Berks: 

More Coordination of Education Advocated

Schuylkill: 

Gillingham Students Take Learning to the Outdoors

Inquires have been coming in on the timeline for the next round of Nonpoint Source Pollution Prevention Educational Mini-grants for Conservation Districts. The application period will open in early January with a deadline to apply of early March. Awards will be announced in late March. Through this program, grants of up to $2,000 are awarded to conservation districts to promote water quality and pollution prevention.

Click here to download the application in Word to help you start thinking of potential projects. Note: All applications must be submitted online via the PACD website after the application period opens. This document is for your planning purposes only!  Contact Shannon Wehinger with questions or to discuss your project ideas.

Financial and other support for the NPS Mini-grant Program is provided by the Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts, Inc. through a grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection under Section 319 of the Clean Water Act, administered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

NACD "Understanding the Food and Drug Administration's Proposed Rules to the Food Safety Modernization Act" Webinar Scheduled for November 14

In early 2011, the Food Safety Modernization Act was signed into law. Some portions of the proposed rules will likely impact growers and their use of conservation practices, necessitating a need to co-manage food safety and conservation objectives. This webinar is an opportunity to understand the advanced notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPR) on Standards for the Growing, Harvesting, Packing, and Holding of Produce for Human Consumption coming from the Food Safety Modernization Act. The comment period for this ANPR is wrapping up Nov. 15, 2013. This webinar serves as an opportunity for stakeholders to address particular areas of concern and get clarity from FDA on the proposed rules. The webinar is sponsored by NRCS, FDA, the National Association of Conservation Districts, and the National Farmers Union. 

The webinar will begin at 2 p.m. (Eastern Time) on Thursday, November 14 and will last 1.5 hours. Below are instructions for joining this webinar:

• Join the webinar using AT&T Connect - advance registration is not required, you may start joining 15 minutes before start time. Audio connection options with dial-in information are provided as you enter the AT&T application.  
• Windows users: We recommend joining this event using the installed AT&T Participant Application offered at login and with telephone dial-in for the best audio quality. Prepare at least 24 hours in advance by installing the AT&T Participant Application.  
• Mac users: You must join this event using the web browser option offered at login; audio is provided by telephone dial-in only; no software installation is required or supported.  
• Join audio only 
• Dial-in: 1-888-621-9649 
• When prompted, enter the following ID: 413726# 
• Live captions - open in new browser window 
• Webinar replay - link active approximately 24-48 hours after the live event 

EPA 319 Informational Webinar

Please join us for an EPA 319 Informational Webinar on Wednesday, November 13 from 1-3:00 p.m. (EST). Lynda Hall, Chief of the Nonpoint Source Control Branch at the U.S. Environmen

tal Protection Agency, will be presenting this special webinar for NACD members to learn more about the latest on the Section 319 Nonpoint Source Program. 

U&C Webinars Back on Schedule

The FY 2014 NACD Urban and Community webinars will begin next month with a new time. While still held on the third Thursday of the month, each webinar will now start at 12 p.m. (ET).

The topic for the November 21 webinar, "Disaster Planning," will take a look at what can be done to prepare for and possibly reduce damages from devastating natural events. Bill Eller will present the Washington State Conservation Commission and districts' advance planning efforts, while Bob Hilske from the Nemaha Natural Resource District in Nebraska will share information about a multi-NRD Hazard Mitigation Plan.

While there is no cost to participate, space is limited to 100 registrants on a first-come, first-serve basis. Contact Debra Bogar at deb-bogar@nacdnet.org to sign up for the November 21 webinar by sending an email with your name, title, district or business name and your email address. Information on how to access the webinar will be sent by email.

This webinar series is sponsored by The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company.

A specific topic is covered each month including septic systems, low impact development, agriculture, erosion and sedimentation, and household hazardous waste and pharmaceutical waste disposal and more. The calendar explains what the problem is and what steps the homeowner can take to help prevent nonpoint source pollution. Also, a "question of the month" asks the calendar user to go online and answer a question. They will then be entered to win a prize.

To view the calendar click here and scroll down to "Source Water Protection." Contact Lauren Anderson with questions about the project.

Financial and other support for this project is provided by the Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts, Inc. through a grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection under Section 319 of the Clean Water Act, administered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Schools, colleges and universities, county conservation districts, incorporated nonprofit organizations, municipalities and businesses are eligible to apply for environmental education programs and projects.

Grants are awarded for up to $3,000. The deadline to apply is Jan. 6, 2014. The grant awards will be announced on or around Earth Day in April and funding will begin July 1, 2014 - June 30, 2015. Applicants may submit an optional one-page proposal summary by December 4, 2013.

The 2014 EE Grants Manual is available by clicking here. If you have any questions, please call DEP's Environmental Education and Information Center at 717-772-1828 or email 

adevine@pa.gov.

The Department of Environmental Protection announced today the opening of a supplemental 30-day public comment period on the Permit Decision Guarantee policy as part of its annual review.

"In order to gather as much input as possible from stakeholders we have decided to open a second public comment period on this policy," DEP Acting Secretary Chris Abruzzo said. "The comments we receive after this first year of implementation will help shape the future direction of DEP's permitting."

Written comments are due by Dec. 4, 2013. Comments submitted by facsimile will not be accepted. All comments, including comments submitted by electronic mail, must include the originator's name and address. Written comments should be submitted to Daniel Coulter, 400 Market Street, Harrisburg PA, 17101, (717) 772-5626, dcoulter@pa.gov . Click here for the notice as it appeared in the Pennsylvania Bulletin.

The Western Pennsylvania Conservancy and Dominion are accepting proposals for the 2013-14 Watershed Mini Grant Program, which provides assistance to the region's grassroots watershed groups.  Proposals are due December 20.

The program offers funding to watershed organizations in Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Blair, Bucks, Butler, Cambria, Cameron, Clarion, Clearfield, Clinton, Crawford, Elk, Fayette, Franklin, Greene, Indiana, Jefferson, Juniata, Lawrence, Mercer, McKean, Potter, Somerset, Tioga, Venango, Washington and Westmoreland counties.

Grants of up to $1,000 may be awarded for operating expenses and grants of up to $2,500 may be awarded for restoration or promotion and outreach projects. Financial support for this program is provided by the Dominion Foundation.

For more information, the grant application and proposal guidelines, visit the WPC Watershed Mini Grant webpage.