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The same leaves over and over again!
They fall from giving shade above
To make one texture of faded brown
And fit the earth like a leather glove.
From “In Hardwood Groves,” by Robert Frost
 From all of us at F. X. Browne, Inc., we hope that you and your family have many things to be thankful for this Thanksgiving. If nothing else, we can all be thankful to be rid of those obnoxious political commercials! |
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Regional Watershed Groups: Challenges and Successes
Watershed Coalition, Watershed Watch, Watershed Management District, or Environmental Commission: call it what you will, a rose by any other name would smell as sweet! More…
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Please, Don’t Try This At Home… An 80-year old man in Florida calls his son in New York one November day. The father says to the son, "I hate to tell you, but we've got some troubles here in the house. Your mother and I can't stand each other anymore, and we're getting a divorce. " |
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He hangs up, and the son immediately calls his sister in the Hamptons and tells her the news. The sister says, "I'll handle this." She calls Florida and says to her father, "Don't do ANYTHING till we get there! We'll be there Wednesday night." The father agrees, "All right." He hangs up the phone and hollers to his wife, "Okay, they're coming for Thanksgiving. Now, what are we going to tell them for Christmas? |
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 Eutrophication Implicated In Deformed Frogs In the mid-1990s, reports of frogs with extra, missing, or truncated limbs began to accumulate. Researchers have considered exposure to contaminants, ultraviolet radiation, and parasites as the most likely culprits, but a new study indicates that excessive nutrients may play a role in frog deformities. More… Tahoe Cleaner After Engine Ban Lake Tahoe has seen a dramatic 80 to 90 percent reduction in levels of burned and unburned gasoline products in its water since two-stroke, carburetor engines were banned in 1999, water quality officials said. More… New Jersey Open Space Initiatives Benefit Economy The State of New Jersey's 39 parks and 11 forests provide economic benefits amounting to at least $1.2 billion per year, or $30 billion over a 25 year-period, according to a study released by the NJ DEP. More… |
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The US EPA's Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance (OECA) has launched a new initiative, Environmentally Responsible Redevelopment and Reuse (ER3), to provide incentives to developers who commit to the best sustainable environmental practices in the redevelopment and reuse of contaminated properties. http://www.epa.gov/enforcement/cleanup/brownfields/index.html#er3 |
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The PA DEP recently developed a centralized Technology Verification Process (TVP) that provides a structured process for evaluating and approving the use of “experimental sewage systems” as defined in Chapter 73 of Title 25 of the Pennsylvania Code. Beginning immediately, proponents of new on-lot sewage treatment technologies should refer to the TVP for validation of any existing performance data or information on how to proceed. During the interim time period between successful completion of the TVP and codification, these systems/technologies will be considered as alternate systems under the regulations. http://www.dep.state.pa.us/dep/subject/advcoun/sewage/2004/381_2208_001.pdf |
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The U.S. Senate unanimously approved the Highlands Conservation Act (H.R. 1964) which authorizes $100 million in federal matching funds over 10 years to assist the states of CT, NJ, NY and PA in purchasing lands or developments rights from willing sellers in areas identified as having high conservation value by the U.S. Forest Service. The House of Representatives approved H.R. 1964 last year; a final vote of concurrence is required by the House when they reconvene this month. http://www.highlandscoalition.org/HSA.htm |
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PA DEP recently announced a new policy directive prohibiting the planting of non-native species on state lands. Under the policy directive, DEP employees and DEP consultants and contractors are ordered not to use invasive, nonindigenous plant species in planning and implementing plantings, landscaping and land management activities such as habitat restoration and reforestation on state lands and waters. http://www.nj.gov/dep/commissioner/policy/pdir2004-02.htm |
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A proposed amendment to the Delaware River Basin Commission’s (DRBC) Water Quality Regulations would classify the reach of the main stem Delaware River known as the "Lower Delaware" as Special Protection Waters. The proposal would classify the upper and lower portions of this reach as "Significant Resource Waters" and the middle portion as "Outstanding Basin Waters." http://www.state.nj.us/drbc/notice_LDspw.htm |
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A second proposed amendment to DRBC's Water Quality Regulations would add a requirement for certain dischargers subject to the TMDL for PCBs in the Delaware Estuary to develop and implement a Pollutant Minimization Plan (PMP) for PCBs. The proposed rule would allow DRBC to require PMPs from other dischargers following a determination of assimilative capacity by the DRBC or the issuance of a TMDL for a toxic pollutant. http://www.state.nj.us/drbc/notice_PMP.htm |
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The US Army Corps of Engineers’ recently instructed all 38 Corps districts to post information on all instances in which they are declining to extend Clean Water Act protections to various bodies of water. Links to every Corps district’s list of waters given a “non-jurisdictional determination” (NJDs) can be found at http://www.michiganwetlands.org/NJDs_links.pdf |
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The Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) has proposed a new program, “Farming for Clean Water,” to provide critical funding to reduce pollution from agriculture. The new initiative calls for the annual investment of $31 million to help farmers reduce pollution from animal waste. The program is designed to support Pennsylvania’s Growing Greener II proposal, which provides critical environmental funding that will expand and extend the Commonwealth’s investments in environmental conservation, restoration, and community development. http://www.dep.state.pa.us/newsletter/default.asp?NewsletterArticleID=9517&SubjectID= |
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The US EPA and the
Army Corps of Engineers has announced that a funding package has been
assembled to allow construction of an enhanced barrier to keep the
invasive Asian carp out of the Great Lakes. The U.S. House and Senate
voted to increase the cap on federal spending for the project.
http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/b1ab9f485b098972852562e |
 EPA Region 3 Brownfields Grants National EPA Brownfields Grants NJ Drinking Water Protection Loans Western PA Watershed Mini-Grants |
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Myth: The Pilgrims Landed on Plymouth Rock |
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According to historian George Willison, who devoted his life to the subject, the story about Plymouth Rock is a public relations stunt pulled off by townsfolk to attract attention. What Willison found out is that the Plymouth Rock legend rests entirely on the dubious testimony of Thomas Faunce, a ninety-five year old man, who told the story more than a century after the Mayflower landed. Unfortunately, not too many people ever heard how we came by the story of Plymouth Rock since Willison's book came out at the end of World War II and Americans had more on their minds than Pilgrims. Incidentally, the Pilgrims didn't even land in Plymouth first; they first landed at Provincetown, MA. |
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From Top 10 Myths About
Thanksgiving, By Rick Shenkman |
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Turkey, turkey, What do you do with all
those leftovers? Visit http://homecooking.about.com/ |
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Do you love loons? Have you ever wondered where they go in the winter once they leave your favorite pristine lake? The USGS Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center has an intriguing animated website highlighting the results of their loon migration studies in 1998-99 and 2003-04. Viewers can follow a satellite-marked loon from Minnesota, Wisconsin, New Hampshire, or the Adirondack Park of New York State through its migration south to its wintering area and again north in the spring. Beginning this fall, viewers will be able to track tagged loons in real time through their fall migration. Loon facts and visual displays on the effects of weather systems on loon migration are included. Visit this fun interactive site at http://www.umesc.usgs.gov/terrestrial/migratory_birds/loons/migrations.html. To learn more about Adirondack loons, visit the Adirondack Cooperative Loon Program website at http://www.adkscience.org/loons/index.htm. |
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What goes better with turkey than good old-fashioned stuffing! Or do you call it dressing? Everyone has their family favorite. Do you like yours with chestnuts or oysters? How about sauerkraut, jalapeños, or even possum? For these stuffing recipes and more, visit http://www.recipesource.com/fgv/stuffing/indexall.htm |
Revolutionary New Tool
Announcing the new Built-in Orderly Organized Knowledge device, otherwise known as the BOOK. It's a revolutionary breakthrough in technology, so easy to use even a child can operate it. Compact and portable, it can be used anywhere, yet it is powerful enough to hold as much information as a CD-ROM disk. Here's how it works: each BOOK is constructed of sequentially numbered sheets of paper capable of holding thousands of bits of information. The "Browse" feature allows you to move instantly to any sheet, and move forward or backward as you wish. An optional "BOOKmark" accessory allows you to open the BOOK to the exact place you left it in a previous session -- even if the BOOK has been closed. BOOKmarks fit universal design standards; thus a single BOOKmark can be used in BOOKs by various manufacturers. Portable, durable and affordable, the BOOK is the entertainment wave of the future, and many new titles are expected soon, due to the surge in popularity of its programming tool, the Portable Erasable-Nib Cryptic Intercommunication Language stylus [PENCIL].
Businesses and Water Resources Report
A new research paper by the Pacific Institute, "Freshwater Resources: Managing the Risks Facing the Private Sector,” identifies worrisome trends that impact businesses in almost every sector and recommends steps that companies can take to meet these challenges. The report recommends 10 steps companies can take to reduce their water-related impacts on the environment and local communities and help protect their operations and their shareholders from business risks related to water. http://www.getf.org/file/toolmanager/CustomO16C45F53409.pdf.
EPA Clean Water Act Manual
The Clean Water Act: An Owner's Manual (2nd Edition) will be available soon. The "Owner's Manual" explains crucial sections of the Clean Water Act, points out how to get involved in regulatory decisions, and tells local stories of others who've done so. The new edition contains expanded information on Antidegradation, Stormwater permits, TMDLs and more. References, websites and other resources have been updated. Email gkillam@rivernetwork.org to order.
BASINS 3.1 Available
A new version (3.1) of the Better Assessment Science Integrating point and Nonpoint Sources (BASINS) software system has been released. BASINS supports the objectives of facilitating examination of environmental information, supporting analysis of environmental systems, and providing a framework for examining management alternatives. http://epa.gov/waterscience/basins/
EPA Wetland Fact Sheets
EPA recently released two new wetland fact sheets, "Constructed Treatment Wetlands" and "Wetlands and West Nile Virus." For a complete list of all 40+ fact sheets available, visit http://www.epa.gov/owow/wetlands/facts/contents.html.
Agroforesty Center Buffer Tools
The National Agroforestry Center (NAC) has developed several new tools for those working to establish buffers:
CanVis is a new visualization tool that allows users to digitally alter photographs to help landowners see what a tree planting might look like 20 years from now. A manual will provide detailed information on acquiring images and using various software programs to edit the images. The manual is scheduled to be available this fall and can be obtained by contacting NAC at 402-437-5178.
WBECON is a computer program that allows users to calculate the economics of a crop field with windbreaks, taking into account factors including windbreak species and design, soil and climate, crop rotation, yields and prices. For more information, or to obtain a copy of WBECON, contact Jim Brandle at jbrandle1@unl.edu.
Buffers$ is a spreadsheet-based application to assist landowners and planners in analyzing the cost-benefit of conservation buffers. Buffers$ can be downloaded at http://www.unl.edu/nac/conservation. It requires Microsoft Excel to run.
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F. X.
Browne, Inc. |
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For more information, call us at (215) 362-3878 or visit: http://www.fxbrowne.com. For a printer friendly version of the newsletter, click here. |
