Governor Rendell Signs Bill Extending Recycling, Waste Tire Cleanup Funding Through 2020

Governor Rendell has signed House Bill 961 to guarantee funding for municipal recycling programs through 2010.  Pennsylvania recycles millions of tons of materials each year, which is good for the environment, cheaper for municipalities, and creates jobs.  For more information on recycling and a complete list of grant programs, visit www.depweb.state.pa.us  Keyword: Recycling

PA DEP News Release, May 12, 2010
http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/newsroom/14287?id=11345&typeid=1

F. X. Browne, Inc. can assist your municipality in receiving recycling grant monies from the PA DEP.  Please contact us if you would like to learn more about this program.

Algae Advances as a 'Green' Alternative for Improving Water Quality

Microbiologist Walter Mulbry, who works at the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) Environmental Management and Byproduct Utilization Research Unit in Maryland is studying the use of algae to remove nitrogen and phosphorus from agricultural manure.  His results showed that 60-90 percent of nitrogen and 70 to 100 percent of phosphorus was recovered from the manure effluents.  This new eco-friendly option could reduce the level of agricultural pollutants from our waterways.

ScienceDaily, May 9, 2010
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/05/100507111829.htm

19,000 Miles of Streams Polluted in PA

According to the 2010 Pennsylvania Integrated Water Quality Monitoring and Assessment Report (formerly 305(b) Report), Over 19,000 miles of streams in Pennsylvania do not meet the clean water standards for drinking or fishing:  5,510 miles are polluted from acid drainage from coal mining, 5,484 miles are polluted from agricultural runoff, and 4,285 miles are polluted from urban and suburban runoff.  The 2008 report identified 11,276 miles of streams that did not meet water quality standards. 

To view the 2010 Pennsylvania Integrated Water Quality Monitoring and Assessment Report (formerly 305(b) Report), visit http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/water_quality_standards/10556/integrated_water_quality_report_-_2010/682562

Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Bay Bound, April 2010 http://www.cbf.org/Page.aspx?pid=1818&srctid=1&erid=2928446

ASCE 2010 Report Card for Pennsylvania’s Infrastructure

According to the 2010 report card provided by the four Pennsylvania ASCE sections, Pennsylvania’s infrastructure needs some improvements.  Bridges received a C, Dams and Levees received a C-, Navigable Waterways received a D+, Stormwater received a D-, Transit received a D-, and Wastewater Aging received a D+.  The Report Card offers detailed figures and analysis that explain how these grades were assigned.

To learn more about the PA Report Card, visit http://www.pareportcard.org/index.html
To view detailed information about the Infrastructure Grades, visit http://www.pareportcard.org/report_card.html

Contaminants in Groundwater Used for Public Supply

A new U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) survey shows that over 20% of untreated water samples from 932 public wells contained a minimum of one contaminant at levels of potential health concern.  Over one-third of the U.S. population uses drinking water from one of the 140,000 public water systems that rely on groundwater from public wells.  The study focuses on source (untreated) water collected from public wells before treatment or blending.  The study found that approximately three-quarters of contaminant concentrations greater than human-health benchmarks were naturally occurring contaminants such as radon and arsenic.  Approximately one-quarter of contaminant concentrations greater than human-health benchmarks were man-made contaminants such as herbicides, insecticides, and gasoline chemicals. 

Water Online, May 24, 2010
http://www.wateronline.com/article.mvc/Contaminants-In-Groundwater-Used-For-Public-0001?user=2361275&source=nl:27650

Rising Levels of Dioxins from Common Soap Ingredient in Mississippi River, Study Finds

University of Minnesota researchers released a study in the May 18 issue of the journal of Environmental Science and Technology that shows that the levels of four dioxins derived from triclosan have risen by 200 to 300 percent in Mississippi River sediments over the last 30 years. Triclosan is an antibacterial agent used in many hand soaps, deodorants, dishwashing liquids and other consumer produces.  It has been linked to disruptions of hormonal function and may be related to bacterial resistance to antibiotics.  The levels of all other dioxins have dropped by 73 to 90 percent. 

ScienceDaily, May 25, 2010
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/05/100518113236.htm