The June 18, 2010 meeting of the Stonycreek-Conemaugh River Improvement Project was called to order at 9:15 AM at the Centennial Farm Shooting Club by Len Lichvar, with Joe Gordon, Melissa Reckner, Larry Hutchinson, Dave Steele, Karlice Makuchan, Bob Ritchey and Dave Sewak in attendance. Thurman Korns and Jim Eckenrode joined the meeting in progress.

The meeting was also attended by Rodger Kerekes of the Centennial Farm Shooting Club. Dave Mankamyer and Stu Horner joined the meeting in progress.

Sewak/Makuchan made a motion to approve the May meeting minutes as submitted. All in favor. Motion carried.

Lichvar reported that the Bens Creek Treatment System is under construction and should be finished this year.

Lichvar said the Lamberts Run treatment system for the Hinemyer and Anthill discharges has to be permitted for wetlands that are created by the abandoned mine discharges, which will delay the project, perhaps into the next construction season.

Hutchinson said lime dosing continues on Dark Shade Creek tributaries. The watershed association placed 66 tons of limestone on Panther Run. Volunteers are needed to help dose Panther Run on August 20 and 21. Contact Hutchinson for details. The PA Fish and Boat Commission is going to do a fish survey on Shingle Run in July. Interest in treatment at the top of Coal Run continues. This could clean up Dark Shade all the way to the Reitz #4 (the fire hall) discharge. Political pressure is needed to do something with Reitz 4.

Korns said the Onstead treatment system is still not working well. They have a few possible solutions to try.

Korns gave the treasurer’s report, stating that SCRIP has $3,530.94 in its checking account and that SAC is holding $12,000 in CDs for SCRIP. A discussion followed about placing a cap on the amount we wish to keep in our checking account. Steele/Sewak made a motion that if the checking balance gets over $4,000, then the treasurer can put the difference in SCRIP’s PA Invest account, which earns minimal interest. All in favor. Motion carried.

Bills presented: Korns - $8.80 for stamps; Copies Plus - $216 for printing of the newsletter; Makuchan - $41.43 for newsletter postage; Copies Plus - $4.40 for printing of membership cards; Cambria Mailing - $25 for newsletter mailing; Reckner - $23.96 for purchase of mailing labels; Copies Plus - $13.26 for printing of display materials. Hutchinson/Reckner made a motion to accept the treasurer’s report and to pay the bills. All in favor. Motion carried.

Reckner reported that, according to DEP, the Murphy Hill treatment system on Cooney property in Paint Creek is operating well, but is making a lot of sludge. Cooney has been placing funds in a trust for operation and maintenance of these systems. The DEP says Cooney does not have enough staff to operate their existing systems, so DEP has been issuing orders to Cooney for inadequate treatment. The DEP wants him to hire more staff. No progress has been made on the Powerline treatment system. DCNR owns property that must be crossed to run electricity to the system. Penelec requires a 30-foot wide right-of-way, but DCNR will not give more than 20 feet. Reckner asked SCRIP to send a letter to DCNR requesting a compromise or concession, since this system would improve the water quality of Paint Creek. Sewak/Makuchan made a motion to send a letter. All in favor. Motion carried. A discussion about the Pot Ridge area followed, with concerns about poor treatment, more sedimentation, the spread of invasive plants, and new mining permits going to Cooney’s daughter, who is operating Heritage Mining.

Ritchey reported that CSA is requesting bids to mine 300 acres on property they own surrounding the Quemahoning Reservoir. Lichvar and Makuchan shared related press and all stressed the need for proper oversight of the project, so this jewel is not lost.

Reckner and Eckenrode reported that there may not be as many whitewater releases from the Que, because the building surrounding the valve starts to shake at 150 cfs. An engineer is going to test it, probably next spring. Turbidity remains a concern, and Ritchey questioned from where the pipeline is drawing its water; he thought it was from the reservoir and doesn’t understand the turbidity concern.

Ritchey said the Saltlick remediation system was offline for about a month because of a valve problem, but it’s operating again. Ritchey is trying to get the Township to clean up land below the Saltlick Reservoir to make a recreation area for kids.

Makuchan said the newsletter went out last week. She said it would be nice for more people to contribute articles. The next one will go out in September, so articles will be due in early September.

Reckner said she attended the World Environment Day and referenced her article in the latest SCRIP newsletter. She requested reimbursement, which was approved at a previous meeting.

Licvhar said SCRIP, MLTU, and CVC hosted the movie Gasland at North Star High School on June 5. About 65 people attended and the movie has generated manyconversations. Josh Fox will be on the Jon Stewart show after Gasland premiers on HBO at 9 PM on June 21. It didn’t cost much to host Fox and his movie. SCRIP received $127 in donations by those in attendance, and, after bills were paid, SCRIP netted $37.

Mankamyer said the state legislature pulled the severance tax off the table yesterday. He suggested giving PEC a donation for their lobbying effort and encouraged SCRIP to do more. A discussion on how to best lobby local legislators and candidates, since this is an election year, followed. We – SCRIP, its partners, and members – need to stress that this isn’t a tax on the gas industry; it is a fee and insurance, and that proceeds should go to environmental protection, not the general budget. We also need to put candidates on the spot and ask them where they stand on these issues. In the meantime, Eckenrode/Hutchinson motioned that a letter be written to legislatures asking them to support the severance fee and that SCRIP emails its members and partners encouraging them to do the same. All in favor. Motion carried. Lichvar to send Reckner MLTU’s and the Somerset Conservation District’s position papers to distribute to members.

Reckner reported that she presented at the Joint Mining Conference in Pittsburgh this month and spoke highly of SCRIP and other local groups. She said St. Benedict School in Richland will host Trout in the Classroom (TIC) next year and that she will need help implementing classroom and field lessons related to TIC for all participating schools. Ritchey suggested asking conservation districts to allow their AmeriCorps members, if they have them, to help.

Sewak reported that Natural Biodiversity has four job openings, two of which are AmeriCorps. Job descriptions are available on their website. Natural Biodiversity is working with school kids on the Jim Mayer Trail extension.

Makuchan read Kristin Sewak’s email with an update on SCRIP’s website. K. Sewak motioned in her email that SCRIP extends the deadline and contract term with Recharge Web Design to September 30, 2010. A discussion followed on SCRIP’s needs. It is unknown if SCRIP is slow providing information to the webmaster or if he is slow to post it. Sewak/Steele made a motion to at least put info about the Que Classic on our website ASAP, with a note saying stay tuned for our new and improvement website coming September 2010. All in favor. Motion carried.

Que Classic Fishing Tournament will be July 10. Sponsors, participants, and judges are still needed. To date, there are 7 boats and 19 people registered to fish, including one woman. Sponsor deadline (for appropriate acknowledgement) is June 25. Participants should pre-register by July 8. Committee members will shop for prizes after the next SCRIP meeting. Reckner will ask Ritchey and Lazzari to follow up on the Cameron Rozier award.

Ritchey and Eckenrode reported that stormwater planning is done, but there’s no money for implementation.

Reckner/Steele made a motion to accept the mailing list policy that was distributed to the board members recently via email. All in favor. Motion carried. For a copy, contact Reckner at .

Lichvar said the Somerset Conservation District is hosting a training on Monday at 1:00 PM at their office to teach volunteers how to download data from the loggers in Somerset County streams. Lichvar said Bob’s Creek, which has similar loggers, did pick up a spike, but it could have been a natural occurrence. Groups need to be careful not to cry wolf.

Eckenrode said the USGS now has a way to send emails directly to you reporting water levels at their gauging stations. Check out the USGS website for details.

Next meetings:

July 9 at 9:00 AM at Disaster’s Edge in St. Michael. There will be a tour of the Saltlick Reservoir treatment system afterward.

August 13 at 9:00 AM at Lambert’s Falls. Meet at Thurman Korn’s house. Covered dish picnic following the meeting.

Eckenrode said he has been working with the PA Fish and Boat Commission and several officials said that Commissioner Lichvar was “one of the most reasonable people to work with.”

Gordon was thanked for cooking and organizing today’s meeting, while Centennial Farm was thanked for allowing SCRIP to use its facility.

Adjourn 11:20 AM.

Minutes by Reckner.

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