The Joint Legislative Air And Water Pollution Control and Conservation Committee will hold their first two Environmental Issues Forums on February 2 and March 2 in Room 8E-A East Wing starting at noon.

-- February 2: The guest presenter will be R. James Carlin, director of business development for MKB Company, the Pennsylvania-based producer of the erosion control system known as the Diamond Sock. The Diamond Sock is an organic compost-filled mesh tube used to filter sediment from runoff water during industrial activity.

Compost filters are considered a state Department of Environmental Protection erosion control best management practice and are a preferred method of erosion control during well pad operations in the Marcellus Shale formation.

-- March 2: The guest presenter will be Brian Wagner, president of the Pennsylvania Council of Trout Unlimited. Brian will discuss the history, mission and conservation efforts of Trout Unlimited, a national non-profit organization dedicated to conserving cold-water fisheries.

Trout Unlimited boasts over 150,000 members from over 400 chapters across the U.S., with over 10 percent of all chapters found here in Pennsylvania. Local chapter activities include stream restoration projects, education campaigns such as “Take a Child Fishing,” and support for cooperative trout hatcheries.

Sen. Scott Hutchinson (R-Venango) serves as Chair of the Joint Committee.

For more information, visit the Joint Conservation Committee website.

1/16/2015