Harrisburg, PA The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) today honored 15 projects done by schools, businesses, and community organizations around the state with the 2022 Governors Awards for Environmental Excellence.
Governor Tom Wolf said that each year, Environmental Excellence honorees demonstrate the innovative and creative ways in which we can improve our environment. This year’s projects highlight the diversity of how they are making Pennsylvania a better country.
Patrick McDonnell, DEP Secretary, said that it is always a privilege spotlighting people who go above-and-beyond to improve our environment and make our beautiful outdoor spaces more accessible. Pennsylvania will be able to leave a lasting positive legacy with each of these projects.
Evaluations were made for the degree of environmental protection, innovation or partnership, economic effect, consideration of climate changes, sustainability, and environmental justice. Also, outcomes achieved.
The award-winning projects brought together hundreds of partners and produced:
2,470,000 gallons treated stormwater
118 trees planted
32,552 shrubs were planted
Trail length: 2,000 feet
Treatment of acid mine drainage – 200,000 pounds
8 miles of streams are treated
242 acres of greenspace have been created
15 electric vehicles purchased
2,400 metric tonnes of CO2 were reduced
1,700,000.00 kilowatt hours saved
500 tons of material were recycled
The 2022 Governors Awards for Environmental Excellence were presented to:
Johnson, Mirmiran & Thompson, Inc.
As part of the Green City, Clean Waters program, Philadelphia Water Department’s Green Stormwater Infrastructure Unit (GSI Unit) developed GSI at Wissinoming Park, Lower Northeast Philadelphia. It was designed to improve water quality and reduce combined sewer overflows.
JMT’s innovative sloping design was combined with two underground slow-release systems built within the park. This doubled the planned creation for Greened Acres. 42 acres were greened and more than 1.1million gallons were treated in a sustainable and economical manner.
Vicinity Energy Philadelphia, Inc.
Vicinity Energy converted four boilers in its Edison Station to LR100, a new biofuel. LR100 is a cleaner alternative to other fuel oil and will reduce emissions of particulate and nitrogen oxides by 50%, and sulfur dioxide emissions up to 99%. LR100 has the lowest carbon footprint among all commercially available biogenic fuels. Vicinity will also eliminate fossil fuel greenhouse gases emissions by using this renewable fuel.
South Fayette Conservation Group for Gladden Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) Treatment Plant
South Fayette Conservation Group built the Gladden AMD Treatment Plant using $13 Million in federal funding from the Abandoned mine land Economic Revitalization Program (AMLER) Program. The plant has removed an average of 1,050 lbs of iron pollution per day over the last six months. The total iron treatment in the past six months was around 191,000 pounds.
The Chartiers Creek watershed was the most affected by the treatment plant. It pumps and treats more than one million gallons daily of AMD, and discharges the treated water back to Millers Run. The water quality of Millers Run (five-miles) and Chartiers Creek (3 miles) has been improved by the removal of iron. The Millers Run downstream of the Gladden discharge has been a trout habitat. There is now potential for the downstream portions to be trout habitat.
Delaware County Sustain Delco
Sustain Delco was initiated by the Delaware County Office of Sustainability. The initiative aims at making Delaware County and its operations more resilient to the impacts of climate change. Delaware County achieved this goal by reviewing government operations, engaging the community, and working together with the new Sustainability Commission in order to develop a long-term Sustainability and Climate Action Plan. This initiative was a success. It created the Office for Sustainability, preserved over 200 acres of greenspace, and purchased 15 electric fleet vehicles (and charging station) using grant funding.
Northcentral Pennsylvania Conservancy & Pennsylvania Game Commission for Plunketts Creek Berm Removing at Proctor
To protect the former North Central Propagation farm (now State Game Lands #134), which was operated by PGC from high waters, a 1012-foot earthen Berm was built along 2,200 feet of the Creek in the 1940s. The berm separated Plunketts Creek from its floodplain. Huckle Run, a high-quality stream that naturally reproduces trout, was also improved by the work. Plunketts creek had experienced multiple 500-year floods over the past decade. However, Plunketts creek has flowed into its floodplain after Hurricane Ida and protected surrounding land and property.
City of Philadelphia Office of Sustainability & Philadelphia Museum of Art Project for Guaranteed Energy Savings
The City of Philadelphia launched a Guaranteed Energy Savings project (GESA) in 2019 to improve and update the energy and water systems at the Philadelphia Art Museum. This museum is one of the City’s oldest and most energy-intensive users. The multifaceted project, which was implemented in partnership with Johnson Controls Inc. (PEA) and the Philadelphia Energy Authority, addressed inefficient lighting and water systems, as well as outdated building automation systems. The Philadelphia Museum of Arts’ guaranteed energy savings project resulted in a significant 23% decrease in energy use, an 8% reduction of water use, and a reduction of carbon footprint of nearly 2,400 metric tons of carbon dioxidee annually.
Nurture Nature Center for Watershed Friendly Properties
The Penn State Extension Master Watershed Steward Program and Nurture Nature Center developed a Watershed Friendly Properties education program and certification program to increase the number of watershed friendly properties in Pennsylvania. This program aims to educate residents, communities, and businesses about the importance of healthy watersheds and best practices for improving water quality.
Through outreach and presentations, the project reached over 600 Pennsylvanians. There have been 300 applications, with 270 of them passing (a 90% pass rate). 250 Watershed Friendly Property signs were mailed to 49 counties in the state (almost three-quarters of the state). These properties contribute to the health and well-being of PA’s watersheds by planting native vegetation, rain gardens and stormwater management strategies. They also encourage pollution elimination and conservation (rain barrels).
RGS Associates, Culliton Park
This park, which covers 3.75 acres, is located in Lancasters Southwest (SoWe). It overlooks a historic stream channel that was previously enclosed in a brick culvert measuring 16 feet. This open space was transformed according to the wishes of the residents who lived in the surrounding areas during the 2020 pandemic. This project addressed stormwater management and maximized the site’s recreational amenities, many of which were carefully constructed on top of the historic stormwater infrastructure and subsurface stream. New park amenities include new recreational areas, parking with subsurface stormwater management and site furnishings.
Culliton Parks stormwater management systems (bio-infiltration basins, underground stone infiltration beds, constructed filters, rain gardens, and rain gardens) have a combined total of 1.37 Million gallons of stormwater runoff. This exceeds the municipal and state requirements by half. 40 native trees, 100 shrubs and 11,000 native herbsaceous plants were also added.
Geisinger Grays Woods Optimization
Geisinger implemented two energy efficiency programs at two locations. Two optimization projects were implemented at Geisinger Grays woods: Unoccupied mode implementation up to the AHU Level, and Zone-Level minimum flows. This project established schedules for air handling units (AHUs), and designated times of day to reduce the airflow. The result was that airflow was reduced by 70% during non-occupied times. Variable air volume boxes were designed to reduce airflow at the zone level. To allow for greater modulation, the minimums were decreased, especially when the building wasn’t occupied. The projects performed better than expected, resulting in a savings of over 1.7 million kWh/yr.
Fayette County Recycling Program
Fayette County, under Sheila Shea’s leadership, has developed a strong recycling program throughout the county over the past two years. The program placed the first haul-all recycling bins at Menallen Elementary School, Menallen Township, in May 2020.
These bins have made it possible for every one of Fayette County’s 42 municipalities to have access to some form of recycling. The next step in the recycling program was to partner with Carry All Products, Superior Fine Grind of South Connellsville, two Fayette County businesses that have state-of-the-art recycling and glass-processing equipment.
Fayette County purchased Goodwill of Southwestern Pennsylvania’s former recycling facility last year and turned it into the Fayette county Recycling Convenience Center with funding from the DEP. The recycling center received more than 500 tonnes (1 million pounds) of both regular and difficult-to-recycle materials in its first six months.
Etna Borough, Etna Riverfront Trail & Park
The Etna Riverfront Trail and Park Project was created by the rehabilitation of an abandoned industrial brownfield. This section is part of the Allegheny County Community Trails Initiative. It aims to connect to the Three Rivers Heritage Trail. The trail/park includes rain gardens, a pavilion and picnic seating. There is also a bike rack station and extensive historical and environmental signage.
After years of railroad development, expansions and industrial development, the main goal was to reconnect the Etna community with its river, the Allegheny.
A large industrial brownfield was transformed by this project to include raingardens and native grasses. Stormwater management will be done on site, and air quality will be improved.
Pottstown Trees, Inc.: Local Actions with Global Benefits: Pottstown Street Trees
Pottstown residents came together to raise funds in 1983 to plant trees along their streets after shuttered plants caused a havoc on the landscape. Pottstown has seen positive changes in its streets as many neighborhoods have been reconstructed and tree-lined. To date, almost 3,000 new and replacement trees were planted, 768 dead tree removed, 11,000 trees trimmed and 373 sidewalks repaired. 131 ash trees have been treated for diseases.
Pottstown Trees, Inc.’s trees capture an estimated 72 tons each year. The trees that are planted along residential streets as well as in the downtown business area provide an urban canopy that cools the natural world and limits heat island effects. Pottstown trees can reduce stormwater runoff and pollution to the important Schuylkill River watershed.
Penn State Extension Street 2 Creek Storm Drainage Art
The Master Watershed Steward Program in York County organized a contest, Street 2 Creek, for artists interested in painting environmentally-themed murals above storm drains to raise stormwater runoff awareness and the negative impacts it can have on our waterways. Street 2 Creek was launched in 2018 with three drains. It has been running annually since then, with six drains in 2019, three additional paintings in 2020, and three more in 2021. The total number of 15 pieces of artwork connects citizens to water quality.
The murals can be enjoyed individually or in a series by taking a self-guided walk tour. In 2018, 2019, and 2020, a Master Watershed Steward-guided tour was also offered during YorkFest. The stewards provided information booths with bilingual stormwater education brochures from project partner, a Street 2 Creek Trail Map and other flyers. The tour itself was also offered bilingually, with a focus on impacts to the Codorus Creek or Chesapeake Bay watersheds.
Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, (PFBC), for Education and Activities
Originally created to address the challenges COVID guidance presented to parents and teachers of Pennsylvania’s angling and boating communities in 2020, PFBC Education team have spent the last year transforming the Activities and Education Portal into a one stop environmental education shop. We bring the experience of boating, fishing, and other aquatic resources to our participants at home. The PFBC Activities & Education Portal provides a wealth of information for anyone who is interested in the commonwealth’s aquatic resources and fishing and boating possibilities. It includes videos, printable documents, newsletters from Pennsylvania League of Angling Youth, background information, coloring pages, background and more. Topics include: habitats, watersheds, pollution; indigenous fish species, amphibians and reptiles, aquatic macroinvertebrates, fishing; fly fishing; kayaking; boating, water safety, and an overview of PFBC.
PFBC now offers audio versions of its most popular newsletters to make educational materials more accessible for people with vision impairments. This project also created a downloadable coloring sheet and a variety themed activities and education packs as additional resources to the Read Along with PFBC Video Project.
Robindale Energy Services for Stineman Refuse Pile Path of the Flood Trail
This project remediated an abandoned coal pile that was placed on a steep hillside. After rainfall events, the unconsolidated acidic materials would flow directly into the Little Conemaugh River South Fork. Robindale’s remediation came after decades of hazardous acidic material deposition into the river. This had adversely affected a portion the river’s environmental stability and created hazardous washouts. Robindale also completed construction of a 1.6-mile biking and walking trail, which was envisioned by Cambria County Conservation & Recreation Authority. The 1.6-mile trail is part of a larger project to develop a trail to Historic Flood Park in memory of the Johnstown Flood (The Great Flood 1889).
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