Chairperson Brenda Shambaugh, PA State Grange called the meeting to order at 10:05 a.m.

Brenda Shambaugh, PA State Grange
Robin Heard, USDA, Natural Resources Conservation Service
Dr. Herb Cole, Penn State University
Doug Goodlander, PA Department of Agriculture
Bill Wehry, USDA, Farm Service Agency
Carl Shaffer, Vegetable Producer
Robert Pardoe, Jr., Dairy Producer
Frank Long, PA Association of Conservation Districts
Jay Howes, House, Agricultural and Rural Affairs Committee (Rep. Bunt)
Lynn Slabicki, House, Agricultural and Rural Affairs Committee (Rep. Cappabianca)
Robert Junk, Jr., PA Farmers Union
Michael Brendle, Poultry Producer
Sam Elkin, Livestock Producer
Bruce Holbrook, PA Department of Environmental Protection

Agencies, Advisors, and Guests

Melanie Wertz, Chesapeake Bay Foundation
Cedric Karper, DEP, Bureau of Water Quality Protection
Curtis Kratz, Moyer Packing Company
Duke Pepper, DEP, Bureau of Regulatory Counsel
Joel Meyer, USDA, Natural Resources Conservation Service
Johan Berger, PA Department of Agriculture
Lou Guerra, DEP, Office of Policy
Greg Mahon, DEP, DEP, Office of Policy and Communications
Carol Young, DEP, Bureau of Watershed Conservation
Pat Devlin, Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay
Denise Piastrelli, Concurrent Technologies Corporation
Dean Auchenbach, DEP, Bureau of Water Quality Protection

No public comments were received.

The minutes of the Board's February 16, 2000 meeting, were approved as distributed.

Greg Mahon was introduced to the Board as the new DEP Legislative Liaison, replacing Pam Witmer. He noted the Department has awarded Growing Greener grants totaling $25 million for the first round of projects. Another round of grant applications will be accepted this summer with grant awards in August. Two priority projects for the Department at this time are Act 322, revisions to waterworks and sewer plant operator's certification, and obtaining national accreditation for DEP labs. House Bill 1585, regarding local ordinances for use of biosolids in mine reclamation work was sent back to Committee. Another bill, SB 706, contains language that would require DEP to report on complaints received over the last six years regarding the land application of biosolids. This bill is being referred to the Senate and DEP is working to have this language taken out of the bill. Mahon noted that the Legislature's focus would be on the state budget.

Carl Shaffer made a motion that the Board sends a letter to the Legislature that agriculture be exempted from all provisions of H.B. 1585. This motion was seconded by Robert Pardoe, Jr., and the motion was passed unanimously. Chairperson Shambaugh requested that Carl Shaffer write this letter. Sam Elkin made a motion regarding the language in SB 706, that DEP needs to acknowledge when complaints are not valid and officially note the outcome of complaints so real complaints can be sorted out from non valid complaints. This motion was in response to the language in SB 706 requiring DEP to report on biosolids land application complaints. The motion was seconded by Robert Pardoe, Jr., and the motion passed unanimously.

Denise Piastrelli, Concurrent Technologies Corporation, presented the DEP electronic commerce vision. This is an effort for DEP to move away from conducting business on paper and move towards conducting business 100% electronically. Electronic commerce (EC) is a broad term describing business and technical activities that are conducted using automated tools. It focuses on the transition from paper-based processes to electronic exchange and storage of technical and business data in a standard format. EC provides standard data, re-usable data, accessible data, and reduces and eliminates paper-based systems, especially reporting. Initial EC projects are Oil and Gas Drilling Permits, Discharge Monitoring Reports, and lab sampling. The Board was encouraged to make DEP's EC initiative successful by supporting the change and increasing awareness by spreading the word, asking questions, and providing feedback. Any questions or comments regarding EC should be directed to Lorraine Warwas, Concurrent Technologies Corporation's on-site representative. She may be contacted at 717-705-5413, or at warwas.lorraine@dep.state.pa.us.

Carol Young, DEP, Bureau of Watershed Conservation, provided an overview of the TMDL program which Board members had requested at their last meeting. Young noted that if waters do not meet water quality standards, total maximum daily loads (TMDLs) must be developed. In the past the state has focused on point source discharges. In 1996, environmental groups sued the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for not requiring states to develop TMDLs. In 1997 PA and EPA signed agreements to assess all rivers and streams and 100 lakes, and develop TMDLs for those that do not meet water quality standards. To date 43% of the state's waters have been assessed (out of 83,000 stream miles) with 20% identified as impaired. Agriculture has been identified as the greatest cause of impairment. The criteria for TMDL development is waste load allocation from point sources, load allocation from natural quality, and a margin of safety. EPA has developed a mathematical model for TMDL development, which is very complicated. DEP has developed its own formula for TMDL development which uses a reference watershed with a similar size and characteristics which meets water quality standards, to determine what it will take to bring the impaired watershed into compliance. In Pennsylvania TMDLs will carry no additional requirements for farmers. DEP will use nutrient management plans, the manure management manual, best management practices (BMPs), and conservation plans to meet non-point source TMDLs. EPA is in the process of revising its TMDL regulations and will finalize them this summer. DEP may then have to revisit its TMDL strategy.

Board members expressed their concerns over EPA's proposed changes to TMDL and point source discharge programs under the Clean Water Act. A draft letter from Brenda Shambaugh regarding the Board's concerns was circulated for comments. Jay Howes suggested the letter be revised to support DEP’s efforts to use existing programs to develop and implement TMDLs. Chairperson Shambaugh suggested that Board members review the draft letter and send her comments by April 26. She will summarize the comments and finalize the letter. Bob Junk made a motion that the letter expressing the Board's concerns regarding EPA's proposed changes to TMDL and point source discharge programs be sent to Secretary Seif once it is revised based on Board member comments. This motion was seconded by Michael Brendle and passed unanimously by the Board.

Pat Devlin, Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay and Chairperson of the Chesapeake Bay Advisory Committee to the State Conservation Commission, outlined the recommendations of the draft Chesapeake 2000 Agreement. The draft agreement was issued by the Chesapeake Bay Executive Council to update the historic 1987 Chesapeake Bay Agreement, and to chart the Bay 's watershed efforts over the next decade and beyond. The agreement will be revised based on comments received by the March 31^st comment deadline date. It is anticipated the final agreement will be signed in June. The members of the Chesapeake Bay Advisory Committee developed comments regarding the draft agreement and presented its comments to the State Conservation Commission at its March meeting. The Commission was not comfortable with endorsing the Committee's comments since many extended beyond agricultural issues. Devlin noted the Bay is on Virginia and Maryland's list of impaired waters. The Bay Program has negotiated with EPA to use the agreement goals to clean up the Bay by 2010. If not cleaned up by then TMDLs will have to be developed.

Joel Meyers, USDA, Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) outlined USDA's nutrient Management Policy that NRCS will follow to manage nutrients. The policy will be used by NRCS when providing technical assistance to individuals in managing nutrients, including the use of organic by-products. Third party and other non-NRCS vendors will use these procedures when assisting with implementing federal conservation programs where NRCS has technical responsibility and nutrient management is involved. The time frame for implementation of the new standards is two years following the date of NRCS adoption or March 2001. The policy is currently under review by state agencies and land grant universities to assure that the policy adopted is appropriate for Pennsylvania agriculture, provides consistency between state and federal programs, and protects and enhances soil and water quality. The policy considers nitrogen, phosphorus, and potash in the development of nutrient management rates for crop production. Due to the concern and interest with phosphorus buildups on farms the policy provides three options to deal with phosphorus. These options are phosphorus index, soil phosphorus threshold level and soil test phosphorus level. NRCS in cooperation with other partners will test the three phosphorus options on 10 farms to compare phosphorus application rates, economic considerations, and practical application. The results will be available in fall 2000 and will be used as guidance in selecting the actual method to be used in Pennsylvania.

Robert Junk distributed a brochure for the Farm Resource Center, which provides crisis intervention, stress management, and information and referral services to rural communities, particularly the farming and coal mining industries in Pennsylvania and West Virginia. A 24-hour toll free crisis line is available for those that need assistance. All services of the Farm Resource Center are free and confidential.

Sam Elkin expressed concern over the unfilled vacancies of the Agri-business and Grain Producer member positions on the Board. It was noted that Cass Peterson, Sustainable Agriculture Representative on the Board has moved to New Jersey and will be submitting a resignation letter.

There being no further business the meeting was adjourned at 2:20 p.m.