LISTSERV

One way members help members in Businesses for the Bay is via the LISTSERV. This may be found by going to Businesses for the Bay then selecting "Member's Section" then "Businesses for the Bay Listserv." This will take you to a screen where you may either join or leave the list. Please remember that information posted on the listserv is NOT confidential.

CONESTOGA RIVER NUTRIENT TRADING PILOT PROJECT

The Conestoga River , located in southeastern Pennsylvania, represents one of the most intensively farmed and productive areas in the world. This area covers 110,000 acres of piedmont terrain characterized by small hills and valleys cut by streams. There are approximately 1,250 small (52 acres average) farms in the area, including 1,009 beef and 445 dairy operations. In May, 2003, at Pfizer, Inc., in Lititz, PA, the EPA recognized the efforts of partners working on a Nutrient Trading Pilot Project in the Conestoga River watershed. This project capitalizes on Pennsylvania's watershed-based approach to build local citizen capacity via broad-based stakeholder partnerships; comprehensive resource-based planning; a multimedia approach; and integration of related strategies for wetlands protection, fisheries and wildlife resources and local planning. The PA B4B Workgroup adopted nutrient trading as the primary means to encourage implementation of the most cost-effective nutrient reductions within Pennsylvania's Chesapeake Bay watershed. As a buyer, you pay or otherwise arrange for someone else to meet or exceed your environmental obligation. As a seller, you exceed your own environmental obligation and benefit from it. Nutrient trading expands the range of watershed improvement options, reduces costs by taking advantage of differences in control costs among sources, generates market demand for new and innovative technologies, and provides for additional benefits such as greater and improved recreations and tourism opportunities. For more information, please refer to Market-based Environmental Quality Enhancement then scroll down to "Conestoga River Nutrient Trading Pilot" or contact Pat Buckley at 717-772-1675 or pbuckley@state.pa.us. For further information on Nutrient Trading within the Chesapeake Bay watershed please also refer to Nutrient Trading.

MARKETING/PROMOTIONAL GOALS

The Chesapeake Bay 2000 Agreement Toxics Strategy set a goal of 1,000 members of Businesses for the Bay by 2005. Pennsylvania's portion of that goal is approximately 219 members (the entire program currently has over 528 members). With 141 current Pennsylvania members, if each member recruits just one other organization ("Each One Ask One") we should meet and exceed that goal. Let's do our part for our regional partners by encouraging the businesses and associations with whom we work (and how about that neighbor or golf buddy too?) to join the program. Expansion of our membership can be particularly helpful in the Conestoga River watershed to enhance/support our nutrient trading pilot project.

Although demonstrable environmental improvement is our focus--and not merely numbers--Businesses for the Bay represents a permanent body of organizations committed to voluntary, continuous improvement in Pennsylvania's environment. There is no cost to join and members receive a membership plaque (certificate for partners), a window decal, P2E2 information and workshops, mentoring assistance (if desired), and an opportunity to apply for annual awards. For additional information, contact Pat Buckley at 717-772-1675 or pbuckley@state.pa.us or refer interested parties to Businesses for the Bay. Thanks for your help!

A CALL TO MENTORING

We need to improve our mentoring resource (information sharing) by enlisting additional mentors, reporting mentoring events--in a non-burdensome way--and conducting meaningful mentoring activities. Our regional program has a goal, by 2005, of having 300 mentors who conduct at least 500 mentoring events annually. Pennsylvania's portion of this goal is approximately 66 mentors (we currently have 27) with 110 annual interactions. Mentoring is simply some form of information sharing. It can be anything from a brief phone call or discussion to greater involvement. It's up to the mentor and mentoree. We promote peer-to-peer assistance without involving regulatory people who are, however, available to facilitate the process upon request. We need to gauge the value of the program by obtaining periodic feedback. Please refer to the PA Mentoring Network site or Pat Buckley at 717-772-1675 or pbuckley@state.pa.us for additional information. With your help, Pennsylvania can meet and exceed its obligation to our regional B4B partners!

MEMBER SUPPLIED OPPORTUNITIES

This is an opportunity for members to present activities, workshops, etc. of which we may not be aware. Please enter this information here.

CHEMICALS OF CONCERN

Chemicals of concern include:

These chemicals of concern include both current and historically used chemicals. We recognize that some chemicals are no longer in use and may be more difficult to control, but nonetheless remain a concern because they persist in the environment at levels that pose risks to living resources. Also, additional chemicals of concern may be targeted for future reduction and prevention as new data become available from the many efforts to characterize toxic impacts and learn more about emerging chemicals of concern.

Note that not all chemicals are of concern in all areas of the Bay watershed. The current list of chemicals of concern are available in Appendix A of the Toxics 2000 Strategy (Dec. 2000), or by downloading the following pdf file for Appendix A.

For an interesting article please refer to the Chemical Composition of Water.
Please refer to information and a list of resources on Reducing and Preventing Toxics Pollution.

For further information contact Pat Buckley at 717-772-1675 or pbuckley@state.pa.us.

MERCURY

The presence of mercury in the environment represents a growing concern. It doesn't go away, but accumulates. The more it is put into the environment the greater its effect. Mercury switches in vehicles present one specific concern that will increase in future importance. We welcome the involvement of businesses and trade associations to help address this concern through voluntary methods. We are planning to conduct a Mercury Reduction Workshop in the Fall to better address our concern with mercury. In particular, the workshop will focus on how preventive pre-treatment methods can be applied to manage this concern. For additional information, contact Pat Buckley at 717-772-1675 or pbuckley@state.pa.us. Also, please refer to the following sources on mercury:

DEP Mercury Information

What Can You Do About Mercury

Auto Mercury Switch Removal

New Jersey Appliance and Vehicle Mercury Switch and Recovery Incentive Program

New York State Automotive Mercury Switch Recycling Project

Reduction of Mercury in Automobiles in New Hampshire

Michigan Mercury Switch Study

Minnesota Salvage Yard Program

Outreach to automobile shops and recyclers

Fact sheet on automobile mercury switches

Policy statement for removal and collection of mercury-containing auto switches for disposal or recycling

California Mercury Waste Classification and Management

Mercury In Your Community and the Environment

Mercury in Healthy School Environments

Mercury in Medical Facilities

EPA Mercury website

EPA Action Plan for Mercury

Water Quality Criteria for Methylmercury

Background Information on Mercury Sources and Regulations

The Pennsylvania Dental Association, in April, 2001 via a grant with PA DEP also took a leadership role in developing PDA Waste Management Guidelines. This is an educational tool and quick reference guide for proper disposal of dental waste. The PDA's Environmental Task Force is currently revising these guidelines and an updated PDA Waste Management Guidelines will be distributed to PDA members in September, 2003. For additional information, contact the Pennsylvania Dental Association; 3501 North Front Street; Harrisburg, PA 17105; Phone 717-234-5941; Fax 717-232-7169; or visit the Pennsylvania Dental Association website. The PDA Waste Management Guidelines booklet is available on the PDA site. The PDA provides environmental information to their members to promote and encourage voluntary initiatives to reduce waste and recycle.

NUTRIENT REDUCTION

Excessive nutrient enrichment is a major factor in the decline of the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem. Nutrients, primarily nitrogen and phosphorus, stimulate excess algae growth, decomposition and recycling that contribute to oxygen depletion in the Bay. Excess nutrients within the Bay create large blooms of algae that cut off light to underwater grasses (submerged aquatic vegetation or SAV). The SAV are an important habitat for many aquatic animals in the Bay. The decrease in light penetration is considered the primary reason for the significant decline in SAV within the Bay. When the algae blooms consume all the available nutrient food, they die and decompose. The decomposition process depletes the water of oxygen, which is essential for fish, shellfish and other aquatic life. The decrease in SAV habitat and areas of oxygen depletion seriously restrict the ability of the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem to rebound to the level of productivity realized in historic times. Excess nutrients originate from nonpoint source dischargers (from broader areas of the landscape), point source discharges (specific locations) and deposits from the air. For further information on Nutrient Pollution, please refer to What is Nutrient Pollution. For information on Reducing Nutrient Pollution please refer to the Nutrient Reduction Strategy and Reducing Nutrient Pollution. For additional information, contact Pat Buckley at 717-772-1675 or pbuckley@state.pa.us.

STORMWATER MANAGEMENT

Stormwater management involves the control of water that runs off the surface of the land from rain or melting ice or snow. The volume, or amount of runoff and its rate of runoff, substantially increase as land development occurs. Management of stormwater is necessary to compensate for the possible impacts of development such as frequent flooding; erosion and sedimentation problems; concentration of flow on adjacent properties; damage to roads, bridges and other infrastructure as well as non-point source pollution washed off from impervious surfaces. DEP's Stormwater Management Program provides grant moneys to Counties to develop stormwater management plans for designated watersheds, as required by the Storm Water Management Act of 1978. The program also provides for research into new stormwater issues and provides technical assistance to individuals and municipalities in solving drainage problems. DEP also assists the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority (PENNVEST) as technical consultants in a program to provide low-interest loans to municipal governments to construct projects to solve stormwater runoff problems. Please also refer to Stormwater Management or type "stormwater" in the DEP Keyword box when first entering the DEP website. See also "The Changing Face of Stormwater Management". For additional information, contact Pat Buckley at 717-772-1675 or pbuckley@state.pa.us.

ELIMINATION OF MIXING ZONES

We want to work with facilities having regulatory mixing zones which do not meet water quality standards at the point of discharge for persistent or bioaccumulative chemical contaminants. In Pennsylvania, regulatory mixing zones have a slightly different meaning than for our regional partners. These are generally effluent compliance time facilities. By voluntarily phasing out mixing zones, loadings of these persistent or bioaccumulative toxics will be reduced in the Chesapeake Bay, thereby decreasing the exposure of humans and aquatic life to these contaminants. The advantage of using voluntary means gives dischargers the opportunity to choose how and when to phase out their mixing zones. For further information contact Pat Buckley at 717-772-1675 or pbuckley@state.pa.us. For a description of Businesses for the Bay's Voluntary Mixing Zone Phaseout Strategy please refer to Toxics Pollution.

ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS OF MEMBERS

This is an opportunity for members to present environmental concerns that may not have been addressed elsewhere. Only minimal information is requested to provide a measure of confidentiality, should you desire it. Please enter your concerns here.