Chairperson Bill Adams, PA Farm Bureau, called the meeting to order at 10:02 a.m. It was noted that a quorum was not present since a minimum of six voting Board members were not present.

Members
Bill Adams, PA Farm Bureau
Robin Heard, USDA, Natural Resources Conservation Service
Bruce Holbrook, PA Department of Environmental Protection
Bill Wehry, USDA, Farm Service Agency
Robert Pardoe, Jr., Dairy Producer
Dr. Herb Cole. Penn State University
Frank Long. PA Association of Conservation Districts
Mike Firestine, Agri-business Representative

Agencies, Advisors, and Guests
Bill Achor, Wenger’s Feed Mill, Inc.
Doug Goodlander, State Conservation Commission
Michelle Corbin, PA Landscape and Nursery Association
Dan Snowden, DEP, Citizens Advisory Council
Cedric Karper, DEP, Bureau of Watershed Management
Kristi Orendi, DEP, Office of Policy
Joe Sieber, DEP, Office of Policy
Larry Tropea, DEP, Deputy Secretary for Water Management
Bob Frey, DEP, Bureau of Water Supply and Wastewater Management
Doug Brennan, DEP, Bureau of Regulatory Counsel
Eric Conrad, DEP, Office of Field Operations
Dean Auchenbach, DEP, Bureau of Watershed Management

Chairperson Bill Adams offered the Board’s congratulations to Robin Heard on her recent appointment as the new District Conservationist for the Natural Resources Conservation Service in Pennsylvania.

Dr. Herb Cole noted that his name was omitted from the list of Board members attending the April meeting. Since there was no quorum of voting members, no official action can be taken on the meeting minutes until the next Board meeting.

Larry Tropea, DEP Deputy Secretary for Water Management addressed the Board’s concerns regarding fish consumption advisories. John Nikoloff from Capitol Associates initially raised these concerns during the public comment period at the Board’s April 18^th meeting. Tropea noted that statewide fish consumption advisories are not unique to Pennsylvania and have been issued in Ohio, New York, New Jersey, and the District of Columbia. In the year 2000, there were 2,838 fish consumption advisories issued in 48 states nationwide. Pennsylvania had 35 fish consumption advisories issued in 2000, which accounts for 1.1% of the advisories issued nationwide. Deputy Secretary Tropea also clarified that a statewide fish consumption advisory covers only sport fish caught in all Commonwealth waters and does not pertain to fish raised by Pennsylvania’s aquaculture industry. Tropea stated that the state has a responsibility to protect its citizens from a risk and when a risk is identified we will continue to issue fish consumption advisories to protect the health of citizens and to provide them the information to make informed decisions.

Bill Adams thanked Deputy Secretary Tropea for the information. Based on the information received, the Board was satisfied that fish consumption advisories do not have a detrimental effect on the states aquaculture industry; and the Board does not plan to pursue this matter any further.

Doug Goodlander, State Conservation Commission, noted the Nutrient Management Act states that nitrogen is the nutrient of primary concern, which would be addressed by nitrogen balancing with the crop uptake of nitrogen in the nutrient management plan. It was understood that phosphorus would be controlled and addressed through the use of erosion control measures in a conservation plan. Now many are questioning whether this is adequate to address the phosphorus issue. In order to address this issue, the Commission has a contract with Penn State University to evaluate phosphorus loss from agricultural operations, and to study the practicality of phosphorus management options. The study will look at what the economic impacts of each option are on the agricultural community. The Nutrient Management Advisory Board’s Phosphorus Committee will conduct an analysis of the study and the issue should be forwarded to the Commission for further consideration of phosphorus management in the latter part of 2001. Goodlander did note the NRCS comprehensive nutrient management plans based on a phosphorus index are a separate non-regulatory program if farmers are seeking technical or financial assistance form NRCS.

Doug Goodlander noted the House, Agricultural and Rural Affairs Committee held an oversight hearing on April 26, 2001 in response to citizen concerns about the Act 6 Program. The purpose of the hearing was to review how well the program is addressing the goals set in 1993. The State Conservation Commission was one of several organizations that provided testimony at this hearing. Key points of the SCC testimony noted there are three laws, which regulate nutrients in PA. These are the Clean Streams Law, the Act 6 Program, and the Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation (CAFO) Program. At the time of the hearing there were 841 concentrated animal operations (CAOs) with submitted nutrient management plans, and 661 volunteer plans. The Commission noted it receives good support from the 59 conservation districts that participate in the nutrient management program. Emerging issues were identified as exported manure; phosphorus management; innovative technologies; CAO Definition; CAO/CAFO Program integration, and Agri-Link Program improvements. It is anticipated another hearing regarding the Act 6 Program will be held in the future.

Doug Brennan, DEP, Bureau of Regulatory Counsel, briefed Board members on the Department’s Environmental Futures Planning Process. This new process will reorient the Department’s management and planning to a watershed focused, priority setting approach. The 21^st Century Environmental Commission created by Governor Ridge to set environmental priorities for the next century recommended the Department change its process for allocating resources to focus on results first, and activities second. A team of DEP staff developed the new planning process, which involves setting statewide environmental goals; identifying the condition of the environment and its related causes; establishing objectives to address the causes; and carrying out strategic activities to meet the objectives. Three goals and 17 environmental indicators were established with input from outside stakeholders and the public. These environmental indicators will measure the effectiveness of the Department’s activities, and objectives could be altered based on the evaluations.

The Environmental Futures Planning Process is being implemented for the first time in 2001 in order to coordinate with the preparation of the 2002-2003 fiscal year. The timeline for this process is to have the baseline data and objectives established by the end of summer. By November detailed plans will be established, which will be implemented in December. In 2002 the Department will evaluate, adapt, and repeat the process. More information on this process is available on the DEP website with a direct link to EFP2.

Eric Conrad, DEP, Office of Field Operations, briefed the Board on the Department’s efforts regarding the West Nile Virus Program. The Board requested a briefing on this issue at its April meeting. Conrad noted the West Nile Virus is a mosquito borne disease that can cause encephalitis, or a brain infection. Infected mosquitoes pass the virus onto birds, animals, and people. West Nile Virus was first detected in Pennsylvania in 2000. In 1999 it was detected in New York, and prior to that only in Africa, Eastern Europe, and West Asia. West Nile Virus occurs primarily in the late summer and early fall, although the mosquito season usually runs from April-October. Mosquitoes spread the virus after they feed on infected birds and then bite animals or people. The virus cannot be spread by person-to-person contact. It is not clear yet what the human health impacts are if bitten by mosquito’s with the virus. Most healthy people will develop flu/cold symptoms however the elderly and those with suppressed immune systems are at greater risk.

Pennsylvania has established a comprehensive effort to combat the West Nile Virus. This is a coordinated effort between DEP, the PA Department of Health, PA Department of Agriculture, and county and municipal governments. The program, which covers all 67 counties, includes trapping mosquitoes, collecting dead birds, and monitoring horses, people, and sentinel chickens. To date the virus has been found in New York and New Jersey but not in Pennsylvania. The Center for Disease Control expects that the virus will spread across the entire United States in the next few years.

Conrad noted that mosquito’s are not long range fliers so problems are constrained to the area of your home. He noted that homeowners and farmers should take measures to reduce potential mosquito breeding sites. The agricultural community can limit mosquito breeding areas by improving drainage in irrigated fields, filling in ruts, thoroughly clean watering troughs, remove or empty containers and tires that trap water, aerate small ponds and stock them with fish. If the elimination of potential mosquito breeding areas is not practical larviciding is the most effective control method. A larvicide may only be applied by a certified pesticide applicator. An applicator can also best determine which product would best suit your situation.

Conrad noted that if you find a dead bird you should call 1-877-PAHEALTH to obtain information on disposing of the bird or getting the bird tested for West Nile Virus. Additional information regarding the West Nile Virus Program can be found at the West Nile Virus website at www.WestNile.state.pa.us.

Bill Adams distributed a copy of the Board’s June 7, 2001 letter to DEP Secretary Dave Hess regarding the Board’s recommendations relating to water management planning in Pennsylvania.

Dr. Herb Cole distributed a Penn State University College of Agricultural Sciences publication entitled "Shaping New EPA CAFO Rules: A Guide to the Proposals and Comment Process."

Bill Adams distributed a copy of a May 26, 2001 letter he received from Joseph Etter who lives in North Middleton Township, Cumberland County. The letter is in reference to the Act 537 (Sewage Facilities Act) regulations and the township ordinance requiring that septic systems be opened, pumped and inspected every three years.

Bruce Holbrook questioned whether the Board has addressed the issue of the possibility of disease transfer caused by the transfer of manure between farms. It was suggested this issue could be a possible agenda topic for a future Board meeting.

Doug Goodlander questioned whether the Board has addressed the issue of biosecurity and whether this could be a possible future agenda item.

Mike Firestine questioned why a farmer in Lancaster County whose barn was damaged in a fire was not permitted by DEP to burn the debris left over from the fire. It was stated the Department considers this type of debris to be demolition debris and under DEP regulations demolition debris may not be burned.

There being no further business the meeting was adjourned at 2:00 p.m.