EnviroPolitics Blog

Philly food banks benefit from peak harvest at community gardens

Michael Muehlbauer, of Germantown, left, with Grumble Thorpe historic house and gardens and the Fair Amount Food Forest, is picking up seedlings for the two gardens at the City Harvest PHS program at Awbury Arboretum with the help from volunteer Gracia Akpali, 29, of Nicetown, in Philadelphia, Pa., on Saturday, Aug., 10, 2024. — Michael Muehlbauer, of Germantown, left, with Grumble Thorpe historic house and gardens and the Fair Amount Food Forest, is picking up seedlings for the two gardens at the City Harvest PHS program at Awbury Arboretum with the help from volunteer Gracia Akpali, 29, of Nicetown in Philadelphia.

By Lynette Hazelton, Philadelphia Inquirer

For the best in hyperlocal organic produce, you could shop at any of Philadelphia’s upscale supermarkets — and expect to pay a high price.

Many food-insecure city residents can get the best in hyperlocal organic produce, too, and it’s free.

The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society supports 176 community-led gardens, many of which cooperate with City Harvest, a PHS initiative, by pledging to grow and redistribute some of their produce to food pantries, soup kitchens, community fridges, and other nonprofit programs across the city.

“It’s so important that we are not just feeding people but connecting people and building community,” said Adam Hill, director of community gardens and urban agriculture for PHS.

From seedlings to food security

That’s why, on a recent Saturday at Awbury Arboretum, car after car slowly made its way to the greenhouse to collect a box of seedlings from PHS staff and volunteers that included collard greens, zucchini, cucumbers, peppers, and broccoli to grow for a nonprofit agency. It was City Harvest’s last of its three annual seedling giveaways that PHS calculates are worth $1,200 to $1,500 per garden.

Unlike commercial gardening centers, PHS gives gardeners seedlings that are seasonally appropriate, said Sally McCabe, associate director of community education. For example, collard greens, she said, are now no longer available at most gardening centers even though, as a fall crop, they will fare well as temperatures go down. She said that gardeners are also getting more variety than a typical garden center can provide.

Loaded carts with seedlings at Awbury Arboretum are ready for people to pick up for their gardens. Tyger Williams / Staff Photographer

Read the full story here

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Oil and gas operator with long record of environmental violations booted out of Colorado

Prospect Energy ducks $1.7M in fines under deal endorsed by state regulators and that’s OK with Larimer County residents who have complained about leaks and emissions for years.

By Mark Jaffe, The Colorado Sun

Facing millions of dollars in fines, dozens of violations, legions of complaints from homeowners as well as local governments, oil and gas operator Prospect Energy on Wednesday had its right to do business in Colorado canceled.

The Energy and Carbon Management Commission endorsed a settlement agreement between the commission staff and the Highlands Ranch-based company. Prospect Energy also has an agreement with Larimer County and Fort Collins to clean up sites.

As part of the agreement, $1.7 million in ECMC fines will be waived, with what funds the company has going toward securing and cleaning up its sites. Prospect Energy was fined for illegal flaring, spills and failing to do well-integrity tests.

Prospect Energy’s 59 wells will end up in the ECMC Orphan Well program and will eventually be plugged and abandoned by the state.

Under the agreement, Prospect Energy’s owner, Ward Giltner, must obtain commission approval before owning or operating any future oil and gas properties in Colorado. Giltner did not reply to email and telephone requests for comments.

Read the full story here

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Phil Murphy set to appoint Helmy as NJ’s next senator

George Helmy, NJ Gov. Phil Murphy’s former chief of staff, heading to D.C.

By Matthew Fazelpoor, NJBIZ

After a suspenseful month, Gov. Phil Murphy will tap his former chief of staff George Helmy as New Jersey’s next U.S. senator, replacing Robert Menendez.

Helmy’s appointment was first reported the evening of Aug. 14 by the New Jersey Globe.

Menendez was convicted last month in a federal bribery and corruption case. On July 23, Menendez announced he would step down from his seat, effective Aug. 20 (see below for a timeline of events).

That meant Murphy would choose a replacement to serve as a caretaker until January – when the winner of this year’s election between Democrat and current 3rd District U.S. Rep. Andy Kim and Republican Curtis Bashaw will be seated for the new term.

Rumors have swirled over the past few weeks about who Murphy would select with a variety of names mentioned such as Lt. Gov. Tahesha Way, former U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson and others.

Earlier this month, the New York Post reported that Helmy had emerged as a frontrunner.

Read the full story here

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Where’s all the sand going from Manasquan’s shoal dredging?

The U.S. Corps of Engineers dredge *Murden* sucking up sandbar

By Dan Radel, Asbury Park Press

POINT PLEASANT BEACH – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ dredge boat Murden has vacuumed up about 20,000 cubic yards of sand out of the Manasquan Inlet so far as it works to dig out the dangerous shoal that formed this summer.

That converts to about 64 million pounds of wet sand removed from the inlet since the work began in earnest this past weekend. The job is not complete, so the final total figures to be higher once the shoal is completely removed.

The Murden, which is a 156-foot split hull hopper dredge, has a capacity of 500 cubic yards, said Army Corps’ Philadelphia District spokesperson Stephen Rochette. However, for ease of transport, they’re only filling it up with 400 cubic yards of sand per cycle.

The sand is being deposited just offshore of Manasquan’s Riddle Way beach, which is four beaches north of the inlet. Rochette said they chose that spot because it’s relatively close to the inlet for quick transport, and secondly because the sand drifts north from there, so it supports Manasquan beaches without going back into the inlet. Lastly, it is within the ‘depth of closure,’ meaning it’s within the zone that will eventually migrate toward the beach.

How we got here:Army Corps will stay and complete dredging Manasquan Inlet’s dangerous shoal

Rochette said if they place the sand outside the ‘depth of closure,” it basically won’t reach the beach.

The Army Corps received several calls for help from stakeholders, including U.S. Rep. Chris Smith, R-N.J., after the shoaling in the Manasquan Inlet returned to the Point Pleasant Beach side of the inlet for the second time in three years. The last time was 2022.

Fishing boat captains who use the inlet daily to leave the Manasquan River and enter the Atlantic Ocean said the shoal was the worst it has ever been.

Read the full story here

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Women, beginners and kids — Go fish!

Many organizations are offering introductions to fishing for beginners, women, children and, yes, guys too. Here are just a few. Tell us about others.

August 2024

16 Aug

Let’s Go Fishing! Thompson Park, Monroe Township, NJ

Friday 4:30 pm – 7:30 pm Thompson Park Thompson Drive and, Lakeview Ave, Monroe Township, NJ

Join NJDEP Fish & Wildlife staff and volunteers for a hands-on workshop that includes everything you need to know to get started! Participants, 18 years and older, will learn fishing […]

26 Aug

Women’s Fishing Workshop at the Hackettstown Hatchery First Catch Center

Monday 3:00 pm – 7:00 pm Hackettstown State Fish Hatchery 23 Reese Ave, Hackettstown, NJ

About the Program: Women who fish have more happiness, grit, patience and are healthier. Join other women to learn to fish in a fun, welcoming environment. Women, 18 years and older, […]

28 Aug

Let’s Go Fishing! Historic Batsto Village, Hammonton, NJ

Wednesday 4:30 pm – 7:30 pm Batsto Village 31 Batsto Rd, Hammonton, NJ

About the Program: Join NJDEP Fish & Wildlife staff and volunteers for a hands-on workshop that includes everything you need to know to get started! Participants, 18 years and older, […]

September 2024

8 Sept

Family Fishing Workshop at the Hackettstown Hatchery First Catch Center

Sunday 10:00 am – 2:00 pm Hackettstown State Fish Hatchery 23 Reese Ave, Hackettstown, NJ

About the Program: September 8 is Grandparent’s Day, and what better way to spend the day than learning how to fish with your family! Come learn basic fishing skills to […]

Know of an opportunity beginners to get their feet wet with fishing? Send your information to editor@enviropolitics.com. Please include a phone number in case we have questions . Photo links also are welcome–and encouraged

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Tennessee reactor removed in major deactivation project

Latest Oak Ridge cleanup achievement represents important advancement for largest deactivation projects at Oak Ridge National Laboratory

OAK RIDGE, Tenn. — Team members with Oak Ridge Office of Environmental Management (OREM) contractor UCOR have successfully lifted and removed the lower reactor vessel from the Oak Ridge Research Reactor, also known as Building 3042.

The U.S. Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management accomplishment was a major development for one of the largest deactivation projects at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). Removing the vessel is the first step before preparing the remainder of the facility for its upcoming demolition.

Last week, workers used a 72-inch diamond wire saw to cut the final pieces that held the lower reactor vessel in place at the bottom of the reactor pool. They used a 20-ton overhead crane to lift that equipment and load it into a 32,000-pound protective cask to ship it for disposal offsite.

“Removing the reactor vessel from the Oak Ridge Research Reactor facility has been an incredibly complex task,” said Jim Daffron, ORNL portfolio project director. “Through an immense amount of planning and careful execution, workers were successful and completed the work safely.”

Crews used a large diamond saw to cut the final pieces that held the lower reactor vessel in place at the bottom of the Oak Ridge Research Reactor pool. This photo shows the final segment of the reactor being lifted from the pool area.

Tennessee reactor removed in major deactivation project Read More »

Prospect Energy ducks $1.7M in fines under deal endorsed by state regulators and that’s OK with Larimer County residents who have complained about leaks and emissions for years.

August 2024

September 2024

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