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F. X. Browne, Inc. |
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Lake and Watershed News |
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March 2007 |
May there always be work for your
hands to do;
May your purse always hold a coin or two;
May the sun always shine on your windowpane;
May a rainbow be certain to follow each rain;
May the hand of a friend always be near you;
May love fill your heart with gladness to cheer you.
~ Irish Proverb
Editors Note
The 4th Annual Great Pennsylvania Cleanup, a statewide effort to remove litter and trash from roadways, parks, riverbanks and open spaces, will run from March 1 to May 31. This year's event will include special emphasis on creating Litter-Free School Zones, as well as a featured one-day, statewide cleanup event on April 21 in conjunction with Earth Day.
The 2007 PA River Sojourn season is fast approaching. There will be 13 sojourns featured in the 2007 season, starting in early May. Registration will begin in March, so plan now if you would like to vacation on one of Pennsylvania’s many scenic rivers.
The Chesapeake Bay Foundation has funding for farmers participating in the CREP stream buffer program who are also interested in improving or converting to a more intensive rotational grazing system. Practices could include exterior and interior fencing of cropland, assistance with watering systems beyond CREP’s limits, and stabilized animal walkways.
Topic of the Month
In Honor of St. Patrick's Day, Think Green Building!
Do you wish your home or business could reflect your desire to tread lightly on the planet and live a healthier lifestyle? Consider Green Building.
Green or sustainable building is the practice of creating healthier and more resource-efficient models of construction, renovation, operation, maintenance, and demolition. Studies have shown that Green Buildings are not only more environmentally friendly, but are also more economical, comfortable, and healthful. Green Buildings include elements such as recycled building materials, energy efficient products, stormwater infiltration, smart growth, water conservation, and reduced operating costs.
The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System is the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction, and operation of green buildings. LEED promotes a whole-building approach to sustainability by recognizing performance in five key areas of human and environmental health: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection, and indoor environmental quality. LEED certification provides independent, third-party verification that a building project meets the highest performance standards. The LEED plaque is recognized nationwide as proof that a building is environmentally responsible, profitable, and a healthy place to live and work. To learn more about the LEED Certification process, click here.
The new LEED for Neighborhood Development Rating System integrates the principles of smart growth, urbanism, and green building into the first national standard for neighborhood design. If you would like your project to participate in the LEED for Neighborhood Development certification pilot program, click here. The pilot program is an opportunity to participate in the development of a new LEED rating system, and to be one of the first projects to be recognized with the new certification. Pilot program applications must be received by April 6.
Other Green Building Links:
Green Building Case Studies - The F. X. Browne, Inc. website now includes several case studies in green building site design and low-impact site design, including the new Canaan Valley Institute headquarters in West Virginia, the Overbrook Environmental Education Center in Philadelphia, PA, and the East Stroudsburg Area School District site in East Stroudsburg, PA.
US Green Building Council website - includes information on the benefits of green building, registration for LEED certification, and more.
Green Building Costs and Financial Benefits, by Gregory H. Kats, reviews a major recent report on the issue of green building costs benefits, “The Costs and Benefits of Green Buildings.”
EPA's Green Building Website - includes a page on funding opportunities for green buildings
Penn State Center for Sustainability Solar Decathlon Project - a team of faculty and students from the Penn State College of Engineering is implementing the design, construction and operation of a completely solar-powered residence for an international competition in Washington, D.C., in October. The competition home, MorningStar Pennsylvania, will return from D.C. to become a permanent renewable-energy research laboratory and educational facility at the Center.
EPA is co-sponsoring a nationwide "Lifecycle Building Challenge" competition that calls on the nation's architects and builders to create designs that facilitate material reuse and waste minimization. Lifecycle designs are being sought in the following categories: Building (an entire building), Component (a single building assembly or connector), and Service (a policy, tool, or practice).
For more information about green building site design, stormwater management, or Low-Impact Development, contact F. X. Browne, Inc. at info@fxbrowne.com.
| Green Building – Surprising Facts: |
| The US Department of Energy states that today's buildings consume more energy than any other sector of the U.S. economy, including transportation and industry. |
| Studies indicate that Americans spend up to 90% of their day indoors. According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, air quality inside buildings is sometimes two to five times worse than outside air |
| Green or High Performance Buildings typically lease or sell faster, and retain and attract tenants better because they combine superior amenity and comfort with lower occupancy costs and more competitive terms. |
| Energy and water efficient buildings reduce operating costs to less than half those of a traditional building by employing green design concepts. |
| Improved indoor environments can increase employee productivity by up to 16 percent. |
| Well integrated and comprehensive green building projects can result in lower or neutral incremental project development costs. |
| http://www.nyserda.org/programs/Green_Buildings/default.asp |
News Clips
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Upstate Development May Be Reducing the Quality of NYC's Water Supply New Yorkers proudly claim that their drinking water, pumped straight from the city’s many reservoirs with very little treatment, is the purest, best tasting water in the country. But those bragging rights may be in jeopardy. The upstate water is of such good quality, in fact, that the city is not even required to filter it, a distinction shared with only four other major American cities: Boston, San Francisco, Seattle and Portland, OR. But that state of affairs may not last. In late spring or early summer, the US EPA will decide whether New York water is still pure enough to drink without filtering. Development in the city’s upstate watershed areas, as well as the increasingly stormy weather that comes with climate change, is threatening the water’s purity. If the federal agency does conclude that city water is too sullied to be consumed directly, New York will have to spend huge sums on filtering. Every five years, the city’s environmental officials sweat out the federal decision over the quality of New York water, and 2007 is one of those years. The EPA will either issue another permit allowing the city to avoid filtration, or it will order the city to build a huge filtering plant for the Cat/Del system. In 1998 the city committed to building a filtration plant for the “East of Hudson” system, under Mosholu Golf Course in the northern Bronx. The plant will begin operations in 2011. On the Water Front - NY Times, February 18, 2007 Ed. Note: F. X. Browne, Inc. performed the evaluation of the NYC DEP Joint Venture Report on Alternatives to Filtration. New Law Would Require Use of Native Plants The Lower Makefield, PA, supervisors are considering a new ordinance that would require only native plants in common areas of new developments. The new ordinance was crafted by Environmental Advisory Commission members, township professionals and other volunteers. A suggestion by the Bucks County Planning Commission to allow some high quality non-native plants in certain cases was considered but rejected since the township supervisors have the power to grant waivers on the ordinance if they choose. Other Pennsylvania towns have enacted similar ordinances Bucks County Courier Times http://www.phillyburbs.com/pb-dyn/news/111-02222007-1303008.html For more information on environmental ordinances, contact F. X. Browne, Inc. at info@fxbrowne.com Chesapeake Bay Watershed Climate Change Study Planned Researchers from Penn State, Drexel University and Johns Hopkins University will be combining their efforts to conduct a study of the Susquehanna River Basin and the Chesapeake Bay in order to predict the affects of climate change and human influences on water resources. The project is called the Susquehanna River Basin Hydrologic Observing System, (SRBHOS) and is a part of the National Science Foundation’s (NSF) Water and Environmental Research Systems (WATERS) test bed network. The SRBHOS test bed is one of ten NSF test beds that are located throughout the country. The goal of the research is the development of new data systems and modeling tools that will allow scientists to predict how climate change and human alterations will impact the Susquehanna River and Chesapeake Bay systems in order for society to make better choices regarding water resources. Scientists hope the research project results in the establishment of a larger-scale Susquehanna River/Chesapeake Bay observation network. http://www.thedailyreview.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=17877426&BRD=2276&PAG=461&dept_id=465049&rfi=6 Watershed Group Works to Neutralize Acid Rain Damage The Buffalo Creek Watershed Alliance is planning to spend $305,000 on a project to offset damage caused by acid rain to the fragile ecosystem at the western Union County, PA headwaters. Because the mountaintop terrain where the creek forms has very little limestone in it, the waterway can't buffer the acid rain. As the waterway winds its way down into the valleys where the soil has more lime, the acidity drops to levels that are more hospitable to aquatic life. But, far up in the western Union County mountains, the increased acidity of the water has reduced habitat for trout. The watershed group's project will create a small pond where water will be diverted from the creek and then run across a lime bed to increase alkalinity in the creek. In Northumberland County, there are a number of similar projects to remove the acid flowing into waterways from abandoned mines in the Coal Region. http://www.dailyitem.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070218/NEWS/702180306
Grant
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PA DEP invites community groups and watershed organizations to apply for the next round of grants under the state’s Growing Greener program and Governor Edward G. Rendell’s Growing Greener II initiative. The deadline to apply is April 13. The grants will finance projects designed to clean up rivers and streams, address serious environmental problems at abandoned mines and contaminated industrial sites, enhance local recreational needs and improve quality of life for residents of the commonwealth. In the upcoming grant round, DEP will invest in projects that address watershed impairments and protection through stream restoration; nutrient and sediment trading; stormwater management; and abandoned mine drainage projects that address long-term operation and maintenance challenges. Of special interest are projects for resource recovery and innovative mine drainage treatment, as well as projects that undertake an integrated approach to water resources management at the county or watershed level. In addition, preference will be given to projects that seek to restore an impaired watershed using a comprehensive approach. Projects that include private and public partnerships, promote the long term coordinated stewardship and restoration of the watershed and educate others regarding their roles in protecting the watershed and water supplies are of particular interest to the department. http://www.depweb.state.pa.us/growinggreener/site/default.asp F. X. Browne, Inc. has had good success in helping our clients obtain Growing Greener funding in the past. If you have a project in mind, please contact us at info@fxbrowne.com. Mid-Atlantic Region Leadership in LID Recognition Program The EPA Mid-Atlantic Region and the LID Center, Inc. of Beltsville, Md. developed a low impact development (LID) Recognition Program. The Program is being developed to serve as a leadership model for LID recognition programs across the country by creating an Expert Review Panel to review and recognize LID projects/programs and installations. This model will be useful to stakeholders in EPA regions across the country including local and state governments, universities, private industry, non-profits, and individuals. The chosen projects/programs will be showcased across the EPA agency and other panel member websites. The application deadline is March 9. http://www.lowimpactdevelopment.org/recognition/ Free Trees Available to NY Schools, Discounted trees to Property Owners Free tree seedlings for spring planting are available through the DEC School Seedling Program to schools across the state. All school orders must be received at the Saratoga Tree Nursery by March 31. The program for schools provides 50 tree seedlings or a mixed packet of 20 wildlife shrubs to any public or private school that would like to participate. In addition, DEC's annual sale of tree and shrub seedlings to the public is underway and will continue through May. http://www.dec.state.ny.us/website/environmentdec/2007a/treeseedlings122706.html The Chesapeake Bay Trust is now accepting Targeted Watershed grant proposals for up to $200,000 and invites Maryland non-profit organizations and local governments to apply. The Targeted Watershed Initiative is designed to engage volunteers, public agencies and others in restoration and protection actions that improve the health of small watersheds in Maryland's portion of the Chesapeake Bay. Proposals are due by March 16. http://www.cbtrust.org/site/c.enJIKQNoFiG/b.2028469/k.2580/Targeted_Watershed_Grant_Program.htm PA Dam Safety Officials Offering Scholarships to Undergraduates The U.S. Association of State Dam Safety Officials is taking applications for its Dam Safety Scholarship Program which offers a $10,000 award to undergraduates. Applications for the 2007-08 school year are due March 30. Successful applicants must demonstrate an interest in pursuing a career in hydraulics, hydrology or geotechnical disciplines, or in another discipline related to the design, construction and operation of dams. http://www.damsafety.org/documents/pdf/ASDSO_Scholarship%20_App.pdf EPA Achievement in Environmental Justice Award EPA is requesting nominations for its "Achievement in Environmental Justice" award to recognize U.S. industry organizations who undertake environmental justice initiatives to impact their communities. To qualify, the organization must ensure that its business practices have not disproportionately and adversely exposed surrounding communities to environmental harm and risk, and that positive steps are being taken to improve the local community's environmental and public health conditions. The nominee must have reached a significant milestone of accomplishment within the past five years (2001-2006), and meets the six criteria for innovation, corporate responsibility, public involvement, partnerships, integration, and sustainability. Entries must be postmarked by March 31. www.epa.gov/compliance/resources/publications/ej/ej-achieve-flyer.pdf The Association for New Jersey Environmental Commissions (ANJEC) has received funding from the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation to continue their Smart Growth Planning Assistance Grant Program in 2007. For the past five years, this program has provided matching grants of up to $20,000 each to towns for land use planning projects that protect natural resources, open space and quality of life. Starting in 2007, counties with environmental commissions will also be eligible to apply for Smart Growth grants. Any New Jersey municipality with a functioning environmental commission, established by ordinance, may apply for a grant through this program. This year’s application deadline is March 30. http://www.anjec.org/html/alerts.htm#grants PA Water Resources Education Network Grants The Water Resources Education Network is soliciting proposals for its next round of Water Resources Education Grants. Applications are due April 2. Partnerships of organizations in Pennsylvania such as watershed associations, civic groups, community water systems, governmental entities (including municipal authorities), and other public interest organizations are all eligible. The grants will be awarded for educational projects that raise awareness about protecting the community’s drinking water source and/or preventing nonpoint source pollution in the watershed. Grants will be awarded up to $5,000 per project. http://www.palwv.org/wren/grants.html Chesapeake Bay Small Watershed Grants The Chesapeake Bay Small Watershed Grants Program provides grants to organizations and local governments working on a local level to protect and improve watersheds in the Chesapeake Bay basin, while building citizen-based resource stewardship. To be eligible for consideration, a project must address at least one of the following program goals and objectives: Watershed Restoration, Watershed Conservation and Watershed Planning. Proposals are due on April 2. www.nfwf.org/programs/chesapeake/index.cfm The PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) announced it is accepting applications for the Pennsylvania Heritage Area Program. The deadline for applications is April 13. Eligible projects must seek to develop and protect the historic, cultural, natural, scenic and recreational resources within a Heritage Area to enhance regional economic development. There are currently 12 designated State Heritage Areas. http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/brc/heritageparks/ Western Pennsylvania Watershed Program Grants The Western Pennsylvania Watershed Program is accepting proposals for small grants for watershed restoration and preservation initiatives. There is a particular interest in abandoned mine drainage abatement, natural stream channel design, abandoned mine lands reclamation, and other unique and creative initiatives. Over the last 6 years, the program has provided the much need matching funds for state, federal and other philanthropic sources to aid the watersheds of Western Pennsylvania. http://wpawp.org/html/applying_for_a_grant.htm Conservation/Environmental Education Awards International Paper and The Conservation Fund are now accepting nominations to recognize two conservation/environmental education leaders with a $10,000 cash award. Award nominations are due April 15. International Paper partners each year with The Conservation Fund to sponsor the International Paper Conservation Partnership Award and the International Paper Environmental Education Award. The awards are unrestricted grants from the International Paper Foundation. http://www.conservationfund.org/?article=1006 Wildlands Conservancy Native Plant Sale The Wildlands Conservancy will hold its annual Native Plant Marketplace in May at the Pool Wildlife Sanctuary. Over 100 types of species of native trees, shrubs, ferns, grasses, perennials and vines will be available at reasonable prices, with gardening experts on hand to help with selections and to answer questions. Native Plant Sale Dates and Hours: May 4 - Members' Day - 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.; May 5 - 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.; May 6 - 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.; May 12 - 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.; May 13 - 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. Literature, materials and educational programs related to the importance of planting native plants will also be available from related government agencies and other entities. http://wildlandspa.org/calendar/plant_sale.html
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Constructed Wetlands Being Used to Treat Airport
Runoff
While airport stormwater runoff is particularly hard to treat using conventional means because it is cold, intermittent, and high-volume over short periods, an innovative approach using aerated gravel beds is proving to be an effective treatment for such contaminated stormwater. Sub-surface flow (SSF) wetlands are insulated, aerated, and specifically engineered to remove glycol. In addition, they are easy to operate, requiring only minimal attention from airport staff, and their construction and operations and maintenance costs are less than 50 percent of those of alternative conventional stormwater treatment facilities.For full article, visit: Engineering Runoff Solutions – Airport Business Magazine, February 5, 2007 http://www.airportbusiness.com:80/publication/article.jsp?pubId=1&id=10134 |
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Events
Link Of The Month For the first time, the public can use the NJ DEP's website to get direct, up-to-the-minute information on the status of applications for DEP permits. The new, online Permit Progress Report identifies DEP staff members assigned to handle various aspects of the permit-application review and the dates those tasks were completed.
New Stormwater Guide for Evaluating MS4 Programs The EPA Office of Water published a new MS4 Evaluation Guide on EPA's stormwater website. The Guide is designed for use by NPDES authorities to evaluate the quality of Phase I and Phase II MS4 programs: for permit compliance, technical assistance and other purposes. It can be used for comprehensive program evaluations or for certain components of an MS4 program. MS4 program managers may also find it helpful as they evaluate their own programs. The document is being provided in Microsoft Word format so NPDES programs can modify it to meet the unique components of their programs such as those required by state regulations. A free Webcast on using the new Guide will be held on March 7. http://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/stormwater/munic.cfm First Annual USGS Streamflow Summary Available This past year has produced some record-breaking high streamflow conditions in the Northeast, as well as some near-record lows in other areas of the country, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). In a new USGS publication, “Streamflow of 2006 – Water Year Summary,” changes in streamflow over the course of 2006 are examined relative to conditions over the past 75 years. In 2006, two percent of streamgages reported new record high streamflow, most of which were in New England, and one percent of streamgages experienced new record lows. This first-ever USGS summary of seasonal, regional, and national streamflow conditions for water year 2006 can be accessed at: http://water.usgs.gov/waterwatch/2006summary/ EPA Hydromodification Draft Guidance The US EPA developed a draft guidance document, National Management Measures to Control Nonpoint Source Pollution from Hydromodification, to help states, territories, tribes, and the public to understand and manage hydromodification-related water problems. The document is divided into the three main chapters: (1) Channelization and Channel Modification, (2) Dams, and (3) Streambank and Shoreline Erosion. Each chapter focuses on individual management measures that are specific to each type of hydromodification activity. Each section introduces the management measure(s) for the particular topic and presents a range of management practices that may be implemented to achieve the management measure. http://www.epa.gov/nps/hydromod Riparian Restoration Field Guide A new illustrated field guide is now available for participants of riparian restoration educational workshops and field tours. An Introduction to Induced Meandering: A Method for Restoring Stability to Incised Stream Channels, by Earth Works Institute, describes riparian restoration techniques and includes real examples, such as those used for several demonstration sites in the Galisteo Watershed Restoration Project in New Mexico. The document highlights the use of induced meandering concepts and procedures. http://www.earthworksinstitute.org/publications/publications.html |
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F. X. Browne, Inc. – Environmental Consulting
F. X.
Browne, Inc.
Engineers – Planners – Scientists
29 Years of Excellence & Innovation
SERVICES
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For more information, call us at (215) 362-3878 or visit: http://www.fxbrowne.com.