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Jan. 28
Small Business Compliance Advisory Committee meeting, 10
a.m., 12th Floor Conference Room, Rachel Carson State Office Building,
400 Market St., Harrisburg. Contact: Susan Foster, (717) 787-7019.
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Jan. 29
Chesapeake Bay Management Team meeting,9:30
a.m., Susquehanna Conference Rooms A & B, DEP Southcentral
Regional Office, 909 Elmerton Ave., Harrisburg.
Contact: Rhonda Manning, (717) 772-4472.
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Feb. 5
Environmental Justice Advisory Board (EJAB) meeting, 8:30
a.m., 16th Floor Delaware Room, Rachel Carson State Office Building, 400
Market Street, Harrisburg. Contact: Kim Morewood,
(717) 783-9731.
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Feb. 6
Climate Change Advisory Committee meeting, 10 a.m. Room
105, Rachel Carson State Office Building, 400 Market St., Harrisburg. Contact:
Mark Brojakowski, (717) 772-3429.
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Feb. 10
Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) workshop –
Permit Compliance Session, 8:30 a.m., Best Western, The Central Hotel and
Conference Center, 800 East Park Dr., Harrisburg. Contact:Joyce Rivers, (717) 901-7055.
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Feb. 11
DEP public hearing on the draft air quality plan and NPDES
permit approvals for Tenaska’s proposed natural gas fired power station
in South Huntington Twp., Westmoreland County, 6 p.m., Turkeytown South Huntington Volunteer Fire Department
Hall, 90 Supervisor Dr., West Newton. Contact John Poster, (412-) 442-4203.
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Feb. 11
State Board for Certification of Water and Wastewater
Systems Operators meeting, 10 a.m., 10th Floor Conference Room, Rachel Carson
State Office Building, 400 Market St., Harrisburg. Contact: Cheri Sansoni, (717) 772-5158.
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Feb, 12
Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) Workshop --
Permit Compliance Session, 8:30 a.m., The Woodlands Inn, 1073 Highway
315, Wilkes-Barre. Contact: Joyce Rivers, (717) 901-7055.
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Feb. 12
Air Quality Technical Advisory Committee meeting, 9:15
a.m., Room 105, Rachel Carson State Office Building, 400 Market St.,
Harrisburg. Contact: Nancy Herb, (717) 783-9269.
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Feb.17
Environmental Quality Board (EQB) meeting, 9 a.m., Room
105, Rachel Carson State Office Building, 400 Market St.
Harrisburg. Contact: Jen Swan,( 717)
783-8727.
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Feb. 17
Citizens Advisory Council meeting, 10 a.m., Room 105,
Rachel Carson State Office Building, 400 Market St., Harrisburg. Contact:
Jen Swan, (717)783-8727.
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Feb. 17
DEP public hearing on an operating permit for a natural
gas liquids pump station in West Cornwall Township, Lebanon County, 7
p.m., Quentin Volunteer Fire Company Hall, 20 South Lebanon St., Lebanon.
Contact: Eileen Bitting, (717) 705-4703.
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Feb. 18
Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) Workshop --
Permit Compliance Session, 8:30 a.m., Holiday Inn, Morgantown/PA
Turnpike, 6170 Morgantown Rd., Morgantown. Contact: Joyce Rivers, (717)
901-7055.
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Feb. 25
Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) workshop --
Permit Compliance Session, 8:30 a.m., Pittsburgh Marriott North, 100
Cranberry Woods Dr., Cranberry Twp. Contact: Joyce Rivers, (717)
901-7055.
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Jan. 30
DEP webinar for Pennsylvania Natural Gas Energy
Development Program (NGEDP) Round 3 Grantees, 10 a.m. Click
here to register.
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Jan. 26
Deadline to comment on the Use of Reclamation Fill at
Active Noncoal Sites (DEP ID: 563-2000-301).
Contact Sharon Hill, (717) 787-6842.
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Jan. 26
Deadline to comment on Developing National Pollutant
Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permits for Mining Activities (DEP
ID: 563-2112-115). Contact Sharon Hill, (717) 787-6842.
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Feb. 2
Deadline to comment on Designation Criteria for Regulated
Small Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4) (DEP ID:
385-0820-001). Ronald Furlan, (717) 787-8184.
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Feb. 18
Deadline to comment on the Implementation Plan for Act 162
of 2014 (DEP ID: 310-2135-001). Jennifer Orr, (717) 787-3411.
Feb. 18
Deadline to comment on the Management
of Fill (DEP ID: 258-2182-773). C. D. Vu, (717) 787-7381.
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Quigley Begins
Tenure as DEP Acting Secretary
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HARRISBURG
-- Gov. Tom Wolf's appointee as secretary of the Department of Environmental
Protection John Quigley began his tenure at the agency by greeting
employees at the Rachel Carson State Office Building Wednesday morning as
they arrived to work in Harrisburg. Quigley was joined by Cindy Dunn, who
Gov. Wolf appointed as secretary of the Deparment
of Conservation and Natural Resources.
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DEP Acting Secretary John Quigley
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Among Quigley's first stops was to a meeting of the
Citizens' Advisory Council where he outlined the Wolf Administration's environmental
priorities and committment to transparency and
increased public participation.
In appointing Quigley to the post, Gov. Wolf said,
“Pennsylvania must take better advantage of its energy resources, such as the
Marcellus Shale, to jump-start the new energy economy, energize our
manufacturing sector, and modernize our infrastructure.
"The natural gas industry must be a key
component of any plan for Pennsylvania’s future, but we also must ensure
that we take advantage of this resource in a way that benefits all
Pennsylvanians, safeguards the health of our citizens, and protects our
water and environment.
"John Quigley has the experience to lead the
Department of Environmental Protection, and working with him, I know we can
develop this industry for the future while also protecting our environment
and bringing greater oversight and transparency to the process."
From 2009 to 2011, Quigley served as secretary of the
Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. He was instrumental in
creating a national model — an advanced, collaborative, interagency
approach to recreation, conservation, and community enhancement around
specific regional landscapes. He also led the efforts that re-engineered
DCNR’s grant program, creating a user-friendly, efficient online system
that emphasizes green practices.
Quigley also oversaw the completion of the country’s
first high resolution digital statewide map (PAMAP) which is being used
extensively by energy companies and other businesses, public safety
agencies, planners, state agencies, and by the federal government in
updating statewide floodplain maps.
He is a graduate of Bloomsburg University with a
degree in economics, and holds a Master of Public Administration degree
from Lehigh University.
Dozens Attend DEP Open House for Tenaska’s Westmoreland
Power Plant
Attendees were able to ask questions of DEP staff about
Tenaska's plan to construct a natural gas fired power plant in South
Huntington Twp., Westmoreland Co.
PITTSBURGH -- More than 300 people attended
an open house and environmental justice listening session on Jan. 21 in
West Newton, Westmoreland County, to learn about a proposal by Tenaska
Pennsylvania Partners, LLC, to build a natural gas fired power station in
South Huntington Township.
In order to begin construction, the company must
obtain an air quality plan approval and a National Pollution Discharge Elimination
System (NPDES) permit from DEP.
In the air quality plan approval application, Tenaska
requests permission to construct and temporarily operate the gas-fired
facility. The company’s NPDES application requests to discharge water used
to cool the power generation equipment into the Youghiogheny River.
DEP has issued draft approvals for both requests
which include conditions specifying how these air emissions and waste-water
discharges must be controlled.
A separate formal public hearing will be held at 6
p.m., Feb. 11, where DEP will accept testimony on the draft approvals.
Those wishing to make comments should register with DEP Community Relations
Coordinator John Poister either by email or phone
at jpoister@pa.gov or
412-442-4203. There will also be an opportunity to register on-site on the
evening of the hearing.
Those unable to attend the hearing may submit written
comments to the Department of Environmental Protection, 400 Waterfront
Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15222. Please note on the envelope that you are
commenting on the Tenaska proposals. The public comment period will close
on Feb. 23.
For more information, visit www.dep.state.pa.us
DEP to Hold Public Meeting, Hearing to Discuss Proposed
Wellsboro Johnston Airport Project
WILLIAMSPORT -- DEP will hold a public meeting and
hearing to discuss an NPDES permit application and site-specific approval
submitted by Clean Earth Inc. for the proposed Wellsboro Johnston Airport
expansion project in Tioga County.
The public meeting will be held at 6 p.m., followed
by the public hearing at 7:30 p.m., on Wednesday, Feb. 25, at the Wellsboro
Fire Department Annex, 21 East Ave., Wellsboro.
“The department has received a significant number of
requests for a public discussion of Clean Earth Inc.’s plans related to
operations at the Wellsboro Johnston Airport, and we are pleased to provide
this opportunity for local elected officials and citizens,” DEP
North-central Regional Director Marcus Kohl said.
DEP’s Waterways and Wetlands program, along with the
Tioga County Conservation District, are currently reviewing an individual
NPDES permit application for stormwater
discharges associated with construction activities that was submitted by
Clean Earth in November 2014.
Read
more.
Best of Land Recycling Contest Nominations Due Jan. 304
 HARRISBURG -- DEP
and the Engineers' Society of Western Pennsylvania (ESWP) are accepting
nominations for outstanding land recycling projects to be showcased at this
year's Pennsylvania Brownfields Conference to be held
May 13-15 at the Bayfront Convention Center in
Erie.
This marks the 20th anniversary of Pennsylvania’s
historic Land Recycling Program and Act 2. This nationally recognized
program has been successful in all areas of the Commonwealth, helping to
restore environmentally-challenged properties back to useful life and
economic prosperity.
Nominations of unique or impactful projects that were
completed as a result of Act 2 are due by Jan. 31. Submittals may be
considered for verbal presentations, poster display or recognition at the
conference.
The nomination form is avilable
on ESWP's
website.
DEP to Conduct Webinar for Pa. Natural Gas Energy Development
Program Round 3 Grantees
HARRISBURG
-- DEP will hold a webinar at 10 a.m., Friday, Jan. 30, for the companies,
organizations and partnerships who received Act 13 funding for the
conversion of their heavy-duty fleet vehicles to natural gas.
Act 13 authorized DEP to develop and implement the
Natural Gas Energy Development program, funded by impact fees paid by
natural gas operators. The program helps pay for the incremental
purchase and conversion costs of heavy-duty natural gas fleet vehicles.
During the webinar, DEP staff will review the steps
for properly executing agreements and answer any questions.
Click here
to register for the webinar.
German Filmmakers Visit Pennsylvania for Mine Fire
Documentary
A crew
from Berlin-based Story House Productions shoot video of a coal pile fire remediation project at the
Pittsburgh International Airport.
PITTSBURGH -- A crew from a Berlin-based film
production company visited the coal refuse pile fire abatement project at
the Pittsburgh International Airport in Allegheny County last week. They
are creating a prime-time documentary for German television to be aired in
mid-February.
Staff from DEP’s Bureau of Abandoned Mine Reclamation
led the filmmakers on a tour of the site, where they were able to see
evidence of the pile fire and learn more about how those types of fires are
extinguished.
A producer, audio engineer and photographer from
Story House Productions shot video of the huge earthmovers as it pushed
almost 430,000 cubic yards of earth at the airport's coal pile fire
remediation project site.
DEP Educates Farm Show Attendees about Pennsylvania’s Energy
Resources
DEP staff
talk with visitors at the Pennsylvania Farm Show.
HARRISBURG – DEP'S exhibit for the 99th annual
Pennsylvania Farm Show held Jan. 10-17 in Harrisburg focused on
Pennsylvania’s energy resources and featured a van fueled by compressed natural
gas (CNG), an electric vehicle (EV), an all-new animated unconventional
drilling video and the garage from its award-winning DEP at Home exhibit.
The exhibit included a Ford E-350 that has been
converted to run on CNG. Visitors were able to “fill up” the van by using a
real CNG pump. The Nissan Leaf, an all-electric car, was also on display
after making its debut during last year’s farm show. Farm Show visitors
were able to use the EV charger to “power” the car.
Produced by Commonwealth Media Services, DEP also
featured a new animated video that explains the complex unconventional
drilling process in an easy-to-understand and visual format. The video
details how DEP regulates the unconventional drilling process and ensures
compliance with strict environmental standards. It is the latest in DEP’s
series of educational videos that are available on DEP’s YouTube page.
The DEP at Home garage included flooring made from
recycled tires, a green wall covered in living plants, information about
proper disposal of household hazardous waste, as well as landscaping with
native plants, and tips on proper pest management. Visitors were also able
to see a working radon mitigation unit, in honor of Radon Action Month,
which is held every January.
DEP created the exhibit through funds provided by the
U.S. Department of Energy’s State Energy Program. The video was funded by
the state’s well plugging fund, financed by oil and gas permit fees and
penalties.
To learn more about rebates for alternative fuel vehicles,
visit www.dep.state.pa.us,
Keyword: Alternative Fuels. To view the latest educational video, visit www.youtube.com/PennsylvaniaDEP.
  
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