Pa Environment Digest September 13, 2010

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PA Environment DigestAn Update On Environmental Issues In PAEdited By: David E. Hess, Crisci Associates

Winner 2009 PAEE Business Partner Of The Year Award

Harrisburg, Pa September 13,

2010

EPA Announces Public Meetings On Chesapeake Bay Watershed TMDL Strategy

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is scheduled to hold 18public meetings this fall to discuss the draft Chesapeake Bay Total

Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) a strict pollution diet to restore

local waters and the Chesapeake Bay.

Four of the meetings will be in Pennsylvania in October--

-- October 18-- Lancaster, 2 p.m. 4 p.m.

-- October 19-- State College, 2 p.m. 4 p.m.

-- October 20 -- Williamsport, 2 p.m. 4 p.m. (Meeting also broadcast online via webinar)

-- October 21 -- Ashley, 2 p.m. 4 p.m.

We encourage the public to continue to provide input as EPA moves forward in

finalizing and implementing this blueprint for restoration, said EPA Regional Administrator

Shawn M. Garvin. Restoring the Chesapeake Bay and the waterways that connect to it will not

be easy, and every citizen in the Bay watershed has a stake and a role in this process.

The Bay TMDL will set binding limits on nitrogen, phosphorus and sediment pollution

throughout the 64,000-square-mile watershed to meet clean water standards for the Bay and its

tidal tributaries and help restore local rivers and streams.

At the public meetings, EPA officials will outline the draft Bay TMDL and highlight key

provisions designed to ensure that by 2025 all practices that are necessary to fully restore the bay

are in place, with 60 percent of the actions taken by 2017.

EPA will also receive comments and answer questions from the public at the meetings,

which are part of an official 45-day public comment period on the draft TMDL ending

November 8.In addition, officials from the respective states and D.C. are expected to participate in the

meetings to discuss their draft implementation plans to achieve and maintain the necessary

pollution reductions. The implementation plans were submitted to EPA last week and are being

used to help the agency shape details of the TMDL.

The draft Bay TMDL will be issued on September 24. Instructions for submitting formal

written comments to EPA will be included on the Bay TMDL webpage and contained in an

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upcoming Federal Register Notice. A final Bay TMDL will be established by December 31,

2010.

The public meetings will be held across the six watershed states, Virginia, Maryland,

Pennsylvania, Delaware, West Virginia and New York, and the District of Columbia from late

September to early November. One meeting in each state will be accessible online via webinar.

The Department of Environmental Protection will also be scheduling public meeting onthe draft Watershed Implementation Plan it submitted last week. Visit the DEP Chesapeake Bay

webpage for more information.

Complete information on the meetings, including venues, directions and webinar

registration links, can be found on the EPA Chesapeake Bay TMDL webpage.

NewsClips: States Seek Federal Money For Big Chesapeake Bay Cleanup Plans

Op-Ed: Good Legislation Protects Farmer, Chesapeake Bay

CBF's Matthew Ehrhart Named Outstanding Alumnus By Penn State College Of Ag

Sciences

Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences has honored Matthew J.Ehrhart of Brickerville with a 2010 Outstanding Alumni Award. The

award recognizes alumni for their achievements and provides opportunities

for recipients to interact with the college's faculty, students and other

alumni.

Ehrhart is the Pennsylvania executive director of the Chesapeake

Bay Foundation. A 1991 graduate in Environmental Resource

Management who earned a master's degree in Environmental Science in

1996, he oversees the agricultural restoration program of the Pennsylvania area of the

Chesapeake watershed. His leadership has resulted in the establishment of 2,100 miles of forest

buffers and 4,500 acres of wetlands to improve water quality.He has worked to building partnerships and funding to promote alternative uses of

manure and implement precision dairy feeding. He recently secured $14.8 million in federal

funding for agricultural best management practices in conjunction with conservation districts and

private businesses.

Ehrhart's job often calls on him to work with local and state governments. He was heavily

involved in the 2008 federal farm bill and in the related creation of the Fair Share for Clean

Water Coalition, which is a collaboration among several Pennsylvania associations and

committees. The coalition successfully pushed for $1.2 billion in bond funding and a $10 million

tax credit program to address Pennsylvania environmental issues.

A recipient of the Pennsylvania Governor's Award for Watershed Stewardship, Ehrhart

serves on the Pennsylvania Water Resource Advisory Committee and the state Department ofEnvironmental Protection Chesapeake Bay Advisory Committee. He also is a member of the

board of the Penn State Ag Council.

Did You Know You Can Search Nearly 6 Years Of Digests On Any Topic?

Did you know you can search nearly 6 years of back issues of the PA Environment Digest on

dozens of topics, by county and on any key word you choose. Just click on the search page.

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Senate/House Agenda/Session Schedule

Here are the Senate and House Calendars and Committee meetings showing bills of interest as

well as a list of new environmental bills introduced--

Session Schedule

Senate Fall Session

September 20, 21, 22, 27, 28, 29, 30

October 12, 13, 14

November 18 (Ceremonial Session to Elect an Interim President Pro Tempore)

House Fall Session

September 13, 14, 15, 20, 21, 22, 27, 28, 29

October 4, 5, 6

November 8, 9, 10, 15, 16

Calendars

House (September 13): House Bill 80 (Vitali-D-Delaware) expanding the Alternative Energy

Portfolio Standards and authorizing a carbon sequestration network; House Bill 894 (Phillips-R-

Northumberland) establishing a Lyme Disease Task Force and assigning responsibilities to the

Department of Conservation and Natural Resources without funding; House Bill2405 (DePasquale-D-York) which would increase the solar mandate provisions of the

Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards and provide for carbon sequestration facilities.

Senate (September 20): All items were Tabled.

Committees

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House: the Environmental Resources and Energy Committee meets to consider House Bill

381 (Mundy-D-Luzerne) providing for the tracking of wastewater from gas wells, House

Resolution 826 (Goodman-D-Schuylkill) memorializing the U.S. EPA to uniformly enforce

RCRA on all hazardous waste reclamation companies, House Resolution 864 (Mundy-D-

Luzerne) memorializing Congress to pass the Fracturing Responsibility and Awareness of

Chemicals Act; the Consumer Affairs Committee holds a hearing on Senate Bill168 (Brubaker-R-Lancaster) authorizing boroughs to contract for electric service; the Labor

Relations Committee holds a hearing on workplace and safety issues relating to Marcellus

Shale operations in Scranton.

Senate: the Urban Affairs and Housing Committee holds a hearing on House Bill

712 (J.Taylor-R-Philadelphia) authorizing urban land banks for the conversion of vacant or tax-

delinquent properties at the Penn State Beaver Campus.

News From The Capitol

House Consumer Committee Hears Testimony On Regulation Of Gas Pipelines

Rep. Curt Schroder (R-Chester) told the House Consumer Affairs Committee this week

communities and the property rights of individual citizens are being infringed upon by the

federal government and big gas companies.

Rep. Schroder is proposing legislation to establish a regional interstate compact that will

take the responsibility of siting interstate gas pipelines away from the Federal Energy Regulatory

Commission.

"From what I have seen and based upon the experience of Chester County residents and

municipalities, the current system of siting natural gas pipelines is broken," Rep. Schroder said.

"It works just fine from the perspective of the pipeline company because FERC acts primarily asa rubber stamp to accommodate the wishes of the pipeline company to take the least expensive

route to their destination.

"When this happens, individual and commercial property owners lose," he said. "Their

land is devoured by pipeline easements and natural and historic resources are often threatened.

The individual is left with little recourse except to plead their case to a distant and unresponsive

federal bureaucracy whose only mission seems to be to facilitate the pipeline company's desires."

House Bill 1817 would establish the Mid Atlantic Area Natural Gas Corridor Compact.

Rep. Schroder told the committee his legislation would bring decision making closer to the

people and force pipeline companies to be more responsive to the needs and concerns of the

community.

Rep. Schroder's legislation would take into consideration the presence of protected areassuch as agricultural land, monuments, historic sites, wilderness areas, scenic rivers and

waterways. It would also consider the potential impact on the environment, fish and wildlife.

In addition, House Bill 1817 would address concerns raised by property owners in his

district who have had their land taken by eminent domain to accommodate a pipeline. Rep.

Schroder's bill would require rights of way be minimized to lessen the impact on property

owners.

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"The presence of a regional compact would protect citizens, commercial interests and the

environment from a gas industry that places a higher premium on expediency and a federal

government that seems to support that approach," said Rep. Schroder. "There are very real

human and environmental concerns that need to be addressed and those concerns have been

ignored for far too long. My bill would change that."

House Environmental Committee Meets To Consider Drilling, Hazardous Waste Bills

House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee meets September 14 to consider bills

related to natural gas drilling and hazardous waste facility regulation.

The bills include--

-- House Bill 381 (Mundy-D-Luzerne) providing for the tracking of wastewater from gas wells;

-- House Resolution 826 (Goodman-D-Schuylkill) memorializing the U.S. EPA to uniformly

enforce RCRA on all hazardous waste reclamation companies; and

-- House Resolution 864 (Mundy-D-Luzerne) memorializing Congress to pass the Fracturing

Responsibility and Awareness of Chemicals Act.

Rep. Camille "Bud" George (D-Clearfield) serves as Majority Chair and Rep. ScottHutchinson (R-Venango) serves as Minority Chair.

News From Around The State

Rendell Sets His Priorities For Using Natural Gas Production Severance Tax

After making campaign-style appearances at stops in Western and Eastern

Pennsylvania to promote the adoption of the Marcellus Shale natural gas

production tax, Gov. Rendell told the Philadelphia Inquirer he was not

confident legislators would meet the October 1 deadline to pass the tax.A spokesperson for Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi (R-

Delaware) said Senate Republicans are working to meet the deadline. The

Senator's office said they would like to see a significant portion of the

funding generated by the tax go to local governments and environmental

programs, specifically a refocused Growing Greener.

At the events, the Governor said a series of accidents and environmental concerns

illustrate the challenges the natural gas industry poses to the state and the reason why drilling

companies need to pay their fair share to address them.

Travel virtually anywhere throughout southwestern Pennsylvania and youll see that

theres been a phenomenal resurgence in drilling activities as big oil and gas companies seek to

extract the trillions and trillions of cubic feet of natural gas that is a mile beneath our feet in theMarcellus Shale, said Gov. Rendell. Theres no doubt that this activity and this industry is

creating new economic opportunities for our state, but it also creates a lot of new challenges for

the host communities and poses a threat to our environment.

The public recognizes this, and thats why eight out of 10 Pennsylvanians recently

polled said that they favor a tax on gas companies to fund programs that will protect our

environment and help local governments handled increased demands on their services, Gov.

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Rendell added, noting that 413 permits have been issued and 244 wells have been drilled in

Washington County as part of the Marcellus play since the beginning of 2009.

The drilling activity has also resulted in dangerous incidents that have required action by

local emergency responders. He pointed to a hydraulic fracturing wastewater pond that ignited in

the spring of 2010 in the countys Hopewell Township. The resulting cloud of black smoke could

be seen for miles.The Governor also cited the June 2010 well blowout in Clearfield County, which sent

natural gas and fracking fluid into the air for 16 hours before the well could be brought back

under control.

In each of these instances, local emergency responders such as firefighters, police

officers, medics and hazmat crews were called to manage the emergencies until gas company

experts could further address the situations, said the Governor. That created considerable costs

to the municipalities and taxpayers that support those crews. It underscores the reason we need a

robust severance taxso the communities where drilling is taking place get the financial help

they need to tackle these problems.

At least 45 incidents required an emergency response by the Department of

Environmental Protection in the last year. According to PennDOT, Marcellus drillers havebonded 1,722 miles statewide and of those, 1,067 miles, or 62 percent, have been damaged, with

380 miles needing significant repairs or reconstruction.

He also said a similar share should go to environmental programs and organizations such

as county conservation districts and the Fish and Boat Commission. The Governor was joined by

John Arway, the commissions executive director, and Commissioner Tom Shetterly.

These gentlemen made the trip here today because they know what is at stake, and want

to make sure our streams and gamelands are protected for todays sportsmen, sportswomen, and

for our sons and daughters, said Gov. Rendell.

Gov. Rendell also said on August 18 $70 million from the severance tax was needed to

fill a $280 million hole in the state budget this year caused by a decrease in federal funding forMedicaid.

Earlier this year, Gov. Rendell proposed implementing a severance tax on natural gas

extraction that would be modeled after West Virginias levy straight 5-percent on sales, plus

an additional 4.7 cents for each thousand cubic feet of gas produced.

As part of the state budget deal reached in July, the General Assembly agreed to enact a

severance tax by October 1.

Pennsylvania quickly becoming one of the top 10 states for natural gas production in the

countryup from 15th just a few years agobut is the only major fossil fuel producer that does

not levy a tax on natural gas extraction, Gov. Rendell told the crowd. Thats just not fair. With

your help, we are going to change that.

"The natural gas industry is up and running strong in Pennsylvania and has many of theworld's largest energy companies backing it," Gov. Rendell said, citing multibillion dollar deals

by Exxon Mobil and Dutch Royal Shell, among others, to access Marcellus Shale natural gas

reserves. "These gas companies are paying top dollar because they know they can earn record

profits. Exxon Mobil reported a record $45.2 billion profit in 2008, and the company's most

recent financial statement does not report any taxes paid to the IRS.

To date this year, 1,885 natural gas wells have been drilled in Pennsylvania. Of that total,

897 have been drilled to access gas deposits in the Marcellus Shale.

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The Department of Environmental Protection has also issued nearly 4,549 drilling

permits this year, of which 1,976 were for Marcellus development. The department is on track to

issue approximately 2,700 Marcellus permits this year a 36-percent increase over permits

issued in 2009.

The House returns to session on September 13 and so far has not mustered the votes

needed to pass one of several versions of the severance tax now in the House. The Senate hassaid he will not deal with the issue until the House passes a bill.

NewsClips: Rendell Says Agreement Unlikely On Marcellus Shale Tax

Governor Not Confident Of Meeting Oct. 1 Marcellus Tax Deadline

Rendell: Candidates Need To Level With Public On Taxes

Marcellus Shale Production Data Exceeds Expectations

Rendell Asks Support For Drilling Tax

Governor Pushes For Passage Of Marcellus Shale Tax

Rendell Pays Visit, Pitches For Drilling Tax

Governor Pushes For Severance Tax On Gas Drillers

Groups Seek Growing Greener Funding From Marcellus Shale

Onorato: Tom Corbett And Marcellus Shale DevelopmentOnorato Hits Corbett's Shale Tax Opposition

Onorato Says Natural Gas Tax Needed To Protect Environment

Rendell Says Gas Drilling Moratorium Won't Happen Here

Game Commissioners Panel Backs Severance Tax

Pro-Drilling Groups Critical Of Natural Gas Drilling Moratorium

Column: Marcellus Shale Gas Drilling Critics Get Whammied

Editorial: State Lawmakers Play Shale Game

Editorial: Try Catching Up To WV On Gas Drilling Tax

Game Commission Board Approves Marcellus Shale Tax Resolution

The Board of Game Commissioners this week approved a resolution to support the efforts to

implement a severance tax on Marcellus Shale gas extraction, and encouraged legislators to

ensure that a portion of those funds are directed to the states four resource agencies, including

the Game Commission, to help fund the monitoring of the environmental impacts of the drilling

processes.

As the Pennsylvania Game Commissions financial position continues to weaken, the

Board of Game Commissioners needed to take action to support the agencys mission and

Marcellus Shale issues relating to the State Game Land System, said Board President James

Jay Delaney.

Following is a copy of the resolution approved by the Board.

Resolution by the

Pennsylvania Game Commission Board of Commissioners

A resolution expressing the Pennsylvania Game Commission Board of Commissioners support

for a Severance Tax on Marcellus Shale Gas by the Pennsylvania Legislature.

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Whereas; Pennsylvania has the largest and most active deposit of Marcellus Shale Gas in

the United States.

Whereas; by 2014, Pennsylvania is expected to produce 10 percent of all natural gas

consumed in the United States

Whereas; Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection has issued 4,600

Marcellus Shale drilling permits of which at least 244 have been drilled and approximately 636are currently being developed.

Whereas; Legislation is set for late September, early October to include a severance tax

around 5 percent at wellhead production.

Whereas; Time being of the essence: 50 percent of gas produced from wells historically

peaks during the first five years of production

Whereas; The Pennsylvania Game Commission would benefit from a minimum of 2.0

percent of the total revenues from a severance tax.

Whereas; In addition to the Commonwealth, many State and Local agencies as well as

Pennsylvania resource agencies including Department of Environmental Protection, Department

of Conservation and Natural Resources and the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission have

come forward in support of a severance tax in an effort to help fund the monitoring of theenvironmental impacts of the drilling processes.

Now Therefore; Be it resolved that the Pennsylvania Game Commission supports

legislation designed to levy a severance tax on revenues for the benefit of the people and wildlife

of the Commonwealth through the equitable distribution of a portion of these specific funds to

the resource agencies.

The Board of Game Commissioners currently is comprised of the following: James Jay

Delaney, Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne County, President; Ronald Weaner, Biglerville, Adams County,

Vice-President; David Schreffler, Everett, Bedford County, Secretary; Thomas Boop, Sunbury,

Northumberland County; Gregory J. Isabella, Philadelphia; David J. Putnam, Centre Hall, Centre

County; Robert Schlemmer, Export, Westmoreland County; and Ralph A. Martone, New Castle,Lawrence County.

NewsClip: Game Commissioners Panel Backs Severance Tax

DEP Investigating Source Of Methane Bubbles In Susquehanna River

The Department of Environmental Protection is continuing to investigate the source of stray

methane gas detected in the Susquehanna River and at six private water wells in Wilmont

Township, Bradford County, late last week.

"Chesapeake Energy has been working at the direction of DEP to determine the source or

sources of the stray gas," said DEP Secretary John Hanger. "Gas migration is a serious,

potentially dangerous problem. Chesapeake must stop the gas from migrating."Chesapeake has six Marcellus Shale gas wells located on the Welles well pads one three

and four, located two to three miles northwest of the Susquehanna River. These wells are

believed to be the source of stray gas that was detected on August 4 at a residence located on

Paradise Road in Terry Township.

DEP issued a notice of violation to Chesapeake and required it to provide and implement

a plan to remediate. Progress has been made, but, to date, this violation has not yet been fully

resolved.

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While neither DEP nor Chesapeake have been able to conclusively show that the Welles

wells are the source, DEP believes that they are the most likely source.

The wells were drilled between December 2009 and March of this year; however the

wells have not been fractured or "fracked" and are not producing Marcellus gas. For that reason,

DEP believes that any stray gas migrating from these wells is not from the Marcellus Shale

formation, but from a more shallow rock formation.Chesapeake has screened 26 residences within a one-half mile radius of the river and

found six water wells to have elevated levels of methane. Chesapeake monitored each of the

houses served by an impacted water well and found no indication of methane gas in the homes.

On September 3, high levels of methane were detected in the crawl space under a

seasonal residence. Emergency responders were contacted to ventilate below the home and gas

and electric utilities were shut off to eliminate any potential for ignition.

Chesapeake has equipped water wells with high levels of methane with ventilation

systems and installed five methane monitors in the homes associated with the impacted wells.

Additionally, Chesapeake has provided potable water to the effected residents.

No residents have been evacuated from their homes.

DEP first received information about water bubbles in the Susquehanna River late onSeptember 2, with additional reports received the next morning of bubbling in two private

drinking water wells nearby. In response, DEP sent two teams of inspectors to investigate the

source of stray methane gas on September 3.

One team of DEP inspectors went to the Susquehanna River near to Sugar Run where

bubbling had been reported. DEP collected samples of the gas for isotopic analysis which is used

to identify the source. Analysis of the lab results will be complete within 2 weeks.

Biogenic methane gas is formed at shallow depths from the natural organic

decomposition of waste, such as one would find in swamp gas. Thermogenic methane gas is

produced in deeper geologic formations and is the gas typically developed for economic

purposes.Both DEP and Chesapeake have taken gas samples from the water well heads and the

natural gas wells. The results will help to determine if the source of the stray gas detected at the

river and in the water wells is the Welles wells.

Anyone who notices unusual bubbling in surface or well water should notify DEP

immediately by calling 570-327-3636.

Duquesne Professors Conduct Marcellus Shale Environmental Study

A Duquesne University group led by Dr. John Stolz, director of the DU Center for

Environmental Research and Education, will participate in an environmental study of the

Tenmile Creek Watershed in Washington County to serve as baseline information in advance ofMarcellus Shale drilling in the area.

To this point, no water and environmental assessments have been conducted in this area

in advance of drilling that removes natural gas from shale formations, thus no claims of fouled

water and environmental impact from the drilling can be easily verified, Stolz explained.

The Heinz Endowments provided a grant of nearly $2 million to a local academic

consortium, including an $87,320 grant to Duquesne, to complete the study.

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The Endowments grant will fund surveys of wildlife and other data collection that

establishes a baseline of ecosystem health. This will enable more accurate evaluation of changes

in conditions when natural gas extraction in the Marcellus Shale formation moves into full

production, said Caren Glotfelty, director of the Endowments Environment Program.

We are interested in doing an assessment of Tenmile Creek Watershed in areas where

there has been drilling and where drilling hasnt yet started, Stolz said. Will there be an impactif it is drilled? If so, what is that impact?

Stolz will study select microbes. Colleagues in the Department of Biological Sciences,

Dr. Brady Porter will examine fish, and Drs. Kyle Selcer and Sarah Woodley will inventory

salamanders. The field studies will be conducted at three points in time low, high and normal

flow periodson this Monongahela River tributary.

Their information will become part of a larger database. Collaborators from the

University of Pittsburgh will maintain a public website for the information at

www.fractracker.org, and those from CMU will conduct elemental analysis.

The grant will fund the study through June 2011.

DEP Releases Preliminary Marcellus Shale Production Data

The Department of Environmental Protection this week releasedpreliminary production data for

Marcellus Shale natural gas wells in the state.

Under Act 15 of 2010, Marcellus operators were required to report their well production

totals from July 1, 2009 to June 30, 2010 by August 15.

According to DEP, 18 of the states 74 Marcellus Shale operators had yet to submit the

required information as of September 7. The secretary has said the department will pursue

whatever enforcement action is necessary to ensure compliance with the law.

Gov. Rendell signed legislation in March that does away with provisions in the Oil and

Gas Act that required production data to be kept confidential for five years, removing a much-criticized layer of secrecy and giving the public and government unprecedented access to this

information, said DEP Secretary John Hanger. This action modernizes our data collection and

reporting processes and gives the public and policymakers a clear picture of how much natural

gas is being generated by the rapidly-growing Marcellus Shale industry.

Secretary Hanger added that beginning November 1, the public will be able to search all

oil and natural gas production data statewide, including historic production data, and will also be

able to track how much drilling waste and wastewater is being generated at drilling sites.

Under Act 15, all other oil and gas production besides Marcellus wells must be reported

annually. Updated reports will be made available every six months.

A copy of the production data is available online.

PA Clean Water Campaign Marcellus Shale Citizen Action Day September 21

The PA Clean Water Campaign is sponsoring a Marcellus Shale Citizen Action Day on

September 21 in Harrisburg with a lobby day and a rally at noon in the Capitol Rotunda.

The Campaign is urging legislators to: Moratorium on drilling, Fair Taxation a

severance tax to fund environmental protection programs, No Forced Pooling residents should

not be forced to sign gas leases they dont want, Protections for our drinking water, Require

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inspections at drilling sites increase monitoring and enforcement, Require full disclosure of

hazardous chemicals used and Protect our State Forests.

The event is sponsored by: PA Campaign for Clean Water, Sierra Club, Clean Water

Action, Delaware Riverkeeper Network, Earthworks Oil and Gas Accountability Project and

PennEnvironment.

For more information, visit the PA Clean Water Campaign website or contact Steve at412-765-3053, x210 or Erin at 215-545-0250.

Marcellus Shale Coalition Launches Online Marcellus Jobs Headquarters

The Marcellus Shale Coalition this week launched an interactive website dedicated to connecting

job seekers with its member companies operating throughout the Marcellus region.

The webpage offers in-depth descriptions of the broad range of jobs available in the

industry, as well as current openings and employment opportunities.

Lancaster County Clean Water Consortium Chesapeake Bay Cleanup Seminar On Sept.

21

The Lancaster County Clean Water Consortium will hold a seminar on September 21 to hear an

update on efforts by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Department of

Environmental Protection to reduce nutrients and sediments flowing into the Chesapeake Bay.

Barry Smith, Manor Township Manager, will discuss a recent MS4 stormwater

regulatory audit. There will also be a panel of local stakeholders to discuss why it is critical for

Lancaster County to control its own water quality destiny and the role of the Consortium in

accomplishing this goal.

The seminar will be held from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the Manheim Township Public

Library located in the Overlook Community Park.The mission of the Consortium is to devise a proactive, efficient and cohesive

countywide strategy to accomplish restoration of the waterways of Lancaster County and

ultimately address pollution reduction targets for the Chesapeake Bay.

The Consortium is open to all municipalities, authorities, non-profit organizations,

businesses, agricultural operators, developers, landowners, school districts and other interested

stakeholders.

The Conservation Foundation of Lancaster County is helping to fund the Consortium.

For more information, contact Marylou Barton by sending email to:

[email protected].

South Mountain Speakers Series Highlights Forests, Land Use In Chesapeake BayWatershed

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Learn about the unique role that the South Mountain landscapeplays in the

Chesapeake Bay watershed during the next South Mountain Speakers

Series on September 16, from 6 to 9 p.m. at Harrisburg Area Community

College's Wildwood Conference Center in Harrisburg.

The event, entitled, "From Mountain to Sea: The Chesapeake Bay,"

is free and open to the public. It will start with an informational fair at 6p.m. on current activities and work being done throughout the mid-state on

the Chesapeake Bay.

At 7 p.m., Dr. Claire Jantz, associate professor of geography from

the Geography and Earth Science Department at Shippensburg University,

will discuss the relationships and impacts of local land use and human activity on the

Chesapeake Bay ecosystem.

The Bay is both the largest and historically most productive estuary in the U.S., and

Professor Jantz will discuss how sustainable development and smart growth strategies can help

restore the bay's health and productivity.

After the lecture, a panel including Dr. Jantz; Harry Campbell, science advocate at the

Chesapeake Bay Foundation; and Donna Morelli, Pennsylvania director at the Alliance for theChesapeake Bay, will discuss contemporary environmental issues facing the bay and respond to

questions from the audience.

The South Mountain Speakers Series is organized in the spirit of the Michaux Lectures, a

series of talks given by Joseph Rothrock as part of his work to restore Pennsylvania's forests

during the late 19th century.

The series is led by the South Mountain Partnership, which is a unified group of private

citizens, businesses, not-for-profit organizations and government representatives in Adams,

Cumberland, Franklin and York counties.

The partnership works to advance agricultural, forest and freshwater conservation by

encouraging best-management practices in agriculture and forestry, and supporting land andwatershed conservation.

The South Mountain Partnership, the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources,

the Nature Conservancy and Harrisburg Area Community College are sponsoring this event.

Next Event November 4

The next event in the speakers series will be "Growth in the Garden: Food and

Sustainability," on November 4, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Dickinson College in Carlisle.

To learn more about the speaker series, visit southmountainspeakers.blogspot.com or

contact Kim Williams at 717-258-5771.

The South Mountain Partnership was sparked by DCNR's Conservation Landscape

Initiative an effort to engage communities, local partners, state agencies and funding

opportunities to conserve the high-quality natural and cultural resources while enhancing theregion's economic viability.

The 400,000-acre South Mountain region is at the northern end of the Blue Ridge

Mountains.

For more information about the partnership, visit the South Mountain Blog or call the

Appalachian Trail Conservancy at 717-258-5771.

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TreeVitalize Riparian Forest Buffer Workshops Set For September 11, 22

The Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay has scheduled a TreeVitalize Riparian Forest Buffer

Workshop for September 11 at the York County Annex in York, Pa and September 22 at the

Lancaster County Conservation District Farm and Home Center in Lancaster, Pa.

The workshops are designed for community groups, schools and municipal leaders whowant to learn more about how to plan, plant, protect and pay for forested riparian buffers in their

watershed.

The workshops are free, but pre-registration is requested for planning purposes. The

workshops will start at 9:00 a.m. and run through noon.

For more information on the York workshop, call 717-737-8622 or send email

to: [email protected].

For more information on the Lancaster workshop, contact Matt Kofroth at 717-299-5361

ext. 124 or by sending email to: [email protected].

Adams County Marsh/Rock Creek Water Resources Management Plan Meeting Sept. 21

The Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin and the Department of Environmental

Protection will hold a kick-off meeting for the pilot Water Resources Management Plan for

Marsh and Rock Creek watersheds in Adams County on September 21.

The meeting will be held at the Adams County Agricultural Center in Gettysburg starting

at 7:00 p.m.

Local input from the watershed's many stakeholders (local government, water suppliers,

agricultural users, citizens watershed groups, anglers) working together will best direct future

water policy in this watershed.

As one of the first of its kind in this Commonwealth, the assessment will examine the

challenges to clean, sustainable water supplies in the watershed, assess the amounts that can besafely used, and find ways to deliver a sustainable water supply while maintaining water quality

and other community values. Additionally, a successful process in this watershed can be used as

a template in other areas of this Commonwealth.

The purpose of this meeting is to: introduce the project to prospective advisory

committee members and the general public; identify participants' concerns on issues facing the

watersheds; discuss ways for developing recommendations as an outcome of this project; and

nominate project advisory committee members for consideration by the Potomac Regional

Committee.

DEP said more information on this meeting will be published on its Public Participation

Centerwebpage. (formal notice)

For more information, contact Jay Braund, Water Planning Office, P. O. Box 2063,Harrisburg, PA 17105-2063, 717-783-2402 or send email to:[email protected].

DEP Awards Coastal Zone Management Grants

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Organizations that work to protect and preserve Pennsylvania's

coastal zones along Lake Erie and the Delaware Estuary will

benefit from $1.4 million in Coastal Zone Management Grants that

were announced this week by Environmental Protection Secretary

John Hanger.

The next round of applications for Coastal ZoneManagement Grants is October 15.

The annual grants, largely funded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric

Administration, were awarded to 30 non-profit organizations and governmental agencies in

counties that border Pennsylvania's coastal zones or have a direct impact on water quality in

those areas.

"The restoration and protection of the Delaware Estuary and the Lake Erie shoreline is

critical to the quality of life in coastal communities," Secretary Hanger said. "The organizations

receiving these grants are working to conserve and protect these coastal resources and provide

opportunities for long-term development strategies that will preserve and improve economic and

recreational opportunities."

Coastal Zone Management Grants are intended to support programs that measure theimpact of various pollution sources, improve public access, preserve habitat, and educate the

public on the benefits of the state's coastal zones.

A list of grants awarded is available online.

For more information, visit DEP's Coastal Zone Management Program webpage.

Save The Date: PA Floodplain Managers Annual Conference October 25-26

The PA Association of Floodplain Managers will hold their annual conference October 25-26 in

Williamsport.

The agenda includes a status and plans for national and state floodplain managementprograms and Marcellus Shale development and permitting in floodplains. Attendees will

receive continuing education credits for participating.

For more information, contact the Conference Manager at 717-763-0930 or send email

to: [email protected].

EPA Challenges Colleges To Recycle At Football Games

As part of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agencys 2010 Game Day Challenge, colleges

across the country will compete to see who can reduce, reuse, and recycle the most waste.

Registration for the competition is now open and the winning colleges will be announced

in November. Any college or university in the U.S. with a football team can compete, andregister through September 30.

The challenge is for schools to design a waste reduction plan for one home football game

in October and measure the results. Schools can collect common materials for recycling

including paper, beverage containers, cardboard, and food to be donated and composted. The

amount of waste generated and recycled will determine which school is the greenest.

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Schools can win in several categories: least amount of waste generated per attendee;

greatest greenhouse gas reductions; highest recycling rate; highest organics reduction rate (i.e.,

food donation and composting); and highest combined recycling and composting rate.

Winners will be publicized on EPAs website.

The competition is sponsored by EPAs WasteWise program, a voluntary program

through which organizations eliminate costly municipal solid waste and select industrial wastes,benefiting their bottom line and the environment. Launched in 1994, the program has more than

2,700 members.

To register, visit the EPA Game Day Challenge webpage, visit the EPA WasteWise

program for more information on waste reduction.

Learn more about solutions to other press problems on Challenge.gov, a new online

platform that empowers the federal government to bring the best ideas and top talent to bear on

our nations most pressing problems.

On Challenge.gov, entrepreneurs, leading innovators and citizen solvers can provide

novel solutions to tough problems and, at the same time, take pride in engaging with their

government to advance national priorities.

PA Professional Recyclers Host Organics Roundtable October 19

The Professional Recyclers of Pennsylvania will host an Organics Roundtable on October 19 in

Wilmington, DE with a field trip to Longwood Gardens.

The program will begin at the Peninsula Compost Group's Wilmington Organic

Recycling Center in Wilmington, DE.

Participants will then drive to Longwood Gardens in Kennet Square, Pa and enjoy lunch,

a brief business meeting followed by a tour of Longwood's composting and recycling areas.

For more information, RSVP to Jan Arnold by calling 800-769-7767 or send email to:

[email protected].

Municipal Waste Roundtables Set For October 12, 14

The Professional Recyclers of Pennsylvania Municipal Committee is sponsoring two Municipal

Roundtables, one on October 12 in New Kensington and October 14 in Palmyra.

The Municipal Roundtable/West is scheduled for October 12 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the

Allegheny Valley Habitat for Humanitys ReStore, 1170 Industrial Blvd., New Kensington, Pa.

After the Roundtable, attendees will have the opportunity to peruse the store.

The Municipal Roundtable/East is scheduled for October 14 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the

North Londonderry Townshipbuilding, 655 East Ridge Road, Palmyra, Pa. A tour of the

Townships yard waste facility will also occur so please wear appropriate shoes.Both Roundtables are open to all municipal personnel, County Recycling Coordinators

and staff, and those interested in learning more about recycling and organics collections as well

as grant specifics.

Please contact Jan Arnold, PROP Program Manager, by sending emailt to:

[email protected] or call 1-800-769-PROP for more information or to RSVP. The

RSVP deadline for both Roundtables is October 7.

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Clean Technology Resource Center Now Available For PA Small Businesses

The Pennsylvania Small Business Development Centers have established a Clean Technology

Resource Centerto help small businesses looking to develop and commercialize clean

technology.

The Center was developed with the help of a $125,000 Small Business Clean Technologygrant from the U.S. Small Business Administration,.

Small businesses in Pennsylvania that are developing new clean technologies or use

renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar energy, can tap the Clean Technology

Resource Center for expanded business management assistance.

Services include evaluating market opportunities, developing business plans, sourcing

material and securing financing, including funds available through Small Business Innovation

Research and Small Business Technology Transfer programs.

"Demand for clean technology is driving the growth of an emerging global industry

sector," Christian Conroy, State Director of the Pennsylvania SBDC, said. "The Clean

Technology Resource Center underscores the SBDC's commitment to help small firms compete

by harnessing the enormous potential of technologies that will position Pennsylvania as a leaderin technology development."

Clean technology is a fast-growing investment area that is both economically competitive

and productive. By using less material and energy, clean technology generates less waste and

causes less environmental damage than its alternatives. Technologies span a range of industries,

including energy, water, manufacturing, advanced materials and transportation.

Pennsylvania is one of three states to receive the federal clean tech grant award. The

state has an abundance of renewable resources, especially in the areas of biomass, wind and

solar. Specific sectors stand to benefit.

Manufacturers in the wood and manufactured housing sectors could, for instance, turn

biomass-rich waste materials from an expense to a revenue generator. The agricultural sectormay also have additional uses for its residues, including manures and spent-mushroom soil.

The Clean Technology Resource Center contributes to the SBDC's efforts to equip small

businesses facing increasing energy costs and diminished resources. Electricity costs are

expected to rise, making renewable energy and energy-saving technologies extremely attractive

options.

SBA Administrator Karen Mills said, "[The] Small Business Development Centers are

well positioned to help equip small businesses with energy efficiency tools and information. It's

a win-win because a small business saves on energy bills while contributing to the growth of

green jobs in other local businesses."

For more information, visit the Clean Technology Resource Centerwebpage or contact

1-877-771-CTRC (2872).

Nature Abounds Opens Office In Clearfield

Nature Abounds, a national environmental non-profit organization, opened a new office in

Clearfield, and the staff has been working hard to get it ready for visitors.

Since incorporation in 2008, Nature Abounds has engaged approximately 1,500

volunteers across the country in 49 states. Volunteers have been engaged in Nature Abounds

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citizen-science opportunities IceWatch USA and Watch the Wild, observing and reporting on

weather, wildlife, seasonal changes, as well as ice and snow measurements in addition to

research projects and various projects in their workplaces and gatherings.

Nature Abounds is also working with the Pennsylvania Senior Environment Corps to

revitalize and expand the program where senior volunteers (55+) monitor the commonwealths

streams and waterways. This project is funded in part by the U.S. Environmental ProtectionAgency with guidance of the Department of Environmental Protection.

Currently, Nature Abounds is working on a new program called the Going Green Corps,

where they will engage and train volunteers to work with community members and local

businesses on making the best choices for themselves while keeping the planet in mind as well.

They hope to launch the program in the Spring of 2011.

Nature Abounds looks forward to working more with communities across the state,

working to make the area as environmentally-friendly as possible while promoting a strong

economy," said Nature Abounds President Melinda Hughes-Wert. "In talking to Pennsylvania

residents, they really want to do whats right for the community as well as the planet.

Nature Abounds educates and empowers citizens to sustain their community through

environmental stewardship such as watershed protection, conservation of native flora and fauna,and overall "going green.".

For more information, visit theNature Abounds website.

DCNR Designates Wild Plant Sanctuaries In Four Counties

The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources this week announced the dedication of

properties in Chester, Montgomery, Washington and Westmoreland counties as Wild Plant

Sanctuaries.

DCNR will designate Duff Park in Murrysville, Westmoreland County, and Robison

Acres, a private property in Washington County, as Pennsylvania in a public ceremony onSeptember 15 at 7 p.m. at the Murrysville Municipal Building, 4100 Sardis Road, Murrysville.

Duff Park is an extraordinary place located less than 20 miles east of Pittsburgh.

Murrysville's first community park, this 147-acre conservation-oriented park occupies a forested

hillside above Turtle Creek. The park supports over 60 species of wildflowers and rare old

growth woodlands that draw a steady stream of visitors to its five miles of trails.

Robison Acres encompasses 33 acres owned by John and Betty Robison. It is mostly

wooded with oak, hickory and varieties of maple including black maple. A spring-fed stream

provides a home for salamanders, frogs and even a few snapping turtles. Its woods and fields

support Christmas and maidenhair ferns, Solomon's seal, wild columbine, butterfly weed,

penstemon and a long list of other native plants.

The agency will also designate portions of three preserves owned byNatural Lands Trustin Chester and Montgomery counties as sanctuaries--

-- The Unionville Barrens on Natural Lands Trust's ChesLen Preserve (Newlin Township,

Chester County). Situated along the West Branch of the Brandywine Creek, the 1,263-acre

ChesLen Preserve is the largest private nature preserve in southeastern Pennsylvania. Serpentine

barrens derive their name from the presence of serpentinite, a type of rare, greenish bedrock from

which the soils are weathered. The soil's peculiar chemical characteristics high in magnesium

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and nickel and low in calcium make it inhospitable to all but a few tenacious plant species that

have adapted to these extreme conditions.

-- The Sugartown Serpentine Barrens on Natural Lands Trust's Willisbrook Preserve (Willistown

Township, Chester County). The 126-acre preserve includes just over 20 acres of serpentine

barrens that support a diversity of rare plants. NLT preserves and maintains this unique

ecosystem through periodic controlled burning of the grassy barrens, which prevents theneighboring woodlands from overtaking the rare ecosystem.

-- The Fulshaw Craeg Preserve (Salford Township, Montgomery County). The 298-acre Fulshaw

Craeg Preserve is situated in a wild and rugged valley. Ridge Valley Creek, edged by beautiful

wildflower meadows, runs through the property. The meadows support a variety of plant species

of special concern, as well as butterflies and birds that rely on the habitat for food and shelter.

Many of the plants found on the three Natural Lands Trust, or NLT, sites are species of

special concern. NLT has been actively managing these preserves to protect the unique

ecological features that allow the rare species to thrive. The sites also provide habitat for a

number of threatened or endangered butterfly species.

"When it comes to conservation, it's important to have good role models," DCNR

Secretary John Quigley said. "We are pleased to recognize these landowners for their voluntarywork protecting our diversity of plants, and happy to point to them as examples for others to

follow."

"We are thrilled to have three of our nature preserves designated as Wild Plant

Sanctuaries," said Molly Morrison, NLT's president. "We believe that protecting open spaces

from development is only the first step in conservation; we are equally committed to managing

and restoring our lands to ensure ecological excellence and sustainability. The presence of these

rare plants at our preserves is a wonderful validation of our land stewardship practices."

NLT owns and manages 41 nature preserves totaling over 21,000 acres, and holds

conservation easements and other restrictions exceeding 18,000 acres.

The Wild Plant Sanctuary Program was created through the Wild Resource ConservationAct of 1982 to establish a voluntary statewide network of native plant sanctuaries. Landowners

agree to protect the area and educate others about the importance of native and wild plants and

habitats. In return, they receive assistance with a management plan if needed, and have access to

technical assistance and ecological checkups.

Other wild plant sanctuaries include a 7.6-acre property owned by Michael and Barbara

Yavorosky in Lackawanna and Wayne Counties, designated in June 2009, and the Ned Smith

Center for Nature and Art, a 500-acre site near Millersburg that was designated on July 22, 2010.

For more information about the Wild Plant Sanctuary Program, contact DCNR's Bureau

of Forestry at 717-787-3444 or send email to: [email protected], or visit

DCNR's Wild Plant Sanctuaries webpage.

Appalachian Audubon Society Native Plant Sale September 18 Near Harrisburg

The Appalachian Audubon Society will host its 4th Annual Native Plant Sale on September 13

from 11:00 a.m. to 4 p.m. The sale will take place at Meadowood Nursery, 24 Meadowood Dr.

Hummelstown, Pa rain or shine.

Meadowood carries over 300 varieties of native plants - trees, shrubs, perennials, and

more.

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Pennsylvania native plants provide essential food, shelter, and nesting sites for the birds,

butterflies, and beneficial pollinators that live in our area at just the right time in their life cycles.

They are adapted to our climate, soil, and moisture levels and provide reduced maintenance.

Also pick up information on the Audubon at Home recognition program to help

homeowners develop healthy bird habitats. To qualify, a property should include 25 percent or

more native plants, as well as sources of water, food, shelter, and nesting sites. A simpleapplication can be filled out at the event.

The top 10 plants for birds and wildlife from Dr. Douglas Tallamy's best-selling book

"Bringing Nature Home; a Case for Native Gardening" will also be available.

You can also learn how to make a rain garden to capture and hold your roof and yard

runoff to help save local streams.

All proceeds from the sale are used for nature and environmental education and

scholarships for people in our community. Cash or checks only, please.

More information on the Native Plant Sale or the upcoming Birdseed Sale, visit the

Appalachian Audubon Society or call 717-732-5615.

Fall Issue Of Western PA Conservancy Conserve Newsletter Now Online

The new issue of Conserve, the Western PA Conservancy newsletter is now online and full of

interesting articles on watershed conservation, land preservation, environmental education and

other activities by WPC and its members.

DEP Now Accepting Applications For Alternative Fuels Electric Vehicle Grants

The Department of Environmental Protection is now accepting applications for grants under a

special electric vehicle infrastructure solicitation of the Alternative Fuels Incentive Grant

Program. Applications are due November 12.The Department is seeking applications for the installation and operation of eligible

electric vehicle charging stations in densely populated areas of this Commonwealth.

Funding is available for school districts, municipal authorities, political subdivisions,

incorporated nonprofit entities, corporations, limited liability companies or partnerships

incorporated or registered in this Commonwealth for the installation of eligible electric vehicle

charging stations in targeted areas of high population density.

Project costs cannot be incurred before July 1, 2010. (formal notice)

DEP said program guidelines and applications will be posted online.

Dominion Employees Putting Energy To Work For The Environment In Projects

As part of their annual "Putting Our Energy to Work For the Environment" project, employees of

Dominion energy completed 12 projects in their service territory, including one in Pennsylvania.

The Pennsylvania project was recreating the Backyard Habitat Garden, building a split

rail fence and creating a pathway at the Beechwood Farms Nature Reserve, in conjunction with

the Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania, in Fox Chapel.

"Dominion does more than just supply the energy that powers homes, schools and

businesses in our neighborhoods," said William C. Hall Jr., vice president-Corporate

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Communications and Community Affairs. "Our employees take great pride in donating their time

and a lot of sweat to step out of their normal work routines and build or spruce up those civic

projects that only get done with volunteer help."

The Dominion Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the company, donates $2,500 to each

project to cover the cost of needed supplies and equipment.

PPL Electric September 23 Lighting Programs Webinar

PPL Electric Utilities is sponsoring a free webinar on September 23 to help its business,

government and institutional customers take full advantage of the companys E-power lighting

programs.

The online event, which will run from 9-10 a.m., is an effort to ensure larger, non-

residential customers know about all the energy-saving opportunities and financial incentives

available under the various E-power lighting initiatives.

Lighting can be a significant portion of the energy bill for these customers, said

Thomas C. Stathos, director of customer programs and services for PPL Electric Utilities. The

E-power lighting programs offer a variety of ways to help customers save energy and money,which can have a positive impact on their bottom line and the environment. This webinar will

provide them with program information, and helpful tips for submitting the proper rebate forms

and other documentation.

PPL Electric Utilities held a successful webinar in late June that provided an overview of

E-power programs for business customers. We had a lot of participation in that event, and were

pleased to be able to offer this as a follow-up, Stathos said.

Register online for the webinar.

All customer groups, including residential customers, should remember that most rebate

programs are retroactive to July 1, 2009. Funding is limited, however, so customers should act

quickly.For more information, visit the E-power programs webpage.

Demand-Response Programs Offer Ways Businesses Can Manage Electricity Use

PPL EnergyPlus has programs that allow commercial and industrial customers to reduce their

energy costs by creatively managing energy use in ways that enable them to make money by

curtailing electricity use when demand for power is high.

Demand-response programs provide a market-based option for businesses to sell their

ability to reduce electricity usage into the market. In this way, their electricity use becomes a

business asset that can have significant value, said Gene Alessandrini, senior vice president-

Marketing for PPL EnergyPlus.This option is not for every business, he explained. To benefit from a demand-response

option, businesses must be able and willing to cut back on electricity or run stand-by generation

when power use on the grid is at high levels.

Industrial and commercial customers who cut their usage during times of high demand

can be paid as if they were generating the same amount of power in the wholesale market, he

said. And businesses only have to be able to curtail a minimum of 100 kilowatts to participate in

the program.

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Demand-response options have broader benefits as well. They improve overall reliability

of the power grid, reduce the need for new power plant construction and help limit wholesale

electricity prices by curbing the need to run more costly generating units when demand for

electricity is high.

Members of the PPL EnergyPlus retail team have the expertise to help customers

consider if a demand-response program is right for them. Businesses throughout Pennsylvaniawhere generation rate caps are about or have expired can work with PPL EnergyPlus, regardless

of which utility delivers their electricity.

The company offers three demand-response programs, each with opportunities to receive

revenue, based on a businesss ability to curtail load.

Our programs allow our retail customers to take advantage of open, retail and wholesale

markets by giving them the flexibility to respond to their own energy needs as market prices

change over time, Alessandrini said. Our goal is to provide our customers not only the best

commodity products but also other market products, like demand response, and energy services

all with the intention to save energy costs across the board.

PPL EnergyPlus has partnered with Enerwise Global Technologies, a Comverge

company, to provide tools and information to enable participation in demand-response programs.Businesses interested in learning more should contact a PPL EnergyPlus energy expert at

1-888-289-7693.

For more information, visit the PPL EnergyPlus webpage.

DEP Acts To Repeal Unlawful Mercury Rule Covering Coal-Fired Power Plants

On August 31, the Environmental Quality Board voted to approve a rulemaking repealing the

Pennsylvania-specific rule setting limits on mercury emissions from coal-fired power plants.

The final-omitted rulemaking was necessary as a result of a 2009 PA Supreme Court

decision saying the rule was "unlawful, invalid and unenforceable."The controversial rule was adopted in 2006 after a nasty public campaign and as the

centerpiece of the Rendell Administration's environmental agenda at that time.

Visit the EQB webpage for more background and a summary of other actions taken at the

August 30 meeting.

Opportunity To Bid On DEP Water Restoration Project In Clearfield County

The Department of Environmental Protectionpublished notice of an opportunity to bid on a

water restoration project in Clearfield County.

Opinion

A Fiscal Conservative's Approach To The Natural Gas Severance TaxBy Rep. Garth Everett

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You may have heard quite a bit of buzz about implementing a "severance

tax" on Marcellus natural gas production in Pennsylvania. Just to be clear,

a "severance tax" is a tax imposed on a nonrenewable resource, such as oil

or natural gas, at the time the resource is extracted or "severed" from the

earth.

Most gas-producing states levy a severance tax of some sort onnatural gas production that is based on the volume and/or value of the gas

that is produced. Generally, landowners pay their share of the gas

severance tax based on their royalty percentage and will see these taxes

deducted on their monthly royalty revenue statements. Then the gas companies pay the balance

of the tax.

Despite Pennsylvania being the birthplace of the oil and gas industry, we have never

instituted a severance tax on either oil or gas. However, the increase of Marcellus Shale natural

gas production in Pennsylvania along with the slumping revenues from the state's traditional

sources of revenue for the General Fund, mainly sales and income taxes, have made the subject

of whether to institute a severance tax in Pennsylvania an issue of hot debate in the General

Assembly.One of my main concerns is not the tax itself but what we, as a state, do with the

proceeds of both the tax and the royalties the state receives from its leasing of state-owned land. I

believe that the Marcellus Shale gives us a unique opportunity to make some wonderful long-

term investments that will help put Pennsylvania on a solid financial footing for generations to

come.

First, let me simply say that I do not believe that the Commonwealth's proceeds from the

Marcellus Shale, whether they be tax revenue or royalty payments, should go into the General

Fund or otherwise be used for day-to-day operations of state government. This revenue is only

going to last for a finite period of time and we should not become reliant upon it to operate our

government, nor should we establish new programs to be funded by it.I think that it is obvious that the first priority for any revenue from Marcellus gas should

be used to deal with the direct, local impacts of its development.

I suggest we initially put all the state's Marcellus Shale proceeds in a restricted "impact

fund" to be used only for compensation for the direct impacts of gas development.

For example, if the Department of Environmental Protection, the Pennsylvania Fish and

Boat or Game commissions or county conservation groups need more people on staff to monitor

and enforce regulations related to the development of the Marcellus Shale, they apply to the

fund, explain why they need the funding and get funded if it is deemed that their need is directly

related to Marcellus development.

Likewise, PennDOT, a county, a local municipality, a non-profit conservation group, or

even a housing, medical, educational or social service agency, which could identify an impact orneed resulting from Marcellus development, could apply to the fund.

All this would be done through a non-partisan and unbiased agency which would monitor

and administer the fund. This way, we could ensure that all impacts of the development are

addressed and treated fairly.

During the fiscal year, any amount in excess of $250 million would be transferred from

the "impact fund" into a restricted "investment and debt reduction fund." This fund would be

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used to do exactly what the name implies - make investments in Pennsylvania's infrastructure

and environment and pay down our existing state debt.

After dealing with the direct impacts of the development, we should use any gas revenue

for long-term infrastructure investments and environmental remediation in Pennsylvania that will

benefit us, our kids and our grandchildren, and relieve future generations of the debt load with

which we have already saddled them.Locally, these funds could potentially be used for required upgrades to sewer systems

resulting from the Chesapeake Bay initiative, expanding sewer and water systems to further

clean up our streams and spur economic development, encourage the development of alternative

energy production, clean up land and streams damaged by coal mining and make many other

long-term infrastructure investments in transportation, communications and technology.

We need to learn from the lessons that Texas and other energy-producing states have

often failed to learn from - the "boom-and-bust" cycle. If we become dependent on the gas

revenue to fund day-to-day operations of government and to institute new spending programs,

what happens when the gas revenue is gone and what will we have to show for it?

We have a great opportunity here in Pennsylvania. We need to make sure we use it

wisely.

Rep. Garth D. Everett(R) represents Lycoming County and is Minority Chair of the House

Environmental Resources and Energy Subcommittee on Energy. He can be contacted through

his website.

Grants & Awards

This section gives you a heads up on upcoming deadlines for awards and grants and other

recognition programs. NEW means new from last week.

September 13--Natural Biodiversity Photo Contest

September 17-- DEP Growing Greener, Flood Protection Grants

September 24-- The Sprout Fund Western PA Biodiversity Grants

September 24-- Game Commission State Wildlife Grants

September 30-- DEP Recycling Performance Grants

September 30-- PROP GreenSylvania School Recycling Contest

October 1-- Friends Of The Wissahickon Photo Contest

October 15-- DEP Coastal Zone Management Grants

October 15--NOAA Chesapeake Bay Watershed Education & Training Grants

October 22-- PEMA Volunteer Fire Company, Ambulance Service Grants

October 25-- DEP Power Plant Air Pollution Control Technology GrantsNovember 12--NEW. DEP Alternative Fuels Electric Vehicle Grants

ASAP--NRCS Health Forest Reserve Program Grants

December 31-- Fish & Boat Commission 2010 Photo Contest

February 15-- PennVEST Water Infrastructure Funding

June 30-- DEP Nitrogen Tire Inflation System Grants