New rules governing gas drilling under review in Pa

The rules would ban the permanent storage of fracking fluids in open pits and
would force drillers to locate and monitor abandoned wells within 1,000 feet 
of a proposed well site.
Environmentalists and drillers are gearing up for a fight over how best to protect rivers and drinking water as the state implements the biggest change to its oil and gas laws in 30 years, the Tribune-Review reports. .

The state Department of Environmental Protection released 74 pages of proposed regulations on Tuesday aimed at shielding the state’s drinking wells and rivers from the Marcellus shale drilling industry.

“The most important provisions are those that are designed to improve the protection of water quality,” said David Hess, DEP secretary under former Gov. Tom Ridge and a Harrisburg lobbyist whose clients include environmental groups.

The regulations would ban permanent storage of hydraulic fracturing fluid in open pits and require drillers to notify state agencies if they plan to drill near a scenic river, among other rules, according to a summary.

The rules are the first to be issued under the 2012 Oil and Gas Act, said DEP spokeswoman Lisa Kasianowitz. They also aim to protect the state’s $1 billion in industries tied to natural resources, the DEP said.

“This puts Pennsylvania pretty far ahead of other states in environmental protection measures,” Hess said.

But not far enough, some say.

Among the concerns raised by environmental groups, a proposed rule against open-air storage pits doesn’t ban them outright and another governing abandoned wells doesn’t go far enough.

Find reporter Mike Wereschagin’s full story here 

Related environmental news stories:
Environmental Quality Board Approves New Draft Regulations For Drilling
Pennsylvania Proposes New Oil and Gas Regulations
Bill seeks to relax environmental regulations
So far, it’s a split decision on fracking, health

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Home-elevation expert urges more industry training

The unfortunate house-raising mishap that resulted in the destruction of two homes in Highlands, NJ [Two NJ houses destroyed as Sandy elevation slips up] reminded us of
the video interview we recently conducted with structure-elevation expert Rod Scott.

Rod, who earned his chops in New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina, has been visiting communities along the New Jersey coast that were devastated by Superstorm Sandy. He estimates that up to 150,000 structures will need to be elevated over the next 20 years and he’s calling for greater training, certification and insurance requirements for companies offering building-elevation services to the public.

You might want to listen to what he has to say in the video below.

 

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Will PA Gov. Corbett add climate deniers to key posts?

Advanced Disposal sells off its NY, NJ operations 


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Two NJ houses destroyed as Sandy elevation slips up

                                                                                      Asbury Park Press photo

You might not consider yourself lucky if you house survived Superstorm Sandy only to be crushed  by a neighboring home, but a Highlands, NJ family might because they could have been inside at the time.

News 12 New Jersey reports:

A two-story house in Highlands that was being raised tipped over on Friday, landing on top of the house next door.

No one was injured because the family who lives at the home on Locust Street is on vacation, but officials say both homes needed to be demolished for safety reasons. The home fell off the cribbing that was holding it up shortly before 11 a.m. At 3:30 p.m., crews began tearing it down, with the family’s possessions still inside. 

Asbury Park Press story and video

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NJDEP cutting red tape for post-Sandy restorations

                                                                             Reuters photo


To help shore communities, businesses and residents rebuild after the devastation
of Superstorm Sandy, New Jersey’s environmental regulatory agency is streamlining
some of its coastal permit rules.

On July 15, 2013, the Department of Environmental Protection formally adopted previous emergency rules that allow various types of projects to proceed under less cumbersome permit procedures, including permits by rule and general permits.

The DEP said the changes eliminate or significantly reduce time needed for reviews
and also will save property owners fees and costs associated with more complex
permit requirements.


"The activities regulated by the simplified permit processes are for reconstruction activities that are occurring largely on the same footprint or involve minimal (up to 400 square feet) expansion. In many cases, these changes will provide significant environmental benefits and better prepare coastal communities for future storms.

"The rules expedite the rebuilding of residential and commercial structures by:
  • Providing for a permit by rule for reconstruction of damaged residential or commercial structures in upland waterfront development areas that are outside the CAFRA zone, primarily Raritan Bay and the Newark-New York Harbor complex. Such rebuilding is already exempt in the state’s CAFRA zone, which hugs the coastline from Sandy Hook south to Cape May Point and north again along the Delaware Bay to Salem County.
  • Helping property owners make their buildings safer when feasible by changing the current general permit requirement to a permit by rule for lateral or landward relocation of the existing footprint of a structure. Expansion must be no more than 400 square feet.
  • Eliminating the need for a permit to elevate a bulkhead, dock or pier as part of repair, replacement or reconstruction, as long as this is done in the existing footprint and not over wetlands. This will provide more resilience in future storms.

"The rules also provide flexibility to allow marinas and other small businesses to enhance their operations without coming to DEP by:
  • Changing current individual permits to permits by rule to allow marinas to reconfigure docks, wharfs, and piers within their existing leased areas.
  • Allowing a permit by rule for construction or installation of boat pump-out facilities.
  • Changing current individual permit requirements to a general permit to allow for construction of support facilities.

Other recovery efforts covered by the rule adoption include beach and dune restoration, sand removal, recovery of the shellfish/aquaculture industry, and the
dredging of lagoons and marina basins.

Click here to see a full copy of the rule adoption including DEP responses to public comments filed during the hearing process.


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Will PA Gov. Corbett add climate deniers to key posts?


The environmental organization, PennFuture, notes that, with his 2014 re-election campaign in mind, Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett is shaking up his administration. He’s appointed a new chief of staff, a new communications director and plans to name a press secretary.

"Yet to be filled, two key environmental positions: head of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and the Secretary of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. To date, no one has been nominated to fill these posts on a permanent basis."

What worries PennFuture is a recent administration hire. 

"Last week, Corbett hired prominent tea party activist, climate denier, and birther, Ana Puig, as the legislative liaison for the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue — at an annual salary of $68,254. Puig founded, co-chaired and served as a registered lobbyist for a local group called the Kitchen Table Patriots."

According to PennFuture,

"Kitchen Table Patriots calls climate change "fraud science backed by the mercenary alarmists in the scientific community and the U.N.

"Puig’s Kitchen Table Patriots hosted an event in 2011 featuring prominent climate denier and Heartland Institute “expert” Steve Goreham. The Patriots’ invitation read:"Learn why the polar bears are not in serious danger. Learn how global warming policies will raise your taxes, boost your electricity bills, and increase the cost of doing business and living our daily lives."


Corbett has shown no sign that he cares a fig about what environmental activists think. Natural gas drilling companies and other fossil-fuel enthusiasts ponied up more than a million dollars to help him get elected in 2010 and he’ll need every bit of that–and more–this go-round to combat his miserable polling numbers among state voters. 

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Advanced Disposal sells off its NY, NJ operations

In a move that the solid waste industry had anticipated for months, Advanced Disposal Services Inc.. has sold off most of its operations in New York and New Jersey.
Waste & Recycling News reports today that the deal with Action Environmental Group of Newark, N.J., includes several transfer stations and collection operations.

But it does not involve a trio of New Jersey transfer stations that the company agreed to sell to help satisfy anti-trust concerns by the U.S. Department of Justice regarding Advanced Disposal’s earlier acquisition of Veolia ES Solid Waste Inc..

Action Environmental is picking up collection operations in Chester and Sloatsburg, N.Y., and Jersey City and Paterson, N.J., Advanced Disposal said.

The company also gains transfer stations in Chestnut Ridge, Goshen, Hilburn, Newburgh, New Hampton and Port Jervis, all in New York, and Jersey City and Garfield, N.J.A recycling facility in Airmont, N.Y., also is part of the deal, Advanced Disposal said.

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Our daily newsletter also tracks NJ & PA legislation—from introduction to enactment  Our most recent posts: 
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EPA plans $19m cleanup of old dry cleaning site in NJ
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NJ lawmakers hear today about Sandy recovery

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