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Investing in Pennsylvania's Future
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| | By Patrick McDonnell, DEP Secretary
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At DEP we are often looking at not only the present-day environmental concerns, but the past and the future as well.
Pennsylvania was home to the first commercial oil well in 1859, and had been a home to coal mining for generations before that. Those industries helped build America, but also left a legacy of pollution behind in the form of orphaned and abandoned oil and gas wells and abandoned mine lands. DEP has been addressing these problems for years, plugging wells and reclaiming abandoned mine lands, but new investment from the federal government will help kickstart those efforts.
As part of the Infrastructure, Investment, and Jobs Act, Pennsylvania will be getting hundreds of millions of dollars to plug orphaned and abandoned wells, clean up abandoned mine lands, and restore streams harmed by acid mine discharge.
DEP is also investing in the future of Pennsylvania through several of our grant programs. We’ve recently announced grants for electric school buses for Philadelphia, restoring the Kinney Run watershed in Columbia County, and grants to improve streams and rivers in Pennsylvania that feed into the Chesapeake Bay.
Read on to learn more about these and other investments we’re making in Pennsylvania’s future, and learn how to find grants that can help your community or business grow.
- DEP Secretary Patrick McDonnell
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“Grants 101” Webinar: Make Your Environmental Improvement Project Happen with DEP Funding
A DEP grant can help your organization, municipality, business, or farm in Pennsylvania be more energy efficient, convert to clean transportation, restore your local stream, reduce erosion, prepare for climate change, help lower air pollution, teach kids or adults about environmental challenges and solutions, or improve your environment in other ways.
If you have an idea for an environmental improvement project for your community or business, let DEP help you make it happen. Watch DEP Grants 101, a new webinar geared to help first-time applicants submit their best application possible.
Michele Devaney, Director of the DEP Grants Center, and John Brakeall, Regional Coordinator in the DEP Environmental Justice Office, discuss:
- Who can apply for environmental grants, and types of projects supported,
- The essential basics of applying for grant funding,
- Consideration given to projects that serve Environmental Justice areas,
- Misconceptions that can needlessly hold back potential applicants,
- Common application pitfalls and how to avoid them, and
- Best practices of successful applicants.
You’ll also learn about seven DEP grant programs: Alternative Fuels Incentive, Coastal Zone Management, Driving PA Forward, Environmental Education, Growing Greener, Section 319 Watershed, and Small Business Advantage grants.
"DEP Grants 101” was offered as a live webinar in December, and staff from the grant programs were on hand to answer many questions—maybe yours!
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Wolf Administration Announces Over $2.7 Million for Alternative Fuel Transportation Projects to Improve Air Quality and Public Health
"These projects will help every single Pennsylvanian breathe cleaner air at school, in their communities, and at their workplaces,” said DEP Executive Deputy Secretary Ramez Ziadeh. “The impact of these grants is not limited to a specific city block or bound by a municipal property line.”
The AFIG Program funds projects that replace older gasoline- or diesel-fueled vehicles with cleaner fuel vehicles that help reduce emissions of carbon monoxide, particulate matter, volatile organic compounds, nitrogen oxides, and carbon dioxide, a principal greenhouse gas.
The program supports electric, ethanol, biodiesel, compressed natural gas (CNG), propane gas, and other cleaner fuel vehicles. It also supports the installation of fueling stations for these vehicles.
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Gov. Wolf Announces $25 Million Investment in Economic Recovery for Abandoned Mine Lands
“These newly approved projects will bring economic opportunity and activity to Pennsylvania, and eliminate dangerous environmental scars left over from Pennsylvania’s mining history,” said Gov. Wolf. “Removing the dangerous hazards from these sites also removes barriers to productive use. These sites will become hiking trails, farm fields, and solar farms – a new future for sites still marred from past use.”
The 2020 Abandoned Mine Land Economic Revitalization (AMLER) Program (formerly known as the AML Pilot Program) will provide an additional $25 million of U.S. Treasury funds for Pennsylvania’s AML program. First authorized by Congress under the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020 (Public Law 116-94) the funds are to be used “to accelerate the remediation of AML sites with economic and community development end uses.” This is the fifth year Pennsylvania has received funding from the AMLER Program.
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Jared Dressler, DEP’s Northcentral Regional Director (right), congratulates Matt Long, Lycoming County Conservation District Manager (left), on Lycoming County’s award of $527,391
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$17.4 Million Awarded to County Teams to Continue Record Progress in Chesapeake Bay Watershed
DEP recently awarded $17.4 million in 2021 Countywide Action Plan Implementation Grants to teams in 34 counties in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed for projects to improve the health of local streams, rivers, and lakes.
DEP leaders announced the grant awards during visits to three sites: Brilyn Acres, a small cattle grazing operation in Lancaster County; the Lycoming County Conservation District in Montoursville; and the Lackawanna County Conservation District in Scott Township.
"Thanks to this kind of flexible grant from DEP, we’re closer to clean and clear water. Our farms, streams, climate, and built environment will all benefit from the inspirational projects these dollars make possible," said Allyson Gibson, Strategic Partnership and Program Director of Lancaster Clean Water Partners.
The funding is designed to enable county teams and partners to build on the record progress Pennsylvania is making in the watershed. All counties in the watershed that were asked to develop Countywide Action Plans have completed them. Now teams are getting partners together and projects on the ground to reduce nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment levels in local waters.
Along with state and sector initiatives, county plans are a key component of Pennsylvania’s Chesapeake Bay Phase 3 Watershed Implementation Plan to improve water quality to benefit Pennsylvanians, while meeting U.S. Environmental Protection Agency requirements for the bay.
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How Pennsylvania Will Meet 100 Percent of Its 2025 Water Quality Goals in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed
Pennsylvania must reduce nitrogen pollution by 32.5 million pounds and phosphorus pollution by 0.85 million pounds by 2025 in its share of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. Under the Wolf administration, state, local, and sector partners have made unprecedented progress, lowering nitrogen by 6.77 million pounds and phosphorus by 0.3 million pounds as of 2020.
Carrying out Countywide Action Plans will be key: they’ll reduce nitrogen another 16.8 million pounds. Additional significant nitrogen reductions will come from ensuring that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s model for the Chesapeake Bay is modified to include several categories of water quality improvement best management practices (BMPs) Pennsylvania has implemented that aren’t currently included:
- Functioning structural BMPs that were put in place 10-15 years ago. The EPA model excludes these as expired, but data from Pennsylvania, New York, and Maryland show that many structural BMPs continue to function beyond when the model considers them expired.
- Functioning BMPs that Pennsylvania has put in place on a geospatial scale exceeding what the EPA model counts as 100 percent implementation and automatically cuts off as "excess." Examples include some BMPs in agricultural nutrient management, livestock and poultry waste management systems, barnyard runoff control, and stormwater management.
- Nutrient and sediment reductions happening from some state programs that haven't yet been fully counted in the model. These programs include the DEP Nutrient Credit Trading Program, Chapter 105 compensatory mitigation banking, industrial stormwater, the DEP Act 537 Sewage Facilities Program, municipal waste landfills, land recycling, environmental cleanup and brownfields.
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DEP Awards Over $4.1 Million in Grants to 13 Projects Statewide to Restore the Health of Local Watersheds
“Healthy watersheds are like the circulatory system of our environment, providing drinking water, sustaining fish and other aquatic life, supporting habitats, and enabling the recreation opportunities that add to our quality of life and help sustain our economy in Pennsylvania,” said DEP Secretary Patrick McDonnell. “Yet around the state, streams and rivers are degraded by increasing nonpoint source pollution. The Section 319 Grants program supports public and private partners working with the goal of reducing this pollution across their local watersheds.”
Nonpoint source pollution is water pollution that doesn’t come from a single specific discharge point, such as a pipe, but rather from diffuse sources. About 95 percent of water-quality-impaired watersheds in Pennsylvania are affected by nonpoint source pollution. Section 319 Nonpoint Source Management Grants focus on reducing:
- Nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment pollution from agricultural activities, urban stormwater runoff, and streambank and shoreline erosion; and
- Iron, aluminum, and acidity pollution associated with energy resource extraction and acid mine drainage (AMD).
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DEP Announces Public Comment Period on New PFAS Drinking Water Regulation
The comment period concerns a proposed rule to set maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) in drinking water for two forms of per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) – perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) – to protect the public from potential adverse developmental and immune system effects linked to exposure to PFOA and PFOS. The comment period began Saturday, February 26, 2022, and will close Wednesday, April 27, 2022.
“Since Governor Tom Wolf signed an executive order in 2018, DEP has worked tirelessly to protect Pennsylvanians from these chemicals. This public comment period allows stakeholders to share their feedback and concerns as we continue to put the safety and health of Pennsylvanians first,” said DEP Secretary Patrick McDonnell.
The proposed rule would set an MCL of 14 parts per trillion (ppt) for PFOA and an MCL of 18 ppt for PFOS, which are stricter limits compared to the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s lifetime Health Advisory Level (HAL) of 70 ppt for PFOS and PFOA combined.
This proposed rulemaking represents an unprecedented step of setting a Pennsylvania-specific MCL for drinking water. In June 2021, DEP’s final results from sampling public water systems for PFAS were released (statewide sampling began in July 2019). Due to these efforts, Pennsylvania is at the forefront of states taking proactive steps to address PFAS. More information on Pennsylvania’s efforts to address PFAS can be found at this webpage: www.dep.pa.gov/PFAS.
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Your Input Wanted: Draft 2022 Pennsylvania Integrated Water Quality Report
Want to know the health of your favorite stream, river, or lake? Get to know the Pennsylvania Integrated Water Quality Report.
An interactive map in the “2020 to 2022 Changes” section shows whether your local waterway is attaining or impaired and whether this is a change from two years ago. You can see which use (or uses) DEP assessed the waterway for. If it’s impaired, you’ll see notes on both the cause, such as habitat alteration, flow change, siltation, or another factor, and the source.
DEP is committed to make the report as robust as possible to equip Pennsylvanians to take action and be part of solutions to address challenges to water quality, whether in their neighborhood, county, or watershed.
Please share your input: Comments can be made online through the DEP eComment system, may be emailed to ecomment@pa.gov, or can be mailed to the DEP Policy Office, Rachel Carson State Office Building, P.O. Box 2063, Harrisburg, PA 17105. All comments must include the commenter’s name and address. The deadline for comments is March 1.
For the 2022 report, DEP Bureau of Clean Waters staff expanded its assessment of waterways by 5,844 stream and river miles and 25,742 public lake acres. They also reassessed 5,334 stream miles and 14,262 public lake acres. The percentage of impaired stream miles rose from 30 to 33 percent compared with 2020.
DEP submits the Integrated Water Quality Report to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, in fulfillment of the federal Clean Water Act of 1972. The 2022 report reflects DEP’s cumulative assessment of 99 percent of our 85,500 stream and river miles since Pennsylvania began reporting.
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Pennsylvania Has a Strong Climate Action Plan, and We Need To Use It Now
Pennsylvanians whose homes, businesses, crops and roads have been damaged by intense flooding events in recent years might well ask, “What are our leaders doing to lead on climate change in Pennsylvania?”
The Pennsylvania Climate Change Act of 2008 requires the state Department of Environmental Protection to provide the Legislature and governor every three years a report on current and projected climate change impacts, and a plan of actions to reduce carbon emissions.
DEP published Pennsylvania Climate Action Plan 2021 in September. It’s a strong plan to protect Pennsylvanians, and we call for statewide action on it now.
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Wolf Administration Releases First-Ever Litter Action Plan, Calls for Action Statewide
The Wolf Administration recently released the state’s first-ever Litter Action Plan–which reflects the work of more than 100 stakeholders from state and local government, businesses, the legislature, and more–and includes both current initiatives and recommendations to clean up the more than 500 million pieces of litter scattered throughout the commonwealth.
“DEP is committed to helping drive a statewide shift to litter prevention,” said DEP Secretary Patrick McDonnell. “If we bring the same energy to litter prevention initiatives that thousands of volunteers have brought to cleaning up litter in their communities, we’ll turn a corner on Pennsylvania’s trash problem. And we’ll gain the community and economic benefits of a healthier environment.”
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DEP and Second Lady Encourage Pennsylvanians to Test Their Homes for Radon During National Radon Action Month
Radon is a naturally occurring, invisible radioactive gas that enters homes from the ground and, with long term exposure, is the second leading cause of lung cancer, after smoking.
"High levels of radon have been found in every county in Pennsylvania. Since you can't see or smell radon, doing a simple test is the only way to find out if you're breathing in high levels and take action to keep your home a healthy place," said Executive Deputy Secretary Ziadeh.
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Nine Tips for Having a Radon Reduction System Installed in Your Home
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency action level for radon is 4 pCi/L. Because of our geology, many homes in Pennsylvania have a considerably higher radon level. If a test of your home shows a level higher than the EPA action level, you should have a radon reduction system installed to protect yourself and your family from this radioactive gas, the second leading cause of lung cancer.
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| NEWS FROM AROUND THE STATE
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DEP Releases “Guidelines for Recycling in Your Community” Booklet on America Recycles Day to Assist Pennsylvanians and Support Local Recycling Programs
The booklet is available to download at dep.pa.gov/recycling. Print copies of the booklet will be distributed at upcoming public events and will be available through DEP’s six regional offices (dep.pa.gov/regions).
“DEP is committed to supporting successful recycling programs in local communities, and this new booklet will help residents to better understand the rules of recycling and how to connect with local recycling opportunities,” said DEP Secretary Patrick McDonnell. “We encourage everyone to find ways to reduce their waste, reuse materials, recycle what they can, and properly dispose of what they must.”
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Want To Clean Up an Illegal Dumpsite? Teamwork Makes the Dream Work
Have you ever seen a mess that seemed insurmountable? No, we’re not talking about your teenager’s bedroom. How about a mass dumping ground full of every imaginable form of waste, scattered across the landscape and tangled under vegetation along a steep slope in an inaccessible area? Illegal dumpsites are still an all-too-common scourge on Pennsylvania’s landscape, and cleaning them up can be an incredibly daunting challenge.
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Wolf Administration Announces Funding to Protect Delaware Estuary Coastal Zone
"Our coastal zones are vital environmental, economic, and community resources for the commonwealth,” said DEP Secretary Patrick McDonnell. “Each year, the diverse Coastal Zone projects help us rethink, reexamine, and rededicate our efforts towards a comprehensive approach to ensuring the sustainability of these habitats.”
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Shane Kleiner, watershed manager and grants coordinator for DEP’s Northeast Regional Office
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DEP Awards Borough of Jim Thorpe Growing Greener Grant for Stream Restoration Work in Carbon County
“This restoration project will have significant environmental impact to the stream’s water quality, health and aquatic habitat, not to mention improving outdoor experiences for sportsmen and women,” said Shane Kleiner, watershed manager and grants coordinator for DEP’s Northeast Regional Office in Wilkes-Barre. “Having funding available through Growing Greener enables the project partners to begin the work needed to restore the creek to its natural habitat.”
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DEP Northwest Regional Director Erin Wells
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DEP Announces More than $1.7 Million to Fund Local Water Clean Up Projects in PA’s Northwest Region
“Growing Greener awardees help keep Pennsylvania clean,” said DEP Secretary Patrick McDonnell. “It is imperative that communities in Pennsylvania receive the necessary funding to reduce pollutants in area waterways.”
Statewide, more than $18 million has been awarded to fund over 60 projects to clean up waters. Grantees have up to three years to implement their projects from the award date.
DEP announced funding for these seven awards at the Erie County Conservation District Office, which received one of the seven grants and plans to utilize these funds for the Pennsylvania Vested in Environmental Sustainability program (PA VinES). The program works with viticulture and grape growing operations through a voluntary, proactive approach to assess agricultural operations for environmental and economic sustainability, fund best management practices identified by the assessments, and create a certification/recognition program.
“The Pennsylvania Lake Erie Grape Region boasts approximately 10,000 acres of juice and wine grapes, making it the largest agricultural land use in the PA Lake Erie Basin,“ said Erin Wells, DEP Northwest Regional Director. “The PA VinES program is a vital asset to the region, as it promotes sustainable viticulture practices for Concord and Niagara grape production in the Lake Erie Watershed.”
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DEP Southeast Regional Director Pat Patterson
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Wolf Administration Announces $3.5 Million for Watershed Restoration and Protection Projects in Southeast PA
“Growing Greener is the single largest investment of state funds that goes directly towards addressing critical environmental concerns of the 21st century,” said DEP Southeast Regional Director Pat Patterson. “As we continue to see the impacts of climate change, it is imperative that we use funds to invest in, protect, and restore our watersheds.”
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DEP Northcentral Region Acting Director Jared Dressler
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DEP Announces $245,000 Growing Greener Grant for Kinney Run Watershed
Kinney Run, an impaired tributary to the Susquehanna River, is a small, urbanized watershed that frequently experiences flooding. The Growing Greener grant will fund three interconnected projects within the watershed to reduce stormwater runoff, non-point source pollution, and sediment erosion and deposition. The projects will enhance aquatic and pollinator habitats, increase ecosystem services, and establish a new public nature park with educational signage.
“The design for Kinney Run improvements is a wonderful example of creatively planning a series of interrelated projects to address multiple environmental and community goals, enhancing outdoor recreation, environmental education opportunities, and local water quality,” said Dressler. “I look forward to visiting again in the future to see the established best management practices and nature park.”
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From ‘Red and Dead’ to Class A Fishery, West Branch Susquehanna rebounds
Fishing continues to get better and better along the headwaters of the West Branch Susquehanna River in Cambria County, Pennsylvania. Between 2017 and 2019, three aging dams were removed, improving water quality and fish passage. Led by the nonprofit American Rivers, the dam removals were something of a final touch to a decades-long restoration story—one that dates back to a time when a few dams were the least of the area’s concerns.
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Mark Lloyd, engineer at the Lancashire Acid Mine Drainage Treatment Plant in Barr Township, Pennsylvania, poses on a catwalk above iron oxide sludge at the plant. The current plant, which opened in 2011, actively pumps water from the Lancashire No. 15 mine, treating roughly six million gallons of water daily to remove rust-colored iron oxide, before discharging the water into the West Branch. (Photo by Will Parson/Chesapeake Bay Program)
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Illegal Dump Free PA Surveillance Camera Loan Program
The ongoing Illegal Dump Free PA Surveillance Camera Loan Program is designed to provide surveillance cameras to eligible organizations in Pennsylvania to help capture evidence at active, illegal dumpsites.
Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful (KPB) will loan three high quality surveillance cameras and provide training and assistance to selected applicants. Grant recipients will work with local enforcement agencies to ultimately reduce illegal dumping through public education and enforcement.
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Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, 400 Market Street Harrisburg, PA 17101
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