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Editor's
Notes:
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F. X. Browne, Inc. was recently approved
as a Qualified Provider for the PADEP NPDES third party expedited plan
review process.
PADEP has
established an expedited review option for NPDES permit applications
for stormwater discharges associated with construction activities. By
reviewing applications through the expedited process, the department
assures applicants that a determination will be made within 30 days of
the public comment period’s completion. As one of only a small number
of approved third-party consultants in Pennsylvania, and one of the
few approved for projects statewide, F. X. Browne, Inc. can review and help complete NPDES applications prior
to submittal to the conservation district or DEP.
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Topic
of the Month:
New Low-Impact Environmental Education Center Opens
The Overbrook
Environmental Education Center, a new Green Building, opened recently in
Philadelphia. More...
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Interactive Hydrograph
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The Minnesota River Basin Data Center
recently developed an online animation to help people visualize the effects of agricultural runoff
in watersheds.
In the “Interactive
Hydrograph,” visitors navigate their mouse along
growing-season dates on a hydrograph, to see spikes of rainfall runoff
along with water clarity measurements.
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For each runoff event,
percentage of total seasonal sediment load is also shown. With three
sites—an agricultural field drain, an adjoining ditch, and a nearby
river—the animation demonstrates the nuances of water quality stress
due to sediment erosion from agricultural land.
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News Clips:
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F. X. Browne, Inc. Staff Provide Community Service
F. X. Browne, Inc. staff have been busy
lately presenting papers, providing training, and doing volunteer work. More...
Study Places Values on New Jersey’s Natural Assets
A recent report by economists commissioned by the New Jersey
DEP attempts to put a dollar value on the state’s
natural resources. More...
Maryland Enacts Stormwater Management
Law
Maryland has enacted a law that sets higher standards for new
development to reduce stormwater runoff. More...
Stormwater Tax Sought in Virginia
Richmond,VA Mayor L.
Douglas Wilder is proposing a new tax on every Richmond property owner to solve the city's stormwater drainage and water
quality problems. More...
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Policy
Update:
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The EPA and USDA recently signed a Partnership
Agreement that includes additional measures for
coordination and cooperation among the two agencies in prioritizing and
implementing nutrient reduction activities in the Chesapeake Bay
watershed. |
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The President’s Earth
Day Wetlands report documents progress towards the goal he set on
Earth Day 2004 to create, improve, and protect at least three million
wetland acres by Earth Day 2009. |
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The U.S. EPA has prepared the Draft
Nutrient Criteria Technical Guidance Manual: Wetlands
(EPA-823-B-05-003), a draft manual to help states and tribes establish
water quality criteria and standards for nutrients in their wetlands. |
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New Jersey is taking a major step toward improving water quality for
the Passaic River and Pompton Lake-Ramapo River watersheds by proposing
ecology-based limits for phosphorus discharges.
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The U.S. EPA and the U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers issued joint
guidance for their field offices to help protect America's wetlands
and other water bodies under the Clean Water Act (CWA). During the first
six months implementing the guidance, the agencies are inviting public
comments on case studies and experiences applying the guidance.
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Every year, enough raw sewage gets dumped into America's rivers to cover
the entire state of Pennsylvania ankle deep -- that’s 860 billion
gallons worth.
Photo: USDA NRCS
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In March, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the
Water Quality Financing Act of 2007 authorizing $14 billion to fix the
nation’s crumbling water and sewer systems. The bill provides funding
for communities to repair and upgrade failing infrastructure, and
encourages natural solutions that allow more stormwater to sink into the
ground instead of flooding these overburdened sewage systems.
American
Rivers, April 2007 Ripple Effect
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Presidential Pooches
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Twenty-two U.S. presidents have kept dogs at the White
House. Among them were:
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George Washington, a breeder of French and English foxhounds,
founded today's American Foxhound breed. His dogs included Drunkard,
Tipler, and Tipsy.
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Warren Harding owned an Airedale Terrier named Laddie Boy. Laddie
Boy not only had his own hand-carved cabinet chair to oversee high-level
meetings, but also invited all the neighborhood dogs to the White House
for his birthday party, where they dined on dog biscuit birthday cake.
Laddie Boy is even immortalized with a statue in the Smithsonian.
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Franklin D. Roosevelt's Scottish Terrier, "Fala,"
reportedly received more fan mail than many presidents. FDR also had a
Great Dane named "President," which made things confusing in
the White House.
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George W. Bush owns two Scottish Terriers, "Barney" and
"Miss Beazley." Oddly enough, Miss Beazley was fathered by
American Kennel Club-registered Champion Motherwell Alberta Clipper,
known by his call name Clinton. Clinton was born on Election Day in
2000.
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From Presidential
Purebreds Rule White House, Niki Marshall, courtesy of the American
Kennel Club
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Link of the Month:
Wetlands and Global Climate Change
The American Society of
Wetland Managers (ASWM) has established a webpage to help wetland managers
address the questions around how to reevaluate wetland management practices
in consideration of global climate change. Sea level rise, carbon
sequestration, global warming effects on wetland management, and invasive
species are among the many topics represented on the website with respect to
wetlands and climate change. The site includes links to scientific articles,
researchers' websites, events, and other publications, as well as links to
the various state climate change action plans. http://www.aswm.org/science/climate_change/climate_change.htm#top
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Father's Day Gifts From the Heart
Macaroni-covered pencil holders, popsicle
stick frames, handprint art - Dads love gifts made by their children (ok,
so they love seasons tickets too but we can't help you there). For some
fun ideas for gifts, games, snacks and more for Father's Day, visit http://www.perpetualpreschool.com/fathers_day.html
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New Tools and
Publications:
EPA Office of Water Releases Nonpoint Source Outreach Toolbox
The EPA Office of
Water has released the Nonpoint Source Outreach Toolbox, a comprehensive set
of Web-based resources, designed to assist communities across the U.S. to
conduct locally effective watershed education and outreach activities. The
Toolbox includes a searchable catalog of nearly 800 print, radio, and TV ads and
outreach materials. This repository of contemporary
materials is designed to meet the needs of stormwater professionals to develop
messages and products for their own communities. The Toolbox also includes
EPA's publication "Getting in Step - A Guide to Conducting Watershed Outreach
Campaigns," as well as a comprehensive collection of surveys and evaluations
of outreach programs from around the country. http://www.epa.gov/nps/toolbox/
Rapanos Essays Published by Vermont Law School’s Land Use Institute
The Vermont Law School's Land Use
Institute has published online a series of essays entitled, "The Supreme Court and the Clean
Water Act: Five Essays." The essays, by
distinguished environmental law scholars Jonathan Adler, Kim Connolly, Roy
Gardner, Steve Johnson, and Mark Latham, review the decision of the Supreme
Court in Rapanos v. United States and offer suggestions as to its impact on
the continuing regulatory roles of the Corps of Engineers and EPA. http://www.vjel.org/books/PUBS10004.html
WEF Third-Party TMDL Toolkit Released
The Water Environment Federation (WEF) has released a new Tool Kit for the
development of third-party TMDLs. A third-party TMDL is a TMDL in which an organization or group
other than the lead water quality agency takes responsibility for developing
the TMDL document and supporting analysis. Third parties such as watershed
management groups, industries, municipalities, utilities, local and state
environmental regulators, planning agencies, universities, and other
stakeholders are often very familiar with local watershed issues. They can
provide valuable insights to the TMDL process and may be able to help leverage
state funds, as well as the resources and expertise of other agencies and
non-governmental organizations. http://www.wef.org/ThirdPartyTMDL
F. X. Browne, Inc. is experienced in
TMDL development. For more information, contact us at info@fxbrowne.com.
New EPA Environmental Stewards Website Launched
The U.S. EPA recently launched a new
Environmental Stewardship website to help business, government and private
citizens make intelligent choices on sustainable environmental benefits. The
website will enable users to find EPA partnership programs, such as the Energy
Star energy saving program, which best align with their needs and interests.
Businesses can search for EPA programs based on their industrial category,
environmental issue of interest, and geographic area. The website also provides
information links individuals can use to protect the environment in different
settings, such as home, work, school and shopping.
http://www.epa.gov/stewardship/
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Newsletter
Editor/ Design and Layout:
Rebecca
Buerkett |
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F. X.
Browne, Inc. – Environmental Consulting
Engineers – Planners – Scientists
29 Years of Excellence & Innovation
Corporate
Office: Lansdale, PA
Pocono Office:
Marshalls Creek, PA
New York Office:
Saranac Lake, NY
For more information, call us at (215) 362-3878 or visit:
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Unless otherwise cited, all photos
in this newsletter © Rebecca Buerkett. Photos may not be used or reproduced without
permission.
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