Save the Bay - Winter 2012

Bay Briefs

CBF’s David Wise Honored

The U.S. Forest Service and Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay recently honored CBF’s Pennsylvania Restoration Manager David Wise with the distinction of “Forest Champion,” for his leadership in restoring streamside forest buffers through the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP).

CBF STAFF

CBF’s Pennsylvania Restoration Manager David Wise

Forest Champion awards recognize groups or individuals that have made a difference to people and/or the Bay through their promotion of trees and forests. David received the award for greatest-on-the-ground impact.

Since 2000, CREP has been used to restore more than 22,000 acres of forested buffers helping over 4,000 Pennsylvania landowners restore riparian forests. The long list of partners working on this effort include the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency and Natural Resource Conservation Service, Pennsylvania’s Department of Environmental Protection, and Pennsylvania Game Commission.

Drilling Regulations Must Be Right

Negotiations within the Pennsylvania General Assembly have taken place throughout much of the fall to improve gas-drilling oversight. Current regulations, written in 1984, do not adequately address today’s industry.

As a result, legislators have introduced two bills, H.B. 1950 and S.B. 1100, that, individually, take important steps forward. By taking the best parts of both bills, along with some improvements, the legislature can craft

PENNSYLVANIA

New manure management
guide will help farmers
keep manure on the fields
and out of the water.

a solution that safeguards the natural resources of the Commonwealth while enabling energy production.

The Marcellus Shale has been touted as the largest, most-promising, natural gas deposit in the country promising jobs, economic growth, and a stable energy source. But the costs and stakes are high. The General Assembly must pass meaningful, comprehensive legislation that updates existing law with clear procedures and safeguards, long-term environmental funding, and adequate local resources to address the industry’s impacts.

As a member of the Governor’s Marcellus Shale Advisory Commission, Pennsylvania Executive Director Matt Ehrhart played a significant role in crafting the environmental recommendations included in the Commission’s final report to the Governor. Many of those recommendations have been included in the bills, and CBF will continue to advocate for these and other key environmental recommendations. These bills are in the final stages of being signed into law.

Managing Manure, Protecting Streams

After two years of negotiations between the Department of Environmental Protection, livestock producers, environmentalists, and others, Pennsylvania farmers will now have clarity on how to best manage manure to produce high-yielding crops while protecting local waterways from pollution. The Department of Environmental Protection released a comprehensive guide and workbook, “Manure Management Plan Guidance,” in October.

“The guide enables farmers to keep the manure nutrients on the fields, where they are needed, and out of local waterways,” explained Kelly O’Neill, Agricultural Policy Specialist for CBF’s Pennsylvania Office. “At the same time, it does not create onerous requirements for farmers facing tight financial circumstances.” Since 1977, farms have been required to prevent manure runoff to streams and other water bodies from land application, spillage, storage overflow or leakage, and barnyard runoff. However, the requirements were vague, and often not fully understood or explained to farmers. “The workbook is a long-overdue tool for guiding farmers through the steps of developing and implementing a customized plan.” said O’Neill.