|
|
|
October
1998 In this Issue
SWAP=SOURCE WATER ASSESSMENT PROGRAM A requirement of Section 1453 of the 1996 amendments to the federal Safe Drinking Water Act, source water assessment is the latest attempt to protect our drinking water supplies. SWAP refers to the requirement that states must develop, and carry out, a program to assess all drinking water sources, including delineate the area of the source, inventory the contaminate threats and analyze the water supply's susceptibility to those threats. All this must be completed in the next 3-4 years. Although some speakers describing the program emphasize that the word "protection" doesn't appear in the Act, they go on to say that the intent of Congress is clear: once people understand where their water comes from and what the threats to their water supply are, they will act to protect their supplies. The key word here is "people." The program is voluntary once the assessment is done. Its up to communities to protect their own water supplies: the local governments, the water suppliers and the residents. WREN Grants Available We plan to have a Request-for Proposal available in January of 1999 for projects to be carried out between June 1999 and June 2000. Call 1-800-692-7281 if you want to be placed on the mailing list for the RFP. DEP SEEKS PUBLIC INPUT ON SWAP DEVELOPMENT
The state must submit its SWAP to EPA by February 8, 1999. Prior to that date, the SWAP will be published on the PA Bulletin for a formal comment period. Publication is expected in late November. However, the time for real input is now. Visit the DEP website at http://www.dep.state.pa.us (Water Supply Management) to learn more about DEP's plans to assess (and ultimately protect) your drinking water sources. GREENWAYS CONNECTIONS Water resource advocates need to connect to the movement to establish Greenways which began with the Pennsylvania Greenways Partnership, led by the PA Environmental Council, and has evolved into the PA Greenways Partnership Commission, established by Governor Ridge and co-chaired by Secretary of Conservation and Natural Resources, John Oliver and Secretary of Transportation, Bradley Mallory. Commission members have been appointed and a first meeting was held in September. Greenways, which are public or private open-space corridors, can protect water quality by providing a riparian buffer along streams and wetlands. Public greenways can also put people back in touch with their neighborhood streams, which so often have become a victim of poor land use planning and ignored in the development process rather than made a focal point for protection and enjoyment. A how-to manual on greenway planning, acquisition and development, Creating Connections, is available for $10 from the PA Environmental Council, 1211 Chestnut St., Suite 900, Philadelphia, PA 19107. Call PEC at 1-800-322-9214 for more info on the Greenways Partnership. CAFO=WATER QUALITY CONCERNS CAFO's are farms where large numbers of animals are raised, usually under contract to a major meat supplier, in small areas. The official definition is an animal operation which has more than 2 Animal Equivalent Units (AEU) per acre. An AEU equals 1000 pounds of live weight of animals. The major water problem associated with CAFO's is the disposal of the huge quanity of manure which is generated by the animals. They can produce the equivalent of the waste products of small towns. The traditional ways of disposing of this much manure can result in polluted surface water from run off or, when runoff is prevented, in polluted groundwater. New Federal laws require that states control these problems and protect their water supplies from contamination. Pennsylvania is currently developing a long-term strategy to regulate waste disposal from CAFO's. The plan will require nutrient management plans, erosion and sedimentation plans, NPDES and Clean Streams Part II permits for the largest sites and opportunities for public participation in the permitting process. An interim plan which applies to proposed CAFO's is presently in place and contains many of these provisions. The proposed long term plan is currently open for public comment. The comment deadline has been extended to October 13. For more information see the DEP Website under the topic: Water Management, CAFO LOCAL GROUPS SHARE SUCCESSES The meeting will be held near Harrisburg on November 5 and 6. DEP Deputy Secretary Dave Hess will speak with the group at dinner on the 5th. Representatives of other groups involved with community education projects are invited to attend at their own expense. Call 1-800-692-7281 for more information. GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION ON THE WEB Check out the Pennsylvania Spatial Data Access (PASDA) system at www.pasda.psu.edu on the Internet. DEP in collaboration with PSU is providing over 2000 data layers on Pennsylvania's environment. Individual layers may be downloaded and combined to support research and analysis. The data can be manipulated using Geographic Information System (GIS) software such as ArcExplorer that can be downloaded free from ESRI at www.esri.com under Downloads-ArcExplorer GIS Data Browser. Atlas information includes watersheds, forests, physical regions surface geology, hydrologic features, and more. For more info contact the DEP GIS Data Center at 717-772-5851. Around the State SCHUYKILL RIVER WATERSHED INITIATIVE
For information about the Initiative, and how to apply for grants in 1999, contact Nick Dilks, Dilks@msn.com or visit their website at www.srvi.org UPPER SUSQUEHANNA COALITION The main office of the USC is in Tioga County Soil and Water Conservation District, 56 Main Street, Owego, NY 13827. For more information contact Maggie Bartenhagen, Education coordinator at 607-687-3553. PA STREAM MILES GROW RESOURCES Bacteria and Water Wells (American Ground Water Trust, 24 pp 1998) info on bacteria, treatment techniques and aquifer and water well protection strategies. Available from the Trust, 603-228-5444. e-mail: agwthq@aol.com Groundwater Atlas (US Geological Survey, 1998) Groundwater information for each region of the country in 13 volumes of state and territorial groupings. PA is included in the mid-Atlantic region. Color maps display key aspects of major aquifers, charts describe uses and diagrams illustrate relationships among aquifers. Available for $4 per volume plus $3.50 s/h from USGS, 1-800-USA-MAPS. More information at http://wwwcapp.er.usgs.gov/publicdocs.gwa or by mail from USGS, Office of Groundwater, 411 National Center, Reston, VA 20192. Ground Water and Surface Water - A Single Resource (US Geological Survey Circular 1139, 1998, 79 pp) A well-illustrated description of the interaction of ground water and surface water, and the effects of human activities on this interaction. Available free from USGS, 800-435-7627. Estimating Areas Contributing Recharge to Wells: Lessons Learned from Previous Studies (US Geological Survey Circular 1174, 1998, 14 pp) a brief review of USGS work on determining well recharge areas. Good illustrations. Available free from USGS, 800-435-7627. 21st Century Environmental Commission Final Report (1998, 92 pp) report of Governor's Commision charged with recommending ways to improve the environment in PA. Available from 717-772-4770 or on the web at http//www.21stcentury.state.pa.us Conservation Design for Stormwater Management (Brandywine Conservancy and the DE Dept. of Natural Resources and Environmental Control. 225 pp., 1998) A manual for developers and municipal planning agencies on nonstructural conservation techniques for stormwater management that treat stormwater as a resource rather then a waste. Available for $25 plus s/h from DE DNR&EC, 89 Kings Highway, Box 1401, Dover DE 19903. 302-739-4411. Planning for the Future: A Handbook on Community Visioning (Center for Rural Pennsylvania, 1998 52 pp) A practical tool for individuals who want to plan for change in their communities. Available from CRP, 717-772-3587. Community Voices for Sustainability (Izaak Walton League of America, 1998, 32 pp) offers advice on organizing and conducting workshops to address community sustainability issues. Available from IWL, 707 Conservation Lane, Gaithersburg, MD 20878-2983. 301-548-0149 or e-mail: sustain@iwla.org. On the web at http://www.iwla.org Microscopic Murder (One of the "Know Your Environment" fact sheet series from The Academy of Natural Science, August 1998, 8 pp) The latest information on Pfiesteria, the one-celled creature that is thriving in our coastal waters. Available from ANS, 215-299-1108 or e-mail: Reuther@say.acnatsci.org. On the web at http://www.acnatsci.org Quality on Tap (PA Rural Water Association, 1998) A practical "Hands-on" guide to better public relations for small water utilities. Comes in a 3-ring binder. Available for $50 from PRWA, 138 W. Bishop St., Bellefonte, PA 16823. 814-353-9302. ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION - Grants of up to $10,000 are now available from the DEP EE grants program for environmental education projects. A 25 % local match is required. Application deadline is November 1. Public and private schools, non-profit conservation and education organizations, governmental agencies and Conservation districts are eligible to apply. For more information or an application form, write to PA DEP, EE Grants Program, PO Box 8454, Harrisburg, PA 17105-8454. WATERSHED RESTORATION AND ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (WRAP) Grants of $100 - $50,000 available to citizen groups, conservation districts and local governments for watershed remediation plans or restoration projects and protective measures. Application deadline is October 30, projects must be completed by June 30, 1999. Applications available by fax: 717-787-9549 or e-mail to: Langer.Lynn@a1.dep.state.pa.us TAP INTO WATERSHEDS Workshops addressing drinking water quality and watershed protection
under the new Safe Drinking Water Act. Help develop PA's program
to protect drinking water sources. Sponsored by Clean Water Action and
Clean Water Fund. Contact: Clean Water Action 215-629-4022, or register
on-line at http://palwv.org/wren
This newsletter is a project of the League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania Citizen Education Fund - WREN. Funded by a grant from the PA Dept. of Environmental Protection
|
|
Home | About WREN | Features | Products | Grants Need to contact us or want to share your feedback? Copyright © 1997-98 - League of Women Voters of PA Citizen Education Fund You can also visit the League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania web site. |