PA DEP Announces Changes to NPDES Permit Form

As of November 1, the PA DEP is requiring use of the new Notice of Intent (NOI) form for General and Individual NPDES Construction Permits.

It is very important that applicants read the detailed directions that are provided for each question on the new form. A few notable changes include:

• Applicants must now identify where they obtained the project latitude and longitude (EMAP, HGIS, etc.), and the type of land usage, along with a description. DEP’s preference is that EMAP be used to determine the locations.
• The applicant must now verify that fill materials have not been affected by a spill or regulated substance. For contaminated fill, form FP-001, which certifies the origin of the fill material and the results of analytical testing, must be retained by the owner of the property receiving the fill.
• In Section E, which has been completely revamped, the applicant must now check whether the Post Construction Stormwater Management Plan (PCSM Plan) was developed in accordance with an Act 167 Plan, an MS4 Permit, or the 2-yr/24 hour frequency storm.
• The applicant will be required to better document which BMPs will be implemented and their intended functions (detention/retention, infiltration/recharge, or water quality).
• The applicant must illustrate the volume of stormwater treated and acres treated by each proposed BMP.

For more information on NPDES regulations or help with permitting, please contact F. X. Browne, Inc. at 215-362-3878 or info@fxbrowne.com.

Students Grade Their Schoolyards

Students across the Chesapeake Bay watershed can now determine how well their school grounds are helping to save the Bay.

This summer, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) Student Action Team created a new and improved “Schoolyard Report Card”. The report card allows students to evaluate features of their schoolyard that affect water quality. After grading the schoolyard, students can see what areas of the schoolyard can use the most improvement. http://www.cbf.org/site/PageServer?pagename=edu_homepage

Poll Contradicts Building Patterns

Americans are starting to change their minds about where they want to live, according to a recent Smart Growth America poll.

The survey found that approximately half of all Americans said they would prefer to live in a city or a suburb close to a city as opposed to a far suburb or rural area. This is likely the result of increasing concerns about lengthening commutes by car and disappearing open space, the study says. Smart Growth America claims that Americans increasingly want pedestrian friendly development close to mass transit, but not enough of it is getting built. Smart growth advocates were further bolstered by a recent Georgia Tech study that confirms that compact, smart-growth development would reduce car trips and improve air quality.

Panel Says Chesapeake Bay in Peril

Time is running out for the restoration of the Chesapeake Bay unless dramatic action is undertaken soon, according to a panel of leading business, economic and environmental leaders in the region.

The independent Chesapeake Bay Watershed Blue Ribbon Finance Panel cites a variety of studies that point to the continuing massive flow of nutrients and sediment into its waters and dramatic declines in oysters and underwater grasses. The panel concluded that “the Chesapeake Bay is at a turning point.”  The panel calls on Bay states and the federal government to make a six-year, $15 billion investment in the creation of a regional financing authority charged with prioritizing and distributing restoration funds throughout the Bay's watershed. http://www.chesapeakebay.net/blueribbon.htm.

The US EPA has approved and is now distributing the 2004 Guidelines for Water Reuse Manual (EPA625-R-04/018). The document updates the 1992 Guidelines document by incorporating new information on water reuse, including expanded coverage of water reuse issues and practices in other countries. http://www.epa.gov/ORD/NRMRL/pubs/625r04108/625r04108.pdf

The USEPA CAFO Managing Manure Guidance Document is now available. It provides technical information on how to carry out EPA's revised regulatory requirements for NPDES permitting of CAFOs. http://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/afo/info.cfm#manure

PA DEP is reminding residents that debris from the September flood can be removed from creeks and streams without obtaining a DEP water obstruction and encroachment permit if proper guidelines are followed. http://www.dep.state.pa.us/newsletter/default.asp?NewsletterArticleID=9588&SubjectID=

The NJ Governor’s office recently announced up to $30 million in funding to purchase and preserve critical watershed lands in the Highlands region. http://www.state.nj.us/cgi-bin/governor/njnewsline/view_article_archives.pl?id=2211

NJ DEP recently announced the adoption of new rules that establish the strongest mercury and arsenic standards in the nation. These rules will reduce mercury emissions from certain facilities by up to 90 percent by the end of 2007 and will establish a maximum contaminant level of five parts per billion (ppb) for arsenic concentrations in drinking water, effective January 23, 2006. http://www.state.nj.us/dep/newsrel/2004/04_0130.htm

Former NJ Governor McGreevey issued an executive order delaying Smart Growth regulation implementation, calling for more public debate and broadening the range of environmental programs that might be spared from the early deadlines in the new measure. http://www.state.nj.us/cgi-bin/governor/njnewsline/view_article.pl?id=2213

NJ DEP is proposing to recodify and amend the Ground Water Quality Standards (GWQS) rules that govern the quantities of some 200 chemicals allowed in the state's groundwater. http://www.state.nj.us/dep/rules/rules_pdf/ver2GWQSwithDisclaimer.pdf

The Pennsylvania legislature recently voted to increase operating revenues for the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) through modest increases in the fees charged for fishing licenses and boat registrations.  http://www.fish.state.pa.us/

The Pennsylvania legislature also recently passed an Alternative Energy Bill that requires 18 percent of the electricity sold in Pennsylvania to come from renewable and advanced energy sources within 15 years.

The White House and 11 federal departments signed a memorandum of understanding to develop strategies to promote the growth of the electronics reuse and recycling industry, reduce the environmental life-cycle costs of federal electronic equipment, increase the demand for more energy efficient and environmentally sustainable electronics, and implement best life-cycle management practices for electronics.

 
Grant Programs 
(Click on a grant for more information)

Western PA Watershed Mini-Grants

The Western Pennsylvania Conservancy Watershed Assistance Center, in conjunction with Dominion Energy Corp., has announced a Watershed Mini-Grant program to provide funding to watershed organizations in Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Blair, Butler, Cambria, Clarion, Fayette, Greene, Indiana, Lawrence, Mercer, Somerset, Venango, Washington, and Westmoreland counties. The grants may be used for operating expenses, organizational promotion and outreach, or a restoration project. Individual grants will not exceed $1,000. Applications are due by December 15. http://www.paconserve.org/rc/pdfs/wmgrfp04.pdf  

PA Environmental Education Grants

PA DEP has announced the opening of the 2005 Environmental Education Grants Program to help schools, universities, nonprofit organizations and county conservation districts develop projects to increase environmental literacy among Pennsylvanians. Grant amounts vary from $1,500 for mini-grants to $20,000. Topics include: sustainable energy sources such as solar, wind, biomass and geothermal, and technologies such as alternative transportation fuels; air quality issues with focus on ground-level ozone, transportation and electric-generation; and watersheds and wetlands, focusing on acid mine drainage, nonpoint source pollution and water conservation in Pennsylvania. Pre-application letters must be postmarked by December 17. http://www.dep.state.pa.us/dep/deputate/enved/EnviroEd/EnviroEdGrantsPro.htm  

2005 National Wetlands Awards

The National Wetlands Awards Program honors individuals from across the country who have demonstrated extraordinary effort, innovation, and excellence through programs or projects at the regional, state, or local level. The 2005 Awards will be given in six categories: Education and Outreach; Science Research; Conservation and Restoration; Landowner Stewardship; State, Tribal, and Local Program Development; and Wetland Community Leader. The deadline for submitting nominations is December 15. http://www.eli.org/nwa/nwaprogram.htm.

PA Coldwater Heritage Partnership Grants

The Coldwater Heritage Partnership (CHP) urges watershed groups, conservation districts, municipalities and local chapters of Trout Unlimited to submit applications to the Coldwater Conservation Grants Program. Projects should help develop preliminary assessments that identify the values and threats to the health of Pennsylvania’s coldwater ecosystems that have naturally reproducing trout. Applications for grants up to $5,000 will be accepted through December 17. http://www.coldwaterheritage.org/grants.htm.

Bucks County PA Conservation Awards

Bucks County residents interested in environmental issues are invited to submit entries to the County Conservation District’s annual awards program. Winners in each category will receive engraved plaques from the Bucks County Commissioners and $200 honorariums from the Conservation District. Entries will be accepted until Dec.15 in eight different categories. http://www.bucksconservation.org/Coservation%20Awards.htm Entries should be addressed to the Bucks County Conservation District, 924 Town Center, New Britain, PA 18901.

Chesapeake Bay Small Watershed Grants

Nonprofits and local government entities in the Chesapeake Bay watershed are invited to submit proposals for the Small Watersheds Grant Program. Grants range between $5,000 and $50,000; the average award is between $25,000 and $35,000. Projects must 1) support the development or implementation of local watershed management plans that address the water quality and living resource needs in the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem; or 2) promote locally based protection and restoration efforts that complement watershed management strategies. In addition, projects must also directly address at least one of the priority goals of the Chesapeake 2000 Agreement. The grant deadline is Feb 4, 2005. http://www.nfwf.org/chesapeake/application.htm

What is the Winter Solstice?

Most people know that the reason for the different seasons on earth is because the earth rotates around the sun. However, the change of seasons is also a factor of the earth’s tilt on its axis of some 23.5 degrees towards the plane of its rotation. Because of this tilt, during the winter, the Northern Hemisphere receives less direct sunlight because the earth is tilted away from the sun, while the Southern Hemisphere receives more direct sunlight (creating summer). As the Earth continues its orbit, the hemisphere that is angled closest to the sun changes and the seasons are reversed. http://www-istp.gsfc.nasa.gov/stargaze/Sseason.htm

The winter solstice marks the shortest day and the longest night of the year as the earth is tilted farthest away from the sun. Ancient cultures celebrated the solstice with rituals involving bonfires and chants to bring back the light. Many modern December holidays incorporate candles and lights as remnants of the ancient traditions. This year’s winter solstice will take place at 7:42 am EST on December 21.

http://www.infoplease.com/spot/wintersolstice1.html

Events 
(Click on an event for more information)

NY Stormwater Program and Design Institute

The Center for Watershed Protection is offering a training program to help public and private sector stormwater professionals develop or improve their municipal stormwater programs, strengthen stormwater management design skills, and learn technical skills to effectively comply with the six minimum management measures of the NPDES Phase II stormwater permit program. The Stormwater Program Institute and Stormwater Design Institute will run concurrently on December 7-9 at the Westchester County Center, White Plains, NY. Participants who attend the Institutes will earn up to 21 PDHs in association with the New York State Society of Professional Engineers and the Practicing Institute of Engineering. http://www.cwp.org/SPISDI.htm   

NJ Quality-Of-Life Indicators Symposium

On December 14 at Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, the New Jersey Sustainable State Institute is holding a symposium and release party for the report: Living With the Future in Mind III: Goals and Indicators for New Jersey's Quality of Life. The formal event will be followed by a reception to discuss the future of New Jersey and the Sustainable State Institute. For more information or to RSVP, please email Randalls@eden.rutgers.edu.

NJ Environmental Education Conference

The Alliance for New Jersey Environmental Education (ANJEE) will be holding its annual NJ Environmental Education Conference on January 6-8 at Rider University, Lawrenceville, NJ. The conference is titled, Diversity: The Nature of New Jersey, and will focus on diversity of habitats, wildlife, settings, audiences, skills, and biodiversity. http://www.anjee.net/conference/index.html.

NCSE Conference: Forecasting Environmental Changes

The National Council for Science and the Environment (NCSE) will hold the 5th National Conference on Science, Policy and the Environment: Forecasting Environmental Changes, on February 3-4 at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center in Washington, D.C. Three plenary roundtable discussions will address the following themes: Lessons Learned from Successful Environmental Forecasting Approaches, Designing Ecological Forecasting Systems, and Applying Environmental Forecasting to Environmental Decision-making. A report containing strategies developed at the conference will be widely publicized and presented at briefings to the U.S. Congress, federal, state and local governments, educational institutions and the general public. http://www.ncseonline.org/ncseconference/2005conference/

Villanova University Short Courses

The Villanova University Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering is offering two short courses on January 12-14, 2005. The courses are “Analysis of Surface Water Hydrology Using HEC-HMS,” which includes stormwater management applications, http://www87.homepage.villanova.edu/robert.traver/VUSP/HECHMS/HMS.htm, and  “Inspection and Evaluation of Dams and Design of Rehabilitation,” http://www87.homepage.villanova.edu/robert.traver/VUSP/DAM/DAM.htm.

New Publications