Managing Municipal Stormwater Program

Josh — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 20:22:19 +0000

On Wednesday, September 29th, 2010, Managing Municipal Stormwater: Protecting Water Quality, Streams and Communities will be held from 9am to 1pm at the Luzerne County Community College Conference Center in Nanticoke, Pennsylvania.
This program is designed to help municipalities and municipal engineers implement new cost effective stormwater practices (BMPs). MS4 municipalities will learn more about the new applications and permitting that will be required to meet TMDLs for the Chesapeake Bay. The release of the 2006 Pennsylvania Stormwater Best Management Practices Manual brought a new focus on water quality, designing systems that promote infiltration and capture “first flush” instead of just detaining volumes of stormwater. Dr. Robert G. Traver Ph.D. PE, D.WRE, Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Director Villanova Urban Stormwater Partnership will share research on how these new stormwater techniques (BMPs) are being used in the field and how well they are working.

If your community is designated an MS4, you should attend this meeting.

The Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) Program is a federally mandated initiative, which is administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. The program’s ultimate goal is to ensure that Municipal stormwater conveyance systems are discharging clean water. Municipalities that are included in the program are required to perform public outreach and education as well as solicit public participation in clean water efforts. Municipalities must also develop a map of their stormwater conveyance systems and create a method for detecting illicit discharges and a plan to eliminate those discharges. Further responsibilities include participation in regulation of erosion and sedimentation control during construction activities and post construction stormwater control facilities. Municipalities must also practice “good housekeeping” regarding stormwater, which is generally just implementation of common sense best management practices (BMPs).

Penn State Cooperative Extension in partnership with DEP, DCNR, the Villanova Urban Stormwater Partnership, and the USDA Forest Service is providing this training for municipal officials, engineers, community planners and others interested in managing stormwater and protecting water quality.

CLICK HERE FOR THE REGISTRATION FORM.

New Erosion & Sediment Control Regulations Posted

Josh — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 19:53:27 +0000

The final Erosion and Sediment Control and Stormwater Management regulations were published in the Pennsylvania Bulletin on 8/21/2010. The effective date of the regulation will be 11/19/2010. The PA Bulletin is the official version of the final regulations until the regulation are codified in Title 25 of the Pennsylvania Code.

Welcome to our new site!

Josh — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 16:01:16 +0000

We’ve upgraded our website. The new site contains all of the information from our previous site that was still current and relevant. We’ll also be adding additional information and features in the coming days and weeks. If you can’t find something that you need, please feel free to call us at (570) 674-7991 or email us at info@luzernecd.org and we’ll try to get it for you.

Summer Newsletter Available

Josh — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 13:03:59 +0000

Click here to view our Summer newsletter, The Conservation Digest.

MMI Prep Wins 2010 Luzerne County Envirothon

Josh — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 13:02:07 +0000

The 31st Annual Luzerne County Envirothon took place on May 5, 2010 at the PPL’s Susquehanna Riverlands in Berwick. 155 students representing 33 teams from 11 different schools competed in the event with MMI Preparatory School’s Team-A achieving the overall highest score. Click here for more information.

NPDES Permitting Changes

Josh — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 13:01:42 +0000

Attention Developers and Consultants, in December of 2009 DEP reissued the PAG-2 NPDES General Permit with some changes. Click here for more information.

Soil Testing Incentive Program

Josh — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 13:00:25 +0000

Luzerne County farmers may be eligible to receive reimbursements for soil tests.

Who can apply for the program?

Any Luzerne County crop farm owner or operation manager (with owner’s consent)

What does the program offer?

The Luzerne Conservation District’s Chesapeake Bay Soil Testing Incentive Program offers reimbursement of soil testing kit costs. Once the Conservation District receives the results from Penn State Extension the costs of the kit(s) may be reimbursed to the landowner.

What is Soil Testing?

This program is designed as a soil-management program for farmers. Penn State samples each for water pH, Mehlich buffer lime requirement, and for phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, and calcium by the Mehlich 3 (ICP) test.

Why should I be interested?

The program is a cost effective way to reduce pollution of local waterways that eventually drain into the Chesapeake Bay while increasing the overall health and productivity of your crop land.

Am I eligible?

A consultation is necessary to determine eligibility. Please contact Amy Salansky at 674-3408 or by email for more information.