Flooding Caused Blow Out at the Point the Audenreid Mine Tunnel Discharge Connects to the Just Dedicated Treatment System in Schuylkill County.

Watershed groups are reminded that damage to watershed restoration projects caused by the recent flooding should be reported to county emergency management agencies so they can be included in damage assessments forwarded to state and federal emergency management agencies.

Several watershed groups have reported significant damage to mine drainage treatment and other watershed projects completed with state Growing Greener and other funding as a result of the recent floods.

The cost to repair or rebuild these facilities may be covered by emergency flood restoration aid, but they cannot even be considered if the damages are not part of a county flood damage assessment.

President Bush this week added 15 more Pennsylvania counties to the federal disaster declaration-- Berks, Bradford, Bucks, Chester, Columbia, Dauphin, Franklin, Lackawanna, Lancaster, Luzerne, Montgomery, Montour, Northampton, Northumberland and Pike. Previously announced counties included in the federal disaster declaration were Monroe, Schuylkill, Susquehanna Wayne and Wyoming.

Pennsylvania has officially declared these counties as state disaster areas: Adams, Armstrong, Bedford, Berks, Blair, Bradford, Bucks, Carbon, Centre, Chester, Clinton, Columbia, Cumberland, Dauphin, Delaware, Franklin, Fulton, Huntingdon, Indiana, Jefferson, Juniata, Lackawanna, Lancaster, Lebanon, Lehigh, Luzerne, Lycoming, Mifflin, Monroe, Montgomery, Montour, Northampton, Northumberland, Perry, Philadelphia, Pike, Potter, Schuylkill, Snyder Sullivan, Susquehanna, Tioga, Union, Wayne, Wyoming and York counties.

If you have flood-damaged watershed projects in any of these areas, report it to the county emergency management and conservation district officials.

Staff from the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency and FEMA will work with county officials to set up Disaster Recovery Centers in various locations throughout the affected areas. DRCs are a one-stop shop for disaster related questions, getting help filling out forms and gathering more information about what assistance is available.

While visiting a DRC is not necessary, it is imperative that individual residents applying for disaster assistance call FEMA's toll-free number 1-800-621-FEMA (3362), TTY 1-800-462-7585 or register on-line.

Gov. Rendell said state local and federal damage assessment teams continue to document the effects of the flooding on residences and businesses in counties across Pennsylvania in an effort to get assistance to Commonwealth citizens and business owners recovering from floods.

The Department of Environmental Protection is also now offer free home water well testing through their Northcentral and Northeastern offices.

Additional flood safety information and weather updates can be found at

www.PAFLOODING.state.pa.us .

NewsClips: Flood Ranks as 4th Worst on Delaware River

Many Rehabilitated Streams Survive Flood

Heavy Rains Spoil Fun at 35 State Parks

5 More Counties Added to Disaster Declaration

Conservation District Evaluating County Streams

Rain Puts Groundwater Levels Near Normal

Flood Can’t Put Brakes on River Trip

Editorial: Direct the Johnstown Flood Tax to Today’s Flood Victims

Session Schedule

The Senate and House return to session on September 25.

On the Hill

· Bills on the Governor’s Desk

· EXIT Signs Trigger Radiation Monitors, Leak Tritium into Landfills

Other News

· $600 Million to Be Spent At Keystone Generating to Reduce Air Pollution, Mercury

· Reliant Energy Invests $250 Million to Reduce Air Pollution, Mercury at Cheswick

· U.S. Releases of Mercury Decline Significantly

· Rendell Calls for Improved Preparedness Surrounding Nuclear Power Plants

· PA Electric Power Generation Conference Set for September

· American Water’s Environmental Grants Fund 3 PA Watershed Projects

· EPA Watershed Assessment and Protection Grant Apps Due August 15

· Delaware Estuary Watershed Grant Applications Due July 17

· EPA Watershed Funding Webpage Puts Funding Opportunities in One Place

· New Nutrient Management Regulations to Improve Water Quality

· PENNVEST Sets Deadlines for Drinking Water, Sewage Applications

· Pennsylvania Celebrates Lake Awareness Month in July

· Upper Susquehanna Conference to be Held September 23

· Last Call for American Water Works Assn. Summer Workshop Series

· Green Building Alliance Promotes Workshops in Pittsburgh Region

· DEP Sets Public Hearing on Changes to Lancaster Ozone Control Plan

· DEP Publishes Updated List of Available Emission Reduction Credits

· Boating Fatalities at Near Record Pace

· DCNR Awards $23 Million for Recreation and Conservation Projects

· DCNR Accepting Nominations for Trails Advisory Board

See & Hear

· Webcast Features Discussion of Watershed-Based NPDES Permitting

Opinion

· Watersheds - Communities Connected By Water, By Senator Rob Wonderling

Go To: PA Environment Digest Calendar Page

7/7/2006