The Department of Environmental Protection is inviting public comments on a new proposed Soil Erosion and Sedimentation Control Manual for Agricultural Operations in the January 5 PA Bulletin.

This brand new Manual is designed to complement the existing Manure Management Manual and make complying with the erosion and sedimentation requirements easier for small farmers.

Chapter 102 of DEP regulations require all agricultural operations to minimize accelerated erosion and sedimentation to the waters of this Commonwealth by implementing appropriate Best Management Practices.

Those operations that plow or till 5,000 or more square feet, including no-till, or that have Animal Heavy Use Areas that are 5,000 or more square feet in total, are required to have a written Agricultural Erosion and Sedimentation Control Plan.

The purpose of this guidance is to further explain the requirements of an Ag E&S Plan and it has several elements--

-- What: what is an Ag E&S Plan, and what are the required

-- Who: to whom does it apply?

-- Why: attempted to focus on the benefits to the farmer as well as regulatory compliance

-- When: when would it need to be developed, updated, implemented, etc.

-- How:  how should it be developed (i.e. how to identify and address resource concerns)

-- Includes reference to tools and resources (i.e. NRCS, PAOneStop, Conservation District planning assistance)

Click Here for a copy of the 59-page Manual.  Click Here for a DEP presentation on the new manual (DEP ID: 383-4200-002).

DEP developed the Manual in consultation with county conservation districts, the State Conservation Commission, Penn State Extension, the U.S. Natural Resource Conservation Service-PA and DEP’s own Agricultural Advisory Board members.

Comments are due March 6 and can be submitted online through DEP’s eComment webpage, by email to: ecomment@pa.gov or in writing to: Technical Guidance Coordinator, Department of Environmental Protection, Policy Office, Rachel Carson State Office Building, P.O. Box 2063, Harrisburg, PA 17105-2063.

A copy of the proposed manual will be posted on DEP’s eComment webpage.  Questions should be directed to Jill Whitcomb by email to: jiwhitcomb@pa.gov or by calling 717-783-5205.

CFA Accepting Applications

The Commonwealth Financing Authority will accept applications from February 1 to May 31 for its Act 13 Watershed Restoration Grants which includes funding control nonpoint source pollution runoff, which includes agricultural operations.  Click Here for more.

New DCNR Grant Round

Learn more about grant opportunities to support riparian buffer, trail and recreation projects, visit DCNR’s Community Conservation Grant Program webpage. A new grant round is opening January 22 and will close April 10.

Forest Buffer Summit

Registration is now open for the DCNR and Western PA Conservancy Pennsylvania Riparian Forest Buffer Summit on February 20-21 at the Best Western Premier Conference Center, 800 East Park Drive in Harrisburg.  Click Here for more.

Related Stories:

Inspections Find 96% Of Small Farms In Survey Making Good Strides To Improve Water Quality In Chesapeake Bay Watershed

Register Now! Pennsylvania Sustainable Agriculture Conference Feb. 6-9 In Lancaster

2019 PA In The Balance Conference On Farm Conservation Feb. 6-8 Hershey

Related Stories This Week:

Monroe, Pike Conservation Districts Hold Water Quality Permitting, Green Infrastructure, Invasive Species Workshop Feb. 5 & 6 In Monroe

Registration Open! Pennsylvania Riparian Forest Buffer Summit Feb. 20-21

Stroud/Farm Credit: Healthy Soil, Healthy Water Film About Local Farmers Improving Their Bottom Lines Jan. 17

CFA Begins Accepting Applications For Act 13 Watershed Restoration, Mine Reclamation, Sewage, Flood Mitigation, Recreation Grants Feb. 1

DCNR Begins Accepting Community Conservation, Recreation, Trail, Riparian Buffer Grant Applications Jan. 22, Webinars Set

Pittsburgh’s Hilltop Urban Farm Accepting Applications For Farmers To Farm Rehabilitated Land

Half-Ton PA Farm Show Butter Sculpture Unveiled, Will Again Be Turned Into Renewable Energy

[Posted: Jan. 4, 2019]

1/7/2019