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February
1998
Water
Policy News
Newsletter of the Water Resources Education Network
In this Issue
ERIE STUDENTS TRACK POLLUTED WATERS
Project PAH (Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons) Achieves Goal Students
at Strong Vincent High School in Erie have successfully used sophisticated
new testing equipment and tracked down the source of chemicals that
were known to enter Presque Isle Bay. With a grant from the WREN project,
the school purchased equipment to measure the amounts of PAHs in water.
Students collected samples along with DEP and Erie County Health Department
and ran parallel tests. Student testing was found to be accurate and
reliable and, in addition, revealed two sources of PAHs in creeks tributary
to Presque Isle Bay. The students have prepared a formal report for
submittal to DEP and the County Health and Planning departments. The
report includes recommended actions for reducing the amount of pollutants
entering the Bay. The students are planning to hold a public meeting
during Earth Week in April to present their findings. For information
on the project contact James Rutkowski, 814-871-6537.
NORTHERN LIBERTIES NEIGHBORHOOD PROJECT JOINS WITH
PHILADELPHIA WATER DEPARTMENT
Beneath the streets of Philadelphia lie the remnants of ancient
streams that once flowed the low-lying area that Billy Penn choose for
his City of Brotherly Love. One such stream, Cohocksink Creek, flows
under Liberty Lands Park, a former industrial site which has been cleaned
up and converted to a neighborhood park. Liberty Lands will now become
the focus of a pilot project to bring storm water quality education
to Philadelphia students. Students from Bodine High School will do storm
drain stencilling (labeling) and experiment with ways to control stormwater
runoff. Other possible activities include explorations of the Delaware
shoreline to research stormwater outfall points and mapping the underground
waterways in the area. For more information contact Jesse J. Gardner,
215-923-0391
WORKSHOPS PLANNED ON STATE SOURCE WATER ASSESSMENT
PROGRAM
The Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) 1996 Amendments require states to
do assessments of waters that are sources of drinking water, both surface
and ground, to identify water sources and determine potential sources
of contamination. The Act also requires that the state involve the public
in developing its plan for doing the assessments. The Department of
Environmental Protection (DEP) is drafting its Source Water Assessment
Plan now. According to the current draft, DEP plans to do the assessments
for all surface water supplies. For the smaller systems, it will probably
use a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) computer analysis. The state's
wellhead protection program will serve as the cornerstone of the plan.
The state plans to rely on Wellhead Protection Programs, in place or
to be developed, to meet the source water assessment requirement for
groundwater sources. DEP is also working with an EPA contractor, the
Cadmus Group, on three surface water assessment pilot projects. The
three are in Reading, with the Chester County Water Authority, and with
the Lehigh Valley Water Suppliers Association for the city of Allentown.
The Lehigh Valley project may also result in a model program for source
water protection education activities. Funding for developing the Plan
and doing the assessments will come from the drinking water State Revolving
Fund monies, a Fund provided by Congress to each state and generally
used for loans for infrastructure development. Ten percent of the 1997
State Revolving Fund can be used for assessments. An additional 5% can
be used for wellhead protection programs. Once the Plan is complete,
the state has four years to complete the assessments. The public will
have an opportunity to learn more about the DEP plan this Spring and
next Fall when Clean Water Action will host six workshops throughout
the state, one in each DEP region. The Plan is also available on the
DEP website, both in summary and complete forms. Look under Water at
http://www.dep.state.pa.us. The SDWA Amendments do not require that
states or water suppliers take any steps to protect water supplies once
assessments are done, but does provide funding, again through a set-aside
from the State Revolving Fund, for protection activities. Most people
involved with the program believe that it was Congress' intent that
protection activities be encouraged. To learn more about the state Source
Water Assessment Program and the dates and locations of the workshops,
contact Joe Lee at 717-772-4018.
SENIORS MONITOR WATERSHEDS
In a unique pilot project, the state departments of Environmental Protection
(DEP) and Aging are joining with the Environmental Alliance for Senior
Involvement (EASI) to establish Senior Environmental Corps (SEC) in
ten communities across the state. The SEC's have been trained to monitor
water quality in streams and lakes in their area using standardized
monitoring practices. The data collected will be entered in a statewide
database that can be used by watershed managers. Senior Environmental
Corps have been established in community organizations in Allentown,
Indiana, Lansdale, Meadville, Mechanisburg/Harrisburg, Philadelphia,
Pittsburgh, Scranton, Warren and York. Senior volunteers are being trained
by educators from Allegheny College, the Schuykill Center for Environmental
Education, Jacobsburg EE Center, Pocono EE Center and some County Conservation
Districts. EASI is providing each SEC with EASI/Hach chemical analysis
kits and other monitoring and data management tools. A "web host" in
each SEC will enter data into the statewide internet accessible database.
EASI is a non-profit coalition that works with local and national environmental
and senior organizations to promote senior involvement in caring for
the environment. For more information contact Rennie Cohen, EASI's PA
Statewide Coordinator at 215-848-7722.
GROUNDWATER GUARDIAN CONFERENCE PICTURE
Sue Thompson from Pike County and Betty Conner from Lebanon look over
the Lebanon County display at the Groundwater Guardian Conference. Keynote
speaker at the conference, attorney Jan Schlichtmann, movingly related
his firsthand story of groundwater contamination in Woburn, Mass and
the personal tragedies and failing litigation that resulted. The story
is ultimately one of triumph and is well told in the book A Civil Action,
which is currently being made into a movie starring John Travolta as
Schlichtmann. The book and the movie tell a cautionary tale that will
educate millions about groundwater and be a graphic illustration of
the need for groundwater protection.
WREN LOCAL PROJECT ACTIVITIES
The Pike County Water Quality Coalition will present information on
protecting water supplies at four municipal meetings in February. Peter
Wulfhorst, Community Planning director and Frank Higdon, Penn State
Community development Agent, will give a 30 minute slide presentation
on the importance and protection of Pike County water supplies. The
meetings will be held: February 2 Blooming Grove Twp February 3 Matamoras
Borough February 11 Delaware Township February 17 Palmyra Township Contact:
Peter Wulfhorst, 717-296-3440. February 16 Boiling Springs, PA Public
meeting on agriculture and groundwater, sponsored by the South Middleton
Township Supervisors and coalition partners. Contact: 717-258-5324.
February 26 Franklin Twp, Adams Co. POW-Wow: "Protect Our Water- Wow"
Science/Water Fair at the Franklin Township Elementary School for grades
4-6. Contact: Ed Ruggles, 717-334-6254. February 26 Lebanon, PA SINKHOLE
REMEDIATION TECHNIQUES Sponsored by the Greater Lebanon Refuse Authority
and coalition partners. Contact: Michael Pavelek, 717-867-5790 ext 308
or e-mail: mdp@iwi.net March 27 Mercer, PA A workshop to review conditions
in the Neshannock Creek watershed and ways to protect the economic and
recreational values of the area. John Oliver, Secretary of the Pennsylvania
Department of Conservation and Natural Resources will discuss DCNR programs
and Pulitzer prize winning author Tom Hylton will be the luncheon speaker.
The workshop will include a bus tour of the watershed. Sponsored by
Neshannock Trout Unlimited and coalition partners. Contact: Jim LaLumia,
412-946-8658 or e-mail: JPLaLumi@cc.ysu.edu April 1 Huntingdon, PA Muddy
Run Town Meeting - a public meeting to share information on how to clean
up Muddy Run which is affected by urban run-off and eroding streambanks.
Sponsored by the Muddy Run Advisory Committee. Contact: Andy Patterson,
814-627-1627. May 1 Clintonville, Venango County Workshop to discuss
water resources protection issues in the Big Scrubgrass Creek watershed.
Sponsored by the Big Scrubgrass Creek Watershed Coalition. Contact:
Neil Parker, 814-437-2473.
TOOLS FOR DRINKING WATER PROTECTION COMMUNITY ACTION KIT (League of
Women Voters Education Fund, 1997, Pub #1070) Includes a LEADER'S GUIDE
(44 pp) a VIDEO (90 min) and publication
PROTECTING YOUR GROUNDWATER: EDUCATING FOR ACTION. Help for designing
a program for protecting drinking water in your community. The video
may be borrowed from the WREN Resource Center, 1-800-692-7281. The full
Kit is available for $29 (inc. s/h) from LWVEF, 1730 M St., Washington,
DC 20036
CREATING CONNECTIONS: THE PENNSYLVANIA GREENWAYS AND TRAILS HOW-TO
MANUAL (Pennsylvania Environmental Council, 1998, 75 pp) details steps
community groups can take from vision to acquisition to development
of greenways and trails. Available from PEC, 1-800-322-9214.
PA BLUPRINTS - CD-ROM (PSU Dept. of Landscape Architecture, 1997)
(Best Land Use Principles & Results, Interactivity Shown) An important
new tool to help communities plan, PA BLUPRINTS allows planners and
citizens to see the effect of various planning strategies on their communities.
Available for review in all county planning offices or for purchase
for $14.00 from PSU Dept of Landscape Architecture, 210 Unit D, University
Park, PA 16802-1429.
A GUIDE TO GROUNDWATER GUARDIAN (The Groundwater Foundation, 1998)
An introduction to the Groundwater Guardian Program and how your community
can apply for recognition in 1998. Application deadline is 2/13/98.
Call The Groundwater Foundation, 1-800-858-4844 for information or WREN
Resource Center, 1-800-691-7281.
TAPPING THE SOURCE (Groundwater Education in Michigan, 1997, 29 pp)
A catalog of groundwater education materials available through the Groundwater
Education in Michigan (GEM) program and related initiatives.. Available
from GEM, 517-355-0224 or e-mail: klineror@msue.msu.edu
WATER EDUCATION 101 (American Water Works Association (AWWA), 8 pp.)
A catalog of youth education materials from AWWA. Available from AWWA,
1-800-926-7337.
SAVING AMERICAN FARMLAND: WHAT WORKS (American Farmland Trust, 1997)
reviews tools and techniques for protecting farmland and case studies
of successful programs. Available from AFT, 1-800-370-4879.
PENNSYLVANIA'S MAJOR RIVER BASINS (Dept of Environmental Protection,
1997) A compilation of brief articles on each of PA's river basins.
Available from DEP, 717-772-4785 or e-mail: brooks.irene@a1.dep.state.pa.us
A CITIZEN'S GUIDE TO INVESTIGATING AND REDUCING SEDIMENT POLLUTION
(Delaware Riverkeeper, 1997) summarizes the experiences of volunteers
trained to identify sources of sediment pollution and raise awareness
about riparian conditions. Available from Fred Stine of the Delaware
Riverkeeper, 215-369-1181.
ENFORCEABLE STATE MECHANISMS FOR THE CONTROL OF NONPOINT SOURCE POLLUTION
(Environmental Law Institute, 1997) A survey of state programs to control
nonpoint source pollution with recommendations for studying their effectiveness.
Available from the ELI, 161
6 P St. NW, Suite 200, Washington, DC 20036, 202-939-3800. INDEX OF
WATERSHED INDICATORS (EPA-841-R-97-010) An EPA report which lists 15
water quality indicators used to characterize watersheds and a summary
of the health of watersheds across the country. Available from the National
Center for Environmental Publications at 513-489-8190, or on the EPA
website at: http://www.epa.gov.surf
THE CASE FOR CAUTION: RECOMMENDATIONS FOR LAND APPLICATION OF SEWAGE
SLUDGE (Cornell Waste Management Institute, 1997) Discusses federal
regulations governing land application of sludge and raising questions
about their effectiveness. Available from the Institute, 100 Rice Hall,
Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 15854-5601, 506-255-1187.
GRANTS AVAILABLE Small watersheds - The Chesapeake Bay Program is launching
a small watersheds grants program to support local education and restoration
efforts that advance Chesapeake Bay restoration goals. Grants are open
to nonprofit organizations and local governments. Decisions on grant
applications will be made in April. For more information or a copy of
the "call for proposals" contact the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay
at: 410-377-6270. Greenway planning -Nonprofit organizations and public
agencies may apply for grants of $500-$2,500 for greenway design and
implementation, Internet access and watershed conservation projects
in the Schuylkill River watershed. Deadline is 2/27/98. For information
call 215-563-7860 or e-mail: pecphila@libertynet.org. County Water Supply
planning - DEP is accepting applications from counties for funding for
preparation or updating of a county water supply plan. Also, grants
are available to counties or two or more municipalities under the Formation
of Water Authorities Grant Program. Deadline for both programs is 2/27/98.
Call Donna L. Green,717-787-4018 or e-mail: green.donna@a1.dep.state.pa.us
Nonpoint source projects- DEP is accepting applications for nonpoint
source pollution implementation projects using Clean Water Act Section
319 funding. Deadline for proposals is March 5. Project time frame is
anticipated to be 10/1/98 - 9/30/2000. Call Russ Wagner, 717-787-5259.
Website of the Month Rivers on the web DCNR's Pennsylvania Rivers Program
now has its own webpage at http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/rivers
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
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