 stories of efforts by inspiring volunteer watershed groups throughout Pennsylvania.
Quick Links   

State launches drug drop-off program

 

Penn State Extension Offers Water Testing Clinics In 2014

 

DEP to Fine Westmoreland County Authority after Boil-water Order

 

 Westmoreland Water Authority Signs Off on DEP Sanctions

 

Proceedings of National Academy of Science of the USA Journal new report:

 

Well and Good: After "Easy Water" Has Been Tapped, Unconventional Wells Offer Innovative Solutions

 

FDA: Antibacterial Soaps May Not Curb Bacteria

 


Agriculture:
  
  


  

USDA Study: Chesapeake Bay Farmers Significantly Reduced Pollutants Going To Streams  

 
Other Topics:

  


 



Groundwater Governance:
Groundwater Governance in the U.S . aims to better understand the scope of groundwater governance across the United States today. The project launched a national - scale survey of state agency officials in the U.S.
 

 

Oil &  Gas Links

 

Company Drops Plans To Remove Water Tanks from Franklin Forks Homes

 

 Safety Concerns Arise over Cross-State Natural Gas Liquids Pipeline

 

Governors Push for State Oil and Gas Regulatory Programs

 

 Hormone-Disrupting Chemicals Found in Water at Fracking Sites

 

 Groups Debate Coast Guard Plan to move Frack Waste on Rivers

 

  
 
  
USGS Measures Landscape Disturbance of Gas Exploration in 14 PA Counties:

Grants
Due: January 6, 2014 

Due: January 10, 2014
 
Due: January 14, 2014

Letters of Interest  
Due: January 24, 2014

Inland rivers and green infrastructure projects are eligible! 
Due: January 31, 2014
 
Due: February 5, 2014
  
Starting February 5, 2014
  
2014 WREN Water Education Grants
Due: March 21, 2014
Details and Applications available January 2014
  
Up to $5,000
Due: February 14, 2014
(or when they receive 1,500 applications) 
 
Due February 29, 2014

Due: April 30, 2014

Other Funding:
 
    Resources   

 

 American Water Resources Association Uses Pinterest to Share Water Infographics

 

Homeowner Guide For a More Bay-Friendly Property 

an editable Word version of the guide is available by emailing Cecilia Lane

 

 Are Streams that Flow to Your Tap Protected from Pollution?

EPA Drinking Water Map

 

Penn State Extension

Books   

by John A. Conners
    
by George Annandale
Presentations from Recent Conferences

Presentations from the 2013 Susquehanna Water Science Forum 

 

Topics included:

Identifying Greatest Stressors to Aquatic Ecosystem Integrity; Evaluating Effects of Stressors; Balancing Competing Users for Long-term Sustainability; Using Science to Achieve Balanced Policy and Regulation

Save the Date
Stroudsburg, PA
January 7, 2014
8:30am-3pm

 

North Wales, PA
January 16, 2014
10am-Noon
  
January 21-23, 2014
New Orleans, LA 
 
February 5, 6, 19, 20, 25, 26, 2014

 

February 8, 2014
(rescheduled from 12/14)
8:30am-4pm 

 

Storm Water Management

Exton, PA

February 11, 2014

8:30am-3pm

 

Blue Bell, PA
February 20, 2014
10am-Noon

 

Feb. 21 - 22, 2014

 

24th Annual PALMS Conference: Healthy Lakes, Healthy Communities

State College, PA

March 19, 2014

 

2014 PA Rural Water Association Annual Conference

March 25-28, 2014

State College, PA  

 

7th West Branch Susquehanna Restoration Symposium

Apr 10 - 11, 2014

State College, PA 

 

9th National Water Quality Monitoring Conference

Aprril 28 - May 2, 2014

Cincinnati, OH

 

River Rally 

May 30-June 2, 2014 
Pittsburgh, PA 
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Season's Greetings

"Snowflakes are one of nature's most fragile things, but just look what they do when they stick together." ~Verna M. Kelly

 

Thanks for sticking with us in 2013. Imagine what we can accomplish together in the new year! Happy Holidays to you and your loved ones from all of us at WREN.

December Feature: It May Be Wintry Weather, but Look Forward to Spring - Begin Planning Your WREN Grant Project Now

What are the ingredients that blend together to form the perfect WREN grant project? Perhaps it's one part inspiration and one part determination that result in a winning formula.

 

In the first of two articles spotlighting current WREN projects, we take a look at a new drinking water protection program developed by a coalition called the Columbia-Montour Coalition for Source Water Protection that focuses on public education in two counties to encourage protecting community water supplies now and for the future.  Read more...

 

 


Late Breaking News...PA Supreme Court Upholds Pennsylvania's Environmental Rights Amendment and Strikes Down Zoning Pre-Emption of Act 13 Oil and Gas Act 
Read More:  State Supreme Court Rules That Municipalities can Limit What Gas Drillers Can Do (TribLIVE article)

A Proposed General Permit Needs Your Input

by Stephen P. Kunz, Schmid & Company, Inc.

 

Public Comments are being accepted by PA DEP until January 10, 2014

 

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection PADEP is proposing to modify one of its Chapter 105 General Permits for regulated activities in streams and wetlands and plans to reissue Chapter 105 General Permit 8. Why is this important?  Read More...

The Science behind Water Management

Forum Shares the Latest in Understanding Threats to the Susquehanna River

"Susquehanna River" photo by Robert & Pat Rogers

by Pat Devlin

 

Your local water supply could be subject to impacts from energy production, natural gas drilling, climate change, and other emerging contaminants such as pharmaceuticals and invasive species. Looking at the science behind these issues can help water managers sort fact from fiction. So what are scientists saying about the Susquehanna River Basin's water resources? Read more...

 

Click here for presentations from the October 7-8, 2013 Forum. 

A Win for Water Quality in Rural Pennsylvania 

$35 Million in Transportation Bill for Dirt and Gravel Roads Program

On November 25, 2013, Governor Corbett signed a Transportation Bill into law which included $35 million for the Dirt and Gravel Road Program; a seven fold increase over previous years.

 

Rural roads are significant sources of pollution, and contribute sediment pollution to the waters of the Commonwealth. The Dirt and Gravel Road Program improves unpaved roads to help prevent runoff and sediment from entering streams and other waterways (see photo below) and can be a resource for source water protection efforts.

This photo illustrates runoff from an unpaved road entering a high quality Pennsylvania stream. The Dirt and Gravel Roads Program works to prevent this pollution event from happening. Photo from Penn State's Dirt and Gravel Road Studies website.

Under this transportation package, $35 million was allotted for the state's Dirt and Gravel Roads Program. Of this amount, $28 million was allocated to conservation districts and $7 million to the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR). 

 

The funds are distributed by the State Conservation Commission to the 65 county conservation districts which participate in the Dirt and Gravel Roads Program. Each year, townships and boroughs work with their local conservation district to address identified sites using environmentally-sound road maintenance practices. Currently, there are more than 14,000 identified sites in need of infrastructure improvements in Pennsylvania. Through partnerships with multiple stakeholders, conservation districts will be able to begin to implement on the ground efforts.   

 

Since its inception, the Dirt & Gravel Roads Program has invested $75 million in the commonwealth's unpaved roads and improved water quality.    

 

Click here for more information on Pennsylvania's Dirt and Gravel Roads and here to connect with your county conservation district. 

Update on Federal Farm Bill

 

Dairy farm

Farm Bill Update

 

Before leaving for the holiday recess, the House passed a short-term Farm Bill extension that authorizes programs through January 31st.

  

This means negotiations for final, comprehensive legislation will continue after the new year. The current Farm Bill expired on September 30th.

  

At this point, Senate leaders have stated they will not vote on a Farm Bill extension, and instead, plan to continue focus on passing new legislation.

  

The farm bill includes important measures to protect water quality including the Regional Conservation Partnership Program, Farm and Ranchlands Protection Program, Conservation Stewardship Program, and Environmental Quality Incentives Program.   

Policy Updates and Public Comments Requested

word clipart hearing

Make your views known.  PA DEP has requested Public Comment on the following:

  • On Nov. 1, 2013, PA DEP released the results of the fourth, and final, quarterly report detailing progress under its new Permit Review Process and Permit Decision Guarantee Policy. According to DEP, since implementing the permit improvement policies, the agency now makes 95 percent of permit decisions within the guaranteed timeframes outlined in the Permit Decision Guarantee policy. Click here for more information. A public comment period is open through December 31, 2013, to allow feedback about the effectiveness of the new policy.  
  • Chapter 105 General Permit 8 Changes are now open for comment. Chapter 105 is for temporary crossings across regulated waters. The proposed GP-8 sets no special restrictions on its use or eligibility in Special Protection waters. It does require applicants to obtain a current PNDI (Pennsylvania Natural Diversity Inventory) review receipt, and to implement an Erosion and Sediment Control Plan. Comments are due by January 10, 2014. Click here for instructions on submitting comments.
  • Oil and Gas Regulation Proposal - Comments due to EQB by February 12, 2014. View DEP Press Release.  See article below.

Current Bills Under Consideration by PA Legislators

  • "Endangered Species Coordination Act" - HB 1576 and SB 1047: Senator Alloway's Senate Game and Fisheries Committee has scheduled a hearing in Indiana, PA on January 10, 2014. It is expected that the Game Commission, Fish & Boat Commission, PA Chamber of Business and Industry, and the PA Builders Association will testify.  House Bill 1576 and Senate Bill 1047 would fundamentally change endangered species protection and habitat protection in Pennsylvania. Bill advocates say they want more transparency, scrutiny and opportunities for the public, developers, drillers, coal mining companies and environmentalists to have a say and ability to appeal decisions when a project involves land listed as habitat for a threatened or endangered species.
  • Click here to read the Pennsylvania Environmental Council's position on the bills. The proposed legislation could come up for vote when the legislature reconvenes in early January.  Participate in your government and let your legislators hear from you.

 PA Legislative Session Schedule 

  • Click here for calendars and committee meeting schedules. The legislature is currently on a holiday break. They will reconvene in January. 

 

Oil & Gas Regulations Now Open for Comment

Environmental Quality Board Opens Public Comment Period on Proposed Oil and Gas Regulations, Will Hold Public Hearings; DEP to Host Informational Webinars

The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and the Environmental Quality Board announced recently that the public comment period opened on Saturday, December 14, 2013, for a proposed regulation for environmental protection performance standards associated with oil and gas activities with comments due by 2/12/14. View DEP Press Release.  View Notice in PA Bulletin.

 

The proposed regulation implements key provisions of Act 13 of 2012, including:
  • further consideration of impacts to public resources, such as parks and wildlife areas;
  • the prevention of spills;
  • the management of waste; 
  • the restoration of well sites after drilling;
  • standards affecting the construction of gathering lines and temporary pipelines, and
  • provisions for identifying and monitoring abandoned wells close to proposed well sites.

The Environmental Quality Board (EQB) is a 20-member independent board chaired by the Secretary of DEP that adopts all of the department's regulations and considers petitions to change regulations. During the public comment period, the EQB will host seven (7) public hearings across Pennsylvania and offer multiple ways to submit comments. 

 

For more information or to register for DEP's Informational webinars, visit www.dep.state.pa.us, keyword: Webinars. After registration, an email will be sent containing a link to the webinar. The webinar will be recorded and posted on the Oil and Gas webinars webpage for future viewing.

To view materials for the proposed regulation, visit www.dep.state.pa.us and click the "Proposed Oil and Gas Regulations" button.

 

Information Webinars
Along with the EQB hearings, DEP will hold a webinar on Friday, Jan. 3, 2014, from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m., to present information and answer questions on the proposed regulation.
Click here for more information on the webinar. To register, visit DEP's Informational webinars page, visit www.dep.state.pa.us, keyword: Webinars. After registration, an email will be sent containing a link to the webinar. The webinar will be recorded and posted on the Oil and Gas webinars webpage for future viewing. 
 
Public Hearings
People wishing to present verbal testimony at a hearing are requested to contact the EQB at least one week in advance of the hearing to reserve a time. Those who wish to present testimony at the hearing may use the address below or call the EQB at 717-787-4526 to reserve time to testify. All relevant written and oral comments that are received at a public hearing will be considered when finalizing the regulation.

Witnesses are limited to five minutes of testimony and are requested to submit three written copies of their testimony to the hearing chairperson at the hearing. Organizations are limited to designating one witness to present testimony on their behalf at each hearing.

 

Individuals in need of accommodations as provided for in the Americans with Disabilities Act should contact the EQB to discuss their needs at 717-787-4526 or make accommodations through the Pennsylvania AT&T Relay Service at 800-654-5984 (TDD) or 800-654-5988 (voice users).
  
Public Hearing Dates and Locations
The public hearings will be held at 6 p.m.  

Wyoming County
Jan. 7, 2014, Tunkhannock High School Auditorium, 135 Tiger Drive, Tunkhannock, PA 18657

Chester County
Jan. 9, 2014, West Chester University of Pennsylvania's Sykes Student Union Theater, 110 West Rosedale Avenue, West Chester, PA 19383

Lycoming County
Jan. 13, 2014, Pennsylvania College of Technology's Klump Academic Center, One College Avenue, Williamsport, PA 17701

Crawford County
Jan. 15, 2014, Meadville Area Senior High School Auditorium, 930 North Street, Meadville, PA 16335

Cumberland County
Jan. 16, 2014, Good Hope Middle School Auditorium, 451 Skyport Road, Mechanicsburg, PA 17050

Washington County
Jan. 22, 2014, Washington and Jefferson College's Rossin Campus Center / Allen Ballroom, 60 South Lincoln Street, Washington, PA 15301

Indiana County
Jan. 23, 2014, Indiana University of Pennsylvania's Convention and Athletic Complex, 711 Pratt Drive, Indiana, PA 15705
  

 


Online Comments
The public is invited to submit comments to the EQB regarding the proposed rulemaking by Feb. 12, 2014. Along with their comments, people can submit a one-page summary of their comments to the EQB. Comments, including the one page summary, may be submitted to EQB by accessing the EQB's Online Public Comment System at http://www.ahs.dep.pa.gov/RegComments.

Written Comments
Written comments and summaries should be mailed to Environmental Quality Board, P.O. Box 8477, Harrisburg, PA 17105-8477.

The summaries and a formal comment and response document will be distributed to the EQB and available publicly prior to the meeting when the final rulemaking will be considered.

Email Comments
People can also submit comments to RegComments@pa.gov.

Online and email comments must also be received by the EQB on or before Feb. 12, 2014. If an acknowledgement of comments submitted online or by email is not received by the sender within two business days, the comments should be re-sent to the EQB to ensure receipt.  

Funds from Act 13 Unconventional Gas Well Impact Fee May be Used to Benefit Water Quality and Plug Old Wells

Pennsylvania legislators passed Act 13 overhauling the state's natural gas drilling laws on February 8, 2012. The law places an impact fee on every well drilled for gas in the Marcellus Shale formation. The fee changes from year to year based on natural gas prices. For example, the impact fee brought in $204 million to Pennsylvania for 2011, and $202 million during 2012, reflecting the decrease in the price of natural gas.       
 
Sixty percent of the revenue goes to counties and municipalities hosting unconventional Marcellus wells. The remaining 40 percent goes to various state agencies involved in regulating drilling and to the Marcellus Legacy Fund- which gets spread out around the state for environmental and infrastructure projects. The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) administers the collection and disbursement of the Impact fee. (See article below for more information on the Fund).
 
Eligible Uses of Impact Fees
 
The funds can be used for a variety of water and sewer projects that protect public health. The counties and municipalities receiving money from the Unconventional Gas Well Fund are required to spend the money in one of 13 categories:
  1. Construction, reconstruction, maintenance and repair of roadways, bridges and public infrastructure
  2. Water, storm water and sewer systems, including construction, reconstruction, maintenance and repair
  3. Emergency preparedness and public safety, including law enforcement and fire services, hazardous material response, 911, equipment acquisition and other services
  4. Environmental programs, including trails, parks and recreation, open space, flood plain management, conservation districts and agricultural preservation
  5. Preservation and reclamation of surface and subsurface waters and water supplies
  6. Tax reductions, including homestead exclusions
  7. Projects to increase the availability of safe and affordable housing to residents
  8. Records management, geographic information systems and information technology
  9. The delivery of social services
  10. Judicial services
  11. Deposit into the municipality's capital reserve fund if the funds are used solely for a purpose set forth in Act 13 of 2012
  12. Career and technical centers for training of workers in the oil and gas industry
  13. Local or regional planning initiatives under the act of July 31, 1968 (P.L. 805, No. 247), known as the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code.
WREN encourages water systems and conservation groups to start the conversation with local and county officials about ways to address water issues using Impact fee funding. For example, educate county and local officials about how these funds can be used to properly plug old wells before aquifers become contaminated. Unsealed wells act as direct conduits to groundwater.  Assemble your water action plan now. 
  
Click here to read the annual report of fund revenue and disbursements from the unconventional gas well impact fee at the PUC website. Click here for a list of frequently asked questions about Act 13. 

Marcellus Shale Legacy Fund Grants $28 Million

"Solomon's Creek" by John-Morgan, from Flickr's Creative Commons.
Over $28 million in Marcellus Legacy Fund grants were recently announced to support land and water protection efforts throughout the state.

Impact fees on natural gas drilling have generated more than $400 million so far. Forty percent of the fees collected are allocated to the Marcellus Shale Legacy Fund.  A portion of that fund is distributed in the form of grants from the Commonwealth Financing Authority to support statewide conservation and recreation efforts. This initial round of grants distributed more than $28 million in grants.

Here is a breakdown of the grants distributed by the CFA:
  • $5.6 million to restore streams impaired by polluted runoff in 18 counties.
  • $16 million to support 116 greenway, trail and recreation projects throughout the state.
  • $5.2 million to support 12 abandoned mine drainage abatement and treatment projects statewide.
  • $700,000 to support flood mitigation projects in Blair, Bucks, Lackawanna and Northumberland counties.
  • $225,000 to plug orphaned and abandoned wells in Allegheny and Washington counties.
  • $500,000 for baseline water quality data.
Click here to view the list of projects funded. The list includes 12 abandoned mine drainage projects; 2 baseline water quality data projects; 4 flood mitigation projects; 116 greenway, trail and recreation projects; 2 orphan well projects; and 32 watershed restoration and protection projects. 

Educational Opportunities Not to Be Missed

Make a resolution to learn more about environmental issues. Here are some upcoming opportunities. 

Stroudsburg, PA

January 7, 2014, 8:30am - 3:00pm

Cost: $80 PRWA Members / $115 Non-Members (Includes all supplies, materials, and lunch)

 

OR

February 11, 2014 in Exton, PA

 

Storm water management is becoming more important in community planning, source water protection and wet weather impacts on wastewater systems. This course is for operators of water/wastewater systems that desire to learn about stormwater management and its impact on water/wastewater systems. It will also be helpful for anyone wishing to gain more knowledge on what storm water is and how it can impact communities. Click here to register for the Stroudsburg session and here for Exton.

 

U.S EPA's Green Infrastructure Program Webinar


Click here to register. 

New Finding: Only Half of Drugs in Sewage Removed at Treatment Plant

A new report from the International Joint Commission, a consortium of officials from the United States and Canada who study the Great Lakes, found that only half of the drugs and other emerging contaminants in sewage are removed by treatment plants. 
  
The impact of most of these "chemicals of emerging concern" on the health of people and aquatic life remains unclear. Nevertheless, the commission report concludes that better water treatment is needed.
 
The scientists reviewed 10 years of data from wastewater treatment plants worldwide to see how well they removed 42 compounds that are increasingly showing up in the Great Lakes.

 

Six chemicals were detected frequently and had a low rate of removal in treated effluent: an herbicide, an anti-seizure drug, two antibiotic drugs, an antibacterial drug and an anti-inflammatory drug. Caffeine, acetaminophen and estriol (a natural estrogen) also were frequently detected in sewage but had high removal rates.

Photo by Health Gauge from Flickr Creative Commons.

The wastewater plants had a low removal rate (less than 25 percent chance of removing 75 percent or more) for 11 of the 42 chemicals.

 
 Most sewage treatment plants were not designed to handle these types of emerging contaminants. It is important to keep in mind that thanks to advances in science, officials can now detect tiny amounts - parts per trillion, even - of all sorts of things. Newer technologies, such as ozonation, membrane or carbon filters, are effective at removing pharmaceuticals and other new chemicals, but are expensive. 
 
Drugs and personal care products, industrial chemicals present at low concentrations, and chemicals may affect hormone status, referred to as "endocrine disruptors." Although we can't do a lot about drugs we excrete, we can remind people not to flush drugs and offer safe, convenient disposal alternatives to flushing.
Water Policy News is published monthly by the Water Resources Education Network, a project of the League of Women Voters of PA - Citizen Education Fund.  Please send your water education related programs and activities to WREN Project Director.  Visit www.sourcewaterpa.org to learn more about drinking water protection.  Visit wren.palwv.org to learn more about WREN and local projects in PA. For more events, check the