Protecting private wells (Part 2)
The Safe Drinking Water Act only applies to public water systems and does not protect private wells. While many owners of private water wells have never had their wells tested, the arrival of natural gas exploration in the Upper Delaware River region is stirring interest to do so.
Protecting private wells
Part two: Which tests and why?
By SANDY LONG
Click HERE for Part 1.
PENNSYLVANIA – Residents of Meadville and Dimock continue to live with contaminated water wells as the companies drilling for natural gas nearby strive to meet Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) directives to restore those water sources. Such impacts have stirred concerns among those who depend on private water wells for their drinking water, prompting questions about the best ways to protect this priceless and irreplaceable resource.
It is estimated that three million Pennsylvanians depend on private wells for their drinking water.
In Pennsylvania, a natural gas well can be drilled within 200 feet of a drinking water source and within 100 feet of many streams and springs, as well as any wetland greater than one acre in size.
Natural gas extraction in the Marcellus Shale utilizes a process known as hydro-fracturing to release gases stored deep underground. For each well, several million gallons of water that may contain sand, oils, gels, acids, alcohols and various manmade organic chemicals are used to fracture underground formations. The potential impacts of the process have begun to raise awareness of the need to test private wells before drilling begins to establish baseline readings of the quality and quantity of water in a given well.
It’s a wakeup call for the roughly 50 percent of private well owners who have never had their wells tested, according to a recent study by the Center for Rural Pennsylvania (CRP), a legislative agency of the Pennsylvania General Assembly. The CRP released its report “Drinking Water Quality in Rural Pennsylvania” in January 2009. Of the other 50 percent of wells tested, most had only been assessed for bacteria, with 14 percent of the 701 wells studied in the survey showing contamination with E. coli bacteria and 33 percent testing positive for coliform bacteria.
As well owners scramble to learn what they should be testing for, most agencies start by recommending annual testing for coliform bacteria, with routine testing for pH and total dissolved solids.
Beyond the basics, homeowners whose water sources will be in the vicinity of a gas well are advised to seek additional testing to establish baseline data before drilling begins. Water wells within 1,000 feet of a gas well will likely be tested in advance by the drilling companies to preserve their defense and homeowners are entitled to a copy of those test results.
Water quality and quantity
According to the Penn State Cooperative Extension (PSCE), gas well waste fluids typically contain pollutants above levels considered safe for drinking water supplies. The pollutants include salts, metals and materials such as surfactants, detergents, oil, grease, benzene and toluene. The fracking process leaves some of this wastewater underground, and the rest is usually stored in open pits until it is trucked to treatment facilities.
Private water well owners may also want to establish their well’s output by hiring a well driller or water consultant to document the flow of water from their well before drilling begins. As noted in “Gas Well Drilling and Your Private Water Supply” by the PSCE, “Unlike water quality impacts, gas well operators are not presumed responsible for water quantity impacts to nearby water suppliesÖ. Impacts to water quantity would need to be investigated by DEP inspectors and/or proven by the water supply owner.”
Additional protection related to a type of seismic testing called “3D” may also be in order. Used to gather geologic information, the testing utilizes explosive charges detonated in three-inch diameter holes that are typically 20 feet deep. According to PSCE, there are no regulations to protect water supplies from seismic testing. Holes should be immediately filled to prevent groundwater contamination and water quantity should be documented in advance. A list of water well contractors certified by the National Ground Water Association is available at www.wellowner.org.
If a lease has not yet been signed, many protections can be negotiated in advance. Some to consider are: setback distances greater than 200 feet from water sources; pre-and post-drilling water testing and well-flow documentation paid for by the gas companies; stipulation of which water sources on your property can or can not be used for drilling purposes; and storage and disposal restrictions of drilling waste materials.
Pennsylvania’s long history of providing natural resources such as anthracite coal has left an environmental legacy with sometimes substantial costs to current and future generations. While introducing companion Senate and House bills to amend the Safe Drinking Water Act, Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) said, “We have old natural gas wells that were not capped and leak methane into homes in Versailles, PA. We have acid mine drainage that we spend millions of dollars every year to try and remediate. These examples are the lessons from which we need to learn.”
Who recommends what?
PA DEP spokesman Tom Rathbun notes that private well owners should select tests based on their specific concerns. Each concern has different water-quality parameters for which samples should be analyzed. “Since there are no statewide water well construction standards and studies have shown that on average 30 to 40 percent of private water wells have coliform bacteria contamination and in carbonate aquifers the average can be 60 to 70 percent, total coliform bacteria tests should be done annually ($10 – $25 per sample), pH and total dissolved solids should be done at least every three years ($10 – $30 per sample). Other inorganics are suggested as well: nitrate, iron, manganese, sulfate ($40 – $60 per sample). Additional inorganics for oil and gas: barium & chloride ($15 – $25).”
Additional PA DEP-suggested “Pre-drill Analyses Parameters” listed on a handout at a recent water protection workshop by Penn State Cooperative Extension include: magnesium, strontium, sodium, calcium, oil and grease, methane, ethane, conductivity and hardness.
According to Rathbun, the DEP recommends that water supply testing be conducted by a certified laboratory to assure that proper sampling and analytical procedures are followed. The DEP maintains a list of certified labs at www.depweb.state.pa.us/labs/cwp/view.asp?a=3&Q=515609&labsNav=
DEP supports the Master Well Owner Network, which maintains links and resources for private water well information at mwon.cas.psu.edu/Resources.htm.
Testing recommendations from Penn State Cooperative Extension (PSCE) are available at pubs.cas.psu.edu/FreePubs/pdfs/XH0023.pdf . In addition to total coliform, pH, nitrates and total dissolved solids, PSCE recommends testing for chloride, sodium, lead, strontium and barium in relation to gas drilling. Once test results are received, they can be evaluated using the Drinking Water Interpretation Tool (DWIT), available at www.psiee.psu.edu/water/dwit.asp .
PSCE notes that samples meant to document existing drinking water quality should be collected by a disinterested third party to preserve “the admissibility of the results in any legal action related to pollution of a private water supply.”
PSCE has developed a two-part course on CD titled, “Gas Well Drilling and Private Water Supplies,” for $10, which illustrates how drilling can impact private wells and offers strategies to protect water supplies. For more information contact Peter Wulfhorst at 570/296-3400. See additional resources at water.cas.psu.edu/Resources.htm .
The regional activist group Damascus Citizens for Sustainability (DCS) recommends selecting from tests that range in price from $5 to $125. Packages can cost over $400 and do not include charges for collection by laboratory personnel. DCS advises that water tests should be done at least a month before drilling begins and continues for one year, then should be repeated. According to DCS, test findings are admissible in court only when the water samples for testing are obtained by laboratory personnel.
There is an additional fee for laboratory personnel to collect water samples, dependent upon the distance that must be traveled. Several households may elect to have their water samples collected on the same day to share costs. Ongoing monitoring tests should be done every six months or if problems are suspected. Such monitoring can be performed by the well owner. If contamination is detected, then certified testing should be done.
DCS recommends the following: tests for acid, brine, bulk organic chemicals used to thicken drilling mud, oil and grease, fracking fluid additives, underground chemicals released by drilling and hydraulic fracturing and contamination due to inadequate aquifer protection while drilling. The list of tests, sources for their selection and their costs are available at www.damascuscitizens.org .
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends that water well owners test annually for nitrates, total coliform bacteria, pH, and total dissolved solids. The EPA upholds the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA), which was originally passed in 1974 to protect public health by regulating the nation’s public drinking water supply. However, the SDWA only applies to public water systems, and does not protect private wells. Individual well owners have primary responsibility for the safety of the water drawn from their wells.
ATSDR Slates July 9 Public Meeting on Polycythemia Vera Issues
JAK2 Testing to Be Available for Area Residents
ATLANTA – The federal Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) will hold a public meeting in the Tamaqua High School auditorium, 500 Penn St, Tamaqua, PA., on Thursday, July 9, 2009 from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. to inform area residents of recent efforts regarding polycythemia vera (PV).
At the meeting ATSDR officials will present an overview of the PV research and other activities that will be funded by a special appropriation. In addition, the principal investigators of three already-identified projects will be on hand for more detailed discussions of their work. The projects include: the Drexel epidemiological study, the McAdoo Superfund Site Water Outflow Study, and the ATSDR JAK2 screening project.
The JAK2 genetic marker was discovered in 2004 and found to occur in more than 95% of PV patients. Many experts believe people with PV and related blood disorders may test positive for the JAK2 marker for a number of years before ever exhibiting symptoms of PV. It is not known at this time if the JAK2 marker always leads to PV or another blood disease.
Since the rates of PV are higher in this area of Pennsylvania than other parts of the state, ATSDR will offer free blood tests to the community for the purpose of screening for the JAK2 gene marker. By volunteering for this testing, residents can learn if they carry this marker, even though they are currently without symptoms of PV. Early diagnosis and treatment of PV can prevent or delay complications.
Individuals aged 40 or older are deemed most likely to test positive for the JAK2 marker; however, anyone living in Carbon, Luzerne or Schuylkill County is eligible for the screening. Blood draw clinics will be set up in Hazelton, Tamaqua and Pottsville from August 3-6 and August 10-13, 2009. Individuals are encouraged to make an appointment ahead of time by signing up at the public meeting or by calling 1-877-525-4860.
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MEDIA NOTICE: A media availability session with the presenters and ATSDR officials will be held on site prior to the start of the public session from 6:00 to 6:45 p.m.
ATSDR, a federal public health agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, evaluates the human health effects of exposure to hazardous substances.
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Members of the news media can request an interview by calling the NCEH/ ATSDR Office of Communication at 770-488-0700.
Protecting private water wells
http://www.riverreporter.com/issues/09-06-25/head1-wells.html
Protecting private water wells
Part one: Who pays? Grab your checkbook…
By SANDY LONG
TRR photo by Sandy Long
In days gone by, water wells were fairly simple affairs, like this one at Fort Delaware in Narrowsburg, NY. Today’s wells tap deep aquifers, with casings meant to prevent contaminants from entering drinking water supplies. Increasing episodes of contamination linked to the process of natural gas extraction have stirred recent legislative action to protect against such impacts.
PENNSYLVANIA – Wayne County resident Lucille Giffone recently paid $450 to have her private well water tested to establish baseline readings in hope of protecting her water supply against the potential impacts of natural gas extraction in the Upper Delaware River region. Concerned at the financial burden imposed by the testing, Giffone contacted the Upper Delaware Council (UDC) by email.
“Who is going to pay for this?” Giffone wrote. “Is the county financially prepared to assist people for water testing bills? Are the gas companies going to pay for this? If an accident happens and a person’s well water is contaminated, who is going to assist us in paying to clean up our water, if that is even possible?”
The correspondence was discussed at the UDC’s meeting on June 4, eliciting an assortment of uncertain responses.
Giffone’s concerns are not unfounded, as legislators from New York and Pennsylvania have initiated moves to protect drinking water supplies. Congressman Maurice Hinchey (D-NY) has authored a provision urging the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to conduct a new study on the risks that hydraulic fracturing for natural gas exploration and drilling pose to drinking water supplies.
In the 2005 Energy Policy Act, Congress exempted hydraulic fracturing, a process where fluids are injected at high pressure into underground rock formations to fracture them and increase fuel flow, from the Safe Drinking Water Act, which was designed to protect water supplies from contamination. This injection of potentially toxic chemicals such as benzene, industrial solvents, carcinogens and endocrine disrupters often occurs near drinking water wells. Currently, the oil and gas industry is the only industry granted an exemption from complying with the Safe Drinking Water Act.
Hinchey has been joined by U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA), and U.S. Reps. Diana DeGette (D-CO), and Jared Polis (D-CO) in introducing companion Senate and House bills, the FRAC Act-Fracturing Responsibility and Awareness of Chemicals Act, amending the Safe Drinking Water Act. The legislation would require drillers to disclose the chemicals used in the hydraulic fracturing process.
According to Casey, Pennsylvania has the second highest number of private wells for drinking water in the nation, with three million Pennsylvanians dependent on private wells. “Drilling is happening right next to drinking water supplies. You can see why Pennsylvanians are concerned about their future access to safe drinking water,” said Casey. “We are already seeing cases in Pennsylvania, Colorado, Virginia, West Virginia, Alabama, Wyoming, Ohio, Arkansas, Utah, Texas, and New Mexico where residents have become ill or groundwater has become contaminated after hydraulic fracturing operations began in the area.”
DEP’s role
In Pennsylvania, the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) oversees oil and gas extraction activities. In press releases issued by the DEP, the agency links contaminated wells in Meadville and Dimock with gas drilling activities in those areas.
Under the 1984 Oil and Gas Act, testing of the water supply before and after drilling is not mandated. To protect local water supplies, Representative Tina Pickett (R-Bradford/Sullivan/Susquehanna) will also introduce legislation to amend the act to increase the protection of PA water supplies.
Pickett’s legislation would make such testing a requirement, as well as extend the timeframe for when a landowner can claim damage to the water supply from six months to 24 months.
“I believe landowners deserve a more enhanced degree of protection when it involves their well, springs and other water sources,” Pickett said. “The responsibility should be on the drilling operator to ensure that the water supply is protected, and this amendment will help require more testing and allow for a longer period of time to claim damages.”
House Bill 1205 would also expand the distance where pollution of a water supply is presumed to be caused by an oil or gas well drilling operation. Current state law permits the DEP to presume a water supply has been contaminated by an oil or gas well drilling operation if it is within 1,000 feet of that operation. Pickett’s legislation extends that distance to 2,000 feet.
In its publication, “Gas Well Drilling and Your Private Water Supply” (see http://resources.cas.psu.edu/WaterResources/pdfs/gasdrilling.pdf), Penn State Cooperative Extension notes: “The gas well operator is presumed to be responsible for pollution of any drinking water supply within 1,000 feet of the gas well IF it occurs within six months after completion of the gas well. The operator can use any one of five defenses to prove they are not responsible for water contamination [see “Q and A with DEP”]. To preserve their defense, most gas well operators will collect the necessary pre-drilling water quality information from all drinking water supplies within 1,000 feet of their drilling operation.”
An important additional point is made regarding water quantity that may result in additional costs to be carried by private well owners: “Gas well operators are NOT presumed responsible for water quantity impacts to nearby water supplies. Impacts to water quantity would need to be investigated by DEP inspectors and/or proven by the water supply owner. Concerned water supply owners may wish to hire a well driller or water consultant to document the flow of water from their well or spring prior to the gas drilling activity.”
Q and A with DEP spokesman Tom Rathbun
TRR: Does DEP pay for any private well testing?
DEP: The department has a program where the total coliform can be tested for a nominal fee of $10. Otherwise, the water testing is not paid for by the department, except when it is part of a complaint investigation.
TRR: If a well owner performs the testing, is it admissible in a court of law? Is it considered valid by DEP?
DEP: The department recommends that the water supply testing be conducted by a certified laboratory. This way, there is some assurance that the laboratory is using the proper sampling and analytical procedures and is following the same method an operator uses. [See http://www.depweb.state.pa.us/labs/cwp/view.asp?a=3&Q=515609&labsNav= for a list of DEP-certified labs].
TRR: Does DEP require the drilling companies to pay for any testing?
DEP cited Section 208 of the Oil and Gas Act as its response to this question, the text of which follows:
(a) Any well operator who affects a public or private water supply by pollution or diminution shall restore or replace the affected supply with an alternate source of water adequate in quantity or quality for the purposes served by the supply.
(b) Any landowner or water purveyor suffering pollution or diminution of a water supply as a result of the drilling, alteration or operation of an oil or gas well may so notify the department and request that an investigation be conducted. Within ten days of such notification, the department shall investigate any such claim and shall, within 45 days following notification, make a determination. If the department finds that the pollution or diminution was caused by the drilling, alteration or operation activities or if it presumes the well operator responsible for pollution pursuant to subsection (c), then it shall issue such orders to the well operator as are necessary to assure compliance with subsection (a).
(c) Unless rebutted by one of the five defenses established in subsection (d), it shall be presumed that a well operator is responsible for the pollution of a water supply that is within 1,000 feet of the oil or gas well, where the pollution occurred within six months after the completion of drilling or alteration of such well.
(d) In order to rebut the presumption of liability established in subsection (c), the well operator must affirmatively prove one of the following five defenses:
1. The pollution existed prior to the drilling or alteration activity as determined by a predrilling or prealteration survey.
2. The landowner or water purveyor refused to allow the operator access to conduct a predrilling or prealteration survey.
3. The water supply is not within 1,000 feet of the well.
4. The pollution occurred more than six months after completion of drilling or alteration activities.
5. The pollution occurred as the result of some cause other than the drilling or alteration activity.
(e) Any operator electing to preserve its defenses under subsection (d)(1) or (2) shall retain the services of an independent certified laboratory to conduct the predrilling or prealteration survey of water supplies. A copy of the results of any such survey shall be submitted to the department and the landowner or water purveyor in a manner prescribed by the department.
(f) Nothing herein shall prevent any landowner or water purveyor who claims pollution or diminution of a water supply from seeking any other remedy that may be provided at law or in equity.
TRR: Does the 1,000 feet begin at the well pad and extend in all directions?
DEP: The 1,000 feet criterion of the presumption provisions starts at the well and extends to include any water supply within a 1,000 feet radius. It is worth noting that the water replacement provisions also covers any water supply beyond the 1,000 feet; however, the presumption provision does not apply.
TRR: What is the length of time allowed to landowners to claim damage to water supplies? Does that time period begin when drilling begins or when it ends?
DEP: The owner of a water supply may file a complaint at any time. When the pollution of the water supply occurs within six months after completion of drilling or altering the well, the presumption provision applies.
NOTE: The DEP supports the Master Well Owner Network [a network of trained volunteers promoting the proper construction and maintenance of private water systems in Pennsylvania] which maintains links and resources for private water well information as well as training and certification of Master Well Owners. Visit mwon.cas.psu.edu/ for more information.
Goodbye to Cancer Valley: In remembrance of John Soley
http://www.legacy.com/tnonline/Obituaries.asp?Page=Lifestory&PersonId=128781391
John F. Soley
John F. Soley John F. Soley, 62, of Quakake Road, Weatherly, died Saturday, June 20, in his home.Prior to retiring, he was an electrician for the former Atlas Powder Company. He owned and operated P.J. Kennels, Packer Township, for over 20 years, boarding dogs and raising Brittanys.Upon the passing of his mother, he and his sister operated Soley’s Bar in the Dutch Hill section of Tamaqua until recently.He was a son of the late John Soley, who died in 1963, and the late Frances (Slivka) Soley, who died in 2004.The deceased was of the Catholic faith.A 1965 graduate of Tamaqua High School, he was an Air Force veteran.He was a member of the New England Fire Company, Freeland Kennel Club, Dutch Hill Hunters and the Brittany Club. His passion was bear hunting and his dogs.Surviving is a sister, Joan F. Yacobenas of Tamaqua.He was also preceded in death by his mother’s companion, Edward A. Potosky, who died in 1999. Service: Mass of Christian Burial 10 a.m. Wednesday, June 24, SS. Peter and Paul Catholic Church, Tamaqua, with the Rev. William J. Linkchorst officiating. Interment, Sky-View Memorial Park, Hometown. Call 7-9 p.m. Tuesday and 9-9:30 a.m. Wednesday, E. Franklin Griffiths Funeral Home, 655 E. Broad St., Tamaqua. Prayer service 7:30 p.m. Tuesday. Contributions in his name may be made to the Carbon-Tamaqua Unit of the American Cancer Soc., 33 W. Ridge St., Lansford, Pa. 18232, or to the church, 307 Pine St., Tamaqua, Pa. 18252. Sign online registry and offer condolences at www.griffithsfuneralhomes.com.
Lightning Safety Awareness Week, June 21-27, 2009
Lightning Safety Awareness Week
The Nation will celebrate its eighth annual National Lightning Safety Awareness Week, June 21-27, 2009.
NOAA states that summer is the peak season for one of the nation’s deadliest weather phenomena lightning. But don’t be fooled, lightning strikes yearround. The goal of their Website is to safeguard U.S. residents from lightning. In the United States, an average of 62 people are killed each year by lightning
To find out more visit: Lightning Safety Awareness Week
Texas town ties gas drilling to earthquakes
Spat of seismic activity since June 2 has rural community concerned.
CLEBURNE, Texas — The earth moved here on June 2. It was the first recorded earthquake in this Texas town’s 140-year history — but not the last.
There have been four small earthquakes since, none with a magnitude greater than 2.8. The most recent ones came Tuesday night, just as the City Council was meeting in an emergency session to discuss what to do about the ground moving.
At issue is a drilling practice called “fracking,” in which water is injected into the ground at high pressure to fracture the layers of shale and release natural gas trapped in the rock.
Read More
http://www.timesleader.com/news/Texas_town_ties_gas_drilling_to_earthquakes_06-13-2009.html#
EPA Offers Tips to Save Energy and Fight Climate Change this Summer
Contact: Bonnie Smith, 215-814-5543, smith.bonnie@epa.gov
EPA Offers Tips to Save Energy and Fight Climate Change this Summer
PHILADELPHIA (June 4, 2009) – – With summer and the high costs of cooling right around the corner, EPA is offering advice to help Americans reduce both energy bills and greenhouse gas emissions by one-third through Energy Star. The energy used in an average home costs more than $2,200 a year and contributes more greenhouse gas emissions than a typical car.
“A few simple changes will help create real reductions in high summer electric bills and provide a hefty cut in greenhouse gas emissions in the bargain,” said EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson. “It’s important that we all do our part to confront climate change, especially when it can help save money during these challenging economic times.”
Here are some tips to save energy and help protect the environment at home and at work:
- Set your programmable thermostat to save while you are away or asleep. Using it properly can save up to $180 per year in energy costs.
- Run ceiling fans in a clockwise direction to create a wind-chill effect that will make you “feel” cooler. Remember that ceiling fans cool people, not rooms — so turn them off when you leave the room.
- Inspect your duct system for obvious signs of leaks and disconnections — most houses leak 20 percent or more. Seal any leaks with foil tape or a special sealant called “duct mastic.” Also, consider insulating ducts in attics, basements and crawlspaces.
- Seal air leaks around your home to keep the heat out and the cool air in. The biggest air leaks are usually found in the attic or basement, but also come in around doors, windows, vents, pipes and electrical outlets. Use caulk, spray foam or weather stripping to seal the leaks. And add more insulation to keep your home cooler this summer.
- Maintain your cooling system. Check your system’s air filter every month at a minimum and change the filter every three months. Remove leaves, dirt and other debris from around the outdoor components to improve air flow and efficiency. Have a qualified professional tune-up your system with a pre-season maintenance checkup and, if it’s time to replace your old system, look for models that have earned EPA’s Energy Star.
- Turn off lights and equipment when not in use so they don’t generate unnecessary heat.
- Replace incandescent light bulbs in your desk lamp with Energy Star qualified compact fluorescent light bulbs which use two-thirds less energy and generate less heat than conventional bulbs.
More tips on to how to save energy at home: http://www.energystar.gov
More tips on how to save energy at work: http://www.energystar.gov/bizcooling
USGS Release: Significant Gas Resource Discovered in U.S. Gulf of Mexico
This release can be found in the USGS Newsroom at: http://www.usgs.gov/newsroom/article.asp?ID=2227.
May 29, 2009
Brenda Pierce 703-648-6421 bpierce@usgs.gov
Timothy Collett 720-936-2372 tcollett@usgs.gov
Clarice Ransom 703-648-4399 cransom@usgs.gov
Significant Gas Resource Discovered in U.S. Gulf of Mexico
The U.S. Gulf of Mexico contains very thick and concentrated gas-hydrate-bearing reservoir rocks which have the potential to produce gas using current technology.
Recent drilling by a government and industry consortium confirm that the Gulf of Mexico is the first offshore area in the United States with enough information to identify gas hydrate energy resource targets with potential for gas production.
Gas hydrate, a substance comprised of natural gas and water, is thought to exist in great abundance in nature and has the potential to be a significant new energy source to meet future energy needs. However, prior to this expedition, there was little documentation that gas hydrate occurred in resource-quality accumulations in the marine environment.
“This is an exciting discovery because for the first time in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico, we were able to predict hydrate accumulations before drilling, and we discovered thick, gas hydrate-saturated sands that actually represent energy targets,” said U.S. Geological Survey Energy Program Coordinator Brenda Pierce. Read more
FAMILY FISHING PROGRAM TO BE OFFERED
FAMILY FISHING PROGRAM TO BE OFFERED AT CARBON COUNTY ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION CENTER AND MAUCH CHUNK LAKE PARK
Mauch Chunk Lake Park, Carbon County Environmental Education Center (CCEEC) and the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission will be conducting a Family Fishing Program on Sunday, June 7th from 1:00pm to 4:00pm.
The program is designed for families wanting to learn more about fishing. Information and instruction will be provided on Pennsylvania fishes, basic fishing skills, regulations and safety. There is no fee and no fishing license is required. All equipment and bait will be provided.
The program will begin with an indoor portion at Carbon County Environmental Education Center. Participants will then get the opportunity to put their new fishing skills to use at Mauch Chunk Lake.
Children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian and all should dress appropriately for the outdoors. Participants can register by contacting the CCEEC at 570-645-8597 or CCEEC@ptd.net .