Get Informed about Pennsylvania D.E.P's proposed policy for On-Lot sewage systems in HQ & EV Watersheds.
House Bill 1325 successfully passed the State House of Representatives last week! You can view how your legislator voted - here.
However, that's only half the battle. Your help is now needed to ensure that the State Senate takes up this important legislation and likewise passes it before they recess for the summer.
Therefore, PASEO needs you to contact your State Senator and urge them to vote "yes" on House Bill 1325 when it comes before the full chamber.
Who's my State Senator and what is their contact information? Find your legislator here.
As you recall, this is the legislation that provides a "legislative fix" to the Pine Creek decision and eliminates the need for DEP's draft antidegredation policy for new onlot sewage systems proposed in special protection watersheds.
HB 1325, sponsored by Rep. David Maloney (R-Berks), will amend Act 537 to stipulate that permits for individual and community onlot systems that are designed & approved in accordance with existing DEP regulations will be deemed to have satified antidegredation requirements.
Without passage of this legislation, DEP's draft policy guidance entitled: "Sewage Facilities Planning Module Review for Onlot Sewage systems Proposed in High Quality and Exceptional Value Watersheds" will likely go into effect negatively impacting the use of onlot systems in High Quality & Exceptional Value watersheds. Click here to read the proposed guidance document.
When communicating with your State Senator (by phone, fax, or email), you will want to indicate that s/he should vote "yes" on HB 1325 when it comes up for a floor vote because:
1) It will return onlot system planning and installation considerations for Nitrates to the practices utilized prior to the PA Environmental Hearing Board's 2011 Pine Creek decision.
2) It recognizes that properly designed, installed and maintained onlot sewage treatment systems meet anti-degradation requirements. There is insufficient evidence to support the notion that stream quality is being degraded by properly designed, installed and maintained onlot systems.
3) Most of the Best Management Practices (BMPs) found in the draft guidance document are neither cost effective nor reasonable. Based on costs cited in the document and our experience with the cost of denitrification systems in PA, it is possible that an individual lot could incur costs of nearly $25,000 without considering the additional design, engineering and regulatory costs, both known and as of yet unknown. Commercial facilities could see these costs increase by a factor of 10 above those for residential uses.
4) It contains legislative language supported by PA DEP as well as PASEO.
Thank you for your anticipated support of HB 1325!
If you have NO idea if this is an issue for you let me say the following 1. If you live in a rural area - it is an issue. 2. If you currently use a septic system - it is an issue. 3. If you own property in a rural area - that if developed would require a septic system it is an issue. Learn More at Check out our Presentation at Responsible Citizens for Clean Water- Get Informed about Pennsylvania D.E.P's proposed policy for On-Lot sewage systems in HQ & EV Watersheds.
Proposed PADEP Policy on Nitrates and Septic Systems in PA- Proposed Requlations and Our Blog Post, Our Presentation to County Governments, Our Review of PADEP Myth and Fact On the Proposed Guidance and Formal Comments to PADEP (May 2013)
Monday, June 17, 2013
Sunday, June 16, 2013
Well Water Testing Private Well Owner Support Network Well Owner.org
Private-Well-Owner.org
Our new web-portal provides access to information to assist private well owners and small water system operates with information on how to identify and diagnose water quality problems, learn about water testing, baseline testing, common water treatment systems, and information related to natural gas develop and hydraulic fracturing. The primary reason private well owners and small water systems require this addition support and education is that in many states these systems are not adequately protected and regulated in their home state and the EPA.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has established drinking water standards for public water supplies, but the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP) is the agency that enforces these standards in Pennsylvania. A public water supply is defined as “a system which provides water the public for human consumption and which has at least 15 service connections or regularly services an average of at least 25 individuals daily at least 60 days out of the year.” Therefore, a private well that services your home or a few homes or a small spring is not specifically regulated by the drinking water standards, but these standards can be used to evaluate the quality of your drinking water. This also means that a well that may serve multiple families or a spring/pond that may service an agribusiness may still not be regulated under the US EPA Drinking Water Standards.
With respect to water quality, the drinking water standards are divided into two types of standards. The primary drinking water standards were set based on specific health concerns or impacts whereas the secondary drinking water standards are based on aesthetic issues and concerns. For example, water which slightly exceeds the secondary standard for iron would still be safe to drink but might have a metallic taste and could leave a reddish-orange stain on plumbing and laundry. The primary drinking water standards are also known as Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCL) and the secondary drinking water standards are known as Secondary Maximum Contaminant Levels (SMCL).
The Water Research Center has partnered with B.F. Environmental Consultants Inc., national and regional certified laboratory (water testing), Carbon Waters.org and other independent laboratories to provide you with the best information on baseline testing and sampling as it relates to Oil and Gas Development, Common Water Quality Problems for Private Wells, Informational Water Testing, and other information to help you understand the quality of your drinking water and Protect YOUR Family.
With respect to water quality testing and our testing kits- Our team of water quality professionals can help you and our program is designed to help you identify the possible cause of a water quality problem for free. With the information we have provided, we can help to diagnose your water quality issues and concerns and if necessary our water testing services are designed to focus specifically on residential and homeowner concerns and confirm your suspensions. We have experience working on private water wells, springs, city water, community water system, commercial water systems, and industrial water needs.
We recommend getting an annual water quality analysis. This recommendation is also supported by the EPA. If there is natural gas development in your region, we also strongly recommend baseline testing. We do not work for natural gas companies and our team of samplers have been specifically trained to help protect your water sources. It is important to get the waters tested and work as a community - You can Learn More at Private-well-owner.org. Learn how to protect your well and drinking water sources.
Our goal is to give your family peace of mind and assist you to protect you and your family. Learn about your well, groundwater, and Act NOW - Get Your Water Tested ! The following is link to the key features of our site:
Private Well Owner Education- Water Testing, Well Construction, and Groundwater
Examples of Contaminated Drinking Water
Search Our Site and Like Our Websites on Facebook
Thanks for Visiting
Our new web-portal provides access to information to assist private well owners and small water system operates with information on how to identify and diagnose water quality problems, learn about water testing, baseline testing, common water treatment systems, and information related to natural gas develop and hydraulic fracturing. The primary reason private well owners and small water systems require this addition support and education is that in many states these systems are not adequately protected and regulated in their home state and the EPA.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has established drinking water standards for public water supplies, but the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP) is the agency that enforces these standards in Pennsylvania. A public water supply is defined as “a system which provides water the public for human consumption and which has at least 15 service connections or regularly services an average of at least 25 individuals daily at least 60 days out of the year.” Therefore, a private well that services your home or a few homes or a small spring is not specifically regulated by the drinking water standards, but these standards can be used to evaluate the quality of your drinking water. This also means that a well that may serve multiple families or a spring/pond that may service an agribusiness may still not be regulated under the US EPA Drinking Water Standards.
With respect to water quality, the drinking water standards are divided into two types of standards. The primary drinking water standards were set based on specific health concerns or impacts whereas the secondary drinking water standards are based on aesthetic issues and concerns. For example, water which slightly exceeds the secondary standard for iron would still be safe to drink but might have a metallic taste and could leave a reddish-orange stain on plumbing and laundry. The primary drinking water standards are also known as Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCL) and the secondary drinking water standards are known as Secondary Maximum Contaminant Levels (SMCL).
The Water Research Center has partnered with B.F. Environmental Consultants Inc., national and regional certified laboratory (water testing), Carbon Waters.org and other independent laboratories to provide you with the best information on baseline testing and sampling as it relates to Oil and Gas Development, Common Water Quality Problems for Private Wells, Informational Water Testing, and other information to help you understand the quality of your drinking water and Protect YOUR Family.
With respect to water quality testing and our testing kits- Our team of water quality professionals can help you and our program is designed to help you identify the possible cause of a water quality problem for free. With the information we have provided, we can help to diagnose your water quality issues and concerns and if necessary our water testing services are designed to focus specifically on residential and homeowner concerns and confirm your suspensions. We have experience working on private water wells, springs, city water, community water system, commercial water systems, and industrial water needs.
We recommend getting an annual water quality analysis. This recommendation is also supported by the EPA. If there is natural gas development in your region, we also strongly recommend baseline testing. We do not work for natural gas companies and our team of samplers have been specifically trained to help protect your water sources. It is important to get the waters tested and work as a community - You can Learn More at Private-well-owner.org. Learn how to protect your well and drinking water sources.
Our goal is to give your family peace of mind and assist you to protect you and your family. Learn about your well, groundwater, and Act NOW - Get Your Water Tested ! The following is link to the key features of our site:
Private Well Owner Education- Water Testing, Well Construction, and Groundwater
Examples of Contaminated Drinking Water
Search Our Site and Like Our Websites on Facebook
Thanks for Visiting
Monday, June 3, 2013
Marcellus Shale Coalition's (MSC) Research Collaborative is sponsoring a Technology Showcase
The Marcellus Shale Coalition's (MSC) Research Collaborative is sponsoring a Technology Showcase forum as a pre-conference event prior to the SHALE GAS INSIGHT™ 2013 conference in Philadelphia, PA to provide suppliers of emerging technologies an opportunity to showcase their innovation to the natural gas producer, midstream pipeline, and service community. The pre-conference Technology Showcase presentations will be on September 24, 2013, at the Pennsylvania Convention Center from 9:00 AM – 11:30 AM. Immediately following the presentations, there will be an opportunity for presenters and attendees to meet one another from 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM. Additionally, the presenters will be invited to the MSC reception on the evening of September 25 from 5pm-7pm.
The Research Collaborative is seeking applications from technology providers who are interested in presenting to the natural gas community their technology that is ready for “field test”. The technology should be ready for pilot testing, slip stream or full scale at a natural gas drilling site in the Marcellus shale, Utica shale or at a coal-bed methane or coal-mine methane site.
In preparation for the Showcase, the MSC is soliciting applications from suppliers for presentation of a technology ready for field demonstration with interested natural gas producing, pipeline and service companies. In a format similar to that of a venture capital fair, selected suppliers will be allowed to deliver an 8-minute presentation followed by a 2-minute Q&A session on September 24, 2013, at the SHALE INSIGHT™ 2013 conference. Up to twelve companies will be selected to present in this forum. Presenters should plan on being available for presentation during the morning of September 24 and the evening reception on September 25th.
To be considered for presentation, the application, available at http://shaleinsight.com/technology-showcase/, must be completed and submitted to the email address listed on the application by the deadline of July 3, 2013. A selection committee of MSC Research Collaborative members will review the applications and notify the selected presenters by August 5th. A detailed event schedule will be provided by September 11th.
We look forward to receiving your application. Below are the relevant deadlines:
Applications: July 3, 2013
Presenter Materials Due: August 23, 2013
Showcase Schedule Sent to Presenters: September 11, 2013
Please see the notice below related to sending applications. Email judith@h-env.com (Please not the subject line must read MSC Technology Showcase Application
Please see the notice below related to sending applications. Email judith@h-env.com (Please not the subject line must read MSC Technology Showcase Application
For Professional Training Courses for Continuing Education
For Professional Consulting Services in Water, Geology, Soils and Hydrology
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)