Posted by Brian on August 3, 2017 · 1 Comment
Announcement: Wyoming Valley Sanitary Authority Launches Regional Stormwater Management Project
“On the banks of the Susquehanna River, the Wyoming Valley Sanitary Authority (“WVSA”) recently launched an innovative regional stormwater management project that could be a springboard for other cooperative efforts between the region’s municipalities. Senator John T. Yudichak, Department of Environmental Protection (“DEP”) Secretary Patrick McDonnell, and representatives from more than 30 municipalities from Luzerne County announced the joint venture on the River Commons in Wilkes-Barre.
Under the plan, the WVSA will coordinate and implement a regional and comprehensive stormwater management program that will reduce pollution of the Susquehanna River and help Pennsylvania meet its obligations under the Chesapeake Bay Agreement. Under existing federal law, municipalities in Northeastern Pennsylvania must curb pollution of the Susquehanna River by as much as 10% in the next five years or each community could be penalized for failure to comply with federal law. The Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) regulations are intended to keep harmful contaminants out of the river and minimize each community’s environmental impact upon the river and downstream communities. As the EPA targeted reductions are met, the Susquehanna River will become cleaner thereby making it safer for wildlife as well as for fisherman, kayakers, and other sportsmen to enjoy.
The WVSA will assume the lead–on behalf of member municipalities–to finance capital projects, submit all stormwater management plans and permit applications, and implement pollution control measures throughout its service area that will reduce stormwater pollution to meet the EPA’s benchmarks. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore District, will be assisting with stormwater mapping as part of the program.
“The WVSA is well-prepared to meet this challenge and we are eager to advance this project after months of planning,” said Jim Tomaine, Executive Director of the WVSA. “Over the next five years, we will reduce pollutants contaminating the Susquehanna River, which will improve water-quality.” By working together, the WVSA estimates that the region will save $57 million over five years and $274 million over the next two decades, in present-value dollars. Individual households will pay a nominal fee—anywhere between $3 and $4.50 monthly—to the WVSA to finance the regional effort. The WVSA estimates that households will pay between 70% and 90% less than if their municipality pursued EPA compliance on its own. “We all have a responsibility to clean up the Susquehanna River and the Chesapeake Bay because no single municipality could meet this obligation alone,” said Senator Yudichak. “The regional stormwater project—designed to improve water quality and wildlife habitats throughout the watershed—represents the most comprehensive environmental project in northeast Pennsylvania in the last forty years.”
Learn More about Senator Yudichak (14th Senate District)
Filed under acid mine drainage, Clean Water Act, Community Health, environmental management, stormwater, wastewater, Water · Tagged with luzerne county, Senator Yudichak, stormwater, susquehanna, susquehanna river, Wilkes Barre, Wyoming Sanitary Authority
Posted by Brian on March 19, 2014 · Leave a Comment
Keystone Clean Water Team participated in the “Careers in Energy” Event at Tunkhannock High School in February 2014. The series of classes, titled “Careers in Energy: Learning from the Industry,” was coordinated by Northern Tier Industry & Education Consortium, a Susquehanna County-based group that helps prime college and high school students for job placement in growing industries. During the event, we meet over 200 students and discussed energy efficiency, alternative energy, the direct careers in Energy, and indirect careers in Energy. We also discussed changes that are needed and how they can be part of the solution to conserve energy and promote a national energy policy that includes renewable energy systems. During the education session, we showed working models of some wind turbine and solar energy kits.
The presentation can be found at Careers in Energy – Tunkhannock High School – Earth Sciences, Green Building, Renewable Energy, Energy Audit, Weatherization/ Efficiency, Sustainability and More (Presentation- Feb 2014)
We are participating in a similar event in April 2014 in Kingsley, PA and we are conducting a two day training session for young adults for the DCNR in March 2014 in Tunkhannock, PA.
Volunteer
We seek new people at all skill levels for a variety of programs. One thing that everyone can do is attend meetings to share ideas on improving CCGG, enabling us to better understand and address the concerns of well owners. We look for people that can forward solid articles, help coordinate local education efforts, and more. Become part of the Keystone Clean Water Team!.
Everything we do began with an idea.
We realize your time is precious and the world is hectic. CCGG’s volunteers do only what they’re comfortable with. It can be a little or a lot. Get YOUR WATER Tested – Discounted Screening Tests !
For more information, please go to CCGG’s About Page or contact us.
Carbon County Groundwater Guardians is a 501(c)(3) IRS approved nonprofit, volunteer organization and your donation is tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. Waiting on Official Name change to the Keystone Clean Water Team by the IRS. Unsolicited donations are appreciated.
Help the Organization and Get Your Water Tested or Order the Private Well Owner Guide (proceeds benefit This Organization).
Filed under Alternative Energy, Children's Health, Coal, Energy, Environmental Fear, Fossil Fuels, Unconventional Gas · Tagged with careers in energy, energy conservation, energy use conservation, pennsylvania national energy policy, renewable energy, susquehanna, tunkhannock, wyoming
